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23 Aug 2005 Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2585 • A non-discretionary suspension of registration when charged with a serious sexual offence, until the independent disciplinary committee determines whether continued suspension is necessary to ensure the protection of children. • A mandatory requirement of all schools to advise the College when it undertakes an investigation into allegations of "harm" to a child and subsequently, the outcomes of the investigation. In the situation where a registration is suspended the teacher will be provided with the opportunity to show the Teachers Disciplinary Committee that the matter is an exceptional case in which the best interests of the children would not be harmed if the suspension were ended. The Bill also has enhanced appeal provisions which provide for the internal review of a range of decisions made by the College through a review committee process. The College will also be able to obtain relevant criminal history reports, police investigative information and other information. It will have the power to allow the police to regularly check new police information against the names of those registered, but it also incorporates a range of protections regarding the use of the information it receives. These provisions are necessary to ensure individuals are suitable in a profession that has a close, ongoing association with children. The Bill contains a mandatory requirement that all schools notify the College of any dismissals of teachers on the ground of incompetence. Mr Speaker, our Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to the children of Queensland and to advancing the professional standards in teaching. The Queensland College of Teachers Bill 2005 is another significant step. The Bill will support a profession that needs to be responsive to a changing environment, and ensure that public confidence in the profession is, and remains high in the Smart State. I commend the Bill to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr Messenger, adjourned. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL First Reading Hon. D BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women) (12.57 pm): I present a bill for an act to amend the Environmental Protection Act 1994, and for other purposes. I present the explanatory notes, and I move— That the bill be now read a first time. Motion agreed to. Second Reading Hon. D BOYLE (Cairns—ALP) (Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women) (12.57 pm): I move— That the bill be now read a second time. The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 makes essential amendments to several pieces of environmental legislation in Queensland. As foreshadowed by the government in June, this bill allows for the staged rehabilitation of working mines. When mining activity ceases in one section it can be rehabilitated while another area of the mine is worked. With this approach the impact on the environment is lessened and the company will have certainty of its responsibilities through a certification process. Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 will assure mining companies that rehabilitation requirements will not change for those areas where rehabilitation has been completed early in the life of a mining project. These changes to mining regulations have been undertaken in response to requests from the mining industry for legislative certainty on rehabilitation, and this is being delivered. I seek leave to have the remainder of my second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The reforms will provide greater certainty to the industry and encourage mining companies to speed up their rehabilitation schedules so more sites can become conservation or farming areas sooner. Each year more than $50 million is spent on mine rehabilitation in Queensland, and more spending on progressive rehabilitation will create job opportunities in regional, rural and remote Queensland. The bill provides for companies to provide additional financial security to the government to ensure taxpayers do not foot the bill if rehabilitation fails or is not completed. The Bill also provides for minor amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to ensure there is an adequate response to submissions and clearer time frames in the environmental impact assessment process. Mr Speaker, as a further example of the Government implementing its commitments this Bill provides for the continued access by horse riders to some future national parks (recovery) in South East Queensland up until 24 November 2013 whilst alternative trails are identified. This delivers on our promise to recreational horse riders to minimise impacts whilst alternative trails are identified and developed. We are also delivering on our promise to reduce red tape by removing the need for a permit to traverse.
2586 Succession Amendment Bill 23 Aug 2005 The Government has made substantial progress on the identification of these alternative trails, with proposals currently out for consultation for the Noosa and Beaudesert and Gold Coast Regions. In addition to the South East Queensland Forest Agreement transfer process, the Government committed in 2001 to a State-wide Forests Process to resolve native forest logging on land outside South East Queensland. As many members know this can be a complex undertaking that requires extensive consultation and therefore this Bill amends the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to extend the operation of the Forest Reserve Tenure until 31 December 2025. This means that as logging ceases and land becomes Forest Reserve, existing uses can continue whilst the other issues are resolved. This time frame will be needed to implement commitments under the SEQFA. In addition, forest reserve tenure could be used as an interim tenure as part of negotiations for the State-wide Forest Agreement Process. The Bill also allows stock grazing permits issued under the Forestry Act 1959 to be granted up to 31 December 2024 for a limited number of existing entitlement holders suffering financial hardship, prior to dedication to protected area tenure in South East Queensland. This provides adequate time for entitlement holders to adjust their business to compensate for the reduction of income from loss of their lease. Mr Speaker, with increased coastal development and problems with erosion there is a need to reduce the risks to the public from structurally inadequate and unsafe tidal works and clearly define ongoing maintenance responsibility. The Bill amends the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 to provide for improved safety obligations for all structures that require a development permit for tidal works. The Bill also amends the Integrated Planning Act 1997 to provide for improved safety requirements for emergency coastal tidal works. These amendments address the Coroner’s recent recommendations arising from the tragic Flying Fish Point sea wall collapse near Innisfail. The Bill also makes minor technical, administrative and consequential amendments and corrections to the Brisbane Forest Park Act 1977, the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995, the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Forestry Act 1959, the Integrated Planning Act 1997, the Marine Parks Act 2004, the Mineral Resources Act 1989, the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Petroleum Act 1923, the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, the Statutory Instruments Act 1992, and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993. The Government has undertaken extensive consultation on these amendments. Key stakeholder groups consulted include: government agencies, AgForce, the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society, the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, the Environmental Defenders Office, the Local Government Association of Queensland, the Queensland Conservation Council, the Queensland Environmental Law Association, the Queensland Farmers Federation, the Queensland Law Society, and the Queensland Resources Council. This feedback was considered and the Bill amended. Mr Speaker, the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Queensland’s environmental legislation, provide important linkages with interrelated legislation and streamline the transition of forest reserve lands to protected areas whilst delivering on our promises to affected Queenslanders. Mr Speaker, I commend this Bill to the House. Debate, on motion of Mr Hobbs, adjourned. SUCCESSION AMENDMENT BILL First Reading Hon. LD LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) (Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (12.59 pm): I present a bill for an act to amend the Succession Act 1981. I present the explanatory notes, and I move— That the bill be now read a first time. Motion agreed to. Second Reading Hon. LD LAVARCH (Kurwongbah—ALP) (Minister for Justice and Attorney-General) (12.59 pm): I move— That the bill be now read a second time. Succession laws, or laws relating to wills, were imported into the Australian colonies from English law. Over time, the succession laws applying in each jurisdiction changed and diverged, with the result that there was little consistency between succession laws across the states and territories. Consequently, in 1991 the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General, SCAG, initiated the Uniform Succession Laws Project. The objective of this project has been to develop model legislation to be used as the basis for reform by Australian states and territories with a view to each jurisdiction adopting uniform, or at least consistent, succession laws. In 1995, the National Committee for Uniform Succession Laws, chaired by the Queensland Law Reform Commission, was established to examine four discrete areas of succession law—the law of wills, family provision, intestacy and estate administration. This bill amends the Succession Act 1981 to implement the national committee’s recommendations regarding the law of wills. In December 1997, the national committee presented a final report to the SCAG on the law of wills. This report contained a model wills bill for introduction in each jurisdiction. The report and model
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PROOF ISSN 1322-0330 WEEKLY HANSARD
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents — Tuesday, 23 A
Page 5 and 6: 2536 Papers 23 Aug 2005 PAPERS PAPE
Page 7 and 8: 2538 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2
Page 19 and 20: 2550 Scrutiny of Legislation Commit
Page 21 and 22: 2552 Private Members’ Statements
Page 23 and 24: 2554 Questions Without Notice 23 Au
Page 33 and 34: 2564 Members’ Ethics and Parliame
Page 35 and 36: 2566 Matters of Public Interest 23
Page 45 and 46: 2576 Constitutional and Other Legis
Page 47 and 48: 2578 Transport Legislation Amendmen
Page 49 and 50: 2580 Transport Legislation Amendmen
Page 51 and 52: 2582 Housing Legislation Amendment
Page 53: 2584 Education (Queensland College
Page 57 and 58: 2588 Succession Amendment Bill 23 A
Page 59 and 60: 2590 Queensland Competition Authori
Page 69 and 70: 2600 Racing Venues Development Amen
Page 81 and 82: 2612 Plumbing and Drainage and Othe
Page 99 and 100: 2630 Child Safety Legislation Amend
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2636 Child Safety Legislation Amend
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2642 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 One pa
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2644 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 years.
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2646 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 Finall
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weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

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