weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

2608 Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill 23 Aug 2005
tips, because they are not very successful. I want to congratulate the Parklands Gold Coast Trust on its
commitment to providing a top quality venue, its support of a wide range of community events, including
many charity events, and its entrepreneurial vision as well. I thank the minister for recognising the need
to introduce this legislation today. I commend the bill to the House.
Mrs LIZ CUNNINGHAM (Gladstone—Ind) (4.35 pm): I rise to support the Racing Venues
Development Amendment Bill and to commend the minister for his actions in giving protection to the
trustees of this DOGIT. The fact that the DOGIT was established with a restricted use reflects more the
time of its institution than acts by trustees since they are outside the terms of the DOGIT.
The activities that have been represented in the minister’s second reading speech—and they
have been referred to by other speakers—such as the catering, the car parking and the fees charged in
relation to car parking, the ground and pavilion rental not only at show time but also throughout the year,
the indoor sports centre and the management fees for various sporting groups that use those facilities,
rent, advertising and the show society rent, show, I think, a very holistic approach to the use of a built
facility. I believe that, at the risk of being called out of order, it is a pattern that can be applied right
across the state in terms of multiuser facilities where horse racing or, in this case, harness racing and
greyhound racing is the major tenant but it receives support from incorporating non-conflicting activities
that can be established in conjunction with the racing interests.
I commend the Parklands Gold Coast trustees for seeing the opportunities over the years to
improve the venue’s viability and to invite and include complementary activities in the space. The fact
that it is now outside the terms and conditions of their DOGIT, as I said, is more a result of time
progressing than an intention on the part of the trustees to do anything that is inappropriate. I commend
the minister. I hope that this organisation continues to be economically sound. I look forward to the
principles of the Parklands Gold Coast Trust being applied to other racing venues across Queensland.
Hon. RE SCHWARTEN (Rockhampton—ALP) (Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing)
(4.38 pm), in reply: I thank all honourable members for their contributions, with the exception of the
member for Warrego for his usual irrelevant and childish antics here today.
Mr HOBBS: I rise to a point of order. I find the minister’s words offensive and I ask that they be
withdrawn.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Lee): Order! Minister, withdraw, please.
Mr SCHWARTEN: I am happy to withdraw. The reality is that all members can judge the
relevance of the honourable member’s remarks and contribution to this parliament.
Mr HOBBS: I rise to a point of order. I find the member’s words offensive and I ask that they be
withdrawn.
Mr SCHWARTEN: That is okay. I will withdraw and honourable members of the parliament can
make up their own minds about the honourable member’s performance.
Mr HOBBS: I rise to a point of order.
Mr SCHWARTEN: That is all right—keep going.
Mr HOBBS: I find the minister’s words offensive and I ask that they be withdrawn.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Again, there is no point of order because he did not refer to you.
Mr HOBBS: He did.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The minister said, to the best of my recollection, that members of the
House can make their own judgment. You were not referred to.
Mr SCHWARTEN: I am happy to withdraw. The member for Burnett similarly showed irrelevance
in the debate. I congratulate the shadow minister on his efforts and, indeed, the shadow spokesman for
the Liberal Party and the contributions made by all the other members, except the previous two to which
I have referred.
The fact is that this is a matter only and solely about Parklands. I think the member for
Toowoomba South made the reference to Russ Hinze. That is absolutely a matter of history. That is why
there is some anxiety by the harness race club at the Gold Coast. It feels as though it has been badly
dudded by the late Russ Hinze in that regard, and that to some extent is why the amendment is here this
evening—to try to guarantee once and for all its place in the sun.
Mr Hobbs interjected.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr English): Order! Member for Warrego!
Mr SCHWARTEN: I do have some sympathy with the club’s view that it was dudded all those
years ago by Russ Hinze. There is no doubt about that. Members only have to ask club members about
that. They are still very angry about it, and understandably so, but we cannot turn back the clock.
Mr Hobbs interjected.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I warn the member for Warrego under standing order 253.
Mr SCHWARTEN: As to the relevance of it, the Speaker when he was in the chair ruled in favour
of hearing the very excellent contribution made by the member for Toowoomba South where he talked