weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

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23 Aug 2005 Ministerial Statement 2539 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Drought Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.38 am): Today I want to talk about drought and water. South-east Queensland is in the grip of the second worst drought on record. If our dams do not receive significant volumes of water in the next six months the region will sink into the worst drought ever. Cabinet yesterday discussed the latest projections on drought and dams. Modelling by South East Queensland Water shows that under the worst case scenario Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams will strike what is known as ‘dead’ storage levels—that is, five per cent—in December 2006. That would apply without water restrictions; restrictions would push the ‘dead’ levels date to February 2007. Under the more realistic scenario of a repeat of 2004 rainfall patterns, dead levels will hit in October 2007 without water restrictions, or in September 2008 if there are restrictions. Water management is a feature of the South East Queensland Regional Plan and program, including upgrading and building new water infrastructure. The data presented to cabinet by the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Henry Palaszczuk, shows we must take the lead on water reform in Australia’s fastest growing region. With more than 1,000 new residents flocking to the region every week, and climate change a scientific fact, we have no time to waste. As an immediate step, we will accelerate infrastructure developments on the Logan, Albert and Mary Rivers under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan. Regarding Wivenhoe Dam, South East Queensland Water is well advanced with the upgrade of the spillway which is essential to urban water supplies in south-east Queensland. I advise the House today that the government has given south-east Queensland a commitment to subsidise the cost of the upgrade and we are honouring this commitment with a payment to assist with the upgrade. We will also bring forward $10 million in subsidies to local governments for water conservation measures, such as pressure reduction and reducing water distribution losses. The government is also examining the feasibility of desalination and exploring water purification and reuse proposals. We will reinforce capital works and maintenance initiatives with more robust laws, cracking down harder on people who repeatedly breach restrictions. We will also fast-track a proposed review of institutional arrangements. This will ensure that the arrangements for ownership and control of dams and water supplies serve the best interests of south-east Queenslanders. The region has 19 dams owned by 10 different organisations. The south-east Queensland arrangements contrast with those in other states, where government owned corporations, not local councils, manage dams, water treatment, bulk and retail water delivery and waste water services for the entire state or for large metropolitan areas. The south-east Queensland arrangement can lead to baffling anomalies. For instance, in recent years Gold Coast swimmers had to leave the beach without taking a shower, but there was nothing to stop Brisbane people hosing down their driveways. The Gold Coast draws water from Wivenhoe Dam, which is at 38 per cent capacity, while Hinze Dam is more than 80 per cent full. We will work with local governments, other water service providers and the community to make such anomalies a thing of the past. We will speed up the review of institutional arrangements to ensure everyone has equitable access to water. The stronger laws that we propose will impose tougher penalties on people who flout water restrictions. A domestic water user who breaches water restrictions currently faces an on-the-spot fine of $75 each time they offend. We propose to significantly increase fines, particularly for repeat offenders, and to have much bigger penalties for corporate and industrial offenders. We also propose on-the-spot fines for anyone who takes water from firefighting systems and hydrants without approval. Further, we propose to give the state reserve powers to impose restrictions if local governments refuse to do so. I hope the government will never need to apply any of these emergency powers. However, we need to hold them in reserve to ensure that the population and economy of south-east Queensland can continue to flourish with confidence. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Public Report of Ministerial Expenses Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.43 am): I wish to table the public report of ministerial expenses for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. Since becoming Premier in 1998 I have been determined to ensure that my government is open and accountable with the public of Queensland. The public report gives maximum transparency to the community regarding the expenses of ministers, parliamentary secretaries and their officers. This report shows how my government has continued to maintain expenses at reasonable levels.
2540 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2005 The increase in expenditure year on year is only 1.65 per cent. This is far less than increases in the consumer price index over this period. While enterprise bargaining pay increases have pushed salary costs up, there have been substantial savings in both telecommunications costs as well as computer costs. My government has continued to be responsive to community needs, and the new portfolio structure I have recently put in place will ensure that we address the big issues and continue implementation of the Smart State initiatives to build our future. The substantial work of my government continues to be done in a cost effective way. I table that report for the information of the House. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Sale of Telstra Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.43 am): There are a number of matters that I wish to report on briefly. One relates to the proposed Telstra sale. As members know, my government remains totally opposed to the sale of Telstra. I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard the reasons. Leave granted. With arrogant disregard for telecommunications users and taxpayer-shareholders, the Federal Government intends to sell Telstra. People are having problems getting a decent broadband service sometimes only 12 to 15 kilometres from the centre of the city, let alone in the bush. Broadband coverage in Australia is not keeping up with world best practice. • Australia’s broadband penetration rate is well below that of other industrialised countries. • As at June 2003, Australia ranked 20th out of the 30 OECD countries, compared to 18th the previous year. • More recent analysis suggests only 32% of homes have broadband, compared with 67% in Canada, 65% in Singapore and 46% in the United Kingdom. An innovative, competitive telecommunications market is critical to Queensland’s and Australia’s future economic growth. We need a review to address the best way of ensuring services (including repair times, installation, mobile coverage and broadband) will allow all Australians to be part of the global village. In particular, the best way to deliver broadband must be considered. Broadband is most commonly delivered via ADSL, cable or satellite (one or two way). Satellite provides 100 percent coverage, but ADSL is only available to approximately 75 percent of Australia’s population and cable is only available in parts of the capital cities, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. Dial up internet, which is more commonly available, is capable of speeds of up to 56kps, but in reality is often slower. This technology is not suitable for business and is also frustratingly slow in rural areas where the Federal Government has set the mandated minimum speed at 19.6 kps for the Universal Service Obligation. Also, it is more prone to drop-outs and customers cannot use their telephone line at the same time as they use the Internet as they can with broadband. Despite the fact the Commonwealth has a clear constitutional responsibility in telecommunications, the Queensland Government has maximised opportunities to ensure regional Queenslanders have better, affordable services. Yesterday Cabinet endorsed the Queensland Telecommunications Strategic Framework 2005-2008, to enhance competition and improve telecommunications in Queensland This builds on earlier initiatives, such as a $117.5M five year agreement with Optus to support the installation of alternative broadband infrastructure in Queensland. This facilitated the construction during 2000-2001 of 1,820 kilometres of optical fibre cable in the Brisbane to Cairns rail corridor, passing through nine regional centres. It reduced charges for broadband services between Brisbane and Cairns by up to 70%. In 2003 we used our buying power as big consumers of mobile phone services to cut deals with Telstra and Optus that have led to scores of new mobile phone towers in rural and remote areas. Now we are seeking improved mobile coverage for a highway gap between Winton to Cloncurry. We have also committed $42 million per annum over five years for Optus products and services, in exchange for broadband infrastructure in 30 regional towns and optical fibre infrastructure in the business districts of Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Economic Growth Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.44 am): I am happy to report that recent figures show the Queensland economy continues to go from strength to strength. As I informed the House on 12 August, the July unemployment figure was for the ninth consecutive month at five per cent or below. I seek leave to incorporate details in Hansard. Leave granted. And the latest figures from the ABS Wage Price Index show Queenslanders with a job are on a better wicket with total hourly pay rates in Queensland growing 0.7% in the June quarter to be 3.9% higher than a year ago.
Page 1 and 2: 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: 2538 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2
Page 11 and 12: 2542 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 and 54: 2584 Education (Queensland College
Page 55 and 56: 2586 Succession Amendment Bill 23 A
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2590 Queensland Competition Authori
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2600 Racing Venues Development Amen
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2612 Plumbing and Drainage and Othe
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2630 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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