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23 Aug 2005 Plumbing and Drainage and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2627 the bill are, in fact, extremely limited, and entry other than by consent or warrant is only to public places where members of the public are entitled to enter under ordinary circumstances. Suitable safeguards in relation to entry and post-entry powers are included in these provisions. Secondly, the committee notes that the bill inserts two definitions incorporating terms of external and government generated documents which are not subordinate legislation. The incorporation of these documents is considered appropriate in these circumstances to standardise terminology consistent with nationally agreed codes. The Plumbing Code of Australia is a national code developed by the National Plumbing Regulators Forum that documents nationally agreed performance requirements for plumbing and drainage. It also contains product authorisation and certification processes that underpin national standards. This code is adopted in whole or in part by each state and territory. A similar arrangement applies with the Building Code of Australia. I now turn to the issues raised by members during the debate. I thank the honourable member for Mirani for his support in general for the bill and I thank him for his comments with which for the most part I agree. Insofar as his comment about the enforcement provisions is concerned and a question that he raised, in his tone at least, as to whether they are a bit over the top, the enforcement powers in the bill are really quite constrained when examined more closely, and they are only what is needed to make sure operators are complying with the legislation. The bill also contains suitable safeguards against the misuse of enforcement powers. This issue was brought to my attention in one of my early meetings with the Plumbers and Drainers Board. The Plumbers and Drainers Board—which is, indeed, a valiant organisation and, I might say, hardworking— meets infrequently but, nonetheless, gets on with the business of ensuring that there are proper standards in the plumbing and drainage work done around Queensland. The board has a significant role in the licensing of plumbers and drainers. Members of the board expressed to me their concerns that the health risks and the safety risks of Queenslanders would be considerable were we to have unlicensed people or people with licences performing work of a lower standard. Should the board receive reports that seem to have some substance alleging that work is substandard or being done by somebody who is not properly licensed, then it needs powers in exceptional circumstances to investigate and ensure that the standards are being maintained. I also take this opportunity to let members know that Mr Jorgen Gullestrup from the Plumbers Union—a man whom I know only too well is devoted not only to dealing with the issues of the day for plumbers and drainers but also to ensuring that there are good career paths for plumbers in years to come and, I might say, is putting his mind to the issue of more women in the industry—has been concerned, as all good professionals are, to make sure that all of the good operators in the field are not in any way besmirched, as it were, by poor practice by the occasional individual. I thank him for his general support for this bill and I give recognition to the important work that he and all of the members of the union do all over Queensland. It is work that many of us in our households and in our businesses take for granted. The member for Mirani raised the issue of what other states of Australia have done with regard to grey water reuse. In most other states—New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania—there are processes in place to regulate the installation of grey water facilities. However, I let honourable members know that in Victoria, where grey water usage has not been so strictly controlled, they have had a problem with grey water causing an environmental nuisance, and they are now moving in Victoria to introduce stricter controls. The member also raised the issue of whether incentives should be in place to encourage grey water facility installation. He quite rightly made the point that the cost of installation will be difficult indeed for those retro-fitting houses on slabs. There is no doubt that the cost will be considerable in those circumstances. Funding at this point is being provided. However, this is in the first instance to support local governments in implementing the legislation, in assessing applications, in training and in making sure that the system is working. It is anticipated that, with the introduction of this legislation, builders will in future fit piping to houses, even houses on slabs, so that they are grey water ready. While that does not address the problem of retrofits, I think, nonetheless, that it is sensible in government to make one significant change such as this and to allow some time for that system to be in place to see how it works. Also of relevance on this particular issue is that all over the state of Queensland we are getting the message that we will pay for our water one way or another and that, because it is so important, we must use it wisely. We are getting the message that the precious resource of water will have to be paid for, perhaps by reducing our use of potable water and putting our money instead into recycling initiatives or grey water, through the councils via our rates or through various water bodies. The member asked what is being done to train council officers. I am able to tell him that an extensive training program is proposed that will assist councils to understand the proposed legislation and the new Plumbing and Wastewater Code. The new code for grey water use will assist councils understand the grey water technical requirements. The government has allocated significant funds for training and public information. Nonetheless, this needs to be an optional matter for local governments not only for soil variation reasons and even resourcing and training capacities within councils but also
2628 Plumbing and Drainage and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 23 Aug 2005 because some councils have gone ahead with unique recycling schemes and amazing initiatives where grey water systems may become superfluous. The member also asked what we are doing to conserve water and to promote reuse. Of course, that is a job not only for the government and members of the opposition but also for all Queenslanders. Therefore, I take the opportunity to mention that, as well as the grey water legislation that we are debating tonight, the government is working on a number of additional initiatives to improve water use. Recently, I was pleased to announce sustainable housing initiatives that will promote the installation of rainwater tanks and water conserving technologies within Queensland homes. I thank the member for Caloundra for his support. Quite rightly he makes the point that this is just the start and that much more needs to be done. In fact, the Queensland government agrees. We recognise that a broad approach will be needed to change water consumption trends. Significant funding has been directed through the Climate Smart Communities to support many related initiatives. Those projects will support local governments in driving other initiatives such as stormwater harvesting, dual reticulation and public awareness. They will also support education initiatives of the sort described by the member, which can change the way Queenslanders think about water as a resource and, hopefully, change their behaviour. If members had not noticed it in the budget allocation, they will be pleased to hear that under the Climate Smart Communities heading, $600,000 has been allocated to Building Codes Queensland specifically to support grey water use over the next three years, and $3 million has been allocated to Building Codes Queensland over four years for a range of water conservation reforms. The member for Gladstone made a substantive contribution. She particularly mentioned the issue of irrigation systems, which she said will add expenses to the installation of grey water facilities. That is true. It is recognised that requiring subsurface irrigation piping will represent a significant proportion of the cost of systems. However, subsurface irrigation is vital to avoid public contact with water that may contain pathogens. In terms of health and safety, we are taking a conservative approach in introducing permission for grey water to be used around Queensland and we recognise that there are certain costs that go with that. However, those are costs in relation to health and safety and they are appropriate. At the same time, costs have been minimised by allowing for irrigation systems to be installed by home owners rather than by licensed plumbers. The member for Gladstone also raised the issue of kitchen grey water not being discharged through treatment systems. She rightly points out that, in future years, legislation will need to evolve further to accommodate and promote the uptake of innovative technologies. We have structured this legislation to remove the absolute prohibition on grey water use and, in the years to come, it will be possible to quite easily respond legislatively to new options for grey water management. I thank all the honourable members of the government team who have supported this legislation. Many spoke with some passion. Clearly they and their electorates have a history of showing strong interest in water conservation and sustainability in general. I thank the member for Noosa and the member for Cook, and also the members for Hervey Bay, Glass House, Thuringowa, Redlands, Fitzroy, Capalaba, Broadwater and Ipswich for their contributions. Mr Speaker, I also note that before you held your present position you too made a worthy contribution. The member for Greenslopes raised some significant issues that I would like to address. He was concerned that we ensure that grey water is used carefully in backyards so as not to cause a nuisance or in any way put at risk our health. He is quite right to be concerned. I can let him know that we have insisted on the subsurface piping irrigation system to safeguard against such things as ponding in certain areas or children who are playing in their backyard gaining direct access to grey water. Additionally, the design of systems and council approval processes will ensure that the water is safely distributed through the subsurface system. Filters on diversion devices will limit the flow of lint and solids through pipes. Councils will be able to assess whether or not soil profiles on premises are suitable for grey water irrigation. Finally, offence provisions will make it possible for councils to address any situations where systems are not effectively managed. I thank the member for Fitzroy for his generally supportive contribution. He raised the good issue of the expense of repiping, particularly involving the separation of grey water from black water. I am pleased to reassure him on this issue. While it sounds like that would be an expensive and difficult repiping job, in actual fact grey water can be easily diverted by the installation of a diversion device to laundry and/or bathroom piping before it discharges to the sewer. I particularly mention the contribution of the member for Ipswich who spoke, of course, about the various other options that we have for conserving water, including the exploration of desalination. I mention my geographic colleague, Lesley Clark, the member for Barron River. Over many years in the broader Cairns area she has kept the community and, I might say, to some degree the council honest on issues of water supply and water demand management. This has not always been popular. While wise and well based in science and sensible consideration, her words have not been welcomed by all sections of the community. Therefore, she has shown some courage to persist. Over more recent years, as many more of us have realised the importance of conserving water, we are now taking
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PROOF ISSN 1322-0330 WEEKLY HANSARD
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Table of Contents — Tuesday, 23 A
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2536 Papers 23 Aug 2005 PAPERS PAPE
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2538 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2
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2550 Scrutiny of Legislation Commit
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2552 Private Members’ Statements
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2554 Questions Without Notice 23 Au
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2564 Members’ Ethics and Parliame
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2566 Matters of Public Interest 23
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Page 45 and 46: 2576 Constitutional and Other Legis
Page 47 and 48: 2578 Transport Legislation Amendmen
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Page 55 and 56: 2586 Succession Amendment Bill 23 A
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
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Page 99 and 100: 2630 Child Safety Legislation Amend
Page 111 and 112: 2642 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 One pa
Page 113 and 114: 2644 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 years.
Page 115: 2646 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 Finall
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weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

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