FIRST SPEECH
Mr McNAMARA (Hervey Bay—ALP) (2.30 p.m.): I rise today to make my first speech in this
place, deeply mindful of the great honour that the people of Hervey Bay have bestowed upon me. I
wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, the Badtjalla people. I am
pleased to be able to tell the House of the great work being undertaken by local Aboriginal people
under the leadership of Badtjalla elders Marie Wilkinson and Frances Gala. One project in particular, the
Korrawinga Farm, at the entrance to Hervey Bay, is proving to be a role model for developing skills,
employment and prosperity for Aboriginal people. Korrawinga Aboriginal Corporation is providing
training and jobs for local Aboriginal people and is building a profitable flower export business for Hervey
Bay.
My wife, Judith, and I moved to Hervey Bay in 1994 in order to raise our family in the best
possible environment with access to first-class educational, health, sporting and recreational facilities.
The bricks and mortar and services put in place during Bill Nunn's nine years as member for Hervey Bay
laid the platform for Hervey Bay's future prosperity. In particular, the decision by the University of
Southern Queensland to open a campus in Hervey Bay in 1997 has emerged as the single most
important investment for Hervey Bay's future since commercial whaling ended. The Hervey Bay campus
opened in 1997 with 111 students. Today enrolments stand at 527 students, with 15 full-time and 35
part-time staff. By 2003 the university anticipates having between 700 and 800 students on campus in
Hervey Bay. The growth of the campus is a testament to the energy and drive of campus principal Dr
Malcolm Cooper and his teaching and administrative staff. The campus provides educational options
for Hervey Bay's youth that were undreamt of only five years ago. The university is now ready to move
to the next level of course delivery in the areas that will shape Hervey Bay's future: information
technology and health services.
The decision of this government to create a Department of Innovation and Information
Economy will also prove to be a significant milestone for Hervey Bay's development. I place on record
my support for the Beattie Government's vision regarding information technology and innovation. I
confirm that Hervey Bay stands ready to join our state's growth in this area and I look forward to working
with the new minister, Paul Lucas.
I make mention of the outstanding work being done in Hervey Bay's schools to ensure that our
young people are ready for the information economy. Year 10 students at Urangan State High School
last year won first prize in a web page design competition. They created a program that allowed
students to learn the history of ancient Egypt in an arcade-style game format. Urangan State High
School now has more than 330 computers networked throughout the school for use by students in all
years. Just this week three students, Jordan Scott, Hayley Gibbs and Daniel Quill, were awarded
scholarships to attend Education Minister Anna Bligh's Minister's Awards for students excelling in
information and communication technology. The University of Southern Queensland is recognising the
quality of the education that Hervey Bay's students are receiving by proposing to give students degree
credits for work completed while at high school. Urangan High School principal, Ross Zelow, and his
deputies, Kierin O'Mahoney, Linda Buxton and Graham Spence, are to be congratulated on their
foresight in allocating the school's resources so that students from Urangan High School are truly
qualified to take their place in the information age.
Similar exceptional results are being achieved at the other public and private high schools in
Hervey Bay. However, the great work is not only being done in the secondary schools. At Kawungan
State School a learning development centre was recently opened by then Education Minister Dean
Wells. The centre is for training teachers in the use of computers. The focus on improving the IT skills of
our teachers is essential and has my total support.
I know from personal experience of the fantastic learning environment at Kawungan State
School. I inform the House that the school is a credit to its principal, Steve Case, who is now working in
the district office; the acting principal, Gary Dunlop, and the rest of the highly motivated and dedicated
staff. Indeed, from kindergarten, students in Hervey Bay are advantaged by the excellent facilities
available. In recent years the Premier and the former Education Minister have both visited Hervey Bay
and, while there, have taken the opportunity to look at the new Condy Park Preschool and
Kindergarten. They each remarked on the exceptional standard of facilities and care being provided by
Sue Michail and her wonderfully enthusiastic team. Students in Hervey Bay have access to the highest
quality in teaching and facilities. We are preparing future generations of IT-ready young people to meet
Queensland's burgeoning technology industry boom.
I mentioned the tourism industry a moment ago. Of course, all members will be aware of the
outstanding natural beauty of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. The preservation and management of
Fraser Island remains a fundamental challenge and one to which I will pay particular attention. I look
forward to working with Fraser Island residents such as Eric Parups of the Fraser Island Association and
June Ashcroft of the Happy Valley Residents Association. I value input from tour operators such as
Shane Boyd and David Hay, local environmental representatives such as Joan Coutts and Aboriginal
elder Olga Miller.
While tourist attractions such as Fraser Island and whale watching are vital to the success of our
tourism industry, they form only one of the three components that make up a viable tourism industry.
The other two are the accommodation sector and transport infrastructure. Hervey Bay's accommodation
sector ranges from our traditional caravan parks through to top quality resorts. However, for tourism to
continue to grow and provide jobs and investment, our transport infrastructure must continue to be
improved. The new Hervey Bay airport building was a massive improvement on the previous facilities,
but the length of the current runway prohibits larger passenger jets from landing. I propose to work
closely with all levels of government to ensure that Hervey Bay's air transport facilities meet the city's
growth.
The attention paid by the first Beattie government to rectifying dredging problems in the
Urangan Boat Harbour has also played a part in improving marine access to Hervey Bay. I place on the
record my thanks to Nick Schulz, Paul Farmer, Brian Mackay, Jeff Keen, Max Kummerfeld and the
other members of the harbour committee who put in so much of their own time to make sure that
Hervey Bay's harbour works and grows. I look forward to working with them to further improve the
harbour mouth and eventually to redevelop the entire harbour precinct.
The other aspect of transport infrastructure that is vital to Hervey Bay's tourism industry is, of
course, roads. This government's commitment to road spending is necessary and welcome, not merely
for the development of our tourism industry but also for the comfort and safety of all residents and
visitors. I support the high priority that the Beattie government places on road funding. Hervey Bay is a
city at the end of a geographic cul-de-sac and the overwhelming majority of the 90,000 tourists who
come just to go whale watching each year travel by road. Improvement in the roads in the surrounding
electorates is also essential to allow for the expansion of the one- to three-day drive market out of
Hervey Bay. I look forward to working with my neighbours, such as Trevor Strong, the member for
Burnett, to improve our regional road network.
Hervey Bay has a proud reputation as a fishing destination. Generations of recreational and
commercial fishermen have holidayed, lived and worked in Hervey Bay. The trawl plan, agreed to by the
Beattie cabinet at the country cabinet meeting held in Hervey Bay on 11 December 2000, was a
particularly important decision for Hervey Bay, as it made winter whiting a recreational-only species. I am
confident that, with appropriate attention to the cleanliness of our rivers and oceans and the health of
our seagrass beds, winter whiting catches by recreational anglers will once again provide much
enjoyment for tourists and locals alike. In this regard, I congratulate Gerry Comans and his volunteer
seagrass monitoring team on the great work that they are doing to help understand the real causes of
the health or otherwise of our marine environment.
Hervey Bay's commercial fishing industry is vital to the Hervey Bay economy, employing 700
people directly and many more people indirectly. The industry is largely family based. I look forward to
working closely with hardworking local operators, such as Barry Murphy, Elaine Lewthwaite and Pam
Charlton, to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishery for future generations. I also believe that our
fishing industry can be so much more. I propose to help local commercial fishing interests to develop an
export-oriented seafood industry built around the marine based enhancement of the resource to create
jobs and prosperity.
As has been said by every member of the Beattie Labor government, the priority is jobs, jobs,
jobs. As the representative for Hervey Bay, I can assure this chamber that jobs and job security will be
my overwhelming objectives. Improving the living standards and working conditions of ordinary people is
why I am in politics. It is why I joined the Australian Labor Party. To that end, the recent decision by
Queensland Health to switch 34 casual contract workers at the Hervey Bay Hospital to full-time
permanent status is precisely the right sort of confidence building decision which workers need and
deserve to enhance job security. I congratulate the Minister, Wendy Edmond, the union, staff and
administration for this outcome. It is vital that we work to restore Australian values to our industrial
relations system by fighting for permanent status for employees who are doing permanent jobs.
The staff at the hospital do an excellent job and the reputation of Hervey Bay's Hospital as a
first-class medical facility is well known and well deserved. I pay particular tribute to the Director of
Nursing, Merrin Pease, for her commitment to excellence in patient care. Health services will be a vital
part of Hervey Bay's future, and I look forward to working with the minister to implement further
improvements and extensions to the health services available in Hervey Bay.
I will make a positive contribution as part of Peter Beattie's can-do government. Hervey Bay has
many magnificent natural resources but, sadly, an abundant water supply is not one of them. I bring an
open mind to this issue, which is crucial to the future development of my electorate. I look forward to
working with Wide Bay Water to secure Hervey Bay's future water supply. The leading edge water reuse
work being done by Tim Waldron and his team at Wide Bay Water has been recognised nationally
and internationally. I pledge my full support to encourage sustainable water management practices and
minimise water wastage so that rural producers in Hervey Bay can continue to improve crop yields.
My election represents the fulfilment of a lifetime dream. I was inspired as a boy by the life of
the greatest lawyer/politician of them all, the 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln. One statement of
the young Lincoln which I think everybody should consider was contained in a letter he composed while
a law student. Lincoln wrote, 'I will study and prepare myself and some day my chance will come.' I hold
that there is no higher honour than to be elected to serve in this chamber. I believe that the cynicism
toward public office that has become endemic in our society is a corrosive and even dangerous attitude
that threatens the fabric of our democracy. In my view, it is the obligation of every citizen to study, to
grow, to be involved in their community, to gain life experience and then consider offering themselves
for public office. I intend to use the skills, experiences and knowledge which I have accumulated in my
life for the benefit of my community.
Some members here will know that I have been a solicitor in private practice for 10 years. In that
capacity I was an employer in a small business for six years. I am also a past president of the Hervey
Bay Chamber of Commerce. I have a genuine appreciation of the effort and stress inherent in having to
produce sufficient cash flow every week to pay the wages of 10 staff. I also understand the reality of
having your family home mortgaged to cover the ebb and flow of business. I will be an advocate for
small business in my electorate and commit myself to making sure that the government's role is to help,
not hinder, employers.
Prior to being admitted as a solicitor in 1991, I studied law and economics at the University of
Queensland. I went to university at the age of 26, and my working life has included stints as a
restaurant maître d, labourer, trainee retail manager, public servant and cleaner. Before being elected
to this parliament, I was also honoured to serve on the board of Ergon Energy Retail. I have been
involved in the running of large and small businesses, as an employee and an employer. I aim to apply
that knowledge, along with my academic training, to see that legislation which passes this House can
meet the twin tests of being both good policy and good in practice. I aim to never forget that
government policy impacts on real people and is often delivered by volunteers.
Over the past seven years my wife, Judith, and I have been directly involved with many nonprofit
organisations in Hervey Bay. The Wide Bay Women's Health Centre, the Rotary Club of Hervey
Bay Sunrise, the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, Riding for the Disabled and Youthcare Hervey
Bay, to name just a few, do fantastic work in my community. The Wide Bay Group Training Scheme, of
which I am a voluntary director, under the leadership of Chairman Brian Hillier and General Manager
Ross Tregidga, employs over 300 apprentices and trainees in the Wide Bay. It has 15 full-time staff and
a $6 million turnover. The group scheme recently placed its 2,000th apprentice. It does all of this work
on a not-for-profit basis. The Hervey Bay Family Centre runs programs for parent aid, children's contact,
counselling and family therapy with only one full-time coordinator, Patricia Friel, and one administrative
officer. All other staff—35 in all—are trained volunteers. They do vital work on a shoestring budget.
In this Year of the Volunteer, I salute the outstanding efforts of these and many other
organisations. But I also worry about the weight we place on the shoulders of community groups, which
often do not have any certainty of funding from year to year. I also question the standards of reporting
which we expect of volunteer organisations, which are created for service delivery and frequently do not
have the resources and skills to meet public service standards of administration. If we require quality
assured standards of audit and legal compliance, then community organisations must receive funding
for administration. I look forward to working with the Ministers for Health and Families, the Deputy
Premier and the Premier to see that these community groups are funded to do what they do
best—work with the community—and not be bogged down with unrealistic expectations of bureaucracy.
Hervey Bay is a regional city bustling with life and vitality. It boasts an enormously talented arts
community which is central to its cultural life and identity. The Yag'ubi Multicultural Festival now attracts
over 15,000 paying patrons annually and is another volunteer organisation which does untold good in
my community. Yag'ubi's message of celebrating cultural diversity is one I am proud to support. It has
been driven by grassroots community leaders, such as Lilly Podger, Wendy Bennett, Helen McCann,
Jorge Pujol and many others. Local artist Fiona Foley, whose work is on display at Hervey Bay's state
government office block, is now exhibiting internationally. I hope to assist in fostering the creativity and
success of artists such as Fiona and many others. Hervey Bay can truly be a city of the arts.
Hervey Bay also has a significant number of elderly residents. I was privileged to meet many of
them while doorknocking over the last 12 months. They have much to offer and also some special
needs. I have already mentioned Hervey Bay's exceptional hospital facilities. I will work with and listen to
hardworking organisations, such as the Sixty and Better program and the Pensioners and
Superannuants League, to make sure that Hervey Bay's senior citizens are looked after.
I am also committed to making Hervey Bay the most accessible city in Australia. Premier Peter
Beattie's support for the Hervey Bay City Council's access tourism plan has been warmly welcomed.
The boardwalk at Torquay Beach, funded by this government, is taking shape as I speak, and I will
continue to pursue improvements in public access and disability support services as a priority during my
time in this parliament.
I give thanks to all of the people of Hervey Bay for my election. I realise the trust and
responsibility that has been placed in me. I am particularly mindful of the support given by those people
who voted Labor for the first time and will work to retain their support, along with that of the true
believers, at the next election. But some people gave me much more than their vote. I wish to
acknowledge the efforts of my campaign team who worked relentlessly from my endorsement as
candidate right up until the close of counting on 17 February 2001.
I have already referred to Bill Nunn, the former member for Hervey Bay. Bill did not retire and
spend his time fishing after the election in 1998. He started work as my campaign manager the next
day and did not rest until he saw Labor returned in Hervey Bay. Bill was more than prepared to call a
spade a shovel; he was happy to belt me with the shovel, whenever necessary, to keep me focused
and working. Bill and his wonderful wife, May, just about lived at my house during the formal part of the
campaign, and I thank them both from the bottom of my heart.
My campaign secretary, Gerry Lloyd, did the equivalent of a trip to Melbourne and back, putting
up and maintaining 200 corflute posters as well as organising the 120 booth volunteers for election day.
It was remarked upon in the media that the ALP campaign in Hervey Bay was 'well run', 'well oiled' and
even 'slick'. That was the military precision of Gerry Lloyd in operation. In all, some 200 people had a
role in my campaign at one time or another, folding mail, letterboxing, selling raffle tickets, handing out
how-to-vote cards and so on. I cannot name them all here today, but no candidate has ever had more
loyal support, and my victory is their victory. To Doris Bell, Gordon Thuell, Graham Schostakowski,
Robert Garland, Joy Hoy and so many others I say thank you.
Finally, I need to thank my wife, Judith; my children, Brandon and Caitlin; and my parents, Fay
and Ian. I know that no-one makes it into this place without the support of their family, and the
encouragement and love I received can never be repaid. My wife, Judith, in particular carries an
enormous load as our children are five and seven and she works as a lecturer at the university in
Hervey Bay. Her love, intelligence, patience, political nous and commonsense humbles me, and I thank
her for the sacrifice she has made and continues to make to let me live the dream.
Another Cloistered minister ..hope I am wrong and he owns a sense of fairness.
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