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Other Parliamentary SpeechesThis page is dedicated to Peter's speeches during parliament that do not fall under Questions or Questions without notice. They range from debating legislation, reporting on events or issues in his seat of Southport and his Ministerial Statements.
Palm Island Select Committee |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Sep 30 2005 |
| Other Speeches >> |
Mr LAWLOR (Southport-ALP) (10.18 am): I move-
That the House note the report of the Palm Island Select Committee.
In April this year the all-party Palm Island Select Committee of this parliament was appointed to investigate and report on a wide range of critical issues facing Palm Island. The unanimous report, which I tabled in this House on 25 August, makes 65 recommendations about matters including ways to improve governance and the provision of municipal services on the island, reform to land tenure and housing delivery arrangements, and a range of issues that particularly relate to young people on the island such as education and training, employment, leadership development, sport and recreational activities, community and cultural enhancement, health, law and order, child safety, and alcohol and drug abuse.
The committee conducted an extensive consultation program. We visited Palm Island three times and held over 50 meetings, including meetings with the Palm Island council, community groups and residents, non-government organisations and government departments and agencies.
I particularly thank the other members of the committee: deputy chairman and member for Gregory, Vaughan Johnson; Liberal leader and member for Robina, Bob Quinn; Independent member for Nanango, Dorothy Pratt; member for Springwood, Barbara Stone; member for Toowoomba North, Kerry Shine; and member for Kallangur, Ken Hayward.
Many other people assisted the committee throughout the course of what was a demanding and exhausting inquiry. On behalf of the committee I would also like to acknowledge the research director, Ms Kerryn Newton, Ms Renee Giskes and Ms Jodie Martin for their hard work and efficient research and administrative assistance, especially given the limited time frames and the range of complex issues under consideration; Mrs Karen O'Brien, principal Indigenous adviser from the Department of Public Works who was not a part of the committee secretariat but very ably assisted the committee in facilitating its meetings on Palm Island; the chief reporter and officers of Hansard for transcribing the committee's many meetings and providing editorial assistance, with special thanks to Jenny Martin, who accompanied the committee on its visits to Palm Island; various other parliamentary research officers, particularly Ms Deborah Jeffrey, Ms Meg Hoban, Ms Joanna Fear and Mr Michael Zeremes, for their assistance in researching various issues associated with the inquiry; and the parliamentary travel officers for their efficiency in organising the committee's travel.
All committee members approached the inquiry with a common purpose and that was to develop solutions in order to secure a better future for the Palm Island community. As I have mentioned previously, most of the deep-seated problems of Palm Island will not be solved overnight but we must make a start. It cannot be done by government departments, non-government and other organisations alone; it requires the goodwill and cooperation of the Palm Island community. I commend the report to the parliament. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 12:00 AM
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