Mr RUDD —For the record, the member for Moreton just said that I am an employee of News Ltd in Queensland for the commentary I provide to the Brisbane Courier-Mail and other News Ltd outlets. In the period since I have been elected to this legislature, I have not received a red cent from News Ltd for anything I have written.

I rise today in connection with a recent event in the Griffith electorate—the Australia Day Awards. We call them the Griffith Australia Day Awards. I would like to thank Mr Bill Appleby, Mrs Claire Darvill, Father Ralph Bowles, Mrs Ellen Hill, Mrs Anne Landsberg and Mr Ken Corley for their contribution to a committee which nominated a range of local people deserving awards for their contribution to our local community.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the following people who received awards: Mrs Carmel Heath for her tireless contribution to netball in the Cannon Hill district; Mr Leo Petinakis for his contribution to the local cricketing community; Mr Col Farquhar for his endless contributions to the wellbeing of our veterans; Mr Wayne Cameron for his sterling efforts on behalf of the local environment; Mr John Evans for his equal efforts in the bushcare movement in the south eastern suburbs; Mr John Reynolds for his extraordinary efforts in the Coorparoo and Districts RSL, particularly in his work with those veterans who need physical assistance; Mr Eric Vickerman for his considerable contribution to our local bushland heritage; Mrs Judy Jennings, who has been a long valued member of the Carina State School P&C and who has worked in a range of activities associated with that school; Mr Gerald Behan for his work with the local St Vincent de Paul; Mr Robert Thacker, who has been active in the Buranda Therapy Group in assisting people with disabilities; Mr Barry Wilson for his work in local environmental activism; Mrs Margaret Baxendell for her work with the Cannon Hill 60s & Better Association; Miss Lynden Nichol for her work with the Whites Hill State School, in particular for longstanding service as president and vice-president of the school P & C association; Ms Helen Quin for her work with the Carindale Police Citizens Youth Club; Mr Ted Hoare for his extraordinary contributions to the Eastern Suburbs District Cricket Club and for encouraging youth sport in general; Ms Kim Roper, who has worked for a long time as a voluntary welfare officer for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force for three to four days a week; Mrs Betty Rees for her contribution to the Queen Alexandra Home; Ms Annie Enders, who has also worked extensively with the Carina Senior Citizens Club; Mr Brian Dutton, who has been active as a fire prevention and fire safety education officer in our local community; and Ms Kay Connor, President of the Carina Senior Citizens Club, who has been very active in supporting the senior citizens in our local community. I extend my congratulations to each of these award recipients. We look forward to this being an annual event in the Griffith electorate.