Mr NEVILLE (9.10 p.m.) —As one whose early love of politics was nurtured in those august days of Fadden and McEwen, my journey to this place has been one of amazing satisfaction and great friendships. I have been privileged to enjoy the challenges and fellowship of the National Party of Australia and its members for over 35 years.

  My father, a country lawyer and a partner of a former Attorney-General, Sir Neil O'Sullivan, was a great lover of C. J. Dennis on the one hand and Edmund Burke on the other. More importantly, he had a great love of people—and especially those in distress. He was a friend of, and campaigned for, Artie Fadden, and it was his proud boast that literally everyone, from the Prime Minister to the paperboy, knew him by his christian name. Though he died when I was still a child, it is not surprising that some of his love of debate and people should have rubbed off on me.

  Though no one mentor stands out in my life, I owe a debt to many tonight, not the least of whom is my mother. These include the Sisters of Mercy, the Sacred Heart Priests and the Christian Brothers, who cultivated my love of history, literature and debate. In an age when it has become fashionable to criticise the religious because of the extremism or weaknesses of a mere minority of their number, I am an unashamed apologist for what these unselfish men and women represented and their contribution to the Australian way of life. Might I also say that the right wing of the ALP has no monopoly on the Irish vote, if indeed such a thing still exists.

  I owe a debt to my early days in the Young Nationals, whose state president I was fortunate to become in 1969; to the marvellous characters of the party in Warwick, Bundaberg, Wide Bay and, more recently, Hinkler—not least amongst whom was Clarrie Millar, a former deputy speaker of this House whose divisional council chairman I was for many years—and to those who saw me safely to this place, my campaign director, Rod Wilson, and his deputy, Kym Mobbs.

  Honourable members opposite speak of the light on the hill. We all have our beacons, some ephemeral concepts, some gutsy, unsung Australians. In this latter category, I place my electorate council chairman, Dick Bitcon, who, without the least personal gain, steered the National Party in two federal divisions through the rigours of the Whitlam years and Queensland's post-Fitzgerald trauma, never at any time losing sight of the goal or the role yet to be played by conservatives in conservative politics.

  The swing to the National Party in Hinkler against the tide of the election was a combination of the hardworking branches on the one hand and the good judgment of the electorate which was not going to bow to the scare and fear tactics of the anti-Fightback campaign on the other. Their verdict was vindicated in the horrendous budget of just two nights ago. A two-party preferred swing was evident in 70 of Hinkler's 79 booths, and no less so than in the industrial suburb of East Bundaberg, my home suburb, which voted conservative—to the best of my knowledge—for the first time in living memory.

  I believe that in politics no-one comes to this place or survives happily in it without the support of a loving family. In this regard, I am singularly fortunate to have a loving partner and co-worker in my wife, Margaret, who campaigned fearlessly for me, and my five children of diverse and individualistic character, two of whom are with me tonight.

  Finally, in terms of the election itself, there are forces beyond us that give us the drive and ability to be here. I share very much the philosophy of the honourable member for Lowe (Mrs Easson) as to why we are here. There are few prizes in life that a loving God has denied me. The thing which is hardest to accept is that it is more often in his time scale rather than mine.

  This leads me to state my personal political philosophy in not seeing success as steps on a ladder or the manipulation of circumstances or friendships for personal gain, but rather being a participant in the quest for the hearts and minds of men—the great mass of the silent majority of Australians.  That, in turn, leads me to the character of Sir Thomas More who, paraphrased by Robert Bolt, said:

When statesmen forsake their private conscience for the sake of their public duties they lead their country by a short route to chaos.

Never, might I suggest, have these words been more apt in an Australian context than at present. While all parties share a degree of blame in this regard, there is no more shameful an example of it as the March federal election and what we have seen in this House today.

  This was reinforced, in my mind, by the ABC's Labor in Power series. It was great TV and brilliant drama but, as an insight into the honesty or otherwise of politicians, it was a chilling indictment. That the environmental movement could have been manipulated so cynically or that economists with sound ideas, honestly held, could have been branded and dismissed as economic illiterates must surely weigh heavily on the `private' consciences of those who ran that agenda.

  Might I add that if we subjugate our traditions, practices, conventions and laws to concepts which we know will not be honoured by those who would impose them on us, what is gained? I accept that there are certain conventions which affect Australia's near neighbours and our place in the world at large—the environment, laws of the air and sea, matters of trade—to which we must, of necessity and responsibility, subscribe. However, when it comes to standards of behaviour, human interaction, rights and the practice of faith, we should not become the playthings of the social engineers and the twisted practitioners of political correctness. If we have the will or, as Thomas More put it, `the spittle' to enhance the status of the woman and the child, to dispense social justice more equitably, to eliminate racial vilification or to enshrine freedom of religion, we need to do it in our way. These are distinctively Australian responsibilities and should be exercised by Australians.

  Other countries have diverse social, religious and legal traditions which we respect but might not necessarily adopt. I suspect that many lofty concepts enshrined in the external powers treaties are likely to be honoured more in the breach or in the manipulation of their real intent. Reducing Australia, its character and independence to a spirit of wimpish subservience is, to me, totally offensive.

  In belatedly congratulating Mr Speaker on his elevation to high office, and thanking his predecessor, the honourable member for Watson (Mr McLeay) for his many courtesies and the honourable member for Herbert (Mr Lindsay) for giving me his timeslot tonight, may I outline a thumbnail sketch of my electorate of Hinkler. It is an electorate of some 41,000 square kilometres. It is a comparatively new seat, having been carved out of the old seats of Wide Bay and Capricornia in 1984. I have the good fortune to be its third member. Its principal centres are the cities of Bundaberg and Gladstone and 10 shires. Tonight I wear the tie of the shire of Gooburrum as a tribute to those 10 shires.

  Interestingly, in 1982, in conjunction with history and aviation buffs Lex Rowland and Tom Quinn—the presence of the latter I acknowledge in the House tonight—we were commissioned by the Bundaberg bicentennial committee to investigate the removal of Bert Hinkler's house from Southampton in the United Kingdom to Australia as a bicentennial project. Fortuitously, but not without some difficulty, we were successful. The house was painstakingly dismantled brick by brick, loaded into two 20-tonne containers and, on 20 June 1983, transported to Australia. It was rebuilt to the original architect's plans in what is now Bundaberg's botanical gardens. It has become a repository of priceless Australian aviation memorabilia. Replete with exquisite 1920s decor, it captures the mood of a man who excited the world with his daring solo flights in the 1920s and the 1930s. It is a living memorial to the indomitable spirit of Hinkler, who ranks with Charles Kingsford-Smith as Australia's greatest pioneer aviator.

  I interpose here that the honourable member for Shortland (Mr Peter Morris) has long been a dedicated supporter and ambassador for this project over many years. It was out of this process that Tom Quinn and others were possessed to suggest that one of the new seats in the 1984 redistribution be named after Bert Hinkler. Honourable members can imagine then the strange sense of irony and humility I feel here tonight in representing the electorate that only nine years ago I played a part in naming. But, far more than this, Hinkler is a symbol of the spirit of the communities I represent.

  There is one over-riding characteristic which distinguishes Bundaberg from the other communities of Australia, and that is its extraordinary commitment to excellence and innovation. As if it was not enough that people like Hinkler, Moncrieff and Tallon emerged from humble beginnings in that town, each in turn electrifying the world with their talent, it has yet another dimension—that of unbelievable home-grown innovation. Let me name a few: Bundaberg Sugar and Bundaberg rum; Austoft, dominating 70 per cent of the world's sugar cane harvester production; Bonel Ltd, a new player in waste disposal technology; Eric Bauer, a pioneer in genetic behaviour control in floriculture; Avtech, the aviation engineers who pioneered Australia's first certified fibreglass aircraft; and Electra Breweries, which exports to New Zealand and Asian markets—wait for it Mr Deputy Speaker—180 containers of ginger beer per year.

  The same can be said for the city of Gladstone, but it has its own distinctive character of youth, drive and enthusiasm—the envy of other cities. Often called the `engine room' of Queensland, it is marked to become a new industrial leader. There is no empty rhetoric in this: Gladstone and its adjoining shire of Calliope are host to the emerging giants of Australian manufacturing. Queensland Alumina and the Boyne Smelters each boast a value adding factor of 10 to their finished products, an enviable performance by any standards. The importance of this group and Comalco's $1.75 billion expansion make the resolution of the Mabo and Wik claims all the more relevant and urgent, though the substance of this debate is a matter for another time. Minproc with its cyanide technology, and ICI whose ammonium nitrate plant will be opened by the premier tomorrow, are major players in an industry adding a new dimension to central Queensland, as is Stickmakers, and Queensland Cement.

  A host of other companies in the resource and processing areas have been attracted to Gladstone by its abundant power, gas and electrified rail system. But its great linchpin is Gladstone harbour and the progressive Gladstone Port Authority. This is Australia's fastest growing deepwater port, responsible for 5 per cent of the nation's export earnings, and I appeal to government not to look on it as a convenient hollow log or a corporatised milking cow, but rather as an independent and highly motivated authority which provides a regional stimulus.

  To the west of the electorate lies one of Queensland's most dynamic townships, Biloela, a comparatively new player in some respects, but already playing a pivotal role as the commercial centre for the coalfields of Moura and Theodore, and the agricultural wealth of the Dawson and Callide valleys. It is here that another unique tourist attraction lies in waiting—the Advance Australia Fair project. This has the potential to be to agricultural Australia what the Stockman's Hall of Fame was to the outback.

  Successive federal governments have paid lip service to the concept but have refused funding through supposed inability. In the light of the $26 million allocated to the museum of Australia and an increase of 12 per cent in funding for the arts on Tuesday night, the case against it by this government just does not hold up. I will be pressing for the completion of this unique Australian project.

  Then I go on to the hardy people of Monto. It was just four weeks ago, after storming a Queensland railways train, that 600 angry citizens served notice on the state government in their public hall that their railway line was not going to be closed. Monto is now synonymous with the movement that says the denuding of country centres by thoughtless and uncaring governments must stop. Monto, Eidsvold, Mount Perry, Childers and Gin Gin are all indicative of those marvellous towns that epitomise the spirit and character of rural Australia.

  Mr Deputy Speaker, the closing of court houses, the downgrading of police stations, the removal of DPI officers and the selling off of post offices are testament to an insensitive bureaucracy. These facilities are the human face of government in remote areas; they are part of the fabric of the community. It has never been more so than now in times of recession, rural debt, low commodity prices and drought. I join with those who say enough is enough: hands off rural communities.

  This leads me, Mr Deputy Speaker, to my final theme: regional development. No more nonsense has been spoken of, and no more sins have been committed, than in the name of regional development. It is no less so than in the current regional development task force of the government. While not reflecting on the individual capacities of its members, it is scarcely believable that a committee of 11, charged with examining regional development, could be made up of seven from capital cities with only one professional regional development practitioner amongst their number. Hopping as they do from one part of Australia to another, they are developing a recipe for superficiality. The government would do well to reflect on the workings of the Kennedy inquiry into the QTTC and to examine its methods of submission, consultation, inquiry and interaction with key players.

  The ingredients for regional development are not bureaucratic lines on maps, the selective picking of winners or setting up so-called regional government offices. The bases for regional development are the need for a wider community of interest, a commonality of purpose, a set of local authorities that can work together, a focal administrative centre, an integrated transport system, and a range of media networking in and over the regional area. Above all, the region must have the confidence and contribution of commercial, manufacturing and rural enterprises in the area. It cannot be imposed from above. While these criteria may seem self-evident, they are seldom invoked.

  Regions can be based on economic development, tourism or both. This is my field of expertise where I have spent the last 22 years. I take great pride that two of Queensland's, if not Australia's, most successful regional organisations cover my electorate—the Bundaberg District Tourism and Development Board and the Gladstone Area Promotion Inc. Both are joint tourism and development boards and cover between them 15 local authorities. I make a plea to state and federal governments that support for these organisations should be delivered in three ways: sales tax exemption on resource and promotional items; core practitioner funding for their research and development activities; and targeted government programs which are not stifled by endless bureaucracy and reporting.

  In Queensland, OLMA has worked most successfully through these organisations, and I commend ministers Beazley and Free for the creative and unobtrusive programs that are being delivered. These programs are capable of sourcing opportunities, testing feasibilities, structuring projects and driving up employment and training based incubation projects.

  Tourism plays a pivotal role in my electorate, as well it might. Over the last decade the area has emerged as the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The focus of this anchor product are three coral cays, Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island and Heron Island. As fuel prices are driven skywards and disposable income tightens, southern demand for these unbelievably beautiful gems of the Barrier Reef is certain to increase.

  Four surf clubs service eastern Australia's most northern surfing beaches stretching from Woodgate through Bargara and Agnes Water to Tannum Sands. This is a region in which water sports and maritime activities are paramount—be that fishing fleets in Gladstone and Bundaberg, rowing, sailing, boarding, or an ocean classic like the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race. At the electorate's gateways, the Port Curtis Historical Village and the Childers Pharmacy museum are samples of the wide ranges of natural and man-made attractions that include Australia's leading herb farm, a tropical winery, a koala park, a cooperage, museums and national parks. Add to this the turtle rookery of Mon Repos, the whales of Platypus Bay, and the Group A motor racing circuit planned for Gladstone and we have all the ingredients of a great region.  You can understand then, Mr Deputy Speaker, the obvious pleasure I have in representing such a desirable and progressive area.

  Mr Deputy Speaker, we live in changing times. I have outlined earlier what I consider is Australia's responsibility to itself. The ingredient I have not mentioned is honesty and truth in government. So many beat-up minority issues have clouded the body politic as to make it unrecognisable. Those who have views divergent from the prevailing wisdom, no matter how honestly held, are labelled misogynists, bigots, racists and economic illiterates.

  So many diverse issues, not least of which are the flag, the republic and the constitutional monarchy, have been dragged on to the agenda in such a way as to contrive a predetermined result. The spirit of reasonable, honest debate is absent. To those who would take us down this path, I again defer to Sir Thomas More:

When a man takes an oath, he is holding his own self in his hands like water. And if he opens his fingers then he need not hope to find himself again.

I ask those who drive these agendas: `When it is all over, do you hope to find Australia again?'.

  Honourable members—Hear, hear!

  Debate (on motion by Mr Lindsay) adjourned.