Mr WETTENHALL (17 April 2007) (11.54 am): I am pleased to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of tourism to the economy of Queensland and the far north and to acknowledge the successful partnership between industry and the Queensland Labor government in developing the Queensland Tourism Strategy. Tourism is the state's third largest export earner, generates visitor expenditure of over $18.4 billion and employs 140,000 Queenslanders. In tropical north Queensland tourism contributes $2.5 billion to the regional economy and accounts for nearly half of the region's export economy and 15 per cent of its gross regional product. Some 20,000 far-northerners work directly in tourism and a further 10,000 depend indirectly on the industry.

Mr WETTENHALL (15 March 2007) (5.05 pm): It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to rise in support of the Associations Incorporation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2006. It has been very interesting to listen to the debate from members on both sides of the House, revealing how deeply connected so many members are with their electorates and with the vast range of community organisations and incorporated associations that make up the rich fabric of our local communities.

Mr WETTENHALL (14 March 2007) (4.31 pm): I rise to support the Security Providers Amendment Bill. There are three principal objectives of the bill: first, to tighten regulation of the security industry to ensure that only those persons of reputable character operate in the industry; second, that a higher degree of harmonisation or alignment exists in regulation of the industry in Queensland compared to other states and territories; and, third, to ensure that the Security Providers Act 1993 better reflects the diverse occupations in the security industry.

Mr WETTENHALL (6 March 2007) (9.51 pm): In May 2006, the DPIF confirmed the presence of electric ants in the northern Cairns suburb of Smithfield in my electorate of Barron River. The identification was made from specimens collected by residents who had suffered numerous painful stings. Subsequent surveys of neighbouring properties found electric ants on 18 properties in close proximity to the original site. These properties adjoin forested areas connected to national park and the Kuranda Range section of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.

Mr WETTENHALL (21 Feb 2007) (3.52 pm): For nearly two decades now-since the introduction of random breath testing in Queensland in 1988-there has been a steady decline in the road toll. This welcome trend in our state has occurred in many other jurisdictions around Australia and elsewhere where random breath testing occurs. It marks the achievement of an almost universal acceptance of random breath testing, as the community has reached a much deeper understanding of the risks of driving whilst affected by liquor.