Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last weekend the authentic replica of the Dutch vessel Duyfken dropped anchor in Gladstone. It was moored at the O’Connell Wharf, giving thousands of people a rare opportunity of experiencing a working 16th century vessel. As always, Gladstone carried out the ceremonies with commendable aplomb. The mayor, Peter Corones, and the Indigenous elders were there. We had a particularly fine function on the jetty and then inspected the Duyfken, which is on a 16,000 kilometre voyage from Western Australia to Cape York to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Duyfken’s passage through the Torres Strait.

The Australian government has provided almost half a million dollars towards the cost of the journey, which is the centrepiece of the government’s 2006 focus on coastal and maritime heritage. As I said, the Duyfken started its journey in Western Australia—in fact, from Fremantle—on 6 April, and it will end its journey after visiting 25 ports. The ship was to have visited Bundaberg also, but was prevented by high winds.

Gladstone was a very appropriate place to take this vessel because it is a rich centrepiece of Australian maritime history—it played a seminal part during the Second World War. It is the focus of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race, Australia’s second biggest race. It is now a major port—the fastest growing port in Australia—exporting 12 per cent of Australia’s materials by volume. So for that reason it was quite appropriate. It is said that some Spanish and Portuguese coins were found on a headland at Gladstone and it is speculated that one of the ships in the Quiros or Torres fleet may well have come down the east coast of Australia.

Gladstone is about to construct a maritime museum and I have been at the forefront in trying to have HMAS Gladstone, which is shortly to be decommissioned, transferred to Gladstone. It is a Fremantle class patrol boat and, as honourable members know, they are shortly to be replaced by the Armadale class. It was commissioned in 1984, and I urge the government in its allocation of this vessel to give the highest priority to Gladstone. As I said, it is a city that does things well. It will be well displayed and it will become the centrepiece of a fine maritime museum in Central Queensland.