2014-05-06
TIO – Potential for Sale
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You may not yet have moved to the Territory when our community rallied in its thousands to prevent the sale of TIO. The CLP was staunchly opposed to the sale. Territorians went to the last election with that firm belief. Word around town is you are pandering to the Liberal asset sales agenda by putting our insurance office, TIO, up for sale without a mandate.
Will you today rule out the sale of TIO for the families of Katherine who rely on the insurance office for flood coverage, and for the families of Darwin, Palmerston and the Top End regional communities who rely on TIO for cyclone coverage.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I also pass on my best wishes to the member for Nightcliff and hope she and her family are in a good spot.
I will not rule out supporting the growth of northern Australia and its development. I put this in the context of the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition. People may be aware that we have started an intensive campaign on the promotion of northern Australia development, the role of the Northern Territory in leading that development and how we foresee ourselves facilitating the development of northern Australia for the benefit of all Australians. Much of this revolves around the development of new industry, such as the pastoral industry.
It is important to look at some of the reforms we have seen in the pastoral industry: the involvement, procurement and process of ensuring we have allocation of water licenses so people can see the development; re-establishing the live cattle trade; engaging in the buffalo trade; and opening up the north to further development.
This means there will be jobs in the Northern Territory and across northern Australia in the future. Access to markets will heavily involve the utilisation of critical infrastructure in the Northern Territory, but also in Queensland and Western Australia, ensuring we get roads like the Barkly, Victoria and Stuart Highways, and the rail links, through our port to access and sell goods and services, especially into Asia.
To get the infrastructure in place we need to ensure we have an adequate amount of resources and finances so we can invest in new infrastructure, improve road quality, build roads and bridges and ensure we have the port up to scratch to meet growing demand. We have a level of quay line at the port which is able to support the ongoing demands and development for growing northern Australia.
One concern we have about investing in infrastructure is we are not credited with having a vast amount of resources and finance to invest in infrastructure. People know we had a $5.5bn debt legacy and legacy deficits which were holding us back when we came into government. We have been working intensively to ensure we reduce the deficit and bring down the forward estimates debt levels. You will see this through the budget which will be tabled next Tuesday, we have resources available.
On Friday, in COAG, I signed up to a national agreement with all state and territory leaders from around the country to work with the Coalition to identify ways we can realise asset value for all parts of infrastructure around Australia - particularly from our point of view in the Northern Territory - and ways we can invest finances and resources, achieved through asset values we can get back into the Northern Territory, and see how we can invest into infrastructure.
I have run out of time but I look forward to adding to this in further questions.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
TIO – Potential for Sale
TIO – Potential for Sale
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You refused to rule out the sale of TIO. Come clean and be honest with Territorians. Advise Territorians when you are planning to sell TIO and when you will take the planned sale to Territorians for the mandate to do so. You did not go to the election with a mandate to sell TIO and the CLP was firmly opposed to the sale. If you have backflipped on the CLP’s position and are now planning to sell TIO - which is evident given your last answer where you refused to rule it out and talked about the yield you would get from an asset sale - come clean and tell Territorians what you are plans are for TIO.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are not ruling anything in or out, but we will identify ways to realise some value in some of those assets so we can invest in more assets for the Northern Territory and develop northern Australia. There is a range of options and opportunities in the Northern Territory. Unfortunately, we are not like Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with a range of assets we can seek to realise value in, but we want to invest in more infrastructure and are identifying ways we can do this.
The agreement signed at COAG the other day with the Prime Minister and other state and territory leaders was to work out ways we can realise value and get an additional 15% of asset value to invest in other infrastructure. That could be roads, bridges, ports or industry parks; there is a range of things we can invest in.
I look forward to having this ongoing debate about asset valuations and building more infrastructure in the Northern Territory.
Northern Australia Development
Mr HIGGINS to CHIEF MINISTER
This government has begun a conversation with Territorians and the nation about the need for northern Australia development. What work is this government already doing in this space and what is in the pipeline?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He is a firm advocate of developing northern Australia, particularly through the Daly region and the Cox Peninsula. He also wants to see a greater level of investment in infrastructure. We have committed to seal Port Keats Road as soon as we can, but everybody knows about the $5.5bn debt legacy we inherited from Labor, plus the deficits we received.
We have been in conversation with Territorians about the development of northern Australia and the Territory’s role in leading that development, working with Campbell Newman and Colin Barnett the premiers of Queensland and Western Australia.
At lunch time today we will officially open the Northern Australia Development Office which is based on the Esplanade in Darwin. It will provide a place of facilitation for industry stakeholders to work together and provide a coordinated effort in developing northern Australia.
Part of the methodology in doing this was identifying a range of stakeholders who work for the benefit of the Territory and many industry groups. We want them to come together, whether it is the Chamber of Commerce, the NT Farmer’s Association, the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association or any others. This presents an interactive office with conference facilities which will enable those stakeholders to work together, be based in those offices and bring a coordinated approach.
Many people would be aware of some of the facilitation meetings which have been happening around the Territory to date. The member for Barkly attended one in Tennant Creek, if my information is correct, and I hope he found that useful. The series includes talking to people about what northern Australia development means for the Northern Territory, the north of Australia and the country with its increase population, the development of jobs, opening up new industries and the ability for us to punch further above our weight, not only in having more jobs, but being a greater base of taxation revenue for the rest of Australia. This is all very important in the office.
I look forward to seeing the office open. It will be open for the opposition if they would like to come down. I am very happy to provide a briefing about how we are trying to drive the north Australia agenda forward.
Ms Lawrie: You will sell TIO; put the ‘For Sale’ sign up.
Mr GILES: I hear the Opposition Leader carping across the Chamber about the sale of TIO. We will be honest and say we are ruling nothing in or out, but we must open our minds to the need to invest in infrastructure and to find the resources to do that.
There has been no consideration about selling or not selling an asset, but we must be able to put it on the table that we are looking at realising opportunities to find resources and invest that back into infrastructure. Each member around this Chamber would like to see more infrastructure built in their electorates. Let us work out sensible ways we can do that, with a coordinated and mature approach to public debate on how we can do that.
Power and Water – Prices
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You have created a $1bn Power and Water problem with a 32% increase in the network price. You will pass that price hike on to major customers on 1 July, and all consumers will feel another cost of living spike as a result of your decision to make Power and Water commercially viable.
What will you do for small businesses and residential customers, given that you have stated tariffs are set in stone? As you will add almost $1bn to the Territory debt from your commercial profit policy, will you slash budgets to cover this massive community service obligation payment due on 1 July, or will you break yet another commitment and increase tariffs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, here we go, another parliamentary sittings and another question which is completely out of order in my opinion. The premise of the question is not accepted from our point of view.
I do not know how many times we have to say it, but the next price rise will be on 1 January 2015 at 5%. Your attempt to mislead Territorians by talking about a price increase, which is incorrect, is not accepted by us and we will not be responding. I will make it clear that the next price rise will be 5% on 1 January 2015.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will you add almost $1bn in debt to your commercial profit policy?
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, it is not a point of order. Standing Order 113 is about relevance and being concise and succinct. The Chief Minister is answering the question.
Budget Objectives
Ms FINOCCHIARO to TREASURER
Can the Treasurer inform members of the objectives he set for himself when he commenced drafting this year’s budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question and the answer is very simple. The budget will secure our children’s future by making the necessary decisions today to ensure we do not stifle the opportunities for our children tomorrow.
That is why the budget will be delivering support for the Chief Minister’s plan to develop north Australia. It will contain initiatives to boost mineral exploration to capitalise on the rapidly growing food demands, as was outlined by the Chief Minister in the previous question. It will ensure our economy is diversified and equipped with the infrastructure required to capitalise on these opportunities into the future.
We have announced that we will secure our children’s future through better school facilities that are planned for children to make sure they have a good education and a bright and rosy future. We will ensure our children’s future by ensuring that young people have great recreational, cultural and artistic opportunities, including the announcement we made to support childcare and the highly lauded sports and recreation voucher program. We can ensure our children’s future and make sure they get the best chance by not stealing their future away by leaving them with unsustainable levels of debt.
I do not want the energy of future generations to be drained by paying back debt created by the previous generation. Intergenerational debt is a sad fact, and it seems that every time a Labor government leaves office, the country and the jurisdiction are further in debt. When we came to office, Labor had projected the debt to grow to $5.5bn; spending was out of control. This government will remain steadfast in its efforts to reduce spending and get this generation living within its means to make sure our children’s future is secure.
I thank the member for Drysdale for her question because it gives us the opportunity to say we are planning and acting for future generations.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Power and Water – Cost Impact
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER
With major utilities’ structural adjustments it is normal to undertake a cost benefit analysis, but no such evidence exists to support the Power and Water agenda of this government. With known costs of the split running at the bare minimum of $6.8m - not the $2m the Treasurer guessed - and future costs that include separate billing and IT systems yet to be quantified, the cost is still to run in the millions above that.
Can you explain what the impact will be for Territorians across the billing tranches, such as major customers like hotels and schools? What will be the cost impact for small businesses, such as the local shop or pub? What will the impact be for households?
Do you have any idea how much this will cost Territorians?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek guidance from you in relation to pre-emption of debate.
Madam SPEAKER: The question is okay. It is asking very specific items of government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Wanguri for her question. She is interested in what the government is doing to improve the efficiency of Power and Water, what the structural reform debate will do and how we can see price structural change to drive down costs through Power and Water. That is the agenda we are trying to move to in what we are doing with Power and Water.
There is no doubt there are price pressures on Power and Water. Questions like the Leader of the Opposition’s about utility costing, how much it costs and what reinvestment is needed in poles and wires are important to debate. We do not often have those articulate debates here; we are more focused on how much power will go up in price because of certain things.
There will be a debate today about the structural separation of Power and Water and many of those questions will be answered by the shareholding minister throughout that debate. I understand there has also been debate through the PAC where many officials have been answering a lot of those questions. It is important for those questions to be raised, and the minister will be able to answer some of them. It is important that we look at Power and Water and the cost structure of delivering services.
The ability to keep the service standard up to poles and wires is important. We do not charge what it costs to maintain them and we do not charge what it costs to produce power and water in the Northern Territory. We have some of the cheapest gas in Australia to produce our power, yet while we are not the dearest - we are around the middle in power price across Australia - we are still not realising the cost to produce power. There needs to be a sensible debate about it. Your questions go partly to that, and the Treasurer, the shareholding minister for Power and Water, will be happy to answer many of those questions during the debate today.
Blain Electorate Initiatives
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
Last month’s Blain by-election result saw voters back the Country Liberals’ vision for the future of Palmerston and the Territory. Can you outline some of the exciting projects and initiatives Blain voters have to look forward to under this government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I do not have any notes in front of me to answer that question, but I will reflect on the campaign. Every time I turned up to an announcement during the campaign, with you and others, there seemed to be another new thing we were doing. It was not pork barrelling an electorate; it is what we are doing, releasing land like never before - more land release than the Territory has ever seen. This is not a new initiative, it is simply what we are doing. I look forward to seeing what the Treasurer puts in the budget about land release into the future.
When I look a little further to my right I see the Minister for Health and think about what is happening with health in the Palmerston regional area, and in your electorate of Goyder, Madam Speaker. It is with much fanfare and passion we talk about the Palmerston Regional Hospital we are building, which will be different to Labor’s hospital. Labor had a Palmerston hospital with a fence and a sign; eleven-and-a-half years and they delivered a fence and a sign, but we will build a hospital.
We have firm commitments from the Territory and federal governments about the investments we will be making there. I was happy to talk about that during the Blain by-election, listen to the Minister of Health talking about it, hear colleagues such as the members for Brennan and Drysdale and former members for Blain, Barry Coulter and Terry Mills, talking about it – fantastic announcements about what we are doing there. We had announcements about childcare centres in the electorate of Blain and new schools in Zuccoli. Member for Blain, it seems endless and I understand why you asked that question.
On Sunday night we saw the opening of Tiger Brennan Drive, albeit in limited capacity as there is a month of work still to be done there. People are now using the extra two lanes on Tiger Brennan Drive – a fantastic initiative to duplicate Tiger Brennan Drive between Woolner Road and Dinah Beach Road, and we are already seeing the benefits of that.
We have announced that in September this year further duplication of Tiger Brennan Drive between Woolner Road and Berrimah Road will commence. These are fantastic investments for the people of Blain, for Palmerston and for the northern Australia development agenda.
Member for Blain, I can see from your first Question Time that you are fighting for the people of Blain, which is what we want to see on this side of the Chamber. Congratulations.
I will leave you with one piece of advice. When you are in this Chamber you will hear us talk about what we are doing; you will hear the Country Liberals government talking about policies, plans and visions. You will also hear about the northern Australia development plan, but what you will not hear about in this Chamber is policies from anybody else. You will not hear Labor talking about any policies or a north Australia plan; you will not hear them talk about anything. You will just hear them carping, whining, whinging and being negative.
Welcome to the Chamber, member for Blain.
Racial Vilification – Moves to Introduce Laws Against
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
There is no place for racial discrimination in today’s society. The Abbott government’s move to weaken federal anti-discrimination legislation which prohibits offending, insulting, humiliating or intimidating a person based on race or ethnicity will affect the NT. We have relied on these Commonwealth laws as we do not have our own vilification laws in the Territory. The NT has a very proud multicultural history and a harmonious society, but it is important to send a clear message that under law, public discrimination will not be tolerated.
Will you support the opposition’s moves to introduce laws to protect Territorians against racial vilification?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have not seen the opposition’s moves. What are you doing?
Ms Lawrie: Will you support it?
Mr GILES: We do not know what you are doing. It is a misleading question and you do not have a clue what you are talking about. I saw something in the media about you bringing a bill in - I am not sure if you are pre-empting debate in this frame - but we support protection of people’s cultural diversity and individuals rights and freedom, whether it be speech or otherwise. I do not know what bill you are planning on introducing or whether it is a stunt or real. As it comes in, we will consider it as a parliamentary wing. At this point in time, we do not know what you are proposing, but the Northern Territory is always a dynamic and multicultural society, and I believe it will grow and prosper into the future.
When you look at the north Australia development agenda, you have to look at some of the dynamics of that. We have an unemployment rate of around 1.3% in the Top End. Some of the job growths and prospective in the Top End, we have a real problem with …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question went to the Racial Discrimination Act changes, not to employment growth in the Northern Territory. The Minister for Multicultural Affairs has been briefed on the changes by the minister, he was at the forum when she explained it. We would all like an answer from the government about whether it will support the bill.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could get to the point.
Mr GILES: We need more labour to fill some of those jobs. Having a low unemployment rate, you drive a negative impact around wage inflation and it drives up the cost of living, which is a challenge. We need more people to fill some of those jobs.
To fill those jobs, there is a large attempt by the federal government - the current and previous government in Canberra - to try to get people from Sydney and Melbourne, where there are high levels of unemployment, to move to the Territory. This has not been a successful program for a range of different reasons. I think as you see northern Australia and the Northern Territory grow, much of our population dynamics will come from Asia, Indonesia and Timor, but also many other countries, including the Philippines, which is our largest population to date.
You will see a growing level of multicultural diversity in the Northern Territory and the ability for those people to have their rights and freedoms, to act and live the way they want to. It is really important, so we will continue to support multicultural diversity and advocate - as Liberals always do - people’s rights and freedoms to be themselves and protect their cultural diversity.
This is what separates us from the other jurisdictions around the country. The way the Northern Territory has developed in a multicultural nature is something we should be immensely proud of; Indigenous, non-Indigenous, Asia, Greece, Italy, wherever the dynamics of our population base come from is something we share very well in the dynamics of the Northern Territory. We will continue to support, advance and grow it.
Party Donations
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
In light of the ICAC investigations in other parts of Australia, this question is in the interests of the public.
Have you or any other elected members of the Country Liberals, their families, de facto or otherwise, ever received any funds, favours or inducements, either directly or indirectly, from a company called Foundation 51? Does Foundation 51 have any links to, or is it an associated entity of, the Country Liberal Party, and has this company in any way, shape or form paid for any election campaigns past or present? Has the interest of Foundation 51 in the Country Liberal Party been declared to appropriate authorities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Namatjira for her question. It was very interesting having a good chat with Mike Baird, the new Premier for New South Wales at COAG last Friday, hearing some of the stories about what goes on at ICAC in New South Wales, and some of the processes different jurisdictions and parties around the country have in relation to political donations.
In the Northern Territory, any political donation to the party is a matter for the party, not a matter for politicians in the confines of parliament. Donations received by political parties and individuals should always be declared on electoral returns provided to the Australian Electoral Commission. Any questions, especially about political donations, whether they are to Labor, Liberal or any other party, should go straight to the party and not to members of parliament.
A smart politician does not handle money. It is all done by the party, which should be looking after it. I ask that any questions about political donations, returns or otherwise be put to the party or the Electoral Commission in the Northern Territory.
I thank Bill Shepherd for all of his hard work as the Electoral Commissioner of the Northern Territory, and pass on my congratulations to Mr Loganathan, who has taken over an Electoral Commission which needs some reform in the Northern Territory. I spoke about that during estimates last year and we look forward to how we can review the Electoral Act.
To date, there has been a lot of mechanics behind the scenes, but Mr Loganathan has a role to undertake with the review. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her support in his appointment in the Electoral Commission role. He is an independent person and will do a very good job in electoral reform in the Northern Territory. It is important for us to get electoral matters right, and he is the right man to do it. Congratulations to Mr Loganathan.
Opium Poppies Legislation
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
During this sittings period, legislation to regulate the growth of opium poppies will be introduced and passed on urgency. Can you provide an update to this parliament on what this government is doing to support the development of a legal opiate industry in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his very important question. He has an interest in this industry and developing the Northern Territory’s economic base around a new agricultural industry.
The Northern Territory government is supportive of this new agribusiness, not only because it will further develop the economy, but it will also bring medicinal benefits through the production of pharmaceutical ingredients in drugs such as codeine and morphine. Following the success of a small-scale trial of the crop in the Northern Territory in 2013, conducted by TPI Enterprises Ltd, a Tasmania-based medicinal alkaloid manufacturer, the NT government was approached by the company with a proposal to conduct a larger scale commercialised cultivation trial in 2014. However, under current laws there is no legal mechanism to allow the commercialised cultivation of poppies in the Northern Territory.
To this end, the Northern Territory government has actively worked to design an appropriate regulatory framework to allow for the legalised cultivation, storage and transportation of poppy-related end products.
The Poppy Regulation Bill 2014 provides for the regulation of opium poppy activities to capture the cultivation, processing, transportation and storage of poppy material, and minimises any potential risks. The bill also provides a strict licensing framework. Key provisions in the bill include the need for the applicant and associates to demonstrate they are fit and proper persons to be issued with a licence. Additionally, the applicant will need to submit, for assessment, a detailed risk management plan which addresses activities to be carried out under the licence.
A requirement under the bill is that the appointed licensing authority will need to seek the views of the Police Commissioner on whether or not a licence should be granted.
In addition, the licensee must hold any Commonwealth licence required for activities carried out under the bills licenced under the Commonwealth Narcotic Drugs Act 1967.
Poppy control officers will be appointed to fulfil a range of functions, such as ensuring the licensees and other persons are meeting their obligations as stipulated under the bill.
The Northern Territory government is supportive of the establishment of an opium poppy industry, as it will broaden the Northern Territory’s existing agricultural base and help with economic development through private capital expenditure and the creation of employment opportunities.
Developing the north is an important and critical part of what this Northern Territory government is doing, and providing an expanded agricultural base is part of the big plan we have for the Northern Territory to grow, not only our agricultural sector, but as a place to do business.
Political Donations
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Following on from a question from the member for Namatjira, there is much concern amongst the public about what is happening in New South Wales regarding political donations, as revealed in the corruption inquiry. In the NT, both major parties received donations from developers and business lobby groups like the AHA.
How can the public be sure that when it comes to matters like closing hours of clubs and pubs in Mitchell Street, island development in the harbour, or prosecuting people for illegal clearing – three matters which have connection to political donations – that those decisions will not be influenced by those donations on your open for business policy, but instead be made on their merit? Do you think it is time, in light of the problems in New South Wales, to review the current arrangements regarding political donations given to political parties and individuals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a very sensible question. I had some good private chats with people in Canberra last Friday about the way political donations should be handled. There was a conversation about whether we should regulate the process or whether openness and transparency is better for holding people to account.
The way political donations are currently tabled within political party or individual returns - if individuals make returns with such donations - is important because it provides a level of transparency where people can see it.
We need to make sure when we make decisions that we have a high level of transparency and hold people to account for a range of things.
You gave a couple of examples; one was about Mitchell Street. You have certain views about Mitchell Street and the Newcastle/Kings Cross/Wollongong solution, but as government we go through all those solutions - potential opportunities - look at what the real issues are rather than the popular stuff or the anecdotal things in the media, then make decisions we believe are in the best interests of Northern Territory business, society and so forth.
We think we have a pretty good mix with our Darwin Safe model, especially around the development of northern Australia. We will see more people come in and what it means to keep people safe on Mitchell Street.
You spoke about the issue of land clearing. I am not an expert on land clearing but the minister for Lands and Planning is and he performs a high level of investigation analysis on claims of illegal land clearing. He also makes clear and concise decisions on how development should go forward. There is no degree of political interference, or otherwise, based on whether there is political donation or not. There are people who ask us to develop things here, there and everywhere, but we have a range of rules and regulations around how things should be improved, guidelines about development and what sort of development should happen. That is where we have to go through the process of making it happen, which is where the transparency and accountability comes forward.
You raised some questions and looked at what is happening in New South Wales. The Territory is not like New South Wales and does not have any of those other concerns around the country. We have an open and transparent process, and when we get to election, people hold us to account for the decisions we have made, in the way they did at the recent Blain by-election. There was only one party with a plan for the development of northern Australia, Palmerston and Blain - the Country Liberals.
If they went to election now, they would look at some of the decisions we have made and the policies we have which identify that Labor does not have any policies or programs to implement. They would work that out and hold us to account for the decisions we made, which is a good process - openness, transparency and accountability.
__________________________
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of two Year 5/6 classes from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School accompanied by Alain van Gurp. On behalf of honourable members, welcome to Parliament House. I hope you enjoy your time here.
Members: Hear, hear!
__________________________
Land Release
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
You promised to cut the cost of living; however, CLP policies have pushed CPI up in Darwin to be the highest of all Australian capital cities. Darwin’s CPI is the highest in the nation and the Australian Bureau of Statistics found it is mainly due to higher increases in housing costs.
You have scrapped My New Home and Homestart Extra and your new remote housing repairs and maintenance contracts are not delivering Indigenous employment on country. You have done nothing to tackle housing affordability, and your failed housing policies are hurting Territorians. You have scrapped the master plan city of Weddell, so where will the next CLP major land release occur in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of that question. Growth in land prices across the Northern Territory through the time Labor was in government was running at an average of 11.7%. We have been able to pin that back to 6% growth. We like seeing it come back to make it more affordable, so we have been able to bring it back by nearly 50% in growth patterns. That makes it more affordable, albeit we know it is going up. Investors and developers want to see growth in the value of their land, but we are trying to pin it back to more affordable levels for families.
I answered a question from the member for Blain earlier when talking about what happened in Blain. We spoke about the release of land in the electorate of Blain. I remember being in the electorate of Blain talking about the extension of Roystonea Avenue, to advance sections three, four and five of Zuccoli. With cost of living pressures, it is about how we advance the debate and bring things forward as quickly as we can.
We have the fastest land release program in the Territory’s history and are putting downward pressure on price points for land and building.
If you want to talk about cost of living, I will talk a little about one of the big costs in the Northern Territory: the cost of doing business at our port. I will not go into the exact numbers, but the cost of …
Ms Walker: Selling off the port now.
Mr GILES: If you want a serious debate let us talk about a cost impediment for the Territory. The cost of bringing a container over the port in Darwin is one of the most expensive for capital cities in Australia. It adds huge costs. Every time a fridge, microwave or any household goods or services come over the port in Darwin, it costs much more than anywhere else in Australia.
One of the challenges we have is to work with the people who work very hard at the port, and find ways we can get a greater level of investment into the port to bring down the cost of delivery of services.
Last year we had a problem with the port’s crane and it could not be used. We are using two mobile cranes to load and offload ships, which costs us even more. Some people around the country talk about a container rate of 30 per hour. In the Territory we are doing about six, which means the cost of doing business in our port is really expensive.
We need to lift the container rate at the port. We are looking at what we can do at the port, because when we make those structural changes much of it is about policy, investment and asset value realisation, but it all works for the greater good …
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Could the Chief Minister advise the Territory where the next new land release will be in his last 30 seconds?
Mr GILES: All the things we do are driving down the cost of services and delivery, making it more affordable to live in the Northern Territory, but also more affordable to do business. That is the challenge we have inherited, and we are working very hard to make that happen.
In regard to land release, I have spoken about Zuccoli. We are making a range of land release happen. It is one of the biggest things we are doing in the Territory’s history and we will work on infill development, which will make massive changes too.
Health – New Breast Screening Service
Ms FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you inform the Assembly about the new initiative that will make a big difference to the lives of Territory women and their ongoing health?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. Being a woman, she is very concerned about women’s health issues.
There is good news to be spread this morning on the roll-out of two services based out of Palmerston. I recently visited the service, which was in the throes of being refurbished: a new, dedicated, local service providing breast screening services to the people in the Palmerston area. Never before has this happened. Palmerston people had to wait for their twice-a-year visit by the breast screening clinic, and now they have a dedicated local service. In conjunction with that, the roll-out of the mobile breast screening clinic for remote regions throughout the Northern Territory – never before provided on this scale.
The federal government has tipped in $1.2m to set up the mobile four-wheel drive breast screening service, with the Northern Territory government providing over $700 000 in recurrent funding. This is very important; one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer across Australia, so it is important for us to be on the front foot in providing breast screening services throughout the Northern Territory.
Women in remote areas now have to travel into the regional areas. In Central Australia they are not given travel assistance and have to come in under their own steam. It is hit and miss. When I first came to the Territory over 20 years ago, I was alarmed at the number of Aboriginal people dying of cancer unnecessarily because it was not detected early. This new service is a good example of how the government got on the front foot. We want to screen these women across the Territory.
Good news for the people of Central Australia, the breast screening bus - painted bright pink, I am told - will first go to Central Australia. It will visit every clinic once every two years, which is consistent with the national requirement that women between the ages of 50 and 69 have a breast screen every two years. Women throughout these remote areas will see the pink bus and have a digital mammogram on board, then the mammogram is beamed in to the local data centre for processing, and early detection can happen. It is great news for women across the Northern Territory.
Indigenous Essential Services Shortfall
Ms MANISON to TREASURER
Under existing arrangements, $70m is allocated to fund Indigenous Essential Services. This allocation is supplemented by $40m in revenue through pre-paid meter tokens and charges to non-residential customers.
In the hearing of the Energy Future committee on 20 March 2014, the Chairman of Power and Water Corporation stated that the shortfall for Indigenous Essential Service is in the order of between $5m and $6m per year. How will you cover the Indigenous Essential Services shortfall, especially when you are looking to strip out profitable businesses from Power and Water?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Wanguri for the question. It is an important question because it gives me an opportunity to set the record straight.
Indigenous Essential Services is not funded by other tariffs or electricity users in the Territory. As the member for Wanguri said, it is funded through tokens paid for by householders and the Northern Territory government. There is no subsidisation coming from the Power and Water Corporation.
Indigenous Essential Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Power and Water Corporation; it is a not-for-profit subsidiary. It provides essential services, power, water and sewerage in the bush, and is funded by those householders and the Territory government. On average, across the bush, $8500 is provided per household in subsidies to communities. This will not change with the reforms occurring today. There will be no change to people living in the bush or the way services are delivered in the bush.
Having said that, the government is keen to look at Indigenous Essential Services to see how we can get more innovation in that area. Currently, there is an enormous amount of money - in excess of $40m, I believe - spent every year, transporting diesel around the bush. With some of the technologies today with wind, solar, other renewables and other interesting technologies being developed, I am certain we can find better, more cost-effective ways of delivering essential services in the bush.
The universal tariff applies in the Northern Territory. People who own houses in remote communities pay the same for their electricity, water and sewerage services as Territorians in urban areas, and this will continue. There will be no change to Indigenous Essential Services through these reforms.
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He still has not answered the question; how will you cover the $5m to $6m shortfall in Indigenous Essential Services?
Mr TOLLNER: Sorry, I thought I had clarified that. There is no $5m to $6m shortfall. Power and Water does not provide a subsidy to Indigenous Essential Services. All subsidies are provided by the Northern Territory taxpayer; they come from the government. There is no subsidy transferred from the Power and Water Corporation to Indigenous Essential Services.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Wadeye – New Homes
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for HOUSING
As the Chief Minister has already said, the Country Liberals government is releasing more land faster than ever before, increasing the supply of housing for all Territorians. Can you please explain to the House how new homes built in Wadeye will help keep key workers in the Territory who can contribute to our plans to develop northern Australia and build a more prosperous economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a great question from the member for Daly. It is greatly appreciated that he is committed to northern Australia, especially through his electorate of Daly, and is very keen to retain and recruit workers to the NT.
These 11 new dwellings in the remote community of Wadeye have been purchased by the Northern Territory government. I am pleased to say they are the first private homes to be constructed on Aboriginal land ever in the Northern Territory. It is a fantastic milestone we have achieved.
The Territory government has invested $9.4m in this project, which is a win for the Wadeye community. Around 60 locals were employed in the construction of new homes, which in turn will help attract and retain vital government workers for the town, such as teachers, health professionals, mental health workers, police, child protection workers and housing staff.
Increasing the supply of housing across the Territory will also ensure these workers can continue to work and live here, as well as contribute to our plans to develop northern Australia. There is a mix of four-, three- and two-bedroom properties which will help the community attract families to work in Wadeye. Having proper accommodation will also mean these families stay longer in the community, reducing fly-in fly-out workers and improving services for the people of Wadeye.
Eight of the dwellings have been funded by the Northern Territory government, but the remaining three homes were funded by the Australian government, which contributed $1.9m to the project. The Catholic Education Office has taken over an additional seven new homes in the subdivision to provide additional accommodation for teachers in the community.
As well as increasing the supply of new homes for government workers, we are focused on this for all Territorians. We are easing the cost of living for key workers who need help with our plans to grow northern Australia and build a bigger economy through our Real Housing for Growth plan and the redevelopment of ageing public housing blocks.
I was delighted to announce the other week that local business Reday Joint Venture has been selected to redevelop the aged and run down public housing at 1 Runge Street in Coconut Grove. I am sure everyone in this House is familiar with that site.
The site will be turned into affordable and private housing under the Country Liberal government’s Real Housing for Growth plan, providing a much needed boost to housing stock in Darwin.
The proposed development for Runge Street will dramatically improve the look and feel of the area with plans for 59 new two-bedroom, two-bathroom dwellings for the site. It is a fantastic development. The proposed site will be a mix of affordable housing and private dwellings, and will help ease the cost for Territorians.
Unlike Labor, which was all talk and no action, the Country Liberals government is moving quickly to provide real housing solutions for all Territorians, whether it be at Wadeye or Coconut Grove. We are building more houses so families and key workers can stay in the Northern Territory and help develop the north.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired
Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER FOR BUSINESS referred to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
It is clear this government is the most secretive and unaccountable in Territory history. Why are you seeking to avoid scrutiny of important licencing decisions by scrapping the independent NT Licensing Commission? It is crucial for Territorians to see that important licensing decisions are made at arm’s length and are based on the best available evidence. How can Territorians have any faith that decisions made under the changes you have announced will be in the best interests of the community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. We are not removing any accountability or scrutiny at all.
Mr Gunner: The independent Licensing Commission.
Mr TOLLNER: Let me answer the question, please. We are committed to transparency and accountability in government and are simply making some changes. The Attorney-General is implementing the Civil and Administrative Tribunal and I will hand over to him to explain how the tribunal will work.
Mr ELFERINK (Attorney-General and Justice): Madam Speaker, Territorians may not be aware that every jurisdiction in this country, other than the Northern Territory, has introduced a Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Currently in the Northern Territory there are some 230 sections with appealable processes in them, of which there are about 150 acts containing those sections - I have to check those numbers - and 35 different appeals processes. These changes to the Licensing Commission to create the licensing authority will come under the much greater umbrella of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal. This is a standard model which has been used around the country for many years and was originally introduced as an administrative appeals tribunal under the Commonwealth. It reduces red tape.
Unfortunately, members opposite want to put the scarers on the people of the Northern Territory for what is, on examination and will be demonstrably, a good policy choice and position. An administrative appeals tribunal gets rid of mountains of red tape and different appeals processes. In some areas of this jurisdiction, if you do not like a decision of a public servant in relation to taxation, you have an appeals process within the Australian Taxation Office - talk about an absence of accountability or transparency.
Alternatively, if you have a mining issue you must go to the Lands, Planning and Mining Tribunal, which is held at the Local Court. A single one-stop shop tribunal process is an appropriate way to step forward. The licensing authority will continue to draw its experience from the Licensing Commission and will make decisions consistent with that. There will be an appealable process separate from government.
I ask Territorians and the members opposite, what is wrong with that?
Dry Season Events
Ms FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you please update the Assembly on some of some of the exciting events in store for Territorians this Dry Season?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. The member for Blain will be interested in this question, because we are talking about BASSINTHEGRASS. I believe he was at the launch of BASSINTHEGRASS, along with the member for Drysdale. It was a very exciting day. The BASSINTHEGRASS bumper line up – let me run through some of the acts we have secured for BASSINTHEGRASS, which will be on 24 May at the Darwin Amphitheatre.
I must admit I do not know all of these acts. I will talk about them, but I have not had the pleasure of listening to all of these performers.
Pendulum has enjoyed huge international success over the past decade and has sold out shows, along with having massive record sales around the world. The Living End - which I have heard - are back in Darwin to wow audiences after more than half a decade. Sydney indie dance trio, RFS, blew crowds away at this year’s Falls and Big Day Out festivals, and scored three songs in the Hottest 100. They will be joining triple j’s Hottest 100 number one, Vance Joy, who I have heard. BASSINTHEGRASS returnees, The Amity Affliction, who I have also listened to, are back by popular demand performing an evening time slot.
Mr Wood: Dragon?
Mr GILES: Dragon will not be there, member for Nelson, but I appreciate your finer taste for historic music.
Mr Wood: What about an oldies version? Can we have BASSINTHEGRASS for seniors?
Mr GILES: Others on the list include Peking Duk – you might know those guys, member for Nelson – Owl Eyes, Justice Crew, Jackie Onassis and Allday. Darwin rock band Bear Essence, Alice Springs hip hop act Skank MC and Top End DJ/MC UK have all been chosen as the feature local acts for this year’s event.
Local school bands and young performers have also been vying for a place in BASSINTHEGRASS through the annual Battle of the School Bands competition. I congratulate Alice Springs soloist, Michael Lindsey, and Darwin High School band, OK Kaleidoscope, on winning a place in the line-up. It is a great opportunity for them to rub shoulders with the visiting acts and learn from some of the best in the business.
Tickets are selling fast and I encourage everyone to get in quickly. Entry is $70 and includes free travel to the event on the Darwin Bus network as well as free bottles of water. The government is proud to support this hugely popular event once again, with a grant of around $350 000. It is among a stellar program of sporting, music and cultural events planned for Darwin this Dry Season.
Hot passes are now on sale for the V8 Supercars at Hidden Valley from 20 to 22 June. We are also excited to have the Territory Eels taking on the Canberra Raiders in August. We also have the Melbourne Demons - the Territory demons - coming up to play more games. We have a huge investment in sport and cultural activities in the Northern Territory and it supports the Territory lifestyle and our approach to the future.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Power and Water –
Costs to Consumers
Costs to Consumers
Ms MANISON to TREASURER
In his submission to the Public Accounts Committee on the split up of the Power and Water Corporation, the Utilities Commissioner stated:
- Inevitably, structural separation can increase costs in some parts of the industry, through the loss of economies of scale and scope, increased transaction costs, and reduced dividend flows from government-owned electricity businesses where market share is lost through competitive pressures.
Is it not true that when Power and Water is split up these increased costs and reduced dividends will drive up the price of electricity for Territory families and businesses, as has been the case in other Australian jurisdictions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Wanguri for her question. No, it is not true, the split up will not drive up power …
Ms Lawrie: What evidence?
Mr TOLLNER: I take the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition, ‘What evidence?’ I think the Opposition Leader has been living in a bubble. She attended Energy ministers’ conferences when she was shareholding minister for the Power and Water Corporation. What evidence? These changes have been going on for the last 15 to 20 years in Australia. The Power and Water Corporation is the last monopoly utility business in Australia.
Last Thursday, I happened to be at the COAG Energy ministers’ conference. They passed a motion of support for the Northern Territory government. It was unanimously supported in the communiqu from the meeting:
- Ministers acknowledged and supported the continued reform process being undertaken in the Northern Territory with the last remaining part of the National Energy Market puzzle after nearly two decades of reform. They further noted that the Power and Water Corporation is perhaps the last government monopoly which is to be reformed in line with the COAG reform process. The Council recognised and supported the Minister’s reform efforts.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Refer to the Utilities Commissioner’s submission to the PAC inquiry, which states:
- Inevitably, structural separation can increase costs in some parts of the industry, through the loss of economies of scale …
Get back to the Northern Territory and answer the question, Dave.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Mr TOLLNER: The Opposition Leader is grasping at straws. This is a bit of a yawn; it has been going on around Australia for the last 20 years, in line with competition reforms agreed to in 1991, quite some time ago now. The Opposition Leader was part of that council for five or six years. She must have had her eyelids sewn up not to notice what was going on. Competition, not just in electricity but everywhere across our economy, drives prices down and it might have been fair to say …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Competition currently exists. I deregulated; it is structural separation in terms of the Utilities Commission …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order, sit down, please.
Mr TOLLNER: The Opposition Leader is anti-competition, she does not like seeing markets in place, but Territorians are demanding a more efficient, reliable service from their utility, and this government is committed to delivering it, which is why the reforms on the paper are so important today.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Deloitte Access Economics – NT Projections
Mr BARRETT to TREASURER
Deloitte Access Economics recently revised its projections for the NT economy. Can the Treasurer inform the members of the areas in which Deloitte was most bullish?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. He is a bloke with a focus on the economic environment in the Northern Territory, and I think it is great. The nonsense we hear from the opposition at times is alarming, but it is great to have another person on this side of the Chamber with an eye on the economy.
Deloitte Access Economics revised its projections for the NT and it takes a conservative approach. I am not having a knock at Deloitte Access Economics, but we continue to exceed expectations in the Northern Territory. I think it has been proven with Deloitte Access Economics revision of its numbers.
Growth estimates for this financial year have been revised from 2.9% to 4.7%, and the forecast 2014-15 has been revised from 2.3% to 3.3%. The five year annual average growth in the Territory’s employment forecast is now up to 2.8% from 1.9%. The Territory now has the highest five-year annual average employment growth forecast in the country, according to Deloitte Access Economics.
These revised projections show the forecast annual employment growth in the Territory over the next five years is expected to be nearly double the rest of the nation.
The Territory is continuing to deliver economic opportunities which are second to none in the country. The annual population growth rate has been revised up. The rate for 2017-18 has increased to 2.1% to 2.5%.
This is only the forecast growth. Let me get onto gross state product. The forecast for the Territory’s gross state product has been revised upwards by Deloitte.
The Territory economy is now forecast to grow by an average of 4.9% over the next five years. This is the highest average annual growth rate of all jurisdictions, and it compares to an average of 2.9% nationally.
The Giles Country Liberal government is doing what needs to be done, to ensure our economy continues to thrive. It is great news for the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016