2014-03-26
Alcohol Protection Orders
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Tomorrow there is a rally in Alice Springs against your Alcohol Protection Orders, which rally organiser, Alison Furber calls ‘racist laws’. Alison Furber goes on to say:
- We feel like we are below the white people; they're making us feel like we are worthless.
Barbara Shaw, from Alice Springs, is calling for the reinstatement of the Banned Drinker Register saying the government is not listening to the people.
CAALAS principal lawyer, Mark O’Reilly, describes your APO legislation as problematic and says:
- It's the police's job to enforce the law; I think it's a bad law.
Your actions have caused racial tension in Alice Springs. What are you going to say to the people of Alice Springs at the rally tomorrow, and why are you making police do your dirty work?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the end of that question is completely absurd. Why are we making police do dirty work? We are asking police to undertake policing responsibilities.
Many people in the Northern Territory, the majority of Alice Springs and many people around Australia would know the situation in Central Australia several years ago. There was a national media focus on the debilitating circumstances around crime and alcohol consumption and what was occurring in our community - be it property crime, sexual assault or domestic violence – statistically, it was out of this world. It was causing significant mayhem for victims of crime. There are many women in Central Australia, particularly Aboriginal women, who were becoming the victims of ongoing and repeated domestic violence and sexual assault and something needed to occur.
Since 2005, as the Health minister has reported, until today presentations at Alice Springs hospital have continued to rise - including throughout the time of the BDR escalating - and something needed to occur.
We removed the Banned Drinker Register and put in a range of measures to try to address the issue around domestic violence, sexual assaults and crimes related to the consumption of alcohol. Those measures include extra police on the street, temporary Beat locations outside bottle shops to try to stop people from having their top-up alcohol late at night - their secondary consumption - the mandatory alcohol treatment and alcohol protection orders.
We have seen, February on February, a reduction on early figures of 22% on serious assaults in Central Australia and across the Territory. We have seen a drop in per capita alcohol consumption of 7% since we removed the Banned Drinker Register, the lowest figure since before 2001-02 across the Territory of 12.84 litres per person …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. What does the Chief Minister have to say to the residents of Alice Springs in relation to the rally?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: There is no doubt our measures have been successful. Crime - including property crime - assaults, alcohol consumption and domestic violence assaults are all down, which is a positive for victims of domestic violence.
Some people in Central Australia think this unfairly targets Aboriginal people. Every time I have been through a drive-through bottle shop or a takeaway bottle shop, I have had my licence checked and been asked if I am drinking grog. Every time I have been with someone else, it does not matter if they are Caucasian or otherwise, those people have been checked.
We are seeing a reduction in alcohol consumption and crime, which is protecting women. I think this is a good thing and we will stick with it.
Malaysian Airlines – Missing Plane Recovery
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you update the Assembly on any assistance the Territory is offering to help search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. I know he, along with every person in this Chamber, feels for the missing passengers and crew on board MH370, the family and friends of those passengers and the people from all around the world who share their grief for the missing plane.
Yesterday, the Northern Territory government received a request from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for assistance in their ongoing search of the southern Indian Ocean for the plane. I have spoken with the Commissioner for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and he has approved the deployment of four Territory air observers to the search zone, should they be required. Four civilians have been identified for this important task and are on standby for possible deployment later this week. They are emergency services volunteers, who have been trained up, ready for deployment on this kind of mission.
Three of the volunteers are from Darwin and one is from Katherine. AMSA has advised they currently have sufficient observers to last until this Sunday. They are expected to make a final decision late on Thursday about whether the Territory contingent will be needed to relieve the current crews working on the search for MH370. Weather conditions and progress of the search will determine if they require men or otherwise. The Territory stands ready to assist in any way it can. We will wait to see whether the final call is required.
The disappearance of this plane is a mystery and a tragedy; it has gripped the world for more than two weeks. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those passengers and crew on board MH370.
Drug Penalties in Remote Communities
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Your Attorney-General has talked about the CLP’s new legislation to enforce tough penalties on offenders caught smuggling dangerous drugs into remote communities. He has said:
- These changes will see drug traffickers caught at airports or on highways entering communities charged to the full extent of the law.
After a four year history with the NT Police Remote Community Drug Desk program, achieving nationally recognised arrest and convictions statistics targeting illegal drugs in remote communities, we have heard from police on the ground you have cut the staff from one sergeant and six members to one sergeant and three members, with plans to disband the unit in July 2014. This will effectively reduce screening operations at NT airports, bus routes and in communities. How does this cost cutting for frontline police services support the Attorney-General’s new legislation for community safety in regional and remote Indigenous communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. Every question you come here with is a leading question and we can find holes in every one, whether it is the suggestion by Labor about damming the Elizabeth River, talking about selling the port, or any other matter you come here with.
A 4% CPI increase on power; completely wrong once again, but we will draw another hole in this. It was the Country Liberals who committed to putting more police on the beat in the Northern Territory. We went to the election with a commitment of 120 additional police and we have already put on around 60 of the 120 contingent; they have already been engaged. I will get the exact figure for you later today or tomorrow. We have already started rolling out those additional police and regarding who works in which squad, they are operational matters for the Police Commissioner. We do not ring up the police and say, ‘This many people in the drug squad and this many people in the dog squad’. We know, as do you, police make the decisions about their operational requirements.
Having said that, I have asked the Commissioner to focus on drug or grog running, especially into communities. We had a Cabinet meeting on Groote Eylandt last year - I cannot think of the exact month - and were sitting with the Anindilyakwa Land Council; they were talking about the prevalence of marijuana finding its way into Groot Eylandt. We discussed it at length and asked that great emphasis be put on marijuana trafficking to Groote Eylandt. I had a chat with the police about it the day we came back from Groote Eylandt and they have commenced operations. I do not talk about what happens in those particular cases …
Ms Fyles interjecting.
Mr GILES: Drugs going into Aboriginal communities is quite a concern …
Ms Fyles: Find out, you do not know the answer.
Mr GILES: Do you ever listen and be quiet during Question Time, member for Nightcliff?
As I have said, operational matters are for the police to determine where they put their resources. There is no change to focusing on drugs getting into Aboriginal communities, and it will not change …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was about the cut to the Remote Community Drug Desk. If the Chief Minister does not have the answer, could he commit to coming back to the House with the answer on cost cutting?
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr GILES: We will continue to maintain the focus on reducing the prevalence of drugs getting into Aboriginal communities.
US Marines in Top End
Mr HIGGINS to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you update the Assembly on news regarding the next rotation of US Marines to the Top End?
Mr Chandler: Oorah!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is clearly a fan of the RAAF behind us, someone who talks relentlessly to our side about different types of aeroplanes. I am not an expert on planes, helicopters or much of that equipment.
Minister Chandler, perhaps you should have come with me this morning, it might have whet your appetite.
I thank the member for Daly for his question. I know he is a big supporter of the development of northern Australia and what it means. You are also a solid proponent in ensuring we have geopolitical security based out of Darwin to represent northern Australia.
There is no doubt the Australian Defence Force provides a strategic approach to defending Australia, especially in the Northern Territory, where around 10% of Defence forces are based, much to the surprise of many.
This morning, I had an opportunity of siding with Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Puglisi of the US Marine Corps and Commodore Brenton Smyth, Commander of NORCOM, in announcing and welcoming the next deployment of the US Marines to the Northern Territory. Today we welcomed some of their equipment and next week we will start to see the troops on the ground, with 1150 Marines in the rotation.
The Marine Corps rotation economically represents around $5.1m towards the Northern Territory’s gross state product, or around $5009 per individual Marine Corps officer.
It means we have an opportunity to share the wealth, knowledge and experiences of the Australian Defence Force with the Marine Corps, and vice versa, for the Marine Corps to share their skills and abilities with the Australian Defence Force, notably around the logistical component and delivery of supply and goods.
This means we have a strategic approach to supporting northern Australia in our defence and providing global security in the sub-Asian region. It means, in times of any humanitarian crisis, we have a greater ability to respond. Who can forget the events of the 2006 tsunami and the role the Northern Territory and our Defence Force played? What this now means is with the six month rotation of 1150 Marines, we will have a greater capability to respond to any humanitarian crisis, should it eventuate. It is about providing a strategic balance and saying northern Australia is important. Darwin is the capital of northern Australia, although we are all part of it. This is about telling the rest of the globe in the sub-Asian region we have security here and will be able to provide the humanitarian response as required.
Alcohol Management on Tiwi Islands
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY referred to MINISTER for ALCOHOL REHABILITATION
The CLP promised to return full strength alcohol to clubs on the Tiwi Islands if elected into government. What is the status of this promise after 18 months in government? What discussions has the government had with Tiwi Islanders about a new alcohol management plan and the lift restrictions on full strength alcohol on the Tiwi Islands? Also, what is the status of the alcohol rehabilitation centre at Four Mile Camp?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Again, the premise of the question was wrong. We did not go to an election promising or committing to heavy beer on the Tiwi Islands.
Ms Lawrie: Yes, you did.
Members interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: Listen to them, they are a rabble.
Ms Lawrie: We will pass that on to the Tiwi Islanders, shall we?
Mr TOLLNER: Go on, fire up! Say we did when we did not.
This question is an interesting one. We are focusing many efforts on the Tiwi Islands and are very keen to see a proposal in relation to this. We have said we will look at any communities wanting to introduce alcohol, but before we grant any access or lift restrictions, we want to ensure there are systems in place which deal with problem drunks. There is work happening on the Tiwi Islands with alcohol rehabilitation. I look forward to receiving a proposal about reintroducing heavy beer back to the Tiwi Islands. However, until I get a proposal, there is nothing to assess it on.
In relation to the rehab centre on the Tiwi Islands, I might leave it to the Minister for Health and Alcohol Rehabilitation.
Mrs LAMBLEY (Alcohol Rehabilitation): Madam Speaker, we have been successful in rolling out alcohol mandatory treatment in Alice Springs, Darwin, and Gove. This year, in 2014, we will be concentrating our efforts in Katherine and Tennant Creek. Both of those centres do not have alcohol mandatory treatment provisions in place. In Katherine, we have the ability to make community treatment orders but not mandatory treatment orders.
I have advised the member for Arafura, who lives on the Tiwi Islands, the Tiwi Islands will be next in line. We will get to them in 2016. We intend to have some sort of facility on the Tiwi Islands. The problem we have encountered is, during those first few weeks of having people in alcohol mandatory treatment, they require heavy duty medical supervision and treatment. They need access to good medical facilities and often a hospital. Placing people on the Tiwi Islands for alcohol mandatory treatment is a little tough in the first place. However, we will get there; we have made the commitment.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of the Student Representative Council and the ICT Leadership Group from Nightcliff Middle School accompanied by Melissa Davy and Sian Howard. Welcome to Parliament House. I hope you enjoy your stay here.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Women’s Health Service in Palmerston
Ms LEE to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you inform the Assembly about the new health service for women in Palmerston, which will help in the fight against cancer, as part of the Country Liberals’ plan to improve health outcomes for all Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. She is interested in health for women, having been an Aboriginal medical practitioner of many years and experienced in assisting women.
This is more good news, reflecting the fact this government has a plan when it comes to health services across the Northern Territory. One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia, this also equals one in nine women in the Northern Territory. The chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer are even greater as you get older. It is important for women across the Territory to have access to regular screening such as mammograms.
Today we will be opening a new breast screen clinic in Palmerston. I will be there to inspect the site today. Work is being undertaken at the site and it will be opened next month – April 2014. This means people living in Palmerston can access a breast screening clinic two days per week. Hopefully, in the coming 12 months, we will open it to a third day a week. It is a permanent facility which will have all the screening equipment based permanently at the site. The precinct in which the clinic will sit is within the Palmerston Health Precinct.
The Minister for Women’s Policy will be joining me to inspect the new site. It is a great celebration for people in the Palmerston area who will no longer have to travel into the Darwin breast screening clinic in Casuarina. It is expected about 2000 women will use this facility in the first year. There is a great need as Palmerston grows and these types of health services will be in more demand. The Palmerston clinic will include a screening room, two clinical rooms and an administration area. The average age women tend to come to the attention of breast screening is around 50 to 70 and, for women in this age range, the service is free.
The Commonwealth has provided $600 000 to set up the Palmerston screening clinic, with a further $1.2m to establish a remote screening clinic also. We, as the Territory government, have committed $750 000 in recurrent funding to operate this clinic and remote mobile service. More good news reflecting this government has a plan when it comes to health services in the Northern Territory.
Gapuwiyak Barge Landings –
Improved Access
Improved Access
Mr VATSKALIS to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
The member for Arnhem might like this question. As part of the 2012 election campaign, the CLP promised to upgrade and seal access roads to barge landings in Arnhem Land, including Gapuwiyak. What has happened with improvements in access to the Gapuwiyak barge landings? When will the member for Arnhem be able to say this election commitment has been delivered?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for his question. The government is negotiating with councils in relation to barge landings throughout western and eastern Arnhem Land. Some damage has been caused to different barge landings. In the last 12 months, the government has spent approximately $413m on infrastructure in the bush and remote areas.
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: There are land tenure issues, we have plans to build hard stands with these …
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: Madam Speaker, they ask a question and they either do not like the answer - there is an answer, they might not like it, and perhaps they do not understand negotiation. I am sure they did it when they were in government, although it seems they did not do it well. We have to negotiate to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are spent efficiently and effectively.
There are many barge landings there. We are aware there are enterprises in the communities wanting to take control of these barge landings and operate them as businesses. They are negotiating with the Northern Land Council and their TOs to ensure land is available so we can build the hard stands.
There is a large amount of investment going into regional and rural areas, with boat ramps and a whole range of other things. We have to build the roads to get to the boat ramps …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was: when? If the minister does not know when, can he advise when he does know?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr STYLES: This is interesting, maybe the member for Fannie Bay has some knowledge he might like to share with the House on those negotiations. Perhaps the member for Casuarina knows something behind the scenes about those negotiations. We are negotiating. In the budget …
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: They do not want the answer to this. They want an answer to suit them. Negotiations are ongoing. There is money in the budget to be released in May which will demonstrate a clear intention of this government to look after the bush.
Darwin Town Aboriginal Community Task Force
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT
You have responsibility for the Darwin town Aboriginal community task force which was established some time ago. Could you say how many meetings the task force has held over the last 12 months? Could you also say whether members of the community were included in these meetings and, if so, how many and from what communities? Could you advise the results of these meetings so far, and is the government still talking to the Larrakia Nation about taking over the 15 Mile and Knuckey Lagoon communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There are a couple of inaccuracies though. There are different areas the department of Lands and Planning is involved in, including negotiations around the land tenure of these sites, not only around Darwin, but Alice Springs and other locations.
Essential services are undertaken by minister Price, but there are a number of negotiations going on with different operators on the future of these sites. The members on this side of the House want to see the day where Indigenous people can have land tenure, borrow money to build a house or a business and invest in their businesses.
It should be the ideal future for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, but, as the member for Sanderson said, there are many negotiations going on and many land groups involved. Each town camp should be treated separately, because there are separate entities with interests in the land.
A number of negotiations are going on at the moment and a number of people are involved, but the department of Lands and Planning is in negotiations over the land tenure side, not so much the essential services or the housing side of things.
National Disability Insurance Scheme –
Barkly Roll-out
Barkly Roll-out
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for DISABILITY SERVICES
Today, local disability service providers, consumers and advocates are attending a conference in Alice Springs on the NDIS Barkly trial. Can you provide an update to the House on this, including what the government is doing to ensure our local workforce is ready for the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Namatjira for her question. Yes, there is a conference being held in Alice Springs over the next two days, starting from early this morning. They will be discussing the roll-out of the Barkly National Disability Insurance Scheme trial, which is the most exciting thing to happen in disability services in the Northern Territory for decades.
This conference will be specifically looking at workforce preparedness. The conference is called Ready to Act and is being hosted by National Disability Services. This is significant. It means people who work within the disability services sector are getting prepared to provide this new initiative and all eyes will be on the Barkly. The spotlight is well and truly on Tennant Creek as of 1 July 2014. This is the only fully remote trial site in Australia and goes across all age groups. There is a trial under way in the Pitjantjatjara lands of South Australia, which is focusing on children. Our trial site in the Barkly will be across all age groups and will embrace approximately 103 people with severe disabilities.
The emphasis will be on the quality and level of service provided to these people, but also access. Access is one of the biggest obstacles people with disabilities encounter. I cannot be at the conference this morning to give my opening address, it is being delivered through the wonders of telecommunications. I did a pre-recorded speech, but in that speech I announced the roll-out of some annual scholarships for people working in the disability services sector.
These scholarships will recognise the outstanding effort and hard work many Territorians already provide within the disability sectors. Four annual scholarships of up to $2500 are available for workers who would like to pursue further study to up-skill, develop their career opportunities and contribute to ways we can modernise the delivery of disability services. This will go towards tuition fees, resources and reasonable costs.
There is so much happening in the disability services sector with the roll-out of the NDIS in the Barkly. We hope these scholarships will bring more enthusiasm and greater expectations of what is to come in this space.
Health Clinic in Ngukurr
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for HEALTH
In April 2011, community leaders at Ngukurr called for urgent help for a bigger health clinic to service their growing community. At the time of the 2012 NT election, the Labor government had $6m of Commonwealth funding approved and locked in for a new health clinic in Ngukurr. What has happened with this project? When will the member for Arnhem attend the opening of the new clinic and, more importantly, when will the people of Ngukurr get access to this important improvement to Ngukurr’s health services?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Wanguri for her question. I have been to Ngukurr; I have been to most remote health services across the Northern Territory. The $6m is still on the table. They have had some problems with identifying a suitable site. There are all sorts of complexities around the site originally identified and they are now having difficulty establishing an alternative site.
Local politics has played a part in the delay of the development of this clinic. It has nothing to do with the Northern Territory government and nothing to do with me. The money is on the table and I would like to see them with a new clinic. The clinic they have is not up to scratch. Anyone who has been out to the Ngukurr clinic can see that. They deserve a better clinic, it is a growing population, sizeable - I cannot remember the exact population number - but I can reassure the Chamber the clinic will go ahead once local people have identified the most suitable site.
Alice Springs – Masters Games
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Planning is well under way for this year’s Masters Games in Alice Springs. Can you please update the House on the many initiatives the Country Liberals government is implementing to make the 2014 event a great success?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe it was asked of me in my capacity as Minister for Central Australia, so I might also expand on the government’s plan for Central Australia.
We have articulated very well over the last few days, during these sittings, the government’s plans for growing the economy, our health sector, infrastructure sector, primary industry sector, dedication to our parks and our commitment to tourism. It is about plans for the future. This government has done a terrific job over the last couple of weeks, highlighting and articulating those plans.
By highlighting those plans so well, we have also exposed the lack of planning by members of the Labor Party. Their plans are a race to the bottom of Territory politics, which we are more than happy for them to win. While they have no plans, we have a plan and part of the plan is the Masters Games.
We are committed to this event in Central Australia. It brings thousands of people to the doorstep of the Northern Territory and, in this case, the centre. We have an active marketing program to make this year’s Masters Games the best yet. Like Franois Mitterrand used to say, ‘These are the best games ever’, which is what we would like to see with …
Mr Wood: Has he been to Alice Springs?
Mr CONLAN: He may well have, member for Nelson. We have a plan and commitment to make the Masters Games of 2014 the best ever, I am pleased to say registrations are open and there are still six months to go. We already have a number of sports nearly booked out. One of them is booked out - clay target shooting. It has attracted 76 registrations and cannot accept any more competitors. This is great news and it looks like we are well on track. AFL 9s is also being introduced this year. It is a competition open to men aged 30 plus and is generating a stack of interest with Aussie rules fans too.
Other sports which have already attracted huge numbers are golf, lawn bowls, baseball and hockey. We have received registrations for 94 volunteers, which is fantastic news. Member for Nelson, I am sure you will be down there again this year.
I am also pleased to announce a new initiative – it is not so much new, but we have brought back the old concept - which is putting the games centre in the middle of town. We have had some great success over the years with it at the convention centre, but research has told us, and anecdotal evidence suggested, it is great to have it in the town to reinvigorate the CBD and entice a bit of retail therapy while people are walking through, checking out the results and what else is on the games calendar for the week.
I encourage everyone to participate. The people from the Labor Party, I am sure, have a great history of not engaging, respecting, or liking Alice Springs, but I urge you this year to get down to the wonderful community in Central Australia. Show the people there you do care a little. Not a bad idea.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Gove District Hospital New Emergency Department
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
On 9 April 2013, the Health minister, Mrs Lambley, said the entire Gove community would benefit from building a new $13m emergency department at Gove District Hospital, which was Commonwealth funding approved and locked in by the former Labor government.
On 14 May 2013 the minister’s media release said:
- The construction tender process for the new facility is expected to begin later this year …
That is, 2013:
- … and it will be operating by early 2015.
Why was this important project missing from the CLP government’s Gove community support e-newsletter last Friday about Territory government spending in the East Arnhem region? Have you dumped this important project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I made those announcements in March, just after I became Health minister, and again in May. Much has happened since then, as you know, member for Nhulunbuy.
We are now reappraising the future demand for health services in Nhulunbuy. There is no doubt we need to improve the emergency department services in Nhulunbuy, but what it should look like - given the predicted decrease in population of up to 50% - will be different from the original plans put in place 18 months ago.
It takes common sense and good business practice to review this situation, as we are doing for all parts of government’s commitment to Nhulunbuy. We cannot justify spending more money than is reasonably required. In Nhulunbuy the current demand for emergency department services is made up of 50% non-Aboriginal people. Therefore, when you take away a significant slice of non-Aboriginal people from the Nhulunbuy community, you may not have the same demand for emergency services. Sense would indicate the demand for emergency services could drop by approximately 30%.
We have to - rationally and unemotionally - look at these numbers, which we are doing slowly and without any political motivation other than being responsible with how we manage our resources. When you have a decrease in demand in one spot and an increase in demand in another centre across the Territory, you have to make good government decisions - good political and bureaucratic decisions - over how to allocate your resources.
At this point in time, I am not committing to what we are doing in the emergency department of the Gove District Hospital; however, it will not be the same as what was originally committed. I do not know how far we will wind it back, but when you have a considerable drop in demand you cannot defend putting in the same amount of resources. It is common sense.
NAPLAN Results for 2013
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Recently, the 2013 NAPLAN results for individual schools were placed on the My School website. What did the picture paint for Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. The results are pretty bleak. The bright side is there is a bright side, because the Country Liberals government has a plan to improve education in the Northern Territory. We are not focused on spending money. The only result under the previous Labor government was how much it spent in education; it was not focused on results.
With the exception of Darwin Middle School, Nakara Primary School and Larrakeyah Primary School, all Territory schools fell below the national average. This is not acceptable. This was compounded with significant declines from Indigenous students in grammar and punctuation when compared to 2012, and numeracy when compared to 2008.
The information released also includes financial data for 2012, which has confirmed what we already knew - the Northern Territory far outspends per student than anywhere else in Australia. In the Northern Territory, we spend about $19 191 of recurrent income per student, compared to around $12 028 nationally. For special needs students, we spend about $58 518 per student, compared to around $44 839 nationally. To sum up: more money, worse results.
We say this is not good enough. Our children deserve much better than the rhetoric from the other side of this Chamber. This side of the Chamber has a focus on improving results, not spending more money, which is all you did as a Labor government.
I will continue to disregard the rhetoric of those opposite, because it is clear they do not have a plan to improve outcomes; all they have is a plan to spend money. They see a growing budget as a result alone, which is tragic. I would rather see better education outcomes, more students going to university, more graduates and more people being employed. I think that is a real result and, I dare say, so would anyone you ask in the street.
I will continue to push for reform to build the education system our students deserve, despite the mountains of negativity from those opposite.
Reduction in Crime – Election Promise
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The CLP promised to reduce crime by 10% a year, every year, across the Territory. The latest crime statistics show you have failed to deliver this promise in the bush with assaults up 12%, domestic violence up 16%, alcohol-related assaults up 13% and sexual assaults up 11%. It is no wonder your rebel MLAs are concerned you have no plan for delivering improvements in the bush.
What new measure have you promised to meet your election commitment to reduce crime by 10% a year, every year, across the Territory, no matter where you live?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, another misleading question. We have been up hill and down dale on the crime statistics in this Chamber. I do not know how many times I have to say crime is at record lows - the lowest property crime in the history of collecting statistics in the Northern Territory. February statistics saw a 22% reduction in assaults, which includes all form of assaults - domestic violence and sexual assaults. Rapid changes are occurring. Putting in place additional police means we will be catching more people, which means the statistics will go up; however, what we are seeing with more policing is the statistics are going down.
With remote policing, a range of initiatives are going on, including ensuring we have more ACPO positions filled and more Indigenous liaison officer positions being created and filled in remote policing locations. A range of additional initiatives are occurring in those areas, but we do not break it down community by community in statistics. Across the board, we are seeing a massive drop in crime across all parts of the Northern Territory and this will continue.
When you look at the amount of policing going on, and our efforts in remote Northern Territory, it is second to none across the nation in jurisdictions. If you look at the number of police stations we have and the number of police who are in those remote locations - which are not there in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. It is a whole different model.
We are about to put new investment into Milikapiti, which is not there at the moment. The conversion of Themis stations to permanent police stations, and the filling of ACPO positions and Indigenous liaison jobs is an outstanding result in improving policing in the Northern Territory.
Many from the Labor side would not like to cast their minds to before 2006, when the intervention first started and former Prime Minister, John Howard, and Mal Brough, introduced financial models to bring policing into remote communities which did not have policing before. Now you have policing in those communities.
We have a big investment going into Yuendumu; I am sure there is a new police station going there. We have police facilities in communities across the Territory, which were never there before the intervention. We are negotiating with the feds, right now, on how we can get more police stations put there, but there are financial issues. Look at the population of Cairns; it is about the same size as the population of the Northern Territory. Look at the resources they have for policing in Cairns compared to what we have in the Northern Territory: the dozens of police stations we have and the resourcing required to ensure we provide a safe environment.
We will continue to improve that environment, make sure we get better policing opportunities and resources for local people and continue to roll-out the reduction in crime we are seeing across the Northern Territory.
Education – Improving Results in the Bush
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Can the Minister update the House on the government’s reforms to the education system to improve results, especially those in the bush?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He is committed to schools in his electorate. As I mentioned in my previous answer, the NT spends the most money per student, but we have some of the worst results.
Ms Fyles: Must be going to cut something, talking about all of this money you are spending.
MR CHANDLER: When we came into government, we set about investigating why, as a responsible government should.
We have drawn on research saying bolstering the early years yields the best outcomes. This provides a solid foundation for future learning. To reflect this, we refocused our staffing formula for 2014 on the early years, which has resulted in 63 extra teachers in Transition, Year 1 and Year 2 classes.
Change is something we will all struggle to adapt to; the opposition has. They struggled going from government to opposition. People struggle to adapt from time to time, but the roll-out of this formula has been successful, with no major issues.
I thank schools for their cooperation through this process. It has been so successful those opposite have struggled to make up problems, which is remarkable, because they have never let the truth get in the way of a good headline before. Bruce Wilson’s Indigenous Education Review draft report has completed its consultation program. We have received 112 written submissions and over 500 people have attended community meetings. Bruce and his team held 15 meetings in different areas of the Territory to get feedback from the people it will affect.
I was pleased to hear from the member for Nhulunbuy that she was able to attend both the meetings in her electorate. Equally, I was disappointed Gerry McCarthy missed the meeting in Tennant Creek. Bruce tells me of some strong debate, which is what I wanted to see from the draft report. There is overwhelming support for the majority of the recommendations, and I look forward to reading the final report due in the coming weeks.
Last month, I released a discussion paper about reviewing the Education Act, which is now 35 years old. The overall process includes 15 weeks of consultation, which I see as the key component, because we want to hear from principals, school councils, teachers and parents about how we can modernise the act. Concerns have been raised in this House that this review is some kind of buck-passing exercise, to transfer responsibility from department individuals. I refute those claims. I believe more decisions should be made at the school level, but the increased autonomy can bring better outcomes.
I will not dilute the responsibilities of the department or the minister. This government has taken responsibility for education; we have a plan to improve results and we will continually be rolling out the plan, despite the tirade of misinformation and arrogance from those opposite.
Water Filling Stations
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
I have had a number of complaints about the operations of water filling stations, especially in the rural area. These water filling stations are very important to the many construction companies using them and for some rural land owners who do not have access to drinking water.
Could you say how many filling stations there are in the Darwin rural area? Are all of these filling stations working properly, that is, are they supplying the correct amount of water, are they charging users for the correct amount of water, or are users being charged at all?
Does your department do regular inspections or audits of these filling stations to ensure water is being charged, not being given away free, and Power and Water is not losing income?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his interesting question. There are 10 card operated standpipe water supply stations throughout Darwin and the Darwin rural area.
The locations of these standpipe water stations are as follows - I am happy to read through the list. They are at: Berrimah Road at East Arm; Flack Road at Marlow Lagoon; Whitewood Road at Howard Springs; Girraween Road at Girraween; Spencely Road at Humpty Doo; Noonamah, Hopewell Road at Berry Springs; Darwin River Road at Darwin River; Leonino Road East at Acacia; and Lot 192 Cox Peninsula at Wagait Beach. All of these water systems are understood to be currently working.
The standpipe water services have recently been calibrated and charges are occurring as per gazetted rates. New equipment has been installed over the past few months and independent verification has been completed.
The Power and Water Corporation experienced some technical faults last year with data supplied from the metering point, which I think was at Cox Peninsula. As a result, there were some delays in billing for swipe card customers.
Water filling stations have 25 mm and 80 mm connections available and I am advised the issues, in this instance, related to the 25 mm fill point.
As the device used to record consumption is common to both the 25 mm and 80 mm connections, neither could be billed until the technical issue was resolved. While the consumption for the 80 mm supply was reporting correctly, consumption from the 25 mm was not to the standard PWC would accept.
Due to those technical issues, some accounts were written off and water was supplied without charge. This issue is resolved and has been implemented across all the sites.
All customers have been billed for usage up to February 2014, the exception being at Darwin River. PWC is aware station two, located at Darwin River, was not included on customer invoices for February 2014. The data required for billing this standpipe was not in the system when customers were billed. This has been rectified and billing of the current period for this standpipe will be included on the next customer service invoice.
The equipment is regularly serviced and usage data is retrieved at least monthly to ensure customer consumption can be billed accordingly.
Rates on Aboriginal Land
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT and REGIONS
In the lead up to the 2012 election, the CLP promised the people of Maningrida it would support them establishing a regional council. You have failed to deliver on this promise and are now negotiating with Canberra to find new ways to charge rates from the residents of Aboriginal land. Will this include new charges and rates for residents of outstations and homelands like those around Maningrida?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have not received a lot of feedback from Maningrida that they want a separate regional council. There has been an enormous amount of consultation there. When a proposal for such a council comes, we will take it into account and see what can be done about it.
Education – Union EBA Negotiations
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Three public sector groups have recently signed up to a new EBA. Why does the Australian Education Union continue to reject the Commissioner for Public Employment’s current offer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. This is an important issue for the teachers, students and parents of the Northern Territory. The public service, Power and Water workers and medical staff have signed up to the government’s proposals regarding pay and entitlements over the next few years.
There are other negotiations on foot at the moment. Those are proceeding well and we look forward with optimism to those negotiations proceeding. Unfortunately, the Australian Education Union continues to hold a position contrary to the interests of its members and the students of the Northern Territory.
The offer made to the Australian Education Union is the equivalent, for the average teacher, of $95 per fortnight in their pay packets. They have now foregone a substantial amount of money at the advice of the Australian Education Union executive. This is the same executive which is now throwing $15 000 of union membership money into the private election campaign of one Matthew Cranitch.
We have seen the attitude of the rank and file union members when it comes to people like Craig Thomson and the misuse of union funds. However, the executive of the union has decided to support Matthew Cranitch, which in no way advances the cause of teachers in the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory government’s EBA negotiations with teachers are about pay and entitlements. We are trying to make Northern Territory teachers either the second best or best paid teachers in the country ...
Ms Lawrie: No resources in schools for them. Sacking 150 teachers a year.
Ms Fyles: There will be less of them.
Mr ELFERINK: I pick up on the interjection. Once again, it is dishonest and disingenuous, but we have come to expect this from the members opposite. They simply cannot bring themselves to tell the truth.
As far as we are concerned, as a government, we want to make the Territory’s teachers amongst the best paid in the country because the evidence demonstrates well-paid teachers produce good results. Unfortunately, the Australian Education Union continues to misinform its members. That misinformation was the reason they were told they could not take industrial action for three months. Yet, they persist. I plead with the Australian Education Union to come forward and sign up to the EBA.
MVR Services in the Bush
Mr VATSKALIS to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Hopefully, the minister knows the answer this time. Under the CLP, more Aboriginal people are being imprisoned than ever before, with overflowing prisons in Darwin and Alice Springs. A total of 82% of the prison population is Aboriginal, with up to 60% imprisoned for motor traffic offences with sentences between six and 12 months. The CLP signed a contract with Borroloola to build and operate a remote government business centre. The building has been completed by the Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Centre, independent of NT government money, with office space for an MVR.
When will the CLP honour its contract with Borroloola and deliver NTG services like an MVR? When will the CLP deliver MVR services for the bush?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for his question. The Department of Transport is undertaking a review across its area of responsibility - a transport, infrastructure and planning review. It has eight arms, where we go across aviation, MVR, taxis, and a range of issues ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: The members opposite say, ‘Go out and talk to people. Go and consult. Do this, do that.’ They ask these things and when you do them, they say, ‘We do not want consultation, we want this to happen now’. When you are faced with an enormous debt, you have to do things smarter. On the other side of the House they did not and now we have this great debt.
Out of necessity comes innovation. On this side of the House, the Country Liberals have a plan to get out of this debt. The plan involves not working harder, but working smarter; we have to plan. Sadly, those opposite appear to have failed to plan. The old six Ps we talk about on this side, although one in particular we cannot talk about. Proper planning prevents a certain type of performance, which is what has happened on the other side. On this side, we have a plan.
There is new innovative technology and I wonder if those on the other side understand what innovative technologies there are. We are moving to models which provide better service to the taxpayer at a cheaper price. It is what we do on this side of the House. When you are faced with debt, how do you get out of it? You work smarter, generate economic activity - you do a range of things. We are cutting the cost of doing business, but to cut the cost across a range of areas you need to plan. If you want to provide the services and make …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Mabunji has built the business centre building based on your election commitment …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order, sit down!
Mr STYLES: There are many things we have to do. I hear the opposition laughing, which is their attitude to plans. ‘Let’s not have a plan. Let’s just go out and, like fairy dust, let’s throw money at everything.’ We should look at everything we do; if we need to review something we review it. We are reviewing things. We have to make sure all these things fit into an overall plan for specific economic activity in the Northern Territory and make sure we spend taxpayers’ dollars wisely.
I have run out of time, but they clearly do not want to hear the answer.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister, in accordance with Standing Order 119A, has an answer to a question.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Power and Water Price Increases
Power and Water Price Increases
Mr GILES (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I provide an update for a question from yesterday. The Opposition Leader, and for that matter her parliamentary colleagues, continue to tell lies and mistruths in this Chamber about utility price increases. The Opposition Leader claims in addition to the 5% increase which occurred on 1 January this year, and the 5% increase which will occur on 1 January 2015, there will be an increase of 4% in July. The Leader of the Opposition, the former Treasurer, is being mischievous when she makes this claim. As a former Labor Treasurer, she is well aware electricity prices for residential customers are set by the Treasurer under the Electricity Reform Act and remain in force for one year.
I table the notice of issuing of the Electricity Pricing Order which sets in stone the prices for the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. It clearly shows what she is saying in this House is nothing more than a mistruth and is misleading Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016