2013-10-10
Power and Water – Price Increases
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Since coming to office you have slugged Territorians with thousands in increased utility bills, despite promising to reduce the cost of living. We have learnt there is more pain to come with a further 58% increase in power network charges proposed from 1 July 2014 – yes, 58%. The average family power bill will be forced up by an extra $500 a quarter, or $2000 a year. That is an increase of $4000 since you came to power.
Territorians cannot take any more from you. Will you categorically rule out the proposed power network price hikes of a staggering 58%?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. Once again, it must be the time for more fairy tales in parliament. This is nothing more than dog whistling by the previous government. Yes, we have a $5.5bn Labor debt we all keep hearing about. Yes, we are trying to fix your debt legacy, but to make an ambit claim about 58% is completely incorrect, some would say misleading. I will not, for fear of causing trouble to the parliamentary process, but that is a nonsense debate.
Bush Support for CLP
Mr HIGGINS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Country Liberals recorded a swing towards the party in the seat of Lingiari at the recent election. Could you please outline the new policy directions that have contributed to this surge of support in the bush and how this approach contrasts with Labor’s neglect of the bush over its 11 years in office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his great question. The member for Daly is a passionate advocate for having work done in his electorate, starting to drive economic growth, and getting real jobs happening. That is what he wants to happen.
After 11 years of failed economic management and social dysfunction in remote communities, the economic outlook in the bush is starting to rise. We are starting to see general interest and people want to see things happen.
The government is determined to see regional towns prosper, with economic opportunities in regional and remote areas, and to start sharing in the success of economic drivers we are seeing in the Northern Territory. The key to that is creating jobs, starting businesses and getting people off welfare and sit-down money.
As you know, I have started working with communities to drive economic growth. We recently visited Wadeye with the Minister for Health, talking to traditional owners, looking at economic prospectivity in Wadeye, and looking at how we can drive some of that reform. We have been working with the member for Arnhem on how we can assist in her electorate, and the member for Arafura about what can be done there.
We will soon be having conversations with the member for Namatjira about some of the economic advancement opportunities which can be conducted in Central Australia through the seat of Namatjira. These are very exciting times.
However, that goes against anything in the Labor veins. It goes against Labor principles to get people off welfare and into work. I recall over the last 11 years of government all they did was remove jobs from bush communities, break down the local decision-making capacity, get rid of the community councils, albeit not all were performing, bring in a failed shire model and take away jobs and the people’s voice.
Our government is committed to reversing that. We have a debate later today about local government reform which will, should the legislation pass, see the creation of regional councils by 1 January 2014. It will see more jobs in local areas. With some of the reforms ministers are undertaking, we will see more jobs and economic development in local areas.
One of the key things we are looking at is not just driving reforms in all communities, but focusing on larger communities which want advanced economic opportunities. We are already having some of those conversations on the Tiwi Islands. The member for Arafura is at a funeral today, but he will tell you about the economic ideologies of the Tiwi Islanders and what they want achieved. He can also talk about Maningrida, Jabiru and Oenpelli, and other areas of his electorate and what he wants to see drive change.
These are firm commitments we are working towards. It will take a number of years to fix generational concerns about welfare dependency, but those changes will occur. We will put in place the strategic framework to ensure that activity happens.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, acting Leader of Government Business, you need to advise the House who will be taking questions for members who are absent.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Sorry, I missed the jump, Madam Speaker.
____________________
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Members for Arafura, Arnhem, Katherine
and Port Darwin
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Members for Arafura, Arnhem, Katherine
and Port Darwin
Mrs LAMBLEY (Acting Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I seek leave of absence for the members for Katherine, Arafura, Arnhem and Port Darwin for this day on account of government business. Due to the absence of the members for Port Darwin and Katherine, questions regarding their portfolios should be directed to the Chief Minister.
Leave granted.
_____________________
Power and Water – Price Increases
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
In relation to your secret plan to increase network power charges by 58% on 1 July, I refer you to Power and Water’s 2014 networks price determination report which the government has done its best to hide.
This document of some 165 pages spells out the planned networks increase of 58%. I specifically refer you to the graph on page 144. We have had that enlarged. It demonstrates a 58% power increase for networks affecting domestic and commercial customers. Rule out this planned 58% power networks increase that would load up $500 a quarter, $2000 a year, to domestic customers. Rule it out categorically.
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. What an opportunity to talk about power prices, which have been debated up hill and down dale. If the Leader of the Opposition, who is on very shaky ground with the member for Fannie Bay, wants to keep talking about power prices, I encourage her to reflect back to March when we set power prices in stone. We have already said how much power prices will be. There is only one thing that will affect power prices, and that is removal of the carbon tax, which Labor has a lot to do with.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He has not answered the question. I seek leave to table …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order, sit down.
Ms Lawrie: Can I table the document?
Madam SPEAKER: Seek leave to table it.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the 2014 networks price determination which includes the 58% power price network increase.
Leave granted.
Mr GILES: The only thing affecting a change in power prices in the Northern Territory is removal of the carbon tax, something federal Labor does not support; something you mob stand side by side with your Labor colleagues in Canberra on.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will he rule out power price rises in the future?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The Chief Minister is answering the question.
Mr GILES: Clearly the member for Nightcliff has a problem hearing – fixed prices in power for the next three years, no change. We have said what the incremental increases will be, and they are fixed in stone. However, you will see a reduction in power prices if the carbon tax is removed. Labor is standing in the way of reducing power prices. You come in with some report, leading with your chin. Our charges are fixed in stone and the only way they can be changed is if the carbon tax is removed.
Only one party in Canberra is standing up to remove the carbon tax and that is the Coalition. The government wants to remove the carbon tax and Labor is saying they want to keep it. They are going to oppose it in the Senate so Territorians and all Australians cannot have a reduction in power prices. Shame on you!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will you categorically rule out this planned increase to power charges?
Mr GILES: We just did it.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, the Chief Minister has ruled out a price increase, it is set in stone. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: I will repeat this for the eight members on the other side who have trouble hearing and comprehending what is happening: the price of power is set in stone for the next three years. The only change will be if we remove the carbon tax in Canberra, and Labor is opposing that. Labor opposes reducing power prices in the Northern Territory. Territory Labor and their Canberra colleagues are opposing removing the carbon tax which will reduce prices in the Northern Territory. Shame on Labor!
Super Shires – Failed Bush Changes
Ms FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT and REGIONS
The government is working to restore the voice of people in the bush by replacing Labor’s failed super shires. Can you please update the House on progress towards these changes, and the timetable for the new arrangements to take effect?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her important question. It is one of the reasons we find ourselves on this side of the Chamber. Over many years, Labor managed to stuff up local government in the Northern Territory and create enormous grief. We saw the removal of Elliot McAdam from Barkly. It was a chaotic period and the wash up was they took away the voice of Indigenous people in remote communities.
It is funny to hear the self-righteous talk of members on the other side of how they care about Indigenous Territorians, all the while removing their voice. It is shameful the way the previous government dealt with, and continues to deal with, Indigenous Territorians. The antics we have seen over the last few months have been disgraceful, and I cannot believe a party which says it supports Indigenous Territorians can systematically abuse them day after day …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive. He is saying we denigrate Aboriginal Territorians day after day. We do not. It is so far from the truth it is bizarre.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Minister, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: You can cry crocodile tears as much as you like, Leader of the Opposition, but you cannot get away from the truth. I know it hurts you, but we are happy to lay bare your antics.
Regarding Local Government, I was asked an important question. Since coming to government, a great deal of work has gone into reforming the Local Government situation we inherited. I place on record my thanks, as the new minister, for the hard work done by both the Chief Minister and the member for Namatjira on this important issue. They have done a lot of the groundwork required to put these reforms in place, and they deserve much of the credit.
An enormous amount of consultation has taken place. We have been listening to people in remote communities. We put in place a working group of 21 members who made 177 community visits. A total of 279 meetings were held with over 3200 people participating in the consultations. I thank those Territorians for putting their points of view to government; it has informed us.
Later today we will be debating a bill on Local Government and the reforms this government committed to in the election campaign.
Power and Water – Price Increases
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government’s stated policy is for Power and Water to operate on a commercial basis, as opposed to Labor’s policy of operating on a financially sustainable basis. Reflecting this, your hand-picked Managing Director of Power and Water said, on page 2 of the government’s buried pricing proposal, Power and Water needs:
- … a further significant tariff increase to enable Power Networks to provide a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity on a commercial footing …
Do you agree with your managing director that further significant tariff increases are needed to meet your government’s objective that Power and Water operates on a commercial basis?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Deputy Opposition Leader for his question.
The Opposition Leader waves this report around like it is a secret. It is a publicly available report which can be found on the Utility Commissioner’s website. There is nothing secret about it.
You have now asked three questions about something completely false. I will give the same answer, but I will put it in context for you. Power and Water Corporation lodged a submission to the Utilities Commission for a network price reset. It does not mean the Utilities Commission will accept their submission or assumption. When the reset starts on 1 July 2014, the choice for government is either to pass the cost to customers or to increase the CSO to PWC ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. Will he rule out significant increases to power tariffs?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: You cannot make a statement on a point of order. We have said the price is set in stone for three years. The only thing that will change that is removal of the carbon tax, something Labor is opposed to. I repeat: power prices are set in stone for the next three years, and the only thing which will see a price change is removal of the carbon tax, something Labor is completely opposed to.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will the Chief Minister agree or disagree with his managing director?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, that is not a point or order or the correct standing order. You are on a warning. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: I have answered the question.
Sport Voucher Scheme
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for SPORT, RECREATION and RACING
This government’s Sport Voucher Scheme is helping Territory children, no matter where they live, to lead active and healthy lives. In our remote communities, the Sport vouchers have been a great success and have given our children access to sporting activities and opportunities they would not have had under the Labor government.
Could you please outline to the House some of the opportunities and success stories?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He has been very active in this area and is committed to growing sport throughout the Daly region. It is a great effort and a great question.
It has been a terrific scheme. When we announced this scheme upon coming to government, none of us realised how successful it would be. We thought it would be a great pathway for kids to get into sport but we underestimated its success.
The government implemented the $4m Sport Voucher Scheme at the beginning of this year following an election promise. I can run you through some of the remote school success stories. Angurugu School in Arnhem has used its $22 500 in funding to employee Gymnastics NT to travel to the school and provide a trainer two days a week over five weeks to run gymnastics sessions. That is fantastic stuff. Some of the funding was also used to buy gymnastics equipment for the school to allow the gymnastics program to continue after the five weeks.
Maningrida School in Arafura will also use its $50 000 funding on gymnastics programs for four weeks, which will run for Term 4. The school will also use the funding to purchase equipment to help PE teachers complete a gymnastics coaching course so the program can continue into the future. It is great stuff.
Alyangula Area School in Arnhem used some of its $16 000 to employ Tennis Gove to run a tennis program for three years for 12-year-old students. The community has two tennis courts and encourages students to continue using the facilities after the Sport Voucher program.
Great news for the Barkly as Elliott School used its funding of almost $6000 to help provide all students with an equestrian program for two weeks – a great success story for the Barkly.
Sandover Group School in Central Australia consists of six remote schools. The schools combined their funding resulting in $30 000 to purchase a mobile athletics carnival trailer. The trailer is used for equipment for activities such as hurdles, high jump, shot put and discus, and will travel to different schools each week and be an ongoing program for the region.
At Jabiru Area School, $21 000 in funding provides a 22-week long Saturday morning soccer program. Batchelor Area School in Daly, as the member for Daly would know, used money for after school boxing classes. This is great stuff, and would not have happened under Labor. It is happening under the Country Liberals. It is a fantastic scheme and we underestimated its success. The $4m Sport Voucher Scheme has been terrific and we are proud of that achievement.
Incinerator - Berrimah Light Industry Zone
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT
During the last sittings I asked whether an existing incinerator and planned new one were permitted to be located in a light industry zone in Berrimah under the Northern Territory Planning Scheme. Since then all has been very quiet. Could you please advise if an incinerator is permitted, and if so, explain how it is allowed under the Northern Territory Planning Scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. What you said about being quiet and non-smelly is the reason. For many years the opposition allowed an incinerator sitting on East Arm Wharf to pump toxins into the environment and did nothing about it. They spoke a lot about the environment but did little. It was all spin ...
Ms Fyles: You spin over school teacher cuts. How many teachers is it today?
Mr CHANDLER: They obviously do not want to listen to the answer. They are frightened because they did nothing. They let an incinerator operate with toxins spewing into the environment, speaking about their high qualities and what they were doing about the environment while doing nothing. It took a Country Liberals government to shut down that incinerator.
Veolia is authorised to collect, transport and treat listed waste under Environment Protection Licence EPL21, which was amended and raised on 30 January 2013 to incorporate treatment of listed waste received as Northern Territory quarantine waste by autoclave at 5 Dennis Court, Berrimah.
During the early stages of autoclave operation some odour complaints were received. Veolia undertook management actions to resolve these complaints at 5 Dennis Court in consultation with the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority. The NTEPA issued an environment protection approval to Veolia for the installation of a new autoclave system at 13 Beaton Road, Berrimah on 30 August 2013. This enabled Veolia to relocate activities from 5 Dennis Court, and the NTEPA authorised issue of the environment protection approval following the issue of a compliance check by the Development Consent Authority. The site is located within zoned light industry of the Northern Territory Planning Scheme. A compliance check was issued by the Development Consent Authority on 27 August 2013, confirming use of the site for light industry. Autoclave use, as shown on the plan submitted, complies with the requirements of the Northern Territory Planning Scheme.
The NTEPA issued an environment protection approval on 30 August 2013 for the construction and installation works for the autoclave facility. I highlight again, there is no incinerator operating at East Arm port. That incinerator has been closed, and it took a Country Liberals government to do it.
Power and Water - Morale
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Morale at Power and Water is at an all-time low. Management and employees alike are tired of being denigrated with various CLP comments that the organisation is fat, bloated and inefficient. There are strong reports from staff, managers and the business community that the government is determined to reduce the Power and Water workforce by 40% by Christmas 2013.
Chief Minister, it is up to you. Will you rule out job losses at Power and Water, and will you explicitly rule out any plans to see the workforce reduced to 600 employees in coming weeks? Will you commit to retaining the existing number of apprentices? Three very easy answers.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. The member for Barkly, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, is hitting the bottom of the barrel. The opposition tried to dog whistle about a proposed 58% increase, when they know getting rid of the carbon tax is the only way to bring down the price of power. However, they oppose bringing down power prices ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This is about job losses.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has three minutes to answer his question.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They dog whistle with the first three questions about power prices, oppose getting rid of the carbon tax which will see the price of power come down, and keep going along the same line.
After parliament yesterday our side had a chat. We wondered what Labor would ask us today because they have nowhere to go. They did not have a strategy yesterday, and the day before were all over the place because they were worried about the member for Fannie Bay …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. There were three very direct questions. The Chief Minister should answer them and rule out job cuts.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: On Tuesday they were worried about the member for Fannie Bay getting the amazing number five and getting over the line. It was so bad they would not even give him a question.
Let me tell you how bad it was on Tuesday and Wednesday. When they did not have a strategy they had to get the member for Johnston to ask a question. That is how bad it was! When you get to the bottom of the barrel and have the member for Johnston asking questions in this Chamber you know they are worried about the member for Fannie Bay. That is how bad it gets.
Today you wave around a report written about PWC for the Utilities Commission. You are trying to dog whistle about price rises when you know Labor is stopping the price of power coming down. It is your party, Albanese and Bill Shorten …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. We do not need to hear this rant. We want to know if he will rule out job cuts at Power and Water.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. The Chief Minister is answering the question.
Mr GILES: You try to scare the horses at Power and Water. You have the member for Nhulunbuy – the only void in Nhulunbuy is the member herself …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive. Withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, it is not an offensive statement. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. You make these assertions and wild claims, trying to detract from the fact the member for Fannie Bay has just about got the numbers to get rid of the Leader of the Opposition ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He has 55 seconds; he might at some stage want to address staffing at Power and Water.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order. Sit down. Chief Minister, have you …
Mr GILES: I have answered the question.
Remote Health Clinics –
Community Responsibility
Community Responsibility
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
What is the government doing to improve remote health clinics and ensure communities have a greater say and take greater responsibility for provision of their primary healthcare needs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Namatjira for her question. The member for Namatjira is well-connected with her community and knows the clinics very well. Two weeks ago to the day, I went to Santa Teresa clinic with the member for Namatjira. She knew the staff and was well versed in what is happening in that community-controlled clinic. She is a very proud member, trying to empower her community when it comes to the provision of health services.
In remote areas of the Northern Territory we are rolling out an extensive upgrade to remote health clinics to the tune of over $50m. There is good news to report in remote health, particularly for Ntaria Health Clinic. We have just issued a $4.3m tender to a local Alice Springs building company called Probuild NT for construction of a brand new health clinic ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. That is Commonwealth funding from Warren Snowdon, at least have the decency to thank him.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister for Health, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: In addition to the new clinic at Ntaria, or Hermannsburg, we have works under way across the Northern Territory: Galiwinku, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Robinson River, Elliott, Canteen Creek, as well as upgrades to centres in Papunya, Maningrida, Docker River and Titjikala.
It is not just bricks and mortar we are concerned about. Only 25% of all remote clinics in the Northern Territory are community run by the non-government sector. The former Labor government spruiked their commitment to the regions, but it did not wash. Their words did not match their actions. As the new Country Liberal government, we are extremely committed to the regions. We want to empower local communities and, at the end of our three-year term, we want to have more than just 18 out of a total of 74 clinics run by community organisations.
For example, I recently visited the Wadeye Health Centre with the member for Daly. We want that clinic to work towards operating its own health clinic. We want the Maningrida clinic to work towards community operation at their clinic. We want people to be empowered in the regions. We do not want to second guess how these people want their health services rolled out and managed. We want communities which own their clinics to operate them. We want the voice of the people in the regions to be heard.
This government is committed to regionalisation. We are committed to remote Northern Territory as well as the urban centres. We are very proud of our roll-out of upgrading clinics and the building of new clinics.
Power and Water - Privatisation
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
It is no secret this government is on the path to split up, run down, strip costs, raise revenue and then sell off Power and Water Corporation. Every move you have made since coming into office has been preparing to privatise power. On top of the vicious price hikes, you have now moved to split the corporation into multiple separate entities. Experts have described your steps as the first step towards privatisation, and the code words are efficiency and competition, even though there is no evidence that the private sector is more efficient when it comes to electricity provision. They have also said these steps inevitably lead to privatisation, otherwise why do it.
Splitting up Power and Water will see massive duplication and additional costs. What expert evidence report do you have that you can put into the public domain to show it will improve efficiency, open up competition that already exists, and justify your actions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. It is the first question in the last 12 months she has asked me. It is bizarre, but I am thrilled.
You ask what expert evidence supports privatisation. There is the Queensland Labor government …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. That was not the question. It was what expert evidence he has to split up the entities of Power and Water Corporation, not privatisation.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please be seated. He has time to answer.
Mr TOLLNER: About 25 different things were raised in the question. You ask what expert evidence there is to support privatisation, let me tell you: the Anna Bligh government in Queensland, Morris Iemma in New South Wales. What was the name of the joker in South Australia? They were all Labor people, by the way. The previous federal Energy Resources minister, in his most recent energy white paper, castigated the states for not privatising their utilities quickly enough. These are all Labor people I am quoting regarding privatisation.
We are on the record saying we are not interested in privatisation. We are interested in making the Power and Water Corporation more efficient and putting in place a competitive marketplace to encourage other players into the Northern Territory electricity market.
You have to ask, following on from that, why would we do that? We are staring down the barrel of $5.5bn worth of debt. It would be wonderful to think we had no debt and had inherited a balanced budget, but that is not the case.
When you look at how we deal with the finances you also look at credit ratings. Our credit rating has been put on a negative outlook because Moody’s identified that the fiscal situation of the Northern Territory government was not up to scratch. The big cherry in the middle of that was the Power and Water Corporation putting a massive drag on Territory finances.
You have the bizarre situation where the Leader of the Opposition ignored PWC for the entire period she was shareholding minister, saw it run into the ground and become a fat, bloated, inefficient organisation that could only operate through taxpayer subsidies. She now screams nonsense about privatisation, when her party has privatised utilities all over Australia.
Tennant Creek - Health Services
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for HEALTH
What has the NT government recently delivered to improve health services in Tennant Creek?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Once again, the member for Daly is extremely well connected with his community. Recently I toured several communities in his area. I visited the Wadeye, Peppimenarti and Nauiyu clinics. He knows the people who work in those clinics as well as the issues. He is working with me as Health minister to improve delivery of health services in the Daly area.
I find it hard to believe the former Labor government had 11 years to address health issues in the Barkly area because, from my perspective coming in fresh, there has not been a lot of development in health services in the Barkly area for a long time.
We hear the member for Barkly, with his rhetoric and hypocrisy, talking about how committed he is to the Barkly. I have uncovered a story which would suggest neglect rather than anything else.
On this side of the Chamber, we are intrigued by and committed to Tennant Creek. The Chief Minister opened an office of the Department of the Chief Minister there recently, and we have lots of good news in health when it comes to the Barkly area. For the first time in six years the Barkly and Tennant Creek areas have a full-time dentist. They have been waiting for that for six years.
The dental service is located at the hospital. We have successfully recruited to the dental service and it will cater for both public and private dental patients. This is a great step forward. It is extremely significant for a small population such as Tennant Creek – a population of 3000 – and the surrounding areas to have a full-time dentist. It is great news.
Also, the general practitioner service located at Tennant Creek Hospital – we thank the RFDS for operating a very good GP service in the Barkly area over the last seven years, but we now have a new service located at the hospital. The transfer of files happened very smoothly. It is up and running and there is great attendance. The operating hours are longer and we are getting very good feedback about how the service is operating.
We also have the opening of the new ED service at Tennant Creek Hospital in the coming weeks. Yes, it has been funded by the Commonwealth but we are a part of that. We are committed to health services in the Barkly area, and we are committed to regionalisation of health services in the Barkly area, something the former government dragged its feet on.
Power and Water Corporation - Privatisation
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Having learnt that the hard lesson splitting up electricity providers and privatisation – driving up costs to consumers – does not necessarily work, Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania are all in the process of re-amalgamating their electricity unit businesses, the exact opposite of what you are proposing and what your Treasurer is saying. If these states could not make structural separation work in markets of one million-plus customers, how do you credibly explain to Territorians that splitting up Power and Water will work with only 80 000 customers NT-wide?
Why are you hell-bent on privatising Power and Water? No doubt some of your CLP mates with taxpayers’ interests not at stake are advising you. Ideology, not logic, is driving your decision. The other states have reversed what the Treasurer just spoke about, why not …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know if there was a question in that dribble. I can re-affirm what the Treasurer has just said. You are trying to dog whistle Power and Water. We are trying to bring about competition in the generation area. There are people who want to generate power more cheaply than we can at the moment.
The structural separation is happening at the moment. No one is trying to privatise anything. We are trying to improve performance. We know, as the Treasurer said, there is a $5.5bn debt. Yes, Power and Water contributes highly to that. Yes, we are trying to recover our debt position to improve things, and part of that is fixing Power and Water.
There are hard-working people at Power and Water who do a sensational job, but it is our responsibility to implement the framework to ensure we drive costs down. If we have private providers who want to generate electricity contributing to the network, and start selling power at a competitive price – we have to do all we can to keep power prices down.
That is opposed to Labor, which does not support removing the carbon tax which will see prices come down. It is fact. We have committed to the price remaining, as stated, for three years. If you could talk to your colleagues in Canberra you would see the power prices come down because the carbon tax will go. Let me reaffirm that, Madam Speaker: if Labor in the Territory and Canberra remove the carbon tax and support Tony Abbott, power prices in the Northern Territory will go down.
Private Investment in the Bush
Mr HIGGINS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Northern Territory government is working hard to attract private investment into the bush. Can you outline the benefits flowing to Darwin and the Territory’s regional centres from this economic activity in the bush?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. I know he is committed to economic development, not just in Daly, but across the Northern Territory, whether it is urban centres outside Darwin or in communities such as Borroloola, Numbulwar or Groote Eylandt where the BHP 50-year anniversary is today – the member for Arnhem, and the member for Katherine, the Minister for Mines and Energy, are in attendance. You want to see development all over the Territory, something philosophically opposed by the former government which only wanted to see development in one part of the Territory. We want to see is across the Territory.
Territorians, particularly in the greater Darwin area, might ask why it is important to have mines, horticulture and agricultural development, and tourism development in urban, regional and remote areas of the Territory. In many respects, Darwin is a supply centre for the rest of the Territory. Many head offices are based here, as are many ancillary services such as IT and a range of industries. When you support the regions, you are supporting the greater Darwin area by having more job growth and economic development here.
People who might live in the Nightcliff electorate, for example, will benefit by regional development because there will be jobs associated with that. Look through Fannie Bay and Parap at the number – I was talking to the member for Drysdale about this yesterday – of beauty salons in those areas. A lot of beauty products are made …
Ms Fyles: Are you serious? You are cutting teachers and you want to talk about beauty!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: We have a very unintelligent member for Nightcliff. Let me explain …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 62: that is offensive and also unnecessary. Behave like a Chief Minister, momentarily.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please be seated. Chief Minister, continue.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. If you want to hear the way life works I am happy to explain it to you. If you want to make silly interjections when you do not comprehend what is happening, keep making them.
Many beauty products are made from mining developments. This is how the whole cycle of life works. You cannot have people such as the member for Nightcliff opposed to mining but wanting to buy beauty products. You have to develop mining and get the products from that to generate jobs in areas across the Northern Territory. This is how the cycle of life works.
Many people living in the northern suburbs, Darwin itself, and in the rural area, travel to the Roper region to work in mines, they work at INPEX, or have an opportunity to work in tourism in the Daly or at Uluru – the fly-in fly-out arrangement. For many years the member for Barkly has said he would like to see his constituents in a fly-in fly-out arrangement. These are the opportunities, and supporting economic growth in the regions supports jobs and people who live in Darwin and greater Darwin area.
It is a fantastic outcome we hope to achieve, and it is what we are driving towards. We will see success; it is just the timing because a great deal of structural reform has to go into developing jobs in the regions. It has been neglected for decades and it is about time change occurred. We will make that change.
MOTION
Further Questions to be Placed on the Written Question Paper
Further Questions to be Placed on the Written Question Paper
Mr GILES (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have another 10 to 15 minutes to go in Question Time. It is an hour and we did not start until just after the hour. It is extraordinary to shut down Question Time. I seek your advice ...
Mr Tollner: We could see what was coming.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, the Chief Minister has moved that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper ...
Mr Gunner: Then it is a motion.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a motion. It is a matter for government if they wish to finish Question Time.
Mr Gunner: It is a motion to finish Question Time. You are allowed to speak to a motion.
Mr Wood: Madam Speaker, it is a disgrace!
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has moved a motion they be put on the Written Question Paper. Are you speaking to the motion?
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Yes, Madam Speaker. We have an hour for Question Time. That is the normal practice for openness, transparency, and accountability in the Northern Territory. It is expected of governments. It is now 10 minutes to the hour. It is quite an extraordinary step for the Chief Minister to cut Question Time short, to gag the opposition and the Independent. It seems extraordinary the Chief Minister would choose, after a series of questions on Power and Water, to close Question Time down early. This is an extraordinary decision by the Chief Minister.
The Leader of Government Business is not present, and perhaps without the member for Port Darwin’s presence they are making rash decisions; they are missing their sensible ballast. It is an unusual and extraordinary decision to gag Question Time, to shut down the opposition and the Independent to prevent questions about Power and Water. Who knows what other questions we may have to ask? In this Chamber we have time to ask questions of this government about the things they are doing. They are a bad government with the wrong priorities, and the opposition and Independent should be allowed to ask questions of this government.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, the member for Fong Lim got it right. He knew what was coming, and this is a deliberate attempt to stop a censure motion.
I have sat in this parliament for a long time on this side and have seen you mob, when in opposition, pull censure motion after censure motion. I have never heard of someone deliberately stopping Question Time to avoid a censure motion you may not like.
Question Time is for Territorians to hear about their electorate and what the government has to say about people on this side, or members of their own party, finding out about government policy, questioning what you are doing, and making government accountable and transparent. This is the only time members of this parliament can question the government and the public can hear your answers.
You have deliberately snubbed the people of the Northern Territory by cutting 15 minutes off Question Time simply to avoid a censure motion ...
Mr Giles: It has nothing to do with a censure motion.
Mr WOOD: It has, because the member for Fong Lim said it earlier. He said he could see what was coming. Big deal! Are you suddenly scared of a censure motion? You brought censure motion after censure motion against the previous government. Did we avoid that? No!
The Chief Minister can ask who cares. If that is his attitude to the people of the Northern Territory he should explain why he is insulting them by cutting the one period in this parliament, which sits for three days a week, where we can scrutinize what the government is doing.
It is a disgrace. I ask the Chief Minister to withdraw the motion and allow Question Time to continue for 15 minutes. Otherwise, the public will say what they will, and he will have that on his head at the next election.
Ms FYLES (Nightcliff): This is appalling. Our job is to debate and ask questions. Next week I am visiting a primary school in my electorate to speak about democratic process. What will I tell them? Our Chief Minister jumps 15 minutes because he is scared of being accountable, something he promised Territorians he would be during the election.
We have just seen an appalling move from a chaotic government. This is democratic process, and he is smirking at me as if he does not care. He shuts down Question Time 15 minutes early. What if public servants decided to go home 15 minutes early? What if the local childcare centre closed 15 minutes early today? This is your job; treat it with respect and responsibility. Your actions are appalling.
We have to teach our children and future generations to respect parliamentary process. What we see from you clowns – I have no respect for the Deputy Chief Minister right now, just laughing at me.
In speaking to this motion I would like to ask my question without notice to the Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment, or will he duck and hide as well? Is that what you want as a government? You do not want to answer questions from Territorians? I had a really important question to ask on planning and cuts to FrogWatch. Madam Speaker, may I ask that question?
Ms Lawrie: You can ask it while speaking to the motion.
Madam SPEAKER: You are speaking to the motion.
Ms FYLES: Speaking to the motion, a local group has approached me, a group working hard to limit the impact of cane toads on our unique Territory wildlife called FrogWatch. They are well-known in Darwin.
When rain started recently the cane toads were on the march again. There are reports of cane toads in Palmerston. How do you explain your mean-spirited decision to remove grant funding from FrogWatch by cutting $200 000, meaning less will be done to stop the spread of cane toads. Why have you thrown in the towel on FrogWatch and Question Time? What is this CLP government doing?
Mr TOLLNER (Treasuer): Madam Speaker, the opposition wasted the entire Question Time with nonsensical questions.
The first question was: will power prices increase because of changes to the network pricing? That was answered. It was asked another four or five times, and no one on the other side even bothered listening to the answer. You are too busy screeching, whining and carrying on about this side that you do not hear the answer. The Chief Minister answered the question at least a dozen times.
We now find, with 15 minutes to go, you have some important questions.
This House is clearly spiralling downwards with nonsensical questions, all on one issue. To now say you have important questions –I take my hat off to the member for Nelson, he asked a sensible question. He generally does and that is great, but he had his question this Question Time. I doubt there was much chance of him getting another. Perhaps he would have in the last five, 10 or 15 minutes.
This government has a job to do. Whilst the opposition might see this as their playpen and opportunity to ask repetitive questions then say, ‘We had some important questions’ – that was a good question, member for Nightcliff. I wonder why you are so far down the priority list. Perhaps you are a supporter of the member for Fannie Bay. You have an important question to ask but do not ask it. We heard five or six questions on the same topic. The Chief Minister in the main, and I answered the questions but you want to harp on about it.
Where are the important questions? We have a big agenda today. Things need to be achieved for the benefit of Territorians today, and it is best we get on with it.
Madam Speaker, I move that the motion be put.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He does not have the gag motion power the Leader of Government Business has. The Leader of Government Business can put the motion but the Deputy Chief Minister cannot. I seek a ruling on that because I seek the right to speak in this debate too.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, under Standing Order 78: closure of debate, the question is that the motion now be put. The Deputy Chief Minister has done that. In accordance with the standing order the motion is now put.
The Assembly divided:
Ayes 10 Noes 8
Ms Anderson Mr Gunner
Mr Chandler Ms Lawrie
Mr Conlan Mr McCarthy
Ms Finocchiaro Ms Manison
Mr Giles Mr Vatskalis
Mr Higgins Mr Vowles
Mrs Lambley Ms Walker
Mrs Price Mr Wood
Mr Styles
Mr Tollner
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: The motion is that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Motion agreed to.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Allow Extra Time for Question Time
Allow Extra Time for Question Time
Ms LAWRIE (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent a further 15 minutes of Question Time. What we see in the Chamber today is an all-time low for the parliament. The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory has never had Question Time guillotined by the Chief Minister 15 minutes before it was due to finish on the basis – we listened carefully to the arguments of the Deputy Chief Minister – they did not like the questions and found them repetitive. The government passed judgment on the quality of the opposition’s questions and deemed it fit to kill what we know and enjoy as democracy in the Northern Territory. It is extraordinary. I have seen many bad things and incredible arrogance from this government. The arrogance has grown significantly under the leadership of Adam Giles as Chief Minister.
Territorians were desperately unhappy in the previous CLP leadership with power price hikes and a litany of broken election commitments. However, they have seen from this Chief Minister arrogance not witnessed before. Who could forget the moment in Question Time when he laughed and mocked emergency department nurses on the issue of double-bunking that was putting them, and their patients, at risk at Royal Darwin Hospital.
You laughed and mocked, and that was a defining moment for many Territorians. They did not know who you were and what you were like as you were relatively unknown. It is probably why you got ahead of your mate, Dave Tollner, in the Chief Minister stakes because they knew what he was like and did not like the arrogance. It turned them off; they do not want that from their leader. They were not sure about you until that moment. It became quite defining in conversations across the Northern Territory because people asked, ‘Is he as arrogant as Dave Tollner? Is he really that arrogant?’
Your actions today speak volumes about your arrogance. It is not your right to shut down Question Time because you do not like the questions. You can do it by weight of numbers, but it is not your right to do it. You chose to do it today, even when opposition members spoke against it, and even when cautioned by the Independent member for Nelson, you arrogantly proceeded because you did not like the questions. You felt it was not our right, as an opposition, to ask questions about Power and Water. Is that because Power and Water is not important enough for you to be questioned on and to be debated?
None of us can exist in our society without relying, to varying degrees, on power, water and sewerage. That is why they are called essential services. What the government chooses to do with our essential services is of great importance to Territorians. Whether it is town, our large regional centres or remote communities, it means a lot. It means a lot to the people working at Power and Water, and they hear across the workplace that 1000 jobs will be cut to 600 by Christmas.
You would not answer that question. You did not have the decency to say, ‘Not on my watch. We value the employees at Power and Water. We have learnt the lessons of the past when it was stripped down. We understand that led to the cost burdens of today. It was stripped down and had to be rebuilt.’ You did not have the decency to answer that question. You did your normal rant and rave we have all become so used to.
To sit on the other side in your bubble of arrogance and assume what questions will be coming from the opposition is ridiculous! Yes, we had questions. We had questions about the member for Arnhem. How much will she pay back? Is it $8000? Is it $8700? Is it $22 000? Because $22 000 exists on her electoral return as money she received from the Jawoyn Association. They are legitimate questions. All the Power and Water questions were legitimate. However, you will not be questioned. In your arrogance, you shut down Question Time.
I have been in the Chamber and have not had time to research. However, we will research. Is there a precedent in a parliament in our nation of a Chief Minister, Premier or Prime Minister shutting down Question Time? None come to mind. Some pretty appalling actions have occurred across the parliaments of our nation from time to time, but none come to mind of a Prime Minister, Premier or Chief Minister shutting down Question Time. Why?
When trying to find out what was so important as to require a 15-minute guillotine of Question Time, the Deputy Chief Minister tells us they did not like the questions. The Power and Water questions were deemed repetitive, even though they were different questions.
We did not get to ask why the Treasurer says this is about opening up to competition, when QEnergy, a retailer here today, is powering Parliament House. What prevents generation competition in regulatory environments? Nothing. The work done by the previous Labor Treasurer, Syd Stirling and I on regulatory changes to Power and Water have opened up competition in the Territory.
We did not get to ask about examples of privatisation leading to cheaper prices. People have a genuine concern. When we quoted the industry expert, a professor, the Deputy Chief Minister attributed those quotes to the Electrical Trades Union. No, that is wrong. It shows he does not follow the discourse on public radio. A professor from Wollongong made those comments about splitting up as a first step to privatisation. We did not have a chance to question you further on any evidence which suggests privatisation leads to reduced prices.
As you heard, the member for Nightcliff had a question about cane toads. Equally, she had a question about water allocation, and the fact in the Chamber yesterday that the member for Arnhem said:
- It is especially important and appropriate that strategic Indigenous reserves be considered in the water allocation plans … Indigenous people, with the background, education and understanding of the water resources and the acts around the Northern Territory should have a seat at the table so they can have their say …
We did not get to ask these questions because you judged you have the right to shut down Question Time. You have the weight of numbers, and, therefore, the power to do it. However, I contend you do not have the right to do it. Never do it again!
You should not call yourself a genuine leader, a genuine Chief Minister of the Northern Territory; because today you have proven your contempt for our democratic process. You stand condemned.
Mrs LAMBLEY (Acting Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, as the Acting Leader of Government Business, we accept your motion to have an extra 15 minutes of Question Time, given our respect for the democratic principles of this parliament. We believe there has been a problem with Question Time. The questions have not been succinct or entirely relevant and have been extremely repetitive.
As a government, we ask that questions from the opposition and other members of this Chamber aim to enrich our community and the debate of this parliament.
We are happy to oblige in this unusual circumstance that the Chamber continue with Question Time for another 15 minutes, despite the motion passed several minutes ago.
Ms Lawrie: Madam Speaker, we are still speaking to the motion, the member for Nelson is on his feet.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I appreciate what the minister has said in relation to this matter. It is surprising we have to go through all this pain to get what we should have had in the first place.
I do not know what has happened on that side. However, regardless of the quality of questions – I previously sat in parliament and listened to nearly three days of questions about a certain federal member.
During that time I heard many repetitive questions from the opposition. Many times there were questions on the one theme until it bored me out of my brain, but that is the process used when parties tactically question government. It is not for me to ask the Speaker to close down Question Time because I am bored with the questions or do not like the tone or quality of them. That is not a decision for me to make; that is a decision for the people of the Northern Territory.
If they believe their elected members are not doing a good job they may not vote for them at the next election, they can turn their radio off, or walk out of the public gallery. That is for them to decide. Question Time is when elected members have a chance to scrutinise our parliamentary representatives who, in this case, are the CLP government.
People expect the government to respect the norms of this parliament. Many times I have heard the member for Port Darwin espouse the virtues of the Westminster system; we have just turned that on its head. We have not respected the Westminster system, which has a time when local members can question the government about what it is doing.
I do not normally raise my voice unless I believe something is totally wrong. By trying to gag Question Time the government has done a disservice to Territorians.
I support the motion before us. I am glad the government has changed its mind and seen some common sense. However, you have already shown people you are arrogant enough to dismiss the traditions of the Westminster system by not allowing a proper debate to occur, which Question Time is. By shortening it and saying to people in the Northern Territory, ‘We do not want to be scrutinised. We will say the questions are not up to standard. We will make that judgment and, when they are not up to standard, we will shorten it; we will close it down.’ That is too silly for words. It is not your job ...
Mr Conlan: Just get on with it!
Mr WOOD: Yes, we will get on with it, but we did not bring on shortening Question Time, you did. Do not expect people to take it with a whimper. It is very important. The processes of this parliament are very important. I take them seriously, and my electorate expects me to be diligent and take the processes seriously. The government has not and should be condemned for it. Therefore, I support the motion before parliament. I thank the minister for supporting it as well.
Madam SPEAKER: Are you speaking to the motion from the member for Araluen?
Mr VATSKALIS: Speaking to the motion.
Madam SPEAKER: No, you have the motion from the member of Araluen to reinstate Question Time for another 15 minutes.
Mr VATSKALIS: No, she did not put a motion, she said she will accept ...
Ms Lawrie: I have a motion before the Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, correct.
Mr TOLLNER (Deputy Chief Minister): As we have heard from the Acting Leader of Government Business, the government supports the motion. We are happy to take another 15 minutes. Get your questions right, sort your act out and ask something important. Madam Speaker, I move the motion be put.
The Assembly divided:
Ayes 10 Noes 8
Ms Anderson Mr Gunner
Mr Chandler Ms Lawrie
Mr Conlan Mr McCarthy
Ms Finocchiaro Ms Manison
Mr Giles Mr Vatskalis
Mr Higgins Mr Vowles
Mrs Lambley Ms Walker
Mrs Price Mr Wood
Mr Styles
Mr Tollner
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: The motion before the parliament is that standing orders be suspended to restore Question Time as moved by the Opposition Leader.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: Question Time will now re-commence for 15 minutes. It is 11.20 am.
Leasing of Aboriginal Land
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you outline the government’s approach to leasing of Aboriginal land and how this will assist economic development in remote communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Namatjira for her question. The Country Liberals believe social conditions in remote communities will only improve when economic conditions improve. Member for Namatjira, I am pleased to tell you and the parliament that the tide is shifting. We are starting to see the early fruits of hard work by individuals and corporations on Indigenous land and in the bush. I have begun to …
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: Here we go again. They want Question Time but do not want an answer about something that is happening. We have seen the fruits of very hard work. I have started talking to Indigenous communities who might be interested in new ways of doing business, breaking the cycle of welfare dependency and creating real jobs.
The most advanced of these discussions is with the Tiwi Islanders, whose main interest is using their land for tourism, agriculture and industrial development. Only a matter of days ago the Port of Melville was completed. The Tiwi people sourced and negotiated their own deal, bringing tens of millions of dollars of investment into the Tiwi Islands, providing a deep water port facility. This infrastructure is a game changer and will underpin development on the Tiwi Islands now and into the future.
As previously mentioned, a few weeks ago I visited Wadeye and toured Wadeye south with the member for Daly and the Minister for Health. I inspected a privately developed subdivision of land in that remote Indigenous community. It was fantastic, and it was the first time I have seen a ‘For Sale’ sign on house blocks in Wadeye. A 40-year leasehold can be purchased for $250 000. Fifteen of those blocks have already been sold with nine still available. An exciting component is this project was financed, in part, through a commercial loan from Westpac.
It is fantastic to see one of the big four banks lining up to support Indigenous economic development, providing finance to see land tenure availability through the sale of land in a remote community. It provides long-term certainty to investors over their land for 40 years, which is crucial to attracting external investors. This is what we have been talking to communities across the Northern Territory about.
We are investigating models for 99-year land leases which turn the natural assets of welfare dependent communities into economic opportunities. We are not forcing people, we are trying to walk hand-in-hand with people and invite them to come forward. We are currently looking at the possibility of how we hold leases into the future – how we best leverage that – to ensure we support communities to get the best opportunities for asset development in their community. It is not about stripping land off people, it is about working in partnership on economically feasible land to make gains for the local people, the traditional owners, and the local residents to develop business and develop jobs.
This is the reform approach we want and will hasten slowly. We will try to facilitate the opportunity for people who come to us with ideas, and a range of opportunities are currently presenting themselves. We look forward to continued negotiations on this. We will work as fast as we can or as slow as we need to, but we want long-term change for people in remote communities. Thank you.
Water Allocation Plans - Indigenous Reserves
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you reaffirmed your government’s flawed decision to abandon the policy on strategic Indigenous reserves and said you will review it in three years’ time, when most of the water will already be allocated. Yesterday in this House the member for Arnhem directly rejected the government’s position. She said:
- It is especially important and appropriate that strategic Indigenous reserves be considered in the water allocation plans ... Indigenous people, with the background, education and understanding of the water resources … should have a seat at the table so they can have their say …
We know members opposite share the member for Arnhem’s concerns and the CLP government is divided on the issue. Chief Minister, why do you not respect the rights of Indigenous Territorians and adopt the position advocated by the CLP member for Arnhem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. I am filling in for the Minister for Land Resource Management, but I can say people on this side are not divided on this issue. We are fully supportive.
What we are supporting, if you reflect back to the last question, is economic development. We want people to use their land, extract water, use it for horticultural purposes or whatever they can to develop jobs, Indigenous or otherwise. We are not segregating parts of our community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous; we want everyone to have the opportunity to access this. Fifty per cent of the Northern Territory is …
Ms Fyles: The member for Arnhem said there should be strategic Indigenous reserves.
Mr GILES: You asked the question, would you like the answer? Fifty per cent of the Northern Territory is Aboriginal land. Where there are opportunities to develop that land, if it is Indigenous land …
Ms Fyles: No water left.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nightcliff!
Mr GILES: … where you can develop land, if it is Aboriginal land, Aboriginal people apply to get water in those areas. In areas where there may be native title or an Indigenous land use agreement or other forms, all people have an opportunity, including Indigenous people. We are not segregating; we want development. We want Aboriginal Territorians, like other Territorians, to line up and …
Ms Fyles: There will be no water left.
Mr GILES: Sorry, interjecting again.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, cease interjecting!
Mr GILES: … start getting access to that water and developing their land. That is what it is all about. That is what develops jobs and long-term opportunities. You ask what happens when Indigenous people turn up and all the water has been allocated. Under Labor it would never have been allocated because you would not issue a water licence. We are getting things happening and getting Indigenous people happy to do this.
You talk about the member for Arnhem. In Ngukurr, the traditional owners are talking to us about accessing water for horticultural development. That is exactly what we want to do.
You were not a member in the last government. You were an advisor, not a member. Under the last government, you were not approving water licences and not supporting regional economic development. That is what we are doing and how we are trying to drive change.
Internal Communications, Media and Marketing (ICMM) – Scheduling Meetings
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EDUCATION
I received a copy of an e-mail which says if schools wish to invite the minister to attend, launch, or speak at an event they must do so via the ministerial briefing process at least eight weeks prior to the event and advise Internal Communications, Media and Marketing (ICMM).
It goes on to say should the minister accept the invitation or nominate a colleague to attend on his behalf, speech notes, an order of events and a guest list must be provided to ICMM at least two weeks prior to the event. ICMM can provide advice on the process.
Is ICMM running your show? Does this not look like you are being protected from criticism at school council meetings from teachers, staff, and parents about the cuts to education you are introducing? I have heard you sing the Frank Sinatra song My Way many times, so will you deal with schools your way not ICMM’s way?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There is no better example of a busy government than what you just described. I will not apologise for being busy. I would love you to see the diary and see 12 to 16 meetings every day, whether they are breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings. That is our job, and sometimes people will wait a little time to have a meeting scheduled.
However, this is not about protecting me; this is about getting out to as many people as we possibly can and scheduling in school visits, whether they are in the Top End or across the Northern Territory. There has to be a process and I can tell you many people have my phone number. In fact, I took a phone call last night and we scheduled a meeting for tomorrow. It is not undoable.
I have a team that works really hard to schedule my time, as all ministers have. It is not a bad thing to be busy. At one stage, people were waiting two or three months for a scheduled half-hour meeting with me. At the time I had Housing, Education, as well as Lands Planning and the Environment, three very busy portfolios.
When it comes to scheduling visits and meetings, there are a number of channels people can use. They can contact my office directly. Many people go through my electorate office and many have my direct phone number. I encourage people, particularly if it is urgent like the phone call was last night …
Ms Fyles: Mobile?
Mr CHANDLER: Yes they did, member for Nightcliff, ring my mobile. We have scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning. It is with a developer, because developers are equally important to growing the Territory.
This is not about protection. This demonstrates a very busy minister and government, because we are a government that is open for business. There are times where people will wait to get a meeting, but that is a healthy sign of a busy government. We have scheduled weird times for meetings because they are super urgent and we have to deal with them as soon as possible.
Member for Nelson, I encourage people to use whatever channels they need to, whether it is my electorate office, the ministry office, or ringing my mobile. They can get through somehow, and we will find time ...
Ms Fyles: Can we get your number?
Mr CHANDLER: Natasha, you probably have my number. I know the member for Fannie Bay has. Unionists Matthew Cranitch and Peter Clisby have. Did the former Minister for Education give his mobile number to the union? The answer is no, they did not have his number.
Member for Arnhem –
Jawoyn Association Funding
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
The member for Arnhem has finally admitted the Jawoyn Association funding was not properly endorsed by the association, as required by law. She now says she is happy to pay back an agreed sum to cover the funds received. Good on her!
In May, the Jawoyn Association said the member for Arnhem had received a total of $8790.25 in election support, contradicting the member’s own electoral return to the Northern Territory Electoral Commission when, in her second go at getting it right, she declared she had received $22 000 from the Jawoyn Association.
Chief Minister, you are the responsible parliamentarian, the boss of the CLP. Can you clear up a little misunderstanding and advise the House which of these two conflicting amounts is correct? Have you ensured her electoral return, as required by law, is now correct? How much is the agreed sum?
Ms FINOCCHIARO: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Barkly …
Madam SPEAKER: What is the standing order? Sit down, there is no point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it took one question to get back to muckraking. The member for Nelson asked a decent question, and now we have a question about the member for Arnhem which has nothing to do with government.
If an organisation funds a person individually, they make an electoral return, which is overseen by the Electoral Commissioner. This is not about running government. If you want to ask a question, ask the member for Arnhem …
A member: She is not here.
Mr GILES: We keep hearing stories from Labor – concerns about who funded an election campaign and who made a contribution. I do not know the ins and outs of the Jawoyn Association and how it allocates funding or if ORIC determined it was not signed off at an AGM. That is a matter for ORIC, Jawoyn, and the member for Arnhem, not government. It is not a matter for ministers. We are not briefed on that type of information. It is not something we have bureaucrats or staff in the government departments looking at.
A question from the member for Barkly could have been: can you tell me about the Wiso Basin and gas exploration from Blue Energy? Or: can you tell me about the meeting the traditional owners had about approving that?
We could have had a question about roads spending from the shadow minister for roads, Transport and Infrastructure, but no. It is the same as yesterday and goes straight to the gutter. You wonder why we shut Question Time early. You do not listen and are trying to cause problems.
If you want information we will provide it. Yesterday I said to the Leader of Government Business, ‘Let’s go for more than an hour. Let’s go for two hours.’ The questions were good, we were being accountable, and then, all of a sudden they went straight to the gutter. I said to John, ‘Shut it in an hour. They keep going to the gutter, shut it in an hour.’
Today there were five questions on Power and Water all the same, trying to whistle the dog like you normally do. You have come to ask questions. We gave you 15 minutes; we will give you half an hour, whatever you want. However, you go straight to the gutter after question one. It has nothing to do with government. I challenge you to come with a Labor policy and start asking real questions, not gutter ones.
If you want to know how much the member for Arnhem is repaying, ask the member for Arnhem. It is not part of this Chamber.
FrogWatch NT - Funding
Ms FYLES to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
A local group which has worked hard to limit the impact of cane toads on our unique Territory wildlife is FrogWatch. With rains starting, cane toads are on the march again and there are reports of cane toads in the Palmerston region. How do you explain your government’s mean-spirited decision to remove all grant funding from FrogWatch? Cutting $200 000 means less will be done to stop the spread of cane toads. Have you thrown in the towel on the CLP government doing its fair share to stop the spread of cane toads?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. It gives me an opportunity to correct the record regarding the article in the NT News yesterday.
Let me be clear, this government did not cut the funding for FrogWatch. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement, effective 31 March 2013.
I can advise the House the $200 000 paid to FrogWatch was never funded by Labor through any budget. Parks and Wildlife was directed to fund FrogWatch from within its existing budget. This meant money was taken away from supporting our parks and rangers to keep them clean, tidy and operational to pay for FrogWatch.
This money has now been given back to the operational areas within Parks and Wildlife to improve our standard of service within the parks. This means more money for our 87 parks and reserves to look after nearly three million visitors every year, and to take care of over four million hectares of land we manage.
Madam Speaker, I am excited to be the Minister for Parks and Wildlife. I cannot wait to get out to the amazing parks and reserves we have.
Ms Walker: Come to Nhulunbuy, and talk to Dhimurru Rangers about why they lost their senior ranger.
Mrs PRICE: I have been to Nhulunbuy.
Community Infrastructure – Remote NT
Ms FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for COMMUNITY SERVICES
I congratulate the minister for joining the ministry. We are proud to have you in that position.
Minister, can you outline to the House what the Giles government is doing for remote NT community infrastructure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. To remind members, on 10 September 2013 I was proud to be sworn in as Minister for Community Services.
Ms Fyles: Yes, because you voted for Adam.
Mrs PRICE: I heard that interjection.
I have enjoyed getting my head around the challenges facing this portfolio. It is a difficult one, as I have only been in the job for three weeks. I will take on the challenges I face. I will be talking to people, unlike the Labor people who use us and become our friends just to get our vote.
The member raised the issue of community infrastructure, which was raised by the member for Barkly several days ago. This is my second question in the House, and what a great question it is. It shows the Giles government has not forgotten the bush, unlike those opposite who were in government for 11 years and did nothing for the bush. Labor took the bush for granted and did nothing. They made promises, they held our hand, and they did not respect Aboriginal people.
I saw that last night in the way they treated the member for Arafura. It was disrespectful. You used the word ‘disrespectful’ today, member for Nightcliff.
I saw for the first time in this House how they treat Aboriginal people. I saw for myself how Labor treats Aboriginal people – me, and the members for Namatjira and Arnhem. They keep bringing up the member for Arnhem. That is disrespectful. The way they treated the member for Arafura last night was so disrespectful. They want to treat us and keep us on the bottom the whole time. For 11 years Labor has treated us that way. They do not want to see Aboriginal people talk ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Stand Order 113: relevance. I would like to hear about infrastructure. That would be great.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.
Mrs PRICE: There you go. Do you get what I mean? That is what happens when we try to talk about our rights ...
Ms Fyles: Your Chief Minister shuts everyone down.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs PRICE: I heard that from the member for Nightcliff. Respect the rights. That was brought up earlier. I saw that last night. It was disgraceful the way the member for Arafura was treated last night. It was shameful!
Mrs LAMBLEY (Acting Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016