2015-08-27
Chief Minister’s Alleged Secret Plan
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
What is your secret plan for Territorians and parliament? Does anyone in your government know your plans? Why do you continue to treat the people of the Northern Territory with such arrogance and contempt? Chief Minister, please inform Territorians of your secret plan.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will tell everybody how we have reduced the price of petrol in the Northern Territory.
Mr Gunner: It is hardly a secret.
Mr GILES: The Leader of the Opposition just said it is hardly a secret. He knows, just like everybody else, we have been able to reduce fuel to a $1.27 a litre on Bagot Road. We could talk about the biggest land release the Territory has ever seen with 6500 blocks over 10 years, driving down the cost of housing in the Northern Territory to levels not seen during Labor’s time in government. A 10% to 20% decline, making sure supply meets demand.
We could release the cat out of the bag on the lowest level of unemployment in the country, which is 4.2%. It is a great secret. We could talk about how under Labor over eleven-and-a-half years, assault rates went up by 80% and they are now at the lowest levels since the 1990s. We could let that cat out of the bag. We could talk about how alcohol consumption is at the lowest rate in the Northern Territory since the 1990s as well. That is a bit of a secret. Where do I stop?
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Yesterday you referred to having a secret plan if the chaos of the parliament was to continue. What is the secret plan? It is a very direct question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: I did not say there was a secret plan. That is what has been reported. I was asked if there was a backup plan. Yes, there is. We will tell everyone the good news about all the good things we have done. It is as simple as that.
I could talk about the little known fact that when we came to government there was a $5.5bn Labor debt and we have more than halved it. I could talk about the $1.3bn deficit we got rid of.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It goes to the Chief Minister’s secret plan; he said:
- I’ll put that plan into place if I need to.
What is your secret plan? You told journalists you have one and you will put it in place if you need to.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, Leader of the Opposition. It is not a point of order. The Chief Minister has time to answer the question.
Mr GILES: I am telling you exactly what it is. I am talking about your failures and how we have been successful. One of the secrets would be exposing your level of incompetence as an opposition. It could be highlighting the failures of the member for Karama, the only person in this Chamber found to be in trouble with the court system. I could talk about the fraudulent nature of the Stella Maris deal by the member for Barkly. That could be part of a secret plan as well.
There are many things we could talk about, but, most importantly, we will talk about how when you were in government you failed on a multitude of levels, and since we have been in government we have fixed your failures and advanced upon them.
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DISTINGUISHED VISITOR
Hon Syd Stirling
DISTINGUISHED VISITOR
Hon Syd Stirling
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery, of Syd Stirling, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. Welcome to Parliament House.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Crime Reduction – Making the NT Safe
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline what the government is doing to make the Northern Territory a safe place to live, work and play?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is just another element of the secret plan. It is good to put another tool in the shed.
As I said in the previous answer, under the former Labor government crime rates rose over the period of a decade by 80%. My home town of Alice Springs felt the brunt of Labor’s failed law and order policy, with all crime statistics increasing out of control. At the same time Labor’s Banned Drinker Register made life difficult for the majority in an attempt to do something. It was not working.
Since we came to government, we have worked hard to ensure the Northern Territory is a place where you can live safely.
Ms Fyles: Worked hard on a secret plan that you might share with us.
Mr GILES: Do you ever stop screaming?
Here you have an opportunity of getting a job, and we have created more than 11 000 additional jobs in the last 12 months. We have the highest participation rate in the country, at 76.3%, and the lowest unemployment rate.
It is the best place to play. Our investment in parks, sport, the environment and culture is second to none.
Since we abolished the Banned Drinker Register, let us look at how things have improved. The suite of alcohol management programs, which Labor has committed to overturn, has resulted in alcohol-related assaults dropping by a massive 13% across the Territory in the last 12 months. They are down by 19% in Alice Springs, 18% in Katherine and a whopping 55% in Tennant Creek. That is success, but Labor will throw all that out.
Since we came to government in 2012, commercial break-ins are down 17% Territory-wide, house break-ins are down across the Territory by 18%, and property damage is down by 15%. Whenever anybody talks about crime in other jurisdictions, they talk about a 1% or 2% figure. We are seeing decreases by 15%, 20% and even up to 55%. These are encouraging statistics.
Every crime is one crime too many. If you want to talk about it, in 12 months’ time during the election campaign we will talk about our successes and how Labor will throw out everything, including alcohol mandatory treatment, temporary beat locations, Alcohol Protection Orders and paperless arrests. You will throw the lot out and crime will go through the roof.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Electoral Redistribution
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER
You have alleged that the Electoral Commission has orchestrated a leak that has compromised the integrity of the current redistribution. You said this must be investigated. Did you have evidence of this very serious allegation, and have you referred that evidence to the police or Commissioner for Public Interest Disclosures for investigation? Or was this an attempt to bully the Redistribution Committee into complying with your redistribution plans?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not understand the intent of the question. Everyone is aware a redistribution proposal has been released by the Electoral Commissioner, who is independent of government, similar to the Commissioner for Public Interest Disclosures, the Ombudsman, and the Auditor-General, whom you have said are biased.
The Electoral Commissioner issued a report which this side of the Chamber does not agree with. We have made a submission to the Augmented Redistribution Committee and we had an opportunity to meet with that augmented committee to state our case for why there needs to be a change.
As part of the first proposal, there was a change based on the changing demographics in the Northern Territory. The number of people in Palmerston is clearly growing. Electoral redistributions are simply a matter of mathematics, numerical equations and formulae. We understand there are more people in Palmerston. On anyone’s guide Palmerston needs a greater level of representation for its seats. I do not believe there should be fewer than three seats in Alice Springs. That is my position and I put it to the committee.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The Chief Minister made very serious allegations. Have you provided that information?
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: There were no serious allegations.
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. There are some very direct questions about whether you have any evidence of this very serious allegation, which you included in your document to the Redistribution Committee. It said:
- Our disappointment was further exacerbated by the impact of an unprofessional orchestrated leak to the media regarding your recommendation to abolish the division of Araluen …
Did you have any evidence around that?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Wanguri. Chief Minister, can you answer the question?
Mr GILES: The evidence is that I read in the paper that the proposal to get rid of Araluen would happen. It was in the media before it was released publicly. That is a fair amount of evidence. I disagree with the decision in the original draft proposal to remove the seat of Araluen, meaning Alice Springs would go back to having two seats.
I wrote in the letter that there has been a proposal. I met with the augmented Redistribution Committee, as have a few people in this Chamber who have made submissions to date. That needs to be reconsidered. As we all know, the Electoral Commissioner is independent of government and we will see what is handed down whenever the final report is handed down.
You are chasing a rat up a drain pipe which is going nowhere. It was in the public domain before it was released. I was not happy about it. That is the wrong approach to take in this regard, especially for an independent report. It lost the confidence of many in our community in how some decisions of the Electoral Commission are made. There are many people in the community who think that way now. We will wait to see what is in the final report.
Crime Reduction – Facial Recognition Technology
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Apparently you have been doing some ‘secret’ work as well, because you have some ‘secret’ scientists working in ‘secret’ laboratories to come up with ‘secret’ technology, which this government is investing in to ensure the safety of all Territorians. Can you please blow the lid off this massive ‘secret’ and explain how we are committed to making the Northern Territory a safe place? What technology have we been investing in?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As the member for Blain touched on, the Country Liberal government is putting the safety of Territorians first. We are committed to making the Territory a safe place to live, work and play.
Cutting-edge facial recognition technology is making it harder for criminals to get away with their offences and it is helping police to keep Territorians safe. It was fantastic to see this technology in action during the lunch break today, along with the Chief Minister and the Police Commissioner, Reece Kershaw. Investment in this technology and equipment enables police to have the tools they need to solve, prevent and reduce crime.
This new facial recognition software has already helped police identify …
Ms Walker interjecting.
Mr CHANDLER: If you are good, member for Nhulunbuy, you will not end up on there, but I cannot see that being the case for much longer.
Like fingerprinting, facial recognition is a form of identification that allows a computer to quickly match similar faces based on facial features. Footage and images captured on CCTV footage can be submitted to the Northern Territory Police facial recognition team. They can load it into the system for analysis and comparison with existing images within the database. About 100 000 images have been copied into the system database from existing police information holdings, with the first part of the trial in early 2015 successfully identifying around 300 individuals from photos from CCTV footage. The technology is helping reduce investigation times by enabling investigators to quickly identify or eliminate suspects soon after a crime has been committed. It can also assist police to identify missing persons who suffer Alzheimer’s or other similar health issues and can assist police in getting them into care.
The second phase of the trial incorporates a new application that has been designed by police to provide a fast and accurate identification system to be used within the custodial arena. Rapid identification of people coming into custody is important, especially when making assessments on the person’s suitability for custody, based on accurate health alerts that may relate to the person. This enhances the capability to provide a safer custodial environment for all concerned. The software has assisted NT police in identifying a man who stole goods from a commercial premises at Casuarina Village, identified by CCTV footage; a man who stole fishing gear; a person who entered Charles Darwin University; and it assisted with identifying an unconscious man admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital after being seriously assaulted.
The technology is reducing the investigation times by enabling investigators to quickly identify or eliminate suspects soon after a crime has been committed. The continuation of the facial recognition trial followed the recent introduction of mobile CCTV cameras. It is all part of the Country Liberal government’s plans to crack down on crime and make our streets safer.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of the wife of Attorney-General Mr Elferink, Dee Elferink. It is good to see you in Parliament House, and good to see you keeping an eye on your husband.
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Child Protection – Cases not Investigated
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
You reduced your KPI for priority one, child in danger investigations to commence within 24 hours from 100% to 85% at the time of the budget. How many children in danger did not receive an investigation within 24 hours and for how many days?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would have been happy to take that question before we came into the Chamber as I would have been in a position to answer it. Running cold I cannot even guess. I will make a commitment to getting an answer to that question and I will make certain it is communicated to the member in due course.
However, I understand the member’s concern. All members of this House should be concerned about child protection issues in our community. A great sadness of our child protection system is that we have in our care, as a government, 1000 children. In the prison system you can add another 1600 people. That is 2600 people in the care and custody of the Northern Territory government, which is about 1% of our population. That is a great tragedy of the community in which we live. We, as a government, do everything we possibly can to challenge things that confront us.
We have so many people in custody. The unfortunate truth is that number is way over-represented with Indigenous people. I have said before in this House and in any number of other places that we as a government continue to struggle with this issue for a number of reasons, not least of which is a passive welfare system which continues to degrade people by stripping them of their self-worth. We see it in our parks and gardens. We see it manifest in our families and in remote communities.
Everywhere we go we are providing domestic violence responses which are cutting-edge. The Sentenced to a Job program works very hard. We have Alcohol Protection Orders and alcohol mandatory treatment, along with a raft of responses which are peculiar to the Northern Territory because of the enormity of the problem we face. We still have a bizarre situation where every fortnight the federal government, in the shape of passive welfare payments, pours millions of dollars into this jurisdiction and we then have the duty to spend millions of dollars cleaning up the resultant mess. I am frustrated by this process.
For political reasons, I understand why the member raised this issue, but if you want to talk about these issues do not talk about the minor ones, talk about the major ones as they are the ones that matter.
China-Australia Free Trade Agreement – Labor Attack on Chinese
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for ASIAN ENGAGEMENT and TRADE
The Labor Party members and their union colleagues have launched an attack on Chinese businesses and workers, telling Territorians that Chinese workers will flood the Territory and take away local jobs from local families and their kids.
Last night and today they denied the campaign against Chinese businesses and workers as causing fear and loathing towards Chinese. Can the minister set the Labor Party members straight on this issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. Common sense will tell you Labor’s claims that this will not cause fear and loathing towards Chinese businesses and workers does not pass the pub test.
What is not a secret is what Labor and the unions are telling Territory families. The CFMEU, with full support of the Labor opposition, is conducting a campaign telling Territory families that the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will result in the Territory and Australia being inundated with cheap Chinese labour.
When we talk about the impact that will have – here is a picture of the unions protesting against Chinese businesses and people. If you were a Chinese tourist …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, put it down.
Mr STYLES: … what would that do? I will read from another post, very similar to one on the member for Karama’s social media page, which says, ‘We are union and we are proud. A crowd at the Esplanade today to stop Abbott giving away Australian jobs in the China Free Trade Agreement. Fighting for our kids’ future is a worthy cause.’
The member for Karama, surrounded by angry unionists and their flags, proudly sent out a rallying call on Facebook to Territorians, saying she is fighting for their kids’ future against Chinese workers and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
This campaign is designed to drive a wedge between Territory families and Chinese businesses and workers. This is despite the Labor and union anti-Chinese campaign against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement not being supported by fact.
Anyone who does not believe fear and loathing will be caused when you tell Australian families that their jobs and their kids’ futures are at risk because Chinese businesses will use Chinese workers is fooling themselves. They deny the facts. The simplest test is to reverse the situation. What would an Australian business trying to get off the ground overseas and unable to get any labour do?
Who will they pick on next? Are the Irish backpackers working as lollipop ladies taking Australian jobs? Will you protest against Irish people? This is a farce and the members opposite should be ashamed of themselves, but they are not. They sit over there, holier than thou, yet we have pictures of them at a rally, scaremongering with Australian families. It is simple. I will quote from the free trade agreement:
- Chinese companies making significant investments in Australia (more than $150 million in specific types of infrastructure development projects) will have increased access to skilled overseas workers when suitable local workers cannot be found.
Read the document.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Housing Program – Concerns
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for HOUSING
I noted your adjournment speech in parliament last night and I hesitate to ask you this question, but I ask because you are the Housing minister. As the member for Araluen, housing is one of the greatest concerns for my constituents.
You announced in a media statement in June 2015 that you have concerns about your:
- … suite of housing supply and assistance programs …
In Alice Springs the Real Housing for Growth program is causing a distortion in the local housing rental market, adding government subsidised rental accommodation to an already high level of rental vacancies in the town.
What are your concerns about the Real Housing for Growth program and what will you do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for raising the issue of housing. Let us talk about the good things this government has done. Labor abandoned housing when it was in government. Labor reduced public housing stock by over 1100 dwellings. Now they complain about long wait times.
Labor should come forward and be honest with the problem its members created. I am pleased to advise the House that on 3 June there were 3448 applicants on the waiting list for public housing across the Northern Territory. This is 233 fewer than in June 2014, and 263 fewer than when I became Minister for Housing.
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was about her press release, I can table it if you like, which was a review into government housing program initiatives, specifically the Real Housing for Growth program. Can she get to the point, please?
Mrs PRICE: I go back to when Labor was in the government for 11 years. They did nothing for the people of the Northern but sell 1100 dwellings. Let us talk about the Giles government’s plan to reduce the wait time. It focuses on reducing turnaround times for properties when they need significant repairs and maintenance. This is needed in Alice Springs.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The member asked a very direct question, can she come to the point?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has three minutes to answer the question. Come to the point if you can, minister.
Mrs PRICE: There was 11 years of Labor; those members sat back and allowed the houses to require repairs and maintenance, whilst they sold 1100 dwellings. They do not make that public because they are too ashamed. Whilst they were in government for 11 years they did nothing for Territorians and did not let them know that they sold 1100 dwellings.
This Giles government has a repairs and maintenance program, and I have increased funding towards repairs and maintenance in the budget. We are looking at ways in which we can encourage tenants to take responsibility and not damage the houses, including strengthening the three-strike policy. Let us talk about the good things this government is doing.
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The minister has 43 seconds remaining to tell us about the Real Housing for Growth Program and her opinion of it.
Mrs PRICE: This is the continuum of government; we picked up where they left off. This is what we picked up from the 11 years of Labor and what they did for Territorians. This is why there is a waiting list to deal with in Alice Springs and other remote communities and outstations.
Ms Walker: You have done nothing about the waiting list in Nhulunbuy even though there are 150 empty houses there.
Mrs PRICE: Member for Nhulunbuy, you were in power for 11 years and you did nothing for Nhulunbuy. What have you done? For 11 years Labor members did not tell constituents that they sold 1100 dwellings. That is why we have homelessness and houses in disrepair.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
NTCAT – Progress
Mr CONLAN to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and JUSTICE
Madam Speaker, with all of the achievements we have seen in the last three years of government, it is hard to know where to begin. I have a number of questions, but I notice the former Deputy Chief Minster in the gallery. He must be green with envy at what this government has achieved in the last three years, considering he had nine years in government. If only he could have presided over such achievements in those nine years as we have managed in three short years.
Crime rates and law and order have been addressed. We have reinvented the tourism sector and addressed land release, the cost of living and red tape reduction. One of the great red tape reduction initiatives was the NTCAT scheme.
Attorney-General, are you able to update us on the progress of the NTCAT scheme since it was introduced a year ago?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. Whilst in opposition, this government committed to creating an administrative review tribunal and we created one. Off the top of my head there were some 250 appellant decisions across 150 sections, across about 47 items of legislation.
The members opposite yawn, but the difference is in accessibility to justice. If they care about Territorians they would care about the difference in price of lodging an action before the Supreme Court of $1800, as opposed to $49 when you go to NTCAT and get the same quality of justice at an affordable price in a timely fashion.
Justice for everyone – affordable, accessible, useful and pragmatic. We now have it up and running. There is still legislation to go across, but it will not be long before 60% of the Local Court’s work will be picked up by NTCAT, which is a massive saving to taxpayers. It is a great step forward for the people of the Northern Territory.
Richard Bruxner, who has now been appointed the president, I am proud to say, has been doing a wonderful job. I have heard nothing but good reports about his excellent service. The well-respected by all, Andrew Macrides, is the senior member. John Birch, who is in Alice Springs, was appointed as the deputy president on 8 July 2015.
NTCAT continues to provide support and decision-making processes for Territorians in a timely fashion. NTCAT has jurisdiction of 23 acts, many of which became operative on 1 January 2015. It should also be noted the President of NTCAT is also the President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. The NTCAT office administratively manages this jurisdiction.
NTCAT will formally take over the jurisdiction in the next 12 months. In the meantime, there have been 164 MHRT hearings since NTCAT commenced management of the jurisdiction. In overall case volume, it has already dealt with 592 residential tenancy disputes, 164 Mental Health Review Tribunal matters and 15 NTCAT matters. Volumes in 2015-16 are expected to significantly increase. As I said earlier, 60% of the local court’s work is expected to transfer over to NTCAT. Affordable, accessible justice for all. Is it politically sexy? No. Will it create great headlines? No, but people will have affordable justice, which they have never had. Despite the many opportunities the Labor government had for affordable justice, it afforded the people nothing. This government does the basic legwork, which is not politically sexy, but is necessary.
Mental Health Strategy
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
It is three years into your government’s term and you have not produced a mental health strategy. You are letting down some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Where is your strategy, and what is your plan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, you will note at the outset she addressed me as the Minister for Mental Health Services and I thank her for that. Did you know under Labor there was no Minister for Mental Health Services? It is a long bow to draw, to say somehow we are dropping the ball.
The Chief Minister said to me, ‘John, I want you to do something about mental health services in the Northern Territory because there is a gap’. I agree with him.
We immediately added $3m into the budget process for mental health services, which includes clinicians in the courts, primary mental health services in remote areas, and filling the gap between supported accommodation and outfits such as the Cowdy Ward. That is more than doing nothing.
In the space of a few months we have achieved more than those opposite managed in 11 years. In 11 years they did not find the capacity to add a Minister for Mental Health Services to the Administrative Arrangements Order.
I have been working diligently on the mental health plan since becoming the Minister for Mental Health Services in January. Watch this space; we are not far away.
Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme – Investigation
Mr CONLAN to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and JUSTICE
Yesterday a motion to begin forming a Territory anti-corruption commission was, in many ways, an answer to some serious questions concerning the PenCon scheme. Can you assure the House that any NT anti-corruption commission will investigate the PenCon scheme, including the term of its operation under the former Labor government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the short answer is no because I cannot presume what this ICAC will look like. We are going through a process we agreed to yesterday, so I cannot pre-empt what this ICAC body will do.
Having made that observation, and I have mentioned this before on several occasions, the former Labor government must have been aware at the outset there was something wrong with the PenCon scheme.
Mr Giles: Have you any proof?
Mr ELFERINK: The Chief Minister just asked me whether I have any proof if Labor was aware. The interesting thing is Labor was aware of the PenCon scheme and its shortcomings, and must have been as at 2 June 2010.
On 2 June 2010, Mr Alan Wilson received a letter from the late Frank McGuiness – god rest his soul – in relation to the PenCon scheme, which included the travel component, because PenCon is more than the travel component. It is interesting; throughout this letter there is consistent recommendation about the agency’s lack of adherence to the property manual and Treasurer’s Directions. It is, many times, counselled against.
In relation to the travel component of the PenCon scheme, the Auditor-General said to the then Health minister Kon Vatskalis’s CEO, and I am sure Kon was informed of this:
- Departure from the requirements of the Agency’s Accounting and Property Manual and the Treasurer’s Directions.
The Agency may also be unnecessarily incurring financial loss by neglecting to pursue overpayments made to recipients.
This system was already indicated to the former Labor government as having problems as early as June 2010. We took office and, by December 2012, a few months after we took office, we referred it to the police fraud squad. I table this document for the edification of members. The problems around PenCon predate this government by a long way. We were the answer, not the problem.
Education – Cuts to Staffing
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Answers to estimates questions have revealed the CLP has slashed approximately 330 staff from schools. For example, Casuarina Senior College has been reduced by 28 staff, Rosebery Middle School by 17, and Darwin High School by 14. That only names a few. Will you explain why you have cut 330 staff from schools and how this has impacted on subject choice, class sizes and outcomes? Do you still believe that having fewer teachers means better education outcomes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is the old education chestnut the former Labor government use time and time again to demonstrate they are for education. Let us talk about the facts. We are achieving better results today with the education system under this government. With the way Labor uses figures – and we have seen this over the last couple of years in regard to education – the one thing they forget to mention is, in all cases, the number of staff members is factored on the number of students attending a school. If we see student numbers go up, so does the number of teachers. When we see student numbers go down, correspondingly, you see the number of teachers go down. Many of the schools the opposition talks about have seen a reduction in the number of students.
This is on the back of the constant trashing by the Labor members and their mates in the teachers’ union. It brings down education in the Northern Territory. They rubbish what is happening. Attendance rates are up, better NAPLAN results are being released and we have a curve line going in the right direction under this government’s watch. However, Labor still talks about a few staff members in education. I am proud we have reduced the number of bureaucrats in the education system and pushed them into schools.
Decisions are being made in schools. Yesterday there was an announcement that another six schools will assume independent status.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. We are talking about 330 fewer staff in our schools. How does that equate to better education?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister has time to answer the question.
Mr CHANDLER: This is highly relevant. There may be fewer staff members in the Department of Education, but why? Because the decisions which were being made in the Department of Education are now being made in schools.
The Labor opposition’s argument is with this side of the House being focused on results. We are achieving better results because we have a far more efficient system today.
You did not have the guts to take on Indigenous education. Labor failed Indigenous education in the Northern Territory. We have had the guts to take it on and fix the rot that occurred under your watch for over a decade. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You rode on the back of education for years and did nothing.
Domestic Violence – Government Initiatives
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
Last week you visited the beautiful Tiwi Islands with the 2015 Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, and discussed the serious topic of domestic violence against women. Rosie’s story reflects on a lifetime of domestic violence on a horrific scale, and I am sure members in this House are aware of her story and the tragic circumstances of her 11-year-old son Luke, who was killed by his father.
You have also been faced with many challenges in your life and are a champion for saying enough is enough when it comes to domestic violence and abuse in the Northern Territory and our remote communities.
Can you please detail to the House some of the feedback you received while on the Tiwi Islands, and what the Northern Territory government is doing to address this issue, which can affect anyone at any time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. This is a very important issue we must all tackle together.
I thank my colleague, the member for Arafura, Francis Kurrupuwu, for welcoming and accompanying us in his community last week. Last Tuesday we went to Milingimbi. The women made us very welcome because there are some serious issues they face on the Tiwi Islands which they wanted to talk to us about. We invited the 2015 Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, who was visiting the Northern Territory. She was made welcome by the Women’s Affairs office and was very appreciative. I showed her a community in the Northern Territory where women face these issues every day.
Together we viewed firsthand the strong and active Women’s Centre on the islands, where strong and talented women sew, print and produce amazing textile arts. We went to the Munupi Art Centre, and we were grateful the member was there to accompany us. If you have a chance to visit Munupi Art Centre, which is wholly owned by Indigenous people, it is a great place where women can sit and talk amongst themselves and be safe.
We also visited the women’s health centre, where we held a meeting with women in the community who indicated to us that domestic and family violence is a concern in the community. They also raised the point that violence takes many forms, including financial control, intimidation and verbal or physical abuse. It saddened me to find out there is no safe house or shelter in the community, but we will try to assist them moving forward.
Regardless of what you think of this side of politics, we are miles ahead of those opposite. We consult and listen, and understand that many women see domestic and family violence as a very private matter. We must encourage women to stand up, be heard and be strong against dysfunction, abuse and neglect.
I enjoyed my time on the Tiwi Islands and congratulate the women who provided a supportive framework.
Housing Crisis in the NT
Ms LEE to MINISTER for HOUSING
Do not be offended; I am a black woman asking you a question. There is a housing crisis across the Territory. What are you doing to reduce the pressure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for this important question. She is a black woman, like me, and a representative of the people in Arnhem to talk about issues in the electorate.
I do not know where you were when we went to Katherine, but we announced new accommodation for seniors. It is the first time in over 20 years that new accommodation for seniors will be built in Katherine. If I had known you would be in Katherine I would have invited you to come along, because it is important for you to know about the new initiatives this government is implementing to help people in remote communities and towns, especially with housing waiting lists.
In the past I have been able to provide you with briefings on issues in the communities, but you never took up the offer, which is a pity.
Ms Lee: That is a lie.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Arnhem!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She accused the minister of lying and I think it should be withdrawn.
Ms Lee: I withdraw.
Mrs PRICE: If the member for Arnhem listens to what I have to say, she will know we are doing a great job with housing in remote and urban communities, but she does not want to listen to anything we have to say.
Ms Fyles: Answer the question.
Mrs PRICE: Natasha, you keep butting in. You are so rude at times.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please refer to members by their electorate name.
Mrs PRICE: If they want to be rude, I have no more to say about housing; they are not interested.
Fire and Rescue Service Update
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can you please update the House on what this government is doing to ensure the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service is well placed to provide effective emergency response to all Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. He knows the importance of the Police, Fire and Emergency Services within his electorate. It is extremely important, with many things happening in that part of the Territory which require the services of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, including the volunteers.
The Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, the NTFRS, is an indispensable part of the Territory’s community. The men and women of the NTFRS are not only charged with the responsibility of fighting fires, nowadays there is more to being a firefighter than donning the uniform and putting the wet stuff on the hot stuff. Fire services have a strong focus on fire prevention and education about the importance of fire safety, ensuring public fire safety issues are addressed and mitigated. Today’s firefighters also contend with road trauma. They are practised and trained in all elements of road crash rescue.
As Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, I am happy to advise the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service has today welcomed an addition 12 firefighters into operational duty, with Recruit Squad 01/2015 graduating tonight. Congratulations to them. A second squad of firefighters, Recruit Squad 02/2015, is currently part way through its 17-week course and will graduate in December.
The Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service recruit training is made up of a 17-week course, in which recruits are put through a complex series of practical exercises that test their resolve. On completion of the course our newly-graduated firefighters will undertake a further eight months of on-shift skill consolidation.
Tonight’s graduation will see five recruits posted to Alice Springs and seven stationed in Darwin. These additional 24 firefighters from the two squads will bolster the effective firefighting force in the Northern Territory, adding to the government’s commitment to the safety of Territorians.
The Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service responds to more than 7000 emergency incidents each year. This government has continued to ensure it is well placed to provide effective emergency response by resourcing new major fire appliances across the Northern Territory, including Jabiru and Yulara receiving tankers, Palmerston receiving a rescue vehicle, and new heavy rescue for Berrimah Fire Station valued in excess of $1m.
Building fire safety has been improved with the ongoing $3m upgrade of the Northern Territory fire alarm monitoring system and the employment of a new fire engineer. Community safety has been enhanced with the introduction of volunteer community educators and the introduction of a fire incident mapping system, which provides Territorians with a greater awareness of fires and incidents across the Territory.
I applaud the fine members of the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service. I wish our newly graduated firefighters and recruits still in training all the very best for a long, safe and successful career with the NT Fire and Rescue Service.
Richardson Park – Development Funds
Ms FYLES to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Did you know the Chief Minister has not guaranteed the $20m for Richardson Park will be available? What does this mean for the project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I am not sure that is what the Chief Minister said yesterday. On the radio this morning, I said allocating the funds to the development of Richardson Park was simply an allocation in the budget process and we would consult with stakeholders, which we have been doing.
I held a meeting about three weeks ago with the chairperson and interested parties from the Rugby League clubs around Darwin. The advice I gave was that their input would be considered by government in the future regarding what we do with the $20m and Richardson Park.
Port of Darwin – Tiger Brennan Drive Duplication Work
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
Your government released a contract for the duplication of Tiger Brennan Drive. At the same time, the Port of Darwin will require fill to expand its land mass. As you know, bringing fill from a long distance is very expensive. The section of the Tiger Brennan Drive duplication at Hidden Valley Raceway is many metres higher than the existing road. Did your department give any thought to work in with the Darwin Port Corporation to cut down the new road to the existing road level and use that extra fill for the Darwin port, killing two birds with one stone? Once you have sealed this section of road, will the opportunity to take fill from that area not be lost for good, and will the port rely on bringing fill from sites much further away at a great expense?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a great project, with $88m for that section of road. It will make a massive difference to Tiger Brennan Drive, as well as the drivers who use this road every day, whether they come from the rural area or Palmerston.
The cuts which are being made provide fill for use in the lower parts. Part of the project planning with Tiger Brennan Drive was to ensure, wherever possible, fill was not taken off the site because it is an expensive option.
Our good friends at INPEX have provided us with fill which came from their development to be used on that side of Tiger Brennan Drive. With all the cuts, there still was not enough soil. Many of the low areas there are using fill to bring the road up to a certain level. The original plan for that section was to ensure there would not be any need to take the fill off-site; it was all to be used on-site.
We obtained some infill from the INPEX site to help with Tiger Brennan Drive, because the level of soil or bedrock required was not available there. At the end of the day, it is a great section of road. I can assure you, soil will not be taken off-site because there is not enough soil to finish the job. The planning of the road ensured there was no need to take fill off the site because that adds significantly to the cost of the roadworks.
The amount of feedback we get from residents regarding Tiger Brennan Drive is amazing. Those who are lucky enough to live in Palmerston or the rural area get to drive down that section of road every day. It is a massive job and it is amazing to see the change every day with how quickly it is progressing. Most people are looking forward to the day they get to drive on this road for the very first time. The work is ahead of schedule. It will be nice to see it finished well in advance, so everyone who drives to Darwin every day can use that amazing road.
Labor Party – Integrity
Mr BARRETT to the CHIEF MINISTER
We have to endure many long and nasty speeches where the opposition members lecture us consistently about our integrity, which is ironic given their lack of stature as a beacon of integrity. Given the member for Karama is the only member of this Chamber to have been in court on a matter of integrity, what can the government do to restore integrity to the Labor Party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his very good question.
Out of the 25 members in this Chamber, two people have a shadow over their integrity, the members for Barkly and Karama.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will you reinstate the inquiry into political donations?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, sit down.
Mr GILES: The member for Karama is the only person in this Chamber who has been to court on a question of integrity. That finished in a very expensive wrecking-ball approach, when her case in the Supreme Court was shot down for being false and baseless. It is ironic the Opposition Leader – the man who used the fallout of the Stella Maris dodgy deal by the members for Barkly and Karama to steal the leadership – would include the following statement as a major tenet in his discussion paper on integrity:
- The Government I want to lead will recognise that trust in public officials and process requires the leadership to build an integrity framework that not only guards against corruption, but one which reinforces and elevates the public over the private interest.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: I am not surprised they are screaming. There is a snake in the nest on the other side.
There is only one person in this Chamber whose integrity has been questioned and that is the member for Karama. If the Labor Party wants to restore integrity into government, get rid of the member for Karama. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition: if you believe in integrity, transparency and accountability, take on board the fact she lost her court case. She is putting $200 000 on Territory taxpayers because she took the case to court and lost. The question of integrity on the member for Karama is without doubt. She had no integrity.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. On the question of integrity, whatever happened to the judicial inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: On the question of integrity, while the member for Karama sits with the Labor Party and holds a shadow portfolio, there is no integrity on the other side of the Chamber. She was disingenuous to the Northern Territory population and she falsely campaigned against an inquiry under the Inquiries Act. She then took it to court and lost. She owes Territory taxpayers over $200 000. On the question of integrity, the member for Karama has none.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It goes to the heart of integrity of this parliament and the Chief Minister. It is misuse of the floor of parliament when we know the other side rejected an integrity commission all along.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point or order.
Mr GILES: There is no integrity in Labor while the member for Karama sits with your team and holds a shadow portfolio. The member for Karama must go.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minster, your time has expired.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Home Owner Grants
Home Owner Grants
Mr TOLLNER (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, yesterday I undertook to get back to the House in relation to a question from the member for Araluen regarding the First Home Owner Grant in the Alice Springs area.
I apologise for not getting back to the Chamber sooner. I was advised by Treasury there was a large body of work required in order to get these figures. I received a lengthy answer in writing. Rather than reading it out, I will table it for the further information of members, especially the member for Araluen.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016