2012-12-06
Mini-Budget
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Your mini-budget is mean-spirited and unnecessary. You proved yourself to be completely out of touch with Territorians. Your priorities are not the priorities of Territorians. You have no compassion and no understanding of the pressures Territory families face. Your claims that people should forget about it in two years are both arrogant and insensitive. You have no consideration for the schools, childcare centres, businesses and families you are hurting. Your mini-budget breaks almost all your election commitments. How completely out of touch with Territorians are you?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. All those descriptive words of how horrible and out of touch we are with the people of the Territory are unfounded and untrue. We have been in government for just 15 weeks and we had to make some terribly difficult decisions that no new government should have to face. We have had to make those decisions because of the legacy left by the former government. The fiscal imbalance, the level of debt was to skyrocket as high as $5.5bn in 2015-16 prior to the mini-budget being released. When you talk about pain and the cost of living the Leader of the Opposition is standing on shaky ground.
The cost of living during the 10 years of Labor increased by over 100%. What did they do about the high price of rentals, the high price of housing in the Northern Territory? They let it escalate to be the highest in the country. The highest rentals in the country are in the Northern Territory.
The hypocrisy we hear from the other side of the Chamber is absolutely intolerable. It is sending a message to the people of the Northern Territory that we do not care. They have been hell-bent on scaremongering, creating problems that are not there just for the sake of it, for their political advantage. It is unfair to treat Territorians in this way.
The truth of the matter is we have an obligation, a responsibility, as a new government to correct the situation we have found ourselves in ...
Mr Westra van Holthe: To fix Labor’s problems.
Mrs LAMBLEY: ... to fix Labor’s mess, to fix up Labor’s problems, as my colleague just stated.
It is essential that we implement strategies and certain mechanisms within the budget to bring it back to a more balanced situation, to correct the situation. What do Territorians miss out on with interest payments of $750 000 per day? That sum of $750 000 a day is the value of a very nice house which we are paying in interest payments every day, the equivalent to a house in Lyons, Leanyer, or Palmerston. Every day we pay the equivalent of that in interest payments, compliments of the former government. We want to correct the situation so Territorians are not throwing money away on the debt built up by the former government.
Mini-Budget – NT NEWS Editorial
Mr STYLES to TREASURER
Can you explain to the House why the editorial in the local newspaper today is so inaccurate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. It is very regrettable this piece appeared in the NT News. It said:
- The debt to income ratio ... is 63% and expected to rise to 73% within four years.
The editorial writer has obviously made a mistake, believing what the Leader of the Opposition said in parliament yesterday. It is the type of mistake the Leader of the Opposition and former Treasurer has been making throughout this mini-budget process based on a lack of basic knowledge of economics. It is all mischief. It is unbelievable that a former Treasurer could make these claims accidently. I will explain to the member for Karama exactly what the situation is ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! As much as I agree with the NT News, I did not write the editorial.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, please be seated.
Mrs LAMBLEY: First, I will explain in the simplest terms for the member for Karama where she has gone wrong. The former Treasurer, in the local newspaper, mistakenly quoted the 2015-16 figures which are dependent on, and the result of, this mini-budget. Yes, in the mini-budget book on page 100 they have ignored their own predictions for 98% debt to revenue in 2015-16. They are their figures. This appears on the line above the figures quoted in the paper. The mini-budget is exactly why the debt to revenue ratio will not reach the 98% forecast by the former government. The mini-budget and the discipline of this government will allow us to constrain the debt to revenue ratio to 73%.
When the member for Karama became Treasurer the debt to revenue ratio, including the Power and Water debt for the Northern Territory non-financial public sector, was 29%. Under her watch this grew to 66% in 2012-13 as the pre-election fiscal outlook stated, and was tipped to balloon to 98% by 2015-16 ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You would be the only Treasurer in the nation ignoring the global financial crisis.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please be seated. There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: These figures were produced under the watch of the former government and the former Treasurer. The newspaper’s claim of CLP debt in the mid-1990s is also misleading.
During the 1990s, the average debt to revenue ratio was 77.6% and had been reduced to 71% by the time the Country Liberals left office. It reached 98% in 1990.
I could go on, but I have to highlight the fact the NT News was wrong, and the Leader of the Opposition was wrong because it was convenient for her to be so.
Power and Water Tariff Increases
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
It is two weeks since you announced your massive power and water price hikes and the public anger and outrage is very real and unprecedented. We already have more than 7000 signatures on a petition. There are thousands more in online and media petitions. These massive cuts have not even started yet and we will not stop standing up for Territorians. It is your signature that will adjust the tariffs. Will you ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I draw your attention to Standing Order 112(2) where inferences, imputations and arguments are not permissible in questions.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Continue, Opposition Leader.
Ms LAWRIE: We know the member for Port Darwin wants to gag Question Time.
Treasurer, it is your signature on the tariff changes. Will you at least listen to Territorians and bring your changes, your tariff hikes, in over many years ...
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired Opposition Leader, please be seated.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. What would the former government have done if they had been re-elected ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! CPI adjustments only.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated.
Ms Lawrie: It is about you and your signature on the tariff changes.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition Leader, that is the third time for a frivolous point of order. You are on a warning.
Mrs LAMBLEY: In April this year, Madam Speaker - I have tabled this document several times in parliament - the former Treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, wrote to the chair of the Power and Water Corporation and inferred very strongly there would be increases in tariffs in the coming financial year after the election and after the potential painful period of time had elapsed where she could get away with not increasing tariffs ...
Ms Lawrie: CPI.
Mrs LAMBLEY: When she stands across the other side of the Chamber as the hypocrite she is saying, ‘No, we would have just increased it by CPI’, she is admitting two things. Either what she said to the chair of the Power and Water Corporation Board was not true, she did not intend to increase them any more than CPI, or that she either still does not understand the dire straits, the absolutely appalling unsustainable financial situation the Power and Water Corporation is in. She obviously has no understanding of the fact that …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It goes to relevance. The question was: it is your signature on the tariff changes; will you at least listen to Territorians and introduce the changes over many years. It was very direct.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, the increase in tariffs we announced a couple of weeks ago we did with a great deal of reluctance and regret. As I said earlier in Question Time today, we were confronted with a situation beyond our imagination, beyond what we thought was there ...
Ms Lawrie: You knew the figures! You took them through estimates.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Yes, we read the Statement of Corporate Intent, we read the budget papers, but when we actually analysed it - which we did with the help of the Renewal Management Board, a group of very highly distinguished experts in the financial sector - we realised the extent of the mess ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113, relevance. The Chief Minister stated in this House he will not be governed by petitions.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, we stand by our decision. It was a tough decision, a decision made in …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Will you listen to the 7000-plus Territorians and not adjust the tariffs?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated.
Ms Lawrie: Here is the petition!
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, be seated!
Mrs LAMBLEY: It is a shame the Leader of the Opposition did not work as hard on solving the Power and Water Corporation problems as she has gathering those petitions.
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have cautioned and warned the Leader of the Opposition specifically on frivolous points of order. She has now offended your direction and I ask you take appropriate action.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, member for Port Darwin.
Mini-Budget –
Delivering a Better Future
Delivering a Better Future
Ms FINOCCHIARO to TREASURER
How will the 2012-13 mini-budget help deliver a better future for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. It is good to see at least some members of this House are focused on delivering a better future for Territorians, not in the short term, but in the long term.
We need to plan and prepare Territorians for a great future. As has been described, the mini-budget provides the strong leadership required to ensure the Territory’s finances get back on track. To not make the decisions we have made would have meant a further decline in the finances of the Territory, leading us further into debt and fiscal imbalances which would mean an economy out of control.
Government finances are not a means unto themselves but rather the enabler of service delivery and infrastructure investment. Unfortunately, the state of the finances left to us by Labor has had to be our preliminary primary focus - a focus we, as I said, have had to deal with, with a great deal of reluctance. Without fixing the finances the government would have had ever-increasing challenges delivering those services and vital upgrades. Soon, the money would have stopped altogether. The spending of the former Labor government - spend, spend, spend - would have had to stop, whether it was us or them. That is what they will never take responsibility for.
The 2012-13 mini-budget provided agencies with the opportunity to have a good look at the way they have operated. Ten to 11 years of Labor, this was an opportunity for them to sit back and reflect on where things have gone wrong, where they could make savings, what the true priorities are of the agencies, and where the inefficiencies and the red tape are that do not have to be there.
When it was found things could improve, that waste could be cut, that fewer levels of management between the front line and the Chief Executive were required, all while improving service delivery, those steps were taken. This will ensure, once again, the focus can turn from the state of the finances to the services and the projects the Mills government intends to deliver.
We have big plans for the Territory. We do not plan to stay in this stage of fixing the mess forever, but we have to be here at this point in time. We have to be responsible and prudent as a new government coming in facing the challenges we have inherited, strengthening the three-hub economy to ensure we are not beholden to the uneven benefits of the gas and mining boom.
We have talked endlessly about the three hubs we think are required to be strengthened and boosted over the forward estimates to really shape our economy - making real inroads into the housing affordability issue plaguing our economy. Only the Country Liberals can provide the strong leadership in government required to ensure the Territory remains the best place to live, raise a family and conduct business.
Casuarina Senior College -
Reduction in Number of Teachers
Reduction in Number of Teachers
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Yesterday I asked about the removal of six teachers from Casuarina Senior College and you did not provide an answer. We have now had it confirmed that this teacher cut back will mean that Casuarina Senior College will offer eight fewer subjects next year. How is cutting teachers and subjects not cutting the front line?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for this question. I am almost in a state of shock that he could bring forward for me to yet again emphasise how misled and misinformed he is. Yesterday in parliament, the member for Fannie Bay said, ‘You are cutting the education budget by 10%’. That is not true, member for Fannie Bay. You got it wrong again ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am happy to seek leave to table the minister’s media release that identifies the 10%.
Leave granted.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I think you will find, member for Fannie Bay, that my media release did not say there was a ‘cutting of the education budget by 10%’, but there was 10% in savings. When you go through the budgetary process you identify savings, commitments, and revenue. He has absolutely no idea ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was there have been six teachers lost from Casuarina and eight subjects cut. Cutting services and teachers is cutting the front line ...
Mr Vatskalis: No, it is savings.
Mr GUNNER: Savings. The question was about the six teachers and the eight subjects.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could get to the point.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The member for Fannie Bay is scaremongering. What is happening at the Casuarina Senior College has nothing to do with the mini-budget and this government. That college has an estimated reduction in enrolments of around 100 students for next year. The reduction in their teaching levels is contingent upon their enrolment figures. Scaremongering! Shame on you ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If it has nothing to do with the government and you are the Minister for Education, will you provide six teachers to Casuarina to keep eight subjects?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated. Opposition Leader, you are on a warning. One more frivolous comment like that and you will be asked to leave the Chamber.
Mr Tollner: How many more does she have to make?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I take that as a reflection on the Speaker. You are on a warning. Deputy Chief Minister.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, the Casuarina Senior College is facing difficult times. Their enrolment figures look like being lower than the years before - down by approximately 100 students. That is why Casuarina Senior College is looking at reducing their staffing levels, no other reason ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The CLP has changed the staffing ratio formula for attendance and enrolment. I am asking her to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister is getting to the question.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I have answered the question. The member for Fannie Bay is misleading this parliament, is scaremongering and misleading the people of the Northern Territory ...
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member shall converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
I also said at the beginning of this sittings, if not the beginning of parliament, that I would only tolerate one person on their feet at a time. Member for Wanguri, you have a point of order?
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Treasurer well knows she cannot accuse a member of misleading this House unless she does it by way of substantive motion. I call on her to withdraw.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. The information he is providing is incorrect.
Mini-Budget –
Effect on Public Service Employment
Effect on Public Service Employment
Ms LEE to TREASURER
Can you explain to the House the effect the mini-budget will have on public service employment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The Northern Territory public service has grown by 24% over the last five years. This is an incredible increase from 16 000 to 20 000 public servants.
Public servants provide the fundamental backbone of the Northern Territory. They are, in the vast majority, hard-working, caring, highly-skilled and essential. We are a conservative government and are faced with the enormous task of having to rein in the budget, but we see that public servants perform a vital role, an essential role in our community.
But 20 000 public servants in a jurisdiction the size of the Northern Territory is too high. We have only 233 000 people living in the Northern Territory. Twenty thousand public servants is not balanced and not sustainable. The 24% growth in the public service is only part of the story left by the former government.
The number of public servants who are executive contract officers has grown by a massive 50% over the past five years. The growth in ECO numbers over the past five years has been from 342 to 515. These ECO public servants earn between $180 000 and $300 000 a year. They are huge amounts of money; they are very expensive to employ.
The government has been consistent in its approach to employment. Frontline services are protected; we have not budged an inch from that line from the day we came to government. Frontline services are protected and will be protected. We believe we can achieve a 3% reduction in employee expenses over four years by not replacing personnel when they leave, by the non-renewal of some contract positions especially in the management layers, and through reshaping our agencies and the way we do things to ensure their focus is on the front line. The 3% reduction will see approximately 600 positions removed from the over 20 000 public service positions. That is 3% over four years. It will not happen in the next six months as the opposition will have you believe.
The Country Liberals have taken the responsible action of limiting further public service growth and are ensuring government expenditure on frontline service delivery stays. The community can expect to see a more efficient public service with leaner executive levels delivering the frontline services and infrastructure the community wants and needs.
It is interesting to note the Commissioner for Public Employment reports that of the 1677 permanent employees who elected to leave the public service in 2011-12, 44% had two years’ service and 66 had five years’ or less service ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mini-Budget –
Nyirripi School Staff Cuts
Nyirripi School Staff Cuts
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
As a result of your mini-budget education cuts, the Nyirripi School in the electorate of Stuart has been forced to cut their teacher numbers from three to one. Do you, as Treasurer and Minister for Education, take full responsibility for leaving Nyirripi with only one school teacher? How does this improve education outcomes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. He is trying very hard to scrape up and manufacture these stories about how we are cutting frontline workers. I have just told a story of legitimate fact that we are not cutting frontline services.
The only condition in which we would consider cutting teachers to a school is if the enrolments have dropped and there is no longer a need for the teaching complement that schools have.
I am not sure of the details of the Nyirripi School; there are hundreds of schools throughout the Northern Territory. I am sure the member for Fannie Bay will drag up each and every one of them if there has been a reduction in staffing.
However, I can assure Territorians that teachers will not be exposed to any reduction in staff in the saving mechanisms and measures we have in place. They are frontline workers, they are safe.
Mini-Budget – MVR Fees
Mr WOOD to TREASURER referred to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
In your budget you say motor vehicle registration transactions that could be paid over the phone or by the Internet and instead are paid in person at the MVR office will have an additional $20 charge. Not everyone has a connection to the Internet or likes to give their credit card details over the phone. Will this fee also apply out bush when people turn up at a local police station to renew their registration? Why is the government forcing those people who do not wish to use the Internet to pay $20 just to be served by a public servant in person?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I refer that to the Minister for Transport.
Mr GILES (Transport): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very good question. The cost of providing services at MVR has been increasing over a number of years, with a 25% increase in the number of transactions over the last four years. The cost of delivering services has been quite significant.
In the mini-budget announced on Tuesday there was a $790 000 increase to provide for services operating on Saturday at Parap and, generally, for services operating in MVR through the high costs of transactions.
In coming into the portfolio of Transport - I address you directly, member for Nelson - I sought to identify ways to reduce the interaction between members of the public and the MVR. We know there are long wait times for many people. We know that provides a great concern for mums and dads and Territorians who have to wait to conduct their transactions. We are seeking ways to reduce the need for an interface between the general public and MVR in the longer term.
A number of investigations are under way, including how we might be able to increase the time frame of licences, how we can provide alternate models for getting your photograph for your licence, and a range of other things - whether we can use shop fronts to conduct MVR services so you do not have to go to MVR; you may be able to go to Australia Post or any other shop front. These investigations are under way at the moment. I have not engaged a consultant; I am using the department to save money.
One of the initiatives we have put in place is a $20 fee for registrations or licences which could be done - as you correctly asked - from home over the Internet or the phone. Whether people are out bush or in town in an urban location they have the ability to use the Internet or a telephone. The $20 recognises the cost of providing the service, but it is also a start of a disincentive process to encourage people not to come into the MVR but to use online services or Quick Pay services.
The Quick Pay phone number is 1300 654 620, and people who want to register their vehicle online can go to mvr.nt.gov.au/mvrquickpay. I understand there are concerns that the $20 is for licences and other things you cannot do from the Internet. I advise parliament and the general public it is only for transactions that can be done over the Internet or over the phone such as registration renewals and licence renewals.
Nurse to Patient Ratios in Hospitals
Mr VATSKALIS to TREASURER referred to MINISTER for HEALTH
The previous government introduced nurse to patient ratios in our hospitals to ensure the safety of patients. Your mini-budget announces you will be adjusting nurse ratios, no overtime, and sacking agency nurses. This can mean only one thing: fewer nurses. Will you guarantee you will not cut nurse to patient ratios as yet another cost-saving measure, putting profits before people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I refer that question to the Minister for Health.
Mr TOLLNER (Health): Madam Speaker, it is great to see the member for Casuarina taking an interest in health. Good on him.
I happily inform the shadow minister for Health there are no reductions in frontline services in the Health department. Some people’s contracts will not be renewed, some people are leaving, but no nurses are being removed from the system. Rest easy, member for Casuarina, all frontline services and jobs in the department of Health are safe.
GST Distribution Review – Findings
Mr STYLES to TREASURER
The federal government’s review into the GST distribution was made public recently. How does the Territory fare?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. The Northern Territory government is cautiously optimistic about the findings in the Commonwealth’s GST Distribution Review panel’s final report. More than half the Territory’s total revenue is sourced from the GST - approximately 60% - and there was a great deal at stake for all Territorians in this report.
While there are some areas of concern, the report’s 23 findings and 21 recommendations are largely positive for the Northern Territory. The final report does not recommend significant changes to the current GST distribution arrangements and, overall, they are positive for the Northern Territory, which is a great relief for all of us.
Importantly, the review panel considers the proposals made by the large states for GST revenue to be distributed on an equal per-capita basis, as well as for the goal of equalisation to achieve comparable rather than the same level of services, are not viable options in the medium to short term. In addition, the final report has dismissed proposals by some states to remove Indigenous disadvantage as a factor when handing out GST …
Ms Lawrie: Yes, so we won on every front.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Overall, the report is in the best interests of the Northern Territory ...
Ms Lawrie: Won on every front.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am trying to hear the answer to the question. It is a very important question and a very important answer, but motor mouth across the other side, the member for Karama, does not seem to shut up.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, withdraw that comment please.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. I just ask the member for Karama to cease interjecting and allow the rest of us to hear the answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. I would like to hear the answer as well, so if you could cease interjecting, members.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I acknowledge the former Treasurer on this occasion, Madam Speaker. There is strong bipartisanship from all members of this House to ensuring the Northern Territory gets its fair share of GST. The former Labor government ensured a strong submission was given by the Northern Territory to the review in October 2011 and in March this year. The Territory’s position outlined in these submissions was largely adopted by the panel, which is testament to the quality of the submission and the strength of the Northern Territory’s arguments.
I will be at the meeting of Treasurers in Canberra on 17 December where the report is to be discussed, and will fight hard to ensure the interests of the Northern Territory are protected.
Power and Water Corporation –
Instalment Payments
Instalment Payments
Mr McCARTHY to TREASURER
There are media reports that people have had their power disconnected because Power and Water is not accepting their instalment payments. As shareholding minister in Power and Water, will you immediately instruct Power and Water not to cut people off if they are trying to pay their bill via instalments? Will you show some compassion, or will you keep cutting people’s power off?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. These matters have not been drawn to my attention, but it sounds rather irrational and a little bizarre that the Power and Water Corporation would do that. All I can say is I will undertake to look into any concerns or queries of that nature if the member for Barkly would like to bring them to my attention.
Chambers and Finke Bays –
Alternative Policy to Closure
Alternative Policy to Closure
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Can you provide the House with an update on the CLP’s election commitment to close Chambers and Finke Bays to commercial fishing? Are you aware of any alternative policies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for a very important question. As an election commitment for 2012, the then opposition, now government, announced it would close all of Chambers and Finke Bays as well as extend closures in Adams Bay and the northern part of Fog Bay to commercial barramundi fishing.
Under the Fisheries Act it is a key role of government to make decisions to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and aquatic resources are appropriately shared amongst user groups. The barramundi fishery across the Territory is very healthy, with no sustainability concerns. Government’s announced commitment was, therefore, aimed at reallocating the barramundi resource to recreational anglers and fishing tour operators, and addressing outstanding social issues in the fishery.
On balance, I believe the best use of the barramundi resource in these areas is to set it aside for exclusive use of recreational anglers and fishing tour operators. In forming this view, I am conscious of the long-term vision to create a premier sports fishery in this region which will provide anglers with a unique wilderness fishing experience for large trophy-sized fish. I do not believe that ongoing commercial fishing using gill nets in this area is compatible with this vision. I therefore decided to close the areas as announced.
In making this decision, I have also recognised the impacts it might have on existing commercial fishing operations and fish supply. I believe there is scope to develop a new framework which can make commercial fishing more viable, both in efficiency and in providing necessary certainty and security to attract investment.
Government is committed to a sustainable production of seafood in the Territory as a key part of its three-hub economy. Other areas around the coast will remain open to commercial activities, thereby offering commercial fishers a continued opportunity to supply product to the community. There will be an adjustment to the closures by removal of up to six commercial licences and the development of new forward-looking management arrangements which will provide operators with certainty and security for the future.
These concepts were clearly beyond the former Labor government. Their inability to make tough political decisions and do the right thing is well-documented. A fine example of this is something the former minister alluded to yesterday. This was their plan to close Chambers and Finke Bays to commercial fishing.
This was called the five fingers of death because of the potential for conflict within the industry. This could be the name of a bad kung fu or horror movie, but this was Kon’s five fingers of death – an absolutely shameful way to approach the fishery, trying to appease everyone with no capacity to make tough decisions.
Police Officers –
Election Promise of Additional 120
Election Promise of Additional 120
Mr VATSKALIS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Police are telling us you are not recruiting 120 extra police, you are putting civilians into the positions currently filled by police and including those figures in that 120. You have already cut firefighters. Why are you breaking your promise to recruit 120 extra police?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for his question. We are looking at police officers in civilian positions. Police officers are very well paid, as they should be, and we have identified that there are some fully-qualified and trained police officers sitting in civilian positions who do not necessarily need to be there. We are looking at trying to move some of those police officers back into the police force where their skills can be fully utilised and …
Ms Lawrie: Police positions.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs LAMBLEY: Back into frontline police positions, and I thank the Leader of the Opposition for picking me up on that. We have been up-front about that; it is in the budget. We have been transparent about looking into trying to bring police officers out of those civilian positions and back into the front line. It is an efficiency saving as well as a good use of resources ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was: are you breaking your promise to recruit 120 extra police? Are you absorbing the police positions from what you identify as civilian into your 120 extra police promised?
Mrs LAMBLEY: The 120 additional police is something we have stood by. It is an election promise and the figures are contained in the budget. This new government has no intention of backing away from that. Those figures include some of the positions we hope to bring out of the civilian positions, but when you look at the total, 120 additional police officers will be on the beat in the Northern Territory thanks to this new government ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You are employing those police officers today …
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order!
Ms LAWRIE: ... absorbing the numbers. You are breaking your election commitment.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, be seated. Minister, have you finished?
Mrs LAMBLEY: Yes, I have.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have warned the Leader of the Opposition. You have warned her again and I ask that you act on your warning.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, member for Port Darwin. There is no point of order.
Mines and Energy and Primary Industry and Fisheries – Funding of Departments
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
The Departments of Mines and Energy and Primary Industry and Fisheries oversee the industry sector responsible for the contribution of 20% of Territory GDP. What was been the Mills government approach to funding and starting these two agencies since taking government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his very important question. I acknowledge the members of staff from the department who are sitting in the gallery today. I hope there are not too many interjections from the other side because I am sure they will be delighted to hear the answer to this question.
The minerals and energy industry is the fundamental economic backbone of the Territory, and there is no indication that this will change in the mid to long term. Equally, the primary industry and fisheries sector is responsible for the sustainable management of more than 50% of the Territory’s land area and provides for jobs, commerce and support to remote and regional areas. Both of these sectors underpin economic development across all regions and the Territory relies on the growth of these sectors to grow its economy.
It is no secret that while in government the ALP systemically carved funding from the former Department of Resources. While the overall public service numbers grew by about 26% from 2005 until now, the collective Department of Resources full-time equivalents fell by about 14% over the same period.
The rape and pillage of the former department by Labor has impacted negatively on the ability of these sectors to grow and prosper. The Mills government is prepared to invest in the long-term future of the Territory by supporting these agencies so the Territory’s true economic potential can be realised. By breaking up the Department of Resources and creating two smaller, more efficient agencies, we have re-identified these agencies with their industry sectors. Thus, there is a greater line of sight by senior management to the work that needs to be done; that is, the frontline staff.
There is also discrete funding for each department, allowing the CE to have more control over budget allocations and direct those funds to where they can be most effective in providing frontline services. We have provided discrete funding for the investment, attraction and pre-competitive geoscience programs. We have provided additional discrete funding for the administration of the mineral titles function of the Department of Mines and Energy. We have increased recurrent funding for the environmental regulation and administration of exploration, mining and petroleum activities. All this extra funding, former minister!
Labor left these essential programs to be funded from within the existing departmental allocation and that led to all manner of problems within the department, not the least of which were delays in processing applications of all kinds. We have established and provided funding for an Ord development unit located within DPIF. We have given major project status to Ord Stage 3. The new funding arrangements within my departments will necessarily mean an increase in staffing levels. How this translates to the outside is the better provision of services around the very important industries my departments support.
Mini-Budget –
Humpty Doo Fire Station Closure
Humpty Doo Fire Station Closure
Mr WOOD to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
You announced the closure of the Fire Brigade at Humpty Doo without any consultation with the local member and the community. If there was a serious accident between a haulage truck and a car near the Bark Hut Inn on the Arnhem Highway, how much longer would the response time be for Fire and Rescue to attend the accident now a crew will have to come from Palmerston? How much longer will it take the one and only Fire and Rescue truck to come from the new Berrimah Fire Station? Do these response times match national guidelines for response times in Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I do not have the information for exact response times on hand, but I can tell the member for Nelson that the Humpty Doo area is serviced by two fire units, one a day-manned career station and another volunteer unit. Both are sited at different locations within the Humpty Doo township. Both units are more active in the Dry Season than the Wet Season, with the career station only averaging approximately 100 call-outs per year, which are predominantly grass fires.
The number of attendances at structure fires over the last three financial years is …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question related to response times if there was an accident near the Bark Hut Inn on the Arnhem Highway. Would it now be longer than it is presently? That is the simple question, not about grass fires, but about if there is an accident on the Arnhem Highway.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could come to the point.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The reason for me going down this track is to inform the member for Nelson that this decision has been well looked into. It is a rational decision. It has been identified by the agency itself, Police, Fire and Emergency Services. The alternative to the current situation is to redeploy the officers from the Humpty Doo Station to the Palmerston Fire Station and set up an auxiliary volunteer service to supplement that.
In answer to his question about response times, as I said, I cannot give those exact response times. I doubt anyone, apart from the fire officers from Palmerston, could provide that. However, we have been assured this is a good option. The Palmerston Fire Station provides 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week service, unlike the current Humpty Doo Fire Station. It will be better equipped, it will have more staff and, therefore, it should be - and will be, we have been assured of this - able to meet the needs of the Humpty Doo community.
Power and Water Tariff Increases –
Effect on Schools
Effect on Schools
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Schools such as Taminmin have said they simply do not have the capacity to pay your power and water price hike. Through COGSO parents have said your price hikes are not acceptable and schools are struggling. What programs do you think schools should cut to pay their power and water bills?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Schools will indeed find it difficult to pay these tariff increases. We have rolled out the subsidies to government and non-government schools now. They will be paying a 15% increase in their electricity bills. The only message I can give schools is to continue to find measures to save on the use of electricity and water.
I have already visited quite a number of schools and can see the capacity for some savings. The principals I have spoken to have discussed the fact they can too ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Parents have already said achieving energy savings will be minimal. If they do not have this money, how will they pay these bills?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: It will be tough for all Territorians to pay these increases. I do not have the answers for every school and every household in the Territory; I wish I did. I wish we did not have to make that decision. It is an incredibly tough decision knowing it will impact on schools, children, and families. It makes us feel very sad and regretful.
However, like any business, you find the money somewhere. It is about making savings in how people utilise water and electricity. There are mechanisms available. The Power and Water Corporation has a website. They have offered to help households and businesses to minimise their usage. There is assistance available. The Education department will be working with schools on how they can minimise demand for electricity and water.
These are tough times. Surely, the opposition can take responsibility for some of this.
Mines and Energy Investment
Ms LEE to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
The mining and energy sectors are the largest contributors to our economy in the Territory. What is this government doing to ensure investment in our industry remains strong?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for another very important question about the industries that drive the economy in the Northern Territory. Before I answer, I table Kon’s five fingers of death which I referred to earlier.
It is in cinemas now, that very bad kung fu movie. Thank you, and I will now get to answer the question.
While the Territory is open for business for economic development, the new Mills government is committed to ensuring the Department of Mines and Energy has enough resources to ensure mining and exploration activities are appropriately regulated.
The Mills government has appropriated $450 000 additional funding ongoing for 2012-13 for the environmental regulation of mining activity. We have also allocated an additional $280 000 within the mineral titles area which will sufficiently resource that division to provide faster response times and approvals.
To further grow and develop our mining and energy sectors the Mills government has increased funding for resource development programs. Additional and discrete funding of $150 000 - I hope you are happy with $150 000 former minister - ongoing from 2012-13 for the pre-competitive geoscience initiative, and additional and discrete funding of $150 000 ongoing for 2012-13 for the international investment attraction program.
These programs have been systematically depleted by the former government through efficiency dividends and progressive cutbacks in departmental funding and staff. My departments were constantly asked to do more with less and, while I acknowledge all departments should operate efficiently, what copped it in the neck from the former Labor government was largely around environmental monitoring and our statutory regulatory requirements.
When the former Labor government presided over the Montara disaster - you remember that, former minister - the Commonwealth cut its funding for oil and gas regulation. In the past few years and since the Montara disaster, our onshore oil and gas exploration has increased significantly. What did the former government do to fund the regulation of this exploration? Nothing. It did not fund it discretely; it had to be found within existing resources. After the funding was withdrawn by the Commonwealth at the beginning of this year the cost of regulation and compliance for onshore petroleum was taken from the programs that regulate mining activities and monitor environmental plans and outcomes. Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul!
We have allocated an additional and discrete $680 000 into the program around the monitoring of environmental approvals for onshore petroleum and gas.
Madam Speaker, the Mills government is doing the responsible thing by the department, by the people of the Northern Territory and by the environment as well ...
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, minister.
Firefighters in Tennant Creek – Cuts
Mr McCARTHY to TREASURER
Yesterday, your former CLP candidate for Barkly, Rebecca Healy, took to Facebook to slam your government over cuts to firefighters in Tennant Creek. She said she had tried to speak to six different Cabinet ministers but she does not know why she bothers. Why are you, as Treasurer, cutting firefighters in Tennant Creek? If you will not consult with your own candidates what hope does the rest of the community have?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. As far as consulting with former candidates, the dialogue is open as far as I am concerned. I will talk to anyone about anything, including the former candidates and union delegates, member for Fannie Bay. My door is reasonably open. I am a little busy at the moment, but I will make time to talk to anyone.
Regarding the fire officer positions at Tennant Creek, there has been no reduction, to my knowledge, to the level of staffing in the fire service at Tennant Creek. I could be informed otherwise, but there is nothing I recall in the budget to that effect ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question put to you is that you have been informed by a previous candidate.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, further information which has come to hand on the question of the police numbers, 120 new police positions this new government has ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is answering my question. I would like her to finish answering that question before she goes on to explain an answer to another question.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: These new positions will be on top of any redeployment from civilian to front line, so we honour our election commitments in the 120 extra police officers.
Mini-Budget –
Central Australian Benefits
Central Australian Benefits
Mrs PRICE to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
What benefits are there for Central Australia in the 2012-13 mini-budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for her question. The Country Liberals have moved swiftly since the election to reverse years of neglect in Alice Springs and the Central Australian region by the former Labor government. They did not even know where Alice Springs was. They did not know where Papunya was. It was all down south somewhere beyond the Berrimah Line. And, boy, we reminded them at every opportunity that there are people south of the Berrimah Line.
The 2012-13 mini-budget outlines a range of measures designed to boost services and improve safety in the Centre in keeping with the Country Liberals’ contract with the people of Alice Springs.
Law and order measures have been given a high priority. Most substantial amongst those will be the deployment of 20 additional police officers to the town by July 2014. This is in addition to the 30 new officers assigned to Alice Springs from the latest graduation group. This is part of the further roll-out of 120 officers across the Territory, costing $52.5m over the next three years.
Other measures include an additional prisoner working party based at the Alice Springs Correction Centre, $670 000 a year from 2012-13 additional funding for the juvenile detention centre, and a $5.5m capital grant in 2012-13 to upgrade and transition the Alice Springs Youth Centre to a Police and Citizens Youth Club. It is great news for Alice Springs finally, after years of being neglected, and great news for Central Australia.
Additional funding has also been made available for CCTV monitoring support in Katherine and Alice Springs. The Country Liberals government is also committed to growing lifestyle options in Alice Springs and the Centre, committing $300 000 to develop a business plan and undertake urgent repairs at the Alice Springs Golf Club; $2m to upgrade the Alice Springs Oval; and $45 000 to upgrade lighting at the Alice Springs karting facility ..
There is more good news. I could go on ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Job cuts, price hikes, and pork barrelling in Alice Springs.
____________________
Suspension of Member
Member for Karama
Member for Karama
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, you have raised six frivolous points of order. Please leave the Chamber for one hour, pursuant to Standing Order 240A.
_____________________
Mrs LAMBLEY: It is safe to say all of my Central Australian Country Liberals colleagues have worked hard since coming to government less than 15 weeks ago to ensure these great initiatives are delivered for Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Mini-Budget –
Effect on Childcare Centres
Ms FYLES to TREASURER
You have repeatedly denied claims from childcare centres when they have talked about how much your power and water hikes will hurt them. This morning we have heard the Little Possums Playhouse in Darwin is closing due to financial pressures. Will you finally accept your mean-spirited budget is hurting childcare centres and Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. The tariff increases have not come into effect yet. They come into effect as of 1 January 2013. It is questionable how these centres are closing, or intending to close, given they are not subject to the increases yet.
The core of the problem is the former government, earlier this year, passed uniform legislation - early childhood education and care uniform legislation bill - which we highlighted at the time would impact adversely and extremely on childcare centres. This is the core of why childcare centres are doing it tough at the moment.
This uniform legislation package requires all childcare centres to employ a fully-qualified teacher. Can you imagine how employing a fully-qualified teacher impacts on the bottom line of a childcare centre? That is a very expensive commodity which is now a requirement of every childcare centre in the Northern Territory. That is increasing the cost of childcare in the Northern Territory, not tariff increases as of 1 January.
Once again, we have an example of the opposition misleading Territorians and scaremongering for the sake of political gain.
Another factor in the uniform legislation requirements for childcare centres and early learning centres is the staff to child ratio is much lower now. You need more staff to look after fewer children. Who pays for that? The people, the customers, the parents and the carers. A host of requirements came about as a result of the early childhood education and care uniform legislation bill.
When the member for Nightcliff asserts tariff increases yet to come into effect are closing down childcare centres, I say rubbish!
Opposition Scaremongering
Ms LEE to LEADER of GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Have you been keeping track of the scaremongering by the opposition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for this very important question. The opposition has settled into the role of opposition with aplomb. It has embraced it in ways you could not believe. There is no depth they will not plumb to, to ensure they are misleading Territorians. We have heard it: childcare costs up by $5 a day - wrong; 40 government lawyers to get the sack – wrong ...
Members: Wrong!
Mr ELFERINK: ... 2500 drunks back on the street – wrong ...
Members: Wrong!
Mr ELFERINK: ... massive increases in violent crime in the September quarter - wrong; Palmerston hospital is adequately cyclone-coded - wrong; we are scrapping the Palmerston Hospital – wrong ...
Members: Wrong!
Mr ELFERINK: ... you cannot buy a house and land under $500 000 - wrong; it was cheaper to get someone else to build a new prison ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, please be seated. Members, I remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member shall converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
The joining in chorus saying ‘wrong’ is unacceptable. Please continue, member for Port Darwin.
Mr ELFERINK: Moving the Tourism Commission headquarters to Alice Springs will kill tourism in Darwin - misleading; Ken Clarke is just a CLP old mate, misleading - he worked for the Labor government - the Banned Drinker Register worked - not true; the new fishery closures will mean no fresh retail barramundi in Darwin – just preposterous; introducing full-strength grog to all remote communities – balderdash, it is just not true; the decision to raise Power and Water Corporation tariffs is purely about making money – also not true; the Environment Protection Authority is not independent – absolute humbug; we have scrapped Arafura Games permanently – wrong; the Palmerston Hospital can be built for $110m – nonsense; giving the police drug testing powers is a Labor initiative – nonsense; the education budget cut by 10% - wrong.
Drunks were off the street under Labor – absolute nonsense, they grew, they blossomed like mushrooms, there were more of them. The number of drunks apprehended on our streets were 12 000 in 2000 up to 35 000 in 2009.
We are paying $9m for our own advisors - no, we are paying that money to pay out all of their advisors when they lost government.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016