2016-03-15
Job Losses
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Since you became the unelected Chief Minister Territory businesses have been doing it tough. Over the last 12 months economic data and population statistics have gone backwards and 3500 people have left the Territory. Treasury warned you about softening employment. Business and families have been crying out for you to support local jobs. Instead of listening and acting, you spent $0.5m of taxpayers’ money arrogantly insisting that the Territory economy was on the right track. When will you accept that your arrogance and economic incompetence have driven the Territory economy into the ground and cost jobs? Is the fact that your stimulus is rolling out in the shadow of an election not proof that the only job you care about is your own?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this comes from the man who forgot the Department of Business in his ministry. He forgot to acknowledge business by having a portfolio for it.
Let us look at the Territory economy. I recognise not all sections are doing as well as others. However, with 4% unemployment we have the lowest in the country. At around 75% labour force participation rate, we have the highest number of people either in work, looking for work or in training. With the CPI at around 0.5%, it is the lowest level of inflation in the country. With house prices and petrol prices going down we are driving down inflation, while more people than in any other part of the country have a job.
Despite our $1.5bn infrastructure package, particularly on the back end of INPEX transitioning from a construction agenda last year to an engineering agenda this year, there are some in the construction sector not doing as well as other industries.
That is why we announced a $100m Boosting the Economy package last Sunday week. The Boosting the Economy package is funded from the port proceeds and spearheaded by $70m towards education to make sure our schools get the best level of infrastructure and amenity. These projects are going out right now to ensure we are getting that stimulus back into the construction sector. We are partnering up with other sectors of our community to ensure there are more people in work.
Through our diversified economy strategy, where we are investing in areas like Defence, tourism, agriculture, mining and gas – most of the areas where Labor wants a moratorium on jobs – in about 18 months many of those big projects will be up and running. Our job is to make sure we continue to stimulate the economy in the right way so jobs go to the right sectors of the economy and we keep people in jobs.
As I said, Labor wants to talk the economy and the Territory down. We have the lowest level of unemployment and inflation in the country. Cast your mind back to the eleven-and-a-half years of Labor. Were any of these parameters around when Labor was last in government?
Shiplift Facility at East Arm
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the proposed shiplift facility at East Arm?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a good question from the member for Drysdale, who has many people from the Defence industry in her electorate.
Five minutes before coming into the Chamber, I had the opportunity of updating the public on the process for the shiplift facility. I said in my last answer that we have sought to diversify the economy, and Defence is one of the very important industries. Two weeks ago we saw the release of the 2016 Defence White Paper, which shows $20bn coming to the Northern Territory. We have been working very hard over the last two years to inform Canberra of our capability and ability to fill construction and service jobs in the Defence sector.
We need to ensure we get the contracts for servicing Naval and Border Force vessels that are currently serviced in either Cairns in Queensland, or Henderson in Western Australia. Plus we want the opportunity to service white-hulled and red-hulled vessels for the gas industry, which are currently serviced out of Singapore. We need facilities to make that happen. We have committed up to $100m to go towards the shiplift facility from the port proceeds.
We have been running a process which has seen 42 downloads of interest and 23 applications filtered down to 13, and we have the Defence department and Border Force representatives on an advisory committee. It has gone to an executive or evaluation committee with senior government employees who are provided external technical advice.
I just announced the five proponents who, at 6 pm last night, were sent the RFP so they can now go to the next approach. We have made the names of all of those proposals public because we know there will be many people who will want to talk together to see how they can improve their proposals and processes. There are many ancillary services which did not bid, particularly in the logistical supply chain, which want to become part of a consortium for the final bid. I anticipate the announcement of the successful proponent of the shiplift will be made around July, depending on the evaluation process and any technical elements that may come forward.
It is important to note that this is 4500 new jobs for Territorians. It is a $3.2bn economic injection to the Top End and there is more coming. With what is happening with the US Force Posture Agreement and many other nations which want servicing and training opportunities in the Top End, Defence will continue to grow. This is an essential element to how we can support the diversification of the logistical servicing industry to create 4500 jobs.
Jobs – Support by Government
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
You misspent $0.5m of taxpayers’ money on misleading political advertisements that said the Territory economy was on track. This was despite your research in preparation for the campaign finding you were wrong. They told you, ‘We do not have a prosperous economy; everyone is doing it tougher. If it is a government story we will not believe it, especially about the economy. The story implies lies and that is what we expect from this government.’
Now you are saying, ‘We are in a bit of a financial hole at the moment’. Why has it taken so long for you to admit that Territorians had it right and you had it wrong? Are Territory families and businesses right to have zero confidence in your ability to support Territory jobs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will tell you what the people do not have confidence in, that is the Leader of the Opposition to be a leader. They do not have confidence that he can make the tough decisions, build our economy, create jobs and stand up to industries that put pressure on him.
It was just a month ago that he was talking about his jobs plan …
Ms Fyles interjecting.
Mr GILES: It was just a month ago that he was talking about his jobs plan should the unfortunate event occur that Labor form government. He spoke about jobs, but what have we seen to date? We know they will have a moratorium on the cattle industry, the gas industry and the agriculture industry because you cannot grow things without water. Where else will there be a moratorium?
When you look at the Leader of the Opposition’s leadership …
Ms Fyles: Territorians will have a moratorium on you; they have had enough.
Mr GILES: The only way forward for the Leader of the Opposition is to do two things …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 20. During this Question Time the member for Nightcliff has had more to say than the Chief Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr GILES: There are two words that can be said by the Leader of the Opposition. One is ‘moratorium’ and the second is ‘review’. If you ask the Leader of the Opposition how to spell moratorium, it is r-e-v-i-e-w. He has not come out with any proposals on how to create jobs in the Northern Territory. The only proposals the Leader of the Opposition has brought to the debate today have been to support his mates in the unions and get rid of jobs from any industry. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to come forward with a jobs plan. He talked about cashing up the infrastructure budget of $1.5bn. You cannot afford to cash up an infrastructure budget of $1.5bn ....
Mr Gunner: I have already done it. Apparently my plan is your plan. You have to get your story right. Have I stolen your plan, or do I not have one? Will you get it straight? You cannot have the same.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fannie Bay!
Mr GILES: He makes jokes. There are a few different things he said today. He said on radio this morning, ‘I want to be a boring leader’. You have already achieved that. Congratulations. Every time you talk about one of our policies you say, ‘I like that policy and I support it’. If it becomes too hard you want a moratorium. If you do not like it, it is a review. Let me give you a tip. If you become the Chief Minister, there will be nobody to copy homework from, Leader of the Opposition. It will come down to you.
I look across your benches; nobody knows who the shadow Treasurer, the shadow Lands and Planning minister or the shadow Tourism minister are. That is because none of you have anything to say. You do not have a tangible contribution to provide the Northern Territory a jobs plan or an economic plan.
Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption – NT News Article
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Can the Chief Minister comment and provide his perspective on the NT News article which appeared on Monday 14 March about the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption that said the developer of Blacktip paid $1m to the Maritime Union of Australia to guarantee no industry strife on the job?
Madam Speaker, this is possibly a question that should have gone to the Leader of the Opposition about what he thinks about union thuggery in the Northern Territory. It could have even gone to the Labor Senator for the Northern Territory, Nova Peris, who at the time of the release of the trade union Royal Commission said, ‘Clean slate; nothing to see here.’ I remember the article.
An article appeared in the NT News about the dodgy deal and blackmailing by the Maritime Union of Australia over a subsidiary of Eni called Saipem. It came out in the findings that the MUA said, ‘If you do not pay us $1m we will stop the laying of the gas pipeline from Blacktip to onshore’.
This is how the Labor Party operates. We can all go back to Stella Maris and remember the days when the members for Barkly and Karama illegally gave a government asset to their mates in the union. Now we see, through the trade union Royal Commission, that the MUA has been blackmailing $1m from companies so it can be feathered into Labor coffers.
Some questions were raised this morning about Labor taking money off the MUA or the ACTU to fund its campaign. These are the dodgy dealings of the Labor Party. It is about its direct links to the union.
Will the Leader of the Opposition refuse any MUA membership into the Northern Territory Labor Party? Will he refuse to accept money from the MUA into the Labor Party if it is being filtered through the MUA or the ACTU? Will he stop receiving money from the ACTU? The Leader of the Opposition has to start fronting up, because to date it has been a one-horse race in the 2016 election contest. People are now looking at the alternative, and I do not think they like it.
People want to know if unions will run the Northern Territory once again. Will the MUA direct what happens? Start talking about 10% of Labor membership in the Northern Territory being MUA members, the new sub-branch of the Labor Party being the MUA, the people the trade union Royal Commission identified as blackmailing companies for $1m to go into Labor Party coffers. They are questions you need to answer, Leader of the Opposition. If you want to be leader front up and start answering the hard questions.
Tourism – Former Minister Representing Government in Berlin
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
As revealed on Nine News last night, you made the decision to send the former disgraced Tourism minister to a tourism fair in Berlin to represent you on the international stage. This shows your complete lack of judgment and leadership. It was clearly a deal to keep the outgoing member happy.
Is tourism not far too important for you to use as a bargaining chip to keep your job? Why did you send a disgraced former Tourism minister to represent the Northern Territory, who has previously spent $5000 of taxpayers’ money in a Tokyo girly bar? How on earth could you think this was appropriate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what an outrageous comment. I do not see Labor do anything other than put slurs on people.
I want to clarify the question because I do not accept the premise. The member for Greatorex was a successful Tourism minister. He set the plan for a $2.2bn tourism economy by 2020. The last update I was provided was that the tourism industry in the Northern Territory is worth $1.9bn. Tomorrow there will be an update that shows the Northern Territory tourism industry is now at $2bn, well on track to be a $2.2bn economy. I have said before that we will far exceed it. Tomorrow’s results will show we are well on track moving forward.
Our international visitor numbers are up. Our domestic visitor numbers are up sensationally, in part due to the Do the NT campaign which was launched, run and executed thoroughly by the member for Greatorex.
We have had a challenge in getting international tourists to the Top End of the Northern Territory, not so much the southern end. Part of that comes through the Qantas decision to move from Singapore to Dubai, changing its partnership from British Airways to Emirates.
Our challenge has been to seek to correct that. The biggest markets we have overseas are generally the UK and Europe, but also the Americas. The UK is up, the Americas are up and we are starting to see parts of Asia, particularly China, come up. We have seen a downturn in areas of our traditional markets in Germany, Italy, Spain and France. I believe that has a lot to do with the interline arrangements into Darwin.
The ITB, the International Tourist Bureau, held the biggest conference in the world last week, which I was supposed to attend. I am busy doing the economic stimulus package and getting construction work back online so why not send the former Tourism minister who set the framework for the success we are getting in tourism?
Let us cast our mind back to what we inherited. I know Labor does not like looking at history, but in the eleven-and-a-half years of Labor, international, domestic and intrastate tourism went down every single year.
The framework has been set. Internationals are coming up. Matt went over to help drive it up, particularly our German market. Domestics and interstate are up. Our tourism investment strategy is working highly successfully and I thank Matt for representing me.
MUA and NT Labor Party – Relationship
Mr KURRUPUWU to TREASURER
Can the Treasurer outline to the House the relationship between the Maritime Union of Australia and the NT Labor Party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. I understand why it is an important question for the member for Arafura; he lives on an island. Having the Maritime Union close to him would be a concern. I do not think there is any doubt at all …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. What does this have to do with the minister’s portfolio and which portfolio does it relate to?
Madam SPEAKER: He has asked a question of the Treasurer, so it goes to the heart of Treasury funding and finance.
Mr TOLLNER: Without a doubt, as I was saying, there is a close association between the MUA and the Labor Party. For years we have known they have been joined at the hip.
I will add to an answer the Chief Minister provided in relation to the MUA and its relationship with the Labor Party in the Northern Territory. I quote from a newsletter that was issued a little while ago on 6 March by Ashleigh Telford, which stated:
- Territory maritime workers, led by NT Branch Secretary Thomas Mayor, took a huge step towards implementing a Maritime Sub-Branch of the NT Labor Party.
I add here that Thomas Mayor was on radio this morning on the Daryl Manzie show and confirmed that the MUA received that $1m from Saipem. He was quite unapologetic about receiving the $1m from Saipem.
Getting back to the newsletter, which went on:
- At the weekend’s NT ALP Conference in Darwin the sub-branch proposal was voted up.
The formation of the sub-branch came out of a resolution moved at the NT MUA Branch conference in 2012 as an initiative to get members and maritime workers more engaged with the political system to achieve a positive legislative change for job security, opportunity and safety.
Since then delegates and activists have actively worked to get the initiative off the ground.
Mayor said since the conference maritime workers now made up approximately 10% of the NT Labor Party.
‘Their activism in the past 24 months at rallies, elections and work in solidarity with other community groups was reflected at the conference with many ALP and other union members wearing MUA shirts throughout the day of the conference,’ he said.
The vote got up 41 to 36 and was only achieved following inspirational speeches by Branch Secretary Thomas Mayor and delegate Shane Jones from the MV Aburri in Bing Bong/Borroloola.
‘I’d like to thank the membership for their hard work in ensuring this momentous occasion came to and I’d like to extend a particular thanks to Shane Jones and Chrissy Von Wootten for their dedication and hard work,’ Mayor said.
‘This is not just a win for the MUA it’s a win for all maritime workers to have a say in the direction of their industry, country and Territory.’
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Commonwealth Land – Status
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The Commonwealth is looking at selling off a large parcel of land along the Stuart Highway at the 10 Mile. This land does not have its own status because it is Commonwealth land. Have you had discussions with Defence on the future use of this land? What is the government considering that land could be used for?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will take the question on notice.
Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption – Evidence
Mr CONLAN to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and JUSTICE
Can the Attorney-General please outline to the House what evidence was given to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption when the Leader of the Opposition was deputy chief of staff to the then Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an interesting question and I thank the member for it. It goes to the heart of the Royal Commission that was held into corruption in the unions of Australia. I will not go into details because I am pressed for time, as much as I would love to. I will go to the findings of the Royal Commission which stated inter alia:
- On 24 October 2008 Antoine Legrand sent an email to a number of his colleagues both within Saipem and ENI in which he stated:
- I have just finished a 30 minutes ‘discussion’ with Chris Cain …
From the MUA.
- He was absolutely furious and completely pissed off. He spent the whole time [yelling] and screaming at Saipem/ENI. He threatened to shut down the whole job at several occasions, especially at the beginning of the phone call.
It was then that the MUA extorted $1m from Saipem and Eni. Who was the chief of staff to the Chief Minister while this was happening? The now Opposition Leader of the Northern Territory. He is doing the Sergeant Schultz defence of, ‘I know nothing’.
I find it hard to imagine that an organisation like Eni, doing a multimillion dollar job for the Northern Territory government, would not inform the government of the day. Would the chief of staff to the Chief Minister know? Of course he would. However, we hear the Sergeant Schultz defence of, ‘I know nothing about $1m being extorted from a company working for the Northern Territory government’.
It is an outrage that he remains silent or alternatively denies any knowledge when he must know. If he does not know, the answer is simple: he swears black and blue in this House that he will not accept $1 from the MUA after it engaged in behaviour which could be described as extortion.
This Leader of the Opposition is the alternative Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. As I said in debate prior to lunchtime today, he has to explain his links with the MUA and exactly what monies were poured by the MUA into the coffers of the Labor Party prior to the last election, and if he will refuse to continue receiving money which they have extorted from businesses which are trying to build the infrastructure of the Northern Territory. It seems the MUA’s capacity to extort money from those businesses is more important to the Labor Party and the Leader of the Opposition than jobs for Territorians.
Business and Jobs – Government Support
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER
Despite heavily investing in the Buy Local campaign, your government has refused to back local businesses and jobs. You sold TIO against the wishes of Territorians, resulting in losses of Territory jobs, despite promising all jobs were safe. You sold the port against the wishes of Territorians. You handed government travel to an interstate company with little Territory employment, destroying local small business. Territorians recently learnt of a $2m contract for a roof to cover the Palmerston BMX track which will use imported steel.
You are spending millions of dollars on a stimulus package but you cannot guarantee work for local businesses or Territory workers. Does this not show the only job you are really interested in is your own?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for the question. Member for Wanguri, when the original process started for the development of a new asset management system in the Northern Territory the initial quote came through at about $7m. That was presented to the Labor members at the time. The first quote was $7.2m in 2006.
At the time, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment released a tender to markets seeking a …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. I am asking the Chief Minister about the money this government is spending on the economy, and if he will guarantee the flow-on to local jobs, the economy and local businesses ...
Mr Elferink: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, there is no point of order. Chief Minister, get to the point; you have the time.
Mr GILES: In December 2007 a tender went out for a Tier 2 component. In March 2009 a contract was signed for $14.8m, which was twice the initial valuation. The contract that was signed …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Again, Standing Order 110: relevance. I am asking about a current program of government expenditure on works, and he is ranting on about something from five years ago.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order. Please be seated; he has two minutes to answer the question.
Mr GILES: These things have not been described by Labor. Let me get to my point. What was initially assessed as a $7.2m asset management system was signed for $14.8m ...
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: They do not like this one. It was signed for $14.8m to two companies, Fujitsu, in partnership with a company called CSG ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. He was asked a question about a BMX track this year, and he is talking about an AMS from five years ago. Where is the relevance?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: The original assessment was $7.2m. The then Labor government contracted with Fujitsu and its partner CSG for $14.8m. I am not sure what changed between the original quote of $7.2m and the $14.8m which was going interstate ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. With 60 seconds to go, it is a very direct question: why can the government not guarantee local businesses will be supported through this stimulus package? Answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff.
Mr GILES: It is interesting to know what changed between 2007 and 2009 and why the contract went from $7.2m to $14.8m. I can tell you …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110 again. There are 45 seconds left. The Chief Minister is still talking about a completely different project from years ago, not relevant whatsoever to the question I asked. I have asked a question about the stimulus package they have released to the community. I seek some assurance for Territorians that there will be jobs for locals and spending in local businesses. He is not talking about it; he is not answering it.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Wanguri.
Mr GILES: You know our Buy Local campaign because the Leader of the …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, get to the point!
Mr GILES: The Leader of the Opposition has already endorsed our campaign and copied that homework too.
People want to know what changed between 2007 and 2008 with the asset management contract where $14.8m went interstate. I will tell you what happened. On 17 July 2008 …
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: They do not like this! On 17 July 2008 CSG paid the Labor Party a $50 000 donation. So the contract went from $7m to $14m interstate with Fujitsu and CSG, with a $50 000 donation to the Labor Party. Maybe we need an ICAC to look at that, Leader of the Opposition! Can you answer that question?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Aboriginal Employment Ratio
Mrs LAMBLEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your new remote contracting policy reads that 70% of remote construction contracts under $5m will go to Aboriginal businesses from 1 January 2017. You announced this on 8 February 2016 and it has taken you over a month to realise this is a very unfair, unreasonable and possibly racist policy. To top it off, last week at your procurement forum people were told that to qualify as an Aboriginal business they had to employ 30% Aboriginal staff. Businesses will go broke thanks to this policy. How many local Aboriginal people do you employ in your electorate and ministerial offices? Are you following your own agenda?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is not in the best interests of the Northern Territory if we start bringing in race-based debates …
Ms Lawrie: It is an Indigenous employment policy. Are you doing it?
Mr GILES: Let us not be racially divisive in this Chamber. We have a policy about remote procurement that seeks to increase the levels of Aboriginal employees in the Northern Territory. This is not a new policy or measure; it is a different way of doing it. This is not a new policy that has only just started. This is a policy that has been implemented for more than 12 months, but never announced. It has been achieving amazing gains.
When we were putting out government contracts more than 12 months ago, we were achieving 40 Aboriginal outcomes for employment from our government contracts. Since the change in this process, as I announced at the release, we have achieved 576 unique Aboriginal employment participations from our contracts. It is changing people’s lives, building economies and having positive outcomes in remote parts of the Northern Territory. It is seen around the country …
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. A simple question: how many local Aboriginal people do you employ in your electorate and ministerial offices?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, get to the point.
Mr GILES: The remote procurement policy is achieving great outcomes. There have been many people who have commented on the policy who have not read the policy. Unfortunately there are many misunderstandings of the policy.
The question had an assertion in it that 70% of all contracts need to go to Aboriginal businesses, which is not correct. Our baseline target is 35% of remote contracts in communities around essential services and small-scale housing repairs. This policy has been in play …
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. A simple question. All I require is a figure for each of those and I believe the Chief Minister is misleading this parliament. I quoted directly from his media release, which I am happy to table here and now …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, you can only do that with a substantive motion if you believe the Chief Minister is misleading the parliament. Can you withdraw those comments?
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw those comments. It is true; I quoted directly from his …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She has qualified the withdraw. The instruction was to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: It has been withdrawn.
Mr GILES: This policy is being heralded around the country in the outcomes it is receiving. Many people are asking for us to assist them to improve their policies. There are procurement targets in a range of areas around the country. I note that the Commonwealth procurement process has a 3% target for Indigenous employment.
With regard to the remote procurement process, we announced a review and evaluation to make sure the intent, policies and outcomes achieved are what we want. We want to provide clarity on the policy itself …
Mrs LAMBLEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The Chief Minister is not answering the question. I can only assume that the answer to both questions is zero.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Please sit down. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: Of the two people who work in my electorate office, one is Aboriginal.
Stella Maris Site – Progress
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can the minister update the House on what progress has been made at the Stella Maris site?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a great question. It is interesting to talk about Labor’s union links today and how this iconic site in Darwin was almost lost to Labor’s union mates.
I am pleased to report to the House that following the Stella Maris inquiry the site was released for low-scale and commercial development via a public and competitive expression of interest process on 19 August 2014. My good friend, the member for Brennan, issued that.
On 11 November the Chief Minister publicly announced the assessment panel had identified the National Trust as the preferred proponent of the site. On 4 March this year I announced that we had offered the Stella Maris site to the National Trust and had drafted the lease agreements.
Territorians would have been robbed of this opportunity if Labor had its way. As I mentioned earlier, the previous Labor government intended to gift it to its union mates without any due process.
We all know the courts have found the member for Karama and her lawyers engaged in a constant and deliberate strategy to make false and completely baseless allegations against Commissioner John Lawler to discredit the ugly report that came Labor’s way.
Whilst the members for Karama and Barkly have copped much of the heat, that inquiry lifted the veil and showed the lack of integrity as a whole from the Labor machine. The tentacles of the inquiry showed that Labor is tied, lock, stock and barrel, to the union movement ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. I thought you would tell us about the financial arrangements with the National Trust in regard to the lease, and that you are flogging off half the Stella Maris site for potential commercial use. Will you get to that?
Mr TOLLNER: As I said, there is a range of them. We know that every one of them was involved with the Labor Party at that time either as an adviser or member of parliament. Their links with the union movement run far deeper than that.
My old mate Damian Hale, the AWU organiser, as well as Paul Kirby, the ETU organiser, and Phil Tilbrook from United Voice are running for Labor. This is a party bereft of friends apart from its mates in the union movement …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: The minister’s time has expired.
Member for Katherine – Return
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
In referring to the disgraced former Deputy Chief Minister you said:
- Clearly there’s been a breach in the ministerial guidelines and the code of conduct. Willem stepped aside for the good of the team …
Yesterday you said that beyond the election in August this year, you would welcome Willem to come back to the ministry. Does this not prove, once and for all, that you have no regard for probity, decency and accountability in government by planning his return?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is coming from the people who gave away a government building to their union mates. Wake up and grow up!
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Will he not answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order; sit down.
Member for Katherine’s Dealings with CT Group – Chief Minister’s Knowledge
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
This is straightforward and demands a straightforward answer. When you approved the former Deputy Chief Minister and minister for Primary Industry’s travel to Vietnam in August 2015, were you aware that he was then negotiating a share deal with the CT Group? Did you approve him giving advance notice of tender details for your six-star hotel project to CT Group, knowing that at the same time he was undertaking a share deal with them?
Is the only reason you are backing the member for Katherine’s preselection and promising him a return to Cabinet if you win the next election due to the fact you do not want him to spill the beans about your knowledge of his behaviour, which you have admitted breaches your Ministerial Code of Conduct? Does this not also prove the only job you are interested in is your own?
ANSWER
Good on you, Kenny. You have nothing to add about policy in this place ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, refer to the member by electorate name, please.
Mr GILES: Member for Johnston, you have nothing to add about policy in this place. You are heading to an election in five months. I have no idea what your shadow portfolios are, not one. Stand up and tell us what your policies are running to the election. If you want to throw mud at somebody, tell us what your policies are. Talk up how you will support the economy in the Territory …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. It was a straightforward question to the Chief Minister: when you approved the former Deputy Chief Minister and minister for Primary Industry’s travel to Vietnam in August 2015, were you aware he was then negotiating a share deal with the CT Group? Did you know?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr GILES: I will answer the question then I will ad-lib a fraction. I learnt about the member for Katherine’s developments through the media at the same time as everybody else – that is done. I approved the member for Katherine’s overseas travel – that is done. I approved it before he went – that is done. I did not approve it retrospectively; I approved it before it occurred – that is done.
Let us get to the heart of the matter of the debate. Why, member for Johnston, do you have nothing to add from a policy point of view? Why do you not tell us the portfolios you represent in opposition? Why do you not give us an opinion on the union ties with Labor …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Is the only reason you are backing the return of the member for Katherine to save your own job? Answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. No, the Chief Minister is answering the question.
Mr GILES: You have to realise that you are an alternative government. You have to start issuing policies. I have a list here of the reviews you have proposed. This is what Labor is looking to do. It will review government travel contracts …
Ms Fyles: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order. The Chief Minister has answered the question, he is continuing with some commentary around it.
Mr GILES: This is what Labor proposes to do: review government travel contracts; review the lease of the port; review whether or not the Nightcliff police station should be 24-hours or not …
Ms Fyles: Just opening it is all we need. You can solve that one today.
Mr GILES: I thought you had proposed it; you are just reviewing it. Your policy is to review it ...
Ms Fyles: Sign off on it. Open it.
Mr GILES: That is your policy. … the Department of Health to identify cost-saving efficiencies; review the Department of Business; review gaming machine licence numbers; review water licences; review the economy to find out what business wants, which clearly you do not understand because you do not have a business spokesperson; review the gas industry; and review the cattle industry. I am unsure what else they will do apart from reviews …
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Can the Chief Minister get back to answering the question? Did you approve him giving advance notice of the tender details for your six-star project knowing at the same time he was organising a share deal?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Johnston.
Mr GILES: Maybe you should review your hearing too, member for Johnston. I am pretty sure I answered that question, Madam Speaker.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 32. That is offensive.
Mr Vowles: I am not offended.
Madam SPEAKER: The member says he is not offended.
Mr GILES: I look to the other side of the Chamber and recognise your failures when you were in government. You killed the cattle and tourism industries, you did not support the agriculture industry and you drove up the cost of housing and fuel. Those are a few things. You are now looking to try to come back into government. All you are proposing is a copied policy such as our Buy Local policy. You are looking to copy other parts of our homework, or you want a review. What are you proposing to do?
How will you clean up the union mess where unions are taking money off businesses and putting it into the Labor Party? When will you start answering some of those questions?
Unions NT and Labor Party
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for BUSINESS
When people talk about trade union corruption they also talk about the dodgy deal Labor hatched to hand over Stella Maris to the unions. Who were the beneficiaries of the previous Labor government’s shady deal with Unions NT?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The dirty deal was designed to deliver a cash windfall to the Labor Party, those people opposite who pretend they want to be the next government.
The Labor Party and the unions’ plan was that the Henderson Labor government would give Unions NT Stella Maris. Most of the Labor members here were a part of the administration and some were architects of that plan.
Once Unions NT had Stella Maris it would demolish its headquarters at 38 Woods Street. Union-controlled superannuation money belonging to its members would be used to redevelop the site and create an income stream for Labor and the unions.
The Unions NT strategic plan 2013-14 clearly set out how it planned to benefit from this shonky deal by having two new income streams to fill its coffers. It would use its in-house counsel, Hall Payne Lawyers, to do the legal work. In fact, Hall Payne even had the cheek and arrogance to demand this government should honour Labor’s dirty deal with the NT unions. Hall Payne, you might be aware, has an office at – where? – 38 Woods Street. It shares with Unions NT.
Who exactly is Unions NT? It is a collection of the most notorious names Australia has heard of in recent times. Let us look at the MUA, the same union that demanded a payoff in exchange for industrial peace at the Blacktip project through blackmail uncovered by the trade union Royal Commission.
On radio today Mr Mayor admitted they received $1m from Saipem. What did the member for Fannie Bay, the current Leader of the Opposition, know about this? Did he meet with Saipem? He was chief of staff to the former Chief Minister, Paul Henderson. If the chief of staff does not know what is going on, what is going on? How much did the current leader know? The CFMEU had numerous examples of standover tactics exposed by the trade union Royal Commission. The ETU, another militant branch of the union movement, as well as – the list goes on – the AEU, the CPSU, the AMWU, United Voice, the ASU amongst others, were each guaranteed benefit from the dodgy Stella Maris deal.
Unions NT …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. None of that was found in the inquiry. You are making it up.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr Tollner: This is about Unions NT.
Mr STYLES: Unions NT gives the orders to Territory Labor and Labor dutifully carries out the work here. They come into the House doing the bidding of the MUA and the CFMEU to stand against free trade agreements. They did the bidding of the ETU and opposed the structural separation of Power and Water Corporation, which gave us a 7.5% power reduction ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Member for Katherine’s Dealings with CT Group – Damage to Relationship with Vietnam
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Your former Deputy Chief Minister conducted private business while travelling at taxpayers’ expense in Vietnam and was forced to resign from Cabinet in disgrace. Referring to the damage caused to the Territory’s relationship with Vietnam by the former minister’s scandalous behaviour, the new Primary Industry minister said:
- I think the issues with Vietnam and any impact will be something I’ll look at as one of my first priorities.
What is the scope of the damage caused to the Territory’s relationship with Vietnam by the former minister? How do you intend to clean up the mess he has left behind?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the new minister visited Vietnam last week and met with Mr Chung from the CT property group. Relationships are strong, and we are encouraging and looking forward to the investment here. Well done, member for Daly, the new minister.
The member for Katherine has moved to the backbench and taken his penance. He is reconnecting with his community in Katherine, one that has had outstanding success in improvements over the term of this government. ED presentations are down, assaults are down, property crime is down, alcohol consumption is down and investment in roads and bridges is up. Things have been going well as the local member. But he has taken his penance.
I look across to the other side of the Chamber and wonder what Labor has done in regard to the things its members have done wrong. We had an inquiry into handing over a government asset to unions. We know the members for Barkly and Karama were in that frame.
What happened to the member for Barkly as a result of that inquiry? He was the Deputy Leader of the Opposition until Michael Gunner rolled the member for Karama. He now sits as a frontbencher in Labor. There has been an inquiry, with adverse findings, into the member for Barkly. How does he sit on the front bench?
We listen to the assertions by Labor about the member for Katherine. He has taken himself back. There was no judicial inquiry into the member for Katherine. Sticks, stones and mud are being thrown by Labor, but there was an inquiry into the actions of the member for Barkly. Yet he still sits on the front bench for Labor.
We know the member for Johnston has some dark secrets in his closet. We know many Labor members and candidates have many dark secrets, but Labor will not take action on these people, such as the candidate for one of the Labor seats, Damian Hale, who showcases acts of violence in public.
I remember a couple of sittings ago, when all these Labor members were on the front page of the NT News saying, ‘Say no to violence’, and here we have a Labor candidate smashing public assets and putting people in danger. What does the Leader of the Opposition say about that? Nothing. Is that on the front page of the NT News with Labor saying, ‘Say no to violence’? Nothing. He just said, ‘No, he is passionate’.
You are allowed to beat people up if you are passionate, according to the Leader of the Opposition. Do not have double standards; start taking action. This is not how things should run ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Unions – Money Usage
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Unions have been caught taking money from corrupt corporations to deliver a corrupt version of industrial peace. Can you tell me where the money collected from unions in the Northern Territory goes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. He knows what these Labor tricks are all about. He saw how Labor tried to stop Port Melville. We know that a former Labor minister flew to Singapore to try to stop the deal in the first place. Kon Vatskalis flew to Singapore to meet with everyone to say, ‘Do not invest in the Tiwis. We do not want bush people getting jobs.’ I am pretty sure that was Kon Vatskalis’ message.
I go to the point of the question, which was about unions being caught taking money from corporations blackmailed to deliver a corrupted version of industrial peace.
The member for Arafura wanted to know where this dirty, stinking union money goes. I will tell you. It goes to the Labor Party. Labor is controlled by unions and they try to give something back, as we have seen with the Stella Maris deal by the members for Karama and Barkly. But they will not talk about it. It is a little hush-hush.
We know the Leader of the Opposition was the chief of staff for the then Essential Services minister, Kon Vatskalis, when all the Saipem and Eni discussions were occurring. He was then promoted to be chief of staff for then Chief Minister Paul Henderson. He saw nothing; he knew nothing! Did you meet with Eni, Leader of the Opposition? Did you meet with Saipem? Did you meet with the MUA? Did you know what was happening, Leader of the Opposition? There are some serious questions for you to answer.
The ETU provided $30 000 to Labor in 2012-13. I will give you a couple more examples, member for Arafura. The CFMEU gave $20 000 to the Labor Party. Again, the CFMEU made a $10 000 and a $6000 donation to Labor. The MUA gave a $2000 donation to Labor. The AMWU gave a $2500 donation to Labor. The CEPU gave $6500. The CPSU gave more than $10 000 to Labor just in last year alone. The Transport Workers Union, the association SDA, United Voice, CPSU – it goes on and on. Labor cannot operate without the unions.
There are some serious questions Labor must answer. The Leader of the Opposition needs to front up and say whether he will stop taking money from the unions. Did Michael Gunner meet with Eni, Saipem and the MUA? Did he know what was happening at that time when the MUA blackmailed money out of a private business and funnelled it through for the Labor Party …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I move that any further questions …
Madam SPEAKER: No, you cannot.
Signage – Stuart and Arnhem Highways
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
I have a slightly different question. The Stuart and Arnhem Highways are two of our major tourist routes yet along those highways your department does not seem to enforce its own signage policy, which is making places like Humpty Doo, Coolalinga and the 11 Mile look like Hicksville, with signs everywhere. Your policy says only tourism signs will be considered on highways, no signs within 150 m of an intersection and signs should not interfere with regular maintenance activities on the road. Have you asked your ride-on mower operators how many signs fit into these categories?
You are not enforcing your own rules. When will you enforce the signage rules, clean up the highways and bring in a signage policy that is innovative, meets high standards and allows business to advertise, at the same time putting a stop to the Rafferty’s Rules that presently apply to signage?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a decent question from the member for Nelson. It is something I probably …
Ms Lawrie: Patronising.
Mr CHANDLER: The only patronising person in here is you, member for Karama.
There are many signs. In 1985, when I first came here, there were signs on the side of the road. There always has to be a measure of common sense applied. I reckon you are right; there are some times when there is inappropriate placing of signs. There might be some inappropriate electoral signage from time to time. Some have been put up in places they should not be ...
Mr Giles: With chickens on them.
Mr CHANDLER: They might even have chickens. I have looked at the 11 Mile on the Stuart Highway. It is getting to the point that something will have to be done. Yet, when do you do it? How do you do it? There are businesses there that rely on the road signage to help them. As a conservative government we want to promote business as much as possible.
This is not a new problem; this has been around for decades. The reality is about how, when and what you do. Do you have a number that you allow before you say no more? Is that fair to new players coming and new businesses opening? Is it unfair to close down what people have at the moment?
You have the overlapping issue with many of our municipalities having their own signage codes. Darwin city council and Palmerston council have signage codes. I am not sure about Litchfield; I will have to look into that ...
Mr Wood: No, it is the highways.
Mr CHANDLER: You are right; the highways are Territory government. However, when they go through a municipality, which many of our roads do, their signage codes apply. A bit like the bylaws, they apply even if it is a Territory government road or a council road.
You raised an interesting question. It is something I have spoken about on a number of occasions. I am also prepared to meet with Andrew in Transport and discuss how we might do something in the future that will provide a level playing field. That is the hard thing to do because it has not happened overnight but over decades. How do ensure you protect the rights of people with legitimate businesses using our roads to provide some advertising, as against the people who are perhaps flaunting the law?
At the 11 Mile, when you have one side controlled by Palmerston council and the other by Litchfield Council, you could technically move the signs over slightly and be outside the municipality.
Madam Speaker, I will take it on notice and am happy to look at it further.
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