2016-02-10
Deputy Chief Minister – Confidence In
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Your Deputy Chief Minister has breached your own Ministerial Code of Conduct and has potentially breached the corruption and abuse of office provisions of the Northern Territory Criminal Code Act. Do you retain total confidence in your Deputy Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do. I retain confidence in every person in the Chamber, as a matter of fact, but particularly this side of the Chamber.
One thing about being a team is that you always back your people. We have backed Willem ever since he took over the Primary Industry portfolio. This is the man who had to overturn a Labor moratorium. We have been talking about moratoriums on the gas industry which will bring 6000 jobs to the Northern Territory. Who could forget when former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former Chief Minister Paul Henderson found the live cattle industry too hard, like the gas industry, and called for a moratorium on the live cattle trade, killing an industry in the Northern Territory …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The question went to the Deputy Chief Minister’s breach of the CLP’s ministerial code and the potential breach of the Northern Territory Criminal Code Act. We asked him if he maintains confidence in the Deputy Chief Minister on those grounds. There was nothing about Paul Henderson and the cattle trade.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Opposition Leader. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: I have heard the allegations by the Leader of the Opposition, but I go back to the point of it being too hard and Labor calling for and putting in place a moratorium on live cattle.
Willem has had the job of having to rebuild an industry, forming and renewing a relationship with Indonesia, setting up a multimillion dollar trading regime between Indonesia, then setting it up in Vietnam and Cambodia, working with the ministers in Western Australia and Queensland. Does he have my support? Absolutely! Many Territorians’ livelihoods have been restored as a result of the hard work of Willem. He has my full support, as does every person on this side of the Chamber, and when I am outside of parliament, every person who is in this Chamber. That is the responsibility of all of us.
As for these relentless calls for people to resign, the Deputy Chief Minister summed it up well, listing how many times you called for individual people to resign ...
Mr Gunner: What is the point of your code of conduct?
Mr GILES: Leader of the Opposition, when there are hundreds of people who live in Darwin, Alice Springs and remote parts of the Territory …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The Chief Minister does not want to touch upon the breach of the code of conduct. That was the question and he should go there. Your Deputy Chief Minister has breached your own code of conduct. What will you do about it?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: There are hundreds of currently filled jobs around the Northern Territory at risk right now and thousands of potential jobs in the gas industry, whether or not it is with the gas pipeline or onshore gas. There will be up to 6000 in the industry between 2020 and 2040, and $1bn in royalties to the Northern Territory which will go to higher education to make it easier for students to get access to better education.
Of course I have confidence in the Deputy Chief Minister. I do not have confidence in your policies as Leader of the Opposition. Again I ask you: how long does the Labor gas moratorium go for? How long …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Private Sector Investment in Infrastructure
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you outline how the private sector has shown confidence in the Northern Territory by investing in new and improved infrastructure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. Like him, I was horrified yesterday to hear Labor again talking down the Northern Territory economy. We continue to hear Labor talk the Territory economy down.
Jurisdictions in Australia such as New South Wales and the Northern Territory are leading the country in economic growth, particularly in the Northern Territory recently with 10.5% growth, the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.1% and the highest labour force participation rate. These things come about because people are working as there are jobs.
We continue to seek investment in the Northern Territory. But the question goes to the heart of investment in the Northern Territory. Labor likes to talk about people who leave the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory has always had population loss through migration. Our population growth comes from both natural birth and overseas migration, and then there is a loss from the Territory to interstate.
But as the Minister for Business said yesterday, there is a reason we are building new units and houses and there are new land release developments at Katherine East, Kilgariff, Zuccoli and Muirhead. That is because more people are moving here. A $1bn investment plan at Berrimah Farm is to start. People are coming to the Northern Territory because there are investment opportunities and jobs here, despite Labor continuing to talk it down.
I will give one example of growth, which is the shopping centre industry. Casuarina Square is undergoing a $34m expansion. A new shopping complex at Bakewell will include a Woolworths, plus there are three ...
Ms Fyles: You are insulting small business.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: You are an insulting person, member for Nightcliff.
There is a $300m shopping centre being built at the Gateway at the corner of the Stuart Highway and Roystonea Avenue …
Mr Gunner: Malls are a good investment.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: Malls show that there is confidence not only in the construction and retail industry but in investment in the Northern Territory.
Let me give you some economic advice, Leader of the Opposition. Big investors do not build shopping centres if nobody will use them. What about the hundreds of people who will work there as retailers. There is big investment coming to the Northern Territory. It is encouraged by this side of the Chamber. We know business; you do not. We know what it is like to work in business; you do not. We will continue to support it and grow the confidence of the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Deputy Chief Minister – Alleged Breach of Ministerial Code of Conduct
Mr GUNNER to DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER
Clause 8.8 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, titled ‘Improper Advantage’ states:
- Ministers are not to use their position improperly to gain a direct or indirect personal advantage for themselves, or any other person or entity, not enjoyed by the general public. Ministers are not to use information obtained in the course of their official duties so as to gain a direct or indirect personal advantage for themselves or improperly for any other person or entity not enjoyed by the general public.
By your own admissions today you have clearly breached your own Ministerial Code of Conduct. When will you do the right thing and resign?
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, the question is in order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not reflecting on the ruling, but I thought questions had to be in relation to portfolio matters.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, the question was in regard to your work in your portfolio and your activities overseas as the minister for Primary Industry, so it is within the bounds of an appropriate question.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am happy to talk about the work I have done as minister, supported by my colleagues in the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries over the past three-and-a-half years.
As the Chief Minister rightly pointed out, my work began in earnest in 2012, trying to repair the damage done by the Labor Party and its devastating ban on the live cattle trade to Indonesia.
It has taken an enormous effort to restore that relationship. It was not just about damaging an industry; it was something I have previously called the worst political and diplomatic decision this country has ever made. It damaged the relationship between the two nations of Australia and Indonesia. We saw the Territory Labor Party supporting a decision made by Julia Gillard and Joe Ludwig. It has taken an enormous amount of work.
We realised from that there was but one main market and we had all our eggs in that basket. We went searching for new opportunities for our live cattle trade. Vietnam is one that has shone since the work began there in earnest. As I said in my personal explanation, the export value has grown from $500 000, which is almost nothing in the trade, through to $38m last year under my watch.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. The Labor government went after the Vietnamese market. Will you answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order. Member for Karama, sit down please.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: That market has been developing, and as I said in my personal explanation, those trade missions are bloody hard work. Some of those opposite have been ministers and they would know. I do not know if they ever went overseas and worked hard on any of their trade delegations ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. By your own admissions today you clearly breached the code. Why will you not answer the question? Do the right thing and resign!
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: The point I am getting to is that the workload of ministers and ministerial delegations when they are overseas is such that they do not have time to go gallivanting around the place trying to feather their own nests. I have not received any personal advantage from the work I have done as the Primary Industry minister – none whatsoever. You would think if I had some personal advantage to declare it would be because I had some financial or pecuniary interest in an investment, and that does not exist.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Infrastructure Spends and Upgrades
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
Under our government Palmerston has attracted much-needed injections of funding for infrastructure. At the moment $57m worth of road projects is occurring, which is very exciting for the people of Palmerston. A lot is happening at Palmerston hospital, to remind the members of the opposition. Could you please give us an update on our infrastructure spends and upgrades in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for an amazing question. It is true, this government understands the business world and reacts when issues arise. In fact, we have a record $1.514bn infrastructure program afoot. So far this year 296 quotes and tenders worth over $600m have been let.
The Country Liberals government implemented the Buy Local policy. The aim is to ensure that local enterprises receive the maximum benefit from government expenditure.
As Minister for Infrastructure, I recognise the Department of Infrastructure is one of the government’s largest procuring agencies, and we need to ensure we get this right.
In the last month alone $1.3m has been released for the upgrade of Buley Rockhole. Nhulunbuy boarding facility has received $17m. There is $2.7m to upgrade existing Alice Springs’ youth and community centres, over $1.6m for upgrading the Rum Jungle Road, $1m worth of works on the Victoria Highway, and it goes on and on. Three minutes is not enough time to read the list I have in front of me of the hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure jobs and projects on offer at the moment.
The $57m the member for Drysdale mentioned was for bringing forward desperately needed roadworks in Palmerston. Why is that? Because growth in the area is amazing. In fact, it is beating all forecasts. Schools are growing and the infrastructure needs are growing. Why? Because people have confidence.
The Chief Minister just mentioned the Gateway shopping centre, the new Bakewell Woolworths complex and other infrastructure. Over $1bn worth of infrastructure is afoot in the Palmerston region as we speak. Much of that money is private investment. Government can do so much and it is. We are responding well, and there will be some announcements shortly that most people will be extremely excited about.
However, I am at a loss, and I am sure everyone on this side is at a loss, about the lack of understanding of what is happening in the community. The government responds to infrastructure needs. That is why we brought forward so many of the current works. The main issue that needs to be clearly put on the record is that there is confidence. That is quite clear when you have private investors looking at investing hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. They would not do that if they thought this economy or the Territory was going backwards.
On this side of the House, the Country Liberals government has a plan for the future and is getting on and doing it.
Deputy Chief Minister – Call for Resignation
Mr GUNNER to DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER
Section 3.1 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct states:
- Ministers are to advise the Chief Minister immediately of any private interests, pecuniary or non-pecuniary, held by themselves or members of their immediate family of which they are aware, which give rise to (or may potentially give rise to) a conflict with their public duties. Any other matter which may give rise to a conflict between duty and interest must also be declared. Ministers should adopt a broad interpretation of this requirement. Any conflict of interest between a Minister’s private interest and their public duty which arises must be resolved promptly in favour of the public interest.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no.
CT Group – Employment of Theresa Phan
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
You would appreciate that good governance and ethical practice is one of the utmost priorities for most of us in this Chamber. The Katherine Times reports that you went on private visits with your partner to Vietnam last year. Can you confirm your partner is Teresa Phan? Can you confirm that this is the Theresa Phan who was employed by the CT Group? I seek leave to table this copy of e-mails between you and Theresa Phan from the CT Group, the very same company you signed a share offer with for almost $600 000 on 30 September last year.
The day before, you took a loan for $650 000 to pay for the CT Group investment. Where is the money now? What have you done with the $650 000 you borrowed? Is it with a third party or parties?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, the minister’s private business is his private business ...
Mr Elferink: Absolutely.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Attorney-General. If you could desist from commentary.
However, member for Araluen, parts in regard to the minister’s relationship with businesses that are associated with the Primary Industry portfolio are in order. If you would like to, please reword your question to drop out any private detail and only have information relating to the portfolio area of responsibility.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Can you confirm, minister, that your partner is Theresa Phan who used to work for the CT Group …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, member for Araluen, that is the part that needs to be withdrawn. Sit down, member for Port Darwin.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, Theresa Phan was employed by the CT Group, which the minister had contact with through his role as the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, sit and wait! One person on their feet at a time. I am listening to the member for Araluen.
Member for Araluen, please continue.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I am asking for the minister to confirm whether his partner is Theresa Phan who worked for the CT Group, who he met through his dealings with the CT Group as the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries.
Madam SPEAKER: No. I will not allow that. Your question should have been worded differently to extract the information that I know you are seeking. Go to the hub of the question, which is to do with the Primary Industry minister’s portfolio area. Start the clock, please, Mr Clerk.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Can you confirm that Theresa Phan, who was employed by the CT Group, was your partner when you visited Vietnam on private visits last year? I seek leave to table this copy of e-mails between you and Theresa Phan from the CT Group, the very same company you signed a share offer with for almost $600 000 on 30 September last year. The day before, you took out a loan for $650 000 to pay for the CT Group investment. Where is the money now? What have you done with the $650 000 you borrowed? Is it with a third party or parties?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, that last part of the question is out of order. The question is if leave is granted to table the document.
Leave granted.
Madam SPEAKER: The only part of the question I will allow is in regard to whether a particular person was employed by a particular company associated with the Primary Industry portfolio.
ANSWER
Yes, she was. Also, she is my current partner and we are in love.
Economy – CLP Plan
Mr BARRETT to TREASURER
Can you please explain to the House the difference between the government having a plan and the other thing, which is not really a plan, coming from the other side of the floor?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I believe what you are talking about is Clayton’s plan, the plan you have when you do not have a plan. I call it Gunner’s gammon plan, or a fantasy. Let me explain the difference between a Gunner gammon plan and a CLP government plan ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, withdraw that comment in regard to the member for Fannie Bay.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw.
Let me explain. We came into government with a a real plan, which is not very difficult, to cut debt and diversify and grow the economy.
Almost four years ago this government recognised that Labor had a spending addiction. Like a heroin addiction, a spending addiction is very hard to kick. We knew it could not do it, so we had to take responsibility for its waste and incompetence in government. When the Opposition Leader was in government with his federal mates, they spent all the money. There was nothing left in the can.
Since then, of course, the world has become a very different place. Middle Eastern conflicts have increased, Europe continues to dissolve under economic pressure, the United States is still coming out from the bottom, China’s growth has slowed and Australia’s economy is moving away from mining to services. The Northern Territory is not immune to those things.
Our plan has already started to take effect. We took these matters into consideration. Because we had a plan we are in a much better situation to deal with these economic headwinds. Last year’s budget outlined our plan to further diversify the Northern Territory economy. We reformed the Power and Water Corporation to be much more in line with national standards, which has helped with the new gas pipeline into Queensland to allow us to join the national gas network. We saved TIO from financial disaster. We are recycling part of that TIO money and the port lease money back into the local economy to further drive economic growth.
Let us look forward to test what our plan is supposed to achieve. The Deloitte Access Economics December 2015 Quarterly Outlook puts the five-year average growth from this year to 2020 at 3.3% for the Northern Territory, compared to 2.6% for the rest of Australia.
Madam Speaker, our plan has achieved, and is achieving, results. Labor’s plan? Slash 6000 jobs and spend $5bn to create 14 000 jobs. That is not a plan, this is a plan.
Deputy Chief Minister – CT Group
Mr GUNNER to DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER
When asked by the NT News whether your potential purchase of shares was discussed at your meeting with the CT Group in Ho Chi Minh City on August 15 you replied:
- There was absolutely no mention or discussion at this meeting about anything other than the Northern Territory Government’s ongoing support of the dragon fruit project.
Will you rule out that you discussed your potential purchase of shares in the CT Group’s Space Ship One mega mall project at any time on this one-day trip to Vietnam which cost the Territory taxpayer $2000 plus $300 entertainment expenses and was verbally approved by the Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The trip to which you were referring, if I remember rightly, was when I was already in Thailand, having also been in Cambodia. I made a change to my itinerary, with the approval of the Chief Minister, towards the end of that trip, to travel to Ho Chi Minh City to have discussions with the CT Group about the progress of the dragon fruit project it was looking at in the Northern Territory.
I made that trip because I had, at the time, received some anecdotal information that there had been some delays or problems with progress. I was becoming a little concerned that perhaps the Northern Territory government could be offering to do more to assist the CT Group with its dragon fruit project.
The purpose of the trip was to talk to the CT Group about its project and whether the Northern Territory government could be assisting further or doing something more for it to facilitate this project, which we see as quite important for the relationship between the Northern Territory and Vietnam, but also for the economy of the Northern Territory.
In answer to the question, the discussions were about the dragon fruit project, nothing else. That was the purpose of the trip.
It is interesting to see that you have selectively tried to pluck some travel cost figures out, but it should be fairly obvious that that was a leg on the way back from Bangkok returning to Darwin. Instead of flying from – I think the original plan was …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. With 60 seconds to go, will you categorically rule out discussing the purchase of shares in the CT Group on that day?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: If I remember rightly, the original plan might have been to fly our delegation from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and then back to Australia. I stand corrected if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that was the original itinerary. All I did was change one leg so instead of going via Kuala Lumpur I came back via Ho Chi Minh City. That would have incurred around the same costs as if I had travelled to Kuala Lumpur.
I say again, when I went to Ho Chi Minh City on that occasion I did so for the purpose of having a discussion with the CT Group about its dragon fruit project and nothing else.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. With 15 seconds to go, he has not answered the question and ruled out discussing the CT Group shares.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Deputy Chief Minister – CT Group
Deputy Chief Minister – CT Group
Mr GUNNER to DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER
You just refused to rule out discussing, on that day, your purchase of shares in the CT Group’s Space Ship One mega mall. What discussions did you have on that day on that trip about the CT Group’s Space Ship One mega mall?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, perhaps I could get the Leader of the Opposition to turn up his hearing aid …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 31: offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Withdraw it, minister.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Withdrawn.
I just stood in this House for three minutes giving an answer to a question which was exactly the same as this supplementary question about the purpose of travelling between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Those discussions I had with the CT Group were about the dragon fruit project.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. Why will you not rule it out? What are you hiding?
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order. Minister, have you finished your answer?
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Yes, I have finished, Madam Speaker.
Sports Infrastructure Projects in
Budget 2015-16
Budget 2015-16
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
In the 2015-16 Northern Territory budget the government committed to one of the largest ever sporting infrastructure projects on record. It was huge and very welcomed. It is timely to ask this question as the Parramatta Eels will run out on the newly-renovated Anzac Oval in Alice Springs on Saturday.
Would the minister please update the House on the terrific special projects flagged last year in the budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This government has a plan to create a confident culture, and all our investments into helping sport perform at the best possible facilities is a strong component of our plan.
As members are aware, great facilities encourage greater participation. A healthy, fit community benefits us all. Despite some of the doom and gloom the opposition peddles, I point out that in the Communications Research Draft Report tabled yesterday there were some positive comments. The first group unanimously agreed that the positives of living in the Northern Territory far outweigh the negatives. These positive comments centred on our lifestyle and the opportunities the Territory provides.
Our lifestyle is supported by great sporting opportunities and we are proud to help deliver the means by which these sporting opportunities occur.
As well as the huge budget commitments last year, this government has gone on with the job of supporting sport in the NT through our Facilities and Capital Equipment Grant programs. The projects which benefited from these grants last year included: the Darwin Tennis Association, a court resurfacing for $76 000; in the rural area, for the member for Nelson, Litchfield Horse and Pony Club shed construction for $20 000; and Katherine District Cricket Association, shade structure and spectator seating for 18 000.
The next round of the FACE grants will be announced later this month. They are a great help to sporting organisations across the Territory.
Turning back to the terrific budget commitment from last year, let me run through as many as I can. In Alice Springs the multi-court netball facility project is moving ahead, with a tender out late last month to design and construct the facility. The government has committed $4.25m towards the project.
There is still $2m for a new national standard first-class athletics and field track in Alice Springs. Athletics NT has submitted a report on possible sites for the project, and that report is being assessed.
In motorsports, the Hidden Valley Sports Complex has a number of infrastructure projects either under way or about to start. These include stage one replacement of existing water mains and system design, which is 90% complete. The tender for the $4m investment works will be released soon. There will be a new air conditioned glass-fronted structure on the southern end of the pit garages and VIP area. On-site set-up works have begun for which $2m has been invested. The tender is out and closes on 18 February for lighting for the pit area, with $1m to be invested.
There are many more sporting infrastructure projects but I do not have time to outline them to honourable members. I table a sports and infrastructure project update for honourable members. Rest assured, these projects are moving and I am proud …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Stylo Station – Water Licence
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Stylo Station has been sold for over $5m, which included a water licence which was never used. As this 5800 ML water licence was given free to the MacFarlane family, will the government request that the value of the water licence that obviously was built into the purchase price of Stylo be given back to the Crown? Your ground water extraction licence register says water trading is not permitted, therefore if the water value was included in the total sale price was the transaction not illegal and is that not water trading? Will a new application be required by TFS? If not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a question from a man who clearly does not understand the Water Act or transactional law. I am a bit surprised to be asked this question by the member for Nelson because I thought he would have a better understanding of how this works.
There are no provisions within Northern Territory law that would allow for the government to, in some way, recoup the value of a water licence that has been properly sold with a piece of land under the provisions of the relevant legislation.
The first I heard of this was a little while ago when the member for Nelson made some comments about it on radio. I wonder how he would achieve this if it were possible. Would he enact this retrospectively? Would the member for Nelson want the government to review and audit all the regional land sales and agricultural properties that have been sold with water licences and have us somehow extract from that the value of the water licence that went with the sale of that land? The question is ridiculous because it is completely …
Ms Lawrie: No, it is not.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: ‘No, it is not’. I pick up on the interjection from the member for Karama. She does not think it is a ridiculous question either, and that makes her as clever as the member for Nelson.
However, the water licence for Stylo Station was issued by the Water Controller of the Northern Territory. The decisions about that were made based on science and recommendations put through the department to the Water Controller. Stylo Station was properly issued with a water licence and that water licence has now apparently been sold along with the land.
Member for Nelson, there are no provisions within any statutes in the Northern Territory that I know of which would allow us as a government to claw back the value of a water licence that has been sold with the land. That type of thing, whether it is right or wrong or good or bad, has been going on since Adam was a boy. Every land transaction of that type with water attached to it is a similar transaction. What you are proposing is preposterous.
Deputy Chief Minister –
Release of Information to CT Group
Release of Information to CT Group
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
In response to revelations that the Deputy Chief Minister provided ‘a little early advice’ to the CT Group in regard to the expression of interest for a luxury hotel in Darwin while at the same time held discussions to purchase $570 000 worth of shares in one of their projects, the Deputy Chief Minister said:
… standard practice for government ministers is to engage with potential investors who have an interest in the Northern Territory. I sought advice (from the Chief Minister) before engaging with the CT Group and this advice was that it was acceptable practice to send basic details as an FYI.
Can you confirm that you provided such advice?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can confirm that I provide advice to many people. I even spoke to Ashley Manicaros at the NT News to put it on the front page of the paper many days before, on 22 August. I managed to put it in a media release on 22 August, eight days before the alleged conversation. It is something we do on a regular basis.
Let me explain how this works. I will give you a few examples. I have been talking about it publicly …
Mr Gunner: Were you aware of the conflict?
Mr GILES: If you could just let me answer your question, Leader of the Opposition. I know paying attention is very difficult.
The Minister for Business was sent to Hong Kong to officially talk about it at a world hotel conference before 30 August.
This happens on a range of occasions. People would know that for two years …
Ms Fyles interjecting.
Mr GILES: Member for Nightcliff, you will get your go.
People would be aware that for two or three years we spoke about a port deal before it happened.
Ms Lawrie: Rubbish!
Mr GILES: Yes, we did, check your reports. People were told …
Ms Fyles: Did you think about TIO for two or three years?
Mr GILES: Just be quiet!
People were told for a long time that we wanted to build a ship-lift facility and would put in up to $100m. That was released a long time ago, then we put out the expression of interest last week. This happens on a regular basis and we will continue to do it.
Another good example is something which is happening right now. I will give you a revelation. We are trying to get an airline from China to Darwin. It is no secret. Pretty soon we will go into negotiations with an airline. We put it out there for transparency and accountability so people will know what we are doing.
People knew we wanted to attract a major five- or six-star hotel to Darwin. I said it everywhere. I told the newspaper and issued media releases before the alleged e-mail you are talking about. This is not something new; I am talking about the plan of government.
I stress that government has a plan to build the economy in the Northern Territory, to invest in agriculture, tourism, mines and energy, and education, because we want to grow our economy and jobs.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The Chief Minister is wandering away from the question. Was he aware of the conflict, and was the advice Willem provided privately different to the advice on the public record?
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr GILES: The front page of the NT News speaks for itself, when eight days before the e-mail it was there for the world to see.
As I said, we have a plan. We will talk about our investment opportunities, attract money to the Northern Territory, grow jobs and make sure the Northern Territory continues to be the best place to live, work and play. That is our plan.
Business Policies
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for BUSINESS
Yesterday the Opposition Leader very kindly admitted the Country Liberals’ business policies are right. At the same time he refused to reveal details about his no-onshore-gas policy. What does this tell Territory workers about the shadow Business minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as the Chief Minister just said, we have a plan.
This tells ordinary Territorians that the Leader of the Opposition has a plan, which is to kill jobs and investment. Let us look at who this affects – ordinary Territorians such as fencing contractors, truck stop workers, people in the hospitality and tourism industries, pipeline contractors and those in Aboriginal communities. Many people will suffer because of this ridiculous moratorium that the Leader of the Opposition has put on gas.
All these people are part of our small business community; they are the backbone of the Territory. Now they are all second guessing what they should do about decisions they have to make. Do they upgrade their homes? Do they pay their mortgages? Do they come and go? Do they buy a new car? Do they get on with living their lives?
Sadly, all of this has been put in jeopardy. This is also the Leader of the Opposition who completely forgot to put the Business portfolio into his shadow ministry. He just forgot about business. Shame on you. That is how important it is.
The NT is said to contain the world’s largest supplies of onshore gas, enough to potentially meet Australia’s combined domestic and export needs over the next 200-plus years. A recent study commissioned by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, and produced by Deloitte Access Economics, suggests the NT may be sitting on a new gas bonanza. Is it true? It is, but it has all been put in jeopardy because of this moratorium the Leader of the Opposition insists on putting on gas.
According to Deloitte’s analysis, onshore gas in the NT could drive significant long-term economic growth, create thousands of new jobs and generate almost $0.5bn of additional government revenue each year. That is revenue the current government needs to pay off the Labor debt and the mess they left us in.
A study examined two potential growth scenarios based on the development of onshore gas for the Northern Territory: east coast and export markets from 2020 to 2040. Deloitte found that the highest growth scenario examined with a cumulative increase in gross state product could reach $22.4bn in net present value and an increase of 37%. The same growth scenario would result in long-term employment for 6300 full-time jobs in the NT and additional revenues to the NT government of up to $460m a year. What can we do with that? Put it into education and make this the knowledge state.
That is what the current Leader of the Opposition is putting in jeopardy. The Opposition Leader has to stop his weasel words and tell Territorians how long the ban will last. Last night on television he said five. What is it, five years, five months? This is an ill-conceived and irresponsible moratorium he is talking about. He needs to tell business what he will do so he can give certainty back to Northern Territory investors.
Deputy Chief Minister – CT Group
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
When did you first become aware that your Deputy Chief Minister was contemplating investing in a company with which he shared both a professional and a personal relationship? Were you aware of this conflict when you advised him to provide the tender information in advance to the CT Group? Did you at any time intervene to advise the Deputy Chief Minister that he was in breach of your Ministerial Code of Conduct and potentially in breach of the corruption and abuse of office provisions of the Northern Territory Criminal Code Act?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am aware that the Deputy Chief Minister was about to make a stupid decision, saw what was right and cancelled that decision and did not proceed.
I am also aware that we have an opposition in the Northern Territory which does not support jobs and does not have a plan for the Northern Territory going forward ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. When did he know about the Deputy Chief Minister’s conflict of interest? That is critical to this. When did he know of the conflict of interest and what advice did he give him? Did he know of the conflict of interest before he provided advice to the Deputy Chief Minister to provide advance information on a tender?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, there is no point of order. Sit down, member for Fong Lim.
The Chief Minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mr GILES: You need to get some more advice from Gino. You are getting your questions wrong, Leader of the Opposition.
I told you what I know. I told you I thought it would be the wrong transaction, but the Deputy Chief Minister saw what was right. He has made an apology and a personal statement.
A couple of weeks ago the Leader of the Opposition unveiled his great jobs plan. It was full of plagiarism, copying our business policies, our …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. It was a very direct question. The Chief Minister is refusing to answer it. When did you know?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff. The Chief Minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mr GILES: He copied our business plan, word for word. Then he said he would come out with a $1.4bn infrastructure plan. If you pick up Budget Paper No 4 and look down the bottom you will see it says the government is delivering a $1.4bn infrastructure plan’. I thought, how good is this; he is giving us an endorsement of our infrastructure plan ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. He is completely avoiding the question of when he knew about Willem’s conflict.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay. Chief Minister, if you could …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 31: offensive. I find the language from the Leader of the Opposition to be quite offensive. The fact is the Deputy Chief Minister has said there has been no conflict of interest. The Opposition Leader continues to refer to …
Madam SPEAKER: member for Fong Lim, it is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr TOLLNER: No, it is offensive language, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not offensive. There were no offensive words coming out of the Opposition Leader’s mouth.
Ms Fyles: Why will you not answer it?
Mr Barrett: Kick her out.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, you are on a warning. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: I am done.
Remote Housing Investment
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for HOUSING
As you would be aware, housing is very important to people living in remote communities. You would know that Labor failed with SIHIP and wasted a lot of money in that space. What investment has the Giles government made in remote housing so far this financial year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. We came into government with a strong plan and we are succeeding in our ambitions to improve remote housing infrastructure. We have built 439 new houses, refurbished over 474 houses and upgraded over 750 houses.
I agree with the member for Arafura that Labor led a wasteful SIHIP failure. It went to the same advisers to develop its next lot of doomed housing policies, which would also be a wasteful failure.
This financial year the Country Liberals government has completed 21 new houses in Warrawi and Minjilang, with a further 51 new houses due to be completed in Milikapiti, Galiwinku, Finke and Umbakumba. In this financial year, to 31 December 2015, 86 houses have been upgraded in Warrawi, Docker River, Areyonga, Mount Liebig, Kintore and Nyirripi, with still more due to be completed. In addition, contracts were awarded in January to upgrade 148 houses in Ampilatwatja, Tara, Amanbidji, Bulman, Bulla, Weemol, Kybrook, Peppimenarti and Belyuen.
These works are to be completed with strong local Indigenous employment. They will make communities safer and healthier to help our people live long lives. They demonstrate that the Country Liberals are working to deliver safe and secure housing for the bush.
When I visited Docker River I met a group of motivated young men who are so excited to be involved in upgrading the houses in their local communities. When I went to Mount Liebig I saw the houses, which have been completed to a high standard.
I congratulate the MacDonnell Regional Council for the excellent work it has done in its communities delivering these works. These are the ongoing positive outcomes of our government’s plan to engage Aboriginal people.
What makes us stand out is our ability to communicate with Aboriginal people, not like Labor which just uses Aboriginal people when it wants votes out of them. This is why we have made it a priority to roll out messaging in languages that people understand so they know who to go to for what issue.
The Country Liberals government has been delivering for remote communities. We have a record of building and upgrading houses. Over 86 upgrades have been completed so far this year, with more to come. Contracts will be awarded in the other communities as well, which is great for them to see that government cares about the bush, remote housing and remote people, not only when it is election time.
The opposition had 11 years and did nothing for the people in remote communities.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Aboriginal Affairs Strategy –
Plans for Arnhem
Plans for Arnhem
Ms LEE to CHIEF MINISTER
I have looked at your Aboriginal affairs strategy document and can see that a lot of what you are doing is about economic development for Aboriginal people, particularly in the bush. We hear a lot about what has been happening in the Tiwi Islands with land leases, wood chipping and ferry services. What is your government doing for my electorate and my people, who are most deserving as well?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. It is a question about infrastructure and what we are building. The Aboriginal affairs strategy was launched …
Ms Fyles: Maybe you could table the agreement between you and the member for Arnhem.
Mr GILES: It was not your question. Is there any chance you could be quiet so I can answer the member for Arnhem?
One big part of the Aboriginal affairs strategy is about creating an enabling environment and building infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges and telecommunications. We want to do that across the Territory to make sure we connect people, businesses and communities, and give them better access.
You would probably be aware of what we call a $50m program for telecommunications, partnered with Telstra. About $45m to $47m is being spent to connect communities such as Umbakumba. It is about $8m to get fibre optics to Umbakumba so communities have telecommunications. Bulman and Weemol will also be connected from Umbakumba.
Right now a health centre at Ngukurr is being built at a cost of about $5.9m. That is a joint venture partnership between the Yugal Mangi Corporation and Probuild NT. That is one of our new policy initiatives. We are also working on the Roper and Wilton River bridges to see how many jobs we can get in that construction. We are also working to build an extra 7.3 km in the lead-up to some of the bridges at the Roper and Wilton River crossings.
I can also advise that we have a range of works, particularly in the area of major projects, to the tune of about $7m. That includes rebuilding Milingimbi School. I know your electorate is changing and Milingimbi and Ramingining will not be included at the next election. However, right now Milingimbi and Ramingining are having school rebuilds along with Angurugu and Umbakumba trade trading centres, and a new health centre at Numbulwar has been announced.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 241. Will the minister table the agreement he is reading from between him and the member for Arnhem?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, are they notes you wish to table or private notes?
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I am reading sections from a report. I am not tabling it.
There is the Numbulwar health centre and we are working out some transport access at Ramingining. I have already mentioned the health clinic, plus we are looking at some culverts on the Umbakumba Road, doing something on the Numbulwar Road and seeking to construct a floodway on the Central Arnhem Road, which is part of your electorate. A lot of infrastructure is being built which will provide a greater level of access and immunity.
I want to see the highest number of jobs in that area going to Aboriginal people.
There is a range of other things happening, including Department of Business investments in Ngukurr and Numbulwar, just to name a couple. Many things are happening in the area and I am happy to give you a briefing. We can give you a lot more information. Thank you very much for your assistance. On my next visit I will be happy to take you there.
Infrastructure Development –
Government and Private Sector
Government and Private Sector
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Earlier in Question Time I asked the Minister for Infrastructure about the Northern Territory infrastructure investment in Palmerston. There is no question we have had significant infrastructure investment, including $57m in roads packages, tens of millions of dollars in school upgrades, the new Bellamack special school and Palmerston hospital, just to name a few. It is also true that our government has facilitated investment in Palmerston and the whole Northern Territory by the private sector.
Can you please detail how the government and the private sector are investing in new infrastructure to keep the Territory moving ahead?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale, a passionate advocate of as much money as possible going into Palmerston. But it is a challenge balancing it out. We just heard from the member for Arnhem. There is about $70m worth of infrastructure going into your electorate right now, member for Arnhem.
Throughout Question Time today you have heard ministers talk about their portfolio areas. We heard there is about $1.5bn in infrastructure being spent right now. That is a new number for the Leader of the Opposition to update his infrastructure plan with.
During that time, minister Chandler, the Minister for Infrastructure, highlighted the road and education projects occurring throughout the Northern Territory, such as the Palmerston special school; the Tiger Brennan Drive duplication; the upgrade to the Roper Highway, in the member for Arnhem’s electorate; and the Larapinta Child and Family Centre in the electorate of Braitling.
We have not spoken today about the work occurring at the Palmerston hospital. The member for Drysdale held up an illustration before. She held up this one, which shows a range of columns which are going into the ground right now at Palmerston hospital. There was a previous one, which was this one; illustrated at the front is the famous piece of concrete which was covered up by a bit of dirt. I am reliably informed that all those bits of concrete, once they were poured, were covered up with dirt; that is one of the construction techniques. But that is another matter.
We heard the Minister for Housing talk about the range of housing investments occurring across the Northern Territory. Minister Higgins spoke about the sporting infrastructure we are building. Without wanting to sell anybody short, I chimed in at the start and spoke about private investment in the Northern Territory. I will not talk about the mums, dads and individuals who are getting home loans and building houses in suburbs like Zuccoli, Muirhead, Katherine East and Kilgariff. I will not talk about that or the $300m going into an enormous shopping centre at Palmerston.
I will talk about the small businesses. There are small businesses opening and expanding across the Northern Territory. That is a sign that there is business confidence in the Northern Territory. Whether that is a new restaurant at the waterfront, a new shop in that new development at Coolalinga or the possible establishment of an expansion business in Tennant Creek should the Country Liberals be elected and allow the pipeline to be built and the gas industry developed, these things are happening because people have confidence in the Country Liberals.
That is because we are a party which supports jobs, business and investment, unlike the Labor Party, which is full of union hacks and does not support people working in the private sector. Shame on them! We have a plan and we will continue to build jobs for the Northern Territory.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek some clarification from you in relation to Standing Order 31, which says:
- All imputations of improper motives to a Member and all personal reflections on other Members will be considered highly disorderly unless discussed during moving of and debate on a substantive motion alleging misconduct by that Member.
It is the standing order that refers to offensive and disorderly words. I am curious whether that standing order suggests we should not be alleging misconduct by a member unless by way of a substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your question, member for Fong Lim? Standing Order 31 is what it says.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, that is right, but you will recall I raised Standing Order 31 in relation to an allegation of misconduct by the Deputy Chief Minister and it was ruled as not applying. I am curious when that rule would apply and what we are and are not allowed to accuse others of in this Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, the standing order says a member must not use offensive words. The member’s question included words which I did not believe to be offensive. The Chief Minister, or whoever the minister was being asked the question, did not say they found them offensive. Members generally have no issue coming forward if they find something offensive.
I recall that the question being asked by the member on the cross benches was in order, but if you like I will get a rushed Hansard copy to see what the Opposition Leader asked and then make the ruling.
Mr TOLLNER: It was more in relation to the imputations of improper motives to a member. That is a standing order.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I will get a rushed copy of the Hansard, make a ruling and answer your question at a later time when there is nothing before the Chair.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016