2015-08-26
Government – Results
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Since the last parliamentary sittings your former senior adviser has been charged with corruption. You have lost another member to the cross-bench. You have lost control of the parliament. Another government minister is considering his future and your ministers, particularly the Attorney-General and the Treasurer, are constantly derailing the government’s agenda through outrageous comments and media forays.
Do you admit the infighting, division, and lack of respect for each other and Territorians has paralysed your government and is damaging business, development and the good government of the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, since the last parliamentary sittings a couple of other things have happened. Fuel prices are the lowest in the country. Fuel prices in the Top End are at about 134.9c. You could probably get a discount rate of $1.28. The cheapest fuel in the country has been a change since the last parliament.
We have also seen change in the results of labour force participation rates, being 76.3%, the highest in the country. People who are working, looking for work or in training – what else have we seen since the last parliamentary sittings? We are leading the nation on growth at 4.5%, with an average of 4% in the forward estimates. A gross state product of $21.2bn has come about since the last parliamentary sittings. Unemployment rates have been released. We are the smallest jurisdiction population-wise with about 250 000 people and we have an unemployment rate of 4.2%, leading the nation.
The prices of houses and units in the Northern Territory have come down to the value of about 10% to 20% in the Northern Territory because we are increasing supply to meet demand. You would all know, just as everyone in this Chamber does, 6500 new blocks of land are being released over the next 10 years ensuring supply meets demand. These results have all come out since the last parliamentary sittings.
These are the positive things Territorians want us to talk about because there is one very important thing in our society which drives the Northern Territory, which is jobs. We have come from the paradigm of an enormous Labor debt of $5.5bn and a deficit of more than $1bn, and we have more than halved the Labor debt, removed the deficit, invested in infrastructure and created jobs not only in Darwin, but right across the Territory.
We launched our economic development strategy, diversifying our economy. We have high growth in the amount of new dwellings we are constructing on land we are releasing. We have downward pressure on prices. We also have the lowest unemployment in the country combined with the highest labour force participation. Above all else we have the lowest CPI growth in the country of 0.2%. While everything is going up in relation to growth, the cost of inflation is going down. We are in an enviable place to be jurisdictionally in the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
China-Australia Fair Trade Agreement – Impacts on Tourism
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you outline what impact Labor and its union mates attack on the China Free Trade Agreement has had on tourism in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for that question. It is a disgraceful slur by Labor and the unions, attacking Chinese investors in this nation.
In the last answer I spoke about our performance to date. We have seen outstanding results since the last parliamentary sittings in regard to the tourism sector. The member for Greatorex, the former Tourism minister, spent much time and effort investing in a new tourism economy – targets of $2.2bn by 2020. We are well on track to achieve, succeed and advance on that, but we are putting a great deal of focus on tourism.
We get about 15 000 Chinese tourists a year to the Northern Territory, which is far below anywhere else in the nation. We have been working to build on that. We inherited very low tourism numbers from the former Labor government. We have set targets of 30 000 Chinese tourists by 2020. I believe we will beat that.
What does it say when Chinese tourists come to the Northern Territory and this red rag is being waved at them by Labor and the unions, saying, ‘Chinese are not welcome in the Northern Territory’? What does it say to the 4800 Territorians who are Chinese, or of Chinese descent, in the Northern Territory to whom Labor and the unions are saying, ‘You are not welcome here’? Where will you stop? You are targeting the Chinese.
The member for Arafura asked the question. Currently, a Singapore company is investing in the Tiwi Islands. Will you start to attack the Singaporeans, or the Thai people who recently purchased the lan Soho Suites Hotel in town, or the Malaysians who own the Lasseters Casino in Alice Springs, or the Kiwis who own the casino in Darwin? Where will you stop?
You wave that red flag at a time we are trying to increase Chinese tourism, and you have advertisements on television, digital campaigns and flyers in the letterbox attacking Chinese people. The Lord Mayor of Darwin is of Chinese heritage, but you are attacking the Chinese. It is a disgraceful approach. I am not surprised the Labor opposition takes racial approaches. You have done it before, you will do it again. Your attack on Chinese Territorians, Chinese Australians and Chinese investors is disgraceful. You should apologise and call your mates in Canberra to stop these Labor union campaigns and give some respect back to Chinese Territorians who deserve respect.
Police Numbers – Information from Chief Minister
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
It is clear there is a communication breakdown between you and the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister said:
- What we’ve done, we’ve put 120 extra police into the force in the Northern Territory and that’s helped us get more police on the frontline …
At that time I was with you at the NT Police Association AGM, where you said the goal of 120 new police has not been achieved yet. You were right; the government has not yet recruited 120 extra police. Did the Chief Minister get it wrong because the two of you do not talk, or does he make stuff up?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question. We were having a chat before, were we not, Chief? We talk all the time.
Mr Gunner: So he makes it up?
Mr CHANDLER: No, not at all. Let me clarify a couple of things. It is true; there are about 84 additional police officers in the force at the moment. One commitment this Giles government made was to include $8.7m in this year’s budget to ensure we met the 120 additional police officers.
There are a couple of things we need to make sure Territorians are fully aware of. There was another commitment made; at the moment a number of police officers are funded directly from the federal government. This government has made a commitment that should funding from the federal government ever cease, we would keep those numbers the same. We will back that. That means not only do we get the additional 120 police, we get all the police officers funded by the federal government.
Many of the policies we are working on today, paperless arrests being one of them, have more police on the beat than ever before. Everyone talks about the 120 police, and we are committed to it so it will happen, but nobody says that under the Giles government we have more police officers on the street. The Chief Minister was referring to the fact we have far more than 120 police officers on the street because of policies like paperless arrests.
Labor wants to take the police officers off the front line and put them behind a desk. Territorians want their police officers on the beat. They want them in the field protecting Territorians, as they do every day in the Territory. Labor wants to put them behind a desk and add to the bureaucracy and processes, rather than have them on the street.
The 120 is a commitment and they will be in place. The $8.7m has been included in this budget. There are far more police officers on the street today because of the Giles government’s policies, and that is where Territorians want them. We have seen records being broken in the Territory with crime going down. Look at some of the results in domestic violence, with the amount of alcohol being taken out of the equation in places like Tennant Creek Alice Springs and Katherine.
Territorians want their police on the street, which they are, but if you listen to Labor they should all be sitting behind a desk filling out paperwork instead of protecting Territorian’s lives.
Education – Independent Public Schools
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Today it was announced that a further six schools will become independent public schools at the start of 2016. I was thrilled to learn that Durack Primary School in my electorate is becoming an IPS. I congratulate Graham Mauger, the Chairperson of the school council, and Sheila Delahay, the school principal, as well as the entire school council and community, and teachers and staff on this wonderful achievement.
Can you please outline to the House what this means for the successful Territory schools.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it was fantastic to announce this. I visited a couple of schools last week and I knew what the results were. They were all talking about how excited they were about independent public schools and the fact they had applied and went through the process. Those members on the other side are delusional if they do not think people are excited because of independent public schools.
The differences have been made in the schools already. There were six last year. These guys pioneered; they took on the challenge of independent public school status.
On the back of ill-information being fed through by the Labor members, they continually trash education in the Territory. It is so wrong. Spreading rumours like schools being closed and other horrible things – guess what? No schools have closed. All the things they have said are wrong. We have turned education in the Territory on its head. It is heading in the right direction. Establishing independent public schools is one of the initiatives of this government, changing the way we do things in education and putting the decision-making back where it should be, which is in the schools. If you guys ever had any connection to a school and school councils, you would know they have been calling for that.
They want to make decisions. They want to know they can get access to the chief executive not through a regional director or a bureaucracy, but directly with any of the initiatives they want. Why do they want this? Because, like a lot of people, they are fed up with bureaucracy and government taking too long to make decisions. They now have the power for two things: autonomy provided through the budgets to do what they want with; and the schools which have taken on the independent public school status are on equal, if not better, footing with our private sector schools.
Darwin High School is the leading high school in the Northern Territory. Is it a private school? No, it is not; it is a public school. Our public schools should be just as good, if not better. Territorians deserve our public school system to be the best it can be, and the independent status given to these schools can do that. It is welcomed in the community. Do yourself a favour and sit down with some of the schools that have gone through it; there were six last year. Ask them why they wanted to go through the process this year.
Travel – Approval for Ministers
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Not only did the Chief Minister contradict you on police numbers, he also contradicted you on ministerial travel. In an interview on ABC television on 30 July, the Chief Minister said:
- The minister is the one who determines where the travel should be, the process of travel, the expenditure, and final sign-off for overseas ministerial travel is with the chief-of-staff.
In the same news bulletin you said:
- The process today, of course, is we have to take any travel to Cabinet [and] ultimately it’s signed off by the Chief Minister.
With regard to ministerial travel approvals, did the Chief Minister get it wrong and say something different from you because you two do not talk to each other, or does he make stuff up?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, you will probably think I am being smart with this answer but both are correct because the Chief Minister was talking about an old process. Recently the Chief Minister introduced a process where all ministerial travel now – any minister who wants to travel overseas – needs Cabinet approval. Both answers were correct. At that time, the Chief Minister was talking about a process and I was talking about a process at a different time. That is all there is. It is a good process because Territorians expect accountability. It brings for us, as a Cabinet, an understanding of what other ministers are up to.
We often get into our stovepipes and are focused on our portfolios. Even when you step out of one portfolio – I miss Lands and Planning – you quickly lose sight of what is going on in that portfolio because you do not have the same stovepipe process you once had.
Now that international travel goes to Cabinet, it can be good to find out what minister Styles, the Chief Minister or the minister for Primary Industry are up to when they go overseas and deliver for Territorians.
If anything has come out of the recent travel stories, it is that we have a better system in place now because Cabinet is involved in the decision-making and approves a good spend of Territorians’ money. That is the nub of the question. Yes, ministers need to travel. We should make sure the money spent on travel is spent the best way possible, so Territorians are getting good bang for their buck.
When Labor was in government members travelled and I applaud that. Ministers in this government do also. You need to travel, whether that is to Alice Springs or across the Territory. The remote communities I have had the privilege to visit put a whole new focus on decisions made in this place.
It is important to travel. It helps decision-making and makes sure governments are well connected wherever they are, whether it is in the country with our state colleagues or overseas. I know about the good work many of the ministers are doing. I was talking to minister Styles the other day about the work he has been doing in China, and the goals that will be kicked now and into the future for the Northern Territory. I am sure whoever has the privilege of being in the government of the Northern Territory in 20 or 30 years from now will continue to travel, and I applaud them for doing that. Especially with our Asian relations, it is important we remain open and accountable to them, and work hard to build those relationships.
Oil and Gas Development in the NT
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
It never ceases to amaze me, as I travel the length and breadth of the Northern Territory, the excitement there is for the resources sector and what this government has done since it was elected in 2012, led by the Deputy Chief Minister at one stage, the member for Fong Lim, and by the Chief Minister, especially in light of last night’s SEAAOC conference in the main hall of Parliament House. What excitement there was in the main hall about the way this government is leading the resources sector in the Territory. Never before have they seen such a willingness to develop the Northern Territory.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Is this a statement or a question?
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order. The member has plenty of time to ask his question.
Mr CONLAN: Can the Chief Minister outline what the government is doing to manage the way oil and gas is developed in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I must apologise to the member for Greatorex as I did not know he was in the audience at the welcome drinks last night in Parliament House. It was a vibrant crowd, 500 people I am told. Everyone was excited about the mining and resource opportunities in the Northern Territory.
For those who are not aware, the Northern Territory contains anywhere above 200 trillion cubic feet of onshore gas. We had 30 trillion cubic feet of conventional gas in offshore deposits. To put that in comparison, INPEX has around 14 trillion cubic feet of gas.
How we manage gas development in the Northern Territory is very important. The Northern Territory has been powered by gas for many a long year, with hydraulic fracturing occurring first in 1967 in Mereenie, Central Australia. It powered the Northern Territory for many years until recently when we went to Blacktip through Eni. The top half of the Territory is now pretty much powered through Eni and Blacktip, and the bottom half through Santos and Central Petroleum through Palm Valley and Mereenie.
A report which was released today by Deloitte Access Economics found that potential development of the shale gas industry in the Northern Territory can lead to an additional 6300 jobs minimum, and $1bn revenue for the Territory. What we do with that gas and how we extract it is very important. For a long time we have had a robust regulatory environment which has seen gas developments operate in Mereenie and Palm Valley. They are still operating today, but as we go towards more onshore gas development we are working to ensure we have strength and rigor in relation to the environmental regulatory process.
Today I had the opportunity of launching new guiding principles, setting about how onshore oil and gas in industry should operate. These principles were put in place while a comprehensive review of the existing regulations was being undertaken. The guiding principles for onshore gas development address a range of areas, including well design, construction and operation, water management, land access, community and social impacts, rehabilitation and decommissioning, along with a number of other issues.
These principles were released as a draft for consultation in April and what was released today incorporates a lot of feedback on how we support the industry and environment. I encourage everyone to get on board and look at those guidelines. I also encourage Labor to set forth their policy position because they speak with a forked tongue. The member for Johnston says he wants to see a stop of all onshore gas drilling, development and production, which puts the Northern Territory in a perilous state, especially for those living in Tennant Creek, Alice and Yulara. I want to see Labor’s formal position.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Coolalinga Intersection – Road Works
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Once again, there have been a number of car accidents on the Stuart Highway outside the United service station at Coolalinga. These occurred on the weekend and last week. Some years ago, your department exhibited plans for upgrading that intersection and still nothing has happened, even though we have so much development on the northern side of Coolalinga, as the Kmart/Coles development is occurring.
Can you tell us when the intersection will be upgraded, and why nothing has happened so far? Surely the government must do something now before someone is killed or injured, which has happened already at that intersection.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for the question. It is good to see some development in the rural area around Coolalinga.
The department has completed a preliminary planning study, investigating traffic management works to improve road safety on the highway and provide accessibility to the existing businesses and future land developments in the area. The scope of the works has been identified and the preliminary concept design has been prepared.
This concept design is subject to wider consultation with the stakeholders in the area, which is important. The proposed scope of the project suggests the following traffic management works: close the median opening in front of United fuel, which will help to remove ongoing road safety issues at this access point; construct a new signalised intersection on the Stuart Highway, approximately 250 m north of the United fuel station; and extend the service roads to connect them with the new intersection.
These access arrangements will provide efficient access to the existing businesses and future developments in the area. They will also rationalise existing access to the north-west of the business precinct. Consultation will occur with stakeholders including existing businesses, the Litchfield Council and the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment. According to a five-year crash history, from 2010-14 there were four reported crashes at the United fuel station. Out of these four crashes, two caused injury. The proposed signalised intersection is important to provide efficient access to the proposed shopping centre and alleviate traffic congestion on the Stuart Highway/Girraween Road intersection.
The department liaised closely with the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment during the concept plans. Early works suggest it will cost about $6m to complete the job. There will be some up-and-coming consultation in the area, especially with landholders as well as businesses in the area. At this stage it is likely the department will submit a capital works bid in the 2016-17 budget.
Hydraulic Fracturing – Moratorium
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
Can you explain the possible impact of Labor’s plan for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. It is a confusing question in some regards because it is about Labor’s moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. The Chief Minister is of the view that this has occurred. I will get to that in a minute.
I want to back the Chief Minister’s earlier comments about the importance of gas drilling in the Northern Territory as well as his comments in relation to the Deloitte Access Economics report which was recently released. It examined the potential of shale gas out to 2040. As the Chief Minister said, it will create more than 6000 jobs across the Territory. Gross state product could exceed $22bn from gas extraction alone and it will improve revenues to government by more than $1bn. As the Chief Minister announced on Monday at the Chamber of Commerce PRBA lunch, all that money will go towards funding education for Territorians, whether it be skills-based or higher education-based. Fantastic stuff.
Labor’s spokesman for employment, Brendan O’Connor, told the ABC exactly what the Chief Minister said, that fracking has been happening for more than 40 years in the Northern Territory. He said that is where the NT’s future jobs will come from. His support for hydraulic fracturing is backed by federal Labor’s last two Resources ministers, both Gary Gray and Martin Ferguson.
Federal Labor supports gas drilling in the Northern Territory; that is a fact. Labor is a national organisation run from Canberra. I was somewhat bemused when I read in the Centralian Advocate that the member for Johnston was saying Territory Labor will put a moratorium on gas drilling. I scratch my head because, as we know, Labor is a national organisation with national policies and this does not fit that mould. What is Labor’s position? Are you for it or against it?
I have always thought we need a bipartisan approach to this. I encourage Labor to get on board in the Territory, listen to the federal spokesmen and industry, look at the report by Deloitte Access Economics and let us act responsibly for what is in the best interests of Territorians now and in the future.
Palmerston Hospital Delay
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
You threw a Cabinet book at the head of former Chief Minister, Terry Mills, in a Cabinet meeting because you did not want a hospital at Palmerston. The member for Araluen said:
- That created a lot of tension within Cabinet. A lot of tension between him and I, and obviously Terry Mills and Dave.
…
It really held up things for the best part of a year.
Do you agree with the member for Araluen that you were the reason Palmerston hospital was held up for the best part of a year? Is this the reason the people of Palmerston are still waiting for a hospital?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I agree with our Minister for Health. He is doing a fantastic job in delivering an election commitment to deliver a new hospital in Palmerston. He has announced it and roadworks are happening. If you drive past that site, you can see things are happening. Territorians know things are happening.
The only threat is members opposite. We saw that yesterday when they almost unintentionally killed off the Palmerston hospital deal. It was sad to see, but we on this side of the Chamber are supportive of putting the Palmerston hospital in place. It has not been held up in any way shape or form.
I speak on behalf of all my colleagues; we make no apologies for taking our time in relation to the development of the Palmerston hospital. When we came to government, the site the former government had selected was in the wrong place. It left no opportunity for growth. This government minister has been up hill and down dale looking at different models of the way the hospital will be developed.
I pay tribute to the former Health minister because she had a damn good look at the best way to deliver the Palmerston hospital. We make no excuses for taking our time to ensure this is delivered on budget and on time. Honestly, it will be. Mark my words; we have a Health minister who is doing a damn good job.
We are not late. This is a fantastic news story for Territorians. We are working towards delivering and we are ahead of schedule. Last week I was in Canberra at the Treasurers’ conference. I got there a day early so I could swan around Parliament House, keep my ear to the ground, and understand what was going on and how it might impact on the Territory. I ran into my old friend and colleague, Hon Sussan Ley, who is now the federal Health minister. She came and slapped me on the back and said, ‘Dave, pass my congratulations on to John Elferink. He is doing a fantastic job delivering the Palmerston hospital. We are more than happy with how he is doing his job.’
Red CentreNATS – Visit to Darwin
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
I will disclose that I have an interest in the Red CentreNATS coming up because there is a good looking green EH ute there that will be shown, and subsequent to that I am planning to make it my new electorate car. I want to know, as would everybody else in here, about the Red CentreNATS event. Can you tell us what it will mean for the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for the question. I am not sure which green ute you are referring to but I will be very happy to come for a drive with you. The Red CentreNATS event is another tourist opportunity for the Northern Territory which we have sought to create by filling many elements of the calendar. This event is based in Alice Springs, where the Northern Territory government has partnered with the Summernats in Canberra to deliver a motorsports extravaganza from 3 to 6 September.
Originally we were working on a five-year model, signing a one-year agreement to see how it goes first off. The member for Blain asked about detail. In the first year we sought to get anywhere between 80 and 100 cars to iron out some creases and see how we would go the following year. To date we have seen a high level of interest domestically, within the Territory, and interstate. As of last count we have had about 397 registrations, which is above expectations. We expect it to be a very good event with concerts, burn out competitions and those types of things that happen with the Summernats. I encourage everybody to get there and see that.
This is one of the things we are doing to support tourism in the Northern Territory. It is about promoting events through the Do the NT campaign nationally, then promoting those events internationally. Whether it is the Beer Can Regatta, the V8 Supercars, the Red CentreNATS, the Henley-on-Todd Regatta, the Darwin Festival where we provided $1.3m, or the Alice Desert Festival this month, these are all things designed to support a high level of participation by Territorians and attract tourists. Whether you look towards the AFL games with the Melbourne Demons, the Parramatta Eels, Adelaide United, our investment into the velodrome around the corner, the Davis Cup or the cricket tour match, this is about making sure there are events every weekend so Territorians can get involved. Tourists then support our tourism and hospitality industries, which represent about 17% of all employees in the Northern Territory. It is important to have continuity of events.
While I am talking about that, it has always been, and still is, a challenge in the Top End to hold events in the Wet Season, which I think is the best season. The Million Dollar Fish competition we launched is designed to get people to the Top End between October and February. It starts on 1 October and we have had more than 20 000 registrations, with about 3500 from the Territory. That is 16 500 registrations from interstate who will be filling our hotels, pubs and tourist attractions, supporting jobs in the Wet Season. That is a fantastic outcome for industry and the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Health Policy
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for HEALTH
Last week you attacked some of the most vulnerable and respected in our community with your comments that we should cease caring for elderly and sick Territorians. The Chief Minister was forced to distance himself from your comments, as was the Education minister. Is this not another example of the government’s policy divisions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am sorry if I said anything that has caused concern to Territorians. The Hippocratic Oath is clear in relation to therapeutic nihilism and my comments were made in that context. However, health budgets across this country and across the OECD will be challenged going into the future.
Yesterday I received advice from my Health department that there will be an increase in renal dialysis demand in the Northern Territory of 40% by the year 2023, which is eight years’ time. There are other demands, such as the demands of FASD, of which we have received a report in this parliament. That will also drive demands going into the future.
I have made a critical error as a politician; I have looked beyond the electoral cycle and wondered what will happen in two or three electoral cycles. I have also committed the critical sin of expressing my concern about what will happen in that direction. I said we need to have a conversation. That conversation has now commenced and there are many clinicians. Rolf Gerritsen, an economist, has also made several observations. The federal Health minister has made comments in relation to the risk and exposure that we have for federal health funding going forward. We need to plan for the future in eight, 10 or 15 years’ time because …
Members interjecting.
Ms Fyles: That is you planning for the future, is it?
Mr ELFERINK: If we are not prepared to have the conversation without hysteria then we are not having a conversation.
I am sorry the members opposite have been enabled of an opportunity to frighten people and put the cat amongst the pigeons because I have raised a serious issue. I am not expressing Northern Territory government concerns. I am expressing the concerns of a Health minister as to how we will cope with increasing demand going forward. To that end, we need to have a conversation. Let us have a sober, sensible conversation because it will not affect us in the next four years, but it will start affecting us in the next eight years. If we are not ready in 15 years’ time, the choices needing to be made then will be made in an unfair and hurried way. Let us be sober and sensible, and let us plan a pathway forward to enable us to cope with future health demands.
Fishing Awards
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
I have a keen interest in protecting our unique Territory lifestyle and in doing so I like to maintain a strong relationship with AFANT and the Palmerston Game Fishing Club. They do an excellent job fostering junior participation in fishing and growing recreational fishing opportunities for Territorians. Can the minister please update the House on the inaugural Northern Territory Recreational Fishing Awards?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. She is quite right in her preamble when she said she has a strong interest in fishing and maintains a very good relationship with AFANT and her local fishing clubs.
It gives me great pleasure to update the House on this wonderful initiative by the Country Liberals government. For the first time ever, this year we will have our very own recreational fishing awards. The Country Liberals made this an election commitment in 2012 and we have delivered upon it. That goes to the bigger picture of the approximately 98% of all election commitments made by the Country Liberals which have been fulfilled. This event recognises individuals and organisations for their contribution to the conservation, restoration and enhancement of the Territory’s recreational fisheries and their habitat.
We have worked closely with AFANT to get this event off the ground. Around 32 000 recreational anglers use Territory waterways annually and the industry is worth some $80m a year to our economy. The Northern Territory government is proud to support this inaugural event. The Recreational Fishing Award categories are individual awards; youth under 21; fishing tourism operator, which includes lodge, charter boat or guided fishing operators; media fishing, which includes writer, personality or show; a fishing competition; a Territory’s top fisher/researcher; and a fishing art award.
This much anticipated event is a wonderful way to recognise the contribution the recreational fishing industry makes to the Territory. Fishing in the Territory is world renowned. We have a unique environment and an enviable lifestyle and it is great to celebrate that. The Northern Territory Recreational Fishing Awards 2015 will be held at Parliament House on 5 September. I certainly look forward to updating the House on the winners of those awards as they come to fruition.
This government recognises the importance the recreational fishing sector makes to the Territory. It is a key part of our tourism drive for the Territory; it generates dollars all over the place and this government is supporting recreational fishing right across the Northern Territory to make sure we maintain the very best fisheries in Australia.
Home Owner Grants
Mrs LAMBLEY to TREASURER
On 1 January this year you changed the rules for the First Home Owner Grant applying to Alice Springs. The guidelines now only allow for new homes defined as:
- … a home that has not been previously occupied or sold as a place of residence …
This is causing considerable concern across the Alice Springs community. Over the past seven months, from 1 January to 31 July 2015, how many first home owners have received grant money in the bank in Alice Springs? How does this compare to the same seven months of the previous year from 1 January to 31 July 2014. I am happy for this question to be taken on notice.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for that question. I will have to get back to you with the exact figures. I understand that people are concerned about how the First Home Owner Grant was changed to only be available for new constructions.
I have heard it, as have a number of my colleagues and those on the other side of the Chamber. The reason for that change has proven itself. We were very concerned about the First Home Owner Grant going into existing buildings because it did nothing but increase inflationary pressure on house prices.
We listened to people, acted and changed that grant to go to new constructions only. Since then we have seen a flattening of house prices. We have seen rents come down and housing has become more affordable. We have seen that because of two things, the changes to the grant and the strong land release program we have introduced as a government. We make no apologies for that. When we came to government there was a housing and accommodation crisis, the worst in the Territory’s history, and it is something we had to do.
Mr Giles: The worst in the country.
Mr TOLLNER: As the Chief Minister just said, the worst in the country. House prices are levelling off and things have become much more affordable. Petrol prices have gone down and cost-of-living concerns are not the same as when we came to government. We now have the lowest CPI in the nation. That is such an achievement because, generally, when you fast-growing economies you also have fast-rising inflation. It stands to reason. There is more growth, therefore there is more demand. Supply cannot keep up with demand and prices go up. We have performed almost a miracle in this regard because whilst we have grown the economy, we have managed to reduced CPI and bring down the cost of living.
Nobody is getting First Home Owner Grants on existing houses, but the number of first home owners has not decreased because of our changes to that grant. Whilst I understand people have concerns about the grant not being available for existing houses, it has done what it was meant to achieve, which is reduce inflationary pressures in the housing market and make life more affordable for Territorians.
Member for Araluen, I will get the exact numbers to you.
Mrs Lambley: Are taking the question on notice?
Mr TOLLNER: No, I am not taking it on notice. I have said I will get you those figures so you can look at them.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, can you give an indication of what time you can get the figures, such as by the end of Question Time today?
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, I have given an undertaking to get the figures.
Fine Enforcement Measures
Mr BARRETT to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and JUSTICE
Can you please provide an update on the new fine enforcement measures that will be implemented by the Fines Recovery Unit?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, last night we passed legislation that will soon go to the Administrator for assent, which will enable the Northern Territory government to more stridently pursue the outstanding fines in our community. There are currently some $58m worth of fines, with some 63 000 fine defaulters attached to those fines. A total of 666 of those defaulters have fines in excess of $10 000.
As a government, we must acknowledge if a person racks up $10 000 worth of fines, they must, at some point or other, have decided to abandon their duty to make good their failures as citizens of our jurisdiction. As a consequence of that, over the past years we have offered a number of ways for people to deal with their fines if they find themselves in environments of hardship. Those fines systems include telling people if they are having trouble paying their fines. For goodness’ sake, see the Fines Recovery Unit. We will find a way for you to pay it off over time, or we will make good some sort of community service to cut out fines that way.
Some people do not care because they have racked up over $10 000 worth of fines. As a consequence of that, yesterday we passed legislation which enabled, amongst other things, a naming and shaming of a person in the public domain. If there are people, such as people in the public service, who have more than $10 000 worth of fines – and sadly one person we dealt with recently was in that boat – that is one way we can ensure people start paying their fines to the community.
The second way is the seizure of property and holding that property in abeyance until such time as those fines are paid off. The other option is wheel clamping cars. Our system will allow, by bailiffs or other means, the clamping of people’s wheels until such time as they pay their fines.
Under the old system, which still exists, a warrant of commitment was issued and you can be arrested for non-payment of fines. Alternatively, rather than arresting you we can arrest your car. This is because we are a government that responds to challenges in the area of crime, no matter where it is on the scale.
The solution of the members opposite is to send them a letter. They will send a letter to those with $10 000 worth of fines. What do you think they will do with that letter? Once again, we can see Labor’s attitude of being soft on crime. If you commit a murder, under the Labor Party you will get a stern letter, possibly even an e-mail, because the members opposite have only one solution, which is to send a letter.
Maybe it should be a stern letter; maybe it should be a letter written in font size 14 in Comic Sans MS. Sooner or later you have to say to a person, ‘You are wrong; we will take action against you.’ You will never get that from the Labor Party.
Coronial Inquiry – Comments
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for HOUSING
In relation to a recent coronial inquiry the Attorney-General made incredibly disrespectful comments about a constituent in your community, respected artist Mr Langdon. He said Mr Langdon would have died:
- … a free man in the gutter.
He also said he was on a taxpayer-fuelled holiday.
These comments are so disrespectful of a person who has died that your Chief Minister has distanced himself from them. Do you support the Attorney-General’s comments or do you, like the Chief Minister, distance yourself from them?
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: I do not think this has anything to do with the Minister for Housing.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, member for Fong Lim!
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This does not fall in the purview of the minister’s portfolio. This is not a Housing question, it is a Health question and I am happy to answer it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Casuarina, you addressed your question to the Minister for Housing. Please rephrase your question.
Ms MOSS: I understand the gentleman was homeless. I am asking about a homeless member of our community, so the question is directed to the Minister for Housing.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you may answer the question if you so choose.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is outright rude.
Ms Walker: Do you have a view on this?
Mrs PRICE: Yes, I have, because he happens to be my cousin’s husband. How dare they ask me that question, knowing I cannot speak on it? It is not fun; it is not a political football. You do not know how you are affecting that family by raising this here.
Chinese Safari Park – Establishment of a Territory Zone
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for ASIAN ENGAGEMENT and TRADE
The minister has been doing a fabulous job promoting the Northern Territory. One of the successes from your recent overseas trip to China was an expression of interest from the owner of one of the world’s largest eco-safari parks. This individual wants to design and build a multimillion-dollar Territory zone in one of their new safari parks in China. That sounds very exciting and I was wondering if you can elaborate on that for us in the House today.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I do not know whether the opposition wants to hear good news, but more good news is coming from government. This is what happens when you travel and engage people. That is what Asian Engagement and Trade is all about. It is sad you did not take a leaf out of the previous CLP government’s book, when Shane Stone and Marshall Perron sent ministers overseas all the time.
This is one of a number of successes that have come out of a trip we took to Singapore, Malaysia, China, Macau and Hong Kong. I took with me the message that this Country Liberal government is open for business and the Territory is looking for foreign investment for joint ventures and people who want to come here and create economic growth.
I met with about 200 potential investors in six stops over six days. There is a lot to follow up and we have undertaken a great deal since our return.
Whilst in China we met with a gentleman by the name of Mr Su Zhigang, who is head of the Chime Long Group in China. He is one of the wealthiest people in China, and at the end of our meeting he offered us a Territory zone built in one of his new safari parks in China at his expense, showing what the Territory has to offer. He is very impressed; he has been to the Territory and thinks it is a world-class destination. The response we got from him was fantastic.
Millions of tourists visit his facilities in China. His safari park gets about 80 000 people a day through the gates. It would carry distinctive flora and fauna from the Territory, along with an exhibition education centre that showcases the Northern Territory’s natural environment along with its culture.
From the park we would be able to promote visitation to the Northern Territory. It is an exciting proposition for the tourism market, which is expected to explode. There will be 120 million outbound tourists this year from China alone, let alone Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. In four or five years’ time, there will be 250 million outbound tourists each year. That is what we want to tap into, to create jobs and economic growth in the Northern Territory. Sadly, the only thing that will prevent that is the Labor Party talking about free trade deals because they are concerned.
The member for Karama was there with her union mates saying, ‘Keep the Chinese out’. They will not come here if you have that attitude.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I asked that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016