2016-04-20
Education Funding
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Your vicious cuts to public education since coming to power have done damage across the Territory. They have resulted in fewer teachers and support staff, and less resources for students. Schools are struggling to make ends meet in our suburbs and the bush. Will you rule out any further cuts to government education in the upcoming Territory budget? Will you commit to reversing the cuts you have made since August 2012 and start repairing the damage you have inflicted on Territory students and schools?
ANSWER
I would like to know what damage you are referring to. We have the best results we have ever had in the Territory.
Education today is a completely different agency, organisation and model to what we had under Labor.
Ms Fyles: With fewer teachers and less resources for our students.
Mr CHANDLER: They can talk all they want. As the Minister for Education I am focused on results. More students are passing their NTCET than ever before, including under any Labor government. More students are receiving A+ results and achieving 99.9 in their ATAR scores than ever before. A total of 178 Indigenous students passed their NTCET this year, which is another record.
We have improved education in the Northern Territory. We have rebased and we now need …
Members interjecting.
Mr CHANDLER: I can answer the question because on this side we are excited about education. As the Minister for Education, I am extremely proud of the reforms we have introduced in the last three-and-a-half years to rebase education in the NT and put us on a trajectory that never would have occurred with the Labor government’s approach.
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110; answers must be concise and directly relevant to the question asked. I asked the minister if he will rule out any further cuts to government education in the upcoming budget, and reverse the cuts he made since …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mr CHANDLER: It is not always about the dollars; it is how much wisdom is put into how the money is spent. We have spent the money on improving results. I am proud of what the education system has gone through in the last three-and-a-half years.
Some hard decisions have been made, but at the end of the day we have a better education system. The results speak for themselves. Across the Northern Territory we have great schools and tremendous teachers. All we hear from the Labor members and their union mates is trashing it. All we want is to improve results. We want to put the royalties of the onshore gas …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance and being concise. I am asking the minister if we will see any further cuts to government education in the Territory budget.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Wanguri. The minister still has time to answer as he sees fit.
Mr CHANDLER: The royalties from onshore gas will go directly into education. Perhaps the question should be asked of Labor how in the world it will fund what it is promising for education when it wants a moratorium on gas and to take away what those royalties will do for education in the Northern Territory. For once, look at the results and hard work our teachers and department have achieved over the last few years to improve education and get better results than were ever achieved under Labor ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Infrastructure for Northern Australia
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
As you are well aware there is a very important bill being debated in the federal parliament relating to infrastructure for northern Australia, which has come in on the back of some very strong campaigning by this government. Can you outline to the House the support given by the federal member for Lingiari, Hon Warren Snowdon, and what alternative plans there might be in place?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question.
As this Chamber knows, the Giles government has been implementing its plan for the last three years: reducing Labor’s debt and waste, and continuing to diversify our economy. Part of the plan has been to seek additional federal government funding for northern Australia.
Yesterday the federal member for Solomon, Natasha Griggs, and I continued to push hard in Canberra, even as late as last night, to ensure the legislation passes the upper house, the Senate, in Canberra. Interestingly, during the lower house debate in federal parliament, the Labor member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, supported the Country Liberal policies:
- It is not commonly understood that around the Northern Territory we have producers — mostly in the Top End, from Katherine heading up north, but also there are some products produced around Alice Springs, Ti Tree and Ali Curung – currently producing $200m worth of agricultural product. What we should be doing is building on those successes, learning from what has been happening with those particular investors – people who have taken a risk with minimal government support and who are doing a great deal of good work for the Australian community in providing product and providing education.
Mr Snowdon went on to say:
- I could also talk about a range of other areas, like the pastoral industry and the massive amount of work they are currently doing, the live cattle exporting trade, the tourism industry, and the growing aquaculture industry in the north of Australia we need to continue to support.
It is clear that at least one member of Northern Territory Labor understands what our plan is achieving.
The Leader of the Opposition claims to have a jobs plan. From what I have heard of the jobs plan, it is about stopping onshore gas, stopping agricultural jobs via water rights, and now stopping electricity production to three of our central centres by stopping gas extraction activities, which have been occurring in the Territory for years.
The Leader of the Opposition bangs on about business confidence. I do not know about anyone else in the Chamber but it does not sound like talking up business confidence in the NT.
Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition again had the opportunity, in parliament, to explain to the people of the Territory exactly what he and Labor stand for. He is happy to front the media for 30 seconds and talk about a fracking ban but he will not explain exactly what his ban on onshore gas means. It has already meant a loss of hundreds of jobs in the Territory, but he should explain. Is the ban for two weeks, two months, two years or 20 years?
You have to stop hiding behind that desk, Leader of the Opposition, and explain exactly what your ban means for Territorians.
Education Funding
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Since the CLP came to government you have cut public education funding. Your federal Liberal colleagues will also look at massively cutting education funding. How can you ask the federal government for more money when you have taken money out of the Northern Territory education budget? Is this not why nobody trusts you to deliver for Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, let us talk about trust. From last year to this year the non-government sector in the Northern Territory grew by around 24 students. The government sector grew by over 800. That tells me we have a community that has confidence in the public education system in the Northern Territory under the watch of this government and what we are doing in the space of education in the Northern Territory.
I have heard it said that we have introduced about a decade’s worth of reform into education in the last three-and-a-half years. We have lifted the rock that you were never game to lift in regard to remote education. We have a 10-year strategy, not another pilot program, which we want to lock in and ensure delivers for remote students across the Northern Territory. We are already seeing some clear results.
We introduced Direct Instruction, under a lot of pressure, and I have lost some bark in this space. The teachers, some of the very people against it in the first instance, are now saying, ‘It is the best thing you have ever done, minister. We can see measureable change in these students.’ That has not happened for years.
The reforms we are making in the educational space will change things for the Territory for decades to come. This generation of Territorians will have a far different system and platform than there ever has been before. It is not how much money you put into something; it is how it is spent. It is the wisdom you apply to that spending.
We have introduced a new act. The old act was in play for 35 years, and for nearly 12 years of that time you were in government. Did you once consider introducing a new act? No. After three-and-a-half years in government we have a new Territory Education Act – independent public schools, global school autonomy, putting control back at the school level. You want lot of bureaucrats to run it from a building so removed from what is happening at the coalface that they have no idea.
Results in the Territory have never been better. More Indigenous students are passing their NTCET with higher academic achievements than ever before. What is there to be ashamed of?
There are over 800 more students in 2015-16 in the public sector, and 24 in the non-government sector. The public has confidence in this government and the public education system. It is Labor that it has no confidence in.
Economy – Government Diversification
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday I was bemused and highly amused to hear the Opposition Leader use the term ‘diversifying the economy’ on Darwin local radio, and Labor’s plans to look after certain industry sectors. The statement made by the Leader of the Opposition was completely at odds with everything we have heard from him and with his wrecking-ball approach to the economy, and his intent to kill the cattle, petroleum and horticultural industries through the announcements he has made.
Can the Chief Minister please provide an update on what steps are being taken to diversify the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. I know you have been a firm supporter of diversifying the Territory economy. I also know you have seen, firsthand, what we inherited on 25 August 2012. When we came to government there was INPEX and nothing else. What we did have was high debt, deficit, cost of living, petrol prices and housing prices, and no other industry support.
Many will remember that the cattle industry had just been killed by Labor at the Territory and federal level. Labor did not support horticulture; it would not issue scientifically proven water licences or support the mining industry.
We produced a framework of how we would strive for economic development. It focuses on four key areas: a prosperous economy; a strong society; a confident culture; and a balanced environment. Those four key pillars will drive the Northern Territory forward.
We sought to diversify our economy through our economic development strategy, focusing on seven key areas: energy; minerals; tourism; agribusiness; international education and training; Defence; and the offshore supply service. In each of those industries we have been rebuilding the economy.
We developed a stable growth strategy for the energy sector around petroleum and gas. We have seen minerals development in the Northern Territory, creating jobs like never before. Our tourism industry has rebounded from more than 10-year lows, where the tourists stopped coming to the Northern Territory – Uluru, Kakadu, the whole NT – domestically and internationally. We have turned that around.
We now have a Defence strategy for the Northern Territory that will see more than $20bn worth of investments into the Territory from a Defence point of view.
We are building things like a shiplift facility, which will ensure we can service and supply the offshore shipping vessels for the offshore gas industry.
We also have an approach for international education that has never before been supported in the Territory.
I was also bemused, member for Katherine, to hear the Leader of the Opposition, someone who was not good enough to be a minister in the Labor government, talking about diversifying the economy. This Labor team would not know jack about diversifying the economy, let alone being able to manage a budget to support that diversification.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Taxi and Ride-Sharing Services
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
I thank you for lobbying for constituents who rely on taxis. What will it take for the Northern Territory government to introduce ride sharing, commonly referred to as Uber, in taxis similar to those in the ACT and NSW? Why will you not step up and introduce what the Territory’s taxi users desperately need? Get out into the real world and try to get a taxi during peak times in Darwin and Palmerston. You will wait for hours. The public is calling out for ride sharing. What will it take?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very interesting question. We, on this side, have looked at very closely at what has happened around the world with Uber, as well as around this country.
There needs to be a little history here. Some years ago, the former CLP government made some major reforms to the taxi industry in the Northern Territory. Then, lo and behold, a Labor government came into power. The CLP brought back previous taxi plates to remove what might be described as a market cost of taxis. Then Labor came in and provided a cap on taxis, and all of a sudden the price of plates had a market value again. Labor reintroduced a market value.
You need to realise that terrific reform was introduced previously. I have heard people in the taxi industry say the taxi industry in the Northern Territory was in its best position back then. With the policies introduced by the Labor government, it went backwards, which was recognised in the recent review we undertook of the area. We found that we have a taxi system that is less than desirable and it needs to improve its services. But you do not throw out the baby with the bath water.
We worked with industry and the community to find out how to improve the existing services. I told the industry repeatedly, ‘Uber is like a shot over the bow to you guys. Lift your service levels or these people will come in and take over.’ If the service level provided by the taxi industry in the Northern Territory was of such a standard that people would not think twice about going to these ride share applications, then Uber would probably come to town.
I have had discussions with Uber and the taxi industry, which is working to improve its services. Two of the companies have now introduced their own apps. I think one is better than the other, and one is working on improving its services. The smartphone applications …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. What will it take to introduce ride sharing, commonly referred to as Uber, into the Northern Territory?
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Speaker, we are working on trying to find a fit – if Uber ever comes to the Northern Territory, what will the regulations look like? At the moment we have an understanding with each of the ministers across the country to share information on how and what they are doing to introduce Uber into their jurisdictions. We would need to look very closely at how that might work in the Northern Territory given we have unique circumstances.
If we are to introduce a regulation we need to ensure the public safety side of things is paramount in any regulations we introduce. We are looking at it and doing some more work in that area.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Taxi and Ride-Sharing Services
Taxi and Ride-Sharing Services
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
What is so unique in the Territory that would prevent Uber from being introduced as ride sharing? The community is calling for it; it wants it. It is hard to get a taxi right now. What will it take? Safety issues exist in every jurisdiction; they exist where Uber currently operates.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be happy to unpack a couple of the horrible circumstances that have occurred with Uber gone wrong around the world. If an application like Uber, or another company, was to work in the Northern Territory, we would need a regulation to ensure public safety. It would need to ensure the right insurances were in place.
We are looking very carefully at how these ride share application companies are operating in other jurisdictions. If we are to do this it needs to be done right. At the moment we have a massive reform of the taxi industry. It would be unfair for any government to overlap that reform without giving it a chance to develop using the new regulations that are in place.
I have said to the industry time and time again, ‘Uber has sent a shot over your bow. Lift your services or it is inevitable that companies like Uber will come to town.’
Labor Policy on Fracking – Impact on Alice Springs
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Members on this side of the Chamber are fully aware of the two detailed scientific reports the government has released on unconventional gas that found no scientific basis to ban unconventional gas in the Territory. Yesterday in this Chamber the member for Barkly let the cat out of the bag when he announced that Labor would ban production from existing unconventional gas wells.
Can the Chief Minister advise what impact the Labor policy would have, particularly regarding electricity supplies in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. It is important to consider what the member for Barkly said in this Chamber yesterday. I quote:
- … Territory Labor proposes a moratorium covering all unconventional gas prospecting, exploration and extraction activities.
There is not much wriggle room there, member for Barkly.
This is serious. Extraction equals production. As the member for Barkly set out, you prospect, explore and then extract. Let us be clear, Labor will stop production. This will put people out of work and potentially expose a Labor government to having to pay millions of dollars in compensation. Most importantly and alarmingly, it will turn the lights off in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Uluru because all the electricity generated there comes from gas. Gas from Central Petroleum’s Dingo wells powers the turbines supplying Alice Springs with electricity. These wells have been fracked and gas is being extracted, under environmental regulations, as we speak, but it would not be under a Labor government.
Alice Springs is well aware that the former Labor government, metaphorically, put the lights out in Alice Springs for 12 years. Now it wants to do it for real.
Leader of the Opposition, how will Labor keep the lights on in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Yulara, following the member for Barkly’s statement that he will stop onshore gas extraction activities in the Northern Territory? That is an important question.
It is also interesting that when Eni had its problem with gas supply to Darwin last year and we had a blackout, gas was being sent from fracked wells in Central Australia as a backup. Again, what would it mean if Labor stopped supply of the gas currently being extracted? Is Labor proposing we go back to diesel generators and not use gas at all? That is possibly what they are speaking about.
This goes to the heart of a great deal of confusion. The member for Barkly is saying he will stop extraction, the Leader of the Opposition says he will have a five-year moratorium, the member for Johnston mentioned a two-year moratorium, and the member for Nhulunbuy, on radio, said what the member for Barkly said is not true. We need some clarity around the moratorium because people are confused. As it is, the lights will go out in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek under Labor’s policy.
Health System – Commonwealth Funding
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports on elective surgery and emergency departments last year showed that fewer Territorians are being seen within a timely manner in our hospitals. Now written questions on elective surgery and emergency department performance show that you have lost funding from the Commonwealth by not meeting agreed targets under the national partnership agreement.
I seek leave to table those written questions and answers.
Leave granted.
Ms WALKER: Minister, will you now concede that your incompetence is causing enormous damage to the Territory’s health system and is denying much-needed health services for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no. I will not make that concession.
Health Services and Hospital in the Barkly
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you confirm, just one year after the establishment of a general manager position for the Barkly hospital and health services, that your government, through the Central Australian Health Service, is conducting a restructure that may remove this vital leadership, resources, oversight and advocacy through this position from the Barkly to the Alice Springs Hospital?
Why are you intent on taking vital local decision-making from the regions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance on the standing orders in relation to hypothetical questions. He is saying ‘may’.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not. It is a question.
Mr ELFERINK: Fair enough.
The processes of delivering health services, as the member is fully aware, are ongoing in the Northern Territory. When we came to power we inherited a hospital system which was creaking under the weight of its own bureaucracy. In an effort to make the hospital system more effective for the people of the Northern Territory, the former Health minister, in the shape of the now Treasurer, Mr Tollner, made sure we had two health boards established to help run the hospitals and health system across the Northern Territory. We have made the hospital system far more effective.
We often review how we manage those systems. When it comes to the process of reviewing how those systems are working, it may well be the Central Australian Health Board that looks at the structures. As far as I am aware it has made no commitment one way or the other as to how it steps forward. You are being pre-emptive by a long chalk in going down this path.
The opposition thinks spending money is a result; we have heard it with the questions to the Minister for Education. They say you need more teachers, more schools – more, more, more – but they do not talk about results. The Education minister talks about results; the grades are improving.
We have consistently delivered more services to the people of the Northern Territory since coming to government than were ever delivered by the Labor government, and we do so proudly. We have consistently delivered health services across the board and we have greater penetration into the bush than that lot over there did in its years as a government.
If you want to see performance in the health system, it will not be long before we are putting the second tier on the Palmerston Regional Hospital. They, after 11 years of government, could only organise the parking.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. In 30 seconds, minister, do you support local decision-making for the Barkly?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, for 11 years their idea of a Palmerston hospital was to park a front end loader inside a fenced compound. If they are going to talk about health performance, they will have to do a lot better than they are now.
Unconventional Gas – Labor Ban
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
The member for Barkly announced to this Chamber yesterday that Labor would ban production from unconventional gas wells. The member for Nhulunbuy, on radio this morning, said that was not the case. Are you in a position to help clear up the confusion the members opposite have about their ban on unconventional gas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura. The simple answer to his question is no; I cannot clear up any confusion about Labor’s gas moratorium because it is all over the place. We do not know whether it will be two years, five years or a couple of weeks.
In all fairness, the member for Barkly made some comments yesterday and was speaking truthfully. I believe he was reading from a Labor Party policy document when he said:
- … Territory Labor proposes a moratorium covering all unconventional gas prospecting, exploration and extraction activities.
That comes from a Labor Party conference document, which I am happy to table. The member for Barkly was just reading the policy of the Labor Party.
It confuses me because gas coming from fracked wells is powering the Territory now. If Labor wants to stop that, one must ask where the fuel will come from to generate power in the bottom half of the Northern Territory?
It was interesting to hear the member for Nhulunbuy on Territory Talk today with Daryl Manzie when she was asked about the Hansard for last night. She said, ‘That is not accurate as I understand it. There are some extraction activities occurring in Central Australia.’
It comes back to the point about confusion. It is an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to explain to the public what the policy is. I challenge you again, Leader of the Opposition. Will you front the media and tell Territorians if it is a two-year moratorium or a five-year moratorium, as quoted last week. What will you do when you stop production of gas in Central Australia? When you stop the gas extraction in Mereenie and the Dingo field that is powering the bottom half of the Territory - what is your answer?
Yesterday you were missing in the debate on the MPI put forward by the member for Karama about fracking. You missed that debate and have been hiding under a table. It is about time you front the media.
You have already seen the removal of nearly $1bn of investment in the Northern Territory this year. Hundreds of people have lost their jobs because you have removed a bipartisan approach, and now there is now much confusion about your policy. I challenge you to get the stamina to get in front of the media and explain your position.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister your time has expired.
Police Numbers
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In August last year the then Police minister said, ‘This government has made a commitment that should funding from the federal government ever cease we will 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. This is a commitment to funding 120 additional police and a commitment to funding the 94 federally-funded police, a total of 214 additional police.’
- When we came to government there were 1090 sworn police officers. In May there will be more than 1210 sworn police officers, which will fulfil our commitment to an additional 120 police officers.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Brennan, the former Police minister, said all 94 of those staff would have a job if that contract expired. I understand about 64 police officers are still employed. The contract expires on 30 June, and we have said everyone will have a job.
When we came to government there were 1090 police. We said we will reach 1210 or above in May once the next squad graduates, and we will fulfil our election commitment of an additional 120 police. Not only will we fulfil it, we will make sure anybody employed under the federal government police contract keeps their job.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. On 26 August last year the then Police minister made a clear commitment to Territorians that the additional officers would be above the 120. Why will you not answer the question about your broken promise?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: While we are talking about law and order, let us point out Labor’s soft on crime approach. It is not just police who solve the law and order issues. It is also the legislative agenda of a government. It is about bringing reforms such as paperless arrests, Alcohol Protection Orders, mandatory alcohol treatment, one punch legislation and no body no parole. There is a legislative agenda that strengthens crime reduction, and policing is one element.
Looking at the commitment of the extra 120 police, we have to go back to the fundamental position of where we started. Labor provided 1090 police, and we will provide 1210 police. It is simple mathematics. We are not only providing an additional 120 police on the beat in the Territory, we have introduced a range of reforms designed to protect Territorians.
Our one punch legislation is leading the nation. We are being observed by Australian jurisdictions far and wide as to how successful our paperless arrest processes are and how Alcohol Protection Orders are helping to protect Territorians. People are saying how successful we have been in reducing domestic violence in the Territory. They congratulate us for our temporary beat locations, with police at bottle shops, reducing the alcohol supply. They say well done to the Country Liberals for achieving the lowest wholesale alcohol supply in the Northern Territory for 15 years – reducing alcohol supply and domestic violence, and protecting kids.
If you want to start talking about law and order, I will have a debate with you any day, Leader of the Opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Asian Engagement Initiatives
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for ASIAN ENGAGEMENT AND TRADE
Can the minister please update the House on the significant advancements the Country Liberal government has achieved in forging and developing relationships with our neighbouring Asian countries as part of our plan to create a prosperous Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for this very important question. The Country Liberal government has a vision, unlike those on the other side, to ensure Darwin becomes the pre-eminent supply and service hub of our region by 2020. Our Asian Engagement, Trade and Investment strategy plays a critical role in our plan to diversify the economy. That is a very important point. We have to diversify and we have a great plan to do so. We set strategic goals to lift exports and increase foreign investment.
We are delivering on this plan with a number of new key initiatives. This month I had the honour of hosting landmark talks in Parliament House with ambassadors and high commissioners from nine of the Northern Territory’s closest neighbouring countries. It was the first time a gathering of such high-ranking representatives from the Asian nations, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, had ever come together in the Northern Territory.
The talks were extremely positive and encouraging for the future, and more positive developments will come from the first ever NT Red Carpet Investor Forum, held earlier this week, which attracted many Asian investors with an interest in the NT.
Next week the government will have an emphasis on Asian engagement through the inaugural Open Territory business investment forum. On Wednesday Trade and Development ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines will convene a full BIMP-EAGA – which is the acronym for those countries – ministerial trade meeting in Darwin.
The CLP has successfully re-engaged with the group which, left abandoned by Labor when it came to government, closed all its offices and sacked the representatives overseas.
On Friday we will work closely with the Chamber of Commerce NT to deliver the first ever regional Australia-Asia Chambers Forum. It will convene Chamber of Commerce representatives from across the nation and Asia in Darwin to talk about real business opportunities and highlight the government’s commitment to work together with private enterprise.
Coinciding with all this, we will capitalise on the international and interstate presence. The Territory government and the Chamber of Commerce NT are delivering a two-day expo on Friday and Saturday.
We are achieving significant advancements in this vital area of Asian engagement, all while battling an Opposition Leader whose ineptitude is creating an environment of uncertainty. He is creating sovereign risk, driving investment away – he has already driven investment away – and is risking the education of our children and grandchildren by shutting down onshore gas and the resulting royalties we have already committed to education and training. The Opposition Leader cannot see past the next election.
Madam Speaker, the Country Liberals government is delivering a plan to secure a prosperous future for all Territorians, and it is obvious that the Opposition Leader is a man without a vision …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Water Supply – Howard River Park
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Today I have had more complaints about major water interruptions at Howard River Park, Howard Springs. Today I received this e-mail:
- I am a long-term resident – 10 years – at Bronzewing Avenue, Howard Springs, and growing tired of the constant interruptions and lengthy outages of the water supply in the area. In the last week alone we have experienced three outages at inopportune times. It is common knowledge that the Bronzewing feed line is stuffed. The contractors are sick of repairing it, the locals are sick of the interruptions and, to be honest, I am sick of paying for a service that comes with constant interruptions and no remuneration for lost hours and days of supply.
The pipe needs replacing and residents cannot wait until the end of the year, otherwise they will be very dirty on you. What is the government doing to fix this mess now?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Howard River Park in the Howard Springs area has experienced above average mains breaks in recent times. The Howard River Park subdivision was developed in the mid-1980s and the network of water mains is now experiencing mains bursts and leaks. The network of mains was installed by the developer and transferred to Power and Water for ongoing maintenance.
Power and Water has replaced a section of the main between the corner of Howard Springs Road and Gunn Point Road to Sittella Road, and works to replace the remainder of this main will continue throughout 2016. Power and Water responds quickly to water supply interruptions. Interruptions to water supply have averaged between one and three hours; however, there have been some extended interruptions.
Power and Water proposed to install the new upgraded service alongside the old main to minimise disruption to residents. There will be sporadic interruptions while completing these works, and advance notice will be provided to all residents in the area. We understand the frustration this is causing local residents and appreciate their patience while this work is undertaken.
We have also developed a comprehensive stakeholder communication plan to keep residents fully informed of the stages of work required to rectify the issue.
Fracking – Environmental Regulations
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for THE ENVIRONMENT
In all the debate around hydraulic fracturing one of the common refrains is the need for good, strong environmental legislation. Would the minister please update us on how the Country Liberals government is implementing best-practice environmental regulations in the development of our onshore gas industry to encourage business investment to build an economy that creates wealth and jobs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. This government believes preserving the Northern Territory’s unique pristine environment is not only the right thing to do but is of huge economic and cultural importance. We are committed to implementing modern regulatory reform and to building a world-class environmental regulatory system. We are not being trendy about it.
The Country Liberal government is the only voice of sense and reason when it comes to the sustainable development of these important industries. While those opposite continue on their path of an ill-conceived, knee-jerk moratorium, our government is busy gathering facts and the most contemporary scientific information available.
We are not doing a quick fix. We want to get it right. We were very clear when we released the findings and the recommendations from Dr Allan Hawke’s review into the environmental assessment and approvals process. We announced that we will work with the community to implement Allan Hawke’s recommended option, which involves improving environmental impact assessment processes and progressively testing and strengthening environmental approvals legislation.
We agree with Dr Hawke that testing and strengthening the system across the board provides the best means of maintaining environmental standards while delivering reduced regulatory timeframes, duplication and uncertainty. We are committed to making environmental impact assessments more transparent, clear and efficient. We are also committed to giving industry clarity and certainty when dealing with environmental processes.
With such major changes flagged, we committed to conducting a comprehensive consultation process on Dr Hawke’s recommendations. Late last year departmental representatives began the process with a range of detailed meetings with industry, community groups and other interested stakeholders. We heard that no one wanted to be bombarded with complex discussion papers or workshops too quickly. The time frames needed to be realistic to ensure consultation would be meaningful.
We have listened to this feedback. The discussions are continuing throughout the year and tie in with key reform areas. Also in this space, just last week we saw our approach supported by Labor’s energy expert. Dr Tina Hunter’s independent review found that the Territory’s petroleum environmental regulations are a major step forward. In fact, she went so far as to say the regulations are a quantum leap from the regulations of old, confirming that risk-based regulations are a welcome addition.
That is from an expert originally appointed by Labor in 2012, so we now have two independent experts, Dr Allan Hawke and Dr Hunter, supporting the work of the Country Liberals.
The Opposition Leader, in February this year, did not even know the Hawke report had been peer reviewed at an international conference with delegates from nine countries. This was a conference which the government …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Health Services and Loss of Funding
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
A short while ago I tabled written questions and answers provided by your agency showing elective surgery and ED wait times for Territorians have increased under your watch. Why have you not met your performance targets for elective surgery and ED care, and lost precious health dollars from the Commonwealth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, finally we get the question right. Last time I was served up an insult which was, ‘Do you concede you are the worst Health minister’, or whatever it was, and I do not.
We provide services to larger numbers of Territorians than have ever sought services from the Health department in the past. We are providing those services confidently and with great enthusiasm. We like to see Territorians being as healthy as possible so they can participate in the economy.
We will not see, under a future Territory Labor government, Territorians having an economy in which to participate. We know Territorians living under a Labor government will only be able to find a job in the Centrelink office, or, alternatively, be a recipient of Centrelink services. Should Labor win government it will drive the Northern Territory into the abyss of over-bureaucracy and thinking spending is a successful outcome. I am well and truly over that rhetoric. We have heard it again and again today …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. It was a specific question. Why have you not met your performance targets for elective surgery and ED, and lost precious health dollars from the Commonwealth? You have not answered the question.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, once again we hear from members opposite that spending is a result in its own right. As far as I am concerned, and all members on this side are concerned, they see spending as a solution. You have to remember this is the alternative government. How much are they prepared to spend in this area going forward?
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110; just in case you have forgotten, minister, you are the minister so why will you not answer the question?
Mr ELFERINK: I am answering it. These people reckon they are four months away from forming a government.
What is your policy? When will we hear about your health policy? How will you fix all these problems you think exist and how will you cope with the increasing numbers?
I am proud of the services we provide to the people of the Northern Territory, and we will continue to do so.
Gas Industry in the NT
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
Can the Chief Minster please update the House on the Northern Territory government’s stance on the onshore gas industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we support a highly-regulated onshore gas industry, which has operated since the 1960s and is still producing gas and jobs in Central Australia, but is being shaken with fear. The industry is concerned that, should Labor get in, everybody in that industry will lose their job and it will shut down. They are also in a state of confusion, led by the Labor opposition.
It is a state of confusion because the Labor policy is all over the shop. I remember when the Leader of the Opposition said he would make sure all well activities that have been approved would be allowed to continue, but then we heard the member for Barkly reading from the ALP conference documents, saying all production will stop immediately. Those are two contrasting views about the industry.
Syd Stirling, the President of the ALP, said it will definitely not be a five-year moratorium; the member for Johnston said it will be a two-year moratorium; the Leader of the Opposition said it will be a five-year moratorium, and the member for Nhulunbuy said it will be a two-and-a-half year moratorium. No wonder there is so much confusion. This is driving sovereign risk in the Northern Territory.
We support the industry. We support high regulation, protecting our environment, investment in the NT and jobs. We need to get back to some fundamentals about gas. They are just playing politics, which is not a real approach. I challenge the opposition members to talk to the media and explain their position, and I ask if they could survive without gas in the NT?
Could you survive without horizontal fracturing? It is driving down the cost of petrol around the world. It is the main reason the price of petrol has come down in the Northern Territory. Could you survive without gas to turn the lights on or power the electricity to run your computer or your iPad? Could you survive without petroleum products to make the plastic on the top of this jug or in this pen or this folder?
It is very easy to run a populist agenda, but the fact is we use fracked gas products on an everyday basis, whether we are cooking on our barbecues with gas, putting lipstick on – for those who wear lipstick – or any other product that is made from petroleum products. So, yes, this government supports gas production undertaken carefully with high degrees of environmental regulation. We support investment and jobs and we will never take a step back from that.
Remote Housing – Repairs and Maintenance
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for HOUSING
I refer the minister to the housing situation at Santa Teresa. Jasmine Cavanagh says her house has serious, unsafe electrical faults; roof leaks; a broken oven; and no door handle, all of which she has waited for a long time to be repaired. In 2012-13 Labor allocated $352 600 for repairs and maintenance at Santa Teresa. In 2015-16, you are now only spending $132 300. As a result, residents of Santa Teresa are waiting months for basic repairs and are now suing your government. Will you now adopt Labor’s proposal to provide an additional $20m per year of Territory infrastructure money to remote housing repairs and maintenance to fix the backlog and provide people with decent housing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for her question. We have our people out there this week. There is a lot of work to be done and my people have gone there to look at the situation.
I make it very clear that we need tenants to report damage and required repairs for the repairs and maintenance to commence. The Department of Housing is attempting to work productively with tenants to ensure their houses are safe and secure, but that requires that tenants report.
There are housing maintenance officers in communities such as Papunya and Santa Teresa, and Ingkerreke has the contract for Housing Maintenance Officers. The community is required to report housing maintenance requests to the HMO, and this has not been happening, which is why we are in this situation now.
The HMO can then commence with the repairs or refer the matter to the Department of Housing. This has also not been happening as we would like it to. As soon as my department received notification of the outstanding repairs and maintenance it responded. We advised the maintenance contractor, and an assessment was made of all letters and works to be confirmed whether the maintenance has been logged and if it had already been actioned.
I was there with my CEO of housing, wandering around Santa Teresa community …
Ms Fyles: Wandering around while they are suing you.
Mrs PRICE: Do you want me to give you an answer, shadow minister for Housing?
I was at Santa Teresa with my CEO and one of my staff members from the Alice Springs office. He got down on his knees to fix a tap that was running. He went around and took note of all the issues from the people in Santa Teresa. This is what we have been doing. I know the communities and their people. I grew up on a community. I know how people live there.
In the 11 years the opposition was in government it neglected the people on these communities. In 11 years of Labor, they did not care about remote housing at all. They allowed people to live in that situation. Now they have decided it is very important to them because it is an election year. They are madly trying to talk people up and talk about issues with housing.
I have been in the communities doing that. I go out every week I can. I listen to the people and help them on the spot. The opposition would not know how to do that.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016