2015-02-26
Chaos in NT Government
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
This week, we have heard a series of allegations which go to the heart of your government’s chaos and dysfunction. A member of your own team described you as lacking honesty and integrity. The member for Araluen stated she had no faith in a government led by you. Your chaos and lack of leadership is having a disastrous effect on the business of government, the Northern Territory and our relations with Asia.
Last night, the member for Brennan hit it when he told this House:
- … we are the most effective dysfunctional government the Territory has ever seen.
Like the member for Brennan, Chief Minister, please tell us how proud you are of your completely dysfunctional government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. I am not sure if you could call it eleven-and-a-half years of stability under Labor from 2001-12, but I would not be proud to be part of that team. That team saw debt levels up to $5.5bn, deficits at $1.1bn and the highest crime rate the Territory has ever seen. There was poor performance in the state of the economy, and a deficit in home construction, land release and unit construction. Housing affordability was going through the roof and there were the highest fuel prices the Territory has seen under your leadership. There is nothing to be proud of from that eleven-and-a-half years. Over the last two weeks we have gone through a long list of our achievements since winning government on 25 August 2012.
I am happy to go uphill and down dale with those achievements, as is everybody on this side of the Chamber. We have driven down your debt, crime, and alcohol consumption, and have the best performing economy in the nation with the lowest unemployment rate, apart from Canberra.
We can talk about the successes and the $135m from the recent budget into land release, including $50m for commercial and $85m for residential. We can talk about the 6500 lots we are releasing across the Territory’s landscape in urban, regional and remote areas, including communities like Kalkarindji. We can keep talking about that all day. I am proud of the last two-and-a-half years, but I would be ashamed after eleven-and-a-half years of the collective leadership in the Labor Party. While some were ministers, the others were hacks in Labor ministers’ offices. You hold a collective responsibility for the state of affairs on 25 August 2012.
Hydraulic Fracturing – Inquiry
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the Assembly on the inquiry commissioned by the government into hydraulic fracturing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. As a government we have hit the go slow button on hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory. The Territory government sees onshore gas exploration as providing significant economic benefits for the future. We also recognise that Territorians will not accept trade-offs when it comes to the environment and protecting our lifestyle.
That is why, in April 2014, I commissioned an independent inquiry into hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory. Dr Allan Hawke was appointed commissioner of the inquiry and has handed the report to government. I congratulate Dr Hawke on his report and am happy to table it today.
The report will be available to the public on the inquiry website at:
www.hydrualicfracturinginquiry.nt.gov.au.
The inquiry included extensive consultation with the community and interested stakeholders, considerations of the report, as well as knowledge and industry practices from interstate and overseas. More than 250 submissions were received and considered as part of the inquiry. The report provides a comprehensive and balanced perspective on fracking. It outlines key issues of concern to the community, including environmental impacts, water use and health issues.
The inquiry aimed to separate the environmental risks from the perceived risks and clear up the claims about fracking that have caused significant public concern, true or otherwise. The government broadly accepts all six recommendations in the report. The key finding is that fracking can take place safely in the Northern Territory, provided the appropriate regulatory and monitoring regimes are in place to allay community fears.
We want to work with Territorians to develop the best possible regulatory regime, in line with community expectations. I have tasked the new Minister for Mines and Energy to take the lead role in responding to the report, and he will have more to say on that this afternoon. I want to make it clear that we have listened to the community’s concerns and have hit the go slow button on hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory.
We will ensure the community is well informed. I have asked Dr Hawke to continue to engage the public through a consultative process and I look forward to the member for Fong Lim, the Minister for Mines and Energy, taking on a structured lead role in public consultation as we move forward with hydraulic fracturing, and the report, into the future.
Alcohol Expenditure
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
On 4 February you told the Alice Springs CLP branch:
- Monday night I got a phone call from Willem saying he’s got the numbers, I’ve got to be honest I sat there and went fantastic I can have a beer and I went and got on the piss …
Invoices released under FOI reveal that in less than 10 months you have spent almost $3000 of taxpayers’ money on alcohol using your personal government credit card. I seek leave to table the documents.
Leave granted.
Mr VOWLES: Chief Minister, how can you justify this expenditure on vodka shots and expensive wines when Territory families and businesses are weighed down under the burden of electricity and water tariff increases?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Johnston needs to think through these questions. The first thing I will do now is look at the hospitality expenses from when you were in government. I can guarantee it will be more than $3000 over 18 months. I guarantee you took people out for dinner and had a glass of wine with them, whoever you were entertaining. That will be the first thing to happen.
There is a range of entertainment expenses – having dinner with people or taking out guests.
Ms Lawrie: Vodka shots.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. The member for Johnston has asked a legitimate question of the Chief Minister. I want to hear the answer in silence, as I am sure you would.
Mr GILES: When you raise these issues and try to use them for political points, the first thing we will do is come back at you with what you spent on alcohol. You have asked a foolish question.
Yes, we go to dinners and I have occasionally put those…
Mr Vowles: Vodka shots.
Mr GILES: If you would like to hear the answer – we go to dinners …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. Member for Johnston, you are on a warning. All members are trying to find out what the answer is so I ask you to be quiet.
Mr GILES: Yes, there is food and there are drinks when we take people out for dinner. One of the dinners on your list was held in Alice Springs at the Overlanders Steakhouse, where I took 40 people out for dinner after the presentation at the convention centre for the gas pipeline. I think the price of dinner was around $1500. I am unsure of the alcohol component, but they all add up to form part of that $3000. I have not seen the $3000 component you are listing, but yes, it is part of doing business. We will now go through our records to see what you spent on alcohol, then we will get in the gutter again and play in the mud instead of talking about what matters.
Why did you not ask me about the hydraulic fracturing report or how many wells are in the Northern Territory? Why did you not ask me about the first meeting of the Rapid Creek Catchment Advisory Committee, which was led by minister Styles? Why did you not ask about things that matter to people? Why did you not ask about how we will continue to drive down the price of fuel in the Territory? Why do you not ask about road construction in the Northern Territory?
Instead, you want to muckrake and get in the gutter again; you do not learn. You are still taking the lead from the Leader of the Opposition, who is the best muckraker of all and happy to get into the gutter. You need to get on to issues that matter more to Territorians.
Hydraulic Fracturing – Hawke Report
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
Can you please outline the government’s response to the findings of the Hawke report into hydraulic fracturing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. I also echo the Chief Minister’s comments in thanking Dr Allan Hawke for his report into this important issue of hydraulic fracturing. The government broadly accepts all six recommendations outlined in the report, and as the Chief Minister said, we have hit the go slow button. We want to take our time in working with Territorians to develop the best possible regulatory regime for this sector, in line with their expectations.
I asked Dr Allan Hawke to lead a review of the regulatory regime, engaging with the community and key stakeholders to develop the best practice framework. In the meantime, we are confident that with only 24 wells due to be drilled in the Territory this year, onshore exploration activity can be safely managed through a new set of guiding principles. Those proposed principles clearly set out how the industry should conduct itself for all onshore oil and gas exploration in the Territory.
The draft guiding principles are being released today for public comment. They cover the following: land access; well design; construction and operation; water management; air and noise emissions; community and social impacts; chemical and waste handling and management; rehabilitation and decommissioning; and local content. Key among these is a proposal to establish exclusion zones over major towns, preventing drilling near these populated centres.
We will seek feedback from the community and local government sector on where these boundaries should be drawn. The community stakeholders and industry will have an opportunity to be involved in finalising the guiding principles in all stages of developing this robust regulatory model. The report makes it clear that industry needs to earn its social licence from the community by building trust, operating transparently, responding to community concerns and talking to people on the land. Compliance with these guiding principles once they are finalised will be central to keeping this social licence.
The Territory government is also working closely with the Commonwealth to ensure oversight of activities is aligned with national best practice with respect to water. The Territory is also investigating accessing the expertise of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee, which currently plays a similar role with respect to coal seam gas. We do not have any of that in the Territory, but that committee operates in New South Wales and Queensland. Further funding will be provided to the Departments of Land Resource Management and Mines and Energy for ecology, hydrology and geology programs to develop baseline data.
As I say, we have hit the go slow button on fracking.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of the husband of the member for Nhulunbuy, Lawrence Walker, and young Patrick. I understand your arm is healing very well.
Welcome also to Maggie Hickey, and to Mike Reed, former member and Deputy Chief Minister.
Welcome, one and all.
Members: Hear, hear!
__________________________
Election Money Raised
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
On 4 February you told the Alice Springs CLP branch:
- … 10 minutes before I went to the wing meeting I raised $1.5 million for the party for the election, which isn’t in the bank.
Who donated $1.5m to you in ten minutes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, wouldn’t the member for Fannie Bay like to know. Is it so they can be put on the Delia Lawrie hit list, and named and shamed in parliament like everybody else in this place?
When you have a serious question about policy or program matters that impact Territorians, I am happy to take your question.
Cyclone Lam – Emergency Services
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the Assembly on the effort put in by Northern Territory Emergency Service personnel, police, government workers and NGOs over recent days in response to Cyclone Lam?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for a serious question. He is very impressed with the way authorities have responded to the emergency of ex-Tropical Cyclone Lam and the response to date. We had the opportunity of jointly going to Galiwinku on Sunday. I am very happy to respond to him and provide the House with an update on how things are going.
At lunchtime I had the opportunity to quickly stick my head into the Emergency Operations Centre at the Peter McAulay Centre police headquarters, where a computer program known as WebEOC operates and has the ability to respond. The 25-person Emergency Operations Centre had 25 staff operating on a 24/7 basis during the initial response by police. It is now running on 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, led by the Department of the Chief Minister in the recovery phase post-emergency.
We have spoken a lot about the contributions of police, the NT Emergency Service and Power and Water staff who are on the front line of this response, but there is a range of unsung heroes. There were more than 1000 people involved in the initial response. A few of the people who have been helping with the response are:
a crew of almost 60 people, who undertook early assessments of each community
the logistics people in the Department of Transport, who helped people get from of Goulburn Island and Warruwi into the Foskey Pavilion
staff of the Department of Children and Families, who supported Goulburn Island residents in the Foskey Pavilion. These staff are now on the ground conducting disaster relief assessments on behalf of the federal government
the Department of Sport and Recreation staff, who organised activities for Warruwi evacuees in Darwin
principals, teachers and support staff, who organised school shelter arrangements and rode out the cyclone in the communities across the Top End, most notably the Principal of Shepherdson College, who provided much-needed guidance throughout the occupation of the cyclone shelter in Galiwinku
the Department of Health and local clinical staff
the Department of Housing inspectors, who have been working very hard on the checks
the Local government and Community Services staff
There is a range of other organisations, including non-government organisations and Aboriginal organisations, such as Miwatj, ALPA and Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre, which the member for Nhulunbuy has spent a lot of time with.
I acknowledge the impressive work all of these workers – volunteers or otherwise – have provided, and their positive attitudes. It will take a long time to rebuild these four communities and I look forward to working with all of those stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome for all Territorians.
Funds Raised for CLP
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Last year, in a question about Foundation 51 you said a smart politician does not handle the money, yet you recently told your Alice Springs branch that you raised $1.5m, which is not in the bank. Where is this money? Why is this money not in the bank and where have you stashed it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not handle any money.
Bring Them Home Campaign
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
Are you aware of the Bring Them Home campaign to repatriate the bodies of Australians who died in the early stages of the Vietnam War? What is the government doing to assist with this campaign?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. You took guidance from A Current Affair last night and there is a very important article in the NT News today. I thank Bob Shewring for his hard work in supporting veterans in the Territory.
Australians, unfortunately, have paid the price of supreme sacrifice in wars on foreign soils since the beginning of federation in 1901. The span of interventions includes such conflicts as the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and more recently our sons and daughters are in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Up until January 1966, the policy and practice of the Australian government was for these fallen soldiers to be buried in war cemeteries in the country in which the conflict was undertaken, or an adjacent foreign land. These graves are sacred to this nation; they are solemn and respectful places containing thousands of our fallen heroes. Many are even memorial sites, especially those from World War I. It was simply not possible to individually identify and bury all of our fallen soldiers.
As I said, in January 1966 the policy of the Australian government changed so our fallen soldiers were repatriated back home. This policy change occurred close to the beginning of the Vietnam conflict, so the majority of our fallen soldiers then were returned home. A total of 521 Australians were killed in Vietnam; 25 of them are buried overseas and 24 at the Terendak Camp in Malaysia.
I have discussed this with Bob Shewring, one of the veterans leading the campaign to bring these Australians home. I also understand there may be one solider with Territory connections among that 25.
The NT government welcomes confirmation from the Commonwealth government, which we have spoken with today, and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Hon Michael Ronaldson, is investigating this matter. I understand minister Ronaldson is sympathetic to this matter, and he and Commonwealth officials are investigating the sensitivities around it.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, and events associated with the Vietnam War, this is an issue of importance to the Vietnam veteran community.
I have asked Peter Chandler, as Minister for Veterans Support, to take the lead on behalf of the Northern Territory government to help bring those 25 Australians home. The Commonwealth government is supportive of the Northern Territory and I encourage the new minister to do his best to have those 25 Australians repatriated back into Australia.
Housing – Crisis in Elliott
Ms LEE to MINISTER for HOUSING
Last Thursday I raised the issue of housing in Elliott, which is overcrowded and considered hazardous. After your short and empty comments on this matter, I imagine you have now been briefed by the Department of Community Services. What was said in the meeting and can you now update the House on the crisis in Elliott?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Yes, I received a briefing, but the member for Arnhem did not request one. I am surprised she is more interested in Elliott when a cyclone has devastated communities in her electorate; she asks me a question about housing in the member for Barkly’s region. This question should come from the member for Barkly. In the meantime, communities in her electorate have been devastated.
We have not heard from the member for Arnhem about Milingimbi, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak or Bulman. She asks me about Elliott.
It is a shame and it is embarrassing for another Aboriginal woman to ask me this question, when she should be asking about the people she says she cares for. What has she done for those people? She tells me I do not care about Aboriginal people in the communities, when my people are working hard in the four communities affected by Cyclone Lam – and she asks me about Elliott.
You should be talking to the people on the other side, who did not care about them for 11 years. For 11 years, the Labor Party did not care about those town camps in Elliott. There is one housing stock that belongs to us and the others did not even hit the radar. Those people were in power for 11 years; how embarrassing. Are you ashamed of yourselves? Meanwhile, the member for Barkly drives up and down and does not bother to ask if he can help people ...
Ms Lawrie: Are you going to answer the question?
Mrs PRICE: I am answering the question, but I get bombarded all the time …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a direct question about the status of housing at Elliott. The minister has yet to answer the question. If she does not know the answer, she should say so.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nhulunbuy. Minister, answer the question.
Mrs PRICE: I offered her a brief, but she did not return the call.
Temporary Beat Locations
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can you please update the House on the success of the temporary beat locations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member for Blain, who knows how successful the TBLs have been in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and now around Darwin. I quote the member for Nhulunbuy:
- Temporary Beat Locations (TBLs) have been a success in lowering crime statistics …
There is nothing special about that quote because we have been talking about this, and using that quote, for a while now.
It is interesting that this quote is not from our side of politics. It is from a media release on 20 February 2015 by the member for Nhulunbuy. Thank you for recognising that.
What is really strange about this is that last year the Leader of the Opposition, Delia Lawrie, labelled the policy stupid. In a radio interview on 23 April 2014 Delia Lawrie, the Leader of the Opposition, said:
- … stupid policy move as far as the Opposition is concerned.
It sounds like a bit of flip flopping on the other side. I do not think they fully understand what their little team is talking about. On one hand, you have the member for Nhulunbuy, who in this case is correct; the TBLs are having a dramatic effect on the reduction of crime in a number of locations across the Northern Territory. We know Labor would stop these tomorrow if they were in government, because they said they would.
Mr Tollner: They would bring back the BDR.
Mr CHANDLER: I pick up on the interjection from the member for Fong Lim. I ask anyone to look at the alcohol-fuelled crime rates under the BDR. Look at how effective the BDR was compared to the TBLs and you will see a clear difference. Ambulance officers do not have to work as hard, pulling knives out of people’s backs, heads or anywhere else. I have received calls from nurses, saying they have never seen the accident and emergency department so quiet on a Saturday night; it is because of the TBLs. Member for Nhulunbuy, I thank you for your support in this matter.
Leader of the Opposition, please listen to the member for Nhulunbuy as she is a wise lady in this case. She has seen the light and can see the difference TBLs can have on a community. I have had letters and phone calls from mayors across the Territory, and representation from local members, telling us what the difference is in their communities thanks to TBLs. Thank you, member for Nhulunbuy, for supporting the government on this one; it is very much appreciated. Please talk to your leader and get her to have some sense. There are policies from this side which are making a difference.
Political Donations
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
The member for Blain has admitted to receiving a loan of $10 000 from Foundation 51 Director, Graeme Lewis. Former Foundation 51 Director, Peter Maley, disclosed a $50 000 donation to the CLP when he was a serving magistrate. More than two years after the mandated deadline, Foundation 51 disclosed a donation of $200 000 to the CLP. Last week, the CLP lodged a very late return admitting – for the first time – it had received $200 000 from Foundation 51. I seek leave to table the document.
Leave granted.
Mr VOWLES: You admitted:
- I think it’s time for someone in the CLP to do something in this regard, it obviously smells …
How can Territorians have any confidence in your leadership with such serious questions surrounding your handling of political donations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the political donations are a matter for the party, as they would be for the Labor party, the PUP or the Greens. If you want to start looking at these things, why not look at Harold Nelson Holdings or EMILY’s List and show us where the Labor Party donations are.
It is a matter for the party, individual companies and the Electoral Commission, no matter what party you talk about. You are wasting questions again in Question Time.
International Women’s Day
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
International Women’s Day will be celebrated across the world next weekend. Can you please update the House on the activities and events being run to celebrate Territory women?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The Giles government values and supports our Territory women; we value their contribution to our society and economy. We do not just talk about it, unlike those opposite. Instead, we do something to make their lives simpler, safer and easier. We have taken strong steps to support and protect them, and their children, from domestic and family violence. We also like to celebrate them and their achievements.
This year, our government is again supporting International Women’s Day, with almost $20 000 in grants for events. This year’s theme is Make it Happen. This theme encourages women to actively pursue their goals, celebrate their achievements and champion effective action for recognition and greater equality.
The events and activities are designed to celebrate women’s achievements and empower Territory women and girls. One of the fantastic events this year is a Central Australian netball roadshow. The need for more female Indigenous role models was highlighted in the findings in the 2013 inquiry into the contribution of sport to Indigenous wellbeing.
Our government is partnering with Netball NT to bring an inspiring Aboriginal elite player, Melina Saunders, a former Australian under 21 and Queensland Firebirds player, to speak with young girls in remote communities and across Central Australia. In the East Arnhem Land region, the council will hold an event with traditional ceremonies in several communities. These ceremonies are to acknowledge women’s roles and achievements, and inspire women to support their communities. These ceremonies aim to promote strength, unity and pride in self, and will be open to over 5000 women living in the regions.
In the Barkly region, women can attend a breakfast to recognise the vital role all women play in our society, as well as the ordinary women who have triumphed and performed acts of courage. Those amazing women will share their stories and views on how women can overcome the challenges of poverty, homelessness, inequality and disempowerment.
In the Darwin region, a dinner at SKYCITY will be held by the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, with a range of key speakers. There will also be a walk, followed by a morning tea at Parliament House. This will look back at past struggles, accomplishments, lessons learned, and will more importantly look ahead for opportunities that await future generations of women. I encourage you all to participate and celebrate your mums, daughters, partners and peers.
Police – Inquiry
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
At a press conference on 3 February, in reference to your commitment to hold a judicial inquiry into serious allegations you made about the Northern Territory Police, you said:
- I will be making available to the judicial investigator in regards to this process, access to all emails, phone records, text messages and to find out who knew what, when.
You have backflipped on your commitment to hold an inquiry into political donations. Will you commit to proceeding with this inquiry, which you promised 23 days ago, and table the terms of reference?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I said previously, I am waiting to catch up with the Solicitor-General; I have a meeting at 3 pm this afternoon, straight after Question Time. I will talk with him about the draft terms of reference and take some advice on that. I will also ask the minister for Police to oversee any judicial inquiry that may proceed following that conversation.
Alcohol Measures
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Much has been said about the government’s measures addressing alcohol problems in the Northern Territory. The Labor opposition has been vocal in its criticism about the introduction of Alcohol Protection Orders and temporary beat locations – a measure introduced under the former Labor government.
Will you please tell the House what measures and effects these new alcohol measures have had on towns like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine, which were besieged by law and order issues under the former government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, on my lapel is an Ambassador white ribbon, which was given to me by White Ribbon Australia, inasmuch as I take it as a personal duty to protect women in the community. As Attorney-General, and a member of the effective Giles Country Liberals government, we can take pride in the work we do.
I received an e-mail on Monday, 23 February and I will read it into the Hansard record:
- Minister
I am writing to you in regard to the sustained reduction in demand at the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter crisis accommodation over the last 12 months, which we increasingly believe has been driven by the reduction of alcohol supply through policing policy in Alice Springs.
In the reporting period July to December 2014, there was a 30% decrease in referrals to the service from the same time in 2013. In real terms, this means that we are receiving eight referrals a day instead of 12 referrals a day. Clearly, this significantly impacts the service’s ability to provide a quality and meaningful service response to these women and children requiring the service.
The number of adult women we provided with accommodation reduced by 22%, or 59 fewer women, requiring high-security accommodation.
Since my last communication with you on this matter, I have done some consultation with women who access our service, and we are confident that the decrease in the amount of alcohol in the community is the primary driver of this change, as well as women seeking support through our outreach service in significant numbers.
I am proud of the work we do and the steps we take to protect women and children in our community. Eight referrals is better than 12, but still eight too many. Nevertheless, we are proud.
What concerns me most is that, for the sake of politics, these good and effective policies will be cast out if there is a Labor government reintroduced into the Northern Territory. They will reintroduce the BDR, which has statistically shown scant impact on the alcohol-related problems in our community. They should think long and hard about the impacts.
If they want to reintroduce the BDR let them, but do not take away the measures that work. Do not get rid of or change this. This is saving lives and protecting women and children. Introduce your BDR, but for goodness sake, do not take away the things that work, if you ever become a government.
Aboriginal Land Permits
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
In a recent important address to the National Press Club of Australia, the Northern Land Council CEO, Joe Morrison, outlined exciting opportunities for traditional owners of Aboriginal lands and seas to benefit from the northern Australia development agenda. You said:
- I have told TOs they have to remove the permit system on main arterial roads because it is a restraint on trade.
Since you have rediscovered the Indigenous Affairs portfolio, do you still plan to break up land councils and remove the permit system for arterial roads on Aboriginal land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. The Leader of the Opposition is trying to dog-whistle to Aboriginal people, once again. The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act is federal legislation. To make any changes to land councils or permits would require legislative change at the federal level in Canberra.
I do not know where that quote was taken from, but I said this on the Tiwi Islands with the member for Arafura. On main arterial roads, where you are trying to support people in an economic approach – from the airport to the shopping centre or whatever it may be – the delays in getting permits are a restraint on development for those traditional owners. That is a significant challenge.
We do not have a policy about breaking up land councils or removing the permit system. It is all federal legislation. You are just trying to dog-whistle and scare Aboriginal people.
Borella Ride
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
It has been a pleasure working with you, the Department of the Chief Minister, Dr Tom Lewis, the Borella family, NT Major Events and a host of other people in preparation for the Borella Ride. Last Friday I joined you in Tennant Creek for the start of the historic event. Can you please update the Assembly on this event and the warm reception the team has received up the track from locals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her assistance in getting a range of things up and running, especially the work with the Borella Ride. I also thank everyone involved, including the NT Major Events Company.
Last Friday, the member for Drysdale and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs had an opportunity of accompanying Bob Shewring and me to Tennant Creek for the start of the Borella Ride, the centrepiece of the Territory government’s Anzac Centenary program. The ride pays tribute to the Territory’s only Victoria Cross recipient, Albert Borella, by recreating his remarkable journey from Tennant Creek to enlist in WWI.
From the Barkly, Albert Borella walked, swam flooded rivers, rode horses and eventually travelled on a mail coach train to Darwin. Unable to sign up there, he was taken by ship to Queensland for training and signing up, then to Western Australia before serving at Gallipoli and the Western Front. The 1000 km trek up the track to Darwin, which is being recreated now, includes stops at Renner Springs, Elliott, Dunmarra, Daly Waters, Larrimah, Mataranka, Katherine and Pine Creek, before arriving in Darwin next Tuesday.
There has been a huge turnout along the track as locals have come out to glimpse the team as it travels north, especially school students, which is good. It is a fantastic event which has captured the community’s imagination. Again, I congratulate the NT Major Events Company. It is good to see the ads on television, educating Territorians about the events that took place.
It is a fitting end to the tenure of outgoing NT Major Events General Manager, Paul Cattermole, who retires from the position at the end of the month after seeing the Borella Ride finale. Since starting in 1998, Paul has managed and overseen 17 of the V8 Supercars Championships in Darwin. He is a great Territory ambassador and has put our events on the national map. We are now farewelling Paul, but I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Hopper as the new NT Major Events General Manager.
Andrew brings to the organisation a wealth of experience, having an extensive record in leading the planning and delivery of major national and international projects and events. He holds an MBA and has most recently held the position of Senior Consultant for MI Associates, which commenced business in early 2001 at the conclusion of a successful Sydney Olympics and Paralympic Games. I look forward to working with Andrew, as I am sure we all do in government, and I thank Paul Cattermole and the team at NT Major Events for the fantastic Borella Ride. We look forward to its arrival in Darwin next Tuesday.
Water Management Advisory Committees
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Yesterday you said you are putting together a water policy. In light of that, can you explain why you closed the existing water management advisory committees and are now advertising for those interested in new water management advisory committees? Can you explain the role of the catchments advisory committees? Can you also explain what is happening in both committees and how many times they have met over the last 12 months? Besides explaining the role of the committees and what they are supposed to do, can you advise whether their roles overlap?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is a complex question which probably defies an answer in three minutes. I am happy to provide the member for Nelson with a full briefing. I indicated to the member for Nelson earlier that I am considering preparing a short ministerial statement for the next sittings to update the House on all the matters relating to advisory committees.
The NT Catchments Advisory Committee was formed in May 2014. It provides advice to me on a range of issues, including water policy development and emerging issues affecting economic develop in river catchments throughout the Territory. It is focused on a number of river catchments across the Territory, rather than being focused on a single catchment, as had been the case previously.
It has met four times since its inception and the next meeting is in April 2015. It provides the opportunity for focused strategic attention and community input on water policy development, as well as emerging issues affecting economic development in those river catchments.
The NT Catchments Advisory Committee does not replace the water advisory committees; they are different. The water advisory committees were established by me under section 23 of the Water Act. The role of those committees is to advise the Controller of Water Resources on the effectiveness of existing or proposed water allocation plans in maximising economic and social benefits, within ecological constraints.
It is a common misconception that the role of water advisory committees is to develop and endorse the content of water allocation plans for gazettal by the minister. Water allocation committees, as their names suggest, have no statutory powers in water allocation planning and are convened to provide stakeholder input into issues referred to it by the controller or the minister.
The Katherine Water Advisory Committee has been formed and is well under way with reviewing the Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan. This review is expected to be completed with time to report back to the water forum in Katherine in a couple of months.
Redrafting the Alice Springs Water Allocation Plan, by my department, is complete and includes a detailed analysis of the future water supply scenarios of water management in Alice Springs. The Alice Springs Water Advisory Committee will meet in March to enable the department to fully brief members on the revisions and enable their feedback to be included in a final report.
During 2015, the Mataranka Tindall Limestone Aquifer and Oolloo Aquifer Water Allocation Plans will be redrafted and presented to the respective committees for each area for community feedback. The Berry Springs Water Allocation Plan is largely completed, with modelling revised to take into account new scientific information gathered during 2014.
The process of the Howard East Water Allocation Plan will be the most challenging to resolve for the community and the government. This planning process will need new approaches to water allocation and there will need to be considerable engagement with the community to understand concerns and requirements.
The government is committed to community input into water allocation planning; however, it is ultimately the minister’s responsibility to determine how Crown water is allocated within the estimated sustainable yield of any resource.
Member for Nelson, once again, if there is further information required, I am happy to provide you with a briefing and update.
Rent Prices – Seniors
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HOUSING
The Giles Country Liberals government is taking swift action to help Territorians with the skyrocketing prices of rent, which were left by the previous 11 years of Labor government. We all know it is a problem facing Territorians. Will you please tell the House, especially those on the other side, what measures you are taking to address the skyrocketing prices of rent, specifically for our seniors in Northern Territory communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. He did a lot while he was the Minister for Housing and he did a great job.
I am delighted to report that the Giles government has a new opportunity for affordable housing for Alice Springs seniors on low incomes. Ten of the redeveloped apartments of the John Gorey Complex on Elliott Street in Alice Springs have been leased to the Central Australian Affordable Housing Company, which will now let these apartments out to our seniors at a subsidised rate.
Accommodation is targeted at those aged 55 years and older, and who meet the government income and eligibility criteria for seniors. Rent charge will not exceed …
Ms Walker: There are 140 vacant houses.
Mrs PRICE: Do you want me to give you an answer or not? I have no more to say.
Little Dubai
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for BUSINESS
You have been reported as supporting a project that has become known in Central Australia as ‘little Dubai’. The plan, formulated by a self-described entrepreneur, proposes setting up an international student hub – perhaps an immigration hub – and a technology hub for manufacturing pharmaceuticals and high-end sports cars at the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs. I seek leave to table documents about the plan and the company.
Leave granted.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Without having seen those documents, we seek comfort from the Leader of the Opposition. Is there anything in there that would be considered commercial-in-confidence or damaging to an opportunity?
Ms LAWRIE: It is the business plan proposal. They are public documents from searches on the company. I do not know if the business plans are in the public domain, but many people in Alice Springs have seen it.
The DKA Board is rightly very cautious about signing over the precinct. You said this business proposal aligns with your government’s strategic direction. Do you plan to give a multimillion dollar NT government asset to a person whose companies appear to have no registered assets in Australia and no registered financial reports?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are a number of companies interested in doing business in the Northern Territory. We entertain different people on a range of things. Alex Hatzimihail is involved with many different companies and is interested in coming back to Alice Springs, where his family is from, and supporting business development. He is still talking about what his business development process might be; I understand he is actively engaging with the Desert Knowledge Australia Board. To date, I do not have any further information about it, but I will hand the question to the Minster for Business, who has coverage of where Desert Knowledge Australia may be up to.
Mr STYLES (Business): Madam Speaker, I will echo the Chief Minister’s words. There have been certain proposals, but I do not have a copy of the business plan the Opposition Leader is referring to. I have not heard that gentleman’s name for some time with regard to what he wants to do in Alice Springs.
I imagine once he engages with the Department of Business they will forward me a briefing on the proposals. I am aware there are a number of people engaging in Alice Springs to do great things for the town. One of the things we do is we engage people, listen to them and talk to them.
You talk about building and progress in Alice Springs, and we would like to get things going. In the aircraft storage facility there, a guy who has now been working there for five years asked the government if there was any chance he could get a hand, and we gave him a hand. As a result of that – after five years – we got that off the ground, excuse the pun. We got the aircraft on the ground and we have a great facility there now.
We are working with businesses like Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage to get business into Central Australia. This has the opportunity to be a fantastic story not only for the Northern Territory and the Departments of Business and Transport – which led that and got the planes there – but now it looks like we will get aircraft from Southeast Asia. Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines have a storage problem and those aircraft are likely to come to the Northern Territory.
In Alice Springs – along with the gentleman the Leader of the Opposition mentioned, as well as Tom Vincent from Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage – they are looking at Stages 2, 3 and 4 of development, due to the fact we are a can-do government. The Giles government has a vision for the Territory and we are about getting on with business, as opposed to sitting around and talking about ourselves like the opposition do.
Tiger Brennan Drive Project
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
The Giles government is helping make the daily commute into the city easier and safer for our residents in Palmerston and the rural area. I had the opportunity to see the Tiger Brennan Drive extension, and I thank everyone at BMD and the Department of Infrastructure for doing such a wonderful job. I understand the project is on track; the people of Palmerston have been calling on this for a number of years. It will come as a very welcome present from our government to the people of Palmerston. Can you please update the House on the exciting $103m Tiger Brennan Drive project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale, who drives up and down Tiger Brennan Drive every day and knows the difference it makes in the commute between Palmerston and Darwin.
I do not know whether I should be reading off my prepared notes, as I, too, drive past there every day and can see it unfolding as we go. Last week the member for Drysdale had a firsthand look at the progress. It is an amazing piece of work.
I recall the late 1980s when Tiger Brennan Drive was first constructed. I believe the CLP government, not the Labor government, cut a new stretch of road next to Charles Darwin National Park, which was the old Frances Bay bomb disposal dump. It was under the auspice of the Royal Australian Air Force, and the police dog section was there. I remember when the cutting was done through there; it was a pain in the butt because we had to change our road to get there.
We see that type of infrastructure being built every day. There is state-of-the-art equipment there. Challenges were confronted with the mangroves and the mud there. Some of that state-of-the-art equipment has never been used in Australia before, let alone in the Northern Territory. The methods they are using to stabilise the ground are unique and will provide a wonderful piece of infrastructure. A new bridge will go into the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex. Funding that section of road includes federal and NT government money and will cost about $103m.
It will make a huge difference in the commute from Darwin through to Palmerston. It will support the port facilities and infrastructure, as trucks and equipment will get down the road much more easily than they could before. It will speed up the transit times from Palmerston and the rural area through to Darwin.
You must remember that not only Palmerston residents will benefit from Tiger Brennan Drive, but residents of the northern suburbs who go via Amy Johnson Avenue or Berrimah Road. Many people benefit every day because of the infrastructure having been increased and improved over the years.
I take my hat off to those who are working hard on the extension of Tiger Brennan Drive. We will see it open on time and under budget. That is $103m which will make a huge difference.
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