2013-12-03
Gove Refinery Closure – Government’s Response
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You are developing a reputation as a bungling wrecker, not a builder. In July this year you told Territorians you were sitting at the table with Rio developing …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe the use of epithets and those things is ruled out by Standing Order 112.
Ms LAWRIE: I am happy to withdraw it for the sake of getting on with the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Opposition Leader.
Ms LAWRIE: In July this year you told Territorians you were sitting at the table with Rio developing:
- … a workable model that will provide a long-term solution to Gove.
Now Rio has pulled the pin on 1100 jobs in Nhulunbuy, ripping the heart out of the economy of northeast Arnhem Land. Rio set an eight month time frame to curtail, not the minimum two years experienced in other manufacturing downturns like Newcastle and Geelong. You have rolled over, despite a lease requiring Rio to operate the refinery. I call on you to table the 2011 minerals lease with that subclause in it. What are you doing to stop the brutal pace of job losses and the disastrous economic and social impact on Nhulunbuy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no doubt on this side of the Chamber we are all disappointed to hear of Rio’s decision last Friday morning to curtail the refinery at Gove. There has been a long-standing discussion over many years about the future of the refinery at Gove. I attended a meeting held in Gove on Friday by Rio Tinto where a number of matters were discussed regarding Rio Tinto’s decision and how Rio and the Northern Territory government will respond.
Part of our response will be working with Rio to ensure it has a responsible package for the community, ensuring there are economic growth options and the town will continue to operate.
What people at Gove know is the town is a complete mining town where Rio Tinto operates all the services. There is no local government there. The Nhulunbuy Corporation operates all the power, water, sewerage and those types of things.
In regard to the lease, the Northern Territory government has written to Rio Tinto Australia on four occasions over the past year, formally asking it to provide details of how it intends to comply with its lease obligations. I have correspondence dating back to November 2012 between the Northern Territory and Mr David Peever from Rio Tinto. The last of these letters was sent as late as last Thursday, the night of the eve of the company’s decision to curtail the refinery.
Rio Tinto has not yet responded to these inquiries about how it will meet its legal obligations Whether those obligations will extend to continuing to operate a bauxite plant in circumstances where it is not economically viable to do so is a difficult question. The obligations of Rio Tinto Australia also extend to maintaining the town and services of the town, and this will also be the focus of the Northern Territory government now that Rio has made its decision.
In all of these circumstances, it is inappropriate for me to comment further on what action the Northern Territory government might seek to enforce …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. What is the Chief Minister doing to stop this brutal pace of job losses in this community?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the call. It is not a point of order!
Mr GILES: In all of the circumstances, it is inappropriate for me to comment on what action the Northern Territory government might take to seek to enforce requirements under the Gove agreement and lease until Rio Tinto has provided a formal response and that response has been considered.
Gove Refinery Closure – Government’s Response
Ms FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
On Friday, Rio Tinto confirmed the Territory’s worst fears when it announced it was suspending operations at its Gove alumina refinery. The government has had officials working overtime to prepare for this worst-case scenario. Can you outline for the Assembly the extensive work that has been done in response to this decision?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. Like me, she is feeling for the people of Gove at this difficult time. I want Gove residents to feel confident that the government is working overtime to ensure Rio Tinto meets its obligations to their town, and we will complement their efforts in whichever way we can.
I will immediately establish a task force comprised of Rio Tinto, the Northern Territory and Australian governments, and representatives from the community, to address the transition and develop sustainable economic activities for Gove. I will also establish a community reference group; membership will include a range of stakeholders, including local traditional owners.
We will also work with the Regional Economic Development Committee, which is already looking at ways to diversify the town’s economy.
Last Friday. I announced the appointment of Mr Mike Chiodo, who was recently Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Community Services, as the Territory’s on-the-ground coordinator for Gove. He will work out of a new community support centre where residents can obtain information they require from both Rio Tinto and the Northern Territory government. A government information line, website and fact sheets are available to ensure the community is being kept up to date as much as it can be.
We need to ensure our assistance is strategically targeted at realistic potential industries and measures which will best support the town going forward. The priority is to create jobs and build a stable economic future for the region.
My government is committed to ensuring there will be sufficient public services to meet the needs of the community going forward, and that Gove will remain a regional service hub. The Chief Executive of the Department of Education is in Gove today, speaking with staff about the implications of Rio Tinto’s decision.
We have had discussions with Qantas and Airnorth, as has Rio Tinto, and we are confident the current frequency of flights and the cost of fares will be maintained. Rio Tinto and the Northern Territory government are both talking to Westpac and other banks about people’s existing financial obligations and the need to provide access to finance for new businesses and projects.
We will be standing shoulder to shoulder, trying to help the people of Gove over the months ahead as the full impact of Rio Tinto’s disappointing decision is felt.
Nhulunbuy Teachers and Public Servants – Guaranteed Employment for 2014
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Nhulunbuy Christian College in my electorate has guaranteed staff a full year at the school – a full year for families for 2014. Last week, public school teachers in Nhulunbuy were given employment guaranteed only until 31 March, with Year 11 students in my electorate asking what it means for their Year 12 studies. The time frame is now being ‘messaged’ apparently. The Territory government should be doing the same as Nhulunbuy Christian College, so will you today listen to the Nhulunbuy community and ensure public servants and teachers are guaranteed employment for the full year 2014?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. There were meetings held with the union last week about the implications of any potential curtailment by Rio Tinto of the refinery in Gove. Part of those discussions, as part of our preparation, was what that would mean for the change in the dynamics of the town with the reduction of employees.
I have some information from Rio Tinto about projected unmitigated impacts of suspending refinery activities ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The students of Nhulunbuy have asked him to guarantee teachers until at least to the end of next year. Can you guarantee that commitment?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, it is not a point of order. The Chief Minister has three minutes to answer the question as he sees fit.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, some of the information identifies that the anticipated change in school age population will move from a latest census data of about 947 to an estimated 275 people over the eight months of the curtailment. As part of our planning – we were talking with the union – the question was asked: what this will mean for teachers? There was a high degree of uncertainty for the position teachers may be in over Christmas. Should they come back for a job or should they not? Also, we looked at in the context of Year 11 and 12 students and what this would mean for them going into the first semester, if there were teachers leaving or otherwise.
We spoke to the union and said we will be happy to guarantee teaching positions until the end of the first semester so students could have continuity of education …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Quite specifically, you were asked to guarantee all public service jobs in Nhulunbuy through at least 2014, the entire calendar year. The Christian school has managed to step up …
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Opposition Leader. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I was saying that we will guarantee jobs for teachers until the end of June, the end of the first semester. During that time, as we find out what Rio’s package is and what the changing demographics of the town might be, we will have to identify what services we need to provide. It is our intention that Gove will continue to be a major public service centre in the region and we will continue to provide those services. We have no intention of changing anything in Gove in terms of public service numbers, but as the town changes we need to be able to respond with flexibility, and the number of public servants and the type of employment will be determined at that point. There may be need for us to use different public servants from different departments to provide responses in different areas.
We will continue to work through the decision Rio has made. It is creating a two month plan of what its response will be for the remaining six months of curtailment. We have provided that certainty because we were worried people would not have certainty over Christmas. That certainty for those people has been extended to a point in time so they can start planning for the future. We will continue to ensure that every student who goes to school will have a teacher to provide them a quality education in the Northern Territory.
Stella Maris
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
The Deputy Opposition Leader, Gerry McCarthy, has written to you defending the dirty stinky deal entered into by his former Labor Cabinet with Unions NT on the last day of government. Could you please outline the issue raised in this letter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. He is always concerned about dirty stinky deals done by the dirty stinky Labor Party. It is clearly apparent that the Deputy Opposition Leader …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive or unbecoming words. I find what the Chief Minister has just said offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, it is not offensive in my view. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, it is apparent that the Deputy Opposition Leader has been pushed to the front to defend the shonky deal on behalf of the real architect of this smelly agreement, the Leader of the Opposition and the former Treasurer.
Let me return to some of the points raised by the member for Barkly. The first claim in his letter is that Darwin has a shortage of heritage sites and that for some years the Stella Maris site has fallen into disuse – clearly rubbish. You know over on that side, former Treasurer and former Lands minister, that you approved approximately $300 000 of government funds in 2009 to improve the Stella Maris to bring it up to standard. At the same time, you knew that Unions NT already had in place a business proposal to redevelop the Stella Maris site for its own financial benefit, dating back to this document from 2009. You would have been fully aware of talks about the proposed redevelopment of the Stella Maris site by Unions NT. They were already planning it.
This included renting of office space at the Stella Maris: that is, making money. Deputy Opposition Leader, you also claimed in your letter that no one other than your union mates had the heritage credentials to look after the Stella Maris. But I understand, and you are fully aware on the other side, that organisations had shown interest in using the site, including the National Trust of Australia.
What stinks most about this heritage claim you are making for your union mates and your current leader is that Unions NT’s proposal to redevelop the site includes, as a primary funding source, the Northern Territory government. Who was likely to approve that funding at the time? The former Treasurer and the former Lands minister sitting over there. This arrangement was obviously years in the making and has a dirty stench all about it. This is Territory taxpayers’ money. You put $300 000 in there to bring it up to standard; you tried to slip it to the unions so they could make money out of it and redevelop their own site, which you have an interest in through the Labor Party.
Nhulunbuy Reference Group – Members
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
All through the gas to Gove saga we have seen you sit back and let Rio Tinto take the lead after you reneged on the gas deal in July. Your mishandling of the crisis has been evident to everyone. With a cloud over the region which will deliver an anticipated 1% to 2% reduction in gross state product, we are watching your government scramble and rely on others.
The Commonwealth is finalising an impact assessment, Rio is close to announcing its impact assessment, yet Northern Territory government officials are scrambling to cover contingencies which should have been planned for months ago. Thank goodness you have agreed with my proposal to establish a Nhulunbuy reference group to represent the diverse interests of the community and guide and advise a government response to this crisis.
Will you now publicly confirm that I am, as requested, on the reference group as the elected voice of the region?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we all have to work through this decision Rio Tinto has made to find solutions.
There are 4000 people in Nhulunbuy who have serious concerns about their future, and we all consider those residents as we work out how best to respond in this frame. We have not provided a response. We have asked Rio Tinto to immediately table the economic impact information it has. We have also asked it to accelerate its proposed package to the residents of Nhulunbuy, so I, our government, Ian Macfarlane and the Australian government can provide our responses as part of the package to help the residents of Gove. We are waiting to see what Rio will do in that frame.
As I said in answer to the previous question, we are also waiting for Rio to advise how it will comply with its obligation under the 40-year lease agreement.
However, when we think about those 4000 people in Gove, the one person who has not come to the frame in our thinking, to a great degree, is the member for Nhulunbuy. All she has wanted to do is play politics with this rather than try to provide a response. She has not wanted to be informed.
Ms Lawrie: Rubbish!
Mr GILES: I hear the Leader of the Opposition swanning back in her chair, screaming out interjections. If it was so important to you why did you not go to Gove on Friday? You did not even turn up. You are the leader of the party …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 113: relevance. It was not about the Opposition Leader, it was a very direct question: will the Chief Minister publicly confirm the elected member for Nhulunbuy is on the reference group?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, could you come to the point, please.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I am getting to the point. We are providing a response. I have just spoken about what we are doing in setting up a task force and a reference group. If the member for Nhulunbuy wants to be a part of that reference group, she is more than welcome to. We are trying to …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. I need a very specific answer to this question. Am I on the reference group? Rio welcomed it, the officials welcomed it yesterday …
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nhulunbuy. The Chief Minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mr GILES: You stand in a situation like this and your shoulders slump because we are thinking about 4000 people in Nhulunbuy, but the member for Nhulunbuy is thinking about the member for Nhulunbuy, not the 3999 other people there …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question and he still has not answered it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, ministers have three minutes to answer questions as they see fit.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I will allow the member for Nhulunbuy to go through Hansard and look at it. I repeat, there are 4000 people there who are suffering, and the most important thing right now is about you, not the other 3999 people.
Stella Maris
Ms FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Media reports indicate the Opposition Leader played an instrumental role in encouraging former Labor Cabinet colleagues to gift a free lease worth $3m for the Stella Maris site to union mates who have direct financial links with her own Labor Party. The Opposition Leader claims this smelly deal with a so-called not-for-profit community group had no financial implications worth considering. What issues should, in fact, be normally considered in following due diligence for a valuable government-owned asset?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale, who has serious concerns about this stinky, dodgy deal. If this stinky, dodgy deal was not so underhanded, involving financial benefits at the expense of the public purse, then the flimsy excuses trying to justify this stinky arrangement would simply be laughable. But it is no joking matter when the Opposition Leader shamelessly justifies giving a $3m inner city property to union mates by stating it is a not-for-profit community organisation – Unions NT! The obvious large hole in the Opposition Leader’s explanation is that Unions NT’s financial documents clearly show it expected to profit from two new income sources to arise from this shady deal that Delia pushed for. The former Labor Cabinet gifted Unions NT the rent-free lease on the Stella Maris …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The standing order that says I am the member for Karama or Leader of the Opposition. Feel free.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, it is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: The former Labor Cabinet gifted Unions NT the rent-free lease on the Stella Maris site where their union mates intended to set up a joint commercial development such as a bar or restaurant, or renting out office space. Unions NT planned to relocate to Stella Maris from its current Wood Street premises which could then be redeveloped, perhaps into a high-rise building, then rented out to new tenants, creating more income.
Let us be clear about how smelly this deal is. The building Unions NT intended to redevelop, as mentioned in its 2012 strategic plan, is one it shares with an investment company that annually funds thousands of dollars into the Territory Labor branch. In his letter to me last night, the Deputy Opposition Leader said:
- I can categorically assure you that we had no awareness at the time of any proposal by Unions NT to derive a nett financial benefit or some other pecuniary advantage from its interest under the proposed lease …
Sorry for laughing, Madam Speaker. It is obvious Unions NT intended to develop 38 Wood Street, and surely Unions NT would have talked to the owners of the property. So, the question begs: who is the owners of that property? They are Group Training NT; a number of unions, including the NT Trades and Labor Council and the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union; and the NT Branch of the Labor Party through its company, Harold Nelson Holdings. It is obvious Labor, in government, did a deal that would see their party as a direct beneficiary. They need to explain their actions with this dirty, stinky, dodgy deal. Taxpayer funds were used to support the Labor Party and their union mates to help them be re-elected.
Madam Speaker, this is a disgrace and they need to come clean. The Leader of the Opposition, particularly, needs to come clean about what else she knew about this, table all her documents, and explain to Territorians how she can justify giving away Territory assets like that.
Cash for Containers Program in Alice Springs
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT
You said in your media release on 11 October that the government is managing a balanced environment by resurrecting the Cash for Containers program. Further, you said you are committed to improving the legislation to encourage further operators to join the market. It does not look like your improved legislation is working, as Territory Metals in Alice Springs has just closed. Although Envirobank stepped in, it is open for such short hours – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 am to 2 pm – that people have to wait for ages to recycle their containers. Where is the improvement in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson. I appreciate the question. It has taken quite a while. I think I said last week in this House that the mop required to clean up a mess is often described as being as big as required to clean up the mess. The mess with the legislation the former government rolled out for cash for cans is taking quite a bit of time to get through.
We know we have issues. We had to step through the process of getting the Mutual Recognition (Northern Territory) Act in place. We are now working on the draft legislation. The first draft came to me for consideration. I was not happy with that legislation; it did not go far enough. Mind you, we have to be very careful we do not turn an apple into an orange because we have so far we can take legislation in the Northern Territory.
I can assure you there was a commercial decision made by the operator in Alice Springs, who closed down after the Territory government stopped funding the scheme whilst it was in the courts. When we were funding the scheme, whilst it was in the courts, that company remained open, but the moment we stopped the funding, it made a commercial decision to stop.
Government was working hard to find other operators, because for quite a while, Alice Springs went without a recycling facility. There are now five additional sites across the Territory compared to when the former Labor government was in charge.
In future, I see this improving because as the legislation is rolled out – I am certain that legislation will get support from the Labor Party because they know there could be improvements in the system.
The new legislation will go as far as we possibly can in the Northern Territory to make it a more efficient process. The more efficient we can make the process, the more inviting it will be for operators to open. I would like to see a day where Alice Springs has three, four or even five operators and reverse vending machines around town. That could be right across the Northern Territory, but the legislation needs to be more efficient than it was.
The news we had out of Victoria only last week was fantastic. They are working towards looking at introducing cash for cans in Victoria. If we have Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory using the cash for cans system, we are closer than ever to getting a national scheme.
We are working to improve the legislation to make it as efficient as possible so operators will be encouraged to enter the market. It has to be commercially sustainable, and that is what we are working on.
Power and Water Price Increases
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Electricity prices are a major contributor to cost of living pressures. Before the last election, the CLP promised to lower the cost of living, but on coming into office, the CLP imposed huge increases in the cost of power and water, causing financial strain and stress to many Territory families and businesses. Your next increase of 5% in a few weeks will add about an extra $330 for the average Territory family, on top of the $2000 per year already imposed by the CLP price hikes.
You deceived Territorians during the last election. You have put financial stress onto small business, and low- and middle-income earners. Let us see some realistic compassion. Will you remove the 5% hike on 1 January and keep it to inflation going forward?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Deputy Opposition Leader for his question. I would like to see the price of electricity come down by 5.5%, not 5%. It is very important to start thinking about what 5.5% actually means, because 5.5% of your electricity bills is the carbon tax. If you want to bring electricity prices down by 5%, go for 5.5% and tell Labor in Canberra to support getting rid of the carbon tax and you will see your electricity bill come down by 5.5%. It will come down straight away, member for Barkly. You speak of reducing electricity prices by 5.5%, tell your mates in Canberra, your union mates and your Labor mates, the people you do dodgy deals with, to get rid of the carbon tax. Tell them to vote to remove the carbon tax and electricity prices will come down by 5.5%. If you want to talk about 5%, talk about carbon tax and talk to your Labor mates in Canberra.
Economic Growth
Ms LEE to TREASURER
Is it true that the Northern Territory continues to lead the nation in economic growth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The member for Arnhem is clearly very interested in the economic position of the Northern Territory. She understands the value of jobs and economic growth right across the Northern Territory.
I am happy to inform this House that last financial year the Northern Territory economy grew by 5.6%. That is the highest growth rate of all jurisdictions right across Australia. The average growth across Australia was just 2.6%. The power house states: New South Wales 1.8%, Victoria 1.6%, South Australia 1.3%, and in the Northern Territory 5.6% economic growth. Every other jurisdiction in Australia would give their eye teeth to see the economic growth occurring across the Northern Territory, but there are other economic indicators. Household consumption in the Territory grew by 6.2%, private investment in the Territory grew by a whopping 62.2%, the Territory’s trade surplus increased by 13.1% to $1.5bn and Territory exports increased by $900m, or 15.1%. Well done, member for Katherine, you are hitting the straps in your portfolio.
The Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment and the Minister for Housing – on the construction front the Territory continues to set new records with the total value of construction work done in the Territory to September this year increasing by 46.9% to $5.6bn. That is the highest annual total on record. Private sector residential work increased by 19.3% to $583m …
Ms Fyles: Thanks to Labor’s work. What have you done? Nothing.
Mr TOLLNER: … to September 2013. I take the interjection from the member from Nightcliff because this is one area where the former government fell down. Everybody remembers the housing crisis we had in the Northern Territory, the accommodation crisis, and Labor would not respond. Both the Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment and the Minister for Housing have responded. They are doing a great job. Approvals are up and all indicators across the board are showing the policies of the Giles Country Liberal government are working. The Territory economy is booming and we intend to keep it that way.
Power and Water Corporation – Privatisation
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER referred to TREASURER
You are hell-bent on splitting up Power and Water Corporation. Your policy to split up generation and retail sectors of the corporation will lead to increased costs, less reliability and job losses, as experienced elsewhere. Your Treasurer has already speculated that 600 jobs need to go. Respected interim board members have resigned in disgust. Territorians do not want to see their essential services privatised.
Will you rule out the privatisation of any section of Power and Water to avoid job losses, reduced reliability and increased utility charges to consumers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Wanguri for her question. I do not accept the premise of your question, but I will ask the shareholding minister of Power and Water to respond.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, it is an interesting campaign that Labor and the unions are running, preaching doom and gloom about the potential privatisation, in their view the inevitable privatisation, of the Power and Water Corporation. They are running a campaign called, ‘Not for Sale’ – Not4sale.org.au/northernterritory, run by a joker called Tony Barry. I will read what it says:
- G’day, I am Tony Barry, you might remember me from movies such as Australia …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It is a straightforward question. Will you rule out the privatisation of any section of the Power and Water Corporation?
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, get to the point please.
Mr TOLLNER: I am explaining exactly that. Not4Sale is the name on your brochure, the campaign the Northern Territory Labor Party and the trade unions are running. It is about a bloke called Tony Barry, and as I was saying …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It is very straightforward: yes or no. Will you move to privatise any section of Power and Water Corporation?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has three minutes to answer the question. Minister, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: Come in spinner. Let me answer your question. You are running this campaign, or I should say a bloke called Tony Barry, well known from
- … Australia, Scales of Justice, Paper Giants, All for my Kiwi Cousins, Goodbye Pork Pie and Home for Christmas. I have been in TV shows like All Saints, Blue Healers, Matlock Police and many more.
He is a hell of a bloke this Tony Barry …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 113: relevance. This is a very roundabout way to answer a very straightforward question. Will you be …
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, it is not a point of order. The minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, I am glad the member raised the matter of relevance, because that is what I am asking about. Here is a fellow called Tony Barry. My understanding is Tony Barry is from Queensland. Look at this! The photograph of Tony Barry has the Brisbane River in the background. Tony Barry went on to say:
- We, as Territorians, own the Power and Water sewerage assets that provide these essential services. Our tax dollars have gone into building and maintaining this infrastructure.
Well, the last time I checked, Tony Barry never paid one cent of tax in the Northern Territory …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Rule out the sale of any part of Power and Water, specifically generation retail. Rule out that privatisation.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Opposition Leader.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, the question has been asked dozens of times. We are on record saying we are not interested in privatising any Power and Water Corporation assets this term. We would not do so without a mandate of the people, and we are not seeking such a mandate. I do not know how many times you have to say that, but they trot Tony Barry up to the Northern Territory and, evidently, he pays taxes here.
Relevance, please! Surely, you could have found a Territorian to come up with this nonsense. What a disgrace, when you have to get an actor from Queensland to sell your case. How pathetic!
School Electronic Roll –
Fair Work Australia Ruling
Fair Work Australia Ruling
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Yesterday, the Fair Work Commission ruled that the teachers union stop instructing teachers to ignore their duty of care to students by refusing to mark the electronic roll and hand in the manual roll to management. Fair Work Australia, obviously, shared the same concerns you had about the risk of safety threats this posed to students. Can you please share your concerns?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I share the member for Namatjira’s concern about child safety in our schools. Some weeks ago, I raised the issue that I was deeply concerned about the union’s instruction to union members in the Education department not to mark the electronic rolls. The response, of course, from teachers was to maintain a hard copy roll. Nevertheless, that did pose a …
Ms Fyles: You are gagging teachers.
Mr ELFERINK: I will come back to that interjection in a second.
That posed a direct threat to the safety of the students in our school system. I instructed the Commissioner for Public Employment to take that matter to Fair Work Australia. Fair Work Australia examined the matter and agreed with the position of the Northern Territory government that this is a safety issue and the safety of students should be paramount. Such was the opinion of the Fair Work Commission in this space that the Fair Work Commission said to the unions, ‘You can no longer take your protected action for three months’. The legal protections around the industrial actions have been removed for a period of three months from the union because of its irresponsible and unlawful direction to members of the teachers union in the classrooms ...
Ms Fyles: Teachers are still being sacked!
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I wonder what the member for Nightcliff would say to a parent who rings the school when it is burning down and says, ‘Where is my son? Where is my daughter?’, and the answer from the teachers is, ‘We do not know because we did not get the electronic roll marked before we all ran out of the classroom’.
How could you possibly countenance such a thing? Yet, through interjection after interjection I hear in this place, the member for Nightcliff continues to defend the irresponsible conduct of the Australian Education Union towards the students in our classrooms. The member for Nightcliff should feel a sense of disgrace. I remember in her maiden speech in this place …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The member for Nightcliff is defending teachers.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: I ask the member for Nightcliff to protect the children who she swore in her maiden speech mattered so much to her, the children of the Northern Territory. Her slavish adherence to the union position, despite the danger that position represents to students of the Northern Territory, paints a very grim picture of her attitude. I do not want to see the students of the Northern Territory being used as a human shield in a political fight driven by unions and the Labor Party.
Darwin Port Sale
Mr VATSKALIS to CHIEF MINISTER:
Your Treasurer just told us there is a union and Labor Party conspiracy for the sale of government assets, but let us talk about who is talking about privatisation. On talkback radio on 5 September 2012, Terry Mills said privatising Darwin Port Corporation, as a revenue raising measure, has merit and should be considered. Any sale of Darwin port would be nothing more than a quick cash grab that pushes the cost of living in the Territory further upwards through increased freight charges. It is not the Labor Party and the unions talking about privatisation; it is one of your own. Will you now rule out the sale of Darwin port?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for his question. The member for Fong Lim has answered the question about Power and Water, as have I on a number of different occasions. There is no doubt the government is looking at ways we can improve port facilities in the Northern Territory. We are looking at a second port. We are doing some modelling at the moment. We have a scoping study. We are identifying how we can have a master plan into the future for that second port, and we will see how we can best utilise the current port facilities.
How we will move forward to ensure that we get best commercial performance out of the port, we will keep under consideration. We want to ensure, in the development of northern Australia, the Northern Territory and Darwin, we have best utilised the ports and all considerations will be made about how we can best achieve that.
At the moment, there are no considerations to sell the port. I have not had a discussion with anybody about selling the port, but we will look at the best way to manage the port …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. I appreciate the Chief Minister’s comments, but will he directly rule out the sale of the port of Darwin?
Madam SPEAKER: He has just said that, member for Nightcliff. It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, we will look at all opportunities and options to get the best port facilities in the Northern Territory. We have not had any discussions on this side of the Chamber about selling the port. We think the port, as a strategic government asset, is very important.
We want to get the best processes under way for a seamless transition for a logistical supply chain to get product to the port in either direction. We will continue to work on that. We are working on a process to get a master plan developed and designed for a second port facility. That work is about to commence. We look forward to that opportunity. It is exciting to think what can be done in the Northern Territory, particularly around downstream processing. It is not a pipe dream, it is something we are clearly focused on and we will work on that. As soon as we have some information, we will bring it to the Chamber to let all Territorians know what we are trying to do to improve industry around the Northern Territory.
Live Trade to Asia
Ms LEE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Can you please update the House on the work being done to increase live exports to Asia?
ANSWER
Mr Vatskalis: Tony Abbott does not help.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
MR WESTRA van HOLTHE: Madam Speaker, I will return to the interjection by the member for Casuarina.
I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I will talk about cattle but I will also talk briefly about buffalo. I know that is an important component of economic potential for the people who live in her electorate. The Gulin Gulin Buffalo Company will hopefully come back to life after years of hiatus and that will be driven by the input from the member for Arnhem and this government which is very keen on this.
I pick up on the interjection by the member for Casuarina. He was talking about Tony Abbott. Let us talk about what the former federal Labor government did to the live cattle trade in 2011. Do you want to talk about that? Do you really want to open that can of worms?
In June 2011, the former Labor government in Canberra closed, and effectively destroyed for years, the live cattle trade out of the Northern Territory and the rest of Australia. You want to lead with your chin, member for Casuarina? Every time I have an opportunity to talk about this I will give it to you because that was the most disgraceful piece of public policy, the most disgraceful decision made by an Australian government ever. They will go down in the annals of history as the worst government Australia has ever seen for that. Do you know the economic impact that had on the Northern Territory? No, you do not, because you have not bothered to find out. It was disgraceful.
Let us talk about the positive work this government has done to revitalise the live trade.
In a little less than four weeks, more than 70 000 head of cattle will leave the port of Darwin, which is amazing. To put that into context, in the 12 months of 2012-13, 276 000 head of cattle were exported through East Arm Wharf. The 70 000 going out in a month is more than a quarter of the entire 2012 throughput of the port, which is fantastic. That means the live cattle trade is seeing resurgence, and we will continually work with the buffalo industry because we recognise the importance of that. It is something the Labor Party was never interested in and did nothing about. It allowed that industry to flag and fail, and was responsible for the demise of that as well because of their lack of interest.
We all know the Labor Party is not interested in the primary sector. It never was and never will be. To the contrary, this government will drive the economics of the Northern Territory through the primary sector.
Art Collection at Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
My question is about the state of the art collection at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Can the minister confirm the art collection at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT has been valued at $100m and there are now no art curators and no history curators left at the museum, and no conservators left to conserve the collection? If that is true, how are Territorians meant to access the art which belongs to the community if there are no curators and no conservators? What do you intend to do to correct this alarming situation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I wish the member for Nelson had sought a briefing on this topic. He is disingenuous at best and dishonest at worst.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, withdraw that comment.
Mr CONLAN: I withdraw, Madam Speaker, but the fact remains that this is the mark and the calibre of the member for Nelson. Nevertheless, the value of the Northern Territory art collection is considerable and potentially valued, yes, at around that. I confirm that with you, member for Nelson.
We have a number of curators still working for the Department of Arts and Museums in our galleries right across the Northern Territory. The answer to that is no; however, I will seek further clarification and provide you with an answer. I had hoped you would seek a briefing from the Department of Arts and Museums or at least my office.
Rio Tinto –
Curtailment of Operations at Nhulunbuy
Curtailment of Operations at Nhulunbuy
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
You have completely mishandled the Nhulunbuy crisis. You have rolled over and allowed Rio Tinto to determine a brutally short time frame to curtail the refinery operations. You have failed in your responsibility to ensure adequate preparations were in place in the event of a curtailment. From the moment you reneged on the gas deal in July you should, at the very least, have commenced genuine contingency planning with a social and economic impact analysis, instead of the mad scramble we are witnessing.
You have failed in your responsibility to advocate for the residents of Nhulunbuy and the region to ensure Rio and all tiers of government provide the fairest possible outcome. Your incompetence, and at times blatant lies, has grave consequences for thousands of Territorians.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Move Motion of Censure
Move Motion of Censure
Ms WALKER: Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this House from censuring the Chief Minister for abject bungling of the Nhulunbuy crisis which has devastating consequences for thousands of Territorians. My motion is signed and will be circulated.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, we accept the censure motion. However, it will have an effect on the business of the day arrangements which were indicated to both the Independent and the Opposition earlier.
I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016