2015-06-17
Latitude Travel – Gifts or Benefits
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
In his investigation into the conduct of the Commissioner of Police, as well as another officer, the Ombudsman reported that travel agent Xana Kamitsis gave the commissioner a number of personal gifts. Will you categorically tell this House that neither you, your ministers, former ministers, any MLAs nor ministerial staff have received gifts, services or benefits from Latitude Travel?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as you know, there is a current police investigation, so I do not want to get involved in commentary around matters pertaining to that investigation. However, feel free to direct questions to any of my colleagues relating to those matters.
Housing – Territorians’ Needs
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, can you please outline what the government is doing to ensure its housing programs meet the needs of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. Palmerston is a satellite city within the Northern Territory. It is seeing rapid development, land release and housing construction meeting the needs of Territorians up hill and down dale.
Not only will Territorians see rapid housing development, new houses and new schools being built, they will also see the Palmerston Regional Hospital being built just down the road. It was promised by Labor for eleven-and-a-half years, but it was never delivered. It is a bigger and better site, it will have more hospital beds and it will be built. The intersection is being constructed as we speak. The contract has gone out for the water main and the first pour will occur on 29 October this year.
Member for Drysdale, I understand your interest in this area. Today the Housing minister and I announced a review into housing programs and services across all six areas of housing in the Northern Territory. The first five areas are homelessness, supported accommodation, private housing, first home owners’ grants into home ownership, and public housing. The sixth area …
Ms Walker: Will you take on some of those empty houses in Nhulunbuy?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Nhulunbuy!
Mr GILES: Can you be quiet, member for Nhulunbuy? Whingeing and bleating across the Chamber again.
There is also an area for affordable housing. That industry was not in place in the Northern Territory until we came to government, putting forth our 500 houses per year in investment to support those wanting to get into affordable housing. We have 1200 to 1300 affordable houses or units which are tenanted, constructed, vacant, in construction or being planned.
We have announced today that we will put further discussions on hold. We will review the first home owners’ grants and continue to operate them, but put them on hold and see whether we need to intervene further to support first home buyers. We will look at what we can do to further support those who may be homeless and living rough, and pay attention to single men in the Northern Territory who often find themselves living in difficult situations. All too often they find themselves subject to poor health outcomes and even suicide in a number of cases.
We will also look at the state of supported accommodation, release a draft strategy in October, go through a public consultation process and release a final strategy in February next year to ensure we meet the needs of Territorians across the housing spectrum.
Land release and housing construction are fantastic to date; vacancy rates are up, rental prices are coming down and we are starting to meet Labor’s deficit from when we came to government.
Government Credit Cards – Standards of Use
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The Treasurer’s Directions for use of government credit cards clearly state in section C 3.3.4:
- A Corporate Credit Card must only be used for official, approved purposes and must not be used for:
personal, non work-related purchases;
hospitality or entertainment purposes without prior approval …
Your former Minister for Tourism and former chief of staff, while travelling at taxpayers’ expense, forced the Tourism chief executive to breach these strict rules and pay a $5100 tab at a disreputable and questionable bar in Tokyo at 4 am.
Why did you turn a blind eye to the flagrant breach of rules on credit cards? Did you provide prior approval? Why do you have one standard for hard-working public servants and another for your ministers and their staff?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, one standard is that nobody on this side of the Chamber other than me holds a corporate credit card, which I am returning so I cannot use it again because Labor did not like that I purchased dinner at a business meeting. That is our standard. The standard for people in bureaucracy is that they hold a corporate credit card to expend money on behalf of the Territory government to facilitate their daily jobs.
When referring to the member for Greatorex and the CEO of the Tourism department, a credit card was used and it was paid back at the request of the member. That is what we expect to occur.
If you want to talk about Treasurer’s Directions, on this side of the Chamber we run an efficient and effective government, as opposed to when your member for Karama was the Treasurer in government for eleven-and-a-half years, when you blew out government debt to $5.5bn.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. A credit card can only be used for hospitality or entertainment purposes with prior approval. Did you give prior approval?
Mr GILES: We have 60 minutes for Question Time. We have fantastic people in the audience today, wanting to listen to proper questions and you come in here asking rubbish. Why do you not ask how we have paid back your debt and fixed your deficit? We are providing leadership in the public service and supporting more Aboriginal people in getting jobs in the public service, increasing the rate from 8% to 16% by 2020.
You could ask about our level of investment in supporting change in the public service, but you want to know whether someone gave prior approval on a credit card, not what we are achieving and delivering for Territorians. My point is simple; the direction of our Treasurer is to run an effective and efficient government, one that does not leave debt for our children, or leave deficit so future governments need to stop delivering services to get the books back into surplus. Treasurer, the government has delivered on what your direction is ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. Do you have one standard for hard-working public servants and another standard for your ministers?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The Chief Minister has time to answer the question.
Mr GILES: If you want to talk about relevance and getting the government books back in order, we have done that. To my colleagues and everybody who works in the public service, thank you for your help and your service. We have fixed Labor’s mess. Not only have we fixed it, we are also investing in the Territory. We are investing in sports vouchers, new roads, Back to School vouchers, and the biggest Health and Education budgets. School attendance, budgets and results are up. This is what relevance is all about.
I congratulate my colleagues. The Treasurer’s Directions are delivering what we were elected to do, which is get government back in order and deliver services to Territorians.
Economy of the NT – Current Condition
Mr CONLAN to TREASURER
I note that the Leader of the Opposition, since coming to office, constantly talks down the economy of the Northern Territory, notwithstanding the $6bn which has just been invested into all corners of the Northern Territory. He cherry picks and highlights individual cases to support his flimsy argument. Can the Treasurer educate the House on the true state of the Northern Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the fabulous member for Greatorex for his question. He is correct; as much as I can say I like and am quite friendly with the Opposition Leader, he has this habit of talking down the Territory economy. He has adopted the tactic of cherry picking statistics. It is sad because it undermines confidence in the Territory economy. What is he saying also happens to be completely wrong.
In response to the member for Greatorex, our economy grew by 6.5% in 2013-14. That is astounding. This was the highest growth rate of all states and territories across the nation. Deloitte Access Economics forecasts that growth in the Territory will continue to outpace all other jurisdictions over the next five years. In the March quarter for 2015 the Territory recorded the strongest growth in state final demand in Australia. State final demand increased by 6.7% to $30.6bn. Retail spending was also steady in April at $256m.
We also saw the largest increase in vehicle sales of any jurisdiction in Australia for May at 0.8%. I mention that because that is bad news for the Opposition Leader. It is great news for the Territory, however. Last month the Opposition Leader was in the media talking down our economy again, saying it was in crisis because car sales had dipped in April. This is what you call cherry picking statistics. We have the largest increase in vehicle sales of any jurisdiction in the nation, yet the Opposition Leader feels it is his right and obligation to cherry pick those statistics.
We have one of the lowest unemployment rates, at 4.5%, the second-lowest in Australia. Our economy is clearly outperforming the rest of the nation. We are determined to ensure it stays strong. The Chief Minister and others on this side of the House have been working hard to diversify the economy, to make sure there are jobs for Indigenous Territorians especially …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will you apologise to Sandra Lew Fatt for putting her out of business?
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, that is not a point of order.
Mr TOLLNER: I will not even respond to that. This year we are spending $1.4bn in the economy, putting in place essential infrastructure - roads, bridges and those types of things. This government has a plan for the economy and we are doing well.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Travel – Closure of Agencies
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday Sandra Lew Fatt, who has been a local travel agent for 45 years, said she would close the doors of her family business as a result of the CLP’s decision to hand all government travel to corporate agencies. Your government made the decision to wipe out local travel agents and hand that business to interstate corporates without discussing it with them.
Can you please explain to Ms Lew Fatt, and other agents, why you did this without having the decency to consult them or at least try to understand what it means to them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for a very serious question. If I can answer it without any interjections I am happy to explain it in full detail.
When we came to government about $30m per annum was spent on travel. There was no process for how that was spent. There is TRIPS, a travel booking system, and GAS, an accounting system which pays the bills. When travel was sought, a department would contact a local travel agent and try to identify the flights and accommodation. There was no value for money paradigm put over it and no reason why any specific travel agent was picked. That was for about $30m, and some travel agents had a lot of money while some only had a bit. We recognised problems in the process. There was no value for money question in that regard.
About 12 or 18 months ago we changed the system to the Corporate Travel booking system ...
Ms Fyles: Did it go to tender?
Mr GILES: Let me answer, you asked the question. It went to tender and we asked all government departments and agencies to utilise the system. To date, just over 90% utilise that system. About 14 travel agents in the Territory of the 29 still receive bookings from Corporate Travel. About $5.1m is being spent this financial year. Of the $5.1m across those 14 travel agents, forgetting the 15 who received nothing, one travel agent received $3.1 to $3.2m worth of expenditure and another received $1.2m to $1.3m. The others received around $300 000 or $200 000, and others $45 000. One received $3000 and another $678.
I tell you that because there was no fair and equitable system around why one company gets $3m out of the $5m while another gets $1m, one gets $200 000 and one gets $600. The system was not right. That is why we are working to fix it. That is why I announced yesterday that from 1 July everybody will be going through the Corporate Travel system. In September we will put out a tender seeking a new Corporate Travel business to start on 1 January. I encourage all Territory travel agents to work together to tender for that. The Department of Business and other agencies will assist you to come together. In the interest of fairness, equity, value for money, openness and transparency we had to fix the system because it was a bad system. As I said, $30m of government money was being spent on travel through a friend ringing a friend - good, bad or indifferent - to get through to a travel agent.
We are fixing the system. It was a serious question about government expenditure and that is why it is changing.
Trade and Investment in the Territory
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for ASIAN ENGAGEMENT and TRADE
You have had discussions with the federal Minister for Trade and Investment, Hon Andrew Robb, about attracting new investments to the Northern Territory. Can you update this House and Territory businesses on the success of your endeavours?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his serious question. There is more good news about what this government is doing. I will put a few things on the record to make sure those opposite understand what is going on. This is an area where they seriously dropped the ball when they were in government.
The Northern Territory economy continues to be one of the best-performing economies in the country, and that includes international trade. Unemployment in the Northern Territory is almost 2% below the rest of Australia and we have a record workplace participation rate. That is not bad when someone opposite calls us a basket case in economic terms. Sadly, the opposition continues to talk down our economy. We are the envy of every Trade minister in Australia, to the point where the federal Trade minister, Andrew Robb, is bringing the nation’s Trade ministers to Darwin in November for the Australian Trade ministers’ conference.
This meeting will specifically focus on a Team Australia approach to investment in northern Australia and where Darwin sits in the trade gateway. We are the gateway to Asia from Australia, and from Asia we are the gateway to Australia. I am also expecting that when the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia is released on Friday there will be a major announcement, which will put a worldwide investment focus on Darwin and the Northern Territory.
The Country Liberals government will work closely with the private sector to make the most of this opportunity to promote our investment propositions in the Northern Territory. Unlike the members opposite the Country Liberals government has put up the open for business sign, and is pursuing trade and investment opportunities for Territory business, unlike when the ALP opposition was in government. It shut overseas offices and gave trade and investment away. That is when we saw things take a downward turn.
For the financial year of 2014-15 to date, the Northern Territory government has promoted the NT as the preferred location for investment in a number of ways. We have led the organisation’s seven outbound missions to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, India and Japan in the sectors of agribusiness, education, infrastructure and resources. It is about sourcing export dollars.
We have hosted more than 46 inbound invested visits from interstate Australia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and the European Union, and we have exhibited in four major industry conferences in Australia. It is because of our efforts that Darwin has been selected to host the Australia-Taiwan Business Council in 2015 to hold a joint conference. Hosting a large group of Taiwanese corporate executives and government representatives is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the Territory.
This is just a sample of what the Country Liberal Party is doing to grow a strong Territory economy that will prosper all Territorians, our kids, our grandkids and those to come.
Travel – Travel Class
Ms LEE to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
Did your chief of staff, Paul Mossman, travel first-class with you or in economy with his son?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The answer is neither.
Port of Darwin Potential
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline what the Territory government is doing to unlock the economic potential of the Port of Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if there was an award for who asks the best questions, we would be winning today. We have had questions about the economy and everything that is happening in the Northern Territory.
The development of the Port of Darwin is probably the most important future investment in the Northern Territory. The Port of Darwin is going through a process, following the passing of legislation in previous parliaments, of seeking a partner to potentially take up to a 99-year lease to manage and invest in the Port in Darwin.
We anticipate this type of investment being slightly different to what has occurred in other parts of the nation and the world. We want the right investment, not the maximum dollar investment. We want the investor who will build the port, hardstand and quay line, finish off the rail loop and make sure the port meets the needs of a growing northern Australia, and Northern Territory agricultural, horticultural and mining industries.
The Port of Darwin, which has about 780 m of quay line with a range of berthing capacities, as well as the Marine Supply Base, has a capacity rating of about 65%. That is when it is 65% used it is full; it is hard to get the boats in and out. It is currently operating at about 41% to 43% capacity. That is a bit of a downturn in regard to underutilisation, especially due to a downturn of the iron ore market in the world commodity view, as well as what goes over our port.
Looking at companies like TNG with its titanium and vanadium deposit near Barrow Creek, or the phosphate deposits like Wunara on Barkly Highway, Rum Jungle Resources near Ammaroo, Ampilatwatja, or Legune Station with its $1.45bn prawn opportunity, we need the port to be bigger in the future because 65% utilisation will come around like never before. The minute we find an investor in the port who builds it, you will start to see agricultural, horticultural, agribusiness and mining developments in the Northern Territory, which will set up the Territory for its future.
Most importantly, those investments are in regional and remote parts of the Northern Territory where we have the highest level of unemployment, the lowest level of labour force participation and the highest rates of underemployment. We will start bringing jobs to the bush. That is why port investment is so important to the Territory’s future.
I thank the member for Blain for his question. He chaired the port committee and has done a fantastic job. We are looking forward to seeing the outcome of the lease process which is under way right now.
Travel – Alleged Punishment of Agents
Ms MOSS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday Sandra Lew Fatt, a Darwin icon, said:
- I don’t see why we – the travel agents who are still here, still in business at the moment – have to be punished for the sins that aren’t even ours …
Can you explain to Ms Lew Fatt why you are punishing her because your ministers, MLAs and ministerial staff exploit their travel rights and your government cannot manage its own travel?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I assume that question is out of order. I will not put it to you for that ...
Madam SPEAKER: No, I do not think you should, Chief Minister.
Mr GILES: I do not accept the premise of that question.
As I said in my previous, quite comprehensive answer, we inherited a travel management system which did not have any process and spent more than $30m without any accountability or transparency. There was no reason why one travel agent would get more money as opposed to others, or why some were winners and others not.
Currently 90% goes through Corporate Travel, 10% does not. There is still no reason why that 10% distribution is going to some more than others, or why one person gets $3m-plus of travel as a travel agent - I will not name them - and another only gets $600 worth of expenditure. I do not think that is fair for any business. We are working out a process to ensure there is a level playing field and a certain level of equity in the expenditure of NT government funds. It is only fair and reasonable.
There have been questions about why KPMG did not do a review before 1 July last year. There are a number of reasons; one is because it is a paper-based process. The second is that TRIPS and GAS, the two accounting systems, do not properly talk to each other. The technology process does not appropriately allow us to apply communication between the two. There is a high degree of reconciliation that needs to occur between those two systems which uses a lot of time.
The other component is going through 10 years of trying to establish a witch hunt to attack former Labor governments in this whole exploitation, expenditure and utilisation of those travel funds. That is not what it is about. It is about fixing the process, not going back and conducting a witch hunt. If you want a witch hunt of when Labor was in government, I am happy to do that. I do not want to spend the money or waste resources; I want to put the money towards teachers, nurses and roads, which is what we should be doing.
We are fixing a process that was never right and which we inherited. As I said, over $30m was spent without a fair, equitable and transparent process. The next steps to making …
Ms Fyles: You did not answer questions in estimates and you still will not.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: You did not ask the right questions because you are incompetent and inexperienced.
NTPS – New Recruitment Initiative
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
One thing I have learnt since being in this Chamber is the Territory public cannot stand the constant degradation of our hard-working Northern Territory public servants by the Leader of the Opposition and his team. Good, hard-working public servants are constantly castigated and undermined by the Leader of the Opposition and his team. For those in the gallery, that is them over there.
Minister, can you please update the parliament on the Northern Territory government’s approach to our hard-working public service and the new public service Simplified Recruitment Initiative?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his perceptive question. He was quite right in his preamble to the question. Before I get to the nub of the answer I make the observation that most on this side of the House sat in opposition for four years. In that time I do not believe we ever named a public servant. I stand to be corrected, but I do not think we did it once. That is the hallmark of the Labor crowd over there; they like to bring our public servants into disrepute. They like to name them in this House and castigate them whenever they get the opportunity. It is a disgrace.
In contrast, this government is supporting our public sector. We are committed to making our public sector an even better employer of choice across the Territory. There are about 20 000 public servants currently employed in the Northern Territory. Despite all the scaremongering and lies put out from across the Chamber, there were 20 000 when we came to government and there are about 20 000 now, so we have not dropped public service numbers. There are slightly more, in fact, but we cannot let the truth get in the way of a good story, can we?
The Simplified Recruitment Initiative process will make our public service a more attractive place to work. We are working on a range of initiatives designed to attract, retain and develop our people in the public service, at the same time cutting red tape. This Simplified Recruitment Initiative follows extensive consultation with government departments and the unions. We are keen to build on the skills base; the initiative will achieve that by streamlining and improving the selection process.
The most significant change under this will be shortened job applications. Applications will be limited to one page of information with an attached resume. There will be training for members of selection panels. By September this year most selection panel members will have undertaken merit training. There will be selection reports; the information around the successful applicant’s merit and why they were selected will be provided to unsuccessful applicants to ensure a clear and transparent decision-making process.
I am proud to be part of a government that makes life easier for Territorians and supports the public sector as opposed to those sitting opposite today. I am very pleased to be a part of this as it is a great initiative along with many of the great initiatives in the public service from this side of the House, including the increase to our Indigenous public sector employment.
Travel – Review
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Sandra Lew Fatt is a highly respected travel agent who understands how the travel industry works. Yesterday she questioned the government’s internal review into travel, saying:
- Of course they’re not going to find anything between June 2014 and now …
…
Go back a couple of years and see who’s been doing what.
This respected travel agent can see through your sham attempt to conduct an alleged investigation into travel. Why do you persist with trying to dupe the rest of us? When will you bring in an independent expert and hold a real independent review with a genuine time frame?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am looking for that violin; it must be around here somewhere. Another day, another call for an inquiry by Labor. It is all you do. All you want to do is spend money on inquiries. We have answered the question about travel. If you want us to look at how you spent money when you were Labor advisers and deputy chiefs of staff we can do that, but I do not think it is the right way to spend government money.
When we came to government, as I said, there was $30m which you were spending without any process. No one knew how or where you were spending it or why you were picking one travel agent over another. I have the option of looking at all that, but I do not think it is worth spending millions of dollars on reviews to do that. It is best to ensure we have the right process, but we know where your interests lie.
You want to spend millions of dollars on that in the same way as your alternate policy; you want to spend money on the Arafura Games. The two policies of Labor are to hold more inquiries and to bring back the Arafura Games.
Let me tell you about some opposing policies. We have a sports voucher policy, where we support kids joining sports …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. I asked a very direct question. When will you hold a real review? Is it because you are afraid they will find something?
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down; it is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: We have a sports voucher policy as opposed to the Arafura Games. We have a policy for investing $20m in upgrades to Richardson Park so Territorians have better infrastructure. We have a policy for investing money in tennis. What does Labor have? Labor has the Arafura Games and inquiries. We have a policy to invest in the velodrome …
Ms MOSS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question had nothing to do with sport. It was about your travel and an independent review. We would appreciate it if you could please get back to the question.
Mr GILES: We have a policy to increase Indigenous employment in the public service …
Mr Tollner: Why would you have an inquiry when people turn up and lie?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. Member for Fong Lim, cease calling out across the Chamber.
Mr GILES: I can sense the frustration in the Chamber from this side because of the repetitive nature of questions that are irrelevant to Territorians who want to see development in the Northern Territory.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. With 30 seconds to go, will you answer Territorians, have a review and show Territorians what you are trying to hide?
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has the call; he has time to answer.
Mr GILES: You are continuing to waste time in Question Time in this Chamber. I gave you a full and detailed explanation, despite the fact you did not ask any decent questions in estimates where we could have provided this information. We will continue to provide Territorians with updates on what we are doing. You have a complete vacuum in policy and intellect around these subjects.
October Business Month
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for BUSINESS
October Business Month is a Country Liberal government initiative which has stood the test of time, helping Territory businesses to grow and prosper. Can you update members of this House on the progress in planning this year’s October Business Month?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her very relevant question about what is occurring in the Territory. I have some great things to say about Northern Territory public servants, unlike those opposite. Further to what the Deputy Chief Minister said, when we were in opposition I recall the then Speaker, the member for Nightcliff, Mrs Jane Aagaard, continually castigating the then government - those sitting opposite - and lecturing them about naming people in this Chamber.
Further to what the member for Katherine said, that is what they seem to do over there. They hid behind public servants then, and now they are bagging public servants.
In the Department of Business many public servants are doing a fantastic job by helping the Territory get on with business. This year, 2015, marks 21 years of the Territory’s biggest business event, that is October Business Month, which is great news.
October Business Month is the premier business event of the Northern Territory and is considered by many Territory based businesses, small and medium enterprises, as the premier business event in their annual calendar. An exciting line up of keynote guest speakers has been arranged; each of them has a wealth of business experience to share with businesses in the Territory. This year’s themes include things like leadership, finance, marketing, social media and business technology, with a strong focus on women in leadership.
I will give you some of the keynote speakers. We have Mr Ruslan Kogan, who is the founder and CEO of Kogan.com, which has grown into a multimillion dollar consumer electronics and online retail business, with millions of customers. In eight years the company has gone from a garage to global, becoming the most efficient retailer in the world.
Mrs Naomi Simson founded RedBalloon in 2001 with her business partner and has gone on to become one of Australia’s high-tech success stories.
Mr David de Garis is Director and Senior Economist from the National Australia Bank. David is an economist on the floor of the Melbourne Dealing Room where he keeps his colleagues up to speed with what is happening on a day-to-day basis with the economy and markets.
Such is the quality of these people who are coming to present in October Business Month.
Mr Matt Moran is a well-known multi-award-winning chef, restaurateur and bestselling cookbook author with over 30 successful years in the food industry. Mr Moran obviously is an industry icon. Those who watch TV will know he spends a lot of time giving out some great hints.
Steven Bradbury is known to many Australians. He is a four-time Olympian, gold medallist and businessman who brings a fresh and uniquely Australian feel to the corporate world. He started and grew his own business, the Revolutionary Boot Company, or RBC.
In 1994 October Business Month had 699 attendees at 12 events. This year we have almost 10 times that. Last year 9000 people and over 100 businesses participated.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Port Melville – Lease Arrangements
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can you tell the House if Port Melville is entirely built on Aboriginal land or built partly in the coastal waters controlled by the Northern Territory, that is, below the low water mark? If the port is on Aboriginal land is there a lease. If there is a lease, was it for over 12 years? If so, was there a development application, when was it advertised and what were the details?
If the port was built within the coastal waters of the Northern Territory, that is, below the low water mark, was a Crown lease applied for? If so, what were the details of that Crown lease, was the lease advertised and when was it advertised if so?
If all of these things happened, were clear rules set for the development of this port as part of the lease agreements?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The Crown Lands Act governs the release and development of Northern Territory owned land. The boundary mark of Tiwi Land Trust land extends to the low water mark, as with all Aboriginal land, as the member is aware.
The Port Melville development on Aboriginal land is the subject of a lease to Port Melville Pty Ltd. On 26 May this year Development Permit DP15/0260 was granted for a lease in excess of 12 years in relation to the Port Melville development area. The subdivision was advertised for two weeks from 24 April to 8 May in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act. No public submissions were received. The application advised that the lease is for the purpose of construction of a port and for the conduct or facilitation of port operations and associated ancillary purposes.
The area covered by that lease is located entirely on Aboriginal land. The infrastructure of Port Melville in relation to the low water mark has not been surveyed or conclusively determined by the Surveyor-General. This is the case in relation to the vast areas of Aboriginal land across the Northern Territory, as surveying the low water mark is very costly and, as you would appreciate, time consuming.
Although some infrastructure of Port Melville may fall within Crown land beyond the low water mark, the precise area will need to be determined by a survey.
The Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment will continue to work with the proponent as appropriate to determine the extent of the existing or proposed infrastructure’s location on Tiwi Land Trust or Crown land. Where infrastructure is located on Crown land, a Crown lease may be required, and the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment is currently investigating that option. I hope this answers your question, member for Nelson.
Travel by Ministerial Officer
Ms WALKER to MINSTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
When questioned in the April sittings about the travel of your senior adviser Mr Paul Mossman to New York, you tabled a letter from Qantas indicating they held a booking for Mr Mossman in business class seats. However, documents revealed under freedom of information showed he travelled economy class. Will you clear this up and table the e-tickets issued for Mr Mossman’s travel.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I was expecting a Women’s Policy question about domestic violence. She forgot to ask that during estimates. She is still banging on about travel which was undertaken in March last year. Why is she not asking me about the COAG meeting I attended in Sydney on the importance of domestic violence amongst our people?
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The minister could clear this up here and now by tabling the e-tickets for that travel.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, member for Nightcliff.
Mrs PRICE: Madam Speaker, I want to talk about domestic violence within our community.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, the opposition member asked a question to you as the minister.
Mrs PRICE: She asked a question that was relevant to a trip I took to New York last year that involved women from all over the world coming to New York to talk about the importance of domestic violence amongst our people. She has never asked me a question about domestic violence in our families.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 113: relevance. We have asked a very direct question. If the minister tabled the e-tickets it would clear this matter up once and for all.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, the minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mrs PRICE: Madam Speaker, she can ask those questions through FOI.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Travel by Ministerial Officer
Travel by Ministerial Officer
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
Minister, this is not rocket science. You travelled business class. Was Mr Mossman seated next to you or near you? Did you see him fly to New York and back in business class?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Nhulunbuy, as I said earlier, can go through FOI to have those questions answered.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 113: relevance. It is a very direct question, why will you not answer it? Table the documents.
Mrs PRICE: I gave my answer, Madam Speaker
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has finished her answer.
Rio Tinto Refinery – Curtailment of Operations
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you detail how the community of Nhulunbuy is responding to the Rio Tinto announcement in 2013 to curtail the refinery operation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for the Tiwi Islands has asked a question about Nhulunbuy. You would think the member for Nhulunbuy might ask a question about Nhulunbuy. She wants to know if someone sat next to Bess on a plane. She does not want to know the type of planes flying in to Nhulunbuy, how many tourists or miners are coming in and how government is supporting the community of Nhulunbuy. No, she is busy muckraking. She would rather have a go at the Minister for Women’s Policy than talk about domestic violence, fixing the regional councils, housing or Nhulunbuy. Talking about seats on a plane is important to the member for Nhulunbuy.
The member for Nhulunbuy is a very confused individual. She turned up in parliament and …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive. The Chief Minister should answer the question rather than make commentary about the member for Nhulunbuy.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nhulunbuy, do you find the comments offensive?
Ms WALKER: No, I have thicker skin than that.
Mr GILES: Obviously she has thicker skin than the member for Nightcliff. You need thick skin when you are the member for Nhulunbuy. This member runs around in this Chamber saying everything is falling apart, but then publically says how well everything is going.
I am happy to give a very clear example. On radio earlier this month the member for Nhulunbuy was talking the town up after some very difficult times, when Rio Tinto announced the curtailment of its alumina plant. The member for Nhulunbuy said on radio earlier this month that the place is reasonably buoyant. The member for Nhulunbuy saying that Nhulunbuy is reasonably buoyant is a far stretch from what the member for Nhulunbuy would say in this Chamber.
As we know, in April during the member for Nhulunbuy’s budget reply speech she kept attacking the government for how badly Nhulunbuy was going. The member for Nhulunbuy is trying to have her cake and eat it too, talking to her community saying how good things are, and saying everywhere else how bad things are. I go back to the start of my answer, when I thanked the member for Arafura for his question, because he is concentrating on the real things occurring in Nhulunbuy, not who is sitting in who’s seat.
Anyone would think the member for Nhulunbuy is concentrating on a game of musical chairs. Nhulunbuy has stabilised at around 2500 people, there are more children attending school and there is a large investment strategy in government infrastructure and spending, and tourism is starting to pick up there. It is fantastic and there is a lot more work to be done.
Government – Territorians’ Trust
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER
The former leader of the Country Liberal Party, Jodeen Carney, in her opinion piece in the Sunday Territorian said your government had returned to the ‘let them eat cake’ days through your refusal to detail ministerial travel costs. She said it was obstruction and that it was not the hallmark of a government that values transparency or accountability.
Is Jodeen Carney right? How can Territorians have any faith and trust in your government to be open, honest and transparent?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, let them eat cake. I hope you are all full because you handed over the $3m Stella Maris site, so if you want to talk about eating cake you must have big bellies in the Labor Party. Handing over a $3m asset to your union mates stinks of corruption, fraud and illegal activities, looking after your union mates. That is a disgrace. If you want to talk about eating cake, get out your slicer and start munching away because you are the guys with the bellies full of cake when it comes to handing over government assets and doing the wrong thing from a government point of view.
Health – Aboriginal Employees
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you advise the Assembly on what the government is doing to increase the number of Aboriginal employees in the health service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I concern myself with matters that resonate in the hearts and minds of Territorians. Aboriginal employment would have to be one of the top priorities for many people in the Northern Territory, not least of which are the Aboriginal people who live in our remote and regional areas, but not exclusively by any means.
In recent times I have turned my attention specifically to the matters of Aboriginal employment in the Northern Territory Health department. Since being the Minister for Health I have made it a priority to attend to matters of Aboriginal employment, specifically through meetings focusing on the Back on Track policy, which is about getting Aboriginal people back into the employment environment within the Department of Health.
I am pleased to announce that in recent times we have increased the number of full-time equivalents with 56 new positions going to Aboriginal people in the Health department. This is about making sure we have measures in place and go through processes of advertising, ensuring that when people respond to those advertisements they have all of the requisite skills and merits required to fulfil those jobs. If they happen to be local Aboriginal people from remote and regional areas, they may enjoy those jobs with a view to staying in them much longer. I discovered from the time I worked in the bush that on average about two years was about right for a public service posting in the bush.
Since becoming the Minister for Health, I have spoken to many nurses in remote places and the turnaround time is closer to six months nowadays, which is faster than it has ever been. The best way to get long-term employees is through the local people who live in the community. Miwatj in the member for Nhulunbuy’s electorate needs to be congratulated in the way it is rolling out these processes.
We also have a priority placement process in place for the Graduate Nurse Program. We are supporting 29 Indigenous cadets, nine Indigenous apprentices and four Indigenous school-based apprentices, undertaking different levels of health studies across the board. I am proud as the Minister for Health to be sourcing local Aboriginal people. As I have always said, I am proud to source Territorians for Territory jobs.
Independent Commission Against Corruption
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The former leader of the Country Liberal Party, Jodeen Carney, former CLP leader Terry Mills, the Ombudsman and apparently the member for Sanderson have all called for an independent commission against corruption. Why will you not introduce an independent commission against corruption?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, unlike Labor I have full confidence in every statutory officer in the Northern Territory, whether that is the Electoral Commissioner, the Commissioner for Public Interest Disclosures, the Auditor-General, the Darwin Port Corporation or each of the 20 000-plus public employees in the Northern Territory.
Labor is calling for an ICAC-type body to be set up in the Northern Territory. Putting aside the New South Wales ICAC and what is occurring with the High Court and its findings, let us look at Queensland and Western Australia. In Queensland it costs $50m a year to run an ICAC-type body. In Western Australia it costs $30m – to be precise, it costs $52m and $31m.
Labor is calling for something at the cost of around $20m in the Northern Territory. If you run off the figures of the $30m and $50m which is called for in Western Australia and Queensland - I will tell you what that could buy.
Labor is trying to substitute an ICAC-type body in the Northern Territory, instead of supporting the current independent institutions, by getting rid of 460 teachers in the Territory. They would rather put $50m into ICAC than fund 460 teachers. They want to spend $50m rather than provide funding for five high schools or 10 middle schools in the Northern Territory. They would rather sack 290 police to fund a $50m ICAC rather than supporting the Territory’s Ombudsman, the Auditor-General or inquiries under the Inquiries Act - specifically section 4 which saw the inquiry into Stella Maris, where Labor ate their cake and gave a $3m government asset to their union mates …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. Why will you not introduce an ICAC?
Mr GILES: They would rather close 50 hospital beds so they can have an ICAC. They would rather sack 290 child protection workers so they can have an ICAC because they do not have confidence in the Ombudsman, the Auditor-General or any of the 20 000 public servants staff.
We have confidence in these bodies. These are statutory bodies which are supported across parliament. These positions are designed to provide a process and a service, and the people in the positions do that. When we need an inquiry, like the Stella Maris inquiry, under the Inquiries Act we will do it.
Aside from Labor’s position on perjury, which clearly they support, will Labor allow a public inquiry into Bob Collins and what he undertook?
Northern Australia Development
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
What is the government doing to support development opportunities in northern Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are doing a lot to support development in northern Australia. Today I had the opportunity of talking about the port development. Not only are we paying back Labor debt, driving the second-highest economy in the country, the second-lowest unemployment behind the ACT, the highest level of labour force participation rate and the lowest level of unemployment; we are creating jobs. The port expansion is about creating jobs. The gas pipeline between the Northern Territory and the eastern seaboard is about creating jobs. Costing the feasibility of a rail line between Tennant Creek and Mount Isa is about opening the Territory up and creating jobs.
This is about providing leadership for northern Australia. This has been spoken about for more than 150 years but never delivered on. I want to work with those in Canberra on these things, but where Canberra fails we will take the lead. We are taking leadership in a range of areas. We have already seen changes to cabotage for the shipping industry. Tomorrow or Friday will see the announcement of a white paper on northern Australia and there will be some goodies for the Northern Territory in that paper. No matter the extent of the goodies, the Northern Territory will lead the charge on northern Australia investment because it is about providing jobs for the Territory’s future.
The Treasurer gave an answer earlier about the Chief Minister diversifying the economy. It is not just about offshore oil and gas; it is about aquaculture, horticulture, agribusiness, mining, tourism, government services, and employing people in urban locations in the Northern Territory as well as regional and remote locations. That is what northern Australia is all about. Member for Arafura, it is important to the people in your electorate, whether they are on the Tiwi Islands, Goulburn Island, in Maningrida, Oenpelli or Jabiru. It is important to each member of this Chamber, which is the responsibility we take in delivering for northern Australia.
It is a line that we use all the time, but this is the plan and the vision for driving change, diversifying our economy, and ensuring it is not a one-shot-in-the-locker approach like INPEX. It is about making sure we remove the boom and bust cycle and there are jobs in the future for our kids.
This is the biggest Education budget the Territory has seen, which combines with increased levels of school attendance. Is there more to be done? Absolutely. NAPLAN results are going up. There is the biggest investment in Health to make sure our kids are safe. We invest in the social effectiveness of government, but we drive jobs because people want a future in the Northern Territory.
When the white paper comes out about northern Australia tomorrow, I will applaud the good things that come through for the Territory and denounce the things that are not good. I will show leadership for the Northern Territory and northern Australia to provide jobs for our future.
Mr GILES (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016