2015-11-19
Police Numbers
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Yesterday in Question Time the Chief Minister once again said:
- We are the government that increased the police force by 120 frontline police officers …
Page 79 of your annual report shows that the number of full-time equivalent staff for the police force went backwards from 1406 in 2013-14 to 1397 staff in 2014-15. There are only three more sergeants in the Northern Territory Police. Remote sergeant numbers went backwards from 41 to 30, a reduction in senior officers out bush, which is concerning. Constable numbers dropped by six. Your annual report shows there are now fewer police resources on the streets to tackle the rise of crime in the Northern Territory. How can we trust you and your government when it keeps announcing 120 extra police, yet full-time police staffing numbers are going backwards?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we now get a very clear picture of why under Labor things went so bad. We have a potential future Chief Minister who does not understand annual reports.
Mr Gunner: Where are the 120 extra police?
Mr CHANDLER: Let us put this on the record. What is the timing period of an annual report and what was the promise from this government? If we go back to 2012 to the last election, we are about 74 police officers ahead of what Labor was at that time.
Our promise was to deliver 120 extra police officers. We will have three more recruit squads between now and the 2016 election, unless the Grinch across there wants to steal Christmas, but that is another story. We have about 74 more police officers than when Labor was in power, and we have more police on the ground because of laws like paperless arrests. Police officers are not spending so much time doing paperwork but are on the street.
In addition to the extra 74-odd police officers in the Northern Territory today - more than under the Labor government - we have more police officers on the street. If this potential candidate for the next Chief Minister could understand annual reports and be honest to Territorians, he would say he understands an annual report is from one date to another. Our figures are based on when we came to government to fulfilling our promise, and we commit to having an additional 120 police officers on the street, more than in 2012.
We count police officers today as police officers on the street, unlike when Labor was in government. I will put this into context; if there was a part-timer - tick, that is one police officer. You had people like Vince, who was working for the Police Association - tick, that is another police officer. They were not actively doing frontline services, but were still counted as police officers by the former Labor government. Today we count officers who are physically working, not on sick leave, other types of leave or in training and so forth, but on the street. The figures are far more accurate today and provide much clearer information.
As I said, we are about 74 police officers …
Mr Gunner: Under the CLP there is more crime in the Territory.
Mr CHANDLER: No, you are wrong. Crime is down across the Territory and we commit to 120 …
Mr Gunner: Total crime in the Territory is up.
Mr CHANDLER: That is your coloured graph you are holding up. Read the fine print in detail and you will have a better understanding.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
CLP – Plans and Outcomes
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline how the Country Liberal Party’s plan is delivering positive outcomes for Territorians and whether there are any alternatives?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. It is a very good question because when we came to government in 2012 the Territory was almost bankrupt. There was $5.5bn in projected debt, and deficit of over $1bn. Look what has happened in the last three years.
We have worked to a point where the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report, produced yesterday, has government in surplus for the first time since 2008. Not only do we have government in surplus, we are rolling out infrastructure across the Northern Territory by driving the northern Australia agenda, upgrading Tiger Brennan Drive, building the Palmerston Regional Hospital and putting $40m into Royal Darwin Hospital for an upgrade.
We are rolling out telecommunications across the Northern Territory and doing up roads, including the Plenty Highway; the straight road; Santa Teresa Road; Tanami Road; Port Keats Road, improving flood immunity; the Central Arnhem Highway; the top road with road works out to Oenpelli; the Tiwi Islands with $33m - there is work going on everywhere.
We now have the lowest unemployment in the nation, the highest labour force participation rate. Businesses are going gangbusters in the Northern Territory - the Chamber of Commerce, NT Farmers Association, NT Cattlemen’s Association - everybody is ringing the praises of the Northern Territory.
This week we announced the gas pipeline to link the Northern Territory to Queensland, building national infrastructure. We also have a study on a railway line between the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Yesterday we rolled out our round of environmental reforms, which will see the strongest environmental protection in the nation. Not only have we been fixing the finances, building the infrastructure and seeing the lowest levels of unemployment and the highest amount of business development in the Northern Territory, we have also managed to make fundamental social changes.
We are making social changes for Indigenous Territorians, putting more people in jobs in the public and private sectors, and we will continue to do it. It does not matter what portfolio you work through, everything is changing for the positive. There are more sports investments and more road and building investments, and the budget is back in surplus. There is more farming with the biggest investment in homelands and outstations we have ever seen. We have restructured local government so we now have regional councils and local authorities fully funded.
We have the biggest Asian engagement we have had in a long time, since before 2001 when Labor first came to government. There is no alternative to what is happening now, other than a dismal failure by the Leader of the Opposition, who was not even good enough to be a minister under the former government.
CLP – Achievements
Mr VOWLES TO CHIEF MINISTER
You have repeatedly claimed that no deal has been done with the member for Arnhem to secure her support for your rapidly disintegrating government. Can you categorically rule out that discussions around additional staffing and office resources have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, or anyone else on her behalf?
Can you also rule out that any discussions have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, any member of her family, or anyone else on her behalf regarding the promise of future government contracts or consultancies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. I think he used the term ‘rapidly disintegrating’.
In parliament this week we have announced the building of a gas pipeline, linking the Northern Territory to Queensland, the biggest piece of nation building infrastructure – that we are aware of - in around 20 years. This will drive job growth and economic development in the Northern Territory for a long time to come. This will bring downward pressure on the price of electricity in the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. You clearly do not want to answer the question. What kind of deal was done?
Mr GILES: I have answered that question many times before.
What else have we done this week? Look at the environmental reforms we have put out. The second Hawke Report was released, which will see transition to the best level of regulatory reform for the environment we have seen in the Northern Territory’s history.
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was very specific. Can you categorically rule out any discussions have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, any member of her family or anyone else on her behalf regarding the promise of future government contracts or consultancies?
Madam SPEAKER: That is a repeat of the question. Please be seated.
Mr GILES: As I said, I do not accept the premise of the question.
Yesterday in parliament, through the Treasurer, we also released the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report, showing government is back in surplus. Another important thing happened in parliament this week ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: They do not like hearing this news because it is all good. The other thing that happened in parliament this week is we passed the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill, which gives police more powers to stop and search vehicles for ice on declared drug routes. That bill passed this Chamber without anyone seeking an amendment to the bill. Two months ago they would not support it on urgency. We know that; we saw the ads in the paper.
Ms Lawrie: I had an amendment to the bill.
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He said he has answered the question, so he can just sit down and we can ask more questions.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: I forgot the member for Karama is still a member of the Labor Party. It passed without an amendment to the bill, so for two months …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. With less than a minute to go, answer the question. What deal was done? Share with Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff.
Mr GILES: Admit you played politics last sittings. Over two months you did not come forward with an amendment. I have some questions. How much ice came into the Northern Territory …
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask for your wise ruling on Standing Order 113: relevance. He is talking about ice. I have asked a specific question. If he has answered it can we please move on?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Johnston. It is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have three minutes to answer the question. Get to the point.
Mr GILES: How much ice came into the Northern Territory in that two-month period that could have been stopped? How many children of parents in the Northern Territory have been affected by ice which could have been stopped from coming into the Northern Territory? How many presentations at hospitals, health centres and health clinics in the Northern Territory were there, with people being affected by ice that could have been stopped at our borders? Nothing changed; you played politics last sittings and you know it. It shows that government is producing results.
This legislation was passed this week in parliament and it should have been passed two months ago. Shame on you.
Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report – Financial Results for 2014-15
Mr BARRETT to TREASURER
Can we crawl out of the crab bucket for a second so we can talk a bit more on the economy of the Northern Territory? The Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report was released …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If I heard correctly, that was pretty offensive.
Mr BARRETT: I withdraw whatever was offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Blain.
Mr BARRETT: Treasurer, can you update the House on the financial result for the 2014-15 financial year as outlined in the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report? People of the Northern Territory want to know which people in this House - this side or that side - would be best able to manage the economy of the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain. I appreciate the question. Before I talk specifically about that, I will look at some comparable figures. It is important to note that when the CLP took office from Labor in August 2012, net debt at that time was $2.7bn and the annual interest payment on that debt was $239m.
Ms Fyles interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: I beg your pardon. Please let me get through at least the start of the answer. What is more, under Labor, net debt was projected to rise by the end of the 2014-15 financial year to $5.1bn, with annual interest payments rising on top of that to $393m. Since the CLP came to government we have put in a big effort to find efficiencies and to restructure without losing any public service jobs, in contrast to what the opposition was saying.
Ms Lawrie: A big spend in the Department of the Chief Minister - $23m extra.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama!
Mr TOLLNER: Excuse me, do you ever dry up?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim. Please address your comments through the Chair.
Mr TOLLNER: Since the CLP has been in government, net debt is now lower than $2.2bn, with interest repayments of $318m. Since taking office in 2012 we have reduced net debt by $2900m and annual interest repayments by $75m; that is $1.5m every week we have saved on Labor’s projections. That means we have money to invest in schools and police officers. We have money to invest in the Palmerston health clinic. I should also point out that we have interest demands we are paying on a $1.8bn prison, because Labor thought it was better to accommodate prisoners in five-star luxury digs than put money towards hospitals.
CLP – Achievements
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
How can Territorians have any trust in your government when you refuse to answer simple, straightforward questions about discussions between you and the member for Arnhem? Will you finally come clean and detail the discussions that have taken place about extra staff, future contracts or anything else to gain the support of the member for Arnhem? What are you desperately trying to hide from Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are not trying to do any of that. We are trying to tell Territorians all the good things we are doing.
One of the challenges of telling people all the good things is that there are so many. As a government, if you were going to produce a surplus you would spend months talking about how successful you would be. If you were going to launch a national critical piece of infrastructure such as a gas pipeline, enormous environmental reform, improvements in protecting our environment or the development of an onshore gas industry, you would talk about it for many months.
We have done all of this in three days. Plus we passed the ice legislation, which you did not support two months ago, giving police more powers to protect Territorians by having less ice on the streets.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113; it was a very direct question. What are you desperately trying to hide? What deal was done?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: If you keep asking the same question I will keep giving you the same answer. These questions were asked yesterday and on Tuesday. I answered them then and I will answer them the same way now.
It is exactly the same. I will talk about Tiger Brennan Drive, that wonderful road duplication. The duplication of it started in 2001, when the member for Fong Lim was the member for Solomon. He first attracted the funding.
Ms Walker: All he attracted was funding for flagpoles.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: It is very interesting to hear the member for Nhulunbuy interjecting. One would cast their mind back to the period between 2008 and 2012 when she was in government and question what she achieved in those four years. I think it was zero in that four years, as opposed to our three years and everything we continue to roll out and improve, including the 120 additional police we have put on the streets.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113; with less than a minute to go, answer the question. What deal has been done? What are you hiding from Territorians?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff. You have already asked the question.
Mr GILES: I think it is 117 extra police that have been recruited on the beat. That does not include the police who have moved from behind the desk to out the front, or the ones that were in the courts and are now out on the streets; it is more than 120. We have been successful. Not only have we fixed the bankrupt nature of the government finances we inherited in 2012, but we have our 120 police plus more in the Northern Territory.
We are investing in sports all over the Northern Territory. These are things we want to talk about because we have been doing so much; it is such a challenge getting it out there. I love talking to the member for Arnhem about all the good things we are doing in the electorate of Arnhem, whether it is building bridges and health centres, or fixing roads and telecommunications.
Palmerston Development
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
It is well known that the former Labor government had no time or respect for the people of Palmerston. Labor’s legacy for the people of Palmerston was degraded roads, astronomical rents, spiralling crime and a shiny water park - thank you for that - built just in time for the last election …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members on the cross benches, I refer you to Standing Order 51. I want to hear the question from the member for Drysdale. Can we hear the member in silence, please?
Mrs FINOCCHIARO: Should I say it all again?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, please, if you could.
Mrs FINOCCHIARO: It is well known the former Labor government had no time or respect for the people of Palmerston. Its legacy was degraded roads, astronomical rents, spiralling crime, a shiny water park, which was built just in time for the last election, and a fence around the proposed hospital site.
Can you please update the House on how the Country Liberal government is helping deliver more than $1bn of investment by government and private investors to grow and upgrade the beautiful city of Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, they could not even build a hole towards a hospital. The member for Drysdale is right. The confidence in Palmerston at the moment is amazing. Why is that? That is probably the bigger question here.
Members interjecting.
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Speaker, I cannot hear myself.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CHANDLER: There is over $1bn worth of investment into Palmerston in the private and government sectors. You have to ask yourself why the private sector is investing so much into Palmerston. Look at the $300m Gateway Shopping Centre under the Coombes Property Group. Foxy Robinson has just finished the Rydges hotel there at over $50m. Woolworths at Bakewell is going in there. There is all this private investment. On top of that you have schools, hospitals and government infrastructure, such as roads.
Thanks to my Cabinet colleagues, we recently approved another $18.5m of roadworks in Palmerston. They were all on the forward works program, but we had to bring it forward. Why? The place is growing so quickly. Why is it growing quickly? Because people have confidence. The private sector, for the first time, has confidence in more initiatives than simply building a waterslide. They have confidence in Palmerston, which is why it is growing. The government is not only investing in Palmerston; it is creating jobs.
We could go back to what it was like when Labor was in charge. What was Palmerston like when Labor was in charge? They must have hated Palmerston because they did not invest in Palmerston.
We have more than flagpoles. There are investments in a new special education school. There will be schools in Zuccoli. We are investing in land release, road infrastructure and a hospital.
Mr Wood: No, that is in Litchfield.
Mr CHANDLER: He is worried about these lines in the sand. Government can invest all the time, but the biggest question we need to answer is why the private sector is so interested in Palmerston. Why do we have record private investment in Palmerston? It is because you have private developers with a vision, and faith and confidence in this Country Liberal government, and building the north.
Prime Minister’s Visit
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You spent $100 000 of taxpayers’ funds flying back from Vietnam just for a photo shoot with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Tomorrow, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be hosting a Chamber of Commerce luncheon of some 300-plus business people in the Territory and you will not be there. You and your Deputy Chief Minister are a no show.
Why will you not stay in Darwin to catch up with our Prime Minister and more than 300 business people tomorrow?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. The price of the flight was $83 000 and I came back to sign a contract for 94 additional police to support the metropolitan group in relation to servicing the detention centre as a part of the immigration process.
I will get to the second part of your question. We needed extra police because we had so many inmates in detention as part of our border protection problem. One could ask why we have the border protection problems. It was because, under Rudd and Gillard as Prime Ministers, Labor was soft on border protection and crime.
Let us get to the point on why I will not be at the lunch tomorrow. It is the most depressing thing for the member for Karama. I know she likes food, but asking about my lunch is outrageous.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62; you were offensive in those comments and we are sick of it.
Madam SPEAKER: I did not think they were offensive.
Mr GILES: I will be in Alice Springs, my home, because the Tourism board meeting will be held there tomorrow morning.
Let me tell you about tourism in the Northern Territory. Tourist numbers are up in the Northern Territory. The Leader of the Opposition is talking about what is up and what is down; tourism is up, as opposed to petrol prices, which are down. Unemployment is down, but business confidence is up. Tourism is up in Uluru, Alice Springs and Darwin. I am the Tourism minister and I will be at the Tourism board meeting.
One of the very important questions the member for Karama asked …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: It is the same in this Chamber every day, and I keep raising it. The question is, why are there 300 business people turning up to have lunch with Malcolm Turnbull? Would 300 people have turned up to see Bill Shorten?
Here is a question: did the Leader of the Opposition stand next to Bill Shorten for a photo last week? I did not see that anywhere and they were in the same town at the same time. But 300 people will have lunch with Malcolm Turnbull because they support strong economic management and principles.
It is great to see the Prime Minister of a Coalition government coming to the Northern Territory, especially the week our Treasurer delivered the first surplus in the government’s history since 2008. What timing! Maybe the Treasurer can talk to Malcolm Turnbull about how we have turned our economy around, and how unemployment is down and business confidence and the economy is up.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Racing Industry – Alleged Consultancy Costs
Ms FYLES to TREASURER
Can you confirm if the former CLP member for Karama, Mick Palmer, or a company associated with him, has received a consultancy to provide advice on the racing industry? Did you or your agency arrange the consultancy? If you are not aware, who did? How much was the consultancy for? Was the figure $35 000?
Who in the industry asked the former CLP politician to provide advice on infrastructure when the industry has spent several years working with Racing, Gaming and Licensing staff on this issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. Is it not interesting how Labor seems to get everything wrong almost all the time? As I recall, Mr Palmer, or a company of his, was employed to look at some infrastructure facilities. I am not aware it had anything to do with the horse racing industry. However, we are looking at the future development of Darwin. Part of it was how we rejuvenate and improve the showgrounds and the Hidden Valley site, and where we may place an equestrian centre, which people in the rural area wanted.
Mr Wood: Berrimah, not Hidden Valley where all the cars go around.
Mr TOLLNER: In any case, I do not know what the consultancy was worth or any other details about it. I can get you some more information in that regard. This government makes no apologies whatsoever for looking to the future. It is called planning, which the previous government did not do. The previous government was only interested in racking up debt and further deficits.
The previous government was only interested in looking after criminals. It is interesting to see, this week, a bunch of people all sitting over there, very concerned because they were named and shamed in the newspaper for voting against and blocking ice legislation. Again, Labor and the Independents have more time for criminals, trying to make their lives easier and make sure they are properly accommodated and given nice digs in a prison.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He is being misleading.
Madam SPEAKER: No. If you want to move a substantive motion, member for Karama, then you know how to do that.
Mr TOLLNER: Is it not interesting that the member for Karama, the puppet master …
Ms Lawrie: Stop telling lies.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, withdraw that.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw.
Mr TOLLNER: Is it not interesting that the member for Karama, the architect of all Labor’s debt and deficits, is now the puppet master for the other team? She is working in cahoots with the member for Namatjira, making sure all people on the cross benches toe the line. The poor old Opposition Leader has nowhere to go; he is still dancing to the tune of the member for Karama. This is the person who put us in debt and who wants to look after criminals.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is disgustingly offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, withdraw.
Mr TOLLNER: Well …
Madam SPEAKER: Withdraw it.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw!
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fong Lim.
Mr TOLLNER: I do not understand …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I think members of this Chamber should treat you with more respect than what was just shown.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you might need to calm down a little. I will not ask you to withdraw at this point in time. You have 20 seconds left.
Mr TOLLNER: I did withdraw the comment.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: I cannot understand how moving criminals from the Berrimah prison into a five-star luxury prison cannot be considered looking after criminals. If you take offence at that, and take offence because the government called you out on blocking the ice legislation …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Livestock Export Industry – Expansion
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Can the minister update the House on the expansion of the live cattle export industry under the Country Liberal Party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. He has a strong interest in this topic and asks questions about this regularly, because he is keen for this House and the people of the Northern Territory to be updated on this very important government initiative.
It gives me great pleasure to update the House on the growth of the live cattle export industry since we came to government. It is one area amongst a plethora of areas this government has been focused on to improve the economy of the Northern Territory and the way government operates and interacts with industry across all sectors. If I look around the room I am reminded of our successes with regard to the environment, extra police on the beat and the Territory’s fiscal position being in a better space.
The NEGI was announced this week, and the Palmerston hospital is happening. A plethora of great things are happening, and this is one of them.
The member for Karama asked why the Deputy Chief Minister would not be at the lunch with Malcolm Turnbull. It is because I will be in Tennant Creek, talking to business people there about the gas pipeline. I am going there to engage with a group of people who will be affected by this wonderful government initiative. This will bring prosperity to Tennant Creek as a region, and the entire Northern Territory over time.
Mr Giles: You will be getting there on a regional Airnorth flight.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I may well be. It is great to update the House. When they were in government, the way the opposition members treated the live cattle sector was appalling. We have brought back the live cattle trade from the brink of despair for people who live in the north, and for Northern Territory pastoralists. Over the past few years we have managed to achieve significant growth in the industry. Trade to Indonesia has increased by about $20m worth of animals.
The live trade to Vietnam grew from virtually nothing to around $34m worth of cattle last year. Those two items add about $50m to the economy of the Northern Territory. This is injected directly into the pastoral sector and all the businesses that support that sector. The Country Liberal government is what I call the green thumb of the cattle industry. You cannot trust the Labor Party to manage the cattle industry or the economy. I feel sorry for the industry should Labor ever get back into power.
Mick Palmer – Alleged Consultancy
Ms FYLES to TREASURER
You listed a number – but not all - of the projects the former CLP member for Karama was involved in. What was the process undertaken to award the consultancy to Mick Palmer? Were normal processes undertaken? Will you table the report produced by Mick Palmer, and can you confirm one of the projects was Richardson Park?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. I will have to take the question on notice.
Local Business and Asian Investment
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for BUSINESS
Today the member for Nelson voiced his concerns over local businesses missing out on government contracts, which all of us in this House are very concerned about. Who are the chief architects of these problems and what are we, as a government, doing to fix them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. The member for Nelson is right; some small businesses are not enjoying the same success as others. I urge the member for Nelson to look at the Labor members to his right for the cause of that. They are possibly the previous architects.
They are responsible for the shameful procurement system that punished local businesses, and they are now engaged in sabotaging almost every initiative this government leads to deliver prosperity and much-wanted job creation for these businesses. The government has already recognised much of what the member for Nelson has said. We have been working hard to fix the procurement debacle we inherited from the former Labor government.
I am more than happy to give the member for Nelson a briefing on these important procurement changes ahead, but the biggest threat to the thousands of jobs we are trying to create in the Territory is the Labor party. The person still plotting to return to the Labor leadership is the member for Karama.
The Labor Party’s anti-Chinese rhetoric is damaging the Territory in the eyes of the international community. In recent months I travelled to China on two occasions and everywhere I went I was asked, ‘What does your Labor Party have against the Chinese? What does it have against Chinese investment?’ What a disgraceful situation to be in when I have to support and defend the Labor Party. The Labor Party and the member for Karama think China bashing is a great idea and is great for politics.
The member for Nelson is right. He wants more work for local businesses. The CLP government, through international investment projects …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62; I find the accusations of racism offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please refrain from saying they are anti-Chinese. They find it offensive so please withdraw.
Mr STYLES: I withdraw. The reckless politicking by Territory Labor is putting at risk serious investment that will create thousands of jobs, which I asked the member for Nelson to look at. The sovereign risk - I have lost count of the number of times people have voiced their serious concerns about whether they can trust the Labor Party with businesses and investment.
Today I am meeting with our BIMP-EAGA partners. There are questions about policies. People are noticing what you are doing, and you are putting at risk thousands of jobs and economic development. The Labor Party’s rhetoric is being seen as anti-Asian. These are the things people are telling me. They might find it offensive, but what they are doing is offensive to our Asian neighbours. I am telling them what people are telling me. I am sorry, but I am the messenger. Do not kill the messenger.
They continue to talk down the Territory economy. No wonder they almost bankrupted us when they were in government. It is a disgrace. I ask them to change their rhetoric because it is offensive to our neighbours.
Fong Lim Electorate Representation
Ms MANISON to TREASURER
You are funding a stadium expansion at Richardson Park, despite the fact your electorate’s Ludmilla Primary School community was not initially aware of it and was extremely concerned about it. I understand the school council ran a motion asking for the tender to be halted. The Ludmilla community, in your electorate, is opposed to it and you have failed to consult with your constituents. Why will you not stand up for the people in your electorate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Wanguri for her question. My electorate is in favour of it. I talk to people, and many people in Ludmilla are supportive of the Richardson Park development. A group called the Friends of Richardson Park is very keen to see the development take place. I was at a community meeting the other day which was organised by people who were opposed to the Richardson Park development. There were 10 or 20 people from the electorate raising concerns, but there were many people saying they wanted to see the development occur, because if Richardson Park is done away with it would possibly lead to more houses, high-rise buildings and redevelopment of the entire area. Many people are very supportive of it.
A number of people remember well that Richardson Park and Ludmilla Primary School had a harmonious relationship in years gone by. If you look at the top-notch rugby league players from the Territory …
Ms Fyles: Do you accept the PAC’s recommendations?
Mr TOLLNER: No, I do not accept the PAC’s recommendations. I think the PAC is a bit of a joke. If you want to put out a nonsense report, good on you; go for it. It is your committee now; you run it.
Most Territorians are on board with Richardson Park and have fond memories of it. As I was saying, there used to be a very harmonious relationship between Ludmilla Primary School and Richardson Park, and if you go back in history and look at the great players from the Northern Territory, you will see they came out of the Ludmilla Primary School area. The curriculum was very much focused on rugby league. Many young kids coming out of the Bagot community were very focused on rugby league. It was a great, wholesome sport. It kept them off the street, active and healthy. The only people I see trying to whip up concern about Richardson Park are the members opposite.
The member for Nelson says he is friend of sport and the first thing he does is try to stick a fork into them.
The fact of the matter is most people I talk to are supportive of Richardson Park. There are generations of kids who have run around the field at Richardson Park, which has proven to be a great thing. I am seriously looking forward to August next year, when the great Parramatta Eels arrive in the Northern Territory to play a game at Richardson Park.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Fong Lim Electorate Representation
Fong Lim Electorate Representation
Ms MANISON to TREASURER
Is your lack of support for the Ludmilla Primary School Council and your own electorate reflective of the fact you are trying to dump your electorate and run in Spillett?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no lack of support for Ludmilla Primary School, the Richardson Park area or the people in Ludmilla. I 100% support them. It is the reason I organised the drains to be cleaned out throughout the Narrows and Ludmilla. More than 800 tonnes of silt was removed from the stormwater drains in that area. That should have been done by Labor when it was in government, but no.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113; it was a very direct supplementary question. Answer it.
Mr TOLLNER: The question was about support for my electorate and Ludmilla Primary School. The fact of the matter is we will reduce flooding in the area. We will put more money into the Ludmilla Primary School as a result of the works being done. The biggest concern they have at Ludmilla Primary School is the access through Bagot Road. There is an opportunity to find another access point into Ludmilla school through this redevelopment, and I am seriously looking forward to it. I encourage Labor to get on board and support the people of Ludmilla.
Bush Support from CLP
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Living on the Tiwi Islands and witnessing a decade of failure, cost blow-outs, delays and debacles under the urban-focused Labor government - can you please explain to the House how the Country Liberals have renewed focus on the bush, and how the bush cannot risk a Labor government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question because I know how hard we have both fought for the bush. I am very excited to share how we have renewed the focus on the bush. Labor does not understand business and never will, nor does it understand the bush. The bush cannot risk a Labor government.
Labor’s toxic shires stole the voice of local people, and those people still talk about them. The Country Liberals invested $5m in local authorities, giving back the voice of over 700 people in the bush. Labor did nothing with the remote morgues. The Country Liberals are rolling out new and improved morgues across the Territory. Labor spent and did not deliver in homelands. The Country Liberals are investing $6m into homelands this year through Homelands Extra Allowance.
The Labor government wasted millions of dollars through SIHIP, proof that the bush cannot risk a Labor government. The Country Liberal government has delivered over 400 new houses, over 450 refurbishments and over 700 upgrades with local jobs for local people in their country. The remote contracting policy will create 3800 jobs over the next five years, which is proof the bush cannot risk a Labor government.
We are investing in the future with $10m to support Central Australian renal patients, new clinics in Docker River and Papunya, and upgrades at Mount Liebig. The bush cannot risk a Labor government. Yesterday we heard about a $30m investment in remote telecommunications. The Country Liberal government is about creating economic independence and real outcomes, and escaping the endless cycle of studies, welfare dependency and hollow promises for our bush communities.
We have rolled out many programs as well. With our local authority priority project samples, Ali Curung received $86 000, Alpurrurulam received $67 000, Ampilatwatja received $61 000, Arlparra received $77 000 and Elliott received $49 000.
I want to add a bit about Elliott. I went there and they were so excited to see a minister visit the community. They said to me, ‘You are the first minister who has come to visit and listen to us’. We are listening to the people in the bush. They said to me, ‘You have given us a leg up, minister. We want to make a difference for Elliott. We want to make sure our people are employed and our houses fixed. You give us the hope we have been missing out on.’ That is what Elliott has requested and what we are doing for the community there. We are making sure our people in the bush have this opportunity for economic development.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Litchfield Council – CEO Appointment
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Yesterday you sang the praises of the election of a new council in Litchfield. I also think it is great that so many people have put their names down for the council elections. You also announced the appointment of a new CEO from a suburban council in Melbourne. It is normal that councils elect the CEO. Who selected the new CEO, and why did you not wait until the newly-elected council was in place so the council could have a say in the election of the CEO? Would that not have been a bit more democratic?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Litchfield is in the process of electing councillors. I mentioned yesterday the enthusiasm there to get the council up and running as soon as possible. They are looking for changes and new blood. The new CEO will make a difference. If the member for Nelson wants a briefing about the new CEO, I am happy to sit down with him to talk about it.
Sporting Projects – Update
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The House has heard an awful lot this week about Richardson Park and the slant on that issue. There is more happening in the ministry of Sport and Recreation. Will you please update us on the projects currently on the books, which are needed because of the situation we found ourselves in after the previous government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Members are well aware of the massive budget spend amount announced this year for sport infrastructure across the Northern Territory, with $57.3m for new and improved sporting infrastructure. This has been a much-needed injection into these facilities because of the neglect that occurred over the last 10 years. We are getting on with the job. We are doing what is needed because of past disregard for sport in the Northern Territory.
The sport infrastructure projects are not just part of the story. Honourable members have heard me repeatedly talk about our Sport and Active Recreation Master Plan. The Territory needs this as it will not only tell us about the needs now, but more importantly it will provide a blueprint for the future of sport and active recreation in the Northern Territory. This is the first time such a major future planning project has been done for this area, and it is about time.
Let me quickly run through the budgeted infrastructure projects for honourable members:
Alice Springs athletics track - $2m for a new, national standard, first-class track. We have listened to the community and are not developing the Rhonda Diano Oval, and alternative sights are being investigated.
Alice Springs drags - $1m to replace the existing track surface and extend the tracks. Works are under way.
Alice Springs Golf Club, which I was asked about yesterday - $1.5m for a new lawn bowls facility. The club has produced a primary design and a tender for the project, which closed earlier this month.
Alice Springs netball centre - $2m for an initial upgrade of the netball facility. We have subsequently announced an additional $2.25m towards an indoor stadium, and subject to development consent approvals the proposed tender should be released in December.
Darwin Bowls and Social Club - $1.5m to upgrade the facilities. The upgrade of green one to synthetic grass is complete and operational. I was impressed when I saw that. The cover is expected to be completed prior to May, weather dependent, and works on the second green will start after the cover element.
Hidden Valley - $8.05m to address ongoing upgrades. These projects are either under way, well into the planning process or nearing completion.
Katherine Country Club - $820 000 for works relating to the club’s master plan are already under way.
Remote oval upgrades - $2m, and some of these are either under way or in the final planning and consultation phase.
Riding for the Disabled Alice Springs and Top End – $250 000.
Satellite City BMX Club - $1.98m.
Regional tennis centre - $8m.
Velodrome in Darwin - $1.5m.
Dawn House Loss of Services
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HOUSING
Dawn House in Darwin provides crisis accommodation to shelter and protect vulnerable women and children escaping domestic and family violence. For 20 years Territory Housing maintained the air conditioners at this accommodation at an estimated cost of $8000 a year. This service has now been cut. On 22 September the Executive Officer of Dawn House asked you to intervene and reverse this decision.
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the letter.
Leave granted.
Ms WALKER: Minister, you refused.
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to also table that letter.
Leave granted.
Ms WALKER: How mean-minded is your government that you refuse to support this, but think nothing of spending $8000 on an ice ad slagging members of parliament?
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62; that is offensive and I ask the member to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: What is offensive, member for Fong Lim?
Mr TOLLNER: She said the government was mean-minded. I think that is offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, offensive language is when it is against a member of the Assembly. The member for Nhulunbuy, as I heard correctly, was directing her comments at the government. Member for Nhulunbuy, can you repeat your question please? I want to be clear about what we heard.
Ms WALKER: Minister, how mean-minded is your government that you refuse to support this, but think nothing of spending $8000 on ice ads slagging members of parliament? In light of the heatwave being experienced here, will you now reverse this decision?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will make sure I get in contact with Dawn House and discuss with them how best we can move forward.
CLP Achievements – Tourism
Mr BARRETT to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline how the Country Liberal government is delivering for Territorians generally, especially in the tourism industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can tell the member for Blain that one thing we are not doing is wrapping criminals in cotton wool.
In regard to tourism, our performance is outstanding. I was fortunate enough to take over the Tourism portfolio from the member for Greatorex. He put in place a policy aimed at having a $2.2bn tourism economy by 2020.
We are at $1.9bn now in the tourism economy. We will far exceed that target of $2.2bn by 2020. We are back on track with our tourism targets. The only risk to achieving that tourism target is if a Labor government was to be elected. We have heard about performance today across a range of areas. We heard from the Deputy Chief Minister about the performance in a range of areas, including the live cattle industry. We heard from the Treasurer about coming back into surplus. We heard from the Minister for Infrastructure about all the building works, roadworks, and extra works in Palmerston and around the Territory. We heard from the Sport minister about everything happening in sport, including Richardson Park, motorsports, tennis and velodromes.
The Minister for Housing and Local Government has led the department to not only build houses across the Northern Territory, but also into the public and private sectors. She has also been working in the Local Government area putting in place a regional council, setting up the local authority structure and making sure it is fully funded, with an additional $5m.
The Minister for Business is ensuring businesses in the Northern Territory continue to be heard, expanding our modus operandi across Asia to ensure there is more investment and more job growth.
Tourism is another area where things continue to excel. Everybody knows tourist numbers are up across the Northern Territory in Uluru, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin. In this year’s budget we put aside $4.75m to help renew the tourism experience, putting money into redeveloping product and building new product. Some examples include a new kitchen at Ooraminna Station Homestead south of Alice Springs; a new sports hall of fame in the museum on the Tiwi Islands; a new water pipeline at the Lorella Springs Wilderness Park near Borroloola; upgrades to the butterfly house at Batchelor Butterfly Farm; a new grandstand at Katherine Outback Experience; and a new space observatory at Earth Sanctuary in Alice Springs.
Many things have been done and many more are still to come. The challenge for the tourism industry, like any other industry in the Northern Territory, is Labor. Labor does not have policies. Labor presents a risk to our economy and our way of life. The Northern Territory needs the Country Liberals.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Police Numbers
Police Numbers
Mr CHANDLER (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, unfortunately I did not have the police annual report in front of me, but I can report that we had 1253 full-time equivalents, which includes executives and 34 recruits at the moment. In August 2012, when we took government, there were 1136 full-time equivalents, including executives and 29 recruits. I believe that is an increase of 117.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016