2015-06-18
Northern Australia White Paper
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Today the Commonwealth government released its White Paper on Developing Northern Australia. Our initial assessment is that this paper outlines some important investments in the future prosperity of the Northern Territory. This includes investment in roads, research, infrastructure, Indigenous jobs, and trade and investment attraction, to name a few.
We on this side of the House always welcome investment in Territory jobs as do all members of this Assembly. Developing the north should always remain above politics. Can you please outline your initial assessment of these investments and how they will benefit the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to respond to that very good question from the Leader of the Opposition. I was planning on speaking about that during Question Time today, so I appreciate it.
There is no doubt the Territory government has been leading the push to develop the north since before the current Prime Minister came to government; we have set forth an agenda on that. I was quite happy when the current Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, spoke about the desire to develop northern Australia.
We have been very keen to run it alone, but seek support, hoping the federal government will come on board. It has been discussed for about 150 years but has never eventuated. I said at a media conference just five minutes ago that early on we were sceptical of the rhetoric. When we saw the green paper we thought the rhetoric might prove to deliver results. Today we see the white paper and its results, including the $600m roads packages which includes the Outback Way, the Tanami Highway and the Central Arnhem Road; the $100m beef roads packages; $75m for research; the money towards the Ord; the millions of dollars towards analysis of the proposed Tennant Creek to Mount Isa railway; and the cooperation of $110m towards native title holders and seeking to support them to develop business opportunities. These are all fantastic things.
I thank the Prime Minister and his colleagues very much for their support towards the Northern Territory in this regard. Had the white paper not appeared as beneficial as it has we would have pushed on in that vein. Most people would know we have established the Northern Australia Development Office, headed by Luke Bowen, who is the former head of the NT Cattlemen’s Association. There is an Office of North Australia in Canberra. It has been announced that will move to Darwin.
There will be a business forum later this year which will gives us an opportunity to talk about the investment opportunities in the Territory. I look forward to inviting everybody from the Chamber and the Territory to participate in that. We will be able to showcase some of the best investment opportunities in the Northern Territory for Territorians, Australians and those from around the globe who may want to invest in the Northern Territory to assist in developing the future of Australia.
Developing the north is about developing the nation. It is about increasing jobs and prosperity for all Australians, especially Territorians.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question.
Northern Australia White Paper
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you outline what the federal government’s White Paper on Developing Northern Australia will mean for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. Following the last answer to the question by the Leader of the Opposition, this is about jobs. It is about recognising that the top third of the nation, including the entire Northern Territory, has been largely under-developed. It is also about recognising that the Northern Territory is what I would describe as being 150 years behind the rest of Australia in infrastructure investment.
It is not just about Darwin being the gateway to Asia, but all of the Northern Territory. I especially look towards investment in Aboriginal communities; native title and Aboriginal land; the proposed Tennant Creek to Mount Isa rail line; the Tanami Road between Alice Springs and Halls Creek; the Outback Way, which includes the link between Perth and Cairns; the Plenty Highway; and in the member for Namatjira’s electorate we are trying to talk about the Sandover Highway as much as we can.
This is not about an urban centre specifically; this is about urban centres as supply and resource bases as well as developing jobs and investment in the regions. That is what I like about this; it is about supporting all Territorians. It is about supporting the kids currently at school to have jobs in the future. We need to get the infrastructure in place now to invest in our future. This is where the stars align between the Prime Minister, his colleagues, people such as Barnaby Joyce, Andrew Robb - who I had a good chat with yesterday about this - and Warren Truss. Natasha Griggs has been very proactive; I had a few chats with her today. Warren Entsch has also been a large proponent in this regard. Thank you to those people.
A special thanks to people on this side of the Chamber who have assisted us. I also received a guided message from the Leader of the Opposition that he supports the development of northern Australia. That is a good thing because it shows this is beyond politics. Yes, it is the Country Liberals’ agenda, but I think it will stay with us for a long time to come. It has been 150 years in the making and the stars have aligned today, but there is a lot more work to be done. It has my full commitment because I believe this is the best thing we can do in aligning the Territory Country Liberal government’s plan for northern Australia’s future with the Commonwealth, ensuring we have jobs for our kids and making sure we move forward from developing the north to developing the nation.
This is about more than Territorians. It is about our jobs, but also about taking Australia into the next century and providing a base for all of us which we can live upon.
Government – Territorians’ Faith in CLP
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Last night this parliament witnessed another chapter in what the former CLP Deputy Chief Minister has described as almost three years of hate, discord and lies. Territorians expect and deserve better from the people they elected less than three years ago to govern the Territory. Why should Territorians have trust or faith in you to lead a government that cannot focus on doing the job for them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The reason they can trust us is because we have just seen the Prime Minister of this nation deliver the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia, which completely dovetails what we have set forth as a plan for the Northern Territory.
We have led hard with developing the north, trying to create jobs in all parts of the Northern Territory, trying to build infrastructure, and fixing the government finances so debt levels are lower and our deficit is fully removed, and so we can invest in infrastructure.
I had a conversation today with a couple of federal colleagues about investing in the Tanami. The Northern Territory government will have to put up about 20% of the money to support that. That is normally the way road investments are done in the Territory. As the former Transport minister would know, the Territory puts up around 20% and other people put up around 80%.
I said, ‘Our budget is in a position where you can provide us with 80% of the money and we can put the 20% forward’. We could not do that when we came to government because the budget was not right. That is why people can trust us; we got the finances right so we can invest in infrastructure in the Territory to develop the north.
When people sit back tonight and learn about the Developing the North platform, they will see the Prime Minister of this nation, Tony Abbott, has stood lock, stock and barrel behind the government of the Northern Territory and said, ‘We will support you in leading the development of the north. We will support your work with Colin Barnett, the Western Australia Premier, and Anna Palaszczuk, the Queensland Premier, in developing from the Tropic of Capricorn up, including the Northern Territory, to ensure we are equal contributors to this nation and delivering on our job prospects.’
I have said long and hard that we are trying to remove the boom and bust cycle of the economy in the Northern Territory which has occurred for too long, whether it was Cyclone Tracy, Darwin LNG, Ichthys or any of those other large projects that come and go.
This is about diversifying our economy. The white paper helps us to build jobs. Again, I thank our federal colleagues. I will not go through all elements of the white paper because there are countless elements, whether it is the $2.5m partnership investment to see the tripartite agreement between eastern Indonesia, Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Northern Territory, supporting us with the DAMA or with the seasonal workers. There is a range of investments and that is a positive outcome.
Back to your question, people can trust us. The Prime Minister trusts us to deliver the lead in the concept of developing the north and developing the nation, and we will continue to do that.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Member for Nhulunbuy – Comments on Alleged Mates of CLP
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for BUSINESS
Yesterday in this House during the anti-corruption commission debate the member for Nhulunbuy launched an unprecedented attack on most people on this side of the Chamber, including me and the Chair. It was also directed at the reputations and integrity of the head of your Department of Business, the General Manager of Channel 9 Darwin and Darwin’s Consulate General of Greece. What do you say about the member for Nhulunbuy’s claims that the head of your department, the General Manager of Channel 9 Darwin and Darwin’s Greek consul are a who’s who list of the CLP’s mates?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for this very serious question. Yesterday’s attack in the House on the reputations and integrity on the head of my Department of Business, the General Manager of Channel 9 Darwin and Darwin’s Honorary Consulate General of Greece was another grubby chapter in the behaviour of the Labor opposition and the member for Nhulunbuy.
It was so grubby that it demands a public apology to these three Darwin citizens from the Leader of the Opposition, not the member for Nhulunbuy. The member for Nhulunbuy dumped mud on the reputations of these three highly-respected people during yesterday’s anti-corruption debate. The Opposition Leader must issue a public apology to these three men, and it must be today.
The member for Nhulunbuy made references to these three gentlemen when presenting her case for the establishment of the anti-corruption watchdog. This is what the member said in the presentation of her case for an anti-corruption watchdog while making wild claims on travel rorts:
- What about the entourage of people who headed to Greece? It read like a who’s who list of mates of the CLP. Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, you were on the junket as well …
These comments are a deliberate and despicable attack on the reputations of these three men. The five people in this delegation were the Acting Deputy Speaker; the member for Blain; my chief of staff, who is the head of the Department of Business; the General Manager of Channel 9 Darwin, who is also the Chair of the Northern Territory Education and Training Authority; and Darwin’s Honorary Consulate General of Greece.
For the record, the head of the Department of Business is one of the most highly-regarded chief executives the Territory has ever had. He is held in high esteem for his tireless work for the Territory throughout the business community, regional Territory centres and among his interstate counterparts.
The General Manager of Channel 9 is also held in the highest esteem by the business community and the wider community for his contribution to the Territory, for which he has been bestowed honours at a national level. He serves on numerous communities boards. He is the chair of the Northern Territory Education and Training Authority and is a man of honesty and impeccable character.
Likewise, the Greek consul is a former Administrator who has been bestowed national honours for his contribution to the Territory. He represents the Territory Greek community with the utmost honesty and integrity.
These three gentlemen did not deserve to be used as examples by the Labor Party to support its case for an anti-corruption watchdog. I challenge and call upon the Opposition Leader today to walk outside this House and issue, on behalf of the Labor Party, a public apology for the attack on these three gentlemen’s reputations.
Members: Hear, hear!
Member for Araluen – Comments on Chief Minister’s Leadership
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday your former CLP Deputy Chief Minister described your leadership approach as:
- … eliminate, execute, annihilate and assassinate – and, of course, has no use for the truth.
She cited a lack of integrity and described your leadership as a ‘dark, amoral cabal’. This is an unprecedented attack on the Chief Minister by someone who has sat in Cabinet. Is this why nine out of 14 colleagues voted no confidence in your abilities to lead the government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am reliably informed that in Canberra today all of Question Time was dedicated to developing northern Australia, running through a vast array of individual items which focus on the development of northern Australia. I expect that was a fairly large and robust debate, especially regarding developing the north from the Tropic of Capricorn in Queensland and Western Australia. It entails so much of the population, but there is a high level of investment across those three jurisdictions.
When you talk about leadership, member for Nhulunbuy, it is about setting forth a plan for the Northern Territory, specifically a jobs plan. It is about getting the structure of our social investments, schools, houses and health system right, making sure the rubber hits the road and we have the money in place. That is why developing northern Australia has been such an important component in laying the foundations of how we invest in the Northern Territory. Leadership is about having a plan.
We just heard a stinging rebuke from the member for Sanderson of what you said in this Chamber yesterday as an attempt to attack people. Some of your commentary yesterday did not display the qualities of leadership people expect from us. People who watch and listen to parliament, or see us as politicians, expect us to provide leadership in the future direction of the Northern Territory. That is what we have been doing. Today in Canberra, and tomorrow in Cairns, will see the culmination of a partnership of leadership from the Territory and Canberra to ensure there is future direction in the Northern Territory.
Machinations from behind the scenes of government are just that. Territorians want to see a plan for the future of the Northern Territory. They want to make sure their kids, wives, husbands, aunts and uncles all have opportunity in the Northern Territory. That is being developed with the plan for northern Australia.
Again, thank you to my colleagues. Thank you to everybody in this Chamber today. I also thank the Prime Minister of the nation for dovetailing our direction for the Northern Territory. I look forward to delivering jobs for the Territory’s future.
Regional Economic Development under CLP Government
Mr CONLAN to TREASURER
It has always been my assessment that the Country Liberals are great supporters of the regions. Tennant Creek, Katherine and Alice Springs have benefited from the Country Liberals government since coming to power in 2012, with the substantial resources and investment which has gone into those communities. Law and order and economic development have completely transformed in those regions.
Treasurer, do you share that assessment? Can you highlight to the House some of the areas of regional economic development across the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Clearly he is concerned with developing the regions. He is not only focused on Central Australia, but the entire Northern Territory. The last budget provided an enormous amount of funding to Central Australia, which he is very interested in. There was $61.6m for new housing and property upgrades in Central Australia, $32m to upgrade the Plenty Highway, $25m to seal the Mereenie Loop, and $5.7m for the Alice Springs Desert Park. People will be happy to hear the V8 Supercars will be in Darwin this weekend and there is $3.85m going into Central Australia to support the speedway, drag racing and the Red CentreNATS …
Mr Wood: Anything for Weddell?
Mr TOLLNER: I will get to Weddell. There is $2.7m to expand the Alice Springs Youth and Community Centre. The member for Barkly will be interested in the $12.5m to strengthen six bridges on the Tablelands Highway; $9m for new houses and upgrades; $5m for a sewerage system at Ali Curung; and $3.3m for health centres at Canteen Creek and Elliott. That is great news for the Barkly region. Member for Barkly, I am sure you will be singing the praises of government when you are in your electorate.
The Katherine region is a vital part of the Territory; there is $31.9m for new houses and upgrades, and $9m for upgrading crossings at Wollogorang Road and the Roper Highway. The member for Arnhem will be pretty happy with that. There is also over $1m to upgrade the Katherine Motor Sports Club.
Member for Nhulunbuy, this is wonderful news for the East Arnhem Region - $19.9m for the new boarding facility. The member for Nhulunbuy is absolutely pumped and is seriously looking forward to that turning up in Nhulunbuy. Good on you for getting on board and supporting that.
The member for Arnhem is always banging on about the Central Arnhem Road and there is good news there with $4m to upgrade access to Gapuwiyak, Galiwinku and Ramingining. In the Top End there is $20.7m for the Arnhem Highway; $40m to upgrade infrastructure at Litchfield National Park; and $6.68m for Leviathan and Kambolgie Creeks. There is also money for the bus service on the Tiwi Islands.
We have a great budget and it is especially good for the regions.
Women in the CLP
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday the former Deputy Chief Minister, the member for Araluen, cautioned women from contemplating a future in politics with the Country Liberal Party. She urged women to think about their ability to endure abuse from you, Chief Minister, and your Treasurer. She pointed out that 50% of the women elected to government have now left during your time as Chief Minister. She pointed out prominent CLP women who have marched from the party: Fay Miller, Jodeen Carney, the member for Namatjira, the member for Arnhem and now herself.
Today the women of the Territory have been told by a prominent woman, formerly of your party, how they can be expected to be treated by you. How can you still govern the Territory after hearing why women formerly of your party hold you in such open contempt?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I gave a couple of answers to questions earlier where I spoke a lot about developing the north and developing the nation.
There is no doubt that politics is robust for everybody regardless of race, creed or gender. In providing leadership for the Northern Territory and in setting forth a plan for the Territory’s future, that is one of the core components Territorians uphold to us as being responsible for. As part of the government, the leadership team, the parliamentary wing and parliament itself, we all have a moral responsibility to provide good guidance and leadership.
At times thing are not easy for me, or for anybody. It does not have direct responsibility on any race or gender. We must continue to provide the best opportunities for all Territorians, whether they are men or women, and we will continue to do that.
I do not want to talk too much about all the elements of the white paper around developing the nation, but I think when people see the paper being presented today by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his colleagues, they will see there has been a strong result in the federal government partnering up with the Territory government …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This was not about a white paper. This was about how you can govern for 50% of the Territory when the women of your party hold you in such open contempt.
Mr GILES: I was talking about how today is a sign of a significant result. We hung a lot out when setting forth a plan to develop the Northern Territory. The Prime Minister has delivered the results for us; he has come forth and backed the Northern Territory. He has said, ‘We want to support you with your plan; we want to support you in Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. We want to support you in regional areas and remote areas. We want to support you whether you are black, white, man or woman. We want to make sure your children have jobs and there is a plan for the Territory’s future.’ That is what was delivered today in a partnership between the federal and Territory governments.
Again, I thank the federal government. I also thank my good colleague and friend, Natasha Griggs. Today is a turning point in taking the next step towards developing the nation and developing the north. All Australians can see today that there is a future direction of plans and hopes to deliver real outcomes for the north.
V8 Supercars
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The Dry Season in Darwin is a great time of the year. There are many fantastic events, one of which is the V8 Supercars which will be held this weekend at Hidden Valley. It is always a great weekend and very well attended by many people. I am looking forward to seeing Barnsey rock it. He is still a fantastic performer. He is an old bloke, but he goes all right. Would you please tell us what the government is doing to help secure this iconic event in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I did not know Barnsey was a driver, I thought he was singer.
At lunch time I went to Raintree Park. It was terrific to see the number of people welcoming the V8s to the Territory. If that is an indication of the enthusiasm we are looking forward to a great weekend.
As members would be aware, this year marks 18 years of hosting the championship at Hidden Valley and the Northern Territory government has secured it until 2018. The economic impact analysis conducted three years ago showed an estimated $16m in additional expenditure is injected into the Territory economy by the V8s. The event attracted more than 44 000 local and interstate patrons over the three days of the race last year. It is fair to say this championship is a fantastic event for the Northern Territory on many levels.
The Territory government is proud to do whatever it can to help the event, which includes ensuring Hidden Valley remains in peak condition. We already completed the debris fencing, pit wall gates, start-finish light system, pit garage electrical and lighting upgrades and resealing the pit paddock. We have also resurfaced the track, which was much needed.
The work continues; we have committed $8.5m in the budget to address ongoing projects at Hidden Valley, including upgrades to water infrastructure, replacement of the speedway track surface, upgrades to the air fence safety barriers, a glass-fronted VIP facility, Wi-Fi connectivity across the venue and upgrading of lighting and power to the pit paddock area.
It is not only about the V8s; there is a plethora of events for Hidden Valley this year, including the Gazzanats event, the Improved Production Nationals, the Australian National Drag Racing Association championship round, the TERRA Territory Challenge motorcycle event and the return of the World Solar Challenge.
These are on top of the regular weekly point scoring championships and NT title race events hosted by the local motor sports clubs.
We make no apology for providing first-class facilities for locals and visitors alike. The Chief Minister would like me to wish good luck to all of the drivers this weekend, but to Ford I say, ‘Go Holden!’
Rural Block Subdivision – EPA Ruling
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT
At a Litchfield DCA meeting last Friday, the Environment Protection Authority put forward an objection to the subdivision of a rural block which was once used for growing mangoes. The EPA used the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 as the basis for their objection because the site had been used for horticulture and highlighted that historically horticultural activities have been linked with site contamination. The owner of the land was confronted with being required to pay between $40 000 and $100 000 for that report.
I do not believe many people in the Northern Territory know anything about this. Has your government looked at the possible ramifications of this EPA ruling, which has the potential to push the price of rural land through the roof if the EPA forces people wanting to subdivide or sell their blocks to pay for a contamination report? Does the government support the EPA objective? If so, have you advised rural residents of it and the possible huge financial burden they may face if they wish to subdivide or sell their land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This issue has been raised not only through the member for Nelson, but also through my office at Berry Springs. I also had a question from the member for Goyder.
I will give you some background. The National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 is used by every Australian jurisdiction to assess and remediate contaminated sites. In the Northern Territory it is implemented through the provisions of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act and the National Environment Protection Council (Northern Territory) Act.
As the NT is expanding, more land in the Darwin rural fringe has become attractive for subdivision and change of land use developments. The change of land use from historical agricultural use such as mango farming, banana farming and market gardens, to more sensitive uses such as residential, is one of the triggers that invoke the ASC NEPM, which is the act we are talking about.
Historical farming techniques may have the potential of residual contamination within the soil from a variety of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals, for example, organochlorines, organophosphates, oils, fuels, etcetera associated with the current and historical agricultural use of the land. These chemicals have the potential to cause risk to human health with the more sensitive change of land use. Myriant is a chemical that was used extensively through the Northern Territory in urban and rural areas to control giant termites or mastotermes. Myriant contains a chemical known as mirex, which has been classified as a persistent organic pollutant, or a POP.
POPs are hazardous and environmentally persistent substances. As part of the integrated Stockholm Convention to which Australia is a signatory, the Commonwealth agreed to eliminate the use of chemical products containing mirex. All authorisations for the use of mirex in the NT expired on 1 February 2007. Myriant has not been allowed to be sold or used in the Northern Territory since then.
Human health should be a primary concern when assessing historical land use and exposure scenarios to potential contaminants. The ASC NEPM has been implemented in the Northern Territory by placing a condition in the development approvals requiring proponents to have an assessment of the land undertaken by a suitably qualified expert to address the risk of the land being contaminated. Varying levels of remediation can be undertaken. The level chosen depends on the preliminary investigation and assessment by the proponent’s expertise of the level of existing contamination, if any, and consideration of the proposed future use. A site assessment is recommended at the point of proposed change in land use. This ensures to the extent possible that the owner of the land responsible …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Education – School Term Dates
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Can you please update the House on what this government is doing in relation to school term dates?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his ongoing interest in schools, especially in the Palmerston area and his electorate of Blain.
The government is proud of the great work we are doing in education. Territory students are our future and investing time, effort and money in our schools is vital. This government is considering the outcomes of the first and second rounds of consultation in relation to changing term dates. A total of 5215 submissions were received. The results from that were extensive, but it was split down the middle with the options proposed. We are now looking at the science behind any decision before it is made on student outcomes, but no decision has been made yet. A decision will not be made without further consultation with parents.
I stress to the House that any decision we make in this area must be focused on student outcomes.
We have spoken about this. I can remember, years ago, being chair of a primary school council hearing time and again parents, teachers and the general community complaining about issues with term dates and the fact we have a four-week break in the middle of the year. The one I can recall, which was probably the most contentious, was about the one-week break between Terms 3 and 4.
At that time of the year we have run out of public holidays and we come into the hottest time of the year, the build-up, and many people felt that one week was not a good enough break.
When looking at changing term dates, what should we do to make it better? Many people will argue throwing in an extra couple of weeks as many people like extra holidays, but that has its complications around business and individuals. At the end of the day our focus must be on student outcomes. A great deal of the research we have looked at recently suggests that having a four-week break in the middle of the year is detrimental to a child’s performance, given there is a difference between when a child finishes Term 2 and starts Term 3. The lack of education over those four weeks can have an effect on some students.
The other thing we should consider is that our Territory senior students are left with one less week of education in their final year of school because of the four-week break in the middle of the year.
We will consult further with the community, but we will also look at the science around student outcomes and the effects term breaks have on them. We will also look at better ways of doing what we are doing. We have consulted; it is line-ball because there are different options and opinions from people. We need to focus on student outcomes to get this right. Nothing will happen until at least 2018.
Government – Territorian’s Faith in CLP
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday the former CLP Deputy Chief Minister described your government as lacking ethics and accountability. Former CLP leader Jodeen Carney today said you are divisive and arrogant, which means you are incapable of leading your team and this government. In the Sunday Territorian she questioned your government’s lack of transparency and accountability. Fay Miller, the Mayor of Katherine and a former CLP member of this House, cited the lack of integrity in the Giles regime as the reason for her resignation from the CLP.
Your lack of accountability is now the reason members of your party are leaving and going public with their resignations. You continue to oppose an ICAC, which half of this House voted to implement. How can Territorians trust you when you refuse to be held to account by independent bodies and inquiries, as well as members of your own party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. They can trust us because they can see the results we deliver upon, member for Nightcliff.
They can trust us when they see the budget coming back into surplus. We are already in operational surplus.
They can trust us when they see the level of debt you left us in coming down. They can trust us when they see we have the highest level of labour force participation. They can trust us when they see we have the second-lowest jurisdictional level of unemployment in the nation and the highest rate of business confidence in the nation.
They can trust us when they see we have the highest level of land release in the Territory’s history.
They can trust us when they see assault levels at the lowest levels since the 1990s.
They can trust us when they see school attendance at the highest rates ever, and when they see school results improving and getting to the highest levels.
They can trust us when they look to the Tiwi Islands and see there is now economic activity occurring there. I want to talk about the Tiwi Islands. Territorians can trust us when they see that one of the biggest Japanese companies, that being Mitsui, has done a deal with an Aboriginal community on the Tiwi Islands for woodchips. That is about trust; an international company doing a deal like that is outstanding. Might I say to the member for Arafura and to the House, it is fantastic that the first repayment is being made on the loan to Tiwi to support the economic opportunity we provided. It is great to see that going forward in leaps and bounds.
Territorians can see the level of trust when we say we will build roads for the Territory’s future with the way we rolled out our budget. We announced improvements to Saddle Rail Creek crossing on the Port Keats Road, helping out with the roads between Palumpa and Peppimenarti and the two bridges for both the Wilton and Roper Rivers.
There is a commitment to spend more money on the Outback Way in the member for Namatjira’s electorate. We have also seen a partnership with the federal minister, Warren Truss, of some $45m going towards extending the seal on the Plenty Highway and improving the level of amenity on the straight road to Docker River.
When you talk about trust, member for Nightcliff, you can say this is what we promised to do. Have we been delivering? Absolutely. Can we fix the budget? Are we investing in infrastructure? Are we building jobs? Do we have a plan for the Territory’s north?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
__________________________
Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of students from Nungalinya College accompanied by Reverend Felicity Amery. I extend a warm welcome to you and hope you enjoy your time here at Parliament House.
Members: Hear, hear!
__________________________
Davis Cup in Darwin
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
It never ceases to amaze me as I move around the Northern Territory how stoked people are with the significant world-class events we continually bring to the Northern Territory for Territorians to enjoy. There has been the Sheffield Shield cricket, the Ashes, AFL in Alice Springs for the first time, rugby league across the Northern Territory, the Red CentreNATS is coming to town, and there was a world first with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra playing at Uluru in 2013. They are world-class significant events thanks to this government. Following on from that, can you inform the House how ticket sales are going for another huge global event, the Davis Cup in Darwin next month?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Like many Territorians he is excited that Darwin has been chosen to host this first-class international match. As members are aware, Australia will take on Kazakhstan in the quarterfinal of the Davis Cup at the Marrara Sporting Complex from 17 to 19 July. This is the first time a Davis Cup tie has been played in the Northern Territory, and the first time Australia has hosted a home tie since 2006.
As members would know, the Davis Cup has a completely different atmosphere to the ATP events. That is because the Davis Cup is very much nation against nation. I am sure the crowd will get behind our magnificent Australian team. It is a festive, raucous and exciting atmosphere. It also immediately follows Wimbledon, which means the Aussie players will be up against the world’s best at Wimbledon and will come straight to Darwin from there.
The Northern Territory government is unapologetic for investing $600 000 for this quarterfinal. This is the kind of first-class event we are happy to pay for to benefit Territorians. It is part of the Festivals NT calendar.
The government is not just investing dollars. The minister for Transport and I are pleased to announce today that all ticket holders for the Davis Cup quarterfinal can travel on Darwin bus routes which lead to Marrara via the Casuarina Interchange for free over that weekend. It is another way we are making it easy for Territorians to access great events.
As for the ticket sales, the temporary grandstands will accommodate about 4500 tennis fans. I am urging honourable members and anyone wanting to see this quarterfinal tie, if you do not have your tickets yet it might be time to book them. The sales have been strong but there are still some good ones available, so log on to Ticketek and buy your tickets now. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it is worth it.
It was wonderful to catch up with Todd Woodbridge the other day and show him the site for the proposed NT Regional Tennis Centre. As members would know, we have committed $8m towards this project and Todd is just as excited as we are about it. We are investing in real projects for real outcomes.
Member for Araluen – Attack on Chief Minister
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The former Deputy Chief Minister of the CLP told this House that you and your Treasurer hold the reins of power and forced your colleagues into compliance through patronage or threats. She has described your government as having scandal upon scandal, and that you are the worst Chief Minister ever.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Proposed Motion of Censure
Proposed Motion of Censure
Mr GUNNER (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this House from censuring the Chief Minister for the following: destroying the faith and trust that needs to exist between Territorians and their elected representatives for good government to occur; diminishing this parliament and bringing the government, parliament and the Northern Territory into disrepute through arrogant, deceitful and disrespectful behaviour; continuing to lie to Territorians; and always putting his self-interest ahead of the interests of Territorians.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, the government accepts this motion from the opposition and we postpone any other government business to take this censure motion on immediately. The member for Greatorex owes me $5.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016