2014-08-21
Deputy Chief Minister – Offensive Comments
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
We read with disgust in this morning’s NT News of the undisciplined offensive homophobic rant by the member for Fong Lim against the son of the member for Daly. In the private or public sector, such repugnant language, bullying and disrespect for a colleague’s son would result in the sacking of an employee. As with Conlan-gate earlier this year, your leadership has again been found wanting. An apology simply does not cut it. What message does it send to the member for Daly, his son and our community to let this behaviour go unpunished? Will you show some leadership and sack the Deputy Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. As the Leader of the Opposition and many other people know, I have no tolerance for discrimination in any form, whether it is based on race, religion, sexual preference, political preference or otherwise. Political preferences have been the subject of much debate over the last few Question Times.
I have had the opportunity to chat with the Deputy Chief Minister about his comments. As people will read, he has had a conversation with the staff member in question and also with the member for Daly. It is an in-house matter these gentlemen had a conversation about. Both members of parliament are distressed that these matters have been aired in public. It has been dealt with internally, as it is an internal matter. Regrettably, from time to time these things go outside the confines of private communications within our team. The member …
Ms Fyles: If it had not have gone out would you have accepted it?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: This is a pretty serious matter, member for Nightcliff. The member for Daly is distressed – he loves his son, no doubt – as the Deputy Chief Minister is distressed. Having said that, the matter was dealt with last week. We are moving on and getting on with business.
Thank you very much to the member for Daly, the Deputy Chief Minister and the team for coming together. These are difficult times and no one likes to see commentary around discriminatory matters. The Deputy Chief Minister and the staff member in question are good mates and operate through a jovial relationship; the matter has been dealt with internally. We will now get on with governing for the Northern Territory.
Last night, I had the opportunity of being at a dinner for SEAAOC, which is operating in Darwin. It is a fantastic opportunity to catch up with many leaders and world leaders who operate in the offshore and onshore gas environment.
I can update the House that we have been working at length over the last two years, especially over the last 18 months, to ensure that post-first tranche for INPEX in the second half of 2016 we have a long and continual supportive base for our economy to make sure we have jobs going into the future.
Out of the conversations I had last night, there appears to be some significant lights on the horizon, and the future looks very bright post-INPEX tranches one and two. I look forward to making announcements in the near future.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Deputy Chief Minister – Offensive Comments
Deputy Chief Minister – Offensive Comments
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
This is not a private matter. The disgraceful, disgusting and abhorrent homophobic rant occurred in the workplace. Your ministerial office’s code of conduct requires ministerial staff to treat everyone with respect, courtesy and in a fair and equitable manner without harassment, victimisation or discrimination.
The Public Sector Employment and Management Act requires employees to be treated:
- .. fairly, reasonably and in a non-discriminatory way …
The NT’s Anti-Discrimination Act states that a person shall not discriminate against another person on the grounds of sexuality.
Your Deputy Chief Minister has breached all of these …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The time for the supplementary has expired.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Attorney-General, there is no point jumping up.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her supplementary question.
As I said, this matter has been dealt with internally. It was a …
Ms Fyles: Double standards.
Mr GILES: It is not double standards at all. This was a blow-up of an issue that was much smaller in nature. It was a conversation between two friends which was reported to have gotten out of hand. The conversation between these two friends did not get out of hand. Josh and Dave continue to be good mates. My biggest concern was making sure the member for Daly was protected and looked after ...
Ms Fyles: Sack the Deputy Chief Minister.
Mr GILES: It is not about sacking anybody; it is about getting on with the job. As any employer knows, when issues arise in the workplace it is their responsibility to deal with those matters. This issue has been dealt with and we are getting on with providing good governance for the Northern Territory.
Auditor-General – Term Complete
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
The long serving Auditor-General, Frank McGuiness is finishing up his term. Can you please inform the House about the groundbreaking appointment of his replacement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. She is very keen to applaud outgoing and long-serving Auditor-General, Frank McGuiness because, as Chair of the PAC, she had a lot to do with Frank.
Frank McGuiness has held the position of Auditor-General since 2004. He retires early next month after a distinguished career in the public service. He is a man of integrity who will be missed. I thank him for his hard work. The whole Chamber will thank him for his hard work.
On the government’s recommendation, the Administrator has confirmed Ms Julie Crisp to take over the role from 13 September for a term of five years. This is a groundbreaking appointment, making her the first female Auditor-General. The ACT is the only other jurisdiction to have appointed a woman to this position.
Ms Crisp has been a partner at Deloitte since 2008 and her current role is centred on the provision of audit and related services. These services include: statutory financial audits; compliance and performance management system audits on behalf of the Northern Territory Auditor-General; internal auditing and consulting services to public and private sector entities; forensic investigation services to legal firms, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner for Public Interest Disclosures; auditing financial statements; and grand acquittals for a wide range of private and not-for-profit entities. Ms Crisp has a wealth of professional experience and formal qualifications for the post.
I am pleased to say her appointment has brought a bipartisan approach in this Chamber. The Auditor-General is a critical person in the architecture of Territory democracy. I welcome Julie Crisp to the job and wish her well in her post over the next five years. Let us hope she does not have the workload Frank used to have. I have no doubt she will continue to maintain a healthy and strong workload to keep her busy at all times.
Political Donations – Inquiry
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Last night your government was missing in action; your rank incompetence was on show for everyone to see. You are missing in action in Territory communities and last night you were missing in action in this Chamber for the vote on the Foundation 51 inquiry.
The motion to establish an inquiry into Foundation 51 passed. In a panic your Leader of Government Business then tried to gag debate and rescind the motion. This spectacularly backfired, as you do not have the clear numbers.
When will you establish the committee and release the terms of reference for this inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for the question. He is not attuned to working hard; he could not establish a committee in less than 12 hours.
We are looking at the outcome of that motion under section 4A of the Inquiries Act. It is the same section used to undertake the inquiry into Stella Maris. People will recall that after the passing of the motion in regard to Stella Maris, it took some time for us to deliberate, speak to the Administrator, have the terms of reference approved and the inquiry under way. We will start a process in regard to that.
I point out to the member for Johnston that it was not for an inquiry into Foundation 51, but a range of other measures including Harold Nelson Holdings. Acknowledging the inquiry might be quite large, we will have to consider how it should be conducted. Perhaps we should start with Harold Nelson Holdings as a first port of call.
It will take some time for us to pull together terms of reference and get it all done, as was the case with the Stella Maris deal - a stinky, dodgy, dirty deal where Labor gave away free Territory assets to its union mates, as people would know.
Not only did Labor give away free Territory assets to union mates, it then, through the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, obtained pro bono legal advice from her lawyer Labor mates, which they failed to declare on their conflict of interest register - not one stinky, dodgy, dirty deal, but two by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition. It seems these guys have form on that.
Despite the fact there was a motion passed in this Chamber last night, the sun still came up this morning. Everyone on this side of the Chamber was still breathing. Everyone still got up and asked, ‘How are we building the Palmerston hospital? How are we supporting mining and resource development? What are we doing for tourism and sport? How are we getting tough on crime? When are our 6500 blocks of land coming out so we can drive down the cost of living in the Northern Territory? What are we doing about open speed limits, and spending $400m on regional and remote roads in the Northern Territory? What are we doing to support people living in homelands and outstations in our regional communities, as the Minister for Community Services is doing?’
That is what we did when we woke up this morning; we got on with the job, so kids like these kids from Katherine can have a fantastic opportunity in life …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was not regarding when you woke up this morning. You were asleep last night, missing in action. Where are your terms of reference?
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please sit down. That is inappropriate.
Mr GILES: We did not win a motion in parliament, heaven forbid! But we did get to the SEAAOC dinner last night and negotiate potentially one of the biggest gas contracts in the Territory’s history, which will be announced in the future. We will get on with the job and the member for Johnston can come up with silly questions in Question Time.
Open Speed Limits
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
In the same vein of getting on with business today, can the minister please update the House on how the Giles government is delivering on an election commitment regarding open speed limits? What benefit might flow to the people of Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to inform the House and those opposite how the Giles government is getting on with the job. The government is continuing to deliver on its election promises to the people of the Northern Territory, especially the people of Central Australia and the Barkly region, extending an evidence-based trial of open speed limits on a new section of the Stuart Highway. The return of open speed limits was an election commitment of the Giles government, and we are pleased to be delivering this evidence-based approach.
From 1 September, the existing open speed limit trial will include a new 72 km stretch of highway from Barrow Creek to just south of the Ali Curung rail overpass. Since announcing the first phase of the open speed limit trial of the 204 km stretch between Barrow Creek and Alice Springs last year, we have been assessing further sections of the road which may be suitable for a revised limit.
Today’s extension will mean that 276 km of the highway is now covered by the trial, which will be welcomed by the frequent road users, especially those in the Barkly and Central Australian regions. It will probably be especially beneficial to the member for Barkly, who can drive down to Alice Springs in slightly less time than he is used to.
Over the 10 years - and I see other members across the House holding up all types of prompts - there have not been any speed-related fatalities on this section of road we added ...
Mr McCarthy: Rubbish!
Mr STYLES: I pick up on the interjection from the member for Barkly. On that 72 km section of road there have been no speed-related fatalities in the last 10 years …
Mr McCarthy: Rubbish!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, cease interjecting.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 255. I ask the minister to table the documents. Show us the evidence that points to open speed limits on these roads.
Mr STYLES: Madam Speaker, I do not have that table with me. If the member for Barkly wants to raise that, there are figures available and I have quoted from the figures …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STYLES: Member for Barkly, you are wrong in your statement that there have been speed-related deaths ...
Mr McCarthy: Tell the families.
Mr STYLES: No, you are wrong. I get on with the great news of what we are doing. This means - as the member for Barkly might be trying to suggest it is - it is not a speedway; it is about driving to the conditions of the road. If it is raining …
Ms Fyles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nightcliff, cease interjecting!
Mr STYLES: This is about giving people the responsibility to make those decisions, and about driving to the conditions, people’s skills, the condition of their motor vehicles, whether it is night or day time and what is happening on the road.
The opposition would do well to get some facts and figures before they start talking about this.
___________________________
Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, before you start, I would like to welcome some students.
Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of Year 2/3 and Year 4/5 classes from Holy Family Catholic Primary School, accompanied by Racheal Joyce and Diane Stall. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to you.
I also extend a special warm welcome to Zac Lawrie, the son of Opposition Leader, Delia Lawrie. Welcome, Zac. I hope you behave yourself, because we are all watching you.
Members: Hear, hear!
________________________
Foundation 51 – Election Donations
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last night in this House, the member for Namatjira raised serious questions about whether, as members of the CLP, she and her two Palmer United Party colleagues had received donations from Foundation 51 during the last Territory election in 2012. If they did, Foundation 51 is in clear breach of the Electoral Act, as it has never declared any donations to the CLP.
It is time to come clean. What do you know about Foundation 51’s donation to the CLP? Will you advise the House of your knowledge regarding election donations received from Foundation 51 by the former CLP members – the members for Namatjira, Arnhem, and Arafura?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. As he knows, every member has a responsibility to lodge their own electoral returns after every election. I lodge my electoral return, the members for Arnhem, Namatjira, Arafura and everyone else in this Chamber has to lodge their own electoral returns of any money, donations or otherwise being provided for their campaign. Those people should be able to provide their own answer to those questions. As I said before, there is no connection between me and Foundation 51. I think I have been to one dinner function at a Foundation 51 event, but if you want to make some inquiries about that do so. It has no relation to me, to government or otherwise. Talk to the directors of Foundation 51.
Darwin Festival
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
The Darwin Festival is in full swing and currently being enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors to the Top End. Can you please inform the House how this year’s Darwin Festival has been a huge success thanks to the increased investment by the Country Liberals government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. She is interested in the arts, being a committed member of the Darwin public, and has frequented the Darwin Festival.
This year’s Darwin Festival has been a huge success; I would be as bold as to say perhaps it has been the best ever. Ticket sales are …
Mr Wood: I think we need an independent inquiry into that.
Mr CONLAN: No, Gerry, it is pretty good. Those guys had a good red hot crack at it, but were not able to deliver a Darwin Festival quite like the one we are currently seeing ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Barkly!
Mr CONLAN: Ticket sales are up on last year. I think we are on track to exceed box office targets. They are the biggest box office ticket sales in the history of the Darwin Festival. The festival is no doubt the talk of the town. Everyone is praising it and raving about what a great success it has been.
At this year’s annual festival, the free Santos opening night concert at the Amphitheatre at George Brown Botanic Gardens attracted record crowds; 5000 people attended the concert featuring international star Tina Arena, and the Tiwi Islands collective, B2M, which was fantastic.
Close to 3000 turned out to experience the remarkable Gurrumul perform on Sunday night, which was sensational. There was a star-studded line up at the Darwin Festival.
The festival expects to record the attendance at the Soweto Gospel Choir this Sunday at the Amphitheatre. More than 2300 tickets have been sold, also exceeding box office targets as we celebrate the last night of the 2014 festival.
It has been a huge success thus far and there is still plenty of time for those who have not been to get along to the Darwin Festival. If you have not been, I encourage you to go to one of these events, or even walk through the park; it is sensational. Pick up some food and listen to what is going on.
Starting tonight - this is fantastic - for the final four nights of the festival, the Darwin Waterfront will host a free event transforming the lagoon into a Vietnamese water puppet experience that is bound to amaze children and adults alike. This is a real coup for the Darwin Festival. It is one of the biggest international acts anywhere in Australia, and we have it on our doorstep in Darwin. It would not have been possible without the investment of the Giles Country Liberals government, additional funding in excess of the $1m we already commit to the Darwin Festival. We also put $296 000 into Festivals NT to promote this as a great Asian experience and to enhance the festival for 2014.
We will continue to do that in years to come. It is a fantastic opportunity. If you have not been, please experience the Darwin Festival. It is sensational ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Tiger Brennan Drive – Plants on Median Strip
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
Power and Water is promoting an ‘I’m living water smart’ sticker designed to reduce water usage by Territorians and the government. It also says we must cut costs because of the budget deficit. Can you please advise who decided to plant thousands of water-hungry plants in the median strip of Tiger Brennan Drive near Tipperary Waters? Why were hardy Territory native plants not used, as recommended by Power and Water, to reduce water usage? How much will the water cost to keep these thirsty plants alive in the Dry Season? What was the cost of the landscape contract and where did those thousands of plants originate from, the Territory or interstate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. What fantastic infrastructure that is; it will help all those rural people living in Nelson and Palmerston.
The master plan for landscaping on the road in Darwin is governed by the Greater Darwin Arterial Roads Landscape Masterplan, a Labor document. It guides decisions on plant types and arrangement and maintenance concerning those plants. It specifies plants which are suitable for each individual environment, taking into consideration the seasonal and environmental conditions. Along the median strip on Tiger Brennan Drive, the plant species will tolerate the hot, damp weather and the roadside environment. Some of the species we have planted are sweet potato and swamp lily. The landscape architect advised that, sweet potato, apart from making a very good meal, also makes a hardy roadside plant that can tolerate the hot and damp environment. This plant species has a tolerance for the reflected heat and pollution experienced in the roadside locations.
Very important - this is not me; these are experts in their field, landscape architects. I take their word, as in the House we have to take the word of experts. In regard to the selection of the swamp lily, the architect advised that the swamp lily will produce a greater number of flowers in the Wet Season, and is a robust roadside plant in drier seasons. The striking architectural form of the lilies adds to the character of the road environment.
It makes driving home to Palmerston or Nelson a pleasant experience.
The cost of landscaping includes site preparation, topsoil, irrigation, mulching which we have seen the workers putting down recently, and a grassed area which is in the order of $500 000. Approximately 16 000 plants were sourced locally, with some others imported from Queensland by the subcontractor for a number of reasons.
If you look at all our major arterial roads – we are trying to sell the Territory as a wonderful tropical city. I do not want to see concrete which may or may not have been cheaper; I do not have those figures.
This government is committed to tourism. It is about getting people to drive down the road and be calm on the way home. Some of the members opposite might like to drive down the road and feel a calming effect after they have had a bad day in the House. We will make sure we have a beautiful, vibrant city that is attractive not only to Territorians, but to our tourists as well.
Magistrate Maley – Russell Goldflam
Inquiry into Appointment
Inquiry into Appointment
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER referred to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
In the past two days you have verballed the President of the Criminal Lawyers Association, Russell Goldflam who wrote on his organisation’s website:
- … I am disturbed that my views have been so unfairly misrepresented in the Parliamentary chamber by our Chief Minister and first law officer.
He said that you and the Attorney-General created the misleading impression that he did not support the Bar Association’s call for an inquiry into magistrate Peter Maley. You and the Attorney-General stand publicly accused of misleading the House. How do you explain your actions? How can Territorians ever trust what you say? Is it time to announce a full judicial inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no. The Attorney-General provided some explanation in relation to Mr Goldflam last night, and I ask him to provide more comment.
Mr ELFERINK (Attorney-General and Justice): Madam Speaker, one of the great things about Mr Goldflam is that he brings sobriety to this whole debate, which has been absent from the Bar Association. Mr Goldflam wrote a letter in which he very much praised Mr Maley in a number of ways.
One of the problems with answering questions in this House is that we are not able to construct an argument in the three minutes we have to answer a question. The Chief Minister and I accurately repeated praiseworthy comments Mr Goldflam made in relation to Mr Maley.
Mr Goldflam also went on to say that CLANT, like so many other organisations, is fundamentally divided, as there are all sorts of opinions on this. As I have always maintained, if you want three opinions, ask two lawyers a question.
Mr Goldflam felt he was misrepresented and he made that clear in an e-mail to me. In deference to his even-handed approach I spoke during the adjournment debate last night, and again today, recognising that he comes down on the other side of the argument. I did so without any other prompting, because I have regard for Mr Goldflam’s even-handedness.
I also said last night in this House that I would telephone Mr Goldflam and explain to him the steps I had taken. I did so this morning and had a cordial, polite conversation with him. I acknowledged his even-handed approach, and I wish we would see more …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Is it not time you announced a judicial inquiry into the actions of magistrate Peter Maley?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr ELFERINK: We have those balanced comments, and we can contrast them with the comments of Mr Lawrence yesterday, that the rule of law is now over in the Northern Territory and democracy is at an end. That is shrill. It is not a sensible approach and I would expect much better from a lawyer. I ask Mr Lawrence to look closely at the balanced and even-handed approach Mr Goldflam has taken to this issue and take a leaf out of his book.
In relation to the inquiry, the systems that exist in the courts are more than sufficient to deal with the legal principles of apprehended bias. No suggestion has yet been made of Mr Maley in relation to that area. He is recognised as a good magistrate, reflected by the comments by Mr Goldflam. In the words of Jon Tippett, this is a political witch-hunt ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Stella Maris Inquiry – Recommendations
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT
The first recommendation of the inquiry into the Opposition Leader’s dodgy Stella Maris deal recommended that Unions NT relinquish any interest it may claim in the site. Has Unions NT done this, and what will the government do to ensure the whole community benefits from this iconic site?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. An independent inquiry found the dodgy Stella Maris deal was not accountable, responsible or in the public interest. The same inquiry recommended that the government request Unions NT to relinquish any interests it might claim in the Stella Maris site.
We did this; we accepted the inquiry’s recommendation and have called on Unions NT to do the right thing. But Unions NT has instead decided to play games. Unions NT went on local radio and smugly claimed it will not relinquish any interests because the minister has not asked it to.
Despite its smugness, on 26 June I publicly called on Unions NT to hand in the keys. My department e-mailed a letter to that effect to Unions NT using an established e-mail account. A week went by with no response, so again I called on Unions NT to hand back the keys, to which it replied it had not received the letter. How ridiculous!
From there, on 9 July a copy of the letter was sent by courier, post and also e-mailed again; however, this time it bounced back. My department then called Unions NT to investigate why this happened. The department was told that e-mail account does not exist anymore - the lengths the unions will go to, to say no.
This is becoming crazier by the minute; if it was not such a serious matter it would be funny. An independent commissioner has made an explicit recommendation, and this mob is playing games. It is unbelievable.
However, I still have not received a reply - no answer whatsoever. It is a shame the comrades in this union have not displayed the same speed with which they accepted Gerry McCarthy’s offer on 3 August 2012. Unions NT is not interested in doing the right thing and its comrades opposite sit by and do nothing.
This government is proceeding with the recommendations. I am pleased to announce we will implement Recommendation 2 of the Stella Maris inquiry, and will release the site for a formal expressions of interest process, which is exactly what should have happened two years ago. Instead, Delia and Unions NT cooked up a dodgy deal and then forced her errand boy, now deputy, to run around and stitch it up ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 65. Members should be referred to by their electorate name.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could refer to members by their electorate name.
Mr CHANDLER: This government has put a stop to that deal. A proper expression of interest process will give any member of the community the opportunity to submit their proposal for the site, not just Delia’s comrades from Woods Street ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please refer to members of this parliament by their electorate name.
Mr CHANDLER: I am doing this – and people may have asked the question – because it is the right thing to do. The Leader of the Opposition and the member for Barkly did not have the courage to do the right thing when they did the dodgy, underhanded deal on the eve of an election. Unions NT does not have the integrity to do it now, after the independent inquiry found the deal not to be accountable, responsible or in the public interest ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Nuclear Waste Dumps – Traditional Owners
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you told the House you have been receiving phone calls from traditional owners asking about potential nuclear waste dumps on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory, yet traditional owners in Alice Springs say they have received phone calls from you, not the other way around. Three men – Mr Lesley Tickner, Mr Benedict Stevens and Mr Russell Bray - say you phoned them to raise the possibility of Mount Everard, about 45 km northwest of Alice Springs, becoming a site for a national nuclear waste dump. Did you call these traditional owners - yes or no?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I look forward to the member for Johnston making that claim outside the Chamber, rather than inside, because I did not make the …
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: The Alice Springs News is wrong. Make that claim, member for Johnston, because that is incorrect ...
Ms Fyles: Maybe you could explain.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: I am happy to explain now, squawking member for Nightcliff. Russell Bray phoned me on a number of occasions asking for a meeting. I had a meeting with Russell Bray, Benedict Stevens, Mr Tickner, and a range of other people in Alice Springs.
Mr Vowles: I am going to phone him and see if he has your number.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: Because you are trying to stir up trouble here, I will tell you exactly what happened. Six people sat in on that meeting, member for Johnston, if you are keen to listen. If not, no worries.
I explained the process of the federal government, the land council and consultation at that meeting, at which point Mr Tickner demanded that if I was to have any more conversations with him, he wanted $2m for himself, Russell Bray and another gentleman at the table whose name I cannot recall, to which I said, ‘You are kidding’ …
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will the Chief Minister provide his phone records?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, that is not a point of order. You are on a warning.
Mr GILES: There were three people demanding to be paid $2m each to continue negotiations. I said, ‘You are not negotiating with me, I am giving you the information on the process. You need to talk to TOs and the Central Land Council and take it to the federal government’. That is the process which I explained, at which point - you might like to know – Mr Bray, Mr Tickner and one other gentleman who I do not recall the name of, stormed out because I would not give them any money.
I said, ‘Thank you’, then Benedict Stevens left the room and came back with a number of other traditional owners and asked, ‘Can you tell me about the process again?’ I printed out some information and said, ‘Read that, but you have to talk to the land councils; that is the process’. If people ask me to provide them information, it is fair and reasonable that I provide it.
However, to be asked for $2m - to attempt to be blackmailed or bribed - to have a conversation is not in my interest. It is in the interest of TOs to have conversations with land councils and the federal government.
There is a bit of clarity for you. Erwin Chlanda might want to take his slanderous and incorrect piece of news off the Alice Springs News website. If you want to make these claims, member for Johnston, go outside because they will be incorrect and I will be happy to take it further.
Roads – Wilton River to Ngukurr
Ms LEE to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
You have outlined on many occasions in this Chamber your interest and concern for the road from Wilton River to the Ngukurr community. This road does not need upgrading or grading, it needs major investment from this government. Can you tell me what you are doing to help the community and the people who deliver food to it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I find it a bit cute that she has not sought a briefing on this. If you really want to understand what is happening, you could ask for a briefing. We would be happy to get the experts in to give you a clear picture ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STYLES: It would appear you are not as interested in the answer as you should be, because you want a two-and-a-half minute answer on what is happening for the people in the Ngukurr area ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 113: relevance. If you do not know the answer say you will get back to her after Question Time.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order, sit down.
Mr STYLES: There is a fair bit of activity occurring there. Two bridges are on the list to be built across the Roper and the Wilton Rivers, but we have a limited budget. I wish we had a larger budget and more to spend, but we are trying to reduce the $5.5bn projected debt we inherited, so we must look at the priorities.
Money is being spent on the Roper Highway on the way out to the two bridges. About $45m has been allocated to build the bridge over the Wilton and Roper Rivers. It is a matter of priorities, and as those opposite would be aware, you cannot fix all the issues at once.
There is a lot happening on our major rural arterial roads. Bridges are going across the Central Arnhem Road as we speak …
Ms Walker: Labor funded, Labor initiatives.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STYLES: They are not all Labor initiatives; it is an ongoing government initiative. We will continue to look at and prioritise some of the issues which concern people there and in other regions along the Central Arnhem Road to the Nhulunbuy region. There are only a certain number of dollars; we are working hard to make them stretch. But I will talk about some Ngukurr road issues ...
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question from the member was very specific about Ngukurr roads. I know all about the Central Arnhem Road because Labor funded it and I drive it. Can you answer the question about roads to Ngukurr?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nhulunbuy. Minister, if you could get to the point please.
Mr STYLES: We have made a decision to spend money on the Roper Highway because there is mining …
Ms Fyles: Do not worry about the people in the communities.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STYLES: I wish the member for Nightcliff had an off button. Perhaps she would like to find it, or at least a volume button ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, withdraw offensive comments.
Mr STYLES: Who is working at those mines? I have been …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please withdraw the comments you made which were found offensive.
Mr STYLES: About the off button?
Madam SPEAKER: Withdraw the comments.
Mr STYLES: I withdraw the comment about the off button.
There are people from Ngukurr working at those mine sites who use those roads …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
EBA Negotiations – Update
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
It appears there is a great deal of misinformation about the EBA negotiations currently taking place, which is being peddled by the members opposite. I listened to the sheer vitriol for hours yesterday. Can you please provide an accurate update on the EBA negotiations and dispel Labor’s many myths and vitriolic discourse?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, so often we sit in this House listening to members opposite preaching things like industrial harmony, and saying all manner of problems are to be sheeted home to this government. They make utterances I would like to refer to, but unfortunately my words would be considered unparliamentary, so I cannot call them liars.
The first assertion they continually make is that it is the government’s responsibility to intervene on the EBA for the paramedics. The paramedics of the Northern Territory who provide services through St John Ambulance are not employed by the Northern Territory government, yet they continue to perpetrate this misinformation that somehow, because the work is contracted by the Northern Territory government, we must enter the EBA negotiations.
To follow that logic to its obvious conclusion, anybody who works for the Northern Territory government is, by the estimation of the members opposite, an employee of the Northern Territory government. All of a sudden we have to insert ourselves into, perhaps, the Sitzler employment environment so we can sort out that EBA as well. That bodes not at all well for the industrial relations in the future of the Northern Territory under a future Northern Territory Labor government.
Yesterday the opposition said our prison officers, we hope, are closer to resolving their EBA. Again, they accepted the 3% offer over four years as a gesture in good faith negotiations. ‘You refused’, they said to me. This is not true; the offer for the prison officers was formally made on Friday 8 August and a response is not expected back until today. I am hoping we will step forward through our EBA negotiations. I have taken the time to meet the NT Prison Officers Association and discuss this with them.
Once again, it is utterly untrue. These people promote industrial harmony in the same way that Judas Iscariot promoted Christianity. It is not acceptable that they continue to walk around the workplaces of the Northern Territory stirring up trouble and problems when they relish industrial disharmony. All they are interested in is saying they are the champion of the worker, but through their processes – and unfortunately through some of their union mates – the last people they act for are union members. They look after their own Labor political interests ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
CLP Appointments – Conflict of Interest
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
The CLP has no regard for probity and treats the public with contempt. You recently appointed former Chief Minister and lobbyist, Mr Denis Burke, as Chair of the Development Consent Authority with an annual salary of $136 000. In common with your appointment of Mr Graeme Lewis as Chair of the Land Development Corporation, Mr Denis Burke’s appointment is compromised by a clear conflict of interest.
Will you acknowledge the growing public disquiet about the politicisation of the DCA and terminate the appointment of your CLP mate, Denis Burke? Or, in your arrogance, will you ensure Mr Burke remains another beneficiary of the CLP’s policy of jobs for the boys?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his poor characterisation of another member of our community, a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. Denis Burke was a member of the Palmerston DCA. The opportunity came up …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: The head of the DCA position was advertised. Seven people applied - seven good applications. The Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment can provide more information on the other applicants without breaching confidentiality. Mr Burke was recommended by a fully transparent panel which looked at all those applications and conducted the interviews. It was deemed that Denis Burke was the best applicant for the job.
Mr Burke, who is a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, has been a key adviser to the Abu Dhabi government. He has been appointed for a two-year term to the DCA through that formal application process. This position requires experience and leadership and Mr Burke was a standout candidate from all applicants. When that recommendation was made to me and to Cabinet, I went through it thoroughly to ensure Denis was the best recommended applicant, and clearly he was.
Appointing an applicant other than Denis because of former positions would be robbing Territorians of the best candidate for the job. Mr Burke, who is a current member of the Palmerston DCA, will replace Mr Peter McQueen, who has served as chair for four terms over an eight-year period.
Denis has worked for the Abu Dhabi government and acquired exceptional urban and strategic planning knowledge, which he will bring to this new role as the Territory is primed for increased growth.
I knew Labor would ask questions about Denis’ appointment. He was the best person recommended for the job. I will not go into who the other applicants were, but there were a number of other people who were members of the CLP, so we had to be very careful to ensure it was a clear and transparent process. Denis was by far the standout candidate and we are very proud to say he is the new head of the DCA. I look forward to him doing a stellar job in taking over from Mr McQueen, who did a good job heading the DCA for a long period of time.
There is no doubt the Territory will continue to move forward in leaps and bounds in its development and growth, and it is important we always get the balance right from an environmental and urban planning point of view. I believe Denis holds those practices, principles and experiences dear to his heart, and will provide good governance for the Northern Territory in that role as the Chair of the DCA.
Health Centres – Wadeye and Maningrida
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you inform the Assembly how the Country Liberals government is helping the communities of Wadeye and Maningrida with their wish to have community control of their health centres?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He is a great advocate of Aboriginal health and self-determination, and he agrees with the policy of this government to try to enhance greater community control of Aboriginal community health clinics.
This is a policy we have talked about as a government. We see no obstacle or reason why Aboriginal people should not have greater control of their health services; it makes perfect sense. Unlike the former government, which struggled with this, we do not see any obstacles. We see opportunities for Aboriginal people to have a say over what their clinics look like, the services their clinics provide, the programs that are undertaken and the priorities ...
Ms Walker: What about Miwatj as a big Aboriginal medical service provider? Put the blinkers on.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nhulunbuy!
Mrs LAMBLEY: I take up the interjection by the member for Nhulunbuy. Under the former Labor federal government, regionalisation was put on the table and that was it, nothing happened. The commitment disappeared into thin air.
I am very proud of this piece of work. We have been working with a number of communities, engaging in conversations about them taking over their clinics eventually. As the member for Daly suggested, one of those clinics is Wadeye.
Another great initiative of this government is the Chief Minister asking all ministers to become an economic development champion of a community. My community is Wadeye, so I am very lucky to be given the mandate by the Chief Minister to travel there regularly. Part of my discussions has inevitably been around them having a greater say over what happens in their clinic. We are working on that; discussions are continuing. Already one of the opportunities identified at Wadeye is to employ more people in the clinic.
Over 11 years of Labor we saw a 20% reduction in Aboriginal Health Practitioners working across the Northern Territory. Wadeye has one Aboriginal Health Practitioner; they want a lot more. Since initiating this discussion about greater community control of their clinic, we already have three Aboriginal Health Practitioners on board, in a matter of weeks – that is all it takes …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This is embarrassing. Aboriginal medical services have existed for decades; you are completely ignoring the Miwatj health service. I did not see you at the graduation.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, it is not a point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: The process stalled under 11 years of Labor, and we have the empirical evidence to back that up. We are working with Wadeye and Maningrida to enhance greater community control of their health clinics.
Deputy Chief Minister – Offensive Comments
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You have had all of Question Time to rethink your stance on protecting your mate, the Deputy Chief Minister. Our society does not accept, in any way, the homophobic bullying rant that took place in the workplace. You know it breaches every test of decency. You have previously allowed a minister to get away with abhorrent and unacceptable language and behaviour. That sends a message to the community that you find these standards acceptable.
Will you step up and do the right thing? Send a clear, defining message to Territorians that homophobic and bullying rants will never be acceptable in the Territory, and sack the Deputy Chief Minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for that question. I went to some lengths to answer this in the first question earlier today. I will make it clear that homophobic positions in the Northern Territory are not suitable. There is no suitability within our community for homophobia, xenophobia or any other discriminatory elements.
The story that is in the newspaper does not accurately reflect the conversations which were held in the office. I have had an opportunity to talk to the Deputy Chief Minister, who has spoken with the staff member in question. I have spoken with the member for Daly, whose son we are talking about. There is a very important and personal issue for many people involved on this side. We have ensured the message is clear about having zero tolerance for homophobia and any discriminatory practices across the Northern Territory ...
Ms Lawrie: You are brushing it under the carpet.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader!
Mr GILES: Your interjection was about brushing something under the carpet. That was the first and foremost thing dealt with last week when this incident occurred. We dealt with it. I say a big thank you to the staff member in question and to the member for Daly, to whom these issues have on occasion, over many years, caused some personal interest - if I can put it that way.
The team on this side of the Chamber is enormously united in how we are moving forward in a number of areas, correcting your wrongs over eleven-and-a-half years of government. Your question about whether or not David should be sacked …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. Show some leadership and sack the Deputy Chief Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a question. It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: True adversity builds strong teams of people working together. The 13 members on this side of the table are driving forward with the Northern Territory. There is no room for homophobia, bullying or any other discriminatory elements in our society or the workplace. I have dealt with the matter at hand, and we are moving on with growing the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: What is the standing order?
Mr TOLLNER: Offensive comments have been made …
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down! I said there should be standing order numbers …
Mr TOLLNER: I have just had a number of offensive comments thrown at me …
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr GILES: On this side of the Chamber we are getting on with the job. We have had a personal issue which we have dealt with. There is no room for discrimination, homophobia or any other discriminatory elements in the workplace, society, or otherwise.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016