2012-12-04
Mini-Budget – Refusal of Questions
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You promised to be accountable and transparent. Why have you refused to allow the opposition to ask questions on your mini-budget in parliament today after the mini-budget is handed down at 11 am? Why did you deny our request to move Question Time to after the lunch break to ensure, on behalf of Territorians, the opposition had the opportunity to ask questions on the mini-budget? What are you trying to hide?
ANSWER
There is absolutely nothing hidden, Opposition Leader. I thank you for your question which, effectively, is some kind of stunt. You have the parliament. You have the opportunity to assess the mini-budget. You have plenty of opportunity. You have availed yourself of those opportunities with a bit of information to make much of it, soon you will have a lot of information and you have plenty of opportunity for full scrutiny. In fact, you have a reply tomorrow. I thought it would be quite fitting for you to be given greater opportunity to properly assess the mini-budget so you are in a better position to prosecute.
First 100 Days – Significance
Mr HIGGINS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday marked 100 days since the Mills government was elected to govern for all people in the Northern Territory. Why do you think this milestone is so significant?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly and really appreciate the question making that reference to the whole of the Northern Territory in bringing it all together.
I deliberately chose 100 days as a time for interim judgment on our performance, and as a means for Territorians to assess our commitment to changing the way Labor did business. One hundred days is a common period, in the business sector, to make an appraisal of how committed, enthusiastic, and competent a new leader or new government is.
While things in government are vastly different than the private sector, my shareholders and directors - the people who put us here and those we are elected to serve - deserve some report on our progress. It is for them, ultimately, to make a decision on our performance in four years time. However, I will continually communicate in a frank way about what we are doing and whether it is in their interest.
The 100 days has been a busy period of activity and considered decision-making with the goal of turning around the Territory, particularly in relation to the financial mess - the mountain of debt - and securing a better long-term future for the Territory.
We have stuck to our five-point plan; we have shown how we have cut waste and we have a plan to pay back the debt of the previous government. We are set to bring down a mini-budget today, and we have already announced what we will do to fix Power and Water Corporation’s dire financial state.
We have a range of initiatives to tackle crime, including our promise to put more police on the beat and initiatives which put victims before criminals. We are committed to building a three-hub economy with critical actions such as reengaging with Indonesia and other Asian trading partners. The massive potential of the Ord River scheme is now being considered by Territory decision-makers after years of neglect. We are committed to planning properly for the future of the establishment of legislation and, through legislation, the Planning Commission and our Environment Protection Authority. We will continue to be accountable and up-front with Territorians.
It would be simple to provide you with a list like the media has recently, but this is more than just putting a tick in a box and passing some examination. These decisions convey our ethic, our approach to work, and our bona fides with Territorians.
We will not squander the inheritance of our children for short-term political gain or to win favour with the media or sectional interests. Time will not allow me to expand much more on this, but I am looking forward to revealing the detail of the mini-budget initiatives over coming months. This is an indication of where our priorities are with every decision being tested against the criteria: is this in the best interests of the Northern Territory?
I am particularly proud of our gains in areas which do not get much media interest: our legislative program, our major overhaul of government departments, our communication and reengagement capability, and our whole Territory focus ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mini-Budget – Job Losses
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You have given 20 of your mates high-paying jobs - up to $1000 a day and staying in luxury accommodation. You have increased the number of ministers to nine and employed a record number of advisors on the fifth floor. Do you agree there are now two worlds in the Territory: your world, where your mates are paid $1000 a day, and the real world, where the bills are being hiked up and people are losing their jobs as a result of your decision? Be accountable, tell us now how many more Territorians will lose their jobs in today’s mini-budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Opposition Leader for her question. First, I place on the record, without reserve, the quality of the contribution made by those I have asked to serve the best interests of the Northern Territory. That will be judged in time to come. It will be judged against the churlish and short-term opportunism taken by an Opposition Leader who is, frankly, hypocritical. You know very well there are a number of appointments you had oversight of when you were in government. I do not bring them here for everyone to see because we should be focused on the business of the Northern Territory and judged on merit. That merit will be seen by a government that is very serious about the future of the Northern Territory.
I have answered your questions again and again. You can run out into the marketplace and gain some support today, but they will be waiting to judge the substance of your commitment to the Northern Territory or your own political cause. Yes, you might get a round of applause today, but there will be no one cheering if you had your way in the Northern Territory.
Territory’s Finances –
Steps to Rectify Problems
Steps to Rectify Problems
Mr STYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Before the recent election, the former Treasurer and now Leader of the Opposition hid from Territorians the true state of our finances. Can you explain to the House the steps you have taken in the first 100 days since being elected to fix this problem and ensure all Territorians have a prosperous future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for a very important question. Without an understanding of this answer, none of the hard decisions which have been made by a real government serving the best interests of Territorians would make sense. However, you know why we are making these decisions, Opposition Leader, for all of the games you are playing.
It is very important to outline to Territorians the size and extent of the deficit and the debt left by previous governments. However, it is not simply the debt as it now stands, but also the previous government’s ongoing unfunded programs which are having a real impact on the deficit, and which will cause the debt to continue to grow.
I suspect that 100 days ago few Territorians, like me, had any idea of the full facts about the true state of the budget. Yes, we suspected something was not quite right, but never in our wildest dreams did we think the member for Karama had cooked the books as we had discovered ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask he withdraw that gross and offensive allegation. The pre-election fiscal outlook gave an accurate depiction of the budget books.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down! There is no point of order.
Mr MILLS: It grew by $100m in three months.
I take the opportunity to remind the House of some of the details I spoke of during the previous sittings. Let us look at some of the high-level figures at budget time in May, a mere seven months ago, and again at election time in August when the pre-election fiscal outlook was released. This was instructive. The non-financial public sector fiscal imbalance was $767m at budget time. However, in the pre-election financial outlook it expanded to $867m, a $100m escalation in just three months. The fact is, without intervention, the 2012-13 fiscal deficit is likely to be more than $900m compared to the May budget figure of $767m. These are big numbers to get wrong.
The impact of this, looking through the forward estimates, would see our debt rise to more than $6bn in 2016. Already, interest charges on our nett debt are costing us $750 000 every single day. If we were to do nothing, as the Leader of the Opposition would have us do, the result would be fewer jobs - particularly jobs for our children in the future - and greatly reduced services. Under Labor, these same children with reduced job prospects would bear the burden of paying the debt that is being racked up now if someone did not act.
About 100 days ago, I commissioned the Renewal Management Board to get to the bottom of this situation during the government’s first 100 days. This board has provided a detailed analysis of the real financial position of the Northern Territory, and has advised us of options for the future. We are dealing with facts in a manner which will serve the best interests of the Northern Territory. To clean up a mess, we will do it ...
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, Chief Minister.
Debt Ratio Management –
Opinion of Former Treasurers
Opinion of Former Treasurers
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Former CLP Treasurers, Barry Coulter and Mike Reed, both said an interest to nett debt ratio of 8% or 9% was manageable and responsible. Do you agree with them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question ...
Mr Elferink: You are being way too cute.
Mrs LAMBLEY: It is cute, and an interesting question on this day of the mini-budget. If my colleagues, Mike Reed and Barry Coulter, said that, then I could not agree more. They were two very distinguished, highly-capable Treasurers who were able to keep the books of the Northern Territory in a state that was acceptable. They were responsible Treasurers. They made good decisions during their time. I am very honoured to be a Treasurer after them.
Legacy Problems Left by Labor
Mrs PRICE to TREASURER
You have told us that over the past 100 days the Renewal Management Board has been instrumental in uncovering the hidden problems left by Labor. Can you provide examples to the House of these legacy problems?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for her question. We have uncovered $600m of uncommitted legacies or uncommitted unfunded commitments left by the former government - $600m reaching into the forward estimates. It is a disgrace. Can you imagine promising $600m of expenditure and not knowing where one cent of that would come from?
It is outrageous and it came as a huge shock to us coming to government just 15 weeks ago. For instance, the 100-bed medi-hotel at Royal Darwin Hospital built with Commonwealth funds of $18.6m - a great project that will provide much needed short-term accommodation including a home away from home for remote patients receiving treatment. But, in true Labor style, not one cent was allocated to operational ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Fong Lim described it as a hotel for long-grassers.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Deputy Chief Minister.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Not one single cent was allocated by the former government to operate this facility – an outrage. Labor is always good for media releases, at spending money, at trying to please, but when it comes to balancing the books there is no comparison to how the former Labor government mismanaged. There was no sense of responsibility, no sense of prudence, you just spent, spent, spent and worried about where the money was coming from later.
Another example is the Alice Springs Hospital emergency department. No provision for operational costs was built into the budget. This is what we have uncovered over the last 15 weeks with the excellent advice and assistance from the Renewal Management Board, a group of distinguished people who the opposition continue to criticise and wage disparaging remarks against ...
Mr Henderson: Your mates! Dodgy brothers.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I hear the former Chief Minister in the background. He is responsible too. The former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory is as responsible as the former Treasurer for the mismanagement of the state of the finances in the Northern Territory over the last 11 years. They can sit back and gloat, but today you will hear the mini-budget which will correct the situation. We are about responsible financial management, being prudent, and costing things properly.
Moody’s Financial Rating
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
In the most recent assessment, Moody’s reaffirmed the Territory’s AA1 rating with a stable outlook. This is the second-highest rating achievable on the Moody’s rating scale. Do you agree with Moody’s assessment or is your maths better than theirs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Yes, we were rated as AA1. The feedback we received was a little more detailed than the Leader of the Opposition would have you believe. Moody’s gave us very clear messages about where the Northern Territory is tracking if we continue to track with the level of debt that is accumulating, the growing fiscal imbalance we have inherited from the former government. Moody’s warned that things looked like they were deteriorating, things were not as good as they should be in the Northern Territory.
The Leader of the Opposition raised this issue - the rating that Moody’s will assess for us in the coming weeks. In just a few weeks, Moody’s is coming to town. They have already warned us if we do not correct the situation, if we do not put measures in place to manage the fiscal imbalance properly and responsibly, we will be looking at a downgrade. They have suggested it; they have inferred it in the comments they made.
It is not all rosy as the Leader of the Opposition would have you believe. We were given a clear warning from Moody’s that if we do not pull our socks up, if we do not responsibly manage the budget, we are looking down the tube of doom and gloom.
Public Sector Priorities
Ms LEE to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please advise the House of the achievements you have made over the last 100 days in reprioritising the work of the public sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for the opportunity to answer this important question. On being brought into government on 25 August, one of the key issues I and this new government focused on was the implementation of the 100-day plan and the necessary changes required for the operation of the public service.
This has involved reductions to a number of positions, and the departments have managed this transition with a corresponding reduction in personnel as some contracts have come to a conclusion. There has been the normal situation where workers have left positions that are not on the front line and have yet to be replaced. However, the promise to transition to new staffing numbers without sacking staff remains rock solid.
With regard to the public sector in general, there have been significant changes in the structure of departments. We have reprioritised the efforts of the previous mega-departments back to the service areas they were meant to represent.
The prime motivation is to be focused on the people we serve. For example, in my own area of responsibility, the Environment Protection Authority, the Lands, Planning and Environment, and Land Resource Management divisions will ensure a greater focus by CEOs and executives on the tasks at hand. By dividing the Department of Resources into Primary Industry and Fisheries, and Minerals and Energy, each will be able to focus on their key role in the implementation of a three-hub economy model ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113, relevance. How many public servants no longer have jobs?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Please sit down.
Mr MILLS: You did not ask the question.
There have been major changes in the way tourism is at the forefront of Territory thinking, not only with our decision to locate a full department in Alice Springs, but bringing Arts and Museums and Sport and Recreation out from under the shadows of a mega-department. Major Events will be motivated by the tourism potential that comes from people travelling here to enjoy these events, and by showcasing the Territory to those potential visitors in the accompanying media exposure. The synergy between Major Events and Tourism will now achieve the levels we desire and they will now work to a common goal.
We have created a new standalone Department of Corrections to ensure necessary focus is placed on reducing recidivism and getting offenders into a job when they are released. We do not want our legacy to be yet another prison nor a glossy pamphlet with a catchy title. We want measurable results.
We have also begun to implement sweeping changes across the Department of Health to ensure we provide the best possible healthcare for Territorians. My colleague, the Health Minister, has eloquently described the government’s intention in this critical area, and he brings an enthusiastic and dedicated energy to these challenges.
These 100 days have demonstrated a commitment to the Northern Territory and the public service that serves the best interest of Territorians.
Livingstone Abattoir
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
With AACo now commencing the construction of its abattoir at Livingstone, could you say if your government has promised either cash or in-kind support to enable the abattoir to commence? If so, could you say what the support us and what the value of that support is?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have committed to working with them. There has been no direct request for a specific input but we have agreed to work with them to make sure there is capacity at the port. Right here and now, things are okay. We will have a long-term plan which we will not delay in progressing to provide greater capacity for freight that is refrigerated and frozen to be able to be stored adequately at the port. Right now it is adequate, but we will work to upgrade the capacity of our port to increase exports from the region with that link to the Ord, ultimately, which has a whole new food strategy for the north.
We are thinking broadly. We are thinking about increasing our productivity, and strategic plans to allow this capacity to be realised through a fresh look at our port, and a proper reassessment for the capacity of that port.
That was the substance of discussions only two weeks ago with Simon Crean. He has agreed the port is primary in the need to elevate the capacity for the white paper to become real when we have national contribution to the development of the port, a key item of infrastructure.
With AACo, the focus is to ensure the capacity we see today will add greater value into the future.
Mini-Budget – Increased Charges
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
The No 1 commitment in the CLP contract with Territory families was to cut the cost of living. You have already broken this promise by hiking up power and water bills. What other rises, such as fees and charges for motor vehicle registration, are in your mini-budget today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. She is anxious, of course, to get this information as are most Territorians. They have been looking forward to the announcement of the details of the mini-budget. Unfortunately, you will have to wait a little less than an hour, Leader of the Opposition, and we will provide you some of that information.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mini-Budget – Increased Charges
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
You told the media the details this morning. What are you now trying to hide?
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, you do not have to answer it if you do not feel it is appropriate.
New Prison - Cost
Ms LEE to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Last week you provided some insight into the vast amount of money to be provided over the next 30 years to build a new prison under the public private partnership, or PPP. Can you tell the House if you are satisfied that the full disclosure of this arrangement has convinced you that Territory taxpayers have benefited from this $1.8bn deal?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. She takes these things seriously, particularly the correction of people in the Northern Territory. We have some pretty good plans on this side of the House and are looking forward to making some good announcements in this area.
I remind honourable members that the promise of a $495m prison at 8.5% interest will lead to a final payment, in today’s dollar terms, of $1.8bn. The sums in relation to this are of some concern to me, because the sums we were given by the former government were, for construction, that this will not cost more than $495m.
The Auditor-General already begs to differ and says $521m. The fact is, what people of the Northern Territory were not told by the world’s most flaccid Treasurer was the ...
Ms Lawrie: Stumbling because you are making it up as you go.
Mr ELFERINK: What Territorians were not told ...
Ms Lawrie: October ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Karama.
Mr ELFERINK: Pipe down and control yourself! What she did not tell Territorians was the full cost of the prison for its construct, which includes all of the other non-construct items such as finding the finances and those things, was $621m. This was to protect the Territory taxpayer. They said, ‘We have this great PPP arrangement in place to protect the Territory taxpayer’. They said it was going to cost another $56m to do the design and construct themselves.
We are already, at the design and construct phase, well beyond the original price of $495m ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister continues to talk about a prison when it is a precinct.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, please be seated. It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, in response to this, I will be referring this matter to the Public Accounts Committee so it can cast an eye over what has occurred and report back to this House. In the letter I will write to the Public Accounts Committee, one of the areas I will be particularly interested in is whether or not the funding method used represented optimum value for the taxpayers of the Northern Territory.
Economic Modelling –
Effect of Price Rises on Economy
Effect of Price Rises on Economy
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chamber of Commerce and many other key bodies have spoken out against your price hikes saying they will hurt the economy now and into the future. What economic modelling did you do to undertake an assessment of the economic impact of job cuts and price hikes? How much do you think GSP will shrink by? We see in Queensland, for example, GDP has shrunk by 2%. You say this is all for the betterment of the economy, ignoring the fact the Territory has the fastest growing economy in the nation today. What economic modelling have you done on the domestic contraction to the economy as a result of the job cuts, both public and private sector, through the capital programs being slashed, and the impact on the retail and hospitality sectors, for example?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not think that is a good question, but thank you, Opposition Leader. What modelling, what analysis has been conducted? It is fairly basic; if you have a debt that is growing and you have no means of getting it under control, no intent - we have revealed your plan which was to just hope and expect the GST pool would increase. That was your strategy for dealing with the debt.
That is what you said in parliament last week. That was your grand plan: just hope someone would bail you out. It is like someone who has taken responsibility for managing your own affairs and just hoping, for goodness sake, that someone please will help us. That is the sort of modelling that was conducted by a very poor Treasurer who has left us in a very serious position.
A fairly straightforward analysis would be to consider that if we are able to reduce the growth of debt in the Northern Territory - just like in a household budget, rather than having to divert increasing portions of your income to deal with the interest payments and know you are not dealing with debt growth, you have a serious problem.
Let us consider this: you have $750 000 you could use every day. How could you use $750 000 every day to benefit the Northern Territory? What could you do with that? What difference would that make to the Northern Territory ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was what economic modelling have you done to assess the impact of the job cuts and the capital slash on the Territory’s domestic economy - what contraction, what economic modelling? What contraction will there be? You have not answered the question at all.
Mr MILLS: I am giving you a very clear idea of the modelling and thinking, which is fairly straightforward.
If you have the debt that then begins to compound and grow, and you have no intention to reform your thinking or exercise any discipline, then you have to consider that you have $1m you have to find every day to spend on servicing the basic interest repayments.
The modelling is: let us show some kind of change; let us adjust our response to changing circumstances rather than looking for an excuse. The GST and the global financial crisis were the excuses you hid behind. The banks was another excuse.
We have a very real problem that requires a simple approach; that is, to be strong and clear and make hard decisions in the long-term interests of the Northern Territory. Just imagine if that debt was under control, the amount of money which could then flow to the Northern Territory. Our aim and our intent is to strengthen and broaden the Territory’s economy.
Legislative Agenda Since Taking Office
Mr KURRUPUWU to LEADER of GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Can you update the House on the strong legislative agenda being executed by the government since taking office 101 days ago?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in the past 101 days we have been a very busy government. Whilst much of the public debate has focused on our fiscal position, as a government we have been working diligently to address other matters that affect the people of the Northern Territory.
Needless to say, members in this House would be aware of some of the bills which have come before this House, are coming before this House, and which have passed through this House in the first 100 days of our government.
So people get an impression of the amount of work that has been, and is being, done, the bills which are being worked on and will pass are: the Bail Amendment Bill; the Domestic and Family Violence Bill; the Criminal Code Amendment (Violent Act Causing Death) Bill; the Victims of Crime Assistance Amendment Bill; Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority Bill; Planning Amendment Bill; Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Bill; the Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Amendment Bill – are you getting bored yet because there is a lot more to go? – Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) (Consequential Amendments) Bill; Police Administration Amendment Bill; Criminal Code Amendment (Assaults on Workers) Bill; Rail Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Bill; Justice Legislation Amendment (Age of Retirement) Bill; Classification of Publications, Films and Computer Games Amendment Bill; Tourism Amendment Bill; Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, Serious Sexual Offender’s Bill; community housing providers national uniform legislation act; Superannuation (Northern Territory Government) Bill 2013; Care and Protection of Children Amendment Bill; Adult Decision Making Bill; Powers of Attorney Amendment Bill; and Criminal Code Amendment Bill. And it will not stop there.
The reason I bring this into the House is to demonstrate to Territorians that this government is switched on and listening. These are matters that could have been attended to by the former government but, since coming into government, we have realised that for the past six months the former ministers were not even in their offices. When I started in my office, I was astonished to discover the number of things which had been unattended to by the former Attorney-General ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Attorney-General should outline for the House what on that list was from the previous government.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business.
Mr ELFERINK: I agree there were things from the previous government. Why were they not passed into this House? Because you were sitting there doing nothing - worrying about the next Territory election and not worrying about the true administration of the Northern Territory for the true welfare of the people of the Northern Territory ...
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! As the Attorney-General knows only too well, he must direct his comments through you.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nhulunbuy. If you could address your comments ...
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I get really irritated when I hear this sort of thing from the members opposite, because they were too busy trying to get re-elected and not attending to the matters that were important to the people of the Northern Territory. Why am I coming into this House passing the legislation he says they were working on? They were not working on it and that is the point.
Mini-Budget – Cuts to Services
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Is it true that your mini-budget cuts Education by 10%, puts registration up for a four-wheel-drive by 18%, scraps free bus travel for seniors, cuts stamp duty concessions for first homeowners, and cuts the Department of Infrastructure by 20%?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I have already stated in the House this morning that we will not be talking about the mini-budget until I present my statement in 20 minutes time. The Leader of the Opposition needs to wait.
Health Portfolio Achievements
Ms FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you advise the House of your achievements in the Health portfolio during the first 100 days of the Mills government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. A week or so ago, I announced what many people have described as the most significant change in organisational structure in the department of Health in the history of the Northern Territory.
I pay tribute to the member for Drysdale for her concern and interest in that structural reform, along with so many colleagues from this side of the House. I did not realise so many people had such a deep interest in health matters, but I have been inundated by questions and interest from my colleagues.
Quite amazingly, it should be noted that aside from having a failed Treasurer on the other side, there are also two failed Health ministers. I thought that when one makes an announcement about some major structural reform there would be some interest from some of those failed Health ministers and members on the other side. But, lo and behold, not one single question. It is rather concerning.
The new structure is aimed at delivering better services for Territorians in health and hospitals no matter where they live. In doing that, we did not do what Labor would have done and engage some fancy expensive consultants from interstate to provide some reports, spending a couple of million dollars on something like that.
We talked to Territorians. I got across the Northern Territory, we spoke with stakeholders, senior clinicians, clinicians at the coalface, peak bodies, unions, non-government organisations, private providers, and ordinary people. Do you know what? They all agreed that change was needed. I wonder why the former government did not listen to people in the Territory when it came to delivering health and hospital services.
The system, as it operates currently, is the most centralised health system in Australia by far. When state governments across Australia were reforming their health systems, in the Northern Territory the former government members sat on their hands and did nothing.
There are ongoing consultations, but I outline that these changes will mean much better delivery of services for all Territorians. I thank all those people who consulted with us ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Public Service Job Cuts
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER:
On ABC 24 just two days before the election you were asked, ‘Can you guarantee there will be no public service job cuts, either frontline or backline?’ You answered, ‘Yes’.
With budgets cuts to 10% of the Education budget and 20% to the Department of Infrastructure budget, just how many jobs will be lost in these two agencies alone?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, they are really quite impatient. We have said what we have said, we will say it again. Our intention is to deal with a real problem in a real way. We have made our commitments; we have made them plain for anyone to see. We have a real challenge, and we are meeting that challenge without turning away from it because we are so committed to the Northern Territory.
Unlike the approach you took, which was quite dishonest. I remember the presentations. You said there was some acknowledgement in the room of a sense there was a growing problem in the Northern Territory. Everybody knew there was some problem with the money, but you gave them some assurance by saying, ‘We were running counter-cyclical, we were predicting a very modest deficit down in the out year of 2015-16. Actually, in GST recovery, we would have delivered a surplus if we were in for just another year! Not by hurting Territorians the way you are but by understanding this recovery via the national GST.’ Is there? There is not.
This was your grand strategy, to depend on someone else to help you because you could not take responsibility. You are a thorough mendicant and not building the strength of the Northern Territory’s capacity to grow ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister is ignoring the question. He was very clearly asked, ‘You gave the commitment on ABC 24 just two days prior to the election that there would be no job losses front line or backline. You have announced an Education budget cut by 10%, Infrastructure budget cut by 20%. Just how many jobs has that lost in those two agencies alone and in the mini-budget today ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is deliberately using these points of order to chew up the Chief Minister’s time.
Ms Lawrie: No, I am not, I want an answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr MILLS: Opposition Leader, I have given you an answer and you just have to be patient ...
Ms Lawrie: No, you have not. How many job cuts?
Mr MILLS: You have asked this question in the few times we have met since the change of government. Get used to it! I have answered this question time and time again.
What you have not made plain is the level of your genuine commitment to dealing with the problems the Territory faces. I also have on record, former Treasurer, on 27 November you said, ‘We made it clear in our financial statements we would use additional GST revenue to pay down the deficit’. That was your strategy ...
Ms Lawrie: Yes, and efficiency dividends and ...
Mr MILLS: What a flawed strategy.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Karama.
Mr MILLS: If you are going to put your hand out and ask to be bailed out by someone …
Ms Lawrie: How many jobs?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama you are on a warning. Cease interjecting!
Mr MILLS: Your only plan is to put your hand out and beg for assistance from someone else.
Berrimah Farm Land
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Is it your intention to sell Berrimah Farm? If so, will it be used for industrial development or residential? If residential, is this part of your in-fill plans?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. There are many ‘ifs’ there. In this Chamber, on Wednesday, we had the debate about how our community will resolve significant planning issues, and we put forward a Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will allow these ideas to be properly developed in full view of the community with all stakeholders involved.
We know we have to achieve better use of land. This land has to be included in consideration. We have now given the Territory a capacity, and the Territory community the means, to engage in discussions to establish long-term integrated strategic plans.
It is a damn shame the Labor opposition and the Independent member rejected the proposition put by the government in its commitment to long-term strategic planning. You opposed the implementation of the Planning Commission which we see as a very important vehicle to deal with these real issues.
Whether you object to it or not on whatever grounds, it exists for a very good reason. You will have the opportunity to be involved in these discussions, whether you like it or not. It is there so we can all work through these important matters so all Territorians can help solve the issues around the supply of housing in the best way.
There is land there. I am not saying there is a plan, but there is a means to deal with these matters.
100-Day Plan – Affordable Housing
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for HOUSING
Can you please describe the action over the last 100 days to improve access by Territorians to affordable housing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. Unlike the Opposition Leader, the former Treasurer, we have a strategy which is not about getting another credit card; it is a strategy to deal with paying off some of the debt which has been left in the Northern Territory.
To achieve the target to construct around 2000 homes over the next four years in the government’s Real Housing for Growth plan, we have a number of actions already under way. A cross-agency steering group is developing a list of strategies and associated implementation plans to deliver on the government’s commitment to deliver 2000 affordable rental dwellings across the Territory over the next four years under the Real Housing for Growth plan.
The Department of Housing and Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment have collated a list of potential government-owned sites across the Territory suitable for residential development projects. I have reviewed the list and directed the Department of Housing to develop an expression of interest for two sites to be ready before the end of the year. Other sites will follow next year.
I have met with a range of developers to test their appetite for the delivery of dwellings with the support of government through head lease and improved land release arrangements. The developers are all very keen and hungrily awaiting release of the first expressions of interest to deliver new affordable dwellings for rent.
Real Housing for Growth will provide a 30% discount on the median area market rent, providing more affordable rental properties for essential workers. I have a list of units, apartments and townhouses under construction or about to commence that have not yet been marketed by developers.
In the very near future they will be invited to participate in an expression of interest for the market to participate in a long-term head lease arrangement with this government. Correspondence is being forwarded to the Commonwealth Minister for Housing and Homelessness seeking agreement to reallocation of Round 3 National Rental Affordable Schemes - the NRAS incentives - previously allocated for delivery in the Northern Territory to provide funding assistance for up to 10 years to support implementation of the Real Housing for Growth plan.
This is a smart use of both Territory and Australian government funding. The increase in affordable rental properties will support businesses which have struggled in recent times to recruit and retain staff due to the high cost of living, particularly housing affordability.
The first part of the comprehensive housing strategy of this government includes the new HomeBuild Access program. The strategy will stimulate new affordable housing supply, lessen the market pressure for rentals, and keep our kids living and working in the Northern Territory.
Affordable Housing in the Northern Territory
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
In your document Our Commitment to Northern Territory Families, under No 3, Affordable Housing, you said:
- ... work to eliminate or reduce, where possible, every government charge on housing both for those purchasing and/or renting’.
Yet, in your mini-budget today, you slash the concession on stamp duty for first homebuyers and increase land title searches and development application charges, impacting on the price of housing. We know you tore this up on the cost of living. Now, you are tearing it up on affordable housing.
ANSWER
Pretty good tearing. Madam Speaker, it is a bit embarrassing because it is as if this attack is being conducted in the presences of adults who know, difficult though it is, these matters have to be faced up to. You can say all you like with these confected responses that give some false assurance, but no intention was ever displayed by the former Treasurer to deal with the real problem ...
Ms Lawrie: What are you doing?
Mr MILLS: I will tell you. The hard decisions we are making are demonstration of our commitment to those families because if we cannot sort this out, it is going to be a worse position for Territory families. Make no make mistake about it! You obviously do not understand it or you do not want to. You think this is all politics and point scoring. This is serious business. We have to sort this out; we have to strengthen the Territory’s financial position to give some security to families. That is what this is about. This is played out in the long term. We have a long-term view of a very real problem, and of the enormous potential of the Northern Territory.
The former Treasurer took this terribly debilitating position, as a leader managing the Territory finances, and said, ‘Everybody, it is going to be just fine. Santa is going to come with some more GST and he will help us out of this, then it will be really good. But we do not have to make any hard decisions; no one will suffer a bit because we are just going to pass the responsibilities to someone else to help us.’
We are supposed to be aspiring to statehood, for goodness sake! That is not the attitude of someone who is a serious member of the Commonwealth, not to take their responsibilities seriously. We do, in full view of Territory families. It is difficult, but it is necessary and we do it because it is needed to secure the future of Territory families.
100-Day Plan – Sports Initiatives
Mrs PRICE to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you update the House on the progress of your sports initiatives which are detailed in the government’s 100-day plan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I certainly can. I thank the member for Stuart.
When I became Sports minister, It became very clear very early on that sport was treated as a political plaything by the previous government. I reiterate what the Chief Minister said: this is real. This is not just about politics and staying in power for powers sake, it is about doing something significant for the people of the Northern Territory. Unfortunately, sport wore the brunt of that. Is it any wonder the legacy left by the previous government was a disaster when the previous minister was asleep at the wheel? But there are no surprises ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You are protecting the 54 Community Sport and Recreation Officers in the mini-budget? You are not sacking them, are you?
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please be seated. There is no point of order.
Mr CONLAN: As I was saying, Madam Speaker, is it any wonder the sport legacy left by the previous government was such a disaster, when the advice received by the previous Sports minister was by the now member for - what seat are you? What seat is that one over there? Member for ...
Mr Giles: Johnston.
Mr CONLAN: Johnston, that is it, yes ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113, relevance. I am waiting for the answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.
Mr CONLAN: You have three minutes. I will get to the answer, because it is a very important question. However, the very high handicap needs to be highlighted to this parliament. We have come off a very low base with the previous government and it is the fault of the member for Johnston and the previous member for Stuart who was, thankfully, removed from this parliament. Now, we can get down to delivering some true Sport and Recreation outcomes to the people of the Northern Territory.
I have two pages here of what the Northern Territory government has already done ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I request that the minister tables the document instead of carrying on as if he is on the radio.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you want to table those documents or are they your notes?
Mr CONLAN: They did not like it when I was on the radio and they hate it when I am not on the radio. We tore them to pieces on the radio, and we continue ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister! Do you wish to table those documents or are they your notes?
Mr CONLAN: I am more than happy to table them if they really want. It just spells out what we have done in the last 100 days. I have 40 seconds to go so I will get through them if I can.
A $2m capital grant to Alice Springs Town Council to upgrade facilities at Anzac Oval; $1.2m for the contract with the YMCA ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What will happen to the 54 Community Sport and Recreation Officers in the mini-budget?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated. Opposition Leader, there is no point of order.
Mr CONLAN: That has to be pretty close to frivolous.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister ...
Mr CONLAN: Three-hundred-thousand dollars to the Alice …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister! You are on a warning. Do not reflect upon the Chair and her decisions! Continue!
Mr CONLAN: Three-hundred-thousand dollars to the Alice Springs Golf Club; $45 000 for a lighting upgrade of the Alice Springs Go-Kart Club, and there is a stack more. I can table the document if you like, but you will hear it in the mini-budget.
Increased Cost of Living –
Senior Territorians
Senior Territorians
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You have increased the power and water bills of senior Territorians. You have now stripped away their access to free bus travel. Why did you deceive Territorians in the lead-up to the election? We sat together in the seniors’ debates; why did you claim to them that you would improve their living conditions ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That was an unparliamentary comment and the Opposition Leader should withdraw it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, which of the comments did you find unparliamentary?
Mr TOLLNER: She is talking about deceiving Territorians and that sort of nonsense. I find that abhorrent. She should withdraw those comments.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Continue, Opposition Leader.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Chief Minister, why did you deceive senior Territorians when …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She has just done it again. She has made an unparliamentary comment and I ask her to withdraw it.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. It is a comment in a general sense; it is not directed at any particular person.
Ms LAWRIE: Why are you deceiving senior Territorians? You have increased their power and water bills, and you stripped away free bus travel from them. Why did you go to the election deceiving them and saying you would improve their living conditions when you just made it a whole lot worse ...
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Opposition Leader for her question. All you say only reinforces and underlines that which all Territorians know; that there is a very serious problem that needs to be dealt with. You need to recognise that, because if you were in government today, rather than pretending and passing off the fiction that somehow or other you will be bailed out and not be required to do anything, not make any adjustment - you never did for five years; that is why we ended up leading towards a position that is completely unsustainable.
There are difficult decisions. You have not heard the mini-budget yet, but there is a raft of measures which set the Territory on a new trajectory, one to reset our fiscal position so we can start to live within our means and, on the other hand, deal with the underlying problem, which is the real lead in our saddlebags, the cost of housing. We will make real progress on that, but we have to get past this bit first. You have not heard the mini-budget and you should relax, sit back, listen, and then respond.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, we are getting awfully close to 11 am. I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Madam Speaker, I also say that, again, despite our repeated complaints, frivolous points of order are being used. I will give one final warning to the members opposite: if you keep it up we will change the rules so ministers can fully and comprehensively answer questions.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016