2016-05-25
First Home Owners’ Relief
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
This morning I announced Labor’s plan to provide $24 000 in stamp duty relief to first home buyers across the Northern Territory. This will make it easier for Territorians to own their own piece of the Territory. It is a dream of all young Territorians and we will support that dream. It will also keep more young Territorians here instead of moving interstate.
Treasurer, will you support Labor’s plan and provide more relief to first home buyers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Opposition Leader for the question. The answer is no.
Budget 2016-17 – Industry and Business
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Today we have heard the Leader of the Opposition talk about his plan for the future of the Northern Territory. Could the Chief Minister inform the House of how the government’s vision is different and which plan is better for the Territorians we represent?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question.
She is talking about choice in the Northern Territory, between the Country Liberal government and the Labor opposition, choice between a plan to create jobs in the Northern Territory or destroy jobs, as the Labor party would have it.
We heard his morning, in the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply, a plan to kill industry, drive up the cost of living and completely destroy the private sector in the Northern Territory. Let me go through a few of those plans by Labor to kill jobs.
Labor has a plan to kill the gas industry; we all know that. They have a plan to kill the horticulture industry, because they will cancel water licences; we know that. Whether you are a banana, mango, onion or lettuce grower, your industry will be killed.
We know they want to kill the cattle sector; they already have blood on their hands in that area.
They want to kill the building industry and development.
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: They cry now, but let us look at this.
They want to stop development in the rural area, densification in the urban area, all developments across the Territory and the third stage of Bayview, which has been being built for the last 20 years.
In the planning design for Tiger Brennan Drive, which was done by Labor, they even put the intersection in for the third stage. They planned for it, we built it and now they are opposed to it.
They do not support development, horticulture, gas, agribusiness or cattle. Worst of all, they want to drive up the cost of living. They have a renewable energy target that will see electricity prices in the Territory at least triple, and their first home owner incentive for established homes will see house prices go through the roof.
The promise of a $10 000 incentive to be spent on fitting out a house will not be spent on tradies and labour; it will be spent at goods stores like Harvey Norman on electrical devices such as washing machines made in Japan, or furniture made in Malaysia. There is no local jobs plan that will put in $10 000 for first home buyers to buy a lounge, table and washing machine. That is not helping local tradies like we are on this side of the Chamber …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
First Home Owner Grants
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
This morning I outlined Labor’s plan to provide first home owner grants of $10 000 to do renovations, including up to $2000 to purchase household goods. Labor’s plan is a meaningful grant that will provide first home buyers with a real opportunity to get renovations such as a bathroom or kitchen done, and will result in real work for subcontractors and tradies. Will you now support Labor’s plan to give real support to first home buyers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, our Home Improvement Voucher is for all homeowner-occupiers and we will not be supporting Labor’s policy.
Road Infrastructure Works – Karama
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
I note in Budget Paper No 4, The Infrastructure Program, there is revoted works, namely the duplication of Vanderlin Drive for $11.1m. You have issued a media release saying the works will include upgrades to the Shoal Bay intersection, the Manunda Terrace intersection, Kalymnos Drive intersection and Calytrix Road intersection. Could you please explain to Territorians exactly what these upgrades will be? Will they be roundabouts or traffic lights? You have the tender out now, but could you let us know if work is expected to commence this Dry Season? Why is there no noise reduction barrier as part of this important duplication program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. The duplication of McMillans Road is something that successive governments have progressed. The Labor government …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, let the minister …
Mr CHANDLER: I have only just started …
Ms Lawrie: My question was about Vanderlin Drive, not McMillans Road.
Mr CHANDLER: Not McMillans? It is the same thing …
Ms Lawrie: They are different roads.
Mr CHANDLER: Same start – different governments have progressively upgraded different roads across the Northern Territory, including Vanderlin Drive.
The duplication of Vanderlin Drive is due to go from where the former Labor government finished the job, which happened to be just before the last Territory election. We will continue it all the way to the roundabout at McMillans Road and Vanderlin Drive.
In regard to this section of works, my understanding is these works will be further away from the existing road; therefore any noise from the traffic today should be reduced because the duplication will be further away from existing houses. I am advised that the type of surface being used on that section of road will have far less road noise than the current bitumen. I am further advised that any upgrades to the existing section of road will have a new surface applied to it down the track.
I put on the record that the new surface on the old section of road is not part of this budget; however, it is in the forward plan to ensure it is upgraded in the future. We will be moving half the traffic, if you think of the traffic going both ways, further away from where the current road is. That will help reduce the traffic noise, and the surfaces applied make a huge difference.
I know what it is like. The old Stuart Highway goes past our place in Gunn, Palmerston. For years, even now as the Transport minister, I have complained loudly about the old surface being around for 20 years. It is the old bitumen that was there when it was the Stuart Highway, and there is very loud road noise. The upgrades we are doing on Roystonea Avenue will ensure the surface is different. It makes a huge difference to the level of road noise.
Like all roads across the Territory, the more we put into roads, both urban and remote, is a positive thing. I am happy to note that this is a record budget for this Territory government. There is another bucket of money from the federal government that will be announced around September this year that will look at further road upgrades, particularly in our rural and remote areas.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Road Infrastructure Works – Karama
Road Infrastructure Works – Karama
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
With the duplication of Vanderlin Drive, would you be willing to come on site with me to hear the noise. I will be available anytime. Could you please also advise whether the intersection upgrades will be traffic lights or roundabouts?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to do that, but I am not standing under your banner and roadside information. I am happy to go there and listen, and rightly so. Noise is an issue. In my electorate I was lobbied to have a noise reduction barrier erected, but the science told us it would not make one iota of difference, except to be a place people could graffiti, and not a lot would be achieved.
Road surfaces and even shrubbery can make a marginal difference. I would prefer to see lots of shrubs and trees planted than noise barriers, but I would be happy to join you on site and listen to road noise ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Thank you for that kind offer; we will tee up a time. The traffic lights or roundabout question on the intersection upgrades, could you get back to us on that?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Karama. Minister, have you finished?
Mr CHANDLER: Yes.
Budget 2015-16 – Treasurer’s Comments on Opposition Leader’s Reply Speech
Mr CONLAN to TREASURER
In relation to the budget reply speech by the Opposition Leader, he was certainly big on wind but short on gas. Can the Treasurer please outline to the House what that budget reply really means to Territorians, and what damage the Opposition Leader will inflict on Territorians and the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for the very good question. I am still collating the costs in the budget reply speech by the Opposition Leader; I have Treasury working on them, although I have some initial thoughts.
The Chief Minister mentioned earlier that the Opposition Leader’s plan to increase renewable energy to a 50% target by 2030 will triple electricity costs, and no doubt it will. To give some clarity to that, members would know that the government is participating in an ARENA solar project to produce 10 MW of energy. The cost of that project is around $60m. We have total generation in the Territory of around 600 MW. The Opposition Leader wants 300 MW to be renewable power. Based on that calculation it would be an investment of around $1.8bn to install the solar equipment the Opposition Leader wants.
That all sounds fine. All right, we will spend $1.8bn, but you are then displacing gas that we have to pay for. The opposition knows that because they gave us this contract in the first place. The gas to be displaced is somewhere around $1.5bn to $2bn of gas that Territorians will still be paying for, irrespective of the Opposition Leader wanting a solar farm.
We are sitting close to around $3bn that the Opposition Leader has cost Territorians. You have to ask what that will do to prices. I think the Chief Minister has been extremely conservative in saying prices for electricity will triple under the Opposition Leader’s plan. There is no doubt that will occur.
There is a range of other things the Opposition Leader brought into the House. He said he wants to take the $100m out of the Infrastructure Development Fund and scatter it around the electorate as a stimulus package. That is a $200m decision, because currently the $100m sits on the assets side of the balance sheet and by moving it out into expenditure it then becomes a liability and a cost. Again, up goes the debt.
The Harvey Norman package of the Opposition Leader, education and health, $1.1bn for remote housing – you start to think, ‘Where’s the money coming from?’
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Child Protection
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
This morning Labor outlined our plan to invest in vulnerable children and their families by committing to expand the successful nurse-led home visiting plan implemented by Congress in Alice Springs. We will invest $8m over four years and support another 500 children and their parents every year.
Minister, will you support Labor’s investment in children through this important program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a good question and I will answer it with a question in reply. Who is paying for it? How will you fund this? Will you take that money out of the child protection system, which we just had to inject $10m into? Are you presuming your plan will be able to recover that money from the child protection system because there will be fewer children in need of care?
If that is the case then you are rolling the dice with children’s lives, and that is something I cannot subscribe to, and I certainly would not support an approach like that. We, on this side of the House, have been quite firm in the role of child protection, which is why we are spending an extra $10m per year in that system to ensure the out-of-home services and accommodation are there.
If you do not take that money out of existing services, then the only other place you can take it from is the credit card. We, as governments, struggle with that reality every day. Whilst I understand it is nice to have the notion, the fact is you have to pay for it. The only place you can pay for it is out-of-home care services that are currently provided to children. I would rather make sure a child who is being protected from abuse, neglect or even sexual abuse has a safe place to be under the care of out-of-home care services or a foster carer. That is where my priority remains.
Budget 2015-16 – Home Improvement Scheme
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for BUSINESS
The Country Liberal government’s $20m Home Improvement Scheme has sparked a wave of excitement across the Territory since its announcement in yesterday’s budget. The excitement in Katherine is palpable, with tradies and householders already planning what type of work they want to do on their homes. It is fantastic.
But today the Opposition Leader told Mr and Mrs Malak, and, for that matter, Mr and Mrs Katherine, they are not worthy of being eligible for home improvement vouchers. He also told tradies there would not be as much work for them if he gets the chance to be the Chief Minister. Could the minister please explain how the Opposition Leader’s plan to take a wrecking ball to the scheme will destroy an initiative which will build up businesses, ensure Territory tradies have more work and save homeowners money on improvements to their homes and properties?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his very informative question. Let us look at a couple of figures. We have just heard the Treasurer talk about the Leader of the Opposition not understanding how a balance sheet works. We understand that because he does not have any experience, but he told this House this morning that his plan would stimulate real work.
On our side, the maximum number of houses, with the $20m at our rate – 10 000 homeowner-occupiers can access this scheme. Thirty per cent is for equipment, tiles and paint, and 70% has to go to the tradie. The Leader of the Opposition said he will have about 500 potential clients at $10 000 a head. That adds up to about $5m. But alas, 20% of that can go to washing machines made in Japan and tables made in Malaysia. Let us go back a step to – oh, that is $4m. He will wipe out $20m going to tradies, mums and dads, families, Mr and Mrs Malak and Mr and Mrs Katherine. He will take away a $16m injection into the economy.
I pose the question to him, how does that stimulate real jobs? It probably does, but a lot less of them. That is the sad part about this. The Leader of the Opposition does not have any issue with killing jobs. His jobs plan is a bit of a joke. I want people, especially the young people here, to know – you can add up; you have demonstrated that. Some people around here to seem to be able to add up.
I spoke to some tradies at lunch time and they were ecstatic. The mood is great. The tradies we spoke to say we are hitting the nail on the head. The Leader of the Opposition comes up with this idea, probably a thought bubble after reading the budget last night, and says we better do something in this area. This demonstrates that they cannot add up.
You say you have this great plan to create jobs. You bag us and say we could not organise anything. We are just going to create 10 000 as opposed to your 500. There is the number of jobs; the number of tradies who will be impacted by what we are doing is enormous. The tradies and businesses know that. With your 500 potential clients you will spend one quarter of what we will inject into the economy. I hope people in Winnellie in the workshops and tradies on job sites are listening to this.
Budget 2015-2016 – Teachers and Support Staff Numbers
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Your own annual report shows you have 164 fewer teachers in classrooms since you came to office in 2012. How many teachers and support staff will yesterday’s budget put back into the classroom?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we also have 33 executive officer contracts; there were 55 under Labor. We found efficiencies within the education system.
Labor’s proposed policies on education which I have heard of in the last week or so defy fiscal reason. They also fail to mention any evidence-based reform.
In the last few years we have used experts. We have used people who know what they are doing in the fields of education and economics.
Listen to the Minister for Business talk about how you could impact local businesses because you are listening to spin doctors not specialists. You are not listening to educational experts; you are listening to spin doctors.
I mentioned yesterday that in the Territory we are spending $23 578 per student in our budget, the biggest budget the Territory has ever seen for education. That is 45% more than the national average. Around the country, in every other jurisdiction about $16 000 is spent per student. We have, on average, about 12.6 students to every teacher. That is pretty close to what it was under Labor. However, I am concerned about Labor’s unwanted and ill-thought-out policies on education because they are not using the science we based our decisions on over the last few years. I ask, with all sincerity …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110, regarding answers being concise and directly relevant to the question. It was a straightforward question on yesterday’s budget. How many additional teachers and support staff will go back into the classroom?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Wanguri. Minister, you have the call. Get to the point.
Mr CHANDLER: What is more important is if you go to the results in the report – let us look at some NAPLAN results, because results are important; they are what we have been focusing on over the last few years. Labor wants to go back to 2012 and the way they were doing things. We are spending $77m more in this budget than we did last year. Also, we are spending $120m more than Labor did in its last year. They spruik about wanting to spend $120m more …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110, regarding answers being concise and directly relevant to the question. It was a straightforward question. How many additional teachers and support staff will the budget deliver back into the classroom?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Wanguri. Minister, you have the call. Get to the point.
Mr CHANDLER: Madam Speaker, I have raised this a number of times. We have employed about 38 teachers already this year, based on student numbers increasing. We do not have a cap on teacher numbers in the Territory. It will always be based on the number of students. Student numbers are increasing, so are the results and so is the money.
Regional and Remote NT –
Government Achievements
Government Achievements
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you inform the Assembly of achievements in delivering a better outcome for the bush in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
I am sorry, member for Arafura. While you were asking that question, which I did hear, I was reading Kon Vatskalis’ post that he has put his hand up for the Senate seat for Labor too. It is a cast of thousands. He said, and I do not quote him directly or plagiarise, that his only weakness is that he is not Indigenous.
I will take the question, member for Arafura.
Ms Lawrie interjecting.
Mr GILES: The member for Karama is piping in here. We know there was a secret deal for the member for Karama to become the Labor Senator to take over from Nova. It is interesting to see how all the cards play here; the Labor party is pushing her out so the member for Karama can come in.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you please answer the question.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, we wanted to work hard in a couple of areas. One is building infrastructure, and we have focused heavily on roads and bridges across the Territory, both in this budget and previous budgets.
The road from Pirlangimpi and Pickertaramoor is in the budget. We have a lot of money for roads, whether it is the Maryvale Road to Titjikala in the member for Namatjira’s electorate, the Santa Teresa Road, the straight road to Docker River, the Plenty Highway or the Outback Highway. There is new money for Sandover Highway, particularly connecting Utopia to the health clinic.
The highest amount of money ever is going on the Tanami in the member for Stuart’s electorate. We are doing about sixteen bridges on the Tablelands Highway in the Barkly electorate. We are also putting substantial money into the Carpentaria Highway, the Lajamanu road, Little Horse and Big Horse on the Victoria Highway, bridges over the Roper and the Wilton on the Central Arnhem Highway and $16m into the Arnhem Link.
Member for Daly, we are continuing to do the seal. I think we are on Saddle Rail right now, the second extension out there.
Roads are really important to connect people, start economies and start businesses.
The other area we have been working hard on is employment, government contracts and procurement. We have seen Indigenous employment numbers in real terms go from 40 people to 800. That is working well. In the public service I said I wanted to double the numbers from 8% to 16% in five years. We are just over 12 months into it and we are already at 9.3% or 9.5%.
We are changing things in the public service. There is a lot more I could tell you, member for Arafura. I will say more in my budget reply, but things are changing in regional and remote parts of the Northern Territory. Now it is not about the Berrimah line it is about the whole of the Territory.
Swimming Pool – Rural Area
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Your predecessor, the member for Daly, said the rural pool was on the forward design program, but how far forward is forward, as there does not appear to be any funds for a rural swimming pool? It looks like by the time we get a pool it will be called the Nathan Barrett memorial pool. Could you update us on where the rural pool is?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, recently, on becoming the minister for Sport, a few issues have arisen relating to how we will allocate funding across recreation and sport. We have taken …
Ms Fyles: A few? Are you serious? It is three-and-half years of issues.
Mr BARRETT: Can you just be quiet for five seconds so I can answer his question?
We have done the master plan, which looked at how we will be splitting up money between recreational activities and sport. We will look at a lot of recreational activities happening in the rural area. We had a certain bucket of money available and we put money into the Parap pool. That was done first of all because the Northern Territory needed a FINA-compliant pool to be able to bring swimmers to the Northern Territory and get a return on the investment on that.
Given that the feds were already putting $5m in, and Darwin city council was putting in $5m, it made fiscal sense for us to do that. We have put some funds out through the Department of Sport and Recreation to the Litchfield Council, which now has the ability to plan exactly what it needs. Some of the parameters have shifted because initially it was looking at something like a 25 m FINA-compliant pool that had touch pads and things like that in it, which are not necessarily important to be FINA-compliant at this point …
Ms Fyles: Touch pads are not expensive.
Mr BARRETT: Really, for five seconds?
We do not need something there that is FINA-compliant; we need something clubs can use for training and people in the community can use for community events, sport and recreation.
In addition to the money that has gone to Freds Pass through the Litchfield Council for other things that are happening in that area, money has been provided for them to ask where it is required and what the community needs now the goalposts have shifted a little in relation to FINA compliance.
I am happy to talk with you and the CE of Sport and Recreation as well. We can go through what is happening and what the remit is for the Litchfield Council so it will be able to go forward, communicate with the people in the rural area and talk to them about what it is they need and want, and what other add-ons they need to make it a good community space. That will come out and I am sure you will be well aware of that when it happens.
Member for Nelson, I am always happy to have a chat with you about where that is all heading.
Budget 2016-17 – School Infrastructure
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Can you please update the House on how the government’s commitment to investing in school infrastructure is being demonstrated in Budget 2016-17?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. The government has shown an ongoing commitment into ensuring young Territorians have access to high-quality educational facilities. The Country Liberals’ targeted infrastructure program caters for the growing demand for enrolment places in government and non-government schools, and ensures young Territorians have access to high-quality education facilities.
Budget 2016-17 delivers on the government’s commitment to building better schools. This year $21.2m has been provided to support the construction of a catholic primary school in Zuccoli on a site to be shared with a future government primary school.
Labor does not support the non-government sector; you can clearly see that with their rhetoric in the last few days.
There are many parents who send their children to schools that are non-government. They would be very interested to know about the lack of support Labor has for the non-government sector. An amount of $10m has been allocated to stage one of Taminmin College, the master plan for a new two-storey, state-of-the-art – there are eight laboratories within it. It is a wonder Labor is supporting us on that as well.
The Chief Minister will join me in saying how proud we are to invest $3.13m to complete the $7.16m Braitling Primary School – the early childhood precinct. That would not happen under a Labor government. It turned its back on Alice Springs many years ago. This is another example of this government’s commitment to early years’ education. Even Labor is starting to get that it is an important area.
This budget has also committed $4.5m for a multipurpose hall at Ramingining School. The facility will also support the community as a cyclone shelter. I am sure they will have to agree that is a good idea. Angurugu School recently suffered from significant damage from fire. This budget has allocated $4.5m to replace the fire-damaged building. That building had been recently upgraded; it houses their nutrition program.
Ms Fyles: Insurance money would cover that.
Mr CHANDLER: There is the wisdom. You have just seen the wisdom.
The Country Liberal government’s commitment to education infrastructure is also providing $68.5m to education projects under the Boosting our Economy package. Unlike Labor – I heard the Opposition Leader say loud and clear yesterday, $300 000 splashed around, splash the cash.
These guys talk about Gonski and needs-based funding. You cannot have it both ways, member for Fannie Bay. Either you go with a needs-based funding model or you splash the cash. It is obvious they want a seat in both chairs. We are needs-based funding …
Ms Lawrie: A seat in both chairs?
Mr CHANDLER: That is right. It is a big cut from what we want to provide into schools – compared to the way the Country Liberals are supporting education in the Territory.
Sports Facilities – Rural and Regional
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
This morning the Labor leader pledged $5m per year in sports grants to remote communities to upgrade ovals, lights, ablution blocks, scoreboards and other amenities. The Leader of the Opposition also pledged $5m to upgrade sporting facilities in Tennant Creek, and to use these facilities in a re-engagement program with Tennant Creek youth.
Will you visit Tennant Creek and assess Labor’s plan for sports infrastructure to support the re-engagement program with Tennant Creek youth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe I am going to Tennant Creek with the Chief Minister in the not-too-distant future to discuss those things.
In regard to sport and recreation in rural and regional areas, this government has done a lot. Looking at the way we have consulted for the sport and recreation master plan done by the department, it has been highlighted that we need to look at the baseline levels of sport and rec facilities in very remote areas to ensure we give people there the opportunities they need to live an active lifestyle.
One thing that came out of that study is a baseline court facility that is useable and has backboards and nets, and can be used for netball as well. We need a functional field where field sports can be played, whether that be soccer, rugby, football, softball or whatever.
That is what we are looking at: how we can ensure facilities in remote areas are up to a standard where they can be used, and that will need a process …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. It was a very direct question. Will the minister back the $5m upgrades for Tennant Creek and use those facilities for a re-engagement program?
Mr BARRETT: Madam Speaker, we are happy to look at what facilities are there and then put in a program to go through to all the remote and regional areas and ensure the facilities are acceptable.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Is the minister saying he will revise the budget? Tennant Creek has nothing in the budget for sport and recreation infrastructure.
Mr BARRETT: We have remote programs, sport voucher schemes, things that roll out across the entire Northern Territory. To say that Tennant Creek has missed out is patently not true.
As I was saying, as we roll out these changes to the remote and regional areas, this will ensure that people in remote and regional areas have access to the facilities they need.
We run great remote programs. Speaking to people in the southern half of the Northern Territory who promote these programs, I know they are very excited about the things that have come through and the way the sports vouchers are working and will underpin further active recreation and sport in the communities.
It is great to see that all the department things they have been working towards are all fitting together towards the long-term strategy. The strategy has direction and it has impetus behind it. I am looking forward to seeing the results of a more active and healthy people.
Arts and Culture Policy
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
Would the minister please update the House on the status of the arts and culture policy being developed by the Country Liberals government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Last year I announced in this House that the government would develop, for the first time, a comprehensive arts and culture policy, and that the development of that policy would be a significant milestone. We believe this is a vital move to plan for and support the growth and sustainability of our wonderful arts and culture sector.
I said at the outset that we recognise that arts and culture are essential elements of our Territory lifestyle, contributing to our economy and cultural and social developments. It is essential that government policy reflects and supports this.
In June last year I announced an important reference group to assist in guiding the development of a comprehensive Northern Territory arts and cultural policy. This group included five Territorians with extensive experience in the arts and cultural sector: filmmaker, Rachel Clements; remote community arts program and festival organiser, Noeletta McKenzie; Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair founding chair, Franchesca Cubillo; MAGNT board member, Ian Kew; and art consultant and former gallery owner, Karen Brown.
Their input into this process has been invaluable and I am greatly appreciative of their passion and commitment to the project. I am sure all honourable members will join me in thanking them for their valuable time, knowledge and enthusiasm in helping develop this policy.
As part of the development process I launched the community consultation and policy discussion paper last October. So began an extensive consultation phase delivered by positive solutions, with community, arts and cultural sector forums, and Indigenous consultation involving Indigenous cultural leaders, artists and managers from across art forms, including regional and remote participants.
We also had an online survey running, as well as the social media advertising campaign to encourage submissions from the general public. The Department of Arts and Museums received 23 written submissions and 372 survey responses to the discussion paper. The reference group considered all the feedback and its final meeting provided further advice on the draft policy.
Vibrant NT is the new arts and cultural policy for the Northern Territory. It sets out our vision and principles, engaging, supporting and enhancing the arts and cultural policy. It provides a framework for further work and strategy development to ensure our programs align with policy directions and deliver strong economic, social and cultural outcomes. This policy sets out the government’s philosophies, proposed actions and time frames to support and grow arts and culture in the NT.
Madam Speaker, Vibrant NT is a policy for the future. It is comprehensive, well considered and all part of our plan for a confident culture. I table that report.
Paul Mossman – Government Employment
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for HOUSING referred to CHIEF MINISTER
I just read the NT News and noticed that your former Chief of Staff, Paul Mossman, has been banned from basketball for 10 weeks after verbally abusing a ref. It must be 12 months since he was charged with deception and defrauding the government whilst working …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down! I am talking to the member for Araluen.
Ms Fyles: Kick him out.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nightcliff, you are on a warning!
Member for Araluen, is this a question about public housing?
Mrs LAMBLEY: It is a question about whether or not he is still on the government payroll. That is of relevance to all Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, there can be questions to a minister about their staff because it is within the area of their portfolio. If you want to rephrase your question and not comment on the ex-staffer’s extracurricular activities and focus your question on whether he is on the payroll.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Is Paul Mossman still being paid as a member of your staff, given his circumstances?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is appalling. That is a question for the Chief Minister to answer.
Mr GILES (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I think everyone in this Chamber knows that people employed in ministers’ offices are under my employment, being responsible for all employees on the fifth floor of parliament and the people employed in the Leader of the Opposition’s office.
Given there are court matters going on in relation to this individual, I will not comment in much detail, in the same way as I will not comment on the investigations going on into the member for Karama, which we might forget are going on at this point in time.
Ms Lawrie: How is Foundation 51 going?
Mr GILES: You can talk about Foundation 51 all you like. I would love to see an ICAC look at Harold Nelson Holdings, get to the bottom of where the union money comes from that funds the Labor campaigns, the thugs who put money into Labor and they will not disclose where it comes from.
Paul Mossman is a substantive government employee and will remain so until the outcome of any court process that might be occurring.
Mrs LAMBLEY: A supplementary question to the Chief Minister …
Madam SPEAKER: There is only one supplementary question per Question Time and the member for Karama asked it.
Budget 2016-17 – Domestic Violence Prevention
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
Can you please outline what the Country Liberal government is doing to reduce domestic violence across the Territory in Budget 2016-17?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for this important question. Last week I announced funding in Budget 2016-17 of $6.7m to fund a third year of the Northern Territory Domestic and Family Violence Reduction Strategy, Safety is Everyone’s Right. There is also $700 000 to continue selected aspects of the Alice Springs Integrated Response, including the men’s behavioural change program. This funding will ensure the continued focus on reducing the levels of violence against women in the Territory.
An important component of the Safety is Everyone’s Right strategy is the Family Safety Framework, an action-based integrated service response to individuals and families who are at risk of homicide or further serious harm. The Family Safety Framework has already been established in Alice Springs and is now also operational in Darwin, Katherine, Yuendumu, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy. This announcement shows the commitment this government has to advancing the status of women in the Territory.
Late last year I was also pleased to announce the establishment of the Women’s Consultative Council, and I am delighted to further announce that the members have been selected and the Office of Women’s Policy is now working to schedule its first meeting. I table a paper on the Women’s Consultative Council. I congratulate each appointed member and look forward to working with them all. The list will be made publicly available today.
This initiative will ensure all women across the Territory can engage directly with government on issues affecting their lives. This will better inform policy on a broader range of issues they determine. The council’s members are rural, remote and urban women from all walks of life and occupations who are strategic thinkers and leaders in their communities. The council has been established under the Country Liberal policy framework for Northern Territory women from 2015 to 2020.
Late last year I also announced I would be tabling in the Chamber progress of the framework actions of the policy. I am pleased to table it today. Whilst in the areas of women’s safety we are leaps and bounds ahead of others jurisdictions, there are still areas we need to focus on and build on the 90% reduction this government has achieved in domestic violence assaults.
In economic security it is disheartening that there is still a wider gender pay gap in the Northern Territory private sector. The Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency released a report in March 2016 which shows that the Northern Territory gender pay gap in the private sector increased from 18% in 2014 to 20% full-time ordinary earnings.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister your time has expired.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for BUSINESS
On your watch traineeships and apprenticeships have gone backwards. Four years ago there were 2800 commencements in traineeships and apprenticeships; last year there were 2182 commencements, and Budget Paper No 3 forecasts around the same for 2016-17.
There will be 600 fewer opportunities for apprentices and trainees under your government. Does that not show that your failed economic policies are now impacting on the training of young Territorians? Will you please explain your failure in your responsibility to build a homegrown workforce?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
Firstly, the count is done differently these days. Students are counted, not courses.
Let us talk about Territorians having opportunities. One of the things Territory apprentices do not have, even in the last few months as a result of what you guys did on your side – you put a moratorium on gas and 140 people lost their jobs the same day, and another 55 who were to be employed lost their jobs. That is just one example.
Let us look at the Northern Territory jobs plan by the Australian Labor Party. There is a nice photo of Michael Gunner, the member for Fannie Bay, and some rhetoric. Then you turn over and you can look at the economic framework. I love this; thank you for the question because it gives me the opportunity to talk about the economic framework Labor will have.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Budget Paper No 3 directly points out declining numbers in apprentices and trainees. Minister, please explain why you are failing young Territorians?
Mr STYLES: We are talking about jobs; we are talking about traineeships. We are talking about the ability to have the knowledge state that I love to talk about again in this Chamber during Question Time. It is about creating jobs, and with jobs comes apprenticeships.
It is not rocket science. You need to have jobs so someone can do a traineeship or apprenticeship. That is really simple. It almost offends me that you say this is about traineeships. The really important thing is the future of our kids, and that is something the Leader of the Opposition does not seem to have in his budget. He talked about a lot of stuff, throwing money around like fairy dust, but it is about results.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The minister has lost 3600 jobs out of the Territory. Does that mean there are fewer apprenticeships?
Madam SPEAKER: Please sit down!
Mr STYLES: I will send you the correct figures; you do not seem to understand what they are.
Let us talk about traineeships in agribusiness. If we take water licences off people – there are about 250 jobs at stake at the moment in Katherine. There are a lot of traineeships in that industry. They will go.
We know your Labor mates in Queensland are courting those people now to go to Queensland.
Here is the best one. Number two in the list is gas and minerals. Let us face it, there are 6300 jobs in the beginning of this gas project you are putting at risk. You will shut it down. You confirmed you will shut the gas industry down a couple of months ago in this House. Shame on you!
Budget 2016-17 – Education and Training Initiative
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for BUSINESS
The Northern Territory Budget 2016-17 has set the agenda to support the future education and training of Territorians through the Knowledge Territory initiative. Can you please outline how the forward-focused initiative will ensure Territorians have access to the highest-quality education and upskill programs and services, putting them into the greatest possible position to gain employment and enjoy prosperity.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his timely question; I can continue dealing with some of the issues the member for Barkly raised.
We have a plan for creating jobs, as opposed to the wrecking ball the Leader of the Opposition has. The member for Braitling, our Chief Minister, last year committed all the royalties from onshore gas to increase employment through education and training, VET and higher education subsidies and scholarships. There is anything between $430m and $460m a year coming in from the onshore gas industry.
There are 6300 jobs. Let us talk about some of those jobs. We have an opposition which refuses to read the science. All their Labor mates around the country read the science. In fact, the person who brought this to the fore and made sure the science is correct is a Labor person. Why will you not read the science? No one says, ‘We have read it and we disagree with it’. The science is out. So long as you frack gas in a regulated environment – and we will have one of the toughest regulated environments in the world for shale gas, which is not coal seam gas.
This is a really important matter the member for Arafura has raised. It really gets up my nose that these people pretend they will create jobs; they will destroy thousands of jobs. My children and my grandchildren live in the Territory and we are not going anywhere. I take this stuff personally, not just as a member of parliament representing my constituents.
I go back to the jobs and traineeships the member for Barkly raised. Agribusiness, gas and minerals – we know about gas and minerals. The gas is not happening. Here is your motion that went to your ALP annual conference in February:
- … Territory Labor will implement a moratorium covering all unconventional gas prospecting, exploration and extraction activities that will continue …
Essential Services
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES referred to TREASURER
Despite promising to cut the cost of living your government raised power prices by 30%. You have bungled the separation of the Power and Water Corporation and we now have the extraordinary situation in the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report where the Auditor-General was unable to form an opinion on the financial statements for the Power and Water Corporation.
Today the Leader of the Opposition gave a guarantee that a Labor government would keep Power and Water Corporation, Territory Generation and Jacana Energy in public hands. Will you rule out selling these strategic public assets if elected for a second term? Given your record on selling the Port and TIO, why would anyone believe anything you say on this issue?
ANSWER
I hope the shadow minister for Essential Services understands that is for the shareholding minister to answer. I pass it to the shareholding minister.
Mr TOLLNER (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, some months I also gave some credit to the member for Wanguri, saying it seemed she was getting her head around some of the Power and Water issues and utility market issues. Then, lo and behold, she throws out a question like that.
Member for Wanguri, you know as well as I do that no government can sell the Power and Water Corporation because there are no accounts at the moment. We know the asset management system does not work and the financial management system does not work. We have discovered all these things since the corporation was structurally separated. We knew it was a basket case when we came to government, but structural separation has really opened the can of worms. It is a good thing, because we are now getting to the bottom of the problems in the Power and Water Corporation and setting up a much more transparent and accountable utilities marketplace in the Northern Territory where we can introduce competition and put further downward pressure on electricity prices.
I reiterate that if you are genuinely interested in putting downward pressure on electricity prices you should run a mile from the commitments the Leader of the Opposition gave this morning. He just announced another $3bn worth of costs for the Territory government this morning, through the Power and Water Corporation, and has promised, through his own admissions, to triple electricity costs in the Territory. That is shameful and something that …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Will the minister rule out selling the Power and Water Corporation, Territory Generation or Jacana Energy?
Mr TOLLNER: Let me get this straight. When the Opposition Leader decommissions half the generation facilities in the Northern Territory he will not sell them? He will not even try to recoup some money to fund his costly plan to put renewable energy all over the Northern Territory? Goodness gracious me, the costs continue to escalate. Do you not care about the prices Territorians will pay? Are the Green preferences that important?
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. There are 15 seconds left, minister. Will you rule out selling Power and Water, Territory Generation or Jacana Energy?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Member for Wanguri, please sit down.
Mr TOLLNER: Are Green preferences that important that you are prepared to sacrifice low electricity costs for all Territorians in order to get those preferences?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you are out of time.
Budget 2016-17 – Nitmiluk National Park Skywalk
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Budget week is one of highs and lows. Certainly a major high point for me and for Katherine was the announcement of a skywalk at Nitmiluk National Park. A huge low, unfortunately, were the words of the Leader of the Opposition in canning the idea, clearly diminishing the desire of the Jawoyn people to further their own economic opportunities. Labor clearly does not support tourism, Aboriginal people or their aspirations.
Chief Minister, could you please tell us why the Northern Territory government needs to invest $20m into adventure experiences such as the skywalk at Nitmiluk National Park?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. It was great to be with him last Sunday at Katherine Gorge launching the skywalk initiatives as part of this budget.
He is right; we have announced one at Australia’s own Grand Canyon, being Nitmiluk gorge, or Katherine Gorge for those who do not know the name. There is $10m going into a 300 m elevated glass platform with a link across to enable tourists to have a better visitor experience, particularly adventure tourists.
We have another $10m set aside for a similar initiative at another park in the Northern Territory. We will work with the joint park management bodies to identify the right location. It could be in Litchfield, Kings Canyon or anywhere. We will go through a process to identify the best park for that to be at.
I was surprised to hear about the Leader of the Opposition and Labor not supporting it. We know that Labor does not support tourism. I have a chart here which demonstrates international visitors to the Northern Territory between 2001 and 2015. You can see the decline under Labor and you can see that we have turned it around and international visitors are coming back.
I was quite surprised to hear the Leader of the Opposition, in his budget reply, say, ‘We are going to start targeting China’. Why have we not targeted China? Let me tell you what happened. Every other state in Australia started targeting China eight years ago. In the Northern Territory eight years ago, Labor was in government and did not target China. It missed the curve; that is why we are playing catch up now in targeting the Chinese market.
It is a very good point to look at what happened with Labor and tourism. It almost brings you back to the Labor roulette game, because back then we had Kon Vatskalis and Malarndirri McCarthy as Tourism ministers. We all know that Malarndirri McCarthy is a frontrunner for the Labor Senate spot as Nova Peris has pulled the pin. In Question Time today we heard that the former Tourism minister, Kon Vatskalis, came forward as a late starter, putting his hand up, identifying he is not Aboriginal but is a Territorian and wants to have a crack at it.
It is a very interesting Labor roulette game, because we also have Rob Knight in the mix. We know that Marion Scrymgour is in the mix. Luke Gosling is trying to have a go, but the officials behind the scenes in Labor are saying, ‘No, Luke, you can’t’. The Leader of the Opposition has a Gunner versus Gosling competition on who can get up and who cannot. I am backing the dark horse. I reckon Syd Stirling said, ‘Get out of the way, Nova, we are putting Delia in. We have done a deal in Karama.’ I reckon that is what is happening.
The roulette wheel is going around and the ball will eventually bounce on Delia Lawrie and she will get the guernsey for the Labor Senate spot in Canberra.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016