2016-05-26
Disability Services
Ms FYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Earlier today in this House you said:
- We have the dyslexic member for Nightcliff. Let us hope she is not the Education minister.
Will you now apologise to Territorians for your outrageous slur? Do your comments, once and for all, not prove you are not fit to be Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. If you took offence to that I apologise, member for Nightcliff. If anybody took offence to my comments I apologise and withdraw them. I am happy to do that.
It is not unfair and unreasonable for me to point out some of your inadequacies as a member of parliament wanting to be a minister. If I can word that better I am happy to do that. That is fair and reasonable.
There have been a number of performances to date, inside and outside this Chamber, where you have sought to represent yourself as a politician in a shadow portfolio role, and you have done a terrible job. I am happy to say that on a regular basis.
In regard to people with a disability in our community, it is a terrible tragedy for many people living with a disability or who have a loved one who has a disability. It is challenging to families and individuals. That is why I was happy, with my colleagues, particularly the Minister for Health and Disability Services, to sign the NDIS several weeks ago. People in the community with a disability deserve better services from government nationwide, and that is why I was keen to sign it.
Two of the very important things we have done since coming to government are to put a lot of money into mental health and into disability. We saw in the budget, this week alone, additional money going towards disability and mental health services.
You would have seen that the title of our budget is Community. Prosperity. Territory. We always talk about jobs and building businesses, and everybody in the Territory knows the Country Liberals are the best to run the economy and for job growth. We are also the best for environmental protection, but we do not always talk about community.
I have told a few people over the last few weeks to look at what we have done from a community point of view. We have Henbury School up and running – a $33m special school – we have Palmerston special school being built. We have put money towards McKillop school at Palmerston. We have put $10m towards Carpentaria Disability Services, which will be a $30m development supporting people with a disability and their families, the community and the broader service hub.
We have a boarding facility going ahead at Nhulunbuy, which will help kids in remote parts of the Northern Territory.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. Will the minister, without qualification, apologise for his offensive comments.
Mr GILES: I have done that. I did not qualify it; I apologised, and I apologise again.
We have also, in our three-and-a-half years, begun building a 116-bed Palmerston hospital. We are putting $64m into refurbishing the RDH, and there is $16m in this budget alone for the Alice Springs Hospital.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Government Innovation
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can the Chief Minister inform the House what the government is doing to support science and innovation in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question. One of the very important things announced in this budget – it was very hard to highlight everything because there is so much – was the establishment of the Office of the Chief Scientist, an independent office of government designed to provide oversight and protection in regard to all matters of a scientific nature.
I said yesterday, reflecting on comments from some of my colleagues talking about it from an educational perspective, that it has a much broader role than that. It has an opportunity to take oversight where he or she chooses to do that, whether it is looking at water allocation, the mining industry, hydraulic stimulation in the gas industry, or whatever it may be.
Nationally, at the Commonwealth level, there is a Chief Scientist and in other jurisdictions there is a Chief Scientist, but there is not one in the Northern Territory. We want to be able to provide the regulatory oversight for greater levels of protection and guidance environmentally and economically in the Territory.
That position of the Office of the Chief Scientist will be funded by gas royalties. We have enough gas royalties from onshore gas being drilled to fund the Office of the Chief Scientist. That is a great thing.
While I am talking about the onshore gas industry it is a good opportunity to mention a couple of things I spoke about at a press conference at lunch time today.
There is a lot of conversation about gas emissions, renewable energy targets and so forth. Interestingly enough, in Alice Springs 23% of our electricity is solar generated. We have just announced $9m for a new network system to help reduce the amount of electricity being used in Alice Springs. Many people want to reduce emissions in Australia, but they do not want to pay more for electricity. What Labor announced in the budget reply yesterday will see the price of electricity triple. Territorians do not want that. They want the ability to reduce emissions but keep their power price structures right.
I put a challenge to the federal Leader of the Opposition. I said, ‘Billion dollar Bill, if you really want to reduce emissions in Australia by 50%, you can use all the gas onshore in the Northern Territory and shut down every coal-powered power station in Australia. You will cut national emissions by 50%. You will also support jobs in the Territory and the gas industry, and all the royalties from the gas will go to education, helping make Territorians smarter with easier access to education facilities.’ There is a challenge to federal Labor.
Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer – Extraction
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
In an answer to a written question in February you confirmed that the sustainable yield for the Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer is 60 000 ML per year, but your government, at that stage, had approved a total annual extraction of 65 982 ML. I seek leave to table that written question.
Leave granted.
Mr McCARTHY: To accommodate new water licence applications, the volume of approved annual extractions has now increased to 82 441 ML. This huge increase has alienated farmers, AFANT, land councils and traditional owners in your electorate. How do you explain the increase in the annual approved extractions by 16 459 ML for the aquifer in a period of less than 10 weeks? Will you release all the scientific reports and information you hold to justify the increased annual volume of extraction? Why have you ignored the legitimate interests of Territorian?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, I supplied that information to the member earlier in the year. That was based on a draft water allocation plan that was completed some two or three years ago.
I saw a stack of media items in regard to the issuing of that water licence where I was questioned on whether I exempted myself from Cabinet discussions – implications that I was involved in it. That clearly showed me that the people on the opposite side have no understanding of the process.
When people apply for water licences they apply to the Water Controller. The Water Controller advertises the licences, makes an independent decision based on science and publishes the results. It does not come to Cabinet or the minister. Under the Water Act it is purely with the Water Controller; the Water Controller makes those decisions. The role of the minister is simply to review the process when someone objects to a licence. The minister can do that as an individual or he can appoint a committee to give him advice. I have yet to receive a formal complaint about that last water licence.
Talking about the Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer, the recharge rates and the 80/20, the issue with the Daly River also involves flow rates down the river. When we talk about extractions in that area we need to take flow rates into account. The idea of limiting the amount of water that comes out of the Oolloo aquifer is simply to ensure that, based on the Erskine report into the pig-nosed turtle – for them to continue their breeding cycle they need a flow rate of 12 cumecs. That is 12 m3 a second. When I drove over the Daly River the other day it was flowing level with the crossing. I enquired as to the flow rate and it is 100 cumecs, or 100 m3 a second. That 100 m3 a second would fill Sydney Harbour in five weeks. We need to put it into perspective. When we talk about water – if you want to ask about the Daly, I know a lot, and I am passionate about it.
Budget 2016-17 –
Government and Opposition Finances
Government and Opposition Finances
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to TREASURER
Treasurer, as the House knows, the Leader of the Opposition has been mimicking the government on all of our policies. In particular, he grabbed the government’s budget and basically rejigged the money. The Leader of the Opposition has no new ideas and, in fact, he has no idea. Given that the Leader of the Opposition has no new ideas or policies, can you please inform the House of the real difference between the government and the opposition when it comes to the Territory’s finances and how a budget works? I am sure the Leader of the Opposition would love to hear that.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for the great question. At first glance you would think the Leader of the Opposition is the Chief Minister lite. It is like Kevin Rudd was a different version of John Howard. Running up to the last election it seemed he mimicked everything Howard did. The Opposition Leader seems to be doing the same thing. Our Business minister regularly says how every policy in the Business portfolio has been copied and pasted from the government’s policy.
But there is a poisonous jag in everything the Opposition Leader does. The $24 000 stamp duty discount for first home buyers is not anything like our policy and has received some bad reviews. I have a members’ update from the Master Builders Association. I will read an extract from it:
- … the prioritisation of existing homes over new builds is the stand-out issue for every contractor, subcontractor and supplier in the residential sector.
New homes attract 10% GST and the FHOG is some compensation for the fact that they are being slugged $50 000+ … on the most important purchase of their lives.
Buyers of existing homes are not paying that tax! Providing a stamp duty concession to just one product in a market simply does not make sense, and risks completely re-writing the market balance between new and existing homes.
The argument that these changes will encourage second home owners to purchase new, or that the proposed renovations package will help the sector, are simply lightweight excuses. The existing housing market has been pumped up by an extended boom period and it needs to readjust to market realism. Throwing incentives into that market just delays the inevitable.
Furthermore, moving $100m out of the Infrastructure Development Fund – the Opposition Leader has also been doing the company directors course so he should know this – moves it from the asset side of the balance sheet to the operational side. That is a $200m turnaround, Opposition Leader, on your budget. He is putting an extra $120m into education and $1.1bn into housing, and somehow he suggests he will also balance the books in 2020. Opposition Leader, there is no such thing as a magic pudding.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Strategic Indigenous Reserves
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
To facilitate the allocation of a huge water licence to CLP candidate Tina MacFarlane, your government decided to abolish the policy on strategic Indigenous reserves. Minister, both you and the member for Stuart subsequently declined to support that decision to abolish this policy. When the licence of 5800 ML per year was awarded to Tina McFarlane, the government undertook to complete a review of its decision to abolish strategic Indigenous reserves by March 2016.
Which traditional owners, Indigenous organisations, communities and other stakeholders have been consulted in the course of the review, and what are the findings of the review? Do you still oppose the government’s position to abolish strategic Indigenous reserves designed to support future economic development on Aboriginal land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I was asked a similar question at the Katherine water forum. As I explained then, my views on the strategic Indigenous reserve at the time were valid and I stand by them.
However, there have been some changes over the last couple of years which have changed my view on the strategic Indigenous reserve. Specifically, my support for the strategic Indigenous reserve was based around the Daly River and involved the Daly River Management Advisory Committee. My strength behind that reserve was purely on the basis that we did not have water licences for mining operations. As everyone in this House knows, we now have a policy where if someone wants a mine they need a water licence.
Mr Giles: Who brought that in?
Mr HIGGINS: We brought that in after I lost my argument on the strategic Indigenous reserve. I kept fighting with my colleagues on this side to ensure I got what I wanted, which was that we needed accountability from the mining companies. It was also an opportunity for Aboriginal people to receive some economic advantage from it. If they had the water licences they could have traded with the mining companies.
All of that is now gone, so the pretext of a strategic Indigenous reserve for a mining operation has subsequently gone.
As for the review, yes, I know we said we would review it. As people would know, over the last few days I have been announcing further water advisory committees under the Water Act. One of those is for the Oolloo aquifer and another one is for Rapid Creek. Part of that process will be to relook at those reserves and see if the arguments we used at the time still apply, or whether policies introduced by this government change the basis or the need to have Indigenous reserves.
Just because we have some problems in those areas and people have concerns does not mean we will completely stop and review all the licences.
I gave an interview in Alice Springs where I said it is a bit like if someone drives a putt-putt van around the northern suburbs of Darwin and they have all this money flying out of the back of the van. They get to Coolalinga and stop and say, ‘God damn! It is the moratorium highway! Let us stop.’ You cannot stop. You need to keep going. I do not support a moratorium on anything.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Strategic Indigenous Reserves
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
To be clear, minister, do you think the CLP government had it wrong scrapping the strategic Indigenous reserves or are you just selling your constituents down the Daly River?
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member is seeking an opinion from the minister.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not a point of order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not like the accusation of selling my constituents down the river. I have spent many years on committees that have been very strongly behind the sustainable use of water – more than many people on the other side of parliament who want to use it for their own political gain.
Home Improvement Scheme
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for BUSINESS
The Opposition Leader’s alternative to the Country Liberal government’s $20m Home Improvement Scheme proves that the member for Fannie Bay does not understand basic mathematics when it comes to what is best for business. He made that abundantly clear in his speech yesterday. Under the Country Liberal Home Improvement Scheme, tradies have available to them 10 000 clients, whilst under the Opposition Leader’s idea, tradies have only 500 first home buyers. Could you please update the House on the response from tradies and the community to the government’s Home Improvement Scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. First I will table this document from the Master Builders Association. The member for Fong Lim also referred to it at some stage. I will read the last line:
- We would strongly encourage you to talk to your local Labor representative to point out the impact of this commitment.
This is about simple mathematics. Unfortunately the Leader of the Opposition does not seem to understand simple mathematics. On our side we looked at how many we could impact. This has the potential to impact up to 10 000 homeowners across the Northern Territory.
If we run out of that, we can put some more into it. The Chief Minister committed to increasing the $20m to help people do those sort of things if we run out of money. That will be a great problem to have. When you put $20m into 10 000 homes, the modelling shows it is a minimum of about $67m going into the community. That goes to tradies and mum and dads in the suburbs, Alice Springs and across the Territory.
I will quote a couple of things said so far. When we announced this someone went into Bunnings, got on the PA system and explained what was going on. I was not there when it happened, but apparently the entire store erupted in cheers and applause, because people understand the impact this will have on the tradies there buying bits and pieces, and the people who have put off these jobs for quite some time.
David Malone from the Master Builders Association said, on Mix FM, ‘The extra $2000 goes to convince people to do those jobs they have been planning to do and to do them now’.
That is good news for him. It is simply about mathematics. Under our plan, 10 000 home owner-occupiers will have an opportunity to use this, unlike Labor’s where they only have $505 000. That is a quarter of what we have committed. I am pleased to say the Department of Business has worked out when we can start this and we have revised the start date to 5 June, which is a couple of weeks away.
Fishing – Recreational Policy
Mr VOWLES to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Labor has a plan that will boost recreational fishing in the Northern Territory. Labor will provide $50m over our first term to build fishing infrastructure across the Northern Territory. This includes upgrading the Channel Island boat ramp; upgrading the Middle Arm boat ramp and car park; implementing a long-term program of building artificial reefs and installing fish attraction devices; increasing land fishing platforms in residential areas; providing improved facilities for disabled anglers and children; and providing extensive CCTV for the Dinah Beach boat ramp. You have made no pledges to recreational fishers. Will you now endorse Labor’s recreational fishing policy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, just because it is my birthday, and Natasha’s, does not mean I have to get all the questions. I suppose when you have all the experience that is what happens.
Member for Johnston, you might be a cricketer but I do not know when you last went fishing. The poor member for Fannie Bay and his putt-putt with all the money floating out the back – I suppose he has never been on a dirt road because they stop at Coolalinga.
This side has spent a lot of money building roads. Look at the amount of road money we have spent just in my electorate. It so happens that all the fishing places are in my electorate. We have done all the work on the Arnhem Highway so people can get out there. We spent a lot of money updating the Corroboree road. We are getting the loop road round through Litchfield and the Fog Bay Road – we built some bridges there, and the biggest problem they have is people from Darwin driving out on weekends disturbing their peace. It is a sealed road giving people access to places like Dundee. What are we doing there? We are spending money on a boat ramp.
These are the things you need to do in this area, not just say, ‘We’ll give you $50m. Give us a wish list.’ We talk about a billion dollar Bill; here is million dollar Michael. We have to put things into proportion.
This government has done a lot for fishing in the Territory. Look at the advisory committees we have. We have the recreational fishing committee, and we have protocols in place for shared resources. All these things help the fishing industry and make sure it is sustainable.
Throwing millions of dollars at something does not look after the environment. You need to take a balanced view of it. Building artificial reefs just anywhere does not work. You cannot just dump concrete pipes in the bottom of the ocean. That does not create a breeding location for fish.
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. Is that a yes to endorsing our Labor recreational fishing policy and our massive $50m investment?
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down; it is not a point of order.
Mr HIGGINS: No, I do not support a cash splash.
Budget 2016-17 – Opposition Reply
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to TREASURER
Can the Treasurer please outline to the House any reaction to the Giles government’s budget and whether there has been any commentary about the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for the question. It is good to see that someone in the House is still interested in the economy and how the budget is tracking.
As I mentioned in the earlier question from the member for Katherine, there has been some commentary from the Master Builders Association. The Business minister tabled that commentary in the last response he gave. Without a doubt the Master Builders are not enamoured with Labor’s budget response in any way, shape or form.
There has been some commentary on the budget. As I said when I delivered the budget on Tuesday, I have been cautioning for many months now about national and international headwinds of some concerns outside of the Northern Territory that will impact on us.
Through good planning, decisiveness and discipline we have been able to lead the Territory into a much stronger position than would have been the case had we had a Labor government.
Interestingly, in the last day rating agency Moody’s has concurred with the government’s position on the federal government’s receipts. I said the Territory’s budget deterioration largely reflects declining Commonwealth own-source revenues due to slower economic growth. Moody’s went on to caution about overspending in the coming years. Moody’s has kept its credit rating for the Northern Territory the same. This is a position that cannot be ignored by the opposition as the interest rates on our debt will go up with their mad spending habits.
As I pointed out the other day, if we had $5.5bn worth of debt now, as was projected by the previous Labor government – anyone who believes we would have had $5.5bn of debt would be very optimistic because Labor cannot help themselves; they have to spend money all the time. The reality is we would be paying an additional $130m every year in interest repayments on top of the hit we have already taken from federal government revenues and the like.
The choice is very simple come August. You have the option of a responsible, committed government continuing with its plan to diversify the economy and reduce the cost of living, or you have the opportunity to have a government that does not care about the finances of government or the future of the Territory, and which will say and do anything to be re-elected.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Sewer Rising Main – Howard Springs
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
This is a sad occasion because this might be the last question I ask of the minister. Last year’s budget said:
- Construction of a sewer rising main and sewer pump station to support the development of the Howard Springs Rural Activity Centre, $4.5m.
Since then there was an announcement made at the second public meeting at Howard Springs last year. This amount has been increased to $11m to enable the pipeline to go to Coolalinga and then to Zuccoli. I cannot find anything in the budget, nor have I seen any work commence. Should it not be in the budget or has the government scrapped the project, or am I going silly and just cannot find it?
ANSWER
You are asked whether you are going silly, member for Nelson, and I obviously agree; you got something right.
I recall that you asked me about the rising main some time ago. I was of the view that this was another development you wanted to oppose. I telephoned you, you might recall, saying, ‘Gerry, do you really want this to occur? I am ready to scrap it. It is $4.5m we can save.’ After some consideration the penny must have dropped, ‘No, we actually want better sewerage services in the rural area’, and you agreed not to get on your high horse and oppose it like you do everything else.
The Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment is working closely in collaboration with PWC and the Litchfield shire council to deliver sewer headworks for the Howard Springs activity centre, or, in the lingo of the member for Nelson, the Howard Springs village. The works consist of a sewer pump station and a rising main, which will address potential public health concerns over the existing on-site waste water disposal systems, as well as providing sewer service capacity for future development in the area.
Community consultations were held in June and September last year. Since those consultations Lands and Planning has followed the recommendations from the community, adopted an integrated approach for infrastructure provision of the broader area and revisited the scope of the project.
Significant progress has been made in negotiation with Power and Water to discharge the sewage into the existing sewer pump station at the INPEX workers’ village.
A concept design has been significantly progressed. Design works will commence this year, funded through the infrastructure for growth funds. The money is there, member for Nelson; it is happening.
In relation to Coolalinga, DLPE is working closely, again with PWC and the Litchfield Council, to deliver the headworks at the Coolalinga activity centre. The works consist of a sewer pump station on the south side of the Stuart Highway, a gravity main crossing the Stuart Highway and a rising main into the Zuccoli sewer system.
Members interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: ZUccoli I think is how you will find it is pronounced; it was named after Guido Zuccoli. He got very offended when people pronounced it ZuccOli. I remind everyone here to please refer to the new suburb as ZUccoli.
The concept design has been significantly addressed and design works are commencing this year. The money is sitting in the infrastructure for growth funds. The land acquisition for the easement on Morgan Road in Virginia is currently under way.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Gas Moratorium
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
As we know, there is no scientific evidence to support Labor’s job-destroying moratorium on development of the NT’s vast oil and gas reserve, yet the federal Opposition Leader is saying he wants to reserve gas to meet any drastic energy needs. Can the Chief Minister advise if it is possible to ban development of Territory gas reserves and at the same time ensure we have enough gas in Australia to keep the lights on?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the short answer is no; you cannot do both. We have billion dollar Bill saying he wants to use domestic gas to help drive down the price of electricity in Australia and reduce emissions, and we have million dollar Michael saying, ‘No, we are not going to develop gas at all’. The federal and Territory levels of Labor seem to be at odds. One of the most concerning things about Territory Labor’s policy of a gas moratorium – they have confirmed this – is that should it win government on 28 August, all gas stops, not just exploration but production as well. They have said it; they will stop production. The member for Barkly would know that all the power in Tennant Creek comes from gas. It is the same in Alice Springs and Yulara. This might sound a bit out there, but your policy means that from 28 August there will be no lights on in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Yulara.
Ms Fyles: It grows every day – a different …
Mr GILES: No. In the last sittings you confirmed you would stop production on 28 August. The Leader of the Opposition confirmed that and so did the member for Johnston. I will read the Labor policy document which confirms it:
- … Territory Labor will implement a moratorium covering all unconventional gas prospecting, exploration and extraction activities …
Gas is being extracted now to provide power to Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Yulara. Your policy will literally turn the lights off.
Ms Walker: Too tricky by half, Adam.
Mr GILES: It is not too tricky. Read your own policy; it is in black and white. That is how bad it is, as opposed to us, who support a robust gas industry that protects the environment and provides guidance to support the protection of the environment further.
The Minister for Land Resource Management spoke about water earlier with regard to strategic Indigenous reserves. He spoke about changing the Water Act, and that is part of the regulations we want to change which link in to the petroleum changes. Right now no mine or gas development in the Territory has to have a water licence. It does not come into the equation for water allocation at all. That was the situation under Labor and before Labor. We are changing it as part of the gas industry. We are protecting water, and you want to oppose that. It is madness, but not as mad as you wanting to turn the lights out through half of the Territory from 28 August. I suggest you relook at your policy.
Budget 2016-17 – Mental Health Funding
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Your government has released a mental health strategy and a suicide prevention strategy, but your budget shows less funding for mental health. The Territory has the worst mental health and suicide rates in the nation. How will you implement your plans and strategies with reduced funding in the mental health budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I heard the allegation of a reduction of money, and I would like the member to point out the page number of Budget Paper No 3 so she can refer to the line item, because I do not believe her.
Here we go again with assertions made by members opposite. The last time we had a member opposite quoting numbers from the budget paper she got it wrong. Now we find them saying, ‘You’ve just done this so how do you explain it?’ I do not trust you. These things need to be examined.
We spent a lot of money in the last financial year building the first-ever inpatient service for juvenile mental health recipients. This Chief Minister created the first Minister for Mental Health Services in the Northern Territory.
Ms Walker interjecting.
Mr Chandler interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan …
Mr CHANDLER: I was just repeating what I heard.
Madam SPEAKER: Don’t be a smart aleck. Apologise for those comments; withdraw them.
Mr CHANDLER: I withdraw exactly what I heard.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister, in withdrawing, said he was referring to exactly what he heard. The minister made barking noises. No one else in this Chamber made barking noises but the minister, and he should withdraw. He was inferring that the member was barking.
Madam SPEAKER: As I understand it, Opposition Leader, the minister withdrew his comments.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. In Budget Paper No 3, Department of Health, page 163 does show a reduction in mental health funding and the commentary below it does not explain it.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, there is the former Treasurer, who at least, to her enormous credit, knows her way around a budget book. If you look at the line items you will see footnote two, which I encourage you to read because it talks about cuts to Commonwealth funding.
This is a deliberate and mischievous attempt to mislead the people of the Northern Territory, and whose shoulders does she stand on to do so? Those of the mentally unwell. To create fear in the community by asking this sort of question is the reprehensible behaviour we have learnt to expect from this lot opposite.
While in opposition these people have been prepared to use the most vulnerable as the platform on which they promote themselves.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. The footnote talks about the transfer of funds from the alcohol and other drugs program; it has nothing to do with the mental health reductions.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Member for Greatorex, you have the call.
Government Property - Unions
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Recently we became aware of a flyer being distributed around the Territory via unions using government property for fundraising. It did not seem quite right so I ask you if it causes you any concern, and what is your response to this approach by the ALP?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am still reading the budget paper to find more lies from the members opposite.
I am always amazed at how the Labor Party seems to think other people’s property is their property. We saw that with the Stella Maris Inquiry, which demonstrated the dodgy deal between the then Labor government and the unions to use public property for its own fiscal advantage. It was well proven and well established by the Lawler inquiry.
We have also seen abuse of the government e-mail system for party-political purposes by Labor Party candidates, particularly Mr Phil Tilbrook.
We have also seen an attempt to raid, by the Labor Party, the prison officers’ trust fund, which was established for the benefit of prison officers. Since that came to light, I understand the Director-General of Licensing in the Northern Territory has begun investigating the matter because of complaints she has received.
However, the lesson is not yet learnt, unfortunately, because members of the union have received this flyer, watermarked quite clearly with ‘Territory Labor’. It invites members of the union to come to the campaign launch family fun day and fundraiser at the Prison Officers Social Club on Tivendale Road. All proceeds will go to, amongst others, Phil Tilbrook, Sandra Nelson and Tony Sievers.
The problem is that club is not the property of the union. It is on loan to the Prison Officers Association so that prison officers, after working dedicated shifts with dedication in their hearts on behalf of the prison system in the Northern Territory, can have some rest and relaxation. It was not handed over to the Labor Party to run its fundraisers.
This is the problem we have: abuse of e-mail systems; questionable practices in relation to trust funds; and now we see the use of public property.
I ask the Leader of the Opposition if he has the ticker to instruct the Labor Party to move its fundraisers out of government property, because otherwise I will refer it for a legal opinion so we can see public servants enjoying public property in the way intended by government.
Fracking Regulations
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for MINES AND ENERGY
The final fracking regulations to the Petroleum Act do not deal with Dr Tina Hunter’s recommendation 11 for well inspection to be a mandatory component of the regulatory regime. You have gone to great lengths to say that she is an expert, and she clearly stated in her recommendations that:
- Well inspection by an independent certified third party inspector should be a mandatory component of the regulatory regime for drilling, and should be considered during the drafting of the relevant regulations.
It is not in the regulations. This is world’s best practice. The regulations do not meet the recommendations of Dr Tina Hunter, so why are you giving us your shoddy, dodgy, pretend fracking regulations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her inane question. I can see what is going on here. You are desperate to get back into the Labor Party and for Senate preselection. Every time there is a question about Labor finances, you are the attack dog for the other team; now you are the attack dog from some extreme left-wing anti-fracking mob. I do not know what it is about – attracting Green preferences in your seat or whatever but, please, if you need some information about hydraulic fracturing, how the gas industry works and the environmental regulations that will be put in place, then please come and get a briefing.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. Why did you not adopt Dr Tina Hunter’s recommendation for third-party inspection of well integrity into the regulations? She is not extreme; she is not a left-winger, and you have held her up as the expert.
Mr TOLLNER: This is my point. If the member for Karama is so interested in this she would at least wait for the answer. Dr Tina Hunter’s recommendations have been accepted.
Ms Lawrie: No.
Mr TOLLNER: They have been accepted, member for Karama. The draft guidelines are still that: a draft. We are to debate it sometime this afternoon. You are pre-empting debate and now you want to interrupt again.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order, 110. The regulations are up; they are on the website. Why have you not adopted recommendation 11, which is about regulation for well integrity and independent inspection of wells to keep our environment safe?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Karama. I think the minister understands your question.
Mr TOLLNER: I think she is grandstanding for another audience. That is what I understand at the moment. The member for Karama has no clue what the guidelines are at this stage. There has been a significant consultation period. The draft guidelines have been out for comment and we have received 16 submissions, including one from Dr Tina Hunter, who we like to quote because she was brought to the Northern Territory by the Labor Party. We quote her because we think she might be someone you can accept as being an authority. You now want to bag out Dr Tina Hunter, who, in your words …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is highly offensive. I have never bagged out the doctor.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, please sit down. Minister, the member did not do that. She asked you a question so could you get to the point.
Mr TOLLNER: The member said Dr Tina Hunter stated these were world’s best-practice regulations, and that is a fact. Why would the member for Karama try to deny the facts? What is in it for the member for Karama? No one is suggesting gas drilling will happen in your back yard in Karama. No one thinks it will disrupt …
Ms Lawrie: I cannot care about the country?
Mr TOLLNER: You do not care about Karama. You care about Green preferences, member for Karama. You are so …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, direct your comments through the chair.
Mr TOLLNER: Of course, Madam Speaker. The member for Karama is a hollow drum. She is nothing but a noisy piece of something with no fact or basis to any of her questions. We are committed to driving economic growth in the Territory and to strong environmental regulations.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Education – Early Years Strategy Plan
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Can you please update the House on the Great Start Great Future – Northern Territory Early Years Strategy Plan 2016-2020?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a fantastic question from the member for Arafura, someone who understands how important it is to start with children as early as possible to ensure they have a wonderful educational opportunity into the future.
The Country Liberal government recognises the importance of providing the best possible start for all children in the Northern Territory. We are committed to investing in and providing early years’ education and care for all children from birth to eight years of age.
This government knows that having the right start in life is essential for children later in life. We know that a child’s early years shape their ability to thrive at school, to stay healthy and socially connected, and to contribute to society socially and economically.
This $19m strategy is designed to increase the capacity of families and communities to care for their children and respond to their health development, safety and wellbeing. This plan will deliver a quality system which focuses on integrated services delivered by a qualified, supported and local workforce. Jobs, community and prosperity are what it is about.
An amount of $1m will see the Families as First Teachers program expand even further across urban sites, which will include the delivery from multiple sites in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs, including the Larapinta Families as First Teachers program.
This is in addition to the $11.1m also included in the Indigenous Education Strategy for existing Families as First Teachers sites.
By December 2017, FaFT will expand to 32 remote and very remote communities across the Territory. This is evidence of this government’s commitment to investing in building stronger communities.
An amount of $200 000 is invested to support the program to allow teenage mums to complete Year 12 through the Young Mothers are Strong Mothers in Palmerston. Two weeks ago we were in Palmerston talking to those young mums. It has made a huge difference to their lives in providing a wonderful opportunity well into the future. The program includes parenting support and role modelling, child preventative health checks and immunisation.
On top of the $5.5m already provided by the government to construct the Larrapinta Child and Family Centre, as part of the Great Start Great Future program the Larapinta Child and Family Centre will receive $300 000 per annum towards operational costs.
Another feature of this strategy is an integrated approach, with the Departments of Education and Health working together to ensure that ear health is improved in remote locations.
This is something we need to focus on as a government. The FaFT program is wonderful. Targetting children earlier to ensure they are healthy and ready for education is something any responsible government should do. I commend this strategy to the House, Madam Speaker.
Renal Facilities in Central Australia
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Last night ABC television revealed that your CLP government has allowed mobile renal facilities in Central Australia to stand idle for two years because you refused to fund their recurrent costs. This is in a region which has amongst the highest renal failure rates in the world. How do you justify this betrayal of the people of Central Australia who desperately need this service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, before I start, under Standing Order 109, I think it is, the question contains an imputation which I seek a ruling on.
Madam SPEAKER: The question is fine. Answer the question.
Mr ELFERINK: It is not a betrayal. What was reported was not entirely accurate. They were the opinions of Warren Snowdon. I checked this, this morning, and found some more information.
Those buses are mobile and they go regularly into remote areas, but they do not have a set pathway. The advice I have received is that they particularly go to festivals and sporting carnivals.
Here is the history of those buses. Warren Snowdon said on the news last night that he did a great job, beating his chest and saying he got the money for the trucks. I do not know if you know some of the roads in Central Australia, but I have seen steel axles break on some of them. Yet you put a haemodialysis unit in the back of the truck and expect it to travel along those roads without being damaged?
The Warren Snowdon approach to renal dialysis in the bush is to spend $495 000, I think was the amount, to make one of these trucks so it can drive out and probably not deliver the service because the equipment will not arrive. Who picks up the bill for running and repairing these trucks? The Territory taxpayer. It is a great idea and a great announcement; we cut the ribbon, there is the truck and everyone goes, ‘Whoo, there is the truck’. But it does not deliver the service the former federal minister intended it to.
Moreover, he then says, ‘Look, I did this great thing’, but he did not care about any of the ongoing funding, or care even fleetingly about the challenges these vehicles would have. All he was interested in was the photo op. That is, unfortunately, what Warren Snowdon has been about in representing the Territory for way too long: the photo opportunity. He does not give one rat’s patootie about what follows on after the photo opportunity.
If you want to commit to healthcare in the Northern Territory, particularly for the class of people you have just described as patients, then commit ongoing funding for the next 20 years for a bus like that, and make sure the ongoing funding can cover all the maintenance costs to keep those buses on the road and make sure the dialysis equipment reaches those places. It is just another one of these Canberra brain – I will not say that. It is just another one of these Canberra notions, ‘We will roll into the Northern Territory, make this grand announcement, say we have rescued Aboriginal people – Oh, aren’t we good, Toorak and St Ives – and pick up the photo opportunity.’
The reality remains with the Northern Territory government. Shame on Warren Snowdon for using dialysis patients as a vehicle for political mileage.
Budget 2016-17 – Sport and Recreation
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
If this is the last Question Time of this parliament then this is my very last question as a member of parliament. My first one was to the then Chief Minister, Clare Martin, and my last one will be to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. That was certainly not met with the same response as my first question.
On Tuesday Territorians received some great news in Budget 2016-17, which will lead to a prosperous community. As you outlined in your budget reply, the sport and active recreation sector plays an important role in ensuring we have a healthy and aspirational Territory. Could you please update the House on the further good news the Country Liberal government is delivering for Territorians in sport and recreation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question and for his time being the Minister for Sport and Recreation. I acknowledge the fantastic work he did on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory.
The Country Liberal government is getting on with the job and we do not walk at sport and rec. I am happy to share some more good news which highlights that we are investing in our Territory athletes with grassroots programs and sporting facilities in the major centres and remote locations. It gives me great pleasure to announce the latest grants for our talented Northern Territory Institute of Sports scholarship athletes. They are Amy Collins in baseball; Abby Cubillo in basketball; Jacqui Graf in hockey; Jeremey Hayward in hockey; Leon Hayward in hockey; Nathan Hochman in hockey; Erin Lidbetter in hockey; Brooke Peris in hockey – there is a lot of hockey – Isabella MacDonald in netball; Rhys Dowling in squash; Elizabeth Duguid in weightlifting and Tom O’Neill-Thorne in wheelchair basketball. There is a total of $36 000 for those scholarships.
These young, committed and highly-talented athletes are an inspiration to all Territorians, and I am proud to support them as the Minister for Sport and Recreation.
I also have more good news to update the House with. The following organisations and clubs have been approved for a sport and recreation grant as follows: $240 000 is going to the Darwin Sailing Club as a contribution towards four new identical-keel sailing boats, which will enable to them host national and international regattas. It is important to note this investment will also be added to by the club with another $100 000.
The boats will also provide valuable recreational activity for the community, with organisations like Total Recreation and Mission Australia requesting sailing programs for disabled and disadvantaged youth.
There is $150 000 for the Nightcliff Sports Club for the installation of cricket nets at the Nightcliff sports precinct. There is support for the remote sports academies in Yuendumu and Lajamanu for the Wanta Aboriginal Corporation. There is $50 000 for the Micket Creek Shooting Complex and further upgrades to two ranges for the Darwin Pistol Club. There is $50 000 to Basketball Northern Territory and the Darwin Basketball Association to deliver the Adelaide 36ers Top End Invitational. There is $30 000 to Palmerston Netball for shade and $5000 for Top End Rodeo Circuit because it hosts many fantastic clinics for young people. There is $5000 for Thomas Maxwell and Bryce Fullwood for their racing campaigns. We are putting money into boxing, recreation, Melaluca and the West Daly Regional Council. We do not walk at sport and rec.
Housing – Remote
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for HOUSING
Labor believes that good housing is the key to better health and education outcomes. Labor has pledged $20m a year in our Room to Breathe program to deliver additional living areas, rooms and granny flats to existing houses on existing lots. It will do so quickly and will give many Territorians literally more room to breathe.
Will you provide your support for this program to improve housing and stimulate jobs and growth in remote communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I spoke about remote housing last night. I know how important it is because I have listened to communities talk about overcrowding, people’s needs and health – how to overcome health, education and employment problems. We have been busy doing that. We have been listening to people and working hard.
The Chief Minister and I have been working hard to make sure we have listened to the community, to people in places like Kintore, Kalkarandji, Utopia and Elliott. We have come up with a strategy to help fix these problems, and we will make sure there are two-, three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom houses in those communities. That is what is happening at Galiwinku.
I do not know if Labor has been to Galiwinku to see the works happening there with the Dilak. I am sure the member for Nhulunbuy would notice that we are putting houses back into communities that have three, four, five and six bedrooms, not just one, or none.
We are doing that as we speak. The Chief Minister and I have been in communities and we have been busy. We have spoken with the Northern Land Council and the Central Land, Council and they have heard from us how we are building new houses in communities, which is better than what Labor did for the 11 years it was in government.
They neglected the bush; they neglected everybody out there and they are pretending they care about Aboriginal people and housing. That is a disgrace.
I will tell you what we are doing for Amanbidji. There are five new builds coming up. Areyonga, Belyuen – there are 13 new houses. In Beswick there are 14, and in Bulman there will be 15. Eva Valley, Canteen Creek – member for Barkly, in Canteen Creek, as you know, we have built houses; twenty-four houses have been built. In Galiwinku we are doing more than they did for them.
Ms Walker: Oh, rubbish. They are just the cyclone replacement houses.
Mrs PRICE: You have been the member for years and you did nothing in the 11 years of Labor.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110: relevance. What year were those houses built at Canteen Creek?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Minister, you have the call.
Mrs PRICE: We are building more houses – two- three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom houses. They built houses with no bedrooms, maybe with one bedroom …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Budget 2016-17 – Fuel Security
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Budget 2016-17 outlines some exciting and game-changing initiatives for the Northern Territory. These ideas come from a government that has vision for a better, stronger, smarter, more prosperous Northern Territory.
Can the Chief Minister please update the House on what the government is doing to improve fuel security in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a good question. In the Northern Territory we probably have about five days’ worth of fuel. If you cut off the fuel supply for five days we will not have fuel for aircrafts, trucks, power or anything like that.
We import about 630 million barrels of diesel each year, which equates to about 11 000 barrels a day. In the budget we put $500 000 aside to help a study for a gas-to-liquid plant, turning our onshore gas into synthetic diesel, which burns cleaner and greener than the diesel we import.
A small facility can produce about 5000 barrels per day, almost half of what we are using now. Our initial thoughts were to build maybe 40 km south of Tennant Creek, or in Alice Springs or Darwin. Tennant Creek is the most logical choice.
I know Labor is opposed to gas, but we are supporting a highly-regulated environmentally-supportive environment. We can also help secure the energy requirements of the Northern Territory, plus keep petrol prices down. Make no mistake, this investment will keep petrol prices down.
This is just another plan the government has. We are supporting the gas industry, supporting keeping fuel and house prices down, and supporting the horticultural industry, the agricultural industry and the cattle industry. I have just been told today that Labor will impose another live cattle ban should they take government. It is a tragedy. Their problem is that their focus on things other than the economy and jobs in the Northern Territory.
We are busy working, making sure our economy is strong, our budget is balanced and we have a soft position at the back end of INPEX. Now is not the time to see a change of government. If you want to see a reduction in confidence in our economy, that is what a change of government will do. Now is the time to stay the course, recognise the economic diversification we have in the Territory and see its full implementation over the next four years. A change of government will do nothing but reduce confidence in the whole of the Northern Territory, both in the community sector and the economic sector.
While Labor is busy fighting about who will take the next Senate spot – will it be Kon Vatskalis, Malarndirri McCarthy, Ursula Raymond or Cathryn Tilmouth – we will get on and do the job, and stand up for the Northern Territory. What you are talking about doing will completely erode confidence in the Northern Territory and send us backwards by more than 10 years.
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