2009-06-10
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Conduct of Question Time
Conduct of Question Time
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before calling questions today I wish to make a few comments. As Speaker, it has always been my position that robust discussion, including a robust Question Time, is an essential part of the democratic process. This is certainly still my position. I have spent some time considering yesterday’s Question Time and the debates that followed and I make the following comments.
While I have always allowed a level of latitude in both the asking of questions and the answering of them, I refer you in particular to Standing Order 109 regarding questions:
- Questions may be put to a Minister relating to public affairs, to proceedings pending in the Assembly, or to any matter of administration for which they are responsible.
Additionally, Standing Order 113 provides that answers should be relevant to the question.
I remind honourable members that Standing Order 115 gives the Speaker the power to direct that the language of a question may be changed if it seems to them that it is unbecoming or not conforming with the standing orders.
I also remind all members that a point of order must refer to a standing order. It is not an opportunity to stand and speak on frivolous matters; and also that personal, abusive or offensive language is always unparliamentary.
QUESTIONS
Town Camps – Standards
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Do you agree with your federal Labor colleague, Trish Crossin, that town camps in Darwin should be taken over by the Commonwealth? Apart from putting a high fence around Bagot Community, can you explain what your government has done for residents, and why Darwin’s town camps remain such desperate places?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. A Working Future is about improving the lives of Indigenous people in remote areas of the Northern Territory. In the urban areas of the Northern Territory, we will take the tough steps we need to take, in combination with the Commonwealth government, to turn around the futures of those people who live in town camps.
If you look at Alice Springs, we have stood strongly with the Australian government and said to Tangentyere Council that, unless they unconditionally accept the offer of the Australian government for an additional $125m to transform those town camps, the Commonwealth will move in and compulsorily acquire those camps because they have the legislative power to do so without having to go through a complex and torturous legal process which could drag on for 18 months to two years.
The town camps around Darwin could be much better, but they are not in the same condition as those town camps in Alice Springs. There are not the numbers of people living extraordinarily depleted lives as those in town camps in Alice Springs. As Police minister, I have seen the statistics of the acts of violence and the number of calls to police to attend those town camps in Alice Springs.
I will work with the Australian government in upgrading those town camps in Darwin, but the priority is Alice Springs. The priority is the absolutely appalling conditions that have festered for far too long in Alice Springs, to the detriment of the women, children, and the old people who live in those town camps, and the broader community of Alice Springs, and it should no longer be allowed to continue. It will not continue because this government has the strength of resolve, together with the Australian government, to make the difference.
The Darwin town camps are not at the same level of disadvantage. I agree that they are disadvantaged, but not to the same extent as those town camps in Alice Springs.
CCTV Networks – Use to Fight Crime
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
CCTV technology is a useful crime fighting tool. This government made a commitment to establish CCTV networks in the Northern Territory. Can the Chief Minister please advise the House on the progress of fulfilling this commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. This is the delivery of another election commitment from this government, and also from the Australian government.
I am pleased to announce today that a Darwin firm, Security and Technology Services, has been awarded a $3.3m contract to install a network of 62 closed circuit television cameras in Darwin, Casuarina, and Palmerston - 62 cameras. It was great to be at the firm’s offices in Winnellie at lunchtime today.
This government has a comprehensive plan to tackle antisocial behaviour. Already, we have implemented a dedicated behaviour reporting line, the First Response Patrol, and the Night Patrol. We have more police in the Territory than ever before, and now we are rolling out CCTV in our major urban areas.
The Australian government has provided $2.25m to this project. I thank the member for Solomon for his tireless advocacy for this funding. He has done a magnificent job. We have put in $2.75m. A total of 27 cameras will be installed at Casuarina. I wonder if the Leader of the Opposition is going to oppose the CCTV cameras in Casuarina the same way he opposed the Police Beat in Casuarina. There will be 20 in the Darwin CBD. I wonder if he will oppose that as well. There will be 15 in the Palmerston CBD. Also in Palmerston there will be 11 additional police officers as part of our Safer Streets initiative.
Police have identified the locations of these cameras for these crime and antisocial behaviour hot spots. They will have real time video streaming kept for 30 days, so police will be able to go back to the scene of the crime and obtain the CCTV footage.
I have a very clear message today for the louts and thugs who assault people, and commit crimes on our streets: if you do this now in these areas, you are on candid camera. You will be on candid camera and you will be caught. This is a significant initiative, building on the initiatives that we have already started to make our streets safer across the Northern Territory.
A Working Future – Establishment of
Territory Growth Towns
Territory Growth Towns
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
On 20 May, you announced a threadbare policy to create 20 service towns for Aboriginal Territorians living in remote areas. The only specified funding identified for the creation of these 20 remote towns is $160m over five years. That equates to $1.6m per year per town. To put that into context, the federal government is intending to spend $125m …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is an extraordinarily long question.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Come to the point fairly quickly, member for Greatorex.
Mr GILES: To put that into context, the federal government is intending to spend $125m alone on normalising Alice Springs town camps. What will be the real cost of developing 20 growth towns, and when will the first township be proclaimed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Braitling. Obviously, he was not listening in Question Time yesterday. He never listens in this House.
The total amount of funding that will be committed through the Commonwealth government to the Territory government for the reform of Indigenous communities in the remote parts of the Northern Territory over the next three financial years is $1.5bn. I repeat: $1.5bn. Compare that to the last election campaign in the Northern Territory where, in all of the CLP policies that were released, there was not one single dollar for remote communities – not one dollar, not one cent.
Our commitments are there. Through the Northern Territory Closing the Gap initiatives, over the next three years, there is an additional $213m. Our contribution to SIHIP is $100m. We are putting $100m into the housing program in the bush. When the CLP was in government, they did not build one house - not one house - with Northern Territory government money in 27 years.
Through the national partnership arrangement on the service delivery, and the emergency response, a commitment of $209m; Indigenous health, an additional $204m; low socioeconomic status schools, $43m; Indigenous early childhood development, $38m; this is partnership funding between the Territory government and the Commonwealth government under the new COAG agreement. That is what the member for Braitling does not understand. As I said yesterday, this is about a quality agenda providing quality services, in quality towns, creating economic opportunities to support the regions around those towns. There is $1.5bn committed to these projects over the next three years.
Police Beats - Establishment
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
During the election, this government made a commitment to establish Police Beats in five of the main shopping precincts in the Northern Territory. Can the you please advise the House of progress made in fulfilling this election commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. During the election last year, I made a commitment of $12.3m to establish Police Beats in five of the Territory’s main shopping precincts over the course of this term. It was a commitment that the CLP opposed. We know that a highly visible police presence actually deters crime, and increases community safety and confidence. We have 300 extra police …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They do not like listening to good news, Madam Speaker, but Territorians are pleased to see the government investing in police.
The Police Beat at Casuarina commenced operation on 15 December 2008. I regularly visit that particular shopping precinct. I speak to the traders there, to the staff who work there, and to the community that visits there. It has made a very real difference. I am still astounded that the Leader of the Opposition said, whilst being interviewed by National 9 News on 15 December 2008, that he would close the Police Beat in Casuarina Square. That is the position: ‘We oppose the Police Beat’. He would close it. The Leader of the Opposition is weak, he is indecisive and he is negative – weak, indecisive and negative. That is the hallmark of the Leader of the Opposition – weak, indecisive and negative – and he would close the Police Beat.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, cease interjecting. The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is good to know that he would still close Casuarina Police Beat, and also other Police Beats across the Northern Territory.
In Budget 2009-10, we have committed $2.5m to bring forward the next three Police Beats, due to the effectiveness of this initiative, and the popularity of the initiative, not only with police, but with the community.
The Police Beat in the Todd Mall in Alice Springs is on track to be opened in July this year. I commend the Minister for Central Australia on working hard with the Alice Springs Town Council and other traders to identify the location. I am certain, when I open that Police Beat, I will be letting the people of Alice Springs know that the CLP oppose it and they would close it.
I am pleased to announce today that the Police Beat in Palmerston will be operational before the end of this year. It will be good to be in Palmerston to open that Police Beat by the end of this year. That will make a real difference, together with the 15 CCTV cameras, the additional 11 police officers who will provide a permanent additional 24/7 patrol – a real commitment to the people of Palmerston about making our community safer.
So, it is a significant initiative today, and an Opposition Leader who is weak, indecisive, negative would close down the Police Beat initiatives. We are about making our community safer, not cheap political point scoring.
Closing the Gap – Tennant Creek Town Camps
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
As part of the Closing the Gap progress report Year 1, Territorians were told an in-principal agreement for a 40-year lease over Tennant Creek town camps had been struck which would see $30m in infrastructure and housing refurbishments and that design work had commenced in April 2008. Fifteen months later, we still have housing like this in Tennant Creek, uninhabitable. Surprise, surprise, there has been no infrastructure or housing refurbishment in the Tennant Creek town camps.
Why is your record on delivering housing so woeful right across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the commitment to Indigenous housing and improving Indigenous housing between this government and previous CLP governments is like chalk and cheese. We take this responsibility seriously.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: We have worked with the Australian government to secure the funding. We have put in $100m additional funding to support the Australian government initiative, and this is a very real commitment.
We heard this morning my colleague, the Minister for Housing, saying that, working with Julalikari Council, 70 houses in Tennant Creek will have a significant upgrade.
Mr Giles interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: They are already - he does not listen. The Housing Minister said this morning that work has already commenced. He said that 13 young Indigenous people had already achieved a Certificate II in Construction to take part in the work in Tennant Creek, and another 15 are in training.
I commend Julalikari Council for its great vision, the and commitment it had to seize this opportunity, not only for the jobs of today, but for the jobs for tomorrow, building Indigenous businesses, giving Indigenous people the skills to run and work in those businesses.
As opposed to the negativity of members opposite, we are actually getting on with the job. There are people who are being trained today for jobs tomorrow who did not have the opportunity when the CLP was in government.
Real Estate Institute of Australia –
Housing Affordability Indicator
Housing Affordability Indicator
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please inform the House about the recently released Housing Affordability indicator from the Real Estate Institute of Australia, and what those figures mean for Territory homebuyers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It was good news yesterday with the Real Estate Institute releasing its quarterly affordability indicator which shows home affordability in the Territory has improved by 13% in the March quarter. This is the highest level of housing affordability since late 2006.
The proportion of median weekly income needed to meet the average weekly loan repayments has dropped from 24.6% in the December quarter to 21.7% in the March quarter. That is well below the national average of 28.6%.
This means that the Territory continues to have the second best home loan affordability of all jurisdictions. One of the key drivers for this improving affordability across Australia is lower interest rates. After 10 consecutive painful interest rate rises under John Howard, we are now seeing interest rates dropping away over the past 18 months. That has really helped families enter the market, but also importantly, for families to keep up with their home loan repayments.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: The improvement in Territory housing affordability is also attributed to direct Territory and federal government initiatives. The Buildstart Scheme, in conjunction with the First Home Owner Grant Boost Scheme, is reducing the average loan size and therefore the average weekly loan repayments. At last count …
Members interjecting,
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: At last count, 253 builders and purchasers had applied for the Territory government’s $14 000 Buildstart grant. It is a very successful product. If you ask the builders, they will let you know. It is a very successful product which we have extended until the end of this year.
We know we need to keep working on improving housing affordability. We know there are young people and families out there who want to get out of their rental properties and into their own home. Our land release program has Bellamack development under way as we speak, and Johnston headworks have commenced. Fifteen per cent of these blocks will be reserved for affordable housing, and social and public housing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: That policy never existed under the CLP – they just did not care about the battlers. In stark contrast, Labor brought in a 15% policy for affordable and social housing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Treasurer. Honourable members, there have been many interjections and I am finding it very difficult hearing the minister. I will just give you a break to remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Treasurer, you have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, the affordable blocks in Bellamack, Johnston, Zuccoli, Mitchell will be set at price points to allow low income earners to enter the market. Homestart NT provides price and income caps to allow the low and middle income earners to access 40% of the housing marketplace without spending more than 30% of their gross household weekly income on those repayments.
Our government is delivering on its affordable housing outcomes.
Land Release Policy
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
In the election campaign in July last year, you would remember - you nearly lost government - your government promised it would be turning off lots in Bellamack in early 2009. Last week, two years after …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms PURICK: … first spruiking off about Bellamack, your Deputy Leader finally announced that, in fact, a humble 90 lots would be available this year. Darwin has the highest rents in the country, yet your government cannot even deliver on a land release promise made many, many times …
Members interjecting.
Ms PURICK: Chief Minister, what modelling have you done …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is amazing that this crowd are interjecting on their own Deputy Leader who is trying to ask a question. She has a very small voice and I am having trouble hearing her over here. I do not want her to repeat the question, but it is just amazing that they lack support for their own Deputy Leader.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Member for Goyder, have you nearly finished the question? It is an extremely long question.
Ms PURICK: I will speak up as the member for Johnston obviously has hearing issues.
Chief Minister, what modelling have you done to assess the impact of your disastrous land release policies on the ruinous rent being paid by many Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is great to get a question from the Deputy Opposition Leader. She has to fight hard to get a question amongst all the boys over there.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The issues of housing affordability are well acknowledged by this government and that is why we have embarked upon a land release program which has been unparalleled in the history of the Northern Territory, …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … it is because we have economic growth. We have growth in population. We have people wanting to come …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … to the Northern Territory for the job opportunities that are available here, the lifestyle that is available here, and that has put pressure on housing affordability.
Over the next five years, we will be releasing 3700 blocks of land in Bellamack, Johnston, Mitchell and Zuccoli – as well as planning for a new city at Weddell. That is what we are doing. We have committed money for headworks. We have an agreement in place at Bellamack. We have a new Homestart package for people to get into the market for the first time. Just yesterday, we announced that Darwin is the second most affordable capital city in Australia. I acknowledge there are affordability issues and people are doing it tough.
However, compare that to what we inherited. In 2001, we had people leaving the Territory in droves ...
A member: Zero growth.
Mr HENDERSON: We had zero growth. People were leaving the Territory in droves. Of course, we did not have the commensurate increase in capital gain of people’s houses. Most people I know, who own their own home, like to see capital gain in the most important asset that anyone will purchase. They want to see a capital gain.
What is the opposition saying? Are they saying that people should not have capital gain in their homes …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … that we should have a flatline economy? You buy a house for $320 000 one year and, in five years, it should only be worth $320 000? That is what they are saying, and that is what we inherited.
There are affordability issues and we are addressing those issues. There is a 92% increase in housing in the 2009-10 Budget. This is an issue we will work hard on, we will deliver on, and 3700 new lots of land will be out in the marketplace over the next five years.
Darwin CBD – Changes to the Northern Territory Planning Scheme
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Can you please update the House on what proposed changes to the Northern Territory Planning Scheme will mean for the Darwin CBD, and whether there have been any alternative policies put forward?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Last month, I unveiled an exciting new plan for a vibrant tropical CBD for Darwin. The government consulted with our community, and are currently consulting with the community through the public exhibition phase. We want to ensure that our beautiful city remains tropical. We recognise that we have growth in population, and people who want to live in the CBD. However, how do you ensure that the development maintains the characteristics that you want in a vibrant tropical city?
We held a Darwin Urban Planning Forum in conjunction with the Darwin City Council to really look at the Darwin urban planning issues. Coming out of that was that difficult issue of building heights in the CBD. It is an issue the CLP failed to tackle over years of government, but this government took up that tough issue. We referred that to the Urban Design Advisory Panel, a panel that exists only under a Labor government - they never had expert advisors in urban design including architects and town planners. The Urban Design Advisory Panel came forward with recommendations regarding building heights.
We went further than that. We put an IDCO in place to ensure that the recommendations sat there to control the heights while we went back out again to consult with the community on the UDAP recommendations. We put together a team to consult with the community and stakeholders. The team was ably led by Dick Guit from Laing O’Rourke, whom I publicly thank for that effort on consultation. He is a busy man but he took the time out because he believes in the city and the future growth of Darwin. He worked with Rod Applegate from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. They met and consulted widely, not just with landowners in the CDB, but also with other stakeholders, including the Planning Action Network.
The recommendations that they brought back to government are now out on a statutory process to look at amendments to the Planning Scheme to incorporate the recommendations. They go to a maximum building height of 90 m above ground level across the Darwin CBD. There are designs and volumetric controls to promote breezes, light and views surrounding our beautiful harbour, to ensure that we also adopt a two-tiered building form so we do not just get the block, straight-up buildings that we have seen in the past. There will also be a minimum 6 m set back on that second tier of the podium to ensure that we get the light, the breeze, and the views.
Other changes include a peer review by the Urban Design Advisory Panel to major developments being proposed. We believe that will ensure that those design elements are there to meet the community’s expectations. Regarding active interfaces at ground level - nothing mandated previously under the CLP - government is saying we want to see active interfaces at ground level, mandating awnings on all new buildings so that you can move through the city through shade and shelter from the rain, pretty obvious for a tropical city. Those proposed Planning Scheme amendments will be on public exhibition from Friday for 28 days.
In stark contrast to the government’s action on this important matter for our growing city, there has been a blank flip-flopping from the opposition. The only public comment on this vital issue so far was from the member for Port Darwin, who said he was against ‘Soviet style architecture and …
Mr Elferink: Yes, I am.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: This is how bizarre they are, ‘… wants buildings to be remarkable so people look at them and say that is a good thing’. Well, if that is the best alternative planning policy the CLP can muster, it is amazing. A vague wish for remarkable buildings does not make a planning scheme amendment.
We all want strong architectural merit coming through on the buildings of our CBD. We want that strong architectural merit to reflect tropical design, which is why, for example, we are proposing mandating that UDAP peer review of the buildings.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is a rather long answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could come to the point fairly soon, please.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, when the Urban Design Advisory Panel, which consists of experts, saw what I as minister proposed to take out to public consultation, they said: ‘This will deliver the tropical and better design outcomes that your growing city needs’.
Land Release – Misleading Advertising
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In an expensive taxpayer-funded, full-page advertisement – in fact, it is this one – this expensive taxpayer-funded, full-page advertisement – you claim that another 200 blocks will be released in the suburb of Johnston by the end of this year. I note in parliament yesterday, your Deputy Leader made no mention whatsoever of Johnston delivering 200 blocks by the end of the year. In fact, your Deputy Leader did not commit to a single block being available by the end of this year. Why do you not do the decent thing, put your hand in your own pocket, refund the many thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money you misused in this misleading advertising? Do the right thing.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, actually highlighting the land release program that we are committed to.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I am pleased that he has highlighted that, because there is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It is very hard, Madam Speaker, when they ask the question and will not listen to the answer.
There is $108m in the budget this year for headworks for Johnston, Zuccoli and Mitchell to support the land release schedules and time frames as indicated by the Leader of the Opposition. My colleague, the Planning and Lands Minister, advised the House yesterday that 90 blocks of land will be available in the suburb of Bellamack by the end of this year, and blocks of land will be available off the plan for Johnston by the end of this year. Territorians want to have the certainty that there is a plan, it is being committed to, and it is being funded. The tender for the headworks for Johnston was finalised yesterday. The headworks are now under way.
The DCA subdivision application has been submitted for Johnston. In the first stage, Johnston will be selling 205 lots off the plan. Territorians want to know where land is going to be released, and when land is going to be released. Territorians who want to buy land want to know that, and employers want to know that. The business community and construction industry wants to know that. It is totally appropriate for such a significant announcement to be communicated through the media.
Importation of Packaged Bees and
Threat of Hive Beetles
Threat of Hive Beetles
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
You have announced that you will allow the importation of packaged bees into the NT from the southern part of Western Australia. Whilst I understand that this was done after consultation with an industry and departmental reference group, and that you are required not to inhibit trade between states under the Constitution, there is no doubt that some melon growers and apiarists are still concerned about the introduction of hive beetle into the NT.
To allay some industry fears, would the government be willing to pay compensation to growers and apiarists if hive beetles were introduced into the Territory through this new importation scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, serious quarantine action is taken only following expert advice. In the meeting held between the industry and the apiarists earlier this year, it was decided an independent working group would assess the issue of bee importation. That independent group was formed and its members are: independent Chairman, Mr Roger Smith; Mr Andrew Shugg, President of the Northern Territory Beekeepers Association; Kane Younghusband, a melon grower in Mataranka, the NT Agricultural Association nominee; the Executive Officer of the Northern Territory Horticultural Association, Ms Kate Peake; Mr Brian Radunz, the Chief Veterinary Officer; and Mr Stuart Smith, the Director of Plant Industries.
This group assessed the situation with the bees in Western Australia. It visited the areas, consulted with the Western Australian Agricultural Department, and was satisfied that only the Kimberley region of Western Australia is contaminated by the mite. It was also satisfied that bees from Western Australia can be imported safely into the Northern Territory under certain conditions. The conditions are: a three month examination before the importation of the bees that would clear the beehive from any disease; a 30 day examination before the bees are exported to clear the beehives from any disease; and, packaged beehives can travel to the Territory without any of these beehives being opened during transit through the Kimberleys.
Quite rightly, you said that there are Constitutional issues between territories and states, and we cannot stop the import of goods and services if they satisfy our quarantine requirements. If we did that, we would not be able to export any mangoes from Katherine because they have a disease-free status. Our cattle industry would be decimated because if we apply the same rule that some people want us to apply in Western Australia, no one would buy cattle from the Northern Territory because the Territory is divided in half - the top half is contaminated with ticks, but the southern half is free of ticks. We cannot have it all our way. If there are no quarantine issues bees can be imported into the Northern Territory.
The information and the advice that came from the working group was unanimous, not even one dissent. The president of the Beekeepers Association would have a vested interest to protect his industry. His advice was the same as the rest of the group; this area in Western Australia is safe to import bees from. At the same time, the department has already started a test on the beehives in the Northern Territory to establish …
Ms Purick: You cannot trust the Western Australians. You cannot trust them at all.
Mr VATSKALIS: That is true. You cannot trust the Western Australians; they have a Liberal government. The reality is we cannot have it both ways. We cannot expect other states to buy our products, when their goods and services have no problems.
Alice Springs - Hosting of AFL Games
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
It has been reported that you are in negotiations with the AFL about the prospect of bringing a second home and away AFL game to the Northern Territory. Are you canvassing the option of that second game being played in Alice Springs and, if not, could you please tell the House why Alice Springs may not be considered to host the second home and away AFL game?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Territorians love their footy; there is no doubt about that. It is the sport of choice for all people in the Territory. I follow Collingwood, so do not hold that against me.
The Territory government has worked hard over the years since 2001 to get these events into the Territory, and we have done a fantastic job. My predecessors, particularly John Ah Kit, did some great things with the national peak sporting bodies to bring national events to the Territory, not only football but many other sporting codes.
Those negotiations are under way. Obviously, I cannot say publicly what the details of those discussions are, but part of that is getting more premiership matches in the Territory. Being a Centralian and a footy lover, I will do my best to get what we can in Alice Springs. We have been very lucky over the years to get the AFL challenge matches here. I have been on the public record saying we want to see proper matches in Alice Springs, as well as in Darwin, and if it is a one team deal or two team deal, that is what is up for discussion. I will be doing the best I can for Territory sports lovers, for Centralian sports lovers, and I will be happy to tell the House in the near future what happens with those discussions.
Territory’s Water Supply – Increased Capacity
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
As part of a $1.4bn Essential Services budget over five years, can you please outline to the House how this government will be increasing the Territory’s water supply?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Last week, I had the pleasure of inspecting the commencement of works for the boosting of the Top End’s water supply. Construction is under way on the raising of the Darwin River Dam, and this important work …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This important work is being undertaken by the Power and Water Corporation and will see the dam raised by 1.3 m. This is a very strong government, which is delivering to Territorians. Because of that, businesses are growing and creating jobs, and people are coming to the Territory. This is going to put demands …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is putting increasing demands on our power and water services. The Darwin River Dam expansion is part of our planning for the Territory’s future water supply. We are committed to staying ahead of that demand, protecting the economy of the Northern Territory and also protecting jobs.
This investment the member for Fannie Bay highlighted is in stark contrast to the CLP years where they actually stripped more money out of Power and Water than they actually reinvested …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: The legacy of that is a necessity of this government to deliver $1.4bn over five years into capital works, and repairs and maintenance. That is $1.4bn of underspend which happened in the years of the CLP. Part of that investment is $15m going into the Darwin River Dam. The increase in height will produce an extra 20% yield into the dam; work is under way on the spillway, raising it by 1.3 m; and, modifying the existing embankment; installation of a wave wall and other infrastructure.
We are investing in our future of growing the Territory and ensuring that services support business growth. Part of that is also creating jobs. When I was at the dam, I met with local contractors who won contracts there. Mousellis and Sons, a local contracting firm, has contracts for the plant supply, and Halkitis Brothers have the contract for the supply of filter material. More public tenders will go out shortly and will be announced for the supply of the wave wall unit and also more spillway works. This government is planning for the future essential services of a growing Territory; something you guys would not know about.
Defence Housing – Availability of Land
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
I refer to the previous minister’s statement that the government is planning for the future.
In the NT News on 20 May this year, Defence Housing said in an advertisement that they wanted 50 registered housing lots by 30 June 2009 and 110 registered lots by 30 June 2009 within the Darwin and Palmerston areas. Where will the DHA find 160 blocks by the required date? Is this not an example of how the government has let the ball drop when it comes to planning and releasing enough land for the needs of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Nelson. This government is working very closely with Defence Housing to look at their housing needs. They are on an expansive program, thanks to the Labor government in Canberra which is putting funds into the Territory for extra housing for the great Defence personnel who are located in the Territory.
One of the things I thought was appropriate to do as Planning minister to ensure that Defence Housing needs are met, and the needs of the broader community, is to put in a place a memorandum of agreement with DHA which ensures they are stakeholders in government land release.
I put a team together late last year. They are working closely with Defence Housing, going down into the detail and the nuts and bolts of the actual houses that they need, and the location. DHA has requirements regarding the radius of housing from where their bases are, so the locations are critically important to them as well.
Obviously, they are turning off lots of land in Lyons. They are proceeding with the next subdivision of Muirhead. We have been working very closely with them, in a planning sense, to plan Muirhead so that there can be a turn-off in Muirhead as well. They are stakeholders in Bellamack. Once we sign the memorandum of understanding, I expect they will be stakeholders in the Palmerston east suburbs as well.
Tiger Brennan Drive Extension - Progress
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
Can you inform the House on progress on the $110m Tiger Brennan Drive extension project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome this question. The Tiger Brennan Drive extension will transform the transport corridor from the Darwin rural area through Palmerston and into Darwin city. This project is the result of a new era of cooperation between the federal government and the Territory government. It is delivering …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: It is delivering a $110m construction program for Tiger Brennan Drive which includes a $38m overpass, for which the failed former member for Solomon could not get a commitment from the Howard government. They just did not want a dollar towards the overpass ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Treasurer knows she is talking complete nonsense here …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Leader of Government Business. Are you referring to a particular standing order, member for Fong Lim?
Mr TOLLNER: Clearly, there is a point of order. The Treasurer is completely misrepresenting the facts. She does not always state the facts …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim.
Mr Tollner: She is a failure.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, you may continue.
Ms LAWRIE: The public record stands for itself - Lloyd would not cough up one extra dollar for the overpass. Jim Lloyd, when he was Roads minister, would not cough up one extra dollar for that overpass. The failed former member for Solomon could not deliver - in stark contrast to the member for Solomon, Damian Hale, who has delivered $8m in Commonwealth funding for an impressive overpass that will ensure that there are no traffic snarls and there is a smooth flow.
Why is this project important? We have about 34 000 vehicles that travel between Darwin and Palmerston every day. Providing another route separate to the Stuart Highway is critical. The extension is 7.5 km in length. The residents of Palmerston and the rural area welcome this project. The Chief Minister’s Office in Palmerston has had many inquiries about the project, and people are very keen to see the design of the overpass in particular. The clearing of the site for the 7.5 km extension has already commenced. Formal site works are expected to start later this month. The works build on the already completed …
Mr Tollner: Nine years ago for the oncology unit.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Tollner: You are hopeless.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: The works build on the already completed first stage that duplicated Berrimah Road with increased turning lanes at Wishart Road and Tiger Brennan Drive. The feedback is that that has certainly improved the traffic flow, particularly at peak times.
In addition to this major project, the Territory government is spending its own money to provide additional projects to improve Tiger Brennan Drive towards Darwin city in anticipation of the increased traffic flow that will come out of this major project, with $6m to duplicate Tiger Brennan Drive between Woolner Road and Dinah Beach Road, removing bottlenecks, and including a new signalised intersection at Gonzales Road where there have been significant issues; and improving safety at Tipperary Waters and Dinah Beach. There is also work under way at a cost of $2.2m on overtaking lanes between Amy Johnson Drive and Bombing Road; and Woolner Road and Benison Road. Downer EDI …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The length of the answer is the issue.
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: There is a lot of detail.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, you would be aware that there is no time limits on either questions or answers. However, minister, this is a quite a long answer. Can you come to the point?
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely, Madam Speaker. I was getting to the end of the detail. There are three different projects I am talking about here. Downer EDI is delivering that project, which has created more than 25 civil construction jobs. I will continue to work with Damian Hale on delivering roads funding for the Territory, working in collaboration with the Commonwealth government.
Public Accounts Committee –
Membership of Ministers
Membership of Ministers
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
This morning, it emerged that you are planning to stack the Public Accounts Committee, to watchdog ministerial expenditure with your own minister …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Under which portfolio area is the member for Port Darwin …
Mr Elferink: I said to the Chief Minister – if you would take the cloth out of your ears..
Dr BURNS: You were in here and you would know that the Leader of Government Business is moving that motion, not the Chief Minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. I would like you to read the question and I will make a decision on the question.
Mr ELFERINK: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Chief Minister, this morning it emerged that you are planning to stack the Public Accounts Committee, the watchdog on ministerial expenditure, with ministers. In effect, you are planning to have ministers investigate their own expenditure. Is it not the height of arrogance to muzzle the watchdog that keeps an eye on your own ministerial expenditure?
Madam SPEAKER: The question is out of order, member for Port Darwin. It is a matter that is before the House which we will be dealing with after Question Time. You can reword the question if you wish, but the question is about a matter which is before the House.
Mr ELFERINK: Yes, Madam Speaker. This morning, it emerged that you are planning to stack the Public Accounts Committee, the watchdog on ministerial expenses …
Dr Burns interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: I have not finished yet. Just relax, take a pill, slow down. You are a pharmacist. I am sure …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you either ask a question, and I will consider whether it can be answered or not in terms of the standing orders, or you sit down. They are your options.
Mr ELFERINK: Chief Minister, how can Territorians trust your arrogant administration when you have stacked the committee that looks into your own government?
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek some advice. This is a matter which is before the House. The matter to which you have referred in your question has not been passed by this House at this stage.
Mr ELFERINK: Why? The minister is currently a member of the committee, Madam Speaker. It has been passed. That was the first motion we dealt with.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I am speaking at the moment.
The question, as it stands, is out of order. However, if the Chief Minister wishes to make some comment on it, I will allow him to. If he does not wish to, that is up to him, but it will be coming on immediately after Question Time.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to make a few comments on this, in spite of the theatrics and the hyperbole from the member for Port Darwin. This issue is before the House …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This issue is currently being debated …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This issue is not currently being debated. The motion placing a minister on the committee has been passed. It has already happened.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. The Chief Minister has the call. He is attempting to answer your question if you would give him that opportunity.
Mr HENDERSON: It really is quite incredible. He asked the question and does not want to listen to the answer. The issue …
Mr Elferink: You are wrong. Your opening line is wrong. You have already done this.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Port Darwin!
Mr HENDERSON: Maybe he wants to be the leader, Madam Speaker. The issue is about …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We know the Leader of the Opposition is weak, indecisive, and negative, and that is demonstrated in this House.
The issue here is establishing a Public Accounts Committee that is workable. Under the current standing orders, there is a requirement for three members of the Public Accounts Committee to be from government benches. That is the standing orders. That is what is being applied here and, unless the standing orders are changed, we have to abide by the rules. This House has to abide by the rules. That is all that has been provided for in this instance. The member for Port Darwin is just going through his repertoire of theatrics. All the government has done today is apply the standing orders of this House.
Indigenous Territorians –
Health Improvements
Health Improvements
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please update the House on initiatives to improve the health of Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This is a very important question. We have seen some tragic results throughout Australia in Indigenous health and we should not be proud of it. Either side of politics should not be proud about it. We have let down many people in Australia and we are trying hard to reverse that trend. I am very proud that, in the Territory, we have had some success.
We now have a three year improvement in life expectancy for Territory Aboriginal women, and the Indigenous infant mortality rate has fallen by 35%. It is not great, it is not good, but it is better than it was before. Much more work has to be done, and I know that we cannot do it by ourselves. We must have the assistance of the Commonwealth, and work very closely with the Commonwealth. It was great news to hear that the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd – and I would like to congratulate him – created the portfolio of minister for Indigenous Health – a ministerial portfolio specifically addressing one of the most burning issues in Australia today.
I congratulate our own Warren Snowdon for becoming Australia’s first Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, and I wish him luck because his plate is going to be full. We are prepared to work closely together, and I invite any member from the other side, if you have any ideas, please put them on the table. It is easy to criticise, but put some constructive comments and I am prepared to adopt them and work with you. I particularly call on the Indigenous members on the other side and say, let us work together on this one, let us put politics aside. If you have a constructive idea, come and talk to us and I will take it personally to Warren Snowdon and put it on his table and request him to fix it.
It is easy to smile and easy to criticise. We can do it on either side of politics. Many times you have asked Indigenous members on our side of politics, our side of the House, to work together. I am putting the same request to your side of politics.
Warren Snowdon will bring a wealth of experience to this portfolio. He has been there, he has worked with Indigenous people, he has travelled throughout Central Australia, he knows the issues, and I am pretty sure he will work very hard ...
Mr Giles: He has done nothing for 20 years.
Mr VATSKALIS: I am very pleased to say 20 years is not 27 years in other places, but let us not play politics. This is a truly burning issue, it affects one-third …
Members interjecting.
Dr Burns: Turn the radio off.
Mr VATSKALIS: We have some radio interference from the other side, Madam Speaker.
The issue is affecting 30% of Indigenous Territorians. It is a burning issue. We cannot do anything unless we provide a safe environment for Indigenous kids, provide a healthy environment for Indigenous kids, and improve the health of Indigenous Territorians. I am very pleased that some issues I proposed to the federal government have been adopted: the creation of a medical school in the Northern Territory, allocating $28m to have our own medical school. Our biggest problem is we cannot attract health professionals and doctors to remote and rural areas; they simply do not come, they prefer to be in the cities. We have found that when we train our own they tend to stay here. We found this with nurses and midwives, and now we will do it with doctors.
One of the proposals I put on the table is to pay people to come to remote and rural areas; give them some incentives, some benefits. I am very pleased that the federal minister for Health heard my proposal and has put a lot of money on the table. People working in Bendigo cannot claim to be working in a rural or remote area. People who work in Yuendumu, in Ngukurr, and in Gove are the people who really should be rewarded with incentives. They are the people who choose to move away from their families, their friends, and the big urban centres.
Aboriginal health is a burning issue. I am well aware of this, not only because I am the Minister for Health. In my previous life as an Environmental Health Officer working in Western Australia, I saw some terrible conditions and, unfortunately, I saw some terrible conditions in the Territory when I came to work here as an Environmental Health Officer in 1993. As a politician, I feel very embarrassed and ashamed that we have let down Indigenous people in Australia.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016