2012-05-02
QUESTIONS – Wednesday 2 May 2012
Budget 2012-13 – Savings Measures
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You say you could have returned to a budget surplus this year if you cut 40% of your infrastructure spending. How much could you have saved by slashing government advertising, ministerial travel and consultancies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very proud of the budget handed down yesterday. The budget was all about a vision for the Northern Territory, an exciting vision, gearing up for growth, for the great economic opportunities that are being …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … developed by this government with the private sector and supporting Territory families. What we had from the Leader of the Opposition was a political rant with no vision whatsoever for the Northern Territory …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. This is about the Chief Minister’s response to his assertion.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could come to the question, please?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, all the spending commitments are well and truly documented in these budget papers. We are very clear about requiring government agencies to find savings through the 3% efficiency dividend, and also reprioritising within agency budgets, and that requires agencies …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The point of the question - there are no extensions to this - how much, Chief Minister, could you save by slashing government advertising, ministerial travel and consultancies? That is a specific issue.
Mr HENDERSON: Very specifically, agencies are being asked to cut expenditure in those areas through the 3% efficiency dividend we have imposed on the agencies.
I gave the Leader of the Opposition a challenge yesterday to detail how he would find $491m-worth of savings in this budget to return the budget to surplus, and there was not one savings initiative detailed with costed savings in his response, Madam Speaker, he squibbed it ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. The answer shall be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. The Chief Minister is on a frolic of his own.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could just …
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I have answered the question. The savings are within the 3% efficiency dividend agencies are required to find ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister has now indicated he has answered the question. Therefore, unless he has further to say, he should simply sit down, and be told to.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am pointing out we have identified where agencies are to find savings to deliver back to the budget, and that is within the efficiency dividend and the reprioritisation. The Leader of the Opposition had an opportunity to say how he was going to bring the government back into surplus. Not one policy, not one initiative, not one savings measure ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113 is utterly clear on this and I ask the Chief Minister to be succinct, concise and answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: We are very proud of our budget. The Leader of the Opposition should be embarrassed by his reply, the worst budget reply ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: ... the Territory has ever seen.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, have you finished your response?
Mr HENDERSON: I have.
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, you were joined by Territory 2030 parliamentary secretary, Marion Scrymgour, Mr Bill Moss, co-chair of the 2030 committee, and Professor Barney Glover from Charles Darwin University, at the Darwin waterfront to launch the Territory 2030 Scorecard. What can you tell us about the scorecard and how it is progressing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for the question. When the Leader of the Opposition talks about plans for the Territory, we have a great plan for the Northern Territory. Territory 2030 was developed by the people of the Northern Territory. The government backs the people of the Northern Territory and their aspirations for our great Northern Territory as we move towards 2030.
We released the Territory 2030 plan two years ago. I said we would be accountable for the targets, and I am very pleased to provide to the public and the Assembly today the progress scorecard after the first two years.
In relation to the targets, a 20-year plan, already progress has been made towards 50 of the 128 targets, and two targets have already been reached.
There have been key achievements in ...
Mr Elferink: Two targets out of 128.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... Every Child, Every Day to improve school attendance, the building and opening of the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre to provide world-class oncology services ...
Mr Elferink: You guys are not even close on this. I have been tracking it and you are not even close.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... to Territory residents, the start of the Marine Supply Base to grow the economy of the Northern Territory, establishing the North Australian Centre for Oil and Gas, and the Tiger Brennan Drive extension.
Leader of the Opposition and members opposite, this is a plan. This is a vision for the Northern Territory ...
Mr Elferink: And you have met two out of 120 targets.
Mr HENDERSON: All we have from the opposition is rhetoric, bile, invective and a hit list. An outrageous hit list for many hundreds ...
A member: Oh, rubbish.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: ... of Territory public servants, who will be doctors, police officers, nurses, teachers, public servants across the Northern Territory who, if they do not get a phone call from the Leader of the Opposition saying their job is safe, are gone.
The Leader of the Opposition should be absolutely ashamed of himself for developing a hit list of public servants he is personally ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr HENDERSON: ... going to target if he were to become the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
Mr ELFERINK: I did not hear a single reference in the question to anything the Leader of the Opposition said. I ask the Chief Minister to be succinct, concise and answer the question in a direct fashion.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could come to the question, please?
Mr HENDERSON: It is obvious the member for Port Darwin is totally embarrassed by the Leader of the Opposition’s reply as he seeks to ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: ... comment on it, Madam Speaker.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you come to question, please?
Mr HENDERSON: Very quickly, Madam Speaker. We are proud of Territory 2030. We are proud of the Territorians who helped us put it together.
Today, I announce Charles Darwin University will have a city campus. We will become a university city, with 600 Territory, national and international students based in the city at a new Business School for business and tourism studies at our waterfront.
Madam Speaker, the opposition hates the waterfront. We built the waterfront and are developing a university city ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
You said if you did not go into record levels of debt it would cost 1000 jobs. What is the financial cost to the Territory of losing 3500 people over the last two years because of the high cost of housing in this jurisdiction?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a furphy of a question. It is a reframed, repeated mantra from the opposition. They have had explanations time and time again - explanations contained in the budget book last year in the removal of …
Mrs Lambley: We cannot believe what we are hearing.
Mr Elferink: Not 7RAR?
Ms LAWRIE: I remind the opposition, we have created 13 000 jobs for Territorians since the global financial crisis hit as a result of the $4.6bn investment into infrastructure. We are building assets. The deficit comes from assets. The debt arises from assets. We are keeping our operating payments below our revenue. The cloth ears of the member for Port Darwin - he buries his head in the sand; he does not want to hear it, but that is the fact …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! With your known passion for the strict application of standing orders, I ask you ask the Treasurer to answer the question and not go on a frolic of her own.
Ms LAWRIE: It is a classic response …
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, if you can come to the point, please?
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely, directly to the point of the question. We have created 13 000 jobs. It is normal in population trend terms between major projects for there to be nett interstate migration heading into the negative. It is coming back into the positive. If you look at population in Budget Paper 2012-13, it is predicted to rise by 1.6% in 2012-13, and predicted to rise further by 2.2% in the following year ...
Mr Elferink: Not because of jobs growth; it is all in the bush.
Ms LAWRIE: I pick up on that interjection. The man opposite says it is all in the bush. Well, open up your eyes to what a major project does for bringing workers to the Territory. Who do you think will start to fill up the construction camp being constructed by Territory companies as a result of the determination of the Chief Minister to deliver the $34bn Ichthys project which underpins the economic growth of the Territory for decades?
Such is the growth in workers coming to the Territory the government is going to create an opportunity for a workers accommodation site at Marrara. Only the CLP can bury its head in the sand and pretend …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do not know how often I have to say this: Standing Order 113. Could she answer the question about the 3500 jobs lost over the last two years?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point, please?
Ms LAWRIE: His ramblings were a connection of, essentially, nett interstate migration population figures and not jobs. They went to housing. He has completely ignored the investment this government has made in turning off entire new suburbs in Palmerston East, working with Defence Housing to develop not only Lyons but now Muirhead, and putting the equivalent of an entire new suburb into the CBD. This gave developers some certainty and chased down the interstate banks, bringing them to the Territory and saying invest in the NT ...
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on the impacts for the Northern Territory of the leader of the federal opposition, Tony Abbott’s plan to slash the Territory’s GST revenue?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I know the opposition members do not want to hear this. They want to pretend The Australian article quoting Tony Abbott will disappear. Well, it will not. It is so serious a threat on the revenue of the Territory. This issue will not disappear. Tony Abbott’s plan for a per capita distribution of GST would see our funding in the Territory cut by $2.2bn. That is more than 40% of our budget wiped out by Tony Abbott. This is equivalent to closing every school, every hospital, every health clinic, and every police station in the Territory, along with removing every teacher, nurse, doctor and police officer in the Territory. Everyone knows that Tony Abbott will completely ignore the Leader of the Opposition. It is embarrassing to listen to the Leader of the Opposition saying: ‘I took tough action; I left a voice message’.
Mr Mills: I have.
Ms LAWRIE: When Nigel Scullion’s predecessor, Grant Tambling, voted against the Territory’s interests on Internet gambling laws he was dumped. Show some spine, Leader of the Opposition. Call Natasha Griggs, call Senator Nigel Scullion, and tell them to stand up to Tony Abbott, issue public statements condemning Tony Abbott’s stance to rip $2.2bn out of the Territory budget.
If the CLP cannot stand up for the Territory on this it will not stand up for the Territory on anything ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Conlan: How many drinks did you have at lunch today? You are slurring your words, Delia, it is obvious.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, resume your seats.
Mr Conlan: She is drunk.
Mr KNIGHT: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, minister, please.
I am going to look for Standing Order 51 to remind you all, because it has been a few weeks:
There have been many interruptions in the last few minutes ...
Mr Mills: Badly provoked, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I beg your pardon, Leader of the Opposition?
Mr Mills: Madam Speaker, I said we were badly provoked.
Madam SPEAKER: I may be provoked myself.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex very directly across the Chamber accused me of being drunk. He said: ‘She is drunk’. He said: ‘How many drinks did you have at lunch today?’ He said: ‘You are slurring your words.’ For the record, I have ...
Mr Conlan: I would like to know ...
Ms LAWRIE: I have not imbibed alcohol at all today ...
Mr Conlan: You are slurring your words.
Ms LAWRIE: Retract that offensive slur.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I would like you to withdraw the comments.
Mr Conlan: You did not hear it.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I did not hear it, but other people have obviously heard it. Member for Greatorex, I am sure you will withdraw the comments.
Mr CONLAN: Well, okay. I would like you to prove it, but I will withdraw it anyway.
You are slurring your words.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning!
Mr CONLAN: Okay.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I find the insinuation that I have to prove it highly offensive. I was at a media conference at lunchtime.
Ms Purick: You have accused us on this side of having drinks.
Ms LAWRIE: I have been in parliament all day. That is highly offensive.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: He should withdraw that comment as well.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Resume your seat, please, member for Port Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, this has obviously caused great concern to the Treasurer. I would like you to apologise, please.
Mr CONLAN: No, I will not be apologising, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Then pursuant to Standing Order 240A you can leave the Chamber for one hour, thank you very much.
Mr CONLAN: I certainly will not be apologising.
Madam SPEAKER: Leave the Chamber, thank you.
Mr CONLAN: Quite happy to.
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
We have just heard the Treasurer ask the Leader of the Opposition to call Tony Abbott - he has - Natasha Griggs – he has - Senator Scullion - he has - in relation to Mr Abbott’s comments. For the record, the Leader of the Opposition has publicly denounced the comments by Mr Abbott. Consequently, the question to the Chief Minister is this: Will you now call Mr Snowdon and Ms Crossin and ask them to fulfil the wish of this House and come out against the carbon tax being inflicted on Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, at the time the Commonwealth government called the review for the GST distributions I said this posed the greatest threat to the Territory’s finances since self-government ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is in relation to the carbon tax and the two Labor federal members. Will the Chief Minister comply with Standing Order 113?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there was a considerable preamble to that.
Mr HENDERSON: I point out, with due respect, Madam Speaker, frivolous points of order. I had barely spoken two sentences before he jumped up. He is trying to run down the clock. I urge him to sit in his chair and listen to the response.
This issue poses the greatest threat to Territory finances. I, and the Treasurer, have met with the committee looking into this. We have made presentations and received reports. We contacted Treasurer Swan’s office yesterday. The interim report has been released and, I understand, recommends no changes to horizontal fiscal equalisation. That was the position of our government from day one on this. We have yet to hear any public comments from Tony Abbott retracting the statement he made yesterday ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... that this is the unified position of the Coalition Premiers and makes sense. It is the unified position of the Coalition Premiers, which includes the Leader of the Opposition …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. This question was about the carbon tax and whether the Chief Minister would show any leadership with his federal colleagues and call for the carbon tax to be taken away from the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. The question had a long preamble which the Chief Minister is allowed to respond to, as well as to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Our position on the carbon tax is well and truly on the public record, and we are still advocating against the removal of the diesel fuel subsidies as a result of the carbon tax. I advocated that to the Prime Minister at COAG two weeks ago. The issue here is for Tony Abbott to say, if he was Prime Minister of this nation, the horizontal fiscal equalisation would stay, as opposed to the unified position of the Coalition Premiers.
Someone is telling porkies here. It is either Tony Abbott or the Leader of the Opposition because according to Tony Abbott, the unified position of the Coalition Premiers is GST revenues be split on a per capita basis. This would take 40% of our revenue out, would decimate the economy of the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Last year, you released a statement called New Correctional Facilities. It said:
Minister, where is it in the budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It provides a synopsis of our plans for the Katherine Prison Farm - 170-bed work camp. In the budget, you will see $20m allocated to new era initiatives that coincide with addressing high numbers. Managing high numbers is a priority at the moment. That creates another 189 beds across the Northern Territory - in Alice Springs at the Barkly Work Camp and at the Darwin correctional centre.
We remain committed to the Katherine Prison Farm and work camp. As outlined in the question, it will be the first time this is developed on a university campus. It is not just about Katherine. We are negotiating with Charles Darwin University around the opportunities on the campus of the CDU rural college. We are also looking at those outreach opportunities in Pine Creek, in the Katherine township, and at Mataranka. I am also entering into quite innovative negotiations around the use of Mataranka Station ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The member asked a very good question. He asked where he would find it in the budget. We do not need a fluff piece idea of what this is all about. We want to know where we will find it in the budget.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. The minister is answering the question. Have you completed your answer, minister?
Mr McCARTHY: No, Madam Speaker, and the interjection was out of order. I start quoting your policy, member for Fong Lim ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Just come to the point, minister.
Mr McCARTHY: Your policy is a disgrace. I was saying in reply to the member for Nelson, it is not in the budget; however, we are addressing the high numbers. The member for Nelson would know that is a high priority because he has participated in much of the innovative research with this government, as opposed to those disgraceful members on the other side. I will not quote Hansard because it really rattles the member for Braitling. In one of his diatribe episodes in the parliament - I happened to take it down and I will use it - it is a disgrace, and the most disadvantaged Territorians, by this opposition ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Tollner: Answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, and also the fact the minister has already answered the question. He said it is not in the budget.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, resume your seat. Minister, if you can come to the point very soon?
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I will use all my time to talk about Corrections and our new era of Corrections. We stand very proud of our initiatives, as opposed to those on the other side with no policy, no plan and an absolute disgrace.
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Budget 2012-13 has been well received by the business and service sector. Can you please update the House and Territorians on some of the reactions to Budget 2012-13?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. There is no doubt our budget, focused on gearing up for Territory growth and supporting Territory families, has been broadly accepted and received a positive response.
Despite being a tight budget due to that severe decline in GST revenue, but responsible, it is responding to need. It has been welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce, deeming it responsible under the circumstances. The Chamber of Commerce welcomed the infrastructure investment and did not support a surplus at all costs. I quote Chris Young on ABC TV news:
The Master Builders Association Executive Director, Graham Kemp, has welcomed the infrastructure spending for keeping jobs here until the big projects truly kick in.
The social services sector has also welcomed Budget 2012-13, a budget delivering record funding for core services and continuing concessions to support families. They also recognise the value of the community sectors in delivering services for Territorians.
The Council of Social Service welcomed our government’s commitment to increasing the pay of community service workers as part of the national equal pay case. With the first $1m allocated in Budget 2012-13, NTCOSS stated:
This provided the sector with the certainty it needed to move forward and continue to grow important service delivery for Territorians.
Budget 2012-13 is fundamentally a responsible budget. It is focused on gearing up for growth for our very bright economic future and, importantly, it ensures all Territorians benefit from our growing economy.
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On 4 May 2011, this parliament passed a motion that called for a 20-year exemption to Labor’s carbon tax in the Northern Territory. That motion was forwarded to the Australian parliament. Since that time, Chief Minister, you have said nothing. Today, former New South Wales Premier, Kristina Keneally, said Prime Minister Gillard should abandon or wind back the carbon tax and, in the case of the Territory, it is a tax that will limit Territory development and increase the cost of living.
Will you now stand up for the Northern Territory and join Kristina Keneally and the Country Liberal Party to fight against Julia Gillard’s carbon tax?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a pathetic response from the Leader of the Opposition. This is an opportunity to tell Territorians about the great vision the Country Liberals would have in government, and all he wants to do is play around with what is happening in Canberra. I have said before, and I will say again, I continue to hold the line that the Commonwealth government should not be removing the diesel fuel rebates for the Northern Territory for road users, aviation and the mining industry. I have made that very clear. I have been on the public record, I have written to the Prime Minister, I have spoken to the Prime Minister and lobbied the Prime Minister.
At the end of the day, this tax is being applied by the Commonwealth of Australia. On 25 August, Territorians are going to the polls to decide who they trust to deliver jobs in the Northern Territory, great schools, fantastic health facilities, a great lifestyle, and opportunities for their kids. That is what the election will be about.
The lack of vision by the Leader of the Opposition and the CLP is breathtaking. All we had from the Leader of the Opposition today in his budget reply – it was like the old song, 27 questions: there were 27 questions and there is nothing - no policies. There was an opportunity for 27 great policy initiatives from the CLP on how it would improve health services, deliver better education and create more jobs, and all we had was a political rant from the Leader of the Opposition ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The Chief Minister was asked whether he would join with Kristina Keneally and oppose the carbon tax.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you come to the point, please?
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Fong Lim really does run the show. I have some advice for the member for Fong Lim: do the deed now. Do the deed and put this bloke out of his misery ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Do not try to slide in after an election ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: If you have any backbone you would do the deed now ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister! Have you finished your response, Chief Minister?
Mr HENDERSON: No, I have not, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you just come to the point, please?
Mr HENDERSON: I will come to the point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: I am on the public record that the federal government should not be removing the diesel fuel rebate to the Northern Territory ...
Mr Elferink: Is that it? That is your gift?
Mr HENDERSON: That is very clearly my position.
Mr Elferink: What about fighting for Territorians?
Mr HENDERSON: I continue to advocate for that position very strongly.
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on how the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply would affect the Northern Territory economy and the lives of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, absolutely the worst budget reply ever. No ideas, no suggestions, just the standard CLP line to create commissions, committees, boards, task forces, investigate things further, and get back with a plan and at a time of its choosing. Will that be any time soon? Will you fess up to Territorians ahead of the election, or will you continue to duck, weave and hide and be a policy-free zone?
This really was the CLP’s opportunity to be up-front with Territorians; to outline its costed policies and present its plans to Territorians. All the Leader of the Opposition outlined is that he wants to change the direction of the Territory and send it backwards. With the Territory entering the most significant phase of economic growth and prosperity in its history, the Leader of the Opposition wants to get his hands on the steering wheel, pull the handbrake, and do a U-turn.
He stands up spouting doom and gloom. That Territory families will never have to pay back government debt is a furphy he is running. If, when the GFC hit, this government had not provided a major boost to infrastructure spending - more than doubling it - to boost and protect jobs, we could have easily continued delivering the surpluses we had done as we had a track record for eight budget surpluses in a row. However, if we had done that and simply paid back all our debt, every Territorian would have ultimately paid the price, with massive job losses and a flatline economy.
Your commitment to return to surplus will see funding ripped out of schools and hospitals, jobs cut, and will drive up the cost of living because you will rip out that subsidy from Power and Water. You ignore the wishes of business and you want to cut infrastructure spending. You ignore families who genuinely want jobs.
The Territory government will continue to drive the economy forward and to support jobs. We will continue to provide high-quality health, education, policing and housing. We will continue to help our Territory businesses gear up for the growth of the major projects we landed. We will continue to support Territory families with the best concessions in the nation.
It is time for the Leader of the Opposition to stop hiding. We know you have a bit of form hiding in a restaurant for hours on end. Stop hiding; come out and reveal your plan to Territorians. You have no leadership and no policies.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
In response to the work safe legislation passed last year, your department has decided that every business willing to take on work experience students must be assessed by a staff member of the student’s school. What staff at schools have the training to carry out the assessment and the time to do it? Already, six schools have been affected. How many students have had their work experience suspended? Work experience programs have been running for many years. Why have the OH&S requirements not been sorted out? Can you highlight the section in the work health and safety legislation that has forced these requirements onto schools, or is it a change of policy or procedure that has left your department unprepared and students disappointed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his important question. Work experience and different structured work placement are important elements of what students do, particularly in the vocations they might choose.
We have signed up to national uniform occupational health and safety reforms. Every parent expects a duty of care on the part of schools, government and the department for students undertaking work experience. We live in a very litigious society and we have a duty of care. I make no apology for trying to ensure students are safe when they are on these placements.
You have raised this issue with me before; you are raising it with me again today. It is an important issue, and I acknowledge there are six schools where the assessments are outstanding. I cannot give you a number of students, but I have given the message to the department that this situation is to be resolved quickly. I am assured by the department that it will be and, by the end of this school year, no student will miss out on their work experience.
It is a good issue. It is an important issue you have raised. I thank you for raising it with me and we will resolve it.
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
My question is to the Minister for Construction, the minister who is also building prisons in a town near you. You say your government has sent the Territory into record levels of debt to support jobs in the building and construction industry. Can you tell us why this sector stalled before the GFC? Is it because of your failure to release land in a timely fashion?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in response to that question let us talk about the four record infrastructure budgets this government has brought down and its relationship to keeping the economy going, preserving jobs and creating jobs. The Treasurer has outlined this time and time again. If the member for Braitling wants to take us pre-2008, then let us talk about 2006 to 2008 with the infrastructure budget that was gearing the Territory up for growth as well. Let us talk about where the private sector, where the ConocoPhillips oil and gas project had kicked in ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question was: can you tell us why the sector stalled in the first place?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister is responding to the question. I will listen to a bit more.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I started with the story about the record infrastructure budget. I do not know where he gets the word ‘stalled’ from, but the Territory has been through a number of growth periods. The growth period between 2006 and 2008 was a considerable one. It was also stimulated by what the Treasurer has planned for this budget by injection of private sector spending. Let us talk about these initiatives. It was before my time, I was doing other things, but the Bonaparte gas pipeline, the waterfront construction, economic growth across the region, the Alcan G3 expansion, the GEMCO expansion - these are examples of major construction projects I have been advised of by members of parliament who were driving that cycle of construction at the time. So, member for Braitling, the question is a little ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of clarification, Madam Speaker. Are you saying you did not need to go into record levels of debt to support the construction industry?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. Minister, come to the point as soon as possible, please.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I have made my point clearly. The member for Braitling continues to confuse himself with his own semantics. He is hell-bent on making mischief. He does not want to hear the story. Member for Blain, you are a schoolie; get your troops in order, get these kids in order. They are not good listeners. They do not comprehend. I would like to test him on the NAPLAN score because he continues to confuse himself and confuse me in the process ...
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your response?
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, resume your seat.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, the minister has completed his answer.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I would be very happy to do a NAPLAN test with Hector the Road Safety Cat. I would be more than happy.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, are you aware that was a frivolous point of order?
Mr GILES: I was not aware.
Madam SPEAKER: It was, that is right. Leave the Chamber, thank you, for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Budget 2012-13 is a responsible one. It protects jobs by having a manageable deficit. Are you aware of any governments that have taken an alternative approach?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It is instructive to look at what Liberal governments are doing. On the same day, yesterday, I handed down the Territory budget the Victorian Liberals were handing down their budget. Like every government in Australia, the Victorian government had stepped up its spending on infrastructure to keep Victorians in jobs to try to soften the impact of the global financial crisis. They decided to plunge the cutting axe out there across Victoria and to create a surplus. How did the Liberal government in Victoria manage to hand down a surplus? What does it take? Remember, the CLP here is promising to do this. What does it take?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Well, yesterday, the Victorians ..
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: He is shouting interjections, Madam Speaker, it is very hard.
Mr Elferink: Get used to it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Opposition members!
Ms LAWRIE: Yesterday, in its budget cuts, the Victorian government sacked 4200 public servants. It cancelled the first home buyer building scheme. It put up all government fees, charges and fines by 15%. It cancelled its version of a back to school payment. It slashed its jobs training budget and delayed the building of the hospital it had promised - and all this from a government that was elected on a promise to cut the cost of living.
On radio this morning, the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, committed to returning to surplus within the next term should he win government. When asked how he would do this, his only response was he would do what conservative governments do. Now, we know what he meant. He would sack public servants, delay the Palmerston Hospital, cancel the Royal Darwin Hospital upgrades, put up fees for families and businesses, and scrap family subsidies such as the Back to School Payment Scheme. He would drive up the cost of living for Territorians.
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In 2008, your government committed to funding for the establishment of a permanent police post from 2009-10 in the Bagot community, with four additional police officers and two auxiliaries to be recruited for the positions. The post would be staffed around hot spot, times as determined by police. The same commitment was given in 2009-10 and, I believe, in a debate in this House in 2011. Can you direct me to where I can find that police post in the budget and, if it is not there, why have you broken your election commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Fong Lim is correct, the police post has not been built and there are reasons for that. Our commitment to policing Bagot is unparalleled. We are employing more Aboriginal Community Police Officers than ever before across the Northern Territory. We are seeing those Aboriginal Community Police Officers tracked on a pathway through to becoming fully-sworn police officers.
I am very proud of the work our police force has done to significantly increase the number of fully-sworn Aboriginal police officers and ACPOs across the Northern Territory.
In relation to a policing strategy for Bagot, those ACPOs and fully-sworn officers are not sitting in an office, they are at Bagot. There are regular patrols through there and a real focus on that.
Yes, we have not built the police post, but we have significantly increased policing in Bagot, and significantly increased the commitment to more Indigenous people within our police force to police these areas. I put that on the public record, and also say we know one of the areas the CLP would cut would be to close all police posts across the Northern Territory. We know the Leader of the Opposition is opposed to those. They will face the axe if the Leader of the Opposition was ever to become the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. We would see the police force, along with all other government agencies, starved of funds. The recruitment freeze would be back on, as it was on for nearly five years under a CLP government.
Our track record of over 400 additional police officers over this term of government has been unparalleled since self-government, with more police throughout the Northern Territory. That also includes the Bagot community.
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Henderson government is delivering a responsible budget to continue our record investment in health. Can you please update the House, and Territorians, on what Budget 2012-13 delivers to support Territory families with affordable and quality healthcare?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am going to speak very slowly so the member for Fong Lim can understand. He is intelligence-challenged, Madam Speaker ...
Mr Tollner: I do not think it is just me.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr VATSKALIS: Our government continues the record spending in health. Our government has made an investment in health and will continue to do so. This year, a record of $550m is committed for a Top End and Central Australia hospital network, $335m for Royal Darwin Hospital, $147m for Alice Springs Hospital, $33m for Katherine, $24m for Gove, $14m for Tennant Creek Hospital, and $10m for services to Palmerston Hospital, the hospital I suspect the Leader of the Opposition is going to stop, exactly the same as the Baillieu government did in Victoria. The warning bells have already been sounded. He questions why we are doing it so quickly, why we need it, and says we should reconsider the health budget.
A total of $111m is allocated for continuous upgrades to our hospitals. There is $22m for expansion of the emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital; $24m already spent on the new emergency department in Alice Springs; $40m to continue the safety program with fire protection, air-conditioning and remediation work; $3.7m for Tennant Creek Hospital for the emergency department; the short-stay facility at Royal Darwin Hospital; and $7.7m for Katherine to be exactly the same as Royal Darwin Hospital.
Since 2002, we have employed 780 nurses and 255 doctors. I was concerned by the statement of the Leader of the Opposition today when he said anyone who is being paid more than $110 000 will get the chop ...
Mr Tollner: He did not. That is misleading. That is absolute rubbish.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, that means most of our nurses, our midwives, our doctors, closing down the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr VATSKALIS: ... because these people ...
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, minister.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, the minister is clearly misleading the House and I ask you to get him back to the question in hand.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you can come to the health budget, please?
Mr VATSKALIS: I am. It is very important about the budget, because ...
Madam SPEAKER: If you could just come to the health budget, please?
Mr VATSKALIS: ... the statement was clear. Many people here heard exactly the same. He said very clearly he will look at everybody paid more than $110 000. That means our teachers, our doctors, our nurses, our specialists and our police. We have made a significant investment in health and have received dividends. There is a four-and-a-half year improvement in life expectancy of Aboriginal women; the 37% Indigenous infant mortality rate is going down ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Budget 2012-13 - Flagstaff Park Allocation
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Last year in estimates, in relation to Flagstaff Park, you said:
In fact, you repeat that promise on three other occasions in the estimates process. Can you direct me to where I can find that $6m in this year’s budget and, if it is not there, can you explain to this House why the promise has been broken?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government remains committed to green open spaces right around the Darwin peninsula. Myilly Park is one of those spaces, in conjunction with the old hospital site. Of course, the member for Port Darwin is very interested in this, and I commend that. However, you will not find it in the budget papers. That answers it succinctly; however …
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: Let them interject, let them bellow and roar.
We remain committed. Being good economic liberalists as you are, you would understand this is what I call - and what I have recommended to the Chief Minister - as the Bennelong Point of Darwin. It is absolutely sensational land. It is high-end land, and the government’s plan is, and will always be, to use that area for 20% residential …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: What have we done? We have engaged in very active and comprehensive community consultation. We have talked to stakeholder groups about the commemorative nature of the old hospital site, and we are in communication with three well-acknowledged groups across the Northern Territory. We have looked at Myilly Park, as well as the old hospital site, and we are planning to develop that to what it is: a brilliant piece of land that will support the growth and development of iconic parts of this city as green open space.
However, we want to get it right. We are going to use economic rationalism from the Liberals, and we are going to sell it when the time is right. We will develop that 20% when the market has returned to deliver the best return for Territorians, the best return for the taxpayers, so we can do that development site justice.
Member for Port Darwin, that is the answer and will remain the answer. I can appreciate your frustration, but these are very tough economic times and members on this side have all taken hits. We have all worked really hard and diligently as a team to deliver a responsible budget in tough times. I would say to members opposite, you are part of this because you are Territorians, but be aware, it will be developed, as will the old hospital site ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr McCARTHY: The member is chafing at the bit to get to his feet …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, we best hear what the member for Port Darwin has to say next.
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Madam Speaker, I ask on behalf of the people of Port Darwin - since the promise was broken in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and now has been broken again – when, and on what date, will you make good on the promise you have repeatedly broken?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I respond on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory. For those members opposite who deny climate change, who deny the GFC, who deny Territorians jobs with an economic rationalist approach to slash and burn, it will be developed when the market returns and when that land realises the return it deserves. That will come, member for Port Darwin. That will occur and you will be proud of the results, just as this government will be.
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please inform the House how Budget 2012-13 continues the Territory government’s delivery of quality and affordable education and training in support of Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. For Education and Training, there is a record budget of $950m in Budget 2012-13. When we came to government in 2001, the budget for education and training was $350m, so we have almost trebled the budget in that time. In the budget books it is shown separately - $850m for school and early childhood, etcetera, and employment and training now resides with the Treasurer in her portfolio. Amalgamate them and it is a record $950m budget. We have invested well over the years in infrastructure and teachers, with over 400 extra teachers.
Reflecting on what the Minister for Health said before, every one of our principals earns more than $110 000 a year, and probably our assistant principals. Is the Leader of the Opposition putting each one of our principals, assistant principals and lead teachers on notice because they earn more than $110 000? He needs to answer that. He needs to talk about that at the Australian Education Union conference in Darwin this Saturday; it will be very interesting.
We are investing in upgrades - $246m in total; there are 13 remaining. We continue our investment in special schools with $9.8m: $2m for Palmerston Senior College; $2.75m for Taminmin, brought forward from 2013-14; and upgrades and expansion of facilities at Henbury, Kintore Street and Acacia Hill. The design work for the $10m school at Bellamack will commence in 2012, with construction planned for 2013-14. That project has moved out a bit because of the factors the Minister for Construction mentioned before, but it is in our forward budget and will be accomplished.
Great teachers - I mentioned over 400 - actually 465 extra teachers since 2001. We have invested that GST money in teachers. It has not been profligate spending; it has been an investment. I am proud of that investment. Fifty specialist teachers, a further 85 teacher aides, and more truancy officers coming on-stream bringing the total to 30 across the Territory. There is $1.56m for remote teacher recruitment, selection and support; Centres of Excellence in our schools; Clontarf and Girls Academy; positive behaviour initiatives; Families as First Teachers; and Australian curriculum.
I believe we have also spent wisely in this budget in investing in a reengagement centre and positive learning centres.
Madam Speaker, education is our top priority as a government.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
Can you please explain how the $6m Katherine Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre will open its doors for business when the $850 000 it needs to operate is missing from this year’s budget? When will you commit to the required capital funding promised by Clare Martin in 2005 to complete Stage 2? Will you commit to the funding required, or will you be expecting the board to sign a lease and trade insolvent?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, because of the venom at the end from the wannabe member for Katherine, I will take the question from the wannabe member for Katherine ...
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: ... he has a few problems on the home front. How is JJ going? Give him my regards. Give him my regards next time you are debating over the board table ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Minister, can you direct your comments through the Chair, please, and come to the question?
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, that iconic regional cultural precinct the Northern Territory government has delivered, in partnership with the Katherine Town Council and the Australian government will be ready to open in June - I do not know where the member for Katherine gets his figures - that $800 000 operating budget is a great bid, mate, but is way out of the ballpark. You do not know what you are doing. You understand little about running these facilities.
At the moment we are working on two budgets. There is one considerable budget for the opening, where we will celebrate with the people of Katherine and the region. Everyone is focused on that, and perhaps you might get an invitation. We are working on the recurrent budget as well, which comes from within the Arts and Museums output.
These jobs are on the go. The construction is still under way. We are about to do the landscaping around the outside of the building, with some final fit-out because the board has made some changes.
It is an iconic project. It is celebrated by the people from Katherine and the region. It is, once again, turned into a negative by the wannabe member for Katherine who is trying to grandstand in this House, and who has not been preselected ...
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: … and continues to interject.
Mr Westra van Holthe: Yes, because you will not answer the question.
Mr McCARTHY: I have answered the question, Madam Speaker.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the minister has answered the question then he should sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, you can sit down. Minister, have you completed your answer?
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can the minister please tell the House how Budget 2012-13 is investing in Central Australia and supporting Centralian families and businesses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question about Central Australia. He has a history with Central Australia, much more than other people in this House. It was interesting, as the member for Arafura has picked up on, there was absolutely no mention in the Leader of the Opposition’s budget speech about Central Australia. It is quite obvious what they think about Central Australia. There was nothing about the bush.
Turning to the answer, I am very pleased as the Minister for Central Australia to speak about some of the highlights in Budget 2012-13 for Central Australians. As my colleague, the Minister for Health, has already stated in the House, there is $147m for the Alice Springs Hospital as part of a record health budget. It is these types of legacy infrastructure projects that will do Alice Springs and Central Australia good over many more years to come. There is $28m for Central Australian roads, and $10.6m to boost Correctional Services and infrastructure in Alice Springs.
As the Treasurer said in her budget speech yesterday, it was a tough budget but a responsible budget. It is great to see we are continuing, unlike Victoria, to support Territory families through many concessions and subsidies across health, education and training, particularly to offset children and power costs, and to support seniors as well.
Work on the new Kilgariff subdivision will continue. I want to reassure the town council and our Deputy Mayor, Mr Brendan Heenan, that this government’s commitment is absolutely 110%, with Budget 2012-13 providing $3.5m for headworks on top of the $10m in works due for completion this year. Again, I would like to congratulate the Minister for Construction on this visionary project and the work done with the Enquiry by Design process. This is a great outcome for Alice Springs, with land that will stand us in good stead over the next 20 to 30 years.
We are continuing the $3.9m redevelopment of the Greatorex Building for the new Alice Springs Police Station, and $1m goes towards the upgrades at the Alice Springs Youth Hub. I was absolutely astounded to hear the member for Braitling yesterday talk about the Youth Hub and if they were in government they would dismantle it. They would tear it down; they would not continue with the Youth Hub or the Youth Action Plan. Given the issues we have in Alice Springs with antisocial behaviour and youth, it bemuses me that a local member in Alice Springs would even think of that, would even think about dismantling the Youth Hub and defunding it. It is obvious he is out of touch with his electorate. He spends more time in other electorates. He needs to get back into his electorate and get in touch with reality.
Madam Speaker, the Youth Hub is buzzing. There are many non-government and government organisations working there now and they are getting great outcomes for the community of Alice Springs. So, a great budget for Central Australia, and I again thank the Treasurer for the budget.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Budget 2012-13 – Savings Measures
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You say you could have returned to a budget surplus this year if you cut 40% of your infrastructure spending. How much could you have saved by slashing government advertising, ministerial travel and consultancies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very proud of the budget handed down yesterday. The budget was all about a vision for the Northern Territory, an exciting vision, gearing up for growth, for the great economic opportunities that are being …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … developed by this government with the private sector and supporting Territory families. What we had from the Leader of the Opposition was a political rant with no vision whatsoever for the Northern Territory …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. This is about the Chief Minister’s response to his assertion.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could come to the question, please?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, all the spending commitments are well and truly documented in these budget papers. We are very clear about requiring government agencies to find savings through the 3% efficiency dividend, and also reprioritising within agency budgets, and that requires agencies …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The point of the question - there are no extensions to this - how much, Chief Minister, could you save by slashing government advertising, ministerial travel and consultancies? That is a specific issue.
Mr HENDERSON: Very specifically, agencies are being asked to cut expenditure in those areas through the 3% efficiency dividend we have imposed on the agencies.
I gave the Leader of the Opposition a challenge yesterday to detail how he would find $491m-worth of savings in this budget to return the budget to surplus, and there was not one savings initiative detailed with costed savings in his response, Madam Speaker, he squibbed it ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. The answer shall be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. The Chief Minister is on a frolic of his own.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could just …
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I have answered the question. The savings are within the 3% efficiency dividend agencies are required to find ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister has now indicated he has answered the question. Therefore, unless he has further to say, he should simply sit down, and be told to.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am pointing out we have identified where agencies are to find savings to deliver back to the budget, and that is within the efficiency dividend and the reprioritisation. The Leader of the Opposition had an opportunity to say how he was going to bring the government back into surplus. Not one policy, not one initiative, not one savings measure ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113 is utterly clear on this and I ask the Chief Minister to be succinct, concise and answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: We are very proud of our budget. The Leader of the Opposition should be embarrassed by his reply, the worst budget reply ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: ... the Territory has ever seen.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, have you finished your response?
Mr HENDERSON: I have.
Territory 2030 - Scorecard
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, you were joined by Territory 2030 parliamentary secretary, Marion Scrymgour, Mr Bill Moss, co-chair of the 2030 committee, and Professor Barney Glover from Charles Darwin University, at the Darwin waterfront to launch the Territory 2030 Scorecard. What can you tell us about the scorecard and how it is progressing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for the question. When the Leader of the Opposition talks about plans for the Territory, we have a great plan for the Northern Territory. Territory 2030 was developed by the people of the Northern Territory. The government backs the people of the Northern Territory and their aspirations for our great Northern Territory as we move towards 2030.
We released the Territory 2030 plan two years ago. I said we would be accountable for the targets, and I am very pleased to provide to the public and the Assembly today the progress scorecard after the first two years.
In relation to the targets, a 20-year plan, already progress has been made towards 50 of the 128 targets, and two targets have already been reached.
There have been key achievements in ...
Mr Elferink: Two targets out of 128.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... Every Child, Every Day to improve school attendance, the building and opening of the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre to provide world-class oncology services ...
Mr Elferink: You guys are not even close on this. I have been tracking it and you are not even close.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... to Territory residents, the start of the Marine Supply Base to grow the economy of the Northern Territory, establishing the North Australian Centre for Oil and Gas, and the Tiger Brennan Drive extension.
Leader of the Opposition and members opposite, this is a plan. This is a vision for the Northern Territory ...
Mr Elferink: And you have met two out of 120 targets.
Mr HENDERSON: All we have from the opposition is rhetoric, bile, invective and a hit list. An outrageous hit list for many hundreds ...
A member: Oh, rubbish.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: ... of Territory public servants, who will be doctors, police officers, nurses, teachers, public servants across the Northern Territory who, if they do not get a phone call from the Leader of the Opposition saying their job is safe, are gone.
The Leader of the Opposition should be absolutely ashamed of himself for developing a hit list of public servants he is personally ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr HENDERSON: ... going to target if he were to become the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
Mr ELFERINK: I did not hear a single reference in the question to anything the Leader of the Opposition said. I ask the Chief Minister to be succinct, concise and answer the question in a direct fashion.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could come to the question, please?
Mr HENDERSON: It is obvious the member for Port Darwin is totally embarrassed by the Leader of the Opposition’s reply as he seeks to ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: ... comment on it, Madam Speaker.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you come to question, please?
Mr HENDERSON: Very quickly, Madam Speaker. We are proud of Territory 2030. We are proud of the Territorians who helped us put it together.
Today, I announce Charles Darwin University will have a city campus. We will become a university city, with 600 Territory, national and international students based in the city at a new Business School for business and tourism studies at our waterfront.
Madam Speaker, the opposition hates the waterfront. We built the waterfront and are developing a university city ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Housing - High Cost
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
You said if you did not go into record levels of debt it would cost 1000 jobs. What is the financial cost to the Territory of losing 3500 people over the last two years because of the high cost of housing in this jurisdiction?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a furphy of a question. It is a reframed, repeated mantra from the opposition. They have had explanations time and time again - explanations contained in the budget book last year in the removal of …
Mrs Lambley: We cannot believe what we are hearing.
Mr Elferink: Not 7RAR?
Ms LAWRIE: I remind the opposition, we have created 13 000 jobs for Territorians since the global financial crisis hit as a result of the $4.6bn investment into infrastructure. We are building assets. The deficit comes from assets. The debt arises from assets. We are keeping our operating payments below our revenue. The cloth ears of the member for Port Darwin - he buries his head in the sand; he does not want to hear it, but that is the fact …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! With your known passion for the strict application of standing orders, I ask you ask the Treasurer to answer the question and not go on a frolic of her own.
Ms LAWRIE: It is a classic response …
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, if you can come to the point, please?
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely, directly to the point of the question. We have created 13 000 jobs. It is normal in population trend terms between major projects for there to be nett interstate migration heading into the negative. It is coming back into the positive. If you look at population in Budget Paper 2012-13, it is predicted to rise by 1.6% in 2012-13, and predicted to rise further by 2.2% in the following year ...
Mr Elferink: Not because of jobs growth; it is all in the bush.
Ms LAWRIE: I pick up on that interjection. The man opposite says it is all in the bush. Well, open up your eyes to what a major project does for bringing workers to the Territory. Who do you think will start to fill up the construction camp being constructed by Territory companies as a result of the determination of the Chief Minister to deliver the $34bn Ichthys project which underpins the economic growth of the Territory for decades?
Such is the growth in workers coming to the Territory the government is going to create an opportunity for a workers accommodation site at Marrara. Only the CLP can bury its head in the sand and pretend …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do not know how often I have to say this: Standing Order 113. Could she answer the question about the 3500 jobs lost over the last two years?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point, please?
Ms LAWRIE: His ramblings were a connection of, essentially, nett interstate migration population figures and not jobs. They went to housing. He has completely ignored the investment this government has made in turning off entire new suburbs in Palmerston East, working with Defence Housing to develop not only Lyons but now Muirhead, and putting the equivalent of an entire new suburb into the CBD. This gave developers some certainty and chased down the interstate banks, bringing them to the Territory and saying invest in the NT ...
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Federal Opposition Leader – Plans to Slash GST Revenue
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on the impacts for the Northern Territory of the leader of the federal opposition, Tony Abbott’s plan to slash the Territory’s GST revenue?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I know the opposition members do not want to hear this. They want to pretend The Australian article quoting Tony Abbott will disappear. Well, it will not. It is so serious a threat on the revenue of the Territory. This issue will not disappear. Tony Abbott’s plan for a per capita distribution of GST would see our funding in the Territory cut by $2.2bn. That is more than 40% of our budget wiped out by Tony Abbott. This is equivalent to closing every school, every hospital, every health clinic, and every police station in the Territory, along with removing every teacher, nurse, doctor and police officer in the Territory. Everyone knows that Tony Abbott will completely ignore the Leader of the Opposition. It is embarrassing to listen to the Leader of the Opposition saying: ‘I took tough action; I left a voice message’.
Mr Mills: I have.
Ms LAWRIE: When Nigel Scullion’s predecessor, Grant Tambling, voted against the Territory’s interests on Internet gambling laws he was dumped. Show some spine, Leader of the Opposition. Call Natasha Griggs, call Senator Nigel Scullion, and tell them to stand up to Tony Abbott, issue public statements condemning Tony Abbott’s stance to rip $2.2bn out of the Territory budget.
If the CLP cannot stand up for the Territory on this it will not stand up for the Territory on anything ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Conlan: How many drinks did you have at lunch today? You are slurring your words, Delia, it is obvious.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, resume your seats.
Mr Conlan: She is drunk.
Mr KNIGHT: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, minister, please.
I am going to look for Standing Order 51 to remind you all, because it has been a few weeks:
- 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.
There have been many interruptions in the last few minutes ...
Mr Mills: Badly provoked, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I beg your pardon, Leader of the Opposition?
Mr Mills: Madam Speaker, I said we were badly provoked.
Madam SPEAKER: I may be provoked myself.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex very directly across the Chamber accused me of being drunk. He said: ‘She is drunk’. He said: ‘How many drinks did you have at lunch today?’ He said: ‘You are slurring your words.’ For the record, I have ...
Mr Conlan: I would like to know ...
Ms LAWRIE: I have not imbibed alcohol at all today ...
Mr Conlan: You are slurring your words.
Ms LAWRIE: Retract that offensive slur.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I would like you to withdraw the comments.
Mr Conlan: You did not hear it.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I did not hear it, but other people have obviously heard it. Member for Greatorex, I am sure you will withdraw the comments.
Mr CONLAN: Well, okay. I would like you to prove it, but I will withdraw it anyway.
You are slurring your words.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning!
Mr CONLAN: Okay.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I find the insinuation that I have to prove it highly offensive. I was at a media conference at lunchtime.
Ms Purick: You have accused us on this side of having drinks.
Ms LAWRIE: I have been in parliament all day. That is highly offensive.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: He should withdraw that comment as well.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Resume your seat, please, member for Port Darwin.
______________________
Suspension of Member
Member for Greatorex
Member for Greatorex
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, this has obviously caused great concern to the Treasurer. I would like you to apologise, please.
Mr CONLAN: No, I will not be apologising, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Then pursuant to Standing Order 240A you can leave the Chamber for one hour, thank you very much.
Mr CONLAN: I certainly will not be apologising.
Madam SPEAKER: Leave the Chamber, thank you.
Mr CONLAN: Quite happy to.
______________________
Carbon Tax – Government’s Position
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
We have just heard the Treasurer ask the Leader of the Opposition to call Tony Abbott - he has - Natasha Griggs – he has - Senator Scullion - he has - in relation to Mr Abbott’s comments. For the record, the Leader of the Opposition has publicly denounced the comments by Mr Abbott. Consequently, the question to the Chief Minister is this: Will you now call Mr Snowdon and Ms Crossin and ask them to fulfil the wish of this House and come out against the carbon tax being inflicted on Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, at the time the Commonwealth government called the review for the GST distributions I said this posed the greatest threat to the Territory’s finances since self-government ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is in relation to the carbon tax and the two Labor federal members. Will the Chief Minister comply with Standing Order 113?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there was a considerable preamble to that.
Mr HENDERSON: I point out, with due respect, Madam Speaker, frivolous points of order. I had barely spoken two sentences before he jumped up. He is trying to run down the clock. I urge him to sit in his chair and listen to the response.
This issue poses the greatest threat to Territory finances. I, and the Treasurer, have met with the committee looking into this. We have made presentations and received reports. We contacted Treasurer Swan’s office yesterday. The interim report has been released and, I understand, recommends no changes to horizontal fiscal equalisation. That was the position of our government from day one on this. We have yet to hear any public comments from Tony Abbott retracting the statement he made yesterday ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... that this is the unified position of the Coalition Premiers and makes sense. It is the unified position of the Coalition Premiers, which includes the Leader of the Opposition …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. This question was about the carbon tax and whether the Chief Minister would show any leadership with his federal colleagues and call for the carbon tax to be taken away from the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. The question had a long preamble which the Chief Minister is allowed to respond to, as well as to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Our position on the carbon tax is well and truly on the public record, and we are still advocating against the removal of the diesel fuel subsidies as a result of the carbon tax. I advocated that to the Prime Minister at COAG two weeks ago. The issue here is for Tony Abbott to say, if he was Prime Minister of this nation, the horizontal fiscal equalisation would stay, as opposed to the unified position of the Coalition Premiers.
Someone is telling porkies here. It is either Tony Abbott or the Leader of the Opposition because according to Tony Abbott, the unified position of the Coalition Premiers is GST revenues be split on a per capita basis. This would take 40% of our revenue out, would decimate the economy of the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Katherine – Proposed Prison Farm
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Last year, you released a statement called New Correctional Facilities. It said:
- A new 170-bed prison farm will be built in Katherine and will accommodate low-security offenders with a focus on those from the Katherine region.
It will be the first correctional facility in Australia to be built in partnership with a university.
...
The facility will deliver work, education and vocational training opportunities for inmates and will target community needs and skills shortage areas in the Katherine region.
Programs will be centred on literacy and numeracy, horticulture, agriculture, community maintenance and reparation.
The prison farm will be constructed using a combination of traditional contractors and inmates enrolled in an accredited vocational training program.
It will also provide job opportunities for people in the Katherine region.
Minister, where is it in the budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It provides a synopsis of our plans for the Katherine Prison Farm - 170-bed work camp. In the budget, you will see $20m allocated to new era initiatives that coincide with addressing high numbers. Managing high numbers is a priority at the moment. That creates another 189 beds across the Northern Territory - in Alice Springs at the Barkly Work Camp and at the Darwin correctional centre.
We remain committed to the Katherine Prison Farm and work camp. As outlined in the question, it will be the first time this is developed on a university campus. It is not just about Katherine. We are negotiating with Charles Darwin University around the opportunities on the campus of the CDU rural college. We are also looking at those outreach opportunities in Pine Creek, in the Katherine township, and at Mataranka. I am also entering into quite innovative negotiations around the use of Mataranka Station ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The member asked a very good question. He asked where he would find it in the budget. We do not need a fluff piece idea of what this is all about. We want to know where we will find it in the budget.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. The minister is answering the question. Have you completed your answer, minister?
Mr McCARTHY: No, Madam Speaker, and the interjection was out of order. I start quoting your policy, member for Fong Lim ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Just come to the point, minister.
Mr McCARTHY: Your policy is a disgrace. I was saying in reply to the member for Nelson, it is not in the budget; however, we are addressing the high numbers. The member for Nelson would know that is a high priority because he has participated in much of the innovative research with this government, as opposed to those disgraceful members on the other side. I will not quote Hansard because it really rattles the member for Braitling. In one of his diatribe episodes in the parliament - I happened to take it down and I will use it - it is a disgrace, and the most disadvantaged Territorians, by this opposition ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Tollner: Answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, and also the fact the minister has already answered the question. He said it is not in the budget.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, resume your seat. Minister, if you can come to the point very soon?
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I will use all my time to talk about Corrections and our new era of Corrections. We stand very proud of our initiatives, as opposed to those on the other side with no policy, no plan and an absolute disgrace.
Budget 2012-13 – Reaction by Business and Service Sector
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Budget 2012-13 has been well received by the business and service sector. Can you please update the House and Territorians on some of the reactions to Budget 2012-13?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. There is no doubt our budget, focused on gearing up for Territory growth and supporting Territory families, has been broadly accepted and received a positive response.
Despite being a tight budget due to that severe decline in GST revenue, but responsible, it is responding to need. It has been welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce, deeming it responsible under the circumstances. The Chamber of Commerce welcomed the infrastructure investment and did not support a surplus at all costs. I quote Chris Young on ABC TV news:
- Budget 2012 is probably the best sort of budget you could expect to get with what are the limited resources available to the Territory. We are glad to see that they are continuing
to spend rather than just pulling it all back and saying: ‘Well, you know, we will go into a surplus, or try and go into a surplus’.
- The CLP are totally out of step with the business sector. Their pursuit of a surplus right now would send the Territory backwards, putting the handbrake on the economy.
The Master Builders Association Executive Director, Graham Kemp, has welcomed the infrastructure spending for keeping jobs here until the big projects truly kick in.
The social services sector has also welcomed Budget 2012-13, a budget delivering record funding for core services and continuing concessions to support families. They also recognise the value of the community sectors in delivering services for Territorians.
The Council of Social Service welcomed our government’s commitment to increasing the pay of community service workers as part of the national equal pay case. With the first $1m allocated in Budget 2012-13, NTCOSS stated:
- There is recognition in the budget of the amazing work done by people in our sector.
This provided the sector with the certainty it needed to move forward and continue to grow important service delivery for Territorians.
Budget 2012-13 is fundamentally a responsible budget. It is focused on gearing up for growth for our very bright economic future and, importantly, it ensures all Territorians benefit from our growing economy.
Carbon Tax – Government Position
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On 4 May 2011, this parliament passed a motion that called for a 20-year exemption to Labor’s carbon tax in the Northern Territory. That motion was forwarded to the Australian parliament. Since that time, Chief Minister, you have said nothing. Today, former New South Wales Premier, Kristina Keneally, said Prime Minister Gillard should abandon or wind back the carbon tax and, in the case of the Territory, it is a tax that will limit Territory development and increase the cost of living.
Will you now stand up for the Northern Territory and join Kristina Keneally and the Country Liberal Party to fight against Julia Gillard’s carbon tax?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a pathetic response from the Leader of the Opposition. This is an opportunity to tell Territorians about the great vision the Country Liberals would have in government, and all he wants to do is play around with what is happening in Canberra. I have said before, and I will say again, I continue to hold the line that the Commonwealth government should not be removing the diesel fuel rebates for the Northern Territory for road users, aviation and the mining industry. I have made that very clear. I have been on the public record, I have written to the Prime Minister, I have spoken to the Prime Minister and lobbied the Prime Minister.
At the end of the day, this tax is being applied by the Commonwealth of Australia. On 25 August, Territorians are going to the polls to decide who they trust to deliver jobs in the Northern Territory, great schools, fantastic health facilities, a great lifestyle, and opportunities for their kids. That is what the election will be about.
The lack of vision by the Leader of the Opposition and the CLP is breathtaking. All we had from the Leader of the Opposition today in his budget reply – it was like the old song, 27 questions: there were 27 questions and there is nothing - no policies. There was an opportunity for 27 great policy initiatives from the CLP on how it would improve health services, deliver better education and create more jobs, and all we had was a political rant from the Leader of the Opposition ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The Chief Minister was asked whether he would join with Kristina Keneally and oppose the carbon tax.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you come to the point, please?
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Fong Lim really does run the show. I have some advice for the member for Fong Lim: do the deed now. Do the deed and put this bloke out of his misery ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Do not try to slide in after an election ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: If you have any backbone you would do the deed now ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister! Have you finished your response, Chief Minister?
Mr HENDERSON: No, I have not, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you just come to the point, please?
Mr HENDERSON: I will come to the point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: I am on the public record that the federal government should not be removing the diesel fuel rebate to the Northern Territory ...
Mr Elferink: Is that it? That is your gift?
Mr HENDERSON: That is very clearly my position.
Mr Elferink: What about fighting for Territorians?
Mr HENDERSON: I continue to advocate for that position very strongly.
Budget 2012-13 – Effect of Leader of Opposition’s Budget Reply on Territorians
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on how the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply would affect the Northern Territory economy and the lives of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, absolutely the worst budget reply ever. No ideas, no suggestions, just the standard CLP line to create commissions, committees, boards, task forces, investigate things further, and get back with a plan and at a time of its choosing. Will that be any time soon? Will you fess up to Territorians ahead of the election, or will you continue to duck, weave and hide and be a policy-free zone?
This really was the CLP’s opportunity to be up-front with Territorians; to outline its costed policies and present its plans to Territorians. All the Leader of the Opposition outlined is that he wants to change the direction of the Territory and send it backwards. With the Territory entering the most significant phase of economic growth and prosperity in its history, the Leader of the Opposition wants to get his hands on the steering wheel, pull the handbrake, and do a U-turn.
He stands up spouting doom and gloom. That Territory families will never have to pay back government debt is a furphy he is running. If, when the GFC hit, this government had not provided a major boost to infrastructure spending - more than doubling it - to boost and protect jobs, we could have easily continued delivering the surpluses we had done as we had a track record for eight budget surpluses in a row. However, if we had done that and simply paid back all our debt, every Territorian would have ultimately paid the price, with massive job losses and a flatline economy.
Your commitment to return to surplus will see funding ripped out of schools and hospitals, jobs cut, and will drive up the cost of living because you will rip out that subsidy from Power and Water. You ignore the wishes of business and you want to cut infrastructure spending. You ignore families who genuinely want jobs.
The Territory government will continue to drive the economy forward and to support jobs. We will continue to provide high-quality health, education, policing and housing. We will continue to help our Territory businesses gear up for the growth of the major projects we landed. We will continue to support Territory families with the best concessions in the nation.
It is time for the Leader of the Opposition to stop hiding. We know you have a bit of form hiding in a restaurant for hours on end. Stop hiding; come out and reveal your plan to Territorians. You have no leadership and no policies.
Work Experience – Student Assessment and OH&S Requirements
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
In response to the work safe legislation passed last year, your department has decided that every business willing to take on work experience students must be assessed by a staff member of the student’s school. What staff at schools have the training to carry out the assessment and the time to do it? Already, six schools have been affected. How many students have had their work experience suspended? Work experience programs have been running for many years. Why have the OH&S requirements not been sorted out? Can you highlight the section in the work health and safety legislation that has forced these requirements onto schools, or is it a change of policy or procedure that has left your department unprepared and students disappointed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his important question. Work experience and different structured work placement are important elements of what students do, particularly in the vocations they might choose.
We have signed up to national uniform occupational health and safety reforms. Every parent expects a duty of care on the part of schools, government and the department for students undertaking work experience. We live in a very litigious society and we have a duty of care. I make no apology for trying to ensure students are safe when they are on these placements.
You have raised this issue with me before; you are raising it with me again today. It is an important issue, and I acknowledge there are six schools where the assessments are outstanding. I cannot give you a number of students, but I have given the message to the department that this situation is to be resolved quickly. I am assured by the department that it will be and, by the end of this school year, no student will miss out on their work experience.
It is a good issue. It is an important issue you have raised. I thank you for raising it with me and we will resolve it.
Building and Construction Industry – Slowdown
Mr GILES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
My question is to the Minister for Construction, the minister who is also building prisons in a town near you. You say your government has sent the Territory into record levels of debt to support jobs in the building and construction industry. Can you tell us why this sector stalled before the GFC? Is it because of your failure to release land in a timely fashion?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in response to that question let us talk about the four record infrastructure budgets this government has brought down and its relationship to keeping the economy going, preserving jobs and creating jobs. The Treasurer has outlined this time and time again. If the member for Braitling wants to take us pre-2008, then let us talk about 2006 to 2008 with the infrastructure budget that was gearing the Territory up for growth as well. Let us talk about where the private sector, where the ConocoPhillips oil and gas project had kicked in ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question was: can you tell us why the sector stalled in the first place?
Madam SPEAKER: The minister is responding to the question. I will listen to a bit more.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I started with the story about the record infrastructure budget. I do not know where he gets the word ‘stalled’ from, but the Territory has been through a number of growth periods. The growth period between 2006 and 2008 was a considerable one. It was also stimulated by what the Treasurer has planned for this budget by injection of private sector spending. Let us talk about these initiatives. It was before my time, I was doing other things, but the Bonaparte gas pipeline, the waterfront construction, economic growth across the region, the Alcan G3 expansion, the GEMCO expansion - these are examples of major construction projects I have been advised of by members of parliament who were driving that cycle of construction at the time. So, member for Braitling, the question is a little ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of clarification, Madam Speaker. Are you saying you did not need to go into record levels of debt to support the construction industry?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. Minister, come to the point as soon as possible, please.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I have made my point clearly. The member for Braitling continues to confuse himself with his own semantics. He is hell-bent on making mischief. He does not want to hear the story. Member for Blain, you are a schoolie; get your troops in order, get these kids in order. They are not good listeners. They do not comprehend. I would like to test him on the NAPLAN score because he continues to confuse himself and confuse me in the process ...
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your response?
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, resume your seat.
____________________
Suspension of Member – Member for Braitling
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, the minister has completed his answer.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I would be very happy to do a NAPLAN test with Hector the Road Safety Cat. I would be more than happy.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, are you aware that was a frivolous point of order?
Mr GILES: I was not aware.
Madam SPEAKER: It was, that is right. Leave the Chamber, thank you, for one hour pursuant to Standing Order 240A
____________________
Budget 2012-13 – Manageable Deficit Measures
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Budget 2012-13 is a responsible one. It protects jobs by having a manageable deficit. Are you aware of any governments that have taken an alternative approach?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It is instructive to look at what Liberal governments are doing. On the same day, yesterday, I handed down the Territory budget the Victorian Liberals were handing down their budget. Like every government in Australia, the Victorian government had stepped up its spending on infrastructure to keep Victorians in jobs to try to soften the impact of the global financial crisis. They decided to plunge the cutting axe out there across Victoria and to create a surplus. How did the Liberal government in Victoria manage to hand down a surplus? What does it take? Remember, the CLP here is promising to do this. What does it take?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Well, yesterday, the Victorians ..
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: He is shouting interjections, Madam Speaker, it is very hard.
Mr Elferink: Get used to it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Opposition members!
Ms LAWRIE: Yesterday, in its budget cuts, the Victorian government sacked 4200 public servants. It cancelled the first home buyer building scheme. It put up all government fees, charges and fines by 15%. It cancelled its version of a back to school payment. It slashed its jobs training budget and delayed the building of the hospital it had promised - and all this from a government that was elected on a promise to cut the cost of living.
On radio this morning, the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, committed to returning to surplus within the next term should he win government. When asked how he would do this, his only response was he would do what conservative governments do. Now, we know what he meant. He would sack public servants, delay the Palmerston Hospital, cancel the Royal Darwin Hospital upgrades, put up fees for families and businesses, and scrap family subsidies such as the Back to School Payment Scheme. He would drive up the cost of living for Territorians.
Bagot Community – Permanent Police Presence
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In 2008, your government committed to funding for the establishment of a permanent police post from 2009-10 in the Bagot community, with four additional police officers and two auxiliaries to be recruited for the positions. The post would be staffed around hot spot, times as determined by police. The same commitment was given in 2009-10 and, I believe, in a debate in this House in 2011. Can you direct me to where I can find that police post in the budget and, if it is not there, why have you broken your election commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Fong Lim is correct, the police post has not been built and there are reasons for that. Our commitment to policing Bagot is unparalleled. We are employing more Aboriginal Community Police Officers than ever before across the Northern Territory. We are seeing those Aboriginal Community Police Officers tracked on a pathway through to becoming fully-sworn police officers.
I am very proud of the work our police force has done to significantly increase the number of fully-sworn Aboriginal police officers and ACPOs across the Northern Territory.
In relation to a policing strategy for Bagot, those ACPOs and fully-sworn officers are not sitting in an office, they are at Bagot. There are regular patrols through there and a real focus on that.
Yes, we have not built the police post, but we have significantly increased policing in Bagot, and significantly increased the commitment to more Indigenous people within our police force to police these areas. I put that on the public record, and also say we know one of the areas the CLP would cut would be to close all police posts across the Northern Territory. We know the Leader of the Opposition is opposed to those. They will face the axe if the Leader of the Opposition was ever to become the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory. We would see the police force, along with all other government agencies, starved of funds. The recruitment freeze would be back on, as it was on for nearly five years under a CLP government.
Our track record of over 400 additional police officers over this term of government has been unparalleled since self-government, with more police throughout the Northern Territory. That also includes the Bagot community.
Budget 2012-13 – Affordable Healthcare
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Henderson government is delivering a responsible budget to continue our record investment in health. Can you please update the House, and Territorians, on what Budget 2012-13 delivers to support Territory families with affordable and quality healthcare?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am going to speak very slowly so the member for Fong Lim can understand. He is intelligence-challenged, Madam Speaker ...
Mr Tollner: I do not think it is just me.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr VATSKALIS: Our government continues the record spending in health. Our government has made an investment in health and will continue to do so. This year, a record of $550m is committed for a Top End and Central Australia hospital network, $335m for Royal Darwin Hospital, $147m for Alice Springs Hospital, $33m for Katherine, $24m for Gove, $14m for Tennant Creek Hospital, and $10m for services to Palmerston Hospital, the hospital I suspect the Leader of the Opposition is going to stop, exactly the same as the Baillieu government did in Victoria. The warning bells have already been sounded. He questions why we are doing it so quickly, why we need it, and says we should reconsider the health budget.
A total of $111m is allocated for continuous upgrades to our hospitals. There is $22m for expansion of the emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital; $24m already spent on the new emergency department in Alice Springs; $40m to continue the safety program with fire protection, air-conditioning and remediation work; $3.7m for Tennant Creek Hospital for the emergency department; the short-stay facility at Royal Darwin Hospital; and $7.7m for Katherine to be exactly the same as Royal Darwin Hospital.
Since 2002, we have employed 780 nurses and 255 doctors. I was concerned by the statement of the Leader of the Opposition today when he said anyone who is being paid more than $110 000 will get the chop ...
Mr Tollner: He did not. That is misleading. That is absolute rubbish.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, that means most of our nurses, our midwives, our doctors, closing down the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr VATSKALIS: ... because these people ...
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, minister.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, the minister is clearly misleading the House and I ask you to get him back to the question in hand.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you can come to the health budget, please?
Mr VATSKALIS: I am. It is very important about the budget, because ...
Madam SPEAKER: If you could just come to the health budget, please?
Mr VATSKALIS: ... the statement was clear. Many people here heard exactly the same. He said very clearly he will look at everybody paid more than $110 000. That means our teachers, our doctors, our nurses, our specialists and our police. We have made a significant investment in health and have received dividends. There is a four-and-a-half year improvement in life expectancy of Aboriginal women; the 37% Indigenous infant mortality rate is going down ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Budget 2012-13 - Flagstaff Park Allocation
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Last year in estimates, in relation to Flagstaff Park, you said:
- That $6m allocation ...
...
... is now allocated in 2012-13, and that is specifically for the Myilly Point Park ....
In fact, you repeat that promise on three other occasions in the estimates process. Can you direct me to where I can find that $6m in this year’s budget and, if it is not there, can you explain to this House why the promise has been broken?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government remains committed to green open spaces right around the Darwin peninsula. Myilly Park is one of those spaces, in conjunction with the old hospital site. Of course, the member for Port Darwin is very interested in this, and I commend that. However, you will not find it in the budget papers. That answers it succinctly; however …
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: Let them interject, let them bellow and roar.
We remain committed. Being good economic liberalists as you are, you would understand this is what I call - and what I have recommended to the Chief Minister - as the Bennelong Point of Darwin. It is absolutely sensational land. It is high-end land, and the government’s plan is, and will always be, to use that area for 20% residential …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: What have we done? We have engaged in very active and comprehensive community consultation. We have talked to stakeholder groups about the commemorative nature of the old hospital site, and we are in communication with three well-acknowledged groups across the Northern Territory. We have looked at Myilly Park, as well as the old hospital site, and we are planning to develop that to what it is: a brilliant piece of land that will support the growth and development of iconic parts of this city as green open space.
However, we want to get it right. We are going to use economic rationalism from the Liberals, and we are going to sell it when the time is right. We will develop that 20% when the market has returned to deliver the best return for Territorians, the best return for the taxpayers, so we can do that development site justice.
Member for Port Darwin, that is the answer and will remain the answer. I can appreciate your frustration, but these are very tough economic times and members on this side have all taken hits. We have all worked really hard and diligently as a team to deliver a responsible budget in tough times. I would say to members opposite, you are part of this because you are Territorians, but be aware, it will be developed, as will the old hospital site ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr McCARTHY: The member is chafing at the bit to get to his feet …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, we best hear what the member for Port Darwin has to say next.
Supplementary Question
Budget 2012-13 - Flagstaff Park Allocation
Budget 2012-13 - Flagstaff Park Allocation
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Madam Speaker, I ask on behalf of the people of Port Darwin - since the promise was broken in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and now has been broken again – when, and on what date, will you make good on the promise you have repeatedly broken?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I respond on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory. For those members opposite who deny climate change, who deny the GFC, who deny Territorians jobs with an economic rationalist approach to slash and burn, it will be developed when the market returns and when that land realises the return it deserves. That will come, member for Port Darwin. That will occur and you will be proud of the results, just as this government will be.
Budget 2012-13 – Delivery of Quality Education and Training
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please inform the House how Budget 2012-13 continues the Territory government’s delivery of quality and affordable education and training in support of Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. For Education and Training, there is a record budget of $950m in Budget 2012-13. When we came to government in 2001, the budget for education and training was $350m, so we have almost trebled the budget in that time. In the budget books it is shown separately - $850m for school and early childhood, etcetera, and employment and training now resides with the Treasurer in her portfolio. Amalgamate them and it is a record $950m budget. We have invested well over the years in infrastructure and teachers, with over 400 extra teachers.
Reflecting on what the Minister for Health said before, every one of our principals earns more than $110 000 a year, and probably our assistant principals. Is the Leader of the Opposition putting each one of our principals, assistant principals and lead teachers on notice because they earn more than $110 000? He needs to answer that. He needs to talk about that at the Australian Education Union conference in Darwin this Saturday; it will be very interesting.
We are investing in upgrades - $246m in total; there are 13 remaining. We continue our investment in special schools with $9.8m: $2m for Palmerston Senior College; $2.75m for Taminmin, brought forward from 2013-14; and upgrades and expansion of facilities at Henbury, Kintore Street and Acacia Hill. The design work for the $10m school at Bellamack will commence in 2012, with construction planned for 2013-14. That project has moved out a bit because of the factors the Minister for Construction mentioned before, but it is in our forward budget and will be accomplished.
Great teachers - I mentioned over 400 - actually 465 extra teachers since 2001. We have invested that GST money in teachers. It has not been profligate spending; it has been an investment. I am proud of that investment. Fifty specialist teachers, a further 85 teacher aides, and more truancy officers coming on-stream bringing the total to 30 across the Territory. There is $1.56m for remote teacher recruitment, selection and support; Centres of Excellence in our schools; Clontarf and Girls Academy; positive behaviour initiatives; Families as First Teachers; and Australian curriculum.
I believe we have also spent wisely in this budget in investing in a reengagement centre and positive learning centres.
Madam Speaker, education is our top priority as a government.
Katherine - Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
Can you please explain how the $6m Katherine Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre will open its doors for business when the $850 000 it needs to operate is missing from this year’s budget? When will you commit to the required capital funding promised by Clare Martin in 2005 to complete Stage 2? Will you commit to the funding required, or will you be expecting the board to sign a lease and trade insolvent?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, because of the venom at the end from the wannabe member for Katherine, I will take the question from the wannabe member for Katherine ...
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: ... he has a few problems on the home front. How is JJ going? Give him my regards. Give him my regards next time you are debating over the board table ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Minister, can you direct your comments through the Chair, please, and come to the question?
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, that iconic regional cultural precinct the Northern Territory government has delivered, in partnership with the Katherine Town Council and the Australian government will be ready to open in June - I do not know where the member for Katherine gets his figures - that $800 000 operating budget is a great bid, mate, but is way out of the ballpark. You do not know what you are doing. You understand little about running these facilities.
At the moment we are working on two budgets. There is one considerable budget for the opening, where we will celebrate with the people of Katherine and the region. Everyone is focused on that, and perhaps you might get an invitation. We are working on the recurrent budget as well, which comes from within the Arts and Museums output.
These jobs are on the go. The construction is still under way. We are about to do the landscaping around the outside of the building, with some final fit-out because the board has made some changes.
It is an iconic project. It is celebrated by the people from Katherine and the region. It is, once again, turned into a negative by the wannabe member for Katherine who is trying to grandstand in this House, and who has not been preselected ...
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: … and continues to interject.
Mr Westra van Holthe: Yes, because you will not answer the question.
Mr McCARTHY: I have answered the question, Madam Speaker.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the minister has answered the question then he should sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, you can sit down. Minister, have you completed your answer?
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker.
Budget 2012-13 – Investing in Central Australia
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can the minister please tell the House how Budget 2012-13 is investing in Central Australia and supporting Centralian families and businesses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question about Central Australia. He has a history with Central Australia, much more than other people in this House. It was interesting, as the member for Arafura has picked up on, there was absolutely no mention in the Leader of the Opposition’s budget speech about Central Australia. It is quite obvious what they think about Central Australia. There was nothing about the bush.
Turning to the answer, I am very pleased as the Minister for Central Australia to speak about some of the highlights in Budget 2012-13 for Central Australians. As my colleague, the Minister for Health, has already stated in the House, there is $147m for the Alice Springs Hospital as part of a record health budget. It is these types of legacy infrastructure projects that will do Alice Springs and Central Australia good over many more years to come. There is $28m for Central Australian roads, and $10.6m to boost Correctional Services and infrastructure in Alice Springs.
As the Treasurer said in her budget speech yesterday, it was a tough budget but a responsible budget. It is great to see we are continuing, unlike Victoria, to support Territory families through many concessions and subsidies across health, education and training, particularly to offset children and power costs, and to support seniors as well.
Work on the new Kilgariff subdivision will continue. I want to reassure the town council and our Deputy Mayor, Mr Brendan Heenan, that this government’s commitment is absolutely 110%, with Budget 2012-13 providing $3.5m for headworks on top of the $10m in works due for completion this year. Again, I would like to congratulate the Minister for Construction on this visionary project and the work done with the Enquiry by Design process. This is a great outcome for Alice Springs, with land that will stand us in good stead over the next 20 to 30 years.
We are continuing the $3.9m redevelopment of the Greatorex Building for the new Alice Springs Police Station, and $1m goes towards the upgrades at the Alice Springs Youth Hub. I was absolutely astounded to hear the member for Braitling yesterday talk about the Youth Hub and if they were in government they would dismantle it. They would tear it down; they would not continue with the Youth Hub or the Youth Action Plan. Given the issues we have in Alice Springs with antisocial behaviour and youth, it bemuses me that a local member in Alice Springs would even think of that, would even think about dismantling the Youth Hub and defunding it. It is obvious he is out of touch with his electorate. He spends more time in other electorates. He needs to get back into his electorate and get in touch with reality.
Madam Speaker, the Youth Hub is buzzing. There are many non-government and government organisations working there now and they are getting great outcomes for the community of Alice Springs. So, a great budget for Central Australia, and I again thank the Treasurer for the budget.
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