2011-11-21
REDIRECTION OF QUESTIONS
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, in the absence of the member for Arnhem, the Chief Minister will be answering questions in relation to Indigenous Development, Women’s Policy, and Statehood; and I will be answering questions in relation to Local Government, Regional Development, and Tourism.
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Members Behaviour in the Chamber
and Role of the Chair
Members Behaviour in the Chamber
and Role of the Chair
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before calling questions, I would like to reacquaint all members with Chapter 23 of standing orders and the role of the Chair in maintaining order, particularly in Question Time.
Standing Order 239 provides:
If any Member has -
- they may be named by the Speaker …
Members are also reminded that the Speaker may order a member to withdraw from the Chamber for one hour under Standing Order 240A, and that no debate is allowed.
Today we commence seven long sitting days, including seven long Question Times, and I advise all members that I will have no hesitation in applying Standing Order 240A, where I have called a member to order, warned the member, and the member persists with disorderly behaviour.
If upon the member returning to the Chamber the member continues in a disorderly manner, then I will also be considering whether to ask them to leave under 240A or, in fact, naming them.
The Chair has historically displayed a high level of tolerance for robust debate; however, behaviour which flouts standing orders is unfair. I trust members will support enforcement of the standing orders.
I also remind honourable members that questions need to be in order.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Annual Report and Quarterly Crime Statistics - Tabling
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On the last day of the last parliamentary sittings, you said:
- The police annual report will be tabled during these sittings of parliament, which will have comprehensive crime statistics in them, so absolutely open and transparent.
So much for your openness and transparency, and contrary to your promise, the police annual report was not tabled and your government has stopped releasing quarterly crime statistics. Why is your government covering up crime?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, is this the best question the Leader of the Opposition has to ask, Madam Speaker, with two weeks of sittings ahead of us?
I can absolutely assure the House that the police annual report will be tabled this week; I believe it will be tabled today and I will check that. The issue here is for the Police Commissioner to provide me with a copy of the annual report; that has now occurred, and it will be tabled. We are checking with the Tabled Papers Office now, and it will certainly be tabled this week.
United States Defence Presence – Integration into Darwin Community
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Prime Minister Gillard and President Obama have announced joint operations and further US troop rotations in the north. Can you please advise what the Northern Territory government will be doing to ensure the involvement of these troops in the Darwin community goes as smoothly as possible?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. It was a wonderful opportunity last week to thank the President of the United States for choosing to visit Darwin. He had to go to Canberra - heads of state have to go to Canberra - but he chose to come to Darwin. It was a very significant and historic day for the people of this city.
I thank everyone who was involved in arranging his visit. There was an enormous logistical effort across government. Our police were responsible for all the security operations around the President. Hundreds of public servants and police officers worked for weeks in advance of this visit, and it went like clockwork. Advice from senior US personnel was that it was a world-class effort.
I thank the people of Darwin for taking this announcement in their stride. There has been very little negative comment about increased training between US Marines and our Australian Defence Force personnel based in the Northern Territory. This rotation will start at 250 but will get to around 2500 Marines with a Marine Air-Ground Task Force being rotated through Darwin, and joint exercises with our troops on a six-monthly basis.
I have spoken with and written to Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, about setting up a joint task force; the Northern Territory government, the Australian government and the US government to put together a task force to plan for the integration of these troops into our community to ensure all the infrastructure and social issues are identified and managed as this goes through. I do not believe it will have a major impact on our day-to-day lives in the city of Darwin. The troops will be accommodated at Robertson Barracks. For most of the time they are here, those Marines will be on exercise at Mt Bundy, Delamere or the Bradshaw Field Training Area.
It was a very significant and historical day for the President of the United States to visit Darwin. He did say he wanted to come back with Michelle and the kids for a holiday. I suppose time will tell whether he does that and, if he does do that, we will give him an amazing welcome and provide him with a holiday of a lifetime. It was a fantastic day for our City of Darwin. I thank everyone who was involved in a successful visit. Thank you also to the thousands of Darwin residents who came out to cheer the President.
INPEX – Final Investment Decision
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
There have been some conflicting reports on when INPEX is likely to make its final investment decision. Can you update the House and Territorians on any briefings you have had regarding INPEX and their plans?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no confusion at all around the INPEX final investment decision. INPEX has been saying for some time that it is targeting the end of the year for the final investment decision and I am advised that is still the case. The announcement on Friday to the Tokyo Stock Exchange stated that whilst the target remained for FID by the end of the year, INPEX was less confident about making that time frame and the decision might slip a few weeks into January. So there is nothing to see here. That decision will still be made. This is an extraordinarily complex project to pull together for a final investment decision for a project around the $30bn mark and there is nothing to be seen here.
Last sittings, the opposition was starting to segue into a series of questions about all the problems Darwin will have with this INPEX decision. We know it is trying to find a negative in there somewhere. Well, it is not supported by the majority of Territorians, Leader of the Opposition, there is nothing to see here. The advice from INPEX is that it is still targeting the end of this year, but it may slip into the first few weeks into January. It is a very exciting announcement for Darwin and for the Northern Territory, once again showing what a bright, optimistic future this place has, with great opportunities for Territory kids with a world-class industry to work in and for Territory businesses to be part of, a world-class, world-scale project. With the advent of building the marine supply base to service and supply all this offshore activity, the Territory has a very bright future and I am very proud that INPEX will be part of the bright future in Darwin and in the Northern Territory.
Major Projects – Impact on Economy
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
The Northern Territory economy is predicted to grow strongly over the coming years. Can you please inform the House what effect major projects will have on the Territory’s economic future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy. As she knows, our economic future is bright, and this means Territorians can look forward to an exciting future for their families. Despite the doom and gloom merchants opposite, the Territory is predicted to outperform most Australian economies over the coming years. While the shadow Treasurer goes around absurdly comparing the Territory economy to Greece, I am waiting for his announcement of his austerity measures packages. We know that is CLP code for slashing public service jobs and cutting back on services that Territorians quite rightly demand and expect.
In stark contrast to the bizarre shadow Treasurer, Moody’s, the ratings agency, agree that our debt is at a manageable level, and rate the Territory’s economy with a stable outlook at AA1. Meanwhile, Deloitte Access Economics predict us to have the third-highest rate of growth of any Australian jurisdiction and the lowest unemployment rate through the next five years. This prediction does not fully factor in the financial investment decision on the INPEX project. This economic prosperity will mean more jobs and better lifestyle opportunities for Territorians. Our government has worked hard to build a sustainable economy, supporting jobs and prosperity. We will continue with our efforts to take advantage of the opportunities that keep Territorians in jobs.
If we had listened to the CLP, our economy would be heading backwards with unemployment skyrocketing. If we had listened to them, we would have slashed the capital spend post-GFC. In stark contrast, we are positioning Darwin and the Territory as the northern Australian gas hub to drive more jobs to support industries through the construction of that all-important marine supply base. This is a pivotal project that will play a key role in transforming our economy into the future. It is estimated that over the next five years $1bn will be spent on gas exploration offshore. With projects like the INPEX Ichthys field, Sunrise, and Prelude FLNG, the Territory will continue to enjoy growth as an LNG hub.
With our onshore mining investment attraction strategy we have seen exploration investment reach record levels with $166.7m invested last year alone. That is an increase of 12% on the $148.4m we saw leveraged into the Territory in 2009. We are the only jurisdiction to increase investment in mining exploration during the GFC, significant efforts being paid off through the efforts of this government and ministers. For Territorians, this means more jobs and more opportunities.
United States Defence Presence –
Assistance for Territory Businesses
Assistance for Territory Businesses
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
What are you personally - not the federal parliament, not Barack Obama - doing to help struggling Territory businesses capitalise on the American build-up here? If it assists the new minister, I seek leave to table the Country Liberals Business Policy.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a welcome question from the shadow minister for Business. I will speak to his strange policy in a moment.
In relation to the announcement by the Australian Prime Minister and the US President, there are real supply, logistic and maintenance opportunities for prepositioning of equipment that will require maintenance. I have already had a series of discussions with the Defence logistics people within the Department of Business and Employment who focus on business and industry development.
We have prepositioned and created a strong foundation with the Defence Support Hub. I spoke earlier today about the opportunities the Defence Support Hub and the land supplied there has for Territory businesses. I have had some initial discussions with Brigadier McLachlan regarding the value-add we can have for business, logistics and maintenance when opportunities exist for maintenance off base as opposed to locking up business inside base. We are already strategically positioning ourselves for the very real business opportunities.
In relation to the bizarre attempt at business policy by the CLP, they say it is a plan to support business, but all it does is create more red tape. They say they want to cut bureaucracy by establishing six new committees; creating a council, a group, an authority, a Cabinet subcommittee and two task forces. If you step that out, you need the Cabinet subcommittee talking to a business department, talking to a ministerial advisory council, talking to a small business task force, which would then seek input from a red tape task force, which would then liaise with an employment and training authority in conjunction with a Defence liaison group. Are you for real? You have to be kidding.
They fail to say who business would talk to. They concede that their policy document is not yet fit to be taken to the electorate. We know the CLP is divided on leadership and it has some challenging issues. The so-called business policy is a result of the fact that it is a complete rabble, and it is divided.
New Abattoir – Alleged Government Subsidy
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Recently, plans were announced to build an abattoir south of Noonamah. Whilst I support an abattoir, an issue was raised in the NT News on 10 November which said that AAco, the company putting forward this proposal, wants the government to spend $35m on support infrastructure such as roads and sewerage. Considering the government knocked back a similar request for funding by a company wanting to open an abattoir in Katherine last year, and considering developers normally pay for infrastructure, is the government going to subsidise this development to the tune of $35m, or is the story in the NT News incorrect?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a good question from the honourable member. The story in the NT News was incorrect. I do not know where that story came from. I am not blaming the NT News. It obviously reported accurately what was portrayed to it.
We will give AAco every assistance. We want to see this project up and running, with planning approvals, and working through all the industry issues. There is no consideration by government to commit $35m to this particular project. It needs to be funded by industry. They are talking to the federal government about a range of industry programs. Obviously it is our responsibility for other areas, such as roads and what have you, but there is no specific proposal to government in regard to that number. That was the first time I had seen that number.
Infrastructure Program – Securing Major Projects
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Can you please inform the House how the government’s infrastructure program is positioning the Territory to secure major projects?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question and her interest in what both the Chief Minister and the Treasurer have outlined; that is, the century of Northern Australia.
We have heard time and time again in this House about major projects that are coming online in the Northern Territory. These projects do not happen by chance; they happen through the efforts of a strategic team, with very strong leadership and a united approach, not only in attracting major projects, but also securing them and supporting them. When we talk about supporting and securing major projects, we can talk about INPEX and a marine supply base that will not only capture onshore opportunities but also offshore, and the developments in our resources industry across the Northern Territory - a whole-of-Territory approach to development.
The government understands these major projects can be many years in the making, therefore, there is an interim period to look after with strategic decision-making related to record infrastructure budgets, to keep jobs, to keep the Territory working, and also to deliver important social and public infrastructure that has ongoing benefits for generations of Territorians.
We saw a record infrastructure budget in 2010-11, and we have seen another very significant infrastructure budget in 2011-12, with $1.5bn in a program that supports 3000 jobs. It is about projects and creating jobs. It is also about saving jobs and investing in infrastructure to support Territorians.
I am proud to outline to the House just a few of these projects across the Northern Territory: the new Nemarluk School in Darwin; a new multipurpose hall at Barkly College in Tennant Creek - I was recently talking to constituents about their plans for using that incredible infrastructure; the Kalkaringi School; the Alice Springs Hospital emergency department; $20m for headworks to support the development of Palmerston East in that record land release; the new Berrimah Fire Station; a new police station at Yarralin – which our local member was very proud to show me recently, as well as the development of aerodrome infrastructure; the new Palmerston water park; and sports facilities for netball, AFL, Rugby League, soccer and tennis.
It is not only building infrastructure, it is also about building skills within the Territory. Our construction industry keeps Territory workers employed; it keeps bread on the table, and provides opportunities for these businesses to then participate in the major projects that are coming online.
Darwin to Mandorah Ferry Services – Tender Process
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
In the middle of the buy local campaign, your government dumped a local business, Sea Cat Ferries and Charters, as the preferred tenderer for the Darwin to Mandorah ferry service and replaced it with the Sydney-based company, Fast Ferries. Why did your government select an interstate business ahead of a local one to provide a uniquely Darwin service?
ANSWER
Oh dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker, the member for Port Darwin – uh, oh! - gets it wrong again. Let me make it very clear at the outset: when he says ‘government’, government ministers do not make decisions in regard to contracts …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Inspector Clouseau over there should know - and if he wants a briefing on the procurement process, happy to give him a briefing on exactly what that process is and where the decisions are made.
There has been no final decision as to who will be awarded that tender. It would be totally inappropriate for me to canvass the issues around that particular tender while contract negotiations are still taking place. No decision has yet been made as to which company will provide that service.
Skilled Territory Workforce
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
The boom in major projects on the horizon for the Territory will have significant labour requirements. Can the Treasurer please explain how this government has acted to keep skilled workers in the Territory so we can take full advantage of this boom?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. We are heading in the right direction with a bright economic future. We are predicted to have the nation’s lowest unemployment rate through the next five years. This comes off a strong foundation of 10 years of sustained economic growth, with the Territory now positioned to take advantage of the boom in major projects led, obviously, by the significant INPEX project at the Ichthys field.
Since coming to government we have positioned business well. We have made tax cuts to support jobs to foster business growth, creating something like 28 000 new jobs since 2001. Our unemployment figures have slightly adjusted up to 4.1%; the second-lowest in the nation. Through the GFC, at a time of global economic uncertainty, this government knew it needed to focus on protecting and creating jobs to provide sustained growth in our skilled workforce. We recognised the impact of the GFC would hurt locally and we acted early. We doubled our infrastructure spend to keep that all-important construction sector in jobs growth. More than $4.6bn has been spent over successive budget cycles to support the infrastructure spend to support jobs in the construction sector.
This strategy has been embraced and welcomed by industry and employment data is showing that our actions did work. The strategy is keeping Territorians in jobs, positioning ourselves to take full advantage of major projects on the horizon. More than 15 500 jobs have been created since the GFC. As a government, we are focused on growing our local workforce. With connections already here in the Territory, our locals are less likely to leave and take their skills with them.
Training and apprenticeships provide fantastic opportunities for Territorians. In this year’s budget alone we are spending $21.8m on training and apprentices. While our focus is on training our local workforce and retaining those all-important labour skills here, the demands will be so great on workforce requirements that we do need a skilled migration role in helping businesses meet their labour force needs.
Regional Migration Agreements, an initiative under the Gillard government, were announced as part of the 2011-12 budget in Canberra. Our government is working very closely with the federal Immigration department, DIAC, to ensure a range of schemes are in place to cater for those workforce needs.
I will be meeting with the minister for Immigration later this week to pursue the Regional Migration Agreement. We have been working very closely to take care of the interests of the small- and medium-sized enterprises in terms of the workforce flow from training our own and complementing that with skilled migration.
Muirhead – Retention of Bushland
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
I went to the new suburb of Muirhead last week after hearing about a proposal to retain the native bush along Fitzmaurice Drive. A group of residents are asking for that remnant of native vegetation to be retained so it can buffer the breezes from the sewerage ponds, protect the flora and fauna of the area, be used for walking and bike paths, and remain as an area of bush where otherwise there would not be any.
Can you advise what advice your department has given you in regard to the retention of this piece of native vegetation, and will you guarantee the bushland will be retained?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It has been a major issue for people who reside in that area. I understand there is also a Facebook site set up for saving that bushland around Muirhead. That development was within a statutory planning area. It has been the planning process that has had the primary carriage for this rather than my department of Natural Resources. There has been a planning process around it, particularly led through my colleague, the Minister for Lands and Planning’s department. Nevertheless, land clearing guidelines are routinely taken into account.
In respect of this particular development, I am advised that it was an area that was rezoned to allow the development of the Muirhead residential subdivision. A condition of the Specific Use Zone is that a 20 m wide buffer zone is provided along Fitzmaurice Drive. The rezoning went through the normal public consultation process, so the community had an opportunity to comment on that. The buffer was the outcome of that process.
During the course of this process, my department provided advice to the Development Consent Authority that no formal assessment of the proposal was required under the Environmental Assessment Act. The Muirhead subdivision was also subject to consideration under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. On 30 March, the Australian government provided the subdivision with a number of conditions attached, so there was Commonwealth scrutiny of this process and the land clearing.
This government supports the retention of native vegetation. That is why we have released landmark native vegetation legislation for public consultation. The establishment of regional safety net thresholds for retaining native vegetation in our landscape is a key initiative of this bill. Retaining patches of bush in urban settings is also very valuable from a public amenity point of view, so we do look at these issues very closely.
However, we do need a balanced approach, and some land clearing is necessary to support this government’s very significant efforts in terms of land release, but also protecting native vegetation.
Darwin to Mandorah Ferry Services – Community Consultation
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
You appointed - you did not seek to get elected - your mate, the member for Daly, to the committee to oversee the advice you received in relation to the Mandorah ferry operator. Can you explain, especially in light of the comments just made by the Chief Minister, despite the concern from Cox Peninsula residents, why no election was held to appoint a committee chair; and what processes were followed that resulted in the preferred tenderer being a Sydney-based company that has not even completed constructing its vessel for the tender yet?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will respond to the second part of those allegations first. Ministers of the Crown do not get involved in procurement processes. Ministers of the Crown do not get involved in commercial negotiations around government tenders. For the member for Port Darwin, the procurement process is governed by an independent body, the Procurement Review Board.
In relation to a very interesting allegation about the community reference group, yes, I did appoint a community reference group, because this government believes in good consultation. Coming off the back of the consultation across the Territory with the Integrated Regional Transport Strategy, I thought that was another good strategy delivered by our government that delivered real results. We then applied that to the Mandorah ferry contract and there a very good reference group was set up. I am very proud of that reference group.
I used a local MLA to chair it, because MLAs generally represent their constituents. The member for Daly is a very active MLA who is very interested in delivering in the interests of his constituents. I believe that is good governance, and our government believes that is good governance.
Education – Initiatives to Support Major Projects
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Education is fundamental to our growing economy. Can you please advise the House on education initiatives in place to support major projects in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I believe everyone in this House recognises the importance of education and training to our future, particularly in relation to major projects that are on the horizon in the Northern Territory. It is particularly pertinent that the name of our Year 12 certificate is being changed to the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training.
Training, and our education system, is a major focus of this government, particularly through VET pathways. We have invested over $6m to provide the Get VET Get a Future and VET in the Middle programs within our schools. Charles Darwin University is also doing a fantastic job under the Vice-Chancellorship of Barney Glover in the way it is moving into that area of the technical aspects of the gas industry. That will provide many Territorians with a future in this industry over many decades to come.
I am also mindful of the fact that, within our schools, particularly our secondary schools, we have created Centres for Excellence. Already, at Darwin High School there is a Centre for Excellence for science and maths; and at Casuarina Senior College for health sciences. It is a competitive process. Over 100 applicants applied for those places across both schools in the last intake. Apart from a range of things, including career advice, career support and specialisation in the curriculum, those students also have the capacity to attend lectures at Charles Darwin University and participate in course work – that is probably the top half of the students - so there are many incentives there.
I have said in this House before, we are rolling out these Centres of Excellence: Centralian Senior College for sustainable futures; Palmerston Senior College, the arts; and Taminmin College for business and law. We are providing opportunities for our students, particularly in secondary schooling and also vocational education and training. The future is bright for Territorians over a range of aspects, VET, our secondary schools, and also Charles Darwin University.
Education is important. This is a government that values education. We have comprehensive policies in relation to education. I am still waiting for the opposition to come up with theirs. I heard the shadow minister talk about what hard work it is. Could I suggest to him a committee approach? He could get people who are interested in education and training and work with them to develop policies if he is finding it a little too hard by himself.
Darwin to Mandorah Ferry Services – Community Consultation
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
In relation to your last answer, you suggested you consulted with the community yet, on 28 January 2011, you received a letter from a fellow by the name of Jack Ellis, who said:
- … a group selected from the community by the community is preferable to the system you propose.
In your reply to Mr Ellis on 7 February 2011, you responded that you would be selecting the group in relation to advice you received about the Mandorah ferry. Why did you appoint your mate to the role of running that hatchet committee in spite of the community’s wishes to elect their own committee?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in relation to those allegations, the way to do business is to call for nominations. That is exactly what I did. Ministers are not involved in procurement. I created a community reference group and I called for nominations. Members opposite, like all Territorians, can go to the website and see for themselves the whole nomination process. They can see the list of people who were nominated who represent the residents of Cox Peninsula with an interest in developing the ferry service between Cullen Bay and Mandorah. It was open; it was accountable. It is transparent and it is all available on the web. I encourage Territorians to look for themselves.
Defence Industry – Support by Territory Government
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for DEFENCE SUPPORT
Last week’s historic announcement by the US President will have positive economic benefits for the Territory economy. Can you inform the House how the Territory government is supporting our Defence industry?
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. She actually understands the importance of Defence to the Territory economy, unlike the whinger opposite who is simply just a shallow shock jock.
There could certainly be no greater signal of opportunity in this sector than the announcement last week by the Prime Minister and the US President of increased operational presence in the Top End of US Marines through the Marine deployment in and out every six months.
Our Labor government has been extremely proactive in attracting the benefits of the Defence spend into our economy. In the last 10 years we have seen the recurrent Defence spend increase around 11% per annum. The Defence industry now invests $1.3bn into our economy every year, including more than $600m in wages and supporting some 4500 non-Defence jobs. Defence is a significant driver in the economy, particularly in that all-important construction and maintenance industry. There are contracts totalling $220m in 2010-11, including more than $120m in major capital upgrades and facilities in Darwin and Katherine.
Crucial to growing this sector is ensuring there is a clear focus on taking care of our Defence families, which is why it took our government to establish the Defence Community Liaison which is aimed at supporting families of our service men and women. I congratulate the Chief Minister for his initiatives in bringing those Defence families into the parliament and acknowledging the great work they do to support our Defence personnel on deployment and at home. Our program of supporting Defence families has been successful in turning around perceptions of Darwin as a desirable posting for our Defence families. At the Defence partners function hosted by the Chief Minister last week, 93.2% of respondents said they would recommend a posting in the NT, and 83% rated lifestyle as the most desirable aspect of living in the Territory.
Another initiative of this government was to capture the benefits of increased military presence in the Top End with the Defence Support Hub. It took a Labor initiative to provide a fully-serviced site, with easy access to port and rail facilities, international airport, and modern road networks. Last week’s announcement strengthens our case to host US equipment at that Defence Support Hub. Spin-off industries associated with these activities would be ideally placed at the hub and will result in hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in the Territory.
We are poised to drive forward on the growth of the Defence spend in the Territory. We will drive business opportunities, we will work constructively with the Australian Industry Defence Network ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Darwin to Mandorah Ferry Services – Mandorah Ferry Community Reference Group
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
You have confirmed that you set up the Mandorah Ferry Community Reference Group. You confirmed that you appointed your mate, the member for Daly, to that reference group. You have also confirmed that you ignored the public’s request for an elected reference group. If you had nothing to do with, and no intent to involve yourself in the tender process, why on earth did you get all this information together, and why did you set up a reference group whilst the tenders were going out?
Madam SPEAKER: That is not really a question under the standing orders; it is asking for an opinion. If you would like to reword the last part, member for Port Darwin?
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I am not asking for an opinion, I am asking him to explain to this House why he established a group to inquire into the Mandorah ferry, appointed his mate to that group, and why, if he was not going to get involved in the tender process at all, did he bother setting up this group in the first place?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will say at the outset that the community reference group has no role to play in the tender process ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: As I outlined in my previous answer, it is about good consultation with the community. It is about servicing ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: The member for Port Darwin gives me an alternative, and it is called a dictator. The member for Port Darwin can outline for Territorians, because he is certainly interested in dictatorships. What I am about is consultation ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I simply ask the minister to answer the question and explain why he sought all this information if he had no interest in the tender process.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said, the community reference group has no role to play in the selection process. The community reference group - and I thank them for the advice they provided to the minister. That advice comes from the community that is most affected …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: It is a good process …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr McCARTHY: … it is an open process, and it is an accountable process, and I thank the community reference group. I also thank the member for Daly for chairing that. I encourage all Territorians to go to the website to look at the agenda of the meetings and the minutes published on the worldwide web.
Health System – Ability to Meet Increased Demands
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please advise the House on how the Territory’s health system is gearing up to ensure we can meet the demands of major projects coming to town?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Our government is undertaking the most extensive health planning exercise with the Greater Darwin Health Services Plan. We intend to meet the needs of the community up to 2030 based on current pictures of demand and population projections. We are planning for the Royal Darwin Hospital and future development on the campus, and investment options. Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, we want to further develop Royal Darwin Hospital, not downgrade it to a second-rate hospital as he has publicly stated.
With the Australian government, we have committed $110m to deliver a new hospital in the Territory, the Palmerston Hospital. We have brought in expert health planners and consulted with clinicians, stakeholders, and the community, who told us clearly that what they want in that hospital is an accident and emergency service. A health priority for them is maternity services, children and youth services, and day surgery.
I am also working very hard to bring a new GP clinic to the northern suburbs. I have assurances from the federal minister for Health that the $5m commitment will remain in the Territory and will be spent in Darwin. We support a bulkbilling facility, unlike the CLP, unlike their federal member, who has publicly stated that she will fight against a GP clinic. It is a shame. We support that full bulkbilling facility and we presented the minister with a preliminary submission. The minister is currently considering it. Our government will support this facility with a land grant to ensure it happens.
We believe in the health of Territorians. We are building a health system. If you look at the CLP policies: no GPs, no GP super clinics, no bulkbilling. They must be one of the few governments in the history of Australia to cut 200 nursing positions from the system.
Darwin to Mandorah Ferry Services – Mandorah Ferry Community Reference Group
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Your Mandorah Ferry Community Reference Group met on several occasions. According to your terms of reference, they were to consult with relevant businesses. Can you confirm that the current operator never received any inquiry or question from your community reference group? Do you consider that the provider of the service might have been one of the relevant businesses they should have talked to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again, the community reference group had no role in the selection process. The community reference group was set up to provide advice to the minister on the fare structures, the flexibility of timetables, the operational procedures, and on the growth of the Cox Peninsula and our government supporting increased ferry services. It was all about listening to the people. It was advice by the people …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is quite simple: did the reference group at any stage talk to Sea Cat?
Madam SPEAKER: That was not actually the question you asked, but …
Mr ELFERINK: It was, actually, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: … minister, if you can come to the point?
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, if Territorians are interested in the agenda and the minutes, and to see that good advice that came forward from residents of the Cox Peninsula, they should go to the web and see it for themselves, and not listen to the continued allegations of the member for Port Darwin.
National Broadband Network
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS and TECHNOLOGY POLICY
The National Broadband Network is a major infrastructure project. Can you please update the House on how the NBN will benefit Territorians? Are you aware of any alternative policies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. She understands the importance of ICT. I know the Arnhem fibre project has certainly delivered for her electorate. She is right: the NBN is one of this country’s largest infrastructure projects in our history. For the Northern Territory, great benefits are coming our way, with the completion of 3600 km of National Broadband Network cable from the east coast to 23 000 homes in the Top End in the greater Darwin region. That is coming in over the next 24 months.
Now is the time for Territorians to think about the opportunities that will come with this National Broadband Network fibre cable. For businesses, there will be the ability to sell and market products online with greater use of graphics, high definition video and other multimedia. There is potential for tools that enhance person-to-person visual communication to bring groups and individuals together, also profiling for television ads based on specific characteristics of the viewer’s own browsing and viewing habits as a new way to market their products. The development of smart applications and products will be a great opportunity for Territory businesses.
In addition to better government services such as e-Health, education, and the convenience of lodging forms like registration applications electronically, households can also log into their own security system to watch what is going on at the house while at work or on holidays, or to turn off the iron left on when rushing out the door. You can go online and use your digital avatar to try on different combinations of clothes at your favourite online store. With around one million Australian households signed up to the PlayStation network alone, only the NBN can service this multibillion dollar market to its full potential.
The CLP does not understand that mobile wireless like Telstra’s 4G network works together with NBN and is not a substitute for it. With the Henderson Labor government, the Territory is heading in the right direction with a bright ICT future, unlike the opposition which has no credible alternative and more of the same 18 failed broadband policies in the past 11 years of the Coalition with John Howard.
Mining – Process of Product from Rare Earth Projects
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
In the NT News on 12 November, it states that TUC Resources Ltd is looking for investment from China into a number of rare earth projects around Daly River and Pine Creek. Considering the government did not allow the company operating the rare earths mine at Aileron to process product in Darwin and instead had to ship it through South Australia, where will these new mines process their product?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I point out to the member, and the question is quite valid, that the Northern Territory Labor government did not stop Arafura Resources from processing their minerals in the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: As a matter of fact, Arafura Resources …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … investigated several sites all around the country and selected the site in South Australia for purely commercial reasons.
I would love it, if they want to come back to the Territory tomorrow, if they change their mind. We are prepared to work with them to provide the services and land if they require it. Any other mine in the Territory that wishes to process their resources in the Territory will have the support of our government.
Staff from TUC Resources Ltd travelled with me to China. I introduced to them to Chinese investors and they had a number of meetings - as did the potential iron ore miners and the potential rare earth producers. Our government is supportive of attracting capital from not only China, but any country that is interested in investing in the Northern Territory. Our government is actively promoting the Territory as a resource province. Our government is actively promoting companies that have a resource project in the Territory. Should any of these companies decide they want to process their ore in the Territory we will be very supportive.
Darwin to Mandorah Ferry Services – Contract
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
You oversee a number of big budget projects, including road construction, and you will soon have carriage over the construction of a $0.5bn prison. Why would Territorians have any faith in your ability to deliver on this massive project when you cannot even properly administer a relatively straightforward ferry contract?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is a question which is out of order. It is a hypothetical question asking for an opinion. Would you like to just reword the question so that it is actually a question?
Mr ELFERINK: No, Madam Speaker, I will just move to censure on this.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Move Censure Motion
Move Censure Motion
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I move - That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this House from censuring the Minister for Transport and the now Attorney-General for conspiring to corrupt the tender process by involving themselves in the campaign to get rid of the current provider without providing procedural fairness in that process.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): A point of order, Madam Speaker! Usually government accepts a censure motion; however, I have genuine reservations about this issue because there is a tender process currently on foot, and potential contractual processes that have to be worked through.
I am concerned about us debating a motion which involves such sensitivities. I ask that you seek some advice on this, Madam Speaker. There are sensitivities in regard to a tender process that is on foot.
Madam SPEAKER: It is really a matter for the government whether or not you wish to accept it. You need to indicate what your position is.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, reluctantly I accept this censure motion. We understand the politics of this; however, there is still a tender process on foot and I ask members opposite to be mindful of that.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016