2012-02-14
Police Numbers and Resources – Call for Review
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You told the Police Association annual meeting that you would consider a review of police resources in a few weeks. That was six months ago and since then you have been silent and there has been no announcement either way. Will you now honour your commitment from last August and say whether or not you will conduct a thorough review of police numbers and resources?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a government that continues to invest with record budgets and record numbers of police officers throughout the Northern Territory. Since we came to government there have been 390 new police officers in the Northern Territory - per capita four times the number of police officers in the Territory than anywhere else in Australia.
There are many complex things happening across government at the moment and we are still considering this issue. We are also having ongoing discussions with the Australian government regarding resourcing in total. I am committed to ensuring that our police force has the strength of numbers to do the job that we want it to do across the Northern Territory: 974 police officers in 2003, 1364 in 2012. Property crime is down across the Northern Territory …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113, the answer needs to be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. Will you have the review that you promised, yes or no?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no yes or no, member for Port Darwin. Resume your seat. Chief Minister, if you could come to the point though.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am honouring my commitment given at the Police Association conference, given that we are still considering the issue. That is what I said I would do and that is what I continue to do. I have had discussions with the president of the Police Association and some of his executive in regard to the complex issues we are dealing with across government at the moment, as well as a very difficult budgetary situation as a result of collapsing GST revenue.
I stand by my record as Police minister, probably the longest-serving Police minister in the Territory’s history, given our commitment to our police, our resourcing of police, and also our support for our police. The opposition does nothing but criticise the performance of our police force. They are always complaining about response times and police performance across the Northern Territory, and they will continue to do that through these sittings.
This is a government that recognises our police do an amazing and very difficult job across the Northern Territory. They have record budgets, record number of police officers, and will continue to have the support of my government.
Ichthys Project – Benefits and Challenges
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
This is the first sitting of parliament since the Ichthys final investment decision. Can you please update the House on the benefits and challenges this project brings?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Only a couple of weeks ago we saw a final investment decision on a $34bn project for this nation and for the Northern Territory. This is the second largest investment in a single project in Australia’s history. This is a project that will help secure the economic future of the Northern Territory, and one that many thousands of people around the world, in Australia and the Northern Territory, have worked very hard for a number of years to get over the line.
This project will bring great opportunities for Territory kids and for Territory businesses for decades to come. Just last week, the contract was awarded to the JKC Joint Venture to construct the LNG plant at Wickham Point. I am pleased to advise the House today that JKC very quickly will be opening an office in the CBD where people can submit their resumes if they are interested in working on the project, and also where business will be able to get information and advice about what it means for them directly from the group constructing the project. I look forward to the office opening.
Prior to the final investment decision, INPEX has already invested around $70m upgrading roads, providing training facilities and other purchases across the Territory.
Of course, this will bring some challenges, and that is why we are gearing up for growth in the Territory and why we have our Territory 2030 plan with a cascading number of plans under that.
Housing is something the government is working very hard on. We have massively expanded land release; established a workers camp; put out the idea for comment on dual occupancy plans for urban blocks; a six-month extension of our BuildBonus; and establishment of the affordable housing rental company, Venture Housing ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am wondering if the Chief Minister ...
Ms Lawrie: Churning up time are you, John?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ELFERINK: I am just wondering if the Chief Minister could also take some time to acknowledge the role of Clare Martin, the former Chief Minister, in relation to this.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat! That is not a point of order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the opposition does not want to hear a great success story of the Northern Territory in securing the second largest project in the Territory and Australia’s history. We are training 10 000 new apprentices. It was great to hear that number today. I am so passionate about training apprentices across the Territory and seeing them getting skilled. We have run three seminars for businesses to assist them to gear up and prepare for opportunities, funding the Northern Territory Industry Capability Network ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Crime Rates
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The fact is the Territory’s crime rate is the worst in the country. The latest Bureau of Statistics figures proves this disturbing fact, showing we had more than 4500 offenders per 100 000 people. Your law and order policies have clearly failed, so why not review the operations of the police department to ensure they actually have the tools and the resources to do what is obviously a very tough job?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition likes to play with figures. The reality is that ...
Mr Mills: You have taken the figures off the table!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... property crime in Darwin is half what it was when we came to government. We have had this debate over and over. We have put enormous effort into making it mandatory to report domestic violence and the police focus on that violence. Over half of all assaults in the Northern Territory are domestic violence assaults and most of those are caused by alcohol.
One thing that is absolutely certain in a debate on crime, and I am happy to have this debate, because the CLP has a plan to see crime increase because the first thing they would do is take the main tool that police have to fight alcohol-related crime, which is the Banned Drinker Register, and scrap it ...
Mr CHANDLER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am just wondering if the Chief Minister can table our policy.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, that is not a point of order.
Mr Mills: Well, he said it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Crime will go through the roof when the CLP scraps the Banned Drinker Register; 2195 people who are banned from accessing grog would be back on tap under the CLP, back behind the wheels of cars, and back committing acts of violence across the Northern Territory. That is what would happen under the CLP plan. We would see crime go through the roof.
The opposition does nothing but talk our police down and complain about police response times. Our police do an amazing job. There would be thousands of calls going through our call centre every year. The vast majority of those calls are attended to and responded to within acceptable time limits. From time to time something is going to go wrong, and when something does go wrong, of course, the CLP leaps on that for their own political gain.
Let us never forget, it was a CLP government that froze recruitment for four years ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Not one police officer was recruited in a four-year period! Police officers were being forced to work enormous hours, not to take leave, and having leave bought back from them under a CLP government. That has never happened under this government ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: We put in over 390 extra police officers. We inherited a police force that was demoralised, run down, and had a lack of members ...
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: We now have a great police force doing a great job across the Northern Territory.
Territory Achievements - Update
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the Northern Territory’s achievements since parliament sat in November last year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. We all took an opportunity to have a few days off, but it has been a very busy time across government, delivering benefits to Territorians.
As well as the INPEX final investment decision, we have seen airline expansions, with SilkAir and Virgin announcing a joint arrangement to fly business class seats from Singapore to Darwin, and Jetstar announcing its new service to Tokyo. I congratulate the Tourism Minister for her hard work in pursuing Virgin and SilkAir and getting them to the Northern Territory ...
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: We have a record investment in teachers, with 166 new teachers in our schools, and a big welcome to those teachers to a great education system and great schools across the Territory. If a child goes to school every day here they will excel. They will absolutely fly, as we see ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: ... every year, great kids achieving great results through their education in the Territory.
In health, we saw the opening of the new emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital. I have already had great feedback from constituents on that new facility. Our commitment to Royal Darwin Hospital stands in direct contrast to those opposite, where the Leader of the Opposition has said he would turn Royal Darwin Hospital into a secondary hospital. We will not do that. We will continue to invest in Royal Darwin Hospital.
Cash for Containers, what a success that has been ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: You only have to spend some time at those recycling depots talking to the mums, dads and kids. We have already seen over two million containers redeemed throughout the Northern Territory, that is how successful this scheme is. Mums, dads and kids have taken over two million containers to these recycling centres. We know that would be scrapped under the CLP, and that would be two million containers in land fill and rubbish tips across the Territory.
The great Territory lifestyle has not missed out. We have new netball and tennis courts open at Palmerston, and squash courts being constructed at Marrara.
The new Defence of Darwin Experience - Minister for Arts and Museums, I am looking forward to opening on Saturday what I have been told - I have not had a sneak preview yet - is an amazing experience that will enhance, nationally and internationally, the understanding of what happened here 70 years ago on 19 February 1942.
Madam Speaker, it has been a very busy start to the year. 2012 will be a great year of opportunity for the Northern Territory. We have a vision for the Territory. We are excited about the future of the Territory, compared to those opposite who have no plans, do not believe in the Territory, and continue to talk it down.
Quarterly Crime Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
These are facts that are carried and experienced by Territorians across the Northern Territory. The fact is, under Labor, violent crime in the Territory has exploded. There were around 4500 violent offences in 2003. That has now jumped to more than 7000 violent incidents just a few months ago. Territorians are more likely to be assaulted than any other Australian. Is this the real reason you have stopped releasing quarterly crime statistics?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has got it wrong, wrong, wrong. We have debated this up hill and down dale in regard to the reason for the increased reporting and recording of assault-related statistics. One of the good things that happened out of the intervention was the addition of 70 new police officers available to remote communities across the Northern Territory where people can now make complaints and have confidence to make those complaints.
We are the government which took on the challenge of the dark horror of domestic violence in the Northern Territory. Our government took that decision to make it compulsory to report domestic violence. Of course, that has led to an increase of reporting and an increase in recording of crimes of violence.
If you take domestic violence out of those statistics, people in the Territory are no more likely to be assaulted here than anywhere else in Australia. Domestic violence, we are talking about related statistics ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Clearly the Chief Minister has the capacity to ...
Dr Burns: What is your point of order? What number is it?
Mr ELFERINK: Listen and you will hear it, you dill!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seats please, honourable members.
This is Question Time. Someone asks a question, and someone answers a question. There is no cross-debate.
Member for Port Darwin, you went well and truly beyond the pale there, and Leader of Government Business, you were well and truly beyond the pale. If you have a proper point of order, can you call it, member for Port Darwin?
Mr ELFERINK: I was trying to, Madam Speaker. I was told ...
Madam SPEAKER: Is it a point of order? Stand quickly, thank you.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister referred to some statistics which he was able to separate out from domestic violence and general assaults. Will he table those statistics?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: If the honourable member wants to have a look at the police annual report I am sure he will find the statistics in there ...
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... domestic violence related-statistics for 2011: 56.8% of all assaults in the Northern Territory are domestic violence. That means the perpetrator knows the victim; the victim knows the perpetrator. They are not random assaults in our streets across the Northern Territory. We are talking about the dark horror of alcohol-fuelled domestic violence. That is why we have committed to mandatory reporting. That is why the police have dedicated domestic violence units in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin.
The reason the numbers are going up is that we have shone a light on this problem and we have exposed it. Through our alcohol reduction strategies, with the police and the community, we are doing all we can to eliminate this blight from the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Supplementary Question
Call for Public Debate on Law and Order Issues
Call for Public Debate on Law and Order Issues
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
I have listened carefully. You are clearly convinced of your own position – I am not. Therefore, I further challenge you, as I did last year, to a public debate on these matters in Wanguri at Leanyer Primary School. Do you accept the challenge?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not into political stunts. Domestic violence assault offences recorded by the police have increased by 21%, while other assaults have increased by 2%. That means there are an estimated additional 534 domestic violence assaults which have been recorded by police.
It is very clear what the opposition is trying to do here. They are so bereft of policies for the people of the Northern Territory, they have so little vision for the future of the Northern Territory, it is an election year, and guess what? The conservatives have jumped back on the crime bandwagon because they have nothing else to talk about. They have no policies. They have no funding commitments. They have no vision for the future of the Northern Territory. They have no plans for the Territory. They are just trying on the tired, old ‘bang the crime drum’ in the lead-up to the election. Leader of the Opposition, you are going to have to do better.
Container Deposit Scheme – Principles of Separation of Product
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
It is great to see the Cash for Containers scheme has started. However, there are definitely some problems that need to be addressed. Section 12 of the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act says the minister must develop principles for ensuring effective, efficient and equitable waste management principles according to the Container Deposit Scheme Principles. Those principles include minimising handling and sorting of regulated containers.
According to NTRS, collectors in the NT are required by the container deposit coordinators such as Statewide Recycling and Marine Stores to have nearly 30 separations of product, while in South Australia they only have about nine. Surely, that is hardly minimising handling and sorting of regulated containers? Are you doing your job as required by the act and, if you are, what are you doing to stop the CDS coordinators from being obstructionist?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very important question. It is a scheme that is six weeks old and, sure, there are going to be a few bumps along the road. We can always streamline and improve the scheme ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, it is quite obvious from the interjections from the other side that if they were to get into government they would scrap the Cash for Containers scheme. That is quite clearly their position.
Turning to the scheme, it has been a great success, as the Chief Minister said this afternoon. I know he was at the open day on Sunday where he saw many Territorians …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question related to why do we have 30 separations of product in the Northern Territory compared to nine in South Australia, and what is the minister doing about it?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point, please.
Mr HAMPTON: I will, Madam Speaker. I have my three minutes, member for Nelson, and I will get to your question.
One thing you are wrong about, member for Nelson, is 30 separations. That is just not true. I have toured around the Territory - I do not know how many depots you have visited – and the number they are telling me is 26. That is the maximum separations that many depots are telling me as I get around the Territory - whether it be in Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Darwin.
Regarding the South Australian model, we are running an industry model. It is very important that we get industry on side and they are running the model because, under the Australian Constitution, that is the preferred model. We have a good framework. In the Container Deposit Scheme Principles, that is one measure South Australia does not have. It is one we have brought in to ensure coordinators and depots are working together cooperatively ...
Mr Wood: They are not.
Mr HAMPTON: Well, it is six weeks old, member for Nelson. There are many commercial arrangements in place that government does have to be very clear on regarding our responsibility. It is quite clear in the scheme’s principles, and I am sure you have read the principles, one of those principles is ensuring that coordinators are actively trying to resolve issues with their depots through their agreements.
I call on those coordinators to work in accordance with the principles and try to resolve some of those matters that are commercial matters for them in an agreement, member for Nelson ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Perhaps the minister can tell us why a carton of beer has gone up by $10 but you only get $2.40 back?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat!
Mr HAMPTON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am quite happy to say, as the Chief Minister said, that two million containers have been collected. That is equivalent to $200 000 going into the pockets of Territory families, and that is a great thing. That is two million containers not going into landfill or to our environment.
We have also introduced provisions in the legislation …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Economic Growth – Response with Housing
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Territorians are set to benefit from a new phase of economic growth underpinned by major projects. Can you please detail plans for more housing to respond to this great growth phase?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, these major projects will turbocharge our economy - there is no doubt about that. We have announced a range of new initiatives to deliver more housing, with flexible product in the marketplace to meet those pressures of the high growth phase we are entering. The new affordable housing company, Venture Housing, will deliver rental options at least 20% below market rate to help those low- to middle-income earners into that rental market. This is a first for the Territory.
The first 35 properties will become available mid-year in Parap. Planning is already under way for another 21 properties in Driver in Palmerston.
We have also called for proposals for a short-stay accommodation village at Marrara to deliver more temporary accommodation for workers. In the first phase, that land will yield 250 residential options. We have also extended the popular $10000 BuildBonus scheme until 30 June. We have increased the purchase limit up to $600 000 to stimulate more new housing in those new suburbs in Palmerston, including supporting presales on unit developments, which is very welcome news for our developers who are development permit-ready out there.
We are proposing dual occupancy to give owners of residential blocks of more than 1000 m2 across our suburbs the opportunity to build a second dwelling on their site. A public consultation process is under way on this initiative. These initiatives build on what we had already announced and what is already under way. There is the all-important accelerating of land release, with some 4104 new lots expected to be turned off over this five-year period. This is in addition to 1420 lots and 2000 new units approved in Darwin CBD since 2006.
We have provided stamp duty cuts for all homebuyers, including savings of up to $26 730 for our first homebuyers. Fifteen per cent of all government land release is kept for affordable and social housing. These initiatives have seen almost 100 Territorians purchase an affordable home. We have made improvements to HOMESTART NT, which is the home loan scheme designed to get the middle and low income earners into that purchase marketplace.
We have opened a new seniors village in Palmerston and we have a new one in Alice Springs. We are turning off new public housing stock. Our Buildstart incentive scheme that we had at the height of the stimulus package has supported construction of more than 1000 new homes.
Our government is focused on delivering more housing, housing options, both rental and purchase, into the marketplace so that Territorians can find affordable options here. We have the most confident property market in the nation.
New Prison – Deterrent for Violent Offenders
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL referred to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
According to the latest Bureau of Statistics figures, and published on the government website, 40.2% of Territory prisoners are there for acts of violence such as assaults. This is more than double the national average. How will the flash new $0.5bn prison become a deterrent for violent offenders?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, is it about the gaol? Is it a Corrections question?
Mr Elferink: It is a question to you, the Attorney-General, as to how it will operate as a deterrent. Can you manage that?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin does get confused. Corrections is the responsibility of our minister for Corrections ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms LAWRIE: ... who did point out that the new era in Corrections package passed in the Chamber included legislative reforms ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please pause. Attorney-General, do you believe this is a question for you, or do you wish to pass it to the Minister for Correctional Services? Can you do it very quickly.
Mr KNIGHT: As I understood it, Madam Speaker, this is about the prison and whether it could cope with the numbers, so it is a Corrections question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister for Correctional Services.
Mr Elferink: So you are too scared to answer the question ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Elferink: ... and how it is going to affect your policy. God, you are hopeless. You are a protected species, mate.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, you do not have the call.
Mr Elferink: I have no problems about questions I am asking.
Madam SPEAKER: Cease interjecting, member for Port Darwin!
Mr McCARTHY (Correctional Services): Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. Why he went around the back way, I do not know. It is good to talk about strong policy, strong plans, and dealing with some of the most disadvantaged Territorians that we have to deal with.
The new Doug Owston multiclassification correctional facility is a major plank in the new era policy, the new era plan, which is rolling out across the Territory – a government with policy, a government with a plan. I remind the member for Port Darwin, on the Parliamentary Record, the CLP will build a big concrete hole and put all the bad criminals in there. That is on the Parliamentary Record, check it out, member for Blain, because I was disgusted when I heard it and I am still disgusted.
We are rolling up the sleeves and getting on with the job ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: The multiclassification …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: ... multiclassification prison - correctional facility is a better term - is a precinct approach and it …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. The question would have been better answered by the Attorney-General because it deals with the Attorney-General’s policy in relation to the deterrent effect.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, do you have a point of order?
Mr ELFERINK: Will the minister and the Attorney-General answer the question ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to point, please.
Mr ELFERINK: ... because he cannot.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, the point was about the precinct model of a new multiclassification facility, with a secure mental health unit …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has clearly lost the plot here. The question was how is it going to be a deterrent, not whether it is going to be a precinct or a marvellous structure to their government, or whatever they are intending ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: ... it is about how it is going to be a deterrent.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call, but can you come to the point as soon as possible, please
Mr McCARTHY: I will have to be very succinct for the member for Port Darwin on the difference between a concrete hole in the ground and education, training, rehabilitation and pathways to employment. The new facility is the infrastructure we need to support this concept. This is a very important investment for the Territory. This is an investment in the new era policy to turn around reoffending behaviours to reduce recidivism. It is very clear. We have spoken about it across all public arenas. It has the support of the judicial sector and the Corrections sector. It has the support of prison officers. We are rolling it out, sleeves up, not talking rubbish and not talking it down. There are a number of other initiatives I would love to talk about as well, including education, training and reintegration into the community.
When you start to delve into that, it is about addressing offending behaviours, something we have not done well before, but we are certainly doing it now and are proud of it.
Business - Update on Government Support to Attract and Retain Workers
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can you please update the House on how the government is supporting businesses to attract and keep workers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no doubt the Territory is on a cusp of growth and development like never seen before. I have a McCarthy family saying: give credit where credit is due. The Henderson government deserves all that credit. The Henderson government has not only been working at the coalface to bring a major …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Did the Martin government have any role in this or is it just the Henderson government?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order. You have raised a number of frivolous points of order. You are on a warning.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, before I was so rudely interrupted I was talking about a major gas and oil project and the Marine Supply Base. What has been said many times over this journey has been that it is basically positioning Darwin and the Northern Territory as a major player in regard to the global energy sector.
One of the carefully planned initiatives the Henderson government has put forward is the short-stay accommodation village at Marrara, and the Treasurer spoke briefly about it. It is a 9.5 ha Crown site. It is proposed to develop the workers village with the private sector. We announced it at the end of January. It is in the process of design, construct and operate. It is a proposal that will accommodate, in its first stage, up to 250 workers with the potential for many more.
We have had a great level of interest from the development community because it provides options. It is part of the plan. It is part of the enabling infrastructure to support the powerful policy of this government. There have been 45 registrations of interest, and 27 people attended an industry briefing on the proposal earlier this month. We are very proud of those numbers because that is real engagement with the community. Interested parties are now developing their more detailed proposals for the design, construction and operation of a short-term workers accommodation village. The proposals have to be in by Friday, 9 March. What it says to Territorians, whether you live in Yuendumu, Tennant Creek, or Minyerri, is that the prosperity the Henderson government is bringing to town is available, because there will be housing options, opportunities, and places to stay. Cast your imagination a little further, member for Blain, because this is the real deal; this is what it is about.
Not only is the private sector engaging in this, the INPEX project is engaging in this. This is a good concept driven by our government. Once again, it is visionary to support good policy ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Container Deposit Scheme – Principles and Handling Fees
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Once again, I say that it is good to see the Cash for Containers scheme up and running - and it will work; it just needs some work done on it.
My question is in relation to some of those issues. Section 12 of the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act deals with the development of those CDS principles. Section 12(3)(c) states:
- (c) establishing standard and transparent processes for receiving and paying refund amounts and handling costs by CDS participants;
(d) providing an accountable and transparent monitoring process;
Could you please say why at least two collectors have still not been paid by coordinators for product? Is it true that the handling fee proposed by the coordinators for NT collectors is less than the handling fee paid to collectors in South Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is great to be discussing container deposit schemes in the Northern Territory. It is a great scheme, member for Nelson, and I am sure you agree with me.
As I said, I have done a fact-finding tour over the Christmas period, and was happy to get around to all those depots throughout the Northern Territory and, importantly, talk to those depots face-to-face to hear of issues with the scheme in its early stages.
Regarding the handling fee, there is a variance, and that depends on what the coordinators and depots come to agreement on. It is a commercial arrangement government cannot get involved with. Regarding the principles, I am aware that coordinators need to be fair and responsible in their negotiations with those depots. The payment fee is something we have in our legislation that South Australia does not have. That is a maximum period of 30-day turnaround for those payments. I am not aware of any depots that have not been paid within 30 days. I am happy to take the names of those depots to see what we can do to facilitate that payment being made by the coordinators. However, it is a commercial arrangement.
What we have done with the Northern Territory legislation is to try to improve on the South Australian legislation. We built into it the 30-day turnaround in that payment between coordinators and depots. Another measure we have in our scheme that South Australia does not have is the scheme’s principles. It is about setting the boundaries, setting the rules of the scheme between coordinators and depots - the scheme’s principles. We also introduced a provision in the legislation enabling collection depots to obtain a fair payment from scheme coordinators - looking at handling costs of any contamination payments that might need to be made.
I believe the model and the framework we have put in place is the right one for the Northern Territory. We have more collection depots per capita than South Australia. We have more coordinators than South Australia. We tried to talk to the beverage industry about having one single coordinator in the Northern Territory but they would not go there. So, we opened it up to a competitive market, seeing what interest was out there for coordinators. We have five - more than South Australia has. It is a great model for jobs and infrastructure. Some of these depots are putting in enormous amounts of money, with many jobs created, and fewer containers in our landfill.
Member for Nelson, it is a great scheme. It is off to a great start. It is creating jobs, and cleaning up the environment. We know if the CLP was in government, they would scrap it. They would take all that money from Territorian families. The $200 000 that has been earned so far, they would take it from them ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Alice Springs – Police Response Times
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
In Alice Springs last week, it took police almost 40 minutes to respond to a number of 000 calls about a rampage and an assault at the Aurora Hotel. Police said they did not attend because they thought the incident related to property damage and not violent crime, and because on-duty officers were monitoring prisoners in custody. Can you detail for the House how many officers were on duty in Alice Springs last Thursday night, and why it took so long to respond to this matter? Is it satisfactory, particularly for the two young girls, taxpayers in the Northern Territory, who cannot get police to respond when they are being assaulted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in relation to that particular incident, it was absolutely unacceptable. What was also unacceptable was a film crew basically creating the incident in the first place by filming people without their permission. In no way does that excuse the behaviour of those people. That film crew, and the people who were operating that film crew, need to have a good, hard look at themselves and the incident that occurred as a result.
Police have reviewed this particular matter and have accepted that they did not respond in time. They have now changed the way they respond when units are dealing with other matters.
In January, there were 3188 calls to the 131 444 number from Alice Springs. Out of 3188 calls, from time to time something is going to go wrong. If the honourable member was genuine about this, I am sure he would have asked for a briefing from police as to what happened in this circumstance, as opposed to just looking for cheap political mileage ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He can bait me. I am honourable. This happens every day. It has happened to me personally when they will not turn up when I call ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, that is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: ... fights with knives and the police do not turn up. You have a problem ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat.
Mr GILES: ... fix your problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this is an issue for the Police Commissioner. I am sure if you have a concern the Commissioner will be very happy to give you a tour of the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre, the JESCC, at Berrimah to see how well it is working ...
Mr Giles: What about you? You are the Police minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Police data shows there has been as improvement to response to Alice Springs calls. Since they were directed to the JESCC in November 2009, there has been a 25% improvement in 000 calls and almost a 10% improvement in calls to 131 444 ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Part of the question asked whether it was satisfactory. I would like the Police minister to say whether it was satisfactory or otherwise.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. Resume your seat!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, he obviously does not listen to the answers. I did say that police accept they did not respond in time. They reviewed the call and have made changes, as I would expect them to do.
There were 3188 calls to 131 444 from Alice Springs in January. One or two were going to go astray. They continue to attack the police, they continue to talk Alice Springs down. That incident should never have happened ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Expansion of Emergency Department
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Royal Darwin Hospital is the Territory’s major hospital. It is critical that we continue to expand and upgrade our major hospital. Can you please update the House on how we are expanding the emergency department at Royal Darwin and how this will improve the care of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Royal Darwin Hospital is the main hospital of the Northern Territory and under a Labor government will remain the major hospital of the Northern Territory. I have been working very hard over the Wet Season to deliver a major expansion for improved patient care at the emergency department.
Last year, the Royal Darwin Hospital emergency department saw 62 000 people. It is recognised nationally as one of the busiest in the country. We have increased the capacity for triaging and fast-tracking people because we found by looking at the numbers that a significant number, 60%, of people presenting at the emergency department do not have to be admitted to patient wards. They can be provided care and sent home as soon as possible. We also have a specialist paediatric ward with specialised staff to look after people arriving with sick children. We spent $2.8m on the first stage of improving the emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital. We have already started working on Stage 2 of the emergency department, which will double the capacity of the emergency department short-stay unit.
The reality is, because of the small number of GPs in Darwin and the Territory, people will turn up to the emergency department. The recent report indicated that, in the Territory, the emergency department saw 140 000 people, and 90 000 of those people could have gone to a GP. Unfortunately, the number of GPs is half the national average. We are working very hard to attract more GPs, and to attract super clinics. We work very hard to provide health services for the Territory, we work very hard to provide improved services for Territorians, and we support more GPs and super clinics in the Territory.
The opposition does not support super clinics. They have been on the record saying that not only will they not support them, but they will work against them. It is not only members opposite in the Northern Territory, but even the federal member, Ms Griggs, publically stated that she would never support super clinics in the Northern Territory.
Alice Springs - Police Numbers
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chief Minister might like to reflect on his previous response, that there were a number of 000 calls that went unanswered and un-responded to in Alice Springs, not a 131 444 call. As part of a special operation in Alice Springs, an additional 20 police were temporarily based in the town to prevent a repeat of the tsunami of crime that we saw in 2011, by the police’s own admission. Police hailed the success of this recent operation, Operation Thresher, as a great success. They said:
- Intensive policing operations of this type are designed to help Police keep their community safe and the results speak for themselves.
If the results actually speak for themselves, why will you not just adopt what the Country Liberals have been saying for a long time and base an additional 20 officers in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker, the member opposite does not know what he is talking about. Operation Thresher was conducted within existing resources in Alice Springs. They utilised local staff only. This goes to show that Alice Springs police are adequately resourced.
Unlawful entries almost halved in the December/January period this year compared to the same period last year. Last year, there were 265 unlawful entries; this year there were 134. There were 129 arrests, 1260 litres of alcohol destroyed, and 101 referrals to youth services. That was done within existing resources in Alice Springs.
The CLP does not have a crime reduction policy for the Northern Territory. What they have is a policy that would see more grog in Alice Springs. That is their crime reduction policy: open the bottle shops for longer and scrap the Banned Drinker Register. If they open the bottle shops for longer and scrap the Banned Drinker Register, you will need an extra 100 police in Alice Springs as a consequence of their insane policies ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr HENDERSON: I congratulate those hard-working police officers in Alice Springs who do a very difficult job ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: They do a great job and should have the support of the local members ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: ... but no, they do not have their support. They just come in here and bag the police time after time after time, and they do not even know what they are talking about ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex! Member for Braitling! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Operation Thresher was conducted by local police in Alice Springs who did an amazing job.
Member for Greatorex, instead of trotting out the shock jock lines, it would be great to hear you congratulate the police in Alice Springs, and say: ‘Hey guys and girls, the work you did in December and January was absolutely fantastic, well done. I am going to get up in the Territory parliament and say what a great job you guys do’.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: But no, he just wants to hear the sound of his own inane comments in this parliament. He has nothing positive to say about Alice Springs, he has nothing positive to say about police, and he has nothing positive to say about health. He does not even want to be here when parliament sits.
He is the shadow Health minister. I look forward to seeing a detailed health policy, because empty vessels make the most noise. We have not seen a piece of positive work out of this member. He does nothing but talk the town down and is an embarrassment to the parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before I call the next question …
Mr Conlan: Once again, reel him in.
Madam SPEAKER: You are on a warning, member for Greatorex.
Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51 - it has been a few months since we sat.
- 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.
Honourable members, I may take a leaf out of my federal colleague, Speaker Slipper’s book, and just ask people to withdraw without a warning. A very good move, I believe, on his part.
Mr Conlan: We might have to run that through the Standing Orders Committee.
____________________
Suspension of Member - Member for Greatorex
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I ask you to withdraw, please, pursuant to Standing Order 240A, for one hour.
Mr CONLAN: Thanks very much, Madam Speaker.
____________________
LNG Project - Community Safety Planning
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can you please explain whether there has been any community safety planning for the expected growth of Darwin associated with major developments with the LNG project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Today, at lunchtime, I was pleased to be at the site of a new fire station being built at Berrimah to support the new logistics hub being developed at Darwin Port, and also the great work the Land Development Corporation is doing in attracting investment and jobs to the business park to support the railway and the port.
Of course, with that investment, with that jobs growth, we need to provide strategic and appropriate emergency response services, which is what we are doing with the new Berrimah Fire Station. A total of $13m is being invested, with 22 extra fire fighters, as well as a new home for Northern Territory Emergency Services. I congratulate the Tomazos Group which has won the contract. On this particular construction site, 10 apprentices will work throughout different phases of the job. That is another sign of people having confidence in the Territory and confidence to put on apprentices and give those young people an opportunity to get a trade. There will also be two Indigenous positions created on that job. Well done to the Tomazos Group.
We are investing in the Northern Territory. Since the GFC, around $4.6bn has been invested in infrastructure, in schools, in hospitals, in health clinics, in housing, in roads, and the port. Across the Northern Territory we have been planning for the expansion in this economy, and also responding to the investment from the private sector with additional facilities like the new Berrimah Fire Station.
It was great to be there today. It is a sign that the Territory is still punching above its weight and creating jobs in the Territory. I saw what was happening in Greece on the news last night and the tragedy of what is unfolding in that country, how they wish it was an economy that was creating jobs and giving young people an opportunity to start a career. Quite frankly, you would rather be in the Northern Territory than most places in the world at the moment.
Berrimah Gaol Breakout – Release of Information to Public
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Last month there was a double breakout at Berrimah gaol. One of the escapees was there for a violent assault which caused the death of a man. Despite this, it took 19 hours before the public was told of the escape. Do you believe the public has a right to know when potentially dangerous prisoners are on the run? Can you explain to the House, and the people of the Northern Territory, why the information was released when it was?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. As an ex-police officer, he would know that when there is an escaped prisoner it becomes a matter for the police and it is dealt with as an unlawful escape.
On Monday, 23 January, two prisoners escaped from the low security area at Darwin Correctional Centre. The low security area is patrolled and, following a final medical parade and muster at 7 pm, staff immediately contacted police. The exact time confirming the prisoners had escaped was 6.48 pm. Staff immediately conducted an emergency muster which confirmed two prisoners had escaped. Corrections officers, including the dog squad officer, also conducted a search of the prison surrounds.
NT Corrections is reviewing its security response and will take appropriate action to further mitigate the risk. Both offenders were recaptured and both have been charged with unlawful escape. They were given serious consequences within the system; neither can return to open security for three years ...
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would like the minister to come to the point. The question was: do you believe the public has the right to know when potentially dangerous prisoners are on the run? And can you explain why the information was released when it was? We do not need a prcis of the events leading up.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you can come to the point, please.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, that was the point. As I started to answer the question, it was a police operational matter. I have full confidence in the police. The matter was resolved properly, and timely. Those escapees are now suffering serious consequences for their behaviour.
In terms of supporting the police – that is what I did. The police handled that matter and made operational decisions to bring about the resolution to this situation in around 24 hours. I believe this was conducted appropriately and effectively. It sends a very clear signal to other prisoners that escape from custody is not on and will be dealt with severely.
Palmerston – New Sport and Recreation Infrastructure
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The Territory government is committed to supporting the great Territory lifestyle. What update can you give the House on progress with delivering new sport and recreation infrastructure works in Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. It was great to be at Nhulunbuy a couple of weeks ago to look at the tennis club and some of the great courts.
Turning to Palmerston, a 2008 election commitment by the Labor government is slowly coming together and is a great asset for the people of Palmerston. It is all about delivering for Territory families. In fast growing places like Palmerston, sporting facilities are an important part of building community spirit. The project, totalling $33m, was money well spent.
On 17 January, my colleague, the member for Karama and Treasurer, officially opened the new, upgraded tennis and netball centre at Palmerston. I had the opportunity to have a look before Christmas. It is great to see that now officially opened. I am sure there will be many netballers and tennis players coming out of Palmerston in the years ahead. I congratulate the construction company, Nightcliff Builders Holdings Pty Ltd, on a fantastic job in building the Palmerston sporting infrastructure.
Turning to Rugby League and the Palmerston Raiders - a great club at Palmerston - their facility is being constructed on Crown land at Rosebery. I understand it is coming together very well and the clubhouse will be opened shortly.
In football - or soccer as some people like to call it nowadays - that is being constructed on the existing football site adjacent to Gray Primary School. Again, I took the opportunity late last year to have a look at the works. I understand they are also coming together very well. There may be a Harry Kewell out there and I am sure he will be gracing the Palmerston football facility in the next year or two.
In AFL, my favourite sport - and I have been called the minister for AFL - the Palmerston Magpies oval is fantastic. It is coming together very well. I understand the Chief Minister inspected the site at CDU not long ago.
This is what it is all about. It is about getting a job in the Northern Territory parliament and delivering fantastic facilities such as the Labor government has done for the people of Palmerston. I believe there are only three really unhappy people out there – the members for Blain, Drysdale, and Brennan. The member for Brennan talked it down. The Palmerston water park is coming together very well. We know the member for Brennan did not like the project. We will let his constituents know he does not like the water park. If he gets into government, maybe he will rip it down.
Darwin Harbour - Enterococci Levels
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for HEALTH
My question is to the minister for environmental health. The latest results for the beach pollution in Darwin Harbour show unacceptable levels of bacterial enterococci ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He was just a bit confused about who he was directing the question to. He said the minister for environmental health. Is it to the minister for the Environment, or the Minister for Health?
Madam SPEAKER: I think he meant the Minister for Health. Is that correct?
Mr CHANDLER: Yes.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CHANDLER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We fixed this up last time, minister. The levels at Mindil Beach, including Little Mindil and Lameroo Beaches, are so high that under your own guidelines they should be closed. Can you explain what you are doing about these latest readings and why you have not done more to inform Territorians about high pollution levels?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I know he is a bit confused. Actually, I am the Minister for Health and only some of environmental health comes under my jurisdiction. He is also a bit confused because the water sampling is undertaken by NRETAS, not by the Health Department, and NRETAS is the department that issues the notifications.
On the other hand, as the member should also know, it has to be either very brave or very stupid of someone to swim in tropical waters at this time of year. I would be more concerned about the jellyfish or crocodiles than I would be worried about E. coli in the water. My suggestion is, whatever you do, do not swim now as it can be very dangerous. We have a great emergency department that will look after you when they admit you, but a stinger or a crocodile will cause you more damage than the E. coli in the water.
As I said, sampling of the water is undertaken by NRETAS and notifications go out from NRETAS, not the Health Department.
Cash For Containers Scheme - Opportunities
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
My question is along similar lines to the question asked by the member for Nelson about the Cash for Containers scheme. Could you provide an update to the House on how the Cash for Containers scheme is improving our environment and creating fundraising opportunities for our community?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The questioner acknowledged that this is repetition of a question. He has acknowledged it in his own comments.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not the same question. Minister, you have the call.
Mr ELFERINK: Well, he said it was.
Ms Lawrie: Roll it over to the beverage industry, see ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. As I said previously, it is good to be talking about a great scheme such as Cash for Containers. Under the principles, one of the roles I have is to listen to people at depots and pick up some of the issues they are having in its early implementation stages, and I have done that. It has been great to get around the Territory, whether it be Aputula or Nhulunbuy, Katherine or Tennant Creek, and listen to people at some of those depots, and prospective depots, because there are many great stories out there.
There is much enthusiasm and excitement amongst those depot people. At one of the depots I went to, it has created 14 new jobs, which is fantastic in these tough economic times ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: Two of those employed are people with disabilities. So it just goes to show that those types of jobs are for everyone. I congratulate Envirobank for the efforts they have put into their facility at Pinelands. Fourteen jobs at one depot with employment opportunities for people with disabilities speaks volumes for the success so far of our Cash for Containers scheme.
In regard to collections, as the Chief Minister said, around nearly two million containers; that is $200 000 that has gone into the pockets of Territory families, Territory kids and sporting groups. This is something the opposition would stop. They would rip that money out of those Territory families and sporting groups, those opportunities that are there now for those Territorians.
We are excited about it and we are fully behind it. There is much work to be done between coordinators and depots, but those arrangements are commercial arrangements. I will certainly facilitate those discussions between coordinators and depots.
We have 17 or 18 depots more per capita than South Australia. They have had 35 years to get their scheme up and running; we have had six weeks, so it is off to a great start. This side of the House is very enthusiastic about the scheme, the jobs that it is delivering, and opportunities for people with disabilities where they are getting jobs as sorters. There are fantastic opportunities to get those reverse vending machines out to different sporting events and to remote communities to promote Cash for Containers and put 10 in Territorians’ pockets.
This side of the House is very excited about it. It is off to a great start and we will continue to work on it because we know it is delivering for Territorians. We know there are fewer containers in the environment, in landfill, the creeks and rivers. That is great for the Territory as are the jobs it has created.
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