2009-02-16
Cyclone Shelters – Public Availability
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The 2008-09 Budget had $3m in it to deliver more cyclone shelters for the Top End. How many more people will be able to fit into our Top End shelters as a result of this $3m? Is it not the case that there are only places for 20 000 people in shelters in the Top End, a fraction of the Top End’s population? Is it not also the case that, like almost every home in the Top End, many of these shelters are not rated to withstand a Category 5 cyclone, like Cyclone Monica? How many of our local Top End schools have a cyclone shelter capable of withstanding a Category 5 cyclone?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. It is an important question. The safety of Territorians is absolutely paramount as we move into every cyclone season. We took a budget decision a couple of years ago to have a fixed line item in the budget, year on year, for increasing and improving cyclone shelter facilities across the Northern Territory. This is the first time there had been a fixed line item in Territory budgets to build cyclone shelters across the Northern Territory.
I can advise Territorians that with a number of very significant cyclones which have passed our coast over the last few years, where cyclones have crossed the coast and hit affected communities, our building codes are standing up very well. On Elcho Island, I forget the name of the cyclone that crossed it two or three years ago, a Category 4 to 5 cyclone, the final outcome was all of the houses that were recently built and built to code withstood the storm. The damage was taken by homes that had been constructed many years previously and were predominantly timber framed homes. That gave us a lot of comfort in regard to the cyclone coding standards we use to build houses today.
It is not the intention, nor has it ever been, that we would have cyclone shelters that would accommodate the entire population of the Top End, because all homes built since Cyclone Tracy have been built to a new and higher standard. I have every confidence in the construction standards for buildings today.
The detail of the Leader of the Opposition’s question regarding exactly how many people can currently be accommodated, I do not have that number at my fingertips, but we can certainly get that information. One of the things that we used to do, and I used to do as Police, Fire and Emergency Services minister, was to make a detailed briefing available to the Opposition Leader at the start of every cyclone season about the level and nature of preparedness of our Police, Fire and Emergency Services. There is a very high degree of preparedness before every cyclone season. The Police, Fire, and Emergency Services does a very significant debrief in regard to the cyclone season, and very extensive preparation goes into ensuring we are as prepared as we can be at the beginning of each cyclone season.
I am happy to provide such a briefing to the Leader of the Opposition because it is important that we have confidence in our Emergency Services and our cyclone shelter facilities across the Northern Territory. One of the great outcomes of the stimulus package is that we look to upgrading schools, particularly in our remote communities across the Top End. We will be looking at this as an opportunity, with the significant Commonwealth funding that is available, to further strengthen cyclone shelters in our coastal communities across the Top End.
Jilkminggan - Flooding
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Flooding has occurred in the area of Jilkminggan and members of the community have been evacuated. Can you please advise what action has been taken to protect community members in this area from flooding?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Yes, we are in the middle of the Wet Season. The monsoons have arrived and rivers are rising across the Northern Territory. Members would know that the community of Jilkminggan lies to the east of Mataranka - a very pretty community which I have visited on a couple of occasions. As Education minister, Jilkminggan School is delivering great results and it is one that I look forward to visiting again very soon.
The Mataranka Counter Disaster Committee met at 11.30 am yesterday and made the decision to evacuate Jilkminggan on the basis that the Roper River behind the community was expected to peak at 8 m in the next 24 hours. Members, if you are not aware, each of our police stations across the Northern Territory has a counter disaster plan for cyclones and flooding in the Top End, and flooding around the Centre and throughout the Northern Territory. Each police region has a counter disaster plan and a counter disaster committee is convened when we face events such as flooding.
The decision was taken to evacuate the community before the situation became worse and roads out of the community were completely impassable. I advise honourable members that 198 residents were evacuated to Mataranka. I congratulate Police, Fire, and Emergency Services and everyone else who was involved in coordinating this effort. The evacuees are being accommodated in the town hall - 163 people; and there are 35 at the Mataranka Primary School. Provision of food to evacuees is likely to be done by way of a voucher system, as occurred during the 2006 floods. Vouchers can be presented to Mataranka Store and swapped for food items. As best arrangements can be put in place, they will be put in place.
I am advised that because water is coming from both the north and south of the region it is difficult to calculate how long the region will be in flood. In the 2006 floods, the water only came from the north making the duration of flooding easier to predict. These things are evaluated on a day-by-day basis. That is the extent of the information I have at the moment.
At Minyerri, Hodgson Downs, there is a large amount of surface water surrounding the community but no flooding of any buildings or residences has been experienced. There are only two buildings in the flood zone in this community - one of them being the community store and the other being the town clerk’s residence. Both are raised above ground on stilts and both had approximately 300 ml of water underneath overnight. The water is now receding. Infrastructure within the Minyerri community is fully functional and there is currently no threat to the safety of the residents posed by the current weather patterns.
As members would know, it seems every year the Beswick community comes under threat. The Waterhouse River at Beswick peaked at 8.35 m at 10 am this morning, and is now falling. This level is 2.5 m above the Beswick Bridge. There is no flooding within the community at this time and not likely to be in the immediate future. In the unlikely event that people are required to evacuate due to flooding at this community, they will be moved to the Beswick Top Camp which is on higher ground and not affected by floodwater. This is approximately 500 m from the flood-affected area. The Beswick School - and I was just talking to the previous member - the new school that we built 12 months ago is out of the flood zone and can also be used as an evacuation centre if required.
I am advised that the weather forecast is for the monsoon trough to move further north during this week. Obviously, police keep all of these areas under critical review. My thoughts go out to all of those residents who are potentially affected by rising floodwaters. It is a difficult and stressful time, but I can assure everyone that police are standing by, emergency plans are in place and they will be effected if there is a requirement to do so.
Cyclone Shelters –
Federal Infrastructure Funding
Federal Infrastructure Funding
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The federal member for McEwen has suggested that monies be used to ensure that schools in bushfire zones offer protection from bushfires. This idea has been applauded by commentators and politicians on both sides of politics. Considering the greatest threat to us in the Territory’s Top End is that of cyclone, and we have protection for less than 20% of the population from monster cyclones, such as Category 5 Cyclone Monica, will you now take a leadership position and direct the federal funding for infrastructure to installing or upgrading facilities to give a cyclone shelter in every Top End school from Category 5 cyclones? If not, what then will you do to ensure residents of the Top End have protection from Category 5 cyclones?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. It is very interesting that he comes in here today with wonderful ideas about how to spend this stimulus package money, whereas last week he was voting against the stimulus package.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That assertion is clearly and patently untrue. The Chief Minister should withdraw it.
Mr Mills: Indeed.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, everyone in this House is aware of the way the opposition opposed the stimulus package last week. It is true.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There was no vote taken in relation to this. It was done on the voices. He cannot make those allegations whatsoever.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Honourable members, after seeking advice, we note that there was no vote taken specifically on the stimulus package. Chief Minister, I ask you to re-word your comments, thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: I am very happy to re-word, Madam Speaker, that the Senator for the Country Liberals in Canberra voted against the stimulus package. The last time I looked, they were supposed to be all of the same party. The Country Liberals, or the Liberal Party as they are now, and the Leader of the Opposition, did not support the package because their Senator in the Senate voted against it.
To the context of the question, we have secured millions of dollars from the Commonwealth for upgrades to primary schools throughout the Northern Territory.
Mr Tollner: You have not secured anything. You have lain down and had your belly tickled.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The only thing the member for Fong Lim secured for the Northern Territory was a few flag poles; that is what he contributed during his six years in the Commonwealth parliament.
What we have achieved in signing up to this package is millions of dollars-worth of upgrades to our primary schools throughout the Northern Territory including the coastal communities. The Treasurer and I specifically spoke at COAG about having flexibility within the design parameters for this package to use this money to upgrade major school infrastructure to accommodate cyclone shelters throughout the Top End. So we have already done this. We have already asked the Commonwealth government for flexibility in this regard.
As I said, two years ago, in the budget, we actually put together $3m a year, the first time in the Territory’s history, for a line item to upgrade cyclone shelters across the Northern Territory. We are doing that. We will be working, and money will be spent, to ensure, wherever possible, new facilities and upgraded facilities to cyclone code standard in these coastal communities.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order; Madam Speaker! The question was quite specific: would the upgrade go to the standard of a Category 5 cyclone? The Chief Minister is not answering that question.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has the call and is still answering the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we will upgrade all those community facilities as part of the roll-out of this money, to accommodate cyclone shelters where we can across the Territory. We are in the middle of a program now. We will continue to roll-out that program and we will do it to the required building standards and building codes of Australia, as we have always done since self-government. Where we have had Category 5 storms cross the coast, all of the buildings that have been constructed to the appropriate code have withstood the storm and we will continue to construct to those standards.
Economic Stimulus Package –
Reduction of Red Tape
Reduction of Red Tape
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
As part of the Territory government’s response to the Rudd stimulus package, you announced a review of procurement and other efforts we can make to speed up processes. Can you please advise on your progress to slash red tape?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. As I have said before, many business people live in his electorate. I am committed, as part of rolling-out this stimulus package, to slash red tape for Territory business to ensure we can get this work into the community as quickly and as effectively as possible.
We are currently undertaking one of the most comprehensive assessments in many years to streamline those processes, to take weeks out of the system, to get work out the door and keep Territorians employed as part of our response. Over the weekend, I announced that the government was putting on the table for public discussion significant shifts in the threshold for tendering and procurement. These have not moved in such a significant way for many years.
In part, this is what I am proposing: the current threshold for single quotations is up to $5000; I am proposing that we lift this to $15 000. This will allow public servants to obtain single quotes for goods and services up to $15 000. At the moment, tier 2 purchasing is between $5000 and $10 000. This requires a minimum of three written quotes and public gazettal. I am proposing to take that from $15 000 to $100 000, which will take weeks out of the process. At present, any procurement of any goods or services over $50 000 has to go to full public tender. I am proposing to take that new tier 3 from $100 000 to $200 000, taking many weeks out of the system for procurement. The most important change to this threshold is that over 40% of all government procurement is within the sub-$200 000 category. That really does free up an enormous amount of paperwork and time for Territory small businesses to respond to complex tenders. Tier 4 procurement will change. At the moment, $50 000 to $250 000 requires public tender, value for money criteria, and PRB approval. The proposal is to take that from $200 000 to $1m.
A significant change I am proposing is that all of the weightings that public servants consider in applying value for money criteria are to be disclosed in the original tender document. This has been an issue that has been consistently raised with me as the previous Business minister. In regard to tenders of this size and scale of value, tenderers are unsure of the weightings that have been applied so they do not really know what government is looking for. Disclosing those weightings will be a first. These are significant proposals.
There is some industry concern around oversight. I have discussed with my colleague, the minister for procurement and Business, that we will have a very rigorous and transparent regime around this. We will be talking to the Auditor-General regarding establishing an appropriate regime around these new proposals, and that is an absolute commitment.
I have received feedback through my office over the weekend that there is overwhelming support. People are saying that the tendering process is, by and large, too complicated. It takes too long, it is too time consuming, and it introduces uncertainty for businesses and their business plans. This has been well received.
They are proposals to date. We will consult broadly about this. It is another way of demonstrating my commitment, as Chief Minister, to keep our economy strong, to keep jobs here in the Northern Territory, and to expedite government spending in an open, transparent and accountable way to the benefit of Territory businesses and to the benefit of Territory jobs.
McArthur River Mine – Federal Approval
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
A decision on the McArthur River Mine was promised by 6 February, and still no decision has been made regarding what additional environmental requirements will be needed for MRM to reopen. It is now a full 10 days since that decision was promised. Hundreds of Territory workers remain without employment because of this disgraceful delay by the federal Environment minister.
In light of your regular assertions that your government is all about jobs for Territorians, when will you stand up for Territory jobs and give McArthur River the green light?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. It is a very good question. The federal government is very clear at any number of levels that, as Chief Minister, I support this mine. I support the jobs that go with it. The issue around the environmental approvals is one for minister Garrett to make a final determination on. As far as our support for the mine, it is absolutely total.
My heart does go out to the workers, and their families, who have been stood down as a result of this particular issue. However, the issue that the mine is facing is of the previous Liberal Party’s making. The issue goes to the incompetence of the previous Environment minister who could not be bothered, on such an important issue, to actually read the document that was put forward for him to sign to make a decision. That is how incompetent the previous minister was, that on an issue of such critical sensitivity and importance, he could not be bothered to read it. That is why we are in the position we are in today.
As I have said on many occasions, the Territory government’s processes for environmental approvals, where we share those processes with the Australian government, is that I have given an absolute clear instruction to the relevant minister and departmental people concerned that we will abide by every i and t of the letter of the law in regard to our environmental approval processes. They have been oversighted by the courts. They have been given the tick by the courts that they have been done with absolute integrity.
I would expect the federal Environment minister to apply absolute integrity …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This answer is unnecessarily long. The question was very simple: what have you done to protect Territory jobs?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Please resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the issue is not about what the Territory government has done. The issue is the approval process for the Commonwealth minister.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was: what has the Chief Minister done to support Territory jobs? He is not being relevant to the question. I would ask you to draw him back to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I believe there are a number of parts to the question, including the signing of documents. Is that correct?
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: If I could go back to the actual question …
Madam SPEAKER: I do not think it is really necessary. I am saying that it is a multi-pronged question. The Chief Minister has the call, but if he could get to the point as soon as possible.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the Commonwealth government is very clearly aware of the Territory government’s position; that we want to see this mine continue and the jobs continue with it. The issue is an issue for the federal Environment minister to make a determination on. As I have said, such is …
Mr Tollner: What have you done to encourage him to make the decision in a timely manner?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I wonder if the member for Fong Lim, the then member for Solomon, was at the photocopier and only photocopied one side of the papers to put forward to the minister to sign. That would have been his level of involvement in this; that he could not work the photocopying machine. However …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: The issue is one of absolute integrity to the process. As I have said - and we are all aware in this Chamber – there are lawyers at 50 yards on either side of this particular issue. Any final signature by the Commonwealth minister is going to have to stand up to legal scrutiny, unlike the previous minister who introduced all the uncertainty into this that we are facing at the moment. There is one culprit here who is the reason why we are here today, the reason why there were 300 people being stood down, an uncertainty about this particular mine - and the culprit is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … is the former Environment minister in the Howard government, Ian Campbell, who could not be bothered to read the documents that were put before him. That is the reason why we are here today.
Madam Speaker, I hope for a resolution to this issue as quickly as possible in the interests of the 300 workers who have been stood down and their families.
Economic Stimulus Package – Summit Briefing on Territory Response
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
As part of his five-point plan response to implementing the Rudd stimulus package, the Chief Minister said he would host a summit of industry and community leaders to brief them. Has that summit been held, and can he tell the House about the results of it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Yesterday, around 130 community and business leaders gave up their Sunday to come to Parliament House to be briefed on the stimulus package and the impact of that package to the economy of the Northern Territory. I thank all of those people who did give up a significant part of their Sunday to attend the summit.
They were from a broad cross-section of the Territory economy. Guests included many of the construction companies and businesses that will be delivering the work. There were representatives from school principals and educational leaders; the non-government sector, represented by the NT Council of Social Services; non-government schools were represented, as well as unions.
I opened the summit with a presentation of the elements of the package. I outlined proposals for streamlining the procurement system. My speech was followed by the Coordinator-General who has been appointed within government, who went through the details of how this will be rolled out at a government level. There was a panel of senior public servants available to discuss implementation plans in more detail. It was a very wide-ranging discussion. A number of issues were put on the table for discussion by the business community. At the end of the discussion, I advised that we would establish a reference group from the business community to work with us in government as we detail these packages and put them out to public tender.
We will look at how we can further streamline delegations, approval processes within government, and the establishment of panels for this work. That was very well received. We will also develop a website which will be a one-stop shop where people can register their interest and receive updates as the website is updated. They were very interested. They wanted to know more about the coordination efforts, how this work was going to be bundled up, and to what effect across the Territory.
We will be holding similar workshops across the Northern Territory in our regional centres. The Minister for Regional Development and the Minister for Local Government will be heading those up next week, because there are significant regional benefits as a result of this roll-out - very significant to our regions. I believe Alice Springs, off the top of the head, will see around a $60m to $80m injection into the economy that was certainly opposed by the CLP Senator in Canberra who voted against this particular stimulus package.
I thank everyone who came in and spent part of their Sunday to be updated. I thank all those members of the community who put forward proposals and suggestions about streamlining this process so they can keep people employed right throughout the Territory. We will do everything in our power to make sure that all of those businesses and people employed in the regions, as well as in Darwin and Palmerston, benefit from this package.
Health System – Proposed Control
by Federal Government
by Federal Government
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
As you are probably aware, the federal government is scheming to centralise the provision of health services across Australia. Do you oppose the federal government imposing a 14% tax on ordinary Territorians to pay for Canberra’s grab for control of the health system?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is very interesting to hear that the federal government is ‘scheming’ to take control of all the hospitals. The only thing that came out today was the interim report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. It actually has three proposals but, of course, he would pick up the one that suits his purpose rather than tell the truth here.
This commission was put in place by the Rudd government in order to stop the blame game. This commission is to decide on the reform of the health system over the long term. This commission, headed by Dr Christine Bennett, who will brief me next week, has made a number of proposals which I believe are very valid and have to be considered by all Australians. Everyone here knows, not only in the Territory or in Australia but all over the world, that health systems are under enormous pressure. People live longer, people demand more services. Primary health care services are really under stress and we have to do something.
This commission put out an interim report proposing three solutions. The first one is to share responsibility with clear accountability between governments. The Commonwealth will be responsible for primary health care, but to establish a fair, robust funding model for hospital services. Another one is …
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very specific. I have read that interim report, minister. The question was very specific: do you oppose the federal government imposing a 14% tax on ordinary Territorians to pay for Canberra’s grab for control of the health system? Yes or no, minister?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Please resume your seat. Minister, if you can keep your answer as close as possible to the question.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I am surprised that he read the report. The interim report is the one with the proposals. It is not a final recommendation; it is one of three proposals.
The second proposal is that the Commonwealth take responsibility for the hospitals through regional authorities. Another one is that the Commonwealth has sole responsibility for health care through the social insurance scheme. There are three proposals. No one is going to say: ‘I am supporting this over the other’. This is a matter for discussion between states and territories and the federal government. When it comes to the crunch, I will make a decision, and I will take a position that will support Territory health services.
Economic Stimulus Package – Cash Payments
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
The cash payments component of the Rudd government’s stimulus package has changed since the initial announcement. Can you please update the House on the new cash payments arrangements?
Mr Tollner: Oh yes, good question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting. Treasurer, you have the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. This is a question of interest to many Territorians. The original stimulus package as proposed by the Prime Minister had a $950 cash payment for many Territorians. It also had a $650 cash payment for others, and then a $300 cash payment for other Territorians, totalling some 90 000-odd Territorians who stood to benefit.
Unfortunately, in order to get the stimulus package through the Senate the cash payments were reduced. The CLP was there, using their man in Canberra, Senator Nigel Scullion, to block the full amount of the payments going through to Territorians. If the CLP had not been blocking the stimulus package in Canberra, Territorians would have received $950, $650, or $300 in cash payments.
Shamefully, the CLP used its number in the Senate in Canberra to block the stimulus package, because we know it really came down to a tied vote. The CLP Senator Nigel Scullion, like South Australian Senator Xenophon, could have used his vote to deliver a better package for Territorians. Instead, he used his vote to deliver a worse package for Territorians.
Mr Conlan: What about Senator Crossin, what did she do? She just rolled over, did not even contribute.
Ms LAWRIE: Very clearly, the CLP are a bit sensitive on this subject. They know that, instead of $950 as a cash payment, Territorians in that category of taxable income up to and including $80 000 will receive $900. Instead of $650 for those between $80 000 and $90 000, those eligible Territorians will receive $600; and those Territorians earning between $90 000 and $100 000, instead of receiving a $300 cash payment, will receive a $250 cash payment.
We estimate that around 90 000 Territorians will receive a reduced payment - thanks to the efforts of the CLP in the Senate. These payments will be extremely handy for families. They will be using that money to try to get ahead in tough economic times. Importantly, as the previous Rudd stimulus package and the figures coming through show, these payments do work effectively as a stimulus. They do help with the maintenance of jobs, particularly in the retail sector …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: They really are a rabble, Madam Speaker.
The good news is that people do not have to apply for the payments. They will be made automatically from early April. In order to eligible, Territorians must have completed a 2007-08 tax return. I am reminding Territorians who have not yet completed that tax return, they should hurry up. If they do not get their tax return in by 30 June, they will miss out on this payment. Fortunately, the payment will not be used to offset a taxpayer’s tax liability. Even if you owe the tax office money, you will still get the money.
In spite of the best efforts of the CLP, ordinary Territorians will get a payment, albeit reduced by $50. If the members opposite wish to write to their constituents telling them that they should not be getting their money, then early April is the time to do that.
Health System – Proposed Control by
Federal Government
Federal Government
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
If the head of nursing could not convince the former Health Minister, the member for Johnston, of a nurse staffing crisis at the Royal Darwin Hospital, what chance would she have of convincing colleagues in Canberra, thousands of miles away, if the federal government centralised control of the Territory hospitals and community health services? Minister, are you opposed to Canberra’s grab for control of our hospitals and community health services?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first thing he talks about is a nursing crisis. I have a graph that shows, from 2003 to 2008, the nursing crisis …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: According to the graph, we have more nurses than we ever had before. How can we have a crisis?
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the minister table that graph.
Mr VATSKALIS: Absolutely, with pleasure. I was hoping you would ask for it.
How can you have a nursing crisis when the graph goes up and up? This government has put in 433 extra nurses. As I mentioned before, he can go and check it, Territory Health Services Annual Report 1998-99, page 11 - CLP effort - cut 200 nurses from 1996 to 1999, 200 nurses each year, in the report prepared by your own government.
Now about compulsory acquisition of hospitals in the Territory …
Mr CONLAN: A point of order; Madam Speaker! Could you please direct the minister to answer the question? The question was clearly: is he opposed to Canberra’s grab for control of our hospital and community health centres? Are you opposed to a federal takeover of Territory health?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, resume your seat. As in previous questions, the question has a number of parts and the minister has the call.
Mr CONLAN: Pardon me, Madam Speaker, it did not have a number of parts. There was one question. It was: minister, are you opposed to Canberra’s grab for control of our hospitals and community health services?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you had a preamble in the question. The minister is answering the question. When you ask a question that has a preamble, you might expect to receive a comment on the preamble.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and you are quite right. He started with the nursing crisis and I have to respond to that. He talks about the takeover from Canberra. The last time I saw a takeover, forcibly, by a federal government in Australia was …
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: A point of order; Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Please pause.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please pause. Order!
Dr BURNS: Standing Order 51. All the interjections from that side are designed to interrupt my colleague. I am very interested in what he has to say …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: He may not be giving the answer that the member for Greatorex wants, but then the member for Greatorex asked so many questions to begin with.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Resume your seat. There is definitely no question that Standing Order 51 is relevant in this case. There have been a large number of interjections. I am having considerable difficulty hearing the person who has the call. I ask for considerably fewer interjections, please. Minister, you have the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: As I have said before, the only time I have seen the Commonwealth government forcibly removing hospitals was in Tasmania by the previous Liberal government a few days before the election. The Commonwealth was taking control of the hospital, and surprise, surprise, while they did that and while they promised all the money, not one cent was delivered. The only time the federal government took control of health services from states and territories was under the previous Liberal government.
I am very proud of Northern Territory health services; I am very proud of the providers of the services; I am very proud of the people who work there …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, these are recommendations put by the commission in an interim report. They have not yet been finalised. We have worked cooperatively with the federal government in the past and we will continue to do so. This is a matter for discussion between the Health ministers of states and territories and the federal government, and it is going to be an interesting discussion.
Economic Stimulus Package – Effect on Construction Industry
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
The Rudd government’s stimulus package is a great boost for our construction industry. Can you update the House on the infrastructure components of the stimulus package?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Having analysed the Rudd government’s stimulus package, we are starting to see in more detail what it means for the Territory, and particularly that all-important infrastructure component, which latest estimates put at around $350m. This $350m estimate includes up to $200m in capital works which will deliver upgrades to every primary school. We are looking at new facilities such as libraries, multipurpose halls or art centres, and …
Ms Purick: As long as you make a new library for Taminmin.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Obviously, the member does not understand that Taminmin is not a primary school. The good news for Taminmin is that it will be eligible in the needs basis criteria for secondary schools for a significant item of infrastructure such as science laboratories and language laboratories. It is surprising that the CLP is quick to grab the good aspects of this fantastic stimulus package when they were busy blocking it in the Senate. If it had been up to the CLP, we would not be getting this investment in the Territory or the Territory’s infrastructure. The Johnnies-come- lately in the opposition are keen to grab it now. Isn’t that interesting?
As I was saying, there is $200m in capital works to deliver new facilities such as libraries, multipurpose halls or art centres to every primary school, and also significant refurbishment works through the repairs and maintenance $200 000.
There is some $65m for major investments in public housing. We estimate that will deliver about 200 new dwellings through new construction and refurbishment programs in our urban centres – Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. Of course, we know our remote centres are part of a Commonwealth/Territory government housing program, the largest of its kind in the history of the Territory, the SIHIP program. $76m for more Defence housing is significant for the residents of Darwin and Palmerston.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! The minister has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: They do not want to hear that Darwin and Palmerston will see the delivery of some 185 new Defence homes and, of course, we know how many personnel and their families that will be of benefit to in the Territory. We also recognise that that has the added benefit of decanting people from existing rental stock throughout Darwin and Palmerston, freeing up more rental stock. But members opposite would not necessarily pick up on the significance of that.
We will also see around $900m for our roads, black spots, and boom gates for rail crossings. That is critical regional and urban infrastructure.
This does not include the business tax relief, which we estimate could be worth around $27m for small- and medium-sized businesses. And, of course, the insulation program which could be worth $34m to small business.
The details of the infrastructure program were outlined yesterday to business and the community in the Chief Minister’s stimulus summit. Having listened to people yesterday who attended, the package was very warmly welcomed. The business community certainly knows that this package will be about delivering jobs for Territorians.
The Civil Contractors Federation of the Northern Territory, the people who build our roads, welcomed the initiative. They will be working with our government to maximise the training opportunities and benefits to all levels of the industry. The Territory Construction Association’s Graham Kemp also welcomed the package, stating: ‘We are seeing a slowing down of the private market, so, as that is rescinding, this type of expenditure is very timely and very important’. The Territory Cattlemen’s Association also supports this package in broad terms and welcomes the tax benefits for their members. They view the infrastructure component as a long-term shot in the arm for the Territory. The Property Council states that any extra dollars into the Territory is certainly welcomed by their members to keep our economy going ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is not a ministerial statement. It is Question Time. Can we have a bit of time devoted to questions? We have a ministerial statement on the same thing this afternoon.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, there is no point of order. There is no time limit for the answering of questions in this Chamber.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I recognise the CLP is not interested in what this delivers to Territorians. However, I can assure you that many of our listeners are very keen to hear any detail or commentary in and around the package.
Mr George Roussos, President of the Territory’s Chamber of Commerce, on ABC radio today, said that the stimulus package will help the Territory get through the next three years. He said:
- There is potential with the amount of spending anticipated in the Territory of an expected $510m. That is a fairly significant spend in our jurisdiction, and it would have the impact of tiding us through the next two to three years.
Madam Speaker, it seems the only people talking down this important stimulus package is the CLP.
Health System – Proposed Control
by Federal Government
by Federal Government
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
The federal government is scheming to take control of the health system because of the woeful performance of the Territory Labor government, particularly under the stewardship of the member for Johnston who, interestingly, said that he is displaying a lot of interest in the answer from the member for Casuarina. Too bad he did not demonstrate such interest when he was the minister …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex …
Mr CONLAN: However, I digress, Madam Speaker. How will you improve the abysmal performance of the health system in the Northern Territory to avoid this unwelcome outcome?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am really surprised that the member for Greatorex continues to talk the health system down. As I said before, the people who are working in the health system do a tremendous job under very difficult circumstances and enormous pressure. I am proud, because I have worked with these people. I know what work they do. I have friends working there. I do not rely upon bureaucracy giving me information; I get it firsthand when I am talking to my friends.
You talk about the takeover of hospitals in the Territory by the federal government. One of your colleagues in South Australia, Vickie Chapman, the spokesperson for the Liberal Party for Health said this reform does not go far enough. It should get not only the primary health care, but also the hospitals. You have to make up your mind, you Liberals, on what you want, one way or another, because we know what we want - better health care. We are going to work closely with the federal government to get more money, to get more resources to provide better health care.
Economic Stimulus Package –
Benefits to Small Business
Benefits to Small Business
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS
Can you please outline the benefits to small business of Rudd’s economic stimulus package?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very important question. Small business is certainly the engine room of the Northern Territory economy.
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Members opposite might not be interested, but business was very interested at the summit yesterday. Around the traps, people are very interested in what is being said here and what the package …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: They are just showing themselves to be completely out of touch. I see shades of INPEX in this. I believe they have made a very bad error in opposing this particular package. I am just waiting for the member for Blain to do a big backflip on this one, the same as he did on INPEX. However, I digress.
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker. The member for Blain did no such thing as backflip on INPEX. The member for Johnston is clearly verballing the member for Blain and I ask that he withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Goodness me, Madam Speaker. The current estimate of the benefits of the entire package to the Northern Territory is approximately $500m, and that is certainly punching above our weight in terms of what the Territory will receive.
There have been estimates done of the worth of this package across the Territory: Darwin and Palmerston, and western Top End, excluding Jabiru - $329m; Alice Springs - $80m; Katherine - $37m; Tennant Creek - $13m; Jabiru - $14m; and East Arnhem - $32m. Members opposite, certainly there might not have been a vote, but they certainly opposed it in this place last week. There was not one speaker that I heard who spoke in favour of it – not one speaker.
What did the members for Port Darwin, Sanderson, Blain, Drysdale, Fong Lim, Brennan and Goyder say about the $329m that I mentioned before? What will the member for Katherine tell his constituents about the $37m for the Katherine region? What about the Alice Springs members opposite? What will they say about the $80m for the Alice Springs region?
There are 12 000 small businesses right across the Territory – they are very interested, they are very welcoming of this package. They recognise the economic importance of it. There are tax breaks in here for business. Small businesses can claim an additional 30% tax deduction for eligible assets costing $1000 or more that they acquire from 13 December 2008 to 30 June 2009, and install by 30 June 2010. For eligible assets costing $1000 or more, that they apply from 1 July 2009 to 31 December 2009, small businesses can claim an additional 10% deduction where they are installed by 31 December 2010. Those small businesses need to have a turnover of $2m a year or less. Other businesses can receive the same deduction for eligible assets greater than $10 000.
Therefore, all Territory businesses can benefit from this package. Much depends on the take-up rate for this relief, but we will be publicising it heavily. I know the federal government will be publicising it heavily, and one would hope that members opposite will publicise it heavily.
Direct payments – another stimulus to our economy – a further $95m. I am disheartened to hear members opposite, and also, I am afraid to say, the member for Nelson, talk about how people are going to put all this money through the poker machines, they are going to buy grog. I have spoken to people who are going to benefit and have benefited from the previous stimulus put forward by the government, and members would be amazed at the very strategic way that people are spending. Yes, there may be people who do put it through the poker machines, but it is an over-generalisation, and I think an offensive over-generalisation, to say that everyone will do that with this stimulus. I think people will spend it, the majority of people will spend it sensibly, and the majority of Territorians will welcome this package.
Local Government Employees –
Workplace Principles
Workplace Principles
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In estimates last year, in reference to the super shires, I quoted Lucio Matarazzo from the ASU who said that workplace principles for local government employees were worth little as they were not enforceable. Your CEO replied that all new shires must accept all the liabilities of the previous community councils. You also said that there is a handful of people in those thousands of people that we are still negotiating with.
Why is it then that, according to the NT News today, 2500 NT local council employees – not a handful – have had their work agreements ruled invalid by the Workplace Authority? Do you agree with the Chamber of Commerce spokesman, Michael Maloney, who said workers were led up the garden path, presumably by you and your department?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The premise of the local government reform was to provide better governance and better service delivery, and was also about creating jobs and preserving conditions out bush. Part of the reform actually established some principles for the transition of existing council employees through to the new shires. There was a guarantee that those conditions would not change for the first 12 months while there was an agreement put in place.
As was highlighted in the article today, there was a greenfield agreement suggested by a WA private company. I became aware of that. Through the department, I made it very clear to the shires at that time, through their managers, that that was not going to be the case, and it was not. Those greenfield agreements never started. We have resourced the LHMU and the ASU to provide information and education to workers who have previously not had that made available to them, information about negotiating collective agreements. That is currently happening.
Matters are progressing well, especially in Tennant Creek, for a collective agreement. For the first time, local government employees across the Northern Territory will have their rights protected and enjoy conditions on a par with other shires. That will provide some fairness and security for a workforce which previously has not had that security. With respect to that handful of staff members that I alluded to at the time, there were, over time, some people in the Northern Territory who had unusually high remuneration packages for very simple jobs, compared to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: In my regular discussions with both unions, with Matthew Gardiner and Lucio Matarazzo, we discussed those employees; that where there were unusual and unacceptable conditions, we would talk about those. Those unions are talking with staff throughout the Northern Territory. We will end up with fair and reasonable collective agreements across the Northern Territory for the very first time.
Nation Building and Jobs Plan –
Benefits for the Territory
Benefits for the Territory
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Can you advise the House on the benefits of the Australian government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan for roads and transport safety in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I would like to draw on the nature of nation building, and that is what the stimulus package represents in my new ministry of Transport. May I say how excited I am and privileged with this portfolio.
Mr Elferink: Are you excited by Kevin’s package?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I will ignore that interjection. I will go back to the concept of Nation Building and Jobs Plan, not frivolous interjections to try to throw me off what is important to deliver – Nation Building and Jobs Plan as the new Transport Minister, who also is the member for Barkly, with a very strong regional focus in this area.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McCARTHY: This stimulus package represents initiatives in regional transport. We welcome that and, as a government, we celebrate that and delivering for Territorians across the board.
Across the country, there will be 350 additional road safety improvements. This is a very important development in terms of a stimulus package, providing real social and economic benefits. When we talk about safety, we are talking about safety on our roads and on our rail. The Treasurer has mentioned the safety aspects of boom gates …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can the minister clarify what he is referring to? Is he talking about the $4m of road funding that we are getting in this package? Is that what you are talking about? I am curious …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, there is no point of order. The minister is answering the question. Minister, you have the call.
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I was talking about roads and rail and, for the benefit for the member for Fong Lim, yes, we are talking about additional resources in this area. We will get to roads, member for Fong Lim. However, let me outline that we have identified 12 priority rail crossings across the Territory for upgrading. We have already committed $4.26m …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I take it the minister is announcing that their pre-election promises are now being funded by a package from the federal government …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin is wrong, yet again.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, but there is no point of order, nevertheless. Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have committed $4.26m to these improvements, and the stimulus package adds extra, and the concept is additional. It is a pretty simple concept. It represents nation building and a jobs plan, and we are very determined to deliver. We have heard it from the Chief Minister, the Treasurer, and the Minister for Business. I am not sure how come the opposition does not get it, but as the new Minister for Transport, in areas I am outlining, I am very excited to deliver this information to Territorians.
Madam Speaker, 23% of our major roads are sealed. This stimulus package represents real initiatives into sealing more roads around the Territory. It represents a regional focus. As the member for Barkly, I am privileged to deliver this very important information to the people of Barkly and the people of the regions in the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McCARTHY: The Australian government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan will add …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! They continue to interject. They are a rabble. Certainly, Standing Order 51 indicates that there should be a modicum of quiet in which we hear ministers’ answers.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, I am having considerable difficulty in hearing the minister. I would appreciate fewer interruptions, please. Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to conclude by saying that the Nation Building and Jobs Plan will add significant improvements to the Territory for Territorians.
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