2009-10-13
Public Housing Waiting Lists
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for HOUSING
Yesterday, you told this House that the Territory had one of the lowest public housing waiting lists in the country. That is untrue. The fact is, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the Territory has the second-largest per capita waiting list in the country, and it is growing, as this chart indicates.
Can you please tell the House, was your factually incorrect statement …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member for Goyder to table the document and also the ABS report.
Madam SPEAKER: Would you seek leave to table the document, member for Goyder?
Dr BURNS: And the report.
Madam SPEAKER: Do you wish to table the report? Seek leave.
Ms PURICK: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the graph.
Leave granted.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member is tabling a graph. There is no capacity for the government to order or request that she table anything other than the document she is referring to. I am now hearing the Leader of Government Business demanding she table an ABS report, which she has not, in any way …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin there is no point of order. The Assembly has decided that it will be tabled.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Leader of Government Business. Continue with the question. It is a very long question, I might add.
Ms PURICK: Minister, can you please tell this House, was your factually incorrect statement a sign of your sheer incompetence or a measure of your deceit?
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Please, resume your seat. Member for Goyder, you are very aware that you are not allowed to have matters which have to go into a substantive motion in a question. I would like you to reword, please.
Ms PURICK: My apologies, Madam Speaker. Minister, can you please tell this House, was your factually incorrect statement a sign of the fact that you, in your ministerial portfolio, have absolutely no idea what you are doing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a goal of this Henderson Labor government to provide safe and affordable housing for Territorians. That has been a clear goal of this government in moving forward. We have a plan. We have Housing the Territory. We have the only plan in the Territory going forward. The growing demand for subsidised housing is putting increased pressure on our wait lists. It is putting pressure on wait lists right across the nation. Those wait lists provide huge challenges. Sadly, those wait lists will be challenged into the future.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: We do have the third-lowest number of people on our wait lists in the country. The proportion of the wait lists each year …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: The proportion of the wait lists each year is comparable to most states. This was drawn from a 2007-08 Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report. I do not know where the information the Deputy Leader of the Opposition …
Ms Purick: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Heard of them? They are in Canberra.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: There was very little detail around where the Deputy Leader of the Opposition got her figures from. If she was talking about the last census done in 2006 …
Ms Purick: From March 2009.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: These figures are from, as I said, the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report for the financial year 2007-08. Can I say, sadly, having been at a ministerial council meeting not too long ago, that the housing waiting lists are growing in all other jurisdictions. There are 40 000 people on the waiting list in Victoria, sadly. As I alluded to yesterday, there are an extra 400 people every month going onto the WA housing waiting list. We are trying to do our bit here. 8.3% of …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, 8.3% of all Territory dwellings are actually public housing. That is nearly double the rate compared to the rest of Australia. We have more public housing dwellings in the Northern Territory. If the CLP had not sold off 1300 of those properties …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, if the CLP had not sold off 1300 properties in their last five years in government, we would have had substantially lower waiting lists. The value of that stock was some $248m. Where did that money go? It did not go back into housing. Only $87m actually went back into housing. That is disgraceful .
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: I will admit that housing waiting lists are difficult to compare. Some jurisdictions do not publish; some only accept priority housing people, they do not accept general applications. It really is difficult to compare apples with apples. However, at the end of the day …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I note your concern about the length of the question. I wonder about the length of the answer. We are not really getting to the point and it is becoming embarrassing.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat please, minister.
As has always happened in this Chamber, there is a lot of latitude in the asking of questions and the answering of them. This was a particularly long question which had, probably, four or five different aspects to it. The minister is answering the question. I would like you to come to the point fairly soon, although there are a number of points which were in the preamble which you must expect any minister would try to respond to. I suggest, if you are wishing to have answers which are shorter, that, in fact, you ask a question which is shorter, and then maybe you might get a shorter answer.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. One person on the waiting list is too many. We are trying to house as many people as possible. We should not get into squabbling over whether it is this many or that many. We have to stop selling off our public housing and …
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, we do have a plan. The Territory Labor government does have a plan - the only plan going in the Northern Territory at the moment. We are strategically investing in the stock that we need, that is, for seniors and singles. That is the growing demand on our public housing area.
Whilst we are carrying on the operations of Territory Housing, we are working with the non-government sector. Through the first stage of the stimulus package - $4m went to refurbishing nearly 290 properties. We have currently brought back online 84 properties, with another 84 to be finished before Christmas – so that has happened. We have another 22 properties being constructed at the moment - $7m coming from the stimulus package. Another $48m has come in from Stage 2, and that will construct 200 dwellings across the Northern Territory - not just in Darwin, across the Territory.
Under the recently signed National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, 32 homes for homeless people will be provided in the Northern Territory. In the Territory government’s budget alone, we have put in money - $2.7m for short-term accommodation; 127 beds in Christian Outreach …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very specific in relation to whether he stood by his figures produced yesterday. This answer has nothing to do with that.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. As I say, the question was not specific. Minister, can you please come to the answer pretty quickly?
Mr KNIGHT: It has been this government which has record rental investment in housing - $390m in the current budget. It has been this government which has comprehensively come up with a plan to roll out housing in a whole range of areas: land release, rental accommodation, affordable rental accommodation, and it has been this government that has planned. The CLP has no plan.
Palmerston – Investment in Education
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Would you please detail for the House what the Territory government has done to invest in education in Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. As a former teacher, I know she has really contributed to education in the Northern Territory.
We all know Palmerston and the rural area is the fastest growing region of the Northern Territory. As I detailed in my statement to the House yesterday, all the forecasts are that Palmerston is going to experience significant growth over the next decade; growth figures of population growth and economic growth that are good things for the Northern Territory.
This is a government that has a plan for Palmerston: massive infrastructure projects in terms of roads, schools, housing, and land release; it is an exciting time for Palmerston.
The single largest investment in education infrastructure since Palmerston was established all those years ago Is under construction at the moment - the Rosebery primary and middle schools. I have been out a number of times to inspect those sites. It is a magnificent project for a brand new middle school, brand new primary school, shared facilities - $54.5m - it is two state-of-the-art schools for Palmerston.
As well as the Territory government’s investment, I have to pay tribute to the Australian government for their investment in our schools through the stimulus package. If we just look at Palmerston, with the Primary Schools for the 21st Century package, $16.5m is to be spent in schools in Palmerston over the next couple of years: Bakewell, Driver, Durack, Gray, Moulden Park, Woodroffe Primary, the Christian school in Palmerston, are all getting $16.5m. That is a stimulus package that the CLP opposed. They opposed it. They voted against it in the Senate, and I am sure …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the member for Brennan, the member for Drysdale, and the member for Blain will not be turning up at the opening of these new facilities …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Resume your seat, Chief Minister.
Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51, which many members do not believe relates to them:
- 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 was unable to hear the Chief Minister, who has been asked a question. I ask you to have the courtesy to allow him to answer the question. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. All those schools …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, all of those schools in Palmerston are very excited about receiving their upgrades. It is not only the upgrades of major facilities. Also, under the stimulus package, the National School Pride program, there is $1.25m for painting schools, for minor repairs and maintenance …
Mr Giles: How do they feel about law and order in Palmerston?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … new play equipment for the schools, Madam Speaker.
Mr Conlan: ANZAC Hill High School.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: I have spoken to the principals and school councils chairs. They are very excited about this. I point out that the CLP actually opposed this funding.
There is $74.3m for education in Palmerston, for infrastructure in Palmerston, which will serve the community in Palmerston well over the years ahead.
SIHIP – Statements by Minister for Housing
Mr GILES to MINISTER for HOUSING
You came into this House on 10 June and claimed that this year you would deliver around 100 new houses and refurbish more than 700 existing homes as part of SIHIP. We know SIHIP will be lucky to deliver but a handful of new houses this year. There is no excuse for you not knowing just what SIHIP will deliver this year. Can you please tell this House if your factually incorrect statement was a sign of your incompetence, or a measure of your deceit?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, I ask you to reword that question. You are very aware that you are not allowed to make comments like that except by way of substantive motion.
Dr Burns: Either that or he is too dumb.
Mr GILES: Minister, can you please tell …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, can you please withdraw that comment.
Dr BURNS: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Mr GILES: Minister, can you please tell this House if your factually incorrect statement was a sign of your incompetence or a measure of your negligence?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it will be this government, and the Rudd Labor federal government, which will deliver 750 new homes to the bush; 2500 refurbishments, and 230 rebuilds. We will build them, on time and on budget.
With respect to the comments of the target of 100 homes, it was actually for this financial year, member for Braitling. If you had bothered to listen a little bit more carefully …
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister will recall he made this comment in June, which was last financial year.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. It is not a point of order. Minister, you have the call.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, as I said, our target is 100 homes in this financial year. We are busily at work. They are working in the three initial packages now, and also the three new packages. Work is under way; it has been under way for quite some time now. They will deliver on every single one of those 750 homes and 2500 refurbishments. I do not know why the CLP want to run this program down, want to run the delivery of …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Palmerston - Expansion
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Can you please update the House on the progress of the government’s plan to expand the City of Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Under our Housing the Territory plan, we are expanding the City of Palmerston with something like 4000 new housing lots in this vital growth city. Bellamack alone will provide around 670 lots. We have already seen 234 approved by the Development Consent Authority, with 100 already sold.
The new suburb of Johnston will yield around 850 lots.
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: They just do not want to hear it. They propose to represent the people of Palmerston, but they do not want to hear what is occurring today in Palmerston.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: The new suburb of Johnston will yield around 850 lots. Headworks valued at $10.5m have already commenced. That is putting in new roads, construction of power, water and sewerage mains. Options for two development leases for stage 1 of Johnston will occur at the end of this month. Planning has already commenced on the suburb of Zuccoli; that will yield up to something like 1750 lots. It will become one of the biggest suburbs in Palmerston. Separately, lots in Zuccoli will be expected to go on sale next year. Mitchell will follow the release of Zuccoli. It will come on line with 400 lots of land in 2012.
The government also has an agreement in place with Palmerston CDU for a new subdivision adjoining Durack, and that will yield around 500 lots for people in Palmerston.
The government is spending $50m fast-tracking the power and the water for these new suburbs. We are building new schools, the health service facilities are expanding, and we are building new recreation facilities to help build the whole of Palmerston into the future.
SIHIP - Management and Administration Costs
Mr GILES to MINISTER for HOUSING
You have said that SIHIP project management and administration costs are currently running at 11.4% of the overall value of the project, but that can be worked down to around 8%. We also know that you are reducing the sizes of some houses to one-bedroom units just to meet your promise of 750 houses and 230 replacement houses under SIHIP.
My short question is: is it not the case that there are more bureaucrats, Territory and Commonwealth, now working on SIHIP than prior to the Cattermole/Davis inquiry?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I remind members asking questions that there is a single question; there is not a long question and a short question. There is a single question, which may include a very short preamble, but there is a lot of information in that preamble which may well mean that the minister answers a question you do not want him to answer. I am just advising you, minister. It is your call now.
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the member for Braitling would be aware, there is obviously a review; and there are always ongoing reviews with major projects, and we are open to scrutiny. The review highlighted that we have the ability to reduce our administration costs. Currently, they are tracking at 11.4% which is well below what was agreed at 15%, which is an industry benchmark for large scale infrastructure projects like this. We have it at 11.4%, below the 15%, but we feel we can get it down to 8%.
That is extremely low considering this is not just an infrastructure project; this has a social aspect to it. It has jobs involved in it, it has community engagement. It is not about just going out and building a house. It is about talking to the owners of the land, the government …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: … negotiating with the owners of the land about long-term certain leases, and that is the requirement of building these new houses. That is a difficult process in itself, and a time-consuming process. The refurbishments are another large component of the project, and require extensive scoping. The houses there have basically no building certification, no designs, and so …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is a very complex project. We do have the administration costs down at 11.4%, but we will drive them even lower.
Santa Teresa - Re-roofing Houses
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HOUSING
After storms struck Santa Teresa last year, the Commonwealth gave $440 000 for repairs to houses. Seven months later, two houses still have not had roofs replaced, and now you say the houses will have to be demolished and new ones built. Why is it that you have waited this long to act, even though there is a housing crisis in Aboriginal communities? Why do you only act when the media finds you out?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Santa Teresa was hit by that storm. Initial reports said that three roofs had been blown off. I actually went to the community only two weeks ago to look at the three houses which were identified. Lot 140 and Lot 255 actually had their roofs removed; Lot 139 still had a roof on it. On inspecting those properties …
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: Do you want me to answer the question, or do you just want to keep interjecting?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: What really struck me about the two properties is that, on inspection, the roofs were never actually tied into the roof - they just sat on the walls. There were no tie-downs through them, there was no reinforcing through the block work, through the walls. The walls were not actually connected to the slab; the roof was not connected to the walls, and you would have us whack a roof on the top of it. Well, I do not believe that is acceptable. That type of attitude and that practice has to stop.
That is where SIHIP is very different. It is not about slapping houses up for the cheapest and the dirtiest prices that you can get. It is about putting proper infrastructure in place; assets which are going to last and are going to be safe.
I have instructed the department that they are going to build new homes there, because if ...
Mr Giles: Tenants are still paying rent for those houses.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: … they are not safe, they are not worth living in, basically, and they need to be pulled down. Any sort of …
Mr Giles: Why did you not fix it 12 months ago?
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, if you just whack a roof on top when there is structural …
Mr Bohlin: Why did you not fix it 12 months ago?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Drysdale continually interjects at a low level. I want to hear what the minister is saying. It is very intentional on his part to interrupt the member and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … to run interference on his answer. He should show a bit of courtesy and just be quiet and listen to what the minister has to say in answer to a question that has been asked by his colleague.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat.
Mr Styles: It was not one of our colleagues; it was the member for Macdonnell, Independent.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson! You are on a warning. When the Speaker is speaking, you do not speak.
There does seem to be a rumble from that area. It is quite difficult from the Chair to actually hear what you are saying unless I am looking at you at the time. It does seem to be a low level of interjection there. I remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt of has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Minister, you have the call, but could you come to the point pretty quickly.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I was concluding.
Those houses were not worth rebuilding, because you would have had to rebuild them entirely to fix them. We will be building two new homes to accommodate those families, and they will be safe in those new homes.
SIHIP – Cost of Houses
Mr GILES to MINISTER for HOUSING
Can you please explain to this Chamber why Bathurst Island Housing Association can build a three-bedroom house on the Tiwi Islands for $355 000 yet, under SIHIP, a smaller house in the same location will cost more than $450 000. Why was Bathurst Island Housing Association not contracted to deliver these high-quality, low-cost houses under SIHIP? Is this not an example of just how poorly you and your failed leadership have managed SIHIP to date?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is great to see a local building company out there. However, I can go to Humpty Doo, and buy a habitable shed for about $30 000 or $40 000 …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was about Bathurst Island; it was not about Humpty Doo. We want to get to the point of the failed management …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. The minister has only just started answering the question.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I can get a $30 000 or $40 000 house from the habitable sheds at Humpty Doo, and knock it up on a block for probably another $30 000 or $40 000. It is about comparing apples with apples, member for Braitling. You are not really interested in the quality of these products out there.
We will not go back to the past, member for Braitling. We will not just slap these houses up with $20 locks on the front doors. These are properties that we are going to be looking after in the future. We want to ensure that they are the most robust houses we can get. We are not going to put cheap fixtures and fittings throughout these properties. They are going to be government owned and government run, and so we are going to deliver a quality product. If you want to put something cheap and nasty out there for Aboriginal people, you go ahead, but we are not going to do it.
Palmerston and Rural Areas –
Expansion of Health Services
Expansion of Health Services
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
We have seen record spending on primary health care funding for our remote regions. Can you update the House on how the Henderson government is expanding health services for residents in the urban areas, such as Palmerston and our rural areas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Our government is committed to provide health services to all Territorians, irrespective of where they live. Expanding health services for the Palmerston and rural area is a priority for our government.
We know Palmerston is a very fast-growing town. I remember when I first came here, there was a sign, ‘Palmerston 7000 population’. I think Palmerston now has about 29 000 or 30 000, making it the second biggest town in the Territory.
Stage 1 of the Palmerston Super Clinic has received strong support from people in Palmerston, with 8000 people visiting the clinic since December - 28 people every day. Of course, work for the construction of the new $10m Super Clinic is under way - Norbuilt has won the contract - and it is expected to be operational by mid-2010.
On top of that, we have provided a new ambulance service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Palmerston. Reports I have received is that this service has improved the response times in the Palmerston and rural area.
Our next major development in Palmerston will be a hospital; a hospital to complement Royal Darwin Hospital. A hospital that will not strip the Royal Darwin Hospital of staff just to duplicate exactly the same hospital. It will be a hospital that will not only complement the Royal Darwin Hospital, but will be planned in such a way that it will cater for Darwin now, in the next five years, the next 10 years, the next 20 years. I will be very pleased in the next few days to announce the successful tender for the study that will be undertaken and, in consultation with the community, will actually establish where the hospital will be constructed, and what kind of hospital it will be. It will take into account the mobility, the special conditions of Palmerston and, of course, the age of the population. There are different needs in Palmerston than in some of the areas where the population is ageing.
As I said before, we are planning for the future. This hospital will be a hospital to cater for the people of Darwin, for the people of Palmerston and the rural area for many years to come.
Territory Housing – Eviction of Tenant
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for HOUSING
On 3 September, Territory Housing took the extraordinary cold and heartless step of evicting a 14-year-old girl from a Shiers Street unit in The Narrows just a couple of days after her father died. How is it that, under your leadership, the culture within Territory Housing is such that a 14-year-old girl can be evicted from a government unit just days after the death of her father?
Ms Lawrie: They came out and apologised.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: Do you have something to say, member for Karama?
Ms Lawrie: Yes.
Mr TOLLNER: What?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. I have called a member to ask a question. I would like the question to be listened to, and then the minister to answer the question. I would appreciate all members not interjecting. Member for Fong Lim, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, Madam Speaker, I had trouble hearing what I was saying above the …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, just ask the question.
Mr TOLLNER: I did ask the question, Madam Speaker, but I am waiting on an answer.
Madam SPEAKER: You have completed the question?
Mr TOLLNER: Do you want me to repeat the question?
Madam SPEAKER: You have completed the question, have you?
Mr TOLLNER: Sorry, Madam Speaker, I will repeat …
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not necessary. If you have finished the question I am sure the minister heard it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I start this answer by wishing this young lady all the best in her life. She has obviously been through a lot in her short life, and I do wish her all the best. There are many people who are ready to support this young lady and I hope she makes use of that support.
Madam Speaker, that particular day, many very important decisions were made. Territory Housing staff, who knew this young lady for quite some time, had been working with, both her, since her father died, and also NT Families and Children with respect to looking after her. They attended the property on the day after there had been an incident the night before, where windows at the rear of that unit were actually broken and there was access that could have been made available.
When they attended the unit, the front door was broken as well. They called contractors and got them there to try to secure the property. The advice I have from the Tenancy staff is that they spoke to this young lady, who they obviously knew, and they offered to take her to some care. She did not want to do that; she had other arrangements. The place was boarded up for security of the possessions of this young lady and, again, Territory Housing staff left that property with the understanding that she was going with friends.
They were concerned about her welfare, so they called police. What happened after that really does concern me, because the member for Fong Lim got involved. We had a 14-year-old girl – I have a 13-year-old son; the member for Fong Lim has children of a similar age – so what was the responsible thing to do for an adult, for a member of parliament? What was the first phone call that you needed to make? Was it to the police? Was it to the Department of Health and Families? No, it was to media outlets: ‘Come down and have a look at this …’
Members interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Just to clarify for the minister, the first phone call I made was to Territory Housing; they had closed up. The second phone call was to the minister’s offices.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. If you wish to, you may approach me later to make a personal explanation.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, he is making some pretty outrageous allegations.
Members interjecting.
Mr Giles: You are a grub.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would ask that the member for Braitling withdraw that remark.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, I would ask you to withdraw, please.
Mr GILES: I withdraw ‘grub’, Madam Speaker.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I was interstate at the time, but I got a phone call that night. The gravity of the situation, the need to get this young lady in touch with support agencies was imperative. I called another member of parliament to give me the member for Fong Lim’s mobile phone number. I passed that number on to NT Families and Children so they could call and encourage her to take up the offer of accommodation.
Mr Tollner: I had already been in touch with them, you drongo. Get across the issue.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: There is a duty of care.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members, order! Minister, you have the call.
Mr KNIGHT: The member for Fong Lim is an adult, he is obviously a man in a responsible position. There is a moral imperative …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale, cease interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: …for a 14-year-old child, a child of similar age to his own children, Madam Speaker. I would hope if my child was in a similar situation, that the person with authority would actually contact the police, or contact support agencies to try to help this person.
Madam Speaker, I have spoken to the Tenancy staff and they realise they should have stayed …
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 51: the question that the member for Fong Lim raised is an important issue, and it was like the housing question - and all the housing questions and the issues to do with housing are important.
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: The minister has been attempting to answer questions. It is not just members in this parliament who want to hear the answer; Territorians are interested in the answer.
Mr Giles: What is the point of order? What standing order, Madam Speaker?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I said Standing Order 51. You just do not want to listen. You are politicising the issue.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, perhaps if you had not been interjecting so much, you would have heard the member for Arafura started by saying that she was referring to Standing Order 51, about no interjections and interruptions.
This is a very serious question which the member for Fong Lim has asked the Minister for Housing, and I certainly would like to be able to hear the answer. Could we have a little bit of decorum.
As the Speaker, I advise you that, in my normal life, there are people who come up to me all the time and say it must be appalling in there because of the level of rabble. It is very disappointing that sometimes I have to agree with them. People genuinely want to know the answer to these questions. I am interested in the answer to this, as I am sure people are who are listening to this broadcast and who are here today.
Minister, if you could answer the question and come to the point fairly quickly.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has made a string of extraordinarily offensive comments in relation to me. I ask you to ask the minister to withdraw those offensive remarks.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, the minister is answering a question. In relation to matters where he has made comments about you, I would ask you to approach me to make a personal explanation.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, it is my view, and I am asking you this, that the minister has made some extraordinarily offensive remarks in relation to me. I ask you to ask the minister to withdraw those comments. I will talk to you at a later stage about making a personal explanation, but I would ask you to ask him to withdraw those offensive remarks.
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek some advice.
Member for Fong Lim, I would like you to identify specifically what it is that you believe the minister has said which has been offensive because, in listening, it is certainly not the words that have been said. Member for Fong Lim, if you could identify specifically, and I will make a decision.
Mr TOLLNER: The minister has inferred that I was somehow irresponsible by trying to assist a 14-year-old girl who had been turfed out onto the streets by his department. He somehow believes that it was wrong of me to try to contact his office, to try to contact Territory Housing, and then to contact NT Families and Children, and that I have erred by finding a place for this young girl to stay. I find that offensive and I would ask the minister …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections.
Member for Fong Lim, you have made a personal explanation already. Minister, could you please keep to the facts of the question, rather than making comments relating to the member for Fong Lim.
Mr KNIGHT: I was moving through the facts of what happened. The member for Fong Lim, a responsible person, was in a position of authority of being able to influence this particular young, vulnerable person. He had a choice to call the appropriate authorities, and he did not. He called the media outlets and, my understanding is, staff from the CLP’s media unit were involved as well. The media will know if that is true or not; that is my understanding.
I have spoken to the Tenancy staff. A lot of innuendo went around about this story, and they are very distraught about it. They realise that perhaps they should have waited until the police arrived. They should have waited with this young lady until the police, who they called, arrived.
Mr Tollner: At 11 o’clock at night? You cannot be serious.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr KNIGHT: They realise that. There needs to be stronger linkages between NT Families and Children and the Department of Housing. We realise that and that is being worked on now. This is a very unusual case, indeed.
Territory Housing staff concerned are very distraught. They have received threats. I have received threats against myself and my family - I guess well meaning people who have felt bad about exactly what happened - but it is a very delicate situation. I have tried to respect the identity of this girl. I have tried to respect that she is a minor and that we are in a position of authority, and we should use that very wisely, and not exploit this young lady.
I wish her all the best. There is a number of support agencies to help her. Territory Housing will provide alternative accommodation, under suitable guardianship into the future, and that is being worked on as we speak. Again, I wish her all the best. I also thank my Territory Housing staff for working in a very difficult circumstance. They felt they made a mistake. They accept that, but also, they felt they were acting in the best interests of this young lady.
Alice Springs – Serious Crime
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can you please update the House on the government’s efforts to cut serious crime in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I know, with the management plans and restrictions Nhulunbuy has in place, that I have seen a real success story in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence in Nhulunbuy.
It is an important issue in Alice Springs. We saw in the latest crime statistics that 65.5% of assaults in Alice Springs in the last year were alcohol-related. Clearly, this is unacceptably high levels of alcohol-related violence. That is one of the reasons why this government took tough action and introduced innovative alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs. An independent report by the Menzies School of Health Research clearly demonstrated that not only do the restrictions cut alcohol consumption …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … but they cut serious crime. On the day the Menzies report was released, the member for Greatorex, who has just been chuckling in the corner, said on 8HA, that people were less aggressive as a result of liquor not being available before 2 pm. He said the evidence in the report could not be ignored. Yet, the member for Araluen has completely ignored it. She has introduced a motion calling for takeaway sales to start at 10 am – four extra hours of selling alcohol from Monday to Friday …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: Four extra hours of selling alcohol from Monday to Friday. This can only lead to one thing: more alcohol on the streets of Alice Springs and, as clear as night follows day, this will lead to more crime – more alcohol-fuelled vicious crime in Alice Springs if the member for Araluen pursues her motion. More violence, more assaults, and, sadly, more domestic violence. It is staggering to think that the member for Araluen believes that selling cheap cask wine at 10 am is a responsible thing to do.
If the Leader of the Opposition has any leadership, he will instruct the member for Araluen to withdraw this ridiculous motion …
Ms Carney: You are useless! You are useless!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We will …
Ms Carney: You are useless! You are …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: … after an evaluation of the policy used in Alice Springs. If he has any leadership whatsoever, he will instruct the member for Araluen to withdraw her motion.
Our Labor government will continue to fight alcohol abuse and the devastation that this wreaks in our communities.
Professor Margaret Davy –
Termination of Services
Termination of Services
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
Madam Speaker, I thank the Deputy Chief Minister for her waffle.
Can the minister update the House and the thousands of Territory women treated by gynaecologist, Margaret Davy, about the status of her employment? Can you tell the House why you said in this House in August that her position had not been terminated when, in fact, she had received a letter from the department saying her services were no longer required?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her very important question. I met Professor Margaret Davy personally. I actually invited her to speak with me. I spoke to her because, I have to admit, I was furious with my department.
When I gave advice to parliament at that time that a letter was provided to Margaret Davy, I found out that no such letter had been provided. I gave the advice, relying on the advice provided to me by departmental officers …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I spoke to the department to ensure that Margaret Davy would be provided with a letter within …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: I can provide the e-mails and a briefing I received, and that is the reason I was furious. I demanded that everything be rectified immediately.
Ms Davy will be coming until the end of the year. She is going to see her patients. She was also encouraged by me, personally, to put in a tender. I have now been informed that she will put in a tender when the tenders are called early next year to provide gynaecological services to women in the Territory. Most importantly, I demanded that Indigenous women are provided culturally appropriate services that I know Margaret Davy has provided in the past. I strongly object, and I know very well that many women, not only Indigenous, but other women from different backgrounds will object to being examined intimately by a male doctor.
I spoke to Margaret Davy; I met with her upstairs in my office. I was totally nonplussed by my department. I was disappointed with the response I received, and I told them that next time this happens, I will be prepared to accept letters of resignation.
Ngaliwurru-Wuli Association – Alleged Summary Dismissal of Mr Robert Knight
Mr GILES to MINISTER for HOUSING
You are the minister for SIHIP. On 6 March 2001, you were sacked from the Ngaliwurru-Wuli Association on the grounds of gross neglect of your duties. The Summary Dismissal notice cited, amongst other things …
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I cannot even hear myself think.
Ms Carney: Standing Order 51, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed.
Mr GILES: Your Summary Dismissal notice cited, amongst other matters, the following failings: ‘Failure to provide effective leadership, …’
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What relevance has this got to do with …
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker ,,,
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Pretty well every member in this Chamber knows from time to time there are blues between council officers and councils in the bush.
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is entirely relevant, because it goes to the competence of this minister, both prior to being in this place and in this place now. It is an entirely relevant question.
Ms LAWRIE: Speaking to the point of order. If it is to do with the ministerial responsibilities - that is why questions are asked of ministers in Question Time. To do with ministerial responsibility.
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, the thrust of my question is proving the competence of the minister to fulfil his duties in a ministerial capacity. That is what it is about.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have already had one shonky bit of paper put in here in the guise that it was an ABS statistic by the member for Goyder. There is nothing to substantiate that. I ask this member, who is making very serious allegations against my colleague: what documentation do you have to back up the claims that you are making in this House?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seats. Honourable members, I remind you that you are not allowed to make allegations about other members, except by way of substantive motion. You are also not allowed …
Mr Elferink: That can be arranged.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I ask you not to interject. You are not supposed to be interjecting as well.
This question does not conform, as far as I can make out, with the standing orders. Questions have to relate to matters that a minister is responsible for. That is what a question is. You cannot ask a minister a question about their personal life.
Mr GILES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, I have not actually asked a question …
Madam SPEAKER: I am not calling a point of order, I am speaking. I will seek some advice from the Clerk.
Member for Braitling, if you cut the preface and ask the question.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, can I speak to the point of order?
Madam SPEAKER: No.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I will go straight to the heart of the question.
I seek leave to table a document dated 6 March 2001 from the Ngaliwurru-Wuli Association, titled Summary Dismissal for Mr Robert Knight.
Madam SPEAKER: Is that a question?
Mr Elferink: Madam Speaker, he is seeking leave in accordance with your instruction.
Leave granted.
Mr GILES: Minister, your summary dismissal notice, as tabled, cited amongst other matters …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have already ruled that the preamble has nothing to do with …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: Do we just want to presume, because he is asking the question of the Minister for Housing, the question is to do with housing? Let us get to the question on housing.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to remind the Treasurer that you have asked the member to ask his question and he should be given an opportunity to do so.
Madam SPEAKER: Can you just ask a specific question and get on with it. Then I will decide whether the question is in order or not – very quickly though.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The tabled document lists a number of failures of the Minister for Housing. The tabled document list reads like a summary of the Minister for Housing’s performance as Minister for Housing, especially in implementing SIHIP. Minister, are you not just managing SIHIP like you managed your job at the council?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, the question is out of order, but if you wish to make a comment I will allow you to.
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I started with the Ngaliwurru-Wuli Association - I can actually say the name of it, member for Braitling - in 1996. I was the longest-serving coordinator of that organisation. Probably from the first week I started, there were many times where I came to work, and a particular …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Scurrilous behaviour by the opposition, they are continuing to interject, despite you consistently reminding them of Standing Order 51. The minister has chosen to answer the question; they should hear him in silence.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have the call.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, many times I came to work and there was a small group of people who wanted a lot of things and, at that time, we represented nine communities with many hundreds of people in those communities. The services the organisation provided, the assets of the organisation, were for everyone. They were not for a small group of people; they were not for individuals.
I did my job as the CEO of that organisation, to stop the misuse of vehicles, to stop cash advances, and whatever it might be. That is not unusual in many organisations of that size throughout the remote areas of the Northern Territory, sadly. Many times, there were attempts by various individuals of the council to have me sacked but, every single time, it was the council and the community members who stood up for me, and I thank them for that. All the time they stood up for me, because I was trying to protect the services of that organisation that were being delivered to them, and the assets of that organisation.
I resigned to run in the 2001 election, and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: The fact is, I was not sacked, and I do not what the validity of that document is. There was a party for me held by members of the council and members of the community before I left. I was actually given a plaque thanking me for five years of service in that organisation. What I did …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: … with that organisation is, I went from nine communities up to 13 communities. We raised the CDEP numbers from 170 up to over 300 people. We managed IHANT programs, we had night patrol programs …
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting. You are on a warning!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I have actually worked in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, as opposed to …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr KNIGHT: … the member for Braitling who has not. He has blown in here from New South Wales, saying he knows everything about Indigenous affairs in the Northern Territory. I do not know whether he …
Mr Giles: I can build a house, I tell you.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr Bohlin: Built more houses than you.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr KNIGHT: I have worked for Aboriginal people in Tennant Creek, I have worked for Aboriginal organisations in Timber Creek, I worked for ATSIC, I worked for many other organisations, and that has given me the experience to do this job. I know about the previous housing programs that have gone before …
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, you are on warning!
Mr KNIGHT: … the member for Braitling has had nothing to do with Indigenous housing …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr KNIGHT: I have been in those remote communities delivering housing programs …
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: … looking at the various connotations of the way it was delivered, and the types and designs of houses that are being built out there. Those programs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: SIHIP offers large scale delivery of houses. It offers significant funding, which was never there before. That is why I am qualified for this job and not you. I have quite a strong relationship with those communities and those families in the Timber Creek and VRD region; they are very good friends, most of them, and I do thank them for my time there. This is a load of rubbish. Show me the dismissal notice, this is not it. …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I served that organisation for five years, and I resigned after those five years to move into Katherine, and then I ran in the 2001 election.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister should read the first line of that document. It says: ‘this is a notification of summary dismissal …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. There is no point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Sorry, before this question goes on, the minister referred to another dismissal notice. I am wondering if he could table that …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order, resume your seat.
Tiger Brennan Drive Extension - Progress
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
Could the minister please update the House on progress on the Tiger Brennan Drive extension project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to. What a magnificent infrastructure project the Tiger Brennan Drive extension and overpass is shaping up to be. Construction work is on time, with all three bridges under way and the bulk earthworks complete. Local company, Macmahon, is building this project for both the Territory and Australian governments. Macmahon is supporting local companies and Territory jobs. More than 100 workers are on-site now, including local companies subcontracting their services. They are also very committed to trainees. I was pleased to meet 21 trainees on-site undertaking courses in civil construction.
This project represents an $89m investment in our road network. Clearly, it is about assisting our growth corridor in Palmerston and the rural area. Macmahon and the NT government will host a free open day this Saturday, from 9 am to 2 pm, to showcase the sheer scale of this exciting project. This will give Territorians a chance to have a close-up look at the bridges under construction, the length of the 7.5 km corridor that is not really visible to passing motorists. Once you are out there, you start to get an understanding of the sheer scale of this magnificent road project.
I have flown over the Tiger Brennan Drive project with minister Albanese to show the joint effort between the Australian and Territory governments coming to fruition, and you can see the impressive scale of the project.
Territorians will have a chance to get this bird’s-eye view, a chance to win helicopter rides over Tiger Brennan Drive this weekend. Money raised on the day through raffles, for the dump truck rides and the helicopter rides will go to local charities – Canteen; SIDS and Kids; and Camp Quality. I know the people of Palmerston, Darwin and the rural area have a very great interest in this magnificent project and will appreciate a close-up view of the Tiger Brennan Drive extension and interchange.
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