2010-10-20
Child Protection Services - Cost of Implementing Recommendations
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Child Protection System in the Northern Territory contains no estimates as to the total cost of implementing its 147 recommendations. To date, you have committed $130m over the next five years. Given the depth of the crisis, $26m a year can only be a down payment. What will be the total cost of implementing the inquiry’s entire 147 recommendations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This government has said we will act, and we are acting. We have accepted the recommendations. We have made significant decisions immediately to recruit an additional 42 frontline staff to better balance the workloads of those people. We are bringing in people from interstate; we are creating a stand-alone agency of Families and Children, and we are also going to embrace the non-government sector in further providing better resources on the ground.
In order to complete these tasks, the government has allocated an additional $130m over five years. That is essentially doubling the budget over five years in terms of a total sum of money, which is the equivalent of one year’s budget, into NT Families and Children, and into developing the non-government sector.
The recommendations contained in this report are not just issues for NT Families and Children. These issues go right across government agencies in regard to how the police respond, how Health responds, how Education responds. We will establish families and children wellbeing teams to better coordinate responses on the ground in communities. As well as a significant increase to the new agency’s budget, all government agencies will be expected to contribute to implementing the recommendations in this report. That is why we have a chief executives’ task force which will include the chief executives of all major departments across government, and also the Commonwealth government, with regard to their commitments through various national partnerships.
I also point out that, in this year’s budget, for the first time in the Territory’s history, those 20 growth towns have been allocated a budget of $900m for better infrastructure and services. Better infrastructure and more houses is one of the key recommendations of the report. Better health and education services, and the creation of jobs in these communities, all address key recommendations in the report.
This is not just about a budget for one single agency. This is about the total effort across government that we are committed to, alongside the Australian government. We are determined to implement these recommendations and significantly grow, particularly, the non-government sector.
Supplementary Question
Child Protection Services - Cost of Implementing Recommendations and Treasury Estimates
Child Protection Services - Cost of Implementing Recommendations and Treasury Estimates
Mr MILLS: I assume Treasury costed the Board of Inquiry’s 147 recommendations before you committed to implementing each and every one of them. What is Treasury’s estimate of the total cost of ending the crisis in child protection in the Territory? If there were no costings, how did you arrive at $130m as the cost of your contribution?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, obviously the Leader of the Opposition has no idea how processes work. We knew when we commissioned this report that we would have to contribute significant additional resources, not only to this agency, but also to strengthening those A Working Future towns across the Northern Territory. Key agencies such as Health and Families and other agencies made submissions to the Board of Inquiry. From those submissions, we had a pretty clear idea of what would be taken up. This is a considered investment by the government, unlike the CLP, which released its policy on this issue and did not allocate one single dollar to it.
Child Protection Services – Community Response to Government Action
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please inform the House of the community response to the government’s action on child protection?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Obviously, there has been significant commentary in regard to, not only the report, but the government’s position and response, and the action we have taken in response to the report.
The report made 147 recommendations and called for immediate action. As I said, we acted immediately. Cabinet met just an hour after the report was handed to us. We did act, we made decisions, and we have allocated funding.
Many organisations have had something to say about the government’s response. First, I quote from the peak national body, the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, which said today it welcomed the leadership shown by our government. It has also welcomed the creation of a new peak body, and I quote SNAICC:
- Today marks the first time that the NT has joined together government, non- government and Aboriginal services and communities to begin to address this significant problem. This recognition of the critical role and expertise represented by services and Aboriginal community members is warmly welcomed. For the first time the Aboriginal community has been central in the development of the plan to address these issues.
Stephanie Bell, from our own local body, AMSANT, said this has heralded a new opportunity in working together:
- The fact that the Northern Territory government has committed to working immediately with the Aboriginal community and peak organisations on this issue is in stark contrast to the federal government’s response to the Little Children are Sacred report in 2007.
The Menzies School of Health Research, our own esteemed research body, welcomed the report, saying:
- The NT Child Protection system has been under enormous pressure and Menzies School of Health Research congratulates the NT government for initiating this important work.
There will be much commentary on this. We are committed to developing the non-government sector and the Indigenous sector. We believe this issue which is of such prevalence in the Northern Territory can be best addressed by investing on the ground - investing in communities, in non-government organisations, building capacity, working with parents to lift their parenting skills to care for their children.
We are putting money on the ground. We are supporting an extra 42 staff to blitz the backlog we have in place, and we are committed to implementing the recommendations contained in the report.
Child Protection Services – Implementation of Recommendations
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government has habitually failed to implement, or failed to implement in a timely manner, recommendations from the many reviews, reports …
Ms Lawrie: Not true.
Mr MILLS: It hurts, doesn’t it? It is the truth. … and Coroner’s inquiries into the Territory’s child protection system over the past decade. The most recent report by the Board of Inquiry has categorised the urgency of its recommendations. Will you commit to implementing each and every recommendation within the time frame nominated by the inquiry? Will you publish a regular update on the implementation process?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are committed to implementing the recommendations. As I said yesterday ...
Mr Mills: You have been committed for 10 years.
Mr HENDERSON: As I said yesterday, many of these recommendations will be gone through in detail. We will work across the community, across government, and with the Commonwealth government, to implement these recommendations. What we will not be doing is using robo calls for political purposes.
This is a government that has significantly invested in child protection, taking the budget from $7m when we came to government - with services that were only provided in Darwin and Alice Springs, with no capacity or capability to even look beyond our capital city and regional centres - to $135m today. I acknowledge there are still substantial and overwhelming problems. The system is broken, as the report says, because it is the wrong system. All the focus is, basically, around the intake, as opposed to really having better capacity on the ground and building a non-government system.
We will be establishing an independent steering committee, independent of government, to oversight the implementation of these recommendations. We are talking nationally to some esteemed people, who work in this field, to work on this steering committee. I am hopeful of being able to make announcements tomorrow as to who will be on the steering committee to oversight, externally from government, the implementation of these recommendations.
Yes, we will be transparent. Yes, we will have independent oversight of the implementation of these reforms. I hope to advise the names of some of the members of this committee tomorrow.
Child Protection Services – Board of Inquiry and Government Response
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION
Can you please provide the House with an update on how our government is responding to the urgent issues identified by the Board of Inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her important question. The Board of Inquiry found that the backlog is one of the most important issues that needed to be rectified very quickly. They recommended that we not only address this issue immediately, but we find a long-term solution.
Our government has acted immediately. The department has now directed staff from the policy area to the front line. In addition to that, we have asked other departments to assist, and they have. The police have provided nine staff to assist with continuing statutory functions; Centrelink will provide a staff member who will be located in Central Intake; we have commenced another international recruitment campaign in Canada and the United Kingdom; and staff from Central Intake have also been volunteering to work extended hours and weekends to assist in reducing the backlog that has built up.
Mr Bohlin: They have been volunteering?
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, people are actually volunteering because they do not want to play politics with children; they actually want to make a contribution.
We have requested a data quality expert from Queensland as there seems to be problems with duplicate entries. We want to resolve that to get an accurate picture of the backlog.
An issue the Board of Inquiry has raised and commented on in chapter 3 is:
- Efforts in this area need to be sustained with a bipartisan commitment to long-term change. The use of child abuse and neglect for media ratings or political point scoring is damaging to children and their families and to those who work to promote child wellbeing.
Last week, the opposition came out and told us that their policy is to give more powers to the Children’s Commissioner, to introduce further whistleblower legislation, a six-monthly public performance reporting - which yesterday changed to every month; and nothing about additional staff, nothing about the involvement of non-government organisations, nothing about the introduction of a child protection agency for Indigenous people by Indigenous organisations. When the opposition came out with six-month advice to the public about the backlog, I responded quickly:
- No, I have instructed my department to give us the information every three months, and I will make this public, until the backlog disappears or it goes down.
Surprise, surprise – two days later, the opposition came out with ‘every month’.
Also, they want everything to be investigated, which is like everyone who presents themselves at the emergency department at the hospital will go straight to a ward. We assess all complaints, they are triaged, and the ones that need to be investigated are investigated. That is done quickly, and will be done quickly. We will put in effort, people, resources and money in order to ensure that the people and the kids of the Territory are safe and remain safe.
Child Protection Services – Government Spending
Mrs LAMBLEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Sue Gordon, the former co-chair of the Commonwealth intervention, says the Territory should lose control of child protection:
- … children are still not a priority for the Northern Territory government. If they were, the government would have acted back in 2006 when these matters first began to surface.
It was Labor’s failure to properly deal with child protection issues that led to the emergency response. Why are you risking another federal intervention by refusing to publicly detail what you are going to spend, and in what time frame, to fix the crisis in child protection in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can say, with all due respect to Sue Gordon, that she is wrong. We have just had a massive inquiry …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we have just had a very significant inquiry into the child protection system by Howard Bath, Rob Roseby and Professor Muriel Bamblett. There are 147 recommendations from experts who canvassed across the Northern Territory, over 200 submissions and many public meetings. This was not a recommendation from the report.
I have not spoken to Sue Gordon for quite some time. I do not know when she last visited the Northern Territory. All of the non-government service providers, the peak body nationally, AMSANT, and the Menzies School of Health Research have all commended the Northern Territory government for commissioning the report, and adopting, funding and implementing the recommendations of the report. We have taken an evidence-based approach to this. We commissioned the Board of Inquiry with the most far-reaching, extensive terms of reference ever held in the Northern Territory. The report was handed down by experts in whom I have absolute confidence. We will be implementing the recommendations. The peak bodies nationally are supporting the government in what we are doing.
Gap Youth Centre Funding
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Yesterday, in Question Time, you spoke about the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan. You said:
- There is also more funding provided to non-government organisations, such as the Gap Youth Centre.
I have visited the centre a number of times.
It was reported on 14 October 2010 on the ABC that the Gap Youth Centre’s youth diversionary program will be forced to end next year if it does not receive additional funding. Can you tell the House what funding the Northern Territory government gives to this centre? What specific programs are funded, and for what period of time the programs are funded? If the diversionary program is to end next year, is that not at odds with the Growing them strong, together report?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his important question. In light of the report we have before us and the recommendations, I see the youth action plan which this government delivered in 2009 as a very good example of some of the things this government is doing to address the serious issue of youth and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs.
We provided extra funding to the Gap Youth Centre of $75 000 over three years. That funding was intended for night activities and night programs. Their board made a decision to direct that funding into salaries – a decision which I respect. Through Sport and Recreation, we also provide $40 000 a year through Active Recreation grant funding to the Gap Youth Centre organisation; that is an increase of $10 000 on last year’s funding. We provided one-off funding of $22 695 for a boxing ring and fence as part of the boxing initiative I announced this year. I was in the ring throwing a few punches. We have provided that extra funding for them to install a boxing ring to undertake that boxing program, along with $50 000 for another program where we are working with Boyd Scully and Boxing NT people to run some programs for young people on the streets.
We have provided funding, through the peak body, of $40 000. The extra $75 000 over three years, which was targeting night-time activities, as I said, the board made a decision about that. We must remember, the bulk of their funding comes from the Commonwealth government. The program they are talking about is from the federal Attorney-General’s Department, and they need to talk to the federal Attorney-General about that funding in future years. I have opened up an invitation to the Gap Youth Centre, and I am prepared to help and work with the Gap Youth Centre to secure that funding from the federal Attorney-General.
In terms of special assistance, I have also funded their touch football team in Alice Springs to participate in the local competition. As has been pointed out in this report, structured competition activities are so important in getting kids active and engaging families, so I have supported them through that grant as well.
Alcohol-related Crime – Government Approach
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline to the House the Northern Territory government’s approach to tackling alcohol-related crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. This is another very serious and confronting issue for the Northern Territory. Sixty per cent of all violent crime is caused by alcohol. It is very clear that if you are not tackling alcohol abuse, you are failing to tackle crime. It is not just crime; it is health, education, disadvantage, and under-employment right across the board. All aspects of our society are affected by the abuse of alcohol in the Northern Territory. This comes at a cost - $640m in 2004-05. That is over $4000 for every adult. This money is being pumped into the system to pick up the pieces that could much better be spent investing in health and education across the Northern Territory. That is why we have decided to tackle this issue head-on, and we have our five-point plan out for public consultation at the moment.
Under our reforms, if you commit alcohol-related crime, or are repeatedly taken into protective custody, you will be banned from accessing takeaway alcohol, and treatment and mandated services will be expanded. We are saying enough is enough. We will create a banned drinker register. If you are banned, you will not be able to access takeaway alcohol. If you are not banned, nothing changes. This banned register is the clear difference between the government’s policy and the opposition’s policy.
The CLP opposes the banned drinker register; there will be no capacity under the CLP to actually regulate the bans. If you do not have a register and do not have to show ID, how on earth are the people selling takeaway alcohol supposed to identify that you are banned? A very clear difference. The CLP policy is also to increase trading hours that would directly lead to the increased consumption of alcohol. Increased trading hours means increased alcohol consumption, which means more crime. It is very clear. They have been roundly condemned by everyone.
In the recent by-election for Araluen, I was astounded to hear the new member for Araluen - and I hope she takes the opportunity to clear up this position during her first sittings of parliament - say: ‘Let them fall down before sundown’. That is the policy – open early and let them fall down before sundown. What an appalling thing for a member of parliament to say. They pretend to care about child neglect - they are hypocrites.
Qantas/Jetstar Staff Losses
Mr STYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
During the 2008 election campaign, your government gifted $8m to Jetstar in exchange for seven planes hubbing in Darwin, an additional 250 000 tourists, and nearly 600 extra jobs. Two years on from the election, your plan is suffering jet lag. Yesterday, Jetstar’s owner, Qantas, announced it was sacking up to a dozen sales staff in its Darwin office, which means that instead of recruiting staff, Qantas is laying them off. Your government has been taken for a ride by Qantas/Jetstar and Territorians are paying for the ticket. How do you propose to get back the $8m you gifted to Jetstar? Will you apologise to Territorians for inventing promises during an election campaign?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member is absolutely anti-business, anti-jobs and anti-air services. What a pathetic question from the member for Sanderson.
The problem with the CLP is they attack everything. They have nothing positive to say about anything in the Northern Territory. The member for Sanderson must also be a total Luddite. He sits there with a computer - I doubt he has ever turned on. The vast majority of people today book airfares online - that is what I do; that is what most families do - book and pay online.
I have been advised, regarding those Qantas jobs, some people are happy to accept a voluntary redundancy; other staff have been offered redeployment within the organisation. There are no forced redundancies. This is just technology change driving a business, but the anti-business member for Sanderson would not understand that at all.
The hub is operational. Today, there are four planes based in Darwin; planes being maintained and refuelled which were not here previously. They have conducted two cabin crew schools in Darwin, employing 45 staff domiciled in Darwin. They have transferred 26 pilots to Darwin; these are good, well-paid jobs, some of which were previously based in Hobart; they are planned to increase to 44 with the fourth aircraft, and 50 with the fifth.
If we look at the staffing level – total staffing 191 to date in Darwin – they have to go from four to seven: technical crew 34, increasing to 50; seven engineers; 49 airport staff; 17 catering staff; 13 cleaning staff; three refuelling staff; airport security, 20; cabin crew 48 – total 191. I call that a success …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They are anti-business, anti-jobs, they have absolutely no initiative; it is whinge, whinge, whine, whine, moan, moan, talk the Territory down at every opportunity. I am absolutely confident …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the 191 people who are employed are very happy with their jobs. What about the multipliers? All those jobs would have multipliers alongside them. Tell the Chamber of Commerce you do not support this initiative.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, 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 or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Public Information Act – Operation Update
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The Public Information Act came into effect earlier this year. Can you please update the House on its operation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. When the act came into operation, the Leader of the Opposition was a very strong advocate – I believe even a proponent at some stage - of the new Public Information Act. It is very interesting how words come back to you. I will quote from the Leader of the Opposition’s second reading debate. He was in his pulpit with his hand on his heart, as he does, saying:
- Real money which has been entrusted to the care of a government that is then utilised and appropriated for the prosecution of a political agenda is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Those were the words from the pulpit, hand on bleeding heart, from the Leader of the Opposition. He added:
- … whether you have an anchor of actual belief in the things that you say, or the things are uttered for mere political convenience is really the point ...
And this is the point: he is very good at getting up on the high moral ground, saying: ‘I am very trustworthy’, and ‘trust me’. However, actions speak louder than words. Less than four months after that bill was passed, the Leader of the Opposition cut loose his anchor of belief, and for politically expedient purposes, his own political agenda, he broke the law he was insistent on having created. This is how shallow the Leader of the Opposition is. Not only has he broken the law, which was concerning, he then spent many hours in this House talking about personal responsibility. Just yesterday – take personal responsibility.
What did the Leader of the Opposition do? He blamed his staff for the letter which was sent out in contravention of an act which he helped create. Not only did he blame his personal staff - probably some poor office girl - but he actually sent this letter out on his letterhead, with his photo, with his signature on it, saying: ‘I am writing to discuss …’. This did not come from someone on his staff.
In total contravention of the act he helped create, to say spending public money on political campaigning is wrong, wrong, wrong, he did not have the integrity …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: … to own up and say: ‘I got it wrong, wrong, wrong; I made a mistake’. It just demonstrates the nasty side of the Leader of the Opposition, the two-faced side of the Leader of the Opposition that his colleagues on the other side of the House can see. $4000 of taxpayers’ money, and he tried to blame it on someone in his office.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Ngurratjuta Sherrin Football Project
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Ngurratjuta Sherrin football project is an exciting project opening up real employment opportunities across Central Australia, with local people employed making footballs using local leather. Did your department recently promise $25 000 to help this project? If so, why have they not yet received the money?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be more than happy to discuss that with the member for Nelson. I do not have those details with me. I provide, through my department, grants to numerous agencies and organisations across the Northern Territory. I would be more than happy to discuss that with you in detail once I get the information.
Indigenous Student Enrolments
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
There has been a population explosion amongst Indigenous Territorians, particularly in the bush. Despite that demographic surge, the number of Indigenous students enrolled in Northern Territory schools dropped by several hundred between 2007 and 2009. How can you account for the falling numbers of Indigenous enrolments? The second part of this question you should either know or be able to provide relatively quickly: how many students of school age in the Northern Territory are not enrolled in schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. School attendance is of crucial importance. It was a matter canvassed and commented upon in the report on child protection that government has received.
As I have outlined a number of times, we will be releasing our school attendance report in the next couple of weeks. As Education minister, I recognise that there are many kids out there who are not attending school, and this is of great concern. I have said on the public record a number of times that I believe we have a generation of parents who do not value education, and the children are not seeing the value of education.
We will be announcing our school attendance strategy in the next couple of weeks. It will be a mixture of carrots and sticks. I recognise, particularly in our remote areas, that attendance is very poor and I intend to set about changing that particular situation.
Enough is Enough - Alcohol Reforms
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
The Enough is Enough alcohol reforms were announced last month. Can you update the House on the response from key stakeholders across the health sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I know there have been discussions in Nhulunbuy about these proposed reforms. The Enough is Enough alcohol reforms are comprehensive. They are proposed to be Territory-wide; they will affect people regardless of where they live in the Territory. That is why we are taking the time to consult significantly with our community and with key stakeholders across the Territory, inviting their views on the reforms well and truly before the reforms come into effect.
The plan is to target the problem drinkers rather than the broader community. That is why we have introduced the banned drinker register, and why it will use the ID system that we have seen successfully used already in Alice Springs and Katherine. Licensees and sections of the Tennant Creek community have asked for the ID system to be introduced more quickly, which we are actively working on doing at the moment.
Dr John Boffa, of the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition, received a briefing regarding the reforms, together with stakeholders across the health and law sectors. Dr John Boffa said on ABC radio on 2 September:
- The government has dealt with the alcohol problem as a health problem, as a mental health problem outside the criminal justice system, and they are to be commended for that.
The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, known as AMSANT, also welcomed the reforms, stating:
- The orders for the first time creates consequences for people who have a major alcohol problem. Given the devastation that alcohol causes in our communities across the Northern Territory, there is an absolute political imperative to take this seriously. I think Delia Lawrie has taken the first step to doing that.
Amity Community Services, the NT Council of Social Services and FORWAARD have all welcomed the reforms. A quote:
- While some of the measures may cause inconvenience to some in our community, we would urge people to accept that this is a small sacrifice to pay for a much greater good. Limited restrictions of this kind, coupled with additional resources for treatment and public education will result in a safer and healthier Territory.
Another lobby group for alcohol reform has emerged over the years in Alice Springs. Liz Martin of the Responsible Drinkers Lobby in Alice Springs has also welcomed the reforms, stating in an e-mail to me, and my office sought permission for this quote to be used, to which she agreed:
- These initiatives are a great step forward and obviously well thought out. I believe they do reflect the wishes of the majority of our community, well done.
The CLP stand alone in condemning the reforms.
Boat Registration – Government Position
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
At AFANT’s annual meeting in March 2009, you were asked quite specifically whether your government planned to introduce boating registration in the Northern Territory. You replied that your government had, ‘no intention of introducing boating permits’. Can you explain to the House why you misled AFANT and, given that you had made them a cast-iron commitment, why did you not tell them you had changed your mind?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the clear difference between the government and the opposition in regard to the High Court finding on Blue Mud Bay is that I am negotiating to secure an agreement with the appropriate land councils for guaranteed access without the need for a permit for recreational fishers. That is our policy; that is what we are negotiating.
The CLP policy is to ensure that every recreational fisher would need a permit.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Their policy is to ensure recreational fishers must have a permit to go fishing. Their policy says they would seek to legislate a way around this, they would have further challenges in the courts, and guess what, the first thing the traditional owners would do, as is their right, would be to require permits. That is the difference between us and the CLP.
The CLP would ensure we have permits …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: The government is seeking to negotiate an agreement. No final decisions have been made on this matter. We are negotiating in good faith. The minister for Fisheries and I met with AFANT a couple of weeks ago to work a way forward on this issue. They are supportive of the government seeking to negotiate an agreement. What I can say very clearly is that we are looking at boat identification, not registration …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: We are seeking to negotiate an agreement. The opposition would seek to go back to court and legislate. That would guarantee every recreational fisherman in the Northern Territory would need a permit under the CLP. That is their policy. We will negotiate.
Territory Wildlife Park – Sea Eagle Exhibit
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Recently, I visited the Territory Wildlife Park as a paying visitor and spent around four hours there. I was very impressed by the park. I attended the Birds of Prey display at the flight deck and was disappointed that the white bellied sea eagle was not flying. When I asked where the sea eagle was, I was informed the park no longer had one in the wildlife collection. The acquisition of another is on the plan, but apparently they did not have enough money for this acquisition.
I believe there is a suitable bird available from Taronga Zoo, and I offered to sponsor the freight to get the bird here at a cost of $1000. On the day of delivery of the cheque, it was arranged with my office, I was advised that the park was refusing my sponsorship.
Can you tell me why my offer of sponsorship for this purpose was not taken up? If the excuse is that the sea eagle could get mixed up with the local sea eagles, that is not true; there is only one species of sea eagle in Australia, Haliaeetus leucogaster.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The minister has the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question and for the offer of sponsorship.
For me, there is only one eagle, the Pioneer Eagles in Alice Springs - I am being loyal to my team.
I am aware of this issue. I must admit that we should have been in touch with you sooner. I would like to keep your offer on the table, however, there is a point of clarification.
What we normally do, in these circumstances, are exchanges with other parks or zoos. I am advised further inquiries were made into the sea eagle you were talking about, the one on offer from Taronga Zoo. The Taronga Zoo sea eagle is actually blind and shows signs of neurological disorder and damage. It is unable to fly in shows at the Taronga Zoo …
Members interjecting.
Mr HAMPTON: I do not know if it is value for your $1000, but if you want to keep it on the table, member for Nelson, I am happy to continue working with you on this. I am not sure if $1000 is good to spend on a neurologically-damaged sea eagle. Normally we do exchange them. I am happy to get a wedge-tailed eagle from Central Australia. I am happy to work with you further on this.
Enough is Enough – Alcohol Reform Consultation
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
The Enough is Enough proposed alcohol reform turns off the tap to problem drinkers to address the unacceptable levels of alcohol-related crime and harm across the Territory. Can you outline to the House the consultation occurring across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, critical to the Enough is Enough program is significant consultation. We are very aware we are proposing quite dramatic reforms. We are genuine about wanting to hear from all stakeholders, not just health specialists, not just legal specialists, but the people, the mums and dads across the Territory who may have a view on this.
We have set up a comprehensive communication and consultation campaign which is under way on television, radio and in newspapers. We have a website which incorporates an online survey, and have mailed out survey forms as well. We are inviting feedback. We have information on the Darwin and Palmerston alcohol management plan which has gone into letterboxes in Darwin and Palmerston. From 1 November, public forums will be held in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs. The forums will be face-to-face opportunities for people to ask questions about the Enough is Enough alcohol reforms and to provide their feedback.
We will be tabling two exposure bills in parliament next week which show the detail of the establishment of the new SMART Court, and also the Prevention of Alcohol-related Crime and the Substance Misuse Bill.
Enough is Enough is a reform package targeted at turning off the tap for problem drinkers to reduce alcohol-related crime, and more broadly to reduce the antisocial behaviour and issues of neglect we see across our community.
I am encouraging all Territorians to have their say on these reforms.
Boat Registration – Government Plans for Introduction
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
Since the Territory election in August 2008, your government has issued 26 fishing-related media releases, including one on 3 September this year when the Fisheries minister marked the opening of the Darwin Boat Show. Given your government’s shameless record of self-promotion and self-indulgence, why did you conceal details of your plan to introduce boat registration across the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Oh dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker, I might be tempted to give the same answer. In regard to the support for recreational fishermen and fishing, we have done more as a government than any previous government in supporting recreational fishers.
My colleague, the Fisheries minister, was very excited when he came back a week or so ago from looking at the progress of the Palmerston boat ramp, which is going to be a magnificent investment. It is something the CLP never did when they were in government. Despite holding seats in Palmerston for many years, they never invested in a boat ramp in Palmerston.
As I said, very clearly - and maybe the honourable member was not listening to my last answer - there is a very clear policy difference between the government and the opposition in regard to a settlement for Blue Mud Bay, the High Court decision. Our policy and the position we took at the last election was we would seek to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that would guarantee enduring access, and would see recreational fishermen would not require a permit to go fishing. That is our policy; that is what we are still negotiating, in very good faith, with the Northern Land Council - as opposed to the opposition, which has said they would attempt to do one of two things.
One would be to try to legislate around the problem - and I do not know which rocket scientist on the other side of the House thought this House could legislate to overturn a finding of the High Court of Australia in regard to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, which is an act of the Commonwealth parliament - but be that as it may.
The second thing they have said is they would take the matter back to court. That would absolutely guarantee - their policy would absolutely guarantee - that recreational fishermen would, the next day, require fishing permits.
What we are doing is responsible: a good faith negotiated agreement. What the CLP would do would be to go back to the bad old days, try to legislate away people’s rights, and try to tie people up in the courts. Well, they could do that, but it would be to the detriment of recreational fishermen; under the CLP, it would be guaranteed they would require a permit.
Impact of Alcohol on Community – Role of Health Services
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Reforming the impact alcohol has on the Territory requires a whole-of-government approach. In what way are the health services reducing the burden that alcohol imposes on our community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have to say, as a Territorian, I am very proud of some of the statistics for the Territory, and I am not very proud of some other statistics. One I am not very proud of is about alcohol consumption – 50% to 100% more than any other Australians - rivers of grog! We have to treat these people who abuse alcohol – and not only them, but we also have to look after families and children. Our government is serious about tackling antisocial behaviour, providing assistance to these people, and providing assistance to our community.
My department provides treatment and withdrawal services for people who abuse alcohol, and most residential rehabilitation services are contracted to non-government organisations. Since 2004, we have provided $3m recurrent and over $6m in capital developments. We have increased residential rehabilitation beds across the Territory by 107; we now have nearly 300 beds around the Territory. There is a new service in Nhulunbuy, a special care centre with 16 beds, plus a sobering-up shelter; the Aranda House upgrade for an additional 10 beds; CAAPS for eight beds; a new five-bed service in Alice Springs by BushMob; the Banyan House upgrade from 17 to 22 beds; new transitional after-care service at Bees Creek, providing up to an additional 10 beds; 10 beds for women at the new CAAAPU women’s facility in Alice Springs; and Kalano, from 11 beds to 20. Sobering-up shelters will provide 108 sheltered beds across the Territory.
The problem with alcohol in the Territory is serious, but we are facing it. We are tackling the problem by providing more services and more beds for people who need them. In addition to that, we provide new pathways and options for treatment for those people most affected by alcohol, either through incentives arising from banning notices, through to referrals following an assessment from the tribunal or, if it is needed, through the SMART Court. My department is working closely with key stakeholders in improving the current service capacity and determining the focus and location of the new services.
Boat Registration and Fishing Permits – Broken Election Promises
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
During the 2008 Territory election campaign, you promised that there would be no fishing permits in the Northern Territory. Less than two years later, a $55 fee was introduced to fish the Tiwi Islands. Broken promise number one. Last year, you promised AFANT that you had no plans to introduce boat registration in the Northern Territory. Broken promise number two.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Chief Minister, 25 000 Territorians own boats. Perhaps you would like to explain to those 25 000 boat owners why you broke a core election promise.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I totally deny the assertion from the member from Katherine. What I can say to those 25 000 boat owners in the Northern Territory is that it is CLP policy to require fishing permits.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: You will implement a policy that would require fishing permits.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections, honourable members, and I do not have much voice to be yelling at anyone either.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, that is very clearly the difference between the government and the opposition.
Mr Mills: No, it is not.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Westra van Holthe interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: They have a policy which would absolutely guarantee, as sure as night follows day, that recreational fishermen would require permits. In regard to the Tiwi Islands, I am still open to discussion with the Tiwi Land Council, and I am sure that we will end up with an agreement. It is not helped by the mischief-making of members opposite, who seem to not understand that we have a very good local member for Arafura, who is very well respected and connected. She knows what was going on and who attended land council meetings, and some of the mischief that was created by the CLP to suit their own grubby political ends; and one Peter Murphy, who I believe still has some link with the Tiwi Land Council, stirring the possum as well.
To stand up in here and say that we have broken our promise is absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong. The CLP has their sticky little mitts all over …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … local politics on the Tiwi Islands. I say again, I am determined to negotiate an agreement, in good faith, without the meddling …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the minister’s comments in relation to Mr Murphy, Mr Murphy had legitimate business interests in the area …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order!
Mr ELFERINK: … and may I say, he has no right to drag people through this House who have no voice to respond to him. It is an outrage and he needs to be defended in the face of …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Oh dear, oh dear. Madam Speaker, very clearly, the government is negotiating an agreement in good faith to deliver on the High Court finding without the requirement for permits. The CLP’s policy would ensure permits for recreational fishermen.
Correctional Services – Initiatives to Address Alcohol Abuse
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Can you please update the House on any new initiatives within Correctional Services to address alcohol abuse and its links to crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The link between alcohol abuse and crime is very clear. That is why our government is turning off the tap and focusing on the problems. That is why a significant element of the new era package is focusing on rehabilitation for those Territorians who do fall victim to alcohol abuse and require rehabilitation.
The new era package includes an extra 45 supported accommodation and rehabilitation beds. The first, I am proud to announce, is a new 20-bed facility which will be located on the Alice Springs Correctional Centre site; an accommodation and treatment centre facility in Alice Springs to be operated by a non-government organisation. We are also building and funding a further five beds in Alice Springs. We are building and funding 10 beds in Katherine, and funding an extra five beds in Katherine which will equate to 15 beds; and also building and funding an extra five beds in Darwin.
It is our government building community capacity in addressing these issues. These new beds and new rehabilitation facilities will support the new custody orders, where magistrates will be able to mandate offenders into treatment.
These programs are also supported by the construction of our new Darwin Correctional Services precinct. That new purpose-built Correctional Services infrastructure will also support training and rehabilitation spaces. It will deliver what the outdated Berrimah Gaol cannot deliver.
I am also proud to be part of delivering briefings to non-government organisations across the Territory. I am pleased to advise the House of their support of our government’s policy; their total support of using real rehabilitation initiatives to address that cycle of re-offending. We are talking, once again, about building capacity within the non-government sector.
In July and August, 73 prisoners participated in Corrections-run alcohol programs in our institutions. In Alice Springs, 114 prisoners were treated by the Safe and Sober program; and 113 prisoners were given treatment through the In Reach program in Darwin from January to August. This relates to our partnership with not only the Department of Health and Families, but also the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress in Alice Springs. It is about our government doing better, building capacity, and addressing the cycle of re-offending.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Darwin Correctional Centre - Changes to Visiting Hours
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
I e-mailed you on 30 July and 16 September and sent a letter on 6 October asking about changing the visiting hours at Darwin prison. I have not yet received a reply. For the information of friends and families of prisoners, could you please advise if you are going to change visiting hours; what these hours will be; and why these changes are needed, bearing in mind many people have to travel from remote areas to visit the prison?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Northern Territory Correctional Services is moving to bring the official visiting hours at the Darwin Correctional Centre in line with the Alice Springs Correctional Centre. The change, to be introduced by Corrections in November this year, will mean that official visiting hours at Darwin will change from seven days a week to weekends to bring it in line with the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
I have some statistics on visitor numbers. For the month of September, on weekend visits, there were 795 visitors, an average of about 43 visits and 99 visits on those weekend days. Over the five day mid-week period, there were 692 visitors, an average of 17 visits and 31 visits each weekday. It is important to note that prisoners can still have visits from legal representatives on all days; that will not change. I have been advised by Northern Territory Correctional Services that they are liaising with NT prison officers and the legal organisations regarding these changes.
Tiwi Land Council - Boat Registration and Fishing Permits
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
When was the last time you visited the Tiwi Islands to discuss fishing permits with representatives of the Tiwi Land Council? Why have you refused to engage in one-on-one negotiations with the Tiwi Land Council? Why do you continue to want to register watercraft in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will have to check my diary, however, I visit the Tiwi Islands on a regular basis with the member for Arafura. I have many friends there - they are fantastic people. I go over there openly; I know many people on the Tiwi Islands and I enjoy my time there.
Ms Purick: 25 000 boat owners.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I do not slink into meetings without any announcement, or slink in and slink out, like the members for Katherine and Braitling did with, I assume, the former chief of staff to every CLP Chief Minister from Paul Everingham through to Denis Burke, to create a little political mischief for the government. I do not play silly political games like the silly little boys opposite. I do not engage in that.
I negotiate in good faith. I am not interested in political games and shenanigans, and slinking into places, slinking out of places, pretending I was never there. I do not play those silly little games. I am determined to negotiate an outcome in good faith. Those negotiations continue.
The Tiwi Land Council is very welcome at the negotiating table whenever it chooses to take the seat. I say again, the CLP has form - $20m contesting the Kenbi Land Claim over many years; $20m which could have gone into health, education, and boat ramps, for no outcome.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Refusing to negotiate on native title in Alice Springs, land locked up for years and, worst of all, the great lovers of the mining industry refusing to use the Native Title Act to progress mineral exploration licences which meant when we came to government there were over 900 unprocessed applications for mineral exploration leases in the Northern Territory under a CLP government. They would do it again with Blue Mud Bay, because they have form, it is in their DNA, and it would mean every single recreational fisher in the Northern Territory would require a permit under a CLP government.
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