2009-08-17
Chief Minister’s Agreement with Member for Nelson - Cabinet Non-participation
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You claim your desperate deal with the member for Nelson provides for stable government for the Northern Territory and, in fact, that only a united government can provide stability for the Territory. How can your claim of stability ring true in the minds of Territorians when your own Caucus and Cabinet is not party to the agreement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This is a principled agreement with the very principled member for Nelson. It is an agreement that will provide for stability of government for the people of the Northern Territory.
In framing this agreement, this is entirely in accordance with other similar agreements that have been entered into in Australian political history where there is minority government. There is absolutely nothing unusual in regard to this agreement.
Today, as we speak, in the Australian Capital Territory, there is an agreement between Jon Stanhope, the leader of the Labor Party, and the head of The ACT Greens. On Friday of last week, there was an interview between Annie Gastin and Antony Green. Everyone in this House knows Antony Green as the chief political reporter for the ABC. There was questioning in regard to this agreement, and whether there was anything unusual in this agreement. I will quote from Antony Green - and I believe everyone in this House recognises that he has enormous experience in politics in Australia. Annie Gastin asked Antony Green: ‘Now, you have had a look at Gerry Wood’s conditions for siding with Labor. Have you seen anything like this before?’ Antony Green: ‘Oh yes, I mean, this looks pretty standard to me compared to when Independents have backed a government before’.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the spirit of open and honest accountable government, I ask that the Chief Minister answer the question. The question was: did he talk to his Cabinet and Caucus colleagues prior to this, not whether he spoke to the ABC?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the Leader of the Opposition asked a number of things. Chief Minister, if you can recall what the Leader of the Opposition has asked you, and answer the series of questions which have been asked.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! No, I did not ask a number of things. The point of the question was: how can we guarantee stability when Cabinet and Caucus were not involved in the agreement? That is the question, not what Mr Green said on the ABC.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! There was a fair bit of preamble there, and the Chief Minister is responding at the moment.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am going to some of the allegations, and I will get to the Leader of the Opposition’s direct question in a moment, that there is something unusual in this agreement. He was also asked about the fact that there were some issues for the member for Nelson’s electorate. He said this is a relatively standard thing for people to do; and the regular meetings with me were all perfectly reasonable. In regard to whether there is anything unusual in this for the Northern Territory, he said, ‘I think people are getting a bit overexcited about what this agreement means’.
In regard to my Cabinet and my Caucus, of course they saw the agreement before it was signed, and they all supported the agreement.
SIHIP - Update
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you inform the House of the work that was done when concerns were raised about the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program; what the outcome of that work is; where this program is heading; and, how many houses will be built, rebuilt or upgraded?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was told that the opposition might be interested in this particular question, and the answer, because it is an important question for the Northern Territory.
This program will deliver 750 new houses; 230 rebuilt houses; and 2500 upgraded houses for Territorians. It will do so by the end of the program in mid-2013. This has always been the determination of this government and the federal government.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, member for Fong Lim! Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Neither government ever had any other view in mind.
Mr Giles: Oh, come on. You already had the money from somewhere else. You can …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: I won’t go there about empty vessels, Madam Speaker.
When criticisms were made of this program, I acted to ensure that the program would continue to deliver on the 750 new houses, 230 rebuilds, and the 2500 upgrades. When the member for Macdonnell and the member for Stuart both reported that they had received a briefing which said we would not achieve this figure, and that administration and costs not associated with building a house were running at 70%, I acted immediately to have the delivery of the project closely examined and reviewed.
Regular review has now been built into the program and is ongoing. Minister Macklin, minister Knight and I acted to ensure the program is on track. That briefing was wrong. In fact, 11.4% was associated directly with administration; and 88.6% was associated with construction and employment programs.
The next question I asked was: what could be done to ensure that all money available was able to be directed to achieving our goal of 750 houses, 230 rebuilt, and 2500 upgraded houses? To provide us with reassurance, we brought in senior public servants from both governments to closely examine the program. Their examination has shown that, at this point, administration costs, consultation, and design costs could be reduced, with the outcome of redirecting these administration and project management funds into building houses and reducing the unit cost per house.
The administration costs over the life of the program could be reduced to around 8%, an exceptionally low figure for any government program. All in all, $58m has been redirected by this process. That is the current figure, and it is looking very positive.
Along the way, I also spoke with the Auditor-General to confirm that he would be examining this program as part of his normal audit processes. He confirmed that this would be so.
Today, the program is focused on the job of delivering 750 new houses, 230 rebuilt houses, and 2500 upgraded houses.
Chief Minister’s Agreement with Member for Nelson - Notification
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On Friday, during your lame attempt to defend your government’s abysmal record, you failed to mention the desperate deal that you had struck with the member for Nelson - no mention whatsoever of the deal, none at all in your lame defence. You are understandably deeply embarrassed about becoming the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in name only. Is there any Labor policy or any government legislation you are unwilling to ditch to cling on to power?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in regard to Friday’s debate, it was totally appropriate for the member for Nelson to indicate his decision regarding the no confidence motion. It was for him to announce that decision. I absolutely respect the member for Nelson in terms of his announcement of his decision in regard to what he was going to do..
There is nothing unusual in this agreement; it is a principled agreement. It is an open and transparent agreement to provide for stable government in the Northern Territory, and it is in line with similar agreements which have been achieved elsewhere in Australia when governments have found themselves to be in a minority position on the floor of the House. Mike Rann had an agreement with National Party members; Steve Bracks with three Independent members; and what is happening in the ACT today. If you want to look at the conservative side of politics, when Nick Greiner was elected, he had an agreement with Independents. Michael Field in Tasmania also had an agreement. There are many examples of agreements between the party which has the largest number of seats in the House and Independent members to provide for stable government.
The Leader of the Opposition can huff and puff all he likes. He can try to get into the gutter on this particular issue. I am not uncomfortable with anything in this agreement. It is looking to provide for better systems, open and accountable systems, with the Council of Territory Cooperation. We are quite happy to open the books on all those issues the member for Nelson wanted to progress regarding transparency of government.
The winners from this agreement are the people of the Northern Territory. They will have stable government for the next three years. I am absolutely committed to agreeing, not only on the detail of the agreement with the member for Nelson, but also the spirit in which it was entered.
SIHIP – Update
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HOUSING
Can you update the House on work that is currently under way under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would like to advise the House about SIHIP. This is a five-year $672m program. Three works packages are under way as we speak to deliver housing and infrastructure improvements.
A member: When?
Mr KNIGHT: By November this year, SIHIP will have nine of those packages under way in 47 remote communities and 25 town camps. On Saturday, 8 August, I was pleased to travel to Groote Eylandt, together with the member for Arnhem, where one of those first three packages is actually being delivered at the moment to see the work firsthand for myself. Four refurbished houses have already been completed, two weeks ahead of schedule. A further 11 refurbished homes continue to be worked on. We inspected the construction of new housing, which commenced earlier this month and will be completed later this year. On Groote, the first package totals $37.4m and includes 26 new houses …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, this additional housing will also facilitate the capacity to house 80 visitors to those new houses.
A refurbishment program will benefit up to 50% of the population of those communities, with improved infrastructure to support the increased housing capacity of the community. At least 20% local employment is the target. Currently, it is running at 30%, which is a great result for that community, and they are certainly embracing SIHIP.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Ultimately, 80 new and replacement houses will be constructed on Groote Eylandt.
On the Tiwi Islands …
A member: When?
Mr KNIGHT: You need to listen. I am trying to get the facts out and you need to listen.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Well, these are the facts. On the Tiwi Islands - just listen - the first package is also under way. Twenty-nine new houses will facilitate the housing of 170 people; extensions to 25 houses will provide accommodation for an extra 50 people; and there are refurbishments and upgrades of 155 homes. At least 20% of the employment on that program will be Indigenous.
There has been much discussion about SIHIP delivering for people in Tennant Creek. I inspected the works in Tennant Creek on 9 July, and I can see the benefits that program is bringing to those urban living areas. The program includes the refurbishment of 78 houses at the request of Julalikari Council, the body we are negotiating those leases with. The next stage of that program will be the upgrading of power and water, sewerage and roads; badly needed in those areas. The agreement also specified 30% local, Indigenous employment, and that target is being met and may well be exceeded.
Today on Groote Eylandt, as we sit here, construction of six houses is under way. Work is also under way on the refurbishment of 18 homes. In Tennant Creek, as we sit here today, eight houses are currently being refurbished, and they will be completed by the end of the month. Looking to the future of the program in Tennant Creek, I am pleased that the refurbishment work is well under way and on budget, and we should, hopefully, see some new housing being constructed in Tennant Creek also.
Another four packages will also be starting in November. Work is already well under way in Maningrida, Galiwinku, Gunbalanya, and Wadeye. I saw the audit teams working in Wadeye when I was there.
They are the facts. Work is under way, and it is on track. It is a five-year program, and every single house will be built, every refurbishment will be completed, and all those training positions will be filled.
Chief Minister’s Agreement with Member for Nelson – Party Leadership
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In your desperation to deal with the member for Nelson, you have traded your parliamentary colleagues’ right to determine who leads the Labor Party. No matter how dismal your performance, no matter how woeful your ratings, no matter how dissatisfied your party is with you, you get to cling to the job. Of course, as internal polling by both parties shows, your Chief Ministership is deeply unpopular in the electorate. Why have you sold your parliamentary colleagues’ right to judge your performance?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his desperate question. This agreement is a principled agreement whereby the party with the largest number of seats in the parliament, as is the established Westminster convention, seeks to enter into an agreement with the Independents who hold the balance of power in the parliament to provide for stable government. As I said before, there is nothing unusual in this agreement. The agreement in the ACT is between the leader of the ACT government and the Greens.
Regarding the wording of the agreement jointly signed by the member for Nelson and me, each and every one of my colleagues agreed to the content and the wording, and support it totally. We are committed to implementing the spirit of the agreement, as well as the content.
I believe everyone recognises that Antony Green is perhaps the pre-eminent political commentator in the nation. He says, very clearly, that: ‘… this looks pretty standard to me compared to when Independents have backed a government before’; it is ‘… pretty standard to me’; it is a ‘… standard thing for people to do’; ‘… it is perfectly reasonable’.
Darwin Harbourmaster Position
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
In Friday’s Northern Territory News, it was reported that angry workers believe one of the Territory’s best-known public servants was being demoted. The public servant they referred to is Bruce Wilson, the Darwin Harbourmaster. Why is Mr Wilson, with such a long history and knowledge of Darwin Harbour, being demoted? Why is his job going to someone in Queensland? Considering the number of issues that seem to be raised about the port - for example, the number of interstate and overseas trips, and numbers of consultancies - will you investigate the reasons why Mr Wilson has been demoted; why someone from Queensland got the job; and operations of the port in general?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his important question. In August 2008, a review of the harbour management and pilotage of Darwin Port was carried out. That was critical because we are becoming an increasingly busy harbour. That review recommended the separation of the maritime service delivery from the regulatory function of the organisation. The Darwin Port Corporation, with the oversight of the port board, has been implementing the review recommendations which saw the separation of the regulatory and the service delivery roles from the solitary Harbourmaster role that we had.
We have created a General Manager, Marine Services, and a separate, purely regulatory Harbourmaster role. As minister, I have been involved in discussions with the port and met with two chairs of the port board every step of the way. I have been absolutely across this process.
The General Manager, Marine Services position was advertised on 1 May 2009. Quite appropriately, a selection panel consisting of the port’s Chief Executive, the General Manager of Port Development, the Executive Director of Security and Government Services in the Department of the Chief Minister, and a maritime expert consultant considered those applications from a very diverse field of applicants. Captain Bruce Wilson was a candidate for that position.
Captain John Ellyett was formally offered and accepted the position of General Manager, Marine Services with the Darwin Port Corporation on Monday, 10 August this year. I am advised that Captain Wilson was not successful in being selected as the most suitable candidate, based on the merit principle required under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act. Attempts were made to contact Captain Wilson to advise him of the outcome, as he is currently working in Japan on a project associated with INPEX. Unfortunately, news of Captain Ellyett’s appointment leaked out. The port contacted Captain Wilson by text message because, and only because, they were unable to raise him through phone calls.
Captain Wilson will retain a senior position in the Darwin Port Corporation without any loss of pay or conditions.
SIHIP – Costs Incurred
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The agreement you signed with the member for Nelson requires you to end the spin for which your government is notorious. It also requires you to ensure an accountable, transparent government, public service and parliament. In light of the agreement, and your refusal to date to respond to questions about SIHIP, can you inform the House how much money has been expended under SIHIP to date?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I am sure the first two questions to government members have been about SIHIP. SIHIP is going to be one of the very first programs that will be referred to the Council of Territory Cooperation we have agreed to establish with legislation. There is nothing in SIHIP that is not going to be available for full and total scrutiny.
As the Minister for Housing has just said in response to a question from this side of the House, currently, $128m of work is under way to deliver on the first three packages. That is the level of contracts that have already been let. He also provided some significant advice on other packages that will be let by November this year.
In regard to SIHIP, there will be a number of review mechanisms available to this House to work through. First of all, with the Council of Territory Cooperation that has been agreed to by me and the member for Nelson - I hope the Leader of the Opposition is going to participate in this council in the spirit that we are putting it forward - they are going to be able to trawl through SIHIP up hill and down dale. Our Auditor-General is also looking at SIHIP, as he does with all major projects overseen by government, such as the railway and the port. All these issues will be on the table for all to see. My colleague, the Housing Minister, has advised the House that $128m-worth of work has already been let.
Defence – Welcome Home Parade
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
A significant march of Defence personnel took place recently through the streets of Darwin. Can you inform the Assembly what this march was and why it was so significant?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. It was a fantastic Welcome Home Parade for 1st Brigade, which had served on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor. I thank all Territorians who turned out at that parade, including a large number of members of this House, and thousands of Territorians who came out to welcome the troops home.
It was a significant parade. My advice is that it was probably the biggest in Darwin since World War II. There were around 1200 troops marching that day led by two Abrams tanks and followed by a number of other armoured vehicles.
My government and Darwin City Council were very pleased to support the event. We sponsored the yellow T-shirts worn by many in the crowd, which read ‘welcome home’ on the front and ‘we miss you’ on the back. We were also pleased to sponsor the reception with Darwin City Council on the Esplanade after the parade.
Sadly, the parade also featured a riderless horse, in memory of Corporal Matthew Hopkins, of the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, who was killed during a fire fight with insurgents in Afghanistan on 16 March this year. Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes go to his wife, Victoria, his son, Alexander, and his wider family.
These troops made significant contributions to the countries where they served, and also to Australia’s own security. It was very moving to be in the crowd on the Esplanade talking to our returned soldiers about their experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Timor; particularly Afghanistan and Iraq, which were very dangerous missions. All of those troops were there to make a real difference and to improve the lives of people living in those countries, and they have done a magnificent job.
In the past, many soldiers returning from conflict, such as from Vietnam, did not get the public recognition they deserved. However, the Army, and the people of the Northern Territory, are determined that this generation of soldiers know how much their service matters. We have a long reputation of welcoming and supporting the Defence community. Let me place on record that my government extends to Defence personnel a special level of support and friendship that I feel they would not find elsewhere in Australia.
Our troops serve this country well; they are an inspiring bunch of people, and it was great to be at the Welcome Home Parade on 8 August.
SIHIP – Costs of Administration and Profit
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you provide a breakdown of money for SIHIP expended by each of the three alliances? How much of the money going to the alliances will be spent on administration; and how much will be taken in profit?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I have said to the Leader of the Opposition, there will be plenty of opportunities to get to the detail of these issues. Project management and administration costs are currently running at 11.4%. As a result of the work done between the Territory government and Commonwealth officials, we believe that project management and administration can be worked down to around 8% of the overall value of the project. Those numbers are still being worked through and refined. That is a very competitive number, given the size and scale of this program. Those are the numbers for the Leader of the Opposition: currently project management and administration costs are running at 11.4% of the program.
Mr MILLS: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: We do not have supplementary questions. You can ask another question later.
Police Beats - Establishment
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
During the last election, this government made a commitment to establish Police Beats in five of the main shopping precincts in the Territory during the term of this government. Can you please advise the House of progress made filling this commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. The Police Beats initiative has been very well received throughout the Territory where they have been rolled out. Our first Police Beat at Casuarina has been successfully delivered. I know the opposition has a plan to close the Police Beats if they come to government. It has been successfully delivered, and continues to attract good support from key stakeholders. It has been a highly effective policing initiative. Many of the retailers and shoppers now consider the vicinity to be safer, and antisocial behaviour has visibly reduced since the Police Beat commenced operation.
During the election, I committed $12.3m to establish Police Beats in five of the Territory’s main shopping centres. In February, we made a commitment to bring forward the Police Beat in Alice Springs as part of the Alice Springs Action Plan. We are committed to having this operational by the end of the 2008-09 financial year. On 29 July, I was pleased to join with my colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, Mayor Damien Ryan, the Commissioner of Police, and other members of parliament to formally open the Police Beat in the Todd Mall. It is being very well received. For two shifts a day, the Police Beat will be operational where it is of most value. There will be foot patrols of the mall and adjacent locations in the CBD, and staffed by a third officer ensuring it is open and accessible to members of the public. It complements the additional police patrol that will be located in Alice Springs under the Safer Streets initiative, with more CCTV cameras in the CBD. The feedback has been overwhelming. My colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, says it has been very well received.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance of Steve Brouwer, the owner of the Alice Springs Cinema Complex, and the hard work of the contractors and the project team in Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services, who worked very hard to bring this initiative forward. I know that it has been very well received by the people of Alice Springs.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, could you ask the Chief Minister to table the document that he was reading from?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, are you willing to table the document, or is it a private document?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I was speaking from notes.
SIHIP – Expenditure to Date
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for HOUSING
On 17 June 2009, in estimates questioning, your minister responsible for SIHIP agreed to provide detailed information and exact dollar figures on how much money has been spent on SIHIP to date. Exactly two months later we are still waiting for this information. Why will you not provide this information now, and deliver on your commitment to leading an honest, open and accountable government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, before I pass the question to the minister responsible, the Minister for Housing, I have already said that project management and administration costs are currently running at 11.4%; contracts let to date total $128m. We will build 750 new homes, 230 upgraded homes, and 2500 refurbished homes throughout the Northern Territory. Those are the facts. This program will be oversighted by the Council of Territory Cooperation, by the Auditor-General. For further information, I pass over to the Minister for Housing.
Mr KNIGHT (Housing): Madam Speaker, it is very curious that we are getting estimates questions two months after estimates.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: I made myself available for four hours in estimates …
Mr Mills: And you made commitments.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: A measly 10 minutes was offered to SIHIP. A large part of that was …
Mr Elferink: Because you could not answer the questions. You made a commitment to give some detail, and you have not provided it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr KNIGHT: Part of that included the answers provided by my department and myself at that time. So, 10 measly minutes in four hours of estimates …
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: This program, as the Chief Minister said, will be reviewed by the Council of Territory Cooperation …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! During the estimates process, the minister took those questions on notice. That was two months ago. We have asked the same questions again now. We simply want to know some dollar figures. We ask you to ask the minister to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, could you get to the point pretty quickly?
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, this program is being oversighted by the Auditor-General …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members, the minister has the call; the Leader of the Opposition has asked a question. Minister, in your response, could you be very fast and either answer the question or resume your seat, please.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, it has now fallen to the Council of Territory Cooperation to show an interest …
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A Question on Notice from estimates, 6.15: he promised to answer this question. Answer the question and make the detail available!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your answer?
Mr KNIGHT: Yes, Madam Speaker.
Access Economics – June Quarter Forecast
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Could you please inform the House about the recently released Access Economics forecast and how the Territory’s economy compares with the rest of the nation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. The Access Economics June quarter forecast is very good news for the Territory. This respected national economic commentator has revised upwards its Territory economic growth forecast to 4.9% in the 2008-09 financial year - the highest in our nation.
It also revised upwards the economic growth forecast over the 2009-10 financial year to 1.8%, in tough economic times. This compares to 0.8% in 2008-09, and just 0.4% in 2009-10 for the national economic growth forecast. This is an outstanding result for the Territory. We are outperforming our nation.
Access Economics has forecast the Territory’s average economic growth of 2.2% over five years to 2012-13, compared to 2% nationally. These forecasts highlight the strength in the Territory’s economy, and this is without the INPEX project being directly factored in. Across other economic indicators, Access Economics has forecast the following for the Territory over the five years to 2012-13: investment expenditure to remain well above long-term trend levels, supported by strong population and consumption growth; private sector consumption to outperform the nation, with annual growth of 2.7%, the highest of the jurisdictions and well above the national forecast of 1.5%; population growth of 2% over the five years, above the national rate of 1.5%; and the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation.
This is very good news for Territorians and our Territory businesses, and a strong indication of the confidence in our economy. These figures show that the Territory is not only weathering the storm of the global financial crisis, but is poised for further significant growth
SIHIP – Expenditure to Date
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for HOUSING
I believe Territorians had hoped the era of Henderson spin was over …
Mr Henderson: What was your question?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The Leader of the Opposition has the call. It would be helpful if opposition members would cease interjecting so the Leader of the Opposition could ask his question.
Mr MILLS: I believe Territorians had hoped the era of Henderson government spin was over. With that assumption in mind, how much money has been spent on the administration of SIHIP to date? This is taxpayers’ money; they deserve a straight answer for a change. How much money has been spent?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and I refer the question to the Minister for Housing.
Mr KNIGHT (Housing): Madam Speaker, it was a very important question. The answer to the estimates question was provided to the committee on 31 July. The answer was $3.8m as of 31 May, that is, $3.8m of the $672m program. My office already provided that answer. They are very open, transparent and accountable.
Job Protection by Territory Government
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
You just talked about the Territory economy that continues to buck the trend. Given the recent release of employment data, can you inform the Assembly how government is protecting Territory jobs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her important question. The June ABS Labour Force data confirms, once again, that the Territory is out-performing the nation with the highest employment growth in the nation. There is no doubt that the Territory is the place to be if you want a job. Our annual employment growth was the highest of all the jurisdictions at 5.1%, while the national rate has remained flat at 0.3%. Manpower’s Employment Outlook Survey reports the Territory, with the ACT, has the most optimistic employment outlook of all the jurisdictions.
Our economy is strong. We are delivering jobs for Territorians at a time when we, sadly, have seen job contraction elsewhere in our nation. Our labour force participation rate in the Territory decreased marginally to 75.1%, but still remains the highest labour force participation rate in Australia. The trend unemployment rate in the Territory is unchanged at 4.2%, but still below that national rate of 5.8%. While Australia appears to be escaping the worst effects of the global downturn, the Territory continues to strike ahead with the strongest employment growth in our nation.
Our economy is bucking the national trend. We are yet to see the global financial uncertainty end, which is why the Henderson government is absolutely committed to protecting Territory jobs, with that unprecedented $1.3bn infrastructure investment in Budget 2009-10. This program, the $1.3bn investment in infrastructure, will create some 2500 jobs in our construction and related sectors. In our economy, we will see schools being built, roads being built, houses being built, and new subdivisions being turned off.
Budget 2009-10 has also maintained the Territory as the lowest-taxing jurisdiction for small and medium business to help protect jobs for Territorians. Our government remains absolutely focused on creating and protecting jobs …
Mr Tollner: You are focused on internal fighting, that is what you are focused on.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I know the member for Fong Lim finds job creation and protection a joke, but I can tell you, it is no joke for people out there who rely on a job to put food on the table and keep a roof over the head of their family. We are absolutely focused on both creating and, importantly, protecting jobs, and this recent ABS data certainly shows the Territory’s job market remains the strongest in our nation.
SIHIP – Role of Jim Davidson
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
How much is former federal Labor candidate for the electorate of Solomon, Jim Davidson, being paid for his role in SIHIP? Can you provide a breakdown of his tasks and his qualifications for the job?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, please pause. I just caution you that our standing orders ask me to caution people when we are talking about people who do not have a right of reply in this House. If you could bear that in mind, Chief Minister, in response..
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition’s question, grubby as it is. These are employment matters that are private between the employee and the private company. Jim Davidson does not …
Ms Carney: It is taxpayer money; it is not your money.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this Territorian is not employed by the government. He is employed by a private sector company, and the government has no say on who private companies employ to deliver this project.
Basketball – Support from Government
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Could you advise the House what actions the government has taken to ensure Territory basketball fans continue to see the best basketball sports stars in action?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his very good question. The Labor government, as we all know in this House, is committed to bringing the best national and international events to Darwin and to the Territory. Due to changes in the NBL season outside of our control for this year, the Perth Wildcats advised us that they were unable to play in Darwin. On hearing this bad news, we were committed to continuing to bring NBL games here and we did not want to disappoint our basketball fans throughout the Territory.
Immediately, I had my department conduct negotiations with the NBL, and with the Perth Wildcats, and a new, exciting format was organised. Due to these negotiations, local basketball fans will now be able to see all eight teams in the NBL playing in a round robin format in Darwin early in September this year. Olympic players, such as Shawn Redhage, Chris Anstey, Mark Worthington, C J Bruton and Glen Saville will be playing for their respective teams throughout the basketball blitz. All the teams will visit children at the hospital and various schools around Darwin. There is also an Indigenous carnival planned, with four teams competing, and these teams will be the curtain raisers to the NBL teams during the blitz.
This is an exciting four days of national basketball and, as the member for Fannie Bay said, we will be seeing the best basketballers in the country in Darwin. I am looking forward to that and I encourage all members to watch the games.
Road Safety Signs - Vandalism
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Recently, there has been a large number of road directional and safety signs deliberately destroyed by some senseless drivers in the rural area. The possibility of using portable wireless CCTV cameras was raised during the Estimates Committee hearings. Would your government consider using these cameras in the rural areas where road signs are regularly being destroyed as a means of stopping this senseless and costly vandalism?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for a very good question. Where the police are at the moment, two issues; one, they are in the process of building a whole new digital radio network for police communications - that was part of a two year budget; the second part of the budget is for this financial year 2009-10. That will be the technology platform that the police will then look at using for any number of technologies to improve policing techniques.
Second, we are rolling out, alongside that new digital platform for CCTV, an expandable platform that we are building at the moment. The advice is that police are looking at the opportunities of having roaming CCTV cameras built as part of these platforms. I do not have any specific detail. I will get back to the member for Nelson. The platforms are being built, and the investments are being made. Obviously, as technology improves over time, the police will make use of that technology.
SIHIP – Employment of Jack Ah Kit
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
How much is former Labor minister, Jack Ah Kit, receiving for his work on SIHIP?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You previously advised the Leader of the Opposition about naming people in this House and the responsibility of members when they drag people who are unable to defend themselves into the debate of this House. The opposition should know that, in the House of Representatives, citizens actually have a right of reply in these matters. I notice, in amongst the reforms that you brought here - I would advise the Leader of the Opposition …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please resume your seat!
Mr Elferink: I am not interested in their culture of cover up. What we are interested in is the truth.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Elferink: Try the truth for once, or is that a four letter word by your estimation?
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, you will recall that we have an item called freedom of speech, which is a very important matter in relation to all members of parliament. The Assembly considers that, in speaking in the Assembly or on a committee, members should take the following matters into account: the need to exercise the valuable right of freedom of speech in a responsible manner; the damage that may be done by allegations made in parliament to those who are the subject of such allegations into the standing of parliament; the limited opportunities for persons other than members of parliament to respond to allegations made in parliament; the need for members, while fearlessly performing their duties, to have regard to the rights of others; and the desirability of ensuring that statements reflecting adversely on persons are soundly based. Finally, whenever the Speaker considers that it is desirable to do so, the Speaker may draw the attention of members to the spirit and the letter of this resolution.
In answering the question, Chief Minister, I ask you to bear those things in mind.
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I acknowledge the question from the Leader of the Opposition. I find these questions pretty sad - pretty sad that two highly respected Territorians being dragged with attempts made to slander them in this House …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: The Leader of the Opposition well knows that contracts have been awarded to private sector companies to deliver this program. These are employment matters that are private between the employee and the private company. This government has no say on which private companies employ, and who they employ to deliver on this project. The Leader of the Opposition knows that.
Is the Leader of the Opposition really saying that the Minister for Housing, or me, as Chief Minister, should sit with all these private companies - and there are many private companies delivering on this program - that we should sit there and say, yes, this person should have a job; no, that person should not have a job …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: That is the way the Leader of the Opposition may think these issues work. It is a highly offensive line of questioning, and a sad line of questioning. I thought he was better than this, because not only is he dragging two fine Territorians into this debate, but also the companies that have employed them. These companies have employed people because they are qualified, they have the skills to do this job; it has nothing to do with the Territory government. They have been employed by the private sector to do a job, and I believe it is very sad, with everything that has been going on in politics in the last couple of weeks in the Northern Territory, that this is the best that this man can do.
Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you update the House on progress of establishing the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre in Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am sitting here listening to the opposition talking about spin, but what about the spin of the member for Port Darwin? He came out here banging his hand on the table, demanding ‘where are the answers to the questions we asked you at Estimates Committee about the cost?’ My colleague, the Minister for Housing gets up and says: ‘Well, you got them about two weeks ago’. Talk about spin!
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: They have a spin master there, and none better than the member for Fong Lim. The ancient Romans said: ‘what you write remains for others to see’. The best spin I have seen is this: ‘Strong economic management delivers cancer care unit’. That was before the election in 2007. When? Where? How? He says, it is really good: ‘Territorians, we have new cancer treatment facilities at the Royal Darwin Hospital …’
A member: What is this? You are not even answering your own question.
Mr VATSKALIS: ‘… following the Howard government’s commitment of $31.5m’.
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: He did not, it was only $30m, and then he says: ‘I fought for the oncology unit in Darwin, working closely with the federal government to get the necessary funds’. He did not get even get a brick; he got nothing. The only good thing, I suppose, is he said: ‘’I bet my job on the cancer unit’. Well, with one stone, two birds: we got it, thanks to the Rudd government, and he lost his job.
I am very pleased to say that the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre is on track – 70 % completed, and it will be operational next year.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: We promised the Cancer Care Centre in 2001. The federal government did not come to the party. The member for Fong Lim then said it would cost between $15m and $20m.
Mr Elferink: You said it. You said it in the 2001 mini-budget, you dill!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: On 23 April 2006, in the Sunday Territorian, Mr Tollner said he believed between $15m and $20m was needed to deliver it.
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Let us look at the facts. The federal government and the Territory government put in $90m for the oncology unit, plus $8.9m for the linear accelerators - by the way, they do not create any nuclear waste. Our government is putting in $2m recurrent every year for the operation. We are putting in $1m for Health personnel, and $4m to refurbish the old Masonic Homes facility near the Daly Street bridge in order to accommodate people who will come from all around the Territory to receive the best treatment they can.
The only thing I need to thank the member for Fong Lim for is his statement that from now on Territorians will be treated in the Territory and they do not have to travel somewhere else; in contrast with your member for Greatorex, who still demands people from Alice Springs, or Tennant Creek should travel to anywhere else to receive treatment.
The project is on track. We expect 300 people to be treated in the first year of operation, with the figure to grow up to 360 by 2030.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We gave notices until 2.10 pm, and his attempt to shut down Question Time five minutes early just demonstrates the fear that is permeating through this government.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, are you actually moving to have the Question Time close down?
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I was under the impression that Question Time had begun at five past, but if the member for Port Darwin had his watch at 2.10 pm, so be it.
Mr ELFERINK: I checked it very carefully, because I knew this stunt had been pulled.
Photo Opportunity for Minister
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Weekend Australian reported on 15 August that house footings at Groote Eylandt had been poured for a photo opportunity for a government minister, but that no work was continuing on the site. Do you guarantee that this will be the last example of your government setting up photo opportunities to create a misleading impression? Is this the last of your spin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, regarding any allegations and assertions by The Australian newspaper, I take virtually all of them with a very big grain of salt.
On Groote Eylandt, construction of the first new houses has begun, with foundations being poured. Eighty new houses will ultimately be constructed. The first four refurbishments have been handed back, two weeks ahead of schedule. There are people living in refurbished houses that have been handed back. Work on the next 18 of the 55 upgrades is currently under way.
Our minister for Families, and local member, has been to Groote Eylandt to see this work. The Minister for Housing came back from Groote Eylandt with photographs of trainees and apprentices employed there. The absolute commitment of this Territory government and the Australian government is to deliver 750 new houses, 230 refurbished houses, and 2500 upgrades right across the Northern Territory. Work has commenced, specifically on Groote Eylandt.
Parap Gateway Redevelopment
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HOUSING
Last week’s NT News BusinessWeek described Parap as the place to be. Can you please provide an update on the Parap Gateway redevelopment, including what is happening with the Wirrina Flats?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. He has been right behind this project for the Parap Gateway. It will deliver affordable homes to first homebuyers; and also rental properties for seniors. It will be the commencement of seniors stock for our Affordable Housing Rental Company. It will also address much of the antisocial behaviour …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: I have met many of the residents of Parap and they are very interested in this project. It is a very innovative project for that area. It will address many of the antisocial behaviour issues. The project is well on track, with the tender for the demolition of Wirrina going out a couple of weeks ago. We hope to have that awarded …
Mr Giles: You might want to tell people it is going to take four years to demolish them; just before the next election.
Mr KNIGHT: The contract will be awarded in the coming weeks. I believe we will have that complex demolished before Christmas. This is great news. This is the government delivering on an innovative election commitment well and truly early.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr Elferink: Madam Speaker, he still cannot help himself. He cannot go away.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat! Is there a point of order?
Mr Elferink: Yes, Madam Speaker …
Madam SPEAKER: No, not from you; from the member for Fong Lim.
Mr TOLLNER: No, Madam Speaker, I have a question for you. I know the top clock seems to be more than an hour fast. I am wondering if we can look at getting that fixed?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I will give you the sad story of the clocks. On the weekend, something happened to all the clocks in Parliament House, and they all went an hour ahead. Yesterday, they were all fixed, and they based it on the one in the Chamber. Then, apparently, an hour after they had left the building, it jumped ahead by an hour. I have been advised today that they will have to get a special part for this particular clock. All the other clocks are all right. We are hoping that it will be here by Friday. However, it does take some time to install it, so we have a temporary clock.
So, thank you, member for Fong Lim.
If the cameras can be removed.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Madam Speaker, can I inform the member for Port Darwin that ‘truth’ actually has five letters and not four.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much, the level of levity is fine.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Honourable members, we will be moving back to the statement as moved by the Chief Minister.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016