2009-11-25
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: On behalf of honourable members, I welcome the many guests who have come here tonight for Question Time. Once again, I acknowledge the Mayor of Alice Springs who has spent a lot of time here today. On behalf of honourable members, we extend to you another warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Alice Springs – Increase In Violent Crime
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your taxpayer-funded advertisement in Friday’s Centralian Advocate claims that serious assaults in Alice Springs are down by 21%, yet your own Justice Department figures, figures that are publicly available and figures that can be validated, clearly contradict your paid claim by showing that assaults are up 25% from the June quarter last year. You have often said that one assault is one assault too many. Rather than spin a number that suits your political purposes, will you simply acknowledge that your neglect of Alice Springs has led to an increase in violent crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the question from the member for Araluen. As the member quite rightly said, one violent assault is one too many. In Alice Springs, as I have explained, up hill and down dale over the last few years, with the additional police attention, additional police resources focused on domestic violence, alcohol-related domestic violence abuse in Alice Springs, we have more reports, more incidences of reports of alcohol-fuelled domestic violence and serious assaults over the last year. We can all play with statistics …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We release quarterly crime statistics, quarter on quarter. We are the most transparent government in Australia, probably in the world, in terms of the quarterly release of crime statistics. If you compare, quarter on quarter, you can come up with another number compared to year on year, or half year on half year. The tragedy here is that violent crime is absolutely unacceptable, and the vast majority of assaults in Alice Springs that police, tragically, have to deal with on a daily basis, are domestic violence reports and assaults.
Since we have a domestic violence squad based in Alice Springs on a permanent basis, and since we have given the police the capacity to initiate, without reference to a court in the first instance, their own domestic violence orders, for the year 2009-10, 737 DVOs were initiated by police - a 39% increase from the same period last year. Police also investigated and initiated prosecutions of alleged breaches of those domestic violence orders and, for the 2009-10 financial year, 513 DVO contraventions were reported - a 34% increase compared to the same period.
Why do we have this increase? It is because we have dedicated police resources and we have the confidence of women to report. If we actually look at the figures in regard to assaults …
Madam SPEAKER: We have a stranger in the House. Can we please ask this media person to leave the Chamber? Leave the Chamber, please. Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: In regard to the reality of these statistics, I know the opposition want to paint a particular picture here but, of the 1400 assault offences recorded over the last year, 54% were domestic violence-related, compared to 48% for the same period in 2007-08, and over 45% of the increase in assault offences are attributed to domestic violence incidences.
What we have here is a government acknowledging that this is a blight on our community. This is an absolute affront to our community. We have a complex set of policy responses, not just policing responses.
What is the Country Liberals’ policy in terms of reducing crime, reducing violence?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: What is the Country Liberals’ policy in Alice Springs to reducing violence? I think the people who are here …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … in this Assembly this evening need to understand that this is the policy position of the member for Araluen to reduce violence and to reduce assaults in Alice Springs. Their policy is to increase the sale of alcohol by an additional four hours a day. To increase the sale of alcohol by an additional four hours a day is a recipe for more assaults, more violence, more admissions to the hospital in Alice Springs, and more women, in particular, being bashed to a pulp. That is the Country Liberals’ response.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The Country Liberals’ response is to pour more alcohol onto this problem by increasing the supply of alcohol by four hours a day. That is absolutely irresponsible; it is recklessly irresponsible.
Today is White Ribbon Day, and we are all wearing white ribbons in recognition of the abhorrence of domestic violence in our community. It is an abhorrent crime. It is one we are cracking down on. It is one that our police are focused on. It is certainly a crime that all the Country Liberals want to do is to pour more alcohol onto it.
Northern Territory Emergency Response - Reforms
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, the federal government introduced to parliament a number of reforms to the Northern Territory Emergency Response. Can you please outline the reforms and how they will benefit the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. It has been a very significant day today in the federal parliament. The federal government introduced significant national legislation designed to strengthen and refocus the efforts of the Northern Territory Emergency Response, and we welcome these initiatives. I will talk about the initiatives which are being introduced into federal parliament today.
We support the significant national reform to welfare payments which have been made under these proposals. We recognise these proposals are far reaching, and they will not be welcomed by everyone. Income management has proven its worth now in the Territory, and in two states – in Western Australia, in a number of programs in Perth, and in Queensland. Its extension to all people in certain categories of welfare across the nation is the right thing to do. This is a tough reform, but it is the right thing to do.
Mr Mills interjecting.
The Northern Territory will lead that national roll-out, but it will be rolled through the rest of the nation following evaluation. I pick up the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition. Yes, I was consulted. I was consulted in depth on this particular issue.
The federal government’s legislation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … will repeal all of the NTER laws which suspend the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act. Alcohol and pornography restrictions, five year leases, community store licensing, and law enforcement powers will also be deemed as special measures which help Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. Publicly funded computers, and the business management areas powers, will remain unchanged. Importantly, there will also be some new changes to the current regime. Regional or community alcohol restrictions will be able to be developed as part of alcohol management plans, but these will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As well, the current requirement for a licensee to record the sale of takeaway liquor valued at $100 or more will be abolished because it has not been effective. We mounted that case from day one. The Australian Crime Commission special law enforcement powers will be retained.
These are significant reforms. These reforms will be rolled out nationally. They really are targeted at providing more support for our children across the Northern Territory, across Australia. Where young people are on Youth Allowance or New Start payments for more than three months, then these reforms will encourage those young people to formally enter into training programs to enable them to get the skills to get a job. They are significant reforms and they have my government’s support.
Alice Springs – Police Numbers
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
In a government brochure that many people will recognise, distributed to residents of Alice Springs in April this year, you advised that private security patrols will: ‘continue until the Police Beat is operational in July’. As you said yesterday in Question Time, the Police Beat is operational, and has been for several months. A private security firm continues to patrol the CBD seven nights a week at a cost of about $5000 a week paid for by your government. Crime is at such high levels that you are forced to pay private security patrols to complement the local police force. Why do you continue to neglect the people of Alice Springs by not providing enough police on the beat to properly protect locals and enforce your laws?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the question from the member for Araluen. The Police Beat has been a very popular initiative by my government in regard to putting police on patrol through the CBD. When we announced the Police Beat programs as part of a range of Police Beats across the Northern Territory, the Leader of the Opposition said he would close them down, that he did not support Police Beats. He said that on a Channel 9 News broadcast, around December last year as we were opening the first Police Beat at Casuarina in Darwin and rolling out across the Northern Territory. He said they would close them down. That is the level of support the opposition has for this particular initiative.
It is also backed up by an extensive roll-out of CCTV cameras in Alice Springs, in the CBD, one we have worked on with the Alice Springs Town Council. I thank the Alice Springs Town Council for their support, as well as funding the recurrent dollars for the monitoring of those CCTV cameras.
In regard to additional police, we have 175 paid full-time police operative positions in Alice Springs - per capita, more than anywhere else in Australia. With the Police Beat initiative, we allocated an additional seven full-time police positions in Alice Springs. Under our Safer Streets initiative, in the budget this year, before 30 June, there will be an additional 10 full-time police positions in Alice Springs, on the beat.
Madam Speaker, that is an extra …
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … seventeen full-time police positions in Alice Springs on the beat. That is the level of our commitment to these issues.
As well as police, you also have to have a range of reforms to make the Northern Territory and Alice Springs safer places. Eighty percent of police work in Alice Springs is alcohol related. You ask any police officer about the majority of the work that they do here in Alice Springs and they will say it is alcohol related. For the opposition …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: For the opposition to have a policy that says we actually need to increase the amount of alcohol available in Alice Springs flies in the face …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: When 80% of all police work in Alice Springs is alcohol related, the last thing any sensible government would do is pour more alcohol onto the problem.
I pick up on the interjection about the Acting Police Commissioner and his so-called alleged support. I have the transcript with me right now. This is the selective misinformation that this opposition consistently peddles. Let us hear exactly what Bruce Wernham did say today, in an interview with Alice Brennan. This is the Acting Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: He said:
- I have been sitting in the reception area with no speakers on. I have not heard any of the show so far. All I can say is we would not support any extended hours in Alice Springs.
‘We would not support any extended hours in Alice Springs’. That is what the Acting Police Commissioner has said: ‘We would not support any extended hours …’.
Members interjecting.
Madam CHAIR: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: He said:
- If there was a suggestion of moving the whole block forward, that is something we could look at.
What that means is, if you do not actually increase the number of hours you are selling alcohol in Alice Springs, you need to take four hours from the other end of the day. That means, instead of bottle shops and takeaway outlets being open until 9 pm, they should be closed at 5 pm to allow them to be open at 10 am next day. The Acting Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory also said the opposition’s policy is a policy and a recipe for disaster in Alice Springs ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was referring to the wrong interview. The interview he should have been referring to was not that day.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, resume your seat. Chief Minister, have you completed your answer? Yes.
Opposition Member - Alleged Behaviour
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Are you aware of the outrageous behaviour of a member of the opposition in the Alice Springs parliament which requires direct intervention and discipline from the Leader of the Opposition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Rough and tumble is part of the life of politics, and part of Territory politics. We all acknowledge that this is a rough and tumble game. I would imagine, for all of the community witnessing this Question Time tonight, we can have our rough and tumble, our argy-bargy across the floor. That is what democracy is all about. However, there are standards of behaviour I imagine everyone here would expect of our politicians, particularly when we are in Alice Springs performing our parliamentary duties.
This afternoon, the member for Katherine, Mr Willem Westra van Holthe, was observed by a senior staff member of the government placing a sticker on the back of a toilet door in the parliamentary precinct. He was caught red-handed, defacing property in the parliamentary precinct. He is an ex-police officer. You would think an ex-police officer would know the difference between right and wrong.
A member: Hold it up!
Mr HENDERSON: I will hold up and show the sticker in a moment. I go to the hypocrisy of the opposition. Last night in adjournment, we had the member for Port Darwin talking about graffiti and the wave of graffiti in his electorate; the seat of Port Darwin is suffering a wave of graffiti. Let us look at some of the language he used. He talked about these ‘reckless pieces of vandalism’ - these were the words from the member for Port Darwin. I agree with him: graffiti is reckless vandalism. He also talked about ‘spraying their useless and disgusting little tags all over the sails in the mall’. So we have one member of the opposition saying graffiti is a ‘reckless piece of vandalism’, and another member of the opposition skulking around here in parliament defacing property.
Let us have a look at this. This is the level the opposition has stooped to. This is a toilet roll holder, in the toilet of Parliament House. We have a member of parliament, elected by the people of Katherine, skulking around the toilets of parliament, putting stickers on toilet roll holders.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister is intimating that I have been into the ladies toilets to put up a sticker, which is totally untrue. I ask the Chief Minister to withdraw the comments which refer to that.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I did not actually hear anything about ladies toilets. I heard the word ‘toilets’.
Mr HENDERSON: I did not mention ladies toilets. Let us get, pardon the pun, to the bottom of this issue. I have here a statutory declaration …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: A statutory declaration from a member of my staff …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We are 25 minutes into Question Time. The government has problems with law and order, health, education, and housing for Aboriginal people …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order!
Mr ELFERINK: ... and this Chief Minister is worried about nothing more than a sticker. He should get over it and get on with governing the Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat, there is no point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: They are sensitive, Madam Speaker.
This goes to the quality and the calibre of our elected members of parliament. It goes to the Leader of the Opposition and his leadership. An ex-police officer would know that what he has done contravenes numerous pieces of legislation. What he needs to do is to apologise. He needs to apologise to this Convention Centre for defacing public property.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: If he was much of a man, he would …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. I remind members of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt of has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
The Chief Minister has been asked a question and I would like him to be given the courtesy of answering it.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are significant ramifications for misleading this parliament. I have a statutory declaration here from one of my staff, Kieran Phillips, I am happy to table it, which states:
- That on the 25th day of November 2009, at approximately 4.30 pm, I witnessed Mr Willem Westra van Holte [sic], the member for Katherine, affixing an offensive sticker to the wall of the toilets opposite the government lobby. The sticker contained …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, skulking around, they can nitpick around this, but …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … but the fact of the matter is, the member for Katherine is skulking around the toilets of this parliament putting up stickers.
- The sticker contained the words, ‘I hate Delia, from Burnsey’. Upon becoming aware of my presence, Mr Willem Westra van Holte [sic] walked briskly from the toilets and stated …
- ‘talk about busted.’
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There are actually two points. First, the allegations that the Chief Minister is raising is suggesting criminal activity by the member for Katherine. He knows that can only be done through substantive motion. Second, the Chief Minister knows that the only person who should be apologising here is him for the way he has wrecked the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Alice Springs - CCTV Monitoring
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government did a backflip at the last parliamentary sittings in Alice Springs in April 2007 when the government agreed to fund some CCTV cameras. We welcome the backflip, but they are still not monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and when they are monitored, it is monitored by a local taxi company. In Darwin, on the other hand, you have promised same time monitoring of CCTV cameras by the police. Why do the people of Alice Springs continue to be neglected by Labor, and why do you put the needs of the northern suburbs ahead of the needs of Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the question from the member for Araluen. Never let the facts get in the way of a good piece of political rhetoric. In April 2008, the Alice Springs Town Council installed 14 CCTV cameras in the Todd Mall, which are currently active and recording 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We increased funding; a further $1.1m to fund the expansion, and a funding agreement was entered into between the Department of the Chief Minister and the Alice Springs Town Council. I thank the Alice Springs Town Council for their cooperation in this project.
What we have here are additional cameras. The project is on track for complete installation and operation of the expanded system in 2010. Fourteen cameras now operate, with the current tender to provide an additional 18 cameras comparable with the existing cameras. This will expand the CBD coverage to 32 cameras in total, with $200 000 a year. Compare that to the zero CCTV cameras that were here when the CLP were in power - zero.
One of the issues we do have …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Zero, and do not let the facts get in the way of a good piece of political rhetoric.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The Northern Territory police have actively tried to recruit police auxiliaries in Alice Springs to monitor these cameras. Despite significant expense in running recruitment campaigns, they have been unable to attract and recruit police auxiliaries to monitor these cameras on a 24/7 basis. That is the reality of being unable to recruit police auxiliaries.
We funded the council. We have subcontracted this to Alice Springs Taxis. What we are trying to build across the Northern Territory is a national system - Alice Springs is actually ahead of Darwin in having CCTV cameras throughout the CBD - and an expansion of that program. Once the expanded system is available in Darwin, we will be looking at 24 hour monitoring of the Alice Springs CCTV cameras with police auxiliaries in Darwin. That is a way off at this point, but our commitment is total.
Alice Springs has come first. We will have 32 cameras in total. The great thing about this technology is that the images are held for a significant period of time. If there is an offence reported, police can go back to a certain point in time and a certain date, take a picture of the offender, and use that information in their investigations. This is good technology – that is the reality. It has come at a significant investment from my government. Alice Springs is the first place in the Northern Territory where this investment occurred.
Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education – Future of Staff
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Is it true the corporate receivers at Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education informed the staff recently that up to 80 people would be let go in very near future? Could you say why all these staff are being made redundant, and could you say what effect this will have on the delivery of programs by the college in the Alice Springs campus?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education is an important educational institution in the Northern Territory. It has been under a significant review by the administrators, KordaMentha.
A few weeks ago, the Australian government and the Northern Territory government contributed significant additional funding to Batchelor Institute to allow it to continue to operate until the report from the administrators is received by government. This is a matter currently between KordaMentha and the Australian government. The Australian government is the primary funder of Batchelor Institute. Once the full picture is clear, the Territory government will, of course, work with the institute, KordaMentha, and the Australian government to get the best outcome for Batchelor Institute, for students enrolled at Batchelor, and also the teaching staff.
I am not aware of that number, member for Nelson; it has not been relayed to me. Batchelor Institute is currently in very difficult circumstances. The Territory government and the Commonwealth have provided additional funding to maintain courses, and to maintain the salaries of lecturers and staff until such time as the administrator’s report is available, and the Australian government, the Territory government and Batchelor Institute can work out a way forward.
Domestic and Family Violence – Government Initiatives
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
Today is White Ribbon Day. Can you please outline government initiatives in relation to domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Indeed, it is an important day, not only in Alice Springs and the Northern Territory, but across Australia. As we take a particular focus on domestic violence, we should not forget the linkage with alcohol abuse, with 80% of reported domestic violence in Alice Springs being alcohol-related.
I am pleased to say that the Northern Territory government is taking a very strong stance against domestic violence. In this House, we have debated on numerous occasions, and quite passionately, that domestic violence occurs too often in our families across the Northern Territory, and certainly here in Central Australia. We know, that we, as a government and as a parliament, must say to the people of the Northern Territory that this behaviour is not on. It is about changing society’s attitudes and about changing behaviour.
Today, as part of our full focus on wanting to tackle this scourge amongst families across the Northern Territory, we have committed $15m over three years. Today, on White Ribbon Day, I was very pleased to see in the mall in Alice Springs Correctional Services putting on a barbecue. The police were there, and also the men of Central Australia through Charlie King and the Strong Men’s Program. I believe it is important that people who are here tonight hear this: the footballers in Central Australia, with the AFL campaign, have led the way with the ‘No more to domestic violence’. That campaign has gone right across the Northern Territory and right across Australia. You should be very proud of the men in Central Australia who have taken that stand.
That, by no means, means the end of domestic violence. It is not about just linking arms for one day. It is about getting up every single day, and the men and women of the Northern Territory trying to work with us on this. We have rolled out 19 women’s shelters in 15 locations, and men’s cooling-off places across the Northern Territory. It is something that our government is very proud of and we encourage members in this House to continue that stand.
Continence Nurse Advisor in Alice Springs
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
As many of us know, the Continence Nurse Advisor plays a crucial role in assisting the health of many Alice Springs residents. For 16 years, those in the position have assisted young children, spinal patients, post-natal women, men with prostate issues, and, as we are probably aware, a whole host of others. In addition to providing emotional support for residents, the role is crucial in assisting people being seen by visiting specialists, in particular, urologists. Can you confirm that, after 16 years, the position will no longer be filled? Or dare I say it: is this just another growing example of the failure of the Henderson government towards Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Despite what he says, our government always supports Alice Springs. There is no better proof than Alice Springs has one the best small hospitals in Australia. I have been around Australia. I was in Western Australia before I came here; I have been to Geraldton, Port Hedland and Bunbury. None of those hospitals, despite the fact they serve big populations, are as good as the hospital in Alice Springs. We have increased the number of beds, the number of doctors, and the number of nurses. We increased the budget by 120%. It is one of the best hospitals, and I am very proud to say that.
To your question about the Continence Nurse, yes, the nurse who was there is on long service leave. We currently provide the service through the Alice Springs Community Health Centre, supported by the Continence Nurse Advisor based in Darwin. We will also provide appropriate support and training to nurses here, so there will be a Continence Nurse in Alice Springs. There is no intention to remove any personnel from the Health department in Alice Springs. We are here to support the people of Alice Springs.
Australian Emissions Trading Scheme – Country Liberals Position
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINSITER
Can you inform the House on any threats to the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme becoming law?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I know the opposition will not face up to this issue - that climate change is the most pressing issue on the international agenda. In the Australian parliament yesterday, after 10 torturous weeks of negotiations between Ian Macfarlane and Penny Wong, a final offer on a CPRS scheme was made to the Coalition party room to ensure Australia can go to Copenhagen with a united position from the Australian government.
This is very serious. When we hear that all the climate change predictions show increasing temperatures, it is absolutely important, as politicians and as leaders, we have a comprehensive approach to this particular issue. Today, I understand the federal opposition has said it will support the proposition put forward. In the Northern Territory, we need to understand what the Country Liberals’ position is on this. What is the Country Liberals’ position on this? They are …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … infiltrated by deniers on the other side. They sit on these benches opposite, and the Country Liberals’ Senator in Canberra, Nigel Scullion, is set to vote against the proposed negotiated amendments. What the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, if you can tell me something different, I will accept I am wrong and I will apologise.
Yesterday, I asked the Leader of the Opposition to contact Senator Scullion; show leadership and tell him he has to abide by Country Liberals’ policy. In the last sittings of parliament, the Leader of the Opposition jumped up in a personal exploration, and said:
… during the 2008 election campaign, I released the Country Liberals’ environment policy Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change …
I have gone back to get a copy of that policy. This is Country Liberals’ policy. It is about the leadership and the integrity of the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition. The policy says:
- Country Liberals Environment Policy – Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change.
First paragraph:
- If the present generations are to pass on improving standards of living to their children and grandchildren, the challenges presented by climate change have to be addressed.
The policy position of the Country Liberals is that climate change is real and it needs to be addressed. It goes on to say in the next statement - and it is a pretty decent package:
- It will require action at all levels: nations certainly must act …
Here we are, at a point in time where Australia, as a nation, wants to act, and the Country Liberals have acknowledged climate change is a reality, has a policy which says that, if future generations are to have improved standards of living, we have to act. We have the reality of a Leader of the Opposition who is unable to get one of only two Northern Territory Senators - one of the two, 50% of the representation of the Northern Territory in our Australian Senate - to actually support his own policy. He is so weak he cannot even get the Senator of his own party to support his own policy in the interests of Australia and the interests of the Northern Territory.
I call on the Leader of the Opposition to show some leadership and direct Nigel Scullion to support the compromise his own party has hammered out.
Media Releases – Alleged Removal from Website
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, I received a phone call from the ABC asking if I knew that media releases issued by me and by the member for Arafura, either individually or jointly, as ministers, had been altered on the Northern Territory newsroom website. All references to us, including our images, were removed. Subsequent to that call, I was advised by the ABC that, following a call by them to one of your media advisors questioning why the releases had been removed, the releases suddenly reappeared. Those releases could not be removed unless an instruction came from a minister or a ministerial office.
Who gave the instructions to have these releases removed and why? Was the decision racially motivated against two Indigenous women who have spoken out against your government and its failure to deliver for Indigenous communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for the question. I have to say, I have no idea what she is talking about. I will find out and report to the House.
Mereenie Loop Road - Sealing
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
In 2001, and again in 2005, your government promised to seal the Mereenie Loop Road, an important road travelled every day by tourists, tour companies, residents and service workers. The road is a disaster waiting to happen. There have been at least 22 rollovers on the road in the last 12 months. Tourism operators estimate that repairs and maintenance on vehicles using the road is costing some businesses up to $400 000 per year per vehicle. Despite this, your government has yet again failed to provide funding to upgrade the road, as promised by your government over eight years ago.
Will you confirm, in the interests of honesty and integrity, that your government did not ever have any intention of sealing the road, and that Central Australia will continue to be neglected by your government in preference to pork barrelling the northern suburbs seats?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Again, never let the facts get in the way of a piece of good rhetoric. To date, we have delivered more than $28m in upgrades to 89 km of the Red Centre Way, including sealing a 48 km section of Namatjira Drive, and widening and sealing Larapinta Drive. This is a rolling program and $28m has already been spent.
This project has also seen local Indigenous people trained in civil construction; a contract for the supply of gravel and water to Larapinta Constructions; employed local Aboriginal labour under an accredited training scheme; and 11 people from Hermannsburg community completed various components of Certificate III in Civil Construction. Discussions are in progress …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, they are so churlish. They ask a question. I assume people would like to hear the answer. I am answering the question, as opposed to the churlish interjections from those opposite.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevancy: the Chief Minister was asked about sealing the Mereenie Loop Road.
Mr Henderson: I am talking about that.
Mr TOLLNER: You are not talking about it. You are talking about everything else but sealing the Mereenie Loop Road. Get on to your promise.
Mr HENDERSON: I am talking about …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The theatrics from the member for Fong Lim.
Discussions are in progress with the CLC regarding the completion of the inner loop, parts of Namatjira Drive and Larapinta Drive to Ipolera. When a formal deed of agreement can be reached following the resolution of issues, including access to gravel and land clearances, the Territory government will continue works to complete the sealing of the inner loop. It is estimated to cost $16.5m to finish that sealing, with current dollar estimates now at $50m to complete the outer loop, the 138 km to Larapinta Drive. This will be considered with other priorities in our 10-year road plan.
Madam Speaker, $28m has already been expended. We are negotiating with the CLC for gravel pits. In regard to the tourism sector, from talking with Peter Grigg the other day, the tourism industry has had a bumper year in Alice Springs. Despite the global financial crisis, it has absolutely had a bumper year in Alice Springs as a result of a lot of great work that is being done by Tourism NT. Promotions specifically of Alice Springs and the Central Australian region have driven more tourists to Alice Springs than could ever have been contemplated given the global financial crisis.
Tourism in Alice Springs has had a good year. We will continue to significantly invest, not only in infrastructure, but tourism marketing campaigns which promote this beautiful part of the Northern Territory.
Alice Springs - Alcohol-fuelled Violence
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
I would like to remind the member for Fong Lim of Standing Order 62, Madam Speaker.
Attorney-General, can you update the House on the level of alcohol-fuelled violence in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, alcohol is a factor in 65% of all assaults in Alice Springs, and the victims of 73% of assaults are women. Around 80% of domestic violence is alcohol related. Tragically, an Aboriginal woman is 24 times more likely to be a victim of violence than other people in Alice Springs. This is why this government has taken such tough action to address alcohol-fuelled violence and crime. Our Alcohol Management Plan in Alice Springs includes supply restrictions; ID systems; more police on patrols; more rehabilitation and treatment; and prohibition orders through the alcohol courts.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: The Menzies report found that, since the introduction of the Alice Springs Alcohol Management Plan I referred to, alcohol sales have been reduced by 18%, and serious assaults, stabbings and the like, have been cut by 21%. On the day the Menzies report was released in June, the member for Greatorex said, on 8HA, that people were less aggressive as a result of liquor not being available before 2 pm. He said the evidence in the report could not be ignored, and then he ignored it.
Alcohol abuse affects everyone. The CLP want to reopen the rivers of grog in Alice Springs.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Like the member for Johnston, I do not enjoy being very close to the member for Karama, however, my point of order is this: the Menzies report did not find what the Attorney-General asserts; she should not mislead the parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, there is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Ms LAWRIE: The Menzies report found, in terms of serious assault ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … a 21% reduction. Would the Country Liberals want to reopen the rivers of grog in Alice Springs, to increase crime, increase domestic violence, and adversely affect the lives of so many people in the Centre? The head of surgery at Alice Springs Hospital …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: All they know how to do is to insult. The head of surgery at Alice Springs Hospital, Dr Jacob, was asked if a 50% cut in the number of stabbings in Alice Springs coincided with the start of alcohol restrictions. His answer: ‘Yes, very clear’. The CEO of AMSANT, the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, John Paterson, said: ‘The evidence is there. Reduction in alcohol availability leads to a reduction in consumption and a reduction in the savage, personal and social costs of alcohol abuse’. White Ribbon Day Ambassador, Russell Goldflam …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen!
Ms LAWRIE: He is actually highly regarded and respected by many, even though the member for Araluen mocks.
The White Ribbon Day Ambassador, Russell Goldflam, said: ‘Over the last three years, serious violence in the Alice has significantly declined and, unless we fix alcohol first, all other things we do are going to fail’.
That truly sums up, through the mouths of experts, respected people, why the CLP’s plan to reopen the rivers of grog in Alice Springs is just so irresponsible and so very, very wrong.
Executive Position – Arts and Museums
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
It has come to my attention that the Chief Executive of the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport has proposed to create a new position of Executive Director Arts and Museums. It is unclear whether this new position will absorb the current position of Director of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, or just create an additional level of costly bureaucracy.
What are the implications of the proposed Executive Director position on the current position, and role of the Director of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory? Is this Executive Director position simply being created as a gift from the Chief Executive Jim Grant for his friend Apolline Kohen?
Madam SPEAKER: Before the minister answers, I remind you of our rights of freedom of speech. While it is a total right in this Chamber, when we are talking about people who have no right of reply in an answer, I caution you to remember that, minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for the question and the in-depth assumptions about the department and your proposed staffing changes. You have mentioned senior executive level positions, and you have suggested there are major changes going on within these senior executive level positions.
I can assure you that any major changes at that level of a public sector department in the Northern Territory would come through the minister’s office. Member for Macdonnell, I assure you that when I deal with such changes that you assume are happening, I will inform you.
Labor Government’s Record
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
I have to say, what an extraordinary waste of Question Time. With all these people in the gallery, the Chief Minister has stooped to grubby tactics of …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, do you have a question?
Mr CONLAN: Certainly, Madam Speaker. It is extraordinary, and on behalf of the parliament …
Madam SPEAKER: Just ask the question, member for Greatorex, or resume your seat.
Mr CONLAN: All right. Chief Minister, over the last two days of parliament, the good people of Alice Springs have been reminded that, since Labor came to power in 2001, violent crime has increased. Violent crime has gone through the roof, in fact. Property crime has increased. Property crime has gone through the roof. There are fewer police on the beat, despite the Chief Minister’s claim that there are more police. Public housing waiting times have exploded; rents are out of control; land is at crucial shortages; and, the cost of renting and buying a house has soared.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex is …
Mr Conlan: What standing order is it?
Dr BURNS: Standing Order 112. Questions should not contain arguments. They should be concise. That is what we have agreed to.
Mr Conlan: No, we did not!
Dr BURNS: The member for Greatorex should be asking his question …
Mr Conlan: No we did not. I was there. We did not agree to that at all!
Dr BURNS: … very directly, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: There is a lot of latitude in the asking of questions, but, member for Greatorex, if you could come to the question very, very quickly. It is a very long question.
Mr CONLAN: There is a preamble to my question, Madam Speaker. I feel that I should …
Madam SPEAKER: It is an extremely long preamble, member for Greatorex.
Mr CONLAN: … be able to develop that preamble …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, just ask the question or resume your seat.
Mr CONLAN: By any score, Labor’s record in Alice Springs is absolutely appalling. Instead of doing anything about it, all they do is put out glossy brochures, flies in the face of anything decent. They are absolute liars when it comes to their glossy brochures …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! As we had yesterday, the member for Greatorex is completely ignoring your instructions to him.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, can you please just come to the question?
Mr CONLAN: Okay, I will just say that bit again. Instead of doing anything …
Madam SPEAKER: No, member for Greatorex. Member for Greatorex! Just come to the question.
Mr CONLAN: Well, I will. This is my question, Madam Speaker. Instead of doing anything about your record of neglect, all we get is these glossy brochures with lie, after lie, after lie. This government lies. They lie on the record; they lie off the record …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I ask you to withdraw those comments.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Proposed Censure of Chief Minister and NT Government
Proposed Censure of Chief Minister and NT Government
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): No, Madam Speaker, I will not withdraw those comments.
Instead, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from censuring the Chief Minister and this Labor government for their absolute neglect of the people of Alice Springs and Central Australia:
(1) by failing to provide essential services;
(3) for not addressing some of the worst education standards in the Territory and nationally, and
(4) by failing to provide necessary infrastructure by preventing …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr CONLAN: Was that a point of order? He did not say anything. He just stood there.
Dr BURNS: Obviously, it is a point of order. We will accept the censure, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, there is no need to be rude - to me, in particular. Thank you. .
Mr CONLAN: Do we have to do anything with the cameras, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, the cameras will be removed now. Thank you.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I suggest you say nothing further.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016