2011-11-24
Territory Rights under Federal Legislation
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On Monday, in this very House, we passed a motion congratulating the federal parliament on removing the ministerial capacity to interfere with Territory laws. The Gillard Labor government has now introduced a bill that, in part, provides that those measures, ‘… allows regulations to be made to modify particular laws of the Northern Territory …’; in other words, to give a federal minister the power to change Territory laws by regulation. Will you now condemn the Gillard Labor government for trying to take away the rights granted to us just a week ago?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the indignation of the Leader of the Opposition knows no bounds. We have a world of difference from what happened with the John Howard/Mal Brough intervention in 2007, a top down imposed intervention on the Northern Territory without any discussion with the Territory government, no discussion with Indigenous people across the Northern Territory, legislation that stripped away the rights of Territorians and the Territory government.
We all shared the same objectives of improving the lives of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, but the way that was done was offensive to so many Northern Territory people.
Yesterday, a bill was introduced into the federal parliament that repeals the NTER in its entirety. What has been put in place is a series of special measures that has been consulted with …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … Indigenous people across the Northern Territory, the Territory government, land councils, the Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council. That is what has been put in place. It has removed legislation ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: We still …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … have significant scrutiny of …
Ms Scrymgour interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Arafura!
Mr HENDERSON: … a very detailed piece of legislation. There is a committee stage amendment which we will take advantage of if there are issues in that legislation that have slipped through that we are not wholly supportive of, but this is about two levels of government working together and working with Indigenous people in the Northern Territory to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
There are special measures in this legislation because of the ongoing plight of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. We will work with the federal government and Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to close that gap. With those special measures come special budget provisions, around $890m applied through these special measures that flow to the Northern Territory, that do not flow to Queensland, Western Australia, or South Australia, that go to assisting us to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
I say to the federal government: these issues are always difficult to work through. We share the same objective …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members!
Mr HENDERSON: … and the offensive Howard/Brough legislation has and will be repealed.
Statehood for the Northern Territory- Progress
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Given the feigned indignation from the Leader of the Opposition, can you please advise the House of how the government intends to progress towards statehood?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. To move forward, it is important to outline the progress we have made to date. On 5 February 2007, the then Deputy Chief Minister, Syd Stirling, and the current Leader of the Opposition outlined a bipartisan approach to statehood. They issued a joint media release in which the Leader of the Opposition said bipartisan support was paramount in achieving statehood.
He went on to say:
- We have learnt from history that this process will only be successful if we have both sides of politics working together - and I am proud to say that‘s exactly what we have achieved this time around.
In the years since then, nearly five years, thousands of hours have been spent working with the community in a bipartisan manner. Over 50 forums have been held. The bipartisan statehood committee, which includes the Deputy Opposition Leader and the member for Brennan, concluded that a constitutional convention was the best way forward, the best way to ensure that the community was involved in the road to statehood.
The bipartisan committee announced the dates on 17 June this year. The Leader of the Opposition enthusiastically supported the convention and the dates. In the months since then we have not had any mention of any concerns. In the long months since then, no mention of any concerns, until the member for Fong Lim, the real Leader of the Opposition’s extraordinary rant against the process and against the timetable in this House on Tuesday. The first in nearly five years we had heard of any problems with the opposition about this legislation. The first we heard was an extraordinary rant by the member for Fong Lim on Tuesday morning.
Leader of the Opposition, you have lost the trust of many Territorians on this, including the longest-serving Cabinet minister in the Territory’s history, Daryl Manzie. Everyone in this parliament, and many hundreds of people across the Northern Territory, have seen the e-mail that Daryl Manzie sent around where he said he felt like he had been kicked in the guts.
The legislation that provides for the convention is up for debate before this House next week. The passage of the legislation does not set the dates of the convention. You cannot use the issues of timing as an excuse to oppose the legislation. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to regain the respect of Territorians, he needs to offer his wholehearted support to the legislation next week, legislation that has been crafted and put together through various committees that his party has been on and that has been endorsed by him. To walk away at the 11th hour is absolutely outrageous, and not only does he have to offer his wholehearted support, he has to …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … bring all the other lemmings with him.
Territory Rights under Federal Legislation
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Do you support the introduction of federal Labor’s second intervention which tramples on Territory rights and severely diminishes your capacity to govern the Territory on behalf of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in no way at all does this legislation impinge on our capacity, in no way at all. There is an absolute requirement all the way through this legislation for consultation with Indigenous people and the Territory government.
Let us not rewrite history here. What this side of the House supports is a partnership with the Australian government and the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory. What your side of the House supports is intervention into the Northern Territory, a top down approach from Canberra …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Fong Lim voted for the legislation without even reading it. This is a world away from the Mal Brough/John Howard …
Mr Styles: Have a read of it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … offensive legislation to the Northern Territory. I give an absolute assurance to Territorians that my determination is always and always will be to work with the federal government, whatever persuasion that federal government is, to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage in the Territory. We do not have the financial capacity …
Mr Styles: Read the legislation.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson!
Mr HENDERSON: We do not have the financial capacity in the Northern Territory to right the wrongs that befall so many Indigenous people in the Territory with poor housing, lack of access to services, and infrastructure, such as roads, across the Territory. We need the federal government, and this legislation puts the federal government fairly and squarely, for the next 10 years, whoever is in government, on the hook to support the Northern Territory and to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the Northern Territory to close that gap in Indigenous disadvantage, and to do that …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: … in partnership with and in consultation with the government of the Northern Territory and Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory.
That is a world away from the John Howard/Mal Brough - when John Howard’s leadership was crumbling - the politically motivated intervention to rescue John Howard’s leadership. That is what Howard was about, that is what Brough was about. After the election, Alexander Downer …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members! Member for Braitling! Member for Sanderson!
Mr HENDERSON: … let the cat out of the bag. It was all about Howard’s crumbling leadership …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! To help the Chief Minister remember, the intervention ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat!
Mr TOLLNER: ... occurred because they tried to sweep the Little Children are Sacred report under the carpet.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that was not a point of order and you are on a warning!
Mr HENDERSON: Alexander Downer, after Howard lost the election …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … let the cat out of the bag and said the intervention was all about saving John Howard’s skin ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired. Order!
Honourable members, I remind you that if the Speaker is speaking, no one else speaks. Also, if the Speaker is speaking, all members must resume their seats. If you start speaking while I am speaking, you would expect me to either put you on a warning or, if you are already on a warning, you will be asked to leave the Chamber.
These are the standard procedures in parliaments.
Quality Education for Territorians – Delivery by Government
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Education is the number one priority for the Henderson government. Can you please advise the House on how the government is delivering quality education for all Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. We have a focus on quality education, quality teachers, and quality schools. To that end, we have invested heavily in our schools, with the federal government. I have also outlined to this House our strategies on quality teachers.
Nothing could be more important to our children than literacy and numeracy because unless someone can read and write, really, the doors of life are closed to them. It is essential that children learn to read and write.
We have a set of strategies and an investment underpinning them; $120m in a national partnership agreement with the Commonwealth, plus $75m of Northern Territory money in this strategy. That involves and focuses on 131 Northern Territory government schools, eight Catholic schools and 10 independent schools. This is a partnership in the true spirit of the Northern Territory.
In relation to what we are doing in our government schools, as members would be aware, we set up a literacy and numeracy task force with a focus on finding out where each child was in their journey of learning, particularly with literacy and numeracy. That included developing a literacy and numeracy kit; a diagnostic net for students, so we can identify where they are. We can have remedial action one-on-one with these students to get them up to the place they should be in their education.
Furthermore, I engaged Professor Geoff Masters from the Australian Council for Educational Research to be an independent eye, if you like, on what is happening, to visit our schools, just as the shadow minister has done in recent times - I encourage that - to see what is going on, talk to the leadership teams, the principals and the teachers, and find out what was going on in our schools and give us some directions, some external advice. He presented a report in August, which has been made public in its entirety and is on the Internet. Most of that was regarding what the department could do in being more specific with outcomes. I have asked the department to go along that track.
I really encourage the member for Brennan, the shadow minister - I know he has been getting out to schools - next time Professor Masters is in town it might be a good idea if you could sit down and have a talk with him and ask your questions.
We have a set of strategies for literacy and numeracy. We have funding. We value our teachers and our school leaders. We will continue on this path. It is a hard path, but we have policies and strategies in place which are evidence that we value education in the Northern Territory.
Territory Rights under Federal Legislation
Mr STYLES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT referred to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
Under federal Labor’s second intervention, southern bureaucrats will effectively have the power to shut down any pub or bottle shop they believe is or will affect Indigenous Territorians. Do you agree with federal Labor’s policy that could shut down, for instance, the Todd Tavern, the Parap Tavern, or even the Cav, if southern bureaucrats deem it harmful to Indigenous people?
Madam SPEAKER: You are actually asking for an opinion, member for Sanderson. Do you want to reword your question? You are asking for an opinion.
Mr STYLES: Madam Speaker, I am asking if they do or they do not agree with the policy.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the question was remotely in order it should be directed to the Minister for Alcohol Policy.
Mr ELFERINK: A further point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I can clarify this. He is referring to a section in legislation that deals directly with the Liquor Act. The Liquor Act falls under my responsibility as Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing. I am happy to take the question.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The legislation is aimed exclusively at Indigenous people. Therefore it is appropriate to send it to the minister for Indigenous affairs.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order. He was talking about alcohol statutes, Madam Speaker. That goes to the Minister for Alcohol Policy.
Mr STYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question relates to Indigenous policy in a certain area. It is whether the government agrees with the federal government’s entire belief system in how they operate this legislation.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson, that question is asking for an opinion and is completely out of order. If you wish to reword the question so it is in order, and it is appropriate for the minister, I will allow the minister to answer it. Otherwise, if you want to reword it and it is appropriate for the Minister for Alcohol Policy, then I will direct it to that person. At the moment, you have simply asked for an opinion, which is out of order.
Mr STYLES: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. I am asking whether the minister agrees with the federal government’s policy which, effectively, this government is agreeing with. I am asking the question simply in relation to the affecting of Indigenous Territorians, whether this government agrees with the federal government or whether they do not.
Madam SPEAKER: You are asking for an opinion. Minister for Indigenous Policy, you may answer the question as you will. The question is out of order, but I will allow you to answer it if you wish to, or you may direct it to another minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am more than happy to answer the question. It is interesting to note the member for Sanderson is so interested in Indigenous affairs.
In fact, this is an important time in the Northern Territory’s history for Indigenous people. Given that the opposition has called all Indigenous communities hellholes, and thinks that everyone should move into the Stuart Highway because they will not want to invest in capital infrastructure into the future for Indigenous people across the Northern Territory, I am very surprised to even hear a question from the member for Sanderson.
In fact, members opposite have no vision for the future for Indigenous people. I am more than happy to ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very clear and very simple: does the government support the federal legislation to shut down bottle shops and taverns all over the Territory?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, given that they have called all the communities across the Northern Territory hellholes, I am very interested to see what their vision is for Indigenous people.
Since the question is focused on alcohol policy, I will hand over to the Minister for Alcohol Policy.
Ms LAWRIE (Alcohol Policy): Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Sanderson ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This flicking it off to the Minister for Alcohol Policy is not correct. I will quote from the federal legislation that says …
Ms Lawrie: It is correct. It is the Liquor Act, you clown.
Mr ELFERINK: … ‘The minister reasonably believes that the sale and consumption of liquor …’
Madam SPEAKER: The member for Port Darwin will resume his seat!
Mr ELFERINK: ‘… alcohol-related harm to Aboriginal people’. Madam Speaker, this is about Aboriginal people.
Ms LAWRIE: It is about alcohol policy.
Mr Elferink: It is about Aboriginal people.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: It deals with request powers in terms of the Liquor Act. It could not be more clear.
Mr Elferink: In relation to Aboriginal people ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, just for …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This federal legislation is a special measure under the Racial Discrimination Act. This is a measure …
Ms Lawrie: No, it is not. It is request powers invoked on the Liquor Act, you clown.
Mr GILES: … specifically for Indigenous people and the minister for Indigenous Policy should answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. You are on a warning!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, it is the Stronger Futures legislation and it invokes request powers to the Commonwealth minister regarding the Northern Territory’s Liquor Act; they are request powers. Under the proposed legislation, the Commonwealth minister can request that the NT minister appoint independent assessors into any licensees considered to be causing significant harm to Aboriginal people. So, the claim that this is going to shut down the Cav, any bottle shop, any licensee is absolute nonsense ...
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Ms LAWRIE: They are request powers to the Territory minister, myself, which I can decline. Okay? Read the legislation, get across it, and I will give you a briefing.
Bushfires and Carbon Emissions
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Project has been lauded by government as a means of reducing carbon emissions. Can you say what amount of carbon emissions are estimated to have been released by the wildfires in Central Australia, and have those fires not nullified the usefulness of this West Arnhem project? If that is the case, is it not more of a reason to ensure Central Australian volunteer fire brigades have adequate resources to reduce or stop these fires, something the member for Macdonnell, as an Independent, raised earlier this year in parliament?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very important question. The bushfires we have seen in Central Australia over the past few months have been the worst in 10 years. We have done what we can to support all those hard-working Bushfire NT workers and the volunteer brigades. In fact, in 2008, we provided an extra $2m to the Bushfires NT budget. That was towards training for volunteer brigades, the firefighting fleet, radio networks, firefighters, and fire suppression.
We have provided a boost in 2008 ...
Ms Lawrie: That is ongoing.
Mr HAMPTON: That is ongoing, that is right, Treasurer. These have been the worst bushfires in 10 years, but it is also a timely reminder that government cannot do it all; we cannot put money in and that will stop these bushfires. There is a huge responsibility on landowners, pastoralists, and people in the rural area to put in firebreaks and to have fire management plans ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The important part of the question is to ask the minister whether he has any idea what the carbon emissions were that were emitted by those Central Australian fires to see if they nullified the benefits of the West Arnhem project.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point on that one, please?
Mr HAMPTON: Yes, Madam Speaker. I have three minutes, if the member will let me finish, I will get there.
Regarding greenhouse gas emissions from those wildfires in Central Australia, we will have a clearer picture from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory when those emissions are added up over the next 12 months or so. I am more than happy to get back to the member for Nelson once that estimation has been done. I am happy to provide you with a briefing, because you are relating the bushfires in Central Australia to climate change mitigation programs such as WALFA.
You are right; WALFA is a world-renowned, best practice program around mitigation. There is a controlled program working with ConocoPhillips to offset those emissions which are coming from the LNG plant. There are two different things you are talking about. One is the bushfires; the other is a controlled mitigation program. We are working with traditional owners on country, acknowledging the experience and the traditional knowledge of burning off savannah forests early in the Wet Season or early in the Dry Season.
Member for Nelson, there are two different things you are alluding to, and I am happy to give you a briefing on those when you are ready.
Health and Wellbeing of Territorians - Priorities
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Henderson government continues to deliver on the right priorities to improve the health and wellbeing of Territorians. Can the minister please update the House on the progress we are making on these priorities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is true that the Henderson Labor government is committed to improve the health and wellbeing of Territorians wherever they live, in urban or remote areas.
When we came to power, and you, Madam Speaker, were the minister for Health at the time, the budget for Health was about $440m - if I am correct. Today, the budget for Health is $1.12bn. This investment is starting to provide better access to primary health care, studies to prevent and tackle chronic disease, expanded hospitals and specialist services, and a strong, skilled, and stable workforce.
Because of that expenditure we have seen some tremendous outcomes. Yesterday, I stated that life expectancy has improved for Aboriginal women by four-and-a-half years. We have also seen a dramatic decline in mortality from cervical cancer, falling by 64% for non-Indigenous women, and by 92% for Indigenous women. Our aim is to bring waiting times for public dental appointments to the best in Australia.
These priorities and funding investments are made following careful consideration of the evidence provided from health research. The Menzies School of Health Research is perhaps the Territory’s strongest source of independent health research and is well known around Australia. It has attracted world-class researchers such as the Director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, a renowned paediatrician, and infectious disease and specialist public health physician. He was named as one of Australia’s top 10 young scientific minds.
On Tuesday, I was very disappointed to hear the member for Araluen somehow involve the Menzies School of Health Research in a conspiracy theory with the Department of Children and Families, alleging that they conspired to find different ways of chlamydia transmission in order to lighten the workload of the Department of Children and Families. She was called on twice to apologise to the Menzies School of Health Research and the department. She refused to apologise. Today she went to the media and said:
- Reading as it reads from someone who does know a lot about the subject, I think that most people would read it and think, gee whiz, the department’s putting a lot of money into trying to find alternative reasons as to why children have chlamydia apart from it being contracted through sexual contact.
Well, I will read from page 38 of the report of the Department of Children and Families. The little block you read and you did not understand, and you admitted you did not understand, I will read slowly so you can understand it. It says that the research was not funded by the Department of Children and Families; it was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. It was called for by courts, police and professionals, and the reason we actually like this report is because it is hoped that the research will provide new knowledge that will assist the department in determining whether a child protection or police response is required.
I call upon you, for the third time, to apologise. If you do not, not only are you ignorant, you are also arrogant.
Territory Rights under Federal Legislation
Mr STYLES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT referred to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
If a pub or licensed premises is shut down following an adverse report by southern assessors …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Can I just hear the question first?
Mr STYLES: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
If a pub or licensed premises is shut down following an adverse report by southern assessors, it opens the door for a politically-motivated decision that has overridden a law of the Northern Territory. Why do Aboriginal Territorians require further interference by the federal government into licensing issues in the Northern Territory?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is the same point of order as before. This question should rightly be directed to the Minister for Alcohol Policy.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, speaking to the point of order. The federal legislation, section 15(1)(a) refers to this causing substantial alcohol-related harm to Aboriginal people. It is a question that should be directed to the minister for Aboriginal affairs.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is …
Ms LAWRIE: Speaking to that bizarre point of order, it goes to the Liquor Act, and the powers within the Liquor Act to appoint an assessor, the powers that I have as the relevant minister. It is absolutely in my portfolio. I know you are too scared to let the clown over there ask me questions, but really, it is the Liquor Act …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you just withdraw …
Ms LAWRIE: … it is my portfolio.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister for Alcohol Policy, can you just withdraw that comment, please?
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw ‘clown’.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much.
Ms LAWRIE: I was fond of clowns as a kid. Anyway, I will go to …
Madam SPEAKER: I call the Minister for Alcohol Policy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, essentially, I will repeat: they are request powers. The NT Licensing minister, me, can decline request powers. If the NT Licensing minister chooses not to decline, that is to appoint an independent assessor to assess a licensed premises, to say that they would be a southerner, he obviously does not understand it, because it is a Territory minister making the decision of who is appointed as an assessor.
Assessments go through the operations and practices of a licensee to assess whether or not there is significant harm. Under the Territory act, the report would go to me; the report would also go to the Commonwealth minister. So first of all, the Licensing minister in the Territory has the powers of declining. If they do not decline, they appoint the assessor, not the Commonwealth. This assumption that it is a southerner is erroneous ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! On relevance. The question was: why do Aboriginal Territorians require further interference by the federal government into licensing issues?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. .
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you. Going to issue of alcohol-related harm in the Territory, the statistics are: Indigenous Territorians drink at 1.7 times the national average; non-Indigenous Territorians drink at 1.5 times the national average. So, yes, we are bloody good drinkers in the Northern Territory. We drink too much. We have three times the national rate of deaths attributed to alcohol in our hospital system. We have carnage on our roads due to alcohol. That is why this Territory government brought in the Enough is Enough reforms and why we have the Banned Drinker Register, turning the problem drinker off tap. That is why, in the first three months of its operation, we have seen a 15% decline in alcohol-related assaults across the Territory - 20% decline in Darwin, 23% in Palmerston as two examples. In the first three months of its operation we have also seen a 22% decline in alcohol-related incidents.
If you live in the Territory, work in the Territory and love being a Territorian, you would understand that it is appropriate for government to enact policy to reduce the harm alcohol is doing to people’s lives. The data is clear: Indigenous Territorians drink at a rate higher than non-Indigenous Territorians; both drink at too high a rate.
INPEX – Benefits for Local Businesses and Workforce
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
The Territory has a bright economic future with INPEX, among a number of other major projects, set to come online over the next few years. How is this government ensuring local businesses and our local workforce gain the maximum benefits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Territory is heading in the right direction in ensuring Territorians can benefit from the exciting projects on the horizon which will bring significant job opportunities and wealth to the family budget.
Deloitte Access Economics predicts the Territory will be the third-fastest growing economy in Australia through the next five years. Over the same period, Deloitte Access Economics independent economic analysts predict that we will have the nation’s lowest unemployment rate.
These forecasts do not fully factor in a final investment decision by INPEX on its Ichthys project, because that final investment decision has not been made. So, third best in the nation in economic growth without that project being factored in, and best in lowest unemployment without that being factored in.
In relation to government ensuring every Territorian can make the most of the opportunities of those offshore and onshore resources we are focused on training. Training to maximise local employment, training to provide the workforce the Territory needs to backfill into those local small- and medium-sized businesses that we know will experience the full effect of a major project.
We are also helping local businesses prepare to bid for and participate in the construction and operation of an LNG plant, as well as undertaking workforce planning to manage labour availability during the project. A major focus of this is growing the number of apprentices and trainees, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, to provide our Territorian businesses with a larger skilled workforce.
Since the start of this year to 31 October, 2324 apprentices and trainees commenced across the Territory. There are currently more than 4770 apprentices and trainees in training today, and we are well on track to meet that four-year target of 10000 commencements. More than $24.6m is committed per annum to training to support our apprentices and trainees. Since 2008, more than 4200 Territorians have completed apprenticeships and traineeships; 1600 were on the skills shortage list.
The Australian Training Awards will be held in Brisbane tomorrow night and we have our best year ever. We have an outstanding result with seven Territorians competing, both individuals and organisations. I held a function to wish them all the very best for the national training awards tomorrow night. The apprentices and trainees, and the business people who employ them and support them, are doing the Territory proud.
SIHIP Review – Release and Decision
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In the Commonwealth Auditor-General’s report on remote Indigenous housing in the NT, it states:
- … FaHCSIA identified potential savings of between $1500 and $14 500 per house if refurbishments under SIHIP were given over to shire councils or Indigenous business enterprises.
The report went on to say:
- FaHCSIA and DHLGRS will be better positioned to determine the best procurement method or methods for the delivery of the balance of the capital works under the program …
- … after it is reviewed.
Considering the savings, the desire by some communities to do their own refurbishments, and the fact the Council of Territory Cooperation strongly supports these changes, can you please say whether this review has been completed, and when will it be released so the decision on refurbishments can be finalised before the next funding package is signed off?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I do not quibble with anything the member said in that question. In fact, I agree with it. I again place on the public record that we will advocate with the federal government and minister Macklin for that to occur, and for the remainder of the funding packages of any refurbishments, or repairs and maintenance that might have to be done, to go down that path.
Regarding the timing of the release of that review, I do not have that information with me here, but I will try to get back to you as soon as I can on that issue. Just to repeat, I certainly agree with you.
Aboriginal Community Stores – Federal Government Decision
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
Madam Speaker, my question is to the non-existent Minister for Indigenous Development …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you just ask the question of a minister; you do not need any explanation like that.
Mr TOLLNER: I would be happy to get an answer from her I suppose - unlikely.
Madam SPEAKER: Just withdraw that comment, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Indigenous Development …
Mr HAMPTON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member to withdraw his comments.
Madam SPEAKER: Could you just withdraw the …
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much, member for Fong Lim.
Mr TOLLNER: I will start again.
Federal Labor’s planned intervention Mark II allows southern do-gooders and handwringers to effectively take over the running of any store that is seen to be harmful to Aboriginal people - not only pubs and bottle shops, but other stores including takeaway food outlets. Do you support federal Labor’s policy that could force Territory businesses to close because the federal Labor government says so?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Once again, this is directed to the Minister for Indigenous policy when it is really a question to the Minister for Alcohol Policy. There might have been some relevance because the shadow minister for Alcohol Policy asked the last question instead of the shadow minister for Indigenous policy. Once again, we have someone who is completely outside his portfolio ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: They are a rabble.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of Government Business will resume his seat.
Mr TOLLNER: In relation to the Leader of Government Business’ point of order, the question was in relation to closing down businesses, not only pubs and clubs, but federal Labor’s plans to be able to walk in and shut down businesses in the Northern Territory …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! May I assist the House? Clause 4 of the bill introduced to the federal parliament, which refers to the Object of the bill, states:
- The object of this act is to support Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory ...
That means that every question should be directed to the Minister for Indigenous affairs.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members, I draw your attention to Standing Order 109:
- Questions may be put to a Minister relating to public affairs, to proceedings pending in the Assembly, or to any matter of administration for which they are responsible.
Minister for Indigenous Development, do you have responsibility for this matter?
Ms McCARTHY: Certainly not for business, but I would like the opportunity to answer what I can ...
Madam SPEAKER: Do you have the responsibility, otherwise you are not allowed to answer the question?
Ms McCARTHY: Not for business, no, Madam Speaker, but I do have …
Madam SPEAKER: You can only answer a question for which you are responsible. Are you responsible for the matters which have been raised in this question?
Ms McCARTHY: I am responsible for Indigenous affairs, Madam Speaker, not for business.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I will allow the question, but I do not believe you are responsible for this under the administration ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, I will allow the question, but it needs to be brought to your attention, once again, that you have to have responsibility for the administration of the matter.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would like to respond to elements of the question which do relate to me regarding Indigenous affairs.
First, I remind the House of how important this issue is for Indigenous people across the Northern Territory. It is all very well …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms McCARTHY: No, seriously. It is all very well for members opposite to laugh and have fun over an issue that has impacted dramatically on the lives of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. This has had a profound impact on Indigenous people in the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale, you are on a warning! Member for Katherine!
Ms McCARTHY: … and all you can do is laugh, member for Braitling. All you can do is laugh at the very people who are impoverished across the Northern Territory. Shame on you!
Shame on you, member for Fong Lim. You did not even read the 500-page legislation that impacted on Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, and you have the gall to stand here now and question what this does for Indigenous people when all you want to do is call them hellholes and move them to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms McCARTHY: … the Stuart Highway. Each and every one of you on that side should be ashamed of yourselves ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: I think you would like to resume your seat, member for Katherine.
Honourable members, I remind you of the standing orders in relation to interjections, and how it is my responsibility to call people if they are not behaving according to the standing orders. The level of interjections is beyond belief. I cannot hear the person speaking. I cannot hear people calling points of order. We have a new sound system which blasts everything out, but I cannot hear things that are going on. It is appalling.
The minister has the call. I believe the member for Katherine was going to call a point of order. I hope it really is a point of order, member for Katherine.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Yes, Madam Speaker, it is. I ask you to …
Madam SPEAKER: Relating to the standing orders?
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Yes, Madam Speaker, it is.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Katherine.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: The point of order is, if could you ask the minister to direct her comments through the Chair.
Madam CHAIR: Member for Katherine, resume your seat. Minister, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that you ask the minister to be relevant to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: The member for Fong Lim will resume his seat. Minister, can you come to the point? You only have 20 seconds, and direct your comments through the Chair.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, members on this side of the House have a vision to work with the people of the Northern Territory, to work with the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory, and we will do everything in our efforts to ensure that the federal government works in partnership with the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory.
Mining Boom - Benefits
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Given the significant contribution the resource industry makes to our economy, can you please inform the House of any initiatives to ensure the Northern Territory will continue to benefit from the mining boom?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It is true that mining is the largest industry in the Northern Territory, contributing more than 25% of the gross state product. Last year, exploration expenditure in the Territory was $195m; 31% higher than the previous year, despite a very wet Wet Season.
We have seen more exploration in greenfield areas thanks to this government’s Bringing Forward Discovery initiative, which includes a competitive, dollar-for-dollar contribution of up to $100 000 for exploration in greenfield sites; and the free provision of geoscience information and data.
I congratulate the Northern Territory Geological Survey, Minerals and Energy Division on the Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in the Public Sector in the Growing Prosperity Category for the Bringing Forward Discovery initiative.
We have been to China, Japan and Korea. We have attracted investment. There is a Chinese proverb: one picture says more than 1000 words. I will show you two pictures for 2000 words to show you exactly what happened in the Territory. The first one is exploration in 2001 in the Territory. The red one is applications and the green ones are granted. That was in 2000; that is what we found when we came to government.
This is the map of the Territory in 2011 …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … applications and exploration in the Northern Territory. Exploration is not happening by accident. We have to compete with other jurisdictions, not only in Australia, but also in Africa …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members!
Mr VATSKALIS: Our investment attraction strategy has attracted deals worth $157m.
Let me tell you what we found when we came to government. We found applications for exploration sitting on the minister’s desk, especially applications for Indigenous land. We found seven mines, and mines were closing; now we have mines opening.
Considering the statement by this Leader of the Opposition, I would like to ask him, bearing in mind the success of our strategy ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could the minister please table both maps he has just referred to?
Mr VATSKALIS: Delighted, Madam Speaker.
Considering the statement by the Leader of the Opposition, and bearing in mind the success of my Department of Resources, I would like him to make a categorical statement that he is not going to reduce the number of public servants in the Department of Resources should the CLP ever come to government. One yes or no will suffice. Are you going to cut the positions in the Department of Resources? Yes or no?
I do not know how many of you will be sitting on this side should the CLP become the government, I am sorry.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your answer? Yes.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! No.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, member for Port Darwin.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling! Order! I have used the gavel so often that the plaque has come off. I will have to get some stronger glue.
Town Camp Land Tenure - Responsibility
Mr GILES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
You have had almost five years to do something to help Aboriginal people buy their own homes on town camps but you failed to do anything, despite the pontificating of the Chief Minister. As a result, Canberra is proposing to take over a responsibility that you should have taken care of. Do you agree that the federal government should take over dismantling town camp land tenure, supporting Indigenous home ownership and economic development - important roles that you should have carriage of?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, are you aware of the standing orders in relation to questions?
Mr GILES: Absolutely.
Madam SPEAKER: You are not supposed to have arguments, inferences, imputations, epithets, ironical expressions, hypothetical matter, or ask for an opinion. There seemed to be a lot of that in that question. I will allow the minister to answer the question, but bear in mind that that gives a lot of latitude to the minister in answering the question.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Would that not normally be an issue that would be alerted to you by a point of order from the other side?
Madam SPEAKER: Not at all.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question, thank you. It is interesting to see the last minute Johnny-come-latelies on the other side very interested in improving the lives of Indigenous people, but good luck to you.
The Australian and Northern Territory governments are investing $150m, with 85 houses to be built. We have invested in town camps across Central Australia and Alice Springs. What we have also done, unlike the members opposite, is take the courageous step of looking at Indigenous land across the Northern Territory. Unlike members opposite, we have not been about litigation on Aboriginal land; we have always supported Aboriginal land rights …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr Mills: Have not always.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Elferink: Ask the Larrakia people, have they got native title here?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr GILES: It is a point of order about relevance. The question was: do you support the federal government breaking up town camps?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, he does not want to hear the truth here, because clearly our government is very focused on improving the lives of all people across the Northern Territory, in particular Indigenous people.
We have said on a number of occasions that our vision for the future of the Northern Territory is to move from the decades of neglect to decades of prosperity. To do that takes a lot of courage. That is the vision of the Henderson Labor government, unlike the conservative Liberals opposite who do not want to see change, who only want to usher people from the homelands, outstations and communities into the main towns because they call them hellholes. That is their policy for Indigenous people ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Once again, it is on relevance. There was only one question in the question. Do they support the federal government’s legislation which is going to break up town camps and change the land tenure? Do you support that or not? You are government, you are the policy minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat. Minister, the question was out of order. You may answer it as you wish, but if you wish to come to a closer representation, you may.
Ms McCARTHY: I am very happy to continue answering it, Madam Speaker. One hundred and ninety-one rebuilds and refurbishments have been completed, with the final five under way. Because we have taken the courageous step …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, please. Resume your seat, member for Braitling.
Mr Giles: It is not a question about SIHIP.
Ms McCARTHY: … to deal respectfully and appropriately with the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory, through the land councils, with traditional owners, we are seeing …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is irrelevant to the question. We want a relevant answer to the question. It is about town camps. Do you support the legislation or not?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, respond as you wish.
Ms McCARTHY: They do not want to hear, they do not care about Indigenous people. They do not care about Indigenous people at all …
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I am standing on my feet. Madam Speaker, I move so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this House from censuring the government, and in particular the Minister for Indigenous affairs and Minister for Statehood, for failing to meet its obligations with regard to Indigenous affairs; ceding, without complaint, Territory powers to the Commonwealth …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Under standing orders, the member for Braitling did not have your call.
Madam SPEAKER: No, he did not. That is correct. It was on a point of order. You cannot. That is correct.
Madam SPEAKER: The next question is going to the member for Fannie Bay.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There are any number of these motions that have been allowed to commence from a point of order ...
Madam SPEAKER: No, they have not.
Mr ELFERINK: ... and it has been accepted. They have been, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: They have not.
I will seek some advice, but he did not have the call. The minister had the call.
Tourism Industry - Government Support
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for TOURISM
Earlier this week, we heard criticism from the other side of the House about our tourism marketing approach. Can you please outline the real story, our approach and achievements in developing and supporting our tourism industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it was most important to discuss tourism earlier this week. It was unfortunate to hear many of the comments from the members opposite about tourism. I refer specifically to comments made by the member for Greatorex during that public debate:
- … if you look at the numbers and the whole Share our Story thing. It might be a little controversial; however, I believe the pendulum has swung too far towards Indigenous tourism.
The member for Greatorex went on to say:
- We have put so much effort into the Indigenous tourism doctrine, the Indigenous tourism philosophy, and you cannot sell that philosophy. We have tried to sell it and it has failed.
These comments made by the member for Greatorex, whilst concerning on a number of levels, publicly show his ignorance towards contemporary tourism marketing and a flagrant disregard for any fact-based research on this issue.
Let me present some facts and figures about the Share our Story platform of which the member for Greatorex has so little understanding. The Northern Territory is marketed as a travel destination using Share our Story. In fact, in this year, 100 years of the Northern Territory, over 50 000 years of stories is a deliberate connection with the culture of the Northern Territory with over 100 Indigenous languages. Its platform includes a suite of visual and verbal tools, and a comprehensive campaign program used to sell the Northern Territory.
The tag line encapsulates our strategy and core positioning of the destination. Quoting directly from the international visitors survey and national visitors survey which is conducted by an independent research body for the Australian government - let me repeat: conducted by an independent research body - which provides this information to the Tourism Northern Territory team so we can then go out and market appropriately. And yes, the marketing does encapsulate Indigenous culture.
On average, each year over the past three years, 104 000 domestic Indigenous cultural visitors and 223 000 international Indigenous cultural visitors come to the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory is the primary destination visited by domestic Indigenous culture visitors over the period. Indigenous culture visitors are an important sector of the Northern Territory’s domestic market, representing 11% of this market; again, figures the opposition does do not want to know about. If anything …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: … all they want to do is trash the Northern Territory, trash Indigenous culture, call them all hellholes, and tell them to move to the Stuart Highway.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Move Censure Motion
Move Censure Motion
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the House from censuring the government, in particular the Minister for Indigenous Development and Statehood for:
failing to meet its obligations with regard to Indigenous affairs;
ceding, without complaint, Territory powers to the Commonwealth;
meekly sitting by while the Gillard Labor government plots to take over Territory public houses, businesses and stores; and
failing to meet its obligations to introduce land tenure reform in Territory towns and communities.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, we accept the censure.
I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016