2010-11-25
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Air-Conditioning Problem
Air-Conditioning Problem
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before coming into the Chamber, and why we are slightly late for Question Time, you would have been aware there was a power surge and a brownout. I have been advised the air-conditioning is currently off. Hopefully it will be back on in about 20 minutes. I hope it does not get too hot in here.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can I confirm Question Time will go for an hour?
Madam SPEAKER: That is up to the Leader of Government Business.
Montara Oil Spill - Ministerial Responsibility
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
I quote the definition of ministerial responsibility:
- Ministerial responsibility or individual ministerial responsibility is a constitutional convention in governments using the Westminster system that a Cabinet minister bears the ultimate responsibility for the actions of their ministry or department.
This morning on radio, when asked whether you would accept responsibility for the Montara spill, you said:
- Julia, I am the first one to say that the department was at fault.
That is your style, isn’t it? Blaming the bureaucrats and public servants for failures that occur as a result of under-resourcing and understaffing by your government.
Under the conventions of the Westminster system, will you accept responsibility for government failures over the administration of Montara, and will the buck stop with you?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very good question, as it shows her total ignorance of the Commonwealth legislation which controls offshore petroleum. According to the Commonwealth Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, in granting approvals and giving directions in relation to well operations at the Montara field, the Director of Energy acts solely as a delegate of the Commonwealth minister. The Commonwealth minister, under the legislation, directly appoints his delegate. The minister for Resources, under the Commonwealth legislation, has no jurisdiction over approvals given over the Ashmore and Cartier Island areas. I have no powers of direction in relation to the activities of the Director of Energy when he is carrying out his duties under the Commonwealth delegation, and I have never ever signed any form, any direction to the Director of Energy for the simple reason the Director of Energy acts under the authority of the Commonwealth minister.
I suggest to the member that before she opens her mouth …
Mr Elferink: Why are you here? What do you do, what is the job? What is his job, why did you appoint him?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Port Darwin! Order!
Honourable members, it is only the beginning of Question Time and the air-conditioning is off. I cannot begin to imagine what it is going to be like in 15 minutes. I will remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
The minister for Resources has the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The act prescribes the arrangements between states and territories of the Commonwealth in waters adjacent to a state or a territory, but also clearly prescribes that for offshore Commonwealth waters, such as the Ashmore and the Cartier Islands, the sole person responsible is the Commonwealth minister. That minister appoints a state or territory delegate who acts on behalf of the federal minister. No state or territory minister has any responsibility, cannot direct, and cannot authorise or sign any of the approvals for the simple reason it is solely a Commonwealth responsibility.
International White Ribbon Day
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
Today is International White Ribbon Day. Can you please inform the House how this day is being recognised across the Territory, and comment on the importance of addressing family and domestic violence in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Today is an important day across the Northern Territory, Australia and, indeed, the world. The Territory Labor government condemns all forms of violence. We are against it and we are committed to ending all forms of violence against women.
That is why we introduced the mandatory reporting of domestic and family violence in March last year. The numbers of domestic violence assaults recorded over the last 15 months in the Northern Territory since we introduced mandatory reporting has increased by 22%, or by 743 offences. For the same period, recorded assaults which were not domestic-violence related increased by 6%. Of the increase in assaults in the 12-month period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, recorded assaults increased by 612 offences. Of this, 497 or 81% were domestic-violence related.
The Territory Labor government says enough is enough. Violence has to stop across the Northern Territory. Today is White Ribbon Day, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is the largest campaign in the world, focusing on the need for the protection of women and children across the world.
Men across the world are also encouraged to become white ribbon ambassadors. This year, the White Ribbon Foundation is aiming to get one million Australian men to swear and wear - that is, to take this particular oath: To never commit violence against women, to never excuse violence against women, and to never remain silent about violence against women.
In the Northern Territory this year, 39 men from various sections of our community have signed up as ambassadors, including parliamentary colleagues from both sides of the House. I commend members and congratulate all these men who are taking the stand and saying enough is enough.
In Alice Springs today, more than 100 men, women and children marched through the town to show their support for an end to violence against women and children. This march was organised by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress health service, particularly by its male health manager, Mr John Liddle. I commend Mr John Liddle for the work he is doing in this area. Congress Male Health has been at the forefront of promoting ways Aboriginal men can work together to stop violence. In May this year, it held workshops on family violence prevention at Ross River and, in 2008, Congress Male Health initiated a national summit of 400 Aboriginal men who issued their Inteyerrkwe Statement and apology to women and children ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Yesterday on ABC radio, the federal Resources minister, Martin Ferguson, split responsibility between your government and PTTEP Australia for the Montara spill when he said that if PTTEP Australia had actually complied with the regulatory approvals and if the Northern Territory designated authority had been doing its job - so we have two organisations at fault - the accident could have been avoided.
You have tried to dodge your responsibility for the government’s failure over Montara by shifting blame to the department.
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table an extract from the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.
Leave granted.
Ms PURICK: This says the designated authority is the responsible Northern Territory minister. Last time I looked, you were the responsible Northern Territory minister, so why don’t you stop shifting blame on to the department and, as the designated authority, accept the blame yourself?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would like to see the paper she is tabling. I do not have any faith in any paper tabled by the opposition. We have seen many times in the past that they make their own papers.
I would like to draw to the attention of the member opposite that in the report there is direct reference that, on 25 August 2008, minister Ferguson delegated his authority to the Director of Energy of the Department of Resources - not to the minister. I suggest the member opposite, instead of making ignorant statements, have a really good look at the statement and the report and the current Commonwealth legislation.
NBN Roll-out in the Territory
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Are you aware of any plans to roll-out the NBN in the Territory next year? Are you aware of any alternative policies to the NBN roll-out?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her very timely question, given the legislation going through the Commonwealth parliament today is opposed by the CLP and they will vote against it in the Senate.
For the Northern Territory, what this means and what they are voting against is $1bn of new NBN infrastructure in the Northern Territory. That is what they are voting against: $1bn of NBN infrastructure investment in the Northern Territory. That investment started earlier this year. Nextgen is doing a fantastic job and, unlike those opposite, my government welcomes this massive new investment in the Northern Territory.
I challenge the new member for Solomon, who said that she would stand up for the Northern Territory in Canberra. Well, when the legislation to establish the NBN goes to the House of Representatives and is introduced, I hope the member for Solomon stands up for the Northern Territory and votes for $1bn-worth of investment in the Northern Territory.
I am particularly excited about the roll-out of Fibre to the Home, because the areas and the suburbs in and around Casuarina will be the first to receive Fibre to the Home. This will benefit around 3000 premises in the Casuarina area. We have not seen the exact location of those homes at the moment, but I would be very interested to know if the member for Sanderson campaigns against Fibre to the Home in his electorate in Anula and Wulagi. I am very keen to go doorknocking with the member for Sanderson through his electorate and advise what Labor is proposing in terms of broadband and what the member for Sanderson is voting against, saying that there should not be Fibre to the Home to people in his electorate. In regard to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: You know, they take their orders from Tony Abbott in Canberra. They do not support the Northern Territory.
Let us look at the alternative horse and cart proposal proposed by the member for Braitling and the member for Fong Lim in the parliament last night called Opal. Opal is the bush model for broadband forced on high population areas, and it does not work. What it means is these retransmission towers up and down the streets of the northern suburbs. This is what it means: up and down the streets, every 500 m, this wonderful technology. Not fibre optics, but this wonderful technology will be rolled up and down the streets of the northern suburbs.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Those opposite drive a Datsun 120Y. That is the car they are in. We are in the Ferrari. You are in the Datsun 120Y; we are in the Ferrari …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat! Order!
Honourable members, I have received notice that the air-conditioning is likely to be off for an hour, so if members are feeling uncomfortable during that time …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! May we remove our ties?
Madam SPEAKER: If you are feeling hot …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: I advise that until the air-conditioning comes on, if members wish to take of their ties, I will allow it. Just your tie, thank you, member for Port Darwin. Nothing else but ties.
Mr Elferink: Madam Speaker, is the Chief Minister at all feeling hot in his trousers? I am wondering how far he is prepared to go.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I think that is quite enough, thank you.
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Yesterday, when questioned whether, as a result of your lazy, ineffective oversight of the Department of Resources, you would shoulder the blame for Australia’s worst offshore oil spill, you told this House you bore no responsibility because:
- The federal minister does not delegate to the minister of the Northern Territory, he delegates directly to the departmental officer.
- The Minister is authorised to perform the functions and exercise the powers which the Commonwealth Act is expressed to require or empower the Designated Authority in respect of the Principal Northern Territory PSL to perform or exercise.
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table that document.
Leave granted.
Ms PURICK: You are listed as the designated authority and you are directly responsible for the regulatory failure which spewed thousands of tonnes of oil into the sea. Are you man enough to admit that you have failed Northern Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I previously asked to read the document the member opposite tabled because I knew she was not telling the truth. The document she tabled says:
- … the administration of this Act in relation to the Principal Northern Territory offshore area is divided between:
(a) the Joint Authority …
- and
(b) the Designated Authority for that area …
- … is the responsible Northern Territory minister).
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Honourable members, this is quite a serious matter, and I am interested to hear the response from the minister. Keep the interjections down, please.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I have a legal opinion from the Solicitor-General, Mr Michael Grant, which clearly states exactly what I just said, that, under the legislation, the sole responsible minister for the area where the Montara disaster happened is the federal minister.
The member opposite is either ignorant or wanted to mislead this House and Territorians on purpose.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr VATSKALIS: She misquoted legislation to serve her purposes. She did not tell the truth. She made up lies.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Withdraw.
Mr VATSKALIS: I withdraw ‘lies’, Madam Speaker. She did not tell the truth, and she continues not to tell the truth.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms PURICK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask if the minister will table the legal opinion?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, are you willing to table the legal advice?
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, with great pleasure I table this legal advice because it is the truth, and the truth has to be shown ...
Madam SPEAKER: Just table the advice, please.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! The gavel is still working. It does not require electricity!
Alice Springs Telegraph Station – Joint Management Issue
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Your recent announcement on the development of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Draft Management Plan states that the reserve will be jointly managed in partnership by the Lhere Artepe native title body and the Northern Territory government. Other parks and reserves have been converted to Aboriginal freehold and will be jointly managed with land councils. Why will this reserve be jointly managed with a native title body? What will the land title be converted to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. There are some elements of that question which I cannot answer now, but I am happy to take that question on notice.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari – Request for Opposition Leader to Make Personal Explanation
Mr GUNNER to LEADER of GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Can you please advise the Assembly on standing orders relating to personal explanations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as most people in this parliament would be aware, a personal explanation, Standing Order 57, avails a member the right to make an explanation on a matter they feel they have been wronged or misquoted about. It is used quite often in this House.
The Leader of the Opposition has availed himself of a personal explanation quite a number of times. He was accused of plagiarising the school canteen policy; he leapt to his feet and made a personal explanation. He was also accused of being a climate change denier - another personal explanation.
However, he has not availed himself of Standing Order 57. He has remained in his bunker denying the accusation that he offered Leo Abbott a bribe not to be the CLP candidate for Lingiari. I call on the Leader of the Opposition to come out of his bunker and make a personal explanation. This accusation is quite serious as it would be a transgression against the Commonwealth Electoral Act. As my colleague said the other day, it was the downfall of Nick Greiner. Here is a book, An Act of Corruption? Nick Greiner’s Years in Power and His Unorthodox Demise.
Leader of the Opposition, you are avoiding the media. How can you sustain your job?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am wondering when this government is going to start governing the Territory instead of engaging in slime and mischievous politics.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: Let him speak for himself. When is he going to come out of his bunker and say it is not true? I am beginning to think it is true. If it is, it is a criminal act and you should not be in this parliament, my friend. Come out and deny it!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
You constantly try to shift blame for your failures on to hard-working public servants, yet the inquiry is in doubt as to your direct responsibility in this regulatory failure. In relation to staunching the flow of oil from the West Atlas rig, finding 64 of the Montara Commission of Inquiry notes:
- … that the responsible Minister had the power to give a direction under the OPGGS Act to PTTEPAA to use a particular rig and that, in this case, such a direction was not made.
Can you confirm to the Assembly that you are indeed the responsible minister identified in finding 64?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very interesting listening to the member refer to the minister. Which minister? The Commonwealth or the Territory minister? What power does the Territory minister have to act from a distance of 5000 km away from the Territory when the legal opinion from Michael Grant which I tabled clearly states:
- For the offshore area of the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, however, the Joint Authority is the responsible Commonwealth Minister alone. The Montara incident occurred in the offshore area of Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
The Solicitor-General says the Designated Authority is the responsible Commonwealth minister alone. That question should be asked, not of this minister, but to a minister in Canberra.
A Working Future - Progress
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please advise the Assembly on how the government’s A Working Future policy is working to improve the lives of Indigenous Territorians living in our remote areas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: Empty vessels. Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Our A Working Future policy is the biggest, most progressive reform in the Northern Territory since self-government.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: As I said, Madam Speaker, empty vessels rattling around in his head - … the biggest and most progressive reform in the Territory since self-government. The strategy is all about improving the lives of Indigenous people and working hard to improve the standard of living in our remote towns across the Northern Territory.
We want a stronger future and a working future for our people in our remote towns. We want those towns to become vibrant, thriving towns, to become towns where there are economies and jobs for people, and where people are living healthy lifestyles with their unique cultural values not only intact but part of the future of those working towns. It is about improved services, improved education and health, and opportunities for Indigenous people. As I said, it is the most progressive policy reform in the Territory since self-government.
The development of our growth towns into economic hubs in their regions requires the growth of commerce and industry. Central to this is a skilled workforce. That is why education is fundamentally critical. That is why children in our 20 towns having the opportunity of a secondary education is vital to providing those jobs into the future.
There is an enormous backlog in infrastructure that needs to be addressed. That is why, in the budget this year, there is record funding for the Northern Territory of over $900m-worth of infrastructure into those towns. Some highlights: we have invested $20m to seal the road between Angurugu and Umbakumba - anyone who has driven that road will know what a major piece of infrastructure and improvement that will be; $7.8m to construct a police station at Gapuwiyak - a major investment; $14.5m to upgrade the Central Arnhem Road – another strategic investment; more than $10m, through the Commonwealth government - that the opposition and the Liberal Party opposed - for trade training centres in Wadeye, Ngukurr, Nguiu, Gunbalanya, Groote Eylandt - the list goes on.
We have a vision for the Territory. We have a vision for these 20 towns. We started the journey 18 months ago and things are changing in the bush ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Child Protection Services – Additional Staff
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION
On 19 April this year, you promised an additional 76 child protection positions for the Territory. Have all these promised positions now been filled, and where are these positions located?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It gives me the opportunity to respond to a very important question. We promised to employ 76 people and we have employed 51 people, both frontline and support. We have gone as far as Canada and England to get people. We have made 41 offers in pursuit of qualified people in Canada, England and Ireland, and they will start arriving in the Territory from the beginning of January. As they come, because we have to wait for visa applications, they will be put through a cultural awareness program. They have to understand the Territory is a unique place.
The reality is that we cannot find enough suitably qualified people in Australia to fill our positions which is something other states face. However, we are aggressively campaigning to recruit people, and our intention is to fill all the positions we have promised to fill.
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
The legal advice you just tabled has the following quotes in it:
- It should be noted that the Territory collected on behalf of the Commonwealth application fees for various titles and annual fees in respect of permits, leases and licences, which amounts were remitted to the Northern Territory Treasury to pay for the administration by the Territory of petroleum activity in the Ashmore and Cartier Islands area.
- It should also be noted that the Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has asserted that neither it nor the Commonwealth Minister supervised or otherwise oversaw the day-to-day activities of the Director of Energy in the exercise of that delegation, and considered the exercise of the delegated powers to be a matter for the Territory.
Will you now accept responsibility for the work you were given to do by the Commonwealth minister on behalf of Territorians and the people of Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Territory collects money on behalf of the Commonwealth. There are two streams of money. One is the tenement management fees that we receive in relation to operational activities, and the dealing fees related to title transfers. All of the money, or 90% of the money, from the tenement management fees goes back to the department to pay for the activities of the delegate of the federal minister.
What the member forgot to actually read is the next paragraph down from the legal opinion which says - of course, these claims are made by the federal Department of Resources and Tourism. What he omitted to say is, and this is what the Solicitor-General said:
- Neither of these matters alters the position that in the administration of petroleum activity ...
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.
Mr VATSKALIS:
- Neither of these matters alters the position that in the administration of petroleum activity in the Ashmore and Cartier Islands area, the Director of Energy was acting solely as the delegate of the Commonwealth Minister.
The delegate, who was the director, was acting on behalf of the Commonwealth minister.
A Working Future – Delivering for the Regions
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
Can you further outline how the government is working with Territorians across all sectors of government to deliver our vision for the regions, A Working
Future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for question. One of the great strengths of our government’s commitment to A Working Future is that it is exactly that: working together with local people, the shires, and in collaboration with the federal government. We have to do it at that level. We have understood right from the very beginning the need across the regions for people to empower themselves to determine the future that they want.
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We know under standing orders that they are not to make any sound to try to disturb the member speaker. I am listening to the minister and it is very childish of them to engage in this behaviour.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Resume your seat, minister.
I am not sure whether the air-conditioning has affected members in an undesirable fashion. I remind members that humming and singing, or whatever that noise was, is completely unparliamentary. Members who were doing that …
Mr Conlan: It was the Labor Party theme song.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, are you aware that I am speaking?
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I haven’t actually. Thank you. I remind you of Standing Order 51. Minister, you have the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, this is an innovative and bold vision for the Northern Territory and for the people across the regions. It is important that this House respects and listens in terms of the future direction for the Northern Territory. I am keen to hear what members have to say on it. We cannot stop the fact that we need to celebrate with the regions wanting to determine their future. We have seen with the intervention and the changes in local governance the need to be able to empower and allow people in our regions to determine the way forward.
What has happened over the last 12 months in a very strong and very proactive way is the collaboration of agencies between the Northern Territory government and the federal government to ensure that this will be about Aboriginal people driving the direction that they want governments to go, that they want to be heard, and they want to determine their future.
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: I hear the objections from the other side, simply because the CLP government has never listened to Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: The decades of neglect we have seen compounded under previous governments, the refusal to allow the recognition of Aboriginal people their claims to country, traditional owners being respected. Our government has a vision of working with all people …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Montara Oil Spill - Commission of Inquiry and Alleged Misinformation
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Your department was caught peddling false information to the Montara Commission of Inquiry. Little wonder you are desperately trying to distance yourself from responsibility. On page 13, the inquiry notes:
- The Northern Territory has also contended that ‘at all material times prior to the blowout, the Territory appropriately administered the licence area within which the Montara Wellhead Platform is located.
The inquiry, and it is in the report, had no hesitation in rejecting this contention. Why did the department you are responsible for peddle falsehoods to the inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member opposite continues to tell untruths. She tried to tell us before that the minister was responsible under the Petroleum Act. I proved her wrong, because what she was reading was totally different from what the Petroleum Act was saying. She told us that the minister for the Territory was responsible according to the act …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … for the administration of the principal Northern Territory PSL area. The map here shows the PSL area of the Northern Territory is the three nautical miles off the coast of the Territory. Three nautical miles …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … Ashmore/Cartier, actually north-west Western Australia, and the legal opinion by the Solicitor-General …
Mr Giles: Royal Darwin Hospital, child protection, Montara; where does it end?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Mr VATSKALIS: We have another constitutional expert, Madam Speaker, not only the member for Port Darwin, we have the member for Braitling.
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr VATSKALIS: Despite their best effort, it is clear, and the Solicitor-General has confirmed, that the minister for the Northern Territory is not responsible for the offshore waters of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
This is a very serious issue. Who is to blame for those mistakes? I have been talking to the media about this environmental disaster and I have said we have to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. I know the Leader of the Opposition jumps up every second and talks to the media. Why is he is so quiet this time? Why is he not fronting the media about Montara? Is it because he does not know, or because there is something else he does not want to talk about?
Mexican Poppy – Control of Spread
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Mexican poppy is a Class B and C weed, meaning that its growth and spread must be controlled. The Todd River is heavily infested with Mexican poppy due to this year’s heavy rains. Sand mining from the Todd River is increasing outbreaks of this weed. What methods are being developed to reduce the spread of Mexican poppy seed from sand mining?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. She is right that we have had a great deal of rain in Central Australia this year. During my travels, particularly to Hermannsburg, Mexican poppy is becoming a significant weed issue for Central Australia. I have also been to Roe Creek and had a look at some of the issues there with the weeds and sand mining.
There are some issues with those sand extraction leases for the Department of Resources and I want to work with my colleague on that. We want to work with the local council, as well as my department and the weeds officers, on controlling that weed. I am happy to get back to you about the specifics of that program. I acknowledge that it is a significant problem due to the rains we have had, not only in the Todd River and some of those areas where we are doing sand extraction, but also in places such as Roe Creek and Hermannsburg.
A Working Future - Territory Transport Network
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Can you please outline to the House the importance of the Territory’s transport network in developing A Working Future for Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Transport networks are an integral part of the A Working Future policy. When we think about the A Working Future policy, the biggest policy bite is to look after the regional and remote areas in the Territory. When you look at the connectivity of health and education, and the opportunities for business and economic development, most importantly it is about the people and connecting the communities. When you talk about a budget in 2010-11 of $331m for roads, we are talking about $46m of that directly targeting our Territory growth towns, and that is great news.
If we start to deconstruct it into projects: $14m for the Central Arnhem Road; $20m for the Umbakumba Road; $2m on upgrading Sandover Highway country; and $10m for the Moyle floodplain and Tom Turner Crossing to Wadeye.
It is wonderful to work in the bush and a privilege to travel across the Territory and have conversations with communities which are preparing – work ready preparation, ensuring they can get a piece of the action, that they can claim a stake in these developments.
There is $6.2m over three years to upgrade facilities at barge landings in Nguiu, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining, Galiwinku, and Maningrida. I visited Maningrida and Ramingining, and have been talking to the communities about the opportunities of employment and business. It is now not about infrastructure alone, it is about developing economies. It is about improving its infrastructure to create opportunities to manage freight, handle freight - jobs. We are talking about airstrip upgrades, not only safety and security and connectivity, once again, jobs. The transport infrastructure and operations delivering jobs.
In relation to operations: $3.1m to support passenger bus service trials in the Top End and Centre over two years. That is an incredible amount of work from our government and, as a really good piece of news, the North East Arnhem Land service started in September. Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Wallaby Beach, Ski Beach, places I visited; a joint initiative between the Territory government, the Australian government, Yirrkala Business Enterprises, Rio Tinto Alcan Gove; all working together, improving access for the locals and developing jobs.
I am running out of time but this is an incredible story. In the Barkly there is $7bn for the Borroloola bridge over the McArthur River.
I am looking forward to continuing and completing the Integrated Regional Transport Strategy that ties this together. It is integral to the A Working Future policy, to the growth towns and to the Territory.
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Page 14 of the Montara commission of inquiry notes:
- According to the Northern Territory’s submission, ‘(t)he audit of the relevant documentation confirmed that all approvals met the requirements under the relevant legislation’. Again, the Inquiry has no hesitation in rejecting this submission. As indicated above, particularly in relation to the approval of the Phase 1B Drilling Program, the NT DoR should not have given its approval on the basis of what was before it.
Why did your department attempt to deceive the inquiry, or perhaps you directed them to, and will you accept responsibility for the false assertions in your department’s submission?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have never directed my department to provide any false submission to the inquiry. In fact, I asked them to verify all evidence. The member opposite is somehow trying to put the blame on the Northern Territory government department. The reality is the commission found the incident happened because the company failed to follow its own process and procedures with the construction of the well, and despite the fact they found problems with …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr VATSKALIS: … and despite the commissioner in his report saying there were shortcomings with the department, he states clearly, had the company followed the advice of the Department of Resources, the incident would not have happened. These are very serious incidents. This has not happened in Australia before. I have to say, my department was given instructions to come clear and to cooperate with the inquiry.
I would like to point out another jurisdiction, the state of Western Australia, where the Varanus accident happened, 12 months down the track they are taking any legal action to prevent the report which had been compiled being presented to the federal minister. That is hiding!
Our department went there, put the full submission, open and transparent, stated the facts - we do not mind, we will be blamed; if there is something to be fixed, we will fix it. We spoke with Martin Ferguson, and what he brought to our attention we immediately moved quickly to fix. We are upskilling people, we are advertising positions, we changed the Director of Energy; we are prepared to do it.
However, it should be noted that the inquiry found the biggest fault was the company failing to follow their own process and procedure and their safety procedures for the construction of wells.
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Nhulunbuy, I have been advised the air-conditioning has come on. Those gentlemen who have taken their ties off, you can keep them off until the end of Question Time.
A Working Future – Employment and Housing Opportunities
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
One of the key facets of A Working Future is providing employment opportunities and healthy homes for Indigenous Australians across the Territory. Can you inform the House what is being done in the Housing portfolio to ensure these commitments are being met?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. SIHIP is just not about building houses. As I said last night, we are on target in this calendar year to meet 150 new houses and 1000 refurbishments and rebuilds.
It is also about Indigenous employment, very importantly so. The partnership agreement had a minimum of 20% Indigenous employment as part of this program. It is averaging 32% across the whole program, and that means much at the local community level to local people and local families. It is great to travel around and see people engaged in construction. Here is a picture of workers at Nguiu …
Mr Giles: Yes, you have a picture of workers in yellow shirts! You have the yellow shirts out.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: You are always negative. How about you go and tell …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: How about you tell each one of those blokes who are working here they should not have a job? Another one, a picture of a worker at Nguiu …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Giles: That cost $500m.
Dr BURNS: Well, you deride it. You are always negative. You are going around trying to pull it to bits …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: This is a very important program for over 300 Indigenous people throughout the Territory who are gaining employment, member for Braitling. You can sit back in your leather seat and point arrows at it, but the fact of the matter is, people are working, people are learning a trade, people are having career opportunities, people are having a career development plan. All you can do is be negative ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: Here is a bloke from Tennant Creek, he looks pretty happy. They are doing great work in Tennant Creek. The members of the opposition laugh at this. It just shows just how …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: It is contemptible, the way they go on, Madam Speaker, in their attitude to Indigenous people gaining employment in the Northern Territory .…
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: If you got out you would see a few. If you got out a bit more, you would see a few instead of confabulating and fabricating all the figures. We went through it last night. You were in here in August talking about $240m missing from SIHIP - completely wrong. Like this one here, you could not even read the national partnership agreement. You are a joke!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: It is great to see all of these houses being built across the Territory. I commend the employment component of SIHIP. The opposition can just thrash around and can be completely irrelevant in all of this.
Oil Exploration – Government Co-Assessment Arrangements
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
This morning on radio, you shamelessly misrepresented the new co-assessment arrangement forced upon you and your government by the federal Resources minister, Martin Ferguson ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members, the member for Goyder has the call.
Ms PURICK: I quote:
- In order to put a safety level, we have asked now a third party outside the Territory to overview and co-approve any application.
During his speech to the federal parliament yesterday, Martin Ferguson said the Commonwealth had forced you to adopt a more robust approval assessment process to ensure integrity and consistency of decisions relating to well activity, with co-assessment by the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum ...
Mr Henderson: He did not say that!
Ms PURICK: It is in his speech.
You know very well you did not ask for these co-assessment arrangements, and you were told in no uncertain terms by Martin Ferguson that your government will be babysat by the Western Australians …
Madam SPEAKER: The time for your question has expired. Member for Goyder, resume your seat.
ANSWER
Once again, Madam Speaker, the member is wrong. First of all, we met with Martin Ferguson and he advised us of his concerns. Second, we moved quickly, and actually asked the state of Victoria to oversee our processes, to review them, which they did, and provide information. Then, on a contractual basis, we asked the Western Australian department, for what reason? Because Western Australia has the largest amount of oil exploration taking place off their waters.
We are not babysat; we were not forced. We took our own initiative and put in place mechanisms and processes to ensure something like that will not happen again. What happened in Montara offshore Commonwealth waters can happen in Territory waters tomorrow should oil and gas exploration take place within territorial waters, the three miles or the 12 miles and it is our responsibility to all Territorians to ensure that things like Montara will not happen again.
We will ensure that any company that comes here, and if they come here and they are under our own legislation - which is not just self-regulatory, it is actually more prescriptive - this will not happen again.
Tiger Brennan Drive – Community Fun Run
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
I understand the Territory’s largest ever road project is nearing completion. Can you provide some details …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You do not like good stuff, do you, Dave?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Standing Order 51, Madam Speaker. I think if they are going to open their mouth, they should at least try to be a bit intelligent.
Minister, can you provide some details to the House about this weekend’s community fun run and walk along the Tiger Brennan project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question and her interest in what will prove to be a great day on the Tiger Brennan Drive, a $110m road infrastructure project for the Northern Territory. For those members opposite, the government is well and truly informed of this, we have had lots of fun with it, come out there.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: Seven o’clock Sunday 28th on the Tiger Brennan Drive, there is a 5 km run and a 2 km walk.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can the minister explain why you can take a pram there but not a wheelchair?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. Minister, you have the call, and direct your comments through the Chair, please.
Mr McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Seven o’clock Sunday, 28 November, this Sunday morning. I will be starting off the walk and the member for Karama will be starting off the run. There are many activities for families such as a jumping castle for the kids. Bring your kids …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, the interjections from that side reflect the member for Drysdale who has been the spokesperson on this incredible piece of transport infrastructure. The member for Drysdale has been spreading lots of mistruths, using the fourth floor spin machine …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: … into Yarrawonga, telling mistruths. It is now coming back to me and the public is starting to question what this is about. It is spin from the fourth floor.
Mr Bohlin: How many more businesses are you going to put at risk?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: I will quote one from the member for Drysdale: ‘The road is so mathematically bad that it defies the law of physics’.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that you remind honourable members on the government benches of Standing Order 51.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I am one of over 30 000 Territorians a day who are defying the law of physics. They have been using the intersection now for months. I demand that the member for Drysdale have a reality check, a gravity check, and disclose to this House what planet he is on, because there are over 30 000 Territorians using that intersection. What I am hearing is, we are really looking forward to it opening. Come down to the fun run and …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
SIHIP – Standard of Housing
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
It is obvious that there are two different housing standards being applied to housing improvements under SIHIP: one standard for houses in town camps and a lesser standard for houses on remote communities. Why are shortcuts being taken in communities like Santa Teresa, where the cheap stoves supplied are already failing, and where there are no safety breakouts in window security screens?
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table these photographs and an article from the Centralian Advocate.
Leave granted.
Mr Knight: Were they built under ATSIC, when you were the chairperson?
Ms ANDERSON: No, they are from your time when you were the poor housing performance minister.
Mr Knight: No, they were doing these things under your time, as the chairperson of ATSIC.
Madam SPEAKER: Have you finished the question, member?
Ms ANDERSON: Yes, Madam Speaker.
ANSWER
I did have trouble hearing the question, Madam Speaker, but I think I got the gist of it, the comparison of houses between the town camps, say in Alice Springs, and also around Tennant Creek, and those compared with some communities like Santa Teresa and the refurbs.
As the member is probably aware, there is a bit of history there. The works and standard of the works in the town camps was determined, as I understand it, before the review of the SIHIP program. Those works were adhered to. Essentially, those works in the town camps are rebuilds of the houses, which are around the $200 000 mark. After the review of SIHIP, the level of new houses, rebuilds and refurbs was determined. As I have said on the public record a number of times, the average of the refurbishments is $75 000, and the aim of the refurbishments is to try to have as many houses as possible with safe and habitable areas, particularly the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas.
I understand the argument that we should be doing all of the buildings at the same standard, but it is a very hard decision. As I have mentioned, at Maningrida, 80 houses are receiving refurbs. If you were to do those refurbs at the level of rebuilds, you would probably only have half or even a third of those families receiving the benefit. It is a difficult issue and I understand how it can become politicised. That was the rationale of the review in setting the refurbishments at $75 000 - trying to get as much benefit as possible to as many families as possible.
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Yesterday, when questioned about your responsibility for the environmental disaster, the flow from the Montara oil rig explosion, you dismissed the concerns with your silly observation that the slick had not reached the Australian or Indonesian coastlines – out of sight, out of mind.
The Montara disaster is Australia’s worst offshore oil spill. The West Atlas rig exploded into flames and burnt for two days. Oil leaked into the Timor Sea for 74 days at a rate of 400 barrels a day. That created 90 000 km of oil slick. You will need a shipload of Solvol to wash that much oil off your hands. Will you apologise for the environmental damage which resulted from your lazy, ineffective …
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Maybe the member should revise what he said – a something-load of Solvol …
Mr CHANDLER: Ship. S H I P.
Dr BURNS: A shipload! I understand now. Thank you, member for Brennan.
Mr CHANDLER: Minister, will you apologise for the environmental …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, but I will allow you to finish as long as you do not have very much more to say.
Mr CHANDLER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Minister, will you apologise for the environmental damage which resulted from your lazy, ineffective oversight of the Department of Resources?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yesterday, when I spoke about the environmental disaster, I was saying an environmental disaster was adverted because oil did not reach the coastline of Australia or Indonesia. The fact that so many millions of barrels of oil were spilt in the marine environment is very regrettable, and would have constituted an environmental disaster had natural factors not intervened to dissolve the oil slick.
When I spoke yesterday, I did not speak to try to put a positive spin on the whole issue. I spoke because there are four independent reviews which advised that the worst had been avoided. The first one was by Curtin University, and I am very happy to provide information to you. The university undertook wildlife impact monitoring to find the cause of death of 16 birds. It found that only two birds had been affected by oil, the other 14 had not. That was done by Curtin University, and I believe people who come from Western Australia, especially the Leader of the Opposition, know very well the reputation of Curtin University.
A shoreline ecological assessment aerial and ground survey was done by UniQuest which found no sign of oil impacting on marine wildlife or the habitat that was surveyed. A spill trajectory analysis was done by Asia-Pacific which found that no oil had reached the Australian or Indonesian coastlines. In fact, the oil slick had been confined within 44 nautical miles from the well. The last report by Asia-Pacific was the monitoring study of the modelling of chemical dispersant operation.
Australia and Indonesia were very lucky. If that oil had washed onto our coastlines we would have an environmental disaster. However, because of the currents, natural phenomena and natural factors, that oil was dispersed naturally, or dispersed with the assistance of dispersants.
From my years in university studying Environmental Science, I would be more worried about using dispersants to disperse an oil slick, especially in a shallow marine environment, than in the deep waters off the Montara well.
As I said before, it is a regrettable incident. It is a significant event, it should never have happened. It happened. We were lucky, both Australia and Indonesia, that it did not wash up on our coastlines. The important thing is to learn from the mistakes of the Montara incident, to apply the lessons learnt to any other area in Australia. That is the reason I have, for a long time, advocated the establishment of a national control authority, not different states controlling different exploration areas. We need a national control authority with national standards which would be able to control all oil and gas exploration throughout Australian waters.
Supplementary Question
Environmental Disasters in Australia
Environmental Disasters in Australia
Mr CHANDLER: Can you please outline to the House if you are aware of a worse environmental disaster in Australia which has happened under your watch?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no. However, I can advise the member that there was a worse environmental disaster called Mt Todd. I can give him all the information he wants …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Opposition members!
A Working Future – Increased Employment through Economic Literacy
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Can you please outline the government’s plans to increase employment and create jobs through improved economic literacy under the A Working Future strategy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. A great deal of work is being done with respect to the A Working Future strategy by the Department of Business and Employment.
It is my firm belief there needs to be economic literacy in remote communities about the way the economy works. There is a great disparity between what they see operating in Darwin and what is happening out there, and it is a fundamental difference in the state, make-up and size of the economy.
My department is undertaking a groundbreaking research pilot project into those understandings with remote communities about commerce, enterprise and how money flows into an economy. That will give a fundamental understanding of the ways we should coordinate future literacy projects about finance, because most of the financial literacy projects are about household literacy, about eliminating debt, and also banking. This work will inform the ongoing process.
Work is already happening at Galiwinku under the local implementation plans. We will be working with the shire, a number of other stakeholders and ATSIC to provide that information.
We are all about job creation, but we are not the only group …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr KNIGHT: … creating jobs. A new company, the Mills Employment Service, is creating jobs for candidates for federal elections; it is creating a job for the former CLP candidate. What is the acronym for the Mills Employment Service? It is MES, and you are in a mess, Leader of the Opposition, with what you have done. You and I are runners; I have been practising on the Esplanade, and you have been practising running from the media this week. That is your practice for the fun run, running from the media.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance to the question asked. He was asked about economic literacy in Indigenous communities. I would ask the minister to …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you come to the point, please?
Mr KNIGHT: The Leader of the Opposition has a slight red tinge to his hair, perhaps we should call him the Scarlet Pimpernel – they seek him here, they seek him there. You need to front the media, Leader of the Opposition, clear the air …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning.
Dr Burns: Second-rate ham jock! Second-rater.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of Government Business! I understand the Chief Minister has some extra information from a question.
Mr Conlan: I had your measure, pal, had your measure, mate. Absolutely had your measure. For a second-rate jock, I tell you what, it does not speak much of you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Yuendumu – Removal of Residents
Yuendumu – Removal of Residents
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I have some further advice to the House in regard to a question from the member for Braitling in Question Time yesterday in regard to the issue of people moving from Alice Springs to Adelaide. I believe he raised the same issues in adjournment last night.
The allegation, essentially, was that a lady who works in the Office of the Chief Minister in Alice Springs by the name of Tracey Brand, on direction from the Minister from Central Australia, or from me, encouraged people to board those buses and run away to Adelaide.
The advice I have is that Tracey did attend the Seven Mile Camp the evening prior to the group going to Adelaide primarily to ascertain: (1) what was motivating the group to travel to Adelaide; and to inform the office accordingly; and (2) to speak mainly with the women and children within the group to gain an understanding of the events leading to the unrest at Yuendumu; and what their plans were if they travelled to Adelaide.
Tracey had recently joined the Department of Chief Minister from Tangentyere Council and was known to a number of the people of the community. Tracey’s role was purely restricted to the above, and it was her view, along with the Department of Chief Minister’s officers’ view in Alice Springs, that the group’s departure to Adelaide was a mistake and not in their best interest. Plus, she did not share the confidence of a number of the people who were supporting the group at that time, or that arrangements were in place for the group once they arrived in Adelaide.
I absolutely refute, on behalf of Tracey, the allegations that were made by the member for Braitling. The only person I know who was encouraging those people to run away to Adelaide was the member for Braitling.
Mr Conlan: Lurching from one disaster to another. That is where you will end up Bungles, the ministerial scrapheap.
Dr Burns: What would you know? You are going backwards, old boy.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of Government Business, cease interjecting.
Mr Conlan: I will have your measure any day, pal.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are already on a warning. You can leave the Chamber for one hour, thank you.
Mr Conlan: Certainly.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you have some information for us?
Alice Springs Telegraph Station – Joint Management Issue
Mr HAMPTON (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, in relation to the question from the member for Macdonnell about the Telegraph Station, particularly why is the tenure changing, who it is going to, and what the title is being converted to: I can advise that progress of joint management of parks and reserves across the Territory has been made in four areas: (1) title transfer to Aboriginal ownership and lease-back arrangements; (2) joint management plans; (3) governance and partnership development; and (4) Indigenous employment.
In relation to the Telegraph Station, I am advised the Alice Springs Telegraph Station is a Schedule 3 park under the Parks And Reserves (Framework For The Future) Act. The reserve will be jointly managed subject to the Indigenous Land Use Agreement and the final joint management plan. There is no title transfer or change in tenure that will occur.
I encourage Central Australians, in particular people in Alice Springs, to get on the website or have their say in how the future of the park will be run, as community consultation closes on 31 December this year.
Finally, the first day of the Ashes game at the Gabba and England is four for 197.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016