2011-08-11
Northern Territory Unemployment Levels
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On Monday in this House you bragged:
- … we have had the lowest unemployment in the nation for the last 22 months under this Labor government, and projected to maintain the lowest unemployment over the next five years.
Unfortunately for Territorians, your words have come back to haunt you as Western Australia and the ACT now have lower levels of unemployment. How do you justify that since January, the Territory’s unemployment rate has increased from 2.4% to 4.2% and, disturbingly, you have lost 4100 jobs and 2200 more people are unemployed? Is it not the case that people who cannot find a job and cannot afford to rent a place to live, pack up, and are leaving the Territory in record numbers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, does the Leader of the Opposition not relish anything he can paint as bad news …
Mr Mills: I do not.
Mr HENDERSON: He seizes on anything he thinks could be bad news to talk down the Northern Territory.
The unemployment rate in the Northern Territory is still significantly lower than the national average. For the last 22 months, we have had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. This government has seen 22 000 new Northern Territory jobs since we came to government. When the CLP left office in 2001, the unemployment rate in the Northern Territory was 7.3%.
The opposition, at every turn, has fought against infrastructure spending in the Northern Territory. We have taken the budget into deficit to support jobs. We have seen significant maintenance of Northern Territory jobs. The opposition fought against the Commonwealth government’s stimulus package that maintained thousands of Northern Territory jobs. This government has a vision for economic growth in the Northern Territory. This government has gone after major projects such as INPEX to see the Northern Territory grow into the future.
In an address to the American Chamber of Commerce on 10 August, BHP Billiton Chairman, Jacques Nasser, said:
- The Northern Territory government sees Darwin as a centre for oil and gas activities including operation, maintenance, and workforce development. Darwin not only services major resource businesses …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Though this is interesting, it does not address the question. What you said yesterday was not, in fact, the case and Territorians are leaving in record numbers because of unemployment levels.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could come to the point, thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: I point out there are several tens of thousands more Territorians living in the Northern Territory today than were here under the CLP government …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is not the point, that is not the question …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister is answering the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Nasser went on to say:
- Darwin not only services major resource businesses - it also has major agricultural industries … and is both a strong Defence Force …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is irrelevant to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: You are wasting Question Time …
Mr Mills: This is irrelevant to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, come to the point.
- Mr HENDERSON: … Darwin has good primary and secondary schools, a growing university and infrastructure, and there is no reason why the Darwin region …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is irrelevant to the question. I ask you to make a judgment.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister is answering the question. I am sorry; I do not know what the answer is.
Mr HENDERSON: I hope the clock is being stopped, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I am afraid the time has now expired, Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: It just goes to show how petulant the Leader of the Opposition is when he will not allow me to answer the question he has asked.
Alice Springs – Bushfire Containment
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
The Alice Springs area has faced a severe and serious bushfire threat this week. Could you please provide details to the House of the fire containment efforts in the Alice Springs area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I am sure all members join me in congratulating and thanking the volunteer workers who, over the last day or two, have been working hard to control the fires. To update the House on the current situation Alice Springs is facing, there was a serious threat to the town of Alice Springs, particularly on the western side, over the last day or two.
I am informed the patrols are keeping a watching brief on the fires west of Alice Springs as we speak, but the threat has eased. In fact, the crews were working until 1 am this morning containing the situation where two fires in the west joined, due to the easterly winds, and became a real threat to Alice Springs.
At midday today, the Incident Controller declared the area controlled and contained. There will be further backburning at the perimeter areas where the fire is still going, in anticipation that the fire safe situation will be called later today.
Although Alice Springs now has an outstanding firebreak on the western side of the town, there is still the north, east, and south sides of the town that need to be controlled and firebreaks put in. I understand about 60 people from various organisations were involved, as well as volunteers and residents on the western side of Alice Springs. I am also pleased to advise the House the controller reports there have been no injuries to people or damage to property.
I am pleased to say the preparations commenced late last year have paid off in this situation. I convened a meeting in December last year with stakeholders. Earlier this year, with the Chief Minister, I met with people from the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services to discuss the plan for the upcoming fire season. With record rainfall over the last 12 to 18 months, there are enormous fuel loads around Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Part of that planning involved the town of Alice Springs itself, ensuring it was well protected by a series of firebreaks, and that paid off for us in this situation. Again, I thank the people of the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, Bushfires NT, the volunteers, the police, parks staff, as well as people from Ingkerreke Resource Centre and the Alice Springs Town Council. I have called the Mayor this morning and thanked him for his outstanding work, and Scotty McConnell from Ingkerreke. It is important, though, that landholders are also taking care of their properties and managing the fire threat that is everyone’s responsibility.
MedChart Electronic Healthcare Delivery
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
It was only yesterday your colleague, the member for Stuart, trumpeted the benefits of electronic healthcare delivery in this House. However, you as minister have not told Territorians about some serious failings in the governments own e-Health system. The truth is a computer dished out the wrong treatment to 141 Territorians, putting their lives at risk. Of those, 77 are waiting to learn their fate, 12 patients have suffered a worsening of their condition, and two Territorians suffered significant health problems. Why did you not put out a general warning about this failing of your e-Health system? Is this not just yet another example of the culture of cover-up that is plaguing the Northern Territory government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very interesting about the member for Greatorex; he thinks he is a great inspector. He finds something and he comes out and tells everybody. The only inspector he brings to mind is Inspector Clouseau from The Pink Panther.
When he came here yesterday, he came with an Estimates Committee briefing for the CEO, and he mentioned the MedChart. There was an error at MedChart. It was a software glitch which, after 12 months, stopped a prescription of drugs. The prescription was prescribed electronically for the simple reason that people are mobile, they move from one area to another, and it is much easier to have an electronic record so people in any clinic can access it and prescribe the medication.
Of all the people in this system, 97% did not see any change at all. There were two people where it was identified their medication stopped. They were identified at the time the medication had stopped, and had some deterioration, which the doctors cannot attribute specifically to the medication. I explained why. Twelve people had some moderate deterioration.
The reason there was no serious impact on these two people is the prescribed drugs are not for critical conditions, but rather chronic conditions. When we did further analysis of these two people, apparently at the time it impacted, there was only one who did not receive the medication. For the other one, the medication had changed. For the other 12 people who had some moderate or minor clinical degeneration, the only change was in their blood pressure and cholesterol level readings.
The system is robust. The problem was identified very quickly, all people were identified, and all people were treated to reverse any negative effects.
The reason we did not go public is because we are talking about private treatment of private patients and we cannot mention their condition. The system works very well. We have faith in the system, and we proved the system works well, because the glitch was detected quickly and it was rectified within a few days. It will continue to be monitored.
Despite what the member for Greatorex wants - to go back to paperwork - I tell you the future is here, and the future is not in paper; it is in electronic records. We will continue to expand it, and we will ensure all Territorians, wherever they are, receive appropriate treatment.
Infrastructure - Budget 2011-12 – Building and Protecting Territory Jobs
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you please explain to the House the significance of the government’s infrastructure spend in Budget 2011-12 in building and protecting Territory jobs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Budget 2011-12 did contain $1.5bn in Northern Territory infrastructure spending at a time this economy desperately needed it to save jobs. That spending will translate into 3000 jobs for Territorians.
This side of the House is unanimous: we have to protect jobs and grow our workforce and that is what we are doing. The opposition is fundamentally opposed to spending to keep people in jobs. It is obsessed by the deficit. Without that $1.5bn in infrastructure, not only would we not have the infrastructure, we would have many thousands of Territorians out of work.
The opposition is so obsessed with the deficit that its new, recycled shadow Treasurer must have been burning the midnight oil with one of the most absurd media releases I have ever seen. He calculated the dimensions of $1 coin and worked out it would take $2.2m worth of $1 coins to fill a 20 tonne road train trailer, and $6.7m worth of $1 coins to fill a three-trailer road train - and on he went. No time to develop economic policy, no time to develop fiscal policy, no time to develop education policy, but he will work out the dimension of a $1 coin and how many $1 coins it would take to fill a road train ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am wondering if the Chief Minister can read out the rest of the media release in relation to a $6.7bn debt.
Mr HENDERSON: It just goes to how the new, recycled shadow Treasurer - who was not good enough to be shadow Treasurer about six months ago, now six months later, he is - would spend his time. They are obsessed with the deficit. We are obsessed with keeping Territorians in work. I am proud of the size of our infrastructure spend because it is good for the Territory and it keeps Territorians in jobs, as opposed to keeping road trains full of $1 coins.
Do not take my word for it; Graham Kemp from the Master Builders Association applauded our infrastructure spend because he knows it means jobs for Territorians. He said the construction sector ‘relied on government as a backup to keep us in the game’. Graham Kemp gets it, and the infrastructure business community gets it. The opposition do not get it.
This is the same Opposition Leader who said on 2 February that he would not have signed up to the stimulus package; he would not have accepted $600m in infrastructure spending in the Northern Territory. The opposition is not fit to govern, it will not be fit to govern, and the only side of politics that cares about jobs is this side of the House ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
MedChart Electronic Healthcare Delivery
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
This issue is clearly just another example of the inept and lazy government; their culture of cover-up is alive and well. Why is it that your government needs a disaster to happen, as usual, before you act and implement basic practice that the rest of the world takes for granted? A simple open disclosure policy would mean any incidents that cause, or are likely to cause, harm would be openly discussed. National open disclosure standards were established in 2003 and, eight years later, your government is struggling to catch up. If it was not for the opposition …
Dr Burns: The question is?
Mr CONLAN: I am getting there, member for Johnston. You would be very interested in this, being a failed Health minister. If it was not for the opposition revealing the truth, the public would be none the wiser, and your government would still be sitting idly by ignoring your duty of care to Northern Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, despite the fact there was no question there, it was just a stupid statement, I will respond. The member, obviously, does not know the difference between a question and a statement. However, let me go to what he said.
He said we have a duty of care, and I agree with that. ‘You did not tell the people’. In fact, we did. In April, when we discovered the glitch, we identified all the people affected and these people were personally and professionally guided and consulted. We notified all district medical officers and health centres. We put an alert notice on the PCIS, and we had a thorough review process of all patients potentially affected.
Two people who we originally thought were affected had a serious impact. Actually, only one was, as the other had checked the medication. That was a chronic condition and no one can attribute the lack of the provision of medication to the deterioration of his condition. The other 12 had a change in their blood pressure and their cholesterol. We advised the people, advised the public - but only the public affected because of privacy reasons.
We did not tell the member for Greatorex who was affected because they did not receive their medication. Obviously, the member for Greatorex does not have any respect for the privacy of people treated.
Not only did we talk to the people; the system was fixed straightaway. Every electronic system can have glitches and it was fixed straightaway. Our staff are trained in open disclosure, much to the displeasure of the member for Greatorex who always like to portray the Health department as no good, as a failed department …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr VATSKALIS: The good thing is he is the only one who thinks that. His performance regarding the medivac of a person injured on a remote station - he came out the next day saying the person was not evacuated in time; the treatment was appalling; and nothing happened. The next day the person was in the newspaper saying it was the best treatment he had ever received; the best effort CareFlight ever did ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Would the minister enlighten the House as to what exactly he is talking about?
A member: There was no question.
Government Tender Assessment Criteria - Changes
Mr WOOD to the MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
I have been told government has changed its tender assessment criteria, in particular, how weightings are allocated. I particularly refer to recent tenders for Royal Darwin Hospital emergency department; Casuarina Senior College new and refurbished science laboratories; Alice Springs Hospital new emergency department and medical imaging wing; Berrimah Fire Station, and the construction of Howard Springs rock pools and observation platforms.
The price on these tenders is 50% of the weighting, leaving non-price criteria of past performance, local development, apprentices, Indigenous employment, capacity and conformance, innovation etcetera, having to share the remaining 50%. Is this the reason a large number, if not most, of recent construction and infrastructure contracts have gone to interstate companies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. This side of the House takes Northern Territory government spending seriously, using it to support our Northern Territory businesses and jobs. Through the stimulus package, we improved our procurement processes so local business would get work quickly. That was a direction from the Chief Minister and we talked through those things with industry and the private sector.
I will clarify a few points, member for Nelson. Northern Territory businesses have consistently received around 75% of Northern Territory government contracts at tier 3, 4, and 5 over the last five years. This is consistently - up to today - 75%. That is a good result because much procurement is for larger items not produced in the Northern Territory. This is a higher proportion than any other jurisdiction in the country and a good result.
For procurements above the tender threshold of $200 000, the weightings for non-price factors are required to be published with the request for tender documents; however, the weighting given to price is not published.
Currently, the way the value-for-money formula used in most tender assessment works is the effective weighting of price is approximately 20%. The weighting for local development and value adding, which you were talking about, the weighting for business operating in the Territory, subcontractors from the Territory, training, and Indigenous employment is 20% of the non-price. So, 20% of 80% is effectively 16%, and that still exists.
The 20% is a relatively low weighting for price. We have been working with industry and the Government Procurement Council to get some clarity. There are problems with transparency because we do not weight the price factor. We have started to trial, with the department of Construction, where we identify the price weighting in the tender, because there will be straightforward tenders – buying toilet rolls is a straightforward price where price would be heavily weighted and other factors are not as important.
It is a complex area, but we are focused on trying to get the work the Northern Territory government puts out to many local businesses. It is a complex area. I would like to provide a briefing to you, or to those people who are talking to you, about what we are trying to do. We are working with industry, we are working with the Government Procurement Council, and I am happy to take those specific instances and get some replies to you. This is about supporting jobs and supporting our local businesses.
Northern Territory Economy - Effects of Global Financial Crisis
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
In the last few years we have seen economies across the developed world floundering and unemployment rates soaring. Can you please explain to the House how the Henderson government has acted to protect the Territory economy from the worst effects of the global financial crisis?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it make a great deal of sense to look at the relationship between the government’s infrastructure spend post the global financial crisis and the resultant effect on jobs. Labour force data out today shows we have had a slight increase in our unemployment rate at 4.2%, below the national average of 5%. That underpins the importance of the government spend in supporting jobs through the post-global financial crisis, where there is not a full recovery. We can see there is not full recovery, and we are seeing it through economic data and in the commentary about what is happening in global markets.
When you look at what we had to do, we moved swiftly, we moved responsibly, to dramatically increase our infrastructure spend from $870m up to the record $1.8bn post-global financial crisis. We have sustained those record spends over the three budgets after the global financial crisis. We are spending $4.6bn in cash for capital works, investing in our infrastructure - that all-important capital works spend.
This strategy has been welcomed by industry - whether it is the Chamber of Commerce or the Master Builders. They understand it has been showing through in our employment data that we created 12 000 jobs out of those record-level infrastructure spends. At the same time, the CLP has been arguing we need to slash our budget expenditure so we can carry a surplus and look good. That would have been the irresponsible thing to do. If we had followed the CLP’s view of the world, 12 000 jobs would have been lost through this period.
If you look at the history of capital works spending by the CLP, when we came to government the capital spend was $364m and the cash allocated was insufficient to meet the revote requirements from the previous capital year. Over the tough economic times of the global financial crisis, the Territory economy has grown to become one of our nation’s leading economies and we have been building legacy infrastructure including primary schools, middle schools, roads, houses, hospital infrastructure, and health clinics.
We also have in the pipeline the all-important prison project with $27m in headworks this budget, supporting 1000 jobs. That is a project the CLP want to scrap - 1000 jobs would be lost. We have deliberately lifted infrastructure construction, and we have the marine supply base, the new prison, and INPEX, to name a few, supporting our all-important construction sector and the flow-on consequences in jobs ...
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Proposed Carbon Tax – Support by Government
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Given the precarious state of the Territory economy, already damaged by Labor’s ban on the live cattle trade and evidenced by the significant increase in unemployment and the loss of 4100 jobs since January, why are you supporting a carbon tax which will expose Territorians to higher costs and threaten jobs and development?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, the feigned indignation of the Leader of the Opposition, Madam Speaker! He is the only person, apart from those members opposite, who walk around the Northern Territory with their heads in the clouds, like Henny Penny, saying the sky is falling in. The future of the Territory has never looked brighter, Leader of the Opposition. The future of the Territory has never looked brighter at all. Kids growing up in the Territory today are better growing up in the Northern Territory than anywhere else in Australia, and most places in the world. The only people who do not believe that are those people sitting opposite who talk down the Territory at every single turn.
The future of the Territory is bright and the fundamentals of the Territory are strong. We are seeing significant jobs growth in the Northern Territory - 12 000 jobs since the GFC, 22 000 new jobs since this government came to power. Like everywhere around the world, there has been a period where the economy is softening. The period these figures take into account, at the peak of our Wet Season - we had 3 m of rain across the Top End this Wet Season. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition did not get out too much and understand that it was raining. Construction activity virtually came to a halt across the Northern Territory because of the significant Wet Season. There is no doubt that because of the halt of construction here, some people went south ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member to come to the point. The point of the question was: why is this Chief Minister and his government supporting the carbon tax? That is the point of the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there was a long preamble as well.
Mr Mills: It was actually quite a short question.
Mr HENDERSON: A very long preamble, Madam Speaker, and I point out today’s NT News, which has …
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table this rather short question with a very modest preamble. The direct point of it is: why are you supporting the carbon tax?
Leave granted.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I will get to the carbon tax. We have had a reshuffle on opposition benches. The member for Fong Lim, who is now the leader in waiting in name only, has forced the Leader of the Opposition to ditch his climate change policy. They have ditched their climate change policy, they have no spokesperson for climate change, in spite of the Leader of the Opposition saying in this parliament a few months ago he believed in climate change. Now, they do not.
The climate change policy of this government is clear and understood by everybody. We support a price on carbon because it will lead to greater investment in the Northern Territory, particularly in the renewable energy industry.
Education Infrastructure Investment - Baniyala School and Others
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please advise the House on the government’s investment in Baniyala School and other education infrastructure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. As I said earlier this week, it was my pleasure to open the new facility at Baniyala School last week - a lovely building and $2m of taxpayers’ money well invested.
This is the eighth school opened by the government. Earlier this week, the opposition asserted we had not opened one school. I think it was the member for Greatorex who relented yesterday and said we had opened one, being Rosebery school. That is actually two schools, a primary school and a middle school. They share the same campus, but they are separate schools.
We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in school infrastructure since we came to government in 2001. The list of new schools is as follows: Alparra High School, Baniyala School, Bonya School, Darwin Middle School, Manyallaluk School, Emu Point School, Rosebery Primary School, and Rosebery Middle School. I suppose you cannot really count it as a new school, but after Cyclone Ingrid, Mamaruni School on Croker Island was completely rebuilt. Nemarluk School is a work in progress. There is an existing school, but we are building another school.
There was no effort under the CLP in their former government to provide secondary education in the bush and we have certainly done that. We have also provided a number of specialist secondary facilities in bush communities of Galiwinku, Minyerri, Kalkarindji, Maningrida, Wadeye, Papunya, Utopia, Borroloola, and Ramingining.
Governments always undertake major works in schools. I am not saying these are new schools, but major works at Darwin High School, $8.4m; $3m at Dripstone; $2m at Sanderson; $8.4m at Casuarina Senior College; $5m for Centralian Middle School; $14m for Palmerston Senior College; and $4.5m for Taminmin College. We have also upgraded Yuendumu, Yirrkala, Ramingining, Ngukurr, and Alekarenge in 2008, and in 2009, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Numbulwar, Angurugu, and Ntaria, not to mention a $300 000 upgrade for each Territory school. The $207m BER Commonwealth project for government schools, and $64m in non-government schools, is pretty impressive.
Madam Speaker, we are a government that has been investing in infrastructure, contrary to what the opposition has asserted. We can put that little argument to rest now, member for Greatorex.
Indigenous Ranger Position
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
It has been brought to my attention that an Indigenous ranger went through the Parks and Wildlife recruitment process in 2010 and was found suitable for a T1 Ranger position. He was not offered a position at the time, due to the hiring fees, and has now been told he has to go through the entire recruitment process again. How many Indigenous applicants have been treated in the same manner? How will the new Indigenous employment policy ever produce change if the department is happy to let qualified rangers remain on flexible employment or Working on Country programs simply because it is cheap and convenient?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her important question. It is great to be debating issues around jobs, employment, and infrastructure in the House today. I cannot think of any better department in this government - and I am happy to discuss that with my colleagues - but the Parks and Wildlife division in my department of NRETAS does a great job with Indigenous employment. Indigenous employees currently make up 22% of our staff at Parks and Wildlife, and I want to drive that percentage up to 30% over the next five years. It is part of our budget announcement to do that; $2.1m towards Indigenous employment opportunities.
In relation to that particular position, member for Macdonnell, I cannot comment on that publicly but I take it seriously and I am looking into it.
Eighty Indigenous people have gone through the flexible employment program - great numbers. We are doing that in partnership with many Aboriginal organisations across the Territory. I can also confirm that 14 Indigenous people who have done the program have moved on to full-time, real jobs in my division of Parks and Wildlife.
In Parks and Wildlife, there are standard public sector selection processes. Regarding that particular ranger and position, I am taking that seriously, and I am going to look into that.
Proposed Carbon Tax – Support by Government
Mr TOLLNER to CHIEF MINISTER
In the media release you issued on 21 February, you stated that the carbon tax: ‘… must not come at a high cost to Territorians’. You would not sign up to a scheme that: ‘… leaves Territory families worse off’.
That was on 21 February. When the details of the carbon tax were announced last month, typically, you rolled over like a little dog and allowed Julia Gillard to rub your tummy ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Just the colourful language, maybe.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps you can refer to the Prime Minister as the Prime Minister, member for Fong Lim.
Mr TOLLNER: I did refer to her as Prime Minister Gillard.
Madam SPEAKER: I am happy that you said it like that that time.
Mr TOLLNER: All right, no worries. Whatever the case, as usual, he has rolled over, he has allowed Prime Minister Gillard to tickle him on the tummy. Where is your backbone? Where is your spine? When are you going to stand up for Territorians and why is your government just a puppet to Julia Gillard?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, your time has expired!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is great that the member for Fong Lim gets a bigger cheer than the Leader of the Opposition from the opposition bases. I said you were back, Dave, and it will not be long before you are over there. Absolutely right.
In a media release I issued on 24 February, I said I will not sign up to a scheme that leaves Territory families worse off because southern states have failed to adopt cleaner, greener forms of power generation as we have in the Territory - and I stand by that.
Modelling by Treasury suggests the average power bill in the Territory will rise by around $2.70 a week compared to around $4.80 a week interstate, and families will receive an income tax cut of $10 a week. On the Treasury advice, Territory families will be slightly better off because of the tax cuts vis--vis the carbon price because we made the decision 25 years ago to switch to gas.
We have also had Deloitte, a senior accounting firm, look at the impact of a carbon price at $23 a tonne on the Northern Territory vis--vis the other states. I am happy to table this advice to show that the argument I took to the Prime Minister was listened to and Territorians will not be worse off. I read from Deloitte - and I trust Deloitte over and above the geniuses opposite. Deloitte said:
- Since Northern Territory relies primarily on gas/oil based generation, the impact on its generation cost arising from carbon costs is likely to be significantly lower than other Australian regions, especially major Eastern states, that rely more heavily on coal.
It went on to talk about some costs. I will table this, Madam Speaker:
- The resultant impact on electricity prices would therefore be far greater in Victoria compared to the Northern Territory.
So we are going to be slightly better off. The argument I took to the Prime Minister we won, member for Fong Lim. I pay tribute to Ian Tuxworth who was the CLP Chief Minister at the time, for the decision to move from bunker fuel oil to gas instead of coal, which has positioned the Northern Territory very well.
In relation to the impacts on the Northern Territory, I said the business case for the gas pipeline to Nhulunbuy has improved overnight, which would see investments of hundreds of millions of dollars in the Northern Territory not only supplying gas to Nhulunbuy, but potentially opening up other mineral deposits along the pipeline route.
I have also written to the Prime Minister and stated very clearly that renewable energy certificates should be able to be redeemed in the Northern Territory, not interstate. That is an argument I will be taking to COAG next week.
The Deloitte analysis shows Territorians will be no worse off …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … under a carbon tax, and in fact will be slightly better off given the tax cuts.
Health Infrastructure Expansion
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Yesterday, you spoke about the record numbers of doctors and nurses in the Territory. Can you please update the House on the program of expansion in health infrastructure that is bringing care closer to where people live?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yesterday we spoke about putting in extra doctors and nurses since coming to government, but you cannot deliver an effective health system unless you have bricks and mortar. In partnership with the Australian government, the Henderson Labor government is delivering one of the largest infrastructure programs in the Territory’s history.
Capital works are planned for all five of our public hospitals, as well as remote health centres. I spoke earlier this week about our joint commitment with the Australian government of $110m for the Palmerston community hospital with day surgery, 60 beds, and emergency care. Currently at Royal Darwin Hospital, a major $41m upgrade of emergency power is taking place. High voltage electrical systems, chillers, and the $22m accommodation hostel with 50 patient units and 16 units for Indigenous mothers are progressing well. We have plans to expand the emergency department operating theatre capacity, and we have a $5m commitment for a new super clinic in Darwin’s northern suburbs - another one. Darwin is pretty lucky; it has two. There is one in Palmerston and there will be one in Darwin.
In Alice Springs - because we do not forget Alice Springs - we have a $24.7m emergency and radiology department at Alice Springs with Lahey Constructions. The work is in addition to the ongoing rectification program of Alice Springs Hospital, and $11.7m for upgrades to emergency power, water reticulation, and electrical systems.
The Lodge in Bath Street, Alice Springs has been developed to support renal clients from remote areas with safe accommodation while accessing renal dialysis, and currently provides accommodation for 20 renal patients. The Australian government has announced a further $30m to develop more renal patient accommodation options in Alice Springs.
The regional areas are also benefitting from significant capital works programs. In Nhulunbuy, $18.8m has been allocated for a new emergency department and patient accommodation in Gove Hospital. In Tennant Creek, a new $1.6m sobering-up shelter and a $3.7m upgrade of the hospital’s emergency department is planned, plus the expansion of Tennant Creek’s renal dialysis unit is nearing completion. Katherine received $7.7m for patient accommodation at Katherine Hospital plus a new and expanded renal unit with six extra dialysis stations.
In remote areas there has been a roll-out of renal-ready rooms and relocatable dialysis units. Remote health centres will also received a boost of $50.3m for seven new remote primary health centres at Robinson River, Ngukurr, Canteen Creek, Numbulwar, Elliott, Galiwinku, and Ntaria, and a major upgrade of a further four remote health centres at Titjikala, Papunya, Maningrida, and Docker River. This is money well spent. This is an investment for our future and the future of the Territory.
Proposed Carbon Tax – Support by Government
Mr TOLLNER to CHIEF MINISTER
In your capacity as Prime Minister Gillard’s chief cheerleader, you continue to support the carbon tax even though it contradicts your previous assertion that you would never support a carbon tax that exposes Territorians to higher costs. On the day the details of the tax were released, you said your government would closely examine the details of this comprehensive plan to see its full impact on the community. Given your failure to say whether any Territorians will be exposed to higher costs as a result of the carbon tax, will you now table that comprehensive modelling so Territorians can see for themselves the impact of that great big new tax on everything, and see how many Territorians will actually be worse off?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fong Lim for his question, and look forward to the day when he is over here and we can do this properly. He is even adopting Tony Abbott’s lines, so that is very interesting.
I have just spoken about the work done by Treasury that said the average power bill will rise by about $2.70 a week compared with $4.80 a week interstate. I have tabled the document by Deloitte, the accounting firm, which clearly shows the impact in cost per megawatt hour for electricity in the Northern Territory will be nowhere near the rises interstate. I have said very clearly …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can I get clearly from the Chief Minister: is that the comprehensive modelling he was referring to? The letter from Deloitte?
Mr HENDERSON: Let me answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is answering the question, member for Fong Lim.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have sought further advice - although it is difficult to do comprehensive modelling when you have not seen the legislation - about the impacts of the diesel fuel rebates. We have sought information from Commonwealth agencies about how those diesel fuel rebates are redeemed and have not been able to get those yet.
I have written to the Prime Minister and I will be raising at COAG the importance of any changes to the diesel fuel rebate system, taking out the unique circumstances of the Northern Territory. It is one area where I do have residual concerns because we are unable to get access to that information because the diesel fuel rebate is redeemed by businesses to the Commonwealth taxation system, as they provide the rebate.
Madam Speaker, I am concerned about the impacts on the diesel fuel rebates. I will be taking those issues up with the Commonwealth, with other Premiers from regional Australian states next week, because we have yet to see the detailed information from the Commonwealth that has the information about how that is going to impact regional Australia.
With electricity prices for Territorians, it is very clear. We made the switch to coal, because the tax cuts …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Gas, sorry - I have done it twice now. … to gas. Because the tax cuts apply across Australia, we will be slightly better off. If the opposition wants to campaign about a $10 a week tax cut against the fact that Territorians will be $10 a week better off in their pockets, it is up to them.
Here is the information from Deloitte. There is no doubt, on the information we have regarding electricity price rises, the compensation will more than cover that in the Northern Territory, and most Territorians will be slightly better off. Madam Speaker, those are the facts.
Georgina River - Culverts
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
I recently visited the Lake Nash pastoral property and the manager told me he was promised seven years ago there would be culverts placed across the Georgina River. Those culverts would mean the crossing would remain open for a longer period of time during the Wet Season. Can the people of Lake Nash and Alpurrurulam region expect the culverts to be put in this Wet Season?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question about the Barkly electorate - and that incredible part of the Barkly electorate, the eastern side.
The Sandover Highway crosses the Georgina River just east of Alpurrurulam. It also crosses the access road through Austral Downs, which has become the main access point in and out of that area to the Barkly Highway. The links with Austral Downs Station are strategic in the area.
Going back to the Sandover Highway itself, the traffic data – the traffic count the Department of Lands and Planning has done - has come up with six vehicles per day. I get many questions about roads. Our government is about delivering on 36 000 km of roads. Therefore, it is a needs basis and there are tough decisions to be made. We have a program this year of $307m. It is determined based on need and demand, and input from stakeholders. I am also lobbying, member for Nelson, for the Sandover, on that top end where we need to do some work.
Having said that, for the crossing you and I are talking about, we are talking between $500 000 and $1m. Traffic data shows six cars per day, and also the considerable work done on the Austral Downs access road to use that Barkly Highway as a more direct point.
I am pleased to say a tender will be advertised in coming weeks to reform and compact existing pavement on the section we are talking about. The section on the Sandover from the start of the black soil country toward the Queensland border, and a section of about 30 km that will go through the Austral Downs turnoff to the Lake Nash area, member for Nelson.
I cannot guarantee the floodway at that crossing this year, but it is on our books for forward planning. I am lobbying for it, and it is great to hear you are lobbying for it as well. One day we will deliver this sort of infrastructure for all our roads across the Northern Territory.
Rural Village Development Discussion Paper
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can you please update the House on feedback received to the Territory government’s Rural Village Development Discussion Paper?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This is another very interesting part of the job. The Northern Territory government’s rural village plan is a key component of our Greater Darwin Regional Land Use Plan. It has attracted much public interest and I am proud to say the department has now accepted all the submissions. We have received many submissions from the public. We have also collected submissions on the road at community meetings. I was pleased to attend the Berry Springs Information Forum on our rural village plan, which is an integral component of our Greater Darwin Land Use strategy. There were also information sessions conducted at Noonamah, Howard Springs, and Humpty Doo that generated much discussion and input.
Yesterday, the member for Nelson and the Country Liberal Party Deputy Leader, the member for Goyder, released their response to the plan. It is an alternative proposal, but a good proposal, and the concept of supporting growth in the rural area. I welcome that submission. I advise the House that submission has been taken on board with all the other submissions and the information session work. It is about generating debate and getting feedback from the people of the Top End and planning towards 2030. It is hard work.
The member for Nelson is passionate about this. I recall the day we walked around the village of Howard Springs. We have had many discussions and there are many good points that will be taken on board. There is the plan there, thank you, colleagues.
It is also good to see bipartisanship emerge out or this, Madam Speaker, and the Country Liberal Party now is fair dinkum and formally in the submission process for the Greater Darwin Land Use strategy. That is good. I have talked in parliament about working together and losing the negative spin from the other side, and this is a great example. I am pleased to be able to take that on board and accept the Country Liberal Party as a part of this important journey. Thank you to the Deputy Leader of the Country Liberal Party. I am looking forward now to the extra work being done and coming back to the community with our land use plan.
Proposed Carbon Tax – Increased Costs to Regional Airlines
Mr TOLLNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, you have to admire him, don’t you?
Labor’s new great big tax on everything will find its way into every little nook and cranny across the Northern Territory, no matter how remote. It is timely, given we have been discussing Indigenous issues this past week, to ask you how much you expect airfares to rise, given this great big new tax on everything, particularly to those centres that are serviced by airlines such as Airnorth and Hardy Aviation, which will be slugged by an aviation fuel surcharge? What will be the increase to the cost of freighting goods by air to the Northern Territory as a result of the great big new tax on everything?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fong Lim for his question because here is a man who believes that climate change only takes place on Triton. That is the position of the Leader of the Opposition in waiting.
You cannot discuss this issue without discussing the issue of climate change and the fact that Australia as a nation has to act and move towards a new future of clean emissions and reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. That is what we believe on this side of the House. My responsibility as the Chief Minister is to ensure the Northern Territory is not disadvantaged ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was not about the abstract debate of climate change, it was actually about what this great big new tax is going to cost air services.
Madam SPEAKER: I think we should allow the Chief Minister to actually answer the question. He has not had much time at this stage.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. I will point out to people who are listening to this broadcast that every time there is an interruption by way of a point of order, it means I have less time to answer the question.
In regard to the impacts of the diesel fuel rebate and on freight, I am taking a position to COAG next week that we need much more information from the Australian government, which actually pays these fuel rebates. They have the data on the impact on the Northern Territory, particularly for people who live in remote areas who predominantly collect that rebate. These impacts I do take seriously ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Just for the clarification of the Chief Minister, I was not talking about the diesel fuel rebate. I was talking about the aviation fuel surcharge. Subtle difference, Chief Minister, but address the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that is not a point of order! Resume your seat. The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. I have residual concerns about the impact of these changes in remote and regional Australia and I will be taking those concerns up at COAG.
Given there are only half-a-dozen companies that will be paying the carbon tax, the major impact of this cost in the Northern Territory is on Power and Water electricity costs and charges. We have a uniform tariff across the Northern Territory - a uniform tariff in Ramingining, Darwin, Alice Springs and Borroloola. That is the major impact of this tax in the Northern Territory. I have demonstrated today by the works from Deloitte, the advice from Treasury, that the average household increase will be $2.70 a week compared to $4.80 a week interstate.
I still have concerns about the impact on freight as a result of all of these measures. I have written to the Prime Minister about that and I will be taking these concerns up at COAG.
Northern Territory Economy
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you advise the House on whether you believe the Northern Territory is heading in the right direction?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr Henderson: I have not even had a chance to start.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Mr ELFERINK: As you well know, opinions cannot be asked by members in government.
Madam SPEAKER: Would you like to reword that question?
Mr Henderson: Only if the clock starts again.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, we have not started yet. Could you just please reword that?
Mr GUNNER: Could you please advise the House of the underlying state of the Northern Territory economy and where the Territory is heading.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Territory is heading in the right direction. We have a bright future. The only people who do not believe we have a bright future are those sitting opposite. I will be talking to residents across the Northern Territory about our plans over the next 12 months.
In contrast, the CLP will clearly be talking about its plans to stop the progress and change direction for the Northern Territory. They want to stop progress and change direction and with the member for Fong Lim back on the front bench, we can see the direction of the CLP has substantially changed this week. In the week since he has been back, we have clearly seen that the member for Fong Lim is now running the show.
First, the CLP dropped their climate change policy. In fact, the position of shadow spokesperson on climate change no longer exists. The member for Fong Lim believes climate change only occurs on Triton and he has rolled the Leader of the Opposition on that policy. Then, we had the member for Fong Lim tell his leader yesterday - and I was very disappointed about that - to drop the bipartisan support on the live cattle trade and go on the attack. Take the Tony Abbott option; go on the attack on everything. The look on the Opposition Leader’s face told a thousand stories.
Then, lo and behold, about 8 pm last night, working upstairs, I saw speed limits were back after years of the CLP acknowledging that speed limits were sensible on our highways. Now the member for Fong Lim is running the show, suddenly, according to those opposite, speeding cars do not kill anymore.
Despite bringing him back into his team, the Leader of the Opposition has studiously avoided being seen with the member for Fong Lim all week. I said at the media conference, when the Leader of the Opposition finally announces his changes, the member for Fong Lim will not be standing next to him – and he was not. The member for Fong Lim has not even ruled out a further leadership challenge ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was about the future of the Northern Territory, not the government’s obsession with the CLP.
Madam SPEAKER: It was a pretty broad question. Chief Minister, if you could come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: It is obvious the party forced the Leader of the Opposition to bring the member for Fong Lim back into his team. In one week, it is already clear he is running the show. We all know how disunited they are and the disunity has never been more evident than this week.
It is good to see the member for Fong Lim back on the front bench. Welcome back, Dave, I look forward to the day you are sitting directly opposite.
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.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016