2011-02-24
Australian Bureau of Statistics – Crime Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures out today are yet another illustration of your government’s failure on law and order. Our shocking levels of crime show no sign of abating. The ABS figures also show that people committing acts of antisocial behaviour are now less likely to appear in court. Over the last year, the number of people caught committing an antisocial act increased to 5741, whilst the number of people actually facing court decreased by 389. What message does this send? How is it that there is more antisocial behaviour but fewer people facing the courts for that behaviour?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is the Leader of the Opposition’s spin on those statistics. What these …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: What these figures clearly show is the link between alcohol and antisocial behaviour and crime …
Mr Conlan: Sexual assault by 97%; house break-ins 64%.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … a link we on this side of the House are absolutely …
Mr Westra van Holthe: You have no solution for any of it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: … hell-bent on targeting and reducing, and those on the other side of the House would deny, as evidenced by the member for Sanderson’s appalling media release issued yesterday, which said the link between alcohol abuse and crime was miniscule - nothing could be further from the truth. The tragedy in these figures shows Indigenous Territorians are eight times more likely to be the victims of assault and violent assault than the rest of the population. The tragedy of these figures very clearly shows, as I have said numerous times in this parliament, that, unfortunately, our Indigenous population in the Northern Territory, particularly with crimes of domestic violence, are way too high and need to be tackled with every policy arm the government has. That is the tragedy in these figures – eight to one. Indigenous people are more likely to be the victims of assault and serious assault than non-Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
The tragedy of these assaults, particularly the over 50% which are domestic violence assaults, is that this used to be hidden behind closed doors. It was not significantly targeted by police; police who now have domestic violence units in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin, which provide significant support to women who are now more likely to come forward to report because they know police will tackle the perpetrators.
This is what these figures show. The tragedy of alcohol abuse and its link to crime is very clear. If you are not tackling alcohol in the Northern Territory, you are weak on crime and you are walking away, particularly from women who are the victims of domestic violence. These figures out today strengthen the arm of government to crash through on our reforms, despite the opposition which would seek to have the access to alcohol increased throughout the Northern Territory. We will not do that …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … and we will seek to protect Territorians.
Supplementary Question
Australian Bureau of Statistics – Crime Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics – Crime Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
As I asked yesterday, I ask again today: the line of defence you have just run, I look forward to having that run in a public forum. I challenge you once again to be very clear: do you accept the challenge for a public debate on such matters?
Dr Burns: Are we going to have it at the Stone Grill Restaurant?
Mr HENDERSON: Yes, that is right; we will have it at the Stone Grill Restaurant where the Leader of the Opposition hid from the media for six hours …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … cowered in the restaurant.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Stop the clock for a moment. I remind honourable members that when I stand in my chair, anyone who is speaking or standing at the time should return to their seat and cease speaking, or those people will automatically be either on a warning or thrown out.
Chief Minister, you have 25 seconds.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have all sorts of opportunities to debate the opposition. I will continue to do that.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: In regard to the Leader of the Opposition …
Madam SPEAKER: You have the time; you have not finished, Chief Minister. You still have some time on the clock.
Mr HENDERSON: Oh, sorry, Madam Speaker, I thought I had been gonged over there. Regarding the Leader of the Opposition …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister has run out of time now.
Dr Burns: Don’t you want to hear his answer now?
Mr Elferink: No.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I am happy to move an extension. I still don’t know …
Madam SPEAKER: There are no extensions.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Fannie Bay, I remind members, first of all, of Standing Order 51 in relation to interjections and loud and noisy disturbances, which has certainly been happening already, and it is only the first question.
Regarding the bells that ring, there is a 15-second warning for times in Question Time. In the question, the bell is rung at 45 seconds to alert you that you only have 15 seconds remaining to ask the question. In answers, there is a two minutes and 45 second warning to alert the minister on his feet that the answer will be finished in 15 seconds.
Alcohol-fuelled Violence – Initiatives for Reduction
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, parliament heard that the CLP believe the link between alcohol and violence is negligible. Can you please outline to the House the latest government efforts in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yesterday, the member for Sanderson put out this incredible release, basically saying that the figures show the links between community violence and alcohol consumption are negligible. What a fool! In August of last year, the Leader of the Opposition joined with me and the Northern Territory News to say alcohol-fuelled violence across the Territory is way too high, and he joined with us in the Just Think campaign.
It just goes to show how divided they are on the other side of the House. We have the Leader of the Opposition saying alcohol-fuelled violence is too high, joining with the NT News in their campaign - and good luck to the NT News, and thank you for that. On the other hand, the shadow alcohol spokesperson says the links between alcohol-fuelled violence and crime are negligible. Just how divided are they, Madam Speaker? They are divided on Cash for Containers, on Angela Pamela, on alcohol policy – they are divided on everything. If it was not so serious, it would be funny. The opposition should show some leadership.
We know that 60% of all crime is alcohol-related. If you are not tackling alcohol, you are weak on crime. We are determined to crack down on problem drinkers. Since November last year, 41 banning notices have been handed out in entertainment precincts across the Northern Territory, and there are more to come. We will be turning off the tap to problem drinkers by banning them from purchasing takeaway alcohol. I urge the opposition to join with us.
In Alice Springs, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010, the ID system to prevent people from purchasing large quantities of takeaway alcohol prevented 9009 people from buying grog. These are the restrictions these clowns would take off. Those 9000 people would have been able to drink more grog ...
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: ... under the CLP ...
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: ... create more mayhem and more misery in Alice Springs than has been the case.
I am not saying there is not a great deal more to do, and we are going to take the toughest measures regarding alcohol that this nation has ever seen. To say the link between alcohol, violence and antisocial behaviour is negligible defies all credibility and logic. It is totally at odds with the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition in August last year ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Ombudsman’s Inquiry into Child Protection – Risk of Government Interference
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
Your government wants to restrict the Ombudsman’s power to investigate child protection matters. Just four months ago, after years of neglect and systemic failure, the Growing them strong, together inquiry exposed a child protection system that was on its knees. The last thing children in care in the Northern Territory need is less scrutiny. Are you planning to nobble the Ombudsman because the Ombudsman has repeatedly exposed your government’s failures?
ANSWER
Come in, spinner, Madam Speaker, come in spinner. The Growing them strong, together report was a very serious report. It was a report commissioned by my government, a report we committed to implementing and have funded $130m to implement the recommendations in that report.
Nothing could be further from the truth than the outrageous allegations of the Leader of the Opposition. I will read from the legislation which establishes the independence and powers of the Children’s Commissioner:
- Commissioner’s independence
Except as otherwise provided by another law of the Territory, the Commissioner is not subject to the direction of anyone in relation to:
(b) the order of priority the Commissioner gives to investigations.
The commissioner has own motion powers, and may do all things necessary or convenient to be done for the performance of the commissioner’s functions.
In regard to the Ombudsman and her position on this, I will hand to my colleague, the Minister for Children and Families, who spoke to the Ombudsman on this matter this morning.
Mr VATSKALIS (Children and Families): This is true, Madam Speaker. The officer was fully briefed about the changes to the legislation. She actually questioned why I took away only part of the legislation. I met with the Ombudsman at lunchtime today. I explained to her again the situation, that these changes would not affect the current investigation. I encouraged her to finish her current investigation and bring it to parliament. Again, she questioned why I left the investigation powers of the Ombudsman with regard to administrative issues and the police issues, and why I did not provide them to the commissioner for children. The Ombudsman supports the changes. There is no intention from my government to gag the Ombudsman.
We gave more powers to the Children’s Commissioner. I would like to remind members opposite that the Children’s Commissioner is the commissioner appointed by this government to investigate matters related to vulnerable children.
This government put a lot of money into child protection - not only $7m - not just concentrating on urban centres and forgetting the kids in the bush. Even if the kids had different colours to the kids in Darwin or Alice Springs, it did not matter for the CLP. This government is going to address issues with child protection.
Cash For Containers Legislation - Implementation
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
The government’s Cash for Containers legislation should pass this afternoon. What is the next step in implementing this scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. This legislation should pass this afternoon. Given the CLP’s magnificent backflip, with double pike and twist …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … I can just see them at the Olympic Games getting 9.9 from the judges - backflip with a double pike and twist. Well, done!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex! Put it down, please.
Mr HENDERSON: I am glad that he listens and, most of all, I am really pleased for the member for Brennan. He was hung out to dry. He was sent in here to read the speech. The Leader of the Opposition hung him out to dry. They rolled him in at the last minute and saved him …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Arafura, put that down please.
Mr HENDERSON: … I think you should thank your colleagues, member for Brennan, because you really were a sitting duck yesterday morning.
I pay credit to the CLP for coming to their senses after the debate yesterday. This legislation is going to pass …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Will the Chief Minister take the opportunity to apologise for the slander and lies …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. That is not a point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I urge the member for Port Darwin to withdraw the word ‘lies’.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed.
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw the word ‘lies’.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Hold up the sign again, member for Arafura – was it 9.9 for the backflip with pike?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Arafura, put that down.
Mr HENDERSON: It now looks as though this legislation is going to pass with the unanimity of all 25 members of this House, and I thank the Independents for their support as well.
It is all about big business now. It is all about those big, international, multinational and southern businesses. I call on them to stop their disingenuous and fearful campaign …
Mr Conlan: There it is – jurisdictional racism. Once again, border basher.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … get on board with the will of this parliament, the will of the people of the Northern Territory, the support of the opposition. Put aside your misinformation campaign, your disinformation campaign, get on board, work with us in the best interests of the environment, and the best interests of the people of the Northern Territory - as supported by each and every one of the 25 members of this House, including the opposition with the beautiful double backflip with pike they executed yesterday evening.
Alice Springs – Allegations of Child Prostitution
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION referred to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
You have told this House that no reports of child prostitution on the streets of Alice Springs have been received by Child Protection Services, yet Alice Springs police confirmed they have received reports of child prostitution in Alice. Are the lines of communication so bad between the police and Child Protection Services that critical information is not being shared? Or are you feigning ignorance of child prostitution in Alice Springs, just as the former Labor Chief Minister, Clare Martin did when confronted with details regarding child prostitution at Mutitjulu? When are you going to end the culture of cover-up?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her very important question. She raised this allegation yesterday and on Tuesday in this parliament. I checked with my department to see if they had received any notification from any person in this House or in Alice Springs about child prostitution. The department of Children’s Services has not received any formal notification from any person about prostitution. The Police portfolio is the minister for Police’s responsibility and I now refer the question to the minister for Police.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON (Police, Fire and Emergency Services): Madam Speaker, I urge members opposite to be silent, because this is very serious.
Mr Mills: Yes, it is.
Mr HENDERSON: I urge you to listen.
I call on the members for Araluen and Macdonnell, after this Question Time, to immediately report to police any allegations they have of child prostitution. To make an allegation and not report it to police is putting children at risk and is an offence.
I urge the member for Macdonnell to arrange to meet with police immediately. I am advised that the member for Macdonnell did raise an allegation with police. Police have been trying to arrange a meeting with her to go through these allegations. They have been unable to connect at a point in time to do that. I urge her to see the police as soon as possible and give them the information she has.
Any information the member for Araluen may have should be made to …
Mr Conlan: You now have the information so why don’t you go?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Greatorex should be taking this issue seriously; it is a very serious issue. Allegations have been made and, if children are at risk, people who make those allegations should make them to the police; give them all and every piece of information they have as to where those allegations have come from.
I am not making assertions in this parliament, because this is too important. The last thing we need is people peddling rumours, and I am not saying people are. What I am saying is that we have two members of parliament who are making allegations in this Chamber. I acknowledge that the member for Macdonnell raised those issues with police and police have been trying to arrange a time to meet with her. I urge her to meet with police, give them the allegations and let the police get on with their job. This is not a media circus.
FACS does not know about this because there is no identified victim in these allegations. There is nothing to refer because there is no specific victim or specific allegation made to police. That is what needs to happen. The allegations need to go to police. Let police do their job.
Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services - Alcohol Withdrawal Nurse
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
In October 2010, your department advised the Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS) that funding for an alcohol withdrawal nurse had ceased. Your department told CAAPS the decision was in part due to them changing the client entry criteria for the program. The CAAPS board made the decision to change the entry criteria to protect their clients. The introduction of criminal checks was done to ensure CAAPS was aware of such things as carers of youth clients being on the sex offender register. Will you ask the department to reconsider this decision and support one of the largest Indigenous drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres in the NT?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It gives me the opportunity to provide some facts to him. The Northern Territory government has not withdrawn any funding for an alcohol withdrawal nurse. CAAPS is primarily funded by the Australian government with $4.48m per annum to run residential alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services. This includes $100 000 per annum from FaHCSIA for a clinical director, which is a nurse position. From 2007 to 2010, the Northern Territory Department of Health funded a service agreement with CAAPS for $155 000 per year for a withdrawal service for up to six clients at a time for a program of seven to 14 days; not for a nurse, for beds.
After lengthy negotiation, the service agreement was not renewed last year due to a number of factors: there were fewer clients entering the program; CAAPS, without any discussion with the department, reduced the number of beds to two and also introduced a restrictive clients criteria as you mentioned. The funding did not disappear; it went to another Darwin-based provider, Banyan House, and the alcohol withdrawal service is operating smoothly. The department’s service agreement with CAAPS for the VSA service for eight beds is funded at $267 000 per annum and is due for renewal in June 2011.
The money was not withdrawn because they changed the criteria; they changed the service from six beds to two beds. We are happy to renegotiate with CAAPS if they come up with the number of beds and proper arrangements, and proper negotiation with the department.
Palmerston Super Clinic - Progress
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
The federal member for Solomon is critical of the Palmerston Super Clinic and the service it provides to the people of Palmerston and the rural community. Can you please update the House on the current progress of the Palmerston Super Clinic?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It is a very important question, especially for the people of Palmerston. Unlike the CLP, the Labor Australian and Northern Territory governments have made it an absolute priority to provide comprehensive and affordable health services to the people of Palmerston, and we are delivering this commitment.
Last year, Tony Abbott made a commitment to close down the super clinics, so the CLP did not support the Palmerston Super Clinic.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Last Friday, I was very proud …
Mr Chandler: The after-hours care is not running out of a super clinic, you know that.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan, and particularly member for Greatorex. Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning.
Mr VATSKALIS: Last Friday, I was very proud to open the Palmerston Super Clinic with the federal minister for Health, Nicola Roxon. It was a pity the federal member for Solomon did not bother to attend to see the clinic officially opened. I was very pleased to see my colleague, the member for Drysdale - coming from the party which did not support the super clinic – present.
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: He is not brave. To be fair, I believe he has a sense that this service is good for his constituents. He attended the opening, and I thank him for that.
The after-hours clinic has treated 20 000 people and, in the last four months, the Palmerston Super Clinic - the new one we opened - has treated 5000 residents. It was never a secret. This service was not all of a sudden opened on Monday and on Monday was going to provide 24-hour service. From the very beginning, and you can check our records, we said it was going to be …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan! Member for Braitling!
Mr VATSKALIS: … it would be various stages. Stage one would be urgent care that started in December 2008; and stage two, the daytime GP service, commenced in October 2010. The student doctors commenced this month and will be working there with four GPs. The urgent care service will soon relocate to the premises of the new super clinic, and the service will continue to expand over the coming months to provide outpatient clinics, mental health, weekend GP services, to name a few, and it will be ultimately a seven-day-a-week 24-hour clinic.
Child Protection Services - Ombudsman’s Power
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
You informed parliament that you spoke to the Ombudsman this morning. Yesterday, when questioned by the media regarding changes to the power of the Ombudsman in respect to child protection, you said she had been fully informed of the proposed changes and she did not object to them. I believe you have been caught out here, minister. There is considerable doubt about the truthfulness of your statement yesterday.
Minister, I warn you, deliberately misleading the House is a very serious offence. Do you stand by your claim that the Ombudsman was fully informed yesterday that she should be stripped of her powers to investigate complaints about the child protection system and that she had agreed to it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if a member has misled Territorians it is the member for Araluen. Yesterday, she went to the media …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the minister wants to make an allegation he knows what to do.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Dr BURNS: That allegation was made by the member for Araluen.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, resume your seat. Minister, you have the call.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, the member for Araluen intentionally advised the media, the ABC, that the Children’s Commissioner was under the control of the CEO of the department of Health. That is far from the truth. The legislation states clearly that no one can control the Children’s Commissioner.
I stated yesterday that the Ombudsman was advised. Yes, she was advised. Two weeks before I introduced the legislation the Ombudsman met with me in my office, with Clare Gardiner-Barnes, Ray Clarke, and Pippa Rudd, and we took her through the legislation. We advised that we were going to transfer some of her powers to the Children’s Commissioner because we believed he was the expert to deal with vulnerable children, and she accepted it. She questioned me at the time regarding why only a certain part of her powers, not only powers with regard to administrative issues and the police.
I saw the Ombudsman this afternoon. She was at Caf 21. I spoke to her again and reassured her that the change in legislation will not affect her current investigation. Once again, she asked me why I only took part of her powers and not …
Mr Elferink: Oh, hang on. Would not affect the current investigation, but it would affect her powers into the future.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Member for Port Darwin, member for Katherine, cease interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: The Ombudsman was reassured and she told me she was going to write to me so I could respond to her formally. I asked her to do so and I will respond formally to again advise her that she can complete her current investigation but, in the future, all her powers in regard to investigating children will go to the Children’s Commissioner to avoid duplication, and the investigations can be done by someone with expertise on child protection.
Nemarluk School - Plans
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please advise the House of the new plans for Nemarluk School?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a good story. This week, I announced that we are going to build a new purpose-built school for Nemarluk School and relocate it to the campus of Alawa Primary School. I congratulate Alawa Primary School’s principal and school council for the way in which they have worked together on this with the council from Nemarluk School.
It is fair to say that Nemarluk School has outgrown its current site. I became aware of the issue on becoming minister. It received $4.5m as part of the government’s $30m commitment to special schools across the Territory. However, most of that $4.5m would have been chewed up with civil works because of the nature of the site and the only part that was left for them to build. The school council then lobbied very hard for a new school. The member for Fong Lim was at a function and he lobbied strongly as well. I set about trying to bring it to a reality.
I emphasise on the floor of parliament that, out of that $30m, they will receive that $4.5m towards this project. We will not be eating into the budget for other special schools. I have asked the department to find the balance of the funds within existing resources, which they have been able to do. There will be 14 classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a multipurpose assembly and gymnasium, after-school hours care building, and administrative facilities, all of which are sorely lacking at the current facility.
There are approximately 100 children at Nemarluk School; there are probably 60 staff. I commend the staff for the wonderful job they do. I know the concerns of parents, particularly Jo Grace and Jenny Dignan, who have lobbied very strongly. At one stage, I wanted to do this over two years, but they said it would disturb the routine for the kids, and they should try to start at the beginning of the 2012 year, which we will endeavour to do. It is going to be a hard ask, but I am dedicated to that.
Principal Bert Beekhuizen, has done a fantastic job, as has Alawa principal, Fathma Mauger. The member for Casuarina has been very supportive all the way along. This is a great result. It is probably overdue, but it is happening now. I commend the staff and the council at Nemarluk School.
Nursing – Recruitment Drive
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
In 2009, there was a bulk recruitment drive for remote area nurses during which 20 new nurses were recruited to the Northern Territory. Can you confirm that only one of those nurses brought to the Northern Territory during this recruitment drive is still working as a remote area nurse in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as much as I would love to know every movement of every person of the 5500 employees of the Health Department, I believe it is rather impossible.
The reality is we are in a constant recruitment drive simply becuase our population and our people are very transient. Some of us choose to stay here longer. I came to the Territory in 1993 for two years; I happen to still be here. Other people come for two years, stay two years and then leave. We have nurses coming to work with us, and some of them come to gain experience because the Territory is a unique place and, after a period of time, they go down south.
I congratulate that nurse who decided to stay in the Territory, if that is true, because that shows resilience and commitment to the Territory. But people have the right and the freedom to move from one place to another. As I said to you before, we are always trying to recruit people and we are recruiting people. In fact, we have the largest number of nurses we have ever had in the Territory. The previous government decided to cut 200 nurses. We have actually increased the number of nurses in the Territory by 700, and we will continue to do so.
Mataranka Station – Animal Cruelty
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In the Ombudsman’s report into the appalling treatment of hundreds of head of livestock at Mataranka Station, the last identified instance of cruelty occurred in February 2010. Given that the statute of limitations for prosecutions in such matters is 12 months, can you update the House as to when your special investigator is going to complete his inquiries into the animal deaths, and when will prosecutions commence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Katherine. It is good to hear from him. If he had listened to the question from the member for Nelson on Tuesday last week, he would have heard my answer. The special investigator, Ray Murphy, is close to completing his report, and I will be delivering the outcome of that report in the March sittings. Any questions in regard ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: You see, that is what happens when they do not listen, Madam Speaker. They repeat a question that has already been answered ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: I have explained to this House that an investigation is under way by Ray Murphy. That is almost near completion, and there will be a full report to the parliament at the Alice Springs sittings in March which will answer the questions of the member for Katherine as well as the member for Nelson.
Multicultural Society - Government Support
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
There has been some unfortunate national debate recently in relation to Australia’s multicultural society. Can you please update the House on the Henderson government’s support for the vibrant, multicultural community we have in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura. We all celebrate and embrace our diversity in the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory is the most diverse, multicultural place in Australia. We are blessed with an Indigenous culture going back 40 000 years. We have people from around 100 countries around the world who have come to the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin and Palmerston, and have chosen to make this their home. One of the great joys of living in the Territory is raising kids in such a diverse, multicultural society.
I have said before that one of my great joys is visiting schools, speaking at assemblies, going into classrooms, and essentially seeing the united nations sitting side by side, working together, building this great Territory that we have.
I am disappointed to hear comments about multiculturalism in the national media and the national political scene. Recent comments by the Western Australian Senator, Cory Bernardi, suggesting multiculturalism in Australia has failed are completely rejected by me and my government and, I believe, by everyone in the Northern Territory. We completely reject that allegation. Senator Bernardi still has on his website an article written by him titled The Failure of Multiculturalism. I issue Senator Cory Bernardi a challenge today: come to the Northern Territory, spend a week here, and then see if you still want to leave that article on the website. Come to the Northern Territory and see just how well we all get on together.
No government I lead will ever consider using ethnic division as a political tool. It is absolutely reprehensible. As community leaders, leaders in public life, we should be about uniting this country, bringing people together, and not seeking to play off ethnic divides and ethnic tensions.
I reaffirm my government’s commitment to all people in the Northern Territory, wherever they come from, you are embraced and welcomed. We celebrate our diversity. To Cory Bernardi and others like him, come to the Northern Territory, spend some time here, reassess your views and embrace multiculturalism.
Ochre Card – Backlog in Processing of Applications
Mr STYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, the government was forced to push back its introduction of the Ochre Card by three months because of a backlog of criminal history checks required for the card. No other professions have been affected because the same unit is processing all criminal history checks and applicants are being told that the waiting time is up to three months for their applications to be processed.
Why do people have to put aside the capacity to earn income because your government cannot get its act together? Will you apologise to the people of the Northern Territory for your ineptitude?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank those Territorians who have embraced the Ochre Card and what it is we are trying to do, which is protect children. The volume of requests for the Ochre Card shows that Territorians understand this; they understand that the protection of our children is the most important thing. Over 15 000 applications for this card have certainly exceeded estimations of the demand for the card. That is why the time was extended yesterday.
This shows that this initiative is a success. Territorians have embraced it. They have not said: ‘I do not need this’, or ‘I do not want this’, or ‘I am not going to get this’. They have said: ‘This is the right thing to do and the protection of children is most important’.
Many of these requests are not just requests for the Northern Territory police to assess. These requests have to go to interstate jurisdictions, and there are also backlogs in interstate jurisdictions this year. I apologise to people who have been inconvenienced. That is why the minister has extended the time frame.
I had the numbers wrong. There have actually been 19 500 Territorians who have requested the Ochre Card. That is 19 500 Territorians who are committed to protecting our children. I thank each and every one of them.
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle – Alleged Illegal Transportation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
You saw the story in today’s Northern Territory News about the origins of the new Territory Wildlife Park white-bellied sea-eagle. You also heard my speech in parliament on Tuesday about the same thing.
Please give your department’s version of how the new white-bellied sea-eagle got to the wildlife park. Could you explain if Barry Sharpe from the Larrimah hotel did something illegal by transporting the eagle from Larrimah to Wildcare at Darwin River - although he did not get there? If he did not, will your department apologise to Barry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I did see the article in today’s paper and I was flabbergasted. I was the one being blamed for labelling him as an illegal owner, which is entirely incorrect. I would like to straighten that out and put it on the public record.
I was advised that Parks and Wildlife received information from a member of the public that Barry Sharpe was leaving Larrimah and travelling to Katherine with a wedge-tailed eagle. The bird was later identified as a sea-eagle, and a permit check identified that Mr Sharpe did not have the appropriate wildlife permit for possession of the bird, which is a breach of wildlife laws. While it was understood that Mr Sharpe’s partner has a carer’s permit, that permit does not allow for Mr Sharpe to have possession of the bird, and, more specifically, this permit does not cover birds of prey such as eagles.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, birds of prey require specialist expertise and experience and appropriate housing. I am advised Parks and Wildlife decided to further investigate on the basis of information provided by a member of the public. Parks and Wildlife investigation officers stopped Mr Sharpe to check the validity of the claims. As a result, the eagle was taken into care by Parks and Wildlife.
Parks and Wildlife often receives information from members of the public regarding activities related to wildlife and acts on this information accordingly to ensure the protection of our wildlife. In relation to the source of the information, it is not appropriate to make any further comment on how Parks and Wildlife receives intelligence. Regarding police involvement, a request by Parks and Wildlife is always forwarded to the appropriate police station for assistance, and police are generally involved with Parks and Wildlife to ensure the safety of Parks and Wildlife staff carrying out their duty and statutory functions.
Four police officers were involved in stopping Mr Sharpe’s vehicle, as required for the safety of all road users and Parks and Wildlife staff. Mr Sharpe indicated he had an urgent need to reach Darwin and he would present himself to the Parks and Wildlife office on his return from Darwin through Katherine. I am advised Mr Sharpe did not stop at the office and Parks and Wildlife investigators insisted he return to Katherine for an interview.
The issue of provenance is important in order to address issues such as genetic variation, susceptibility to disease, and adaptation to different climates. The bird from Katherine is from the Top End. It is a juvenile and is not heavily imprinted - all favourable characteristics for developing a bird for public display.
Member for Nelson, I am confident my department acted appropriately in this matter; however, I am happy to discuss this further with you.
Business Confidence in the Territory
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Can you please update the House on the latest data on business confidence in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a priority of this side of the House to support businesses and help them grow. Our economy is very strong and it is growing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This side of the House is interested in business; I know that side of the House is not. Our economy is strong and it is growing. We have the lowest unemployment in the nation and, as Business minister, I am committed to helping …
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: You would think the other side of the House would be supportive of business ideas and outcomes - they do not seem to be. We on this side are committed to supporting business.
The latest independent report card on business confidence has given a big tick to this government and is proof our policies are working. Figures released today from the Sensis Business Index show business confidence in the Northern Territory has increased by 3% to 55% in the last quarter, and remains significantly higher than the national average of 44%. I am pleased to say business confidence is even stronger in regional areas at 58%, well above the national average.
This government has produced the lowest-taxing jurisdiction in the nation for small to medium businesses. The other side of the House had higher taxes for small to medium businesses. We have business-friendly policies, which is why we have the highest confidence rating of any government in Australia. That has increased by 3% in all those jurisdictions from the last quarter.
That business confidence has increased to 33%, compared to 14% nationally for our training and business programs. Some of the reasons quoted for showing support was the government was supportive of small business management and training schemes; business received help from government departments; government was creating employment and training schemes; and government was trying to help business.
This side of the House is focused on supporting businesses because they create jobs which improves the lifestyle of every Territorian. We commit to continuing those projects while the other side of the House is completely anti-business.
Territory Debt – Returning Budget to Surplus
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Each of us in this parliament will be judged by the legacy we leave. Your most enduring gift to future generations will be a mountain of debt. This year, your record spending has created a staggering $425m cash deficit. In addition, by 2013-14, every man, woman and child in the Territory will have a government debt of $29 000. When will you start repaying your mountain of debt? When will the budget finally return to surplus?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question could be asked of the member for Katherine: when is he going to pay the car dealer in cash from the debt he owes him after he ripped off a small business person in Katherine - after the shadow Treasurer ripped off a small business person in Katherine ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Order!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is an outrage and he should withdraw those slurs. He is simply using this as a vehicle to avoid his responsibilities.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin! Chief Minister, can you withdraw or reword, please?
Mr HENDERSON: I refer to the public record, but …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you just withdraw or reword, please?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I withdraw what is on the public record.
We, on this side of the House, do not resile for one moment going into a temporary deficit to save jobs in the Northern Territory. We do not resile for one moment the fact we have gone into a temporary deficit position to save jobs in the Northern Territory, an act that has been applauded by businesses across the Northern Territory.
Graham Kemp from the Master Builders Association said that without going into debt to save our construction sector in the Northern Territory, our economy would have gone into freefall, and many hundreds of people - potentially thousands of people - would have lost their jobs. Last year, there were over 5000 new jobs created in the Northern Territory.
Let us turn this question around. The shadow Treasurer is saying we should not have gone into debt. So the CLP policy is to throw thousands of people onto the dole queues, see hundreds of businesses close their doors …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to direct the Chief Minister to come to the point ...
Dr Burns: He is answering the question.
Mr Conlan: No, he is not. He said he just turned it around.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MILLS: All this is very interesting. The question was: when will we return to surplus? When is a surplus projected?
Madam SPEAKER: There was quite a long preamble which the Chief Minister is entitled to respond to. However, if you could come to the point, Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question was, why have we gone into debt? Regarding returning to surplus, we will be returning to surplus and handing a budget down later this year. The reality is - and here is the very clear line of distinction: if the Country Liberal Party is saying we should not have gone into debt to protect this economy and to save jobs, it means their policy position would have been to see thousands of people on the dole queues, hundreds of businesses close their doors, and forced redundancies in the public sector.
That is the difference between the opposition and the government. We believe in jobs, we believe in creating jobs, and we believe in protecting jobs.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Freedom of Information Laws – E-mails to Ministers
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on how the Northern Territory freedom of information laws apply in relation to e-mails sent to ministers from people who wish to remain anonymous?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Members will recall the Attorney-General revealed an e-mail from an internal CLP source which pointed out that Terry Mills had, indeed, offered Leo Abbott a job should he stand down as candidate for Lingiari ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That has been established to be a lie.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: You wish. It is now 93 days …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Australian Electoral Commission has not even bothered to pursue that lie.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Do not make trivial interjections and points of order.
Mr HENDERSON: It is now 93 days since a very simple question was asked of the Leader of the Opposition: did he or did he not offer Leo Abbott a job? He still refuses to answer the question.
The Leader of the Opposition is so keen to crush internal opposition within the CLP, he wants to use FOI laws to reveal the source - to reveal which one of his colleagues leaked the e-mail and spilt the beans on him. He has submitted a Freedom of Information request. I table the information request put forward by the Leader of the Opposition. It is interesting that he lodged this Freedom of Information request on 11 February, just two days after a series of CLP internal infighting e-mails appeared in the NT News.
This is how shambolic and desperate his leadership has become - using FOI to find out which one of the people who sit around him is leaking on him. Who is it going to be? Is it the member for Goyder …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the loyal deputy, the member for Goyder? What about the member for Sanderson? Is it the member for Sanderson leaking, or the member for Port Darwin, or the member for Fong Lim? What is he going to do when he finds out from this FOI request who is leaking on him?
The person who sent the e-mail should not fear. We will do everything we can within the law to protect their identity and protect them from the vengeance of the Leader of the Opposition.
I am advised, through the FOI process, that the person who sent the e-mails will be consulted …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … they will be asked about their e-mail and how they feel about their e-mail name being released.
So it would appear likely that the Leader of the Opposition is going to have to try other ways of hunting down his CLP enemies from within. As the member for Fong Lim said in his famous e-mail outlining all the failings of the Leader of the Opposition, the Leo issue is not going to go away – 93 days, you still have not answered the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
Housing Crisis – Stamp Duty Costs
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
The Northern Territory is enduring the worst housing crisis in living memory while your government reaps the benefits of record house prices. According to the latest Bankwest report, your government raised a massive $513m from stamp duty on commercial and residential properties over the past five years. The median stamp duty charge in the Territory increased by 152%, which is, by far, the highest increase in the country. Why are you gouging such high taxes from hard-working Territorians who are scrambling to afford a home?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we can all quote from a series of releases and documents. The facts remain - I do not have them here, but I am happy to provide them to the House very soon, and to the media. Another series of reports show that, because the Northern Territory does not have a land tax, in fact, taxes for housing in the Northern Territory are by far the lowest in all of Australia. There are fewer taxes levied on homeowners and investors in the Northern Territory than anywhere else in Australia by a country mile.
The assertions by the shadow Treasurer with training wheels on are wrong. This government has by far the lowest taxes for business in Australia …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: … the lowest taxes for homeowners and people seeking to invest in residential property in Australia by a country mile.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: In regard to stamp duty increases that, of course, shows a rise in property values and growth in the property market in the Northern Territory. Is the shadow Treasurer really saying to people who are investing in their own homes, the single biggest asset that most people will have in their lives, that there should not be capital gain? Is he is saying he believes in a flat earth? If you a buy a house for $600 000, in 10 years’ time …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … it should still be worth $600 000. Is that the policy of the shadow Treasurer? You buy a house for $450 000, 10 years later it should be worth $450 000. What a load of nonsense. We have the lowest taxes for homeowners and investors in residential property in Australia. We will do everything we can to keep it that way.
Greater Darwin Region Land Use Plan - Towards 2030
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The Greater Darwin Region is growing. Can you please update the House on this government’s plan for a sustainable development of the region towards 2030?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This government is responding to record, unprecedented growth in the Northern Territory. When we talk about the Greater Darwin Region, we are talking about Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Weddell and the Cox Peninsula. We are planning for the future.
Earlier this month, I was very proud to launch the Greater Darwin Region Land Use Plan - Towards 2030. It is out there for community comment and involvement, and we welcome the community of the Northern Territory’s input into this plan.
The government’s land use plan is no pie in the sky. Our land use plan is based on population statistics, economic forecasts, and a sound way forward in a period of unprecedented economic growth.
Let us talk about the CLP’s plan - I am proud to say our plan is thoroughly developed, as opposed to the pie in the sky plan which was released in haste for political reasons last year. That is where those others got it wrong. It was chasing pure politics, chasing headlines - a dusted off plan from 20 years ago. I am proud to say this government’s major body of work has delivered an incredible document for the Northern Territory Greater Darwin Region to engage with. Our plan projects an additional 70 000 people who will call the region home by 2025. That creates a real need for residential and industrial land.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Perhaps the minister can explain why the industrial area …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat! It is not a point of order.
Mr McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a great opportunity to give the information to the House and I encourage the input of members opposite as well.
Sustainable residential growth with the concepts of infill development, greenfield sites and dual occupancy; we have put out some really good concepts to the community and we welcome their input. Greenfield sites such as Palmerston East, which is growing rapidly – five times faster than ever seen before in the Northern Territory – and the new city of Weddell.
The other forecasts are the development of Howard Springs pine forest, Girraween, Coolalinga, Freds Pass, Humpty Doo, Noonamah, and Berry Springs as a rural village concept – a great concept, a new, urban-thinking concept for a rural area, an intensification concept which people are asking for and we really welcome their comment.
Future private development on the Cox Peninsula is pending the finalisation of the Kenbi land claim ,,,
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Giles: You are running out of time, buddy, sorry.
Mr McCARTHY: This is not rambling on, Madam Speaker, this is really good …
Madam SPEAKER: I am sorry, minister, your time has expired.
Alice Springs –Youth Services Coordinator Position
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
How many people have occupied the position of Youth Services Coordinator for Alice Springs Youth Action Plan since November 2010? For what proportion of the last four months has there been someone on the ground working in that role?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. As the former minister for Central Australia, she will know how important the Youth Action Plan is in tackling antisocial behaviour, youth crime and getting the kids off our streets. She knows how much this government has supported and resourced the Youth Action Plan to achieve those outcomes.
Since October last year, we have had two people in that position. Unfortunately, the previous person in that position had to leave due to family and personal reasons. We now have John Adams in the position of Youth Services Coordinator. John is doing a great job in pulling together the non-government organisations, as well as government and federal government agencies.
I did not quite catch the other part of your question.
Ms ANDERSON: How long they have spent on the ground in the last four months.
Mr HAMPTON: Through the youth outreach workers, we have had youth workers on the street seven days a week since last year. We have youth workers on the beat seven days a week, working alongside police and security guards and doing a great job. I have been on the streets with them on patrol, as has the Deputy Chief Minister.
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