2008-11-26
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Conduct during Question Time
Conduct during Question Time
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call questions, I have just been advised by the Clerk that TOP-FM has rung us advising that yesterday there were many interjections, particularly private conversations. They were hearing conversations about where people parked their car and if they had their lunch. If you are going to have a private conversation, please be kind enough to put your finger on the button. People listening to the broadcast do not need to know about your parking or lunching arrangements. Thank you, honourable members.
Palmerston – Police Numbers
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, in this place, you said: ‘Police are in Palmerston in significant numbers’. Last Friday and Saturday, how many general duties police officers - that is, police on the beat - were rostered for Palmerston Police Station to protect the 45 000 people of Palmerston and the rural area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. As I said yesterday, the assaults in Palmerston over the weekend were committed by cowardly thugs who attacked innocent Territorians going about the course of their duties. Police did respond very swiftly in establishing a task force of an additional 27 police officers to actually work with the Palmerston Police Station and saturate Palmerston with police. There were 10 additional investigators to work with Palmerston police to bring these offenders to account. As of yesterday - I do not have an updated figure for today -- six people had been arrested and charged.
Going to the question of how many people were on shift at any given point in time, what the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Drysdale do not understand is that I do not run the police force from my office in Parliament House. I do not determine which police officers are to be deployed to which police stations and in what numbers. That is an issue for the Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I would have thought the member for Drysdale would have understood the Police Administration Act which absolutely precludes me, as Police minister, from giving a directive to the Police Commissioner, as is absolutely appropriate given the separation of powers. I am astounded that he does not understand that I do not run the police station from my office in Parliament House or Wanguri …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the Police minister and Chief Minister does not know how many were on roster on Friday and Saturday night, then simply say so.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the call, but if you could come to the question as soon as possible.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, that was exactly the point I was making: those are issues for the Commissioner and the police command.
We have more police in this police force than ever before. Another 60 police officers will be delivered across the Northern Territory during this course of government. We can see a complete reduction in crime right across the Northern Territory. The increase in violent crime is, in large part, attributed to the scourge of domestic violence that plagues the Northern Territory, for which we have, in this very House, made mandatory reporting apply.
Again, those assaults were unacceptable. They were committed by thugs and cowards. Those thugs and cowards will be apprehended by police and they will be brought to justice.
Seniors Villages – Impact on Housing Market
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, the government announced a $10m 40-unit seniors village at Bellamack. Can you tell the House why the government is investing in seniors villages, and what impact this will have on the housing market?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for a very important question.
A member interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, you would have thought the opposition would be interested in an announcement which was made today for Territory seniors, instead of being rude and calling out across the Chamber. This should be a bipartisan issue. I am astounded that opposition members want to make light of it. Not only do they want to make light of it, they think it is funny.
Housing for Territorians is an important part of my government’s plan for the Territory. We can see that with the enormous speeding up of land release which is occurring across the Northern Territory, and the introduction of the Buildstart scheme to bring forward new housing and unit construction. However, it is clear, in our deliberations that seniors housing is a challenge the government must meet.
This is why today we have announced our decision to invest $10m in a seniors village in Bellamack. We have said we have a new government policy in which 15% of all new housing, in terms of government land release, will go to affordable housing and social housing - this is part of our commitment to Bellamack - $10m.
These seniors villages have been very successful. Villages recently built in Fannie Bay and Coconut Grove have proved enormously successful. We made an election commitment to seniors in housing in Parap, and today’s announcement builds on this. The village will include 40 ground level one- and two-bedroom units and they will be based on the design of the seniors village at Fannie Bay. My colleague, the Housing minister, was in Fannie Bay to make that announcement today. Design works will start soon; headworks will begin next year. The first seniors are expected to move in during 2010.
This has a double advantage. We know there are large numbers of seniors who occupy three-bedroom houses in Darwin and Palmerston who will choose to move to a seniors village and downsized accommodation if appropriate accommodation is in place, thus freeing up those three-bedroom houses which are also needed. So, not only do the seniors win out of this decision, but families who are on the waiting list for three-bedroom housing win as well.
Madam Speaker, this is good news for seniors and it is good news for Palmerston; and further evidence of my government’s commitment to housing our seniors right across the Territory.
Palmerston – Police Numbers
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you said you had received several briefings from the Police Commissioner regarding the violent assaults in Palmerston. Are you seriously telling this House that during those briefings you did not ask exactly how many police were on the beat or rostered on duty in Palmerston on the night and the evening shifts last Friday and Saturday through until 7 am Sunday morning? Why did you not ask the most basic question: how many police were rostered on the beat when five people were viciously assaulted in a 24-hour period by gangs of young thugs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Obviously, he did not listen to the answer I gave him before. The conversations I had with the Police Commissioner were about what the police are going to do, what they are doing, and what have they done about the assaults that occurred in Palmerston over the weekend, and what are the likely outcomes as a result of the police task force which was put in place and which is totally appropriate.
If the Leader of the Opposition and the four commissioners in exile who sit on the opposition’s benches think that, as Chief Minister and Police minister, I should be sitting in my office doing police rosters for police stations across the Northern Territory, they have absolutely no idea how the Police Administration Act works.
We have more police officers in our police force than ever before. There are more police on the beat than the CLP ever had when they were in government. Such disdain and contempt did they have for our police force, they froze recruitment - not one police officer recruited to the Northern Territory Police for four years
I congratulate our police on the arrests they have made. There are more police going to Palmerston as a result of our Safer Streets initiative which will see an additional 60 police recruited over the next two years, including an additional 24/7 patrol in Palmerston; the establishment of a youth crime unit; and the establishment of parental responsibility orders to hold parents to account for the activities of their kids.
We have also introduced three youth rehabilitation camps across the Northern Territory, something the CLP did not do when they were in government. We have already seen 59 juveniles sent to those camps, and we have closed the revolving door on juvenile diversion. This is a government that acts; that wants the resources in place; that has confidence in our police force to do the job we assign them to do. This is a Chief Minister and Police minister who will not be sitting in Parliament House or in my electorate office in Leanyer doing the rosters for the police station at Palmerston.
INPEX – Public Forums
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
INPEX is holding public forums in Darwin and Palmerston. Can you please let the House know how the government is supporting these public forums?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I thank INPEX for reaching out, because that is what they are doing, and engaging our community in Darwin and Palmerston and giving the community the opportunity to talk to the proponents of this project firsthand, rather than having to rely on some of the opinions of commentators about this project.
I am advised that around 150 people turned up at the forum held at SKYCITY Casino today in the ballroom, including many business people. That is a great outcome. It shows the obvious interest and support by the vast majority of Territorians for this project.
My government will also be hosting six forums to talk with small business across the Northern Territory about the opportunities available to small, medium, and large-sized businesses in the Northern Territory as a result of the project.
It is not just about businesses providing goods and services and attaining contracts during the construction phase of the project; it is about how businesses can get involved in the ongoing service, supply and support of the LNG plant, and also how small businesses can benefit from the very significant workforce which will be in Darwin during the construction phase. For example, if you sell one movie ticket a week to 200 people from this project, the cinema will benefit by an additional $2400 a week, or an additional $124 800 a year. That is a lot of extra income for a small business. If each of those 200 people bought one $5 hamburger each week, that is an extra $15 000 a week for that takeaway business - a very significant boost.
Every day, the global financial crisis puts challenges out across the world. Australia is not immune from this, and the Territory is not immune from this. I can assure Territorians that the global financial crisis has not affected this project. Yesterday, my office spoke with Sean Kildare from the company, who has given every assurance that this project is going ahead. The time lines have not changed. As much as this project is a great commercial opportunity for INPEX and the joint venture, it is also about security of energy supply for the Japanese economy into the future.
That is why I have every confidence this project will go ahead, the company advises the project will go ahead, and it just goes to prove how important it has been for this government to land this project for the Northern Territory. Given what is happening around the world, this is the best insurance policy our economy could have at the moment to maintain confidence in the Territory’s economy into the future.
Palmerston - Police Numbers
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Unlike you, I have endeavoured to find out how many general duties officers, that is, general response officers, were rostered on the beat in Palmerston when those five individuals were viciously assaulted last Saturday. I was shocked to discover that there were only five general duties officers rostered when two people were bashed just after midnight on Saturday, and only six when three others were bashed just before 10 pm on Saturday night through to 7 am on Sunday morning, when there were only four on roster. Chief Minister, you must be alarmed that so few police were forced to cover Palmerston and all of the rural area last Friday and Saturday night.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Those are the figures he has obtained: numbers on roster as opposed to numbers on duty. Those are issues for the Police Commissioner. As I have said …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is what the Leader of the Opposition has said in here. Just because he said it in here does not mean it is the truth. It is advice that he has, but whether it is the truth I will leave to the police to confirm or deny, or comment on those statistics.
This is a government that is absolutely committed to building our police force. We have more police in police stations across the Northern Territory than ever before. Police responded very quickly, very appropriately, very professionally, with a task force of an additional 27 personnel to crack down on these little thugs who were running amok in Palmerston, and to arrest and charge them and bring them before the courts. Six arrests have already been made.
If the Leader of the Opposition thinks it is possible to have a police officer on every street corner right across the Northern Territory, he has another think coming. It is not possible. We have more police in the police force in the Northern Territory per capita than any jurisdiction by a factor of five, and there are 60 more police officers to be deployed into the Northern Territory Police Force over the next two years, including an additional 24/7 police patrol in Palmerston.
That is the commitment this government has made, compared to the history and the legacy of contempt and neglect that previous CLP governments had for our police force.
Palmerston – After-hours Medical Service
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please update the House on the Henderson and Rudd governments’ commitment to provide urgent after-hours medical services in Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I thank the enthusiastic support from members opposite, particularly the members from Palmerston. That is very encouraging.
As members would be aware, earlier this week I announced the opening of after-hours urgent care at the existing infrastructure in the Palmerston Health Precinct between 6 pm and 8 am. This is the first instalment of our election commitment and a federal election commitment made by the Prime Minister during the November 2007 election. All the way through this calendar year, I have given an undertaking that urgent after-hours care would be provided through the existing infrastructure by the end of this calendar year. This is a government that is delivering on that promise.
It will be staffed by highly experienced and trained doctors employed by the Health department. A nurse or paramedic will be on duty. There will be a receptionist, as well as a security guard. I believe the people of Palmerston will welcome this service and it will be well used.
I was disappointed there were no tenders received from private operators. I worked very hard with the department to come up with an alternative, which I believe is a very suitable alternative, seeing the private sector was not willing to commit, particularly during the hours from 10 pm to 8 am.
We know that Palmerston – and the Prime Minister alluded to this when he was here – has many young families and this will be a real plus for them if a child has an earache or headache requiring urgent after-hours care ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members! Member for Braitling …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: I thought you would have wanted to forget the last federal election.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, resume your seat. Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Honourable members, I would like you to take this as serious advice. Minister, you may continue.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have just quoted the standing order regarding interjections to all members of the House. We clearly heard it and, immediately, the member for Greatorex started interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have just read out this standing order. There have been many interjections. As I indicated earlier, we have had complaints directly from the management of the radio station about the number of interjections and the capacity for people to hear the broadcast. I would appreciate it if honourable members, on both sides, kept the interjections to a minimum. I remind you that interjections should be short, sharp and, ideally, fairly quiet. Thank you. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is also the facility for people to call healthdirect, which is Australia-wide, including in the Territory. That is a big plus for young families and young parents to get some advice. Of course, the after-hours care is there between 6 pm and 8 am.
In essence, there is a $10m contribution by the Australian government as part of an election commitment, together with a $2m per annum commitment by the Northern Territory government to make this facility work.
The second phase of the Palmerston super clinic will involve integrated multidisciplinary team approaches and outreach from the hospital: specialist outreach; outpatient; and allied health professionals, which is very important. As members would be aware, Danila Dilba is proposing to move from its facility in town into that precinct, so the infrastructure and those plans will incorporate the funding Danila Dilba already has from the Commonwealth government for their infrastructure.
It has been very interesting, over this sitting and the previous sittings, listening to the member for Fong Lim. He has a mantra. It goes something like this - and I will stand corrected – he says: ‘Do not listen to what they say, see what they do’. It is something like that. Let us apply that same mantra to the member for Fong Lim, because in 2004 the then Prime Minister, John Howard, announced after-hours Medicare. It took all that time, until 2007, for the then member for Solomon to get to it. He had been in parliament for six years and then, on the death knell, he started promising a health facility and health services at Palmerston …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: I will quote from The Palmerston Sun newspaper on page 3, Wednesday, 3 October 2007:
- Palmy gets its after-hours medical clinic
Palmerston Medical Centre is opening after-hours with a start up grant of $200 000 from the federal government.
Member for Solomon… who announced the federal grant for the Palmerston clinic, believes that the new after-hours services will be of great assistance to the people of Palmerston.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: I will read that again:
- Member for Solomon, David Tollner, who announced the federal grant for the Palmerston clinic, believes that the new after-hours services will be of great assistance to the people of Palmerston.
Pity he did not tell the Prime Minister, because the Prime Minister, on 3 November last year, said:
- We will see whether this might …
… be one of those areas around Australia where one of these centres might be established.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: He has pulled back a bit. He was talking about the then Prime Minister, John Howard. He has pulled back a bit. They have not really got it, the Prime Minister is actually considering it. So, here we go; it is all about spin and media releases …
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: Do not look at what they say, look at what they delivered. What did he deliver? Nothing! What is this government delivering? Election commitments.
Palmerston – Police Numbers
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
I table the current roster for the Palmerston Police Station. It shows when innocent people were being savagely bashed by a gang of thugs roaming the street, that rostered staffing levels were below minimum standards. This exposes your claim that police are in Palmerston in significant numbers. Chief Minister, just where have you hidden the extra police you are always banging on about? They certainly are not on the beat in Palmerston?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I ask that the document which is being tabled be collected and circulated please, and ensure the Chief Minister has a copy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. As I have said, I will leave it for the police to comment - for, against or otherwise - in regard to the assertions he has made.
We came to government in 2001 and since 2003, in fact, there are an additional 280 police constables and above, Aboriginal Community Police Officers and police auxiliaries in the force now than in 2003 – 280, and an additional 60 being recruited over this financial year and next financial year to put more police out on the streets, in the front line, right across the Northern Territory, including Palmerston.
The Opposition Leader asks: where have I hidden them? I have said before it is not me, as the Police minister, who sits here in Parliament House, or my electorate office in Leanyer, or at my home in Wanguri, and does the rosters for the police station at Palmerston. The Leader of the Opposition may feel that, if one day he is the Police minister, he should be responsible for doing the rosters at police stations across the Territory. If that is the role he wants to take on and change the legislation, well good luck to him.
Madam Speaker, what those extra 280 police have done over the years in the Northern Territory …
Mr Westra van Holthe interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: … has lead to a significant decrease in crime. This is what they do not want to hear - we have seen a 58% drop in house break-ins over that period, with additional police out on the streets right across the Northern Territory …
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, you are on a warning.
Mr HENDERSON: … a 35% reduction in motor vehicle theft; total property thefts, and I would have thought the four commissioners in exile over here would be proud of these statistics by their former colleagues. These are their former colleagues, and the commissioners in exile on the opposition benches may have contributed to these good statistics. I am sure they have.
Total property thefts since 2001 have dropped 34%, and that is 10 795 fewer property offences every year. That is 10 795 fewer property offences that affect Territorians every year in the Northern Territory than when the CLP were last in government. Crime was out of control when they were last in government in 2001. If your house had not being broken into, you knew someone whose house had been broken into.
They neglected our police force. They treated our police force with contempt during the last stages of their government. We have been on a significant rebuilding exercise, with an additional 280 police. We can see those crime rates are coming down. The police very quickly deployed an additional 27 officers to Palmerston as a result of those assaults, as I would have expected them to do.
I put those thugs who committed those offences - and may be contemplating committing more - on notice: if you have not been caught yet, police will catch you and you will be brought to account, and if juveniles are involved, we will be going after those parents as well.
Treasurers Conference
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
This Thursday and Friday, Treasurers from around the country are meeting in Canberra. Can you please explain to the House the importance of this meeting for the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of our former Treasurer, who certainly did great things to put the economy of the Territory in the shape in which it is in today.
Yes, I am attending the Treasurers Conference which starts tomorrow. I thank the opposition for the pair which allows me to leave tonight, and for the pair in this parliament tomorrow.
Given the global financial crisis, this is a critically important Treasurers Conference. Whilst we congratulate the Commonwealth for the economic stimulus package - the $10bn they have put into the economy – they could have used the crisis as an excuse to stop spending, but they have turned around and pumped a much needed boost into the economy at a crucial time, and we recognise that. However, members would be aware that the Commonwealth is talking about a $40bn wipe-out in terms of their forward estimates across the Commonwealth budget.
With other state and territory Treasurers attending this conference we will be seeking advice from the Commonwealth Treasurer regarding the impact of this revenue wipe-out, particularly in relation to our Commonwealth State funding agreements, the SPPs or Special Purpose Payments, and also what it means to the critical infrastructure spending the Commonwealth had committed to, which all states and territories have welcomed, because, under the Howard years, they did not enter the space of infrastructure which is why states and territories have the borrowing programs they currently have.
Due to the strong financial management of the Labor government, we are better placed than most other states to deal with the financial global crisis, as we have heard. Our economic growth forecast is twice the national average. We have revised it down from 6.6% to 4.5%. There will be increased pressure from the southern states for a greater share of that all-important Commonwealth revenue. I will be arguing strongly that the Territory should not face any decreased Commonwealth spending just because our finances are in a better position than our southern counterparts.
The Territory has delivered strong financial management and we are a developing economy. We are critical to the nation with our resources sector. Infrastructure is critical to deliver that product to market. We will fight for a better deal out of our Special Purpose Payments than the government received under the shameful Howard era …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am wondering if the Treasurer will take this opportunity to explain why she told Territorians that the GST cut is going to be $50m, when the federal government is saying the GST cut is going to be $64m.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, you would be aware that that is not a point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, we recognise that in the Territory it costs more to deliver critical services. That is because we have to deliver those services to the remote regions. That is why we will argue for a fair share of the GST slice.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister and I will be attending COAG, where we will work hard to ensure that Territory families are protected as best they can be from the impact of this global financial crisis.
Palmerston - Police Numbers
Mr BOHLIN to CHIEF MINISTER
I have spent a good portion of my 10 years as a serving police officer in Palmerston. I can tell you from experience that Palmerston police have been stretched to breaking point for years. After reviewing this roster, the Palmerston Police Station has been funded so badly that it cannot even meet primary response requirements. Given the escalation of random, unprovoked violence on our streets during the last decade, why have the numbers of police within patrol groups, that is, general duties police, in Palmerston not changed since you came into government? Can you not see what you are doing to both the police force and the community they are so desperately attempting to protect?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. I applaud the former police officers who were elected to parliament and acknowledge the contribution they made whilst they were in our police force.
I reiterate that we have over 280 more officers in the force than we had in 2003. The assertions the opposition continues to make, that random acts of violence have increased by 83% or 87%, which is the allegation, is wrong. The report on domestic violence released by the Police Commissioner just yesterday - I do not have a copy with me here today - very clearly shows that the increase in reporting of assaults has been driven by increased reporting of domestic violence across the Northern Territory. That is where that growth is. For the opposition to conveniently ignore it, misrepresent those figures, or, more assertively seek to deliberately misinform and scare Territorians, is reprehensible.
What we do have, under Labor governments in the Northern Territory since 2001, is an additional 280 police in our police force across the Northern Territory. When the CLP were in government, not only were there 280 fewer police, but we had no juvenile crime squad in the Northern Territory. We had no juvenile diversion camps in the Northern Territory. We had …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am very surprised at this. I served as an officer on the juvenile crime squad in Alice Springs, under the CLP.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order.
Mr Elferink: Under the CLP. Arrant nonsense. He is making this rubbish up …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting. Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: When we came to government, there was no traffic squad and there was no juvenile crime squad. There were no juvenile diversion camps across the Northern Territory. We had drug houses operating with impunity in the Northern Territory, particularly in the northern suburbs, and the CLP governments of the day, for whatever reason, had their heads in the sand. We had no drug house legislation. We had no forfeiture of assets legislation to seize the assets of organised crime. They did not have any respect for our police force when they were in government. We did not even have any witness protection legislation in the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the Chief Minister has just misled the parliament …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, you will wait to be acknowledged. What is your point of order?
Ms CARNEY: The Chief Minister has just misled the parliament. He knows that is a very serious matter. At best, he should withdraw what he just said. It is a lie.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, you can only make that sort of statement on substantive motion. I ask you to withdraw the comment.
Ms CARNEY: I withdraw, but I repeat that the Chief Minister has, as usual, misled this parliament and the people of the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, you cannot do that – excuse me, I am speaking, minister - except by way of substantive motion.
Ms CARNEY: I withdraw it, Madam Speaker. He should know better.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This tabled document, on perusal and on examination, if one looks at the last page, says: ‘This roster is only official when signed by the Officer-in-Charge’.
Members interjecting.
Mr Tollner: This is not a point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: Yes, it is. This opposition has form.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! There is no point of order. Honourable members, it is extremely disorderly this afternoon.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Deputy Chief Minister, cease interjecting. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We inherited a police force where morale was at rock bottom. Previous CLP governments had treated that police force with neglect and contempt.
Madam Speaker, those assaults on the weekend were unacceptable. Police responded …
Mr Westra van Holthe: There were more police on the …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, you have been interjecting a lot this afternoon. The next time you interject, you will be on a warning. Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, police responded very quickly, with a task force, with an additional 27 officers, to crack down on the behaviour which was occurring in Palmerston. They had the capacity to deploy an additional 27 officers, which is a large body of people, as a result of the additional officers this government has made available to our police force over the years, and we continue to grow the police force with an additional 60 officers to be deployed, including an additional 12 officers for Palmerston Police Station, 24/7, over the next two years.
Our record in regard to staffing our police force, equipping it with the tools they need to do their job and the legislation they need to support their operations stands in stark contrast to the neglect and contempt of our police force that this government inherited back in 2001.
Aboriginal Education –
English Language Policy
English Language Policy
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
The Leader of the Opposition has said publicly that he does not support the government’s policy of teaching in English for the first four hours of each school day in all Territory schools. Can you inform the Assembly what Aboriginal Territorians have been saying to her about the policy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly. I acknowledge the former member for Nhulunbuy, who was also the former minister for Education.
I am very surprised with the CLP – well, it is not surprising, because the member for Braitling says that if the CLP was in government they would completely remove anything to do with Indigenous language and culture from the framework. The member for Braitling has one position, and the Leader of the Opposition has another. It just shows that they do not have any consistency in their position or policy.
As I said on this subject, since we have announced this policy …
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: They are excited little bunnies every Question Time, Madam Speaker.
This has been a very contentious policy. People, particularly on the ground in our remote Aboriginal communities, are, for the first time, having a debate about education, because it needed to come to the point where people started focusing on what was important in children’s education. Talking to Aboriginal teachers, linguists and everyone in the schools there is one side to this debate, and then there is the broader community in which many Aboriginal parents, when you sit down and talk to them, will say: ‘We want our children to learn English. Our job is to teach our kids, and reaffirm and ensure that language and culture is maintained in our communities’.
We have all heard that on this side of the House. When you talk to parents, and you sit down with families and communities, people genuinely want their children to be part of and to get a good education.
I will quote from a Central Australian Indigenous woman, Bess Price. Everyone on this side of the House knows Bess quite well and her advocacy of this. She says she fully supports our decision to have all our kids taught in English in the first part of the school day:
- The whitefellas’ job is to teach our kids English as a second language. We want them to be able to speak to the whole world and the whole world speaks English.
Our job is to teach our own language as a first language. Nobody else can do that for us.
That perfectly captures the point of our policy. The opposition, and particularly their leader, has to ask themselves why their leader would oppose people like Bess Price. It just does not make sense. The Opposition Leader, and his band of merry men and ladies, is simply confirming the fact that they oppose everything. He is a knocker, he is negative, and he does not listen.
The government believes urgent action has to be taken in this area and the results demand action. We have fresh ideas. In the interests of transparency …
Members interjecting.
Mr Mills: You are a joke.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You are a joke. You have been a joke all along, because you do not know.
In the interests of transparency, I table material from the Department of Education and Training which clearly shows – because this has been the debate, in terms of evidence - how I made my decision. The Leader of the Opposition has form on this – this is the same as doctoring and looking at a form. This is the data. It is for bilingual schools in the Northern Territory.
Mr Mills: Is that the ACER report?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: The Leader of the Opposition is talking about a completely different thing. This is the evidence. This is the data which has come out of the department which gets validated by ASA. It clearly shows that we have problems in our bilingual schools. The Leader of the Opposition can have a look at this, so I would like to table this data, Madam Speaker.
As the diagram shows, as part of Transforming Indigenous Education, the four hours in English we are talking about is only part of a comprehensive policy development aimed at improving education outcomes for Indigenous children.
Madam Speaker, I table the policy development paper. I urge all members opposite to reconsider your leader’s position and support this government’s policy in moving forward to provide a quality education system for Indigenous kids out in the bush.
Chief Minister - Performance
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
It is 12 months to the day since you skewered Clare Martin and took over the leadership of the Labor Party. Indeed, I think Syd Stirling was also a casualty in that particular night of the long knives. To mark this blighted anniversary, Chief Minister, we have …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Honourable members, you are aware that you are not allowed to have food in the Chamber. I ask you to remove it from the Chamber. There is no food allowed in the Chamber at any time.
Mr ELFERINK: Chief Minister, during the first year of your administration, you have done nothing to address the 83% increase in violent crime; stood by a minister who oversaw a nurse staffing shortfall; told a foreign multinational before you told Territorians that you were calling an early election; and, supported the ‘go and buy a generator’ electricity policy.
Of all failures over which you have presided in the last 12 months, which is your most spectacular?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of Government Business, I am sorry. I could not hear a thing then.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin is all over the place with his question. Can he get to the question? What is the question? It is a statement from him so far. What is the question?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, it is an extremely long …
Mr ELFERINK: I am happy to repeat the question if the Treasurer did not understand, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I am speaking. When I am speaking, I expect to be listened to. Member for Port Darwin, can you make the question extremely short, and remember there are many rules in relation to questions.
Mr ELFERINK: Chief Minister, of all the failures over which you have presided in the last 12 months, which failure has been the most spectacular?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you do not have to answer the question, since you are being asked for an opinion on something. If you wish to answer the question, you may.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government has delivered the single largest project the Territory will ever see. We have delivered a strong economy, and there are more Territorians in jobs than ever before in the Northern Territory’s history. We have more nurses, more doctors, and more police in the Northern Territory than ever before. And this is just the beginning.
At a time when the global economy is facing very difficult and troubling times, at a time when the Australian economy is seeing growth slow significantly, the Northern Territory economy is still growing by 4.5% a year. We still have jobs for all Territorians who want one. We have an exciting future in the Northern Territory. That future has been built upon and created over the last seven years, and over the last year as well, by strong fiscal financial management by a government with a can-do attitude which has gone out, against all the odds - 12 months ago we were a subterranean underdog – to secure this INPEX project for the people of the Northern Territory. We have done that. It will create jobs and opportunities for Territorians now and into the future.
This is a government with energy, fresh ideas and a new approach …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … as opposed to the carping negativity we have opposite us, who cannot see the Territory as a land of opportunity, who see the Northern Territory and Territorians in a sea of negativity. Well, that is not my view at all. The Territory is going places. For sure, we have our challenges. Closing the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage is the greatest challenge of all, but this is a government which is committed to all Territorians, wherever they live. It is a government which has delivered results for Territorians, and will continue to deliver results for Territorians over the next three-and-a-half years.
Housing Strategy
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HOUSING
The Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate cuts were welcome news for Territory homeowners. Can you please outline to the House some of the ways this government is helping Territorians access safe and affordable housing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Affordable housing has been a hot topic for discussion across the country, and it is an issue the Henderson government takes very seriously. We want to ensure that every Territorian has access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. Led by the Chief Minister, a significant body of work is under way across government to develop a whole-of-government housing strategy which will focus on improving public housing and support more Territorians to buy or rent at an affordable limit.
The government knows that the Territory’s strong economy is putting pressure on our rental market. Members will be aware that the government’s initiatives for increasing housing affordability include dedication of 15% of land release developments for affordable and public housing, such as the three new suburbs in Palmerston East. The recent announcement of the Buildstart scheme, featuring a $14 000 grant for people buying or building new houses or units, will help people who are not first homebuyers to invest in the Territory. More homes being built will help ease the pressure on rents and get more Territorians into their own homes.
This government is proud to also offer practical and financial support to low to middle income earners wanting to become homeowners. More than 1100 Territory homes have been purchased with support from this government’s HomeNorth Xtra scheme and I, like other Territorians, am very pleased with the recent cuts to the official interest rate by the RBA. As Housing minister, I have been pleased to pass on these savings in full and immediately to HomeNorth Xtra customers. Last month’s interest rate cut of one full percentage point reduced the average monthly HomeNorth Xtra loan repayment by $120. This is more money in the pockets of Territorians, with a further interest rate cut by the RBA on 4 November of 0.75%, which the Henderson government passed on in full and immediately. This is a further saving for Territory families of $88 a month on their mortgage repayments. That is $208 in monthly savings for the average HomeNorth Xtra mortgage since September. This is practical and financial support for those Territorians to move into affordable housing.
Howard River Boat Ramp
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Over a year ago, the boat ramp on the Howard River was closed to the public, and it appears nothing has happened there since. This means that fishers have to travel to the Buffalo Creek boat ramp to access the Howard River. I know fishing is the lure of the Territory. Is the government considering building a public boat ramp at Howard River, one of the most popular fishing spots in the Darwin area, to be accessed by the public?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a good question based on facts, not fake documents presented to parliament as official documents, because that document is a fake. I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to prove it is not a fake, because this roster which was tabled here today is not signed by an authorised officer. It is a fake.
Madam Speaker, a private boat launching facility has previously operated at Howard River for some time. It was private. It was sold to a consortium which intends to establish a resort. Unfortunately, there is no public access to this facility; the access is through private land, which happens to be Defence land. I understand the developer has written to Defence informing them of the decision to establish the resort. Defence has contacted my office and asked for information and maps, which we have provided. I believe it is now under consideration by the Defence department.
However, there is no way we are going to build a brand new boat ramp there, for the simple reason that this development will take place in a few months. I am not going to put taxpayers’ money on the table just for a few months, and I would not like to compete with a private development in the area. People now access Shoal Bay via the Buffalo Creek boat ramp. On top of that, we are putting another $4m into improving the Palmerston boat ramp at Elizabeth River, and $1m per annum for boating infrastructure for the next four years. There will also be another $1m for other facilities which the fishing fraternity want established around the Territory.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! We will wait for the cameras to be removed. Order! Honourable members, we are still in the parliament. I remind you of Standing Order 51. Quite a few of you are on warnings or on near warnings.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016