2012-02-15
Closing the Gap Report - Federal Government Review of Territory Alcohol Laws
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Gillard Labor government’s Closing the Gap report, which is out today, makes reference to the Prime Minister’s government’s Stronger Futures legislation, stating that Canberra will review: ‘... all alcohol laws in the Northern Territory within three years of the commencement of the legislation’. Can you advise the House what you have said to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, about this outrageous and offensive interference in the lives of Territorians?
ANSWER
Oh, feigned indignation from the Leader of the Opposition. Madam Speaker, we are a world away in our partnership with the Australian government to turn around the tide of Indigenous disadvantage in the Territory. The Australian government, the Territory government, and Indigenous people of the Northern Territory are all focused on improving education, improving health, improving employment opportunities and job outcomes, and also dealing with the issues of alcohol. This is work that will be done jointly with the Northern Territory government and we will work on it with the Commonwealth.
As I understand it, the Liberal Party in Canberra is going to support this legislation. I understand that the shadow minister in Canberra, who is a CLP Senator, supports the legislation. I believe this issue is too important to all Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Territorians not to have bipartisan support.
We are a government that has worked very hard with the Australian government to secure billions of dollars of funding to the Northern Territory to improve housing, health, education, access to early childhood, and to support jobs in the Northern Territory. This is a world away from what Mal Brough did when he rode into the Northern Territory on his white charger with the Army behind him, without any consultation with the Territory government, and without any consultation with Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. This is a world away.
I urge the opposition, in a spirit of bipartisanship, to embrace the funding commitments this government has made, go to the next election matching dollar for dollar …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the commitments this government has in our forward estimates to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage, and also embrace that . To turn that tide around you need to work with the Commonwealth government. We do not have the resources as a Northern Territory government to make these investments on our own. We need decades of commitment from Commonwealth governments, whether Liberal governments or Labor governments, to work in a bipartisan way. I am very pleased to hear that, as I understand it, there is bipartisan support in Canberra.
Again, it goes to show how hollow and shallow the Leader of the Opposition is; seeking to make political mileage on this issue.
Closing the Gap - Education
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on this government’s priorities to close the gap in education this year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for a very important question. The school year started a couple of weeks ago across the Northern Territory. Getting into our local schools on the first day of the school year is always a highlight. This year, I was pleased to be at Wagaman Primary School with my colleague, the Education minister, welcoming parents, teachers, the principal, and everyone back to school. There was a real buzz around the school and a real sense of excitement at the start of the school year.
Education has to be the No 1 priority for government, families, and the community. I am absolutely passionate about the knowledge that if a child in the Northern Territory goes to school every day they will get one of the best educations in Australia. That is a real tribute to our principals, teachers, school councils, and the department of Education and everyone who works in it.
We also know that if a child does not attend school regularly they miss out and they have to catch up. Some of those kids never catch up and that means they have fewer opportunities for the rest of their lives. That is why our Every Child, Every Day strategy is so important.
There were some great outcomes for our students this year: 21 students shared the top 20 NTCE marks. Nine of those were from Darwin High, eight from Casuarina Senior College, and one each from St Philip’s College, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Taminmin College and St John’s College. That goes to prove very clearly that most of those kids in the top 20 can walk into any university in Australia and choose any course they want, and they will be offered those courses. The vast majority of those students had their entire education in the Northern Territory, the majority of those in our public schools to show just how strong our public school system is.
We started the school year with 44 000 enrolled students and 160 new teachers. On behalf of all of us, I welcome the 160 new teachers into our schools across the Northern Territory.
Our education budget is up to $930m. Last year, we increased our graduation rate by 10%. A 10% increase in a single year is a very significant achievement. I know, as a parent myself with kids in school, and one about to start university at Charles Darwin University this year, the start of the school year is a great time. Most of our kids enjoy getting back to school. I wish all our students and all our teachers the best for the 2012 school year.
Banned Drinker Register – Commonwealth Government Funding
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Prime Minister’s Closing the Gap report 2012 states that the Gillard government provided $1.5m to implement the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory. That is one-and-a-half million reasons the Banned Drinker Register was forced on you by the Gillard government. Why don’t you just stand up for Territorians rather than roll over to your political masters in Canberra - who is running the show?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker. I can absolutely say, without clarification, that the alcohol reforms are our reforms. This government’s reforms, this Cabinet’s reforms, this Caucus’ reforms. Of course, the Leader of the Opposition would not understand this ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: For every major reform in the Northern Territory, you would be a fool as a minister or the Chief Minister not to seek financial support from the Commonwealth government. For all major policy areas of government, of course, it is a key responsibility of every single minister to be there in Canberra at ministerial councils to look at every opportunity for sourcing funding for the Northern Territory.
The federal government committed money to assist with a new IT system. That is what they committed funding for: to assist with a new IT system. What we do know is that the CLP are soft on crime. They would see ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... increased alcohol consumption, four hours more trading time for alcohol in Alice Springs, and they would tie one arm behind the back of every police officer in the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: ... by dismantling the Banned Drinker Register, which senior police officers have said, time and time again, is the most effective tool they have ever had to reduce alcohol-related violence in the Territory. We have seen early figures showing alcohol-related violence in Darwin and Palmerston is down 20%.
This policy initiative of this government is being looked at very closely by all governments around Australia. At the next Police Ministerial Council later this year, Police ministers from around Australia have asked me to do a presentation on the scheme and the impact it has had on reducing alcohol-related crime and violence across the Northern Territory.
We know this is a scheme that the opposition would tear down. They would see those 2100 people who are currently banned from accessing alcohol back on the grog again, and not only back on the grog again ...
Mr Elferink: And replace it with something works.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine! Member for Sanderson! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: ... back on the grog again for an extra four hours every day. Four hours more misery for the people of Alice Springs is the policy of the Leader of the Opposition. I am very proud that our minister managed to get $1.5m from the Commonwealth for new IT systems. That is an additional $1.5m for us to put into health and education that we would otherwise have had to find. It is a core responsibility of every minister to seek financial support from the Commonwealth. This policy is reducing crime. The CLP would scrap it and pour more grog onto the residents of the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Conlan: What a bozo. Come on!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I keep hearing you interjecting in a very unparliamentary fashion.
Mr CONLAN: I am sorry my voice penetrates the Chamber so effectively, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps you are not supposed to be talking, member for Greatorex.
Education - Government Initiatives
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please inform the House of the Henderson government’s initiatives to provide a quality, affordable education for all Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The Chief Minister outlined in a very broad fashion some of the policy initiatives of this government and the budget parameters around it.
Our policy suite starts in the early years of childhood. We have implemented a Families as First Teachers program because we know young children and their parents really need to be geared up for school before school. That is a very important aspect of our policy. There are child and family centres in six locations, the Families as First Teachers in 13 locations, and mobile preschools in 21 small remote communities. So we are making a start in the early years.
In regard to the compulsory years of schooling, Transition to Year 12, since 2002, an extra 407 teachers have been employed in the Northern Territory. I will say that again: an extra 407 teachers. We also have the Strong Start, Bright Future colleges in our growth towns and we are rolling that out. We have the $75 Back to School payment available to all parents. Centres for Excellence are progressively being rolled out across the Territory, giving our brightest and best students a solid grounding for their chosen career path.
We have also implemented the Centre for School Leadership, Learning and Development at Charles Darwin University. That is a good opportunity for the education leaders to interface with the academic side, to research best practice, and be a conduit into our schools.
Fundamentally, our challenges remain around literacy and numeracy. We have our Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce. As I have said a number of times in this parliament, Professor Geoff Masters is reporting directly back to me and to the CEO of Education. I believe it is bearing fruit. As we have seen in successive NAPLAN results, we have the greatest improvement in most domains of testing ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: ... than any other jurisdiction in Australia. I have put on the record that we had to, given the very low base we start from.
What is very pleasing about the latest round of NAPLAN results is that we are seeing significant improvements in literacy and numeracy in our Year 3 Indigenous students. That is very important. We are starting with the younger children. Certainly, we are attending to children of all ages, but we know that if children are attending school every day, the gap narrows. That is what the NAPLAN results show, and that is my commitment around Every Child, Every Day - attendance at school is of paramount importance to our kids in the Northern Territory.
Closing the Gap Report - Federal Government Review of Territory Alcohol Laws
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Closing the Gap report also states that the Gillard government paid for the buy-back of liquor licences in Alice Springs. Given Canberra plans to review all our liquor laws, and Canberra paid for the Banned Drinker Register, can you tell us exactly who is running the Northern Territory?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, dear oh dear, the opposition has no plans for the future of the Northern Territory and, specifically, no plans for the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory. These are the same clowns ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: ... who, if they had been in government, would have knocked back the $200m which went into every school in the Northern Territory under the BER. These are the clowns who would have said: ‘No, that is a socialist scheme. We do not want your money’. These are the same clowns who would say no to in excess of $200m of Commonwealth government additional investment under the national partnership agreement ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The Chief Minister was asked who was running the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim.
Mr HENDERSON: The same question could be asked as to who is running the CLP. It is certainly not the Leader of the Opposition. The member for Fong Lim’s time will surely come.
The opposition does not understand that the issue of Indigenous disadvantage in the Northern Territory is so great that we need generations of partnership between whoever is occupying these seats in the Territory parliament and the Commonwealth parliament, in a transparent, focused way, working with Indigenous people in the Northern Territory to close that gap on Indigenous disadvantage. Everything we are doing with the Commonwealth we are doing in partnership.
If we look at the alcohol reforms over five years - and the very welcome, minor contribution from the Commonwealth - the Territory government is investing $67m over five years in the alcohol reforms. There is $1.5m from the feds towards supporting IT infrastructure, thank you very much - that is money very well received in the Northern Territory - as well as purchasing back a couple of liquor licences in Alice Springs. So, who is doing the lion’s share of the heavy lifting in this government’s alcohol reforms? It is this government.
Again, I urge the Leader of the Opposition to rise above the petty politics and make a bipartisan commitment to the national partnership agreement. If it is good enough for Tony Abbott and Nigel Scullion, it should be good enough for you, Leader of the Opposition. Also, make a commitment not to reduce the 53% of the Northern Territory government budget that goes towards providing services and infrastructure to Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. That is what I want to see from the Leader of the Opposition as commitment in policy at the next Territory election. We know, as soon as they hit the Treasury benches, the first people who will feel the axe from the shadow Treasurer will be Indigenous programs, Indigenous disadvantage, and infrastructure in the bush. They will feel the axe because the opposition and those with them do not care …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Please resume your seats, honourable members. There are far too many interjections. There are some members I have named a number of times. I will be following the practice I did yesterday and I will be asking people to leave. 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.
Cash for Containers Scheme – Nature of Reverse Vending Machine Pay-outs
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Once again, my question is about Cash for Containers. I reiterate, it is a great scheme for the Northern Territory but there are questions that need to be asked.
I understand there are plans to place reverse vending machines at hotels. Could you please say whether children will be able to access these machines on licensed premises? What form of payment will be paid out – cash, voucher, or direct debit? If it is a voucher, does that mean it has to be redeemed at the hotel? Will it be allowed to be used to buy alcohol?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I welcome any questions on a great scheme - Cash for Containers. It is here, it is working, and it is great for the Northern Territory. Besides creating jobs and supporting businesses in infrastructure dollars being spent, it is putting money in the pockets of Territorians. Anecdotally, the advice I am receiving is that around $200 000 has gone into Territory families’ pockets, which equates to about two million containers. So it is a great scheme.
Regarding your question about reverse vending machines, most of the collection depots have nothing to do with the alcohol retailers. Some reverse vending machines have been approved as collection depots, and a number of these are proposed to be located at a couple of liquor outlets, as you alluded to. That approval only relates to requirements under Cash for Containers legislation. Obviously, the operators have to satisfy any other legal requirements. That is where issues related to alcohol policy will be needed to be satisfied. I understand reverse vending machines will be rolled out across a variety of retail outlets and shopping centres as well - not just the liquor outlets you have alluded to.
As to how the machines redeem deposits, I expect there to be more than one option. Talking to Envirobank the other week, there are a number of options they are looking at. Options are a deposit into a bank account, or a store card, or donating to a charity that would be available to those reverse vending machines. Where the machine is placed in a business, then there is often the additional option of a discount voucher.
I will take up this concern you have raised, member for Nelson, regarding reverse vending machines at liquor outlets, particularly for under 18s, and will get back to you.
Training Pathways to Employment
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Can you please inform the House on the training pathways available to help Territorians get into the workplace?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, while the Territory is moving into a significant economic boom, it is the priority of our government to ensure that Territorians gain the benefits from these opportunities. The major focus for us is increasing the number of apprentices and trainees, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, to provide locals with jobs, and the Territory with a larger skilled workforce.
Since the start of 2011 to 30 January this year, there were 2819 apprenticeship and traineeship commencements across the Territory. There are over 4220 apprentices and trainees in training now, and we are well on track to meet that four-year target of 10 000 commencements. More than $24.6m per annum is committed to fund training and support for apprentices and trainees in this financial year. Since 2008, more than 4662 Territorians completed apprenticeships and traineeships, with 1728 of those in the all-important occupation shortage list skill sets.
It is one thing to talk about numbers, but this government is proud of those numbers; each of these numbers represents a Territorian seizing opportunity. Take Connor Reid, a young Territorian who is working towards becoming a diesel mechanic. He is currently studying a Certificate III in Automotive Technology (Heavy Vehicle Mobile Equipment) with Hastings Deering and is managed by Group Training NT. Connor first …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could you ask the Treasurer to table the document she is reading from? Maybe it would save us some time in Question Time.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is it a personal document?
Ms LAWRIE: As he well knows, I am referring to notes and there is a lot of detail I do not want to get ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: I know you do not care what Connor Reid is achieving as a young apprentice, and I know you really do not care what it means for young Territorians, but I think Territorians, broadly, might care ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Ms LAWRIE: Connor first enrolled in an industry placement plan with Hastings Deering in Year 9 at Darwin Middle School. That led to being offered a school-based apprenticeship. At last year’s NT Training Awards, Connor won the School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award. He aims to complete his apprenticeship with Hastings Deering and to: ‘Give back the time that they have invested in me and my trade’.
Another example is Leston Spencer from Nyirripi in Central Australia. He is training for a Certificate II in Electrotechnology Remote Area Essential Service with Power and Water. Through the Indigenous Employment Program in Essential Services Operations, Leston started as an Essential Services Trainee to give himself the opportunity to have a career for self-improvement. He aims to continue training and ultimately become someone who trains other people in his community in this important area of essential services ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you time has expired.
Stronger Futures Legislation - Legality
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Former Family Court Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson said in the media today that the Gillard government’s Stronger Futures legislation would racially discriminate against Aboriginal people and fail any potential High Court challenge. Can you tell the House what advice your government has on the legalities of Stronger Futures?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if there is to be a challenge to the legislation, it is Commonwealth legislation. I can also say regarding consultation with the Territory government, with Indigenous people throughout the Northern Territory, with land councils, and Indigenous health and legal groups, there has been consultation on this legislation. The Senate is currently reviewing the legislation and will report to the Senate. Mr Nicholson can have his opinion and I am sure he will make his submission.
I am focused on building new houses across the Northern Territory. Under SIHIP, 475 new houses, 1926 rebuilds; 2400 Aboriginal families in more than 59 communities and 25 town camps now have better housing as a result of the partnership between the Territory and Commonwealth governments.
In Alice Springs, I never thought I would see this: 79 new houses and 135 rebuilds on those town camps. That is what I am interested in ...
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. We were talking about whether the Northern Territory government has sought legal opinion. We are not talking about houses.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you can come to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we are talking about the Commonwealth’s Stronger Futures package and the benefits it is delivering to the people of the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Again, the opposition does not want to hear this. The joint investment between the Territory government and the Commonwealth government for health has seen a four-and-a-half year improvement in life expectancy for Aboriginal women; Indigenous infant mortality rates have fallen by 37%; anaemia rates for Aboriginal children have fallen by 20%; cervical cancer rates have fallen by 61%; and survival rates for people on dialysis ...
Mr BOHLIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is relevance. They are great facts, but they have nothing to do with a legal opinion, which was the question basis.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you can come to the question, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I have already said that the Senate committee is reviewing the bill. Mr Nicholson can make his report to the Senate committee. My focus as Chief Minister, and that of my colleagues, is to ensure we have a partnership with the Commonwealth that is going to last for decades to support the investments we need from the Commonwealth in housing, in infrastructure, in health, in education, in jobs, to turn around the tide of Indigenous disadvantage, not playing semantics with legislation.
Economic Growth – Government Support
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The Territory is entering an exciting period of economic growth. Can you please advise of the government’s plan to support that growth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Today, I was delighted to stand with the Chief Minister to release a package of new strategic plans which will drive and continue to drive growth and development in the Northern Territory.
The 10-year infrastructure, roads and transport plans represent real planning and real policy. It also represents the continuation of the drive towards development. When we talk about that under this government, we are talking about a $4bn investment since the global financial crisis, a targeted fiscal strategy to keep the Territory going, to keep jobs and to generate jobs.
Since 2001, we are talking about a $9bn investment from the Labor government, and I believe that is a very credible record. These strategic plans hang off Territory 2030, because Territory 2030 is the overarching strategy, a cutting edge strategy developed by Territorians for Territorians. We are planning to maximise the opportunity for Territorians. Record land release, major infrastructure upgrades to essential services across the Territory, roads projects, expansion of transport services, investment in our schools, investment in our health, it is all out there to be seen. Some people are blind to it, but not on this side of the House.
It is important to acknowledge the final investment decision for the Ichthys project, an LNG project that combines with this government’s Marine Supply Base, investment into the mining industry right across the regions, and the new growth we will see in our Defence sector. The Territory is in a period of record growth.
These carefully developed 10-year strategies for infrastructure, roads and transport will maintain momentum. That is what it is all about: maintaining momentum to ensure we meet the needs of the Territory. These strategies will guide government’s investments and provide certainty for industry.
The other important thing about the way we do business is it is about engaging with industry and stakeholders. These plans provide that road map to better engage, to provide that united front when we go to the Australian government for those significant investments we need, the significant investments the Chief Minister spoke about here today.
It was another great day for the Henderson government in outlining to the Territory what our plans and policies are, and the business we do, not just talk about.
Cash for Containers Scheme - Progress
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
My question is again about the Cash for Containers scheme, which I note has been introduced by the government with a great deal of opposition from vested interests. Could you say how many collection depots are now up and running, where they are located, and what work is being done to set up depots in remote locations? How many containers have been returned under the scheme since 3 January this year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question on the Cash for Containers scheme. As I have said over the last day or two, in the Northern Territory, per capita, we have outdone South Australia with the Cash for Containers scheme. We have around 18 depots approved throughout the Northern Territory, five coordinators and, again, per capita, more than what South Australia has done over the last 30-odd years.
Anecdotal advice from those collection depots is that at least two million containers have been collected since 3 January. That is fantastic news for Territorians. It equates to about $200 000 that has gone into the pockets of Territorians. What a great scheme that is.
In regard to the location of those depots, I am happy to get a list for you, member for Nelson. As I said, there are around 18 across the Territory …
A member: Remotes?
Mr HAMPTON: Remotes, yes, Aputula has been approved. I visited Nhulunbuy recently with the local member and I am hopeful that we will be able to approve a depot there very soon. That is a challenge. South Australia has struggled with getting depots approved in remote areas. This government is determined to see the scheme be a success and that we do have more depots in remote communities, if not collection points where they are working with depots and coordinators to get those containers into the major centres, and for those people living in remote areas to benefit from the 10 they can get from their containers.
I do not know if the member for Brennan has talked to his colleagues, but there are many depots in opposition members’ electorates. We know the member for Brennan is pretty keen to scrap the container scheme if the CLP wins government in August. I wonder if he has talked to the member for Fong Lim, who has four depots in his electorate, about scrapping those businesses and depots. Or the member for Braitling: the Alice Springs metal traders are doing a fantastic job collecting thousands and thousands of containers. I wonder if he has talked to the member for Braitling about scrapping that depot in his electorate. The member for Drysdale has a great depot in his electorate. I wonder if the member for Brennan has talked about scrapping that depot.
Eighteen depots across the Northern Territory have been approved, five coordinators, and the scheme is working well. Almost two million containers have been collected, which is $200 000 in the pockets of Territorians that the member for Brennan would rip off them, member for Nelson. He is on the public record saying he wants to do it quietly …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: … he wants to go under the radar. The CLP wants to scrap the Cash for Containers scheme and that is a shame. Shame on you!
Carbon Tax – Additional Costs to Consumers
Mr TOLLNER to CHIEF MINISTER
You are, without doubt, Julia Gillard’s chief cheerleader. Your record on rolling over to Canberra is second to none. You …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I wonder if this question is in order. It has many arguments, imputations and hypotheticals.
Madam SPEAKER: I am still listening to the question …
Dr BURNS: You are still listening?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, I will make that decision.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: Chief Minister, you betrayed Territorians and, by the way, the majority of members in this parliament, when you supported the carbon tax despite not knowing the impact the tax would have on Territorians. The tax is just four-and-a-half months away. Are you now in a position to tell us how much extra it will cost to buy a litre of milk or a cubic metre of concrete?
ANSWER
Dear, oh dear, oh dear, they have run out of questions already. Madam Speaker, we are into Day 2, they have run out of questions already. They are recycling questions from the last sittings of parliament ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: There is more policy substance in a bag of marshmallows than there is on the opposition benches ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, Madam Speaker. He was not in a position to answer the question last time around. What I am asking is: is he in a position to now?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you actually had quite a long preamble with a number of imputations. The Chief Minister is responding accordingly.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I have provided to this House in the last sittings - and I believe in the ones before - work done by an international consulting firm that said the price impacts in the Northern Territory would be less than elsewhere and the vast majority of Territory families would not be worse off. That is out there ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was how much more would a litre of milk cost or a cubic metre of concrete. Could he answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat, thank you. The question included a number of imputations. The Chief Minister is answering those as well.
Mr HENDERSON: It all depends on what specials Coles may have on any given day, what specials Woolies may have on any given day, for a litre of milk - whether Coles will have a $1 special on that day or if Woolworths is fighting back.
Regarding a cubic metre of concrete, I am sure if I was to ring the 20-odd concrete providers in the Yellow Pages and ask how much for a cubic metre of concrete delivered to my home in Wanguri, I would probably get 20 different prices.
The opposition has no policies. I put the question back: the difference on a cubic metre of marshmallows. This is the level the CLP has got to. Six months out from an election and not one policy. They used to have a policy on climate change until the Leader of the Opposition - the real Leader of the Opposition, the member for Fong Lim - tore up the climate change policy. They used to believe in climate change. They used to have a policy to oppose the Angela Pamela uranium mine in Alice Springs until the real Leader of the Opposition rolled the current Leader of the Opposition on this particular issue. They have no substance, they have no policies ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Predictably, relevance. If he could return to the question: how much more will a litre of milk cost Territorians …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin …
Mr ELFERINK: … under the carbon tax you support and Julia gave to you?
Madam SPEAKER: The member for Port Darwin will resume his seat. I remind you that we refer to members of parliament by their titles, including the Prime Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the answer to that particular question is, it depends on the specials on any given day in all of the supermarkets around the Northern Territory.
Clontarf Football Academy – Role in Future of Young Territorians
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
How is the Clontarf Football Academy ensuring young Territorians have the skills to complete schooling, undertake training, and secure employment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very good question for anyone who is interested in the future of the Territory, and the future of Indigenous boys and girls in the Northern Territory, given the outreach of the girls academy programs. I had the privilege of catching up with Gerard Neesham, the founder of the Clontarf Academy when he was in town yesterday. It is always great to catch up with Gerard and his passion for these academies that sold me a few years ago to introduce them to the Northern Territory. We now have Clontarf Football Academies in Alice Springs, Palmerston, the Tiwi Islands, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Jabiru, Gunbalanya, Yirrkala, Sanderson and Casuarina. Around 900 students are involved in the program across the Territory this year. That is 900 students, the vast majority of whom will get to Year 12 and will transition into a job. That picks up about 40% of the available Indigenous boys across the Territory. Gerard and I - and I am sure my colleagues - will be working on everything we can do to roll this scheme out across the Territory because it is working.
Last November, I had the pleasure, with the Education minister and the Transport Minister, to attend the graduation of 60 students in Darwin from across the Territory - from Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Gunbalanya, everywhere in Darwin. It was one of the great nights of the year.
Out of those outcomes in 2010 - we do not have the 2011 job numbers in yet – in Centralian Senior College, nine graduated in 2010 and six are in full-time employment. In Tennant Creek, there were seven graduates; three are in full-time employment and two in training. In Katherine, there were four graduates and four employed. In Jabiru, two graduates and two employed. In Palmerston, four graduates and four employed. From Casuarina Senior College, 10 graduates and eight employed. This is going to mushroom over the years and shows that this program is really working.
The Girls Academy programs are being built up across the Territory. Four hundred young women took part last year. I have visited Centralian and Palmerston. I was at Centralian with the Minister for Central Australia last year. There are Girls Academies at Centralian Middle School and Senior College, Katherine High, Palmerston, Rosebery, Jabiru, Gunbalanya, Nightcliff, Sanderson, Dripstone, Casuarina and Tennant Creek. These are innovative support programs for Indigenous students which are seeing real success, turning kids lives around, giving them a taste of academic success and getting them into employment.
I congratulate Gerard, all his Clontarf staff across the Northern Territory, all our schools which have embraced these academies, and the Girls Academies as well. This is providing transformational change to Indigenous education in the Northern Territory. This government will continue to invest and grow these programs.
Carbon Tax – Northern Territory Government Support
Mr TOLLNER to CHIEF MINISTER
You have defied the will of this parliament by supporting Julia Gillard and Labor ahead of the wishes and interest of Territorians by supporting the carbon tax. Respected journalist, Paul Kelly, estimates that one-third of Australians will be worse off under Julia Gillard’s great big new tax. Can you justify your support of the Gillard tax by releasing the detailed modelling, if any, that you or your government has done, which shows how many Territorians will be worse off, or better off for that matter, and by how much?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have already tabled a report, either last sittings or the sittings before, that very clearly shows because all the Northern Territory’s energy supplies on the grid are produced by gas the impact of the carbon price on Territory families is much less than down south, and the vast majority of Territory families will be no worse off. That is clearly on the record. It has been tabled in this House.
There are opportunities being created for the Northern Territory if the member for Fong Lim was to stand above political rhetoric for a moment ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister well knows that it is not just gas that is affected or electricity generation ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that is not a point of order!
Mr TOLLNER: ... does he have any detailed modelling ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr TOLLNER: ... he can table that shows the impact on Territory families?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, it does not matter how long or loud the member for Fong Lim may scream, I refer to information and advice that has already been provided to this parliament. So bereft is the opposition of any policies for the Northern Territory ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: Where is the opposition’s economic development policy, their jobs policy, their health policy, their education policy, or their Indigenous disadvantage policy? They are a policy-free zone. They have sadly resorted to being a mouthpiece for Tony Abbott. That is all the member for Fong Lim is ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance: I ask you to draw the minister back to the question that he was asked about detailed modelling of the carbon tax impacts in the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, the problem is that, when you have a preamble which has a number of imputations, epithets and ironical expressions – which, of course, are out of order - the Chief Minister will respond in a way that you may not be happy with.
Mr HENDERSON: All we have been reduced to here in the opposition is the member for Fong Lim who still thinks that he is in Canberra, longing for the days of sitting on those Canberra benches, longing for the days of Prime Minister John Howard and running around the corridors of Parliament House, voting in support of intervention legislation into the Northern Territory without ever reading that legislation, believing that climate change only happens on Triton and does not happen in the Northern Territory. He is longing and pining for those days in Canberra ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: even with the imputations, there is no justification for the ramblings the Chief Minister is currently engaging in.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could come to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we have comprehensive policies on a whole range of issues ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: ... they are just a mouthpiece for Tony Abbott here in Darwin ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Northern Territory Medical Program - Progress
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
This month marks the first anniversary of the Territory’s first full medical school, training Territorians to become our doctors of the future. Can you please update the House on the progress of the NT Medical Program?
ANSWER
With pleasure, Madam Speaker. The day these 24 students, 10 of them Indigenous, entered CDU to study medicine under Flinders University is one of the most important days in the Territory’s history. They are going to study in the Territory and most of them will stay in the Territory. I know it is quite difficult, because some of them had to leave full-time employment, or their families. If you try to study and have a family, it can be quite difficult, as I have experienced.
A new state-of-the-art medical training facility was opened in June last year by the Prime Minister. We now have additional training facilities at Royal Darwin Hospital to train our health workforce. We also include the Palmerston Super Clinic, and should future super clinics come to Darwin, they will also become training facilities.
The new students have been supported in their learning. It is difficult to adjust their lives, but they are doing very well and I congratulate them on their commitment. I congratulate CDU and Flinders University staff for their ongoing support and assistance.
The Undergraduate Premedical Degree at CDU is now in its second year. This means young Territorians from high school can go through the Undergraduate Premedical Degree and go straight into the medical school. As the Chief Minister has said, you can go to pre-primary and finish as a doctor without having to leave the Territory.
The curriculum delivered by the NT Medical Program is equivalent to the curriculum delivered by Flinders School of Medicine and has a particular focus on improving Indigenous health outcomes. A commitment made by the Henderson Labor government to all Territorians is that it will provide the same quality medical service to all Territorians wherever they live, and the Medical Program is part of that commitment.
We have provided services to all major towns in the Territory, and we have provided clinics in remote areas. This is the first time some of these areas have seen a medical clinic in their region. We have provided money to upgrade emergency departments in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Gove and, as I said yesterday, in Darwin.
I advise the House that the new first-year students for 2012 are now welcomed in CDU. There are 24 students, 19 are Territorians and, out of these 19, two are Indigenous. I am looking forward to welcoming these students later this week in this House.
Cash for Containers – Efficient Operation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
I guarantee this is my last question about Cash for Containers for the time being. As the Northern Territory public would know, there are some ridiculous anomalies in the system, and we have unfortunately copied those from South Australia. There are no deposits on milk, large fruit juice or wine containers. What are you trying to do to convince South Australia, now that we have an agreement with them, to get rid of those anomalies so that our container deposit scheme can become more effective, efficient and equitable as required in the Container Deposit Scheme Principles under the act?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I conducted my fact-finding tour across the Territory, from Nhulunbuy to Darwin, Katherine to Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs to Aputula, the important thing for me is to ensure we get our scheme up and running properly. We need to reassure those depots that they have the full support of government and that we can get them cooperating well with coordinators. Through our intergovernmental agreement with South Australia, I am sure we can learn from each other. We have done a lot of work already on cross-border issues regarding labelling. We are working well together, but it is going to take time to get down the path of some of those questions you have asked.
We have the principles in place as part of our legislation. We have things they do not have in theirs. As part of the intergovernmental agreement, we will be working together at all levels, at ministerial level as well as government official level, to ensure the schemes complement each other, and they can improve theirs as we have improved ours.
Regarding a previous question about reverse vending machines at liquor outlets, we must also remind people that under the Liquor Act it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors, and nothing about the reverse vending machines alters that legal requirement. The machines offer convenience and options for people to redeem their 10. As I said, Envirobank is very keen to get reverse vending machines out to communities, particularly with sports weekends and cultural festivals, as well as through Casuarina shopping centre and others and, as the Chief Minister experienced, through open days.
On my fantastic tour and in my discussions with depots I was pleased to see Territorians are taking up the scheme and it is building momentum. We are seeing more containers being delivered every week, and I am sure we will be celebrating five million containers very soon.
Private Healthcare Rebate – Removal
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
A member: Oh, Matty, you jumped.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CONLAN: Spare us, spare us. They might be right, Madam Speaker. How dare we want to assume government if we happen to miss a jump or we do not jump up at Question Time? Spare me! Goodness me, talk about heinous crimes in the House ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, do you have a question for someone?
Mr CONLAN: I do. My question is to the Minister for Health. You are off the hook, Julia.
Do you support the Gillard government removing the private healthcare rebate for singles earning $83 000 a year or more and, if so, why?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. He is quite right; he said it. It is the Gillard government – that is a federal government decision, not a Territory decision. I would like to ask him a question. Is he game enough to ask the person who cleans his office: ‘Would you support subsidising my private insurance? You are getting $40 000 a year and I get $250 000 a year?’ Are you game enough to ask your cleaner to support your private medical insurance? Think about it and then answer it.
School Attendance – Government Initiatives
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
We know children in the Territory who go to school every day receive a good education. Can you please advise the House on the innovative work the Territory government is doing to boost school attendance, and further action that has been under way over the school holiday break?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have spoken much in this House about our Every Child, Every Day policy. As the member said, we know, if children go to school every day, they will do well at school. We have sanctions within our Every Child, Every Day policy of infringement notices and other measures; however, that is the last resort ...
Mr Elferink: How many have been issued?
Dr BURNS: I will come to that. I would prefer that to be the last resort. I would much prefer community-based solutions to support attendance on Indigenous communities. I compliment the member for Arafura, because at Gunbalanya she has been front and centre about a rearrangement of the school year - having the school year start three weeks earlier. She has been working with the community. I also commend, not only the Gunbalanya community and the principal, but also the local AEU representatives who are right behind this. In essence, school started in Gunbalanya on 9 January this year, three weeks earlier, and there has been really good attendance.
We know Cahills Crossing is up at this time of the year, and we know the middle of the year is when people disperse. We will be maintaining the 40-week school year, but we will be extending it in the Wet Season. We are very hopeful of the kids being in the community and attending for those extra three weeks, and really re-engaging with them and getting better attendance, even in the Dry Season.
There are sanctions within Every Child, Every Day. In regard to the number of referrals and infringement notices since this system was introduced in June last year, there have been 39 infringement notices …
Mr Elferink: Out of how many days ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The minister has the call not you, member for Port Darwin.
Dr BURNS: I will repeat, Madam Speaker. He asks the question, he wants me to answer but he keeps interjecting. There have been 39 infringement notices, and 151 students have been re-engaged. Approximately 250 referrals are currently being processed. I have also increased the number of attendance and truancy officers by approximately 30% to 31 attendance and truancy officers through the Territory. We talked earlier today about Commonwealth support. I am also going to the Commonwealth and putting a suggestion to them that they might further support more attendance and truancy officers in the Northern Territory.
The opposition would not do that. I do not know where they are coming from. We need every hand on deck. That is why we are increasing the number, and why I am asking the Commonwealth to give us further support. I believe this is a policy which is bearing fruit.
Commonwealth Health Funding – Benefits to NT Residents
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
You have thrown your support and your weight wholeheartedly behind Labor’s changes to federal health funding. First - and the House might be interested to hear this - he supported Kevin Rudd’s package before jumping on to Julia Gillard’s package ...
Mr Henderson: Where is your policy?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CONLAN: He supported two different packages, two different versions of Labor’s health reforms. Exactly how have the Gillard government’s changes benefited the people of Alice Springs and in small, remote communities across the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member opposite obviously has not read exactly what is proposed by the federal government. First, it is a proposal by the federal government. It is legislation passed by the federal government. It affects people who earn more than $83 000 a year.
I wonder if the member has ever been to a remote community? Does he know how many people in remote communities earn more than $83 000 a year? I doubt there are many. Even if you earn more than $83 000 a year, the subsidy decreases as your income increases, and you lose the subsidy completely when you start earning $250 000 a year. I wonder how many people living in Yuendumu earn $250 000 a year? I wonder how many people in Alice Springs earn $250 000 a year?
The member opposite should first look at his own party’s policy. Was it Abbott, as minister for Health, who took away $1bn from public hospitals? Was it Abbott, as minister for Health, who cut the share between the Commonwealth and the states from 50:50 to 40:60? Was it Abbott who cut the number of doctors and nurses in universities, something we are still paying for ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has had plenty of time to respond to any imputations. I ask you now to draw him back to the question, which is: exactly how have the Gillard government’s changes benefited the people in Alice Springs and in remote communities across the Northern Territory?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, resume your seat. The question included a preamble.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, one thing I have to say to the member is that this Labor government, since 2001, has done more for remote communities in the Territory than the CLP did for the 27 years it was in power. Do I have to remind you about renal dialysis? Non-existent. Do I have to remind you about clinics in communities? Non-existent. Do I have to remind you about the truck that provides renal dialysis in remote communities? Non-existent under the CLP ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is incumbent upon a minister of this House to at least come close to an approximation of the truth. What he is doing is simply lying, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I ask you to withdraw the comment.
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point, please.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr VATSKALIS: I suggest, if they know best, the only thing they have to do is put their health policy on the table before the election, not after.
Student Achievements in 2011
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
We know Territory students are equal to the best in Australia. Can you please inform the House about the achievements of the Territory’s high-performing students in 2011?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Earlier in this Question Time, the Chief Minister alluded to those achievements. I attended the Board of Studies function in Parliament House last week. It was great to see, along with the members for Nelson and Fannie Bay, the young students and celebrate their achievements with their families, friends, and teachers. It was great to see those Territory kids being acknowledged for their hard work and achievement. I remarked at the ceremony that, as Australians, we are very keen to celebrate sporting achievements but, in many ways, we do not celebrate academic excellence. It was great to see a room full of people - there would have been around 250 people.
There was also a function in Alice Springs to celebrate, because Alice Springs had much to celebrate in that the top student for 2011 was Jarrad Dickson from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College who had a score of 99.95. I am sure all members will join with me in congratulating Jarrad on such a fine performance and wish him well in his career. As the Chief Minister said, he is one of quite a few who could choose any career anywhere in Australia.
The honours, as the Chief Minister said, in schools, were fairly evenly spread between Darwin High and Casuarina Senior College, St Philip’s College, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Taminmin College and St John’s College, so that was great to see. What has impressed me most in talking to some of those students, and the announcement last year of the Year 12 results, is to find out how many of those top performing students want to study medicine at CDU.
That is a real achievement for the Territory and for CDU. In years gone by, those top performing students would have gone interstate to Melbourne University, Sydney University, or Queensland University and we would have lost them for a while. Hopefully, most of them would come back. As the Health Minister said, studying in the Territory, they are more likely to stay in the Territory because they know how the Territory works and they have networks and connections.
We had 1144 completions within the new Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training, a 10% increase, as the Chief Minister said, and over 148 Indigenous students also received their certificates.
As the Labor government, we support Indigenous education in the bush. We also support kids to complete their education in their home communities. I commend all those students who completed their Year 12 certificate last year.
Batten Road Workers Accommodation Project
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Yesterday, you told us about that great McCarthy family saying of ‘give credit where it is due’. I would like to give you credit for the way you have managed to announce the Batten Road workers accommodation project.
Can you tell the House how exactly you managed to drive through the approvals for the environmental impact assessment that included the removal of asbestos and other contaminants from the site; and how you got Development Consent Authority approvals, including the traffic management plan and the community consultation requirements?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a pretty succinct answer: through the normal planning processes.
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