2011-11-30
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Question Time – Compliance with Standing Orders
Question Time – Compliance with Standing Orders
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise that, owing to a very large and unacceptable number of interruptions during Question Time yesterday, I deem it necessary to remind you of the standing orders of this House.
Apart from deliberate interjections from members on both sides of the House which make it very difficult to hear the question and the minister’s response, there were, in fact, no fewer than 20 points of order called. The vast majority were, in fact, not points of order but rather commentary and assertions offered in relation to a minister’s answer. Such points of order are quite frivolous if they do not relate directly to the standing orders which govern debate in this parliament. Frivolous questions were asked by some members on three occasions or more, and this is clearly unacceptable.
If a member wishes to raise a point of order they will be expected to be swift and precise in identifying which standing order they are raising. I also remind members that in accordance with standing orders you may only speak when I have acknowledged you.
Members who fail to comply with standing orders will find themselves on a warning which may eventuate in seeing a member suspended for one hour.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Annual Report – Alleged Errors
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, we highlighted a dodgy cut-and-paste job in this year’s Police annual report which has since been corrected - oh dear, oh dear! However, we have discovered more cases where someone has lifted data from last year’s report and pasted them directly into this year’s report. Should we keep on checking for further errors, or can you assure the House and Territorians right now that you, as Chief Minister, stand by the police annual report as being true and correct?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, as I advised the House last week, the police annual report presented to this parliament is a report from the Police Commissioner. It is the Police Commissioner’s report; it is not my report. I have a copy of it here, I believe. It is very clear that this report is provided to me by the Police Commissioner. If the Leader of the Opposition has any concerns about the veracity of the data in this report I am quite happy to make a briefing available for him with the Police Commissioner so the Police Commissioner can explain how this report was compiled and the source of the data. It is the Police Commissioner’s report, not my report. I am happy to provide a briefing to the Leader of the Opposition.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Commitment by Government
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the government’s commitment to Royal Darwin Hospital?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her very important question. Since 2001, we have increased resources at Royal Darwin Hospital by over 181%. There are more than 350 extra nursing positions at RDH, which means there are now 941 nurses at Royal Darwin Hospital. There are 130 more doctors at RDH than in 2001. Our commitment to Royal Darwin Hospital is absolutely there, in contrast to the CLP opposition’s commitment to Royal Darwin Hospital when, two months ago, the Leader of the Opposition announced that the CLP had a plan to wind back Royal Darwin Hospital to a secondary hospital. This is code for CLP cuts to Royal Darwin Hospital.
In announcing his plan, the Leader of the Opposition said:
To have the major hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital, stuck up so far away from the centre of population growth, I think the real issue is that we need to have a serious consideration about where the major hospital will be built and I do not believe the right spot is at Casuarina, that should be a secondary hospital.
That is the CLP’s plan - it is code for cuts. Never mind the fact we have thousands of new homes being built in Lyons and Muirhead in the northern suburbs. We will see residential infill in the northern suburbs. The Leader of the Opposition has a plan. It is …
Mr Mills: It is called planning for growth.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr HENDERSON: … consistent with the shadow Treasurer’s plan to slash the budget - bring the budget back into surplus - and they will take the axe to Royal Darwin Hospital. They had form sacking nurses the last time they were in government - an extra 350 nursing positions ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! I am curious as to why the Chief Minister thinks it is his right to run around dictating what CLP policy is when he should be talking about his government’s policy. Goodness me, he cannot continue to lie like this ...
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: I am not arguing with you, member for Fong Lim. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: … very clearly contrasting our commitment to Royal Darwin Hospital - 350 extra nurses, 130 more doctors, an increase in budget allocations by 181%, 99 more beds at RDH in 2001. The CLP plan is to turn RDH into a secondary hospital.
Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition-in-waiting, the member for Fong Lim, is not aware of the plans of the current Leader of the Opposition. However, compare and contrast our commitment to continue to build health services, to employ more doctors, more nurses, and more beds at Royal Darwin Hospital, to the CLP’s policy, which would be to slash services and turn Royal Darwin Hospital into a secondary hospital.
Kenbi Land Claim – Heads of Agreement Signatories
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you were forced to admit in this Chamber that you misled the parliament by denying that you signed the heads of agreement that underscored the Kenbi Land Trust Bill. For the benefit of the assembled media who were not present at your embarrassing retraction, can you now tell the House who signed the heads of agreement on behalf of the Territory government, and then explain why you denied signing the document in the first place?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, very clearly, I came into this House to correct the record. There is nothing about being forced; it is correcting. As I said yesterday, I was slightly confused between two agreements - the in-principle agreement in April 2009 and the final agreement on 29 June this year. When we checked the documents I had signed, I had not signed the in-principle agreement …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr HENDERSON: Once again, this is about the CLP playing politics with Kenbi. This is all it is. The CLP has always opposed the Kenbi land claim, and always opposed the traditional owners’ rights over the Cox Peninsula. They spent over $20m-worth of taxpayers’ money fighting against the traditional owners and their rights to land.
This is all about politics. For them, it is about politics rather than about recognising the rights of the traditional owners, getting agreement about how the Cox Peninsula is going to be developed in the future to the benefit, not only of the traditional owners but everyone in the Top End. It is interesting - and here is the proof that this is the politics ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Standing Order 113: the answer has to be succinct and directly relevant to the question. This is nothing to do with the question. We ask that he answers the question.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat, please. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: They know what is coming ...
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They know what is coming to show them as the hypocrites they are on this and other issues, and the very confused policy positions they have. The CLP, in launching its Planning for Greater Darwin policy last year - this is the Leader of the Opposition’s plan ...
Mr BOHLIN: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker!
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Please pause, Chief Minister. Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Member for Drysdale, is this a point of order?
Mr BOHLIN: Standing Order 113: relevance; succinct. He was asked who signed the document. Did he sign the document; who else signed the document? Not something else. So, answer the question.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: There is some latitude around this question.
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, I ask you to come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: I am coming to the point. Their own plan says …
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker!
Mr HENDERSON: Land along the north of the peninsula, including Wagait Beach, has been assigned …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Order! Chief Minister, please pause.
Mr HENDERSON: … Territory freehold land to be managed by the Larrakia Development Corporation …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause! Yes, member for Port Darwin?
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Acting Speaker, you have given the Chief Minister direction. I ask you get him to obey the direction you have given him.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Given that he has just a few seconds left, yes, Chief Minister, if you could come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: I table the CLP’s own plan that recognises the rights and aspirations of the Larrakia Development Corporation to develop the land. This is their plan, this is their policy …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members!
Mr HENDERSON: They are being hypocrites on this issue - absolute hypocrites on this issue! You support the LDC’s rights.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Honourable members, less than 10 minutes into Question Time - what a disgraceful performance so far! I remind you of Standing Order 51:
No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Territory Hospitals – Progress on Waiting Times
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report released today outlines the Territory’s hospital performance with time limits for emergency department treatment and elective surgery. Can you please update the House on the progress we have been making in these important areas of the hospital system?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report shows time limits for treatment in emergency departments and elective surgery - not quality of care, because every person who attends the emergency department receives quality care from fantastic doctors and nurses.
Let us talk about facts and figures. I know the opposition jumps up and down because people are waiting too long in the emergency department. Let us find out how many people actually come to the emergency department every year. Last year, 137 000 people turned up to the emergency department - 62% of the Territory population turned up to the emergency department. That was a 6.7% growth since the year before. Out of this 137 000 people, 91 000 could have gone to a GP. They did not have to be at the emergency department because they could have gone to a GP - in a GP clinic, or a GP super clinic, like the one the CLP has opposed, opposes, and continues to oppose.
For example, 28 000 people in one year accessed the Palmerston Super Clinic - 28 000 who would have turned up to the emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital and expected to be treated in time. Well, it does not happen like that. When you have an influx of 60% of the population in the emergency department, it does not happen and people have to wait.
In order to alleviate the situation, we have taken action. We have put in a new $24m emergency department in Alice Springs; we expanded the Royal Darwin Hospital emergency department with the fast-tracking area; we have upgraded the Katherine and Tennant Creek emergency departments; and we are putting in a new $13m emergency department for Katherine. We put in extra bed capacity at Royal Darwin Hospital; and we are putting in a medi-hotel with 100-bed capacity at Royal Darwin Hospital. People who do not need to be in hospital will be transferred to nursing homes and other areas.
With regard to elective surgery waiting lists, we know we have one of the sickest populations in Australia. This report, which according to the member for Greatorex is very bad for us, shows that 50% of patients across all categories wait an average of 33 days, which is less than the national average of 36 days; and 90% of patients wait an average of 223 days, which is less than the national average of 252 days. So, someone must be doing something right in the hospitals in the Territory.
If you look at the overdue surgeries for people waiting longer than the recommended times, we have 3.9% compared to the national average of 2.9%, but if you look at Tasmania and the ACT, they have much higher waiting times – 10% and 11%.
We have fantastic staff - fantastic nurses and doctors. I take offence when I hear members opposite criticise our government on our health system. The party of members opposite cut 200 nursing positions, would not put any money into renal dialysis in the bush, and closed a ward of 30 beds in Royal Darwin Hospital.
Kenbi Land Trust Bill – Alleged Misleading by the Chief Minister
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You have admitted that you misled the parliament over details concerning the Kenbi Land Trust Bill …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! This question contains an inference and an imputation that is not true. The Chief Minister has not intentionally misled this parliament at any stage.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Acting Speaker. There is no assertion that it was intentional. It is simply a statement of fact.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: There are certainly some …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Leader of the Opposition, there are certainly some inferences that are bordering on me ruling that question out. I ask you to rephrase that question.
Mr MILLS: Yes, Madam Acting Speaker.
Chief Minister, you have admitted that you inadvertently or advertently misled the parliament over details concerning the Kenbi Land Trust Bill. Your personal explanation to this House blamed the error on your advisors for giving you the wrong information. Then you denied signing the heads of agreement and had to make a second retraction. There is no blaming your advisors on this one and my question to you is this: are you deliberately concealing information from Territorians, or are you simply incompetent?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, the issue here is the legislation around establishing a trust to hold land as a result of the success of the land claim. I have explained myself over and over again. As I have said, there was no deliberate misleading of this House and I have corrected the record. Page 75 of the …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … CLP policy; they have been railing about this for two weeks. Page 75 of their policy makes it clear that it is CLP policy …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: … for an agreement between the NLC and the government to resolve the Kenbi land claim ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Relevance to the question.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: I do not believe there is a point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call, but if you could come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. They do not like this because they have been playing a very dangerous game in playing with people’s emotions on this. This is what is so despicable about the CLP and its position on this - playing with people’s emotions on a very difficult issue that has been amongst the Larrakia people for many years.
Did you, Leader of the Opposition, tell the people that you are playing with their emotions …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … you actually support this process, that it is CLP policy to endorse …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the process, that it is CLP policy …
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker!
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Please pause, Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: … for the Larrakia Development Corporation …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. Member for Katherine, do you have a point of order?
Mr Mills: Madam Acting Speaker, is this Question Time for the opposition?
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: You do not have the call, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Acting Speaker, two points of order. The Chief Minister should know to direct his comments through the Chair and, second, relevance. It has been pointed out here before, Madam Acting Speaker.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you. We heard the points of order. Resume your seat. Chief Minister, direct your comments through the Chair and come to the point very quickly, please.
Mr HENDERSON: The CLP policy actually commits the Larrakia Development Corporation to commercial development of the Cox Peninsula. Have you advised the people whose emotions you are playing with of your policy, which I tabled …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker!
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Please pause, Chief Minister. Member for Fong Lim, I trust this is a pertinent point of order.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, it is a point of order, Madam Acting Speaker. It is to do with relevance. The question was quite simple: is the Chief Minister incompetent or not? Simple question; that is all he has to answer.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: That was not the question, and it is not a point of order, member for Fong Lim.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Acting Speaker, immediately I became aware that information that was provided to me and advice I had provided was wrong, I acted immediately and came in here, unlike the Leader of the Opposition who hid in a restaurant for seven hours running away from his dodgy deals with Leo Abbott …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! On the most liberal interpretation of the standing orders, a restaurant has nothing to do with this question.
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members! There is a certain degree of latitude in this debate, as there always is in Question Time, member for Port Darwin. Chief Minister, I ask you to stick to the question that you have been asked, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Acting Speaker. I just point out …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … and I warn the opposition for playing emotionally …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … on this issue …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: … and come clean on your support for the Larrakia Development Corporation.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat immediately!
Territory 2030 – Progress Report
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
They are a rabble and they are divided on the other side. Can you please update the House on the progress towards achieving the targets set out in Territory 2030?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, on to a policy that has vision for the Northern Territory, a policy that has come from the people of the Northern Territory who are confident in the future of the Northern Territory, unlike the rabble opposite who have no policies, just ...
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... motions and complaints. They are a lazy opposition. They have ...
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... no vision for the future of the Northern Territory, and they have no policies for the people of the Northern Territory, unlike this side of the House, with Territory 2030, which has been embraced by the people of the Northern Territory because it came from the people of the Northern Territory.
At the heart of Territory 2030 is education. Education is the cornerstone of the development of the Northern Territory. We are absolutely committed to get kids to school every day in the Northern Territory. If they do, they achieve an education as good, if not better, than anywhere else in Australia. Every year, in the top 20 TER scores across the Northern Territory, we see a significant number of those, a very big proportion, coming from our public schools where our kids spend their entire education, as well as our non-government schools achieving really well.
Charles Darwin University is the heart of the Northern Territory with vocational education and training, and tertiary training. What a fabulous year for that university. We will build on that with the opening of the clinical school at the university where we can train doctors here for the first time. That is about a government working in partnership with the university with a vision for the Northern Territory, understanding the exciting and optimistic future of the Northern Territory for our kids. The fact that our kids can now study medicine here goes to the heart of some of the issues raised about Royal Darwin Hospital this morning.
Unless we have more GPs, our hospitals are always going to be under pressure. The Territory ratio for GPs to population is 58 GPs per 100 000 people; the average ratio is 85 to 95 per 100 000. The government made a decision to work with Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, and the federal government to establish a clinical training school. There are 22 people studying there this year and 40 will start next year. This is very significant for the Northern Territory and shows what you can do if you have vision and optimism for the future of the Northern Territory, and if you back Territorians. That is what we are doing.
Territory 2030 is the strategic plan. It is about a big, bold vision for the Northern Territory that has come from Territorians. Compare that to the rabble opposite – no optimism, no vision, no policies and no leadership.
Aboriginal Community Housing – Five-Year Leases
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In an ABC media release by Ashleigh Raper on 23 November, the federal government is reported to have said its five-year leases on Aboriginal communities will stay in place until August next year and then they will be lifted. If this is true, what will happen to all the taxpayer-funded, SIHIP refurbished houses on these leases? Who will maintain the houses? Who will they belong to?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I welcome the important question from the member for Nelson. I am advised just over 50 communities fit into this bracket of having five-year leases. Refurbishment works have been carried out on the majority of those communities. With the federal government, we are currently in negotiations with land councils and communities about extending those five-year leases, and it is my hope we can extend those leases. It is crucial that we do so.
In direct answer to your question, member for Nelson – and this is not a scenario I would welcome or believe is desirable for anyone - if agreement cannot be reached over extension of those leases I am advised the ownership of those houses, and the responsibilities for the repairs and maintenance, would fall either to the land trusts involved, or the community groups and organisations from whom they were originally leased.
That is not the desirable situation; that is something we on both sides of this House, including the Independents, want to avoid. I am hoping we can come to an agreement on that. It is essential that those communities and those assets be part of our remote rental framework where, yes, we are charging more rent in the bush but we are also putting substantially more money back into repairs and maintenance of those assets.
The path I want to move along is to provide sustainable employment for Indigenous organisations and individuals in those communities.
That is the most direct answer I can give you, member for Nelson.
Chief Minister – Failings in Running the Territory
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your police report is wrong. You have misled parliament, deliberately or inadvertently, twice on the same issue, being Kenbi, and you cannot remember which documents you signed relating to Kenbi. These are very serious failings and it now looks increasingly like you are in fact not running the Territory. If you are not running the Territory, who the hell is?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I am not a leader who hides from the media in a restaurant for seven hours, bunkered down, terrified of the media, terrified of the hard questions …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Standing Order 113. He has, in his first line, departed from any semblance of answering the question. I ask that he is directed to answer his question.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Resume your seat, please. There is no point of order. It was a very broad question on a couple of subjects. I might also add ...
Members interjecting:
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Excuse me! I am speaking!
... Standing Order 114 regarding repetition of questions. The Chief Minister is on his feet and is answering the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Acting Speaker, the question was very broad. I am always upfront with Territorians - always have been, always will be. If there are tough questions to ask, I am always there to answer them. Developing policies …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … with the people of the Northern Territory, not doing dodgy, grubby deals …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Araluen!
Mr HENDERSON: … for purely political purposes like the Leader of the Opposition did with Leo Abbott. A dodgy, grubby deal that was exposed when his own side leaked a transcript of the phone conversation …
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Standing Order 113 exists for a reason. I ask you to direct the Chief Minister accordingly.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I ask you to come to the point quickly in relation to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: I will very quickly come to the point, Madam Acting Speaker. Of course I am running the Territory with the full backing of this side of the House, as opposed to the Leader of the Opposition who gets rolled all the time by the member for Fong Lim: rolled on statehood, rolled on Angela Pamela, rolled on the development of the rural area, and rolled on climate change. Every policy the Leader of the Opposition puts out gets rolled by the member for Fong Lim. That is the issue confronting those opposite …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Sanderson!
Mr HENDERSON: In relation to leadership, I do not do dodgy, grubby deals for political purposes. I do not have my own side taping phone conversations, then leaking them against me …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine! Member for Sanderson, you are on a warning!
Mr HENDERSON: … hiding in the Hot Rocks restaurant from the media for seven hours - hiding for seven hours from his grubby deals …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition! Member for Sanderson, second warning!
Mr HENDERSON: … launching a freedom of information request on his entire team to see where the leaks came from …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Clearly, his answer is nowhere near in compliance with standing orders. I ask that you direct him accordingly.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. The interpretation of relevance can be very wide at times. Chief Minister, get to the point quickly.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Acting Speaker, I lead my party. The member for Fong Lim leads this rabble. The Leader of the Opposition is leader in name only.
Mrs Lambley: You are the rabble, you are the liar!
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Araluen!
Territory 2030 – Positioning for Growth and Stability
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Territory 2030 sets government priorities over the next two decades, and economic sustainability is one of the key priorities in the plan. Can you please explain to the House how government is positioning the Territory for long-term growth and stability?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Territory 2030, as the Chief Minister has said, sets out a clear plan for the Territory’s future - and we have an extremely bright future.
Ensuring that economic benefits flow through to Territory families is crucial. In the 2030 plan, there are 128 key targets linked to priorities: education, society, health and wellbeing, the environment, knowledge, creativity and innovation, and economic sustainability.
The Henderson government has worked hard to build a sustainable economy with the aim of supporting jobs and prosperity over the long term for all Territorians. Despite the regular hysterics from the ‘Chicken Little’ party opposite, the Territory is predicted to outperform all the other jurisdictions in the nation over the next five years, with the exception of Western Australia and Queensland, which also happen to be resource-rich jurisdictions.
Deloitte Access Economics predicts our growth over the next five years as being the third-highest in the nation, behind Western Australian and Queensland. The rating agency, Moody’s, agrees, keeping our rating at AA1 with a stable outlook, despite the prevailing uncertain global economic conditions.
We are investing for the long term. If you look at Target 1.2, we are growing the size and skills of our workforce to meet growth demands. More than $24.6m is committed to fund training and support for apprentices and traineeships in the 2011-12 financial year alone. We have 4770 apprentices and trainees in place right now.
With Target 2.2, we are maintaining high levels of investment in public infrastructure to underpin long-term development and growth. Since the global financial crisis, we are carrying the weight of the capital spend in the Territory - $4.6bn over those three GFC-affected budget cycles - to ensure we spend legacy infrastructure in the Territory to support long-term growth.
If you look at Target 3.6, identifying suitable land …
Mr Westra van Holthe: How about you tell the cattlemen how much you spent on their roads!
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: … for water to further ensure long-term sustainability and food production, we work with our key industry groups to target where that infrastructure spend is. A classic example is the Cattlemen’s Association where we targeted the key roads needed to get their produce to market – a $280m-plus industry to the Territory.
If you look at Target 3.1, the contribution of the resources sector in the Territory, it is estimated over the next five years that there will be a $1bn investment in oil and gas exploration in the Territory. We are aggressively going after the oil and gas market. We have provided a Marine Supply Base commitment through a significant capital commitment by the Territory government. We are driving economic sustainability through our 2030 targets ...
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Your time has expired, resume your seat. Your time has expired.
RAAF Housing – Proposed Use
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Can you tell us what the plan is for the houses in the suburb of Eaton which the RAAF does not require? Are they going to be demolished or sold, or can they be used where they are? If they are going to be sold, why can the NT government not acquire the houses, put them on Crown land near amenities - for example, the Berrimah Farm - and hand them over to an NGO to manage as emergency housing for people who cannot purchase a house because of the high cost of housing?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Those houses belong to Defence Housing. They belong to the Commonwealth government through that entity, and …
Mr Tollner: No, they do not. They belong to the Department of Defence.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: There was a media release issued on 14 June which said a current review of RAAF Darwin housing by Defence has concluded that, as a strategically important Defence base, the current land at RAAF Base Darwin should be retained for Defence use. They are very clear that they want it for strategic use. I do not think we should be quibbling with that.
It was brought home with the visit of the US President here the other week …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, cease interrupting! You are on a warning!
Dr BURNS: … that we are at the pointy end, strategically, regarding the next century and what is happening strategically in the Indian Ocean. I, for one, support our strategic alliance with the United States and recognise our position strategically. I am not going to quibble with the use of that Defence land for strategic uses …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson, you are already on a warning – two actually!
Dr BURNS: The media release also announced that 130 houses would be constructed in a designated area within the base. I was advised, during a conversation with Warren Snowdon, that there were a number of houses beyond their use-by date, beyond economic repair, but the houses not in that state would continue to be tenanted, wherever possible, by Defence Force personnel, and I endorse that.
In relation to your proposal that government acquire those houses and shift them to Berrimah Farm, at a basic, simplistic level that sounds like a great idea. However, I ask you to consider, leaving aside the cost of transport to the site, the infrastructure costs. There will have to be headworks built. Being a former Minister for Lands and Planning and Construction and Infrastructure, I would say a minimum of $5m to construct the headworks, civil works, etcetera. This is a large expense.
The other question mark I have is, whilst these houses in-situ might accord with cyclone regulations, to shift them would raise a whole issue regarding their cyclone coding. That is an area very close to the sea. Do you want the responsibility of moving houses there, having a cyclone and people being killed or injured? I do not, but you have to consider that because there is a liability issue and a cost issue.
I have run out of time; however, we are certainly doing much work providing houses for needy people in Darwin.
Australian Hospital Statistics Report 2010-11
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Do not think we are going to let your incompetence off the hook today, minister. We have a question for you regarding the disastrous Australian hospital statistics report. The Territory’s health system is at the bottom of the class, it is the worst in the country; you have seen that. It is highlighted here in black and white for those who might be bothered to read it. Now, despite the opposition giving you the opportunity today to take 15 minutes to outline how our health system got to this point, will you spend perhaps just three minutes explaining to Territorians why Territory hospital waiting lists are in such a shambles and when we can see some real improvement? If that is not long enough, we are happy to move another motion to suspend standing orders to give you more time so you can explain it in some detail.
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I will not need much time. I will be very brief. The attention span of the member opposite is very short, so I will give a short answer.
The Territory health system is one of the best systems in Australia, and that is shown in the report. Despite the attempt by the member opposite to portray our system as bad, we have a system where we have implemented nurses per patient days; we have increased the number of nurses in the Territory hospitals significantly; we have in excess of 2000 nurses; and we have brought in more doctors. We have a state-of-the-art oncology unit which came in under us. Regarding elective surgery, we are much better than Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania; with 50% of people having to wait less than the prescribed time of the national average. We are luckier than New South Wales and Tasmania where people have to wait more than 365 days. Waiting times at the emergency department is just that - waiting times.
I will give you an example so that you can understand. If you go to the emergency department and you are triaged as Category 2, you have to be seen within 10 minutes. If you are seen in 11 minutes, you are not included in the numbers, but that does not compromise the quality of care you receive from the doctors and nurses in the emergency department.
On the other hand, when you have 60% of the population turning up to the emergency department each year and 90 000 of them can attend a GP which we do not have in the Territory, there is a problem. If you want to know why we do not have the GPs in the Territory, the question should be asked of the current federal Leader of the Opposition, who, as minister for Health, cut the number of training positions for doctors and nurses. The then minister, Tony Abbott, changed the funding formula for the hospital from 50:50 state and Commonwealth to 30% from the Commonwealth and 70% from the states, creating significant underspending in hospitals, and a significant lack of doctors in Australia. All this was caused by the incompetence of the previous Health minister, Tony Abbott.
The member opposite can laugh as much as he likes. I point out that thousands of Territorians go through our system and receive excellent care. After all, if the member opposite does not have such faith in our system, why did he have both his children delivered in the public hospital in Alice Springs?
Mr Conlan: It was the only hospital in town.
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting! Member for Greatorex, you will find yourself on a warning very quickly.
Territory 2030 – Investment in Education
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Education is the No 1 priority of this government and a central focus of Territory 2030. Can you please advise the House on the government’s strategic investment in the Territory’s education future?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The three objectives of Territory 2030 in relation to education are: first, that Territorians meet or exceed the national standards for education and training; second, to promote lifelong learning and education; and third, to develop a world-class education system.
This is a massive challenge, and I acknowledge that, but I believe we have the policies. We certainly have the direction. We have the funding underlying those policies to achieve these policy objectives in the longer term. Over the past 10 years, we have made significant investments: eight new schools; secondary facilities in remote communities; $300 000 upgrades of all primary schools; over 40 teacher dwellings in remote communities; and, in total, including government and non-government schools, approximately $270m in BER works. They were works that were opposed by the opposition and, if they had had their way, not one school in the Northern Territory would have benefitted, as we have seen across the Territory with the Building the Education Revolution.
We have had 400 additional teaching staff since 2002. We have priorities right across age groups. For our youngest Territorians, universal access to preschools, Families as First Teachers, and child and family centres. Through the schooling years, our literacy and numeracy strategic plan, engaging with Professor Geoff Masters and the Australian Council for Educational Research, has been a partnership that I believe will bear fruit. He is very direct in what he has to say about how we can improve and lift our game. I acknowledge his very important role. We have a $6.25m investment in VET for our best and brightest students with centres of excellence as a precursor to university.
We do have a plan. We are strategic. I believe it will yield results. I am still waiting for the member for Brennan to bring forward his policy on education.
Health System – Comments by President of AMA
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
This is pretty simple with very few imputations, so it would be handy if you could answer it according to Standing Order 113.
The President of the AMA, Dr Paul Bauert, said this morning on radio that you and your government are not up to the job. In fact, he said: ‘Quite frankly, the AMA does not believe the government in the NT has the ability to do this’. What he is essentially saying is that you failed the hospital system. This report highlights it. It is time for you and your government to get out of the way.
I would like to know, and I am sure Paul Bauert would like to hear, what you have to say in response to his comments that you are completely incompetent and you have failed the health of Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker …
Members interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Oh no, you ain’t seen nothing yet. You want to talk about shock jocks, you ain’t seen nothing.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Please pause, minister. Member for Greatorex, there were a number of imputations and inferences in that question, as you acknowledged at the start, under Standing Order 112. Nevertheless, I will give the minister the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Acting Speaker, every person is entitled to his opinion. It does not matter if I agree with it or not. That must be the first time the CLP has ever supported a union - the doctor’s union.
Dr Bauert, the President of the AMA, has made a number of statements. One of the statements he made today is that no one has been consulted about the hospital in Palmerston - wrong. Many clinicians from Royal Darwin Hospital have been consulted and have contributed to the design of the hospital. Dr Bauert also spoke about the lack of beds at Royal Darwin Hospital. We are increasing the number of beds and, while we renovate the wards, we have hired 15 extra beds at the private hospital. We also discharge people from the hospital if they need to be in a nursing home, and we are building a medi-hotel.
The experiment of the Commonwealth running the hospitals is dead after Tony Abbott’s effort to give one of the northern Tasmanian hospitals to the Commonwealth. The new Commonwealth government returned it quickly because it realised first, it was too expensive and, second, it was impossible to run a hospital. We believe the clinicians and the community should have a say in how a hospital is run, not a bureaucrat in Canberra.
We tend to disagree with Dr Bauert, and I will continue to disagree and will not be afraid to tell him. The reality is that the report in front of us today does not show lack of quality of care; it just shows long waiting periods. I am very happy to work with the AMA. I suggest that the AMA and our services sit down together to find a way to reduce the waiting times in the emergency department.
Once again, I express my gratitude to the doctors and nurses for the quality of care they provide to Territorians under very difficult circumstances.
Territory 2030 – Progress of Health Priorities
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Territory 2030 has set guiding directions for our health system. Can the minister please update the House on the progress we have been making on these health priorities in Territory 2030?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I thank the member for his very important question. We believe all Territorians, whether they live in an urban situation, a remote community, or on a station, should receive the same quality of care.
In Territory 2030 we are creating a culture where individuals take responsibility for their health. There is real and obvious progress in our 2030 objectives through effective plans with the Australian government, stakeholders and the community. The Palmerston hospital is a key strategy in expanding the range and options for the hospital. The clinical assessment plan is expected to be delivered shortly, and many clinicians from RDH have been involved in the consultation process. We have decided, with them, what is needed in Palmerston. The community asked for an emergency department, maternity and children’s services, day surgery and outpatients.
We are reforming our health system with the roll-out of the local hospital networks, two of which the member for Greatorex asked for many times in this parliament, because we believe the community has to have a say on their hospitals.
The federal government does not believe in providing hospitals from Canberra. It wants more involvement by local people. As I said before, Tony Abbott took one from Tasmania and it was very quickly returned because they realised they could not run it.
We want more community and clinician involvement. We have done much for the Territory. We have expanded the renal dialysis program throughout the Territory which has improved the lives of Territorians, especially Indigenous Territorians. We reduced public dental waiting lists from five years to less than 12 months. The homegrown workforce in the Territory - doctors will be graduating from the Territory medical school and will stay in the Territory, like midwives, nurses and engineers.
We are supporting the super clinics because they will eliminate the significant numbers at our emergency departments. Twenty-eight thousand people received urgent after-hours care in Palmerston and 18 000 people accessed the GP Super Clinic in Palmerston. All these people would be driving to the RDH emergency department to receive care. If you think these waiting times are long, wait until another 30 000 people turn up at RDH. We believe in the super clinic. We promote and support the super clinics. The mob opposite does not. They want to close them down and they do not want to support them …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … we are prepared to work for Territorians to deliver quality health services ...
Mr CHANDLER: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! I am wondering if the minister could point out where the Palmerston hospital exists in last year’s budget papers?
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: That is a frivolous point of order. Resume your seat, please, member for Brennan. I remind you of the homily I delivered at the start. Minister, you have the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: I remind the member opposite that the hospital was a joint announcement between the Commonwealth government and the Northern Territory government. If you took the time to attend the function, as the member for Drysdale did, you would have discovered that the hospital will be a reality. The member for Drysdale was the only member from the opposition who bothered to turn up and see the turning of the sod.
Mid-year Financial Report - Release
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
You are now in possession of the Mid-year Financial Report. In the interests of openness, honesty, and accountability, will you table that document now, or are you going to wait until the afternoon of the last sitting day after Question Time as you did with the annual reports?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I have every intention of tabling the mid-year report tomorrow, as is traditionally the convention of the Treasurer. I welcome the debate we will have tomorrow on the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report, the actuals for the 2010-11 year …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! She has already answered the question. She does not have to say anything else.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! I consider that bordering on frivolous!
Ms LAWRIE: As soon as we conclude the debate and we get to the papers on the Notice Paper, you will get the mid-year report. I already flagged yesterday - if you had bothered to listen to my answer, which I know you never do - in my answer regarding the MYEFO, that we have looked at the GST revisions and have incorporated that into the mid-year report. I flagged that we are predicting an estimated additional $60m reduction in GST ..
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! The Treasurer has complied with standing order …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: I have not given you the call, member for Port Darwin. Your point of order, please?
Mr ELFERINK: The Treasurer has complied with Standing Order 113. I ask that she simply sits down; she has answered the question.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, she has three minutes and some latitude if she has additional information to support her answer.
Ms LAWRIE: It is certainly strange when a shadow Treasurer asks a question on the mid-year report - and I am talking about the revision downwards of GST we saw in the MYEFO published by the Commonwealth yesterday – and then wants to gag the Treasurer. He led with his chin yesterday and got it wrong …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting!
Ms LAWRIE: Yesterday he led with his chin and got it wrong. He said we would have received cuts. Well, quite the opposite. The section he was referring to, in its words, actually talks about increases. We saw increases in the SIHIP funding as well in the MYEFO yesterday. What the Commonwealth has done is package up a particular national partnership and has not distributed the actual final dollars down to the states and territories. However, they have indicated the funding within that national partnership.
You led with your chin yesterday and you got it wrong. You consistently get it wrong. I understand that they had to sack you as shadow Treasurer and put the member for Katherine in place. Then they had to sack the member for Katherine as shadow Treasurer because he was found to be doing dodgy car deals and trying to rip off stamp duty with some dodgy work that the Ombudsman reported on. So, then …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: … they were a little desperate, and they went back to the ‘oh, oh, constantly getting it wrong’ member for Port Darwin who has absolutely no credibility whatsoever in any industry sector as shadow Treasurer. I look forward to tomorrow’s debate.
Territory 2030 – Sustainable Development and Protection of the Environment
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Territory 2030 charted a vision for sustainable development and continued protection …
Mr CHANDLER: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Standing Orders 112(2)(c), (d), and (g): it is purely hypothetical to think this government is going to be around in 2030.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, you are on a warning! That is the second frivolous point of order. You were warned after the last one. Once more, member for Brennan, and you will be asked to withdraw.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I say Standing Order 51. The member for Brennan abuses the privilege of being absolutely stupid, like the member for Drysdale ...
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Arafura, I ask you to withdraw immediately, please.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Sorry. My question to the Minister for Natural Resources …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! The member made some unparliamentary comments and I ask you to ask her to withdraw.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: She has withdrawn; that is already done. Resume your seat. The question please, member for Arafura.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Acting Speaker …
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I have withdrawn ‘being stupid’.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: She has withdrawn. Resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: Excuse me, Madam Acting Speaker, another point of order! The member for Arafura just made another unparliamentary comment and she has not withdrawn that.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fong Lim. In the interests of moving forward, member for Arafura, I ask you to withdraw and to proceed with your question.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I withdraw that the member for Brennan is stupid.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Arafura!
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I said I withdraw.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Arafura …
Mr Tollner: Put her on a warning!
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I withdraw.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Arafura, you will be on a warning shortly! The question, please.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: What action has the Henderson government taken to achieve that vision in terms of sustainable development and continued protection of our unique environment?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. It is a very important question and I am sure there are people listening out there who want to hear the answer.
Territory 2030 includes some very strong targets that will see our unique biodiversity protected and sustainability at the forefront of how we live and do business in the Territory. Territory 2030 sets a target of ensuring our wonderful parks and reserves are comprehensive and connected. Government has made significant progress with the Territory Eco-link initiative which will see our parks linked with new areas managed for conservation on surrounding lands.
We are establishing a conservation corridor stretching from the Arafura Sea to the wonderful Red Centre in Central Australia. Already, with the purchase of Fish River Station by the Indigenous Land Corporation and a conservation covenant on the adjoining Fish River Gorge block, we have created a conservation area twice the size of Litchfield National Park.
Territory 2030 also sets strong sustainable living agendas that this government is responding to with some very bold initiatives. The target of reducing waste going to our landfill by 50% by 2020 is very important if we are to change the culture of consumption. Government has successfully banned lightweight plastic bags, and I commend Territorians for embracing this change and adopting new shopping habits. I am sure they will also adopt new habits with the Cash for Containers scheme coming into the Territory on 3 January next year.
It is an exciting time for the Territory. These are big reforms and reforms only a Labor government can achieve. They show a vision from a Labor government and Territory 2030 is helping us along the way.
New7Wonders of Nature – Campaign to Nominate Uluru
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for TOURISM
The New7Wonders of Nature list has come under heavy criticism for making demands for cash in return for getting a higher ranking. Earlier this month, you put out a media release urging Territorians to vote for Uluru as one of the world’s New7Wonders of Nature. Was any taxpayers’ money used in any way to either promote or support the competition?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Katherine. As always, the opposition choose to trash the Northern Territory. It is obvious that, whenever there is good news for the Northern Territory, the members opposite either remain very quiet, or choose to trash whatever the good news may be ...
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! Relevance - Standing Order 113. The question was quite simple: was any taxpayers’ money used to promote or support the competition? It is about the competition in relation to this. It is not about the CLP.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Katherine. I do not believe there is a point of order. There is some ...
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Excuse me! Order! There is some breadth around relevance. The minister is only into the start of her three minutes so I will allow her some latitude. Minister, I ask you to come to the point, please.
Ms McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Acting Speaker. Clearly, as there was quite a preamble to the question, I wanted to give a small preamble to the answer …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting!
Ms McCARTHY: The important thing to remember is that the Northern Territory government and Tourism NT make no apologies for wanting to always put the Northern Territory on display. We have a budget in the Tourism NT office precisely for that reason. For those who were very much a part of the campaign to try to get Uluru in the top seven wonders, I say thank you for contributing to that campaign. It was an important campaign, like the numerous campaigns we pursue on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory, to talk up the Territory, unlike members opposite who only trash the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: ... and I am incredibly proud of the team at Tourism NT for the work they do …
Members interjecting.
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, cease interjecting! Minister, resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Acting Speaker! The question was very much about the competition. We are not talking about tourism campaigns. The question was very simple: did the government provide any money or support for that competition?
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. Minister, I ask you to come to the point very quickly, please.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Acting Speaker, the Tourism NT office is charged with the responsibility to provide campaigns across the Northern Territory. The New7Wonders of Nature, Uluru, was one of those.
Territory 2030 – Infrastructure Program
Mr GUNNER for MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Can you please update the House on how the government’s infrastructure program is supporting the vision set out in Territory 2030?
ANSWER
Madam Acting Speaker, the Territory 2030 strategy from this government is not only creative and innovative, but is also driven by Territorians, and that is truly the essence of good planning in the Northern Territory. It is through strong leadership from the Chief Minister with a united team working with Territorians. For those on the other side it definitely strikes a nerve.
In terms of construction and infrastructure, Objective 2 of the Territory 2030 Economic Sustainability chapter sets the target. Governments maintain high levels of investment in public infrastructure to underpin long-term development and growth. The government is responding with record infrastructure programs that support the future of the Northern Territory. We can talk about back-to-back record budgets in the Northern Territory for not only delivering infrastructure, and delivering infrastructure for future growth, but protecting and generating jobs. The projects that can be talked about can go on and on; they can go for hours, but I have less than three minutes.
There are projects such as the $18m Berrimah Road overpass, which is improving access for industry into East Arm port and the Darwin Business Park. I encourage members to have a look at that project. That is a developing area, a future area, that will support incredible growth for the Northern Territory. The project follows construction of major iconic infrastructure, such as Darwin Middle School and the Rosebery schools. What sensational public infrastructure we have there.
Construction also started on the new two-storey emergency department and medical imaging facility at the Alice Springs Hospital. I look forward to getting there next week to look at that. Planning is under way for a hospital at Palmerston. The $7m Barkly work camp - it is hard to put a price on the outcomes that will deliver in the 2030 strategy in turning around people’s lives.
In Palmerston, one of the fastest-growing regions, we are talking about sporting facilities for AFL, Rugby League, soccer, netball and tennis, supporting our sports clubs, and boosting the standards to meet demand.
Let me quickly touch on $5m for the Arnhem Highway, and $23m on the Daly River Bridge project. During the lunch break, I met a young Territorian from Umbakumba and we talked about the Umbakumba Road - $20m-worth of infrastructure supporting a growth towns policy that supports a futuristic 2030 strategy, from a united team, and look at them now …
Madam ACTING SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Acting Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016