2012-02-21
Bombing of Darwin – 70th Anniversary - Speeches by Chief Minister
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Sunday’s Bombing of Darwin commemoration attracted a huge crowd and was broadcast around the nation. The Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, the federal Opposition Leader, the Governor-General and the Lord Mayor of Darwin all spoke about the significance of that time in our nation’s history. Darwin and the NT were showcased nationally and internationally. There was one notable exception to the speaking roster and that was you. Can you explain to the House why you did not speak?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I spoke at a number of events during the commemorations. I agree with the Leader of the Opposition that it was a very moving weekend. It was a significant weekend for the many veterans who returned to Darwin, and also the families who were caught up in the bombing of Darwin who attended a number of events. The Bombing of Darwin event on the Sunday is run by the Darwin City Council, not by the Northern Territory government. I was not invited by the Lord Mayor or the Darwin City Council to speak at that event. There were a number of events I did speak at.
We had the Prime Minister, the federal Leader of the Opposition and the Governor-General here, and I congratulate those people for coming to Darwin to recognise the importance of the 70th Anniversary. It is one that is beyond politics. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Leader of the Opposition would use the first question in Question Time today to try to politicise an event that should be beyond politics.
In regard to why I was not asked to speak at an event that was organised by Darwin City Council, I suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that he ask the Darwin City Council and the Mayor.
Bombing of Darwin – 70th Anniversary - Update on Events
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Over the weekend, I attended a number of Bombing of Darwin events and had the good fortune to hear the Chief Minister speak at a number of those. Can you update the House on the commemorations of the Bombing of Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question in a spirit of how the whole weekend was conducted, not the churlishness of the Leader of the Opposition.
It was a very significant and moving event for veterans, families and their extended families who were here 70 years ago, I congratulate everyone who was involved. We worked with Darwin City Council on a number of events. Many public servants, volunteer groups and organisations worked on this. I have to say, having attended many Bombing of Darwin commemorations over the years, this was the best organised and best attended. I also thank the media outlets throughout Australia which made a real effort to let the nation know what happened here 70 years ago.
We held a free Bombing of Darwin Commemorative AFL game and the Tiwi Dancers wowed everyone at that. The Administrator presented a plaque and a plinth that will be sunk alongside the USS Peary to commemorate the 89 United States sailors who lost their lives. More than 1000 survivors and family members attended a lunch on Friday at which I and other people spoke. It was a very significant event. We were all presented with a book, commissioned by me, from Peter and Sheila Forrest acknowledging, for the first time, the roles of civilians and families in Darwin.
Our Defence of Darwin Experience is now open for business. I pay tribute to the museum’s people in the department of NRETAS who have done an amazing job in putting together a world-class commemorative experience of the Bombing of Darwin. I spoke at that particular event as well. It was great to see the Darwin Middle School kids immersed in the experience and benefiting from that.
One of the highlights at the USS Peary commemoration was a very moving speech by the American Ambassador on the importance of the Australia-US Alliance. When I receive a copy of the speech from the Ambassador’s office, I will seek to have it incorporated into the Parliamentary Record.
Madam Speaker, this was a day to remember, to reflect, to commemorate the sacrifice, and also to recognise the spirit and great friendship we now have with the nation of Japan which we were at war with 70 years ago. I thank everyone involved in putting together the schedule of events. It was very significant; it will go down in history. I am surprised at the churlishness of the Leader of the Opposition’s comments.
Prime Minister Leadership Challenge
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Labor’s Territory President, Senator Trish Crossin, is on the record as being part of the Kevin Rudd team that is rallying behind his bid to take back his old job of Prime Minister. Will you join ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I just wonder whether this question is in order. It contains many arguments and imputations, ironical expressions ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat. I am still listening to the question and will make a decision at the end.
Mr MILLS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Chief Minister, will you join Trish Crossin, your party’s president, and will you direct Warren Snowdon to also support Kevin Rudd?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, this is not a question within your portfolio area ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! This is not a question within your portfolio area. If you wish to respond, you may do so, but the question is out of order, so you may respond accordingly.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, I am astounded. We are into Day 4, the fourth Question Time of two weeks of sittings, when I would have thought the Leader of Opposition would be asking questions of which I have carriage as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in regard to the issues that face the people of the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... but so shallow and hollow is this Leader of the Opposition, he has nothing but questions to the Chief Minister for which I have no carriage.
I would like to ask the Leader of the Opposition if he will be instructing the members for Sanderson, Goyder and Braitling to move from being supporters of the member for Fong Lim in his aspirations for the leadership. There are more who are wavering ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... given the ineptness of the current Leader of the Opposition to have any plans or policies for the people of the Northern Territory, none whatsoever.
He hides in a restaurant from the media for seven hours, so terrified is he of fronting the media and answering their questions. Now we are into Question Time on Day 4 and he has no questions for me as the Chief Minister regarding areas for which I have carriage.
Leader of the Opposition, I would imagine not only is it the member for Fong Lim, the member for Sanderson, the member for Goyder, the member for Braitling, and maybe the member for Katherine starting to waiver, the numbers are starting to move the member for Fong Lim’s way, because the Leader of the Opposition has nothing to offer the people of the Northern Territory. He has no policies, no vision, and he displays no leadership. He goes missing for days and weeks at a time between media releases ...
Mr Elferink: You get public servants to take all the hard questions.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, order!
Mr Styles: You are in that parallel universe again.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson, order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... and media comments. I ask the Leader of the Opposition, in the next question to me, can he make it relevant and in regard to something for which I have carriage?
Territory Environment – Government Protection
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
How is the Henderson government ensuring that the Territory’s unique environment is protected for future generations? Are you aware of any alternative policies that would put our environment at risk?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. This is, without doubt, the greenest government in the Northern Territory’s history ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I am very proud to be the Chief Minister of the greenest government in the Northern Territory’s history. I thank my colleagues for their support and enthusiasm for policies for Territorians and protecting our environment. It was this government which protected the Daly ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of clarification: is the Chief Minister saying a vote for Labor is a vote for the Greens?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I hear the cheers for the member for Fong Lim. The numbers are building in your favour.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen!
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Fong Lim knows how to ask a question in this House. The member for Fong Lim knows how to pose a pertinent interjection as opposed to the silence we have from the current Leader of the Opposition.
We have protected the Daly; we have opposed uranium mining near Alice Springs and Nourlangie Rock; we have introduced Cash for Containers; we have banned plastic bags; and we are implementing a comprehensive and sensible Climate Change Policy. Why are we doing these things? Because we want to maintain our environment for future generations.
These are bold reforms which have taken courage. Let us look at the opposition - the Trojan horse. We know Cash for Containers would be scrapped if they came to government. They would roll over and do the business of the big beverage industries. It would be cash for CLP, not Cash for Containers, and they would see all that litter going back into the landfill, into the rubbish tips, and across the streets of the Northern Territory.
We know they would dam the Daly and Elizabeth Rivers - these are part of their plans. We know they would have uranium mining on the doorstep of Alice Springs and also at Nourlangie Rock. We know the Leader of the Opposition had a comprehensive Climate Change Policy; he was forced to dump it by the member for Fong Lim when he instructed the Leader of the Opposition that climate change does not exist on planet Earth but it does exist on Triton. So the Leader of the Opposition rolled over. We have not heard any more of that policy. They do not even have a shadow minister for Climate Change.
They also decry scientists and say scientists who believe in climate change are on the take. I challenge the member for Brennan to go to Charles Darwin University, walk the halls of the university and tell those scientists there that they are on the take, tell them all ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... that they are on the take.
Mr HENDERSON: The Territory’s environment would be trashed if the CLP were to come to government ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Prime Minister Leadership Challenge – Chief Minister’s Support
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You and I both know it is no secret that Kevin Rudd is after Julia Gillard’s job. It is also no secret that it was Foreign Minister Rudd who played an integral part in having our live cattle trade to Indonesia resumed - and you know that. Given that Kevin Rudd was prepared to respond to that crisis caused by Gillard and Ludwig’s decision to ban the live trade, will you now join with Territory Labor President Senator Trish Crossin and back Rudd’s bid for the leadership?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 102: that question contained much argument and imputation. I believe it would come very close to being out of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 102 deals with a proxy vote. What is he talking about?
Madam SPEAKER: It is Standing Order 112. Standing Order 109 and 112 - General Rules. There were a number of arguments, inferences, imputations and epithets in that matter. It would be my view that the question is out of order. Chief Minister, you may answer the question if you wish to, but you do not need to if you do not wish to.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I would like to resist the temptation, but I cannot. There is nothing more certain than it is the member for Fong Lim who is after the Leader of the Opposition’s job. He already has four votes. The member for Katherine is wavering on the fifth vote. Perhaps the member for Drysdale ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr HENDERSON: ... should be thinking about switching camps because we know the Leader of the Opposition has a plan but he just does not have the leadership or the intentional fortitude to tell the member for Drysdale that his preselection is under threat - to tell the member for Drysdale that they actually have a couple of candidates who are after that seat, and they will probably wait until the last minute.
Member for Drysdale, if you are interested in maintaining your seat, you should move over to the member for Fong Lim’s camp if he can guarantee you your preselection.
Where there are leadership problems in the Northern Territory, they are over there. They are sitting in that chair occupied by the current Leader of the Opposition. This close to a Territory election, it is an embarrassment to have a Leader of the Opposition who has no plans, no policies, no vision for the Northern Territory, and disappears for days and weeks at a time between media releases and media conferences.
The only plans coming from the opposition are from the member for Fong Lim: the plan to backflip on Angela Pamela and to support open slather uranium mining in the Northern Territory; the plan to ditch the Cash for Containers scheme in favour of big business around Australia; the plan to ditch a comprehensive Climate Change Policy that the opposition did have …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was: will he back a Prime Minister who supports the interests of the Territory rather than being a rollover Ralph?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin! Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat. There is no point of order. The question was out of order.
Mr HENDERSON: The only policies on the opposition benches - much as we disagree with all the plans and policies from the member for Fong Lim - are the member for Fong Lim’s. He forced the Leader of the Opposition to ditch his own Climate Change Policy which he took to the last election, and also scrapped the position of shadow minister for Climate Change on those benches. I am happy to talk about leadership all through this Question Time ...
Mr CHANDLER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am just wondering whether the Chief Minister could table all these plans he has.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: We all know the member for Brennan is the Leader of the Opposition’s snitch in the leadership rumbles. It was the member for Fong Lim who ditched statehood for this term of parliament in walking away from the previous commitment to the Constitutional Convention. If you want to spend the whole of Question Time talking about …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … leadership, I will keep talking about it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, if you could resume your seat. Honourable members, 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.
I also remind honourable members of the rules regarding questions. I draw your attention to that chapter, which is Chapter XII. I would like you to bear that in mind in asking further questions.
SIHIP Housing - Repair Warranty
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
On Friday, 17 February, the ABC reported that 65 SIHIP houses in Alice Springs will need repairs to walls which have started to buckle and crack. Was there a warranty period for these houses, and how long was that warranty for? If the houses were under warranty, then shouldn’t the faulty work be repaired under that warranty by Territory Alliance and not the contingency fund? After all, wasn’t the alliance concept based on the pain or gain share principle?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for a very good question. I thought this question might have been asked earlier this Question Time by the member for Braitling because it is a very important issue. You are right; there are a number of houses in town camps in Alice Springs where - not the word buckling - there has been some bubbling in the surface paint and seal, and also some cracks within the seals. I am assured that this does not have any structural implications. It is more to do with the cosmetic look of the paint.
Regarding what has been done, that work will be remedied by the alliance. The alliance has undertaken to remedy that work. To enable that work to occur as quickly as possible, yes, the contingency fund will be utilised. I am advised that the alliance is pursuing the relevant manufacturers under the warranty, which is still current. The recompense for that will be worked out later. The most important thing is to rectify the works. It is unfortunate and I am concerned about it. However, with any major construction project, there are issues that arise during the warranty period, and this has arisen with time.
We know the Territory - the Top End and the Centre - has extreme weather conditions and temperatures, etcetera. This has arisen with time and it will be rectified. It is being rectified and there will be further work done to see whether there are any other houses affected through the work the alliance has done elsewhere which may also need rectification.
Cash for Containers – Litter Reduction Policy
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Territorians are embracing the Cash for Containers scheme in a big way, with one collection depot owner/operator collecting over 95 000 containers in just one weekend. Are you aware of any alternative policy for litter reduction?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Unbelievable - 95 000 containers in one weekend. It is a great story and one this government is very proud to support. We will keep rolling it out and we know it works. As the member said, 95 000 containers collected in one weekend.
Not only that, how many jobs have been created from this? There are literally dozens and dozens of them. I have travelled around the Territory and I have seen those jobs firsthand ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: ... I have talked to the depots, and it is really a great success story with all these small businesses. They are having a go at it. They are putting in infrastructure to support their depots and many workers are being put on to ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am curious if the minister can answer his own question: how many jobs have been created - exactly?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: There are fantastic stories coming out of this great scheme the Territory government has rolled out. Almost three million containers have gone through depots since the beginning of the scheme on 3 January ...
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Perhaps the minister can explain why a carton of beer costs $10 more and you only get $2.40 back ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat!
Mr HAMPTON: Perhaps the member for Braitling can tell Territorians, these three million containers, if the CLP gets into government it is going to put it all back into landfills, and back into rivers and creeks. How is the member for Braitling going to answer those questions from people in Alice Springs?
Madam Speaker, I understand you have also taken leadership on this, and congratulations. I understand you are putting in place arrangements for deposits from empty containers in Parliament House to be collected for a very worthwhile charity. Well done, Madam Speaker, you are leading by example, as is the government.
The question is about an alternative policy. There is nothing from the other side. We know they are divided, we know they cannot stand to talk to each other. We know the member for Brennan is hard at it with his education policy ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: ... he is hard at it with his Cash for Containers alternative but, five or six months out from an election, have we seen anything? We have seen nothing at all from the member for Brennan or the CLP. They do not talk to each other. They are too busy getting numbers and deals done inside their own Caucus. The member for Brennan tells everyone that he has a better model than Cash for Containers - it is called product stewardship. That is the member for Brennan’s gleaming model. Product stewardship is not different to a model for Cash for Containers. That is what he is telling the public ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: ... but it is misleading because he is wrong. Product stewardship does not give you 10 on a container, member for Brennan.
Madam Speaker, I will table these containers for your wonderful scheme.
Madam SPEAKER: No, minister, you cannot table bottles, I am sorry.
Prime Minister Leadership Challenge – Chief Minister’s Support
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
It has been suggested, and I am sure you would be interested in this, that Kevin Rudd will abolish, or at least delay, the introduction of Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, a tax that you know will push up prices and strangle development in the Northern Territory. You should now be acutely aware that this big, new tax was not supported by a majority of Territorians; in fact, this very parliament has formally voiced its opposition to it. Will you now back the NT Labor President, Trish Crossin’s support for Kevin Rudd’s leadership bid? Will you at least stand up for the Northern Territory in this parliament?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause before we call you ...
Mr Henderson: I am very keen to answer.
Madam SPEAKER: The question has hypothetical matter in it as well as asking for an expression of opinion, Leader of the Opposition. The question is out of order in that aspect. Would you like to reword, or I will have to call the question completely out of order? We have had two questions which are out of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker ...
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order, member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: I would like to make a point of order, Madam Speaker.
Ms Lawrie: What standing order?
Mr ELFERINK: In relation to the standing order just quoted from. The question is quite specific, Madam Speaker, as to whether or not he will support a motion of this House and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ELFERINK: The question was: would the Chief Minister support a motion of this House publicly, or will he refuse to obey the will of this parliament?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that was certainly not the question.
Leader of the Opposition, would you like to reword the question?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, it is my understanding that if an honourable member of this parliament finds a problem with the question, they make that call.
Madam SPEAKER: No, it is not actually. I have given …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I have given leeway on these things, Leader of the Opposition. I have given leeway on many occasions. Prior to calling this question, I have reminded you of the standing orders in relation to questions.
Leader of the Opposition, part of the question was in order, part of it was not. Perhaps you could reword.
Mr MILLS: All right, so the part that was in order is: Chief Minister, given that this parliament has been united in its opposition to the carbon tax, given that the Territory does not want to see this new tax that is going to stifle development in the Northern Territory, and given that there is an opportunity now with a potential change on the federal scene, will you now stand up and support the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I stand up and work hard, as hard as I can for Territorians, every single day.
What I do not do is just play silly, pedantic party politics for the sake of playing it. We have a Question Time to hold the government to account for the policies of the Northern Territory government, not for the policies of Canberra, not for the leadership issues in the Labor Party in Canberra. I am wondering about this strange convoluted conspiracy theory and strategy being run by the member for Port Darwin. Maybe he is emerging as the third candidate here. He is going to create so much consternation and confusion between the lack of policies by the Leader of the Opposition, the Lyndon LaRouche policies of the member for Fong Lim …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was in order. I ask that the honourable member answer my question. That is a significant move from the thrust of the question. Relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you can come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely. The question was about leadership. What I am talking about in terms of leadership is the comprehensive policies that we have as a government …
Mr Mills: It is about standing up for the will of this parliament and Territorians.
Mr HENDERSON: … compared to the policy-free zone being led by the Leader of the Opposition, the Lyndon LaRouche-type policies of the member for Fong Lim, and maybe it is the member for Port Darwin …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause.
Mr HENDERSON: … who is positioning himself nicely in the centre there, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, if you can come to the question, please.
Mr MILLS: Given that there is a concern about the assurance that questions are asked appropriately, I ask you to extend the same requirement on the one who answers the question. Relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: I have already asked the Chief Minister to come to the question, thank you very much, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we can see the ineptness of the Leader of the Opposition. No questions in regard to policies that they might have and the government’s policies. Questions about policies from Canberra …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the Chief Minister is not going to be relevant, I ask that you sit him down.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat, please.
Mr HENDERSON: I will point out again, on the issue of the carbon tax, that I have tabled in this House independent advice from Deloitte, a major consulting and accounting firm, saying there will be negligible impact on the Northern Territory, and that the impact would be much greater in Victoria compared to the Northern Territory. We have had that debate.
The debate here is about the lack of leadership and the fact that every day the Leader of the Opposition has been stalked by the member for Fong Lim with a knapsack on his back. Of course, we know the great strategist in the CLP, the member for Port Darwin, is also harbouring leadership ambitions if the party cannot sort itself out between the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Fong Lim. If they want to talk about leadership, get it sorted out on your own side.
Greening Our Streets Program
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
As part of Greening our Streets, it was great to be at the end of a shovel planting some trees in Philip Street and Gregory Street over January. Can you please update the House on the roll-out of the Greening our Streets program that is making streets in Darwin and Palmerston even better looking?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for the question. He is a member of parliament who does not mind getting his hands dirty and getting in with the community and on with the job.
Greening our Streets is just one of a conglomerate of our green policies that link with the Territory 2030 objective. One of those objectives is about maintaining the Territory lifestyle. We are very proud of our green policies.
In November last year, I was very pleased to go out into the community and announce that 20 streets across Darwin and Palmerston were being landscaped as part of the government’s $1m investment. The streets chosen were community driven. There was a nomination process, and I am pleased to say there were more than 150 nominations across Darwin and Palmerston. It is great when you see community-based programs, and it is really good governance when you can capture that initiative of community-based programs.
I am also proud to say that government partnered with Greening Australia, and everyone knows the incredible work they do. We were about delivering landscaping, which related to community planting days. That is what the member for Fannie Bay was talking about. He took me into his electorate and introduced me to community members. He showed me where they had planned to do their plantings. I wish I had been invited by a few members from Palmerston to look at their streets and meet their constituents.
It has delivered great results, with 19 planting days already held, and any issues ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I invite the minister to fix up the old hospital site.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, any issues we had were picked up quickly and dealt with. On each planting day, Greening Australia arrived with the plants, stakes, mulch, and advice, drive and enthusiasm. The member for Fannie Bay was quoted as saying it was the best community planting day he had ever been to. That is a good quote.
The suburbs of Bakewell, Larrakeyah, Rosebery, Leanyer, Woodroffe, Moulden, Wanguri, Wagaman, Rapid Creek, Nightcliff, Fannie Bay, Parap, Malak, Anula, Moil, Millner, Alawa and Nakara are all receiving Greening our Streets, greening our landscapes and greening our environment. We are proud to say, as a government, that many local schools were involved in the program. Around 3000 trees have already been planted.
Our government is also enhancing the urban areas of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine. There is $5m for Alice Springs. Tennant Creek has had a major tree planting as part of our urban enhancement, and what a great job on the main street of Katherine.
Aboriginal Land - Lease Payments for Local Government Facilities
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
I wonder who slashed the native plants on Tiger Brennan Drive recently!
My question is again about lease payments for local government facilities on Aboriginal land. Last week, you said:
- We recognise the shires now have the responsibility of doing business directly with the land councils. I, and this government, believe it is important that relationship now begins. It is a relationship that has not been a top priority, and it now needs to be because it is about respect.
First, isn’t providing government services to communities such as aged care centres, schools, women’s centres, health clinics, training centres, barge landings, airstrips and football ovals a sign of respect?
Second, why is it respectful for the government to pay peppercorn rental for public housing on Aboriginal land, but it is now disrespectful if local government or an Aboriginal resource association wants to build a public facility on the same land and ask for the same peppercorn rental?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Across the Northern Territory the shires are preparing for a new way of doing business with the land councils. Let me say to this House, that it is not a new concept for the land councils to invest their royalty towards wanting to improve conditions. The Anindilyakwa Land Council has been doing it for quite some time. In fact, they contributed to the $20m road project between Angurugu and Umbakumba as part of the rental that is paid to the ALC. It is not a new and fearful opportunity that we are embarking on in the Northern Territory. This is about a new way of doing business across all forms of government, and local government is very much preparing for that.
What is happening with the shires is that the councils have engaged a single lawyer to undertake negotiations with land councils. Let me repeat to this House: Aboriginal land is private land. Under the Constitution, the 1901 Constitution we are all governed by, any government that takes private land has to look at just compensation. The Northern Territory Henderson Labor government has done exactly that, made an incredibly historic decision ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance: the question was in relation to why it is okay for peppercorn rental to be paid for public houses, but it is not okay for local government asking to do the same thing.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you can come to the point please.
Ms McCARTHY: I am answering the question, Madam Speaker. This is a very important issue that cannot be explained in just three minutes. Clearly, this is about engaging with ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms McCARTHY: ... and we hear the member for Fong Lim - all he thinks about is that these communities are hellholes. That is what the CLP is about: that is what it is focused on. It does not want to see these places grow, it does not want to see the rental ...
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I know this is not my question, but relevance. Honestly, the question was about peppercorn rental payments. I also would like to know the answer to it, if the minister can provide it.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the question, please.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, the member for Katherine knows the answer. He, thankfully, for the first time – he does it in Tourism -he actually got a briefing on this! So guess what, Madam Speaker? The member for Katherine already knows the answer to this question.
I am not sure why the member for Fong Lim would want to know, because he considers them all hellholes across the Northern Territory. The CLP’s policy is to move all Aboriginal people back on to the Stuart Highway, forget about investing in the infrastructure that is necessary after the decades of underspending …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I think the minister confuses their shire and homeland policies …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat, member for Braitling.
Mr GILES: … that are moving people into the northern suburbs of Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Chief Minister’s Agreement with Member for Nelson
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You would agree with this, according to your report in the NT News. Federal Labor is self-imploding for many reasons, but not helped by the leadership crisis involving Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. That is a fact. However, you, of course, are a protected species - protected from a similar challenge because of your agreement with the Independent member for Nelson. That agreement dictates there is no challenge to you regardless of your performance. How long can this agreement hold back the leadership ambitions of Delia?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Leader of the Opposition, I remind you of the standing orders relating to questions. While I will allow this, I remind you that there are arguments, inferences, and imputations, in addition to which you referred to a senior member by her first name. I ask you to reword that part, please.
Mr MILLS: Chief Minister, how long can this agreement that makes you a protected species hold back the leadership ambitions of your deputy, the member for Karama?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is floundering in his own sea of conspiracies because he has no policies. He has no policies, he has no vision, and he has no leadership to offer the people of the Northern Territory. He is a policy-free zone and it is a leadership-free zone in the opposition.
It is not just me saying this. I remind honourable members of e-mails from the member for Fong Lim to the parliamentary CLP team a few months ago - e-mails that were comprehensively leaked to the government benches, given the state of open hostility towards the Leader of the Opposition in some sectors over there. I quote from the member for Fong Lim’s e-mail:
- We have seen little or no attempt to provide the electorate with the picture of a cohesive opposition well and truly prepared to accept the responsibility of government. The Leader’s office has lurched from crisis to crisis with the whole emphasis on saving Terry’s skin.
He then says:
- The Leo Abbott saga, for example, was a wholly unnecessary debacle with Terry continuing his personal vendetta long after the party had refused to support his position. The most recent chapter in the feud saw Terry cowering in a restaurant, hiding out from a television reporter who was armed with questions about Mr Abbott.
He goes on to say:
- The Leader’s office has become a law unto itself, treating both the party hierarchy and most of the elected members with indifference at best and disrespect and open hostility at worst.
Disrespect and open hostility, an office that lurches from crisis to crisis, with the whole emphasis on saving this inept leadership zone-free Leader of the Opposition from people on his own side.
Madam Speaker, the numbers are building, the momentum is building. I am sure members opposite do want to demonstrate leadership at the next Territory election, a leader who does have a vision for the Northern Territory - we have yet to see it. We have yet to understand what the Opposition Leader’s vision is for the Northern Territory. He had an opportunity for 45 minutes this morning to articulate, through Question Time, leadership from the Leader of the Opposition on issues that are absolutely paramount to the people of the Northern Territory.
The Gonski review was released yesterday. I would have thought a leader of the opposition would be asking some hard questions of the government about our response to that. We have health issues, educational issues, environmental, all sorts of questions, but the Leader of the Opposition has nothing. He lurches from crisis to crisis in a desperate attempt to save his own skin from the member for Fong Lim who is mounting the numbers as we speak. The Leader of the Opposition needs to do better.
Daly River – Government Action to Protect
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The Daly River is a Territory icon supporting fantastic fishing and unique wildlife. Can the minister please provide an update on how the Territory government is protecting the Daly?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. What a beautiful place the Daly River is, and what a fantastic local member they have in the member for Daly. This government has taken on tough decisions. We have made some major reforms in terms of the environment, and one of those tough decisions was around the Daly River. When we came to government, the opposition just trashed the Daly River. They were planning on wide-scale land clearing, but this government made the tough decision to put in a moratorium and get the science in place before any decisions were made.
For example, we put in place more water monitoring and better vegetation mapping. This is very important for the long-term future and development of such a beautiful region. We have beefed up the land clearing guidelines. They include buffers along the Daly that are best practice. Since the moratorium ceased, we have seen some additional land clearing carefully designed and overseen by the Daly River Management Advisory Committee. I thank all the members on that committee who have done a fantastic job over many years.
I have also recently released the Oolloo Water Allocation Plan, which outlines the proposed rules for water extraction so we do not turn the Daly into another Murray River experience. It does important things like ensuring that groundwater and surface water are managed together because we know the flow of the Daly is supported by groundwater from springs.
Government has made no apologies for taking a cautious approach to the Daly River. It has been very important to make that tough decision early and now we are getting it right. If we properly manage land clearing and water extraction, and we have a healthy catchment area, then things can progress.
I know what the member for Fong Lim thinks about water allocation plans and land clearing guidelines - he absolutely hates them. We know that the opposition has said many times that it would dam the Daly River. What an absolute disaster that would be ...
Members interjecting.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister well knows this is absolutely untrue. If he wants to make an allegation of that sort, then he can do so by way of substantive motion, not simply repeating lies to this House.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order.
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, it just goes to show that they do not talk to each other on that side of the House. There is no leadership, there is no policy, that is quite clearly the indication. We know what the member for Fong Lim thinks about environmentalists. He has called them the Green Nazis. This is what he said last week; it is absolutely outrageous. The member for Goyder has already indicated that, if the CLP were to get in government, it would review all water and land clearing guidelines and policies that government has made.
It is quite clear, if the CLP gets into government, it will trash the environment as it did before when in government ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Chief Minister’s Agreement with Member for Nelson - Achievements
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In 2008, you forced an early election on Territorians - 11 months early - and you lost six seats. Territorians have your measure. Now you only hold on to government and your job ...
Madam SPEAKER: Whoever’s phone that is, please take it outside. It may well be the media gallery; it certainly includes you as well.
Mr MILLS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Chief Minister, the fact is, Territorians have your measure. You only hold on to government and your job by striking a deal with the Independent member for Nelson that does not allow a challenge to your leadership. That agreement also lays out a list of demands made by the member for Nelson. Can you advise the House what items on that list have been achieved and what are still to be completed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, the Leader of the Opposition misses an opportunity to talk about policies that the opposition may have for the Northern Territory. They have no policies. I point out that the Leader of the Opposition, at the time we were talking about, also sought to accommodate a deal with the member for Nelson. So, once again, his hypocrisy in his part to play in all of these issues is absolutely breathtaking and astounding.
What we have is a government that is governing for all Territorians no matter where they live. The Northern Territory faces unique challenges in closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage, unique challenges that we face every day ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If it helps the Chief Minister, I have the agreement here. Can he point out …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin ...
Mr ELFERINK: Can he answer the question, Madam Speaker. He is not answering the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat ...
Mr Elferink: He should answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, can you come to the question, though.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am quite happy to table the letter from the Leader of the Opposition to the member for Macdonnell, guaranteeing the member for Macdonnell a Cabinet position …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please come to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: If he wants to talk about agreements, the agreement I have with the member for Nelson is open and it is in the public domain. It is reported on, on a regular basis, in terms of achievements for the Northern Territory under that agreement, like the Cash for Containers scheme, three million containers redeemed around the Northern Territory that they would trash if they were to achieve government. Comprehensive reforms of our Corrections system, a lot of hard work done by the member for Nelson and the Corrections minister …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … so, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, who did not even inform his own parliamentary colleagues that he was offering the member for …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, please. Chief Minister, can you come to the question, please.
Mr HENDERSON: No wonder his leadership is under threat when he offers a Cabinet position to the member for Macdonnell and does not inform his own members of parliament. That is the duplicitousness of this leadership-free zone that occupies the Leader of the Opposition’s chair.
Environment Protection – Alternative Policies
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
This government recognises that the Territory’s growth and development must be balanced with protection of our great environment. Are you aware of any alternative policies or approaches?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. No one can deny this is an extremely exciting part of the Territory’s history, with major projects such as the Ichthys gas project, the Marine Supply Base and, if I had time, I would go through the regions to talk about what is coming online across the Northern Territory.
It is about getting the balance right and that is what our government is focused on. Our government has said very clearly that we will not dam the Daly, we will protect the mangrove ecosystems, because Territorians enjoy their lifestyle, they enjoy the outdoors, and they demand that there is a balance in good planning, planning for growth, but planning that will also protect our environment. That is why we are committed to getting that balance right.
We have also made the commitment to protect Glyde Point. Glyde Point has been protected as a public space, and also a conservation zone around Leaders Creek, in acknowledging a significant area that needs to be preserved because heavy industry does not belong there. We share a commitment to the Territory to ensure we get this balance right.
The member asked if I was aware of any other policies. This is where the CLP actually says something. The CLP land use plan is out there. In the CLP land use plan, there are two dams for the Adelaide River and another dam on the Finniss River. The CLP has actually said something, and Territorians can make this comparison - two dams on the Adelaide River and a dam on the Finniss River.
However, the CLP has also put in this dusty old fossil, dragged up from decades previous, that it will dam the Elizabeth River. That is one, two, three dams for Territorians. I say damn the CLP, because …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can I ask you to withdraw, please.
Mr McCARTHY: … because, Madam Speaker …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I ask you to withdraw that, thank you.
Mr Giles: It has taken him three months to come up with that, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, withdraw that comment, thank you.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr McCARTHY: The big difference also is that the dusty old fossil from the CLP is once again looking at heavy industry. The CLP says that heavy industry should go to Glyde Point, destroying its flora and fauna. So, there are differences. We are aware …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr Elferink: We found a place for heavy industry, where are you putting yours?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is the fifth frivolous interjection and point of order you have had today. You are on a warning!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, our land use plan is out there. It has been out there for consultation and much work has been done on it. This is a government that does business in the Territory, not …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine! Member for Fong Lim!
Minister, your time has expired.
Mr McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Chief Minister’s Agreement with Member for Nelson – Achievements
Mr MILLS to CHAIR of COUNCIL of TERRITORY COOPERATION referred to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, in accordance with standing orders, I seek leave of the Assembly to ask a question of the Chair of the Council of Territory Cooperation?
Madam SPEAKER: Is leave granted?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! As long as it conforms with the standing orders around questions being directed to a chair of a committee, that it would have to be very relevant to the work of that committee. I ask you seek advice on this matter, because it is very important. We have seen questions here of questionable relevance ...
Mr MILLS: Perhaps hear the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Braitling!
Honourable members, in relation to asking questions of a chair of a committee, this can be done by leave of the House. Questions can only relate to areas which the chair has the right, having discussed it with the committee, to respond to. That is the way it works - or the answer has to be in writing.
Given this is the first time for a very significant period that anyone has asked a question of a chair of a committee, I will ask again if leave is granted?
Leave granted.
Mr MILLS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Member for Nelson, you have committed yourself and the Labor government to a process which was supposed to deliver for Territorians. In reality, it has failed us. Your agreement with the Chief Minister has really achieved very little ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: I have not heard the question yet, minister.
Mr MILLS: ... why, then, do you continue to support the leadership of the Chief Minister?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 111(c) clearly states:
- ... the Chair shall answer such questions only on the basis that answers are made on behalf of the committee.
This is a question directly to the chair of the committee, not so much about the work of the committee. I believe it is out of order according to Standing Order 111(c).
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker ...
Madam SPEAKER: I believe the member for Fong Lim called first. Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, speaking to the point of order, clearly the Council of Territory Cooperation was part of an arrangement with the Chief Minister, and that the member for Nelson would be its Chair. This is wholly in order and it is wholly relevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Did you have a further point of order, Leader of the Opposition?
Mr Mills: No, Madam Speaker. Should I be sitting down then?
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek advice.
Honourable members, I draw your attention to Standing Order 111, which is a question to the chair of a committee. Questions may be put to the chair of a committee relating to the activities of that committee. While leave has been granted, it has to be in relation to matters before the committee with the agreement of that committee. So the chair shall answer such questions only on the basis that answers are made on behalf of the committee.
Member for Nelson, the question being asked does not appear to be, in my opinion, anything to do with the workings of the committee. If you wish to respond, I will allow you to, bearing in mind Standing Order 111. It is entirely up to you, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Responding to that, Madam Speaker, I do not believe the Council of Territory Cooperation Chair should answer that question as such. I am willing to answer the question, but not from the point of view of the CTC Chair, because that was as a result of the agreement ...
Mr Tollner: Then address it. Answer it.
Mr WOOD: Madam Speaker, the member for interruptions …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you will not interrupt, please.
Mr Tollner: What, you don’t like interjections ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, the question is out of order; if you do not wish to answer, you do not need to.
Mr WOOD: I am happy to answer the question as the member for Nelson, not as the CTC Chair. Could I ask that the question be ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the member cannot answer it as Chair, there is no answer because it is out of order – Standing Order 111(b) and (c). He cannot answer it as the member for Nelson.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you stood first for a point of order, was it?
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I can see there is such a resistance to the asking of a very important question, I will now direct it to the Chief Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, are you happy to answer the question?
Mr HENDERSON: I am happy to answer any questions about leadership, Madam Speaker.
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I refer my question to the Chief Minister. In the spirit of cooperation and cover-up and the inability to have proper scrutiny of your capacity to lead the Northern Territory and address its real issues, I now direct my question to you, Chief Minister.
You have committed yourself - you have protected yourself in that agreement - and your government to a process which is supposed to deliver for Territorians – remember the speech? In reality, it has delivered very little. In fact, it has been a disappointment. Your agreement with the member for Nelson has achieved nothing. Why, then, should your leadership continue to be supported? It is about your leadership, Chief Minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a pathetic Question Time from a pathetic Leader of the Opposition who has no vision, no plans, and nothing to offer the people of the Northern Territory. All he seeks to do is demean Question Time with questions about leadership issues in the federal Labor Party that bounced back on him, leadership issues that do not exist on this side of the parliament.
Yes, I am proud of the agreement with the member for Nelson because there have been significant advances. The Council of Territory Cooperation has been a very good vehicle for bringing public servants before the committee to answer detailed lines of questioning on important issues facing the Northern Territory like child protection and SIHIP. It has delivered a good, strong, stable government for the people of the Northern Territory where we are the envy of the nation in terms of the future of this place. We are the envy of the nation in terms of employment opportunities for Australians, the envy of the nation in terms of the lifestyle that most Territorians enjoy, and we are a government that is working in partnership with Indigenous people to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
We have more doctors and nurses than we have ever had before. Since the GFC, we have created 15 000 jobs across the Northern Territory. We have opened the radiotherapy and oncology unit. We now have a clinical training school where we train our own doctors …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance: this relates to the agreement and how that specific agreement has delivered for Territorians - not a rant.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: The agreement was very much about delivering strong, good and stable government for Territorians. That is what it has delivered. I will continue: 15 000 new jobs; a new clinical training school; every school across the Northern Territory has had significant upgrades; we have more teachers than we ever had before; $1.3bn spent on infrastructure in our remote regions; new sporting facilities in Palmerston; a great new water aquarium park in Alice Springs - the list goes on.
What we have is open and transparent government, not grubby political deals like the Leader of the Opposition did with the member for Macdonnell. I will quote from his letter after he offered her a place in a Country Liberals cabinet where he says:
- This is of course a preliminary approach, made in confidence, and at this stage not discussed at a party room level.
So he is offering, in secret deals with the member for Macdonnell, cabinet positions in a future government that he has not even canvassed with his colleagues ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: That is the difference between his leadership and my leadership.
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