2009-11-26
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: I welcome guests who have come to watch Question Time today in Alice Springs, it is lovely to have you here.
Alice Springs - Housing Development
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Last night, in the censure motion regarding your appalling neglect of Alice Springs, you said, in relation to housing: ‘… this is a very significant issue and one the government has to not take its eye off for one moment …’. Three weeks ago, the Centralian Advocate ran a front page story about the state of land and housing development in Alice Springs. The headline is very stark, ‘Going Going Gone’. When will you admit you have taken your eye off the ball when it comes to land and housing development in Alice Springs and, in fact, the entire Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. He is absolutely right: the single most concerning issue in Alice Springs is land release. It is interesting that, on the last day of sittings in Alice Springs, at last, the CLP has got to the number one issue concerning local residents.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I am glad they finally reached it. We have a number of land release projects under way.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: As we said, we have been working with Lhere Artepe on Mt Johns; the first stage will provide 23 single dwelling lots, four multiple dwelling lots, and one larger block for the development of up to 50 units. The first stage has the potential to provide up to 90 dwellings, and of course, all those sold off the plan. I have had meetings with Lhere Artepe this week, and we are looking at ways to work with them to fast-track Stage 2, such has been the success of Stage 1.
I pay tribute to Lhere Artepe, the native title representative body on behalf of traditional owners, getting into the development business. It is a model I seek to encourage in the future. Lhere Artepe is working with the community in Alice Springs to be part of the solution to the housing issues in Alice Springs and is to be commended.
At Larapinta Stage 2, 39 blocks have been developed, with six set aside for first homebuyers, plus one multiple dwelling blocking for seniors public housing. The area is marketed as Ridges Estate and all blocks have been sold.
There is also considerable investment in private land release and development occurring around Alice Springs. Coolibah Tree Estate at Ragonesi Road is expected to yield 256 lots, with 62 in Stage 1. Melanka Lodge: an application has been lodged with the DCA for the redevelopment of this site to create 118 units in a five-storey structure. I recognise there is debate regarding the height of that development, and that is an issue for the community in Alice Springs to resolve. In the Stegar Road subdivision, the permit issue will provide for a number of lots down to 4000 m. In addition to this, the community has seen 17 blocks around the town rezoned over the past two years, providing up to 57 new units.
I can advise that the government is also investigating options and potential sites with the private sector for the establishment of a workers camp in Alice Springs. We are hoping to make an announcement regarding that in the not too distant future. My colleague, the Planning minister, has established a planning reference advisory group, comprising the Alice Springs Town Council, the Real Estate Institute, and other affected parties. It met this week to consider plans for the rezoning at AZRI for up to, potentially, 1200 lots of land. The advice from the Planning minister is that that application for rezoning will soon be made public.
I acknowledge and accept there are significant issues in Alice Springs regarding land release. We are working as hard as we can, not only as a government but, importantly, with the private sector …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I heard the member for Port Darwin chortling about the private sector. The private sector drives the economy. We are a government which works with the private sector across the Northern Territory, and we will do so in Alice Springs with subdivisions and land release.
Alice Springs Town Camps – Federal Court Decision
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can the you inform the House about how today’s Federal Court decision impacts on the government’s plans to improve the lives of people living in Alice Springs town camps?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. This has been a very significant decision by the Federal Court this morning about the Alice Springs town camps. Our lawyers are still digesting the full text of the decision. It is a very lengthy decision. Our initial advice is that the decision clears the way for the $100m investment in town camp housing and infrastructure to proceed. This is a decision which, pending further legal advice, we believe allows us, at last, to proceed with the investment in town camp housing and infrastructure.
I pay tribute to the Commonwealth government, Jenny Macklin in particular, for the money the Commonwealth has put on the table to transform the town camps. It is an enormous commitment of $100m. We will be working hand in glove with the Commonwealth government to build those houses. Once we know more detail, and the appeals process is clarified, we can get on with the job of building 85 new houses and improving those conditions in the town camps, very much to the benefit, not only of the residents of those town camps, but to the benefit of the entire community in Alice Springs.
In partnership with the Australian government, we are determined the full program of major work for all camps will be delivered as quickly as possible. We will be able to move ahead with the camp cleanups first, and the fix and make safe program. In the coming weeks I anticipate work will start on an initial cleanup of town camps, a fix and make safe early works program, and an on the ground assessment of civil works. Extensive surveying and planning for the major civil works program will begin immediately so that essential works on upgrading roads, power, water and sewerage can proceed in a timely and coordinated way.
Officers from the federal and Northern Territory governments will be engaging with town camp residents to ensure people are aware of the work program and to minimise disruption. Depending on the legal detail, I will be pressing, together with my colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, who has a hands-on role as Minister for Central Australia, to get work happening on the ground in the camps before Christmas.
At last, I believe we are going to see an opportunity to move forward, to do the right thing, both the Australian government and the Northern Territory government, to the benefit of those residents in the town camps, and to the benefit of the broader community of Alice Springs. I welcome the Federal Court decision today.
_______________
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Gillen Primary School Year 5/6 students, together with teachers, Mrs Fran Barlow-Fan, and Mrs Rebecca Hampton. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
_______________
Alice Springs – Housing Affordability
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
The most recent figures released by the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory show that the housing vacancy rates in Alice Springs are at an unbelievably low 0.3%. There are reports of Alice Springs residents living in cars and tents because no land is being released, no houses are being built, and house and unit prices are skyrocketing. How do you expect Alice Springs residents to buy and afford a house in this town?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the question from the member for Braitling. First and foremost, this is a problem of growth. It is a problem of a growing economy. It is a problem as a result of a strong economy and a growing population. When we look at business and investment confidence in Alice Springs, of all the problems to have, a problem associated with growth is better than a problem associated with economic contraction.
I outlined comprehensively the land release program we have and are embarked upon in Alice Springs. Contrast that with the CLP policy, which is compulsory acquisition of native title. If we were to go down that path, the one thing absolutely certain is we would be tied up in legal challenges and action for years.
We have a policy of working with the traditional owners and their representative body in regard to progressing land release. As I said, I had a very productive meeting this week with senior representatives from Lhere Artepe in Alice Springs. I will be working with our Planning minister and Lhere Artepe about expediting release at Mt Johns Valley - a very successful initial land release program which will provide up to 90 dwellings, with work to start next year. As I very clearly said, the minister will be putting out for consultation the rezoning of land at AZRI to provide for up to 1200 units of land. That application for rezoning will go out before Christmas.
We do have a plan. The private sector is playing its role, and we are encouraging them to play their role. We are working with the native title body, Lhere Artepe. We are rezoning land government owns at AZRI. We have a plan for land release in Alice Springs and we are actioning that plan.
Alice Springs Transformation Plan - Update
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can the minister please inform the House how the $150m Alice Springs Transformation Plan is dealing with social issues and reducing homelessness?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I also acknowledge children from Gillen Primary School. I visited the school last week and heard firsthand about the great work they are doing with the community at Larapinta Valley town camp. I understand they also had an event at Larapinta last night to celebrate the successful partnership they have with Gillen Primary School.
In talking about partnerships, I will talk about the $150m transformation plan with which we have a partnership with the Australian government. The transformation plan was all about giving people in town camps good housing and a safe place to live and raise their kids.
Like the Chief Minister, and many members of this Assembly, I am relieved that, as a result of today’s court decision, we can get on with the job of improving conditions on the ground in our town camps. While the court action has been under way, we have been …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, order!
Mr HAMPTON: While the court action has been under way, we have been moving ahead with providing funds for innovative social support programs and reducing homelessness. In addition to the $100m to improve the town camp housing and infrastructure, there is also $50m …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can you ask the minister to table the document he is reading from?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is it a public document or is it notes?
Mr HAMPTON: No, it is notes, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no need to table it, thank you. Please continue, minister.
Mr HAMPTON: They just do not want to hear the good news, do they?
In addition to the $100m to improve the town camp housing situation, there is also $50m, which will improve social services and deliver programs on the ground to improve the lives of town camp people. Stakeholders are providing advice and developing proposals in a real grassroots effort.
Last week, with the federal minister, Jenny Macklin, I announced $1.6m for the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress to expand its targeted family support program. That is an early intervention program to help vulnerable families, aimed at preventing children from entering the child protection system. In addition, an extra $100 000 has been provided to Congress to employ another alcohol counsellor. I attended its AGM last week and the news was very warmly welcomed. Congress told me that this announcement will help it support another 40 families on town camps in Alice Springs.
There is a commitment for a Communities for Children program as well, which is $3m over three years; and almost $90 000 has been provided to the town council to continue with its successful dog control program with Tangentyere. One hundred new temporary accommodation beds have been announced to provide managed accommodation for people waiting for public housing. The Alice Springs Transformation Plan team is working hard to secure a site for short-term managed accommodation also.
I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders and town camp residents, with the aim of a better life and living standards for those children and families living on our town camps.
Alice Springs - House Prices
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
That was an interesting statement to listen to. It is good to hear about the town camp decision today and the $150m program which will build around 40 houses.
The same Real Estate Institute report referred to in the previous question by the Leader of the Opposition shows that the median price of a house in Alice Springs is $410 000, up 9.2% on the June quarter, and a massive 30.4% on the same time period last year. Can you explain why house prices in Alice Springs have gone through the roof, and the links between cost of housing and reports of people living in cars and tents in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. Obviously, the member for Braitling wants to see the value of people’s homes in Alice Springs actually decrease. That is the logical inference of what he wants. He wants to see, and the CLP want to see …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … people’s house prices decrease …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … that is the inference, that somehow a 9% increase in the value of the greatest asset someone builds in their life, for most people, is somehow a bad thing. That was the inference from the question put by the member for Braitling.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: It is obvious that if the CLP had its way, they would enact policies to actually see people’s house values decrease. That would be the CLP’s policy.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I have explained that we live in a market economy where there are the forces of supply and demand. Given the strength of demand, given the fact that we are a government which has delivered a growing economy, 4000 new jobs in the Northern Territory in the last year, everywhere else in Australia and most places around the world …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … the dole queues were lengthening. A growing economy increases pressure on demand, and we are responding on the supply side of the equation. As I announced, we are working with the private sector, working with Lhere Artepe, releasing government land and rezoning government land.
We will do that in a controlled way which does not see the greatest asset that most people own in their life get devalued, as was the inference in the member for Braitling’s question.
Retirement Age – Workers’ Compensation for Over 65s
Mr WOOD to Minister for Senior Territorians
The Prime Minister says that his government will increase the age of retirement. This means that people will have to stay in the workforce longer. In the Territory, we have limits on worker’s compensation which restrict older people working past the age of 65. The former Minister for Senior Territorians, Matthew Bonson said, on 6 August 2008, that he would review this. Will the Northern Territory government change the legislation to allow older people to continue working safely, if they wish to, above the age of 65?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for the question. This is a very interesting question. It was first raised with me on my recent visit to the Old Timers Home, where I met with the Director of Nursing and some interesting senior Territorians. What a wonderful place that is for our seniors. This is an important opportunity for me to talk about the background and the knowledge our seniors provided for me.
Regarding the age of retirement and workers compensation, I took that concern back, and I have been advised that, if the federal government does raise the retirement age, we would look at our legislation where appropriate. The minister and the Treasurer have advised me the minister is looking at that. We hope to be able to …
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I will leave it at that. I know what has happened.
AZRI Site – Release of Rezoning Proposal and Time Frame for Land Release
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
In your last response, you said you are working on the supply side of land release. However, yesterday, in response to the opposition’s censure motion, you said:
- The Lands minister is going to release, very soon, a rezoning proposal for the AZRI site to release up to 1000 blocks of land.
Exactly when will the Lands minister release the rezoning proposal? Further, how much is in the forward estimates, and what is the time frame for the headworks and other infrastructure necessary to expedite this housing development? When will the first block be turned off?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. It is a good question. The Minister for Planning and Lands has a very good answer for it. I will hand it to her.
Ms LAWRIE (Planning and Lands): Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. The CLP never asks me questions, even if it is directly in my portfolio. They will skip around anywhere else but ask me the question. You wonder why!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, the Northern Territory government has a very progressive approach to land release in Alice Springs, in contrast to the CLP. Under the CLP, Alice Springs became landlocked - for a very good reason. They refused to negotiate with the native title holders of Alice Springs. They stuck their head in the sand and they would not negotiate with the Lhere Artepe. In stark contrast, Labor came to government, recognised the need for land supply in Alice Springs, and immediately went in to negotiations with the Lhere Artepe to turn off land in Alice Springs.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We negotiated the first Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Lhere Artepe, which is Larapinta, which has seen Stirling Heights and Ridges Estate turning off in Alice Springs. We continued negotiations with Lhere Artepe, which is providing for Mt Johns Valley. Stage 1 of Mt Johns Valley was very successful at sale. We are negotiating Stage 2 release of Mt Johns Valley. The future yield of Mt Johns Valley is around 700 lots. It is a critically important land release for Alice Springs.
We did not rest there. We held a planning forum for Alice Springs, with the people of Alice Springs, where 120 people attended. We took them through all the land supply options for Alice Springs, including the costings of headworks, down to the detail of what it would cost to turn that off per lot. Out of that came the idea, and the priority set by the people of Alice Springs, to turn off land south of The Gap, at AZRI.
That is a remarkable change, if you like, in the growth thinking and growth plans, in a planning sense, for Alice Springs. It was a change because we provided the people with Alice Springs with the real information.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister feels it is her need to reinvent history, but she fails to answer the question. The question is very clear: when will AZRI be released, blocks turned off, what about the forward estimates? Answer the question …
Ms Lawrie: I am getting to it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, there is no point of order …
Mr TOLLNER: Do not take a piece of history and change it to suit your socialist views …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Ms LAWRIE: The planning forum set the priority of AZRI, and in there was provided the headworks details. We have been on the public record on that; it is on the DPI planning site. If the CLP was not so lazy, they could get this information by simply going to, the DPI website. The headworks for AZRI will cost in the vicinity of $20m to $30m. That estimate is based on the advice from Opus Qantec McWilliam.
In terms of the planning for AZRI, I established an Alice Springs Planning Advisory Committee, co-chaired by the Mayor, Damien Ryan, and the Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton, including Alice Springs stakeholders. Because it was such a dramatic change in the planning for growth of Alice Springs to go south of The Gap, I wanted a local planning advisory committee to steer that through in terms of their advice. I put the planning proposal for AZRI’s rezoning to the planning committee. They approved it. It is going on public exhibition tomorrow and will remain on public exhibition until 22 January. I invite everyone in the Chamber today to look at that and to put in their submissions.
We genuinely need to hear from the people of Alice Springs on the AZRI subdivision. As you have heard from the Chief Minister, up to 1200 lots are to be released there. As the minister, and as the Treasurer, I am prepared to develop AZRI. We have been going down this path to do that. We want to hear, finally and reasonably, from the people of Alice Springs as to whether they want to head south of The Gap to that extent …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I asked when will the first blocks be turned off. I hope the minister can answer that.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: He does not understand the process. Public exhibition is a statutory requirement. It starts tomorrow and closes on 22 January. That will then be heard by the Development Consent Authority in Alice Springs. They will then provide a report to the Planning minister. I am hopeful that will go through, because I want to get on with developing at AZRI. It is a decision, fundamentally, to be made by the people of Alice Springs by their submissions to the DCA. I sincerely encourage you to put in your submissions. The exhibition opens tomorrow; submissions close 22 January …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A block cannot be turned off, you fool, until the people of Alice have said that is they want to do and we change the planning scheme.
Climate Change – Circulation of Inaccurate Material
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CLIMATE CHANGE
The whole nation is focused on getting a good outcome on climate change. Strong political leadership is required to get this outcome. Are you aware of certain groups circulating inaccurate and unhelpful information about climate change at this important time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for a very important question. It is a subject that causes great discomfort for the CLP. We are at a very challenging time at the moment in terms of Australia’s response to climate change, and a vote that is going to be taken in the Senate, either tonight or tomorrow night. Strong political leadership is required in the country at the moment on what is, globally, the largest problem affecting our world.
Climate change is real. It is not something that happens on Triton and Mars, as the member for Fong Lim believes. All of us, as leaders, and Malcolm Turnbull, have had a tough couple of days …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I draw your attention to Standing Order 114. A question which has been asked – and this question was asked yesterday – and fully answered cannot be repeated.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not the same question. It is a different Question Time.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I have further information for the House this afternoon. It goes to the leadership credibility of the Leader of the Opposition; his leadership on this issue is weak and ineffectual. It is also somewhat conflicted in regard to what is the real position of the Country Liberals. What signals are the CLP sending to the public about climate change?
I have a document which I will table at the end of my answer. This document is currently being circulated by a life member of the CLP, a very senior member of the Central Council - Graeme Lewis - to many members of the business community in the Northern Territory. It is from the president of a group called climatesceptics.com.au. They are going through a process of registering as a political party at the moment. A number of those people in the business community have contacted me, absolutely appalled that the CLP is peddling this type of rubbish.
This is a completely discredited bunch of crooks. Its leadership believes in world conspiracies. This really is nutsville. In fact, the Climate Sceptics advocate more carbon dioxide should be released into the atmosphere despite all the scientific evidence. This is the type of information being peddled by the Country Liberals. I go to one of the pages, where it says:
- The ETS is not fairy tale stuff.
It is very likely to be voted into Australia this November.
It will mean Australia’s economy will become the equivalent of Cambodia’s within 10 years.
This is the type of rubbish being distributed by the Country Liberals. I want to know whether the Leader of the Opposition supports this document? On Tuesday, I asked the Leader of the Opposition to show some authority in his party, bring people to heel, and have a position on this. Then, on Wednesday, I asked him to contact Nigel Scullion. The Country Liberals, supposedly, have a policy to support a national approach to climate change and ETS. I asked him to get Nigel Scullion to abide by Country Liberals policy and support and vote in favour of this legislation …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Every time a question is raised in this House - and you did this yourself yesterday - naming a person who does not have the capacity to defend themselves in this House, you counselled the questioner …
Madam SPEAKER: That is correct. Thank you, member for Port Darwin.
Mr ELFERINK: … and I urge you to also counsel …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you may resume your seat. In fact, I have that piece of paper in front of me. I was about to remind the Chief Minister but he only mentioned the person’s name once. I remind you of our freedom of speech, and to caution you, Chief Minister, in relation to people who do not have a right of reply.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely, Madam Speaker, and I …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member for Port Darwin to withdraw that comment.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, member for Port Darwin, I ask you to withdraw.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘grub’.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the Country Liberals do not like this, because they have been caught red-handed. They are riddled with people on the other side and in the party who are climate change sceptics. I asked the Leader of the Opposition to show some leadership, get Nigel Scullion - who is supposed to, I would have thought, in a political party, abide by party policy - to support the supposed party policy on this particular issue. Obviously, that is not going to happen.
As I said, I have been contacted by a number of people in the business community who had this document circulated to them in regard to subverting confidence in the science on the issue of climate change, and the need for Australia and the Northern Territory to act.
There is one of two things happening here: either the party is a bunch of climate change deniers, or climate sceptics, or, the Leader of the Opposition has no authority, no control within his own party.
Alice Springs – Public Housing Wait Times
Mr GILES to MINISTER for HOUSING
At the last sittings of parliament, you tabled a document outlining waiting times for public housing in Alice Springs. The figures you tabled were: one-bedroom houses, a wait of 35 months, that is nearly three years; two-bedroom houses, a wait of 31 months, also nearly three years; three-bedroom houses, nearly four years; four-bedroom houses, nearly five years, or over five years. Despite these horrendously long public housing waiting lists, we find that, right across Alice Springs, there are public housing properties lying vacant for months and months, if not years on end. Why do you continue to neglect the people of Alice Springs by not addressing the public housing crisis?
____________________
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Year 4/5 Ross Park Primary School students, with their teachers Mrs Gemma O'Brien and Mrs Bev O’Callaghan. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
____________________
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Braitling would have been in the Chamber last night and heard my contribution in relation to public housing. He really has led with his jaw, and it is a glass jaw, as we know in this House. He does not like it. He likes to give it but he does not like to take it.
As I mentioned, the township of Alice Springs has 888 Territory Housing properties, public housing dwellings, for the most needy in our community. People in this gallery might be interested to know that, in the last five years of the CLP government, 735 public housing properties were sold.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister might like to tell Alice Springs residents that they sold more than 2000 public housing properties in eight years.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat, member for Braitling.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The member for Sanderson continues to get the sell-off figures wrong. If he had asked me, I would have told him he is not including industry housing which still remains with public housing in the figures.
I will quote those figures. In the last 10 years, there has been a sell-off of around 2700 properties; 2100 of those were the CLP’s. That is shameful. In Alice Springs, we would have had double the number of public housing properties for the most needy in our community if you did not have a policy of selling them off. The minister at the time was quite glowing; they actually had a strategy for selling them. Seven hundred and thirty-five properties …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Housing Minister might like to explain to Territorians, Alice Springs residents …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: I have not reached my point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat. Minister, continue with the answer, please.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I have highlighted, the sell-off cannot continue. We have to grow public housing here, not only in Alice Springs …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can the minister explain why he sold public housing properties to pay for the waterfront?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, that is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting. Member for Braitling!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, it was actually the member for Drysdale.
Madam SPEAKER: Whoever it is over there, settle down. Contain yourselves.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, maybe the teachers from the school would like to separate them. That is what they do with the naughty boys on my right.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, continue with the answer, please.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, it is a very serious subject, because these properties are for the most needy in our society. We cannot sell off those properties. We would have had 1500 of those properties in Alice Springs if there had not been a mass coordinated sell-off. We currently have two four-bedroom homes being completed in Alice Springs, available to large families. Through the stimulus money, the money the CLP voted against, we are getting more short- term and crisis accommodation online as well. It is a good result: 70 new bedrooms coming online through the stimulus package. This government is fully aware of the need for public housing, and is growing public housing.
Alice Springs Police Station - Upgrade
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
This year, $6m was allocated to upgrade the Alice Springs Police Station. Will this allocation cover the real cost of the upgrade? If the cost exceeds $6m, will the government commit to meeting the additional cost? When will this upgrade commence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. I can confirm there is $6m available in the budget this year to upgrade Alice Springs Police Station. We are currently considering three options regarding those upgrades. The $6m will be expended on upgrading Alice Springs Police Station.
This is a government which has invested heavily in infrastructure for our police force right across the Northern Territory. Much of the infrastructure is old and run down, and has to be expanded, given the 300 extra police we have recruited since we came to government.
We are currently studying three options, which are being costed. The police station in Alice Springs will receive a $6m upgrade.
Country Liberals Housing Policy
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Please update the House on the effects of the Country Liberals housing policy released this week?
Mr Mills: Can you tell us how many briefings you received?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Ms LAWRIE: They are very sensitive today, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: When they settle. They truly are a rabble. We are used to that, but I do not think the people of Alice Springs have seen such a rabble in quite a while.
The Country Liberals housing policy released this week by the Leader of the Opposition provides not a new house and, if they attempted anything as ridiculous as contained in the policy, it would drive prices of Territory houses upwards.
I will step through some of the bizarre things. There are no new ideas in there, just some rehashed, failed election commitments which were seen through at election time. The land …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: They are a little sensitive.
The land identified in Alice Springs could not be turned off for years and years - Undoolya and Larapinta Stage 3. Larapinta Stage 3 has significant sacred site issues, otherwise we would have already turned it off. Undoolya has significant salinity issues; the Opus Qantec McWilliam report states that very clearly. If you looked at the DPI website you would see it. There are also native title issues. The Country Liberals policy of compulsorily acquiring native title land would see it locked up in the courts for years. We know, even if you would finally drag yourself through the courts and win - when we think you would actually fail through the courts ….
Mr Elferink: You are wrong.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: If you look at the Undoolya costs and compare AZRI, I mentioned before that the AZRI headworks cost to government, therefore the taxpayer, is $20m to $30m. The headworks costs at Undoolya - and for those who want to know what headworks are, it is provision of power, water, sewerage, and roads - over $200m. Over $200m for a smaller yield - that is their brilliant policy.
Homestart - get on the website, you will find it. Homestart is contained within the policy. They did not restrict this area of taxpayer-funded housing in the private sector to first homebuyers, it was based on principal place of residence. Therefore, anyone who currently owns a home - open slather. You could get the taxpayer to cough up 49%, almost 50%, of the cost of a $500 000 house. You could have the richest person in the Territory say: ‘Okay, thank you very much. I will take that little bonus. I will buy that $500 000 house, move into it, because it is my principal place of residence’. The taxpayer has to cough up $250 000’. That is their bizarre way of dealing with the issue of housing affordability.
It is the most bizarre policy, with failing to see any real change, any delivery of new houses, any understanding of what land is ready, and closer and affordable to turn-off at affordable housing prices for the people of Alice Springs. You are simply confused. You have no idea. It is a failed plan.
Member for Nelson – Request for Demountable Office Accommodation
Mr TOLLNER to CHIEF MINISTER
In today’s Northern Territory News, the Labor member for Nelson claims that he is not …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, no ...
Mr TOLLNER: Here you go. What now?
Madam SPEAKER: Just refer to the member as the member for Nelson, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: But he joined the Labor camp.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, if you wish to continue the question, I suggest you change your question.
Mr TOLLNER: Okay, I will start again.
In today’s Northern Territory News, the member for Nelson claims that he is not being provided with a demountable office to house the extra staff provided by you in exchange for his support of your lame, stagnating, internally-divided and shambolic government …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is not what I stated.
A member interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr WOOD: If it is in the paper, and you believe it, you are welcome.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, if you wish to, you can approach me to make a personal explanation.
Mr TOLLNER: I will continue. On 29 October this year, a tender was awarded to Fleetwood Pty Ltd for the sum of $170 520 to construct, supply and install new office demountable and services at Lot 42 Smyth Road, Howard Springs. Lot 42 Smyth Road, Howard Springs is the location of the Howard Springs Shopping Centre, the same location where the member for Nelson has his electorate office.
Why is a government-funded office demountable being installed at the Howard Springs Shopping Centre, right next to the member for Nelson’s electorate office? Will it be used by the member for Nelson, the member for Nelson’s staff, ministerial staff, or NT public servants? What is the purpose of the office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the vitriol, the bile and poison the member for Fong Lim carries in the sentiment that he brings to that question. That was evidenced the other night in the adjournment debate.
The agreement I have with the member for Nelson is not an unusual agreement. It is a type of agreement that has been entered into by a number of minority governments across Australia’s political history, including the Greiner government in New South Wales. For the member for Fong Lim to impugn there is anything wrong in regard to this agreement is nothing more or less a reflection on his flawed character.
My advice is that the contract is not going ahead.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has already finished the question.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, I would like to table the request for …
Madam SPEAKER: No, you do not have the call. Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim, you do not have the call.
Mr Tollner: Getting bitter, Burnsy!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat!
Alice Springs - Infrastructure Projects Update
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you please update the House on the infrastructure projects under way in Alice Springs and Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. I know she also has close connections to Central Australia. This is a good news story. I know the member for Greatorex will just love this one. It is all about protecting jobs and infrastructure in Central Australia.
This financial year, the Treasurer announced a record $1.3bn infrastructure budget across the Northern Territory. That is protecting around 2500 jobs. In Central Australia, we have not missed out. Approximately $293m is to be spent in the 2009-10 financial year in Central Australia alone. That is about 21% of the overall infrastructure budget. This is a record investment in the region - $110m more than last year’s record. Most importantly, $72m of that is already under way in the first four months of this financial year. Industry has certainly welcomed this quick injection of dollars.
One area, in particular - while we have the students here from Ross Park - is education. That is something the Henderson Labor government really values.
In Alice Springs, we have the building of the youth hub coming together. This week, the Chief Minister and I were at the Alice Springs High School campus where we looked at the new works under way by Asbuild (NT), a local building company, to renovate and upgrade the facilities in preparation for next year and the new Centralian Middle School.
In my electorate, schools such as Yuendumu and Lajamanu are benefiting. Also, in the Utopia region, we have already opened a new middle school at Alparra.
Through our partnership with the Australian government and Building the Education Revolution dollars - which I know the opposition really loved – there is $35m for Central Australia alone. That is for major upgrades to every primary, secondary and high school. I have recently been through some of the schools in Alice Springs, including in the member for Greatorex’s electorate at Acacia Hill and Sadadeen Primary School. They are very excited about the new classrooms going up ready for next year.
In the member for Braitling’s electorate, at Braitling Primary School, they are very excited, as well as the School of the Air. The Gillen Primary School - I know the member for Araluen does a lot of hard work there - is very excited about the new buildings being built there.
$60m this financial year is going into health infrastructure in Alice Springs - $59m into the new accident and emergency service department in our hospital. There are many more dollars flowing into our remote clinics in the region of Central Australia.
For an issue which is close to my heart – roads - there is $50m. In my electorate, the Tanami and the Pine Hill Access Road at Ti Tree are getting a significant injection of dollars, particularly at Pine Hill, which is going to support the growing horticulture developments and support jobs for local Anmatjere people. There are also upgrades for the Santa Teresa Road, Kintore Road, Maryvale Road, and the Sandover Highway.
This government is totally committed to Alice Springs and Central Australia. These examples of the huge investment the Treasurer and this government is putting into infrastructure in Central Australia clearly demonstrates this commitment. I am proud to be a member of this government. I look forward to more programs and infrastructure initiatives being delivered in Alice Springs, my home town, in 2010.
Araluen Arts Centre – Exhibition Space for the Alice Prize
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
The Alice Prize is a prestigious national art award which has been running for 39 years. It attracts entrants from around Australia and is the only Northern Territory art award which is open to anyone. It has previously been exhibited in Gallery 1, overflowing into Gallery 3, and high-class galleries of international standard. This year, the Alice Prize will be exhibited in Gallery 1, and overflow to Witchetty’s, the revamped restaurant, which is substandard, with inadequate lighting and airconditioning.
Why will your department not relocate the Origins to Innovations: Aboriginal Art in Central Australia Exhibition, as it was for the Desert Mob Art Exhibition, from Gallery 3 to Witchetty’s for the period of the Alice Prize? Will you establish a board comprising representatives from all community stakeholders, other users of the precinct, and Friends of Araluen to develop a draft Araluen Cultural Precinct Development Plan?
Will your department construct, under your A Working Future policy, a world-class gallery to be built at Hermannsburg, one of the growth towns, to display the very important Western Desert Art, to provide the opportunity for Indigenous employment and business, give artists a sense of worth, and tourists the opportunity to purchase art from the artists while travelling the Red Centre Way?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The Henderson government is committed to developing our arts sector, and a brilliant jewel in the crown is the Araluen Cultural Precinct, which I have had the pleasure of visiting many times in my brief time as the minister.
Member for Nelson, I have to say there has been much misinformation around this issue. I have done my best to get to the bottom of this. It is important to note that the Araluen Arts Centre aims to present, promote, develop and support art industry development in Alice Springs and Central Australia, and that means working together with individual artists, organisations and stakeholders.
You are correct. In 2009, Gallery 3 in the Araluen Arts Centre was devoted to the permanent display of the exhibition Origins to Innovations: Aboriginal Art in Central Australia. This development was a key component of the Moving Alice Ahead strategy. Contrary to the misinformation, Gallery 3 was not used for local exhibitions. It has always been used to display the Araluen Collection. The permanent exhibition I talked about acknowledges the importance of the Aboriginal art movement in Central Australia, and is a key development in recognising that development, the history, and also a key component of displaying the Araluen Collection.
This decision was made with regard to a number of visitor surveys. What it reflects, for the people of Alice Springs and Central Australia, is not only a national interest, but also international interest in Indigenous art. The exhibition is the first part of a staged development at the Araluen Cultural Precinct. It assists audiences to gain an appreciation of Aboriginal art and culture across all regions and language groups in Central Australia.
In association with the opening of that, you might be interested, member for Nelson, that Witchetty’s Gallery had a major makeover. I was there the other day, and it has become another gallery available in the Araluen Cultural Precinct.
In relation to this move that has created some of the concerns, visitation to the Araluen Art Centre galleries has increased by approximately 20%, which is good news for the Araluen Cultural Precinct.
In relation to the exhibition of the Alice Prize, an exhibition agreement was signed by the Araluen Art Centre and the Alice Springs Art Foundation in July 2009 for the display of the Alice Prize exhibition in Gallery 1 and Witchetty’s from 30 April to 6 June 2010. In addition, the Araluen Art Centre has agreed to support the 2010 Alice Prize exhibition by staffing the exhibition on weekends, with gallery sitters to be provided by the Alice Springs Art Foundation on weekends for the duration of the exhibition. Support has also been offered with two extra weeks’ display space at no charge.
Member for Nelson, to conclude, I believe this issue has brought the community together. It has brought back the Friends of Araluen and the founders of this wonderful piece of culture in the Centre. It has all stakeholders talking, and it has informed the draft development plan for the Araluen Cultural Precinct. In terms of a major icon for Indigenous art, yes, I support that, and I hope to be able to work, as the minister, towards achieving that. It will take a lot of work. As you know, it has a lot of support, and what better way to celebrate our Indigenous art in the Northern Territory.
Smoking Bans in Licensed Premises
Mr STYLES to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
On 1 July 2008, your predecessor, Chris Burns, announced a ban on smoking inside pubs, clubs and other licensed venues, which is due to take effect on 2 January 2010. The opposition and Independent member, Gerry Wood, both wholeheartedly support this ban, but are concerned the government has failed to detail to pub and club owners the guidelines under which this ban will operate, namely, whether an outdoor shade structure constitutes indoor or outdoor. Why has your government left pub and club operators in the lurch, and what do you propose to do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am surprised he has no idea about the Tobacco Control Act and the definition of an enclosed area. He has no idea of the guidelines, developed at the request of the industry when my predecessor, the member for Johnston, announced that from 2 January 2010 we will ban smoking inside. For his benefit, it is very easy to download from the Internet. I will read the definition. An ‘enclosed public area’ is:
- a place, or a part of a place, that is used or is intended to be used by members of the public and has a ceiling or roof and … is completely or substantially enclosed by walls, windows, blinds, curtains or other objects, materials or things;
Further, guidelines were developed to assist the industry to interpret what an enclosed area is. It explains that if a public place has no roof or ceiling, it will not generally be considered substantially enclosed. It also says about the proportion of the place that is open, if the area of the public place that is open is greater than 75% of the total surface area of the ceiling or roof, and there are walls and windows, then the premises would not be considered substantially enclosed, and therefore the smoking prohibition in the act does not apply.
We have legislation which defines what is an enclosed area, and guidelines have been provided to the Australian Hotels Association to help them understand the legislation. In addition, our government offered funding to the Australian Hotels Association NT for the engagement of an industry compliance officer in order to assist them in explaining and applying the guidelines.
I do not understand how the member for Sanderson says this government has done nothing. Obviously, he has not done his homework.
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