2011-10-20
RAAF Houses in Eaton - Future
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, you met with the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith. Are you still supportive of federal Labor’s plan to demolish almost 400 houses and a suburb that would cost around $1bn to replace? Can you update the House on discussions you had with him on the future of the RAAF Base houses in the suburb of Eaton?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what I can say is that Warren Snowdon, as the minister responsible for those houses, has announced that it would be more expensive to upgrade those houses to current standards for Defence personnel than to replace them. They have had a comprehensive review …
Mr Tollner: You will not stand up for Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: There has been a comprehensive review. It is the other side of the House which talks about getting value for money all the time. We want our Defence personnel housed to the best standards of accommodation as possible. The review …
Mr Chandler interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan!
Mr HENDERSON: … has determined that it would be more expensive to upgrade those houses than to replace them. As I understand it, a third of the land at the RAAF Base will be used for replacement housing. Up to 130 new homes will be built …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan!
Mr HENDERSON: I can also announce today that Stephen Smith, the Defence Minister, made an announcement at Robertson Barracks and at Larrakeyah that more than 900 units will be built for Defence personnel at a cost of around $200m, which would see 500 jobs created in our economy. That is what I call a federal government that has a commitment to our serving Defence Force personnel, wants our serving Defence Force personnel and their families in the best quality accommodation that it can provide, as opposed to having them in substandard accommodation. These clowns opposite would have them in substandard accommodation not up to standards that those troops and their families require. I commend the Australian government’s commitment to 900 units of accommodation at Robertson Barracks and Larrakeyah. I welcome the $200m injected into our economy. I welcome the 500 jobs that will be created with that announcement of another 130 new homes to come at RAAF Base Darwin. I call that a great outcome for our Defence Force personnel and …
Mr Tollner: You are a fool!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: … a great outcome for jobs and our economy. The fools opposite …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, withdraw, thank you. I have asked you to withdraw, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, the fact is …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim withdraw, please.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, those opposite would have those families living in run-down accommodation as opposed to $200m-worth of new expenditure, 500 new jobs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … and first-class accommodation for Defence Force personnel and their families. A great win for the Territory, a great win for Defence Force personnel and their families …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
Supplementary Question
RAAF Houses in Eaton - Future
RAAF Houses in Eaton - Future
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You did not answer the question and I will give you another opportunity. Was the topic regarding the 400 houses in the suburb of Eaton actually raised during your discussions? Can you please make available the comprehensive review that you referred to in your previous answer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very happy to once again say this is a great outcome for our Defence Force personnel. Nine hundred new units of accommodation; 130 new homes at RAAF Base Darwin …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr HENDERSON: … 500 jobs for the Northern Territory …
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, Chief Minister.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am sure the Chief Minister heard the question. The least he can do is try to answer it rather than rattle on about nonsense.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. Chief Minister, if you can come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thanked the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, for his commitment to our brave Defence Force personnel who serve our nation overseas and at home. I thank them for their support of families in the Northern Territory. I did raise the issue, and I was advised by Stephen Smith that the review commissioned by Warren Snowdon had shown that those houses were beyond economic repair, that it would cost more money to repair them than to keep them, and it is a great day for Defence personnel in the Territory …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! It was only the first question, honourable members …
Mr Tollner: Oh well, goodness me, you would expect an answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I was actually speaking not you, thank you.
United States Defence Force in Darwin
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Despite the carping and whingeing on the other side, your meeting with minister Stephen Smith was for very important discussions for the Northern Territory. Can you please advise the House on your discussions with the Defence Minister today?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: No, there is no point of order. The Chief Minister has only just been called.
Mr ELFERINK: It is on the question, Madam Speaker. Standing Order 114 says that a question fully answered cannot be renewed. The question that has just been asked has already been fully answered.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Do not call any further frivolous points of order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, can I ask that the clock be reset so I have my full three minutes allocation?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes.
Mr HENDERSON: I thank the member for her question. As well as talking about housing, I had some very important discussions with the Defence Minister in regard to the Australian Defence Force Posture Review which was called for by the Defence Minister a couple of months ago, as well as the United States Global Force Posture Review that has been under way for some time.
Our alliance as a nation with the United States is rock solid. It is an important alliance for our nation. In Darwin, in particular, we are used to Defence visits from time to time, joint exercises, ship visits, and the like. What I can say to the House and to Territorians today is that the Australian government is looking to work with the United States to see better collaboration between our armed forces. I can say very clearly to this House and to Territorians that no one is talking about a permanent United States base. That is not part of the discussions and certainly not part of current Australian government policy.
All facilities - and we are used to them in the Northern Territory and Alice Springs - are joint facilities. What is being considered between the Australia government and the US government is more exercises, more visits, more boats, planes and troops moving through the Top End; an increased level of activity and joint training exercises; and joint use of Australian Defence facilities.
Also under discussion is potential for the location of US stores and equipment here for humanitarian and relief aid purposes. We live in a part of the world prone to significant natural events and forces - terrific earthquakes, tsunamis, and cyclones - and there are discussions about the US pre-deploying humanitarian and relief equipment in Darwin for deployment to our region.
I have had a number of discussions with the Defence Minister since he announced the Australian Defence Force Posture Review. This was his first visit here as Defence Minister and he is very welcome. He attended Robertson Barracks and thanked the troops for their incredible service to this nation under very difficult circumstances in Afghanistan. He visited other facilities in Darwin as well as announcing more than 900 new units of accommodation at Robertson Barracks and Larrakeyah, a $200m injection into our economy, and 500 new jobs.
I thank the current Australian government and Stephen Smith for working with the Northern Territory government as we work through what may happen in the future with increased US troops working through the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Defence Support Hub – Lease to United States Military
Mr BOHLIN to CHIEF MINISTER
The Defence Support Hub outside Robertson Barracks is fast turning into another Labor white elephant. You have failed to attract a single enterprise to the hub. You have not delivered on the investment, jobs and services you promised nearly six years ago. The lot remains vacant.
The United States military has expressed an interest in pre-positioning equipment in our region for disaster and humanitarian relief. Will you consider the Country Liberals’ advice and now offer the lease – this vacant land – to the US military?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. That Defence park is very much a strategic asset of the Northern Territory government in attempting to attract prime contractors to service and support facilities at Robertson Barracks. As honourable members with any understanding of this issue would know, Defence procurement is an incredibly complex labyrinth of bureaucracy to work through. We have been very visionary in providing a significant and strategic piece of service land. Discussions are taking place with a number of prime contractors; however, many of the issues go to what the Australian government and the Department of Defence are calling for in their tenders in regard to how facilities and equipment are to be maintained in the Northern Territory.
It is a strategic asset. We are open to any view from the Defence Forces as to how that asset can be best utilised to support the Defence presence in the Northern Territory. It is 53 ha of land available to support Defence deployment in the Northern Territory. We will continue to work with the Department of Defence to ensure that piece of very strategic land, which will be very important in supporting Robertson Barracks and other assets at Robertson Barracks, can be used in the future. Sometimes you have to take a punt and be ahead of the game in strategy. That is what we have done ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: the answer has to be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. The question was simply: will you make the lot of land available to the United States?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: We will work with the Australian government and our Defence Force personnel, particularly Army, at Robertson Barracks on the best use of that land.
I welcome the belated interest in this particular issue from members opposite. It is a strategic piece of land. I know that various commanding officers at Robertson Barracks over the years have been very pleased that the Territory government has taken this initiative. Robertson Barracks and those facilities will be there for decades to come, and this strategic piece of land will be used into the future to support those assets.
Alcohol Reforms – Effect on Crime
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you update the House on how the government’s new alcohol laws are helping police to cut crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have introduced the toughest …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: We have introduced the toughest alcohol laws in the country. Police tell us that the laws we have are the best tools they have to tackle crime. If you do not believe us, member for Fong Lim, at least listen to our police, because that is what they are saying in spades …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The CLP want to ignore our police. We have had two Assistant Commissioners publicly say these are the best tools they have ever had to deal with alcohol-related crime. What do those clowns opposite in the CLP say? They have given an ironclad guarantee that they will remove the best tool the police have ever had to cut alcohol-related crime from police ...
Mr Styles: And replace it with one that really works.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They will remove that particular tool. We have a simple solution …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine and member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … the government introduced the laws. The police have said - and we have four ex-police officers opposite - they are the best tools they have to cut crime, and the opposition has guaranteed they will scrap them. As I said, two Assistant Commissioners have said - and I talk to police officers virtually every day in this job …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: … from Alice Springs, all the way up the track, to remote communities, they are saying these tools are fantastic.
The CLP has committed to placing an Assistant Commissioner in Alice Springs. Why? Why would you have an Assistant Commissioner in Alice Springs? So you could ignore the Assistant Commissioner in Alice Springs in the same way you ignore the Assistant Commissioners in Darwin? Why would you put an Assistant Commissioner in Alice Springs if you were just going to ignore them? You are going to say: ‘It does not matter what you say, we are going to ignore what you say’? What is the point of putting an Assistant Commissioner in Alice Springs if you are not going to let them fight crime?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling! Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: Member for Greatorex, you have an Assistant Commissioner there who says: ‘Please, do not get rid of these laws. Please do not get rid of these laws; they are really effective in Alice Springs’. No, the CLP would say: ‘No, no, we are going to scrap these laws and take them away from you’.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex and member for Braitling! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … to turn 1500 offenders off the grog. What we would have is the CLP taking these laws away and putting those 1500 people who are currently off the grog …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: You would put them back on tap tomorrow. That is CLP policy; and CLP policy that our police absolutely oppose ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: There are far too many interjections. Chief Minister, have you finished your answer or are you continuing?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we have a long way to go. These laws are only three months old but they are heading in the right direction. Crime is down. Police say these are the best tools they have ever had. Once again, those clowns opposite will not listen to police. They would scrap those tools, they would scrap them tomorrow …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … and 1500 people would be back on the grog.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Bulkbilling Services in NT
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, this parliament passed a motion to instruct the federal government to boost GP and bulkbilling services across the Northern Territory, despite what the Health Minister claimed in a media release. The last time this parliament passed a motion impacting on federal Labor policies - that was the federal Labor Party’s carbon tax - you went doggo. Now, on this occasion, will you respect the wishes of the parliament? For once, will you show some respect to the parliament, respect the wishes of this parliament, travel to Canberra and tell minister Roxon to hand over the promised $5m for the benefit of Territorians needing bulkbilling services in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, and this man is a shadow Health minister. What a joke! This man is a shadow Health minister, and he is the biggest joke of a shadow Health minister anywhere in this nation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning!
Mr HENDERSON: The biggest joke of a shadow Health minister anywhere in this nation because …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! For the life of me, I cannot see the relevance of what the Chief Minister says in relation to this question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. There was an extremely long preamble with a number of imputations. The Chief Minister is entitled to respond to that.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This joke of a shadow Health minister should know that you cannot compel GPs to bulkbill, so the motion that was passed yesterday is absolutely nonsensical. You cannot force GPs to bulkbill.
We are very proud to stand on the side of Territorians in the northern suburbs. We are very proud to stand with the mums and dads in the northern suburbs who want the same access to GPs as other Australians take for granted. We again call on the Australian government to fulfil their electoral commitment to the people of the northern suburbs to build a GP super clinic. That is our position. The clown that masquerades for the shadow Health minister opposite should know that you cannot compel GPs to bulkbill …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have already ruled on the member for Fong Lim’s inappropriate language. I ask him to withdraw that last word.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Stop the clock for a moment please.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Yes, member for Fong Lim.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, for ease of purposes, I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much, member for Fong Lim, I appreciate that.
Honourable members, this is the parliament, it is not some kind of schoolyard. It would be helpful if we could listen to questions and answers in a civilised, adult fashion without the commentary that goes on.
Veolia World Solar Challenge
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, I think you are an optimist.
I was watching the solar cars at Hidden Valley on Saturday and at State Square on Sunday. The Veolia World Solar Challenge is a great occasion, not only because of the technology going into solar cars but because of all the different nations that get together for the race: Iran, USA, Turkey, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, etcetera. You have a mini United Nations on our doorsteps. The crowds seem to be down on previous years and there seemed very little publicity in the media to promote the event. As the NT government is a platinum sponsor of the event, as it claims to support a green Territory, why is it not doing more to promote the race? As there were no NT solar cars this year, when will we see an NT solar car running in this event again?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very good question from the member for Nelson. Unfortunately, I was on my way back from overseas so I was not at the launch, or I might have just got back and could not make it - the first one for many years. Crowds have traditionally been very good. I do not have any information as to what promotional activities were undertaken this year and what the crowds have been like. I will get that information for the honourable member. Yes, I agree we should be promoting it. It is a stellar event for the solar industry globally and it receives worldwide publicity.
I am also disappointed that, over the years, we have seen Northern Territory entrants drop off. I remember years ago there were entrants from Dripstone High School; Taminmin, I believe; Charles Darwin University; and Kormilda College. In discussions with the schools, in particular during my time as Education minister, it became prohibitively expensive for schools to participate. We should find a way, and I will take that issue on board. We should find a way with a partnership between our educational institutions, the university, and government to look at a way where we can have a Northern Territory entrant.
I do not know what the answer is, but it is a really good question. I will take that personal challenge on board to look at why we have not had an entrant this year, and if there is a partnership that could be put together across all educational institutions and industry, to ensure we have a Northern Territory car in the event in the next couple of years.
Banned Drinker Register - Update
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
The Banned Drinker Register is turning problem drinkers off tap and making our community safer. Can you please update the House on the success of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. He is getting very strong local feedback from his two shopping centres at Fannie Bay and Parap that things are quieter since 1 July. There is less antisocial behaviour and, if there is any antisocial behaviour, it is noticeable because it is a spike on the normally quiet days - quite a reverse to the situation we had before the Banned Drinker Register came in.
These are critical alcohol reforms because we have put them in Territory-wide. In a sense, the Banned Drinker Register …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question has now been asked on several occasions by government members. I draw your attention to Standing Order 114 that says that you cannot ask new questions when a question has already been fully answered.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the question has not been asked today.
Ms LAWRIE: It is interesting that the member for Port Darwin thinks he actually knows the answer before I have even gone through the detail. It is interesting that he is so arrogant …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: … as to want to gag debate on an issue that is of critical importance to Territorians. It might not interest you, but it interests many other people …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: Do not try to gag debate. The usefulness of the Banned Drinker Register is that it is a tool that is Territory-wide. It is essentially stopping people from moving to follow access to grog. That is a new and critical element of the BDR. The BDR is in operation across 162 takeaway licences in the Territory. It has processed more than 1.4 million scans for takeaway alcohol purchases in the first three months. Over that period, there have been 1109 refusals of sale where the BDR has identified a registered problem drinker attempting to buy grog. That is more than 1100 times the system has refused sale to a person who has a problem with grog, turning the problem drinker off tap. More than 1100 times, a problem drinker has been prevented from buying alcohol, likely to cause harm to themselves and harm to others, and be a problem to our community.
We know the CLP is soft on alcohol-related crime. We know they ignore the alcohol-fuelled crime and, under them, banned drinkers would be turned back on tap and would still access alcohol.
Whilst it is very early days, the first three months of the Banned Drinker Register is showing signs of working. More than 1500 Territorians are on the register, there have been more than 1100 refusals of sale and, as we heard from the Chief Minister, there has been a 15% reduction in alcohol-fuelled assaults across the Territory in the first three months, taken from the PROMIS police data system. Yet, the opposition would tear it up and allow full open access to grog.
Bulkbilling Incentives
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Yesterday in this House, the government introduced a motion relating to health issues. It completely backfired and blew up in your face. The Country Liberals changed that motion in support of enhancing bulkbilling services. That blew up in your face, you know it, Hendo, you walked in here and you walked out with your tail between your legs. That support for …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CONLAN: … bulkbilling incentives was introduced by the Country Liberals. It received the support of this House. How do you justify issuing a media release claiming that the Country Liberals do not support bulkbilling in the Northern Territory? Now, something novel. Here is a novel concept: why do you not simply tell Territorians the truth?
Madam SPEAKER: I have to say, member for Greatorex, that the question is not really in order. It does not fit the normal guidelines of questions.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will tell Territorians the truth: that man who pretends to be the shadow minister for Health knows nothing about health. He talks about incentive, but if he had bothered to look there are incentives in place. Yes, there are, introduced by the federal government last year. For example, if a doctor decides to go to Yuendumu from a Category 1 city, he will get $120 000 over two years. If a doctor decides to go from a Category 1 city to Darwin, he would get $30 000 over two years. There are incentives in place. The problem is that there are not enough doctors thanks to Abbott being the minister for Health and cutting positions in universities …
Members interjecting.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I remind you that you need to refer to Mr Abbott as the federal Leader of the Opposition.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, I ask you to request the minister to stop misleading the House. He constantly runs this line. It is a load of nonsense and he knows it. He has been pulled up by the shadow Health minister already for misleading the public about actions that occurred here yesterday. Pull him into line.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that is not a point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, because there are not enough doctors, we attract internationally-trained doctors …
Mr Tollner: You are a compulsive liar!
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Both the members for Greatorex and Fong Lim have made an accusation which is, as they know, unparliamentary.
Madam SPEAKER: Unfortunately I was unable to hear what happened then. Member for Greatorex, I remind you that you are on a warning, thank you. Minister, can you keep to the point please?
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, most of the doctors who come to Darwin are internationally-trained doctors. None are eligible for that subsidy. Out of the 13 doctors who came to Darwin since July 2010, only two were eligible to receive the subsidy. As for attracting doctors to the Territory, since we opened the Palmerston Super Clinic, we have attracted four new doctors to Darwin, taking the number of doctors in the super clinic to 11 …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very specific about him issuing a dishonest media release and why he did so. We are not asking peripheral issues, and we ask that he answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The truth hurts, because it was the Leader of the Opposition, when he was the minister for Health, who cut the positions in universities so we do not have enough doctors. The incentives are already in place, but they do not seem to work because there are not enough doctors to go around. When we opened the super clinic in Palmerston, we attracted new doctors to Darwin …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question was about the motion passed yesterday and why the minister will not tell the truth. Make him answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your question?
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, with the interruptions …
Madam SPEAKER: Come to the point. No, your time has expired.
Alcohol Reforms - Feedback
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
The Enough is Enough alcohol reform is helping to reduce alcohol-related crime and harm in our community. Can you please inform the House on what the industry and business sector, health, and police are saying about the reforms?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question and her support of these reforms. The government consulted extensively across the alcohol sectors, from the industry providers, the legal profession, the health sector and police when developing the Enough is Enough reforms. We worked collaboratively with both the Liquor Association and the Australian Hotels Association on the implementation and roll-out of the Banned Drinker Register, right down to designing the training packages for the staff at point of sale.
We have seen widespread support across all these sectors for our reforms, because people recognise they target the problem drinker without criminalising chronic alcoholics. The People’s Alcohol Action Coalition in Alice Springs said of the alcohol measures - I will quote Dr John Boffa, who supported the reforms, stating:
- It provided a consistent approach across the Territory for the first time.
He also stated the laws created:
- … consequences in terms of prohibition orders and in terms of referral for treatment which could make a significant difference.
That was on ABC radio. Also in Alice Springs, the alternative lobby group if you like, the Responsible Drinkers Lobby, welcomed the reforms, saying:
- These initiatives are a great step forward and obviously well thought out. I believe they do reflect the wishes of the majority of our community. Well done.
Police stated the measures provide the most powerful tool police have had to deal with alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour and violence. In his view, Assistant Commissioner Mark Payne believes, and I quote: ‘Early indicators prove that the initiative is working’.
Recently, the Law Society outgoing President, Matthew Storey, stated in a media release on 14 October:
- The current government is to be congratulated on the measures they have taken to curb alcohol abuse.
We keep saying these are early days; however, we also recognise it is not just our government’s view that these are effective new tools. It is a view that is shared by people who work in the alcohol industry, across medical services, and our police who are out there on a daily basis enforcing these new tools.
Standing on their own, in stark opposition to the new reforms and these powerful legislative tools, is the CLP. They would turn the problem drinker back on tap. They would open up the rivers of grog, and they would peddle the misery we are trying to stop. Shame on you!
Howard River Boat Ramp
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
As you would know, there was a boat ramp near the mouth of the Howard River which was very popular with local fishos. It has been closed to the public for a number of years since it was bought by some private investors, and there appears to be little or no prospect it will be reopened to the public. Local resident and owner of the land to the north, Billy Boustead, is offering some of his land for a public boat ramp so that fishos can again access the mouth of the Howard River and beyond. Would you support such a proposal? Would you be willing to sit down with Mr Boustead to discuss how this much-needed boat ramp could become a reality?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is an important question. Having access to good fishing waters is very important for Territorians. He is quite right. Historically, there was a private boat ramp at Shoal Bay. It was purchased by a private consortium with a proposal to go to a commercial proposition, but it never eventuated. Now there is another facility, an existing fish farm at Shoal Bay, and the owner has informally raised the issue of establishing a boat ramp accessible to fishers. No firm proposal or any formal approach has yet been received by the department. I will look with great interest at any proposal which comes forward for a new boat ramp.
Someone made the comment that I am Greek, so I know a great deal about concrete. and I will concrete any boat ramp in the Territory. I am happy to do so as long as everyone can go fishing. I strongly oppose any closing of the waters in the Territory because we manage our fishery resources very well. They have been found to be the best in Australia, and in the world. We actually take only 8% of the fisheries biomass, compared to other states and countries which take 20% to 30%. Our fisheries are very healthy, and I strongly oppose any attempt by any group - whoever it is - to close our waters. They talk no science; they talk nonsense. We talk science, because we know the science is right. We have nationally-accredited people who have done the assessment and they have come up trumps.
I am happy to talk to anyone about boat ramps anywhere in the Territory.
Access to Public Facilities
by Opposition Members
by Opposition Members
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
A request by the opposition to visit the Tennant Creek Hospital on 7 November - by me, the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Braitling - was refused, despite giving three week’s notice, with the lame excuse that you are in transition for recruiting a new General Manager. Despite the culture of cover-up that is alive and well in this government, what interest do you have in denying elected members of parliament access to public facilities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is an interesting question. The member well knows that every other time he has asked to visit any hospital in the Territory, or clinics, I have said yes. I had no reason to say no, and I welcome him to come and see how good our health system is in the Territory. You are welcome to come again. The moment the position is filled, I will extend to you a personal invitation to visit Tennant Creek.
Scientific Community – Government Respect
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Can you please advise the House about the respect the Northern Territory government has for our scientific community and for our scientists?
The Northern Territory government enormously respects Territory scientists. They do great work at institutions such as CDU, CSIRO and the Menzies School of Health Research amongst many others. But the CLP, no; the CLP has accused our scientists of being on the take, including the member for Brennan. The member for Brennan should hang his head in shame. The CLP’s climate change policy on its website states:
- … preserving the Territory’s environment and tackling climate change are very high policy priorities for the Country Liberals.
How can you believe them? How can you believe the words they say? Earlier this week, the shadow Environment minister, Peter Chandler, the member over there with his head down in shame, said:
- Those who are playing the climate change game are scientists who are making a dollar.
- They are the ones who are making a dollar out of governments and businesses around the world because they see a dollar in it.
That is the member for Brennan. It is absolutely outrageous that the CLP believes our Territory scientists are on the take. How can you sit there and laugh, member for Brennan? He is laughing at this. It is still a joke to him.
The fact is, the member for Fong Lim has instructed his colleagues, and he has convinced the member for Brennan, that climate change does not exist. He has convinced him. It is sad that the Leader of the Opposition has no choice but to support him on this. The Leader of the Opposition now also believes that climate change does not exist ...
Mr Chandler interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brennan!
Mr HAMPTON: We in the Northern Territory government …
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HAMPTON: … join the calls by the Northern Territory Environment Centre to call on the member for Brennan to apologise publicly. Apologise, get out there in front of the cameras and apologise to Territory scientists for calling them what you have said, member for Brennan. You should be ashamed of yourself, member for Brennan …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: The member for Brennan should be ashamed of himself …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan!
Mr HAMPTON: I call on the Leader of the Opposition to stand down the opposition spokesman if he has any leadership qualities at all.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Can we all just calm down, please.
Police Resources and Numbers – Request for Review
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The Country Liberals have committed to a review of police resources and numbers. You said at the association’s annual conference that you would give the review ‘serious consideration’. Will you now commit to a review so that serving police officers can be confident they will get the support they need to do their job?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. It gives me an opportunity to talk about the 400 more police we have in this police force today than we had in 2001. It also gives me the opportunity to talk about a review when we work out the terms of reference. At the end of that review, depending what comes out of it, we will take that seriously, unlike the CLP, which pretends to listen to and support our police. When our police say the alcohol reforms are the best tools they have ever had to fight crime, instead of listening to our police, the CLP would ignore them, and tear up and dispense with the best tool the police have ever had to fight crime in the Northern Territory.
I say to the Leader of the Opposition: the review you have promised, the outcome of that review, would that be like your climate change policy? You said you had a climate change policy and you were going to take that seriously. Now the member for Fong Lim, who is the real Leader of the Opposition, tells you to scrap that for political reasons, and you just roll over. We do not even think there is a member opposite who is now a shadow minister for Climate Change. You used to have a shadow minister for Climate Change. You do not have one anymore. Maybe you could make the member for Macdonnell your shadow minister for Climate Change.
I say to our police force that I will honour the commitment that I made at the Police Association conference. We are working through those issues. In supporting our hard-working police officers on the front line doing a great job across the Territory, day in, day out, as a government we will continue to support you, as we have since Day 1. We will continue to give you the tools that you need to do your job, unlike the CLP, which would ignore the police, rip away the best tools they have ever had to fight crime, and probably, to meet the budget savings the member for Port Darwin is insisting they would need to make, would scrap police recruitment for another four years, as they did years ago when they were in government.
Alcohol Rehabilitation and Treatment Services
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
The government has introduced comprehensive reforms to tackle the harm that alcohol causes in our community. Can you please update the House on the direction this government is taking to treat people with alcohol problems to help them turn their lives around?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are all very well aware how drinkers harm not only themselves, but also their families and the community. Our government is prepared to tackle this problem with programs to radically change the way people behave and to treat the actual cause of the problem.
We have the Enough is Enough reform package delivering $34.3m over five years. We have introduced programs for early intervention with our GP and counselling services; expanded withdrawal treatment under clinical supervision; increased residential rehabilitation beds; and increased follow-up care. This year, $5.2m has been rolled out, with 14 new residential rehabilitation beds in Darwin and 10 additional beds in DASA in Alice Springs. Nineteen additional care workers, counsellors, case managers, and cultural support outreach workers have been employed by NGOs. Ten new mobile case management and intervention teams are in the process of being established with AMSANT, comprising a therapist in Aboriginal alcohol and other drugs, Alcohol and Other Drugs workers, and Aboriginal Health Workers in Alice Springs and Royal Darwin Hospitals, which will be extended to regional hospitals over the coming months. GPs, Aboriginal medical services, and remote health workers have received training in alcohol intervention.
Alcoholism is a terrible problem affecting not only individuals and families, but the whole community. Our government is prepared to tackle the problem. Since 1 July 2011, 29 people have been referred to the SMART Court for alcohol rehabilitation treatment and counselling. Recently, I visited the residential facility in Katherine, and I was very impressed by the level of intervention and the success they had. I know we are not going to treat everyone. Some people will go two, three and four times, but we have to start tackling the problem. We cannot just close our eyes and ignore what we have seen happening around us today. It is affecting us, it will affect us, it will affect our families, and our communities, and it has to stop.
Alice Springs – Alleged Incident at Yeperenye Shopping Centre
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
I know it has been a tough week for the government. They have had a motion blow up in their face. They are at loggerheads with the federal government. He has lost control …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is Question Time and the member should be asking a question, not using his …
Mr Conlan: I am. That is my preamble.
Mr HENDERSON: … radio jock tactics as he likes to do. Can he get on with the question, please?
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed.
Mr CONLAN: That is right, it has been a hard week, I know. You have had a motion blow up in your face. A bit embarrassing for you, we understand.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, this is not a question.
Mr CONLAN: We understand, poor old Hendo.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: Yesterday, you and a number of your members received an e-mail from …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member very well knows he should be addressing the Chief Minister by his title, the Chief Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Indeed. Member for Greatorex, so far it has not been a question. Can you get to the question and forget the preamble?
Mr CONLAN: Yesterday, you and a number of your members received an e-mail from an Alice Springs resident about an incident at the Yeperenye complex last night. I seek leave to table that letter …
Madam SPEAKER: No, member for Greatorex, your time has expired. You did not actually ask the question.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The courtesy of stopping the clock for the Chief Minister was extended to the Chief Minister. I ask that the same courtesy is extended to the member for Greatorex.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin - member for Greatorex, resume your seat! The stopping of the clock is what happens when I am seeking advice. That is the only time we stop the clock.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is actually not correct. What occurred was the Chief Minister asked for the clock to be stopped and you acquiesced to that request. I ask in the name of equality that you …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, can you just resume your seat please?
Member for Greatorex, we did not hear any of the question. There was a one-minute preamble, which was, in fact, even beyond any kind of preamble …
Mr CONLAN: I get 30 seconds to ask a question.
Madam SPEAKER: No, you get a minute. You had a minute, and it was a total preamble without any question.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I am speaking, resume your seat!
Member for Greatorex, do you have a question which takes about 10 seconds?
Mr CONLAN: I do, and I assure you I will get to it.
Madam SPEAKER: We are nearly at 10 seconds now.
Mr CONLAN: This letter I tabled focuses on an incident involving a number of youths and security guards at the Yeperenye Shopping Centre in Alice Springs. A woman who also wanted to report the incident, said she phoned 000 twice but the calls went unanswered. Can you explain why the police station was unoccupied in Alice Springs last night?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will not insult the member for Greatorex, because this is a serious question. I, too, received this e-mail last night, as did a number of other people. It is a serious issue. I just wish the member for Greatorex would take these issues seriously instead of revelling in them. If he was genuinely interested in this issue, knowing the question had come to me - it is copied on a pretty wide e-mail list - he could have contacted my office this morning and said: ‘Chief Minister, I am very concerned at this. Can you let me know what has occurred and what action the police took?’ But no, he does not want to be responsible about these things. He is a shock jock and wants to revel in the sensational aspects of it all and politicise every single offence that occurs in Alice Springs.
There are three people in custody assisting police with their inquiries. If you had contacted my office, member for Greatorex, instead of going: ‘Yippee, I have another question for Question Time’; if you were genuinely serious about the victim in this particular case, if you were genuinely serious and concerned ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! All he has to do is answer the question. I am genuinely concerned, hence I bring it into this parliament and ask a question. Why don’t you stop politicising it?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, that is not a point order.
Mr Conlan: Just answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you will recall there was a one-minute preamble.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, if he was genuinely concerned for the victim, instead of waiting until 2.45 pm - this e-mail went to him at 8.22 pm last night, as it came to me. The first thing I did this morning was seek a briefing from police because I was concerned for the victim. If you were genuinely concerned, you would have contacted my office this morning and you would have received the advice I have given you. But you are just a nasty, little shock jock from Alice Springs who wants to play politics all the time …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: There are three people in custody assisting police with their inquiries, one adult and two youths …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Police also advise that one of the calls which aided in the apprehensions was a 000 call. Police are happy to discuss any issues with 000. However, I am advised one of the calls which aided in the apprehensions was a 000 call. For any people who have further information, I encourage them to contact Superintendent Michael Murphy. The station was attended. The officer or officers at the station would have been busy whilst the rest of their colleagues were out on the streets of Alice Springs, as they should be.
Yes, it was a nasty incident. Yes, police have acted; three people are in custody. I urge the member for Greatorex, if he is interested in the victims, to contact my office and I will provide a police brief. It is like being flogged by a feather duster, member for Greatorex. You are about as intimidating as a feather duster.
Government Housing for Disadvantaged People
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Can you please update the House on some of the initiatives undertaken by this government to provide more housing for Territorians most in need or at risk?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. There has been much discussion about alcohol in Question Time today, and a corollary of alcohol abuse is domestic violence, and providing accommodation to women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. Another corollary is that people often, through alcohol, lose tenancy and become homeless for many reasons. Most people would acknowledge that alcohol abuse is a big reason for homelessness in Australia generally, and in the Northern Territory in particular.
I commend the federal government - and I mentioned earlier today the stimulus package and the $55m allocated to the Northern Territory for over 200 units of accommodation, which I am told equates to around 460 beds in the Territory. Most of those have been completed, and all will be completed by the end of this calendar year.
One of the examples includes 12 rooms and new office accommodation for women escaping violence at Catherine Booth House run by the Salvation Army. It was my honour to be part of the opening ceremony for that. There are eight new units in Darwin for families escaping violence; and 20 two-bedroom units for affordable accommodation at the Ted Collins Village at Vinnies in Coconut Grove. It was great, with the Chief Minister, to be there for that opening, to see some of the families and meet some people who are directly benefitting from that, getting support and getting back on their feet after domestic violence, alcohol, or some other calamity in their life.
There are 26 units for transitional accommodation at Percy Court in Alice Springs - once again, it was my pleasure to be in Alice Springs at that opening of that great facility with the Minister for Central Australia; eight rooms for homeless men’s accommodation in Alice Springs run by the Salvation Army; 35 new rooms for renal patients in Alice Springs - and that is another area of need apart from alcohol, which supports people who are in town for treatment for renal dialysis, which keeps them out of the maelstrom of alcohol abuse, which is a protective thing; and 18 units at Crerar Road are also being completed. In addition, we have had the 150 Visitor Park in Alice Springs open for business; around 60 beds at South Terrace for supported accommodation; and 85 new houses at town camps. All this construction has been a great boon for our construction industry across the Territory.
One thing of shame, though, the CLP did not support the stimulus package. They did not support people in need getting housing - and shame on you!
Mr Tollner: We do not roll over to Canberra every time they say it.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. Member for Fong Lim!
Mr Tollner: That is true.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Northern Territory Police Force – Response to Asylum Seeker Emergencies
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your habit of rolling over to satisfy the wishes of your Labor masters in Canberra is very well known, and you have done it again. When are you going to stand up and fight for Territorians? Why did you sign up to a scheme that requires our police force to respond to any emergency involving asylum seekers living here, instead of allowing police to do the job they are supposed to do, which is serving and protecting Territorians?
ANSWER
Dear oh dear, talk about the pot calling the kettle black, Madam Speaker, and rolling over. I seem to recall it was the current Leader of the Opposition who rolled over to the member for Fong Lim and his deputy on the CLP policy on the Angela Pamela uranium mine. I believe he rolled over quite spectacularly on that one, in the same way he has rolled over equally spectacularly on climate change. He launched his climate change policy; he bolted in here when I accused him of being a climate change denier, saying: ‘No, no, I believe in climate change’; and he has rolled over to the member for Fong Lim. It is just a matter of time ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the interests of potential victims and people wanting to be protected by the Territory’s Police Force, could the minister answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is responding to the preamble which is part of the question.
Mr HENDERSON: The preamble went very well to leaders of political parties rolling over. I was just pointing out that he needs to look at himself in the mirror from time to time, Madam Speaker.
Our police force is negotiating with DIAC for a properly resourced agreement around responding to incidents at these detention centres. Our police force is deployed on occasion to these facilities to protect Territorians. Their responsibility is outside of the wire to protect Territorians. Inside the wire is the responsibility of DIAC and the contractors. The Leader of the Opposition, in his xenophobic campaign to incite fear in our community, has it wrong.
Our police, when they are deployed, are deployed to protect Territorians from any potential escape from that particular facility. Every single hour and minute of police time when they are called to those facilities is paid for by the Commonwealth. Leader of the Opposition, you are trying to dog whistle, trying to whip up fear in this community.
I can guarantee you that our police do a magnificent job. They are there to respond to Territorians when they need that response. Your pathetic little attempt with that question to incite fear in our community is beneath you.
Alcohol Abuse – New Era of Corrections
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Can you please update the House on how the government’s new era of Corrections is helping tackle alcohol abuse and stop the revolving door of offending?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. The Henderson Labor government’s major reform in Corrections, a new era in Corrections, is squarely focused on addressing offending behaviour - not only addressing offending behaviour, but making the offender aware of offending behaviour - and that relates to treatment.
It is well known in this House that 60% of all assaults are alcohol-related, so when we talk about offending behaviour, there is a massive sector of the Territory community that needs help. That is why the new era in Corrections has two main planks of address. One is in powers and one is in facilities. For instance, with our two new orders where the juridical system will order people into treatment, and when we are talking about 60% of all assaults in the Territory being alcohol-related, we are talking about treatment for alcohol abuse.
We are addressing this issue within the new era. The courts have new orders, and those new orders will be directly looking at alcohol treatment, supported by electronic surveillance in some cases.
Regarding facilities, the Treasurer outlined to the House the new public private partnership that will deliver a new Correctional Services precinct. Within that Correctional Services precinct will be the Doug Owston Correctional Centre. Other elements of that precinct are important to note. That relates to supported accommodation and treatment centres, and that will relate to getting remandees into treatment. It will be built beside the new Correctional Services facility, and it will also be duplicated in Alice Springs - so at both ends of the Territory.
The new era in Corrections also provides funding support for an important part of development, and that is the growth of our non-government sector. This is important for involving the community, and growing capacity within the community, to deal with this unacceptable revolving door of offenders.
The statistics are: five treatment beds to be built and funded in Alice Springs; funding for an additional 15 beds in Katherine; and five beds built and funded in Darwin. Already, partnerships have been developed and established with Kalano Venndale Rehabilitation and the Withdrawal Centre in Katherine, and CAAPU in Alice Springs.
Government is serious about addressing alcohol-related crime and the new era in Corrections is about breaking that cycle of offending. I am proud to say that our government’s support includes not only major reform and policy, but also significant resources.
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