2009-10-19
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Conduct of Members during Question Time
Conduct of Members during Question Time
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before I call for questions, I advise that I have received a large number of complaints from the general public regarding behaviour in parliament. People listening to the broadcast, either on the radio or on the Internet, have been appalled by the level of interjections and general behaviour of members.
Whilst robust debate is an important part of the democratic process, rude, offensive and extremely loud interjections are not. I draw your attention, in particular, to Standing Orders 51, 62 and 63.
I advise honourable members that I will be placing members on warnings, and will ask members to withdraw from the Chamber if there is repeated disorderly behaviour.
Violent Crime - Alleged Increase
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On 6 May this year, in this House, you said:
- The CLP runs this line that there has been an increase in crime. That is patently false - absolutely false.
Your own Department of Justice crime statistics released on 6 October show an 11% increase in violent assault over the last 12 months. Has violent crime in the Territory increased or not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This is a debate that has been going around and around over a period of time now. I refer the Leader of the Opposition to comments from the Police Commissioner in his last press conference, where he very clearly stated – and I have the remarks here, I have used them before in this House – that the increase in the reporting of violent crime was a direct link to, and consequence of, increased focus of policing on domestic violence.
That came from the Commissioner of Police, not from me as Chief Minister or the Police Minister. It was from the Commissioner of Police. Very clearly, there are more reports of domestic violence as a result of a very explicit, focused and targeted police attention to this area. Let us have a look at assault offences - of the 1440 assault offences recorded, 54.3% were domestic violence-related, compared to 48.8% for the same period in 2007-08; and over 45% of the increase in assault offences can be attributed to domestic violence.
It is very clear. The more light you shine on the absolute horror of domestic violence, the more reporting there is, and that is because women are more confident to report because they know police will follow up. If we look at the domestic violence orders initiated by police, for the 2009-10 year, 737 DVOs were initiated by police, a 39.8% - a 40% - increase from the same period in 2008-09; and, for the 2009-10 financial year, 513 DVO contraventions were reported, a 34% increase compared to the same period in 2008-09.
Yes, the number of assaults being reported has gone up, and it has gone up as a direct consequence of increased police activity.
Access Economics – September Quarter Forecast
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
The Access Economics quarterly economic forecast has been received today. What does this report tell us about the health of the economy, its future growth, and the overall position of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. It is good news from the Access Economics report which was released overnight. The Access report shows that our economy will grow faster, on average, over the next five years than any other economy in the country. That is good news for business, good news for the community, good news for the Territory’s future, and good news for people who are seeking to invest in the Northern Territory.
The Treasury analysis of the Access report shows that, on average, our economy will grow 3.8% for the five years to 2012-13 - well above the national average of 2.6%. It is good news. Why is this good news? Because it is about jobs growth. Access is showing very clearly that jobs are predicted to grow at over 2% for the next five years. At a time of global financial crisis, not only have we withstood the ravages of the global financial crisis in the Northern Territory better than anywhere else in Australia, we will accelerate out of the global financial crisis quicker than anywhere else in the nation over five years.
That does not mean to say that we are out of the woods. There are some very significant pressures, particularly with a rising dollar that is going to put pressure on our mineral exports and our tourism industry. We have to maintain that focus on growing the economy. This is a good report and shows that the Territory is right on track.
Violent Crime - Alleged Increase
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Referring to your last answer, I would assume you are saying that you do not believe that there has been an increase in violent assaults in the Northern Territory.
Mr Henderson: I did not say that.
Mr MILLS: I seek leave to table a copy of the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on violent crime in the Territory.
Leave granted.
Mr MILLS: These are based on your own crime statistics data. They show that, between 2001 and 2008, there has been an almost 80% increase in violent crime. Do you still refuse to acknowledge that you have lost control of policing violent crime? You were the Police minister for most of this period. And to illustrate it in another form, that shows the increase over almost a decade. The question is: why can you not acknowledge that your efforts as a Police minister have been a failure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and for leading with his chin. I have the comments from the Police Commissioner, and I will quote from the Northern Territory News, Thursday 1 October, where the article says:
- Mr White said he was leaving the Territory with ‘a modern police force’.
Further, he said:
- ‘When I came to the police force, it is a fact that the police force was understaffed and underfunded’.
He said the police now had more police on the beat, the commander’s tactical team, the youth crime unit and the violent crime reduction strategy.
‘I guess it is disappointing that the great work that they undertake gets lost because too many people say that crime has gone up’.
He goes on to say:
- ‘It is not because more people are breaching their bail or more people are drink driving. What it is showing is increased activity by police’.
‘We are prepared to cop this misinformed …’
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: This is the Police Commissioner, Madam Speaker, not me:
- ‘We are prepared to cop this misinformed flak about the increased reporting of crimes of personal violence, knowing we’re doing the best we can to support women, in particular’.
What the graph shows that the Leader of the Opposition showed is the tragedy and the terror that too many women live with on a day-to-day basis in the Northern Territory. The tragedy and the terror our police force is shining a light on, with dedicated Domestic Violence Units in Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Darwin. Dedicated Domestic Violence Units are seeing an increased confidence in women to report violence because they know that police will initiate DVOs because of the additional powers we gave to police to initiate DVOs, and also breaches of DVOs.
This is what is happening here, and it is a tragedy. Far too much of that tragedy is generated as a result of excessive alcohol consumption; 50% of all assaults are domestic violence assaults, and the vast majority of those are related to the consumption of alcohol. The only policy that the opposition has in this place is to sell more grog.
The only policy that the opposition has to face the tragedy that so many women face in Alice Springs is to sell more grog. Every expert commentator is calling on them to drop that policy, because one thing that is absolutely certain about the CLP policy - you sell more grog in Alice Springs, more women are going to get flogged. That will be the direct consequence of the CLP’s policy.
Access Economics - September Quarter Business Outlook
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
The Access Economics September Quarter Business Outlook forecasts that the Northern Territory will have the strongest economic growth in the country over the next five years. What action is the government taking to deliver on these forecasts?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her important question. The Access Economics forecast shows a very positive outlook across the next five years in economic growth for the Territory.
If you look at their forecast for the average Territory gross state product growth, they have revised it upwards to 3.8% for the five years to 2012-13. If you look at their predictions for 2008-09 alone, they have revised them up from 4.9% to 5.2%. If you look at their forecast for the 2009-10 financial year that we are currently in, they have doubled their forecast in terms of the revision, from 1.8% growth to 3.6% growth.
These are only forecasts, but it shows that strong and responsible financial management from this Labor government is required to ensure that our economy continues to grow. We have created some 4000 jobs in the Territory in the last year alone: that is in the midst of a global economic downturn as a result of the global financial crisis. Both Access Economics and the federal Treasury Secretary, Ken Henry, are forecasting that unemployment can be expected to rise.
This Territory government has made the tough decision in the budget we handed down in May to go into a temporary budget deficit to save jobs. A record $1.3bn infrastructure investment in that all important construction sector will save and create some 2500 jobs. We have gone hard after the major project with INPEX, and you can see the Access Economics forecast saying that INPEX is increasingly likely for the Territory. This is very strong economic data forecast coming through for the Territory.
Our stimulus is also reflected in the Access Economics forecast. They talk about the $900m commercial investment at the waterfront precinct - a waterfront precinct that the opposition did not want to proceed. They talk about the importance of the $110m Tiger Brennan Drive road extension. We were able to secure that project and that funding through close work between the Territory government and the federal Rudd Labor government.
We have a responsible wages policy to ensure wages restraint going forward, because there are the tough economic years ahead in 2009-10 and 2010-11 as a result of the loss of GST revenue. We are not out of the woods yet, but we have growth figures showing our economy will be leading the nation.
Violent Crime - Alleged Increase
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Whilst you refuse to read and understand what those statistics say and choose your own story, it is not only the statistics that show that rising violent crime is occurring across the Territory. There has been another weekend of totally unacceptable violence in Darwin. The Darwin media has reported a wild brawl in Mitchell Street early on Sunday morning; the knife-point robbery of two young women in Smith Street Mall, around the same time; the assault and robbery of a taxi driver; the glassing of a nightclub patron; and the attack, on police, at a teenage party at Humpty Doo.
Do you still deny that the rate of violent crime has dramatically increased under this Labor government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. What is absolutely undeniable is that the number of police in our police force has increased significantly since this government came to office. We have to look at these statistics in the clear light of day as to what is driving these increases in violent crime. The numbers are all here, backed up by comments from the Police Commissioner - it is alcohol-related domestic violence.
Within the city, on occasional weekends there is, very unfortunately, ,alcohol-related violence in our streets associated with young people exiting nightclubs. We now have City Safe, a dedicated police patrol in our CBD focused on being a proactive presence in our streets. Is this a new problem? Answer, no. I have been in the Territory for …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, if they ask the question they should listen to the answer.
There is no doubt that any violence is totally unacceptable. If you mix young people, alcohol, and very confined environments of nightclubs, on occasions you get violence. That is unacceptable. It has been happening for years. It is further reference to the increases in reporting of domestic violence.
There was a great story in the NT News regarding a police officer, 31 years in the police force, a female constable, Debbie Horrocks. In this article, she talks of the attitudes that existed in policing over the years and the prejudices she had to face. She very clearly says that domestic violence was all but ignored by police as recently as a decade ago. Sergeant Debbie Horrocks said: ‘I used to hate domestic violence cases back then as well, as the culture was: it is husband and wife, it is their business, do not get involved’. That is not a criticism of police, that was the attitude back then, and these figures were not recorded. The explicit domestic violence figures were not recorded as a separate break out of violence figures until about six or seven years ago, and the increased focus of activity on police.
The tragedy is, too much of this violence is alcohol related. Whether it is out on …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … Mitchell Street on a Saturday night, in homes around the Territory, or in town camps, it is alcohol related, and we have a range of strategies focused on alcohol. The one thing we will not do is the recklessly irresponsible thing, pandering to a small group of liquor retailers in Alice Springs …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would like to know where in the crime statistics domestic violence is reported discretely, because they are not.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: That is just what he said, Madam Speaker. I would like him to prove what he asserts.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I suggest to the learned member for Port Darwin, we will have a Police annual report tabled very soon and there will be further examination of this issue.
As I said, it does go to the fact these assaults, tragically, are very much overrepresented by the horror of domestic violence, the absolute terror many women live with day after day in the Northern Territory, that this government is doing something about; not like the Leader of the Opposition, who would pour more alcohol onto the fuels of that fire.
Northern Territory Film Office – Doug Macnamara Report
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
In respect of the Northern Territory Film Office, have you received the report of the visionary project carried out by Canadian-based consultant, Doug Macnamara? Will members of the NT film, television and multimedia industry be given the opportunity to comment on recommendations before it is made public?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the answer to the member for Macdonnell is, no, I have not received that yet. I am definitely looking forward to receiving that. You are obviously very interested in the content of that report. That report will be considered by the minister.
Member for Braitling - Comments Made
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS
Are you aware of any comments in this parliament that could damage our relationships with our neighbours in the region?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. I believe all of us in the Northern Territory are proud of our strong and vibrant multicultural community, and our relationships with our neighbours to our north and in the region. As a government, we have endeavoured to build those links, particularly in relation to the strong cultural, business and trade links. Our vibrant multicultural community, and the many people who have made their home in the Northern Territory, really support those efforts. To a large degree, those relationships are built on diversity and respect. They underpin our economy also, particularly our trade economy, and tourists who visit the Northern Territory. It is these strong relationships which really underpin the fact that we have not been as affected as other jurisdictions by the global financial crisis.
These relationships are vital to the Northern Territory jobs and businesses. In this parliament last week, we heard a mindset, if you like, and very unfortunate words by the member for Braitling which, I believe, echo the mindset of the One Nation years and really cast a shadow over our strong and vibrant multicultural community.
Members interjecting.
Mr Elferink: Mate, you are the last person who should be complaining about loose language in this place.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I pick up on that interjection from the member for Port Darwin. At least I apologised unequivocally to this parliament …
Mr Elferink: Three years later!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: We have not heard that from the member for Braitling. What we are really after is an unreserved apology, an unconditional apology for the hurtful things that have been said by the member for Braitling. It certainly was not a slip of the tongue. It was very calculated.
I call on the Leader of the Opposition to show leadership in this matter, and anything less than an unreserved or unconditional apology, I believe he should be removing the member for Braitling from his shadow ministerial portfolio.
Violent Crime - Alleged Increase
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The day after the release of the Justice Department figures detailing an 11% increase in the rate of violent assaults in the Territory during the last 12 months, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Rob Kendrick said:
- There is a problem with assaults - there is no glossy way we can paint a picture about it.
Do you agree with the Acting Assistant Commissioner and, if so, when will you admit that you have failed to address rising violent crime in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader for the Opposition for his question. I believe it is the fourth time he has asked this question, and I will answer it again for the fourth time. I agree with Acting Assistant Commissioner, Rob Kendrick, because what he also said in that same interview was:
- We have a number of police stations spread across the Territory that were not there two years ago. A lot of proactive strategies the police have, particularly with the Child Abuse Task Force, and very much intelligence-driven, making police more accessible to the public and there is an increase in reporting.
More police - we have 330 extra police in the Northern Territory than we had in 2003; we have police stations out in remote communities that we did not have two or three years ago. Of course there is going to be an increase in reporting because more police are out there. And the inescapable fact and the inescapable tragedy is that alcohol is still a contributor in 58.3% of assaults. In regard to domestic violence, they make up 50% of all assaults across the Northern Territory. Those figures are explicitly broken out today as a percentage of the assault figures; they were not so many years ago.
It is an absolute tragedy that the light is now being shone upon this tragedy. Repeat offenders are very proactively policed by our police force. Our police force itself initiated 737 domestic violence orders over the last year, a 40% increase. An increase in activity is bringing more of these cases to light, and the police will not rest until the women of the Territory are much safer than they are today.
Berrimah Fire Station – Location of New Facility
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
On 28 April 2009, you announced planning for a new $12.3m fire station at Berrimah, which will begin in 2009-10, and that Budget 2009-10 provides funding for the identification of a site for the new station at Berrimah. Is it true that the former Police Commissioner decided to build the new fire station on a large portion of the Wongabilla property at Berrimah, which is run by police for PCYC and juvenile diversion programs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There is no doubt, with a growing Territory population and more industry coming to Darwin, we need to expand the capacity of our fire services, and that is what we did in Budget 2009-10. As the member for Nelson has said, the funding is there for an additional 25 fire fighters, with Darwin to receive 11 of these and nine to be stationed in Alice Springs.
There is a commitment for a new fire station in Berrimah. We have planned for this development to begin during the 2009-10 period. The station will need to be in a strategic location. The firies do a lot of work in terms of planning with precision timing and access to various areas, population centres and industries to identify a suitable location. It needs to service the residential and growing residential needs of Darwin and Palmerston and the rural area, as well as the growing industrial base at the Business Park and East Arm Port.
I can advise the member for Nelson that they are looking at sites. I have not had a selection of sites come to me yet as the minister for Fire Services. Based on the work that was done for the new fire station that is now part of the Marrara sporting complex, I know that when that work comes forward, it will be well considered, it will be well argued, and in line with Australian standards for access to various areas. However, no specific site has been identified as yet.
Australian Rules Football – Fixtures in the Territory
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
How is the current government investing in the future of Aussie Rules in the Territory, and what benefits will this deliver for Territory footy fans?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I know he supports Carlton and he supports the AFL, and it is a great sport.
It was my pleasure to be at TIO Stadium today, with Mr Tony Frawley, the CEO of AFLNT, to announce a new deal with the AFL. The new deal is worth $8m over five years, and is a fantastic agreement we have with the AFL’s Mr Andrew Demetriou as well.
What does that mean for the Northern Territory, Madam Speaker? It means we will now have 17 AFL games over five years. That is 17 AFL games, which I think is a great investment; 10 of those are premiership matches in Darwin at TIO stadium; five in Alice Springs, pre-season matches; and two Aboriginal All Star games staying right here in the Territory. I am proud to say that one of those All Star games in 2013 will be in Alice Springs, my home town. I am sure Central Australians will get behind that game in 2013.
It also means that this government, like never before, along with the AFL, is investing heavily in our infrastructure. We know you cannot get these types of games without great infrastructure. We have $1m from the Territory government and $1m from the AFL, together in one bucket that will go to improve both TIO Marrara and Traeger Park in Alice Springs. For TIO Marrara, it means new lights on the No 2 oval; upgrading the administration centre to deal with all their staff at TIO; new corporate areas on the southern end of the ground; and a new ablution block at the northern end. For Traeger Park in Alice Springs, it means a permanent toilet facility, which is much needed, along with the upgrade and completion of the media and coaches’ boxes.
It also means that we will have Port Adelaide as the home away from home team, and looking at their website this afternoon, they are very proud of the announcement. We know the Power have some really good connections with the Northern Territory. It will be rotating with three other teams, the Richmond Tigers; the Western Bulldogs who, over the years, have really established themselves here as the Darwin Doggies, and rounding that off is Melbourne, with their great Territory connection with the Walpiri Wizard, my young cousin, Liam Jurrah, along with Aaron Davey and Austin Wonaeamirri.
Madam Speaker, this is an historic agreement. I am extremely proud to be the Sport minister to deliver this on behalf of the Northern Territory government, and I am looking forward to those great games in the very near future. That $2m is a great way to reinvest into our business community. Many small contract works will be going to local businesses in the Territory, and it is a great way to round off a great agreement.
Violent Crime - Alleged Increase
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You continually claim increased reporting of domestic violence explains the sustained increase in recorded violent assault in the Territory, and somehow imply that violent assaults are not, in fact, on the increase in the Northern Territory. The fact is, increased reporting of domestic violence would have a one-off effect on the statistics, not a gradual increase over an extended period of time where it is on the rise every year. How do you explain almost a decade of increasing violent assault being recorded in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his ad nauseam repeated question.
The Leader of the Opposition is being somewhat disingenuous here, because he had a full and personal briefing from the former Police Commissioner, probably five or six weeks ago. It was an in-depth briefing, where the previous Commissioner, Paul White, went through, in great detail, the reason for the rising reported assault figures in the Northern Territory and how they were directly attributable to the increased reporting of domestic violence, the increased resources that the police have focused on domestic violence, and took him through that in absolute detail. For the Leader of the Opposition to have had that level of personal briefing, to have heard all of that directly from the former Police Commissioner, and then come in here, in front of the Territory population and, basically, assert that the former Police Commissioner was not telling the truth about these figures is outrageous.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I go to the Police Commissioner’s record here, and this is about an opposition that is grasping at straws on crime statistics and trying to get tough on crime …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … grasping at straws and not dealing with the tragedy and the fact that is domestic violence.
Again, I quote from the commissioner in his last interview, when he talked about, when he came to the Police Force, it was understaffed and underfunded, and the fact that you have more police officers out there, you are going to get an increased number of reports. He went on to conclude, and stated: ‘I do not want to get into politics, but there is bipartisan support for drug policing in our society, there ought to be bipartisan support to tackle violent crime against women. It is as simple as that’. So here you have the former commissioner, basically saying at a media conference that he is sick of the politics around this argument, because the politics is getting away from the real story, which is the tragedy the many hundreds, and possibly thousands, of women live with on a day-to-day basis in the Northern Territory, which is domestic violence.
That was explained very clearly to the Leader of the Opposition. He had his opportunity to run his conspiracy theories and did not. My advice is that he walked away from that particular briefing pretty much satisfied with the explanation that the commissioner had. So, very disingenuous to come in here and to run a line that is in total contravention of the facts: that seven or eight years ago we did not have dedicated domestic violence units in the Northern Territory; that not only in our police force, but very much across society generally, domestic violence was an issue for people not to get involved in.
We have mandatory reporting for domestic violence now to show, very clearly, that it is not acceptable, and it is alcohol-fuelled domestic violence which contributes to 50% of all assaults in the Northern Territory. That is a tragedy that too many Territory women have to endure.
Training for Territorians
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you update the House on the Territory government’s plan to train Territorians to help with continued growth of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Training Territorians is critical in a growing economy. We have a growing economy. We want people to participate in a growing economy and the additional jobs on offer in a growing economy. Therefore a real commitment to training is absolutely imperative. We are the first government in the Territory’s history to have a jobs plan. In the first two terms of government, we set a target of 10 000 apprentices and trainees over four years. We achieved that and we are well on our way to our second 10 000 trainees and apprentices.
We have almost 2000 Territorians taking up new training positions this year already. What a vote of confidence that is from our employers. I pay tribute to the Territory’s employers today for their commitment to training Territorians, not only young Territorians, but also retraining people in our workforce.
Our research tells us that, even in the light of the global financial crisis, Territory employers are maintaining their staffing levels and holding on to their apprentices and trainees. Quite often, when you have a bit of a downturn, the first people to go, the first area where employers tend to make cuts, is in the training effort. Our advice, across the Territory, is that that has not happened. I pay tribute to our employers and their commitment to training.
Annually, we spend around $65m on the delivery of training. It is not only in our capital city; it is right across the Territory. There are great examples of innovative training being delivered across the Territory. Our focus with our new Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training is to work, particularly through our growth towns, through A Working Future, with regional employers to ensure our students leave school in those 20 growth towns job ready with VET qualifications or going on to university.
We have an unrelenting focus on training; 2000 have taken up new training positions this year already, and my thanks to Territory employers for their commitment to training our people in the Territory.
McArthur River - Realignment
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
As you know, there has been much discussion regarding the realignment of the McArthur River. Could you say if the river is now running through the realigned river course and, if so, has the realignment been completed; have the banks been adequately revegetated; what monitoring of bank erosion was done during the last Wet Season; has there been any noticeable downstream effects; and, do you intend to give a report to parliament on the progress of the mine?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It has certainly been a controversial diversion, with many people opposing it and many people supporting it. When the diversion occurred and the mine master plan was put to government, it was approved. It was also approved by the federal minister for the Environment, because the diversion was also investigated under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
I have been advised that the river has already run in the diversion. A number of deep water pools have been installed; previously the pools that were remaining after the Wet were very shallow and they dried out quickly. Rocks and woody debris have been put in place to imitate local habitats and provide protection to the local species, and the water of the river has been rock armoured in low areas so it will withstand pressure from the water running.
You have to remember, a condition of the approval was the establishment of an independent environmental monitor, and this role is to monitor the operation of the mine and also the diversion of the river. It will be reporting annually to the government, to the people of Borroloola, and also to the company.
Katherine - Crime Statistics
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
The latest Justice Department crime statistics show a 44% spike in the rate of violent assault in Katherine during the June quarter this year. Please do not insult the intelligence of Territorians by continuing to hide behind increased reporting of domestic violence to account for this astronomical rise of assaults in Katherine. Do you believe your strategies for dealing with violent crime in Katherine are working?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. As a former police officer, he would know the tragedy that is domestic violence in the Northern Territory and the very focused efforts that police have in trying to deal with those issues. As I have said, up hill and down dale, there are going to be quarter by quarter spikes in these numbers. The tragedy is, for every single one of those reports, there is a victim, and for that person it is an absolute tragedy. There is no escaping the fact that 50% of all of those reports are domestic violence, and 58% are alcohol-related.
In regard to the question, the table the Leader of Opposition just tabled from the ABS Recorded Crime - Victims Australia 2008 report, what the Leader of the Opposition does not say, which supports the argument I am making, is that there are some footnotes and explanatory notes to explain these numbers in the Northern Territory. I said he was disingenuous, and this just goes to show how disingenuous the Leader of the Opposition is. He had this explained to him by the former Police Commissioner. He has had the former Police Commissioner come out and say there should be bipartisan support. We have debated this up hill and down dale over many years now in this House: domestic violence, the relationship between domestic violence and the assault figures, and the changes in the way these figures have been calculated over time.
Despite all that evidence, the explanation by the Police Commissioner, and also the footnotes accompanying the table he has placed here, just goes to show the grubby political game the Opposition Leader is playing. The footnotes to this say, in part:
- The rise from 2006 to 2007 is partly due to a change in business processes. The increase from 2004 to 2005 is partly due to the introduction of domestic violence initiatives (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 96).
- A General Order issued to Northern Territory Police in November 2005, Domestic Violence - Response, Investigation and Prevention, sets out processes and procedures …
Mr Elferink: It says the Police Commissioner to the ABS. They are only repeating what he is saying.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Elferink: It is a circular.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr HENDERSON: They do not like the truth. Never let the truth get in the way of the true story.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON:
- … sets out processes and procedures for police response to, and investigation of, domestic violence incidents and related criminal offences. It details procedures for initiating civil and criminal actions in these matters including, ‘taking positive action in every case even where the victims are reluctant to act’. All family and domestic violence related assaults are recorded even if the victim does not want to proceed.
It goes on to say:
- Domestic violence remains a high priority for service evidenced by the formation of the Domestic and Personal Violence Protection Units, the Peace at Home Project in Katherine …
Further, it says:
- As a result of this there is concerted effort by police to encourage victims to come forward to police.
Very clearly, there are increased police numbers; a real focus on domestic violence; the establishment of dedicated Domestic Violence Units; mandatory reporting; and police record as assaults all claims, even if they are not proceeded with, to shine the light on this issue. It is about the tragedy of domestic violence, not hiding that tragedy, recognising it for what it is, and by putting it out into the public, a concerted effort to crack down on domestic violence across the Northern Territory. That is what is driving these figures up.
These are the facts, not the conspiracy theories, the dishonest spin and the disingenuous conspiracy theories the Leader of the Opposition tries to wrap around this. This comes from the former Police Commissioner of the Northern Territory, a person whom I believe everyone holds in high regard; very much the hard work of dedicated and very committed police officers who work in this area, and backed up by explanatory notes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Trade Support Scheme - Update
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for BUSINESS
The Trade Support Scheme is an initiative of the government to support business. Would you please update the Assembly on the success of the scheme?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. This government has a number of schemes and programs to support business. Export business is very important for the Northern Territory. Indeed, export trade accounts for around 40% of GSP within the Northern Territory, compared to about 21% for the rest of Australia. Our international trade is a crucial part of our economy.
The Trade Support Scheme is designed to support small- and medium-sized enterprises within the Northern Territory by allocating taxable grants. The types of activities which can be undertaken by business include the following: attendance at international expos and trade shows; promotional products; accommodation; freight; and, website development for international audiences. Also, in response to the global financial crisis, there are additional short-term funding categories added to the Trade Support Scheme.
Over the past four financial years, approximately $1.6m has been allocated as part of the Trade Support Scheme to 315 businesses which, I believe, is very significant. In the 2008-09 financial year alone, there were 110 businesses that accessed the Trade Support Scheme for approximately $450 000.
I attended the Export and Industry Awards in September, representing the Chief Minister, and was absolutely delighted at the way in which businesses involved in those awards acknowledge the efforts of the government and the Trade Support Scheme very strongly. This government will continue to support businesses which are punching above their weight in the international export trade.
Katherine Police Beat - Establishment
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you said your government would explore the possibility of establishing a Police Beat in Katherine. The Katherine community has offered to lease a shop in the Oasis Shopping Centre for the peppercorn rent of just $1 per annum. Why are you continuing to squander hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on your ministerial office in Katherine, rather than establish a Police Beat which the community is calling for and prepared to support with its own dollars? When will common sense rather than vanity prevail?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. I am surprised that the four ex-police officers in the ranks of the opposition have not managed to overturn the stated policy of their leader, that he opposes the Police Beats and would see them close down ...
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! What is your point of order?
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister well and truly knows that that is not the position of the Opposition Leader ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, resume your seat. There is no point of order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I urge the opposition to get its act together about whether they support the government’s initiatives of rolling out Police Beats across the Northern Territory or not. They cannot have their cake and eat it too.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the people of Katherine for their support and their push for a Police Beat for Katherine. It is an overwhelming vote of confidence by the community of Katherine on this particular initiative, saying they want to be part of the roll-out. The focus of my government has been to meet the election commitments we made at the last election, and we are well on track to doing that.
I have confirmed today that we will be opening a Police Beat in Katherine. The details are being worked out. I thank the Chamber of Commerce, the owner of the Oasis Shopping Centre, and the community of Katherine, which has got behind their overwhelming acknowledgement that this is a good initiative by our government. As part of the program of opening Police Beats across the Territory, we will be opening one in Katherine.
China/Japan Investment Strategy – Contribution to Investment
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Can you please outline how the China/Japan investment strategy is contributing to investment in our exploration and mining sectors?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his important question. The mining sector employs 4500 people and generates about 24% of the gross state product. Our China and Japan Minerals Investment Attraction Strategy was designed specifically to target China, and to attract exploration and mining ventures to the Territory. It has only been running for two years, but we already have nine agreements signed between Chinese and Australian companies.
Do not take my word for it, Madam Speaker. I have with me a media release from June 2009 by Arafura Resources. In this release, the manager, Alistair Stephens, congratulates the Territory government for the assistance we provided to Arafura, and it goes as far as to say that it was my visit to the ECE headquarters in Nanjing which helped cement the relationship and convince the Chinese company that the Northern Territory is an excellent place to invest in. I table that media release.
There is strong interest in China for investment in the Territory. In the last quarter, we had 10 Chinese companies visit the Territory, meeting with different companies. Some of these companies include Yunnan Tin, Zhenxing Mining and Sinosteel Mining. Later this week, I will be leaving for China, leading a delegation of 16 industry representatives to meet with companies in the provinces which have a strong interest and the money to invest in the Territory.
The Japan Investment Attraction Strategy is working very well. We have seen a $24m investment in the Arafura Resources Nolans Bore project in Central Australia, $17m by Japanese companies in Western Desert Resources for the exploration of the Roper Bar iron ore project they foresee could be a small Pilbara in the Northern Territory, and also JOGMEC investments, $4.5m over three years in joint ventures with Mincor; and, $3m, to earn 51% in Bondi Mining’s Murphy uranium project.
Madam Speaker, mineral exploration in the Territory has increased from $130m in 2007-08 to a record $146m in 2008-09. While the rest of Australia saw a decrease of 34% in expenditure on mineral exploration, the Territory has an increase of 10% this year.
Douglas Daly – Roads Maintenance
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
I believe the minister for Primary Industry recently visited the Douglas Daly region. Cattle farmers in the area would like to see an upgrade of sections of the main roads in the area so they can move cattle out in the Wet Season. Have you been able to do something positive about the problem before this Wet Season sets in and nothing can be done?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The minister for Primary Industry was recently in the region, as was I. I went there with the federal minister for Infrastructure to show him specifically the production potential of the Douglas Daly region, not just cattle, of course, but also the broader production potential there in terms of crops. I flew him over the Douglas Station and explained the research the Territory has being doing. I explained the work that we have been doing in the region in terms of the National Water Initiative and DRMAC to understand the water potential of the region.
That was quite targeted, obviously. He is sitting on top of the Infrastructure Australia budget that, I believe, provides real opportunities for critical road investment in the Territory if you want to see the economic potential of our nation in terms of primary production.
We have allocated $1.5m in this financial year budget for repairs and maintenance on specific road projects in the Douglas Daly. That includes reforming and gravelling various sections of Fleming Road, from chainage 5.9 km to 19.8 km, with works targeted to commence in the Dry Season. The estimated cost of that is $325 000. There is resealing of almost 12 km of Dorat Road from chainage 12.59 km to 24.1 km, that is between Anniversary Creek to Burrell Creek Bridge - which is estimated at $430 000, with completion expected to be in February 2010, obviously trying to have that road ready to get that produce to market. Culverts will also be replaced on Dorat Road, replacing rusted steel culverts with concrete box culverts at various locations between chainage 57 km to 63 km. Tenders are currently being assessed, and targeted completion date is, again, February 2010. These works are estimated at $600 000. We are resealing the Daly River Road between 43.54 km to 46.93 km, and 67.9 km to 74.4 km chainage, estimated at $470 000.
A truck parking bay will also be constructed on the Oolloo Road in response to industry concerns regarding the break-up of road trains delivering freight to the area, particularly in the Dry Season. The truck parking bay works will commence in the 2010 Dry Season, following the widening of the road reserve that is currently subject to negotiation with pastoralists. Work is under way to identify the 2011-12 core works projects for this vitally important region.
Northern Territory – Sentencing Regime
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In 1988, Jonathan Peter Bakewell raped and murdered his next door neighbour, Anne Marie Culleton, before throwing her body under a scalding hot shower. Under your soft sentencing regime, Jonathan Peter Bakewell has been granted parole by the South Australian Parole Board and could be released from prison at any time. Given the aggravated nature of Bakewell’s crime, he should have served at least 25 years inside. Can you explain to Territorians how it is that Bakewell could soon be walking free? Do you think Jonathan Peter Bakewell has done his time for this crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it was an absolutely horrendous crime. I personally know some of our police officers involved in that investigation.
Regarding Bakewell being released on parole, we did challenge that matter in the High Court. We did not believe he should be granted parole. Ultimately, the High Court rejected our challenge. The position of the government is that he should not have been granted parole.
Multicultural Diversity
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
Promoting our multicultural society is an important policy of the Labor government. Can you please advise the House of the contribution the government makes in promoting and supporting multicultural diversity in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. This is a government that is unashamedly committed to multiculturalism in all of its aspects. Individual members on this side of the House and many members opposite, spend a lot of time, very willingly, and totally appropriately, as local members and in the government, supporting our multicultural community, attending their events, and making this parliament available to our multicultural communities. In the last few weeks, we had the Chinese community celebrating the Moon Festival here. Last Friday, we had a few hundred, probably more, members of our Indian and Tamil communities celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Seeing the hall filled with people from the Territory, from different and diverse cultural backgrounds, is something I am always proud of, and pleased to attend.
Our Territory is made up of people who have come from around the world to make the Territory their home. Many people have come here as migrants. Some people come here as refugees and, in the not too distant past, refugees from the island of East Timor, from the 1974 invasion by the Indonesian forces. There have been refugees from Vietnam. I have a friend who was on one of the first boats that landed in Darwin from Vietnam, fleeing the terrors and tragedies of that conflict. These people have been embraced, welcomed into our community, welcomed into our society, and are now very much Territorians. They have made enormous contributions to our social communities, our business communities, and industry. We are looking at, in some cases, a second and third generation of those families who have made that contribution, having come here as refugees not too long ago.
People from our Greek and Italian communities have made enormous contributions in every walk of life, particularly our construction sector. Our Timorese and Chinese community contribute hugely to our commercial and business sector in the Northern Territory. I do not think any of us can imagine Darwin, in particular, not being the multiracial melting pot that we are today.
The contribution of the Filipino communities, Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis, Indonesians, Germans, Kiwis, and the list goes on and on, people who have been welcomed into the Northern Territory.
Our government provides around $1.9m a year for multicultural advancement. It is an increase, and I had to get this double checked when my notes were made for this contribution, of 250% since 2001 in terms of this government’s contributions and commitments to our multicultural community. I know that is well received and well regarded because, for my children to grow up in Darwin and, in the classroom, which is the united nations, to have friends from around the world, to actually embrace all of these different cultures, is what makes the Territory a special place to live, and one we will continue to proudly support as a government.
Domestic Violence - Definition
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Over the years, the Domestic and Family Violence Act has been broadened substantially to change the definition of what domestic violence is. Is it not the case that, now, offences are being recorded as domestic violence when, in the past, they would not have been?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have had a whole Question Time devoted to this particular issue. It is an important issue because it is a tragedy that is being played out far too often across the Northern Territory. The numbers of victims of domestic violence is appalling.
As I have said, one of the most horrific things I have seen, as the Police minister of the Northern Territory, was sitting down in Alice Springs Police Station with a number of officers of the Domestic Violence Unit. They sat there with a photograph album. I spent about half an hour going through this photograph album, where there was page after page of photos of women, predominantly Indigenous women, from the town camps in Alice Springs, who had been bashed and brutalised to within an inch of their life. This is a tragedy that is being played out across the Northern Territory, and it is a tragedy that now has the unrelenting focus and commitment of our police force and this government.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I draw the Chief Minister to the thrust of the question: is it not the case that the definition of domestic violence has changed …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, he is duty bound to answer at least one question here today.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr Elferink: The definition has changed, and that is how you are masking this.
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Port Darwin might want to go on a circular rabbit hunt of what definition has changed where, to try to support their political spin that violent crime is out of control across the Northern Territory. That is the political spin they are trying to put on what is the inescapable tragedy of domestic violence across the Territory.
Outside of the cases of domestic violence, of course, there are other assaults that do occur, and they are a tragedy as well for the victims of those assaults. A large number of the increased reports of domestic violence are alcohol related. The only policy the CLP has, particularly in Alice Springs – I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to actually sit down with members of that Domestic Violence Unit in Alice Springs, to go through that photograph album that I went through, and sit there and say, pour more alcohol onto this problem …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: To simply say …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … that the solution to this problem is to pour more alcohol onto it. That is absolutely outrageous.
This is a very serious issue because, unfortunately, and tragically, we have too many victims of domestic violence across the Northern Territory. We will not give up the fight in protecting those victims.
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