2009-02-18
Royal Darwin Hospital – Emergency Department Patient Numbers
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Last week, when explaining the abysmal performance of the Emergency Department at Royal Darwin Hospital, you said the result was: ‘The increase in the number of people who present themselves at Accident and Emergency’. The 2007-08 RDH Hospital Board Report actually shows a drop in the number of Emergency Department attendances from 50 845 in 2006-07 to 49 483 in 2007-08.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CONLAN: It is a drop; it is a clear drop, minister. I can barely believe the performance of the new Health minister in his first parliamentary sitting. Given that the number of patients presenting at RDH Emergency actually fell, why were there 77% of patients needing urgent attention not seen in the prescribed time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The reality is – I will put it bluntly - I do not believe his figures are right. I do not believe him. Two days ago he came in here and said that Northern Territorians are going to have a 14% tax imposed upon them for the Commonwealth to take over their hospitals - two untrue statements. The Commonwealth never attempted and never said they were going to take over the hospitals. That was a recommendation by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. There never was any statement about a 14% increase in tax. In contrast, the Commission said that the 14% they quoted in their report on page 296, was 14% of taxable income currently spent on health.
There was never anything said about a 14% tax, and it further says this 14% is not an additional tax. It is a component of taxation that already goes to the government. How can I take him seriously with the figures that he quotes …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I accept that you allow certain latitude in a ministerial answer, the latitude in this case places the minister on Mars. I would ask that you draw him back to the question.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The minister is relevantly illustrating the slippery use of figures by the opposition, and they cannot be trusted in nearly anything they say.
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The report from the Royal Darwin Hospital Board clearly states a drop in attendances. The minister said he read that report. He might do himself a favour and have a look at it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, resume your seat.
Mr Conlan: Clearly.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, once …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I am speaking. Minister, if you could answer the question as closely as possible to one that has been asked. Thank you.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker, but I am trying to demonstrate that the member takes liberty with his figures and his statements.
He said the other day that there is a nursing crisis. I disproved it by tabling a document showing that there was an increase of 433.
The member says there was a decline at Royal Darwin Hospital. What I stated is that emergency departments in the Territory see 56 000 people, one every 10 minutes. He can refer to one hospital; I refer to emergency departments in the Northern Territory. I do not believe his figures, and if he has these kinds of figures for the whole Territory, he is free to table them.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting!
Domestic and Family Violence –
Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory Reporting
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, the Territory parliament is set to pass legislation introducing mandatory reporting of domestic violence. Can the Chief Minister advise whether this legislation exists elsewhere, or whether this is historic legislation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. This is an historic day for this parliament - a very significant day. Regarding the legislation that we are about to pass today, we will be the first jurisdiction in Australia that has gone to mandatory reporting for domestic violence and, I am advised, the first jurisdiction in the world to go as far as we have gone. This is an historic day, and this parliament, this government, is saying: ‘Enough is enough’ in regard to domestic violence. It is unacceptable.
It is unacceptable that women have to suffer domestic violence across the Territory. It is unacceptable that children have to witness domestic violence across the Northern Territory. In some instances, women do abuse men, and that is unacceptable as well. We have to draw a line in the sand, and we have to, as a community, as a society, say that this is everyone’s problem. This is not just a problem that goes on behind closed doors and it is someone else’s problem to deal with. We all, as a community, have to say: ‘Enough is enough’.
In this House over many months, and probably some years, when we have been debating crimes of violence and violence statistics as they appear in Justice reports and Police annual reports year after year, I have said that around 50%, sometimes up to 52%, 53%, of all violent assaults that are reported to police are domestic violence related. That is unacceptable. It is far higher than anywhere else in Australia. It is a tragedy that is being played out in communities, in towns, and in our capital city on a scale that is unacceptable.
We are saying that if you witness a serious violent assault on a woman it is your responsibility to report it. You do not turn a blind eye and think that someone else is going to report it; it is your responsibility to report it. If you believe, or have cause to believe, that a woman’s life is under threat, or she is at imminent or serious threat of serious assault, it is your responsibility to report it. It is not that that is happening down the street or next door, and it is someone else’s issue; it is your responsibility to report it.
We have debated this amongst our Caucus and within our Cabinet. It has been a very vigorous community debate in regard to the discussion paper that went out. However, the simplest analogy that I can draw is that this is about changing the attitudes in our community. In the same way, we had a similar debate some 20-odd years ago about mandatory reporting of child abuse. Twenty years ago, there were all sorts of reasons – and well-intentioned, well-argued reasons - where that would not be effective. Some of those similar arguments are being run today. However, community attitudes have changed very significantly in the last 20 years in regard to zero tolerance for abuse of children.
I believe with the passage of this legislation and, in time, a similar community attitude will change; that there should be zero tolerance of acceptability of domestic violence.
This is a significant day today. It is an historic day. I really believe that this is in the best interests of women, children, and families right across the Northern Territory.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Emergency Department Patient Numbers
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
You not only claim that the Royal Darwin Hospital had a significant increase in the number of people, but you even put a figure on that phantom patient increase. You did this despite claiming to this House last week that you had actually read this hospital Management Board Report from 2007-08. Where did you get the 56 000 people from, because you know too well, if you have read the report, that it actually says 49 483, which is a decrease from the previous year. Clearly, in your first week as Health Minister, you are completely incompetent or deceitful.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member for Greatorex to withdraw ‘deceitful’. He knows it is in contravention of standing orders.
Madam SPEAKER: Under Standing Order 52, I ask the member for Greatorex to withdraw the comment, please.
Mr ELFERINK: May I speak to the point of order, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: I have already asked the member for Greatorex to withdraw.
Mr CONLAN: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘deceitful’, but I replace it with incompetent.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the advice I received from the Royal Darwin Hospital last year, in 2007-08, 56 000 people attended the Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department.
Mr Conlan: Where did you get that figure from?
Mr VATSKALIS: From the Royal Darwin Hospital.
Madam Speaker, I would like to read the whole paragraph, because ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: … you only want to hear about what suits you.
There was a 9% increase in people attending in 2007-08 from 2006-07 – one person every 10 minutes. These are not the people who were treated, they were people who attended emergency. Some of them were treated at the Emergency Department; some of them were referred to other departments.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is the form of the member for Greatorex to continually interrupt. Under Standing Order 51, he knows those interjections are in breach of the parliamentary rules.
Mr Mills: Well, you pipe down when he is asking questions then, hypocrite.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Standing Order 51. Indeed, there are a lot of interruptions. Member for Greatorex, you have asked the minister a question. If you could please listen to the answer?
Mr Conlan: Yes, Madam Speaker, it is very difficult to remain quiet with this sort of rubbish going on over there though.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would ask the member for Blain to withdraw the accusation that my colleague is a hypocrite.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst the Treasurer raises the issue of Standing Order 51, I would ask that you also point out to her that she be mindful of it whilst the questions are being asked, lest she be described as a hypocrite.
Madam SPEAKER: If we can all be a bit more contained, and I will just read this in order for you to become more contained. Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Minister for Health, you have the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said before, I will stick to the figures provided to me by the Royal Darwin Hospital, because these are professionals, and I have more faith in the figures provided by Royal Darwin Hospital than the figures collected by the member for Greatorex. What I am saying is that 56 000 people attended the Emergency Department.
Mr Conlan: No, it says here attendance exceeds 49 000.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, the department has provided 56 000 and I stick with the figure the department gave me.
Domestic and Family Violence -
Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory Reporting
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
The introduction of universal mandatory reporting of domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory is a significant reform. Could the minister please outline if there is a community education strategy to ensure this legislation is successful?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. The introduction of universal mandatory reporting of domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory is a significant step and it is a world first. This is the first time it has ever been implemented, and it is important that we provide the right messages to change community attitudes across the Northern Territory.
I am pleased to say that the Northern Territory government has committed $15m to get the message out to the communities that no more will domestic and family violence be tolerated. This significant funding commitment will mean more funding for crisis accommodation; increased counselling services; and a comprehensive public education campaign to ensure Territorians are aware of the new law, and to challenge and change commonly held attitudes that normalise family violence.
On Saturday 7 February, I was pleased to launch the ‘No More’ campaign at the Indigenous All Stars versus Adelaide Crows match at Marrara. Players, officials and the crowds linked arms to unite and stand up against domestic and family violence. The Indigenous All Stars have also recorded a television advertisement to get the ‘No More’ message to the wider community. I personally thank Mr Charlie King, the AFLNT, the AFL, the Indigenous All Stars; and the Adelaide Crows for their strong support, but most importantly, the Santa Teresa football team which travelled all the way from Central Australia to support me and this government in this campaign, and to support its own community with its football code of conduct that it has established.
I am also pleased to say that a contract has gone out to tender to undertake a social marketing campaign to encourage attitudinal change towards domestic and family violence. The contract is seeking the production of materials such as television, radio, and print materials. The successful organisation will have to work closely with key stakeholders, including advisory councils, domestic and family violence services, community legal services, and Indigenous men’s groups to ensure that we get the best materials that suit the needs of the Northern Territory.
Hospital Management Board Reports – Overdue Tabling
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Last week during sittings, you finally tabled hospital management board reports for the Alice Springs and RDH Hospitals, two of which were overdue thanks to the bungling attempts by the previous Health Minister. These board reports make grim reading for patients of those hospitals. Minister, you have yet to table reports for Katherine, Tennant Creek and Gove Hospitals, which, under the act, are required to table reports. Are you withholding these reports because they contain further evidence of the crumbling health system in the NT?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I acknowledge that the reports were tabled late. There was a problem with Katherine, Gove and Tennant Creek - there was no functioning medical board. There was never a functioning hospital board, even in the CLP days. I have instructed the CEO …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … of the department to immediately meet the people who actually form part of the board and produce the reports which I am going to table in this parliament.. As I said, you can select anything you like, you can present things the way you like, but you cannot avoid the truth.
One typical example is what you said before, and I am telling you, the numbers you reported, you selected because they present the picture you want. The true story is different to what you present. In the hospital board report you are quoting, it is actually recording the people who attended and were treated in the emergency department, not the people who presented themselves …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: The truth is, in 2005-06, 51 591 people attended the Emergency Department of the Royal Darwin Hospital; in 2006-07, 56 074 people attended Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department; in 2007-08, 56 341 people attended. From this table, these people received treatment, or some of them chose not to wait and left. The figures recorded in the report are people treated, without the number of the people who did not wait or they walked out. The true picture is a 9% increase in the number of people who attended the department, one every 10 minutes. One in four Territorians attended the Emergency Department per year at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms Purick: Oh, sit down.
Ms LAWRIE: You like to gag, I know. The member for Greatorex, even when you were calling order, continues to interject.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, contain yourself please.
Mr Conlan: It is very difficult, but I will try, Madam Speaker.
Closing the Gap – Ongoing Commitment
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS POLICY
Can the minister please outline the government’s ongoing commitment to Closing the Gap for Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I take this opportunity to congratulate the member for Arafura for her commitment to Indigenous Affairs in the Northern Territory, and working with her colleagues and helping them to understand how important it is and how the journey is very tough for any government to get Indigenous affairs right.
In the near future, I will be releasing the first annual report on Closing the Gap. The report will show that we have our targets established and work plans in place. Some of the key actions implemented by this government are: a start to our major joint investments in housing in the bush; a range of new and amended legislation to underpin our ongoing work in community safety - we have just heard this morning and we will hear again this afternoon - the legislation for domestic violence; safety in communities for our women and children; and also the alcohol policy and alcohol management plans.
We are focusing on the real issues: the need to take practical steps to ensure that all Territorians can benefit from the opportunities the Territory has to offer.
Today I announce my own target: I want to be the Territory’s last Minister for Indigenous Policy. I want to deliver a structure for Indigenous Territorians to ensure that we are on a straight path to closing the gap so a Territory Minister for Indigenous Policy is no longer required.
Members will have heard me say in this very House, and outside this House, that there is not a black way or a white way, but there is the right way. It is this simple, straightforward philosophy that will guide my approach to closing the gap.
For too long people in remote communities have been surviving by sitting under the dripping tap of welfare and government grants. Instead of surviving and dying under the dripping tap, we need our people to pick themselves up and draw hope from the river of opportunity that is currently flowing straight past their lives. Those opportunities are in the Northern Territory - those opportunities are already in principle and the foundations have been laid by this government.
Surely the objective of any government is to do the greatest possible good for the greatest number of people. Governments have limited resources and my focus will be on achieving real generational change by targeting our resources where it can do the greatest good, not spreading ourselves so thin that we achieve too little to make a real difference.
Let us be honest: we will not close the gap in the next three-and-a -half years, but I believe this government has already set the foundation and we are on that journey as we speak here today. I am dedicated to ensuring that, by the next election, we have travelled far enough down the road to see the light on the hill for Indigenous Territorians.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, no clapping in the Chamber, please.
Mr Elferink: Madam Speaker, I was trying to show support for a good answer.
Madam SPEAKER: ‘Hear, hear’ is appropriate.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Emergency Department Patient Numbers
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
The 2007-08 hospital board report says that 1400 fewer people were in emergency in 2007-08 than in 2006-07, that is from 50 845 to 49 483. Will you now explain to the House why the capacity to see urgent patients fell from 41% to 27%, and why you are quoting figures that are not in the hospital management board report on the number of attendances at RDH? Considering that those figures are included in that report, and they are provided also by Northern Territory Health, is the 2007-08 RDH Hospital Management Board correct or not? And if not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am going to speak very slowly so he understands it. Let me tell you first of all, he quotes from the hospital board’s report - that is fine - and the figures he quotes are correct. There is a difference between the figures he quotes and the figures I specified. The figures he quotes are the people who attended and were treated. That does not include the people who did not wait to be treated. The figures I quoted are the numbers of people who, when they arrive in the Emergency Department, are triaged, and includes the people who did not wait.
To give you an example of how serious this situation is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Minister, you have the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I know he likes to hear the sound of his voice. As an ex-radio announcer, it happens to them.
The emergency departments in the Northern Territory are the busiest in the country. I do not say that. The State of Our Public Hospitals June 2008 report says that. In the Northern Territory emergency departments we have 751 presentations per 1000 head of population. In comparison, in southern states they have only 311 per 1000 of population. That is twice as many people are seen in the Territory. When you go to the emergency department, you can actually wait, you are triaged, or you decide if it is busy, that you do not want to wait and then you leave.
The figures I quoted are the total number of people who attended the emergency department. There were others seen pre-triage who did not wait. The figures you quoted from the board are quite right - you are right. They are for people who actually received treatment at the emergency department.
Mr Conlan: It says attendances, minister, hospital attendances.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Conlan: You said 56 000 attendances.
Mr VATSKALIS: Read the report, then you can understand it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, while I accept that you are passionate about the questions you are asking, it is important that people are able to hear the answer which the minister gives. If I have cause to hear you interject again, I will be placing you on a warning. Thank you.
Closing the Gap – Upgrading Remote Schools
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Our Closing the Gap plan provided additional funds for upgrading schools in remote communities. Can you update the House on the implementation of these works?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It is an important question. I thank the Minister for Indigenous Policy for her overview of the challenges and the commitment that this government has in closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. The minister spoke eloquently – and I made some notes – about the challenges to move people from the dripping tap of welfare to seizing the river of opportunities. There is nothing more fundamental than providing for Indigenous people the opportunity to seize those rivers of opportunity than an education. Without an education, there is no ability at all to seize those rivers of opportunity.
I follow on from the member for Arafura, who is absolutely passionate, committed and dedicated to transforming Indigenous education. I give a public commitment here today that I will continue the previous minister’s strong foundations in the policy work that she laid down.
Mr Tollner: Why are you all so scared of the member for Arafura?
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Fong Lim just cannot help himself. I do not know what the member for Fong Lim finds so funny about transforming Indigenous education. He is an absolute disgrace. There is nothing more important to the future of the Northern Territory than transforming Indigenous education.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The clown from Fong Lim sits there and laughs. There is nothing more important than transforming Indigenous education.
Madam Speaker, the most important aspect …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have put the members opposite in no doubt about Standing Order 51 and the interjections. The moment the Chief Minister starts to speak, they start. They do not want to hear a thing.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, once again, I remind you of Standing Order 51 …
Mr Mills: Come on. It is the deputy head prefect having a chat …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I am speaking at the moment. I am, in fact, speaking about not interrupting …
Mr Mills: Yes, sorry, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I remind you that it is important, particularly when the Speaker is speaking. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is nothing more important for the future of the Northern Territory than to transform Indigenous education. We are absolutely committed to that; I am absolutely committed to that.
Regarding the additional funding, this is funding on top of what we already spend on Indigenous education - $82.5m over five years. A lot of that money will go to infrastructure, because there has been a deficit of investment in infrastructure for our remote schools over decades in the Northern Territory. I will not speak of the blame game here today; it is time to fix the problem. The $82.5m over five years does not take into account the commitment under the stimulus package that the Australian government has put forward, with up to $3m for every primary school in the Territory, including those remote primary schools that members opposite and their Senator in the Senate voted against.
Our government is committed to upgrading 15 community education centres in our larger remote communities. $6.9m is committed in the capital works program this year. $1.5m for the Yirrkala Community Education Centre upgrade project will see old demountables being replaced, and new general learning areas for early childhood students built. Tenders have been assessed and the contract is about to be awarded. At Ngukurr, the community education centre will get a $1.45m upgrade of facilities, and additional specialist secondary facilities. We are the first government in the Northern Territory to invest in secondary education in our remote communities.
At Ramingining, the CEC will get $1.45m to upgrade to provide facilities to support middle and senior years of schooling. Yuendumu CEC will get $1.25m to redevelop the primary school area to meet recommended acoustic standards, and also facilities for middle and senior year students. At Ali Curung, a project of $1m has been awarded and work is commencing to upgrade the classrooms and airconditioning system, and this work is due to finish in July this year. Along with these upgrades, facilities will be built to allow for counsellors’ offices to be constructed at Ramingining, Ngukurr and Yirrkala.
The 2009-10 capital works program will see another $6.25m and upgrades for Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Angurugu, Lajamanu, and Numbulwar. In 2010-11, another $6.25m will see upgrades at Milingimbi, Kalkarindji, Maningrida, and Galiwinku. On top of this will be the additional Commonwealth money. We will work together to ensure we maximise that Commonwealth money as we upgrade these schools throughout the Northern Territory. Every community will be visited to ensure community consultation takes place.
The great challenge: we can have the best schools that we can possibly have in terms of infrastructure in the bush and, as I have said, the deficit has been so great for so many years; we can have the best teachers, the best principals; we can have teacher housing, but we have to get the kids to school on a regular basis because, unless the kids are in the classroom, they are not going to learn.
These are the challenges that we face. We are passionately committed to them, and for those children to seize those rivers of opportunity, improving education outcomes is critical. I commit myself and my government to doing the hard yards, doing the hard work, and getting the policies in place to improve Indigenous education.
Alice Springs – Property Crimes
Mr GILES to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Tomorrow, your government will announce a host of measures aimed at tackling youth crime in Alice Springs. As you know, interim measures were put in place prior to Christmas to deal with the anticipated increase in crime over the school holiday period. Business owners and others have reported a significant increase in the level of crime in the last two months. Can you advise how many recorded property crimes occurred in December and January in Alice Springs, including the number of commercial break-ins for the same period, and how does that compare to the same period the year before?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. There has been a spike in the number of break-ins to commercial premises in Alice Springs. I have been briefed on that as Police minister, and yes, we will be making some significant announcements tomorrow in regard to the youth crime forums that were held with the member for Macdonnell as the Minister for Indigenous Policy, and local members.
I do not have those specific figures at my fingertips. They are reported on a quarterly basis through the Justice crime statistics. The member will not have to wait too long to get the information that he is asking for, because they will be reported through the quarterly crime statistics. They report four times a year, which is three times more than anywhere else in Australia, and those figures will be provided very soon.
I can advise, from police, that currently, between 85% and 90% of all property offences in Alice Springs result in arrest, and that is a remarkable clear up rate. I can also advise that there are very few residential break-ins occurring at the moment. Most break-ins are in commercial properties and most of these are to obtain alcohol. The advice is that it is alcohol-related crime, which is the number one issue not only in Alice Springs but in so many places in the Northern Territory. The police are working hard. They do have a very high clear-up rate in terms of arrests for those types of offences.
The previous Licensing minister has commissioned a review of the alcohol reforms in Alice Springs and we are waiting to see that come forward, but it does show that there is a cause and effect here. Many of the measures we have put in place have made it much harder for serious habitual drinkers to get access to alcohol. That is leading to break-ins into commercial premises where alcohol is stored, which is tragic for those commercial premises.
I have expressed heartfelt sympathy on radio in Alice Springs, particularly for those community-based organisations and sporting clubs which have had properties broken into. This is a very significant social problem we face in the Northern Territory, which is the abuse of alcohol. It is the abuse of alcohol that is leading to an increased number of break-ins to commercial properties. Police do clear up 85% to 90% of all of those property offences in Alice Springs. The work will continue to reduce alcohol consumption in Alice Springs, which is leading to the type of issues that the member is talking about and what I have responded to.
Closing the Gap – Health Outcomes
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please update the House on the government’s commitment to close the gap on health outcomes for Indigenous Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It is a very important question. Closing the gap on health outcomes and life expectancy is one of the most important aspects of our government’s Closing the Gap initiative. The Closing the Gap health initiatives start with giving kids a healthy start in life. We started the child care initiative in 2004. We have further enhanced antenatal and maternal care. Improved early childhood and family services have been delivered. We have more outreach midwives and our improved community care programs are having a positive effect.
However, what makes a big difference is the statistics that come from Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal people. Infant mortality figures are dropping for Aboriginal kids. They have dropped 35% in recent years. There is improvement in many other child health outcomes - drops in levels of anaemia and underweight children; birth weights for live born Aboriginal kids is increasing, and there is a dramatic decline in stillbirths for Aboriginal children. Clearly our program, Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture is working and working well. Life expectancy for Aboriginal women has increased by three years, from 65 years to 68.2 years. That is a dramatic increase.
Mr Giles: Is that in the Territory or Australia-wide?
Mr VATSKALIS: That is in the Northern Territory, from 65 to 68.2 years. That is absolutely fantastic.
These outcomes are real and prove that we can and are making some difference. We are actually closing the gap. We have more work to do, and that is why we are working closely with the federal government, and also with Aboriginal community-controlled health services. A major expansion of primary health care services in remote areas has been delivered with the Australian government, and further development of chronic disease management programs are being rolled out next financial year.
We can be proud that our programs are making this kind of difference, especially in the Indigenous community. To have child mortality decline by 35% is very important. It is confronting to come to a country like Australia and find kids with malnutrition and with high anaemia levels.
Mr Giles: Has the intervention been working?
Mr VATSKALIS: We are referring to our Closing the Gap program. I have no problem with the intervention if it improves the health of Aboriginal people. I shall support it. However, our own program, our own initiative, Closing the Gap, is having some positive effects for Indigenous people.
Blacktip Gas Pipeline – Completion Date
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Last year, and after some delays, and misleading statements I might add, you finally admitted …
Ms Lawrie: Not true.
Mr ELFERINK: Do you know what I am talking about? You do not have a clue. You do not even know what the question is about.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, cease interjecting so that we can hear the question, please.
Mr ELFERINK: Minister, last year and after some delays, and misleading statements, I might add, you finally admitted that the completion of the Blacktip gas project would be delayed from 1 January, the date nominated by the Chief Minister, to April. Can you update the House as to whether the completion of this project is still scheduled for April and, if not, is this just another example of the void between what you promise as a government and what you deliver?
ANSWER
Mr Henderson: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: I think the question was directed to the Minister for Essential Services.
Mr ELFERINK: Yes, and while I appreciate the Chief Minister …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I add that it was very hard to hear the question. Minister for Essential Services.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I am delighted to answer this question because, again, the opposition has verballed me. What I stated, and what he asserted late last year, was that the pipeline was not on track. The pipeline has been completed, as of 1 January when it was supposed to be completed. To understand the project, APT construct the pipeline, ENI construct the gas plant, and Power and Water have a gas sales agreement with ENI. The pipeline is in place. ENI have acknowledged that …
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: We have fuel supplies …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is quite obvious: do we have the gas or do we not have the gas?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, just contain yourself. You asked quite a long and involved question. The minister is answering the question.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have fuel supplies; we will have continued fuel supplies. We will not run out of power. We have contingencies in place. We have a gas sales agreement with ENI. I cannot go into the details of that agreement, but we do have a gas sales agreement. We will be receiving gas from Blacktip. We do have contingencies in place and those contingencies will supply power for Darwin through Channel Island Power Station.
Mr ELFERINK: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no supplementary.
Mr ELFERINK: When? When are you …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Closing the Gap –Child Protection Services
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
Could the minister please provide an update on the Closing the Gap package and how it has assisted child protection services in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for the question. The Closing the Gap package was a significant commitment by our government, which brought more than $61m of funding to implement child protection, family violence and sexual assault initiatives. Closing the Gap funding has been used to permanently establish the Child Abuse Task Force, to expand the number of child protection workers in the Top End, and create a task force in Central Australia.
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner has been established and the first Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner has also been appointed. Recently, I was pleased to attend the first Northern Territory Child Death Review Committee. This committee, convened by the Children’s Commissioner, examines child deaths and makes recommendations for improvement. I look forward to working closely with this committee to ensure a strong child protection system in the Northern Territory.
A new, targeted family support service for Indigenous families in Alice Springs has also been established. A similar program has been funded in Tennant Creek, and a tender has been advertised to establish a targeted family support service for Indigenous families in Katherine.
This House has already heard me discuss the establishment of safe houses across the Northern Territory in partnership with the Australian government. These new Family Violence Intervention and Prevention Services are employing local men and women to work in their communities, and these workers are being trained and supported by a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff within the Department of Health and Families.
In addition, Closing the Gap funding, in partnership with the Australian government, has enabled the creation of remote Aboriginal family and community workers in eight communities across the Northern Territory. These are local people who are being trained and supported in their local community.
In the area of Sexual Assault Services, a medical coordinator has been appointed to the Darwin Sexual Assault Referral Centre; additional Aboriginal sexual assault workers and sexual assault counsellors have also been employed; and a mobile outreach service is operating across the Northern Territory.
Closing the Gap has been a significant package. It is a massive commitment by our government, and has ensured that additional child protection, family violence and sexual assault services are on the ground where they are needed the most.
Power and Water Corporation – Contract Awarded to Interstate Company
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
At the stimulus forum on Sunday, I understand you supported the idea that contracts should stay in the Territory. In fact, I believe you intend to revise an old scheme put forward in the early 1980s by a Territory campaign. Can you please explain why, on 29 January, Power and Water awarded a contract for the provision of vegetation management in proximity to overhead powerlines, for a period of 36 months, to Active Tree Services, a New South Wales company, valued at $5.2m?
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I am not sure what people are ‘Hear, hear’-ing about over there; whether they think it is a great thing that the contract went interstate, because I do not think it is a great thing at all. If the opposition want to cheer the fact that the project went interstate, I suppose that is up to them to explain.
Very clearly, we, as the Territory government, want as much of government expenditure to stay in the Territory as possible. However, we live in a world which provides for free trade across state borders. We have agreements amongst all of the states – signed many years ago - that ensures that there were no anti-competitive provisions put into state procurement arrangements and, obviously, we have to comply with those.
Before handing over to my colleague, the Power and Water minister for the details of this particular procurement, in 2007-08, the Northern Territory government expended approximately $2.1bn on the procurement of supplies, works and services, and 78%, or $1.65bn of this was awarded to Northern Territory-based businesses. That is very significant. If you took the logic of ‘all work must stay in the Territory, and no one could bid for work outside of the Territory’, that would do one of two things: (1) the prices would go up for everything we procure, which would mean government could procure less and fewer businesses would benefit; and (2) if you were to do that, all of the other states would put up barriers which would mean that our Territory-based businesses could not win work interstate. That is ridiculous.
Madam Speaker, we want to see as much of this stay in the Territory as possible. We do have an open, transparent tendering process. We are looking to maximise further Territory-based business access to government procurement. However, we are going to abide by national agreements because it absolutely makes sense from a policy perspective. As I said, 78% of money does stay in the Northern Territory. We are reforming procurement; I have spoken about that over the last week. For the details in regard to this particular procurement, I will hand over to the relevant minister.
Mr KNIGHT (Essential Services): Madam Speaker, further to what the Chief Minister said, this government takes the procurement process very seriously. It is a very open and transparent process. I have been aware of this particular issue and I have looked into it.
Power and Water requires all tenders valued over $2m to be subject to oversight by an independent probity auditor. In this instance, Ernst & Young provided the probity overview and concluded that a good level of compliance was achieved and no conflicts of interest were noted. The assessment by the panel was endorsed by the Procurement Review Board as adhering to the Northern Territory government’s strict procurement guidelines. It is very important that all this probity happens at arm’s length from politicians so that it can be done properly and fairly.
The unsuccessful tenderer has been briefed on the outcomes of the tender process. Importantly, the procurement process includes avenues for appeal for parties who believe they have been unfairly treated. I understand that the existing contractor has now contacted the Department of Business to go through this formal process. I welcome and support that course of action.
Closing the Gap – Regional Development
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Can the minister please inform the House about measures being undertaken in regional development concerning Closing the Gap?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Through our policy of Closing the Cap, this government will continue to foster Indigenous economic development. Bringing remote Indigenous towns from the economic periphery of Australian society into the mainstream is our primary objective. It is all about jobs and breaking the cycle of welfare-ism …
Mr Giles: Which one have you done? Which one have you brought forward? Have you brought any forward yet, or is it just a concept, just an idea about what might happen?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, the opposition, obviously, do not have any plans for closing the gap of Indigenous disadvantage ….
Mr Giles: Is not this Question Time?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He just continues to interject at a low level. This is also a very pernicious strategy by the opposition. What they are trying to do is block out the minister’s voice on the radio. I have had a number of complaints made to me over the last day or so about this practice. I would ask them to cease.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! .
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have made your comments and directions in relation to frivolous points of order, and that has to be the champion.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There are certainly a lot of interruptions and Standing Order 51 covers those interruptions. Member for Braitling, I have had cause to ask you to cease interjecting a number of times, so if you just bear that in mind for the next few minutes. Minister, please continue.
Mr HAMPTON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is quite clear that the Liberals on the other side do not have any plans at all for closing the gap of Indigenous Disadvantage. However, I digress.
We will continue with the Indigenous Business Development Program. Over the last three years …
Mr Giles: At least I do not send them all to gaol – 89% incarceration rate.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, you are on a warning!
Mr Giles: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I will remind you, member for Braitling, when you speak to me, you are to stand, thank you.
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, we will continue the Indigenous Business Development Program. Over the last three years, this program has created 67 new businesses and 134 new jobs. A review of the program established a success rate of 87%, an outstanding effort and well above the Australian average. The Tennant Creek Foundation brought together Battery Hill and Nyinkka Nyunyu under the same management structure.
Mr Giles: And it gives the ex-member for Barkly a job.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, I ask you to withdraw from the Chamber. Please continue, minister.
Mr HAMPTON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Tennant Creek Foundation brought Battery Hill and Nyinkka Nyunyu under the same management structure. This has led to greater efficiencies and a revitalised and focused enterprise.
In the mining sector, the Tanami Regional Partnership Agreement has been signed. It was my honour, as the member for Stuart and a member of the Henderson government, to sign this on behalf of the Northern Territory government. It is all about boosting jobs and employment opportunities in the Tanami region. It is a partnership between the federal government; the Northern Territory government; Newmont Australia; the CLC; and the Central Desert and Victoria Daly Shires.
Madam Speaker, it does not end here. The Northern Territory Indigenous Economic Development Strategy has been reviewed, and a new strategy will be launched very soon. The strategy will contain baseline employment data that will enable the success or otherwise of the strategy to be measured.
McArthur River Mine – Future
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to CHIEF MINISTER
Last month, the federal Environment minister, Peter Garrett, said a decision on the future of the McArthur River Mine would be made on 6 February. It is some 12 days later and there is still no decision. The people of Borroloola, the unemployed miners there, would like an answer to this question: when did you last telephone minister Garrett to inquire as to when we can expect a decision on the McArthur River Mine that will secure up to 300 Northern Territory jobs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for this very important question. What is needed with this issue is certainty. As I have said before, the federal government is very clear about my government’s position, and that is that this mine should be up and running as soon as possible, but the federal minister has to make a decision.
I can advise that, as late as yesterday, a call was made to the relevant minister to inquire as to how long it would be before he made a decision. I am not at liberty, and I am not going to go into the discussion that ensued, but it is important for everyone that this issue gets resolved as quickly as possible, that the decision, when it is made, stands up to legal scrutiny …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was clearly asked: when was the last time that he called the federal Environment minister? I am asking you to ask the Chief Minister to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, there is no point of order, resume your seat. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Very clearly, as I said, or maybe the member for Fong Lim was not listening, the government did call the federal minister yesterday …
Mr Tollner: Did you call?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … and this was very clearly put to him. The reason we are in this place is because …
Mr Tollner: Are we hearing a no? You have not called.
Mr HENDERSON: … the previous federal minister in Canberra, Ian Campbell …
Mr Tollner: You have not called.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister knows he is not being relevant to this question. He is dodging and weaving. Can you please draw him back to the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. Chief Minister, you have the call. Answer the question as closely as possible, thank you.
Mr Tollner: Did you make a phone call? Simple.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr Tollner: Simple.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting. Treasurer, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Sorry?
Madam SPEAKER: No, no, the Treasurer. Chief Minister, you may remain standing.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are very clear, because the decision, when it is made, as I have said before, has to stand legal scrutiny and has to provide certainty for all involved. The position of this government is very clear.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I will ask again. The question was a very simple question …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr TOLLNER: … did the Chief Minister call the federal Environment minister? A very simple question.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I am speaking on one other point of order. Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He is simply repeating the point of order that you have ruled is not a point of order. Now he is trying to get thrown out with his mate, the member for Braitling.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, the Chief Minister has the call. I have asked him to answer the question as closely as possible to the question that has been asked. I do not wish to hear any more points of order from you on the same matter. Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Very clearly, the only reason we are in this position today is because of the involvement of Ian Campbell, the previous Environment minister, and his incompetent handling of the original decision.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members! Member for Fong Lim, you are on a warning! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It does not matter about the false histrionics of the member for Fong Lim, who was a member – heaven help, he was never a minister – in the previous Commonwealth government, the histrionics …
Mr Tollner: You are a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … and the false histrionics of the member …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you are to withdraw from the Chamber for an hour.
Mr HENDERSON: The false histrionics …
Mr Conlan: He has gone. I do not think he is coming back.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms Lawrie: He was not here this morning.
Mr HENDERSON: Yes, I wonder where he was this morning. The false histrionics and the stunts of the member for Fong Lim …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister well knows he cannot refer to the presence or otherwise of a member in the Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: I did not hear. There were too many interruptions to hear what was said.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I will advise you what was said. The Chief Minister referred to the absence of the member for Fong Lim. He knows he cannot do it. Withdraw it, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you are aware that you are not able to refer to that.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the fact that the member for Fong Lim was absent from the parliament for the entire session this morning. I withdraw that observation.
Madam Speaker, the false histrionics from the member for Fong Lim - who was a member of the government that stuffed this process up completely in the first place. The incompetence of a federal minister of parliament to sign off on such a sensitive issue as the environmental issues regarding the diversion of the river; for a federal minister to sign that off and not actually read the document that he had signed off on; to miss the fact that every second page on the document he signed was blank, was not only incompetence of the highest order …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I draw your attention to the point of relevance. This is in no way relevant to the specific question that was asked.
Madam SPEAKER: I cannot actually remember the question. Chief Minister, I am sure you can. If you can, continue.
Mr HENDERSON: The fact that a minister of the Crown would have signed off on such a sensitive document without recognising that every second page was blank is not only incompetence of the highest order, it is an absolute abrogation of ministerial responsibility and just shows how little the previous minister was actually overseeing this particular issue.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: That is the reason we are where we are today. That is the reason why we had 300 people stood down. That is why we have lawyers at 50 paces looking at this decision. I urge the minister to make a decision as soon as he possibly can. However, I do understand, unlike those members opposite, that the decision has to stand up to the utmost integrity and legal scrutiny.
I feel for everyone involved in this particular issue. Of course I have spoken - and I am not going to say which minister I have spoken to and when I spoke to them - of course I have spoken to federal ministers, absolutely wanting this decision to be made with the utmost integrity, the utmost certainty, and as quickly as possible, to the benefit of everybody involved.
The histrionics of people like the member for Fong Lim – well, he needs to sit back and think about the absolute incompetence of one of his previous colleagues. That is the reason we are where we are on this particular issue today.
Closing the Gap – Correctional Services
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Can you please update the House on the important work being done to close the gap under the new era of Corrections.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I am sure both sides of the House would agree that Indigenous Territorians are over-represented in our prisons. To close this gap, we have to reduce the disadvantage, and it is my focus to reduce the reoffending rates. That is the bottom line here. To reduce the reoffending rates, we have to focus on education, awareness and rehabilitation.
The concept of work camps has been discussed in this House. This concept will really lead the way in regional areas in closing the gap for Indigenous offenders, as we have discussed, through reconnecting them with the community. Those offenders who are disadvantaged in our prison system could experience, possibly for the first time, being work ready and understand about going to work, about feeling good about having order in your life, and conducting active and important work in the community. We have talked about the community connections as a result of this initiative, and the community understanding about these low-level, minimum security offenders, and those offenders’ understanding about the community and what it is like to work in the community.
There are initiatives from this government that represent an additional 10 community probation and parole officers in remote communities across the Territory. This initiative represents a support structure where there are human resources to support disadvantaged Indigenous Territorians, both when they are incarcerated but, most importantly, when they are in the community and making the important return into the community. They will be supporting both adult and juvenile offenders. They will ensure that the offenders comply with the conditions of their release, and they will play an integral role in helping to avoid the reoffending.
I am pleased to announce that the government’s Closing the Gap initiatives will put additional community probation and parole officers at Lajamanu, Wadeye, Barunga, Timber Creek, Hermannsburg, and Yuendumu. We are currently recruiting officers for Tennant Creek and Ngukurr. These officers are undertaking induction courses, and they will be trained at the Certificate II level in Justice Services to be completed in 12 months. This ongoing development and capacity building is managed and supported by a Darwin-based manager and a training and development coordinator.
We will work further to close the gap for disadvantaged Indigenous Territorians. We will recruit four more community probation and parole officers to be placed at Gunbalanya, Borroloola, Papunya, Alyangula, and Nhulunbuy. Under the Closing the Gap initiative, we have also established a community corrections office at Lajamanu, Wadeye, Hermannsburg, Barunga, Timber Creek, and Ngukurr.
As we enter this new focus and new era, I am very proud to announce that the Correctional Services department is fully focused on education and rehabilitation as a new era of management that will go a long way to reduce the reoffending rates and, importantly, help disadvantaged Territorians in Closing the Gap.
Members: Hear, hear!
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