2010-05-05
Budget 2010-11 – House Prices
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
During my reply to the Henderson budget blowout talking about the exorbitant cost of housing in Darwin, you interjected saying: ‘It is moderating’. What evidence can you present in this House to the fact that house prices are moderating, and how do you think Territorians who cannot afford the median house price of $540 000 in Darwin will respond to your heartless comment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Quarterly figures out this week show that rather than being at the top of the growth pack where Darwin had been with housing prices, what we are seeing is moderation in the housing sector. We have now slipped down to about fourth position. I will get that report brought to the Chamber and I will table it for the Leader of the Opposition.
The other thing, quite aside from the quarterly figures that came through, is I take the time to meet regularly with the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory. They are saying to me as well that they are seeing moderation in housing prices, but also an easing in the rental market availability. That is the very strong and clear feedback I am receiving from our own local Real Estate Institute.
In the Opposition Leader’s budget reply, there were no houses committed to whatsoever except for one halfway house. The capital spend in that would be $10m according to his speech; the recurrent spend, the operational spend - $15m. Calculations on a $10m capital spend would get about a 40-bed facility. To operate a 40-bed facility, it usually takes between $1m to $1.5m. One wonders, under this splurge, the oh, oh weird calculation of the opposition, would the tenants be getting caviar …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I remind you of Standing Order 113: succinct and answers relevant to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, you have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: I have finished.
Budget 2010-11 – Public Assessments
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Budget 2010-11 has been very well received. Can you update the House on some of the public assessments of Budget 2010-11?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Arafura. It is a budget that we know delivers now for families but, importantly, also invests in our future. Government made a deliberate decision to go into a deficit position to fund our record infrastructure spend; that is to protect jobs and help drive the Territory economy.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Chris Young gave the budget an eight out of 10. Anyone who knows Chris knows he is a bit of a hard taskmaster. I will take that result any day from Chris Young. I quote him as well:
- … from the Chamber’s point of view, we’re very happy to see the way the budget has gone.
He has spoken of the importance of putting money into the economy:
- You’re talking $5.1bn-worth of expenditure … they’re throwing virtually everything that’s coming in the door straight back out the door and that’s got to be good for the economy.
Speaking on debt this morning, Chris Young from the Chamber of Commerce said:
- I think it is a good type of debt. I mean we can’t reiterate enough the fact that its the roads, the rail, the airports and the ports that are the sort of, and then the power and water, those are the infrastructure things that business needs, it makes it easier to do business.
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: Oh, I know they do not want to hear it; they do not want to hear what people actually have to say other than themselves.
Speaking about our record $1.8bn infrastructure spend, Graham Kemp from the Master Builders said that it was vital for the health of the construction industry. He said …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Cannot help themselves.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting!
Ms LAWRIE: I quote ...
- It will introduce 3600 extra jobs but it will actually save existing jobs that are already here, and we need that for future projects.
Both Chris and Graham have pointed out the key purpose of our infrastructure spend: it is good for the economy, it is saving and protecting jobs, and creating jobs. Business understands that, in the context of a $5.1bn budget, our forecast deficits are completely sustainable. I have spoken to quite a few business people in the last 24 hours. They strongly support our decision to go into deficit to fund the infrastructure. They know it is the right decision for the right time. It is simply good economics for the Territory and the economy, and good for business.
The budget delivers now for families. I particularly liked the comment from the father of three, Tim Mackenzie, in today’s paper:
- Obviously with two at school and one who will be there soon, any spending on schools is a good thing.
That is what Budget 2010-11 is all about: better schools, better hospitals, and more housing.
SIHIP – Delivery of Houses
Mr MILLS to TREASURER referred to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In today’s figures released by the ABS, just 58 dwelling commencements were reported for March. There are just two public houses approved for construction. How do you expect to deliver 100 houses for SIHIP in 2010 at that anaemic rate of two per month?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is using rubbery figures. If he wants a response regarding SIHIP, I will refer that to the appropriate minister. What I will say is, we have a record public housing spend in Budget 2010-11 - 336 new public housing homes. For SIHIP, of course, I will refer to the appropriate minister.
Dr BURNS (Public and Affordable Housing): Madam Speaker, the target for this calendar year with SIHIP is 150 new houses and 1000 rebuilds and refurbishments. I can advise the House that, to date, of those complete and those under way, for refurbishments, 155 are complete, with 115 under way. For new, there are 80 under way and seven complete.
Opposition Budget Reply –
Effect on the Northern Territory
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Can you update the House on the effects the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply would have on the Northern Territory?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Treasurer, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Madam Speaker, that question asks for opinion and as such it should be ruled out of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, you may answer the question if you wish to.
ANSWER
Absolutely wish to, Madam Speaker, looking forward to it, in fact. I am sure Territorians are looking forward to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I am sure Territorians are looking forward to the Treasurer’s response to the opposition’s response to the budget, as is normal, even though the member for Fong Lim would like to gag me.
Today’s effort …
Mr Tollner: Gag girl!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I would ask you to withdraw that comment, please.
Mr TOLLNER: What comment, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: You are aware of what you said, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: I do not know, Madam Speaker, but if I have made an offensive comment I will withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, today’s effort from the Leader of the Opposition has to go down as the worst ever yet. It is lacking detail, it is lacking dollars, and it is lacking direction. In the little that he announced …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: They can dish it out but they cannot take it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: In the little that he has announced, he certainly announced that he would cut $4.8bn from the budget over the next four years. To cut the budget by that much would cost a lot more than time. What schools in Palmerston is he going to close? How many nurses from Darwin hospital is he going to sack? We know he wants to close Police Beats. If you look at trying to cut $4.8bn from the budget over four years, that equates to one third of our public servants, or 6000 public servants would be sacked, would lose their jobs under the CLP.
Madam Speaker, not one new house in the budget. His solution to housing needs for the Territory is to build one halfway house. The only new announcements apart from the halfway house were layers of bureaucracy: bureaucracy in planning; bureaucracy in education.
Our government has made a deliberate decision to put the spend into saving jobs, put the spend into infrastructure, which are legacy results for all Territorians in better schools, better hospitals and better housing.
Budget 2010-11 - Alcohol and
Other Drugs Services
Other Drugs Services
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL referred to MINISTER for HEALTH
There was a 21% increase in cases of people being taken into protective custody between 2008 and 2009. This is a serious community issue that requires real action to break the cycle of public drunkenness. Why has the Alcohol and Other Drugs Services component of the budget been reduced from the expected expenditure in 2009-10?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am aware there has been an adjustment in the Alcohol and Other Drugs section in terms of reductions by a completion of Commonwealth dollars. I will stick with protocol in this Chamber - the Alcohol and Other Drugs does come under the Minister for Health so I will let him respond.
However, in terms of Alcohol and Other Drugs, and this is what the CLP opposition refuse to acknowledge, there have been significant increases in the number of rehabilitation and sobering-up shelter beds in the Territory under a Labor government. Today we have some 300 rehabilitation and sobering-up shelter beds in the Territory. That is largely …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine! Member for Fong Lim!
Ms LAWRIE: If you understand the Alcohol and Other Drugs funding arrangements in terms of federal financial relations …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Ms LAWRIE: If you understand the federal financial relations in terms of Alcohol and Other Drugs funding, that is largely Commonwealth funding, but the Territory has also increased our spend as well.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I would like to advise the opposition there was no cut in the funding of Alcohol and Other Drugs. It was simply a reduction of $100 000 by the completion of an OATSIH-funded program. I am really disappointed by the Leader of the Opposition coming here so unprepared, claiming reductions in Alcohol and Other Drugs, in family services, that we did not increase the budget. There was no reduction in our budget. There is no …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: There is no reduction in our budget. To the contrary, for Child Protection Services there is extra funding of $700 000. If they studied the budget carefully, they would find there is no reduction in children’s services. In addition to that, they made an allegation that we have not increased the budget for Child Protection by 107% - we have. If you look very carefully, you will find that, in children’s services, not only …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: There is no reduction, Madam Speaker. On the contrary, in Child Protection there has been an increase, a significant increase in funding from approximately $35m in 2004-05 to $74.7m in 2009-10, and that includes family and parent support services, Child Protection Services, and Out of Home Care services - anything to do with protection of children in the Territory.
Larapinta Road - Condition
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
The state of the Larapinta Road on either side of Hermannsburg is deplorable. Approximately 60 km east of Hermannsburg, the roadside has been eaten away by erosion right up to the white line, resulting in a significant drop-off which is dangerous. Just west of Hermannsburg, the bridge over the Finke River has crumbled away leaving a narrow, single lane carriageway. Larapinta Road is the main road in Central Australia and these road conditions are dangerous for both locals and tourists. When will this road be repaired?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question and her interest in Central Australia.
Of the $1.8bn infrastructure spend, $331m is programmed for roads across the Territory, which includes all our major roads. I am aware of that damage. The unprecedented weather in Central Australia …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: … and that relates to our expenditure. I advise that $80m for repairs and maintenance on our roads network will include that section of road the member for Macdonnell has outlined. What we are faced with, right throughout Central Australia, owing to the unprecedented Wet Season, is access to country, and moving heavy machinery and moving civil construction. That is the only limiting factor at the moment. That is being factored in now and those repairs will be undertaken.
Budget 2010-11 - Commitment to
Creating and Supporting Jobs
Creating and Supporting Jobs
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The Territory government is committed to creating and supporting jobs. Can you please advise the House of the investment of Budget 2010-11 that backs this commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. This budget very much is about protecting jobs - $1.8bn in capital expenditure to support 3600 jobs right across the Northern Territory.
One thing is very clear: the Leader of the Opposition has no plan. He has no plan to protect jobs, no plan to create jobs and used the vast part of his reply to talk about the deficit. He refuses to say where he would cut jobs. Who will he cut? Where will he cut? Who will be sacked? Which programs will be cut? Which projects will be sidelined? This is the challenge for the Leader of the Opposition.
The Leader of the Opposition wants to cut jobs, close his eyes, and hope tomorrow brings a better day - that is the extent of his plan. Cut jobs, close your eyes, and somehow hope tomorrow will bring a better day. Well, it just does not work like that, Leader of the Opposition. It will not be a better day for the nurses you sack, for the students who do not get new classrooms, for patients in our hospital system who will see a lack of funding, for the teachers you axe, for the police officers you do not replace, to fund and bring the budget back into balance.
The Leader of the Opposition had an opportunity today, and he totally failed. You cannot rail against the deficit and not say what you would do to bring it back into balance. We had an interjection from the member for Katherine yesterday in this House where, very offensively, he interjected and talked about a bloated public service. He said we had a bloated public service; the CLP would have an efficient public service.
What that means is you will slash jobs. You have an absolute responsibility, Leader of the Opposition, to let Territorians know which jobs you would slash, which capital …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … projects you would not commence, because everyone I have spoken to at the Chamber of Commerce lunch, the Property Council breakfast this morning, have all said this is a responsible thing for government to do, to protect jobs and create jobs in the Northern Territory.
If the Leader of the Opposition wants to criticise the deficit, he has to have a plan to return the budget to balance and to surplus. He did not deliver that plan. He said he was going to form a couple of committees. He is going to create a halfway house somewhere. He talked rubbish about SIHIP; he completely failed in his response today; he has no plan to protect jobs, he only has a plan to cut jobs.
Budget 2010-11 – Cuts to Training
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
I am sure one of the key reasons companies like ConocoPhillips and INPEX choose to make massive investments in places like the Northern Territory is because of the perceived level of sovereign risk, and the availability of a trained and motivated workforce. Why is it that, in the 2010-11 budget allocation for training, it is $12.3m, which is nearly 12% lower than the expenditure forecast in 2009-10? How does this cut enhance efforts to attract industrial investment in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Obviously, he has not even read BP3, the basic book. He is asking a question in this House, and has not bothered to read the explanations in Budget Paper No 3. This is the person who would try to lead the Territory. He proved himself inadequate to the task earlier today with his Budget in Reply speech and, by his question, he is showing how he does not understand any of it. I will read from page 101 for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition.
Under Outputs and Performance for the Department of Education and Training:
- The decrease in the Training output group is primarily due to a decrease in Commonwealth funding, including $4.1m for the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund, $3.6m for Better TAFE facilities and $2.94m for Skills Centres and VET Infrastructure for Indigenous People Program.
As the Leader of the Opposition should …
Mr Tollner: How much has been taken out of training?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: As all members, not just the Leader of the Opposition, should be aware, the Commonwealth has programs they fund for finite times. They upgrade those programs and fund them over the next periods that they want to. This is the way the Commonwealth does business, and I fully expect further programs in this area of training to come from the Commonwealth and supplement the great job the Territory is already doing.
I well remember Syd Stirling standing here and making a target of 10 000 trainees. We did that in our first term. We are on target for our second term, and you should learn a little bit about budgets, Leader of the Opposition.
Budget 2010-11 – Education Strategy
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
The government’s education strategy, A Smart Territory, focuses on delivering a quality education agenda. Can you advise the House how Budget 2010-11 funds and supports this key government strategy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Nhulunbuy. This year sees a record appropriation for Education and Training of $886m, and a record amount in infrastructure of some $213m. Some examples of that are: $6.8m to upgrade Henbury, Nemarluk and Acacia Hill special schools; $6.4m to upgrade Centralian Middle School and create a youth hub at ANZAC Hill; $5m for Casuarina Senior College; and $1m for Sanderson Middle School.
We are also establishing five Centres of Excellence. I made announcements about two of those five; one being Casuarina and the other being Darwin High. There is $54.5m for Rosebery Primary and Middle Schools, plus more money, $14.1m, for staffing and administration.
We are very mindful of our remote schools and we are investing heavily there: $21.4m to increase the number of teachers and assistant teachers in remote schools - that comes to 170; our target is 200 over the four-year period of this particular program; $17.6m to build children and family centres at Yuendumu, Gunbalanya, Maningrida and Ngukurr; $5m in upgrades for remote schools; $2m for homeland learning centres; and $2.5m for new mobile preschools. We are funding our A Smart Territory strategy. We have the strategy, the plan, and the funding.
Madam Speaker, our focus is schools and students, and giving kids the best education they can have within the Northern Territory.
Tiger Brennan Drive Flyover –
Height of Bicycle Path
Height of Bicycle Path
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
On the new Tiger Brennan Drive flyover, there is a bicycle path bridge crossing the Stuart Highway. If a load similar to the huge generator that was recently transported to Alice Springs is required to go south from Berrimah along the Stuart Highway, would it have fitted under the bicycle path bridge? Was consideration given to this matter when designing the bicycle path bridge? If a load cannot fit under the bridge, what are the options in transporting loads around this bridge?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for a very good question. It gives me great pleasure to talk about the transformational $110m Tiger Brennan Drive project. There are three bridges under construction - a truly transformational project from this Henderson government. When it is completed, it is all about safety, and getting people home to their families. I also add that Macmahon Contractors Pty Ltd is doing a great job. I have been on that construction site a couple of times.
The question: the legal height for trucks is 4.3 m. Anything higher must operate under permits and conditions, such as pilots and police escorts. Australian Design Standards for port access height clearance is 5.8 m. We have more than accommodated that on each of the three bridges at 6.5 m. That is 50% higher than the legal limit for trucks, and 10% higher than the Australian standard. There are approximately 34 000 traffic movements through this area each day. You have to factor that in when you are talking about big projects such as the $110m Tiger Brennan Drive project.
Over the last three years, there have been a total of four loads that have exceeded 6.5 m in height passing through the area. There are several alternative routes available for extreme loads; that is, Berrimah Road and the back of Robertson Barracks. I have also asked the department for a number of other alternative routes. This is the largest road project we have ever seen - 131 workers directly on the project, and many more subcontractors. Truly transformational!
However, we have a choice. The member for Drysdale was very articulate on this and he gave us a choice: let us tear down $89m-worth of infrastructure …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr McCARTHY: I stood on that project; I talked to those contractors; I saw those workers. I went out of my way to find the Indigenous apprentices on that project. Member for Nelson, you have a point, but we have a choice: tear it down; $89m-worth of infrastructure, 34 000 traffic movements …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale, order!
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, member for Drysdale; your turn, buddy boy. Get real!
Annual House Price Index
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
You have reaffirmed to this parliament that you believe house prices in the Territory are moderating. The NT Treasury website shows the annual House Price Index for the March 2008 quarter recorded a 5% increase in the established price index. The March quarter for 2009 shows a 10.8% increase; and, the March quarter for 2010 shows a 17.5% increase in the established price index. How can you claim a jump from 4.9% to 17.5% is moderation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. I have the March quarter figures here, which I said I would table, they are the annual changes. We used to be top of the pack in terms of the annual house price rises, but when I talk about how we have moderated and slipped down to the middle of the pack, we now have Melbourne leading the pack at a plus 27.7% increase, followed by Sydney at a 21% increase, followed by Canberra at a 20.6% increase, and then Darwin comes in …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … at 17.5%. The other furphy that the …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was specifically in relation to three March quarters’ comparators for Darwin. It had nothing to do with Melbourne or Sydney. I ask that she comes to the point of the question.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, he asked me about my question in terms of the March quarter and I am reading them out.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, if you can come to the point that would be good.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, he also said that there are no houses being built and all of that, well, year on year growth …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was very specific with regard to the issue of moderation. Is an increase moderating or not?
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, if you can come to the point.
Ms LAWRIE: As I did say in my previous answer, the rate of growth is moderating. Yes, we are still seeing a strong housing market and, yes, this government is responding to the strength in the housing market. You want some strength in there, but you want to ease back on those growth pressures which we have seen, and we are seeing an easing back on the growth pressures, which is what I was talking about in the previous answer. We have gone from the top of the growth pack to the middle of the growth pack. We are putting land release as a key priority for this government in getting land out the door for people to purchase new homes. We have put tax cuts in there in the budget as well, making it more affordable for families to come in.
We have come in place with an affordable housing policy, we are building public housing, some 336 homes. They would like us to think that there is nothing happening in housing across the Territory. Well, year on year growth for housing approvals, in the private sector, 30.4% growth; and public, 128% growth - year on year, housing approval figures.
School-based Officers and Nurses -
Allegation of Withdrawal from Schools
Allegation of Withdrawal from Schools
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Last month, the member for Sanderson told a school council meeting that school-based police officers and nurses will be withdrawn from schools. Can you please assure school communities, parents and teachers that this is not the case?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. I can give a categorical assurance to school councils and parents across the Territory, those that have school-based constables, that they will not be withdrawn, and school nurses will not be withdrawn.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: The facts of this matter are plain. At the Sanderson Middle School, school council meeting on Tuesday, 13 April 2010, the member for Sanderson, and it is recorded here:
- Peter Styles MLA - Informed Council that the new Commissioner of Police was to remove School Based Police Officers from the school and then this would be followed by the removal of the School Nurse program as well. Offered to conduct a 40-minute PowerPoint presentation on the benefits of school-based policing if any parties were interested.
Madam Speaker, when I became aware of the misinformation being produced by the member for Sanderson …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … I asked the Police minister …
Mr BOHLIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member across this House is making some very unparliamentary remarks. Would you ask her to withdraw the comments?
Madam SPEAKER: I did not actually hear it. Which member?
Mr BOHLIN: The member for Arafura.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Arafura, can you withdraw if you made some …
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Madam Speaker, I just said that the member for Sanderson had lied and I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
I asked the Police minister and the Health minister about these allegations. There are no plans, I was informed by both the Police minister and the Health minister, to withdraw either school-based constables or school-based nurses, and moreover, each minister consulted with their CEO and was told exactly the same.
As I understand it, the Commissioner of Police will be writing to the particular school council, Sanderson Middle School and other school councils, to assure them that there are no plans to withdraw school-based police from schools.
This is an example of the member for Sanderson - he has been going around for 10 years saying this, and the school-based constables are still there. He has been going around spreading misinformation and he is telling all these porkies around the schools, trying to build his political capital, but he has been exposed …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: He needs to apologise to Sanderson Middle School and the Police Commissioner for trying to verbal the Police Commissioner.
Territory Debt – Repayment Date
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Yesterday, I asked you when you were planning to pay back the Territory’s debt which you are currently racking up - you did not answer. Having had 24 hours to come up with an answer, I put the question again: on what date will you pay back this debt of $1.7bn, and can you tell us what the interest rate is going to be along the way?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I sincerely welcome the question from the member for Port Darwin. I actually did answer the question yesterday. I am not surprised he did not hear the answer because, at the time, members opposite were shouting, as is their normal form. They ask a question, you start to answer, they start to shout. So, little wonder you did not hear it.
Yesterday, in Question Time, I did say that, at current predictions, we will be stepping out of deficit by 2015-16 and, of course, you are going into surplus, you are paying off debt. We have a track record of seven surpluses in a row where we were paying off debt and, of course, that is the worst case scenario in terms of 2015-16. We will be doing everything we can, year after year, through budget Cabinet after budget Cabinet, through decisions to keep the revenue strength occurring in the budget, which we have been delivering, and to keep expenditure down. We would hope 2015-16 is the worst case scenario in terms of stepping out of deficit, but I will give you that worst case scenario.
What I will also give you though is the context, because he is running around, he is excited about the issue of debt, and they were also caught out telling a little porky yesterday, where they were running around saying: ‘Victoria is in surplus, and then the Territory is in deficit’. Well, you have been caught out - it is a porky - Victoria is in a cash deficit.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: It is one thing to obfuscate, but it is quite another to tell a direct porky. Victoria is in an operating surplus, and guess what? So is the Territory. The Northern Territory has an operating surplus, we have an operating surplus in 2009-10, we have an operating surplus in 2010-11; in fact, we have an operating surplus in all our forward years.
However, what the Territory does differently to Victoria is, we give out publicly, out there in headlights, the cash deficit figure, because that is the most accurate measure, okay? Victoria is in cash deficit: they are in operating surplus. We are in operating surplus. If you actually look at the cash outcomes across all the jurisdictions, it is interesting. If you look at the 2010-11 year, the Northern Territory predicting a cash deficit, Queensland predicting a cash deficit, Victoria …
A member: Labor.
Ms LAWRIE: … a cash deficit. Oh, yes, come in spinner! Labor. Hello, there is a Western Australian jurisdiction …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … I will pick up on the interjection, as well. Victoria deficit, ACT deficit, New South Wales deficit, WA deficit - in fact, under the Liberals, they have blown it out by about $1.8bn. It was healthier under Labor.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Police Conduct in Remote Communities
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
I have received reports that a police officer in a remote police station in the southern region has been driving around a community handing out lollies from his moving vehicle to the local Aboriginal children. Obviously, this is a demeaning practice. It prompts serious road safety and food hygiene concerns. Have you been made aware of this issue previously, and is it considered acceptable practice for police in remote communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with due respect to the member for Macdonnell, I did not actually hear part of the question. What was the allegation about what police were doing? Sorry, I did miss it.
Ms ANDERSON: I have received reports that a police officer in a remote police station in the southern region has been driving around the community handing out lollies from his moving police vehicle to local Aboriginal children. Obviously, this demeaning practice prompts serious road safety and food hygiene concerns. Have you been made aware of this issue previously, and is it considered acceptable practice for police in remote communities?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. I personally am not aware of that particular allegation. If the member is prepared to give my office the detail, I will follow it through.
On the surface of it, without knowing the specifics, I know that police in remote communities are looking to engage communities, looking at community-based policing, and looking at embracing the communities they work in. I am not aware of the circumstances, but I can think of all sorts of professions - I know kids visit doctors’ surgeries, or whatever, and sometimes there are lollies given out to kids.
I am not aware of the circumstances. If there is a specific, untoward explanation around this, I am happy to follow it up. It has not been brought to my attention. However, I do know our police work very hard in our remote communities to become part of the community, to embrace the community, to want to be trusted by the children in the community. If handing out the odd lolly is part of that, and there is nothing untoward about it, I do not have a problem with it. I am happy to take on the specifics of the member’s allegation.
Budget 2010-11 – Land Release
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can you inform the House on what Budget 2010-11 provides to deliver more land for Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question about what the Territory government is doing. The Territory government is fast-tracking more land release, particularly in the new suburbs of Palmerston East, and it is going out at a rate five times never seen before. That relates to the position we are in, a strong economy, population growth, and it is putting the demands on land release. We have had this debate time and time again.
Budget 2010-11 provides an additional $20m to deliver the headworks to the suburb of Zuccoli. Stage 1 of Zuccoli will deliver 400 lots. That equates to roughly 555 new homes that will be available for sale off the plan by the end of this year, 2010. We are taking an active role in land release, and we are doing it with the Land Development Corporation in the first stage of Zuccoli. The Land Development Corporation is partnering up, joint venturing, to get the first 400 lots out there, and to understand this subject and to know it well for the future.
The Palmerston East suburbs of Bellamack, Johnston, Zuccoli and Mitchell will eventually house 15 000 Territory families. As well as that, I am very proud for all Central Australians that Budget 2010-11 delivers $10m to commence the headworks for the new suburb of Kilgariff in Alice Springs, with the potential to provide 1200 residential lots.
For Tennant Creek in Budget 2010-11 there is $900 000 to deliver 54 residential lots in the town. There is great confidence from this government in Tennant Creek and its future.
Budget 2010-11: $1.96m for the planning of a new city of Weddell, which will eventually house 40 000 Territorians. I am very proud to be tasked with the job to be part of the development of a new city in the Northern Territory which will house 40 000 Territorians. I have been on-site, I have been kicking the dirt, I have taken the time to understand this business. This business is big, it is bold, and it is complex. It is great to see that, in Johnston, the services are under way. The key road link is sealed and the civil works to create the land titles are under way.
Madam Speaker, to finish off, in my brief history in the Northern Territory, the reason why you guys do not understand this is that, in your time, everyone was leaving the place. In our time, everyone is arriving. The pressure is on; I agree.
Environmental Protection –
Smaller Budget Allocation
Smaller Budget Allocation
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
In the 2008-09 financial year, the combined Natural Resources and Environment and Sustainability output groups spent $56m. Yet, in 2010-11, we are expected to believe you will be able to provide better supervision, better regulation, better administration, and better environmental outcomes for Territorians by spending millions less. The buck does not just stop with you, it starts with you. Why did you allow your Cabinet colleagues to roll you on environmental protection?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that the Henderson government is certainly delivering a cleaner and greener future for Territory families. Budget 2010-11 is doing just that. There is over $101m for our fantastic parks, wise management of our natural resources, and protecting our environment. I welcome the question from the member for Brennan. We know he gets his figures absolutely wrong in many areas regarding many of his green initiatives, which seem to be going through the roof.
Every year, in the budget, we go through this. There are apparent variations in the budget books which are due to the fact that we receive significant external funding from the federal government, particularly for many of our new initiatives.
Regarding those outputs he is talking about, in Budgets 2009-10 and 2010-11, he needs to compare those variations in both budget books, and he will see that there is not a deficit that he is alluding to. In Budget 2010-11, take environment protection, for example. Government is beefing up its environmental protection services. As I announced last week in relation to the pollution incidents we have seen in our harbour, we have boosted over $1m already to the $6.1m in environment protection to enable an audit of all our ports across the Northern Territory, a new licensing regime, and more compliance officers undertaking spot checks.
That is just one example of how this government is securing a better, cleaner and greener future for Territory families.
Budget 2010-11 – Benefits
for Central Australians
for Central Australians
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you outline to the House how Budget 2010-11 delivers to Central Australians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Budget 2010-11 is delivering for Central Australian families, with more than $560m to improve our schools, hospitals, housing, and infrastructure. As my colleague, the minister for Lands has just alluded to, there is $10m for fast-tracking headworks for housing at the new suburb of Kilgariff. I acknowledge the Treasurer, who was there recently Mayor, Damien Ryan, announcing this fantastic fast-tracking of $10m for our new suburb.
There is also a significant boost for first homebuyers in Alice Springs, with increases to Homestart NT caps, an $85 000 increase, lifting it to $385 000 - great news for first homebuyers; $6.4m to upgrade the Centralian Middle School and establish a youth hub at the ANZAC campus; $38m to upgrade the Alice Springs Hospital - and we also have a new emergency department coming on board very soon; and, $3.4m for the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan.
This government has led by example across the Northern Territory, with the most comprehensive plan to tackle youth issues throughout the Territory in Alice Springs. Design works are to commence on the new Alice Springs Police Station, and new police stations for Alparra and Imanpa in the electorate of Macdonnell.
Budget 2010-11 delivers a brighter future for Central Australians. I was absolutely, not surprised, I should say, that the opposition is critical of land release at the new suburb of Kilgariff, and very evident also is the lack of the mention of Central Australia, the bush, but particularly Alice Springs in the Leader of the Opposition’s budget speech last week. A great shame there, but this government is committed to all Territorians, and particularly those living in Central Australia.
Renewable Energy Projects - Funding
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
A commitment to renewable energy is a cornerstone of the opposition’s climate change policy. It is important that your government have at least some tangible commitment to this important area. Funding has been cut this year for the Renewable Remote Power Generation program, and there is a reduction in expenses for the Solar Cities program. How can your government be serious about renewable energy if there is no funding for projects?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The Henderson Labor government is absolutely committed to climate change. We have a real climate change policy that was launched last year by the Chief Minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HAMPTON: To demonstrate that, clearly the member should look in the budget books. He should have a good read of it and not rely on his spin doctors in his party. Every line in the budget has a climate change measure written into it, right across government. It is a responsibility of all my colleagues in Cabinet that they take charge of implementing the various targets in our climate change policy.
Like most Territorians, this government takes climate change seriously. That is why we have released a fully-costed $34m climate change policy. The member for Brennan is a great guy but he just gets those figures wrong. He must take advice from his shadow Treasurer.
Specific budget measures are outlined on page 23 of the Budget Overview. We cannot really trust the CLP with the climate, we cannot really trust them with the environment.
Every line in the budget has climate change measures in it, and we have a $34m fully-costed budget and policy that shows our commitment to it.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can you ask the minister to table the document he was reading from?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, are they personal notes or is that something you would like to table?
Mr HAMPTON: They are personal notes, Madam Speaker.
Budget 2010-11 – First Homeowners
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
A member: Oh, this will be important.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: It is a great question. You should listen to the answer as well.
Minister, can you please advise the House how Budget 2010-11 will help first homeowners own their own home?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. We have our Homestart scheme in the Northern Territory, and Budget 2010-11 delivers good news for those first homebuyers - tax cuts that will save first homebuyers up to $26 730, senior Territorians $8500, and principal place of residence buyers $3500 when buying a home.
Stamp duty exemptions for first homebuyers increases from the first $385 000 to $540 000, saving homebuyers up to $26 730. As the Treasurer has announced, we are also introducing a new concession for senior Territorians and Pension and Carer Concession Card holders, reducing stamp duty by a whopping $8500. In addition, the principal place of residence rebate has increased from $2500 to $3500.
Budget 2010-11 delivers an increase in the Homestart purchase price caps and income limits, making the scheme accessible for more Territorians. For example, in Darwin and Palmerston, the price cap for homes has been lifted from $420 000 to $475 000, a $55 000 increase. In Alice Springs, an increase of $85 000; Katherine, an increase of $18 000; Tennant Creek, and we heard announcements of the land release in Tennant Creek, from $120 000 to $125 000.
Also, the income limits for Territorians to apply for a Homestart loan have been raised. One person household by $10 000 to $70 000; two people, from $90 000 to $100 000; three people will go up $11000 to $96000; four people, a rise of $17 500 to $103 000, and so on. It is a fiscally responsible scheme.
I believe the opposition released their policy, called ‘Living the Dream’, making a $780m black hole in the budget and a very wobbly scheme that will have a very direct effect on median house prices. Their subsidy would just get added in right at the bottom level, and push house prices right through the roof. They are an irresponsible opposition.
We are a government with a plan. We are a government with a strategy, we are for first homebuyers and we are really supporting them through the measures in Budget 2010-11.
Darwin Port Corporation – Call for Public Inquiry into Operation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
The NT News of 24 April showed a copy of a letter from the Department of Defence to the CEO of the Darwin Port Corporation regarding the roll-on roll-off pontoon at the wharf. The letter requests a pro rata payment of $2m.
Why has the Department of Defence requested this pro rata payment? Is this another example, along with pollution, breaking rocks, removal of the previous Harbour Master, ongoing staff issues, of why we need a public inquiry into the operation of the port?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. First of all, I will deal with the matter of the Defence letter, as you termed it. The Department of Defence and the Darwin Port Corporation have been negotiating for a while for an upgraded replacement facility. We have established a working group between government, port and Defence to ensure that our facilities at East Arm meet all the strategic needs required.
The roll-on roll-off facility has deteriorated over time and does not meet the needs of Defence any longer. A principal requirement is to provide the necessary capacity to support new equipment, and the existing facility will be commissioned by the next Wet Season. I am pleased to inform the member that the port has reached an in principle agreement with Defence on the relocation to East Arm for both Defence and common use - which is a great move.
The member goes on to talk about allegations relating to staffing and operational matters. I have taken a great interest in the port since having the portfolio, and have made a number of visits. I advise the member for Nelson that the CEO of the Port Corporation, Robert Ritchie, has undertaken a major restructure of the corporation to meet the growing needs of the Territory and promote the port as a gateway to Asia. This guy is an elite operator. This restructure has been needed and this restructure is delivering now. We are talking about an increase of 25% traffic this year, so this is a growing need.
As well as that, the board is made up of some exceptional Territorians: Chris Bigg, the Chairman, we meet regularly; Linda Mackenzie with a finance background; Bruce Fadelli with a business background; Peter Youens, an engineering background; and Robert Ritchie heading up the team.
I do not feel that there is the need for an inquiry. We are growing this; we are building this, and we are taking on much more business to complete the concept of the gateway to Asia - this is one of the jewels in our crown.
To conclude, I believe it is important to say that there is a comprehensive environmental investigation going on which will also inform our operations.
Secure Care Facilities - Location
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for HEALTH
Recently on Territory radio you said that the proposed Alice Springs secure care facility for people with high risk behaviour could not go to the AZRI site because it was too far, being 10 km from the Alice Springs Hospital.
The facility proposed on Lowther Road, Bees Creek is 50 km from the Royal Darwin Hospital. Why is 10 km too far for an Alice Springs site, yet 50 km for a site in Darwin is just fine?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I feel very sad at the response of the member for Goyder. I say that because her article in one of the local newspapers was full of contradiction and assertion. I quote:
- The application goes on to detail that the premises will have double fencing, no doubt with barbed wire at the top …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is certainly not relevant to the question. The minister was asked why it was acceptable in one place to have …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. The minister has only just started answering the question, member for Fong Lim.
Mr Tollner: He is not answering the question, Madam Speaker, it has nothing to do with the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Mr VATSKALIS: The member made the assertion that there will be barbed wire at the top, which is far from the truth. These people are not prisoners. These people are sick people and they need treatment. She then says:
- The area is a rural living area, close to two schools and a preschool centre.
The next paragraph says:
- … however, not in a built-up residential area …
Is it a rural area? Is it a residential area? How close to the school is it? I will tell you how close it is to the school …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: If that site was here, the school would be in Cullen Bay. That is how close it would be. The reason we put the facility there is because these people have to have a very quiet environment, if possible, away from traffic and any other areas. That is why we found a rural area, both here and in Alice Springs.
I am the first person to say the department did not do a good job in consulting with the residents. The department has failed to talk to the people. I have given clear instructions to talk to the residents to explain what kind of facility this is. People who are going to be there are people who have been traumatised, they have severe traumas and, as a result, they have suffered mental illnesses. They are not prisoners; they are not criminally insane. They are people who need to be treated. I find it very sad that people would make these comments talking about a high-risk mental asylum. This is not an asylum; this is a place for people who require to be treated.
Debt to Revenue Changes –
Post-Global Financial Crisis
Post-Global Financial Crisis
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Could you please explain nett debt to revenue changes across all Australian jurisdictions post the global financial crisis?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. I know he has shown much interest in Budget 2010-11. He was at the Chamber of Commerce presentation and he was at the Property Council this morning. I know he has also heard the misleading by the opposition when it comes to the issue of debt.
The facts are, six Australian jurisdictions had increasing debt over all forward years in supporting infrastructure spending. This is a direct result of the global financial crisis. Jurisdictions stepped up public spending, which increased debt. I will put in context the nett debt to revenue changes we have seen post-global financial crisis. Here is a chart to show the nett debt to revenue of all the Australian jurisdictions. Here is the Northern Territory sitting down in the blue, Queensland, Victoria, ACT, New South Wales, Western Australia - that is a Liberal state, and look at Western Australia …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Western Australia did not have any debt at all back in 2008-09 when it was a Labor state. They were $2bn in the black, but now, under a Liberal government, they are forecasting a debt of $6bn in 2012-13.
On radio this morning, the member for Port Darwin was trying to say increasing that debt to provide spending was something Labor states do. Well hello, here we are, Western Australia - no debt when Labor was in power, Liberal comes into power and what has happened, debt has gone up. There is a reason behind this, and this should not be …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Come in spinners; shows their ignorance. This should not be a Liberal versus Labor argument. This is about responsible spending, public spending, post-global financial crisis to save jobs, protecting those all important jobs in our economy, and to create jobs.
The reality has been, for all Australian jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth, post-global financial crisis, to get those debt levels up, to spend to save jobs and create jobs. The International Monetary Fund did tell governments to do that. They said: ‘Spend fast and spend big to save your economies’, regarding the economic downturn - and we have all done that. We have had to do that, whether you are a Liberal in WA or whether you are Labor. We are sitting down pretty low in comparison, I can say. The CLP has made it clear they do not support this action. They do not support spending to save jobs. They want to go out there and slash jobs, throw Territorians out of their jobs. They should be ashamed.
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