2012-03-29
QUESTIONS –Thursday 29 March 2012
Population Decrease in the Territory
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The latest population figures show that another 157 Territorians have left here in the past quarter. That is more than 3500 people over the past two years. Can you explain to us why workers and families are continuing to leave?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In fact, the September quarter population figures show that our population grew by 0.4% higher than the national average of 0.3%, so the population of the Northern Territory continues to grow. Of course, in the September quarter …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr HENDERSON: … there was a nett outflow of 157 people compared to an outflow of 324 in the previous quarter. So that says the trend is turning in our improvement. As the rest of the Australian economy starts to soften, our economy is starting to go from strength to strength.
Our population has always been cyclical around major projects. Regarding the numbers the Leader of the Opposition quoted, we know that a significant portion of that number was as a result of 7RAR being relocated from Darwin to Adelaide. A significant part of that was out of the hands of the Territory government: a stroke of the pen of the Commonwealth minister and we lose a couple of thousand people, including families, down south.
We have population growth predicted by Access Economics of 1.6% annually over the next five years. The members opposite would be the only people in the Northern Territory who would not understand that our population will significantly grow over the next few years as a result of the INPEX project coming to Darwin. With the work we are doing with the Marine Supply Base, and everything that is happening in our resources sector, the Territory economy is set to experience significant growth over the next five years and that will also lead to population growth.
We have a strong plan for our economy. We have multifaceted plans for our economy …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has answered the question and now he is just waffling about stuff …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Population will grow as the economy grows. We have plans to grow the economy, as opposed to the CLP, which has a one-page economic policy, and the only policy in this document …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: the answer shall be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. He is now not answering the question; he is just having a chat.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. The Chief Minister has three minutes and appears to be relevant.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is relevant, because the only policy here is to slash the public service, throw people out of jobs, shrink the economy further and further shrink the population of the Northern Territory ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. The question was: can you tell us why workers and families are continuing to leave? He is now talking about CLP policy. It has nothing to do with the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. The Chief Minister’s time has expired largely because of the large number of points of order.
Mr Elferink: May I say, Madam Speaker ...
Madam SPEAKER: No, you may not say, member for Port Darwin.
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
There were announcements yesterday about further funding for the Stronger Futures legislation. Can you please outline the role the Territory government has played in securing these much-needed resources to help improve the lives of Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for a very important question. Our government is rightly proud of the relationship we have, and the ability to negotiate in partnership, with the federal government for the good of all Territorians. In particular, I want to thank my Caucus colleagues who involve themselves in this debate and discussion with such passion and commitment to the bush.
Yesterday, with the federal Indigenous Affairs minister, we announced more than $800m to further fund the Stronger Futures legislation. We all know the commitment of the federal government to accept its responsibility to homelands and outstations in the Northern Territory. This is a Commonwealth responsibility and Mal Brough held a gun to the Territory’s head to try to get the Territory to take over this responsibility. The liabilities are such that no Territory government could afford to take them on. I congratulate the Commonwealth government for accepting its responsibility to fund outstations and homelands for 10 years, giving those homelands and outstations certainty.
We know that the funding is not anywhere near enough to fix all the issues out there, but it is a very big first step to fix a huge legacy. Our A Working Future policy is our policy and it shows our faith as a government and our commitment to the bush. It drives real outcomes for Territory growth towns, outstations and homelands.
Let me give some examples of how we are delivering in the bush. For housing in particular, more than 2500 families have new and improved homes. At the end of February, we had 540 new houses completed, another 128 under way, 1972 homes have been rebuilt and refurbished and completed, with 31 under way.
In health, we have improved primary healthcare in remote communities. We now have renal dialysis facilities in all our major towns, with a planned new facility in Katherine and a new expanded facility in Tennant Creek coming home. We can support patients with their own dialysis in over 23 places, such as Wadeye, Kalkarindji, Umbakumba, Ramingining, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Galiwinku, Angurugu, Pirlangimpi, Nguiu, Mt Liebig, Lake Nash and Yuendumu to name a few. There have been eight new remote health clinics over the past few years. Seven new remote health centres are in the design phase at Robinson River, Ngukurr, Canteen Creek, Numbulwar, Elliott, Galiwinku and Hermannsburg. Significant upgrades to health clinics will also happen in Titjikala, Papunya, Maningrida and Docker River.
That is the scope of this government’s commitment to the bush compared to those opposite who would gut the bush. That is ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... what would happen under those people opposite. Their manifesto released just a few weeks ago had no mention of the bush and no mention of Indigenous. That is where the axe would fall if they were to get into government. We back the bush, and we back people in the bush. The opposition does not.
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
People are leaving the Territory partly because of high rents - read the ABS figures. Could you please explain why we have the highest capital city rents in the country?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, rents and the cost of housing have always been more expensive in the Northern Territory than other states. There are a number of reasons for that.
The first reason is the distance from the major centres that supply housing materials. Everything we use to construct a home in the Northern Territory comes from somewhere a long way away, with huge freight costs associated to it. Particularly in the Top End, around a third of additional costs of constructing houses results from the requirement to build homes to the cyclone coded standards. These are very significant cost imposts on the Northern Territory which the government can do nothing about that other states do not have to face.
We do everything we can in the Northern Territory to make housing as cheap as possible. That is why we have the most generous housing concession schemes in the country by a country mile. There are first homeowner concessions for stamp duty; the vast majority of first homeowners in the Territory pay no stamp duty at all on the cost of their first home - the most generous in the country. We have rebates for senior citizens who are looking to downscale the size of their home; and a stimulus of $10 000 to support people buying a new unit off the plans or committing to building a new house. We have the most generous schemes in the country. Our HomeNorth scheme is very generous.
Compare this to the opposition and its plans. The opposition has said it would scrap all of those home ownership schemes. Its policy is to return this to the marketplace ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Other than the fact that is untrue, Standing Order 113: he is now straying away from the question we asked. We ask him to restrain himself to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I remind you when you are calling a point of order that it needs to be direct as well, and we do not need extra information. You are on a warning!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is important, because there are issues which are out of control of government, as I have explained. Government can use policy levers to try to make housing more affordable - the affordable housing rental company, for example. The member for Brennan, the shadow spokesperson, has said they would scrap those schemes and let market conditions rule; that the markets should rule, there should be no government interference. That is their policy …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of order on relevance. The question was very specific. It asked why we have the highest capital city rents in the country.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat. Chief Minister, come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: Those rents would be even more expensive if the CLP was to gain office, because it would let market forces rule and would scrap the rebates ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
You have provided regular updates on the progress with the key policy initiative of A Working Future, working with local people and organisations to develop our growth towns and to create a better future for all Territorians no matter where they live. What are the key risks to that work continuing in an orderly way and delivering the key outcomes we have agreed with local people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Arafura for her question. Our government has focused on the regions and wants to improve the lives of all people wherever they live. In the bush, we have had two major reforms and my department has carriage of that. They are the local government shires and A Working Future. A Working Future is the government’s long-term commitment to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous people across the Northern Territory.
This government recognises the decades of neglect and the underfunding in housing and infrastructure across the regions. Through A Working Future, we have focused our policy directly where the need has been so urgent and so great. We want to turn around the decades of neglect by building the firm foundations for decades of prosperity across these regions.
We have unashamedly invested significant amounts of funding - almost $1bn - in the regions. I congratulate the Australian government on that significant announcement. It came after many years of lobbying by all bush members on this side of the House reminding the Commonwealth of their responsibility to those on outstations and homelands across the Northern Territory. Clearly, we have a long way to go because of the incredible amount of under-funding that occurred for decades in these regions.
We look forward to working with the homelands and outstations, and our growth towns and smaller communities in the regions, to build a future that is about giving hope and that is safe for our families; to look at jobs and employment for our young people; to ensure people can, over generations to come, live long, fruitful lives; and ensuring that choice of where they wish to live in the Northern Territory is an option for any Territorian.
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
The most recent figures show that 3200 jobs were advertised last quarter, which is 600 fewer than the same period last year. Why are there 600 fewer jobs available for Territorians than there were at the same time last year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. We have the most dynamic jobs market in the nation. We have record low unemployment that has been sustained through the last couple of years. I do not have the exact figures in front of me, but we have seen something like 600 small businesses created in the Northern Territory in the last period. We have the highest job market participation rate in the nation. So it is absolutely unbelievable that the shadow for the business sector does not understand just how dynamic the jobs market is in the Territory. Listen to independent job market commentators around the nation and they are all saying the same thing: ‘If you want a job, come to the Northern Territory’. Listen to the businesses in the Northern Territory. They are saying to the government: ‘Thank you for having a jobs plan. There was not one under the CLP. We acknowledge that we have had to two strong dynamic jobs plans under Labor’. They are participating with us in jobs expos around the nation to attract workers. They are participating with us in jobs expos overseas to attract workers. They are participating with the government in rapidly training Territorians. We have met our target of 10 000 new apprentices and trainees, and we are on track with 9800 new apprentices and trainees now ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has gone on for a little while. I call your attention to relevance. The question was: why are there 600 fewer jobs available for Territorians?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could answer the question as closely as possible to the one asked.
Ms LAWRIE: He does not want to listen to the reality and the fact of what is occurring. We have the most dynamic jobs market in the nation. From quarter to quarter we will have some fluctuations. We have come off the highest job advertising at the last quarter of last year. I will repeat: we have the second-lowest unemployment in the nation. We have the highest labour force participation rate in the nation. Businesses are saying to us: ‘We will grow and attract our own as fast as we can’. We have the record $28m training budget to support businesses to do that. We have our Work Ready and Workwear/Workgear Bonus program to support our apprentices. If you want a job in the Northern Territory you can get a job. The low unemployment rate is evidence of that.
Businesses are working with us, from the Chamber of Commerce, the Master Builders, everyone is working with us to fill these positions ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was quite specific. Standing Order 113. Answer the question; that is all we ask, a succinct answer in accordance with standing orders.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Minister, you have 10 seconds.
Ms LAWRIE: We are literally growing the jobs market in the Territory, because we have such a low unemployment rate. We have new businesses starting. You are the only ones in doom and gloom, burying your heads in the sand ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The government has promised an aquatic centre for the rural area. Could you succinctly inform rural residents what is holding up this project; when they can expect to see the plans completed; when will the land be rezoned; and when we can expect to see a hole in the ground to show people that this project is really happening?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The Northern Territory government remains firmly committed to a pool for the rural area. We have been working very hard on this project. As with most projects, you have to work with a number of different groups, and there have been some interesting dynamics along the way in this. We are firmly committed to putting that hole in the ground for this swimming pool in the rural area. Work is currently under way on an appropriate alternative site for the pool following the rejection of the Freds Pass site.
As the member for Nelson would be aware, there was money allocated in the 2011-12 Budget for planning and development of the pool, including headworks at the site, and a preferred location has now been identified in the Coolalinga area. Planning development work is well under way.
The first step will be a Development Consent Authority application in relation to a new site. As part of moving forward, the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport will now take the lead role in the implementation of the pool. This builds on this department’s very expert experience in overseeing other water park facilities such as the Leanyer Water Park and the Palmerston Water Park. I thank my Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services for their hard work to date on the pool for the rural area. They will continue to assist my colleague’s department, NRETAS, as required. I expect announcements in coming weeks as part of the budget process about further funds allocated to the construction ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Arafura will contain herself.
Ms McCARTHY: ... of the pool for the rural area.
Talking about swimming pools, the swimming pool in Santa Teresa will be having its first pool party on the weekend, which is wonderful news as well.
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Both you and the Minister for Indigenous Development have updated the House on the government’s progress towards building A Working Future. Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if you dig hard enough and far enough, you can start to find the CLP policies they are keeping hidden from the rest of the Territory. I have here an extract from an internal CLP document. The document is a CLP Task Force report, Issue 11, from October 2011, just a few months ago. The article is titled: ‘Campaigning in the Bush’. This is its bush policy, and I quote from the article:
Wait for this:
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is the CLP policy for the bush. They have put David Tollner, the member for Fong Lim, in charge of developing low-cost options for CLP policy for the bush.
Madam Speaker, that must be a total slap in the face for the member for Braitling, who is traipsing around the Northern Territory spreading glittering fairy dust across communities with promises of great things to come. The Leader of the Opposition could not trust the member for Braitling to develop CLP policy for the bush. They have handed it to the member for Fong Lim for some low-cost options.
Let us have a look at how committed the member for Fong Lim is to people who live in the bush in the Northern Territory. This is the man who said:
The Leader of the Opposition has put this man in charge of bush policy for the CLP. I quote again from the member for Fong Lim, Hansard, March 2011:
This is proof positive. You have the member for Braitling out there, sprinkling his fairy dust, making shallow promises, but the reality is, the secret CLP document shows that the CLP is not interested in the bush, it is not interested in Indigenous people. The leopard does not change its spots. This is what the CLP would do; the axe would fall in the bush. We are explaining billions of dollars worth of expenditure, they want low-cost options ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
As you are aware, the proposed dam to service the greater Darwin and rural area is to be built at the Warrai Dam in the Adelaide River area. Is your department considering, or has it issued, any exploration licences within the catchment area of this proposed dam?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that brings back memories. It was about seven years ago when the minister for Power and Water was talking about the dam. It is a proposed dam; it has been a proposed dam since the CLP days. We thought it was more cost effective to actually preserve water than start building another dam because, unfortunately, the Territory does not have the mountains or the geology of other states. Most of our dams are very shallow …
Mr Chandler: You just spoke about record growth. How is that called planning?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Brennan!
Mr VATSKALIS: … most of our dams lose 30% of the water in evaporation so are not very effective. It is better to conserve water - to find different ways of conserving water than building new dams ...
Ms PURICK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Succinct and relevance. The question was: has your department issued any exploration licences or are you considering issuing exploration licences in the catchment area of a proposed dam called the Warrai Dam?
Madam SPEAKER: I believe the minister is answering the question, but if you could come closer to the point, please.
Mr VATSKALIS: I am trying to, Madam Speaker. As I said before, it was considered by the CLP. It was considered during the days I was the Power and Water minister. We never had a definite decision by Power and Water that this was going to be dam. Unless such a decision has been made, all land in the Territory is available for exploration.
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on what programs this government has in place to build the economy and create jobs for Territorians in remote areas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. We are committed to ensuring Territorians, regardless of where they live, have a prosperous working future with better services and long-term jobs. That is why we have committed more than $1.5bn over two budgets for infrastructure to support our A Working Future policy, ensuring we are starting to build on our 10-year base of building infrastructure in remote and regional areas in the Northern Territory. The infrastructure provides legacy opportunities for the prosperity of the region. Importantly, it also provides job opportunities for Territorians living in those remote areas.
The Indigenous Economic Development Strategy aims to ensure all Territorians can participate in our economy. In partnership with the Australian government, we are delivering a $30m three-year jobs package, more teachers, education programs in the bush, new police stations, more police, and new and upgraded housing under SIHIP. The $30m jobs package provides funding to employ 530 positions per year in local government service delivery.
I am advised the eight regional shire councils currently employ around 1700 Indigenous staff. That is about 71% of their total workforce. The Indigenous Economic Development Strategy targets include 3000 more Indigenous Territorians to commence employment across both the private and public sectors, and 10% Indigenous employment in the NTPS.
The goal of 3000 commencements has been achieved and exceeded, and efforts continue through our job readiness programs. We have $7.8m over three years committed to that. Indigenous employment in the NT Public Service is currently at 8%, and we continue to work through the NTPS Entry Level Indigenous Employment program. Indigenous business development grants introduced in July 2005 have assisted 185 Indigenous businesses and organisations with funding totalling $2.9m. Around 375 Indigenous Territorians have been employed by businesses supported directly from this investment.
SIHIP, despite the doom and gloom opposite, has delivered new and improved housing, but it has also delivered job opportunities for local people. The Indigenous employment level under SIHIP, as at 29 February this year, was 169, with total Indigenous employment since commencement at 1316. This equates to 30% of the workforce, well above the target of 20%. It is giving Indigenous Territorians long-term opportunities in the workforce with qualifications in civil construction, carpentry, painting, block laying, general construction ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In last week’s local government elections, there was a very poor voter turnout in the shires. The average turnout for all wards and council mayors was 42%, with the highest being 58.8% in the Tiwi wards and the lowest 24.7% in an East Arnhem ward. Only 35.5% of enrolled voters voted for the mayor of Victoria Daly, and 42.7% for the mayor of Barkly. That means 17 405 people were eligible to vote in the various wards and only 7146 voted; and there were 7850 people for the mayors and only 3099 voted.
Do you think this low voter turnout reflects dissatisfaction with the super shires, or dissatisfaction with the candidates, or was it just because people do not care? Will your department investigate why so few people failed to vote and what can be done to turn this low turnout around?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. No, is the first answer regarding the interest in the shires. Democracy is something that all Australians, in particular Indigenous Australians and those living across the bush, are very passionate about. That was quite clear when we did the road show with statehood and the constitutional issues facing Indigenous Australians.
To answer a couple of the other questions - and there were a number of questions from the member for Nelson - there were over 100 000 Territorians eligible to vote. Let us remember that this was the first time we had the municipalities and the shires go to the polling booths on the same day. Yes, we had mobile polling across the Northern Territory. As bush members in this House know, mobile polling is always a challenge. There is a geographical challenge and a weather challenge with the conditions. Anecdotally, I am very aware of some of the concerns in the Top End shires about flooding and the weather having an impact on the availability of the Electoral Commission getting to some places and also the voters themselves.
As I said in my response on Tuesday about the voting, we are watching this very carefully. Once all the information comes through to me after the declaration of results on Monday next week we will be examining these results very closely.
I totally reject that people are disinterested. We know there are serious issues around those factors I have expressed this afternoon.
We will be looking at the fact that there was sorry business as well. I refer to the East Arnhem Shire, and I certainly ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Ms Lawrie: He is laughing!
Ms McCARTHY: The member for Fong Lim laughs at something that clearly is an incredibly sensitive area. I have just mentioned that a councillor passed away, and all the member for Fong Lim can do is laugh. That gives a very clear indication of the importance this member and members opposite place on reform and growth in the bush.
To those families of the Milingimbi Council, on behalf of the Northern Territory government, I express our sympathies to you for the shire councillor who passed away.
There are other issues and factors that we do have to take into consideration. I will be more than happy to report to this House once all the statistical data comes to me.
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Following on from the answer to my question to you regarding the Warrai Dam area and exploration licences, what minerals are being explored for in the catchment area of the Warrai Dam, and in the Adelaide River area generally? Be specific, because you and I know it is on the licence application.
ANSWER
I am astounded, Madam Speaker, that a person who spent so many years in the Minerals Council does not know that applications for exploration are not put to the department for specific minerals. They are generic. I am astounded that she would ask a question like this in this parliament knowing her history. No, the minister does not know, for the simple reason the application is put in for an area, not for a mineral. Often we have applications put in for a particular area by companies hoping to find one particular mineral and they find something totally different. I am absolutely astounded that that person, who worked so many years for the Minerals Council, and if there is a change of government she probably would like to be the minister for Resources, has no idea about the Territory mining legislation.
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Labor government continues to deliver on its major commitment to improve the health of people living in remote communities. How is the government’s health investment in remote communities improving the quality of life for these families? Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very important question. If I am pleased that I am on this side of the parliament with the Labor Party it is because we have done so much, especially for disadvantaged Territorians, and people who live away from the urban centres. I have said before that the CLP keeps saying how we wasted the money we received from the Commonwealth. My argument is, no, we have not. We have actually invested in health, and especially in the health of indigenous Territorians. We have spent $30m to expand preventative early intervention and dialysis treatment services in rural and remote areas; $2.5m ongoing for child health initiatives, for community midwifery, parenting and sexual health services; and for Strong Women program, $5.5m per year. That was money well spent.
What are the outcomes? A four-and-a-half year improvement in the life expectancy for Aboriginal women; the Indigenous infant mortality rate has fallen by 37%; anaemia rates for Aboriginal children have fallen by 20%; and if you are an indigenous person on renal dialysis, your life expectancy is now the same as the rest of Australia - an increase of seven years.
Madam Speaker, when we came to government in 2001, the CLP had left a most shameful legacy of refusing to provide enough renal dialysis facilities. I recall very well the then Minister for Health, Stephen Dunham, when questioned on ABC Lateline on 22 February 2001 about why he refused to establish a promised dialysis unit in Tennant Creek, said:
If the people cannot access renal dialysis in Tennant Creek, and they cannot go to Alice Springs or if they do not want to go for various reasons, then they can die. That is what he said - and nothing has changed.
I say that because when we proposed to put in a new facility at Katherine, the member for Katherine not only did not support it, he opposed it. He opposed it because Indigenous people might come to Katherine and might create a problem, ignoring the fact that, in Alice Springs, in the middle of the neighbourhood, there are houses where they have treated Indigenous people for the past five, six, seven years with not one problem.
We have invested money for people who need it most. We have renal dialysis in Wadeye, Kalkarindji and Umbakumba, as we do in Ramingining, Maningrida, Milingimbi and Ngukurr, Galiwinku, Angurugu and Nguiu. The member for Macdonnell should know very well that we put renal dialysis in her area at Mt Liebig, Lake Nash and Yuendumu. I would like her to strongly support it, because it is her own people, as Dunham said: ‘If they don’t ...
Ms Anderson interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Well, Yuendumu is in Karl Hampton’s electorate, but to your people, Dunham said if they do not want to go there they can stay in their home and die. That is what he said ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please advise the House of government initiatives being implemented in remote schools as part of A Working Future? Also, are you aware of any alternative policies in relation to Indigenous education and, if so, have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Remote education is a challenge. We have 40% of our students who are Indigenous and 75% of those live in remote communities. We have been rolling out our mobile preschools program to 21 communities. We have also set up a remote teaching service in collaboration with other jurisdictions, such as Western Australia and Queensland. In the Territory, we have 50 specialist teachers and 27 ESL teachers.
We are proud of our record of establishing secondary education in the bush. We now have purpose-built secondary facilities in communities where there were none before: communities like Galiwinku, Minyerri, Kalkarindji, Maningrida, Wadeye, Papunya, Utopia, Borroloola, Ramingining and Alpara. There have been many hundreds of young Indigenous people who have now been given the opportunity of a senior secondary education.
I have said it here before, that it was sad to read the 1981 Cabinet papers that were released earlier this year, and to see the CLP Cabinet of the day reject a Cabinet submission to establish senior secondary in the bush. That is a lost generation and we are working to rectify that situation.
In terms of the issue raised by the member for Port Darwin, I acknowledge that issue has been fixed. We recognise issues - we fix them. We do not just sit there and criticise with no solutions like the CLP. We are talking about alternative approaches. Their manifesto hardly mentions education at all, let alone Indigenous people. Certainly, the two-pager they released about two years ago on early childhood education does not mention Indigenous kids at all. We are still waiting for the member for Brennan’s policy launch. He was waving it around here in the last sittings about a month ago. We have not seen it but, hopefully, we will see it in the next little while, member for Brennan.
We have also set up training in Gunbalanya, Jabiru, Groote Eylandt, Wadeye, Ngukurr, Nguiu and Ntaria. We have provided vocational education and training for students when they are in Year 8. Through A Working Future, we have the West Arnhem College, Groote Eylandt College, Shepherdson College, Warlpiri College and Ntaria College, and priority sites for further establishment in Maningrida, Ngukurr and Borroloola.
We are a government that is working hard in education. We know there are incredible challenges and we are rising to them ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Recently, a tender to provide road amenities maintenance was awarded for an amount of $1.8m by your department. The cheapest tender was a little over $800 000 by Traffic King. What was wrong with the cheaper tenderer’s offer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if the member could tell me what tender he is talking about, then we might be able to answer that question.
Mr Elferink: Tender T11-1901.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you wish to answer?
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The Department of Construction and Infrastructure has managed over 3000 jobs in the last 12 months. We are out there with the shoulder to the wheel continuing to manage construction across the Territory. I will need to get that number, and I will take that question on notice.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, minister.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Last Friday week, there was to be a meeting at Quest Palmerston to discuss the cartage of gravel for INPEX from the extractive mining areas near Robertson Barracks to the Blaydin Point site. Unfortunately, that meeting was cancelled. Could you please say whether an alternative meeting has been planned? What negotiations has your department or other government departments already held with haulage companies, extractive mining companies, INPEX, local government, and the Army?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for a very important question. As this House knows, and as the Territory knows, the Ichthys project is the largest construction project in the Territory’s history and, I am advised, the second-largest in the national scene in terms of an LNG project. Of course, at the front end, the transport task is extremely important.
In relation to the meeting the member for Nelson talks about, I have been advised that the stakeholder meeting was organised and postponed by JKC, the primary contractor for the Ichthys project. The reason for that was the local government election. I am advised the stakeholder meeting is to be rescheduled at a more appropriate time so the modelling and impacts of this very important transport task can be considered.
I am aware of INPEX negotiating with the Department of Defence and the previous Litchfield Shire Council and Palmerston City Council. I now look forward to the establishment of those new councils where those important consultations can continue. In relation to the Department of Lands and Planning, we are working closely with INPEX, and have been for a long time. It is about the safe transport of materials and personnel for construction of that project, through the organisational capacity of a transport committee, and there is much work going on in that department.
There is also the communications strategy. The INPEX project is very serious about this element to advise Territorians of, not just what is coming, but ongoing communications around transport and transport logistics that will be taking place.
We feel confident that we are managing this in the appropriate way and look forward to progressing with this project which will deliver incredible opportunities and prosperity, not only to the greater Darwin area, but right across the Northern Territory.
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Recently, your department moved to let cleaning contracts through proper tender processes. However, it did so after issues were raised surrounding the fact that the original contracts had expired three years ago and the contracts had been let on a monthly basis since that time. Why were those cleaning contracts withheld from the tender process for three years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for his interest in cleaning contracts. The Department of Business and Employment handles a small percentage of cleaning contracts. Most cleaning contracts sit across other agencies, not within DBE. The figure is around 19%, but I stand to be corrected. I will double check that, but about 19% of all government cleaning contracts are handled by DBE. I understand with the management team having a look at the contracts they found that contracts were out. They are now moving through all the processes to adjust the contracts to ensure that, ultimately, everyone is in full contract.
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SIHIP is helping to address decades of neglect of housing in the bush. Can you please update the House on the progress of SIHIP? Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. As the House knows, this is a $1.7bn 10-year program in partnership with the Commonwealth. Already, 2500 families have benefited from this program. To report to the House on progress on completion: 540 new houses have been completed, and there are another 128 under way; and 1972 rebuilds and refurbishments are completed, with 31 under way. To give an analysis of where those are located, for the 540 new houses: 90 new houses on the Tiwi Islands; 85 in Maningrida; 86 in Alice Springs town camps; 105 in Wadeye; 77 on Groote Eylandt; 37 in Gunbalanya; and 60 in Galiwinku. There has been much activity and a lot of Indigenous employment.
I know it has been the subject of questioning by the Council of Territory Cooperation, and that is fair. My advice is that overall there have been 1316 Indigenous employees and, as the program in its current phase is winding down, there are 160 currently. The target originally was 20% to be Indigenous employment and consistently 30% was achieved.
There is a plethora of courses, hundreds of courses, for people to be trained. Overall, I am pleased to advise the House that 235 Certificates I, II, and III have been completed, and there are another 109 under way.
We recognise the challenge. The member for Braitling raised issues at one stage about the number of people who he felt were given menial tasks. Well, this is a big step forward for many people who really have not had an employment history; they have not participated in the workplace before. I believe the figures we have of completions of courses in Certificates I, II, and III, and 109 under way, is a big achievement.
Thirteen Indigenous employees in Alice Springs town camps have now transitioned into full-time employment, eight of whom are apprentices. A great story about Guiseppe Tipiloura from the Tiwi Islands, who has completed all of the practical modules for Certificates I, II and III in Construction with only some theory left to complete. I table a happy photo of Guiseppe with his workmates receiving one of those certificates.
So, there are positives. There is a long way to go. I am looking forward to decades of commitment from whichever party might be in power in Canberra.
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You have run an extensive advertising campaign in the attempt to reassure the community of the integrity of your container deposit scheme. How much did the whole advertising campaign cost, including design and production, and did it go through the normal tendering process?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition. I make no apology, as the Chief Minister, for getting out and promoting what is a scheme that is wanted by the vast number of Territorians. Those costs will be available in the Estimates process as per usual; they are still under way. We will have all the costs available through Estimates in a couple of months’ time, as we do.
In regard to the scheme, over six million cans and containers have already been redeemed across the Northern Territory. That is six millions cans and containers …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister has made it clear he is unable to answer the question at this stage. I ask, in the interests of Standing Order 113, that he either tries to answer the question or he sits down, because the rest of it is gumph.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Do you have further information, Chief Minister?
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely, I do, because the question was in regard to the Cash for Containers scheme and the advertising costs. I point out …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr Henderson: These are frivolous points of order, Madam Speaker. He has already been warned.
Mr ELFERINK: The question was not about the scheme. The question was specifically about the cost of advertising the scheme, which is why we are asking the question. We do not need another lecture on the scheme.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Chief Minister, can you come to the point of the question about the advertising costs, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Very much so, Madam Speaker. I am pointing out that the advertising costs are ongoing. The reason they are ongoing is because, as the government, as this scheme unfolds, we will continue to promote it.
The number of containers redeemed across the Territory - over six million in just over a couple of months - is quite extraordinary. It is an extraordinary number ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is about the cost of the scheme. The second part of the question was: did they follow normal tendering processes? He has not even addressed that part yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you can come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, as I have said, in regard to the tendering process and how much this has cost, all will be available for the member for Port Darwin during the Estimates process when we normally answer all of those questions.
In regard to the ongoing advertising for this scheme, to promote the scheme to Territorians ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. We have less than five minutes left of Question Time. He has done his best to answer the question. Can we move on to a new question? He is not being relevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: In regard to the normal tendering process, I point out it is only the Leader of the Opposition who has been criticised by the Auditor-General for not following appropriate guidelines for newsletters the Leader of the Opposition ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … was distributing in the northern suburbs …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired!
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
The government recently announced the creation of Limmen National Park and Limmen Bight Marine Park. Can you please advise the House as to what opportunities will be created for local Indigenous people as a result? Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for a very good question. It is a great announcement. Limmen National Park and Limmen Bight Marine Park will be fantastic assets our parks estate and very important in the context of A Working Future. We know that both the national park and the marine park will create jobs for Indigenous people - that is something this mob does not get. They will create jobs, and enhance much of the work we have done already in that region of the Northern Territory. For example, some 5.5 km upstream ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: He obviously does not want to hear good news about Indigenous employment. Upstream on the Roper River is Tomato Island. It is a fantastic place where for many years people have enjoyed camping and this government acknowledges it as a very important part of the park.
The Territory government has invested $1.5m to upgrade facilities at Tomato Island. This will position the Yugul Mangi Rangers and the Aboriginal Development Corporation from Ngukurr to manage the site. We are promoting Indigenous employment ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, please take your phone outside.
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker. as part of A Working Future, it is very important to upgrade these facilities and to promote Indigenous employment. There is no better way than doing that through our wonderful parks, and Limmen National Park and Marine Park will provide those opportunities.
The camping ground, which is due for completion in November this year, will be managed on a commercial footing by Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation. As part of the government’s Territory growth towns initiative, this project presents significant employment opportunities and flow-on business opportunities for the people of Ngukurr. I know the member for Arnhem is at the forefront of helping those people take up these opportunities.
Madam Speaker my department expects five full-time Indigenous jobs to be associated with the management of the camping ground, and another seven part-time jobs in associated opportunities around tourism and fishing to be created through this initiative. This is all part of this government’s A Working Future, unlike the opposition’s manifesto - manifesto they called it - who knows what that means? We have real vision and real policy. They are just all talk.
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
I recently visited the Queensland-built Defence of Darwin Experience. At the time, the audiovisual equipment suffered a technical failure. To my surprise I was told they were contacting the Melbourne-based firm that installed it for technical advice. How does this accord with your rhetoric surrounding the Buy Territory campaign?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the opposition just cannot be positive about anything, can they? You just cannot ...
Mr Elferink: I would like to see some Territory companies get some of these jobs.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is in his electorate. It really is the Tony Abbott school over there, isn’t it? Their heads have never been violated by original thought. They have absolutely no policies for the Northern Territory at all. Their economy policy - you know, you talk about supporting local business, this would decimate jobs in the Northern Territory ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was succinctly about the Buy Territory campaign. These contracts have been going to other interstate companies. I want to know how he reconciles the two. I do not need a lecture on everything else.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. I will put this in the context of our government supporting the economy and supporting jobs. Of DCI procurement contracts, Tier 2 to 5 in January and February 2012, 93% went to local Territory businesses.
If we look at the Defence of Darwin Experience, yes, the head contractor did win the project from interstate. I know many Territory businesses that also win contracts interstate in Queensland and Western Australia. The subcontracting arrangements went to the following local subcontractors: DEC Installations; Pete’s Glass & Aluminium Pty Ltd; Jakes Steel & Welding Pty Ltd; JC Electronics Security; Nightcliff Electrical Pty Ltd; Norsign NT; Nortruss Builders Supplies; Stramit Building Products; Territory Doors; Top End Line Markers Pty Ltd; and Trojon Fencing and Fabricating Pty Ltd.
The suppliers included: Advance Hire; Aqua Treat (NT) Pty Ltd; Best Bar Darwin; City Homes/ Earthmoving; Coventry Fasteners; Cummins; Darwin Concrete Pumps; Darwin Plant Wholesalers; Ecolab Water Care Services Pty Ltd; Fleetwood Pty Ltd; GJ Wigg Plumber; Hanson Construction; Northern Territory Pest and Weed Control; Practical Plastics; Rhino Industries; and Top End Sign Sales.
I thank my colleague for the very comprehensive information. It just shows how shallow the opposition is if you cannot be positive about that magnificent Defence of Darwin Experience, Madam Speaker. It is not about us; it is not about the government. It is about Territorians whose stories are being told through that experience, and you want to mock them. You want to mock those old Territory families. You want to belittle those families who are so proud that their stories have, finally, been told in a world-class facility, built by world-class small businesses in the Northern Territory that I have listed.
I congratulate all of those Territory businesses which produced a world-class project the member for Port Darwin seeks to condemn.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members will contain themselves! Order! We are still in the sittings, honourable members, not at a football field.
Population Decrease in the Territory
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The latest population figures show that another 157 Territorians have left here in the past quarter. That is more than 3500 people over the past two years. Can you explain to us why workers and families are continuing to leave?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In fact, the September quarter population figures show that our population grew by 0.4% higher than the national average of 0.3%, so the population of the Northern Territory continues to grow. Of course, in the September quarter …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr HENDERSON: … there was a nett outflow of 157 people compared to an outflow of 324 in the previous quarter. So that says the trend is turning in our improvement. As the rest of the Australian economy starts to soften, our economy is starting to go from strength to strength.
Our population has always been cyclical around major projects. Regarding the numbers the Leader of the Opposition quoted, we know that a significant portion of that number was as a result of 7RAR being relocated from Darwin to Adelaide. A significant part of that was out of the hands of the Territory government: a stroke of the pen of the Commonwealth minister and we lose a couple of thousand people, including families, down south.
We have population growth predicted by Access Economics of 1.6% annually over the next five years. The members opposite would be the only people in the Northern Territory who would not understand that our population will significantly grow over the next few years as a result of the INPEX project coming to Darwin. With the work we are doing with the Marine Supply Base, and everything that is happening in our resources sector, the Territory economy is set to experience significant growth over the next five years and that will also lead to population growth.
We have a strong plan for our economy. We have multifaceted plans for our economy …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has answered the question and now he is just waffling about stuff …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Population will grow as the economy grows. We have plans to grow the economy, as opposed to the CLP, which has a one-page economic policy, and the only policy in this document …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: the answer shall be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. He is now not answering the question; he is just having a chat.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. The Chief Minister has three minutes and appears to be relevant.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is relevant, because the only policy here is to slash the public service, throw people out of jobs, shrink the economy further and further shrink the population of the Northern Territory ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. The question was: can you tell us why workers and families are continuing to leave? He is now talking about CLP policy. It has nothing to do with the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. The Chief Minister’s time has expired largely because of the large number of points of order.
Mr Elferink: May I say, Madam Speaker ...
Madam SPEAKER: No, you may not say, member for Port Darwin.
Stronger Futures - Funding
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
There were announcements yesterday about further funding for the Stronger Futures legislation. Can you please outline the role the Territory government has played in securing these much-needed resources to help improve the lives of Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for a very important question. Our government is rightly proud of the relationship we have, and the ability to negotiate in partnership, with the federal government for the good of all Territorians. In particular, I want to thank my Caucus colleagues who involve themselves in this debate and discussion with such passion and commitment to the bush.
Yesterday, with the federal Indigenous Affairs minister, we announced more than $800m to further fund the Stronger Futures legislation. We all know the commitment of the federal government to accept its responsibility to homelands and outstations in the Northern Territory. This is a Commonwealth responsibility and Mal Brough held a gun to the Territory’s head to try to get the Territory to take over this responsibility. The liabilities are such that no Territory government could afford to take them on. I congratulate the Commonwealth government for accepting its responsibility to fund outstations and homelands for 10 years, giving those homelands and outstations certainty.
We know that the funding is not anywhere near enough to fix all the issues out there, but it is a very big first step to fix a huge legacy. Our A Working Future policy is our policy and it shows our faith as a government and our commitment to the bush. It drives real outcomes for Territory growth towns, outstations and homelands.
Let me give some examples of how we are delivering in the bush. For housing in particular, more than 2500 families have new and improved homes. At the end of February, we had 540 new houses completed, another 128 under way, 1972 homes have been rebuilt and refurbished and completed, with 31 under way.
In health, we have improved primary healthcare in remote communities. We now have renal dialysis facilities in all our major towns, with a planned new facility in Katherine and a new expanded facility in Tennant Creek coming home. We can support patients with their own dialysis in over 23 places, such as Wadeye, Kalkarindji, Umbakumba, Ramingining, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Ngukurr, Galiwinku, Angurugu, Pirlangimpi, Nguiu, Mt Liebig, Lake Nash and Yuendumu to name a few. There have been eight new remote health clinics over the past few years. Seven new remote health centres are in the design phase at Robinson River, Ngukurr, Canteen Creek, Numbulwar, Elliott, Galiwinku and Hermannsburg. Significant upgrades to health clinics will also happen in Titjikala, Papunya, Maningrida and Docker River.
That is the scope of this government’s commitment to the bush compared to those opposite who would gut the bush. That is ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: ... what would happen under those people opposite. Their manifesto released just a few weeks ago had no mention of the bush and no mention of Indigenous. That is where the axe would fall if they were to get into government. We back the bush, and we back people in the bush. The opposition does not.
High Rental Costs
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
People are leaving the Territory partly because of high rents - read the ABS figures. Could you please explain why we have the highest capital city rents in the country?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, rents and the cost of housing have always been more expensive in the Northern Territory than other states. There are a number of reasons for that.
The first reason is the distance from the major centres that supply housing materials. Everything we use to construct a home in the Northern Territory comes from somewhere a long way away, with huge freight costs associated to it. Particularly in the Top End, around a third of additional costs of constructing houses results from the requirement to build homes to the cyclone coded standards. These are very significant cost imposts on the Northern Territory which the government can do nothing about that other states do not have to face.
We do everything we can in the Northern Territory to make housing as cheap as possible. That is why we have the most generous housing concession schemes in the country by a country mile. There are first homeowner concessions for stamp duty; the vast majority of first homeowners in the Territory pay no stamp duty at all on the cost of their first home - the most generous in the country. We have rebates for senior citizens who are looking to downscale the size of their home; and a stimulus of $10 000 to support people buying a new unit off the plans or committing to building a new house. We have the most generous schemes in the country. Our HomeNorth scheme is very generous.
Compare this to the opposition and its plans. The opposition has said it would scrap all of those home ownership schemes. Its policy is to return this to the marketplace ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Other than the fact that is untrue, Standing Order 113: he is now straying away from the question we asked. We ask him to restrain himself to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I remind you when you are calling a point of order that it needs to be direct as well, and we do not need extra information. You are on a warning!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is important, because there are issues which are out of control of government, as I have explained. Government can use policy levers to try to make housing more affordable - the affordable housing rental company, for example. The member for Brennan, the shadow spokesperson, has said they would scrap those schemes and let market conditions rule; that the markets should rule, there should be no government interference. That is their policy …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of order on relevance. The question was very specific. It asked why we have the highest capital city rents in the country.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat. Chief Minister, come to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: Those rents would be even more expensive if the CLP was to gain office, because it would let market forces rule and would scrap the rebates ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
A Working Future – Ongoing Initiatives
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
You have provided regular updates on the progress with the key policy initiative of A Working Future, working with local people and organisations to develop our growth towns and to create a better future for all Territorians no matter where they live. What are the key risks to that work continuing in an orderly way and delivering the key outcomes we have agreed with local people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Arafura for her question. Our government has focused on the regions and wants to improve the lives of all people wherever they live. In the bush, we have had two major reforms and my department has carriage of that. They are the local government shires and A Working Future. A Working Future is the government’s long-term commitment to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous people across the Northern Territory.
This government recognises the decades of neglect and the underfunding in housing and infrastructure across the regions. Through A Working Future, we have focused our policy directly where the need has been so urgent and so great. We want to turn around the decades of neglect by building the firm foundations for decades of prosperity across these regions.
We have unashamedly invested significant amounts of funding - almost $1bn - in the regions. I congratulate the Australian government on that significant announcement. It came after many years of lobbying by all bush members on this side of the House reminding the Commonwealth of their responsibility to those on outstations and homelands across the Northern Territory. Clearly, we have a long way to go because of the incredible amount of under-funding that occurred for decades in these regions.
We look forward to working with the homelands and outstations, and our growth towns and smaller communities in the regions, to build a future that is about giving hope and that is safe for our families; to look at jobs and employment for our young people; to ensure people can, over generations to come, live long, fruitful lives; and ensuring that choice of where they wish to live in the Northern Territory is an option for any Territorian.
Jobs Availability
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
The most recent figures show that 3200 jobs were advertised last quarter, which is 600 fewer than the same period last year. Why are there 600 fewer jobs available for Territorians than there were at the same time last year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. We have the most dynamic jobs market in the nation. We have record low unemployment that has been sustained through the last couple of years. I do not have the exact figures in front of me, but we have seen something like 600 small businesses created in the Northern Territory in the last period. We have the highest job market participation rate in the nation. So it is absolutely unbelievable that the shadow for the business sector does not understand just how dynamic the jobs market is in the Territory. Listen to independent job market commentators around the nation and they are all saying the same thing: ‘If you want a job, come to the Northern Territory’. Listen to the businesses in the Northern Territory. They are saying to the government: ‘Thank you for having a jobs plan. There was not one under the CLP. We acknowledge that we have had to two strong dynamic jobs plans under Labor’. They are participating with us in jobs expos around the nation to attract workers. They are participating with us in jobs expos overseas to attract workers. They are participating with the government in rapidly training Territorians. We have met our target of 10 000 new apprentices and trainees, and we are on track with 9800 new apprentices and trainees now ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has gone on for a little while. I call your attention to relevance. The question was: why are there 600 fewer jobs available for Territorians?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could answer the question as closely as possible to the one asked.
Ms LAWRIE: He does not want to listen to the reality and the fact of what is occurring. We have the most dynamic jobs market in the nation. From quarter to quarter we will have some fluctuations. We have come off the highest job advertising at the last quarter of last year. I will repeat: we have the second-lowest unemployment in the nation. We have the highest labour force participation rate in the nation. Businesses are saying to us: ‘We will grow and attract our own as fast as we can’. We have the record $28m training budget to support businesses to do that. We have our Work Ready and Workwear/Workgear Bonus program to support our apprentices. If you want a job in the Northern Territory you can get a job. The low unemployment rate is evidence of that.
Businesses are working with us, from the Chamber of Commerce, the Master Builders, everyone is working with us to fill these positions ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was quite specific. Standing Order 113. Answer the question; that is all we ask, a succinct answer in accordance with standing orders.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Minister, you have 10 seconds.
Ms LAWRIE: We are literally growing the jobs market in the Territory, because we have such a low unemployment rate. We have new businesses starting. You are the only ones in doom and gloom, burying your heads in the sand ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Aquatic Centre - Rural Area
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The government has promised an aquatic centre for the rural area. Could you succinctly inform rural residents what is holding up this project; when they can expect to see the plans completed; when will the land be rezoned; and when we can expect to see a hole in the ground to show people that this project is really happening?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The Northern Territory government remains firmly committed to a pool for the rural area. We have been working very hard on this project. As with most projects, you have to work with a number of different groups, and there have been some interesting dynamics along the way in this. We are firmly committed to putting that hole in the ground for this swimming pool in the rural area. Work is currently under way on an appropriate alternative site for the pool following the rejection of the Freds Pass site.
As the member for Nelson would be aware, there was money allocated in the 2011-12 Budget for planning and development of the pool, including headworks at the site, and a preferred location has now been identified in the Coolalinga area. Planning development work is well under way.
The first step will be a Development Consent Authority application in relation to a new site. As part of moving forward, the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport will now take the lead role in the implementation of the pool. This builds on this department’s very expert experience in overseeing other water park facilities such as the Leanyer Water Park and the Palmerston Water Park. I thank my Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services for their hard work to date on the pool for the rural area. They will continue to assist my colleague’s department, NRETAS, as required. I expect announcements in coming weeks as part of the budget process about further funds allocated to the construction ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Arafura will contain herself.
Ms McCARTHY: ... of the pool for the rural area.
Talking about swimming pools, the swimming pool in Santa Teresa will be having its first pool party on the weekend, which is wonderful news as well.
A Working Future - Progress
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Both you and the Minister for Indigenous Development have updated the House on the government’s progress towards building A Working Future. Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if you dig hard enough and far enough, you can start to find the CLP policies they are keeping hidden from the rest of the Territory. I have here an extract from an internal CLP document. The document is a CLP Task Force report, Issue 11, from October 2011, just a few months ago. The article is titled: ‘Campaigning in the Bush’. This is its bush policy, and I quote from the article:
- Although we are well organised for campaigning in our major centres we haven’t made much progress and have limited experience in campaigning in the bush.
A Task Force sub-committee under the chairmanship of David Tollner has therefore been established to come up ...
Wait for this:
... with some low cost options to improve our electoral chances.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is the CLP policy for the bush. They have put David Tollner, the member for Fong Lim, in charge of developing low-cost options for CLP policy for the bush.
Madam Speaker, that must be a total slap in the face for the member for Braitling, who is traipsing around the Northern Territory spreading glittering fairy dust across communities with promises of great things to come. The Leader of the Opposition could not trust the member for Braitling to develop CLP policy for the bush. They have handed it to the member for Fong Lim for some low-cost options.
Let us have a look at how committed the member for Fong Lim is to people who live in the bush in the Northern Territory. This is the man who said:
- I am all in favour of urban drift; there should be more of it. The fact is that these communities are hellholes.
The Leader of the Opposition has put this man in charge of bush policy for the CLP. I quote again from the member for Fong Lim, Hansard, March 2011:
- I love camping, but if you think I would enjoy living at Port Keats, you have another think coming ...
...
Borroloola is a nice place and there is some good fishing. Tiwi Islands is a good place too with some good fishing. However, most of these communities are ghettos.
...
The only answer is to encourage people to move to where there are the jobs ...
This is proof positive. You have the member for Braitling out there, sprinkling his fairy dust, making shallow promises, but the reality is, the secret CLP document shows that the CLP is not interested in the bush, it is not interested in Indigenous people. The leopard does not change its spots. This is what the CLP would do; the axe would fall in the bush. We are explaining billions of dollars worth of expenditure, they want low-cost options ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Proposed Warrai Dam Area – Mining Exploration Licences
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
As you are aware, the proposed dam to service the greater Darwin and rural area is to be built at the Warrai Dam in the Adelaide River area. Is your department considering, or has it issued, any exploration licences within the catchment area of this proposed dam?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that brings back memories. It was about seven years ago when the minister for Power and Water was talking about the dam. It is a proposed dam; it has been a proposed dam since the CLP days. We thought it was more cost effective to actually preserve water than start building another dam because, unfortunately, the Territory does not have the mountains or the geology of other states. Most of our dams are very shallow …
Mr Chandler: You just spoke about record growth. How is that called planning?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Brennan!
Mr VATSKALIS: … most of our dams lose 30% of the water in evaporation so are not very effective. It is better to conserve water - to find different ways of conserving water than building new dams ...
Ms PURICK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Succinct and relevance. The question was: has your department issued any exploration licences or are you considering issuing exploration licences in the catchment area of a proposed dam called the Warrai Dam?
Madam SPEAKER: I believe the minister is answering the question, but if you could come closer to the point, please.
Mr VATSKALIS: I am trying to, Madam Speaker. As I said before, it was considered by the CLP. It was considered during the days I was the Power and Water minister. We never had a definite decision by Power and Water that this was going to be dam. Unless such a decision has been made, all land in the Territory is available for exploration.
Opportunities for Territorians in Remote Areas
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on what programs this government has in place to build the economy and create jobs for Territorians in remote areas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. We are committed to ensuring Territorians, regardless of where they live, have a prosperous working future with better services and long-term jobs. That is why we have committed more than $1.5bn over two budgets for infrastructure to support our A Working Future policy, ensuring we are starting to build on our 10-year base of building infrastructure in remote and regional areas in the Northern Territory. The infrastructure provides legacy opportunities for the prosperity of the region. Importantly, it also provides job opportunities for Territorians living in those remote areas.
The Indigenous Economic Development Strategy aims to ensure all Territorians can participate in our economy. In partnership with the Australian government, we are delivering a $30m three-year jobs package, more teachers, education programs in the bush, new police stations, more police, and new and upgraded housing under SIHIP. The $30m jobs package provides funding to employ 530 positions per year in local government service delivery.
I am advised the eight regional shire councils currently employ around 1700 Indigenous staff. That is about 71% of their total workforce. The Indigenous Economic Development Strategy targets include 3000 more Indigenous Territorians to commence employment across both the private and public sectors, and 10% Indigenous employment in the NTPS.
The goal of 3000 commencements has been achieved and exceeded, and efforts continue through our job readiness programs. We have $7.8m over three years committed to that. Indigenous employment in the NT Public Service is currently at 8%, and we continue to work through the NTPS Entry Level Indigenous Employment program. Indigenous business development grants introduced in July 2005 have assisted 185 Indigenous businesses and organisations with funding totalling $2.9m. Around 375 Indigenous Territorians have been employed by businesses supported directly from this investment.
SIHIP, despite the doom and gloom opposite, has delivered new and improved housing, but it has also delivered job opportunities for local people. The Indigenous employment level under SIHIP, as at 29 February this year, was 169, with total Indigenous employment since commencement at 1316. This equates to 30% of the workforce, well above the target of 20%. It is giving Indigenous Territorians long-term opportunities in the workforce with qualifications in civil construction, carpentry, painting, block laying, general construction ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Local Government Elections - Voter Turnout
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In last week’s local government elections, there was a very poor voter turnout in the shires. The average turnout for all wards and council mayors was 42%, with the highest being 58.8% in the Tiwi wards and the lowest 24.7% in an East Arnhem ward. Only 35.5% of enrolled voters voted for the mayor of Victoria Daly, and 42.7% for the mayor of Barkly. That means 17 405 people were eligible to vote in the various wards and only 7146 voted; and there were 7850 people for the mayors and only 3099 voted.
Do you think this low voter turnout reflects dissatisfaction with the super shires, or dissatisfaction with the candidates, or was it just because people do not care? Will your department investigate why so few people failed to vote and what can be done to turn this low turnout around?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. No, is the first answer regarding the interest in the shires. Democracy is something that all Australians, in particular Indigenous Australians and those living across the bush, are very passionate about. That was quite clear when we did the road show with statehood and the constitutional issues facing Indigenous Australians.
To answer a couple of the other questions - and there were a number of questions from the member for Nelson - there were over 100 000 Territorians eligible to vote. Let us remember that this was the first time we had the municipalities and the shires go to the polling booths on the same day. Yes, we had mobile polling across the Northern Territory. As bush members in this House know, mobile polling is always a challenge. There is a geographical challenge and a weather challenge with the conditions. Anecdotally, I am very aware of some of the concerns in the Top End shires about flooding and the weather having an impact on the availability of the Electoral Commission getting to some places and also the voters themselves.
As I said in my response on Tuesday about the voting, we are watching this very carefully. Once all the information comes through to me after the declaration of results on Monday next week we will be examining these results very closely.
I totally reject that people are disinterested. We know there are serious issues around those factors I have expressed this afternoon.
We will be looking at the fact that there was sorry business as well. I refer to the East Arnhem Shire, and I certainly ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Ms Lawrie: He is laughing!
Ms McCARTHY: The member for Fong Lim laughs at something that clearly is an incredibly sensitive area. I have just mentioned that a councillor passed away, and all the member for Fong Lim can do is laugh. That gives a very clear indication of the importance this member and members opposite place on reform and growth in the bush.
To those families of the Milingimbi Council, on behalf of the Northern Territory government, I express our sympathies to you for the shire councillor who passed away.
There are other issues and factors that we do have to take into consideration. I will be more than happy to report to this House once all the statistical data comes to me.
Proposed Warrai Dam Area – Mining Exploration Licences
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Following on from the answer to my question to you regarding the Warrai Dam area and exploration licences, what minerals are being explored for in the catchment area of the Warrai Dam, and in the Adelaide River area generally? Be specific, because you and I know it is on the licence application.
ANSWER
I am astounded, Madam Speaker, that a person who spent so many years in the Minerals Council does not know that applications for exploration are not put to the department for specific minerals. They are generic. I am astounded that she would ask a question like this in this parliament knowing her history. No, the minister does not know, for the simple reason the application is put in for an area, not for a mineral. Often we have applications put in for a particular area by companies hoping to find one particular mineral and they find something totally different. I am absolutely astounded that that person, who worked so many years for the Minerals Council, and if there is a change of government she probably would like to be the minister for Resources, has no idea about the Territory mining legislation.
Health Services in Remote Communities – Alternative Policies
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Labor government continues to deliver on its major commitment to improve the health of people living in remote communities. How is the government’s health investment in remote communities improving the quality of life for these families? Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very important question. If I am pleased that I am on this side of the parliament with the Labor Party it is because we have done so much, especially for disadvantaged Territorians, and people who live away from the urban centres. I have said before that the CLP keeps saying how we wasted the money we received from the Commonwealth. My argument is, no, we have not. We have actually invested in health, and especially in the health of indigenous Territorians. We have spent $30m to expand preventative early intervention and dialysis treatment services in rural and remote areas; $2.5m ongoing for child health initiatives, for community midwifery, parenting and sexual health services; and for Strong Women program, $5.5m per year. That was money well spent.
What are the outcomes? A four-and-a-half year improvement in the life expectancy for Aboriginal women; the Indigenous infant mortality rate has fallen by 37%; anaemia rates for Aboriginal children have fallen by 20%; and if you are an indigenous person on renal dialysis, your life expectancy is now the same as the rest of Australia - an increase of seven years.
Madam Speaker, when we came to government in 2001, the CLP had left a most shameful legacy of refusing to provide enough renal dialysis facilities. I recall very well the then Minister for Health, Stephen Dunham, when questioned on ABC Lateline on 22 February 2001 about why he refused to establish a promised dialysis unit in Tennant Creek, said:
- People have the opportunity to access this specialised medicine at Alice Springs and I’m not in the position to be able to compel people to access that medicine. In the event that they don’t wish to, the choices are theirs.
If the people cannot access renal dialysis in Tennant Creek, and they cannot go to Alice Springs or if they do not want to go for various reasons, then they can die. That is what he said - and nothing has changed.
I say that because when we proposed to put in a new facility at Katherine, the member for Katherine not only did not support it, he opposed it. He opposed it because Indigenous people might come to Katherine and might create a problem, ignoring the fact that, in Alice Springs, in the middle of the neighbourhood, there are houses where they have treated Indigenous people for the past five, six, seven years with not one problem.
We have invested money for people who need it most. We have renal dialysis in Wadeye, Kalkarindji and Umbakumba, as we do in Ramingining, Maningrida, Milingimbi and Ngukurr, Galiwinku, Angurugu and Nguiu. The member for Macdonnell should know very well that we put renal dialysis in her area at Mt Liebig, Lake Nash and Yuendumu. I would like her to strongly support it, because it is her own people, as Dunham said: ‘If they don’t ...
Ms Anderson interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Well, Yuendumu is in Karl Hampton’s electorate, but to your people, Dunham said if they do not want to go there they can stay in their home and die. That is what he said ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Indigenous Education – Alternative Policies
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please advise the House of government initiatives being implemented in remote schools as part of A Working Future? Also, are you aware of any alternative policies in relation to Indigenous education and, if so, have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Remote education is a challenge. We have 40% of our students who are Indigenous and 75% of those live in remote communities. We have been rolling out our mobile preschools program to 21 communities. We have also set up a remote teaching service in collaboration with other jurisdictions, such as Western Australia and Queensland. In the Territory, we have 50 specialist teachers and 27 ESL teachers.
We are proud of our record of establishing secondary education in the bush. We now have purpose-built secondary facilities in communities where there were none before: communities like Galiwinku, Minyerri, Kalkarindji, Maningrida, Wadeye, Papunya, Utopia, Borroloola, Ramingining and Alpara. There have been many hundreds of young Indigenous people who have now been given the opportunity of a senior secondary education.
I have said it here before, that it was sad to read the 1981 Cabinet papers that were released earlier this year, and to see the CLP Cabinet of the day reject a Cabinet submission to establish senior secondary in the bush. That is a lost generation and we are working to rectify that situation.
In terms of the issue raised by the member for Port Darwin, I acknowledge that issue has been fixed. We recognise issues - we fix them. We do not just sit there and criticise with no solutions like the CLP. We are talking about alternative approaches. Their manifesto hardly mentions education at all, let alone Indigenous people. Certainly, the two-pager they released about two years ago on early childhood education does not mention Indigenous kids at all. We are still waiting for the member for Brennan’s policy launch. He was waving it around here in the last sittings about a month ago. We have not seen it but, hopefully, we will see it in the next little while, member for Brennan.
We have also set up training in Gunbalanya, Jabiru, Groote Eylandt, Wadeye, Ngukurr, Nguiu and Ntaria. We have provided vocational education and training for students when they are in Year 8. Through A Working Future, we have the West Arnhem College, Groote Eylandt College, Shepherdson College, Warlpiri College and Ntaria College, and priority sites for further establishment in Maningrida, Ngukurr and Borroloola.
We are a government that is working hard in education. We know there are incredible challenges and we are rising to them ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Road Amenities Maintenance – Award of Contract
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Recently, a tender to provide road amenities maintenance was awarded for an amount of $1.8m by your department. The cheapest tender was a little over $800 000 by Traffic King. What was wrong with the cheaper tenderer’s offer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if the member could tell me what tender he is talking about, then we might be able to answer that question.
Mr Elferink: Tender T11-1901.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do you wish to answer?
Mr McCARTHY: Yes, Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The Department of Construction and Infrastructure has managed over 3000 jobs in the last 12 months. We are out there with the shoulder to the wheel continuing to manage construction across the Territory. I will need to get that number, and I will take that question on notice.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, minister.
INPEX – Extractive Mining Areas
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Last Friday week, there was to be a meeting at Quest Palmerston to discuss the cartage of gravel for INPEX from the extractive mining areas near Robertson Barracks to the Blaydin Point site. Unfortunately, that meeting was cancelled. Could you please say whether an alternative meeting has been planned? What negotiations has your department or other government departments already held with haulage companies, extractive mining companies, INPEX, local government, and the Army?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for a very important question. As this House knows, and as the Territory knows, the Ichthys project is the largest construction project in the Territory’s history and, I am advised, the second-largest in the national scene in terms of an LNG project. Of course, at the front end, the transport task is extremely important.
In relation to the meeting the member for Nelson talks about, I have been advised that the stakeholder meeting was organised and postponed by JKC, the primary contractor for the Ichthys project. The reason for that was the local government election. I am advised the stakeholder meeting is to be rescheduled at a more appropriate time so the modelling and impacts of this very important transport task can be considered.
I am aware of INPEX negotiating with the Department of Defence and the previous Litchfield Shire Council and Palmerston City Council. I now look forward to the establishment of those new councils where those important consultations can continue. In relation to the Department of Lands and Planning, we are working closely with INPEX, and have been for a long time. It is about the safe transport of materials and personnel for construction of that project, through the organisational capacity of a transport committee, and there is much work going on in that department.
There is also the communications strategy. The INPEX project is very serious about this element to advise Territorians of, not just what is coming, but ongoing communications around transport and transport logistics that will be taking place.
We feel confident that we are managing this in the appropriate way and look forward to progressing with this project which will deliver incredible opportunities and prosperity, not only to the greater Darwin area, but right across the Northern Territory.
Cleaning Contracts – Tender Process
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Recently, your department moved to let cleaning contracts through proper tender processes. However, it did so after issues were raised surrounding the fact that the original contracts had expired three years ago and the contracts had been let on a monthly basis since that time. Why were those cleaning contracts withheld from the tender process for three years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for his interest in cleaning contracts. The Department of Business and Employment handles a small percentage of cleaning contracts. Most cleaning contracts sit across other agencies, not within DBE. The figure is around 19%, but I stand to be corrected. I will double check that, but about 19% of all government cleaning contracts are handled by DBE. I understand with the management team having a look at the contracts they found that contracts were out. They are now moving through all the processes to adjust the contracts to ensure that, ultimately, everyone is in full contract.
SIHIP – Update on Progress
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SIHIP is helping to address decades of neglect of housing in the bush. Can you please update the House on the progress of SIHIP? Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. As the House knows, this is a $1.7bn 10-year program in partnership with the Commonwealth. Already, 2500 families have benefited from this program. To report to the House on progress on completion: 540 new houses have been completed, and there are another 128 under way; and 1972 rebuilds and refurbishments are completed, with 31 under way. To give an analysis of where those are located, for the 540 new houses: 90 new houses on the Tiwi Islands; 85 in Maningrida; 86 in Alice Springs town camps; 105 in Wadeye; 77 on Groote Eylandt; 37 in Gunbalanya; and 60 in Galiwinku. There has been much activity and a lot of Indigenous employment.
I know it has been the subject of questioning by the Council of Territory Cooperation, and that is fair. My advice is that overall there have been 1316 Indigenous employees and, as the program in its current phase is winding down, there are 160 currently. The target originally was 20% to be Indigenous employment and consistently 30% was achieved.
There is a plethora of courses, hundreds of courses, for people to be trained. Overall, I am pleased to advise the House that 235 Certificates I, II, and III have been completed, and there are another 109 under way.
We recognise the challenge. The member for Braitling raised issues at one stage about the number of people who he felt were given menial tasks. Well, this is a big step forward for many people who really have not had an employment history; they have not participated in the workplace before. I believe the figures we have of completions of courses in Certificates I, II, and III, and 109 under way, is a big achievement.
Thirteen Indigenous employees in Alice Springs town camps have now transitioned into full-time employment, eight of whom are apprentices. A great story about Guiseppe Tipiloura from the Tiwi Islands, who has completed all of the practical modules for Certificates I, II and III in Construction with only some theory left to complete. I table a happy photo of Guiseppe with his workmates receiving one of those certificates.
So, there are positives. There is a long way to go. I am looking forward to decades of commitment from whichever party might be in power in Canberra.
Cash for Containers – Cost of Advertising
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You have run an extensive advertising campaign in the attempt to reassure the community of the integrity of your container deposit scheme. How much did the whole advertising campaign cost, including design and production, and did it go through the normal tendering process?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition. I make no apology, as the Chief Minister, for getting out and promoting what is a scheme that is wanted by the vast number of Territorians. Those costs will be available in the Estimates process as per usual; they are still under way. We will have all the costs available through Estimates in a couple of months’ time, as we do.
In regard to the scheme, over six million cans and containers have already been redeemed across the Northern Territory. That is six millions cans and containers …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister has made it clear he is unable to answer the question at this stage. I ask, in the interests of Standing Order 113, that he either tries to answer the question or he sits down, because the rest of it is gumph.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Do you have further information, Chief Minister?
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely, I do, because the question was in regard to the Cash for Containers scheme and the advertising costs. I point out …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr Henderson: These are frivolous points of order, Madam Speaker. He has already been warned.
Mr ELFERINK: The question was not about the scheme. The question was specifically about the cost of advertising the scheme, which is why we are asking the question. We do not need another lecture on the scheme.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Chief Minister, can you come to the point of the question about the advertising costs, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Very much so, Madam Speaker. I am pointing out that the advertising costs are ongoing. The reason they are ongoing is because, as the government, as this scheme unfolds, we will continue to promote it.
The number of containers redeemed across the Territory - over six million in just over a couple of months - is quite extraordinary. It is an extraordinary number ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is about the cost of the scheme. The second part of the question was: did they follow normal tendering processes? He has not even addressed that part yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you can come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, as I have said, in regard to the tendering process and how much this has cost, all will be available for the member for Port Darwin during the Estimates process when we normally answer all of those questions.
In regard to the ongoing advertising for this scheme, to promote the scheme to Territorians ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. We have less than five minutes left of Question Time. He has done his best to answer the question. Can we move on to a new question? He is not being relevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: In regard to the normal tendering process, I point out it is only the Leader of the Opposition who has been criticised by the Auditor-General for not following appropriate guidelines for newsletters the Leader of the Opposition ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HENDERSON: … was distributing in the northern suburbs …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired!
Limmen National Park and Limmen Bight Marine Park – Opportunities for Local Indigenous People and Alternative Policies
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
The government recently announced the creation of Limmen National Park and Limmen Bight Marine Park. Can you please advise the House as to what opportunities will be created for local Indigenous people as a result? Are you aware of any alternative policies and have you considered them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for a very good question. It is a great announcement. Limmen National Park and Limmen Bight Marine Park will be fantastic assets our parks estate and very important in the context of A Working Future. We know that both the national park and the marine park will create jobs for Indigenous people - that is something this mob does not get. They will create jobs, and enhance much of the work we have done already in that region of the Northern Territory. For example, some 5.5 km upstream ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: He obviously does not want to hear good news about Indigenous employment. Upstream on the Roper River is Tomato Island. It is a fantastic place where for many years people have enjoyed camping and this government acknowledges it as a very important part of the park.
The Territory government has invested $1.5m to upgrade facilities at Tomato Island. This will position the Yugul Mangi Rangers and the Aboriginal Development Corporation from Ngukurr to manage the site. We are promoting Indigenous employment ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, please take your phone outside.
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker. as part of A Working Future, it is very important to upgrade these facilities and to promote Indigenous employment. There is no better way than doing that through our wonderful parks, and Limmen National Park and Marine Park will provide those opportunities.
The camping ground, which is due for completion in November this year, will be managed on a commercial footing by Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation. As part of the government’s Territory growth towns initiative, this project presents significant employment opportunities and flow-on business opportunities for the people of Ngukurr. I know the member for Arnhem is at the forefront of helping those people take up these opportunities.
Madam Speaker my department expects five full-time Indigenous jobs to be associated with the management of the camping ground, and another seven part-time jobs in associated opportunities around tourism and fishing to be created through this initiative. This is all part of this government’s A Working Future, unlike the opposition’s manifesto - manifesto they called it - who knows what that means? We have real vision and real policy. They are just all talk.
Defence of Darwin Experience – Use of Interstate Companies
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
I recently visited the Queensland-built Defence of Darwin Experience. At the time, the audiovisual equipment suffered a technical failure. To my surprise I was told they were contacting the Melbourne-based firm that installed it for technical advice. How does this accord with your rhetoric surrounding the Buy Territory campaign?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the opposition just cannot be positive about anything, can they? You just cannot ...
Mr Elferink: I would like to see some Territory companies get some of these jobs.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is in his electorate. It really is the Tony Abbott school over there, isn’t it? Their heads have never been violated by original thought. They have absolutely no policies for the Northern Territory at all. Their economy policy - you know, you talk about supporting local business, this would decimate jobs in the Northern Territory ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was succinctly about the Buy Territory campaign. These contracts have been going to other interstate companies. I want to know how he reconciles the two. I do not need a lecture on everything else.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you. I will put this in the context of our government supporting the economy and supporting jobs. Of DCI procurement contracts, Tier 2 to 5 in January and February 2012, 93% went to local Territory businesses.
If we look at the Defence of Darwin Experience, yes, the head contractor did win the project from interstate. I know many Territory businesses that also win contracts interstate in Queensland and Western Australia. The subcontracting arrangements went to the following local subcontractors: DEC Installations; Pete’s Glass & Aluminium Pty Ltd; Jakes Steel & Welding Pty Ltd; JC Electronics Security; Nightcliff Electrical Pty Ltd; Norsign NT; Nortruss Builders Supplies; Stramit Building Products; Territory Doors; Top End Line Markers Pty Ltd; and Trojon Fencing and Fabricating Pty Ltd.
The suppliers included: Advance Hire; Aqua Treat (NT) Pty Ltd; Best Bar Darwin; City Homes/ Earthmoving; Coventry Fasteners; Cummins; Darwin Concrete Pumps; Darwin Plant Wholesalers; Ecolab Water Care Services Pty Ltd; Fleetwood Pty Ltd; GJ Wigg Plumber; Hanson Construction; Northern Territory Pest and Weed Control; Practical Plastics; Rhino Industries; and Top End Sign Sales.
I thank my colleague for the very comprehensive information. It just shows how shallow the opposition is if you cannot be positive about that magnificent Defence of Darwin Experience, Madam Speaker. It is not about us; it is not about the government. It is about Territorians whose stories are being told through that experience, and you want to mock them. You want to mock those old Territory families. You want to belittle those families who are so proud that their stories have, finally, been told in a world-class facility, built by world-class small businesses in the Northern Territory that I have listed.
I congratulate all of those Territory businesses which produced a world-class project the member for Port Darwin seeks to condemn.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members will contain themselves! Order! We are still in the sittings, honourable members, not at a football field.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016