2005-08-16
Uranium Mining – Labor Support
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
When you met with the federal minister, Ian Macfarlane, you failed to ensure that the Northern Territory would be included in any future decisions about uranium mining in the Territory by washing your hands of the opportunity for joint decision making. At the same time, you claim to oppose mining, yet your government has issued countless exploration licences for mining, including of uranium. Is it not the case that, despite the rhetoric, Labor does support more uranium mining in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I cannot understand how the member, being so intelligent, got everything so wrong.
Let us start with exploration licences. We have not issued exploration licences for uranium for the simple reason we do not issue mineral-specific exploration licences. You can apply tomorrow to look for any mineral in the Northern Territory. The only thing you have to do is apply for an exploration licence. The problem in the Northern Territory - and I reiterate this - is that uranium is one of the most common elements in the Territory and, many times, people looking for minerals will discover uranium. We understand very well the problems in the area of mineral exploration. We are very clear; we issue mineral exploration licences to people who apply and who put an appropriate program in place. They must notify either us or, as required by the Atomic Energy Act, the federal minister, should they discover uranium.
Once again, I cannot understand how you, as a lawyer, do not understand the legal issues involved with uranium. Let me start from the beginning. You should be well aware - and you can find it if you want to by looking at the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act - that the Commonwealth maintained control of uranium, thorium and other prescribed substances since 1979. Since that time, the Commonwealth has had an agreement with the Northern Territory government that the Commonwealth would approve the mining of uranium, and the Northern Territory government would oversee the day-to-day operations of the mine. That agreement was enshrined in legislation by the then minister for Mines, Mr Ian Tuxworth who, on 20 September 1978, introduced a short bill in parliament that became known as section 7A of the Mining Act. Let me tell you what Mr Tuxworth said on that particular date:
- This is a very short bill but one of prime importance to the majority of people in the Northern Territory. It clarifies the relative responsibility of the Commonwealth and the Territory government in relation to the mining of prescribed substances in the Northern Territory. As honourable members will be aware, by virtue of the provisions of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act, the Northern Territory executive has been given executive responsibility for all matters relating to the mining of minerals in the Northern Territory excluding those associated with uranium and other prescribed substances under the Australian Atomic Energy Act. In respect of uranium and other prescribed substances, the Commonwealth has retained the executive responsibility in that area and is to have continued responsibility for matters associated with the issue of mining titles for those particular materials.
Mr Tuxworth put legislation in place that obliged the Northern Territory Minister for Mines and Energy to advise the federal minister of an application for uranium mining. Further, that legislation obliged the Northern Territory minister to follow the advice given by the federal minister. If, tomorrow, someone applies to mine uranium in the Northern Territory, I have to write to the federal minister and advise him of this application. He will then advise me of his decision - yes or no - and I am obliged to follow his decision.
The Northern Territory never had any right to approve or disapprove the mining of uranium. The only thing we have are two Commonwealth agreements, in 1979 and 2000, that we will oversee the day-to-day operations of mines. Mr Macfarlane got it wrong two or three times. He is on the public record saying that he did not believe that the Commonwealth had control over uranium, it was the Territory’s control …
Dr Lim: You said before the election that there would be no new mines.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr VATSKALIS: When Mr Macfarlane was here, he admitted publicly that the Commonwealth’s had responsibility and control over uranium, so the Northern Territory did not give anything away because we had nothing to give away.
I notice that you are very perplexed because I have a very good relationship with Mr Macfarlane. Yes, I do, and I am proud of it, because Mr Macfarlane helped us very much with Bayu-Undan and the LNG plant. Mr Macfarlane was there when we sought his assistance to develop the Alcan expansion. Mr Macfarlane was there when we worked together on the Ranger uranium mine. I am very pleased to have this kind of relationship because I have to work with Mr Macfarlane. I could be bitter and twisted, like you are sometimes, but I prefer not to be. I prefer to build bridges, not burn them.
Nuclear Waste Facility – Potential Sites
Ms ANDERSON to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Is the Northern Territory government aware of any investigations carried out by the Commonwealth government into possible sites for a nuclear waste dump? If so, what are the recommendations of those investigations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question because it goes right to the heart of this process of site selection by the Commonwealth government over a preferred place for storage of nuclear waste. Once upon a time, it would have been the case that Canberra and the Commonwealth government took a scientific approach to the management of nuclear waste in this country.
Prior to last year’s federal election, when Senator Ian Campbell promised there would be no nuclear dump in the Northern Territory, the federal government did, indeed, conduct an exhaustive investigation into possible sites all around Australia. The federal government’s National Sites Advisory Committee, the NSAC, considered 23 sites before drawing up a short list. For each of the 23 sites, they made one of three recommendations: less suitable, suitable or most suitable.
I table the chart with the comments relating to each of the 23 sites around suitable, less suitable, most suitable.
Mr Wood: There are other sites too.
Mr STIRLING: The member for Nelson might find that interesting. He was asking about the veracity of such documentation this morning in debate. Well, there it is. He can have a look at it when it is tabled and copied.
It looked at Fisher’s Ridge near Katherine, one of the sites currently proposed, and the comment is ‘less suitable’, due to flooding.
The other sites now proposed in the Northern Territory, Harts Range and Mt Everard, were not even on that list - they never made that list in the first instance. However, there were a number of sites that were deemed suitable: Have a guess where Mount Reedy might be? Suitable site, according to this, but it is in the ACT.
We all know where Seymour is, it is in Victoria - most suitable - right near the Puckapunyal Army training camp. However, Seymour does not make the final cut. Denman, New South Wales - most suitable - does not make the final cut. Bogan Gate, New South Wales, I am not sure where Bogan Gate is. The residents of Bogan Gate must be pretty pleased, they were most suitable on this original list I am tabling; however, it does not make the final cut. Narrandera, New South Wales, Western Plains, we all know where Narrandera is - most suitable again. The residents of Narrandera are breathing a mighty sigh of relief; it did not make the final cut. Nowra, New South Wales, beautiful part of the country – suitable - not on the list. Wagga Wagga, New South Wales - most suitable - home to some of our most notable sports people this country has ever produced. They, again, would be relieved, having been found as a most suitable location for a nuclear waste dump in the whole of Australia, they do not make the list. Deniliquin, at the bottom of that - most suitable - but, again, does not make the list.
What this shows is that there is no scientific rationale or logic behind the selection of these three sites in the Northern Territory. In fact, one of them, as I said, was found less suitable but it is still on the list. Again, it proves there is no scientific or environmental logic to Canberra’s decision to select the Northern Territory for sites for this waste dump. It comes down to one point, and one point only, and it is crude politics.
Uranium Mining - Policy
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
In light of your last answer, how do you reconcile that with the promise made by your leader, the Chief Minister, on the eve of the election, that there would be no more uranium mining in the Northern Territory? What was the basis upon which the Chief Minister made that claim? Were you in agreement with it, and did you know that the Chief Minister was deliberately misleading Territorians when she made that claim, or was it, as the member for Arafura said, just politics?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if there is somebody here who likes to mislead Territorians it is the Leader of the Opposition. It is the Leader of the Opposition who has been out there saying that the Northern Territory minister gave away the rights of the Northern Territory on uranium …
Members: You did!
Mr VATSKALIS: We did not; we never had any right.
Ask for the statement by the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister reiterated Labor Party policy that has been in place for 20 years. It has been in books, leaflets, on our web page. Our policy – by the Northern Territory Branch of the Labor Party; it was a decision by our party – is no new uranium mines in the Northern Territory. We still believe in that.
We were bulldozed by the Commonwealth government. They came in and said: ‘We are going to open new uranium mines’. Well, our policy is no new uranium mines in the Northern Territory – full stop.
Construction Industry
Mr BURKE to TREASURER
One of the most significant drivers and job creators in the Northern Territory economy is the construction industry. Can you please advise on the state of the industry in the Northern Territory today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question, because construction is one of the great drivers of economic growth in the Northern Territory. Current indicators show that the industry is progressing very solidly indeed. Building approval levels are the best in Australia in the year to June 2005: residential approvals up 17% in number; non-residential approvals value rose by 63.8% to $277.6m; and the value of residential building approvals rose 36.9% to $356m. That underlines some of the cost escalators occurring in the construction industry.
Engineering work done stands at $1.5bn. Prior to 2001, that figure, on an annual basis, was running at around $200m. Therefore, you can see just how enormous that leap in engineering work has been over the past few years.
It is evident, given the remarkably low vacancy rates reported by the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory quite recently, and in other surveys, that the residential market will continue in its boom stage at the moment. You only have to look at the construction and cranes on the horizon with the apartment development today for proof of that.
Those are the numbers. What does it mean to people out there? Well, it means that you cannot get a plumber, carpenter, cabinetmaker, electrician or airconditioning fitter - all those small business tradespeople are fully occupied with a continual stream of quality work. That is fantastic for those small businesses, great for their families and, of course, for the Northern Territory economy. The engineers, crane drivers, cement contractors - those bigger sized companies in the market - keep on going in business and employing more people.
Therefore, there are more jobs and more people in jobs as a result of this sustained upward spike in the construction industry - an industry that was all but gone in August 2001. It is good, in terms of residential development, for retailers selling new carpets, whitegoods, household goods and office furnishings. All of those products are in high demand and coming to the Northern Territory in great numbers. It is good all round; it keeps the Northern Territory moving ahead.
In the recent election, we promised and we continued that record level of capital works, which we have done since we came to government in 2001. Capital works and infrastructure is a record spend year in and year out. We are already fulfilling that promise for 2005-06.
Petrol Sniffer at Coronial Inquiry
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
This will be the first question for the minister. Recently, in Mutitjulu, a coronial inquiry into the deaths of three people was halted because of an interruption by a petrol sniffer. Your government’s substance abuse legislation provides powers to tip out petrol being used by a sniffer. Can you advise if those powers were used in this instance and, if not, why not? Can you also advise on the wellbeing of the sniffer concerned, and what health care, if any, has been offered to him? Finally, why would the Coroner say that he felt powerless to do anything in light of the passing of the substance abuse act earlier this year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The tragic deaths the coronial inquiry is looking into in Mutitjulu are an example of how much work still needs to be done to save the lives of young Territorians, and to work with communities to do that. It was very shocking and distressing to everyone to see a young petrol sniffer appear at the coronial inquest. However, what it has done is focus the nation on the scourge that we are tackling here as a government in the Northern Territory.
You are quite right; our Volatile Substance Abuse legislation has provided powers to remove petrol. As you may know - but your question does not allude to - that legislation is not in effect yet. There are regulations still to be introduced to put that legislation into effect. This morning, in the report I provided on petrol sniffing, I advised that the regulations are due either late this year or early next year.
The regulations go into detail about how to enact the provisions within that legislation. For example, they will identify, community by community, people authorised to withdraw petrol from people inhaling. That is important to ensure there is no confusion at the community level about who has the powers. That will vary from community to community, quite appropriately so. Also, it will identify places of safety that petrol sniffers can be taken to, to start the treatment and rehabilitation that has to occur.
I cannot explain why the Coroner did not alert the police or someone to take the petrol off the child. I cannot speak for the Coroner. I hope that, in the instances that this occurs in the future, people do feel empowered to take action, because that is what our government is saying to communities and to the law officers in communities: take the petrol off them. Quite clearly, we are saying that in policy. We have put the legislation in place. However, the legislation has not come into effect because, as we have stated, there are detailed regulations that have to be put into place before the legislation first. That work is being done as part of a $10m commitment by this government to tackle petrol sniffing. $2m is being spent this year ...
Ms Carney: There will be another couple of inquests before the act comes in.
Ms LAWRIE: Might I say it is rather cute for the opposition to lead with the chin on this one when, in the election, you said: ‘Rip the $10m out of petrol sniffing and put that elsewhere’ ...
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the minister to withdraw her claim that I said: ‘rip $10m out of petrol sniffing’. It is a lie and mistruth and I ask that she withdraw it .
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. If you feel that you have been misquoted in this House you can come and speak to me about making a personal explanation at a later time.
Australian Rugby League Games
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you inform the House of the government’s plan to bring Australian Rugby League games to the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is indeed fantastic news for Rugby League fans right throughout the Northern Territory. The government has signed a deal with the ARL and we are going to see, on 11 February at Anzac Oval in Alice Springs next year, two superb NRL teams - Newcastle Knights will take on Penrith Panthers. I encourage members to get along to that game and embrace a fantastic package of entertainment around the game in Alice Springs.
This follows on from commitments delivered by the government in the last term to bring elite sports to the Territory. It is important for our young sports players to see their role models, their heroes, running around and showing the high level of skill that they can in their particular sport. The agreement is for an expenditure of $73 000 by the government. We believe that, with the three or four days the players are going to spend in Alice Springs, with clinics at primary and high schools, visits to hospitals, visits to nearby communities, as well as, importantly, the game itself, we will really be seeing value for dollar. We are going to test that, because we are hoping to bring the Newcastle Knights and the Panthers back to the Territory in 2007 to play a game in Darwin.
I know there are members in the Chamber who are mad Newcastle Knights supporters, as I am, who are really looking forward to that. It is a real boon for Rugby League in the Northern Territory. This is a four way partnership – the Australian Rugby League, the NRL, the NTRL and the Northern Territory government – joining together to deliver a fantastic game of Rugby League in Alice Springs on 11 February.
Community Justice Programs
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
A case involving sexual assault was held in an open air court in the community of Yarralin where the offender and the young girl lived. The ramifications for this young girl, who was sodomised, beaten with a boomerang, and held against her will, have put her and her family at great risk and has necessitated them leaving the community. Will you ensure that crimes such as this are not held in an open community court where full and frank evidence cannot be given? Will you ensure the Community Education and Liaison Committee, flagged by the Chief Justice, has community representation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the case the member for Braitling is referring to was a very difficult case in which the Chief Justice felt he needed to go to the community concerned to personally handle the hearing. I say - as I always do with outcomes of court hearings - that there are mechanisms within our justice system for reviewing and, if necessary, appealing decisions.
I do not want members to take from that that I am disagreeing with the Chief Justice’s decision. I believe that, when you read his sentencing remarks - and I hope the member has done that as part of getting across the judgment - the Chief Justice has shown an enormous amount of insight into the factors he was trying to balance.
I can certainly reassure the member about the wellbeing of the victim. The Yarralin community, from which her family originates, has provided a lot of on-ground support for her, and I believe she will feel supported into the future.
Regarding the matters that the Chief Justice is progressing through our system, there is still the need to get these new age of consent laws and the customary law evidence provisions fully out to all community members around the Northern Territory. We have committed a lot of effort to that already; however, there are still individuals, such as the offender in this case, who clearly had not got across the broader provisions of the law. That was taken into account by the Chief Justice. I applaud what the Chief Justice is doing in publicising the process he went through to find that offender guilty on both counts with which he was charged, and to apply a sentence to him.
Equally, the Chief Justice is progressing other means by which indigenous groups right around the Northern Territory can be brought into a strong discussion about the general law. There are difficult areas where the two laws have to coincide. I believe that, in our new Chief Justice, we have someone who is going to be actively promoting the understanding and respect for the general law.
Mrs Braham: Do you believe these crimes should be heard in an open court?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Dr TOYNE: The member for Braitling is entitled to her opinion about the outcome of that case, as we all are as members of the community. However, within the justice system, we do not work on public polling about what is an appropriate sentence; we work on the expertise of the court and also depend on the in-built review mechanisms of the justice system to ensure that punishment does fit the crime.
Leanyer Park – Stage II Development
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Can the minister advise the House of the ongoing development of the facilities at Leanyer Park and the contribution this has made to Territory lifestyle, especially for families in and around Darwin, Palmerston and down the track?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Improving and upgrading Leanyer Park has already made a huge difference in the northern suburbs, providing better facilities for families and young people. Since we revamped the tired old facility that was at Lake Leanyer during our last term in government, creating in its place the much more exciting and relevant recreation venue of Leanyer Park, we have had fantastic feedback.
I have taken my grandchildren to Leanyer Park, and I know many members here who visit with their families also. Since its official opening on Australia Day 2004, well over 100 000 people have used the park, which is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service.
The new park is very popular. We will be building on that success and further improving the facility. Stage II of the Leanyer Recreation Park will see a further $5.2m upgrade. The new features will include: a large water slide; a caf-style kiosk; two connected skate bowls; a BMX moguls track; a tennis facility; more shaded seating areas and barbecues; extensive shading at the kiosk, skate park, basketball and netball courts; upgrades to the music bowl, including shade for the stage and small amphitheatre; and a number of extensions to the car park.
Development of the first stage of Leanyer Park was the result of quite extensive community consultation, and it has, obviously, paid off. The park is enjoyed by hundreds of Territorians and their families every day. We will continue to consult the community on the development of Stage II. Adding to the park, to appeal to an even wider range of young users, was an election commitment. Entry to the park will continue to be free for everyone.
The $5.2m is good value for Territory families. We already have a great facility in the northern suburbs. With Stage II, we will have a first-class recreation facility which is easily accessible to a large proportion of our suburban population and allows us to take best advantage of our brilliant Territory lifestyle.
Petrol Sniffing Legislation
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
You made it clear in your earlier answer that the law designed and introduced by Labor to protect petrol sniffers is on hold because you are having the regulations sorted out. Your predecessor said:
- One of the things that we do not want to do is to have a system that is going to be overly bureaucratic and work against what we are trying to do here; that is, to get someone into treatment.
Why did your government promote and insist on pursuing a model that simply was not ready, and is not ready, to do what it was claimed that it could do, or was it the case that the petrol sniffing legislation, as it is known, was simply part of a pre-election gimmick?
ANSWER
Leader of the Opposition, yet again, you have it wrong. The legislation was no stunt. It is a clear intent and direction from government to protect people from the scourge of petrol sniffing; to empower people at the community to remove petrol from the sniffers – clear intent, articulated, debated at length in this parliament and passed. At that stage, we went through lengthy debate, and I can recall some of your contribution about the importance of the regulations to underpin the legislation.
You cannot have a successful action on petrol sniffing if you impose from top down if, as a government, we sit here in this Chamber and say, ‘it shall be thus’. To succeed, you actually have to work with the communities who are struggling with petrol sniffing. That is the point of the regulations process. It is about identifying clearly, community by community, who is involved, who are the authorised persons and where the safe houses are.
Ms Carney: You did not have then in place when you issued your press releases.
Ms LAWRIE: You are mumbling about it, but it is sometimes useful to listen.
As I said in a report this morning, work is already occurring. We are spending $2m this financial year to implement rehabilitation and treatment around petrol sniffing. I will spend the time to take you back through some of that, because it does not appear that you actually listened this morning.
The $2m is spent this year to provide a range of options for families, communities, police and other agencies to respond when people are at risk of serious harm from sniffing. This is work that is being done, okay? The options include: remote outstations; rehabilitation facilities in Alice Springs and Darwin; and, nursing positions to provide clinical support to outstations. As I mentioned this morning, tenders have gone out for the rehabilitation service in Alice Springs and Darwin. Already, we are funding at Ipolera and Ilpurle, who are receiving $25 000 each in ongoing support. That is happening now. There are petrol sniffers in those treatment programs now.
In addition to this, court order clients are able to go to Mt Theo outstation when they need the required standards of care. Kintore is being funded for a worker to assist the community plan and implement an outstation service. Funding of $98 000 is committed to assist with infrastructure development for this.
This financial year, $40 000 is being spent on a practical information package about the legislation, to explain that legislation to magistrates, prosecutors, defenders and for the general information of the public. I will make sure I send you a pack.
Maternal and Child Health Services to Remote Areas
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for HEALTH
There is overwhelming national evidence that improvements to maternal and child health are the key to reducing long-term incidence of chronic disease in later life. Can you inform the House what this government is doing to improve maternal and child health services to remote areas of the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for this very important question because, of all the priorities we are following in the health system in the Northern Territory, this is our top priority - child and maternal health. This is the one that is seeking generational change between the current health profiles we are facing in our acute care sector in the Northern Territory, and what we hope will be a much lower demand into the future if we can get this right.
Healthy mothers are more likely to produce healthy babies, who will grow into healthier kids, who will grow into healthier adults - that is what the research is saying. It is saying that, if you can get the birth weights up, protect young kids from infectious diseases, and support mothers from all of the negative factors that are going to impact on their health and wellbeing during the time they are bearing their children, you are going to reap a huge reward further down the track when those children grow up to be adults. We have already placed 25 child health workers to deal with kids once born. We will add 10 to that as part of our new commitments before the last election.
In the area of maternal care, so far, we have: consolidated the Community Midwifery program in Darwin; introduced home birth as an option for mothers in both Darwin and Alice Springs; provided training in advanced obstetric skills for current midwives and medical practitioners; and initially put out two outreach midwives to extend coverage into the remote communities. We are now doubling up; we now have two outreach midwives in Alice Springs and two in Darwin. Each of these steps is putting more and more health support around mothers during their antenatal period, the birth itself, and the postnatal care. We aim to have each of these steps reflected in the health profiles of babies and infants who have come out of these programs.
We are on track. We are absolutely committed to this. We are receiving national recognition for our commitment to this area. We are now leading national processes on child health and wellbeing - quite rightly so, because our health professionals in the Northern Territory in this area of health care are second to none. We are being listened to, and what we are doing is being very much noticed around Australia. I am very proud of the people in our health system who are doing this very important work.
_________________________
Distinguished Visitors
United States Navy Personnel
Distinguished Visitors
United States Navy Personnel
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the Speaker’s gallery of Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, Commander Expeditionary Strike Group One; Commodore Denny DuBard, Commander Amphibious Squadron One; Colonel Jim LaVine, Commanding Officer 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and Lieutenant Micaela Golding from the United States Navy, and also Ms Karen Olgel, Consul from the Consulate-General of the United States of America and Captain Peter Marshall ADC RAN, Commander Australian Navy Patrol Boat Group. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
_________________________
Alice Springs Hospital – Staff Shortages
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HEALTH
Nurses at the Alice Springs Hospital recently threatened to strike because nurse numbers are inadequate to care for the number of patients at the hospital, thus putting patient safety at risk. In March this year, when staff threatened similar action, you denied you were playing Russian roulette with patients’ lives because of staff shortages. Despite your promises to fix the problem, nothing has changed. When will the excuses stop and the problem of staff shortages be fixed so that patient safety is no longer compromised?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is like a broken record, the opposition coming back on the …
Dr Lim: Because you cannot fix it. You do not fix it. Fix it!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr TOYNE: We are starting to see two things: one is that their activities as shadow seems to take the form of having a coffee with a few nurses every couple of weeks at the Alice Springs Hospital …
Dr Lim: Personal abuse is all you can do.
Ms Carney: Do you doubt what nurses tell us? Is that what you are saying? That is scandalous!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr TOYNE: There is a huge health system out there. Why don’t you start looking at what our remote nurses are doing and what our other hospitals are doing?
Dr Lim: I will be asking that too, eventually.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr TOYNE: Now, let us deal with your issue.
The nurses did have a meeting and, subsequent to that meeting, they passed a resolution basically saying while they will not rescind concerns they have about the hospital management, they also acknowledge, very strongly, the efforts of the hospital manager in maintaining very strong communications with the nurses.
After I heard of the meeting and I was told of the outcomes of it, first of all, I went to the hospital. I walked around and talked to the staff in every working unit of that hospital. I found that there are a couple of problems that were brought to my attention. First of all, there is a full nursing complement in the Emergency Department; however, some of the nurses who have been recruited do not have a full skill set for working in that area of hospital operations. Second, there are ongoing problems with recruiting the full complement of critical care nurses into the Intensive Care Unit. Generally, around the rest of the hospital, we have very happy people working on their programs. I was very impressed with both the morale and work output.
In recent times, there has been a high volume of demand coming through the front door of the hospital, which is quite common during the cold weather months in Central Australia. As a result, at one stage they were using overflow beds in the day surgery area, which is a normal tactic that the hospital might adopt.
What have we done on hearing those concerns from the nurses? First of all, we have transferred four experienced critical care nurses from Darwin to Alice Springs as part of our hospital network arrangements. There will be experienced critical care nurses to help lead the operations in ICU and the ED section. That will take care of the need to move newly-recruited nurses into a full skill set in those areas.
We are now looking internationally for critical care nurses. We are, particularly, trying to recruit nurses from Great Britain, where we understand there are nurses who are looking for opportunities elsewhere around the world. We are doing absolutely everything that a government can fairly do in response to the issues there.
I get sick and tired of hearing the member for Greatorex talking about crises in Alice Springs Hospital. On the basis of what? On the basis of his opinion and political opportunism. It is not on the basis of getting down there and finding out the facts about what is going on in that hospital ...
Dr Lim interjecting.
Dr TOYNE: The hospital is getting sick and tired of your rhetoric. If you want to talk about Alice Springs Hospital, or any other part of the health system, get out and do the hard work and find out what is going on.
Joint Defence Exercises – Benefits to the Territory
Mr NATT to MINISTER for DEFENCE SUPPORT
Darwin is currently hosting three US Naval vessels and their 4000 personnel for a week of shore leave. Can the minister please outline some of the benefits visits such as these bring to the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. It is great to see the officers from the Expeditionary Strike Group in parliament today. One of the benefits of these types of visits to the Northern Territory - I suppose I can very clearly see; I am very lucky to have a view over the beautiful Darwin Harbour from my ministerial office. What an amazing and impressive sight it was yesterday when I looked out of the window and saw the USS Tarawa, the USS Cleveland and the USS Pearl Harbour when they sailed into Darwin Harbour and berthed at Fort Hill and the Iron Ore Wharves yesterday. The vessels are part of the US Navy’s Expeditionary Strike Group One, and certainly very impressive hardware. I would urge all members, if you have not seen those ships, take a look on the wharf, it certainly is a very impressive sight.
The USS Tarawa, nicknamed the Eagle of the Sea, is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, and is the flagship of the Expeditionary Strike Group. She is supported by the amphibious loading docks, USS Cleveland and USS Pearl Harbour.
Again, on behalf of all members of this parliament and all Territorians, I welcome today Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group One. I am also pleased to welcome Commodore Denny DuBard, Colonel James LaVine and Lieutenant Micaela Golding, and Miss Karen Olgel, Consul from the Consulate-General of the United States to the Territory parliament. I am always pleased to welcome Captain Peter Marshall, head of the Royal Australian Navy, to the Territory parliament.
This week’s visit is particularly poignant given, of course, it ties in with the Victory in the Pacific 60th anniversary commemorations. Australians and Americans, as we all know, fought side by side during World War II. In Darwin, we stood shoulder to shoulder with American forces to repel the Japanese attacks on Darwin.
On a side issue, I am also very pleased and very proud of my father, who was one of the few Australians who actually served with US forces in World War II in the Pacific. Poor old Dad is not here any more, but it is always great to meet with US personnel.
Every year, at the Cenotaph on the Esplanade, we commemorate 19 February 1942, when 91 men were killed when the USS Peary was sunk during a Japanese air raid on Darwin. Territorians will never forget the courage of the US Navy and those sailors who fought with Australians in Darwin to repel those Japanese attacks. I am sure that, in 200, 300, 400 years’ time we will still be commemorating that event in Darwin.
As well as a particularly poignant time in terms of our shared history with the United States, it is also great to have US Naval personnel in Darwin for R&R. In announcing the visit this week, the US Navy described, and I quote from the media release: ‘Darwin is one of the most welcoming ports in the Pacific’. It was great to read that comment because, in the time that I have been privileged to hold this portfolio, I have met with many captains of US Naval vessels when they have come to Darwin. For the officers and crew, the reputation of Darwin is of a great city for R&R, and people look forward to their recreation here. How Darwinians and Territorians respond to those visits is very welcome.
As well as being good for international relationships, more than $2m is expected to be injected into the economy over the week-long visit. Those 4000 personnel having some well-earned R&R in Darwin is something that all those small shopkeepers in the CBD, whatever their business, look forward to.
Once again, on behalf of all Territorians and the Northern Territory parliament, welcome to the Northern Territory. We look forward to many more visits from the US Navy over the years and hope that our reputation as one of the best ports in the Pacific stands for many years to come.
Members: Hear, Hear!
Anti-Nuclear Waste Site Petition
Mr WOOD to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
During the Royal Darwin Show, government departments displayed political petitions opposing the nuclear waste repository, known by your government, for obvious reasons, as the ‘nuclear dump petition’. Who gave permission for such political material to be displayed at the show?
If it was you or one of your ministers, then is it the case that you or one of your ministers have breached the Code of Conduct for this parliament, especially clause 36, which says that members are required to recognise that the public service is expected to act as a non-partisan resource and treat public servants in accordance with established conventions of public service neutrality? Who paid for the printing and distribution of these petitions: the ALP or the taxpayer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Nelson needs to take a deep breath and have a look through the history of the Westminster system. This is government policy - unashamedly so - where we have said that we are not going to wear this nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. It is government policy. It is on the web site, it is in every publication. Who paid for it? The government. It is the government’s policy.
Mr Wood: And the public servants have got to put it out.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: It is out there in the public arena, and what better opportunity than to hit the public during the show circuit, right up the length of the strip of the Territory …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Nelson!
Mr STIRLING: … because hundreds and thousands of Territorians go to see their local show and, therefore, they will see the petition.
It is no secret at all. The member for Nelson seems to think that this is somehow dirty, sleazy politics and nothing to do with the government. It is government policy - unashamedly so - standing up for the interests of Territorians, unlike these blokes opposite, who have two members in the federal parliament …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr STIRLING: The Leader of the Opposition might learn something if she sits down. She does not know the history of the former Senator …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could he direct his comments through you, Madam Speaker, and not directly at me, and he can mind his manners with his finger pointing as well.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order, but Deputy Chief Minister, could you please direct your comments through me?
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, I would care less about the opposition’s views in and around the nuclear waste dump issue but for one thing: they do have an opportunity to have some influence in this matter. The influence lies with Senator Nigel Scullion. If the Leader of the Opposition had a little intestinal fortitude and said: ‘Nige, we are not going to have you vote for this, Senator. We want you to vote against this’, call in Mr Tollner, call in Nuclear Dave …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr STIRLING: … you will never, never glow if you never, never go, Dave. Call him and tell him the same thing: take the message directly to the Prime Minister that it is not on. Those blokes were elected by Territorians to serve the interests of Territorians, not vice versa, and it is time that she took action to do so.
In relation to that other matter, it is government policy and, of course, it is absolutely above board for the government money to print that.
Mr Wood: It is not. The public servants did not want to hand it out.
Mr STIRLING: Of course it is! It is government policy, in the same way as we deal with schools or business or any other matter: if it is government policy, it is government money.
General Election 2005 – Government Commitments regarding Airstrips
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Could you provide an update on election commitments made regarding airstrips in the electorate of Arnhem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Certainly, airstrips are very important for remote communities. Without digressing too far, I remember when I came to the Northern Territory 25 years ago and lived at Maningrida, we had a dirt strip which, particularly in the Wet, was cut off and quite isolated. I remember, quite often, we would hear the old DC3 droning around with the mail on board. Ironically, it was piloted by a Mr George Washington. However, that is probably another story. He was a very good pilot. The DC3 was a great pleasure to fly in and it served the communities well.
This government made a commitment to the Arnhem electorate that we would upgrade three airstrips – Minyerri, Bulman and Ramingining. Minyerri has been completed; it has been widened and extended. Bulman should be completed by the end of this calendar year. The Ramingining airstrip is going to be sealed and extended. It will be 18 m wide and approximately 1.4 km long. It will be up to CASA standards. Approximately $1.2m is being expended on that airstrip. I can inform the member for Arnhem that it is very near to completion now. There has been an eye to the future, with conduit being laid under the airstrip for future mains powered lighting.
I welcome the question by the member. There is a lot being done right across the Northern Territory regarding remote airstrips. It is very important and I look forward, possibly, to travelling with the member for Arnhem for the opening of the Ramingining airstrip.
Health Department CEO – Alleged Inappropriate Behaviour
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HEALTH
Leaked Alice Springs Hospital Board documents reveal that the letter you read to parliament in Alice Springs in March this year, claiming to be a letter of support from the board, was not a letter from the full board but was, in fact, a letter coerced by your head of Health, Robert Griew, who had inappropriately requested the letter from the board chair, Margaret Wait. Did the head of your Health Department, Robert Griew, engage in this inappropriate behaviour at your request, or did he take it upon himself to engage in this political interference?
Madam SPEAKER: Before you reply, minister, I remind you, member for Greatorex, that people who are not members do not have any right of reply in this Chamber. We need to be fairly careful about what we say, particularly in relation to public servants.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I feel it is best if Margaret Wait answers the question. I will read directly from her media release of 29 July 2005:
- Margaret Wait, the Chairperson of Alice Springs Hospital Board of Management, today refuted some of the recent media comments concerning Alice Springs Hospital and its board over the last week.
She stated ‘I wrote a letter to the Minister for Health and Community Services in March 2005 to convey to him that we were pleased with various recent developments within the Hospital. These were signalled by his CEO Robert Griew both personally and at the hospital staff forum the day before I wrote the letter.
‘The letter also reminded the minister of a range of factors to keep in mind in implementing the action plan, while applauding the planning processes proposed. I also reminded the minister of the tough job all staff face in our Hospital which must be many things to and for many different people’.
‘The CEO invited me to respond in writing, if I so wished, to the proposals put forward in the previous days. This I did with the letter so romantically referred to later by one media wag as a “love letter” to the minister. A brief peek in Hansard will show it to be rather more stern and dispassionate than such a letter!’
- Ms Wait added ‘Far from feeling bullied to write it, as one media article suggested, I was more than pleased to contact the minister about these positive developments and jumped at the opportunity. His reading of the letter in parliament was a bonus – it showed his commitment to ensuring that the initiatives will all be followed through’.
- Ms Wait added ‘The Board was and is pleased with the support that the minister has promised and provided this year. The increased budget to $84.4m for 2005-06, an increase of over 7%, was very welcome; so was the increased bed allocation aiming for 24 new beds. The expanded renal and intensive care programs are pitched at meeting rapidly rising demands in those areas. And on the staff front, the accommodation improvement program should help us attract and retain good staff’.
- ‘Additional good news comes from the hospital: all heads of clinical departments have been confirmed to be appointed including Paediatrics. All have Australian recognised qualifications. The hospital also now has two Australian trained orthopaedic surgeons. National and overseas recruitment recently agreed by the minister are substantial investments towards a stable nursing work force. The hospital’s reliance on short-term locum (‘agency’) nurses to help with this is being targeted for reduction too.
‘Every effort is being made to reduce elective surgery waitlists’.
I could go on, Madam Speaker. I will table the letter. The part I have read out continues for another page of equally positive comments about the hospital.
Dr Lim: Do that; table the letter.
Dr TOYNE: The member for Greatorex should join the rest of us and acknowledge that there is some very good work and development going on in Alice Springs Hospital.
Aboriginal Community Police Officers - Recruitment
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
You may have noticed a little while ago we were joined in the gallery by members of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Community Police Officers. Can the minister please provide an update on the impact the government’s Building our Police Force plan is having on this important part of the police force?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. It was great to see the new ACPOs in training in the gallery today.
Over the last two years, members and Territorians have certainly seen the impact of the government’s commitment to our police force, as our $75m Building our Police Force plan rolls out across the Northern Territory. We have committed to an extra 200 police out on the beat by the end of 2006. I am pleased to advise today that there are now 120 extra police on the beat, with 80 more on the way. On Friday, it was good to be at the college at Berrimah to see another 20 police officers graduate into the Northern Territory Police Force, eight of whom are to go to Alice Springs.
Importantly, the Building our Police Force plan is not just about policing in our urban centres. One of the important commitments we made was to recruit an additional 28 ACPOs across the Northern Territory, and move from having Aboriginal Community Police Officers serving in isolation as one law enforcement officer in remote communities across the Northern Territory, to having two in each of those communities. I am pleased to say that results are already being achieved. From 30 June 2003 to 31 July 2005, the number of ACPOs in the Northern Territory Police Force grew from 42 to 57. An extra 15 ACPOs are now on patrol around the Northern Territory.
The eight officers here today from ACPO Squad 10 are testament to the recruitment efforts under way. They joined the force in February this year, and they are now playing an important role in building safer communities, because this is what this is about – safer communities in Nguiu, Beswick, Finke, Milikapiti, Barunga, Katherine and Santa Teresa. I know those communities are very appreciative of the extra presence.
Applications have also just closed for a new 10-position ACPO squad which will get under way in October. The briefing I had from the commissioner yesterday revealed that something like 47 people applied for that particular squad. With the advertising campaign, we are seeing more people apply for these positions, which I am absolutely pleased to see.
As well as recruiting additional Aboriginal Community Police Officers, we were pleased to deliver, for the first time, the same conditions of service to Aboriginal Community Police Officers in the bush as for fully-sworn police officers. What that means is that those ACPOs are now receiving remote area allowances and fares out of isolated locations, consistent with those provided to fully-sworn police officers.
A commitment in the budget, it has been a long-running issue. I am sure that all members of this House who serve those remote communities with local government councils will know that it has been the issue of who funds, runs and maintains the vehicles for ACPOs in remote communities. Previously, community government councils had to fund those vehicles themselves. We will spend $2m to take over the cost of running those vehicles over the next few years, and work is under way to work with communities to roll out that additional funding.
To the eight ACPOs who were here today, I wish you all the best in your career, as I am sure the House does. We will send the Parliamentary Record to them. On behalf of all members, I thank our ACPOs who do a magnificent job in serving and protecting the people of the Northern Territory. We will continue to support those ACPOs in their career.
Madam Speaker I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016