2007-08-28
Local Government Reform - Urgency
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Last night, 50 people attended a meeting at Berry Springs. During that time, you were asked time and time again why your reform package is being rushed through parliament on urgency this week. You failed to give an adequate response to those questions, which resulted in the meeting being disrupted, you being sworn at and heckled, and, in the end, people just walked out of the meeting. Minister, will you answer the question? Why is it that this legislation is being rushed through on urgency?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Yes, I was at the meeting last night. It was a very passionate meeting and people were putting their points of view. They were obviously concerned about some of the issues and the reason I attended was to try to allay many of the fears they have.
I am very conscious of the fact that this is a process that is still under way and, over the next few months, particularly the area including Douglas Daly and Dundee, I made a commitment to go back there. You would have heard me say that last night. The major issue was rates. I certainly was not in a position to provide the detail, but what I did say to them is that we would provide information to the transitional committees, and that we would allow them the capacity to be able to, if necessary, engage their own consultants so that they can get independent advice or at least get a real understanding of it.
The other question you asked me was about the Local Government Amendment Bill 2007, the one that is being introduced and will be passed on Thursday. Effectively, whilst we are doing that, I am trying to ensure that there are regulations in place which allow this government to continue the process in a very orderly fashion, so that people are aware of what is going on with this reform. As you know, this effectively allows me to be able to define the boundaries of the nine shires, with some variations to the indicative model. It also allows me the capacity to appoint managers, who will then work with the respective councils throughout the shires in terms of how we transition to the reform. So, the reforms are not rushed.
I will just go back a little bit. It is important to understand that, initially, this bill was to be introduced into the House in June of this year. Obviously, the advisory board had considered this bill many months prior to that, had access to it and were able to look at it. All the stakeholders on the advisory body were in that position. Up to June, I received some correspondence; I had approaches from people who asked me to defer the bill because they wanted further time to consider it. It is for that reason that I deferred it in June to put it through in these sittings. As I said, we have in place a reform timetable which enables me to deal with a range of administrative issues in the context of the new reform, which includes being able to put in place information business systems across the shires and the appointment of managers. That is what the bill is about. It is not rushed. It is a very clear process in respect to the time frames for local government reform.
Creating Darwin’s Future - Policy
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
Almost 12 months ago you launched a public consultation process looking at the future direction of Darwin. Earlier today, you launched the first set of decisions by the government that will set out an exciting direction for Creating Darwin’s Future. Could you please advise the House of the decisions made?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. I was delighted to be joined by so many members over lunch time to launch stage one of Creating Darwin’s Future. There has been substantial consultation about Creating Darwin’s Future and the directions we are taking. We have had wonderful forums and public consultations about the ideas that Darwin people have for the future of our capital city. At the time I said this will not be a talkfest’ it will lead to decisions and real plans. So today I launched the first of those real plans and decisions.
We have decided that what we need for Darwin are two strategies, two complementary but separate strategies: one for the CBD – a vibrant, dynamic part of our city that brings together the residential, the commercial, the entertainment and creates a lively 24 hour CBD; and the other part is preserving and protecting the suburbs, where most of us live. That focus will be on developing safe and peaceful suburbs, and building a stronger sense of identity in many of those suburbs. That work will be done over the next six months. So, it is very much a two part strategy for what we do with Darwin.
The centrepiece of today’s announcement was that, next door to this Parliament House, we will build a World War II museum commemorating the Defence of Darwin. We will give Darwin an undeniable claim. That was the major announcement today. Other parts of the announcement were that we will give the tropical city of ours a really strong focus, with a ribbon of green right around the CBD. We will expand existing places like The Esplanade, and also new parklands and areas like the Myilly Point parkland, the old hospital site, the old tank farm site, and establish a green ribbon right around our CBD – and there is already $6m allocated to the Myilly Point area. There will be new bike paths and parklands through the old tank farms at Stuart Park.
Another key decision announced today - and it has been talked for about a long time - is to do something about State Square. We are going to give it a complete revamp. We have talked about that for, well, I do not know how long now. The hows, the whys and the whats will be finalised in the near future. We put $250 000 into this budget to start the development of a master plan for State Square.
Another feature of what I announced today was that we will be linking the CBD - we have known about this, but to just restate - with a covered pedestrian walkway linking the Smith Street Mall with the waterfront. That work is being done and is well under way.
We will also put on display amendments to the planning scheme that will require new developments within the CBD to offer what is called an active interface with the street or the public realm. If you want to look at what is not an active interface, look at the old Woollies building in Knuckey Street – you have the footpath and a wall. There are some paintings on it at the moment, but that is a non-active interface; good design can create better interaction between the public and the buildings. We have an amendment to the planning scheme which will deal with that. We have added amendments so that all aboveground car parks in the future will be hidden or screened through good building design. Another strong thing coming from the forums was, ‘Do not let this place become car parks, high rise or whatever and, if they have to be there, let us see them screened’.
We will also, and importantly for a tropical city, be mandating awnings to new buildings in the CBD - and it is about time. It links with the Darwin City Council’s streetscape strategy through which their intention is to improve the overall look of the city.
These are exciting plans today: a new museum; the Defence of Darwin, to really recognise our place there; a revamp of State Square; a ribbon of green; and we are going to have new entrance statements to the city along Daly Street and Tiger Brennan Drive. Importantly, these are changes to planning so, instead of just talking about what we can do to create a more liveable tropical city, we are doing it.
Local Government Reform – Litchfield Shire
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
At last night’s meeting, you were asked twice to provide three specific examples of how the Litchfield Shire would be better off under your local government reform model …
Mr Henderson: You have that wrong for a start.
Mr Stirling: Well, it might get a rubbish dump for one.
Members interjecting.
Mr McAdam: I cannot hear your question. Repeat it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, can we just wait for a bit of order? I am unable to hear the question. Please start again, and could you direct your question through me.
Mr CONLAN: Madam Speaker, at last night’s meeting, the minister was asked twice to provide three specific examples of how the Litchfield Shire would be better off under the local government reform model. On both occasions, the minister failed to answer that question. Now that he has had a night to think about it, will he please provide this House with three specific ways in which the Litchfield Shire will be better off under his local government reforms?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe I was asked that question on two occasions, as you indicated. I am sure you will agree that there was a fair degree of interjection. On numerous occasions, I tried to answer the question. In fact, during the course of the meeting, I believe that I answered the question.
Coming back to the three advantages that you referred to, what the new local government reform will be able to do is to provide the people of Litchfield with a greater capacity to be involved in the planning processes, a process which is going to allow them greater certainty; and a new model which is going to provide better coordination. We are not necessarily just talking about the people of Litchfield here, because one of the points that I have made very clear throughout the course of this particular matter is that, as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that we act in the best interests of all Territorians. That is what this reform is all about. I understand where Litchfield is coming from, but Litchfield is not going to stand still; Cox Peninsula is not going to stand still. You will find that there will be increasing pressures and increasing demand in respect of that region and, effectively, this reform allows all those people a new means, a new mechanism to have a say in their future; to be part of a broader shire.
In terms of some of the existing services, it is quite likely, into the near future, that what you have is what you will get, but that does not mean that you do not plan for the future. That whole region is going to be impacted upon in some form or another. The other thing I would like to say is this: this new model provides very strong accountable management principles, not only in respect to this issue, but right across the Northern Territory, and Litchfield will be part of that.
Quite apart from that, Litchfield will be able to access the almost $10m establishment grant for better information business systems. They will be able to access the recent announcement in response to the intergenerational gap, the Our Children are Sacred report. We talked about $8m for improved infrastructure. They will be part of a coordinated effort in pushing the federal government for improved roads, and it is the only way you are going to do it. At the moment, you have all these smaller regional councils dealing with all these big issues, but not being listened to by the Commonwealth government. Surely we have the responsibility to put in place a system which allows all Territorians access to the best of possible services …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: For Litchfield Shire, for instance, there was a record $180m spend for roads. They are part of that. I have given you more than three examples really of what the benefits are …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: When it comes to the waste facility or rubbish dump, as described by other people, a lot of toing and froing has gone on. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has allocated $250 000 to look at a waste transfer facility …
Mr Wood: You could not even give us a bit more land to have an alternative rubbish dump. You just could not be bothered.
Mr McADAM: It is not a case of not being bothered.
Mr Stirling: You never did the job.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Answers are getting longer and longer, and there is now cross-Chamber chatter in which the minister is participating and time is getting on. I ask that you request him to limit his comments to the questions that were asked.
Mr McADAM: Madam Speaker, I believe I have given more than three examples as to how the Territory shires, including Litchfield, will benefit into the future in the interests of all Territorians.
Creating Darwin’s Future –
Defence of Darwin Museum
Defence of Darwin Museum
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
The initiatives you have announced today have focused around the building of a Defence of Darwin museum which displays the history of Darwin in World War II. Can you please advise the House why this has been chosen as the centrepiece?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. There is a very good reason why, of all the announcements that were made today, the World War II museum, the Defence of Darwin, is the centrepiece. As we all know, nowhere else in Australia had a World War experience like Darwin and the Top End. No other city suffered the heavy loss of life that we did, and in no other place was the enemy so near to the community and their presence so immediate.
It is interesting, when you go back to those World War II days, that the Australian government of the time hid what was happening. They were worried that if the rest of the country knew what was happening in Darwin there would be some kind of paralysis, there would be fear, and so it was hidden. We all know that we struggled to get that knowledge of what happened during World War II in Darwin and in our region out to the rest of the country. We are slowly starting to get that knowledge across Australia, but we have a long way to go.
Every year, the Bombing of Darwin commemoration has a greater attendance, but, really, people who come to Darwin have very little knowledge of what happened here. It is important to change that. We know how many impressive sites we have in Darwin and Katherine and around the region as part of that World War II infrastructure, but what we need something to link them all. That is what this Defence of Darwin museum will do. It will tell the story, but it will also link to those important areas like East Point, sites around the CBD, the airstrips down the Stuart Highway, the Adelaide River War Cemetery, and to Katherine where there was bombing and loss of life during World War II.
We have committed $250 000 to commence the work to see what kind of museum this will be, what is the role of audio-visual and IT in a contemporary museum; what kind of materials we need; and to set up a reference group to do that. We will be doing that over the next six months, and I believe it will be a significant contribution to Darwin. It is an exciting project, not just for locals, but for tourism, and one that will mark the significance of Darwin and the Top End in World War II. Slowly, the rest of Australia and the rest of the world will understand what happened in Darwin. I am very proud of this announcement today and it is one that we are going to be moving on very quickly.
Local Government Reform –
Rates and Charges
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
On 27 June, in the Estimates Committee hearings, you said:
- As a result of the new model, we believe there is a greater capacity in also being able to raise money because we are talking about rates here.
As you represent a government that has had a 50% increase in income since coming to government in 2001, why are you so focused on seeing rates rise and even greater costs being levied on Territorians and Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I am aware of the comments attributed to me in the Estimates process and …
Ms Carney: Attributed?
Mr McADAM: Well, I am saying that I said it. I am not going to walk away from it because I have said it on several different occasions since then.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mr McADAM: I apologise, Madam Speaker. The issue of rates is very important. I believe, as I have said on numerous occasions in the past, that we as a government have a responsibility to ensure that we put in place the best possible model of reform process to ensure that Territorians outside the municipal areas have the same opportunity to access and are able to aspire to the same quality of lifestyle issues and improved services.
We talk about rates. You are probably attributing it in the context of potential financial disadvantage in regards to industry and small business. I openly acknowledge that there will be rates applied across the shires. I have always said, and I will continue to say, that we will try to be as fair and equitable as we can to ensure that we bring about these efficiencies, that we address many of the issues in those communities, and that includes Litchfield.
I am not walking away from the fact that this government will have further discussions with the transitional committees about the issue of rates, because the committees will be in a position to advise me on what the rates might be. I do not see any reason why a transitional committee would want to financially disadvantage itself within a region. I believe they will be very disciplined in the advice they give me.
The other part of your question referred to the $3bn GST intake into the Territory. You talk about a figure of $3bn, but the average over the past period in which we have been in government is around $106m. What you have seen over the last four years is a massive injection into the regions and this is basically what we are talking about, regions in terms of local government reform, to be able to give them greater capacity.
You had an opportunity in government, member for Greatorex, not you necessarily, but your colleagues, to be fair dinkum in terms of reform, to be able to actually provide extra money. Have a look at housing - $100m has gone out into the regions, and local government roads, $180m. So, this is not a pie-in-the-sky approach from this department, because we want to put in place this new reform model to provide the certainty, good management practices, good principles, accounting, better information for business systems, so that governments into the future, and should you get into government, it will give you the same confidence to be able to invest in the bush, which you have failed to do in the past. That is what this is all about.
This is about providing opportunity, providing a quality of life, providing better services, through a model which is recognised. How can you expect the Commonwealth government or, indeed, any government, to go around …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: … and say, ‘Right, 63 councils, we will fund you here’? How much are we missing out on? I will not be silent – that is it.
Creating Darwin’s Future –Tourism
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
Today, the Chief Minister announced many initiatives under Creating Darwin’s Future. Can you please inform the House on some of these initiatives and how they will benefit the tourism industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. He, and other members of this House, including me, joined the Chief Minister at lunchtime in the launch of Creating Darwin’s Future. It was great to be there, not only with my colleagues, but with many people from the business and investment community in Darwin to hear firsthand of our government’s plan to continue to invest in the capital city to benefit all Territorians. It was a presentation that was very well received. There was an opportunity to talk to many of our business people and key investors in Darwin at lunchtime and everyone I spoke to was effusive in their praise of what was presented at lunchtime.
As Tourism minister, I believe it is further evolution and further investment that is going to make our capital city a really attractive, interesting place to visit, and for people to stay even longer and, of course, spend more money, which creates more jobs for Territorians. This is what this government is about: economic growth, investment, and return on investment, because that leads to jobs, and jobs lead to better economic outcomes and better lives for Territorians.
The centrepiece of the plan is the World War II museum and, as the Chief Minister stated, this is something that has been talked about in Darwin for many years. It is going to happen now. As the years march on, as our World War II veterans, sadly, pass away, the history of what happened in Darwin needs to be brought together in one place. The story needs to be told about what happened so that the contribution of those 243 people who lost their lives can be remembered for eternity in the history of Australia.
It is not only going to be great for tourists coming here, but as minister for Education, with my other hat on, Madam Speaker, children all around Australia will come to Darwin to visit our World War II museum to learn directly what happened here.
As well as the museum, the World War II Heritage Trail, the ribbons of green around and through our city, developing better entry points and general improvements in the CBD will enhance the visitor experience and build on what is happening at the waterfront with the convention centre. All of those delegates who come to Darwin will have a much greater depth of experience in learning about the history of Darwin and the Northern Territory. It is not just a place for tourists; this investment, Building a Better Darwin, is about all Territorians, because all Territorians come to our capital city to enjoy it. This announcement today is going to give a boost to the tourism industry into the future.
Local Government Reform
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Yesterday afternoon, the member for Daly called a local government enhancement meeting for the brilliant time of 5 pm at the Berry Springs Reserve. Could you say exactly what ‘local government enhancement’ is? What enhancements are the people asking for? Have these enhancements been costed and factored into the rates? The member for Daly also said on ABC radio just before the meeting that he was sick of vested interests opposing the reforms. Could you, for all those people in the rural area, explain who those vested interests are? Is it Mary Walshe, Laurence Ah Toy, Noel Padgham, me or whom?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. My understanding is that the member for Daly, being the good member that he is, called a public meeting at 5.30 pm …
Mr Wood: 5 pm originally.
Mr McADAM: Well, I heard 5.30 pm on the radio - if we listened to the same radio station. However, let us not go there; it is not important. He did it because he is very passionate and committed to local government reform. He wanted the people who attended that meeting to have an opportunity to be able to express their point of view and ensure their voice was heard. That is the role of the local member, and I congratulate the member for Daly for that because he has allowed the people to be involved in the democratic process ...
Mr Wood: Not criticising him for that.
Mr McADAM: You asked me what an enhancement meeting was, and I am just telling you what it is.
Mr Wood: No, you told us what a wonderful bloke he is for calling the meeting. I agree with you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: You asked me about the vested interests. I am not going to comment on who he thinks the vested interests out there might be, or who you might think the vested interests would be.
I made it very clear throughout the course of this whole matter that I will make decisions in the best interests of all interests. That is the bottom line here. We are talking about one of the most critically important reforms across the Northern Territory that is going to bring about at least an opportunity for people to gain access to those services of improved roads, better coordination and better information business systems.
Whilst I acknowledge your concerns about parts of your electorate, if you want to put your positions to me separately, do so - just as I did with the cattlemen, the Minerals Council and the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. I asked them to engage in the process regarding the advisory board, and encouraged them to do so because these are important reforms; you have to be part of it. If they choose not to do that, that is their prerogative. However, I also said to them that the door is not closed: ‘I am happy to engage with you at any given time to be able to take into consideration your concerns’. Member for Nelson, the invitation still stands for you.
Creating Darwin’s Future – Planning Changes
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Can you please advise the House on proposed planning changes outlined in Creating Darwin’s Future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. The range of ideas and initiatives contained within Creating Darwin’s Future were aimed at promoting discussion in the community, and that consultation went right around Darwin. As part of that, in April this year, the government and the Darwin City Council hosted the Darwin CBD Urban Planning Forum. This was an excellent opportunity for the people of Darwin to have direct input into the policies and initiatives that will help shape the future of our CBD. It was important that there were tangible outcomes from this forum and that it did not develop into just another talkfest.
The immediate changes proposed to the NT Planning Scheme include: to incorporate the central Darwin Streetscape Strategy produced by Darwin City Council into the planning scheme; 75% of a development street frontage will have to have an active interface, such as shops, cafes, arcades, glass glazing, etcetera; car parking is to be screened from the street; and awnings will be required on all new buildings adjoining footpaths of those streets identified in the central Darwin Streetscape Strategy as a main pedestrian focus. An urban design advisory panel has been established and it advises government on specific matters and projects to achieve better urban design in Darwin CBD and the Darwin peninsula.
Professor Rob Adams is the chair of the panel and I met with its members on Saturday. The panel is extremely enthusiastic about the proposed amendments to the planning scheme. All of these amendments are about improving our lifestyle and making the Darwin CBD a more comfortable and safe place for everyone to enjoy. Exhibition of the proposed amendments to the planning scheme will commence this Friday and they will be out there for a period of 28 days. I encourage the community to review the proposed amendments and provide any submissions to the Development Consent Authority.
Local Government Reform – Rates
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
How will rates in Darwin and Palmerston be affected by these local government reform changes? Will you give an iron clad guarantee that rates within municipal boundaries will not go up after you have introduced these changes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this issue was raised the other day. I believe it was Chris Young, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce NT, who indicated that there would be a $200 impost on the Darwin City Council. We were a little dismayed at how he arrived at that figure. Under the formula that applies to financial assistance grants to the Northern Territory, as part of the new intake, it was based around a figure of approximately 4500 people who were left out in the last Census. Allan McGill, the Chief Executive Officer of the Darwin City Council, a very well respected professional, gave lie to the $200 and said the actual cost to Darwin City Council would be $1.03.
Creating Darwin’s Future –Business
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Can the minister advise the House how the announcements made by the Chief Minister today benefit the very important businesses in the city?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It was a very exciting announcement today. The answer is that it will be a positive impact, not only because businesses in town can see that our government has a plan for the future, but because they can rely upon this plan for the future planning of their own businesses, to grow and to employ more people and more apprenticeships.
Darwin is a beautiful place, but it is going to be even better because you are going to have a modern, tropical capital city surrounded by a ribbon of green with boardwalks, historical markers linked with the waterfront and, on top of that, a new museum to house World War II exhibits and provide information to Australians about the historical part Darwin played in World War II. Even today, many Australians do not know the significance that Darwin played in the defeat of the Japanese forces in our region and they do not know what Darwin and its people suffered during World War II.
However, it is not only the construction industry that will benefit. The tourism industry and all the industries which provide goods and services to that industry will also benefit, and not only the tourism industry in Darwin but throughout the Territory because people come to Darwin not only by air or by boat, but by train and by car. That means they have to travel the Stuart Highway all the way up from Alice Springs, Katherine and other regions. So the more people who come to the Northern Territory, the more money will be spent throughout the Territory.
The impact on all businesses in the Territory will be big and positive. The other important thing is the fact that Darwin will now be a place for people to plan to visit and stay, not only as tourists, but as an attractive place to live, work and play.
Local Government Reform – Advisory Board
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
You said that the Minerals Council, Chamber of Commerce NT and the Cattlemen’s Association were part of your advisory council on local government reform, which they walked away from in disgust, much like the people of Bees Creek last night. Is it not the case that those organisations have urged you to slow down in respect of these changes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the three industry bodies you referred to are members of the Local Government Advisory Board. It advises me of outcomes which effectively come from the transitional committees and deal with a whole range of issues. I have had discussions with all the bodies, with the exception of the Minerals Council, because they did not attend the first one. What they made very clear to me at that point was that they wanted to re-engage in the process when we got down to some of the issues around rating.
We gave $43 000 to the NT Cattlemen’s Association to engage stakeholders to let us know what their views are, what their position might be on rating, or a whole range of issues. I received that report not too long ago. We have said the same thing to the Minerals Council, which has indicated to us that they were going to put in a paper. I also asked the Chamber of Commerce NT to present a paper.
The interesting thing about all this is that there is an advisory meeting in Alice Springs next week. I know that two of the three bodies to which you referred are going to be re-engaged in the process. Everyone has a different point of view about this, however, the most important thing is that we take all their views on board and come up with the best possible outcome in the interests of all Territorians.
Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Can you update the House on any progress towards Territorians having their say on the proposed nuclear waste facility the Commonwealth wants to locate in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for the question. The Prime Minister is in the Territory this week and we are asking him three things: to keep his promise from the last election not to locate a nuclear waste dump in the Territory; to mandate a referendum as a pre-condition for any nuclear facility in the Northern Territory; and to come clean, before the election, on the deal that he has done to put a nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek.
These are three things that every member of this House should be able to support. They can support keeping election promises; they can support Territorians having a say; and they can support the Howard government being open and honest with its plans. We all know that the Howard government’s plans to put a nuclear dump in the Territory are based on politics and not science.
Today, this parliament can stand up and say to the Howard government and all future governments that the Territory does not want to be the dumping ground for nuclear waste, and we do not want to be the dumping ground for Canberra’s political problems.
Commonwealth Intervention – Alcohol Restrictions on Aboriginal Land
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
The federal banning of alcohol on Aboriginal land and town camps has raised a number of concerns. The Tangentyere Council President, Walter Shaw, has slammed the legislation, saying that people who live in their own homes and on town camps should have the right to drink, the same as other residents in Alice Springs. Do you support the federal government’s intervention and this legislation which does not allow people in town camps to drink alcohol in their own homes, or do you agree with Walter Shaw that they should be allowed to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I believe we have to get this in perspective. In the Little Children are Sacred Report, the authors talked about the rivers of grog, they talked about child sexual abuse and the role of alcohol in that, and they made quite a number of recommendations. As the House would be aware, I proposed a six-month ban on drinking in town camps prior to the federal government making their announcement that they would roll it out across the Territory with an uncertain time frame.
In direct answer to your question, member for Braitling, I support the ban on drinking in people’s houses in those areas. I believe it is a way forward to try to bring some sanity, to try to bring the drunks under control.
Mrs Braham: So you are saying they are all drunks?
Dr BURNS: I am answering your question, member for Braitling. I believe we need to be very strong on this. The Wild/Anderson report recommended very strong action. The federal government has undertaken a range of actions on alcohol and alcohol restrictions which, generally, as a government, we agree with. However, I lay it on the record here again: one thing we do not agree with is this 1350 ml limit where people have to have their names recorded. We do not believe that is going to work. We have some other question marks about people being able to take alcohol through Aboriginal land and on waterways etcetera, but essentially we are in agreement with the federal government. We have worked very hard at an officer level to ensure that our laws harmonise with what is being introduced by the federal government.
Mrs Braham: So people who work in town camps cannot have a beer when they come home from work?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Equine Influenza – Horse Standstill
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
As part of the nationally-agreed response to the serious disease threat to Australia’s horse racing industry, you announced a horse standstill for the Northern Territory. How will the horse standstill affect the Territory, and can you update the House on recent development on this issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Further to my report this morning, I would like to emphasise that the enormity of this disease cannot be underestimated. If it does get out and spread through the horse industry, it has huge consequences.
As I said this morning, I announced this horse standstill yesterday. That is throughout the whole of the Northern Territory as part of a synchronised national response to the outbreak of the disease in New South Wales and Queensland. It is a highly contagious disease, and the ban on moving any of the horses will contain and halt any further spread of that disease.
It must be understood that it is for all equine animals; that means all recreational horses, donkeys and mules, not just racehorses. It means that horses cannot be moved from any property, even if the horses are ridden or led. Children riding their horses after school cannot go onto to roads or verges. They must stay within the confines of their property. This will have a huge impact on many Territorians over the next couple of weekends. I saw an advertisement on this morning’s television that polocrosse finals are coming up, and there is also dressage and camp drafts. These are very popular with Territorians. However, I must stress again, horses cannot be moved without permission of the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Northern Territory.
I stress that the risk in the Northern Territory is low, and there has been no movement of horses from the infected areas into the Northern Territory. However, we must remain cautious. With any exotic diseases outbreak, decisions are being made hourly, and we are responding to the test results as we need to respond to these emergency issues.
What will happen this weekend will depend on the analysis of the risk. That analysis will be undertaken over the next couple days by the Chief Vet in consultation with the consultative committee of the Emergency Animal Diseases; that is undertaken with all of the vets from interstate. I will meet again on Thursday with the Chief Veterinary Officer and we will decide on what the next move will be.
We have undertaken to inform the public as best we can. Advertisements appeared in this morning’s paper. If any of the horse owners would like more information, there is a 1800 number to ring - 1800 234 002. There has also been a website set up at www.outbreak.gov.au. My Chief Veterinarian is providing daily updates to key stakeholders and to the media, and he is also giving me updates.
I acknowledge the action of all the officers who have been undertaking their roles in this epidemic, especially the interstate and federal officers and, most of all, the horse owners who have been responsible so far. While we hope that we never have a serious exotic disease outbreak in the Northern Territory, ongoing planning, including simulation events, means that we are well placed to assist in the national response to equine influenza.
Local Government Reform – Time Frame
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Is it not the case that instead of having to force this local government legislation through this week, with the federal intervention you now have five years to get this process right?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, local government reform has been around the place for something like 20 years. That includes your government’s attempts. That was always in acknowledgment of the fact that we had to make the changes to ensure we provide the best possible services to communities in the bush. That is what this reform is all about.
As I indicated to you previously, minister Brough wrote to me on 30 March or thereabouts, and minister Lloyd on about 7 April, indicating their support for this reform ...
Mr Wood: In principle.
Mr McADAM: Their support for this reform - full stop.
Mr Wood: No, not the way it was done.
Mr Conlan: Not your models.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: That is why I remain committed to this reform in the context of this intervention, because how else do you provide the dollars into these bush communities unless you have in place a real form of local government reform - a good robust, accountable system in place? That is what it is all about.
I will admit that there are high levels of confusion and uncertainty between the two, to the extent that, when I was in Adelaide three to four weeks ago, I raised this with minister Brough. I said: ‘It is about time you and I sat down and talked about how we are going to transition to this local government reform. We need to be absolutely precise, absolutely certain, to ensure that we are working together on this’. I followed that up with a letter to him this week, or it might have been last week -asking him to do that very thing.
I also hope that, when the Labor government wins the federal election, and I know this is a commitment on the part of this government, that we engage, sit down and cut through all the stuff that is going on, and say to Kevin Rudd: ‘Come on, let us be fair dinkum and let us work together to get the outcomes for all Territorians, including indigenous people’. I said the same thing to minister Mal Brough. I said: ‘Come on, we know there is an election going on, but you and I, and our respective governments, have a responsibility to put in place something that is sustainable’. That is exactly what we are going to do. That is what government agencies want right across the Northern Territory.
Petrol Prices – ACCC Inquiry
Mr BURKE to DEPUTY CHIEF MINSITER
As the Assembly would be aware, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission yesterday held hearings in Darwin into Territory petrol prices at the insistence of the Territory government. Can the Deputy Chief Minister inform the House what information the government provided to the inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We all know fuel pricing in the Northern Territory has been an issue for far longer than we would want to remember. We all suspect that, even today, we pay far more for fuel than we probably should have to. It is, of course, at heart, a federal problem. That is where any resolution of these matters has to come from. It is why the Chief Minister and I have made such strong representation to Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, and the Consumer Commission to rectify the situation.
We wanted to know why margins here are so much higher than elsewhere in Australia; and why those price reductions - we see the cycles through the southern capitals, up and down on a fairly regular basis - do not apply here; why the full drop in the barrel price, which presumably at some point has to flow through the refineries, which has to flow through the wholesalers, which should, of course, finish up with the retailer and in the consumers’ pocket when they are paying for fuel at the servo, are not reflected in the Territory’s situation and in Darwin’s situation.
That is the situation that was confronting us. Those public hearings took place yesterday. I understand there was a public hearing between 3 pm and 6 pm. I saw a number of people listed. I hope there were quite a few Territorians who took the opportunity to put their concerns directly to the ACCC. The Chief Minister, and I as Treasurer, and, I guess, more importantly, as Minister for Consumer Affairs, took the opportunity to meet with ACCC Chairman, Graham Samuel, and the Chief Executive Officer, Brian Cassidy, to put the case to them across the table - eyeball to eyeball - that we believe we pay too much for every litre of fuel purchased in the Territory.
We followed up with a full submission to the inquiry, setting out what we believe are genuine inequities faced by Territory motorists when they pull up at the pump. In particular, our submission highlights that while transport costs affect prices in many remote areas, how does this impact on Darwin fuel prices when the fuel Darwin motorists use has come from Singapore? You have to expect an added cost on the fuel before it gets to the servo but it has to be much cheaper to get fuel from Singapore to Darwin than it is to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or anywhere else. We believe that has been a bit of a furphy fed into the system for too many years, that the price of transportation is a big reason. Just because we do not have a refinery here – we might not have a refinery here, but the fuel that comes into this country – and we are not the only part – all of ours comes from Singapore; in other parts of Australia that is less the case. So we think that is a furphy for a start.
As a government, we certainly do our bit to keep prices low. It costs the Northern Territory government around $3m per year to provide a 1.1 cent per litre subsidy …
Mr Mills: It got put in by the CLP.
Mr STIRLING: Good.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: How sad, Madam Speaker, that this is the last great claim by the former government. They put in a subsidy …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, I will tell you what they did not do when they put that $3m back to them. They never guaranteed and never gave Territory motorists any insurance that that the 1.1 cent per litre that you are so happy your government put in place is reflected in the bowser price, is reflected in the hip pocket of the motorist. No guarantee at all. Happy to write out cheques worth millions of dollars to BP and Mobil – these are poor little corner store customers that really need a hand out from the taxpayer. This is the sort of measure that he is happy to take credit for. No guarantee that it would benefit the consumer at all. Who does it benefit? The directors and shareholders of Shell, BP, Caltex …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: … no guarantee whatsoever that that 1.1 cent per litre that they are still saddled with around their neck ever, ever benefits Territory consumers. Madam Speaker, in the …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: I would not worry too much about moves like that on behalf of the Northern Territory government.
Ms Martin: And they tried to get rid of it.
Mr STIRLING: Yes, they did try to get rid of it, and Peter Costello said you couldn’t get rid of it.
We were also keen to place the findings of the Parry inquiry that was conducted here, especially confirmation that retail fuel prices in the Territory tend to stick - and the comment was made about the ‘stickiness’ of prices here - despite reductions in international refined product prices. That is what I said before: you have your regular cyclical movement in the capital cities around Australia. Interestingly, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory do not share the benefits of those regular cyclical movements, particularly down, when the international barrel price of oil comes off.
A report of the ACCC inquiry will be submitted to the federal Treasurer in October, and we look forward to the commission’s recommendations to see what they might hold in and around lowering the cost of fuel for all Territorians. On behalf of the Chief Minister and myself, I have to say that we had a good hearing from Graham Samuel. I know he will take our submission seriously, as he will all the information put before him by Territorians.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016