2005-12-01
Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs – Budget Blow-out
Ms CARNEY to TREASURER
On page 119 of the annual report for the department of Community Development, Sport, Recreation, Arts, Museums and Library Services, it reports a surplus of $50m. This is an incredibly good result and one that would make companies in the world swoon with admiration. However, closer inspection reveals that the extra $50m is actually an off-budget cash injection from you. Is it not the case that you have done this to mask the $44m blow-out in indigenous infrastructure and housing services? Is that why you buried this fact in a footnote to a balance sheet on page 119 of this report and is that also why you waited until last evening, the second-last day of the sittings for this year, to table this report?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not familiar with that line in the report. I can only assume that it may have been an injection into the GBD around housing given the strong growth of the First Home Owners Scheme, in what we have been doing there and really streaking the home owner base in the Northern Territory. It is a great success story for those people who were struggling to get into the housing market. If that is not the case, I stand to be corrected. I am sure my staff will be listening to my response and they will be either saying: ‘God, he has nailed that;’ or: ‘Oh my God, he has that wrong!’ Either way …
Ms Carney: You do not know about the $50m?
Dr Lim: $50m!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: … I will get advice and I will ensure that the Leader of the Opposition has the correct detail around that figure.
Safety on Territory Roads
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
With the Christmas and New Year period fast approaching, it is important that all Territory road users take care and act responsibly on our roads. What steps are the government taking to ensure that Territorians enjoy a safe festive season on our roads.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. It is true in the festive season people let their hair down and enjoy themselves. However, it is a risky time with some people wanting to drink and drive.
This year has not been a good year for road deaths in the Northern Territory and every death on our roads is one too many. There are some fairly basic and important statistics here: the first one being that, since 2000, 48% of all fatalities on our roads and 17% of injuries have alcohol as a causal factor. That is part of the reason why we have instituted a Sober Bob campaign with a few bells and whistles in this festive season to encourage people not to drink and drive.
Similarly, since 2000, 50% of all road fatalities occurred where seat belts were not worn – they were fitted but not worn. Therefore, the other message to Territorians is to belt up; it can save your life.
Every individual in our community needs to take responsibility for road safety but, as a government, we are continually reassessing our road statistics and looking at strategies to ensure that we are doing everything possible to minimise the fatalities on our roads. To this end, we are currently reviewing all facets of road safety including legislative sanctions, enforcement effort and road safety eduction, so that we can develop an integrated package of road safety measures to take into account the unique social, cultural and demographic circumstances of the Territory.
We also work very closely with the Road Safety Council. I commend the members of that council and their chairman, Mr Peter Poole; they do a great job. They are currently in the process of making a submission to government on the very aspects I have talked about. The department within government is also looking at that.
Madam Speaker, in closing, I wish all Territorians a happy and merry Christmas and New Year, but let us please make it a safe one. If you have one too many, do not drive, and please make sure you belt up.
Alice Springs – Assaults during Schoolies’ Parties
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
I refer you to an article from the Centralian Advocate in Alice Springs dated 25 November titled ‘Armed gangs crash schoolies’ parties’. According to the article, there have been numerous assaults and even a stabbing. How many people have been charged with offences relating to these incidents? When will these people appear in court? If no one has been charged, what are you going to do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Any acts of violence in regards to the specific circumstances relating to that particular headline from the newspaper a few days ago are condemned by this parliament and this government. The Leader of the Opposition may not be aware, but an explanation of my responsibilities as minister and the Police Commissioner’s responsibilities for the operations of the police force, is that those investigations will be operational by nature. The Police Commissioner does not brief me on investigations of this particular type, let alone advise me, regarding specific investigations, of how many people have been charged and when they will go to court. Those are, quite rightly and appropriately, operational issues for the Police Commissioner. As Police minister, I do not have responsibility for those things.
What we are doing is giving our police additional resources across the Northern Territory. We are currently two-thirds of the way through recruiting and introducing an extra 200 police to our police force across the Northern Territory to make our Territory a safer place. Currently, we have an extra 137 recruits into the police force, and continue to roll out the recruits in the college at the moment. The specific detail of how many people have been charged and when they go to court are operational issues for the police.
This afternoon, we are going to be introducing legislation to give police the powers to search on school premises, without warrants, any student or any person on school grounds whom the police may believe are carrying an offensive weapon. We continue to give police the legislative tools and additional resources. In regards to specific operational issues, they are quite rightly matters for the Police Commissioner.
Road Safety – Police Initiatives
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Sadly, 50 people have died on Territory roads this year alone, 15 of them from the Katherine region. Can you please update the House on work being done by the NT Police to help Territorians stay safe on the roads?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. I believe we have all been shocked and alarmed by the spiralling road toll this year, and certainly, 50 deaths are 50 too many, specifically when we compare it to 30 deaths on Territory roads at the same time last year. Sorry, I did not pick up that interjection.
Ms Carney: You should not have cut funding to Road Safety Services then, should you?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is a serious issue. I would like to think that the Leader of the Opposition would be interested in the response rather than making inane …
Ms Carney: Let us have a look at your budget, will we?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … ill-informed interjections. Of those 50 lives that were lost, 22 of those were drivers of a motor vehicle, 16 were passengers, seven were pedestrians, three were cyclists and two were motorbike riders. These deaths were caused by 46 accidents. The perception is that most of these fatalities are in remote parts of the Northern Territory but, of the 46 fatal accidents this year, 14 of those occurred in urban areas, 26 in rural areas, and six on outback roads.
We would all agree that probably one of the toughest parts of the job of being a police officer would be to inform the families of people who have been killed on our roads. That job is made even worse for police when those accidents could have been avoided, inasmuch as people drink driving, failing to wear seatbelts, or being fatigued. The most distressing of these numbers is that, of the 50 people killed on our roads this year, 23 of those were not wearing seatbelts. That is 23 Territorians who would probably still be alive today if they had been wearing their seatbelts.
What are we doing? As part of our $75m commitment to police, we have committed an extra $1.75m over four years to upgrade and replace road safety enforcement and education equipment, including breath analysis units, mobile radar devices, hand-held speed detection devices, and speed camera equipment. There is debate from time to time that speed cameras are just revenue raising measures for government; nothing could be further from the truth. It is all about making Territorians aware that if they are speeding, they incur a fine; and modifying that behaviour over time.
In October this year, police launched an unprecedented three-day Territory-wide campaign. Every available police officer, including those in the college, was out on a major campaign but, again, there were some fairly distressing results. In three days, police issued 359 traffic infringement notices: 178 of those were for speeding; 51 for failing to wear a seatbelt; 24 for drink driving; and 58 for unroadworthy vehicles. All of those issues could contribute to fatalities, and for the life of me, as Police minister, as a member of parliament, as a father, I just cannot conceive of any circumstance where someone would get into a motor vehicle and not put on a seat belt. I would implore all Territorians, just stop and think for two seconds: it is not difficult to put on a seat belt, and you are much more likely to survive that road trip than if you do not wear a seat belt.
Christmas is coming up. Let us all be here to enjoy 2006 and I would urge, on behalf of the Northern Territory Police, for every driver in the Northern Territory over this Christmas period, do not drink and drive, do not speed, and please, please put your seat belt on.
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Filming in Chamber
Filming in Chamber
Madam SPEAKER: Before I continue, I remind the members of the media who are filming here today that only those members who are on their feet speaking are allowed to be filmed, and that no panning of the Chamber is allowed to take place during Question Time.
Alice Springs – Increasing Level of Violence
Dr LIM to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
I applaud the minister’s concern about our rising road toll in the Territory and expressing our concern for that. However, I draw the minister’s attention to the increasing level of violence on Alice Springs streets. The Centralian Advocate reported two weeks ago that 50 people have rioted in an Alice Springs street. The article said that witnesses have claimed they saw a man armed with a knife during the riot. The article says that no arrests have been made, nor any charges laid. Have witnesses been interviewed and have charges been laid against the person who was seen with a knife? If not, what are you doing about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. Maybe the member for Greatorex has a hearing problem. I answered a similar question before.
These operational issues are issues for the Police Commissioner in whether people have been arrested and charged. If the member for Greatorex thinks it is the role of the Police minister to instruct our Police Commissioner to arrest and charge people, he certainly has no understanding at all of the concept of the separation of powers. Maybe he is a fan of Bjelke-Petersen, a former Premier of Queensland, who had a much more hands-on role through his Police Commissioner all those years ago.
These are issues that are quite rightly and properly in the domain of the Northern Territory Police. I am absolutely confident that the police will be investigating these particular issues. I have every confidence in our Police Commissioner. In regard to Mark Coffey, the Commander for the Central Australian Region, I have every confidence that he will be investigating this issue. For members of the opposition, particularly from Alice Springs, to come in here and make allegations and assertions …
Dr Lim: Allegations!
Ms Carney: Concerns on behalf of the people of Alice Springs, if you do not mind minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … make allegations and assertions that police are not doing their job.
The member for Greatorex was in here in the adjournment debate last night accusing police of sitting around behind desks and pushing paper. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We have made an absolute commitment to this police force after the years of neglect when the CLP were running the police force. They ran the police force into the ground and anybody who is listening to this broadcast only has to get a copy of the O’Sullivan Report to show just how far the CLP had run the police force into the ground and had failed to fund them.
I have every confidence in our police force. I have every confidence in Mark Coffey in Central Australia. I am sure they will be investigating these issues. If the opposition want to continue to bag police, well so be it; it is on their head.
Australian Training Awards – Territory Success
Mr NATT to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
The Martin government has committed over $70m a year to training and building the skills of Territorians. Can you advise the House on the success of the Territory at the 2005 Australian Training Awards?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. The Australian Training Awards are one of the most important events in the training year, on the training calendar in Australia. It is an opportunity to recognise the commitment and the achievements of apprentices, trainees, trainee organisations, and employers. I was delighted to attend, as Minister for Employment, Education and Training, the National Training Awards in Perth on 17 November. I congratulate all Territorian participants and, most importantly, all of those who worked behind them for their success.
Those participants in the Territory had progressed to the national stage by being winners of their respective categories at our own Northern Territory Vocational Training Awards. We might be a small player in population and training effort on the national stage and numbers overall, but everyone in the Northern Territory would have been very proud of our people on this particular night. We were well represented in five award categories. Three of our young people were runners-up in their category. Just making it to the finals is no small task with competition at that national level extremely strong.
I am sure all members will join with me in congratulating the participants in those who were successful on the night:
the Territory Insurance Office for their Innovation and Business Industry Award; a well deserved recognition for TIO;
the International College of Advanced Education was a finalist in the Training Initiative Award;
Jade Carroll, a finalist in the new Apprentice Trainee of the Year division;
Dr Burns: Hear, hear!
Mr STIRLING: And I hear ‘hear, hear’ because he is well known to my ministerial colleague on my right.
Trish Olssen was runner-up Vocational Student of the Year nationally. Well done;
Adam Austin was runner-up in the category of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year; and
Nathan Heinrich was runner-up in the New Apprentice of the Year section. Nathan had a big year having previously won the National Apprentice of the Year in the Group Training Australia Awards.
I honestly believe the achievements of these Territorians are a terrific reflection of the quality of the training effort that is available in the Territory. It gives this government further encouragement to continue to support building the skills of Territorians to meet the needs of our strong economy. I wish each of those finalists the very best for their future careers and training endeavours. They stand as role models for those coming behind them in the workplace.
Albino Python – Contract with South Australian Government
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
In the last sittings, I asked whether the conditions of a contract with the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage had been fulfilled in relation to an albino python. I asked if any money had been paid or progeny returned to the Northern Territory, and if the conditions of the contract were fulfilled before the contract was renewed.
In your response I was given a lesson on genetics, told that pythons made good pets, our research had brought invaluable information, but there was a legal contract and a Mr Stone, who has Blondie, had made very little monetary gain. None of which answered the question that I asked.
This web site for Southern Cross Reptiles says Blondie’s offspring have been sold. Is it true that this company that is selling these pythons belongs to Dr Stone and the offspring sold for around $5000? Is it true that a pet shop in Leanyer bought two albino pythons from this company?
Could you please give me a straight answer on how many progeny have been returned, or monies paid to the Northern Territory? Or do I smell a rat like a good python would and presume there is a cover-up going on?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thought I did answer the member for Nelson the last time he raised this question. I have talked to the department about this and I know that this issue constantly gets raised by you and your constituents. There are unsubstantiated allegations which have come forward. If they are there, please provide that information and we will get the department to check them out.
There is a contract, about which I spoke when you asked me the last time. The contract will run its course. That contract is binding up until 2007. I have sought advice from the Department of Justice regarding that contract. As I understand it, 50% of the progeny of this snake actually became the ownership of Dr Stone. That was part of the contract and that contract was extended to 2007. Therefore, 50% belong to Dr Stone, and the other 50% will come back to the Northern Territory once that contract runs its course.
Mr Wood: He is already selling them.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Member for Nelson, there have been allegations that maybe that 50% was part of the Northern Territory’s or could have been Dr Stone’s. As I said to you before, if you have substantiated allegations, bring that evidence to me and we will investigate. At the moment, it is unsubstantiated.
Weapons Confiscated in Alice Springs
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
A few weeks ago in Alice Springs, a mob of 200 people crowded the gates of a hotel in Alice Springs which is in a residential area. The front page of the Centralian Advocate shows a police officer with some of the weapons seized which included a hammer, nullas nullas, knives and axes. Can you tell us how many people have been charged with weapons-related offences as a result of this very disturbing and frightening incident …
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: … and, minister, if no one - I am sorry, Madam Speaker, if members from the government do not regard this as a serious matter. We will advise the people of Alice Springs accordingly.
If no one has been charged with a weapons-related offence as a result of this incident, can you please tell the House why not, considering, in particular, how much you have made of weapons control legislation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if the opposition want to continue to go down this path I will continue to give the same answer. The Police Commissioner, quite appropriately, does not brief me as Police minister on investigations, outcomes of investigations, and how many people have been charged as a result of those investigations. It would be totally inappropriate for him to do so and to provide me with a running commentary on operational police issues.
The facts are that this government is in the process of recruiting an additional 200 police across the Northern Territory, 137 of which are now on the streets who were not on the streets when the CLP was last in office. Around 30 additional officers …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I will pick up on the interjection from the member for Greatorex, ‘Tell us what you are doing!’ What we are doing is that there are now 30 additional police on the streets of Alice Springs who were not there when the CLP was in office. That means more police on patrol and the capacity to bring law and order and safety to our community.
Many of these issues in Alice Springs are surrounding family feuds and are fuelled by alcohol. In terms of the Alcohol Framework and the reforms that we are bringing through, there is too much alcohol being consumed in the Northern Territory, and that alcohol leads to much of this level of violence.
Regarding weapons, the police had a significant operation just a few weeks ago - Operation Sharp Edge - where they targeted people who carry weapons on our streets. I have every confidence in our police and our Police Commissioner. I am sure that this particular incident, like the other incidents that the Leader of the Opposition raised, is being appropriately investigated. If charges can be proven, then they will be laid and these people will face their time before the courts. It is not appropriate for the Police Commissioner to be briefing me on the details of the investigation and who has or has not been charged for any particular offence.
Services for People with a Disability - Review
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Sunday is International Day for People with a Disability. Can you please update the House on what plans the government has to continue to build and progress services for people with disability in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. I note that today is World AIDS Day, so my thoughts are with the many people who are living with AIDS in the Territory, and for those who are supporting them in the work they do across the Territory.
It is my pleasure to be the minister responsible for providing the resources required to assist people with disability to live their lives to their full potential. Saturday, 3 December, is International Day for People with a Disability; it is marked on 3 December every year. I was out at lunchtime with my colleagues - the member for Daly was dressed as Santa and he played wheelchair basketball with the member for Arnhem and me. We narrowly lost to a team of professional wheelchair basketball players. I thank Melanie Hall, Judith Green and Paul Grace for giving up their time at lunchtime to help promote International Day for People with a Disability on Saturday.
I am very proud to be a part of a government that has had a very strong track record in our first term of government of doubling money being poured into supporting services for people with disability; both in systemic service provision, as well as individualised funding which has been a shift in the last 10 years in the way we deliver services to people with disability. We came off a very low funding base; when we came to government it was about $33m. It is now up to $60m-odd, so it is a significant increase.
To make sure that we are funding where we need to be funding, and that we are aware of what gaps still exist - because there are still gaps in meeting the needs for people with disability - we are announcing an independent review into disability services across the Territory. I thank my government colleagues for their support in enabling me to launch that review. I thank the Disability Advisory Council for the support they have thrown behind us undertaking this important review. I acknowledge the Chair of the Disability Advisory Council here in the public gallery, Daph Read. Daph is a longstanding, long-term volunteer in the Territory and she is doing a great job chairing the DAC. I also acknowledge that with her are Jeremy Muir and Mary Johnson. Both are fantastic advocates for people with disability. Mary sits on the DAC as well, and Jeremy provides enormous policy support within the department.
Speaking about the department, we have many representatives here who are working in the department in the area of disability. They put a great deal of effort into ensuring that the service agreements going out to service providers are sound and strong. I thank them for their work.
I thank and welcome Alan Gould, who is new to the Territory. Alan is running Carpentaria Disability Services. We are aware that Carpentaria did go through a troubled patch recently. I have been to Carpentaria and met with the board. The board have their full support behind Alan. He is doing a terrific job in turning the organisation around.
We have some more work coming up. We have the Carer’s Card, which we will introduce as of 1 July next year. Importantly, that recognises the work that carers do in our community to support people with disability, normally a family member. It will provide them with some discounts on essential services and the like.
We are also introducing a carer’s recognition act. The only other jurisdiction that has one currently is Western Australia. So we are certainly at the forefront of that.
I thank everyone for coming here today to acknowledge the International Day of People with a Disability. I thank my parliamentary colleagues for wearing the ribbons in acknowledgement.
Alice Springs – Increasing Level of Violence
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Today, in only three or four questions, the opposition has brought to your attention rioting in the streets of Alice Springs, attacks on law-abiding teenager parties, and the flouting of dangerous weapons in our streets. Our hardworking police are trying their best, but we understand that no one has been charged or brought before the courts in relation to these incidents, despite adequate legislation available to deal with these law breakers. Why should Territorians believe that your new antisocial behaviour legislation will be any more effective in charging law breakers and taking them and putting them before the courts?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is making some assertions and allegations and innuendos that I will get the answer to. The Leader of the Opposition is making the allegation that nobody has been charged in relation to any of these issues. Let us suppose she is right, and that nobody has been charged yet. I would quite safely assume that investigations would be ongoing, that they have not ceased. To say that, as of this point in time nobody has been charged, therefore, the police are incompetent or under-resourced or not interested in getting to the bottom of these issues and charging the perpetrators - nothing could be further from the truth.
Let us assume she is right and nobody has been charged, I would be very confident that those investigations are ongoing, and there could be a number of charges pending. Police do not lay charges until they believe that they have enough evidence to secure a conviction. I assume that the people who are investigating these incidents would be continuing with their investigations and they would not be concluded yet.
It is a big leap of faith for the Leader of the Opposition to say: ‘This incident happened on 25 November, it is now 1 December, nobody has been charged yet, therefore …
Ms Carney: No, they go back weeks before then.
Mr HENDERSON: … the police are either incompetent, under-resourced, or not interested in doing their job’.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I refer you to Standing Order 62, ‘offensive or unbecoming words’.
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: Let me elaborate, Madam Speaker. To imply that by asking this question the opposition is having a go at police is deeply offensive to the people on whose behalf we ask this question. I ask the minister to withdraw the very clear inference that he has made.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order. If you feel that you need to make a personal explanation you can see me afterwards.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I was just making the point that, as I have stated quite clearly, our commitment to resourcing our police force and giving them the legislation they need to do the job is absolutely there. It stands in stark contrast to the years of neglect when the CLP were in government.
An incident happened in Alice Springs - I think the Leader of the Opposition held the paper up dated 25 November, which is less than a week ago - and somehow charges have not been laid yet; therefore, there is something inadequate with police in their ability, their capacity, their commitment. That is what the Leader of the Opposition is making allegations about. What I am saying, quite reasonably, is that (1) the Police Commissioner does not provide me with a running commentary as to who has or has not been arrested in regards to particular incidents; and (2) I would very clearly assume that those investigations would be ongoing.
I totally make a commitment that violent behaviour of any type is inexcusable. I do know that the police have a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to crimes of violence. They need to secure evidence that is going to stand up in court. They do not lay charges until they believe they have secured that evidence. I believe that these investigations will be ongoing.
Alice Springs Town Camps – Living Conditions
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER FOR HOUSING
Can the minister inform the House on moves to improve living conditions in town camps in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell. I know it is an issue she is very much interested in. It is appropriate and timely that we had a look at the social conditions and governance arrangements for town camps in Alice Springs, improving services and conditions where necessary. This is why I have announced a task force to look into these issues that will assess the current state of town camps, and identify the key issues of significance to stakeholders. The stakeholders include the town camp residents, service delivery agencies, and the wider Alice Springs community. The task force will be chaired Olga Havnen from the Department of the Chief Minister. Olga has wide experience in indigenous affairs and issues of community development management, practice and principles. We thank Olga for taking up this task.
Representatives from key service providers, such as federal and Territory departments, and Tangentyere Council and the Alice Springs Town Council, have been invited to join the task force. I expect the task force to report its findings in the first half of next year. The task force will focus on a number of areas including: assessing the impact of visitors and overcrowding on town camps; identifying gaps in services and suggesting ways of improvement of those services; assessing the capacity of current service providers; looking at roles that other service providers and stakeholders may be able to adopt; looking at potential for increasing employment opportunities for town camp residents; identifying strategies to improve relationships between town camps in the wider Alice Springs community; reviewing governance arrangement on town camps with a view to strengthening services; and assessing the current state of housing on town camps.
Its findings and recommendations will help the government ensure that the livelihood or the quality of life for people who reside in town camps, indeed the broader the community of Alice Springs, will be enhanced by this initiative.
Self-funded Retiree Housing Market
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for SENIOR TERRITORIANS
In September I wrote to you asking if you would undertake a survey to determine the strength of the self-funded retiree market. I know it has been raised with you again, and with your Seniors Advisory Council. Could you give some commitment from the government to undertake this survey so that we know the strength of the market we are talking about, and whether we can encourage a private developer to come in?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I know that this is an issue, with housing options and a number of areas that impact on our senior Territorians. Having to move away from the Territory and relocate to other states is an issue. We keep saying that we have a very young population in the Territory. We do have a young population but, at the same time, we are also getting an ageing population. We need to start planning and formulating proper policy.
There is a commitment, as I have said to you in a number of our discussions - you did write, I thank you for writing, and I acknowledge your contribution to this. My Office of Senior Territorians, at the moment, is formulating a draft study that could go out. Rather than sending the study by itself, there is also a draft document looking an active ageing strategy, which is important to go with this study. We are hoping to get that out by February/March next year.
I have sent it to my colleagues, the Minister for Family and Community Services, who also has the Sports and Recreation portfolio, to add comment, and the Minister for Housing as well. There are a number of options that we need to look at regarding retirees, housing options and policy formulation for the future with that. I will let you know when we get to that point of releasing the survey and the draft strategy for further consultation in the wider community.
Recruitment of Prison Officers
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The Minister for Employment, Education and Training mentioned Mr Heinrich, an apprentice who won an award. He is an ex-student of Palmerston High School and was there this afternoon giving an inspiring speech to the current student body. I congratulate him on an excellent speech.
Recently, there were graduations of prison officers in training that I and the member for Macdonnell attended on your behalf. Can you advise the Assembly of efforts to recruit more prison officers as part of the government’s commitment to prison reform?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it was, indeed, a great pleasure to hear from the members for Macdonnell and Brennan about these two graduation ceremonies. There were 37 new prison officers who went through the training course and are ready to take up duties within our two prisons. I thank the two members for attending those events. It is very important that the government acknowledges the profession of prison officers and welcomes new members of the work force to our Correctional Services.
Prior to the CAYA Review, the prison officers, through their association, brought to us the problems they were having with the number of prison officers to cover the rosters within our prisons, leading to a lot of overtime and weekend work, and also flowing onto lockdowns in the gaols. That was prior to the review. We now have prison officers available to fully cover our rosters. Lockdowns have receded to a very low level in our prisons. With that strong base of employment in our prisons, I look forward to continuing to work on the reform process in our Correctional Services.
Sentence of Juvenile Offender
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The Northern Territory News reports today that a 15-year-old habitual criminal stole a car and ruined the holiday of two visiting World War II pensioners. This young criminal has 66 convictions, many for car theft. His name is George Johnson. This youth crashed that stolen car leaving the two pensioners stranded in Katherine. Despite having eight months of a suspended sentence hanging over his head, he has been sent to the Don Dale Centre for just four months. Does this concern you and what will you do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. Police do have a tough job across the Northern Territory in protecting and serving the interests of Territorians. Sentences are being handed down in the courts and the question is directed to me as to what am I going to do about it. It again shows the ignorance of members opposite regarding the Westminster system and the separation of powers.
Magistrates will impose sentences upon a finding of guilt for a whole range of reasons. I am not aware of the particular circumstances of this individual, nor do I have information in front of me to comment as to whether the sentence that has been imposed is appropriate. The police, in this particular instance, obviously had enough evidence to lay charges and for those charges to determine a finding of guilt. That goes to show that the police do have the capacity and the ability to actually lay charges as opposed to the other line that the Leader of the Opposition was running that the police do not have enough resources, or commitment, or ability to prosecute offences.
I really cannot understand where the member for Katherine is coming from in terms of what I, as Police minister, am going to do about a particular sentence that a magistrate has imposed. It is total disregard of the concept of separation of powers between the parliament, the police and the judiciary. The member for Katherine needs to go back to school.
Ms Carney: Oh, so the police are part of the separation – that is the separation of powers. Oh, Joh Bjelke-Peterson would have been impressed to hear that!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms Carney: That is the separation of powers.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Economic Growth – Government Initiatives
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
At the economic summit held last week, industry called on the Northern Territory government to even out the peaks and troughs and build an underlying base of our economy. Can you advise the House on what the Northern Territory government is doing to build the capacity of local industry and smooth out the economic growth of our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine – the member for Daly whose office is in Katherine - for his question. Yes …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, opposition members!
Mrs Braham: I do not blame you crying, mate, I am too!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr Mills: You might have to kick her out!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain!
Mr Mills: Sorry.
Mr HENDERSON: I thank the member for Daly for his question, because the economic summit that was held here in this very parliament was not only a magnificent occasion, but it was an occasion where everybody who attended had time to think about where our economy should be heading in the next 10 years, and had time to network amongst business and community people from across the Northern Territory around a theme that should be important to everybody - economic growth and jobs for Territorians.
One of those issues that came up was the fact that the Territory economy, being a fairly small economy, has an undeveloped manufacturing sector. We have been doing a lot of work over the last couple of years to understand the drivers of that manufacturing sector and what we can do with industry to encourage investment in, and growth of, that particular sector. One of the ways that government is working with the industry was that last year we released the Manufacturing Industry Strategy. There is a full-time resource from my department working with the Manufacturers Council, a position that government funds in the Chamber of Commerce, and there is a lot of commitment to progressing the themes in that strategy.
A concrete initiative of this government is the requirement for any project that has a government financial commitment or contribution of $5m or more, for people who tender to lodge a local industry participation plan as a result of that policy. These plans are now starting to be worth their weight in gold for Territory business. Just a few examples of industry participation plans that are showing real benefits …
Dr Lim: Adjournment speech again! Another adjournment speech!
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Greatorex is not interested in the economy? We know why. We have the information about why …
Dr Lim: This is Question Time! Not for you to make a statement!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr Lim: This is Question Time!
Mr HENDERSON: … the Leader of the Opposition …
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: Not for you to do a dorothy dixer!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please resume your seat! I remind you of the standing order relating to interjections. From now on, unfortunately, I will have to call warnings. Minister, continue.
Mr HENDERSON: I can understand the sensitivity of the member for Greatorex and the Leader of the Opposition, because they were conspicuous by their absence at that particular summit ...
Dr Lim: I was here!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: The question I asked the other day was: what was more important for the Leader of the Opposition to be doing? She was invited to the summit.
Ms Carney: On the Friday before! Not only are you incompetent, but you have appalling manners!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr HENDERSON: Looking at the Territory in 10 years time … The invitations went out to the Leader of the Opposition at the same time it did to the 150-odd members of the business community - and they could be bothered to turn up. We asked the Leader of the Opposition, rhetorically, what was more important, and we found out that a local branch function in Katherine was …
Members interjecting.
Mrs BRAHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was not about what the Leader of the Opposition was doing. I ask the minister to complete his answer on the question given and let us get on with some questions!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, there is no point of order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I do have a further point of order. I know it is very embarrassing for government that 50% of the parliamentary wing attended this economic summit, unlike 50% of the …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Wait a moment, minister. We will wait for a bit of silence. Minister, please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question was in part related to the economic summit and the sensitivity of the opposition. However, the rhetorical question was: what was more important for the Leader of the Opposition than coming to this parliament and meeting with and working with 100 of the Territory’s business elite to determine the future of our economy for the next 10 years? What was more important was a local branch function in Katherine. That had a higher priority than attending a very important summit to plan for the Territory’s economic future growth over the next 10 years. I suppose it is shoring up the last vestiges of party support. That, we found, was more important than attending the summit.
Ms Carney: Oh, get on with the answer, you dill. Go back to the separation of powers.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please resume your seat. Leader of the Opposition, I would ask you to withdraw.
Ms Carney: I do withdraw it, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you have been making a lot of interjections.
Ms Carney: Very provocative, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition! I would remind you of Standing Order 51. I am sure you have a book of the standing orders right there. You might like to read that.
Ms Carney: I do indeed, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Minister, please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, getting to the success of the industry participation plans, I hope the member for Greatorex is listening, because this is good news. The Alcan G3 project has seen over $72m of manufacturing, construction, and goods and services being placed with Northern Territory business. The member for Nhulunbuy would be very interested that $35m of that is being spent with the local Nhulunbuy business community. A huge tick of success for the Industry Participation Plans.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs Braham: Finish, minister. Get on with it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: They just do not like good news, Madam Speaker.
Mrs Braham: You have had long enough.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr HENDERSON: The Natural Fuels biodiesel plant, a $73m project, will see local business as an integral parts of the construction of that plant. The LNG plant is 97% complete and involved 25 major subcontracts valued at $230m which have gone to local business. The Palmerston Recreation Centre is worth $8.2m, and built by a local company, Norbuilt. The bulk materials handling facilities at the port is a $19.7m project of which the vast majority will go to Territory business.
The government is supporting the manufacturing industry in very practical ways, as well as a broad strategy envelope for investment in that particular sector. If the opposition would really like to make serious contribution to economic development as opposed to grandstanding, the Leader of the Opposition should have been at the summit two weeks ago.
Federal Government Shared Responsibility Agreement with Indigenous Communities
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
It has been reported in today’s Northern Territory News that the federal government has signed a new shared responsibility agreement with indigenous communities. These agreements include the government providing unsniffable petrol, kidney treatment centres, and even airconditioning in homes. The trade-off for these benefits will include communities stopping vandalism, picking up rubbish in backyards, ensuring dental hygiene, and tending local animals.
Chief Minister, these are federal arrangements. Is your government pursuing such shared responsibility agreements with Territory indigenous communities? If so, would you then reconsider your decision to close the Irrkerlantye school if those local communities entered into a shared responsibility agreement, such as guaranteeing the daily attendance of children at school?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question is an interesting one. The shared responsibility agreements are an initiative of the federal government following the end of ATSIC, and some of the arrangements they are putting in place for the funds that were previously allocated through the ATSIC process. That is the specific way that the federal government has chosen to use part of those funds.
As members are aware, earlier this year I signed an overarching agreement with the Prime Minister about how we move forward in particular areas post-ATSIC, and what we did in areas like housing, arts and also governance, as the first three schedules to be signed. We are working closely with the federal government on how housing money will be allocated in the future, what we do in the arts area, and also what we do to get better governance into our regions.
The federal government has specifically chosen with further of their additional funds to do the shared responsibilities agreements. However, they are not something that are outside what this government is asking of all communities as well. When I have talked in the past about ‘What is your view of shared responsibility agreements’, I said that in communities we have the very successful ‘no school no pool’ policy and it is something that many communities have embraced, and as we build further pools in our communities we can see agreements like that further expanded.
In schools - and this is something I say to every community I visit, and I have visited a number of communities - it is the law of the Northern Territory; it is not a choice that you make. It is the law of Northern Territory that our children go to school. That is a fact whether you live in Nakara, Nyirripi, Alice Springs, or wherever. What we are saying to communities is this is a very high priority.
I congratulate communities like Wadeye. The beginning of this year really turned around the numbers going to school in Wadeye. We had over 600 students at the beginning of this year because the community decided that it was a high priority that they would go to school. I congratulate all those communities that are doing that. I restate, whenever I visit, that going to school is not optional if you are under 16; going to school is compulsory. It was terrific to have the students from Manyallaluk here this morning. They said yesterday they moved into their brand new school building. These are the areas that this government is working on with the communities and we are starting to see results. We will keep working because educating Territory students is the most significant thing that government can do.
We have to keep the economy moving. But the next most targeted and most important thing we need to do is educate our students right across the Territory.
Irrkerlantye Learning Centre - Closure
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Will you show some Christmas spirit to the children of Irrkerlantye? ‘Please do not close our school,’ they said. When you look at it, there are long-time Labor Party member supporters in Alice Springs. They are still there. Show some festive spirit, do not close the school yet, leave it open for 12 months.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. It is an important question around the future of these students. Whilst there is a heavy concentration, or a community focus, of the future of these particular 18 students, there is, unfortunately, no community focus around the 200 to 250 other children from these same town camps who do not attend school at all.
My Christmas present - not just to these 18 students but to the people of Alice Springs - would be to see, as soon as possible, those 18 students going to quality schools, but also a big part of that 250 who sadly have not had any focus of attention on them at all.
I read closely that advertisement. I did not seem to see the names of any of the parents or the families of the students attending Irrkerlantye on the bottom of that advertisement.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: What we see is a fear campaign from these people opposite and some of the people in Alice Springs that these kids will not go to school and they will turn to crime on the streets of Alice Springs. So low is the expectation of educational achievement for indigenous kids by these guys they did not bother to put secondary education into indigenous communities for 27 years, because they did not believe that they could achieve. So low is their level of expectation of indigenous achievement …
Mrs Braham: So you do not reckon they are achieving here, minister?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: What did we do, Madam Speaker? We said they can do it.
Mrs Braham: You closed the school.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: I have a fundamental belief that if you provide a quality education for every individual in the Northern Territory they will succeed.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: Three students in 2003 achieved their NTCE in their home community. How many from Irrkerlantye? Zero. How many in the next five years from Irrkerlantye? Zero, because they are not achieving primary level let alone secondary.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling!
Mr STIRLING: Last year, five students in their home communities achieved their NTCE. This year, there will possibly be as many as 25 and I hope that 25 comes in close.
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: We believe and we put an expectation on these kids that they will succeed in their education – the member for Braitling prattles on here. She said yesterday that these students are never going to make giant strides.
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: How could they, Madam Speaker, when you have do-gooders like the member for Braitling saying that these kids will never make giant strides?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr STIRLING: It is a shameful admission from a former educator - a shameful admission.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat or you will be removed. Minister, I would like you to continue, but perhaps in a calmer manner.
Mr STIRLING: A big part of education, Madam Speaker, is the expectation we put before our kids. If we do not expect them to achieve, guess what? They will not. What I would like to see, and what I am disappointed in, is the support from the people who have signed that ad. I would have liked to have seen some of that support from that community go into Irrekerlantye over those years; never been seen before. It is pretty easy to throw a few dollars and run an ad in the paper …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr STIRLING: … but where is the support for these kids to achieve educational outcomes that will give them a chance in life? That is the aim of this government. We believe in these kids. We believe in those 250 kids as well who are not going to school, but by hell we are going to get them school.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper. Merry Christmas to everybody listening to the broadcast and everybody in the gallery.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs – Budget Blow-out
Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs – Budget Blow-out
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I refer to the question asked earlier by the Leader of the Opposition. When I heard the figure $50m in her question, I immediately assumed Housing because no other entity would consume or have that sort of figure being injected into it. The figure of $49.9m, referred to as $50m by the Leader of the Opposition under Arts, Museums and Library Services …
Ms Carney: Sorry, Madam Speaker. It is very noisy. I can be barely hear you because of background activity.
Mr STIRLING: I will speak up. The figure of $49.948m appearing under Arts, Museums and Library Services is, in fact, in error and should be zero. The total reported under Indigenous Infrastructure and Services as negative $31.657m is also in error, and ought be $16m surplus. I am advised that the totals coming down the right hand side of the page are, in fact, correct and do tally with the TAFR. The Arts, as I have said, should be zero. That other figure, Indigenous Infrastructure and Services should be $16m. Part of it is attributing incorrect figures to the divisions here. The Indigenous Infrastructure and Services should have been $16m because aerodromes and barge landings on indigenous communities are now recognised as government assets, and accorded that value.
It might be best if I were to write to you with a full explanation on this or, in fact, I am happy for you to have a briefing around it. There are two figures in error. The totals down the right hand are correct.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, if I may, and I am inclined to think the Treasurer will indulge me because there was background noise. Can you please say again, Treasurer, which were the figures in error? It was the $49.948m under 2005 for Arts and Museums, correct? That should be zero? You referred to another figure. Which figure was that? I did not quite catch it.
Mr STIRLING: The Indigenous Infrastructure and Services figure is in brackets so it is a minus-$31.65m. That figure should read positive $16m, and has a positive value because aerodromes and barge landings in indigenous communities are now recognised as government assets and accorded that value. I am happy to write or arrange a briefing for you.
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In my quick calculation, in the column under 2005 in Arts, Museums and Library Services, when you add up the sub-figures it adds up correctly. If there is an error there, the minister has to provide us with a clean spreadsheet with all the right figures. Otherwise, saying that that column should add up to zero does not add up. He needs to put …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, there is no point of order. I am sure the minister will take on board whatever it is that you have just asked, and will provide a briefing to you. I am sure he will change the figures accordingly.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016