2007-10-10
Members of Parliament – Standard of Conduct
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, notice of a motion was presented to this parliament in respect of Bob Collins in an attempt to assist in identifying, supporting and securing closure for any alleged victims of sexual abuse by Bob Collins. Do you agree that parliamentarians, current and past, are required to be held to a standard higher than most others in the community when it comes to matters of ethics and morals? If so, do you agree that identifying and supporting alleged victims of sexual abuse by Bob Collins is a matter that must be dealt with?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are a couple of points about this question. One is that this issue will be before the House later today, but I am happy to answer it. The other is that the member is asking me for my opinion, which breaches standing orders. I will avoid the opinion bit and provide an answer to the question, which is an important one for this parliament.
The motion of which notice has been moved by the Deputy Opposition Leader is about having a legal inquiry of some sort into potential alleged victims of alleged crimes by Bob Collins. If you look at Australian law, the legal situation is that once there has been the death of an accused, the legal process can no longer determine guilt or innocence. That is a fundamental, and I hope the Deputy Opposition Leader agrees with that. It is an absolute fundamental.
I have been advised by police that in preparation of the case against the now deceased Bob Collins, substantial work was done in identifying alleged victims. It was very comprehensive work, I have been advised. Because the fact is that there has been the death of the accused, the end of that process has now happened. The Prime Minister himself said that any determination of guilt or innocence is over now because Bob Collins has died.
A member interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: This is fundamentally what it is about.
Mrs Miller: No, it is not.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we all have great sympathy for those alleged victims who were preparing for their time in court. We have other processes within the justice system whereby those alleged victims can seek assistance through the Witness Assistance Service. They will be dealt with confidentially. They will be given support for counselling. That is where our legal processes are up to. The court case has ended. Any guilt or innocence can no longer be established because the accused is dead. That is the advice from the Acting Solicitor-General, that is the advice from the DPP, and that is exactly what the Prime Minister has said. While we can have the Deputy Opposition Leader saying we need to move further, the legal process has ended.
Again, I say to any alleged victim who seeks support, it can be done through the Witness Assistance Service. Everyone in this House feels very deeply for those alleged victims.
Population Growth Statistics
Mr BURKE to TREASURER
Can you inform the House about the Territory’s long-term population growth figures and why they are good news for all Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am pleased to announce, the Territory’s population officially stands at 213 824 people, a 0.6% rise in the March quarter, translating to about a 2% annual growth rate on our population. That is the highest it has been for many years, and I am pleased to say this is not a temporary spike out of the blue. It now represents 16 consecutive quarters, that is four years, of positive population growth. Many of us in this Chamber can remember quite starkly the situation under the former government, the latter term of the former CLP government and, indeed, the first couple of years of this government, when there were not jobs or business opportunities and people were leaving the Territory to go elsewhere and our population inevitably declined.
The Martin government has turned that around very markedly indeed. People want to move here, they want to live here, they want to raise their family here in the Territory. During the luncheon adjournment, I had a meeting with Chris Arthur of Coffey Projects, which is a national company that has moved to the Territory over the last month. He has moved from interstate to start up business to take advantage of the tremendous economic growth in the Northern Territory, the large scale engineering and construction projects that we have happening and to come online into the future. So he is here, started up business. He has six staff and he has placed ads looking for a further three consultants to move to the Territory. That is a perfect example of population growth fuelling further economic and jobs growth.
I want to particularly mention those brave people who leave their country of origin, their birthplace, for a new life overseas, to start a new life in the Territory because a good proportion of our population growth is fuelled by nett overseas migration, and the position of this government stands in stark contrast to that of the Howard government and of Immigration minister Kevin Andrews and his comments about the Sudanese.
I know from personal conversations the level of hurt felt by members of the Sudanese community, undoubtedly across Australia, but here in the Northern Territory. This person was, indeed, so hurt that no matter what I said about that is not the way the Northern Territory thinks about Sudanese people, that is not the way that we regard you, and I know this woman to be a very hard-working young woman, as is her family. We welcome people from all around the world, particularly those Sudanese in our midst. We recognise the contribution they make to the Territory community and economy. We will continue to work hard as a government to create exactly the environment that not only attracts people from around Australia and the rest of the world, but welcomes those people from wherever they come. We will ensure that people who are born here do want to stay here, do want to study here and work here for the long term.
Alleged Child Sexual Abuse - Victims
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On 22 June last year, you said: ‘We’ve got to be able to break through the fear and the shame and the silence we see about child sex abuse in our communities …’. Chief Minister, Tom E Lewis, Ben Helwend and Damien Anderson accused Bob Collins of committing sexual crimes against them. There are at least two other people who have given statements to police also claiming to be victims of Collins. There are indications that there may be many other victims. What steps have you taken to track down other possible victims so that we, together, can break through the fear and the shame and the silence in our community?
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call the Chief Minister, I am will seek some advice from the Clerk about the question. I will allow the question.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am sure I can say that on behalf of everyone, we all feel deeply for the alleged victims who were going to go to court two weeks ago. The legal process has now finished because under our law, unless there is an accused, it is not possible to determine guilt or innocence when there is no defendant. That is the advice from the Solicitor-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions. If the Deputy Opposition Leader thinks that they are wrong, then I would like to know where his legal qualifications are.
As I said, I am advised that police and DPP did a very substantial and thorough job, and I believe they did, in identifying alleged victims. They put considerable work in. I have a lot of confidence in our police force. I hope that is shared in this House. I also have a lot of confidence in the work of the DPP and the court process that was to take place. I say to anyone who feels they fit that category of alleged victim to go and seek assistance through the Witness Assistance Service for counselling. There are legal mechanisms they can pursue. They can confidentially talk to the unit and seek the counselling that they may need.
Madam Speaker, from our point of view, that is the appropriate way to go now. It does not mean that we do not feel for those alleged victims, but the criminal legal process has finished.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The specific nature of the question was not addressed. The question was: what steps have you taken, Chief Minister, to address this matter? What steps have you taken?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, there is no point of order. As you are aware, there is a lot of latitude in the asking and answering of questions. The Chief Minister has answered the question.
Aged Care Facilities
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
You recently travelled with representatives of Senior Territorians to Melbourne to inspect retirement and ageing facilities. Can the Chief Minister update the House on what she and her team saw in Melbourne and how she intends to progress this issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Port Darwin because, as we are all aware, and the member for Braitling only too well, we have a growing proportion of our growing population who are seniors. That is not only seniors who have been here for a long time, but we welcome to the Territory seniors who move here after they have retired elsewhere. It is great that they are joining family and friends in the Territory.
I travelled to Melbourne in the first week of September with three senior Territorians very interested in aged care facilities. They are the President of COTA, Brian Hilder, the Chief Executive of COTA, Dr Graeme Suckling and Annette Milikins who has been a long-time advocate for aged care facilities and new ones to be investigated. There were two delegations of us. We visited five senior residential facilities spread throughout suburban Melbourne and took a good look at the possible options for the Territory. As we all know, with an ageing population, the facilities being provided for ageing Australians are becoming much more innovative.
We learnt some of the key aspects that we would need to consider, which included the need for a facility to include those three stages of care: independent living, supported living, and high-level care that you need as you become more frail. We looked at the cost of entry and the stay at these facilities as well as the levels of public and private funding. One thing that did occur to all of us was how you would adapt these to a Territory style of living. For example, senior Territorians have boats or pets and visiting relations, which is much more of an issue for us in the Territory than for people in Melbourne.
Madam Speaker, I am very grateful to those we visited. They gave us a very warm welcome and they were very forthcoming in sharing information.
We are now bringing together agencies in the Territory to consolidate the range of issues we need to address. Among them – and this is right across the Territory, member for Braitling – is looking at land availability, where the accommodation is needed, the style of accommodation and the need for those high support beds. We need to identify the need and how rapidly it is growing.
My department and those three senior Territorians who travelled with me will host forums throughout the Territory to dig deeper into what it is that senior Territorians and those who are getting close to becoming seniors see as their requirements for the future. It is an important part of our growing community. We all join in wanting to see an end to getting to retirement age in the Territory and moving somewhere like the Sunshine Coast. We want our Territorians to stay here.
Alleged Child Sexual Abuse - Victims
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
As Chief Minister, have you personally taken any action, given any instructions to any department to establish any form of investigation to discover if there are more victims of Bob Collins so that help can be offered to those victims if needed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I could go through what I said in previous answers about where we are legally and what I said about those alleged victims being able to seek assistance through the Witness Assistance Service and the range of services they provide. That is something the Attorney-General has carriage of. I encourage any alleged victim to pursue that course of action, which is quite appropriate. It is part of the services we offer in the Territory. That quite definitively answers the Deputy Opposition Leader’s question.
Commonwealth Intervention – Alcohol Laws
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
Territorians have expressed strong concerns about the unworkability of certain aspects of the Commonwealth intervention in the Northern Territory. Can the minister advise the House of any representations he has made to the federal government on this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I preface my reply by saying our position has always been clear in relation to the federal intervention and specifically on alcohol issues: we will support those elements of the federal intervention which will effectively address and reduce the problems around excessive alcohol consumption and its link with child abuse. We have been very strong about that.
We are on the record and we also have a duty to stand up for Territorians when elements of the federal intervention, and elements of the alcohol laws that they have introduced, are not right, when they are not effective, when they are just plain stupid and laughable. That is what we have done.
As most people would be aware, we took out full page advertisements on this expressing our discontent on behalf of Territorians to the federal government. This follows on from a number of items of correspondence that I have had with minister Brough over the past four to six months on this issue. This correspondence has always emphasised our cooperation, our willingness to work with the federal government, but also reserving the right to advocate for Territorians for better policy outcomes to get to what we all want: a reduction of child sexual abuse in the Territory and addressing alcohol abuse.
It came as no surprise that the federal government, through Mal Brough in a media release this week, criticised the Northern Territory government. Specifically talking about the ad that was taken out, he said:
It is a gutless and politically expedient response from a Labor government. It would rather compromise on measures designed to tackle abuse than take or support the tough decisions needed to seriously address these issues.
Madam Speaker, the issues that I have raised with minister Brough are in a letter I wrote on 5 October 2007 that he has already released publicly. I will table this letter for the benefit of members. To quote from my letter to him:
- … as you are aware the Northern Territory government has always made it clear that we support all elements of the Australian government initiative which have a real and effective impact in reducing harmful alcohol consumption amongst Aboriginal Territorians and associated social dysfunction, including child abuse.
I went on to relate some concerns in my letter to minister Brough about the lack of privacy protections. A number of people have approached me very concerned about the lack of privacy about having their name, their address and their licence number recorded in liquor takeaways for all to see. There are security and identity theft issues. The privacy issues have been thought through with this $100 takeaway register. It does little to prevent grog running and protect children from abuse, which is what I said in the letter. I said it is also unpopular with licensees, it is an unjustifiable burden on liquor outlet staff and it does not achieve the policy intent.
I also approached minister Brough about unresolved problems relating to amateur and commercial fishing, and issues related to tourism and alcohol and the quarter of a million independent tourists who visit the Territory every year.
I am pleased to say that minister Brough did exempt some areas including Nitmiluk and Kakadu - not all of them, but it is a step forward. There remain outstanding issues. As a government, we cannot be taking responsibility for all elements of this federal intervention when they are not right. That is why we have refused to take on the communication aspect of this legislation.
The federal government thinks nothing of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to promote themselves in the shadow of an election with all their achievements to try to bat away WorkChoices and yet they want to put this on the Territory government. We are not going to have it. Minister Brough used the word ‘gutless’. We are not gutless; we are standing up for Territorians. I ask those opposite: where are you? Where is your courage? Where is the courage of Tollner and Scullion? They are not to be seen, Madam Speaker. It is shameful. As the government, we will continue to stick up for Territorians.
Alice Springs – Community Patrols
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Chief Minister, I attended a couple of Neighbourhood Watch meetings in Alice Springs for a briefing on the community patrols that are likely to be trialled in Darwin. As you know, we experience a lot of vandalism by young people in Alice Springs. The example of the Bradshaw Primary School being vandalised twice in a week is a case in point. Will you support the introduction of community patrols in Alice Springs? Moreover, will you ensure that the police and Neighbourhood Watch have the resources to actually make this initiative work?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I have met with Neighbourhood Watch in Darwin, although I have not met with Neighbourhood Watch in Alice Springs. They talked through the proposal about community patrols. They have talked to the Commissioner. They are looking at presenting the Commissioner with a business plan about what is involved in these community patrols. The member for Sanderson probably knows more about them than I do because he has visited patrols in the South Island of New Zealand. One of the fundamental premises of Neighbourhood Watch is the community assisting with policing of neighbourhoods in an appropriate way, not duplicating what the police do, but offering advice and intelligence about what is happening in the community.
I have not seen that business plan as yet and I do not know when it is going to the Commissioner. However, in terms of the activities of Neighbourhood Watch, which are strongly supported by this government, we are certainly keen to look at what it means for operational requirements from Neighbourhood Watch. I will be looking carefully at that business plan. I have talked to Neighbourhood Watch. I agree in-principle that it is a workable idea. We have seen it work in New Zealand, but we have to see how it applies to the Territory situation. So there is in-principle support, but more work to do.
Alleged Child Sexual Abuse – Inquiry
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
There are some long-standing and serious allegations of sexual abuse by Bob Collins. Tom E Lewis, an alleged victim of sexual abuse by Bob Collins, said on ABC radio this morning:
- We feel we are left out and the law in our country don’t seem to care about this little voice in the air.
Chief Minister, in an attempt for closure on this matter and support for alleged victims of this abuse, I have proposed an inquiry be undertaken with powers similar to a judicial inquiry. Will you support such an inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: This question directly relates to the motion which will come before the House later this afternoon. You are asking something which will be directly debated, so I will not allow the question. Do you wish to re-word in some way, member for Blain?
Mr MILLS: I am happy to re-word, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Do not include material relating directly to the motion or things that may come up later.
Mr MILLS: So I can put it in context, I will conclude in a way that does not compromise standing orders.
Chief Minister, Tom E Lewis, an alleged victim of sexual abuse by Bob Collins, said on ABC radio this morning that:
- We feel we are left out and the law in our country don’t seem to care about this little voice in the air.
In an attempt to get closure of this matter and support for alleged victims of this abuse, I believe it would be appropriate, do you not, that an inquiry be undertaken, with powers similar to a judicial inquiry?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, it really is exactly the same question, so …
Mr Mills: In fact, it is not.
Madam SPEAKER: … perhaps we can ask you to resume your seat. Are there any further questions?
Clontarf Football Academies – Schools
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you update the House on the Clontarf Football Academies in Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. I know how interested and committed he is to the Clontarf Football Academies in Alice Springs and across the Northern Territory along with a number of other members. Yes, I am pleased to provide an update to the House on how the Clontarf Football Academies are going.
In February this year, I welcomed students and staff to kick off the three Clontarf Football Academies in Alice Springs at Alice Springs High School, ANZAC Hill High School and Yirara College. It was a fantastic day. The member for Stuart, the member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, and the member for Braitling were there. I still have the photo in my office.
Last month, I was pleased to head to Sanderson High School along with my colleagues, the members for Sanderson and Millner, who I know are passionate about these football academies, to announce there will be an additional three academies in 2008 in the Top End based at Sanderson, Palmerston and Katherine High Schools. It is going to involve over 200 students, with Casuarina Senior College starting in 2009.
Madam Speaker, the question is: what is Clontarf? Clontarf is not about football; it is about a whole separate strategy to engage and support young indigenous boys in mainstream education until they complete Year 12, and then for a full year after Year 12 either enter university, further training or into a job. Young indigenous boys are the highest risk group in our education system in terms of the number who are in the formal education system at Year 8, who then go on to complete Year 12 and gain their NTCE. This is the biggest at-risk group that fails to go on to complete the NTCE. Clontarf seeks to achieve much better outcomes in NTCE completion and it does that through engaging these boys through their love of Australian Rules Football. All of us know how passionate indigenous people are, along with the rest of the Territory, about Australian Rules.
The Clontarf Academies are staffed full-time by a mixture of ex-AFL footballers, teachers and social workers. The academies have a real focus on employability and life skills, and education attainment. That is what it is about. For each of the schools, it is additional resources as well. There are four staff with each of these academies, so that means four extra staff for all of our schools to support students not only in terms of breakfast programs, preschool training runs, support at lunchtime and then football training or games after school, but, more importantly, to support those students in the classroom, to work with the teachers and students to achieve better education outcomes.
The results we have from Alice Springs, and members there would know this, are that the attendance rates for students in those three schools have gone from between 40% and 60%, 60% on a good week, to over 90% attendance. That is an absolutely enormous outcome, which without this type of intervention, we would be really struggling to achieve.
The program is a partnership, with one-third funded by the Territory government, one-third funded by the Commonwealth government and, very importantly, one-third funded from the private sector. This is all about getting private sector partnership with the football academies, getting the private sector on side and working with them to provide pathways for those kids when they finish Year 12 into the workplace, and, whilst they are in Years 10, 11 and 12, work experience in the workplace. The private sector is a key part in the success of these programs. I have had a couple of lunches, one each in Alice Springs and Darwin a couple of weeks ago, with key people in the private sector. I have urged the private sector to come on board.
The Territory government has committed $1.6m over three years for the Top End football academies. We are looking at how we use similar structures to support schools throughout the Northern Territory. It is a specific program, but we are certainly looking at how we can continue to build on what has been achieved in Alice Springs and what is going to be achieved in the Top End and Katherine.
Gerard Neesham is an inspirational man who is doing fantastic work on behalf of indigenous students across Western Australia and the Northern Territory. He is doing a magnificent job. To Gerard and his team, the Territory government looks forward to working with you over the next few years to the benefit of these young indigenous students.
Alleged Child Sexual Abuse – Protection of Children
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
It has been reported that Bob Collins had scores of photos of children being sexually abused on his computer. Your own Little Children are Sacred report says there is a very clear link between those who are abused and those having a greater propensity to therefore become abusers. This is not about the rights of the dead; it is about the rights of the living. Is it therefore not vital that we leave no stone unturned to protect our children?
Madam SPEAKER: Pause, Chief Minister. Member for Blain, you are seeking a number of things including an expression of opinion. It is also a very repetitive question. I will allow the Chief Minister to answer it if she wishes, however I will not be allowing any further questions along this line. Unless they are significantly different, you are asking very repetitive questions, which is, of course, contrary to standing orders.
Mr Mills: Madam Speaker, may I say …
Madam SPEAKER: I call the Chief Minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will say again the basics of what we are dealing with. There has been a lengthy and exhaustive police investigation into the allegations made against Bob Collins. My advice is that there was a lot of work done. The alleged victims were identified. If there were any further alleged victims, the course of action I have said is available is one I would encourage them to take.
Mr Mills: You are taking a hands-off approach.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is important that the Deputy Opposition Leader listens to the answer. You have asked for an answer and I am giving it to you.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I am saying that any alleged victim, whether they were identified in the police investigation or not, can come forward and apply to receive financial assistance, counselling and support. That is done through the Witness Assistance Service. That is the process we have set up. That is available in this situation, and I encourage either those who were identified through the police investigation or those outside it to come forward and seek those counselling services.
We are expanding our counselling services with the very substantial funds we have put towards Closing the Gap and, again, tackling that issue of child sexual abuse in the Territory. The Attorney-General has talked with his CEO to ensure that counsellors working in that Witness Assistance Service area are fully briefed and aware of the particular issues and the concerns of people who might come forward.
Assistance and support is available. I can give the number. It is a 1800 number: 1800 460 363. We are saying to those alleged victims and to victims who have not been identified: come forward and seek that assistance.
The criminal legal process has finished. The court has ended that process, quite properly, because there is no long an accused. The Director of Public Prosecutions supports that, the Solicitor-General supports that. This is the mechanism that is available, and I encourage those alleged victims to take it up.
Mr Mills: The first I have heard.
Ms MARTIN: The Deputy Opposition Leader is saying, ‘the first I have heard it’. What do you think I’ve talked about …
Mr Mills: No, the first they’ve heard.
Ms MARTIN: … for the last 35 minutes as you have asked questions? This is what I have been talking about.
Mr Mills: This is the first time you have come close to answering it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: It is. To the first question, I answered in the same way.
Madam Speaker, I am just expressing my exasperation at the Deputy Opposition Leader, but this is a very serious issue and one we are dealing with very appropriately. I do hope that it is also the intention of the opposition because this is a serious issue we need to deal with properly. However, the fact is that criminal proceedings are now at an end. Establishing guilt or innocence beyond reasonable doubt is at an end. What our focus is on now is dealing with the alleged victims and how we can support them through the processes of government.
Palmerston City Council – Waste Transfer Station
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
As members would be aware, Palmerston City Council has been planning a waste transfer station at Marlows Lagoon, much to the consternation of my constituents who live there. Can you advise the House what you think of the council’s proposal and if you have any alternative ideas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question and for all the hard work he has undertaken to represent his constituents. He has been very outspoken in saying that they are opposed to a waste transfer station which would mean that people are travelling to that waste transfer station through residential streets. I made it very clear when I met with representatives of the city of Palmerston yesterday that I have a lot of sympathy with their concerns.
My electorate of Karama is adjacent to Shoal Bay and I have experience of how much litter blows off the backs of utes and trailers when people are going to dump their rubbish. The council responded that they would have strict by-laws in place and that they would have a cleanup program. However, with by-laws and cleanups, you cannot prevent the refuse flying off the back of utes and trailers on their way to the dump.
They are very legitimate concerns of residents in Marlows Lagoon that the member for Goyder has very actively pursued. He has taken up the issue with me as minister for Planning. I had a meeting with Palmerston City Council representatives yesterday and I recommended to them that they should consider these legitimate concerns of the residents and have a look at all the available sites for a waste transfer station.
There is a temporary waste transfer facility at Archer. I did recommend that there be a thorough consideration of that Archer site. I indicated to the council that I was going out to the sites next Monday to have a look for myself, and I am pleased that the Mayor has agreed to reassess their plans and to look at Archer.
Madam Speaker, were it not for the hard work of the member for Goyder, council would still be pursuing the Marlows Lagoon waste transfer plan.
Local Government Reform – Staff Recruitment
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Last week, the South Australian company, Locher, which your government employed to hire your $180 000 CEOs and $140 000 Directors of Corporate Services to run our local government said on its website the following:
- While all the positions will spend considerable time working within the communities they represent, they will be based in one of the four major centres, Alice Springs, Darwin, Katherine or Tennant Creek.
The Locher website has now been changed and says:
- While all positions will spend considerable time visiting all the communities in their shire, they will be based in key locations linked to the shire headquarters. These locations include Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Tiwi Islands, Jabiru, Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Bees Creek …
… and Darwin. There will be local managers in each of the townships across the shires and operational staff based in the service centres. There will be three finance and administration centres based in Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin.
Why was the website changed? Can you explain how many people your government is going to employ for us? Exactly where are they going to work for us? How are they linked to us? What are finance and administration centres to do with us? What is the total cost to us going to be of all these government, but eventually ratepayer-funded, appointments?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. In respect of Locher, I explained very clearly in the context of how they won the contract. It was a competitive tender. All the procurement processes were put in place. It is important that we do not get caught up in victimising companies, no matter where they might be based, either in the Northern Territory or other parts of Australia.
Mr Wood: The question was not about …
Mr McADAM: Just wait on a minute, because …
Mr Wood: Well, you are not answering the question.
Mr McADAM: I will answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Wood: You are making it up.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: I reckon you have been making up a few things about local government over the last two to three months, member for Nelson. You have become quite an expert at it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please make your comments through the Chair.
Mr McADAM: All right. He did ask a whole range of questions in respect of Locher’s involvement in local government. The bottom line is this, and I have said it more than once: managers will be placed as determined by the transitional committees. Now, in the case of the CEOs, they will be based in Alice Springs, Katherine, Darwin, and they potentially will be based at Yirrkala or Nhulunbuy. They could be based at Jabiru and they could be based Maningrida. So there is great capacity through this model to ensure that, as determined through the transitional committees, CEOs can be based in these regions. It is equally so in respect of the Corporate Services Managers. I suspect that as these things pan out, you will see the majority of these people being based in regions outside of Darwin.
Mr Wood: They should be based in their shire.
Mr McADAM: Didn’t you listen to what I just said?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: The Barkly Shire, Tennant Creek.
Mr Wood: Yes.
Mr McADAM: West Arnhem, Jabiru.
Mr Wood: And Litchfield?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nelson, cease interjecting.
Mr McADAM: It is very important, member for Nelson, that you get your facts right because quite frankly, you have been visionless. You have been essentially undermining what will potentially be one of the biggest reforms in the history of the Northern Territory in terms of local government reform.
Members interjecting.
Mr McADAM: Madam Speaker, can I just say this …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, I would like you direct your comments through the Chair, please, not across the Chamber. Member for Nelson, I ask you to cease interjecting.
Mr McADAM: I will do so, Madam Speaker. I apologise. The bottom line is this: under local government reform, the majority of the positions, including the CEOs and Corporate Services Managers, we will be based in areas as determined by the transitional committees in the first place. Of course, a lot of those positions will be in the regional areas, the proposed shires. We listened to what you had to say last week, member for Nelson, in terms of where they might be based. It is important, if you are going to go down that path, in terms of being constructive about local government reform, the most important thing you have to be is truthful.
Mr Wood: I organised the meeting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Nelson!
Mr McADAM: You do not go out there selling hocus-pocus because of your own vested interests.
Parliamentary Proceedings - Broadcast
Ms CARNEY to LEADER of GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
This morning, in response to our motion calling for television and radio to have unfettered access to broadcast parliamentary proceedings in this parliament, you said:
- … in the parliaments of South Australia and Tasmania television cameras are not allowed in to directly broadcast Question Time …
I feel certain that your revelation must come as a shock to Tasmanians and South Australians who watch parliamentary Question Time on their nightly news services whenever parliament sits. Do you admit that you were wrong? Is that not an excellent example as to why proceedings in the Territory parliament should be open to recording by the broadcast media and rebroadcasting because if a member misleads the House, he will be caught out?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, this is something which is directly before the House and is in the middle of being debated, but if you wish you answer the question, I will allow it, but you do not need to.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to answer the question before the television cameras, which this government, through its amendment of standing orders in 2001, has allowed to film and to broadcast Question Time. That is why the cameras are here.
To the issue of whether I did mislead the House, I did so inadvertently. I did so on advice that was provided. I will double check the information. If I did mislead the House in making those comments, I unreservedly apologise, but it was on advice that I was given. We look forward to continuing this debate this afternoon about how this government has opened up the proceedings of this Territory parliament not only for its Question Time is broadcast …
- Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: He’s lied in parliament again! Again! You’d lie when the truth would do.
If I did make a mistake, Madam Speaker, about the South Australian and Tasmanian parliaments, I apologise, but I was given that advice, and I used that advice as it was given to me. If it was wrong, I apologise.
Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The Territory government has demonstrated a strong commitment to the motor sports industry in the Territory. Can the minister please inform the House of any recent announcement about work done to the Hidden Valley Motor Sports complex to ensure it continues to be one of the best motor sport venues in Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question, and I am prepared to speak very slowly now so the Leader of the Opposition can understand me. On her previous question, I wonder if the television cameras were here this morning, would she have mocked me while I was speaking. Would she pretend she did not understand my accent? She would have been caught out.
I come back to the question the member for Port Darwin asked. I am very pleased to advise the House that on Saturday, Labor Senator Kate Lundy, the shadow minister for Sport, was in Darwin and attended the drag races at Hidden Valley. During those races, Senator Lundy pledged $3m if there is a Labor government after the election to be spent for infrastructure at Hidden Valley on the drag strip to bring the facilities to international standards. Hidden Valley is very important sports infrastructure for the Territory, and our government is absolutely committed to the Hidden Valley Motor Sports complex.
Let me tell you what happened when we came to government. We commissioned a report and found that the majority of the buildings built at Hidden Valley did not comply with the Building Code. The majority of the buildings were unsafe and they had to be demolished. We spent $4m to bring facilities at Hidden Valley up to acceptable standards. The previous government had run the sports facility into the ground. They spent no money. They did not care. They allowed people to build anything they liked and, as a result, we were totally exposed. We had to spend $4m to bring the facility to standards acceptable by national and international sport bodies.
We also developed a master plan which has guided our priorities and we are now looking at the future needs of the complex. Not only in Darwin, in Alice Springs, I might add, we spent around $1.25m to build the first drag strip in Alice Springs.
Let me come back to the point. There are some rumours circulating because of the announcement made by my colleague, the Minister for Planning and Lands, for the new land release at Berrimah, somehow the government is going to abandon Hidden Valley because of noise problems. Have a look at the map. The Coonawarra Naval Base is 500 m from Hidden Valley. We have not received complaints about noise during race meetings. If you look at the map, you find that Berrimah Research Farm is more than 2 km away.
I repeat again: our government is absolutely committed to the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex. We have spent $4m and are prepared to spend more. As a matter of fact, we improved the overall safety standards; we installed an Airfence bike safety system for motorcycle racing, and I am looking forward to turning on the new lights for go-karts in the next few days. This shows that our government is committed to Hidden Valley. What you hear about Hidden Valley is absolute scaremongering; it is rumours.
Parks and Reserves – Tour Operators’ Fees
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
On 17 February 2005, you said all Territory parks and reserves will remain accessible to all Territorians and visitors on a no-fee, no-permit basis. I table a letter from NRETA to Mr Boost, who is an Alice Springs tour operator. It demands he pay a fee of $500 to ensure that his permit is validated. Last night, the Leader of Government Business said:
- Our consultants, AEC, have identified that it could be an opportunity for increased revenue …
He also said:
- I have spoken to my colleague, the minister for Parks, who has carriage of this issue, and it is still government policy that we do not support fees for parks. That is the current position.
That is what he said last night. Chief Minister, would you care to explain why, if it is not government policy, the government continues to send out bills to these tour operators?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with our parks and reserves legislation, it is about individuals going to our parks, very clearly. For commercial operators, there has always been a fee. Before the member for Greatorex, new though he is, leads with his chin, he should check his facts.
During the debate last night, the Tourism minister said we have had recommendations that maybe you could charge to go into parks and reserves. I was sitting here and I heard the Tourism minister say very clearly: ‘We will not be doing that’. Were you not here listening? That is disappointing. We do say very clearly, standard practice is there is a charge for commercial operators.
Members interjecting.
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms MARTIN: For everyone else, all Territorians and our visitors, there is no entry fee to Territory parks. That is a commitment from this government, from the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, and it was certainly said very loudly and clearly by the Tourism minister last night.
Alice Springs – Public Sector Positions
Mrs BRAHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
In 2005, in answer to my question about career opportunities for senior public servants in Alice Springs, you acknowledged the need to have better capacity to make key decisions and to upgrade some of the senior positions in Alice Springs. You mentioned some that had been upgraded to the ECO positions in Tourism and DEET. Will you give a guarantee that no current positions in Alice Springs will be downgraded below the ECO level? You may be aware that I am referring to a particular position in Police, Fire and Emergency Services that I believe is likely to be downgraded. Can you give us a guarantee that in Alice Springs, we will not have downgrading of positions when people like John Baskerville and Peter McDonald leave their senior positions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can understand why the member for Braitling is asking that question. However, in terms of running government and individual agencies, it would be inappropriately prescriptive for me to stand here and say: ‘No position will ever be changed in Alice Springs’. Are you saying we should not make them higher positions on the ECO level? Maybe you are saying that as well.
Every minister accounts, in turnover on a weekly basis, for what kind of regional delegation their departments have across the Territory. It is a very key issue for this government that we are being able to have decision-making appropriately made whether that is in Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs. Certainly, with local government, we will see better decision-making right across the Territory with our new shire arrangements, which is very important.
The appropriateness of decision-making in Alice Springs is at the core of this government. I am not going to say that no position will ever change. That is a ridiculous thing to say on behalf of government. However, what we want is effective decision-making being made, particularly in an area like Alice Springs. Too often in Alice Springs, decisions are referred to Darwin. It slows them down dreadfully. I have been working with the most senior people in agencies in Alice Springs when I meet with them on a two monthly basis to say we have to have this decision-making here, and to let me know if decisions are going inappropriately to Darwin and how we can deal with them locally.
It is an issue we are very conscious of, but I am not going to give you that kind of assurance that no agency, or no section of an agency will ever want to restructure its positions. Of course that is going to happen.
Mining - Territory Iron
Mr KNIGHT to CHIEF MINISTER
Recently, you witnessed the first shipment of iron ore from the Territory Iron project. Can you outline the impact the project will have on the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will certainly answer that question from the member for Daly. We will soon be calling him ‘the member for mining and iron ore’.
I am delighted that areas like Pine Creek are really booming because of the investment by miners in that area. To visit Pine Creek and have the biggest issue not about employment, but where we can house the hundreds of extra workers is a great problem to have. Hear, hear! to Pine Creek. What a get up and go community.
It was great to join our friends at Territory Iron to celebrate the first shipment of iron ore from Frances Creek, which is in the member for Daly’s electorate so, quite appropriately, the member for iron ore. In fact, it is the first shipment of iron ore to leave the Territory since 1974, so it was quite an historic occasion. The iron ore is headed for China. It had a value of just under $5m; a great first export. It was great for the company and great for the Territory.
It ensures the long-term viability of the company. It also means increased export revenue and, importantly, and Pine Creek and Katherine know this, it means more jobs and more business opportunities. For example, Territory Resources currently has approximately 100 staff and contractors on-site at Frances Creek and they are intending to grow that quite substantially. They have a very strong focus on local Aboriginal employment and opportunities in the area and I praise them for that.
The iron ore market remains strong. The future at Frances Creek is a 10-year one at this stage. The Territory Iron shipment was a perfect example of the AustralAsia Trade Route in action. As part of our strategy to grow that trade route, we have focused on developing our port in Darwin as the port of choice for bulk mineral exports to the north. We invested heavily in our rail and transport links. We have invested in upgrading the port, the Darwin Business Park, new bulk handling facilities and in negotiating more direct shipping services to our north.
What it has meant is success stories like Territory Resources. We have Bootu Creek manganese being regularly exported through the port and, as a real coup for us, South Australian copper concentrate miner, Oxiana, is now exporting through the Port of Darwin, a further distance to travel, but they believe that the case put to them was a good one so instead of going through the port of Adelaide, they come through the Port of Darwin. Great!
I commend Territory Resources for their investment as a company into bulk handling infrastructure at the port. They invested $10m in that, which goes with the $24m that we put into the bulk handler. This is a good news story. It justifies expenditure on the railway. It has meant that mines that previously were marginal are now exporting, in a confident way, through the port of Darwin. The trade route is working, jobs are growing and so are business opportunities.
Parks and Reserves – Lease Fees
Mrs MILLER to CHIEF MINISTER
With regard to fees and permits for parks, last night your Minister for Tourism said:
- Our consultants, AEC, have identified that it could be an opportunity for increased revenue that would go to infrastructure in our parks estates.
If that is the case, why are taxpayers paying $1m a year in lease fees?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, taxpayers are not paying $1m in lease fees each year. Those lease fees will come in over time, but they are certainly nowhere near $1m. I can get you the figure, which is quite a small amount at this stage. There will not be any lease fees paid for a number of years.
Again, I refer you to the previous answer. The Tourism minister said that there was a proposal by consultants AEC that we could charge for entry to parks, we would raise money for infrastructure. I refer you, again, to a very clear response to that from the Tourism minister, from me, from the Minister for Parks and Wildlife: it will not happen. I said it will not happen in the last question. I said it will not happen to the member for Greatorex, I might just add the Opposition Leader and the Deputy Opposition Leader while I am on my feet.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): The members for Katherine and Greatorex should take a chill pill; it will not happen. Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016