2005-11-29
Answers to Questions on Territory Economy
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
In a document that was leaked to the opposition this afternoon, it is clear that your $8m spin doctors are expecting questions on the terrible state of the Territories finances. Among the other excuses that your ministers are being urged to give in their answers to the economy includes the following: ‘Budgets were not blown, we just did more as all good governments do’. The fact is that all but one of the major departments blew their budgets for the year. Will you now tell your ministers - and this includes you - to be honest with their answers to Territorians and not to jump to the orders issued by their spin doctors but, instead, tell the truth when we will be asking some very important questions about the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I ask that the Leader of the Opposition table …
Ms Carney: I am happy to.
Mr Mills: This will be interesting!
Ms MARTIN: It is always important to get the information that the Leader of the Opposition is working from because, sometimes …
Ms Carney: Oh, it is very important to get the information.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Sometimes there is a discrepancy between what is said …
Ms Carney: It is terrific to get the information, Madam Speaker! And we thank whoever it was!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we, on this side of the House, will proudly be able to justify every cent expended to Territorians and to this House. We are the ones who introduced an estimates process so that we can go through that in detail. We are the ones who put budget papers out and, when there is an assertion today that, somehow or other, we got more money and budgets were blown - I take the Leader of the Opposition back to Budget Paper No 3, which detailed all the changes. The variations in line items in the budget detailed all that. To have the opposition six months later say: ‘Shock, horror! Look what we have found,’ you wonder exactly what documents the opposition is working off.
Every minister in here will stand up and absolutely deliver what are the facts about budget expenditure. The Treasurer has been on the record consistently talking about the increasing GST that we got over the 2004-05 year, how that was expended, and what the surplus was. It all adds up. Madam Speaker, what we have done is deliver on important priorities for Territorians and we are proud of it.
Economic Turnaround - Causes
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
Over the last two years, there has been a dramatic turnaround in the outlook for small and medium business in the Territory with support from the Northern Territory government going from a negative approval rating to the highest approval rating in Australia. Can you outline what has brought about this significant turnaround?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for that question; because it certainly was an issue that had a fair bit of airing in this House. Over the last two years, whenever a Sensis report came out, from a government’s point of view, we were not terribly confident of what the results would be. What we have seen is a significant turnaround.
Government has worked hard with business to get that growing confidence in our small businesses and government policies. It is terrific that we now have the highest approval rating of any government in the country from small business. I believe it really represents a solid commitment from this government to talk to business and to look at what the factors were that Territory businesses want to see delivered by government. This approval rating is a real sign that we are going in the right direction. I would not say that we have achieved 100%, but we are going in the right direction, and this is the second quarter in a row where we have had that significant growth and support from small business. Really, it is all down to delivering solid economic growth in the Territory, which is the key to what small business wants.
To quote from the Sensis November report, which was released today:
- … the booming economic conditions the Northern Territory has been experiencing has translated into support for government.
That was one quote, and the other was:
- Small business has stamped their approval on the Northern Territory government’s economic policies.
This is quite clear indication from small business that, yes, this government is headed in the right direction and small business is benefiting.
The Business Sensis Index found that business support for government stemmed from the belief that as a government we were very clearly trying to help small business, and we were certainly much more aware of their needs. That is true, and I pay tribute to all the ministers and members who have been doing that interaction with small business and working with them.
As a government, we back small business and their opportunities to grow, by importantly delivering those tax cuts. They are record tax cuts, and we can proudly say that we are the lowest taxing jurisdiction in Australia for small businesses with less than 100 employees.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: That is fantastic; that covers such a vast range of Territorians. It is really interesting to hear that mocked by the Leader of the Opposition, that is not something to be proud of.
I believe that Territory businesses have real opportunities because the taxing regime for them is the lowest of any small business with under 100 employees in the country. That is a fantastic achievement. Our commitment is to business and we are going to keep that position very solidly. We have invested in major projects. We are delivering programs through various areas of government that offer practical support and advice. Importantly, when you listened to the summit last week, one of the key elements of the summit was training, training, training and growing our own work force. That is something we are now committed to: the training of 10 000 Territorians as apprentices and trainees over the next four years. We have increased the number of apprentices and trainees by 50% in the last four years.
Business knows we are listening. Business knows we are focusing our resources on delivering for them, Madam Speaker.
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Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, we will continue with Question Time. I believe I was about to call the Leader of the Opposition. I understand we are now on mains power. We hope that goes for a while.
State of Territory Economy
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you took the extraordinary step of writing to every Territory public servant to reassure them about their jobs. In that letter, you wrote that you are reviewing progress with the current budget to, and I quote:
- ... ensure that agencies continue to live within the budget set and deliver the programs and services expected.
In November 2001, you told this parliament that your government had, and I quote:
- … established criteria to improve public sector management. That the onus would be on chief executive officers to … produce financial outcomes within annual budgets; maintain or improve services; and maintain high staff morale and job satisfaction.
Why did your department CEOs blow last year’s budget by around $100m, and why do you continue to mislead Territorians about the true state of our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in response to the Opposition Leader’s question, the criteria I set for CEOs is as applicable today as it was in 2001. Because we have a strong growth budget which is due to GST revenue through the Grants Commission and also through our own source revenue, and our economy is doing well, we have seen a growth in the budget. We have been able to work with the Territory, delivering for Territorians, and that is a good thing.
Quite legitimately, we have a growth budget. I would just like to draw the opposition’s attention to the fact that many hours have been spent on their feet in here saying we are awash with funds, that we should be grateful for the GST because there have been additional funds for the Territory. Yes, there have been additional funds and we have accounted for all those additional funds as we have expended them. And, yes, we received additional funds last year and, yes, they were identified in budget papers, and yes, we have talked about the initiatives that were taken over the period of the 2004-05 year and not just necessarily in the budget of the 2004-05 year. When those additional funds come in, we are happy to strategically spend those on behalf of Territorians, and put them to key priorities.
There is no inconsistency here. I have asked CEOs, quite appropriately, to live within their 2005-06 budgets. They are very good growth budgets and our forward estimates live within the projections of the GST. The GST is not growing as fast as it was over the last couple of years and our projections for forward estimates live within that, including good growth money for agencies - they are the facts.
However, in times when we do have good growth money, it is important to look at how we are spending that money within agencies, and that is what the priorities review is about. It is an important task for Territorians to know that the dollars that are being spent are being spent on their key priorities. It is an important task for every government - not just this government, but governments all over Australia and the world – to do this kind of priorities review.
It is an important task but, when you have to deal with the kite flying that we have seen happen from the opposition and some commentators plucking absolutely wild and fanciful figures - the kind of thing you would find in the latest Harry Potter movie which starts in a couple of days - then it is important to say to our hardworking and professional public servants: ‘This is not about you and your jobs, this is about delivering for Territorians’. Fanciful figures this is not about; this is about good growth budgets and our public service delivering for Territorians and making sure we are doing that effectively. When we have wild speculation happening, it is important …
Members interjecting.
Mrs Miller: We can read.
Ms MARTIN: Two thousand jobs out of the public sector and $200m - what a load of absolutely fanciful codswallop.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: If the Opposition Leader would stop having more fanciful, little hysterical …
Ms Carney: Well, they are your documents.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the budget papers tell the story. We have the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report being debated in these sittings. The figures are there, and they are transparent. However, government will do the proper job of government; that is, assess and review how dollars are being spent - a proper task of government. Each agency has good growth in their forward estimates in this year’s budget. We are looking at where those key priorities are and whether there should be reprioritisation, maybe, in the next financial year.
However, I say to our hardworking and professional public servants, there is no forced redundancy in any of this process; it is not even part of what we are talking about. Maybe some public servants will be redeployed in a slightly different area; that is all we are talking about. This is not about job cuts or forced redundancies; this is about good growth money for the Territory and making the most for Territorians of those dollars.
Government Initiatives to Increase Skills Base in Territory
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Skilling Territorians has been a major commitment of the Martin government. Can the minister update the Assembly on efforts by the government to improve skill levels in the Territory work force?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. Undoubtedly, skilling Territorians and developing the work force is and remains an absolute key priority of this government.
I recently announced an additional $1.5m a year dedicated to Vocational Education and Training costs for Charles Darwin University that will go directly to the delivery of Vocational Education and Training to improve and further strengthen trades training for Territorians. That brings to $3m the amount of additional money applied directly to the VET capacity at the university in this calendar year alone.
This is a blow-out - an absolute blow-out - of course. This is the sort of nonsense that they go on with. Here is one example of a $3m shift. What did we do with it? We gave it to Charles Darwin University to further strengthen and increase the availability and strength of Vocational Education and Training. Of course, the DEET budget will show us a $3m blow-out according to the opposition. However, all it means is that in this financial year alone, this government will place $42.5m into Charles Darwin University for the total of that training package.
Dr Lim interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: That is money for which we get a pretty poor deal from the Commonwealth in relation to some of the other jurisdictions. Unfortunately, the training agreement was rolled over early this year, and we were not able to open that up for negotiation.
In addition to these increases, the government has decided to place a much stronger emphasis on careers counselling within our secondary schools. It is an area that I have had a lot of representation on over time. As the minister, I decided to hold a major School to Work Transition forum recently, bringing together industry leaders and educators to look precisely at this question. We determined that every secondary school would have a dedicated careers advisor. Each school will now nominate a careers advisor who will receive professional development and training, and the person in that job will be required to provide career advice and development programs and options for the students for which they are responsible. Those changes will bring a greater degree of focus in our schools and assist the university in relation to Vocational Education and Training courses overall. Those two alone are just part of a major package of education reforms that we will be undertaking as part of our second term agenda.
Northern Territory Economy – Alleged Mismanagement by Treasurer
Ms CARNEY to TREASURER
During the last parliamentary sittings, you said that you would not sell the Territory Insurance Office. Since then, you have refused to rule out that possibility. Territorians are concerned that they may not be able to secure flood or cyclone protection if TIO is sold. It is clear that if you are planning to sell this asset, it is because of your appalling mismanagement of the Territory economy. Why do you mislead Territorians about the state of Territory finances prior to the election, and why do you continue to deceive Territorians about the state of Territory’s economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not sure which part of the question to pick up. At the outset, I never said that I would not sell TIO. It is not mine to sell. In fact, it belongs to all Territorians. That would be a decision for Cabinet - not my decision; a decision for Cabinet. If you could produce the words or the transcript where I said this government or I would not sell TIO, I would be very interested.
What I did say, in answer to a question from the member for Katherine at the last sittings, was that there was a scoping exercise being undertaken in relation to Territory Insurance Office about each aspect of its operation, and best options for future management and future direction of the organisation, including options which would be studied, to sell one or each or, in fact all, of the arms of TIO. That report is not yet back to me. Once it is in my office and in Treasury’s hands, that will form a submission to Cabinet. I am expecting that within the next few weeks. Certainly, I am not on the record at all in saying would not sell TIO.
In relation to cyclone, flood, and surge cover, there is this myth that TIO is the only insurance company in the world that offers these sorts of products. Suncorp in Queensland, in fact, offers a range of similar products. Whether the government would sell TIO would be something that would weigh very heavily on members of Cabinet. We would not want to see Territorians, who have been able to avail themselves of those types of insurance cover in the past, be without that. There is any number of ways that security for those people could be gained in terms of a sale. That is just one of a myriad of considerations when government weighs up the fors and againsts. That would be the job of Cabinet ministers to very carefully weigh up all of the information that comes forward in the report which I am hopeful it will do. I am hopeful that we will see the report in the next couple of weeks.
Illegal Foreign Fishing Vessels
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Last week, it was reported that illegal foreign fishermen were again detected but not apprehended within sight of the coast and may have landed ashore. Unfortunately, we are now seeing that illegal fishing has become the lure of the Territory. What more can be done to protect our primary industry and fisheries from the threats posed by illegal foreign fishing vessels?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This situation with illegal fishing vessels is not getting any better. On Thursday, a 50 foot illegal fishing vessel was detected 1 km upstream of a river near Maningrida. That was detected by indigenous marine rangers who called Customs and offered to apprehend the vessel and hold the fishermen. Customs advised otherwise and said they were sending a vessel which, unfortunately, arrived 14 hours later. By that time, the illegal fishing vessel had disappeared over the horizon.
That follows another incident a week earlier where a foreign fishing vessel was detected again near Maningrida. Indigenous marine rangers and a senior traditional owner assisted in the apprehension of the vessels. That follows other incidents when illegal fishermen landed in Groote Eylandt. There are photographs taken by the Anindilyakwa indigenous marine rangers showing the fishermen on the ground and also carcasses of sharks on the beach – sharks that did not have their fins.
In a media alert of 20 November, Customs advised that the community in Elcho Island at the south-west end of the Wessels Group reported three fishermen, believed to be Indonesian, had landed on the island. They did not find any fishing gear or fuel but there was clear evidence of landing.
We have a serious problem with illegal fishermen; they keep coming down our coast. As The Australian revealed a few months ago, about 8100 vessels come here every year and Customs manage to arrest about 400. Obviously, Customs are undermanned and they need more resources. I have called on the federal government to provide more resources to Customs and provide more money.
Our shark fishery is under threat. It is believed that illegal fishermen take about 25 000 tonnes of shark every year from the waters in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. It is very unfortunate that the opposition’s spokesperson on fisheries criticised our hardworking shark fishers about depleting our resources. I believe the people were not very impressed and I understand they wrote a letter to her telling her that her comments, at best, show absolute naivety of fishery matters and, at worst, show a reckless portrayal of honest hardworking fishermen. The shark fishers continued: ‘As opposition fisheries spokesperson, your lack of knowledge on the subject is a major concern’.
Madam Speaker, fisheries is not under threat by the Northern Territory or Australian fisherman but from the illegal fishermen that come here taking sharks. The problem is, the way they are going about sharks puts us in a situation like Indonesia. My department has been informed that they have done some checking of Indonesian waters and, where five years ago there were plenty of sharks, last year they managed to detect only one shark. One shark! They have depleted their resource in their islands and come down south. They have fished our shark resources, and that will be depleted in a few years time, so they are going to turn to other species.
A major concern also is the biosecurity threat. These people bring with them fruit and vegetables, and animals. Customs have found on their vessels dogs, pigs, and even a monkey. We have an active trade with South-East Asia with cattle because we are a clean country; we do not have these diseases. If foot and mouth disease gets a hold in the Territory, not only the Territory but the Australian cattle industry would be destroyed and we may as well kiss goodbye to our markets.
I have spoken to the federal minister for fisheries, Ian Macfarlane. I have indicated to him that we have in place the indigenous marine rangers project, which is a very good patrol across lines. A submission is now being prepared in consultation with the police and the land councils to be forwarded to him seeking adequate funding for the provision of supplies, equipment and real wages for these marine rangers. The marine rangers program is being seen not only by us, but also by the Western Australians, as a very effective measure to assist the Commonwealth in controlling our waters. Also by the Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, who came out and actively supported a marine rangers program throughout the north area of Australia.
As I said before, if the marine rangers can actually safeguard our coastline by patrolling our coastline, then Customs is free to patrol the waters beyond the 12-mile limit. This is a real threat, Madam Speaker, and the only thing that will save our fisheries in the next few months is actually the cyclone season that is coming, when the illegal fisherman will stop coming down from Indonesia.
Mrs Braham: What a short answer!
Mr VATSKALIS: We have to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: It may be a long answer, member for Braitling, but the reality is …
Mrs Braham: It is!
Ms Carney: Bring on a statement. You did not want to give one today.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Let the minister continue.
Mr VATSKALIS: The reality is it is one of the most important issues and threats we are facing today in the Northern Territory, and in northern Australia.
NT Prison System – Problems and Reforms
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Your government has introduced a number of reforms into the prison system and appointed a new prison director, Jens Tolstrup. Since then, both prisons are bursting at the seams, prison officers have rejected the new low-security facility at Berrimah, there has been trouble at the Berrimah and Alice Springs prisons, accusations of inappropriate behaviour by some prison officers, a vote of no confidence by the union in the director, and some families of prisoners are saying they are getting a hard time because of that particular campaign by the union to get rid of the director. Does the director have the full support of the minister? Are the CAYA report recommendations still being instigated? Will the new low-security section of Berrimah prison be open by Christmas? What is the situation regarding the alleged improper use of prison materials for private use at Alice Springs? What is the government doing to fix up a very unsatisfactory state of affairs in our prison system?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will have to skip through this to get through those. I think that is about six questions.
First one, yes, I have 100% confidence in Jens Tolstrup and his management group within the prison system. Jens is an internationally known corrections worker who had a long reputation before he came to our system. He is managing some pressure points. As you pointed out, there have been high prisoner numbers in the gaol during some parts of this year that got well above the 800 mark - up to about 822, I think, is the maximum. They have receded in recent weeks and months back to below the 800. However, we are certainly aware that we have to expand the capacity of our prisons to handle the additional numbers.
Cabinet has now made a decision to take the capacity at Berrimah gaol up to 450. That will involve commissioning the new low-security area. To do that, we now need to go into negotiation with the prison officers and their union. That will be done as quickly as that exercise can be progressed, and we will open the low-security area in Berrimah gaol to take the capacity of that gaol up to 450. I think I have covered all those points to the best I can remember, so I hope that satisfies your question.
Palmerston Recreation Centre - Tender Award
Mr NATT to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The tender for the Palmerston Recreation Centre has recently been awarded. Can you please update the House on this project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. He recently accompanied me when I went out to Palmerston, along with the member for Brennan, to announce that the tender for $8.18m to build the Palmerston Recreation Centre was awarded to a local Territory company, Norbuilt. People at Palmerston will have noticed that the headworks have already been completed at a cost of about $1.5m. Norbuilt will construct the recreation centre and are working towards a completion date of October next year. The exciting news is that about 100 jobs will be generated over the life of the project – another boost for our economy.
The recreation centre is a fantastic new facility for the people of Palmerston and the rural area beyond. It will include features such as two full-sized basketball and netball courts, full airconditioning, spectator seating, multipurpose community rooms, a kiosk, ablutions and an office. The courts will be multipurpose by nature, and they will be able to be used by an extended group of people including sports such as netball, volleyball, martial arts, and indoor soccer. The centre is in an ideal location in the heart of Palmerston, and I anticipate that it will very quickly become a popular spot for local youth to gather and undertake important sporting and recreational activities, and be a very safe place to meet with their friends.
Once completed, the recreation centre will be handed over to the Palmerston City Council who will determine arrangements for its everyday running and operations. It will be a fantastic asset for the people of Palmerston, and I have no doubt that this will enhance the great Territory lifestyle Palmerston and the people of the rural area enjoy, and I thank my colleagues for attending the announcement of the tender with me.
Mr Mills: I would have come if I had been invited though and you could have thanked me!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Northern Territory Economy – Alleged Mismanagement by Treasurer
Ms CARNEY to TREASURER
In 2002, you told Territorians that the economic strategy of the government was to lower debt and to balance the government books. Your government has received a $600m GST bonus, most of which was, as you know, unexpected. In spite of that, unfunded liabilities are increasing, your budgets still do not balance and gross debt is climbing. Why did you mislead Territorians about the true state of Territory finances prior to the election, and why do you and your government continue to spend more than you receive?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Let me give an example of a budget blow-out. When we were elected in August 2001 and the then Under Treasurer, at the first meeting of Cabinet, said, ‘The budget is in an unsustainable position’. ‘How can that be, Mr Clark’, we asked? A $12m deficit was forecast for the financial year 2001-02, when the budget had been passed some six weeks prior to the election - probably seven weeks to the day that we sat down with the Under Treasurer to tell us that the budget was in an unsustainable position. How can that be? We had an outside external consultant come in, and the deficit was estimated. All things being equal, if government did not do anything else at all, did not act or change a thing, that deficit would have run between, at best estimate, $126m and $139m. That is a budget blow-out of magnificent proportions - $12m predicted deficit, $139m at its worst!
We worked hard, from the November 2001 mini-budget, restructuring the public sector, and we got that deficit down to $83m, about a $40m improvement on what the Country Liberal Party government had left this government as a legacy.
Over those next years, we have returned surplus budgets, including, last year, a cash surplus of $51m. I would like to blow the budget by a $51m surplus every year! What sort of a blow-out is this when we have a cash $51m surplus budget. Whenever did the CLP last return a surplus budget? We have to go back to Marshall Perron! He was a great Treasurer - and I do not mind saying this in this House - and a very good Chief Minister, one of the best we have had - an excellent Treasurer in the sense that he knew how to manage a budget; unlike his successors who came along. The next one, of course, was Mr Stone, and that is when we started to see budget blow-outs, regularly and increasingly. Whatever budget knowledge Mr Stone had, well, Mr Burke had simply none.
As I said, when we got to 2001-02, a predicted $12m deficit was, in fact, around about $130m or $140m.
Mr Mills: You do not believe this!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, in relation to the GST, an extra $600m, the CLP come out and say $400m one week, $600m the next, it continues to grow – a bit like their budget deficit that figure grows. It is about $380m the extra in GST …
Dr Lim: And you have overspent that and you borrowed more money!
Mr STIRLING: … from the time the GST was introduced including to this point of this financial year. So, no misleading here.
Dr Lim: You have spent that and borrowed more.
Mr STIRLING: In fact, surplus budgets have reduced …
Dr Lim: And you keep borrowing!
Mr STIRLING: … the debt to this point.
Dr Lim: Now you are on your Bankcard!
Mr STIRLING: We have modest deficits, going through to …
Dr Lim: Modest? Every man, woman and child has got over $9000.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex! Cease interjecting. Treasurer, continue.
Mr STIRLING: It is their Question Time, Madam Speaker, but they did ask the question and I intend to answer it.
Modest deficits are going forward when we will balance the budget again in 2008-09. It may be that that result is achieved rather more quickly than we have at 2008-09, because each year that we have budgeted we have returned a better bottom line than we predicted when we put the budget in in May of each year.
Federal Work Choices Legislation – Test Case
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission recently brought down a decision in the family provisions test case. Does the Howard government’s so-called Work Choices Bill jeopardise the gains made for working families under that test case?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. It is an important question. At the very heart of the reforms - or so-called reforms - that are being pushed at a federal level in the industrial relations and workplace reform, it is all about undermining the independent umpire – the Australian Industrial Relations Commission – that served Australia and Australians well for the past 100 years. It has been an independent umpire that I think, and most Australians would agree, has delivered fair and equitable wage outcomes to Australians and Australia over that period of time.
The case that the member for Arnhem refers to is the family provision test case which was handed down on 8 August 2005. This particular decision allows for the amendment of awards to include a right for employees to request – to request, I will emphasise – firstly, taking an extra 12 months unpaid parental leave; secondly, returning to work on a part time basis after parental leave until a child reaches school age; and thirdly, extending simultaneous parental leave to a maximum of eight weeks.
This decision, I believe, struck a fair balance between the rights of workers and the rights of employees - that is what independent umpires do. The decision also allowed employers to refuse such requests on reasonable grounds, such as the lack of adequate replacement staff and the impact on customer service. Most reasonable people would think that that is a good balance. Firstly, the employee could request these things, and secondly, the employer could consider them in a fair context as I have outlined here.
It is now apparent that the Howard government’s Work Choices legislation will not only prevent the commission from making similar decisions in the future but will actually prevent the decision in the family provisions test case from taking effect. In particular, section 116(b) of the Work Choices Bill prohibits these recently won rights by preventing their inclusion in awards. I will repeat that: section 116(b) of the Work Choices Bill prohibits these recently won rights by preventing their inclusion in awards.
On Monday, 14 November, it was my privilege to join with my colleagues from other states and territories – Workplace Relations ministers – to put a case to a Senate inquiry into these reforms. I was particularly impressed by the submission made by the Victorian minister, minister Hulls. I would just like to quote from the Hansard I received today which outlines what is happening in Victoria, post the Kennett government which introduced these similar sorts of reforms and put a whole lot of workers into Australian Workplace Agreements or AWAs. I would just like to read what minister Hulls said, and he refers to a study done by Barbara Pocock who is a research fellow from the University of Adelaide. This is very important, Madam Speaker.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There is a convention in this House that ministers do not waffle. I know Labor ministers do not always stick to it but this is an extremely long answer. As the Treasurer said, it is our Question Time. Could you please pull him up?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Leader of the Opposition. Minister, continue.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I will be brief. I am quoting from minister Hulls:
- The report finds that the push to AWAs is retrograde because AWAs are anti-family. The report finds that only 12% of AWAs have any work and family provisions. Only 25% of AWAs have family or carers leave and only 8% - would you believe – have paid maternity leave. We believe that it is totally inappropriate. 58% of workers on AWAs are denied long service leave and the majority of AWAs lack penalty rates. It is important that you have a look at this report because it will give you some real insight in relation to the effects of the federal legislation.
That is right, Madam Speaker. This federal legislation is very bad for the balance of a family and work life. I hope that other members join with me in calling federal Senators and our own Senator Nigel Scullion to oppose this. The campaign says ‘Your rights at work worth fighting for’. We should be fighting for these people who are disadvantaged on Australian Workplace Agreements.
Unfunded Liabilities – Budget Situation
Ms CARNEY to TREASURER
Unfunded liabilities like superannuation and long service leave represent a massive burden on Territorians into the future. Under your government, this situation has worsened because superannuation costs have been reviewed and it has been found that this government owes even more than it was thought. Why did you mislead Territorians about the true state of these finances prior to the election? Will you now, and for a change, be honest with Territorians and tell them whether you expect these liabilities to go up or down over the next five years? Why do you continue to lie about this and other matters?
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition well knows that she cannot accuse any member of this House of lying unless she does so by way of substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I ask you to withdraw.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Move Motion of Censure – Treasurer, Chief Minister and Government
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended that would prevent me from moving a censure against the Treasurer, Chief Minister and government for:
- lying to the elected members of this House about the state of the Northern Territory’s finances;
Madam SPEAKER: Could I just ask the media to stop recording at this point. They are reminded that they are not able to use that piece of footage in this evening’s news.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, the government will be accepting this motion. It is the most serious motion that can be put to this parliament. I look forward to the debate.
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Question Time suspended for Censure Motion.
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Question Time suspended for Censure Motion.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016