2006-03-30
Redirection of Questions
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I wish to advise that, due to the absence of the Treasurer, the member for Nhulunbuy today, all questions relating to Treasury; Employment, Education and Training; and Racing, Gaming and Licensing should be directed to the Chief Minister.
Opposition’s No New Taxes Legislation
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, the CLP will introduce the No New Taxes Bill. This bill will allow government to lower taxes, levies and charges, but not raise them. This year, your government will receive $150m more of the GST than you expected. Since the GST was introduced, you have received $750m more than you would have under the old system. Territory taxes have gone up from $216m to $317m per year since you came to office, and the ABS says that you have increased taxes by 12% in your last year, making us the highest per-capita taxing government. In short, you are fat on taxes. Will you support the bill to halt taxation increases for 12 months?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an interesting question and it is based on a lot of misinformation. If you talk to our business community, they recognise that we, as a government, have reduced taxes for businesses right across the board. We have made significant moves on payroll tax, both with rates and thresholds, and we are removing other taxes after 1 July. It is interesting that, when you say to businesses now, we have the lowest taxes for businesses of fewer than 100 people in Australia, they understand that. They do know that the impost of taxes under this government has lifted quite considerably.
Ms Carney: I think it is a ‘no’, Terry. It is a ‘no’ …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is an interesting little ploy by the opposition to introduce a bill to say ‘freeze taxes’ …
Ms Carney: Say ‘no’ and sit down.
Ms MARTIN: It is an interesting ploy of the opposition - and a very rude Opposition Leader, can I say to people here today. When the opposition ask the question, the least you expect is to get some level of …
Ms Carney: And you know what we expect? We expect you to answer questions. So do Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is an interesting ploy to introduce this bill to freeze Territory taxes. We are actually reducing Territory taxes. As of 1 July, about $5m of Territory taxes will be reduced. That is $3m in payroll tax. We are abolishing the leasing duty and the non-quoted marketable securities, which is another $2m.
We have a cute bill from the opposition. It is a bit thick because it says ‘freeze taxes’. We reject it because we are going to reduce them. Why support a bill that says freeze taxes when we are going to reduce them? It is a clever little ploy but mis-targeted and not really very smart.
Little Mindil Development
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
There has been some recent media interest in a development site known as Little Mindil. Can you please inform the Assembly on what progress has been made to release the Little Mindil site for development?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. As members and the public would be aware, in late 2004, the government conducted consultation on three sites in what is called the Myilly Precinct; that is, Little Mindil, which is the block of land between the casino and the escarpment, the land on the headland, and also the former hospital site.
Following on from that consultation in late 2004, in early 2005 government made a number of decisions based on that consultation; namely, to create a park on the headland at Myilly Point, rezoning it from B5, which is tourist business zoning, to O1 which is open space - in other words, we created a park on Myilly Point; allow for a mix of parkland and development on the old hospital site; and, lastly, retain the B5 zoning of Little Mindil while requiring that any future development will be low rise.
The foreshore and the beach will remain open for public access and ownership, which is very good. We know and recognise that quite a number of people use that beach. It was a very clearly expressed opinion by the public that they wanted to retain that ownership of the beach, and also beach access. Those things have been guaranteed.
I am now pleased to advise the Assembly that we have begun advertising for expressions of interest for Lot 5994, which is the Little Mindil site, for a tropical tourist resort. The government is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons or corporations to develop a low-rise tropical tourist resort. That was also something that came through very strongly in the public consultation regarding the Mindil Beach and gardens locality. To facilitate this development, government will be offering for sale one of the prime sites available on the Darwin market, which is Lot 5994. What we are looking for is innovation in development, and also a high standard of quality.
It will be undertaken in two stages. The first stage will commence on 12 April and, following that, there will be an evaluation of those people who put in expressions of interest. They will then be short listed into the more serious proponents for the project in question. There will be a selection panel, as with all these types of developments. It will be a fully probity audited process and will be open and transparent. This panel will make an assessment on the bids that we receive.
It will be a sensible development. It reflects a lot of things that are happening in and around Darwin at present. The Territory economy is turbocharged. There is a lot of activity going on at the waterfront and, soon,. we look forward to development at Little Mindil. We are a government that is really trying to foster business. We have the lowest business tax regime in Australia and we are delivering surplus budgets, which we have in the past three years.
Ms Carney: $4bn deficit!
Dr BURNS: Our economy is going very strongly, despite the nay-saying of the opposition.
Uranium Mining in Northern Territory
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Two days ago, on ABC radio, you said that you were proud to have people exploring for uranium in the Northern Territory. You also stood by Labor’s absurd three mines policy as being your own policy. Why is it that you support uranium exploration, even issuing uranium exploration licences, but do not support a uranium mine? What will you say to a uranium mining company, when and if it comes to you and says: ‘We have found some uranium, will you let us mine it please?’
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not like to be misquoted by the Opposition Leader. I do not remember saying I was proud of having uranium mining in the Northern Territory. It is just the language that is being quoted. However, that is okay.
The issue with uranium mining is a complex one. The Labor Party has a policy that has been in place for a number of years now, which is about no new mines. That is for many reasons. It is a complex issue for the Labor Party, and that is the position that has been in place for a long time now. I do not believe there is any real question about the fact that the next Labor Party conference will probably see a debate on uranium. We have some very strong advocates for a change happening at a national level, with people like Martin Ferguson and, at a state level, Premiers like Mike Rann. That debate will happen and I certainly will be part of it.
We strongly support the uranium mine that we have in the Northern Territory. We have been insistent …
Dr Lim: No new mines then, is it?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we are insistent with the federal government that we regulate that mine. That is a position the Mines minister has put very strongly to the federal government; that in the Northern Territory we will regulate mines. That is our job; we will look after worker health and safety and the other aspects of environmental control for any mine in the Northern Territory.
The opposition well knows that we do not have any further control over uranium mining - none at all. In 1978 with self-government, the Northern Territory was not given control over uranium mining, and that is the situation to this day. A question asking what we would do if a miner came to us and said they wanted to mine uranium is a very ignorant question. We do not have that control. We issue licences for exploration that are not mineral specific. We have increased the …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: That is a fact of life. Have a briefing. We do not issue mineral-specific licences for exploration. We had a lot of land opened up for exploration. We are very proud of the square kilometres of land now being explored, but that is not for any particular mineral.
The fact of life is, we strongly support the uranium mine we have. We are regulating that carefully, and we have seen some of that activity over the last 18 months where we have insisted, through regulation, that that mine be run at the highest standard.
Madam Speaker, on the national level, Labor will, I believe – I cannot predict this - but my sense is that, at the next party conference, Labor will be looking at the no new mine policy, and the debate will be a very vigorous one. Certainly, in any mining policy, there is always that balance between the environment, safety of the product that is actually mined, and the jobs that go with mining and energy supplies for the future. It is not an easy debate; however, it is one I suspect the Labor Party will be having nationally at the next conference.
Support for Pregnant Mothers
Mr NATT to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please update the House on what the government is doing to improve the support, quality of service and choice for pregnant mothers in Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it was a great pleasure to go to the new centre from where the Community Midwifery Program will be operating in Casuarina, next to the Casuarina Plaza, to see a huge attendance of clients, supporters and, of course, midwives. People there acknowledged how much ground we have gained in rolling out the types of services in maternity and birthing services that give women in the Northern Territory - certainly in Darwin - some real choices. The homebirth midwives reported that their programs are on track. One hundred and forty women, including my colleague, the Minister for Family and Community Services, have taken advantage of the Community Midwifery Programs. We had one of their magnificent products there, Madam Speaker, and that was the mighty Zac, who is looking fantastic, apart from a slight ding mark on his forehead.
We are moving these services forward with home birth, community midwifery, and the birthing centre work commencing in the Royal Darwin Hospital, together with the existing services run at a higher medical level in the maternity section of the Royal Darwin Hospital.
This program now has very strong support from obstetricians and paediatricians, as well as the midwives. This is midwife-led care, from antenatal, through the birth and then on to post-natal. It gives the mum the security of continuity of care. There is a familiar face right from go to whoa in the care process. We can be very proud here of what our health system has done in supporting expectant mothers, supporting the birth choices for mothers and supporting the post-natal care of both mother and child.
Labor Party’s Three Mines Policy
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
On 23 August 1994, this House unanimously supported a motion that the ALP’s three-mine policy should be scrapped. The motion read:
- … that this Legislative of Assembly on behalf of the people of the Northern Territory:
(1) expresses its unanimous support for the abolition of the Australian Labor Party’s so-called 3-mine policy …
One of the people who supported this motion is now the Deputy Chief Minister, the member for Nhulunbuy. In five years of government, we note that you have not sought to overturn that motion. Can you tell us when the Territory Labor policy reverted back to the absurd three-mine policy, and do you have your deputy’s support?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, first of all, the policy of three mines, which is now no new mines, has been in place since Bob Hawke’s time as Prime Minister of Australia in 1983. It is no secret that the Labor Party has had vigorous debates about its uranium policy and not everyone agrees with the policy. However, part of being part of a party is accepting the majority decision. There are, of course, members - and I have quoted two before: Martin Ferguson on a national level, is pushing very hard for at least a discussion with the party in that policy, and my colleague, Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia - who would like to see a change. There is no mystery that, sometimes, within parties there can be disagreements. Our formal policy is no new mines. As I said in my last answer, I suspect that that will be discussed quite vigorously at the party conference next year.
From a Territory point of view, if we cast back over the last five years, the Territory and this government has been very busy, and, I believe very successful, in looking at other energy sources. Uranium is not the only energy source. We only have one identified uranium mine at this stage that is actually operational, and that is Jabiluka. The traditional owners and Rio Tinto, have an agreement that Jabiluka will not go ahead until the traditional owners agree. That is in the hands of Rio Tinto and traditional owners. We do not have any other identified uranium mines.
However, what we do have is gas. Over the last five years, we have gone from a Territory that talks about the potential of gas as an energy source to having the fourth LNG tanker head off for Japan yesterday. The growing need that China has for energy, which is fuelling the growth, this is not only about uranium, but LNG as well. We are wonderfully positioned to take advantage of that Chinese growth. We are seeing mines starting right around the Territory for minerals, whether for manganese or bauxite, because of that growth in China. We are hoping that LNG can be part of that as well.
While the opposition wants to say the only energy source is uranium, from the Territory’s point of view, we have more. We have a broader vision than that. Yes, I am sure the Labor Party will discuss the no new mines policy at its next conference.
Indonesian Nurses – Training to Upgrade Skills
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please provide the Assembly with an update on the Northern Territory government’s commitment to provide Indonesian nurses with training to upgrade their professional skills?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Members might recall that, last August, I was part of the celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the 60th Anniversary of the Independence of Indonesia. In a good Territory tradition - and I pay tribute to those who went before me - we gave a gift to the Indonesians for this very significant independence anniversary. I was delighted to be part of those celebrations.
Our Territory gift was vocational development training for 20 Indonesian nurses. President Yudhoyono was delighted with that gift. Twenty Bachelor of Nursing graduates from the University of Indonesia will be coming to the Northern Territory. Currently, they are undertaking six months intensive training developing their English language skills so they can come to Darwin for that next level of training.
The course will start next month in Darwin. Charles Darwin University is now in the process of finalising those arrangements. Since the announcement, we have been working very closely with Charles Darwin University to ensure everything is in place for those 20 nurses to come here.
We have also worked in close consultation with the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Nursing and the Indonesian ministries of Education and Health. The training in Darwin will include three months of further English language development and three months of professional development, which will include clinical placements at Royal Darwin Hospital. After the six months of training, the nurses will be eligible to seek qualification as registered nurses from the Northern Territory Nursing and Midwifery Board. They will then have a choice; they can work in the Northern Territory for a while, or they can return home to further develop those very important nursing skills for Indonesia.
Judging from President Yudhoyono’s response, this is a very useful gift for the Indonesians. We are a good friend of Indonesia; they are our closest neighbour. This is a very practical way in how we can strengthen that relationship. I look forward, as I am sure everyone here does, to meeting those 20 Indonesian nurses and wishing them every success with their training at Charles Darwin University.
Container Deposit Legislation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The majority of Territorians support container deposit legislation. I am pleased to see the government is considering introducing CDL in remote communities. Why not introduce CDL for the whole of the Northern Territory, as happens in South Australia and is now being considered in Western Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. If anything, the member for Nelson has been very consistent with this. We have always said that any introduction, or even looking at CDL in the Territory would come from the national arena, because there are taxing issues. We have gone through this.
I notice the member for Braitling is shaking her head. She has also been quite vocal about this. We are working with our federal counterparts to look at the taxing issues on a federal level ...
Mrs Braham: In how many years’ time?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … with some of the concerns coming from remote communities … You asked me a question, give me the courtesy of answering it.
With a lot of the requests coming from communities, the funding from the Litter Abatement and Resource Recovery Strategy goes into this program for the benefit of those communities, despite members on the opposite side saying that the money we receive from BIEC comes back to the government. I welcome the applications and submissions that we have received from a number of communities to look at running voluntary CDL programs so we can look at and review the effectiveness of those programs in those communities.
There are freight and other issues that we have to consider and councils have to look at. Through these trial programs, we will be able to work with those councils and look at the effectiveness of those communities on a wider scale.
Uranium Mining in the Northern Territory
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
You and your colleagues, but you in particular, have been extolling the virtues of mining in the Territory for months, and ramping it up after the debacle surrounding McArthur River. Is your message now to potential uranium miners that you will not support a uranium mine? If not, why is it that you continue to issue exploration licences?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I have been sitting here many years now, hearing what a good lawyer she was and how she completed legal studies. I am really impressed, you are very good at your job. However, I find it very difficult that a person, with your legal knowledge and background cannot understand the simple fact of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act. From a cursory look at the act, you will understand that mining and radioactive materials are not under our control, but the Commonwealth’s.
I would like to point that out to the member for Greatorex, who said: ‘You gave it away’. You cannot give away something you never had. You cannot give away uranium because we never had control over it. Have a look at the self-determination act and you will find it clearly there. I will describe this once again: if a miner discovers uranium he has to officially notify me and my federal counterpart. If that person decides to mine for uranium, he will forward the application to me. In turn, I will forward it to my counterpart in the federal government, who then has to make a decision, which he will advise me of. I am legally bound, by the legislation introduced into this parliament by a CLP government …
Ms Carney: I remember when you lot used to believe in something. You fence sitter!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: I am legally bound by legislation put into this parliament by the CLP government to follow the advice of the federal minister. If the federal minister says yes, I have no alternative but to approve the mine. If the minister says no, I have no alternative but to disapprove the mine. It is simple as that.
I invite you, a lawyer, to look at the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act and the Mining Act, which clearly describe the mechanisms. If somebody decides to open a mine in the Northern Territory, I will have to follow the advice of the federal minister - full stop.
HomeNorth Extra Promotional Tour
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HOUSING
Last month, the minister spoke about upcoming regional tours to promote HomeNorth Extra to those living in regional centres. Can the minister update the House on the outcome of this tour?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. In line with our commitment to raise the profile of HomeNorth Extra and increase access in the regions, 11 regional towns were visited as part of the regional tour in February and March. Representatives of TIO and Territory Housing delivered free information sessions about purchasing a home through the HomeNorth Extra scheme. A total of 45 people attended the information sessions in Adelaide River, Pine Creek, Batchelor, Timber Creek, Katherine, Mataranka, Borroloola, Elliott, Tennant Creek, Ti Tree and Alice Springs. Information has been left at community government councils, Territory Housing offices and TIO branches for future inquiries.
Calls have also been received from people who missed the information sessions who want to know more about the scheme. We found that many people were under the impression that the HomeNorth Extra scheme only applied to first home buyers. Obviously, they were very pleased to discover the fact that it is also available to previous home owners.
Since the completion of the tour, eight loan applications have been received – two from Katherine, one from Tennant Creek and five from Alice Springs. Eight out of 45 is a wonderful effort, and a tribute to TIO and Territory Housing staff who participated.
By way of further information, since the introduction of HomeNorth Extra on 1 July 2005, 313 Territorians have been assisted to purchase their own homes, using $59.3m of government funds in home loans and shared equity schemes.
Environment Protection Agency
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last sittings, your Environment minister made it clear that she relied on the EPA to help her form her decision to reject the McArthur River Mine proposal. A check of the NRETA web site reveals that the EPA’s legislation and policies cannot be found. The minister then said that there is only a board which is looking into the establishment of the EPA. How is it that, yesterday, your minister for the Environment told Territorians on ABC: ‘In October last year there was a big announcement and we launched the whole EPA’. What is the truth of this matter? Does the EPA exist or does it not? How could your minister have launched the whole EPA last year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have a press release that was issued by the minister last October, which I would like to table when I have finished so the Opposition Leader can have a look at it. It simply restates what the minister said about the EPA in this House: ‘NT government takes next step towards Environment Protection Agency’. It was very clearly spelt out at that time, both by press release and in the House, where we were moving on an EPA.
The Opposition Leader demonstrates a level of ignorance. She would know that any environmental assessment is done under the Environmental Assessment Act, and there does not need to be legislation for an EPA at this stage. The Environmental Assessment Act, which has been in place since 1984, is what guided us through many environmental assessments and PERs through this year and previous years.
You can argue the points about whether the EPA has taken one step, three steps, or four steps. Whether it is independent in how we do environmental assessments at this stage is irrelevant, because it is done, very properly, in accordance with an act that has been in place for 22 years. That is the process that is followed. The minister has been incredibly clear about where we are in taking steps towards an EPA. She made it very clear last year that we had taken a first step.
Northern Territory Sports Awards
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Tomorrow night, you will host the 2006 Northern Territory Sports Awards. Can you please outline how you anticipate the event will unfold?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. The Sports Awards commenced in 1973, with the Northern Territory News organising the inaugural event. In the late 1980s, the government took over the awards, and they have certainly grown to be the prestigious awards they are recognised as today.
I fully anticipate a full house tomorrow night. I know that listeners will be able to tune in, either to the live radio broadcast by Territory FM - I thank Territory FM who are broadcasting Question Time today, for that broadcast - or a delayed television broadcast about a week later on the ABC.
The Sports Awards panel and awards committee of experts have, once again, completed a very fine assessment process. I was delighted to recently endorse their athlete selections which will, obviously, remain a secret until the big awards night.
I would like to thank the panel and committee members for their work: Mr Terry Bell from Alice Springs; Mr John Pollock of Darwin; Lindsay Ellis from the Institute of Sport; Jan Palazzi, Executive Officer of Disabled Sports NT; June Voukolos, from NT Tenpin Bowling Association; our very own Administrator, Hon Ted Egan, who was the chair of the committee; Mr John Cason, Regional Manager for Qantas; Stuart Bowlan, representing TIO; Lincoln Jenkins, the General Manager of Fosters Australia NT Division; and Sylvia Langford, the Deputy CEO of my department.
I would also like to thank our three major award sponsors for the event: Qantas, TIO and Fosters Australia because, without these community-minded organisations, we would not be able to showcase all our extraordinary talent in such style.
This year, we received 60 nominations covering 22 sports across the nine categories. Included in these categories is my particular favourite, the Eric Johnston Encouragement Award. This award will recognise a young athlete whose achievements warrant encouragement, to assist in their continued development. I know there are some very strong contenders for awards this year, including Territory identities, Peter Chilman from sailing and Antony Yoffa from motor sports who will vie for the title of Administrator of the Year.
The title of Sportsperson of the Year will be very hotly contested. What an amazing range of sporting heroes we have: our golden swimming sensation, Danni Miatke, our pocket dynamo, the Institute of Sport weightlifter, Maria Tsoukalis, and our Under 21 Australian hockey representative, who scored the most goals in the tournament, Colin Hennessey. The results should be thrilling.
I am particularly delighted that the NT Hall of Champions and the Roll of Honour Awards will be presented for the first time as part of these awards. I would like to thank Mr Dennis Booth from the Northern Territory News for his enormous support and assistance in presenting these awards.
This year’s winner of the Steve Abala Role Model Administrator’s Medal Award will also be announced. It will be an exciting evening and I am looking forward to celebrating the awards of our very fine sports achievers and administrators throughout the year.
Alice Springs Watch-House - Gazettal
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL
In yesterday’s Gazette, there was a notice signed by you that declared the Alice Springs watch-house in Parsons Road to be a police prison. Could you explain to me exactly what you mean by that? Is this notice invalidated because you have the wrong address? It is Parsons Street, not Parsons Road.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. The gazettal of the police watch cells as a prison was as a contingency measure when the prisoner numbers at the Alice Springs gaol increased and …
Mrs Braham: Are you going to have Correctional Services there?
Dr TOYNE: Sorry? I will just finish my answer and you can see if I have covered everything.
It is a contingency to allow for short-term holding of prisoners in the watch-house rather than transferring them straight into the prison. It was in response to rising numbers of prisoners occurring at the time that that decision was taken. The numbers at Alice Springs prison have now been stabilised by transferring a consignment of prisoners to Berrimah. The overall numbers have receded somewhat, although they are still above the 800 mark across the two prisons.
In the very near future, I hope to make a positive announcement about the capacity of our prisons. I cannot do it right now, but it is imminent, and we should have the capacity to deal with the current numbers after that time.
Mrs Braham: But you did not answer all the question. What about invalidating the notice?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr TOYNE: It is a legitimate gazettal.
Housing Shortages in Remote Mining Towns
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for HOUSING
With the fastest growing economy in Australia and the fastest population growth in a decade, what steps are being taken to address the housing shortages in our remote mining towns?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The growth in production capacity of our mining towns such as Nhulunbuy and Alyangula has created pressure on housing supply, not least the demand for government employee housing, where our police, teachers and nurses are serving our communities in the bush. You would agree, Madam Speaker, they all very dedicated people.
Early this month, I had the privilege to be invited to Nhulunbuy as the guest of the Rirratjingu clan for the opening of the Malpi Village. My colleague, the member for Nhulunbuy, was also in attendance.
Malpi Village is the kind of public/private partnership that we need in remote areas of the Northern Territory, indeed, Australia. Using a combination of mining royalties and commercial loans, the Rirratjingu are actively engaged as investors in the expanding opportunities in Nhulunbuy. The Malpi Village is a $10m investment and will provide 29 dwellings. Of these, Territory Housing has signed a lease over 13 dwellings, which incorporate three three-bedroom houses and five two-bedroom duplexes, which will be made available to our government employees in due course.
The first stage of the project, which will be completed this July, will also allow for the employment of Aboriginal trainees. Rirratjingu‘s Bunuwal Investments is finalising further developments stretching out beyond three years, which means that these apprentices have a chance to actually secure full qualifications over the time.
The Malpi project and other investments will provide long-term financial security for the Rirratjingu people, and that will be independent of mining royalties. The signing of this 15-year agreement between Territory Housing and the Rirratjingu clan signals a new direction in indigenous training and employment and commercial investments, which I am sure all members of this Assembly applaud.
Strong demands for minerals has also led to an expanded capacity at GEMCO mine on Groote Eylandt, and similar problems for government employee housing. The expanded work force led to the mine requesting that Territory Housing vacate the existing GEMCO houses which were leased as government housing. As a result, Territory Housing has recently completed 21 units at Alyangula. These are made up of nine three-bedroom houses and six two-bedroom duplexes. All 21 dwellings will be occupied by government employees.
The important issue here, Madam Speaker, is to recognise the fact that this is a wonderful initiative and provides models for the future in what I would describe as mini-public/private sector economic arrangements between indigenous people and the private sector in driving the economic development growth in the bush and providing more up-to-date and appropriate houses for our very dedicated public servants.
Environment Protection Agency -
Structure and Establishment
Structure and Establishment
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
It is clear that your EPA is part of a government department and that the really independent EPA will be along later. As you know, the mining industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars in the Territory and accounts for about 18% of our gross state product. Given that mud is clearer than your position on uranium, and no one can explain the EPA’s structure or its establishment, how do you expect the mining industry to take you seriously?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will restate the issue about the EPA. We have been very clear. Last year, we established Stage 1 of an EPA, and that was the immediate reorganisation of the Office of Environment and Heritage, and the appointment of a three-member EPA board. We are undertaking further community consultations about the shape of the EPA and we will take a second stage at the end of that. It is quite clear. There is no question about that; it is on the public record, we are not hiding anything.
The mining industry takes us seriously.. I have a meeting tomorrow with the head of a mining company who wants to put serious dollars into mining into the Territory. We are taken very seriously.
Proudly, we will have the first consignment from Bootu Creek coming into the Port of Darwin next month.
Mining is the biggest contribution to the Territory’s economy. Our miners appreciate the fact that we always have to find the balance between protecting our environment and mining. I pay tribute to our mining companies who have done that successfully, and who have gone through the environmental impact statement assessment and PERs, and have done that successfully. We have found that balance.
I pay tribute to mining companies which expect us to be tough on them about the environment. They expect that government and communities have the highest expectations of miners about their relationship with the environment, and their rehabilitation after a mine has finished. We will do that on behalf of Territorians. We have miners who are very keen to mine in the Territory. We have record numbers of exploration applications and mines that are expanding. Look at what is happening with the Gove G3 and a new mine at Bootu Creek. We have Territory Iron, which is hopeful of starting up in the next couple of months. I reassure Territorians that mining is alive and well in the Territory, as is our commitment to our environment.
East Arm Leprosarium - Memorial
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
In February 2004, you made some positive comments about preserving a site near the East Arm Leprosarium. On my last visit past that area, haul trucks were still using the old road to the leprosarium site, and the old Gmelina trees that flanked the entrance were looking worse for wear. When the memorial is to be erected and the entrance preserved? Why has it taken so long for this to occur?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I stand by my commitment to that memorial, member for Nelson. I will get back to you. We were waiting for the interpretive sign to be finished. In talking to Sister Anne Gardiner and others who were associated with the East Arm Leprosarium, there were some photos and other information still coming. However, I will undertake to follow that up and find out where it is and get back to you.
National Youth Week 2006
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for YOUNG TERRITORIANS
National Youth Week 2006 starts on 1 April. This is an important week for Territorians, as we have a young and vibrant population. What sort of activities will be available to young people in the Northern Territory to mark National Youth Week?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. There are many of us in this House who probably still reflect and remember what it was to be a youth.
The seventh annual National Youth Week starts on 1 April. The purpose of a designated youth week is to give young Australians, particularly young Territorians, the chance to express their ideas, raise concerns and act on issues, while encouraging communities to take notice of their young people, listen to them and celebrate the positive contributions they make to our society and culture.
National Youth Week is a joint Australian government, state, territory and local governments initiative. The Territory is hosting a variety of innovative and fun activities that reflect the interests, issues and concerns of young Territorians. This includes targeted activities to engage disadvantaged young people. These activities are funded through our Youth Grants Program and administered by the Office of Youth Affairs, with funding from other government agencies and community groups. I will mention some of these activities because they are worth highlighting:
The Platform, which is a free one-day, alcohol and drug-free music event in Raintree Park, featuring local bands;
Police Youth Forums – which will be held throughout the Northern Territory - will promote and build positive
relationships with the school communities in an interactive and informative setting. These forums were a
recommendation that came out of the 2005 Chief Minister’s Youth Round Table.
and Alice Springs for young people aged between 18 and 25.
THA BIG GIG will showcase young people’s art, skills and culture, while providing opportunities for them to learn
about event management, creative producing and team work.
Islamic Youth Forums, which are to be held in Darwin and Alice Springs, will be allowing young Muslims to
communicate directly with government about issues that affect their communities.
Madam Speaker, that was a quick snapshot of some of the events that are taking place. There will be more events held around the Northern Territory during National Youth Week. A guide is available on the web site www.youth.net.nt.gov.au. We all need to remember our young people are the future of the Territory, and I look forward to launching National Youth Week on Saturday.
McArthur River Mine – Diversion of River
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
On 23 February this year, the member for Arnhem made an impassioned plea to this House regarding Xstrata. She said:
- I challenge Xstrata when it says the mine will close if it cannot divert the river. I say to Xstrata: find another way, find a better way.
In other words, do it but do not divert the river.
Do you know whether the additional nine requirements of Xstrata include a demand to keep the river on its current course? If not, how will you console the member for Arnhem and the four language groups she represented when she made her comments? What will you say to the indigenous people in the member for Arnhem’s electorate when you have betrayed their trust?
ANSWER
I find that a bit cute, Madam Speaker, coming from the Leader of the Opposition about betraying trust. The Leader of the Opposition accuses everyone else of political spin and mistruths - and there has been a lot of mistruth in the media from the opposition and the Independent members in relation to this.
There has been no betrayal of trust. The process has happened. In my own view, I will assess projects on their merit, and that is how we will proceed.
Health Facilities in Remote Areas
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you update the House on what the government is doing to improve health facilities in remote areas of the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question, because it goes to those areas of health delivery that are probably unknown to the opposition members. Remote health services are delivered outside the city environs, and you have to actually travel out to communities and see our remote clinics to see what is going on.
I did just that on 24 February 2006. I went to the Tiwi Islands to open the Jipiuwampilila Health Centre at Milikapiti. This centre has been named after a very inspirational Tiwi woman, who campaigned for her people’s services and health for many years. I opened an absolute state-of-the-art facility there worth $2.66m. It has separate men’s and women’s areas through a very modern building, so that men could come in through one entrance, women through another, and separate men’s and women’s consulting areas, a very good emergency bay and room at one end of the building, and good staff training and recreational areas. That is the type of service facilities that are going to keep nurses and doctors in the service and delivering our health services in remote areas.
The services on offer in that clinic are: acute and emergency care; maternal and child health services; chronic disease screening and follow up; mental health services; sexual health services; environmental health services; and services that focus separately on men’s and women’s health. A specialist will travel regularly to that clinic to take part in the delivery of the services.
It is interesting, when you are opening one of these contemporary facilities, that we now see as the benchmark, I guess, that a government has to achieve to give a proper setting for our services. Mike Tyrrell, from the Alice Springs Hospital Board has given me some archival documents which were a survey of assets of the remote health services that was done in 1991 by Les Platt Architects. What was so good about this document is that it has all these pictures of the old clinics, circa 1991. There is the Ti Tree clinic, which is a donga with a double roof on it, and some pretty unwelcoming interiors, if you go by the pictures. I will table these and have them passed around so members opposite can actually have a close look at them. The Yuendumu clinic, which was newly built at that stage - or not that newly built. It has here, ‘areas ideal for the upgrade for training facilities’. Well, it has no windows and it looks pretty dingy by modern standards. The Haasts Bluff clinic, was a silver bullet caravan with what looks to be veneer wooden panelling on the inside. These days, if people saw these types of facilities, they would say you have to be joking. You cannot run a health service in those sort of conditions.
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: What have you done about it in the last five years?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr TOYNE: I am not actually trying to make a point about CLP and ALP governments here; I am simply saying that the standard of the facilities and services that are now apparent around our remote clinics is infinitely out of sight better than in 1991 when these pictures were taken.
Ms Carney: That is because the CLP fixed them.
Dr TOYNE: I am feeling in such a good mood today, I will not even mention that the CLP government presided over this mess. I will table those for you.
Darwin City Waterfront Project
Mrs BRAHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
We have heard a lot about the Northern Territory budget at the moment. Can you tell me how much this government has actually spent on the waterfront development so far? Have the funds been taken out as a loan, or out of Consolidated Revenue and, if so, is this why departments have had their budgets slashed? If you cannot give me the figure now, will you at least get back to us later and tell us how much?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have to address the first issue of agencies having their budgets slashed - not at all. We have heard …
Mrs Braham: Well, that is what they say.
Ms MARTIN: What I have said to agencies, ministers and CEOs is: ‘You will live within your budgets’. We have had good growth budgets in the Northern Territory. We put figures in here all the time. In Health, there has been 43%, strong growth in Police, strong growth in Education, strong growth in other areas. Quite reasonably, I have said to CEOs and ministers: ‘Manage within the dollars that you have been given. No slashing of budgets – manage within the dollars you have been given’.
There are different components to the waterfront. There is the convention and exhibition centre, which we do not pay for, for three years. Okay, so no payments for that for three years, it is being built by the consortium - under way now. Terrific. The other aspect is the community infrastructure, and that is something that we are paying for, like a capital works program. We had two sums to cope with that payment in deficit to the next two budgets …
Mrs Braham: How much?
Ms MARTIN: The sum for the community infrastructure is $94.6m. The minister for planning and infrastructure has carriage of the project, like a capital works program, at the moment. It is $94.6m, and that is paid for over the next two-and-a-half years.
Mrs Braham: Out of?
Ms MARTIN: Out of the ordinary budget. However, we have a special allocation which we will see as deficits in two years, which we have had in the forward estimates and which were put there in last budget.
Those payments will be made. They will be finished in the next two years and we will have a terrific waterfront. We will have the community infrastructure of the seawall, the wave pool and the public areas. We will have a convention and exhibition centre, which we will start paying for then. TOGA, as part of the consortium, is building the hotel and the first stage of the residential.
Mrs Braham: Can you give us a figure on how much to date you have spent?
Ms MARTIN: I do not know whether the minister can. If the minister can, and because Planning and Infrastructure has carriage of that, I will pass that answer to the relevant minister.
Dr BURNS (Planning and Lands): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. To date, it is a bit over $20m, approximately $23m. There has been a lot of construction activity at the waterfront. The pad has been completed by Macmahon NT. There is quite a large amount of work there. Piles are now being constructed by the joint venturers, Sitzler/Barclay Mowlem. Quite a lot of work has been done on the 650 m seawall and the rock armour.
Stage 1 of McMinn Street upgrade commenced in January. Local construction company, Wolpers Grahl, are undertaking that work. BMD Constructions commenced looking at the ground water on the site in January. Advance Civil Engineering Pty Ltd is doing the water mains. There is quite a lot of work going on there.
It was my pleasure, a week or two ago, to visit a local steel fabrication company which has a multimillion dollar contract to fabricate steel. Once again, this is a government that is financially responsible. The economy is growing, people are in work, and local businesses are flourishing. It is a great project and I urge everyone to get behind it.
Territory Innovators – Government Backing
Mr NATT to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In today’s highly competitive world, businesses need to be proactive and innovative in the products and services they deliver. Can you please update the House on how the government is backing Northern Territory innovators to develop our knowledge economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the economy is going very well at the moment. We, as a government, have always had the policy position that we need to diversify our economy even further. This is a government that knows that innovation and research will lead to new industries in the future, which will achieve that aim of diversifying our economy. That is why we established the Northern Territory Research and Innovation Board in September 2004.
Since that time, the board has seen three rounds of project grants, and two postgraduate scholarship rounds applied for and granted. The board has committed a total of $430 000 to support 26 projects in industries including health, natural resource management, indigenous enterprise, commercial use of wildlife, demographics and conservation.
What is exciting about the Research and Innovation Board and the fund is that that $430 000 has leveraged a further $2.3m from other sources to those projects, and generated 20 full-time jobs as a result of that seed funding. It really has gone to benefit the Charles Darwin University. To highlight just one example, the council committed $60 000 to a project to study the control of mosquito-borne diseases, which was further able to leverage additional funding of $639 000 from the Australian Research Council.
The inaugural Territory Research and Innovation Awards were held last year. I could not attend. The Chief Minister attended and said it was one of the best award nights that she had been to for years. There were a lot of very excited people who were really getting to the forefront with research. The awards night this year has been expanded to include two new categories. Nominations closed last week, and I am sure that competition is going to be fierce.
Our aim is to diversify the economy. We are doing that by continuing to support research and innovation and have leveraged $2.3m and 20 new full-time jobs - another good story.
McArthur River Mine - Government Decision
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
One of the reasons the department or the EPA – whatever it is - rejected McArthur River Mine’s proposal was based on an issue of river morphology. Is it not the case that your government’s departmental EPA never talked to the mine about river morphology, which led the mine to, quite reasonably, assume that that particular issue was not a major concern? Is it not the case that the mine was not told about the EPA’s concerns until after your minister publicly rejected the project? Do you think it is fair that a mine is given a chance to respond to a minister’s concerns before they hear about it on the radio? Is this how you are going to treat other mining investors, including the ones you will be meeting with tomorrow?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the issue with McArthur River Mine is one where I can stand here proudly and say that process was followed. There are outstanding environmental issues that need to be addressed. Those issues have been identified through the Environmental Assessment Act and the processes that guide that. I am very hopeful that Xstrata will want to - and I am very confident they will - address those outstanding issues and meet the environmental thresholds that we need to have met.
That process is continuing; it is all part of the environmental assessment process. I am confident,, while it is a difficult process and there are tensions between a mine and the environment, that we will find that balance. I am confident that Xstrata will come back in terms of engaging with us - the ball is in their court - and address the outstanding issues.
That does not necessarily mean that this mine will get across the line. However, what we have said to Xstrata is that there are outstanding important environmental issues and that we want to work with them to address those. That is the position as it stands. The Opposition Leader can put her conspiracy theories aside and, on behalf of this government, we support mining; however, we also need to ensure, with any mine, that the environment is adequately protected, both now and into the future.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016