2007-10-11
Chief Minister – Attitude to Alleged Victims
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you took a hands-off approach to the alleged victims in the Collins affair by saying that it is a matter for the proper departments to handle. That is in stark contrast to Wednesday 9 February 2005, when you picked up the phone and called the Police Commissioner about Mr Collins. You initiated that call in response to a rumour that you had heard that Mr Collins was about to be charged with child sex offences. Why did you take such an active role to find out about your friend and mentor who was about to be charged with child sex offences? If you were prepared to take a personal interest in the accused, should it not be matched by a personal interest in the victims?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we went through this in a lot of detail yesterday. It is a very serious issue. Our police did a very thorough, professional and independent task in bringing those charges against Bob Collins. All witnesses were advised of the Witness Assistance Service and the counselling and assistance they could source through that, which is something we are certainly encouraging them to do. As I said yesterday, anyone who identifies as an alleged victim should use the same service.
The service has been spoken to by the CEO of Justice, as directed by the Attorney-General. They understand that matters are to be dealt with are very confidentially and professionally. This is anything but hands-off, I say to the member for Blain. We are very concerned that those who are alleged victims have the counselling and support that they need. This government is doing everything it can in that direction to help. It is not a hands-off process at all. We are balancing what has happened with what we can do now. How we are moving is very appropriate.
Employment Statistics
Mr BONSON to TREASURER
Can you inform the House about the Northern Territory’s latest labour force statistics and why they are more good news for the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question because today is that day in the month of October when the ABS releases its employment figures at 11 am around Australia, as is their want every month. Those figures released today make it clear that the Territory economy continues to grow very strongly indeed. In annual terms, Territory trend employment increased by 7%. That is the highest growth rate across Australia. We are now surging ahead of the other growth states, Western Australia and Queensland. We are well ahead of places like Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and, of course, with figures such as we have, we are well above the national average.
In comparison, in the Territory to September 2006, trend full-time employment was up 7.2% to 87 605; trend part-time employment is up 6% to 21 380.
It is interesting that the trend participation rate, that is the measure of how many people are actively engaged in the labour market as a percentage of 15- to 65-year-olds in the population, now stands at 73.5%. That is far and away the highest in the country. For many years, we were the highest in the country. More recently, we have been second and third. It is the highest Territory participation rate recorded since way back in February 2003. So, again, it is a very healthy statistic in terms of the increase in the number in employment.
These are good figures and they reinforce what people living in the Territory already know. If you want to come here from interstate or overseas, if you have finished your education, you have your diploma, your degree, you are graduating or you have finished your training, you can get good, well paid work in the Northern Territory. It reinforces the strong economic management of the Martin government in harnessing those expanding industries across the Territory to ensure that the benefits are felt right across the face of the economy in all industry sectors.
People like Chris Arthur of Coffey Projects, who I met and referred to yesterday, can come here confident of setting up business that they will do well, employing good people. They are terrific statistics, Madam Speaker. What is more important to myself and to the Martin government is the fact that they show the Territory community as the big winner.
Crime Victim Assistance Fund
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you said that the alleged victims of Mr Collins could claim compensation from the Crime Victim Assistance fund. However, is it not the case, because of the changes you made to that fund, no payment can be made in excess of $40 000 for all offences committed? In the past, a claim of up to $25 000 could be made for each and every offence committed. Therefore, in the past, victims of multiple offences could make claims in excess of $100 000. In light of the child sex allegations, are you satisfied that this reduction in compensation remains adequate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again I go to the heart of what we are talking about, and that is getting the appropriate counselling and support for any alleged victim of alleged offences by Bob Collins. We are encouraging those alleged victims to come to the Witness Assistance Service for that assistance.
We did change the scheme. It went through this House. However, the important part of what we are focusing on through the Witness Assistance Service is recovery for the alleged victim, and that is the whole focus of the assistance. We believe that is appropriate.
Elective Surgery - Waiting Lists
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for HEALTH
Earlier this year, you announced an initiative to reduce the Territory’s elective surgery waiting lists. Can you inform the House of the outcomes of the government’s elective surgery initiative?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Reducing waiting times for people who are on elective surgery lists has been a number one priority of mine since I became Health minister. I have dedicated a lot of time and interaction with the department to this issue.
Earlier this year, as the member for Daly said, I announced an elective surgery blitz to reduce waiting times, particularly for those who were on the overdue list, the people who have been waiting the longest. An investment of $2.3m was made for this elective surgery blitz. Important elements of the blitz were to ensure that there are beds, particularly in Darwin, for those who are undergoing elective surgery.
An arrangement was entered into with Darwin Private Hospital to provide 10 dedicated beds for those undergoing elective surgery. The results have been quite significant. Of the 1612 people who were on the overdue list across the Territory on 31 March 2007, 1463 people have been removed from the list, which is a reduction of 90%. That is significant.
Each and every one of those 1600-odd people were contacted and offered surgery. Of those 1612 people, 1463 were cut from the list. Of those, 803 received surgery and 660 were removed for a variety of reasons, including no longer requiring surgery or moving interstate and a number of people who, no doubt, had their surgery through the private system. I certainly encourage those who are privately insured, where it is appropriate, to have their elective surgery carried out through the private system.
We know that elective surgery waiting lists are not static; they are quite fluid. There were another 966 people who moved on to the overdue list in the period between 31 March and 31 August. Overall, that meant there was a 31% reduction in the overdue list right across the Territory, which is a significant number. However, we are not going to rest on laurels. I was at Royal Darwin Hospital today and the surgeons said they are going to continue to focus on elective surgery for further reductions in elective surgery waiting lists.
Ward 3B coming on stream, the area turned into an administration area by the previous CLP government that we are reopening as a ward, will further support elective surgery in an ongoing relationship with Royal Darwin Hospital.
In relation to Alice Springs Hospital, we opened a third operating theatre specifically to reduce elective surgery waiting times as part of our elective surgery blitz. The third operating theatre will remain open until around mid-December, which traditionally is the close up time for elective surgery theatres. I have been discussing with the CEO and we want to continue our elective surgery effort in Alice Springs next year. Alice Springs did very well in the number of operations carried out. However, they started from a higher base of the percentage of people who were on the overdue list. We need to continue that in 2008.
It revolves around not only the third operating theatre, but having available beds in Alice Springs. We have added 12 this financial year and will be adding another 12 in the next financial year. It is complicated in Alice Springs by remediation works and bed availability. However, I am very keen to further reduce the list in the Central Australian region.
This is a good news story, and I certainly commend the staff of Alice Springs Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital and the regional hospitals which have been working so hard to reduce these lists. This is a very significant result that I have been able to report to parliament.
HomeNorth Scheme – Take Up Rate
Ms CARNEY to TREASURER
I refer you to an article published in the Northern Territory News on 3 October which reported that:
Government figures show that the number of first homebuyers signing for their HomeNorth Xtra scheme has plummeted from an average of 43 a month to just three per month.
Will you admit that your key budget announcements regarding the changes to HomeNorth, which you said were the most comprehensive ever for getting Territorians into their own homes, have failed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. We are concerned and we recognise that there is a question of housing affordability in Australia. It is not just an issue in the Northern Territory; it is an issue right across Australia. We know that because we are clearly and only narrowly in second place in the ranks across Australia as the most affordable jurisdiction in the country.
This is a phenomenon in each of the jurisdictions that are experiencing strong economic growth. I talked about labour market statistics earlier. Yesterday or the day before, I talked about population growth. All of those are spiking up, as is economic growth. A factor is that when you have a strongly growing economy, you have people moving into the Territory, with strong population growth, you are going to put pressure on existing goods and services in that economy. One of those goods, of course, is the level of housing.
What has not helped housing affordability across Australia are the nine interest rate rises in a row under the Howard government, a government that promised before the last election that they would keep interest rate levels at record lows. The Prime Minister denied that he made that comment until he was shown the footage on television, his own mouth speaking those words in an advertisement. That is a fact, Madam Speaker. Nine interest rate rises in a row do not provide much joy for struggling young Territorians and families trying to crack into the market.
We have done a lot as a government to alleviate the plight of people trying to crack into the market, reflected of course, as I said, in the fact that we remain the second most affordable jurisdiction, reinforced by the release of Bellamack, 600 to 700 blocks announced some time ago, and the release this week of Berrimah, which will provide a further 700 blocks. This complements those releases already under way in Palmerston, Lyons and Muirhead. There are about 2500 blocks to come on to the market over the next couple of years.
A strengthened HomeNorth, yes, a landmark part of our economy. It is time, even at this stage of the financial year, for Treasury and housing officials, myself and the Minister for Housing to have a look at just how we keep the level of activity in HomeNorth up there, notwithstanding it is a robust scheme. It is pegged to a percentage level of the median house price in the respective market in which it is operating. I am not sure how much more we can do in that, but I am prepared to sit down with people from industry, with my colleague, with Treasury and with Housing to see where else we go.
We have huge stamp duty exemptions for first homebuyers. We are ensuring that government land releases will include affordable housing components for first homebuyers. We might get a kick along if the federal government and Treasurer Peter Costello were to come to the table and look at the 11 Mile Aerial Farm, which is no longer in used and is adjacent to Berrimah. They should talk to us about bringing that on to the market in a complementary fashion to the other releases. I have written to the Defence Housing Authority urging it to follow this government’s lead in allocating a certain percentage of blocks for first homebuyers and low income earners at Muirhead.
Madam Speaker, we do have a clear and comprehensive plan. I know at different times the CLP have come forward with ideas. They want to flood the market. They want to kill everyone’s equity in their own homes, built up over many years. Their life savings are tied up in their housing investment, something the CLP does not understand. It would not be good for the Territory economy. You must have a balanced release. We would welcome a response from the federal government and from the Defence Housing Authority if they were to commit to the sorts of things we put to them to complement the activity and actions taken by this government.
Sport - Football Federation Australia
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you please inform the House on the outcome of recent meetings with the Football Federation Australia and what this means for football and soccer lovers in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As we all know soccer, or football, is the most popular sport in the world, not only in Europe and South America, but now in Asia and in America. In the United States, more young boys and girls play soccer than their national sport, baseball. Of course, the same happens in Australia and in the Northern Territory.
In the Northern Territory, football has a higher participation rate than any other sport. Of course, it took 27 years for the CLP to realise that. I well recall only a week before the 2001 election they made a vague promise for a soccer stadium. The only thing we saw was a sign.
It was this government that delivered a $7.5m soccer stadium at Marrara Sports Complex, and if it were not for that stadium, we would not have had the game between Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory, the first ever A-League Football game in the Territory.
I was ecstatic to read yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald article, which made local news today, that Darwin is firming as the training and testing ground for the Socceroos for the 2010 World Cup qualifying tournament. There is a bit of history here because in 2006, I wrote to the Socceroos suggesting that before they go to Asia, they should come to Darwin to acclimatise and train. Unfortunately, they refused. I had a chuckle when I heard officials claiming that the reason for their loss was because they were not acclimatised for hot and humid conditions in Asia.
Last week, I travelled to Sydney and I met with Ben Buckley, the CEO of the Football Federation of Australia. We had discussions about A-League fixtures for the Northern Territory, promoting our facilities and training climate for elite training and, of course, the Football Federation of Australia helping us and the NT Football Federation to promote and develop soccer in the Territory.
A week later, Ben Buckley came to my office in Darwin with his officials and we discussed the same issues. On top of that, Mr Buckley toured our facilities. He was absolutely impressed by the stadium, the facilities at the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and he is seriously considering Darwin as a base for training and testing for the Socceroos for the 2010 tournament.
We are very happy to work with the Football Federation. They want to develop soccer in the same way that Clontarf Academy has developed in Alice Springs and Darwin. They were absolutely thrilled when we told them about Borroloola and the women’s and men’s soccer teams from there. They want to replicate that in other remote communities in the Territory, including the Tiwi Islands.
Ben Buckley stated publicly that AFL has 10% of their players from indigenous communities and soccer can do exactly the same. I am looking forward to working with him cooperatively. I welcome him to Darwin. For us, the words of Melbourne Victory players about our soccer stadium are very important. They stated publicly that they played at the Superdome in Melbourne, and this stadium surface is better than the Superdome’s. That tells you something about the quality of our facilities, and I welcome soccer to the Territory.
Banana Industry – Panama Disease
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
I understand the horticultural section of the Coastal Plains Research Station has an area set aside to evaluate banana varieties that may be resistant to Panama disease. As you know, Panama disease has basically wiped out banana production in the Top End. Could you say whether the control area, that is the area not affected by Panama disease, has been infected? How did it become infected? Will the trials continue? How much private money has gone into these trials?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As he quite rightly pointed out, Panama disease has had a crippling effect on the banana or plantains industry in the Northern Territory. It is caused by a fungal pathogen that mainly comes from the soil, and it is spread within properties and from property to property through the cultivation of the soil or soil transfer and, obviously, infected plants.
It was first detected in Australia in June 1997 on a commercial block at Berry Springs, and over the next couple of years, there were more properties detected. Over a period of about five years, there were seven properties in total that had contracted the disease. Currently, all but one commercial property in the Northern Territory is being quarantined from the disease. I am pleased to say that the Consultative Committee on Exotic Plant Pests and Diseases plus the Primary Industry Standing Committee have agreed to a cost-shared funding situation to contain the disease in the current situation on those properties.
There has been some funding provided into research at Coastal Plains Research Station, as the member quite rightly pointed out. The funding has been provided for research into varieties that are tolerant to the disease. It is a six-year project. Thirty-five banana and plantain varieties have been screened. Three have been found tolerant but, unfortunately, they are not of commercial value. I understand the taste just does not come up to the old Cavendish. The genetics of those plants are valuable, however.
The project is funded by the Northern Territory government, local banana growers and the Australian Banana Growers Association to the tune of around $1m. Industry is keen to continue that testing of the new varieties in the hope that they may turn up a suitable Cavendish replacement. The department is seeking to secure extra funds for the new research to improve soil health and better management in the hope that they can ensure the industry becomes a stable and profitable industry in the not too distant future.
HomeNorth Scheme – Take Up Rate
Ms CARNEY to TREASURER
Regarding the changes to HomeNorth, is it not the case that as a result of the placement of an 85% median market price cap on the purchase value of a property, there were only 20 houses for the three months from 1 July 2007 to the end of September across Darwin and Palmerston that could have been purchased? Can you explain exactly, Treasurer, how your HomeNorth changes are helping people buy a home, when fewer than seven houses per month are available under the scheme in all of Darwin and Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. In relation to HomeNorth, it was never intended that recipients of HomeNorth grants would have the leisure of strolling into the market and deciding which type of property they would like to purchase. It was deliberately designed and set in an affordable fashion, one, to the taxpayer but, two, to target those struggling on the precipice of not quite being able to get into the market from the commercial lenders, but a hand up to get into the market, get equity, buy out the share, then go across to the private sector once they had established themselves against a HomeNorth mortgage for a few years.
I take on face value the number of properties available to which the member for Araluen was alluding. It may have been higher; it may have been lower. The fact is that does not change or affect the effectiveness of the scheme overall. What we did find as prices have gone up is that people have used HomeNorth to purchase a unit in the first instance rather than the stand alone three-bedroom or four-bedroom house. That, again, was going down the path of establishing equity, the habit of paying off the mortgage on a regular basis, the growth in the value of the property plus the equity that they have bought into it and eventually paying out the government portion of the property that was jointly purchased with them and then either going to the private sector, a commercial bank, out into the market and into a house. It was still a stepping stone into home ownership, albeit not exactly what you might want in the first instance, but an opportunity, nonetheless to get into a market that, without HomeNorth, simply did not exist.
It was only yesterday that the Minister for Housing was saying to me: ‘Got to have a look at HomeNorth, bro’, and I said, ‘Yes, I agree. Let us get Treasury and Housing, let us get their ideas. Let us talk to the marketplace’. I have talked before about how useful that marketplace information can be because I was of a mind not all that long ago to think that HomeNorth might have had its day. I was told, however, that it has a very key role to play out there by none other than the commercial bankers themselves and they will be part of the group that we talk to over the weeks ahead.
Palmerston Plan
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
It gives me much pleasure to ask a question, particularly about Palmerston. In August, you announced a community-wide consultation process to inform the development of a Palmerston Plan. Can you update the House on the progress of this plan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if only the member for Brennan was able to answer the question himself because he has been doing the consultation, along with the member for Drysdale. This is my opportunity to talk about the Palmerston Plan and what very active local members are doing.
In August, together with the members for Brennan and Drysdale, we announced a fresh opportunity for the people of Palmerston to shape the future of their city. What I would like to do is update the House on our activities over the last few months.
Both members have chaired a series of public …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is disappointing that the member for Blain, whose electorate is in Palmerston, is not interested. That is disappointing.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Both members have chaired a series of public meetings right across Palmerston, essentially at the primary and high schools. Palmerston’s priorities to date are very clear: number one is health, followed by transport, more recreation facilities like the recreation centre that we built, and education. For a young community, of course education would be up there.
We are listening. We are collecting the ideas, and we will deliver a very exciting plan that reflects those ideas from that consultation. Of course, part of any planning process is talking to the business associations and, in Palmerston, if you are talking business association, you are talking PRBA. Cabinet went along to a Palmerston Regional Business Association meeting in September. It was a great night. How could it not be with the irrepressible Wayne Zerbe and everyone else there? We spoke to the business association about the future of Palmerston. When you go back to the priorities that were identified, the biggest cheer of the night was for the promise by Damian Hale and Kevin Rudd that, in government, federal Labor will invest up to $10m in a GP super clinic in Palmerston.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms MARTIN: Absolutely, a big cheer. That will include a 24-hour GP service, chronic disease and complex care management services, outpatient services from RDH, things like oncology services, obstetrics, gynaecology, ophthalmology, allied health services and dental services. It is a major commitment, federal Labor recognising the federal responsibility, which is exactly this: GP services and a GP super clinic for Palmerston. It is a great initiative and deserves a big cheer.
We have done a lot of consultation. There is more happening, though, and the next focus is on the future of the city centre, not just Palmerston generally but the city centre. There will be another meeting held on Friday week. The minister for Planning will be there listening directly to what the people of Palmerston have to say. That is at The Hub on Friday 19 October 2007.
For the last few months, from what has been talked through with the people of Palmerston, we have a fair idea of what that city centre should look like. It should be family friendly and vibrant, there should be better entry points to the centre of the city, and we can do things like make markets even better places to gather. There is a lot of activity happening in Palmerston. The people are having their say, and I pay tribute to the members for Brennan and Drysdale for the work they are doing.
Bellamack Subdivision – Timetable
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Despite the fact that you are desperately rushing the Bellamack subdivision as fast as you can, evidenced by allowing only six weeks for prospective developers to submit their expressions of interest in Bellamack, is it not the case that there will not be a single house occupied with title before 2009?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. The release of Bellamack has been very warmly welcomed by industry and by people looking forward to setting up in what is an extremely well-designed subdivision.
I am not going to put a hard date on when someone will be moving into their first home because it depends on a few factors. The government has put in place approximately $7m for the cost of the headworks for the suburb. The land is in good condition for development according to advice I have received. To date, there have been up to 70 expressions of interest in developing Bellamack. That is a significant number, obviously. We have extended the development interest application period by another two weeks because Power and Water have come forward with further advice on the infrastructure required so we are giving developers a chance to factor that into their applications.
I am very hopeful of assessments being done on applications and having wound up the development assessment process by the end of this year, which would give developers an opportunity to move full steam ahead with that development through next year. Is it a date in 2008 or 2009? That is yet to be determined, given that we are looking at the nature of the development. Is it going to be two separate developments or is it going to be a single development? We have put some conditions in the development process, which look to fast-track the turning off of land. Developers will come forward with what I expect to be very competitive bids, given that there are 70 already indicating an interest in it.
The nature of the competitiveness, the fact that the market is ready for Bellamack, I would expect there to be much interest. I have spoken to the civic engineers. They know Bellamack is happening and are looking forward to laying the roads at Bellamack. You also factor in the rate at which the waterfront will be nearing completion so we have subcontractors coming on to the market, having finished off their work at the waterfront. So, if you like, there are some good factors that will assist the timing and how quickly Bellamack can be turned off.
People have been surprised at how quickly Lyons has come to fruition from when the first sods of soil were being turned out there. If Lyons is an experience that we can take into account, we would expect Bellamack to be a very rapid subdivision in comparison with subdivisions of the past.
Litchfield Loop Road
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Can you update the House on the progress of the construction of the Litchfield Park road?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a very important question. The Territory government has a record $180m in this year’s roads budget. It is very much a feature of our $645m cash investment in infrastructure programs this financial year alone. This record investment in our roads has been focused on access to our communities, but also, importantly, growing business, and a key business to the Territory is tourism. A real jewel in that tourism crown is Litchfield Park.
The Territory government has a commitment of $15m to completing the Litchfield Loop Road, as we refer to it. That project will enhance the jobs and tourism opportunities available in Litchfield Park. Currently, we are sealing some 44 km between Cox Peninsula Road and Wangi Falls, creating better access and a more enjoyable experience for tourists and locals. Construction of the first stage is occurring right now. We are hoping that that road seal is completed by the end of the year. That tender was awarded to local contractor the Ostojic Group, which is currently building the road.
The first stage is sealing of what we call section 0 km to 9 km of Cox Peninsula Road. The design and development is proceeding for the proposed works from 9 km to 33 km, and that section is not affected by Aboriginal land issues. The extension from the existing seal at the Litchfield Park end of the gravel road, that is the final 11 km, will require formal approval from the Northern Land Council. Land clearance issues remain unresolved. We are continuing to work with the Northern Land Council to get their approval to complete the project. We have about $3m worth of sealing going on in the Litchfield Loop Road at the moment.
Rainwater Tanks - Subsidy
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The federal minister has just announced funding for Scouts Australia for the installation of rainwater tanks in Scout halls across Australia, a fantastic innovation. Your government offers a measly $150 subsidy for the installation of water tanks. I have two requests: why not ensure that every new home that is to be built in Aboriginal communities under the federal intervention scheme has a water tank fitted? It would certainly help the residents of Yuelamu or Mt Allen. Could you increase the subsidy to offer a more realistic inducement to Territorians generally to install water tanks?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her very good question. The previous Environment minister, Marion Scrymgour, made an announcement in July of this year that we have increased our rainwater rebate subsidy to $500 in Central Australia. That provides for the connection of the rainwater tank, the plumbing in and for approved grey water diversion devices.
In regard to the federal government’s announcement, it was predicated on the need for what we call ‘green’ plumbers. The Northern Territory government has embarked on a training scheme for plumbers. Plumbers agreed to give up two days of their time and were trained by the Territory government as part of this same election commitment for water conservation. We have a very generous scheme of a $500 rebate for grey water use. The scheme is more generous than the one announced by the federal government, which is restricted to a group of people.
School Curriculum – Australian History
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please advise the Assembly what place the learning of Australian History occupies in Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. All of us would agree that history should be a core part of any curriculum.
Mrs Braham: You are not going to knock it!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I would have thought that the member for Braitling, an ex-principal, would know not to speak when other people are speaking, especially when you are responding to a question. It has been a little while, but I would have thought the etiquette of the classroom would still be with her. This is a very important question. I am sure the member for Braitling was, and still is, a great advocate for the teaching of Australian History in our schools in the Territory and, importantly, the teaching of Territory history in our schools.
When I woke up this morning and turned the radio on, the story of the day coming from Canberra was the Prime Minister saying: ‘We are going to have a national history curriculum’. I dug into the story and it is pretty underwhelming, given the commitment that this government has to working with all the states and the Commonwealth toward a uniform national curriculum for English, Maths, Science and History.
A process was determined and a time frame put in place for the states and the territories to work together to develop a national curriculum in these areas. A very important part of that is that not every child in Year 7 sitting in classrooms around Australia will be learning the same subject and have the same assignment at the same point of the education cycle.
Mr Mills interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Another principal! As an ex-principal, the member for Blain, I would have thought that he would have learnt some etiquette as well.
One of the key challenges is to ensure that the national history curriculum also has a Territory flavour. There are real opportunities for Territory students to work on assignments and learn not only key historical dates and events in the Northern Territory, but how we work the great indigenous history of Australia and the Northern Territory into a national curriculum.
In the Northern Territory, we already have a comprehensive part of our curriculum from Transition through to Year 12. The Prime Minister is only talking about the senior years; it is part of our curriculum from Transition through to Year 12. We can always look at strengthening what we do. I was pleased to meet delegates and the President of the Historical Society of the Northern Territory some few months ago to talk about this issue. One of the events that happened this year is that 70 teachers from around the Northern Territory came together in June to talk about how we work together to better share materials and develop the teaching of history in Northern Territory schools.
It was an interesting announcement from the Prime Minister today; a bit underwhelming, I believe. It looks like a political stunt from a desperate Prime Minister in the dying days of his government. Let us get the election over and done with and let us all get to work on the really important issues of a national curriculum as well as a national history curriculum.
Land Release - Berrimah
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Given that you cannot nominate a month or a year when blocks in Bellamack will be ready for title to issue, can you tell me a bit about Berrimah? Can you nominate a month or even a year when land from the Berrimah release will be available for building? Will electricity be provided to these blocks? Will dual sewerage be required in these blocks? When will the first family be able to move into their new home on this estate? Finally, you described Darwin as a premium housing market. How much do you think blocks of land will cost in this new estate both for the first time buyers and non-first time homebuyers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the shadow minister for his question. We expect the Berrimah Research Farm subdivision will yield around 700 lots. As I explained when it was announced, the detailed planning of Berrimah has yet to be done, but certainly there has been some extensive survey work of the land. I expect it would include some green open space areas, as we have incorporated in Bellamack. I expect there will need to be cross-agency discussions with Education in terms of education facilities for Berrimah Research Farm. It does lend itself to light industrial, adjacent to the existing light industrial in Berrimah.
If you are looking at the lay of the land, if you like, from the Stuart Highway end, we would expect a green belt along there, potentially light industrial up in that top corner, around where you have the current DPIFM research facility, which will continue …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Given that the minister had difficulty hearing the question I asked before, it is quite clear that she misheard this question, too, because in her answer, not one single aspect has anything at all to do with the question I have asked. Perhaps I need to ask the question again, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, were you happy with hearing the question?
Ms LAWRIE: I could hear the question. I am answering it.
Madam SPEAKER: The minister is answering the question, member for Blain. Resume your seat.
Mr Mills: Actually, I do not think so. I did not ask anything about green belts or the number of blocks.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Blain, you have asked a question. The minister is answering the question. Please continue.
Mr Mills: No, not the question, a question; not my question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I am answering the question in relation to my portfolio, which is as Planning minister, so I am dealing with the planning issues of Berrimah Research Farm. Around the existing research facility lends itself to what we believe could be some medium density, and then, as you are coming down the landscape overlooking the harbour is where we would expect the residential zone of house-sized lots.
In terms of essential services, of course we have had discussions with Power and Water. We have some initial figures for putting the headworks in place. It is well located because there are already headworks around that area, so it would be a far better process than what we have encountered in other subdivisions. The headworks have already been factored into the project.
Government has yet to make decisions in terms of the actual development process. It could be, for example, decisions similar to Bellamack could be in place in terms of how we develop it and how quickly we would be looking at bringing that on. I am on the record as saying Berrimah Research Farm closely follows Bellamack in terms of going out to the market.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Order!
Middle Arm – Helium Plant
Mr WARREN to CHIEF MINISTER
Late last month, BOC Gases and Darwin LNG signed a deal to build Australia’s first helium plant on the site of the Middle Arm LNG plant. Can you inform the House what this project means to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted and I thank the member for his question. The contract has been signed between BOC Gases and Darwin LNG to build a first for Australia, and that is a helium plant. That means jobs and business opportunities in the Territory. I commend both companies. They have shown vision and a lot of commitment. This is a $33m project.
There is no doubt that gas is the future for the Territory. It is a key to our prosperity in the years ahead. This project is another significant step forward. It does mean jobs for Territorians now as the project is being constructed, and when it is up and running in its operation.
Madam Speaker, building this plant in Australia puts us on the world map as a source of helium. The plant will meet all of Australia’s helium needs. Two-thirds of what is produced will be shipped offshore to markets in Asia. It will make Australia a nett helium exporter for the first time. Those of us who do the show circuit will be very grateful for a local supply of helium.
Mr Henderson: Will we get it cheap?
Ms MARTIN: I do not know about the cheap, but it is great to have a local supply. I suspect desperate parties will be at the door of the helium plant on a weekend when you have run out of helium.
I strongly urge other companies to follow BOC’s lead. Darwin is a great place for investors. We have a deep port, we have a rail line, a trade route that is working and potential gas supplies from the Timor Sea. We have already established ourselves as Australia’s second international gas hub with the LNG plant in Darwin, and we are on the way to establishing Darwin as a leading centre for gas development. That has significant economic flow-ons for our economy. It means jobs, business opportunities and increased capability across the Top End. There is the potential for new downstream gas-based industries, and that comes from gas as well. That is all about jobs and business opportunities.
Madam Speaker, we have a very strong gas future. We are starting to see that realised and another step along the way is this helium plant.
First Homebuyers – Land Availability
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
During the August sitting, you said that in the June quarter there were 97 blocks of land sold at between $120 000 and $260 000, 97 blocks. Can you tell us how many blocks between 1 July and 30 September were sold over that period for between $120 000 and $140 000 to first homebuyers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker I do not have those figures with me, but I sourced the figures from the HIA and will be happy to have a look at the quarterly figures comparatively.
Government recognises that we have a role to play in the supply side of the housing market. After listening to industry, we have made the very positive announcement of the Bellamack land release. We have made a further positive announcement of the Berrimah Research Farm land release.
Further to that, the Treasurer has written to the federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, clearly saying that the Commonwealth is sitting on land right now at the Aerial Farm at the 11 Mile that would be suitable land for residential land release.
We have also made it attractive to purchase into the market despite the nine interest rate rises in a row under the Howard government, which is putting an impost about $60 000 on the average mortgage in Darwin, a $60 000 impost from those nine interest rate rises in a row.
Mr Mills interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: What government has said very clearly is that we will do our bit for land supply.
Mr Mills interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We will encourage the market and work with the developers. We will not dictate terms to the developers because that is their job. We will ensure that the development is done so that we are enshrining affordable housing. We are also planning for the development of public housing.
We have land release occurring back on to the market in November in Larapinta, Alice Springs. We have an in-principle agreement for Mt Johns Valley. We are a government that has a strategic and planned land release program that we are rolling out.
Ms LAWRIE: The member for Blain is carping on about it. Graham Kemp from HIA was quoted as saying of the Berrimah Research Farm release:
- I am delighted to see the government release this land.
Craig O’Halloran from the TCA said he is pleased to hear it and would like to see it fast-tracked alongside Bellamack. To the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory, the development was welcome news:
- The future looks bright for Darwin and this, with the Bellamack development, is fantastic.
Small Business Champion Awards
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
I refer you to the 2007 Small Business Champion Awards that you attended on Friday 24 August at SKYCITY. Please detail to the House the winners of these awards and how the Territory government helps Territory small businesses to succeed.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This morning, I was very pleased to open the Northern Territory News and see the business feature. It was absolutely exciting not only because big business is doing well, but small and other businesses that have come to the Territory. Of course, our government recognises the importance of small business and the contribution they make to our economy and to employment.
I will give you a personal example. My son graduated from high school and wanted a job. He got his first job in a small business at Nightcliff Shopping Centre. Another thing is that local small business did not make him sign an AWA. They gave him a proper award wage. If he worked overtime, they paid him overtime. A big business in town told him that if he wanted to work there, he would be paid $13 an hour, would have no penalty rates, no overtime and no Saturday payments. Small businesses in the Territory are very important for our economy and for our children to find their first job.
I was pleased to attend and celebrate the success of small business in the Territory. I know how hard it is to have a small business. You work long hours, but you dedicate your life and you reap the rewards. It was pleasing to hear many of the small business people thanking my department for the assistance they received from DBERD, which delivers a range of programs to assist small businesses with viable options and to grow and prosper.
The overall winner of the Small Business Champion Entrepreneur was Jo Reiter from Adzu. I believe that Jo and her staff are going to Sydney for the national awards and I wish them the best of luck. I understand another 31 people are going to Sydney to attend the function.
I will name the winners on that night because it is important that they are named and congratulated: Rachael’s DesignaCake – Bakery or Cake Store; Business Services - Jo Reiter, Adzu; Caf - Will Foelk from Cornucopia Museum Cafe; Children’s Services - Alison Taggert from Lil’Antz; Fresh Food - Michael Cramer from JebFab; Gourmet Food Takeaway - Kat Thomson from Energy 2 Go; Hairdressing - Teresa Anderson from Kabuki Haircutters; Health and Fitness Centre - Norm Watson from Flight Path Golf Driving Range; Home and Garden - Estelle Cornell from Allora Gardens Nursery; Jewellery Store - Gaynor Beck from the Pearl Galleria; Manufacturing - Wayne Morris from Bitch Box; New Business -Tracey Jones and Robyn Green from Creative Territory; Professional Services - Marie-Clare Boothby from All Financial Services; Services - Peter Cornell from Darwin Container Services; Specialised Small Business - Jasmine Jan, Wildlife Artist; and Tourism - Karl Powell, Coach Charters Australia.
We have an exceptionally diverse small business sector of the Territory, Madam Speaker. I congratulate each and every one and wish them every success at the national awards in Sydney.
Local Government Reform - Litchfield Shire
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
You said on Stateline last Friday that the Litchfield Shire would not be viable for the next 10 to 15 years and you had models to prove it. You unilaterally announced about 12 months ago that the Litchfield Shire was to be dissolved. You did not mention at that time about it not being viable, only later; and now you say you have modelling to prove it. Why did you not release the modelling when you announced the dissolution of Litchfield Shire way back last year? Will you release this model so that we can have it independently assessed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Clearly, the issue of modelling on Litchfield Shire Council, any expert who had a grasp of local government in the context as it is today, as it was in the past and where it might be in the future, will very clearly tell you that they are not viable into the future.
Mr Wood: Will you show us the models?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: I do not have to show you any models, member for Nelson.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McADAM: You are allegedly an expert in the field of local government. Now, you know more than anyone …
Members interjecting.
Mr McADAM: Madam Speaker, I am happy to answer the question, but the interjections are a bit excessive.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of the standing orders. Minister, please continue and direct your comments through the Chair.
Mr McADAM: I am. The point I am trying to make is that very clearly by any measure in respect of any modelling undertaken by anyone with expertise in local government will tell you that the Litchfield Shire as it is today is not viable into the future.
Mr Wood: Show us the model.
Mr McADAM: Well, it is not a case of a model. It is effectively expert advice that has been forthcoming over a very long period of time. You were the Vice-President of LGANT for a number of years, and you were a great supporter of the total incorporation of the Northern Territory. That is what we are doing.
I will give you an example, member for Nelson. Under NT Grants Commission funding, the formula that we have in place, the Litchfield Shire has been very aware of the fact that over a period of time, and more so in the next two to three years, they were going to effectively have a decrease of around $400 000. You made the point yesterday that they would have the capacity to raise those sorts of dollars into the future and they will be able to do that. In fact, by that reckoning, there would be around $70 per year automatic increase.
The point of the matter is this: the Litchfield Shire, the Top End Shire is, without a doubt, one of the most economically viable. It is one of the most innovative, creative opportunities in terms of being able to provide improved services into that region. You yourself admitted that the Litchfield Shire and the Top End Shire will come under increasing pressure as we go forward. So if you believe 15 to 20 years down the track Litchfield is going to be as viable as it is today, then you are fooling yourself and you are fooling the good constituents of Litchfield.
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