2007-02-13
REDIRECTION OF QUESTIONS
Absence of Member for Karama
Absence of Member for Karama
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, the member for Karama, the Minister for Planning and Lands, is not able to attend Question Time today because she is attending a funeral. The member for Johnston will be taking all questions which would have been directed to her.
Fuel Prices
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
According to the Yahoo Fuel Watch website, the prices of unleaded fuel in other capital cities this day are: $1.10, $1.09, $1.01, $1.11, $1.07. This morning on Bagot Road, it is $1.24. In 2000-01, you made much of the price of petrol as it approached $1.00 per litre. Now fuel is 14 per litre dearer than Sydney and 23 per litre dearer than Brisbane. During December, when fuel prices were going down, in Darwin they were going up. You are in the driver’s seat. What are you doing to lower the price of petrol in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, fuel is a very important question for the Territory and we have really been hit hard, as other Australians have, by the increase in the price of fuel over the last six months. It is very pleasing to see that the price of fuel is coming down. I do not know where the Opposition Leader gets her figures from, but if you go to United on Bagot Road, you can get fuel for $1.13.7.
Dr Lim: No, you cannot. It is $1.19 as of last night.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr Lim: It has gone up 0.6, by the way, did you know that? Make sure you know.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Greatorex, order! Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I did not go up Bagot Road last night, but when I was there yesterday morning, it was $1.13.7 and there were other fuel outlets selling it for $1.23.9.
We have a difficult market in the Territory. If you go back to Tom Parry’s report into fuel prices across the Territory, he said very clearly that because of less competition and less use of fuel in somewhere like Darwin, our prices tend to go up behind the rest of the country, but they also come down behind the rest of the country. Fuel prices were coming down. If that is accurate, that United has gone to $1.19, then is sad to see because what we were seeing was fuel prices coming down considerably. I thought $1.13.7 was very competitive, but if it has gone up again, then obviously market forces or the wholesale cost of fuel has gone up again.
I was driving through parts of Sydney on Saturday, and the $1.13.7 at United on Bagot Road stayed in my brain because I did not find an outlet in Sydney where I was driving that was cheaper than that. I thought: ’This is terrific for the Territory. We have fuel prices now below the level that there is in Sydney’. We will not catch up to Brisbane. They put an 8 per litre subsidy into their fuel, and that certainly makes a difference. We have 1.1 per litre, and what we have is …
Mr Mills: I remember you in opposition, Chief Minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is really interesting, the voices from the opposition. I am standing here saying: ‘Fuel is an issue for the Territory’. We have seen it as one of the factors for the CPI increase. It is one of the factors, and what we said was we needed to understand what were the causes …
Mr Mills: Comfortable in your skin?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, why bother?
Northern Territory Economy
Mr BURKE to TREASURER
The Northern Territory economy is strong, with record employment levels and high levels of economic growth. Can the Treasurer advise if the strength of the Northern Territory economy has been assessed by an independent body, and what messages this assessment had for the government’s management of the economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We, as a government, have been very careful managers of the Northern Territory economy since we came to power in 2001 because we had to be. We had to be disciplined because of the mess that the economy was in, and that was on its knees, absolutely on its knees in August 2001. We had debt spiralling out of control, we had deficit on deficit, absolutely out of control. We all recall with some bitterness on this side, Madam Speaker, the fact that the budget the CLP had left Territorians did not have enough cash against the capital works budget line to pay for the revote of the work not done the previous year. That was the level of economic management the CLP left us in. We have had to be very disciplined and very careful managers of the economy.
Today, the official forecast for growth this financial year is 6.2%, higher than that predicted at the time of the budget in May. It comes on top of a nation-topping 7.5% growth in 2005-06. The ABS measured unemployment last month at an all time record low of 2%. They have been capturing those statistics since 1978. That is an incredible level and underlines the amount of work available in the Northern Territory.
Last year alone, 6000 jobs were created. Over 2000 of those were apprentices and trainees coming into the workforce for the first time. Treasury forecasts employment growth this year at around 5%, so that is thousands more jobs generated for Territorians. Capital works - the infrastructure budget which we use constructively to rebuild the construction industry and the economy overall - still sits at around record levels of $480m in cash on its own. That commitment alone sustains around 4500 direct jobs in the construction industry and thousands more indirectly as a result of that injection.
Tourism has responded well to continued marketing by the government. Population growth is the second highest in Australia at 1.7%.
Access Economics is one commentator which has kept a watchful eye on this throughout, and has again provided an independent tick for the Territory economy and its progress. They predict solid growth in employment, population and general economic growth. That is the economic trifecta we are working very hard to ensure continues into the future.
They also provide cautions. The economy is still a small one and, as a result of that smallness, a volatile one, and we accept that as a given. Access Economics has expressed some concern about the lack of a replacement major project because we see the big LNG plant and Alcan drawing to a close. We are more confident of the robustness and the underlying strength of the economy in itself to provide a significant ongoing economic platform.
In addition, the government continues to work to attract more investment and greater growth, which is why the Chief Minister has just returned from a trip to Japan last week.
On the assessment of Access Economics, we do have a bright future. It is an assessment that this government endorses, but it will only continue with the discipline and careful economic management of which this government has shown itself capable over the past five-and-a-bit years compared with the recklessness of our predecessors in office.
Driving Licence Demerit System
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for HEALTH answered on behalf of MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Following the public backlash over the open road speed limit, isn’t it the case that your government will not be implementing a demerit system for Territory motorists?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. As most people in this Chamber would know, government commissioned an expert report, the Road Safety Task Force Report, which, incidentally, was compiled by people who have lived in the Territory for many years and are expert in their field. They provided the report to government. I believe there were 21 recommendations within that report, which government has accepted.
The recommendations include demerit points, and work is now going on within various departments, including Justice, Police and the Transport section of Infrastructure to implement that decision. We will have demerit points. It is part of the report entitled Safer Road Use: a Territory Imperative, which is an integrated, holistic report which addresses the serious issue of road safety within the Northern Territory and has strategies to reduce our road toll.
Water and Land Development in Northern Australia – Commonwealth Plan
Mr WARREN to CHIEF MINISTER
As you know, before entering parliament, I worked as a professional geotechnical engineer and a fair amount of my work involved water resources. I am particularly interested in the current federal debate on water. Can you please update Territorians on the Commonwealth government’s plans for land and water development in northern Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an important question. On 25 January, the Prime Minister announced his A National Plan for Water Security, which included a $10bn commitment - although we are not quite sure whether it is in fact a $10bn commitment - for funding programs to improve water conservation and efficiency. Most of the measures contained in the 10-point plan are concerned with water management in the southern states, particularly with the focus on the Murray-Darling.
From a Territory perspective, the Prime Minister’s grand plan had little to say about us. In fact, we were only a paragraph. The plan included an intriguing reference, in that one point of the 10, to a new task force to be set up and chaired by Senator Bill Heffernan. It is charged with:
- The potential for further land and water development in Northern Australia.
This work, in part of the announcement by the Prime Minister, will be informed by:
- … a Northern Australia land and water futures assessment.
While this announcement about the future of water and land development in the Top End sounds pretty good, what it in fact means is harder to find out. The Prime Minister also said that it is important that any development proposals are sustainable and based on the best information available. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the best information available on what this task force will do, who might be appointed, and what its terms of references are, is not very good at all.
So far, we are three weeks past the announcement and none of this information is available yet, particularly to the key places that it will affect: the north of Western Australia, north of Queensland, and the north of the Territory.
On Friday last week in Sydney, at the Council for the Australian Federation, I raised this issue with my colleagues from the West and Queensland, Alan Carpenter and Peter Beattie, and we agreed that we had to initiate some kind of sense into this proposal. We do not want Canberra-based people giving Canberra-based solutions to our issues in the Top End or across the north of Australia. It is very important for our economic sustainability that we get this right.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: The Prime Minister can include us as one point in a 10-point plan but what does it mean? Are you lot just going to sit there and say: ‘Canberra knows best? Let us just go for it’. Not on your nelly! Peter Beattie, Alan Carpenter and I have invited Senator Heffernan to a meeting in Darwin. We are hoping we can organise this in the next month, depending on people’s schedules. We will start talking about what our priorities are in the north. We will put those to Senator Heffernan. He is very pleased to come to this meeting, so thank you, Bill Heffernan.
To have Canberra add us to a list and really have no idea what they are going to do, they have to do better than that. This meeting will start to give some scoping to the issues of water and land management in the Top End. On the earlier assertions that someone is going to get southern farmers and turf them north, let us get some sense into the whole debate.
Drink Driving Campaigns - Cost
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
You would be aware that Superintendent Bob Rennie said on the Stateline program on Friday night that police need to:
- … keep trying to educate people not to drink and drive.
Prior to your advertising blitz at the end of last year, how much money was spent on advertising education campaigns each year for the last five years in the Territory that were targeted at combating drink driving? What advertising or educational materials about drink driving and the effects of alcohol are provided at point of sale at alcohol outlets in the Territory? How much do those cost?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as for the exact figures spent on education about drink driving, I do not have one to hand at present. I would think that most Territorians would not have failed to get the message that has featured very strongly on television, particularly over the last three to four months, about drink driving, wearing seat belts and a whole range of road safety issues and changes to road safety laws.
Most people would be aware that it is a crime to drink and drive. Part of the Road Safety Task Force report that government has accepted is a stiffening of fines for drinking and driving and closing the loophole where if someone was between 0.05% and 0.08%, they could keep their licence despite repeated offences.
We are serious about road safety. We are serious about stopping people from drinking and driving. We have invested significant money into reinstating the Traffic Branch, which was scrapped by the CLP in 1991. We are investing money in highway patrols and they are already on the road. I had the pleasure to ride in one of those vehicles recently.
In the middle of this year, we will be implementing a remote area patrol. Enforcement is a very important issue in dissuading people from drinking and driving. It was put to me that there was not enough presence in terms of enforcement around drink driving …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My questions were very specific. They were: how much was spent on advertising education campaigns each year for the last five years, and, what advertising or educational materials about drink driving and the effects of alcohol are provided at point of sale, and how much do they cost? Minister, are you able to answer the question? Madam Speaker, I ask that you instruct him to do so.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please resume your seat. There is no point of order. The minister is answering the question. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I have answered the question adequately. I will undertake to try to provide those figures to the Leader of the Opposition on behalf of my colleague who is not here. Also, the Leader of the Opposition has the opportunity during the Estimates process to ask very specific questions in relation to these matters.
NT Police Force - Resources
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Much has been alleged by the opposition about the Northern Territory Police and their capacity to do their jobs. Can the minister provide the facts about the resourcing and capacity of our very fine police force?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I did touch, to some degree, on this issue in the last question. We are a government that is committed to resourcing our police force adequately to do the job they need to do.
When we came to government, we found a police force that had faced a recruitment freeze between 1991 and 1994, with knock-on effects right throughout the ranks of the police force. We commissioned the O’Sullivan review to look at resourcing across the Northern Territory, a very important and comprehensive review.
Government subsequently invested $75m over three years to get our police force back in terms of its human resources and to bring the police force into the modern era. I must compliment the current Police Commissioner, Paul White, for doing just that. It is a very important issue.
The opposition has made comments in the last week. Before that, we had the charade in the last sittings of parliament where the Opposition Leader waved around some sort of a table that looked as though it had been produced in her office, trying to attack government’s commitment to putting 200 extra police into our police force.
It is no secret that we have adequately resourced our police. The Police Commissioner has written me a memo, which I am more than prepared to table in this parliament, which shows that we are on target to meet our commitment of 200 extra police officers.
I attended the graduation of the latest recruit squad to go through the process last week. Significantly, not a member of the opposition was present. Had they been there, they would have heard the Police Commissioner say that we have met the 200 target. There are two more squads to go through this year …
Mr Wood: Why didn’t you invite the local member? You did not invite the local member.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: It is not my place to invite people, member for Nelson; that is within the purview of the Police Commissioner and the police.
Madam Speaker, a federal government report was published in the last fortnight or so which showed that across Australian jurisdictions the average recurrent expenditure on police services in 2005-06 was $291 per person. In the Northern Territory, it is $743 per person, 2 times the national average. I have a graph which really emphasises this. This is a photocopy, not something produced on an opposition computer by an amateur. Here are all the jurisdictions. You can plainly see these three bars over the past five years are the Northern Territory, way above every other jurisdiction.
I note that on 31 January, the Leader of the Opposition acknowledged that basically we had not reached our 200, but she said: ‘Where’s the value for money?’ Here is an Opposition Leader who puts down our police force. She cannot even be bothered to come to a police graduation ceremony and she is always rubbishing our police.
We value our police. We have invested in our police, and that will have beneficial effects for the people of the Northern Territory.
Mereenie Loop Road – Access to Fill
Mrs BRAHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
I am very pleased to see that the contract for the Mereenie Loop Road has commenced. That is great news for Central Australia. But as you are well aware, there is an issue about permits to access gravel near Ipolera. It seems to me there is a stalemate between you and the Central Land Council over who has the right to issue the permit to access that land. This has delayed the planning and the project for some time. What is your answer to this dilemma?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very relevant question, but it has not delayed the project. Sealing the Mereenie Loop is a complex project. There has been considerable time spent over the last couple of years looking at whether that project was best served by a whole raft of small contracts or bigger contracts. The start of a $13.3m contract is significant, and to be able to lock in a larger contract meant that we were getting the bids we needed, but also that there will be local employment, to wit, the Ntaria community has the contract for gravel.
The issue of site clearances, who does them, and how they are incorporated into these contracts is important. We will continue to talk to the Central Land Council. I believe we can find a solution and I am very positive about it. In the meantime, we are getting ahead with sealing the road. There will always be issues, I suppose, that might be difficult to solve, but I am confident. I say to the Central Land Council: work with us on this. I would like to see a solution. I know that businesses, tourism and the community in Alice Springs …
Mrs Braham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Ms MARTIN: Member for Braitling, you asked me the question, come on!
Mrs Braham: You are not addressing the problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Ms MARTIN: With all deference to the member for Braitling, I am answering the question. You wrote me a letter which spelt out the question you have asked. It is an important issue. I say to the CLC that this is a great project which will bring great benefits to the CLC’s constituency. They are communities that adjoin the Mereenie Loop, the Red Centre Way, and there will be great benefits in having that road sealed, and also tourism opportunities and business opportunities.
What we want is a solution, rather than staying with ways of the past. These are very big contracts, and we have to ensure that we have the best protection and procedures in place for looking after sacred sites, and also, if there is any damage, there are procedures for that. My appeal to the Central Land Council is: let us find the solution. We want to see the Red Centre Way all sealed.
Random Breath Testing
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
On the ABC Stateline program last Friday, Superintendent Bob Rennie said:
- We used to run major RBTs. We still do those, but not to the extent we used to ...
Considering that 50% of road fatalities involve alcohol, how is having fewer RBTs helping to cut the road toll? Does the reason you are running fewer RBTs have anything to do with cost cutting?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I did not see the Stateline program the Leader of the Opposition is referring to, so I am not going to comment because so many times in this place in terms of questions, in terms of documents that the opposition produces, there is always a spin, there is always a bit missing to the story. However, what I do know …
Ms Carney: You were not briefed on that program?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: I did not hear what you said.
Ms Carney: You were not briefed on it?
Dr BURNS: I thought you might have been saying something helpful and constructive – sorry.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, cease interjecting. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, what I do know is that the CLP took away the Traffic Branch in 1991; pure and simple. They had a recruitment freeze between 1991 and 1994 within the Police force. There was no recruitment within the police force; pure and simple.
We commissioned the O’Sullivan review, which recommended the reinstatement of the Traffic Branch. We have invested in that, we have done that. Part of the task of the Traffic Branch is to carry out RBTs. We have also invested in highway patrols, millions of dollars by the way, and we will also be investing …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Clearly, the minister is unable to answer the question as a result of not being briefed so rather than answer a different question that we have not even asked, can we ask the minister to answer the question or just sit down?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, resume your seat.
Dr BURNS: I am answering the question.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. As you would be aware from Question Time, ministers have a lot of latitude in answering questions. He is answering the question. Minister, please continue.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in the answer I am giving, I am saying that there is more police effort going into enforcement, including RBTs. I advise those Territorians who think that they can get away with drink driving in future to think very carefully because the ante is being upped. There will be more RBTs on our roads, both within urban areas like Darwin and Alice Springs through the dedicated Traffic Branch, and on our highways and in remote areas through our highway patrols and remote area patrols.
It is a furphy for the opposition to try to suggest that there is going to be a decrease in the number of RBTs carried out and the enforcement effort by police. That is very misleading of them.
Aviation Services – Tiger Airways
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
Air services in and out of the Northern Territory are critical to our tourism industry and the lifestyle of Territorians. Can the minister update the Assembly on recent developments in this area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. As a member from Central Australia, I know she is very keen to see increased air services into Alice Springs, as I am sure we all are. It is a critical issue. In the Northern Territory, we cover great distances with a relatively small population, and air services for Territorians is a key and crucial issue for family, leisure or the economy. A key focus for me as Tourism minister is to see increases in air services to the Northern Territory.
Around a year ago, Tiger Airways decided they would launch their service to Australia to the airport of Darwin. Just over 12 months on, that has been a very successful initiative. Over 40 000 people have travelled on that service. Tiger Airways increased the schedules of that service to five flights a week just before Christmas. Last Friday, Tiger Airways made a public announcement about its intention to establish a wholly-owned and operated Australian operation in Australia.
What I have said publicly is that there are two key opportunities for the Northern Territory. One is to ensure that Tiger Airways’ Australian operation services the airports at both Darwin and at Alice Springs. It is absolutely crucial that we secure those services. I urge all Territorians to log on to the Tiger Airways website. There is a poll there where Tiger Airways is asking people to nominate which city they would like to visit. I urge all Territorians, those listening in Alice Springs in particular, to log on and vote for the Northern Territory.
The other opportunity that presents itself is to see Tiger Airways establish its corporate head office in Darwin. It makes a lot of sense because of our proximity to Singapore and the same time zones. Certainly, administrative and potential call centre jobs for the Northern Territory is something that this government is very seriously looking to work with Tiger Airways to deliver.
Madam Speaker, it was a great announcement for the Northern Territory. We need more flights. We need more flights during the day time. I am sure all of us will be trying very hard to talk to the airlines about putting on more flights during the day. I understand the commercial reasons for back of the clock flights, but no one likes getting on a plane at 2 am. This is a very significant announcement. It is very important for the Northern Territory and for Alice Springs.
I urge all members to get their constituents to vote online, vote for the Northern Territory, vote for Darwin, vote for Alice, and let us hope we see Tiger Airways flying into the Northern Territory in the middle of the year.
Members: Hear, hear!
Random Breath Testing
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Minister, first, will you answer this question? Second, 3000 fewer drivers were breath tested last year than the year before. Considering we have a rate of one in 42 drivers detected over the limit, how can you say that you are taking serious action in relation to reducing Territory road fatalities when you are undertaking 3000 fewer RBTs? Given the extent to which alcohol is a factor in fatalities, how can you rationalise your position?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, obviously the Leader of the Opposition has not read the Road Safety report published by the task force. In that report, it is made quite clear that, comparatively, the police effort in terms of road safety has been less than what it should have been for a number of years. That is why O’Sullivan Report recommended the reinstatement of patrols in urban areas. That is why we have implemented a highway patrol and remote area patrol. The enforcement effort has been relatively lower than what it should have been. I acknowledge that, but from now on, there are going to be a hell of a lot more. As I said, those people who think that they can drink and drive and get away with it in the Northern Territory should think again.
Fire Fighters – Assistance to Victoria
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Like everyone else in the Chamber, I was proud of the efforts of our fire fighters in the recent bushfires in Victoria. Could you tell the House about the helping hand they gave to their counterparts down south?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner. It was good to be able to host a reception at Parliament House at lunchtime for our firies who went to Victoria over the December and January period. It was very good to meet them and to hear their stories firsthand. They were called ‘flatlanders’ in Victoria, just for a day. Those Victorian bushfires were probably some of the biggest Victoria has ever had and were so bad that the Victorians needed assistance. They asked us for assistance. We were happy to provide it.
The entire deployment of our personnel, from the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service and Bushfires Council NT, lasted a month and was a very successful joint operation. I met one firie who had two deployments. The cooperation between our services was terrific. The first contingent left on 27 December 2006. It says a lot about our firies that they would leave in the Christmas period to go to Victoria and help out, which must have been pretty tough for their families. One hundred and six personnel were deployed to Victoria, 54 of whom were from the Fire and Rescue Service and 52 from Bushfires Council NT. Thirty of the Bushfires NT people were volunteers from our Volunteer Bushfire Brigades.
The first 30 were assigned to Swifts Creek in East Gippsland where they were involved in back-burning operations and strengthening fire control lines to prevent the main fire moving further east towards East Gippsland townships. Subsequent deployments, and this was pretty different for our personnel, were in heavily forested country near the Thomson Dam, which is approximately 160 km east of Melbourne. They established and maintained control lines there. The Victorian deployment certainly showed how professional our fire services are and how well they stacked up against their interstate colleagues.
I heard they were called ‘flatlanders’ because they came from the Top End, which is relatively flat, and they were in quite mountainous country. I asked how long did that suspicion last, and they said about 24 hours. Once they realised that our firies knew what they were doing, and once they knew that our firies could adapt the principles of how we do things in the Top End to Victoria, they realised how valuable our volunteers were. The operation certainly tested the logistics, communications, command and control structures, and all those passed with flying colours in Victoria.
On behalf of everyone here, I thank and congratulate our fire services and all who were involved in the deployment. They did us proud. We should say thanks to the families as well because they let their loved ones go over the Christmas period. This was another example of Territorians going to the assistance of other Australians, doing a great job, and proving how terrific we Territorians are.
Local Government Reform
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
You have announced major changes to local government in the Northern Territory. You have said there will be nine shires and four municipalities. Could you please say where these numbers came from? Who did you consult with in local government in coming up with these numbers? Are those numbers indicative, or have they been set in concrete? What happened to the 21 councils proposed by the former minister, Jack Ah Kit? Why did you not have meaningful discussions with councils like Tennant Creek and Litchfield before they found out they would be dissolved?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for this question because I know he is genuine. Over a long period, and I believe he will readily accept this, local government has been the subject of much concern across the Northern Territory. It is important that government set the framework and context of how we proceed on the issue of new boundaries.
It was based on numbers of around 5000 people. We thought that was more viable than some of the smaller councils with about 90-odd people, and I am talking about the regional shire-type model. Effectively, 5000 was the figure set. We took into consideration communities of interest, language, culture, economics, and links with municipal-type councils. Essentially, there was an in-depth analysis of how we might arrive at these boundaries in terms of the numbers being not less than 5000 people.
The other question you asked was why consultation did not occur with the Litchfield Shire Council and the Tennant Creek Town Council. I go back to my original point, which is in respect of our capacity as a government, not only us, but the previous government, to bite the bullet and move forward. More importantly, the bottom line as of now is that the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory has had long discussions in respect of some of these reforms, quite apart from what I have announced on behalf of the government.
It is also important to understand that, as it now stands, Litchfield Shire Council is probably not viable into the future, but if you were to take into consideration Belyuen, Cox Peninsula, Coomalie and some of the other communities of interest, then it puts it in the position of making it more sustainable. This is equally so with the Tennant Creek Town Council. That is in my electorate, but the bottom line is that Tennant Creek Town Council as it now stands is probably not viable, indeed, as is the case with all the other smaller communities that surround Tennant Creek.
It is important that the government has made this decision. We have set the framework. We are not going to back down. We are not going to make excuses for our action thus far. The most important thing is that we have put in place a process through the advisory and transitional committees to work toward what we believe to be a good reform in the long-term interests of all those people who live out bush.
It is important for people to understand that it is not going to be an easy task. It is going to be challenging, as you have probably heard in the media over the last few days. The bottom line here is that we have to get away from being insular, from the sectional interests, and we have to think about the best interests of the Territory in the long term, for both indigenous and non-indigenous people.
I know of no other model that can deliver real governance, sustainability, certainty and capability into the bush. I look forward to the next 18 months. I am absolutely certain, and I believe you would agree, member for Nelson, that it had to be done. As I said, we will work very closely with all stakeholders, communities and industry groups to ensure that we achieve a fair and equitable outcome for all.
Government Procurement Procedures
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
Can the minister advise what steps are being taken to ensure that procurement across government is efficient and effective for both business and agencies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. One of the real challenges that faces government is how you respond to business, how you cut red tape and, most importantly, how you respond in a timely fashion to the many issues that impact on business.
I am very pleased to announce that, over the last few months, two significant procurement reforms have come into being. Bearing in mind that we have to take some of the challenges into consideration in respect of businesses and the principles of the procurement process: value for money; open and effective competition; local business participation; environmental protection; ethical behaviour; and fair dealing.
To that effect, the first of the changes is raising the threshold from $10 000 to $50 000, which occurred in November of last year, which means, effectively that quotations are sought rather than complex tender processes being applied. The second reform is that, effective from February this year, the Tier One procurement threshold has risen from $3000 to $5000 which, again, makes it easier for business.
I am proud to be part of an agency and a government that is prepared to act for businesses and the agencies in a very timely fashion in the interests of better outcomes.
NT Police Force – 200 Extra Officers
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
A promise made by the Labor Party to Territory voters was for 200 extra police on beat. There have been numerous references to police being on the beat, or on the streets, in this Chamber by government members since 2003. In relation to a previous answer to a question today, you said the Police Commissioner has now advised you that that target has been reached. For the record, are you confirming today, in this parliament, that there are now 200 extra police on the beat?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I said, the Police Commissioner sent me a memo, which has been published and given to the media. I am more than prepared to give the opposition a copy of that memo, which said, earlier this year, that we were on target to meet that commitment of 200 extra police, as per the O’Sullivan Report. I reiterate what the Police Commissioner said at the graduation parade just last week. He announced that, with that graduation parade, the target of 200 extra police had been met.
In relation to criticisms that have been levelled at the police by the opposition along the lines of the visibility of police and all the rest of it, the Police Commissioner said basically that his job was to have a modern police force with intelligence-led policing. He talked about all the different facets of policing to the new graduate squad and lauded the fact that there is now a modern police force within the Northern Territory, addressing the problems of crime and antisocial behaviour, including the problems of domestic violence through Domestic Violence Units up and down the Territory. He was unequivocal in saying that we have met that target of 200 extra police. That is excluding two more squads which will graduate with approximately 22 in each before the end of this financial year.
The opposition may quibble, it may try to wriggle, but we are meeting our targets for policing. The CLP had a recruitment freeze between 1991 and 1994. They should be ashamed of themselves. They should be attending graduation parades. There are two more between now and the end of the financial year, and I would hope that there would be at least one representative of the opposition to attend them.
Barramundi – Health of Wild Stocks
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
While we are talking about wriggly things, minister, it is widely acknowledged that fishing is the lure of the Territory, and if I bait a hook and run it through the water with this lot, I reckon I would catch a lot. Fishing makes a significant contribution to our envious lifestyle and generates jobs throughout the Territory. In light of the recent reports of fish deaths, what information are you able to provide on the health of our barramundi stocks, and what does this mean for fishing into the future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. I know he is a very keen fisherman. It is correct that fishing is the lure of the Territory, and it is a wonderful aspect of our lifestyle. One in every two Territorians go fishing, and we have the highest boat ownership of anywhere in Australia, which just goes to show that there is an interest and keenness in dipping a line into our rivers and bays.
The Northern Territory is a renowned wild barramundi fishery. That has been proved by the sheer number of trophy fish caught in our rivers and waterways, especially during the build-up, and by the photographs in a number of the print media publications throughout the last few months. The run-off is coming up and that is another great time for fishing in the Northern Territory. I am really looking forward to the run-off because I have not caught a big barramundi yet.
During the build-up, we have heavy rains which wash a lot of vegetation into our billabongs and streams. When this vegetation rots, it depletes the oxygen levels in the water. Unfortunately, that kills many of the fish. It is a natural event and is a result of rotting vegetation. We are asking anglers to report those deaths to our department so officers can investigate the deaths and send scientists and technical staff to confirm the cause of death.
The event occurs regularly in the Mary River system, as we have seen from photographs in the papers recently. I am happy to report that sampling that was done in the Mary River system, and I think I answered a question on it last year, shows that barramundi stocks are in great shape. The sampling program undertaken at Corroboree Billabong reports that the numbers are huge and looking very good. They were saying that over a stretch of about a kilometre in the billabong, 3000 fish were taken, sampled and released. That was well above the number sampled during 2005. Of the fish sampled, 88% were less than a year old and were between 30 cm and 45 cm in length. Research is suggesting that the Mary River system is going to be a brilliant area to fish in 2008 because many of those fish will have grown to their full legal size. It is also pleasing to note that there are still plenty of big fish in the river to spawn and keep numbers replenished so that fishermen can enjoy their fishing exploits on the Mary River system.
Fishing makes a significant contribution, as the member said, which is terrific because it generates jobs throughout the Northern Territory. It also makes many people envious of our lifestyle here, while giving us the opportunity to get out on those rivers. More than 100 000 tourists go fishing each year in the Northern Territory. It just goes to show the interest that is generated.
The fishing experiences available in the Northern Territory are also features of a campaign to lure skilled workers to the Territory. I am pleased to say that fishing is in a healthy state, especially the barra fishery. The fishing experience that is available today will continue into the future.
Random Breath Testing
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
You know the role alcohol plays in fatalities on Territory roads. We are all assuming you actually know that. Can you tell us how many times booze buses were operational in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs in 2004, 2005 and 2006? If you do not have that information before you, will you undertake to provide it to the opposition by 6 pm today?
Mr Henderson: Do you think our police have nothing better to do?
Ms CARNEY: What is wrong with asking questions? I know you do not like it, but we are going to keep doing it all year and you are going to try not to answer them. Welcome back.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have those figures with me, however, I undertake to get those to the opposition as soon as I can.
As the Leader of Government Business pointed out, the police are very busy out there apprehending criminals, and I …
Ms Carney: No, we are talking about your office up there. You will know the answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: My office does not have those figures, Leader of the Opposition. You are showing a naivety about how government works and the interaction between government and departments. I have given you a clear undertaking that I will furnish you …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is answering the question.
Dr BURNS: … that I will furnish you with those figures and I promise to do that.
In relation to the last question the Leader of the Opposition asked about police numbers, I have found the memo that was sent to me by the Police Commissioner on 13 February 2007, in which he said:
- The total number of additional police since 1 July 2003 (up until 12 February 2007) stands at 215.
The increase in numbers from my memo to you on 18 December 2006 has taken into account the graduation of Squad 86 on 9 November 2006 and Squad 87 on 8 February …
This was the one that graduated last week. So it is 215, Madam Speaker, and in the last paragraph, the Police Commissioner says:
- 70 recruits are currently undertaking training at the Police College and will cater for additional police (N=8) for the Road Safety Task Force initiative, airport policing (N=39) and anticipated attrition to 30 June 2007.
Madam Speaker, I table this memo. It is a photocopy of an original document, unlike the silly document that was tabled by the Leader of the Opposition in November 2006 in which she asserted that the government had only recruited an extra 13 police. This is the sort of claptrap that the opposition goes on with. You should be trying harder to run your own race, not Mr Murphy’s race. There you go, Wicking cartoon: fuel prices, speed limits, yes, you have done that; inflation up, you have not done that; nurses pay dispute, and here you are in the corner, you are very concerned about David Hicks. You got a big smack from Peter Murphy: fall into line or you will be out the door.
Australian Football League Match –
Essendon versus Indigenous All Stars
Essendon versus Indigenous All Stars
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Territorians enjoy a great lifestyle. The Martin government has made top quality sport a permanent fixture in the Territory calendar, enhancing our great lifestyle. Can the minister please inform the House on the success of last week’s AFL match between the Bombers and the All Stars?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The member should ask the 13 000 Territorians who went to TIO Stadium and enjoyed a fantastic performance by Essendon and the Indigenous All Stars. It was a fantastic game. The Bombers won by 50 points, but I believe the Indigenous All Stars performed very well and made everyone proud of their high level of skill and agility. The Treasurer attended the game and was happy that Essendon won; he was especially happy with the performance of James Hird.
It was not the only entertainment on the day because the AFL had organised an Under 19 South African team to play against an Under 19 Indigenous team. The players and officials were all indigenous. Australia won the game on the day, and I believe the South African players very much enjoyed playing against some of the future AFL stars.
I thank the All Stars, in particular Richard Tambling, Daniel Motlop and Aaron Davey. Together with my colleague, the member for Arafura, they launched a new campaign with the message that violence against women and children is unacceptable in any form. That is a very important message and I am very proud that these three indigenous men, together with Matthew Campbell from Central Australia, were prepared to stand up and tell young people that violence against women and children is totally unacceptable. I thank Costa Karaolias from my department who put this campaign together.
It was a great match, a great day, great weather, a very well behaved crowd and there was good traffic management. For the first time, the Dante Road exit operated, which provided relief to the sometimes very chaotic traffic we experience at this type of event. As my colleague said, we have a great lifestyle and that, matched with a great economy, means we will continue to enjoy these fantastic events that the Territory Labor government brings to Territorians.
Stuart Lodge – Short-Term Accommodation
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for HOUSING
You are aware that over the last few weeks, we have had many problems in some of our public housing complexes in Larapinta. Many of the people causing it are visitors; we know that. Your solution was to have short-term accommodation. Who has the contract to run the Stuart Lodge? Is it operational? How many people have used it to date? How are you going to address the problems of unwanted visitors who will not go to short-term accommodation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. I am very conscious of some of the issues in Alice Springs, in particular the matters surrounding antisocial behaviour. The answer to you questions specific to Stuart Lodge are: no, we have not let the contract yet.
Mrs Braham: But it was finished in November.
Mr McADAM: I beg your pardon?
Mrs Braham: It was finished in November.
Madam Speaker: Order!
Mr McADAM: I am just letting you know that we have not let the contract yet. We were in discussions with another agency about management of the complex. Unfortunately, that has fallen through and the department continues to talk with other agencies around Alice Springs about the ongoing management of Stuart Lodge.
I hope that will be resolved very quickly and that we will have people into Stuart Lodge, particularly those people who are accessing Alice Springs for health and other reasons.
The important point that you raised in terms of the bigger picture is: how does government respond to the short-term managed accommodation needs of people. You obviously would be aware that we have allocated $1.3m to Aboriginal Hostels Limited to construct six units comprising 24 beds. We were also able to assist Aboriginal Hostels in respect of Topsy Smith. That is presently under construction for renal patients. We will continue to work very hard with the agencies around Alice Springs in terms of managed accommodation outcomes. We are in discussions with Tangentyere Council.
Mrs Braham: Are you going to support the dongas on Dalgety Road?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please direct your answer through the Chair.
Mr McADAM: I certainly will, Madam Speaker. The bottom line here is that we are working very hard with all agencies, including the Commonwealth, to try to get outcomes for people. We know what the issues are. We will continue to go towards the managed model of providing support and assistance for those people who are accessing Alice Springs. Hopefully, in the longer term, it will alleviate some of the antisocial behaviour that does occur.
There is a bigger and broader issue here, and that is: how does the government and how does Alice Springs respond to the whole issue of the influx of people from bush communities? I look forward to working with all the agencies to try to secure an outcome.
Howard Springs Nature Park - Closures
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Last year, there were problems with the Howard Springs Nature Park, which was closed to the public for considerable periods, depriving many locals of their favourite swimming activity. Can the minister advise us how this matter has been addressed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. The members for Goyder and Nelson have shown great interest in Howard Springs. One thing you can say about all our nature parks is that we do have one of the best environments, and therefore enjoy a lifestyle that is the envy of many people from interstate. As a government, we are working hard to keep it that way.
Part of our commitment has been to work on a plan of management for Howard Springs Nature Park, one of the Top End’s most popular recreation spots for families. Territorians have had an opportunity to comment on the draft plan of management. Many Territorians have had their say about how they want the nature reserve to be managed, and the time for comment recently closed. Information stalls were set up at Howard Springs Supermarket and the park itself, and there were a number of community meetings held.
Fourteen formal submissions were lodged. The extensive public consultation was extremely useful, with valuable suggestions coming from users of the park, which we will certainly incorporate into the final plan of management, which will be completed very soon.
The nature park has been an important community recreation site since World War II, when Australian and American servicemen used the site for rest and recreation. Since then, it has been one of the most utilised recreation reserves in the Northern Territory. Thousands of Territorians have visited the reserve over the years. Government wants to keep it that way and make it even more accessible to locals and tourists in the future.
The plan recognises the importance of protecting and interpreting the park’s natural and cultural values. It also focuses on the maintenance of water quality in and near the waterhole and the spring, which are key features. The waterhole did suffer some impact last year, but Parks and Wildlife, the Larrakia Rangers and many other people including volunteers, and I am not forgetting the Friends of Howard Springs, have certainly contributed greatly to try to get this park back up.
While I am sure many of the 130 000 people who visit the park annually do enjoy their visit, as a government we recognise that proposals to upgrade the facilities in the reserve, especially around the waterhole and spring, mean it will be enhanced so that the experience for tourists and our locals will be enjoyed in the longer term.
I am certain that both the members for Nelson and Goyder, who have taken quite an active interest in this, will be pleased to hear that we will certainly move forward with Howard Springs.
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