2008-04-29
Royal Darwin Hospital – Bed Shortage
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Are you aware that, yesterday, two paramedics were required to attend to nine emergency patients brought in by ambulance to the Royal Darwin Hospital? The ambulance crew had to tend to these patients in the ambulance parked in the ambulance bay because the hospital had no beds. Are you also aware that this is the third time that this happened in three weeks? Why is the $7.8m Rapid Admission Unit failing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, I am aware that there has been congestion at Royal Darwin Hospital for the past week. I am aware that, from time to time, people are treated in the ambulance in which they arrive at Royal Darwin Hospital. However, I can give a cast iron guarantee that every patient that comes to Royal Darwin Hospital through the Accident and Emergency Department is suitably triaged and treated.
The shadow minister for Health, the member for Greatorex, has led with his chin on this, because this is a government that has increased funding to Royal Darwin Hospital by some 80% since we came to government ...
Mr Conlan: Yes, but why are they getting treated in the ambulance bay?
Dr BURNS: Just listen, member for Greatorex. The member for Greatorex should also be aware that we have put 70 extra beds into Royal Darwin Hospital since we came to government in 2001. That is excluding the 24 beds in the Rapid Admission Unit, which has been working very well. Given the congestion in Royal Darwin Hospital, of course there are issues; but we are a government that is looking for solutions.
We are a government that is engaging with the new federal government over places in the community for aged care patients. Some 20 to 40, depending on which day you look at it, are in Royal Darwin Hospital but would be better off treated and supported within the community in aged care facilities.
This is a government that turned an area that was changed from a ward by the CLP into an administration area, back into a ward. It is a bit rich of the CLP to come in here and start criticising this government for what we have done at Royal Darwin Hospital. I have given a guarantee about patients who come to Royal Darwin Hospital. Yes, as in every Accident and Emergency Department around Australia, it is very busy. In fact, if the member for Greatorex wanted a briefing on this, he would find out that our Accident and Emergency departments across the Territory are two or three times busier than the rest of Australia. I commend the staff of Royal Darwin Hospital for the fantastic work that they do.
We are a government that is finding solutions and we are funding solutions.
Death of Australian Soldier in Afghanistan
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
We have heard the sad news today of the death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan. What was your reaction to the news?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. It was sad news. Probably, like every member of this House, I immediately asked the question: ‘I wonder if this soldier is part of the Territory’s Defence family?’ The death of 27-year-old Lance Corporal Jason Marks in Afghanistan is an absolute tragedy, and I am sure all of us here send our condolences to Lance Corporal Marks’ family.
It is certainly a sad reminder of the harsh realities faced by our Defence members and their families in the Northern Territory. Every day, Defence spouses will be waking up and turning on the radio, hearing stories coming out of Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. We can only put ourselves in their shoes regarding the nervousness, I suppose, about what the following day is going to bring them.
I wanted to respond today in particular, given the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday where, in part, he said that 2008 will be difficult, dangerous and bloody, and the Australian nation needs to prepare itself for further losses in the years ahead.
Defence members and their families make up around 6% of the Northern Territory’s population. In Darwin and Palmerston, it is over 10%. It is a very sad day today, but I am sure every member of this House will be saying to our Defence families in the Northern Territory: we all know and recognise somebody who works in Defence; they are either neighbours, they are in the workplace with us, they are on the sporting fields with us, or they are in the social clubs with us. We recognise it is a very tough job that our Defence personnel do as they are deployed overseas.
Madam Speaker, on the back of the Prime Minister’s comments yesterday, and the tragedy for Lance Corporal Jason Marks and his family, all the members of this House will be thinking of our Defence community this coming year and into the future.
Alice Springs - Extra Police
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
The Minister for Central Australia was in Alice Springs recently and was interviewed on 8HA. In relation to your announcement of 60 extra police over two years in four locations across the Territory, your ministerial colleague said: ‘We probably need the whole 60 here’ - meaning Alice Springs. Your new minister gets full marks for telling the truth. Before you knock this unusual trait out of him, will you do what he and the residents of Alice Springs want; namely, deliver 60 more police to Alice Springs? Or, in the alternative, will you admit that currently there are, quite simply, not enough police in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a government that is proud of our record of increasing funding for our Northern Territory Police, and increasing police numbers significantly right across the Northern Territory. Since we came to government in 2001, the police budget has increased by just over 60%, and there are more than 200 extra police out across the Northern Territory community. Already announced in this budget that the Treasurer will hand down next week, there is funding for an additional 60 police right across the Northern Territory who will go to the front line.
Of course, in the Closing the Gap policy that the government announced last year, there was funding for an additional 40 police. Overall, at the end of this budget cycle, there will be 300 more police out across the communities of the Northern Territory than when the CLP were in office. It is a very significant increase right across the Northern Territory, including in Alice Springs. Since the O’Sullivan Report came out, and the government’s commitment to fund 200 extra police across the Northern Territory, 33 of those police resources have gone to the Central Australian region. Out of the 60 extra police that have been announced as part of this budget, there will be additional police for Alice Springs.
We stand on our record in our commitment to our police force and law and order. What do the CLP have? They have a very sad and sorry history of underfunding our police for the years that they were in office. My commitment to the good people of Alice Springs is there are more police coming, and they are coming as a result of this government’s commitment to our police force, and this government being able to deliver on a strong economy, strong economic growth, that gives us the capacity to put extra funds into police, health, education, infrastructure right across the Northern Territory.
Economic Policy – Effect on Families
Mr WARREN to CHIEF MINISTER
Access Economics recently forecast the Territory is on track to have economic growth of 7% next year. Can you please update the House on how the government’s economic policies are delivering, especially for Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question, because it is an important issue for the Northern Territory. Strong economic growth sees exciting times in the Northern Territory, full of opportunities for Territorians. What does this mean for Territory families? If we go back and actually look to 2000-01 when we came to office, the economy was on its knees - zero enterprise, zero growth in the economy in the Northern Territory.
I say quite often, regarding the economy, we can talk about percentages, billions of dollars and GDP, but it is about people. The economy is about people and families. I well remember, in 2001, the number of people who found themselves unemployed for the first time, and families being forced to sell their homes because they could not meet the mortgage repayments. That is what happens when you have zero percent growth in the economy that we inherited.
Well, look at where we are now: on the back of tough and financially responsible decisions we are reaping the benefits now. A strong economy does not happen by accident. It does not happen by sitting there in the car on cruise control. It happens by delivering confidence - confidence for business to invest. What do we see today? Cranes on the skyline, the economy growing strongly, confidence to invest and, just last year, an extra 5000 people employed in this economy in the Northern Territory - 5000 Territorians in a job, or people who had moved to the Territory who were not in a job last year. That is what a strong economy means.
A growth of 7% does not happen by accident. It happens by being financially responsible, turning around massive CLP deficits into surpluses, investing wisely in key infrastructure across the Northern Territory, and cutting taxes so that our small businesses are the lowest-taxed businesses in the country. What does that mean? Those businesses have the confidence to reinvest those dividends back into their business and to grow the economy. That is what it means for Territory families.
It also means that this is a government, on the back of a growing economy, on the back of population growth, that can increase our investments - not only in the physical infrastructure of the Territory, but the social infrastructure. We have put into the health system, as the Health Minister said, an extra 80% funding into Royal Darwin Hospital, on the back of a strong economy; into the education budget, for kids in our classrooms across the Northern Territory; and into our police force, to make a safer Territory for Territorians. That is what a strong economy means for Territory families. Whilst I am Chief Minister, that will be my chief focus and goal to continue to grow this economy.
Crime Increase - Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
There were 3603 assaults reported in 2001, and there were 5536 assaults reported in 2007. That is an increase of 54%. In February, you said there is, ‘a lot more confidence in reporting domestic violence and assaults to the police’. Assaults under Labor have risen massively. Is it not the case that, instead of making the streets safer, you have lost control of law and order in the Territory? Why do you keep offering excuses that are not true?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This is an ongoing series of questions across Question Times and I will keep providing the answer.
This is a government that is absolutely committed to investing in our police force. What does more police officers mean? It means that police have had the capacity to put on staff directly in Domestic Violence Units in Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Darwin - officer positions that did not exist before that focus specifically on domestic violence.
What we are seeing, as a result of the changes that we made - including legislative changes that allow police to actually initiate domestic violence and restraining orders, which the opposition opposed in this parliament. They opposed giving the police those powers to issue those restraining orders instead of having it up to a magistrate. What that means is that women across the Northern Territory have more confidence to report, because they know that police will be there ensuring that those restraining orders are actually enforced.
Between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2008, 974 offences were recorded for failing to comply with a domestic violence or restraining order – a 20% increase. These numbers did not exist when they were in office because we did not have the police out there, we did not have the focus on this, there was no capacity for police to issue restraining orders, and no capacity for police to follow up and ensure that those orders were maintained.
Assaults and how they are related to domestic and family violence: from 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008, there were 2679 assault offences recorded. Of that figure, 52% were attributed to domestic and family violence. These are figures from the police. These numbers are going up because women have more confidence to report. It is a tragedy, Madam Speaker …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the Chief Minister table the figures upon which he relies. If he fails to do so, how can anyone have confidence in what he is saying?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms CARNEY: You talk about them all the time, yet you do not provide them.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, cease interjecting, there is no point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, these are notes that are provided to me by our police; they will be in annual reports and other public documents. The reality is 52 %. The NT News featured an editorial the other day about these rising assaults and also acknowledged, tragically - and it is a tragedy - that there is a massive problem of hidden violence going on behind our doors right across the Northern Territory. Unfortunately, in indigenous communities and town camps there is a great deal of domestic violence occurring.
However, what is happening is that people are having more confidence to report. That is directly attributable to the fact that we have more police out there, dedicated units, and the capacity for police to issue restraining orders.
For the Leader of the Opposition - and I have spoken about this over and over - to come in here and say violence and assaults are out of control right across the Northern Territory, does not do him justice in terms of understanding the nature and the complexities of the issue. Tragically, so much of these reported assault figures are domestic violence-related assaults. Those numbers are going up, and they are going up in a large part because women have confidence to report. Tragically, they are also going up because of the terrible alcohol abuse that occurs in many of these places.
If the Leader of the Opposition does not believe me on these figures, I am quite happy to arrange a briefing for him. I have given you the figures: 2679 assault offences recorded; of that figure 52% - 1388 - were attributed to domestic and family violence. That is on the record.
Economic Growth Factors
Mr BURKE to TREASURER
Can the Treasurer outline the factors behind the Northern Territory’s strong economy?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, members of the opposition groan because they do not like to hear that the Territory has the strongest growing economy in the nation. That means that more Territorians today are in a job. That means more Territory families have money to spend. That is reflected in the Territory having the strongest retail growth figures in Australia. Consumer confidence is high. That does not happen by accident; it comes off the back of sustained, strong financial management by the Labor government.
In the context of climbing out of a black hole left with a budget diving into deficit by the CLP, we have now been able to deliver five budget surpluses in a row - delivering budget surpluses while investing in the key drivers that underpin and support strength and growth in the economy.
The mining sector is a core contributor to our economy. We can all remember when we came to government in 2001; exploration licence applications were stacked up on the desk of their minister because of ideology. They were not proceeding with it. We now have a mining sector that is growing significantly, underpinning one of the core drivers of our economy. We are seeing the same in oil and gas. Again, our government is, in stark contrast, going out and pursuing core major projects and expansion to underpin the major forces that contribute to NT business and our economy.
While we had constraints in our spending because of the black hole, we targeted our spending at core services because you have to deliver into those for a strong economy. Education, health, police and, importantly, training and jobs plans all contributed to a growing economy. Government spending in the context of the Territory is a significant driver to the economic outcome.
Also, we have been able to show that we will work in collaboration with the Commonwealth in the context of government spending to underpin those drivers. We are diversifying our business and community. Small business has been the big beneficiary of the strength of our economy. We have been the lowest-taxing jurisdiction for small business with our targeted tax cuts, year on year.
Madam Speaker, none of this happens by accident; it is strong financial management that delivers the absolute environment for strong growth. This is in stark contrast to the CLP, which was responsible for a black hole. With the rhetoric that comes out of the Leader of the Opposition’s mouth, it shows they would be economic vandals if let near our budget spending.
Gamba Grass - Classification
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
In April this year, the Queensland government named gamba grass as a Class 2 weed; that is, the landholder will have to manage it and control it from spreading. On 17 October 2006, when responding to a question about gamba grass, the then minister said: ‘The potential declaration of gamba under the Weeds Management Act is being assessed through the weeds risk assessment process ... It is expected that recommendations that will come out of that assessment process will be made around June 2007’. We are nearly to June 2008, so why are you sitting on your hands when it comes to making a decision about gamba grass? Why is it that the Queensland government has done something and you have not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Indeed, gamba grass is a very invasive grass and has been subject to the risk assessment processes the member for Nelson spoke about. The member for Nelson has been on many parliamentary committees and knows the value that they provide for the people of the Territory. He knows what important weight is placed on parliamentary committees in the report stage.
Mr Wood: Come on, this is before that.
Mr KIELY: They present good bipartisan reports. Madam Speaker, I am on record as saying that we are waiting on the Environment committee’s tabling of the invasive species report that they are doing, where they looked at this particular problem of gamba grass. The member for Nelson had been a member of that committee until he spat the dummy and walked off, Madam Speaker.
Mr Wood: No, you are just throwing in a red herring. That has nothing to do with it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Wood: You are slack. You are lazy.
Mr KIELY: He knows more about what is in that report, Madam Speaker, than I do. I have not been privileged to any part of that report as yet, and so I should not be. This is a parliamentary report. He knows what is in there. We are giving the courtesy, as we should, to wait for that report to be tabled.
Mr Wood: Rubbish! You are making an excuse for your lack of concern.
Mr KIELY: We will be ready to move. I do not know what the results are. I understand that that committee has been very active in talking to stakeholders, cattlemen, conservationists and landholders across the Territory.
We have these committees going for specific reasons, so that we can get all the issues on the table and get all the community involved. As I said before, if you had not spat the dummy and walked away from it, you would know what is going on …
Members interjecting.
Mr KIELY: Member for Nelson, get engaged, stick with it, and if you do not like the …
Mr Wood: Oh come on, do your job, minister. Do your job, you are the minister.
Mr KIELY: You will have your chance when the report is tabled. We will be advising the people of the Northern Territory on our treatment of gamba grass, dependent upon what is in that report from all the stakeholders, once it is tabled, I would expect.
Crime Increase - Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
When you were talking about increased crime figures for February, you said: ‘… there is absolutely no doubt that those figures do reflect an increase in assaults that are reported to police’, and that there is: ‘… a lot more confidence in reporting domestic violence and assaults to the police’. Unlike you, I will table these figures. I will table the section called Unreported Offences from every issue of the crime statistics since Issue 4 of June 2003. Each and every issue since that time has said: ‘69% of assault offences are not reported to police’.
Your official publications show that the rate of unreported assaults are the same now as they have been for nearly five years. How can you assert that there is an increase in the reporting rate when your own crime statistics say that reporting rates remain unchanged since June 2003?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to engage in debate about crime statistics with the Leader of the Opposition. In every jurisdiction, whether it is in Australia or in the western world, there is unreported crime. Everybody acknowledges there is unreported crime. The figures that the Leader of the Opposition is talking about are not accurate; they are not scientific; they are based on estimates that people who actually study crime statistics and figures as a profession work up and come up with.
I can talk about is what is happening in the Northern Territory. I went through those figures of what is actually reported as opposed to what is not reported. What is reported is we are seeing an escalating number of reports in and around domestic violence. I am will not repeat my answer again, because it was very forthright last time - more police, more confidence to report.
I will give one other figure, because I did say that the opposition opposed this government’s amendment to legislation to allow police officers to issue domestic violence restraining orders. From 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008, 1175 restraining orders were initiated by police. That is 1175 orders were initiated by the police - not having to wait for a magistrate to actually authorise the order - to make women safer across the Northern Territory. The opposition opposed giving the police those powers.
Jobs Plan 3 – Progress in VET Training
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can the minister advise the House of what progress has been made in relation to implementing Jobs Plan 3, particularly in the area of VET training?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. This government’s support for training is a key part of building a skilled workforce, which is vitally important to growing any economy. We all know 7% economic growth does not happen by accident. In the wake of the strong outcomes by our predecessors, …
Mr Mills: Nor do the prepared statements.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: The Leader of the Opposition talks down the economy, talks down development, and all of that is about jobs and training. He hates anything that is positive.
Jobs Plans 1 and 2 were both initiatives of this government. Jobs Plan 3 is fast achieving its objectives. In 2006, this government spent $72.4m on training.
I anticipate the figures to be released soon which will indicate a spend close to $83m in 2007. We are on track to increase our spending again in this area. Our record on investing in training is clear. Jobs Plan 3 sets out, quite plainly, a target of 10 000 new apprentices and traineeships over the four-year period. To date, we have achieved around 8157 new starters and, with this year’s strong commencement numbers, we are well on track to achieve the targets that we have set.
Those apprenticeships and traineeships are all delivered through our VET program, as everybody knows, with 24 000 participants in VET in the Territory at the moment. Recently, I went to Casuarina Secondary School, which provides a fantastic VET program with the motor industry and the training is going fantastically well. As well as having the highest participation rate in Australia, we also have the highest participation in VET by indigenous students, so that is also a fantastic outcome for us.
Commencements of these apprentices and trainees have risen from 2025 in 2001 to 2655, which has been a whopping rise of around 23%. Currently, there are 3045 apprentices and trainees across all levels of training in the Territory. If we take an industry focus, we have 1535 traditional trade apprentices undertaking VET training in the skills shortage trades area, compared to 819 when we came to government in 2001. We have a strong economy with the training and the jobs that our government has been creating. We know that, as I said earlier and as the Chief Minister said, the 7% growth is no accident and it is fantastic news in terms of training.
Crime Increase - Statistics
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You did say you would like to engage in some debate on this matter. You know the figures that have been tabled: 59% of assaults go unreported. That is what your own crime statistics say now and have said for nearly five years. Yet, today in this House, as you have said in the past, you claim that reporting rates are increasing because of public confidence in police. Are you in possession of some other evidence that supports this claim and, if you are, will you table this evidence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for repeating his question. I am not going to verbatim repeat my answer because I have made it very clear. The issue is - and I am really astounded that the Leader of the Opposition does not get this - when you have more police, you establish a domestic violence reduction strategy, you put targeted police domestic violence reduction units in our major centres, you increase the capacity for police to be proactive in interventions by giving the police powers to issue domestic violence restraining orders, you will get more notifications. It is fundamental that, if you put more resources and focus on an issue that previously was hidden away and not really focused on as a policing issue, and you shine a light on it, then you are going to detect more occurrence of that behaviour.
We can talk about statistics, but I will give the Leader of the Opposition an anecdote and I would urge him to take up the offer of a briefing. One of the most challenging …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I draw members’ attention to the issue that, this is an assertion. All we are seeking is evidence, evidence to back the assertion. That is the core of the question: evidence to back these assertions. I hope honourable members are aware that there is no evidence.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. As you are aware, there is a lot of latitude in the asking and the answering of questions in Question Time.
Mr HENDERSON: If the Leader of the Opposition is asserting that I am misleading the House, then he can do it by way of substantive motion.
Mr Mills: Where is your evidence?
Mr HENDERSON: It is beholden on me as a minister of the Crown and as a member of this parliament to speak the truth in here. This is the advice that I have been given by the police, and this is the advice that I am giving the Leader of the Opposition in debate today. I have given him those numbers. That is the evidence as provided to me by our Northern Territory police.
Let me get back to this issue when you talk about numbers. I actually visited the domestic violence …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The point of order relates to Standing Order 255, ‘Documents Relating to Public Affairs’. It states that:
- A document relating to public affairs …
Which is being stated here and referred to consistently:
- … quoted from by a Minister, unless stated by the Minister to be of a confidential nature, or such as should more properly be obtained by Address, shall, if required by any Member, be laid on the Table’.
Where is the evidence?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please resume your seat. Please pause. That is referring to when a minister or any other member is holding on to a document. The Chief Minister is not holding on to any documents, he has not been holding on to any documents. He has been speaking from notes and also off the cuff. It is not relevant to this question. There is no point of order, please resume your seat.
Mr MILLS: I am just seeking clarification, Madam Speaker. Should I then call this point of order when his hands are on the piece of paper?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, it is referring to when a member is standing and holding a document.
Mr MILLS: He lifts it up off the desk. Thank you, Madam Speaker, I understand.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to not have any more frivolous interjections. Chief Minister, resume.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, as I was saying, this is advice that has been provided to me by police that I am freely giving the Leader of the Opposition. If he chooses not to believe that, that is his problem. I have also offered him a briefing on these issues.
Returning to my comments, one of the most challenging and disturbing things I have done, as a Police minister, was to visit the domestic violence reduction unit in Alice Springs Police Station and sit down with those officers and, very tragically, go through a photo album of some of the most horrific assaults that I have ever seen in my life. I spoke with those officers about how they cope with trying to reduce and eliminate these horrendous assaults and, as ordinary people having dealt with those issues on a day-to-day basis, how they cope with going back to their families and loved ones.
The issue of alcohol-fuelled domestic violence is significant in the Northern Territory. That is why we have allocated dedicated police officers to deal with that issue. That is why those units are in place across those regions focused on that issue, that did not exist at all when the CLP were in government and they did not recruit one single police officer to the Northern Territory Police Force in the early 1990s.
Shining a light on this issue is what is leading to these statistics increasing in the Northern Territory. We are determined to do everything in our power to reduce the level of alcohol-related domestic violence and all domestic violence across the Northern Territory. At the end of the day, tragically, there are women on the receiving end of it who have absolutely every right not to be on the receiving end of it.
Any fatuous debating here about statistics does not acknowledge the fact that the light is being shone on this issue. Police are doing a very difficult job bringing these people to court. We have given them the powers and the resources; that is why these numbers are going up.
Small Business – Impact of Major Projects
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for BUSINESS, ECONOMIC and REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Small business is the backbone of the Northern Territory economy. Can you advise the House on support for small business from government? Can you also advise the House on the impact of major projects on small business operators in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It is true that small business is the backbone of the Territory. About 10 000 small businesses in the Territory employ thousands of Territorians. You can see that anywhere in the Territory. Over the past few years, our government has done everything possible to assist small business growth and development in the Territory.
It is not an accident that we have a 7% growth. It is not our propaganda; it is actually Access Economics. I dare anybody from the other side to challenge Access Economics’ assessment of the 7% growth. Obviously, the number seven is not very lucky for you, Kevin 07 and now 7%. It seems to be a bit unlucky. However, this is the plain truth: small business is doing very well in the Territory, and that is because the government has assisted them enormously.
First of all, we reduced the small business taxes. We are the jurisdiction with the lowest taxes for businesses with up to 100 employees. We have reduced red tape. We have established business centres in my department to assist people with applications and make it easier for businesses to be established. We have small business seminars. We have the October Business Month. We are providing grants, big loans and subsidies.
Back to what big projects do for the small businesses. A very good example is tourism. When the tourist numbers in Australia plummeted following the collapse of Ansett and 11 September, our government put $10m a year for ministers like me and my predecessors to go travelling extensively to promote the Territory as a destination. I am very pleased to continue this. There are a great many businesses which rely on tourism – 11% of our Territory workforce is employed by business related to tourism.
The convention centre – No 1 on the hate list of the CLP – has 29 conventions already booked and this is having an enormous impact on small business in the Territory. Another project we have is the LNG plant. I remember the then member for Goyder, sitting there, putting a number of claims to us: how this LNG plant was going to destroy life as we knew it; pollute the harbour; and ruin fishing. Five years later, we have not seen any of these disasters.
The LNG has improved everything in Darwin, from the price of houses in the northern suburbs, employment, and opportunities for small businesses. The numbers are staggering: 2350 people worked there - 2350 people wanting goods and services from the small business in Palmerston and Darwin; from hiring cars to pizzas. I remember very well the pizza shop in Palmerston at the time was saying it was the best time they have had for many years, because people wanted to eat and entertain themselves. Not only that, businesses like Thiess with the $120m complex for the LNG plant and marine facilities, had 8900 purchase activities in the Territory at the time, and $25m-worth of contracts awarded to Territory companies.
That is why we are working so hard to bring INPEX to Darwin, because we know the impact that will have in Darwin with this $12bn project. I know the Leader of the Opposition has added this one to his hate list of the CLP; they do not like it. I find it very interesting that, for the first time in many years, the very proud CLP member and former member for Araluen, Hon Eric Poole, is here today and probably remembers the good old days when the CLP supported businesses. We had a media release from the Chamber of Commerce on 28 April that said:
- The opposition has decided to adopt their current stance without substantive consultation from the business community and many of the Industry bodies support the Middle Arm proposal and, more importantly, understand the uncertainty being created to the viability of this particular project.
Also, the Leader of the Opposition has made his choice: he wants the headlines, he wants to grab the radio …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Our government has and will continue to support business of the Northern Territory.
Fishing Bag Limits and Penalties
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
According to your government, fishing is the lure of the Territory, but we have just had an example of how disastrous that lure can be for an Alice Springs father and his two sons. Without discussing the details of the case, which you are well aware of, would you consider and answer me these three questions? Would you consider a system of registration at Borroloola Police Station or King Ash Bay for intra-state and interstate fishermen? Would you review the bag limit to partly reflect the time or the day spent fishing to reflect the days that a fisherman in Darwin may be able to take a catch home? Would you take measures to have the car, boat and equipment, valued at $80 000, which was confiscated over 16 months ago, returned to the owners, considering that they have had a fine imposed upon them and the value of those possessions would be excessively high to bear on top of that fine?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. It is fair to say that some of the best fishing in the country is undertaken in the Northern Territory and we want to continue that into the future.
The situation is that a couple of people from Alice Springs were caught coming out of King Ash Bay with excess numbers of fillets in their possession. They, basically, had broken the law. They knew what they were doing. That has been dealt with by the courts, as the member quite rightly pointed out.
I have been to King Ash Bay. There is adequate signage at the ramp and in and around that area. I know that the police have lectured the residents and fishermen who go to King Ash Bay. They did it last year, and I am reasonably assured that that has been undertaken again this year, or will be.
Possession limits help to ensure that our fisheries resources are sustainable and managed into the future. The possession limits and, indeed, our fisheries laws, are there to ensure that any visiting angler, whether they be interstate or overseas, do obey our fishing laws ...
Mrs Braham: No one is arguing about that. We just want a bit of equality in this debate.
Mr Stirling: What? By having separate laws?
Mrs Braham: A separate bag limit is what I asked.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr NATT: Member for Braitling, I met with three members of the Alice Springs Anglers Club last year and they raised this very same issue that you raised. At that stage, I said to them that I was not prepared to change the laws; however, if they could produce for me some workable situation, I was prepared to have a look at it. At this stage, I have not received anything.
It is a very complex issue; there is not a simple solution at all. We cannot allow simple concessions or permits to be given out. It is all about the sustainability of our fisheries, and the last thing I want to do is set up check-up points or going around checking fish in freezers. As I said, it is a very complex issue. However, if something is put to me, I am prepared to have a look at some sort of working plan.
Economic Growth - Continuation
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
The Northern Territory economy is going strong. What is the government doing to ensure the economy keeps growing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We have a strongly growing economy now and, as I said, one of my very strongest priorities is to ensure the growth in our economy continues into the future.
That is why I recently went on a significant trade mission to China, Japan and Hong Kong. Whilst I was there, I met some of the biggest players in the resources industry, and some very significant political people as well. I can advise this House that the Northern Territory is very much on the map in the resources industry in Japan and China. Along with other members of this government - my colleagues, the Business minister and the Primary Industry minister – I, as the Trade minister, will continue to travel and promote opportunities for investment in the Northern Territory.
However, arguably, the most important discussions I had were with the Chairman and President of INPEX in Japan, in Tokyo, where we had a very long meeting. I put a very strong case for their investment and their project to come to Darwin in the Northern Territory. It followed on from the signing earlier this year, between me and the head of INPEX in Australia, of a project facilitation agreement which allows for the Territory government to share information with INPEX so that they can have a commercial and technical feasibility study to look at the costs and risks of doing projects in the Northern Territory in Darwin, and those associated with the project in Western Australia, to allow them to make a decision by the middle of this year as to the preferred site - not a final investment decision, but the preferred site - for their project.
Why am I doing this as Chief Minister? Because I want confidence in our economy to grow into the future. A $12bn investment that, 12 months ago, we were not even in the race for. We want that investment here in the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: There is a window of opportunity to snare a $12bn project for the Northern Territory that otherwise would go to Western Australia. That is what Territorians expect of their Chief Ministers and their governments: to seize the day, go after the opportunities, and promote the Northern Territory. What does it mean? Economic growth. What does that mean? Jobs for Territorians. That is what I am about as Chief Minister: jobs for Territorians.
Why is the Northern Territory in a place where we are competitive now? I still think we are the underdogs, but we provide certainty and security over land for the project; certainty and security in regards to the transfer of native title; certainty and security of a defined environmental process; and infrastructure in a capital city. We also have a track record that one LNG plant has been built here, on time, on budget - and so another one could be.
I have followed up those talks that I had in Tokyo with, again, significant and lengthy talks at the APIA Conference in Perth last month. I have worked hard to give us a chance at this project, along with a large number of dedicated Territorians in the public service - I take my hat off to them, they do an amazing job - and also people in the private sector who are assisting INPEX with the costings for the project if it was to come to Darwin.
Whilst I am trying to create an opportunity for the Northern Territory, I have to say I was shocked, stunned and dismayed when I saw the media release from the Leader of the Opposition saying that this project should not come to Middle Arm but it should go to Glyde Point, which had previously been ruled out. This came after the Leader of the Opposition was personally briefed by INPEX on the project and, in that briefing, told them he supported the project. What this Leader of the Opposition told INPEX was relayed directly to me. I remember speaking with INPEX people saying that there would be bipartisan support for this project because, not only was there certainty over land, native title, infrastructure …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … but the level of servicing would there for this project. I said the member for Nelson would probably oppose it, because he opposed the first one, but I said there would be political certainty for this project.
Mr WOOD: I did not. A point of order, Madam Speaker! I did not oppose the first one.
Mr Henderson: Yes, you did.
Members interjecting.
Mr WOOD: That is a lie.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I was somewhat …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member for Nelson to retract his accusation. It is unparliamentary; he cannot do it unless by substantive motion. He is on the Parliamentary Record consistently as having opposed it.
Mr Wood: What? Opposing what?
Ms LAWRIE: LNG at Wickham Point.
Mr Wood: Wickham Point?
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely.
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, can you simply withdraw the comment that you made about the Chief Minister?
Mr WOOD: No, Madam Speaker, I ask for standing orders to be suspended because I do not believe that what the minister has said is true. He has said that I opposed Wickham Point and that is not true.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, the only way to do that is to move a motion and then we can have a vote.
Mr Wood: I move a motion.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! The member for Nelson is indicating that he wants to move a motion. Just move the motion.
___________________
Suspension of Standing Orders
Move Motion
Move Motion
Mr WOOD: Madam Speaker, I move that standing orders be suspended to show that the minister has said that I did not support the construction at Wickham Point, which is not true.
Madam SPEAKER: All right. Resume your seat. Does the government accept the motion?
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, the government does not support this spurious motion. The member can make a personal explanation. We can all get on with Question Time. We do not support this spurious motion.
Motion negatived.
___________________
Madam SPEAKER: All right. We will go on with Question Time. Chief Minister, have you concluded your remarks?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I have not concluded my remarks. I want to go on to say that, as Chief Minister in this government, we are trying to create a significant economic opportunity for the Northern Territory, and I believed that the opposition were with us on that until - right out of the blue, no warning to anybody - I saw it about 6.30 pm or 6.45 pm when one of my staff walked in and said: ‘You will never believe what Millsy has just said’. I certainly did not believe it, Madam Speaker. There are a lot of people in INPEX who are also very concerned about what he had to say.
The Chamber of Commerce have taken quite a remarkable step in issuing a media release yesterday also condemning the Leader of the Opposition and his position on this particular project. I will quote from it:
- The Chamber of Commerce NT … criticised the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, for deliberately jeopardising a major oil and gas project while attempting to score cheap political points and making unrealistic demands.
Madam Speaker, ‘deliberately’, being the word here, jeopardising a major project that is going to create significant economic investment, confidence and wealth for Territorians into the future, and for making unrealistic demands. He knows those demands are unrealistic, because INPEX explained it to him. The time lines are such that, even if Glyde Point was an option, there is no way to build $500m-worth of infrastructure at Glyde Point to be able to capture this project in the time that INPEX need to make a financial decision. He knows that. It was explained to him and he said to them that he supported their project.
The Chamber went on to say: ‘In their eagerness to score points …’, - they will deliberately jeopardise this project, and economic growth and investment in the Northern Territory:
- In their eagerness to score points against the Territory government, the opposition is deliberately misrepresenting …
The Chamber’s words, not mine:
- … the case for Middle Arm and Glyde Point to the public.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Deliberately misrepresenting, because he was told, Madam Speaker …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: You were told that Glyde Point was not an option.
There is more. Here is the kicker, and I quote:
- For the Leader of Opposition to publicly claim that he supports the INPEX project while criticising the current government for pursuing a strategy established by the previous CLP government would appear a shade ridiculous.
Regarding the spurious environmental issues that he is trying to run, we can have both worlds. We can have an LNG plant situated at Middle Arm - we have one and it has not destroyed the harbour. It is not polluting the harbour. We still have great recreational fishing. We can have two. We can have a win-win. Under the CLP, there would be a lose-lose. The sign would go up: ‘Northern Territory closed for business. Do not bother. Take your money to Western Australia; we do not want you. Off you go to Western Australia. We are closed for business’.
The Leader of the Opposition opposed the waterfront development. He said: ‘Scrap the waterfront’. He opposed the first LNG plant, now he is opposing the second LNG plant.
Mr Mills: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is getting a bit out of control here …
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: It is the sound of a desperate man when he is starting to pluck at straws with a similar allegation about scrapping the waterfront. I would like that substantiated too, otherwise we are just clutching at straws. It sounds like a desperate man.
Madam SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition knows there is no point of order. Chief Minister, have you completed your answer?
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I am a desperate man. I am a desperate man to secure a $12bn project for the Northern Territory. That is how desperate I am.
Regarding whether you oppose the waterfront - NT News 3 December 2004, when the recycled leader, the last time he was leader: ‘Scrap the waterfront call. CLP leader wants to revert to 1999 model‘. He was against the convention centre at the wharf, against the waterfront, against LNG 1, and against LNG 2. This man is an economic vandal and he should never be trusted to be the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
Economic Growth – Contribution of
Mining, Primary Industries and Fisheries
Mining, Primary Industries and Fisheries
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
How significant is the contribution of mining, primary industries and fisheries to the Northern Territory economy, and how is government supporting continued growth in these sectors?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question; I know he has a very strong interest in my portfolios. There is a lot of activity happening in Central Australia, especially in and around his electorate. In mining, there is a lot of exploration in his tenements at the moment. Also, the primary industry sector is really starting to bubble along in that area.
According to Treasury figures, mining and primary industries, including commercial fishing, accounts for around 30% of the Territory’s economy. If you include LNG and alumina into that figure, that will rise to well over 40%. They are quite substantial figures coming from my portfolio.
This does not take into account the contributions paid to recreational fishing and guided fishing tours. We know that is the lure of the Territory. It is a quite considerable boost to our economy with 100 000 tourists visiting the Territory every year to wet a line. Obviously, there is also the lifestyle enjoyment of our Territorians wanting to go fishing as often as they can. You just have to look at some of the rigs driving around on some of our roads and the equipment on those rigs.
These sectors are making a major contribution to our 7% growth rate, but that 7% growth rate does not just happen by accident. It requires targeted, strategic action by this government. Across the resource and the primary sectors in my area we have a couple of great examples. The programs we have introduced in the mining area, Bringing Forward Discovery, and the previous program, Building the Territory Resource Base, have created a wonderful opportunity for exploration and mining in the Territory. There are a record number of exploration licences, members of the House - over 1100 so far. That is a record and it is gradually creeping up towards 1200. It is an amazing figure. Exploration last year alone was in excess of $100m. That is going to grow even more this year. Those are just some examples of where we are heading.
Another specific example is our targeting of the Chinese and Japanese market with our investment attraction strategy. Just this year alone, 17 Chinese companies have visited the Northern Territory and are showing interest in investing into the Territory. It is fantastic. It will be great for our economy into the future.
The support for live cattle exports is another area that is really starting to grow. Indonesia has been one of our prime targets. Last year alone, 280 000-odd cattle left the Port of Darwin; 250 000 of those were Northern Territory cattle. They are targeting the Indonesian market and, to some extent, Sabah. I know that my department has put a lot of work and effort into the animal husbandry and the feeder cattle areas. It is great to see the support there.
However, we are not going to stop there. We are looking at new markets. We are having a look at Vietnam, following up on the former Chief Minister’s visit last year. I visited Vietnam this year with the Cattlemen’s Association and the Northern Territory Livestock Association. That is showing great interest. We have some people visiting the Territory in May, and that shows a future in that area as well.
Recreational fishing infrastructure and sensible management of our fisheries is also another area that we have been concentrating on. Recently, we made the announcement of $4.6m for the boat ramp at Hudson Creek. That is a wonderful investment into our future for recreational fishing. The pontoon at Dinah Beach and also the ramp access at Channel Point are fantastic support for our recreational fishing into the future.
Let us not forget the research that we have been undertaking into the black jewfish, our mud crab fishery and barramundi fishery, which has had great support. We will continue to effectively and efficiently apply resources to support the future growth across our mining and primary industry sectors and our fishery sector.
Madam Speaker, I am looking forward to prosperous years ahead for our Territory families and our businesses.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016