2005-08-25
Water Fowl and Risk of Bird Flu
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for HEALTH
Without being alarmist - , and the opposition sincerely means that - , as you are aware, the World Health Organisation has reported that wild geese are now carrying bird flu;, specifically the deadly H5N1 virus. As you would also be aware, health experts are warning of an imminent pandemic from bird flu. I understand that magpie geese and other water fowl migrate between the Top End and Indonesia and other Asian countries. Can you advise what steps your government is taking to prevent infection spreading to Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very valid question from the Leader of the Opposition. However, I do not carriage of that area. The Minister for Health does have an answer, so I will refer it to him.
Dr TOYNE (Health): Madam Speaker, yes, it is quite true to say that there is a real threat of Asian bird flu entering this country at some time in the foreseeable future. There is certainly no sign that it has to date. There have been some cases of humans contracting this flu strain in Asia. There is quite a high level of alert around the world about this particular virus, as it can easily mutate further and become a virulent strain of flu affecting human beings.
We are part of a national process preparing Australia as a whole to combat an outbreak of this particular flu strain. National stocks of vaccines are being built up as we speak. There are arrangements in place for the response that each area of Australia would take in the event of a case turning up, particularly coming in through overseas air flights and into our ports, which are the most likely places that it would occur. It is also quite true to say that wild birds could potentially bring this bug into Australia.
We have a network of sentinel chickens spread out around the Northern Territory patrolling our interests. They would certainly be a place where you would expect the virus might turn up if it is being borne through the bird population.
We are very aware of the threat. We are very strongly involved in the national preparations to combat a flu outbreak if it does reach Australia. Tarun Weeramanthri, our Chief Health Officer, is part of the national body that is preparing the country for this. Very detailed response plans have been drawn up which will be used throughout Australia. There is a series of stages of response, from the immediate isolation of cases through to immunisation of people who will come into contact with affected people. We are progressing it very strongly at the moment.
Promotion of VET Training
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Martin government is committed to skilling Territorians through vocational education and training, and supporting the training of 10 000 apprentices and trainees over the next four years. Can you advise the House what the government is doing to promote VET to Territorians, especially young Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. It is absolutely true, as a government, we have invested heavily in vocational education and training since 2001 to build and skill our work force and to grow apprentice and trainee numbers. That has been done through Jobs Plans 1 and 2, and initiatives such as the Employer Incentives, the Work Wwear /Work Ggear bBonus, the Work Ready NT program and Build Skills NT program. Under Jobs Plan 2, we will spend $73m each year over the next four years to train and skill Territorians to support the training of those 10 000 apprentices and trainees.
However, the full benefits of those initiatives will not be felt unless we get the full message about vocational education and training out into the schools and the community at large. Today, I launched what I trust will be a very successful campaign: the VET Experience. This campaign will build on the first Get VET campaign which we ran through 2003–04. The VET Experience campaign consists of television commercials, radio advertisements and testimonial print advertisements, and comes with the tag line, ‘Look at me now’. I hope everyone in the Assembly looks out for what are some great ads and testimonials. Also, there is the Youth Information pack for career counsellors, VET coordinators, parents and school students, and an Employer Information pack for employers.
We are getting more of our young people into apprenticeships, particularly in those hard trade areas. However, it is not easy. Employers will certainly tell you it is not easy. We hope that this campaign will build on our other efforts to promote vocational education and training. These include: Futures Expos held throughout the Northern Territory in August; WorldSkills Competition to promote vocational education and training for young people, from 13 to 17 September in Darwin, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy; and Try a Trade - which is always a well-attended event that gives young people a ‘hands- on’ VET experience. It is now in its third year, and will be held from 6 to -8 September; and one of the biggest showcase events of the VET year in early September, the DEET Northern Territory Training Awards. The annual training awards night is an important evening where training organisations, trainers and the students get to celebrate success in the VET sector.
I add my thanks to the people from Media Marketing in DEET, the staff from Employment and Training, and the company, Simon Says Television for the production of the television advertisements. It is a great product and it really will continue to sell our message successfully.
Water Ffowl and Risk of Bird Flu
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for HEALTH
As you know, water fowl migrate between Asia and the Top End. It is also the case that bird flu is endemic in migratory waterfowl fowl, including geese, throughout Asia, and Russia, and is now spreading through Europe. I understand that the Northern Territory shooting season is upon us and that a condition of a shooting licence is that water fowl must be consumed. What steps have you taken to warn Territory shooters about the possibility that this lethal virus could be present in migratory water fowl and geese?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have taken the most important step of all, and that is to go to what is a world renowned infectious disease unit in our health system. We can be rightly proud of the professionals we have here, who not only have done absolute leading edge work on these public health issues in Australia and the Northern Territory, but have been used quite widely throughout South-East Asia as part of the follow-up to the tsunami disaster and other natural disasters throughout that region.
I am assured, on their expert advice, that there is no need for that action. We believe that the risk at the moment is very small and we will continue to monitor the situation.
Home Affordability for Young Territorians
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for HOUSING
There have been recent reports that younger Australians are finding it increasingly difficult to escape the rental trap and move into the private home ownership market. How is this trend affecting younger Territorians hoping to buy their own home?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. She has made a great contribution to the housing industry through her previous experience with the real estate industry.
I am happy to announce to the House that, this week, we signed up the 700th HomeNorth loan since the Martin Labor government re-vamped the scheme in July 2004 at a value of $124m. Perhaps no other group has benefited more from HomeNorth than our young people in the Northern Territory.
Research carried out in 2002 for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute by Judith Yates found that the home ownership for households in the 25 to 44 age group declined between 1986 and 1996 by around 6.7%. With the hike in housing prices in the last decade there has been a further decline since that period. This has, obviously, had long- term policy implications given the strong benefits that have been shown between home ownership, employment, health and wellbeing.
I am pleased to report to the House that the Northern Territory is bucking the national trend, and that the revamped HomeNorth scheme is immensely assisting in this process immensely. Since 1 July 2005, 82% of HomeNorth loans, nearly 600, have been taken out by borrowers under the age of 44. Indeed, one in five borrowers have been below the age of 24. This rate of home purchase is close to double the general rate of home ownership in the Northern Territory which, at 44% across all ages, is the lowest in the nation.
As a community, the Northern Territory loses so many of its younger population who head south for work, education or travel, and many never return to live in the place where they grew up. HomeNorth, with its low deposit rate of 2% and its system of shared equity, gives young Territorians a chance to get their own patch in the Territory. With the most affordable housing in Australia, and recently reduced stamp duty rates, young Territorians have a great chance to stay or return here and make a lifelong contribution to our place.
Indeed, we have already documented a number of instances where young Territorians have been positively encouraged to return after they have completed their studies down south, and that affordable home ownership has been one of the main incentives for them to come home. Therefore, as well as creating a more sustainable population, these younger Territorians are returning with skills that are in short supply in the local labour market.
HomeNorth is an important part of the Martin Labor government’s population strategy. Its success in attracting and retaining younger Territorians demonstrates extremely positive outcomes for the future of the Northern Territory.
Water Fowl and Risk of Bird Flu
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for HEALTH
I thank the minister for his previous answers. Three people recently died offrom bird flu in Jakarta. If magpie geese and other water fowl are moving between Indonesia and the Top End, would you accept that is a possibility and may, in fact, be happening? Can you advise Territorians what specific action or safeguards you have put in place to ensure that the indigenous communities in the Top End are aware of the potential dangers involved in eating magpie geese or other migratory waterfowl?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can only repeat that I have regular briefings on the bird flu issue, both at the national level and from my own agency. On their assessment, there is no significant danger at the moment from the disease entering the Northern Territory jurisdiction or, indeed, the country, in a form that will spread readily to humans.
Asian bird flu outbreaks have occurred largely with people who have regular contact with very large populations of birds. I am assured, in the regular briefings that I have at those two levels that, at this stage, there is no significant danger. Things may change because the virus can mutate. We are monitoring the situation, both here and overseas, through the national process.
Hospice – Royal Darwin Hospital
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Martin Labor government promised to establish a hospice in Darwin to care for Territorians with terminal illnesses. Could you please advise the House on the fulfilment on this important election commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. It is always good to report on yet another of our election promises from the election before last that we have delivered to Territorians as promised. This is a $4.25m commitment. Despite the strenuous efforts of the now Leader of the Opposition to claim otherwise, it includes the total fit-out of the hospice. Those people going to the opening tomorrow will see a fully fitted-out facility. It has curtains, beds, chairs, all of the equipment needed for the provision of this very important and sensitive area of care. There is $1.8m recurrent funding to maintain the operations of the hospice year by year.
I pay tribute to the fantastic work done by PTM Homes, a local company thatwhich received the tender to construct the building on 15 September,. and tThey have delivered us a high quality facility in which to operate that hospice in. It has 12 ground- level individual rooms, each with their own ensuite. The design is planned for the tropics, with individual climate control and access to a deck area from each room overlooking a garden, which will allow patients and their relatives to spend time together. The site of the hospice is quiet and discreetly placed away from the main hospital areas, which I believe will be a very appropriate area in which to operate these services.
It is certainly part, but not all, of our Palliative Care Strategy, which we recently launched as a Territory-wide palliative care plan. We will continue to work on the expansion of palliative care services throughout the Northern Territory appropriate to the clients in each of the parts of the community. I am looking forward, with the Chief Minister, to going there tomorrow to bring home yet another of our election promises.
WOW Sight and Sound Premises – Planning Issues
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
During the Estimates Committee, it was said that building approval problems related to the WOW Sight and Sound building complex at Berrimah had caused access problems for the neighbouring Sundowner Caravan Park. You also said that, in relation to that site, that there were issues relating to access to the Stuart Highway. Have the access issues been sorted to the satisfaction of the caravan park? Could you explain the purpose of, the cost of, and who is paying for the new roadworks presently being constructed within the Stuart Highway reserve adjacent to the WowOW site and the caravan park.? And, aAre these new roadworks the result of any planning or building deficiencies related to that particular issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. As he rightly pointed out, there have been access problems with that particular development. The construction was not the same as the plan submitted to the Development Consent Authority in 2004. There was an impasse in terms of the developer and the proprietor of the caravan park in that the developer and the building have encroached very close to the road that was the access point at the back of the complex into the caravan park. That road is owned by council, and there are ongoing negotiations.
I am advised that agreement was reached between the proprietors of the caravan park and the developers of the WOW complex to build an access point from the Stuart Highway on to the access road, and, thereby, into the WOW complex. Government has not put money into that access road. It has been funded by the two proponents I have mentioned. I believe it is a good solution.
Unfortunately, it should not have happened in the first place. If the developer had built the original building to the plan as specified - , and this is a bit of a warning to developers who want to vary their plans;, - the developers got out of this one, - but it could have been very difficult for them. I hope that answers the member for Nelson’s questions. Basically, it was an agreement between the proponents and the Darwin City Council to build the access road, at their cost, also.
Daly Waters and Elliott – Unacceptably High Levels of E. coli
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
The Infrastructure Report Card was released yesterday by Engineers Australia. This report examines key infrastructure sectors in the Northern Territory, and then assigns a rating to those sectors. In general, the report noted that infrastructure in the Northern Territory is of an adequate standard to service our community. On page 33 of this report, Daly Waters and Elliott were reported to have E. coli values that exceed guideline compliance levels. E. coli bacteria can be very dangerous. This bacteria is found in faeces and can cause haemorrhaging in humans. What are you doing to rectify these unacceptable levels at Daly Waters and Elliott?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am prepared to take this question. I assume the member for Katherine is talking about E. coli within drinking water or water supplies. Those issues are dealt with by Power and Water, whoich regularly monitors the water supply and takes appropriate steps to ensure that any coliform bacteria is within acceptable levels as per Australian standards. I am not aware of any tests that exceeded that particular limit on a regular basis. However, if that has occurred, I will certainly look into that matter further.
I pay my compliments to Power and Water. It is a very difficult task to provide water throughout the Northern Territory, given the variable nature of the water supply, both in its chemical composition and some of the background in terms of bacteria or other contaminants that might enter the water supply. I know they are very keen to ensure that Territorians have safe, potable water. If there is an issue with Daly Waters, I will certainly look into it and get back to the member for Katherine.
World War II Heritage Sites
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
I have watched with excitement as the new interpretive signage has gone up at the Strauss World War II Airstrip within my electorate. Several of my constituents have asked me about this and what else the government is doing to preserve the unique Northern Territory World War II heritage. Could you please inform the House what the government is doing about this?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as Minister for Seniors Territorians, can I acknowledge and say how fantastic it has been, for the last couple of weeks, having all our seniors come in and be part of our parliamentary sittings.
I thank the member for his question. I know the member for Goyder was most disappointed about missing the Strauss event as he was attending the re-enactment of the last flight of the Mosquito Squadron from Coomalie Airstrip.
This government believes that our heritage not only defines our unique Territory identity, it is also a very important resource for the tourism industry. The Navy Oil Storage Tunnels are one of the most visited sites around Darwin. Our World War II heritage offers something very special that no other state can offer: a genuine wartime experience where allied service men and women fought for our nation on our soil. It is the real deal.
Government sees further conservation interpretation and marketing of our World War II heritage as a priority. Some of our World War II sites are already protected,. hHowever, many are not and are now under threat from urban encroachment. There is a fantastic story to be told, but only if we protect and interpret these sites for future generations. My department and the Heritage Advisory Council have been working very hard to complete the heritage assessment so that we can protect the best of these sites. We are having another look at some of the sites that the previous government had rejected for heritage listing, such as the Z Force Base.
A very special site that we have protected, and which the member for Goyder asked about, is the Strauss Airstrip. Last week, on the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific, I had the pleasure of opening some exciting new interpretive works at the airstrip. In his adjournment speech, the member for Nelson said there were many people from the community involved with that project. There was an acknowledgement that it was not just government and ministers and others. It involved the Heritage Advisory Council, the department, and also the community. It is wonderful that the community is part of pulling together these projects.
I was most pleased that Lynne Barnett and members of her family were able to come from the United States for the opening. Of course, we talked about Lynne’s father, Clyde Barnett, who was a young American serviceman was stationed in Darwin at the time. Clyde was a keen photographer and his images of the servicemen and their aircrafts thatwhich were stationed at Strauss form a very important part of this historical record. Fittingly, most of the photos he took during that time have been included in the information panels at the airstrip.
Strauss certainly shows, as I said before, what government and community can do when we work together. I particularly thank Taminmin High School, which has adopted the airstrip and undertaken a lot of very valuable work, the heritage officers from my department, and the contractors who have done a great job.
However, Strauss is not the only onesite receiving attention. A number of sites - the Navy oil tunnels, the pump house and the observation post at Lee Point Road – are all part of the repairs and maintenance under our government’s $1m program. There are many more sites to come.
Mr Mills: Wait for Gerry to find them!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Finally, Madam Speaker, I announced a while ago … You do not care about heritage; you never did, your government’s track record …
Mr Mills: I absolutely do;, however, I believe the member for Nelson needs to be referred to with some of this.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Stirling: Hotel Darwin! Say no more.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: That is right. As a Territorian ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is speaking.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … our World War II heritage sites are not only significant for the Northern Territory, they have national significance. As a Territorian, I am intensely proud of our World War II heritage. It is vital to preserve and to tell the story, particularly of those men and women who volunteered their lives when facing Australia’s front line.
Delivery of Living Skills Program
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for PUBLIC HOUSING
There is a drift from the bush to the town. With that drift, we are experiencing many antisocial behaviour problems in our suburbs. For a long time, this government has promised it would introduce a living skills program which would assist those people coming from the bush to move into town and not cause disruption and spoil the lifestyle of people living in our suburbs. What has happened to the living skills program? When will it be delivered? Who will deliver the program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. At this point in time, you will be very much aware that there is a program being developed specifically for Alice Springs. It is a joint arrangement with Territory Housing and IHANT, together with many other local stakeholders. This has been going on for a period of time. It relates to nuisance-type issues, quality of life-type issues and antisocial behaviour-type issues. Obviously, these do impact upon people in Alice Springs, particularly those who live in public housing and within the immediate community.
We have employed a project officer, who has been working with a whole host of people in Alice Springs to try to develop a program. The report is now complete. Discussions will take place with the stakeholders in terms of how we might be able to put in a pilot program to alleviate and address some of the issues you refer to.
I am hopeful that the program will commence in around six to eight weeks’ time.
As you, member for Braitling, are very concerned about it, and as the member for Greatorex has also raised these issues in the House in a very genuine way, I would ask you both to be participants in this project. I will ensure you are briefed in regards to it. If you can find the time to attend …
Mrs Braham: Who will deliver it?
Mr McADAM: Member for Braitling, at this stage I cannot give you an answer. However, I can endeavour to find that out as quickly as I can and I will advise you.
I do agree with you that it is an issue that has to be addressed, not only in respect offor those people who are coming in from the bush communities into Alice Springs. I believe we also have a responsibility to get that message out into the community before people come in, so they are very much aware of what the requirements are when people move into town.
Hopefully, member for Braitling, this project will go part of the way to addressing and resolving an issue which is almost a daily occurrence. Territory Housing and a whole host of other stakeholders in Alice Springs are working very hard to address this issue, as are indigenous communities in the bush,. who I will also encourage those communities to become part of this process.
Road Funding
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Yesterday, in the Infrastructure Report Card, roads failed and failed miserably. You have failed to maintain our roads for four years. Despite that, the Treasurer took $10m out of your capital works budget and put it into recurrent spending. Without blaming the feds, which you always do, why are you cutting capital funding from our roads?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. Talk about leading with your chin! For the last year or so, we have been very fair and square on the record about the shortfall in Commonwealth funding for our roads. In fact, we missed out on $20m over four years under the Roads to Recovery program. The member for Katherine was part of the debate where this House unanimously passed a motion, where the former member for Brennan, Mr Burke, and I wrote a letter to the Commonwealth government on this very issue asking for the backlog of funding for our roads.
This government has put extra money into roads year after year. We have a record …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Dr BURNS: … infrastructure program that we have been …
Mr Mills: You took two years.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Blain!
Dr BURNS: … investing in our roads network. The member for Katherine mentioned $10m. Well, that rang a bell in my mind, because we put $10m extra into our beef roads, in consultation with the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and with agreement about where the priority areas would be. Now, the Commonwealth haves come back to us, cutting our funding for repairs and maintenance. Historically, it has been approximately $19m per annum. They have cut it down to about $14m or $15m. So, here is the Commonwealth cutting the road funding,. tThey are also cutting our ability to be flexible with our roads funding. They are trying to tie us in to their industrial relations fiasco of tying Australian workplace agreements into road contracting, and the member for Katherine has the gall to get up and talk about roads funding. She has been quoting the Infrastructure Report Card – it is not about roads, it is about electricity. It says:
- Recent political discussion has emerged regarding an inter-connector between Queensland network and the Darwin-Katherine system. However, this is not economically viable due to the high operating costs of the transmission line and small contestable market share compared to the eastern states.
How is that relevant, Madam Speaker?
Members interjecting.
Mr Mills: Your own Treasurer took $10m off it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Blain!
Dr BURNS: Because, iIf they were in government, they would be pulling money out of roads and putting it into their wretched power line!
National Road Transport Hall of Fame Reunion
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Minister, you are an old truck driver, and I understand you still hold a truckies licence. Will you be attending the commemorative activities at the Truckies Reunion at the Hall of Fame in Alice Springs this weekend, and can you tell us what the government has done to assist this community group?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. If I could clarify one part of the question, which is the ‘old truckie’ bit. When I was young, I drove old trucks. That is the explanation for that reference. It has been some years since I drove a truck, Madam Speaker;, however, I still have a semi-trailer licence.
I have a particular interest in the Road Transport Hall of Fame. It is a great organisation which has a great exhibit in Alice Springs. This weekend, they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary, the highlight of which will be the announcement of a sponsorship deal between the Hall of Fame and a well-known, but at this stage unknown, trucking company. It is a very important weekend.
The Road Transport Hall of Fame is dedicated to the heritage and history of road transport in the Northern Territory and throughout Australia. There are some very interesting exhibits there. I commend it to members and members of the public. It highlights some of the great personalities of the trucking industry in the Northern Territory, notably Mr Kurt JohansenJohannsen. The exhibit includes a station wagon he constructed. It has a methane burner on the back. It is a very forward-looking vehicle and very interesting. I regret that I did not personally never got to meetmeet Kurt Johansen. I am sure he was a very interesting man. He designed and built some of the first road trains in Australia and, indeed, the world.
The 10th anniversary celebration began yesterday and will continue until Monday. It will attract over 6000 people to Alice Springs, so it is a great boon to the Alice Springs economy. Apparently there is not a hotel room left in town, so I hope mine is still there. I will be attending on Saturday night. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and sterling efforts of the volunteers who are the backbone of this organisation: principally, Liz Martin who is President of the Road Transport Historical Society, which has put in a huge effort to ensure the success of the 10th anniversary reunion.
It is important to know that this organisation is principally self-funded through its thousands of members as well as through entry fees, souvenir sales and sponsorship from the private sector. This government – and I will compliment previous CLP governments, which have ssupported this organisation – has been supporting the organisation through the grant of land, approximately 3.4 hectares ha of land along Norris Bell Avenue thatwhich was previously shared with the Ghan Preservation Society. We facilitated the subdivision, and we invested approximately $65 000 for the provision of a separate water supply to enable the subdivision to occur.
We are all looking forward to Saturday night. I suppose the name of the sponsor is one of the worst kept secrets in Alice Springs. If you look at the member for Greatorex’s speech last night, you might get an inkling of who that sponsor might be. I am sure there will be a good crowd there on Saturday night. It is a great time for Alice Springs and for the history of transport in the Northern Territory.
Tourism Marketing – Lonely Planet
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
The Northern Territory Tourist Commission is currently working with Lonely Planet to attract the independent traveller market to the Northern Territory. Can you give the House some details on this initiative?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a good question. The backpacker and independent traveller market is important for the Northern Territory. It has been a tough market since September 2001. As fuel prices rise, with travel, and the flow-on from those world events that have impacted on the backpacker independent traveller market, it has been tough, not only for the Northern Territory but for the rest of Australia as well.
Earlier this year, we partnered with South Australia and Western Australia to commission Lonely Planet to produce a mini-guide for this part of the world. It is really to entice travellers that do end up in the eastern seaboard to come north and west, so to come to South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is a very good way to do that, through Lonely Planet.
Lonely Planet has a great reputation. It really is seen as the traveller’s bible. Virtually, if Lonely Planet says it is okay to do, then it is okay to do. The guide is a small one. Often, Lonely Planet guides are very big. Having travelled with Lonely Planet many times, often they are this thick and they are difficult to carry with you. This one is pocket-sized, and very effective, and is called ‘Journeys to Authentic Australia – Travel Beyond your Expectations’. If you note the front cover, it depicts Rainbow Valley. It is a very useful little guide. It is very positive about all parts of the Northern Territory.
The Leader of Government Business was reminding me how there was a Lonely Planet guide a few years ago that was not particularly complimentary about Darwin. Let me say, this one sings the praises of Darwin. If you talk to any traveller in Darwin at the moment, they just love the experience.
Seventy per cent of those independent and backpacker travellers do rely on guides like Lonely Planet, so it is a good targeted guide. We have had 100 000 copies produced for distribution throughout our sourced backpacker independent traveller market, which is the United Kingdom, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy and France. We also have additional distribution, particularly in somewhereplaces like Sydney, where those travellers first comearrive toin Australia. Importantly, Madam Speaker, the guide is a free. It is a free little publication.
To further build on this publication, next month, one of Lonely Planet’s leading experts on travel trends will be coming to the Northern Territory to talk to local operators about what they see as the current independent traveller backpacker youth market,. and I would certainly encourage all of our local operators to attend the – there will be workshops, which will be held both in Darwin and Alice Springs – to attend them. It is an important part of our market. It has struggled over the last few years and this is one of the ways we are going to rebuild.
Indigenous Education Strategy
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Yesterday, you reported on the future of indigenous education in the Northern Territory. The opposition supports the general thrust of your initiative and recognises its importance. However, nowhere in your extensive report do you mention the non-government sector. Most of our respected indigenous leaders, including those sitting across from me in this House, received a private education. In fact, about 80% of the indigenous students who graduated from Year 12 last year came from just one Top End school, Kormilda College. In the genuine interests of improving education for all Territorians, will you redraft your Indigenous Education Strategy and establish a round table discussion to include representatives from both sectors?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the opposition spokesman on non-government education, because that is what he is. He refuses to acknowledge that this government, and myselfI as minister, hasve primary, first and foremost, responsibility for education in the Northern Territory, but, first and foremost, prioritymary responsibility for our government schools.
To say that non-government schools were not represented in the work we did here is an untruth. In fact, representatives of the non-government sector were present, involved themselves and participated in the workshops where we nutted out some of the thinking around our strategy going forward.
Why would the member for Blain concentrate on Kormilda College in this exercise, which is a boarding school? What we are talking about in terms of the community engagement process, overcoming the disconnect between our school based in the community and the lives lived in the community around that school, has nothing to do with boarding schools per se. It is up to Kormilda, as a private school, to engage with its community where its boarders and students come from, in the way that it sees fit.
Frankly, it would be overbearing, perhaps even bullying, for me to tell Kormilda College how theyit should conduct theirits business with those communities from which they draw their students.
Dr Lim: Talk to them.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Members, cease interjecting, the minister is speaking.
Mr STIRLING: What we are engaged in, and what we will be engaged in, is a comprehensive and intensive effort to engage those communities that have within their boundaries community education centres. None of these 15 communities with which we are embarking on this process to engage them around fundamental and basic questions of education are boarding schools. These are schools located within the boundaries of the community. Why aren’t schools such as St John’s College, Marrara Christian School and Kormilda College, all of which were just mentioned, in this picture - they are all boarding schools? They are all boarding schools, first and foremost and, in the second case, they are non-government schools.
I am not, with all my wisdom and experience as an educator, and four years behind me as minister for Education, about to tell the non-government sector how to do its business. That is entirely up to the private sector.
What we do., and what we demand as a government in return for our funding for the non-government sector is accountability: was the funding spent and acquitted in accordance with the grants made from this government? That is not to say we do not have an interest and a partnership with the non-government sector. We do, and I work particularly closely with them.
I have enormous regard and, indeed, a friendship with Jack Mechielsen from the Christian Schools Association, whose own strategies in relation to community governance and community schooling resemble very closely what we are trying to do through the community engagement process.
I really am bemused, I suppose, by the focus of the member for Blain on the question of non-government when, clearly, there were representatives from non-government at the workshops where we worked through this.
However, as I said, they are responsible for their system. Their accountability lies with the parents of the students they teach. Our responsibility and accountability, first and foremost, lies within the government sector and that …
Mr Mills: You are the minister for the Department of Education only.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Blain, cease interjecting.
Mr Mills: Well, hHe is making accusations of me that I am the spokesman for non-government education.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, you are on a warning!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, shortly after being returned to government, so important and so serious to us, as a government and to me myself as minister, was this lack of really forward movement in outcomes in indigenous community schools. Tthat is why, as quickly as we were confirmed back in government, and as quickly as I was confirmed as minister for Education, I went to pulled all of this together and started working forward work on strategies to overcome that disadvantage.
I am sorry for the member for Blain that I am not down there throwing the Catholics out of Wadeye or Tiwi, or wherever I should be, taking over and telling them how to do it. I am sorry that I am not out at Kormilda or Marrara sacking those principals and saying: ‘Get out of the road, I am from the government, I am here to help, I know how to do it. This is how we should do it, get out of the road’. They have their job to do. They are a complementary and effective part of the education system in the Northern Territory. We welcome the role they play. However, what I am about is reform of the delivery and the effectiveness of the government education system to those 15 community education schools.
Seafood Export from the Northern Territory
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Following on from the highly successful Seafood Festival, I understand that new opportunities for the exports of seafood from the Northern Territory have been pursued. What is the outlook for the exports of Northern Territory seafood, and what new market opportunities exist?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Certainly, tThe second Northern Territory Seafood Festival was an enormous success, attracting thousands of visitors, both local and interstate. During the Seafood Festival, the industry had an opportunity to showcase products from wild fishery, aquaculture and other relative industries. The Seafood Festival is very important, as this is a way to show people, especially buyers from interstate or overseas, the quality of our produce; – safe, clean, from pristine waters - something not many countries around the world have can actually have.
I am very pleased to say that Mr David Caracciolo of NT Fish Pty Ltd advised me that he has had a successful trial export to the United States. Usually, trial exports are up to 200 kg or 300 kg for fish. On this occasion, the Americans asked for a small trial of 1000 kg of jewfish. The jewfish will be sold in America as ‘mulloway’. As we know, Americans like big things; their hamburgers are bigger than ours, their serves in their restaurants are bigger than ours and, of course, they were very impressed by the size and quality of the jewfish that was exported.
I have been advised that NT Fish Pty Ltd have sent a second shipment to America and, hopefully, they have cracked into this market. David also advised me they were very successful cracking into another very difficult market, the Japanese market, where he exported some Spanish mackerel. The Japanese are well known for how strict they are with the quality of the food they demand, - and the quantity. They are prepared to send chefs to other states to taste the food before they even import it – so this is very good news. In addition, NT Fish Pty Ltd is trialling exporting tropical snapper fillets to the European Union.
In the past, we exported farmed barramundi to the United States, but are now exporting wild fish such as jewfish, tropical snapper or Spanish mackerel to other countries, which is very important. because, iIt not only opens new markets but also improves the supply from the Northern Territory to the other markets and commands better prices, especially when the markets down south are slow during the winter time. I wish every success to David and his company.
Our government continues to support the seafood industry, not only with the Seafood Festival, where we provided up to $25 000, but also with infrastructure and better facilities for the fishing industry in the Northern Territory.
Travel Agent Delegation – Government Assistance
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for TOURISM
As you should be aware, there is a delegation of travel agents visiting the Northern Territory. They represent four companies that comprise 60% of the inbound tourist market. What assistance have you offered to this delegation to help make the Northern Territory appear more attractive than the other states?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, could I ask the member to actually specify where this delegation is from? We have many delegations and, unless you are specific about where it is from, I cannot really give you the information.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, do you have that information?
Mrs MILLER: They are a delegation of Australian-based Japanese travel agents.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I met with those travel agents, and their partners, last Friday evening. We held a reception in Parliament House and they have already returned to Japan. When I met with them they had been, I believe, to Kakadu and they were visiting other parts of the Northern Territory. I pay tribute to Richard Doyle, who handles connections to Asia for us. He does a great job. He really is involved on a one-on-one level with agents in areas that are key to our inbound market.
I hosted the reception and met with those very important travel agents. They travelled to various parts of the Northern Territory. This follows on from a very significant Japan-based group, Japan-based, who came in last November. They came in from Tokyo, went to Cairns, flew to Uluru, then to Alice Springs, took The Ghan from Alice Springs, stopped in Katherine, did the Gorge and back on The Ghan to Darwin, did Darwin and Kakadu in five days, and were very impressed. It is not necessarily an easy time of the year in November and they really enjoyed it.
It is now forms part of the itineraries coming from those important travel agents like Nippon and Kinetsu, and that is a new itinerary on the market. We are continuing to build on that, and these visits are very important. Again, I pay tribute to Richard Doyle and the commission for the work they are doing. We want to keep that Japanese market strong. That it is why we have the charters going flying into Alice Springs. We have had those four successful charters so far this year, and we are continuing the build on that. One of the exciting things about the charters this year is that it was not just from Tokyo or Osaka as before, but this time from Nagoya this time, so we are expanding where those charters are coming from.
It is good news on the inbound front from Japan.
I am confident we will continue to grow the numbers coming to the Northern Territory, not just to Uluru, which is iconic, but to the rest of the Territory as well.
October Business Month
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The government’s October Business Month is a stand-out on the Territory’s business calendar each year, and one that I myself have enjoyed. With just over a month to go, can you update the House on some of the events being held this year, and how they are backing Northern Territory business to grow?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. October Business Month is eagerly awaited every year by many members in our business community. There is a month of activity across the Northern Territory, and I am very proud of the effort put in my department.
As members know, October Business Month is all about putting on a series of events, workshops and seminars across the Northern Territory every year. The vast majority of these events are free, or have a nominal charge, which allows business people to attend them and gain further information about how they can build their businesses, amend their business plans, and become a lot more targeted, efficient and successful.
Over the past year, and this happens every year, officers from my department get out and talk to Territory businesses about what they would like to see on the agenda and the focus of October Business Month. What they are telling us clearly this year is that their businesses are maturing, growing and they are now most interested in obtaining support advice on how to continue to grow their businesses thatwhich are really starting to kick some goals.
October Business Month this year will focus on Taking Care of Business, with experts sharing their tips on a range of issues, including marketing, finding the right staff, taxation, E-business, and tips to boost your sales.
As we are well aware, businesses in the Northern Territory, particularly small businesses with 100 employees or fewer, pay a lotmuch less tax than they do in any other state in Australia. There are going to be more than 90 events across the Northern Territory in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt.
As always, we are kicking off October Business Month in style. This year, international marketing specialist, Mr Bob Pritchard, one of the world’s pre-eminent marketing experts and a must-hear presenter, will launch October Business Month in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.
The big announcement is that the presenter is going to launch October Business Month in Tennant Creek. - I know my colleague, the member for Barkly, is very interested. I received the advice in my office on Tuesday in my office and I could not believe my eyes when I saw this! October Business Month will be launched in Tennant Creek by former Wallaby Captain, Nick Farr-Jones. How is that for Tennant Creek? I do not know how we managed to get Nick Farr-Jones, but obviously …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I do not know whether there is any truth to the rumour, Madam Speaker, that Nick Farr-Jones is actually going into training in Tennant Creek and making a comeback – hHeaven knows, the Wallabies could do with him now.! Whether he is on the phone to George Gregan or not, I do not know. Maybe the member for Barkly can suggest that he gets back into training in Tennant Creek.
However, Nick Farr-Jones is launching OBM in Tennant Creek - and what a great tribute to the people in my department! I have not found out who managed to secure Nick yet, but I cannot wait to do that.
A range of events will be focussing on the skills shortage. There will be seminars focussing on recruiting the best people for the job; attracting and retaining staff; and how skilled migration can work for your business. You can also find out more about targeting Generation X and Y in marketing and recruitment, women in business, home-based business, and financial planning.
I congratulate all the staff in DBIERD. They do a magnificent job every year when they put all this together. I encourage members of the Assembly to get along to a couple of the seminars. It is great,; you get to meet the local business people. The calendar of events is being printed as we speak,. so I am sorry I do not have any here today, however, we will get those calendar of events out to each electorate office. Please encourage your businesses to get along …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Leader of the Opposition, if you do not want a calendar of events, I will not send it to your office.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: If you do not want information that is going to help business people in your electorate, Leader of the Opposition, that is up to you. I know the other 24 members of this House will welcome it in their offices.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question paper.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Daly Waters and Elliott – Unacceptably High Levels of E. coli
Daly Waters and Elliott – Unacceptably High Levels of E. coli
Mr HENDERSON (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, in relation to the question from the member for Katherine to my colleague, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, in regards to the Infrastructure Report Card and the notation in there of E. coli in the water samples in Daly Waters and Elliott. These samples were taken early in 2004.
The advice I have, and it is important for the residents of Daly Waters and Elliott, my department of Power and Water have put a lot of effort into these two communities. For the 2004-05 financial year, there hasve been 100% of samples in both of those communities with nil E. coli. There was a problem, however, as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport said, Power and Water constantly monitor the public water supply across the Northern Territory. Those issues have been resolved in those two communities.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016