2006-08-23
LPG Rebate
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
On ABC radio last week, you said that your government was considering an LPG rebate for converting motor vehicles to run on gas, yet your Treasurer is reported in the Northern Territory News of 15 August 2006 to have rejected the idea, saying it would cost $100m. Chief Minister, can you tell us who is telling the truth, you or your Treasurer? If you are, then when will Territorians be told whether your government will be offering them relief? Will it really cost $100m? Or, is it just a case of the Treasurer inflating some figures as a reason not to do anything?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. The issue of fuel is a critical one for everyone. I cannot remember if it was before the Prime Minister made his announcement or not - I have a feeling it was while we were waiting for what the Prime Minister was going to announce about LPG - I said we would do the numbers and look at what that cost might be.
We welcome that the federal government is offering a $2000 conversion. Treasury has done the figures and, quite accurately, said $100m is too much, so we will not be offering any addition to that federal government initiative of $2000.
Overseas Troop Deployment
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Many families in my electorate of Brennan are affected by overseas troop deployment. The latest is no exception. What message does the government have for these families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan. Our troops from Darwin are now on their way to Afghanistan. This is a very difficult and challenging time for all concerned. I am sure I am joined by everyone in this House in sending our thoughts and best wishes to the troops and, of course, their families who stay behind.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms MARTIN: We know that the troops will do their duty and they will serve this country well. They will make us proud as Territorians. Rebuilding war-torn Afghanistan is a huge challenge, but accomplishing that mission will deliver huge returns for the long-suffering Afghani people and the world at large.
Our thoughts are with them and we all hope that they return home safely. We know how difficult it is for families when the partner, usually the husband, is away. As a government and community, our thoughts are not only with the troops, but with the families as well. We had an election commitment to try to help in these circumstances by putting in place a defence community liaison position. The work on that is advancing and the position has been advertised. To do our bit, working with the good support offered to families through the Defence forces, we are offering this additional community liaison to help families know what services to access in the Territory, how we can help as a Territory government. It is a small, but significant way in extending the hand of friendship to those ADF families who are going through what will be challenging times.
LPG Rebate
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your Treasurer said, and you confirmed it, that the cost of the rebate scheme for the Territory would be around $100m. If that is the case, then do you agree that that figure is arrived at on the basis that almost every car in the Northern Territory would be converting to LPG? Do you really believe that there will be a 100% take-up rate to LPG? If you do expect a 100% or thereabouts take-up rate, does it not demonstrate what a great initiative it would be, and why you should do it to assist Territory families? If you are not going to assist Territory families, what exactly are you going to do to provide some relief for rising petrol prices?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, quite appropriately, this is to do with the detail of what Treasury did. I will refer this question and its answer …
Ms Carney: You are not going to do anything, so I will ask him. What are you going to do, Syd?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is about the work that Treasury did. Quite properly, I am referring the answer to the Treasurer.
Dr Lim: $100m equates to 100 000 cars. If you cannot work out basic mathematics, that is the problem. Can you add, or subtract or divide?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, member for Greatorex!
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Do you want the answer or not? Madam Speaker, the opposition does not want to hear from me, but hear from me they will.
Dr Lim: Tell us your calculations.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: The Leader of the Opposition has got a little form in relation to petrol prices over the last couple of weeks. It is as recent as 13 and 15 August that I refer to. On 13 August, the Sunday Territorian quoted the Leader of the Opposition:
- With the Territory government receiving over 20 per litre in fuel excise (collected by the federal government on behalf of the Territory government) and GST revenues, it can take immediate action now and cut 20 per litre off fuel costs.
As Treasury pointed out, it is very difficult to understand how the Leader of the Opposition arrived at this figure because the Northern Territory government does not currently receive as much as one zac in any revenue as a direct result of the excise on fuel.
On the 15th, two days later, she came back for another crack. The Northern Territory News quotes the Leader of the Opposition demanding that the Territory government forgo the 7 per litre it receives from the excise on petrol. It mystifies Treasury and everyone in government as to the 7 per litre. The Territory government previously imposed a 7 per litre on excise, but the excise was abolished in 1997. It was abolished in 1997 along with the excises on tobacco and all the rest, after a High Court decision. Two cracks at this and on both accounts wrong.
Members Interjecting.
Ms Carney: Oh no. Why don’t you do something? Why don’t you put an ad in the paper? Something like that.
Mr STIRLING: It was removed nine years ago.
Ms Carney: Because you are too scared, that is why. You do not care. Now that you are elected, you are not going to do anything for Territory families. Why don’t you do something like that?
Mr STIRLING: You need a little more credibility when it comes to economic advice on this. They stopped collecting excise on petrol in 1997 and we ceased to get any benefit from the Australian government from the excise from 2002-03.
There are a couple of constraining factors in the Northern Territory that do not apply elsewhere in relation to this conversion to LPG. It would not be all that effective in the Northern Territory, apart from the fact that it is probably between $2500 and $4500 to convert, according to the Australian Automobile Association of the Northern Territory. However, there are three other factors: the price differential between LPG and petrol in the Northern Territory is less than in other states in Australia; such as in Sydney where the price of LPG is 40% of the price of petrol compared to 52.7% in Darwin. A 10% to 25% efficiency loss has to be factored in when you go to LPG, so that brings the price benefit very marginal again. Once you are outside the major Territory centres, what do you do when you run out of LPG halfway to Kalkarindji? It is a long way to walk, so that is a pretty constraining factor indeed.
The fact is the Prime Minister has put on the table this proposal to provide rebates of $2000 per vehicle per conversion and $1000 per vehicle for new LPG vehicles. We welcome that - go ahead and do it. However, there are constraining factors that would very much restrict the rate of take-up in the Northern Territory. We, as a government, do not see that taxpayers overall would benefit from the Northern Territory government following suit.
Indicators for Employment
Mr KIELY to TREASURER
Madam Speaker, I can see that the opposition is not into the economy so I will ask a question of …
Ms Carney: It is the tongue from Sanderson! He speaks! Woo hoo!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, I would like you to withdraw.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I withdraw.
Mr KIELY: One of the critical issues in assessing the strength of the economy is the strength of employment. Can the Treasurer advise the House on the indicators for employment in the Northern Territory and what these figures show about the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. We came to power in 2001, saying that jobs would be a key priority. In the 2005 election, we said that maintaining a strong economy was a major and key commitment of this government. We have been successful in meeting both of those commitments over the last six years. On coming to office in August 2001, we inherited an economy on its knees with no construction industry to speak of, and the worst fiscal and debt position the Northern Territory had ever been in.
Dr Lim: Thank you GST and Mr John Howard.
Ms Carney: Just because you say it is so, does not mean it is.
Mr STIRLING: Get a briefing from Treasury. Go back and look at the figures. They speak for themselves. I know you do not like hearing this, but it is true.
What we did was focus very heavily on injecting all of the money we could drag together, considering we were left in impecunious circumstances by our predecessors. Nonetheless, every single dollar we could we injected into capital works because we saw that as a way of kick-starting our economic activity and the best way to provide jobs in the Northern Territory.
We have put $2.7bn cash into infrastructure over the time we have been in government. That is unprecedented levels of cash in capital works, and we will continue to do that. We have focused on training, employment and skilling around a Jobs Plan, something we called on the previous government to do for many years and they failed to do it.
Those plans have now realised a 48% increase in the number of trainees and apprentices in the system in the Northern Territory. You always have to be a bit careful about labour force figures and I often caution against ABS, but there is now evidence across a range of factors to suggest that employment growth in the Territory is as strong as it has been for many years. ABS shows a trend of increasing numbers of people in our workforce and an increase in participation rate now up around 71.3%, the highest in Australia. Population figures for 2005, for the first time since the mid-1990s, shows more people came to live in the Territory from interstate than left the Territory.
The ANZ job advertisement series year on year to 2006 showed increased employment advertising over what was an extraordinary year in 2005. It is still up by 2% where nationally the figure is down by an average of 3.5%. Housing finance figures, real estate vacancy figures and general construction figures all show sustained construction levels in the Northern Territory. Employers impress upon me, the minister for Business, and the Chief Minister each time we are at a Business Round Table or a business function, the difficulty of getting labour.
Each of those indicators add to a view that Territory employment growth has been substantial and remains so. Access Economics predicted a five year growth of 2.3%. There is strong evidence that that predication will come in, and the only thing that could affect that would be too many interest rate rises, the last one of which was notably endorsed and heartily welcomed by the member for Blain, extraordinarily so. The only person in Australia, next to the bank managers, I suppose, who stood up and applauded an interest rate rise.
Employment growth is simply the best way to attract people from interstate, to skill them and to grow our own home base. We need to do both; we are doing both. More skilled people, with a larger population has a flow-on effect to the economy in general and the growth cycle continues. We will continue to provide that focus on jobs. We will not be welcoming interest rate rises. We will continue our successful policies demonstrated in the five budgets to date, and continue to fulfil strongly those commitments we made to Territorians in 2001 and 2005.
Procurement Processes
Dr LIM to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
Yesterday, the Auditor-General reported that the procurement system was essentially in shambles. How on earth can you preside over a department that manages a procurement process which has a 3500% difference between expectations and actual cost and a 60% re-tendering failure rate that allows AO3s, who have no proper training, to be deeply involved in the tendering process that has a four month average lag time between calling for tenders and contracts being awarded?
What are you going to say to Territory businesses which spend thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, on complying with the tender, when there is less than half a chance that a contract will be withdrawn on the second round of tenders?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. No doubt, he was quoting verbatim from a media release that was released by the Opposition Leader yesterday, which was incredibly misleading and very selective in the way it reported the purported facts.
The facts are that, in the 2005-06 financial year, 86% of tenders were awarded within 60 days of the close of tenders, with the average time being 35 days. I will stand by the statement I have just made. What the Opposition Leader did was to take the period which included the advertisement of the tender to the awarding of the tender, which is expanding it beyond what it should be. It is very efficient. Once the tenders close, it is actually a period of 60 days.
Ms Carney: Are you calling the Auditor-General a liar?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: I am not calling the Auditor-General a liar. What I am saying is that he has put in a very long report about procurement processes, and I would be the first to say that procurement processes could always be better. They could always be more efficient. This government has been working very closely with the Procurement Council, a body that this government formed, to advise us about procurement issues. There has been significant reform of the procurement process over the past two to three years. I compliment my predecessor, the member for Wanguri, for initiating many of those changes.
The tender process, particularly over the last year, has been simplified with a view to making it easier for business to engage in the tender process and to be successful in the tender process. It is very important for me to place on the record that over 80% of tenders awarded in the Northern Territory go to local businesses. One of the procurement reforms we implemented was to give local businesses an edge, to give that local content to our procurement process.
Inevitably, there are always some tenders which go out and are not filled for some reason. That might be because the successful applicant has withdrawn their tender, offers are declined and construction time frames. In some cases, the economy had been running so red hot, I can remember no tenders being put forward for some road contracts. These are the reasons why there is a certain percentage of tenders that are outstanding, but I will go back to the original statement I made and stand by it.
Ms Carney: Why don’t you go back to the question! That would help.
Dr BURNS: Just listen, Leader of the Opposition: in the 2005-06 financial year, 86% of tenders were awarded within 60 days of the close of tenders, with the average time being 35 days. The opposition can say the sky is falling in. It is not.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: This is a turbocharged economy. This is moving the Territory ahead. We acknowledge and take on board the Auditor-General’s constructive comments towards the tendering and procurement process, but we should take with a grain of salt these outlandish claims by the opposition.
Ms Carney: You are calling the Auditor-General a liar.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms Carney: Read the report!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Carney: They are his figures, not ours. His figures.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask that the Leader of the Opposition withdraw that allegation.
Ms Carney: That is that the minister is calling the Auditor-General a liar, Madam Speaker?
Mr STIRLING: Yes.
Madam SPEAKER: I ask you to withdraw, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms CARNEY: I will withdraw that comment if it is so offensive to the minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Unreservedly.
Ms CARNEY: Unreservedly.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we continue, I would like to advise people in the public galleries and in the media gallery that no photography is allowed in any of those areas. I am aware that there have been at least two photographs taken either with mobile phones or with cameras. It is not allowed during the proceedings.
Aquatic Centre - Alice Springs
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
A new aquatic centre for Alice Springs has been on the drawing board for some time. Can you update the House on the progress of this very important project for Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. This is a great initiative to improve the lifestyle of Centralians. In the lead-up to the election, the government promised $8.1m towards the construction of an aquatic centre in Alice Springs. This centre will include a 25 m heated swimming pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a children’s play area and it also includes heated change rooms.
At the request of Alice Springs Town Council earlier this year, the government provided $100 000 to assist with the planning and design of this facility. Then, in June, the government granted Alice Springs Town Council the remaining $8m for the construction of the aquatic centre. Alice Springs Town Council has, in all, been given $8.1m sitting in their bank account to get on with the job of construction. $8.1m is, by any stretch, an extremely generous contribution towards the construction of an aquatic centre. I am advised that it is one of the largest grants ever made by any state or territory government to a local council for the construction of a pool.
One of the benefits to Alice Springs Town Council of us granting the money up-front is that interest earned on this money until it is acquitted will amount to about $400 000 a year, ‘extra’ money to spend on the aquatic centre. It will be interesting to see if the CLP still wants to can the pool and go ahead with their suggestion of a lake.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive of the aquatic centre in Alice Springs. I look forward to being at its opening.
Public Housing Tenants - Acceptable Behaviour Agreements
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for HOUSING
You amended the Housing Act to enable the department to put public housing tenants who had caused much antisocial behaviour in their neighbourhood on acceptable behaviour contracts or agreements. Could you tell me how many have been issued since that was introduced, and could you give me a breakdown of how many have been issued in Alice Springs, particularly Larapinta?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. Since 1 June, which is the actual implementation of the act, five Acceptable Behaviour Agreements have been entered into; two in Darwin and three in Alice Springs, with another three presently being negotiated with public tenants across the Northern Territory. I advise the member that, one was signed today in the Larapinta area. I cannot give you the total numbers
The other component which adds to this particular matter and would be of interest to you is the fact that there is also capacity now for housing clients being able to have their premises declared restricted in terms of grog under the Liquor Act. Since the implementation of the act, six tenancies have been assisted by Territory Housing in that regard. My advice from the department is that New South Wales entered into a similar arrangement some time back and, in the first six months of their new regime they were unable to get any interface, however, I do not have proper details in regard to others.
I think you will agree, member for Braitling, that Territory Housing has been very proactive. We are very concerned about the levels of antisocial behaviour that does occur in Territory Housing properties. At the same time, we should pay tribute to those people who do the right thing. Over time, I have been able to visit many people, particularly in regard to the garden competition, and it is fair to say that many of our tenants are very caring and look after their neighbourhood.
You made mention in regard to the United Kingdom model and there are some components that we have incorporated under our existing tenancy arrangements. Blain Street in Tennant Creek in my electorate, and the Keith Lawrie units in Alice Springs will go to a managed model. They will be outsourced. The expectation is that there will be people who want to manage those. The same will apply to Stuart Lodge. That will go out to a managed model when it is completed in December this year, and the same will also apply to the expression of interest to build some extra accommodation for short-term managed people coming into town from the bush.
Madam Speaker, I hope that is sufficient in respect to the member’s question.
Mrs Braham: Pleased to hear it, minister.
Mr McADAM: Specifically in regards to Larapinta, I will get you that figure as well.
Mrs Braham: Supplementary, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: No, no supplementary, member for Braitling.
Contract Calculations
Dr LIM to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
Further to the question on procurement, according to the Attorney-General’s report, page 27, one particular contract was miscalculated by government by 3500%. Simply expressed, if the contract was worth $1000, the bill turned out to be $35 000, however, we know that the final bill was in the millions. Minister, this is happening on your watch. How on earth could you have your eye so far off the ball? Or, is it the case that grand projects like the waterfront have completely blinded you to your responsibilities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would …
Dr Lim: Page 27.
Dr BURNS: Yes, I have page 27, member for Greatorex.
Dr Lim: Good.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: The Auditor-General does point to one case of an over-estimation; that is true. I believe, generally, the procurement processes are accurate and efficient. This government has implemented a …
Mr Stirling: Never made a mistake in his life, this bloke! Never made an error in his life.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Well, it could well be an error. There are many contracts out there. As I said before, this economy is turbocharged. There is a lot of work. There has been record capital works expenditure over the past four years, and even more so after the middle schools announcement. An extra $20m worth of cash has been added to our capital works expenditure.
There may well be an error; I will certainly look into that. For the member for Greatorex to assert that there are global errors right across our procurement process - I reject that.
Dr Lim: First paragraph, page 27.
Dr BURNS: You can selectively quote from the Auditor-General’s report. I will certainly be asking the department about the comments within the Auditor-General’s report. If necessary, I will meet with the Auditor-General and discuss this matter with him. It may also be an issue that the Public Accounts Committee may well want to take up because, unlike the previous government, our Public Accounts Committee is a very active committee, which looks into all aspects of the government accounts.
Madam Speaker, we have nothing to hide. There are record expenditures out there, business is booming. The only ones complaining are the opposition.
VET Training
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
As the minister is aware, Australia is suffering from a skills shortage. In response to that, the Martin government has promoted vocational education and training very heavily since coming to office. Does the minister have evidence of the success of these policies? Are more people taking up the VET option?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Vocational education and training has received a much stronger focus from this government than our predecessors. To date, we have undertaken two quite extensive television advertising campaigns promoting vocational education and training. At the moment, we are reorganising secondary school timetables to ensure that schools are able to be more flexible in their delivery of their core curriculum subjects, plus the inclusion of VET subjects.
We are also building much closer relationships between employers out there in the real world and our schools. With industry, we run a taster program, such as Try a Trade, which will be conducted in October, and the World Skills Career Expos which I visited this morning at the showgrounds. The Chief Minister – and, indeed every minister of this government - promotes training where and when they can. I have been heartened to see evidence of the success of all of these activities.
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research shows that, throughout 2005, the Territory had the second highest success rate in increasing VET student numbers anywhere in Australia. We lifted the number to 8.2%, just behind New South Wales at the top with 8.6%. The national average was 2.9%, so we are clearly well in advance of that. The increase in the number of VET students aged 15 to 19 is up 43% - from 3800 students to 5400. Importantly, the number of Territorians studying Certificate III qualifications is up from 5000 to 5500 in 2005 – a 10% increase. Those Certificate III courses are predominantly the qualifications that form part of traditional hardcore apprenticeships. So there is a good indication here of young Territorians turning to traditional trades in increasing numbers.
There has also been an increase in the number of indigenous and disabled student studies there. That is good news for the Territory, for the skilling of our young people and for the economic future of the Northern Territory. It does prove that sustained, hard policy work by government will achieve good outcomes for Territorians.
Larrakeyah Sewage Outfall
and Waterfront Development
and Waterfront Development
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Providing proper sewage services is a core function of government. Engaging in property developments such as the waterfront development is a non-core function of government. For the non-core function, you will be providing tens of millions of money worth of taxpayers’ funds. The proposed expenditure on fixing the ‘poo shooter’ this year is nil. The waterfront development will see some 2000 more toilets come on line, adding to the amount of ‘poo’ coming out of the ‘poo shooter’. Why are you so focused on investing in the problem without investing in the solution?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. I am amazed that the party which is supposed to represent business is talking down such a great development as the waterfront. I know there are plenty of large Territory companies involved in that development, and there is much employment there. This will be a great development for the Northern Territory. It will increase tourism, and it will also add amenity to the lives of Territorians. Why you are talking it down I do not know.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, cease your interjections.
Dr BURNS: Once again, we have the opposition talking down the economy. I am not getting that feedback from business. I am certainly not getting it from workers. That is a great development and the opposition should be very careful in their criticisms of it.
The ‘poo shooter’ , as you call it, is an item of business which will be debated later today. Appropriately, the Minister for Essential Services will be answering the assertions being made by the opposition. I am not sure whether the Minister for Essential Services has more to add to my answer to the question. I do not have portfolio responsibility for the ‘poo shooter’, but I know the minister has been very active with Power and Water to address that very issue and steps have already been taken to ameliorate that situation.
Share our Story – Marketing Campaign
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for TOURISM
This afternoon, you launched a marketing campaign under the second phase of the Share our Story brand. Will you please share your story and inform the House on the details of the latest marketing campaign for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her important question. I hope you enjoyed our launch at Cullen Bay at lunchtime. I was delighted to launch the 2006 Destination Darwin marketing campaign today, in beautiful weather at Cullen Bay. The campaign is part of the second phase of Share our Story. I hate to think that the Opposition Leader is going groan with Share our Story because it is working well in the market.
Ms Carney: Why would you think that?
Ms MARTIN: Again, an indication from the Country Liberal Party that they do not want to see economic development. They do not want to see tourism grow in the Territory, despite their protestations.
This is the campaign, which was launched today, has that bold NT in the words we are using. This campaign is simple: it says, ‘Great food, great people, wonderful weather, that’s Darwin’. The value of this campaign is more than $1m. It starts on Saturday and will run for five weeks. It really is about promoting Darwin as a vibrant harbour city and as a destination in its own right.
We know that we are the gateway to some iconic destinations, such as the Tiwi Islands, Kakadu and Litchfield. As great as they are, we want Darwin to be seen as a get away location for short holidays. We think of Broome for a short break, or Cairns or Port Douglas when considering that kind of tropical holiday. We are putting Darwin into that league.
We have launched the latest Darwin hip guide, I have one for everyone if you would like to pass them round. It was released last year and we have updated it because it was so successful. It features Darwin identities saying why they love Darwin and why they live here. I was joined today at the launch by Jimmy Shu from the Hanuman - he lives in Melbourne but he is a great Territorian; Matt Ward and Darlene Chin, and also featured as you look at these guides, musicians, Sophie Koh, choreographer, Gary Lang, and bicycle taxi driver, Robert Smith. We have the loveable, notorious Dwyn Delaney as outback outfitter and other Darwinites are Shaye Hatty, Bo Timms and Daniel Burton.
We are also redeveloping our award-winning website, www.travelnt.com, with the completion of the first stage incorporating the use of Google Maps which we are using for the first time. In other elements for the campaign, there will be press advertising, online marketing, media and PR promotion, travel industry marketing and NT-based tourism operator cooperative marketing opportunities.
We have a number of national partners such as TravelPoint, Qantas Holidays, AAT Kings, GSR and others. We spent about this much on Destination Darwin last year. From that campaign, over 10 million Australians saw elements of that campaign. That is half the population, which is not bad. Over 85 000 visitors visited our consumer website, travelnt.com. The preference to travel to the Territory was 60%, which was up from 49%, and intention to travel to the Territory - different from preference, but intention to travel - rose from 13% to 27%. The campaign last year worked. This one is honing what we did last year, a great little hip guide. I thank all those Darwinians who were proud to be part of saying: ‘This is a city to make you smile’.
‘Little Mindil’ and Myilly Point - Planning
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
When your government asked for the public to comment on Myilly Point, including ‘Little Mindil’, you put out this full-page advertisement on 10 October 2004 in the Sunday Territorian. This showed land at ‘Little Mindil’, which did not encroach on the creek and partially encroached on the cliff and beaches. It is clearly a piece of land outside of the creek, and part of the escarpment was not included, which is what you asked the public to comment on. When you released expressions of interest for development of ‘Little Mindil’, you showed this map, which shows the entire creek, part of the beach and all of the escarpment within the boundaries. Has the government deceived the public, because what you asked them to comment on is not the same as what you have shown any potential developers.? Does not this make your analysis of the public consultation invalid?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question by the member for Nelson. The first document he talked about, the public consultation document, was a representation to illustrate government’s commitment that the foreshore, the creek, and the escarpment will be protected and the amenity of the escarpment will be preserved. The expressions of interest document that went out to the proponents simply shows the block of land and the boundaries as they exist in that lot number.
Within the expressions of interest document, the issues that government want to see preserved on that site are clearly defined. That is, public access to the beach, the protection of the creek and the amenity of the escarpment area. When the final deal is complete, those boundaries will be redrawn to show the protection and safeguarding of the beach, the creek and the escarpment. That is the answer to your question.
Tender – Voluntary Fitting of Water Meters
in the Rural Area
in the Rural Area
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Last week, I could not help but notice a very interesting advertisement for a tender about rural bores. Based on that advertisement, can you please tell the House about this tender and how it will improve the long-term understanding of our water resources in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. It was on the weekend that we released the tender which will see the voluntary fitting of water meters in the Darwin rural region and also the Darwin River catchment. This tender is just the first stage of a project that will see the voluntary fitting of about 300 water meters in these areas. The purpose of that is to gather the information that we need to take stock. If we look at our great lifestyle and healthy environment, we need to take stock and plan. As the population increases, with that also comes increased usage of water. Part of this tender is to look at how we plan and take stock for the future of our water resources.
Better metering is certainly an important first step. I know that the member for Goyder, since the tender has gone out, is working with his office to get that information out. I know the member for Nelson would probably be interested in this. I would like to get the facts out and make it very clear, as I know there has been, from unnamed sources, a campaign run to say what people are going to be forced into and misinformation about what the metering is all about. It is not one that is going to be forced. I would like to stress that it is a voluntary scheme that we will be taking in the next year. It is not going to be straightaway. We will be phasing it in and, as part of the tender, engaging a consultant to talk to everyone.
We will work closely with the member for Goyder and his office to get that information out. It will be an important part of that study, because with water use, people take for granted that water is going to be around for a long time. That resource is getting scarce and we need to look at how we plan for better usage for future generations.
Government Spending on Roads
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Kim Walsh runs a business based at Lake Evella. Recently, he had to drive a transport with some demountables on the Central Arnhem Road. During that trip, the demountables were seriously damaged because of the condition of the roads. His average speed on that trip was 30 km/h. Another driving contractor had damage of $3000 caused to bags of cement when he was travelling over that same road. Minister, why do you have enough money for work on the waterfront project, which is a non-core business of government, but not enough money for roads, which is a core business of government? Minister, will you acknowledge that your spending priorities are diminishing the capacity of business to operate in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again we have an attack by the opposition on the waterfront project and assertions that the waterfront project is actually drawing money out of the capital works budget.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is incumbent upon members of this Assembly, as you well know, Madam Speaker, to be honest. There was no such attack. I ask the minister to withdraw his comment. Any question that has the word waterfront in it is not an attack. The CLP have always been supportive of this. The minister should know much better.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, continue.
Dr BURNS: I will pick up where I left off. The opposition is attacking the waterfront and making the assertion that the waterfront is drawing monies out of the capital works budget, including roads. That is untrue. This government is actually spending more on roads. One difficulty we are having with our roads budget is the federal government’s stance on its national highways of running down expenditure on repairs and maintenance by a significant amount, which is somewhere around $14m over the next three years, and expecting the Territory government to pick up the bill.
We welcome that the federal government has put more money into the roads, However, they are also cost shifting to the Territory government. I am doing the best that I can with my roads budget, but I can assure the travelling public that there has been no cut to our roads budget. There has been no cut to our maintenance of Territory roads, but this new stance of the federal government will create problems over the next few years. If the member for Katherine wants to bring specific cases of the Central Arnhem Road to me and write to me about it - I have not received a letter from her about it - we will address the issue. This is part of a concerted attack by the opposition to try to assert that the government’s capital works program is being run down by the waterfront. I repeat again: it is not. In fact, quite the contrary; there has been an extra $20m worth of cash added in over the next 18 months to our middle schools project. To assert that, somehow, the waterfront project is drawing money away from our capital works budget is mischievous.
Rotovirus - Protection
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH
Every year, thousands of Territorians, mainly infants and children, are affected with gastro caused by rotovirus. As well as the sickness itself, the virus outbreaks put pressure on our health centres and hospitals, as well as their staff. Can you please tell the Assembly how the Northern Territory government is protecting Territory children and families from the virus.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, October is going to be a great month for Territory infant health and community health. In October our vaccination program – the first in Australia against rotovirus - will be rolled out. Two-month-old and four-month-old infants throughout the Territory will receive vaccination against this virus. The government has put in $480 000 yearly to ensure that the newborn cohort for each year from now on is vaccinated against this virus.
This virus results in hundreds of young children presenting at our remote clinics, hospitals and community health centres, often with very threatening illnesses. It adds to the general pressure on our hospital capacity. I was at Alice Springs Hospital earlier this year during an outbreak of rotovirus. There is no doubt that the numbers of children crowding into the paediatric ward puts enormous strain on our acute care facilities.
However, that is not the heart of this. It is an unpleasant disease; it is a life threatening disease at its worst. It particularly threatens infants who are living in our remote communities where they are further away from more advanced acute care facilities that we provide within our health system.
We will roll this program out; we will cover our kids as quickly as possible. We expect 12 to 18 months from now we will see a significant drop in the gastroenteritis rates in the Northern Territory. Within three to four years, we will have this disease subdued to the point where it will not be a major part of families’ lives in this part of Australia.
If the Commonwealth government, once they complete their process, choose to make a decision nationally that this vaccine be made available under the PBS scheme, we will take advantage of that. However, we are not waiting for that. This is a key health priority for the Northern Territory government. We are going ahead with it, the first in Australia.
Tiger Brennan Drive - Upgrade
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
In 2004, the federal government allocated $13.7m to the Territory government to upgrade Tiger Brennan Drive. It remains unchanged since that time, along with a promise to reduce the number of traffic lights on the Stuart Highway between Palmerston and Darwin. It is an unfulfilled promise. Every morning, thousands of commuters between Palmerston and Darwin have to choose between bad and worse. A core function of government is maintaining the roads network. There is more than enough money for the government’s participation in property developments, but nothing for roads. Why are you allowing the core functions of government to be ignored at the expense of non-core functions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. Talk about come in spinner! This question is a gift; it could almost have been asked from this side of the House.
It is true that $13.7m was proposed as a contribution from both the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth government for what was a $27.4m project for the extension of Tiger Brennan Drive to the Stuart Highway at the intersection of Roystonia. It is a nationally important project. That is why it remains a 50% contribution between the Northern Territory government and the federal government. However, the federal government, all over Australia, is pulling back from its commitment to roads in that, any over-run in expense, with any increase in expenditure, they refuse to meet their half of the extra contribution for an escalation of costs in this particular project, which currently is estimated at well over $40m. Everyone knows that construction costs have increased some 40% over the last two years at least, all over Australia and possibly a bit more in the Territory.
In other words, the Commonwealth will still put in $13.7m, the Northern Territory is supposed to put in $13.7m, and yet we are supposed to find an extra $15m somewhere out of our works budget where the Commonwealth should be putting in half of that extra. I have put that case to minister Warren Truss at ministerial councils on a number of occasions. I have also written to minister Truss regarding this. I discussed this issue with him when he visited Darwin. I believe I have a pretty good relationship with Warren Truss. He is basically a very good minister. This edict comes from up on high. It comes from the Treasurer, Peter Costello. It is a complaint that is right across the states and territories, that the Commonwealth is not pulling its weight in terms of road construction in Australia. I mentioned how they are pulling back on repairs and maintenance on their national highways right across Australia, shifting costs onto the states and territories.
Member for Katherine, that is the answer to your question. If you want to lobby your federal minister to put in his fair share of the costs, well, good on you.
Bishop Philip Freier – Appointment as
Archbishop of Melbourne
Archbishop of Melbourne
Mr NATT to CHIEF MINISTER
It was announced overnight that the Anglican Bishop of the Northern Territory and one of my wonderful Drysdale constituents, Bishop Philip Freier, has been appointed Archbishop of Melbourne. What does his appointment say about his work in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a question from the member for Drysdale about a constituent of whom he is enormously proud. I am sure everyone here would like to join me in congratulating Bishop Philip Freier on his appointment as the Archbishop Elect of Melbourne. He was elected by an overwhelming majority. Describing his election, the Bishop Administrator of the Diocese of Melbourne, Dr John Wilson, said: ‘… a wonderful choice. Bishop Freier brings a very rich experience, coming out of an Australian context’. That says much about his time in the Territory since his appointment seven years ago as Bishop. I know that this appointment has a particular interest for you, Madam Speaker, as Philip and Joy Freier are friends of yours. I count them as friends of mine too.
The appointment is recognition of the work done by Bishop Philip Freier and his seven years in the Northern Territory. He will be remembered for a number of things. However, I would just like to highlight a few. His restructuring of Anglicare in the Territory is very significant. It had fallen on tough times and he really made a restructuring difference in Anglicare. He has worked very closely over his seven years with Aboriginal people right around the Territory. He was very much involved in trying to obtain justice for the Stolen Generation. He has overseen the ordination of a significant number of Aboriginal Territorians to the priesthood, both men and women. He has been closely associated with Nungalinya College, which is the theological college for the training of Aboriginal Christian ministers, as well as his broad commitment to the ordination of women. Six or seven years ago, he was the driving force behind the Council of Churches opposition to the Territory’s mandatory sentencing laws. He was a very loud spokesman on that. He was also the chair of Kormilda College for many years and had a particular interest in Kormilda’s Aboriginal students.
He has made a tremendous contribution to the Northern Territory. We are very sad to lose him, but our loss is Melbourne’s gain. I am sure he will make a very fine Archbishop of Melbourne and we wish him and Joy all the best in the future.
Madam SPEAKER: On behalf of honourable members, I also would like to extend my congratulations to Bishop Freier. I would like to be the first person to say that he will now be known as His Grace the Most Reverend Dr Phillip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne. Congratulations.
Members: Hear, hear!
Interim Accommodation Facility –
Alice Springs
Alice Springs
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
The minister may want to refer this to the Minister for Housing. Yesterday, in the Minister for Housing’s comments about transportables, he mentioned that ‘we’ - and I presume he means the government – ‘are also seeking expressions of interest to construct a permanent purpose-built facility costing a further $2m for indigenous families visiting Alice Springs’. I would like to know, are those expressions of interest to selected tenderers, or they open expressions of interest? Where will this purpose-built facility be built? Are you planning to have it built at Larapinta Stage 2, 3, 4 or 5?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. As you would probably be aware, any select tenders or Certificates of Exemption come across my desk as Procurement minister. I certainly have not sighted any documentation to that extent.
The question you asked would probably be best directed to the Minister for Housing. In terms of Larapinta Stage 2, my advice is that there are headworks being put in and we are looking to go to auction in November. That is my latest advice on this issue. I have also insisted on a separate valuation being undertaken, apart from the AVO. That will come to me before the auction. However, I defer to my colleague, the Minister for Housing.
Mr McADAM (Housing): Madam Speaker, the expression of interest went out to an open tender. The expectation is that those people interested in developing and managing accommodation for those people coming from the bush, will come back to us with proposals. What was the other part of your question, please?
Mrs BRAHAM: Where is it to be built?
Mr McADAM: That is entirely up to the discretion or, indeed, the position put by the people who submit expressions of interest. At this point in time, invitations have gone out and we expect those people to get back to us in regards to the sites, etcetera. At that point in time, we will enter into further discussions, particularly in regard to the most suitable and the most successful applicant. There is a whole set of criteria put in place which will allow us then to be able to make a decision of who that person might be.
It is also important to understand that we should not get this confused with the proposal by the Commonwealth government. This issue has been politicised to the extent that it has confused people in Alice Springs and, the person leading that confusion has been the Leader of the Opposition. I say to you, member for Braitling, because the Leader of the Opposition does not understand that the transportables are an initiative of the Commonwealth government. They are Commonwealth transportables.
Ms Carney: Yes, they are, aren’t they, Elliot? Clear on this, are we?
Mr McADAM: Your demeanour is very arrogant.
Ms Carney: Well, you should get across your portfolio, because you do not know about it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Mr McADAM: I respectfully suggest that you listen to me so that you have a fair understanding …
Ms Carney: I have listened to you and it has been pretty shocking.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr McADAM: … of what is going on down there and not play political games with the lives of people. It is about time you stopped that. We have entered into a very professional relationship with the Commonwealth government in this respect.
Ms Carney: Yes, I met with the minister the other day. Thanks, but anyway, you can still keep chatting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: Did you? Good on you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, will you please direct your comments through the Chair?
Mr McADAM: I beg your pardon, Madam Speaker. As I said to you, it was minister Brough who announced that the transportables would be brought to Alice Springs. They are owned by the Commonwealth. They arrive in Alice Springs. They will be refurbished by the Commonwealth. I hope that will go out to local contractors because, potentially …
Mrs Braham: I thought Tangentyere had the carriage to upgrade them.
Mr McADAM: They are local contractors. I have not been advised specifically that Tangentyere will get it, but the expectation is that it will go out to local contractors. The site will be chosen by the Commonwealth government. They have had three positions in this regard. One, initially they were going into the town camps. On 4 May, where are they going to go? Town camps. No, they cannot go into the town camps because you do not want to add to the existing dysfunction and the overcrowding in town camps. On 4 May, first step, town camps, no, no, we cannot do it there.
Second, we will go to Alice Springs. We said, you just do not say they are going to Alice Springs because you have to go through all the processes. We were commissioned to provide them with some potential sites, and we have done that. The actual construction of those transportables will be paid for by the Commonwealth. They will pay for it.
Ms Carney: Who paid for the consultant to identify the sites?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McADAM: I will continue on. The ongoing management of these transportables will be funded by the Commonwealth government. Now we have minister Brough saying, maybe they will not be in the Alice Springs residential area. That is his decision. However, what we have is the Leader of the Opposition saying ‘no, we will put it out at Owen Springs’. Can you imagine transportables out there at Owen Springs? This is precisely the attitude that has occurred in the past that has compromised indigenous people and, indeed, the whole community in Alice Springs. The Leader of the Opposition’s attitude is, out of sight, out of mind. Let the blackfellas’ go out of town, and get a bus in.
We live in the 21st century and it is important for you, Leader of the Opposition, to understand that we have to be mature in this debate, we should not play politics, because we are not and I do not believe the Commonwealth government is. It is your grubby politics that is compromising this whole process.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Larrakeyah Sewage Outfall
and Waterfront Development
Larrakeyah Sewage Outfall
and Waterfront Development
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I have further information for the House on a question by the member for Katherine with regard to the Larrakeyah sewage outfall. The question was: Will the waterfront development increase the volume of effluent from the Larrakeyah outfall? The answer is no. Sewage from the waterfront will be pumped to the main treatment centre and will not be dealt with by the Larrakeyah outfall.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016