2005-10-20
Return of Australian Flag – Zak Menzies
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for YOUNG TERRITORIANS
Yesterday, the opposition made you aware of a young Territorian who, through his own enterprise and motivation, is attempting to have an important World War II relic returned to its home in Darwin. Twelve-year-old Zak Murphy will shortly travel to the federal parliament to deliver a petition calling on the federal government to allow the National War Museum to return the flag that flew over the Administrator’s House during the bombing of Darwin. He wants it returned and he has the support of the RSL and the Darwin City Council. Since raising this issue with you yesterday, you have been hounded by the media about your decision not to support him. Given your reluctance to give Zak a letter of support, I have on your behalf …
Mr Henderson: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Question time is an opportunity for the opposition and other members to ask questions, not make statements. I ask the honourable member to get to her question as soon as possible rather than grandstanding?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Order! There is no point of order. Leader of the Opposition, ask your question.
Ms CARNEY: The question is: when you meet with Zak, at what we understand is a hastily arranged meeting at 3 pm today, will you sign the letter for him? I seek leave to table the letter, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: You do not need to seek leave.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I ought to acknowledge the member for Port Darwin, who actually raised this matter. It was not just reacting to the media hype after the issue was raised during debate on my ministerial statement on youth. I met young Zak at Community Cabinet some weeks ago, where he raised his issue along with the petition and his endeavours. I applauded and commended young Zak, as it was refreshing to see in such a young man of his age his commitment to do this.
This does not only cover my ministerial portfolio for youth, this also covers my portfolio of heritage. We are talking about an Australian flag which flew above Government House and was damaged during the bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942.
It was interesting - the Leader of the Opposition was on radio this morning giving her support and actually got his name right then. For the Leader of the Opposition’s benefit, his name is Zak Menzies. Young Zak is a Stuart Park Primary School student who had raised this plight with me. It was not the media, or reacting to the media. Zak and his mother, who I met during a Community Cabinet meeting, told me about the petition that he had started to have the flag returned. He needs to be thoroughly commended. His enthusiasm and commitment is rare in a boy of his age.
I am happy to support Zak, and I always have been. For the Leader of the Opposition and for the member for Blain to jump up and down and say: ‘Oh, it is because of us, or it is because of the media that you are now supporting him’ is wrong. At Community Cabinet, I have openly supported young Zak …
Dr Lim: You knocked him back yesterday.
Mr Mills: We always planned to do it at the last moment.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I am happy to take his …
Mrs Braham: You said it should remain where it is.
Dr Lim: That is right. You did not support him yesterday.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition and Independent members!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am happy to take young Zak’s plight …
Mr Mills: They are in government, they can make it up.
Dr Lim: That is right. Make up the story. A big spin, that is what it is.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Member for Greatorex, if you stopped bleating - it was actually quiet last week when you were not here.
Dr Lim: You spin so well, don’t you? You are like a top at the moment.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Today, my office did talk to Zak and his family …
Mrs Miller: It is a bit rude about why he was not here last week.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I did say on radio this morning that I would take further steps and talk to my museum people as well as people in Canberra. A letter has been written for my signature which will go to the Board of the Australian War Museum. I will be requesting a meeting with them. The board meeting is in November, so that letter will be going off straightaway. I have also put to Zak and his mother that he is welcome to come with me to Canberra to meet with the board. Together, we can put the Territory’s case that this flag - because it is not just about this flag; it is to do with the whole symbolism of the Northern Territory’s World War II heritage sites. This flag does belong in Darwin as part of that proud military history.
We have already started negotiations with the Australian War Memorial to borrow the flag. I said that, quite clearly, to the member for Blain who, despite saying that he cares for Zak, sees it as a political game and wants to take this further ...
Mr Mills: You have no shame, minister. I will give you a shovel and you can dig another hole for yourself.
Ms Carney: Long question, long answer, it is getting a bit tedious.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: If he had bothered listening to my response to the ministerial statement on youth last night, I did say that we had already commenced negotiations with the Australian War Memorial to get the flag back. They did agree, in part, to have the flag as part of a display called Australia Under Attack 1942-43. That exhibition will open at the Museum and Art Gallery in 2007 as part of the 65th anniversary commemorations.
However, as I said, I will write the letter to the board. We will seek a meeting and go there and put our case across to see if we can get the flag relocated back to Darwin.
Senator Scullion’s Support for the Territory
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you update the House on the latest comments from Senator Scullion on whether he will stand up for the Northern Territory in Canberra?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, despite the groans from the other side of the House, this is actually a very important question and I thank the member for Macdonnell for asking it. It is very important that this House and our community understands the role that Senator Nigel Scullion can play in making sure our rights are not trampled, that our own legislation is not overridden, and that we do not end up with a nuclear waste facility for Commonwealth waste in the Northern Territory. This is a very important question.
It is difficult to keep up with Senator Nigel Scullion’s words on this issue. We have discussed at length what he said in August. He said:
- When this issue does come up before the federal government I will be crossing the floor to stand up for Territorians.
Over the last week, his position has turned 180 degrees, and now he is going to support the legislation. However, I have heard over the last 24 hours there may be room to move with Senator Nigel Scullion. In today’s Northern Territory News, for example, he is quoted as saying:
I am in tune and in touch with the public.
That seems to be his latest position. Given that kind of statement, has the Senator been listening to the voice of the community? We have been getting phone calls; I assume Senator Scullion has been also. There were thousands of signatures to the No Nuclear Dump petition that went through the Territory over the last few months. We have had e-mails. I assume the CLP has had e-mails, along with Senator Scullion and Dave Tollner ...
Dr Lim: Not one. Not one against it!
Ms MARTIN: Already, even though it was only in the paper yesterday, the tear-offs in the ad in yesterday’s paper are coming into my office. That is just the start of it, in 24 hours.
Mr Wood: It is a charade.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I believe that Senator Scullion is going to say he is in tune …
Dr Lim: How many of them are Labor apparatchiks, sending your e-mails?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Ms MARTIN: If Senator Scullion is going to say he is in tune and in touch, he needs to be listening to the voice of Territorians on this very important issue ...
Dr Lim: Just keep up the Canberra bashing, keep it up.
Ms MARTIN: I am concerned that Senator Scullion, as the CLP and Northern Territory representative in the Senate, is not being clear enough on what his position is. We have seen some movement over the last 24 hours, but it is imperative that the members of the Country Liberal Party in this House insist that the federal member stand up for the Northern Territory. There should be no equivocation on that at all. You should be insisting that we do not have our rights steamrolled and that our legislation to prevent such a nuclear dump and prevent the transport of any nuclear waste into the Northern Territory is upheld.
The Prime Minister should not be moving with such unseemly haste. He wants to have this bill debated in the federal parliament in two weeks’ time. We should be insisting that is not the case. It is a very important and urgent issue for the Northern Territory. This is going to be voted on in the federal parliament. We need to ensure that Senator Scullion understands the position of the Northern Territory very clearly, and crosses the floor in the Senate to vote against this legislation. That is the bottom line.
Senator Scullion has been in the Senate ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I have a point for clarification. The Leader of Government Business was very concerned about the length of questions. I am just wondering if the same rule applies and the same concern expressed by the Leader of Government Business about the length of answers?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I would have thought the opposition would have been keen to hear where we are at in this most important issue for the Northern Territory. We hear this whingeing and whining about it. This is a very clear issue for Territorians and the Country Liberal Party needs to be very clear as well, despite what their Senator is saying. He said last night in the news: ‘At the end of the day I think it is going to be very difficult to overturn this, you know. I do not believe, for example, I have the numbers on the day in the Senate. That is quite clear’. Well, let us just clear this up.
The truth is that Senator Scullion’s vote is critical, it does count. There are 76 Senators and the bill needs 39 votes to pass. Senator Scullion is the 39th Senator for the Coalition. Despite what he is saying, he can vote down this legislation. He also said on television last night, ‘There is nothing ever locked in concrete. Dave …’ meaning Dave Tollner, ‘… and myself will continue to negotiate on behalf of Territorians and we will see how we go’. Well, this House should very clearly tell Senator Scullion: do not negotiate! This is not open to negotiation. Vote it down. Use your critical vote in the Senate and vote this down.
Madam Speaker, at the end of Question Time, I will be moving a motion to make it absolutely clear to Senator Scullion that the Northern Territory parliament and its people call on the CLP representatives in the federal parliament to stand up for Territorians and vote down this draconian deal in the federal parliament. Madam Speaker, and I will be moving that motion at the end of Question Time.
Rosebery Primary School
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Palmerston schools are full and three of these, Durack, Bakewell and Woodroffe, are well beyond original capacity. The overcrowding crisis is being managed only by the good grace of teachers, councils and principals. Education is serious and difficult business at the best of times, but it has been made more difficult for these schools by your intransigence. As Treasurer, you boast of population and housing booms, and most of this is happening in Palmerston. Will you begin to provide some relief to Palmerston schools and build the Rosebery Primary School?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. Government is already addressing the capacity questions of our primary schools in the Palmerston area, most notably Woodroffe and Durack. The member for Blain well knows that a $10m figure that was against the proposed senior secondary school …
Dr Lim: At the expense of the Palmerston secondary college.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: The member for Blain well knows that the $10m that was on the budget in forward works proposals for the senior secondary school in Palmerston is - every last cent of it, Madam Speaker - going to be spent in Palmerston.
In relation to the secondary school itself, when that commitment was made, as it was quite some time ago now, it pre-dated the call and subsequent work around the secondary review by a long way. It was clear, once we got into the work around the secondary review and this idea of middle schooling which emerged from Gregor Ramsey’s initial report, following on from the consultation last year and, again, the current consultation, there seems to be growing strong support for this concept of middle schools. It just did not make sense for government to continue to pursue a senior secondary high school which was not going to get us any closer to realising that concept of middle schooling which, all things being equal and the way the consultation is rolling out, may well be the direction that the government makes a decision to go with early next year.
As soon as we made that decision that we would not pursue the senior secondary school, at least we made it known to the people of Palmerston. We gave them the immediate commitment that the $10m against it would be spent - every last cent of it - in Palmerston with, in the first place, $1m already to Woodroffe and Durack to address those capacity questions. I am on the record here and I am happy to go on the record again, stating that every last cent of that remaining $8m will be spent in and around strengthening education in Palmerston.
I will point out one difference in the way that I have treated this situation as Minister for Employment, Education and Training compared to a previous CLP minister for Education who stood in this House and said every secondary school in the Northern Territory had an enclosed airconditioned gym. That was the statement that was made. Obviously, he had never visited Nhulunbuy and been to the Nhulunbuy High School because they did not have one. I sought and worked hard with the community at Nhulunbuy to get a commitment to it. Shane Stone gave that commitment and, when they left government in 2001, not one cent had been spent against that commitment. It was this government that delivered on the commitment and promise made by Shane Stone. Not just Education minister Shane Stone, but Chief Minister Shane Stone made that commitment, and never went anywhere near meeting it.
At least when we made a decision that we were not going to pursue this proposal we were up-front; we told the people of Palmerston. We also gave them that commitment that every last cent of that $10m will be spent in Palmerston.
Mosquito Control in the Northern Suburbs
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HEALTH
In the build-up, the citizens of Sanderson enjoy the relieving evening breezes from Shoal Bay; however, the mosquitoes can be something of an annoyance. With the recent rains and high tides in the northern suburbs, can you inform the House what this government is doing to control mosquito borne diseases?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for what is a very important public health question. We are expecting very high tides in Darwin at the moment. We all know some species of mosquitos will spread diseases such as Ross River fever and encephalitis. At this moment, as we speak, 100 ha to 200 ha are being sprayed with a biological agent, a bacteria that produces a toxin that is lethal to mosquito larvae, on areas that have been identified through helicopter survey work so that we can take out the vast majority of these identified populations of breeding mosquitos before they go to an adult form and start spreading out into the northern suburbs and getting into people’s households.
This is part of an ongoing campaign that will happen in response to any identified breeding activity by whatever mosquitos are found. We are spending $140 000 a year on this. Typically, we would attack about 1500 ha per year of mosquito breeding grounds to keep the number of mozzies down in Darwin, and keep the risk of catching these quite serious diseases to a minimum. Clearly, we will continue to respond to any identified breeding.
__________________________
Distinguished Visitor
Mr Dave Tollner MHR
Mr Dave Tollner MHR
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to presence in the ministerial officers gallery of the member for Solomon, Mr Dave Tollner. On behalf of all honourable members, I offer you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
__________________________
Schools in Palmerston
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
It is very hard to understand why you are against building new schools in Palmerston because, in 2001, the need for a new school in Rosebery was obvious. It was even referred to in your budget papers, if I recall - even your demographers recognised the need. Four years later, there are hundreds of new homes in the area, 20 demountable classrooms in neighbouring schools, broken promises and reviews upon reviews, but still no new school. Why is this so? You are also Treasurer. Is it true that the reason for putting Palmerston students, teachers and families under pressure is that you have run out of money and cannot afford to build new schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I do take offence to allegations that we are averse to building new schools in Palmerston when, in fact, we have been building secondary facilities all over the Territory, in places where the former government never allowed secondary education to be delivered in large indigenous communities. For some reason the CLP never, ever explained this. Whether they were too far distant or it was too expensive for them to deliver, or they were the wrong coloured skin. For some reason, indigenous kids in remote communities in the Northern Territory were not allowed to access, for 27 years under the CLP, secondary education.
Well, we have turned that around. In 2003, there were a number of students at Kalkaringi, and in Maningrida in 2004. We are going to have kids this year in a number of communities realising their Year 12 NTCE certificate in their own communities. That is not a bad effort when the first one ever was 2003. I am hoping the figure will be around 40 this year and we will continue to see growth on that. Therefore, do not tell me that, one, this is a government that does not build new schools, and two, does not have the wherewithal to do it.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I did not say averse to building new schools generally, I specifically referred to Palmerston.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, in relation to Rosebery, which was on the far distant forward works, as the member suggests. That does not mean that it had a government commitment to do it; it was simply listed with the department projecting into the future. Whether it be a primary school or a middle school which would go closer - if, in fact, the communities go with the middle school concept and that is where government makes its decision to go with - that may be part of the plan. Alternatively, a good deal of that money sitting there could go to Palmerston High School. They are decisions to be made in the new year when government makes decisions about rolling forward with the middle schooling concept right across the Northern Territory.
I would like to assure the member for Blain, who is a bit sensitive about this, that this government is not averse to building new schools in Palmerston or anywhere else. What we are very keen to do is to ensure that we have maximum value for every dollar we spend in every agency, and that includes education. It also means getting the best outcome and driving the best outcome in educational terms for every dollar we spend.
Alice Springs - Skills Shortage
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Many Alice Springs businesses looking to hire new staff in order to grow their businesses are being hampered by the nationwide skills shortage. Will you please update the House on government’s efforts to support these businesses to find skilled staff and grow their business?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. As Business minister - and it is great to see business people in the gallery today - the one issue that is facing business across the Northern Territory and across the nation, particularly in regional and remote Australia, is the skills shortage. It is across all sectors of the economy. It is a very real issue for a growing economy such as the Northern Territory’s at the moment.
At the Chief Minister’s Business Round Table that the Chief Minister and I attended in Alice Springs just a few weeks ago, it was the No 1 item for business at that round table.
We are facing this skills shortage with three strategic areas. The first one is the training of 10 000 new trainees and apprentices over four years as part of our Jobs Plan 2 government initiative. The second part of that is the Chief Minister’s Department’s skilled workers recruitment campaign, advertising nationally to bring workers to the Northern Territory. The third part of that, in my department, is our business and skilled migration strategy where the Territory government is investing $1m over the next two years to promote the Northern Territory overseas as the place to come and live for migrants who come to Australia.
The work is starting to pay off for Alice Springs business. I came across these numbers in a departmental brief the other day and they really are quite extraordinary in terms of how successful this program is in Alice Springs.
In 2003-04, my department assisted businesses in Alice Springs to bring in 19 skilled migrants from overseas. In 2004-05, that number grew to 48. To date in this financial year, we have already assisted business to sponsor 16 skilled migrants to fill job vacancies in Alice Springs. In 18 months, DBERD has assisted about 35 businesses in Alice Springs to sponsor a total of 83 overseas skilled workers. What does that mean when they bring their families in as well? One hundred and forty-seven new residents to Alice Springs, which is an absolutely magnificent outcome - 147 new residents along with 83 new skilled migrants into the community of Alice Springs.
Last night, in Alice Springs, during October Business Month, a seminar was held called Skilled Migration – It Can Work For You. Nineteen people attended and heard from Anglicare Director, Jim Holland, about how skilled migration has assisted his organisation. Jim has sponsored three people - financial counsellors and other professionals - from overseas to assist with Anglicare. It is across all sectors of the economy. I am sure this parliament wishes each and every one of the 147 new residents to Alice Springs from overseas a very warm welcome to the Territory.
Desert Peoples Centre – Tenders
Mrs BRAHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chief Minister can certainly make businesses happy with a good response to this question. People in Alice Springs loudly applauded the government for the concept of the Desert Knowledge Precinct. It was widely anticipated and generally accepted that the Desert Peoples Centre of this project would be finished for the 2006 year. Can you advise me what the status is of the design for the Desert Peoples Centre and when we can anticipate tenders to be called?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Desert Knowledge Precinct is a very important one for Alice Springs. The building and formation of the Desert Peoples Centre will include the relocation of the Batchelor Institute in Alice Springs and also part of the Centre for Appropriate Technology.
I have spoken in this House a number of times about the fact that negotiations and discussions about what was required there and the escalating costs of building in the Centre were all factors in the delay. We would have loved to have seen it completed by now. It has taken longer to get where we would like to go. The carriage of this project is now with the Minister for Business and Economic Development and Regional Development and, quite appropriately, I will hand it to him to give you the specific details of this.
Mr HENDERSON (Business and Economic Development): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for the handball. Yes, in the new administrative arrangements, I am now the minister for the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which is an exciting initiative. For people in the gallery and people listening …
Mrs Braham: Just the answer to the question, minister, will do.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I will answer the question. If I am not interrupted, you will get the answer even quicker, member for Braitling.
The Desert Knowledge Precinct is a 73 ha greenfield site strategically located between Alice Springs and the airport. The precinct will be a focal point for Desert Knowledge business and networking activities. Everybody in the House knows that the first stage of the headworks has been completed, and Alice Springs business, Sitzler Bros, has just won a $2.66m contract to build the next stage of the headworks in the precinct. Work is happening.
I was in Alice Springs a couple of weeks ago and actually took a drive there. Previously, where there was a ‘road closed’ sign, there is a heap of work happening with graders and other earthmoving equipment there building the next stage of the headworks. I was certainly very impressed with the work that Sitzler Bros are doing there.
Documentation of the Desert Peoples Centre has been let to the architectural firm, Hassel, including its Alice Springs partner, Tangentyere Design. The design work is happening. Alice Springs local businesses are involved with the design. A contract has also been let to Alice Springs architects, Susan Dugdale and Stephen Lumb, to document the Desert Knowledge business and innovation centre. Work is happening on the ground; the graders and dozers are out there doing their bit. Unfortunately, a few trees have been knocked about. However, design and documentation is happening for the Desert Peoples Centre. The project is under way and I look forward to having carriage of it in this government.
Palmerston Senior Secondary School
Mr MILLS to MINSTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
The recent decision to spend just part of the $10m that you promised to Palmerston High School in 2001 is certainly welcomed by the school. However, a serious problem remains unaddressed. Primary schools are full and three of these are well beyond reasonable capacity. Palmerston’s only high school will be at capacity next term. Over 600 high school students leave Palmerston every school day to attend schools outside of Palmerston. Your decision to scrap the long anticipated new Palmerston senior secondary school a few weeks ago beggars belief. Why? Is it because you have run out of money?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I did answer it in part in an answer three questions ago; that was, when the decision was made around the senior secondary facility for Palmerston, there was no plan or decision, and no one knew that we were going to have a comprehensive review into secondary education in the Northern Territory.
One thing we knew before we entered that process was that there was no secondary education in indigenous communities. We did not need Professor Gregor Ramsey or, indeed, a review to tell us that. That is to the everlasting shame of these blokes who spent 27 years in government and did not see that Aboriginal kids in the Northern Territory were deserving of even a secondary education program, let alone a quality secondary education program which we are busy delivering. That is just by the by, Madam Speaker.
When that decision was made, we subsequently went to the secondary review. It was a great review conducted by Gregor Ramsey; it gave us lots to think about and lots to talk about ...
Mr Mills: But you committed to this before that review.
Mr STIRLING: Well, If you want to answer your own question, go ahead.
Mr Mills: But you are not answering the question. It beggars belief. It does not make sense.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Blain, cease interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, one of the most exciting things to come out of the Professor Gregor Ramsey review in the first place, with a consultation last year and again now, and there will be a little more next year - I know they hate engaging the community because as a government they never did it. However, we do because we are genuine about tapping where the community is thinking along these lines.
One of the most exciting things to come out of it is this evolving concept around middle schools. Now that the community are getting a feel and an understanding for it in the interim stages - and I do not want to pre-empt anything coming out of this consultative process - it seems to me they are very encouraging and very heartening in that middle schools may well be the way that the community sees a government should go.
Having gotten thus far in that process, a senior secondary high school in Palmerston was not going to deliver anything by way of bringing the Northern Territory system of secondary education to a middle schools approach. I can assure the member for Blain it was not a decision taken lightly by this government to walk on the proposal to build the senior secondary school. It no longer fitted where we believe the community was going and where, in fact, government might go.
In relation to the capacity questions - they will be addressed. They are being addressed. Already, $2m is being spent, as we speak, in two of those schools, Woodroffe and Durack. In relation to the high school, I will tell you one group of people in the Palmerston community absolutely delighted with the decision not to proceed with the senior secondary school proposal is, in fact, the Palmerston High School community. They are delighted, because they know that if we do go down the track of a middle schools approach to secondary education in the Northern Territory, they will be big winners and they will get a big slab of that $8m remaining of the original $10m. They recognise that and they can see the prospect for them being a leading light in the development of a middle schools approach and a leading high school in the Northern Territory. That is why they are delighted with that and we will continue to work with them.
Telecommunications Infrastructure for
Remote and Indigenous Communities
Remote and Indigenous Communities
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for COMMUNICATIONS
The injection of capital into telecommunications infrastructure is extremely essential for the development and economic wellbeing of remote and indigenous communities. Can the minister outline the benefits that such communities will enjoy if the Commonwealth agrees to provide this essential funding?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. It is an important question. Yesterday, we debated a motion calling on the federal government to invest $265m from the sale of Telstra into telecommunications infrastructure in the Northern Territory. $265m sounds a lot of money but, when you think that it represents 1% of the sale of Telstra and the population of the Northern Territory represents 1% of the population of Australia, it is not an outlandish figure; also, given some of the deficits in telecommunications that we experience in the Northern Territory. In Darwin, we know that there are some, but we also know of some of the deficits experienced in our more remote regions and communities within the Northern Territory.
As was said yesterday, there was a report commissioned from ACIL, a respected economic consulting company, to look into these costs. One of the costs that was attributed to try and bring telecommunications infrastructure in our remote communities in the Northern Territory up to scratch was $98m for communities with populations of more than 100 people, and $50m aimed at communities with populations of fewer than 100 people. We outlined the benefits that would flow from that, and also the whole issue of equity for people in the Northern Territory having the same access to telecommunications as other Australians.
It was with some disappointment yesterday that I heard the opposition communications spokesman not support it. In fact, he rejected the need for this infrastructure to be located on these remote communities. In quoting from the Hansard, at one point he called it, ‘irresponsible’ that we should even be asking the federal government for this money for our remote communities. At another point he called it ‘unreasonable’. The member for Greatorex alluded to the fact that he grew up in a village …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: … and the assertion was that people living in these remote areas should just leave where they are and go somewhere else where there are services. I will quote from the Hansard of yesterday:
- … having grown up in a little village, my first desire once I was educated was to get the hell out of there into somewhere better, where opportunities are better, where employment opportunities are better, where there are bright lights.
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: Ask the members around here. They would have done the same thing. Ask them.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr BURNS: I am quoting from the Hansard, Madam Speaker.
Mrs Braham: Could we have the answer please?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: This is an interesting point, Madam Speaker, because reading the biography of the member for Greatorex …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: … reading the biography on the member for Greatorex on the CLP web site, he was born and grew up in Taiping, in Malaysia.
Dr Lim: Taiping, it is pronounced Taiping.
Dr BURNS: Taiping. All right, it is Taiping. I wanted to do a little more homework on the little village in Malaysia, and I was amazed to find that it has a population of 200 000 people in the little village …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: … almost as big as the entire Northern Territory. There are a few other interesting facts about the …
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: You brought in Taiping yesterday!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please resume your seat.
Dr Lim: You were born in Taiping yesterday, I assume?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, order!
Dr Lim: Madam Speaker, speaking to the point of order, that man is misquoting deliberately.
Madam SPEAKER: There was no point of order. Member for Greatorex, resume your seat. Just resume your seat. Let me remind you, honourable members, of Standing Order 51. The comments that I made yesterday continue for today. Minister, please continue answering.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are a few other facts about the village. It is actually the home to Malaysia’s oldest telegraph and post office which was built in 1850. It also has the country’s oldest railway station. It had the country’s first swimming pool. It has the oldest turf club and golf course. So, for a little village, it sounds great to me.
Mr Mills: Madam Speaker, it is not appropriate. I thought he had improved his behaviour.
Mrs Miller: That is so insulting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe this is inappropriate. The minister is trying to slander the member for Greatorex. I do not mind him protesting about what he said yesterday, but I believe this is going over the limit. I would ask you to shorten the answer and stick to the point.
Mr HENDERSON: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, it is actually against standing orders to mislead parliament and …
Ms Carney: Well, bring on a motion!
Mr HENDERSON: … my colleague, the minister, is just pointing out how the member misled parliament yesterday.
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I never misled parliament at all about my town of Taiping. I was born 59 years ago and this man is quoting Taiping today!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr LIM: That is the stupidity of that man. You call yourself a PhD! You are quoting statistics about a town today …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Dr LIM: … but I was born 60 years ago!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex! Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning!
Mrs Braham: Oh, that was fair comment, Madam Speaker!
Dr Lim: Try! Kick me out! I do not mind! The media will love it! What a pathetic performance by ministers of government!
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Member Suspended
Member for Greatorex
Member Suspended
Member for Greatorex
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you will withdraw from the Chamber for one hour.
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Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, this little village also has telephony and broadband access. I believe it is not right for people from the CLP not to fight for the Territory and our remote communities of people less than 100 or 50. That is why we should all be asking the Commonwealth for our fair share of the sale of Telstra.
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Distinguished Visitor
Senator Trish Crossin
Distinguished Visitor
Senator Trish Crossin
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Senator for the Northern Territory, Trish Crossin. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend you a very warm welcome, and thank you for wearing pink.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Territory Insurance Office – Sale
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
The party you represent remains philosophically opposed to uranium mining, yet you barely hide your delight when the federal government overrides you and gives the green light for uranium exploration in the Northern Territory. The Labor Party is also philosophically opposed to the privatisation of public assets. Therefore, I do understand your opposition to the forced sale of Telstra, though it is the carrier of government’s choice. Then why are you preparing to sell a public asset, the Territory insurer, TIO? Is it because you are short of cash to build schools and are overcommitted on the waterfront?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there were a couple of little furphies in the preface to the question, one of which was the federal government allowing exploration of uranium in the Northern Territory. Neither I nor anyone in government was aware that it had been forbidden up until such time as the federal minister was in the Northern Territory. Nothing could be further from the truth. Uranium exploration has been ongoing in the Northern Territory for many years.
In relation to the question of the Territory Insurance Office, this government is not preparing to sell the Territory Insurance Office at all. We are looking at the second stage of a scoping study on the back of a great deal of work that we had done last year in understanding the business. It was very necessary work in separating the different arms of the Territory Insurance Office to ensure that there was proper accounting, proper recording and profit and loss against each of those separate arms so that the true costs of the nature of the organisation were understood and proper costs attributed to each arm of the organisation.
We have taken that a little step further in the legislation that we have introduced this week in bringing TIO to a more commercial standard of operating to APRA, charging them for the work government does in overseeing and monitoring the regulatory work around looking after a government-owned body such as Territory Insurance Office. We wanted to know what options there were, given the work that we have done so far, and what the best management model and best future for the Territory Insurance Office going forward is. In all of those options, the sale of one, two or, in fact, all of Territory Insurance Office arms were possibilities. We could have said: ‘No, we do not want to know about that’.
This scoping study is being undertaken now, and will probably take two to three months, so it will be some time in the new year before we see the results of that. It will give us a range of options, including options against selling one or all arms of the Territory Insurance Office. We are not hell-bent on selling this organisation at all; we are seeking views on the best way forward. That is the work that is going on. That will come back to us in the new year. Government will look at the report, at the options and recommendations that it brings forward and any decisions will be made then.
Australian Workplace Agreements – Use in Territory
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
The federal government is proposing to allow AWAs to override collective agreements. Are you aware of any AWAs being used instead of collective agreements in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. This is a topical question. The Palmerston City Council is adopting a policy of insisting that all new employees sign up to an Australian Workplace Agreement as a condition of employment. This is the same method that is being employed by the federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Under this AWA with Palmerston City Council, new employees are having their annual leave entitlement, which is an award entitlement, reduced from six weeks to four weeks. The Palmerston Mayor has often responded that council employees are quite happy with the AWAs.
There has been a recent opinion survey undertaken by Peter Berry Consultancy of the council employees. They were asked what four things would most change Palmerston City Council for the better. The most frequent response was enterprise partnership agreement or an EBA. The employees were also asked what the four worst things about working for Palmerston City Council were and, overwhelmingly, the most frequent response was individual contracts or AWAs. I believe the response of workers is not surprising because, generally in Australia since these were introduced in 1997 under the federal Workplace Relations Act, only 2.4% of the Australian work force has taken up AWAs. The federal government is spending many tens or even hundreds of million dollars trying to promote their federal industrial relations agenda.
In contrast, Katherine Town Council workers enjoy the benefits of collective bargaining, and they have been obtaining improvements to conditions of employment, including 14 weeks paid maternity leave, as well as an increase in wages. The trade-off has been in certain productivity areas for the employer. Katherine is to be commended; there has been a win for employees and also a win for the council.
I urge employers to seriously think about these Australian Workplace Agreements because, at the end of the day, they are aimed at cutting working conditions and wages, where enterprise bargaining agreement has been shown to be a productive way forward for the Australian workplace.
Tourism Ventures on Adelaide River
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Recently, a fourth tour operator started boat tours near the Adelaide River bridge. There are already three companies operating jumping crocodile-type tours in that same area. Although the new operator has said he does not intend to feed crocodiles, there is nothing to stop him. Do you believe there should be limits over the number of businesses operating jumping crocodile tours in one area? Do you believe that operators should have to be licensed to feed crocodiles in the wild? Do you believe that, if too many operators are feeding crocodiles, there is a chance one of the most popular Top End attractions will be at risk because the crocs will be too well fed and just give up jumping?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that was a long question from the member for Nelson ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I did not ask for the three of you to comment; I was talking to the member for Nelson.
Part of your question was to do with licensing and who issues licences. Parks and Wildlife do not and never have licensed the operations of the jumping crocodile cruises. In looking at this, it would require a licence to interfere with wildlife. A licence is needed for this sort of activity.
Let us open the Pandora’s Box with this because, if you start at this level, one of the other areas you could think of that would need to come into this regime if you did have to obtain a licence to interfere with wildlife would be the fish feeding at the tourist attraction at Doctor’s Gully …
Mr Wood: Where they compete.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We are talking about wildlife, and crocodiles are part of the wildlife. If you are looking at a regulatory regime, that is where it would need to come in.
At the moment, there is no policy or intention to be regulating at that level. There are other regulatory processes though, member for Nelson; for example, consent may be required under the Planning Act. Boats may have to be in an appropriate survey, and businesses themselves would, no doubt, have to be licensed operators as a business. In answer to your long question, the feeding of crocodiles is not regulated at present.
Down Syndrome Awareness Week
Mr NATT to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Next week is Down Syndrome Awareness Week. Can you please advise the House on events happening during the week?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. Yes, indeed, right across Australia next week people will be acknowledging and celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Week.
In the Northern Territory, the highlight for the week will be the annual dinner auction, which will be held here on Saturday, 29 October. Tickets are still available, so I encourage people to buy some for this very worthy event. Items for auction include hotel packages, dinners, art work and, for the second year, the celebrity auction. Identities, including His Honour the Administrator, the Chief Minister, other ministers, including myself and MLAs and, I believe, the Mayors of both Darwin and Palmerston have come up with items for auction.
Most of you would be aware of Down Syndrome. It is caused by an extra chromosome which affects both physical and intellectual development. It is a lifelong condition which affects each person differently. Each person with Down Syndrome is an individual, with his or her own needs, strengths and abilities. My family certainly enjoys the love and development of a little Down Syndrome girl called Molly, who is best friends with my children. She has certainly taught us how to embrace life with gusto.
The Down Syndrome Association of Northern Territory runs as a family support group and, as is the case with many small not-for-profit groups, it struggles to find committee members to fill all of its positions. Most committee members are involved because they care for a person with Down Syndrome, and that care already places demands on their time. All of these volunteers deserve our thanks for the effort that they put in. They include people like Jean Meakin, the treasurer. Jean has no family connection to Down Syndrome, but she knew she had some useful skills to contribute, and contribute she does. Esther Tan is currently secretary of the association. She has mobilised students at Dripstone High School for several years and, more recently at Darwin High School to help with fundraising. They have been very successful, so well done, Esther and both Dripstone and Darwin High Schools. Theona Mitaros has been patron of the Down Syndrome Association for many years. She will step down at the end of this year and will be sorely missed by the families who make up the association.
I congratulate committee member, Jenny Tiernan, who I know puts a great deal of effort and volunteer work in supporting the Down Syndrome Association ...
Mrs Braham: This is an adjournment speech, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I pick up the interjection from the member for Braitling.
Mrs Braham: Well it is. It is something you would normally do in adjournment.
Mr Mills: This is Question Time.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I pick up the interjection from the member for Braitling. It is quite appropriate, as the Minister for Family and Community Services, to acknowledge the Down Syndrome Awareness Week that we are celebrating next week.
Mrs Braham: Yes, I have no problems with that.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, order! Minister, continue.
Ms LAWRIE: There is an abundance of opportunities for involvement in this small group and I encourage all Territorians to do a little extra and think about their own skills and talents and consider how they might share those skills. I wish the Down Syndrome Association the best of luck with their dinner and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Territory Insurance Office – Flood Cover in the Event of Sale
Mrs MILLER to TREASURER
In January 1998, Katherine suffered the devastation of the flood, which severely impacted on businesses and residents. At that time, a lot of residents were not covered by flood insurance, myself included, unfortunately. Those residents who were insured through TIO received full flood insurance cover. Treasurer, you have indicated that your government plans to sell TIO ...
Mr Henderson: No, he has not.
Mrs MILLER: Given that TIO supports Territorians and other insurance companies are not interested in flood cover, what assurances can you give Territorians that they will be able to insure against flood in the future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. It is a very appropriate question. As the member for Katherine, she was there at the time. In fact, I was trying to drive back to the Northern Territory and was hearing pretty gruesome warnings about the weather ahead. Alice Springs did not look too bad at the time when I was fuelling up. We got to Tennant Creek and I saw the road north of Katherine washed out. I thought: ‘It does not look too bad, maybe we can sneak around the side’. But, by the following morning – and I remember a shot of a road train in the main street; it was just the stack of the exhaust pipe out the top - all chance, all hope of driving through Katherine was gone. We flew out of Tennant Creek and actually landed at Katherine that evening, which was the peak of the floods. It was a very wet and dark experience, even at the airport, some distance, of course, from the worst of the flooding.
The interjection answered the question. In the preface, the member for Katherine says we are supporting the sale of Territory Insurance Office. That is not the case, we are simply undertaking a study to receive advice on the best future direction and management options for TIO, and it is appropriate that the government do that from time to time. TIO has not had the spotlight put on it in many years - never by the previous government - and it is an entity that we have really struggled to come to grips to understand. We have much stronger management in there than previously. It is in better hands; it is performing better than it did before.
Government has a responsibility to understand what it has in its hands in the form of TIO, and what levels of exposure, given that it carries 100% government guarantee in the marketplace every day that it does business. We have a responsibility to understand what that means in exposure to this government and Territory taxpayers - and understand it we will. That is the nature of this scoping study that we are undertaking now.
It is a valid question to be asked, and answered: if a decision to sell TIO was made. However, it is not a question to dwell on now when we know we are some three months away from even getting any advice, options or recommendations. Let me make it clear again: we are not supporting the sale of TIO.
BassintheDust Concert – Government Contribution
Mrs BRAHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
BassintheDust was a great success. However, I have a few questions I would like you to answer. Unfortunately, it was held on the second-last night of the Alice Desert Festival. Who decided to have it compete with the Desert Festival events? How much did government contribute to BassintheDust? What was the financial outcome for the private promoter? Did government have to top up their contribution to ensure the private promoter was not out of pocket?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I must say, for the first time I got to go to BassintheDust, which I was delighted at. I did not see you there, member for Braitling. I was disappointed that I did not see you there because it was an excellent concert.
Members interjecting.
Mrs Braham: I was elsewhere.
Ms MARTIN: You were there in spirit. It is always difficult to find a night that is going to be the most appropriate night. The night that was chosen was within the Alice Springs Festival and that was generally agreed to. I was aware that the night chosen, as it emerged, did have some things like sports awards nights coinciding with it. I understand that did cause some problems. There were also some other festival activities. However, I do not believe those festival activities impacted on BassintheDust; they were complementary things. I did discover that there were sports awards nights on that night and it was going to create some difficulties for that target audience for BassintheDust.
We live and learn with BassintheDust. This is the third time we have held it, and the third venue that has been chosen and, by a long way, this is the best venue. It puts paid to BassintheDust, unfortunately, because there was very little sign of any dust in any part of Anzac Oval. It was looking superb and very green. I congratulate those involved, Major Events Company and Darren Lynch of Pinecot Pty Ltd, who was awarded management of the event. There were some innovative aspects to it. They had a disco at the back so that anyone who did not like a band could go and try something else during that band’s time on stage.
In the adjournment debate last night, I talked about my experience there. I met the Logan brothers, the stars of this year’s Big Brother. They had an enthusiastic reception from the crowd, particularly the young women, for some particular reason.
We originally committed $50 000 towards BassintheDust. We put another $50 000 in through government, and the Major Events Company put another $20 000 towards that.
Mrs Braham: $120 000.
Ms MARTIN: Altogether $120 000 to BassintheDust. Private promoter, Darren Lynch, organised the concert. The company assumed the risks and any profit was theirs to take. We managed the cost of the ticket, we put $120 000 in, worked with the promoter; however, they took the risks and the chance of not making a profit out of it. However, I am pleased to say it was the biggest attendance we have ever had in BassintheDust - 1222 people attended. That was about twice the number on the previous year. I am delighted. BassintheDust in Alice has proved more difficult than the Darwin event. BassintheGrass’s attendance was well over 5000 this year, significantly more. However, per capita, 1222 is not bad for Central Australia. We have to keep working to get that Central Australian concert right.
We are committed to it, although we might have to rename it, member for Braitling. We might need some advice from you about this, as BassintheDust, if held at Anzac Oval, does not really work. However, it was an excellent concert and I was delighted to see so many young Centralians and those young at heart attending.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016