2007-04-19
Alice Springs Police Station – Communications Problems
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last night, your minister for Police told the people of Alice Springs to ring 131 444 if they needed to speak to the police. He told them that that number would take them ‘… right into the heart of the Alice Springs Police Station …’. Last night, as with previous days and nights in Alice Springs, when people, including journalists and staffers, rang 131 444, it rang out. This morning, Mr Daryl Manzie tried to call that number to get through to the police in Alice Springs and, as he told his listeners on Territory FM, he rang once and got Katherine; he rang another time and got Palmerston; he tried again and he got Berrimah.
If your Police minister will not do his job, can you do his job and yours and ensure that the people of Alice Springs can get through to the police station when they ring?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I suppose if the last 24 hours regarding telephone numbers have demonstrated anything, it is that we all know now that 131 444 is the number to ring if you have a non-urgent call to Territory police. The issue for Alice Springs is that the system does not work as well as it can. The announcement today by Superintendent Sean Parnell in Alice Springs reaffirms that 131 444 is the number to ring. That police assistance line had been introduced Territory-wide almost three years ago and that is its purpose. To get urgent calls, it is 000; non-urgent calls right around the Territory, it is 131444.
What has emerged today - from Superintendent Parnell – is there have been technical issues with calls in Alice Springs which will be resolved when a piece of equipment called the automated call distributor arrives and is installed. That equipment is due for delivery in the next six to eight weeks. The equipment in Alice Springs which, evidently - as I understand, I am not technical - is not as contemporary as the equipment in Darwin, will be up to scratch. It has been an unedifying experience over the last 24 hours to realise that the system was not working. It had been in place for three years. When it came under focus, it was not working up to scratch. I say to the residents of Alice Springs that there is a commitment from the police that, in six to eight weeks, that call line will be up to scratch and it will be operating as well as the one in Darwin.
The 131 444 number is the one to ring for non-urgent calls right across the Territory, and here in Alice Springs. Once the automated call distributor equipment arrives and is installed, then that number will be effectively answered. For the last three years we have not seen these problems, they have emerged more recently. There is a commitment from police to fix the equipment. Once that is done that number will be working well.
I say to everyone, if you have an emergency, the number to ring is 000.
Budget 2007-08 – Spending on Road Maintenance
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Roads are a big winner in Budget 2007-08. Can you tell the House about the increased spending on repairs and maintenance, and the record spending on Territory roads?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for that question. As well as being the member for Macdonnell, she is certainly the member for roads. If there is one thing that the member for Macdonnell says very often, it is: ‘The roads, the roads, the roads in Central Australia’. If you talk to people right across the Territory, particularly in our remoter areas, their first priority is roads, their second priority is roads and their third priority is roads.
Whether it is a road in the Top End like the Wadeye to Darwin road, or a road in the Centre like the Santa Teresa to Alice road, they are vital links for Territorians – for residents in remote communities, moving freight around the Territory, moving cattle and produce around the Territory and, importantly, as people in Alice Springs understand, for our tourists. Roads and the money we spend on them is absolutely critical to the economic and social prosperity of the Territory.
In this budget, which comes down in May, there is a big increase in the money we are going to spend on your roads. That goes to the biggest sum ever - $180m over the next year. An important and critical component of that is what we are going to spend on repairs and maintenance on roads. It has had an increase, over the next four years, of $35m, and it takes the sum being spent of that $180m this year to $57m. They are just numbers, but what does that mean?
It means that on the road that goes to Santa Teresa we are going to spend $500 000. We will see better grades, and a much more effective road from here to Santa Teresa. If the member mentions it one more time - that money was absolutely critical.
There will be $2m spent on a very important economic road for Alice Springs, which is the Tanami Road. There will be $500 000 on the Sandover Highway, $300 000 on the Maryvale Road, and $1.74m on The Outback Way. As everyone knows, money is being spent on the Red Centre Way now - the best part of $16.5m for sealing in this financial year. In the next financial year, once we get to 2008-09, another $15m is allocated.
This is about the economics of the Centre of the Territory. It is about access, moving goods around the Territory, and safer roads. Importantly, when you look at all those contracts that are going to be let, it is about jobs, jobs, jobs.
Alice Springs Police Station – Communications Problems
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your Police minister told the people of Alice Springs last night to ring 131 444. As you know, and as your minister for Police has known for at least six months, there are problems with that number and the communications system. Are you concerned at all about people witnessing crime, or victims of it, who might be out and about on the streets of Alice Springs and who do not have a mobile phone? I think in this regard of Aboriginal women in this town, who might need to ring police, but who do not have a mobile phone and who do not happen to have 50 in their pocket without which the phone will not even ring. Are you concerned about that? If so, what are you going to do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I understand the question from the Opposition Leader, it is asking whether government is going to provide a phone to every single Territorian? Is that the issue that we are dealing with here?
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: No, but I just …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: The question was: if someone does not have a phone and wants to ring the police, that government should provide them with a phone?
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I say to anyone who is witnessing a crime or who is a victim of a crime, the number to ring is 000. It is important that someone in a leadership position like the Opposition Leader knows the right number to ring. That number is 000 ...
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is a most bizarre question from the Opposition Leader about providing every citizen with a phone. That is not exactly the government’s task ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: No, it is not, and the Opposition Leader …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, cease interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is interesting, because the Opposition Leader asked the question. It is a very bizarre question. I am sure our students there would love government to provide them with a mobile phone or 50 for a phone call. However, the issue is what number should be rung, and the number is 000. If there is an emergency, you must all know that it is 000 to ring.
What we need to make sure of is that police numbers are at establishment in Alice Springs, that we have good strategies in place to be able to deal with incidents when they happen, whether that is antisocial behaviour or crimes being committed. The Police Commissioner has given an assurance that that will happen, and that City Safe will continue to keep the mall and other key areas of the city safe at night. There is a Social Order Task Force coming on board to really focus the attention of police on the concerns that have been raised by our community in Alice Springs on making a safe community. I say again: 000 is the number to ring if there is an emergency.
Alice Springs – Lifeline Counselling Service
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Can you please inform the Assembly of recent initiatives to support Alice Springs Lifeline?
ANSWER
Lifeline is a great national organisation, and it has a fantastic centre in Alice Springs. Lifeline provides many services, but its core service is a telephone counselling service that connects people with care and emotional support in their time of need.
In March, I met with Dawn Smith, the Chief Executive of Lifeline Australia, and Rob Loane the Director of Lifeline Alice Springs, and they gave me some disturbing news. Lifeline Alice Springs was facing having to close its doors. They did not receive anticipated Commonwealth funding that they thought they might get which would have kept the service in operation in Alice Springs. The federal government had a bucket of $62m to spend for such services nationally - not one cent came to Alice Springs. On hearing this news, I immediately had discussions with my agency to find some money to keep Lifeline Alice Springs open and operating.
I am able to advise today, Lifeline Alice Springs have immediately been granted $100 000 from the Northern Territory government to continue its operations; $50 000 of which is core funding - guaranteed annual funding so they do not have to limp from year to year, month to month with uncertainty. They now have core funding, which provides them with certainty as an operation to keep their doors open and operating this essential service in Alice Springs.
That additional $50 000 is there to assist people regarding suicide prevention. There is an excellent program that Lifeline Alice Springs runs in our region, including into the Barkley region, called Assist. So, good news for Lifeline Alice Springs: $100 000 immediately to keep their doors open, with that crucial element of a guaranteed core funding annually of $50 000. Congratulations to Lifeline for the wonderful work they do in helping people in crisis in Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Alice Springs – Todd Mall Security Cameras
Dr LIM to CHIEF MINISTER
Despite rejecting the idea of CCTV security cameras in and around Todd Mall for months, you announced, after the demonstration on Tuesday, that you will provide the funding. Will you know support our call, and that of Advance Alice, to ensure that funding will also include real time monitoring of CCTV? If not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Greatorex’s question manages to turn a good initiative for Alice Springs into a whinge. I do not know how he does it.
The Alice Springs Town Council wanted to have closed circuit television for the mall which was certainly a responsibility of a good town council. They went to the federal government and said: ‘Can you share the funding of this with us?’ The federal government was not overly enthusiastic about doing that. The council had allocated $100 000, and they wanted $150 000 for the equipment from the federal government. This week, the Territory government has said we will do it - nothing is coming from Canberra, we will do it. Yet, you get from the member for Greatorex not, ‘This is great, we are going to see it happen’, but a whinge about how it is going to operate. The operation of that is a matter for the town council. We will work cooperatively with them. Those decisions have not yet been made, but three cheers for CCTV.
Prisoner Recidivism– Policy Initiatives
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can the minister advise of recent policy initiatives to tackle re-offending by former prisoners?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. We have been concerned for some time about those people who have served time who frequently return to crime and prison, having left the prison system in the first place. In fact, the number of prisoners committing crime and returning to prison is 46% of the overall prison population, and that is one of the major factors driving the higher than we would like numbers in our prison system. It is a real avenue for government to attack and get on top of in (1) reducing crime in the community right across the Northern Territory, and (2) reducing the numbers in prison.
We are initiating a number of measures to combat this. I announced the first last week, which is the employment of an additional 15 community-based Correctional Services officers to monitor parolees and those on bail. For parolees, that monitoring will include case management of people back into the outside world. Fifteen new positions will be achieved through efficiencies across the agency - they do not represent new money. That is very much in line with my efforts to refocus the efforts of the agency and the funds in the agency on frontline staffing and services. The positions include five extra staff at the Probation and Parole Service, six extra staff for additional supervision and management for more serious offenders, and four extra staff to go into the remote probationary areas. Alice Springs will receive three additional staff to assist the 13 already in the job; Tennant Creek picks up an additional staff member to add to the four already there.
The initiative, whilst under consideration, was given a real focus on the back of a quite recent coroner’s report and the questions that he raised in an around Community Corrections, and from a review that was already under way into caseloads, workloads and capacity of our Community Corrections division. It is recognition of the work being done by existing staff. Additional training will be put in place. Those community-based Correctional Services officers will have to have a certificate of attainment, or be working toward it in the future, so they will have certificated training behind them. That will help ensure that staff do have the skills to handle those more serious offenders.
I am also pleased to take the opportunity in parliament to welcome John Daulby, who is a quite long-servicing and very senior police officer in the Northern Territory. I welcome him to the Department of Justice because he will be heading up the Community Corrections area, the focus of much of the reworking that we are doing. If there were some concerns from the judiciary - certainly the magistrates - in relation to how Community Corrections were doing their job, the appointment of one John Daulby will go a long way to reducing those concerns. I wish Mr Daulby and the staff in Community Corrections all the best in the difficult job that they are undertaking.
Introduction of Container Deposit Legislation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
It seems a long time since I was here, but thank you.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, would you like to resume your seat if you are concerned about the call?
Mr WOOD: No, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps get on with the question, member for Nelson.
Mr WOOD: I am not concerned about the call, Madam Speaker.
The Chief Minister mentioned the other day that one of the downsides of the changes to alcohol sales is the increased amount of liquor around Alice Springs. Of course, that reminded me of container deposit legislation that is used so successfully in South Australia and is now being considered by Western Australia. About a year ago, your government was looking at container deposits in remote areas of the Northern Territory. What happened to that idea and when can we expect to see some container deposit programs in remote areas? When you will your government throw off the shackles of the beverage and container industry and introduce CDL for the whole of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. If anything, he is consistent on this issue. I have always said to the member for Nelson, and everyone else, that I have had a lot of consultation in relation to the issue of CDL. I have had the EPA investigate and look at how best to adapt this model on a local level. At Titjikala in Central Australia, we are trialling a local CDL program.
There are a number of remote communities, member for Nelson, that have benefited from our grants program that just simply was not there prior to 2001. That grants program has allowed a lot of those remote communities to look at the feasibility and then implementation. We have to be mindful of the costs that then get shifted when those programs are put in place in communities. Costs in a lot of our remote communities, as you would be aware - and if you are not, I will inform you that a lot of people and the cost of living in those remote communities - are quite high. Expenses in those communities are already very high with the freight component. Having programs like this, we have to be mindful that those stores and councils do not shift that cost on to consumers.
This is the same if you have a wider program in your major urban areas. We do have quite successful litter abatement strategies and programs. I make it clear, Madam Speaker, because I know that the member for Nelson often runs around being quite mischievous in saying that this government is in the pocket of the beverage industry …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We have worked with industry because it needs industry …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You asked the question, give me the courtesy of answering you.
Mr Wood interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You have asked the question. If you do not want to hear the answer, I will not answer. The issue of looking at some programs with litter has been raised with me in Central Australia, and we will look at it. I have said to …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nelson!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … the Arid Land Environment Centre and other groups here which have quite a big commitment to looking at recycling and implementing those programs that, through the EnvironmeNT Grants, we will look at providing some of that funding to get some of those localised programs in place. The Packaging Stewardship Forum is certainly looking at putting extra funds towards groups for those programs.
Regarding CDL, member for Nelson, you know very clearly that it is an issue that has to be taken up nationally. There are huge tax issues that have to be looked at and we will continue to look at them.
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Distinguished Visitors
Distinguished Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Mayor of Alice Springs, Ms Fran Kilgariff. On behalf of all honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I also acknowledge Hon Warren Snowdon, the member for Lingiari. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Alice Springs Hospital – New Emergency Department
Alice Springs Hospital – New Emergency Department
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HEALTH
On Monday this week, you re-announced your two-year-old election promise to build a new Emergency Department at the Alice Springs Hospital. I can assure you that we all in Alice Springs look forward to it. The general manager of the Alice Springs Hospital said on ABC radio that there are no plans for the department at the moment and, therefore, there is no time line to develop the new Emergency Department. The general manager was also unsure whether $6m will be sufficient for the development. Various figures have been quoted – $5m, $6m, $7.5m. What is the true value of the government’s commitment to the new Emergency Department at the Alice Springs Hospital? When will the new Emergency Department be operational, or is it another project scheduled to be opened just before the next Territory general election?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question because it gives me a chance to reiterate what was said on Monday and the commitment of this government in the upcoming 2007-08 budget; that is, $6m to construct a new Emergency Department at Alice Springs Hospital - building on other works that this government has done at that hospital, including the remediation works for the fiasco that was left for this government …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … that was left for this government by the previous government …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, if I am angry about something, I am angry about that …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … and the member for Greatorex should hang his head in shame about that, because it is still disrupting our hospital in Alice Springs.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Dr BURNS: As I announced earlier this week - and I made public statements about this and was interviewed by the media - that money will be available in the 2007-08 financial year. There has already been some scoping work done in relation to the development of the Emergency Department, in consultation with the staff. The member for Greatorex does not understand how capital works projects work. Maybe I can tell him, as a former Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, there has been scoping work undertaken and we are now going to enter into the very detailed work of design.
The other thing I announced earlier this week was that a tender would be let by the end of this calendar year, and I would be very hopeful of construction beginning early in the 2008 calendar year.
I suspect the member for Greatorex has verballed the General Manager of Alice Springs Hospital. I really cannot trust a lot of what the member for Greatorex says. Tonight, I will have a bit more to say about some documents that were tabled in the last sittings of parliament by the member for Greatorex …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … and the assertions that you made around those documents, member for Greatorex. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Alice Springs – Finke Drag Strip
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Alice Springs is a great place to live and we love our motor sports here in the Alice. Can the minister please update the House on the new drag strip?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with great pleasure I would like to tell you about the activities of CADRA, the Central Australian Drag Racing Association. In 2005, CADRA found out that it could not use the light aircraft runway any more at the Alice Springs Airport and they came to our government for assistance. They wanted to construct a one-eighth mile drag race strip at the Finke desert facility.
We were very happy to help and we provided an $800 000 grant. We also discovered there were some environmental problems, because the new facility will be on top of the Roe Creek bore field that provides water for Alice Springs. I had further discussions with CADRA last week, and I was pleased to provide an extra $250 000 grant to construct the necessary infrastructure to protect the water table.
When I met with them to provide the extra funds, I got a great surprise, because the members of CADRA were not whingeing about things not happening in their town. They told me $800 000 would deliver to them a one-eighth mile drag race strip - their own work, on their own initiative; they redesigned it. You are now going to have in Alice Springs a quarter-mile drag race strip of national standards. That will mean not only can they have their races in Alice Springs, but people from around Australia and all over the world will come here to have national and international meetings and to enjoy themselves. It will bring more tourists and money to Alice Springs.
I congratulate them for that. On top of that, they told me that if they need any more money, they are not going to be begging for money from the government; they are going to raise it themselves. Once again, I congratulate them. This is good news for Alice Springs. Member for Greatorex, I hope you are not going to whinge about it.
Dr Lim: In fact, minister, I gave them money myself.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of students from Year 5 at Gillen Primary School with their teachers Fran Barlow-Fan and Lisa Wallace. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Alice Springs Town Camps – Federal Funding
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HOUSING
Yesterday, you described the federal government offer to spend $80m on the town camps in Alice Springs as ‘ransom money’ because the federal government wants to take control of the subleases over those town camps. Just before lunch today, the Chief Minister said on radio that she is aware that the federal minister wants the subleases and negotiations are continuing. Why is your government continuing to negotiate over what you consider to be ‘ransom money’? Do you not think that your comments threaten the expenditure of an enormous amount of money into this local community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. I want to make it very clear that I do not like being verballed in the context of your claim that I described it as ‘ransom money’. Under no circumstances did I say that. It is very critical and important that you, as a responsible member of this House, at the very least, be in a position to be accurate in the context of your question.
The very simple answer to the member for Greatorex is this: over a very long period of time, effectively from December of last year, there have been discussions arising out of the Town Camp Task Force, of which the Commonwealth government has been a member along with the NT government, Lhere Artepe, Tangentyere Council and the Alice Springs Town Council. That arose out of the fact that there were immense concerns in respect of what was happening in the town camps. Most people would be aware of the media coverage of the issues that have arisen over time in regard to the overcrowding, the lack of real infrastructure, the lack of housing and, more importantly, the impact that that was having on Alice Springs as a community.
Since then, the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments, and all the other agencies that I referred to, have worked together in a very constructive manner in trying to come to grips with the many issues that we face in this community. I am pleased to say that the Commonwealth government has come up with an offer of around $80m in respect to a whole range of programs on the town camps. We have also allocated some money, particularly in respect to the housing site. The expectation is that those dollars are going to be here; they are going to remain in this town.
Let us be honest about this; the issue which gave rise to some of the concerns was probably as a result of a statement by the federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs about two weeks ago, where he effectively said that the special purpose leases would have to be relinquished to the Northern Territory government. That is the issue that has, basically, brought about some of the concerns.
Since that point in time, Tangentyere Council has been negotiating with the Commonwealth government regarding a position which, effectively, does not require them to transfer their special purpose leases. I am pleased to say that, over the weekend, minister Brough effectively said: ‘That is fine, you do not have to relinquish those leases’. However, he did insist upon a 99-year lease. At the meeting that occurred in the mall yesterday, the motion in question was around that. Negotiations are continuing with the Commonwealth government in regard to the $80m.
I hope that politics does not come into this issue, because it is too big an issue for this town. It is very important that we get this right and that we act in a mature and professional way. There is a lot of political hullabaloo that goes on in a lot of cases. I would like to think, on this occasion, that we can rise above that and can actually do something very constructive for the people who live in the town camps, an important component of this community and, more importantly, improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in Alice Springs.
Police Initiatives Against Illegal Drugs in Remote Communities
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can you update the House on achievements of the Northern Territory Police in stemming the flow of illegal drugs into remote communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. I know she takes a very active interest in this issue and the way that it affects her electorate. Nearly three years ago, our Police Commissioner established the Remote Community Drug Desk. This unit is staffed by eight police officers, including an intelligence officer, and is dedicated to targeting those people involved in the distribution of illicit drugs to remote communities in the Northern Territory. These drug dealers are peddling in misery. Anyone who has spent time in remote communities will be aware of the devastating social impact that these drugs are having, with large amounts of money spent, and also the way in which these drugs destroy the social fabric of these communities in so many ways.
We are determined to attack this problem. In the first three months of this year, the Remote Community Drug Desk has conducted three remote community drug interdiction operations. As a result of that, I can report that 32 people have been arrested for drug offences, including possession and supply of dangerous drugs; 12 people have been summonsed for drug offences; eight drug infringement notices have been issued; and 94 formal charges have been laid. In total, in just three months, the Remote Community Drug Desk has seized nearly 30 kg of cannabis. I am informed by police that, if sold on remote communities where prices are very inflated, this could be worth approximately $3m.
The success of the remote community drug strategy in intercepting this quantity of narcotics, and locating those responsible for the supply of drugs, has been achieved through fine police work. I commend the officers on the Remote Community Drug Desk and the Drug Detector Dog Unit. I also acknowledge the Commonwealth’s role in their support of the Drug Detector Dog Unit.
Madam Speaker, the Top End is served by two drug detector dogs, Scent and Monty, and in Alice Springs it is Misty and Nugget who do the job for the police. They are very effective in sniffing out these drugs. A whole variety of strategies are used by some of these drug smugglers, including hiding it within television sets, inside concrete statues, and in coffee containers and a whole range of things. However, we will continue the fight against drugs, not only in our remote areas but also in our urban centres. I commend the police for their work in Central Australia.
Alice Springs Hospital – Chaplain
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for HEALTH
As you know, the patients and staff of the Alice Springs Hospital have enjoyed the services of a dedicated chaplain for many years. The current chaplain is on 24-hour call and takes his responsibilities for the welfare of his patients seriously. It is my understanding that the general manager of the hospital now intends taking over control of the chaplain’s position. I believe she intends to make it a public service position at AO3 level, three days a week. I do not know of any other hospital where a chaplain has been made a public servant. It concerns the Ministers’ Fraternal greatly that this may cause conflicts of interest for that chaplain. Will you stop this change? Will you support the Ministers’ Fraternal in making sure that chaplain’s position is independent? Will you ensure that you support the chaplain on his terms and conditions of his work?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very good question raised by the member for Braitling. It is an issue that we have spoken about in the past. I have also had conversations with the chaplain, not about this particular issue – well, touching on this particular issue - once when he was in Darwin recently for the last sittings, and also subsequent to that. I agree with the member for Braitling; I believe the chaplain does a fantastic job and we want that job to continue.
In relation to the issue that the member for Braitling has raised, it is my information that the way it works currently is that the Health Department funds Anglicare, who then fund the chaplain. My advice, member for Braitling, has been that Anglicare no longer wishes to be a conduit for that money. That has presented a problem of who is going to handle that money. That is the way that it has been put to me by the department.
I understand that there are negotiations ongoing on this issue. I certainly take what you have said to heart. I point out, however, it is my understanding that the chaplains at Royal Darwin Hospital are directly funded and employed by the Health department or the hospital. That is my understanding, at least. However, I note your concerns, member for Braitling. I give a commitment to endeavour to ensure that the fine quality of chaplaincy service within Alice Springs Hospital continues. Like you, I commend the chaplains; they do very important work in pastoral care, supporting those who are in grief, and those who might be having a lot of stress in their lives. It is a very important essential service for our hospitals.
What I undertake to do, member for Braitling, is take your concerns and keep a close watch over this issue. I certainly, in no way, want to see our fine chaplain penalised in any way or the service compromised.
National Youth Week – Achievements of Territory Youth
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for YOUNG TERRITORIANS
This week is National Youth Week, and we must all remember that our youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Could you please tell the House how the achievements of our Territory youth have been recognised, and especially the good news about a fantastic young man who lives in Port Darwin.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very timely question, looking at the young ones in the gallery that have been coming through all week. It has certainly been pleasing as, Minister for Young Territorians, to see that. I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question, because I know she is a very proud member.
Aaron Watson, who leads by example with all the work that he does, took out the 2007 Young Territorian Award. On Saturday, 14 April, we saw the Young Achiever Awards in Darwin.
For Alice Springs, out of the eight categories, we saw four of those being won by Central Australian young people. The first one, which is fantastic for Alice Springs, was David Johnston who won the Power and Water Science and Engineering Award. David is the youngest member ever to be selected as a member of the Australian Physics Olympiad team, which competed in Shanghai and won silver. David has been involved in many competitions and has been successful in the construction of a solar tricycle.
The second winner was Janna Auricht, who won the McArthur River Mining Regional and Rural Initiative Award. Janna’s many roles in Alice Springs include an adventure therapist for young people at Deadly Bush Mob, a guidance counsellor, senior peace and security officer, and a cultural ecological tour guide. Janna is now enrolled in nursing and hopes to bring these skills back to the region.
The third winner was Sashika Richards, who won the ConocoPhillips Environment Award. Sashika was awarded the Year 11 Dux at St Philip’s College last year. She also received the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Year 11 (Stage 1) Best Chemistry Student for 2006 Award. Sashika has a strong aptitude in science and a passion for the environment.
The fourth winner, who took out the Minister for Young Territorians Excellence in Youth Leadership Award, was Janella Ebatarinja. Janella has been with the Yarrenyty-Arltere Learning Centre since its inception six years ago. For the past two years, Janella has been the president of the committee and works closely with the YALC coordinator and staff.
I take this opportunity - and the members for Araluen and Greatorex should be applauding - to congratulate these finalists and the winners. I also place on record my congratulations to all the finalists. Every year, we see more and more talent emerging from our young people, which is good to see.
Madam Speaker, these awards would not be possible without the many sponsors. From Alice Springs, these were the Centralian Advocate and Imparja. Thank you for continuing to support the Young Achiever Awards.
Alice Springs Town Camps – Federal Funding
Dr LIM to CHIEF MINISTER
Let me read this article to you, printed in today’s NT News. It reads:
- At a rally of 300 people yesterday, NT Minister for Central Australia Elliot McAdam said Canberra’s demand that leases be signed away within a month or $50m town camp funding will be withheld was a ‘ransom demand’.
The amount of $80m into this small community of Alice Springs will mean a difference between businesses succeeding and failing. For the sake of the future of Alice Springs, will you now commit to securing the $80m on offer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. However, the issue is predominantly between Tangentyere Council and your federal colleague, the minister for Indigenous Affairs in Canberra, Mal Brough. I have been on the record time and time again applauding the dollars allocated by the federal government for town camps in Alice Springs. We have had different allocation numbers. There was initially $30m. Mal Brough recommitted $10m from a Connecting Neighbours program that had been committed two years previously. That is fine. Then there was another $10m that came from the Aboriginal Benefits Account, and that is fine too. We committed $10m as well.
I certainly congratulate the minister for having committed another $50m, which is terrific and timely. What this government and the community of Alice Springs wants to see is that money spent moving town camps from the situation they are in now to being parts of suburban Alice Springs - to having good housing, street lights, curbs, guttering and roads and good safety. That is what we want to see in Alice Springs.
I do not believe that you understand what the issue at hand is. The issue at hand is the nature of subleases. Unfortunately, the federal minister started off by saying that the lease holders of the town camp had to hand their land across to freehold. That has enormous difficulties and we are not going to touch it. What we are talking about now …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: You asked the question, let me explain where we are. We are talking about subleases, about length of subleases, and we are having productive conversations. However, I would say that it is difficult when you are dealing with a federal minister who changes his position week by week. We want an outcome. I want to see that money spent. The Minister for Central Australia and the Minister for Housing want to see that money spent. Every single member of this House wants to see that money spent. What you are trying to do is play politics over it. That truly is pathetic.
Alice Springs – Residential Land Release
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Can you please update the Assembly on progress to release more residential land in Alice Springs?
Mrs Braham: What price?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. I hear the member for Braitling say: ‘What price?’ Member for Braitling, Alice Springs is not landlocked like it was under the CLP. We will negotiate with the native title holders of Alice Springs to free up land release, to improve development and provide the residential blocks that are needed for the growth of Alice Springs.
Yes, there is further good news. Following on from the success of the Larapinta development and Stirling Heights, which is a beautiful development, the next proposed land release in Alice Springs is planned for Mt John Valley. This land, as we know, is subject to native title and we have already seen substantial negotiations between the Northern Territory government and the native title holders, the Lhere Artepe, towards the release of this land. Negotiations are proceeding on the first stage of the Mt John Valley development, which will see the release of about 70 blocks of land.
I am pleased to advise that I recently received a letter from the current working executive of Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation advising me that it has agreed to release land at Mt John Valley. I welcome this new and have invited the Lhere Artepe to continue negotiations with the government towards an indigenous land use agreement.
The native title holders have also agreed to construction of the headworks for the first stage of this development. Tenders for this construction are expected to be called in the coming months, with a financial commitment from the Territory government of $1.3m to build the headworks. This is an exciting new development for both the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation and the broader community of Alice Springs. It will provide for increased employment, opportunities for the people of Alice Springs and will provide for 70 additional blocks.
Alice Springs Sittings – Attendance by Public
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
In the last three days, people have stayed away from your government functions in droves ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms CARNEY: Oh, yes, they have. There have been three - you catered for 350 on day one. How many were there? Seventy? You were lucky! People have stayed away from your functions in droves. There have been three protests at the front of Parliament House, including one where you where booed and heckled. Your government has been found wanting in fundamental areas such as a simple thing like providing a reliable telephonic communications system at our local police station. Do you consider this week to be a success for your government? If so, what is your definition of failure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe there is actually a standing order that says it is not appropriate to ask a question where you seek an opinion. That is exactly what the Opposition Leader, has asked for. I am not going to give an opinion on that, that is for the people of Alice Springs ...
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I say to the wonderful people of Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members! Opposition members, cease interjecting!
Ms MARTIN: I say to the community of Alice Springs, it has been a delightful week. It has been a week where we have tackled some important issues for Alice Springs. We have talked about the difficult things that are happening in Alice Springs and what is being done to tackle them. We have also talked about the real positives of Alice Springs: how tourism numbers are growing, there is great investment in the economy and a real buoyancy in the business community. We have talked about a lot of the initiatives taking place that will see great longer-term benefits.
I am delighted. I did not like being booed, and I respect the right of Alice Springs people to do so. I am sure if they want to do it to me again, they will do it again, because that is the kind of people Alice Springs people are – they say what they think. Terrific. I believe we have had a focus on important issues for Alice, and for government that is very important. We have seen some good results from that, which is terrific.
However, what we have also exposed this week is that the members who live here, who say that they have a voice for Alice Springs, do very little. They do not make constructive suggestions about the future of Alice Springs. The Opposition Leader has not contacted me once in over a year about issues to do with Alice Springs – has not asked for one briefing about our alcohol strategy, about what is happening in town camps, and …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … through all that, she has never celebrated the wonderful growth in tourism. We have been talking about the budget which we bring down next month, and there is great news for Alice in it, but not one suggestion coming to us for Alice Springs, either from the Opposition Leader or the member for Greatorex – not one.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Ms MARTIN: The member for Daly wrote to me, the member for Port Darwin, the member for Macdonnell, the member for Brennan - they all wrote. The member for Nelson wrote to me.
Members interjecting.
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, please pause.
Ms MARTIN: Nothing from the members for Alice Springs ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order?
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister knows full well that I wrote a letter to her just one week ago, from which I received …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr LIM: I am going to demonstrate by saying that, at least in one instance, I wrote to the Chief Minister, and her office sent me an acknowledgement that she received a letter. However, I have yet to receive a response . For the Chief Minister to get up here and say that I have not written to her is a lie.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex well knows he cannot accuse any member of this House of misleading the House unless he does so by way of substantive motion. That is point of order No 1. Point of order No 2 is that he has accused the Chief Minister of lying. Again, he cannot do that unless he does so by way of substantive motion. I ask him to withdraw both remarks.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition.
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, may I speak to the point of order?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, very briefly you may.
Dr LIM: Yes, I did write a letter. I wrote a letter to the Minister for Housing, and I copied the letter to the Chief Minister. I …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr LIM: And I copied the letter to the Minister …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, would you please resume your seat.
A member interjecting.
Dr Lim: There you go. See what he just said?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex! There are two points of order before the Chair. The first is from the Leader of Government Business, and the second is from the member for Greatorex.
Member for Greatorex, in relation to the comments that you have made, the Leader of Government Business’s point of order is correct, in fact, and I ask you to withdraw. I also make the point that if you wish to make a personal explanation after Question Time you may approach me to do so.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Yesterday, I used an offensive word in this Chamber. The word was ‘grub’, which I withdrew. I ask the honourable member who used the word ‘goose’ to also withdraw the word ‘goose’.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please withdraw.
Mr STIRLING: I am happy to withdraw if the member finds it offensive, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Deputy Chief Minister. Chief Minister, you may continue.
Ms MARTIN: Oh, Madam Speaker!
Indigenous Land Use Agreement - Expansion of Horticultural Industry
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
I recently attended the signing of a significant indigenous land use agreement for major expansion of the horticultural industry in Central Australia. What will this mean for Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. Horticulture is important to the Territory. It is spread over vast areas of the Northern Territory and is worth over $100m to the Territory. Horticulture is growing quite steadily in Central Australia, where they grow early season table grapes, melons, hydroponic lettuce, and there are several properties trying a range of other crops, testing the viability and suitability for this region.
However, industry says there is a lack of suitable land, and that is a major constraint. I am pleased to say I had the opportunity, with the member for Stuart, to witness a signing of the indigenous land use agreement at the Pine Hill Station last month. This means more land for horticulture. I acknowledge the Anmatjere Community Government Council and the TLOs, Mr Lindsay Bird, Mr Harold Paine, Dorothy and Bunny Ampetyane and Archie Glenn, who were the traditional owners at the signing. I also acknowledge Mr Lindsay Bookie, who is the Chairman of CLC who also had his signature on the agreement.
Three blocks totalling almost 300 ha have been released for horticulture at Pine Hill Station. They will be developed for irrigated horticulture. Expressions of interest have been called for two of the blocks, and the third block has been assigned to native title holders to develop for horticulture.
The department, Red Centre Farm and the Anmatjere Community Government Council are providing training to local indigenous people to work on these blocks. This will reduce reliance on interstate labour when it comes to pruning and harvesting times. This is leading to more jobs in our region and is going to grow our horticulture industry.
Madam Speaker, we are moving the Territory ahead, and we are creating real jobs for Central Australians.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016