2008-02-12
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Members for Arafura and Stuart
Members for Arafura and Stuart
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that leave of absence be granted for two sitting days for the members for Arafura and Stuart. They are attending federal parliament at the invitation of the Prime Minister.
The Chief Minister will take questions on Indigenous Affairs; and Employment, Education and Training. I will take questions on Family and Community Services; Women’s Policy; and Arts and Museums.
Motion agreed to.
Leadership Inexperience – Division in Cabinet
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In your efforts to divide and conquer the community, you have managed to divide your own Cabinet. The first hurdle of your leadership has been brought into question by those closest to you. If those closest to you do not have faith in your leadership, why should Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Gong Xi Fa Cai to the Leader of the Opposition. This government is embarking on the most needed reform agenda the Territory has seen. That reform agenda is to ensure that, right across the Northern Territory, we achieve what we have always wanted to achieve in reforming local government, which is to improve services throughout the bush, the capacity to deliver up to $1bn of infrastructure in our remote communities through a massive expansion of housing and other related infrastructure in the bush, and also to ensure an equality of service delivery to Territorians wherever they live. More importantly, it is to have the capacity to access Commonwealth funding that the Territory, because of its unincorporated nature, has never been able to access before.
The reform agenda moves on. However, Cabinet and I have listened to the views of Territorians in regard to the Litchfield Shire. I have also listened very strongly to representation from two local members on this side of the House who have faithfully represented their constituents in the views of people in the Top End Shire and in Litchfield who did not want to be part of this reform agenda at this point in time. When I became Chief Minister, I said that I would listen to Territorians. On this issue, the policy intent of the government will move forward and we will achieve those reforms that are desperately needed in our regional and remote communities.
We have also listened to Territorians in their thousands in the Top End Shire who have said: ‘At this point in time we do not want to move down this path’. People in the Top End Shire have spoken, we have listened, and Cabinet agreed with me yesterday that we would progress the reforms but not include the Top End Shire at this point in time.
My colleague and very good friend, Elliot McAdam - who has had carriage of this reform agenda from day one, has done an enormous job and served the people of the Northern Territory tremendously well in taking the reforms to this point - could not support that position, and I respect that. Everybody who knows Elliot McAdam knows that he is a man of honesty, integrity and who is totally principled to himself. It is a sign of tremendous integrity that Elliot McAdam determined that, in not being able to support that decision, he could not see through the reform agenda. We spoke about it at length over the last couple of days and mutually agreed that the best way forward in the carriage of this reform and the agenda into the future was for a new pair of hands to take it forward.
Madam Speaker, this government is united. We have all totally united and got behind the local government reform agenda. It will continue. Elliot and I are absolutely totally committed to delivering on this agenda that is much needed right throughout the Northern Territory. We have listened to the people of the Top End Shire and are united as we move forward.
President Jose Ramos-Horta – Update
Mr KNIGHT to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please inform the Legislative Assembly about the current condition of East Timor’s President, Jose Ramos-Horta following the recent tragic events that occurred in East Timor?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question because, along with all members of this House, I was devastated to hear that President Ramos-Horta had been gunned down yesterday. I believe all of us in the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin-based members, have a great affinity with the people of East Timor and a great admiration for President Ramos-Horta and the dignity that he has displayed over many years campaigning for independence in East Timor - which was something our Labor Party in the Northern Territory always held as part of its platform.
It was a sad day yesterday for a great man who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Bishop Belo in 1996, and a tragedy that a man who has campaigned for peace has been brought down by gunfire. Today is also a day of great sadness for many hundreds of our community who are Timorese or Timorese/Chinese who are really grieving at this time. I can give the House an update of what occurred yesterday and the current status of the President.
At approximately 7 am on 11 February, East Timor time, an attempt was made on the life of the President of East Timor, Mr Jose Ramos-Horta. In the attack, the leader of an East Timor rebel group, Major Alfredo Reinado and one other person was killed. The attack was unsuccessful, but the President received serious gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest. Sixty to 90 minutes after this attack, the Prime Minister of East Timor, Mr Xanana Gusmao, was also attacked. This attack was unsuccessful.
President Ramos-Horta was taken to the Aspen Hospital and underwent emergency surgery to stabilise him before being evacuated to Darwin Hospital by a Pel-Air medical evacuation flight that arrived at approximately 5 pm last night. A large media contingent was at the airport and the hospital, and NT Police provided, and continues to provide, both crowd control and protective security for the President.
Dr Len Notaras, Royal Darwin Hospital’s General Manager, reports that the President’s injuries are extremely serious. The President is currently in an induced coma and is likely to be in this state for several days. Nevertheless, Dr Notaras expects that he will, in time, make a full recovery.
Reports from East Timor are that things are tense but, essentially, quiet as the populous digests the importance of the incident. Obviously, there is increased police and military presence on the streets. There has been no move by opposition Fretilin politicians and supporters to extract any advantage from the current situation.
The Commonwealth is sending extra security personnel to East Timor. Between 120 and 150 ADF personnel will arrive in Darwin this evening before deploying, and 75 Australian Federal Police personnel are expected to deploy to East Timor this afternoon. There is an upgraded Commonwealth travel advisory for East Timor warning that people should reconsider their travel plans to the country.
Prime Minister Rudd has stated an intention to travel to East Timor later this week as a show of solidarity. The East Timorese foreign minister, Mr Zacarias De Costa, arrived in Darwin last night and is staying locally.
The Northern Territory government is working in close partnership with the Commonwealth government to provide all necessary assistance to East Timor. The Territory’s relationship with East Timor is an important one, and this government continues to strengthen its political, cultural and business links with East Timor. These links are enhanced by a strong, local East Timorese community in Darwin and elsewhere in the Territory.
The Territory government, through the Department of the Chief Minister, has a representative office based in Dili which actively works to promote these links. The Territory stands by its friends in times of need. I will be meeting with the federal Foreign Affairs minister later this afternoon, Stephen Smith, and I will be offering our government’s full support. Anything we can do, we will do. We wish President Ramos-Horta a very speedy and complete recovery.
Members: Hear, hear!
Local Government Reform - Plebiscite
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
I do not buy the ‘roses and light’ version of the change of arrangements within your Cabinet, just in the same way as I do not buy the scenario painted with regard to the change of leadership. You claim you preside over a unified Cabinet. In fact, you preside over a fractured Caucus. Members, I remind you, that have voted against government …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Is this a question or a statement from the Leader of the Opposition?
Mr Conlan: No, it is a question.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, if you …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr MILLS: The answer to that question is that it is a question …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, if you could continue, but come to the point fairly quickly. Thank you.
Mr MILLS: Certainly. Chief Minister, you preside over a fractured Caucus. Members have voted against government. Ministers have resigned and abstained from taking critical votes on mining issues. Other backbenchers have publicly criticised the government’s stance on the intervention. You are clearly engaged in policy on the run. How can you possibly assure Territorians that anything they see or read about local government reform is not going to be changed next week, when your policy position constantly changes? Why do you not take this opportunity to agree with your own Prime Minister and have a Territory-wide plebiscite?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his rambling stream of consciousness there. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to look in the mirror and reflect upon the division within his own side. I will leave it at that for this particular point in time.
There is nothing more certain than that this government - all 19 members of it - is totally behind the reform agenda for local government in the Northern Territory - 110% behind the reform agenda that will see, outside of the Top End Shire, the entire Northern Territory incorporated in those shires with the capacity to deliver infrastructure, services, quality of services and access to Commonwealth funding. We are all totally behind that.
We have been the government that has had the courage to take this reform agenda on. Elliot McAdam was the minister who put this plan together. No other government in the history of the Northern Territory - and the previous governments under 27 years of CLP rule, knew that local government reform was needed but they did not have the political courage to deliver on it. We will.
With any significant reform agenda there will be diverse views. There is never going to be unanimity of views across the Territory. However, everybody does agree that these reforms are vitally needed in the best interest of the Territory moving to the future, and are absolutely required to improve infrastructure, service delivery and financial arrangements with the Commonwealth.
The point of difference was around whether the Top End Shire should be part of those reforms or not. I explained at the outset in our first Question Time. The previous minister, my colleague, Mr McAdam, said very eloquently and precisely at the media conference today, that this reform agenda was never about the Top End Shire; it was about the Northern Territory and the bush, and the capacity to deliver better local government services in the bush. That reform agenda moves ahead. All 19 members of this government are absolutely united behind that agenda and we will be introducing the bill into the House next week.
NT Partnership with
Commonwealth Government
Commonwealth Government
Ms McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you please inform the House if our new partnership with Prime Minister Rudd and the Commonwealth government is already delivering results?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. There has been, obviously, a sea change in the national political arena and a real opportunity, as I said in Question Time in November, for the Northern Territory to seize an opportunity of a new partnership with the Commonwealth government. That partnership is already delivering results.
I met with the Prime Minister in Darwin last year and also at COAG. We are totally committed to working in partnership with the Commonwealth government to deliver, not only the election commitments that the Commonwealth government made to the Northern Territory but, ongoing, a reform agenda that is vitally needed across Australia to end that blame game between the states, the territories and the Commonwealth in delivering infrastructure and services.
It has been good news for Territorians. Discussions so far have covered a range of issues including the economic development of northern Australia, gas and resource developments; education initiatives; and rolling out the federal government election commitments,, especially the new arrangements in health.
The COAG meeting that occurred just before Christmas in Melbourne has already delivered results. There has been funding to cut elective surgery waiting times, building on the 31% cut in elective surgery times that we have already delivered - and I know the Minister for Health has had his shoulder to the wheel on that - a commitment to close the gap on indigenous disadvantage, doubling the funding for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, particularly in remote areas, and acceleration of the National Secondary School Computer Fund, which will directly benefit around 10 000 Territory students.
We are active in all of the working groups. The Prime Minister has said that COAG will be the engine room and the powerhouse of the nation as these reforms are delivered.
It is already paying off for the Northern Territory. My commitment is to work in partnership. It is a great relief for ministers on this side of the House to be able to call federal ministers in Canberra and actually have those ministers answer the phone and want to work with the Northern Territory - not work against the Northern Territory as happened under previous governments. It will deliver results for Territorians. I congratulate the Commonwealth government in its new cooperative role in working with the Territory government.
Local Government Reform - Policy
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You are temporarily the Minister for Local Government until you can figure out who is the next Minister for Local Government. As your local government reform policy is now in tatters and your House is divided against itself, how can we possibly expect anything better from the next minister when the policy itself is being constantly undermined by you and your advisor?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am unaware at the moment regarding the opposition benches as to who the shadow minister for local government reform is. We actually have not seen the current arrangement.
This reform agenda will power on. It will power on because it is vitally needed in the Northern Territory. From my colleagues on this side of the House who represent regional and remote communities, I understand the support out there is overwhelming across the Northern Territory, apart from people who were proposed to be in the Top End Shire.
The agenda moves on. The legislation will be introduced next week. The business plans have been out for public comment and transitional committees are in place, and it will move on. We have a policy agenda and a vision to benefit Territorians, particularly those people in regional and remote areas who will, as a result of these reforms, receive up to $1bn of additional infrastructure into the bush for better services, more equitable delivery of services throughout the bush, the capacity to attract additional Commonwealth dollars that we were never able to attract before. What we have is a policy agenda and a vision.
What do we have on the opposite side of the Chamber? A policy vacuum - not one creative idea amongst the lot of them about how to move this Territory ahead in the vital area of local government reform. What we have on that side of the House is 27 years of failure in regard to the most vital reform that the Northern Territory needs to improve service delivery and infrastructure in the bush. We will deliver on that. The legislation will be introduced next week.
Repeat Youth Offenders
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please inform the House of recent measures to tackle repeat youth offenders?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. It is a very important question which is concerning all Territorians; that is, youth-related crime, and violence and antisocial behaviour across the Northern Territory perpetrated by a small group of kids who are out of control. This community and this government is saying, very loudly, very clearly, that enough is enough in regard to this small group of kids who do not respect the law, the community, or their parents, and thumb their noses at society and cause, disproportionately, a lot of grief around the Northern Territory.
Yesterday, I announced a comprehensive plan to tackle youth crime and antisocial behaviour. It is not a silver bullet approach, but a comprehensive plan that we need to work on not only those youths who are committing rates of crime that should not and will not be tolerated in the Northern Territory, but also attacking those groups of kids around the fringes of the hard core and trying to turn them away from a life of crime and antisocial behaviour.
A couple of weeks ago, we announced that legislation will be introduced into the House in these sittings that will close the revolving door on juvenile diversion. When I asked the Attorney-General to look at this particular issue, I was surprised that some of these repeat offenders had been through juvenile diversion eight to 10 times. They are treating it as a joke, and that revolving door will close. They will get two attempts at juvenile diversion. If they continue to break the law or breach their bail conditions after two attempts of juvenile diversion, they will face and have to answer to the courts for their behaviour as opposed to going through a never-ending cycle of diversion.
Very importantly also, the community is saying very strongly: ‘What about the parents of these kids?’ Again, there is a small group of parents who appear not to give a damn about what their kids are up to, the activities they are engaged in, the fact that they are not at school or that they are not at home at night. I know that parenting is the toughest job that you do in life. There is no textbook on it;, there is no guaranteed approach to parenthood. It is the toughest job you do in life, and the vast majority of us do it to the very best of our ability - and we make mistakes. Kids go off the rails and you do everything you can to try to get them back on track.
However, there is a small minority who really do not give a damn about what their kids are up to. We will introduce legislation to make parents more accountable in defined circumstances with parental responsibility agreements and, where those agreements do not work, the capacity for agencies or the police to get an order from the court requiring parents to take measures to take better control of their kids. We, as a society, are not wearing the cost of their antisocial and criminal behaviour.
I also announced yesterday, on the back of our commitment for a youth camp in Central Australia at Hamilton Downs, which I announced just before Christmas in Alice Springs, that we would be providing immediate funding for two Top End youth camps at the Balunu Foundation at Talc Head and the Brahminy Foundation near Batchelor, which we believe will be able to accommodate 50 juveniles who are really at the hard core of this antisocial behaviour and give them some tough love in getting them to turn their lives around. From the briefings and reports that I have seen, those two foundations are actually having significant success.
The community has had enough, this government has had enough, the reform agenda is in place, and these juveniles who are thumbing their noses at society are on notice: your world is about to change. Unless you shape up and clean up your act, you are now facing very significant consequences.
Local Government Reform - Top End Shire
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Today you made a decision to remove the so-called Top End Shire from the present local government reform process, and I thank you for that. I also thank the people from the rural area who helped achieve that change. I let them know that there is a thank-you rally on tomorrow night at 6.30 pm, come rain or shine.
It was clearly spelt out at the public meetings at Girraween Primary School and Cox Peninsula last week that people support a reform, but only one in which the community had a real say. It did not say that they would not support reform. I also said I do not oppose reform. I oppose the method the government was using to achieve that reform.
However, you said in your press release today that the Top End Shire is off the agenda. Do you mean you will not revisit reform in this area? Do you mean the existing status of councils in unincorporated areas will stay as they are? Will you look at a new reform process that will take its time, involve the community and come up with a result that would be beneficial to all - a process that I will be happy to work with the government to achieve?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question, and acknowledge that he is passionate about local government in the Northern Territory. The government did listen, not only to the direct representation to me as Chief Minister and to other ministers, but the very direct representation from the members for Goyder and Daly regarding what their constituents were saying …
Mr Mills: They were fearing for their political lives.
The door is open if, at a point in the future, those local councils in the proposed Top End Shire want to move towards amalgamation or the creation of another shire. This government will listen to them. However, we are not going to force this agenda on people in the proposed Top End Shire, but the door is open if people want to move down that path in a period of time. I believe it will happen as these reforms move out and people can see the benefits of the new arrangement.
Leadership Inexperience – Division in Cabinet
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You have now lost a huge slice of corporate knowledge from your government with the departure of the former Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and now a senior Cabinet member as a direct result of your actions. Your leadership inexperience is clear for all to see and your arrogance is costing you Cabinet ministers. How can Territorians be sure that your mishandling of issues like crime will not lead to further division and resignations from your Cabinet?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in the spirit of magnanimity for the first Question Time of the year, I believe the Leader of the Opposition is leading with his chin when he talks about division and the lack of corporate knowledge. In full form, I suppose I could talk about the amount of corporate knowledge that is sitting on the opposition benches, but I will not.
What I will talk about is that this is a team of enormous enthusiasm on this side of the House. We have a full policy agenda ahead of improving health, improving education, rolling out local government reform, better relationships with the Commonwealth government, and reducing crime and antisocial behaviour in the Northern Territory, which we are all committed to. There is great talent and corporate knowledge on this side of the House in moving that agenda forward. I ask the Leader of the Opposition, again, to look in the mirror and reflect on the corporate knowledge on his side of the House, and the lack of any policies from the other side of the House to move this Territory forward.
Tiger Brennan Drive - Extension
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
As I drove in this morning, I was part of a long line of cars along the back road from Palmerston into town, and there was a similar long line of cars along the Stuart Highway. Could you update the House on the progress of the Tiger Brennan Drive extension?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. It certainly is a refreshing new partnership between the Commonwealth and Territory governments since we have welcomed Prime Minister Rudd to the helm in Canberra. Gone is the blame game and we are able to get on with the job of delivering real projects and opportunities in infrastructure investment into the Territory.
The government has a $6.5m contract that has been awarded to McMahon, a fantastic local Territory construction firm. They will commence work in April. We will see a duplication of the turn-in from Wishart Road, where we have those horrendous bottle-necks in the morning peak hours that are affecting the rural residents as well as Palmerston residents. We will be duplicating down Berrimah Road. There will be dual turning lanes into Tiger Brennan Drive to create a flow of traffic, at a cost of $6.5m, which is first stage of the Tiger Brennan Drive extension.
We have a $110m road project that we are delivering, and will deliver, over the next few Dry Seasons. It is extremely exciting to be in that position. T he Territory government has always committed to the funding for this important road project but we had the previous Howard government kicking around a political football, failing to sign up until they hit federal election mode on a commitment of $36m for that road. However, they were stumped, because the Rudd government were out ahead of them, announcing $74m for the delivery of the $110m project. No wonder the people of Palmerston put their faith in the Rudd federal government at the election.
We have a $110m project. We will see the development and creation of that important first stage of the flow-through traffic along Wishart/Berrimah Road into Tiger Brennan Drive, which will be great for the Darwin Port and freight industry, and certainly very important for our commuters coming in, in the mornings. We will also, importantly, see that actual extension corridor of the new Tiger Brennan Drive coming through, with an important flyover at the Stuart Highway that the federal government will fully fund as a stage of the work. We will see construction rolling out over the next few Dry Seasons, and we will be getting a very nice drive into town from the rural area, from Palmerston and into Darwin. The Territory government will be spending its own money into that project, just as we will be doing duplication and creating overtaking lanes on the existing Tiger Brennan Drive, and spending roads money freeing up congestion on the Stuart Highway.
Cabinet Representation South of Berrimah
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
With the departure of the member for Barkly from Cabinet, you now have, as I see it, no minister that resides outside of Darwin. How can Territorians who live south of Berrimah be certain that they will have any form of representation in Cabinet?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question and point out that, amongst his opposition, there is not one member that represents anybody in Darwin. On our benches, we have 19 members of parliament who represent the vast majority of people in the Northern Territory. From every region, from every part of the Northern Territory, we have representation on this side of the House. When we look to the other side of the House, there is absolutely no representation from our capital city. Therefore, regarding any discussion about representation and how representative our respective benches are of the Northern Territory, again, I ask the Leader of the Opposition to look around him.
Elective Surgery Waiting Lists
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
I understand you and the Treasurer recently met with your federal counterpart to come up with ways to reduce elective surgery waiting times. Can you update the House on the outcomes of those discussions and what it means for people waiting for elective surgery in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her important question. On 14 January, along with the Treasurer, I attended a meeting in Brisbane of Commonwealth, state and territory Treasurers and Health ministers. The main point of discussion for us as Health ministers was the offer - it was on the table, more than an offer - of $600m over four years from the federal government to reduce elective surgery waiting lists.
The first tranche of that $600m was $150m that was on the table. Out of that, the Territory received $5.3m to reduce our elective surgery waiting lists. With approximately 1% of the Australian population, that is certainly punching above our weight. There was recognition by the Commonwealth of the special needs and challenges of the Territory, and also the capacity of the Territory to actually undertake this work of reducing elective surgery waiting lists. We were allocated 500 places for that $5.3m. That is 500 additional places on top of what we normally do in elective surgery.
Once again, it is a recognition of what the Territory did when we had an elective surgery blitz in 2007 that saw a 16% reduction in the overall list but, most importantly, over a 30% reduction in those that were overdue on the waiting list. We have been kicking goals and, with the help of the Commonwealth government, we will kick further goals.
I make an observation that the ministerial council was a harmonious meeting. Basically, all sides - Commonwealth, states and territories - were able to put a point of view. There was a real sense of working together. That was in stark contrast to other ministerial councils I have attended with Tony Abbott as the Health minister. I have nothing personal against Tony Abbott, I quite like him, but he was disengaged and disinterested, and we know why from the result of the federal election in November of last year.
There is a new air of cooperation at a federal level and I certainly recognise that. Our focus now with the money that we have will be in surgical specialities such as ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology, with high demand areas also in orthopaedics and general surgery.
It is significant that the member for Macdonnell has asked this question, because what we will be doing also is focusing on elective surgery patients living in the more remote regions of the Northern Territory who have been waiting. This will need a lot more coordination of surgery for patients travelling from remote communities to the hospitals. There will be a greater call on interpreter services, liaison support and education. This is a very expensive exercise.
Part of the agreement between the states and territories and the Commonwealth is that there will be a reporting mechanism that will be transparent for all to see. This is a very important element that is moving forward. The surgery will be through the five public hospitals in the Territory, and also include Darwin Private Hospital where beds have been allocated to take these surgical patients after their operation. Significantly for Alice Springs, it will mean the opening of the third theatre, which will be utilised very heavily.
Madam Speaker, it is a new age of cooperation between federal, state and territory governments. I am keen for it to continue. There are other things on our agenda as Health ministers. We have now met three times and we have another meeting coming up at the end of this month, specifically around the new Australian Health Care Agreement. That will be a broader agreement than has occurred before. We will be looking at ways to keep supports within the community to keep people out of the hospitals and, for those who have been in hospital, support in the community so that they do not have to come back.
We are looking in a more holistic way at the health and hospital agreements. It is all possible, I believe, through having a federal government that is willing to sit down and talk but, not only that, is willing to put money on the table to achieve what we all want, which is better health for Territorians.
Senior Territorians - Photographic Identification Card
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
You have introduced a system whereby you require photo ID to purchase takeaway alcohol. Since you have started this, a number of concerned people have come to me, mainly aged pensioners who do not have photo ID, as they do not drive a car. When they go out to MVR, they find that they have to have 100 points, which they often do not have; they do not carry their birth certificate around. Then, when they do have it, they are asked for $24. It may not seem a large amount to you, but to some of our seniors it is. Would you consider waiving that fee of $24 for seniors? Would you consider getting your Minister for Senior Territorians to introduce a photo ID Seniors Card? They already have a Seniors Card, but could you put a photo on it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. As she is well aware, the photo ID system is being introduced in Alice Springs to further reduce excessive alcohol consumption amongst some sections of the population there. This will work on two levels. One is related to those who have prohibition orders or other court orders against them and, at another level, because there are restrictions on the amount of product that people can buy per day, having an electronic ID system will allow better enforcement of that.
Nonetheless, I hear what the member for Braitling has said regarding pensioners. On reflection, member for Braitling, these days you need 100 points of ID to open up a bank account, ,and you need ID to travel and, as I am told, to get a pension. There are many reasons why you need photo ID and 100 points of ID. I am also advised that MVR is issuing the proof of identity cards at below cost already. I am willing to take on board what you are saying and have a discussion with my colleague. However, I would have thought these days, for a whole range of reasons, people need, and do have, photo ID.
Cricket in the Northern Territory
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
It is with great pleasure and pride that I ask the minister for Sport his first question in parliament. For someone who is passionate about your portfolio, can you tell the House what exciting news you have for cricket fans in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder. I know he is a big lover and fan of cricket. I have some great news for Territorians. Today, I was pleased to meet with Mike Brown from Cricket Australia and Andrew Ramsay from NT Cricket. Through negotiations that we have had for some time now, we have managed to deliver a fantastic deal which will not only benefit grassroots cricket for all Territorians but also deliver international cricket matches. That new deal that has been agreed on will deliver five years of international cricket to the Territory, which is fantastic news. Local cricket will be able to use these facilities. That means a total commitment of $3.1m, with $2.1m from the Northern Territory government, which is a fantastic commitment by this government to local and international cricket. Cricket Australia will deliver $1m on top of that.
Mike Brown, head of Cricket Australia, was a fantastic individual to work with over the last few weeks and months, and he has assured me that the number one Australian cricket team, which will include Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, etcetera, will arrive on 31 August to play against Bangladesh in three One Day Internationals. There is no doubt this will happen. The reason behind this is that this will be a lead-up to one of the major global events later on in the year, and they will use this competition in Darwin as a test run.
The new five-year deal is exciting for the Top End and I cannot wait to see Marrara once again filled in anticipation of international cricket. The final part of this agreement will see $100 000 for upgrade of nets and practice pitches and facilities for international teams, plus local teams, to train and warm up. We will also see the magnificent Gardens Oval ground which, as all long-term, born and bred Territorians know, is the traditional home of sport. I look forward to seeing Ricky Ponting facing me bowling at him. The Northern Territory government has not only assured Territorians that international cricket will be played in Darwin, but the local populace will benefit from that five-year agreement.
My colleagues who have allowed me to make this announcement have reassured the local cricket fraternity that we support international cricket and grassroots cricket. There is no doubt, there are some big announcements over the next few weeks and months, if not years, as to what international cricket games will come to the Northern Territory. I believe that we are in for bigger and better things.
I thank again, on record, Andrew Ramsay from NT Cricket and Mike Brown from Cricket Australia and all the people who came together to make this happen. It is a wonderful event and I look forward to everyone supporting it in August.
Ministerial Appointments
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The promotion of the members for Sanderson and Millner was called by the NT News ‘Lethal Weapon 2’. The unkind implication was that they were swimming at the shallow end of the talent pool. Can you tell this House who you are considering for the starring role in Lethal Weapon 3?
This is the man who, in his leadership challenge, said to the former Leader of the Opposition: ‘Let us swap jobs’. The answer to that was no, and then he had to count to three. He had to get three votes to get him into the leadership and could not do that – 2:2 for the deadlock. The former Leader of the Opposition had to fall on her sword because she did not think that she would have the support from the faceless men who run the CLP . She said: ‘However, I think that I should be still the Leader of the Opposition’. This is mayhem and confusion. On top of that, it is the recycled Opposition Leader who, in February 2005, said that he was not up to the job. In February 2005, he said, when he actually led a team of people that included any number of former Cabinet ministers who did have corporate knowledge of how the Territory government worked, that he was not up to the job.
Well, this government is up to the job. We are delivering for the Northern Territory. We have a whole suite of policy initiatives that are being rolled out across the Northern Territory; the economy of the Northern Territory is surging ahead, it is a powerhouse in the nation. We have turned that around since it was on its knees when the CLP were last in power in 2001.
My Caucus colleagues will make decisions about who will be the next Cabinet minister in the next 24 hours. I am sure whoever that person is who comes into Cabinet will continue to serve the people of the Northern Territory with passion, absolute commitment and dedication, and move this Territory ahead with ideas and a vision - unlike the vacuum that sits opposite.
‘Territory Growth Leads the Nation’ Headline
Ms SACILOTTO to TREASURER
There is a headline in today’s paper that reads: ‘Territory Growth Leads the Nation’. Can you outline some of the reasons that have led to this headline?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin, because she has a very fine-tuned ear to the business community of Darwin in her electorate of Port Darwin – obviously, a critical part of the growth engine of our economy.
The Henderson government is absolutely committed to managing our economy to create opportunities for Territory families. More Territorians have jobs, our population is growing, business confidence is high and there is strength in our construction industry. A recent Moody’s Investors Services’ report described the Northern Territory economy as ‘booming’. Access Economics predicts that we will have the strongest economic and employment growth in the country for the next five years.
ANZ job advertisement figures released yesterday show there is a healthy jobs market for Territorians. The ANZ figures show there are plenty of jobs up for grabs, with significant growth seen in just the past 12 months. In the last 12 months, job advertisements increased by 13.4% in the Territory, compared to just 0.7% nationally.
With increased employment opportunities we need to ensure that we have a skilled workforce. This is why, under the government’s Jobs Plan 3, we have the nation’s highest number of people per capita in our VET courses. We are building our workforce and our local skills for our future growth. Under sound financial management of the Labor government, the Territory has experienced very strong economic growth. This Henderson government will continue to manage the economy so that the benefits flow through right across the Territory to all Territory families.
Local Government Reform –
Business Plans
Business Plans
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
The draft business plan for the proposed new shires are complex and long; there are over 150 pages. Can you please say what processes are in place that allow community members of these shires to be given a chance to understand what is in the plan and what are the implications by accepting these plans - and I am not talking about the web here? Has there been an independent person, without government interference, go out to these communities and see whether these people fully understand what is in the business plans? Would you not agree that the more complicated and bureaucratic the new councils are going to be, as reflected in these business plans, the harder it will be for local Aboriginal people to have control over their own lives?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in November, when I made the decision not to introduce the legislation in the November sittings ...
Mr Wood: Business plans, not Local Government Act.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Wood: We need the clarification.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, you have asked a question, the Chief Minister is answering it …
Mr Wood: And he is not giving me the right answer.
Madam SPEAKER: He is answering it, member for Nelson.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I will answer the member for Nelson’s question but put it in context. The reason for not moving ahead in November was that the business plans for all the shires were not ready. I believed it was the best interest in communicating and consulting with the Territory that all of those business plans be available. They were due to be placed on to the Internet just before Christmas. That occurred and there has been a period of consultation across the community.
I am not across every forum or what documents have been downloaded, but I have been assured there has been strong debate by members on this side of the House - local members who have been out advocating the reasons why we are having the local government reform, and consulting with constituents right across the Territory. We have had people within existing local government arrangements out talking to people in communities. There has been a lot of consultation. My understanding is that there has been 18 months of consultation about this reform agenda across the Northern Territory, unlike local government reform that was initiated by Jeff Kennett in Victoria that went for about six weeks.
There has been an extraordinary amount of consultation, and the advice that I have is that, on a reform agenda this large, although you are never going to get a uniformity and unanimity of views, it is very strongly supported in remote and regional parts of the Northern Territory. There has been extensive consultation at every level. I do not expect, right across the Territory, that every community member is going to sit and go through it. I, too, have been through those business plans - not all of them, but I have been through them. Yes, there is a lot of detail in there. However, the fundamental principles are very sound. They have been communicated and, like any reform agenda that is complex, the information is there for the people who want to access it.
There has been a lot of consultation and we are moving ahead, because this reform agenda is desperately needed. We have a massive job to do in improving housing. We are rolling out over $600m-worth of new housing in remote communities, with significant investment in other infrastructure in remote communities, to access additional Commonwealth funding that we cannot access at the moment because most of the Northern Territory is unincorporated. So, the reform agenda moves on. The information has been put out there. We continue to consult with Territorians and we are moving ahead.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Maternity Services
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH
Royal Darwin Hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in the country, despite the community’s small size. What progress has been made to increase Royal Darwin Hospital’s capacity and ensure it keeps pace with public demand and expectations, particularly maternity services which, I might add, are particularly utilised by families in Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his important question. This is a government that has put 85% extra funding into Royal Darwin Hospital since we came to power in 2001. As incoming Health Minister, I focus a lot of my attention very much on Royal Darwin Hospital because it is such an important institution for the health and wellbeing of people in the Darwin and Palmerston area, as well as the whole of the Top End.
There has been quite high demand. People may have read in the papers that during the month of January there were around 170 births in toto, where there is usually about 130 a month. Just in a couple of weeks, it might have even been a 10-day period, there were around 130 babies born at Royal Darwin Hospital. I am not sure what went on 10 months ago, but there has certainly been an increase in babies being born at Royal Darwin Hospital. I thank all the hospital staff, because they are very hard-working and provide a caring and professional service.
Regarding maternity services, a state-of-the-art birth centre, which I had the pleasure of opening last August, has been very popular with mothers and families. It is a very good birthing unit. There have been 26 births there since it opened and it is getting a lot of support from the community.
Another important element of what we have been doing in Royal Darwin Hospital is the Rapid Admission Unit, with 24 beds. Basically, that facilitates the admission or discharge of people who come through the Emergency Department. I have been advised that, for people who come through the Emergency Department to the Rapid Admission Unit, there has been a 50% reduction in the time that they have to wait for admission into Royal Darwin Hospital.
Another initiative that I have been involved with, and had pleasure of being part of, is the opening of the new Ward 3B, at a cost of $2.6m. That has been very important, opening up 24 extra beds. In total, the number of extra beds that have been opened at Royal Darwin Hospital, excluding the Rapid Admission Unit, must total somewhere around 70. That is a very important step.
I am also focused on the appearance of Royal Darwin Hospital. There is $900 000 being spent on an upgrade of the lifts and the lift well area. I know that Royal Darwin Hospital is an old building and there is a lot to be done, in levels of cleanliness at Royal Darwin Hospital, painting and, for people when they visit someone, the furniture and equipment. , I am focusing not only on the big things, but the little things. I want Royal Darwin Hospital to be the flagship for the new health system.
I am also concerned about the amenity for staff at Royal Darwin Hospital. I am focused on giving the staff more amenity, so there is more being done in that particular area. I want to assure this House that, as minister, I am focused on Royal Darwin Hospital. I am also focused on Alice Springs Hospital. I highlighted some of the things that are being done at Royal Darwin Hospital, things that we can be proud of, that will help Royal Darwin Hospital provide a top quality service for the people of the Northern Territory, and beyond as we have seen with the President of East Timor.
Central Australia - Cabinet Representation
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, I just say to the Minister for Health that a baby has been born in Tennant Creek Hospital in the last six weeks. I know it is very rare to be born in Tennant Creek these days. On my way up for the sittings, I called in to the hospital and a brand new baby born in Tennant Creek. I thought that was a pretty big achievement. I just wanted to share that with the House.
Chief Minister, now that there is no Cabinet minister south of Berrimah, can you assure this House and the people of Central Australia that they will be represented by someone from Central Australia when you appoint the next Minister for Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. This is a government that has had, and will continue to have, a very strong focus on Central Australia; in the infrastructure that we are building in Central Australia, the commitment to Desert Knowledge in Central Australia, the support for solar cities in Central Australia, the improvements in health and education services in Central Australia, and the improvement in roads in Central Australia. We will continue to have a focus on improving the economic opportunities and the lifestyles of people in Central Australia. That is the commitment that I make as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
Attracting Scandinavian Tourists
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for TOURISM
Attracting tourists to the Territory is an important role of this government. Can the minister advise the House on efforts to attract tourists from Sweden and the outcomes of those efforts?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Tourism is a very important industry in the Territory. Eleven thousand Territorians work in the tourism-related industry and contribute greatly to the gross state product of the Territory. We are always looking for new markets. Scandinavia is one emerging market.
In Scandinavia, the Northern Territory undertook the first integrated tourism campaign. We have partnered with Australienresor, a Scandinavian travel agency, and conducted a market campaign over January. We invested $210 000, and the results were outstanding. We had television advertising, advertorials, product reviews, photographs and write-ups in the Sunday newspaper that has a circulation in Stockholm of 880 000 people. As I said before, the results were outstanding.
Within the first 10 days of the campaign, the Australienresor travel agency had 900 phone calls and e-mail inquiries about holidays in the Northern Territory. They had a 500% increase in visitors to the travel agency. They had to employ four people to meet the demand. Not only that, but the number of people who booked holidays in the Territory is significant. The total value of these holidays is $1.2m. That is only in January.
That is a very good campaign on our behalf, because we now identify key areas. There are significant new and emerging markets, and we partner with travel agencies that can actually deliver our product and will specifically target people who want to come to the Territory and who have never seen anything about the Territory.
This is a very good example. The Australienresor Managing Director, Mr Rolf Eirik Kjeseth, said that the Northern Territory is now the agency’s No 1 destination. Tourism, as I said before, is important for the Territory. A significant number of Territorians work in the tourism industry. We will continue this type of campaign, not only targeting Scandinavia but other areas as well.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016