2002-05-16
Renal Specialist in Central Australia
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Renal patients in Central Australia have been abandoned by you and left without a renal specialist medical officer to treat them. I have received a letter from one patient who has been told the renal specialist that he had been seeing for four years is going on leave for eight months and was not being replaced. The patient was told he should either go back to his general practitioner, or make an appointment with another doctor at the hospital who has no specialist renal qualification. As the patient says in his letter:
- What do the myriad of renal patients in the Centre of Australia do for the next year? Do we rely on the general practitioners who are not specialised in this area, or do we go to Adelaide to get the treatment that we need (notice I say need and not just want)?
What are renal patients in Central Australia supposed to do? Incidentally, I wrote to you about this problem last month but have yet to receive any answers. Perhaps you could answer me, and the renal patients of Central Australia, now. I seek leave to table the letter from the patient, who has given his permission to do so.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Surprise, surprise, Madam Speaker! The renal specialist is on long service leave. Is this a terrible thing? Aren’t people allowed to have their normal conditions of employment? Perhaps in the previous government this wasn’t true.
There is actually in place a specialist and two registrars - a locum registrar at present - and from July, there is going to be another registrar there.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs AAGAARD: There has also been an expression of interest from another specialist, which is looking very promising. There is no question that GPs are being relied on in Alice Springs; there is no question at all. We have the situation in hand, and I am afraid that the people opposite, now, after 27 years, they suddenly have an interest in this. Well, that is very good, but perhaps they could have put more people in place, instead of waiting for us to have to fix that terrible situation they’ve left us with.
Review of Onshore Gas Options
Dr BURNS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, Woodside announced that the Sunrise partners would be reviewing the domestic gas case over the next three months. As they previously appeared to have been wedded to the floating option, there seems to be a surprising, but welcome, change. Can you tell this House what this means in terms of the government’s push for gas to come onshore?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a most important question from the member for Johnston. The announcement by Woodside yesterday really marks an important breakthrough in the Territory’s campaign to bring gas onshore. It’s very much a tribute to the success of Team NT, and how well Team NT has worked together. Team NT really demonstrates, when you bring Territorians, government, business together, and get Territorians widely on board, that we certainly can run a very effective campaign. As I said yesterday, an important part of that is to have the strong opposition support that we have; so thank you.
As I reported yesterday, we have been working with the whole of the Territory community, under the banner of Team NT, to convince people involved in decision making on this matter that bringing gas to shore is not only in the Territory’s interest, but also in the national interest. We have worked with the federal government to convince them of the national interest case, and to ensure that the arguments that have been put to them by Woodside and Shell, that the floating LNG option was the only option, at least should be questioned very closely and their figures tested very rigorously.
The federal government were concerned, quite rightly, that the ask from them, and it was one that Shell and Woodside made very loudly, would have been in the order of $2bn to support gas coming onshore. I think we have effectively argued that that is not the case at all, particularly when Phillips came out and said it’s commercially viable. We know that the federal government strongly supports gas to shore, and certainly the Prime Minister is a very strong supporter of getting gas onshore. We are sure that the next phase of this campaign will give them comfort that it’s not only in the national interest, but it is also nationally affordable.
We have also started working with our state colleagues to convince them that Timor Sea is an integral part of Australia’s future energy strategy, and working towards a special meeting of COAG to consider the place of Timor gas in a national energy strategy. We have also put forward the Territory’s message strongly through the national media, to bring the national interest message to the people of Australia and to try to get the Sunrise partners to align their interest with the national interest. Yesterday we saw some move towards that goal.
Now we need to prepare for the next phase, which is to ensure that the domestic gas case stands up to scrutiny. There is now a four-month window of opportunity for potential customers to come forward and declare their interests. We are not going to sit back and hope that this happens. In conjunction with other members of Team NT, we are going to proactively work with other customers to convince them that it’s now, or possibly never, and they need to make their commitments now.
In summary, yesterday’s news from Shell/Woodside, even though they believe that the floating LNG barge is the most commercially viable option, are now saying they will urgently review the domestic gas case. This is a great step forward for the Territory and one that I thank all involved in the campaign so far - but put them on notice the campaign has a long way to go.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of students from the Northern Territory Open Education Centre, accompanied by their lecturers Ms Lei Fong, Ms Fran Redmond and Mr Gerard Ross. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to our visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Breast Screening Services in Central Australia
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
In March this year you claimed in this House that it was unsatisfactory for women in the Darwin area to be denied access to breast screening services from November 2001 to March of this year. Your failure to do your job has now resulted in the women of Central Australia being denied breast screening services for 14 out of 17 weeks. The Alice Springs breast screening service remains closed today. Minister, why can’t you provide essential medical services to Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again, health on the agenda. Isn’t that a good thing?
Members interjecting.
Mrs AAGAARD: That is a very interesting question. Who is the shadow health spokesperson? Who is it? Has it actually changed?
Yes, breast screening is something which is very, very important. This is a very serious matter. I am the first to say that there have been a series of issues in relation to attracting specialist staff to the Northern Territory. The previous government left us with a pitiful situation. They did not leave us with any people to back up people in any areas. If there are people missing in areas it is because the previous government left us with no planned way of dealing with putting specialists in. We are working very carefully to attract specialists to the Northern Territory. We are not just doing what the previous government did, which was an ad hoc, band aid approach to everything that they dealt with in this portfolio.
Breast screening is a very important area and we will be making sure that it is a priority area for this portfolio.
Timor Sea Gas – Potential Domestic Customers
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
What is the government doing to identify potential domestic gas customers for Timor Sea gas from Sunrise?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again a very important question about the future of the Territory, and I thank the member for Millner for his question.
Since last August when this government came to power, we have been working continuously to keep the domestic gas case for Sunrise alive. Last year, it was a blow to the Territory when Shell and Woodside announced their preference for a floating LNG. There were those who said: ‘We’ll give up now. What’s the point? We’ll give up the fight. The arguments were too difficult to overcome’. We made the decision that the development of this resource was simply too important for the future of the Territory, and for the future of Australia, to let it sail over the horizon, almost literally, without making every effort to bring it onshore.
As I answered before, the work we have seen through Team NT has really started to see that turn around. The campaign was given a great boost when Phillips came out last month and said that they did not support their joint venture partners in Sunrise. Phillips said that they believed there was a case for bringing domestic gas onshore, and it certainly has been a strong boost to the Territory’s arguments when Phillips joined us.
The announcement yesterday from Woodside that they will review their domestic gas option is another boost to our case. This is very welcome news and we are convinced, and so are Phillips, and so were Shell Woodside 12 to 18 months ago, that there are customers for Sunrise gas onshore. Some of those key customers are: the major aluminium smelter, worth an estimated $5bn, and a very significant statement coming from Pechiney today, the first really strong, public statement from them, that they would like to build their $5bn smelter and power plant, in Darwin, and what they need is gas. So, this is the first time Pechiney has come out very loudly and strongly, to a national paper, reported in the Financial Review today, and said it very clearly to the federal government. We believe that Pechiney’s interest is still very strong, their commitment to being here, if they can get that energy source, is very strong. They certainly would prove a very strong and a very convincing foundation customer for Sunrise gas.
As well as Pechiney, Nabalco ALCAN at Gove, who are already well underway in their planning for a major $1.5bn expansion of their existing operations, and that pipeline from Mataranka to Gove. Another customer committed is the Power and Water Authority, to supply the domestic requirements as our existing supplies run down from Central Australia. There are a number of planned mining projects in the Top End that need gas to expand and, of course, there’s the eastern states, with a pipeline via a gas hub at Moomba. When you look at the figures at Moomba, Moomba will be running down by about 2008. They need a new supply. It’s got to be Sunrise.
The decision by the federal government, which we saw clarified from Tuesday night’s budget, yesterday about depreciation and the effective life being 20 years rather than the proposed 50 years has certainly given renewed enthusiasm to pipeline builders and that vision of taking Sunrise gas down to the south-east market.
I was also heartened during my recent visits to eastern Australia to receive the strong support of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australian governments to bringing the Sunrise gas to shore. They recognise that they need these energy supplies from the north and it is in the national interest. The key issue now for us is to identify the critical mass of customers to agree to take Timor Sea gas, and we believe that we can do that.
My government will therefore be working proactively to aggregate the needs of customers and to put them to the Sunrise partners in a coherent way. In ten days time, two key bureaucrats from here will be heading south to do just that. One is the head of the Gas Task Force, Paul Tyrell, and the other is Dennis Bree who, when he was in the Power and Water Authority as the Deputy Secretary, led the gas negotiations for the Territory. Paul Tyrell and Dennis Bree will be talking to customers, meeting them, identifying what it is that makes them a prospective customer now, and what it needs to take them to being an affirmed customer, and looking at the impediments, and the red tape. What are the issues that are stopping that prospective being firm and committed? That work will be done from east coast to west coast in about 10 days time.
So we are not sitting back. We are going to move. That’s not the only issue. The multi-layered approach that we’ve taken so far will continue, but aggregating those customers is very important. Working with Phillips, working with the joint venturers, and identifying where that customer base is and underpinning our argument that gas onshore is commercially viable, is in the Territory’s interests and is in the national interest.
Status of Cypress Pine Plantations
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
On 7 March this year, I asked some questions which related to a Northern Territory News article regarding a 24 year dispute over the cypress pine plantations at Gunn Point, Howard Springs and Berrimah. These questions related to the previous contractor who was extracting oil, a possible resolution of the dispute, and the future of the forestry reserve at Howard Springs. Minister, you said you would get back to me with a detailed answer, but as yet I haven’t received one. What details do you have for the House about these issues?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This particular issue is actually being handled through the Department of Justice. It is a dispute that is a legacy of the previous government, and I am advised that my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, has the detail that the honourable member needs.
Dr TOYNE (Justice and Attorney-General): Well, the member for Katherine could probably throw some light on this. If we had his friend, the ex-member for Karama here, he would probably be able to throw a bit of light on it, too.
This sorry tale dates back to about 1996, from memory, where a battling small businessman in the Northern Territory, Vince Collins, made a particularly useful discovery. He discovered that the tropical cypress pines actually contained quite commercial quantities of blue cypress oil. He went ahead and proved out a method of extraction of that commodity out of the cypress pines, of which there are several plantations around Darwin. He then proceeded to apply for a patent over that extraction process.
Subsequent to that, he went to the Northern Territory government and appraised them of this wonderful discovery that he had made of this very valuable commodity that was in the otherwise fairly valueless wood in these plantations.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Dr TOYNE: For his trouble he was elbowed in the ribs, pushed out of the way and basically told …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, we have a point of order.
Mr BURKE: The point of order in this context, Madam Speaker, that the current Attorney-General is making allegations against the previous government.
Mr Stirling: He hasn’t even started yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: It is a serious concern, Madam Speaker, and that is that the Attorney-General is making allegations against the previous government, based on advice given to the Attorney-General at that time by his own Attorney-General’s department. I would have thought that those matters were delicate and sensitive to say the least. In any case, if the minister wished to make those allegations in the form of an answer to a question, it’s wrong. It should be the subject of a separate debate in this House.
Mr STIRLING: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The sensitivity of the Leader of the Opposition strikes me as curious, to say the least. The only point that the Attorney has raised is that Vince Collins went to see the government. That is what he said, he went to see the government. Where in that is the allegation, except one hell of a bad conscience on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, I would suggest. There is no point of order, he hasn’t made the slightest allegation.
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, frankly, the issue is not one of conscience or anything. I am simply saying that …
Mr Stirling: Seems to be.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: No, listen. Well, once again, I would say to the member for Nhulunbuy, the member who uses coward’s castle wonderfully, walk outside this Chamber and make that allegation and we can have it. Walk outside this Chamber, and the current Attorney can do it. I simply say that if you want to open a debate on the actions of the Attorney at that time, which wasn’t me, I might add, on the actions of the Attorney at that time, do it in a proper and fair manner to all parties. The Attorney and the government acted on the advice of the Attorney-General’s department at that time.
Madam SPEAKER: I have listened to enough points about this debate. All I can say is, Attorney-General, if you are making allegations that the person who approached you made, Vince Collins, make sure you do it in that context, that he made the allegations. If it is a subject of some sort of inquiry at the moment, I think you should also be careful that you don’t prejudice any outcome by speaking too freely about it. I suggest you temper your words in the context of that.
Dr TOYNE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am certainly going to give one promise, I’ll stay within what is provable on a paper trail. To date, everything I have said in answer to this question has documentation behind it from the government of the day, and I’ll say it within those confines. These aren’t mere conjectures, these are things that are in writing, on paper.
Taking up the story the member of Nelson is trying to get an answer to. We got to a stage where we had a small businessman in the Northern Territory who felt that their interests had been severely compromised by his approach to the previous government for assistance in developing this industry. That dispute has remained unresolved to this day. It has certainly outlasted the CLP government that created it.
We are now at a stage where, on legal opinion, there is a high probability, in legal terms, that the interests of this businessman have been misused by the lack of due process in the government processes that were applied to his application at the time.
Given that circumstance, we have now initiated a mediation process, an assessment process, that will scope out the degree of jeopardy that this man has suffered as a result of the actions of the previous government. We will try to seek a resolution. We will try to put this matter away, after such a long period of dispute. I hope, for the sake of Vince Collins and his family, that we can allow him to resume his life unblighted by the ongoing effects of what was done to him.
Community Attitude to Marijuana
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The government has made much of its supposed tough stance on drugs, and your drug task force to advise you on future actions is due to report to you this month. Earlier in these sittings, you outlined some discussions you have had with the task force already. Could you tell us how you plan to address the attitude that some in the community hold that use of marijuana is not a major crime and is the same as having a glass of wine or whiskey, and is this an attitude that you agree with?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as someone who is almost a teetotaller and never smoked cigarettes or used any other kind of drugs, this is a very curious question coming to me. This whole issue of drugs is something which this government is taking very seriously. The whole range of illicit drugs is something which we have acknowledged but, once again, the opposition, when in government, said this was a minuscule problem.
In relation to the use of cannabis, I believe cannabis is a very serious illicit drug, particularly the kind of cannabis that appears to be on the market at the moment, commonly called skunk. It is a very serious drug; it is grown hydroponically and it seems to have a much more psychotic effect on the people who use it. It is particularly of a concern in remote communities, in Aboriginal communities, and we believe that there is a very close link with the use of this drug in relation to youth suicide, and petrol sniffing and misuse of alcohol. It is a very serious issue and it is going to be looked at by the select committee of parliament. In relation to whether or not that should be decriminalised, I would have to say I absolutely do not believe it should be decriminalised, and there is absolutely no suggestion that anything like that would be presented to this House at any stage.
In relation to the task force itself, a report is being prepared for me which will be with me by 30 May, and after that will be considered by Cabinet.
East Timor Independence Celebrations – NT Government Involvement
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Could the Chief Minister outline to the House the attitude of this government to the East Timorese independence to be proclaimed on Monday, May 20, and the role of the Territory in both the celebrations and the lead-up to independence for this nation and its people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a very important question, because Monday is a very important day for the East Timorese, and also for those of us who have had a very long relationship with the East Timorese in the Territory. I am very pleased to be able to congratulate the people of East Timor who, after what has been a great struggle and against enormous odds, are now finalising their independence celebrations to take place next Monday. What a long time it has been coming, and how great a day it will be, when those who suffered so greatly in their fight for freedom and sovereignty, actually are able to mark independence.
I am very pleased to be attending the independence day celebrations in Dili, along with my colleague the Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development, and other Territorians, including the Leader of the Opposition. I know we will all carry with us the good wishes of all Territorians for this new and very small nation’s future prosperity and success.
The Territory, as we all know, has been home to many East Timorese over the years, and we are probably closer to their hopes and their aspirations than most other Australians. That is why I believe that we can truly share their joy and their pride in what’s happening next Monday. We can also feel pride in the work of so many Territorians who have contributed in so many ways to East Timorese independence and the rebuilding of the country. Territorians have played a role in nurturing the East Timorese and offering them hope when independence, for so many years, seemed a lost cause. I pay tribute to those in the Labor Party in the Territory, for this, and the Labor Party nationally. For many years, theirs were the only voice in the wilderness.
Then there was the great effort of Territorians when violence broke out in the post-independence vote in 1999. So many Territorians were involved in helping with the refugees in the tent city, offering all sorts of support during those painful days when so many were killed and so much of East Timor was destroyed. Territorians were involved in the subsequent efforts of Australian forces, under UN direction, to bring peace to East Timor, and even more involved in the subsequent rebuilding of the country.
It has been good to be able to build on my relationship with Mari Alkatiri, East Timor’s Chief Minister, as we discuss a range of things, but often it’s Timor Sea oil and gas. While Timor Sea oil and gas is fundamental for the Territory’s expansion, it is crucial to East Timor’s very existence. The gas revenue will help the small nation rebuild its infrastructure and set it up for future growth and employment. We will work with East Timor on oil and gas, as well as on tourism projects and other economic plans, to try to ensure the viability of East Timor in the future. The Territory has already been involved with many training and education programs, and I know our churches and schools have made many valuable links with their counterparts across the Timor Sea.
Turning to the celebrations, the Territory is proud to be one of the biggest sponsors of the events in Dili beginning this weekend. We have commissioned local artist, John Firth, from Unicorn Stained Glass Studios, to commission and design a window for the East Timor Cultural Centre which is in Dili. John is already well underway with that work. That is our official gift to the new nation. We will be holding a celebration in Darwin for those who cannot be in Dili for the big occasion, and here at Parliament House the flag will be raised at midnight on Sunday. Before that flag raising, there will be several hours of cultural, social and religious events.
This is an occasion for celebration and an occasion to be thinking of the future. I also think it is a time to mark the great sacrifices made by the people of East Timor in achieving this great independence and this remarkable victory. These people have moved mountains. They have shown us what can be achieved if people work together in a common cause and that they never lose hope. I am very pleased to be able to attend this historic occasion. I know that my heartfelt congratulations to the valiant East Timorese will be shared by all of us in my party, in this government, in this Assembly and, most importantly, by the people of the Territory.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I just want to remind ministers that answers to questions should not be ministerial statements or ministerial reports. As ministers, I would expect you to be able to perhaps answer the questions without reading a prepared statement. Although that was an important topic, I felt that it was perhaps not the best way to answer that question. So ministers, if you know your subject well, just talk from the heart. Talk from what you know rather than read a prepared statement.
Marijuana – Government Policy
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
We have just heard an interesting answer from your Health minister with regard to the seriousness she views the use of marijuana. Do you share your Health minister’s attitude to marijuana, and is that a correct exposition of this government’s policy? If so, do you now disown the comment you made during your first successful election campaign, and I quote: Clare Martin: ‘I consider marijuana much in the same way as having a glass of whiskey or drinking red wine. I don’t see it as a major crime’. I seek leave to table a transcript of that comment made on 9 June 1995 in an interview with the soon to be member for Fannie Bay on Channel 8.
Leave granted.
Mr BURKE: Chief Minister, is this still your view and how does that fit with your government’s zero tolerance policy on drugs, or was that just another statement like, the railway is a faded dream or, I didn’t vote for statehood, which you now recant? If you still have this attitude, isn’t it the case that the so-called zero tolerance policy on drugs by your government is either a sham or evidence that you have been rolled by your colleague?
Madam SPEAKER: Again, another very lengthy question.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, to put paid to a couple of the mis-facts that the opposition leader is trying to peddle. The faded dream, which the opposition seems to find an endearing comment that has been attributed to me, something that I never said in terms of that was my view. Let me just get it clear. You were not at the occasion it was said. I was there, and what I said very clearly about the railway project was that the decision by the then Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in 1983 to turn down the federal government offer to 60/40 fund the railway had meant that it had become, for many Territorians, a faded dream. I was very critical at the time of Paul Everingham’s decision, which was very much a thumping chest decision, and a most extraordinarily stupid one for the Territory to turn down. There is the context, and the simple peddling of this, what is simply a lie, I am just putting paid to, because it simply is.
Let’s look at the other one, about how I voted on statehood. Let me make it very clear that even though I had serious concerns about the process, I voted for statehood because I believed in it. And I am standing in this parliament saying: ‘I voted for statehood - yes’, and I am hoping that in the future we will again move to statehood.
With all due respect to U3A, and reporting of meetings, it is not always accurate, and it’s important to ask those who were actually saying the words, what I said. I proudly said that I voted for statehood. At that meeting I spelled out very carefully for U3A members that I was very concerned about the process, concerned about the dodgy constitution that the now opposition leader walked into the Constitutional Convention with, an appalling effort, and has set back statehood quite substantially for the Territory. This side of the House is committed to statehood, we’ve got to get it right. But when I go to meetings now, and I had one recently with Darwin business, and the issue of statehood was raised. The opposition leader was there. With an audience of about 200, I said: ‘Who in this audience thinks we should move to statehood now?’. I think we would have been lucky if we got six hands up. So there has been a lot of damage done by the poor performance on that side. Regardless of that poor performance, I was proud to vote yes for statehood, despite my misgivings.
A member: What about marijuana?
Ms MARTIN: So let’s talk about marijuana. I’m not going to stand in here and say I’ve never smoked it because that’s not the truth. When I was much younger, yes, I smoked it and I’m aware of a lot of Territorians who do. And when I was younger, yes, it was widely smoked. But what I believe, and I think that it’s important that we’re honest about these things, very honest. I was honest when I was asked the question. But let me make it very clear, it is illegal to smoke marijuana, and let me say that I’m very aware of a very different marijuana that’s around now that causes me great concern. It causes me great concern. As the Health minister very clearly spelled out, it’s a much more dangerous marijuana. We welcomed the changes to dealing with marijuana and its possession that the previous government brought in. We welcomed those. If we had some honest comments in here, there are probably a lot of members of parliament who have smoked marijuana.
Let me make it clear, I am very concerned for our young people about the marijuana that is now around. I am concerned about the destruction to our society and our community, and particularly young people and the damage that has been outlined by the Minister for Health and Community Services. Let me make it very clear. We have a zero tolerance policy towards these drugs. We have a zero tolerance policy towards the link between drug use and property crime, and we have a zero tolerance policy towards the damage that it causes to our community. I will stand in here as the parent of two adolescents and say my zero tolerance is very strong and unwavering.
Manufacture of Drugs in the Northern Territory
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Could the minister explain the current problems being caused by drug manufacturing in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question. I will take this opportunity to look at one of the drugs that we haven’t talked a lot about in here to date, and that’s the amphetamines and derivatives, the precursors from which it is made. We are creating new offences under the legislation we brought into this House aimed at amphetamines and their manufacture in the Northern Territory. I will quote some comments from the Australian Illicit Drugs Report 2000-01, regarding amphetamine:
- Amphetamine is a potent drug that can be swallowed, mixed with drinks, ingested nasally or injected. The effects of long-term or binge use include aggressive, irrational and unpredictable behaviour, often described as psychotic, which presents a threat to the community and to law enforcement.
They go on to say:
- There are reports across Australia of new super strong forms of amphetamine – ice - having devastating effects on users, producing symptoms almost identical to schizophrenia.
Going back to the Australian Illicit Drug Report:
- This trend is seen in arrest rates for the use and/or supply of amphetamines, which had increased from 26 in 1997-98 to 124 in 1999-2000, to 160 in 2000-01.
We have also been made aware by the police of outlaw bikie gangs, the Hells Angels and other organised criminal groups are involved in the manufacture and distribution of amphetamines in the Northern Territory. We now know how easy it is for criminals operating in clandestine labs, or clan labs, to manufacture amphetamines from chemicals extracted from common over-the-counter prescriptions such as Sudafed, or medications. It is quite easy for an organised gang to hit a pharmacy, take the precursors that they need and have pure amphetamines out on the street within 24 hours. It is a very frightening trend, given the effects of this drug on the users and the types of organised gangs that it is attracting to the Northern Territory.
Throughout Australia, jurisdictions are tightening up wherever they can on this type of drug manufacturing and dealing. That creates a real danger for the Northern Territory, that gangs that have been operating elsewhere and coming under pressure there will see this as a haven to operate from. We are very concerned that if we don’t take equally firm action against this branch of drug dealing, that we will become a centre for this type of manufacture in Australia.
We intend to bring forward specific laws, specific offences, to counter this particular type of drug manufacturing and dealing. We intend to do that with maximum penalties of imprisonment up to seven years. If we catch these people, they’ll know they’ve been caught and they will know they are going to get some severe punishment.
Mini-budget – Allocation to Youth, Sport and Recreation Officers
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
On page 49 of the mini-budget is an allocation of $150 000 to Youth, Sport and Recreation officers in various communities. With only six weeks of the financial year to go, how much of this money has been spent and, more to the point, where?
ANSWER
How much of this money has been spent? Madam Speaker, we have inherited the $5m that has been allocated, and that is not a problem. We will get the program going. Does the Leader of the Opposition want us to cut that back?
Mr Burke: Just answer the question.
Mr AH KIT: Well, go out and tell people in the sporting communities that’s the position. We have inherited that, and we are continuing with that. We gave an election commitment that we would put an additional $300 000 for each year for the term of this government. I mentioned the other day, that total is $1.05m additional. That is for further sports and recreation officers, not only in the communities but also in the town-based areas, so we can continue to promote sport and recreation throughout all of the Northern Territory.
We know there is a shortage in the remote regions, and that is why we have committed ourselves to this election promise. If you want to do the sums on that, you have to take into account, from the mini-budget till the end of this financial year, we have injected $150 000. For each consecutive year of this government, there will be an additional $300 000, then you will arrive at that $1.05m to meet the commitment.
I would like to obtain more money, but we have to take into account that there are some bills that have to be paid, and we’ve been left with some legacies from the previous government. Without having to go into that, that money is there, it’s committed and we will deliver.
Mr ELFERINK: Supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your supplementary?
Mr ELFERINK: Are there any more recreation officers employed in the bush?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister for Community Development, I will allow that question, but you may like to take it on notice.
Mr AH KIT: Do you want to know if they have gone where, sorry?
Mr ELFERINK: Have you employed any more and where are they?
Mr AH KIT: I will go back to my department, and I will ask where the employment has happened.
Mr Elferink: You mean you don’t know.
Mr AH KIT: If you expect me to come in here as the minister, and to go quickly …
Mr Burke: Yes, we do, we expect you to know what you are doing.
Mr AH KIT: Yes, you were all Einsteins when you were in government. We know that! You had an answer for everything. It was always the wrong answer.
If the member for Macdonnell would like some more detail on that, I will go and get that. But, one thing they have to learn in trying to be a good opposition and shadow ministers, is to ring ministers’ offices, make an appointment, and come and seek a briefing. They find that very hard to do. The other thing they have to learn is that ministers in this government are busy. We will give them the time, we will give them a briefing, although they need to get there. They’re not in government, they can’t expect to have a briefing when they’re ready, at their time. Work with us without trying to be humbug - work with us, and we’ll brief you and keep you abreast of how we’re progressing the Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I am quite sure the minister will be able to get back to us with that answer.
Use of Darwin as International Cricket Venue
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Following the recent announcement of test cricket coming to Darwin, I note that there has been media speculation about the possibility of countries such as Pakistan using Darwin as a venue for international cricket. Is the minister aware of any plans for other countries using Darwin as an alternative venue for their home series matches, and how would this fit with the Australian cricket program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question because, obviously, they’re not too good in putting questions together from the other side.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Well, if they don’t like international cricket to come here, they should go out and tell the Northern Territory Cricket Council and all the junior cricketers throughout the Northern Territory, because your performance …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: There are a lot of cricket lovers out there …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear a word the minister is saying. Let’s have a little bit of quietness. Okay, minister.
Mr AH KIT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am sure that all the members of the Assembly - well I thought - would be delighted that after so many years, we have finally secured an agreement with the Australian Cricket Board for the commencement of international cricket in Darwin in the Dry Season next year. Next year, we will have Bangladesh playing Australia, and we will also have one-day matches, as well as warm-up games.
Of course, the critical issue for us was to commit to an upgrade of Football Park and the facilities, which have to satisfy all the requirements of the International Cricket Board. This facility, which is owned by government, and with millions of dollars spent in constructing it, was neglected by the former government and former Sports and Recreation Ministers. Unlike those previous ministers, I have been able to secure, with Cabinet support, money for the resurfacing of the oval, as well as improvements to the infrastructure of the stadium itself. The upgrade will be managed by the construction division of the departments of Transport and Infrastructure, Lands and Planning, and the Environment, in close consultation with the Australian Cricket Board and the Australian Football League NT. Arrangements are also being made to drop in a pitch to be utilised, and this will be under the supervision of Mr Tony Ware, who is the Melbourne Cricket Ground curator.
The upgrading of the facilities will be carried out over three years, with $495 000 earmarked for the year 2002-03. This initially will provide for sight screens, new scoreboard and upgraded media and player facilities. What this will actually mean in developing this stadium at Marrara is that it will become a designated venue for international cricket, meeting all those requirements of the International Cricket Council. It is, however, very important to understand that the decisions about the programming and scheduling of the games are appropriate for the Australian Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council to make.
At this stage, we have a confirmed test and One Day Series to be played between Australia and Bangladesh next year in Darwin, and also in Cairns. Beyond that, our expectation is that there will be international fixtures in three out of the following four years. Of course, given the substantial investment that our government will be making in the upgrade of the facility, we will be very interested in the opportunities to attract other national and international sporting fixtures, not only cricket.
It is a priority and we have moved to meet the requirements. It will be a great opportunity for Darwin. It is sad to hear that members opposite do not fully support international cricket coming to the Northern Territory.
Ms Carney: What rubbish!
Mr AH KIT: Finally turned into cricket lovers now, are you? We will get you some tickets, stop complaining.
It will provide an impetus for the further development of cricket throughout the Territory and, yes, Alice Springs Central region will benefit, members from that area. Don’t get excited about it.
In conclusion, I am confident that we have the capacity to organise a great event here next year. It will set us up for international cricket for many years to come. So in an immediate sense we need to focus our efforts on next year’s fixture and ensure that it lives up to all of our expectations.
Madam SPEAKER: I say to the minister that if he really finds it too expensive to have Marrara upgraded we would be more than delighted for you to upgrade Albrecht Oval in the Braitling electorate for the game.
Teacher Numbers
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Members interjecting.
Mr Stirling: You may feel neglected but I am here for the long haul so watch out.
Mr MILLS: In January, Territorians were told that you had recruited 130 new teachers for the school year 2002. However, 180 teachers had departed the service in the previous academic year. Can you tell us how many teachers are employed by your department, and what was the comparable figure for the same time last year? Further to this, with only six weeks of the financial year to run and only a few weeks left in this semester, can you please advise how many of the 20 additional teachers have been employed as promised in the mini-budget for this financial year as stated on page 52, mini-budget paper No.3? Just where have those 20 additional teachers been posted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do genuinely thank the member for Blain for his question. I never meant to suggest that he was not here for the long haul or he was not doing his job. I was just disappointed that I had not had a question over successive parliamentary sessions. I do thank him because I know he has a genuine interest in education as a former educator himself.
We committed the funding upfront in the mini-budget in November, as the member for Blain would recall, for the additional 20, no matter what the numbers were this time last year or then. An additional 100 for the full four year term of government. Those funding predications were put forward over the full term of this government
The focus, initially, in the first 20 to come on has been in the area of Special Education. In negotiating the last enterprise bargaining process with the AEU and with the teachers, the real need seemed to be in special needs, and English as a Second Language qualified teachers. In consultation with school principals and with the education union itself, it was thought, if we are going to put on 20 initially out of that extra 100 that it should be Special Education first, because there seemed to be an overwhelming need in that area. I have to say, it was a buzz to be visiting schools over the last few months and to be introduced to teachers, qualified as Special Education teachers, who had arrived Monday the week before, Monday of that week, Thursday two weeks ago and, of course, these were part and parcel of the 20 about whom I felt particularly chuffed because it was the government decision being realised before my very eyes.
These 20 additional positions have been allocated as follows:
three teachers for urban schools, that is, Casuarina Street Primary, Bakewell Primary and Woodroofe Primary;
six teachers, one each to the group schools, and the shadow minister would understand how the group schools work. They are the small one and two teacher schools scattered throughout the Territory. They are grouped together. Some of them can have up to 12 schools so there can be three, four, six, however many schools are in that group, they get one. So there is six of them;
11 teachers to be employed in non-urban schools that have been identified from a priority list of 40 schools overall without Special Education support, and in the first instance we have had to put those 11 teachers where housing is available. You have the situation were we could be up for $240 000 to put the house in with the teacher and that is something that we have to address. I do not want a situation where we are further disadvantaging communities with special needs that miss out again because they do not have housing to go with it. That infrastructure question has to be addressed in the forthcoming budget. I will be arguing hard that those infrastructural requirements are picked up so that we do get equity, and schools that are already disadvantaged do not get further disadvantaged.
For the 2002 school year, the 11 highest priority schools which have housing available, and this is where the other 11 are going:
the Borroloola Community Education Centre;
Shepherdson College - and that’s one that pleases me particularly because I argued for about eight years in opposition that Shepherdson College had a real need for Special Needs and we couldn’t get the resource from government;
the Yuendumu Community Education Centre;
Batchelor Area School;
Ngukurr Community Education Centre;
Ti Tree School;
Yulara Primary School, and that in itself will provide a support to the communities nearby;
Yirrkala Community Education Centre;
Numbulwar CEC;
Gunbalanya CEC; and
Angurugu Community Education Centre.
Mr Mills: These 11 are currently employed?
Mr STIRLING: These 11 are where the balance of the 20 are going. To date, 11 teachers have been employed in these positions.
Mr Mills: Already?
Mr STIRLING: Already, some of whom I have met. Seven were local recruits, four were from interstate. In most cases, the local recruits were already employed and suitably qualified. They had the special needs qualifications and they elected, on their own decision, to transfer to the Special Education positions and their consequential vacancies were filled by normal recruitment procedures.
A consultation process with principals and the Australian Education Union will commence shortly, on what we place with the additional teachers to be utilised over the balance of the term of this government. From where I sit, there is an ongoing need for English as a Second Language schools, and it has often been put, and the Collins Report suggests strongly that ESL teachers in remote Aboriginal community schools is one way of breaking the low outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
My discussions with long experienced teachers in many of these schools is that in itself it is not necessarily the answer. ESL seems to work particularly well if you have three or four in a mainstream of a class of 15 or 20 of solidly English speakers. Of course, that’s not the case in an Aboriginal community where English is second, third, fifth language. They don’t get the total immersion. If say, four immigrants arrive in Australia and are placed in an English class. They are surrounded by English, everyone speaks English in the classroom, and okay, the family at home might still speak the native language, but they do get the total immersion outside of the home. It is not the case in the Aboriginal community and ESL is a step in the right direction. It is not the total answer in itself in relation to the poor outcomes.
Nonetheless, I would expect that the next round, of whatever number it is out of the next 80 that go on, will have a balance of English as a Second Language. In relation to the numbers, I am happy to get them and provide them to you, what they were at what particular time. I can assure you that the 100 extra is 100 extra, so whatever the numbers were at the time the commitment was made, at the end of our term of government there will be that number plus 100.
I thank the member for his question and I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016