2002-05-23
Nursing Staff Numbers
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Last week, the Minister for Education, Employment and Training gave an excellent answer to our question regarding the government’s commitment to meeting its election promise by providing 20 new teachers. Could you now give a similar detailed answer as to your commitment to provide extra nurses, particularly for hospitals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. Our commitment in the mini-budget for this year is for 10 extra nurses. I am pleased to say today that we have actually created 10.5 new nursing positions. These include 5.5 nurse educator positions to be located in the five hospitals, two at Royal Darwin Hospital, 1.5 at the Alice Springs Hospital, 1 at the Katherine District Hospital and 0.5 at the Gove District Hospital and Tennant Creek Hospital. At this stage, four of those 5.5 positions have been filled. In addition, we have created a position of one critical nurse at Alice Springs Hospital, which has been filled, one respiratory nurse at Alice Springs Hospital, which has been filled, one full time principle nurse consultant with Northern Territory responsibility, which has been filled, one dedicated nursing project officer, whose primary function is the nursing career structure review. This position is currently examining nursing workloads and skills shortages, and has been filled, and one nurse is dedicated to marketing, recruitment and retention strategies as identified in the nursing recruitment retention project.
I am happy to say that we have been able to fill these positions. There are 1.5 positions, which, out of the 10.5 which have not been filled but have been advertised. We have already received a number of applications for that, and by the end of the financial year we expect to have filled that as well.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise you of the presence in the gallery of Year 6 Holy Spirit School students, accompanied by their teacher, Rachel Kerr. On behalf of all members I extend a warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Parliamentary Procedures Reform
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
Can the Chief Minister outline the progress the government has made in delivering on its election commitment to reform parliamentary procedures and particularly the introduction of an estimates committee process in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is something that this government is very proud to have committed to doing, and is well underway to achieving. There was a very clear election campaign commitment from us to reform how this parliament worked. Reforming parliament was a key to open and transparent government. It was one of the key initiatives we took to the election, and one to which Territorians responded well.
Our plan in having the reform of parliament was the televising of Question Time, and it is good to have the cameras here, and the reordering of the legislative program to put important business first. Too often we have sat in here with ministerial statements taking hours and hours each day, and then to get to the really critical part of what we do in here as a parliament, which is legislation. We would often be starting at 8 or 9 or 10 o’clock at night. It was simply absurd, it was a wrong priority for what we should be doing, which is why legislation now has a key part and an early part in our parliamentary days. We reordered the legislative program. Another part of our commitment to open and transparent government was including an estimates committee.
We know why the opposition refused for 27 years to put in place an estimates committee. Perhaps we did not know for 27 years, but after recent events we certainly know why. The reason we need an estimates committee is that we believe Territorians have the right to know, to question the budget, and to hear the reasons why decisions are made. The Labor Party, Labor in opposition and Labor in government, has a very strong commitment to the parliamentary reform, and that includes this estimates committee.
The Parliamentary Record shows that, as far back as 1991, my colleague, the Deputy Chief Minister, was calling on the CLP government to introduce an estimates committee, it fell on deaf ears in those times. However, it was not just 1991 and the Deputy Chief Minister calling for an estimates committee. You can go back to our Parliamentary Record to 1978, in fact 30 November, when the then Opposition Leader, Jon Isaacs, moved that a standing committee to be set up to examine budget processes. The CLP’s lack of commitment has been very consistent, because back in November 1978, they refused. So, for 27 years, no estimates committee.
Every parliament in Australia and New Zealand, except the Northern Territory, has an estimates committee process. We are moving about delivering on that election commitment. We have looked at models in Queensland and Tasmania that would be appropriate for the Territory, being a similar parliament, particularly in Queensland. The estimates committee process that we committed to in our election campaign will deliver some of the fundamentals of that, access by television cameras to all the proceedings, involvement of senior public servants, the estimates would take place in committee rooms and, as the existing arrangements, we will have a system of advanced written questions, and shadow ministers and local MLAs can participate in the committee process. It will be a very effective estimates committee process, and it will put an end to the history of 26 years of budget secrecy and budget manipulation that we very sadly see.
We are committed to having the estimates committee come into place for the 2002-03 budget and would like to see it happen in the sittings scheduled for 17 to 19 September. What it means is, the first full budget of this Labor government will be opened up to Territorians and it will have, we are confident, an estimates committee process.
Health Issues – Indigenous Communities
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Recently in this House you told how you were going to rescue Aboriginal health. However, on the front page of yesterday’s Australian I read an article entitled ‘Hungry Children Feeding Our Shame’. In that article, your department was described as having press paranoia, and the Minister for Central Australia’s office was cold hearted in the extreme when approached by a doctor about the problems in Docker River …
Dr BURNS: A point of order Madam Speaker, how long is this question going to be?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, could you get to your question quickly.
Mr ELFERINK: … and the Minister for Central Australia’s office was cold hearted in the extreme when approached by a doctor about the problems in Docker River, and was asked why they should listen to him. Minister, your department castigated this doctor for speaking out …
Mr STIRLING: There is a point of order, Madam Speaker, this is absurd. They expect to get maximum number of questions but he wants to burn up five minutes in delivering the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: If we had less points of order, we might get to the question.
Mr STIRLING: There is a process for questions of that length to be written to the minister for a reply.
Madam SPEAKER: If we had less points of order, we might hear the question. Member for Macdonnell, complete your question.
Mr ELFERINK: I would be through it by now, Madam Speaker. Minister, when I phoned the community, I discovered that your department had left a notice on the community noticeboard saying that there would be only two days to see a doctor because, after that, there would be no doctor. I seek leave to table that.
Leave granted.
Mr ELFERINK: Minister, why are you chastising doctors who care for speaking out, rather than responding to need; and secondly, can you tell the people of Docker River why they cannot have a doctor?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question, a very curious one. I wonder if he read the lead article too, which was actually congratulating the Northern Territory government on its stance on indigenous health.
The whole point of the statement the other day was to indicate that we are going to be doing things in a different way. In relation to Docker River, I would have to say that the things outlined in that article were, very sadly, true - absolutely true in relation to the condition of the people in that community. Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory have been consistently ignored by the CLP for 27 years. We have had to pick up this appalling situation. In relation to the doctor, I do not know the doctor …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members, order! There is no way I can hear the answer from the minister with such shouting. That is enough!
Mr Burke: What about the Docker River doctor?
Madam SPEAKER: Do not start, minister.
Mrs AAGAARD: Madam Speaker, In relation to the doctor mentioned in that article, I do not know that person. I have asked my office to contact him so we can discuss the issues raised. Also, in relation to the impunities that have been made upon the character of the Minister for Central Australia; I had a conversation with him yesterday. I understand that the person mentioned in the article, who said that he was trying to contact the minister’s office has, in fact, not had any contact with the minister’s office. He has not had any contact with my office either. On this side of the House, we are very happy to have access to people who want to help us in trying to improve the situation in indigenous health in the Northern Territory. We want everyone to be working together.
I invite this doctor to contact me. It would be a wonderful thing if he did, so that we can have this conversation. We are certainly not trying to make sure there are no doctors in remote communities; what a ridiculous suggestion. We are trying to make sure that there are more doctors in remote communities, that indigenous health improves considerably; that outcomes aren’t the kind that we have at the moment, which are an embarrassment and a shame to the whole of Australia.
I think that is sufficient for me to answer this, because the CLP have such a shameful record on indigenous health that it is amazing that they would even bother to bring this question to me.
Mr Elferink: Supplementary, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: No, I think the minister has answered the question.
Senator Nigel Scullion – Northern Territory Government Position
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Could the Chief Minister please update the House about the role of the Northern Territory government in the event that Senator Scullion be removed from the Senate?
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You should listen, because this affects you guys.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a very serious issue because, while we discuss CLP manipulation of budgets, it seems that the party can not put up a Senator who actually passes the requirements that you need to be a Senator. It is something that is not to be laughed about.
As indicated last week in the answer I gave, this is a complex matter where a number of legal scenarios are possible.
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I quote Standing Order No 112, General Rules, regarding questions, and it says in 112(3):
Questions should not be asked of Ministers: (a) for an expression of opinion, (b) to announce new policy of the government …, and, (c) for a legal opinion.
Madam SPEAKER: I think the Chief Minister …
Dr LIM: She says it is a legal issue.
Members interjecting.
Dr LIM: You are a lawyer?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: And you are a doctor?
Dr Lim: I sure am! I have the qualifications to prove it. What have you got?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat. We are not going on with Question Time - and I hope the general public are listening to this - while you continue to interrupt and disrupt the proceedings of this parliament.
Question Time is for the general public to hear questions being asked of ministers and they would like to hear the answers. Both sides of the House are being disorderly. I suggest you all settle down so that we can continue. Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said, this is a complex but a very serious matter and there are a number of legal scenarios that are possible. The Senate has decided that a meeting of party leaders will take place to determine what, if any, action they need to take. They have decided they will wait until June to do that. But it certainly, in the interim, leaves a question mark over a quarter of the Territory’s federal representation, and that is a very serious matter. It is very sad when you reflect that a party that used to be able to get its act together has lost that ability.
Because of the importance of the Senate role to the Territory, I quite appropriately have sought further legal advice about the Territory government’s role and can now update members. The Territory certainly does have a role, but it depends on the grounds of the removal of the Senator, and the grounds are not the responsibility of this Territory parliament. We have actions that will happen after that.
If Senator Scullion has been disqualified since his election, then the casual vacancies provisions outlined last week would apply. That means this Assembly would choose his replacement. If, however, the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, finds Senator Scullion was not eligible to be elected, or sit as a Senator at election day, the consequences are not so straightforward. A count back situation is possible, which would see the second Senate candidate, John Lopez, elected.
The High Court also has wide-ranging powers to declare, in one instance, a candidate duly elected who was not returned and, secondly, to declare any election absolutely void and to exercise its discretionary powers in a way which is just and efficient.
If the court finds that Senator Scullion was incapable of being elected, the precedents indicate a variety of possible outcomes. Count back is one possibility, which would put John Lopez in the Senate. But then you have the case of Heather Hill, who was elected as a Queensland Senator for One Nation to support that kind of option. The High Court held she was incapable of being chosen as a Senator, but the High Court did not hold the election itself void absolutely. Eventually, the second candidate for One Nation was declared in July 1999 by the High Court when they were sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns. But, then you have other cases, one involving Cleary, another involving Wood, that resulted in different rulings by the court, and certainly further highlights the legal uncertainty that has been created.
If the Senate does refer the matter to the High Court, and if the Senator is found to have been ineligible to have been chosen, the High Court has wide powers to order a recount. Under these circumstances, John Lopez would be elected Senator for the Northern Territory.
I know it is very complex. It is currently in the hands of the Senators, who will meet next month. They will decide where this goes next, possibly to the High Court sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns. I will keep members informed as appropriate.
Gamba Grass Control
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT
Over the last few years, there has been a regular spraying program to control the weed or pasture species called gamba grass along the Stuart Highway. Gamba grass has the potential to cause major problems to the native vegetation through its huge biomass and explosive characteristics when burnt in the late dry season. Has your department stopped this program and, if so, why? And if it is part of the cost cutting, won’t it now cost more to control this weed next year, because it is now all running to seed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his comments. Actually, I am surprised that gamba grass is not a weed. It is a pasture grass. It is used by the pastoral industry for cattle and, as such, we would not control it as a weed. We have not stopped the program. We have tried to control gamba grass outbreaks, but usually in the new infestations. If there is gamba grass in the freeways we slash it, or we mow it, and period contracts have been awarded for the control of gamba grass.
I must admit that a few months ago we had difficulty with our period contractors, thanks to the member for Katherine, but the program has now been rectified and can be used even for the new infestations. I welcome your information. If you forward it to us we will immediately respond to the needs of the community.
Taxi, Hire Car and Mini-Bus Industry Review
Mr REED to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
I address my question on behalf of the taxi, hire car and mini-bus industries. Last October, the minister undertook to review the industry, and six weeks ago was to have released a report. That was again supposed to have happened last week. It is now rumoured to be happening this week, although there were also suggestions that he might not release the report until October. The industry is sick of waiting. They want to know what the government is going to do, what their actions will be, and what position the industry will find itself in, and I ask the honourable minister if he can inform the industry of those matters.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question about the taxi industry. I am surprised they now feel for the taxi industry when a few years ago they ruined it. They ruined it. When people are working for $3.00 - $5.00 an hour, I don’t call it a successful industry. I promised I would release a discussion paper and I intend to release it, but we did it carefully. We want to make sure that when we put something out, it stands up to scrutiny. It will come out very soon, and what will come out will be a huge improvement on what the previous government left the industry with.
We have complaints from taxi drivers, from consumers, from people with disabilities. We intend to address all these issues. The discussion paper will be out soon. Not in October, not in September, not August, not July; it will be out very, very soon. In the next few weeks it will be out, and I will send you a complimentary copy.
Closure of Jamac Homes
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The minister would be aware that Jamac Homes has closed it operation, allegedly leaving home owners and subcontractors in difficulty. Can the minister advise the House what steps have been taken to ensure that, in future, these situations can be avoided?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very concerned with the situation with Jamac Homes. I cannot go into details. There are a few contractual and legal problems. However, one thing I have to say is that the situation today reinforced my conviction that we need major reform in the building industry, and the first major reform is the introduction of builder’s registration. My department is already working on it. We have to take into consideration special issues in the Territory, especially the fact that a number of contractors and builders in the Territory have English as a second language, but I can promise you that the discussion paper will be out in August 2002.
The second major reform will be the introduction of building indemnity insurance. The industry has been calling for something like that for years. The previous government failed to deliver - I am not surprised. We are going into action. In conjunction with the building industry, we are producing a paper that will go out for consultation. We will consult with the industry and we will form a committee to assist with the consultation, and the Territory Construction Association will be a major player in this committee.
I intend to finalise legislation by the end of 2002 and introduce legislation to this House early in 2003. We are not going to sit down and do nothing about it. We are very concerned. We want to protect consumers, and at the same time, we want to produce builders. Anybody who is a hairdresser or takeaway proprietor in Queensland or Western Australia can come to the Territory and become a builder. At the same time, when things got tough in the Territory, our builders could not get a job in another state for the simple reason we did not have builder’s registration.
We intend to consult with the community. We intend to protect the consumers. I sympathise with the people who have problems with Jamac builders at this time, but thanks to the previous government, there is nothing in place to protect them.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Hosted by Speaker at Parliament House
Mr REED to SPEAKER
Madam Speaker, you have sent out invitations far and wide for Australia’s biggest morning tea function in aid of cancer research, based on the great Aussie tradition of bringing a plate, a common practice for community based organisations to do a bit of fund raising. I ask you if you are aware of the onerous conditions that now apply, through the Labor government’s new regulations, to community-based organisations in that you may well be breaking the law.
Anyone who brings a plate - and I use your words ‘We will accept anything yummy’ - under the new regulations, anyone bringing a plate has to have their kitchen first inspected and approved by the Department of Health inspectors.
As you are charging a fee, and a donation falls squarely within this, in that every method of disposition, for valuable consideration, this donation that you will be charging attracts these new regulations. Madam Speaker, the number of community groups in Katherine and elsewhere are being imposed upon by these regulations …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I am interested in hearing the question.
Mr REED: I seek leave to table these regulations, Madam Speaker, for your edification, and I wonder if you would like to ask the Minister for Health and Community Services whether she would explain whether you are breaking the law or not.
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that that question be directed to the Minister for Health and Community Services. As the member for Katherine well knows, she has carriage of this area, not yourself, and its too cute by half to direct the question to the Minister for Health and Community Services through the Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I am very pleased that the member for Katherine has raised this, because it certainly does alert people in the building to the function that we intend to hold for cancer research tomorrow, and as you are aware, it is a very important function that we are holding. There are many people who will be attending. It will be an in-house party, and the proceeds will go to cancer research. It is a very important morning right across the Territory and I am quite sure that all of us will support such a morning tea.
You may also note that the invitation does say that I will be hosting the morning tea, so obviously I will be getting a caterer to provide many of the yummies that we will be having, as you referred to. But because you mentioned the health regulations, I think it is appropriate for me to ask the Minister for Health and Community Services to comment on just this matter.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a very curious question. But personally I congratulate you on hosting such a morning tea. Cancer research is something which I think we would all, on both sides of the House, support and I would like to say congratulations to you.
I also am hosting an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Sunday in my electorate office, and I am looking forward to people from my electorate coming in to join me in this as well.
All honourable members would be aware that we have not actually made any changes to any legislation, so anything that is happening here must in fact relate to the CLP’s legislation. I would like them to tell us why they introduced this.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs AAGAARD: People can be assured that in having an Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea that, in fact, they can go ahead and have them. But I will make sure, from my department, if there are any issues that need to be raised, by the end of this Question Time I will bring an answer. But I have to say, Madam Speaker, that at this stage I believe there is no reason why you cannot have your morning tea, and I hope it goes well.
Madam SPEAKER: Is leave granted for those papers to be tabled by the member for Katherine?
Leave granted.
Commonwealth Funding
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, you recently returned from a meeting in Canberra to discuss Commonwealth funding for the Territory. Could you please give the House a detailed breakdown, exactly how much money the NT received in Commonwealth funding this year for next financial year, including money received as specific purpose grants? Could the Chief Minister also give the House the comparison between last year’s funding and this year’s, and highlight any increases in funding for this year?
ANSWER
A very important question, Madam Speaker, as this House is probably only too aware, and certainly 82% of our funding comes directly from the federal government. It is one of the reasons why we, as the Territory, and I say we as the Territory, because I believe that we are joined by the opposition in this, are so determined to pursue getting gas onshore from the Sunrise field, so that we can start to build our capacity for our own source revenue. Eighty-two per cent of our funds coming directly from Canberra means that we are dependent, very thoroughly dependent, on federal government funding.
Funding levels, I believe, are appropriate and I was very pleased to see that in the latest round from the Grants Commission our relativities had gone up in relation to other jurisdictions. One of the reasons for that was, that the cost of delivering key services in health and education has also risen. One of the justifications for having a Commonwealth Grants Commission is that, whether you live in the Territory in a remote area, or whether you live in a suburb of Melbourne like St Kilda, then you have a government that is funded to be able to deliver an equivalent kind of service no matter where you are. I think this is something that we are very proud of in having a Commonwealth Grants Commission that is actually looking at how to build Australia rather than let areas like Victoria and New South Wales, who have a great capacity to raise revenue, and have greater numbers, simply be able to move ahead in their areas and leave somewhere like the Territory that doesn’t have that capacity, to lag behind. I want to put on the record that we do support the horizontal fiscal equalisation principles of the Commonwealth Grants Commission.
The second part of the question from the member for Nelson was specific purpose payments, so let us just look at those, or the tied grants. They are expected to rise by $2.5m in the 2002-03 year, to $345m. Now, that very meagre amount does not keep pace with inflation and does, in effect, mean that we have a cut in real terms. The total Commonwealth grants for next year are expected to rise by $137m, and that takes us from $1.733bn this year to $1.870bn next year. That is the latest data that I can give the member for Nelson and other members of this House.
Mr Burke: Would you repeat that? Just the grants. You read them rather quickly.
Ms MARTIN: $1.733bn this current year, and that rises to $1.870bn, in round figures, for next year. That is an increase of $137m. Around half this increase has already been factored into the forward estimates for this coming year. That was in the mini-budget for anyone who refers - and I expect daily - to those mini-budget figures, and reflects a larger GST pool in the coming year, as compared with the current year.
To go to that GST pool, under the transitional arrangements that were put in place because of changed tax arrangements, the amount of the general revenue assistance that we get is also equivalent to what is called the guaranteed minimum amount. In other words, assistance from the Commonwealth that would have occurred if the tax reform had not taken place. What we have to make sure is that there is no shortfall between what we used to get and what we now get under GST. There is a budget balancing assistance exercise which is paid to states and territories to make up the amount between the GST revenue and the guaranteed minimum amount.
The increase in the General Revenue Assistance - and that is the $137m - in part reflects CPI, population and other estimates. As I said, it has already been factored into the forward estimates. The remaining $74m reflects the application of those latest Commonwealth grants relativities.
The mini-budget predicted a deficit of $43m in 2002-03, and that is after the present one of $126m. Together with the strong demand in health and education services, it means, in fact, that all those funds are virtually already accounted for when it comes to our ability to deliver services across the Territory …
Mr Burke: Oh, garbage!
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: We can have the opposition say ‘Garbage, garbage’. Let us just look at how many previous years you ran deficits. Did you run deficits purely and simply because you were incompetent and extravagant, or did you run deficits because the demands in those key areas - the big consumers of dollars, Education and Health - were simply under-funded? Your estimates were wrong, and the demand to deliver the bare minimum of services in some areas was far more than the budget allocation. Well, that is the truth of it. We saw how areas were under-funded. This extra funding is simply to be able to keep our heads, collectively, above water. Anyone who thinks that the federal Treasurer - no matter whether he is your mate or not …
Mr Reed: He said you got a windfall.
Ms MARTIN: … no matter whether he is your mate or not, is going to give some kind of windfall to the Territory, then you would have to have bats in your belfry, or something equivalent.
Members interjecting.
Mr Reed: Yes, they were his exact words, the Territory got a windfall.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: We have – and it comes under the horizontal fiscal equalisation principles of the Grants Commission – we get the dollars to be able to deliver average state-like services across the Territory. This is what we are committed to do. This is what your large deficits show that you had to spend even to get close. So, let us not have any rubbish about windfalls. We will be delivering important services, as we committed to do, to Territorians. We will be creating jobs, we will be delivering educational outcomes that are not the disgrace of the nation; and health services that mean Territorians, no matter where they live, will have access to reasonable health services.
I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is an excellent one, and it gives me an opportunity to demonstrate that the funds that we have will simply be able to deliver the services that Territorians need, whether you live in Nakara, Ngukurr, or Nyirripi, in the next financial year.
Review of the Tobacco Act
Dr BURNS to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Can you give the House an update on progress on the review of the Tobacco Act?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, an excellent question from the member for Johnston who, as the former head of the Heart Foundation, has a particular interest in this area. I am very pleased to report on the overhaul of the Tobacco Act, and I must say it is long over due. The Territory has received far too many dirty ashtray awards and I am certainly hoping that we do not get anymore in the future.
I am pleased to say that the public consultation phase of the review of the Tobacco Act is now complete. When I launched this in March, members of the community had been making comments on the document called Review of the Northern Territory Tobacco Act, Discussion Paper 2002, and at the close of the consultation phase we received 180 submissions. These are from the public and from key stakeholders. Of these, the vast majority - in fact more than 97% - have expressed support for the proposals. This is an extraordinary number of submissions to have received on a topic like this and indicates the people of the Northern Territory are very much interested in change in this area.
The discussion paper outlined 39 proposals for possible amendments to the act to help reduce the impact of tobacco on our community. The proposals bring the Northern Territory into line with the rest of Australia with regard to tobacco control. They would protect workers and the general public from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and they would discourage children from starting to smoke in the first place.
For many years it has been known that smoking can seriously affect people’s health. In recent research it would concern the House to know that if a person starts smoking under the age of 16, they are twice as likely to contract the debilitating effects of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. This disease clogs up all arteries in the legs, feet, arms and hands, and can eventually lead to amputation.
In the media this morning, there was a report that Australia-wide smoking has decreased from around 20% of the population to around 19%, which is a wonderful thing. I am very sorry to say that this is not the case in the Northern Territory. In the Northern Territory, we continue to have non-indigenous Territorians smoking at the rate of 30% of the population and, even worse, in indigenous communities 83% of men and 73% of women are smoking. This is a very serious situation.
Mr Stirling: We are going to quit, Jane.
Mrs AAGAARD: This government feels very strongly - yes I would encourage the Deputy Chief Minister to give up smoking. We would like him to live a long and healthy life and I think that anything that we introduce will assist him in this way.
This government feels very strongly about protecting not just our young Territorians but all Territorians, and this is why we have moved so decisively to make positive changes to the Tobacco Act. At the moment, we have a group of people who are producing a Cabinet submission which we will be taking to Cabinet. In the future, we will be bringing forward a proposed bill for changes to the Tobacco Act.
Senior Constable Peter Pagett – Payment of Legal Fees and Back Pay
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
My question relates to the extraordinary ordeal that Senior Constable Peter Pagett has endured, and who was found not guilty by a jury of 12 in the Supreme Court yesterday of one count of assault whilst in the course of his general duties as a Police Officer serving the Northern Territory public.
Now that the court case is over and the allegations found to be false, firstly, do you not agree that the government should, in all fairness, reimburse Mr Pagett for his legal fees and, secondly, will you move quickly to reinstate this man and pay him all of his outstanding entitlements, including back pay?
The reason I have asked this question is because this action will demonstrate the level of support that our police men and women can expect from this government in the future.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. I did follow this case with some interest through the media. It was a case that went back on appeals, as I understand, and it was quite a lengthy trial and, I imagine, expensive. I have no idea as to the costs involved.
The issue of costs back to representing officers in this type of situation through the association is one that is in the hands of the Commissioner of Police in the first instance. Commissioner Bates, I was aware, used to handle all of those matters on approach from the Police Association. I do not know what the guidelines and protocols are in relation to how those are handled. I imagine they are handled on merit within a set of guidelines that the Commissioner and Association very clearly understand.
I would expect that, given we have two separate cases here, two separate trials, back on appeal, and acquitted in this case, that it is something that the Police Association would be looking very closely at. I am not aware of the extent of the costs. As the Leader of the Opposition suggests, it could be fairly high. But until such time as an approach is made to me by the Commissioner, when he has a view to put to the Association or, indeed, the Association comes knocking on my door, I am unable to comment any further until an approach is made in an official fashion as to what the Commissioner of Police’s advice is. I do not direct him in these sorts of things in the first instance.
I do have sympathy for the officer involved. I understand he is a very long serving police officer in the Northern Territory. What this type of case would do to your reputation, well we can see it must have nearly destroyed this man to have gone through the case in the first place, grounds for appeal, a very lengthy trial, short time out for the jury and to come back with an acquittal. I stand ready to hear either from the Police Association or, indeed, the Commissioner of Police, and we will take it from there.
Alice Springs Convention Centre
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
What is the status of the Alice Springs Convention Centre? What benefits will the opening of the Centre bring to the Territory?
Mr Burke: Great CLP project.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for the question. I will pick up on the comment from the Leader of the Opposition and acknowledge first up in responding to this that the initiative to go ahead with the construction of the Alice Springs Convention Centre was an initiative of the previous government, a great initiative, and one that was fully supported by the opposition at that point in time. I am looking forward to the opening on Saturday night and I am sure that all members from Central Australia and other members will be there.
This government and myself as Tourism Minister are looking to build on that initiative and make sure that we get that return on investment that the initiative was founded on. I believe the Chief Minister is coming down on Saturday night, and it will be a fantastic night. All up, $8.5m was committed towards the construction of the Convention Centre. I would like to pay tribute to Sitzler Brothers, the builders; architect, Tom Kern and project manager, Pat Coleman from Darwin. A great job that came in on time and under budget.
The facility is to world standard. It incorporates up to 1200m of exhibition space and a 120 seat amphitheatre set against the MacDonnell Ranges. To complement this, the Lassiters group have also doubled their capacity at the Casino with the construction of an additional 70 rooms at a cost of $14m. This project really has leveraged some significant economic opportunities in Alice Springs.
Honourable members might like to realise that a federal Bureau of Tourism Research study called Meetings Make Their Mark estimated that a four day convention with 600 delegates generates $1m worth of expenditure in the local economy. This extends to local and small business such as restaurants, tour companies, coach companies, dry cleaners, printers, the list goes on. The same size convention is also estimated to create or sustain the employment of twelve people directly, and six people indirectly.
Major projects for this year include the Australian Local Government Association in November with 800 delegates, and ATC’s Dreamtime Trade Show in September. Next year, a major corporate conference has been booked for September with 1300 participants.
I had the privilege in Sydney a few months ago to launch the Convention Centre to conference buyers, convention centre organisers, a really good turn out. We must have had 60 or 70 people and they were excited about this. The main thing that came through was that people were looking for new venues and new opportunities all the time, and I believe that those bookings will come through loud and strong for many years.
To complement this, what we are doing is a total strategic review of the Tourist Commission. People would have seen the ads in the paper on that. A major focus of that is the conventions market and the business travel industry. Our new CEO, Maree Tetlow, has a background and many skills in this particular area and will be able to deliver strongly and capitalise on that investment. The future prospects are very good.
It has also been brightened by Qantas’s recent announcement for more services to Alice Springs from June this year. I am pleased to inform the House that, in spite of the negativity from members opposite, that from June this year, and I am sure from Central Australia you will be able to be really pleased to hear this, we will have 472 more seats into Alice Springs in June this year than June last year. So, a significant achievement, and we all want to see a second airline flying into Alice Springs in order to see competition into Alice Springs.
The bottom line is, we have protected the tourism industry for this year. That is a great credit to Qantas. We are going to have at least 472 more tourists here in June this year than June last year, and we look forward to seeing members from Central Australia at the opening on Saturday night.
Madam SPEAKER: Do we have any other member from the opposition who would like to ask a question? I do not know whether I am inclined to acknowledge the member for Blain after his performance yesterday. Member for Blain, I hope you are going to watch your words today.
School Based Constable Program
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
My question relates to the recent community consultation of the School Based Constable Program. The community consultation, I must say, met with significant cynicism by those involved. The cynicism was further justified, I believe, when I learnt that two crucial support positions for the School Based Constable Program have remained vacant since the start of this year. These positions are, the Curriculum Development Officer on Education, this is an Education Department position with over ten years standing, and the position of DARE Coordinator, a full-time NT Police position. Would you agree minister, that these key support vacancies substantiate your intention to disband DARE?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I concede nothing to the member for Blain following his performance yesterday. This House is indeed still owed an apology over …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: When I spat the dummy in here about a genuine indignation, I did not stand up, red faced and walk out the door. You had to throw me out. It was for a good cause, because you folk were so arrogant that you would not listen. At least I went honourably, Madam Speaker, on any occasion that I went out of this Chamber. I might have been chucked out on the odd occasion but there was good reason for it every time. I did not pull a stunt and spit the dummy.
Madam SPEAKER: I hope you are not inviting me at the moment.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, the second reason I treat with very much caution anything the member for Blain wants to say on this matter, he was a bit like Chicken Little, ‘The sky is falling in, the sky is falling in’ and put the farm yard into a spin.
He said before Christmas, they would be gone by Christmas. There were not going to be any School Based Constables by Christmas. He put it out in his newsletter around the Palmerston area. They are still there. They are still in every school. We are looking to enrich and extend this program, and we said that at the outset. The fact is, when you have got a program that has been in place for some 18-19 years such as this, we are entitled as a government, and I would have thought the opposition would be welcoming a review of it. No private organisation in the world would have a program out there for 18-19 years, without taking the time to go back and have a look. What were the original objectives? Are they still being met? Are they still current? Should they be changed? How many should there be? Where is the program not meeting the needs?
We have plenty of schools in the Northern Territory who have never seen one. They have never seen a school based constable, and that is the situation we want to get to, Madam Speaker. In relation to the cynicism of the consultative process, I have dropped in at a meeting at Palmerston. I did not detect a great deal of cynicism from the people, some of whom are probably attending that meeting from the member for Blain’s own electorate.
In relation to the DARE program, the simple fact is, the decision was made to look at its delivery. When it is school-based constables - fully trained police officers - are called on, it is somewhere in the order of 5000 or 6000 hours per year for delivery of that program. I understand there are questions about the program as to who can and who cannot deliver it, but you do not just say: ‘Oh, well, we cannot touch it’. The fact is, with the program being around for 18-19 years, we are not only entitled to have a look at it, but absolutely obliged to. Absolutely obliged to, as a government, to go through it and just see how it can be done better, and how we can get some interaction in those schools that have never had the good fortune to have a school-based constable within their school. I do treat with caution what the member brings in here when he tells everyone, he tells the world, that they are going to be gone by Christmas. Of course, word spreads through his little newsletter. And here we are, 23 May 2002: they are still there, and will continue to be. They will be in schools they have never been in before.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He was asked a question about two vacancies. He said nothing about them.
Madam SPEAKER: You know the rules about ministers answering questions.
Proposed Darwin Convention Centre - Progress
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
In March, you told the House that the government would fast-track a decision on the proposed Darwin convention centre on the site of the Carlton Hotel, put forward by Darwin City Council. Chief Minister, could you please inform the House of what progress, if any, has been made on this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an important question, particularly in light of the previous question about the opening on Saturday night of the Alice Springs Convention Centre. Again, I pay tribute to the previous administration, it was a good idea. I certainly hope as many as possible are there to mark the occasion on Saturday night.
If you remember, we had a proposal from the Darwin City Council that we could examine the Carlton Hotel as a possible site of a Darwin convention centre. I think there was general agreement this was a good option. I again acknowledge the previous administration for the work they did to try and establish a convention centre somewhere in Darwin. The sums were simply too much, and we recognise that. The option and the early figures on a convention centre, as proposed by the Darwin City Council with the Carlton, seemed good. A decision was made for this government to fast-track that, let us go through the process to see what is really involved and whether it is a possible outcome.
Anyway, with some sense of sadness, I tell the House that, after we did fast-track that proposal, the owners of the Carlton do not want to go ahead. So, the option of having a convention centre associated with Darwin Entertainment Centre and the Carlton Hotel is not an option. That is disappointing, because we all recognise the value of a possible Darwin convention centre, the opportunities for tourism that flow on from business, the importance of it for the Darwin economy. I certainly hope that the predictions for the Alice Springs Convention Centre are going to be realised because, at this stage, they look terrific.
At the same time, we also invited previous applicants who had put in to the CLP’s bid for a convention centre to say whether they were still interested, and there are some still interested. At this stage, it is not appropriate to talk about those because there are commercial-in-confidence issues involved, and I think everyone would respect that. This government is still committed to pursuing every option we can towards moving toward the Darwin convention centre. We are disappointed that what looked like a fairly economical option at the Entertainment Centre and with the Carlton Hotel has not come to fruition. But, to report to the House, we are still pursuing it and we will keep members updated.
Fishing Permits for Darwin Harbour
Mr BALDWIN to CHIEF MINISTER
On the first day of the World Recreational Fishing Conference, the Chief Minister told delegates that there would be no need for permits to fish in the waters off Darwin harbour and beyond, but the NLC has made it very clear a user-pay system of permits to give fishermen access will be introduced, with Norman Fry yesterday saying: ‘With a user-pay system in some areas, that will have to be something which is just a reality’. Chief Minister, you also said: ‘Everything is on the table in negotiations between the government, the NLC and traditional owners in relation to Kenbi’.
How can you then tell this international conference that recreational fisherman will not need permits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a very important conference taking place in the Territory, the third World Recreational Fishing Conference, and I am very pleased that the shadow minister has asked this question. It was a real privilege to stand on the Speaker’s Green and talk to delegates the other night and say: Look, this one of the world’s great recreational fishing spots, and one that we as a government are committed to, not only maintaining, but extending. We as a government have made commitments to extending access for recreational fishing into areas that the previous government simply did not know existed.
We are currently in negotiations to talk about the future of the Cox Peninsula, and after the best part of, what? 23 years of litigation, and millions of dollars, wasted dollars, we are now into a process whereby we will sit down and talk about the future. As far as this government is concerned, options are on the table, we are talking, we are consulting, we are discussing. We are not, as the previous administration did, bullying, litigating, and using confrontation as the only way of moving forward. In terms of access to the harbour we are looking at as wide access as possible and we are sitting down to negotiate.
Mr Baldwin: Do you agree with Norman Fry?
Ms MARTIN I am not going to stand in here and make statements about …
Mr Burke: You did two days ago.
Ms MARTIN: In terms of access to our harbour I made it very clear that I believe that we should have access and that the access should be maintained. We are talking to traditional owners. We are talking to the land councils, and we will work carefully through these discussions.
If you compare our approach, Madam Speaker, to that of the previous government, it is very different. Ours is one of finding solutions, and if we had continued in the same pattern as the previous administration, we would just be going to the cheque book and writing out more cheques.
At this stage, millions of dollars have been spent. More than $20m has been spent on the Cox Peninsula in fighting the Kenbi land claim, and what has been the result? From your point of view, nowhere, just a cost. Any kind of political rhetoric …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: You see? This is exactly what I mean, Madam Speaker, a kind of let us look at who we can create as the enemy. And there we have the member for Daly saying, ‘Oh, yes, look at the land council, they are pulling your strings, they are pulling your strings’.
Madam Speaker, we are talking with traditional owners and land councils, and looking for outcomes that are win/win for all Territorians. We are discarding and rejecting the political style of the past. This is a new way of moving. It is not about division, it is not about creating political battles, that you used for political purposes, and used shamelessly. We will do it differently, and I believe that I can say with confidence to Territorians, particularly Territorians who love to fish, that we will be looking at enhanced fishing access and great recreational fishing for Territorians for the future.
Positive Actions of Government
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Over the last two weeks, Territorians have seen the government in action. Would the Chief Minister explain how the positive actions of the government contrast with the negative carping of the opposition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we could not have a more timely question from the member for Millner. Because if we are going to talk about negative carping, that is all we have heard today. The negative carping of the opposition.
Dr Toyne: For two weeks.
Ms MARTIN: Not only today, but for two weeks, as the Minister for Central Australia says. Well, let us just look at what has happened over these last two weeks, and let us just look at the contrast between this government of action, this government of initiative, and the whinging, bickering, carping opposition.
Let us just look at drugs. We as a government introduced strong anti-drug legislation to tackle drug related crime. We as a government recognised the links between drugs and property crime. The opposition continues to deny the links …
Mr Burke: You are going to drop it by 50%, you are going to drop property crime by 50%. I will look forward to seeing that.
Ms MARTIN: Your Opposition Leader says ‘it’s minuscule’. He says there is no problem. First point of difference. The government introduces legislation to protect victims and witnesses. We look after witnesses. The opposition has left them exposed for 26 years. Does not care. Let us look at an issue that is critical for the future of the Territory, and that is gas. We have put it on the national agenda. What we have is the opposition attempting to negotiate through media release.
Mr Dunham: You put it on the national agenda?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: So exactly how did you put it on the national agenda?
Mr Dunham: Well the former Chief Minister brokered a meeting with the Prime Minister and Shell/Woodside, if you want to know. I am happy to the answer the question if you do not know it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is not to be chat across the Chamber. Chief Minister, resume your seat. You know better than asking questions to a member across the Chamber. You are here to answer and direct your answer to me. Let us get this question answered.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I am very sorry and I will not do it again, but sometimes the comments from the opposition are just hard to believe - a fantasy land that we have to cut through.
Let us look at the important issue of economic development in creating jobs. This week, government gives the green light to a $90m Chinatown development, and what does the opposition do? The opposition criticises the development and criticises a process that, for the first time, awards contracts under the scrutiny of an independent Probity Auditor. The only thing they say is that we should return to the good old days of doing deals behind the Cabinet room doors. On the one hand, we have an independent process, we call for tenders. On the other hand, we have the Probity Auditor. And then we have the CLP way of behind the Cabinet room doors. Is there any comparison? No, Madam Speaker.
Let us look at Health. Government details a landmark indigenous health strategy that is winning local and national applause, and what does our opposition say? The whingeing, whining, carping opposition says it will not work. After 27 years, the best they can say is it will not work.
Let us look at how we run budgets. The first Public Accounts Committee report of this new government damned the budget deception of the previous Treasurer. The member for Katherine, in his response to this, simply shrugs his shoulders, ducks and says the best thing he can say is, he has not done anything legally wrong. He has not done anything legally wrong.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister knows that the debate on the PAC is still in progress and she cannot be referring to that debate in this Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is correct. Could we perhaps get this answer quickly. It seems to be a very long answer.
Ms MARTIN: Only because of the interjections, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, there are too many interjections.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, another really important feature of these last two weeks has been independence for East Timor. I am proud, as Chief Minister, that we as a government have been able to establish a firm and strong relationship with this newest nation in the world. When we look back at the Hansard, many in the opposition are on record as opposing the East Timorese struggle for independence, and they are on the record for many years as doing that.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is a direct lie. For the Chief Minister to accuse the opposition of fighting against independence for East Timor is blatantly not right, inappropriate.
Madam SPEAKER: Did you actually say that, Chief Minister?
Ms MARTIN: Opposing the East Timorese struggle for independence, absolutely. The Hansard record …
Mr HENDERSON: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, any cursory glance through the Hansard record would indicate, over many, many years, when members on this side of the House raised issues in terms of independence for East Timor, on numerous occasions debate was gagged, statements were refused to be tabled, and some pretty insulting comments were made by members on the other side of the House in relation to this. Any cursory glance of the Hansard record would show that.
Mr BURKE: Speaking to the point of order, notwithstanding the sentiments of any member of this House, I would hope that you would rule it as most inappropriate for anyone to make those sort of allegations against anyone.
Madam SPEAKER: I was thinking just that. I felt it was a very sweeping statement to make after we have moved a motion congratulating East Timor on their independence that you should reflect on that.
I know you are trying to sum up what you have done, but I really think that …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Come on, let us get this answer over and done with.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I am trying to draw the difference between a government of action, a government of commitment, and the kind of words that we have heard from the opposition and the inaction.
As we reflect on two weeks of sittings, I think this is a fairly valid thing to do.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, Question Time, I really prefer questions to be about things that happen in government departments, rather than a summary of what government has done for the last so long. Would you get on with your answer and make it as concise as possible.
Ms MARTIN: Well, Madam Speaker, a final point, and we are very proud of this in government. This is what a minister and a government has done, reflected in the activities of a government department. We are upgrading Marrara so that we can host AFL and test cricket matches. This contrasts strongly with the opposition, who allowed Marrara to deteriorate so badly we could not even host those games in the end. So I just make the point Madam Speaker …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would ask the Chief Minister to give details about the additional taxes she is going to impose this day.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I say to the opposition, stop whinging, whining, carping and bickering as we have seen. Really, where are your constructive and positive ideas to join in the debate and to join in the framework of an action parliament, which you are sadly failing in now.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): I would ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Madam SPEAKER: It is unfortunate that sometimes answers to questions do provoke interjections, but there have been too many. That was far too …
Ms Lawrie interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, I am saying there are far too many interjections. I believe the Minister for Health and Community Services has some additional information.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Mrs AAGAARD (Health and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I would like to assure honourable members that there is no problem whatsoever in having morning teas, and I hope that your morning tea goes very well tomorrow. I hope that as many as possible honourable members are also going to be enjoying morning teas with their electorates and raising a lot of money for cancer research. I can assure you that there is completely no issue in relation to my department with this kind of activity.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016