2003-05-29
Virgin Blue – Use by Public Servants on Official Travel
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, why is your government asking for a ‘please explain’ from public servants if they do not fly with Virgin Blue Airlines?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong in saying we are asking for a ‘please explain’. Whether public servants fly with Virgin Blue or not, that is not appropriate. We are looking at using both airlines that are coming to the Territory and this should be something that we are very aware of. On coming to government, I believe we made a very good deal with Virgin Blue, and they came to the Territory. It was very unfortunate, we thought we were getting a third airline in. Unfortunately, Ansett collapsed after that so it became the second airline. However, we are very pleased with Virgin Blue’s response to the Territory. They will fly into Alice Springs - from next Thursday isn’t it, Tourism Minister? - also a direct flight from Sydney into Darwin next month.
What we want to see is the initiative we used with persuading Virgin Blue to look at the Territory and start those very important flights, to be able to build not only the capacity of flights, but the tourism numbers coming to the Territory. We then want public servants to be able to take advantage of those flights wherever possible. We have no apology about saying: ‘Yes, we should be using it’. As members of parliament, we should be using Virgin Blue where appropriate when that suits your schedules, the same with Qantas. We want to build …
Mr Reed: Do we have to give a ‘please explain’ too?
Ms MARTIN: There is no ‘please explain’. Certainly, we are saying to public servants and other Territorians, and also to the residents of Alice Springs: ‘We fought hard to get Virgin Blue to come to Alice Springs, for heaven’s sake, use them’. Virgin Blue has to operate on a commercial basis and we have to make sure that Territorians, after having government work in a focussed, determined way to get a second airline to the Territory, are actually supporting the second airline. It is not saying: ‘Ignore Qantas’. This is saying that we have two airlines and we have to make sure that both of them are going to continue to come to the Territory.
Tennant Creek - Recommencement of Gold Industry
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Madam Speaker, this is, quite possibly, the most important question asked on my part thus far in the House. I understand that a stock exchange announcement was made today by a Tennant Creek mining company. Can you please advise the House on the details of that announcement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for this very important question. I am very pleased to advise the House today that gold will be pouring again in Tennant Creek …
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr HENDERSON: It is absolutely fantastic news - the announcement that gold will be pouring in Tennant Creek by as early as October. A great announcement to the stock exchange today by Giants Reef that they have secured the finance that they need to develop the Chariot gold deposit in Tennant Creek. The ore will be crushed and milled at the old Warrego mine. This really is a very exciting day for Tennant Creek. A mining town without a mine is a pretty sad place, and Tennant Creek has been without any mining activity since 1999. Today’s announcement is going to be a huge boost for Tennant Creek.
The government has been working with the assistance of the member for Barkly, who has been absolutely tenacious in ensuring that Giants Reef gets into production. We provided a regional development grant earlier this year of $300 000 to Giants Reef to assist them until such time as they secured the cash flow. They have had a number of people in Tennant Creek working on the business and financial plan to ensure that this deposit is developed. We can see from some photographs that I have here of the open cut - and I will circulate these to members - that has been dug over recent months. That is the current status. I was there with the member for Barkly two or three weeks ago. Today secures the decline that is going to release more than 130 000 tonnes of ore a year through the open cut and underground mining at Chariot’s, and process the ore for about 60 000 ounces of gold at the nearby Warrego treatment plant.
Not only do we have this mine operating …
Mr Stirling: There is more!
Mr HENDERSON: There is more. Giants Reef acquired all of the old Normandy leases. They have a very bright bunch of young talented geologists. At the presentation that I and the member for Barkly had a few weeks ago, they are very excited about further gold deposits that they will be able to secure and build upon as the cash flow comes in from this particular operation.
Whilst I am on my feet, I am sure that this House and anybody who knows about the mining industry in the Northern Territory, would like to pay tribute to the founding father of Giants Reef, Nick Byrne, who has pursued this dream for many, many years. Today must be a great day for Nick Byrne, as the largest shareholder in Giants Reef. He is a man who is absolutely passionately committed to mining in the Northern Territory, particularly in Tennant Creek. We have a guarantee from Giants Reef that this will not be a fly in/fly out operation, that all of the workers will be based and live in Tennant Creek. It is a fantastic day for the mining industry, Tennant Creek, and for Nick Byrne - and a great tribute to him.
This is a great day for Tennant Creek. Gold mining, gold pouring in October, with more to come. I pass on my congratulations to Giants Reef and to Nick Byrne on a job well done, and we look forward to working with them into the future.
Madam SPEAKER: I like the story also that half the residents of Tennant Creek have shares in Giants Reef and showed confidence in doing that. That is great, it has been rewarded.
Members: Hear, hear!
___________________________
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, in the gallery we have a class from St Mary’s Primary School, accompanied by their teacher. On behalf of all members, a warm welcome to you all.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Virgin Blue – Use by Public Servants on Official Travel
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
I refer the Chief Minister to her previous answer where she said that Qantas and Virgin Blue airlines will compete in the Northern Territory on a commercial basis. She also said that public servants do not have to ‘please explain’ for flying with Virgin Blue, and she also said that a ‘please explain’ is not appropriate.
I will table for your information an e-mail message that has gone out from the Department of Industries and Resource Development on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Chief Minister’s Department, Mr Tyrell, which says, in part, encouraging public servants to use Virgin airlines:
- … a note should be included with movement requisitions indicating that Virgin airlines has been considered, and if it is not being used, why.
So every public servant who travels has to put in a movement requisition and explain why they have not used Virgin Blue.
I ask you Chief Minister, why do you not trust the judgment of your public servants to make those decisions without a please explain; and, secondly, how do you feel Qantas, the largest carrier in the Northern Territory, will view this in terms of commercial equity?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what an extraordinary question from the Leader of the Opposition. When you look at the fact that his own spokesperson for tourism, the member for Araluen, has beat her chest for months about the importance of getting a second airline into Alice Springs, when we were working determinedly to get that airline in, and yet here we have the Leader of the Opposition saying that we should not be encouraging and making our public servants aware of using Virgin Blue Airlines now they are here in the Territory. How absurd! Public servants are a considerable user of airlines. There are a lot of travel movements from public servants. I am proud to stand here and say we are encouraging them to use Virgin Blue Airlines. It is very important, in supporting Virgin’s move to the Territory, that we have to be saying to public servants that you must consider Virgin as one of the two airlines available - also, internally, Air North. We must be supporting our airlines and so …
Mr Burke: Qantas will hit the roof. They might even drop a flight back, have you thought of that?
Ms MARTIN: The Leader of the Opposition continues to talk down Virgin …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Chief Minister, cease. There is too much noise on both sides of the House. Government members, allow your Chief Minister to reply, and opposition, not so many interjections.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we have consistently heard the opposition talk down Virgin Blue Airlines. We had the member for Drysdale saying: ‘Who would use them, they have a clapped out fleet’. The member for Drysdale was very uncomplimentary about Virgin Blue Airline’s fleet.
What we need in the Territory is to build our airline capacity. We have been doing this and will continue to do it. I spent considerable time in March talking to international airlines about coming to the Territory. Tourism is a key industry sector for us and it will not work unless we are getting those airlines into the Territory. Qantas and Virgin Blue are critical to our future, and this government will encourage public servants, who formerly were perhaps using Ansett and, once Ansett collapsed, then started using Qantas, that we need to be supporting both airlines in the Territory who are flying interstate. We will encourage our public servants to use Virgin Blue Airlines. The last thing we want - and this underpins this question - is to lose an airline into the Territory. Is this what this is all about, Opposition Leader? Are you trying to say that we should not be actively supporting both airlines?
We will actively support Virgin Blue’s presence in the Territory. We are also supporting Qantas. I would like to praise both airlines for supporting both our tourism industry and the access Territorians have to the rest of Australia. That is a shameful question from the Opposition Leader. As Chief Minister, I say we will continue to encourage public servants to use Virgin Blue Airlines where appropriate, where it fits their schedules, as well as Qantas and Air North.
ABS Crime Statistics
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2002 Recorded Crime Statistics were released today. What does the Australian Bureau of Statistics tell us about crime in the Northern Territory, and about the CLP’s discredited mandatory sentencing regime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the ABS Recorded Crime Statistics released today tell a very simple story, and that is that mandatory sentencing did not work. The ABS figures show the number of victims of break-ins each year for a 10-year period. Those figures reveal that the number of victims of break-in offences in the Northern Territory rose steadily after the introduction of mandatory sentencing to reach an all-time high in 2001 of 6547 victims - the last year of the CLP’s mandatory sentencing regime. The figures also show the number of victims started to decline in 2002 once mandatory sentencing was replaced by our targeted property offence regime.
It is encouraging that the ABS figures show the Territory recorded the second-highest drop in break-in victim numbers in Australia in 2002, down by 15.2%, and only exceeded by Tasmania.
Dr Burns: Say it again, I did not hear it. Could you repeat it?
Dr TOYNE: I will say it again. The ABS figures show that the Territory recorded the second-highest drop in break-in victim numbers in Australia in 2002, down 15.2%, and only exceeded by Tasmania.
These figures show our law enforcement and crime prevention strategies are starting to produce results, although we still have a lot of work to do. The number of victims of break-ins and assaults in the Territory is still way too high, and we have already said that one victim is one too many. While we know that we cannot stop crime entirely, we are committed to continuing to work to reduce crime levels through effective law enforcement and targeted crime prevention strategies.
The message coming clearly from the release of the ABS statistics today is that mandatory sentencing was never the solution the CLP claimed. In fact, these figures are just another nail in the mandatory sentencing coffin.
Acquisition of Defence Land at Lee Point
Mr BALDWIN to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Minister, I note that in regards to the purchase of Lee Point land, your office was recently quoted in the NT News as saying negotiations were continuing and it was hopeful a resolution would be reached in the next couple of months. You know I have raised this issue in this House a number of times. Can you please explain what you are going to do with the purchase of Defence land at Lee Point from the Commonwealth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a great pleasure for me to update the House on what is happening at Lee Point because, obviously, the member is not up to scratch with what has happened there. We have been negotiating with the Commonwealth for the release of Lee Point land. Negotiations were tough, they were asking for a very big price, in excess of $10m. The department and the government was not prepared to pay that price. However, because the Defence Housing Authority approached us, we agreed and we advised the Commonwealth that we were prepared to withdraw our effort to purchase the land in favour of Defence Housing Authority.
The Defence Housing Authority intends to acquire the land. However, the government and Defence Housing Authority will sign a memorandum of understanding that will specify when and how things will start happening, and the local content. We are very pleased to say that the document for the sale of Defence land to the Defence Housing Authority is before the federal minister who is responsible for the land. I believe it will be signed very quickly, and the memorandum of understanding between the government and the Defence Housing Authority is about to be signed. Also, I believe the Defence Housing Authority wants to acquire only a certain number of houses in Lee Point, and they are actively seeking a developer to become partner for the development of a new suburb in Lee Point.
Ambulance Services – Expansion of Services
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Minister, can you please inform the House what government support is being provided to increase ambulance services to the people of Darwin, Palmerston and the rural community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, an excellent question from the member for Millner. I am very pleased to be able to announce the expansion of the ambulance services in the Darwin and Palmerston area. On coming to government, we were faced with an ambulance service which was under-funded and could not always respond to call-outs as quickly as they might have wanted to. This government is fixing that. We inherited an ambulance service which included a 24 hour, seven day service at Casuarina and Palmerston, no service in the rural area, and a Monday to Friday service, nine to five, at Parap. Since coming to government, we have funded an ambulance for an after hours weekend service at Humpty Doo, and we have significantly increased the hours of the service at Parap.
Today, I am happy to announce that, from 1 November this year, the Parap Ambulance Station will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thus fulfilling a major election commitment, and also significantly improving the service for people throughout the Darwin, Palmerston and rural areas. This is a fantastic for the people of Darwin.
While I am on my feet, I would like to congratulate a couple of young women who, on the 15 May, I was very pleased to be able to present with the 2003 Ambulance Officer of the Year awards. It was wonderful. The awards went to Karen Joyner and Susan Murphy. I understand it is the first time that two non-ambulance drivers received this award. Let me put on the record that St John Ambulance provides an excellent service throughout the Northern Territory; all honourable members would consider this to be the case. The expansion of this service will improve the whole area of acute services in my department and, together with the on-call service, which we are implementing this financial year, will mean significant changes to that after-hours service.
Darwin Soccer Ground
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
According to the local media, it seems that the government is considering providing land for soccer near the Berrimah Power Station. Would the minister say why the Marrara sporting precinct, the main centre for Darwin sport, is not a suitable place for the home of soccer? Would he agree that putting soccer away from Marrara and under the main flight path into Darwin is a silly one? Why won’t the government consider the use of this industrial land at Berrimah as a suitable place for the $1.6m container terminal proposed for the Middle Arm Peninsula?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I assure you that the government did not offer any land for soccer in Berrimah. As a matter of fact, my colleague, the minister for sport, has been negotiating with the Soccer Federation and other interested parties. He suggested a way to work through the difficulties and differences, and has asked me to come back to him by June with suggestions of what soccer is going to do in the Northern Territory. Following that, then we negotiate the possibility of granting some land, but certainly, I assure you, not in Berrimah. I am very keen to watch the sport grow.
My colleague, Paul Henderson, and I have children who play soccer, and yourself and the Chief Minister - a very good team, I might add. However, we will be negotiating for the land after they come to us and advise the minister for sport how they are going to bring the sport up to a certain level in the Territory.
Hire Car Industry Legislation
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Minister, you say you have been consulting with the hire car industry for two years, and tinkering with a bill which has been sitting in this parliament since November. Now – at the last gasp – you have told some members of the industry that a new act will be in place by 30 June. That gives you a mere one month to come up with a new bill, consult, and pass through all stages. Can you even begin to understand the stress that this puts on those small business owners? Did you know that at least one of these small business operators has decided to leave the industry because of the uncertainty you have created?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member very much for his question. I am surprised that he asked the question, usually the member for Greatorex is very active about the taxi industry. On the other hand, when the CLP introduced changes to the taxi industry, he only spoke once or twice - and that was to congratulate the government for destroying a very good industry.
I introduced the first stage of the legislation, which went through. With that legislation, we established the Taxi Advisory Board and I tabled the second bill to be discussed. However, I have to admit that this government is listening to the people in the Territory, in contrast to the previous government that destroyed the industry by asking that taxis pay $16 000 a year for a licence, minibuses pay $500 a year; leaving a sector of the industry to operate as de facto taxis without enforcing their own legislation. We consulted with the taxi and private hire car operators. We listened to the private hire car operators and we are going to withdraw the executive taxi category from the legislation. I have never told the industry I am going to introduce new legislation. What is going to happen is that we are going to have certain amendments in the legislation. I do not care to introduce …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Well, obviously, the member for Drysdale’s mind was somewhere else - probably the state of their kiosk at Freds Pass Show. He did not listen to exactly what I was referring to.
I did not say I am going to introduce new legislation, I said I am going to introduce certain amendments. The reason for that is because we want an industry that will provide service to the customers and enough money for the drivers, the subcontractors who work in the industry, to take home. We listen to the industry; we have listened to the private hire car operators’ concerns. I met with them in Alice Springs and in Darwin, and it seems that none of these people have come complaining or have been to the media. They are quite satisfied with the solution we have suggested.
Alcoholic Milk Drinks – Sale and Supply in the Territory
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
I heard media reports earlier this week about a new alcoholic milk drink on the market called Moo Joose - maybe they have had some over on the other side. Can you please advise the House what the Territory government’s view is on the sale and supply of Moo Joose in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question because I, too, was concerned to see a photo in the NT News of this so-called Moo Joose product. We recognise, understand and appreciate that there is nothing wrong with enjoying a drink in the Northern Territory - it is an integral part of our lifestyle. However, I have concerns when I see what I believe are moves by liquor companies to directly target and market that product to young people. Moo Joose comes in nicely shaped soft drink-type bottles, brightly coloured, with a hefty old alcoholic kick of about 5% or 6%, I believe, and in banana, chocolate, and a number of flavour varieties. Products like that - and we saw some time ago, alcoholic ice blocks - we think, are obviously targeting a young market group. That is irresponsible of liquor companies to try to direct their product and encourage under-age drinking.
I am pleased to advise the House and Territorians that the Chairman of the Licensing Commission shares those concerns. He has advised me that if there is any attempt made to market Moo Joose in the Territory, the commission will act immediately to prohibit the sale and distribution. He has written to the company, which is a Victorian-based company. I will table the letter; it is quite straightforward:
- I write to inform you that in the event any endeavour is made to sell or distribute the product known as Moo Joose within the Northern Territory, the commission will immediately take all necessary steps to prohibit its sale and distribution.
The Licensing Commission has taken that step. You would expect that would be enough but, in the event that it was not, the commission certainly has power to vary the conditions of licensees. Under those powers, they could ban the sale and supply of certain products by licensees, such as we saw with the action taken by the commission in relation to alcoholic icy poles. Both sides of the House would agree that that was totally inappropriate as well. If not, of course, in the end, government could take steps to specifically ban Moo Joose through the liquor regulations. At this stage, it is not deemed necessary to do that.
However, we are all aware of stories of under-age drinkers engaging in irresponsible, and even dangerous behaviour as a result of that, and not to mention, of course, health risks that quite young folk and, in fact, any age really, can suffer from excessive drinking. It is not something that we want to encourage further by allowing products such as this on to the market. It is important that we all take a stand against what I see as quite unconscionable and unscrupulous conduct on the part of liquor companies that come up with these products - nicely packaged, nice flavours, nice colours, that we see as a cynical move to effectively target under-age drinkers.
Hire Car Industry Legislation
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
The minister’s last answer only adds to the uncertainty, because the advice he gave me in Alice Springs prior to the last sittings differs from the advice he has given to the House. It differs from the advice he has given to the industry in Alice Springs and Darwin.
We are now being told that the act before this parliament will be amended and we have no detail on that. Could he please at least give the industry some surety, at this 11th hour, before the changes are introduced, what they might be?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. However, once again, the member is misinformed. What I said to the industry in Alice Springs is exactly what I said to the industry in Darwin. Regarding surety for the industry, let me spell out what the change will be. We withdraw the category of executive taxis. The member has longer parliamentary experience than me, and he knows very well that that can be by amending the bill which we have in the House in its committee stages. We are going to retain the private hire cars, and the fees will be for the first year $3000 a year, the second year will be $4500 …
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: $3500 or $2500? I cannot understand him. $2500 or $3500?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, if we had a bit of silence we might be able to hear the minister. Minister, you have to slow down a little.
Mr VATSKALIS: I will repeat if for the member for Greatorex. Obviously he has some problem with hearing, Madam Speaker.
The first year, private hire cars will pay $3000 for their licence; the second year $4500; the third year and from thereon, $6000. Any new entry will pay $6000 up-front. We have a new category with the limousines, and they will pay $2000. I have spoken to that section of the industry and they are very happy with this solution.
We will allow the private hire cars to have a mobile phone and the client can directly call a private hire car. That will contrast with the previous government’s legislation which prohibited the use of mobile phones or communication network by private hire cars. We will have the limousines operating through base communication, and they are happy about that. That is what they see their role to be.
These are the changes that will take place in the industry, and both groups of the industry I met in Alice Springs and in Darwin are very happy with our suggestions. What we are going to do is bring the bill before the House and we will amend the bill …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Once again, the members are misinformed, or even now they do not listen. What we want to say is that we will bring the bill to the House and amend it in the committee stages.
Department of Justice – Alice Springs Office
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Minister, this government has been clear about its commitment to overcome the CLP-created Berrimah Line. Can you please advise the House about the funding in this …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: People spoke about the Berrimah Line for years, you just were not listening.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale, order! Please repeat just the question.
Ms LAWRIE: Can the minister please advise the House about the funding in this year’s budget to open an office of the Department of Justice in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for what is a very important question for Central Australia. There is no doubt in the minds of people in Central Australia that the Martin government is looking after them to a degree that was unprecedented by our predecessors. Today, I am delighted to confirm that we are putting $250 000 into the establishment of a greatly expanded office for the sections of the Department of Justice in Alice Springs. For the first time, we will bring a really powerful focus to the work of several of the areas of my department in Alice Springs and the Centralian region.
The first area is the Office of Crime Prevention, which will now be represented directly in Alice Springs through a position to be established there. That will be an important support for the Regional Crime Prevention Councils currently operating in Central Australia, along with future councils in that part of the Northern Territory, including the Barkly.
The Alice in 10 group will be endowed with a $200 000 grant to increase the work on their crime prevention strategies and help establish dry areas in some of the town camps in Alice Springs, an ambition that has been around for many years now on the part of the town campers.
We will be strengthening indigenous input into crime prevention through additional positions that will allow bush trips to remote communities to work at the other end of the puzzle. Many of the problems that we are trying to get on top of in Alice Springs require work, not only in Alice Springs, but in the home communities of people who have come into town.
We are increasing capacity to the community corrections arm of our Correctional Services so that we can better reintegrate prisoners into the community at the end of their sentence periods.
We have allocated $150 000 to establish a Community Justice Centre in Alice Springs, along the same lines as the one that will be opening very shortly in Darwin. Again, it attacks the Berrimah Line; it is not a case of always trialling here in Darwin and then moving out. This will occurring concurrently in Alice Springs.
We will also be expanding the presence and activities of Consumer Affairs in Alice Springs. In a question that you put yesterday, Madam Speaker, about unlicensed motor dealers in the remote communities, we have busted a few of them already and, with this additional capacity in Alice Springs, we will get after a few more and clean up that area of illegal activity.
This is great news for Alice Springs. It is another sign that our government is deploying resources and activities below the Berrimah Line. We are building up the equity of Central Australia with the rest of the Territory. It will go from strength to strength.
Senior Public Servant – Allegations of Corruption
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, and TRAINING
Minister, you would be aware from media reports that one of your new senior public servants in the Health Department was subject to a Western Australian Public Service inquiry into allegations of corruption. That inquiry is stalled because the person no longer works for the Western Australian Public Service, they now work for the Northern Territory.
On 20 May, the Commissioner for Public Employment stated in the NT News that the appointment in the Northern Territory was merit based. Did the Commissioner of Public Employment make you aware of this individual’s circumstances prior to his appointment? Second, what was the involvement of the Commissioner for Public Employment in this appointment to a senior position in the Department of Health and Community Services?
ANSWER
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, Madam Speaker. The note I have in front of me says that on 8 May the CEO of Health announced appointments to seven senior positions within the Department of Health and Community Services. Two of those appointees apparently attracted some comment relating to allegations made against them in previous jobs they held; one of them some years ago. In both cases, both men were completely exonerated of any allegations made. Both men were clearly the best candidates for the jobs advertised, as was the case with all other senior appointments. I would be very surprised if it was any other way, given the merit principle application. In both cases, the panel conducted referee checks. In addition, the CEO actively sought out and interrogated additional referees, including the Director-General of the Western Australian Department of Health and the Director-General of the South Australian Department of Human Services.
I do not know if the opposition is suggesting that the merit principle ought not apply in a situation where someone has had an allegation made against them some time in the past; even where that allegation, as in this case, has been found to have no substance. To do otherwise would be to allow innuendo and unfounded allegation to lay against a person’s name forever, with their name blackened simply on false allegations.
All decisions made in relation to recruitment and appointment to the public sector are made pursuant to the Public Sector Employment and Management Act - no question about that. I would expect that, in both of these cases and, indeed, in every case - and I would want to know if it was not the case - every appointment made to the Northern Territory public sector is on the basis of merit. This is very clearly outlined in the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, an act that was strongly supported by this side of the House when it passed in the early 1990s. It was very strongly supported, indeed, on the question of the merit principle being the key criteria when it comes to appointments to positions.
It is unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition comes in here, under parliamentary privilege, to again undermine the integrity of appointments and people such as these, even before they have commenced work. It is something that he could have given me ring or written to me about, or sought a briefing discreetly from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment. I am sure the commissioner would be more than happy to meet with and work with him through the questions he has raised, rather than have to come in here and put them straight on the public record.
I am also advised that both people come with extraordinarily impressive backgrounds. They have experience of over 20 years in their respective fields. I know the Minister for Health and Community Services has seen references and documents concerning both, and she is aware of the allegations made against them. I should probably leave it there, I have covered the points in relation to the Leader of the Opposition.
It is unfortunate that those sorts of things are raised here. He has the opportunity, as we all do, to access the minister, or the Commissioner for Public Employment through my office, and I would be happy if he still wanted to do that, notwithstanding that he has raised it here now. There is a responsibility on us all, as members of parliament, notwithstanding that we have privilege in this place, to raise allegations - and when they are in the public interest they ought be raised. In this case, there is the potential to further blacken names on the basis of unfounded allegations, which have nothing in them and are putting a black mark against people’s names before they have even started.
Management of Northern Territory Fisheries
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
I understand the Commonwealth government is auditing and accrediting the way in which the Northern Territory manages its fisheries. Can the minister please explain the impact of that outcome of the accreditation of our fisheries management and what effect that will have on jobs and our lifestyle?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. As most of you would be aware, the Commonwealth laws require states and territories to demonstrate that export fisheries are sustainable and do not have a detrimental impact on the environment or upon threatened species. Therefore, the Commonwealth government has recently accredited the Timor Reef line and trap fisheries for tropical snappers. This is the highest level of accreditation possible. This has an impact on our fisheries, because there are two other fisheries that are already accredited at this very high level - the mud crab fishery and our Spanish mackerel fishery. This accreditation means that these commercial fisheries can now have guarantees to overseas customers, that they are highly accredited, and they can continue to supply to these international markets over the coming years. Significantly, the Commonwealth government has stated that it will ban exports from any fishery that does not receive some level of accreditation. Therefore, this accreditation for three of our major fisheries is very important, particularly for our export trade.
The seafood industry employs approximately 1400 Territorians in catching, processing and associated industries. That was worth some $117m to the Territory economy in 2001-02. It is estimated that that probably increased to approximately $300m in flow-on to other sectors of our economy. It is very important that the three major fisheries have secured this accreditation. However, the mere fact - or not a mere fact, it is actually a pivotal part of it - that these fisheries are ecologically sustainable, has implications for our recreational fishermen, and that also includes the fishing tour operators. We are coming into a season when the mackerel will be boiling around Darwin, and the mud crabs will be walking along the bottom of the sea. I do not know how many Territory fishermen get out to the Timor Reef, but there are plenty of mud crabs and mackerel around.
I would like to pay compliment to our Fisheries Division, which is doing extensive research into our mackerel fishery. This is a gene tag program, quite unique in Australia. It is giving us a real handle on the population of mackerel around our coast and the sustainability of the fisheries. I am proud, and eagerly anticipating going out in a couple of weeks to witness and take part in some of this tagging activity. I am taking an active interest in this particular portfolio, it is great for the Territory.
The other element of it is the government’s continuing support for the aquaculture projects around the Territory, particularly the barramundi project, which is now turning out something like 15 tonnes per week of barramundi from Port Hurd. That is coming up to a total this year where they expect to equal the wild catch. That also has an impact on our wild fisheries. Things are very good, with Commonwealth accreditation and the implications, not only for the seafood industry, but also for our recreational fisheries.
Senior Public Servant – Allegations of Corruption
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Minister, with reference to my last question, you said in your answer - also by note, because you got the information from the minister for Health - that the individual concerned was completely exonerated. The reason I asked the question was that my information was that charges were laid against that individual, and then dropped because a public service inquiry was going to be held into the allegations. That raised concerns at the time in Western Australia by the Commissioner for Corruptions. That investigation was not completed. I am happy to be corrected on that. It was not completed because the individual no longer works for the Western Australia public service.
It is in that context - and it is very important, I believe - that public servants are assured that that process was totally completed. It is important to ask what role the Commissioner for Public Employment played because I asked you, minister, whether you were aware that our Commissioner for Public Employment was the immediate superior officer of the Health Department executive subject to those corruption allegations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I see where the Leader of the Opposition is trying to draw a conspiracy thread here. I can assure him that he is way, way on the wrong tram if he is trying to point to anything by way of the Public Service Commissioner. I would have thought that if the Leader of the Opposition, or anyone, had any dealings with him, they would have nothing but the highest regard for his integrity, the values and attitudes that he brings to that position, the way he sees the public sector in the role that it plays in society and the community it serves, and the way he wants to see our public service moulded. He is a credit.
It is so unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition would try to thread some conspiracy between the Commissioner for Public Employment and this public servant on the basis that they may have worked together some time ago in Western Australia. You really are starting to get into the gutter. I am reminded of a statement by a previous Chief Minister, Marshall Perron, who said, ‘dancing with grubs’. That always stuck in my mind, and this is an example of getting down in the gutter and dancing with the grubs that lie down there in the mud, the filth and the stink.
I am advised that, when the allegations were first made, the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who found no case. The Director-General of Western Australian Health stated that Mr Houston had suffered a high level of disadvantage while the matter was investigated by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He believes he was a highly regarded officer, and will carry out his new role with commitment, integrity and in exceptional capacity. That is the sort of description I would lay at the feet of our Commissioner for Public Employment as well.
There were two internal departmental investigations, both of which exonerated him, the second of which was commissioned by the current Director-General to resolve the matter once and for all. I would feel a bit awkward, Madam Speaker, offering an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to be briefed by our Commissioner for Public Service on this, given the disgraceful remarks and the inference that somehow our Commissioner for Public Service is covering something up here, or involved in some sort of conspiracy. He is a man of honour compared to you. You are a disgrace!
Chinatown Project
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Early last year, it was announced we would have a Chinatown project. The Chinatown project would feature a nine-storey office tower, a retail shopping precinct, food court, two hotels, open air food market, car parks, restaurants, and cafes. In May last year, the government awarded a tender for more than 4000 m of office space in Darwin for the development of Chinatown. In a press release to the NT News dated 6 March 2003, it stated that construction to start next month was for a $20m hotel deal. Can the Chief Minister please tell parliament what the government is now doing to address its shortage of office space?
ANSWER
Well, Madam Speaker, number one we do not have a shortage, and number two is that the Chinatown development is a private development that is a complex one. The financial issues are being worked through. We are very supportive of the Leeon Consortium and this development, which will bring jobs and economic activity to the centre of Darwin. You are right, member for Nelson, they won a tender for 4000 m-plus of office space. It was a fair and open process. We wish Leeon Consortium well in this, their first major development, that there is financial close shortly which, I believe, will be in a couple of months.
Member for Goyder - Alleged Conflict of Interest
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The previous police minister raised concerns regarding a shadow minister acting as a criminal lawyer. Can the minister please advise the House if this significant conflict of interest has been resolved?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Last year, the government did raise concerns in this Assembly that the member for Goyder, as the CLP shadow Attorney-General, was acting as a legal advisor to a man charged with drugs and firearms offences, and had over-charged a woman with a $1000 bill for legal advice on a matrimonial matter.
The government expressed then, and continues to express, concern about the appropriateness of a member of parliament, who is on a package of over $100 000 a year, spending his time in the market, charging people for legal advice. We also question the appropriateness of the shadow Attorney-General, the CLP’s number one spokesperson on law and order, of providing legal advice as a criminal lawyer on how to dodge charges to a person accused of breaking the law.
It must be remembered that, as the CLP’s shadow Attorney-General, he has access to information on proposed government legislation and policies not available to the legal fraternity or to the general public. The CLP’s shadow Attorney-General has said he only provides free advice, and he does so to serve his electorate of Goyder. He told Territorians, and I quote from an article in the NT News:
- Where he is utilising his legal expertise, he has assured Territorians his advice will be at no charge.
That was the Leader of the Opposition stating that he has been assured that the advice will be at no charge. The member for Goyder himself told Territorians on Fred McCue’s show on ABC radio:
- If people come to my door and I am in my electorate office, or they ring me at home at night and I can give them some advice, and if the fact that I am a legal practitioner helps me give them some advice, I will.
That is a quote from the member for Goyder. The question is: who is the CLP’s proposed Attorney-General responsible to - the parliament and his electorate, or his client who is paying the fee? What does he do if he has an electorate matter and a fee-paying customer to serve? Who does he serve? The answer is that he serves himself.
His explanation about his money-making activities as a criminal solicitor did not stack up last year, and they do not stack up now. The recently-released telephone book, delivered around the Territory in recent weeks, casts more doubt over exactly what he is up to. The phone book is delivered to over 50 000 Territory households and businesses. It goes far and wide, well beyond the 4000 constituents in Goyder. This edition includes three entries for Mr Maley, the CLP’s number one spokesperson on law and order and the proposed first law officer of the Northern Territory from the opposition. One is for Mr Maley, the citizen, at his private residence – no problems about that; one is for Mr Maley, the member for Goyder – no problems about that. However, the third one is for Mr Maley, not the citizen, not the local member, but Mr Maley the solicitor.
The entry on page 124 of the White Pages is in bold, and I table the entry, Madam Speaker, reads:
- MALEY PETER Slcr
18 Harry Chan Ave Drwn
The advertisement is for a commercial legal practice located next to the Magistrates Courts in Darwin. The practice is also promoted in a half-page advertisement on page 769 of the Yellow Pages. I table that as well.
The problem is that Mr Maley is paid to be a member of parliament, not to continue his career as a criminal lawyer. He said he provides advice to his constituents for free. Why is he advertising his commercial premises to 50 000 Territorians, directing them to his law firm, located in the heart of Darwin, 30 km from his electorate office? He is out there touting for business, debunking his story and his commitment to Territorians last year.
The question I ask is this: why won’t the Leader of the Opposition do anything about this situation? Why does the Leader of the Opposition sit motionless when his chief spokesperson on law on order puts his practice as a criminal lawyer above that of his duties as a member of parliament? I will tell you why: it is because the Leader of the Opposition is fighting to keep the title of leader, but he is not prepared to lead. If the Leader of the Opposition was in control of his party wing, and if he had the numbers, he would sack the member for Goyder from his shadow Attorney-General portfolio today.
Commonwealth Funding for Territory Roads
Mr REED to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Can the minister confirm that the Territory government will receive $27.3m in Commonwealth tied grants for Commonwealth roads within the Northern Territory, as stated by the Treasurer in his budget speech? Could the minister give a breakdown on how much of that money will be spent on capital works, how much will be spent on widening, rehabilitation upgrades or maintenance, and how much will be spent on any other categories? Does that add up to $27.3m, and is that the total amount that the Territory government will receive from the Commonwealth this year, or is the Territory government siphoning off some of that money for its own purposes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. He said we were going to receive $27.3m in tied grants. That means that money has to be spent for the purpose it is granted, so there is no way we can take any of those dollars and use them anywhere else. However, let me tell you, yes, we are going to get $27m from the Commonwealth, but what the Territory is going to spend is $13.5m on national highways capital works, $1.5m on roads of national importance, and $15.5m on repair and maintenance - that amounts to $30.5m. That means the Territory will not only spend the $27m from the Commonwealth on the roads but, on top of that, we are going to put an extra $3m.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Commonwealth Funding for Territory Roads
Commonwealth Funding for Territory Roads
Mr REED to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
In doing so, I ask the minister to explain the extra $3m the Territory is going to put in to this program? That is to say, that they are receiving $27.3m from the Commonwealth and they are going to put in $3m to take it up to $30m. I seek leave to table a document from the Commonwealth, which demonstrates that, in fact, the Commonwealth is giving, in tied grants for Commonwealth roads in the Territory this financial year, $30m. Therefore, the Territory is not putting in an extra $3m, or if they are, they are siphoning off money from the Commonwealth’s program elsewhere. I ask the minister to explain, more clearly and concisely, just how much money they are getting from the Commonwealth and how much they are going to spend?
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Yesterday, the member quoted from the book and he said we are going to receive $27.5m. Today he says we are going to get $30m. Can he make up his mind - are we going to get $27m or $30m?
Members interjecting.
Mr Dunham: It is in your book.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: I said we are going to spend $30.5m. Even if the $30m figure the member for Katherine quoted is correct, we are still going to spend more than we are going to get from the Commonwealth.
Mr Reed: You are not.
Mr VATSKALIS: We are going to spend $30.5m. The member for Katherine just said we are going to receive $30m. There is a significant difference, and that difference is that the Territory is going to put money into national roads also.
Mr Reed: You don’t have to because you are getting $30m.
Mr VATSKALIS: It is exactly the same thing. If the member for Katherine cares to understand, our budget figures are reliant on a prediction of what we are going to get from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth does not advise in advance how much money they are going to allocate to the Territory.
Mr Reed: I beg your pardon, they have, and I will give you the other document to prove it, because I have the document they gave you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: On 13 May 2003, if you refer to that particular document. We are talking about that document arriving on our desk just a few days before we tabled the budget. If you think we are going to get the crystal ball and start looking at what the Commonwealth is going to give us, you are wrong. There is only one prophet in the House, and it is a bad one - that is Cassandra, the member for Katherine.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016