2003-08-12
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Selection of Site
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government’s decision to build a convention centre at the Wharf Precinct away from the many small businesses that currently operate in Darwin CBD and are doing it tough, amounts to abandoning them. Why have you not listened to the Darwin City Business Association’s 300 members who want a convention centre in the very heart of Darwin, close to their businesses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do hope the Opposition Leader was listening to my previous answer. What we did regarding the economic analysis of where the convention and exhibition space should be, was very clearly and carefully done. What this project is about is building the economic capacity of our city, and that is very important. The convention centre is carefully placed within the CBD and, if you stand in the mall and go 600 m either side, you can find the new Holiday Inn on one side and the space for the convention centre on the other. This is within good distance of the mall, and it will bring significant benefits to our retailers and hotel owners there. I believe that what we hear from the opposition is a cloth-eared approach; it is not about building our economy. This is a project for our future, about bringing sustainable benefits to many businesses. For the next 10 to 15 years, we will see construction going ahead.
Again, I say to the opposition - anyone ask for a briefing? No, nobody has asked for a briefing. I have had not one letter to ask for a briefing, and so your comments are based on ignorance about where we should be putting this convention centre and how it will bring the greatest benefits for Darwin and the Territory. It is interesting that the Opposition Leader said there has been bagging from business.
I would like to quote from the CEO of the Territory Construction Association. You would never call him someone who was necessarily a Labor mate. I quote Michael Kilgariff:
- What we are looking for is an integrated development that develops a life of its own, and that life of its own will also be integral to what is happening in the CBD, not separate to what is happening in the CBD.
He goes on:
- So, in fact there are going to be three multipliers really that come out of this city redevelopment. There is going to be the direct investment in the project, there will be the incremental effect of the additional construction down on the precinct and, of course, there will be the additional effect of the increased tourism driven by the convention centre. So, as far as we are concerned, it is a win-win for everybody.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Impact on Tourism
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
There is no doubt that the Darwin City Council waterfront, and the construction of the convention and exhibition centre in particular, will provide significant tourism opportunities and benefits in the city and the Top End. Can the Chief Minister please advise the Assembly of the likely impact on the tourism sector of this $600m project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the impact of building a convention and exhibition centre for our tourism industry will be significant. The last two years have been very hard for our tourism sector, there is no doubt about that. When you look at the hit in the last two years on our tourism sector compared with any other state, where 25% of the tourists are international; for the Territory, 50% are international. There is no denying some of the factors that have hit us have been very hard for our tourism industry. However, if you look at the success of the Alice Springs Convention Centre - and congratulations to all those involved - then the benefits that will come from a convention and exhibition centre in Darwin are going to be very substantial. As I said before, it will create hundreds of jobs in its construction. The estimate from increase in tourism expenditure for the next 20 years, over and above what we have now, will be $193m - a significant increase in the tourism spend.
Darwin misses out on many meetings, conventions and exhibitions because we do not have a large enough facility in the CBD. The benefits from having such a convention and exhibition centre are measurable in their flow-on to hotels, restaurants, tourism operators, retailers and a whole range of businesses. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report into the convention centre estimated it would provide 68 new events that would otherwise not have been held in the Territory, and that generates 39 083 new delegate days. Based on our Tourist Commission estimates, average delegate expenditure per person per day is $250, which means an extra $10m per year into the Territory economy from building the convention centre and having those 68 additional events that we cannot currently hold.
The Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre expects to create 161 full-time equivalent tourism jobs for Territorians by year four, growing to over 200 new full-time equivalent jobs by year 10. Importantly, for the tourism sector, the convention sector will increase visitation to Darwin at times when it is the low season, particularly during the Wet. It will actually expand the economic activity over a much longer period, and that will be great for retailers, accommodation providers and tour companies.
Additionally, it will be a catalyst for what we need here, which is greater airline capacity into Darwin, not just domestically - currently, that is doing pretty well - but importantly, internationally. Therefore, in terms of what building a convention and exhibition centre will do for tourism, it is going to be significant and, again, a very important part of this project.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Alternate Site in CBD
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, I am not impressed by your sales pitch, and neither is the small business community who believe that you have abandoned them and the work that they have put into businesses in the CBD, taken the easy option of going to land on the waterfront precinct that government already owns, rather than the more difficult option of looking for the best site for a convention centre in the CBD. You have predicated all your sales pitch on a consultant’s report …
Madam SPEAKER: Your question, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr BURKE: Will you do what the business community has asked you to do and release that consultant’s report for public discussion?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, we have had three questions in 15 minutes. I would like shorter questions and shorter answers.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is not possible …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr Lim: What are you hiding? Not possible to release the report – I do not believe that.
Ms MARTIN: If the member for Greatorex does not believe it, it must be wrong …
- Dr Lim: I think you are hiding something.
Ms MARTIN: If the member for Greatorex will be quiet, he could listen to the answer I was just about to give.
Dr Lim: Just tell us what you are hiding.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the full report from PricewaterhouseCoopers includes highly confidential commercial information that will be critical in informing our position as we engage with the market for the project. A lot of detailed work was done, a lot of confidences were given to PricewaterhouseCoopers. The information ranges from things like the capital cost of the convention centre and what contribution might be sought from government relative to its own contribution when we go to the market; the operational returns of the centre; the private sector’s position; and details about the operation and economics of other convention centres. It is not appropriate to release that full report. What we have done is produce a summary report, and that is available.
Mr Reed: A laundered report, you would call that – abridged, a laundered report.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, you would think the member for Katherine, who has previously been a Treasurer for many years in government, would understand that commercially confidential material has to be kept that way.
I respect the businesses, I respect the convention centre operators …
Mr Baldwin: What happened to open and accountable, transparent?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we …
Mr Reed: On which their future …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, order!
Mr Kiely: Throw him out.
Madam SPEAKER: Do not tempt me, member for Sanderson.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, basically, we asked for an economic analysis from PricewaterhouseCoopers, that is what we got. However, there is a lot of material there that was given to PWC on a confidential basis. It would be a serious breach of those confidences to release that report. It certainly will be the underpinnings of how we go to the market and work with businesses and consortia which are interested in the development on the waterfront. We have released a summary of that, it is available, but we cannot release that confidential material – quite reasonably and quite sensibly.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Community Consultation
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
The people of Sanderson are certainly very impressed with this project and look forward to the job opportunities and the injection into the economy that it will bring …
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Greatorex, order!
Mr KIELY: Can the Chief Minister please detail the level of community consultation that will be undertaken on the Darwin City waterfront project and the extent that community access will be an integral part of the development?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very good question. There is no doubt about it, even though much of what is down at the waterfront now is disused old industrial buildings, it is an important and very historical site, one which Darwin people have a lot of attachment to. In terms of our history, it has had hundreds of years of Larrakia involvement, in naval, in trading, in World War II and the attachment of Darwin people is very strong to that 25 hectares and the associated wharves.
Consultation will be an integral part of the project in all stages. The views and concerns of the local community will have a significant impact on the final design, particularly in the areas of public access, open space and preserving historical sites. This development is not just about tourism or commercial activities; it is about public ownership and public use of those spaces. One important public use of that space will be 2 km of promenade around the foreshore. The potential for developing that for use by families, joggers or walkers, is considerable. When this vision is realised, you will sail into Darwin Harbour and what you see first will be this landmark development, and it will be a stunning introduction to Darwin. It is a mixed use development and we want our community to be very involved in what will emerge there.
We are committed to close consultation with the Darwin community to make it a place that has a strong ownership. There will be two periods of consultation during the environmental impact statement process. The first will be October/November this year, and the second, May 2004. The September/October public consultation will take place on the preliminary concept plan. Public views on the draft redevelopment masterplan will be sought around 2004. Government is currently developing a plan to ensure ongoing community consultation. We will look at all the issues involved. We will make sure that all elements of our community have a full say on that. It will be government working with our community and with the successful tenderer to make sure that this city waterfront redevelopment will be a stunning one.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Cost to Government
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Territorians want a convention centre, but they want a convention centre given to them by a government that has made the right decision. Coming to that decision, I imagine that the first thing Territorians want to know is how much this convention centre will cost them. In briefings that your officers gave to business representatives yesterday, they said that the convention centre would not turn a profit for 12 years. Given the fact that it would take two years to construct from 2005, going well, 12 years from that takes us to nearly 2020. What is the recurrent cost per year to Territorians, given the fact that you have done a financial analysis of this convention centre?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first point to make is the churlishness we are hearing from the Opposition Leader. You talked about it and we are doing it! Let us get this very clear. Who talked about it a lot for a long time, knocked down a Darwin icon, and then did nothing? Let us define what the difference is between a party of the past and a government that is moving the Territory forward, building for our future. Let us make it very clear and also understand that if any member of the opposition had asked for a briefing …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could I ask you to ask the Chief Minister to cut through the rhubarb, be quick and give us the detail of the answer to the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I would like shorter answers, Chief Minister, and shorter questions. We have said that once, so please get on with your answer.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I appreciate that, but I was tackling the different elements because he had a long question. So, Madam Speaker, fair enough, keep your questions short and you will have a short answer.
We were very clear in the $100m that we are putting into the convention centre, but also associated infrastructure works for the waterfront redevelopment. What we are doing is now going to the market and, of course, there will be negotiations. I am not going to stand here and pre-empt those negotiations with the private sector by saying what the numbers are in specific that the Opposition Leader seems to think are appropriate to deliver now.
Mr Burke: You have no idea.
Ms MARTIN: It is not appropriate. The Opposition Leader says that I have no idea. I do have good ideas. We are going to negotiate with the many developers who will form into consortia - and there will be local components of that - and who will lodge expressions of interest, because there is a lot of interest in this waterfront redevelopment.
We are going to be competitive in our negotiations, recognising that convention centres all around Australia do take a subsidy from government. The reasons that governments subsidise convention centres is for the economic benefits they bring widely to their communities and that, Madam Speaker, is a fact of life. These negotiations will take place. Again, I say to all members of the opposition: come and have a briefing.
Lake Bennett - Water Licences
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
I believe I have heard a ministerial statement in five parts this morning.
Mr Stirling: Get to your question, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: Thank you.
In relation to the issue of water licences at Lake Bennett, which were the focus of an April 2003 Ombudsman’s Report, could you say whether your department has now issued 10-year water licences to Lake Bennett, what conditions apply to those licences, and has a geotechnical analysis, not a visual report, been completed of the dam wall as required in the previous licences but never done?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yes, my department issued a 10-year licence to the new owners of the resort on 26 September 2002. A set of conditions go with the licence, and I have been advised these conditions have been fulfilled. The department is currently negotiating with the new owner to install a water meter so the volume of water taken from the lake to water the gardens - and solely for watering gardens - will be measured.
However, if the member has specific concerns or allegations, or even any knowledge of breaches of this licence, please feel free to contact me directly, or the controller of water resources.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Cost to Government
Mr REED to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chief Minister can take this as a briefing, and the answer can be an answer to all Territorians and the business community, not just us. Can the Chief Minister tell us, given that she has had a financial analysis: is the $100m the total commitment to be undertaken by government to this project? Is the $100m only for capital expenditure, or does it include ongoing operational support beyond the capital development of the project? Is there a limit to the financing to be provided by government; that is, $100m only, or will they go beyond that? I remind the Chief Minister that we went through this process; the project did not stack up, and that is where …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I think we have had …
Mr Stirling: It sure did not stack up and you continued to pump millions into the transmission line. A great example.
Mr REED: … we want to find out what this lot are up to now.
Madam SPEAKER: I might disallow that question if you are going to abuse Question Time in that way. You know you should keep your questions short.
Mr Reed: It is hard getting answers, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I know, but you are going overboard. Chief Minister, briefly!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first point is, none of those members of the opposition have asked for a briefing. This underpins the ignorance we are dealing with here. The second point is, we have said $100m will go towards building a convention centre and associated infrastructure works in the waterfront redevelopment. We are now going to the private market; we are going to negotiate, and we are looking for the best bids. What we want to have is the convention and exhibition centre built; we are committed to that. That is in stark contrast to the previous government who talked about it, and that is the bottom line.
Northern Territory Police Force - O’Sullivan Review
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The government’s plan to build the Northern Territory Police force has been warmly received by the people of my electorate of Barkly and, of course, by Territorians generally. Can the minister please outline the plan’s highlights?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. This is more good news for Territorians; seeing their government looking forward, planning for the future instead of dwelling in the past like the opposition.
Last Thursday, I outlined the largest ever injection of resources of money and people into the Northern Territory Police force. The precursor to this announcement was an assessment of police resources that this government commissioned by Mr Jim O’Sullivan, a former police commissioner in Queensland, in February this year.
The government believed, at the time, that Territorians deserved the truth. I give absolute credit to former commissioner, Jim O’Sullivan, who agreed to take on the challenge on two conditions: that the findings of his report be made public in total, and that the report was to be totally independent and absolutely hands-off from government. We have met those conditions. What Territorians now have is an honest representation from an independent source regarding the state of their police force. It is challenging reading for every member of this parliament and, I would have thought, very challenging reading for members opposite, because the report highlights that the issues facing this police force have been there and have been neglected for many years. That will be no longer.
We have made a huge and unprecedented commitment: $75m over four years, with an aim of 200 more police on the beat on our streets by 2006. This will be achieved by an absolutely unprecedented level of recruiting - 120 police officers every year, which is double the previous highest recruiting effort of the Northern Territory police. It is a huge and challenging target.
As importantly, this government wants to see more Territorians recruited to our police force. At the moment, the historical picture of our police force shows that about 60% of our recruits come from interstate. They do a great job, however we want to see that turned around so that at least 60% come from the Northern Territory. I am pleased to see that the next squad that is coming through on Thursday next week are about a 50:50 mix of Territorians compared to interstate recruits. However, that can improve, and it will improve.
We want more police back to core policing duties, and more police patrols. We are going to be recruiting an additional 80 civilian support staff to get police back on the beat but, more importantly, we are going to fund those positions. We are going to fund those civilian positions, again, a glaring omission from the previous government when they tried to put civilians into the police force. They did, but they did not fund them, and that came out of funding for police on the street.
One of the things we have to address is the working conditions of our police force to keep our police in the Territory. We will be doing that. It is a massive $75m plan that this government is very keen to endorse.
I would like to personally thank Jim O’Sullivan for the fantastic job that he has done, and put it on the Parliamentary Record. I would like to thank each and every one of our hundreds of police officers who made confidential representations to Mr O’Sullivan, and Territorians who had input into this report.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Financial Analysis
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
How can you convince Territorians that your financial analysis stacks up on a project for which you have not even gone to the marketplace to find expressions of interest, yet you have publicly stated you will commit $100m to? Is that $100m for the capital cost of the project? Does that $100m include the capital cost plus recurrent costs? Does it include associated infrastructure works? Just what is the financial analysis? Come clean with Territorians and tell them what it is.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know how many times I have to answer this. I believe this would be the fourth time I have actually indicated what the $100m is for. It starkly contrasts with not a cent ever being put down by the previous government for a convention centre – not a cent put down.
Let me explain one more time: $100m is to fund the convention centre and associated infrastructure works to do with the wider waterfront development. Okay? The convention and exhibition centre …
Mr Reed: A great way of doing business.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Listen! I am sorry if I sound a bit irritated, but this is the fourth time I have said it. I apologise for having to say it again and again. $100m capital to build the convention and exhibition centre and associated infrastructure to do with the wharf redevelopment.
We are now going to the private sector, and there is considerable interest from around the country, as well as locally, may I say - considerable interest to put in an expression of interest for this redevelopment. We will be having very rigorous assessments of what is put to us. We will be looking for the best for Territorians. What we are also looking for is an excellent exhibition and convention centre, and a great redevelopment of the waterfront.
What is wrong with that? It is building our economy. It is terrific and so do many hundreds and thousands of Territorians. What is your problem?
Northern Territory Police Force - Service to Territorians
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can you please advise the Assembly what impact the $75m plan to build our police force will have on the capacity of police to provide services to Territorians?
Mr Dunham: He has just told us; we have just had a statement, mate. What a lot of rubbish!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, even though the member for Drysdale does not want to hear the answer, I am sure Territorians do, because this is a very exciting commitment by this government to building a safer Northern Territory community. In this House we talk a lot about budgets and numbers, but this is not just a budgets and numbers game; this is about improved services and safety for our Territory community. What we want to see, as a government, as a result of this injection of funds, is better police response times, more patrols on our streets, and better feedback to citizens in the Northern Territory when they make a complaint to the Northern Territory Police about any criminal activity that they, unfortunately, have become victims of.
Of course, this change is not going to happen immediately. We do have to build our police numbers; we are doing it as quickly as we can. More importantly, our capacity as a government to find the $75m has been, in a large part, due to this government’s responsible financial management. Keeping the budget under control allows us to make these commitments that are important to Territorians, as opposed to the previous government. The reality of why they never went near this was they knew the size of the problems within that police force, and knew it was an enormous ask of money. That is why they never went near it, to put the commitment or the funding in. They would never have an open and independent inquiry because they would not put the money in. We have, and we will see improved services to Territorians as a result.
In the services we will see, we are talking about three new patrols, including a foot and bicycle patrol for Darwin’s northern suburbs - all of the members representing northern suburb seats know how important that is; and a new foot patrol for Darwin Central Business District - something that has been called for by traders. The opposition is here with crocodile tears, talking about how they are supporting the traders in the CBD. This has been called for for many years by those traders in the CBD, and we will have a 24/7 foot patrol there. There will be an extra 24-hour vehicle patrol for Darwin’s CBD and our suburbs. I would have thought that the member for Port Darwin would be cheering that initiative instead of sniping from the backbench.
In Palmerston, we are going to see two extra general duties patrols; in Katherine, additional uniformed police for general duties; in Tennant Creek, additional uniformed police for general duties, additional police for crime investigations. I am going to be at the Katherine Police Station in a couple of weeks time. I will let them know how fulsomely the member for Katherine is supporting that commitment.
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is quoting exactly from the statement he gave this House merely hours ago.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, it is becoming repetitive. Wind it up, minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this is important for Territorians. I would have thought that our listeners in Alice Springs would like to know that there are going to be additional police for general duties there. The money has been allocated and we will spend it. We will deliver a safer community for Territorians, and they and the Northern Territory Police are thanking this government for that commitment.
Madam SPEAKER: We have had answers that are far too long. We have got through 11 questions; far too much time wasted. Leader of the Opposition, let us get on with it. We only have a little time left.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Environmental Impact Statement
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
As your Chief Minister does not seem to understand how this project could proceed, I will direct my question to you. Can you explain how an EIS can be conducted now for the Darwin waterfront before a detailed proposal is received and approved by government, when you do not know the drainage lines or quantities, the traffic numbers or flow, the waste levels, or the impact on the escarpment - to name just a few of the core issues. By proceeding now with an EIS, does that not suggest collusion between the government and a chosen developer, therefore rendering the expression of interest proposal a farce?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, that question was a little out of order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Yes, we are going to commission an environmental impact assessment for the simple reason that that particular site has been an industrial site for a large number of years. There is evidence of materials dumped, and hydrocarbon contamination. You had – even in your time – a bitumen plant, also iron ore and other minerals loaded. In addition to that, a preliminary examination found an asbestos dump.
We are going to do an environmental impact assessment before we start doing anything there to identify any possible problems, because, at the same time, you have to do something before you start digging to provide the basic services. If a future developer comes, he has to provide an environmental assessment with regards to his or her own development ...
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, obviously they are not interested in hearing what is really going to happen. The only thing they are interested to hear is their own voices. My colleague, the member for Wanguri, is quite right. He said they are shedding crocodile tears at the moment. Do I have to remind them that it was their government that rezoned the wharf precinct to Central Business District, and that, in their own documentation in 1999, they indicated a major exhibition and convention centre at the wharf. Why didn’t they care then about putting a convention centre near the mall, in the old Woolworths site? Now they want it there.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was specifically about an EIS of a development project; nothing about Woolworths and the CBD.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister will answer the question in his own way. Minister, get on with it. You know I have no control over that. Have you finished?
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, Madam Speaker.
Appointment of Vice-Chancellor - Charles Darwin University
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Could the minister please provide details to the House on the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor for the Northern Territory University?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question, because I am delighted to put on the record some of the background of the new Vice-Chancellor for what soon will be Charles Darwin University. Members would be aware that Professor Helen Garnett has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Helen Garnett, presently Chief Executive of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and a representative to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, will begin as Vice-Chancellor in October. I am delighted that we have been able to secure such an outstanding person to take on this key role for the new university.
She is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Wollongong and, prior to her appointment at ANSTO, was professor and Head of the Department of Biology at the University of Wollongong. From 1979 to 1988, she held the position of Foundation Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.
Mr Elferink: Witwatersrand.
Mr STIRLING: Thank you, member for Macdonnell.
Mr STIRLING: Professor Garnett was educated at the University of Sydney, where she gained First Class Honours for a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969. She also studied at the University of London and the University of Wales, where she completed her Doctorate of Philosophy in 1974. Professor Garnett is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Professor Helen Garnett comes to us with outstanding credentials. The government and I are delighted that a woman of such calibre and high reputation will guide the future development of the Northern Territory’s Charles Darwin University. Her appointment is the next exciting development in tertiary education and research for the Northern Territory, and I am sure all members will wish her and the soon-to-be Charles Darwin University well.
Members: Hear, hear!
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Number of Developers
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you said that for the waterfront development you preferred a single developer. Does the PricewaterhouseCoopers report recommend that the Wharf Precinct development and the exhibition and convention centre be undertaken by a single developer? If not, do other developers have a go? For example, could a developer who only proposes a convention centre be involved in the development, or are they excluded by your comments so far?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, if the Opposition Leader had asked for a briefing, he might understand more of these issues. Again, it is disappointing. We are going to the marketplace and we are looking for the best bids on what we have flagged for redevelopment. What we would be looking at is a consortium being developed. The expressions of interest will come from consortia, and I am expecting that there will be a local component of all of those. We will be going through an interim process …
Mr Reed: A deal has been done here. A deal has been done.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I find it offensive to hear the member for Katherine - a man who should understand these processes - sitting there in his ignorance and making offensive comments like: ‘A deal has been done’.
I am saying, on the public record: we are going to the market, we are looking for expressions of interest from consortia. We are hoping for a very competitive process because, from early indications, there is a lot of interest from around this country in building. There is a lot of interest from many different companies in being part of this redevelopment. What I am hoping for Territorians with this splendid development, is that we get one that will really be a landmark for the Territory. We will be making sure that it is tropical, it has good community ownership, and there are good recreational spaces. The convention and exhibition centre will be part of that. However, it will be commercial and residential, we will be able to build our cruise ship facility, and the navy will still be very welcome and an integral part of this.
The negativity coming from the opposition is almost un-Territorian. Only a few months ago, we had the Opposition Leader saying: ‘Why are you doing a report, just get on and do it’ - his words, get on and do it. We also had, within the last year, the man who was almost in tears saying: ‘Just spend, spend, spend’ - they are his words.
We are doing this with a lot of integrity, thought and detail. The basic difference is …
A member: Rubbish! A lot of collusion.
Mr Baldwin: Secrecy, non-transparency.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: … they talk about it, we are doing it.
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If he wants to allege collusion, I would have thought that is unparliamentary and worthy of a more substantive debate …
Mr Baldwin: What, secrecy?
Mr STIRLING: Collusion amounts to conspiracy, amounts to corruption. I ask for it to be withdrawn, Madam Speaker. It is an unhealthy term to have on the Parliamentary Record.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes. I have to admit I did not hear it, minister, but I do think there have been far too many interjections.
Mr Baldwin: Bit sensitive, don’t you think?
Mr Stirling: No, not sensitive at all.
Madam SPEAKER: Order. Look, enough!
Ms MARTIN: So have some guts and name who you think we have colluded with. Come on, have some guts.
Mr Baldwin: No, show us your secret report, come on.
Ms MARTIN: Have some guts – no, you would not do that.
Mr McAdam: Do you want me to ask the question, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: No, member for Barkly I am waiting for silence. Member for Barkly.
Alice Springs Clinical Staff Accommodation
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
This government is committed to creating jobs for all Territorians. Can the minister please inform the House about the most recent construction project awarded to a Territory company in Alice Springs.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am very pleased to inform the House today that the successful bidder for a residential development for clinical staff accommodation in Alice Springs is not only a Territorian company but is also an Alice Springs company. The successful bidder is the Sitzler Family Trust, and I would like to congratulate Mr Michael Sitzler for his successful bid.
We called for expressions of interest in January 2003, that closed on 18 March. Through an open and transparent process, the Sitzler Family Trust won the developmental lease. The Sitzler company is going to construct 15 new two- and three-bedroom units. They are going to be leased by the Health Department for clinical staff accommodation. The units are going to be designed by an Alice Springs architect, Ms Sue Dugdale. After the design is finished, it will take nine months for the construction, providing 70 construction jobs in Alice Springs.
Mr Sitzler thanked me, and I have to admit, he expressed surprise he won it, as he told me I was well aware of his previous links. However, I assured him that this government does not care if you are our mates of their mates, we only care if you provide a good service for a good price for Territorians, which he did. Once again, I congratulate Mr Sitzler. He provided a very good tender document. He won the tender fairly and squarely, and I am pretty sure that he is going to deliver a quality product.
World of Wheels - Actions of Mr Paul Reid
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
About two years ago, a business called World of Wheels run by a person called Mr Paul Reid went bust, leaving the company owing money to a number of people and businesses in town. Minister, could you say what has happened to Mr Reid? How many people are still owed money by him? Has action been taken to try and get him back to Australia? Who owns the car yard near Tivendale Road, and who will receive funds raised by the sale of the land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question because this was a fairly ugly little affair. Mr Reid is a very innovative businessman. He discovered that when you take cars on consignment and sell them for people, and then do not pass the proceeds back to them, you make a lot more profit. Similarly, when you accept cars for repair under warranty, and then sell the car while it is supposedly being repaired, you also make a lot of profit.
This gentleman came to the notice of our Office of Consumer Affairs as a result of a number of complaints from people who had been duped by him. Twelve consumers ended up owed $79 000 by this business. Mr Reid then took his talents over to Canada, and I just hope the Canadians can deal with him over there as well.
What we have done to restore the situation for the victims of these particular frauds is to put a Mareva injunction on the car yard property concerned. It has subsequently been sold for $85 000. That money will now be passed back through the Office of Consumer Affairs to the people who were not paid for their vehicles. Therefore, we will at least get them out of the problem they had with this very dishonest person.
As to whether we can pursue him on criminal charges, we have asked my department to have a look at that. However, I am advised that it is going to be fairly difficult because of him being overseas.
Darwin City Waterfront Project - Time Frame for Development
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
I remain to be convinced about this announcement that you made about the waterfront development. I turn to the time line that you have proposed in getting this development up. You have said in the House that there is no preferred developer at the moment and you are going to expressions of interest, and they will be finalised in mid-2004, for construction to begin in late 2004 or early 2005. I would remind members, that is barely six months to get a development through for a 10 to 15 year development …
Madam SPEAKER: Your question, Leader of the Opposition?
Mr BURKE: How can the Chief Minister convince Territorians that, in that six months, assessment, engineering, design, planning and detailed financials can be conducted so that the right developer, the right decision and the right use of taxpayers’ money is decided?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am proud to be the Chief Minister of a can-do government, as opposed to ‘don’t do it, find every problem with it, create unnecessary issues about it’ that we hear from the opposition. As I said, and very clearly, in my public statement, this is an ambitious time line. We are looking at a whole lot of factors associated with this redevelopment and, I believe, with the factors currently at play with the growth predicted in our economy, that this is the right time to go ahead with this project. We need to build our population, our attractiveness as a tourist destination and, certainly, these are key components.
I will not deny it is an ambitious time line, but I believe we can achieve it. We have set ourselves the target, unlike the opposition, who seem to have a different position for each day, all based on ignorance. We are a go-ahead government, with a bold and visionary plan for the development of the waterfront, and we are going to go ahead with it.
It is so disappointing to again hear the negativity, the opposition, the anti-building the Territory economy, the anti-development we are hearing from that side of the House.
Madam Speaker, this will be done with great integrity. Once we are through the expressions of interest and the negotiation with the successful tenderers, all the issues to do with expenditure will be fully accounted; have no doubt about this. However, this is the process of the bidding, and it will not be done publicly, or at the whim of the opposition.
Drug Courts
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The government’s three-point Tough on Drugs Plan tackles the serious problem of illicit drugs in our community.
Mr Dunham: Six-point, wasn’t it?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Three-point, I said.
Mr Dunham: I thought it was six.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: No, I said three-point. Why don’t you listen?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you. Member for Arafura, just ask your question, ignore the rudeness from the member for Drysdale.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Sorry, Madam Speaker. Could the minister please inform the House about the arrangements which are in place for dealing with drug addicts in our courts?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Arafura for her question, Madam Speaker. Yes, we are very proud of our record in delivering on our promises around the three-point plan on drugs. The Drug Courts are a very important link, going across from the earlier work that we have done on bringing in new laws and enforcing them against drug dealing. We are now moving on to the second part of the plan, which is to reduce demand by working on addicts and taking them out of the cycle of drug use, and associated and even more worrying property crime to support drug habits.
In our reports of court cases, we have seen and are continuing to see that very strong link between drug use and repeated property crime. This is yet another step of getting addicted people out of their addictions and, therefore, make them less likely to go around robbing people’s houses to maintain a habit.
Our Drug Court model allows magistrates to refer alleged offenders for assessment for drug treatment at the bail stage. We are also paralleling that at this trial stage with similar arrangements for alcohol addiction. We will be making sure that we expand this program as the courts get used to using this structure, and as we develop further capacity in our rehabilitation programs.
The Drug Courts in the Northern Territory are based on a model from the Victorian Court Referral Evaluation and Drug Intervention and Treatment program, which is nicknamed CREDIT. That program has already shown great promise in taking addicted people out of addiction through the action of the courts. If a suitable treatment program is available, anything up to three months for that person to attend rehabilitation can be ordered by the court. When they come back to face the charges that brought them before the court, the magistrate, if the person is found guilty of those charges, can then take into consideration the person’s performance in the rehabilitation programs that they have been undertaking. Obviously, successful rehabilitation will be a major factor in their favour, in receiving a lighter treatment for the offences once the sentencing has been carried out.
We believe that, beyond the trial phase which we are in at the moment with two clinicians - one in Alice Springs, one in Darwin – and three magistrates in Darwin and one in Alice Springs, we can move from the relatively small numbers of cases that we are handling at the moment up to potentially 300 clients per annum across the Territory as a whole.
This is a substantial program and, if you can think of 300 people being taken off the demand side of the equation of drug use, that will make significant impacts on the pattern of drug use in the Northern Territory. We are taking the hardest end of the users out of the drug market, and the people most likely to repeatedly offend with property crime into this type of rehabilitation and treatment.
We believe this is an important advance. It is moving us on into the much more detailed work that we need to take on crime prevention and the prevention of re-offending in our community. This is getting down to individual addicts, individual programs, and individual interventions. Until a government is prepared to take it to that level, we are not going to make the sort of inroads on these very difficult problems that we had hoped to do.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016