2004-02-24
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
You would be aware that two weeks ago there was a hearing before the Development Consent Authority to canvass an application to rezone R3 to R2 along Trower Road which attracted unprecedented attention. The hearing also involved legal representation of some parties, and was of great interest to the real estate industry because this down-zoning application, if approved, could result in a loss to owners in the order of $1.5m, and would destroy investor confidence in the Northern Territory.
The Development Consent Authority makes its recommendation to you, minister. Can you confirm whether you have received that recommendation? Secondly, what is it? Will you, as the minister, follow the Development Consent Authority recommendation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The short answer is no, I have not received the findings of the DCA. On the second part, I need to read what I receive from the DCA. All of the objections and submissions made to the DCA will be included in that and I am not going to foreshadow it.
Kalkarindji – Year 12 Graduates
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Last year, the Northern Territory achieved a significant milestone when three students from Kalkarindji became the first students to graduate from Year 12 in a remote community. Can the minister please update the House on the progress of the students and how their achievements are being celebrated?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner because, if there is one thing we should be celebrating, it is this: the first ever three indigenous students to get their NTCE in Year 12 in their own community.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, the sadness I have about this is that it took 25 years of self-government in the Northern Territory before this single achievement. Later this week, I will be officially launching a documentary titled From Little Things, Big Things Grow. Although they are not here yet, I have arranged for each member of the Assembly to have a copy. It is a 20 minute documentary. I encourage every member to watch it because it is truly a remarkable story of commitment and dedication to the task at hand, not just from the students themselves, but from the teachers, parents, families and the community to overcome and work with those individual students as they struck difficulties and obstacles on their path through 2003. It is a remarkable, uplifting story. I encourage members to watch it and to share it as widely as possible, as we will be endeavouring to do, because it shows what is possible and it shows the way.
This is a story about Kalkarindji, but it is a story about what is possible in the Northern Territory with the right mix of commitment, curriculum, teachers, community and parental support. I applaud everyone involved. It is the story of Rhonda Rankin, Lianna Brown and Meshach Paddy, Territory students who completed Year 12 in their remote community. Whilst they are just three of 58 indigenous students achieving NTCE last year, as I have said, the remarkable thing about these three is it was achieved completely at Kalkarindji and it does show what can be achieved.
In 2002, Kalkarindji Community Education Centre became the first Territory remote school to offer and deliver a fully comprehensive secondary education program, including senior secondary, which allows students to undertake the NTCE. I followed the progress of George and Robyn Hewitson’s program with great interest over these past two years. I thank them for their dedication and commitment. I also thank the enthusiastic staff they brought with them for the commitment they have made and the achievement that they have struck with changing the course of indigenous education in the Northern Territory. That is what they have done. The Commonwealth government, at the national level, recognised this last year by awarding both George Hewitson and Kalkarindji CEC National Education Awards. The Australian newspaper recognised Kalkarindji CEC as one of the country’s best schools in its prestigious annual competition.
Out of this experience at Kalkarindji, we now have Reality at Maningrida, a secondary program; three more schools have joined this year - Port Keats, Shepherdson College and Yirrkala. There is interest, of course, coming from a host of other communities. I was delighted this week – this technology is a marvellous thing, the way they can e-mail you photos and things - I love it! I had a series of photographs of students from Shepherdson College in my own electorate, including all of these young mums, disengaged from education for years, back there working toward exactly this end. Education is the key and remains the key to the future for all of these remote communities.
Rhonda is now studying nursing at Flinders University in Adelaide, and hopes to return to Kalkarindji once she is qualified. Lianna is studying cultural tourism, also at Flinders University. Meshach started a teaching degree at Charles Darwin University this week. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than to report that to this House, because we all should appreciate what a tremendous thing that is, at a time of a growing national and international shortage of male educators in our systems. In Meshach, we have a community, home-educated, indigenous male undertaking that training, and his goal is to go back and be a role model, mentor and a teacher in his own community. I, and all members here, I know, wish him well.
Members: Hear, hear!
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
As you would be aware, under the Planning Act, the minister can call for a public hearing to be conducted in relation to changes to a planning scheme. In the case of last week’s hearing, can you inform this House whether it was you, as Planning minister, or the former Planning minister, the member for Casuarina, who directed this particular hearing to be held?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I did not direct anyone in relation to this matter. I can see where the opposition members are going. They are trying to paint some pictures of irregularities in terms of my predecessor with this particular exhibition of a rezoning application. I am assured, from the department, including legal advice, that all the processes of the act were followed, and there is nothing irregular or illegal in the matter. They are going nowhere with this..
Business Confidence in Northern Territory
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
Can you please update the House on the recent measure of the level of business confidence in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Nightcliff, for her question. I talk about the Sensis Small Business Survey that was released yesterday. Small business has been doing it tough in the Northern Territory since around 1999. As a bit of history, we can see in 2000-01, for the first time in the Territory’s history, we had 0% growth in our economy; compounded on that was events like 11 September, Ansett, the HIH collapse, the GST, wars, terrorism, SARS – any number of events that have really battered business confidence in the Northern Territory.
I am pleased to say, and I would like to think that all members in this House are pleased to acknowledge, that things are starting to pick up out there, and that has been acknowledged in the recent survey. I welcome the business index showing Territory small and medium businesses have recorded the largest increase in business confidence in the nation - 22% in the last two months.
I would have thought members opposite …
Mr Dunham: Yes, that is up to negative 20 for you guys – up to minus 20.
Mr HENDERSON:… would be applauding that, instead of continuing their …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: … capacity to talk confidence down. If we look at where we were 12 months ago, 37% of businesses had confidence in the next 12 months. That has increased to 62% today; a significant increase in 12 months. If you look at the details of the survey, 75% of businesses responding said that they were confident about the next 12 months.
We should be reflecting that confidence. The positive signs are there, but we must make sure that the optimism that is gradually building is delivered upon. We must do things like ensuring that the $27.5m this government has allocated to boost tourism is spent wisely. Already we are seeing the fruits of that coming home, particularly The Ghan, leading to a significant boost to confidence, particularly in our tourism sector.
The government recognises one of the key things that small business talks about is the capacity to recruit and keep skilled trades. This government has responded with our Jobs Plan, with a target of 7000 apprentices and $7000 available to small businesses who recruit people in that blue collar area - real support for small business. We must keep the capital works projects rolling out, not only the Territory government’s record capital works programs, but programs like the Robertson Barracks upgrade. We are running seminars next week to assist small business to put capability statements together with advice on tendering for Commonwealth Defence projects, joint venturing, clustering - real advice and support for small business …
Mr Dunham: How to beat southerners.
Mr HENDERSON: The opposition - and the member for Drysdale is a classic - wants to keep talking it down, and focussing on the negatives. I caution the opposition not to get too cocky because, if we look at the results of the Palmerston Regional Business Association business survey - those results were taken off the PRBA web site earlier today – it shows a low level of faith from business in politicians generally, both the government and the opposition. Only 18% of those surveyed think the opposition is effective, 65% describe the opposition as ineffective, and that is equivalent to the negative 47% rating on the opposition.
It is to politicians on all sides in the Northern Territory that our small business community is saying that we need to lift our game. We accept that. We work hard to create jobs for Territorians. We are working with big business, small business and talking up the economy and the great things that are happening in the Northern Territory - the investment potential that is there that has been ignited around the Northern Territory. I urge the opposition not to keep talking it down, because it does not reflect well on them. Both the government and the opposition have some work to do to capture the faith of small business in politicians.
Capital Works Contracts Awarded in Wet Season
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
While travelling on the Stuart Highway on 10 January this year, I came across a section north of Pine Creek which was under construction. It was muddy and slippery. Could you please explain why a contract to reconstruct and reseal a section of the Stuart Highway was awarded to coincide with the middle of the Wet Season? When will the government give serious consideration to letting contracts based on commonsense and the seasons of the year, rather than the whims of Treasury?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I would have to establish whether, in fact, the tender was let in the middle of the Wet Season. I do not have that information here. My department does try to stage construction and other capital works programs according to the seasons, particularly road works. It is very important for them to integrate with the seasons, particularly when there is road moisture around. I will look into that particular matter that the member for Nelson has raised and report back to him.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Is it true that, on receiving an application for a rezoning, the Planning minister, after consideration, can reject the application if he believes it to be invalid, incomplete or unlawful and, therefore, not allow it to proceed any further? Secondly, following up your answer to that last question, can you confirm that you stand by the previous minister’s decision to exhibit this particular application, and what he did?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. In my answer to the previous question, I was just trying to save him a question or two. I will reiterate what I said before: my advice from the department, which includes legal advice, is that all the processes were duly followed in the particular matter that he is alluding to. Of course, I stand by my predecessor. We are a team on this side of the House, unlike the disorganised rabble on the other side.
Health Service Delivery Across the Territory
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for HEALTH
Could you please inform the House of a recent initiative to improve the quality of health service delivery across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, since the Labor Party achieved government in the Northern Territory, we have had a big challenge to bring the funding for our Health Department up to the proper funding levels that would provide a fully-resourced service. I pay tribute to the work my predecessor did in that particular stage of the rebuild that we have had to do on health service delivery in the Northern Territory.
One of the things we found was that many of our staff were working with outdated essential medical equipment and, in some cases, lacking that equipment altogether. This government has been working hard to ensure that we make up those shortfalls and pick up the resourcing of health delivery areas to a proper level.
Last week, I was very pleased to announce an additional $1m to purchase vital medical equipment right across the Territory and, while not all of these things go ping, most of them do. The money will be used to buy operating tables, cardiac testing equipment, ultrasounds and diagnostic equipment, infant warmers and humidity cribs, patient monitors, defibrillators and emergency beds for Central Australian remote health centres. The equipment is destined for Tennant Creek Hospital and Borroloola Health Centre with a funding boost of $87 900; Gove District Hospital - $50 000; Katherine District Hospital - $226 000 of additional of additional equipment; Alice Springs Hospital and Alice Springs remote clinics receive a total of $247 000 for extra vital equipment; and Royal Darwin Hospital receives a boost of $65 000.
Money has been allocated also for the purchase of equipment for the Air Medical Services and specialist outreach programmes. Unlike the previous government, we are going to make a fist of this. We are going to get the equipment out there for our health professionals to use so they can run a fully safe and quality service.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Pertaining to the matter for which you sought legal advice, can you explain for the benefit of all Territorians where this rezoning application originated? What are the details of the process that followed from the time the application was written through to the public hearing two weeks ago?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have already answered this question twice. It appears to me that the opposition seem to be saying that citizens do not have a right to due process under the Planning Act. Of course they have. They have followed it and there has been a hearing before the DCA. We know that there are often tensions in planning issues and we have seen evidence of that in a couple of locations. Are they for one instance suggesting that citizens should not have recourse to the Planning Act and the proper processes within that? I think they should.
Tourism in Central Australia
Can you please advise the House of campaigns to attract increased visitors to Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a terrific question from the member for Barkly, since tourism and its significance in our economy is of the highest order. It is disappointing at the moment that there is a report today in a newspaper in Alice Springs saying that there was some question about Virgin Blue’s commitment to the Territory. Can I say, Madam Speaker, not right, not right, not right. In talking with Virgin Blue today, their commitment is as strong as ever to the Territory. They have always had the proviso - and Brett Godfrey made it very clear when the service was launched in Alice Springs. He said this has to be commercial, it has to be supported by Territorians, has to be supported by Centralians, and they are there and committed for the long haul. I certainly congratulate Virgin. Instead of looking at any potential bad news which is not there for Central Australia, let us look at the good news.
Central Australia and tourism is inextricably entwined. The injection of funds into tourism, that destination marketing funds, I would like to talk about some of the impact we have seen of that in to Central Australia over the last few months. For Central Australia tourism is about keeping the Territory moving ahead. From …
- Ms Carney: They are moving again after your lack of attention for two years.
Ms Carney: You have ignored it for the last two years, haven’t you?
Ms MARTIN: I would have thought that the member for Araluen would have …
Ms Carney: You, you, you and you.
Ms MARTIN: I do not think the member has taken her happy pills today. Let us see if we can cheer her up.
At the end of January, the campaign had generated over 1200 additional calls to the NT Holiday Centre, resulting in 371 bookings and a total of 808 additional passengers to the Northern Territory, that is, to Central Australia. It was a total of over $174 000 in airfare sales and $185 000 in what happened on the ground.
The industry, not surprisingly, is delighted. Some operators reported they received in excess of 200 bookings from this, and that is just since the campaign commenced in December. They are delighted with the campaign, it has had a real impact. It is not just about advertising in other capital destinations; it is about advertising that actually is making a difference. People are picking up the phone, making those bookings and coming to Alice Springs. It is not over yet. The packages are valid until the 15th of next month, with travel up to the end of March.
I am delighted that we are starting to see some real results from that injection of funds into the Tourism Commission. That is $7.5m this year, an additional $10m for next financial year, and $10m after that to really give some oomph to the marketing. I would have thought the member for Araluen could actually smile about this one because it has been of great benefit to tourism operators in Alice Springs, and has a really significant flow-on effect to the whole economy in Central Australia.
This is terrific, and I cannot wait to come into this House and again talk about the success we are having in tourism with the cruise ships, the impact of The Ghan, and now with these packages into Alice Springs. At a time when it has been really tough for tourism traditionally, it is going a lot better. Let us have smiles on faces here because, in our tourism industry, there is a much greater confidence about the future, and that is great.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
I will perhaps assist you with the process. Is it not true that this application originated at the behest of the member for Casuarina, who received the application from a third party person at his electorate office, and then forwarded it to himself as the minister? Is that not the case?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will reiterate my answer as before. In terms of the process in relation to this matter, the processes have been followed according to the act. I have received legal advice and other advice from the department that the allegations being made by the member opposite have absolutely no foundation.
National Sporting Fixtures
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Last week you informed the House about visits to the Territory by teams from the National Basketball League and the AFL. Could you please inform the House on the success of each of these events?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The advent of National Basketball League was, in everyone’s opinion, a resounding success. Seats were sold out days before the game, prompting the Wildcats to make available some 120 standing room only tickets at the beginning of last week. I am aware of many people who are still disappointed because they left their purchase too late. No doubt, they will be the first in line to buy their tickets next year.
This game was all and more than I think anyone expected. It produced a much-needed home game win for the Wildcats by 24 points over the Brisbane Bullets. This game also clinched their 18th straight trip to the finals play-offs. I would get no argument from the Wildcats if I said that one of the reasons for this result was that most of the Territory crowd, estimated at 1500 strong, got right behind them. It was also pleasing to hear Wildcats owner, Andrew Vlahov, proclaim that he ‘cannot wait to get back to Darwin next year, and if that is what we can do here, we might shift all our matches up to Darwin’. Their coach, Ellis, went as far as stating: ‘Oh yeah, now I can say it is the best thing we have ever done, very simple, but gee, it was great, it was good to bring them to Darwin, and I would have to say that the support that we have had shown here in Darwin has been fantastic and made it worthwhile’.
In relation to the Wizard Cup game, once again, Territorians demonstrated that they love their sport, particularly at the national level. Our crowd of 13 200 was more than any other regional centre, including Cairns, Tasmania and Canberra. In comparison to other major centres, we also had more than Sydney and nearly as many as Adelaide. This can only be described as a huge cry of support for Australian Rules Football and the Northern Territory government’s backing of elite sports for Northern Territory fans.
Much of this success comes down to two things. First, the Top End crowds, who were enthusiastic, well-behaved, and gave both sides a warm welcome. Secondly, Marrara oval itself, Gerard Healy, Brownlow medallist and former Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons champion, and Fox Footy channel anchor, said at the conclusion of the Bombers/Dockers clash, ‘People down south would not realise this, but to see an AFL game in the Top End is one of the greatest sporting experiences in the country’. Kevin Sheedy, who received a well-earned honour of life membership from the AFLNT last week, said: ‘Marrara is a world class facility, simply the best in the country’, and walked away from it.
I conclude by thanking the Wildcats, the AFL and the AFLNT for putting their faith in the Northern Territory as a venue to host their sport, and also the hard work of my ministerial staff and that of my department, especially Sport and Recreation. The people of the Northern Territory are grateful for their hard work and initiative, and look forward to enjoying more fantastic national and international sporting events during 2004.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
You just stood up and said that you sought legal advice, and everything was okay. I have a copy of the planing application, which I seek leave to table.
Leave granted.
Mr MALEY: This particular application is not signed. It does not comply with section 12 of the Planning Act, and attached to the back of it is a letter that says, ‘Upon the advice of the local member’. What do you say about your legal advice now? Here is an unsigned application which contravenes section 12, and it is clearly unlawful.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the opposition seems to have a problem, that there has been a process under the Planning Act where local residents have been able to take into hand a process where they have made an application for rezoning of a particular block of land in Undoolya Street, Tiwi. I see that as a democratic process. I did not seek legal advice. I read within the brief on this particular issue that all the processes have been fulfilled. There is nothing irregular in it. The opposition like to cast shadows. They should not be casting shadows, because I remember one Marshall Perron, if you want to talk about that sort of stuff, standing aside so he could acquire some land at Doctors Gully. Everyone in the Territory remembers that.
I also remember the former Planning minister handing out maps with hatching drawn in as if it were an official document, and it did not have any official status whatsoever in relation to Rapid Creek. So do not start casting shadows on this side of the floor.
Government Training Strategy
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
As part of the government’s push for training Territorians, can the minister please provide the House with an update on the work the government has been doing to encourage and develop apprenticeships and traineeships in Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. We do see school-based apprenticeships and traineeships as a very important, effective tool in skilling our work force. It means that young Territorians can get into an apprenticeship or traineeship, whilst in school and completing their Year 11 or Year 12 studies at the same time. How long ago was it that Fred Finch was minister for Education in this place? It would have to be 10 years. I can remember him telling us in a ministerial statement one day how great this was going to be. Ten years ago, your then minister for education was telling us how this was all going to work, how it was going to grow, and what a fantastic state of affairs it was.
When we came to government in August 2001, the number of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships that the mob opposite had in the system was 19. That was in 2001, so that has to be seven years after the minister for Education was standing here telling us what a great scheme this was that Australia was moving toward embracing and adopting, and how great it was going to be for the Northern Territory. Yet, seven years later when we come to government, there were just 19.
It provides security for the young person and allows the employer, at the same time, to get a heads-up start on the trainee in the skills that they need in critical areas off the job - and done within the education system. One of the problems with the standard four-year apprenticeship, particularly in the traditional trades areas, is that you do not get much for your first year from an apprentice in real value on the job. Sure, it is an extra pair of hands, but it is a pair of hands that has to be trained, particularly in occupational health and safety and those areas of traditional trades that have dangerous workplaces around them.
There were 19 when we came to government; last year - 137. This year, we expect 180. Let us put that in percentages: it is a 950% increase in the numbers since we came to government. In our Jobs Plan, we target 400 commencements over the three years. We are going so well, we are going to have to look at these targets as we will have done almost half of the 400 target in just one year. Therefore, we will put more money into the Jobs Plan, and we expect to have to do that in a number of areas if participation and commencement rates are beyond what we have put into the Jobs Plan. We would be delighted to, the same as we would be delighted to build more schools and classrooms as we get more indigenous students into the system. We will expand the number of places we can accommodate to ensure that we continue to get the greatest success out of this program we can.
That underlines a stark difference between the previous Country Liberal Party government, and this government, that, whilst they talked, very little happened. There were 19 when we came to government, 180 this year, and well on the track to 400.
Litchfield Christian School – Air Conditioning
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Last year, your government received a request for $70 000 from the Litchfield Christian School for money to install airconditioning. Why did the government only offer the Litchfield Christian School a loan under the NT Capital Subsidy and Loans Scheme, instead of offering them a grant, considering that the department has spent millions of dollars on relocating to its new Mitchell Street premises, and there are only so many boxes of Maltesers one can sell and eat trying to raise $70 000?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There is a scheme in place for non-government schools in the Northern Territory to access assistance from the government. They can apply for a grant through the Capital and Interest Subsidy Scheme. Under that scheme, the school is required to take out a loan for the work required, for which the capital repayments and interest payments will be subsidised by the government, by the taxpayer of the Territory. They receive a grant that will cover 50% of the capital repayments and 50% of the interest payments over the agreed period of the loan. Therefore, depending on the figure, if it is a 10- or 12-year loan, government continues to subsidise throughout the life of the loan.
I would imagine Litchfield Christian School very clearly understand this process for a grant for their airconditioning as departmental officers have continued to contact the school about this submission and the need to get it to government in view of first budget Cabinet being very close. It is something that I would like to see in the mix being considered. To date, neither the department nor myself have received a further submission. I say this to the member for Nelson: it is not too late if they can get the submission to us, or contact officers within DEET. If there are any obstacles or hurdles, or anything they do not understand, or questions that they need answered, please get in contact with DEET officers and they will help expedite and progress the submission to make sure it gets to us.
That is not to say it gets a tick once we have received it, because we get an overwhelming number of requests for capital works right through the system, from non-government as well, and it is beyond the means of this government or, indeed, any government to address in one year, or even one term of government. We continue to support those we can, generally on a needs type approach.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The minister has failed to answer one question sufficiently well so far. I have a very specific question for him. Is it the case that, under the Planning Act, where a minister receives an application, the act requires that the parties who are the owners of the land and subject of the application, are to be made aware of it before it goes to public exhibition, and was that notification given?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again, I am assured through my advice that all the processes in this particular matter were followed. It appears to me that the opposition have a big problem with people in the environs of Undoolya Street commenting on a proposed development in their area. We live in a democratic world. Are they saying that that right should be removed? Is that what they are saying?
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I think they are saying that by their whole line of questioning. My understanding is there are probably about 70 residents in that area who made submissions to the DCA on this particular matter. Are they saying those people should be denied their rights under the Planning Act? That is what they are saying. I do not think those 70 people will appreciate where they are coming from. They are on the record now about this. The processes have been followed. There has been a hearing by the DCA, who exhibited it. I have not yet received the report from the DCA and when I do I will consider it.
Ethnic Affairs Sponsorship Program
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for ETHNIC AFFAIRS
The Martin Labor government has provided a significant increase in funding available through the Ethnic Affairs Sponsorship Program. Can you please provide an update on the current status of the program, including activities that have recently been funded?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Our government truly supports the multicultural community in the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, do not continue while they are interjecting. The minister is on his feet and has the right to answer.
Mr VATSKALIS: I repeat that our government truly supports the multicultural community in the Northern Territory. We have substantially increased funding for the multicultural community through the Ethnic Affairs Sponsorship Program. I am pleased to advise the House that, as from yesterday, I approved funding of $657 000, for 126 applications out of 145 received.
This high level of support is made possible by an extra $250 000 which our government put in the Ethnic Affairs Sponsorship Program. That includes $150 000 for research, further study and specialised training in languages or other cultural activities through the Council of Linguistics Awards.
Earlier this year, I approved funding of $120 000 to different ethnic organisations for cultural programs and training. Amongst them was the Pakistani Association of the Northern Territory to teach Urdu languages to the community; the Central Australian Afghan Cameleers Heritage Society, $20 000 to research the history of the contribution of the cameleers in Central Australia. Also, Persona Indonesia in Darwin to sponsor a member to undertake an intensive study of traditional Indonesian music in central Java; the Indian Cultural Society, and many others, including the Inta-linguia to send two teachers to Italy to train further in Italian. They will return to teach Italian at the School of Languages, primary schools and high schools in the Territory.
I have also approved funding for Harmony Day activities. I received 55 applications. That represents 100% increase in the number of applications received last year. $40 000 for Harmony Day activities going to 23 schools and 28 community projects around the Territory, including projects in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Nhulunbuy, and big and small communities in the Territory. I am very pleased to say that 50 remote community schools involving 700 students will take part in Harmony Day events this year.
Harmony Day 2004 celebrations are well underway with a program that promises a wide range of activities all across the Northern Territory. I encourage all ethnic communities and groups to become involved in Harmony Day. The government supports and will continue to support the ethnic communities and any other community that is involved in the cultural diversity of Australia.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Is it not true that those attending the public meeting heard that the former Planning minister, the member for Casuarina, when asked by landowners for a copy of information pertaining to the application by the third party to rezone their land, the former minister was not forthcoming, and in fact people had to source some of the requested documents under the Freedom of Information Act? Is that not the case, people had to use the Freedom of Information Act to get information from that minister?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker. The member has asked his question and is continuing on in debate.
Madam SPEAKER: I will allow it as long as you do not get repetitious. Make sure you use a different angle each time.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the simple answer is, I was not at the meeting. This is an allegation made by the member for Goyder.
Roads – Federal Funding
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Is the minister aware of recent announcements by the federal Minister for Transport concerning federal road funding? Can the minister please advise the House of implications of these policies for the Territory?
Madam SPEAKER: You are having a good day, aren’t you, minister?
ANSWER
I am enjoying it, Madam Speaker. I hope they are positive questions like this because this is a critical issue for the Northern Territory: road transport. Unfortunately, the Territory has been on the receiving end of a double whammy from the federal government. One of the whammies is that we are not receiving enough money under the Roads to Recovery program. In fact, I am advised that we are losing up to $20m a year because that particular program does not fund roads through unincorporated areas, that is, areas without a council.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, wait until they settle down.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, there are a substantial number of roads in the Northern Territory that do run through unincorporated areas, including beef roads, so we are missing out on $20m worth of funding there.
In the second part of the double whammy, with the GST, to compensate particularly those motorists or people living in remote areas, the Commonwealth government introduced a Fuel Sales Grant Scheme, which gives up to 3 per litre for people in remote areas. I am advised that probably represents another $8m to $10m a year to the Territory, but that was withdrawn by the Commonwealth government. So here we have this problem – we are not getting the adequate funding and, at the other end, Territory motorists have to pay this levy without any return, unlike motorists in other areas of Australia.
There is 9000 km of road that go through unincorporated areas. I am advocating with the Commonwealth and I have spoken with Senator Campbell, the federal roads minister, on this issue. We are following up officer to officer, and I am hoping to meet with Senator Campbell. I am also writing to Mr Anderson about these issues. As a government, we want a fair deal for the Territory, and we will fight for that fair deal for the Territory because roads are critical to us. I give an undertaking to Territorians that I will fight hard with the federal government to make sure that they adequately fund us and give us our share in terms of roads.
Undoolya Street – Proposed Rezoning of Land
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
With your knowledge of the Planning Act, which seems to be limited, and your responsibility to follow the provisions of the act, if an application to you was not completed as required, for example, not signed - I have already tabled that document - and if notice was not given properly to the land owners, do you not agree that the application would be invalid, and to allow it to proceed to a hearing would be unlawful?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will reiterate what I have said before. If an application were to come to me in those circumstances, I would take advice from the department. I am also advised on the acceptability or otherwise of a particular application. I can only reiterate what I have said about five or six times before. In relation to the matter that the member for Goyder is raising, I am advised by the department that it was quite acceptable for the former minister to accept that particular application.
Crime Prevention Councils
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
You previously informed the House of the establishment of crime prevention councils across the Territory. Could you please provide an update on those organisations which are working in partnership with government to prevent crime and build safer communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this question goes to the partnership that we have now very strongly formed with the NPY Women’s Council in Central Australia as our newest regional crime prevention council. NPY is a group that we have a very long family association with. My brother, Philip, worked in that area for many years in the 1970’s and, only late last year, I went round to the launch of a fantastic little book called Ngangkari Work - Anangu Way, which was produced through NPY Women’s Council, and two old tjilpis treated my knee on the spot. They must have overcooked it a bit, because not only did my knee clear up, but I ended up as the Health minister.
This group has done some fantastic work, and to now see the formation of our brand new crime prevention council in that area is another very important structure that we can work through now with indigenous people in that part of the Northern Territory to tackle crime prevention issues. The issues that have been identified by NPY Women’s Council, along with the Docker River and Mutitjulu communities, are particularly with substance abuse such as petrol sniffing and cannabis use. The women there, quite rightly, see that as a major assault on both the stability and the cultural future of their communities. They cannot simply stand by and watch what is happening in those communities, particularly with petrol sniffing amongst the younger people and cannabis amongst the young adults. I have a huge amount of confidence in this, as that group of women and community leaders in those communities are showing such strength in the face of what are very challenging social issues afflicting their communities.
The regional crime prevention council is one of the structures that our government is working through in that area to tackle these very difficult social issues. As you may be aware from earlier reports I brought to this House, we have set up cross-border initiatives in the same area that NPY Women’s Council operate in. These are cooperative arrangements with the South Australian, Western Australian and Northern Territory governments. It will allow policing to be cross-border. It will allow Western Australian police to come into Northern Territory communities and operate alongside our police, and vice versa. Our police will be able to pursue or follow offenders across the border into the other jurisdictions and, again, act in a full role of policemen in terms of enforcing and following up on offences. Similarly, the arrangements will extend to the courts.
Similar arrangements will extend to Parole and Correctional Services programs operating with individuals in that part of the Territory. That is a huge step forward when you look at the combination of the cultural and community strength that is going to come into the programs sponsored by our government resources in that area, by dint of the Crime Prevention Council structure, alongside these arrangements between the agencies of the three jurisdictions, so that we can tackle right across, between government and the community input.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Dr TOYNE: Docker River is a case to hand, and I can see the member for Macdonnell getting all excited. Docker River has had a long-standing issue about policing, with the fact that they have had some major incidents there over the last 12 months or so. I put on record in this House the offer that has been made to Docker River; that we want to work with them to establish a police post arrangement, where police can come into the community on patrols - not move through in one day, but to remain in the community with some accommodation and a lock-up. We have promised two Aboriginal community police officer positions there. That would be a very good coverage when you consider that, just across the border, will be a Western Australian police station …
Mr Elferink: This, ladies and gentlemen of the gallery, is a filibuster!
Dr TOYNE:… which can provide additional police cover in concert with the police that we will be putting in there. If you put all that together, you get quite a strong structure now for us to go to work on the issues in that area.
It is very interesting. You hardly ever hear from the member for Macdonnell over there on what he suggests can be done about this ...
Mr Elferink: You were not listening to my adjournment debate the other night.
Dr TOYNE: He is so busy trying to compulsorily acquire land from the Arrente people in town, he does not have the time to deal with the NPY area. Let us bring on a bit of a campaign to let people out there know what you are up to, old sport, because they would be very interested to hear some of the positions you are taking in this House and in Alice Springs through the media. We will certainly go out there and tell them.
I look forward to taking up this new and very powerful partnership with NPY women, with Mutitjulu and Docker River communities.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Goyder, we have had a number of questions on this particular topic and you know Standing Order 114 refers to repetitious questions. Some of your questions could have been embraced in a whole question. Seeing we are nearly towards the end of Question Time, could you perhaps get to the point.
Allegations of Ministerial Misconduct
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
I will take that on board, Madam Speaker. Do you not agree that the conduct of the previous minister has seriously compromised the integrity of the office ...
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I suggest his question is out of order: seeking an opinion. It is against standing orders.
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me. You cannot ask questions that refer to another member in that tone. Therefore, I suggest you rephrase your question.
Mr MALEY: I have tabled a document - the unsigned application - which clearly demonstrates the previous minister tried to manipulate the planning scheme for political purposes. Do you stand by that?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I have said before, the member for Goyder has made all sorts of assertions on this and other issues within this House. I completely reject his assertion. I completely stand by my colleague and predecessor, the member for Casuarina. Once again, I reiterate that processes were abided by and that this is a democratic process. We live in a democratic country. The 60 to 70 people who put in …
Mr Maley: You can manipulate the Planning Act for political reasons, is that what you are saying?
Dr BURNS: I will pick up on that interjection. Is the member for Goyder suggesting that the 60 to 70 residents who put in submissions to the DCA …
Mr Baldwin: No, we are talking about the process. Tell us about the process, minister.
Dr BURNS: Well, the subject is political manipulation, because that is what he is asserting. Here are people who live in an area, having their say about an issue that they feel strongly about, and we live in a democracy, and I am glad we do.
Heritage Protection
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Concerns have recently been expressed over the protection of important heritage sites such as the wrecks of World War II fighter aircraft. What steps are being taken to help better protect our heritage?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. Labor made a very important promise at the last election to overhaul our systems and processes for conserving our multicultural heritage. Last year, my predecessor released a public discussion paper outlining the key issues for heritage reform and posing various options for improvements, such as the new category for collectively listing our World War II heritage sites.
This broad community consultation on heritage issues and the review of the Heritage Conservation Act is all part of keeping the Territory moving ahead. The community consultation program for the discussion paper is progressing well. The review has been well publicised, through notices in newspapers and radio interviews, and a dedicated web page. To get people thinking about issues raised in the discussion paper, community workshops with various organisations such as the Northern Territory Minerals Council, the National Trust, the Northern Territory Property Council, both the Northern and Central Land Councils and local governments are being rolled out across the Territory over this month. Meetings have occurred or are planned in Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. The community can also put its views forward through an online survey.
Prominent heritage lawyer, Peter James, Chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council, has also been engaged to assist in the community consultation, and examine trends and developments in heritage legislation throughout Australia and New Zealand. This will ensure that the Territory gets the best model for heritage conservation legislation. I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr James last week, he is an engaging and passionate advocate for best practice procedures in the way we conserve our heritage. Indeed, he commented that he had been involved in similar heritage reviews across Australia and that the process embarked upon in the Territory was, in his words, ‘the best by far’.
I look forward to seeing his recommendations and advice, alongside the views of the community. Over the last month, I have also had the opportunity to meet with Bob Alford, Chair of the Heritage Advisory Council, members of the Heritage Alice and members of the Larrakeyah Branch of the National Trust. I hope to meet others involved in conserving our heritage over the coming months.
Once community comments have been received, the Heritage Advisory Council will be making recommendations to me on how the Heritage Conservation Act might be reformed, and I expect this to occur by mid-2004.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I specifically during Question Time received instructions as to exactly when Question Time started, and you told me 20 minutes past. It is not yet 20 past.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, you know the rules. The Leader of Government Business has the right to close Question Time when it is close to 20 minutes past. Question Time is over. Member for Macdonnell, I think we are pretty close to 20 minutes past.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016