2001-11-29
Yellow Pages Business Index
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
My question is in relation to the latest Yellow Pages Index which I am sure she has read and I am sure she has found alarming. In November’s Yellow Pages Business Index for small and medium enterprises, it identifies a major crash in the business confidence and its prospects for the next 12 months from 43% to 36%, to be precise. What responsibility does the Chief Minister and Treasurer take for this decline in confidence?
ANSWER
I thank the Opposition Leader for his question. Let me say, as a new government after nearly 27 years of the previous administration, that I am not really surprised that business would be having a think about the new government. I am disappointed, of course, that the figures are not better. But, if you put those figures in context, we are still the fourth most supported government across Australia. If you compare those figures, quite properly, with the others in the business index, what you will see is that we have a positive rating, whereas there are governments like New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia that have negative ratings. It is important to put it in context but that does not diminish the fact that, as a new government, we are disappointed. I notice that this survey was taken up to the beginning of November, so taken over those last two weeks of October.
To put that further in context, there have been some extraordinarily difficult circumstances that this government has faced since we came to office just three months ago. The first impact for us was discovering that there was left to Territorians a very large hole in the budget that had been disguised by the previous administration. $12m they admitted to. What was it? Well over $100m. An absolute deceit on Territorians, an absolute deceit. So this is a new government coming into office, after 26 years of the CLP, and what happens first? We had to tell the community, we had to tell business, that the previous administration perpetrated a fraud on them. So, if you are going to look at where should the confidence be, of course business is going to say: ‘Well, how are we going to manage this?’ And they have been watching.
We followed that by the very dramatic impact, not just on the Territory, not just on Australia, but world-wide, of the terrorist attacks in the United States. We are still seeing that impact, after a very shocking and a very evil event that happened. Following close on the heels of that, we had the collapse of Ansett. We know the impact that had in the Territory, and how much work there has been to restore at least a greater percent of those flights into the Territory, and the impact on tourism. So, you have to look at the impact on tourism with the collapse of Ansett, and then combine that with the impact world-wide - again, including tourism and business confidence - of what happened in the United States and the terrorist attack.
Since the survey was taken, I think we have proved, as a new government, our great credentials to business. I think we have proved it through the very successful summit that was held here. Business people, non-government sector, community people from around the Territory, sat in here for a day-and-a-half and actually forged together how we move in the future. It was a great contribution, it was really about partnerships, and it was certainly about bringing the indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians together to recognise that there are joint missions together for economic development of the Territory. A very positive response from business. The contribution of business to that summit was acclaimed to be great. I think real partnerships have been forged. You saw that in the communiqu and how this government has already responded to the initiatives of the communiqu.
Following that, we have seen a major restructure of agencies in the Territory, showing business, again, that government is about doing efficient business, focussing on service delivery and outcomes. Of course, business, who listened to the previous Chief Minister and heard him say: ‘We think you should pull your belts in, business’, said to me: ‘What about government pulling their belts in?’ Not a sign from the previous administration about pulling their belts in - not a sign. We have established our credentials. We have said government will pull its belt in, government will be efficient, we will be focussed on service delivery and focussed on outcomes, and business respects this.
Then, this week, a responsible and fair mini-budget, welcomed by business as a new culture for the Territory. A new culture, discarding the old culture, discarding the culture that ran up debts, discarding the culture that pretended there were no deficits, that did not appropriately manage the growth we needed in the Territory economy. Business recognises that, for the next four years, there will be growth in the Territory economy, but there are also efficiencies to be made. We have the respect of business and we will keep talking to business because of what we have done.
I say again to this parliament, I am disappointed at these figures. I am disappointed at these figures, and I think it is very important for this new government to win the respect of business, to listen to business. We will be doing that. So, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, and I think we are demonstrating, day-by-day, to business. Look at some of the other initiatives we have taken. The introduction of Quick Start II, actually tackling the problems left by the previous administration in construction in terms of minor new works and road repairs, which were left with nothing in their budgets. Also, initiatives in terms of putting out government rental office space on the market – what an initiative! Out to tender - the response has been terrific! Also, announcing that we will move ahead with the wharf precinct. I acknowledge it was an initiative of the previous government. Where had it gone? Where had it gone - it had disappeared, no action. It is all very well to put out the glossy brochures, and we said this again and again. They had the glossy brochure approach, but no action. The documents were there, but you could not move it forward.
I say to business, we are working with you and we will continue to work hard. Even though we feel a level of disappointment about these particular figures, they were - I say again, business was assessed before we had the summit, before we had the agency restructure, before we had the mini-budget. Even though it is not good, if we look around Australia, there are governments that do not have the support that this new government has.
Northern Territory Budget - Ministerial Expenditure
Mr KIELY to TREASURER
There has been criticism in the past about ministerial expenditure. What is this government’s attitude to the ministerial officers’ budget, including expenditure last year and this financial year? What is this government’s attitude to termination payments for ministerial staff, and have changes been made in this area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It goes to the heart of what I was speaking about in the previous question, and that is about greater efficiencies and savings from government. If you look at this particular area, the ministerial officers’ budget, it simply has been a disgrace. It simply has been a disgrace.
To put it in some context, members might not be aware that the ministerial officers program within the Department of the Chief Minister provides funding for ministers and for the Leader of the Opposition, and that is for operating costs. If you look at Budget Paper No. 2, it is a large part of the government business support output. So, it is a significantly large part of it. This government has demonstrated that we are going to be lean and mean and we are not going to be spending on ourselves. That is why the ministers were reduced from nine to seven. We had the plea, the pathetic plea, last night from the now Deputy Opposition Leader saying: ‘I will forgive you if you want to put more ministers on. I do not think your ministers can do it’. Ministers in other parts of the country can do it, and ministers in this parliament, in this new government, can do it as well.
Let us look at what it has cost over the last little while in terms of that ministerial officers’ budget. The overall cost …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: The overall cost …Yes, there was a change of government …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Let the Chief Minister answer.
Ms MARTIN: The overall cost of terminating previous government ministerial …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, let us hear the Chief Minister’s answer.
Ms MARTIN: The overall cost of terminating the previous government’s ministerial staff and ministerial consultants was $1.1m - the cost of termination. You have to ask why? An extraordinarily large figure, an absolutely extraordinarily large figure. Of this total of $1.1m on ministerial staff, staff on executive contract received over $400 000. To terminate those staff on executive contract, they received over $400 000. Now, a cute little arrangement had been made with these executive contracts. They had very, very generous termination payments of up to six months pay. You are on an executive contract and what do you get? You work in a political office and, regardless of how long you had been there, you could get a termination payment that covered six months pay.
When this new government came in we stopped it. We stopped that, it was over-generous. It was ridiculously over-generous and it was inequitable. All ministerial staff employed by this government are now entitled to two weeks salary for every year of service, and that is reasonable. The $1.1m to deal with your staff - $1.1m. This change will potentially save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a fair and reasonable government. You can see the types of contracts that were offered from the previous administration and the overly-generous termination arrangements. Overly-generous - $1.1m.
Turning to the overall issue of ministerial officers’ expenditure, it is very interesting to note that expenditure in 2000-01 financial year was nearly $750 000 more than was budgeted for. ‘So don’t worry about the budget’, says the previous government ‘We can just blow it by $750 000 more than was budgeted for the 2001-02 year’.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: You blew the budget.
We are demonstrating how serious we are. We will reduce the level of ministerial office expenditure, and that includes the $796 000 of over-expenditure last year - so it is over $0.75m, $796 000 over-expenditure last year. We have saved $2m, as we have outlined, in the level of ministerial office’s expenditure. Compared to last year, we will save $3.1m. When it comes down to it, you put the cards on the table. We have demonstrated, and we will fulfil this, that we will save $3m. In spite of that, and even given this government’s commitment to a $3m saving in ministerial expenses compared to last year, this government is committed to the revised 2001-02 ministerial office’s budget of $8.427m. The changes to severance arrangements, instituted by this government, is a real example of showing what leadership is about when making sustainable budgets.
Yellow Pages Business Index
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, my question is based on the answer that she gave to the Leader of the Opposition. To my astonishment, I sat here and listened to the Chief Minister blame Ansett Australia and Osama bin Laden for her government’s rating in the Yellow Pages Business Index. That index has been at its lowest level for the last 12 months - it is now at 29%. 29% of Territory businesses have no faith in the Northern Territory government. What message does the Chief Minister really gain from that?
Mr Ah Kit: That they have less faith in you blokes.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, the Chief Minister has the floor!
ANSWER
I could say, refer to the previous answer because the question is no different. I said it is disappointing for this new government that confidence in the government has dropped some. But, as I say again, this survey was taken before some of the major initiatives from this new government were in place. We are working very closely with business to win their confidence, and it is something we are committed to. We saw what kind of confidence the previous administration demonstrated for the business community in terms of how business felt about you. Did you actually go and talk to them about the fact that the 1999-2000 year had no growth - no growth at all? The only jurisdiction in Australia that just did not grow. Have you talked to businesses about the fabrication you did with budget papers?
In construction last December, we saw 10 homes approved to be built in Darwin - 10 homes. We had old Nero over there, fiddling while the Territory was struggling, and not a recognition of that - not a recognition of that. This new government recognises the figures are not as good as we like. We are working closely with business, we have had our summit, we have put money into construction, we have initiated QuickStart II. There are projects on the go, there are opportunities for business. We have delivered for Territorians this week a fair and responsible budget that tackles the dramatic debt that was dishonestly left for Territorians - absolutely dishonestly left for Territorians by the previous administration. We are demonstrating very clearly our credentials to business. We will work hard with Territory business - and that is business right around the Territory. Here, Alice Springs, wherever business is, we will work with them so that, together, we can build this better Territory.
Wickham Point – Environmental Damage
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Madam Speaker, I know members here understand my lack of support for any gas and any gas-associated products in the middle of the harbour. But I have always been on record supporting the Phillips Petroleum LNG plant at Wickham Point, because of its requirement for deep water. I also support that a road should be put through to Wickham Point. I might show members of parliament, this is the road that is being built and this is the destruction that is being caused at the present time. Minister, is this road being bulldozed through a pristine environment to Wickham Point without some form of environmental study? If such a study has been done, would you present that study to parliament? Is it true that Phillips Petroleum told your department earlier this year that there is no requirement for this road to be constructed at the moment because of the uncertainty of gas coming to Darwin and because Phillips can do any work presently required at Wickham Point by barge? Finally, what is the estimated cost of building this road?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I am well aware of his support for the gas industry. We have had many discussions about it. Unfortunately, I will not be able to satisfy him. I will not be able to table in parliament an environmental study for the simple reason that the previous Minister Palmer inquired with the previous Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, the member for Daly, about the need for environmental study and, on the 26 February 2001 the member for Daly said no, there was no requirement; there was no need for environmental study. So, unfortunately, there is no environmental study to be tabled.
With regards to this road, I understand there is a requirement for the road to be constructed. I also understand that Phillips expressed some concerns about the need for the construction of this road and asked the department to defer the construction of that road to a later date, because they were aware of the problems they had with LNG. Unfortunately, all the destruction that we have seen very clearly from the photograph the member for Nelson presented of the road, was conducted in June 2001.
Asian Green Mussel Detection in Darwin Harbour
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Can the minister please inform the House what action has been taken to protect Darwin Harbour from exotic marine pests?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. I wish to inform the House today about the detection of a potentially serious exotic marine pest that was located in Darwin Harbour this week.
Members, of course, would remember the 1999 infestation of the black striped mussel in Cullen Bay and the heap of copper sulphate that was actually tipped into Cullen Bay to try and kill that pest off, at a cost of around $2m. Following that incident, and to minimise the recurrence of such an outbreak, inspection protocols have been put in place for vessels coming into our harbour, into our marine berths, to detect any incursion of any similar molluscs that may come in the future. All vessels apprehended on behalf of the Fisheries Management Authority - illegal fishing vessels that are caught off our coast here - are inspected. Divers go down and check the hulls of these vessels as soon as they get into the Harbour to determine if there are any aquatic pests attached to these hulls.
Earlier this week, on a 25 m suspected illegal entry vessel (SIEV) the fishing boat Karimun Abarli, moored in the quarantine area of Stokes Hill Wharf, has been detected the very insidious Asian green mussel, and these beasts are a hell of a lot bigger than the black striped mussels. These are a couple that were pulled off yesterday and have been biologically looked at. These molluscs have infested this particular vessel. The good news for the House is that the other vessels in that quarantine area have been inspected, and there are no other vessels that have similar molluscs attached to their hulls. Internal inspections, in terms of those engine systems, are taking place at the moment.
I have also been advised by the Primary Industry and Fisheries Department that these molluscs – it is hard to believe, given the size of them - are sexually immature and not ready to breed yet. So, potentially, we have been saved from further growth in terms of the numbers of these pests. DPIF also advised that any potential spread through the harbour will be minimised due to the large tidal flows in the harbour that would keep these beasts away from shore.
We are as confident as we can be, at the moment, that this is an isolated incident. Obviously, this infestation needs to be permanently neutralised. We will be destroying this vessel, I believe, at Mica Beach, as soon as practicably possible. The vessel will have to be burnt and destroyed. It is unable to be lifted by the naval lift here in Darwin and, for obvious reasons. Darwin Ship Repair and Engineering do not want this thing anywhere near their pearling boats. So, this vessel is going to have to be destroyed along with all the other vessels that are moored there, the illegal vessels in Darwin Harbour.
But more than that, officers of my department have gone to Melbourne today, to urge that the Commonwealth government get much more involved in this area. We have asked the Commonwealth government to give greater attention to provide adequate water protection from our marine environments, with particular emphasis on hull fouling and internal sea water systems, and to take whatever steps are necessary to immediately implement a national approach, and funding to ensure, around Australia, that our coastline and our marine environments are protected from the incursion of these sorts of pests. So, it is not good news today, but the department is onto it very quickly. We are going to increase the diving regimes that take place in terms of looking at the hulls of these vessels, and I will be reporting back to the House in the next sittings further in relation to ongoing mitigation plans we are going to put in place to ensure that our marine environment is not endangered by these types of pests in the future.
Yellow Pages Business Index
Mr MALEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Does the Chief Minister see any relationship between the election of her government and the collapse in business confidence identified by the Yellow Pages survey? I draw her attention to the Business Index and the following statement:
- The state or territory that recorded the greatest drop in support during the quarter was the Northern Territory government, whose support fell from 41% to 5%.
To make the point clear, my office has prepared a graph, and you can see the dramatic fall there. What do you intend to do about this drop?
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would ask that the member table that graph. This Assembly has had some experience of these types of graphs. I would ask him to table it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Goyder, table …
Mr MALEY: Indeed, I have another copy here and I intend to table that document. But the question still remains, and I …
Madam SPEAKER: Hang on, just hang on, let us get it right. Would you seek leave to table, first of all, and then ask questions.
Mr MALEY: I simply table that document, and I have a second copy for that purpose.
Madam SPEAKER: Okay, now ask your question.
Mr MALEY: The question still stands. What does the Chief Minister plan to do about this drop?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with all due respect to the opposition, they have only had three months in opposition, they are still learning how to do it. To ask the same question three times in a row is really not quite grasping the point. I think I very honestly spelt out at the appointment of this new government that there has been a drop in business support.
It gives me the opportunity to say again, that in terms of overall states, we are still fourth from the top. There are other states that have negative attitudes from business to their governments. Even though it does not fill me with great joy that we can see that kind of drop in confidence in this Territory government, I say again, this was taken before our major initiatives came into play. I have been through those, and I will take the time in the House to go through them again. So, thank you for the question. Even though it is repetitive, it gives me the opportunity to spell out very clearly what this new government has done.
At the beginning of November we held a major Economic Development Summit. It was held in this place. One hundred and thirty people from around the Territory from business - particularly non-indigenous and indigenous business - from the non-government sector; we had educators here; welcomed the presence of the Leader of the Opposition, great to see him here. We had a very productive one-and-a-half day’s talking about initiatives for the Territory’s future, how business and government can work closely together.
There was a whole raft of recommendations that came out of that in the communiqu, and this government is working closely together with business on that. Just take one of those - that is business being more involved in what is happening getting gas on to the beach here in Darwin. Business said to us: ‘Can we be more involved, can we work more closely with the gas task force?’ Yes, they are, and they have welcomed that opportunity. ‘What about major projects? What is happening in terms of possible development projects for the Darwin CBD area?’ We have responded. The Wharf Precinct has been taken from the glossy brochure and we are now activating it. It is back with consultation with the community and that will be to the end of February, a major initiative. There is a lot of excitement from the business community about this, and this is welcomed.
What else have we done? We have introduced QuickStart II. What else have we done? We have filled the gaping hole in the capital works budget that was left by the previous administration. Around the Territory, $15m getting our small subcontractors on the job, getting those period contractors back on the job. Yes, we have taken action.
We have had a fair and responsible mini-budget welcomed by the business community, welcomed very strongly as a sign of a real direction coming from government and a getting rid of the previous culture. They recognise what that culture was. They recognise what that was - uncontrolled budgets, running up debt, not focussed on service delivery, not focussed on outcomes.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: So this government ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, pause for a moment. There seems to be a little bit of rabble on both sides again. Chief Minister has the floor.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, did you just hear what I said? I remind you again.
Ms MARTIN: So I say, again, that we are disappointed that these figures that were taken before the beginning of November indicate that there has been a drop in confidence in the Territory government. I think you would expect that, there has been a change of government. Business has to get to know us, and I think if you look at the initiatives over the last month, business has to get to know this new government as government. They certainly knew us as opposition. Why do you think we are sitting on this side of the House and you are on that side of the House?
So, we will be judged by business on what we have done, particularly over the last month. We will be out there to win the confidence of business. and we will be doing this very actively and engaging in partnerships with our business community, something that they truly welcome because they know that building this Territory is all about partnerships with government and non-government and business. That is what this government is about.
Sport and Recreation – Contribution to Community Development
Dr BURNS to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
I have noted, from remarks made by the minister, that he places significant importance on the role that sport and recreation will play within the overarching community development focus of his new portfolio responsibilities.
Mr Dunham: First, get a weight loss.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Dr BURNS: Can the minister explain how he thinks sport and recreation contributes to community development and quality of life issues, and how this is reflected by the government’s policies? What benefits are likely to flow to the Northern Territory community through improving access to sport and recreation opportunities?
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is very hard not to bounce off the interjections from the rabble on the other side. I suppose I would have played a lot more sport in the Northern Territory over the years than the member for Drysdale and the member for Greatorex, together. I doubt if they ever graced a football oval, a rugby league oval, a rugby union oval or played darts, eight ball, represented the Territory. No! You have not done any of that and you sit there and you think you are great, and that every person in the Northern Territory who has a slight touch of obesity is a person who should be condemned in the Northern Territory! I will defend their rights. I have no shame for the weight that I carry from time to time. I have actually lost a couple of stone and I am looking really well and I am feeling really well. You can tell by the way they can fire me up by their little interjections that I will continue to enjoy every minute of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Let me say, in response to the ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, before you go on. I want the member for Drysdale to be careful of his remarks across the floor.
Mr DUNHAM: I shall, Madam Speaker.
Mr AH KIT: The importance of sport and recreation and leisure activities should not be underestimated. It makes an essential contribution to physical, mental and social health. Sport and recreation opportunities must be available to all Territorians - opportunities to participate in sport and recreation at all levels, as well as opportunities to pursue excellence at the elite levels. In particular, involvement in sport and recreation provides young people with healthy and positive activities to fill their time, and the achievement of sporting success provides an important role model for young Territorians, and plays an important part in achieving a sense of pride in the Northern Territory.
In this respect, I am very pleased that the Martin government has been able to demonstrate its commitment to sporting and recreation activities by providing the immediate implementation of increasing grants to community government councils to employ sport and recreation officers in remote communities. In this respect, we are going to be contributing more than $1m over the next four years. Indigenous youth in remote communities are particularly vulnerable to problems arising from social dislocation. Many who are left to their own devices end up in trouble with the law, due to the lack of organised activities. Yet, these same people often have prodigious sporting talent that is left undeveloped. Sport and recreation officers can help to address this problem.
This initiative is another indication that we are getting on with the business of government. Certainly, we have to deal with the dreadful mess that the other mob left us, but we are not letting that distract us from implementing the policies we took to the people of the Northern Territory. From what I have observed over the last week or so, since I have had this portfolio, I am even more convinced about the positive benefits that flow to the community from involvement in sport and recreation activities - benefits at both the individual level and benefits for the broader community.
Last Saturday night, I attended the presentation of the Northern Territory Institute of Sport Awards and was thrilled at the array of young talent that was assembled for that evening. Outstanding achievements were recognised with awards presented to: Mark Hickman, the International Team Athlete of the Year; Judith Green, the International Individual Athlete of the Year; Ken Skewes, National Team Athlete of the Year; Nova Peris, National Individual Athlete of the Year; Xavier Clarke for AFL football; Matthew Gregor, basketball; Martin Brown, cricket; Alexandra Ford, hockey; Margot Hudson, judo; Shannon Miller, netball; Brett Smith, rugby league; Shane Crowley, rugby union; Jessica Albertoni, swimming; Nicole Baxter, tennis; and Robert Kennedy, tenpin bowling.
The following day, I was privileged to present the Prime Minister’s Sporting Medals to three individuals who have provided extraordinary service to athletics in the Northern Territory. Bernie Trinne, Brian Webb and Rick Ralph have all given freely of their time for many years as volunteers to athletics, and their service was recognised. These people are not elite-level athletes, they are participating and contributing as volunteers to a sport they love, and helping to involve young people in healthy worthwhile activities.
Of course, last weekend we had two of our finest young footballers, Richard Coles and Xavier Clarke drafted by the AFL clubs, which will give them an opportunity to build a career at the elite level.
Sport and recreation is not a side issue, it is essential to quality-of-life issues, and part of the fabric of our community. Now that we are moving forward with a government based on integrity, transparency and honesty, sport will be treated as more than an easy area for CLP pork-barrelling and largesse. We will be treating it as an integral element of community development, and ensuring that resources are allocated on the basis of developing better access and greater opportunities in sport and recreation to all Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, did you also mention Daryl White, the Alice Springs lad who played in the premiership? I hope you did.
Mr AH KIT: I will talk to you at the Christmas drinks, Madam Speaker.
Danila Dilba Medical Service – Land at Palmerston
Mr REED to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The minister recently gave Danila Dilba Medical Service land adjacent to the Palmerston Health Precinct. Can the minister advise the market value placed on this land, and the price paid by Danila Dilba? The minister might also confirm that the previous government was assisting Danila Dilba in its land needs, but made it quite clear that Danila Dilba would have to pay for any suitable block of land.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for his question. Yes, it is true we gave land to Danila Dilba Medical Service near the health precinct in Palmerston. Yes, it is also true that Danila Dilba had applied to the previous government last year to acquire some land in the health precinct in Palmerston. It is also true that the previous government refused to give them land. For the member for Katherine to say today that they asked Danila Dilba to pay, I think is a very poor excuse.
It is well known that Danila Dilba is an Aboriginal medical service. It is not a profit-making organisation. They do not have enough money. They came to the previous minister cap in hand and they asked for assistance. I have to say that the previous minister of health, the member for Drysdale, he was very kind and provided a lot of support for Danila Dilba. At that time I was working at Danila Dilba and I had meetings with the previous minister for health. I was very pleased to see his compassion when he dealt with Danila Dilba, and I was very pleased to see that he was discussing with Danila Dilba, at that time, the provision of land in the health precinct. Unfortunately, it did not happen.
This time, Danila Dilba again requested land. We know what work Danila Dilba does out there in the Aboriginal community. I know the high regard that the Aboriginal community holds Danila Dilba, and I think it was only fair that Danila Dilba was offered land near the Palmerston Health Precinct for the Aboriginal community - but not only for the Aboriginal community. Many times when I was working there, and now, Danila Dilba will provide services to any member of the community that walk in with a Medicare card in hand and seek medical assistance.
I believe that Danila Dilba Medical Service is going to enhance the Palmerston Health Precinct and it will provide service to the Palmerston community, Darwin community, the general community and the Aboriginal community. I do not think it is fair for us in government, or any government, to ask this kind of organisation to pay for land that they are going to use for the benefit of the community.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to remind ministers we have only had eight question to date. Could we perhaps have some quicker answers?
Proposed Freedom of Information Legislation
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Minister, can you advise the House on the consultations undergoing on the Freedom of Information Bill?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. This is a very important part of our program in our first term of government. When I was given the privilege of carrying this legislation through the process to law, the first thing I had to make sure of, with an information bill, is that people got information about it. Since the draft bill was tabled in this parliament in October, we have carried through with a very active program of consultation with the community. I will outline some of these consultation events we have had to date.
On 30 October, a briefing session was conducted for the media to put the media across the major points of the bill. Advertising on availability of the draft bill and discussion paper has been placed, both in hard copy and on the Web,. To date, approximately 100 hard copies have been distributed. The information bill and discussion paper have been circulated to all public sector organisations which will be affected by the legislation, and briefing sessions offered to senior management of each public sector agency. So far, the Northern Territory Tourist Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions and Health and Community Services have had briefings. A number of other agencies will have sessions conducted for them in the next few weeks.
The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory has expressed interest in the consultation process, distributing information to its members on the content of the bill, and the obligations it seeks to impose. The Northern Territory Law Society will be hosting an education session for legal practitioners.
The interest shown, and proactive approach adopted by these organisations, is welcome and will greatly assist in the eventual implementation and development of these access and privacy regimes. Public information sessions on the bill will be conducted in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs in the first week of December. These will be open to all interested members of the public, and I certainly look forward to receiving comments.
The input that we provided during this consultation process will ensure the Territory has the best information access and privacy protection regimes of all jurisdictions in this country. Rather than being seen as the last bastion of government secrecy, as it was in the last government, the Territory will now be viewed as a leader in this aspect of open government.
Danila Dilba Medical Service – Political Contribution
Mr BALDWIN to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING and ENVIRONMENT
The minister would be aware that Danila Dilba owns quite considerable land in the Darwin CBD. Is the minister aware that Danila Dilba has given more than $10 000 to Harold Nelson Holdings, a company that lists its directors as Catherine Spurr, Zoe Bettison and Charlie Phillips, all current or former office holders in the ALP’s Territory Branch, and at least two of whom are now employed in the Chief Minister’s office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no, I was not aware that Danila Dilba provided an amount of money to any particular organisation. It is their business. I am not going to ask them why they give the money. I also recall, very well, that other businesses give money to other political organisations. Do I have to remind how much money the business community has provided to the CLP? The same business community that is providing money …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order1 The minister would expect, at least members on his side, to give him the courtesy to listen.
Mr VATSKALIS: The business community has provided money to different organisations, political or not, and Danila Dilba has any right to give money to any organisation they choose to. At the same time, I would like to remind you that Danila Dilba provides services for 15 000 clients, Aboriginal clients and a larger number of white clients. At the same time, Danila Dilba has a property that was given to them by the Commonwealth government. They also ask a form of donation for the service they provide. Danila Dilba provides a service to the community, provides a mobile service to the people, if they live away from Darwin, and provides free medical care for people who cannot afford to pay for their medicine. Danila Dilba provides a service to the community and must be admired for what they are doing. They are doing a very hard job, a very good job. Where they give the money to, I have no knowledge of it. I do not think I should have any knowledge of it. They choose to provide and donate money, if they see fit to do so.
At the same time, Danila Dilba gives money away to other welfare organisations in order to support them to provide a similar service to the community in Darwin and other areas away from Darwin.
Aboriginal Interpreter Service
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
This is a matter of great importance in my electorate and other bush electorates. Can the minister explain what has happened to this government’s priority to improving communications between Aboriginal people and the justice and health systems, particularly with regard to the Aboriginal Interpreter Service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Contrary to the shadow spokesman on Aboriginal affairs who, I was told, was talking this morning on the radio about this very topic. I want to, hopefully, put him straight. This government is committed to making real changes to the outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians. We understand that the key in achieving that is to actually communicate with Aboriginal people in their first language. The budget paper that you refer to …
Mr Elferink: Is minus $24 000.
Mr AH KIT: Paper number 2 is a notional figure.
Mr Elferink: Oh, it’s notional. It is written in black and white. It is notional, is it?
Mr Dunham: What happened to transparency and honesty in budget?
Mr AH KIT: The shadow minister does not understand that what has happened here is that, because we inherited the $107m black hole, what we have been able to do was direct Treasury to come up with some figures where there could be some cuts made. That was up to the CEOs. So the notional figure that you see there, and what you are referring to, is $24 000 being notionally suggested to the acting CEO, Graham Symons. Graham Symons sat down with the management committee of my new department and has quarantined the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. I could have passed this all on to the shadow minister had he sought a briefing but he wants to play politics with it, and obviously we are politicians. I will straighten him up on this one but, hopefully, if he wants to, I am available for any members opposite if they wish to come and seek a briefing on any matters of concern in regards to my portfolio areas.
This government has provided the chief executive officers with a budget, and given them the responsibility for managing budgets in the way that the previous government did not. This Martin government’s priority on the Aboriginal Interpreter Service is well understood by the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
There will not be a cut, as I said, to the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The Aboriginal Interpreter Service is quarantined from mini-budget cuts. Quite the opposite …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Just save your ‘hear, hear’ till you hear me out and then you can clap for me, thank you.
Quite the opposite is going to happen, in fact. The Aboriginal Interpreter Service is going to immediately benefit from two additional staff; one in the Darwin office and one in Alice Springs. The department has already identified a vehicle for the Alice Springs office; that represents an increase per annum of $120 000. Indeed, I understand that an officer has commenced in the Darwin office - that is this week - and we are looking to recruit a skilled officer for Alice Springs within the next couple of weeks.
There is certainly going to be no diminution of the important work of the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The people running the Aboriginal Interpreter Service will be supported as strongly as the migrant services around Australia were supported when they commenced their operations over 20 years ago, in some instance. This government will ensure that this service is utilised by those public servants who deal with non-English speaking Aboriginal people. There is a commitment to making their job for those who deliver the service easier, relieving the heavy workload so that all Territorians benefit long-term.
Around 80% of Aboriginal people living in remote communities in the Northern Territory speak an Aboriginal language before English. Many do not speak English at all. The consequences, in terms of the so-called antisocial behaviour, over-representation in the criminal justice system, poor health outcomes, have had high costs borne out by this government. Justice and health outcomes can be more successfully addressed if both parties actually understand each other.
To give an example, I said in the euthanasia debate, some five years ago, about the concerns Aboriginal people had in the bush when they spoke to me - especially the elderly people - about having to come into town and to go into hospital. There was no interpreter service and they did not know what sort of diagnosis was going to be made of them. They did not know what sort of treatment they were going to get, and they had fears that they could be subjected to something similar to the dog program, where the dog doctor was going around to Aboriginal communities where there were too many dogs and putting a needle in them and putting them to sleep for good. That is the impression, and that is an example, that I give. When government officers use an Aboriginal interpreter to communicate with the Aboriginal client, the effect can be long-term changes in a person’s behaviour or health.
Overall, there are 285 registered interpreters who speak 140 languages. We know, on this side in this Martin government, that with the development of an Aboriginal Interpreter Service operating fully, it can only benefit the Territory much better in how we communicate with each other and how we progress towards the future.
Madam SPEAKER: Can we please have quicker answers. That one was very lengthy.
Danila Dilba Medical Service - Donations to the ALP
Mr REED to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Minister, isn’t it a fact that the Harold Nelson Holdings has donated more than $35 000 to the Territory Branch of the ALP? Isn’t it also a case that this money was derived, at least in part, from taxpayers’ money provided to Danila Dilba? As a former employee of Danila Dilba - an organisation that funds the Labor Party via a Labor Party-controlled company - do you see any conflict of interest in your grant of the Palmerston land free of charge, or was it a quid pro quo for the organisation’s financial support of the Territory Branch of the Labor Party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank the member for Katherine for his question. It saved me the trouble of having to rise at the end of the Question Time to give some further explanation.
Nelson Holdings gave some money to the Labor Party – good on them! At the same time, Nelson Holdings owns an office at 38 Wood Street. Danila Dilba Medical Service, have rented out this office on commercial terms. That $10 000 you referred to was payment as rent. I do not see any conflict of interest. At the same time, I am aware that the member for Katherine, in his time as a minister, gave land to the Red Cross Society. Is there a conspiracy theory there too? It is a commercial arrangement between Danila Dilba and Nelson Holdings. Nelson Holdings is a company which provides money to anybody they like. They might provide money to the CLP tomorrow. I doubt it very much, but they might, so where is the conspiracy theory?
I do not see any conflict of interest, for the simple reason it was commercial arrangement between the two companies, and we provided land to a welfare organisation like Danila Dilba. No, there is no conspiracy theory. No, there was no secret agreement. The only people who made secret deals were the CLP in their time in government. Not this government.
Taminmin Library - Vehicle
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
I make a note that the Taminmin Library is a great library, and both the member for Goyder and myself are members of what we call The Friends of the Taminmin Library. The Taminmin Library has owned a government vehicle up to now, which not only helped facilitate delivery of library services to people in Litchfield Shire, it also delivers outreach services to people like the Old Timers, child care centres, community service points, and housebound people. It also did trips to Darwin to pick up books and was used to go to a central meeting. It also acted as the conduit for the Country Borrowers Service which is now based at Taminmin Library. Can the government please explain why this vehicle has now been taken away from Taminmin Library? Where has this vehicle now been allocated to, and would the minister please reverse this decision, as this is the only library in the rural area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I inform the member that libraries are now in with Arts and Museums in the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
I thank you for your question, member for Nelson. I am not aware of the situation. I will get across the details of that, and get back to you as soon as I can.
Labor Government – Overview of First Three Months
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
The new government has been in office for close to three months. Will the Chief Minister provide an overview of this period?
ANSWER
I thank the member for his question. Just to reinforce, we are actually three months and two days, we are getting closer to our hundred days in office. It certainly has been a very exciting time for the Territory, these last three months. It was interesting that one of the first comments I got from somebody, who I do not actually think voted for a change of government, but after a few weeks said: ‘This is fantastic. This is like community liberation in the Territory’, and was absolutely delighted. A lot of those comments came back from Territorians who did not necessarily vote for a change of government, but were thrilled when they felt the change that happened, with a change of government.
There have been challenges over the last three months, and there have been great frustrations. I think of those great frustrations, the first one was the discovery of the dishonest budget that had been left to Territorians - the massive black hole in the budget. The deceit of the CLP showed no shame when it came to distorting budget papers, and we are pursuing that further. To find that there was a black hole in the budget within days of coming into government - the excitement of taking over and then finding out what a fraud had been perpetrated on Territorians - that was a big disappointment for this new government. That was followed by the impact of the terrorism in the US. The impact, not just on the world, but here in the Territory, on both business confidence - particularly in tourism – and on people’s belief in the decent things in our world.
That was followed by the collapse of Ansett, a great impact on the Territory. We are so dependent on air services: moving people, moving freight. It has been a tough time all around. We are working with Qantas, with the administrator of Ansett, with existing airlines like Virgin Blue, to see those services pick up in the Territory and we are still working to see them to get back to 100%. So, there were some tough things that this new government confronted, but there have also been some very positive things that are being done.
One negative that we inherited from the previous administration was a very poor relationship with our East Timorese neighbours, one that was politically driven and, certainly, reached new heights in the run up to the last election. It was one that, if I was the present Leader of the Opposition, I would feel deeply ashamed about. Constructive relationships have been established with the new government in East Timor and we had a very proud moment at the opening of this parliament when Mari Alkatiri was here. I think he was delighted at the cheer he got from the very full galleries and on the floor of the parliament. It is a relationship that is a constructive one and is moving forward for both the benefit of the Territory and for East Timor.
We have implemented very quickly Labor’s plan on property crime. We removed mandatory sentencing, and it was a proud moment for this parliament when we did. We moved to introduce FOI and we have draft legislation that is now out for community consultation. We made, at the last session of parliament, a long-awaited apology to the Stolen Generation, and we noted the lack of support from the other side of the parliament which, in a way, diminished what could have been a really heartfelt apology to the Stolen Generation. For those who came into parliament and heard the genuine words that were said, they were very moved and it was very important day for them, and we were very proud, but very disappointed at the churlish words of the former Chief Minister.
We have also, in just over three months, introduced a modern, focussed structure for the Territory public sector. We have had the hugely successful Economic Development Summit and this week, we have had the fresh directions for the Territory, a fair and reasonable mini-budget for Territorians including, very importantly, a debt reduction strategy.
While I am on my feet, I would like to say an enormous thank you to our public servants and to the broader community for the support they have given us over these last three months. I say to our public servants, we simply could not have done it without you, you have been terrific. We are very pleased at the positive response you have given, both to the agency restructure and the mini-budget, and we will continue to work with you. Thank you for the help that you have given us so far in learning how to be a new government - and it has been a steep learning curve – and also in moving forward and for service delivery for Territorians.
With the mini-budget now in place, we have established the parameters of where this new government is going, and now it is down to real business. The next months will be truly exciting. Of the challenges that lie ahead, a key one is getting gas on the beach here, and we have business now joined with government to pursue that end. We are fostering investment. I am off to Sydney tomorrow to talk about infrastructure and how private investment can be focussed into the Territory, with economic activity and job creation. We are talking about the challenge of enhancing services in health, education and law enforcement. Again, we saw in the mini-budget a very direct recognition of the priorities of those areas to this new government. We are implementing the initiatives and directions outlined in the mini-budget.
The period has been an exciting one for the Territory and I believe it will be even more exciting in days to come. It is very early days. We are learning to be the new government and we are learning very fast. I say again: I appreciate the help we have been given right across-the-board, and I hope, very much, that moving forward for the Territory will be done in partnership with all sectors of the community and I would hope, to a certain extent, in partnership with the opposition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016