2005-02-17
Darwin City Waterfront Project – Resolution of Outstanding Issues
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, I outlined the many concerns that people have regarding the waterfront development. These include the secret nature of the financial negotiations, the value of the taxpayers’ land that you are handing over and our financial exposure generally, the considerable and yet unresolved environmental issues, and your position to not only open a taxpayer cheque book to fix these issues, but also your insistence to leave the taxpayer exposed to these costs through the 15-year life of the project, also the massive Defence issues you have not resolved, and details of the impact of the HWE situation that you have failed to provide to Territorians.
Will you now agree with me that you are rushing this waterfront project for your own political purposes, and that you should delay financial close until all these issues and many others that are outstanding are resolved?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe it was in 2003, when the now Opposition Leader was the Opposition Leader, there was much quite lively discussion about whether we had a convention centre in the CBD area. There was much discussion about the failed attempt by the previous government to build one, which had gone nowhere. There was an assessment of which sites were better to have a convention and exhibition centre built on.
I remember the then Opposition Leader, the now Opposition Leader, criticising this government for doing assessments, risk analysis, economic benefits about whether we should build a convention centre and where we should put it. I remember standing here saying: ‘We are doing this. We are doing it sensibly and logically so that we know that when we spend taxpayers’ dollars it will be effectively done’. I believe the words he used were: ‘Just get on and do it!’ He was out there saying: ‘Get on and do it!’. This is 18 months ago, he is saying: ‘Just do it, just do it’, like a Nike ad.
Here we are, getting on and doing it, and what do we have from the Opposition Leader? He has forgotten his yesterday’s man’s terms, which is interesting, for the first time. You have forgotten those. What you are staying now is: ‘Stop it, do not do it!’
Might we try to understand this contradiction? Eighteen months ago, he is saying: ‘Just do it! Stop carefully analysing where we should do it, why we should do it, what the economic benefits are, and just get on and do it.’ Now we are getting on and doing it.
Yesterday, in this House, there was a motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition. I went through the issues that he raised and addressed them in detail. I am bewildered about how it is that you can address all the issues that are raised, explain that while you are doing the final financial negotiations you cannot reveal those details, quite logically, as happened in previous negotiations such as the railway, and still you have the Opposition Leader saying: ‘I am not convinced.’
Madam Speaker, you can say to the Opposition Leader for only so long: ‘These are the details,’ and he continues to say: ‘I am not convinced.’ He obviously does not want to see this project continue. He obviously does not want to see a convention and exhibition centre for Darwin. We are dealing with it and we have expert advice. It was really offensive to hear the nature of the debate yesterday, putting down every person involved in the waterfront, implying that they had no expertise to deal with this. This is a senior group of public servants, with expertise across the private sector, dealing with the final stages of financial close, yet all we have from the Opposition Leader is knocking it, putting down those who are involved in it, questioning their integrity and questioning their expertise.
Madam Speaker, this is an Opposition Leader who does not want to see the waterfront develop, and let me say, Territorians do.
Population Growth and Skills Base
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
What is your government doing to build the Territory population and attract skilled workers to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his very important question. There is no doubt that building our population and boosting the Territory’s skills base is a top priority of this government. At lunch time, I was very pleased to be joined by the minister for Business in launching our Business and Skilled Migration Strategy 2005-2010, along with relaunching Building our Population, which is our population policy strategy.
Mr Burke: Rebuilding! Relaunching!
Madam SPEAKER: Cease for a moment, Chief Minister. Leader of the Opposition, I do not want these constant interjections today, please cease.
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Without comment from you, member for Greatorex.
Dr Lim: It worked, for two years.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning. I was speaking to you and you back-answered. You know I do not like that.
Ms MARTIN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The minister and I were joined by a number of business people, who were very enthusiastic about what government is doing to build our population, particularly in the area of the Business and Skilled Migration Strategy.
The population policy says that, over the next 20 years, we would like to add another 100 000 people; that is our target. The key ways to do that are by attracting more people, quite logically, retaining our people, and that is an important part of building for our future, and also skilling our people.
We are already delivering in these areas. We have record infrastructure projects such as Wickham Point and the Alcan expansion, and others on the way. We have record tax cuts, making the Territory the most competitive business environment in Australia.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: To retain more people, and you would think the opposition was interested, we are delivering major improvements in health and education, we have recruited more police, we have certainly added those 100 extra teachers, more than that for police and nurses. In terms of lifestyle specifically, we are boosting our recreational fishing opportunities and those wonderful sporting events that we have here, whether it be football, basketball or V8s. We are looking to all elements of that.
In terms of skilling, we have already rolled out the first ever Jobs Plan for the Territory, with $160m invested in that. We are seeing a 30% increase of Territorians in training and, as the minister mentioned this morning, 38% of those are in traditional trades.
As well as that, announced today, we are putting additional funds, $1m over two years, into making sure that we can get more of those business and skilled migrants to the Territory. Currently, we only get 0.3% of those. We are 1% of Australia’s population and we should, as the minister said today, be getting 1%.
I would like to update the House on the success of one element of this, which is Building our Population, and that is our campaign to attract skilled workers to the Territory. We started that campaign on 5 February. I have spoken about it in this House, but already, since then, 12 days, we have had 240 enquiries about working in the Territory. Those expressions of interest have come not only from Australia, or New Zealand as I have mentioned, but from France, South Africa, Mexico, Germany and the United States. Since that campaign started, our web site, which probably had ten hits a day, has 10 000 hits a day – an extraordinary number.
We are proud of our strategies. They are coherent, open strategies and they are starting to work. It is terrific.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on, I remind members that if you make your questions concise, it might invite ministers to be brief in their answers. I certainly do not want any long preambles to questions today.
Building our Population - Incentives
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
With regard to your last answer about attracting people to come to the Northern Territory and so many are making inquiries, can you tell me what special incentives you are offering those people when they ring up?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are offering jobs in terms availability of work. Talk to any business. What do they want? They want people across a whole range of skills. We have jobs and opportunities here. We have a great home ownership program. We have a great lifestyle and we have terrific services. What else do you need? If the Opposition Leader cannot understand that it is a great place to be, to live and to invest, then, Opposition Leader, maybe you need a little more than 12 years in the Territory to really understand why we love this Territory and its lifestyle and opportunities.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, you are being very restless today.
Population Growth and Skills Base
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
How have the government’s initiatives to build our population and boost the Territory’s skills base been received by Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question, because the launch today of the Business and Skilled Migration Strategy 2005-2010 has been widely consulted with business people and associations across the Northern Territory. On first feedback today, from around 40 members of the business community and industry associations at the Hanuman Restaurant, it has been received very well indeed.
If the opposition were to be out in the community a bit more, they would know, in talking to business, that the single biggest issue people are facing at the moment in an economy that is going very strongly is access to a skilled work force. Business person after business person I talked to say it is a major problem. Not only is it a major problem, it is a major cost to business, inasmuch as, not only are businesses having to delay projects going ahead, costs are going up, and also the cost of advertising interstate. The local skills pool is, essentially, depleted and businesses are having to advertise interstate and overseas.
Mr Dunham: I wonder why that was? They left, didn’t they? A bit of an exodus.
Mr HENDERSON: This government’s assistance … We know the member for Drysdale does not get out very often. If he did, he would probably hear business saying the same thing.
The Office of Territory Development promotion was very warmly received today. Increased funding to my department allows departmental officers working with migration agents to actually go overseas and promote the Northern Territory and link businesses that are looking to engage skilled workers from overseas to match those with the workers. Government is assisting them with the paperwork through the visa requirements, which is very warmly received, with testimonial after testimonial for the work of officers of my department.
We are going to work in a much more comprehensive way with business associations and migration agents to build this work force in the Northern Territory and to see many more skilled workers come to settle in the Territory.
I have three testimonials, if members of the opposition think this is such a joke. Steve Tyler of Universal Engineering, probably well known to everybody here - or certainly the people who actually get out and talk to business people – is a very happy customer. Steve will be bringing four people into his business from Germany and Singapore in March. As he said:
- Australia has been built on skilled immigration and this is one way we can attract more people to our economy; well done.
John Baker of the Territory Construction Association - even if you do not get out and talk to people, opposition, you probably read the press clippings. You can see what the TCA is saying about the skills shortage in the construction industry. It is chronic, and we have major projects such as the Alcan expansion coming on board that is going to require about 4000 jobs. As John has said, while training locals is very important, the government’s Jobs Plan is a very strong program and, in his words, ‘We need to bring in people who are already skilled to meet our needs now’, and he congratulated the government on the initiative.
Another was from somebody who should be known to everybody who likes a drink in this town - and most of us do - Justin Coleman of Shenannigans, who was there with Ian, his operations manager, who came to Darwin as an Irish backpacker. He also reckons that this is a great initiative and asks: ‘How do I get involved?’
Madam Speaker, the government is responding to the critical needs of the economy. We are out there promoting the Northern Territory as a ‘can do’ place, as a place of great opportunity, and we wish the opposition would get on board with some of that enthusiasm.
Parks Handover
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, I outlined the many concerns people have regarding your insistence to give away our parks. These concerns include the secret nature of the financial negotiations, the value of the taxpayers’ land that you are handing over, and our financial exposure generally.
Yesterday, I gave a guarantee to Aboriginal Territorians that the CLP government will provide full joint management arrangements to Aboriginal people on all Territory parks without giving them away. Will you now agree with me that you are rushing your parks giveaway for your own political purposes, and that my offer to Aboriginal Territorians is a far better approach?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Opposition Leader prefaces his question with ‘secret financial negotiations’. What secret financial negotiations are you talking about? This legislation is in response to a High Court decision, the Ward decision. We heard the Opposition Leader ask in the House today, ‘What right do you have to do this, it was not a policy you took to the last election?’ The High Court made its decision, and government has a mandate to respond to circumstances which emerge and effectively deal with them on behalf of all Territorians.
When the Ward High Court decision meant that 49 of our parks were invalidly declared, 11 of those could be claimed under land rights, we decided there were two options - one of them, we could litigate. We could spend perhaps $50m to $100m, and 10 to 20 years, going into the courts, litigating on these particular parks, because there were valid Aboriginal Land Rights Act and native title claims. What we would have had if we had taken that litigation route is years and years of uncertainty. We would not have seen the opportunities our solution is now providing, which is seeing certainty in our parks, the opportunities for growing business and tourism in our parks, and the opportunity for creating a world-class parks estate in the Territory – and that is what we have.
This has been the most transparent negotiation. We have taken what we were transparently offering in this package – nothing behind closed doors – and have put it in to legislation, spelled out. My sadness is that the Opposition Leader has come in here and said, ‘I do not know what you are talking about’, when he did not turn up for his briefing. He was offered a briefing; however he did not turn up. He has come in here this morning and made the most illogical and factually incorrect comments regarding things he is alleging about this legislation which have already been dealt with. In 2003, when we discussed this piece of legislation, which we are discussing the revival of today, we spent seven hours discussing it. All these issues were dealt with in great detail, and yet we have the opposition saying, ‘We do not know anything about it’.
I am proud we have found the solution to a difficult problem. In the words of the Director of the Central Land Council, David Ross, there have been compromises involved. It has been tough. However, for 27 out of 28 parks, we have achieved a non-litigated solution and opportunities for indigenous Territorians. This is fair and equitable and it is a win-win.
Cane Toads – Threat to Native Species
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Yesterday, you spoke about the government’s contribution to Frogwatch. Frogwatch is doing a great job, and I am wearing one of their toad buster shirts today. They have also produced this specially designed cane toad trap, which they are selling in the hope that people will have traps in their backyards to reduce the number of toads. However, it would be true to say that, no matter how many are caught, some toads will survive and they will threaten our wildlife, such as quolls.
Does your government intend to relax its wildlife laws so that private individuals, Aboriginal groups, farmers and pastoralists can be encouraged to breed in captivity those species we know that are threatened by the entry of cane toads? Or will the government continue to make it so difficult that, by the time they agree to change this, the threatened species may not exist any more?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I pointed out to the House yesterday, this government is investing $300 000 in what is known as the Island Ark project, where threatened species are taken to islands offshore and their viability is assured. We are certainly willing to work with any research institutions and others who are interested in the preservation of our biodiversity.
In answer to your question, and I am expressing a personal view here, the regulation of captivity and breeding of wildlife has to be closely monitored. Some people want to make a profit out of these things. Some people might not keep the wildlife up to standard, and that is why we have our wildlife park here in the Top End. If people have specific proposals regarding what they want to do, I am more than prepared to look at that.
Unauthorised Computer Access
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
Can the minister advise the Assembly of the outcomes of a recent examination coordinated by the Department of Corporate and Information Services into computer access?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his important question. Computer hacking, including the unauthorised accessing of documents held in another computer, is a serious issue. It can disrupt personal lives and have a negative effect on government and private sector business.
Hacking is an invasion. It is an intrusion into personal, corporate, or government information. It is often the case that if a person decides to hack into one person’s computer, they will hack into other people’s computers.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, hacking is a very serious issue and it costs private business, government and ordinary people huge amounts of money for security systems on their computers to try to prevent other people accessing information to which they do not have authorised access.
On Tuesday, the Leader of the Opposition brought into this Chamber a copy of the government’s media quotes collection. To reassure Territorians there was nothing sinister in this collection of quotes the government has made it available to anyone who wants a copy. Certainly, all of the media has a copy.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell!
Mr HENDERSON: It does beg the question, Madam Speaker, how did they get access to this information?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Cease for a moment, minister. Members of the opposition, people would like to hear this answer, and your constant interjections are too loud.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question has been: how did the opposition get access to this information? We challenged the opposition to table that information, and they would not. Each and every one of the 14-odd thousand public servants who have access to government computer systems accept the following terms and conditions when they log on:
- Access to this computer system is restricted to persons authorised by the NT Government. Authorised use is limited by the NT Government’s ICT End User policies, available at …
and there is a web site.
- By accessing this computer system, you are indicating that you are an authorised person, that you understand and agree to be bound by the ICT End user policies, and that you understand that unauthorised access and misuse by authorised persons is subject to the possibility of legal or disciplinary action.
So every government computer system that public servants access, they do so under the conditions that are presented at the sign-on screen every time someone logs on.
This morning, the government has been advised that an examination coordinated by the Department of Corporate and Information Services into access of the media quotes database has taken place. I am advised that the examination has found that the quotes collection has been accessed by two computers from within the Leader of the Opposition’s office.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: They mock, Madam Speaker, but this is a serious issue.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: These hacking activities from the opposition’s office were made possible owing to a temporary inadequacy in terms of IT security. A security review was conducted two weeks ago and additional security measures have been put in place with more to follow.
We should be saddened by this finding. As the advice has just been received, it is not clear what the implication is. One question comes to mind immediately. Given the Opposition Leader’s office had hacked into an unauthorised area of government security, what other government networks have been hacked into by the Opposition Leader’s office?
Another question for the Leader of the Opposition …
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I have listened to the allegations. Would the minister like to table the documentation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Let us hear the rest of the answer.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are already on a warning.
Mr HENDERSON: The Leader of the Opposition has been on the radio and denied all knowledge of such a database. Well, they certainly knew where to look. Another question for the Leader of the Opposition that he has to answer is: why does he feel that it is appropriate to breach rules and regulations that apply to all public servants, and all Territorians, in terms of protecting information.
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker? Is this a question that has been posed in ministerial Question Time to the Leader of the Opposition, and does he now get the opportunity to answer it?
Madam SPEAKER: No, you know the rules.
Mr Dunham: Oh, it is a rhetorical question, sorry, mate.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, cease for a moment. Do not get half smart with me with your points of order and your comments afterwards.
Mr HENDERSON: Two questions for the Leader of the Opposition: what other government computer networks have been hacked into, and does the Opposition Leader feel it is appropriate to breach rules and regulations that apply to all Territorians, but maybe not necessarily for people in his office?
Chief Minister – Challenge to Debate Issues
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, I issued you two challenges. One was, in regard to your deal to give away our parks, and the speed with which you are rushing the waterfront development, I challenged you to publicly debate these issues at any place, any time, anywhere, in any medium of your choosing. Will you accept my challenge?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to debate the Opposition Leader any time, any place, anywhere, in any form. It is important, though, before you have those debates, to look at the authority that we vested in the Opposition Leader. There are responsibilities which go with that job. When you have a responsibility to respond to legislation in this House, you also have a responsibility to get across the details of what we are talking about. It is impossible to take a challenge like that as seriously as I should when you know that the Opposition Leader does not have the basic facts to hand to properly argue his point of view.
We have an Opposition Leader who told me, on the waterfront, to ‘get ahead and just do it’. In May 2003, he criticised us for having public consultations on the waterfront. He said, ‘The CLP plan had many months of public consultation about the convention centre. We are wasting taxpayers’ dollars by doing it. Just go ahead and do it’. Now we have a very different position from an Opposition Leader who is not across the issues.
We also had him say that we are in an unseemly hurry, rushing through the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Bill. How is 18 months unseemly hurry? The requirements of this parliament are, you put a bill into the parliament at one session and debate it in the next. That is about a six week period. With this bill, we have had 18 months.
As I said, I am happy to take the Opposition Leader on anywhere, but how can you take that kind of challenge seriously with a man who is seriously ill-informed, and simply playing politics about issues he should be taking very seriously.
Remote Area Nurses
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you inform the House of steps being taken to improve the recruitment and retention of remote area nurses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. I am sure it is of great importance to him, given the electorate he represents.
Remote area nursing vacancies have recently been advertised nationally resulting in a record number of applications for jobs in the Northern Territory. Several applicants commented favourably on the training and support package that had been brought together around our remote area nurses recruitment program, which is called Pathways to Professional Practice.
The Pathways program provides ongoing training and professional support for remote area nurses. The program has now been running, in Central Australia at least, for a number of years, and we are now extending it to the Top End. I have to say that one of the most pleasurable jobs I have had since I became Minister for Health was to attend some of the orientation and training sessions for our remote area nurse recruits. It was very rewarding to hear the really positive views being expressed by the nurses on the support they were getting for their employment.
A recent independent review of the Central Australian version of the Pathways program found that it had a substantial, positive impact on retention of nurses and recruitment. The program has now been rolled out with the first bulk recruitment and one month orientation for remote area nurses in the Top End commencing this month. Under the Pathways program, new remote area nurses are recruited into the one month orientation, which provides basic information on remote area practice. The orientation is followed by ongoing professional support and training. In the first year of service, each new remote area nurse will access two training modules and two self-directed learning packages.
In the second year of service, new remote area nurses will have access to a further three training modules, addressing key areas of remote area practice. The training available under the Pathways program is complemented by a range of other professional support activities, including regular telephone link-ups to reduce professional isolation, regular visits from professional practice nurses, and quarterly town-based meetings for remote area health centre managers. In addition, nursing directors are in constant communication with remote area nurses.
The positive response to the recent national advertising campaign is an indication that the investment in improved orientation, training and support under the Pathways program will assist in improving the recruitment and retention of nurses in our remote clinics. I wish the program every success. We are certainly looking to that program to underpin the $1.4m that we put into duplicating single-nurse posts right around the Territory. We will not have nurses working solo in communities within two years.
Chief Minister – Challenge to Debate Issues
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In response to my challenge to you to debate the parks handover issue and the speed with which you are rushing the waterfront issue at any place, any time, anywhere, you said that yes, you would debate me but, no, you do not take the challenge seriously. I am serious, and whilst Territorians are listening, will you now nominate the time and the place and the medium?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is important that the Opposition Leader listen to what I said, which was that I am happy to take him on anywhere, any time. However, it important that he get across the issues that we are discussing, and he is patently not across those issues. Maybe he has some supernatural ability to get across these issues without asking the people involved what, in fact, is happening. It is very disappointing for a man, charged with being Opposition Leader, to not get across the detail of the issues he is making unfounded allegations about, simply making things up. He comes in here and alleges things as facts that are not so. He twists things together and makes up a scenario that is happening. How can you deal with that?
I say again: I am happy to take on the Opposition Leader, any time, any place. We are discussing the bill in here. Is parliament so irrelevant that we should not discuss it?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: We are getting far too many interjections from both sides.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, yes, any time, any place. However, the Opposition Leader needs to get across the facts of what he is talking about.
Albino Python – Lease to South Australia
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
In 1999, your department entered into an agreement with the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage whereby an albino python captured by the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission was leased to a Mr Simon Stone for a period of up to five years. Conditions of the agreement were that the animal was meant to be returned after five years and, if the snake bred, 50% of any offspring of this animal, including any albinos bred, or money received from the sale of the same, must be returned and paid to the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission.
Has any offspring been returned to the Northern Territory, or any money paid? Is it also true that progeny from this animal have been offered for sale at $11 000 per pair. If the conditions of the agreement were not adhered to, why did your department agree to an extension of the agreement late last year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Nelson has written to me on this issue, but he has not raised these specific issues in terms of payment of money and some of the other issues that he has raised today. I did reply to him on the basis of his original letter. If he has proof of some of the allegations that he is making here today, I will certainly carry it forward.
Vocational Education and Training
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Could the minister please update the House on what actions he has taken to bring the path of vocational education and training to the attention of Territory students?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister.
Mr BONSON: Has the recently announced $42m secondary plan focussed on this issue?
Madam SPEAKER: I am sorry; I called you a bit early.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I did have a flavour of the question coming. I do thank the member for his question. He does have a genuine interest in what we are doing in relation to vocational education and training. It has been an area of great focus for us, and the secondary review will go on to further boost our programs in these schools.
Currently, we spend around $2m a year on VET programs for schools, providing our young people with the broadest possible options, I suppose, of choices for their future. We provide VET skills development through the VET in Schools program itself; school-based new apprenticeships; TRY, which is Training for Remote Youth; and a range of pre-vocational programs.
In 2004, 53 VET programs in schools were funded, providing for over 800 training places to be taken up by secondary schools. In 2004, 59 TRY programs were funded, covering 537 training places in communities. A group of young people at Wadeye undertook hospitality competencies under a $20 000 program delivered by Charles Darwin University. Another $13 000 was provided to the Maningrida JET Centre to train young people in textile art skills.
We are also growing the number of school-based apprenticeships. Presently, we have 139 school based new apprenticeships, compared to five in December 2001. We funded pre-vocational courses to assist students to build their work skills. A group of 10 young Palmerston students undertook a $46 000 pre-vocational training program, which included work experience at Woolworths, Target and Australia Post. All of those graduated with a Certificate II in Retail Operations.
Under the $42m Secondary Education Plan, we will inject a further $4.4m over the next four years into vocational education and training initiatives for school-aged people. In the current financial year, we will be injecting an extra $375 000 into the VET in Schools Program, and further ongoing funding of $750 000 under the Enterprise Establishment Grants Program, an initiative to assist local schools to work with local communities to employ the skills learned in VET programs, an extra $100 000 in 2005-06, $150 000 in 2006-07, going to $250 000 in 2007-08.
That is $100 000 in 2004-05, and thereafter $200 000 a year, to develop a more responsive VET curriculum that will better match the needs of the industry with young people doing VET in their senior years.
McMahon Services Pty Ltd
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
You are about to spend $0.5m on a phoney campaign telling Territorians they should be spending more money in the Territory. How much faith can Territorians have in your campaign when your government has given a $1.8m contract to a South Australian company to remove two fuel tanks on the site of the Wharf Precinct development - work that could have been done by a local company? How much faith can Territorians have in your campaign when they also know that, only weeks before getting the nod ahead of the locals, this South Australian company, McMahon Services Pty Ltd, was fined $300 000 by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for price fixing a tender for demolition and removal work?
Given the current problems facing the Wharf Precinct development, has your government bothered to investigate this price-fixing matter, and why did this company get the work ahead of the locals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know the details of the tender …
Mr Burke: You are in charge of the waterfront. You are a partner in the development. You are a part developer.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I do not know the details of the tender …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, cease!
Ms MARTIN: .. that the Opposition Leader is talking about. However, I can assure Territorians that our procurement process is a very thorough one; that this contract would have been approved by the Procurement Review Board, and would have had to justify why it was a company out of state. It would have ensured that everything was in order concerning this company. The Opposition Leader raises issues that I will certainly look at, but I can assure Territorians that, in terms of our contracts going local, we had the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning saying that, in his area, it was over 90% …
Dr Burns: Ninety-five per cent.
Ms MARTIN: … ninety-five per cent of all contracts let in the DIPE area go local. Madam Speaker, it is inevitable that some contracts will be let out of the Territory. However, they go through a very strict process. If there is an issue about this company which the Opposition Leader is alleging, I will take a look at it.
Indigenous Women – Leadership Initiatives
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER assisting CHIEF MINISTER on WOMEN’S AFFAIRS
What is the government doing to assist leadership for indigenous women?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. As part of the Community Cabinet process, the Chief Minister and I have attended a number of women’s forums across the Northern Territory over the last year. One of the important issues to have come out of these is the issue of assisting indigenous women to move into leadership roles. I am pleased to say that the government has initiated a range of initiatives to foster our indigenous women leaders. The government is in the process of developing an Indigenous Women’s Leadership Strategy for the Northern Territory.
Four workshops are proposed over the next five months, with the first, I am pleased to say, taking place at Nauiyu in the coming months. The workshops will involve discussions with those indigenous women at Nauiyu to tackle women as leaders and potential leaders, issues of indigenous cultural leadership and the type of leadership skills required. The workshop will also assist in identifying ways the strategy can link with existing leadership initiatives, including the certificate and diploma courses offered by the Aboriginal Indigenous Leadership Centre, sponsored places in one of the Aboriginal Leadership Centre programs, and how these women can link into the minister’s conference, which hosts an annual indigenous women’s gathering attended by many indigenous women from the Territory.
The National Indigenous Women’s Leadership Program provides training and mentoring for many indigenous women. The first workshop was held in December last year and included four Territory women. The government is also developing an Indigenous Emerging Leadership Program in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia and the Aboriginal Indigenous Leadership Centre.
The first initiative I would like to mention is one being organised by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment. OCPE is preparing an Indigenous Women’s Leadership Program for Northern Territory government employees. This is an exciting new program which will foster the professional development of indigenous women working in the Northern Territory public sector.
Indigenous women have a critical role to play in providing leadership in their communities, as well as in the broader Territory community. It is vital that we support them in this role and, through developing partnerships with Aboriginal communities, we will assist with looking after the bush, which helps keep the Territory moving ahead.
Motor Vehicle Registry –
Alleged Billing Irregularities
Alleged Billing Irregularities
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
For more than four months, billing bungles have resulted in the over-charging of Territory power users, something you did not seem to know anything about yesterday, or certainly care enough to receive a briefing on. Are you aware that another government billing problem has been detected that has meant an unknown number of renewal notices for vehicle registrations and driver’s licences expiring during January and February were not dispatched and, as a result, motorists are unknowingly driving unregistered cars. Will your government accept any responsibility for law breaches caused by this new billing bungle?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if that is the situation, we take it very seriously. However, coming from an Opposition Leader who is approving staff hacking into the government system, it is leading with your chin.
This question goes to the operation of Motor Vehicle Registry. My colleague, the minister responsible, has carriage of that, and I refer the question to him.
Dr BURNS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, the Opposition Leader is correct. There was a delay in sending out some notifications, both for licence renewals and registrations. There was a human error. The MVR has written to those motorists who were affected. They have also made contact with the police and the TIO on the issue. The long and short of it is that these motorists, through no fault of their own, received their notifications late, and government is accommodating that.
Sport and Recreation – Participation Levels
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
It is often said that Territorians love their sport and that sport is a part of our great lifestyle. How does the Territory’s level of participation in sport and recreation compare to the rest of Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. Sport and physical activity is indeed an important part of the great Territory lifestyle and helps contribute to our unique identity as Territorians. Even a casual look at the sports pages in our newspaper shows that we punch well above our weight at the national and, indeed, international level.
Ms Carney: Now there’s a word. That is a very interesting word given that he asked that question.
Mr AH KIT: That is not a problem, Madam Speaker, if the member for Araluen continues to be rude, because I have no problems if she, on behalf of the CLP, wants to take issue with people who have a little bit of a weight problem throughout the Northern Territory. May I remind them that that is the mob having a shot at you, and Jodeen Carney, the member for Araluen, is leading the charge.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you know the rules about referring to people only by their electorate, withdraw that remark.
Mr AH KIT: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
As I say, even a casual look at the sports pages in our newspaper shows that we punch well above our weight at the national and, indeed, the international level in many individual sports, and the coming Arafura Games in May will be a showcase for our sportsmen and women within the South-East Asian region.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released important new data some 11 days ago, which shows that participation rates in sport in the Territory remain strong, and in some important areas is increasing in strength. The Northern Territory has the second-highest level of total involvement in sport and physical activity in the nation. At 32.1% of people over the age of 15, the Territory has an involvement a shade under 5 percentage points higher than the national average, and a whopping 6.5 percentage points above New South Wales.
However, as I have said on many occasions, without volunteers in sport and physical recreation activities, our various clubs and associations just would not survive. They are the lifeblood of sport. Again, at 10.1%, the Territory outperforms the national rate for non-playing participation in sport. More importantly, it is a rate that is on the increase, having risen, between 2001 and 2004, from 8.4% to 10.1%, going from a rate below the national average to higher than the national average. This is a great result, and a credit to the clubs and associations who have managed to attract and retain the officials, coaches and other volunteers who sustain our sport.
Interestingly, it is the women of the Territory who are leading the field here. Between 2001 and 2004, the participation of women volunteers in sport and physical activity rose from 9.5% to 10.7%, the second-highest in the nation. Territory men are not far behind, having improved over the same period from 7.3% to 9.6%.
I hope members on both sides of the House congratulate and thank our sports volunteers. They are emblematic of the great environment we live in, and of the great lifestyle we enjoy.
Power and Water Corporation –
Billing Problems
Billing Problems
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, I asked you an important question relating to the massive problems occurring with the Power and Water billing system, and the concern that delayed and inaccurate billing is causing to Territorians. You conveniently flicked the question to a minister because you did not know the answer, however, I am sure that by now you would have phoned for a briefing on this important issue. Will you now confirm that the billing debacle has caused a serious cash flow downturn for Power and Water, and detail their current cash position?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I said yesterday, it is all very well for the Opposition Leader to come in here and ask me every question to do with every element - either broad or detailed - about the workings of government. Even though he tagged me with things like ‘Herr Hitler’ in debate this morning, I actually am the Chief Minister of a team of ministers who are incredibly capable and do their job with great detail. I refer this question, quite appropriately, to the minister responsible, which is the Minister for Essential Services.
Dr BURNS (Essential Services): Madam Speaker, to reiterate, the advice I have had is that the problems in relation to billing have not had a significant effect at all on the Power and Water cash flow.
Support for Families in Need
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The government is rebuilding our child protection system. Can you advise the House on any new initiatives that support families in need of assistance?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. Rebuilding our Child Protection Services is a focus of our government, and that is why we have tripled the budget. We have put on new staff and put new systems in place, but we are also looking at a series of new initiatives.
One of the most important of these initiatives is to target high-risk families. When families struggle, children struggle. Often, if life at home is not pleasant, then young people head out onto the streets. Young people causing disturbances at night often come from families that are not coping. I am pleased to announce that government has allocated $500 000 to Centrecare to provide an intensive family support service to assist high-risk families. This is a proactive approach to dealing with youth at risk. It will help keep kids on track. This initiative is part of our Labor government delivering on its promise to attack the causes of crime.
Providing this money to Centrecare highlights the commitment by this government to work in partnership with the non-government sector in these critical areas of family support. These partnerships reflect that the care and protection of our children is a shared community responsibility. The money has been allocated and Centrecare is in the process of setting the service to begin operations in the coming months.
The initiative is a direct result of government having injected $53m into the child protection system. We are a government for all Territorians, and we are supporting Territory families to get ahead.
Security of Power Supply for Asthmatic
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Last night during the adjournment debate, you would have heard about Mrs Denise Purdue, an asthmatic who must have continuous power supply to provide emergency treatment for her condition. Power and Water’s billing procedures have now threatened to cut off Mrs Purdue’s power supply because it will no longer allow Mrs Purdue to pay off her account $100 per fortnight as she has been doing conscientiously for many years. What have you done to ensure that Mrs Purdue’s power supply is maintained and that her life is not put at risk?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not aware of the details of Mrs Purdue, as presented by the Opposition Leader, who was not in the House during that Question Time, and proudly said this morning …
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms MARTIN: He is on the record as saying this morning he was not wasting time in the House …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister! You know we do not refer to the presence or otherwise of members in or out of the House. Please withdraw that.
Ms MARTIN: I take it back. The Opposition Leader said this morning that he was not in the House last night because he was too busy out raising money and drinking with business people.
Mr Dunham: She is reflecting on the Speaker’s ruling.
Ms MARTIN: That is what he said in the House this morning …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I am saying you should not refer to it.
Ms MARTIN: Yes, but I am just saying that that is on the record …
Madam SPEAKER: I know what you are saying. Just get on with the answer.
Ms MARTIN: The situation facing Mrs Purdue is one, as I hear the Opposition Leader outline it, which is of great concern. I undertake to look into that situation as soon as possible.
Dr Lim: You were not here to listen either!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr Lim: He was asleep.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, resume your seat, thank you. You do not walk out of this House speaking in that way. You know the rules.
____________________________
Member Suspended
Member for Greatorex
Member Suspended
Member for Greatorex
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I am directing you to withdraw from the House - you are lucky it is the end of Question Time - for one hour in accordance with Standing Order 240A, for the simple reason you were answering back on your way out. No comment, just go. You are lucky that I did not do it earlier.
____________________________
Horticultural Industry –
Exporting to Western Australia
Exporting to Western Australia
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
The horticultural industry, the fastest growing primary industry sector in the Territory, has raised concerns regarding excessive red tape involved in selling their produce into Western Australia. What steps are you pursuing to assist the horticultural industry in the Territory to overcome these constraints?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am very concerned about red tape with regards to quarantine inspection, and also additional fees charged by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture for produce exported from the Northern Territory to Western Australia. These requirements impact heavily on our cut flower and nursery industries because they export produce frequently and in small quantities to Western Australia. They have the chance of increasing the size of the consignments, however, the problem is they might save in inspection and quarantine inspection costs, but will lose money as an influx of produce to the Western Australia market will bring the prices down.
In August 2004, I met with Kim Chance, the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Western Australia. I raised the concerns of the Territory growers and marketers, and my own concerns regarding the Western Australian practices; in particular the issue of the Western Australian department insisting on performing on-arrival inspections on every line of product, despite the fact that these products have been certified before leaving the Territory. The reasons for the on-arrival inspection fees were also discussed. I suggested we try the method we have in the Territory with Indonesia, where we have free custom inspections, and Kim Chance undertook to have a look at it. He then wrote to me saying that until the size of consignments from the Northern Territory to Western Australia increased, he could not support that proposal, however he was prepared to work with my department to find alternative ways of overcoming the problem.
I also suggested that further quality management programs could be developed for the nursery and cut flower industries so that the need for government inspection and charges would be alleviated. The Western Australian minister has undertaken to consider that as well. We will await the outcome of the Western Australian elections in the next few weeks in order to raise the same matter with the minister again.
It is pleasing to note that the Western Australian Department of Agriculture is reviewing the current mango seed weevil protocol. There is every possibility the current restrictions will be reduced from the current area freedom to property freedom, which will give more growers the opportunity to participate in the scheme.
Power and Water Corporation –
Payment of Bills
Payment of Bills
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Last night, I raised the issue of a gentleman in the rural area who paid his power bill using the budget planning service. He has been told since then that he cannot use that system any more. Do you have any information on whether the budget planning service is continuing, and can you give some advice on how this constituent can now pay his bills?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. My advice is that the new billing system does handle direct debits. Initially, there were issues related to the receipting of the direct debit system. However, those problems have been overcome. Some customers did fall behind because of the direct system. If you supply me with the customer’s name, I will ensure that the situation is rectified.
In relation to the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition on issues raised last night in this House by the member for Greatorex, if the person he is referring too, whom I believe is an employee of Alice Springs Hospital, my advice is that there are no current issues with bill processing of employees of Alice Springs Hospital. I believe the problem is being worked through. However, if the member for Greatorex wants to give me that person’s name, like the member for Nelson, I am more than happy to try to work through the issues which may have arisen.
Chief Minister – Responses to Questions
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Over the last two weeks of this parliamentary sitting, we, the CLP, have asked you dozens and dozens of questions, many of which you have refused to answer. You have not answered questions relating to the Power and Water billing debacle; why you are keeping secret files on ordinary Territorians; why you are rushing the waterfront development; your personal police briefings about a prominent Territorian; your rush to give away publicly-owned Territory parks; why there are more drunks in public; why you are not providing funds to St John Ambulance; and why you condone your senior advisors calling the Indonesian government ‘corrupt’.
Chief Minister, why do you continue to hide this information from Territorians? Why do you refuse to take the opportunity to inform Territorians, and how can you call yourself an open and transparent leader of the Labor Party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am flattered that the new Opposition Leader, who says he is a new man with a new style, has asked me every question for two weeks over six sessions of Question Time. What is starkly interesting is that none of the other members of the team asked a question.
Mr Dunham: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is patently untrue and can be demonstrated in Hansard. Questions, for instance, on health, there are some 50 from my colleague last night.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is all very well for the Opposition Leader to ask me questions; that is fine, but I will continue to refer appropriate questions to my very capable ministerial team, as is the parliamentary procedure.
What we have seen over the last two weeks is an Opposition Leader who makes things up, who makes allegations and asserts them as fact, who has not had briefings on critical issues that he says are important to the Territory, but cannot be bothered to inform himself of the detail.
When he became Opposition Leader again, I said: ‘This is yesterday’s man with yesterday’s story’, and nothing that he has demonstrated over the last two weeks has proved any different.
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! During Question Time, the member for Sanderson, by way of interjection, made a statement that the issue raised by the member for Greatorex in this House last night was ‘boring’. I ask that Hansard record that statement so that all can hear the member for Sanderson’s opinion.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. That is not a point of order, member for Macdonnell.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016