2003-02-18
Territory Flag
Mr REED to MADAM SPEAKER
Madam Speaker, I know the government is in desperate trouble, but I ask if it is really necessary for the international signal of distress to be flown out the front of Parliament House with the Territory flag being flown upside down?
ANSWER
Oh, dear. Perhaps the building management people, whom I hope are listening to this, would correct that. Thank you for drawing it to my attention, member for Katherine.
Department of Health and Community Services - Bansemer Review
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Minister, last week you said that an additional $15m will be injected into your budget; plus there would be savings worth $5m to overcome the shortfall discovered by the review into your department. Could you explain why then the Treasurer’s Quarterly Financial Report, released yesterday, shows that, in the first six months you have not overspent but are, in fact, under budget, having used less than 50% of the money given to you in August. Who is right: the review that predicts a blow-out of $27.6m; the Treasurer’s figures that say that you are under budget; or you, when you say you need an extra $15m?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very interesting to have this first question from the new opposition spokesperson on Health. I must say, over the last few weeks I have been a bit confused over who actually is the opposition spokesperson on Health. Sometimes, it appears to be the member for Drysdale, sometimes the member for Port Darwin. It is really not very clear. In fact, it is a bit like B1 and B2, Bananas in Pyjamas coming down the stairs, each popping up. However, I digress.
What we have is a very, very serious situation with financial matters to do with my department, which the review - which I received and I announced last week - outlines very, very clearly. What we are looking at is historic under-funding in the portfolio of Health and Community Services. This government came to power saying that health was a significant priority. We have put a very significant amount of money into this portfolio.
The review indicates that the structures of the department, the levels of accountability, are so inadequate that we have to make sure that there is a line in the sand. I have taken responsibility for this; I have said it stops. That is why we called the review. At the moment, we are looking at a notional deficit of $20m. It is around $10m at the moment. What we have done is provide the department with a further $15m to ensure that core services in health delivery will be maintained. What we have also done is ask the department to look at savings. What we need to make sure is that every single cent that goes into health in the Northern Territory is properly spent. We cannot just assume that it is being spent properly.
The department has been straddled with the most appalling administrative system. The CLP must have known it did not work. I can only tell you of the number of people who have complained to me about the structures of the department that we have inherited, and how pleased they are now that we have actually listened to what they have had to say.
One of the key issues in the department has been, literally, the structure but, particularly, the funder/purchaser/provider model, which was a very inappropriate model for the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory is far too small for this kind of competition model. We are abandoning that model. We are making sure that more money goes into service delivery and policy development.
My final comment here is that this is something which this government inherited, but it is something that we are absolutely determined to fix.
Mine Expansions by McArthur River Mines and Alcan
Mr McADAM to CHIEF MINISTER
What do the announcements for proposed mine expansions by McArthur River Mines and Alcan mean for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very important question. Last week was a very significant week for the Territory. When the treaty goes through federal parliament in the next few weeks, early March, then we will find that once the ratification of the treaty between East Timor and Australia happens, that will then add to the level of economic activity that is predicted for the Northern Territory.
The announcements last week from McArthur River Mines and Alcan, are both significant job creators for the Territory, significant stimulators of economic activity, and opportunities for businesses right across the Territory. Importantly, with both those announcements about mine expansions, we are looking at great opportunities for regional development in the Territory.
Both the announcements are billion dollar-plus projects, and it really shows, from Alcan, a major international company, and McArthur River Mines, MIM, a proud Australian company, great confidence in the Territory and in our future. It means an expanded mine at McArthur River, with new technology that has been developed by MIM, with the establishment of a zinc metal refinery. Certainly, from McArthur River Mine’s point of view, it really enables them to get value for money from what is one of the world’s biggest zinc deposits.
In the construction phase of this proposed expansion, there are a thousand jobs, and the permanent work force …
Mr Reed: Your party opposed diversion of the river when you were in opposition.
Ms MARTIN: It is a shame that the member for Katherine does not want to hear about this good news. I thought that job creation, regional development, and building the economic activity of the Territory …
Mr Reed: Your party opposed diversion of the river.
Mr Henderson: Wrong!
Mr Reed: You weren’t even here, sunshine.
Ms MARTIN: … would have been important for the member for Katherine, but no. It is very sad, Madam Speaker, very sad.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Let the Chief Minister finish her answer.
Ms MARTIN: If this expansion goes ahead, the predictions for the mine are that it will double the work force, take it up to nearly 600 - and those are high skill, high wage jobs, the jobs that we want for Territorians. It would also be injecting into the Territory economy an extra $150m a year.
That same injection you will see from the proposed expansion at Alcan. The expansion is proposed to take the alumina production from two million tonnes to three-and-a-half million tonnes a year. Associated with that there will also be improved bauxite mining technology. Over a three-year period, there will be 1200 jobs in the construction phase and, again, a growth of the work force. Exciting news for the Territory. It is mining, one of our core businesses, and it is a great vote of confidence in the Territory from MIM, and also from Alcan.
I can assure Territorians both projects will be subject to rigorous environmental assessment and detailed feasibility studies by the companies. We will be working closely with them. This will be a transparent and open process, and we are looking forward to the results of these feasibility studies and environmental impact statement processes. The opportunities for Territorians to get highly-skilled, highly-paid jobs associated with these expansions are there and they are tangible – it is great!
Department of Health and Community Services - Bansemer Review
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Minister, since the release of the review you have been going on and on about how your claim that previous governments have overseen blow-outs year after year, for up to a decade. I cannot find those comments in this review. It very much targets yourself and your coverage of the government. However, my question to you is: given that your previous - and one of your earlier - CEOs, Paul Bartholomew, said to the PAC: ‘There had not been in the past one instance where the department’s expenditure had exceeded its approved budget’. Who is telling the truth: you; the review, which does not talk about previous governments in any detail at all; or Mr Bartholomew?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it amazes me that, in fact, the opposition would even want to ask any questions about the review, because the document heralds a decade of problems in the Department of Health and Community Services. It demonstrates so clearly the problems …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, just stop for a moment. The minister is on her feet trying to answer a question that the opposition asked. I expect the opposition to at least listen.
Mrs AAGAARD: Madam Speaker, the review document is a very comprehensive document and I have it here as well. The whole review document looks at …
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, I have just spoken to the opposition members. If you do not want to hear the answer, do not ask the question. If you do want to hear the answer, sit there and listen.
Mrs AAGAARD: The whole document looks at Health and Community Services outcomes in the Northern Territory. It looks at a decade of problems in this portfolio. It looks at emerging issues which have just been ignored. It looks, particularly, at three key areas: mental health services, oral health services, it looks at our hospitals. It looks at so many different things; how money has been taken from the community services sector, from the public health sector, and has been pushed into our hospitals to prop up those hospital systems. It shows how the entire structure of the department, but particularly its accountability, has been virtually non-existent.
These are things which we inherited, they are not things which we put in place. These are things which we are fixing. The entire document says the CLP failed in community services.
Members interjecting.
Mrs AAGAARD: I am sorry that they cannot cope with it.
It is important to say, though, that this report is not about individuals. It has hard words to say about management in the department. It is not about individuals, it is about a structure which has put people in a very bad place. I would have to say that the large number of staff who have been involved in preparing this document, putting in submissions, and the large number of people who have contacted myself and also most of the members of parliament on this side and said: ‘We found the bit in the report that we were concerned about. We are very happy with what it says in here. You have listened to us. You are doing what we always wanted to happen. Thank you very much, Martin Labor government’. So, sorry CLP, you left us with a terrible situation, we are fixing it.
Potential Terrorist Incidents – Police Powers
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
What is the government doing to ensure police have adequate emergency powers to deal with potential terrorist incidences in the Territory?
ANSWER
Thank you for the question. Madam Speaker, I refer to the notice that was given by the Police minister at the beginning of Question Time, that tomorrow we will be introducing to the parliament two cognate bills: Terrorism (Emergency Powers) Bill and the Terrorism (Northern Territory) Request Bill.
It is sad, and I have said in this House before, that we have got to a state in the world, in Australia, in the Northern Territory, where we have to introduce bills like this into the House. However, these bills will give our police force the ability to act quickly and effectively in the extraordinary case – and, hopefully, the case that will never ever happen - of a terrorist threat or act in the Territory.
Governments simply cannot afford to be complacent. The world has changed following what happened in New York, and following what happened in Bali. We have to have in place effective legislation so that, if it did happen in the Northern Territory - and heaven forbid that a terrorist event would ever take place here - our police can act effectively and quickly to make sure that Territorians are as safe as soon as possible. We have to take the tough decisions, and this legislation, which has adequate safeguards within it but also allows police to act effectively and quickly, is what we are introducing tomorrow.
The legislation gives the police the powers they need to fight terrorism. It is based on legislation that was introduced and passed in New South Wales last year. The legislation, I reiterate, is only for extraordinary circumstances, and will only be put into force if those extraordinary circumstances come about - that is, a terrorist threat that is carefully defined in the legislation, or a terrorist act. To give an overview of the legislation, it will allow police to be able to, without warrant - and currently we have that in our counter-disaster legislation for an emergency circumstance - search a target vehicle, a person or a premises, and that includes an area.
I assure members that this legislation will not be used lightly. I am sure it has wide support in this House. As I said before, there are a number of safeguards in place. The commissioner will decide whether this legislation needs to be brought into force, whether an authorisation is appropriate, but must seek the Police minister’s endorsement in writing to that. These powers can only be used for a limited time - seven days to start - they can be revoked at any time and they can be extended. However, those same processes must go into place.
As I said, it is unlikely that a terrorist incident will happen in the Territory, but we must think of public safety and of the security of Territorians, and we must have powers for police to be able to act in a way that makes that public security and safety of the highest priority. The legislation is just one component of how we are dealing with terrorism, or the potential for terrorism.
We have also appointed a full-time counter-terrorism security coordinator. There is the Counter-Terrorism Security Coordination Unit, which is working right across the Territory assessing security needs, and working with businesses and organisations. Territory police and the Australian Federal Police based in Darwin are part of a joint counter-terrorism team, and we are participating in national counter-terrorism exercises. So, the legislation coming before the House tomorrow - given notice of today – is just one part of making sure that we in the Territory are in the position to deal effectively and quickly in the, hopefully, unlikely event that we will ever have a terrorist threat or act.
We, as a parliament, will not allow terrorists or the threat of terrorism to change our Territory lifestyle. In an ideal world, we would not need laws like this. However, it is important that our police have the powers to act quickly if it did happen. I am sure the legislation will have full support in this House when we do debate it.
Independent Electoral Commission
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Recently, the Department of the Chief Minister placed a tender for a consultancy to look at setting up an independent Electoral Commission in the Northern Territory. Given that the Labor Party promised during the election to establish an independent Electoral Commission, can the Chief Minister please tell the House why the tender was cancelled at the end of January?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Nelson for the question, Madam Speaker, because establishing an independent Electoral Commission is part of the good governance promises that this government made; ones we are very committed to. I hope it will get support from the other side of this parliament when such an independent Electoral Commission comes before this House.
Dealing specifically with that question, we made a commitment to establish the independent Electoral Commission. We decided to engage a consultant to advise how that could best be achieved, because there are a number of different models around. Advertisements seeking expressions of interest for the consultancy were placed in The Weekend Australian and the NT News in October last year. Sadly, these advertisements drew a very limited response, which made it difficult to evaluate the options regarding the price and expertise that we were being offered.
Given the importance of the review, it was considered that we needed to have a better range of options. This position was acknowledged by the Procurement Review Board, which gave its approval to re-advertise on a broader basis. We did that on 1 February, and a second call for expressions of interest went into The Weekend Australian, NT News, Courier Mail and the Sydney Morning Herald.
Those advertisements have had much more success, you would be pleased to know. They have drawn a significant response, and over a dozen companies have requested tender documentation. The expressions of interest closed on 12 February, and the responses are now being assessed, and a contract will be negotiated with the selected company. So, we put it out last year and did not get an adequate response; put it out again, we did this time, and we are moving ahead now.
Department of Health and Community Services - Termination of Paul Bartholomew
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Is the appalling state of the Health department’s finances and their administration - as revealed by the review into the Department of Health and Community Services - the reason you sacked or dismissed your former CEO, Mr Paul Bartholomew?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, they are really clutching at straws today, aren’t they? I have answered all the questions that I wanted and needed to regarding Mr Paul Bartholomew, and I have nothing further to add to the record.
What we are looking at here, with the financial situation, is an inherited situation from the CLP; one which we are fixing. The review indicates all the issues and how we have inherited them, and we have started on a very significant path to fixing them. My CEO has already started putting in place very significant accountability measures within the department, including those relating to pecuniary interests. We are going to be looking at very significant, and much improved, services to Territorians in health and community services over the next few years.
International Cricket in the Northern Territory
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, could you please inform the Assembly on the progress, arrangements and infrastructure development to secure international cricket this year and into the future in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, for all Territorians, sport is an important part of our lifestyle, whether we play it or whether we just like watching it. It was the reason that we recognised the importance of fixing the grounds at Marrara.
A member interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Have you finished? Thank you. It was certainly the reason that we …
Mr Elferink: Another plumb announcement.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, you are on a warning. You are going too far.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I know the member for Macdonnell is not interested but I am sure Territorians are …
Madam SPEAKER: Just answer the question, Chief Minister, I have already spoken to the member for Macdonnell.
Ms MARTIN: I am sure Territorians are interested in cricket, football and the opportunities that are now before us because of the new ground and the new facilities at Marrara.
There was certainly some nervousness about the Carlton and All Stars match, whether the ground would stand up to its first test. It was a great match.
Mr Baldwin: Let us look at your position on lawn bowls. Tell us about Arafura lawn bowls.
Ms MARTIN: The member for Daly just continues to mumble. Maybe if the member for Daly had a question, he could stand and ask it at some stage.
Madam SPEKAER; Chief Minister, just address your remarks to the question. Answer the question and ignore that.
Ms MARTIN: Yes, I am. Madam Speaker, I am interested in what happens at Marrara. I am disappointed the opposition is not, and I am disappointed neither the member for Macdonnell nor the member for Daly are, because I am sure a lot of their constituents were there at the All Stars match and had a great time, I am sure they had a great time.
There was a lot of nervousness about how the ground would stand up to that first test, and it did beautifully. It really is a first class ground. We now have a very high-quality facility. I congratulate all those involved with the Carlton/All Stars match for the very professional way it was run. Considering …
Mr Stirling: Not to mention Miwatj, the first team to win.
Ms MARTIN: Oh, local team does well for the member for Nhulunbuy. Considering that there were 17 500 people at the ground, the crowd behaviour was terrific. So, to all involved, those who organised it, the players - and our commiserations to Carlton, it was not an easy match to play but, certainly, the rewards were there for the All Stars.
It is acknowledged as a great playing surface. It probably needs a few more rolls with the heavy roller and probably another year to get to its best, but is it a great ground now. In just over two weeks, the AFL pre-season finals match, which is part of the Wizard Cup, will be held at Marrara - another test and another great game. We certainly have a ground now that can provide a top class facility for Wet season matches.
Part of that upgrade of the ground is for international cricket that will be here later in the year. It is the start of a very exciting development for the Territory to have international cricket in Darwin. The matches will provide a boost to the Dry season, and tourism and local entertainment. It was good to be able to meet one of my heroes, Clive Lloyd, West Indian cricketing legend, and now a member of the International Cricket Council, when he came out last month to inspect the ground. We are still waiting for his official report, but it certainly got the nod when he was here.
The construction of practice wickets and the drop-in match wicket is well under way, and it is great to have the assistance of the Head Curator of the MCG, Tony Ware, in preparing that drop-in wicket - a most impressive beast it is that, in very short time you can drop a wicket in that is up to international standards. Other parts of the upgrade of Marrara that will be happening between now and July are upgrades to the scoreboard and sight screens, and there will be improved media facilities.
This international match, as everyone knows, is with Bangladesh. Bangladesh has just entered the ranks of test status nations. They are on the novice end, and I am sure that they will be very warmly welcomed by Territorians, and we will be able to show them our usual hospitality. The dates for the matches have been confirmed. They start with the first test match on 18 July 2003 and goes through to 6 August 2003 with the final one-day match. I certainly urge Territorians to buy their tickets early. I have heard there is a lot of interest from around the country to come to see a test match at that time of year. Certainly, an event like this - a test match, a one-day match and the other associated matches of Bangladesh playing the Australian Institute of Sport, and also Bangladesh playing the Chief Minister’s 11 - I am sure will be well attended.
It is a great boost for our Dry season lifestyle, tourism and local businesses. For all of us who love cricket, it is wonderful opportunity. I am sure that even the member for Macdonnell might like to go.
Department of Health and Community Services - Bansemer Review
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
On 26 November 2002, you said that you personally had received the review report. The head of the review team said last week that the report was finalised in January, and he had added the comment: ‘… or so I am told’. Will you table a copy of the report you received in November, and how different is that report from the one you released on 12 February 2003?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the questions today are just bizarre. I announced in November that I had received working documents relating to the review - working documents. I received the final report on 27 January. So, there you go. The review team in the department worked on the report in the meantime - working documents mid to late November.
Domestic Aviation Capacity in the Territory
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TOURISM
Could you please update the House on developments in the domestic aviation capacity in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Certainly, tourism is facing challenging times and, I guess, the international situation is not assisting. I welcome the announcements by Qantas last week to substantially increase air services in the Territory. That represents some 12%, seasonally adjusted, an increase into Darwin, and some 5% into Alice Springs. I will cover Alice Springs and the Virgin Blue issue soon, but I would like to detail some of the announcements that Qantas made because they are significant.
The latest schedule, according to Qantas, will include an additional six flights a week into Darwin from other capital cities, more daytime services from Sydney and Cairns, and a small increase in capacity into Alice Springs. There are an additional two weekly return Darwin/Sydney, with three services flying in the daylight hours. That is significant, because everyone would agree we have enough back-of-the-clock flights at present. There will be an additional two weekly return flights Darwin/Adelaide, and an additional weekly return Darwin/Brisbane. Similarly with Melbourne/Darwin, and an additional weekly return to Alice Springs and Brisbane.
We all welcome the increase in capacity that Qantas has announced and, although they do get some criticism from time to time, Qantas needs to be congratulated because they have supported the Territory during some very difficult times - the collapse of Ansett, 11 September - they have supported the Territory to a large degree.
We welcome more Qantas seats coming into the Northern Territory, but we are also working very closely with Virgin Blue Airlines, putting a business case to them about increasing capacities into the Northern Territory. That business case is crucially important, because what Virgin Blue is looking for are sustainable routes. We believe, along with the Alice Springs community, that Alice Springs is a very sustainable route. In fact, I would also like to be seeing services between Darwin and Alice Springs, including Adelaide, with Virgin Blue. It is crucially important for competition on routes in the Territory.
Originally, we provided a package of support for Virgin Blue to encourage them to become established in the Northern Territory. The opposition, unfortunately, has constantly criticised that package, and we even had the member for Drysdale …
Ms Carney: Do better! Do something else. For 12 months: ‘business case’. You tell the people in Alice Springs how impressed they are with drivel like that!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Araluen, enough!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, you were talking about interjections before, and here is an interesting interjection from the member for Drysdale on 27 February 2002, page 824 of the Parliamentary Record. In reference to Virgin Blue, he said: ‘They’ve got a shoddy fleet’, that is what he interjected.
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would ask, for the clarity of Hansard, that he read the whole quote, including the preceding bit.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. We are not going to sit through a whole reading of Hansard. You can look it up yourself.
Dr BURNS: Well, I have touched a bit of a nerve there. Originally, when the Virgin Blue package was announced, the Leader of the Opposition accused us of throwing money at Virgin Blue as a pre-election stunt. Yet, last week, he said:
- The CLP will continue to petition the Territory Labor government to commit necessary funds and/or resources for a second airline into Alice Springs.
So, really, he changes his tune. We are throwing money early in the piece, now we are all easy with money.
In the shadow tourism minister’s press release last week, she said, talking about a petition of Alice Springs residents, which is a very, very worthwhile thing.
Ms Carney: Well, they are so desperate they have to do something.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Araluen!
Ms Carney: My apologies, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, cease.
Dr BURNS: It is a very positive thing for Alice Springs people to be petitioning Virgin Blue Airlines to let them know the level of support they have in wanting Virgin Blue to come into Alice Springs. What I am trying to highlight here is some of the negativity around the statements of the opposition.
- It was not a petition to Virgin Blue Airlines that secured a service for Darwin, it was a financial incentive package.
Then, going back to the Parliamentary Record on Tuesday 23 October 2001, page 227:
This government elects to support Sir Richard Branson over local operators, which is a disgrace.
She is calling it a disgrace. Now what sort of welcome can Virgin Blue expect with this sort of negativity from the opposition? I might add, a well known CLP figure, who is the mayor of Darwin, ridiculed our support for Virgin Blue Airlines: ‘It is a ridiculous proposition’, he said.
Ms Carney: What are you going to do, Chris? What are you going to do?
Dr BURNS: No, that is what his press release said. I am telling you what I am doing; we are putting a business case to Virgin Blue.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: I must have been hearing something else.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister.
Dr BURNS: Oh, you are a bit sensitive about that. You might put out a lot of press releases, but we are putting hard data. We are putting a business case. We are …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, resume your seat. There have been some outrageous - you are on a warning, member for Araluen. You are out of order and right over the top and most disorderly. You know that any interjection that stops the flow of the speaker is out of order. Take this as a serious warning.
Now, minister would you please hurry up and finish the answer to the question, because you are taking a long time.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I guess I would like to ask the question: why hasn’t the opposition condemned these statements by the Lord Mayor about ridiculing Virgin Blue Airlines?
I have a keen interest in this matter, I am working hard to encourage Virgin Blue to come into Alice Springs and extend into other routes in the Territory. I just hope that the negativity opposite does not discourage Virgin Blue from coming and expanding their services in the Territory.
Department of Health and Community Services - Bansemer Review
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The so-called Bansemer report into the Department of Health and Community Services reveals that 150 extra staff were employed by the department in the latter half of the year 2001-02, without any appropriation for their wages and salaries. Minister, when did you find out about this, and isn’t it illegal to expend monies not approved and/or not appropriated?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I found out about this through the review working documents which I received in November. I can tell you I was absolutely furious when I heard about this. These were people who were taken on without any authorisation whatsoever. Neither the acting CEO nor myself knew about it. Delegations have now been withdrawn.. There was no approval for these positions. It is a very serious issue. It also appears that this is something that has been happening for many years.
It appears that the lack of control in management in the department, which is something that we have inherited, has also meant that individual areas of the department seemed to not be able to understand that you could not employ staff unless there was a budget next to it. This is a pretty serious matter, and something which, as soon as we heard about, was immediately stopped; delegations were withdrawn. This will never happen again. It is a very serious matter. It is something which my new CEO has already made very clear that management have to come in on budget - they have to come in on budget.
It just amazes me, every year for the last decade, there was a big blow-out in the CLP’s budget. The department never had any idea what their budget was going to be, because there was this boom and bust, boom and bust, boom and bust, the whole time. The department had no idea what to work for in their budget. Then, we come along, see big issues going on in the whole department. We are sorting it out. We are very pleased over here that we have actually found out what the problems are and we are sorting them out. The kinds of practices which have happened in the past will never happen again.
Alan Forscutt – Life Sentence
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
In January this year on the ABC, the Leader of the Opposition said Alan Forscutt would stay in gaol for 20 years minimum before he could even apply to get any consideration for release under the CLP government. What can you tell the House about this claim?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, documents I have brought here today prove that the Denis Burke wanted to free Alan Forscutt after only 10 years in prison …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you start again and please not refer to people by their proper names.
Dr TOYNE: Documents that I have brought here today to the House, prove that Denis Burke …
Madam SPEAKER: No, you are not allowed to use his name.
Dr TOYNE: … prove that the Leader of the Opposition wanted to free Alan Forscutt after only 10 years in prison. He set up the process to do it and he has been caught out deliberately misleading Territorians about his real intentions and those of the CLP ...
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That allegation can only be made by way of substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: The minister is answering the question. We shall wait and see.
Mr DUNHAM: Yes, but he is making an allegation.
Dr TOYNE: If I can repeat the quote that was embodied in the question: ‘In January this year, the Leader of the Opposition said that, in the case of Forscutt, under the CLP government, he would stay in gaol for 20 years minimum before he could even apply to get some consideration for release’. However, the record shows that the Leader of the Opposition was saying one thing and doing another.
In 1997, the Leader of the Opposition, the then Attorney-General, received a ministerial, which was briefing him on the situation regarding this inmate. He wrote on the bottom of it, in his own handwriting obviously:
- I look forward to independent psychiatric advice in November. It may be time to free, on conditions, this man.
‘It may be time to free this man’. That was written in July 1997, just over 10 years after the commission of the killing offence. I will table that ministerial.
The story of this attempted release actually started earlier. In May 1996, an amendment was introduced into the parliament by the CLP to allow the Administrator to release people acquitted on the grounds of insanity, on conditions. When the now Leader of the Opposition put that amendment through parliament he said:
- It seemed to me an onerous provision that a person who was in custody for reasons of insanity, and had been in custody for some time, could not be released under some conditions ... This is an excellent amendment and one which is well overdue.
Then, in April 1997, the now Leader of the Opposition wrote to the Legal Aid Commission regarding an application made by Mr Forscutt for conditional release. In that letter, he advised a committee had been established to implement the amendments allowing release on conditions, and that he advised Mr Forscutt of this. In his letter, it says:
- As I informed Mr Forscutt, I have directed the establishment of an interdepartmental committee to review best practice in other jurisdictions and develop policy protocols and criteria to be adopted to assess suitability for release, and the terms and conditions of release, under section 382(3) of the Criminal Code.
Yet, in January this year he said:
- The CLP position would be this, Forscutt would not be reviewed under 20 years.
I also table the document to the Legal Aid Commission, Mr George Georgiou.
These actions by the Leader of the Opposition in 1997, were taken just over 10 years from the commission of the killing offence and the time at which Mr Forscutt was ultimately incarcerated. By January this year, the Leader of the Opposition was saying that Mr Forscutt would stay in gaol for 20 years minimum before he could even apply to get consideration for release. But today he is saying: ‘… and the fact the peoples’ cases should be reviewed periodically, whether it is six months or not, is something that I would never deny’.
The Leader of the Opposition better come clean on all this. What is your policy on this? Is it that no one gets a look in for 20 years? Is that what it is? Or is it 10 years? Are there going to be reviews or are there not going to be reviews? Are they going to be six months or is it going to be one year? I do not know where you are coming from, but what I do know is that you are not coming clean. The Leader of the Opposition is not being honest with the Territory public. You should get up and be very honest about what you were actually up to in that time, and what the policy is currently.
Arafura Bowls Club – Sale of Assets
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The Litchfield Bowls Club was interested in buying a coaching kit from the defunct Arafura Bowls Club, as they heard that equipment was being sold off. I rang the department on behalf of the bowls club to ask how they could purchase any surplus equipment. I was told by the government on three occasions that they were not selling any equipment. Could you please explain why the Humpty Doo Rural Golf Club was able to purchase some tables; Palmerston Bowls Club got a small amount of goods; and a heap of bowls - I hope that is the right collective noun description - ended up at the Shoal Bay recycling depot at Humpty Doo? What was the process for the distribution for the sale of assets, and what role did the government play in the process?
Mr Elferink: You get to answer this one, Jack.
ANSWER
Well, I will pick up on the interjection from the member for Macdonnell, Madam Speaker, because it seems that they do not want to use Question Time in a fruitful manner. They seem to want to just nit pick and waste Territorians’ time, especially those tuned into this broadcast.
The question started off with the minister for Sport. Fine. But what you have to realise is that the sale of the assets is with my colleague, and he will respond as to what is happening to the assets with respect to other bowling clubs which are making applications to purchase that sort of stuff. If the member would like to inquire a little more about the bowling, and the sport side in the future, then I am quite happy to meet with you later on to talk about that. I would like to hand it over to my colleague.
Mr VATSKALIS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, if I am allowed to respond to the question from the member for Nelson. I am very pleased about this. As you probably recall, after the problem we had with the bowls club, a judicial registrar, who had support of the club committee, obtained Supreme Court approval to appoint a judicial manager because the club was technically insolvent. The judicial manager was managing the club until the end of September, when it became obvious that the club had to be wound up.
The patrons and club members were advised of this course of action on 23 September 2002. The disposal of assets and goods were sold by the judicial manager. Prior to that, there were advertisements on television and radio, and written offers were received. The goods were sold to the highest bidder. Normal commercial terms and conditions applied and the sales raised about $15 000. A number of items were not sold; namely a wheelbarrow, a line marker and a few garden items that were then donated by the judicial administrator to the clubs. Things were sold properly and were advertised; written offers were made and were accepted, and normal terms and conditions were in place.
As I said, only $15 000 was raised and things that no one wanted, such as a wheelbarrow and line marker, were offered to different clubs.
Department of Health and Community Services - Requests for Funding
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Last week, you said that every day of the week people come to you seeking funding and you tell them they have to present a business plan. Why do you keep continuing to mislead these Territorians and give them false hope when, at the same time, at the same interview, you went on to say: ‘Funding is quite removed from me’.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will probably have to describe this very carefully so the member for Port Darwin completely understands. There is a big bucket of money which goes into the non-government sector. That is an operational matter which is dealt with. The cheques are sent out by the department. The government gives priorities to where we want that money to go, then the department allocates the money according to the priorities set by the government.
Every day of the week, the department and my office are asked for money by various organisations. There is no question about that. However, there is a difference between people asking you for money and your ability to actually pay for that service. There is a limited amount of money within a budget for all sorts of things, including the non-government sector - a limited amount of money. The review talks about better financial management. We cannot spend more money than we actually have; we can only spend the amount of money that is there. When someone comes to see me and is requesting money, what they need to do is to actually go and see the department. The department is the area which actually organises the service agreements.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Just cease, minister, until they settle down.
Mrs AAGAARD: Madam Speaker, it is very difficult trying to answer these questions with this level of interjection.
This is about separation of powers, something which the CLP certainly did not know a lot about - operational government, those two things. There is a certain amount of money which is distributed by the department based on policy decisions of the government.
Teacher Numbers in the NT
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
During the last sittings, the minister outlined the Martin government’s plan to employ 100 additional teachers over four years. Would the minister please provide details to the Assembly on the provision of 20 additional teachers in year 2003?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. It gives me the chance again to tell Territorians how we, as a government, are absolutely committed to quality education in the Northern Territory. This commitment to 100 extra teachers over our first term of government is a significant part of that commitment.
Of course, when we came to government, we were faced with decades of criminal neglect in the area of indigenous education, where they did nothing! They did nothing to address the pitifully low and pathetic outcomes being achieved in indigenous educational outcomes. So we were faced with that, with a system almost bereft of teachers of special needs qualifications, and teachers with English as a Second Language expertise. Our first round of commitment of 20 extra teachers had to go to fixing up many of those gaps. Last year, eleven were teaching positions for students with special needs, and we allocated six teachers to boost the capacity of small schools right across the Territory, and provided extra teachers in Palmerston and Katherine in 2002.
This year, again, we are facing up to provide another 20 teachers and, again, we will be directing support to those areas with highest need; that is, special education and indigenous education. Of the 20 extra positions this year, we will allocate six teachers to alternative provision programs. One of those has been located in Darwin’s northern suburbs, and another site in the Territory is yet to be selected. We want these sites to be able to provide educational opportunities for those students who are otherwise at risk of dropping out of the system altogether, simply not achieving in the mainstream system, or not even going to school and being a problem on the streets. We suspect that there are a number in the latter category simply not on the rolls at all, let alone going to school. So, three teachers to each of those alternative provision sites, one in the northern suburbs, one still to be selected.
Additional special education positions will be created in the remote communities of Numbulwar and Papunya, and we will also allocate another special education position at both Palmerston and Tennant Creek. Three of the 20 will be dedicated to a capability development unit for schools at risk; a team of experienced educators who will work with identified schools, to support those schools, to develop strategies to address issues of school management, leadership and classroom practice. We are putting that first in Arnhem schools where, of course, there is an ongoing need to provide all the support that the department and this government can muster.
Another five of the 20 new teachers will serve as assistant principals to the five group schools, comprised of small schools in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and east and west of Alice Springs; and another two teachers who will work as part of the Remote Schools Resource Development Project based in Alice Springs, which will develop an explicit generic teaching and learning package for those small schools. That will be derived from the new curriculum framework which was finished off last year and in place now in our schools.
Education is at the highest of priorities for this government, because we know that the future of the Territory is in the hands of those young people, and we are completely committed to providing the best quality system that we possibly can. And, unlike our predecessors, we will deliver on that commitment. We delivered 20 extra teachers, as we said we would last year, and we will further boost the capacity of the system with a further 20 teachers this year. Of course, there will be more to come because it is a further 20, leaving 40 to complete that 100 extra teachers in our first term of government. This is welcomed by the profession, by AEU and by schools themselves.
Department of Health and Community Services - Bansemer Review
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Madam Speaker, I was going to ask the minister a question with regard to which services are going to be cut as a result of this review and during the rest of this financial year. However, seeing as she has so far failed to answer our questions adequately, Madam Speaker, I move …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin should not be editorialising. If she has a question to ask, ask the question, rather than pontificating about what she thought she might ask.
Madam SPEAKER: I do not think there is a point of order, but you should refer your question to the minister, and make sure it is clear to which minister.
Ms CARTER: Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me making the following motion …
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): A point of order, Madam Speaker! The government accepts this censure motion from the opposition and we would ask that the TV cameras be removed.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016