2002-03-07
Northern Territory Budget - HIH Insurance Levy
Mr REED to TREASURER
Given that she did not have the courage to make the announcement herself yesterday about the government’s intention to implement new taxes on Territorians to recover the HIH funding shortfalls, will the Treasurer confirm that her government is considering imposing further taxes and charges in relation to recovering debts from taxpayers for bills such as the Power and Water Authority. I refer the Treasurer specifically to the document New Debtor Management Practices for the Power and Water Authority?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the former Treasurer and the member for Katherine, for his question. I will deal with the first part of the question, the whole issue of HIH and its collapse and the way we deal with matters of jurisdiction - this is very relevant to the answering of this question. Just 12 months ago in this House we had the previous government tabling a bill in here. I think it is very instructive to look at what was part of that bill. I quote from the then minister responsible, the member for Daly, because we are seeing from the opposition a very curious position here about how we cope with the collapse of a national company and how we, like every other jurisdiction, deal with that. There are more positions coming from the opposition than …
Mr Stirling: Kama Sutra.
Ms MARTIN: Well, I am not going to say Kama Sutra. I think that is inappropriate in a parliamentary context, but there are many positions and conflicting positions coming from the opposition.
In terms of what was said last May when the legislation was introduced, was basically …
Mr Reed: We are talking about today, not last May. What are you doing?
Ms MARTIN: Let’s have a look, let’s have a look. This is what the minister had to say at the time:
- This amendment would allow a levy on employers to be made which would be collected by the insurers and then paid into the nominal insurer fund.
Let’s go to November last year; change of government. This is what the opposition leader is then telling me. This is also from Hansard; this is in the House from 1 November last year. To quote exactly from the opposition leader, he is talking about the Chief Minister and in his usual way referring to me as ‘she’ and this is what he said:
- She should have said, ‘We will renege on our promises to business and not contribute another $9m in 2002-03 to absorb the cost of the HIH liabilities’.
So May last year, legislation to introduce a levy on business into the House, and then a decision to loan $3m to try to get across some of the pain that is going to be inflicted, not telling business it was a loan of course. The new government said very clearly, $9m we will pick up that first year. Then we have the opposition leader saying under no circumstances should you be using taxpayers dollars to pick up, to help out business, under no circumstances - that was November. Then we get the opposition leader, yesterday morning, saying exactly the opposite. In less than a year we get this total change. Levy business; don’t taxpayers do anything; taxpayers do the whole lot.
Any credibility the opposition has in raising this issue, in making any contribution to sorting out a problem that has happened in every jurisdiction, that had an impact on everyone across Australia, the collapse of a giant insurer like HIH, all we get is one position one week, one position the next week and trying to pretend that there is some coherent approach from the opposition when we in government are properly working out what we will do. We picked up the cost for the first year, $9m. We did not prevaricate. We did not prevaricate and deceive like the former government, pretending they were making a $3m contribution when it was only a loan. We said $9m and we are sorting it out. For the opposition to even raise that issue is a great hypocrisy on their part.
Dealing with the second part of the member’s question. As you are very aware, the Power and Water Authority is moving to become a government owned corporation. In that context …
Mr Reed: Well down the road.
Ms MARTIN: Not at all. In that context they will make their commercial decisions.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition and member for Katherine, order!
Mr Burke: So there are going to be new charges for PAWA …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, order!
Ms MARTIN: Don’t you understand GOC?
Northern Territory Economy - Economic Growth Indicators
Mr KIELY to TREASURER
Madam Speaker, it is good to see that everyone pays attention to codes of behaviour.
Can the Treasurer please advise the House of the latest economic growth figures for the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question, because economic growth in this Territory is absolutely at the heart of what this new government is about. The latest Bureau of Statistics data on economic growth in the Territory was released this morning. The state final demand, as I am sure the House is very aware, is the broadest measure of the economy which is available on a quarterly basis.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, the Chief Minister has the floor.
Ms MARTIN: State final demand, which is a broad measure of how our economy is travelling, and this is on the last quarterly basis, rose between September and December quarters by 8.2% seasonally adjusted. I table an extract from the ABS, Madam Speaker.
That 8.2% is the strongest performance of any state or territory over that quarter. Western Australia was 4%, which came in second; and the Territory came in at 8.2% over the September to December quarter. If we translate that into growth across 2000-01 as a whole, the growth for the Territory was 7%. The main drivers behind the growth figures were: business investment, over the quarter up 27.7%; over the same quarter, government investment was up 30.7%; and private consumption up 3.7%. A very key factor in that, we are seeing that private consumption figure grow 3.7%. There is no doubt about it, that our magnificent $1.3bn project, the Alice to Darwin railway, was a major and significant contributor to those figures.
The figures confirm that the Territory economy is in recovery mode, and I think we should cheer for that. We have seen some very tough times, and these figures confirm that the Territory is in recovery mode from particularly the last couple of years. It reinforces the data that we have seen presented to the House over these sittings, particularly in those sectors like motor vehicles and retail sales where we are starting to see the trend move upwards again. Some sectors undoubtedly are still doing it tough, and we cannot pretend that they are not. We have tourism - the impact of 11 September and the collapse of Ansett has been dramatic, and tourism is still doing it tough. We still have our construction sector in which we would like to see a much more significant turnaround. We saw residential construction figures turn around in the last month but we need to do a lot better.
Even if we accept that that kind of quarterly data can be volatile, I think if you look at the entire context over the 2001 year of a growth figure of 7%, it really means that our Territory economy is on the mend. We should celebrate this fact because we are the parliament which is overseeing the growth of the Territory. I should say to the opposition, give up the whingeing, whining and carping and celebrate the fact that we can actually see some real signs of our economy on the mend.
Minister for Health and Community Services - Performance
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Minister, yesterday you claimed that the opposition questioning of you was sexist and that it did not relate to your weak performance as Health minister. On the eve of International Women’s Day, why do you claim that ministers of the Crown should be treated differently, simply because they are women, and does being a woman generally inhibit your ability to answer questions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. This Assembly is a House of debate, and it is often robust debate, and I accept that, and I am happy with that. If the member wishes to ask me a question relating to my portfolio I would be happy to answer it.
Timor Sea - Developments in Onshore Gas
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, can you please advise the House of any recent developments in regards to bringing Timor Sea gas on shore?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to answer that question because, as we know and talked about here yesterday, gas onshore for the Territory means a significant change in our Territory economy – 7% growth over 2001; in the last quarter, 8.2%. If we really want to see that significant growth happen in the Territory economy, then gas onshore is when this will happen.
Gas onshore means that all Territorians will benefit, and it certainly is a target for all of us. This is not about party politics, this is certainly bipartisan. We firmly believe, and I believe the Territory should firmly believe that, once we get one project onshore, there is a greater persuasiveness that we can get others onshore as well. At this stage, it is currently felt that Bayu-Undan will be first project that will come onshore. With the discussions and the progress being made, we should feel a reasonable level of confidence about that.
Business wants to be involved with government in bringing gas onshore, that was made very clear in the Economic Development Summit. There have been meetings between Territory business leaders and this government because what it is about is a partnership. This government is about partnership with all sectors of the community and when it comes to gas onshore - such a critical area for building our economy, such a critical achievement needed in building our economy - then we are working in partnership with business.
I met with a group of business people last night, there is another group of business people meeting tonight. It is terrific that these business people are really committed to the Territory, and they understand the value of getting gas onshore. They have committed their own money to producing a report about the benefits of seeing gas come onshore from the Timor Sea to Darwin, creating in Darwin the fourth gas hub for Australia. I believe this is a vision that we can reach. That report is complete, and those business people will be releasing that report when they deem appropriate. Their report complements and validates the report that this government has done, which I would like to table in the House today.
It is a report that we commissioned from ACIL Consulting. They worked together with the Centre for International Economics and have produced a report called the Integration Development of Timor Sea Gas - The National Interest Case. This report has gone to the federal government. It is a very credible report. ACIL are consultants to the gas industry, they know what they are talking about. They have worked with the Centre for International Economics which is used by the Commonwealth to model onshore and offshore projects. This submission to the Commonwealth produces a very strong national case for bringing gas onshore.
The figures produced by this report show the difference between having the proposed floating LNG at Sunrise and bringing that gas to shore. In terms of Australia, the difference between having the floating and bringing gas onshore is $1bn in extra wealth for Australia per annum; over 4000 jobs in the national interest; and over $100m a year in revenue for the federal government. Looking at the tangible benefits - that difference for having a floating facility and having gas onshore for the Territory – we would look at a 46% increase in our GSP. We would also look at over 5000 permanent jobs in the Territory, and at something like $82m direct investment in the Territory and $27m more revenue for this jurisdiction.
The benefits are tangible. We are going to work closely with the Commonwealth government to make sure that the Commonwealth understands the importance - not only to the Territory and to regional development, but also to the national grid and to the national interest - of having not only Bayu-Undan gas onshore, but having the gas from the very large Sunrise field onshore as well. This report is a very timely one, and it is an excellent one; its figures are comprehensive and are credible. It has already gone to Canberra, and we have already provided one to the Leader of the Opposition. I certainly hope that we get really true bipartisan support on this.
Coolalinga District Centre - Road Access
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
On 5 September last year, there was a meeting held with members of your department regarding problems associated with roads and service roads in the Coolalinga District Centre. This included a possible realignment of Girraween Road on to the Stuart Highway. I was informed a report would be prepared regarding these matters and I presume that other issues such as the service roads and access to Mobil Coolalinga would have also been included in that report. Bearing in mind that now we have a Woolworths Coolalinga well and truly operating, along with a number of other shops, could the minister please inform the parliament as to what stage this report is at, and when this report will be available to the public and business people so that we can make Coolalinga one of the thriving commercial centres of the Litchfield Shire?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Yes, it is true there was a meeting last year. Unfortunately, the department could not obtain accurate traffic data to commence the report at that time. However, the traffic management study is well underway and includes a review of my department’s Traffic Management Masterplan for Coolalinga.
We are investigating and evaluating connections for Girraween Road with the Stuart Highway and Canning Road. We are also investigating possible signalling of Girraween Road and other alternatives. We are evaluating the operation of the intersection of Virginia Road and Bees Creek, and also access to Fred’s Pass via Bees Creek Road.
A draft issues paper has been prepared by my department and we are now prepared to establish consultation with Litchfield Shire Council, the Litchfield Business Association and the public, and these consultations are to be taking place later this month.
Timor Sea - Developments in Onshore Gas
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, you have tabled in the House a submission supporting the national interest case for bringing gas from reserves in the Timor Sea onshore to the Territory. Can you provide the House with details of the reserves that are under consideration?
Mr Burke: 20 000 petajoules.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Leader of the Opposition’s interest in this because it really is a bipartisan issue for the Territory. We are not playing politics on this. The focus on the Timor Sea tends to be, quite logically, around Bayu-Undan and Sunrise. Certainly, Sunrise is the largest known field. I make that point: Sunrise, at this stage, is the largest known reserve in the Timor Sea, and it is at 9 TCF.
Bayu-Undan, the other one we are talking about and looking most prospective for gas to shore and the first announcement to be made, is at 3 TCF. We are confident Bayu-Undan will come to shore. Certainly, more work needs to be done in terms of treaty ratifications and details and agreement from both the East Timorese and Phillips Company, but also with the federal government as well. So, working well, but still further work to be done.
I outlined in my previous answer the work being done to persuade the federal government, and also the companies involved, Shell Woodside, that in the national interest, Sunrise should come on to the beach in Darwin - gas for the Territory and gas for the national grid in the national interest. But, they are not the only fields out there. Petrel and Tern to the north-west, about 1 TCF between them. We have Blacktip, which is again 1 TCF, and there are other fields in terms of known fields, not so established, but there are other fields out there in the Bonaparte Gulf. We have Evans Shoals which is 7 TCF, a large field but it is very high in CO2.
At this stage, what we are looking at is that we have a very prospective area in the Timor Sea. We talk about Bayu-Undan and we talk about Sunrise, but there are many other aspects of the Timor Sea and it certainly does have potential. Known reserves at this stage of 22 TCF, which is trillion cubic feet, but it is definitely in the position to be the next big gas reserve for Australia. So, while we focus to some extent on Sunrise and Bayu-Undan, there is more gas out there and we are pursuing that as well.
Disability Services - Funding
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Last night on TV I was surprised to learn that you feel the opposition is picking on you because you are a girl. Let me assure you our attention to you has nothing to do with your gender and has everything to do with your lack of ability. If you feel incapable in your position, give it over, I would be happy to do it.
Now, you just told us that you look forward to answering questions and, going on your past performance this sittings, let’s hope you will do a little bit better with this one.
Last week, you expressed your commitment to people with a disability. You said you were going to consult extensively with them. A number of their organisations, such as the Handicapped Person’s Association, are facing serious financial problems. How is it that since 6 September 2001, ACROD, the peak body for disability service providers, despite consistent approaches has been unable to get an appointment with you? Why are you avoiding them?
Minister, will you give disability service providers an assurance that you will index their funding to enable them to maintain their services in the face of increasing costs? Or will services to people with a disability have to be cut under a Labor government? Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table a letter to the Leader of the Opposition from the Handicapped Person’s Association which extends on that issue.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for her question. Madam Speaker, I attended and spoke at the annual ACROD conference. I have also attended their dinner. At that meeting, I had extensive conversations with people from HPA and various other disability organisations.
Yes, I am aware of the letter which the honourable member speaks of and I can assure her that in fact two of my advisors have actually spoken with both of these organisations. There is an open invitation for any non-government organisation to have an appointment with me and, in fact, my advisors, having met with them, left them with that opportunity. I am very happy to meet with these people. I have already had extensive discussions with them.
In relation to the issues to do with funding, you would be aware that the Northern Territory Council of Social Services is, on behalf of this government, organising forums in Alice Springs and Darwin relating to funding to do with non-government sector. In fact, there was one earlier this week in Alice Springs and there is one tomorrow in Darwin, which I will be addressing. This forum is looking at how we are going to look at the atrocious situation which the previous government has left us in relation to the non-government sector. Many organisations have not received any extra funding for many years. We are looking at how we can make this sector sustainable.
Population Growth - Planning
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Can the minister please inform the House what the government is doing to plan for future population growth in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. Honourable members may be aware that on 14 December 2001, I announced that this government is developing a population strategy discussion paper which will be released by June this year. At the moment, we are in the forefront of developing up such a strategy amongst all the states across Australia to grow our population in a sustainable way. As honourable members would know, population growth in the Northern Territory essentially has been underpinned over the last ten years by the relocation of the defence forces to the Northern Territory, as well as an increasing Aboriginal birth rate …
Mr Stirling: Brought Burkey here.
Mr HENDERSON: … and yes, as the member for Nhulunbuy points out, it is that particular policy decision of Kim Beazley, previously as defence minister, that brought the Leader of the Opposition to the Northern Territory, and what a great decision that was for Territorians.
The challenge now, since that influx of people and their families has ceased, is where do we go to from here. Over the last twelve months, we have actually seen a net population decrease from the Northern Territory as a result of an economic downturn. The attraction now is, how do we bring people to the Northern Territory and keep them here?
Last week, a National Population Summit was held in Melbourne to develop an integrated national policy framework for the future management of Australia’s population. The Northern Territory government was represented at that summit, and this government is in full accord with the recommendations that were made at the end of the summit. We have joined Australian industry leaders and community bodies who called for the establishment of a bipartisan national population policy for Australia, covering Australia for the next 50 years. Such a policy would enable states and territories to plan infrastructure needs with regards to roads, schools, all of the utilities - power, water, sewerage services - the list goes on.
It would also, more importantly, allow the private sector to plan for future growth. This issue of population policy was again one of the issues that came out of the economic summit very strongly in that the business community wanted to see a population policy from the Northern Territory government. The national policy also needs to be dynamic and address the issues of population dispersal and regional development. Such a policy should be developed after extensive public consultation, and I would hope would have bipartisan support.
The government agrees that there is a distinction between population policy and immigration practice, and that immigration practice should not sit in isolation of population policy, but should be part of that What we would like to see is that a key part of that population strategy will be at least to double our current migrant intake in the Northern Territory from currently less than 0.5% of Australia’s total to more than 1%, so doubling that; on those numbers from about 600 to 1200 people a year. We have less of a migrant intake in our population than the rest of Australia based on per capita. That is something that we should really address. One of the key strategies we will be looking to develop is to be working through our ethnic communities here in the Northern Territory to go out and attract migrants to the Northern Territory, both business migration and also family migration. Doubling those migrant numbers really is something that we can achieve. That is going to be one of the key parts of the strategy in the discussion paper that will go out.
We intend to build on the strengths of our community, in consultation with our community, provide a framework for the growth of our population which recognises our environment, our quality of life, and our need to be actively out there promoting our future, the future of the Northern Territory, and population growth here in the Northern Territory.
Police Presence - Remote Communities
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
In an effort to curb the growing trend of violence against health staff, particularly those in remote settings, your department has promulgated a policy and code of practice for the management of aggression. I note at page 6 of the policy that if aggression is apparent, employees should consider requesting a member of the NT Police to attend. Can the minister inform the House how many clinics are located in communities without a police presence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. My area of portfolio is the health area, my area is not the police portfolio. But I am happy to say that our aggression policy has been well received by nurses in remote communities. We are working very hard with communities and nurses to make sure that aggression is minimised whenever it can be. We are looking at initiatives such as making sure that security in homes, in the actual health clinics, is adequate. The previous government left this in a very sad state where many health clinics are quite inadequate.
We have a whole of government approach, looking not just at nurses, but all staff in communities, teachers and other workers as well, and police. As the honourable member would be aware, there are not police in every community, but that does not mean that staff have to be under problems from aggression. There are simple things which are able to be undertaken and which we are looking at. Every community has a duress button, and we are working with the communities so that when there is a significant issue in the community, the duress button is pressed, and senior members of the community come to the aid of staff. This is for teachers and for nurses.
Childcare in the Territory
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Access to well-resourced, high quality and affordable childcare is essential to Territorian families. Would you please advise the House of the steps that the government is taking to support this important sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government is absolutely committed to families, and that is why childcare is an absolute priority for us. High quality childcare is something which we consider to be very important. The Northern Territory has the youngest population and, as such, we also have an extremely large number of young families. I am happy to announce today that this government will be increasing the subsidy for childcare by $7.50 per child as of 1 July. This will be extremely well received by families who have not received increases for many years.
Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development - Quotes in Newspaper Article
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Minister, on Tuesday, in reference to the report in both The Australian and the Northern Territory News concerning bringing Sunrise gas onshore, you said and I quote from Hansard: ‘This story and the quotes or the comments that were attributed to me and my office, were patently false’. Minister, there is no suggestion that you made these comments; that is quite clear from the newspaper reports. However, on Tuesday, my office spoke to the author of the report, a respected national journalist. He said that he stood by what he had written and added that he got the comments from your press secretary.
Do you stand by your comments that neither you nor your office spoke to the writer of The Australian’s article, and that you are, in fact, calling that particular journalist a liar? Isn’t it correct that these comments emanated from the press secretary serving your office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again I reiterate that those comments were not my comments, and they were not authorised by me.
Anti-Drug Laws
Dr BURNS to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
In the face of opposition expressed by the CLP opposition and organisers of the drug rally at parliament today, will the government continue in its development of anti-drug house legislation and other anti-drug laws?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his question, because it gives me an opportunity to make some timely remarks about this. I will start my answer by posing a question: what does the Top End Users Alliance, the Socialist Alliance and the CLP have in common? The answer might be that they are all against our drug house laws and the other drug laws that we intend to pursue with maximum energy through this House.
We will pursue this reform with maximum energy through this House. I would like to hear from those opposite during the debate that will be following on this legislation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the minister at all. Order! No one can hear. Both sides settle down! Minister, would you continue.
Dr TOYNE: I would like to hear from those opposite during the debates that will follow when we bring in this legislation. Why don’t they want to pursue drug dealers and manufacturers in the Territory? Why do we want to keep laws on the books that make these drugs illegal, and then not enforce those laws effectively? Why do we want to ignore the enormous damage that is done to our community by drug use? Are we going to plan a future for the Northern Territory that involves the toleration of these practices in our community, or are we going to make a stand?
Well, I know what we are going to do on this side. Our three point plan says it all. I quote:
- The issue is simple. If government wants to reduce property crime in the Territory you must deal at all levels with the intravenous drug use problem and hard drugs.
Unlike the former government who claimed that the drug-related crime in the Northern Territory is ‘minuscule’, we are not going to ignore this problem.
As members know, a comprehensive legislative package is being developed for the May sittings. That package will provide the basis for an attack against drug dealers and manufacturers at all points where they are vulnerable. That includes better search and arrest powers to allow police to move against dealers and manufacturers; it involves expanded proceeds of crime provisions; it involves new money laundering offences and it involves offences targeting drug manufacturers working in clandestine labs to make amphetamines.
Madam Speaker, we have to get after these people and if the opposition cannot see the reason why this needs to be done in our community, they are not serving the interests of Territorians well.
Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development - Quotes in Newspaper Article
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Minister, I give you the opportunity not to mislead this House once again. The Hansard report and the article in The Australian newspaper …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question implies that the minister has misled the House, and I would ask him to withdraw that.
Madam SPEAKER: I do not read it that way.
Mr STIRLING: He did, he said: ‘not to mislead the House again’ which is an inference in the question that the minister has misled the House.
Madam SPEAKER: Just go ahead with the question.
Mr BURKE: Minister, I ask the question again and give you the opportunity to explain yourself fully. You are quoted in the Hansard as saying: ‘This story and the quotes or the comments that were attributed to me and my office, were patently false’. You have now said that the comments were not authorised by you. It is common knowledge that the comments came from your office, it is common knowledge that a staffer was sacked, purportedly because of those comments. I ask you to clarify the situation for this Chamber. Did those comments come from your office and why were they made?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I really do not understand why the Leader of the Opposition is trying to play politics with this issue. It is an important issue and I certainly do not appreciate articles being run based on positions that were attributed to me and my office in the national media that had no authorisation, did not reflect the sentiment of either me or the government and certainly were not attributed in quotes.
Now, I can let the Leader of the Opposition know that on immediate result of actually seeing that article, letters have been sent to The Australian, the NT News, the federal Resource Minister, as well as the Prime Minister, stating that that article did not reflect my position as the minister for Resource Development, did not reflect the position of this government and was not authorised by me or the government.
Heritage Advisory Council – Appointment of Members
Dr BURNS to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can the minister update the House on Heritage Advisory Council appointments and actions taken by the Labor government to examine heritage protection in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his question. I am very pleased to announce today the new Heritage Advisory Council. There are several new members appointed, as well as existing members who remain on the council because of statutory appointment or through reappointment.
The newly appointed members are, Mr Bob Alford as Chairman. Bob is an historian and consultant with special interests in the heritage of the Northern Territory. He is a writer - he wrote the book Darwin’s Air War that became a best-seller in 1992. He has lived in Darwin for 20 years and is an active member of community organisations. He is a public officer and founding member of the Professional Historians Association of the Northern Territory, he is the President of the Aviation Historical Society of the Northern Territory and he is the secretary of the Thai-Australian Friendship Association of the Northern Territory.
Another member is Ms Sue Dugdale, an award winning architect, who has worked in Central Australia for 10 years. Sue has a very strong interest in energy efficiencies and appropriate design, recycling, and innovative reuse of buildings. She also has a strong interest in heritage and uses heritage as a source of ideas for good building design.
Ms Leshay Maidment, a young Arrente woman with strong links in Alice Springs, has contributed to the community in particular through Youth Leadership and Mentoring programs and she follows Central Australian heritage issues very closely.
Dr Peter Whitehead is currently a Principal Research Fellow of the NTU. He is a director of the ARC Key Centre for Tropical Wildlife Management, as well as the Roy and Marjorie Edwards Senior Research Fellow. He is a biologist with excellent credentials and an ongoing active interest in biological research. He has a strong interest in conservation and management, and is a strong advocate of ecologically sustainable development.
Existing members are Ms Elizabeth Close, Director of the National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory); Miss Anna Malgorzewicz, the Director of Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory; Miss Ruth Murphy, who comes from an old cattle family; Dr David Ritchie, CEO of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, and Mr Vic Stephens, who has been representing my department since February 1999.
This heritage council is appointed for 18 months only. Its principal task, in addition to statutory tasks in an advisory role, is to review the Territory legislation, and I expect the council to report back to me within 18 months.
This government takes its commitment to the heritage of the Territory very seriously. The Heritage Act has not been reviewed for a long time and it is now time to do it. The terms of reference of the review will be issued in the near future and all members of the community will be invited to comment on it.
Members: Hear, hear!
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General – Media Comments on CEO Payouts
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Minister, do you stand by your comments recorded in the media on Monday, 4 March and broadcast on ABC TV, and I quote you:
- Should the CEOs that we ask to leave be terminated in that way that we had to pay them, you know, quite a substantial amount.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for his question because it does indeed give me a chance to clear up what did happen during that interview. I note that Rebecca Morse is here today too, and she can attest to how things transpired. I was asked a question about the payout of CEOs on that Monday, and I began to talk in the terms of the payout to the CEO who was in the Attorney-General’s Department, Margaret Lyons. I indicated that in her case - what I understood the question to be at the time - the payout was determined by the contract arrangements that Margaret Lyons held at the time that she was terminated.
The question was then put back to me regarding the report of the Auditor-General and that referred apparently to a number of occasions. I took it as read that there were other occasions where this had happened and I replied then in the plural. It was beyond my knowledge of the other transactions that had occurred with other CEOs in the government, so in terms of my answer to that question, it was based on what I heard the reporter say to me based on the Auditor-General’s report. I replied outside my sphere of detailed knowledge and I finally realised that later on in the interview.
I will make it very clear on Hansard and to the members of this House, I have no knowledge of the details that led to other CEOs leaving service with this government. The Chief Minister is quite correct. What the Chief Minister said regarding these matters is likely to be correct simply because she had carriage of those decisions. I did not. I was involved in the Lyons matter because I was the relevant minister. I was not involved in the other matters.
Howard Springs Forestry Reserve
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Minister, I refer to a story in the NT News of 29 January and I will table that if it is necessary. It stated, and I quote:
- A 24 year dispute over three native tree plantations will finally be resolved in weeks. The dispute centres on callitris introtropica trees at Gunn Point, Howard Springs and Berrimah.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very detailed question. For him to receive a very detailed answer I will have to take it on notice and get back to him.
Labor Party in Government
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In the few months of your administration, you have demoted within your Cabinet the member for Arnhem for his inept performance, carpeted the member for Nhulunbuy over his driver’s licence demerit points plan, ridiculed the member for Casuarina over his 50 km speed limit, apologised for the member for Wanguri who allowed his office to disrupt your relationships with the federal government over bringing gas onshore, dumped on the member for Stuart for telling the truth about the CEOs who were asked to leave, and told the member for Nightcliff that she had to retract her dummy spit that she was only targeted because she was a woman.
Chief Minister, how much longer will Territorians have to endure this situation before you get organised, your government gets organised, and you start making some decisions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a curious question, and I say to the Leader of the Opposition, because you have had this job previously, you know that there are responsibilities of being the Chief Minister. I am proud to be Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and this is where the buck stops. This is where the buck stops, so I am proud to do that.
After six and a half months in office, I don’t …
Mr Burke: But we are not allowed to ask any questions because they are racist or sexist.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, could we have a little quiet in here? Can I just say that at the moment I am struggling, I still have a virus …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: If we could have some quiet from the other side, it would make it a lot easier for me to speak.
Because we all seem to recognise there are women in this House, can we have a little courtesy for a woman who has a bit of a virus? Thank you.
Mr Burke: So we cannot interject if you are a woman now? If you are a woman, you cannot interject.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister has the floor. Could you get on with the answer.
Ms MARTIN: Yes. The former Chief Minister, the now opposition leader, asked the question and I think it is a courtesy to listen to the answer.
We have been very busy in six and a half months. We have been very busy. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have, because I have a comprehensive list here of promises kept in the last six and a half months, and I want that put on the record, because while we have - and there are pages and pages - I draw the opposition’s attention to the highlighted promises that have been kept and this is an abuse of Question Time - we saw it happen before in the previous administration - but promise after promise kept in six and a half months.
And when you compare that with the track record of 27 years, I think we have done better in six and a half months.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Chief Minister to table that document she is reading from.
Ms MARTIN: I have not read from it, but I would be happy to give a copy to every single member of the opposition. I would be proud to.
Mr Reed: Will you table it or not?
Ms MARTIN: I do not have to table it. I have not read from it. It is my discretion.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I will just clarify. It is my understanding that ministers who quote from documents can be asked to table.
Ms MARTIN: I have not quoted, Madam Speaker, I have not said a word.
Madam SPEAKER: If you have not quoted from them, that is okay.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: I said I would be proud to share these achievements with members of the opposition. I would be proud, but I was making the point that I had not read from the document, but I would be happy to table it - happy to. But let me say that when we hear the kind of constant churlish nit-picking comments, the curmudgeonly comments from the opposition, you understand what happens to a party after 27 years in power. They lose the plot. The economy turns down, and what happens, you lose office.
This government has taken up the challenge, with pride, the first Labor government in the Northern Territory, with much pride, and a real sense of privilege, and I am proud of what we have achieved. We have tackled the difficult problems inherited from our predecessors, and we are keeping our commitments and our promises to Territorians and, may I say, I do it with pride as the Chief Minister of this new government.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister said she was going to table that document. I may have misheard her, but we have not had a ruling yet from you as to whether or not that is going to be tabled.
Ms MARTIN: I will have it photocopied in duplicate for you, member for Macdonnell.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister did say she would table the document, and just to remind you that documents that are quoted by ministers, if they are requested to, should be tabled.
Ms MARTIN: But I have not quoted from that.
Madam SPEAKER: I understand that you had not quoted from that document at the time that it was requested, but subsequent to all that, the Chief Minister has laid it on the Table.
Darwin Wharf Precinct Project
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Public comments on the Darwin Wharf Precinct closed on Friday last week. Can the minister update the House on the progress for this project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Currently, we have received 25 submissions about the Wharf Precinct and we are studying them. I intend to personally contact every person who has submitted to discuss the submission with that person. The Wharf Precinct is a big project, it is something that is going to take about 10 years to fully develop, and we want to do it carefully and with a program, not haphazardly.
It will provide significance for Darwin. It will make sure that our capital city is a modern, tropical capital city, and a cool city. It is going to be one of the best cities developed in Australia in modern history. It will link integrally to the Central Business District, and will be an attraction, not only for the locals, but also for the tourists. However, we have to be very careful how we are going to develop it because there are a number of issues to solve, like land issues, and we have to be careful how we manage this project.
While submissions were forwarded to government, I took time to travel to Perth because I was aware of a similar development in Perth, like the East Perth development and also the Subiaco development. One of my officers came with me and we travelled extensively. We had a look at these developments, and we met a number of people involved in these developments – architects and town planners and, especially, the Chairman of the East Perth and Subiaco Development Authority, a chairman who was actually appointed by the government of Western Australia to oversee the whole of this important development.
I have to point out that the East Perth area was a very degraded area, that Perth that citizens would not dare to travel down there after 6 o’clock in the evening. Today, it is one of the most important and significant developments in Perth. For example, you cannot buy a block of land there for less than $300 000, and $300 000 will buy you 285 m2 of land. It is built on the foreshores of the Swan River and it is an excellent and very well managed project. The Subiaco development is an exciting project. They had to sink the railway line and sell the top of the land for development and that was done very progressively. It took time but they have done it very well.
After that, we travelled to Sydney and met with the New South Wales government preferred developers, Messrs Allan and Ervin Vidor, who are currently developing one of the big wool wharves in Sydney, the Pyrmont Wharf. We had discussions with financiers in Sydney and, members of my office also had discussions with people at the wharf development and who financed the Melbourne Docklands area.
We are very careful how we proceed with this development because, as I said before, it is a significant development and will be the signature for Darwin. We do not want developers coming to us saying: ‘Look what I’ve got for you’. We want somebody who will come here to provide the concept and will undertake the development, and in 10 years time we will finish with a significant development that will be something different from what we have seen before - huge areas of carpark and brick paving that is totally inappropriate for a city like Darwin.
Development of Old Darwin Hospital Site
Mr BALDWIN to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
According to staff on the 5th floor, last night the government met with representatives of the Brunei Property and Development Company. Given your position relating to that company’s involvement in the redevelopment of the old Darwin Hospital site, do you still stand by the comments that you made about the company and its progress in developing the site, as reported in last Saturday’s NT News, that the company plans to develop the old Darwin Hospital site should be brought back to a three- to five-year contract? Do you still intend to take such action, or are you now planning to give that company an extension?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. However, I am surprised he asked this question because he should know better. He was the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment before me. I stand by my comments that we should not lock away land for 10 years. I also noted the comments of the Leader of the Opposition that there are two escape clauses in the contract, and if the government wants to take it back- what a surprise! There isn’t even a contract, because you made an offer. The previous government offered the developer on 15 March 2001. The government asked the developers to come back with an offer, with the acceptance and payment of a deposit by 11 April 2001. On 12 April 2001, the developers came back and they asked for an extension until 11 May. Well, they came back with a reply to the offer of the government on 15 June 2001. The then minister was alarmed because he realised and he found out one of the participants withdrew. He wrote to them advising them of what he had been informed, and questioned whether they wanted to proceed with the development. The developers came back and advised him they had another participant and they wanted to continue to develop the land.
Nothing was done after that until we took power. On 10 September, I wrote to the developers asking them to tell me what they are going to do with the land. They came back to us and they advised that do not yet have a contract. They understood the developers did not have a contract, but they were still interested in putting proposals to us. Yesterday, members of the Brunei Corporation had dinner with the Chief Minister, and this morning I spoke to one of the representatives of the Brunei Corporation, who once again told me that they knew they did not have a contract with the previous government. They know they do not have a contract, but they are prepared to come and hold discussions with us.
Madam Speaker, I stand by my comments. However, if I am going to sign an agreement with any developer, I am going to sit down and sign a proper contract with proper escape clauses.
Unlicensed Motor Vehicle Sales
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can the minister advise what the government is doing about unlicensed motor vehicle sales taking place in regional and remote parts of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. Indeed, this is not a new problem in the Northern Territory. Those of us who have lived out bush for a long time would be aware at any given time that there are unscrupulous people selling cars without a licence to do so. The upshot of that practice is that purchasers of these cars have none of the normal protections that a consumer should have, particularly buying a major item such as a motor vehicle. Many of those vehicles are unroadworthy, unregistered; they are sold at rip-off prices because of the monopoly that some of these people enjoy out there. They cancel out any protections that would be available normally to a consumer under the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act and they do not have the protection that would normally accrue to a purchaser of a motor car under warranty conditions. We are seeing consumers left absolutely unprotected if this practice is tolerated.
Since becoming aware of a number of recent examples of this, we have activated a major drive through the Office of Consumer Affairs. Along with the Consumer Affairs staff, we have also appointed Robert Chamberlain to undertake investigations into allegations of such practices in the bush areas. Officers from Consumer Affairs are also working closely with the remote communities, the Motor Traders Association, the Motor Vehicle Registry, police and interstate counterparts to protect consumers from such practices. We particularly want to stop the readiness by which interstate vehicles can be brought to the Territory with very little registration left on them for sale in these circumstances.
We are on it. I know this problem may go on forever because the moment you knock some of these people out of business, other ones will pop up over time. But we have to keep the effort in this as a way of protecting both the consumer rights of people in the Territory and, in some cases, their lives.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I would ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
I make the observation that there were 20 or 21 questions this afternoon. That speaks highly of ministers, given the brevity of their answers and a willingness to get on with Question Time.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016