2003-10-07
Access Economics - NT Forecasts
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In July last year, you welcomed Access Economics’ projections that the Territory economy would grow by 4.6% for the next four years. You said the signs show the economy was turning around. In January this year, your deputy said that the Territory will have the strongest economic growth in Australia, and Access Economics was predicting growth of 5% over the next five years. Last week, on 2 October, your deputy revealed that Access Economics had downgraded its predictions to 3.7% growth; the third successive downgrade this year. Chief Minister, what are you doing or not doing that is causing these continued downgrades?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is good to have a question about our economy because, in the last few years of the CLP government, we saw what happened with the Territory’s economy, as a government which had been in too long took their eyes off the economy. They actually had a year in 1999-2000 where the economic growth for the Territory was at zero. What we inherited two years ago - and this is not to make any excuses. I am not here …
Mr Burke: What was 2000-01 – 4.1%. Tell the truth.
Mr Ah Kit: You asked a question, listen to the answer!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: The Leader of the Opposition asked a question and should have a small courtesy and listen to the answer. So thank you.
What I am saying here very clearly is that we inherited an economy, along with a job market and a population, that was shrinking. I make no bones about it; the last couple of years have been tough. However, I am confident that, when you look at the economic indicators, and you talk to members of the community on a one-to-one level, or to industry groups, what we are seeing happen across the Territory is that business is feeling more confident about the future. Economic activity is increasing.
There is no doubt about it, we still have sectors that are doing it tough, but this government has made very strategic decisions to get our economy going again. Look at some of the activity that has happened. Look at the economic forecasters, like the very reputable BIS Shrapnel, who are predicting our economic growth over the next five years as higher than any other part of Australia. The predictions from Access Economics, while they have been modified, are still good growth figures. We aspire to making sure those growth figures happen, and maybe we can reach the more optimistic ones of BIS Shrapnel, which puts it at about 4.5%.
If you look at the initiatives we have put in place over the last two years to try and pick up the economy we inherited from our predecessors, and the deceptions we saw perpetrated in our budgets, we have had record capital works spending, recognising the government’s …
Mr Burke: It is called a railway.
Ms MARTIN: I am not talking about the railway. I am talking about capital works expenditure. We had record capital works budgets to stimulate capital works, minor new works, and repairs and maintenance, understanding that government is a very important stimulator of our economy and capital works were very critical. We did that consciously. We pursued what is the big ticket item for the Territory that will see, over time, a step change in the Territory’s economy - that is gas onshore.
It was on 15 June this year that the announcement was made by the joint venturers in Bayu-Undan that first gas was coming onshore. We have seen the results of that. It is working at Wickham Point, the activity has started. From May next year, we will see that pipeline laid - 450 km of pipeline to Bayu-Undan. At the peak of activity for the LNG Plant, there will be 1500 jobs - real jobs - coming into the Territory economy - jobs for Territorians as well.
The announcement we made just a couple of months ago on building a convention centre, a redevelopment of the waterfront is, again, a great stimulus for the Territory economy, for local jobs, but also for the tourism industry. That is just to name two of the projects that are going ahead. We as a government are very conscious of the need for government to be strategic, to make sure that we are using taxpayers’ dollars for the most effect to get the economic growth happening, and to make sure that local jobs are being developed in the Territory.
I am confident we are going in the right direction. I talk often to business. Business confidence has grown, reflected by the latest business confidence figures in this government. While I am not pretending everything is working well in every sector, I believe we have seen the turnaround. It is disappointing to hear the Opposition Leader talking down our economy. That is what he and every single member of the opposition is doing.. While understanding how fragile confidence can be, and how it needs to be supported and boosted, what we are getting from the opposition is talking down the economy. We are looking at strategic investment, at how we build the economy for the short term, and I am optimistic - starkly contrasted with a very negative opposition.
Katherine – Government Plans for Future
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
The opposition is always sensitive when we analyse the past to explain the present. Looking to the future, following the swing to the Martin Labor government of 9.5% in Saturday’s Katherine by-election, can the Chief Minister please outline the government’s plans for Katherine over the next two years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Let me say that, while I welcome the new member for Katherine to the parliament, the Labor Party had a a very fine candidate in Katherine, Sharon Hillen. We were delighted by the response of the Katherine community to our candidate and the work of this government. There is no doubt about it, from our point of view, Katherine has always been the safest CLP seat. In by-elections, what you expect is a swing against a government, particularly a new government.
The political scientists would say that we should expect a 10% swing against a government. What did we have in the Katherine by-election? We had a 9.5% swing to the government, and we have taken the seat of Katherine from what was a very safe CLP seat to one that is now a marginal seat. We are delighted. I would like to thank the people of Katherine for their support of this government. Personally, I was very touched by the welcome I received at Katherine doors, the warmth of greetings and the honesty I had from the people of Katherine in outlining what their issues were. The electorate of Katherine has not seen much of their two members.
Mr Baldwin: Is that right?
Ms MARTIN: If I was the member for Daly, I would be very quiet here, because that is what it is in Katherine; very quiet, indeed. I would like to place on the record my appreciation to the people of Katherine, my thanks to them for the warm greeting we received - not only myself, but my other ministers and members of my team. We are listening to the people of Katherine, because their local member has been very silent for a long time about the real needs of the community of Katherine. Katherine and the region is a very key community for the Territory. As we see Katherine grow and the initiatives being realised, that will reflect more broadly around the Territory, so it is a very important community.
I am proud that we have spent nearly two years working on a regional development strategy, which we have now launched.
Mr Baldwin: You had to launch it twice.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, he is a very rude man and he does nothing much as a local member. I was told that at the doors in Katherine.
We took two years, working with all sectors of the community, to develop the Katherine Regional Development Strategy. I am very pleased that the chair of the board to oversee that strategy is last year’s Telstra Business Women’s Award winner, Julie Newton. Incidentally, having come from the Telstra Business Women’s Awards, the first two categories were won by Katherine women; so well done.
To go through some of the initiatives we have put in place for Katherine, I am here today to say that those initiatives are commitments of government and they will happen. They include the additional community foot patrol - $50 000 on top of the $600 000 we have allocated in the last budget for antisocial behaviour. It is a commitment for Katherine, and we are pursuing that through the Katherine Harmony Group.
A youth centre was never mentioned by the previous member. We have committed $200 000 to that much-needed centre in Katherine. The initiatives also include enhancing tourism signage, a school attendance officer, and that vital new position through the Office of Territory Development to maximise the opportunities of the railway coming through Katherine, to develop that transport hub - a commitment of $150 000. A further $50 000 will see the design work and development of the arts and cultural precinct move further ahead. An upgrade of the Katherine sports ground will cost $500 000. There are a lot of other initiatives for Katherine that we, as government, are committed to.
Mr Baldwin: About time!
Ms MARTIN: The member for Daly and the former member for Katherine never mentioned any of this. There was a silent member for Daly in the parliament.
This government is committed to Katherine, and the people of Katherine. The initiatives we announced will come into force and we are committed to seeing the development of this wonderful region of the Territory.
Katherine By-election
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
It is an interesting time to ask this question being that, given the Chief Minister’s last answer, why do you continue to mislead Territorians in relation to the by-election in Katherine? I refer to your press release saying that there has been a record 9.5% swing to the Northern Territory government. Is it not a fact that, in the 1995 by-election - we are comparing apples with apples at this stage - in the very safe Labor seat of Arnhem, there was a swing against Labor on first preferences alone of 22.74%; 13.6% went to the Independent candidate and 9.5% went to the CLP government candidates? Is it not a fact that, on first preferences in Katherine the swing to Labor was 6.42%, not 9.5% as you claim? Is it not a fact that the swing against Labor in Arnhem was 22.74%, more than twice that against the CLP in Katherine? Why do you continue to mislead Territorians?
ANSWER
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, what a curious question from the Leader of the Opposition. He has said that this by-election was a litmus test - whether they were your words, this is to paraphrase it - for government. There you are, overseeing a 9.5% swing to government in a by-election. Now you are trying to come in here and prove by figures that you are demonstrating that it was not a record. Let me tell you, it is a record for this Labor government …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: … and we had the Opposition Leader …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Let us look at what the Opposition Leader does. He said in the run up to the by-election: ‘If we do not win this by-election, I am going to resign’. By the end of the last week he was saying: ‘Oh, resignation, I will put on hold until next week’. In terms of having a political backbone, it is missing. The haircut might be new, the other things might be new, but this man has to face the facts that we really decided that …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Thank you.
Ms MARTIN: … because Katherine had basically been unrepresented by its local member, and the Katherine community did not have a voice. It was a divided community because we had the absurd situation where the local member did not talk to the council, and that lack of communication, particularly between the former local member and the Mayor, is legend. This is not rumour, this is legend, and Katherine has suffered because of that. We are proud that this government has paid proper attention to Katherine. We have paid proper attention to Katherine and we will continue to do so, with a real commitment, not with cynical commitment like we have seen previously.
We are proud of the fact that we achieved a 9.5% swing. Interestingly enough, if this swing had happened in a general election, the members for Araluen, Greatorex, Macdonnell and Port Darwin would not be here.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: All right, enough! We have had our bit of fun. Let us move on to some serious questions and let us have some shorter answers.
Parks and Reserves - Future Development
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline the important initiatives recently announced by our government in relation to the future development of the Northern Territory’s parks and reserves?
ANSWER
Mr Burke: You are going to give them away.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, this is an important question. The quip from the Leader of the Opposition about, ‘You are going to give them away’ …
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I heard the Chief Minister give notice this afternoon that she will bring this down tomorrow. If she is anticipating debate by giving notice this morning then asking questions this afternoon …
Madam SPEAKER: This is a question. Chief Minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, resume your seat. Would you all settle down. Let us have some decent answers, so people hearing this broadcast can actually hear the answers.
Chief Minister, without further interjection.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, as the Deputy Opposition Leader quite rightly recognised, I gave notice of an important bill for the Territory, which we will have the second reading of tomorrow. That is the Parks and Reserves (Framework for the Future) Bill 2003, which government publicly released on 19 September.
The purpose of the bill is to provide a framework to establish, maintain and manage a comprehensive system of parks and reserves in the Territory. This bill very clearly demonstrates that government, in what is a complex - and sometimes difficult – matter, is acting in an open and transparent manner by releasing this bill and providing details and detailed briefings to all the stakeholders. I certainly hope that the opposition has, or will ask, for a briefing on this very important issue.
The framework in the bill draws together the indigenous obligation to care for country, with a range of government objectives, and that includes generating jobs and enterprises, training, and creating a sustainable economic base for regional development - very important aspirations for this government.
The bill results from initiatives which I announced on 25 October last year, to resolve uncertainty created by land claims over our parks and reserves. I do not need to remind this House that, in August last year, a High Court decision meant that 49 of the Territory’s parks and reserves were invalidly declared. It was not a High Court decision that we were expecting, but it is one I believe we have dealt with in a very practical, visionary way. We were faced, at that stage, to follow what our predecessors might have done – and that is to take each one of the 49 parks and litigate over whether it is entitled for land claim or for native title claim - or we could look at a negotiated outcome.
The opportunities were either a negotiated outcome that we could get within a reasonably short time frame, or we could head to court and spend 20 years in the courts.
Mr Baldwin: Or you could have used the Native Title Act, there is a third option.
Ms MARTIN: This is an important answer, Madam Speaker. I would appreciate it if the member for Daly be quiet.
We could litigate or we could negotiate. The litigation would be 20 years and probably a sum of anywhere between $100m and $150m. We chose to negotiate. Negotiation recognises …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Once you decide that everything has to be litigated and you spend all the money on lawyers, then you cannot take it out of your brain, can you?
Yet, the models we are looking at and how we are pursuing our way forward on parks and reserves is very much predicated on what the past government did on the railway. With the land access for the railway, we are following your model there and, in our parks and joint management, the Nitmiluk model. We recognise when you got it right, and we are recognising that, at Nitmiluk, you mob got it right, and we congratulate you. On other issues such as the railway, negotiation rather than litigation was the right way to go. We have used what the opposition in government have previously done.
We are going to have a great outcome for Territorians from this. It has been done in an open and transparent fashion. As I announced last year, I went to the land councils and said: ‘This is the condition of negotiation; that all land will have a lease-back to all Territorians for 99 years’, as with Nitmiluk, Kakadu and others. No precedent - this is what has been established. It will be based on a ‘no fee, no permit’ basis. It was very quickly accepted. Also, that existing concessions such as tourist concessions would be recognised, and existing mining interests and applications will be recognised and fast-tracked.
Do you know what? The only ones whingeing about it are this mob here – the only ones whingeing. We have had widespread support from the mining and tourism industries. What you are saying is: ‘Go and litigate. Go and spend 20 years in the courts’. Do not go after jobs, a world class parks system or expanding our park system - litigate, spend money on lawyers. If you look at what happened in Kenbi, just across the harbour: 26 years of litigation, probably $25m. What did we achieve? A big nothing.
I am proud to have this bill in front of the House. This is open and transparent government. It sets out very clearly what we will do over the next 12 months, and what we expect. When we were confronted with a very difficult situation, I believe we have found a great way through it. When we do not have to litigate, but negotiate, we can look at expanding tourism options, growing jobs in regional areas and enterprises. This is a winner.
Electricity Outages in Northern Suburbs
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Last night, I was among 6200 residents in the northern suburbs who were left to swelter on a Darwin October night without power because of yet another blackout. Less than six hours later, residents in the northern suburbs were blacked out again. What guarantee can you give residents that these continual blackouts will stop?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. My sympathies go to those people who experienced a blackout last night, and it was extensive. The brief I have had from PowerWater is that it related to a transformer at Berrimah Substation, and load factors. I have been assured by the CEO of PowerWater that they have pulled out all stops to address the problem and are focussing on it. I cannot give any 100% guarantees, member for Drysdale. I am very concerned about it, as is the CEO for PowerWater, and they are endeavouring, as best they can, to ensure that it does not occur again. It is a very unusual fault to occur with a transformer, and it is being looked at very carefully.
Economic Forecasts
Mr BONSON to TREASURER
Can the Treasurer please update the House on recent external commentary on the Territory’s economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that two leading independent economic forecasters, BIS Shrapnel and Access Economics, have continued positive reports on the Northern Territory economy. We heard a little sledge from the Leader of the Opposition earlier about Access Economics revising growth figures somewhat down from a previous report as if, once it is locked in, it can never change.
We are talking about forecasts here between 2001-02 and 2006-07, on behalf of Access Economics, and 2003-04 and 2007-08 in the case of BIS Shrapnel. Why would they not, from time to time, revisit what is happening in the Territory and what those projections might be?
According to BIS Shrapnel, Territory gross state product growth will average 4.5% per annum over those five years to 2007-08. You have to compare that to the Australian gross domestic product of just 3.3% as an average per annum growth over the same period. Their forecast for Territory economic growth is the highest of all the jurisdictions, driven by oil and gas projects, a strong upturn in dwelling investment, and a recovery in tourism. Strong economic growth, of course, will boost employment and population.
Territory real estate final demand is also forecast to grow at an annual rate of 4.5% over the next five years: 4.9% compound growth in household consumption; 4.2% compound growth in public expenditure; and 4.2% compound growth in private investment.
Territory employment growth is forecast to average 2.5% over the five years to 2007-08, higher than the forecast national average rate of 2.2%.
If we look at Access Economics and their five-year business outlook from September quarter 2003 to 2006-07, the forecast is for Territory gross state product growth to average 3.7% per annum. Access’s forecast for Territory economic growth, again, is well above that forecast for Australia as a whole - 2.9% - and the third highest of all jurisdictions. Again, growth is predicated on a number of investment projects including Bayu-Undan Stage 2, and continued strength in non-residential building activity.
These two reports, singly or together, point to positive and significant growth, and are therefore supportive of the government’s management of the economy to this stage. From time to time, I do not doubt, there will be revisions, either upwards or downwards, as more information becomes known. However, to suggest that, because they put down a figure of what they saw as average annual growth in 2001, and expect to hold that unchanged through to 2006-07, defies belief. They do not have a crystal ball; they work on the information that is coming forward. In our view, they do a great job.
Litchfield Shire Water Allocation Plans
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
There have been rumours abounding in the rural area that water allocation plans are being drawn up by your department as part of the Litchfield planning scheme. Does the government intend to introduce water allocation plans or require meters on existing domestic bores in the Litchfield Shire?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I want to assure you that they are just rumours. There are not going to be any meters on domestic bores. The only bores that are required to have meters are bores that actually produce more than 15 litres per second, that is, for large irrigation bores.
A water allocation plan is to be prepared for the Howard Springs region because of intensive development of the area. This will not be developed in isolation. We will develop it in consultation and close cooperation with the community. Again, it is not going to apply to the whole Litchfield area.
Child Protection
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
On 7 September, you signed a pledge – and I have an example - to take a stand to help stop child abuse. A week later, you refuted claims by Territory Child Protection workers that there were cases of child abuse in the Territory that have remained unallocated for some months, and denied the existence of a wait list. Do you still stand by your claim that all allegations of child abuse are assessed and actioned within 24 hours of notification?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this morning in this House, I outlined what we are doing in relation to child protection. Nobody on this side of the House has suggested, at any time, that our child protection system is perfect. In fact, that is exactly why we have a major review of the Community Welfare Act, and also of Child Protection Services. That is also why we put $2.4m into this area since coming to government - obviously a major commitment by this government as child protection is a priority.
The accusation by the opposition that a waiting list exists for child protection is misleading. All allegations of abuse or neglect are assessed by Family and Children’s Services within 24 hours - assessed. If children are at immediate risk, an urgent response occurs. The department endeavours to complete child protection investigations within 28 days. Sometimes, there are important reasons to keep an investigation open for longer than this. The increasing complexity of cases often requires Child Protection staff to coordinate investigations with other agencies. In these cases, investigations may remain open until the outcomes of external investigations, including criminal proceedings, are known. If it takes longer than 28 days to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the safety of a child, then that is what should actually happen.
Recent media comments may be causing anxiety for members of the public. I want to assure parliament that child protection is absolutely a fundamental priority to this government and my department.
Energy Resources of Australia – Relocation of Corporate Headquarters
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Can the minister please advise the House about the recent decision of Energy Resources of Australia to relocate its corporate headquarters to Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question because, of course, ERA is a significant company working in her electorate. This is good news regarding ERA deciding to relocate its corporate headquarters in Darwin. ERA will be the only company that is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange to have their corporate headquarters here.
To talk about the size of ERA, the market capitalisation of this company is about $650m. They posted a $21.2m after-tax profit during the 2002 calendar year. When we look at the number of people who will be relocated to Darwin, we are talking about 20 people in ERA plus their families; the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer will move to Darwin with their families and staff. They will also bring the strategic planning, external affairs and commercial operations, now located in the Pinelands office near Berrimah, together into the one office of about 20 people. This is a significant vote of confidence in this company’s operations in the Northern Territory. As I said, it is the only company listed on the Australia Stock Exchange to have their corporate headquarters in Darwin. I am sure all members of this House wish ERA well.
I would also like to send my best wishes, as Minister for Resource Development, to the current Chief Executive Officer, Bob Cleary, who I have had quite a lot to do with in my time as minister for this portfolio. Mr Cleary will be leaving ERA in January 2004. I am sure if people know Bob they know that he has been committed to the Northern Territory. I wish him well, as do all members, in his future career.
Child Protection
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
I refer to this front-page story from the Northern Territory News on the 29 September 2003: ‘Girl, 5, makes bong in class’. Today you said that the welfare of our children was the responsibility of everyone. Have you made any inquiries in relation to the matter involving the five-year-old girl and her knowledge of drug paraphernalia? If so, what did your inquiries reveal and what action have you taken? Did you also make any inquiries in relation to the two cases referred to in the page one article, of children between five and 12 being caught with drugs at school; in one case the drug being an amphetamine? If so, what did your inquiries reveal and what action have you taken?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have a copy of the front page of the Northern Territory News and I do not have the details from that article. Perhaps the member could table that so that we could refer to it.
Ms Carter: I am happy to seek leave to table it.
Leave granted.
Mrs AAGAARD: In relation to the matters raised in that, I imagine, since it was something that happened through a school that, in fact, those matters would have been raised through the Department of Education. There are dealings through the Department of Education through to the Health Department and, when appropriate, those things will be raised with my department. I cannot give you individual details on this child; I do not know the article itself, because it is not appropriate for me to become involved in individual cases.
I have a lot of confidence in the people who are looking after this area in my department. Family and Children’s Services has had a very rough road over a long period of time. In the review of my department earlier this year, child protection was identified as a key priority for this government. We have continued to put money into this area. We will continue to see it as a priority, because children are absolutely a priority for the people of the Northern Territory and need to be cared for, not simply by those people who are working in Family and Children’s Services. Children and child protection is the responsibility of all of us, whether you are on this side of the House, that side of the House, working for a government department, or whether you are a cleaning lady working in the streets - it is a responsibility of the entire community.
The people at Family and Children’s Services have worked hard over a very long period of time, trying to make sure that our children are protected. To imply that, somehow, members of staff of my department are not working appropriately is a very sad reflection on the member. I have great confidence in the staff working in these areas, and the review of this area, which is being undertaken at the moment, together with the review of the Community Welfare Act, will mean significant changes in relation to the protection of children in the Northern Territory.
Indigenous Students – Enrolment Status
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Could you please update the House on the status of the enrolment of indigenous students in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. We did have indications earlier this year that some of our efforts in indigenous education in getting them enrolled - some through the work of the attendance officers but, generally, a greater focus throughout the whole department on indigenous education - was having effect and we were getting increasing numbers into the system.
Enrolment collections are undertaken eight times in a school year. The most recent was in August, and that represented collection No 5 of the eight that will be undertaken for the whole year. It showed two very important points. We had around 575 more indigenous students enrolled on our books in Territory schools as of August 2003 compared to August 2002 – that is about 3.8%. Whilst we are heartened by that result, when we consider that there may be as many as 6000 indigenous students of compulsory school age out there not enrolled and not attending school, it suggests that we are about 10% of the way down this task. Encouraged we are, but a long way to go.
The second point that came out of this collection was that the enrolment trend in the middle of the year, when the attendance rate and enrolment generally drops off, has flattened out considerably over this past 12 months. The decrease between March, May, June and August, which shows that quite significant downward trend in historic terms, has reduced considerably this year. That means not only have do we have more students into school, enrolled and attending, but we are retaining greater numbers of them by way of attendance throughout the year. That encourages us greatly, regarding access to those students and being able to deliver quality education to them. Of course, the end result of that, we would hope to see, is improved literacy and numeracy. We do have a long way to go if our initial projections of 5000 or 6000 students not attending who should be attending are correct. Nonetheless, they are encouraging signs.
As we get further and we increase that enrolment and attendance, there will be a greater resource ask of government, and we are expecting that. We are expecting the call for increased classrooms. If you take 575 students, that is an average sized school in its own right, with probably $6m or $8m worth of costs to provide a school in today’s dollars. We will be needing to put in additional classrooms around the Territory. We will be needing to resource those with increased teachers, and with all of the specialities that go within that special education, ESL and the rest. However, it is a job that we will take on with great satisfaction because it will justify to us that the emphasis and focus on indigenous education is at last beginning to show results.
Child Protection
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Today you have spoken of your care and concern for the welfare of child abuse victims. I refer you to the story of a 15-year-old pregnant school girl who, in April of this year, was at the centre of a front page ‘sex for drugs’ report in the NT News. The report indicated that the girl was 14-years-old when your department put her into foster care. The girl had admitted to beginning to drink alcohol and snort speed after going into foster care. She is quoted as saying:
- There were always people around using drugs. I feel like my life has been ruined.
What investigations did you carry out in relation to this matter, and what actions have you taken as minister responsible for this girl’s care?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, alas, I do not have a copy of that front page of the NT News in front of me either. At the time, as I remember - and it is a while ago - we carried out an inquiry through the department. One of the issues was that we did not know the name of the person quoted in the article, as I recall. When we were able to find out who that might be, as I remember it, it was found that the allegations that were made in the paper were not accurate.
I do not have the details in front of me. It is an individual case. To raise this kind of issue in parliament is a very difficult thing. We do not have the permission of the young woman involved or her family. There are privacy laws, both in the Northern Territory and in Australia, that prevent us from making these kinds of comments, whether that is in parliament or elsewhere.
I can assure members of the House that, at the time, we did look into the situation. As I recall, although it is not something that I have a brief on, the allegations that were made in the paper were inaccurate.
Robertson Barracks – Proposed Development
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for DEFENCE SUPPORT
It has been recently announced that a new Army Air Wing headquarters is to be built at Robertson Barracks. I know there has been a federal government committee visit the Top End to take submissions on this development but, except for some government departments, I do not believe that either the local council or residents knew anything about it.
Considering that locals in the Knuckeys Lagoon and Wallaby Holtze Road areas will be affected by this development, would you require the Department of Defence to apply for planning approvals through the Development Consent Authority before work commences?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an interesting question from the member for Nelson. As Minister for Defence Support, I am advised that Robertson Barracks is situated on Commonwealth Defence land and, as is the case across Australia, Defence land is not subject to the rules of the Development Consent Authority or its equivalent in other parts of Australia. That is why the Commonwealth, through its Standing Committee on Public Works, runs a series of public meetings, putting notices in the paper inviting people to attend those hearings or to make submissions, in regard to developments that are proposed on Commonwealth land. My understanding is that there is no capacity or power for us to intervene or compel this development proposal to go through the Development Consent Authority process.
What I can say, though, in my dealings with Defence at all levels, is that they are very keen to be good corporate citizens in our community in all of their engagement with the broader community in the Territory. I would urge the member that, if constituents in his electorate have specific concerns about that development, they can either raise them directly with Defence or through me or my colleague the lands minister. I am sure that we can convene the appropriate forums to hear those concerns.
This is a great Defence project for the Northern Territory, some $70m-worth of capital works at Robertson Barracks to accommodate the 1st Aviation Regiment and the Tiger Helicopters. It is a fantastic project for the Northern Territory construction industry that will see more people come to the Northern Territory. I am sure we all support that project in this House.
I urge the member for Nelson to convene a meeting. I am sure we can get the appropriate people to attend that meeting, whether it is convened through the Litchfield Shire Council or his office. I am sure the Department of Defence, and the Lands, Planning and Environment Department will be able to accommodate specific concerns of residents. If we cannot, there will be very good reasons why they cannot be.
Crime Statistics
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The Northern Territory Quarterly Crime and Justice Statistics are compiled by the Office of Crime Prevention to ensure independent and accurate information is available to Territorians about the level of crime in our community. Minister, can you please advise the House on the latest crime statistics?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for a very important question. The fourth issue of the Northern Territory Quarterly Crime and Justice Statistics was released on 15 September 2003, and this brings us to the end of the first year of releasing these quarterly figures. The latest release shows that, for the 12 months ending 30 June 2003, compared to the previous 12 months, the overall levels of both offences against the person and against property have decreased over the whole of the Territory. I will give some of the key figures that have come out in that report, which is audited by Ernst & Young before it is released.
Territory-wide, house break-ins fell by 32%; break-ins to commercial and other premises by 16%; motor vehicle theft and related offences by 21%; other theft by 17%; property damage decreased by 18%; assaults fell only by 2%. However, in Darwin and Alice Springs particularly, there were significant drops in assaults in those centres. Sexual assaults fell by 16%.
The statistics also reveal hot spots around the Territory where there have been worrying increases in crimes against the person, namely Katherine and Tennant Creek. That is exactly what we want to find out from these crime figures: where do the police and our other agencies, such as the Office of Crime Prevention, have to focus their efforts to deal with these types of hot spots?
The falls that we have Territory-wide are very encouraging, given that they have now been sustained over several quarters of the release of these figures. The results have been achieved by both targeted police work, by some of the early impacts of our $400 000 a year Crime Prevention Grants Scheme, and the establishment of crime prevention councils. This work will continue and, as the Police minister has announced, there is going to be an enormous increase in the resources available to police. That, in itself, will have a further impact on the situation that these figures are revealing.
Sadly though, the opposition has, to date, severely misused the information that has been put out by the government. We have shown a lot of integrity and courage, I believe, in putting out accurate figures to the Northern Territory people. It beholdens the public figures who want to comment on these figures to do so accurately and respect the statistical structure of these reports. I refer specifically to the member for Araluen’s press release on crime statistics in Alice Springs, which highlighted four different statistics, and she got them all wrong. She tried to accuse the government of trying to put one over the people of Alice Springs. In the member for Araluen’s media release on 24 September, she claimed property crime in Alice Springs increased by 29% last quarter, when it actually decreased by 3%. Motor vehicle theft, she claims, increased by 10% last quarter rather than 9% or six offences. Other theft increased by 5% rather than 4%, or 13 offences. Here is a good one. Here is a beauty: sexual assault increased by 78% when, in fact, it had fallen by 11%.
The member for Araluen misconstrued the figures by picking and choosing figures that suit her to arrive at the Carney trend; one that is not true and is not statistically sound. I call on the member for Araluen, if you are going to enter into the debate, respect the figures and the statistics. What she is dishonouring is not only the figures themselves, but the police who provide this information, and our statisticians who put a lot of time into making sure these figures are a true reflection of crime in the Northern Territory.
Katherine Air Services
Mrs MILLER to TREASURER
You wrote to residents of Katherine during the by-election and said you had set up a task force to look at air services to regional centres, including Katherine. Will you guarantee that Katherine will continue to enjoy at least the same air services that they currently have?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am on the public record several times saying that we will be assuring that Katherine and Tennant Creek have access to the same air services that existed at corresponding times last year. We have a range of options up for consideration. We are taking time. We understand Airnorth’s decision not to fly the Darwin/Katherine/Tennant Creek/Alice Springs route between 22 December and around 21 or 22 February. We will not have that situation. We will not have those two communities without air services over the period of those months.
The question before us is how we ensure that those air services continue. We will continue to study the range of options as more information is made available to government. We are not about to jump off at the very first option that comes before us. We want ensure that government has access to the full range of information in relation to the services that are required. Suffice to say, I can give the member for Katherine unequivocal assurance that this government will not leave the people of Katherine and Tennant Creek without access to air services over that period of time.
AFL Schedule 2004 to 2007
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you please advise the House on recent announcements regarding the AFL schedule for the next three years.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner. As members would be aware, as recently as yesterday, there was a video conferencing link-up with Andrew Demetriou, the new CEO of the AFL. We have proudly announced and agreed to, in that historic announcement that, for the next three years, we have secured for the first time a game that will be played for competition points. That will be on 14 August, between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide. Port have a large following, no doubt because of the connections through the Burgoyne boys - whose mother’s family side is Hazelbane and also connected to the Cubillos - they are well-known Territorians. Western Bulldogs should be congratulated for the manner in which they have chosen to take one of their home games out of Melbourne and bring that to Darwin. We would like to think we will have an attendance above 12 000 people for that game on that historic day.
We also have been able to secure in the agreement three Wizard Cup matches for Central Australia. No doubt, Madam Speaker, you will remember some eight years ago when Adelaide Crows played the Essendon Bombers at Traeger Park, there were some 11 000 to 12 000 people there. Almost half of Alice Springs turned out to watch that historic match. We can now proudly say that we have been able to stitch up, for the next three years, a match there. Albeit it is a Wizard Cup losers match, so we do not know who those teams are going to be. They could be top teams that get toppled in those Wizard Cup matches that will have to - and have no choice – journey to Central Australia.
In February, we will have Essendon Bombers playing the Fremantle Dockers. We will also have the pre-season camps, no doubt, for these teams, as Carlton came this year. Also, for the mid-season, we are working to have Collingwood, who came up this year. Mind you, Collingwood did well. It is a pity they were not able to win the Grand Final but they kicked on. As I said in my talk to Daryl Manzie this morning, these teams put in the hard yards and wish to come to the Northern Territory to promote and exhibit their skills, not only in the major cities or towns, but also to the remote comminutes. I have a lot of respect for them, as I do have with other clubs.
We have gone one further and have been able to lock in the ATSIC Allstars matches for 2005 and 2007. That is great for the Northern Territory, because we have seen the display when the Allstars took on Carlton and gave them a bit of a hiding. As I said to Daryl Manzie this morning, those players in that match with the Allstars all went on and, basically, had a pretty good year. Carlton went back and continued to get flogged. My sympathy goes to the Carlton supporters. We have stitched that up for the years 2005 and 2007.
For the next three years, our commitment has been $250 000 - $100 000 of that is being spent in the Territory with the Bulldogs promoting themselves and the game. We will also receive 25% of the gate takings for that match between the Bulldogs and Port Power. If 12 000 people turn up and spend an average of $10 per head, we would be guaranteed of something like $30 000 return. All up, quick calculations, about $120 000 per annum to be able to bring a range of good football matches, at the top level, to the Northern Territory.
Katherine By-election
Mrs MILLER to CHIEF MINISTER
In your Katherine election campaign, Labor told residents that, ‘If CLP win big, you lose’. Can you please tell my constituents, now that the CLP has won, what they are going to lose and why there was any need to threaten them in that way?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we welcome the member for Katherine, and recognise that the member is new to politics. However, she needs to realise that the CLP has won big in Katherine for many years. At the last Territory election, the Labor Party - and it is much to our shame - only achieved 26% of the vote.
What did the last two years deliver from the member for Katherine to the Katherine residents? Just about nothing. We have searched through the files to see …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, this is a question asked by the opposition and they do not want to listen to the answer - big support for the member for Katherine. Motivate your colleagues, member for Katherine.
We searched through the files. I believe we found about 15 letters in two years – 15 letters that barely raised any issues of importance. The work that was done in Katherine over the last two years was done by this government - initiating a regional development plan, for the first time bringing all sections of the community together, and this was recognised. I recognise that the member for Katherine now was involved in that process, so you know that that process happened. But it happened in a very different way than had previously happened in Katherine.
It was not about divide and rule, as we had seen the CLP do previously; it was about engaging all sections of the community. We said very clearly to the Katherine community: ‘If the CLP wins big again in this community, you will lose. You will lose as you lost in the last two years’. I saw …
Mr Burke: How threatening is that?
Ms MARTIN: Threatening? Oh, come on! Get a life! How is that threatening? It was a clear statement of what the CLP had delivered in Katherine, particularly over the last two years, and in between …
Mr Baldwin: So what are we going to lose now we have won?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Daly! Order.
Ms MARTIN: I will do a quick comparison. Let us look at two towns that are removed from Darwin - Katherine and the Barkly. In the Barkly, in Tennant Creek, we have the most active member of parliament. Each minister here would have a file like that of great initiatives coming from the member for Barkly about Tennant Creek and the region; active, engaged, pursuing issues.
What did we have from Katherine? Nothing! We had nothing, not even from the member who has part of Katherine - silence again. It was a very clear message to Katherine, not a threat. I do not know how you would interpret it as a threat. It is a fact of life.
If the CLP walked home in Katherine – okay. The CLP would have been able to take Denis Burke’s head and say: ‘Off, lad’. In terms of the result, it has been a great result for Labor in Katherine because there has been big support. We are committed to the people of Katherine, and the work we started over the last two years, we will be continuing.
Katherine Dental Services
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Can the minister please provide the House with an update on the dental services being provided in Katherine?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. First of all, I should put it into a national context. There is a shortage of dentists nationally, and this has added to the Northern Territory’s challenge in recruiting dentists, particularly in the rural and remote areas of the Territory. However, services need to continue and this government is constantly exploring avenues to allow this to occur.
In the short term, an intensive clinic commenced, for this week, in the Katherine region. Sixty appointments have been made in Katherine for this week, and a day will also be spent seeing the residents of Jilkminggan.
I also take this time to announce to the House that Katherine residents will have a temporary four day a week dental service during the five weeks leading up to Christian …
Mr Henderson: Christian Christmas.
Mrs AAGAARD: Christmas. I must be feeling religious today.
Given the historic problems associated with attracting a permanent dentist to this position - and I would like to inform the House that, over the last decade, Katherine has had extreme difficulties in attracting dentists. There have been three dentists who spent around one year, and then a series of dentists who have spent between three and six months in Katherine. This is not something which is new to Katherine; it is something that is continuing as a problem.
I am pleased to announce that David Smith, who was on loan from the Katherine West Health Board, will help alleviate some of the backlog. Until then, a dentist will continue to visit Katherine regularly from Darwin. I acknowledge that these are short-term solutions, and that a full-time dentist for both services is required. My department is actively recruiting.
I have mentioned before in this House that I had taken the issue of dentist shortages to the Australian Health Ministers Conference in July this year, and I will continue to pursue this issue on a national level. In the immediate future, essential to a change in the historic difficulties in the recruitment and retention of dentists in the public sector, it is necessary for the government to increase the Northern Territory’s competitiveness compared to other jurisdictions. This has already commenced with the opening of two new state-of-the-art dental clinics in Darwin and Palmerston. Also, increasing funding to the sector by $1.6m over the next three years signals to dentists that this government is serious about the oral health of Territorians.
Additionally, I am very pleased to report that the Northern Territory Public Sector Dental Officers enterprise bargaining agreement was certified in the Australian Industrial Relations Court on Tuesday 30 September 2003. The new EBA places dentists who are employed by the Department of Health and Community Services on a level of remuneration that is comparable to their counterparts in other states. The EBA incorporates financial incentives to promote retention, including retention bonuses, a professional development allowance and a remote area benefit and sabbatical leave.
In addition to this, a new innovative advertising campaign to recruit dentists to the Northern Territory is being designed to take advantage of the new EBA, and to highlight the uniqueness of the Territory living and working experience.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016