2004-08-17
Territory Colours – Labor Party Use of
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, this side of the House is very proud of our flag. The Martin Labor government has systemically re-badged public signs in Labor colours. It has taken every opportunity to avoid using the Northern Territory colours of black, white and ochre. What is so offensive to you and your government about our flag?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, when we came in here, and the House was not yet in session, we saw the flags on the opposition desks – and that is fine; let us have the flags. There was a little repartee across the floor. The member for Greatorex said: ‘Get your own flag; this is ours’. Isn’t that just the case of what this opposition is doing?
We had the former Chief Minister, Shane Stone, on radio over a week ago saying that the CLP had to reclaim the Territory flag because it was the CLP’s. I was asked to respond to that by the media …
Mr Dunham: Because it made you frightened. You are ashamed of it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Ms MARTIN: I was asked to give a response to the former Chief Minister saying on behalf of the CLP that the CLP had to reclaim the Territory flag because it is theirs. I was really taken aback by the extraordinary arrogance of the CLP saying this wonderful Territory flag is theirs! The Territory flag is every Territorian’s. The flag is proudly on much of the documentation that comes from this government.
The fact that the CLP, the opposition, has to come into this House and say ‘this is our flag’, is an extraordinary demonstration of exactly what the member for Drysdale put on the Hansard in this House, that being in government is the rightful inheritance of the CLP. The arrogance continues; this is yet another demonstration of that. I could rant and rave about it, but in my heart it makes me feel really sad.
Tourism Developments
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
Can you advise the Assembly on recent developments in the tourism sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for the question because, as everyone in this House knows, tourism is the second biggest industry in the Territory. It is 7% directly and 8% indirectly of the work force, making 15% of our work force either directly or indirectly in the tourism industry.
The last three years have been very difficult years for tourism, and for other sectors of our business community before that as well. Of course, there is a direct relationship. There is quite a strong intersect between the health of tourism and the economy. That is why this government has put additional funding into tourism for marketing - over three years, $27.5m - because we have to make sure that tourism is a strong and healthy part of our community and our industry sector.
It is good to see confidence returning to the tourism sector. However, it is not only to the tourism sector, it is right across the board. The confidence of business is returning, whether they are in manufacturing or tourism, or whatever part, including retail. The latest Chamber of Commerce survey supports that. It says that business is in a stronger position than last year - this is the Chamber’s survey – and that there is a positive employment trend, in fact, up 21%, and a growth in profits as well, up 10%. There are other indicators. If you look across the indicators we have in the community, the ANZ job ad figures are up, retail turnover is up 14%, finance commitment is up 25.5%, and building approvals are up 27%.
With tourism, specifically, you can look at some of the indicators there. Not only can you walk down the mall and see the numbers of tourists here, but you have hotels that are filled to capacity. One hotel is reporting 103% capacity, which is a pretty extraordinary feat.
With aviation capacity, if we compare year on year, we have seen a growth from August last year to this year of 40% increase in domestic airline capacity and 41% in international. As I said, this is a growth in confidence. We are seeing a pick-up. This does not mean that the problem is all fixed. Of course, it does not. However, we are seeing a pick-up in those indicators and those industries that are so critical to the success of the Territory economy.
You can look at the figures, but let us look at what is happening on the ground. Respected businessmen Doug Gamble in Darwin is showing his growing confidence in the economy. He invested $12m in a new backpacker establishment, Melaleuca on Mitchell, with 452 beds. Great news for the Territory, great news for Darwin. That is stage one of a four-stage development. Doug Gamble is demonstrating his increased confidence in what is happening in our tourism area.
At the footy the other night - great match, Port playing Bulldogs. Pity the Bulldogs did not play better. It was a good effort from the Bulldogs, but Port is very dominating. One businessman talking to me said: ‘I have been here 24 years. This is the best year I have had in 24’. He was very confident and very strong in his praise of where the economy is going. There are stories …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: It is sad to see the opposition laugh about business people feeling more confident in our economy. It is very sad to see you laugh.
There are stories of confidence and growth. That does not mean that we can step back and say all is fine. Government will continue to work in partnership with our business community to grow all sectors. There are sectors that we would like to see grow substantially more. I recognise the problems in Alice Springs, that the growth in tourism has not been as strong as we would have liked. We are putting measures in place to deal with that. We have good packages in place, and other measures coming on line.
This is not pretending everything is rosy, this is saying we should be applauding the growth of confidence. Particularly as Tourism Minister, I am applauding the industry for their confidence about the future and working together with government. It is good news, but there is a long way to go.
Number Plate Colour Replacement
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Martin Labor government is ashamed of our Territory colours. Even our famous ochre NT Outback Australia number plate is now being scrapped and replaced with Labor’s blue colour and new theme of Building the Future. Why are you so desperately wanting to change Territorians and to change our identity?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am proud to be one of nearly 200 000 Territorians. If the Opposition Leader thinks that, by saying that somehow we are changed – I do not know what fantasy land he is in. We are proudly Territorian. We are doing what Territorians do. Yet, I fail to understand what on earth the Opposition Leader is talking about. You are trying to say that …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: What you are trying to say is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, order!
Ms MARTIN: What the opposition is trying to say is that, because they were in - again it goes back to this rightful inheritance stuff. It goes back to the arrogance of saying: ‘This flag is ours’. What it says is that everything that the CLP did was intrinsically Territorian and has to be continued. That is what you are saying.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: You are saying: ‘If we had government signage like this, you have to have government signage like this’. If you are saying …
Mr Mills: So you have the same number plates as all the other Labor states?
Ms MARTIN: No, it is a commemorative number plate. The colours were chosen for that.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you asked the question, allow the Chief Minister to respond.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you! Chief Minister, do not go on, I am getting a bit tired of this.
Ms MARTIN: I am trying to work out what this is, because I have spent a very short time on my feet ...
Madam SPEAKER: I suggest, if you do not understand the question, just do not bother to answer it.
Ms MARTIN: In responding - and I will wrap it up now - the question demonstrates the increased and ongoing arrogance of the CLP saying that whatever the CLP put in place over 27 years of government has to be continued …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Did you see the economic indicators? From 1997, it headed down. Should we have continued that, perhaps? Is it un-Territorian to turn the economy around? What level of arrogance will you go to?
Mr Baldwin: Sit down, you are not answering the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, order!
Ms MARTIN: Stop trying to own the flag of the Territory; it is all Territorians’. Stop saying you have rights to anything, they have to be earned. You are a very sad bunch.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, cease your interjections; they are becoming too unruly.
Territory Construction Industry
Mrs AAGAARD to TREASURER
What does the latest economic data show about the state of the Territory construction industry?
Members interjecting.
Mr Dunham: Seven hundred jobs you lost, Syd. Should be good, mate; this will be good!
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, before you start, that is the third time today I have heard someone call someone by their Christian name. You know the rules, and I am not going to tolerate it any more. Just be aware.
Mr Dunham: My apologies.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Nightcliff for the question, because there is a good story to tell in and around the construction industry in the Northern Territory. There are three major indicators that show sustained growth throughout 2003-04 compared to 2002-03.
We start with residential buildings approvals in 2003-04, valued at a total of $266m - a 37.4% increase compared to 2002-03. Non-residential building approvals in 2003-04 are valued at $168m, or 11.2% increase over the preceding year 2002-03. Total value of engineering work throughout the Territory in 2003-04 stands at $1.492bn, an increase of 18.6% over the preceding year. What these three figures show is that the construction industry has sustained, right throughout 2003-04, a solid rate of growth compared with the situation we had throughout 2002-03. That means, of course, more jobs in the industry itself. That means more money circulating through the economy as a spin-off from construction activity that benefits the community as a whole.
When we look at some of the reasons for the increased confidence in the economy that the Chief Minister was referring to, we should not just pin it down to a much improved tourist season. There is much more to it than bustling, busy, fully-booked hotels, as we have had this past year.
This year, at least, part of that solid growth has to be attributed to significantly improved construction outcomes. I have confidence that growth in work and value within this industry will continue. There are a number of reasons why you would have to have confidence: the number of projects coming on line over the next 12 to 18 months with Defence projects significant within that mix; the convention centre will get under way, all things being equal, early next year; Kurringal has been completed; and Hastings on Mindil and the Admiralty House projects are up and going. That is just to name a few.
The growth in construction is not limited either to just Darwin. In Alice Springs, an unprecedented year of construction projects is set to get under way. The Larapinta Estate is ready to go, thanks to patient and excellent work done by this government. I pay credit to my colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, who has played an ongoing and sustained role throughout this whole lengthy negotiation, with an excellent outcome for all. The Desert Knowledge Centre and the Mereenie Loop are going to contribute to significant growth into the future as well. In my own town, the possibility of the Alcan expansion and the gas promises to bring another huge construction project on line in the Territory.
The second reason for this sustainability throughout 2003-04 has been the realisation of the efforts of government since we came into power, not only in stacking up the government’s capital works program absolutely to the maximum that we can afford, but our cash in - our preparedness to put cash on the line against those capital works programs, as compared to our predecessors, who had pretty good, solid capital works programs, but no dough. They had no dough! We are cashing way in advance of what our predecessors used to. That goes for capital works, minor new works, and repairs and maintenance budgets to their highest levels ever - $441m cash pledged to be spent in 2003-04 on behalf of the government.
When you look also at trend figures such as those released by the Real Estate Institute, which I discussed with David Loy and Sue Shearer last week, they advised me that rental vacancies in Darwin stand at just 5.9%, and in Palmerston it is as low as 3.7%. That is a significantly lower figure than in June last year when it was 7.1% or higher, than it has been for some time. That, in itself, is a trigger level for renewed expansion and interest in redeveloping the unit market in those older ones and, of course, bringing on line new units.
There are solid grounds for continuing optimism in the Territory’s economic growth. It is coming off a low level, and we acknowledge that. There is still patchiness in some areas; it is not right across the board. However, there are strong indicators within this mix that the trend is turning very positive.
Owston Nominees – Legal Proceedings
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Earlier this month, the Magistrate’s Court threw out animal neglect charges against businessman, Warren Anderson’s Owston Nominees. How much groundwork did your department’s animal welfare unit do before the charges were referred to the DPP? What exactly did the branch do in response to complaints to establish the truth or otherwise of the complaint, and the reliability of the complainant?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The DPP did not supply an opinion, as the Animal Welfare Authority has its own contracted legal advisors, so they were not sought out for advice and opinion.
As a consequence of the investigation and the information given, legal advice was obtained as to whether prosecution action was appropriate. On the solicitor’s advice - and the Animal Welfare Authority sought the advice of independent counsel - charges were laid consistent with that advice.
Due to the complexity of the case, one of the country’s leading prosecutors, with experience in similar matters, a senior counsel of the Sydney Bar, was engaged to lead the prosecution on behalf of the Animal Welfare Authority. After speaking to the authority’s witnesses, the senior counsel advised that the case was based on reasonable grounds and that, in her view, there was a clear case to answer.
NT Government Signage
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Will you give an iron-clad assurance to this parliament and the people of the Northern Territory that neither you, nor any member of your government - including your staff on the 5th floor - had any involvement in the decision to re-badge our public signs? Can you give that simple assurance?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, can I just work out what the Leader of the Opposition is talking about?
Mr Mills: You blamed public servants for it.
Ms MARTIN: These were the development signs around that I said were too close to Labor Party badging, and they were …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Okay. The Opposition Leader needs to ask questions that detail what he is talking about, rather than stand up and be pompous and posture. We must have questions that make sense. Okay? First point.
My advice was that the changes to the signs that ended up looking - I thought - far too much like Labor Party signs, had come from the department. Further investigation showed that they were signed off on the 5th floor. However, whatever the history of it was, they are no longer. I believe …
Member interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Let me make it clear. There was a proposal to look at new signage. I know it offends the Country Liberal Party, because they think that the signage that was in place under their government should continue forever, but that is actually not …
Mr Mills: Political advertising – it offends Mark Latham!
Mr Baldwin: By whom?
Ms MARTIN: They were signed off, appropriately, by the minister at the time. They have appeared only occasionally. When it was clearly pointed out, and I looked at what they were, I decided they were too close. Therefore, what kind of conspiracy theory are you talking about?
Members interjecting.
Mr Mills: Political advertising at taxpayers’ expense.
Ms MARTIN: There is no conspiracy theory. I made a decision that they were too close to Labor Party signage, and they have been redone - simple, absolutely simple. So, where is the conspiracy? There has been a change made.
In relation to what the Opposition Leader was trying to claim, that this is all part of some vast conspiracy theory about changing Territorians, is that the commemorative number plates - 2000 of them available for 25 years of self-government - are a limited edition. If you go to register your car, you are given a choice. You can have the commemorative or you can have the traditional ones. There has been a run on the new ones. Territorians are saying: ‘We love them’. Territorians are making a choice and saying: ‘We like commemorating 25 years of self-government’. However, they have a choice of the other.
Territory Business Conditions
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
Could you provide an update on business conditions amongst Territory operators?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. There is no doubt, as my colleagues, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister have said in questions before, that the economy in the Northern Territory is turning the corner. There is a renewed sense of optimism in the economy in the Northern Territory, and we can certainly see that optimism flowing through to investment.
The only people who do not acknowledge that things are turning the corner is the opposition. It is very sad to hear that they do not have confidence in the Territory’s economy in the same way that people in the business sector are showing by way of increased investment. Here in Darwin, you only have to take a walk down the mall, through Casuarina Square or Mitchell Street …
Mr Dunham: See all the empty shops.
Mr HENDERSON: … to see the activity: the new retail outlets that are opening up, and the restaurants that are full. I say to the member for Drysdale, he needs to get out more. The member for doom and gloom, who is continually talking the Territory down, needs to get out more and see what is happening in the community.
Only the other week, I was talking to a restauranteur in Darwin - he is turning away 1000 people a week. He cannot keep up, and he is not the only one. It is not just in Darwin, it is across the Northern Territory. Things have not been great in Alice Springs, but the signs are of a turning around there as well. Many people are saying that they have never seen so many campervans on the road between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
Again, it is something to be acknowledged, because increased investment in the economy comes through confidence, and members opposite are not prepared to acknowledge what is happening out there.
Mr Dunham: What about retail?
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Drysdale interjected, ‘What about retail? Well, what about retail? Many small businesses in the retail sector are reporting stronger sales figures and a positive outlook for the coming quarter - a positive outlook. The member for Drysdale should get out more and go to Casuarina Shopping Square and talk to Lend Lease and the operators out there. Quentin Dennis from Lend Lease said that there has been constant growth throughout this year. At one stage earlier on, the complex had a compound growth rate of 9%, month on month, in the amount of money that was going through that shopping centre.
These reports are supported by retail trade figures, which show turnover in the Territory hit $1.9bn in 2003-04, up 6.5% on the previous financial year - and the member for Drysdale asked what is happening in the retail sector. There has been a 6.5% increase across the board in the Northern Territory.
Another sign of a growing economy, the most recent figures show the growth in motor vehicle sales has been significant over the last 12 months, the sales trend growing 15.1% from June 2003 to June 2004. Again, significant growth in that sector.
What would the opposition have you believe? Just a couple of months ago, in the budget reply speech, the Leader of the Opposition said: ‘Look around you, the place is in ruins’. Well, the Leader of the Opposition needs to take his blinkers off and get out more to talk to people in business in the Territory because things are turning the corner.
Very proudly, we delivered a budget a couple of months ago that ensures that the Northern Territory is now the lowest taxing state for small business in the Northern Territory - a sign of our commitment to growing small business in the Northern Territory. We will continue to do so in spite of the opposition continually talking the economy down.
Onshore Gas
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Martin Labor government has failed to secure one iota, one molecule, of gas from the Timor gas fields - not even enough gas to fill this little cigarette lighter. There will not be one skerrick of gas flowing into our production of electricity in the Northern Territory. Will you now admit that this failure means that, once again, the Martin Labor government has sold Territorians short?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have before the House a statement to do with gas, and I am looking forward to the contribution of the Opposition Leader this afternoon. If the Opposition Leader had actually read the statement …
Mr Mills: I have.
Ms MARTIN: I assume you have, I did not say you had not. … he would have seen very clearly that we have a task force focussed on that gas onshore for a number of different areas, and one of them is power to our own power generation at Channel Island. He also would have seen, in the statement, that we have supplies until 2009 to 2011.
The fact that he is trying to pretend, again, that ‘if you look around, the place is in ruins’ because we have not secured these gas supplies demonstrates the lack of understanding of the opposition and the Opposition Leader about the negotiations that need to take place to secure future gas supplies. This is 2004. We have five to seven years of committed gas from Central Australia, and we are looking to the future. Those negotiations are quite properly happening. Again, we have the negativity from the opposition about gas and the opportunities for the Territory.
It has been fascinating to watch the SEMAC pipe-laying barge edge its way through the harbour, laying that gas pipeline that will bring gas to the Territory.
Mr Burke: For Territorians?
Mr Mills: No.
Ms MARTIN: It will bring gas to the Territory, and I hate to refer back to something that is before the House. However, what I said clearly there is that, from all the potential resource in the Timor Sea, those discussions are under way for what we described as, perhaps, a cocktail of gas to come post-2011, to supply the Territory - to supply our own power generation and also gas downstreaming and the energy for that.
To have the Opposition Leader say: ‘This government does not even have …’, and light his lighter with gas, ‘… one tiny bit of gas’, shows not only his ignorance but the fact that (1) he has not asked for a briefing on this, and (2) he did not even bother to read the statement.
AFL Three Year Agreement
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Last year, you and the Chief Minister negotiated a three-year agreement between the AFL and the Northern Territory. Could you advise the House as to the progress in the first year of this agreement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, thank the member for Millner for his question. The inclusion of the Northern Territory as a venue for pre-season and premiership matches is already showing positive benefits to the economy. The Western Bulldogs booked in excess of $250 000 in travel bookings for last weekend’s game in Darwin, with Qantas putting on two extra flights, with the week trip heavily promoted.
Indeed, I spoke to the travel agent working with the Bulldogs, who was incredibly impressed - and not just with the game and the wonderful Marrara Oval venue. He said that he thought Darwin and the Top End was fantastic and he would be encouraging far more Doggies supporters to come up to the games next year. He is looking to $1.1m in bookings for next year’s games. In addition to this, Port Adelaide supporters came up in significant numbers and are keen to come back again.
Wasn’t last Saturday night great? Thirteen thousand, two hundred and seventy-one people enjoyed it. It was a pity the Leader of the Opposition could not make it because, as he told Mix 104.9 FM last Thursday, he had meetings in Canberra on Saturday with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence. Senator Hill attended the game, and passed a message through my staff today, to tell Territorians he had a great time at the footy at Marrara Oval. Isn’t it great that Australia’s Defence Minister recognises that the first AFL match in Darwin for competition points is an historic occasion and not to be missed?
Footy is bringing serious money into the Territory. In a climate of increasing numbers coming to the Territory for sports-related tourism such as the coming Alice Springs Masters Games, next year’s Arafura Games and the Wildcats/Sydney Kings NBL clash, our investments in Marrara and Traeger Park are reaping dividends for the economy and the jobs that will be sustained.
Our commitment to an agreement with the AFL over staging Wizard Cup challenge games, representative and All Star matches, and premiership games was always made with a view to promoting tourism opportunities for the Territory, but we did not expect the benefits to flow quite so quickly. Over 45 000 people attended this calendar year’s AFL games at Alice Springs’ Traeger Park and Darwin’s Marrara Oval. This compares more than favourably with events such as the V8s and international cricket.
In addition, the timing of the footy games contributes to lengthening our tourism season into August at one end, and back into February/March at the other. There are community benefits as well with community clinics, workshops for officials in other sporting codes, and community charity events.
The AFL will be putting a submission to the Territory government within the next two weeks proposing an increased schedule of games in the Top End. The current agreement allows an annual payment over three years of $250 000 to the AFL. The Territory government receives 25% of gross ticket receipts. The AFL, in turn, must spend $50 000 promoting the home and away games, and the Bulldogs must spend $50 000 promoting itself within the Northern Territory.
The agreement confirms for the Northern Territory a premiership game every season with the Western Bulldogs and another side, such as the first clash last Saturday in Round 20 with a night match against Port Adelaide; an annual Wizard Home Loans Cup match in Darwin, with a Wizard Home Loans regional challenge match in Alice Springs, similar to what we saw this year with Port Power and Collingwood; an annual community camp by an AFL premiership side to allow local players and officials to learn from national sides; a game between an AFL side with an Aboriginal All Stars team, ultimately starting 2005 through to at least 2007. In addition, there will be an alternate year game between an AFLNT representative side and an AFL side.
Sport is increasingly important to our economy, and I am pleased with the greatly increased support our government has been able to give a number of clubs over the last three years we have been in government.
I am sure members will join me in congratulating Greg Chan for the great work he has been able to do with Adam Vella winning a Bronze Olympic Medal in the Men’s Trap Shoot, and Suzanne Balogh for her Gold Medal in the Women’s Trap. The House acknowledges the excellent efforts of her coach, Greg Chan, a proud Territorian, even if he is somewhat modest.
Members: Hear, hear!
Bayu-Undan Gas – Use for Domestic Power
Mr DUNHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
A power plant is being built at Wickham Point for the exclusive use of ConocoPhillips almost adjacent to the Channel Island Power Station. This power plant will be fuelled by Bayu-Undan gas, at about one-eighth the price paid by Territorians for our gas supply. Will you admit to Territorians that the opportunity for cheaper domestic power from Bayu-Undan has been lost?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to take this question; however, it should go to the Minister for Essential Services.
Mr Dunham: It is your statement.
Ms MARTIN: Well, we should not be having questions that relate specific to the statement that is before the House. I am happy to answer it, though.
As the statement clearly says, we have commitments to take gas from Central Australia to 2009 to 2011. I put on the record the foresight of the then government in the early to mid-1980s, to actually put in place using gas instead of fuel oil for supply of gas to Darwin - a really important initiative.
We knew and accepted that that type of infrastructure was not going to be cheap. We have clean gas, though it is not the cheapest in Australia. However, we do not have the most expensive, when it comes to energy.
As the statement indicates, the task force, which includes the CEO and the Chair of Power and Water, is looking at all options for our future gas supplies …
Mr Dunham: No. You have taken Bayu-Undan off that option list.
Ms MARTIN: Is looking at all options for our future gas supplies post-2009 to 2011.
Mr Dunham: That is gone. The opportunity has gone.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, in relation to the constant interjections from the member for Drysdale: you asked the question and I am answering it. Okay?
Mr Dunham: No, you are not. What about Bayu-Undan gas?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, it is becoming irritating. Member for Drysdale, allow the Chief Minister some silence.
Ms MARTIN: The opportunity for gas from the Timor Sea is one that we are pursuing vigorously. It is important for our future. There are many options on where we get that gas. At this stage, I would not count out any of those options. If you look at what I said in the statement, you can go through Bayu-Undan, Blacktip, Petrel, Tern, Abadi, Sunrise - the options are there and the work is being done, and joint venturers or those who own leases in the Timor Sea are being told very clearly by this government that domestic gas has to be part of how they develop their fields.
Mr Dunham: What about Bayu-Undan?
Ms MARTIN: The opposition can say: ‘What about Bayu-Undan?’ All those fields are still on the table, gas from them is still on the table.
Mr Dunham: No, they are not; not according to Power and Water.
Ms MARTIN: Let me say we are pursuing the opportunities. We have a supply of gas that we are committed to, to 2009 to 2011. I have great confidence in the task force’s expertise and commitment, that we are going to have a competitively priced gas supply for the future.
Mr Dunham: They are building their own power station.
Ms MARTIN: It is all very well for the member for Drysdale to sit here and yell, but it does not really make a constructive contribution.
Mr Dunham: No answer. That was not an answer. They are building their own power station.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, I have been very tolerant with you. Settle down.
Darwin Cup Carnival 2004
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
Can the minister inform the House about the success of this year’s Darwin Cup Carnival, and perhaps Picayune?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to, because I know the member for Barkly shares a strong interest in matters racing as, indeed, I do.
This year, the carnival was one of the best the Top End has ever seen. More than 45 000 people went through the gates at Fannie Bay over the eight days of the racing carnival and, in that 45 000, of course, were many thousands of interstate visitors. It was impossible to get a hotel room throughout that cup weekend, and visitation has stayed on a high since the carnival finished a fortnight ago.
Cup day featured on Sky Channel. What better advertisement than going to southern homes and hotels, where the temperature was 10oC or 12oC and pouring rain in many of those southern capitals throughout the cup carnival, to see Territorians and thousands of visitors alike, enjoying 29oC and 30oC heat at a race day. You cannot construct a better advertisement for the Northern Territory in August than that sort of picture going to the freezing southern states, so it was a great advertisement for the Territory.
Punters throughout Australia plunged quite heavily. Total TAB sales on cup day races throughout UNITAB pool - that is Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory combined pool - were up more than 10%, from $1.7m last year to more than $1.88m this year. The UNITAB pool on the cup race was up 13.8%, up from $533 000 to more than $607 000.
TAB turnover on cup day was up slightly - on and off course . An extra 4.9% was bet, from $884 000 last year to $927 758 this year. Some of that was mine, Madam Speaker, that I did not get back.
Darwin had the honour of hosting legendary jockey, Arthur ‘Scobie’ Breasley this year. This man is a living legend. He turned 90 in May this year. He rode for 42 years across the UK and Europe, and he trained in the States. In that 42 years, he rode 3251 winners – that is a breathtaking achievement. He took the Caulfield Cup five times and the English Derby twice. He was 50 when he won his first English Derby. He thought he would never get there, but did. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – I have to go to Paris one day and see this race, and I am sure I will know how to pronounce it after that.
He was a delight to host. In fact, I escorted him to the toilet at dinner one night, to open the door with his little stroller. I got him hack through the door to be confronted by three women, who would have been in their 80s, and that was as far as I could get Scobie. I said: ‘I will leave you here Mr Breasley. I will come back and get you in 10 minutes if you need me’. They besieged him. They said: ‘You have just brought a twinkle to the eye of every person up here during this carnival and we love having you here’. He is so generous with his time and his stories.
At one point in his career, he went seven months out in eight months, because he used to think that there was only one place to be in a horse race, and that was on the rails, come what may; it was the shortest way home. It is a pretty good theory for a jockey to hold. However, a couple of times in his efforts to get to the rail, he has cut across the runners behind and paid quite severe penalties. He never had as bad a run again as that - that was in Melbourne at one stage. It was a delight to have him. He is a tremendous gent, and we would love to have him back again.
Also in town for the cup were the new Chairman of the Australian Racing Board, Andrew Ramsden, jockeys Darren Gauci, Michael Walker, Danny Nikolic, Nash Rawiller, and trainers Gary Kennewell and Ken Sweeney. The biggest stars, though, were our locals and that dynamic duo of trainer Stephen Brown and jockey Joel Hallam, taking out the Palmerston Sprint and the Darwin Cup double.
Mr Tambourineman, one of many interstate horses here for the carnival, lived up to expectations on the day, taking out the cup. There certainly were quality runners-up here, adding a stronger dimension to all of our events. Stephen Brown has been invited to Dubai with Mr Tambourineman, and will probably take another of his stable stars, Lord Harold. They race for serious money when they get to Dubai. We wish him the best of luck because he will be a great ambassador for Northern Territory racing over there.
Congratulations to the new Darwin Turf Club CEO, Des Friedrich, and his staff for a highly successful carnival. Des only knows one way, and that is full on flat out all the time. He carries an enormous workload, and so do his staff, out of loyalty to him and diligence for the job. They are only a small team, and it is an enormous effort to put on a carnival the size that they do.
I particularly acknowledge all of the sponsors, especially Carlton & United Beverages, who have been there for year after year and continue to support our carnival. We thank them for that. My congratulations to everyone involved. It was a tremendous cup carnival and I look forward to next year.
Unemployment Figures
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Today’s unemployment rate has risen to 6.6%, which is the highest of any mainland state. On 10 April 2003, your Treasurer said:
- … employment will pick up once the Wickham Point LNG plant gets under way and we experience the usual Dry Season boost in economic activity.
Since that statement was made, unemployment has, in fact, risen. Isn’t this further evidence that your ‘stand back, cross your fingers and hope to hell it works’ approach to the management of the Northern Territory economy has, once again, failed Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, the Opposition Leader thinks that if he makes up a statement it is true. This statement about our ‘hands off, stand back and watch’ approach does not have any credibility. We have had question after question here that has demonstrated that our hands-on approach to this economy has started to see the turnaround.
Let us look at the substantial capital works spend this year - not paper promises, as we saw under the past government - of $441m, the biggest capital works spend we have seen. This is a ‘hands off, stand back and watch’ approach? Let us look at our two biggest industries – and I am going to hand the question across to the employment minister, as I believe it is one that he should deal with for the technicalities.
However, let me show you two elements of ‘stand back and take your hands off’’ - mining, our biggest industry. If you want to look at ‘stand back and take your hands off’, try the previous government. Ministers said: ‘Oh, we have over 900 exploration applications that we have not processed sitting on the desk’. The numbers grew and grew. The latest figure for how many square kilometres of exploration land that we have actually opened up is something like 750 000 km2 of land. This is hands off? This is actually enabling our industry to grow, after being throttled for about seven years, because the then government refused to do anything about native title. We had the unedifying sight of a minister coming in here and saying: ‘I have over 900 exploration applications sitting on my desk and I cannot do anything with them’, or ‘I will not do anything with them’.
Mining is our biggest industry, tourism is our second biggest industry. An active engagement, increased marketing, a real focus, working with the industry - that is a hands-off approach?
I am saying that the Opposition Leader’s question has no credibility at all. To deal with specific employment figures and the issue to do with that, I hand across to the Deputy Chief Minister who is the employment minister.
Mr STIRLING (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for giving me the opportunity to put on the record just how these figures stack up - and they do. They lack any sense of credibility at all.
ABS has our unemployment figure rising to 6.6% in July, the number of employed people decreasing, and the participation rate decreasing. That stands in absolute stark contrast to every other economic indicator that ABS themselves have put out over the last three months ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: I will take these clowns back a couple of years. When we saw figures late in the year in November/December, when we know that traditionally - it does not matter who is in government, and which government is there - things slow down. A bit of a fact of the Northern Territory - things slow down November, December, January, February, March. We had this situation where job numbers were climbing, participation rate was climbing, and unemployment was falling through November, December, January, and February. I was very …
Mr Burke: Which you took all the credit for. And you can put it down to the LNG plant.
Mr STIRLING: I did not! I did not take any credit. I was very dubious about the quality of those figures because, for the first time in history, we would have had a job market going through the roof during November, December, January, and February.
Sure enough, the crunch came - and this is what they always throw back to, because they always want to go back to these June/July figures - because when ABS did start to straighten out their sample - it takes eight months to work a crook sample through the system - we started to get real downturns in the Dry Season when we knew things were starting to rebound. We have the reverse there - they were telling us things were good when we suspected things were crook; now they are telling us things are crook when we have every other indicator telling us that things are certainly improving.
We are spending more on retail goods and vehicles. The building approvals I went through - the tremendous 37% to 38% increases. Housing finance figures are up. The ANZ job ad series – now, here is one – they actually go to the paper and physically count the number of advertisements appearing in the NT News They do that all around Australia to get an idea of where we are. We are up 3% - 2.9% for the month of July. We are up 19.7% over the year to July 2004.
Mr Dunham: Why are they advertising? They have no people and no jobs - 700 jobs disappeared.
Mr STIRLING: What are these people advertising for? Are these jobs non-existent, and no one ever applies for these jobs? Why are these businesses advertising 20% more to July this year than July 2003, based on actual job advertisements out of the paper. ABS, in contrast, uses a very small sample to collate its job figures, so that it results in the sort of volatility that we have seen in the data over the last couple of months. We are going to be having another six months of this sort of data showing jobs dwindling down, unemployment rate increasing and participation rate decreasing.
Treasury has been over to ABS and had a talk about this, because they were concerned with the accuracy of the data a month ago - not just July, but going back to June. We understand that, as part of the standard monthly rotation, one-eighth of the total labour market data survey drops out. Therefore, you have an eight month cycle before it actually renews. That means, if you get a part of the sample that is heavily influencing the figures - for example, a major Aboriginal community with very high unemployment - you are going to skew the rest of the figures, and that sample is going to be in there for an eight month period.
Mr Dunham: You used to like ABS when we were in government, mate! And you say use them all the time.
Mr STIRLING: I still do. I have a lot of respect for ABS. The fact is, their sample size is too small for the Northern Territory to iron out these anomalies that crop up. The Northern Territory labour force data from May 2004 has included a significantly higher proportion of Centrelink recipients than normal. ABS advise that Northern Territory labour force data has gone from being under-representative of such a group to being way over-representative. In line with that methodology, as I explained, this will remain in the sample for eight months, until the eight months’ cycle and that sample is rotated out. Accordingly, our figures will remain somewhat dubious.
This is why I am very careful the second Thursday of every month when these figures come out. I have been watching these figures since about October 1990 when I was elected to this place. That is how long I have been watching these figures. That is how much history I have with ABS and their monthly surveys.
It stands in stark contrast to every other indicator that ABS themselves put out. ABS is in discussion with Treasury. We accept we have to live with this for the next six months. There has been two crook samples. However, I do go back to that example of two years ago; they were wrong then, they are wrong again now. It is only an indicator. It is a rearward indicator in the sense that it is historic; it is looking back at what happened over the last month - again, in contrast with the figures and findings of ANZ, which is a forward-looking indicator, looking at the advertisements that actually appear because people are looking to employ people. Somewhere in the middle is the truth. Certainly, on the surface, you would have to accept ANZ is far more accurate.
Darwin Festival – Ethnic Community Participation
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for ETHNIC AFFAIRS
Currently, we are in the midst of another wonderful Darwin Festival season, with a wide range of cultural and artistic events, and broad community participation in sport. Can the minister provide details on the extent of participation by local ethnic communities in the 2004 Darwin Festival?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Yes, it is a wonderful Darwin Festival, which started last Thursday with the Santos Concert on the Esplanade. It was followed by the Kultura on Sunday at the George Brown Botanic Gardens. That was a true celebration of multicultural Darwin. We had performances by Australian groups, indigenous Australians, Torres Strait Islanders, Maori, Irish, Indian, Scottish, Bosnian, Cypriot, Pacific Islanders, Samoan, Brazilian, Indonesian, Balinese - a true Darwin. As Minister for Ethnic Affairs, I was pleased to see the participation of all these ethnic community groups. It was the first time some of them have taken part in the Festival of Darwin.
I was pleased to provide funding for this participation such as the Indian Cultural Society, which staged Purna Das Baul on Saturday, 14 August; the Tunas Mekar Balinese Collective presented workshops on masking, dances and dance; and the Chung Wah Society presented the Splendour of Yue Ju on Sunday, 15 August, a Cantonese opera that my colleague, the member for Johnston, enjoyed very much, attending at the university grounds.
We also provided funds for other programs, including Persatuan Indonesia Inc, which presented Pesona Indonesia on Sunday, 15 August, a true celebration of Indonesian culture which I attended with my family. I was very pleased to see the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Brennan there. It was very enjoyable watching the dancers and listening to the songs. It was very entertaining to see the two members invited up to have a stick fight. They were provided with sticks and were given orders to hit each other. At the end, the member for Brennan was declared the winner - it might be the shape of things to come!
The Office of Ethnic Affairs also provided funds for the Darwin Dance Company, Tracks, that would be supported by the local Sri Lankan Australian Friendship Association in cooperation with international guests from Sri Lanka to perform a ballet, Snakes, Gods and Deities. The Asia Pacific Cultural Village produced the Urban Village Cultured Beats, a massive drum battle that included 40 local indigenous, non-indigenous and ethnic performers.
Also, the ethnic groups will take part in the 2004 Darwin Fringe Festival. The Cultural Cafe will be held under the umbrella of Brown’s Mart, and will provide four days of cultural dance, music, stories and food from India, the Middle East, Samoa and Bosnia. Local artists from Papua New Guinea and Israeli backgrounds will provide a theatrical play to explore their experience as migrants, and the cultural displacement and inheritance of second generations.
Of course, we are very proud of the encouragement and funding we have given to ethnic communities. I was very sad to hear the Leader of the Opposition, on 8DDD on Tuesday, 10 August 2004, bagging the Festival of Darwin. It was really sad to hear him say: ‘To put on festivals which are just entertainment for the masses is something that I am not particularly keen on’. I am disappointed, because I thought he believed in multicultural Darwin, in theatrical and cultural performances, and the Festival of Darwin is one of these unique festivals that unite Territorians.
We are trying to build links between the community - we are not trying to divide it. It is very sad, because they are trying to divide the community. Looking around today and seeing the flags, I recall very well some European politician said, in the years between the wars, that nationalism is the last refuge of scoundrels. They are clinging to the flag of the Territory, trying to claim it for their own, just to prove that they are true Territorians. True Territorians do not have to advertise they are Territorians. They believe that they are Territorians. If they feel Territorian, they are Territorian. This is a Territory party that jumps to the instructions of the President of the federal Liberal Party.
This is a Territory party that brings a Liberal Prime Minister to open their headquarters. This is a Territory party that has a Liberal politician campaigning for their CLP member for Solomon. Is this a real Territory party? They can have as many flags as they like - Territorians know who they are and what they are.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016