2004-10-12
NT Labor - Election Campaign
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Territorians rejected your Solomon campaign ‘No nuclear dump - vote Labor’. Like your claims about One Nation in the last Territory election, this was another Labor fear campaign based on lies and deceit. Will you give a commitment to Territorians that, when you go to the polls at the next Territory election, it will not be another campaign of lies and deceit?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I want you to rephrase that question. I will not accept the words ‘lies’ and ‘deceit’. We have had this ...
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I was referring to a campaign.
Madam SPEAKER: I want you to rephrase the question and not to refer to the Chief Minister using the words ‘lies’ and ‘deceit’.
Mr MILLS: Chief Minister, will you give a commitment to Territorians that when you go to the polls at the next election, it will not be another campaign that misleads Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in response to the first part of the question, that somehow this was a campaign of distortion and scare run by Labor. If we are going to talk about scare campaigns, then we are amateurs compared with the federal Liberals - absolute amateurs. Let us just say what Saturday was all about.
Mr Mill: All Territorians are stupid, are they?
Ms MARTIN: This is not just my view of what happened; it is the view of commentators around the country.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, you would probably support that, if the opposition asks a question, they obviously want to hear the answer. It is difficult to do it while there are constant interjections.
Madam SPEAKER: Just get on with the answer, Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: Let us look at what Saturday was all about. The vote in the Territory and the rest of Australia was a vote for John Howard’s economy. Commentators around the country are unanimous on that. Therefore, we face the fact that when the economy is performing strongly – and there is no doubt that it is – and there is a campaign which focusses on fear and uncertainty about what will happen to this strong economic growth if there is a of change government, then that is what we saw in the vote. It is quite simple: that was the vote.
The fear campaign run by the Coalition was very effective on interest rates, on ‘L for Labor’, and ‘L for Latham’. When you look at the vote around the country and compare it to Solomon, the swing there was significantly below the swings to the Coalition in other states. If you look at the vote on Saturday for federal Labor, I admit it was not good in Palmerston; however, it was very strong in our northern suburbs and Lingiari, especially the urban centres there. Let us congratulate the member for Lingiari on one of the most extraordinary swings to Labor in the country.
Let us look at what happened. A strong vote for federal Labor in the northern suburbs; not good in Palmerston and rural, but very strong in the Parap booth, which actually won on preferences to Labor. It was also very strong in Lingiari and the urban centres of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy. Our federal Labor colleagues would be heartened. I want to congratulate our candidate in Solomon, Jim Davidson, on a very fine effort.
The message from the Territory is very clear: we will not be the site of any national nuclear waste dump. That is definitive. We pushed the Country Liberal Party into almost supporting us on this. The feedback I am getting is that Territorians were very pleased the Labor Party was standing up for the Territory, because the Country Liberal Party has totally forgotten to do it. When you look at the campaign run in the last six weeks, the CLP should properly be called Canberra’s Liberal Party, because I have seen no sign of the Country Liberal Party. The campaign run here was no different to that run in the suburbs of Perth or Brisbane. Canberra said: ‘This is the way you run your campaign’. This proud Country Liberal Party ran the campaign exactly the same. There were all the big posters of John Howard - oh, and Dave Tollner – and the campaign themes were the same. You mob have given up. You are just Canberra’s Liberals in the Territory.
Bali Bombings – Second Anniversary
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
What message does the Northern Territory government have for Territorians on this significant day, 12 October?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as everyone is aware, this is 12 October and the second anniversary of the Bali bombings. Around Australia and into Asia, it is a day of reflection, remembering that 202 lives were lost in that bombings two years ago, with 88 of them Australian. To go back two years, the shock in Darwin and the Territory was that it happened in our backyard. That shock was felt here, in the rest of Australia, and the world.
We can remember with a sense of pride how Territorians responded post-Bali bombings with the extraordinary work done at Royal Darwin Hospital - the coordination and talent, the professional medical expertise which was shown in dealing with the badly-burned victims – and by organisations such as the Red Cross, Defence, St Johns, and all the other people who volunteered to help the Territory response. We all should be very proud of what the Territory and the Royal Darwin Hospital did, which was recognised throughout Australia.
Today, two years on, is a reminder of the importance of keeping ties to our north strong. For the Territory, those ties have been established for a long time, and this government is committed to keeping them strong. Political connections, trade, very importantly cultural, sporting, educational, and health are all aspects of the ties with the countries to our north.
In the next few months, I look forward to meeting the new President of Indonesia. The memorandum of understanding which the Territory has with Indonesia is very important. I am sure this House wishes former President Megawati Soekarnoputri all the best for her future following her time as president. I will also be meeting shortly with the President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo and am looking forward to meeting the new Malaysian Prime Minister, Prime Minister Badawi.
I advise the House that the response to the 300 kg of barramundi sent to Brunei for the Crown Prince’s wedding last month has been extraordinary. They loved it. It was a terrific present - Territory produce going to Brunei - which is part of the way we keep our relationship strong.
This day, two years on from 12 October 2002, is a time to remember all those who lost loved ones and keep them in our thoughts.
Nuclear Waste Storage - Kakadu National Park
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
You are aware of the hot-container storage issue where nuclear waste is being stored in a shipping container in Kakadu. Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table a map illustrating where that container is located.
Leave granted.
Ms CARTER: Former Kakadu manager, Chris Haynes, said: ‘This nuclear waste is not a desirable thing to have in the national park’. Are you happy with the way this nuclear waste is being stored, and do you think the environment in this area of Kakadu is at risk because of the nuclear waste storage?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe we all saw the newspaper article on Saturday on Chris Haynes, the former manager of Kakadu National Park, in relation to some buried tailings in the South Alligator area, which were exposed in 2000, within the Commonwealth-administered Kakadu National Park. This material was excavated by the Commonwealth and placed in drums because there were fears that, by having the tailings out in the open, there could be a breach and the material would leach into the creeks and rivers surrounding the area. It was felt that by putting it in drums in interim storage in two shipping containers in the fenced compound in the Gunlom area of Kakadu National Park - bear in mind that this park and the area where those drums are, is managed and monitored by the Commonwealth …
Mr Dunham: And your act does not apply? You are saying your act does not apply?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We are all worried. Now that we have the federal election out of the way, it is something I will be taking up with my federal counterpart.
Territory Seasonal Tourism Industry
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
Although we have just experienced a very good tourism season, we are heading to a period of traditional downturn in the industry. Can you update the House about what is likely to happen in Territory tourism in the next couple of months?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for a good question. There is no doubt about it, our tourism industry is seasonal. One of the challenges we have faced for as long as we have had self-government is to do everything we can to extend that season. I recognise the work of previous tourism ministers; it is a tough thing to do.
In Darwin, one of the reasons to move so quickly on building a convention centre is that it is a facility which will help us extend that season. If you look at the figures - and we have done an assessment of what is happening in Darwin over the next couple of months - in the three- to five-star hotel market, operators are telling me that there has been a 10% increase in room numbers for the last three months of this year over last year. Therefore, this year is looking better for those operators in the October to December period.
In Alice Springs, everyone is gearing up for the impact of the Masters Games. Not surprisingly, over the next period, they have 100% occupancy. Compared with last year, the October to December period at Ayers Rock will have a 5% to 10% increase in numbers. They are good numbers, and good growth compared with the same time last year. In Katherine and Tennant Creek, the self-drive market is still going strong, and accommodation is being reflected by the strength of that market. Since February this year, 40 000 travellers have come to the Territory on The Ghan, and Great Southern Railway say the numbers are looking strong past November with solid bookings.
We saw the impact in Darwin of the cruise market in the first few months of this year where we had 15 cruise ships come in. The number for next year is 44 cruise ship visits. Of course, the one we are all looking forward to, because size is very impressive, is the Sapphire Princess, which has over 3000 berths. It will be coming to Darwin in March, and we know what the impact of cruise ship visits is on our economy in Darwin.
Rail bookings are staying strong, we have a good cruise ship season to look forward to from January, and accommodation is also looking strong for the next few months. Hotels and motels are saying their forward bookings are looking good, and certainly better than last year.
It has been a good season to date; we know that. However, the important thing is how we move to the future and go over these next few months. Let me reflect on some of the things that have been said about the last season. I quote Sylvia Wolf, Top End Tourism President. In looking back on what we have gone through over the last season, she said:
- The profile of the NT has been lifted substantially, and this tourist season has been fantastic and a long one.
Sylvia also has a very positive outlook for the industry for the next year. Rachel Beaumont-Smith, General Manager of Darwin Cruises and Charters, said:
- The extended length of the season and the consistency of business has been very pleasing. We are developing new product based on our future confidence in the tourism industry.
This is what we like to hear - future confidence, and investment because of confidence in the future of tourism. Sandi Todd, from the Alice Wanderer, says:
- My business has experienced significant improvement over the last year, and we have done a lot more forward bookings into 2005 than we did last year.
John Stafford, marketing manager with the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association, said:
- Tennant Creek is up on last year. Operators are looking forward to what is panning out to be a stronger 2004-05.
And a final comment from Karen Marchant, who is proprietor, with her husband, Rob, of the Tour Tub:
- For the first time in a long time we have had a great season. It has been heartening. We look forward to another ripper year next year.
We have seen a pick-up in our tourism industry. I will not say it is as good as it can get, because we would always like to see it grow. However, that seasonal impact when we start to go into the low season, is better than last year. I am heartened that the additional funds we have put into marketing, and the extra effort of working with the industry, is starting to pay dividends, right across the Territory.
Nuclear Waste Storage – Conflict of Views
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On Drive ABC Alice Springs on Wednesday, 28 July this year, you said it is part of your government’s charter under the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act to deal with the safe storage and disposal of nuclear waste. You also said:
- It is appropriately stored, it has been appropriately stored for many years and the radioactive waste that we have quickly becomes inert, but it is stored appropriately.
You say nuclear waste is being stored appropriately in the Northern Territory, but your environment minister says it is not. Is this another case of you being less than honest with the truth, or has your environment minister got it wrong?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting. We have the Opposition Leader trying to distort every single issue into ‘is this Chief Minister going to lie to Territorians’.
You tried that when you were in government. We had the unseemly sight of the then Treasurer, the member for Katherine, holding up a book and saying endlessly: ‘Queen of lies’, ‘School of deceit’. Just like their riding instructions - I do not know where they get them from – which are: ‘Look, why don’t you try that again, it might go well. It did not go well last time’.
Madam SPEAKER: Get on with your answer, Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, they are trying to attack my credibility on whether what I am telling Territorians is fact. I would have thought responding to that was quite appropriate.
The Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act clearly spells out the Territory’s responsibility. I was talking very clearly about how we, as the Territory government, are storing medical and mining waste. Even the CLP Senator for the Northern Territory, Nigel Scullion, said that the storage facilities at Darwin hospital are state-of-the-art. We are storing, absolutely properly, in the Territory the radioactive and nuclear waste we are responsible for. That is what I was talking about.
I do not know what the Opposition Leader is talking about. In the campaign run over the last six weeks, the CLP member for Solomon said the Territory had an obligation to take the nation’s nuclear waste and have a national nuclear waste dump here. Territorians rejected that. There is nothing I have said to support setting up a national nuclear waste dump here – never! I am very strong in saying ‘no’ on behalf of Territorians. The only ones who wanted it here were this mob, and they could not work out their line for ages. They said: ‘Do we support the member for Solomon, or what do we do?’ We have been very clear about this.
Mr Mills: Twisting and turning. My goodness!
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader can say ‘twisting and turning’ all he likes. The facts are very clear. The facts I believe and Territorians will clearly see, speak for themselves.
Housing Construction Sector
Mrs AAGAARD to TREASURER
Can you please advise the House on any recent data showing the state of the housing industry, and construction of housing in particular?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. There are three indicators which give us a good insight into the health of the construction industry in the Northern Territory. The first is commencement of dwellings. The most recent figures are for the June quarter, issued in September, and they show that dwelling commencements were up 9.3% for the 12 months to June 2004 compared to the previous 12 months. For the June quarter 2004, compared to the June quarter 2003, the increase comes in at a massive 22.4% - the third strongest in the nation.
The second set of figures is residential building approvals. These show, in original terms, a 53% increase in year-on-year to August 2004. The value of those buildings year-on-year has increased by 59%; therefore, we are getting added value in there as well. In just one month, the trend figure of approvals went from 139 dwellings approved in July 2004 to 150 dwellings for August 2004.
The third set of figures is home owner occupation finance. The figures released yesterday show that in the year to August, the number of Territory housing finance commitments rose by 25.2% in original terms, going from 4224 commitments in the 12 months to August 2003 to 5289 in the following 12 months. This is the strongest growth of any jurisdiction. Nationally, housing finance commitments over the same period dropped 1.3%.
The value of Territory commitments in year-on-year terms has increased by 52%, from $560m in the year to August 2003, to $851m in the year to August 2004. Owner-occupied finance, of course, includes finance for the purchase of existing, established dwellings, as well as the purchase and construction of new dwellings. In original year-on-year, the Territory reported an increase of 19.9% in the number of finance commitments for established dwellings, but also a 37.3% increase in the number of commitments for the purchase and construction of new dwellings, which does go right to the construction industry.
Given there is the Lee Point development, Alcan expansion, and waterfront proposal to look forward to, as well as the movement of the tank farm, expansion of the estates in Alice Springs and yesterday’s announcement about the old Arafura bowls site, I believe we can say the construction industry is in for a bright and sustained future.
Legislation Reviews – Status
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
You recently said in an answer to a written question that, before the long-standing review of road signs could be completed, there would need to be a review of the Control of Roads Act. You also said a long time ago that there would be a review of the bus service and, even before that, you said we would be reviewing the Planning Act. Could you say when all the reviews will be completed, or are you now reviewing the reviews?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Some of these reports do take time, but I can assure the House they are absolutely exhaustive.
The Control of Roads Act review has recently been completed, and I will endeavour to get a time line of when it will be released.
The amendments to the Planning Act are going through the process, and I am hopeful they will be introduced during the November sittings.
The road signs review is included in the review of the Control of Roads Act.
I believe the bus review is still on its way.
Nuclear Waste Storage – Kakadu National Park
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
You told parliament on 5 October that:
- I can tell you that, unlike the ill-informed scaremongering from the opposition and the member for Solomon, our examination of existing practices indicate that radioactive substances are well managed.
You also said, in the same debate:
- … I will reiterate that the Territory has a very comprehensive range of acts that deal with radioactive materials from the mining industry …
Given your statement just now that you only learnt about the Kakadu situation with the storage container in Saturday’s paper, how did you get it so wrong? Were you just an ignorant and ill-informed environment minister, not on top of your job when you made your comments to parliament on 5 October or, were you just doing the Labor thing and being less than honest with the truth?
Madam SPEAKER: Before you answer, minister, I believe the member for Port Darwin should rephrase the question. The inferences in it were perhaps unnecessary. In future would you remember that – rephrase.
ANSWER
In terms of ignorance and not knowing the job, this is the shadow who has only today been appointed in this portfolio and who professes to …
Ms CARTER: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I am answering your question. You asked a question, I am answering it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, minister! What is your point of order?
Ms CARTER: The minister is inferring that I do not know what is going on. I was actually …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms Carter: That was my motion last week, minister.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I am getting to the point that the member for Port Darwin stated that I said today I had only just found out about the containers in Kakadu. She is totally wrong. I did not say that. However, in relation to the long-winded question she did ask – I did, and I do, stand by what I said last week when we were debating the motion brought forward by the member for Port Darwin in regards to waste. I gave a very detailed explanation as to how we deal with radioactive waste. It is not my problem that the CLP or the opposition chooses to listen only to the parts they want to hear in relation to the responses we give.
Ms Carter: It is all in the Hansard record minister.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I am answering your question. You asked a question, now give me the courtesy of being able to respond to that question.
Mr Burke: You have no credibility.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Let me state again, when we debated that motion, I said there were two sites in the Territory for which the Northern Territory government has jurisdiction. This is what they have to put it into the context of: where we have jurisdiction. All right?
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: No, radioactive waste. This is not bad from an opposition who, for many years, knew those containers were there. This is from an opposition who did nothing in terms of listening or working with the Mirrar, or the traditional owners in Kakadu, to address some of those issues.
Mr Burke: What happens when there is a spill at Ranger uranium main? Never hear you stop barking.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, cease for a moment. Member for Brennan, you are overriding the minister’s reply.
Mr Burke: Oh, she has missed …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I talked about where the Northern Territory government has jurisdiction and those radioactive wastes are stored. I will go back over it again for your benefit. At the hospital, there are two cubic metres kept in a facility – which, by the way, your Senator Nigel Scullion called state-of-the-art . Also at Mt Todd there are 15 industrial gauges containing enclosed radioactive waste for the Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development.
I say again to the opposition - and for them listen to it this time - we had the Leader of the Opposition saying on radio that we were burning radioactive waste in incinerators at Royal Darwin Hospital. He talks about scaremongering – the scaremongering and misinformation this opposition has put out to the wider community. I tell him that no radioactive waste is incinerated at the hospital, and that X-ray machines produce no radioactive waste. The member for Brennan, in particular, has been casting all sorts of theories on how hazardous waste is managed. It is funny how his position has changed.
I was not here at the time, but there are members on our side who were in the Chamber in February 1998, when there was a much-publicised incident on Berrimah Road - I want to table this, from the Northern Territory News on 18 February 1988 - when a damaged package of radioactive substance, Iridium 192, was found. The member for Brennan, who was Health minister at the time, defended the existing guidelines. This is an opposition that is saying that government guidelines are wrong, and we are not doing what we are supposed to do since we have come to government. In the debate of last week, there was a detailed response to the opposition in relation to the motion about a number of areas …
Mr Dunham: You did not talk about Kakadu, did you? Seemed to slip your mind, didn’t it?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Back to the member for Brennan, who defended the existing guidelines surrounding radioactive waste, his comments were: ‘The regulations and guidelines we have in place are good’. What has changed? What has changed is that, since we came to government, we strengthened the Radiation (Safety Control) Act and updated it into the Radiation Protection Act. Nothing has changed except that we, as government, have strengthened those acts.
In relation to the spill at Ranger, one of the other things they are doing is trying to put the contradiction between our policy on nuclear waste dumps and uranium mining. That is what they are tyring to do here. The government …
Mr Dunham: Oh, yes?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Look, we accept the reality of existing uranium mining at Ranger and, unlike the previous government, we act. We have acted when issues arise. This can be evidenced by the prosecution against Ranger for recent breaches. To say that we have been remiss, or we have not, or are not doing, what we are supposed to be doing, is a complete lie.
Additional Nurses - Recruitment
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Five minutes into the job and the shadow Health minister has it wrong already! Could the minister inform the House of progress on delivering upon the government’s election commitment to recruit an additional 75 nurses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is absolutely true that, at the last election, we promised Territorians we would introduce an additional 75 nurses into our hospitals. Well, woops, we have overshot! We now have 97 additional funded positions in our five hospitals than at the time we inherited government - 97 funded positions.
Dr Lim: Funded positions!
Members injecting.
Dr Lim: You mislead Territorians all the time.
Dr TOYNE: Seventy-six of them already have incumbents in place. We are recruiting …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex well knows he cannot accuse my colleague of misleading the House and Territorians unless he does so by way of substantive motion, and I ask him to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, withdraw please!
Dr LIM: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Because the minister does have a soft voice, could we listen to him with quiet - not too loud!
Dr TOYNE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are 97 positions; 76 with incumbents in them, and 21 being recruited at the moment. What sort of positions? Clinical nurse educators, nurse managers, renal nurses, critical care nurses and midwives. Ninety-seven additional positions into our hospital system is a significant increase in the capacity. It means more tasks can be attempted at all five of our hospitals. We can consolidate areas such as renal care and the ICU and High Dependency Units at Darwin and Alice Springs, and we also have a greater diversity of skills amongst the nurses that are employed within our hospital system.
We have kept our promise to Territorians made at the last election - we have more then kept it. By the end of this term of government, we believe there will be in excess of 100 additional nurses in our hospitals.
On this day commemorating the Bali bombings, I want to pay tribute to the amazing work that was done at Royal Darwin Hospital. The first victims arrived in Darwin 26 hours after the bombings. Of the 61 victims treated at Darwin hospital, 28 were in major trauma. It was an amazing effort by the staff who paid a huge price in regards to the trauma they suffered from the terrible things they saw during that time. I want to pay tribute to that again on this second anniversary.
Members: Hear, hear!
Radiation Levels in Drinking Water on Aboriginal Communities
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
As minister responsible for the environment and Family and Community Services, can you tell this House how many Aboriginal communities are using drinking water which has radioactive levels which breach safe international levels?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I do not have those numbers, but I could provide them before the end of Question Time. I am aware there are some communities in the Northern Territory which have water contaminant level issues. Government is dealing with those issues through testing by the Power and Water Corporation. Before the end of Question Time today, I can obtain that information for the member.
Darwin City Waterfront Project – Preservation of Heritage
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The Darwin City Waterfront project is an exciting development. Can you please advise the House what steps have been taken to preserve the important heritage significance of this area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The waterfront redevelopment is very exciting; a $1bn development for the Territory which, I am proud to say, will see the heritage values of this site conserved and interpreted, and the site cleaned up. This is a big win for the environment.
The waterfront site has a rich history. For example, the site has seen Aboriginal occupation, the first settlement by Europeans, the coming of the Overland Telegraph Line, the bombing during World War II, the fury of Cyclone Tracy and, most recently, industrial activity which has been pivotal to the economic development of the Territory. From the outset, this government has been committed to ensuring that the heritage values of the waterfront site are conserved, interpreted and celebrated in such a way as to add value to the overall development for the benefit of all Territorians.
Of particular significance has been the conservation interpretation of Goyder’s Camp, which was the site of the first permanent non-indigenous settlement in the Northern Territory. I accepted a recommendation from the Office of Environment and Heritage that Goyder’s Camp be retained as open space in recognition of its importance. I am pleased to say the preferred consortium’s plans for the waterfront redevelopment will see the establishment of a cultural centre, the conservation and interpretation of heritage values of the old wharf and, more specifically, the site of Goyder’s Camp. The Darwin Cove Consortium plans to establish an open space precinct in the area of Goyder’s Camp, and an interpretation of the site so its stories can be told. There are also plans to establish a major piece of public art to commemorate the first permanent, non-indigenous settlement in the Northern Territory.
The conservation and interpretation of the heritage of the waterfront site will complement adjoining and nearby heritage sites, such as the oil tunnels and Government House. The view from the escarpment will also be managed to ensure that development at the waterfront site is sympathetic to the overall heritage values of the area.
Madam SPEAKER: Can I say that answers have been extraordinarily long today.
Nuclear Waste Storage – Kakadu National Park
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government and the Labor Party ridiculed the CLP’s successful member for Solomon, David Tollner, over comments he made about the storage of nuclear waste in containers in the bush. Now David Tollner has been shown to be telling the truth, will you tell Territorians precisely when your government first became aware of nuclear waste being stored in a shipping container 50 km from Gunlom Falls?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are a couple of parts to the question. One is accusing this government of ridiculing the member for Solomon. We do not have to ridicule the member for Solomon; he does it quite well enough himself. When you say, ‘ridiculed the member for Solomon’, he went to the media and said: ‘There are drums all over the bush’. He implied there were hundreds of drums full of radioactive material all over the bush.
Mr Mills: No, he did not.
Ms MARTIN: That is what he said. Even in the question asked by the Opposition Leader, it is indicated that is not the case. The member for Solomon is his own worst enemy when it comes to being accurate about things.
Mr Mills: Another issue is when did you find out?
Ms MARTIN: The question is: when did I find out personally? As someone who goes to Kakadu, I have known that there were sites which were former uranium mining sites in Kakadu. I have often gone into Gunlom, and past that storage site when I go to Koolpin Gorge, which is my favourite gorge in Kakadu. I knew it was there - I did not know the extent of it – and I recognise that it is a Commonwealth responsibility. When those drums were put into those containers, it was done by the federal Liberal government in Canberra. In a previous question, the Opposition Leader said: ‘… under the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act’. We do not have control of that area under the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act.
What the opposition is doing in raising this specific issue is actually criticising their own party, which is a bit ridiculous. This Territory government is properly managing our radioactive and nuclear waste. In 2000, those drums were put in containers. Some digging went on in the area, which is the third part of Kakadu, and the contaminated soil was identified and put into drums, which were put into containers. It is under the control of the Commonwealth, so I cannot tell the Opposition Leader specifically on what date and at what moment. However, because I am a regular visitor to Kakadu, I knew the site was there.
Trade Support Scheme
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for ASIAN RELATIONS and TRADE
Can you please advise and/or update the House on how the Trade Support Scheme is helping Territory businesses develop new trade opportunities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question, because this is good news. The Trade Support Scheme continues to deliver for Territory business, and exports and investment in the Northern Territory. This scheme came into effect on 1 July 2003. It was developed, very importantly, in partnership with people in our business community who are involved in export and trade, and aimed very specifically at meeting our target of a 40% increase in the volume and value of non-mineral trade by 2007. It gives Territory business access to taxable grants of up to $50 000 on a $1-for-$1 basis, and it is this assistance which is driving the growth of our exports in the Northern Territory.
This scheme replaced the CLP’s old scheme, the Export Market Assistance Scheme, which was funded to a paltry $80 000 a year. That was the level of the previous government’s practical commitment to exporters from the Northern Territory - an export grant scheme that only had $80 000 in the bucket to be allocated to businesses across the Northern Territory. What they did have …
Mr Dunham: It was a very good export program.
Mr HENDERSON: What we did inherit were walls of memoranda of but not one of them had been implemented. Not one of them had a budget allocated to it.
Mr Dunham: Oh really. The Chief Minister said they were good. She is interested in the ones with Indonesia.
Mr HENDERSON: It is interesting, the interjections from the member for Drysdale. We have heard today, from the Leader of the Opposition - an opposition which is the most unstable in the history of this parliament. He has been Opposition Leader for 11 months, and this is the sixth reshuffle we have seen. Every time we come into parliament, there is another reshuffle …
Mr Dunham: Not bad from you mob.
Mr HENDERSON: The shifting sands of allegiances the Leader of the Opposition’s tenuous hold on leadership continue to be rewarded, or people are being as a result of his tenuous hold on this leadership. What else do we see? Two of the motley crew over there, the members for Daly and Goyder: ‘We are off fishing. See you guys, we are off fishing for the next 12 months. We are going to take no further part in assisting the Country Liberal Party to stay afloat’. However, I digress.
Mr Dunham: Do you ever. You are wandering all over the place.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, minister, back to your answer, thank you.
Mr Dunham: You always digress.
Mr HENDERSON: The member for Drysdale continues to interrupt, Madam Speaker, and he really does throw me off the track.
However, getting back to what is good news for the Territory and exporters. In contrast, by the end of our first year, $341 000 had been committed from Trade Support Scheme grants - $8000 under the CLP, $341 000 under the Labor government. That represents 102 applications for assistance; that is, 102 new trade opportunities. This scheme has been received very warmly by the business community. So far in 2004 …
Mr Dunham: You are shutting down Dick’s concrete pumping for $50 000.
Mr HENDERSON: Again, the member for Drysdale - if there is good news to be heard he opens his mouth. He just will not let his ears be permeated by good news in the Northern Territory. He tries to drown it out with his inane interjections.
However, back to the point, so far in 2004-05, my department has received 38 applications for Trade Support Scheme funding. Twenty-six applications have been approved so far. That is $90 000 worth of financial assistance to Territory business. I gave some examples in the House the other day; I will give a couple more. I have just been advised that, after a recent delegation to Sabah, Mr James Taylor of Aerosail Shade Structures has been asked to provide quotes for a major international resort in Sabah. The estimated value of the contract is in excess of $100 000. What a great outcome! In talking to James Taylor of that delegation, he says if he can pull this one off, there are opportunities in five-star resorts throughout Asia.
Mr Dunham: Raintree Gallery. Go and talk to them.
Mr HENDERSON: Again, the member for Drysdale does not want to hear the good news. Stand back and applaud James Taylor and Aerosail! They are doing a fantastic job, and we are assisting them to do that.
Another great success story, almost 10 months in the making ...
Mr Dunham: Go and talk to Shirley Collins.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: Again, member for Drysdale, listen! This is good news from a small Territory-based firm, R & J Sports Goods distributors, with its specialised bullet projectiles business. Following a business visit to New Zealand in January this year with Trade Support Scheme support, R & J have secured its first export order for 100 000 projectiles worth in the order of $20 000. This is a small but significant contract to a small business in the Territory which has their eyes on the Asian region, and into New Zealand.
People are exporting globally from the Northern Territory. This government is right behind them and the Trade Support Scheme is really delivering for Territory business.
Nuclear Waste Storage – Kakadu National Park
Dr LIM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
You have carriage of the Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act. I seek leave to table this reprint of the act, as in force on 7 June 2002.
Leave granted.
Dr LIM: Does the storage method of nuclear waste in a shipping container near Gunlom Falls comply with legislation relevant to the storage of radioactive substances?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his question. He is correct in quoting the Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act as the legislation pertinent to the Northern Territory. That legislation empowers the department here to grant licences for the storage and transport of material. Conditions under that act may be imposed as to how transportation and storage takes place. The department has the power to inspect and cancel any licences in a case of a breach of the act Of course, under the act, there is a range of offences and sanctions against those.
In relation to the activity at Gunlom in Kakadu that we have been discussing, this is Commonwealth property and a Commonwealth responsibility. That is it; it is simply a Commonwealth responsibility. I heard the minister for the environment earlier in this Question Time, undertake to go back to the Commonwealth on this matter.
Surely the opposition have not been out of government that long that they do not understand that it is pretty hard to get any dialogue going with the Commonwealth government or minister once a federal election is under way. That election was under way over a period of six weeks. All bets are off once an election is called. It does not matter what the issue is, you do not get very far trying to advance any queries. Those approaches will be made by the minister for environment and I will await that response.
Quarantine Facilities Upgrade at Port of Darwin
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Could you please advise the House of recent works to upgrade quarantine facilities at the Port of Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question, because it is an important question. For some time, there have been quarantine issues raised in relation to the port, and I have written to the Commonwealth minister on a number of occasions about these issues.
At a local level, there is a cargo facilitation working group, under the auspices of the International Business Council, which comprises importers and exporters, as well as AQIS, the service itself, and the port corporation. This working group has identified a number of infrastructure and labour issues that were affecting efficient clearance of cargo through the port, and AQIS-related matters. The infrastructure issues to be addressed are the expansion of the cargo treatment areas and the upgrade of inspection facilities.
A contract has been let to double the capacity of the quarantine fumigation yard. Tenders have also been called for quarantine wash-down facilities to handle the increasing number of containers being handled, and projected to be handled, in the future at the port, that require this sort of handling. The expanded facility is going to be able to simultaneously hold 40’ and 20’ containers, and will reduce the time taken to clear containers through the port that require this treatment. FreightLink, the rail freight operator, is also constructing its quarantine facilities at the Port of Darwin. There is also a recycled water system to be included at a future stage, and that will assist quarantine clearance.
All of these things add to increased flexibility of the port operation, and facilitate and provide a platform for the port to grow and handle more cargo that requires this sort of treatment.
Humpty Doo Police and Fire Station
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In relation to the new Humpty Doo police and fire station, could you please say how many fire officers will be stationed there; what hours will they operate; what fire appliances and type of vehicles will be based there; and what is going to happen to the Humpty Doo volunteers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question, because he has been a strong supporter of the government’s commitment for a Police, Fire and Emergency Services facility in Humpty Doo. He was at the sod turning, for which we had a bit of help from a backhoe which broke up the ground a bit. I do know that the member is interested in the additional services that this government is providing the rural people.
The proposal is to establish a full-time firefighting crew of four members, to work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. This is similar to those worked by members at the major Territory track stations such as Jabiru, Nhulunbuy, Yulara, Katherine and Tennant Creek. The proposal for the fire station at the moment is to operate on a Monday-to-Friday basis for eight hours a day between 6 am to 6 pm, generally 8 am to 4.30 pm. It will require provision of an after-hours response service by Palmerston Fire Station and the five long-established Rural Area Volunteer Brigades. Those volunteer brigades and members will continue to respond to emergencies after hours.
After talking to the current Chief Fire Officer regarding the progress of the police and fire station there, the commitment is that those fire service officers will be working with the Rural Area Volunteer Brigades, and try and work through a coordinated and well-developed working relationship. I am sure the fire service that will be based in Humpty Doo will be working very closely with those volunteer brigades.
The core responsibilities for Humpty Doo, as defined by the Chief Fire Officer, will be to: manage, administer and train all auxiliary and volunteer staff located in the area; conduct hazard reduction programs; provide school-based fire education; manage station resources, budget allocations and staff rosters; conduct training and skills assessments of permanent, auxiliary and volunteer staff; conduct public education programs; provide an effective and efficient response to all emergencies in the area; to inspect rural blocks; provide advice to land holders; and issue infringement notices when necessary. It is a significant commitment by this government to people in the rural area in further improving our services to protect life and property in the area.
I commend the honourable member for his continuing interest, and look forward to seeing him at the opening of the new facility early next year.
Nuclear Waste Storage – Release of Reports
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government has refused opposition requests to make public any reports you have relating to the storage of radioactive material in the Northern Territory. We know that radioactive material is being stored in a shipping container in at least one site in Kakadu, and at Mt Todd, outside of Kakadu. Will you now make these reports public and tell Territorians where all nuclear waste is stored, and whether it breaches legislative standards?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first part of the question was that we have refused to make available to the opposition, reports - was that it?
Mr Mills: Yes.
Mr Burke: We called for it last sittings, in the introduction of the legislation. Didn’t your minister tell you?
Ms MARTIN: Did you approach me, or did you approach some other minister?
Mr Elferink: Yes, we asked last sittings. What did your minister tell you?
Ms MARTIN: The question is to me, and the Opposition Leader …
Mr Mills: You have been informed; your government has refused.
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader is saying: ‘You have refused’. That is simply wrong. I am sorry, I have not refused. You have never approached me to ask me about this. I am assuming, in the nature of this question that the Opposition Leader has asked, that he has had a briefing on this issue?
Mr Mills: Your government has refused to make public this material.
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader does not respond, so I am assuming he has had no briefing on this issue. Whilst we are open and accountable, there are certain sensitivities here. If the Opposition Leader would like a briefing - it is all very well to swan in here and say, ‘You have refused’, when he has never approached me. Then to say, ‘Why are you not releasing …’, and he has never approached me.
What I am really bewildered about is all this questioning that asked was we are doing about Commonwealth-managed land, and how we are controlling contaminated soil. What I want to know is, in all these questions, is this a premise for saying: ‘The Territory should be the site of a national nuclear waste dump’. Is that what it is? That is what I have to ask. Is all this leading up to the fact that there is a justification, or something of that nature, that we should have a national nuclear waste dump?
We have been very clear about the storage of radioactive and nuclear waste in the Territory. We have said broadly where those sites are. There is one at the hospital, and there are two mining sites. I believe one is at Mt Todd and the other is at El Sharana - if I am right?
Mr Vatskalis: At Mt Todd there is no nuclear waste.
Ms MARTIN: No, Mt Todd is not nuclear. There are two: El Sharana and …
Mr Ah Kit: Rum Jungle.
Ms MARTIN: Rum Jungle, thank you, Minister for Community Development.
How are we not telling people where it is? We have talked about it in this House, and we have been quite up-front.
Mr Mills: You have been asked to provide a report and you have refused.
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader is saying now, ‘You have not’. He has never approached me; he has never had a briefing.
Territory Housing – SecurityScreening Program
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for HOUSING
Could you please inform the House on progress of the security screening program designed to improve safety for tenants of Territory Housing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. Last sittings, I informed the House of our government’s strategic vision for housing that was, and still is, Home Territory 2010, a primary goal of which is safe, secure and affordable housing for all Territorians. This government is committed to overcoming the shortage and poor standard of public housing due to the years of neglect under the previous government.
The recently announced Urban Renewal Program commits $45m over five years to improve the standard of all our dwellings throughout the Northern Territory. This complements an important election commitment we made whilst in opposition, which was to install security screens on all public housing dwellings. Even in opposition …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Well, you can laugh! There are a lot of things we found that they may have supported, but they never put cash alongside many of the projects. It was a bad habit of you people when you were in government.
Even in opposition, we could see the neglect of public housing. What was the previous government really doing? They were lazy and out of touch. We keep our promises, and I am pleased to provide an update in the House today on the security screening program.
A total of 2809 houses have been screened to date, excluding those houses already screened under the category of ‘disabled’, ‘aged’, or ‘victims of crime’. An additional 151 houses in the Darwin region are soon to be completed. Tenders are under consideration for 61 and 51 houses in Jabiru and Katherine respectively. In Alice Springs, a contract for 203 houses for the racecourse, East Side and Gap area has been let and is due for completion by the end of the month.
An additional initiative of this program is to provide smoke detectors to all housing stock. Although the Building Code does not require smoke detectors to be retrospectively fitted, Territory Housing has taken this extra step to complement the security program and ameliorate the anxiety of some tenants who are fearful of being trapped in the case of a fire.
The supply-only tender has been let. Installation is expected to commence by the end of October 2004, with completion expected by February 2005. The security screen program is expected to be completed by early 2005. I say to all the staff who are working at Territory Housing that have been involved; it is a job well done.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016