2004-02-18
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, as a result of the Chief Minister’s absence, I advise that during Questions today, the Minister for Employment, Education and Training, Mr Stirling, will take those questions which would normally be directed to the Chief Minister.
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
A cursory glance at the DCIS website reveals contracts awarded by your government in the last three months to interstate companies totals almost $13m. It also reveals that 60% of contracts for the Department of the Chief Minister actually go interstate. At a time when local furniture businesses are closing because they cannot get enough business, why did your government recently award a contract worth nearly $4m to supply school chairs and desks to a South Australian company?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we all wish that every contract ever entered in to by the Northern Territory government went to a Northern Territory company. The fact is that it is not always possible to achieve that. There are a whole range of reasons, including value for money questions, which are very much at the forefront in terms of application of procurement as to why a contract might be awarded to a particular company.
In fact, we are not the first government to look at the whole question of procurement. It was undergoing review under the previous government, and it underwent review under our government. As an example, I was at the Alcan Suppliers Awards. You talk about value for money and how hard they as a company drive their suppliers. They were putting out a message very clearly: ‘No, do not expect to just increase your prices to us without some value added. If your prices go up, you have to provide a service in some way that compensates that price movement’.
I would like to think that government has to get much more hard-headed in terms of value for money in all of the contractual arrangements it enters into. It is simply a fact that not every contract on merit is going to go to a Northern Territory company, despite the fact that our base intention is always to grow the economy and to increase Territory business where we can.
That notwithstanding, there are procurement guidelines in place,; the Procurement Review Board looks at everything that goes through. They tick it off. These contracts are all at arm’s length from ministers and that is the way it should always have been. It is certainly the way it is now, and I imagine that is the way it was under the previous government. Whilst our intention will always be to grow the Territory, we do not have a situation where we say: ‘You have to give it to a Territory company regardless of the bottom line’, because, at the same time, government has a responsibility to the taxpayer to ensure that it drives maximum value for every dollar that it spends in those hard-earned taxes derived from the constituency.
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
I understand a record eight cruise ships are arriving in Darwin this month. Can you outline what benefits these cruise ships will bring for small business and the local economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Barkly, for his question. Cruise ships are not a common sight in Tennant Creek and it is great that he has asked that question, however, the railway will certainly produce a big boost to Tennant Creek.
It is a great sight in Darwin today,. Tthe SS Adonia sailed into Darwin Harbour this morning, with 2600 passengers on board and 875 crew. It is an absolutely magnificent sight and a magnificent vessel. It is just one of six cruise ships destined for arrival before the end of February in Darwin. At a time where it is traditionally a very slow time of year for the Territory tourism industry, particularly in the Top End during our magnificent wet season, there will be six cruise ships here before the end of February which is magnificent to see.
I would like to pay tribute to the Tourist Commission, the current tourism minister, and the previous tourism minister, for the work they have done in promoting Darwin as a destination for cruise ships in the Northern Territory, and that hard work by government and the Tourist Commission is starting to pay off - six cruise ships by the end of February. Why are the cruise ships coming to Darwin? - bBecause they see Darwin as a fascinating, safe and very friendly place to visit.
By the end of the month, those six cruise ships will discharge a potential 13 000 passengers and crew visiting Darwin and the Top End. That is going to be a magnificent boost to our small business community - 13 000 new visitors. That is on top of the thousands of visitors who will be coming to the Top End as a result of The Ghan establishing operations. This is a huge new market for Northern Territory small business, as well as tourism operators in general. When we look at the spending of those 13 000 people - cafes, restaurants, newsagents, gift shops – that money is going to wash around the economy and it is very exciting.
I pay tribute to the traders in Darwin city,. tThey are going to be extending their trading hours on the weekends to cater for these thousands of new customers. Darwin City Promotions has organised bands, outdoor entertainment and regular performances by an Indonesian dance troupe. Our traders are grasping this opportunity, and congratulations to them.
Two craft fairs are going to be held featuring pottery, woodwork and other crafts produced solely by Territory artists. Again, this is a great initiative to promote Territory products and creativity to our international visitors. This new business is keeping the Territory moving ahead. That is what we are doing,. wWe are establishing the framework to move the Territory ahead, and it is great to see these vessels in the Territory.
However, there is another side. It is not just the small businesses thatwhich are going to benefit directly from the tourism spending from those six cruise ships and the 13 000 visitors. It is a significant boost to Territory businesses to resupply, restock and perform maintenance on these magnificent vessels.
One of those businesses is Sealanes Albatross, a Darwin-based company, supplying the ship with top quality food, liquor and chandellinglering services, most of which are sourced from local companies. Again, it is a very quiet time of the year for them, and they are rapt at work by government and the Tourist Commission in seeing six cruise vessels come to town.
This is real money for small business in the Territory. It is new money coming into the Territory at a very quiet time of year, and it is providing real jobs for Territorians. I would urge all members to get out there and welcome these visitors to our wonderful city.
Dr LIM to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Your government recently awarded a contract worth $374 000 to a South Australian company to supply, guess what? Cigarette papers and matches to the Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres. Why is it that we cannot buy cigarette papers and matches in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. As I explained in my previous answer, all contractual arrangements are handled through the Procurement Review Board, which approve them and tick them off. They are at arm’s length from the minister, and quite rightly so. That is the way it is handled under this government.
In relation to the particular contract, I am not aware of it. If there is any information that can be provided to this Chamber from upstairs in relation to this particular matter …
Dr Lim: Well, you are the Treasurer.
Mr STIRLING: I did not know that I could be accused of not doing my job simply because I am not aware of every contract that is signed by the government on any particular day. However, if there is any information that ought to be more forthcoming in relation to this particular contract, I will ask for it to be sent down and I will respond before the end of Question Time. Notwithstanding that, Madam Speaker, we will see if anything needs to be added.
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can the minister please inform members about the new nurses Enterprise Bargaining Agreement which is being certified in the Industrial Relations Commission this afternoon? How will this agreement contribute to real improvements in the recruitment and retention of nurses in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for a very important question. The new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with the Australian Nursing Federation will be presented to the Industrial Relations Commission today for certification. The agreement provides our nurses with an 11% increase in salary over three years. Increases for many nurses will be far greater, with improvements in allowances and introduction of extra classifications in the nursing career structure.
The EBA will help the Territory remain a competitive employer in a very difficult national and international marketplace. It sees us able to offer better terms and conditions than anywhere else in Australia other than New South Wales. The agreement reflects a new constructive relationship between the Australian Nursing Federation and our Department of Health. This stands in complete contrast with the time when the opposition was in government. One of the reasons they sit on that side of the Chamber is the contempt and arrogance shown by the opposition in the negotiations during the previous EBA.
Our relationship with nurses is based on active listening and working in partnership on issues of need and mutual interest.
I am pleased to announce collaborative arrangements between the Nursing Federation and the Health Department are formalised in the agreement and will continue for its three year lifespan. The Building Healthier Communities Framework, released by myself and the Minister for Family and Community Services on Monday, signals our determination to continue working to ensure the effective recruiting and retention of nursing staff for the Territory. This new EBA represents another step in that process. Paying nurses more is all part of keeping the Territory moving ahead with respect to retention and recruitment of nurses in this very important area of our service delivery.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Last Thursday week, there was a great football match held at Marrara Oval between the Western Bulldogs and the NTFL. A constituent of mine took her husband and three children to the match. It cost $67. She also took some sandwiches for her children to eat, thus reducing the need to buy food at the ground and keep the cost down. When she got to the front gate she was told she was not allowed to bring her sandwiches into the ground.
Ms Carter: Shame!
Mr WOOD: She then had to take them back to her car, in pouring rain, before she was allowed in. What do you think of this policy, and will you take up this issue with the AFLNT in light of their efforts to get families back to football? On a related note about getting families back to football, do you believe that only light beer should be sold at Marrara, as I believe happens at Traeger Park?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Nelson. Whilst the member for Port Darwin can sit back and say: ‘Shame, shame, shame’, it is a shame also that when they were in government none of their Sport and Recreation ministers got in touch with the AFLNT in regard to some of the policies that they have in place.
As we understand it …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: … they have a board. Did you have a Sport and Recreation Minister who influenced the board? Did he go down and set policy for the board? He very rarely went there at all. In fact, you built this lovely stadium and you walked away from it. You can sit there and giggle …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You can sit there and giggle but history comes back to bite you on the backsides once again.
In regards to the good question put to me by the member for Nelson, I will take it up with Bob Elix and Chris Natt, whom I will be seeing shortly, to talk about their policy in regards to people being able to take food and non-alcoholic beverages into the football. We also believe that the AFLNT are going to have a look at their liquor situation in regards to some of the problems that we experienced after the Western Bulldogs/Territory football match just over a week ago.
The grandstand has sold out tickets for this Friday’s Wizard Cup match between the Fremantle Dockers and Essendon Bombers. I think tThere will be somewhere in the vicinity of 12 000 to 15 000 people. It will probably create some hassles in regards to the liquor consumed.
Traeger Park has worked well and the CAFL have used that initiative in Central Australia. It is possible, when the AFLNT review what happens for big matches and the finals series at Marrara, that they may wish to adopt something like that. For not wanting to be some type of media event, I am not going to tell them what they should and should not do. They are big people; they can deal with it, they can handle it. In regards to the liquor licence, there are restrictions.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You go on about Territory lifestyle,. nNow you are saying to me, as the minister, I should influence the type of alcohol that they should have. I am the minister who is not going to interfere in sport and recreation activities. If the policy is a problem, I am glad the member for Nelson has raised it here. I will take that on board and I will discuss that with Bob Elix, Chris Natt and their board.
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
What do you know of the home-grown Territory company, Integrated Technical Services, and its installation of leading edge solar power and communications technology in Australia and throughout South-East Asia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, they are a great Territory-based company providing a great service, and they have been out there in the marketplace doing it very well for quite some years.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Yesterday, you referred to the involvement of Suntay Aquaculture in a collaborate partnership with the Charles Darwin University.
Mr Mills: Please tell us more.
Ms LAWRIE: Minister, could you please provide – and this will be interesting; I know you want to put down Territory business.
Mr Mills: No, we do not.
Ms LAWRIE: It is interesting to Territorians.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Ask the question. Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Could you please provide further information on other developments that the Suntay group are involved in and the benefits these will have for Territorians and our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. As outlined yesterday, it is an exciting time for prawn farming in the Territory. Some dayuntay aAquaculture is going to be involved in a big way in prawn farming in the Territory.
I recall when Emilio Suntay first came to see me with a local person and was talking about this exciting time for prawn farming in the Territory. The reason he selected the Territory was because of the unpolluted water, existing infrastructure and, hopefully, that we could provide some help to establish the farm. I asked him if he had done anything like that before and he told me, yes, he came and spoke to ministers in the previous government and he got nowhere. He presented a case for the development of a 60 hectare, state-of-the-art closed system, the Belize system, prawn farm – and he got nowhere.
I was pleased that the Mminister for Infrastructure could help Suntay find land, which has been allocated, and he is going to establish a 60 hectare prawn farm at Point Ceylon, Bynoe Harbour. Emilio Suntay is not a novice in prawn farming. His family has been involved in aquaculture in the Philippines for the past 100 years. Emilio has shown confidence in the Territory by establishing his farm here. He is also going to make his first investment in the Territory by providing a $200 000 grant to the university and signing a Memorandum of Understanding to obtain black tiger prawn broodstock for the Northern Territory and breed local, disease-free prawns.
The adult prawns are tested three times to establish that they are free from disease, and then they are bred. I am pleased to advise that the first 50 000 small prawns are swimming happily in a big tank at the Charles Darwin University. That provides the Territory not only with the necessary infrastructure to establish our own breeding program for prawns, but disease-free prawns. We had a scare with the white virus bug, as the member for Nelson pointed out. However, I am pleased to advise that tests of the water around the prawn farm have shown no presence of the virus.
In addition to that, the Darwin Aquaculture Centre has established a filtration system to prevent any possibility of viruses escaping from prawn farms into the harbour. I am very proud and pleased to be associated with and to assist Emilio Suntay. I am delighted with the trust he has shown in the Territory.
Mr Baldwin: Well, give him the road he is asking for.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Emilio Suntay came to us asking for land, and we made sure that he got land. He has asked for assistance with a road. I understand my colleague, the member for Johnston, is working with Emilio there and looking at the possibility of providing a road.
Emilio Suntay has also asked for some power and currently we are examining the possibility of working with Emilio to establish a power supply. This government is prepared to work for and support businesses. This government is prepared to support investors who show faith in the Territory and are putting their money where their mouths are.
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Even with your known preference for southern imports over Territory talent, do you agree your government has gone too far in ignoring this local talent, local content and cheaper price to give a valuable solar power contract to an interstate company, which did not even meet the tender requirements?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of Opposition for his question. You would have thought that this may attract the sort of level of concern that the Leader of the Opposition is putting on it if, under the previous government, none of these sort of contracts went interstate.
Let me remind him of one example that still leaves a bad taste in my mouth to this day. It was a contract that was awarded to an interstate company under a Certificate of Exemption, to one Mark Textor of Worthlin Polling. Mark Textor was establishing a reputation, first in the Northern Territory as a pollster for the conservative side of politics in this country. At the time, the Country Liberal Party was seeking someone to carry out polling, ostensibly for government research, making it legitimate to be paid for by the taxpayers of the Northern Territory.
Any reading of that polling and any viewing of the video tapes - for those who do not remember or do not know this story, - the video tape participants were promised by one Mark Textor, standing in front of the focus group, 12 or 15 individuals that, at the end of the session, the information would be gleaned from the tapes and the video tapes wiped clean. Three or four years later, Andrew Coward had 50 of these tapes. Having promised the participants – this is the integrity of one Mark Textor for whom you broke every procurement rule in the book. You go interstate to get your own dirty, scabby, little pollster who did not conduct legitimate government polling. He carried out party political polling paid for by the taxpayers of the Northern Territory. I still have a copy of the video. I can whip it out. It is probably the time to whip it out to the media again,; they have all forgotten.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: They have all forgotten. These are the sort of habits that they were into, Madam Speaker.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This matter has been debated at length by …
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: The question asked related to a specific contractor.
Madam SPEAKER: You know the rules about answering questions. but tThere were far too many interjections during that answer, and they were quite provocative from the opposition. I would suggest that you all settle down.
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Millner, will you cease for a moment. Member for Macdonnell, a question is being asked. Will you pPlease allow the question to be asked in silence.
Mr BONSON: Territorians will be well aware of the government’s excellent campaign using people to Get VET. Could the minister please inform the House of the successful campaign, and any further plans to ensure Territorians have access to first class vocational and educational training.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. , because hHe is much closer in age and generation to these young people accessing training than I am, and has a distinct interest in what these young people are doing. It is an important question and it gives me an opportunity to talk about the Get VET campaign, which is quite a massive advertising campaign, marketing vocational education and training, commencing in November 2003. That campaign and the first ever Jobs Plan by the Northern Territory government, which we published last year, are twin key planks of this government’s intention to provide training for Territorians.
The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness of Vocational Education Training. VET ran among target audience and stakeholders so that more people would know what VET is and come to understand the very real benefits from it. It is too early yet to advise the impact in a broad sense of the Get VET campaign but early indications are extremely positive. It is interesting that Charles Darwin, one of the biggest training providers in the community, since the implementation of the Get VET campaign, areis now using the brand VET instead of the brand TAFE in all of its marketing. Tracking of hits on the VET web site shows a significant increase in the direct correlation in interest when those television and radio ads are being aired.
An independent market research company has been engaged to evaluate the campaign throughout March, just after the next round of commercials in February, so we should see the effectiveness and results of this campaign from some time in April. Research results will continue to guide the direction of the next stage of the Get VET campaign, which we will be relaunched in early 2004-05. A brand new Get VET kit has been developed for use by both public and private registered training organisations and will be issued this month.
I paygive credit to the people who put that campaign together,. because I believe they are realistic ads, showing Territorians in realistic settings, and it does hit the mark. In terms of the research results from an exercise like this, it is legitimate use of taxpayer’s’ money in pursuit of government policy and objectives, unlike the money paid to Mark Textor.
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Considering that Integrated Technical Services have gone to considerable cost to prepare its tender, and jump all the hurdles placed in its way by PowerWater as it systematically subverted the procurement process, why did you not intervene on behalf of a Territory business more than 12 months ago?
ANSWER
There are a couple of assumptions in that question which would need to be substantiated before I or anyone else would accept them as fact. However, I do have information about this contract, and for the benefit for the Leader of the Opposition and members opposite, perhaps if I went through some of that information it may give a little more understanding.
The Ombudsman confirmed in his report that PowerWater procurement processes were shown to have been wanting. No secret. That is what the report says. I am informed that PowerWater have already acted upon those processes to amend them, with a range of reforms so that we will not see this type of situation occurring again in the future. There is an example in this for everyone. An example for Territory business is that they can have confidence in the process and the independence of the Ombudsman.
Mr Mills: What? The bureaucracy will run the show? Not the Territory government?
Mr Henderson: So you would award the tenders, would you, would you tick them all off?
Mr STIRLING: I will go back to that, Madam Speaker. It serves as an example where Territory business can have confidence in the Office of the Ombudsman, and the independence of that office to fully investigate and look into decisions that the business may disagree with. Business can also be confident that we do have a procurement process in the Territory that focusses on value for money and support for Territory business on a level playing field wherever possible.
Under that criteria of value for money, in case that is misconstrued as grabbing the dirtiest and the cheapest on the desk before you, let me explain the objectives under value for money. To achieve the best possible return from Northern Territory government expenditure on supplies - yes, good.; recognise that this may not necessarily amount to purchasing at the lowest price; and, recognise that job creation and retention for Territorians and/or improving the skills of the Territory work force are value for money issues that need to be taken into account. Therefore, when we talk about value for money in the procurement processes, we are recognising that job creation and job skilling for Territorians is a value for money question that needs to be taken into account. That is the way it works now; that is the policy and they are the principles.
The value for money heading is one part of the process that the Procurement Review Board needs to take into account.
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition told this parliament that $96m worth of payroll receipts were a ‘book entry’. He said a sizable part of that $96m was because government agencies and departments pay payroll tax. Can you inform the Assembly if the Leader of the Opposition’s claim is accurate, or has he made a $96m blunder?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question because this really is the first foray into matters economic matters in the Northern Territory by the Leader of the Opposition - a member of this House who would be Treasurer under a CLP government. His first foray into this arena leaves me breathless because he is $96m out. A blunder of this size in the Northern Territory economy overall is pretty serious.
He described the $96m revenue in the budget books as being a book entry, in part, because that is the payroll tax that was picked up from business, industry and the private sector across the board. Much of that, of course, was government paying itself and simply a nominal entry that is not additional revenue for the government. Well, he is wrong, and a reading of the budget papers will show him that he is wrong.
The $96m he refers to comes entirely from non-government sources. The further $49m--point--something or other comes from the government paying itself payroll tax. It is clearly speltled out in Budget Paper No 2, on page 78, and Budget Paper No 3, page 279, which explains the total payroll tax regime. That is not rocket science,. hHe can go to those budget papers and check this for himself. However, he has shown that he is not capable of that, he is not reading the budget properly.
Further, there would be shockwaves in the business world once they realise he is talking about abolishing payroll tax. A $96m hit to the Territory budget this year, notwithstanding that we are reducing payroll tax and will continue to do that because we want Territory business to grow. What he has failed to take into account is this: a minority of businesses overall in the Northern Territory pay payroll tax because the Territory has quite a lot of small businesses that do not reach the $600 000 threshold. Of those exclusively Territory-based companies in the community, just 7% pay payroll tax. In those terms, to abolish payroll tax, sure, the bigger companies get a break, it does not do anything for the quite small business, less than perhaps 15 or 16 employees, because they are not paying payroll tax anyway.
What he would have to do, within a quite short time, is find another tax. He may well have read the Productivity Commission report into home ownership in Australia, because that says to state and territory governments, ‘You have to increase your land tax.’ Well, hello, Madam Speaker, we do not have a land tax; we never have had a land tax, and it is not my intention nor this government’s to introduce one. I will tell you for one, that little man, Mr George Cridland, would kill me. Every time he sees me, he comes up and stands on my toes and he says, ‘Tell me no land tax’, and I say, ‘Mr Cridland, as long as I am Treasurer of the Northern Territory there will be no land tax’. If the government is going to introduce a new land tax it has to get rid of me, as Treasurer, in the first instance.
This is the problem he has because, suddenly, just 7% of exclusively Territory-based companies are paying payroll tax. Bring in a land tax - everyone will be paying it. He could add on to that a fire and services levy - paid by business everywhere else in Australia.
.
The effect at the moment is this: if you take a company with a $600 000 payroll in the Northern Territory, that company pays about $7558 in various forms of taxation. The next state nearest is South Australia with about $15 700. And don’t they get higher than that. In New South Wales, the land tax alone is $12 800. If that is what he wants to do, get out and tell Territorians because any promise to abolish payroll tax simply means new taxes and sending Territory business broke.
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
During last year’s Estimates Committee you made a statement regarding the removal of asbestos at the Tiwi Ccampus. You said the whole matter was put before the Royal Commission and they found no substance to any of the allegations. Do you still stand by that statement even though on page 340 of the Royal Commission report it says that:
Could you also tell the House if your department has arranged an independent review of the conduct of NT WorkSafe in relation to this matter, as discussed at a meeting on 7 May 2003?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. In relation to the commitment to review the actions of the Office of Work Health, it was subsequently advised and agreed that NT WorkSafe would instead provide Mr Bullock and Miss Fitzmaurice access to the relevant file, as NT WorkSafe were satisfied that their processes in the matter were entirely appropriate and ought be able to be scrutinised by Mr Bullock. I understand that access to those files occurred during January 2004, and copies of some of the documents were provided to Mr Bullock and Miss Fitzmaurice.
Ministerial correspondence and a third party document was not provided, but an explanation was provided at the time for that decision. I am advised also that NT WorkSafe will assist and support any freedom of information request that they wanted to make on that matter. I am confident and stand by the fact that, I am advised, that NT WorkSafe has met the regulatory requirements and acted appropriately in dealing with what has been a fairly complex and long-running matter to this point.
Mr ELFERINK to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
The federal government has partly funded the Kings Canyon project that your government awarded to a Western Australian company. How do you intend to explain your action when the lowest tenderer, using state-of-the-art Australian solar panels and equipment, was passed over in favour of a non-conforming, more expensive tender, using solar panels from overseas, and through a system that the Ombudsman himself described as tainted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I seek a point of clarification. We are talking about the same contract that has been let?
Mr Elferink: Yes.
Mr STIRLING: All I can say is, as I have said before and I reaffirm, the Ombudsman has made it clear in his report …
Mr Elferink: That it is tainted, the whole process. You knew about it 12 months ago.
Mr STIRLING: Well, I do not know. The advice to me is that the Ombudsman has confirmed in his report that PowerWater’s procurement processes in this matter were shown to have been wanting. I am informed that PowerWater have already acted to amend those processes with a range of reforms such that we ought not see this type of situation occur in the future.
Dr Lim: You have a copy of the report. Why do you not you table it?
Mr STIRLING: I have a copy of the report.
Dr Lim: Well, table it. Let us look at it.
Mr STIRLING: I have with me, Madam Speaker, the final report, PowerWater Corporation Procurement Review Board Contract and Procurement Services: Investigation of Complaint, and I table that notwithstanding that you would not necessarily want all the names in that report bandied around.
I do not know whether your question went further than that, but I stand by what I said. Read the report. That is what it says. PowerWater’s advice to government is that they have acted where their procurement processes were shown to have been wanting, and we would not expect to see any type of situation like this again because they have changed the way they do it.
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
With our love of the outdoors and our high proportion of remote communities and pastoral stations, the management of crocodiles across the Top End is an important issue for Territorians. What benefits would the government’s proposal to allow limited safari hunting of crocodiles bring to remote communities, pastoralists and the Northern Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an important question because it underscores the Territory having the right to manage its wildlife properly. The Territory – and all credit to the Parks and Wildlife Service over many years, and researchers such as Professor Grahame Webb – provides a model for wildlife management throughout Australia, if not the world, particularly in relation to crocodiles.
Most members and people listening would be aware that prior to the ban on unrestricted hunting in the early 1970s, crocodiles were a threatened and endangered species but, with management, they have bounced back. Some of the data that I have seen suggests that numbers in some parts of the Territory at least are to a stage where they may equal levels before they were pushed to extinction in the early 1970s.
To satisfy the provisions of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 and the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Territory must have in place a plan for the management of saltwater crocodiles. In November last year, the Draft Management Plan for Saltwater Crocodiles in the Northern Territory was released for public comment and, once formally approved by the Commonwealth, will replace the current plan.
The new plan outlines the management and conservation of saltwater crocodiles, and it is a bit of a juggling act. Here we have a wild animal that has instincts of hunting and preying on things - quite a savage beast. We want to conserve them and recognise their economic value, but we also have to recognise the threat to human safety that they pose.
In a significant departure from the existing plan, what the Territory proposed to be included in the plan that we have submitted to the Commonwealth is a permit for 25 adult crocodiles to be harvested each year through commercial hunting activities. In no way were we asking for an increase on the 600 that is allocated within the current plan for crocodiles to be harvested, we are asking for that 25 to be within the existing quota.
The period for public comment has now closed. A large number of submissions were received. I believe that they were generally supportive, although there are a number of animal rights and humane groups that oppose the commercial harvesting of crocodiles. Whilst I respect their position, the management plan clearly sets out how this would be done humanely in the same pattern that is used now. The only difference would be that it would be a hunter who is paying money to do it. So there is no appreciable difference in the method or the regulations governing it.
We believe that, if the Commonwealth were to allow us to do this, it would provide a significant economic boost, particularly for remote Aboriginal communities, coastal communities and also to some pastoralists. I believe it is an important step for the Territory, and there are benefits that we believe could keep the Territory moving ahead. That is what we want to see, is the Territory moving ahead. The Commonwealth is still taking a period of consultation. The Minister for the Environment, Dr Kemp, unfortunately, I believe, has already put out a draft, which is on the Internet, a draft declaration of an Improved Wildlife Trade Management Plan, Commonwealth of Australia in relation to the Northern Territory. One dot point that he has set out in his draft is that recreational hunting of crocodiles for profit or safari hunting is not permitted. I believe that is very negative and I have said so in the public arena.
Dr Kemp should reconsider that and I hope members opposite might lobby him, because I have received a lot of e-mails from all over Australia and the world supporting this particular way with crocodiles. The federal government should be listening because , we are all aware that every year there are 150 crocodiles pulled out of Darwin Harbour. If there were 150 crocodiles being pulled out of Sydney Harbour or Lake Burley Griffin, the Commonwealth government would be taking a lot more interest in crocodiles. They tend to think it is up there, let us not worry about it. I urge Territorians to get behind this and make their views known to the federal government so that the Territory does have the right to harvest these 25 crocodiles. I believe it is a very worthwhile plan.
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Do you agree that potential customers may think that something has gone terribly wrong with this high performance company when it was beaten on this government contract by a higher priced non-conforming tender. Do you also agree that Integrated Technical Services may have suffered material damage to its reputation beyond the cost of missing out on this tender because of the improper actions of your government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, I will not go through the presumptions in that question, but I will say this. ITS’s reputation is, in my view, and in the view of, I would have thought, all Territorians and its customer base, sound enough to withstand something of this nature because they have been around a long time. Their reputation is second to none. It might be appropriate, and I guess I am trying to draw a line under this, but if I could refer to the PowerWater CEO’s own views on this matter, it may more fully inform the opposition. His press release of today states:
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
Could you please advise the House on steps this government is taking to help Territory business grow and attract skilled workers to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Karama, for the question. As Minister for Business and Industry, as I move around the Territory talking to Territory business, and also through forums such as the Chief Minister’s Business Round Table, an issue that comes through loud and clear across the Territory is the capacity and difficulty of attracting and keeping a skilled work force in the Northern Territory. The government is taking a three-staged approach to try to work with business in the Northern Territory to deal with these issues.
My colleague, the Minister for Employment, Education and Training announced the first one a few weeks ago, which was the Jobs Plan., with substantial money - $160m – seeking to train 7000 apprentices, particularly in those hard to get blue collar areas, given the industrial activity that is about to take place in the Northern Territory.
The Chief Minister’s investment campaign around the Northern Territory has led to significant numbers of people in the work force in the rest of Australia contacting Territory business. From getting around and talking to business in the Territory, I know of a couple in Alice Springs who have advertised interstate quite consistently. Since the Chief Minister’s investment campaign kicked off, the number of job applications they are getting from interstate have gone up quite dramatically.
The third area is looking at skilled and professional migration. It is an area that there has not been a lot of focus on over the last few years, and it is the third plank of our attempts to attract a skilled work force to the Northern Territory.
Last month, I released a draft version of the government’s five-year business and skilled migration strategy. It is a consultative document to go out to the business community and our ethnic groups in the Northern Territory, with a range of options where government can work through those associations and with individual businesses and business associations to promote the Northern Territory as a great place to come if you are a skilled or business migrant.
At the moment, if you look at our profile, we are 1% of Australia’s population, but only attract 0.2% of Australia’s overall migrant intake every year. If we were to be representative at 1%, that would be 600 additional Territorians every year to the Northern Territory. We are working with our business community and ethnic associations to understand what we can do to promote the Northern Territory. We will be holding community consultations across the Northern Territory. I urge all members to have a look at the strategy and engage their constituents in this process. The strategy will assist Territory business by broadening our skills base, increasing the diversity of our economic base, and creating new and improved links.
An exciting development, I am pleased to announce today is that, for the first time in eight years, the Territory is participating in international migration exhibitions. A senior officer from my department leaves this afternoon for China and Taiwan to participate in a business and skilled migration promotion. Next month, the same officer will travel to Surrey in the UK to participate in Emigrate 2004, the largest migration exhibition in Europe attracting 15 000 people over three days. We are out there selling the Territory to the world as a great place to come to as a migrant, and Territorians take great pride in the contribution that migrants have made to this wonderful place we call home in the Northern Territory.
I urge the opposition to stop talking down and attacking southerners. This line about ‘we do not want southerners coming to the Northern Territory, we should not be giving southerners jobs’ is absolutely offensive and counterproductive to what business is saying in the Northern Territory: that we need a skilled work force, we need to keep a skilled work force. Yes, we need to train our own and we are training our own. However, we also need to get out there and promote the Northern Territory as a wonderful place to come and live, not only interstate, to those southerners that the opposition derides. I was surprised to hear the new Leader of the Opposition putting out a press release yesterday attacking the government for employing southerners. That is an offence to every business out there as well that employs somebody from interstate.
Again, in a spirit of bipartisanship, I would hope the new Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that he has policies, even though they are pretty flimsy and they do not have any depth or costing to them, the ones that are have holes right through them. There is a challenge, Leader of the Opposition, you talk a lot about engaging with Asia. The one thing that has damaged Australia, and set Australia back for years in Asia, when you travel through Asia, is the way that One Nation got off and running in Australia and was put down by our Prime Minister.
In the last election, the CLP preferenced One Nation. I would hope that the new Leader of the Opposition, in a policy commitment, would commit today to never preferencing One Nation again in the Northern Territory because it does irreparable harm overseas.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: Relevance to the question, yes, and length.
Mr HENDERSON: Irreparable harm, Madam Speaker. We are proud to call for Australians to come and make the Territory their home. We are proud to go overseas and ask potential migrants to come to the Northern Territory and make it their home, and I would urge the opposition to get onboard with us.
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Are you aware of the attitude of the CEO of PowerWater, your southern recruit, to any negotiation for compensation to ITS in the face of the adverse findings of the Ombudsman? His attitude could be described as: ‘Look, you won the lottery, but we gave the prize to someone else. So give you back the price of the ticket, now go away’. Does this reflect the attitude of this government towards small business?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, I will not take the assumptions implicit in the question, but I will say this: PowerWater is a government owned corporation. Notwithstanding that, even if it were a government agency, we had a suggestion opposite that ministers ought be over the top of their CEOs’ shoulder and signing off on procurement, ‘We think this company should get it’. Well, not this government. We have stringent processes in place and I have been through Mr Wood’s letter outlining those stringent processes.
In relation to the question of compensation for expenses incurred in getting the tender together in the first place, it is a matter for PowerWater and, as I said, discussions have already taken place. In Mr Wood’s own words, they have met with the complainant and they are actively considering any reasonable, appropriate action to mitigate the complainant’s situation. Given the findings of the Ombudsman in his report, I would have thought that that is entirely appropriate.
Mr STIRLING: While I am on my feet, I did say I would get back to the member for Greatorex in relation to his question about supply and delivery of tobacco, cigarette papers and cigarettes for a period of three years to Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres. It was publicly advertised and tenders closed on 29 October 2003. One tender only, from British American Tobacco Australia Limited, in Regency Park, South Australia, for a sum in excess of $1m, and it was subsequently approved by the Procurement Review Board on 4 December.
It would be difficult not to approve when only one tenderer has put their hand up. I am not sure how the Procurement Review Board, or anyone else, got that particular one wrong.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Procurement Policy – NT Government
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
A cursory glance at the DCIS website reveals contracts awarded by your government in the last three months to interstate companies totals almost $13m. It also reveals that 60% of contracts for the Department of the Chief Minister actually go interstate. At a time when local furniture businesses are closing because they cannot get enough business, why did your government recently award a contract worth nearly $4m to supply school chairs and desks to a South Australian company?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we all wish that every contract ever entered in to by the Northern Territory government went to a Northern Territory company. The fact is that it is not always possible to achieve that. There are a whole range of reasons, including value for money questions, which are very much at the forefront in terms of application of procurement as to why a contract might be awarded to a particular company.
In fact, we are not the first government to look at the whole question of procurement. It was undergoing review under the previous government, and it underwent review under our government. As an example, I was at the Alcan Suppliers Awards. You talk about value for money and how hard they as a company drive their suppliers. They were putting out a message very clearly: ‘No, do not expect to just increase your prices to us without some value added. If your prices go up, you have to provide a service in some way that compensates that price movement’.
I would like to think that government has to get much more hard-headed in terms of value for money in all of the contractual arrangements it enters into. It is simply a fact that not every contract on merit is going to go to a Northern Territory company, despite the fact that our base intention is always to grow the economy and to increase Territory business where we can.
That notwithstanding, there are procurement guidelines in place,; the Procurement Review Board looks at everything that goes through. They tick it off. These contracts are all at arm’s length from ministers and that is the way it should always have been. It is certainly the way it is now, and I imagine that is the way it was under the previous government. Whilst our intention will always be to grow the Territory, we do not have a situation where we say: ‘You have to give it to a Territory company regardless of the bottom line’, because, at the same time, government has a responsibility to the taxpayer to ensure that it drives maximum value for every dollar that it spends in those hard-earned taxes derived from the constituency.
Economic Benefit – Cruise Ship Visitation
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
I understand a record eight cruise ships are arriving in Darwin this month. Can you outline what benefits these cruise ships will bring for small business and the local economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Barkly, for his question. Cruise ships are not a common sight in Tennant Creek and it is great that he has asked that question, however, the railway will certainly produce a big boost to Tennant Creek.
It is a great sight in Darwin today,. Tthe SS Adonia sailed into Darwin Harbour this morning, with 2600 passengers on board and 875 crew. It is an absolutely magnificent sight and a magnificent vessel. It is just one of six cruise ships destined for arrival before the end of February in Darwin. At a time where it is traditionally a very slow time of year for the Territory tourism industry, particularly in the Top End during our magnificent wet season, there will be six cruise ships here before the end of February which is magnificent to see.
I would like to pay tribute to the Tourist Commission, the current tourism minister, and the previous tourism minister, for the work they have done in promoting Darwin as a destination for cruise ships in the Northern Territory, and that hard work by government and the Tourist Commission is starting to pay off - six cruise ships by the end of February. Why are the cruise ships coming to Darwin? - bBecause they see Darwin as a fascinating, safe and very friendly place to visit.
By the end of the month, those six cruise ships will discharge a potential 13 000 passengers and crew visiting Darwin and the Top End. That is going to be a magnificent boost to our small business community - 13 000 new visitors. That is on top of the thousands of visitors who will be coming to the Top End as a result of The Ghan establishing operations. This is a huge new market for Northern Territory small business, as well as tourism operators in general. When we look at the spending of those 13 000 people - cafes, restaurants, newsagents, gift shops – that money is going to wash around the economy and it is very exciting.
I pay tribute to the traders in Darwin city,. tThey are going to be extending their trading hours on the weekends to cater for these thousands of new customers. Darwin City Promotions has organised bands, outdoor entertainment and regular performances by an Indonesian dance troupe. Our traders are grasping this opportunity, and congratulations to them.
Two craft fairs are going to be held featuring pottery, woodwork and other crafts produced solely by Territory artists. Again, this is a great initiative to promote Territory products and creativity to our international visitors. This new business is keeping the Territory moving ahead. That is what we are doing,. wWe are establishing the framework to move the Territory ahead, and it is great to see these vessels in the Territory.
However, there is another side. It is not just the small businesses thatwhich are going to benefit directly from the tourism spending from those six cruise ships and the 13 000 visitors. It is a significant boost to Territory businesses to resupply, restock and perform maintenance on these magnificent vessels.
One of those businesses is Sealanes Albatross, a Darwin-based company, supplying the ship with top quality food, liquor and chandellinglering services, most of which are sourced from local companies. Again, it is a very quiet time of the year for them, and they are rapt at work by government and the Tourist Commission in seeing six cruise vessels come to town.
This is real money for small business in the Territory. It is new money coming into the Territory at a very quiet time of year, and it is providing real jobs for Territorians. I would urge all members to get out there and welcome these visitors to our wonderful city.
Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres – Supply of Cigarette Papers and Matches
Dr LIM to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Your government recently awarded a contract worth $374 000 to a South Australian company to supply, guess what? Cigarette papers and matches to the Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres. Why is it that we cannot buy cigarette papers and matches in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. As I explained in my previous answer, all contractual arrangements are handled through the Procurement Review Board, which approve them and tick them off. They are at arm’s length from the minister, and quite rightly so. That is the way it is handled under this government.
In relation to the particular contract, I am not aware of it. If there is any information that can be provided to this Chamber from upstairs in relation to this particular matter …
Dr Lim: Well, you are the Treasurer.
Mr STIRLING: I did not know that I could be accused of not doing my job simply because I am not aware of every contract that is signed by the government on any particular day. However, if there is any information that ought to be more forthcoming in relation to this particular contract, I will ask for it to be sent down and I will respond before the end of Question Time. Notwithstanding that, Madam Speaker, we will see if anything needs to be added.
Nurses Enterprise Bargaining Agreement
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can the minister please inform members about the new nurses Enterprise Bargaining Agreement which is being certified in the Industrial Relations Commission this afternoon? How will this agreement contribute to real improvements in the recruitment and retention of nurses in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for a very important question. The new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with the Australian Nursing Federation will be presented to the Industrial Relations Commission today for certification. The agreement provides our nurses with an 11% increase in salary over three years. Increases for many nurses will be far greater, with improvements in allowances and introduction of extra classifications in the nursing career structure.
The EBA will help the Territory remain a competitive employer in a very difficult national and international marketplace. It sees us able to offer better terms and conditions than anywhere else in Australia other than New South Wales. The agreement reflects a new constructive relationship between the Australian Nursing Federation and our Department of Health. This stands in complete contrast with the time when the opposition was in government. One of the reasons they sit on that side of the Chamber is the contempt and arrogance shown by the opposition in the negotiations during the previous EBA.
Our relationship with nurses is based on active listening and working in partnership on issues of need and mutual interest.
I am pleased to announce collaborative arrangements between the Nursing Federation and the Health Department are formalised in the agreement and will continue for its three year lifespan. The Building Healthier Communities Framework, released by myself and the Minister for Family and Community Services on Monday, signals our determination to continue working to ensure the effective recruiting and retention of nursing staff for the Territory. This new EBA represents another step in that process. Paying nurses more is all part of keeping the Territory moving ahead with respect to retention and recruitment of nurses in this very important area of our service delivery.
AFLNT Football Events at Marrara Oval
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Last Thursday week, there was a great football match held at Marrara Oval between the Western Bulldogs and the NTFL. A constituent of mine took her husband and three children to the match. It cost $67. She also took some sandwiches for her children to eat, thus reducing the need to buy food at the ground and keep the cost down. When she got to the front gate she was told she was not allowed to bring her sandwiches into the ground.
Ms Carter: Shame!
Mr WOOD: She then had to take them back to her car, in pouring rain, before she was allowed in. What do you think of this policy, and will you take up this issue with the AFLNT in light of their efforts to get families back to football? On a related note about getting families back to football, do you believe that only light beer should be sold at Marrara, as I believe happens at Traeger Park?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Nelson. Whilst the member for Port Darwin can sit back and say: ‘Shame, shame, shame’, it is a shame also that when they were in government none of their Sport and Recreation ministers got in touch with the AFLNT in regard to some of the policies that they have in place.
As we understand it …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: … they have a board. Did you have a Sport and Recreation Minister who influenced the board? Did he go down and set policy for the board? He very rarely went there at all. In fact, you built this lovely stadium and you walked away from it. You can sit there and giggle …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You can sit there and giggle but history comes back to bite you on the backsides once again.
In regards to the good question put to me by the member for Nelson, I will take it up with Bob Elix and Chris Natt, whom I will be seeing shortly, to talk about their policy in regards to people being able to take food and non-alcoholic beverages into the football. We also believe that the AFLNT are going to have a look at their liquor situation in regards to some of the problems that we experienced after the Western Bulldogs/Territory football match just over a week ago.
The grandstand has sold out tickets for this Friday’s Wizard Cup match between the Fremantle Dockers and Essendon Bombers. I think tThere will be somewhere in the vicinity of 12 000 to 15 000 people. It will probably create some hassles in regards to the liquor consumed.
Traeger Park has worked well and the CAFL have used that initiative in Central Australia. It is possible, when the AFLNT review what happens for big matches and the finals series at Marrara, that they may wish to adopt something like that. For not wanting to be some type of media event, I am not going to tell them what they should and should not do. They are big people; they can deal with it, they can handle it. In regards to the liquor licence, there are restrictions.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You go on about Territory lifestyle,. nNow you are saying to me, as the minister, I should influence the type of alcohol that they should have. I am the minister who is not going to interfere in sport and recreation activities. If the policy is a problem, I am glad the member for Nelson has raised it here. I will take that on board and I will discuss that with Bob Elix, Chris Natt and their board.
Integrated Technical Services
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
What do you know of the home-grown Territory company, Integrated Technical Services, and its installation of leading edge solar power and communications technology in Australia and throughout South-East Asia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, they are a great Territory-based company providing a great service, and they have been out there in the marketplace doing it very well for quite some years.
Members: Hear, hear!
Suntay Aquaculture
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Yesterday, you referred to the involvement of Suntay Aquaculture in a collaborate partnership with the Charles Darwin University.
Mr Mills: Please tell us more.
Ms LAWRIE: Minister, could you please provide – and this will be interesting; I know you want to put down Territory business.
Mr Mills: No, we do not.
Ms LAWRIE: It is interesting to Territorians.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Ask the question. Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Could you please provide further information on other developments that the Suntay group are involved in and the benefits these will have for Territorians and our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. As outlined yesterday, it is an exciting time for prawn farming in the Territory. Some dayuntay aAquaculture is going to be involved in a big way in prawn farming in the Territory.
I recall when Emilio Suntay first came to see me with a local person and was talking about this exciting time for prawn farming in the Territory. The reason he selected the Territory was because of the unpolluted water, existing infrastructure and, hopefully, that we could provide some help to establish the farm. I asked him if he had done anything like that before and he told me, yes, he came and spoke to ministers in the previous government and he got nowhere. He presented a case for the development of a 60 hectare, state-of-the-art closed system, the Belize system, prawn farm – and he got nowhere.
I was pleased that the Mminister for Infrastructure could help Suntay find land, which has been allocated, and he is going to establish a 60 hectare prawn farm at Point Ceylon, Bynoe Harbour. Emilio Suntay is not a novice in prawn farming. His family has been involved in aquaculture in the Philippines for the past 100 years. Emilio has shown confidence in the Territory by establishing his farm here. He is also going to make his first investment in the Territory by providing a $200 000 grant to the university and signing a Memorandum of Understanding to obtain black tiger prawn broodstock for the Northern Territory and breed local, disease-free prawns.
The adult prawns are tested three times to establish that they are free from disease, and then they are bred. I am pleased to advise that the first 50 000 small prawns are swimming happily in a big tank at the Charles Darwin University. That provides the Territory not only with the necessary infrastructure to establish our own breeding program for prawns, but disease-free prawns. We had a scare with the white virus bug, as the member for Nelson pointed out. However, I am pleased to advise that tests of the water around the prawn farm have shown no presence of the virus.
In addition to that, the Darwin Aquaculture Centre has established a filtration system to prevent any possibility of viruses escaping from prawn farms into the harbour. I am very proud and pleased to be associated with and to assist Emilio Suntay. I am delighted with the trust he has shown in the Territory.
Mr Baldwin: Well, give him the road he is asking for.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Emilio Suntay came to us asking for land, and we made sure that he got land. He has asked for assistance with a road. I understand my colleague, the member for Johnston, is working with Emilio there and looking at the possibility of providing a road.
Emilio Suntay has also asked for some power and currently we are examining the possibility of working with Emilio to establish a power supply. This government is prepared to work for and support businesses. This government is prepared to support investors who show faith in the Territory and are putting their money where their mouths are.
Procurement Policy – NT Government
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Even with your known preference for southern imports over Territory talent, do you agree your government has gone too far in ignoring this local talent, local content and cheaper price to give a valuable solar power contract to an interstate company, which did not even meet the tender requirements?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of Opposition for his question. You would have thought that this may attract the sort of level of concern that the Leader of the Opposition is putting on it if, under the previous government, none of these sort of contracts went interstate.
Let me remind him of one example that still leaves a bad taste in my mouth to this day. It was a contract that was awarded to an interstate company under a Certificate of Exemption, to one Mark Textor of Worthlin Polling. Mark Textor was establishing a reputation, first in the Northern Territory as a pollster for the conservative side of politics in this country. At the time, the Country Liberal Party was seeking someone to carry out polling, ostensibly for government research, making it legitimate to be paid for by the taxpayers of the Northern Territory.
Any reading of that polling and any viewing of the video tapes - for those who do not remember or do not know this story, - the video tape participants were promised by one Mark Textor, standing in front of the focus group, 12 or 15 individuals that, at the end of the session, the information would be gleaned from the tapes and the video tapes wiped clean. Three or four years later, Andrew Coward had 50 of these tapes. Having promised the participants – this is the integrity of one Mark Textor for whom you broke every procurement rule in the book. You go interstate to get your own dirty, scabby, little pollster who did not conduct legitimate government polling. He carried out party political polling paid for by the taxpayers of the Northern Territory. I still have a copy of the video. I can whip it out. It is probably the time to whip it out to the media again,; they have all forgotten.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: They have all forgotten. These are the sort of habits that they were into, Madam Speaker.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This matter has been debated at length by …
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: The question asked related to a specific contractor.
Madam SPEAKER: You know the rules about answering questions. but tThere were far too many interjections during that answer, and they were quite provocative from the opposition. I would suggest that you all settle down.
Get VET Campaign
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Millner, will you cease for a moment. Member for Macdonnell, a question is being asked. Will you pPlease allow the question to be asked in silence.
Mr BONSON: Territorians will be well aware of the government’s excellent campaign using people to Get VET. Could the minister please inform the House of the successful campaign, and any further plans to ensure Territorians have access to first class vocational and educational training.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. , because hHe is much closer in age and generation to these young people accessing training than I am, and has a distinct interest in what these young people are doing. It is an important question and it gives me an opportunity to talk about the Get VET campaign, which is quite a massive advertising campaign, marketing vocational education and training, commencing in November 2003. That campaign and the first ever Jobs Plan by the Northern Territory government, which we published last year, are twin key planks of this government’s intention to provide training for Territorians.
The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness of Vocational Education Training. VET ran among target audience and stakeholders so that more people would know what VET is and come to understand the very real benefits from it. It is too early yet to advise the impact in a broad sense of the Get VET campaign but early indications are extremely positive. It is interesting that Charles Darwin, one of the biggest training providers in the community, since the implementation of the Get VET campaign, areis now using the brand VET instead of the brand TAFE in all of its marketing. Tracking of hits on the VET web site shows a significant increase in the direct correlation in interest when those television and radio ads are being aired.
An independent market research company has been engaged to evaluate the campaign throughout March, just after the next round of commercials in February, so we should see the effectiveness and results of this campaign from some time in April. Research results will continue to guide the direction of the next stage of the Get VET campaign, which we will be relaunched in early 2004-05. A brand new Get VET kit has been developed for use by both public and private registered training organisations and will be issued this month.
I paygive credit to the people who put that campaign together,. because I believe they are realistic ads, showing Territorians in realistic settings, and it does hit the mark. In terms of the research results from an exercise like this, it is legitimate use of taxpayer’s’ money in pursuit of government policy and objectives, unlike the money paid to Mark Textor.
Procurement Policy – NT Government
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Considering that Integrated Technical Services have gone to considerable cost to prepare its tender, and jump all the hurdles placed in its way by PowerWater as it systematically subverted the procurement process, why did you not intervene on behalf of a Territory business more than 12 months ago?
ANSWER
There are a couple of assumptions in that question which would need to be substantiated before I or anyone else would accept them as fact. However, I do have information about this contract, and for the benefit for the Leader of the Opposition and members opposite, perhaps if I went through some of that information it may give a little more understanding.
The Ombudsman confirmed in his report that PowerWater procurement processes were shown to have been wanting. No secret. That is what the report says. I am informed that PowerWater have already acted upon those processes to amend them, with a range of reforms so that we will not see this type of situation occurring again in the future. There is an example in this for everyone. An example for Territory business is that they can have confidence in the process and the independence of the Ombudsman.
Mr Mills: What? The bureaucracy will run the show? Not the Territory government?
Mr Henderson: So you would award the tenders, would you, would you tick them all off?
Mr STIRLING: I will go back to that, Madam Speaker. It serves as an example where Territory business can have confidence in the Office of the Ombudsman, and the independence of that office to fully investigate and look into decisions that the business may disagree with. Business can also be confident that we do have a procurement process in the Territory that focusses on value for money and support for Territory business on a level playing field wherever possible.
Under that criteria of value for money, in case that is misconstrued as grabbing the dirtiest and the cheapest on the desk before you, let me explain the objectives under value for money. To achieve the best possible return from Northern Territory government expenditure on supplies - yes, good.; recognise that this may not necessarily amount to purchasing at the lowest price; and, recognise that job creation and retention for Territorians and/or improving the skills of the Territory work force are value for money issues that need to be taken into account. Therefore, when we talk about value for money in the procurement processes, we are recognising that job creation and job skilling for Territorians is a value for money question that needs to be taken into account. That is the way it works now; that is the policy and they are the principles.
The value for money heading is one part of the process that the Procurement Review Board needs to take into account.
Payroll Tax
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition told this parliament that $96m worth of payroll receipts were a ‘book entry’. He said a sizable part of that $96m was because government agencies and departments pay payroll tax. Can you inform the Assembly if the Leader of the Opposition’s claim is accurate, or has he made a $96m blunder?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question because this really is the first foray into matters economic matters in the Northern Territory by the Leader of the Opposition - a member of this House who would be Treasurer under a CLP government. His first foray into this arena leaves me breathless because he is $96m out. A blunder of this size in the Northern Territory economy overall is pretty serious.
He described the $96m revenue in the budget books as being a book entry, in part, because that is the payroll tax that was picked up from business, industry and the private sector across the board. Much of that, of course, was government paying itself and simply a nominal entry that is not additional revenue for the government. Well, he is wrong, and a reading of the budget papers will show him that he is wrong.
The $96m he refers to comes entirely from non-government sources. The further $49m--point--something or other comes from the government paying itself payroll tax. It is clearly speltled out in Budget Paper No 2, on page 78, and Budget Paper No 3, page 279, which explains the total payroll tax regime. That is not rocket science,. hHe can go to those budget papers and check this for himself. However, he has shown that he is not capable of that, he is not reading the budget properly.
Further, there would be shockwaves in the business world once they realise he is talking about abolishing payroll tax. A $96m hit to the Territory budget this year, notwithstanding that we are reducing payroll tax and will continue to do that because we want Territory business to grow. What he has failed to take into account is this: a minority of businesses overall in the Northern Territory pay payroll tax because the Territory has quite a lot of small businesses that do not reach the $600 000 threshold. Of those exclusively Territory-based companies in the community, just 7% pay payroll tax. In those terms, to abolish payroll tax, sure, the bigger companies get a break, it does not do anything for the quite small business, less than perhaps 15 or 16 employees, because they are not paying payroll tax anyway.
What he would have to do, within a quite short time, is find another tax. He may well have read the Productivity Commission report into home ownership in Australia, because that says to state and territory governments, ‘You have to increase your land tax.’ Well, hello, Madam Speaker, we do not have a land tax; we never have had a land tax, and it is not my intention nor this government’s to introduce one. I will tell you for one, that little man, Mr George Cridland, would kill me. Every time he sees me, he comes up and stands on my toes and he says, ‘Tell me no land tax’, and I say, ‘Mr Cridland, as long as I am Treasurer of the Northern Territory there will be no land tax’. If the government is going to introduce a new land tax it has to get rid of me, as Treasurer, in the first instance.
This is the problem he has because, suddenly, just 7% of exclusively Territory-based companies are paying payroll tax. Bring in a land tax - everyone will be paying it. He could add on to that a fire and services levy - paid by business everywhere else in Australia.
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The effect at the moment is this: if you take a company with a $600 000 payroll in the Northern Territory, that company pays about $7558 in various forms of taxation. The next state nearest is South Australia with about $15 700. And don’t they get higher than that. In New South Wales, the land tax alone is $12 800. If that is what he wants to do, get out and tell Territorians because any promise to abolish payroll tax simply means new taxes and sending Territory business broke.
Tiwi Campus – Asbestos Removal and Royal Commission Report
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
During last year’s Estimates Committee you made a statement regarding the removal of asbestos at the Tiwi Ccampus. You said the whole matter was put before the Royal Commission and they found no substance to any of the allegations. Do you still stand by that statement even though on page 340 of the Royal Commission report it says that:
- ∙ RUB Pty Ltd engaged in unlawful conduct;
- ∙ on 31 July 2002, workers were hammering and smashing asbestos trim at the Tiwi site without wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, whilst children were playing in close proximity.
Could you also tell the House if your department has arranged an independent review of the conduct of NT WorkSafe in relation to this matter, as discussed at a meeting on 7 May 2003?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. In relation to the commitment to review the actions of the Office of Work Health, it was subsequently advised and agreed that NT WorkSafe would instead provide Mr Bullock and Miss Fitzmaurice access to the relevant file, as NT WorkSafe were satisfied that their processes in the matter were entirely appropriate and ought be able to be scrutinised by Mr Bullock. I understand that access to those files occurred during January 2004, and copies of some of the documents were provided to Mr Bullock and Miss Fitzmaurice.
Ministerial correspondence and a third party document was not provided, but an explanation was provided at the time for that decision. I am advised also that NT WorkSafe will assist and support any freedom of information request that they wanted to make on that matter. I am confident and stand by the fact that, I am advised, that NT WorkSafe has met the regulatory requirements and acted appropriately in dealing with what has been a fairly complex and long-running matter to this point.
Kings Canyon Project – Tender for Solar Panels
Mr ELFERINK to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
The federal government has partly funded the Kings Canyon project that your government awarded to a Western Australian company. How do you intend to explain your action when the lowest tenderer, using state-of-the-art Australian solar panels and equipment, was passed over in favour of a non-conforming, more expensive tender, using solar panels from overseas, and through a system that the Ombudsman himself described as tainted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I seek a point of clarification. We are talking about the same contract that has been let?
Mr Elferink: Yes.
Mr STIRLING: All I can say is, as I have said before and I reaffirm, the Ombudsman has made it clear in his report …
Mr Elferink: That it is tainted, the whole process. You knew about it 12 months ago.
Mr STIRLING: Well, I do not know. The advice to me is that the Ombudsman has confirmed in his report that PowerWater’s procurement processes in this matter were shown to have been wanting. I am informed that PowerWater have already acted to amend those processes with a range of reforms such that we ought not see this type of situation occur in the future.
Dr Lim: You have a copy of the report. Why do you not you table it?
Mr STIRLING: I have a copy of the report.
Dr Lim: Well, table it. Let us look at it.
Mr STIRLING: I have with me, Madam Speaker, the final report, PowerWater Corporation Procurement Review Board Contract and Procurement Services: Investigation of Complaint, and I table that notwithstanding that you would not necessarily want all the names in that report bandied around.
I do not know whether your question went further than that, but I stand by what I said. Read the report. That is what it says. PowerWater’s advice to government is that they have acted where their procurement processes were shown to have been wanting, and we would not expect to see any type of situation like this again because they have changed the way they do it.
Crocodiles – Proposed Safari Hunting
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
With our love of the outdoors and our high proportion of remote communities and pastoral stations, the management of crocodiles across the Top End is an important issue for Territorians. What benefits would the government’s proposal to allow limited safari hunting of crocodiles bring to remote communities, pastoralists and the Northern Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an important question because it underscores the Territory having the right to manage its wildlife properly. The Territory – and all credit to the Parks and Wildlife Service over many years, and researchers such as Professor Grahame Webb – provides a model for wildlife management throughout Australia, if not the world, particularly in relation to crocodiles.
Most members and people listening would be aware that prior to the ban on unrestricted hunting in the early 1970s, crocodiles were a threatened and endangered species but, with management, they have bounced back. Some of the data that I have seen suggests that numbers in some parts of the Territory at least are to a stage where they may equal levels before they were pushed to extinction in the early 1970s.
To satisfy the provisions of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 and the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Territory must have in place a plan for the management of saltwater crocodiles. In November last year, the Draft Management Plan for Saltwater Crocodiles in the Northern Territory was released for public comment and, once formally approved by the Commonwealth, will replace the current plan.
The new plan outlines the management and conservation of saltwater crocodiles, and it is a bit of a juggling act. Here we have a wild animal that has instincts of hunting and preying on things - quite a savage beast. We want to conserve them and recognise their economic value, but we also have to recognise the threat to human safety that they pose.
In a significant departure from the existing plan, what the Territory proposed to be included in the plan that we have submitted to the Commonwealth is a permit for 25 adult crocodiles to be harvested each year through commercial hunting activities. In no way were we asking for an increase on the 600 that is allocated within the current plan for crocodiles to be harvested, we are asking for that 25 to be within the existing quota.
The period for public comment has now closed. A large number of submissions were received. I believe that they were generally supportive, although there are a number of animal rights and humane groups that oppose the commercial harvesting of crocodiles. Whilst I respect their position, the management plan clearly sets out how this would be done humanely in the same pattern that is used now. The only difference would be that it would be a hunter who is paying money to do it. So there is no appreciable difference in the method or the regulations governing it.
We believe that, if the Commonwealth were to allow us to do this, it would provide a significant economic boost, particularly for remote Aboriginal communities, coastal communities and also to some pastoralists. I believe it is an important step for the Territory, and there are benefits that we believe could keep the Territory moving ahead. That is what we want to see, is the Territory moving ahead. The Commonwealth is still taking a period of consultation. The Minister for the Environment, Dr Kemp, unfortunately, I believe, has already put out a draft, which is on the Internet, a draft declaration of an Improved Wildlife Trade Management Plan, Commonwealth of Australia in relation to the Northern Territory. One dot point that he has set out in his draft is that recreational hunting of crocodiles for profit or safari hunting is not permitted. I believe that is very negative and I have said so in the public arena.
Dr Kemp should reconsider that and I hope members opposite might lobby him, because I have received a lot of e-mails from all over Australia and the world supporting this particular way with crocodiles. The federal government should be listening because , we are all aware that every year there are 150 crocodiles pulled out of Darwin Harbour. If there were 150 crocodiles being pulled out of Sydney Harbour or Lake Burley Griffin, the Commonwealth government would be taking a lot more interest in crocodiles. They tend to think it is up there, let us not worry about it. I urge Territorians to get behind this and make their views known to the federal government so that the Territory does have the right to harvest these 25 crocodiles. I believe it is a very worthwhile plan.
Integrated Technical Services – PowerWater Contract
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Do you agree that potential customers may think that something has gone terribly wrong with this high performance company when it was beaten on this government contract by a higher priced non-conforming tender. Do you also agree that Integrated Technical Services may have suffered material damage to its reputation beyond the cost of missing out on this tender because of the improper actions of your government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, I will not go through the presumptions in that question, but I will say this. ITS’s reputation is, in my view, and in the view of, I would have thought, all Territorians and its customer base, sound enough to withstand something of this nature because they have been around a long time. Their reputation is second to none. It might be appropriate, and I guess I am trying to draw a line under this, but if I could refer to the PowerWater CEO’s own views on this matter, it may more fully inform the opposition. His press release of today states:
The Power and Water Corporation has welcomed the release of the Ombudsman’s report into the investigation of a complaint against the awarding of a tender for the supply and installation of photovoltaic technology by then Power and Water Authority in June 2002.
Power and Water’s Managing Director, Kim Wood said ‘We have clearly indicated to the Ombudsman, there were shortcomings in the procurement process in this instance’.
On 1 July 2002 the Power and Water Authority became the Territory’s first Government-owned corporation and stringent new corporate governance rules, including procurement processes, were introduced.
‘The Ombudsman’s recommendations are consistent with these new arrangements’, Mr Wood said.
The new procurement processes require all expenditure decisions of more than $2 million to be presented to the Corporation’s Board for consideration.
The procurement function has now been centralised under a newly created senior position of Procurement Manager with dedicated resources responsible for ensuring compliance with procurement policies and procedures and quality control over the Corporation’s procurement actions.
In addition, an internal committee known as the Business Review Committee has been constituted. This Committee, which is, chaired by the Corporation’s Managing Director, and consists of all senior operational managers and a number of specialist advisers drawn from the procurement, financial and economic groups within the Corporation meets fortnightly and consider all procurement action.
Mr Wood said that ‘As a large Territory business, the Corporation and its Board recognise and are committed to buying local wherever possible’.
The corporation has met with the complainant and will consider any reasonable appropriate action to mitigate the complainant’s situation.
‘I am confident that the stringent procurement processes that are now in place within the Corporation will prevent this type of situation from arising again’, said Mr Wood.
Attraction of Skilled Workers to Territory
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
Could you please advise the House on steps this government is taking to help Territory business grow and attract skilled workers to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Karama, for the question. As Minister for Business and Industry, as I move around the Territory talking to Territory business, and also through forums such as the Chief Minister’s Business Round Table, an issue that comes through loud and clear across the Territory is the capacity and difficulty of attracting and keeping a skilled work force in the Northern Territory. The government is taking a three-staged approach to try to work with business in the Northern Territory to deal with these issues.
My colleague, the Minister for Employment, Education and Training announced the first one a few weeks ago, which was the Jobs Plan., with substantial money - $160m – seeking to train 7000 apprentices, particularly in those hard to get blue collar areas, given the industrial activity that is about to take place in the Northern Territory.
The Chief Minister’s investment campaign around the Northern Territory has led to significant numbers of people in the work force in the rest of Australia contacting Territory business. From getting around and talking to business in the Territory, I know of a couple in Alice Springs who have advertised interstate quite consistently. Since the Chief Minister’s investment campaign kicked off, the number of job applications they are getting from interstate have gone up quite dramatically.
The third area is looking at skilled and professional migration. It is an area that there has not been a lot of focus on over the last few years, and it is the third plank of our attempts to attract a skilled work force to the Northern Territory.
Last month, I released a draft version of the government’s five-year business and skilled migration strategy. It is a consultative document to go out to the business community and our ethnic groups in the Northern Territory, with a range of options where government can work through those associations and with individual businesses and business associations to promote the Northern Territory as a great place to come if you are a skilled or business migrant.
At the moment, if you look at our profile, we are 1% of Australia’s population, but only attract 0.2% of Australia’s overall migrant intake every year. If we were to be representative at 1%, that would be 600 additional Territorians every year to the Northern Territory. We are working with our business community and ethnic associations to understand what we can do to promote the Northern Territory. We will be holding community consultations across the Northern Territory. I urge all members to have a look at the strategy and engage their constituents in this process. The strategy will assist Territory business by broadening our skills base, increasing the diversity of our economic base, and creating new and improved links.
An exciting development, I am pleased to announce today is that, for the first time in eight years, the Territory is participating in international migration exhibitions. A senior officer from my department leaves this afternoon for China and Taiwan to participate in a business and skilled migration promotion. Next month, the same officer will travel to Surrey in the UK to participate in Emigrate 2004, the largest migration exhibition in Europe attracting 15 000 people over three days. We are out there selling the Territory to the world as a great place to come to as a migrant, and Territorians take great pride in the contribution that migrants have made to this wonderful place we call home in the Northern Territory.
I urge the opposition to stop talking down and attacking southerners. This line about ‘we do not want southerners coming to the Northern Territory, we should not be giving southerners jobs’ is absolutely offensive and counterproductive to what business is saying in the Northern Territory: that we need a skilled work force, we need to keep a skilled work force. Yes, we need to train our own and we are training our own. However, we also need to get out there and promote the Northern Territory as a wonderful place to come and live, not only interstate, to those southerners that the opposition derides. I was surprised to hear the new Leader of the Opposition putting out a press release yesterday attacking the government for employing southerners. That is an offence to every business out there as well that employs somebody from interstate.
Again, in a spirit of bipartisanship, I would hope the new Leader of the Opposition is out there saying that he has policies, even though they are pretty flimsy and they do not have any depth or costing to them, the ones that are have holes right through them. There is a challenge, Leader of the Opposition, you talk a lot about engaging with Asia. The one thing that has damaged Australia, and set Australia back for years in Asia, when you travel through Asia, is the way that One Nation got off and running in Australia and was put down by our Prime Minister.
In the last election, the CLP preferenced One Nation. I would hope that the new Leader of the Opposition, in a policy commitment, would commit today to never preferencing One Nation again in the Northern Territory because it does irreparable harm overseas.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: Relevance to the question, yes, and length.
Mr HENDERSON: Irreparable harm, Madam Speaker. We are proud to call for Australians to come and make the Territory their home. We are proud to go overseas and ask potential migrants to come to the Northern Territory and make it their home, and I would urge the opposition to get onboard with us.
Integrated Technical Services – PowerWater Contract
Mr MILLS to ACTING CHIEF MINISTER
Are you aware of the attitude of the CEO of PowerWater, your southern recruit, to any negotiation for compensation to ITS in the face of the adverse findings of the Ombudsman? His attitude could be described as: ‘Look, you won the lottery, but we gave the prize to someone else. So give you back the price of the ticket, now go away’. Does this reflect the attitude of this government towards small business?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, I will not take the assumptions implicit in the question, but I will say this: PowerWater is a government owned corporation. Notwithstanding that, even if it were a government agency, we had a suggestion opposite that ministers ought be over the top of their CEOs’ shoulder and signing off on procurement, ‘We think this company should get it’. Well, not this government. We have stringent processes in place and I have been through Mr Wood’s letter outlining those stringent processes.
In relation to the question of compensation for expenses incurred in getting the tender together in the first place, it is a matter for PowerWater and, as I said, discussions have already taken place. In Mr Wood’s own words, they have met with the complainant and they are actively considering any reasonable, appropriate action to mitigate the complainant’s situation. Given the findings of the Ombudsman in his report, I would have thought that that is entirely appropriate.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres – Supply of Cigarette Papers and Matches
Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres – Supply of Cigarette Papers and Matches
Mr STIRLING: While I am on my feet, I did say I would get back to the member for Greatorex in relation to his question about supply and delivery of tobacco, cigarette papers and cigarettes for a period of three years to Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres. It was publicly advertised and tenders closed on 29 October 2003. One tender only, from British American Tobacco Australia Limited, in Regency Park, South Australia, for a sum in excess of $1m, and it was subsequently approved by the Procurement Review Board on 4 December.
It would be difficult not to approve when only one tenderer has put their hand up. I am not sure how the Procurement Review Board, or anyone else, got that particular one wrong.
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