2004-08-19
Sub Judice Matters
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you refused to answer questions regarding your comments about Warren Anderson because it was a matter before the courts and was, therefore, sub judice. There was no such action against you. On 25 July 2001, you had no problem making comment on ABC radio about the Bradley case, a matter that was then before the courts. On 18 May 2000, Labor ran a censure motion about a matter before the courts. On 28 November 2000, you asked a question about NT Power, a matter that was then before the High Court. Now, sub judice has become a convenient tool for you to dodge your responsibilities. Will you now come out from behind your wall of silence, explain yourself to Territorians and apologise to an innocent man who you have set to defame?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again I say to the Opposition Leader that it is important to be accurate in the questions he is asking. There are two different aspects.
Mr Mills: Absolutely accurate – and honest.
Ms MARTIN: The implication that I am not being honest, he should move by substantive motion, otherwise withdraw it.
Mr Mills: It speaks for itself.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms MARTIN: There are two issues here. One is before the courts, and the other is a matter of litigation. I made it very clear yesterday that I was making no comment because of the matter of litigation, or potential litigation. That was my legal advice specifically. I made that quite clear.
The matter to do with the Minister for Community Development is before the courts. I am saying the matter to do with me is subject to litigation, and my legal advice, as opposed to the kind of legal advice that the Opposition Leader waltzed in ...
Mr Mills: Your own record.
Ms MARTIN: Excuse me, Madam Speaker. The Opposition Leader waltzed in here yesterday and gave me his legal advice about what I should do. I take my legal advice from government lawyers. I said this a number of times yesterday: my advice is, at this stage, to make no comment.
The Ghan –Proposed Upgrades
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TOURISM
Could you please update the House on the success of The Ghan and any upgrades that may be planned for this popular attraction?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, do not ...
Members interjecting.
Mr Burke: You cannot even put in a public telephone box. You cannot even ring a cab unless you have a mobile phone.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the Opposition - member for Brennan, order! Just settle down and listen to the answer.
Mr Kiely: Only 11 months to go.
Madam SPEAKER: I have asked for order, member for Sanderson! Chief Minister, now you may go ahead.
Ms MARTIN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am delighted to answer this question. The Ghan, which started service in early February into the Territory, past Alice Springs to Darwin, has been a really stunning success. When you look at the predictions …
Mr Burke: No help from you.
Mr Maley: Your contribution was a railway station.
Ms MARTIN: It is interesting to hear the opposition put down The Ghan, and its contribution to tourism. It is very disappointing.
There were predictions before The Ghan started on its new trip from Adelaide to Darwin that, maybe, in the first year you might see 30 000 travellers on it. We have achieved that target in six months. The GSR reports 30 000 travellers on The Ghan into the Territory since February. Because of those travellers, millions of dollars went into our economy, hundreds of extra jobs …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: The flow-on into our economy has been significant for our hotels. It is virtually impossible to get a hotel room on a Tuesday night in Darwin because of the impact of The Ghan. The airlines, transport services, taxis, hire cars, and charter boats are benefiting - flowing on right across our community.
Of course, there were teething problems, and we are not hiding from those.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: The opposition is trying to pretend that, somehow or other, we do not know. Of course we know, and we are doing something about it, rather than just mouthing and going on and whinging. When there are teething problems with the service run by Great Southern Rail, of course we are in there working with them. I certainly welcome …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I notice that one of the members of the opposition is actually trying to listen to your response, but is having the utmost difficulty because of the members around him. I suggest the opposition settle down a bit.
Ms MARTIN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am trying to talk about a very important issue for the Territory and all I get is yelled down by the opposition.
We welcome on board the GSR appointment of their new CEO, Tony Braxton-Smith, who comes from Dreamworld, and is certainly consciously bringing a tourism focus to the operation of The Ghan and Great Southern. We welcome him on board.
Working with GSR, together with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment and the Tourist Commission, we are tackling those issues that have emerged - considering some of the early problems that were identified, that are going away. I am very confident about that.
There is better information at stations right up and down the track. Familiarisation for The Ghan staff is planned to let them know more details about the Northern Territory. The Tourist Commission is working together with GSR on a green season marketing campaign.
The problems in Darwin, specifically, were identified. One was a need for better signage to and from the terminal. That has been put in place. The arrival times, which were causing some difficulties, have been changed from 4 pm to 4.30 pm at the Darwin Terminal, and that has proved to be successful. There were issues about taxis and shuttle buses, and knowing what time the train was coming and being there in sufficient numbers. That has certainly improved considerably. Thank you to our taxi industry and the shuttle buses. We are monitoring that and making sure that it stays responding to the number of travellers’ needs there are.
The difficult one of the telephone line – I admit it; we have had trouble with this telephone line. It has been difficult. You would think that to get a telephone line there would not cause so much trouble. I appeal to Telstra. I know we are going to have it in two months; see if we can do it more quickly. When it seems to be something you should be able to do quickly, the fact that it has taken so much time, despite a lot of good intentions, is very frustrating. We are getting on top of it, and all I can say is: come on Telstra, let us see if we can do it as soon as possible.
In Katherine, there were a number of issues - the better signage one, the better tour information which has been a key one, and problems from travellers’ point of view about what tours they could do during the time in Katherine. They have expanded from one – which was the Gorge tour – up to seven now. Therefore, when you arrive in Katherine you have a whole range of tours to do, from a cultural tour that includes Mimi Arts, to one that will take you to Springvale Homestead for Devonshire tea. You can have a Katherine Town tour, an agricultural tour. There are a number of different options, which has really produced a much more satisfying experience in Katherine for travellers on the train.
In Tennant Creek, those portable stairs are in place, and the logistics of access to those have been sorted out. Further work on the terminal will begin next week. I congratulate L & R Builders, a local Tennant Creek company, for winning that contract. In Alice Springs, there has been $300 000 worth of landscaping and shading to the terminal there.
Forward bookings on The Ghan are excellent. Tickets are now being sold from April next year onwards. We are starting to see some of the early marketing that was put in place in the international market bear fruit. It takes time for that to happen. The early success has been domestic, and we will see that followed through with international.
Those early problems are being rectified. I admit it; we had some early problems. However, we are working with GSR to overcome them. We will continue to work with GSR to monitor and work through any emerging problems. The Ghan has been a tremendous boost to tourism in the Territory, and we all should be celebrating its success.
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Visitors
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of careers and members from Total Recreation NT. On behalf of members, I extend to you a warm welcome.
I also acknowledge the presence in the gallery of Magistrate Alasdair McGregor. On behalf of all members, I also extend a warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Owston Nominees - Legal Proceedings
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Yesterday, we learnt that your department was the organisation that made the decision to let the animals go hungry at Tipperary Station. You decided to do this so a prosecution could be brought against Warren Anderson. Does it not make you guilty of the same offence that you sought to bring against Warren Anderson?
ANSWER
No, Madam Speaker. As I said yesterday, my position has not changed. I have made it clear that this is a matter before the courts and I have nothing further to say.
Total Recreation – Funding Issues
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
It is great to see Total Recreation here in the gallery. I have had a long association with many of the people there. Could you please inform the government of any funding initiatives that your department has undertaken to support the wonderful work of Total Recreation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This been an issue that has a lot of passion, and has had a lot of representation on. However, can I make it clear first that this government is serious about all Territorian having an opportunity to develop their potential and live fulfilling lives. Some of the representation has come from members in this House.
To this end, I have had a meeting - and I acknowledge the President of Total Recreation, Mr Bill Medley - to look at and resolve this issue. The government provides funding to many non-government organisations to identify and develop services to best meet the needs of specific groups. Total Recreation is one such service that is funded by government to provide access for those with disabilities for sporting and recreational opportunities.
In 2004-05, Total Recreation will receive around $258 000, which is a substantial increase since the Martin Labor government starting rebuilding Disability Services in 2001. This funding is guaranteed this year and into the future. The $258 000 government provides to Total Recreation is part of a huge increase in funding to our Disability Services. This funding has been increased by 74% since 2001. That is an extra $20m every single year spent on vital services for the aged and disability sector.
I have met with representatives from Total Recreation, and I look forward to meeting with some of their families involved. I would like to acknowledge some of the award winning ten pin bowlers, who are an inspiration and sporting ambassadors who we can all be proud of.
In relation to some of the issues that have come about with Total Recreation, and having met with the president to work through …
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: If you be quiet for a minute, I might answer, rather than listening to you bleat all the time.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, you might be aware that members of that association are also trying to hear the minister’s answer.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: That is right. They have not come in here to listen to you. They have come in here to get an answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, get on with your answer.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I have met with the president and there are some issues. I have given a commitment to meet with all the family members, and I am looking forward to meeting with everybody involved in Total Recreation to resolve this issue. I have given a commitment that we will find the funding shortfall that has been experienced. That has been a commitment that I have given to Total Recreation, and we look forward to a good partnership with them.
Total Recreation – Funding Issues
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
For hundreds of Territory families, Total Recreation has provided the only social outlet for people with intellectual and physical disabilities since the 1990s. Given that you are more than happy to throw away over $120 000 so far in a frivolous pursuit of Warren Anderson, how do you justify taking away $11 000 in funding from such an important group of Territorians with disabilities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I pick up one of the key words in the Leader of the Opposition’s question: ‘frivolous’. I recall $16m that still has not been settled in the court that has been attributed to decisions that your government took in regards to the challenge over power, and the $43m committed to the power services by the former Chief Minister, who we had to pay out - almost $60m. And you are saying that $120 000 is frivolous!
Well, let me inform members opposite that the increase since 2001 to Total Recreation has been 74% in funding. One does not have to be an Einstein to work out what happened before then. How much did your government provide to Total Recreation? Oh, you are very passionate about it now, but you have done nothing - very little.
What we have is a situation where the Minister for Family and Community Services and I are working out how best to deal with this problem. She has just committed …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You have asked a question, you should shut up and listen!
Mr Baldwin: I beg your pardon!
Mr AH KIT: Thank you.
Mr Burke: Can’t take a bit of pressure, hey?
Mr AH KIT: No, not all.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister …
Mr Baldwin: That is unparliamentary!
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, that is unparliamentary. Please withdraw it.
Mr AH KIT: I withdraw that unparliamentary statement, Madam Speaker, but they are so provocative.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, minister! Cease for a moment. I am sure our visitors in the gallery came along to listen to what was happening. I am quite sure they were not prepared for the amount of shouting and yelling that is going on as regards their particular issue. Show them some courtesy. Allow them to listen and find the answer, in silence. I can see from them looking at the minister and you that they are really interested in finding out what is going on. Show some courtesy to your visitors.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker …
Mr Baldwin: Lost my place.
Mr AH KIT: They cannot help themselves. I will have to turn this way.
We support Total Recreation. We do have to work through – and, as you know, I have funded, out of $20m worth of applications, $5.7m through the grants funding pool.
What we have is a particular situation which is a sporting issue. Last year, I was able to top-up their funding. I met with Bill and we had a chat. I said: ‘Look, if there is a shortfall by Christmas time, we will review it’, and then I provided some special assistance. That got them through to the end of the 2003-04 financial year. What we have been able to do now is to recognise that they have concerns. We need to work out how they approach the peak sporting bodies in regards to accessing funding. given that I provide money to many, if not all, of the peak sporting bodies throughout the NT. The Minister for Community Services and I need to consider whether there is a special case and we need to provide that sporting component one-off through Community Services, or through Sport and Recreation.
However, the Minister for Community Services has made it quite clear that the $11 000 will be there for their sporting needs. We will work out what is going to be the best policy to deal with this issue so that it does not crop up in the future.
Anti-Drug Legislation
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can the minister advise the House how the government drug house laws are benefiting the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question, because this question and the answer I am about to give goes to the heart of this government’s fight against crime. We have, as a government, a direct mandate from the people of the Northern Territory to crack down on people who peddle illicit drugs in our community. We made it a very strong plank of our election commitment.
Members of this House would be aware of the three-point plan we put to the people of the Northern Territory in order to crack down on people who peddle drugs and misery in our community. This government, since we have been in office for three years, have put in place a range of laws to stop and punish the people who profit from the sale of illicit drugs.
Ms Carney: Only 14% of them go to gaol, according to this. That is a dreadful record. Absolutely appalling.
Mr HENDERSON: We will talk about the opposition’s record in a moment, Madam Speaker. These drug house laws were controversial. They were derided by the pro-drug lobby and members opposite …
Mr Dunham: You exchanged votes with the pro-drug lobby – you gave them preferences.
Mr HENDERSON: It has been two years …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: It was derided by those members opposite - and they did absolutely nothing about an horrendous problem when they were in government.
It has been two years since these laws have been in operation, and let us look at the results. In this time, we have seen the seizure of over $380 000 worth of illicit drugs, including cannabis, amphetamines, cannabis plants and LSD. We have seen 45 arrests and 21 summonses issued by police arising from operations around these new drug laws - laws that were not in place when the CLP were in opposition. It was all too hard, or the previous government just turned a blind eye to the drug houses that were operating with impunity in the community.
Even more importantly, we have seen these drug houses driven out of business. Ninety-one first drug house notices have been issued across the Territory; 13 second notices and five third notices have been issued by police. This has seen many of those houses closed. The Foils at Moil was probably the most infamous of the drug houses. You could talk to any taxi driver in Darwin. If you wanted to know where you go to get some dope in Darwin, they told you to go to Foils at Moil, and it was a drive-through service operating with absolute impunity in Darwin. It was raised in this House in the lead-up to the last election. I remember the debate about it. It was even acknowledged by the then member for Jingili, who said there was a problem in his electorate but nothing could be done.
Well, we had the intestinal fortitude to introduce that legislation, and Foils at Moil and many other of those drug dens are now out of business. The previous government put its head in the sand. They said that the links between drugs and property crime were minuscule. I do not believe it is any coincidence that, since we introduced this legislation, we have seen property-related crime across the Territory drop by about 30% and 6500 fewer burglaries across the Northern Territory. Drug dealers hate these laws. The dealers in drugs hate these laws and we can see why.
Total Recreation – Funding Issues
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
My understanding of the problems that Total Recreation have had to persevere with is that the recurrent funding has not kept pace with expenditure since 2001. Another problem seems to be that, from 2004, there was going to be a level of funding set for the next three years. You have just announced that there will be guaranteed funding in the future. Could you also guarantee, or could I find out whether that funding will be fixed, or whether it will be adjusted to cover increases in wages and CPI?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The commitment that we have given of the $258 000 for 2004 is guaranteed this year and into the future. In terms of those funding increases with CPI and wages, that is something that is set by the department and we put it through. Certainly, it is …
Mr Baldwin: No, they are not. It is you, the minister.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We are addressing – I have listened, unlike you guys who did not listen. We have listened to Total Recreation and …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you talk to me please. Address your remarks through the Chair.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Sorry, Madam Speaker. We have listened to Total Recreation and the issues that they have raised, and I have given a commitment, as the minister, to ensure that we get together - and I have stressed this to the President of Total Recreation - for a meeting with all parents and members of Total Recreation. There are a number of issues that have to be worked through. We will do that, in partnership with myself, the department and Total Recreation.
There is a commitment to fix, in the short term, this funding shortfall that they have been experiencing. We have given a commitment to address that. We will meet and look to future plans.
Total Recreation – Funding Issues
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
To assist those who have gathered in the gallery to understand what you have just said, I ask if you could check whether what the Minister for Sport and Recreation actually said was this: that there will be an $11 000 cheque written out to restore the funding to Total Recreation, and that you will actually be writing a cheque for $40 000 to restore the funding to Total Recreation that has been reduced. Will you be writing a cheque for $40 000 to restore the funding that they have asked you to restore?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The Leader of the Opposition ought to hang his head in shame. The legacy that you left in terms of Disability Services is a disgrace.
In answer to the Leader of the Opposition’s question, what I have given a commitment to – and when I have met with Total Recreation and the President of Total Recreation, as I said before – was the issue of an $11 000 shortfall. If you knew operations, and how the due process happens, a letter of offer actually goes to the organisation. The organisation acknowledges that letter of offer, and then due payment happens.
The shortfall, as I understand it, is $11 000. That is what we have given a commitment to fix.
Proceeds of Crime – Confiscation of
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The CLP opposition has labelled the confiscation of profits laws introduced by this government a failure. Can you please advise what this legislation has helped achieve, and on what criteria this legislation could be described as a failure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. I was absolutely amazed, when I picked up the paper – I think it was on Monday morning – to see that the member for Araluen had labelled that the legislation introduced by this government to confiscate the profits of people who deal in crime - particularly in relation to drugs - was a failure. I was absolutely amazed. I wondered where on earth the member for Araluen and the opposition are getting their information from. What could possibly be the opposition’s definition of a failure, given that we had to introduce these laws because we were the only state that did not have laws in place to confiscate the profits and the assets from ill-gotten gains from crime? If what we have done as a government is a failure, I hate to think what adjective she would use to the neglect and the total absence of any legislation when the previous government was in power.
These laws have been used by police to impose a huge burden on the people who profit from the sale of illicit drugs. This is some failure that the member for Araluen was talking about. Over $1.6m worth of assets have been frozen - $1.6m worth of failure, mainly from drug dealers and the people who support them. $204 774 has been forfeited. When the CLP was in government, with no forfeiture of assets legislation, the crooks, the peddlers of drugs to our kids in the community, would be $1.6m better off. That is the CLP policy: drug dealers profiting, drug dealers better off; we are not going to do it. That is the policy of the CLP - let the drug dealers profit from crime. Well, they are $1.6m poorer under a Labor government …
Ms Carney: And policy of Labor is to let all the criminals go free.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, cease for a moment. Member for Araluen, you are getting very annoying.
Mr HENDERSON: They are $1.6m poorer under a Labor government. Currently, there is close to $1m frozen. These laws target criminals where it hurts: in the hip pocket.
I give our Drug Squad a great rap for the work that they do, because people who seek to sell drugs in our community seek to profit before anything else. They do not care about the consequences of what they do, as long as they make money.
Well, under the CLP, they were making a hell of a lot of money, with total impunity. Under Labor, we are going after them. My colleague, the Justice Minister, introduced further legislation in this House today to crack down on money laundering. We say that they are a success, and we are going to keep toughening up, on advice from police. The CLP says they are a failure. The CLP have to ask themselves: whose side are they on?
Palmerston GP Health Service
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH
When Labor came to power, one of the government’s first acts was to cut the 24-hour GP service at the Palmerston Health Precinct, and reduce the bulk-billing service to only operate from 6 pm to 10 pm daily. Are you aware of the appalling current state of that service? Are you aware that often, at 6 pm, a doctor is not available, with families and children waiting for over an hour before the service can commence when a doctor is finally found? Are you also aware that, too often, families who ring for an appointment are told not to bother turning up because they cannot be seen at all that evening? Do you have any interest in the health needs of the Palmerston/rural area and, if so, why, after three years in government, your government has done nothing except reduce the existing service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was at the Palmerston Community Health Service and the practice that provides the coverage to Palmerston during one of our Community Cabinets. I can certainly report that, from the point of view of the doctors working in the practice, they believe they are in a rational arrangement. We had to reduce the hours down because of the very low usage of the service during the overnight hours that the clinic remained open.
The arrangement that we now have is that patients who do need medical care during the time that the clinic is closed will go to the Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department. I guess the best authority on whether that is an adequate cover is the doctors themselves. Talking to the private practice clinic that is carrying out that service for us, they believe that is an appropriate and adequate way to cover the needs of people in Palmerston as they stand at the moment.
Obviously, we will look at it through the consultancy that is currently under way to look at Palmerston and its surrounds and the needs there. We will have a look at what they have to say to us. However, on the best evidence we have, we believe this is the most cost-effective way of providing the medical services.
Regarding pharmaceuticals, the GPs operating in Palmerston have pharmaceutical kits, which can provide most of the commonly needed medicines for patients in that area. If they need more exotic or specialised medicines, then that has to be sourced through the day service or the hospital.
Drug Dealers – Strategies to Fight
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
I know the people of Sanderson are pleased that the Martin government has shut down the Foils at Moil and other longstanding drug houses. Given the benefits of this initiative, is the government looking ahead to developing more strategies to fight drug dealers? If so, how will it be developing these initiatives?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. Drug house laws and the confiscation of criminal proceeds are just the start. Again, as I said earlier, my colleague, the Justice Minister, has introduced legislation that is before the House to further target businesses which launder the proceeds of crime.
We have new initiatives on the drawing board. A new drug dog squad will be in operation by the end of this year. I am aware that all of my colleagues are very pleased about this initiative, particularly my colleagues who represent bush seats. There is nothing sadder, when you travel around the Northern Territory, as we do in Community Cabinet, to hear from communities around the Northern Territory about the devastation that drugs are wreaking in those communities. I know the police and the Drug Squad are very pleased that they will have this new initiative by the end of the year. They are very expensive, but they are going to be worth every cent in terms of the work that they will do. More plans will be developed.
In identifying where these strategies are going to come from, we are going to be informed by what works elsewhere. However, we will also take advice from the Northern Territory Police and other local experts. More importantly, we will use our own common sense. We will not be adopting the Opposition Leader’s approach of inviting southerners to come to the Northern Territory to advise him on policy - particularly millionaire southern politicians from Western Australia, better known as Mr Bong in Western Australia – and to assist the opposition in writing their youth policy. This is a Leader of the Opposition who derides anybody who lives south of Alice Springs as a southerner …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek your ruling under Standing Order 62 whether this member is using offensive and unbecoming language in response to a member of another parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: I will say, no, there is no point of order at this stage.
Mr DUNHAM: Mr Bong is okay? Right. Sit down then Mr Bong, Mr Ganja.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you are on a warning. That is offensive. That retaliation is offensive.
Mr DUNHAM: Could I seek your clarification, Madam Speaker, whether the words ‘Mr Bong’ are parliamentary or unparliamentary.
Madam SPEAKER: It is unparliamentary …
Mr DUNHAM: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: … but in the context in which it was used, it is acceptable.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can understand the sensitivities of those opposite, because this really is a very serious issue on a very important public policy issue in the Northern Territory. All of us, as members of parliament …
Mr Dunham: We are prepared to have a drugs test, mate – all of us over here. What about you guys?
Mr HENDERSON: I can understand the sensitivities of the member for Drysdale, because he was part of a government that thought that the links between illicit drugs and property crime were minuscule. In the 12 months in the lead-up to the election and in his time as Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Opposition made a bit of a career name for himself deriding everybody who comes from outside of the Northern Territory as southerners, and attacks them for daring to come from interstate. He then invited a millionaire southern politician from Western Australia to come and advise him on his youth policy, who is commonly known as Mr Bong. Why did the Opposition Leader choose this man to write his policies? Why didn’t he write his own?
We have the Deputy Leader of the Opposition come up with a plea to the party - $50 for a policy. ‘Give me a policy, any policy, and we will send you $50’. Well, we have not had the announcement of who has won that policy prize of $50. Maybe the Western Australian politician may have done that. However, it is either incompetence or there is some sort of subversive plot going on here, because all he had to do was to put this person’s name into an Internet search engine just to see the reputation of this great advisor on youth policy in Western Australia.
I have a few press clippings here that I will table:
- Cabinet hopeful in drug shop link.
An ambitious backbencher in the Court government was a director of a company which sold drug paraphernalia to shops around Australia.
- Premier Richard Court has hinted that beleaguered backbencher Mike Board could make Cabinet despite recent revelations that he was a director of a company which sold drug paraphernalia around the country.
- Board makes pot explanation.
- Opposition health spokesperson Mike Board appears to have misled parliament over his involvement in a business that sold cannabis smoking implements.
Here we have the Leader of the Opposition inviting someone to the Northern Territory - with all the problems we have with marijuana here. As a father, one of the greatest fears for our kids is that they are going to get involved in drugs, and he invites someone to the Northern Territory who has had a commercial enterprise selling drug-related paraphernalia.
We had the ads in the paper:
- You are invited to participate and hear about this exciting initiative and its potential in …
Listen to this:
- … building leadership and essential life skills in our youth.
Unbelievable, Madam Speaker! This is either total and inept incompetence at its best, or it is pretty outrageous at its worst.
On television the other night, the member for Brennan said that the current Opposition Leader is struggling and cannot make an impact. Was this latest birdbrain effort of the Leader of the Opposition his own doing, or has he been set up by his mob opposite?
Mr Elferink: You are telling lies. Liar!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Macdonnell!
Mr HENDERSON: We take very seriously the fight against drugs in our community, and the Leader of the Opposition should be absolutely embarrassed by this latest bungle since he came to the leadership.
Mr Elferink: Lies! This is typical of you.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, withdraw that.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I clearly …
Madam SPEAKER: Just withdraw!
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw it, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. That is enough! That is all you have to do.
Mr Elferink: None of the other opposition members were asked to withdraw it, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Do not answer back.
Mr Stirling: He said it again as he sat down.
Mr Mills: That is disgraceful.
Mr Kiely: He is a worm!
Madam SPEAKER: The whole behaviour today is disgraceful, Leader of the Opposition, from both sides.
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Sanderson should withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Sanderson, if you made an offensive remark, withdraw it.
Dr LIM: He has.
Mr KIELY: For the record, Madam Speaker, I did call him a worm, and I withdraw it.
Madam SPEAKER: Just withdraw. Now, would you all settle down.
Ambulance Service – Palmerston and Rural Areas
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH
After three years of Labor government funding constraints, Palmerston and the rural area have one ambulance available to service the area as far as Acacia, Bark Hut, Dundee Beach and, sometimes, as far away as Hayes Creek. I know there are three 24 hours a day, but one of them, Palmerston base, covers all of that area. The volunteer service at Humpty Doo and Batchelor is not available during the day. No wonder that St John’s, who do a great job within the constraints of their funding in meeting the many ambulance needs, is criticised for long response times. The CLP commits to immediately provide two full-time vehicles for the Palmerston and rural area. When will your government make a similar commitment to provide Palmerston and rural residents an adequate ambulance service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, my understanding is that there are two full-time vehicles at the Palmerston depot, and both are two-stretcher ambulance models. The arrangement is that there is a 24-hour coverage by a crew at that St John depot, with the arrangement that a second crew can come in if the usage levels are high.
A lot of those arrangements are a matter for St John to work out its resources and the distribution of them. The new Humpty Doo police and emergency station is going to be built with the capacity for an ambulance depot to be included in it, if that is a decision of St John, based on the needs. We are surveying that whole area as to both the level of need for medical and emergency services throughout that area, and we will see what the recommendations tell us.
Teachers - Special Education
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
I was recently informed by a constituent who has a visually-impaired child at a rural school that her child is now not receiving assistance he once was receiving from a special education teacher for the visually impaired. Is it true that there are only two special education teachers for the visually impaired? How many special education teacher positions are there supposed to be, and when will these vacancies be filled? Would it not be a fair comment that, by only having two of these teachers available, the government is not committed to equal education opportunities for the visually impaired?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. If it was the facts as he outlined in his answer, I would agree with you. I would say that is not a fair go, and we ought to be doing better. In fact, we are, but there are some complications there. His information is, basically, correct.
The support for visually impaired students is located within the Student Services Branch. It comes under the title, Northern Territory Educational Resource Centre for the Vision Impaired - that is a bit of a mouthful. It is the support unit within the department that provides the specialised equipment - the low vision aids, the Braille materials, the large print materials, the tactile materials - that are used by visually-impaired students. That unit has advisory services offered from teachers with particular expertise in the field of vision impairment forming part of that service. These advisory teachers are built into the system to assist the classroom teachers in the school setting and, of course, those students, to maximise and enhance their educational opportunities and provide instruction in the use that specialist equipment provided by that services unit. The level of support that goes to the particular student is dependent upon the individual level of impairment and need level of each student.
There are 60 students right across the system who utilise and access these services. The bulk of them, 65% of them, are focussed in the Top End in the Darwin and Palmerston region, with 23% in the Alice region, and the rest in small numbers: Katherine with five; Arnhem, one; and Jabiru, one.
Three advisory teacher positions and two resource officer positions are allocated to that centre. That is a total of five staff positions in the Territory. Currently, two of the advisory teacher positions are vacant. One is an extended leave situation, and the other, a quite recent resignation. Recruitment activity is under way, as we speak, to fill both of those positions in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, as an interim, plans have been drawn up to provide support to the students in Alice Springs, utilising a short-term appointment to the position that will free up the remaining advisory teacher to focus on the Darwin-based students. We are not quite there, but we will be, and the re-mix of that position ought satisfy the shortfall referred to by the member for Nelson. In the event that it does not - and I will be following it anyway - I would be very keen to hear from him if he hears that it has not been picked up.
Total Recreation – Funding Issues
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Today, you spoke of the importance of carers in the Northern Territory community, yet you still refuse to commit to writing a cheque for Total Recreation.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, is this a repetitious question? Different?
Mr MILLS: No, not at all, Madam Speaker. Minister, I challenge you and your colleague, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, to spend a weekend, starting this Friday, working as a carer with Total Recreation, and then come back and report to this House, next week, whether or not this is an organisation worthy of full funding, and whether you will then write a cheque for $40 000 for Total Recreation.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In relation to commitment, I thought I had unequivocally stated my commitment to find that money for Total Recreation.
Business Sector – Impact of Legislative Reform
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The government has put in place many initiatives to help small business get ahead. How are reforms within the Justice portfolio helping Territory business operators?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Our government’s commitment to business is exemplified by the fact that Carole Frost is now a major adviser to our minister for business, which I believe is indicative of the fact that one very key member in the business community is seeing that we are doing a good job for business. She has joined the winners.
In my area of Justice, I bring a lot of legislation through this House, but it is particularly satisfying when I can see the impact of legislation on our business community, as we have with a number of the initiatives that I have brought through here.
Regarding uncollected goods, I was at a bike repair shop, Penny Farthing, in Alice Springs the other day, talking to Yvonne. She asked me about this legislation on one of my visits there, and I briefed her on how it works. The next time I went there, she said she had got rid of all of those old bikes that were cluttering up the storage areas at the back of the business. She has been able to give a lot of them away, actually, to kids around town and to charitable organisations. However, the point was that she can now do that and write them off properly under the new legislative arrangements. I have talked in the past about repairers of whitegoods and motor repairers. Right through the Territory, we are seeing terrific reaction to this legislation. People are now starting to clear the decks of all these old vehicles, whitegoods, bikes, and all sorts of things.
Briefing sessions have been held all over the Territory on this legislation. The act was described as ‘better than sliced bread’, and that does it for me. Occasionally, you can really see very tangible results of legislation enacted.
With retail tenancies, in every shopping centre in the Northern Territory there is now much more certainty between landlord and tenant. This is for small businesses where, what they pay in rent, and their rights within the tenancy arrangement are critical to their viability and sustainability as a business. That new legislation has now given everyone certainty about what their rights are under their tenancy arrangement. It gives them a much more streamlined process for resolving any difficulties with the landlord under the tenancy agreement. Therefore, it is very good news for small businesses in our retail sector.
We are helping motor traders along. We are not only cleaning up some of the shonky operators within that industry sector through our Consumer Affairs enforcement, but we are providing a new on-line transfer of registration arrangements, which will make it so much easier for motor traders to operate their businesses by being able to streamline the transaction that they have to do with our government to transfer the ownership of vehicles.
This is all good news for business, and I am proud to be able to add to our government’s enormous efforts that we are making in support of business.
Public Housing Tenants - Security
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for HOUSING
Last year, with great fanfare, you announced an $80 000 security upgrade for the residents of Wirrina flats. While I was jogging past the flats two days ago, I noted your $80 000 gates appear to have been stolen, because they are certainly not there. What are you going to do to protect the residents who live in Territory houses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Macdonnell. I have not …
Mr Stirling: The jogger.
Mr Elferink: Do you want to go for a run, Syd?
Mr AH KIT: Well, you asked the question. Do you want an answer? You should allow me to answer instead of being rude all the time. You should have taken your tablets this morning.
Members interjecting.
Mr Burke: When Jack goes for picnics, the possums tie their boots on.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat for a moment. I said the other day that you do not use people’s Christian names in interjections. We have just had two in a row there. Now, come on, show some protocol for this House.
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Do not speak when I am, member for Greatorex, or you are out.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I am not aware that the gates at Wirrina flats have gone missing. I will certainly seek a briefing from my department to find out what security measures are in place. I will also have a chat with the local member. It has not been raised …
Mr Elferink: The minister for sport ought to come for a run. Come on, let us go and have a look together.
Mr AH KIT: Let us go for a run. Oh, okay.
Mr Elferink: Where are the gates?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr AH KIT: I said just a moment ago that I do not know where the gates are, and that I will seek a briefing from the department, or I will ask the local member. The local member for Fannie Bay is in the House. I will seek a briefing from the department but, certainly, the local member, the Chief Minister, may wish to respond in regards to what happened to the gates, because there is an easy answer, from the look of it.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I am happy to talk about initiatives at Wirrina.
Dr Lim: Oh, you are the Housing minister now?
Ms MARTIN: No, I am the local member, and I am …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Ministerial Question Time is for members who have a direct responsibility, not for local members. It is the responsibility of the Housing Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: The minister did refer it to the member for Fannie Bay because he did not have the information there and she, obviously, has.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, if the opposition does not want the information, I am happy to sit. I will leave it in your hands. I can add to the information that is available if the member asks a genuine question.
Madam SPEAKER: Can you give us the answer, Chief Minister?
Ms MARTIN: I can.
Madam SPEAKER: Off you go.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, as a very involved local member ...
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I do seek your clarification under Standing Order 109.
Madam SPEAKER: I have already ruled. Member for Fannie Bay, would you give us an answer?
Ms MARTIN: But the member for Drysdale does not want it.
Madam SPEAKER: All right.
Northern Territory Show Council – Government Assistance
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
We are all familiar with the challenges being faced each year by the Darwin Royal Show and, of course, the regional show societies. Can you advise what assistance government is providing to the Northern Territory Show Council for it to develop strategies to maintain and strengthen the show circuit? Are there any alternative policy options?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. Last month was the month for the shows, and I had great pleasure in visiting the local shows at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine, and the Royal Darwin Show.
This year, we contributed $600 000 to the Royal Darwin Show to upgrade their water and power facility infrastructure. The Darwin show society was very pleased. As they told us, it was the first major infrastructure in 25 years. The only one who was not pleased was the person who used to look after this infrastructure, who complained to the Chief Minister that he was bored out of his brains this time because he had nothing to do. This must be a very good job; the electrician had nothing to do so he was bored.
Early this year, I met with the Darwin show society and representatives of the regional shows. They raised some concerns about increased security requirements, increased costs for insurance, costs for the show, corporate governance and traffic management. I requested that they get together to discuss the issues and come back to government to provide some solutions and suggestions, which the government would look into. To assist them, I have provided a grant of $10 000 to employ a consultant, and $5000 for the regional representatives to come together, so they can work together to provide some solutions. When they complete the process, and they have the suggested solutions to come back to us, the government will consider how we can best provide some assistance and support.
I am also aware that there have been some alternative policy options that have been floated. One was from the Leader of the Opposition, who suggested that we should merge the Darwin show with Expo. This is what he had to say to on Daryl Manzie’s radio show. When he was asked for any solutions, he said:
- Well, as you know, as a former politician, Daryl, you spent a fair bit of time on the show circuit, and this issue has been raised a number of times at the Darwin show. The facilities at the Darwin showground could be utilised for the Expo. It is an option that has been raised by the show society and others. I believe it is worthy of consideration so that we can look for a way of strengthening those good volunteers and helping that important organisation, being the show society, to use the facility in a range of ways, rather than just for the show and a couple of others.
- No, I have not entered into any formal discussion by any means.
He had not spoken to anybody - not to the Darwin show society nor to the Chamber of Commerce. It was an idea that just came at the time, probably while he was talking to Daryl Manzie, and he suggested it. They were not consulted and, to his credit, he said:
- I have not spoken to anybody, it was just an idea.
However, then he has a small problem. When he was asked about finding a solution, about the challenges faced by the different shows, he said:
- Well, I have made this statement many times. It is clearly defined as a problem, and I believe problems have solutions, but I cannot tell you what the solution to this problem is.
They know they have a problem, they know there must be a solution, but they cannot pinpoint that solution. This is a serious problem. The Leader of the Opposition has no ideas, no solutions to the problems. They cannot come up with any solutions. Obviously, the Leader of the Opposition is really keen for some merger opportunities.
Leader of the Opposition, I suggest next time the circus comes to town, you go and talk to them and offer your CLP group as a comedy show.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016