2002-06-20
New Police Facility – Safety Issues
Ms CARTER to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, your Deputy Chief Minister said that the police station section of the Mitchell Street development, designed under the CLP stewardship, was so inferior as to be unsafe for police officers and the public alike. On 7 November last year, the Chief Minister said it was: ‘A new, state of the art NT police station’ and went on to say:
- The watch-house located on the second level has been designed to speed up prisoner processing and improve prisoner and staff safety, and complies with all the requirements of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Was your Deputy right yesterday, or were you right in November, or is it simply that you had no idea what you were talking about in November, except you were trying to claim credit for the development? Hasn’t your Deputy Chief Minister made you look like a fool?
ANSWER
Talk about leading with your chin, Madam Speaker. I think the member for Port Darwin has been here long enough not to ask questions like that simply lead with your chin.
This will be a state of the art facility …
Mr Burke: Will be?
Ms MARTIN: This will be a state of the art facility, thanks to the fact that we are funding it adequately. We repeatedly have examples of the previous administration standing up to the public of the Territory saying: ‘Haven’t we got it right? Haven’t we done well for you?’ Once you start looking at the detail, you find things like the police station, to be that state of the art facility, is $1.86m underfunded.
I say to the member for Port Darwin …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I say to the member for Port Darwin and other members of the opposition: have great confidence in this government. It will be the state of the art facility that we need it to be. We recognise it was an initiative put in place by the previous administration. Point taken; we recognise that. However, we are saying very clearly that the police aspect was underfunded by $1.86m.
To come in here and ask a question that is trying to be half smart - leading with your chin like that - is a very stupid thing to do. We will have an excellent police facility. We will put the extra necessary funding into it. While we recognise that it was a CLP initiative to do this, we will make sure it works. We will make sure it is state of the art.
Code of Conduct for Parliamentary Members
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Could the Chief Minister please advise what progress the government is making on its election promise to introduce a members’ code of conduct?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very happy to provide an update to the House. As all members of this House realise, this side of the House has long been committed to a members code of conduct and an improved register of members’ interests. It is something that we never saw the previous government move on in 27 years.
For the benefit of members, I can advise I intend to table this evening, a Draft Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Members paper and draft amendments to the Register of Members’ Interest Act. This does deliver on a key election promise from this government. I believe it is a very important one: open, accountable and transparent government. A code of conduct that underpins the professional standards of politicians, and one that says very clearly to members of our community that politicians are here serving them, not serving themselves; that we politicians are in this House to serve members of the community, not to serve ourselves. That is what this code of conduct very clearly spells out.
I suppose there are some advantages in coming late to producing a code of conduct, because the CLP did not do it for 27 years. We were able to look at what is best practice around Australia and internationally. I believe that this code of conduct does incorporate the best aspects of those other codes, will certainly increase public confidence and, I believe, public trust in us, as members of parliament, and in parliament as a whole.
The code of conduct has an enforceable set of standards which defines acceptable and unacceptable conduct in office, and provides for disciplinary and other action in cases of non-compliance. In general, the proposed code provides guidance to members of the Assembly on conflicts of interest arising from their function as members and elected officials; the obligation to recognise the need for accountable and responsible conduct in office by members; and the overall duty of a member to seek to advance the public interest.
To give the code teeth, a new over-arching act will be introduced, called the Legislative Assembly Members Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards Act. The key principles, and ones that I am sure everyone in this House would welcome, are: integrity; accountability; responsibility; and acting in the public interest. On some of those aspects specifically: members will be required to avoid conflicts of interest and make an oral declaration of a personal interest whenever they want to speak or vote on a matter - a very important issue. We are setting the laws for the Territory. If any member does have a conflict of interest, then to state that publicly in this House, is a very important premise that will be in this code of conduct.
The proposed changes to the registration of interests will mean that members and their immediate families will be required to detail their business and financial arrangements, which will increase transparency. The Auditor-General will have a new increased role in investigating complaints and reporting findings of fact to parliament about those potential conflicts of interest.
Members of parliament have busy jobs and this code of conduct will require members to undertake no other employment or business activity involving significant management responsibility while in office. It will prevent members from holding directly, or through a third party, contracts for the provision of services to government, the public service or the Assembly. It will prevent members from taking up employment, within a year of leaving office, in a company or business interest in which they had direct contact or involvement as a member and from which they might personally profit.
There is also an increased role for the Auditor-General who will investigate complaints about members who fail to declare their interests. The Auditor-General will be given the power to report his findings of fact to the parliament.
Breaches of code may amount to a contempt of parliament. Penalties will exist in the act for members of parliament who have left parliament but who breach certain provisions. This is about lifting standards for all members of parliament. It is about establishing a code for our professional conduct and we should welcome it. We should welcome the fact that a code of conduct will actually establish professional standards and, I believe, will significantly lift trust and confidence of the Territory community in us as their legislators. I hope this code of conduct will be welcomed by all members of this parliament.
Members: Hear, hear!
Wirrina Flats – Security Measures
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HOUSING
Madam Speaker, before I ask my question, I seek leave to table the letter from Territory Housing to residents of Wirrina in Parap.
Leave granted.
Dr LIM: Minister, as the letter details, you intend, amongst other matters at Wirrina, to first construct a 1.8 m heavy duty security fence around the property; secondly, to have only one gate for pedestrians, with entry through that gate only by security pass; thirdly, to build electric powered gates for vehicle access, again operated only by security cards; fourthly, install an intercom system between each unit and the high security gates; and, fifthly, employ a caretaker.
How much will this cost? Do you intend doing the same for all Territory Housing properties across the Territory; and what will that cost?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this question is from the member who did nothing when he had the job of Minister for Housing. He should know, more than anyone in this Chamber, that the problems that we have had with Wirrina complex over the past few years need addressing. He refused to do that when he was the minister under the former government.
The Wirrina complex comprises 62 one- and two-bedroom flats located at Parap Road in close proximity to the shopping centre.
Dr Lim: I asked you what it cost.
Mr AH KIT: If you want to listen you might learn something, because obviously he did not learn anything when he was the Minister for Housing. I have seen better Housing Ministers before him and he has a problem with trying to understand where things are at.
We have a problem of itinerants. We are addressing those problems. We have talked to residents. I actually went there - there was a barbecue put on by the member for Fannie Bay. We talked to the residents and consulted with them - something that the previous government hardly ever did with many Territorians - and we said: ‘What are the problems? How do we go about fixing these problems? They said to us: ‘We do not have a problem with the fence being brought up to the 1.8 m mark. We do not have a problem with the security. We want you to address these issues because the previous government never attempted to do it’.
What we are doing is something that is going to cost the government somewhere in the vicinity of $80 000. We do not have plans to do it elsewhere for Housing Commission flats throughout the Territory. However, we will address issues as they arise; that is what this government is on about. We are not here to kneejerk, react, and to play up to your mates.
Mr Reed: All right. That is good. How much?
Mr AH KIT: I just said approximately $80 000. You did not hear that, and you did not hear too much before - the former Treasurer and the member for Katherine - because he got …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you address your answer to me, and would the members stop chatting across the floor. It has been very hard to hear the answer, and I am quite sure listeners cannot understand what is going on.
Mr AH KIT: Security patrols are carried out there six times per night to reduce the problems associated with itinerants, and to attend to any other disturbances on those premises. There are good tenants who live there also. There are some who are on shaky ground, but my Housing Department, my tenancy managers, have been out there and are warning people that they must behave when they are accommodated in Housing Commission complexes.
The residents have agreed to what we propose to do. There will be a heavy duty security fence and electronic vehicular and pedestrian gates accessible to tenants only. Tenants will be issued with cards. This is a way …
Mr Burke: The only thing missing is the barbed wire.
Mr AH KIT: I beg your pardon?
Mr Burke: The only thing missing is the razor wire. Where did you get the designer - from the place at Coonawarra, did you?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, order!
Mr AH KIT: It is hard to try to conclude my answer when we have the former Chief Minister, who had ministers who sat back and did nothing about this problem. We are here to address the problem. We have talked and consulted, and now we are doing something about it, and that is what they are jealous of. We are doing something constructive about the problem there. We will look and assess each situation on its merits. This is not to say that we are going to do this right across Housing Commission flats throughout the Territory. We will assess each situation on its merits and we will address it, as a good government should.
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Distinguished Visitor
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on, I would like to bring members’ attention to the presence in the gallery of the former speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, Hon Terry McCarthy. On behalf of all members, I extend you a warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Consumer Sentiment
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Could you please inform the house of the latest information on consumer sentiment in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. At least I am getting questions in relation to the economy and business from this side of the House. Since October, I have not had one question from the shadow minister for business in the Northern Territory. They say they are so interested in this community, but I cannot get a question from them.
The latest Territory economic review does indicate a welcome pick-up in consumer demand in the Northern Territory. This comes on top of a number of economic indicators that are starting to show the Territory economy picking up, but still acknowledging that many sectors of the economy are still doing it tough, and have been doing it very tough over the last two years. Of course, as government, we have to be wary of picking out individual economic indicators in isolation of the trend lines. We are starting to see those trend lines turn up, and this is another indicator that is starting to move skyward again, which is going to be pleasing for all members in this House.
I have been talking to businesses across the Northern Territory, in my role, in both a formal and informal way. As I have said, some businesses in the Northern Territory are doing very well, others are still struggling very badly. Another key indicator that came out recently was that business bankruptcies in the Northern Territory were the second lowest in the rest of Australia over the last quarter. That is not saying that people are not still doing it tough. We acknowledge that they are doing it tough, but those indicators are starting to trend forward.
When we asked questions about the economy and business over the previous two years, the members opposite flatly denied that there was a problem. However, it is important for the government to have a leadership role and to get out and promote the Northern Territory as being a great place for investment. Again, I would encourage the opposition to do this. You have another three-and-a-half to four years in opposition so, in terms of the political cycle, it is a very good time for a responsible opposition in the Northern Territory interested in investment and economic growth, to be actually looking at these indicators and understanding that, on the back of the railway and gas developments, the economy is picking up. They should be out there talking up investments in the Northern Territory, as opposed to talking it down, being so negative and rubbishing out, via fax streams, the type of drivel that they have been putting out. It is very irresponsible; showing no confidence in the Northern Territory economy.
Territory state final demand increased by 6.6% in the year to the March quarter 2002. Good news for Territory business. Consumption expenditure grew by 3.2%, and investment expenditure increased by 20.6%. So, we are seeing people starting to come back and invest. As I said, the major future projects, such as Bayu-Undan - and we have seen 300 delegates here at SEAAOC this week. There were 50 businesses represented at the Oil and Gas Expo. The future is looking bright, and that opportunity in the Timor Sea is starting to be turned into a reality; great news for Darwin and the Northern Territory.
They are some of the strengthening indicators; we have some weaknesses out there still. The latest figures for population growth show that it has been falling since 1997, particularly in response to the finalisation of the Defence Force relocation. We have seen a net migration loss from the Northern Territory. As I previously indicated, within the next month or two we will be releasing our population strategy to encourage migration and net population growth to the Northern Territory.
We have seen that new housing construction has also decreased in the Territory, as it would - if we do not have growth in population, we are not going to see growth in residential construction - and has nationally, with the effects of rising interest rates - they do not help - on the back of the GST. The QuickStart initiatives by this and the previous government were very good initiatives at a time of extraordinarily depressed economic and construction activity. What those types of initiatives do is bring forward demand and commitments, and that tends to leave a hole behind them. However, we had to do those things and respond with those initiatives, given the state of the construction industry at the time.
As the Chief Minister has earlier indicated, we see unemployment continuing to fall - a figure of 5.2%. We are starting to see a cautious pick-up in the economy, and I would encourage members opposite and all members to back the Northern Territory and the fact that the investment in infrastructure and in onshore oil and gas is really going to create a climate of good investment in the Territory. A good fiscal position by government is going to help that. I would urge members opposite to be a little more responsible and show a little more faith in the Territory economy and start encouraging people to invest.
Protection of Catchment of Darwin Harbour
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT
Madam Speaker, I would like to table this document which shows the extent of the land and sea area under the East Arm Control Plan 1998. Minister, in your press release, you stressed the importance of protecting the entire catchment of the Darwin Harbour. Bearing in mind that this East Arm area includes a number of creeks - five creeks in fact - the Charles Darwin National Park, a large area of mangroves, is zoned mainly for industrial use, and therefore has a higher risk of possible pollution of the harbour, would you please say whether you would at least consider a development consent authority for this area, not just the ‘minister only’ consent authority, so that the public can have a say in what is happening in this area? If you will not, could you please tell those many Territorians who have a concern for the harbour, why?
I seek leave to table this document.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I stated yesterday, the East Arm Wharf area is a joint government plan, and everybody who wants to do something there has to make an application to the consent authority - in this case, the minister. That is what the Planning Act states.
I know the area you are referring to, and nothing is going to happen until the Planning Act is reviewed completely. It is currently undergoing an internal review and, as we promised before, we are going to have a look at all these areas. As you stated before, they are not covered by any planning or development plan, or any other plan.
We are going to review the Planning Act, we are going to cover all these areas. However, we will protect that area now, because I have decided to protect the mangroves - not only in the harbour catchment area, but the whole Territory coastline. So whatever is going to happen there, they have to justify it to the consent authority, to the minister, why mangroves have to be removed. There is no 80:20 ratio. It is a zero ratio until somebody puts in the proper application and proves why those mangroves have to be removed. Therefore, there is some form of protection there. That is going to be further formalised following the review of the Planning Act.
Wirrina Flats – Security Measures
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Chief Minister, we have heard from the Minister for Housing today about ‘Fortress Wirrina’ in your electorate. Is this the way you intend to protect some of the constituents from rising crime, by barricading them in high security enclaves? Is this Labor’s law and order policy: lock up the law-abiding Territorians, and let the criminals own the streets?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, can I say very clearly, as the member for Fannie Bay and the person who has her constituents at the Wirrina complex, that I am finally delighted that I am in a position, working together with the Minister for Housing, to be able to respond to the outstanding needs that those who live at Wirrina face, and have faced for years. I do not know what succession of Housing Ministers I dealt with - I think there were three or four Housing Ministers in my seven years here. My very reasonable requests to deal with the problems faced by Wirrina tenants basically fell on deaf ears year after year.
Therefore, it was with great pride that I could go to my constituents and say: ‘There is a raft of measures that we are proposing to make this facility here, an important housing complex - a large housing complex in Territory terms - have the same kind of security arrangements as you would expect in private rentals’.
What we have seen now are those kind of arrangements coming into place for tenants of public housing in this Wirrina complex. They have particular problems and we are responding to those that I understand very well, as their local member. Obviously, I failed to translate those concerns to minister after minister after minister, because you did nothing! You did nothing year after year because you did not care about the lives of those who were living in public housing complexes. You did not care about their lives and the standard of tenancy that they could expect. Comparing what you got under public housing from the CLP and what you got under a private landlord, it was very, very different. Well, that gap is closing with this government. I am very proud to say that what we are putting in place means that those constituents who live in my electorate at Wirrina can finally look to the conditions that you would expect in private rental in the Territory.
This nonsense about ‘Fortress Wirrina’ - what a load of rubbish! Obviously, the former Chief Minister and now Leader of the Opposition has no understanding of the conditions that some of the public housing tenants in the Territory have to experience day after day. It is not just day after day; it is day after night after day after night. I am proud that this government is making a stand, and that we are going to be making lives for public housing tenants a lot better.
There is a bottom line here: this government is acting. We are going to improve conditions for public housing tenants. I very clearly say to those public housing tenants - for example, at Wirrina - this is a two-way street. We are making changes to the conditions that you live in, we are going to improve security, but there are things that you must do as well. This is mutual responsibility, and we are going to be working to see that is successful.
Australian Tourism Exchange
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TOURISM
Minister, could you please inform the house on the success of the recent Australian Tourism Exchange?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. I did have the privilege of attending the recent ATE in Brisbane as part of the successful Northern Territory tourism industry contingent. We had 35 tourism operators from across the Northern Territory as part of that contingent, along with the commissioner. I am pleased to say - and I hope all members acknowledge it - that it is envisaged that over $200m worth of business was generated via that ATE for the Northern Territory in that particular week in Brisbane a few weeks ago. It was a very strong, successful ATE over the period of time.
The professionalism and standard of the tourism operators was impressive; a credit to the Northern Territory. One of the things that came through very strongly to me on the first tourism exchange that I have been to, one of the biggest of its type in the world - certainly the biggest in Australia - is that we are really up against it in terms of product that is out there and we really have to maintain our competitive advantage regarding quality and service. We need to do that to continue to be ahead of the game and attract more tourists to the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory had a unified presence at the ATE in Territory Alley, as it was known. On each night, ‘Taste of the Territory’ functions were held where kangaroo and barra sartees were barbecued in the alley, and attracted hundreds of visitors from around the world. It was a very successful exposure of Territory product and, again, exposing people to and having them show interest in the Northern Territory.
One of the areas of competitive advantages we have, and one of the niches that this government is committed to developing, is the interest that people from around the world have regarding Aboriginal culture. That is one of the key things that came through. The government is currently reviewing the Aboriginal tourism development strategy. I do not know if I have said this in this House before, but surveys of our interstate and international visitors to the Northern Territory show that 35% of those visitors choose to come to the Northern Territory - they make their decision to come to the Northern Territory - because they want to experience Aboriginal culture and art. That really is a competitive advantage. It is a unique niche that we need to focus on and develop even further. With regard to the strategic review the Tourist Commission is conducting at the moment, that is going to be one of the key focus outcomes that is going to come from that.
At the heart of ATE, Barbara Weir, a Territory artist, was provided with space and time to paint a spectacular piece of art, which was auctioned for $US10 000. That is going to be donated to a charity of Barbara’s choice.
Again, I congratulate the Tourist Commission and the 35 Territory tour operators who went attended. It really was a fantastic experience. It has generated a lot of business for the Northern Territory. I hope next year that the shadow minister for tourism can come to ATE along with me and I extend that invitation.
East Timor Maritime Boundaries
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
I draw your attention to the article that appeared in yesterday’s edition of The Australian headed ‘“No Sunrise without tax cuts”, says Martin’. I am sure you are aware of that article. There are two comments attributed to you in that article that concern this side of the House and, I am sure, all Territorians. The first is that the article says that you favour East Timor’s efforts to redraw the boundaries in the areas where these rich gas resources lie. Surely such action adds uncertainty to the whole issue and will delay any resolution of the development of those fields. The second matter of concern is that the article says that you are not fazed if Sunrise gas does not come onshore.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would ask the Opposition Leader to table the document please.
Mr BURKE: I am referring to it.
Madam SPEAKER: The article in the newspaper? If the Chief Minister wishes a copy of the article, I am sure …
Ms Martin: No, I am fine. I have read it.
Mr BURKE: I was about to table it, Madam Speaker. It would be good if the Leader of Government Business controlled members of the House so he could understand what is appropriate and not appropriate.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you! That is enough!
Ms Martin: And your question is?
Mr BURKE: Well, I will get to it, Chief Minister, because it is very important …
Ms Martin: Yes, but they are supposed to be brief questions.
Madam SPEAKER: There are too many interruptions, that is why we are not getting to it.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr BURKE: I will start the whole question again if you keep it up.
The second matter of concern is that the article says that the Chief Minister is not fazed if Sunrise gas does not come onshore. Could the Chief Minister comment on these positions attributed to her and, hopefully, repudiate them. I table a copy of that newspaper article.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. When it comes to the issues of maritime boundaries for East Timor, it is quite logical and sensible, but it is not the kind of approach that we would have heard from the previous government. A new country has no maritime boundaries. A new country needs to establish maritime boundaries for managing their fishing resource, who comes to their country, and a whole lot of issues. I strongly support the East Timorese in wanting to establish those maritime boundaries. It is quite logical; it is a fact of life and we will work with that. In my conversations with the Prime Minister, Dr Mari Alkatiri, he indicated that does not want to see the current oil and gas developments in the Timor Sea set back - of course he doesn’t. It is a wonderful, and a critical and essential revenue source for his country.
My position as Chief Minister is that we will deal with our friends in East Timor; we will work with them as they define the maritime boundaries. Although we are not the sovereign state they are dealing with - that is Australia - we will work through this very important process. We saw what happened last year when the previous Chief Minister decided to play politics over important issues like this and nearly sent a major project for the Territory off the drawing board for many years. Do not expect this Chief Minister to behave that way. We will deal with it properly, respecting the rights of a new country. They are our friends and we will work closely with them.
On the second issue of Sunrise gas onshore - again, a second question today leading with his chin. This is the man who went on radio and publicly said: ‘Forget about trying to get Sunrise gas onshore. Let us just go with the floating LNG option’. It is good to see that the Leader of the Opposition has had a change of heart. That is terrific.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am well aware of my understanding of the issue. The question was that the Chief Minister was quoted as saying that she is not fazed if Sunrise gas does not come onshore, and I ask her to address that statement.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms MARTIN: There is no point of order. I am making the point here, because the Opposition Leader has asked a question about Sunrise gas and about whether it comes onshore or in a floating facility. This is the person who went out and told the Territory public that we should walk away from gas onshore, and the economics of floating LNG meant we should just roll with what was being offered.
Well, let me say if we had rolled, we would not have seen the review of the domestic gas cases now being held by the joint venturers. I put on the record my appreciation that they are reviewing the domestic gas case. It is my view that they are reviewing that domestic gas case with considerable integrity.
Let us look at the situation we face. We have Bayu-Undan and Sunrise. Bayu-Undan is just about complete in terms of having decisions made to come onshore. There is a lot of work to be done with Sunrise. My comments reflected the fact that there are other gas fields out there. We have Blacktip, Evans Shoal, Petrel, Turn, Marcella, and a whole number of other gas fields. We will do our very best to get that prize of Sunrise gas onshore.
I am very pleased that the Opposition Leader is part of Team NT. I am very pleased, because this is going to take a Territory effort. Sunrise is one field. We will be working with those who are doing the exploration in the Bonaparte Gulf. We will be looking at every bit of gas in that Timor Sea resource to try and get it onshore to the benefit of the Territory. It will be a real step change for the Territory economy if we can get that gas onshore, but also to provide greater competition in the national gas market. That work is being done and that article, I believe, pretty well reflected those views.
Unlicensed Motor Vehicle Dealing
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can the minister advise what action is being taken on allegations of unlicensed motor vehicle dealing in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a very important issue. Any of us who have bush electorates, or have spent time in the remote areas of the Northern Territory, would probably be able to recall times where people have turned up in vehicles that are barely roadworthy - if roadworthy at all - often unregistered, and totally overpriced. Often those vehicles do not even make it to the place of abode of the purchaser. Often they are pulled up by the police, and end up suffering fines and penalties for the vehicle that they are driving. These vehicles have been sold by unscrupulous traders who are unlicensed under our Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act, and we decided to do something about that through the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs.
We have had extensive investigations in a number of cases around the Northern Territory, and I am pleased to be able to report to the House that prosecution action is now being taken against an unlicensed motor vehicle dealer in the Barkly region. Charges have been laid by the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs for breaches of the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act.
I remind those out there, that unlicensed sale of four or more vehicles in a 12-month period is an offence against the act, and we intend to continue scrutinising people who are indulging in these type of practices. A number of investigations are also under way in Darwin and Central Australia, involving cooperation with South Australian Consumer Affairs officers. We believe that if we successfully complete a number of these prosecutions, we can send a clear message that this type of practice is no longer acceptable in the Northern Territory.
Closure of Holiday Centres
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for TOURISM
Minister, further budget cuts by your government has forced the closure of the Holiday Centre in Darwin, as announced to the Territory tourism industry through the NT News on Sunday. Is it true that Territory Discoveries is to be sold? Is it also true that the Holiday and Information Centre at Darling Harbour is facing closure?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for question. Again, she has it all wrong, spreading these rumours that she seems to bring into this House. Let us get this straight. The Holiday Centre in Darwin was not closed because of budget cuts. The Holiday Centre and the functions there are being consolidated in Alice Springs. I would have thought that that is something that the member for Araluen would be very pleased about. We are consolidating the function. This is a decision made by the board to consolidate the function to provide a better service. They are also moving towards a new IT system with a new database to provide this service to the tourism sector and allow bookings to be made. It will be a much easier process and there are going to be ongoing cost savings by not having to duplicate IT systems and have high network costs. Also, by consolidating those people into one team we get a better team to develop better opportunities for people. It is something that I am advised has been called for, for many years, by CARTIA in Alice Springs. They are very pleased with the decision. I can honestly say …
Mr Reed: That is because they are not affected. It is the Top End operators who are affected, you goose.
Mr HENDERSON: It is interesting the member for Katherine …
Ms Carney: What does tourism Top End say?
Mr HENDERSON: Well, I have not heard, they have not contacted my office. They have not contacted my office.
Ms Carney: You wouldn’t know!
Mr Reed: Well, they are the ones who are affected.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, let us get to this point. Again, it goes to show how little members opposite know. The Tourist Commission has been set up outside of the Public Sector Management Act as an independent board and the board takes its own decisions. If those members opposite believe, and this is an interesting …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: This is an interesting opposition. The tourism industry will be very interested to hear this. If members opposite believe that the Tourist Commission should be brought back in-house to the public service, with the CEO reporting directly to me, and the minister signing-off on all decisions - if that is what you mean, rather than having it set up much more responsive to industry, much closer to industry needs – well, that that is the new official position of the CLP …
Ms Carney: Oh, what rubbish.
Mr HENDERSON: That is very interesting. I can say that it is a difficult decision to take. All those 12 staff members have been offered the opportunity to relocate to Alice Springs. Of course, we know that many of those people - in fact, the vast majority of those people - for personal circumstances obviously will not be able to take up that option. But we are working …
Mr Reed: So it’s see you later!
Mr HENDERSON: It is interesting. The member for Katherine sits there and mumbles these inane comments, says: ‘See you later’. We are working with the CPSU - their newfound union mates over here - to get the best possible outcome for those people. We are putting opportunities for enhanced redundancy payments on the table over and above what we are obliged to under the award, and doing everything we can to relocate those people in jobs in the Northern Territory.
If we compare that to what happened when the Tourist Commission was taken out of the public sector in 1993 - I will quote Barry Coulter, who was the Treasurer at the time, from Hansard:
- The Tourist Commission has been restructured, has been made accountable and has developed a fresh focus under a new managing director, Ian Mitchell. The commission has seen a reduction in staff numbers from 152 to 93.
That is 59 staff. They were not offered anything like we are offering in trying to help these people. That was 59 people who were put on the scrap heap by those members opposite.
I have taken the recommendation from the board. I think that consolidation in Alice Springs is going to be good for the industry, and I am surprised there is not a lot more support for that from the member for Araluen.
In regards to the other rumours that she is peddling: the sale of the Territory Discoveries and the site at Darling Harbour. I will be interested to see the submission from the member for Araluen to the strategic review of the Tourist Commission that is under way at the moment. I hope that she is not a lazy opposition spokesperson; that she is actually going to put in a submission. I would be interested to see what the big picture is; but I am not going to pre-empt that review. The new CEO is consulting with industry, something this previous mob never did. They never consulted with industry. We will be handing down that review and the new direction for the Tourist Commission later during the year.
Land Use Objectives – Darwin Suburbs
Dr BURNS to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Can the minister update the House on the development of land use objectives for Darwin suburbs?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Johnston for his question. Madam Speaker, this morning I launched the proposed Land Use Objectives for Central Darwin Stage 2, Nightcliff and Southern Suburbs. The residents of those areas had to wait for a long time for these land use objectives to be launched and the Parap residents have had to wait since 1977.
Three previous ministers had promised to deliver them and never delivered. Within 10 months, I instructed my department to prepare them and deliver them to people. That is what happened today. Of course, they are going out for public consultation. They will be exhibited for a period of two months. Prior to this, we briefed all the affected members - the members for Port Darwin, Milner, Fannie Bay, Nightcliff and the opposition spokesperson. We also briefed the Darwin City Council and the Residents Action Groups from Stuart Park, Parap and Bayview. These documents will be available to all MLA’s offices and libraries. They will be available in free CDs at my department’s offices at 38 Cavanagh Street.
A member: I want one for my computer.
Mr VATSKALIS: We will get you one for your computer too. Advertisements will also appear in tomorrow’s newspaper and we invite every resident from these suburbs to have a good look at them and come back with comments. I promise that every single person who puts a comment with regards to these land use objectives will receive a response from my department.
What we are telling people is not that we are going to rezone suburbs. We are saying that this is what we think should happen to those suburbs with regards to development. Come back to us and tell us what you think about our proposal. We are not telling you what is going to happen there. We are not telling you what you are going to do there, we are telling you that this is what we think should happen there and you can come with us in partnership and decide yes or no.
Mr Baldwin This is our same process. Nothing different. There is no difference – exactly the same process.
Mr VATSKALIS: You did not deliver! It is very easy to sit over there and say there is no difference.
Mr Baldwin: Same process; unchanged.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Daly!
Mr VATSKALIS: It was promised by previous ministers and never delivered. I only need to mention the Litchfield Land Use Objectives - how many years in the making? Five, six? Member for Nelson here, seven! Thanks, member for Nelson. In 10 months it was delivered. Seven years. Boy!
But here they are, out there, beautiful, with colourful sketches. If you leave a town planner with crayons in his hands he’ll go crazy. But they are very good documents and I am awaiting your comments.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Can I say, government members, you should quieten down also. There are enough interjections across the floor to make it sometimes difficult to understand ministers’ replies. So I suggest members do quieten down.
Development Consent Authority – Decision-Making Responsibilities
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Madam Speaker, I apologise for the length of the preamble to this question, but it is an important question. In March this year, the Chair of the Lands Tribunal, David Loadman, delivered an appeal decision relating to a development application for the old Hotel Darwin site, overturning a Development Consent Authority ruling. The authority rejected the proposal on two grounds. One was that the project did not meet the Central Darwin Land Use Objectives as to aesthetic building design. During the appeal, all parties agreed that aesthetics were subjective, but all the members of the authority who considered the original application had agreed that it did not meet the objectives. They found the design of the rear building was bland, without flair and demonstrated little architectural merit. In his decision, Mr Loadman ruled that it was not the function of the authority to impose its collective, subjective, personal perceptions about aesthetics in an application for a development permit.
If the land use objectives for central Darwin say that aesthetic building design is to be promoted, and they set out factors to be considered, and the Lands Tribunal say it is not the authority’s function to make a ruling on aesthetics, who or what is going to protect the people of Darwin from any building going up anywhere in Darwin, regardless of its architectural merit?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, I have to say that was far too long as a question. Next time I may just say it is not on. You could perhaps learn to abbreviate.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am aware of the situation. I cannot comment on the decision issued by the tribunal. However, one thing I have to say is that that was brought to my attention by the Darwin City Council aldermen about the aesthetics of buildings and the architectural merit of the buildings. I had discussions with the Chairman of the Development Consent Authority and suggested that it would be a good idea if they employ an architect to comment on some of these plans that are put before the authority.
I cannot direct the authority, as stated under the Planning Act. However, that was a suggestion that was made in a discussion and I was assured by Mr Pinney that he was going to take it on board.
Regional Tourism Associations – Funding Concerns
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for TOURISM
I have been contacted by tourism operators from around the Territory who are members of the Regional Tourism Association. All of them have expressed the same concern, and that is that your government is going to cut funding to their associations. Can you please tell members of this House and members of the Territory’s tourism industry: are their associations going to have to face funding cuts, yes or no?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. Members opposite would know that we are currently in the middle of budget deliberations for the 2002-03 financial year, and we are out there talking to the tourism industry. I will be taking advice from the board in terms of allocation of funding for the rest of the year. That advice has not come through yet.
Mr Reed: Formerly you said there would be no cuts. You are on the record.
Mr HENDERSON: I have not said that.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Reed: You have said that.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Katherine!
Beyond Blue Initiative – Government’s Contribution
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Can the minister inform the House what the government’s contribution to the national initiative, Beyond Blue, will be?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for this very interesting question. Each year in Australia, around 800 000 people experience depression. In fact, it is a very salutary statistic that one in five Australians will at some stage in their life experience depression. Less than 40% of these people present for care, and fewer that one in six receive evidence-based treatment. Most people with depression experience significant disability and those presenting for care are likely to have relapsing or chronic disorders.
The current health burden of depression and the projected future impact on our society prompted the federal and Victorian governments to develop Beyond Blue, the national depressive initiative. The aim of Beyond Blue is to promote effective population health-based strategies. Current projects focus on increasing community awareness of key aspects of depression, such as characteristic symptoms; risk factors; pathways to care and effective treatment strategies; promoting destigmatisation of people with depression and related disorders; confronting barriers that discourage full social participation; and advocating for improved primary care-based mental health services.
Beyond Blue is an important national initiative, and the Northern Territory government fully supports it. Today, I can inform the House that the Territory government will make a financial contribution of around $40 000 per annum towards the funding of Beyond Blue. This contribution will make the government a full member of Beyond Blue, with the right to vote on company issues and acknowledge the initiative’s funding of the Top End division of general practice, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Program. The division of Top End Mental Health Service and Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education are finalising a memorandum of understanding on the provision of training, education and support for Aboriginal mental health workers.
I also inform the House that I have appointed the Director of Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education, Professor Veronica Arbon, to be the Territory representative on the national committee. Professor Arbon was born in Alice Springs and has held various university positions, including at the South Australian Institute of Technology, the South Australian College of Advanced Education, and the Cumberland College of Health Science. Professor Arbon is also the former Director of the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney. Her research interests include Aboriginal women’s health issues and research methodology and education. I am sure everyone in this House would congratulate our Professor Arbon on this appointment.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs AAGAARD: Next Monday, I will sign the memorandum of understanding with Beyond Blue. I will also be attending a public meeting on depression in Darwin. The forum, which is open to the public, will attempt to increase community awareness of depression, as well as offering an opportunity for consumers and carers to express their views. The financial contribution by this government and the signing of the MOU is a significant development in the campaign against depression.
Docker River Road Repair
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
On 26 February in this Chamber I tabled a photograph of a man standing thigh deep in a hole on the Docker River Road. I now seek leave to table another photograph from late last month.
Leave granted.
Mr ELFERINK: This is a photograph of a car wrecked on the side of the same road. Minister, when are you going to fix this road, and are you going to fix this road before somebody gets killed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very cute for the other side to actually complain about roads not done in time. When we came to power we found out that the money allocated for repair and maintenance was only going to last for three months. We had to put up the money - as the member for Katherine pointed out yesterday, quite rightly - from other departments to cover some of these deficits. These monies were enough for this - $11m was actually allocated to my department from other departments in order to attend to some of the roads that needed urgent attention. I am not talking about backwoods roads, I am talking about main roads like the Stuart Highway: replace or fix bitumen, because nothing was done. We had money to do nothing. We did not even have money to collect dead kangaroos from the street, because you have left nothing - double zero.
We prioritise the roads, we proceed to fix them. We recently allocated $0.75m for repair and maintenance of roads, and this money is being spent slowly around the Territory. If you take a drive around Darwin, or outside Darwin to Katherine - everywhere - you will see there are road crews working, repairing the roads that had been left in terrible condition. That road will be fixed, but we have to prioritise. I cannot let major roads be destroyed, I fixed roads that have small loads of traffic. We have roads that actually have been left unattended for years and years. It will be fixed, but we have to prioritise what we are doing. We will fix it when we reach that area. It will be fixed.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I would ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016