2003-10-15
ConocoPhillips - Local Industry Participation Plan
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Yesterday, after questioning from the opposition, you were forced to admit that there is still no local participation plan in place for the construction of the ConocoPhillips gas plant. Today, ConocoPhillips said that, at the height of the gas plant work force, there may be only 25% local participation, well below the 40% mentioned in this House yesterday.
The Martin Labor government has failed in its one task in this gas project, and that was to secure large numbers of jobs for Territorians. Is it true that the current draft local participation plan gives no firm guarantee on the number of locals who will be employed on the gas project and, in fact, the number could be less than the 25% given today by ConocoPhillips?
Mr Stirling: Unbelievable! Attack a major project!
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I pick up on the interjection from my colleague, the Deputy Chief Minister. It is astounding that the opposition continues to attack what is the stated intent of both ConocoPhillips and Bechtel to maximise local industry participation and employment on this particular plant. They have been absolutely resolute over the last two days in attacking the corporate commitments and credibilities of two major companies at the beginning of this massive project. We will check the Hansard, because I do not recall - and I will stand corrected - any member on this side committing to 40% local employment on this project yesterday, because it is certainly not a number that I would have mentioned.
Let us look at the history of this project. For honourable members who have never actually seen an LNG plant, I would suggest that people take the opportunity to go to Karratha and actually look at the scale and complexity of the engineering that goes into an LNG plant.
Mr Dunham: And how many Western Australians does it employ?
Mr HENDERSON: The constraining issue for …
Mr Dunham: How many from WA got the jobs?
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Acting Speaker, if the member for Drysdale wants to ask a question of myself as minister, he should listen to the answer. He will get the answer and he might learn something.
The constraining factors in regard to local employment on this particular project are skills and the capacity of Territory business to actually participate in this project. It is a world-class project. We have not built an LNG plant in the Northern Territory before. We are working very closely with ConocoPhillips and Bechtel to maximise local participation in this project. We are working very closely with Charles Darwin University and training providers to upskill Territorians, to give them the skills at the accredited level that they are going to require to work on this plant.
I will put this in perspective as to where we are at the moment on this project. The construction of the LNG plant itself is a $1.6bn project. The railway is a $1.3bn project. To date, we are right at the beginning of the LNG plant project. The civil works are being carried out at the moment, and $230m worth of contracts have gone to Northern Territory companies for work at the LNG plant right at the beginning of the project.
The total amount and value of work to Northern Territory businesses on the railway was $690m at the end of the project. In the first steps of this project, $230m to date and 73% of the work force at Wickham Point is not a bad start. In talking to the ISO over the last few days and weeks, they are very pleased about where Territory business is at at the moment. There are going to be winners and losers through the life of this project. Territory companies are going to bid for work, and will be either out-bid by other Territory companies or companies from interstate or internationally. However, it is a competitive process.
It is not a government contract. Government is not issuing the tenders. The private company Bechtel is issuing the tenders. The continuing attacks from members opposite, on both Bechtel and ConocoPhillips, regarding their stated intent to maximise industry participation and Territory jobs on this plant, does not stand them in good stead, and does nothing for corporate confidence in the body politic in the Northern Territory to actually work constructively with the big end of town to get these big projects to the Northern Territory, to maximise the benefits for Territorians.
Therefore, four or five months into the job, there are $230m worth of contracts to Territory people, compared to $690m in total on the railway. It is not a bad start.
Taxation on Home Ownership
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Last year, the Martin government introduced initiatives aimed at stimulating the housing market and reducing stamp duty tax. As Treasurer, could you please update the House on the number of people who have been assisted by these measures.
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. I would be delighted to update the House and Territorians on where we are with the two major changes that we made to the Territory stamp duty last year. It has reduced the cost, of course, of these taxes to home owners. We increased the tax-free threshold for people buying their first home from $80 000 to $125 000. This meant people buying their first home could now claim a maximum of $3640, compared to $2096 under the previous government. That has put an additional $1.47m back into Territory home buyers’ pockets, with an average claim of $3369 per home. Since we introduced this change, 1107 people have benefited from the scheme and its enhancement.
The second major change we introduced was to provide a principal place of residence rebate of $1500. One thousand six hundred and forty-one people have taken advantage of that scheme, delivering savings to those purchasers of $2.46m and, once again, money that residents get to keep in their pockets to furnish the house, set up the yard and so on. Those two policy announcements have made a significant difference to the lives of many Territorians, and they are part of our determination to build the Territory and its future.
On a related matter, there were national media reports yesterday revealing the federal first home owners grant scheme had been accessed by a number of children under the age of 10 - even toddlers - in places such as Victoria and Queensland, because there is a loophole in the state and territory legislation surrounding this scheme that there was no age limit on who could apply for a grant. That was left out as a result of the Commonwealth saying they did not want to see an age limit in this. This has meant that some parents have applied for the grant in their child’s name. We would think that was likely to be pushing very close to be against the spirit of the scheme in its entirety.
As these media reports came to light, our own Treasury officials did a bit of a search. They went back through to check all of the data in relation to the scheme in the Northern Territory to see if any Territory applications were children under 10, toddlers and so on. I can report to the House that that checking has been completed as of last night. Eight people aged 16 or 17 have received grants. No one under the age of 16, no toddlers and no babies, have received grants in the Northern Territory.
There are legitimate circumstances, and we would accept circumstances in which 16-year-olds or 17-year-olds may access the scheme, and we have no qualms about that. However, because of what has happened in other jurisdictions, we will be looking to amend that legislation to put an age limit in it. It most likely will be 18, but we will have a discretionary clause inside that legislation to allow people under 18 to obtain that grant if there are exceptional circumstances and legitimate grounds to do so. I suggest they would be the 16-year-olds or 17-year-olds who have already qualified to this point. We will introduce those amendments as soon as possible so we can close that loophole, because we want to ensure that this scheme is used for the purpose in which it was intended; and that is to give first home buyers a helping hand into their first home.
Employment Opportunities – LNG Plant
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Territory people have, once again, missed out on jobs generated from the Wickham Point gas plant. You claim to have a job strategy, yet the bus contract for the Wickham Point plant went to Stone Street Coaches from Toowoomba. Local bus drivers were overlooked. What are you going to do about this situation?
Members interjecting.
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, the ignorance of those members opposite knows no bounds. It is good to see the member for Goyder actually getting up and doing some work and asking a question.
The government does not let the bus contracts. In terms of …
Mr Baldwin: Yes, but what are you doing about it?
Mr HENDERSON: I am disappointed. Government is disappointed that a Territory company did not win this particular bid.
The issue here is that Bechtel, as is the process that is in place, approached the ISO. A number of Territory businesses were asked to bid on this particular contract, as well as it going out to other companies around the country. A number of Territory bus companies did not bid, some did. The issue here is a commercial decision for Bechtel, who are operating in a commercial manner on this particular plant - the biggest private sector investor project in the Northern Territory.
My advice is that the difference in the two bids, and why the Territory company missed out, was a six-figure sum. That is a significant sum and, at the end of the day, Bechtel is going to make purchasing decisions and award contracts based on the capacity to do the job and on price. My information on this is that there was a six-figure sum difference in the price and that is why it went to the interstate bid. We are not happy about that, but the capacity for the Territory government …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: For these people opposite to say it would have been any different if they had been in government, to go to Bechtel and say: ‘Sorry, we do not like that, you are not allowed to make that decision. You have to award the contract to this particular company here’, is absolute bunkum. It just shows the ignorance of members opposite on this issue.
Economic Indicators – Housing and Finance
Mr McADAM to TREASURER
Last year, the Martin government introduced initiatives aimed at stimulating the housing market and reducing stamp duty tax. Can the minister please update the House on the number of people who have been assisted by these measures?
Mr Dunham: We just had this one, Elliot - same question.
Mr Stirling: Yes, I had that question.
Mr McADAM: Sorry?
Mr Dunham: You have the wrong question, mate. Question 3 – it should have a 3 on top.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McADAM: I apologise, Mr Acting Speaker. Of course, we all make mistakes in the House.
Mr Ah Kit: But not the member for Drysdale.
Mr McADAM: But, of course, the member for Drysdale – Mr Perfect – never does.
Can the Treasurer please update the House on indicators regarding housing and finance?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for the question. I thought that your first question was excellent as well.
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: I had, in fact, covered most of the points in relation to that question.
The August housing finance for owner/occupation figures were released recently. They show, comparing August 2002 with August 2003, that the Territory recorded the strongest growth in the number of finance commitments of all jurisdictions. In trend terms, growth over this period was 35.5%; nationally growth was 12.6%.
The graph shows the Northern Territory’s position, and I will table this graph for the benefit of members. The Northern Territory is the good ochre colours of the Northern Territory. That is the really high one on the graph sitting at 35.5% growth. This is the all-Australian average, the green one. The nearest jurisdiction that gets to us is Queensland at 26.9%. The Territory’s growth, August to August, is nearly three times the green.
Mr Baldwin: Yes, what are the raw numbers. Tell us about the numbers.
Mr STIRLING: Well, we will go to dollars. In original dollar terms, the August 2002 value of housing finance commitments for owner/occupiers was $31.9m; the August 2003 is $53m - that is a 66.4% increase. I will table that. At year-on-year values, the value of housing finance in the year to August 2002 was $454.7m and, in the 12 months from August 2002 to August 2003, that value has risen to $560.8m, an increase of 23.3%. It is another positive sign of economic activity in the Territory. It does put a bit of a slight on the gloom and doom of members opposite who continually talk down economic and labour market activity.
ConocoPhillips - Local Industry Participation Plan
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
In the documents used to secure the sale of land at Wickham Point, what undertakings did ConocoPhillips give in relation to employing Territorians and using local contractors and suppliers? Were there minimum percentage figures set down in relation to jobs and local contracts in these documents and, if so, what were they?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, the commitment made by ConocoPhillips regarding their obligations to Territorians for this project was to maximise Territory employment and local industry participation through the construction of a local industry participation plan. There is no definitive number of exactly how many Territorians, or what value of contracts were to be mandated for the Northern Territory. In exactly the same way, with the railway contract signed by the previous government, there was no stated figure of the number of Territorians to be employed on that project, or a specific value on the total amount of contracts to be awarded to Territory companies. The issues of achieving maximisation of jobs for Territorians and contracts for Territory companies, are one, skills and the other, capacity.
What we are engaged in at the moment is working with ConocoPhillips on the civil side. As I have said, through the process the government has in place with the NTISO, $230m worth of contracts have been let to companies including Thiess, Sunbuilt, Atco, Fleetwood, Patricks, Wagners and Panalpina. Of those contracts awarded, 73% of the workers onsite are locals.
However, the number of locals on that particular site is going to reduce as a percentage during the phase where the very highly skilled jobs are going to be required for the construction phase; skills that do not exist in our economy because we have not had the need for those before. We are working with the Charles Darwin University and ConocoPhillips to identify those skills deficits and the people in the community who can upgrade those skills, and those courses are being employed at the university at the moment.
Therefore, in the same way that the railway did not mandate a specific number of jobs or a specific value to the contracts, it is the same way with this …
Mr Dunham: We are talking about the land sale documents.
Mr HENDERSON: The honourable member is talking out of his hat. There is absolutely no capacity for the government to say: ‘Of the 1300 jobs on this project, we want 127 of them to go to Territorians’. It does not work like that because of the very specific nature of the skills required for this particular project. To continue to attack the motives of ConocoPhillips and Bechtel regarding their public commitments that they have made time and time again at forums - which I do not know if the member for Drysdale has been to, but other members opposite have - to maximise employment for Territorians, absolutely does not stand them in any good stead with those companies at all.
Darwin Business Park - Update
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
The Martin Labor government’s initiative to construct a business park at East Arm is providing valuable opportunities for companies associated with the railway and the port. Can the minister please provide an update to the House on progress with construction of the Darwin Business Park?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for the question. I would like to advise the House that the Martin government has committed a total of $11m for the construction of the Darwin Business Park in the East Arm development area, in order to provide the opportunity for business to establish themselves there and to have access to the Alice Springs to Darwin railway and the East Arm Wharf Stage 2. The business park offers connections to the national rail and highway networks, and access to a dedicated intermodal facility at East Arm Wharf, providing direct transfer to international shipping.
The work is progressing very well at the park: $3.5m earthworks contracts are complete. A local company, Henry Walker Eltin, was awarded a contract of $6.1m in August 2003 for subdivisional works including road, water, power, drainage and tourist services. Work is also complete on the $1.5m culvert supply contract. The subdivision development works are targeted to be completed in early 2004, but the foundation tenants have access to the development site now.
Honourable members would also be aware that Toll Holdings have announced a $70m two-stage development of a state-of-the-art freight consolidation and distribution centre in the new business park. Toll is Australia’s leading company in the transport and logistics sector, and will be the first business to establish itself in the new business park. I am advised that negotiations are well advanced with another major freight forwarder, who is interested in relocating to the business park. Their chief executive officer will be inspecting the development in the next few weeks.
As you are also aware, in July 2003, we established the Land Development Corporation. Mr Trevor Dalton has been appointed as the General Manager. The corporation will shortly release to the market expressions of interest documents seeking development proposals for the remaining rail frontage land. These will be marketed in South-East Asia, locally and internationally.
We will try to capitalise on the strong interest that has already been shown by a range of companies in having access to land in the business park. We are looking forward to some strong bids from companies that want to establish themselves there because it is an exciting new development. It is the only new development in Australia where you can actually establish yourself in a green field site and have direct access to an international port, a railway and a highway network.
Establishment Levels – Horticulture Division, Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries
Mr BALDWIN to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
There have been massive cuts to public service jobs in the horticulture division of your department. I quote from a government briefing paper:
- This reduction in the number of staff was a direct result of funding cuts to the division’s budget. Four of the full-time positions at Coastal Plains Horticulture Research Farm were not filled for the past 18 months to stay within the budget allocation. In addition to these positions, one each from Katherine and Alice Springs regions and two from Darwin were not filled. This is an effective 25% reduction in staff numbers of the horticulture division, eight vacant positions out of a total of 38 positions.
Minister, you know, because you delivered a somewhat suspect statement to this House last week …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! Questions are supposed to be short and to the point. The member is now moving into commentary. I urge you to have him ask the question rather than debating and issuing commentary.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Could you get to the question?
Mr BALDWIN: The horticultural industry, as you know, is a very important industry in the Northern Territory.
Ms Lawrie: The question is?
Mr BALDWIN: The question is: minister, will you now reinstate these jobs for Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, these issues were fleshed out during the Estimates Committee process. I gave adequate answers there regarding unfilled positions. Those positions were not filled, but that happens all the time in the public service.
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I have toured the Coastal Plains Research Station, and I am satisfied about staffing levels there. There have been questions in this House previously about it. This government recognises …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker. I draw your attention to Standing Order 51, No interruption. There was incessant interruption from the opposition. I could not hear the minister’s response.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: There is no point of order, but I would ask members of the opposition to keep it down because we are being broadcast and it is very hard for people to hear.
Dr BURNS: To resume, Mr Acting Speaker: from time to time, positions are unfilled in the public service. I answered these questions quite adequately in the Estimates Committee process. I am quite prepared to get back to the member with the current levels of staffing that he is alluding to …
Mr Baldwin: I have your briefing paper.
Dr BURNS: Well, you are talking about a very dated document. I will update on where those positions are.
Alice Springs Breast Care Nurse – Funding Situation
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
This question is being asked on behalf of the member for Braitling. Alice Springs has a Commonwealth-funded breast care nurse who works for 15 hours per week. I understand that funding for the position will run out in December. Can the minister confirm that the position will not be funded after December and, if the Commonwealth will not continue to run it, will the Territory government step in to ensure that this valuable service continues in Central Australia?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for the question. As the question indicates, this is a Commonwealth-funded part-time position at the Northern Territory Cancer Council in Alice Springs. The question should be directed to the Commonwealth rather than the Northern Territory. However, advice I have received indicates that the funding continues until August 2004, and there is no further indication as to whether that will continue after that time. This, of course, gives greater opportunity to liaise with the Commonwealth on this matter.
Employment Opportunities - Capital Minor New Works Program
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HOUSING
The government’s Capital Minor New Works programs for housing services are important generators of jobs in the housing industry. Can the minister please advise members of progress in these works and actions you have taken to boost jobs in this vital area?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for her question. In this year’s federal budget, the Commonwealth reduced grants to the Northern Territory in both urban and remote housing programs. This is despite the fact that the Northern Territory clearly has the greatest housing needs, particularly in regard to remote housing. This funding formula means that the Northern Territory is under-funded by at least $15m each year. This reduction occurred despite the fact that the Commonwealth budget is in substantial surplus.
It is something that we have heard nothing about from members of the opposition - no comment when the Commonwealth budget was released, or when the Commonwealth cuts were confirmed in this year’s Northern Territory budget papers. They said nothing about it in the Estimates Committee hearings, and they have said nothing about it since they received copies of all the Estimates Committee documentation under their freedom of information application.
The Martin Labor government is very concerned with the Commonwealth cuts to housing services in the Northern Territory. The government is still in discussion with the Commonwealth concerning the level of its funding for housing services in this year’s budget. In addition, the Martin Labor government has recently decided to inject an additional $12m of Northern Territory funds into urban and government employee housing works programs in the current financial year. It is expected that the full amount of this additional $12m will be committed in the current financial year, with cash expenditure of approximately $10m. This brings the total cash expenditure for this year for urban housing and government employee housing to almost $32m. That translates to approximately 300 full-time jobs in the housing and related sectors …
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr AH KIT: You should take your tablets before you come to work, fellas. It is obvious you are leaderless today, and we all know the reasons why. Regardless of whether they were here in the House, you are still leaderless as far as I am concerned. I digress and I should get back to answering the question.
In addition, the total expenditure in rural and remote housing capital works and maintenance programs through IHANT is budgeted at almost $31m this year, providing another 300 full-time jobs in housing construction and maintenance programs in the bush. The government’s approval for an immediate additional injection of $12m is planned to be committed as follows: urban housing renewals in all major centres - $1.5m; acceleration of the security screening program - $2m; acceleration of the smoke alarm program – $1m; construction of new government employee housing - $2m; construction of new housing for specialist teachers in remote localities – $1.5m; upgrades of government employee housing in remote localities – $1m; acceleration of basic shelter and health-related accommodation programs in urban centres - $2m; and program delivery costs estimated at $1m.
This is good news for the housing industry. The injection of an extra $12m in cash will generate some 100 additional full-time jobs this year. In total, the government and IHANT expenditure on housing construction and maintenance programs will generate approximately 600 full-time jobs in 2003-04.
Mosquito Plague - Northern Suburbs
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Those people in the northern suburbs listening to this broadcast would be aware that there is the emergence of a plague of black saltmarsh mosquitoes, which is common in the northern suburbs from time to time. They are also aware that they are capable of carrying a significant number of diseases that can affect humans. Have your cost cuts put the health of people in the northern suburbs at risk due to this forthcoming plague, instead of the amelioration that should have taken place?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, is it, once again, the case that, in fact, the member for Drysdale is now the shadow minister for health in the CLP, or is it still the member for Port Darwin? There is certainly a lot of confusion.
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order! People listening on the radio cannot hear the minister.
Mrs AAGAARD: I have absolute confidence in the people who are working in this area that they will handle this situation extremely well. We have world-renowned people in this area, and may I congratulate them on the hard work they have done over many years. This just reflects on the member for Drysdale, not on the people in my department. The work that is required will be happening, and I have every confidence that my department is handling this appropriately.
Victims of Crime – Government Assistance
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
In conjunction with the crime prevention initiatives, this government has committed itself to providing practical support for victims of crime. Can you please advise what assistance the government provides to victims of crime in the Territory, and what is this group achieving?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. It is fair to say our government is helping victims in two very important ways. First of all, we are making sure there are less of them through the crime reduction strategies that have been carried out since we came to power. It is now becoming increasingly apparent in the crime stats that come out every three months that there are less victims in the Northern Territory than there used to be. We welcome that and will continue to work to reduce victimisation.
The other is to provide support for people who have suffered from an offence. I can report today on the outstanding victim support work being done by the Victims of Crime NT group, under its executive officer Sue Lowry. We are looking at how we can best support victims through Victims of Crime NT, alongside our Victim Support Unit in the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, which also does magnificent work in supporting victims of crimes within our jurisdiction.
The Victims of Crime NT group is a critical element in this service area. Using its annual grant of $88 000, the group provides extensive services to victims, largely through the work of Sue Lowry and its network of 24 dedicated volunteers and committee members. During the last financial year, Victims of Crime has been working to expand awareness about its services, and this has paid off with an 88% increase in inquiries made for the group, and 615 victims receiving support and assistance. Victims have been assisted directly or referred to other services like counselling, medical services, complaints tribunals, community legal services and private solicitors.
Victims of Crime NT now represents the interests of victims on six committees: Victims Support Australasia, the Crime Victims Advisory Committee, Palmerston Crime Prevention Committee, Domestic Violence Network, Reclaim the Night collective, and the Drink Spiking Working Group. As well as training of its volunteers, Victims of Crime is providing training for community welfare and social work students at the Charles Darwin University, and conducting victims awareness programs for prisoners as part of the government’s focus on reducing re-offending.
Yesterday, I was pleased to formally recognise the work of Victims of Crime NT, when I presented Sue Lowry, committee member, Ian Abbott and volunteer, Judy Guyton with a national Australian Crime and Violence Award, recognising its 24-hour call-out service for victims of crime. The annual Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards, sponsored by federal, state and territory governments, reward best practice in the prevention of violence and other types of crime around Australia. I congratulate Victims of Crime NT for winning this prestigious award.
Victims of Crime have also taken on the government’s assistance scheme for victims of break-in. Funding of $30 000 had been provided for this scheme in 2002-03, and was increased to $50 000 ongoing into the next financial year. Launched in April 2002, the break-in assistance package has provided financial and practical help to clean up and secure homes after break-ins. So far, 66 households, over 75 people, have received help, and they have been able to get security assessments of their houses to try and prevent further break-ins of that same residence. We are now working with Victims of Crime NT in the next stage of expanding that service to Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy during the year 2004. I would again congratulate Sue Lowry and her group on the fantastic work they are doing supporting victims in the Northern Territory. I hope the House shares my admiration of their work.
Trade Delegations to Asia
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for ASIAN RELATIONS and TRADE
Today you told this House that you have to be strategic about where you think it best to focus our overseas trade initiatives. You are into your third year as Asian Relations and Trade Minister. Can you tell the business community how many delegations of Territory businesses you have taken to Indonesia in your time as minister, and how many you taken to the Philippines in the same time?
ANSWER
In the last 12 months, these delegations took place, sometimes with the minister and sometimes without the minister. There are numerous delegations that go overseas, not only to Asia. I recently met with a group of business people who came back from …
Mr Baldwin: We are talking about you, how many have you led?
Mr HENDERSON: Do you want to listen to the answer, or not?
Mr Mills: You might have misheard the question.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … from offshore Europe in Aberdeen this year. I advise the House that in the last 12 months, on behalf of Territory business and, on a number of occasions with Territory businesses, I have been to Singapore twice, Brunei three times …
Mr Baldwin: That is not the question.
Mr HENDERSON: … Indonesia, Jakarta and Bali …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! My question was quite specific: how many trade delegations have been led by this minister to Indonesia and to the Philippines?
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, the question was reasonably specific. I know standing orders say ‘relevant’, but I would like you to try and focus in on the answer to the question please.
Mr HENDERSON: I have to obtain specific details. However, to Indonesia, at least two delegations, possibly three, depending on who was with them. When we went to the Philippines, there were industry people who came, both to Manilla and Megros. As I said, we visited Singapore twice; Brunei three times; Indonesia - both to Jakarta and Bali; Philippines to Manila and Megros; Malaysia to Kuala Lumper and Sabah; and East Timor to Dili. The approach is different. As I said this morning - and the proof of the pudding will be in the eating - under the previous government, let us see how focussed the previous government were …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! It may be well for the minister to require us to be very specific and tight in our questions, but it does not seem to be the same with the answers.
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The standing order says ‘relevance’, which, I admit, is a fairly …
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The standing order says ‘relevance’, which, I must admit, is a pretty broad area. Minister, I would like you to focus on the question, please, and we will get on to the next question.
Mr HENDERSON: I have given the answer to the question. However, I make the point, and I will stand here and continue to make the point …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … that in regards to the …
Mr Baldwin: Filibustering and ducking and weaving!
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: I will stand here for as long as it takes for me to finish.
Mr Baldwin: Filibuster.
Mr HENDERSON: The difference is, when we came to government and looked at our representative officers overseas, and who was doing what, the focus that previous ministers …
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Member for Daly, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … used to take, in particular with Indonesia, was a person who was on a retainer to act as our man in Asia, and particularly in Indonesia. Was that person the previous Minister for Asian Relations and Trade? Answer: no. Was that anyone who had any previous experience in operating and running a business in the Territory? No. The answer is that, our representative who used to swan off up to Indonesia on a regular basis representing the Northern Territory government and trade people, was none other than Rick Setter.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: How much were we paying Rick Setter to be our man in Asia?
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: This was the focus this mob had. How much were we paying Rick Setter? $30 000 a year to be our man in Asia. For member opposite to come in here …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … we stopped that. That was the first thing we stopped.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Minister!
Mr HENDERSON: For members to come in here and say that we have taken …
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Minister, sum up, please.
Mr HENDERSON: … our eyes off the ball is totally wrong. We will lead delegations to …
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Allow the minister to finish in silence.
Mr HENDERSON: We will lead delegations to Asia when required by the business community and requested, or when we initiate them. But we will do it. We will not be sending ex-politicians to do the job in our place.
Government Procurement Policy – Impact on School Councils
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Some school councils have raised concerns regarding the impact of the government’s changes to the procurement policy. Could the minister please advise what action you have taken after hearing of these concerns?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question because he, like his colleague, the member for Barkly, keeps an eye on education within his electorate. He does know what is going on in and around school councils.
Notwithstanding that government and Cabinet had not laid down a firm decision in relation to procurement policy with schools and school councils, there were concerns about the potential impact following the review of procurement policy in general terms that the government carried out. I have listened to the concerns that have been brought to me by members of this side of the House. I have spoken with the minister primarily responsible for procurement in government, the member for Wanguri, and I have taken the issue to Cabinet.
As a result, Cabinet has made a decision on the second half of those procurement issues that would have affected schools. In the first place, those school councils that wish to, and have capacity to retain responsibility for minor new works and urgent minors …
Mr Baldwin: That is what we pointed out to you in the debate!
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Allow the minister to finish.
Mr STIRLING: One wonders how often the member for Daly visits a school council meeting.
Mr Baldwin: I was the chairman of a school council.
Mr STIRLING: One does wonder. I would accept the member for Blain making that sort of interjection, but not the grub sitting in front of him.
I will go back, Mr Acting Speaker. The decision would now allow those school councils that have the capacity, the ability and the will to take responsibility for minor new works, urgent minors and routine maintenance, to do so. For those schools that wish to undertake those responsibilities, DEET will confirm, on an annual basis with the school, that the adequate technical competence is available for the school to undertake those necessary tasks related to minor new works and routine maintenance.
Capital works, the big dollar items over $150 000, will remain with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment. DEET and DIPE will have effective processes in place to ensure, at all times, that schools, communities and school councils are heavily involved in those major projects and capital works decisions that affect their school, school design and school amenity.
On the more general forms of procurement – and schools are out there buying all manner of things throughout a school year, particularly at the start of the year – DEET will work with schools to work up guidelines and ensure that there is training on procurement matters. That will include matters such as how procurement should be handled by schools in a transparent and accountable way, but it will have regard for the limited resources in management that schools have available.
In short, we heard from schools and school councils. We acted on their concerns and, as I speak, a letter is being drafted to all school councils explaining the detail of this policy decision in full.
Mandorah Ferry Service – Public Consultation
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
You have blamed your department for the failure to consult the people of the Cox Peninsula before calling tenders for the Mandorah Ferry Service, even though you approved the tender going out. Why did you not insist that there be public consultation before this tender was put out, and why are you now blaming the public servants in your department for your dereliction of duty?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member very much for her very important question. Yes, it is true, I signed the tender, by the department tender process. For every tender process that has taken place until now, public consultation is an integral part of that process. However, when I found out that my department had failed to consult the public, I instructed …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, I instructed my department to immediately consult the public before the tenders closed, and to continue consulting the public during the process of final tenders because, after all, the people have to live with the result of the tender.
To come back to the tender, what the department has advertised is exactly the same terms as advertised in 1998, with the exemption of one service on Friday midnight – actually, during that service, there were more people as crew in the boat than passengers. There were 2.7 passengers average midnight Friday. The department considers that to be a waste of taxpayers’ money. It would be preferable to be used somewhere more efficient …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex.
Mr VATSKALIS: Following my instructions, my department had the first round of consultations with Mandorah residents, and another round of consultation with the Mandorah Council will be held this Friday. I invited the council to my office. I have been advised, that particular section of …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: When people fail to do their job properly they should be held accountable. They should not be covered behind the back of their senior boss or anybody. There is a clear case that the job was not done properly, and I am not afraid to say so. I have instructed the department that the consultation will continue during the process, and before the tender is awarded. It will go on like that, and the outcome will be to the satisfaction of the people.
Tanami Road Upgrade
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Can you please update the House on the government’s commitment to upgrade the Tanami Road.
Mr Baldwin: Are you sure we have not done this one? Oh, it is a different one.
Mr McADAM: Is that the right one, Tim? Is that okay?
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order! Can we have some quiet, please? This is being broadcast.
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Our government has committed $6.5m to upgrade the Tanami Road. This work is already under way. A total of $2.97m was spent in 2001-02, and $1.2m was spent in 2002-03. Stage 1 of the major upgrade this year was awarded to Rusca Holdings in August this year and the work is already under way. Tenders have now closed for a further 10 km upgrade of the Tanami Road, for which $2m is allocated in this year’s budget. The work will see the continuation of resealing and upgrade works of Tanami Road over a 10 km stretch. The contract is due to be awarded next month, and work will start immediately, to be completed by March 2004.
Specific maintenance work is also under way with a contract for selected grading, watering and roll of shoulders awarded to a local company, Gilbert Earthmoving, and that work is due for completion at the end of this month.
Tanami Road is a very important road for the development of the Territory. It is the road that runs through one of the most prospective geological regions of the Northern Territory. It also provides a vital link to Aboriginal communities and the Granites Mine, which is owned and operated by Newmont. We are committed to progressively upgrading the Tanami Road. It is a long road. It is a very expensive process and, certainly, we cannot do it ourselves without the assistance of the Commonwealth. However, I have to express my disappointment about the letter I received today from John Anderson, the Deputy Prime Minister, who bluntly refuses to give any money to the Territory, despite the fact that in his letter he admits:
- There are unique circumstances in the Territory which need to be considered.
Then he goes on to say:
- Funding for the present program has been settled and is not proposed to vary.
In a previous letter, Mr Anderson also told me that the Territory gets a lot of money - actually got more money than rural Victoria and rural New South Wales. How much of Victoria and New South Wales is unincorporated, and how much of the Northern Territory is not incorporated? There is a big difference. Rural Victoria and rural New South Wales probably vote National, and there is no National member in the Territory. This comes from a federal leader of the National Party; from a federal government that has just posted a $7bn surplus, and there are calls by the National Party members for this money to be spent on infrastructure.
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Certainly there are seats, but not in the Northern Territory. I have to admit, from all of you mob, there is only one person who stood up and said that he is prepared to come with me to Canberra to argue with Mr Anderson about funding the Territory, and that is the member for Macdonnell. But the rest of you are more interested in political point scoring or playing rugby, than actually getting on with the job in Canberra and start pushing the federal government to send some money up this way to fix the road problem.
Member for Casuarina – Travel to Greece
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Last week in the adjournment debate of 8 October, you mentioned the trip you made to Greece last year. You said:
- … I was invited by the Greek parliament to attend an international conference of Greek descent politicians. For this trip, the Greek parliament paid all expenses.
Minister, were you on leave when this trip occurred and, secondly, if all expenses were paid by the Greek parliament, why did you receive $1097 from the government for this trip?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, yes, the expenses and the air fares for that particular trip were actually paid by the Greek government. I received travel allowance because, during my presence there, I had a series of meetings with the Minister for Education and a public company that runs the buses in Greece and has converted …
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Is the member interested in listening to the answer or not?
Mr Baldwin: Yes.
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, we are broadcasting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I had several meetings pertaining to my portfolio with a company that runs the public buses in Greece, and has converted 500 buses to pressurised natural gas, something that we intend to do in the Territory. I had to have a series of meetings in order to ascertain the viability and efficiency of the project. With the Minister for Education, it was to find out about introducing modern Greek in Darwin schools and the Charles Darwin University, and also to provide some educational material and …
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Let the minister finish, please.
Mr VATSKALIS: … a second teacher in Darwin at the Greek government’s expense, something that they tend to do with other countries and governments, trying to benefit the ethnic community in Darwin. Part of this travel allowance were for the days that were not paid by the Greek government. It was also part of the expenses I had while I was in Greece …
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Mr Acting Speaker, I will repeat it again, because people obviously do not want to listen or, when they listen to the answer, it does not register. I said, all the air fares were paid by the Greek government. The travel allowance I received was to cover expenses for the series of meetings I had with government officials.
In contrast, it is very good that the member for Drysdale brings up the matter of an expensive trip to Greece, because I would like to remind him that the delegation to Greece by the previous government chartered an airplane at a cost of $20 000 to transport themselves and other people, free of charge, to wherever they went. In addition, they even paid for the fireworks that they threw in Kalymnos during their arrival and the receipt is apparently in the files. I have been advised that Territorians paid for the big party during the arrival of the Chief Minister Denis Burke and his delegation. So, let us talk about expenses and which was more efficient, my trip to Greece during the conference of the Greek parliament or the junket at taxpayers’ expense by the previous government.
Impact of Tourism Television Advertising Campaign
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TOURISM
I note that the Roy Morgan analysis of the Territory’s new television advertising shows that very high recognition rates have been achieved. Are there any indicators that the advertising campaign has translated into increased interest in, and bookings to, the Territory as a tourist destination?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I welcome the question by the member. Certainly, follow-up research undertaken by Roy Morgan showed very high recognition rates. Almost one-third of respondents recalled advertising for the Northern Territory. The segments of the market that we are targeting were the ones that had that very high recall. It has had a significant increase on the awareness of the Northern Territory as a tourist destination. The campaign was more than just television advertising. It had on-line elements, media and public relations activities, outdoor and Inlink advertising – it is a very new way of doing things and I will give more detail about that - point of sale materials, sales promotion and training for retail agents.
The initial results, which I will foreshadow here, I believe are very encouraging and positive. In the first week that the crocodile advertisement was shown, calls to the Northern Territory Holiday Centre increased by 42% compared to the same week last year. In the first week the camel advertisement was shown, calls jumped 24% compared to the same week in 2002, and Territory Discovery sales were 6% above target sales for that particular month. Sales for October and forward November/December and into next year are very positive. Between 1 July and today, there have been over 45 000 individual visitors to the web site. Advertising by Inlink videos has reached 100 000 individuals, and it has been shown 1.1 million times. We have had an extensive media familiarisation program and I outlined some of that today.
However, getting down to the results. AAT King’s have experienced a 10% increase in sales for all NT product. Northern Gateway have reported significant increase in telephone inquiries. Travelpoint, another partner, has reported a 40% increase in sales to the Northern Territory with many of these sales in the traditional second shoulder season.
In summary, it is good news for the tourism industry. It shows that our marketing campaign and the substantial money, $1.5m that we invested in it, has been very successful.
Drug Education Program
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
When you decided to keep school-based constables in Territory schools after significant pressure from the Territory community, you announced the development of a new drug education program. How many schools now receive the benefits of this program that you announced last year?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It was not a question of pressure that we kept school-based constables …
- Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Henny penny. He said by Christmas they will be gone - 2001 there would be no school-based constables left. Where are we? October 2003, they are still out there, still working in the schools, and they will continue.
Mr Baldwin: Did a backflip.
Mr STIRLING: There was no backflip. The member for Daly suggests there was a backflip. We undertook a review of this program, which had been in place for some 18 years and never been looked at. So lazy were this mob opposite, they put a program in place, turned their back on it and forgot it. Eighteen years later, they do not think it was time to go back and have a look at resources, what they were doing, and whether it could be done better?
Part of that overall review did pick up the question of DARE and drug education awareness in schools. In relation to the question, that new program is still being developed; it is not in place in the schools. A statement was made at the time …
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: … despite the derision of the member for Drysdale – God, he is ugly …
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Member for Daly! Order!
Mr STIRLING: Despite the derision of the member for Drysdale, there was no commitment to say: ‘By such and such a time the DARE program will be out and the new program in’. That work is ongoing, and there will be a shift across when that program is fully developed and completed.
Member for Macdonnell – Assertions in Relation to Police Resources
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Could you please advise the Assembly whether there is any truth in the accusations against police pedalled by the member for Macdonnell yesterday in this Chamber, and via a media release distributed by him throughout the Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Acting Speaker, it is interesting the member for Daly would laugh at this question. It is no laughing matter when people come into this Chamber and ask questions that deliberately misrepresent the facts of the case …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! It cannot be established that a question that may well have been a mistake was a deliberate misrepresentation. He is reflecting on the member.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Yes, that should be withdrawn.
Mr Stirling: Poorly apologised. He must have made mistake.
Mr HENDERSON: Speaking to the point of order …
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: No, it should be withdrawn.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, let us revisit the history of yesterday. Yesterday, the member for Macdonnell …
Mr Baldwin: Hang on, have you withdrawn?
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Yes.
Mr HENDERSON: I did withdraw. … came into this Chamber and accused the police of allocating over 700 000 hours of their time operating red light and speed cameras, and neglecting their other duties such as criminal investigations. That was the allegation against police in this Chamber yesterday. This was a totally false accusation, had no basis in truth or in any common sense. I say common sense because the member for Macdonnell, in a past career, was a serving police officer, and he must have known that it would be totally impossible for the police, given the resources in that traffic section, that have not really changed over the years, to allocate 700 000 hours of police time. Something must have gone on up here to say: ‘No, this cannot be right’. How could he genuinely believe that police spend close to three-quarters of a million hours on servicing the modest number of speed cameras and speed vans in the Northern Territory - particularly as an ex-serving police officer? He would have known it would have been absolutely physically impossible. It was a total falsehood. The number he cited goes to the number of checks performed by these automated electronic devices.
Not only did he make the allegations in the House, he then issued a media release, after I had tried to put him right in the House. The media release went out after Question Time, and I quote where the member for Macdonnell stated:
- ‘Police are spending almost twice as much time operating speed and red light cameras as they are on criminal investigations’, CLP shadow police minister, John Elferink, said today.
I will table the media release that went out after Question Time, when he was put right. The member for Macdonnell’s political hit, based on a falsehood, then received some significant media exposure. It ran on the ABC radio news evening bulletin. I was quite surprised, driving home last night at 10 pm, to hear the ABC regurgitating this media release. He must have been really pleased that he would land a punch on something that was blatantly wrong.
At some stage, he realised he could not keep pedalling the falsehood, and around 9.30 pm last night, he slunk in here, with only a handful of members - no media in attendance - and admitted that he had pedalled a falsehood and his criticisms were not based on truth …
Mr BALDWIN: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! He cannot infer that the member is pedalling a falsehood. That cannot be done to a member of this House except by substantive motion.
Mr HENDERSON: Speaking to the point of order, the member for Macdonnell is on the record last night - and the Hansard record is here - saying that he was wrong. So, therefore, what he said previously was false. False, right, wrong! I would not argue on that.
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order! Hold it one second. I will get some advice. There is no point of order. Continue, minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Mr Acting Speaker. He came back in at 9.30 pm, slunk in and said: ‘I would like to place on the record, for the sake of clearing the matter up and being tidy’. No apology. ‘I got this wrong’, blah, blah, blah. It is worse than that. He came in here at 9.30 pm. Did he put out a press release? Did he ring any of the media outlets and say …
Mr Baldwin: Yes. he did.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, no. Where was the press release to say: ‘I got this wrong’. At 10 am today, the ABC radio news item stated:
- The Territory opposition has been forced to admit it got it wrong about data and speed light red cameras.
You are questioning the integrity of the ABC. If the member for Macdonnell actually went to the ABC and said: ‘Sorry, I got it wrong. I would like an opportunity of retraction’, I am sure that is what the ABC would have stated. However, the news item said: ‘The opposition has been forced to admit it got it wrong’. The member for Macdonnell has been exposed as a pedlar of falsehood against police and against this government. He has been shadow minister for five minutes in a very sensitive portfolio, and confidence in our police force has always been an absolute bipartisan and paramount issue. In the past 24 hours, the member for Macdonnell has burned members in this Chamber and in the media on a very serious issue, and we should all be alert to his reprehensible behaviour.
Mr Acting Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016