2005-02-08
Paedophile Activity – Suppression Order by Court
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In the international swoop carried out last year that busted the world’s biggest paedophile ring, over 80 people were publicly named throughout Australia. Why is it that your Justice Department supported an order for a suppression of the identity of a prominent Territorian?
Madam SPEAKER: You realise, Leader of the Opposition, that the identity of that person has been suppressed by the courts?
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, I recognise the discretion that you have on this issue. However, in the interests of understanding where the government was or may have been involved, because they run the Office of Courts Administration, I imagine it …
Madam SPEAKER: I caution all members that I will not tolerate any questions or answers that may prejudice, in any way, the outcome of a court case.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would like to refer the details of the question to the Attorney-General about the suppression, which I believe he is happy to pick up. Regarding whether there was any government interference in the court process, I find that a seriously offensive question. Of course, there was not. For the details of the particular suppression, I refer the question to the Attorney-General, as appropriate.
Dr TOYNE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to remind members that the court has suppressed the name in that particular case, as they already have in other cases.
The purpose of that is to ensure that a jury selection process is not going to be compromised by public conjecture. As the Attorney-General, I caution members that conjecture about a case that is going before the courts that is sub judice is inappropriate in this Chamber. If you want to bring up issues about the relationship of the government on other matters with any individual …
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is not for to the Attorney-General to caution this parliament; it is for you, and you have absolute discretion.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, and I already have.
Mr BURKE: I will abide by your ruling, and this parliament will abide by your rulings, not his.
Madam SPEAKER: The Attorney-General was trying to clarify where he is at; but let me say, yes, I will use my …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, I am speaking!
Dr TOYNE: Madam Speaker, I would hate to see this House being used as a vehicle to try to subvert the clear intention of the courts to ensure that an effective and fair trial is able to be conducted in the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: I do not think we need to go into this debate.
Mr Neville Walker AM – Death of
Mrs AAGAARD to CHIEF MINISTER
I am sure all members of the Assembly would have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of Mr Neville Walker AM yesterday. Would you please outline to the House how this great Territorian helped to build the Territory we live in today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. Let me begin by passing on my and this House’s sincere condolences to the Walker family, Joanne and friends. When we heard the news yesterday, it was a very sad day for the Territory. It really is a shock to all of us. Tragically, Neville died yesterday following a car accident, which has left the Territory in shock and mourning.
Many of us knew Neville Walker quite well. He was a down-to-earth, hardworking and, importantly, a humble man. Despite what he did over his life, he remained humble. He was a man of very high integrity and honesty, one who had the strength and determination to prosper in what was a hard industry. He started with nothing and built his life. Wherever Neville Walker went, he never forgot that he came from, for most of his life, the Northern Territory. He contributed enormously to our community.
He grew up in the west on a dairy farm. He did not know what he wanted to do as a child. He knew he did not want to be a dairy farmer, so he came to seek his fortune in the Northern Territory, as far away from milking cows as he could be. He got a job out bush. He told the story of how he met Frazer Henry: they pooled their resources and won a job building roads to the north-east of Alice Springs. Their first investment was a grader. They had virtually nothing; they put a deposit on a utility and a trailer, and went off bush with their two dogs, which was about the whole of their assets. They had no office and travelled from job to job.
In 1962, because the Territory was being constructed, they decided to take advantage of that and established their civil contracting business, Henry and Walker, based in Darwin. Its real strength was being able to operate in isolated areas, harsh locations and link remote parts of the Territory. Twenty years later, they publicly listed and became the first Northern Territory-based industrial company to do so.
In 1987, they expanded to the mining sector. Prior to that, in 1985, Neville Walker was recognised with an AM for his contribution to the economic development of the Territory and, a few years later, he was awarded the Australian Construction Association’s Service to Construction Award. That was an award of high stature and acknowledged what Neville Walker had done throughout his life.
Today is a very sad day because we woke up this morning having lost a part of the Territory; a very good man who has contributed enormously to the Territory. Neville would probably be embarrassed that we are here today saying we have suffered a great loss and we will miss this great man. He would wonder what all the fuss was about.
On behalf of all Territorians, I extend my deepest sympathies to Joanne, and to Neville’s children. He was a good man. He achieved more than most of us dare dream. His legacy will not be forgotten. The Territory has lost a great friend and a great advocate.
Paedophile Activity – Suppression Order by Court
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
It is unfortunate the Chief Minister did not bring on a condolence motion so we could all speak with regard to the contribution Neville Walker made to the Northern Territory.
My last question was not answered at all. I refer to the fact that over 80 people in Australia were publicly named in the newspapers in the recent swoop on a paedophile ring. Why did the Chief Minister’s Justice Department support an order, out of odds with the rest of Australia, for the suppression of a prominent Territorian? Further, why was that suppression order put in place? Was it because the person was a prominent Territorian and would this government do the same for any ordinary Territorian?
ANSWER
The use of suppression orders and suppressing the names of accused is very clearly spelled out in several pieces of our legislation. That legislation is used by the courts, solely in their discretion, to apply the legislation as they see the need for it in the cases they are dealing with. There is no connection with those decisions of the court back to government in any way. The only area of government involvement is the Director of Public Prosecutions which, as members well know, is a fully independent statutory position. That issue has been debated fully in this parliament. I do not believe there is any doubt as to the independence of the DPP and, certainly, not of the courts.
I remind members opposite that this is dangerous ground you are treading on. As a person who has already been done for contempt of court, I believe the member for Brennan is showing an amazingly intrepid nature to go back into these matters.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, there is no need to elaborate.
Dr TOYNE: Suffice to say, the government has had nothing to do with these decisions which have been made within the justice system by our courts in the interests of the process of justice in the Northern Territory.
Secondary Education Program
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Yesterday you announced a $42m, four-year program to boost secondary education. How will this program build better schools?
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe the minister is anticipating debate, because this is set down for debate this afternoon.
Madam SPEAKER: It was an announcement that was made yesterday though, and has been in the press, generally. Also, briefings have gone to schools and others, so I will allow it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is remarkable. He is happy to get out there in the media and can it, but your minister and the government cannot get up here and talk about it. What a joke!
It is a good news story, and I am proud, as minister for Education in the Northern Territory, to be announcing the strength of this initiative in response to Gregor Ramsey’s review and the public consultation process throughout 2004.
We went into this process with the very clear view that it was about students, and strengthening outcomes for students in secondary education. I am pleased to say that the response and the money that we have put in is all about students and strengthening outcomes in our secondary schools. For him not to want to hear about it, I believe is just churlish in the extreme - ‘curmudgeonly’, Neil Bell would have said.
There is $15.37m in general terms out of that package is going to supporting students; $5.5m to supporting teachers in and around professional development; almost $16m on indigenous secondary education over the next four years - that is a critical part of this review because of the gaps in provision of secondary education to rural and remote indigenous; almost $2m into that area of distance education, recognising what we need to do there; and around $3.2m in general terms to building stronger school communities.
As I said, this all comes on the back of Gregor Ramsey’s review followed by, throughout 2004, the public community consultation process. We accepted most of the recommendations coming out of Ramsey’s review with a couple of notable exceptions. They included the recommendations in the report to close the Northern Territory Open Education Centre, to introduce learning precincts, and to establish a quality services agency. Whilst they were all strong recommendations in their own right in the Ramsey report, the public consultation process that followed throughout 2004 had a very different view about those recommendations. Very strong views were put in that process about the necessity to keep the NT Open Education Centre; that learning precincts were not, in the view of school communities, going to add real value and take us forward; nor, in the overwhelming majority of view, was there seen a need for a quality services agency. I am pleased that the community has been heard throughout this process, and we have accepted what we have heard. This puts the lie to the CLP claim that we are going through some charade, that we had already made up our mind on these recommendations …
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He said we have lied.
Madam SPEAKER: He did not say you had lied, no.
Mr STIRLING: … pretending to go through a process of consultation. Well, the community has spoken throughout this process and we have listened to what they have had to say and we have gone with the community.
We have accepted, both in terms of what Ramsay had to say about 11- to 14-year-olds in the system and, most importantly, what the community had to say in the public consultation process about this risk of disengagement around those age groups in our schools. The kids of that age come home and say: ‘Why do I have to go to school? It is boring. I am not learning anything. What I did today has nothing to do with where I want to go in my life’. We heard that over and over again in the public consultation process. There is a need to very closely look at this group of 11- to 14-year-olds because we are at risk of losing them through disengaging and dropping through the system. We have accepted that as a principle that this needs to be looked at closely.
There are implications that flow from that. We want to go back to the community, for them to understand and hear very clearly what they had to say in the process about this particular group in the education system. We want their views on the table, the same as we had their views through the consultation process last year because, not only do we want them to hear the views that have been put and the concerns around this, we want their responses and their answers to it. While we are prepared to lead on this as a government, and we should, we want to bring the community with us. There are any number of ways that you might go forward with this into the future, but school communities, parents, teachers and school councils are the best place to consider the way forward for their school communities.
Mr Burke: I though you had done all that.
Mr STIRLING: Well, we have and we have listened. However, there are certain areas of this we want to go back to, and we will make sure we take the community with us, as we have to date.
One of the strengths of our system over all this is the strength of our primary schools right across the system. We remain strongly committed to every one of those schools. All existing schools - and I say this unequivocally - will remain open. There will be no school closures throughout any of these processes at all.
To go quickly through some of the highlights. Each secondary school will have a qualified counsellor on deck outside the teaching formula. At $1.85m and ongoing, we are funding them immediately. Advertisements are going out. That means an extra teaching resource in every high school because, at the moment, if it still chooses to have a counsellor, they have to take a classroom or a subject teacher offline to provide that role. Now they will have a qualified counsellor. It will not necessarily be a teacher, and probably will not be a teacher. That will then free one teaching resource.
We want to expand further vocational education and training. We want to expand subject choices and we are going to pump in $1.2m per year. We want to support this development of professional learning communities. We want to encourage and facilitate teachers, particularly in rural and remote areas, having the ability to come together within their schools to talk about good teaching practice and what is happening in their school, with more senior teachers and teachers of quality being able to share those experiences with newer, younger and less experienced teachers in the system.
We want to network strongly between the department and parents, between the department and teachers, between teachers and students, and parents and students. There is quite a bit of money to go into that area: nearly $5m across professional development, in recognising the ongoing needs to further strengthen professional development for teachers.
We will have more face-to-face teachers out bush. What Ramsay found, and what the consultative process very clearly said, was that distance education correspondence is not the most effective medium for teaching indigenous kids, particularly in rural and remote areas. That means more face-to-face teachers there. That means pools of specialist teachers, attached to clusters, who are able to get access to these students and provide …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister’s answer is excessively long and some parts of it are straight out of his ministerial statement.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes. Unfortunately, we do not have a time limit, as you know, on answers to questions. However, I do believe it is time to wrap up.
Mr STIRLING: Point taken, Madam Speaker. There are a couple of other points that I want to add; that is, the question around the Interactive Business Learning Studio at Katherine. There is money in this package. As soon as we can get a contract out the door that will be built. That will bring Katherine up to speed with the Alice Springs School of the Air. In distance education, our thinking is that we bring these three separate streams of Alice Springs and Katherine School of the Air and the Open College in together as one school of distance education. They are all about delivering the same product. We want to bring them together and share resources across that as one school. That will take some time.
Madam Speaker, all of this, of course, comes on the back of 100 extra teachers across the system, eight attendance officers, the Jobs Plan, and our focus on attendance, literacy and numeracy. We are an education government. We are about delivering quality education. We are about equity. We are serious about getting quality secondary education out in indigenous areas.
Paedophile Activity – Suppression Order by Court
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Prior to the court hearing that day when the name of a prominent Territorian was suppressed, were you or your Attorney-General aware that charges were pending against this prominent Territorian, and were you informed that your Justice Department was supporting a suppression order?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, brief answer, please.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this will be a brief answer. There were two parts to the Opposition Leader …
Mr Burke: Yes or no? Yes or no is pretty brief.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, It is important that if the Opposition Leader asks a question, he actually gives time to answer the question. Or is it that he is standing and delivering rhetoric and is not interested in the answer perhaps?
Was I informed before the matter went to court? I had a very brief discussion with the Police Commissioner and, subsequent to that, no more. I had no information about suppression. I read it in the paper like you did.
Darwin City Waterfront Project – Cost-Benefit Analysis
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Considering the increasing amount of taxpayers’ funds involved in the waterfront project, has the government done a cost-benefit analysis of the project? If not, does it intend to? Will it be done by an independent assessor? Will all the details of the cost-benefit analysis be made available to the public and, when will that occur?
ANSWER
Thank you, member for Nelson, for the question. I hope that you, along with something like 8000 Territorians, took advantage over the last few months of taking a look of the model of the waterfront.
Mr Wood: Twice.
Ms MARTIN: Twice?
Mr Wood: Get those heights right.
Ms MARTIN: Excellent. The model of the waterfront was in the CBD over Christmas, and now it is out at Casuarina. I spent many hours standing there talking to Territorians and experiencing their delight at what is a great project for Darwin.
We sat here and listened to the negative attitude of the opposition; the fact that they want to scrap it and they do not think it is of benefit to Darwin. This was after our sittings in December when all we heard were negative comments about pulling down the waterfront, and negative comments such as ‘We are going to scrap it, it is of no benefit to Darwin’. When you listen to Territorians, people were walking past saying: ‘This is terrific’. It was not just, ‘It’s okay’, it was: ‘This is terrific. This is a project for our future. This will create jobs’. I was really heartened by the very positive comments and the enthusiasm that was truly contagious.
Specifically, on a cost-benefit analysis of the waterfront project, the key part of the project for that cost-benefit analysis, of course, is a convention centre. The convention centre, as we know, will drive economic growth and development for us. It will provide local jobs and draw business and tourism from around Australia and, hopefully, from those countries to our north.
In the first half of 2003, we commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake an evaluation of the need for a convention centre in Darwin. I talked about that work at that time. The PwC report provided a cost-benefit appraisal of the preferred options. That appraisal was very encouraging in its conclusions on the financial outcomes that would stem from the overall development.
That full cost-benefit appraisal has not been released to any third party - including the bidding consortia or the preferred consortium - since this would prejudice the government’s negotiating position. However, shared in this House is the fact that the economics, the flow-ons, and the multipliers of a convention centre will be significant. The figure that we released publicly from that report was that, over the next 10 years, it would bring $190 m additional to Darwin. Therefore, when you look at the flow-on from the convention centre, what is absolutely identified is that it flows on to a variety of businesses in the city where it is placed, and that ranges from hairdressers and florists, through to caterers and tourist operators.
To answer your question, member for Nelson, the work was done specific to the convention and exhibition centre, and it was very positive.
Secondary School Counsellors
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
I am a strong advocate of counsellors in schools. How will the placement of counsellors in secondary schools benefit Territory students?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is it going to be a short answer, because we are going to have statements?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it will be a short answer. I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. He has spoken to me about the need to have counsellors clearly in place in high schools outside the teaching formula, because we know that some high schools could not get that far across to say: ‘Yes, we are going to sacrifice a subject teacher or a teaching position here to have a counsellor’. Therefore, students in that particular school did not have the benefit. For a whole range of reasons, we believe that the wellbeing and welfare of students in having a qualified counsellor in place is a very important step, not just in behavioural issues, but where those behavioural issues come from: the problems in dysfunctional families. For some of the issues that are brought to school by our young teens and upwards, we need high-quality, qualified counsellors in place. That puts it beyond question; every high school will have a qualified counsellor. Of course, it does free up those resources where …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has already answered this question, as well as the fact that the answers are excessively long. I can understand the minister’s need to sell this particular policy, however …
Madam SPEAKER: You know there is no point of order. I have already warned the minister. Get on with it, minister.
Mr STIRLING: I will, Madam Speaker.
We do free up resources. One of those areas where those extra resources will be focussed is this question of careers advice, mentoring, pathways, school to higher education, to training, to apprenticeship, to work force - wherever that young student wants to go. We need to put considerably more effort in there. We will encourage these counsellors who will be based in the high school, that we would expect them to work across the primary school as well, particularly the feeder primary schools into that high school area.
We have begun the process of recruiting. We have $400 000 to get us through this financial year. The counsellors will come at a cost of $1.85m in a full year, ongoing.
Paedophile Activity – Suppression Order by Court
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
I am intrigued by your last answer, Chief Minister regarding the suppression of the name of a prominent Territorian. Can you explain to this House why it was necessary that, in this case, you received a personal briefing from the Police Commissioner when all Territorians are ignorant about the circumstances of this issue? Can I, therefore, assume that, if the Police Commissioner briefed you, the Attorney-General and the Police minister also received a briefing? Did they know the circumstances of the case, and do they know the identity of this prominent Territorian?
ANSWER
Really, the answer is the same as I gave before. I received …
Mr Burke: No, you have not. Does the police minister know?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I am getting to the stage where these are becoming very repetitive. As you know, I believe it is better for you to actually speak to the Chief Minister on private matters such as this, to be able to get the information you want. The rest of the Territory will obtain all the information they need when this goes to court, so there is no need to raise this in this parliament so it can be flagged in the media again and given undue publicity.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is on the floor to answer. You have already asked your question.
Mr BURKE: I called a point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: What is the point of order? I have been speaking, are you going to call one on me?
Mr BURKE: I thought the Chief Minister had sat down.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, I suggest you resume your seat too.
Mr Burke: Oh, okay.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have given your answer?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it was very much the same as the previous one. I do not see anything constructive in continuing this. As you said very clearly, this is a court process and it will be …
Mr Baldwin: What have you got to hide about a briefing?
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The questions I am raising have already been raised in questions in an editorial of the NT News. These questions are in the public domain; that is, we have now heard that the Chief Minister received a personal briefing from the Police Commissioner regarding the circumstances of this case and, one can assume, the identity of the individual. If the Police Commissioner felt it proper to brief the Chief Minister does it, therefore, naturally follow that the Police minister and the Attorney-General also know the circumstances of the case and the identity,?
Madam SPEAKER: I think that was your question. That was your question which has been answered. There is no point of order.
Mr BURKE: No, that is the question I am asking and they will not answer it.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, there is no point of order.
Mr BURKE: They will not answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms Martin: Can I just make a point?
Madam SPEAKER: No, resume your seat! I am getting a little tired of this!
Real Estate Industry – Economic Indicators
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Does the government have any information regarding the real estate industry that tells us how the Territory economy is faring?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question, because we do have a range of quite interesting and significant information coming through pointing to a quite buoyant real estate market out there right now and into the future.
Housing finance commitments were 23% in the year November 2003 to November 2004, compared to a national average of around 8.6%. Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory figures indicate 22% increase in housing sales recorded between the September and December quarter. In Darwin and Palmerston, that is an increase in housing sales in real terms from 400 to 490.
Vacancy rates are at all-time lows in parts of the Territory. In Darwin, the overall vacancy rate as at December 2004 sat at 4.1%, which is historically low for this time of the year. That compares to a vacancy rate of around 12.6% at the same time in 2001 when we had just taken over from the Country Liberal Party government.
ABS stats comparing home loan affordability across Australia indicate that home affordability in the Northern Territory remains the best across Australia. The HomeNorth scheme has exceeded expectations, to say the least. In the first six months of the scheme, 259 loans were funded and a further 82 approved in principle - so they are happy Territorians settling in and increasing the rates of home ownership in the Northern Territory.
What impact do these have? Well, low home affordability means more people can afford to buy houses. That generates a solid market, of course, in household goods and retail trade. Low vacancy rates in themselves further spur on the development market. If you look at the Darla Estate in Palmerston, Stage 1 sold out 57 blocks; Stage 2 sold out 59 blocks; and Stage 3 is selling fast. It means more construction work, more jobs for Territorians, more money into the economy, the spin-off benefits are significant, and it is another indication that the Territory is moving quite solidly ahead.
Northern Territory Ambassador Position
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In your advertising at the last election, you said Mr Bob Collins would be the Ambassador for the Northern Territory, a person who would provide a sure and steady hand to guide your inexperienced government. Assuming this was a real job requiring full-time effort, and Bob Collins has now resigned, who have you appointed to this important job?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, going into the last election we had Bob Collins, very proudly, as someone who would be Ambassador for the Territory with his vast experience in both Territory and federal politics. Interestingly enough, when we came to government, Bob Collins said that he did not want to be the Ambassador, as he felt a bit awkward with a title like that. He became a senior advisor to government, as he has been discussed many times, on an hourly basis. He worked in specific areas such as indigenous education and was very involved in the Desert and Tropical Knowledge projects. That work is continuing, with others.
We in this House wish Bob very well in his recovery from what was a devastating car accident. It will be many months more before he does recover.
Sporting Events in 2005
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can the minister outline some of the tremendous sporting events that will occur throughout the Territory in 2005, and enlighten us in respect to the great Territory lifestyle that will be enhanced by the proposed footy match in Alice Springs in a few weeks time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. We have been incredibly fortunate to have started this year off with a visit by some of the country’s elite sports people already. I am, of course, referring to the recent NBL match at Marrara Stadium between the Sydney Kings and our own Wildcats.
In the second game of this government’s agreement with the Wildcats, it was a sell-out crowd once again and a great night for Territorians. I have no doubt that the support of Territorians for the Wildcats played some part in their victory, and will only enable us to continue to build our relationship with the Wildcats and the NBL into the future.
Also in January, we had the Territory’s Hottest 7’s in the World Rugby Union championship. I to congratulate the organisers for their outstanding vision in putting this competition together. Not only did they attract over 500 participants and crowds of up to 2500 to games, they put the Territory on the international Rugby Union map. This government was proud to provide support to such an innovative and progressive sport. We hope that it is just the beginning of elite Rugby being played here. I believe the British Defence Force side and two New Zealand-based teams have already registered for the Hottest 7’s in 2006.
At the weekend, Top End Territorians were able to enjoy a terrific demonstration of professional sport with the biennial AFL Qantas Indigenous All Stars versus the Western Bulldogs. We were also able to welcome back to the Territory the Bulldogs, who have made the Territory their second home. It is worth noting the support of our government, through the AFL and the agreement we have in place, will result in the Bulldogs’ second match against Carlton on 18 June this year.
We have cricket coming up shortly. We have been able to get the Wizard Cup regional challenge match a week after the Imparja Cup – exactly as it was played last year. We have Les Burdett, who is one of the best and most well-known curators in the country, coming up from Adelaide to prepare the pitch to ensure AFL can be played on it. Last year, was a resounding success with the Port Power versus Collingwood game, with 11 000 people well behaved and really enjoying it. We had a hitch with the AFL, calling that off two weeks ago. After some heavy discussions and negotiations …
Mr Elferink: No thanks to you.
Mr AH KIT: I am pleased to be a part of the success in getting that game put back on. I know the member for Macdonnell is not happy about it. He is whingeing, moaning and groaning over there, however …
Mr Elferink: I am whingeing about …
Mr AH KIT: … the people of Central Australia will be happy that this game is going to be delivered. I know the member for Braitling will be happy this game is on in Alice Springs. It is good for the economy of Alice Springs, and for the people who love Aussie Rules and their sport. If the member for Macdonnell is against it, then he should go out and tell the Aussie Rules community. I will be there. Members of my government will be there on business and, hopefully, can attend the game. I know the Minister for Central Australia will be there. It is going to be a great weekend from Friday 4th.
Sport is happening and going really well. I will continue to work to bring more national and international sport to the Territory so we can enjoy it in our own backyards and keep up that Territory lifestyle.
Bob Collins – Conditions of Employment
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
After promoting Bob Collins as the Ambassador to the Northern Territory, you have now said that he was actually only a senior advisor. However, you have not appointed anyone to this important job of senior advisor, which makes one wonder just what type of job it was. Can you tell this parliament how much you paid Bob Collins for this important job, and did his remuneration include a car, phone, office and expense account? What actually did his work involve?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have all those details with me. However, at the last two estimates hearings at which the member for Brennan was present when the questions were asked, we gave all those details quite up-front. Bob Collins was paid at an hourly rate and he did have an office, a car, and a phone. We made it perfectly clear that there was no annual salary. He was paid at an hourly rate. He certainly made a major contribution in areas such as indigenous education. I am sure that will be strongly supported by the minister.
In his work and contribution in an area like Desert Knowledge, we are replacing him with different people. He is not physically able to go back to work. As I said before, he has months of recovery from a bad car accident.
Yes, he was a very valuable part of this government. He made a very significant contribution and we were very proud of that. Because he did not want to be known as an ambassador – we all know Bob, he has own views of the world. I have spoken about it here before. Bob chose not to be the ambassador, but the senior advisor, and made an enormous contribution.
Fort Hill Wharf Redevelopment
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Has the government let a contract for the redevelopment of the Fort Hill Wharf? Could you say how much the tender was worth; how many companies tendered; was the tender publicly advertised; and which company won the tender?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. No contract has been let for work on Fort Hill Wharf. At the last budget, we announced that a cruise ship terminal facility would be built on Fort Hill Wharf, and we allocated $2.5m towards the cost of that facility. Fort Hill is outside the development area for the Darwin City Waterfront but, because of its location, it is closely associated with that development.
We have asked the three short-listed consortia for the project to provide proposals for the terminal. We are considering a proposal for the terminal from the preferred consortium, and this forms part of the negotiations that are currently under way with that consortium. Depending on the outcome of the negotiations with the preferred consortium, we may proceed to go to a design and construct project as part of the standard capital works processes. That is currently being discussed. It may be a part of the proposal for the Darwin City Waterfront and become part of what the preferred tenderer does. However, all those things are currently in final negotiations.
Bob Collins – Conditions of Employment
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
We have now learnt that Bob Collins was not a senior advisor; you now say he was a consultant on an hourly rate. Is it true that, upon assuming government, you submitted to the Tender Board for an exemption from tender to engage Bob Collins as a consultant? When was that consultancy terminated; and was it terminated by you in asking him to resign, or by him?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we described Bob Collins as a senior advisor. In this House and in the estimates process, we talked about what the terms were of his employment with government. If I remember clearly, the member for Brennan might have asked me those questions as the previous Opposition Leader. To come in here and ask questions again, means that he has either forgotten or - I cannot work out why you are asking those questions. That whole process was explained. The nature of the conditions of employment of Bob Collins were carefully gone through and, at that time, the opposition and the Opposition Leader - as he was then and now, as yesterday’s man returned - was happy with the situation.
Police and Fire Station, Darwin Rural Area
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Can you please update the House on progress of the construction of the new Police and Fire Station for Darwin’s rural residents?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to advise that all is going to plan. It is good news, particularly for the residents of the rural area. It delivers on another government election commitment. Territory firm, Norbuilt is putting the final touches on the new $2m station and residents, government, police and the fire services are really excited about the new facility and the extra capacity and services it is going to bring to the rural region.
Members interjecting.
Mr Maley: What about the ambulance?
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, again, the opposition do not want to hear a good news story.
An open day is going to be held on Sunday, 27 February. It is being organised and all rural residents are invited to attend, particularly the member for Nelson, who has shown an active interest in this project from the beginning. He has been on my tail day and night in regards to when it was going to commence, and seeking updates on progress of that particular facility. I hope to see the member for Nelson there on the open day.
This compares to the one-day-a-week MLA, the member for Goyder who, in the Litchfield Times headline dated 26 January, stated that he had ‘been pushing to get town water installed for residents’, blah, blah, blah, and ‘an ambulance service established at the nearly completed Humpty Doo Police Station’. Well, I have not heard from him. For the member for Goyder, we are having the open day on a Sunday. I know you only work Wednesdays, and in here, but I am really sure that all of your constituents out there would love to see you, member for Goyder. Please come along and share this experience with me, the member for Nelson and all the constituents there. It is on a Sunday; I know it might be difficult. However, we would love to see the member for Goyder there, along with all honourable members, on the delivery of another government election commitment.
Shipping Service - Shanghai to Darwin
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In November, you donned your hard hat for a high-profile publicity shot of Darwin’s East Arm Wharf to announce a new monthly Shanghai to Darwin shipping service. In this announcement, you said:
- Projects like this new monthly shipping service drive economic growth in the Territory, creating local jobs and new business opportunities.
The result of this fiasco is Hai Win Shipping describing the Adelaide to Darwin Railway as: ‘Simply uncompetitive for international freight’. That comment is a damning indictment of your government’s incompetence. How do you feel about that comment, after your government was provided with a railway and a modern port, why have you failed to make Darwin the gateway to Asia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, let us get a bit of history here, because we listened to the former Opposition Leader this morning say that he authoritatively came in here and said: ‘This railway was built not just for domestic freight but for international freight’. The minister for Business corrected him, because that is simply rubbish. If he had asked the member for Brennan he might have actually had an accurate answer.
We know very clearly that the rail, a great project - and many times I have stood in here and congratulated the former CLP government for its commitment to getting that rail built, so there was no pretence on my part that this government oversaw getting that project up and running, and we know exactly who put the work in to have that happen - was built on a domestic freight case. When you talk to FreightLink, they were considering that, maybe, they would start pursuing the international operations in 2006. Once they had bedded down the domestic freight case, once they had those freight loads where they needed them to be – and it is fantastic; they are way above their predictions for the first year, which is heartening for all of us - to have 600 000 tonnes of freight in one year on the train is going very well. The former Opposition Leader sit there and smile widely, but he simply has his facts wrong about this.
Government, working with FreightLink and business, said: ‘Let us move on international freight’. We started doing that a year ago. We started doing that before then, because the domestic freight load and building that capacity was in the hands of FreightLink, quite rightly - they are the operators for 50 years. That was the deal that was done by your previous government. We respected that.
However, what could I do, as the minister responsible through the Office of Territory Development, to build the international component? Well, we went out throughout Asia - in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia – and sold the case for moving freight in and out. We have started it with no anticipation that it would happen quickly. We were delighted when, November before last, Swires Shipping, believing in the future of this new trade route, put on their once-weekly shipping service from Singapore, before the train had even started moving. There we were: Swires in place and continuing.
We were delighted, way before time, when Hai Win Shipping …
Mr Burke: A new monthly shipping service did not go one month. It lasted one month.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the Opposition Leader asked the question and he is not at all interested in the answer.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, thank you. Have you finished?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I would like to finish the answer, but I am not going to do it if they are just going to yell.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, there are too many interruptions.
Mr Burke: You have not answered one question all day.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Chief Minister. We will go on to the next question.
Community Facilities Program
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
In the 2004-05 budget, the government introduced a new three-year program to develop community facilities. Could you update the Assembly on how this program is benefiting the Territory’s multicultural community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It is a great initiative. The government approved $1.5m for three years to assist ethnic communities to maintain and upgrade their facilities. After all, these facilities had been built with Territorians’, government and organisations’ money. Quite a few of them are getting a bit tired and need to be upgraded or repaired. The multicultural communities and organisations cannot afford to do this by themselves.
I was pleased to receive application from these organisations, and to advise the House that I have approved funding for the maintenance of facilities of nine organisations. These organisations include: the Italian Sports and Social Club; the Kalymnian Brotherhood; the Chung Wah Society; the Darwin Chinese Christian Church; the Katherine Filipino Australian Association of the Northern Territory; the Islamic Society; the Greek Orthodox Community; the Cyprus Community; and the Northern Territory Timorese Chinese Association. This community received money from $400 000 allocated in the first year, because the other $100 000 is allocated for urgent repairs and maintenance. I received four applications from organisations for urgent repairs from: the Darwin Chinese Christian Church; the Greek Orthodox Community; the Hindu Society of the Northern Territory; and the Cyprus Community of the Northern Territory.
To describe how important this money is, I received an application from the Cyprus Community because their roof was leaking; it was damaged beyond repair and had to be replaced. There were continuous problems with the electrical equipment and wiring. Work Health had been there and was ready to condemn the facility. Timely, we gave $40 000 to the community to repair the roof, as that facility is not only used by the Cypriots, but also by the Hakka Association, the New Zealand Association and many other associations. It is very important.
It is an important initiative. This government has put in place $150 000 for linguistic grants, and has increased funding for ethnic communities to $750 000 a year. On top of that, we are providing $500 000 a year for ethnic communities. I was very pleased today, in front of the House, to present a cheque for $110 000 to the Chung Wah Society as the first part of a total grant of $245 000 for the Chinese community of Darwin to upgrade their facilities. The Chinese community has promised that they will match $1-for-$1 every dollar we give to the community in order to spend $0.5m to upgrade their facilities. This is important, and the first time a government in the Northern Territory has done something else. It is a great opportunity, as tomorrow we celebrate the Chinese New Year. I believe it is the Year of the Rooster, and this initiative is something to crow about.
Sunrise Gas Onshore
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
As part of your many promises, you told Territorians that you would ensure that Sunrise gas will come onshore by 2007. Woodside has now moved on to other projects, saying it was never their intention to bring it onshore until 2012 - that was one little porky pie you were telling Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your question?
Mr BURKE: The project has now been shelved. This will cost the Territory millions in lost revenue and opportunity. Is this a measure of your foolishness, or merely your incapacity to make things happen?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, interestingly, the question comes from a man who, when he was Chief Minister, nearly ended the opportunity of Bayu-Undan and the development of that gas field. This former government did that. When we came to government in August 2001, those discussions were at rock bottom, basically because, for local politics, the then Chief Minister had decided to spend a lot of time bagging East Timor, creating difficulties with any negotiations. He can pretend that was not the case, but let me tell you, it certainly was the case! When there was a change of government; you could almost feel the relief in East Timor from Darwin! Those talks went ahead quite smoothly after that.
I would like to see where the Opposition Leader claims I said Sunrise gas would be onshore by 2007. I have no recollection of any policy that set a date like that for Sunrise gas. Unless the Opposition Leader can actually put something in here, he has simply made it up! It is a very poor start as the man who says he is renewed as Opposition Leader to come in here - yesterday’s man if you have ever heard it - trying to tell yesterday’s story.
Litter Abatement
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Can you advise the House on how the government is helping to clean up the litter in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question because, like all Territorians, he values our great lifestyle, because that lifestyle is built upon our unique environment. Most of us like going on fishing trips or walking along the beach, and a lot of the time that can be spoilt by litter.
I am pleased to say that this government is spending more than $500 000 on community-based initiatives to tackle litter this year. Keep Australia Beautiful alone receives support worth approximately $360 000. Through the litter and recycling grant, we have funded some great community initiatives, and I will name a few: $10 000 for trials of alternatives to plastic bags, which is important; $10 000 to identify litter hot spots in the Tiwi Island beaches; $7000 to Scouts for Collect-a-Can; and $50 000 to develop commercial options for recycling waste tyres. That is just a few.
I need to acknowledge the member for Karama, who joined Ian Kiernan from Clean Up Australia last month to launch Clean Up Australia Day in Darwin which, again, is to be held on 6 March. All members in this House are urged to make sure that they jot down and keep 6 March available to go and join all Territorians. Last year, more than 6000 Territorians were inspired by Ian and spent more than 15 000 hours cleaning up more than 77 sites around the Territory, collecting enough rubbish to fill about 18 skips. I am pleased that government has pitched in with a $3000 grant to help Clean Up Australia, and I look forward to working with them on more projects. In particular, the Litter Abatement Strategy is working. The have been a lot of community-based initiatives for this money, and it shows that people do care about the environment.
Infrastructure Projects of the Martin Government
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you inform this House what major infrastructure projects have you started and completed since coming to office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question is a curious one, coming again from a man who, when he was Chief Minister, left the Territory’s economy on its knees.
Mr Burke: We left you in pretty good shape.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the Territory’s economy was on its knees in 2001. Look at every single indicator …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition, order!
Mr Mills: Do reviews count?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of government, also, order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we inherited an economy on its knees, and this man, as the Chief Minister, put our economy on its knees. The last three-and-a-half years have been about rebuilding economic activity and restoring services.
I am very proud of the achievements that we, working with the business community and our Territory community - and listening to the whingeing, whining and carping of the opposition as we did it - have achieved in the Territory. There are many major projects that are on their way and have been completed under this government.
Look across the harbour at the LNG plant. Territorians are proud of that. That was a project that the member for Brennan single-handedly almost brought to its knees three-and-a-half years ago.
We are also enormously proud - and Territorians are proud - of the waterfront project. When we get to financial close - and I say when we get to financial close rather than if because I am a confident person - we will start building that convention and exhibition centre, a major project for the Territory, and the associated waterfront.
There are lots of other projects we have been involved with, and we are proud of them. Yet, we have an Opposition Leader who has been returned - who was dumped by his mates there 14 months ago. He certainly is yesterday’s man and he is trying to sing yesterday’s story of a Territory economy that he left on its knees.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016