2003-08-13
Coconut Grove Seniors Village – Status of Repairs
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HOUSING
Can you inform us of the status of the repairs to the Coconut Grove Seniors Village?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the shadow minister. I received some correspondence from the member for Greatorex in respect of the situation at the Coconut Grove Seniors Village. I have been in touch with the department; who have kept me briefed. Whilst it is not good, in a sense, that we cannot accommodate those seniors in close proximity while we are doing repairs in that seniors village, we have made arrangements for them to stay at the City Gardens Apartments.
As recently as this morning, I have been told the department has talked to people who have concerns about those repairs being done, and the travel into the City Gardens Apartments from Coconut Grove. We will be providing a bus to pick up those people, and to take them back to care for their pets and their gardens.
It would be great to accommodate those people in close proximity. However, in this case, the department has searched far and wide, and this is the only place that we could accommodate them comfortably in two-bedroom airconditioned accommodation, with all that goes with those sorts of apartments. It is the best we can do regarding the proximity. Nevertheless, we need to work through that and the department is. Congratulations to them, working overtime to ensure that there is the least amount of unrest for the elderly tenants who are affected by the renovations that really need to be done.
Darwin City Waterfront Project – Protection of Investment
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
It is important that the government ensures that the interests of Territorians are protected in the exciting development of a convention and exhibition centre at the Darwin City waterfront. What steps are the government taking to ensure the investment by Territorians will be properly protected?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a very important question. I can assure Territorians that the investment we announced on Monday - $100m to facilitate what will be a $600m waterfront redevelopment for Darwin - will be very carefully and properly protected.
Madam Speaker, if I could have a little of your indulgence in this answer, because we had a slur across the House yesterday, without any supporting evidence, that there had been collusion by government with a developer. It was a totally outrageous slur. It is very important to reassure Territorians that this process will be done with the greatest transparency and accountability.
For this development of a convention and exhibition centre, plus the waterfront redevelopment, straight away we will be appointing a project manager who will be supported by a project team of both internal and external specialists - people like lawyers, financial advisors, urban planners, engineers and marketing staff. This project team will be overseen by the government’s major projects group, which is chaired by the CEO of the Department of Chief Minister and comprises CEOs of other key government departments.
Separately, and importantly, the government will also be appointing a probity auditor to oversee the process and provide an independent assessment that the selection process is going to be done fairly and equitably. This project will proceed as a public/private partnership, where appropriate and applicable for a project of this type. There will be three stages. The first stage is the expressions of interest. National advertisements will be placed in early September – that is just less than one month away – calling for those expressions of interest to develop the waterfront site. That includes the construction and operation of a convention and exhibition centre as a BOOT – as a build, own, operate and transfer - back to the taxpayers after 25 years.
Interested consortia of developers, financiers and operators will be required to submit a preliminary concept plan and outline how they will develop the area. They will have to provide details of their technical and management abilities, financial resources, experience in projects of this type, and the magnitude of projects they have previously carried out.
Bidders will also have to outline the composition of the consortium team, provide capability statements, outline project economics, provide a preliminary concept, and outline their project delivery strategy. In any of these consortia, government expects that there will be local participation, and it will be a very important aspect of this stage of the process. Expressions of interest will be evaluated, and a short list of consortia decided on by December this year.
Then we will go to the second stage, which is the detailed bid phase. It is expected that three consortia will be invited to proceed to the detailed bid phase, which will go from January 2004 to April 2004. Detailed bids will have to outline how any of those consortia will implement the vision for the site, how they will develop and operate the convention and exhibition centre, the extent of contribution they expect from government towards the construction and operation of the convention and exhibition centre, and the headworks for the site.
Detailed bids, again, very importantly, will also have to include a local industry participation plan, as required by this government in our Industry Participation Plan Policy. In addition to detailing government contributions towards siteworks and headworks, they must include the return to government from revenue from the sale of land and property. That aspect is very important also. This is the second stage, at which bidders will undertake and submit details of their development plans and proposed facilities, traffic analysis and design, preliminary designs for the convention centre and design for required engineering services - all in support of their bids. There will be four key areas for our evaluation: the extent and timing of financial contributions from the government; the extent of revenue returns to the government; the quality of proposals to implement the vision for this very important site; and the quality of the local industry participation plan. We expect phase 2 to be complete by the end of June 2004.
The final stage is negotiations with the preferred bidder. Negotiations with the preferred consortia, leading to a project development agreement, are expected to be completed by the end of 2004. In conjunction with this process, there will be a public consultation period, leading to a final agreed master plan for the area. This will be an important part of that agreement. The PDA will outline the responsibilities and risks for government and the developer, and will detail the timing of both contributions from the government and revenue returns to government during the life of the project. The project development agreement will set the milestones the developers must meet in developing that site over 10 to 15 years.
It is a very comprehensive process. The appalling comments from the opposition, which had no support to them, no evidence - nothing like that, just a slur across the House, not supporting this significant development, one negative after the next – indicate they do not want to see this done. This process will be done with accountability and transparency, ensuring that Territorians’ dollars are carefully protected, and it will be done under the watchful eye of a probity auditor.
Coconut Grove Seniors Village – Status of Repairs
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HOUSING
Last Thursday, the same day your government was launching Seniors Week in Parliament House, your department had a meeting with many of the elderly residents at Coconut Grove Seniors Village. At that time, staff from your department were not able to confirm when the elderly residents would have to move from their homes, but gave an approximate date of 28 August, with a proviso that it would probably be later rather than earlier. Residents were told they would have to move out for two weeks while repairs were being done.
Minister, do you know that several residents were contacted on Monday and told they had four days to be packed and shifted out? Why are you forcing people in their 70s and 80s to move out of their homes without giving them adequate time? What steps have you taken to ensure that these people are being assisted fully so that the move is the least traumatic as possible? What guarantees can you give that the repairs scheduled will be kept to two weeks and no longer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the lengthy question from the shadow Minister for Housing, given that he was the former Minister for Housing. I have his correspondence here. I have a letter coming back to you. I will read the letter so that you can understand:
- Dear Dr Lim,
Thank you for your letter dated 9 July 2003, inquiring about issues relating to replacement of flooring at Coconut Grove Seniors Village.
Mr Reed: Five weeks ago!
Mr AH KIT: Hang on. Take your tablets; just wait:
- The sheet vinyl floors at the Coconut Grove Seniors Village have lifted due to the breakdown of the adhesive fixing. The cause of the problem is still to be determined, therefore there is insufficient evidence at this time to hold any one party responsible for the damage.
My department has decided to permanently fix the flooring problem by replacing the vinyl with ceramic tiles. The vinyl and adhesive will be removed, the slabs ground to remove all foreign matter and to gain a flat surface, and a waterproof membrane will be laid prior to the laying of the tiles. Tenders have been advertised and work is expected to commence this month, with six units being repaired at a time, meaning an anticipated completion date for all units around the end of October 2003.
During the period of the work, expected to be a maximum of two weeks per unit, residents are to be accommodated at government’s expense at City Gardens Apartments, Woods Street, Darwin. Regrettably, accommodation closer to the Coconut Grove Seniors Village was not available. City Gardens Apartments are fully self-contained, airconditioned two-bedroom apartments close to the number four bus route (Cavenagh Street) which goes past the seniors village.
My department is also arranging containers for the residents’ furniture and belongings, as well as removalists to move belongings into and back from the containers.
My department fully appreciates the stress that the project places on the residents. Regrettably, as you can appreciate, the need for remedial works is unavoidable.
I can assure you that staff are making every effort to minimise the stress and inconvenience to residents during this major logistical exercise.
I will table that letter.
Mr Elferink: What is the date?
Mr AH KIT: The date is 8 August. Is that all right, fellas?
Mr Elferink: It took you four weeks.
Dr Lim: It took you a long time to reply to me.
Mr AH KIT: I received the letter on 9 July …
Mr Elferink: Boy, you are on the cutting edge!
Mr AH KIT: Hang on. Madam Speaker, we are talking about letters, and the member for Macdonnell said in adjournment last night that he would go hand in hand with me - and that would be a pretty picture, us holding hands together - going to the Commonwealth government and fronting them on essential services. I am responding to you, I do not want to read that letter out because we do not want to run out of time for questions.
I can also table a letter that I wrote to Mr Denis Burke, Leader of the Opposition. This talks about entering into a bipartisanship arrangement. It talks about the funding and the formulas, where we are not getting the money we are entitled to under Local Government through the federal minister, Wilson Tuckey. It talks about the shortfall we get - $15m to $20m - in the Aboriginal remote housing program and …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: It is about correspondence …
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was about asking the minister why he is forcing people out of their homes, what steps he has taken to ensure that these people are being assisted and the trauma is minimised, and what guarantees can the minister give that the schedule of works will only take two weeks. This has nothing to do with the federal minister’s correspondence.
Madam SPEAKER: I suggest, minister, if you have answered the question, you resume your seat so we can get on. Let us have a few questions today. Have you answered the question?
Mr AH KIT: No, I need a short half a minute, Madam Speaker. My point in regards to the four weeks correspondence: this letter was sent to the Leader of the Opposition on 25 June. It talks about Indigenous Essential Services, and about having a bipartisanship arrangement. I have still not received a response from the 25 June, so do not talk to me about times in terms of correspondence backwards and forwards.
Darwin City Waterfront Project – Community Support
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, I advised the House of the people of Sanderson’s joy at the waterfront project. Can the Chief Minister please advise the Assembly of further community support for the government’s announcement of the $600m Darwin City waterfront project and, particularly, the location of the convention and exhibition centre?
ANSWER
The member for Sanderson should be congratulated for a very timely question, because we know …
Mr Dunham: He knows how to open flower festivals, by golly.
Ms MARTIN: … we have heard so clearly in this House yesterday how the CLP opposition …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, would you cease for one moment. There is too much chatter going on. I am quite sure it is interrupting the broadcast.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we heard clearly yesterday in this House how the CLP opposition simply opposes development in Darwin. A very sad fact - the CLP opposing the construction of a convention and exhibition centre and the redevelopment of the waterfront. It was an extraordinary and incompetent performance.
Yesterday, we had the Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Territory Construction Association endorsing the project and the location of the convention centre. That support continues to grow, and I am delighted, because this is a bold and visionary project for the Territory. It is one that will really build the economic cake and provide real and sustainable opportunities for so many businesses.
There was support and endorsement for the location from the NT News. It says the preferred location case from the government is a strong one. We welcome the support of the NT Branch of the Australian Council of Building Design Professionals. They are supporting the convention centre on that site. The local chairman is Randal Jones. He described it as:
- … an exciting project which will consolidate the current upward swing in confidence and activity in the NT.
He went on to say:
- It is an excellent opportunity to involve the local construction industry and design professions in a project of national and international significance that will provide a welcome boost to the NT economy and the tourism industry.
This is the project opposed by the opposition!
Steven Huntingford, also from design professionals, told Fred McCue on ABC radio this morning:
- It’s a good announcement at this time and the Territory’s moving forward in activity and confidence is growing in the economy. We see it as a very positive step.
In that same interview, he urged local involvement in design and construction. That is an absolute key element for us.
Penny Tastula, who is never short in coming forward, told Fred McCue this morning:
- If I had to choose a location in Darwin, if somebody said to me you can build a convention centre anywhere you like in Darwin, I have to tell you it would have been in the Wharf Precinct. It’s the logical, sensible place to build it …
She was questioned about the issue of the mall, and concerns over it being negatively affected by the development, and Penny said:
- I reckon the flow through of traffic will regenerate, reinvigorate the mall.
Not all this support has happened in the last two days. If we go back to mid-July, again in an interview with Fred McCue with Braedon Earley from the Darwin Business Association supported, in loud and unequivocal terms, the Wharf Precinct as the location for the convention centre. A few quotes from Braeden:
- Let’s put it there, let’s just get straight into it.
When asked by Fred McCue why he did not share council’s concern over the location and that it may harm business in the city centre, he said:
- Well, look, they have to walk from the city centre. I mean, have a look at where convention centres are located in other city centres. It is a case of putting it as close as you can to the centre of the city - take it from there.
Braedon Earley went on to say, when again questioned:
- … you can create linkages, that’s not the issue. I mean, the issue is stop umming and aahing and let’s just get straight on to it.
He concluded to Fred McCue in that interview on 16 July:
- … you don’t have to read the feasibility report; just get ahead and build it.
Thank you, Braedon Earley. It is very disconcerting hearing that quote - and they are the exact words from Braeden Earley, representing his business association three or four weeks ago - and the comments you hear now. Was he representing his business association in July or is he representing it now? What is his real opinion, because he was extraordinary forthright to Fred McCue on radio in July:
- Get ahead and build it. It is a good location, get ahead and build it, it is not a problem.
It is interesting to hear the comments over the last few days. It is a challenge for Braedon Earley. Was he representing his association then, or is he representing it now?
I am delighted by the continuing growth and support for what is a very important project for our future. I listened to the very wise words this morning - again talking on ABC radio - of Pieter van der Hoeven, who is CEO of the Adelaide Convention Centre. He was endorsing the project and the flow-on benefits to our community. In these endorsement, let us give the last word to the NT News now that the decision has been made: ‘Territorians should get behind it’. And that includes the opposition.
Coconut Grove Seniors Village – Safety of Possessions
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HOUSING
Madam Speaker, the minister quoted from a letter he wrote to me. I actually wrote to him in early July, and I had to write a subsequent letter at the end of July before he responded. In response to his previous answer where he mentioned that he wrote to me, while the units at the Coconut Grove Seniors Village are being repaired, and while residents are being housed in the city, what assurance are you able to give to the residents that their worldly goods will be safe? What process have you put in place for the handling of the front door keys, and by whom, when the residents leave their units? I am advised by some residents at Coconut Grove that they do not have any household contents insurance. How does the minister intend to replace any goods if they were stolen in the absence of the residents?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if this is the most pressing thing the opposition has to pursue in Question Time, it fascinates me. You can ask for a briefing, and you are more than welcome, as with every member of the opposition, to come and have a briefing on matters that concern them. However, if you want to continue on, I am quite happy to answer the questions. The question in regards to insurance is one that I will refer to the department, but I can tell you ...
A member: Oh! Good thing you didn’t ask for a briefing then, because you do not know.
Mr AH KIT: Oh! Well, oh! You want me involved in going down there personally and handing over the keys and doing the tiling myself? Wake up to yourself, I am a minister! I have a department, with public servants who work hard and whom I respect, and they are doing a good job. This is an attack on public servants. It is not so much trying to trick the minister.
The tenants are being moved out. Assistance is being provided in packing for residents, and repacking and unpacking. If we need insurance, I will refer that to the department, as I just said, and they will have a look at it.
Dr Lim: Why don’t you just say you will do it?
Mr AH KIT: Listen, do you want that answer, or are you going to go for another question after this? Well, just listen, you might learn something and be a good minister one day.
We are going to have the containers there, we are going to help them pack, we are going to help them unpack. I will get the department to have a look at the insurance so we can cover that if that is necessary. We are going to have buses to take them back to look after their pets …
Dr Lim: Every day?
Mr AH KIT: Yes, every day - take them back to water their plants. It is a pity …
Mr Dunham: That is a new decision, isn’t it? Why did you not tell them, they did not know.
Mr AH KIT: Once again, you are attacking my public servants. You should stop that because you have a record for doing that. You have priors and you must have been an awful minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is too much cross-Chamber chatting. Minister, do not react to their interjections; just keep your answer on track. Member for Drysdale and member for Greatorex, let the minister finish his answer.
Mr AH KIT: I will turn sideways, Madam Speaker.
DIPE finalised the contract arrangements on Monday to start on Friday for the first six tenants. However, all tenants have had months of notice, contrary to the shadow minister for Housing. My public servants have reported to me that tenants are very happy that the remedial works are proceeding. What else does the opposition or the shadow minister expect me to do? I am bending over backwards to ensure that they are not going to have a lot of trauma or discomfort.
Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
The Martin Labor government’s legislation to seize proceeds of crime has been in place for two-and-a-half-months. Can the minister please advise the House of its progress?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question, because this is an important issue. It goes to the heart of this government’s absolute commitment to see that criminals, particularly people who deal in drugs, do not profit from the appalling crimes that they commit in our community.
The Criminal Property Forfeiture Act commenced on 1 June this year and, since that time, 22 restraining orders have been issued under that legislation. Predominantly, they have been issued in relation to police seizures of drugs in the community. However, it has not just been in Darwin. These warrants have been issued right across the Northern Territory including Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Groote Island, Maningrida and Daly River.
The total amount of money now restrained under this legislation that the Labor government brought in as part of our war on drugs in this community, is $333 000, and $72 400 has already been forfeited. That is just in two months.
On Friday last week, while talking to police at Berrimah, police in the Drug Squad came up and congratulated this government for introducing this legislation. They are very pleased to have this legislation in place to ensure that the people who deal drugs in our community and inflict so many problems on our society are not going to profit. They are actually urging the government - and I will be coming back to my Cabinet colleagues with further reforms in this area to ensure that we get right on top of the problems.
It is a signal to people in our community that we are bolstering the police force - an extra $75m – and more resources are going to go into this area,. If you are dealing drugs in this community, not only are you likely to be caught, but assets will be seized, they will be confiscated, and they will be returned to the community. I thank the member for Barkly for his question.
Lake Bennett –Water Licences
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
I have a copy here of a letter from Halliburton KBR, dated 24 September 2002, regarding the dam wall at Lake Bennett. It states:
- An inspection of the dam wall was carried out on 22 September 2002 …
At the end of the letter it says:
- … no survey, geotechnical investigation or technical analysis has been carried out to supplement this visual report.
Minister, yesterday in the House you said:
- My department has issued a licence, a 10-year licence, to the new owners of the resort on 26 September 2002.
That was two days after Halliburton wrote the letter:
- A set of conditions go with the licence and these conditions have been advised and fulfilled.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I cannot release publicly the conditions of the licence because the advice I received indicates that, under the policy legislation cannot be released to a third party.
As for the geotechnical report, a condition of the licence was that a report take place every five years. The department has accepted the 2002 report, the next one will be in 2007, and the next one in 2012. This is the advice from my department. However, I am prepared to provide further information about the geotechnical report and the extent of that report. I will seek the department’s advice straight away as to these matters.
Coconut Grove Seniors Village – Arrangements for Pets
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HOUSING
I am glad to hear the minister’s promise of a free daily bus service for the seniors at Coconut Grove, but let me inform him that, as late as today, at 12 noon, they were not aware that there would be a free bus service for them, so this must be policy on the run.
Is the minister aware that accommodation provided at City Gardens Apartments does not allow for family pets? Where does the minister propose that these family pets be accommodated during the period when residents are moved out of their homes? It appears that Territory Housing is not prepared to assist with arrangements for these family pets to be adequately and safely accommodated. What does the minister propose to do to ensure that pets belonging to residents at Coconut Grove Seniors Village are adequately catered for? Will the minister cover the cost of pet accommodation for the duration of repairs to each of the units? Those pets are very dear to them.
ANSWER
Of course they are dear to them, and we acknowledge that. If the member for Greatorex was listening to a previous answer not so long ago, I did say that the bus would be taking people out so that they can water their gardens – I had better stand sideways – and care for their pets. I did say that and Hansard will pick that up and record that as such.
Yes, if there needs to be pet accommodation, that is not policy on the run. That is something that the department will deal with, and I will refer that to the department. No doubt, the CEO is listening in to this broadcast. We will have a look at that. It is not policy on the run, it is sensible. It has not been brought to us …
Mr Baldwin: Why didn’t you make all these arrangements in the first place?
Mr AH KIT: Well, another former minister for Housing, Madam Speaker. I cannot comment on him because …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I will refer that to the department. It is not policy on the run. We will get them to have a look at it. If we can assist, we will, because we have very hard-working public servants who are trying to bend over backwards and accommodate the needs of these people while we need to shift them over the next six to eight weeks.
Northern Territory Real Estate Market
Mr BONSON to TREASURER
Over recent weeks, a number of indicators of the Territory’s economy have shown positive growth. Can the minister please update the House on the state of the Territory’s real estate market?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question, because anecdotal evidence from the real estate industry suggests that market conditions have definitely improved in recent times, with increased sales volumes and reduced turnaround on properties put up for sale and higher prices. It seems most strongly indicated by house prices rather than unit prices at this stage, although residential vacancy rates have fallen over the past year.
Darwin’s median house price was $215 000 in March 2003, according to the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory, up 10.3% from the year earlier. It marks a distinct improvement on the very flat conditions that have prevailed for most of the preceding four years. House prices have also increased in other Territory centres, according to data released by the Valuer-General. Alice Springs prices are up 25% over the past two years.
We are also seeing evidence that the highly affordable Territory housing prices are now of interest to interstate buyers, with real estate agents reporting properties being bought sight unseen by interstate buyers. That is something virtually unheard of a few years ago, and is partly, no doubt, due to the influence of the Internet, which facilitates trading of this type, and allows agents to market these properties to a much wider audience, very readily and quite cheaply.
Housing finance for owner occupation data also highlights increasing activity, indeed buoyancy, in the real estate market, and this excludes the purchase of investment properties. In June 2003, the number of new loans was 467, the highest figure since February 2000. That is a 42% increase from June 2002 to June 2003. The corresponding value of those loans in June 2003 is $58m, the highest level ever - these statistics go back to 1983 - and up 66% on June 2002. That is far and away the best performance of any state or territory. The Australian average comparisons - and let us get this in context - are up 6.9% by number, and 20.2% by value.
I will table a graph which shows very clearly the number of housing finance commitments for June 2003 and the percentage change from 2002. We see ACT, unfortunately a little negative on the graph, New South Wales - no change, Victoria - a little, Western Australia - a bit more, Tasmania, until this outstanding growth rate here, the big yellow chart on the bar is the Northern Territory. I table that graph.
Hunting Permit Outlets
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Last year, Territory hunters were able to obtain a water fowl hunting permit from six outlets. There was one government outlet at Parks and Wildlife in Palmerston, and five private gun shops, which included Fishing and Outdoor World, Happy Mick’s, The Gunsmith Shop and Tex Gun Supplies. The shops provided a good service and it was also good for business. This year, you have reduced the number of outlets to one, being Parks and Wildlife at Palmerston, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for Territory hunters to obtain a permit. What possible legitimate reason could you have for creating this obstacle for good Territory people trying to obtain their hunting permits, and for damaging these five Territory businesses?
ANSWER
I thank the member for his question. It is a problem, because Parliamentary Counsel advised there may be a problem with the act that does not allow the director to delegate his authority to issue permits to non-government employees. Until this issue is clarified and rectified by possible amendment of the act, the only one who can issue the permits is the director.
In the past seven years, permits have been issued by the gun shops and similar establishments. However, for this year only, the gun shops have been advised. They have been issued with applications and given information about where people can obtain their licences, which is from the Parks and Wildlife’s office in the Goyder Centre at Palmerston. In order to facilitate this situation, the office will be open on Saturday 16 August from 8 am to 3 pm.
It is legal advice we obtained which we did not expect. The situation has changed. Until this situation is rectified, we have no other option but to go back …
Mr Maley: But you can rectify it! You can fix it You could have fixed it.
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, we can fix it. However, it has to go through an accepted process that you, as a lawyer, should be aware of. Obviously, you are missing the point. I cannot fix it with a signature, it has to go through a certain process. Through your legal studies, you probably are aware of this process. I do not have to repeat it to you.
Sporting and Community Groups - Funding
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
During estimates, you told Territorians that no sporting or community group will have its funding cut this year by the Labor government. However, groups such as Riding for the Disabled, Scouts, golf, surf lifesaving, basketball, and both the Darwin and Palmerston YMCA, tell a different story. Do you still maintain that government has not cut back funding to sporting and community groups?
ANSWER
I welcome the question, Madam Speaker. I have introduced an outcome-based funding model in 2003-04 to offer financial assistance to eligible organisations under the Office of Sport and Recreation grants program. I made that clear. Also under that system, we have implemented triennial funding where that is warranted, and where sporting organisations and bodies have been proving that they are capable of receiving that funding over the next three years.
We have a variety of assessment tools that were developed to prepare funding recommendations for these applications, ranked against the capacity of the organisation to manage funding, achieve the proposed output and viability, and merit of the program project. Ultimately, this process is linked to budgetary considerations. A number of previously funded organisations, including those mentioned by the shadow minister for Sport, were not of a sufficiently high ranking within the overall program to be recommended for ongoing support through the peak sport and recreational organisations.
Mr Maley: Not sufficient and high ranking – we will pass that on.
Mr AH KIT: Well, you did not implement anything other than a system of handing out cheques. When our government came to power and I took over Sport and Recreation, we needed to do a review. It was a suggestion worked up from the department - I am not too sure, but I would probably hazard at a guess, that it was probably rejected by your former sports and recreation ministers - that we should assess these applications and go through a system of looking at triennial funding, and weight these on their merit …
Mr Mills: But you assured them there would be no cuts.
Mr AH KIT: Now, hang on. We are dealing with taxpayers’ dollars here. Just remember the $130m black hole you left us with.
We are dealing with taxpayers’ dollars. We are looking at how these organisations can apply and put in proper submissions. As I say, the department has a panel that weights them.
Yes, the Scouts did receive less than they received before. I have asked the department to be flexible in how we introduce these new measures. However, introduce we will, because there is no longer the past policy of putting your hand out and we will write a cheque for you. This government, and I, as the Minister for Sport and Recreation, will not operate in that manner. We are moving towards establishing a situation with sporting organisations where they can put in a very good submission. They can prove to the department their accountability measures; that they have business and visionary plans put in place; that they are doing their utmost to recruit further membership; and that they are going to acquit those dollars according to the processes.
All of that has brought some change and change is, in a sense, in many cases, not acceptable. However, in regards to the Scouts’ situation, there was, from memory, something like 1400 membership in 2002-03. That dropped by something like 700. We cannot continue to say: ‘Let us fund them at the same level’. Yes, they did receive a $10 000 drop, but we are working with them. I have just had a note this afternoon from Julie Brimson from my department saying we are working through how we can help them get more organised and plan better, so that when we do assess them for the coming 2004-05 year, they will be in a better position.
I can tell you, Madam Speaker, the days of old under the former government in respect of just handing out a blank cheque for whoever likes to receive it, and that is all hunky-dory, are now gone.
School Attendance Officers - Implementation
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
In the lead-up to the 2001 election, Labor promised to introduce attendance officers and to work at re-engaging children who had become alienated from the school environment. Can you please report to the House any implementation of this promise?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. Certainly, this Labor government believes strongly in education for all students in the Northern Territory, as a means of changing the individual’s life and their prospects for success in life.
We said in opposition we would employ attendance officers to bring those students who had fallen through the cracks back into the system to re-engage them. In the 2002-03 budget, we announced funding for the introduction of eight School Attendance Officers over three years, the first couple to be appointed in 2002-03. Those initiatives are now incorporated into the department’s student Enrolment, Attendance and Retention Strategy and are being implemented this school year. To date, two have been appointed, both started in term two, one in Alice Springs and one in Palmerston. The position in Darwin’s northern suburbs based at Sanderson has been advertised and will be filled shortly.
These officers are charged with the responsibility of finding local solutions, and will involve consultation, obviously, with schools, school communities and other agencies in the community such as youth, Night Patrol workers and child protection officers. They are also tasked with identifying those students at risk and linking them to appropriate education and/or training programs.
In Alice Springs, the attendance officer has engaged with Tangentyere Council, Alice Springs Town Library, the Department of Health and Community Services, the Alice Springs Urban Housing Association, as well as indigenous families across the board. In the course of that work, the attendance officer has, so far, achieved 60 indigenous students back onto the books, enrolled and regularly attending Alice Springs schools.
In Palmerston, a broad-based committee is developing a plan to be trialled under the DEET Enrolment, Attendance and Retention Strategy and is becoming well known there as the Palmerston Youth Engagement Initiative.
There are six more attendance officers to deploy. I am beginning to think that, with the success these two are showing and the role of lineation that is coming out those appointments, that we would be asking the department to extradite the further employment of these attendance officers. In a brief over the weekend, I saw some of the attendance rates in some of our remote indigenous schools still languishing at low levels in some particular areas. We ought be expediting the appointment for attendance officers, particularly to those schools at risk with low attendance.
An attendance officer will soon be appointed in Central Australia, picking up the remote communities that have poor student attendance levels, and another one most likely to be appointed in the Katherine region, probably from early next year. With the additional six, and so much good work being achieved with these first two in place, as I said, the sooner we can get them on, the sooner we will get these students back at school and engaged effectively in education.
There is also a crime prevention element to it. If they are absent from school and wandering the streets, there is always the potential to get into trouble, and frequently that is the case. We are committed, as well, to those long-term crime prevention remedies but, at the heart of this, we are committed to a quality education for all of our students in the Northern Territory, including those who have dropped out along the way.
Sporting and Community Groups - Funding
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Apart from your commitment not to cut back funding to sporting and community groups, you also promised, during estimates, that I would find the current funding levels for sporting and community groups for this financial year on your department’s web site. Despite your assurances some two months ago, this information has still not yet been posted. Are you trying to hide the truth about your government’s cuts to sporting and community groups? When can volunteers, who provide the backbone of all our sporting and community groups, know whether this government values their contribution by maintaining appropriate levels of funding?
ANSWER
Let me begin by answering the last part of the question regarding volunteers. At every opportunity, on every occasion - and I do it personally when I am at sporting events, whether it is cricket, Aussie Rules, Cup Carnival, wherever there are volunteers - I pat them on the back and congratulate them. The other evening, for the first time in the country, we had team officials recognised by a minister in a government. It does not happen anywhere else in Australia, but we did it here, and we had 300-odd people. For the first time, the umpires, officials and judges have all been recognised.
Mr Mills: Anyway, about the funding.
Mr AH KIT: Yes, I am coming to that issue.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I am interested to find out where the shadow minister is quoting from, but I have always been …
Mr Dunham: Page 136, Parliamentary Record of 25 June.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, order!
Mr AH KIT: Okay. We will get hold of that, that is not a problem. I have also gone on record saying that we would be introducing the new Sports and Recreation grants funding. I was also on record prior to that saying that we will …
Mr Baldwin: Post them on the web.
Mr AH KIT: I beg your pardon?
Members: Post them on the web site.
Mr AH KIT: Okay. I will go to the department and find out why they have not been. I will go to my chief of staff and find out.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, we have a lot of geniuses there, and we have a few former ministers who were across every detail in the department.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Do not talk to me about web sites, because the member for Goyder has something on his web site that he was supposed to take off when he threatened and accused me of stopping Aboriginal prisoners from boarding planes. So you go back to the CLP web site before I talk to some legal people …
Members interjecting.
Mr Baldwin: What are you talking about?
Mr AH KIT: You are talking about a web site; it is still on the CLP web site. Take it off because it is offensive to me and my family. Now, let us come back to the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Could we allow the minister to answer the question without any more interjections.
Mr Baldwin: Okay, someone has given you …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, did you just hear me?
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I have information to hand that says that the information you are seeking, member for Blain, will be on the web site by the end of the month.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You blokes did not learn much when you were ministers, did you? This is the usual practice. The department is working on it now. Are you saying I am hiding behind the department, or the department has given me incorrect advice? You are going to have to stop getting off flogging the public servants. Start trying to work out at the end of the month who is going to be your leader, and get on and being a good opposition. That is what you really need to do.
Madam Speaker, I have provided the answer. They do not appear to want to understand and listen. Maybe they are concentrating on their leadership issues at the end of the month. Good luck to them.
Thamarrurr Community Government Council
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
You recently approved the constitution of the Thamarrurr Community Government Council, something the people of that region have been seeking for a long time. Could you please update the House as to the progress in establishing this new community council?
ANSWER
I welcome the question from the member for Arafura. At least it seems to have a lot of intelligence attached to it. The Thamarrurr …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: I will turn sideways, Madam Speaker. The Thamarrurr Community Government Council …
Mr Dunham: No, don’t do it!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you have already been spoken to once today.
Mr AH KIT: The Thamarrurr Community Government Council was incorporated on 21 March this year. It replaces Kardu Numida Incorporated as the local governing body for the region. This is a great step forward for the people of Wadeye, who have been discussing, for at least five years, ways in which local government structures can be made to better fit traditional authority structures. Last Thursday, I attended the first meeting of the Thamarrurr Community Government Council in Wadeye and the associated ceremony of signing of council’s declarations.
The advantage of the new council is that it will represent all landowners, enabling each group to have an equal say. Each of the 20 landowning groups in the region will have equal representation, with each group selecting two people to represent them on council. The region covered by the council has a population of approximately 2500 people. The development of this new local governing structure is a tribute to the perseverance and the senior members of the community. It is also a tribute to the work of public servants working with the community to transform the nature of local government in the Wadeye region.
The new council’s vision is to give every kid a chance. This vision reflects the community’s strong commitment to the future prosperity of the people of the region. The key issues the council has decided to initially focus on are: women and family, youth, and housing and construction.
Madam Speaker, I congratulate the community and their newly elected representatives. For the information of members, I table a schedule of members elected to the inaugural Thamarrurr Community Government Council.
Lake Bennett – Dispute Mediation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
With regard to Lake Bennett, what is happening in relation to the so-called mediation between the owners of the resort and the landowners? Do you agree that the government is bludgeoning landowners into submission by saying that, if they cannot resolve the dispute, the government will change the rules? When will the landowners who won the court case against the previous owner be paid what was ordered by the court?
ANSWER
Thank you for your question, member for Nelson. We all know that the Lake Bennett affair has been very protracted and, at times, very unpleasant for the people who are at odds there. Our main attempts to resolve that matter, while always reserving the right to settle it by legislative process, has been to try and mediate a settlement for these people who were previously going towards litigation.
From my most recent advice, that mediation process had settled the interests of all but one of the people who were involved. We are still persisting with that process. We would prefer to get a fully settled resolution of the matter. However, I will repeat that, if it is necessary to legislate to finally put this matter to rest, we are prepared to do that.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Discharge of Patients
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Do you think it is appropriate to discharge elderly people from hospital - people with dementia or paralysis, for example - and insist that they be transported back to their nursing home in a taxi? Have the staff at Royal Darwin Hospital been told to stop using the St John Ambulance Brigade, who provide a service to do that, because of cost-cutting?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I wonder if there is a particular case the member for Port Darwin is talking about, and whether or not she is, in fact, talking about a Coroner’s case in relation to a particular person. It is very difficult to talk about particular cases. I do not have the details of individual patients, as it would be totally inappropriate for me to have those.
That kind of decision is totally one for the hospital to decide on. People are discharged in relation to clinical matters; they are not discharged in relation to whether the minister thinks it is time for that person to leave the hospital. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the minister as to whether somebody is in the hospital, or is about to leave the hospital. Those decisions are made entirely at the clinical point at the hospital.
Perhaps it is appropriate for me to say that we have increased funding to the ambulance services throughout Darwin, Palmerston and Casuarina so that, by November this year, we will have three full-time ambulance teams on our streets in these areas.
It is not a question of funding, it is a clinical decision that has been made by the hospital. If there is an individual patient you are concerned about, perhaps the member for Port Darwin would like to approach my office. It is totally inappropriate for individual patient’s names to be brought up in this House. If the member for Port Darwin would like to approach my office, we would be happy to follow up the case.
Regional Crime Prevention Councils
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The minister has informed the House previously on regional crime prevention councils which are being established across the Territory. I have constituents who would be interested in an update on the progress to establish the Galiwinku regional crime prevention council.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am pleased to announce that the East Arnhem Land Indigenous Regional Crime Prevention Council has now been established. It is the most recent in the whole series of these regional councils that we have been setting up. I congratulate my Office of Crime Prevention for the fantastic work they are doing in spreading this structure of community support for crime prevention throughout the Territory. We now have five regional councils and two indigenous councils working in partnership with government on crime prevention initiatives.
The new East Arnhem Land Indigenous Regional Crime Prevention Council is made up of community representatives from Galiwinku, Ramingining, Milingimbi and Gapuwiyak. Led by Galiwinku through the Knowledge Centre project, law and justice committees have been finalised in each of the participating communities. The Galiwinku Knowledge Centre is operating to provide valuable information technology networking between the four communities. The law and justice committees will examine links between the renewal and preservation of Yolngu culture, and the maintenance of law and order according to both Yolngu and western law. The key focus of the committees will be to work in productive and culturally positive ways with those in their communities who are at risk of offending. The committees will also be looking at developing more formal involvement and participation in the justice system.
Members of this new Indigenous Regional Crime Prevention Council attended the successful two-day educational seminar organised by the Office of Crime Prevention for council members in May. The council also met in June to discuss the structure, processes, and protocols for their crime prevention council. This meeting coincided with the opening of the Galiwinku Knowledge Centre by my colleague, minister Ah Kit. All four communities have been working on the development of a law and safety strategy, and identifying roles in the management of the Indigenous Crime Prevention Council. The first full meeting of the council involving all four communities will be held in October.
I welcome this new crime prevention body out bush, and I congratulate all involved in the crime prevention council, particularly the traditional owners of the land, all council members, including Galiwinku Council President, Mr Charlie Yunupingu, the Town Clerk, Mr Mike Newton, the Knowledge Centre representative, Mr Richard Gandhuwuy Garrawurra, and representatives of the Yalu Centre and the Women’s Centre. I look forward to hearing from them on their ideas on crime prevention.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016