2003-02-19
Alice Springs Hospital - Condition of Patient in ICU
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Two weeks ago, I wrote to the minister for Health regarding my concerns about a patient in the ICU in Alice Springs. To date, I have received no reply. Minister, what is the current condition of this patient?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. Yes, indeed, the honourable member has written to me and I have asked my department to provide me with a clinical response to that. When I have received that I will certainly be writing to the member. I might say that, regarding issues brought forward in this House, it is a very serious matter to be actually raising things to do with individual patients. Patients have privacy issues which are covered under significant Australian legislation, under which people have a right to have privacy for their medical records.
I understand that, last night, during the adjournment, there was some comment that this was taking a long time to respond to. I would like to say that, when I became the minister on 27 August 2001, there was mail waiting to be responded to from February that year; too many to respond to before September and October. So, two weeks is hardly a long time. When I receive the information, which is a very serious matter, I will respond appropriately.
Northern Territory Population Trends
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
What are the trends in the Northern Territory’s population, and what action has the Northern Territory government taken to assist population growth and retention?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. It is a very important question because, yesterday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released final 2001 Census-based population estimates for the December quarter 2000 to the June quarter 2001. That was two months before this government came into office. The final estimates revised down the preliminary estimate of Territory population as at the end of June 2001 by 1.1%, which is 2300 people. We queried the ABS methodology. It is not the first time we have queried it, because we feel it does not reflect the uniqueness, or take into account the circumstances that we have to deal with when you do a census in the Northern Territory.
Mr Reed: Oh, really?
Ms MARTIN: When you hear the member for Katherine saying, ‘really’, he knows perfectly well, having previously been the Treasurer, that the methodology applied by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and its application in the Territory, does not necessarily adequately count the Territory’s population. We will be raising our concern about their methodology with the federal government and, certainly, a need to take into account the Territory population mix that has major implications for federal funding of the Territory.
That aside, we will be talking to the federal government about the methodology. We have talked to them in the past, consistently, that there is no doubt that the Territory population is not growing. Preliminary data for the September quarter last year estimates a 0.1% nett decline in the Territory population.
The Territory population has moved within a fairly narrow range over the last couple of years. We have moved between a range of 197 500 to 198 000 people. That is a narrow range of 500. The concern, when this information emerged yesterday, was that the second federal seat for the Territory would be in jeopardy on the basis of that temporary decline. It is certainly something this House should not let happen. We should be making a bipartisan call, very strongly, to the federal government that there should be legislation in place to save two federal seats in the House of Representatives. It is simply ridiculous to start talking about losing a seat because of that small change to the Territory’s population. I reject very strongly the ill-informed words of the member for Solomon who seemed to be targeting round for somebody to blame for this, and trying to pretend that it was the fault of this government.
The real issue for us is one of nett migration loss, and that has been an issue for the Territory since 1997. We have been experiencing a nett migration loss for that period, which is of great concern to the Territory. It was only the birth rate that was keeping the population growing, albeit slowly. It really was the relatively high indigenous birth rate that was masking that nett migration loss in our figures.
We recognised the problem, which is why we moved early on to put together a population …
Mr Dunham: No, you did not. You have a population statement here that says there is no problem. You have debated it in this parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale.
Ms MARTIN: It is very sad that the member for Drysdale thinks that, by making ridiculous and continuing comments in the House, that he will launch a successful leadership challenge to the member for Brennan. Is this your best way of doing that, is it? It is not very effective, let me tell you.
Mr Dunham: You have debated it here and the numbers are wrong. So, don’t tell us you recognise the problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Can I just make a comment? Member for Drysdale, I have tolerated your constant interjections for a long time now. I suggest you control yourself and cease, without comment, thank you.
Mr Dunham: Thanks you, Madam Speaker, I was actually speaking to a direct comment from the Chief Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, you are on a warning.
Ms MARTIN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The fact of the lack of growth in the Territory’s population, the nett migration loss we have been experiencing over the last five to six years, is why we put together a population strategy and why those elements of that are being pursued.
Of course, the best way of keeping Territorians here, and attracting newcomers, is to increase the quantity and quality of jobs, and it is this government’s number one priority. Just look at the current context. There have been difficult years for the Territory but the major projects that are online now - the building of the railway is one, of course; the Wickham Point LNG plant, 1500 jobs in the construction phase of that; the Alcan Gove mine expansion, a 1000 jobs in that, a substantial increase in the work force; the same for the McArthur River planned expansion to the mine. We also have major Defence projects coming on line: the helicopter squadron is coming to Darwin over the next few years; the Bradshaw development; and also the very substantial multimillion dollar Defence Housing expansion. They are all contributing to growth in Territory jobs and population in coming years.
However, the strategy has to be wider than that. They are important components: the major projects coming on line, the jobs that they will attract, the stimulus for business. However, we have to understand why people leave the Territory and what will make them stay. There are more factors in that: more local jobs, very important; but better schools, healthier hospitals and safer suburbs. That is why this government is spending more on education, why there are more teachers, why we are reviewing secondary education, why we are working with the Northern Territory University to enhance its reputation, to better focus it, and also implementing the Learning Lessons review.
We are reforming the health department - we have discussed that widely over the last few weeks - and we will take what is a not very well functioning health department into one which will function well and deliver healthier hospitals and better health outcomes for Territorians.
While we are attacking the causes of crime, we are giving the police the powers they need to do their jobs and also attack those causes of crime such as drug use - which the Leader of the Opposition continues to deny.
There are many elements to tackling building our population. The major projects are in place. They are coming online but, very importantly, we have to make sure that our lifestyle is being secured, and that the elements demanded by those who will be attracted to the Territory or those who want to stay here, in health, education and safe communities are being met. It is jobs, but it is our great Territory lifestyle that this government is supporting.
Alice Springs Hospital - Intensive Care Unit
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Minister, how safe do you consider the Intensive Care Unit at Alice Springs Hospital, given that it no longer has a medical officer specialised in the area of intensive care, nor does it have many nurses with qualifications in ICU nursing on the staff?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting to see the opposition’s real interest in health. It is a pity it did not happen when they were in government. We would have had a much better situation, both for outcomes and, indeed, in the department.
Over the last year, the Alice Springs Hospital has significantly improved its service, and I know that Madam Speaker, as a member from Central Australia, you will be very pleased to know this. We have in place an excellent new management team who are working very hard. I can assure Territorians that, in fact, the Intensive Care Unit, like the rest of the hospital at Alice Springs, is functioning very well.
Yes, there are issues in relation to the work force; there are in every aspect of the Health department, there is no question about that. However, that does not mean we are looking at unsafe situations. I can assure Territorians that what is happening at Alice Springs Hospital, and all other hospitals, is that our clinicians and nurses are working very closely to ensure that patient care is always maintained.
I have received no advice that suggests that there are any issues whatsoever at the Intensive Care Unit at the Alice Springs Hospital. I can assure you that what we are looking at here is a situation where the Alice Springs Hospital has improved considerably over the last year. At the moment, we have the full-time equivalent number of nurses - the correct number for the bed numbers at the hospital - and we are looking at a good situation in Alice Springs.
Commonwealth Funding Relative to Population
Mr KIELY to TREASURER
Would the Treasurer outline what effects the revision to the Territory’s population estimates will have on Territory funding from the federal government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for this very important question. Members would be aware that the Territory is far more reliant on revenue from the Commonwealth government than any other jurisdiction in Australia. There are two key determinants that affect that funding level that we receive from the Commonwealth. The first is the relativities, recommended by the Commonwealth Grants Commission. The commission’s new relativities for 2003-04 are expected to be received at the end of next week, and that is something that we look forward to, obviously, with a great deal of interest.
The second determinant is the Territory’s estimated resident population. Small changes in either the relativities on the one hand, or the Territory’s population on the other, can affect our funding level from the Commonwealth to a far greater degree than similar changes for other jurisdictions because of our greater reliance. If unchanged, the revised population estimates would have a substantial effect on the Territory’s funding and could result in a reduction in 2002-03, and future years, of between $20m and $25m. That would seriously restrict the Territory’s fiscal capacity and our ability to respond to future financial pressures.
Revised estimated resident population figures for the Territory from the most recent August 2001 Census, just prior to the election of this government, were released yesterday. Members would know that the Territory’s population base is confirmed following each census and, between each census, the ABS estimates annual increases in population. In May 2002, the ABS released preliminary estimates from the census. Those estimates showed that the previous ABS estimates of interstate migration have been too low over the five years from the 1996 Census by 1.2%.
However, the estimates released yesterday by the ABS revised the increase from the 1996 Census to only 0.25% greater than the previous estimates. That result does not demonstrate a decline in the Territory’s population so much as the ABS re-basing its estimate of the population. It is widely acknowledged - and the member for Katherine alluded to it by way of interjection before - that the Territory’s population is extremely difficult to estimate, both at census time and on the inter-census periods where ABS is making these revisions.
The difficulties at census time, in that collection on that given period, are related to the reliability of population counts in respect of the Territory’s highest in Australia proportion of indigenous people, most of whom live in rural and very remote areas; and the higher than average proportion of dwellings from which a census is not returned. Now, both of these mean that the population estimates for the Territory are not as reliable as other jurisdictions and tend to underestimate the population.
I will give you an example. If the ABS does not get a form returned from a particular house and they say: ‘We will put three down’, or ‘We’ll put two-and-a-half down’, that may be okay for Melbourne, Sydney, your southern capitals. It is not okay in many of our remote communities where there is a considerably higher number than two-and-a-half or three - try 15, 18, or 20 in some of these communities. So, we miss out there to whatever degree those forms are not returned, and we get that underestimation.
On an annual basis, the high levels of interstate migration, both to and from the Territory, mean that estimates of the annual movements are not as reliable as for other jurisdictions. That release yesterday by the ABS continues to show volatility in the Territory’s population estimates. Unfortunately, the underlying detailed information supporting these revised estimates is unlikely to be received for at least a month from ABS, which makes it pretty difficult to respond to what the ABS are doing by way of these revisions when we do not have the base information to challenge those returns. However, there are considerable concerns with at least two aspects of the estimates, particularly the adjustment associated with dwellings where a census has not been returned, and revised migration data. We will be taking both those matters up with ABS, clearly as a matter of urgency.
It is also important to remember that the other key factor affecting our funding levels for 2003-04 is the relativities prepared by the Commonwealth Grants Commission, and they will be released late next week. The combined effect of the new relativities and the revised population estimates will form the basis for funding levels from 2003-04, and will be finally agreed at the annual Treasurers Conference scheduled for 28 March - clearly a meeting with some import for the Northern Territory.
The revision of these figures is of great concern to the government and we will fight, obviously, very hard on behalf of all Territorians to put our case very clearly. Treasury put estimates together over the years, and the member for Katherine said we used to disagree with them on that, and it was not the case. It was my understanding the opposition very clearly understood. We represented, in the main, the rural communities who were unaccounted. We understood the difficulties that the ABS had in its census; we know how shabbily it was done in our own backyards from contact with our constituents. It is a little different to walking around the suburbs of Brennan and counting the number of people, when you are out in some of the more remote reaches of the Territory.
We understood - and it is churlish of the former Treasurer to suggest that we did not have some understanding of the government’s position on this. We understood that they used to take it back to the federal government on a repeat basis as, indeed, we will. I do not doubt that many of the same arguments will have to be re-run. I hope I can prosecute them a little better than you obviously did in all of the times that you had to take these arguments to the Commonwealth on behalf of the Northern Territory.
It needs to be clear that the effect of this revision will, obviously, further reduce this government’s flexibility in meeting our deficit reduction strategy, and it is something that we, as a government, clearly hold very important. However, we do, at the same time, remain saddled with the legacy of these guys - absolute economic mismanagement from about 1996 on, but most notably those last couple of years, which left us, in coming into government initially, with about $126m short. Whatever difficulties we have now, Territorians will not forget that. They will not forget the deceit, and the contempt that the CLP held Territorians with in the way that they mismanaged the economy.
ABS Figures - Territory Population
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Madam Speaker, I have listened carefully to the answers to questions on population from both the Chief Minister and the Treasurer. We have heard about how ABS could have got the figures wrong. The truth is this: for the first time since Cyclone Tracy, the Territory’s population is falling and unemployment is rising, in the face of the railway project - and that is a very important point.
The second point is this: when we talk about inaccuracies, your own budget papers, against Commonwealth predictions, predicted a 1.7% population growth - check your budget papers. That, as you have said Treasurer, leads to increased revenue in your budget papers based on the explanation you have just given. I want to know this answer: how much have these ABS new figures cost the Territory this year, next year and in coming years - how much?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I listened very carefully to the answer given by the Treasurer, and I would have hoped because it is such an important issue for the Territory, that the Leader of the Opposition might have listened as well. We gave a figure of …
Mr Burke: What is it? Tell Territorians – now and over term. Tell us.
Ms MARTIN: The figures that we are looking at now are somewhere between $25m and $30m, potentially. That is why it is so important that we take the methodology used by the ABS and argue …
Mr Burke: How did you calculate 1.7% growth, against Commonwealth predictions? How did you calculate it?
Dr TOYNE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr Burke: Answer the question, it is very important, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Give the Chief Minister a chance to answer it.
Ms MARTIN: The Leader of the Opposition asked the question and then has no courtesy in listening to the answer. Let us just deal with the number of points in the question he asked. The implications are serious ones for the Territory, and you put that together with our determination to bring our deficit under control, the outrageous situation left by the CLP, and the misrepresentation given to Territorians about what the deficit was; that is of concern to this government. We are determined to get the deficit strategy in place. We have it in place now and are determined to continue with that.
The implications of these revised figures are potentially $20m to $25m. So, at this stage we are not certain of the final figures, and we will be in Canberra arguing about the methodology.
The unemployment situation faced by the Territory is significantly better than when we came into government - a couple of points better. We would like to see unemployment levels lower but, at this stage of the year, considering where we are at, I do not think unemployment is doing too badly. Compared with the legacy left by the CLP, it is significantly better.
Let us look at the predictions for the Territory and what the independent forecasters are saying - the Access Economics and the BIS Shrapnels - and the positive predictions they have for the Territory over the next five to 10 years, predicated on the growth brought by major projects, and issued with confidence about the future of the Territory. It is very churlish to have the Leader of the Opposition come in here, try to distort facts, and then talk down the Territory economy, when the predictions coming from the Access Economics and the BIS Shrapnels are that we are going to see growth in our economy - from a Country Liberal Party government in 1999-2000 which oversaw zero growth in our economy. The words being spoken now only smell of rank hypocrisy.
East Timorese Asylum Seekers
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
What is the current status of East Timorese asylum seekers in the Territory, and what is your government doing to assist those long-term residents of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, another very important question about the East Timorese living in Darwin who are very important members of our community. There are currently 86 East Timorese who have applied to stay. We have been working with those East Timorese - we committed to a number of months ago - to make their cases to the federal government so that they can stay in the Territory.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that the Minister for Asian Relations and Trade met with Prime Minister Alkatiri in Dili. Prime Minister Alkatiri expressed his thanks to us for our support of the East Timorese community in Darwin, and supported those who wanted to say in the Territory. We are working in conjunction with the East Timorese government, and we have their support for arguing hard to the federal government that the 86 East Timorese who are living in Darwin and consider Darwin home, should stay.
I will quickly bring the House and Territorians up to date with what is happening. The first batch of Refugee Review Tribunal hearings for the asylum seekers in the Territory commenced on 17 January this year. There were seven applicants and their families - that is four family groups - and the last of the seven cases is to be heard today.
If negative decisions are handed down by the Refugee Review Tribunal, the asylum seekers will be told that they have 28 days to leave Australia. They will have to leave, unless the federal minister, Philip Ruddock, exercises his discretion under section 417 of the Migration Act, and substitutes a more favourable decision. Today, I have again written to the federal minister asking him to show compassion and use his discretion to let these 86 people stay - or the ones who have come to his attention so far. Many have been living in the Territory for well over a decade, some longer.
The federal processes that they have to go through is very stressful for these East Timorese, and is also very expensive. The Refugee Review Tribunal imposes a fee of $1000 on all unsuccessful applicants. There are 45 known cases currently being handled by the Territory’s Legal Aid Commission and, should their appeals be unsuccessful, the costs on that alone will be $45 000. This does not take into account several asylum seekers who do not qualify for legal aid, and any who have not yet sought assistance.
My government will assist with meeting those costs and, as the House is probably aware, we have the support of the St Vincent de Paul Society to act as an independent collator of public monies that were raised to help the East Timorese. We supported a concert late last year, which raised $5000, and I committed to matching all those dollars raised that are then collected by St Vincent de Paul, $1 for $1 for the East Timorese protection visa applicants.
Legal Aid, the Office of Ethnic Affairs, and the Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development, are working to ensure that, where possible, those eligible to stay under relevant visas are supported in their efforts.
I want to raise one final issue. There is another serious issue facing the East Timorese, and that is that they can potentially lose federal support funding once the decision is handed down by the Refugee Review Tribunal, and whilst the minister is considering their case. From that time, if their application is rejected by the Refugee Review Tribunal and before the minister looks at their case, they can lose the funding they currently receive - the Asylum Seekers Assistance Scheme, which is operated by the Red Cross. For many, this scheme is their only financial support. Many of the East Timorese are not employed, some are elderly, others suffer from ill health, so this assistance is absolutely critical. If the scheme ceases, the East Timorese here will find themselves virtually in financial limbo and require financial support to sustain themselves. There are approximately 53 asylum seekers in Darwin currently receiving this ASAS funding. The total payment in the Territory to the East Timorese who fall under this scheme is over $5000 per week. That excludes direct payments made for pharmaceutical costs, which the Commonwealth pays directly.
I have also written to Minister Ruddock today to request that he maintain the funding under this scheme until his final decision is made. I would appreciate bipartisan support from the opposition for this approach, particularly our federal representatives. Our community has made its voice very loud and clear on the 86 East Timorese who live in Darwin. We want them to stay; they want to stay. We have the support of the East Timorese government. We are doing everything in our power, and I believe that is supported right across this parliament and across the Territory.
Commonwealth GST Disbursements
Mr REED to TREASURER
Madam Speaker, I first seek leave to table a copy of the Treasurer’s 2002-03 Mid-Year Report, something that he should have done, particularly for the media.
Leave granted.
Mr REED: My question follows the advice from the Treasurer that the Territory will be short $25m to $30m, as a result of the population loss, in GST disbursements from the Commonwealth to the Territory in future years. It also follows the comment by the Chief Minister that she is not certain of the figures. I ask the Treasurer if he will give her a copy of his report that was placed on the Internet this morning, but not generally circulated, in which he says:
- Population estimates for the Territory have recently been revised downward from the 2002-03 budget forecast due to higher estimates of interstate migration from the Territory. This has resulted in a $6m reduction in the GST revenue estimate for 2002-03. This lower than expected population growth compounds throughout the forward estimates period with GST revenue estimates declining by $19m in 2005-06, and an overall reduction of $51m over the forward estimates period.
Treasurer, why did you announce in parliament today that the effect was $25m to $30m when, in fact, it is $51m in your report under your new fiscal integrity legislation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, these ABS revision figures only came out yesterday. I am not sure whether the member for Katherine, the former Treasurer, is trying to allege that somehow we have cooked the figures of what the population estimate ought to be, and somehow claim that we would receive greater revenue from the Commonwealth than we otherwise might. I can assure him that is not the case. This is not a fight that we have lost or are walking away from.
In my previous answer, I went to some of the difficulties in establishing true levels of population estimates in the Northern Territory. The ABS, as we know, in between the census period used, for example, Medicare and Defence data to measure interstate migration. We have a higher level of transience in the Territory than anywhere else. Many of them are young and are on the move around Australia, sometimes on working holidays, in and out of the construction and nursing industries. Many of them simply do not have Medicare records, so they are not picked up by the ABS data measuring.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This has nothing to do with Medicare. This is to do with the Treasurer’s report that he released today. He told us formerly that it was $25m to $30m; his report says $51m. Has he misled the House?
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, would you address the question.
Mr STIRLING: I have not misled the House at all. The figure today that I used in my answer was $20m to $25m that we are facing this year.
Mr Reed: No, it was $25m to $30m.
Mr STIRLING: Ongoing, $20m to $25m, if we do not get a sudden upwards revision of the population estimate. He is suggesting that this is all over red rover, and we have been done. That is probably the attitude that the CLP took when they were in these corners. I can assure him and all Territorians that, when I get down there with my fellow Treasurers on 28 March, I will be having plenty to say. I will be having a bit to say to the federal Treasurer before I get there on 28 March, along with some discussions with ABS. However, to have it that we are just going to walk away from this argument without picking it up with the ABS and the federal government, and the meeting on 28 March, is not the case. We have not given up; we have not even begun to fight, let alone throw in the towel. There is a long way to go on this.
They may have failed over all the years they were in government - I guess they got tired of going every year, trying to run the same arguments to the Commonwealth year in, year out - but we are fresh and eager to have a go. We are pretty keen to get the real facts in relation to population estimates in the Northern Territory. We will get to the bottom of this, and get some accuracy from ABS, and we will see what the outcome is in the finish.
Madam SPEAKER: I will call the member for Barkly next, but could I remind members to not refer to people by their Christian names. You know that is against standing orders.
Community Benefit Fund Grants
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
In September 2002, advertisements were placed in a range of Territory newspapers calling for applications by community organisations for funding grants from the Community Benefit Fund. Minister, can you advise the House as to the outcome of those applications?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question, because it is an opportunity to tell a good story regarding what the Community Benefit Fund has been able to do for community organisations out there, enabling this government to directly support those community organisations that contribute so much to the great Territory lifestyle that we all enjoy.
The Community Benefit Fund is now delivering much needed funds to grassroots community organisations in a clear and transparent manner. The history of the Community Benefit Fund, prior to the election of this government, and as outlined by the Auditor-General in his report to the House last year, is a pretty sordid little tale. It showed a history of direct ministerial interference and, I tell you, it was not from the member responsible for it, because he shoved it across to his mate - he gave it to his big brother, the former Treasurer, the member for Katherine.
Mr Baldwin: And did you receive any benefit? Yes, you did. Do not knock it. You were one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Mr STIRLING: It would have been too hard for the member for Daly to make these decisions. We know he used to take copious files into the Cabinet room to get his colleagues to make the decisions for him because he could not make decisions on community grants: ‘Here Mike, do this’. But then, I digress. Of course, as I said, that was after some years of freezing …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You did admonish the House about using first names, and the speaker is continuing to do it.
Madam SPEAKER: I did, and the Treasurer does know.
Mr STIRLING: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Of course, they froze the fund for some years under the guise of a review, which we never ever saw or heard anything about. Then we saw, prior to the election, an obscene haste to shovel out a little over $1.6m, as the Auditor-General pointed out, without any due process, without any proper acquittal process or accounting requirements.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Treasurer is making allegations and making comments that the Auditor-General did not make. He either makes those allegations by substantive motion, or he withdraws.
Madam SPEAKER: I do not think there is a point of order because the comments were made not to a member of the House.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, the Auditor-General’s report shows …
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I must object. The Treasurer is making direct allegations against individual members - the minister responsible and the Treasurer - and also allegations against the government in general as to how those grants were handled, none of which were substantiated in any fashion by the Auditor-General’s report. We have had that debate and it is quite wrong for the Treasurer to be allowed to make those comments again in this House. He must withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: What I am saying, Leader of the Opposition, is that he made derogatory comments to the Auditor-General, he will have to wear those. He was not making derogatory comments to you or any other member in this House.
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Last night, when I was speaking about Mr Bartholomew, I was called to withdraw and I asked if you could use that consistently, which is the case we have before us now, where I was asked to withdraw because I had allegedly defamed Mr Bartholomew. I would have thought that the minister who called that point of order would have had another opportunity to defend that. All I am asking is, if you go to Hansard, page 59 of last night, you will see that we have the same circumstance now.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, I do not think I ruled on that point of order. I take each point of order as they arise and give my opinion and ruling.
Mr STIRLING: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am not sure what I was being asked to withdraw there.
The Auditor-General’s report itself was the direct impetus for this government bringing in clear and transparent guidelines and passing legislation to appoint a new committee to consider applications to the fund from community organisations. I did that in December last year, and the committee met on several occasions and carefully considered the merits of each funding application from the community organisations.
In total, 225 applications were received; total funding almost $934 000. There are two funding rounds scheduled each year for these community grants, and accordingly, for this, the first funding round for 2002-03, the committee sought to allocate around $300 000. In the end, the committee recommended 106 grants, totalling $309 640.
In assessing the applications, the committee considered the eligibility of each application and organisation within the guidelines, and with some limited exceptions, recommended only one grant per organisation where multiple applications had come from the same organisation. It considered the per capita allocation of funds by region and has given some advantage towards regional and remote regions. It has given preference to those applications with lower rounds, and it has considered the amount requested. In many cases, they recommended a reduced amount while seeking to ensure the project would not be jeopardised by the reduced funding.
The committee adopted a consistent approach toward requests for equipment purchases. It recommended the same amount, either $2500 and $3000 respectively, where a higher amount was requested, taking into account funding received by applicants from the previous CBF program and not recommended applications where acquittals remained outstanding from that previous program.
On that basis, I am pleased to advise that I have accepted the committee’s recommendation in all cases, and the following total amounts were allocated on a regional basis for the first round: Alice Springs 19 out of 33, $59 644 allocated; Darwin 58 out of 143, $155 246 allocated; outer Darwin, six out of 13, $23 931 allocated; East Arnhem six out of eight, $24 468; Katherine, eight out of 17, $25 456; Tennant Creek region, nine out of 11, $20 892.
A range of administrative enhancements to the application package and the process are also being considered. Some of those will involve minor policy adjustment, which will require further work by the agency. An example is the difficulty faced in some remote communities due to the exclusion of government and semi-government organisations such as councils being ineligible to apply, and the apparent lack of any other organisation in those communities to apply for that funding. There is a question of equity here …
Mr Baldwin: That is right, what are you going to do about that? There has been a letter written to you on that.
Mr STIRLING: If you have written to me, I am very pleased to accept that representation …
Mr Baldwin: What do you mean, if I have written to you.
Mr STIRLING: … because it is something we are going to …
Mr Baldwin: You should know. I have not written to you, but a council has.
Mr STIRLING: I was going to say it would be a first to get a letter from the member for Daly. I do not know if I have ever had one.
We give an undertaking, because there is a question of equity there, and we want to get that straight before the next round of grants. I acknowledge the exceptional efforts of the committee and the CBF secretariat for filtering the applications and managing that round.
I acknowledge the commitment of the community representatives - these people really put in a couple of solid days in the end, with about three meetings altogether – Austin Chin, Charlie King, Denise Southwood, David Mitchell and Clive Scollay. They have done a great job, and the Community Benefit Fund is now an example of an open and transparent government at work, and one which everyone on this side of the House is proud to be associated with.
Treasurer’s Mid-Year Report - Discrepancy in Figures
Mr REED to TREASURER
In these days of fiscal integrity and transparency, could he explain how $6m, $18m and $95m only add up to $24m? Because that is how he adds up those figures on page 10 under Public Non-Financial Corporations of his mid-year report, the report that says on page 1 that the Treasurer prepared it. I ask the Treasurer which figures in that section are correct?
ANSWER
They are all correct, Madam Speaker. I am not sure what page the member is referring to, and I do not have it in front of me. I will check those figures and I will get back to the former Treasurer, if necessary. Whether it is a rounding up or there is a question there of the figures themselves, I will get back to him.
Arafura Games 2003 - Progress
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can the minister inform the House on progress of arrangements for the Northern Territory to host the Arafura Games later this year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question. Sport, as we know, is a very important element of our Territory lifestyle, both as competitors and spectators. Sporting events have already made a very substantial contribution to tourist visitation in 2003, and there is more to come, including the Arafura Games and international cricket.
The 7th Arafura Games will be held in Darwin from 17 to 24 May this year. My department has maintained close ties with overseas nations predominantly but, not only nations of the Asia Pacific region, but also with sporting organisations within Australia to ensure maximum participation. Thirty sports will be featured in the 2003 games, including tennis for the first time. There will also be disability events in swimming, and athletics will also be represented, once again, for the first time - a tremendous development.
Venues for all the 30 sports have been finalised. It is expected that around 10 000 people will visit the Marrara precinct during the week’s events. The grassed area outside the Marrara Indoor Stadium is planned to be the hub of the games’ activities. The concept is that anyone in Darwin who is interested in the games can come down to the hub and be able to access food and entertainment, as well as have 10 Arafura sports within easy walking distance. A beach volleyball court will also be erected in this area for the games competition as well as celebrity matches.
Expressions of interest from 2063 athletes have been received by early February. Interest has been expressed from a very diverse mix of countries including, at this stage, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States of America, Japan, East Timor, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Fiji, Guam, Hong Kong, Macao, New Caledonia and Malta. As is usually the case, final registrations will not be known until the commencement of the games. Consistent experience with the games is that registrations continue to be made right up to the commencement of competition, but all indications are very positive for a great Arafura Games.
Over 170 volunteers have been registered so far, with recruitment right on track. The opening ceremony is being developed with the theme ‘Unified Nations’, and will be held on the evening of Saturday 17 May. The opening ceremony is being directed by Darwin’s Matt James with Territory dance theatre company, Tracks Inc, directing the creative part of the event.
Territorian, Lewis Lampton, will choreograph a large schools component and coordinate the culturally significant indigenous traditional welcome. The night will be wound up with a brilliant pyrotechnic finale. Thousands of athletes, accompanied by officials and tourists, will visit the Territory for these Games.
An international sports conference will also be held in conjunction with the Games. Of special interest at this conference will be the participation of Mr Frank Farina, a Darwin-born gentleman who currently has the soccer world at his feet. We know him as the coach of the Australian Socceroos.
I am pleased to advise Territorians that the operational planning of the Arafura Games is well on track, with everyone confident that this will be another huge and successful games. The Arafura Games 2003 will provide a further boost for the Territory lifestyle. The games will also be good for local business and tourism.
Treasurer’s Mid-Year Report - Nett Operating Balance
Mr REED to TREASURER
I ask the Treasurer to turn to page 3 of his report, tabled today.
Mr Stirling: Well, I would do, Madam Speaker, but I do not have it with me.
Mr REED: Well, I tabled a copy of it. You do not even have a copy. You are supposed to be the Treasurer. You are supposed to be across your job.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Katherine either has a question or he has not, instead of pontificating from his seat.
Madam SPEAKER: Ask your question.
Mr REED: My question is this: if he turns to page 3 of his report that he released today, he will find that it says:
- The impact on the Nett Operating Balance of the various revisions and adjustments made to the general government sector since the budget is an increase in the deficit by $23.1m to $51.6m for the year.
Could the Treasurer explain to Territorians how, in just a few months, this has blown out by 81%?
You now have a copy, that is good! For those listening, the Treasurer is now reading his report that he released this morning.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, would you like to respond later? You can take it on notice, you know.
ANSWER
I will take it on notice, Madam Speaker. My initial reading of it would be that, as we move to an accrual basis reporting of the budget, that depreciation figures move about as assets are re-valued and agencies get used to that process. That is going to take a little time; it took quite some years for other jurisdictions. We think now that we, as a jurisdiction, have the experience of what has happened in other places, that it probably will not take as long to settle down. If you have major assets having to be valued and depreciation figures recorded against them, agencies will take time to get all of that in order so that we will get shifts. It is expected that we will get shifts in these estimates put forward over the first few years of moving to accrual.
They never got to this. They did not want to get into it, despite the fact that they had made agreements that they would move to accrual accounting. What the former Treasurer is trying to suggest is that we have somehow bailed out of our deficit reduction strategy to the extent of these millions of dollars. Not true! This government will hold the line on our deficit reduction strategy. Do you want to go back the last 10 years …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Do you want to go back to when this guy was Treasurer - $45m, he told Territorians in his budget. ‘We will overrun the budget by $45m. Although it is a debt, we will have a deficit this year of $45m’. What was the figure? Come on, what was the figure, member for Katherine? $275m, Madam Speaker - $275m, an abandonment altogether of economic responsibility. $130m, no matter, it is over the top …
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was: what is this Treasurer doing in relation to an 81% increase in his budget deficit.
Madam SPEAKER: I believe I have heard enough of the answer to date. Treasurer, resume you seat and go on with the next question.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, just to make sure, we have not blown the deficit reduction strategy. The figures refer to shifts in agencies getting used to settling down over the move to accrual accounting, and the asset depreciation involved in that, and the need for estimates to come forward. To finish off the point I was making though, we stand in stark contrast to these guys. ‘Next year, when we do win the election …’, they told Territorians, ‘… the deficit would be $12m’. And what did we find? $126m!
Middle Point Community – Vacant Houses
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Madam Speaker, I ask this question on behalf of the Independent member for Nelson who is unable to be with us due to the loss of his father.
Minister, I have been told that ten houses at Middle Point community belonging to the Land Corporation were rented to the Housing Commission and are now vacant. Could you please say if this is true, what does the government intend to do with these houses, and what is the future of the Middle Point village?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I take this question on notice. It is a question about which I have to find the information from my department and come back to the member. I am prepared to do so. I cannot answer off the top of my head now because I do not have the details. I am prepared to provide the answer in the near future.
School Attendance Officers
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
The 2002-03 budget announced the introduction of school attendance officers for Northern Territory schools. Minister, can you please inform the Assembly of the role of these officers and the expected outcomes? The opposition might want to listen to this.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question, because it is, again, an opportunity to put on the record that this is a government prepared to tackle these quite difficult issues of school attendance and truancy. I want to make it clear, it is not simply a schools issue in isolation, it is part of a broad-ranging government initiative under crime prevention in general. We think that the strategy itself will help keep young people off the streets, help to ensure those who need it get help to stay at school and provide them with a sound foundation for future employment; jobs for young people being recognised as one of the key long-term means of reducing crime rates.
The department has incorporated this initiative into its enrolment, attendance and retention strategy. The positions have recently been advertised and will soon be filled. One of the attendance officers will be based in Palmerston, the other one based in Alice Springs, where the department has the support of Tangentyere Council. We are working together with them to select the most appropriate applicant for the position, and have the support also of the council in the implementation of the program. As evidenced by Tangentyere’s involvement, it is the local solutions that we are trying to bring forward and develop that will include consultation with schools, school communities and the wider community.
We expect the school attendance officers will work closely with other personnel, such as the Youth Night Patrol and child protection workers across the face of government and community organisations. A broad-based committee is already working in Palmerston, known as the Palmerston Youth Engagement Committee, and we expect the attendance officer there will play a significant role in the further development and implementation of that project. That attendance officer will also work with schools to identify students at risk and develop and deliver innovative and effective plans that will help keep these students off the streets, and help them get into school and stay there.
Truancy is not a new thing, it has been around as long as we have had schools. We certainly do not kid ourselves that there is an easy or a quick fix. However, we do believe that if we fail to address the problem and bring forward some solution such as our predecessors failed to do, then the whole community pays the price in the end. The links between truancy, joblessness and crime are becoming increasingly obvious, and we will be taking the fight up on all three fronts.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016