2002-02-27
Alleged Ministerial Interference in Operation of Correctional Services
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Yesterday, you told this House that between October and November last year, 78 prisoners were transferred between Darwin and Alice Springs. You said that 47 were Asian, nine were Caucasian and 22 were Aboriginal, while a further eight were voluntary transfers. On how many occasions, were prisoners transferred between Darwin and Alice Springs between the end of August and 11 November last year, and on what dates did those transfers occur?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will have to take some parts of that question on notice because I do not have the detail with me. I can certainly confirm there were three flights transferring prisoners south to Alice Springs. In fact, I have some information, thank you, from my colleague. On 5 October 2001, a total of 12 prisoners - 12 Indonesians, in other words, 100% Indonesian. 19 October 2001 a total of 28 – 10 Aboriginal - 36%; five Caucasian - 18%; 13 Indonesian - 46%. 26 October 2001, a total of 10 - one Asian - 10%; nine Indonesian - 90%. 9 November 2001, a total of 28 - 12 Aboriginal - 43%; four Caucasian - 14%; 12 Indonesian - 43%. Those figures aggregate into the figures I gave yesterday.
Northern Territory Economy Moody’s Investors Service
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
What assessment has the Moody’s Investors Service given your government’s economic credentials and the Labor government’s road map of putting the Territory’s finances into a sustainable position?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, at a time when what we hear from the opposition is whinging and whining and talking our economy down, it is good to hear from such a respected commentator, financial analyst, as Moody’s about what in fact the situation facing the Territory is. Moody’s Investors Service yesterday released their latest rating of Territory Bonds, which are issued through the Northern Territory Treasury Corporation. I am very pleased to report to the House that the rating has been maintained at AA2.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms MARTIN: This rating, Madam Speaker …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: … and I hear some whinging and whining happening already from the opposition benches.
The rating was undertaken after the mini-budget in November and therefore reflects upon this government and its budgetary management. The Moody’s analysis that goes with the delivery of that AA2 rating recognises the poor budgetary situation that this new government inherited. I will give you some quotes from that Moody’s analysis. It says:
- In recent years, a combination of one time events and service cost pressures have resulted in an underlying deficit. The results for the non-financial public sector in 2000-01 were for a deficit amounting to 13.8% of revenues.
Madam Speaker, a figure like 13.8% of revenues, in terms of deficit and the relationship, means that nearly $1 in every $7 of expenditure was financed by debt. This is the legacy of 27 years of the Country Liberal Party, that nearly $1 in every $7 of expenditure was financed by debt. The highest per capita debt in the country, and shamelessly trying to hide the figures in the last budget. And we know, you have been exposed.
Let’s look at what Moody’s say about the mini-budget and the forward estimates:
- This adjustment … [referring to the mini-budget] … more accurately reflects spending pressures and allows for the government’s new spending initiatives. As such, we believe the budget targets will be met this year.
It goes on to say:
- After peaking in 2001-02, debt ratios should stabilise and begin to decline.
Which is not bad, Madam Speaker, for a government that had been in place for just three months.
Moody’s recognises the poor budget management that we have seen before and the efforts put in place by this new government. Even though we are facing difficult times, the work in fiscal management by this government has meant that we have maintained our AA2 rating, and it is a great credit to all the work that was done last year.
While we are talking about those who are giving us the thumbs up, despite the opposition and its whinging, Access Economics, in its latest budget monitor, has also given praise. Let’s just hear one quote from that:
- What is clear is the government’s recognition that the Territory has a budgetary problem, and that more transparent and rigorous approaches to budget policy settings are required. Given recent history, that is a good start. The adoption of fiscal integrity legislation is particularly encouraging.
So a tick for this government from Access, a tick from Moody’s, and all we get from the opposition is constantly talking down the economy. The opposition should be ashamed of themselves.
Alleged Ministerial Interference in Operation of Correctional Services
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Yesterday, a memo from the Commissioner for Corrections, Mr Moore, to the Chief Executive Officer of your department, was tabled in this parliament. Why does that memo refer only to the transfer on 9 November and no other transfer, when no date was mentioned during the course of yesterday’s Question Time? What was so particular about the transfer on 9 November that he limited his comments to that date and only that date? And further, was the flight on 9 November originally scheduled for that time and date, or was that flight delayed for any reason and, if so, what was that reason?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I cannot confirm why Commissioner Moore focussed on the flight of 9 November. What I can say is that Commissioner Moore has advised me that the decision to transfer prisoners to Alice Springs Correctional Services is an operational decision for him alone to take. In accordance with protocols developed under the former government, the minister of the day is notified of the Commissioner’s decision as there is inevitably intense interest in the matter. Commissioner Moore yesterday confirmed that:
- … at no time during briefings I had with the then Minister for Correctional Services, Mr John Ah Kit, nor his ministerial staff, was I directed to change any arrangements I had made regarding prisoner transfers from Darwin Correctional Centre to Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
He also advised it is, and to use his word, ‘crazy’ to suggest any direction or request relating to transfers could be given to prison officers without his knowledge - an allegation that the shadow Attorney-General was quite happy to make on the air earlier on. He has advised that headquarters in Darwin, with his direct approval, makes the physical arrangements for transfers and his Assistant Commissioner, based in Darwin headquarters, approves the transfer list. He says:
- This is a predominantly uniform service that relies on a hierarchy of command and associated accountabilities at each level in custodial operations.
The Commissioner, at least, is very clear about the integrity of the process that he is following within his department.
Release of Commonwealth Grants Commission Annual Update
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
What do the Grants Commission Recommendations released today mean for the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Commonwealth Grants Commission released its latest annual update this morning. The Commission utilises financial and economic data from all states and territories, as the opposition is well aware, over a five year period to determine the annual per capita relativities that should apply to how grants are distributed throughout the country.
Today’s results reflect the regular updating of data used by the Commission, replacing data relating to the years 1995-96 with that of the latest financial year available, which is 2000-01. The Grants Commission’s methods - and this has been long argued, of course, by the Territory - recognise the special needs that the Territory faces in delivering services to all Territorians, particularly those related to our relatively small and geographically dispersed population which are very distant from the main population centres. The result is in line with what I anticipated. The Territory’s needs are well understood by the Commission and, I believe, by all Australians. The Grants Commission has recommended that the Territory receive an extra $74.6m in untied assistance and health grants for 2002-03.
However, this amount, while welcome, needs to be put into perspective. The Grants Commission result is a recommendation only. The application of the new relativities depends on the approval of the Commonwealth Treasurer following the Ministerial Council of all state and territory Treasurers which is scheduled for 22 March.
The final amount of additional assistance is also dependent on population and movements in prices, which will only become known through the course of the next financial year. The amount of additional assistance also pales into insignificance when we compare it to the total level of debt we have inherited from the last 27 years of the Country Liberal Party, some $2.2bn, or more than 30 times the expected increase in Commonwealth grants next year. While we certainly welcome the recommendations of the report, it does not change this government’s fiscal strategy of returning the budget to surplus as soon as we can, which at this stage is 2004-05.
Proposed Cool Room Facility – Darwin Rural Area
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Minister, you announced in the budget that the government was going to commit $2m to the building of a cool room in the rural area. Whose idea was it to build a $2m cool room in the rural area? Was any feasibility study done? Where and when is it likely to be built? How much cool room space is available presently? Is the provision of cool rooms not a matter for private industry instead of government? Finally, would the government agree that this money could be better spent in the Sydney and Melbourne markets employing inspectors to check on the quality of fruit when it arrives, handling and storage practices in these markets, and the price growers get and how that price is established, or employing industry and development officers to help growers be educated in quality assurance techniques?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Madam Speaker, the issue of the cool storage facility that was committed to us in opposition, in terms of our election commitment, was something that we did take forward in government; there is a budget allocation for it. What we did, through my department, was to talk to growers in the rural area. We have permission to study, and the department has been out there and spoken to growers in the horticultural industry, particularly in the mango industry, to ascertain whether this commitment that we made from opposition was really the type of facility that the growers wanted. Certainly, from opposition there was a view, particularly after the last season, that this was the type of facility that was needed.
The report has identified a number of related issues affecting the development of this sector such as improved business skills, logistics, chain management and food safety. Those recommendations are before me at the moment and I will be considering a final analysis of this report and making a statement later this month.
However, people were pleased to have their views taken into consideration. This government is serious about enhancing the viability and the reputation of our agricultural industry, and there is money there to do that. In regards to the commitment we took to the election, how we split that money up in the end will be done in conjunction with discussion with the industry to meet the best needs of the industry. I counter this approach with an article written by the member for Goyder in the Litchfield Times dated 23 January, when the member for Goyder stated that:
- The prospect of inspectors at each packing shed and hard-working farmers being prosecuted for breaching the new Labor government’s legislation …
I do not know what legislation he is talking about.
- … is not cost effective and another unnecessary bureaucratic burden on our hard-working mango producers.
One of the issues that has been raised is this issue about whether we should have inspectors, either funded by government or in conjunction with the industry, to protect the reputation of this crop, given that there is a very small amount of substandard fruit reaching those southern markets. The reputation of the Northern Territory mango crop is absolutely vital in terms of maintaining maximum prices for that particular crop. I am quite prepared to work with the industry. We are not going to introduce any legislation or regulations that the industry association has not called for and do not support. That is under active consideration at the moment. But I notice that the member for Goyder is going completely against the industry association which is calling on government to look at this and how we might work in partnership with them.
The report is under consideration at the moment. Obviously, when I make a decision in terms of how we are best going to allocate that money that was announced as being for cool storage facilities - if we are going to split that up in another way - that would be in conjunction with the submissions that we have received through the industry association.
The support for the agricultural sector is there and I again contradict that our support, our willingness to put money on the line to support our agricultural sector - again to the same article from the member for Goyder who says in the last sentence in this article that there is no room for government in business. This is really quite interesting because the member for Goyder is totally contradicting and contrasting the views of the Leader of the Opposition who is saying that government should intervene in business - we should spend money here, spend money there, get involved. And we have the member for Goyder saying there is no room for government in business. Well, this government will work with business.
This government will work in partnership with business to develop the economy of the Northern Territory, unlike the real pristine views of the member for Goyder which states: ‘It’s a hands-off, let market forces prevail, the market will prevail and determine its own destiny’. Well, this government is not about that. We will work with all sectors of business in the Northern Territory to get the best possible outcomes. I will continue to work with the agricultural sector in the Northern Territory to make sure that the support that the government has available for it best meets the needs of the industry.
Alleged Ministerial Interference in Operation of Correctional Services
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
I refer again to the memo from the Commissioner of Corrections to the CEO of the Department of Justice tabled in parliament yesterday. I remind the minister, and I hope he is aware, the allegation made at the time yesterday centered on whether the then minister for Corrections or his staff had bypassed the commissioner and issued instructions directly to prison officers. We accept totally what the commissioner says, that is that he received no such direction. I refer you to your comments made in the previous question and I ask you this: Can you now confirm that the commissioner has told you, or your CEO that this denial extends to all prison officers under his command?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I certainly can on the oral discussions I have had with Commissioner Dave Moore. He has indicated not only did he receive no instructions of that sort, but that it would be totally unconscionable that members of his service would have received that instruction without him being aware of it.
Mr Burke: He is not aware or he didn’t have it?
Dr TOYNE: Sorry - without him being aware of it.
Mr Burke: He is not aware of it?
Dr TOYNE: Well, excuse me. Madam Speaker, I think …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr TOYNE: We have already put enough words into the commissioner’s mouth. Let’s not keep doing it. He is listening to this broadcast by the way, so I would be quite happy to clear up the matter you raised in the previous question while we are at it.
The exact advice that I received from the commissioner is that, not only did he receive no instructions from the minister or his staff to that effect, but he believes it would be totally unlikely, if not impossible, for other members of his staff to have received such instructions without him being aware of it. The reason for that is the protocols, which I outlined in the answer to the previous question, involve the commissioner signing off on each flight before it is actually leaving. He was aware at the time of the various flights that I elaborated on earlier, of the time of the flight, the prisoners and personnel who were going on the flight, and had a final sign-off. If there are going to be any changes to those arrangements, according to the alleged directions that you are pursuing, he would be aware of that, because he has to be the final sign-off point.
In regard to the issue of the flight of 9 November, the commissioner, as I said, is listening to this broadcast, he has phoned through the following information: that the transfer on 9 November was one which was due to occur when the minister was out bush, notably at Roper River. The only abnormal effect in that flight being sent off was not the timing of the flight, not the prisoners taken, not the personnel that went with it - simply that he had to deal with the minister’s staff instead of the minister to inform that that flight was going down.
That was the only abnormal thing, and that was quite clearly identified in the protocols that the department is following - that in accordance with protocols developed under the former government, the minister of the day is notified of the commissioner’s decision as there is inevitably intense interest in the matter. He was simply following the protocols. He had difficulty in getting to the minister because he was out bush. He then switched to informing the minister’s staff that the flight was due to go.
Ansett #2 – Effect on the Territory
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TOURISM:
Will the minister tell the Assembly what today’s news that the Ansett Mark II deal will not proceed means to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is indeed sad and disappointing news we had today that the Fox/Lew Tesna Consortium is not going to go ahead with their plans to purchase Ansett Mark II. We are still pursuing advice from the administrators in terms of what the prospects are in regards to some other consortium coming in to take carriage of that airline. But it is not good news and it is disappointing, not only disappointing for the tourism industry in the Northern Territory, but very disappointing for the ex-employees of Ansett who really have been waiting to get their jobs back. There is going to be a large number of very, very disappointed people around Australia tonight.
In terms of background, for the Assembly, for Territorians listening, when I met with Lindsay Fox and Tesna’s CEO, James Hogan, in Melbourne last month, they made it clear to me that whilst the Northern Territory was definitely in their sights, it was not part of their start-up plans. They were looking initially to fly predominantly the east coast routes in terms of building up their business and building up the viability of their business before they were looking to network into regional Australia. But certainly Alice Springs and Darwin were part of those future expansion plans.
In order to try to fast track those plans, I convened the NT Aviation Committee to be working with the Tesna consortium to help them build the business case for the Northern Territory. At the end of the day, the state of the airline industry at the moment, both nationally and internationally, is that unless there is a very solid and a very viable business case, those routes are not going to be committed to. Throwing buckets of money at people is not sustainable in the long term because that type of financial support cannot be sustainable in the long term, and those airlines really have to be viable on their own commercial merits.
The last thing that the tourism industry needs in the Northern Territory and Australia at the moment is another corporate airline failure, so working with the airlines to establish those business cases is seen as the way forward for the Northern Territory government. I counter that in stark contrast to comments from the federal member for Solomon, the opposition spokesman, who had been running around saying that we should have been throwing money at Ansett, we should have been throwing money at Flight West, and not looking responsibly to the actual commercial viability of these airlines. The last thing the tourism industry needs is another corporate airline collapse. And I do note that the federal member for Solomon, after he made his grandstanding statement just after Christmas, did not manage to secure any additional Commonwealth support for the Tesna bid, but he managed to get himself a headline in the Northern Territory and a particularly damning editorial, as I recall.
So, where are we now? We have two airlines, we have Qantas and we have Virgin. I suppose the good news that has come out of this is that at least Qantas and Virgin now know who the competition is and basically they are going to be competing with each other, and certainly we are working as well with Qantas and Virgin in terms of helping them establish that business case for the Northern Territory and for Alice Springs.
In talking about Qantas, I was very pleased to be at Darwin Airport last week when Qantas announced their new commitment to the Northern Territory, an additional 1000 seats in and out of the Northern Territory. Qantas, again, has come to the rescue of the Northern Territory tourism industry by putting on those extra seats that are going to be needed to boost our tourism industry. There was a public commitment from Steve Farquar, from Qantas, that he was pretty confident that we will get that extra capacity into Alice Springs by the middle of the year. I have also written to the Qantas CEO, Jeff Dickson, again today on the announcement of the Ansett bid, urging them to further expand their services into Central Australia, and continuing discussions with Virgin Blue.
The industry has been essentially in a holding pattern over the last few months, waiting to sort out who the competition is going to be. It is sad news that Ansett could not be resurrected by the Tesna consortium. However, the good news is that the two players now know who they are competing with, and that Central Australian market is there. I am pretty confident that, working with those operators, we will see that additional capacity into Central Australia in time for the tourism industry in June/July.
Alleged Ministerial Interference in Operation of Correctional Services
Mr MALEY to MINISTER for COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
In your time as minister for Correctional Services, how many discussions did you have with the commissioner or other departmental staff about the transfer of particular groups of prisoners and, in each case, did these discussions take place before the transfers were made?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Goyder. It appears that they want to continue to pursue this to the end. I cannot, for the life of me, understand what they do not understand about the word N-O. What don’t they understand? It means no.
Mr Burke: What? You had no discussions?
Mr AH KIT: I had discussions. People who are listening to this broadcast are certainly interested and are keen to find out what happened. We have the opposition wanting to prosecute this case, so maybe they should sit quietly and listen a little and they may learn, because the former Chief Minister had one of his ministers, Minister Manzie, agree to and abide by a procedure that was put in place by the current CEO. Now, that procedure …
Mr Burke: We know the procedure. Tell us about it.
Mr AH KIT: Well, if you stop interjecting and be quiet you might learn something because you obviously did not know when you were the Chief Minister what your ministers were up to and what procedures they had in place.
It has been made very clear that there was no interference by the CEO. There were, as the minister for Justice read out, those trips that took place. There was no political interference whatsoever. There were discussions held. At that point when the commissioner contacted me I was at Roper River in my electorate, and I told him to discuss with my ministerial staff what the transfers were. Now, in the process, 48 hours notice in discussing as a matter of courtesy with the minister. This government would expect that with any CEO.
I do not know how they operated under your regime, but I certainly can tell you that when I became the minister with four portfolios I had been confronted very quickly with this silly notion that was put in place that CEOs would ring up and make appointments. With my 25-30 years of professional administration, I said that is not to happen; you will turn up in my office, we will set a time aside each Monday morning and we will lock in 45 minutes so we can discuss the issues of the week.
That is a regime that I implemented and I did have discussions about the transfers because I approved of the process that was put in place. The process was there. It was instigated by Minister Manzie and I agreed to that process. So, the discussions that we had, it was always at the end of the day a decision to be taken by the CEO. It is quite clear in what happened on 9 November. He makes that very clear. I could go through that but I do not think it seems to be sinking in with you people across the road there.
Commissioner Moore said:
- This is a predominantly uniform service that relies on the hierarchy of command and associated accountabilities at each level in custodial operations.
I repeat, never did I give a direction - as in the member for Goyder’s press release in accusing me of politically interfering; calling for my resignation; suggesting that Aboriginal prisoners were not to; I gave a direction; and I will quote him:
- Mr Maley said the Corrections staff had complained to him about an incident where Mr Ah Kit had bypassed their superiors and given them a direct order which they believe was based on racial grounds.
Now, that is a big call. You are a lawyer, and I thought you would understand that you have to present evidence, substantiate your claims. You have brought nothing to this parliament. You have brought nothing to this debate. You have put nothing in your press release. I thought you had a fair bit of brains and I had respect for you as a lawyer who had good legal training and was a good, astute businessman. That is all gone down the chute because, obviously, even when he went on radio yesterday afternoon, what did the member for Goyder say? He said – and I will go to it here – when Fred McCue talked to him, he said: ‘Oh, absolutely …
Mr MALEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am asking the minister to answer the question. First of all to confirm that these discussions took place and when did they take place prior to each transfer? It is a simple question, the parameters are clear. I am just after a simple answer to this question.
Madam SPEAKER: I think you are well aware of the fact that ministers have broad-ranging options to answer questions. You will just have to sit there and listen.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I know why he wants to interject and stop me, because what I am about to explain to Territorians is that the member for Goyder said to Fred McCue, when Fred asked:
How did you rate yesterday? Was it a bit of an experience, a learning experience for you, Peter Maley?
Mr Maley’s response was:
Oh, absolutely. The entire process is a learning experience. I am like a massive sponge absorbing all this new material.
Well, I believe him to be a hollow log. Fred McCue asked the next question:
What are you saying in relation to this, because the material you promoted yesterday was obviously - you should have checked it out more by the sound of it. You obviously had something there, but you didn’t quite check it out, did you?
Mr Maley said:
No, not at all.
Oh, my goodness! The last one that I will finish off with, the member for Goyder said in that interview that this was only parliament, he did not check it out properly, it was not court, or something to that effect. That is an insult and disgrace to this parliament.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: We won’t continue until you all settle down, both sides.
Funding to Regional Tourism Associations
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for TOURISM
Despite your advice to industry representatives in Katherine on Monday, 18 February that funding from the Northern Territory Tourist Commission to the regional tourism associations across the Territory will not be cut, they have still not been advised as to what their funding levels will be. Will you stop dithering and advise the associations what their funding levels will be, so that they can prepare for the coming tourism season with certainty, as opposed to the uncertainty that your dithering is creating?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. The tourism marketing budget and the budget for the regional tourism associations will not be cut. It is as simple as that.
Government’s Views on Drug Dealers
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
What is the government’s view of drug dealers and the like who profit from illegal activities and how will your government attack this issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his very important question. Drug manufacturers and traffickers should not profit from their illegal activities. For too many years, the Territory has been held to ransom by the reality of drug abuse, and the problem has been overlooked year after year after year by the former administration. How many times did we actually stand in here and say to the CLP government: ‘How much of property crime is caused by association with drugs and drug-related?’ Nearly 50%. Did it make any difference to any reality check on the previous administration? Not a skerrick. At the same time, parents around the Territory were growing increasingly concerned about the impact of drugs and drug abuse on their children, young Territorians, but the previous administration did not make one effort. In fact, the government had cloth ears when it came to drug abuse and what needed to be put in place to tackle it. We had a previous health minister who said, give them a bus. I mean, for heaven’s sake, a one way ticket. There was no reasonable action taken.
Labor’s three point plan on drugs identified the extent of the drug problem in our community and the steps this government will take to attack the problem. So, contrasted very starkly with the previous government; the CLP would not listen to the problem and did nothing about it. We have listened, we are doing something. In May, in the next sittings of the Assembly, my government will introduce a whole range of measures to crack down on drug traffickers, drug dealers and drug manufacturers.
The ineffective Crimes (Forfeiture of Proceeds) Act will be repealed. The best they could do - we are going to repeal it. It will be replaced with legislation that targets the money and assets of drug dealers, that forces those with unexplained wealth to demonstrate that they actually legally obtained that wealth or face confiscation proceedings. These new laws will be used when evidence strongly suggests that a person has income from criminal activity because there is no other explanation for their wealth.
Our legislation will deter crime by attacking the profit motive and it will put an end to criminals just getting rich, and it will compensate the rest of the community for the harm caused by drug dealing and by the serious crime of peddling drugs, particularly to our young people.
These measures though will not stand on their own. Drug house legislation will also be introduced in May and it will allow police to forcefully target drug premises such as houses and night clubs where drug dealing is known. We have had the unedifying fact of debates happening in this House where even members of the previous government said, ‘Yes, I know about drug houses,’ and nothing is happening. We are putting in place the legislation where police will be able to tackle those drug houses. There is one drug house, for example, where over the last 15 years it has been raided something like 560 times, and do you know what? It is still operating. We are going to get it.
The new provisions of the Criminal Code will provide additional protection for witnesses involved in giving evidence against such activities. We are putting in a comprehensive raft of legislation to tackle the drug dealing that the previous administration simply ignored. My government is serious about cracking down on drug manufacturers and dealers. I certainly welcome, and I know all members on this side of the House welcome, the introduction of these bills in the next sittings and expect the support of that side of the House.
Northern Territory Tourist Commission Representation at AFTA Travel Show
Mr REED to MINISTER for TOURISM
Last week in Katherine, immediately after he told industry representatives that the domestic tourist promotion budget had been increased, the minister was asked by an industry member why the Tourist Commission was not promoting the Northern Territory at the AFTA Travel Show in Adelaide. Because of his lack of knowledge of the industry activities and the Tourist Commission’s promotional activities, he was not able to explain to members present as to why the Tourist Commission was not promoting at this important travel show, but he did undertake to get back to the industry member and to the Tourist Association with an answer.
I ask the minister now, why he has not, over a week later, provided an answer to the industry or to the Tourist Association, or is this just another demonstration of his lack of concern and support for this important industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a good question from the member for Katherine. It was really good to see that the member for Katherine was interested enough in terms of my visit to talk to the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Association. People were saying that they had not seen much of him since he has purchased his units on the Sunshine Coast along with his mate, Eric Poole. But getting to the question. The member for Katherine has been pretty invisible in his electorate since the election and they were pleased to see him. People were saying, ‘It was good to see Mike. We were getting a bit concerned about him’.
What has the Northern Territory government, and I as minister, done to get out there and ensure that tourism numbers are going to be strong for this year? As I announced last week, we have put an additional $500 000 into an intensive three week promotional campaign of the Northern Territory in all of the major east coast media in terms of television and the print media. Virtually saturation coverage to pick up on the additional capacity that Qantas has brought back into the marketplace. Also, we have put additional resources into specific targeting of the drive sector of the market to capitalise on lower petrol prices compared to this time last year, and also the propensity for the drive sector to increase in the Northern Territory. Currently we have officers attending all of the major caravan shows on the east cost. So what we have seen is a vastly increased allocation of funding to marketing the Northern Territory, and some of that money may have come from other areas. The assessment has been that $500 000 into the electronic media and the print media on the east coast is going to deliver for tourism in the Northern Territory this coming season.
Northern Territory Budget Capital Works Funding
Dr BURNS to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
This morning, the Chief Minister announced the approval of an additional $20m of capital works funds for the bulk liquids berth and extensions to the East Arm Wharf. Can the minister advise the House of the impact that these decisions will have on the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his question and I have to say that the announcement the Chief Minister made this morning will have a serious impact on the economy of the Territory. $45m worth of work; 100 jobs. A local company will undertake to build 110 metre extension …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have on previous occasions drawn to the attention of the government the fact that they have been tediously repetitious in providing this information which was provided to the Assembly this morning in ministerial statements and again repeating it in Question Time. I ask you to again consider this matter given the fact that we have already got the information being asked by this dorothy dixer.
Madam SPEAKER: Is this the same information, minister, you gave in your report this morning?
Mr VATSKALIS: It does include some information the Chief Minister announced this morning, however Territorians have not heard that because this is a public transmission and people listening on their radios at home will not know about it.
Madam SPEAKER: We did have an agreement that there would not be questions that would repeat the ministerial reports. I suggest that you only include in your answer anything that was not included this morning in the Chief Minister’s report.
Ms Martin: Such good news, Madam Speaker, deserves ...
Madam SPEAKER: Well, then don’t give it in a ministerial report. It is as simple as that. Keep it for Question Time.
Mr VATSKALIS: This morning there was an announcement by the Chief Minister about the construction of the second stage of the East Arm Wharf of Darwin Port. Yes, you are well aware it was $42m, however this job was given to a local company, Thiess, who are going to employ 100 people. Following discussions with the company this afternoon, they announced that they intend to employ the majority of these people from Darwin, up to 90%. This company is a local company. It has been here for 30 years and has been involved in major works here in the Territory. Of course, what it also means, is the construction of the bulk fuel facilities will free the fuel tank area in the central point of town and will provide another $65m of private funds to the economy.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker, with respect. This is a direct repeat of the advice that this House was provided this morning. It is tediously repetitious. The Chief Minister went through this at length this morning in terms of the oil farm and its transfer and it is already in the Hansard.
Madam SPEAKER: I have advised the minister that he should be giving new information, and it was my understanding that is what he was doing.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I will finish by saying that this government not only is prepared to build the wharf, not only is prepared to move the tanks from where they are, something that the previous government failed to do because it failed to get all the people to sign an agreement. As a result, they managed not to sign the agreement and now we have to renegotiate with all three companies. That is news to all Territorians, isn’t it? You wanted one of your mates to come in, well he didn’t, and as a result now we have to go back to the drawing board and get these contracts for the wharf.
Virgin Blue Government Subsidy
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for TOURISM
Since introducing its Brisbane-Darwin service, Virgin Airlines has from time to time cancelled scheduled flights because of low passenger loads. To prevent passengers being stranded, Virgin has purchased seats on Qantas flights and transferred passengers to the Qantas service. How will this policy of Virgin purchasing seats on Qantas flights be viewed by the Territory Labor government when your subsidy to guarantee Virgin flights to Darwin begins in May?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. It really does astound me that again we have members opposite being critical of this government’s initiative in terms of bringing Virgin Blue to the Northern Territory. Now, we do know that when we made the announcement in the lead up to the election that we had negotiated with Virgin Blue and that we were in a position to fund their entry into the marketplace, the Leader of the Opposition, the then Chief Minister, turned around, accused us of throwing money at Virgin, and said: ‘You shouldn’t go near there; you’re throwing money at Virgin’. Well, I am glad that the previous Minister for Tourism and the Chief Minister at the time did secure that deal with Virgin because we really would have been between a rock and a hard place with the collapse of Ansett that nobody could have foreshadowed that occurred a number of weeks later.
The fact that we do have Virgin in the marketplace here, providing additional 1000 seats a week into the Northern Territory tourism industry, has been welcomed by the tourism industry in the Northern Territory. That deal is in place for the next two years and we are absolutely confident that as the tourism industry recovers and people regain their confidence to travel again, supported by a commitment to the Northern Territory tourism industry by this government of an additional $500 000 in three weeks in terms of intensive marketing campaigns, that we will see those seat numbers increase in terms of allocations both on Virgin Blue and Qantas.
For the opposition to come in here again and to be critical of Virgin’s entry into the marketplace really stands them in no good stead whatsoever.
AustralAsian Railway – Employment Opportunities
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Will the minister provide the House with details of the employment opportunities arising from the railway?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, party Whip and member for Barkly for his question because his home town, of course, and his electorate of Barkly has benefited and stands to benefit further from the project.
The construction phase thus far with ADrail has seen 570 jobs in place and as construction moves into full swing immediately post-Wet season, that figure is expected to grow to around 900 mid-year, coming down to around 800 in November. Now, that is jobs created directly by the project itself, but also additional jobs with Austrack, Morris Corporation and Roche Mining.
The sleeper factories in Katherine and Tennant Creek operational thus far are employing around 80 people with the balance, a majority of those in Katherine. But as Tennant Creek moves toward full production that will increase to about 100 people between the two plants.
Preference will be given to employment of Territorians with the necessary skills, and ADrail-sponsored Aboriginal employment and training has been coordinated through both the Northern and Central Land Councils. So far, 60 apprentices signed up for the rail project, 57 currently being signed up by Austrak, and it is estimated that Morris Corporation will require 12 apprentices for hospitality training in the current calendar year.
The Department of Employment, Education and Training has allocated $600 000 for 2002, on top of its normal recurrent funding and user choice apprenticeship funding to ensure that training needs for the railway are met as they become due. The Department of Employment, Education and Training will continue to work with other Northern Territory government departments and Commonwealth departments to jointly fund specific courses as they are required as the rail rolls out.
This is a big project; 900 jobs come June is going to be a great result for the Territory and the project itself will be something for all Territorians, and visitors to the Territory alike, to watch with a growing anticipation as the tracks roll out each end, eventually to join, not all that far into the future.
McMinns Pumping Station - Fluoride Spill
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Early last year there was a major fluoride spill at the McMinns Pumping Station at Coolalinga. What work has been done to stop any infiltration of fluoride into the aquifer? Are bores being monitored for fluoride in the surrounding area and, if so, how many? Have there been any traces of fluoride in the groundwater and, if so, what amounts were found?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yes, I am aware of the problem earlier last year regarding the leak of fluoride due to a faulty connection and building of back pressure in the underground pipe. As a result, the pipe burst and fluoride leached into the ground. Fortunately, due to its chemical peculiarities, fluoride binds readily with organic matter in the soil, and as a result it remains fixed in the soil matrix.
Tests done by the Power and Water Authority indicated about 400 mg/L fixed in the soil and fortunately it does not leak in the aquifer, neither the shallow one nor the Howard East deep aquifer. We tested water from bores that feed from the shallow aquifer and we found the background levels of the fluoride were about 1 mg/L. We also monitored other bores that feed from the deep aquifer and we found levels 0.2 mg/L up to 1.2 mg/L.
In December, we did tests in three new bores very close to the area where the breakage took place and we found very small quantities of fluoride in the water, about 1 mg/L. That is a good indication that the fluoride remains bound in the matrix of the soil and does not leach into the water. However, we will continue to monitor the situation to make sure that the fluoride remains stable and does not leak in the aquifer - neither the shallow nor the deep one.
Tourism Concerns – Appointment of Managing Director of NT Tourist Commission and Virgin Blue Cancelling Flights
Ms CARNEY to MINISTER for TOURISM
The former managing director of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission advised of his pending resignation in November last year. Four months later, this important industry agency still has no permanent managing director as the industry heads into the tourist season. Will you make a decision to appoint a new managing director and when, or is your inaction just another example of your lack of support for this important industry? While you are answering that question, would you mind very much answering the earlier question which was what is your view of Virgin Blue cancelling flights?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in regard to the CEO of the Tourist Commission, the decision and an announcement is imminent, and imminent being a matter of days. Members would recognise that recruiting to such an important position, seeking the best possible person for this job, is not something that can be done overnight. Given the fact that, unfortunately, the Christmas/New Year time period did elapse where people were on leave, means that we have moved in terms of recruiting somebody to a senior executive position in government, a decision will be absolutely imminent. I hope that puts the honourable member’s concerns at rest. I am very pleased with the decision, and I am sure the industry will be as well.
In regards to the issue about Virgin Blue cancelling flights, I answered the question before. It is all about sustainable airlines. Airlines are not going to fly unless there is a market share there. We have absolute confidence that Virgin Blue are in this marketplace for at least two years. I am confident now that they will be here for much longer than that. We have committed $500 000 additional money this year to generate that demand. That is welcomed by the tourist industry. I just wish that members opposite would welcome it as well.
New Employment Initiatives for Aboriginal People
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Labor government is committed to providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people. Can you advise the House of any new initiatives being undertaken by this government in this regard?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very happy to answer this question of the member for Arafura. This government is very committed to providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people. I would like to draw the attention of members of the House to an advertisement which was in Saturday’s Northern Territory News - it is a government advertisement which is entitled: An Invitation to Create Your Future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Royal Darwin Hospital Apprenticeships 2002. It says: ‘As part of an apprenticeship program, Royal Darwin Hospital is offering opportunities for apprentices in Certificate II and III Business Office Administration’.
Madam Speaker, I have heard that as of midday, 200 applicants have applied for these positions. Two hundred. This is a very, very exciting thing for the Northern Territory. It is so exciting that I am going to be asking my department to see whether this is something which can be continued for other hospitals throughout the Northern Territory.
As part of these apprenticeships, the students will be attending the Northern Territory University. This will be supported by the department as well. This is a very exciting thing and a great credit to the number of people who have applied. I would like to assure the House that we are very excited about this initiative and also that we are very committed to ensuring better opportunities for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I would ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016