2002-11-27
Aboriginal Customary Law – Health Staff Safety
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
What actions have you taken to ensure that the Attorney-General’s misguided and potentially tragic approach to Aboriginal customary law will not result in Health staff being bashed and assaulted, as evidenced by the recent case at Nyirripi?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. I do not wish to make any comments regarding the Minster for Justice and Attorney-General who, in fact, is an excellent Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, and has made very serious comments in relation to the particular attack at Nyirripi which was extraordinarily appalling. This government has put in place a significant number of steps in relation to violence in communities. I am happy to say that tomorrow the CEOs of Health, Education, Police and Community Development will be meeting to discuss this very issue - not just of violence towards nurses in communities, but towards all public servants in communities.
Violence is something which is completely unacceptable. It never, ever is a form of solution to any kind of problem. This government certainly recognises and, in no way, condones violence in any form. It is very important as well that the government is taking this issue very seriously. As I have mentioned in this House many times before, we have put in place a number of things which are assisting in this very serious area. One of these is a policy and code of practice for management of aggression with a review mechanism to ensure the policy remains dynamic and responds to changing circumstances.
There is a safety audit of all remote area health clinics by the Department of Corporate and Information Services, with an expected completion date of mid-December this year. The findings of this audit will be prioritised and appropriate action undertaken. One thing we do know is that some of the clinics are in a poor state and their occupational safety standards are very low. We are making sure that they are going to be prioritised in terms of that audit so that we can ensure that staff are safe in those places. The procurement and installation of duress alarms in Northern Territory government health centres will be finished by mid-February - a collaborative approach between the departments on the issue of workplace aggression, as I have mentioned before.
In July this year, there was a special meeting of departments, together with senior elders in Nhulunbuy, to foster relationships between government and communities. It was aimed at encouraging communities to play a key role in ensuring the safety of all remote area staff. In relation to the Nyirripi incident, at the moment there is …
Mr Dunham: You better organise a meeting for Nyirripi.
Mr Reed: We have heard all this and nurses are still getting bashed. When are you going to do something?
Ms Martin: You asked the question, listen to the answer.
Mr Reed: We want an answer, that’s the problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition. You have asked the question; allow the minister to answer it.
Mr Reed: We want an answer, we don’t want …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, I have just spoken!
Mrs AAGAARD: In relation to Nyirripi, parliament would probably be interested to know that the community has sent an apology to the nurse concerned and, at the moment, there is a protocol being put in place between the community and the department in relation to what is appropriate behaviour towards health staff in the community; what expectations that community has of the Health Department, and also what expectations the department has of the community. We have also put in place a consultant from that community, working with the community and the department, to ensure that this kind of thing, hopefully, will not happen again.
Recently I was in Alice Springs for the community Cabinet - which I might say was an excellent event. I met with remote area health staff, discussing this very issue. I have to say that those staff indicated that the government was actually doing exactly what they wanted. They did not want us to go in there and put in things like security guards. They felt that the whole situation was about relationships with the community; about how we could better build on those relationships to ensure that staff understood what the situation was in the community. So, one of the things we are looking at as well, is how we need to improve on the cultural awareness programs for communities, and how we further develop those relationships in communities, particularly before staff arrive.
Safety and Security of Territorians
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
What new measures has your government taken to ensure the ongoing safety and security of Territorians in the wake of increased security warnings?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an extremely important issue. As I indicated yesterday, government has been reviewing all aspects of security arrangements on an ongoing basis – that is following 11 September and currently because of the recent warnings from the federal government about a possible terrorist strike somewhere in Australia in the next few months.
As I said yesterday, it is important that we get our security arrangements as effective as possible but, also, that we as a community, live our lives as normally as possible. That is the trade of terrorism: to make a community fearful. If we become fearful then the terrorists simply have won. Again, I assure Territorians that there is no specific threat to Darwin in that general warning to Australia about possible terrorist attack in the next few months.
However, as far as Darwin and the Territory is concerned, we have become a different place since the bombings in Bali. They were our back door; that is our backyard. Certainly, it had quite a dramatic impact, I believe, on Territorians.
The next step for government, however, in protecting Territorians, is to ensure that our emergency services have the best package of laws to do their job in dealing with emerging terrorist threats and events. In the first sittings of next year, government will be introducing a new anti-terrorism act. The Territory’s capacity to deal with any risk will be enhanced by consolidating existing powers into one act and broadening those powers, as required, to specially focus on counter-terrorism measures. The changes will be required to better deal with emerging threats, particularly in those areas of chemical, biological and radiological incidents. The new act will cover a number of issues such as search and seizure powers, and also detention powers.
Currently in the Territory, we have a number of existing broad-based powers, but these are not specific to terrorism - to either a threat or a terrorist event. Many, as we know, are developed to deal with natural disasters - like floods and cyclones - not criminal acts of terrorism. The existing powers are spread over a number of acts and are subject to limitation, including procedural issues. We need to ensure the powers are focussed, not only on the protection of life and property aspects, but also to detect, to prevent, and to respond to terrorism.
Mr Burke: How much money have you spent?
Ms MARTIN: We certainly remain committed to a strong, uniform, national approach to terrorism. Our new anti-terrorism act will work seamlessly …
Mr Burke: How many chemical suits are you going to buy?
Ms MARTIN: … with the new national terrorism laws being developed by the Commonwealth. I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition would have been interested …
Mr Burke: How many chemical suits are you going to buy? If you are going to protect people, you need more than legislation; we found that from the anthrax scare. Ask the police minister how much money he is going to get for …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister has the floor, thank you.
Mr Burke: Oh, Madam Speaker, let’s talk sense!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is incredibly disappointing to hear the contemptuous voice ...
Mr Burke: … listening to your waffle every day.
Ms MARTIN: … the contemptuous attitude of the Leader of the Opposition towards our police ...
Mr Burke interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you can have your chance to ask questions.
Ms MARTIN: … and towards very important anti-terrorism laws we will be bringing into the parliament. I feel ashamed that the contempt of the Leader of the Opposition should be broadcast to Territorians. I am ashamed.
Mr Burke interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we will carefully draft …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, if you wish to ask this question, you can do so as a question. If you continue to interrupt, you are not going to get very far. Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: He is just not interested, Madam Speaker. He reflects the opposition view: not interested, just spouting rhetoric, spouting political rubbish, but not looking at the real issues for Territorians.
We will carefully draft our new package of measures in this new anti-terrorism law striking, I believe, the right balance between giving police the tools they need to fight terrorism, while at the same time protecting the rights of Territorians. Today’s announcement is further assurance to Territorians that this government is acting decisively and forcefully in dealing with the changing environment we find ourselves in.
Finally, it is a very sad fact that we have to introduce legislation like this into the Territory. It is a sadness that we have to introduce them. But it is important and it is necessary for the security of Territorians.
Bakewell Primary School – Accommodation Concerns
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Bakewell Primary School has 24 classes and 20 classrooms. Two of the four un-accommodated classes use the school stage. Another operates from a community room and a fourth class operates from the teachers’ staff room. The after school care and parent groups use the medical store room. There is only the cleaning closet left. When can the students and the staff expect a resolution to this intolerable situation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the other half of the team for the question, the Burke and Mills team, and this time it is the B messenger. I want to take him back to a time probably before he was elected and there was quite a sizeable military build-up projected for the Northern Territory. In fact, it started to unroll and it was quite apparent to most observers that there was going to be an increase in population, and increase in demand for infrastructure. It was at the time, at least on one occasion, when I was seeking to find out about the funding for the multi-purpose hall in Nhulunbuy - the only high school in the Northern Territory that had not been funded for that project out of all of the high schools in the Northern Territory - and I was seeking an answer as to whether we would get it in whichever forthcoming budget it was. The answer from the then minister, minister Adamson, was that we had outstanding infrastructure needs in Palmerston. We could not keep pace, and we had to put further demountables there to keep pace with the increasing enrolments in these schools.
Now, you have to ask yourself how on earth with the projected future demand - there was no secret that Robertson Barracks and the military build-up was increasing apace - and this former government never looked ahead, never realised, oh, oh, the army is coming …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: … families have kids, kids need schools, oh my God, we have run out of space. And he comes in here and says what are you doing about it. It is no secret …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please resume your seat. You are getting out of hand. Leader of the Opposition, you are on a warning. I have asked you already not to interject so much.
A member: Hear, hear.
Madam SPEAKER: And you, member for Karama, because your interjections have been out of place today, also.
Ms Lawrie: I actually did not say anything. I did not say anything.
A member interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: It was you, was it? Okay. Then perhaps you best be careful. Now, come on, I know it is the end of the year. There could be a little bit of goodwill in the House. When ministers are given questions let at least the population hear the answer.
Mr STIRLING: Thank you, Madam Speaker and I will get to the answer. Bakewell Primary School is one that is at capacity and facing an increase in enrolments, as the member for Blain points out, due to the release of further land in that area. But also due to the incumbent principal there. She is an outstanding principal, highly regarded throughout the whole department and does a great job in that school. It is a school I have visited three times in this past 12 months. It is projected to increase in both pre- and primary schools. A permanent preschool capacity of 100 student places; a primary capacity of 480.
DEET has provided an additional four transportables since that school opened, taking that primary capacity up to 600. In line with the DEET Infrastructure Strategic Plan, schools for Rosebery and Farrar have been planned as far as the Capital Works and Forward Works programs, but until such time as those schools are constructed, DEET will have to continue to manage the enrolment for these emerging suburbs in this form of transportable accommodation.
To address that immediate demand at Bakewell, DEET has provision on the current 2002-03 Minor New Works program for the construction of two transportables. That came in at an estimate of about $350 000 in addition to classrooms and toilet facilities to be considered for the 2003-04 Minor New Works program should that demand continue. Whilst Bakewell is in this situation, not all of the primary schools in this area are in this situation.
The school’s consultant has identified a further need, and that is to upgrade the power that bring these extra buildings and classrooms on site and that is in the order of $150 000 which was not provided for in the $350 000 for the two transportable classrooms. That is an unforeseen item, and DEET has to rearrange the priorities and absorb that contingency into the 2002-03 Minor New Works program so that we do get those two on site with that increase in power capacity. That is a priority.
The school’s consultants also advise the proposed toilet block and covered walkway that were to be included with the transportable classrooms can be deferred to the 2003-04 Minor New Works program. That program is currently being developed, and that will be submitted for both ministerial and DEET executive board consideration as part of the 2003-04 budget.
The school has asked their consultant to proceed with tender documentation. It is expected that the classrooms will be completed early in 2003. The covered walkways may be reintroduced in that first round if the tenders come down around that estimated price.
But to go back to the start, Madam Speaker, this is in hand. It is a situation that has been developing for many years before this government was elected last year. It just seems whoa! suddenly there is this Army base and all these people, and my God, we have done nothing about it. We are doing our best to catch up with the lack of planning, the lack of foresight that occurred under our predecessors.
Literacy and Numeracy Benchmark Achievements
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Would the minister advise the House if there has been any improvement in the number of Northern Territory students achieving literacy and numeracy benchmarks this year?
ANSWER
I thank the member for her question, Madam Speaker, because this is a good news story. It is an important one because education is a number one priority for this government. We see the strength of educational outcomes as central to the future of the Territory. It is in keeping with the government’s plan to build a better Territory and putting kids first that DEET has targetted, and put its hands on every resource that it possibly can to improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes of all of our students across all of our schools.
I am pleased to report the provisional Year 3 and Year 5 literacy and numeracy results for 2002, referred to as MAPS testing, showed a measurable and significant improvement in the achievement of the Northern Territory against the national literacy and numeracy benchmarks. It is very heartening indeed to see that because it must be noted that the results show improvement for both urban and remote rural schools.
This year, more students at both Year 3 and Year 5 level reached the national literacy and numeracy benchmarks than ever before. The results show that this year 182 more Year 3 students reached the national reading benchmark than in 2001; an increase of 6.83%. That increase was more significant if we break it down for indigenous students: an 11% increase was achieved with 102 more students reaching the benchmark. Year 5 reading results showed a major improvement with 137 more students, 77 of them indigenous, achieving the benchmark; that is a 7% overall improvement and an 11% improvement in indigenous results.
I have to acknowledge that we are coming off a dreadfully low benchmark in terms of indigenous outcomes. I am not standing here crowing about this 11%. I am not standing here crowing about this. It is a very minor first step in what is going to be a long term program to haul these results up to where they should be.
Nonetheless, they are heartening across the board, with an overall increase of 2.5% in the number of Year 3 students reaching the benchmark and almost 7% at the Year 5 level. In both year levels, significantly more indigenous students reached the benchmark than in 2001.
It is based on the hard work of the teachers concerned. The fact that we have put the spotlight on indigenous education, both in terms of outcomes and the processes, of what goes on, means that the processes that occur at Maningrida CEC match more closely the processes you would expect at Wanguri, Nakara, Bakewell and other schools. I do not think that was the case for many, many years. So we have upped the ante in terms of accountability and standards. We are upping the ante in terms of attendance and we are pushing, through the curriculum framework, the necessity of having that minimum two-hour requirement on literacy and numeracy every day.
When you place hard working teachers on top of all that I believe it is the beginning of a turn around. But I am not saying that we have it all right. I have to acknowledge the enormous effort of teachers, their schools and the department because they have all got solidly behind what we have done by way of Learning Lessons, and these early results vindicate our putting the spotlight where it belongs. That is on a focussed effort in schools throughout the Territory this last year to get Learning Lessons implementation of those recommendations, and the development of the literacy and numeracy strategy, which supports schools in teaching literacy and numeracy for a minimum of two hours a day. This will continue to have a medium and long-term impact on the numbers of students reaching those benchmarks.
Other programs include the accelerated literacy program, currently being trialled at Gillen, Ngukurr, Dripstone, Ludmilla, Nightcliff High and Anzac Hill Schools, and I encourage the shadow minister, if he has an opportunity, to look at this program. It is very powerful and intensive in the way it is carried out. It puts an enormous load on teachers. But it is the very fact of the responsibility and accountability and the load teachers carry in terms of delivery of this program, that creates an interaction with the students that is so powerful and so positive, that it basically drives both the interest and outcomes in literacy forward.
I have seen it in three schools now, and it does leave you breathless with the amount of work that the teacher has to do. But the program’s skilled practitioners are producing results that outstrip all others. Another program implemented this year is the Support for Small Schools project, which gives teachers in remote areas the administrative support they need so they can focus more time and effort on the delivery of literacy and numeracy at the front of the classroom.
This government will continue to support the hard work that is being done in schools with a greater focus on education in this year’s budget. We have committed to 100 extra teachers over the next three years. We have also announced major funding for programs aimed at ensuring more students attend school and receive the support they need when they get there, and more funding for teacher support. I just want to reiterate that one good result on the back of a pretty consistent round of failures does not get us there, but it is a start that we have to build on. Eleven percent, if you isolate the indigenous students in both literacy and numeracy, is not to be sneezed at. We must bear in mind it is off a low base, but it is a step in the right direction. We won’t want to see this slipping back, and will certainly be asking hard questions if this occurs. We do have a long way to go, but the J curve has commenced.
Signage for Outer Darwin
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TOURISM
Your predecessor said in a speech on 5 March this year, in relation to the ‘Outer Darwin’ signs, that a number of his good friends did not like the idea of outer Darwin. Further, he said that he does not promote the individuality of the region and that people are absolutely wedded to the term Litchfield Shire and if his department had anything to do with the signs he was going to revisit that. The tombstones still stand. Minister, do you agree with your predecessor’s comments? Are you going to get rid of those outer Darwin signs, and if so can you be specific as to when?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Driving into Darwin about a week or so ago, I did notice the signs and I noticed …
Mr Dunham: The first time? They have only been up for five years.
Mr Wood: God! Into inner Darwin!
Dr BURNS: I am advised that the large concrete Outer Darwin sign on the Stuart Highway was erected by the then Department of Transport and Works. As you say, they are over five years old. As you are probably aware, the sign was part of a tourism drive project aimed to increase regional dispersal and to identify regions for marketing processes.
The Tourist Commission was on the steering committee for this project, along with the former Department of Industry and Business which drove the project, and Transport and Works. The term ‘Outer Darwin’ was chosen in consultation with the industry at the time, and was selected with the consumers in mind. So, I guess there was …
Mr Wood: Not the citizens. The citizens missed out. Is this a yes or a no?
Dr BURNS: An alternative name ‘Litchfield’ was proposed but was not selected at the time because consumers did not identify with this name. Really, it was a result of focus testing.
The road signage links into the whole-of-Territory project highlighting various regions. The Coomalie region is the next out from Outer Darwin so maybe it could be inner Coomalie, I suppose. Each region has associated information collateral which is distributed through the Regional Tourism Associations.
The member for Nelson is a member of the Litchfield Shire working group which has been raising a number of issues in relation to this region. Road signage has been a common theme. I do not really have a view about these signs and, member for Nelson, I would have appreciated it if you had raised this issue with me beforehand. I am quite willing to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: All I am saying is that I am more than willing to discuss this issue with the member for Nelson. I am not sure what assurances, if any, have been given by any of my colleagues. I am open to the issue and I am open to discussion with the member for Nelson on the issue.
False Assertions about Onshore Gas
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Is the minister aware of false assertions being promoted about bringing gas onshore and the development of an LNG plant in Darwin?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Millner for his question. Madam Speaker, I advise the House there has been what, I believe, is quite an extraordinary development in public support and this parliament’s support for the LNG project at Wickham Point. To say that I am angry about this, is a bit of an understatement.
As everybody in this parliament knows, the Chief Minister, dozens of public servants, quite a significant number of Territory business people and I have worked their guts out over the last 15 months trying to secure gas onshore in the Northern Territory. Not only worked their guts out, but the business people put a significant amount of money on the line in trying to secure gas onshore for the future economic growth of the Northern Territory.
We thought we had bipartisan support for this project but we now know, unequivocally, where the member for Goyder stands on this $3bn project - in his electorate. The member for Goyder has been consistently undermining this project, under the back of his hand, for at least the last 12 months. There have been a number of times when he has done that. There has been a meeting - I think it was convened by the Friends of Darwin Harbour. We had somebody go on the Fred McCue show - I cannot remember who it was - who said around the meeting, the member for Goyder was saying: ‘Oh well, look, I do not really support the LNG plant at Wickham Point’. He went on the radio and challenged the member for Goyder over that …
Mr Dunham: Can you demonstrate this?
Dr Lim: That is verballing. Show me documentation!
Mr HENDERSON: We will get to the demonstration in a minute, Madam Speaker. We then had the infamous AFANT meeting at the Aviation Institute which I convened in terms of proposing this development and putting the facts on the table, where the member for Goyder was challenged by one of those people present to put himself on the line as to whether he supported this project, or did not, and he squibbed it. The member for Nelson, to his eternal credit, put his hand up and said he supported that project. He has had ample opportunity in the Litchfield Times every fortnight, to fully and unequivocally support this project, and he has not done that.
Madam Speaker, if members had gone to questions that were tabled in this House yesterday, and I table them again, we now have the member for Goyder, as shadow business minister, whose job it is to support economic development and investment in the Northern Territory - and I urge people to go to that document if it is on their desk, and urge every member of this House to read this particular document. There are two series of questions. There are 13 questions, and these just are not questions from the member for Goyder, they are assertions and I would say they are alarmist and dangerous. I will just quote from one of them because all 13 are the same. Assertion and question from the member for Goyder:
- Is the minister aware that human error will almost certainly occur in relation to the production and transportation of LNG in Darwin Harbour at some stage, and that ignition of evaporating LNG from a holed tanker or ship could cause a severe and fatal giant fireball?
- What is the probability of this event occurring?
There are 13 such assertions, mad and alarmist assertions, from the member for Goyder and he has been briefed on this. I take honourable members to a series of documents. One is the environmental assessment report and recommendations that dealt with this issue, and he was briefed on this, and I will quote from that:
- LNG is stored at atmospheric pressure and would not explode if vessels storing the material were ruptured. In such an event, the LNG being very cold and dense …
- …would flow downhill into a containment pond. The LNG would only ignite if a naked flame was present, and even then, it would burn rather than explode.
- Catastrophic release of LNG creates a boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion – NOT TRUE.
Madam Speaker, ‘not true’.
- In the laboratory, in open combustion tests, there have been no documented cases of LNG exploding.
So assertions that, if he bothered to do any work at all, have been thoroughly debunked. We had, whatever their name is, who have been running these alarmist series in the community, we had Barry Jones from APEA, the Australian Petroleum and Energy Association, and I have met Barry a number of times around Australia, had to come on Fred McCue and debunk this. And that led to an editorial in the NT News the next day. The editorial from the NT News dated 14 November stated:
- Opponents of the Wickham Point LNG Plant are getting increasingly desperate.
…
- Nobody is suggesting that development should be allowed to go ahead unchecked; the Territory government has placed more than 40 conditions on the development of Wickham Point. But development brings prosperity. And prosperity brings everything from better schools to more doctors to higher paid jobs.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker, which is in relation to process. The member for Goyder has put questions on notice, which should be answered. He has elicited answers from the minister. The minister is rambling on, wasting the time of Question Time, when it could be used more productively and the member, of course, has a right to ask questions on notice of the minister.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, as you know. Minister, I would like those shorter answers.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I will try to be as brief as I can. I am really surprised there was any defence of the member for Goyder on opposition benches let alone the former Treasurer and member for Katherine.
Another line being peddled in this document, another assertion being made by the member for Goyder, is question 8:
- Is it true that the long term jobs at the Phillips plant will only provide 80 jobs for 17 years for international, interstate and some local employees?
Any cursory monitoring of this debate, if you had been engaged with it as shadow business minister, would reveal the answer to that, and the Leader of the Opposition …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this project has the potential to create and start the development of the Northern Territory as the fourth gas hub. The ACIL Report that was commissioned, that was sent to the opposition, of the economic benefit analysis of the Phillips project, showed the direct and indirect employment of 3125 jobs and a $17bn increase in GDP over 25 years. That is the benefit of this project - not 80 jobs over 17 years. You would know that if you were doing your job properly.
If the government accepted the shadow minister’s assertions, we would have to stop all action promoting gas coming onshore. In fact, if there was real risk that Territorians would be engulfed by a ‘severe and fatal giant fireball’ for the sake of 80 jobs over 17 years, then we would be morally, financially and politically bound to stop these developments.
We will not do it. The shadow minister is entitled to lodge this material with the parliament and we will respond to him, but we won’t only be doing that. We will be sending this garbage out to everybody on Team NT, to every business association in the Northern Territory to wreck his credibility as shadow business minister.
This is a fork in the road for the Opposition Leader to show some real leadership.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: He either embraces the member for Goyder’s undermining of gas development in Darwin. You either embrace this position, Leader of the Opposition, and to do that you have to stand up here and support the assertions that he has made in this House, or you need to distance yourself and to sack him, sack the member for Goyder from his position of shadow Business, Industry and Resource Development minister in the Northern Territory because he is out there undermining this project with every breath that he has. He is a disgrace and he needs to be stood down and if the Leader of the Opposition does not do it, he is complicit in it.
Rehabilitation Wards at Royal Darwin and Alice Springs Hospitals
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Madam Speaker, a bad carpenter blames his tools. Minister, given that you have shut down rehabilitation wards at the Royal Darwin Hospital and the Alice Springs Hospital, can you explain to Territorians who require rehabilitation services where and how they will be treated? How will they access the specialised equipment in those closed wards? Can you give us a guarantee that you will reopen the Alice Springs Rehabilitation Centre that has been functioning so well for so long?
Mr Dunham: Efficiency, tell us it’s efficiency.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, your interjections are too frequent!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, and I thank the member for his question. It is a fairly amazing question. At this time of year, as has happened probably for the last 10 years, there have been, as always, a decline in the number of nurses. People at this time of the year decide they want to go on holidays. Unfortunately, not all people can go on holidays and so some decide to leave altogether. I guess that is the case with a lot of other industries in the Northern Territory as well.
In the case of the Royal Darwin Hospital, I am very surprised that the honourable member would bring this up because it was very ably answered by Dr Len Notaras, the Medical Superintendent of the Royal Darwin Hospital, who described very well exactly what happened here. What is actually happening is we are talking about efficiency. There is no closing of the service. People have been moved from one ward to another. The service continues.
I would like to point out, too, that there was very curious media release in relation to this last week from the member for Drysdale - very curious – in which the member for Drysdale referred to the closure of a drug rehabilitation ward. This is not a drug rehabilitation ward; this is a rehabilitation ward. It is unbelievable that the former minister whom, I believe, was there when this was set up, could not even understand that this was not a drug rehabilitation ward.
What is happening here is that we are making sure that the service will continue during a time when we know that there is a decline in the number of nursing staff at the hospital. What we have done is move the ward to another area. This is not a very serious matter and the ward will re-open early next year.
The same situation exists in Alice Springs. It is just a seasonal thing, which has been happening for many, many years. The kind of alarm and gloom which the opposition is constantly bringing up is completely unnecessary. What they need to be do is to listen to Dr Len Notaras whom, I am sure they know, is an authority in this area, and who is someone for whom they have a lot of time. They should be talking to him and getting his advice, since they obviously do not believe the situation is as we say.
Profile of Sport in the Territory
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can the minister advise what initiatives the government has taken to boost the profile of national and international sports in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. The resurfacing of the athletics track at Marrara has been recently completed. The new surface is Spurtan, which is an athletic running track surface made from durable polyurethane, which meets International Association of Athletes Federation standards. Also, we completed the upgrade of the Traeger Park hockey field in Alice Springs which was, I am happy to report, a major boost for the Masters Games. Our government is in discussion with the Alice Springs Town Council in regard to a multimillion dollar upgrade of the Traeger Park facilities and, from memory, there is about $4.2m left to inject into the complex there, and obviously this is in line with our commitment prior to the election. Well under way is a multimillion dollar indoor facility for basketball and netball at Marrara.
Mr Dunham: Isn’t this a bit ironic? And you are shutting wards?
Mr AH KIT: Well, I’ll pick up - no, I won’t. I am tempted to, but I won’t. I won’t.
A multimillion dollar indoor facility for basketball and netball is well under way at Marrara, and will be in place for 2003 Arafura Games. If you drive past, as I did today at lunch time, you will see it starting to spring out of the ground, and that is good news. When it is completed, we will be able to host national and international netball and basketball games with a seating capacity of about 3000 people.
The construction of international cricket practice wickets is also under way at Marrara. Currently, Tony Ware, the head curator of the MCG, is in Darwin for the week working with my staff to ensure that our wicket will be top quality. This is a component of the government’s initiative to bring international cricket to the Northern Territory. This is obviously a major coup for the Territory and will be well received, we believe, by the tourist and business community, as well as by sports-loving Territorians.
Resurfacing of the Marrara No 1 oval to accommodate the AFL match between the Aboriginal All Stars and Carlton on 8 February, and the international cricket is well advanced and nearing completion. Carlton is committed to coming but they are suffering a few hiccups.
Members interjecting,
Mr AH KIT: They are no different from the members opposite. They are suffering some difficulties too. But they are going to lift their game.
The old surface only had perimeter drainage. The new surface has a herringbone pattern of drainage throughout the interior of the surface feeding into the perimeter drainage. Recent downpours have tested the new surface drainage and I am pleased to report that it is performing well. The overlaying levels of gravel aggregate and sand have also been completed to technical specifications that ensure the correct hydraulic gravel gradient for the playing surface. This has proven a real challenge on such a large scale. The contractors …
Mr Elferink: You would not be obfuscating for any reason would you?
Mr AH KIT: I beg your pardon?
Mr Elferink: You would not be obfuscating for any reason would you?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr AH KIT: It is not worth wasting my time on interjections.
This has proven a real challenge on such a large scale, but the contractors and project supervisors have put in many hours to achieve a high quality result. The roll-out of the turf has commenced for the 20 000 m2 surface. Once again, strict standards are being adhered to. Members may be interested to know that the first batch of turf laid last Thursday, had, by Tuesday, just yesterday, established a root zone of 65 mm in just four days. The contractor described this growth rate in just four days as exceptional.
Grandstand improvement is also under way. While I was out there today, the old seats were being removed and that is being cleaned up to make way for the new seating for which I have been able to secure funding. In accordance with the strict International Cricket Council specifications, further facilities are being addressed which include player dining facilities, dressing rooms, player viewing areas and media event management facilities. We expect to achieve International Cricket Council venue accreditation in early 2003.
As I said, I was out there today with Michael McLean, the coach of the Aboriginal All Stars, Bob Elix, Chairman of the AFLNT, and Andrew McLeod, the Adelaide Crows AFL superstar, whom we are hoping to recruit. There may be some problems with his club but I would not mind betting that Andrew will line up on 8 February with the All Stars. I look forward to what will be a really big day on the Territory sports calendar, and trust that all members will come along to witness this spectacle with many other thousands of Territorians.
Assaults on Nurses at Work
Ms CARTER to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Last year, 213 of your staff were assaulted while at work. Can you advise the Chamber how many nurses have been assaulted so far this year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, violence is a very serious matter, as I mentioned earlier, and there have been significant numbers of violent attacks over the years in my department. I will have to get back to you on the exact numbers throughout the department from the beginning of July to this point in time. Obviously, there are issues in relation to hospitals as well as communities, and it is not the kind of thing which I personally am keeping individual details on. However, I know the department is and I will get back to you.
First Home Buyers - Stamp Duty Concessions
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
What has been the response to the changes in stamp duty concessions for Territory home buyers announced in the Territory budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. From 20 August 2002, the stamp duty threshold for first home buyers was lifted from $80 000 to $125 000, and that increased the maximum stamp duty concession from $2096 to $3640.60. We also introduced a new principal place of residence rebate of up to $1500 on the purchase of a home. That is equivalent to a rebate of the stamp duty on the first $60 200 of a property’s value.
Between 20 August 2002 and 31 October 2002, 133 home buyers have claimed the higher first home owner concession. The average value of that concession has been $3434. If we compare that to the previous scheme, it is an additional $180 000 being placed directly into the pockets of Territorians in less than three months that will allow them to get on with the purchase, furnishing and finishing of their dream home
One hundred and ninety one home buyers have claimed the principle place of residence rebate at a total value of $286 000. In total, therefore, about 324 people have been able to take advantage of the Martin government’s generous concession to improve the level of home ownership and to boost activity in the construction and real estate sectors. All up, the average level of benefit for both types of these concessions amounts to an average of almost $2300 per eligible household.
These stamp duty concessions have been seized on as such a good idea that even the Victorian opposition is now promising to cut the rate of stamp duty on home purchases and God knows, Madam Speaker, they need a bit of a hand down there. They have looked far and wide in their bid to wrest power in Victoria and they have claimed this idea as their own. The Real Estate Institute of Australia, whilst welcoming the Victorian opposition’s plan, has singled out the Northern Territory for praise in its press release on 12 November 2002 and I quote:
Stamp duties are a tax on housing and the average family has to borrow that money by tacking it onto their mortgage and paying it off over 25 years. The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Clare Martin, has already taken decisive action on this issue. It is time the other states and territories reduced their reliance on stamp duties and made it easier for Australian families to buy a home that suits their lifestyle.
Again, the Martin government leads the way as such that even the colleagues of our CLP friends on the other side are now looking to the Northern Territory Clare Martin Labor-led government to seek out good ideas to help them in their election.
Hospital Bed Closures
Dr LIM to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The opposition is aware that today, as we speak, hospitals have closed beds. Whilst the government might try to fob off this as efficiency, nursing shortages or a normal cycle in downturn of hospital activity, it is a decision that you have been making. Can you guarantee that no Territorian will be turned away from one of your hospitals over the Christmas period with the excuse, ‘Sorry, we don’t have any beds’?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the operation of hospitals is done by professional people in the hospitals. Each hospital has a management team which consists of a medical superintendent, the general managers of the hospitals …
Mr Reed: The buck stops with you, dear, I’m sorry.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker. That was a derogatory remark from the member for Katherine. I ask him to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: That was offensive, yes. Member for Katherine, withdraw it.
Mr REED: I withdraw it.
Madam SPEAKER: Would you stand and withdraw it.
Mr REED: I most certainly would, Madam Speaker, withdraw it.
Mrs AAGAARD: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I was saying the management of the hospitals is done by a professional team of people within those hospitals. Those hospital teams meet on a daily basis to make decisions about how the hospital runs. They make decisions about how beds are used, about all sorts of issues to do with operational matters of the hospital; and that is the role of the hospitals. That is entirely the role of the hospitals. That is why we employ very professional people to run those hospitals. We have some excellent people in all of the hospitals that we have in the Northern Territory.
I would just like to say too that one of the things which we have been doing is making sure that our hospitals are actually accredited and we are well on the way to having all of our hospitals accredited in the Northern Territory; something which the opposition never seemed to be interested in.
The role of the government is to provide broad policies. The role of operational people is to operate the hospitals and that is what they do. They operate the hospitals; they are professionals in this area. They have committees that look after beds, they have professional people deciding on which areas will be used, and which areas will not be used; that is their role.
I have certainly been advised that the bed situation is tight in some hospitals. There is no question about that, as it is every year, and has been for the past decade. Patients will not be affected by this. I have great confidence in the management of our hospitals, and the expert staff in all of them.
Dundee Beach and Bynoe Harbour – Marine Park
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
You recently sent me a letter about Dundee Beach which stated the cliffs and the beach belonged to Dundee Beach Propriety Limited. Could you please say why this is so, and what are the details of this arrangement? Considering the large increase in campers and holiday makers in this area, when will the government administer the cliffs and beaches as public property under Parks and Wildlife, and what has happened to the proposed marine park in the Bynoe Region?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I do not have all the details with me here today, but I am prepared to advise the House on these issues and also advise of progress on Bynoe Harbor being declared as a national or Territory park. Please allow me some time and I will bring that to the attention of the House.
Water Supplies in Schools
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
In the bush right now, you have at least two schools that have either no water or limited water supplies. In these schools, there is increasing incidence of skin sores, and in one of the schools they have to flush the toilets using buckets of water from a nearby tank. Minister, considering that you, in an earlier answer, upped the ante of accountability standards and offered support in Education, do you think that it is acceptable for students to remain in this environment? Minister, what are you going to do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for his question. I have to say right at the outset, no, I do not think that it is acceptable at all that a school in our community and our students are in this situation. What I was objecting to this morning was the inference from the member for Macdonnell pointing the finger at the Department of Education that somehow, by some process of osmosis that the department had somehow overnight become responsible for all of the infrastructure right throughout the bush.
It is not good enough; it is not good enough by a long way that a community is without water, as in the case of the Red Sand Hill situation for so long. I find it incredible that it takes so long to source parts for what we are talking about - a windmill, not a hugely sophisticated piece of equipment. I do not have an answer as to why it has taken so long. I can say, in relation to that community - and this goes back, and the member for Macdonnell knows this, as does every other member on the opposition benches – it is a question of financial responsibility for the homelands or the outstations as opposed to the major communities. Nonetheless, in relation to Red Sand Hill, if that is the one that we want to concentrate on, it is serviced by the community bore. That windmill failed back in July and replacement parts are being sourced. And this is what I said: I find it difficult that it has taken this long to do it. The specific parts are on site and work has commenced, as I stand here now.
The Tjuwanpa has been providing a water tank service to the top of the community water supply during this time, but there have been times during extreme water shortages, where the teacher has taken the students across to Ntaria to continue their education program.
What I do resent about these types of questions is that somehow I, as the minister for education, and the government are delighted that our education program has been disrupted. I am upset and concerned that this should be the case. This element of gloating that somehow we should be happy that this is occurring – that is what has been occurring and water has been trucked in from Ntaria.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Well, in relation this situation, what I was going to say before was the question of responsibility is something that the former government was in the same bind, saying: ‘Commonwealth responsibility? ATSIC responsibility? NT government responsibility?’ because the Commonwealth grants did not cover and were not covering the growth of the homeland and outstation movements.
In the case of this homeland, PowerWater has been paying the Tjuwanpa Council in this situation to maintain the outstation bores against what I would have thought was existing government policy which we have not changed since we have come in. Recently, the Resource Centre was advised by the Department of Community Development that that funding would cease, but it would not cease for about 12 months which would give Tjuwanpa time, and with the assistance of the Territory government obviously, to pin ATSIC down and the Commonwealth responsibility for this.
In that situation where they were getting the funding, how is it the Department of Education’s responsibility? They are getting the funding to maintain the bores in this situation and suddenly it is DEET’S responsibility. Now, there is a problem with you getting paid; if you are getting paid to perform a service and you ain’t doing it, you have a problem It is not the Department of Education’s fault when they have been getting the money and continue to get the money, and will get the money for a further 12 months. If you are going to take the money to provide the service you have to provide it. Now, Madam Speaker …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, listen to the answer.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, he can stand here and ask these questions about these different communities in his own electorate because he was the member for four years before this term of parliament started, where his own political party was the government of the day. It may have happened but I do not recall, at appropriation time or any other time, the member for Macdonnell bouncing the government around about what it was doing to up the ante and maintain or install or create new bores in what are often marginal communities in terms of the water situation.
It is one of these situations where I do not know when he first learned of it. I have no idea when he first learned of it: I assume it was last week. Well, if the bore broke down in July and he only heard of it last week, what has he been doing as local member, Madam Speaker? Not only did he not raise it in the five years that he has been a member in this place, about getting the government to act on it, he jumps out of the ground at the end of last week when it is been down for six months.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: It is five months, four and a half at least. You cannot have it both ways. He challenges me as to when I knew. I want to know when he knew because he was the local member. He did not write to me, he did not pick up the phone and ring me and say, ‘Minister, we have a problem in our backyard. I have a problem in my electorate. What are you doing about it?’
That is the concern at the end of the day, so do not come in here playing your cheap politics with this because you had five years. You had five years as local member for these communities. Four years with your own mates, now sitting in opposition over there, to get into them to make sure they provided some support for these communities.
As I said, the advice is that works are going on. I do not know the exact nature …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell.
Mr STIRLING: Again, I go back. Why, as minister for education - of course we are concerned, the government is concerned if our education program is not running on and our kids are not learning. But it is not the Department of Education’s job to carry the entire infrastructure concerns for all these communities.
There was another community, I think, that the member mentioned?
Mr Elferink: Areyonga.
Mr STIRLING: In relation to Areyonga, and the problems around 9 to 19 October, I have been advised that all services are reinstated, including the old high salinity bore, P4, and there are no current problems. There is sufficient supply and storage to meet demand. Subsequent to those initial problems that were reported on 9 October, the production bore, P5, was found to be under-producing; a replacement pump has been installed and P5 is now full capacity. The old bore, P4, has been reinstated with a bypass to allow this bore to mix with the other bores to meet potable demand and/or use for irrigation or maintenance.
The state of the water supply at Areyonga, and some other communities is, as I said, to a large extend the result of chronic underfunding over many years and the maintenance not being kept up.
So, we have poor quality assets out there and a reactive culture rather than a proactive culture to address those water supply issues. It is not good enough, and I accept that from the member for Macdonnell, and there is a strong case here for us as a government to get a whole-of-government approach to all of these issues, including the Department of Community Development, including the Department of Employment, Education and Training, including the Department of Health and including the Department of Infrastructure, Planing and Environment.
That is occurring as we speak as well. It is something that, if I had my druthers, it would have occurred sooner. I do not wear that totally, individually, but I wear that as a result. But it is these issues that we do need to bring; a coordination of all of the agencies affected and the Commonwealth at the same time where there is a clear Commonwealth responsibility. It is no good ATSIC throwing its hands in the air and saying, ‘We do not have the money’, because this government - nor did your government and nor does this government - have the financial capacity by way of Commonwealth grants to simply cover every homeland and outstation that pops up out there.
And Madam Speaker, there were charts relating to the MAPS results which I am sure the member for Blain would find interesting. I would like to table them.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.
A member: And what was the score today I wonder. How many questions?
A member: Thirteen.
Mr Stirling: Well, you ask questions that needed long answers.
Mr Ah Kit: Stop being so provocative and you might get more.
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, since when has this cross-Chamber chatter become okay? We have finished Question Time.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016