2003-02-20
Population Decline – Effect on Federal Representation
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Will you now acknowledge that because of our population loss since your government came to power, the Northern Territory will not only lose $51m in federal funding, but will now lose one of only two federal seats?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we made it very clear yesterday that the fact that our population has declined is a very serious issue for this Territory. For the last six years, we have experienced a nett migration loss and, finally this year, a loss of total population. That fact is very disappointing and one that this government is determined to turn around, outlining a whole range of …
Mr Burke: You have turned it around all right. It has always been growing since Cyclone Tracy.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition grumbles and mumbles. The fact is that, under his Chief Ministership, the nett migration loss from the Territory increased. To try to say that the last 12 months has been somehow a creation of the Martin government is simply misleading Territorians.
Mr Burke: Rubbish! It has happened under you. Under my government we got two federal seats, we now have one.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is with a level of sadness that we listen to the Opposition Leader, because he does not appreciate that you actually are supposed to tell the facts of an issue, not simply have backflip positions, change your mind on things and distort. It is important that the Opposition Leader, if he wants credibility as a leader, needs to make sure that he gets that right.
Very sadly, we have seen significant losses in terms of nett migration losses in the Territory’s population in the last six years. It is a challenge for this entire parliament and, certainly, for my government. I outlined a whole range of measures yesterday that we are looking at. We introduced a population policy strategy last August exactly for this. We need to be building the Territory’s population and the major projects coming online will certainly do that: Alcan, 1000 jobs in construction phase with the expansion of the mine; LNG plant at Wickham Point, 1500 for the construction, and ongoing jobs. These are the projects that will build the Territory’s population.
We are also looking at those important aspects of why people do leave; about whether it is more than simply the job they have or the job they do not have; those aspects of what our health system is doing; how we can do better in education; how we can be building safer communities. They are all aspects of how this government is tackling building up population.
We are not going to accept - and I hope we are joined by the opposition - the decision from the AEC that we will lose one federal seat. We will be lobbying the federal government. Considering that they are your mates, I hope your voices are very loud in this, to say that it should be legislated: two Northern Territory House of Representatives seats, as a minimum. It is a very minor amount, a couple of hundred people that is the difference. It is stupidity in the utmost to say we should lose a seat. We will be lobbying. I hope we will be joined by the opposition in lobbying for those two seats as a minimum requirement for the Territory - it should be legislated.
Stamp Duty Cuts - Benefits
Mr KIELY to CHIEF MINISTER
How will the stamp duty cuts you introduced in the 2002 budget benefit Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a question that goes to the heart of how we build our population - how we make it easier for people to buy their first homes, buy a new home, and how to build businesses in the Territory. There were three great initiatives in our August 2002 budget, and two of those great initiatives were to do with home buyers. We increased the first home owner concession threshold for stamp duty from $80 000 to $125 000. The previous government had not moved for so many years. We moved it, much more in keeping with the market, and we increased that maximum concession from just over $2000 to $3640. Not only did we deal with those buying their first home, but also if you wanted to move home. So if you move to a new principal place of residence and you get a rebate of $1500 on that.
When we brought down that budget, the Territory Construction Association said at the time that it was very much a construction budget, and when you see the results of those stamp duty reductions, then you can see that it really did provide a boost to the residential housing market. What we have seen since the introduction of those two measures on 20 August last year, through to the end of January this year, there have been 872 beneficiaries of home buyer stamp duty cuts, at an average of $2280 per beneficiary. That, for Territory families or couples buying their first home, and those moving home, has seen a total of nearly $2m in the pockets of Territory families. It is a real boost to Territory families being able to stay here, a real opportunity to buy their first home or upgrade their home, and more funds to spend in our shops to furnish their homes, to generate more work and to create jobs for Territorians. So it was a really significant initiative in the last budget.
For small business, we lowered the stamp duty on renewal of franchises, Madam Speaker, an issue you yourself raised as well. That was a significant cost to small business, and there has been a real saving for small businesses. Franchises make up a significant proportion of our small businesses. They are book stores as in the Alice Springs case, food outlets and photo stores. Those businesses employ many Territorians. As a result of the budget initiative from my government, franchisees have saved a total of $440 000 that would have been paid in stamp duty under the previous government. That is $440 000 in the pockets of Territory businesses, helping them grow their businesses.
Therefore, the last budget, and what we did with stamp duty, reduced the burden of those two key areas: small business and franchises, and those buying their first home or buying a principal place of residence. They are some of the key measures, the focussed measures, that will grow our Territory population and will see that turnaround that we so urgently need.
Alice Springs Hospital – Condition of Patient in ICU
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Minister, I discovered in this morning’s news that they seem to know more about what is going on than you do. They answered the question I asked you yesterday. Can you confirm that, after 15 days of being advised by letter and facsimile, a speech in parliament, and a question in this House, that the person in question has, in fact, died? If this is so, what are you going to do to investigate the matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I was, in fact, going to give further information, as Madam Speaker knows, at the end of Question Time. Late yesterday afternoon, I received a report from my department and I have been advised that the matter has been referred to the Coroner, and a copy of the honourable member’s letter has been sent to Police CIB.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on, member for Barkly, I think we should not discuss that matter any more at the moment. It is very sensitive. The minister has given her reply.
Olympia Resources NL
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for BUSINESS, INDUSTRY and RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
I understand a new agreement has just been signed between the Central Land Council and mining company, Olympia Resources. Minister, can you please advise the House what that agreement means for the people of the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
I thank my colleague, the member for Barkly, for the question, Madam Speaker. He is very interested in mining developments through the Territory, and pretty excited about MIM’s announcement about the significant upgrade of their operation at Borroloola.
What an excellent story this is. It is a story about investment, exports and jobs for the Territory. Yesterday, Perth-based Olympia Resources signed an indigenous land use agreement with the Central Land Council for tenements along the Plenty Highway about 130 km north-east of Alice Springs. I say up front: congratulations to Olympia Resources and the CLC. It just goes to show that the resource sector is working constructively with the land councils in the Northern Territory. It also shows what can happen when people get around the table and negotiate in good faith.
Resources are estimated at 80 million tonnes of garnet bearing ore containing in excess of six million tonnes of garnet. Olympia Resources is currently in the final stages of a definitive feasibility study. The company anticipates being able to produce garnet from Harts Range towards the end of this year. They still have to go through the process of converting those exploration tenements into mining tenements and the environmental processes but, certainly, without compromising any of those processes, government and my department will be putting everything into action to facilitate those processes, as long as they comply, as soon as we possibly can.
This is a new export industry for the Northern Territory. Production is expected to begin at 40 000 tonnes per annum, with plans to expand this to 100 000 tonnes per year as the international market for industrial garnet continues to grow. The business plan at the moment is for the garnet to be transported in bulk containers to Darwin, where they will be bagged and shipped overseas …
Ms Martin: By rail!
Mr HENDERSON: … by Perkins Shipping.
Picking up on the Chief Minister’s interjection, they are certainly working with and talking to FreightLink to see if that is an opportunity for a significant bulk cargo for the rail line. This really could be a win-win project. What does 100 000 tonnes a year equate to? That equates to 80 containers a week out of the port of Darwin, a significant boost for Perkins Shipping.
It really is a good news story. The world market for industrial garnet is currently estimated at about 500 000 tonnes per year, and is growing at between 15% and 25%. This is a clean industry. I have an example of the material here today that will be mined at Harts Range, predominantly used …
Mr Reed interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I would like to think that the member for Katherine would be interested in this. This is a good news story. I know members opposite do not like good news in terms of economic activity in the Northern Territory, and do not like talking up the investment opportunities in the Northern Territory. However, it is a good job not many people are listening to them at the moment. They really do look to the past and not to the future. Half a million tons per annum. The world market is increasing at 15% to 25%, and it is an environmentally friendly product which is really going to allow this mine to continue for many, many years.
When we talk about many, many years, this is an operation which is projected to last for at least the next 40 years, a significant development in Central Australia. While this project might not be on the same scale as the massive projects of Alcan at Gove, MIM at McArthur River, or the LNG plant, it is very important that we see and create opportunities for small resource companies to get out there, uncover deposits and then exploit those deposits.
We are talking about the end of the year, hopefully, to see this up and running. What we are talking about is a capital injection in the construction of the plant of about $12m to $15m in Central Australia. A lot of that work should go to companies in Alice Springs, and ongoing, in production, 25 jobs in Central Australia in the Harts Range community, where they certainly need those jobs.
This is not going to impact on the fossicking in the region. A quite small tourism industry, the garnets that are fossicked for in that region. I personally, 12 months ago, took my family out that way and had a great afternoon fossicking for garnets. That will continue to grow and the mine will be an important stimulus to the local economy. I wish Olympia Resources well in bringing the project to fruition. It is the beginning, I believe, of a few good news stories in the mining sector. I am very hopeful, along with the member for Barkly, for good news for Tennant Creek regarding gold mining in the very near future there. It may not be interesting for the member for Araluen …
Ms Carney: Well, it is interesting. It is just a ministerial statement, as opposed to an answer to a question.
Mr HENDERSON: … feigning the yawn. She may not be interested in jobs for Territorians, or in investments in the Northern Territory but we are, even though the member for Araluen is not.
This is on top of the highest level of exploration activity in the Northern Territory since 1996 - 340 000 km2 of land opened up for exploration since we have been in power. Exploration activity leads to mining activity, that leads to jobs for Territorians, investments in the Territory, and exports, and this is what this government is about.
Treasurer’s Mid-Year Report - Additional Health Funding
Mr REED to TREASURER
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer, who this morning told the House that his mid-year report included financial matters up to the 12 February. Indeed, the Treasurer’s report also states:
- At the time of the review of the budget and forward estimates all known events were taken into account. There are no known events that would lead to further revisions of the estimates.
I therefore ask the Treasurer, does his report include and provide for the additional $15m for the department of Health announced recently?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine, former Treasurer, for his question. If he had been listening - and I am sure he was in the House this morning when I tabled that report, notwithstanding the fact that he managed to table it yesterday, the very first time that he ever bothered to table a mid-year report. It is interesting he tabled his first ever mid-year report as shadow Treasurer, and not the Treasurer.
Notwithstanding that, I had a fairly comprehensive tabling statement with that mid-year report when I tabled it. I said very clearly there - and you can check it in Hansard - that the $15m for Health and Community Services was going to Health and Community Services from Treasurer’s Advance.
Mr REED: A supplementary question, if I could Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: No, you can ask it next time. It is my discretion.
QE2 Visit – Economic Benefits
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
We are all aware that the QE2 arrived in Darwin early this morning. Can the minister provide any estimates as to the economic benefits that will result from this visit?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. As most members and the public would be aware, the QE2 berthed in Darwin about 7.30 am. I am informed that it is the first time it has visited the Territory since about 1997. It carries approximately 1800 passengers and 1000 crew. The QE2 will be berthed in Darwin for approximately 12 hours. During that time, it is estimated that the expenditure will be somewhere around $500 000, which is a substantial amount.
Ms Carney interjecting.’
Dr BURNS: Thank you very much, member for Araluen, for being positive about this because, at this stage, being wet season, it is a trough period in tourism. It is very important to have a stimulus for our local tourism industry. I am sure the guests and the crew aboard the QE2 will be availing themselves of the sights of Darwin. They will be shopping. I am sure they will be buying many of those quality pearls downtown and many of the traditional Aboriginal artwork that abounds there. So it is very positive that the QE2 is here. I welcome them.
I know that, about six weeks ago, there was another cruise ship in town, the Europa. Visitation by cruise ships and, of course, the military which has been discussed over the past few days, is very positive to the Darwin economy.
Ms Carney: What is government doing about tourism, I ask?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, the minister is answering his question.
Dr BURNS: I will ignore those lime-lip comments and will be positive. We welcome the passengers and crew of the QE2 into Darwin.
Treasurer’s Mid-Year Report – Additional Health Funding
Mr REED to TREASURER
The Treasurer has informed us that the department of Health will get their additional $15m from Treasurers Advance …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the member can, rather than reiterate what the Treasurer informed us earlier, just get on with his question. He has form in making statements.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr REED: I know the questions are embarrassing, but they are going to get them anyway.
Health cannot get the money from anywhere else but Treasurer’s Advance. Where else would it come from? The point is that, if the Health budget has been increased by $15m, then this should be demonstrated in the Treasurer’s report. However, the Department of Health and Community Services - to quote from page 10 of the Treasurer’s report - shows an increase in budget this financial year, not of $15m for the department of Health, but of $440 000.
Where is the $15m for Health, or are you continuing the appalling practices of the department of Health of spending money without financial approval?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a mechanism that has always been used. The total amount of Treasurer’s Advance is figured in to the bottom line; the cash line deficit on the projection that we have there. It is a fact that we are holding the line to $94.181m, which we said we would run to a $95m deficit this financial year. That figure will come in, at the end, at $15m. It is already in the figures as part of the Treasurer’s Advance. That is the way it has always been treated and that is the way we have continued to treat it. As a former Treasurer he should understand that.
Year 12 Results - 2002
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Minister, could you please inform the House how Year 12 students fared in the Northern Territory in 2002, and take us through some of the highlights of that year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. The Year 12 results for students in the Territory in 2002 are encouraging. I take an early opportunity to congratulate all those students who met the challenge of completing their final of schooling. Not to say that there cannot be room for improvement; there always can be, and that is part of the reason we are devoting time and resources to future directions and the comprehensive review of secondary education right through the Northern Territory.
Eight hundred and nineteen students received their Northern Territory Certificate of Education results on 19 December last year. Whilst this is a dip of five from 2001, it is an increase of 30 students from the results of year 2000.
The Department of Employment, Education and Training ensures that senior secondary courses and certificates are of a national standard through its links with the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia. Indeed, it costs the department $1.3m to maintain that high standard of certification with SSABSA. Additionally, we ensure the highest of standards through membership of the Australian Curriculum and Certification Authority.
Of those students completing their NTCE in 2002, 59% who completed were female, and 41% male. I am also pleased to report that 52 indigenous students received their Northern Territory Certificate of Education in 2002. I can assure the House that we, as a government, are doing everything we possibly can to ensure that those figures continue to improve further.
A Result and Options Advice Service was conducted at the critical time of the release of the results, and the department advises me that it was well utilised in providing assistance to students and families to interpret results and consider tertiary and employment options.
Last week, along with others, I had the pleasure of attending the Northern Territory Board of Studies Awards for the top 20 students held here in the Main Hall. As I did then, I congratulated the students, families and schools on their achievements. The top 20 students were all from government schools: Casuarina Senior College, Darwin High School, the Northern Territory Open Education Centre, Centralian College, Dripstone and Nhulunbuy High Schools. I heartily congratulate the staff of those schools because, when you get to the senior level of secondary education, these Year 12 teachers do put in a lot of time above and beyond the normal hours of duty to ensure that each student in their charge achieves their full potential. We appreciate that and we thank teachers for that.
The top student of the Northern Territory for 2002 was Sidharth Vemuri, who received a score of 100 out of a possible 100. Sid is off to James Cook University to study medicine, and I take this opportunity to wish this fine young man well in his studies. As my colleague, the member for Wanguri, said to me: ‘He has brains, he has looks, he has personality to boot, he is a great kid, and he has the world at his feet’. What was most pleasing, in talking to Sid, was the fact that, once he has completed his medical training at James Cook, he intends to come back to practice in the Northern Territory. We salute him for that and we thank him. It is a good thing to get outside the Territory, go and travel and see a bit of the world, but we would encourage many other young Territorians to consider coming back to the Territory as soon as possible. We need their expertise, their youth, their vigour, and their intelligence to build the Territory into the future.
The results I have detailed today reinforce just how capable and competitive our schools are in providing quality education. We maintain education as the highest priority of government. We are proud of those results, we are proud of the great efforts of those young people. I am sure all members would want to join with me in wishing all Northern Territory students who have completed their secondary schooling in 2002 all the best for their future studies and chosen careers.
Treasurer’s Mid-Year Report – Budget Implications
Mr REED to TREASURER
Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table a media release from the minister for Health dated 12 February, the date the Treasurer gave this morning as the close-off for information that went into his mid-year report.
Leave granted.
Mr REED: We have just heard that the Treasurer has not included in the Health minister’s budget an extra $15m, notwithstanding that the dates comply with each other as to the close-off for his report. I ask the Treasurer to further advise when the department of Health will get the $15m, and when will he be open enough to show it in his mid-year report? I further ask him to explain why he has not mentioned that his mid-year report results in a cut of $4m to the Department of Education, $2m to the tourism industry, and the negative impacts this will have on both education and tourism throughout the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if he is referring to Figure 7, it is an agency list; that is, it is Treasurer’s Advance, which is held by government in advance, as its name implies, for unforseen expenditure through the year. It is not an agency. Where should Treasurer’s Advance appear on that list? The fact is, it should not, but it is figured in as part of the bottom line, whether it is deficit, whether we are in cash or surplus. We know that we are headed, as I said, for around a $95m cash deficit for this financial year, and the Treasurer’s Advance is in there.
In relation to the agencies, I did have some information on variations. However, I am just reminded of the attitude that the former Treasurer used to take. He used to get quite aggro. He used to hold the books and: ‘What do you do with these things?’ he used to say. ‘You bite the backs off them, you bite the covers off them, or what? Why don’t you read them?’.
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, I am not going to stand in here and deliver, agency by agency, each of the variations just because he chooses to ask. There is an appropriation process to go through, in which he would have the opportunity receive answers to all of these questions. I am reluctant to give him this advice. I suggest he writes to me and I will consider it.
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: Given the deceit that he has exercised on Territorians in this House in the past, I will give consideration as to whether he might have a briefing.
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is the time to answer the question if the Treasurer knows it. I do not have to write to him on behalf of Territorians. What is the reason for the $4m and $2m cut?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Katherine does not have a point of order; he is making a statement.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! This is ridiculous! I am quite sure people listening to this broadcast will be horrified.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, I will table the explanation of variation for the Department of Employment, Education and Training. He can read it in his own good time.
Mr Reed: So you had it with you and you would not provide it?
Mr Baldwin: What about tourism? What about tourism?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, member for Daly, settle down.
AFANT Annual General Meeting - Initiatives
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
I understand that the minister and the Chief Minister attended the AFANT Annual General Meeting last weekend. Can the minister inform the House of the initiatives he outlined at that meeting?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for this very important question. Yes, Madam Speaker, the Chief Minister and I attended the AFANT AGM last Sunday. We received a tremendous reception there - a tremendous reception - not only on the day from Warren de With and other members of AFANT, but also, I note with some pleasure today, an article by Mr Alex Julius, a well renowned writer on fishing and fisherman himself, well respected in the recreational fishing fraternity. This is page 29 of the NT News:
- Govt vows to keep promises on access to waterways. Commitment impresses fishermen.
Last Sunday’s AFANT meeting was one of the least emotive AGMs in the association’s 23 year history … with plenty of good news for the nearly 200 people who attended … Chief Minister Clare Martin struck a chord, particularly with her comments about access to Aboriginal lands.
What that is all about is the commitment of this government, through the Chief Minister, to negotiate with Aboriginal organisations and people about access, about a whole range of things, pointing a positive way forward to the important issue …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you cease for a moment? I am quite sure people would like to hear this reply, but there are too many comments being made across the floor.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are talking about negotiation being the way forward. Mr Julius goes on to say:
- I suppose if you had any doubt about this government’s commitment to increasing access to waters, Fisheries minister Chris Burns dispelled that with his announcement that a dedicated Fishing Access Working Group would be formed.
That group is going to have a full-time resource officer attached to it. As a government, we are really going to focus on the issue of increasing fishing access. It was, and it remains, a core promise of this government. We realise that recreational fishermen and women in Darwin want more access, and we made a commitment. We will follow through on those commitments, and we are prepared to resource them.
We have invited the Northern Land Council, AFANT and the Cattlemen’s Association to be involved in this. It will be chaired by the CEO of the Fisheries division and have a senior officer from DIPE involved. It is a very important group. We are aware of the promises we made regarding access and we are going to further those promises. We are putting the resources on the ground. That has been recognised here by Alex Julius, that it is a very positive thing.
It is interesting to note - I believe it was yesterday’s Litchfield Times - the member for Goyder, the shadow minister …
Mr Dunham: At least he has caught a fish.
Dr BURNS: I will pick up on that interjection. I have caught my fair share of fish, member for Drysdale. As I told the AFANT general meeting, fishing was actually one of the real incentives for me to move to the Territory. I am not going to boast about the fish that I have caught, but I have caught a few. Fishing is a very important part of the Territory lifestyle, and I am proud to say that I am a keen fisherman. I do not get out on the water as much as I can, but I did go out with the CEO of AFANT just before Christmas and caught a few barramundi. Unfortunately, they were a little small and I had to throw them back, but I do know how to fish, member for Drysdale.
I was interested in the statements from the member for Goyder. He basically called on us to cancel all negotiations immediately and announce closures without consultation. In his article, he also called on the government to open up other areas of coastline further away from Darwin. I call on the member for Goyder to tell us what areas of coastline he is talking about. Does he want to re-open the Daly? Does he want to re-open the Mary River? Which areas of the coastline is he talking about here? Because I believe both the recreational and commercial fishermen would be very, very interested to hear that.
The Aquatic Users Forum was a group that was set up so that the different groups - the commercial fishermen, the recreational fishermen, and the considerable Aboriginal interests - can actually sit around and discuss and come to agreement about important issues: if you are talking about closures, about timing, where the closure lines are going to be, what areas around are going to suffer more pressure because of closures. That group is making substantial progress, and I commend that.
It appears that the CLP really have not learnt very much. Let us go back in history a little to 21 August 2001. Here we have Mr Nigel Scullion, who is probably well known to the other side as a Senator, talking about the way in which the former government, I guess now in opposition, suddenly threw up this idea: ‘We’re going to close all rivers’, just prior to election. He said, in an interview on ABC: ‘It was an act, I guess, of a very desperate government’. He was asked by the reporter: ‘You must have been amazed at the fact that there was simply no consultation’. Nigel Scullion’s reply: ‘Absolutely stunned’. Well, here they are, doing it again. The member for Goyder, I wonder whether his caucus or the party room is aware of what he is going out and doing; he is proposing closures and then opening up waterways. It was a desperate government; it is a desperate and clueless opposition.
King’s Canyon Solar Generation Plant
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
I am pleased that many of the government’s answers have focussed on jobs for locals. The government has awarded a $3.6m contract for the provision of solar generation at King’s Canyon. How can local business have any confidence in your government when a more expensive, non-conforming, interstate company won the contract over a cheaper, conforming local one?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the member for Drysdale’s important question on this issue. However, first, I must declare an interest in this matter. The unsuccessful company that the member is referring to - the Territory company - is owned by my brothers-in-law, and also by my wife’s mother and father. I would also like to state and lay on the record here - we are talking about Integrated Technical Services here, I suspect, I know - neither myself, my wife, nor our children, have any pecuniary interest in this company, ITS, which was the unsuccessful company in this case.
As the member for Drysdale is aware, this matter is being contested by ITS, and they have laid the matter with the Ombudsman, who is currently undertaking an investigation. I am sure, and I encourage the Ombudsman to carry out that independent investigation as to whether …
Mr Dunham: How could it happen?
Dr BURNS: Well, this happened in 2002. It happened before I became minister responsible for PowerWater. I accept my responsibilities, but I am also declaring my interest in the matter. I have declared it. However, it is a matter that has gone to the Ombudsman. I have confidence in the Ombudsman, that he will fully investigate this matter and come back with his findings. Furthermore, as members would be aware, this government has undertaken a review of the tender process. I quote what the Leader of the Opposition had to say yesterday …
Mr Burke: That is why the question is important.
Mr Dunham: Oh, it is our fault?
Dr BURNS: No, no. I am not laying fault here. I am trying to move forward in a statesmanlike way. The Leader of the Opposition was talking about, I think in the debate about the Auditor-General’s report on page 20 of Hansard:
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER:. Minister, cease for a moment, we have a point of order.
Mr REED: The minister quoting from yesterday’s debate of Hansard has nothing to do with the question: why didn’t the Territory company get the job?
Mr Ah Kit: Yes, it has. Sit down. There is no point of order.
Ms Scrymgour: Let him answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: The minister is attempting to answer it, but there are a lot of interjections.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not disagree with what the Leader of the Opposition says here:
- … I certainly accept the fact that, if there are problems with the procurement process in the Northern Territory at the moment, I would be the first to accept that those problems were there in my government as they are now. One of the regrets I had, amongst many, in losing government, was that I never got a chance to get down and burrow into what was actually happening in procurement in the Northern Territory.
I have a lot of respect for the Leader of the Opposition. He has honestly said that there is a problem. As I said before, this government is undertaking a review of the procurement process. Basically, at the end of the day, our objective is to provide support for Territory businesses to have every opportunity to successfully tender for government projects and contracts, while maintaining an equitable, efficient and effective procurement system for government.
Office of Crime Prevention
Ms Scrymgour to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Last year, the Attorney-General informed the House that the Office of Crime Prevention was establishing regional crime prevention councils. Where are these councils being set up and what is their role in the government’s crime prevention program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The Leader of the Opposition went all the way to New York to discover that to do anything on crime prevention you need a lot of participation by the community. We actually logged into the New York Police Department web site yesterday - it cost us $5.50. We obtained quite a lot of details of their community mobilisation and - surprise, surprise! - it is very similar to what we are doing now in the Northern Territory through the Office of Crime Prevention and the establishment of these regional crime prevention councils.
As part of this initiative, regional crime prevention councils are being established throughout the Territory, both in urban centres and out bush. The councils will stimulate and sustain community involvement in crime prevention, and ensure that government remains in touch at the regional and community level with crime prevention issues and ideas coming from Territorians.
The first regional crime prevention council was established in Tennant Creek in July last year. The member for Barkly gave an excellent summary of the history and the fantastic work that that council has done in Tennant Creek. That is being reflected in the crime statistics that have come out recently. The first indigenous regional crime prevention committee, called the Kurduju Committee, was established in September 2002, when the Law and Justice Committees of Ali Curung, Lajamanu and Yuendumu agreed to take on this role. I gave some considerable detail of the work that Kurduju is doing in my adjournment last night, if members care to look at Hansard.
In December 2002, the Alice in 10 Quality of Life Steering Committee agreed to take on the role of the Regional Crime Prevention Council in Alice Springs. Last week, I had the great pleasure of attending a gathering at the Alice Resort where community members interested in taking a place on that new crime prevention council turned up to get a briefing from the Office of Crime Prevention on what the council’s responsibilities would be. There were 60 people at that meeting, representing almost every significant organisation in Alice Springs, as well as private individuals. I was very heartened by that. It is quite clear that Territorians all over the Territory are really jumping forward to take part in these important initiatives. The committee in Alice Springs will be provided with a project officer to develop child/youth safety strategies immediately for Alice Springs, and that work will now continue.
In December 2002 - and I am sure the member for Katherine will be pleased about this - the Katherine regional crime prevention council was identified, to be known as the Katherine Harmony Group, and containing, again, a very wide selection of both indigenous and non-indigenous organisations within that town.
We are very close now to finalising the Palmerston regional crime prevention council, which will work in conjunction with the Youth Engagement Group in Palmerston. We will be seeing some systematic rolling out of programs in Palmerston. Looking now at the first 12 months of the Office of Crime Prevention’s existence, the office has done a fantastic job of getting around and mobilising these groups all over the Territory.
Finally, we are also very delighted that the board of Neighbourhood Watch has agreed to act with the Office of Crime Prevention to establish the crime prevention council in Darwin.
Employment Figures
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In June last year, you told the House that it was terrific that employment had risen to over 101 600 jobs. If you look at the latest ABS figures released today, it shows that job numbers have not only fallen since then - but I ask you, what do you have to say about the fact that, since you found that things were terrific, 7100 Territorians have lost their jobs and the unemployment rate in the Northern Territory is now 7%.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. This government is about creating jobs for Territorians. When we came to government, I would say - and I said in here - unemployment was at a high and unacceptable level. Since that time, September 2001, it has gone down in trend terms, and we welcome that. We want to see it go down further. However, in that time we have also grown the work force by 3500. While we always look forward to the projects that will come forward to stimulate economic activity and build those critical jobs, we are seeing that, over the last 18 months, economic activity has picked up.
We have moved along way from the 1999-2000 year, overseen by the previous government, when the growth was zero. We remember the edifying sight of the then Treasurer, the member for Katherine, disputing the figure and finally getting the 0.01% growth. In 1999-2000, the growth was negligible. Since then, there has been a lot of significant work from this government, working with our business community. I commend our business community. The initiative we put in place of the Business Round Table is certainly allowing this government to move around the Territory and talk directly to business, to talk to a wide variety of businesses about how we do grow businesses and how we stimulate economic activity.
I would love to stand here and say that we have seen a massive pick-up from the inheritance that we got from 27 years of the Country Liberal Party, and the last two years overseen by the member for Brennan, now the Leader of the Opposition. We were not exactly handed an economy in good condition. We had the misleading that came from the former Treasurer about what deficits were, and to quote the federal Treasurer: ‘Deficits mean bigger taxes’. You continue to have deficits you have to have bigger taxes, in terms of what he says. We did not do that. We have had to put in place a very rigorously followed deficit reduction strategy. So, this government was not handed an easy economic situation. We have had the Country Liberal Party walking away. The good times were there to 1997, and what did the Country Liberal Party do after that? Simply walk away. We said, from opposition: ‘You have to be able to do more to stimulate this economy’. We said it to the government week after week after week. Put simply, the then government failed to do that.
In the 18 months of the Martin government, we have seen unemployment trend down. That is good; we should do better. I want to see those jobs grow and that is why we on this side of the House - and I hope joined by the opposition - certainly joined by Territorians, are delighted with the announcements we have had from ConocoPhillips, Alcan and McArthur River. The challenge of growing the freight for the rail is the real challenge for this year. All those aspects mean that our economy is looking up. We have been doing the hard yards; we have been working closely with those companies. We put in place some of the significant initiatives that may be small ones, like changes to stamp duty for franchises so that those businesses can grow. We are certainly aware of all aspects of our economy and growing them so that there are opportunities for all Territorians.
Mr Burke: You should check the trend line then because it is trending upwards. Unemployment is trending upwards, tell the truth.
Ms MARTIN: If we want to look at trend lines, let us take a look at these trend lines. Let us take a look at how trend unemployment …
Mr Reed: What is the source of that? ABS?
Ms MARTIN: Oh, Madam Speaker, what is the point? What is the point of dealing with those who simply want to rabbit the philosophy they want to put across …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Chief Minister if she could table the document with the source of the information.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to table it. We will have a copy for every member of the opposition so they do not have to believe the rubbish being spouted by their leader. We know that one day the Opposition Leader says one thing and - do you know what? - a few days later or a few months later, or even some years later, he says the exact opposite.
We have a new term: the Burke backflip. It does not apply necessarily to the Leader of the Opposition, although he is doing well with it, but we see it consistently across the other side of the House - this new phenomenon, the Burke backflip.
Let us look at another index about what is happening in our economy: the TCA Construction Activity Index. Let us look at that upward rise in the construction index. Again, I am not saying this is good enough, but I am saying that we are starting to see the turnaround. Put that together with the predictions from Access Economics and BIS Shrapnel, and I would have hoped that there be would have been some enthusiasm from the opposition that we are starting to see economic activity be driven again from the very poor performance of the last government and the difficult circumstances that we, as government, were handed. The challenge has been one we have taken on gladly, and we are starting to see the turnaround. When I see the labour force grow and trend unemployment heading down, then we are in the right direction.
International Cricket in the Northern Territory
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can the minister inform the Assembly on the progress of arrangements and infrastructure development to secure international cricket for the Territory in 2003 and future years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. It is a sign of the growing maturity of the Northern Territory that we have been negotiating international cricket fixtures for Darwin commencing this year and over four of the next five years. This has been made possible through the hard work and dedication of staff in the Office of Sport and Recreation on the one hand, and the commitment of the Martin Labor government of $2.5m to upgrading existing and providing new facilities at Marrara Oval.
Hosting international sport carries with it important responsibilities, not least of which is providing a safe environment for players, officials and spectators. It is for this reason we will be introducing the so-called pitch invasion legislation at the next sittings of the Assembly. It is a requirement of hosting the International Cricket Council games that we take steps such as this legislation. Putting it simply, unless we take steps to ensure a safe playing and spectator environment, we do not get international cricket.
People may remember back to February 2001, when there was a double streaker effort at Marrara when the Sydney Swans played against Geelong. All of us here would remember the incident involving Terry Alderman some years ago when a spectator injured that fine Australian sportsman through stupid hoonish behaviour. More seriously, we would all remember the attack on Monica Seles when she was stabbed by a spectator at an international tennis tournament. That is why I was so disappointed to see the ignorant, spoilsport comments of the Opposition Leader a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Burke: Why? All they do is bare their bum, what is wrong with them?
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, frankly, the fact that he would seem to be happy to see the Northern Territory public and business, let alone the sporting and cricket communities, miss out on five out of the next six years of international cricket, beggars belief. As I said, he is the ultimate spoilsport.
I wish to table a copy of the front page of the Sunday Territorian, 2 February, where he made comments to Alice Burton …
Mr Burke: I stand by them too.
Mr AH KIT: He stands by them, and this is why Territorians listening to this broadcast need to try to understand where the Leader of the Opposition is coming from. On the one hand, is he supporting international cricket coming to the Northern Territory - is he supporting that? Or is he saying he is going to speak against this legislation and, therefore, jeopardise any opportunities for us to have international cricket in the Northern Territory? It says:
- … but the opposition has slammed the move, describing it as an over the top reaction. What’s the Territory coming to?’, Opposition Leader Denis Burke said.
Over the page he goes on to state:
- The Martin government was taking the fun out of the Territory. Rather than waving the big stick, government would do well to appeal to Territorians’ good sense and judgment. No one likes to see a game disrupted, but this is a childish and churlish reaction to the odd incident that has never been threatening. The government would be better off ensuring there is adequate security in place to support these events. Oval invasions will result in a person being removed from the ground and, that in itself is penalty enough. However, if the government is hell-bent on a fine, then $5000 is extreme.
As I said, it is a requirement of the International Cricket Council, and the $5000 may seem to the Leader of the Opposition to be a little high. However, what that is intended to do is to ensure that we stop the behaviour in the past of friends going to these cricket or footy games, throwing in a few dollars each to help their mate if their mate takes up the dare and streaks across the oval and gets locked up. They throw in to bail him out, and pay the $200 court fine, etcetera.
Let me give you an example. It could be that they pool their money, and $5000 is thrown in for Dr Lim to streak across Marrara when the cricket is on. That is what it is intended to do. Whatever that sight may be; use your own imagination, but the mind boggles. This legislation is not just about streakers, it also involves penalties against people throwing objects onto the ground, and unique provisions to dissuade corporations using pitch invasion tactics as a form of ambush marketing.
Unfortunately …
Dr Lim: What? What did he say?
Mr AH KIT: Well, read Hansard tomorrow if you cannot understand it.
Dr Lim: Well, speak English.
Mr AH KIT: Well, I learned English much longer before you, if you want to get into that argument. I told you before, I am a much better looking Chinaman than you!
Dr Lim: Are you?
Mr AH KIT: Yes. The only thing you had in common with the lion’s head was the big mouth. I have had enough, I digress, I am sorry, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you conclude your answer, please, without all the other interjections.
Mr AH KIT: International cricket will showcase Darwin on international television. We can expect many millions of cricket fans across Asia, particularly in the subcontinent, to be watching. We will be judged as a success if we host friendly, well run matches that are not disrupted by idiot crowd behaviour. This will be a fantastic investment for the future. It will be great for our cricketing and sporting community, it will be a great boost for our Territory lifestyle, it will be great for tourism and great for Territory business generally.
I hope that, in the future, the Leader of the Opposition can climb above this CLP arrogance and get onside with the community in promoting the many benefits that international cricket will bring to the Territory.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In light of the distracting comments and time wasting of the minister, may I request one more question?
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, with those lurid thoughts so vividly painted by the Minister for Sport before our minds, I move that further questions be put on the Question Paper.
Madam SPEAKER: Just wait until we finish Question Time, gentlemen. Minister, you first.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Middle Point Community – Vacant Houses
Middle Point Community – Vacant Houses
Mr VATSKALIS (Lands and Planning): Madam Speaker, a response to the question asked by the member for Blain on behalf of the member for Goyder about the houses at Middle Point. I sought the information from my department and I have to advise the member for Goyder …
Members: Member for Nelson.
Mr VATSKALIS: Sorry, Nelson - who is not here. We will give him a reply in writing, that there are 19 houses and some of them are in a state of disrepair. The houses are used for accommodation for policemen, rangers or teachers in the area. However, the land is owned by the Land Corporation. The Land Corporation wants to surrender it to my department. My department is negotiating with the Department of Community Development to surrender part of the land with some of the houses and will currently negotiate for an exchange of eight houses and two units. The rest will be demolished because it is not economically feasible to repair them.
There are negotiations between my department and CDSCA to transfer the ownership of the houses. However, before that happens the land will have to be transferred from the Land Corporation to my department.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016