2004-02-19
Procurement Policy – NT Government
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government does not back local business. CAL was introduced by government as a safety net to ensure that government was awarding jobs to properly accredited Territory businesses. Your government has awarded a Queensland company a contract worth well over $0.5m for a water treatment upgrade in Katherine which, if the promised process had been followed, should have gone to a CAL-accredited Territory business. A Darwin CAL-accredited company tendered for this job, but instead, your government advertised this contract as not requiring CAL, thus clearing the way for the Queensland company to win the contract.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is about time the Opposition Leader started getting things right. To come in here and make statements about this government not supporting local business - and his track record is there - he is wrong, wrong, wrong. The details that he is saying …
Mr Mills: You do support local business then?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the Opposition Leader has come in here with a lot of details of a contract that was awarded. Can you table those details, please?
Mr Dunham: How do you know he is wrong, then? Are you not being a bit premature?
Ms MARTIN: Table the details. How can I know? Realistically, how can I, as Chief Minister, know about the awarding of a contract in another department? Table the details of what you are talking about, then we will deal with them. I think tThat is a quite fair thing to ask. Table the details.
Mr Mills: Happy to table it.
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader comes in here and makes up a lot of stuff. Let us see the details of what he is talking about it. I think that is quite reasonable.
Mr Mills: How could I be wrong, if you say I am wrong.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, aAllow the Chief Minister to answer the question.
Ms MARTIN: We had the edifying sight of the Deputy Opposition Leader come in here yesterday and demanding an explanation for the awarding of a contract in Corrections when there was only one tender. He was flying on conspiracy, saying: ‘You are anti-Territory business’, when there was one tender! This is the basis on which that the Opposition Leader and his mates are asking questions on. What I want to see is the detail.
I say very clearly, this government strongly supports local business. We also recognise that we will put out to tender, both locally and nationally, quite appropriately, and there are times when businesses from other parts of the country will win those tenders. I am happy to look at the details of what the Opposition Leader has put forward, but I say, quite properly: show me the details.
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, a supplementary question. As a refinement to the question, Chief Minister, does your government support the CAL scheme?
Madam SPEAKER: No, Leader of the Opposition, you have already asked that question.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I will answer it quite clearly if the Opposition Leader has a problem. We support CAL and, unlike the previous government, we have discussed, widely within industry, both builders registration and indemnity insurance. , and wWe are moving on something critical to the future of our construction industry that this mob never ever moved on.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on to the next question, can we not have so many interjections?
Bombing of Darwin – Appropriate Commemoration
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you please detail the effort you are making to ensure that Australians achieve a greater recognition of the event that took place in Darwin on 19 February 1942?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, you could have no more important question for us as Territorians today than the 62nd commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin that we have all been part of this morning.
As we have seen over the years, Territorians increasingly recognise the importance of this commemoration. It is heartening each year that we go to those commemorations - very well organised by the Darwin City Council, may I say, working in conjunction with government, they really do a terrific job - that more and more Territorians are coming to the commemoration and understanding what it is about. It is particularly heartening to see both primary and secondary students there, both primary and secondary, from all over the Darwin region.
We know the facts,. wWe know that at 9.58 am on 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin without warning. The planes were from the Japanese first attack fleet,; some of the same planes that had previously attacked Pearl Harbour. So tThere was that first raid at 9.58 am, there was a second raid at noon and, on that day in 1942, 243 people were killed in Darwin. Eight ships were sank in the harbour, and 50% of shipping was damaged. Overall, during that World War II period, there were 64 raids on the Top End from the period of 19 February 1942, February 19th, through to November the next year, and 46 of those attacks were on Darwin.
As I said, we TTerritorians are recognising more and more the significance of 19 February. It is great to have people here from around the country, and to meet these people. - I met one fellow who caome from Dungog. He was in the Post Office when Darwin was bombed, and he was back to be part of the commemoration. People who had families here come back for this day, and it is terrific to talk to them.
While we have individuals from parts of Australia, wWhilest Australians generally know that Darwin was part of the World War II effort and part of the bombing, they really do not know what happened on 19 February. It is time we actually we did some more about this. , sSo, today, I have written to the Chair of the ABC, Donald McDonald, asking the ABC to give annual national coverage of the commemoration ceremony in any way he chooses – television or radio would be wonderful. I have also talked to the local ABC. This is a starting point for getting Australians to recognise the significance of this day in 1942,. that we Territorians are growing to understand its importance, but the rest of Australia also needs to be aware of the day in which Australia was bombed for the first time and the impact it had in Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: I also have to say, Chief Minister, the two young students from Parap were tremendous.
Ms Martin: Weren’t they terrific.?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, they were great.
Leader of the Opposition, I need you to seek leave to table those documents from the previous question.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table those documents.
Leave granted.
Employment Statistics
Mr DUNHAM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
According to the latest ABS statistics, in August 2001, when your government coame to power, 73 600 Territorians had full-time jobs. Last month, after 2two-and-a-half years of misadministration, 71 900 Territorians had full-time jobs. That means that more than 13 Territorians have lost their jobs each and every week that you have had the word employment in your title. You have failed these people,. cCan you stand behind your new Jobs Plan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am absolutely delighted to stand behind our Jobs Plan,. because iIt is the first time ever that a Northern Territory government has got down to do the hard work of putting before Territorians, on behalf of an excellent young product, and that is young Territorians, because that is what our Jobs Plan is about. It is about training and skilling young Territorians to take the jobs in these major projects coming forward.
Over all the years of the CLP and the big projects that came and went, we had a mobile work force. They came in from interstate, they took up that work, and as the project wound down and completed, they went interstate and followed the work around Australia, generally the practice in remote and rural parts of Australia. When we questioned, at different times, the government strategy on this, and how does this really grow the Territory, apart from these big spikes we used to get all the time when a major project was on and employment was up three or four thousand, and then it would dwindle away and we would lose those and probably a bit more as the project wound down. I remember the minister’s response at the time, he said: ‘Oh, some of them will stay, some of them will’. It was a bit ad hoc, a bit hit and miss, and the reality was, very few of them stayed.
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, you asked the question, allow the minister to answer in silence.
Mr Dunham interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, do not start that.
Mr STIRLING: I went to some length yesterday or the day before in relation to how you use statistics, and it all depends where you start. Why did you choose August 2001, when we came to government? If you want to go back go to May 2000 and employment was an absolute trough - it might even have been later than that – we are about 7000 jobs ahead. It is simply is a matter of drawing where you want to take you statistical base from. However, as recently as lunchtime, I was at a local firm in Winnellie signing up and handing over the agreement papers to the employer and an apprentice electrician. That company will benefit to the tune of $7700 in incentive payments from this government - $4400 up-front on the completion of three months’ interim trial period with the apprentice, and a further $3300 on successful completion.
If there is one trade this place needs, it is electricians. It has always been those hard-to-fill areas, those core traditional trades areas, that have been hard to fill. That is why our Jobs Plan puts the highest incentive against those traditional trades areas. , and I am delighted that we have this Jobs Plan rolling out. Some 20 businesses have already signed up. That is potentially 20 apprentices out there now in traditional trades areas that were not there two weeks ago, and probably would not have been there without the benefit of this Jobs Plan and the incentives this government has provided.
Population Base of Northern Territory
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
As a Territorian born here, I have had the joy of watching many people come and settle in our great Territory. Could you please advise the House why the Leader of the Opposition is opposed to increasing the population base of the NT?
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Orders disallow the asking of the minister for an opinion.
Madam SPEAKER: Perhaps you should rephrase that question.
Ms LAWRIE: Chief Minister, could you please talk to the House about the need to grow the population of the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. Let us talk about why this question is important because, as part of his policy release by media release, which has about six paragraphs in it, on Tuesday the Leader of the Opposition said:
- CLP will give Territory public servants opportunity - Govt’sgovernment’s hire from the south policy will be ditched.
This is a policy? ‘Hire from the south policy will be ditched’.
First of all, he is wrong again - wrong, wrong, wrong. It is hard to fathom where the Opposition Leader is coming from ion this issue. The position from the Opposition Leader is both confused and contradictory. It is really hard to work out, other than just being purely offensive, why he would have a press release that says: ‘We are going to ditch the hire from the south policy’. That is what the opposition is saying.
Let us look at this. He might have had a brainwave saying, ‘This is a great idea’. I believe it is the most offensive, obscene and counterproductive little line I have seen in a long time – absolutely offensive and insulting.: ‘Hello, I am the member for Blain. I am the Opposition Leader and you are not welcome here’. That is what it is saying to people who have become Territorians over decades now. This is the ‘You are not welcome here, I am the Opposition Leader’ policy.
Let us look at what it means. The member for Karama says: ‘I was born here’. Very few of us in this House were born here - very few of us. All cCongratulations to those who were born here, that is terrific. However, everyone else here, except maybe for the member for Greatorex, comes from south ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: The Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, stop for a moment. Order! We deserve to hear the Chief Minister’s answer. I am sure the listeners and people in the Gallery would like to hear it without all those interjections.
Mr Dunham: She still does not understand.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, did you hear me?
Mr Dunham: I did, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Good. Observe what I said.
Ms MARTIN: We are proud of Tthe Territory. is one of the things that we are so proud of. It is full of people who have come here from the rest of Australia and overseas. Last year alone, nearly 15 000 people moved to our wonderful Territory and, over the last five years, more than 75 000 people have moved to our wonderful Territory. Three hundred people a week who arrive to enjoy our lifestyle, and the Opposition Leader is saying to them: ‘You are not welcome’. That is what the Opposition Leader is saying.
It flies in the face of all the other things we are hearing from the Opposition Leader and the actions that are being taken by this government. Business, for example, continually raises the issue of a shortage of skills, and that is both our large businesses and our small businesses. The shortage of skills is also an issue for our public sector. We are very proud of our Jobs Plan - $160m, and that will grow capacity locally, both in the private and public sector, to fill those skill gaps. We need to welcome and we need to be embracing new Territorians constantly. Yet, we have the Opposition Leader saying, ‘Not welcome. You are not welcome. Go away. We are going to ditch …
Mr Mills: That is not what it is about.
Ms MARTIN: We are going to ditch the hire from the south …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: What did you think it meant?
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Hire from the south policy? You would not be here unless they had hired from the south. I would not be here unless they had been hiring from the south. Just think through what you are talking about.
Sixty percent of Territorians were born outside the NT and now make this place home. What the Opposition Leader is saying, is that those 60% should not have been recruited in the first place, should not be here, not welcome.
If we talk specifically about the public sector, the CLP’s policy, if we look through the top echelons of our public sector you would be telling the Under Treasurer to go home,; the head of Chief Minister’s department to go home,; the head of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment to go home,; the head of, Employment, Education and Training to go home,; the head of Health to go home,; the head of Community - this is just ridiculous.
These are people who have come to the Territory, along with many others, and have made an absolutely significant contribution. When they came they were probably southerners, and we welcomed them. , wWe welcome people who contribute to the Territory. When there are those discussions about, ‘How do you become a Territorian?’, there are endless discussions, ‘aAbout 25 years, and three flows of the Todd’, but it only takes five minutes. Get out of the plane; get out of the train; get out of your car; say you like the place; you are a Territorian. I absolutely welcome everyone, absolutely.
That is the public sector. We would lose most of our public service if we actually followed the ridiculous and insulting policy of the Opposition Leader. What about the private sector? Last week, ERA opened the first publicly-listed company in the Territory, head office here, moved 30 people here. ‘Go home. Go away’? What about Globetrotters Travel who set up a branch in Darwin and are already participating in the community by sponsoring the basketball?
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We are used to the Chief Minister’s drivel but not for this long.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Ms CARNEY: Could she make her answer shorter, please.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the Opposition Leader’s so-called policy, his one line in a press release, which he thinks is going to somehow or other be the killer blow at the next election, is seriously offensive and narrow-minded. We need to build our skills base; we are building those skills locally. I welcome Australians, and those from overseas, to come and live in the Territory, to bring their skills here, to bring their enthusiasm for the Territory’s lifestyle. What we are doing as government is moving the Territory forward. What this mob would do is simply, brick by brick, put up the wall, go home, not welcome.
Certificates of Occupancy
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORTLANDS and INFRASTRUCTUREPLANNING and PLANNING
The building advisory services have tried to adopt a number of new policies relating to Certificate of Occupancy starting on 1 January this year. The department will not issue any Certificates of Occupancy for any building works built before June 1984. For building works between 1984 and 1993, they will give consideration to issuing a Certificate of Occupancy only if accompanied by a current builder’s certified report and a registered structural engineer’s unqualified certification.
As the NT Division of Engineers say they cannot issue an unqualified certification, could you please tell the House why these policies are being introduced? If the building advisory services discussed this with anyone, such as the engineers, before they released this policy, were you, as minister, informed of this policy before it was introduced? What, as minister, are you doing to allay the fears of many householders and businesses who may, under this policy, never be able to get a certificate of occupancy without partially demolishing their homes and businesses and paying out large sums of money to do so?
Madam SPEAKER: I have to admit sometimes your questions are a bit lengthy, member for Nelson.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is an important question because there has been some comment in the media about it,. and I do not believe some of that comment has been particularly well-informed.
The first thing to say is that there has been no policy adopted in relation to this matter. A proposal was put to me by the Building Services Branch to make some changes to the issuing of Certificates of Occupancy. I felt that it is an important issue and that there needed to be more consultation and discussion with major groups involved. I have subsequently met with quite a number of the major industry groups that are involved in this. There is a meeting set down for later this month, 23 February, which I will be attending. I am very interested in this issue.
On the issue the member for Nelson has raised, the proposed changes coame about because of a legal action that has occurred around one particular Certificate of Occupancy, which has raised a number of questions about the issuing of Certificates of Occupancy. The member for Nelson is incorrect in saying that certificates cannot be issued at the present time. Certificates can be issued on an Engineer’s Certificate, but the engineers are pointing out, subject to this particular court case that, in the case of some buildings and works that they have to inspect, it is very difficult for them to issue a report on that. So, these are the issues that have to be worked through.
Certificates of Occupancy are in more demand within the real estate market as buyers request them. There is probably some misguided faith put in Certificates of Occupancy because they give no indication at all about the current state of a building. What they do is certify that that building was built according to the Code at the time that the building was built. A Certificate of Occupancy is not required legally for the sale of a house, nor is it required for insurance purposes.
There is an issue there. I want to work through it. I am engaging with the major players in industry, and I am quite prepared to keep the member for Nelson briefed on this very important issue.
Apprentices – Status of Panel Beating and Spray Painting Course
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
You have promised our young Territorians trade apprenticeships. That appears to be a very empty promise, when at least 30 young Territorians pursuing apprenticeships in panel beating and spray painting have not been able to secure apprenticeships since mid-2003 because they do not have a teacher. How much longer are you going to make these young Territorians wait for a teacher before they can have their apprenticeships signed off?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question because it is an important question. When we say we are a government committed to training,, that is exactly what we are. I can give the answer: it will be less than three weeks, because three weeks will be the time when they would be due for the next block release.
Notwithstanding the hiccup here, it was Charles Darwin University whoich lost their instructor in this paint and panel area. They advertised a number of times - unsuccessfully. On each occasion, applicants were found to not meet the required criteria for that position. There have been concerns raised with Employment and Training that there is no trainer at CDU for paint and panel.
I give this absolutely unequivocal undertaking: if it comes to having to send these apprentices interstate at the time their block release for the next stage is due, we will do it. We will not interrupt the training of these young apprentices, having had them make a commitment to an apprenticeship. We will do absolutely everything to ensure that their training goes on.
Another option might be, and the Department of Employment, Education and Training is on standby to do whatever it takes, to get a contract trainer in from interstate. But I have a worry. I have a problem here because the Leader of the Opposition will not allow it! He will not allow us to bring in someone from interstate to take a job for which there appears to be no qualified Territorian! Under his policy, these kids would have no training whatsoever, because you are not allowed to bring someone from interstate to fulfill the job. We do not put up with nonsense like that. Our unequivocal undertaking,: these young people go interstate for their training, or a contract trainer, if we can get the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition, will come from interstate, even on a contract basis for a short time, to make sure these young people get the training for which they have put up their hand up.
Wizard Mortgage Company – AFL Football Match
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Tomorrow, the Wizard Mortgage Company opens, in Darwin, its 200th branch office in Darwin - a southern company, I do believe. I will be there with Michael Long, who is no southerner, to open it, and I will be there with the CEO of Wizard, who is coming up here for this special occasion, to give jobs and better lending for the Territory.
Tomorrow night, the Northern Territory will host another national level sporting event …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms Carney interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Araluen, order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Your question - that is all I want to hear.
Mr KIELY: I am getting to that, Madam Speaker.
Tomorrow night, the Northern Territory will host another national sporting event, the AFL’s Wizard Cup clash between the evergreen Essendon Bombers and the flash Fremantle Dockers. Could you please inform the House about the value such events add to Territory sport?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I was glad I was able to hear the question, because I might have found it a bit hard to respond to, given the noise.
This week would have to be one of the busiest in the Territory’s sports calendar, and Friday night’s Wizard Cup clash between Essendon and Fremantle will be a fitting end to the week – one that will be shared and enjoyed by many Territorians. In particular, I know many Territorians from remote areas eagerly await high profile sporting events such as this one to come to Darwin.
Over the years, Territorians have been great supporters of the AFL. We have shown that it does not matter which team we support, we grasp with two hands any opportunity to see any sport at its highest level, as we have recently witnessed with the recent Northern Territory representative game against our very own Western Bulldogs, if I might call them that. Territorians become enthused by witnessing, and often taking part in, activities with their sporting heroes and role models. I know some members of the community have already started to call them the Darwin Doggies.
To ensure that the maximum amount of mileage is gained from our three year AFL agreement, not only have we written in a home and away game every year for three years with the Western Bulldogs, we have pre-season games in Darwin and Alice Springs, in addition to an Aboriginal All sStar game in both 2005 and 2007. On the back of each of these events, we have annual pre-season and mid-season camps, run over five days in different locations around the Territory, with no less than 18 AFL club players to attend. Importantly, we are taking our top national athletes to the bush.
These activities will provide plenty of opportunities for players, coaches and officials to learn alongside individuals who have achieved at the highest level in their chosen sport. Hopefully, they pass on what it takes to make it to the top. We know, through studies conducted by groups such as the Australian Institute of Criminology, that sport and physical activity programs provide an effective vehicle through which personal and social development in young people can be positively effected.
The Australian Sports Commission also notes that sport not only has a role in combating general health-related issues, but also reducing chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, has strong mental health benefits, and assists the community to have a positive effect on antisocial behaviour. In particular, sport has the strong potential to directly or indirectly influence indigenous community issues such as crime, school attendance, substance abuse, self-harm and violence.
This government is in the business of attracting high level competition and building appropriate infrastructure through which Territorians can participate in sport. I am told that almost all of the grandstand tickets - about 4000 seats - have been pre-sold, and that we are expecting a crowd of between 12 000 to 15 000 people, weather permitting.
To summarise, bringing high profile events to the Territory encourages interaction with the community, underpinning works of such programs as Kick Start. On that note, I would to thank both the AFL and the AFLNT for their hard work and confidence in the Northern Territory to make the outcomes of this agreement real.
We know that increased physical activity encourages a healthy lifestyle, and role models such as Michael Long, Matthew Lloyd and Andrew McLeod allow young Territorians to dream of what can be achieved through sport. This government is prepared to do what it takes to improve the health of Territorians and bring within reach the sporting dreams and hopes of our youth.
An example to all Territorians has been the efforts of the Long family. The Long family haves been an integral part of the footballing landscape in the Territory over 30 years. Their achievement of over 1000 games between them for St Mary’s is an outstanding record and testament to their talent and loyalty. I know the member for Wanguri, as vice patron for St Mary’s, would agree with me, as I am sure members of this Chamber would.
This evening, as part of the civic reception to welcome the Essendon Bombers and the Fremantle Dockers, the Northern Territory government will also be honouring the outstanding achievements of the Long family.
Members: Hear, hear!
Government Plan for Jobs Growth
Dr LIM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Your jobs plan has failed. In your mid-year financial report, you halved your estimate of employment growth in 2003-04. In your budget last May, you claimed employment would rise by 2%. Now, you are hoping for only a 1% growth. What sort of Jobs Plan is it that sees jobs growth slashed in half in six months?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will tell him what sort of Jobs Plan it is: it is a Jobs Plan which will ensure that, over the next few years, we will have 7000 apprentices in training in the Northern Territory - something they never achieved. Why didn’t they achieve it,? bBecause they were content, for a start, not to have a Department of Employment. They never had a Department of Employment. They had a statutory body, an Employment and Training Authority, which handled all of the training matters in and around apprentices. Did they have a minister who had any idea, any policy, or any strategic direction about what they should do? No. In fact, they had an executive board to tell them what their policy should be, because they did not have a clue. Clue-less government when it came to employment and training matters. An executive board told them what to do and what they should do about training.
They had no commitment as to the real holes in the workplace, what were those difficult -to -fill vacancies, and bear in mind you have to get top value for every taxpayers’ dollar that you spend. Where were those hard-to-fill vacancies in the labour market that they should have been directing the majority of the training dollar to? - nNo idea about that! I can tell you, the list of the difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Northern Territory did not vary over 20 years. They were not obscure types of positions,. tThey were mechanics, electricians, and all of your skilled, traditional trades areas.
That is what our Jobs Plan is doing. It is working on a picture of the labour market in the Northern Territory, and continually working on that and updating it, so we have a picture of those areas of shortage in the labour market, those areas where business struggle to get people in to the workplace. That is where our training dollars are going: to give young Territorians the maximum opportunity to get quality training and skills to get into the labour market.
There is an additional element that has to come into this over the next three years, and into the future, and that is the ageing nature of our work force. Late last year, with licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, a guy was saying, ‘51Fifty one years is the average age of these people in Australia’, so after the next decade, they are gone, they are out of the work place. If we had started yesterday, it would be still too late in terms of training the replacements needed. The average age of teachingers across the Northern Territory is 46 to 47 years. We are the youngest jurisdiction in Australia. What is the average age in New South Wales? You may well ask. Over the next decade, all of these professions and trades areas will be gutted as the baby boomers move through unless every state and territory government gets on the training wagon now. That is an added reason for this Jobs Plan, otherwise you simply will not have the workers and the skilled work force to take Australia forward.
The other part of that ageing, as we move away from compulsory retirement ages, and we have done that in the public sector already, we are moving to 65 years, but a 65-year-old electrician is not necessarily well suited to getting on the roof. We have to have reskilling of the work force into that, so they can go to project management, costing, specifications, and to planning and design, in those sorts of areas to keep them in the workplace. That is what the Jobs Plan is about. For something that has been in place a short time, 20-odd businesses have already put their hand up for these subsidies in these traditional trades’ areas; I think it might be a little early to call it a failure.
Community Initiatives to Tackle Crime
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
The Barkly region’s Safe Communities Committee has received $20 000 under the Crime Prevention Grants Scheme for a project to reduce vandalism and graffiti in Tennant Creek. Can the minister please inform the House as to the ways in which the Martin Labor government is supporting community initiatives to tackle crime and its causes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question on this important matter. I do not have the body shape of Big Kev, but I am very excited about this. The reason I am excited is that it gets to the heart of the strategy on attacking crime. The strategy we are following is that the government cannot do this alone. You have to form very strong partnerships with communities, develop initiatives for crime prevention from the grassroots upwards, and provide the resources to the communities that are getting their ideas together.
In our $400 000 a year grants scheme, this round has gone out to 32 applicants out of a total of 56 applications we received. There are some fantastic ideas spread right round the Territory, whether it was in Darwin, the other major regional centres or out bush. I will give members a few examples: the Borella Park Local Crime Prevention Committee, based in Jingili, received $15 000 to discourage antisocial behaviour by increasing access to and the use of the park, through a community safety audit. Palmerston City Council received $10 000 for Onto the Grind to deliver and expand out of hours sport and recreation options for young people in Palmerston CBD. The Central Australian Safer Community Committee was awarded $15 000 to develop an early intervention program pilot for families of children under five, based on research and community consultation. The Western Aranda Relekha Corporation Committee received $15 000 to develop …
Mr Elferink: Hear, hear!
Dr TOYNE: … nNo thanks to you, old mate,. … programs to tackle issues of youth boredom and substance abuse. Corrugated Iron Youth Theatre received $10 000 for Believe in Yourself, a series of workshops and performance opportunities for indigenous youth between eight and 25 years of age throughout the Northern Territory. The workshops will help to raise awareness of crime prevention issues in indigenous and non-indigenous young people through the performing arts.
This government recognises that to prevent crime the causes of crime must be addressed. Empowering local people, who are determined to make a difference in their own communities, is one way of doing this through the establishment of regional crime prevention councils and local crime prevention committees, and by providing the sort of funding that we have outlined today, for good ideas coming from the community. I wish all of the grant recipients all the very best in the initiatives they will now be following.
Interstate Consultancies
Ms CARTER to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government does not back Territory businesses. Your government is paying $100 000 to a Victorian company to consult with Territorians about the Darwin Wharf Precinct development. Chief Minister, why could not a Territory business be given the job of finding out what we want at that precinct?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Wwith the waterfront project, if the member for Port Darwin looks at where a lot of the work is going at this stage, she will probably be surprised, due to the indication she has given about some of the work that is going interstate; some of which is going interstate because we simply do not have the specific expertise here. I would love to have the specific expertise here to be able to do that kind of work.
There is no doubt that the waterfront project is a very complex one, which is worth $500m -to $600m over 10 to 15 years. I make no apology; there is a lot of work going locally. I cannot say whether it is equivalent work - significant work is going interstate. One of those briefs was a consultancy to work with the local community about what expectations were for the waterfront, what kind of development, and I have great confidence in this company to do it well. They have a tremendous track record in exactly this type of project. These are complex projects, and we need to have had the community’s input effectively recorded. That is not to say a Territory company could not do it, but this particular company does it with great expertise and has been used by various departments in the Territory over the last 12 -to 18 months.
No, a local company is not being used in this instantce, but we are using a company that can capably do a very specific job.
Clean Up Australia Day
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
On 7 March, I, along with Mick Riley, Jenny Russell and lotsmany of other community-minded people of Sanderson, and many Territorians, will be out in force picking up rubbish for Clean Up Australia Day. What initiatives is the Martin Labor government implementing to support the goal of reducing litter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question, and I hope that all other members in the House will be participating on 7 March. Last year, my predecessor announced this government’s approach to litter and recycling by adopting a comprehensive Litter Abatement and Resource Recovery Strategy. An important aim of the strategy is to revitalise the way government, community and industry work together on litter and recycling issues.
To this end, the strategy foreshadowed the formation of a Litter Abatement Advisory Committee. The committee will oversee the implementation of a Community Grants Scheme established under the strategy and will provide me with grass roots advice on litter and recycling issues.
I am pleased to announce that I have now appointed members to the Litter Abatement Advisory Committee. The committee will be chaired by Louise Fuller, who has extensive experience in local government and resource management issues across the Territory. Other members of the committee are: Glenn Marshall from Alice Springs, who is the Acting Coordinator of the Arid Lands Environment Centre and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Arid Towns; David Mitchell from Nhulunbuy, who has been active in local litter clean up programs with indigenous groups; Andrew Haniford from Darwin, who works with Carlton and United Brewery and was nominated by the Beverage Industry Environment Council; Moira McCreesh from Katherine, who is experienced in indigenous health issues in remote communities; and Charlie King from Darwin, who is a board member of Keep Australia Beautiful.
I will shortly be calling for applications for the Community Grants Program, and I anticipate some exciting projects coming forward. The committee’s initial focus will be to get grant applications assessed and, as I understand it, those advertisementss will appear in the Northern Territory News on Saturday. The beverage industry is also directly spending another $250 000 this financial year on projects across the Territory such as public place recycling trials.
Implementation of the strategy will be expedited by the appointment of a full-time Litter Abatement Officer, Miss Sharman Lewis, with whom I met at lunch time today and who commenced work with the Office of Environment and Heritage at the beginning of this month. Miss Lewis will support the committee and work on a number of important legislative reviews under the strategy.
While I cannot say that clean ups will be a thing of the past, I am confident that implementation of the strategy will see tangible improvements in litter hotspots.
Ingham Poultry Farm Closure
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
Madam Speaker, Clean Up Australia Day would be a piece of cake if we had CDL, but I digress.
Over the last couple of years, the rural area has lost Northern Poultry in Howard Springs, Landel’s at Humpty Doo have gone out of business, and now we have lost 30 jobs at Ingham’s Poultry Farm at Bees Creek. All these closures have negatively eaffected the rural economy. Minister, have you contacted the Ingham family to see if they would reconsider their decision to close down their processing plant, highlighting the fact that this closure will mean 30 local people will lose their jobs. And, now that fresh chicken meat is to be brought up all the way from south, will you be asking the Minister for Health to be monitoring the safeness of this product, considering it will now have to travel 3000 km instead of 40 km to our local chicken retailers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question, and acknowledge his representation on this issue. Over the last couple of years, since we have been in government, I had a period of time as Primary Industry minister when the issues of the viability of the chicken industry in the Top End were circling. It is a bad decision for the Northern Territory, particularly for those 30 Territorians involved, that Ingham’s have taken the decision that they have, but it is an entirely commercial decision.
The cost of production interstate is much less than it is here. Even when you add transport into the equation, it is still more viable commercially for Ingham’s and other producers to farm their chicken meat product interstate and to freight it to Darwin. At the time, the department was talking to chicken farmers in the Territory, to understand the cost structures in the industry and what could be done. My understanding at the time was that a lot of additional protein had to be put into the feed in the Northern Territory as a result of the climatic conditions and other issues, and it is an entirely commercial decision.
The department has been in touch over a long period of time with chicken producers in the Northern Territory. The understanding of the industry is there. It is a purely commercial decision that Ingham’s have taken. As far as I am aware, it is irreversible. For those 30 people concerned, it is very sad, however, that is a decision that Ingham’s have made on their own commercial terms.
Interstate Consultancies
Ms CARTER to CHIEF MINISTER
You have just explained to us why $100 000 can go to a southern consulting firm to find out what Territorians want with our wharf precinct. Another company, RPR Consulting from Canberra, has been paid $86 000 to consult in the community sector area with organisations such as NTCOSS to find out how our community services are going in the Territory. Given your election commitment that there will be a reduction in the number of expensive interstate consultancies, have you not reneged on that statement? I seek leave to table this.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if you went through every contract that was awarded interstate, you would have the member for Port Darwin pretending outrage. The fact is that some contracts will go interstate. If we look overall, Territory business wins 83% of all contracts awarded by government over $50 000.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I will say that again. Territory businesses win 83% of all contracts over $50 000.
Mr Dunham: By value or by numbers?
Ms MARTIN: That is by number, listen to the numbers: local - $242m; interstate - $49m. I will say that again: local - $242m; interstate - $49m, for the specific RPR Consulting to conduct a review of the Northern Territory Ccommunity peak sector councils. We are not a very big jurisdiction. To do a review like that, you really need to get someone from outside. Most people here will have worked in the sector, and to be able to do a review that has the confidence of the sector, you need, in many cases, to bring someone in from some other part of Australia who has not had that intimate involvement or worked in the sector. That is a fact of life of the Territory. It is exactly why the opposition’s policy of not hiring from south is so absurd.
We need to build our skills base, both in the public and private sector. When we do have a larger population, some of these issues we face now will not create the same difficulties. However, we, as a government, are absolutely committed to local business. Where the contracts can go local, they are going local. I again refer to the numbers.
You can have the opposition come in here and make a case for whatever point they want to make, but they also have to face the reality. The reality is the numbers that I have just given; the numbers of 83% local over $50 000. Those numbers are $242m-worth of contracts local, versus $49m interstate.
Let the opposition get a perspective on this. While they can say this should not happen, we have examples of joint ventures. While I am on my feet, can I answer the question that the Opposition Leader put about Nitmiluk. Is it okay to do it now, or would you rather I do it later?
Madam SPEAKER: Do it later at the end of Question Time.
Ms MARTIN: Okay, I will answer that question later.
Very clearly, we are recognising the capacity of local business. There are many programs within the Mminister for Business’s department that build capacity in local business. We are working very closely with local business. It is a fact of life that some of those contracts will go interstate. There are very specific skills.
For example, the Daly River Reference Group, it was important to bring somebody in who can, at arm’s length, oversee a process that has so many competing interests. Why not go to someone like Rick Farley, who has a great reputation and has established that reputation by working right across Australia? He has the confidence of the Daly River community groups who are part of the process and, I would say, there is no one better to get the best outcome for the Territory in this case than Rick Farley in Daly River.
Construction Initiatives Providing Jobs in Central Australia
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
Will the minister update the Assembly on the government’s construction initiatives providing jobs and economic benefits for Territorians in Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The answer to this question will outline some of the initiatives that are occurring in Central Australia and which are moving the Territory ahead. This government is very intent on supporting the economy of Central Australia.
As most members would be aware, the Desert Knowledge Centre represents a $20.9m investment by government …
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We have had the Desert Knowledge Park discussed during the railway debate, ironically, during a mini-statement this morning, and now during Question Time. I suggest this is repetitive on the part of government. It might be good news, but you have run it three times in two days.
Madam SPEAKER: No, tThere is no point of order.
Dr BURNS: If we want to be contemporary, today’s tender pages in the NT News confirm the Desert Knowledge contract valued at $1.4m being awarded to Sitzler Bros.
On page 43, under the contracts awarded by DIPE, by my calculation there are 12 companies there, and they are all Territory companies that have been awarded contracts through DIPE. I calculated a total of about $1.8m. Over half of those - seven out of the 12 - are actually Alice Springs companies. This Sitzler Bros contract fits in with that. The Chief Minister has already talked about what is a very respectable figure overall of Territory business getting contracts, although we always wanted more.
We have talked about the Ilparpa Swamp project.. Once again, a $2.3m contract was recently awarded to an Alice Springs contractor, Charmplan Pty Ltd, for construction of the pipeline from the treatment ponds to the AZRI site. In addition, government has had a $5m commitment to redeveloping Traeger Park in partnership with the town council. It is already paying dividends, and as most people in Alice Springs would be aware, the lighting towers have gone up in time for the forthcoming pre-season AFL match which will be followed, I am sure, with massive interest in the Centre. I am told that local workers said it was the largest project of this type they had worked on and they were justifiably proud of their achievement.
Earlier this year, government announced an immediate, additional investment of $3m in Central Australian roads. Two significant contracts have recently been awarded to local contractors for a total close to $1m. That is for 20 km of the Plenty Highway, and 20 km of the Tanami Road. This is in addition to the $3.4m capital works and $1.3m repairs and maintenance on the Tanami Road this year. An additional $1.8m has been allocated to boost maintenance projects, including works on the unsealed sections of Larapinta Drive, Maryvale Road, Sandover Highway and the Ringwood Road - a mixture of beef, tourism and community roads.
I talked recently about the $1.5m for the Larapinta subdivision. We spoke about that in Question Time. In short, I believe that my answer today, and the facts and figures I have given, demonstrates this government’s support for business in Alice Springs, which I believe is doing well from these government contracts.
There is one business thatwhich is also doing well in the food sector. It is a McDonald’s outlet, and it is the member for Macdonnell’s humble pie shop. In relation to Larapinta, in the Alice Springs News it says, ‘Native title acquisition - Elferink gets it wrong’, and the comment by the paper is that, ‘Mr Elferink eating humble pie’. You got it wrong, you put yourself in deeper again in what you have said here. You do not understand. Get out of the way and let government get on with developing Alice Springs and doing the right thing for the economy.
Ilparpa Road – Railway Crossing
You have ruled out upgrading the railway crossing at Ilparpa Road in Alice Springs, despite an overwhelming number of residents wanting the upgrade, and despite the Alice Springs Town Council’s earlier assessment of the traffic volume at between 1000 and 1400 vehicles per day. The Ilparpa Road crossing has the same minimal warning signs as the roads to Arltunga and Yambah Station; roads that have significantly fewer vehicles travelling on them, perhaps as few as 10 a day. Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table photographs of the three crossings.
Leave granted.
Ms CARNEY: Minister, here are the photos with the traffic volume. Why do you refuse to upgrade the crossing at Ilparpa Road, and will you do so before there is a fatality?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Araluen for her question. ToI place on the record, that the member for Araluen has corresponded with me on this matter. I did reply to her, and I believe you have written to me again, member for Araluen. I would like to place it on the public record here that, in my book, safety and the safety of rail crossings is tantamount. I have not had a chance to speak to with the department about it. I am prepared to come back and have a look at it. I am also prepared to extend an offer that, the next time I am in Alice Springs I am more than prepared to go out there with you, if you like, to have a look and see it on the ground.
Information and Communication Technology Sector - Achievements
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for BUSINESS and INDUSTRY
This government is working closely with the Territory’s information and communication technology sector to develop trade and business opportunities. Can the minister please update the House on any recent achievements in the sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Nightcliff, for a very important question about an industry that is entering an exciting phase in the Northern Territory. The ICT industry is certainly doing that. Two years ago, we had an industry that they would say themselves was very disparate. It was an industry that was focussed on cut-throat competition between themselves, in the majority, for government contracts during the outsourcing period, and it was an industry that was really struggling.
I would like to put on the public record my thanks to the former minister for this portfolio, who pulled the industry together in terms of the first ITC industry forum 18 months ago. At that time, the industry came together for the first time in Parliament House and decided that, as an industry, if they were going to grow, they had to collaborate and cluster to move forward. In the ensuing 18-month period, we now have a unified industry with a peak body, a business plan and an export plan. It is very encouraging, and all part of keeping the Territory moving ahead.
The industry has a strong reputation for developing innovative and exciting new ideas, particularly in the areas of remote area service delivery. There have been a couple of great announcements. Earlier this month, Darwin-based company, GecOz, secured an Australian first contract with the Defence Science Technology Organisation to partner in building a new radar system. Partnership - that key word. Partnership and clustering – that is the way the ICT industry is growing in the Territory. It will be the only one of its kind in Australia,; an outstanding example of the skills and capabilities of this industry.
Today, I am pleased to advise that we have just heard from CSM Technology - everybody in Darwin would know CSM - that they have just signed a partnership deal with Singtel Optus, the Asia Pacific’s largest communications company. CSM advised the deal could be worth up to $5m in exports over the next five years. So, from the Territory parliament to CSM, well done! It is very exciting and a great tribute to that company. These are exactly the type of trade and business opportunities that we are working on as a government with industry.
Earlier this month, much to the ridicule of members opposite, I and the previous minister for this portfolio went to Singapore and, working with business, have an agreement in principle from the Singapore government and the Singapore ICT industry to progress the concept of developing a joint ICT and Business Centre in Darwin, and to reflect the same structure in Singapore. That would give our businesses enhanced access to the Asian market to develop and sell innovative concepts, and provide opportunities for Singaporean companies to partner with Territory companies to sell into the broader Australian market.
That is what this government is about. It is about vision,. iIt is about partnerships,. iIt is about working with industry to develop new opportunities, both within and outside of the Northern Territory. It is a good day today. Congratulations, from myselfe as minister, and from this parliament to CSM on a fantastic deal.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Procurement Policy – NT Government
Procurement Policy – NT Government
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, in response to the question from the Leader of the Opposition on Nitmiluk Water Treatment Plant tenders. The question was,: why was the CAL requirement waived and why did it go to an interstate company.? Yes, the CAL was waived, but no, it did not go to an interstate company. Again, you have to get a few more facts right. It went to a joint venture.
Here are some details: In July last year, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment presented a request for a waiver of CAL requirements in the tendering of this project, the Nitmiluk Water Treatment Plant. The case presented to the Procurement Review Board included the fact that the contract includes design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and operator training for the 0.4 megalitre day membrane filtration water treatment plant.
The reason they sought to be exempt from CAL was that there are no design categories of any description in the contractor accreditation system, so there was a very good reason. You can come in here and gosay, ‘Why?’ Why you do not do some work yourself rather than embarrass yourself?
It is very important,. because tThere had been a history of poor water filtration performance in Katherine, particularly during the wWet sSeason, and it was considered essential to include the design component in the contract with performance criteria, and thus seek to engage the best professional expertise in Australia for a satisfactory outcome. So, the PRB approved the waiver, with the proviso that the request for tender included a requirement for our local industry plan.
Public tenders were advertised for three weeks and closed at the end of October. Two offers were received. The recommended tenderer was a joint bid from A1 Filtration Sales and Service from Queensland, with H2O Trade Centre from Coolalinga, Northern Territory. That is exactly what we are talking about, building the capacity of local businesses by getting them to work in joint ventures and win contracts with interstate companies. Success, success! We will have very decent Nitmiluk Water Treatment Plant for the future.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016