2005-03-22
Central Australia - Chief Minister’s Credibility
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
On 29 April 2002, you told the people of Alice Springs that your government was vitally involved in the Desert Knowledge precinct, an initiative of the CLP government which was in our last election policy. Since that time, you have built the Avenue of Knowledge, which is a cul-de-sac that leads nowhere. In fact, the signs for the Avenue of Knowledge were removed after it became a local joke. You have been long on promises and short on outcomes in Alice Springs. The Mereenie Loop is another example. How can anyone trust anything you say when you promise avenues and deliver cul-de-sacs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, today’s major statement before this House is about Central Australia and the initiatives that this Labor government has brought to the people of Central Australia over the last three-and-a-half years. I apologise to the House; it was quite a long statement. There were a lot of things to talk about: additional police resources, additional nursing and hospital resources, additional teaching resources. We are very proud of this.
I also made very clear that, in that time, we had actually spent $100m cash on infrastructure projects in Central Australia. We are very proud of that. The Opposition Leader bagged it all. He said: ‘You just come in here and talk about what you have spent on Alice Springs, the resources you have put in’, and was very critical. He was critical of us saying: ‘These are the initiatives we have spent in Alice Springs, this is how we have responded to the needs of Central Australia’, and he bagged the lot. He has no plans for the future of Alice Springs and the Centre. Not a plan! We waited for half-an-hour. There is a plan spelt out in a lot of detail by government, and he does not have a response in a strategy for the future of Alice Springs and Central Australia.
In my statement, I spelt out the components of Desert Knowledge, its importance and some of the aspects of that which meant it had taken a little longer than we thought to start seeing those tenders let. I indicated that there would be a tender let shortly for the next stage of headworks and then we would be seeing, over a period of about three years, consecutive tenders let for different parts of that project. It is a very exciting project, and I make no apologies that it has taken a little time because, when you are talking about merging two institutions like the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Batchelor Institute, both key providers of indigenous tertiary education, it does take a little time. We are committed to the project, and the cynicism of the opposition is unbecoming to this parliament.
In the last budget, we proudly announced the sealing of the Mereenie Loop Road. CATIA is delighted that we are doing this. Again, I spell out that there is a lot of detail to go through when you are sealing a road that goes for 260 km. We had to look at the design, access to gravel pits and protection of sacred sites. We have done a lot of the work, and we are starting to let the tenders, consecutively, now. It is an exciting project, and all you hear from the opposition is bagging it - bagging a fundamental project for Central Australia.
I remind everyone of the final phrase from the Opposition Leader in his response earlier. He said, about our proud and wonderful Territory: ‘The Territory is, frankly, mediocre’. You are a disgrace!
____________________
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of students from Centralian Secondary Senior School, along with their teacher, Ian Sharp. On behalf of all members, I extend to you a warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
____________________
Alice Springs Tourism Marketing Campaign
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TOURISM
Can you give the House an update on the proposed marketing campaign for Alice Springs?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: I remind the members for Drysdale, Greatorex and Daly that I have already spoken to you this morning about your interjections.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am proud of our Destination Alice campaign, as are people in Alice Springs. Do you know who is not?
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: This mob, bagging it again! This mob saying: ‘Do not spend $1.2m on specifically advertising Alice Springs and the wonders and attractions of Alice Springs. Do not spend it’. Well, we are going to, regardless of what the opposition says.
Over the next three months, we will be spending $1.2m in a campaign that has been carefully worked through with local industry, operators, accommodation houses and everyone involved in tourism. For the first time, on this scale, we are going to have a Destination Alice campaign. It will be around the country in the major magazines. It has a real target and, as we come into the major season for the Centre, we are going to get a real bang for the $1.2m we are putting on.
Some of the first attractions we are advertising, which have new graphics with them, to give you an idea of some of the bargains: for not much - $497 for three days from Melbourne - you can come to Alice and experience its wonders. It is even cheaper from Sydney - $399. This is a wonderful campaign. This is a flow-on to local business and a boost for tourism. As everyone knows, tourism is the major industry for Alice Springs. It is a very exciting campaign. We are spending the money. We have it targeted; we are working with industry. I am delighted, as I am sure our Alice Springs community is equally delighted.
Alleged Paedophile Activity – Suppression Order by Court
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In the last sittings, in Question Time, you admitted to this Assembly that, in relation to charges of child sex crimes brought against a prominent Territorian, you had phoned the Police Commissioner on the strength of rumour from an unidentified rumourmonger, contrary to normal protocols. You refused to answer questions about why the DPP supported a suppression order suppressing this person’s name. You refused to answer questions about why the order was put in place; why the government was supporting this prominent Territorian; and to say whether you would do the same for other Territorians. You protected the rumourmonger who told you this information. You telephoned the Police Commissioner at night. You also claimed that you had no other discussion at all with the police about this matter. Can you confirm that this is correct?
Madam SPEAKER: I warn members that this case is still subject to sub judice conventions and that matters of this type must not be discussed in any way. Leader of the Opposition, please keep the questions shorter in future.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is the man who thinks that the Territory is, frankly, mediocre. This question is seriously mediocre – full of misinformation and incorrect assertions. We dealt with this issue substantially in the last sittings of parliament. The Police Commissioner has made it very clear that there was no inappropriate conversation. I made it very clear in the last session of parliament and that is the end of the matter.
Central Australia - Health Spending
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
What benefits have the significant increases in health spending brought to Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for an important question, which is about Alice Springs and Central Australia, unlike what is coming from opposite. Yes, this government is spending more on health services. We plead guilty to the Leader of the Opposition’s complaints that we are spending too much money on health. I hope we spend even more on health, because Territorians expect to see increasing health services over time, and that is what we are giving them.
The government has injected $150m additional into our health and hospital system at this stage of our term. We promised and delivered 100 extra nurses. This government has invested $11m over four years to improve the Alice Springs Hospital Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit with new equipment and more staff. We have committed $10m to rectify the problems that have emerged from the redevelopment of the hospital, and we will continue to closely monitor these works.
The new health centre being built at Yuendumu, and clinic upgrades across Central Australia, combined with our initial commitment of $1.4m to phase out single-nurse posts, is a significant investment in primary health care and disease prevention in Central Australia.
An extensive minor new works program - almost $650 000 this financial year – will see upgrades, renovations and improvements to over 20 Central Australian health centres, including the provision of men’s rooms, as well as security screening and new generators. Minor new works within Alice Springs itself will see upgrades of mental health, pathology, laundry and catering areas of the hospital.
Since July 2003, the department has awarded over $5m in supply contracts to the Alice Springs business community. The contracts cover a wide range of services, from professional services for cardiac and diabetes rehabilitation, education and information, the supply of furniture and fresh produce to the hospitals, and the provision of security and cleaning services. This investment in Alice Springs assists in strengthening community diversity, capacity and self-reliance. This is important for the local business community and results in confidence and a vigorous economy.
It is unfortunate I do not have time to talk about the new $1.5m renal unit in Tennant Creek, or our $2.4m child health initiative, including eight new full-time positions for Central Australia. However, our ongoing commitment to Alice Springs, our investment in services and to people of the Centre - my home – is very clear.
Alice Springs Hospital – Refurbishment or Relocation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for HEALTH
Madam Speaker, my question is on your behalf, as member for Braitling. You recently announced the refurbishment of Alice Springs Hospital will cost an extra $10m to correct the errors from the original refurbishment. I have been told the building certifiers now require all internal cladding on external walls to be removed because they found more faults, such as uncapped water pipes, methane gas in open drains and live wires, so the cost may escalate to $30m. Taking this into account, what will be the total cost of refurbishing Alice Springs Hospital? Second, considering the amount of work to be done, and cost, will you consider relocating the hospital on a temporary or permanent basis?
Madam SPEAKER: What a good question.
ANSWER
You put me right under the hammer now, Madam Speaker. There will be no need to relocate Alice Springs Hospital. In fact, I would be horrified if that had to happen. What has been put together is a plan which will take the best part of three years. Each of the damaged operational areas of the hospital will be moved into what was to be the private hospital wing, which is an additional ward we are now equipping up to the absolute highest standard of hospital services. It will house the Intensive Care and High Dependency Units, which will be the first of the units to move while their normal home is being reconditioned. That process will repeat across each of the damaged areas of the hospital.
I was in that ward a week ago and what I saw was an absolute disgrace for a hospital building. There were areas I cannot imagine how the people overseeing that project could have possibly thought were adequate for the Alice Springs Hospital. This will be fixed; we are putting $10m in to doing that job.
Members interjecting.
Dr TOYNE: The CLP had better be constrained about what they say, given that the vast majority of the work was done before we came to government. I will defer to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure to give you details of the other parts of the question.
Dr BURNS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, it is true that there are a considerable number of very major defects within the Alice Springs Hospital. Some of the things which were outlined by the member for Nelson, unfortunately, are true. I am not sure about the methane gas; that was flagged as a possibility. However, I am not sure if anyone has actually measured methane gas there. Quite a lot of the works that were carried on, including electrical, were disconnected and put behind the wall, and I am advised that some of those wires were live.
This has been a long saga. It is a fairly complex engineering and legal issue and, as my colleague, the Minister for Health said, we are getting to the bottom of it. We have acted every time these problems have been brought to our attention, and we are committed to fixing up this hospital in an orderly fashion. As the Minister for Health said, we do not believe there is a need to relocate the hospital. The patients are being relocated into a ward and things are happening in an orderly fashion.
Alleged Paedophile Activity – Delay of Court Proceedings
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Last sittings, we asked why the Director of Public Prosecutions supported a move by defence lawyers to suppress the name of a prominent Territorian who has been charged with child sex offences. We now learn the DPP has supported a move by those same defence lawyers to have the case deferred to next year, ostensibly due to ill health of the accused. Do you support the DPP in their actions, or will you be asking them to make submissions which will see this prominent Territorian, who has already been charged with being in possession of child pornography and child sexual abuse, from being at large in the community while the court process is delayed?
Madam SPEAKER: Members, I reiterate my earlier remarks that this is subject to sub judice convention and details of the case are not to be mentioned. In fact, I am not sure whether you should be discussing this case at all.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker I …
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Please wait a moment, Attorney-General. I beg your pardon, member for Daly?
Mr Baldwin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Watch your remarks.
Dr TOYNE: As Attorney-General, I repeat that warning to members: it is not appropriate to be talking in this House about a case which is still ongoing. I recommend members be very careful regarding the boundary between parliament and the justice system.
The question goes to whether I will direct the Director of Public Prosecutions to do this or that. The Director of Public Prosecutions is an independent statutory position and it would be totally improper for me, as Attorney-General, to be recommending, let alone directing, the Director of Public Prosecutions to take any particular measure in a particular case. I will not do so; I will not be doing so. Those are decisions for him alone, and we will see what process he chooses to follow.
Central Australia - Larapinta Subdivision
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
What is the Martin Labor government doing to ensure residential land is quickly developed in the government’s share of the Larapinta land development?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As most would be aware, there has been substantial progress in the development of land at Larapinta Stage 4. Through the good work of government and the native title holders, 40 blocks have already been developed and are in the process of being sold. I commend the native title holders on that. There were some nay-sayers on that side of the floor who were very negative about this development, who had alternative plans which, I believe, would have seen things broken down and in the court. There has been a very good breakthrough. Ultimately, I am advised there could be 300 to 400 blocks that can be developed at the Larapinta site.
Most people would be aware that Asland Developments, which is a local Northern Territory company, are working with the Lhere Artepe to develop those 40 blocks. As the Chief Minister outlined in parliament earlier today, all but a few of those blocks are sold. This opens the way for the government’s share of this development, if you like, to go ahead, which is 45 blocks.
Our plan is that the lease will be auctioned on 20 May. That is actually the second development lease. The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment has contracted a real estate agent, Frampton First National Real Estate, which will undertake the marketing, advertising and auction of the land on behalf of the development. They will auction it to a developer who will, in turn, develop it and sell it to the public.
Most importantly, there has been some discussion about first home buyers being able to access the development. I am pleased to announce that we will be earmarking six blocks for purchase by first home buyers. I am in discussion with my colleague, the Minister for Housing, on the most appropriate way to do that.
Madam Speaker, this is further evidence, and another step, of the way that this government is moving the Territory ahead.
Alleged Paedophile Activity – Attorney-General’s View of DPP Decision
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
You have just said that it was up to the DPP to make decisions regarding the deferring of a court appearance of a prominent Territorian charged with child sex offences. That is fine; I understand that. What I want to know is: do you agree with the DPP that this matter should be deferred until next year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can only say that my opinion, privately held, has absolutely nothing to do with anything. What I agree with, Leader of the Opposition, is that there should be separation of the operations of our justice system and the executive arm of government. I intend to respect that to the letter. I will not be commenting on cases that are before our courts.
Madam SPEAKER: I point out to people in the gallery that it is a general rule that matters before a criminal court should not be referred to from the time a person is charged until a sentence, if any, has been announced. Restrictions again apply if an appeal is lodged, and remains in place. That is why I have cautioned members about the way in which they ask questions.
Central Australia - Alice Springs Pistol Range
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Madam Speaker, my question is asked on your behalf as member for Braitling. Last year, you announced that the Sporting Shooters Association in Alice Springs would have the rebuilding of a new pistol range completed by the Masters Games in October 2004. This has not happened. CDSCA advised that the tender documents would be advertised in January 2005, but this also has not happened. When will the tender be advertised, and what will be the new completion date?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for asking the question on you behalf. The sports pistol shooting range at Ilparpa in Alice Springs was closed by the Northern Territory Police for safety reasons in May 2004. In consultation with the Northern Territory Police, the Northern Territory Firearms Council, and members of the affected shooting clubs in Alice Springs, a suitable site was identified for the construction of a new range within the existing shooting complex. The Northern Territory government agreed to fund the construction of a new range, which is expected to cost $150 000. It will be completed by the end of the financial year.
Regrettably, there were delays that required further consultation with the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, and works were unable to be completed in time for the Alice Springs Masters Games. To get around the problem, organisers were able to use the Central Australian Rifle Club range, as rifle competition for the Master Games only took place in the first two days.
Although DIPE expected to go to tender in January 2005 for the work required to be done, this was not possible because of changes having to be made to the design documentation after further stakeholder consultation with the Office of Environment and Heritage, the Northern Territory Firearms Council and the police.
I am now pleased to advise that the tender for the work to be done will be advertised in the Centralian Advocate on Friday. Tenders close on 6 April and will be awarded on 18 April, with a construction period of 6 to 7 weeks. I hope then that members of the club will enjoy their new facility, which will, no doubt, be in place for next year’s Masters Games.
Madam SPEAKER: I am quite sure, minister, that members of the shooting fraternity in the gallery today will be delighted to know that the tender is going to be advertised on Friday.
Central Australia – Police Strategy
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Could you please outline government plans to roll out improved and strengthened police in Central Australia, and any alternative approaches that might be being promoted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question, because she is vitally interested in the capacity of police to deliver services to Territorians. It is interesting to note that the Leader of the Opposition’s first question today was only the second question in three-and-a-half years that he has actually asked on issues relating to Central Australia and Alice Springs. However, I move on.
This is a government that is committed to building safer communities, and to building the strength of our police force. Only 18 months ago, we announced a $75m plan to rebuild our police force after years of neglect, and see an extra 200 police out on the streets across the Northern Territory by the end of 2006.
We are also committing to police resources in other areas as well. Late last year, a new police plane, based in Alice Springs, has given the police capacity to respond to communities in Central Australia at a much quicker rate than they have in the past. We completed a new police station in Kintore, which has provided significant enhancement to law and order, not only in that community but in surrounding communities. We have upgraded infrastructure in all police stations. We are upgrading police houses in Alice Springs to try and keep police in our police force for longer, and give them decent conditions of service. We have also seen the trial of horse patrols here, and the feedback I have had as Police minister has been very promising.
More importantly, it is about extra police on the beat. We have seen at least 11 new officers ready for more patrols and proactive policing in Alice Springs. The commitment of extra resources, the great work the police are doing in targeting crime, since we came to government, has seen a reduction of property crime in Alice Springs of 43%. This is a government that actually leads by action, puts the resources where they are needed, resulting in a reduction of property crime in Alice Springs of 43%.
Not only that, we have attacked people who peddle drugs in our community as has never been done before. We have introduced drug house legislation that has seen those notorious drug dens closed down. We have introduced forfeiture of assets legislation that has seen the police seize $1.5m worth of ill-gotten assets from criminals across the Northern Territory. We have seen drug dogs introduced into our police force to, again, put the pressure on those drug dealers who peddle drugs in our community. Also, importantly, there is a remote drug desk that is doing great work, working with our police officers in the bush to try and tackle the appalling problems we have with drug dealers there. This is a government that is committed to attacking crime by giving our police force the tools to do the job.
However, if we look at other alternatives that are on the table, we have heard the Leader of the Opposition say, in comments to the media recently, that the police are getting woeful results. Well, a 43% reduction in property crime in Alice Springs, and about 50% across the Northern Territory, is not a woeful result; it is an extraordinary result by very dedicated men and women who are doing a fantastic job. All the Leader of the Opposition can do is be negative. Let us look at his record regarding Central Australia. When he was Chief Minister he ignored Central Australia and, as Opposition Leader, he still does. Of the 207 questions he has asked over the last three-and-a-half years, just one question prior to today has been about Central Australia or the Alice Springs region. That is how much the Leader of the Opposition thinks of Central Australia and Alice Springs. He ignored them before and he will ignore them again. When he is in Darwin, the least thing from the Leader of the Opposition’s mind is Central Australia.
In Central Australia, our police are achieving magnificent results. We will see more police come to Central Australia. We will do everything we can to fund our police to give them the tools that they need to do the job to make our community even safer. We have certainly made good progress to date. We know there is a lot more to do, and we can do that in conjunction and partnership with Central Australians and the great police force we have in the Northern Territory.
Alleged Paedophile Activity - Attorney-General’s Knowledge of Case
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
You see? I only ask a question and then I am abused. That is the way it works.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, as long as you do not do the same, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr BURKE: Attorney-General, can you confirm that you know the identity of this prominent Territorian charged with child sex offences? In your capacity as Minister for Health, can you confirm that this person stayed at the Darwin Private Hospital under a false name? Can you also tell this House whether you have received briefings regarding this matter from the Department of Justice, the DPP, the police or the Police minister, and provide details of those briefings: when they occurred, who with, and the content? Please answer the question.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the answer to all three elements of that question is confidential.
Treasurers’ Conference
Mrs AAGAARD to TREASURER
Tomorrow you will be representing Territorians in Canberra at the Treasurers’ Conference. Can you please inform the House of how the government is going to ensure that the Territory receives its fair share of funding?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is that time of year again. The annual Treasurers’ Conference held in Canberra is one of the most important meetings the Territory attends each year. Generally, it is held on a Friday because, traditionally, most parliaments around Australia do not sit on Fridays. However, it has been called by the federal Treasurer for this Wednesday, which means I and three other state Treasury ministers from around Australia will be absent from their parliamentary sittings on that day, which is unfortunate, to say the least. In the case of the ACT, of course, it is a matter of a walk across the road, a few hours at the Treasurers’ Conference and then walk back to parliament. In the case of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it involves some quite logistical difficulties in getting to Canberra between parliament tonight and the Treasurers’ Conference starting at 9.30 am tomorrow.
I assure Territorians that, as Treasurer of the Northern Territory, I go to this conference with the bottom-line that I will get the absolute best possible deal in revenue sharing out of Commonwealth revenues for Territorians.
There are three issues at the Treasurers’ Conference. The first one is the terms of reference for a review of the methodology of the distribution of Commonwealth revenue between the states and territories. The review was agreed to at the last Treasurers’ Conference and the terms of reference have been drawn up. Our position in discussing this last year was that we would support a review of the methodology, provided the principles of the distribution remained intact. There may be something you can do around the mechanics of how you do it; however, it is the principles which are very near and dear to the heart of the Northern Territory, Tasmania, South Australia and, sometimes, Western Australia and Queensland in that mix as well.
It is those principles, which were laid down at the outset of Federation, that ensure the smaller states and territories of Australia get a fair go. In fact, Western Australia would not have entered the Federation of Australia when it was asked unless there had been this type of guarantee that they would get a fair deal out of Commonwealth revenue sharing. Simply, the position put by New South Wales and Queensland in 1901 - and it has not changed up to 2005 - is that they get robbed; that they do not get a fair deal. The reason they claim that is because they do lose revenue into the bucket in order to ensure that the states and territories which have small populations and an inability to raise the sums of revenue needed within their own jurisdictions to provide the services to the same level of quality as New South Wales and Victoria, have to get a better deal and more money. That is the way it works.
We support the review, and we will be looking closely at the terms of reference to ensure that the review itself does not stray into those very important principles. In fact, Marshall Perron said to me when I was going to my first ministers’ conference three-and-a-half years ago: ‘Do not ever let them get near those principles of equalisation. That is the super glue that binds the Federation of Australia together’. It is a marvellous quote and I am always ready to refer to Marshall Perron in using that quote, because it is exactly what it is.
Another issue is the federal Treasurer’s comments and views recently that the Commonwealth should take a greater role in directing how the states and territories spend their money. We have a very different view; that is, we do not believe southern bureaucrats based in Canberra, Sydney, or anywhere else for that matter, have the right to tell us how to spend the revenue. We believe that, as a government, we are closer to the people than any other government in Australia, and understand their needs regarding health, education, police, and the rest, better than the Commonwealth. We can testify to that fact from any number of Commonwealth programs that have been so misplaced and squandered money over the years. They are programs which have been dreamt up in some Canberra-based bureaucrat’s mind that this is the way forward, and have absolutely no relevance to the Northern Territory. We will be resisting, very strongly, any moves by the Commonwealth Treasurer to put any direction on how we, or any other state or territory, spends its revenue. They already control a good part of the spending of the governments of Australia by special purpose grants. Many of them are required to be matched by the jurisdiction. Nonetheless, when we get those grants we are required to sign off and acquit in the manner in which it is to be spent as required by the Commonwealth. We do not want them having any further control over revenues.
The third issue is the question of the review of five state and territory taxes. I spoke about it this morning. The Leader of the Opposition seems to have a view that, at the time of the introduction of the GST, he signed off that these taxes would be abolished in 2005-06. Well, he is mistaken, unless the documentation has changed over the years. What he and every other state and territory Chief Minister and Premier signed up to at the time, was a review. We are happy to have a review of those outstanding five state and territory taxes. However, I give this assurance to Territorians: we will not be signing up to do away with those taxes unless there is support from the Commonwealth. Whilst it is all right for the federal Treasurer to point to states and territories and say: ‘They have $35bn of GST, they can afford to give these taxes up’, he, at the same time, is sitting on a growing pile - around $11bn - of surplus ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is a fairly obvious point of order. If you require the questions to be short, I imagine you would expect the same of the answers.
Madam SPEAKER: I certainly would like short questions and short answers, so perhaps the Treasurer could wind up.
Mr STIRLING: I will brief, Madam Speaker. I will be going to the table in good faith in relation to these five taxes, along with the other state and territory Treasurers. I will be putting this position to the Commonwealth, and I would hope to be supported by others; that is: if he wants a reduction on conveyancing on non-residential properties, he needs to dip in to that $11bn surplus and give the states and territories a hand to ease that tax out of the system …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: This bloke would have it gone tomorrow. We would be back in deficit and we would have a ballooning debt and the same position in which he left the Territory in 2001.
_________________________
Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I welcome students from Alekerange, accompanied by their teachers Melissa Beare, Collette O’Cain and Rana Rice. On behalf of all members, I extend a warm welcome to you.
Members: Hear, hear!
________________________
Alleged Paedophile Activity - Health of Accused Person
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
By your silence in answer to my previous questions, it appears that you do support the deferral of court proceedings against a prominent Territorian charged with child sex …
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: You don’t? Well, how about explaining something to this House so we can get some information …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you know the rule about repetitious questions, so please ask your question that is not going to be repetitious.
Mr BURKE: Given that you must know the details of the ill-health of the accused, can you tell us what is so wrong with this person that would prevent him taking the stand for the next 12 months? Does his sickness include not only his physical wellbeing but also his ability to provide coherent answers and submissions to the court?
Mr Stirling: They are just a bunch of grubs.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, they are a bunch of grubs. I agree with you, Syd. I have made it very clear that I am neither confirming nor denying what I know of such matters. They involve private information about a person’s health profile which, quite clearly, has to be kept confidential. They also involve information regarding a process within our justice system. They are confidential matters; I am not going to talk publicly about them.
Madam SPEAKER: I remind honourable members of privacy legislation. We should not be discussing the health of individuals without their permission. We should also remember the sub judice rule when a case is before the courts. That is another warning.
Stamp Duty – Abolition
Mr WOOD to TREASURER
According to the NT News on 17 March this year, the Territory government will not scrap five stamp duties meant to be replaced by the GST. According to the Auditor-General’s February report, the Northern Territory received an extra $166.4m, mainly from GST grants. Why are you not scrapping these taxes and other stamp duties, such as on insurance? Is it not true that you now receive enough GST to cover the loss of these taxes? Would it not be fair to say that Territorians are being slugged a double dose of taxes because the government wants to hang on to all this extra tax, instead of giving tax relief to households and families, where it is badly needed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. He needs to be careful of claims made regarding the GST. I dispelled the myth this morning that has been put about by the opposition that the Northern Territory government has $600m worth extra in GST and ought be able to afford to get rid of this range of taxes. I very carefully went through the figures - and I hope members opposite were listening – and how, over the years that the GST has been in place, the revenue increase to the Northern Territory is in the order of $240m. I then went on to explain the hundreds of millions of dollars that have gone in to prop up and rebuild services that were decimated after 27 years of the CLP and the mess they left the Northern Territory in when they left office in August 2001.
In relation to those taxes, some are subject to that review, which I talked about before, at the Treasurers’ Conference tomorrow. What I say to the member for Nelson and to Territorians is that I will not be undertaking to simply wipe the book of those taxes if they are going to expose the Territory to deficit budgeting into the foreseeable future, building on the massive debt burden that this mob opposite left Territorians and future generations for years to pay off into the future.
If there is a way forward, particularly in relation to non-residential stamp duty, which seems to be a favourite for the federal Treasurer, he has to dip in. He has to come to the table, dip into that $11bn surplus he is sitting on, that all Australians, including Territorians, have contributed to - own revenue for the Commonwealth growing at a much faster rate than GST revenue. Another thing he always likes to poke at the states, is that we have a growth tax. Well, his growth tax is bigger. Their own revenue is galloping along to the tune of an $11bn surplus.
The member for Nelson might like to consider that figure of $11bn; it is a big pile of money. You join with us in calling on the federal Treasurer to dip in, give a hand to the states and territories to get rid of these taxes, and we will find a way through this tomorrow, to be able to do this over the next four or five years if we receive Commonwealth assistance.
NT Health Direct Call Centre
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for HEALTH
It is appropriate that students from Alekerange are here today, along with their teachers, because this question is very important for people who live in the bush being able to access appropriate health care advice which, in some cases, is important and critical. Can you advise of progress of the introduction of the NT Health Direct call centre?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for what is a very important and timely question. In fact, this lunchtime, I had the pleasure to announce that the NT Health Direct call centre has begun operation. It will now be possible for Territorians to ring to get health advice, all hours, from our hospitals, and be redirected to a nurse-based triage, which will allow callers to have their concerns assessed by an experienced health professional and dealt with appropriately to the level of care that is indicated by symptoms and signs. That could be anything from the call centre immediately calling an ambulance to evacuate the person to the hospital, directing them to an appropriate level of medical care, or helping them to treat minor conditions without leaving their homes at all.
As the member for Barkly said, that is a very important service to be introducing to the Territory, particularly for our remote and regional towns. The service will be delivered, piggybacked on to the Western Australian HealthDirect service call centre, which currently handles some 220 000 calls a year. Our calls will be handled as part of that process. We have inherited six years of accumulated experience of the Western Australian service which, I am assured, is extremely popular with Western Australians. It will have some impact on our emergency departments, but it remains to be seen as to exactly what that impact will be. In a country that is struggling to get GPs out into the general community, this is an important new element of health care access for people in the Northern Territory. I am very pleased to be able to announce we have delivered on yet another of our election promises.
Minister for Housing – Chief Minister’s View on Comments
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
On 30 November last year, the member for Araluen raised complaints about Housing Commission tenants with the Minister for Housing. In relation to those complaints, your Minister for Housing, the member for Arnhem, called the member for Araluen a ‘redneck dog whistler’, and also said that her complaints were only to ensure that no blackfellas move in. It is clear that your Housing Minister is of the opinion that any person who complains about his housing policy is a racist. Do you agree with your minister’s suggestion that people who complain about NT Housing tenants are racist? If you do not agree with him, why is he still a minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will happily let the Minister for Housing answer this question. It is interesting that the member for Araluen who, obviously, has some problem with how she was dealt with in the House at that time, cannot get to her feet and ask the question herself. What is the problem with all these silent members of the opposition? I have not heard one question from anyone other than the Leader of the Opposition, and this is the start of the third week of parliament. Very silent, very ineffective members you have, who do not have the courage to get to their feet and actually ask the questions themselves. It is very interesting. For Alice Springs people who have not seen the Darwin sittings, for the last two weeks of the Darwin sittings, we heard no questions from any member of the opposition other than the Opposition Leader. They were silent …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Over the course of two adjournment debates, I, in fact, asked a total of 57 questions.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, how totally irrelevant! We are talking about questions in Question Time. This is the focal point of asking questions, and there is silence from the members of the opposition.
The issues to do with antisocial behaviour in public housing are ones that we are dealing with right across the Territory. I do not deny the fact that, in Alice Springs, they have been particularly difficult. I am proud of the way our minister and the people who work in Housing are responding to those difficulties. They are not new difficulties …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I wish the member for Araluen would actually ask the questions rather than sit there and make irrelevant comments. It is a serious issue and we are taking it very seriously. The member for Araluen is forever coming into this place and using invective of a fairly unparliamentary nature. Sometimes, the debates in here get a bit tense …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was clearly directed to the Chief Minister as to whether she considered her minister’s comments about people who complain about housing tenants being racist, and whether she approved of those comments. None of this is relevant to that question and I ask that she answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, stick to the question and make your answer relevant.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, what I am addressing is the fact that, in debates in this House, when language is used when an opposition member leads with strong invective, sometimes, ministers do respond with equal measure.
Putting that aside, the issue of public housing - how tenants behave, how we manage that, how we work with the community to manage that - is of great importance right across the Territory. I am proud of work we are doing to try in housing commission complexes and individual homes and units, to make those tenants behave in a way that does not affect the amenity of their neighbours. It is a very important issue, and one we are addressing across the Territory. It is not going to be fixed quickly. However, we are working on it and I am confident we have the strategies in place.
Central Australia – Improved Education
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
How are the government’s attendance officers and alternative education programs helping to build better schools in Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. They hate good news stories, this mob. The poor old member for Drysdale grimaces and clenches his teeth. However, we love it. I actually love getting up and delivering good news about what the Department of Employment, Education and Training is doing.
In 2004, the attendance officer based in Alice Springs identified 127 students not attending school and, of those students, 109 were subsequently enrolled in schools. It is simply not a case of rounding these students up and enrolling them at school because, often, the underlying causes of why they are not in school in the first place still remain. These students will often require quite intensive ongoing support in order to remain within the school system.
The attendance officer here has established very strong links with various alternative education programs, as well as indigenous communities and organisations in Alice Springs, in providing that level of support that these students need. These include Tangentyere Council, Young Mums Program at the Gap Youth Centre, Alice Springs Accommodation and Support Services, the Reconnect Program, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Aboriginal Hostels, and the Deadly Mob Internet Caf.
Alternative education programs for students at risk are now established at Alice Springs High School, Gillen Primary, Sadadeen Primary, as well as the School to Work Program at ANZAC Hill High School and Irrkerlantye Learning Centre. There are over 200 students involved in alternative education programs in Alice Springs. These are students who would, in all likelihood, be otherwise on the streets of Alice Springs. They are now positioned to re-enter mainstream programs in pursuit of their NTCE. Madam Speaker, as Minister for Education, can I hope for anything better than that?
Chief Minister’s View of Abusive Taunts
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
On 27 January, in a media release, you said ‘Sexual offences against children are truly horrific and disturbing crimes’. Given this statement showing concern about the horror of such crimes, do you believe it is wrong for a minister of government to direct abusive sexual taunts at a person who was a victim of child abuse?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government takes the issue of child sexual abuse very seriously. We are proud to stand on our record when it comes to protecting victims of child abuse and sexual assault. There is no doubt about that fact that, after years of neglect, we are getting on with the job of reforming child protection right across the Territory. We have nearly tripled the child protection budget - up from $7.8m when the now Opposition Leader was the boss in 2001-02 - to over $20m, a tripling of that budget, in 2004-05.
In addition, we have undertaken major reforms in relation to child sex offences. These include new offences to fill gaps which fail to give adequate recognition and protection to boys; new offences in relation to 16- and 17-year-olds to prevent exploitation of young people by persons in authoritative positions …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very straightforward: does the Chief Minister condone one of her ministers making such comments?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. As you well know, the nature of the reply is at the discretion of the minister. Please, remember your rules.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I am assuming the opposition is taking this issue very seriously and would like to see what the priorities and increased resources of government are.
We have also removed offences that are no longer appropriate in cases of child abuse. We have replaced child pornography offences with new offences dealing with child abuse material. Penalties for child sex offenders have been significantly increased, with sentences almost doubling under this government’s reform.
Madam Speaker, the heart of the question which the Opposition Leader asked was to do with a decision you made in the last session of parliament dealing with relative behaviours of two members of this House. I have spoken to the member of Johnston about responding to provocation - very unseemly provocation …
Mr Burke: That is a lie. It is not true.
Ms MARTIN: … across the House …
Mr Burke: Do not tell lies.
Ms MARTIN: … and Madam Speaker’s response to those situations …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: There is a point of order called. I would like you to withdraw that remark.
Mr BURKE: Madam Speaker, under standing orders, I can withdraw or move a substantive motion. I am happy to move a substantive motion.
Editor’s Note: Question Time suspended for proposed censure motion.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016