2004-10-06
Heroin Injecting Rooms
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Do you support heroin injecting rooms in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no.
NT Power Group - High Court Decision
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
Today, the High Court reached a decision on a long-running case by NT Power Group against the Northern Territory government regarding the delay in opening up the electricity market to competition by the previous CLP government. Can you please advise the House on the outcome of this case?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. The legal case with NT Power Group, which began in 1998, has finally come to an end. This morning the High Court decided in favour of NT Power Group’s appeal.
The High Court decided that actions of the CLP Northern Territory government of the day were anti-competitive and breached the Trade Practices Act by not allowing access to the power and water networks to transmit power before the April 2000 opening up of the electricity market in the Northern Territory.
In reaching what is a surprising decision, the court has redefined previous understandings regarding the effect of National Competition Policy agreements. It has implications for every state and territory government in determining whether the services they provide could now be classified as businesses. As a result, this decision will, no doubt, be poured over by lawyers representing all governments across Australia.
In mid-1998, NT Power Group demanded access to the Territory’s power system. Whilst they were given a licence to generate by the CLP government of the day, access was delayed until an access regime came into effect that had been approved by the National Competition Council. From the beginning of the access regime in April 2000, NT Power Group was granted access to the network. NT Power Group then took legal action against the government for delaying access to the network.
A single judge in the Federal Court and, subsequently, the Full Bench of the Federal Court, each decided in favour of the government’s position. Today the High Court has taken a different view. It is important to note that, in this case, the Northern Territory was supported by Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia because they recognise the implications this decision could have for access to public services across the board.
The decision is at odds with the understanding held by all governments regarding National Competition Policy agreements. It was clearly understood by all governments signing competition policy agreements that competition would be introduced in an orderly and appropriate manner in each jurisdiction, having regard to public interest and timing appropriate to whatever decision was being taken in whatever jurisdiction. However, the High Court has now decided it is open slather to competition.
I return to specific implications for the Territory. The Territory government will have to deal with the matter of costs; an issue which will take some time. It is an unfortunate outcome of a situation which occurred many years ago. We well know the history of the relationship between the then government and NT Power Group. The cost to Territorians, as a result of that relationship, is now also well known.
Federal Labor – Support for Greens
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, you asked Territorians to support the federal Labor Leader, Mark Latham. How can Mark Latham, the man you want Territory mums and dads to vote for, support the Greens, a political party which wants to introduce heroin injecting rooms?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to answer the question. However, if the rudeness from the opposition continues, what is the point of their leader asking a question when all we hear is interjections from the other side.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, please allow the Chief Minister to give her answer in silence.
Ms MARTIN: I am very happy to answer the question asked; this is Question Time. However, I am assuming the question asked by the Opposition Leader is supported by the members in here; at least by his team.
Yesterday, we had one desperate question after another desperate question from the opposition, somehow trying to damage Mark Latham and federal Labor; and they failed. After hours of a censure debate, the censure failed. It did not fail because we had the numbers, but because their arguments were plainly stupid and not in the interests of Territorians. What we have today from the Leader of the Opposition is yet another attempt to do that – a fatuous and stupid attempt.
Labor in the Territory stands up for Territorians, more than the CLP ever did. We stand up for Territorians, and policies which will work here. We will work with a federal Labor government to make sure that is clearly the case in everything that happens.
Federal Labor – Health Policy
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Earlier this year, the member for Solomon, Mr Tollner, failed to stand up for Territorians and secure us the same benefits which other independents in South Australia and Tasmania managed to get for the increase in bulk billing incentives for their people. Instead of kowtowing to the Liberals, why didn’t he stand up for the Territory? I ask you to please inform the House how health policy commitments made by the federal Labor Party in the current election campaign will benefit Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please wait. Member for Brennan, and member for Drysdale, would you please be quiet.
Dr TOYNE: The provision of private GP services is a federal responsibility. Under the Howard government, the Northern Territory has the worst access to private GPs of any jurisdiction, as reported in the Northern Territory News today, and those figures are quite alarming. Under the Howard government, the Northern Territory has missed out. We have half the national rate – one GP per 2131 people, compared to one GP per 1150 nationally. This low number of GPs in the Territory affects much of our health system. It affects individual clients because they cannot get GPs - let alone bulk billing GPs - outside our hospital and public health system. It affects the hospitals, because matters which would normally be picked up by the local GP offering a service in our communities end up at our emergency departments in the hospitals.
To reflect this, we have had to work extremely hard to get doctors into the public sector to place them in the five great hospitals around the Northern Territory, and to allow emergency departments to work on people coming through the front door. It is not an ideal way to operate; however, it is what we have to do. We will continue to do all we can at the Territory level to keep the overall quality and capacity of services in place.
The Latham ALP policies are looking to provide $112m to increase the number of medical and nursing graduates across Australia. This will improve the onshore supply of doctors and nurses, and provide up to 100 more scholarships for medical students from rural and remote areas through increased funds to the Rural Australian Medical Undergraduate Scholarship scheme. Those two things, plus the reforms to Medicare and the promotion of bulk billing, are going to have a positive effect on our access to doctors in the Northern Territory.
I will be hoping for Mark Latham to be elected and form government this Saturday, and I believe a lot of Territorians will as well. They want to see a doctor in their neighbourhood, and not have to go to the hospital every time they need to seek medical attention.
Recycling of Glass
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The recycling of glass in the Darwin region seems to have died, and glass is now being dumped in landfill. Can you please explain why glass is not being recycled, and what your government is doing to intervene in this matter? Would you not agree that, if your government had introduced container deposit legislation, we would be recycling glass and not dumping it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have a great record in protecting the environment with controlled land clearing, and protecting mangroves and Darwin Harbour. We are also spending more than $90m on environmental grants.
In response to your question, the current difficulties with glass recycling have come about through commercial pressures as, unfortunately, the price paid for glass cutlets fluctuates. This issue did arise when the CLP were in government, which they chose not to …
Mr Dunham: Oh, it is our fault?
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: It was an issue, and it has been ongoing. However, this government is not going to sit on its hands. I have spoken a number of times in response to the member for Nelson about how we have put in place a comprehensive litter abatement recycling strategy. An important part of that strategy is a community grants program, part of which will help to improve community litter, recycling services, and infrastructure. It is part of $1m this government is spending on grassroots initiatives and heritage programs.
I am also aware that, consistent with the strategy, the Litter Abatement Advisory Committee established by this government, has been looking at and developing options for research into recycling issues. I look forward to their advice so glass recycling can get back on to a good footing.
Federal Labor – Support for Greens
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You clearly endorse Mark Latham’s support for the Greens. The Greens want the regulated supply of dangerous drugs, such as extacy, in a controlled environment. Heroin and extacy can kill. As a mother of two children, how can you do a deal with a party which wants the legal use of drugs in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, can I draw the House’s attention to the CV for Terry Mills MLA, which is on the CLP’s Internet site. Proudly, at the end of Terry Mills MLA history, it says: ‘In January 2004, Terry became a member of the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform’. Let us go to the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform and see what you support, because it is very interesting. In the first question today, we had: ‘Do you support heroin trials?’ The subsequent questions were about linking Labor with the Greens and policies about drugs.
Let us look at what this Opposition Leader is standing up for as a member of the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform. Part of their platform is:
- … the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform recommends:
1. The establishment of a national trial of the medical prescription of heroin for dependent heroin users for whom other treatments have failed.
- 2. The establishment of a national trial to evaluate the effectiveness of medically supervised injecting facilities in capital cities and major regional centres.
The list goes on. For the Opposition Leader to come in here, trying to create an issue for a government like this one with such a strong policy on drug law reform and tackling the problems associated with drug use in the Northern Territory - to come in here and try and create issues to do with that ...
Mr Dunham: Have you stopped smoking ganja, have you?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, that is unparliamentary!
Ms MARTIN: ... when the CLP, the best policy they ever had to do with the issue of the use of heroin and drugs such as MS Contin, which were running rife in the Territory, was to have a health minister say: ‘Put them on a bus’. That was the only policy they ever had.
We have turned that around. We have seen real successes from drug houses to really cracking down on the use of illicit drugs, and we are not giving up. Yet we have an Opposition Leader who is a member of this drug law reform group and is advocating not only injecting rooms, but heroin trials! For Heaven’s sake, get a grasp on yourself and do not be such a hypocrite.
Mr Dunham: You must be still smoking that stuff, are you?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, those remarks are unnecessary. You are on a warning. I remind you of what we said this morning in regards to personal remarks across the Chamber.
Tertiary Education – Impact of a Latham Government
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Could you please advise the House on what outcomes would be achieved in our tertiary sector if the member for Werriwa, Mark Latham, became Prime Minister, and how this compares with the offerings of the Howard government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question, as it seems to me the Howard government - John Winston Howard and the federal Coalition - are bit like the opposition here. They have only recently woken up to the fact there is a skills shortage in the work force. You have to ask where have they been all of these years? Up to 2001, they were the government of the Northern Territory, and to try and pretend that in all those years they were in government there was not a skills shortage, is breathtaking. They certainly were not keeping an eye on training and education. Report after report came out, through all of those years, about growing skills shortages in Australia. Congratulations Mr Howard, Prime Minister of Australia. Something obviously bumped into him along the way, and he said: ‘Oh, hello, skills shortage’.
The Territory government, along with all other state and territory governments, has recognised this in years past. We have been fighting for more support and funding for VET in Schools development, at the national level for some time. It is the Commonwealth, under the Howard government, which has failed to come to the party. There has been no real growth in funding in VET in the past two years. Minister Nelson actually told the states and territories at the last two ministerial council meetings that there is no additional federal funding available to be incorporated in the three-year ANTA agreement. That resulted in the current ANTA agreement being rolled over this year and not being revisited in view of the federal election.
The Howard government now offers millions of dollars to establish this new system of technical colleges - hello 1950s! - which will duplicate existing infrastructure and services. If minister Nelson has his way, these students will pay fees and we will be on the road to $100 000 VET schemes just as we have to get a $100 000 lawyer. Jodeen got through the gate, Madam Speaker, she did not have to pay $100 000 for her …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, withdraw that!
Mr STIRLING: The member for Araluen got through the gate, Madam Speaker, she did not have to pay $100 000 for her degree.
Under a Howard government ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He did not withdraw. You gave him a direct instruction and he has not complied.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, withdraw that comment.
Mr STIRLING: I withdraw the comment. I thought I had by referring to her as the member for Araluen.
Under the Howard government, the higher education sector will get more of the same. We will see more HECS fees and more expensive full-fee-paying degrees. The cost of funding the universities of Australia and the Northern Territory will continually fall back on students and their families.
A Latham federal Labor government will invest in our training and higher education sector, building a system which meets the demands of the 21st century of Australia, not the 1950s. A Latham Labor government will keep university degrees at an affordable level, and the 25% hikes in HECS will stop. Full fees for new Australian undergraduate students will be abolished …
Ms Carney: Well, your lot introduced the fees.
Mr STIRLING: … and a federal Labor government will expand university and TAFE places, and relieve the enormous financial pressure on students and their families through better rent assistance, and a lowering of the age of independence to 23 by 2007.
One wonders, when you hear some of the interjections opposite. The former member for Port Darwin and Chief Minister, used to loudly applaud the Whitlam government for what it did by way of higher education and opening up universities to the people of Australia who traditionally did not have access …
Ms Carney: A Labor Prime Minister was the one who introduced it, you fool! It was the Labor government; I was there at the time.
Mr STIRLING: He was one of them and proud to admit it! Proud to admit, when he stood here as Chief Minister, that he benefited, and got his degree through that system. Unlike this churlish lot who pay no plaudits anywhere if it is Labor …
Ms Carney: I was the last year of free education because it was your John Dawkins who decided to charge for it.
Mr STIRLING: The Labor leader has listened to the needs of the states and territories. What we need, and what we will get under a Labor government, is real growth funding which will see an increase in places; existing infrastructure will receive support to bring them up to world standards; over $800m will help the transition of universities to world-class learning institutions. A Labor government with real vision and investment in learning and training will make a $5.58m investment which will flow through to Territorians - an investment which will underpin the great work this government has done with our Jobs Plan.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, I need to speak to you about your outburst and the fact that you used the word ‘fool’. I ask you to withdraw that.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, are you aware it was ruled not unparliamentary last night in the Chamber?
Madam SPEAKER: I am asking you to withdraw it.
Ms CARNEY: I will withdraw my …
Madam SPEAKER: Are you dissenting from my ruling?
Ms CARNEY: I will withdraw my remark, Madam Speaker, absolutely, and ask that the member for Nhulunbuy at least participate by trying to do the right thing by not interjecting while I am on my feet.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, you are on a caution. That was completely unnecessary. You know the rules about withdrawing. You do not back-answer.
Federal Labor – Support for Greens
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Cash-strapped Territory businesses can ill-afford an increase in taxes, yet Mark Latham and the Labor Party has given its support to the Greens, who want to increase company tax rates from 30% to 33%. Will you acknowledge this tax increase would be harmful to Territory businesses, and the Labor Party is wrong in doing a deal with a political party which wants to increase the tax burden on Territory businesses?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Labor leader Mark Latham has made it very clear: our Labor Party is proudly supporting the environment, and recognising that the Greens across Australia advocate very loudly for our environment. The Greens have recognised that in preferencing Labor, which is terrific for this election on Saturday. However, you have to take a very large leap to say all Green policies are Labor policies, because they are Green policies. When the Greens form a government they will put those policies in place. On Saturday when Labor forms a government, Labor policies will be in place. They will have Australia’s support.
The line we have seen from John Howard, as Prime Minister, to say the things he has about the Greens, who have 8% support in Australia, is very interesting. Supported by his Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, the vitriol which has been directed towards the Greens across Australia has taken, I believe, Australians by surprise. It took me by surprise. The viciousness and vehemence is probably only matched by what we saw from the member for Araluen in this House last night.
I clearly answer the Opposition Leader’s question. What underpins the Opposition Leader’s question is that the CLP, for 27 years, essentially ignored the Territory environment. They did not protect mangroves and do the kind of work which we have done in three years to protect the Territory environment. However, when it comes to environmental issues, what do we have? Yesterday the member for Daly said the CLP supports growing cotton, and the Opposition Leader has reinforced that. That is terrific! A real recognition of the Territory’s environment and, more importantly, flying in the face of Territorians who do not want to see cotton grown in the Territory. We are recognising community concerns. What the CLP is representing, I do not know.
Commonwealth Roads Funding in Unincorporated Areas
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTUCTURE
At the last sittings of the Assembly, members unanimously supported a motion calling for the Commonwealth to restore $20m of funding which the Territory had been short-changed for roads in unincorporated areas. Can the minister advise the House on what actions have been taken in respect of the aforementioned motion?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a vitally important issue. As has been said many times in this House, we have 9000 km of unincorporated roads. Last sittings, there was unanimous support for the Commonwealth to restore $20m in funding for roads in unincorporated areas which the Territory has been short-changed over the last four years.
A letter was forwarded to the Coalition minister responsible for roads. It was signed by myself and the member for Brennan. I remind members of the motion which was passed unanimously in the Assembly. The Assembly noted that:
- (b) promises made to Territorians by the Prime Minister and other Commonwealth ministers that the inequity in the Territory’s road funding would be addressed; …
And also:
- calls on the Commonwealth to urgently address this shortfall in unincorporated road funding for the Territory by:
- (1) immediately providing $20m to cover the existing shortfall;
I table that letter, which was jointly signed by myself and the member for Brennan.
I was pleased to co-sign that letter, but what has the response been? The Commonwealth shadow minister for roads, Mr Martin Ferguson, who has been here quite a number of times since I have been roads minister, has committed a Latham Labor government to an additional $19m of new funding for roads in our unincorporated areas. That is in addition to $1m which the Territory has already received, and fulfils, I believe, the unanimous motion passed by this Assembly.
The contrast - what has the Howard Coalition offered the Territory? The Coalition has announced $3m over the next four years for the Outback Way in the Territory, and totally ignored other roads in unincorporated areas. I could be wrong. There is another one-and-a-half days until things wind up, but we are still waiting for all those promises which were made. Senator Campbell came up here, promised $30m or $40m extra, met with the cattlemen and said: ‘Don’t worry fellas, $30m or $40m extra’.
These are all the unincorporated roads in the Northern Territory, in red, still not addressed by any Coalition undertaking. However, Mr Ferguson has committed $19m extra for our unincorporated roads. I welcome that. Once again, it highlights the poor job the current incumbent, Mr Tollner, has been doing in lobbying on behalf of the Territory.
I believe Territory roads are going to be a hell of a lot better off under a Latham Labor government.
Federal Labor – Support for Greens
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Greens want to reduce negative gearing deductions on new investments and property. Is this good or bad for the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am actually flattered that the Opposition Leader thinks I should have detailed opinions about Green policies. However, I am a Labor leader, and I want to talk about Labor policies. That is where my commitment is. I would talk about CLP policies if there were any – they do not have any across the other side of the House.
A member: Heroin injecting rooms.
Ms MARTIN: Sorry, heroin injecting rooms, yes, but for the next policy you might have to raise another $50. I am not in this House to talk about specific Green policies. I am a Labor leader, and I will talk about Labor policies, which is what we have been doing in this session of parliament. This Question Time we are focussing very proudly on what a Labor government in Canberra will deliver for the Territory. We demonstrated that, in health, training and roads, the Territory will be a winner under a new federal Labor government?
Federal Labor – Child-Care Funding
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Howard government continues to ignore the Territory when it comes to our child-care needs. How has the Territory coped with this funding failure, and will the Territory’s families be better off if Labor is elected on Saturday?
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you, members of the opposition. Member for Greatorex, the minister is on her feet.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. What a great day it would be on Saturday if the Latham Labor government came into power. The federal Liberal government is out of touch with the needs of families and children, particularly in the Northern Territory. Child-care places - you have to acknowledge this - are chronically under-funded in the Northern Territory. We, the government, have had to step in and cover their responsibility.
The Liberal federal government has never done enough for child care, which is why the Martin Labor government increased the Northern Territory’s child-care subsidy to over $20 per child per week in 2002. Since that increase, there has been a 19% increase in child-care places in the Northern Territory, allowing an additional 500 children access to child care. This is proof that if you put the money into child care, places will become available and they will be cheaper. This is what a Latham Labor government will do - and only a Latham government will do this.
Labor’s extra $112m for child care will provide an additional 14 500 child-care places nationally. The Latham Labor government will provide a free day of child care for every three- and four-year-old each week. This includes children who have stay-at-home parents and part-time working parents. During another term of the Howard/Costello Liberal government, shortages in child-care places will not be addressed, and the wealthy - and only a few - will enjoy a 30% rebate for the cost of their nanny.
Another example of how out of touch the Howard Liberal government is with child-care needs of Territorians is the closure of the Minbani Family Centre three months ago. A commitment has been made by Jim Davidson, Labor’s candidate for Solomon, that, under a Latham Labor government, the Minbani Family Centre will re-open and provide additional support for more child-care places. This is in stark contrast to the federal member for Solomon, Dave Tollner, who has not attended any of the community meetings, and who is on the public record falsely accusing the Northern Territory government of withdrawing funding for Minbani. He obviously does not understand the role of the Commonwealth in funding child-care centres, or the importance of child care.
Improvements in child care under the current federal government were summed up by the current member for Solomon at the Solomon forum last week when he stated:
… a vote for Dave Tollner is a vote for the Coalition government and all I can promise you is more of the same.
Schools Assistant Staff - Review
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Madam Speaker, on behalf of yourself, as the member Braitling, this is an excellent question, because it does not include Mr Latham, Mr Davidson, Mr Howard, Mr Tollner or the Greens.
In 2002, a review was initiated of the levels of school administration staff, particularly the school assistants who work at the A01 level. Knowing the value of the work these school assistants do in classrooms, libraries and the office, can you advise when the recommendations of the review will be implemented?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for an absolutely excellent question. These people do play a critical role in the administration of our schools. I certainly appreciate the role and am always keen to meet them when I go on school visits.
The questions in and around the job evaluation survey strategy undertaken of these positions is back with DEET. It has been drawn into a submission which will come to Cabinet in the very near future. I do not have a date as yet; however, I can find out and advise you. I expect it is not far away, and we will deal with it immediately it is received from the agency. It will certainly get the tick from me because I support the work they do, and the process which has been undertaken. We value the role they play in these schools, and I will be supporting the recommendations. I will give you time lines as soon as I know.
Federal Labor – Support for Greens
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Greens want to increase the Medicare levy and abolish the 30% private health insurance rebate. Do you support an increase in the Medicare levy and abolition of the 30% health insurance rebate? Will you admit you are doing the wrong thing by selling out Territorians by backing the Greens, a party which has policies which are bad for Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Opposition Leader is asking about health policies. I am happy to talk about Labor’s health policies, because they are the ones which …
Dr Lim: You and the Greens.
Ms MARTIN: I am not a member of the Greens. Why should I talk about the Greens’ health policies? It has very little to do with what Labor is talking about.
Let me talk about Labor’s health initiatives. We have heard the Health Minister talk about how there will be more doctors in the Territory under Labor initiatives. We will see after-hours GP services supported when Labor is in power in Canberra. We will have a Medicare office in Palmerston. The members for Blain and Brennan should be very happy about that.
I will continue to talk about Labor’s initiatives in health which will help every Territorian, and make bulk billing more accessible for Territorians. The figures are shameful when it comes to access to bulk billing doctors in the Territory. Where is the CLP standing up for that? There is silence about that. The Opposition Leader can continue to ask me about Greens’ policies. I will respond by talking about Labor Party policies. I am proud of them, Territorians are proud of them, and when Labor wins on Saturday and Jim Davidson is the member for Solomon, we will have the influence of Labor - the dollars of Labor - making a difference to every Territorian.
Great Southern Railway and NT Tourism Commission
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for TOURISM
Could you provide the House with an update of the exciting new initiative between Great Southern Railway and the Northern Territory Tourist Commission?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, after eight months of operation of The Ghan, I do not think anyone in this House does not understand the impact which Great Southern Railway’s Ghan passenger service has had on tourism in the Territory. It has been wonderful. In the first six months, 30 000 travellers came to the Territory on The Ghan, one of the world’s great passenger journeys. Great Southern Railway tells me forward bookings are strong, both domestically and internationally. Talk to tour operators in Katherine - the impact of The Ghan stopping there for four hours, has seven tour operators benefiting from travellers experiencing Katherine.
Ask any hotel operator in Darwin. The impact of travellers from The Ghan has been significant on accommodation, and it is hard to get a room sometimes on a Tuesday and Wednesday night. Such is the interest in this great journey, over the lunchtime break I did an interview with a German television crew filming a documentary on The Ghan, and this wonderful trip in the Territory, for showing in Europe. Obviously, it is still grabbing domestic and international attention.
The initiative which has been developed between Great Southern Railway and the NT Commission is about taking advantage of having passengers on The Ghan for 3000 km, and using that time to tell them about the Territory. There are approximately 200 staff on The Ghan, and they will attend ‘Destination Training Program’ workshops, which are two hours each week and run for 10 weeks. Part of the training - and having travelled on The Ghan, the GSR staff are wonderful and will make great ambassadors for the Territory – is a CD-ROM which takes staff on a virtual journey from the border to Darwin. It addresses things such as the climate, seasonality, history of the towns, the features, and tourism opportunities passed along the way. That is part of the training for the 200 new ambassadors - the staff on The Ghan. It is a great initiative. The Tourist Commission, working with GSR, have provided a new opportunity to promote the Territory.
There are also information booths at Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs stations, which are staffed by the regional tourism associations. I say with some pride - although it is a bit late - there are two public phones at the Darwin Railway Station. Thank you, Telstra and DIPE. We have finally done it, it is great. It is something we can celebrate.
Finally, the Darwin terminal was recognised in the Territory Construction Association Awards the other night. This is a real recognition of Sunbuild and the great work they did - a terrific station we have, now with two public phones.
NT Labor – Support for Greens
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Senior Labor shadow minister, Lindsay Tanner, said:
- We might have the Greens with the balance of power. In order to form government, Labor might have to do some of the mad things they want.
Which of the following ‘mad’ Greens policies would you support Mark Latham on: introducing heroin injecting rooms to regulate the supply of dangerous drugs and extacy in a controlled environment; the decriminalisation of cannabis cultivation, and permit the controlled availability of cannabis at appropriate venues; increased company tax rates from 30% to 33%; the increase of the Medicare levy; or, abolish the 30% private health insurance rebate? Chief Minister, which of those would you support if you had to form a coalition with the Greens - which of those ‘mad’ policies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, again, here we have a man who does not fully understand what hypocrisy is, trying to deliver questions with his sad pomposity about Labor and the Greens. I have made it very clear. The Opposition Leader asked: ‘Do you support injecting rooms?’ We know who supports injecting rooms - hands up! Hands up who supports injecting rooms. Come on, be honest, put your hand up. Hands up in here who, over the last couple of years, has made strong statements supporting cannabis use. Member for Brennan, hands up - in his role in the 2nd Cavalry and the tolerance of cannabis use.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Let us look at the reality of what the opposition is saying. It is nonsense. The Labor Party, federally, has done a preference swap with the Greens, recognising their environmental credentials. However, Labor has articulated - and we have been doing our best, despite the noise of the opposition, to talk about them - excellent policies which a Labor government will deliver for Territorians.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition, again!
Ms MARTIN: Let us talk about preference deals. I say, proudly, Labor has done a preference deal with the Greens. Let us remember where the preference deal was done at the last Territory election when the CLP chose to preference One Nation over the Labor Party.
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Let us remember.
Dr Lim: So you are not preferencing the Greens - are you happy with that?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, quiet!
Masters Games
Mrs AAGAARD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you please inform the House what we can look forward to at this year’s Masters Games?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. Yes, certainly, I hope some of the Greens go to Alice Springs and enjoy the games.
The Alice Springs Masters Games were the first of their kind. They are now the longest running in Australia, and this year is the 10th anniversary. This is a fantastic milestone, made even better by the huge registration of 4545 participants, compared to 3526 at the 2002 games. That is almost a 30% increase, or 1020 extra participants.
Much of the reaching of this milestone must be credited to the people of Alice Springs who, since 1986, have volunteered countless thousands of hours to make the games such a great event. I look forward also to welcoming to the games our Patron, Dawn Fraser, an Australian icon, and our No 1 ambassador, Daryl Somers.
Thirty-three sports are on offer this year, from golf to gliding, from shooting to darts. There will be three free concerts, as part of the week’s entertainment, away from the field of contest. The opening ceremony will see Billy Thorpe, Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde. The mid-week concert will feature Doug Parkinson and Max Merritt, and the closing ceremony will be graced by the presence of Marcia Hines.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: I will put on the record that the entertainers were organised by the Office of Sport and Recreation, and my office had nothing to do with the great array of talent at the games.
The games are coordinated through the Alice Springs Masters Games Advisory Committee, which I appointed in May 2003. It has held a number of meetings and, especially this year, monthly meetings. It is ably led by Peter Hoey, the Chairman, and Bob Corby, the manager. Together with their staff, they have done an excellent job once again, organising the preparation for this 10th anniversary.
Ninety-five percent of sponsors for the event have continued their support from 2002, and some have been with us since 1986. I want to mention some of them: Diamond Sponsors are Alice Springs Town Council, Peter Kittle Motor Company, and Lasseters Hotel Casino. Imparja Television is a Gold Sponsor. Carlton, Coca-Cola and Correctional Services are Silver Sponsors. We also have a number of Bronze Sponsors: Crowne Plaza, TIO, Hamilton Sunscreens, Power and Water, Thrifty Car Rentals, Centralian Advocate, TAB, The Ghan, Aussiemove, Colemans Printing, Tattersall’s, and Radio 8HA in Alice Springs.
The Masters Games are an enormous boost to the local economy. In 2002, they contributed over $7m to Alice Springs. This year we expect it to be even more valuable to the Central Australian economy, and I hope it will be topping around the $9m mark.
I look forward to attending the games and, indeed, competing in them, along with those of my parliamentary colleagues who will also be having a go. I believe the member for Arafura is hockey and softball; the member for Stuart is cycling and a bit of a sprint; and I think the member for Macdonnell is playing rugby.
Dr Lim: And the member for Greatorex in ping-pong.
Ms Carney: And the member for Araluen in golf.
Mr AH KIT: Well, if the member for Greatorex wants to play ping-pong, fine. We will see if we can schedule it and do the medals at the ping-pong after you have finished at the Gliding Club.
Finally, I thank officers of Sport and Recreation, staff and volunteers, for organising everything so well. I believe they are going to be a great games.
Federal Labor - Home Loan Interest Rates
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The current interest rates in this country are the lowest since the 1960s. This is a direct result of John Howard’s economic management policies. When Labor was last in office, rates peaked at 17%. If home loan rates were to rise by just 1% on a $200 000 mortgage, Territory families would pay an additional $167, which is about the cost of a full cart of groceries. What comfort can you give Territorians that home loan interest rates will not rise under a Latham Labor government, whose big-spending policies are uncosted, contrary to the charter of budget honesty that Latham himself failed to adhere to?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting, the passion with which the Territory party, the Country Liberals, have jumped when John Howard says jump. The Opposition Leader says: ‘John, tell me how high?’.
The scare campaign which has been run by the federal Coalition about rising interest rates is interesting. I can say it is not the case - the scare campaign is simply a scare campaign. However, I prefer to quote people with real expertise in that area.
A couple of weeks ago when this scare campaign was starting to be revved up, respectable Reuters did a poll of market economists. This has been published, but perhaps the Opposition Leader did not get around to reading or hearing it through the media. However, Reuters did a poll of market economists and asked them whether interest rates by the end of 2007 would be any different under either a Coalition or a Labor government. Of the 14 responses, not one - not one - forecast any difference in interest rates under Labor or the Coalition.
If we take the politicians, the political opportunists, and the Opposition Leader away from this, what do the market economists say? No difference under Labor or the Coalition. It is just a scare campaign!
The member for Greatorex has his calculator and is pulling it out and saying: ‘This is what happens’. However, it is just a scare campaign. Ask the market economists and those who understand the markets. If you want to take this one step further, already Australia’s financial houses - specifically Westpac and Adelaide Bank - have taken into account all market information and this week lowered their three-year fixed-term interest rates. They have fixed the interest rates. Westpac has …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: This Territory government banks with Westpac. Don’t you trust Westpac? We do trust Westpac and their assessment of the markets. They have lowered their fixed-term interest rates this week. For how long? For three years! That really underpins the fact that this interest rates scare is just that – it is an interest rate scare.
When the Opposition Leader says: ‘Oh, Labor’s policies are unfunded’ - the Labor policies are funded. Who is not funding their policies? Where is the pressure coming on interest rates? If it is coming from anyone, it is from the spending spree we have seen from the man who prides himself on economic responsibility - Prime Minister Howard.
Government Support for Environmental Projects
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for the ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Many people throughout the Northern Territory have some great ideas and projects in respect to supporting the environment. How can the Martin Labor government assist in their efforts to protect our wonderful environment and lifestyle?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The EnvironmeNT Grants project was launched today – yet another great scheme for the Martin Labor government. Before explaining the scheme, I acknowledge that the recommendation came from the Youth Roundtable. The Chief Minister and I attend all meetings with the Youth Round Table and we took their recommendation seriously. It shows them and the youth of the Northern Territory that government does listen to their voice. Their input into government policy and strategies is very important, and we respect it and take it on board.
The EnvironmeNT Grants project is an unprecedented spend - $1m on grassroots schemes. We are committed to protecting our great environment on which our lifestyle depends. It is the first environment scheme in the Territory and everyone is eligible. We want everyone to be involved - all groups, schools, land care groups, everyone.
The Northern Territory government is going it alone in protecting our environment. The Howard government ignores our environment. The current federal member for Solomon has spoken only 40 times in federal parliament over the last three years and, unless you can count pig shooting, he has not talked once about the environment. Where was he when the federal government cancelled the Cool Communities project? We reinstated some of this funding, and have given financial assistance to the Environment Centre, which was ignored under the previous government. We also reinstated funding to the Arid Lands Environment Centre in Alice Springs, which plays a very important role in not just advocacy, but working with businesses and other groups. Their funding was stopped last year by the federal government. However, we stepped in, reinstated funding and provided that boost.
It is a great scheme, and I urge everybody who has a great idea for our environment, to please apply for the grants and help keep our Territory clean and green for future generations.
Pine Oil Extraction Industry
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Madam Speaker, I will also be visiting Alice Springs for the Masters, attempting to beat Daryl Somers in the 100 m and 200 m races.
What is presently happening to the cypress blue oil extraction industry in the Northern Territory? What is the government doing in relation to the development of the cypress pine plantations at Howard Springs, Gunn Point and the radiata block at Pinelands?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yes, there are three sites with the pine plantations. There have been approaches to government from Mr Vince Collins over a number of years about issues related to cypress pine and the oil extracted. In the three locations you mentioned, there are, I believe, contracts which have either been, or are about to be, let in regard to maintaining the site. Mr Collins has one of those sites. If the member requires more information, I am happy to supply it to him.
Federal Labor – Costing of Policies
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Territory businessman, Alan Morris, the proprietor of the Winnellie Supermarket, had this to say on the ABC radio about Mark Latham and his uncosted policies:
- It is just a lot of rhetoric, and when nothing is costed out, you really cannot afford to say - yes, well, this is a good bloke.
Will you tell Alan and other Territorians why Mark Latham and the Labor Party refuses to cost its policies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have a lot of time for Alan. He runs a supermarket in my suburb and I know him quite well. I put on the record that I have a lot of time for Alan, but in this case he is wrong. Labor’s policies are costed. The Coalition’s policies are simply a grab bag out of the surplus. Because the Opposition Leader stands in here and says Labor’s policies are not costed, it does not mean that it is a fact.
The pressure on interest rates, which is so dear to the Opposition Leader, is coming from the uncosted policies and the spending bonanza which the Prime Minister has gone on over the last few weeks. That is where the pressure is coming from.
In Labor’s policies there are saving initiatives which have been identified carefully by federal Labor. That is why the policies are supportable. The Opposition Leader comes in here making it up, as he often does, and says something is a fact because he believes it. Let us take one thing he said in debate yesterday. During a motion on the Parks and Reserves Framework for the Future bill, he accused me of ignoring two of the land councils, and only favouring two land councils in our whole negotiations over the parks. His question was why I had not talked to the other two land councils. There are no parks and reserves on the Tiwis or Groote. You do not have to talk to Anindilyakwa or the Tiwi Land Council. He makes claims about things about which he has no understanding, and we see it again and again.
In this case, again, you are wrong. However, I say to Alan - he is a great guy, and runs a great supermarket - in this case, Alan, you are wrong.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016