2003-08-20
Sentencing Decision in Criminal Matter
Mr MALEY to CHIEF MINISTER
You would have to agree that community expectations of what an appropriate penalty is, is considerably higher than the penalty imposed in the case of Shane Namanurki reported in today’s NT News, where he savagely bashed his wife with a bottle, burnt her face, and received a fully suspended sentence. You have told this parliament on numerous occasions that penalties will meet community expectations. That is also contained in your position paper, Serious Crime means Serious Time. Do you think that this man walking free is an appropriate sentence and, if not, what are you going to do to fix the problem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question would be more appropriately directed to the Attorney-General, and I will ask him, in part, to reply to this. There is no doubt about it, when you look at the statistics in the Territory in relation to crimes of violence, particularly to the person, we are very concerned about the number of them, that the penalties do fit the crime, and that if you commit a serious crime, you will do serious time. That is a commitment from this government. To complete the answer, I refer it to the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General.
Dr TOYNE: Madam Speaker, I indicated last week in the House that I had asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to review this case, to see if there were grounds for an appeal. The DPP has yet to announce a decision on that review. What I can tell the House is that there were serious evidential problems with that case, and charges were not laid for one of the two alleged assaults. Both the victim and the offender were heavily intoxicated at the time the incident occurred. The problem that the judge had with the original sentence is that the assault with the bottle, which was so widely reported in the papers, was not charged out because of difficulties with evidence available from the two involved in the incident.
That far, I can go, and that far only. I remind the House that it is not for me, or the Chief Minister or anyone else, to tell the DPP what response to take in a case. That position is an independent statutory position. There will be a thorough examination of the detail of the evidence in that case and the basis for the sentence. If the DPP feels there are grounds for an appeal, the DPP will appeal. If they feel there are no grounds for appeal, they will not appeal.
Mr MALEY: A supplementary question – a point of clarification, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I will allow that.
Mr MALEY: Today’s paper reveals that the DPP has decided not to appeal. They have considered it; they are not going to appeal. You have just said that they are still considering it. In light of that information, as reported in the paper, what are you going to do to fix this problem?
Dr TOYNE: Madam Speaker, I was not aware that it had been officially announced. If it has been announced, that is the DPP’s position.
Indigenous Enrolments in NT Schools
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can the minister update the House on progress being made in enrolling indigenous students in the Territory school system?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Millner for his question because he, like myself, shares an abiding interest in indigenous education. The concern I have, as minister responsible for education in the Northern Territory, is what difference we as a government have made to indigenous education in the past two years and what the indicators are to suggest that we are making a difference. God knows, Madam Speaker, we need to, given the situation that we inherited.
The Department of Employment, Education and Training, in relation to enrolment data, collects enrolments at eight given points in a year on specific days throughout this year and, alongside the attendance, it is assessed in a four-week period around those enrolment collection dates. Last year, figures for indigenous students in the system were around 15 000. This year it is 15 600, suggesting that there are 600 more indigenous students enrolled than this time last year. That does not include the 60 indigenous students who were recently picked up by the newly placed Attendance Officer at Alice Springs which, again, is a 10% increase on that 600 increase alone.
It has not come about through natural increase or simply on its own; it has come about because we are starting to engage with Aboriginal communities. We are starting to see some of the work and the attention put in by DEET starting to have effect. This will, of course, lead to further issues to address.
On an historic trend, enrolment figures show that, throughout the course of the year, the attendance drops away past mid-year, and we would not expect the trend this year to be different. Again, it is something we have to turn our mind to, in flexibility and innovation in delivery of education, and whether the one size fits all with the given terms and semester breaks that we have. That remains a concern to be addressed but, at least two years, in we are markedly ahead of where we were last year. A significant number of school-aged children disengaged - not connected with the system at all - are now on the books and attending school, so we are getting to some of these students.
As we continue to increase numbers - and I expected we would; I recall we estimated in our policy position papers prior to the election some 6000 to 8000 indigenous children of compulsory school age not engaged in the system of education across the Territory. This is a modest beginning in that sense, because we are only looking at perhaps 8% to 10% of that cohort that we still believe is not engaged. As we increase the numbers, the resource implications will become much clearer to government, both in classrooms - although not immediately, because much of the infrastructure out there is under-utilised - but certainly in numbers of teachers. If we take that 600 as a one-off, it represents a school in its own right. We would be absolutely thrilled if we had to find, and continue to find, extra money in the budget to meet that need, because that is what we are here for.
Hawker Britton – Labor Party Campaign
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
In the past two weeks, according to the government Gazette, you have awarded contracts worth $60 000 to Hawker Britton, the architects of the Labor Party’s 2001 election campaign. The Hawker Britton web site proudly proclaims its key role in the Labor Party campaign in the Northern Territory, with articles by former Beattie staffer Bevan Lisle, who drafted your business policy launch and the central campaign launch speeches. Mr Lisle is described on Hawker Britton’s web site as the person who manages their crisis communications and public affairs campaign. What crisis is he now managing for the Labor Party? How was Hawker Britton chosen for these latest contracts? Was there a certificate of exemption? What is Hawker Britton expected to provide? How can Territorians be assured that you are not using their money to pay for party political advice?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question, but it comes from a leader of a former government that had serious form in this area. Let me assure Territorians, we do not, the proper processes are in place and we can account for them. Don’t you worry, Leader of the Opposition, this is a question that leads with your chin, because thereby hangs the tale of how you performed in government.
Can I make mention that the wrong amount was actually allocated in the Gazette. Under the Gazette of 20 August, liaison advice for investment attraction promotion in Sydney - $40 000. In fact, it was half that amount, as it was in the tender when it went to the media. As it says, very clearly: ‘… liaison advice for investment attraction promotion in Sydney’. This was a very important part to make sure that we had maximum effect when we were in the city, about who we met, the media we engaged with and the strategies we had. It is very important to have a local component in that, and Hawker Britton did us well.
To secure that, the actual price of the tender was $19 800. It was a selective tender process with three bids received. It was done in that way because it was done before a trip that was put together as the first of these investment trips and we needed to do it quite quickly. However, it was done properly against the procurement guidelines. The service was tendered, as I have said, for selective tender, with three firms asked to bid. Hawker Britton was the cheapest by a considerable way, and considered value for money, and the contract was awarded to them on that basis. I say again: there were a lot of elements to that campaign, and Hawker Britton’s contribution was one of them. I am delighted to repeat what I said yesterday: in the last two weeks of July, we had 1000 hits on the government web site; up to now, in August, we have had nearly 10 000 hits to demonstrate interest in the Territory as a great place to live, work and invest.
That is what this campaign is all about. We are selling the Territory, and we are going to do it effectively and professionally. The selected tender process for Hawker Britton was quite appropriate and met procurement guidelines. I am very confident that what we did in Sydney - which also extended to Newcastle and Wollongong - had its effect: people are talking about the campaign and that visit. Already we have seen people come to the Territory, on an off-chance, because they have seen those ads, and already get jobs. It is great.
Housing Sales Data Released by Valuer-General
Mr KIELY to TREASURER
Contrary to the negative carping of the opposition, you have announced a series of strong economic growth indicators over the last week, which have been welcomed by the people of Sanderson. Can the Treasurer please update the House on the results of housing sales data released by the Valuer-General?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. I know he has an electorate that is switched on to these sorts of matters. They are very interested in it.
The Valuer-General regularly puts out data giving an indication of the strength of the economy through the number and value of housing sales. Those figures, combined with housing finance figures that I released last week, are genuine signs of the position of the real estate industry, important in itself, and an important individual indicator of the health of the economy overall.
In the two years to 2000-01 – that is the period of government of the now Opposition Leader – the volume of sales of detached houses in Darwin fell by a third. Prices rose by less than inflation - a mere 3.5% over that two year period. By contrast, under the Martin government, sales volumes are up 25% in the past two years, prices have risen 14.7%. A similar picture emerges in Alice Springs, where the number of houses sold in 2002-03 was 15.7% higher than in 2000-01. In Palmerston, the number of sales was up 51% in 2002-03, with prices averaging 9.7% higher than they did two years ago - a strong sign of an economic pick-up and good news for home owners.
I will table the graph of Darwin house sales, which shows the yellow graph at the top, the average price, trending up toward $250 000, and the green bottom line, the number sold. There was a big drop-off from 1998-99 through 1999-2000, at the bottom of the trough in 2000-01, and picking up in 2001-02 and 2002-03. That graph readily depicts just where we are.
July figures of new motor vehicle sales were also released this morning. That is a further indication of good news. Trend sales in July up 8.7%, compared with July 2002.
Members interjecting.
Mr Dunham: It was a boom year, nationally.
Mr STIRLING: Members opposite, particularly this member, do want to talk down the economy, as the member for Sanderson suggested. However, over this past week there is enough reliable, solid data coming through to indicate that the Territory is definitely in recovery mode. We should all be sharing in that, pushing that new story out and looking, not just for recovery from the dismal depths that we were in a couple of years ago, but building the Territory to sustainable, long-term growth, so we are not subject to the bust and boom cycles that we have seen over all those years of our predecessors.
Hawker Britton – Labor Party Campaign
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Hawker Britton, the Sydney firm made up of former Labor Party ministers, members …
Dr Burns: What, like Mark Textor?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: You want to check the web site? They have not disabled the web site, it is there for everyone to read and see. They skite about how well they have got Labor governments into power.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you, members of government!
Mr BURKE: Hawker Britton, a Sydney firm made up of former Labor Party ministers, members of parliament and Labor staffers, states unequivocally that they played a senior role in the Labor Party’s 2001 election campaign. At least three of their senior members - Ken Macpherson, a former senior policy adviser to Peter Beattie; Bevan Lisle, a former adviser to both the Goss and Beattie governments; and Bruce Hawker, a former adviser to Bob Carr in New South Wales - worked for you, Chief Minister, and the Labor Party up to the 12 months before the election, during the campaign, and after the election. They state that in their web site. How much has been paid to Hawker Britton in the past two years, and when did the Labor Party stop paying them and the Territory taxpayer started footing the bill?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the fact that Hawker Britton are successful seems to stick in the craw of the Leader of the Opposition. The implication that if we have anything to do with Hawker Britton, it must be under the same kind of arrangements that we know the Country Liberal Party had, when they were in government, with pollsters and others that were not above board.
As I indicated in my last answer, there was a select tender process for the investment mission to Sydney.
Mr Baldwin: How much have they been paid over the last 10 years?
Ms MARTIN: If you would be quiet, I will answer this. There had to be a quick process for that, because it was tied around my visit to Sydney for the Infrastructure Summit which was booked some time before anyway, on 6 August. Therefore, we had to hurry those processes through, but it was done totally according to procurement guidelines. I want to tackle the implication of what the Opposition Leader is trying to say.
Mr Burke: Well, you have changed your answer. Your answer last time was that it was a tender process.
Ms MARTIN: With specific reference, the select tender process was used, quite appropriately, by procurement guidelines. In this instance, Hawker Britton was by far the best and the least expensive tender. We took that, and I gave the answer of $19 800. I do not have the other details with me now, but I can certainly assure you that any activity associated with any company is done according to procurement guidelines, and I can stand in here and give the details. I have no shame about it. If we as government want to use a company that is successful and understands the elements, and can produce winners for investment in the Northern Territory, we will continue to use companies, both locally and nationally, which are winners.
Mr Dunham: So the local companies are the losers?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, stop your persistent interjections!
Hospice Construction
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH and COMMUNITY SERVICES
A hospice for our seriously ill was an important election commitment. Can the minister please inform the House on the latest developments for a hospice in Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her very important question. It is with great pleasure that I am able to inform the people of the Northern Territory today that I have confirmed the government’s election commitment to build a dedicated hospice facility for the terminally ill. The Martin Labor government came to office pledging to build the Northern Territory’s first hospice in Darwin to provide specialised care and support to Territorians with a terminal illness, and their families. Construction of the single-storey 12-bed hospice and day facility at the hospital campus will commence in three to four months time after tenders have been called. Completion is expected in the second half of 2004. The government has committed $3m in the capital works budget for the hospice.
I would like to table a copy of the plan of the hospice, and may I say that the architects, Jackman Gooden architects have done a beautiful job. It is a 12-bed facility with individual decks. It has a beautiful garden area, lounges for family, a spiritual room, which is an inter-faith version of a chapel. It is going to be situated on a 4000 m block next to the Menzies School of Health Research, and the facility itself takes up around 1000 m.
While the hospice will be a separate building, its location on the Royal Darwin Hospital campus, within easy reach of the hospital’s facilities and infrastructure, will ensure the facility provides seamless acute care to patients, should that be needed. The facility will be managed by the Royal Darwin Hospital, and linked to the hospital’s essential services, such as pharmacy and pathology. In addition, the palliative care staff who are currently at Casuarina Plaza will be relocated to the Royal Darwin Hospital so they will be in close proximity to the hospice itself.
The government considered nine potential options before making the final decision. We have been through a very thorough planning process. We have consulted extensively with palliative care professionals, consumer groups, staff, and the community, including Aboriginal people and people from non-English speaking backgrounds, so that we get this important facility right. The final model is sustainable, culturally appropriate, and will provide high quality palliative care, respite and support to patients and their loved ones.
Today, I have spoken to many of the stakeholders involved, who are absolutely delighted with the announcement, and I look forward to working with them collaboratively in the future. Territorians have the right to die with dignity, and the hospice delivers on that right.
Road Signage Policy Review
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT and INFRASTRUCTURE
We all know the importance of signage along our highways, but too much signage can create an ugly landscape and is a distraction to drivers. Recently, an attempt by the Palmerston City Council to take over some parts of the Litchfield Shire was supported by arguments about the lack of control over signs along the highway at the 11 Mile, or Holtze. I wrote to you 14 months ago about the proliferation of signs on the Stuart and Arnhem Highways. You said:
- The current signage policy and guidelines are under review.
When will you release the reviewed sign policy, and when will the public, industry, motorists, local government and members of this parliament see and be able to comment on this policy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question, and I agree with him. Lately, I have seen a proliferation of signs along our public roads, especially the Stuart and Arnhem Highways and other roads. It really worries me, because some of the signs are makeshift, in the middle of the road or on the reserve. I have noticed one on the median strip of the Stuart Highway. They distract drivers, especially when a new, large sign advertises something very colourfully. That can be a cause of accidents.
We had a policy in place, but it was quite dated. Also, we have had significantly increased demand for signage on the highways. I asked my department to review the policy. The new policy will be released by the end of the year. We will have wide consultation with the community. We have a lot of requests from drivers, groups, business people and local councils to put in place a proper policy, so we have signs that comply with Australian standards in certain areas, rather than having sign after sign along the Stuart Highway.
I have to admit that even some of the government signs did not comply, Madam Speaker, and I instructed the department to remove them. They have been removed. By the end of the year we will have a policy in place and that policy will be circulated for public comment.
Office of Communications Staff
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
You are going to spend millions of taxpayers’ dollars promoting yourself through your new propaganda unit called the Office of Communications. As the Northern Territory News says, you have switched into election mode.
Is it not a fact that the new director of this unit has been plucked from the office of the Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie’s, Premier and Cabinet Unit, with the same background as the senior people who now make up the Labor Party’s campaign strategists, Hawker Britton? How was your new director selected, and is it not a fact that he has the task of selling the Labor Party to Territorians using taxpayers’ money?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the conspiracy theorists among the opposition are extraordinary – absolutely extraordinary!. It reflects the kind of operation that we saw in place for far too long in the Territory. We were very critical of the government Communications Office. It had an extraordinary budget, which was spent on self-congratulations for the previous government. There were glossy brochures, and it really was about doing the CLP’s work.
We have realised that we need to have much more effective corporate communications, both within government and to the community. We have set up a very modest unit. We advertised through the national and local media for a director of the unit. There was an appropriate interview process, conducted in accordance with public sector guidelines. The person who won the job was the best person for that job.
The implication to the public servants on that panel and to the person who won the job is offensive. I have great confidence, and congratulate the person who won the job, because I believe they have a very important task to complete for Territorians.
Palmerston Recreation Centre
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you please inform the House about the government’s plan to build a multi-functional recreation centre in Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am delighted because, even though Labor, sadly, does not hold any seats in Palmerston, we have a great commitment to Palmerston. In the run-up to the last election, we recognised the need in Palmerston for a recreation centre - a growing area of the Territory, where there are lots of young people, and something never tackled by the previous government.
The construction of the recreation centre for Palmerston was announced today with much pleasure. It will begin in the 2004-05 financial year. It will be an important social and economic boost to the area. I have confirmed the timetable of that construction with a letter to the Palmerston City Council. It will be a boost for the local construction industry. When you consider the current range of recreational facilities, they are there but there is not a focus for those recreational facilities, and not one that will provide the kind under cover that we can through this one.
We have been working closely, through the recreation centre working group, in conjunction with government and Palmerston City Council, to look at the scoping of that: where it should be, the size, what kind of elements it should have. We are confident that we will be able to finalise that. The centre is placed on the design list. $30 000 was allocated in this financial year for a consultancy to finalise all those details. The consultancy draft report has been finished. I am confident that we will have the design work done, and construction begun on the Palmerston recreation centre in the next financial year.
Members: Hear, hear!
Investment Attraction Campaign
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
During your investment-seeking trip to Sydney, did you hold any function where people paid to attend? If so, who organised these functions, how much was charged, and who received those funds? Secondly, during your trip to Adelaide, are you holding any function where business people or others are expected to pay $500 to meet you? Who is organising this function and who will receive those funds?
Mr Henderson: What about the $5000 a head John Howard wanted when he was in Darwin that you could not get anybody to?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Would you like to answer the question, Chief Minister?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I am on my feet prepared to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, let us hear it.
ANSWER
The investment trip to Sydney was to talk to businesses. Yesterday, I indicated the level of some of those businesses I talked to and the importance of that discussion. Nobody was charged for any event. What we were doing was selling the Territory as a great place to invest, live and work, and I will continue to do that.
I believe the Opposition Leader is referring to an invitation I have had from the Labor Party of South Australia to a luncheon in late September, which I accepted with great delight. The Labor Party will pay for that part of the trip. Yes, people are paying to come to lunch and listen to me. Do you know what I am going to be talking about? What a great place the Territory is to live, work and invest. I am proud to do it, thank you.
Slingshots - Restrictions
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Could you please provide further details on how this government is acting to restrict the availability of commercially made slingshots?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Karama for her question. All of us who saw the Channel 9 footage last night about the mindless vandal rampage through Darwin yesterday, with enormous damage caused to property around Darwin, would have been sickened. I was certainly sickened when I saw that footage, and really feel sympathy for those business owners who were targeted in such a way.
However, what it shows is that the types of slingshots that are available on retail shelves across the Northern Territory are absolutely, totally inappropriate. Misuse of these slingshots not only leads to the type of damage we saw so graphically on Channel 9 last night but, potentially, even death. After the reports in the NT News yesterday morning, people from my office did not have to travel too far through the CBD to pick up one of these commercially made devices. Not only is this particular device very professionally packaged and made, but it also comes with self-loading ball bearings.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: It is actually a self-loading device, and you can go and purchase these. For $30 you can pick one of these up - with a range of 175 yards. They are made in the USA. These are the types of devices that are being used around town to create the type of havoc that we saw yesterday.
The current laws in place came into force just past the last election on 8 August 2001 and, whilst those laws banned slingshots with arm braces, regular, commercially made slingshots such as this one were not prohibited. There is a regulation in place that prohibits the sale of these slingshots to people under the age of 18, but it is fairly obvious that they are pretty easy to get hold of.
Yesterday, I made an announcement that we have been looking at a range of strategies to ban these devices. We are looking at further regulation under the Weapons Control Act, or moves under the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act. Police and the Department of Justice are looking at the best option to ban these devices. In the interim, I will be writing to all retail outlets, informing them of our decision that we will be banning these devices. They are totally inappropriate in the Northern Territory. A number of other states have banned these devices.
I am pleased to say today, in discussions we have had with some of these retailers, that somebody who would be known to everybody in this House - Warren De With from Rod and Rifle in Katherine - has volunteered to take these slingshots off his shelves. I applaud Warren and his commitment to our community to take these things off his shelves. So Warren, well done, and I will certainly be calling him this afternoon.
I advise all Territorians that misuse of a slingshot is a criminal offence. I am pleased to also advise of some great work by the Northern Territory police, that last night a 20-year-old and a 23-year-old man were located by members of Task Force Mosquito in the Coconut Grove area. When police intercepted the men’s vehicle, they found two slingshots and a container with 84 marbles on the back seat. The two men were interviewed, and the 20-year-old has been charged with nine counts of criminal damage and nine of possessing and using an offensive weapon. The 23-year-old will face 10 charges of criminal damage and nine of possessing and using an offensive weapon. To the police - well done for some very prompt work.
However, it goes to show that a regulation prohibiting the use of these slingshots to people under 18 years of age is not enough. We have to move further. The fact that we have adults in this community conducting that type of behaviour we saw so graphically last night, is not to be tolerated. This government will not tolerate it, and we will be making sure that these types of devices can no longer be purchased in the Northern Territory.
Assault of Teacher in Alice Springs
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Yesterday, a teacher was bashed in Alice Springs while supervising students at a bus interchange. This assault occurred after repeated calls to address unruly, antisocial behaviour at the interchange had been made. These calls for help have been ignored. As the minister responsible to this teacher, why have you not acted to prevent this assault? What actions will you initiate to prevent this happening again?
ANSWER
I thank the member for his question, Madam Speaker. It is an important question, because it highlights an issue around this bus interchange in Alice Springs that has to deal with far too many students at a given time in the day, from far too many different schools, and far too big a range of ages. Despite the best efforts of our teachers to monitor and supervise this exchange of students at the interchange, morning and afternoon, it is simply too big for teachers to cope with.
We have had a couple of incidents here. The member refers to an incident yesterday, where an Alice Springs High School staff member suffered an injury to his hand when attempting to intervene between two students who were fighting. That level of misbehaviour has actually resulted, sadly, in injury to the teacher, who was trying to do the right thing. You get to the situation where, of course, Alice Springs High School staff – and why would you blame them? – are getting increasingly reluctant to perform these sorts of duties because it is too big a job. The General Manager Schools has contacted the Alice Springs police, and the advice, this morning, is that four school-based constables will attend the interchange this afternoon. They will stay until we get a permanent resolution to this situation, because it involves the number of students, the range of ages, the difference of where they all come from, and this school-on-school and different groups of students. That is the immediate fix. There will be four school-based constables there at every interchange.
In light of this ongoing disruption, officers from the Department of Employment, Education and Training will be picking it up, as an issue of extreme urgency, with officers from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment. What comes to mind is to take a number of interchanges and a couple of bus stops, and break down the numbers and the range of students who are forced to congregate in this one area.
My sympathy and thoughts go to the Alice Springs teacher who was injured in this incident. My office will be endeavouring to get in touch him in the next day or so. We have a sympathy for this situation. The immediate fix with the school-based constables is a sensible and logical thing to do, until such time as we get a permanent arrangement in conjunction with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment.
Federal Representation for the Northern Territory
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please inform the House what action the Northern Territory government is taking in relation to the inquiry by the Commonwealth government into federal representation for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question; it is an important one. As we all sadly remember, on 20 February this year, the Commonwealth Electoral Commissioner made an announcement that the Territory would lose one federal seat. The decision from the Electoral Commission was brought on by a ‘statistical anomaly’ in population statistics, which are provided by the ABS to the Electoral Commissioner to calculate the entitlement of our seats.
For all of us in this House, the adequate representation of Territorians in the federal parliament it is a fundamental issue. I immediately wrote to the Prime Minister, on 24 February, asking that consideration be given to amending the Commonwealth Electoral Act, to ensure that the Territory is guaranteed a minimum two House of Representative seats.
On 9 July, last month, the federal government referred the matter of Territory representation to the parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. The committee has scheduled a public hearing later this month, 29 August, in Darwin. The Northern Territory government has made a submission to the inquiry supporting minimum representation of two Territory members in the House of Representatives.
To outline what this government’s submission says …
Mr Burke: Supported by federal Labor?
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, you would think that the opposition would be interested.
Mr Burke: Are you supported by federal Labor?
Ms MARTIN: You would think that they would be interested, would you not?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, let the Chief Minister finish her answer.
Ms MARTIN: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
The government’s submission sets out the history of our struggle for adequate representation in the Commonwealth parliament since federation, and that has included unsuccessful High Court challenges to Territory representation.
Our case has two elements. The first of these is the community of interest case, which focusses on physical geography and social composition of our electorate. They are the kind of arguments that are familiar to all Territorians: that we have a large land mass, one-sixth of Australia; as a single electorate, the Northern Territory, in physical size, is second only to Kalgoorlie, but as we all know, it also extends 3600 km offshore, to include the Cocos and Christmas Islands. The Territory electorate is a very large mass.
In population, it is by far the largest electorate in Australia. Our geography creates distinct communities of interest, and a single overarching electorate certainly dilutes our democratic rights. For example, 81% of indigenous Territorians live outside the Darwin statistical division, mostly in remote communities. Since we have had the seat of Lingiari, there has been much greater ability for the member, doing very well in representing his constituency, to represent those constituents because of his ability to cover that large area.
The second part of the Territory’s case concerns the question as to whether the ABS population count figures, which are used to determine our representation entitlement, are correct and accurate. The shortfall in the population needed to maintain two seats was about 295 people, which falls well within the accepted margin of error in ABS statistics on which it is based.
As we know, we stand on the threshold of an exciting period in our development history. We have the nearly completed railway, the East Arm Port, and Timor Sea gas coming onshore. These related developments are going to underpin an unparalleled period of growth in the Territory. It is simply stupid that we should be losing a federal seat now.
In addition, we have long argued that the ABS method of collection, interpretation and adjustment of Census data for the Territory has resulted in a significant under-enumeration of the Territory’s indigenous population. This disadvantages the Territory. Let us take one community alone – Wadeye - where there is substantial evidence that the under-count is far greater than the 295 identified. We have done similar exercises in the Tiwis and the Katherine West areas and found significant under-enumeration, yet we are being penalised for the number of 295, which we challenged and are continuing to challenge.
To be denied a seat on the basis of such a fine margin, using volatile quarterly estimates, which are subject to statistical anomaly, is unfair and detrimental to the Territory. Madam Speaker, we believe we have made a strong case to this inquiry and, on behalf of Territorians, we will be arguing it very strongly.
Alleged Misconduct by Minister for Tourism
Dr LIM to CHIEF MINISTER
Do you agree with your federal leader, Simon Crean, who is reported in the Sydney Morning Herald today as saying that a minister seeking to use his office for the benefit of his family should be sacked? If you agree with the federal leader, why are you protecting your Minister for Tourism, and why are you refusing to release any information relating to his son’s incident with the Northern Territory police?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this takes the call for today’s grubbiest question. We have seen implications from questions asked by the Opposition Leader that this government would be acting in the same way that CLP governments had; that if that is how a CLP government acted, then every other government would act the same way, and casting slurs on public servants and not supporting the proper processes of government. This is another question that goes to the heart of that.
The guidelines that are being blatantly breached by the Minister for Local Government in the federal parliament, Wilson Tuckey, are ones that the Prime Minister set, very clearly. Of course, they are supported by the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Crean.
The issue of the police matter in relation to the member for Johnston’s son has been dealt with appropriately and transparently. It has gone through the proper processes of our police force. Are you saying, opposition, that those proper processes have not been carried out? - because they have. Those processes ended up with the DPP, and there is no case to be answered. That has been made clear, and that is where we stand on it. The grubby question from the member for Greatorex demeans this parliament. It undermines the credibility of our police force and our DPP.
Consumer Law
Ms LAWRIE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Could you please update the House on what is being done to inform consumers and business people about consumer rights and responsibilities?
ANSWER
I thank the member for her question. It is fair to say the consumer affairs area has been transformed since the Martin government came to power. We now have an Office of Consumer Affairs and a commissioner who is able to take strong and appropriate action against any business or individual who is actively subverting the rights of consumers. We now have a Consumer Affairs Council that is very proactive, very talented, and is getting out and starting to align the work of the Office of Consumer Affairs to the needs they are seeing out in the Territory community. We now lead the nation, both formally and in spirit, with the development of a whole new raft of activity in indigenous consumer affairs.
Following on the statement I made in this House earlier this year, today we had the absolute pleasure of opening the NT Consumers Summit for 2003. Over 100 people were at the venue, and every significant group that would have an interest in developing and settling these issues was in attendance. I found it very stimulating, because each event that we have had in furthering consumer affairs issues seems to be getting stronger and more enthusiastic, and I really welcome that, because it is the community that is ultimately going to drive this.
The summit is jointly hosted by our Office of Consumer Affairs, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Securities Investment Commission. Under the theme, ‘Rights: responsibilities and the way forward’, speakers will provide valuable information for consumers and businesses on issues such as the role of the Australian Consumers Association and how it can help NT consumers; dispute resolution and insights into understanding dissatisfied customers; indigenous consumer expectations; and dealing productively with complaints. This is the first time a summit like this has been held in the Northern Territory, and consumers, traders, customer service officers and retailers were all there getting into the proceedings.
With our geographic isolation, the Territory is sometimes prey to unscrupulous dealers, and our unique population make-up means that retailers and other businesses need to be skilled in dealing with a wide range of people.
I look forward to the outcomes of the summit today, when they report back. I made it very clear that, not only will consumers in the Northern Territory gain from the insights that we are getting and the initiatives that are being launched at the moment, but our businesses also will. The work that we have done to date in the area of motor trading has actually repaired and protected the reputation of motor traders in the Northern Territory. Far from putting any one of the legitimate people under attack, we have actually supported their industry.
Insurance Premiums Taxation
Mr REED to CHIEF MINISTER
The business community, community-based organisations and the general public have had to meet enormous increases in the cost of insurance premiums, with many businesses forced to close and home owners having to downgrade or forgo insuring their homes because they simply cannot meet the soaring cost of insurance. Can you explain why your government has almost doubled the amount of taxation you collect on insurance policy premiums, from $12m in 2001 to $21m in 2003, further adding to the already very high cost of insurance?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. The issue of public liability and insurance premiums is one that …
Mr Stirling: And GST.
Ms MARTIN: And certainly GST - is one that this government has had a considerable focus on in terms of …
Mr Reed: You cannot blame GST; this is your tax.
Ms MARTIN: I am tackling the issue. The member for Katherine raised the issue of insurance premiums. What I am indicating very clearly is that, of course, the rise in insurance premiums, particularly the aspect of public liability, has been of great concern to this government. We have taken a very active part in discussions nationally. We have brought into this parliament considerable changes to legislation, to ensure that we see the rise at least managed. Recently, I was delighted to meet one businessman in Alice Springs who said he had had a substantial decrease in his insurance premiums for this financial year.
The increase in the collections reflect a greater increase in our economic activity and, certainly …
Mr Reed: It is a greater increase in tax!
Ms MARTIN: There is no increase in tax. We have been very clear in that. There is an increase in economic activity. The Country Liberal Party in government did not recognise the importance of increase in economic activity, and it is something that is happening now. When we look at the relative figures of economic growth, for a year like 1999-2000 that had no growth, and then at this coming year, which has about 4% growth predicted, there is greater economic activity. We are very proud of that, because it means that there are more jobs, and there will be jobs growth and better opportunities for our businesses.
Crocodile Product Identification Tags
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
As you know, small businesses which produce and sell crocodile products require crocodile product identification tags from Parks and Wildlife. Recently, a constituent of mine rang Parks and Wildlife and, after leaving a number of messages which were not answered, he was told by a junior staff member they only had 24 tags left and no more were in stock. He rang your office, I believe and, thankfully, your staff chased down another 216 from other businesses, which enabled the small businessman to continue operating. Can you say why your department has run out of these tags? What is your department doing to make sure there is adequate stock of these tags at the Parks and Wildlife office at all times so this will not happen again?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. They ran out of tags because there was an increased demand for tags. By the time they ordered them, the Government Printer advised us they were going to be ready by 22 August. Unfortunately, one of the retailers wanted some on Thursday, 21 August, to sell some of his products at Mindil Beach. Therefore, my department chased tags and found 250 tags, which we borrowed from another producer and provided to this retailer.
However, the department will now have a number of tags this Friday, so we are not going to face the problem. The problem with the tags is that it is necessary for us to identify crocodile products produced under supervision, so that they can be sold freely in the market, otherwise we can face problems with illegal processing. I would also like to mention that the department will increase the number of tags they keep in stock to avoid these delays in providing tags to the producers.
Live Cattle Export Trade
Mr McADAM to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
The export of live cattle makes a significant contribution to the Territory economy and, in particular, my electorate of Barkly. Can you please provide details of the current performance of the live cattle trade, and is it likely to be undermined by recent criticisms in the media regarding the welfare of cattle destined for overseas markets?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, the live cattle export trade is very important to the Territory. Approximately 60% of stock turned out of the Northern Territory goes to the live cattle export trade. It is currently worth somewhere over $120m. That represents approximately 30% of the total gross expenditure in all of the primary industry sector, including fisheries, in the Territory. It is a significant employer, both in loading and unloading the ships, transportation of the cattle, and also on numerous pastoral properties throughout the Territory. The number of live cattle exports increased from 193 000 head in 1999-2000 to around 235 000 in 2002-03, taking the value of the sector from $88m in 1999-2000 to over $126m in 2002-03.
I have to report that there has been a quiet start to this financial year, with 20 000 stock going through the Port of Darwin during July. This was about 5500 head less than in June. Overall, looking at this calendar year to date, total live cattle exports through the Port of Darwin have slipped to about 3500 head below the same time last year. However, there was a record year last year, and this year was still more than two years ago. Overall, there is a trend to increase, although it is a little less than last year.
However, the industry, I am reliably informed, advised that future expected trade and prices will be sound, and is tracking well through the port this year. I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of representatives of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and the live cattle exporters. We have a very close relationship with them and work very well.
In recent times, principally a 60 Minutes report, presented a disturbing picture in respect to animal welfare practices and the live cattle export trade. It is worth reporting …
Dr Lim: Oh, don’t dock their tails!
Dr BURNS: Let me answer the question. The portrayals that have been out in the media focus on destination markets that are unrelated to the Northern Territory market destination. That is an important aspect to remember, first of all. I emphasise that neither this government nor industry condones cruel practices. I am certainly, at a very personal level, committed to animal welfare. I am assured that the Northern Territory live cattle industry places an absolute priority on animal welfare, as there is no financial incentive to mistreat livestock. Exporters are paid only for live, healthy animals delivered to their export destination.
The death rate in of exported cattle from the Northern Territory has halved during the last five years,. There has been active research and education programs with regulatory support to improve animal welfare of exported cattle. Here are some very important records in terms of the Northern Territory. The actual mortality rate of exported cattle from Darwin to South-East Asia was 0.07% during 2002. One major exporter has reported that, over 29 000 cattle exported on 11 ships to Indonesia over the last three months has resulted in only one death during that process. There are two factors that really contribute to this low mortality rate: it is the breed of cattle that are accustomed to tropical conditions, and also …
Mr Dunham: What breed is that?
Dr BURNS: Well, mainly Brahman.
The trade also involves short voyages to Indonesia - you are suffering from relevance deprivation syndrome, member for Drysdale.
The southern live cattle and sheep export centres around British breeds and long haul. As a government, we believe there are opportunities for value-adding to our livestock industry. In conjunction with the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, we are looking at options for a multi-species abattoir that would assist cattle, buffalo and camel industries accessing export markets. With government support, a feasibility study on such an abattoir facility has been prepared and is currently being considered by the Cattlemen’s Association. There are some interesting possibilities that have been raised through this report. That study is now publicly available.
In essence, the live cattle export trade is very important to the Territory. I am firmly of the belief and convinced that the practices are humane. It is unfortunate that these media reports have focussed on other destinations that are completely unrelated to practices through the Northern Territory.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016