2011-05-04
GST Rate Increase
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
On Daryl Manzie’s radio program this morning, you said you supported a push by state and territory governments to lift the GST rate from its current level of 10% to 11% or 12% ...
Ms Lawrie: No, you are verballing me.
Mr MILLS: I heard it, Treasurer. Given the extraordinary cost of living in the Northern Territory - the cost to buy or rent a house and of electricity - how could you possibly argue in favour of a tax increase for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is the normal deceit, twisting and slithering you get from the Leader of the Opposition. Read the transcript. I knew where you would go with this. What I said is that that debate has been alive and well at Treasurers’ Conferences and forums. I did not say I supported it as the Northern Territory Treasurer. Be very clear about that, because I do not support it as the Northern Territory Treasurer. What I recognise is the cost-of-living pressures on families are tough enough. That is why we are proud, in this budget, to have handed down the largest range of concessions in the nation to help: childcare, Back to School payment, seniors, carers, pensioners, and subsidies on power. I did not say I supported it. You are being deceitful ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question has been answered - she can sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, so can you.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, that is the normal tactic from the opposition - gag if you are not happy with the truth. If they are proven to be deceitful in their slimy way they misquote, then they do not like the truth.
At the forum, I predicted there will be a debate coming up in October about the GST because, in a taxation debate, how can you have a debate about the raft of taxes and not have a debate about the GST? That has been the case and will always be the case. What I did make clear is the states and territories are sick and tired of the taxation regime where we are beholden to our main flexible source of revenue in the GST. Obviously, own source revenues are sized depending on the size of the jurisdiction. It is a different picture in Victoria and New South Wales because of the sheer number of taxpayers there. We have 120 000 people in the Territory who pay taxes.
States and territories gave up income tax to the federal government in World War II. That has not been shared in the way it was intended; it has not been handed back. We are beholden on the GST in regard to our flexible funding in the taxation regime. Yet, it is not a tax the Commonwealth government is going to enter into - and I said this on Manzie’s show. No, there is no incentive for a Commonwealth government to lift that taxation rate. Equally, there is no ability for states and territories to have, if you like, the destiny of their flexible funding in their own hands. That is a debate that occurs, and will always occur at Treasurers’ Conference, just as the land tax will be a debate at the forum. We are again on the record as saying we are opposing a land tax. We are the only jurisdiction in the nation that does not have a land tax.
No, I will not support an increase to the GST. I have never called for an increase in the GST. I do not support an increase in the GST. Will there be a debate through taxation commentary and experts? Yes, there will. Is there discussion amongst state and territory Treasurers and the Commonwealth Treasurer around where the GST sits in comparison to other taxation revenue? Of course, there is …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: Do not twist the truth.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Palmerston – New Hospital
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the announcement to build a hospital in Palmerston?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what a great announcement today by Warren Snowdon and Trish Crossin on behalf of Nicola Roxon, our federal Health minister, and me and our Health Minister, that we will build a hospital in Palmerston. There is $70m from the Commonwealth government and $40m from our government to build a hospital that will include a 24-hour emergency care clinic and capacity for up to 60 inpatient beds and ancillary services. This shows what happens when you work cooperatively with the Commonwealth government.
Palmerston is the fastest-growing region in the Northern Territory and one of the fastest in the nation. With the new suburb of Weddell coming on stream and increased population in the rural area, now is the time to build this new hospital. The detailed planning for that absolutely starts today.
As well as this announcement for a new hospital in Palmerston, there was a magnificent commitment from the Australian government of $50.3m to build seven brand new primary healthcare clinics at Robinson River, Ngukurr, Canteen Creek, Numbulwar, Elliott, Galiwinku and Ntaria, and to upgrade four existing health clinics at Titjikala, Papunya, Maningrida and Docker River. There is also $13m to redevelop and expand the Gove District Hospital emergency department, $3.7m for similar works at Tennant Creek Hospital, a further $13.5m to provide appropriate short-stay accommodation at Katherine Hospital with 24 beds, and Gove hospital with 12 beds, and a $623 000 grant from the Health and Hospitals Fund to build new health facilities in three small East Arnhem communities.
This is a magnificent day for improvements to healthcare in the Northern Territory. As the member for Lingiari, the Minister for Indigenous Health, said today, this would not have happened under Tony Abbott as Prime Minister and under a Country Liberal Party government, because they opposed the Health and Hospitals Fund. In the last Territory election, they opposed the commitment to build a new clinical school so we can have doctors trained and graduated in the Northern Territory. They campaigned against that commitment for a clinical school. They campaigned against the Palmerston Super Clinic and the Super Clinic for Darwin. It is only Labor governments that make the big transformational investments in healthcare, as opposed to those opposite.
In his budget reply - a policy free zone - the Leader of the Opposition had not one extra dollar for health or for improving healthcare. This is a fantastic announcement today: $150m from the Commonwealth, and $40m additional from the Northern Territory government to expand, improve healthcare, and build a new hospital in Palmerston ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, your time has expired.
GST Rate Increase - Opposition by NT Government
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You know that Labor has a great enthusiasm for taxing. Will you give an absolute guarantee that you will oppose any push by state and territory governments to increase the rate of the GST?
ANSWER
Dr Burns: That has already been answered.
Mr HENDERSON: That question has already been answered - absolutely, Madam Speaker.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It was a question to the Chief Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: He answered the question …
Mr HENDERSON: Absolutely.
Budget 2011-12 - Reactions
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Budget 2011-12 has been very well received. Can you please update the House on some of the reactions …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: They hate good news, Madam Speaker.
Can you update the House on some of the reactions to Budget 2011-12?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. The budget is delivering on the help Territorians need to get ahead with those magnificent concessions I talked about in response to the furphy from the Leader of the Opposition.
It builds on our economic opportunities. With a $1.7bn cash spend in infrastructure in 2010-11, on top of the $1.5bn in 2009-10, we have created more than 12 000 jobs since the global financial crisis. The government made the deliberate decision to go into a cash deficit position to fund our infrastructure program to protect jobs and the Territory economy.
Graham Kemp, Executive Director of Master Builders NT, said the Northern Territory building and construction industry supported the government’s $1.5bn infrastructure spend announced in Budget 2011-12 at a time when the construction industry needed it the most. He said:
- I think it is a courageous budget because the government had to continue the deficit. Deficit is not a dirty word. You cut your cloth to suit the times. In the times we are in, in a small jurisdiction like the Northern Territory, we rely on government as a back-up to keep us in the game.
The Chamber of Commerce understands this decision and supports it. Yesterday, Chris Young said:
- I don’t think that at this point in time it is essential that we have surpluses in the budget.
I think they are being responsible going into deficit …
I have spoken to a lot of business people in the last 24 hours. They strongly support our decision to go into deficit to fund infrastructure. They know it is the right decision for the right time. It is good economic management and, critically importantly, it is good for business. We have delivered eight budget surpluses in a row, cutting debt by $582m. We are maintaining operating surpluses for 2010-11 and 2011-12. The cash deficit is a result of our high capital spend.
The budget is worth $5.3bn. In this context, the deficits are very manageable. David de Garis, Senior Economist at National Australia Bank, agreed yesterday, saying: ‘The debt levels are quite modest, certainly by international experience, they are light years away’. Everybody gets this except the opposition. You are too busy fighting. Chamber of Commerce – tick; Master Builders – tick; social sector – tick; Property Council – tick; head economist NAB – tick; former CLP minister Daryl Manzie – eight out of 10.
Budget 2011-12 – Return to Surplus
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
Yesterday, you assiduously avoided committing to a date the budget would return to surplus, preferring to confuse the issue with the ridiculous phrase that you ‘have a step-out plan back into surplus’. Nonetheless, in the Northern Territory News reports, you said you would be back in surplus in 2015-16, a year after the forward estimates period. In the interests of openness, accountability and transparency, will you correct the public record and table the section of the budget papers that shows a return to budget surpluses in 2015-16? Show us the papers.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I made it consistently clear in every comment I have made that we forecast, in the estimates in the budget papers – we have a step-out of deficit strategy. That was in my speech. I made it clear in the media lockup and I reiterated it in the media conference. That the very clear position …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113 requires a succinct answer. The question is, on what date …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Treasurer, you have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: I have reiterated all along is it is very clear we have an absolute need in the Territory’s economic cycle now - and that has been backed up by all those third party reactions we have seen. The only ones out there arguing against it is the CLP, on their own, against business and industry. We have modest deficits as a result of the need for the high infrastructure spend. We have a step-out strategy, articulated through 2011-12, which is a predicted deficit of $387m, stepping down to a $260m deficit in 2012-13, down to $215m in 2013-14, and down to a deficit of $195m in 2014-15. I made it very clear and it is in the budget papers …
Mr Mills: Table the documents
Ms LAWRIE: I tabled it yesterday, you clown. I made it very clear in all the media lockups that we have very conservative GST revenue going through all of those forward estimates because there is a softening in the nation’s consumption as a result of the global financial crisis. We have lost around $600m in GST revenue we would otherwise have over three years because of the post-global financial crisis ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! A point of relevance. The specific aspect of this question, which the Treasurer has avoided, is the demonstration of the veracity of what she is saying by presenting the section from the budget paper that proves what she is saying is correct. Where is it? Table it.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, if you can come to the point.
Ms LAWRIE: I tabled it yesterday. It is in Budget Paper No 2 if you want to have a look …
Mr Mills: What page?
Ms LAWRIE: I do not have the paper in front of me. It is one of the first few pages after the contents. It is about the second page on the left-hand side. Budget Paper No 2, check it out, it has all the deficit predictions there. I have made it clear; I have been consistent.
The CLP would want us to be in a position where we are just in surplus; we are pretending there is no credit constraint out there and there has not been a global financial crisis effect on private investment. They would like get back to seeing Territorians in the unemployment queues, quite frankly. That is their strategy; to sack public servants and pull back on infrastructure spending so money is not flowing through to business in the all-important construction sector of the Territory. Well, shame on you! Business thinks you are wrong. They have backed the responsible and responsive budget by the Northern Territory government.
Aeromedical Contract
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for HEALTH
I had a look through the budget and I can find no reference to the aeromedical contract. It has now been over 12 months since this contract was first put out for tender. When is this contract to be awarded? Why has it taken such an excruciatingly long time for it be awarded? If it is in the budget, where is it? If it is not in the budget, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his very important question. Because of the long distances in the Territory we rely heavily upon aeromedical services. We are currently under negotiation, which has been a long negotiation, I admit. However, it is a very important service. We have to ensure the service the successful tenderer will provide is suitable for the Territory, and it provides the right equipment and the right aeroplanes. We have seen some incidents in Queensland and Western Australia where single-engine aeroplanes failed ...
Mr Conlan: Rubbish!
Mr VATSKALIS: The member for Greatorex again exhibits his aeronautical expertise he probably learnt while he was working at a radio station. I do not have any aeronautical expertise, I rely upon the advice of the experts who have advised that, on both occasions, the incidents in Western Australia and Queensland involved single-engine airplanes.
The money is not in the budget books because the contract has not been finalised yet …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr VATSKALIS: The contract has not been finalised yet, but the money is there to be allocated to aeromedical services. We are very close to finalising negotiations. A probity auditor has been there all the time to ensure the contract is done properly and no one is disadvantaged. I will be pleased to announce the successful tenderer for the aeromedical service in the next few months.
Budget 2011-12 – Opposition Leader’s Budget Reply
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on the effects the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply would have on the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, with pleasure. Today’s effort from the Leader of the Opposition surely has to go down as the worst budget reply ever. We thought last year was a cracker with the super ghetto, but he managed to make it even worse this year.
It was a policy-free zone, lacking detail, dollars, and direction. The CLP is clearly too racked with their own infighting to come up with anything to benefit Territorians.
The Leader of the Opposition’s speech did not include a single health initiative. It did not include a single education initiative. There was not one job created; no single initiative to help families; no single initiative on the environment; no single initiative on child protection. Unbelievable! His Indigenous policy was contradictory within the same speech. He said families and small businesses need assistance, but he had no initiatives on it.
Our government is delivering a budget that responds to the needs of business and families. Even the former CLP minister, Daryl Manzie, today rated our budget an eight out of 10. The business community has backed the budget - backed the deficit to support jobs, describing it as responsible.
Terry Mills needs to listen to the business community. His budget plan was full of blunders. His plan to sell NT Fleet would cost money. NT Fleet generates around $15m in profit and delivers flow-on effects across the local community to car dealers through the auctions of ex-fleet cars locally.
He wants to save money on advertising, but he is the one who has twice breached the advertising spending legislation - twice! Imagine what he would do if he was in government.
He wants to cut the new prison to deliver a surplus. Despite the fact the prison construction costs are not in the budget, the headworks of $27m are, so it is not a saving because the construction costs are not in there. He does not understand. His own plans for a prison at Katherine etcetera, would cost even more - an extra $97m in capital and an extra $40m per year recurrent operational.
The only new announcements were new layers of bureaucracy: the new layer of bureaucracy for the planning, and a new layer of bureaucracy for the infrastructure - more red tape. So far, Terry Mills has racked up more than $400m in budget promises – see the spendometer we put out on Sunday - and $300m in ongoing costs, with no plan to fund them ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe her time has expired.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Budget 2011-12 - Deficit
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to TREASURER
Your government is going to spend $387m more this year than it actually gets. You are running a $387m deficit. You only have the choice of GST income or Territory revenue as discretionary income to eventually pay back the Northern Territory’s debt, which stands at $3.521bn. Are you spending 10% more disposable income than you actually have, and is it not true that your debt liability is 169% of your discretionary expenditure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the shadow Treasurer for his question. I am still surprised the Leader has not sacked him, quite frankly, after that Ombudsman’s report debated in the parliament. I cannot believe you are in here. I cannot believe you have not sacked him. However, we will get to the management of the debt position.
What he failed to understand is, we are running very modest deficit positions …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: We are running very modest deficit positions. It is pretty modest. If you just wanted to be in surplus today, irresponsibly, you could just shave the $387m off the top of your infrastructure budget and still have a pretty good infrastructure budget size. It would be irresponsible to do that. You would be costing jobs at a time when private sector investment has not returned because the credit market is still tight. What you do is keep your expenditure under your revenue stepping through. We have restraint in place, obviously, through the efficiency dividends and the staffing cap, and have saved $81.5m across two financial years through that tightening of the belt. We ensure we are stepping down.
We announced in the budget speech last year - and I have consistently said this to industry - that we will start to step out of the significant high infrastructure spends we are currently in as the private sector investment pick-up occurs. There is a pretty obvious major project on the horizon. The INPEX final investment decision is at the last quarter of this year. We also have the marine supply base which is a major investment. We have the construction of the prison. Anyone who understands construction knows that is going to be an infrastructure boost, and is significant as a public private partnership.
Clearly, as I articulated in my speech last year - I will continue to articulate that to industry groups - we will start to step down in those very high infrastructure spends across the four years. It is a responsible budget and responsive to the needs at this time.
As David de Garis, the economic analyst, pointed out, the deficit is just 2.25% of our GSP and our debt is running at less than 2% of GSP. It is absolutely at manageable levels. You simply do not understand the economic cycle we are in. We ran eight budget surpluses in a row; we shaved $582m off the debt. In the CLP era, your nett debt to revenue ratio was running at 61%. The 2011-12 nett debt to revenue ratio is at 32% - absolutely manageable. We are doing the right spend at the right time in the economic cycle. If you go to the commentators in the industry such as Master Builders and the Chamber of Commerce, and people such as Peter Davies and Daryl Manzie, they are all saying we did the right thing. Deficit is where we should be now …
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Budget 2011-12 – Job Opportunities
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please advise the House on how Budget 2011-12 will continue to provide job opportunities and job security for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy. If you want a job, come to the Northern Territory. That is a very clear message after 18 months of the lowest unemployment in the nation. Since we came to government in 2001, 26 000 jobs have been created in the Northern Territory. That is an enormous number of jobs into our workforce. Not only that, as a government, we have delivered the lowest taxes to small to medium businesses to support jobs and business. For a Labor government to deliver the lowest taxes and charges for business in the nation is certainly a badge I wear with pride.
We took a deliberate decision to go into deficit to protect jobs, because there is nothing more important for us, as a Labor government, than to create and protect jobs. I will never apologise for protecting jobs for Territorians.
If you look at the CLP policy that was announced by the Leader of the Opposition in the worst budget reply this House has ever heard, not only do they have a plan to sack at least 800 public servants across the Northern Territory, they have a stated policy position not to go into deficit.
Well, since the advent of the GFC, we have had to go into deficit. Since the advent of the GFC, we have created 12 000 jobs in the Northern Territory, and this budget will support an extra 3000 jobs.
Their plan means, if the Leader of the Opposition was the Chief Minister, there would be 12 000 fewer jobs and fewer small businesses operating in the Northern Territory today. There would be even less revenue flowing through own source revenue to the Territory coffers today to provide for improvements in health and education services. That is their plan: ‘Honey, I shrunk the economy’. That is the plan of the Leader of the Opposition: ‘I am going to shrink this economy to preserve a surplus budget’. Every single responsible financial commentator, every single economist, understands when the credit markets dry up - and developer after developer I talk to says they would love to get these projects out of the ground but the banks just are not loaning money at the moment. If governments do not step in at that point, the only consequence is people lose their jobs.
It is pretty fundamental: if you want to portray yourself as the Chief Minister, you have to have a plan. There is no more important plan for mums and dads through the suburbs throughout the Northern Territory than knowing where the next pay packet is coming from. Under the Leader of the Opposition, there would be 12 000 fewer jobs in the Northern Territory today ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Remote Housing – Rental Rise for Substandard Housing
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SIHIP is not going to solve the housing issues on remote Northern Territory communities. The lack of funds has resulted in shortcuts in remote renovations and refurbishments. Can you advise how, in good faith, you can raise the rents of remote tenants whose houses do not even meet healthy living standards?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I believe SIHIP has been a mighty step forward for housing for Indigenous people in remote areas, with a budget of $672m or thereabouts, plus a target of 750 new houses, 2500 refurbishments and 230 rebuilds.
It has been subject to quite a lot of criticism; I understand that. However, I can assure this House I have been endeavouring, as minister, to get the houses completed and to get value for money. We are at the next stage of taking further steps regarding SIHIP around refurbishments, sustainability, repairs and maintenance. In Central Australia, Ingkerreke is doing good work with housing refurbishments, and I welcome that. Organisations like that have to be supported; should be supported. I am putting a very strong case to federal minister Macklin that there should be ongoing investment and some sort of devolution, if you like, of the work to those smaller contractors.
I appreciate what the member has said. I will always strive to get value for money. I went on a trip with the member for Nelson to the Tiwi Islands the other day. A whole range of important issues were raised by the member for Nelson. There are now 393 new houses complete or under way, including 232 complete, 54 at lockup, eight with walls and roof in place, 30 slabs poured and walls erected, and 69 foundations laid. A total of 1381 refurbishments and rebuilds are now complete, with work under way on a further 74. So, there has been progress.
It was interesting talking to the member for Nelson out there about the types of stoves in houses. The debate has moved on a lot since the time when there were no houses on the ground. I believe we have moved to a new stage.
I take what the member for Macdonnell has said; we need to strive for value for money. I will certainly put the case to the federal minister, particularly for sustainability in the bush areas where we have organisations such as Ingkerreke that have the capacity and the ability. We need to honour and support that so we can have ongoing employment for Indigenous people in the remote areas of the Northern Territory.
Budget 2011-12 – Benefits for Indigenous Territorians
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
Can you please outline how Budget 2011-12 will continue to progress and improve access to services, employment and economic opportunities for Indigenous Territorians across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Arafura. I am delighted with the budget around Indigenous development and our reforms across the Northern Territory. It is under the Labor government of the Northern Territory and the Labor federal parliament that, for the first time in the history of the Northern Territory, we are seeing incredible infrastructure spending in these regions. We are about building our families across the Northern Territory, no matter where they live. It is an absolute credit to both levels of government, with the particular focus on Indigenous development across the Northern Territory, no matter where you live.
Last week, I had the pleasure, with Senator Mark Arbib, to announce a $30m package over the next three years focused on over 500 families across the Northern Territory within our shires - again, a reform of the Labor government of the Northern Territory to ensure we are improving the lives and governance across our regions - to improve employment opportunities, with 300 jobs available in the housing and maintenance area of local government.
This year, the investment of this government, under our Treasurer, includes over $630m in new infrastructure - building strongly on our record infrastructure investments this financial year - with new police stations, new health and education facilities, and improvements to road access and other transport linkages to our growth towns. It is absolutely fundamental that this parliament not only recognises the significant reform which is taking place across our regions, but continues to support it for decades to come.
We are about addressing the decades of neglect. We are doing it. There will always be problems, but our government, under Paul Henderson, is ensuring that we are doing this across the regions for every family.
Budget 2011-12 – Infrastructure Revote
Mr BOHLIN to TREASURER
Yesterday on ABC radio, and in the paper this morning, you refused to reveal the extent of the infrastructure budget revote. As you know, the revote shows how much of the infrastructure budget you did not spend. Can you tell Territorians the extent of the infrastructure revote? Given you say the revote always straddles two financial years because of the building season, why have you re-announced your 2009 commitment to spend $5m revitalising the Alice Springs mall, and not simply got on with delivering it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is misleading to say I refused to answer on ABC radio. I made it very clear to Alex that I did not have the revote figures in front of me. What I did say to Alex on ABC radio is the revote is decreasing from the 2010-11 to the 2011-12 year. I refer you to Budget Paper No 4, which I have with me. I did not have it at my desk when I was talking to Alex on the radio. I made it clear it was simply the case that I did not have that information at hand, not that I was refusing to answer. Do not be misleading in your question.
If refer you to Budget Paper No 4, page 10, which has the 2010-11 capital works and estimated capital expenditure. In 2010-11 the revote in was $809.5m, the revote out is $649m. Therefore, the revote in 2011-12 is $649m and the revote out in 2011-12 is $479m. We have a bigger build and bigger spend that has occurred throughout the 2010-11 financial year, which has not finished yet. Obviously, it finishes on 30 June. Despite it being a record year of infrastructure spend, we are spending and getting the jobs done at a greater rate than we ever had in the history of infrastructure in the Territory, despite the very wet Wet Season we have had.
What I also explained to Alex - which you in the opposition seem not to be able to grasp - is that revotes occur because capital works straddle financial years. The context of the Northern Territory is pretty simple; you build in the Dry Season. You do as much preparatory works as you can before the rain hits, but the big build occurs in the Dry Season. We have big projects such as Tiger Brennan Drive, the roads projects, the bridge projects and the like.
What you do is provide for capital grants. The CBD grant that went to Alice Springs was always promised for a particular year in the cycle, and we have delivered that in the year we said we would. That is a capital grant to the Alice Springs Town Council to revitalise the CBD. It was announced in an election commitment and was always pegged for the financial year we have delivered it in.
You are more than welcome to receive a briefing when it comes to understanding the program. If you look at Budget Paper No 4, the 2010-11 cash is $1.7m, and the 2011-12 cash is $1.471m, which we round up to a $1.5m spend. That is a significant spend going out into the pockets of Territory businesses, creating jobs - and you clowns would slash it.
Palmerston Hospital – Referral to Public Accounts Committee
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
You just announced a new hospital for Palmerston and the rural area. To remove the politics from this decision and to ensure this announcement is scrutinised thoroughly, will your government send this proposal to the Public Accounts Committee to investigate what type of hospital is to be constructed, what services will be provided, where the staff will come from, what the best site, what will happen to the existing RDH, and any other relevant matters to ensure the right decision is made - not on politics, but on sound facts and figures?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I give an absolute commitment to the member for Nelson that the development of the new hospital at Palmerston will be based on the best advice we have from the clinicians. It is not for politicians to decide the exact design of a hospital, the exact running of the hospital, or exactly what treatments will be provided at the hospital. This will be governed by clinical oversight and governance.
At the point in time when we actually have that work done, which has started today, I am happy to provide a briefing in whatever forum or scrutiny and for the Public Accounts Committee to look at that. However, that work has not been done. The announcement by the Commonwealth government of Australia today that it is committing $150m to capital infrastructure for health facilities across the Northern Territory is fantastic. The design of those facilities and how they will be run will very much be determined by clinicians who will operate out of those facilities. Once those decisions have been made, I am more than happy to provide a briefing to the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister has already resumed his seat.
Budget 2011-12 – Child Protection and Territory Families
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION
Can you please update the House on the record child protection budget and what this government will deliver for Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a good question. This government has made a significant investment in child protection since 2000-01. We found a minuscule budget when we came to government - you probably remember, you were the first Child Protection minister - and since then we have increased the budget many times.
This year, the budget for families and child protection is $182m. There is an extra $25.2m to continue with the investment we have made in child protection including $3.6m to reform the child protection intake system; $5m for increased payments for foster and kinship carers; $700 000 for the Children’s Commissioner; $2.4m to boost community education to establish hostel-based interagency teams; and money for 55 frontline staff.
However, the best way to assess what governments do about child protection services is to look at a similar period of time during a previous government and this one. We found a workforce of just over 100, now we have just under 500. We found a very small budget - which I will go to later - now we have $182m.
Yesterday, the member for Araluen made mention of a very significant report, State of Denial: The Neglect and Abuse of Indigenous Children in the Northern Territory. Last night I looked at this report and I would not have been very proud if I was in the CLP government when this report was commissioned. That report was actually taking into account …
Mrs Lambley: It came out in 2002 when you were in government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: That report looked at child protection from 1990-91 to 2000-01. I quote from the report:
- The research found that the child protection system in the Northern Territory …
Over the period 1990 to 2000:
- … is not a system at all and that it is failing to meet its statutory obligations to Indigenous children under the Northern Territory Community Welfare Act of 1983.
I quote from the Executive Summary:
- The evidence from this research shows that the Northern Territory has the highest levels of unrecorded child abuse and neglect in Australia …
- The national rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being removed from home and placed in out-of-home care …
… is consistently between four and five times higher than the rate for the Northern Territory.
The end of the Executive Summary of the report says - and is really embarrassing:
- Rather than address the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children the Northern Territory child protection has in effect withdrawn from service provision abandoning the most impoverished children and families in Australia.
Budget 2011-12 – Overland Conveyor Belt for Port of Darwin
Mr BOHLIN to TREASURER
In the 2008-09 budget, the government allocated $30m for the new overland conveyor belt for the Port of Darwin. Talk about job creation to the engineering sector! Talk about the anxiety of the engineering sector! Why has that money not been spent, and where has that $30m gone from this budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member opposite for the dorothy dixer. Clearly, he does not understand what has occurred during that period; that massive private investment you need to get mines up and operational has, essentially, dropped right away. We have always planned the second overland conveyor belt system for the port - we have allocated and budgeted for it - based on the high growth boom in resources that was occurring pre-GFC. The GFC struck, which is why you are referring to the 2008-09 financial year which was pre-GFC. . The GFC struck and ...
Mr Elferink: No, it was not. It was in last year’s budget as well.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: The 2008-09 …
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: You idiot! The 2008-09 Budget, handed down in May 2008, was pre-GFC, you idiot ...
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: Come in spinner! Oops, member for Port Darwin, you do not even understand that.
What we are doing, and what we have consistently told industry, is we are very closely monitoring what is occurring with new production in the Territory. It will take more than 18 months from a go-live decision on a mine regarding new production in the Territory, to ore across the port. The most advanced in that scenario is Wonarah, with phosphate in Tennant Creek. They have signed off an agreement with the traditional owners there so, obviously, that is first cab off the rank in the logistics of mine to production.
We also have to look at quantities in existing production, but we are tracking well with the existing system. You do not build something until you need it, because the build period will be less than the warning we get of a decision to go live with production in a new mine. So, it is tracking well. We have put money into upgrading in this 2011-12 Budget. There is funding for the upgrade of the existing conveyer belt system to meet the environmental requirements and standards we should be meeting at the port. We have the money set aside for the port’s second conveyer system, dependent on production increase.
That is what smart governments do. You do not invest in a piece of infrastructure that you do not need yet. In 2008-09, it was the right thing to announce because we saw production capacity absolutely looming in the resources sector. You might recall the GFC hit in that period. There were mine closures and shut-downs in Western Australia. Literally, the exploration just dropped right away for a period of a few months.
Since then, we have had a rebound. We have had something like $170m in new mineral exploration in the Territory as a result of the strategies of this government.
Budget 2011-12 – Opportunities for Central Australia
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you please update the House on Budget 2011-12 and how it delivers for the people of Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Budget 2011-12 does deliver and build on the opportunities for Central Australians and their families. When you look at infrastructure, health, education, and the important issue of law and order we have particularly talked about this year, you can see that Budget 2011-12 does deliver for Alice Springs.
An example is the $4.7m boost to the Youth Action Plan, with $3.6m for boarding accommodation for middle and senior college students in Alice Springs. I had a great opportunity the other day to go to the youth hub, where I actually took on a skateboard, as you may have seen, Madam Speaker. The extra $1.1m for the Alice Springs Youth Hub is already achieving some success.
We talk about better schooling. Another example of better schooling in Alice Springs is our government’s commitment to Acacia Hill School, with $1.5m in Budget 2011-12 for further upgrades which are badly needed.
In infrastructure, we have heard about the $5m in Budget 2011-12 for the CBD, which is welcomed by our Mayor, Damien Ryan. There is $3.8m to continue works to deliver 18 units for seniors accommodation in Alice Springs at Larapinta; $3.5m for headworks to continue to develop the new suburb of Kilgariff; and, $2m to continuing the upgrades of Tanami Highway.
There is also money for the Desert Park for the control of feral animals; $250 000 continuing for the water tank rebate which is so popular in Alice Springs; $160 000 for the Olive Pink Botanic Garden; $75000 for the iconic Finke Desert Race; and $10 000 for the Harts Range Races.
These are fantastic announcements for Central Australia. I am proud to be part of a government that delivers for all Territorians, no matter where they live.
East Arm Wharf Copper Spill – EPA Report
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
This will be interesting, given the Treasurer’s last answer. The EPA has released Part 1 of its report into the copper concentrate incident at the East Arm Wharf. The report provides a critical assessment of the incident at the wharf. Can you please detail what, if any, of the EPA’s recommendations you will accept, what action will be taken, and when?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We take the report very seriously. In fact, we have probably acted on a lot of those recommendations as we speak. As we know, we are going to court regarding one of those incidents, so I cannot speak directly about that.
This government has been absolutely committed to protecting our wonderful Darwin Harbour. I want to ensure cultural compliance and transparency, no matter what the industry is working in our harbour. I have taken the recommendations of the EPA on board. We are the ones that actually established the EPA. We provided extra funding through last year’s budget, and legislation to give them more teeth. I take those recommendations seriously and have acted. I have come down hard on people who are going to pollute, particularly our harbour. I will take those recommendations seriously.
Budget 2011-12 – Public and Affordable Housing
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Can you please outline to the House how the Henderson government is investing in public and affordable housing for the benefit of Territorians in Budget 2011-12?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. We are investing $530m for more public affordable housing and accommodation across the Territory. Some of the highlights include: a continuation of the $49m to build 150 new public housing homes over three years; $11.6m to complete construction of the 40 seniors units at Bellamack; $15.1m for repairs and refurbishments to existing public housing dwellings; $9.4m to commence a targeted upgrade program on urban public housing dwellings across the Territory; $14.1m to complete 186 social dwellings as part of the $60m nation building plan; and $1m to redevelop old public housing unit complexes.
We will continue to ensure that 15% of all government land release is set aside for affordable and social housing. We have also established the affordable rental housing company. In coming years, I look forward to them developing their asset base and operations in the Northern Territory.
Regarding home ownership, since July 2004 1400 families have been helped to purchase their own home. Budget 2011-12 sees Homestart NT income and purchase price limits increase. The income limits are now $80 000 for a single person; $97 500 for a couple; and a further $7500 for each dependant in a household to a maximum income of $127 500 for a household of six or more. I have detailed in this House before what those income limits are across the Territory and how they have been increased - they are certainly significant increases.
For those who are less fortunate, supported accommodation: there is $1.22m for the 150-bed Alice Springs short-term accommodation visitor park – and I have had very positive feedback about that, and the Minister for Central Australia has also reported to me on that; $1.7m for a tenancy sustainability program across the Territory; again in Alice Springs, just over $1m for the Percy Court transitional village to house up to 70 people; and Crerar Road, Berrimah - I have been to that facility a number of times – has $1.22m to operate transitional accommodation.
We are endeavouring to address housing issues across the Territory. The need is great. I mentioned Indigenous housing before in response to the member for Macdonnell’s question. We will continue to work hard to try to alleviate the pressures on housing right across all sectors in the Northern Territory.
Budget 2011-12 – Wildlife Parks’ Outcomes
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
In Budget Paper No 3, under Parks and Wildlife, it says that an outcome for the Territory Wildlife Park is to provide a quality experience to visitors through the presentation of flora and fauna in a variety of natural Top End habitats and ecosystems. Further on it states that the outcome is a visitor experience that showcases the biodiversity of the unique environment of the Top End and promotes conservation initiatives. How, then, does that fit in with the statement, also in Budget Paper No 3, where it says there is meant to be an increased focus on Indigenous cultural tourism at both parks? Who made the policy decision to move away from wildlife to Indigenous cultural tourism? Is this not about, once again, academia taking over from the scientists, similar to the concerns I raised previously about the museum?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. We had a review of the Territory Wildlife Park. There is no reason why we cannot do both. I have been there a couple of times. This government is particularly focused on working with traditional owners in managing the future directions of our parks. I do not have a problem with that; I believe we can do both. We want to engage traditional owners; that is a real strength. We can do the scientific and other things that the park has always done.
In relation to your question yesterday, member for Nelson, I believe I clarified regarding the funding and the budget figures in the books. We are the ones who are looking at the park and how we can further grow the park to make it an attraction, incorporating traditional owners. I believe we can do both.
Rio Tinto Alcan Alumina Plant – Petrol Spill
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIROMENT and HERITAGE referred to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
I will not hold the minister personally responsible. I know he does not have a lot of pull with the Treasurer. They take away the money that he could probably do ...
Mr Henderson: And the question is? What is your question?
Ms Scrymgour: And the question is? Make sure you read it how they wrote it.
Mr CHANDLER: Of course, I will.
The EPA has provided you with its final advice in relation to the review and assessment of the petrol spill at the Rio Tinto Alcan Gove alumina plant. Would you please advise the parliament what recommendations you have accepted and what action you have taken in regard to these recommendations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. This government takes our environment very seriously. I understand those investigations were on the mining lease at Alcan. My department assisted the Department of Resources with an investigation. I am quite happy to hand that over to the minister for mines.
Mr VATSKALIS (Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources): Madam Speaker, I am really surprised the member did not know it actually happened on a mining lease and the Department of Resources is responsible.
The investigation has been finalised and provided to the Department of Justice. We are now awaiting advice from the Department of Justice about possible prosecution.
Budget 2011-12 – Environmental Measures
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIROMENT and HERITAGE
How does Budget 2011-12 continue to build on this government’s record of protecting the Territory’s unique environment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. He is right; it does build on this government’s outstanding delivery for the environment and protection of our environment.
A focus for me in this budget is on employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people in remote communities. That is why Budget 2011-12 has $2.1m to increase those opportunities, particularly for our ranger groups throughout the Northern Territory. There are 18 ranger groups across the Northern Territory. I want to see our Indigenous employment percentage go from 22% up to 30% over the next five years. A focus of Budget 2011-12 for the environment is targeting jobs and training opportunities for Indigenous rangers throughout the Northern Territory.
Another major focus for this government is the historic container deposit scheme. Budget 2011-12 delivers $490 000 to implement this landmark legislation, with a further $315 000 annually from 2012 to continue the operation of the scheme. Focusing on our regions - something the opposition forgot about during their time in government - we will be assisting remote communities to establish collection points through various grants, and help them clean up their communities prior to the commencement of the scheme.
This budget will ensure that, by 1 September this year, the Territory also becomes plastic bag free. You may have heard on the radio or seen on television the phase-out has commenced; the advertising has begun. We are providing plenty of assistance for retailers with information kits and information sessions that are being organised throughout the Territory.
Together, Cash for Containers and the plastic bag ban will move us towards a culture of recycling, and help achieve our Territory 2030 goal of reducing rubbish going into landfill by 50%.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016