2011-08-16
Nightcliff Middle School - Education Precinct and School Library
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
In June this year, you announced the establishment of the Nightcliff education precinct, designed to provide programs of academic excellence. Given that, can you confirm Nightcliff Middle School does not have a librarian and has had its library removed? Can you explain how removing a school library fits in with your government’s model of an education precinct?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I welcome the question because it gives me a chance to talk about the Nightcliff Middle School and its direction in becoming an ICT precinct. We have made it a precinct with Elizabeth Veel, well-known principal of Nightcliff Primary School, as the head of that precinct.
There is no doubt the school decided to go down this route of being an ICT centre and has entered into an important partnership with Apple for computers. I am not at liberty to talk about the quantum of the support Apple is giving the school because that is the way Apple wants it. However, I can tell parliament that each child in the later years at that school is issued with an iPad and each child starting off at that school is issued with a device.
Decisions about librarians and libraries are decisions for schools and are made at the school level in consultation with school councils. I am not in the business of overturning decisions made by the leadership in schools in collaboration with the school council. This is clearly a direction taken by Nightcliff Middle School and I commend it.
I was at the Principals Conference earlier this year and some young students spoke about this new age of ICT and said: ‘I invite you to come in to our world, the world of ICT’.
That is the way things are going; kids can access material on the Internet - whole libraries on the Internet. The collection of the physical library at Nightcliff Middle School has been put in the classrooms. The school is actually two teachers over entitlement because of their submission and their work. It is up to the school, as we all know. Those of us who actually attend school council meetings know that schools, in collaboration with school councils, make those decisions.
I advise you, member for Brennan, to go to Nightcliff Middle School. I will arrange a trip for you, and you can talk to the staff and the students yourself, as I have on several occasions. I believe you would be enthusiastic about the direction it has taken. The question is not appropriate for me, because it is a decision made by the school itself.
Every Child, Every Day Strategy - Update
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the importance of the government’s Every Child, Every Day education strategy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. As parents, there is nothing more important we all do than send our kids to school every day. As I have said in the House on many occasions, if kids go to school every day in the Northern Territory they get an education that is as good, if not better, than anywhere else in Australia. Year upon year, I attend Territory Year 12 graduation ceremonies for the provision of awards to our best performing students. Some of our best performing students are equal to, and better, than the best performing students of other states.
If you go to school every day, you will receive a great education. The My School website spells this out; schools with higher attendance levels have better numeracy and literacy results. That is why Every Child, Every Day is, perhaps, our most important initiative.
Since coming to government, we have invested heavily in education. There are 400 more teachers in our schools today than there were in 2001 - 400. The Leader of the Opposition dismisses spending on education because he says it is not an outcome. That is how I understand he will apply his cuts to education to bring the budget back to surplus. I do not know how you can improve education without teachers. I cannot see how 400 extra teachers in our Northern Territory schools is not about improving education - we have to pay for them. We have not just invested in teachers; we have built nine new schools, and upgraded every single primary school, as well as our group schools in the Northern Territory.
Prior to 2001, under the CLP, no child had ever graduated from secondary school in the bush, and that held us back for decades. We have changed that policy. We have built secondary facilities in seven communities and over 150 kids have completed school in the bush. However, there is much more to be done. Again, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Gerard Neesham and his Clontarf Academies where we are seeing education outcomes for young Indigenous boys starting to lift. I am looking forward to a graduation ceremony this year at the convention centre where we will see 120 Indigenous boys from across the Northern Territory who have completed their Year 12. I am really looking forward to that. It is going to be a great way to end the year.
Madam Speaker, today a child can be born in the Northern Territory, go through the entire education system, and graduate from Charles Darwin University with a medical degree. That is how good our education system is in the Northern Territory; it is world-class. If a child goes to school every day, I guarantee, they will achieve.
Nightcliff Middle School – Proposed Skate Park
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you confirm that your ministerial advisor and a staffer from the Minister for Sport and Recreation’s office attended a school council meeting at Nightcliff Middle School last week promoting the idea of putting a skate park on the school grounds? What consultation has taken place with the Nightcliff community? The school does not even have a library and you, as minister for Education, do not seem to think it is important. What is your interest in appropriating school land for the construction of a skate park?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am aware there are discussions in the Nightcliff area about skate parks and about a range of amenities for the Nightcliff area. It is appropriate, given there are many kids at the school, that the school be canvassed on that issue. You are still going on about the library; I have explained that. The focus of the school is ICT. The school may well decide to consolidate their collection and upgrade their physical collection in the future but, essentially, their direction is in the ICT direction.
I reiterate my offer, member for Brennan, for you to look around the school, be briefed about the direction of the school, and I think you will be as pleased as I am about that particular school. It is no secret that Nightcliff Middle School has struggled with enrolment numbers, and making it a centre for excellence for IT is the right direction, The kids are engaged. What do you have against skate parks? You do not want to see kids using computers …
Mr Chandler: I want to see kids educated.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … you do not want to see kids in skate parks. What do you want? Are we going back to some luddite version of education? We do not really know, because you have not put forward your policy.
I have said that the physical collection of the library has been reallocated in the classrooms, as per an open learning style, which is another modern education concept. Kids these days, as I said previously and will say again: ‘I invite you to come into our world’. The invitation seems to be directed at you, member for Brennan.
Improving Educational Outcomes – Professor Geoff Masters
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please advise the House on the findings of Professor Geoff Masters’ report on improving educational outcomes in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we have a long-term strategy. We have policies for improving educational outcomes for our kids in the Northern Territory, and we have funding against those policies. It is all about quality programs, quality initiatives, and a sound strategic direction.
To that end, as minister, I thought it was fit and proper to engage Professor Geoff Masters who heads up the rather august body, the Australian Council for Educational Research. Their conference at the Darwin Convention Centre - last week I believe it was - attracted 400 high-class delegates from around Australia. Geoff Masters, as members might be aware, assisted Queensland to progress their literacy and numeracy scores through the NAPLAN. He has come back with a report. He is reporting to both the CEO of Education and me.
I arranged for the shadow minister to have a briefing when Professor Masters was in town. I need to touch base with the shadow minister and find out his view about that briefing. Professor Masters has produced a report and it is on the Internet. I will table it now, Madam Speaker, together with the comprehensive departmental response.
In general, Professor Masters believes we are heading in the right direction, but he wants some other priority areas addressed. These include improving school literacy and numeracy plans, clarifying them at the school level; better monitoring and assessment of student performance; better support for principals and teachers in their professional development. I am sure all members would agree that is common sense and the right way to go. He provides detail about how we might achieve that.
He is calling on the department to give clearer strategies and outcomes, particularly for individual students, not just at the school level, but also for individual students. He has also identified those crucial years before kids go to school as an area we need to develop further, and we have taken that on board.
This aligns with our strategic partnership with the Menzies School of Health Research in evaluating the effectiveness of our strategies on the ground. The Australian Early Development Index findings show that Indigenous kids are lagging behind and it is important we get them at the point where they are ready for school.
I commend Professor Masters for his diligence and candid recommendations. In closing, we know when kids do attend school in the Northern Territory, Madam Speaker …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Nightcliff Middle School – Improving Educational Outcomes
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Why was Nightcliff Middle School without a maths and science teacher for a lengthy period, has no librarian, and has even had its library removed, and yet you are actively promoting the establishment of a skate park on the school grounds? Unlike the Chief Minister’s assertions, the most recent NAPLAN results show Nightcliff Middle School was well below, or substantially below, the national average in reading and writing, and every other category shown here in red and bright red. Is it true that your government’s priorities are not focused on improving education outcomes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, here we go again. We have the shadow minister for Education, without a policy, running down Nightcliff Middle School - running it down and being critical. He does not have a policy and all he can do is criticise. This is where the CLP is so intent on its own little power struggles it does not have time to put out policies.
I have given clear direction with Nightcliff Middle School as a technology precinct, and that school is focused on their outcomes. I have already said that Liz Veel, a very well-known and respected primary school teacher of approximately 30 years standing, has taken charge of that precinct. As a government, we are looking at enrolments at Nightcliff Middle School and we are certainly looking for the way forward.
The shadow minister must want us to return to slates or ink wells. This is the era of the iPad, the era of electronic communications, the era of the Internet where kids learn from the Internet, yet the opposition is being critical of this particular step.
I respect books, I grew up with books, I recognise books still have their place but, primarily, the focus of kids, as I have said before: ‘I invite you to come into our world’. I make that invitation to you again, member for Brennan. Stop being so negative.
Mantra Pandanus – Hire Car Access
Mr WOOD to the MINISTER for TRANSPORT
You would have read in today’s paper that Mr Darryl Window, hire car operator, cannot pick up or drop off passengers outside the Mantra Pandanus on Knuckey Street because the area is only for taxis and buses. When he has dropped off passengers, the Darwin City Council has booked him. According to today’s paper, the Mayor of Darwin says it is up to the NT government to change the rules. What is your response to this, and what can you do to fix the problem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The Mantra Pandanus development was approved in November 2005, and I am advised it did not provide for bus drop-off or pick-up area.
The Darwin City Council was provided with copies of the development plan for comment at the time, and they did not raise any concerns about the absence of a drop-off facility; it is important to get that out ...
A member: So, it is not your fault?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: With the CPV industry, all private hire car jobs are pre-booked and it is important we add that into the debate. I am advised Mr Window has received a special approval to pick up in the car park of the Mantra Pandanus building. That good operational decision for that problem is to be congratulated.
Private hire car vehicles are also able to pick up on Knuckey Street in the existing car parks, which are two hours or five minutes, and that is quite okay. My advice is the operator has a good opportunity with the arrangement with Mantra Pandanus, that there are opportunities on the street, and the matter of changing any of those drop-off or pick-up points relates to local government and the Darwin City Council.
Education Budget – Building Better Schools
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Delivering quality and affordable education is a key priority of this government. Can you please update the House how the budget is focused on building better schools across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are proud of our record in delivering this critical area of quality and affordable education services. We recognise quality education provides fundamental building blocks of opportunity, a better society for all, and a more productive society - which is why we have invested significantly in education.
Budget 2011-12 delivers a record $930m for education and training, with $53m for infrastructure upgrades across Territory schools. We have increased the education budget from $476m in 2001 to $930m; a 95% increase in Territory education funding in a decade. We have almost doubled the education budget. Since coming to government, we have invested $592m to build better schools. Investment across all-important repairs and maintenance, minor new works, and the big capital works projects includes our government’s $246m four-year plan to upgrade every primary and group school in the Territory, deliver major projects across secondary colleges, remote community education centres, and our primary schools. In addition, we have committed $30m to upgrade those all-important special schools. Territory schools have benefited from this record investment to improve and modernise their facilities - new halls, multipurpose areas, and more classrooms.
We have also invested in a range of initiatives - 400 more teachers since 2001, teacher assistant positions in transition classes, and technology improvements including SMART boards. We support the federal government’s initiative to roll-out laptops to students. We delivered a new initiative in Back to School Vouchers to help families with the costs of getting their kids to school; new centres of excellence initiatives across our secondary schools; improvements in our teacher to student ratios; additional resourcing to support and develop teachers; secondary education and mobile preschools in the bush; and improved access to vocational education and training in schools to support growing our workforce. Quality and affordable education is the key priority of this government. We are proud of our record. We are creating a productive workforce for our future.
Population Decline
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Last week in this parliament you attributed the Territory’s shrinking population to the relocation of the Army’s 7 RAR from Darwin to South Australia. Just to remind you, 100 more people a month leave the Territory than arrive from interstate. Last week, the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce completely discredited the assertion that population drain is a result of the Army’s relocation saying:
- This is purely a locally grown retraction due to lack of activity.
Can you please table the evidence to support your assertion that the substantial and ongoing population decline is a result of 7 RAR’s relocation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is in the economy book of the budget as handed down in May and was part of the estimates debate. In the budget papers, we specifically refer to the 7 RAR relocation in the population data and the reduction in nett interstate migration. It is specifically in the budget papers.
You will recall our population debate came ahead of the latest unemployment figures. If we were debating the following day the latest unemployment figures – and this is why the member for Port Darwin is quite selective in his memory - we would be talking about the latest data figure out which points to a contraction in the nation’s economy. We are still below the national average of 5%, with a 4.2% unemployment rate. It is the opposition burying its heads in the sand; it does not understand the importance of this government’s infrastructure spend.
Ask the construction sector how public spending is critical to driving economic opportunities in the Territory right now. Ignore the fact that tourism, as a sector, is being hard hit with the strong Australian dollar. With retail, we have a conservative consumer in our nation because the global financial crisis recovery is longer than anyone would have anticipated. They are listening to the radio broadcasts, television, and newspaper reports about the ongoing lingering concerns around the global financial crisis, particularly in Europe and the US. We have a conservative consumer. All that data is coming through across our national data sets, across all state and territory jurisdictions, and we are no different to the other jurisdictions in our retail and our tourism data.
We are going to have an impact with cattle. Chris Young, in his public comments, has flagged that and made the point. We had that debate one day before the latest datasets were out. If you want to have a debate on later data sets, bring it on, but do not confuse yourselves around the data we were debating, which is in the economic book of the budget - if you had bothered to read it. We had that discussion at estimates; 7 RAR is specifically mentioned in the budget book ...
Mr Elferink: Yes, 4100 jobs, is it? Since January?
Ms LAWRIE: Turn your attention to it.
Delivering Educational Outcomes – Building the Education Revolution Roll-out
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
Can you please inform the House how Territory students are benefiting from the roll-out of the Building the Education Revolution program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am proud to be part of a Henderson Labor team delivering for young Territorians, as education is a cornerstone to the development of the Territory and of our society. Logically, that would mean partnership with the federal government, unlike those on the other side who blindly followed their Liberal colleagues in Canberra – blindly - and opposed $207m worth of infrastructure into education for Territory kids.
Let us get back to the construction part of it, because there were 130 projects for government schools across the Territory. I have been privileged to see some of those, including some in the Barkly electorate.
When you deconstruct the infrastructure component, we are talking about refurbishment, construction of libraries, new science and language facilities, new music and art rooms, multipurpose areas, new or refurbished classrooms and resource centres, and covered outdoor learning areas. Territory students are now enjoying these facilities and, because of that, we are delivering better education all the time.
Some of us have had the privilege of attending openings of the facilities, and I am pleased to advise the House that those on the other side have taken that opportunity as well. On the other side of this House, they have attended the opening of BER facilities because it would be illogical not to celebrate a fantastic infrastructure spend, not only benefiting students, but also the construction industry. When we talk about the construction industry, we are talking about local contractors. There is one thing the opposition needs to understand: when you feed the construction industry, you put bread on the table for Territory families. It filters down into the community and it develops the economy. There are two great outcomes from the BER, not only in the construction sector, but also in educational outcomes and in community development across the Northern Territory.
What I keep talking about in this House is a holistic approach to education outcomes in remote and urban areas. I am proud to be able to talk about Building the Education Revolution.
Howard Springs Nature Park – Awarding of Tender
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Recently, tenders were let for the new rock pool and waterfall, landscaping, and adventure park at Howard Springs Nature Park. Could you please say if this tender has been awarded, what is the name of the successful tenderer, how much will it cost, and when can we expect to see it started, finished and, eventually, opened to the public?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This government is proud of its record of upgrading Howard Springs. I am happy to get back to you today in relation to that tender, member for Nelson. I will take that question on notice, sorry.
Unemployment Figures
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
The latest unemployment figures show that since January the unemployment rate has jumped from 2.4% to 4.2%. Since January, we have lost 4100 jobs. Last week, the Chamber of Commerce effectively said they did not believe your explanations and excuses. You said your infrastructure spend was going to stop this happening. How do you explain these appalling results?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Port Darwin because he does not understand the direct link between the government’s capital program with record infrastructure expenditure and the creating and protecting of Territory jobs. There were 12 000 jobs saved and created since the global financial crisis as a result of this government’s bold decision - the right decision which you still oppose; open up to that - the right decision to provide record infrastructure spending, supporting 12 000 jobs.
If you look at the unemployment …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is relevance. The Treasurer was asked to explain why 4100 jobs have gone missing. She has failed to do that.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I believe the Treasurer is answering the question. If you could come directly to the point though, that would help things.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is a direct link between the government’s decisions regarding expenditure in a post-global financial crisis environment where private sector investment essentially slipped away due to freezing of the credit market. When credit slowly started to flow again, the cost of credit for private investment was extraordinarily high. Go and talk to the private investment sector about that.
What we have done is lift our infrastructure spending to support jobs and chased key major projects. The opposition wants to scrap the prison. The prison is worth 1000 jobs. Go and talk to the construction sector about your stupid idea of scrapping construction of the prison. Look at the marine supply base regarding job opportunities, both in the construction and the flow-on jobs. This government is proud of its record. We recognise, and always said, the calendar year 2011 was going to be a tough year in the domestic economy because of the flow-on effects of the global financial crisis. Industry recognised there was going to be a lag effect and we recognised it as well.
That is why we have a record infrastructure budget of $1.5bn this year. If we had listened to the CLP - and they were out there on their own on this one. The Chamber of Commerce and the Master Builders backed us. They all said they recognise the government spend, the deliberate decision to go into deficit, to add to debt, to spend in these tough economic times, was the right thing to do.
The latest unemployment figures show we made the right decision. There would have been dramatic job losses if we had listened to the CLP - 12 000 jobs would have gone, not the 4000 we are dealing with. Our strategy was in combination with the strong demand for the all-important construction sector around our nation. There are large projects firing in WA, Queensland is coming online just ahead of us with major projects, and we are starting to see the impact of the cattle ban decision coming through.
Apprentice and Trainee Commencements
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Can you please provide an update to the House on progress with the government’s target of 10 000 apprentice and trainee commencements over four years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to answer this question. This government is overseeing an unprecedented period of economic growth in the Northern Territory. It has been a priority to grow our own apprentices and trainees to form a larger skilled workforce in the Northern Territory. Participation in this emerging industrial growth will lead to greater opportunities, greater prosperity, and a greater lifestyle for those people.
Coupled with that, on 7 June this year, I launched a task force, a gearing up of local businesses for major projects. This brought together a number of key players and was very much collaboration and a Team NT approach between industry and the Northern Territory government to grow our local workforce and support local businesses. This has been done with industry. We have two co-chairs, the CE of the department of Business and the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce supporting the government in this initiative. We also have INPEX, ConocoPhillips, Master Builders Association, Civil Contractors Federation, Road Transport Association, Manufacturers Council, Unions NT, Charles Darwin University, Industry Capability Network, and the Chief Executives from the department of Business and the Department of Education and Training who do invaluable work in this area.
The purpose is to have an idea of where workforce demands are coming in the future, and this was provided. This informs our Jobs NT strategy - a $312m strategy. We have a Jobs Plan, the other side of the House has no jobs plan at all. It is a deliberate focus of the Jobs Plan to build the workforce and build the Indigenous education and opportunities as well.
In relation to apprentices and trainees, a record - this is for you, current Leader of the Opposition - current number of apprentices and trainees is 4700, which is a great result. This year alone, 1478 Territorians have commenced …
Mr Mills: How many finish?
Mr KNIGHT: ... and in 2010, there were 3000 apprentices commenced. Over the past three years, current Leader of the Opposition, 4000 Territorians have completed their apprenticeship and training; 4000 young people have jobs …
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr KNIGHT: When I go to business - and I visited a business today, Hastings Deering and Hydraulink yesterday - they are screaming for workers. We, through this program, through working with the department of Education, are training these young people for jobs here ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can I ask the honourable member to direct his comments through the Chair? It is quite threatening.
Mr KNIGHT: You are anti-business, Terry Mills.
A member: Very, very defensive, poor chap
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I remind you that you refer to members by their titles. If you would not mind withdrawing that last bit and explaining that.
Mr KNIGHT: I withdraw ‘Terry Mills’ and insert ‘current Leader of the Opposition’.
Madam SPEAKER: Just Leader of the Opposition. We do not need the ‘current’. Member for Greatorex, I remind you not to call out personal names as well.
Proposed Carbon Tax – Criticism of Government Support by Chamber of Commerce
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
Last week the Chamber of Commerce delivered a stunning critique of your government’s response to the economic slow down. A media release issued by the Chamber last week made the point:
There are a growing number of business enterprises out there who are struggling in the current climate and have to downsize to remain in business.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Port Darwin continues to be selective. The Chamber of Commerce has been an ardent supporter of our government’s fiscal strategy to increase the infrastructure spend to support the all-important construction sector, to have record billion dollar plus spends - over $4bn across three budgets …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was why does the government support a carbon tax, not their infrastructure spend.
Madam SPEAKER: The minister has only had 15 seconds.
Ms LAWRIE: The member for Port Darwin talked about the Chamber of Commerce and its critique of our government and I counter that. It has been a strong and ardent supporter of our deliberate decision to provide record infrastructure spending to support jobs.
In Chris Young’s comments on ABC radio, he pointed out we are not doing that badly in comparison with relative unemployment rates around the nation. We have had record low unemployment for 22 months; our unemployment increased to 4.2%. There is movement in the jobs market, which, if you listen to small- and medium-size enterprises, they have wanted to see. We, essentially, had full employment in the jobs market previously. They wanted to see that skills movement and there is an indication of that skills movement occurring.
Regarding the carbon tax, our government has made it clear we are well-positioned with clean, green gas in the carbon tax debate. We have pointed out that the price effect on electricity tariff will be about $2.70, compared to the national average in excess of $4.50. There is a compensation package for families at $10. We are also looking at any impacts in the transport sector, particularly concerning the diesel fuel rebate and our remote and regional centres.
The Chief Minister is going to COAG to raise those issues directly with the Prime Minister and the other Premiers. We see opportunities for the Territory, particularly in renewables. We are well-positioned. We have a significant amount of land in the Territory that would be open to the carbon offset industry. We have already seen some opportunities in working with industry in that regard. It is an exciting phase in the growth of the regional economic development of the Territory with carbon offset opportunities, our renewables, and the opportunity to move into the all-important R&D space.
Alice Springs is a solar city. It is already in the R&D space. Opposite, they think there is no climate change. The member for Fong Lim thinks it is all on planet Triton, but not on planet Earth. We know they are climate change sceptics in the opposition. We recognise we have a responsibility to step up to the challenges of ensuring we reduce emissions and we will continue to say that in the Territory we do not want to see our families worse off. The compensation package shows that we are well-positioned, but we will be looking at opportunities with carbon offsets and looking at the impact on the freight industry ...
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Tiwi Islands – Government Rent Payments
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Almost 18 months ago on 25 February 2010, I asked you how much the Northern Territory government has paid in rent to the Tiwi for the use of their land. Can you inform the House if the Northern Territory government is still refusing to pay the Tiwi?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the leasing of land is an important area of Northern Territory economic development. It is a vital area in economic development.
In regard to the Tiwis, member for Macdonnell, I am happy to provide you with a direct update. I do not have that with me right now, but we have progressed with all our regions in wanting to see economic development. I have said to this House on numerous occasions that the first priority has been to work with the traditional owners and people in the regions. We are doing that, not just the Northern Territory government on its own, but also in consultation with the federal government and the shires. Of the 29 remote service delivery sites across Australia, 15 are here in the Northern Territory. Of the 15 in the Northern Territory, 13 of those have been worked on conclusively with local implementation plans.
I am more than happy to provide the member for Macdonnell and this House with an update on the Tiwis, which the opposition refuses to listen to regarding the growth of our regions. I am always prepared to provide that information to this House.
Greater Darwin Region - Alternate Plans
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Earlier this year you released the government’s Greater Darwin Region Land Use Plan Discussion Paper and submissions from the community are being carefully considered. Are you aware of any alternate plans for the future development of the region?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Good planning is the way to deliver the great economic outcomes the Territory will experience. The greater Darwin region is poised to benefit from great economic outcomes in the future. Our government put an incredible amount of work into our Greater Darwin Land Use Plan, a discussion paper which received a high level of responses from organisations and individuals.
The latest addition which has gone to the department - and I am looking forward to all responses, but particularly in having this one assessed - is from the member for Nelson and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, both passionate rural residents.
There is a little confusion, as the Leader of the Opposition has a land use plan he is passionate about, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition supported that plan in great fanfare when it was announced. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition now has another plan. We have two plans. One of the words I would use to describe the opposition is ‘divided’. It uses that word often. There is obviously division in not only the land use plan, but it is extremely evident there is division across the board. I am becoming more aware of that each day.
In relation to the two plans, I am not sure which one to deal with first. Should I deal with both of them? I am interested in the new spokesperson for Lands and Planning. Will there be a third CLP plan which could become: ‘He said that she said that you said’? We await that announcement.
More importantly, I am looking forward to the department’s response and to presenting the plan from the members for Goyder and Nelson as part of the submissions welcomed by the Territory and enthusiastically presented to our government to develop the Greater Darwin Region Land Use Plan further.
New Prison – Construction Costs
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
The most recent Deloitte Access Economics Business Outlook report estimates the construction cost of the new prison to be $387m. What will be the total cost of the gaol and does that figure include roads, sewerage, power, water, and other infrastructure costs for the construction?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the opposition, which has publicly said its policy position is it would scrap that all-important construction project. They are just not interested in the 1000 jobs that construction project would bring to the Territory, quite aside from the critical importance of the new era in Corrections, and the rehabilitation and education programs.
I am sure the Justice community would be interested that the opposition remains resolutely opposed to the forensic mental health facility which will be built as part of that important Corrections facility. With 1000 jobs scrapped, they will let all those Territory businesses that have been in the process of a PPP – public/private partnership – know that their position is to scrap that all-important public/private partnership.
As the member for Port Darwin has consistently had it explained to him ...
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Ms LAWRIE: As he has consistently had it explained to him ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am curious to know how the Treasurer thinks we are going to scrap jobs that do not yet exist.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr Tollner: Come on! She is talking through her ...
Madam SPEAKER: It is still not a point of order, member for Fong Lim.
Ms LAWRIE: For the member for Fong Lim’s sake, I will point out to him that it will take 1000 jobs in construction for the new Correctional facility - 1000 jobs the opposition would not want to create at all under their plan to scrap the project. It is a public/private partnership and, until that public/private partnership is resolved, we will not be bandying around figures in the public domain. As you well know, we would be compromising the public/private partnership process.
Quality Teaching Workforce - Retention
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please inform the House of your efforts to build and retain a quality teaching workforce in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Quality teaching is well recognised, and the evidence clearly points to quality teaching being a major determinant in positive outcomes for kids in their education. We know quality teachers make the difference. We are embarking on making our great teachers even better through this agenda of quality teaching.
We are in an important partnership with Charles Darwin University, through the Centre for School Leadership, Learning and Development, along with ADSL. When I was in Melbourne about a month ago, I met with the head of ADSL, and they have also come on board with this.
The types of programs we will be offering are school leadership development, quality teacher orientation and induction program, Arriving in the Territory, and Thriving in the Territory. I was informed before Question Time that our retention, particularly of new teachers coming to the Territory and those working in remote areas, overall, is quite high, so I really commend this program.
We are engaged in a highly accomplished and lead teacher program. We have taken the lead with two other states, Western Australia and Queensland, but the Remote Teaching Service is, essentially, our program, and we have support from the Commonwealth in that regard.
We also want to develop and retain Indigenous teachers, and we have a number of programs in place. The More Indigenous Teachers program has seen 28 teachers employed across the Territory, with 29 more completing their studies. The Remote Indigenous Teacher Education program currently has 12 assistant teachers studying for their degree in Teacher Education. That is where our partnership with Batchelor College is vitally important and, in turn, their partnership with CDU in turning out Indigenous teachers.
We also have professional development for teachers of English as a Second Language, which is absolutely crucial across the Territory. We have seen 150 teachers undertake postgraduate studies in the past two years. Couple that with the Masters report which has a strong focus on quality teaching and school leadership, particularly at the level of principal, and I believe we are headed in the right direction.
We are a government with policies, with funding behind those policies and strategies and, as Education minister, it is my job to carry them out.
Sensis Small and Medium Business Outlook
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
In February, the Sensis Small and Medium Business Outlook reported that only 12% of businesses were expecting a nett decrease in sales values and 13% a nett decrease in profitability. The actual outcome fell well short of those expectations with subsequent Sensis figures showing that, in fact, four times as many businesses lost sales and three times as many had lower profits. Your budget forecasts have been substantially inaccurate. Why do you keep producing such rosy figures in the face of such bleak realities?
ANSWER
Not at all, and the member for Port Darwin does not get the economic climate of our nation.
Madam Speaker, I will step through it in simple terms for him. The global financial crisis occurred. It has been the worst economic crisis since World War II and the Great Depression. Responsible governments responded swiftly and decisively, and quickly lifted public spending to support and hold off the tidal wave of job losses that flow as an effect of such dramatic economic change. You can see those job losses and the consequences of those job losses, particularly in the United States and Europe. What is occurring in Europe, we can see in the United Kingdom.
In this nation, our fundamentals are strong. The federal government reacted swiftly; state and territory governments reacted swiftly. We mitigated the effect of those job losses. You cannot stop the job losses because when private sector investment drops away, when the credit markets freeze, you cannot stop the job losses, but you mitigate against those job losses. We have been effective in doing that in the Territory. We have done it for 22 months in a row ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would like the Treasurer to answer the question as to why her Treasury forecasts are so wrong.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point?
Ms LAWRIE: He has been quite disingenuous in how he is trying to paint the picture, and I am putting the fundamentals to him so he gets it once and for all.
Fundamentally, what we have seen around our nation is a dramatic reduction in retail spending because we now have a conservative Australian consumer. That applies in the Territory and in every other jurisdiction as well. We have seen a dramatic drop off in private sector investment as a result of the global financial crisis, and the consequential upswing in public spend, but you cannot mitigate against the sentiment that is occurring around our nation in the conservative consumer. Businesses at the retail end have been hurt. We have been saying that, and it is in all the predictions.
Treasury does economic modelling as best it can based on the data sets it receives. It takes a read, does an analysis, does estimates, and forecast estimates. And forecasts are just that; they are estimating where we think trends are heading. If you compare our Treasury forecasts with Deloitte Access Economics …
Mr Elferink: Yes, and you pressure them to create - something that they are not telling you. You have to paint a rosier picture.
Ms LAWRIE: … and we have been more conservative. We are not painting a rosy picture; we have been far more conservative with our economic data than Deloitte Access Economics.
The member for Port Darwin chooses to ignore Deloitte Access Economics’ economic modelling, which closely reflects our Treasury modelling, but is more optimistic than our conservative Treasury modelling. We are still in global financial crisis recovery mode. We are still going to see the economic shockwaves roll out across the globe that does not keep our nation immune. We have conservative spenders in our consumers; retailers are wearing the consequences of that. Construction spending is critical to the Territory’s economic health …
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, your time has expired.
Ms LAWRIE: … and you oppose it.
Education – Alternative Policies
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Education is a priority of the Henderson government and our record spending and policies reflect this. Are you aware of any alternative policies for education in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the simple answer is not really. I have a flimsy document here about early childhood from the CLP, and it does not even mention Indigenous students. That comes on the back of their 27 years of not turning out one Indigenous student completing Year 12 on-site in the bush.
As we have heard today, it extends to the BER project. They did not want $270m going to both government and non-government schools in the Territory - it is obvious. They did turn up, as someone said, to some of the openings. Here is the member for Fong Lim at an opening, and I will table that. He is a happy clapper there; he is congratulating. Here is the member for Port Darwin with the Bishop, and the member for Goyder - there she is - and the Opposition Leader looking very happy. It is hard to fathom some of the comments that have come from the opposition.
The Chief Minister and I went to Larrakeyah school today. The school received five classrooms, a covered assembly area, major refurbishments to the canteen, covered walkways, and many other works. However, last year the member for Braitling said:
- When you can build a McDonalds for $1m but a school hall for $2m, you have to ask some questions.
How far out of touch are they? The member for Katherine, when he talked about BER said:
- That is the federal money that has been the rorted Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan spend-a-thon, where our tax dollars have been pumped into school halls and science buildings that, in some cases – and, in fact, many cases - were neither needed nor wanted.
We have an opposition that is at one level, opposed to the BER but want to go along to the openings. Today, we heard the member for Brennan talking down our education system, the way they handled the My School website and NAPLAN, and completely ignored the like school comparison. This is an opposition without a policy for education; one of the major concerns and interests of the Territory. There have been three years since the election; we are a year away from the election. They have this flimsy policy and I say: shame and disgrace, stop fighting amongst yourselves and come out with some policies - and that includes health - so we can have some real policy debates in this place. All you can ever do is criticise and float along on the surface …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: I say you are a lazy opposition and you had better start doing some work.
MacDonnell Shire - Funding
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
I note that you have not yet signed the current financial year funding agreement for MacDonnell Shire. Can you advise when this arrangement will be signed, what has caused the delay, and how many other shires are waiting for finalised funding agreements?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are many things the shires wish to do and I am across the concerns and the issues with each of the shires. With the MacDonnell Shire, there have been issues over the last 12 months that we have had to work on; beginning with Mutitjulu and recently with some of the jobs being taken out of the MacDonnell Shire. There are many issues facing our shires and reasons why things have not been done immediately.
I will say to the House that if there is a specific case in this one raised by the member for Macdonnell, I am more than happy to brief her about the latest situation with that.
Regarding MacDonnell Shire, I commend the new CEO, and the tremendous job she is doing to try to bring the issues of that shire back to a level where the constituents of that shire are receiving the services they should.
Debt and Liabilities
Mr ELFERINK to TREASURER
This is a $1 coin, it is 3 mm thick. If I was to lay those $1 coins on top of each other, this would be the view from the top of your debt and liabilities of $6.7bn. Why should Territorians have any faith in this government’s economic management when their debt and liabilities are out of this world?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Port Darwin is so fond of his $1 coins that if he wants us to make special arrangements for his salary to be paid in $1 coins, put the request through, member for Port Darwin. You can stack your salary up in $1 coins and see how far that stretches. It might stretch around your house, it could stretch around your electorate, but let us check it out. You head off on a ridiculous, weird little tangent. Essentially, we have had the contradiction of the member for Port Darwin in stark reality here in Question Time.
He starts by banging the drum on the unemployment rate. It does not matter that we have had record unemployment for 22 months in a row, we are still below the national average in unemployment, and there is dramatic unemployment rates around the globe in all the developed economies and we are holding our own extremely well. Our fundamentals are strong, and we are holding our own very well here in the Territory. He bangs the drum about the unemployment rate and then he starts to bang the drum about the debt.
Why do we have debt? We have gone from eight surplus budgets in a row - in a row - to fund the record infrastructure spend so we have created 12 000 jobs. Do you want it both ways? Do you want to sack 12 000 Territorians and stay in surplus, or do you make the deliberate decision to go into debt, which is being applauded by the Chamber of Commerce, the Master Builders Association, and the Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory.
Line up all the industry groups and no one is saying what we have chosen to do is wrong. In fact, they are saying the opposite. They are saying it was the right decision because we are in a global financial crisis recovery period. The recovery has not occurred in our nation as quickly as the stimulus intended it to occur. Everyone is seeing the conservative consumer having an underlying impact on our retail figures. That being said, Territory business confidence is remarkably strong. We have strong fundamentals in place in the economy. We are holding up our construction spend, critically and importantly, through the infrastructure record spends - $1.8bn off the back of the global financial crisis, $1.6bn in the second year, and $1.5bn this year. That is $4.6bn in infrastructure spending, less than the debt we have put on to double our infrastructure spend.
You want it both ways, member for Port Darwin and it is a really weird way to run an argument. First, you say stop any job losses whatsoever, ignoring the 22 months of record low unemployment where we have led our nation and the fact we are still below the national average in unemployment. Put all that aside and ignore it, and then run the line that you should not engage in infrastructure spending to support the 12 000 jobs you have. You want to scrap the major construction project coming through, the prison. You are too weird. No wonder you were dumped as shadow Treasurer. Out of sheer desperation, they dumped the member for Katherine and brought you back to make more mistakes …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
School Leavers – Government Support to Enter Health Workforce
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please update the House on how this government is supporting school leavers into a career in the health workforce that will improve the health of their communities and their families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very important question because one of our greatest assets in our health system is our skilled workforce, and one of our strongest strategies in maintaining this workforce is our Grow our Own strategy. We know from experience that every time we educate people in the Territory, they stay in the Territory. We have seen that with engineers, midwives, and nurses, and now we will see it with doctors.
The Department of Health works closely with our major training providers: Charles Darwin University, Flinders University in South Australia, and the Batchelor Institute. We promote careers through our high schools, through initiatives such as career expos, work experience opportunities, and promotion with school career advisors.
The Northern Territory Medical School, the first medical school to open in the Territory, has 24 students for a four-year postgraduate medical degree. In addition, we have school leavers pathways, with 12 students undertaking a bachelor degree at CDU in clinical science. After two years, these students will finish with a bachelor degree in science and medicine after completion of medical school. It is a milestone in the history of health education in the Territory and one of which we are very proud.
Within our nursing profession we have strong education employment pathways. We have engaged middle and senior school students with nursing career information to attract the students to stay and study in the Territory.
We have vocational education pathways, another important option for school leavers, with apprenticeships available for them to gain job experience and to complete a nationally recognised industry qualification from Certificate II to diploma level. Many opportunities exist under apprenticeships, including Aboriginal primary healthcare opportunities, dental assistants, dental technology, enrolled nurses, aged care, disability, and mental health. We also participate in a national Indigenous cadetship program providing Aboriginal people studying a degree, diploma, or advanced diploma with financial assistance to complete their studies and paid work experience during semester breaks.
We have strongly promoted jobs in the Territory. However we are not only promoting jobs in the Territory, but also promoting education opportunities in the Territory. People can be born in the Territory and finish a medical degree without having to leave the Territory, as happened many years ago. We are well ahead of any other state in growing our own. Some of the other states wish to follow our example. One state is Western Australia. Despite the long history of education in Western Australian universities, what we do in the Northern Territory now is the envy of Western Australia and they want to follow our example.
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