2009-05-06
Record Tax Receipts and Levels of Debt
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In eight years of government Labor has enjoyed record tax receipts, yet has created a record $6bn debt. How did you manage to deliver an 83% increase in violent crime, an education system going backwards, and a health system in crisis while spending record tax receipts and creating record levels of debt?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Once again, the Leader of the Opposition gets it wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Every time he says something in this House, he gets it wrong. This is a government that has delivered a budget which is about protecting Territory jobs. There is nothing more important at this time, with the global economic crisis, than protecting Territory jobs. The lines are very clearly drawn between a government doing everything it can to protect Territory jobs and an opposition adhering slavishly to reduce budget deficits at this time.
Let us look at the history. We have delivered …
Mr Mills: No, let’s not. Let’s answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The Leader of the Opposition never actually wants to listen to the truth. This government has delivered six budget surpluses in a row and cumulatively those budget surpluses add up to $380m over six years. That was $380m of CLP debt. Let us not forget that when we came to government …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The so-called answer bears no relationship to the question that has been asked in this parliament. I ask you to draw the member to answer the question.
Ms Lawrie: He is talking about debt. Where do you think the debt came from?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, if you can answer the question as closely as possible to the question asked, bearing in mind that there were several parts to the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the first part of this question …
Mr Elferink: And we are not talking about superannuation liabilities …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The first part of the Leader of the Opposition’s question was about government debt. I am just pointing out that this government …
Mr Elferink: Including liabilities.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 51. The member for Port Darwin continually interjects. I want to hear what the Chief Minister has to say.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, please cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, they just do not like to hear the truth and the reality of the situation. Since coming to government we have paid off $380m-worth of CLP debt. We have done that cumulatively with significant budget surpluses. We have taken the decision, as has every other responsible government in Westminster democracies around Australia, in the United States, in Europe - all developed economies around the world are seeing their budgets go into deficit to support jobs. That is exactly what we are doing in the Northern Territory on the back of retiring $380m-worth of CLP debt.
The CLP was running deficit budgets at the time when Australia was in economic growth. Even in the good times, the CLP could not run a surplus budget. That is the legacy of what we have inherited. In 2001, nett debt as a ratio to revenue was 61%. In this budget we have handed down it is 28%. That is the credibility of our …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I appreciate the graph and I would like to see it tabled, along with the graph that also includes superannuation liability.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, member for Port Darwin.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, these are acknowledged indicators of our capacity to repay debt as opposed to what we inherited from the CLP which could not even run a surplus budget at a time when the Australian economy was in a growth phase.
Let us look at achievements …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question that was asked of the Chief Minister was how come we have so much debt, and how come we have so much trouble in our community, or something along that line. He is not going anywhere near at all answering those questions. He harps back to another time …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. Chief Minister, if you could answer the question as closely as possible to the one asked.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Having dealt with the furphy about the debt position and the fact that this government paid $380m-worth of CLP debt, let us go to the indicators. The CLP runs this line that there has been an increase in crime. That is patently false - absolutely false ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: There are 340 more police officers …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Patently false, Madam Speaker. There are 340 more police officers in the police force than there were in 2001, and another 54 to come with the budget this year. Crime statistics dropped - murders, homicides, and related offences dropped 19% since 2001; there is a 58% drop in house break-ins; a 26% drop in motor vehicle theft; and total property offences since 2001 have dropped 29% - that is 9305 fewer property offences year on year than there was occurring under the CLP with a police force that had been run down, was demoralised and neglected in the years of CLP governments.
That is what we have achieved. We still have much more to do. There will be 54 extra police officers in our police force right across the Northern Territory.
Let us now look at health outcomes. They are forever talking down the health system. They like nothing more than pillorying our hard-working Health staff and hospital staff throughout the Northern Territory. Let us look at the $1bn Health budget - a Health budget that has increased by over 80% since we have come to government. The life expectancy for Aboriginal women has improved by three years; infant mortality for Aboriginal children has improved by 35%; cervical cancer rates have declined by 61%; and anaemia in Aboriginal children has fallen from 50% to below 30%. We have an extra 127 hospital beds; an extra 162 doctors with another 17 coming on line this year; 523 more nurses, with an additional 100-plus nurses this year; and an overdue elective surgery waiting list has been cut by 31%.
I continue. We have built a hospice at RDH, a birthing centre at RDH, a rapid admission unit, rebuilt the Alice Springs Hospital from the debacle we inherited from the CLP, a health hub at Palmerston leading to a super clinic, and we have the most advanced e-health system in the country. There are some achievements on the record in health services from this government.
There is more to do. There is always more to do, but you can only do more by investing in health, in education, and in our police force. That is something that the CLP, in their budget reply, has patently failed to do. They have indicated they would slash government budgets further in order to bring down the deficit. He did not even put a number on that …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is untrue – absolutely untrue.
Madam SPEAKER: You may approach me afterwards to offer a personal explanation.
Mr Mills: Absolutely.
Mr HENDERSON: You cannot have a magic pudding if you are going to reduce the deficit but you are going to increase services. It does not work like that. It shows the naivety of the Leader of the Opposition.
This budget is about protecting Territory jobs. It is with no joy - none whatsoever - that I come before this House and say that we will have to go into a deficit for a number of years. We have a climb-out path there because there is nothing more important than protecting Territory jobs. We will continue to build our health service, our education system, and our police force across the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, we are committed to building this Territory and protecting Territory jobs.
Budget 2009-10 - Reaction
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Can you outline to the House the reaction to yesterday's budget, and whether you received any further positive economic news today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Budget 2009-10 is about protecting the jobs of Territorians, building the Territory and, importantly, creating more jobs to ward against the tough economic conditions prevailing around our nation. We recognise that these are very tough economic times across Australia, and we are doing everything we can to minimise negative impact on Territory families.
The decision to increase fees and charges to reflect delivery cost was not taken lightly. The $20 per year increase on motor vehicle accident compensation is not a revenue measure. It is calculated by an independent assessor and goes directly into the MACA scheme to support the benefits of that important motor accident compensation scheme.
Protecting jobs and building the Territory was at the core of Budget 2009-10. The response from business and the wider community has been overwhelmingly positive. Our unprecedented $1.3bn in infrastructure spending has also been welcomed across the business and the wider community. Chris Young of the Chamber of Commerce has rated the budget 8 out of 10. This is a big tick of support from the Chamber for a budget delivered during the world’s first global recession in 75 years. At yesterday's Chamber of Commerce lunch, the budget was very well received by a wide cross-section of our business community. The audience feedback welcomed our focus on infrastructure, land release, and dedication to maintain the Territory's status as the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small business.
Chamber and Property Council members were also delighted that there were no new taxes and no tax increase in Budget 2009-10. Today, the Property Council President, Allan Garraway, congratulated the Henderson government for sticking to our promise not to introduce a land tax in the Territory - this supports development. Graham Kemp, from the Territory Construction Association, is a strong advocate for the construction industry. He stated today on 8 Top FM radio that: ‘It is a great budget, a courageous budget that we needed to have and it will keep the construction industry employed and moving forward’ ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I know they do not like to hear what business is saying, but I would have thought that Territorians listening to the broadcast would be interested in what business is saying about the budget.
The record infrastructure spending will boost the construction industry across the Territory and protect jobs, maintaining our skilled workforce for when that all important private investment picks up and major projects like INPEX come online.
Budget 2009-10 boosted our roads budget to $322m compared to $80m under the CLP. As part of this record spend we have increased roads and maintenance funding, which is critical. It has been welcomed by the Automobile Association of the NT. Today on ABC radio, Ms Rita Excell of the AANT said: ‘We are really pleased that the Territory government has led and has actually increased from last year maintenance funding on our roads, and that drivers will benefit from improved maintenance on the network’.
Initiatives in Budget 2009-10 are to make housing more affordable with a $108m investment to fast-track land release, provide a new affordable housing rental company, and the new Homestart NT Scheme that lift the price and income caps. These have been welcomed by business and the community.
Tony Schelling, a Darwin home lender, stated on ABC television news last night: ‘The budget has some great things in it, particularly for the housing side for the middle to low income earners’.
We have also seen media reports of Territorians welcoming the increased price and income caps for Homestart, with a young primary school teacher with a young family in my electorate of Karama supporting the scheme. I thank the media for tracking down one of my constituents ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the latitude offered to ministers in relation to answering questions, we are now 15 minutes into this Question Time and we have not yet answered the second question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. There are no time limits on questions and answers.
Ms LAWRIE: Not only does the opposition not want to hear from the business community, but they do not want to hear the response to Budget 2009-10 from the mums and dads in the suburbs.
This young family in my electorate of Karama stated the new affordable housing rental company is a ‘great idea’.
Madam Speaker, the confidence Territorians have in our economy and the Henderson government’s economic management are reflected in retail trade figures released earlier today. They show retail trade has increased by a year-on-year figure of 13.2% - over three times the national figure. These numbers will inevitably moderate as the global financial crisis continues, but it shows that the NT is still leading the way in jobs and ongoing confidence in our economy ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Treasurer to table the document she was reading from.
Ms LAWRIE: I was referring to my notes. Do you have a problem with that? Quoting people?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The minister has finished her reply.
Indigenous Policy of CLP
Mr GILES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS POLICY
Today, the Leader of the Opposition outlined an important policy initiative for Aboriginal people in the Territory. The hub and spoke model outlines a bold new plan to tackle disadvantage. Do you support the principles embodied in the hub and spoke plan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. I mention a small community 230 km west of Alice Springs called Papunya. When the CLP was in power, they talked about education, and we formulated a document, the Minimum Requirement Document, which was parents putting together the requirements of education in remote Aboriginal communities. We presented that to the CLP government, urging the CLP government to take Indigenous education very seriously.
It is not a coincidence that the CLP and the member for Braitling raised the issue of the quality of education and the fact that Indigenous kids are still behind. The member for Blain, the Opposition Leader, quite clearly stated in this House in his reply to the budget today that this is a problem that goes back even to his time. I know the plight of the Indigenous people is at the forefront of the minds of governments across the country.
This government has taken initiatives to improve health, education, and housing. We have spoken about the hub and spoke model; it has already been developed by this government and there are major announcements that will be made by the Chief Minister and me which will take into consideration everything we have spoken about for decades in this House.
I take this opportunity to alert the House to the presence of the former member for Macdonnell, Neil Bell, who, in his 16 years in opposition, quite clearly put on the public record the plight of Indigenous housing, education, health and the poverty that Indigenous people suffered under the CLP regime of 27 years.
It is not a coincidence for the member for Braitling to start asking questions of this government, when he knows that in this budget, and the two other surpluses before, that we are looking at Indigenous education seriously.
In this House I have publicly stated we have to get away from the model of educating children based on the fact that we think there is a black way to provide education and a white way. There is only a right way to educate children.
This government is running that policy. They are looking at health and housing of Indigenous people, and we are reforming Indigenous policy at its best.
CLP Budget Strategy – Impact on
Territory Economy
Territory Economy
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday, in Question Time, you outlined the government’s budget strategy: protecting Territory jobs. Today the opposition has outlined their budget strategy focused entirely on reducing the deficit. What impact would the CLP strategy have on the Territory economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Budget 2009-10 shows the stark policy differences between this Labor government and the CLP opposition at what are very difficult times for the national and international economy.
Today we have heard the CLP’s answer from the Leader of the Opposition. I am sad to say it is bad news for Territorians. He delivered bad news at the Despatch Box. The speech by the Leader of the Opposition essentially committed them to reducing the size of government, and the role of government to reduce the deficit. That is essentially what he said. He did not say how he was going to achieve it. No way did he say, because he knows that to reduce the size of government to the extent that he would need to, to make significant savings in the budget, would be to slash the number of public servants …
Mr Mills: That is just not true.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There is no reference to any of that in the speech whatsoever. This is a pure fabrication …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, order! There is no point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you Madam Speaker. They are touchy about this because you cannot reduce the size of government …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Resume your seats, please. Honourable members, Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Honourable members, there have been many interruptions during Question Time. The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, they were critical of the size of the deficit and, at a time of international and economic crisis, would pull down the shutters, would circle the wagons, and see Territorians lose their jobs. That was the policy of …
Members interjecting
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … we believe it is time to be bold and take action. We are protecting jobs in the Northern Territory. They would slash jobs. We are growing and maintaining services. They would cut services …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We acknowledge that we need to be preparing today for the Territory’s future - investing in schools, investing in health, investing in housing, and investing in the port The CLP would sacrifice our future on the mantra of …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … throw Territorians out of work.
In all of my time in this House, I have never heard a weaker reply to a budget speech from an Opposition Leader. You could put the few details he had on the back of a beer coaster. Even the details the Leader of the Opposition did have, did not even add up. He had a three-point health plan; it included $100 000 for diagnostics, $300 000 for studies and $600 000 for implementation - out of a Health budget of over $1bn, but he had a three-point health plan. By most people’s calculation that adds up to $1m, but not the Leader of the Opposition. He said his three-point plan adds up to $900 000, Madam Speaker. According to the Opposition Leader, one plus three plus six equals nine.
No wonder you think you can make savings, Leader of the Opposition - you take 10% off everything for a start ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: The C in CLP does not stand for credibility. According to the Opposition Leader, one plus three plus six equals nine. That is the level of credibility in his budget reply speech.
By the way, we are not going to be spending that money on a study. I went through the achievements we are starting to see in Health and there is a long way to go. We will be spending the additional money on an additional 95 nurses across the Northern Territory - they will make a significant difference. An additional 17 doctors across the Territory will make a difference; not a study. We know you need resources on the ground and that is what this budget will deliver.
He proposed a Territory Housing Land Corporation about five minutes after the government introduced a bill to this House to do exactly that same thing. This was a new initiative he did not even recognise. We introduced a bill to do the same thing. He proposed the hub and spoke model for the delivery of services to Indigenous communities, which my colleague, the Indigenous Policy minister, spoke to a moment ago …
Mr Mills: You have had eight years; eight years and you have failed …
Mr HENDERSON: They are way behind the eight ball …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: Twenty-seven years they had to show any concern for Indigenous people - 27 years of policy failure. Obviously, they live in a cave because they do not recognise the extent of the global financial crisis …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the politics of Question Time, we are now at 25 minutes into Question Time …
Ms Lawrie: You are trying to gag. You are trying to gag the Chief Minister.
Mr ELFERINK: … and we have not yet completed question four. I am not trying to gag; I just want democracy to work. I want democracy to work so that some questions can be asked in this place, rather than your diatribes.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. It is not a point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Announcing this great new policy, well, the Territory government and the Commonwealth government and the states have been working on this for over 12 months now. A national partnership on remote service delivery has already been announced through the COAG framework. We have been fundamental in working with the Commonwealth to deliver this service delivery reform. The Indigenous Affairs minister, Jenny Macklin, announced just recently that there are 26 towns - 15 of those in the Northern Territory - where the Commonwealth, state and Territory governments, working through hub communities, are going to improve service delivery; three boarding schools have already been announced for the Northern Territory - we announced one in the budget today for Alice Springs.
So, they are well behind the eight ball with their policy initiatives which are already occurring. They had 27 years and did absolutely nothing.
There is a last point where there is a very clear and stark policy difference between the opposition and the government. The opposition, at every turn, deride, disparage and talk down to our public service. They like nothing more than standing up here and attacking public servants in the most offensive and disparaging way. They constantly refer to ‘fat cats’ in the public service. They want to slash their numbers. They clearly do not believe that public servants work really hard to implement government policy, and work with government to develop policy. They continue to attack them at every turn. We want to work with our public servants, to reach out across the Territory and make a difference. That is the difference between the CLP and the Territory government.
I do not believe there has been a time in the recent past in the Territory where the difference has been so stark and so clear. We are a government that will protect Territory jobs; they are an opposition that would slash Territory jobs. We are a government that is improving services across the Territory; they are an opposition that would slash services across the Territory. We are a government that wants to work with our public service; they are a government that wants to gut the public service. We will continue to work hard to protect jobs for Territorians.
Indigenous Education
Mr GILES to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS POLICY referred to CHIEF MINISTER
The Chief Minister is lowering Indigenous education standards so that he can say that the government has met its benchmarks. How is it that 76% of Year 5 children not being able to read is good for Indigenous kids?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member has been in here long enough to know that he is asking a question about education, and that should be directed towards the Education minister.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to listen to the question first and, then, I will decide who it should go to. Member for Braitling, could you please start again.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, my question was to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs. The Chief Minister is lowering Indigenous education standards so that he can say that the government has met its benchmarks. How is it that 76% of Year 5 children not being able to read is good for Indigenous children?
Mr Henderson: No one is saying it is.
Mr Elferink: You are. Read your own budget papers, mate. Read it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting.
Minister, it is not directly in your portfolio …
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, before I flick the question across to the Chief Minister who is the minister for Indigenous education and Education in general, I can say that, as politicians, we have a duty of care not to play games with the most disadvantaged people in the Territory. We know that these people are suffering, not just because of lack service delivery, but their own inability to come forward and join in partnerships with governments all over the place.
I take great offence to anyone using this House to get political mileage out of the fact that Indigenous kids are suffering. Take into consideration your own faults of not delivering good quality education, good quality health, and good quality housing for Indigenous kids ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister has indicated that she is not prepared to answer this question and, now, is just going on, on some sort of …
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: Can we get a response to the question either from the minister or from the Chief Minister?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. There is no point or order. Minister, are you going to continue to answer or are you going to give it to the Chief Minister to answer?
Ms ANDERSON: Madam Speaker, in wrapping up before I flick it across to the Chief Minister who is the minister for Education, I urge the member for Braitling to be very careful in the way that he tries to make political gain out of Indigenous disadvantage. I will pass the question to the Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I will answer this question because it is an important question. As my colleague, the Minister for Indigenous Policy, said, there is nothing more important in any community in society than the safety and the education of children. There is nothing more important that we do, as a society and as parents, than to keep our children safe and ensure that …
Mr Tollner: Well, you could try protecting people in the community.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, this is an issue that is important to the future of the Northern Territory. It has been a tragedy for many years in the Territory that our Indigenous kids have underachieved in their education. I do not deny that all of us in this House want to see an improvement in Indigenous education. I acknowledge that everyone is sincere about that, but we have to turn around a couple of generations of absolute tragic failure in Indigenous remote education. You do not turn, unfortunately – I wish I did have a magic wand, and almost overnight we could see our Indigenous kids in remote communities get to the national benchmark within one year.
If we were to put that in the budget papers, everyone would say: ‘That it is absolutely impossible. You are never going to achieve it. Why on earth establish those targets?’ …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: These budget papers are year on year. Let us look at where we have come from. 2008 was the first year of national testing …
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Katherine is talking over the Chief Minister. You have asked the question, let us hear the answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51. There seems to be a lot of interjections. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Let us put the numbers that are in the budget papers into a factual context. 2008 was the first year of national testing in literacy and numeracy, with a consistent testing plan that went out across the country – it was the first year. Prior to that, the Northern Territory and states conducted their own tests and there was a moderation of those tests to bring them together.
It was not until we came to government in 2001 – and these are the facts – that remote Indigenous kids were even tested at all in any comprehensive way in primary school. It was only when we came to government in 2001 that we actually changed the policy. This is history, this is fact. The CLP in government had a policy of not providing secondary education in remote communities. That was the policy. We changed that policy, and we are now rolling out secondary education into remote communities. Much more needs to be done but you cannot do that overnight.
First of all, you have to change the policy settings – we have done that. The second thing you have to do is actually test the kids so you can establish the baseline data, understand where you are, and then map a plan to actually improve those results over time. That is what we are doing. We are working collaboratively with the Australian government through the National Partnership Agreement to achieve the COAG schooling targets.
These targets are: to halve the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade; lift the Year 12 or equivalent national attainment rates to 90% by 2020; and, at least halve the gap for Indigenous students in Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates by 2020.
This is the first time that any government in the Northern Territory has actually committed with the Australian government to targets with annual reporting and accountability against the achievement of those targets. It is about lifting the lid and shining a light on what is happening in remote Indigenous education, not just having it out there with no policy, no plan, no testing, no transparency, no secondary education, which is what we inherited after 27 years.
It is okay to have numbers and to have plans, but what are we committing in resources? Our commitments to the National Partnership Agreement in 2009-10 are: $51.75m over five years for low socioeconomic school communities which will provide incentives …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very specifically directed at the issue of lowering benchmarks for Indigenous children in the bush, not about spending and COAG agreements.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the Chief Minister is still answering the question and it appears to be relevant to the question that was asked.
Mr HENDERSON: It is relevant, Madam Speaker and, as I said, there is nothing more important than the education of our kids. I am trying to demonstrate to Territorians that we in this House acknowledge the extent of the problem; we are shining a light on the problem, we are opening up the doors to these schools to scrutiny. We do have a plan, we are working with the Commonwealth, and we are committed to improving those educational outcomes.
There is $51.75m additional over five years for low socioeconomic school communities; and strengthening school accountability, including attendance strategies for schools with student attendance of less than 90%. As I have said, there are beacons of light out there. At Ngukurr the other day, in the primary school, 90% of kids were at school. Minyerri is also achieving rates of 90%. If those schools can do it, other schools can do it. Increased use of distance learning: we partnered with Telstra and Rio Tinto to roll fibre optic cable across Arnhem Land. One of the real benefits of that is improving distance education ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is why are you lowering the benchmarks that you are testing these kids at? It is nothing to do with fibre optic cables. It is relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the call, but if you could come to the answer fairly quickly.
Mr HENDERSON: The answer is totally relevant to the question about improving Indigenous education and demonstrating that this government’s absolute commitment to improving education with the national government as well.
There is an additional $4.46m over two years to develop whole-of-school approaches to literacy and numeracy. There are other performance measures. Let me remind you again: it is okay for the CLP to take numbers out of context and say you have raised this or lowered that. 2008 was the first year of national testing. That is the benchmark. You can all only achieve incremental changes over time, and that is what the budget papers are showing. I want to see Indigenous kids achieving to the same level as kids in the northern suburbs of Darwin. I believe that will occur, and we will do it as quickly as we can.
Let us look at some success. In 2008, there were 154 Indigenous students across the Territory who received their NTCE; 45 of those were in remote communities. Since we implemented secondary schools …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the government does not want to answer too many questions about how they govern the Northern Territory, we are now, I believe, at question six and 40 minutes has gone. Some of these answers are longer than their own ministerial reports. They are extraordinarily long.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. There is no point of order, but Chief Minister if you could come to the point fairly quickly.
Mr HENDERSON: I will come to the point very quickly, Madam Speaker. They are trying to play politics on this issue. We acknowledge the absolute extent of the problem. There were 45 kids from remote schools who received their NTCE. There should be 400 kids, but there were 45. That is something to celebrate for those students. There have been 116 since 2003. We need to see much better results. We need to see the results coming quicker. We have a plan to do that. I thank the honourable member for his question.
Budget 2009-10 – Territory School Infrastructure
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please update the House on the commitment to Territory school infrastructure in the 2009-10 Budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This is a budget that sees record education infrastructure spending of $118m in 2009, obviously delivering better facilities for our students and teachers but also, importantly, creating jobs across the Northern Territory construction sector.
Budget 2009-10 will see $54m for Rosebery Primary and Middle Schools, with completion in time for the 2011 year; $3.2m to upgrade Ross Park Primary School in Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Drysdale, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Obviously, you do not want to hear about upgrades to schools in the Territory: $3m to upgrade Dripstone Middle School; $3m for a new multipurpose sports facility at Tennant Creek High School; $2m to upgrade homeland learning centres across the Territory; $1.25m each for schools at Angurugu, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu and Numbulwar; $400 000 for additional office space for student counsellors at Gunbalanya and Nhulunbuy; and $300 000 to Millner Primary School , Canteen Creek, Elliott, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Numbulwar, Angurugu, Ntaria, Alyangula and Umbakumba.
On top of this funding is the new Australian government’s nation building economic stimulus package - $14.7bn over three years. We receive close to $200m in infrastructure through this stimulus package.
The National School Pride program Round 1 funding has been announced. There were 98 applications from Northern Territory government schools approved, with a value of $10.45m into the Territory. That money is rolling out to our schools across the Territory, right now. Thirty-one applications from non-government schools have been approved - and that is great to see for our non-government schools - to a value of $3.15m.
Let us remember that the CLP actually voted against this package. They voted against the stimulus package in the Senate. Nigel Scullion voted against it. Let us look at what the CLP voted against in their refusal to support the Australian government’s stimulus package.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Chief Minister, continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, it is important that people listening to this broadcast know what the CLP opposition voted against. The next round of funding that is coming through is going to be significant. The member for Brennan was previously the school council chair at Bakewell and we will be letting them know that he voted against the $200 000.
St Joseph’s in Katherine is getting $150 000 for office renovation, shade structure, and computer cabling upgrades. We will be letting St Joseph’s in Katherine know. Durack is getting $150 000 and Driver is getting $200 000. Member for Drysdale, we will let those school councils know that you did not support that.
Bees Creek is getting $150 000 for their administration block, and Litchfield Christian School is getting $75 000, so member for Goyder, we will be letting people know that as well ...
Mr Mills: You are a grub!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the member for Blain withdraw that statement.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker …
Members: He is a grub.
Madam SPEAKER: I ask that you withdraw your comments, please.
Mr ELFERINK: … the word ‘grub’ has been used by members opposite on repeated occasions without any attempt to have the word withdrawn. To ask this member to withdraw the same use of the same word would be a severe departure from the consistent rulings from this Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: In my recollection it has been ruled out of order many times. Leader of the Opposition, I would like you to withdraw, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Chief Minister, you may continue.
Mr HENDERSON: I have nearly finished, Madam Speaker. I do think it is important that when you actually vote against an expenditure bill in the Senate, and you support that opposition here in the Northern Territory …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The structure of the Chief Minister’s argument is that I, and members on this side of the House, voted against something in the Senate. There is not a single member on this side of the House who has ever been in the Senate.
Ms Lawrie: You were not listening. You supported Nigel - CLP position.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, if you feel that you have been misrepresented in this Chamber, you may approach me to make a personal explanation after Question Time.
Mr Elferink: Thank you, Madam Speaker, but I have never been, nor am I, a Senator in this country.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you have not been acknowledged. Resume your seat.
Mr Elferink: That is an absurd allegation to make.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you are on a warning.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They can run, but they cannot hide on this particular issue. They are all members of the same party; they all take their cue from their leader.
I understand that the Australian government is going to be making further announcements this week for Round 1 of the National School Pride program. This is a program where every primary school in the Northern Territory will get up to …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The length of this answer is now approaching 10 minutes. If the government wants to make a ministerial statement they are welcome to, but this is becoming patently absurd.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. Chief Minister, could you please come to the point fairly soon.
Mr HENDERSON: I am nearly finished, Madam Speaker. This is very important. It is important information because every primary school will get an upgrade - up to $3m depending on their size - for major infrastructure. This is a massive investment in our schools. It complements the $286m that we are committing to school infrastructure – nearly $0.5bn going into new school infrastructure over the next three years.
It is massive; it is significant. It goes to protecting Territory jobs. It goes to improving facilities for our kids and teachers, and leading to better delivery of education in the Northern Territory.
These people opposite spoke against the stimulus package. The member for the CLP in the Senate voted against it. We will be letting every school know that they did not support this funding …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe it is highly improper that the government use school councils for political purposes.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, there is no point of order.
Ombudsman's Report – Recommendation
for Legislative Changes to
Adult Guardianship Act
for Legislative Changes to
Adult Guardianship Act
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for HEALTH referred to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
Today, you chose to release an Ombudsman’s report alleging unlawful detention of patients at Royal Darwin Hospital. In your release today you said that:
- … if legislative change is required for Royal Darwin Hospital to have more certainty then that's what I will do.
Your government was provided with a key recommendation of a coronial inquest in 2005 which you have sat on until now. Will you now act as a matter of urgency, introduce the legislative amendments to the Adult Guardianship Act which your own department says will help staff dealing with the very issues raised in the Ombudsman’s report?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the reason I tabled the report today is because I am required to table the report within three sitting days. That report was provided to me last Wednesday night. I was not prepared to table the report without reading it or on budget day. This is the last day I have to table it. That is why it has been tabled, and that is the simple reason. The …
Mr Bohlin: You have had all weekend to read it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: It will probably take you two months to read it and understand it.
The Ombudsman has produced a report which has been provided to me which makes a number of observations about what she calls ‘restrained detention of patients’ in Royal Darwin Hospital. I fully support the actions of the health personnel at the hospital. I fully support Dr Len Notaras’ decision, because all decisions they made were made for the benefit of the people who were in no position to decide for themselves - people like the person who was missing part of his skull and you could see his brain, who wanted to leave the hospital. There were other people like the person who walked out of the hospital - she was not restrained - and they found her remains a few years later in the vicinity of the hospital. These are the people the health personnel, the doctors, and the nurses at Royal Darwin Hospital try to stop, because they can be a danger to themselves and, in some other cases, can be dangerous to others.
It is surprising you came up with this when we have a swine influenza pandemic out there and other jurisdictions in Australia are trying to put legislation in place to force people to undergo tests and treatment and to be detained. That is for their own benefit and the benefit of the community.
The hospital acted in good faith following legal advice received from senior lawyers. When new legal advice came from the Solicitor-General of the Northern Territory, the hospital changed the protocol in order to comply with the advice, in order to detain people under the legal advice of the Solicitor-General ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Once again, it goes to relevance. The question is quite specific as to why the government did not follow the key recommendations of the Coronial inquest in 2005. That was the question, not a dissertation on this particular report. Why have they sat - is the question - on a Coronial finding and done nothing about it?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, It is very relevant to outline what happened at the hospital. We actually act within a legislative framework, with a legal opinion provided to us by the Solicitor-General. With regard to the Coronial inquiry of 2005 and the request to change the legislation about adult guardianship, I refer to my colleague, the minister responsible for the legislation.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. Our government is committed to ensuring all Territorians feel very confident and safe in the health system and in the protection provided for children and families across the Northern Territory.
We are committed to the implementation of the adult guardianship review. The independent consultants, Westwood Spice, have undertaken a review of the adult guardianship system. The review recommended changes which would make the system more contemporary and responsive to the needs of the people within the system.
My department is currently working on the best way to implement recommendations for a better adult guardianship system, and we are also looking closely at the need for informal decision-making, which will mean families are able to make decisions regarding everyday matters without going through a long and complex legal process. These changes will ensure that the Northern Territory government can provide appropriate and effective support to people within the adult guardianship system.
I also take the opportunity to say to the parliament that, in regard to the care and protection of children, and children and families, we have increased our budget to the point of $105.3m for Northern Territory families and children and I commend the Treasurer for that ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would like some clarification of the relevance of this answer to the question that was asked of the Health Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: I believe the minister has completed her answer.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Budget 2009-10 – Commitment to
Territory’s Environment
Territory’s Environment
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Can you inform the House of the strong ongoing commitments to the Territory environment in Budget 2009-10?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Despite the Treasurer saying yesterday that this has been the toughest budget to frame in the Territory’s political history, I am proud to say that there is still good news for the environment. I put on public record that the environment is not a loser in this budget. The environment is a winner inside this budget.
Most of all, I am pleased to inform the House of an $8m boost to infrastructure in Territory parks over the next four years. This money will be used for practical things such as repairing boardwalks; building toilets; establishing fences to protect parks from feral animals; improving car parks; sealing access roads; and installing solar lighting. This is practical infrastructure to keep Territorians in jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs - that is what we want to see in the Northern Territory ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I appreciate the minister’s answer in relation to jobs, jobs, jobs. I was just wondering if she could expand her answer to explain why $3m is coming out of the wages budget from that department?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. I remind you that you are on a warning.
Ms ANDERSON: Madam Speaker, not only will it improve our parks which, in turn, will help our tourism industry in the tough times ahead, it will also immediately protect the jobs of tradespeople and labourers working in remote and regional areas.
I am also very pleased to inform the House of a big increase in our spending on weeds. Budget 2009-10 provides $640 000 to develop and implement the Strategic Weed Management program to manage high risk weeds, especially on our own Crown land.
After six budgets surpluses, the government has made a deliberate decision to go into temporary deficit to protect jobs. As a result, despite the tough times created by the global economic crisis and the fall in GST revenue, the Territory’s environment has still received a major boost in Budget 2009-10.
Budget 2009-10 – Child Protection Services
Mr STYLES to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION
I refer to your comments in this House on 10 September 2008, that:
- Supporting our families and protecting our children is a key priority of this government.
Given that the Chief Minister has just stated that there is nothing more important than the safety of children in any community, how can you expect Territorians to believe you when you support a budget that slashes funding to child protection services, and family violence and sexual assault services, which risks putting more children in harm’s way?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. Obviously, the member for Sanderson has it completely wrong. If you have a look at our budget, member for Sanderson - and I am more than happy to give you this briefing because, clearly, you need it. When we came into government, there was $7m allocated to the children of the Northern Territory - $7m by the opposition.
Successively, over the years, we have tripled the budget each year. In fact, member for Sanderson, I point out that even today there is over $105m for the children of the Northern Territory, which includes 10 extra children protection workers, and an increase to the Child Abuse Taskforce in Alice Springs and Darwin. It includes improvements in resources for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Darwin and Alice Springs and also in Tennant Creek and Katherine. I fail to see how it is that the opposition seems to think, and seems to be of the view that we do not care for the children of the Northern Territory.
Budget 2009-10 – Jobs Protection
in Central Australia
in Central Australia
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you tell the House how Budget 2009-10 will protect jobs in Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this budget protects jobs in Central Australia with a record investment in infrastructure within our hospitals, schools, police facilities, and roads. It protects the jobs of our frontline workers: our doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, and firefighters. It protects jobs by investing in public and Indigenous housing and by providing record investment in core services.
$187m will be spent in education across Central Australia, resulting in fantastic new facilities and a first-class education system for our students. $236m will go towards acute and non-acute care and health facilities across the region. A record $44m goes to Police, Fire and Emergency Services in Central Australia. That is delivering 18 extra police, nine new firies, a $6m upgrade to the Alice Springs Police Station, and a Police Beat in the Todd Mall.
Almost $36m has been allocated to upgrading roads in the Centre, including $9.9m to my favourite road, the Tanami, $7.6m for the Plenty, and $5.4m for the Maryvale Road. On top of that, $1.9m – and I know the member for Macdonnell will be pleased – for the Santa Teresa Road.
In February this year, I announced the most comprehensive youth action plan ever developed in the Northern Territory. Budget 2009-10 delivers on this plan for Alice Springs by providing resources to implement the plan’s actions. $4.7m will be invested in the 2009-10 financial year, and $2.5m in the 2010-11 financial year to upgrade the Alice Springs High School and ANZAC Hill campuses to create a first-class Alice Springs Middle School system. $3.5m will go towards building a 30-bed boarding facility in 2010-11 to house those kids who want to stay in school but have unstable home environments. $5m has been committed over the next four years to expand emergency accommodation for children at risk.
That clearly demonstrates that Budget 2009-10 is protecting jobs in Central Australia, and is delivering many good outcomes.
INPEX – Howard Springs
Construction Village
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
On 16 March, there was a public meeting held at Howard Springs regarding the site of a construction village on Howard Springs Road; that is, the INPEX construction village. A range of views was debated as to whether this was a suitable site. An alternative site mentioned was the forestry land further to the north, also on Howard Springs Road.
What discussions have you held with INPEX since that meeting regarding the alternative site, bearing in mind that INPEX said they did not know about this site? Why have you said on ABC radio that this alternative site is popular for horse riding and a range of recreation activities when you would know there is plenty of land available for such activities nearby? Will the government be offering any assistance to INPEX in the establishment of this village; for example, for essential services?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I know the member for Nelson has been vitally interested in the site location for the INPEX village. I welcome his interest in this and I encourage him to continue to meet with and discuss with INPEX the way forward.
This government makes no apology for working with INPEX to facilitate the needs they have that would secure and deliver the all important $US12bn INPEX project in Darwin. We are on the record as saying we will work with INPEX.
INPEX selected a preferred site for their construction village to service their proposed Ichthys LNG project. That preferred site is a block of vacant land at Howard Springs bounded by Howard Springs Road and Stow Road. The construction village is likely to accommodate in excess of 2000 workers at peak demand. INPEX selected the preferred site following a rigorous assessment of some 14 different locations including both public and private land holdings, and their assessment was based on a range of criteria such as: impact on the surrounding community; traffic management and safety; and the cost of headworks.
INPEX has been very sincere in their public consultation. I publicly acknowledge that and the effort they have gone to to work with and consult with the local community. I know they went on a doorknock of local residents and businesses. The feedback I received from INPEX from their consultation team was that there was cautious support of the development following the explanation of the proposal on the door-to-door walk they did. People wanted further information about what the village would look like and the efforts INPEX would go to regarding amenity and reducing impact on local residents. The traffic management plans were very important to local residents; also what it would look like. They are also very interested in feedback of what will INPEX leave behind for the Territory community. I offer congratulations to INPEX because they are working well with government.
Since the meeting and the public meeting, we have put together a team of senior government officials to work with INPEX on that site which is their preferred site. I had discussions with them about the alternative pine plantation site. As soon as the member for Nelson raised that alternative with me, I raised that alternative with INPEX. INPEX has had a look at the alternative pine plantation site. They believe that that site would be an inferior site to the site that they prefer. They are keen to proceed on the site they have selected and the government is working with them to look at their design elements and to take into account all of the design elements. We are working closely with INPEX on that.
It is good for the residents of the rural area to have some more certainty around what those designs would look like and what the proposal in detail would actually propose. That work is being carried out as a combination of team work between INPEX, which is ultimately responsible for the site development, but also government because we can feed in advice about amenity and traffic management and those sorts of things.
Regarding the pine plantation, I questioned fairly widely the contacts I have in the rural area, and asked my staff to as well, about the current use of that pine plantation site. The strong message I received was that it is a very popular recreational use site. Mountain bike riders and horse riders like it, and because it is a pine plantation it is easier to recreate through than our natural bush around that area. I heard pretty strongly ‘hands off the pine plantation site’ because it is really popular for recreation.
As a government, we will continue to work proactively with INPEX to come forward with very clean, concise details on the preferred site in Stow Road so that the people of the rural community can get the detail and look at that detail. I thank INPEX for making the extra effort in consulting with the community.
I thank the member for Nelson for sincerely discussing with INPEX their intentions and working with INPEX around their intentions. We know that the Territory is not immune from this global financial crisis. We know we are seeing a severe and swift economic downturn in our nation. Australia has gone into recession. We know that as a small jurisdiction, the Territory is not immune from the collapse in the GST revenue as a result of the slump down south. There is nothing better than a major project like INPEX to be our insurance for strong economic growth going forward. We make no apology for our Chief Minister having pursued the INPEX project, and this government is working proactively with INPEX.
That does not mean we will cut corners on planning processes or environmental processes. It will mean that we will work fairly and proactively with INPEX.
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