2015-04-28
Budget 2015-16 – Preschool Education
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Nothing is more important to the future of the Territory than educating our children. Today’s budget fails our schools and our kids. Given that our education outcomes still lag behind the rest of the country, how can you possibly justify slashing preschool education funding by $8m in this budget?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I am proud to tell this parliament that this is a record education budget for a Country Liberals government. An amount of $1.012bn is being invested in education in 2015-16. By contrast, the last Northern Territory Labor education budget, in 2011-12 – an election year – was $898m.
I stand proud with Adam Giles as our Chief Minister and Dave Tollner as our Treasurer, as we have put together one of the best budgets we have ever seen. When we came to government there was a bloated education system ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The minister is dodging the question. Why did you cut preschool education funding by $8m in this budget.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, the minister has three minutes to develop an argument and answer the question.
Mr CHANDLER: Today the Department of Education is a very efficient machine compared to the bloated system we inherited from the former Labor government. There are many reasons why money has been moved around in the department, but nothing has been taken out of education. If anything, more money has gone in because we have shifted it to necessary infrastructure like special needs schools – the new Henbury School and the new special needs school in Palmerston – the Open Education Centre and new preschool and childcare facilities in Alice Springs, as well as much needed money for repairs and maintenance, and other services.
A total of 749 students have left the public education system because of the rhetoric …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He does not want to touch it, but $8m has been cut from preschool education. Answer the question.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, if you could come to the point, please.
Mr CHANDLER: I am getting to the point; 749 students have moved out of the public education system, either interstate or into the private sector, because of the ongoing rhetoric from the Labor side of the Chamber, as well as from their union mates who demonise education in the Northern Territory when we are getting better results than we ever had under that mob over there. These are better results in a more efficient system, which leaves us more money to put in to infrastructure.
Look at the number of students who are not in the system anymore and the record amount of money we are spending. I am proud to stand here as the Education minister overseeing better results and a better system than we had under the former Labor government.
Mr Wood: What about the answer to the preschool question?
Mr CHANDLER: I have given that answer.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Direct your comments through the Chair, honourable members, please.
Mr CHANDLER: We have 749 fewer students than we had this time last year because of the rhetoric of the Labor opposition and their union.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Nepal Earthquake – Northern Territory Contribution
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the Assembly on the Territory’s contribution to the Nepalese earthquake recovery?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. I think I speak on behalf of all Territorians when I say we are shocked by the extent of the damage and loss of life as a result of the earthquake in Nepal.
A doctor from the Royal Darwin Hospital has been deployed, as part of a small number of medical personnel, by the Australian government to assist the health coordination and needs assessment in Nepal.
The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre has been tasked by the Australian government to put together the medical needs assessment team. Dr Brian Spain is expected to arrive by ADF aircraft in Kathmandu on Thursday. He will join a doctor from Western Australia in assessing medical needs on behalf of the Australian government.
Dr Spain is a specialist anaesthetist who has worked at Royal Darwin Hospital since 1997. He was previously deployed with the Australian Medical Assistance Team in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. He also played a critical role in the response following the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings.
The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre remains on standby to deliver, and AUSMAT, at the direction of the Australian government, was asked to stand up yesterday. I am advised by police that all Territorians known to be in Nepal have been accounted for.
My heart goes out to those in the Nepalese community who are waiting for information from their loved ones, or about their loved ones, at home.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with many people from the Nepalese community in the Top End. I expressed my condolences on behalf of the Northern Territory parliament. I made a contribution of $10 000 as a donation to the appeal which has been running in conjunction with Darwin Community Arts. They are accepting donations through the Nightcliff Community Bank and there will be a function this Friday night. I ask all Territorians to dig deep and provide assistance to the Nepalese community in the Top End, which in turn provides a great level of service to those affected by the tragic earthquake in Nepal.
I ask all members of this Chamber after parliament today to reflect on the tragedy that has impacted the lives of so many people in Nepal and their extended family and friends around the world. If there is anything we can do on behalf of the Northern Territory government to assist the local community, or those in Nepal, we are more than happy to do so.
Members: Hear, hear!
Budget 2015-16 – Education Funding
Ms MANISON to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Since last year the CLP government has cut primary education by $12m. This has resulted in fewer teachers, bigger classes and less support for our kids. Given that education is the key to unlocking the potential of Territory kids, why is investing in these crucial areas such a low priority for you?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, that was a very silly question. To be fair, the opposition has only just seen the budget papers. I am sure they have not had the time to look through those budget papers to better understand the situation.
I say again, we are investing $1.012bn in education this year. The school system is completely different today to what it was when we inherited it from Labor only three short years ago ...
Ms Walker: Yes, it is a lot worse off.
Mr CHANDLER: No, it is not worse off, member for Nhulunbuy. We are getting better results today than we ever saw under the former Labor government. More money is going into education. We are giving control back to schools instead of a bloated bureaucracy we had with the former Labor government. We had a centralised system that Labor loved. They do not want people at the coalface making decisions; they want to control everything. That is the way the former Education department operated.
Today decisions are being made at the school level, as they should be. Global budgeting gives schools control. A number of schools have taken the path of an independent status, giving them more control to focus on delivering better student outcomes. That is where it should be, and not based on how many bureaucrats we have sitting in a department. We could choose to have 19 more senior bureaucrats in the Department of Education, meaning 19 more executive cars …
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The budget books show there is $368m for primary education, $356m this year. Why is education not a priority to this government?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Wanguri, thank you. Minister, if you would come to the question in the remaining 60 seconds please.
Mr CHANDLER: I am happy to, Mr Deputy Speaker. I say again that $1.012bn is more money than the former Labor government ever put into education. You just want to talk money, but what is more important is how that money is used to deliver better results and give control back to parents, teachers and principals in our schools.
There will be a number of schools next year wanting independent status. Why? Because they have more control. They are not controlled by bureaucrats …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. The question did not go to control, it went to the $12m that has been cut from primary education. Will you answer the question?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Opposition Leader. Minister, please continue.
Mr CHANDLER: I just said the budget has grown this year; it has grown by $65.7m compared to last year. That is more money to invest in the education system and infrastructure. The system we inherited is very different to the system it is today. It is a far more efficient than the one we had previously, and it is delivering better results than we have ever had before.
Debt and Deficit Reduction Strategy
Mr BARRETT to TREASURER
I had the pleasure of listening to the Treasurer’s presentation at the Chamber of Commerce lunch today. The NAB economist gave the direction of the Giles government and this budget a big tick. Can the Treasurer please inform members of the government strategy on debt and deficit reduction?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. Thank you also for attending the Chamber of Commerce business lunch today to hear the presentation on the budget.
The member for Blain asked me a question about the government’s strategy on debt and deficit reduction. The government does have a strategy. We know this is something that never entered the minds of the previous Labor government because the final financial statement it issued, the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, showed debt and deficits ever increasing with no plan or strategy for them.
I can say to the member for Blain this government, unlike the former government, has a strategy for debt and deficit reduction. I will be so bold as to say to the member for Blain that strategy is being played out in the budget released today. In the budget released today, forecast debt is projected to be about $2.6bn, which is less than half of what Labor projected debt would increase to.
Labor projected the budget deficit would grow to $1.1bn. That is more than $1.1m a day in interest repayments. We have always said we will not saddle our children with inter-generational debt, which never seemed to bother the previous Labor government. Not a word anywhere could you find to show the former government had a strategy to get itself out of debt and start living within its means.
The government’s plan is very simple: find efficiencies in the way government delivers services, cut Labor’s waste and grow the private sector. I pay tribute to all my colleagues, the various ministers who have worked hard with their departments and to the public service, for doing that.
Change is never easy, but public servants in the Northern Territory not only embraced the change but they got behind it. We have seen a big reduction in government spending and debt. We are on track to balance the budget by 2017-18.
Budget 2015-16 – Child Protection
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
Today’s budget continues the CLP’s appalling neglect of the Territory’s most vulnerable people: children. Since last year’s $8m cut, child protection cases not investigated within the mandated 28 days increased by over 50% to 1347. This budget has further cut resources going into child protection services. When will you take responsibility for your failure to protect Territory kids and invest the much-needed resources to fix the problem?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, a predictable question and for that reason I already have Budget Paper 3 open at page 141. Let us put to bed one assertion. The 2014-15 budget for child protection was $160m. The 2015-16 budget for child protection is $172m, an increase of $12m.
Let us deal with the first issue. The members opposite will simply tell bald-faced untruths in pursuit of running a particular agenda then they will say, ‘But it is all about the children and you have to spend more’. Well we are spending more so put that aside.
Here is the second component, which concerns me the most. Since when has it been the government’s responsibility to become parents? We rescue children from parents who neglect, abuse and sexually abuse their children. Some parents rape their children, and we are the ambulance that fixes that. That was the issue the former government had to deal with, as does the present government.
But here is the truth of it. As the minister for child protection I have more kids in care today because parents do not care; they do not get engaged with their children. Your policies of welfare and not ever asking the parent to do anything, of saying these parents are all victims, generated exactly that sort of indifferent thinking on the part of those parents. Then when the government intervenes to try to rescue these children from these dreadful and diabolical circumstances, it is all of a sudden the government’s fault.
The policies we have engaged are sound. Under the former government there was an example where a gentleman looking after a 17-year-old person who was fully compliant, drove himself to school, was paid $300 000 a year to look after that kid. That was what the former government did – just throw money around.
As the minister for child protection I sadly have to say I have more kids in care now than we have ever had in the Northern Territory’s history. The situation is getting worse. It will continue to get worse whilst there is an attitude on the part of members opposite and federal governments who believe a passive welfare system is a way forward for people living in the Northern Territory. That passive welfare system ultimately drives the neglect and indifference we have to spend money on to clean up the mess.
Budget 2015-16 –
Reducing Housing Costs for Territorians
Reducing Housing Costs for Territorians
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Would you please update the House on how the Country Liberal Party budget is helping to reduce the cost of housing for Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, that is a good question from the member for Arafura and I am thrilled to answer it. When we came to government we were in the grips of the worst housing crisis in the Territory’s history. House prices and rents went through the roof under Labor’s watch and very little was done to stem that tide of price increases.
Since coming to government we have made a very deliberate decision to change the way in which we provide the First Home Owner Grant. We said that rather than being used for existing homes, it could only be used for newly-constructed homes. This took away a lot of inflationary pressure from the housing market and put the resources where they spurred on construction growth. At the same time as we made that policy change we embarked on the biggest land release program in the Territory’s history. With the combination of those two events we are finally seeing the housing market cool off somewhat in the Northern Territory.
Last week the CommSec report stated that housing prices were declining, and this was seen as a bad thing on a national basis. I can understand why CommSec would think that, but in the Territory we did not see it as a bad thing. We have seen over-inflated housing prices cause cost-of-living pressures for Territorians, and it has always been our goal to reduce the cost of living for Territorians. The biggest feed-in to cost-of-living pressures is the cost of housing.
We are not stopping there. This budget invests a further $45.5m into the land release program to keep those projects going and keep downward pressure on rents and housing prices. It is a deliberate approach we have taken to deal with housing and rent issues in the Northern Territory. Apart from six people in the room, most people welcome the efforts the government has taken to reduce the cost of living in relation to the cost of housing and rent in the Territory.
Ministerial Trip to America
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for WOMEN’S POLICY
An article in the Sunday Territorian headed, ‘The price is not right’ revealed you and your ministerial adviser, Paul Mossman, spent $50 000 on a 10-day junket to New York.
Is it true Mr Mossman cashed in a business class airfare and purchased two economy airfares? Is it also true that Mr Mossman and a relative travelled economy class on this junket? In the interest of public accountability, will you table all documentation relevant to this $50 000 taxpayer-funded junket, or do you have something to hide?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for Namatjira for her question, because I can tell you a bit about New York and what the trip was about.
You are familiar with the International Women’s Conference held in March every year …
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Namatjira, I understand where you are going with this. The minister has been on her feet for 15 seconds. Please allow her to develop her answer in the three minutes she is entitled to.
Minister, could you please come to the point.
Mrs PRICE: I am sure the member for Namatjira is aware that in March each year there is a UN conference in New York on how to tackle women’s policy and women’s issues. This happened last year, and it is ironic that a question which should have been asked last year is being raised this year; they would have then been able to see the report that was lodged.
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. We are talking about the $50 000 and the cash-in by the senior adviser.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I understand, member for Namatjira, and I heard the question. Minister, your time is running out. I ask that you address certain points of the question.
Mrs PRICE: It was my first year of being the Minister for Women’s Policy and it was a great honour for me to be invited to attend this special conference which was attended by 6000 to 7000 women from all over the world.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. Did your adviser cash in a business class ticket for two economy tickets?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, if you could come to the point of the question in the remaining time please.
Mrs PRICE: At this time of the year, in March, these conferences take place. It was my pleasure to go last year. I was invited, and there were women from all over the world there. It is important to attend these conferences to find out what other countries are doing for women and children, and what they are doing about domestic violence. It is a very important international conference …
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It was a very direct question. Did your senior adviser cash in his business ticket for two economy tickets and take his son? Are you lying to the parliament?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Namatjira, withdraw that allegation.
Ms ANDERSON: Mr Deputy Speaker, I am challenging the minister. Is she misleading this House?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Namatjira, I ask you to withdraw any reference to lying.
Ms ANDERSON: I withdraw anything to do with a lie, but is the minister misleading this parliament?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! The member has been around long enough and knows how to deal with this is by way of substantive motion.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, the question was specific. I need to draw you to the point of the question; a number of points of order have been raised. Are you able to answer this question? If not, perhaps you could take it on notice for another time?
Mrs PRICE: I do not mislead this Chamber at all on questions asked, unlike the member for Namatjira. I speak for the Territory in regard to women’s policy.
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Relevance – I asked a direct question; were those tickets cashed in or are you misleading the House?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! The member for Namatjira knows that she cannot make that assertion, even by way of a question, until such time as she wishes to make it by way of substantive motion.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. I concur. Member for Namatjira, you have been around this place long enough to know the procedures. Minister, are you able to get to the point of this question? Would you like to continue in the remaining 40 seconds?
Mrs PRICE: I will take this on notice. If she would like to get a briefing from me she is welcome to get one from my office, if she is still in the Northern Territory.
Budget 2015-16 – Tourism
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline for the Assembly the exciting investments in Budget 2015-16 to build our all-important tourism industry?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, it is good to get this question from the member for Drysdale. It is interesting that the opposition has not asked a question of the Treasurer or me today about how good the budget is, but the member for Drysdale is very keen.
On the day of the budget you would think the opposition would ask a budget-related question of the Treasurer or Chief Minister, but there has been nothing. It is lucky the member for Drysdale is standing up for the Territory.
I am very keen to talk about tourism because it is one of the future economic industries for growth in the Northern Territory. I am sure you are well aware of some of the announcements we have made, but I will run through a few of them.
Not only are we keeping our additional $8m on marketing campaigns, on top of what we normally spend, we are also opening up the Territory to Territorians and tourists by putting $25m into sealing the last remaining 43 km of the Mereenie Inner Loop. We are putting $28.5m on top of our already committed funds into sealing and duplication of Litchfield Park Road, including the new bridge over the lower Finniss River.
We are putting millions of dollars towards an undercover walkway from the cruise ship terminal to the waterfront to provide an increased level of amenity for cruise ship passengers to find their way to the waterfront, the retail sector and the CBD.
We are putting $3m into a small bridge on Gimbat Road – the Kambolgie bridge, in Kakadu. I am sure you know that bridge, Mr Deputy Speaker. Once it is completed, Kakadu will be open for longer in the year, because that is one of the first bridges that floods in the Wet Season. This will support business in Kakadu, tourism and our economy.
As you would be aware, we are trying to grow our tourism industry to $2.2bn by 2020. Already we are seeing a massive turnaround in tourism in the Northern Territory, whether domestic or international. We must continue to maintain a strong path forward.
On top of this, we want to see more regional and remote Territorians become involved in the tourism sector, so we put $4.75m into an infrastructure grant program to assist businesses to develop or redevelop the tourism infrastructure component of their businesses so more tourists can have a higher level of amenity. It also means we can get more Aboriginal Territorians involved in the tourism industry, getting them off welfare and into work.
Make no mistake, the tilt to the tourism industry is coming in the Territory in the next 18 to 24 months. We are investing in it now to make sure the Territory has a strong future in the tourism industry.
Budget 2015-16 –
Primary Healthcare Spending
Primary Healthcare Spending
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Given that preventing disease and ill health is the smartest and cheapest way of creating a healthier Territory, why will 2015-16 see $6m less spent on Territory-wide primary healthcare? How can the minister possibly justify this given he believes spending $45 000 on travel to Cape Canaveral to investigate building a space industry in the Territory is an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, this is one of those times where you have to ask if the member knows how to read a budget book. I presume she is talking about page 149 of Budget Paper No 3 where it talks about disease prevention and control. There she has found what she considers to be a $6m cut in the disease control budget. The Budget 2014-15 disease control line item was $17.6m; in Budget 2015-16, which has just been announced, it is $21m …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was specifically about Territory-wide primary healthcare, with $70m spent in 2014-15 and $6m less for this year. I am not sure where he is going.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of the Opposition. The minister heard the question and I am confident he will be getting to the answer.
Mr ELFERINK: Page 149, Budget Paper No 3 – Budget 2014-15 Territory-wide primary healthcare for the Department of Health was $64m. Primary healthcare Territory-wide in the current budget just announced is nearly $65m. So it has gone up. They do not know how to read budget books. This is the problem we have in the estimates process when they scrutinise the budget. You try to explain these things and one is left with the sensation you are explaining algebra to a slug. It just does not work! You point at the budget books and say you have $64m there, and these guys are sitting there chewing on the spine of the book looking at you blankly saying, ‘But there are some numbers in here’. I encourage the members opposite, to stop chewing on the spine and read the budget books.
The problem is they come into this place with questions prepared by staffers. They do not read the questions or examine the contents of the book before they start running the same inane assertions.
They randomly go through the book and say, ‘Oh, there is a number, oh there is another number, that is less, there must be something sneaky going on’. When the budget for 2014-15 says $64m and the next year it says $64m, then they are being more than slightly disingenuous in their approach.
Here is the answer. We are spending $1.4bn on health in this year’s budget, which is a substantial slice of the budget. That is up by about $150m on last year’s budget. We are providing health services to Territorians to make sure they have the best possible system in the country.
Budget 2015-16 –
Royal Darwin Hospital Upgrades
Royal Darwin Hospital Upgrades
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for HEALTH
In addition to the commitment of funds for the Palmerston Regional Hospital, which I am excited about, you announced that Budget 2015-16 will deliver $40m in upgrades to the Royal Darwin Hospital, which I am sure the member for Casuarina is stoked about. Can you please provide further details about this fantastic initiative?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. There is a guy who knows how to read a budget book. In fact, I think he has a degree in economics.
I am proud to say, yes, there is already the initial $25m to start work on the Palmerston hospital. Construction of that is starting to look very close indeed and I will keep members posted.
The Royal Darwin Hospital was constructed before self-government. It is an old hospital and it needs more than just a lick of paint. The Northern Territory News said it was cosmetic surgery. It is much more like a knee reconstruction; it goes all the way to the bone. We will see improved services in the courtyards, foyers and what happens when you walk into the front door, and improved services in the A&E area. It will have a green section for people to go to, and I encourage people to look at the plans when we release them. The budget will also see $4m in addition to the $11.9m of Commonwealth funding to refurbish the paediatric ward and a bunch of other things. We are very proud of that $40m.
I wonder if the members opposite will agree to condemn the words of the Senator for the Northern Territory, Nova Peris, who in the Senate said we have the worst hospital system in the Northern Territory. That outrageous slur on the good staff and hard-working people throughout our hospital system cut deep.
There has not been a noise, peep, or single utterance in the defence of the doctors, nurses and administrators who work in our hospital system. They could not crawl quickly enough onto the bandwagon to criticise our hospital system.
Recently, the AMA released a report and benchmarked the hospital system, and there were some critical numbers and comments about elective surgery waiting times. What they neglected to point out was that the AMA, on page 11 of its report, said we had the second-best hospital system in the country, which is a testament to the quality of the people we have in the face of the difficult patient mixes in our hospital system. Do I hear congratulations? No. The Northern Territory branch of the Australian Labor Party, through their Senator, says we have the worst hospital system in the country. I disagree. I agree with the AMA and I am proud of the staff and people who work in our hospitals.
Budget 2015-16 – Public Housing Stock
Ms MOSS to MINISTER for HOUSING referred to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
Under your watch the public housing stock has fallen by 76 dwellings in the last year, including 53 fewer dwellings in the bush. This year’s budget papers show that only 90 of a promised 418 remote dwellings will be upgraded in 2015-16. How can Territorians have any confidence in your ability to deliver better housing? How can you possibly justify these failures to the thousands of Territorians on the public housing waiting list given you think spending $50 000 to travel to New York, including $3000 for a driver for two days, is an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money?
Mr Giles: Mr Deputy Speaker, given that relates to Indigenous Affairs, which falls under my portfolio responsibilities, I would be very happy to answer that.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker!
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am happy for the Chief Minister to answer that.
ANSWER
Thank you very much for the question, member for Casuarina. If you want to talk about Indigenous housing, look at your performance under the Strategic Indigenous Housing Infrastructure Program. That program, costing $1.8bn, produced fewer houses than when you started. You knocked down more houses than you built, and you want to lambast the Housing minister for your past failures.
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: Oh the hysterics of failure on the other side, particularly the member for Wanguri, who was the adviser to the former Housing minister.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. It is unprecedented to see a Chief Minister jump in front of a bullet like that for the Housing minister. The question was that this year’s budget papers show that only 90 of the promised 418 remote dwellings will be upgraded in 2014-15, so how can Territorians have any confidence in your ability to deliver better housing?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: This is not a bullet, this is an opportunity. This government is setting up the affordable housing sector in the Northern Territory – private housing, public housing – and we are now setting up community housing and affordable housing. You talk about a negative number of 53 houses, Real Housing for Growth is a commitment of 2000 additional houses over four years, of which 488 are now occupied, including eight in Tennant Creek, in the member for Barkly’s electorate. An additional 500 are under construction, and today or tomorrow a tender will go out for the remainder of those 2000 houses. If you want to talk about a lack of housing development look at your performance under the SIHIP program, when the member for Wanguri was the adviser who saw more houses demolished than were built in the bush.
If you want to talk about Nhulunbuy, in eleven-and-a-half years how many houses did you build? Zero. How many houses were built in the Barkly electorate in the time of the Labor government? Zero. We have built more houses in Barkly in two-and-a-half years than Labor did in eleven-and-a-half years.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Chief Minister, if you cannot trust your Housing minister to answer questions how can you trust her to be a Housing minister?
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, that is not a point of order. I think you know it. The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr GILES: When it comes to a matter of trust, the matter of trust is with the member for Wanguri who was adviser to the Housing minister who ran failure after failure in Indigenous housing for years and years. If you want to talk about wasting money, walk around the corner and check your dirty dodgy Stella Maris site deal. You want to hand away a $3m asset, and you handed away millions of dollars by demolishing houses across the Northern Territory.
Only one party in this Chamber has built houses and increased the housing stock in the last 15 years, and we did it in two-and-a-half years.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was directed to the Minister for Housing. I note she was calling out across the Chamber so perhaps she is ready to answer the question.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Nhulunbuy, please. This 113 stuff has to slow down. It has been completely abused in this Chamber. The Chief Minister has opted to answer the question on behalf of the Housing minister. If you do not like it you can attack it through a media release but not in this Chamber.
Mr GILES: Much of my time has been eroded by these insidious points of order. The opposition might like to reflect on the increase in money we have put towards repairs, maintenance and housing in this fantastic budget, how many more houses we are building under Real Housing for Growth, and what we are doing to meet the needs of Territorians.
Bees Creek – Rural Rezoning Application
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
In relation to a planning scheme amendment you approved in Bees Creek, local member Kezia Purick said:
Peter Chandler listened to the people and said no and now, this urban based minister Tollner says it is OK to destroy the rural area.
- Mr Tollner said he was ‘satisfied with this compromise and invited the applicant to submit a revised rezoning application’.
The revised application was approved this month.
Why has this amended application not been advertised as promised by your predecessor so nearly 100 objectors could have a say? Does it come as no surprise to you that because of this deceitful planning decision, and because rural residents now see the arrogance and disdain you have for the rules, good governance, the local member and ordinary Territorians, your government is now despised and totally on the nose of the people of Bees Creek?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, it is good to get a question from someone on the other side, even if it is my good old mate from Nelson asking something completely unrelated to the budget. One would think that on budget day 2015 there might be at least one question asked of the Treasurer about the budget. But no, it is all very quiet.
Member for Nelson, discussions are still continuing in relation to that block and the subdivision.
Budget 2015-16 –
Strengthening the Northern Territory
Strengthening the Northern Territory
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
What plan does the government have to strengthen and build the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member for Drysdale, who is over the moon with the budget put together by the Country Liberal government this year, under the leadership of Chief Minister Giles, and the Treasurer, who has worked hard to put this budget together, as has every other minister.
Budget 2015-16 sees government release a record $1.626bn infrastructure program. We are delivering and investing in critical public infrastructure across the Northern Territory. This government is making life simpler, safer and smarter for all Territorians. The record investment in infrastructure projects strengthens the Country Liberal government’s commitment to building the Territory.
The Budget 2015-16 infrastructure program has been increased by more than $490m, providing additional spending to health facilities and investing in our schools, while better connecting remote Territorians and promoting economic opportunities.
Allow me to outline a few budget highlights. There is $670.9m in capital works, for example, $28.5m for Litchfield Park Road, which is needed and will be taken with enthusiasm by Territorians; and $211.2m for repairs and maintenance, continuing to maintain government assets across the Northern Territory.
There is $80.35m going into the health sector, for example, $45.25m towards the Royal Darwin Hospital, as we have just heard the member for Port Darwin eloquently describe.
There is $37.97m for education, including $21.35m for the Palmerston special school, which parents of special needs children will appreciate. All of these projects and more support the Developing the North strategy. They create real jobs and opportunities for local contractors and small businesses alike.
I look forward to reporting on these projects and their progress as work continues to roll out across the construction industry in the coming years. This is a good budget and it will make things better for Territorians. Territorians will welcome the Country Liberal government’s budget this year.
Power and Water Prices
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
On your watch, Territory families and businesses have been slugged by huge hikes in the cost of power, water and sewerage. Your budget does nothing to give Territorians relief from these massive increases in the cost of living. How can you possibly justify continuing to slug Territorians when you think your ministerial colleagues spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on overseas trips is an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the new Opposition Leader for his question. It is heartening that on budget day there is a budget question coming from the opposition.
Listening to that question, I take it that it was a question about power and water, but you threw a whole bunch of flowery stuff on the end. Am I correct about the power and water price increases?
Mr GUNNER: The Treasurer has asked for a 113. On your watch Territory families and businesses have been slugged with huge hikes in power, water and sewerage costs. Your budget does nothing to give Territorians relief from the massive increases in the cost of living your government caused. Will you answer the question?
Mr TOLLNER: Right. It is either a question about the cost of living or what we are doing with the Power and Water Corporation. We will take the first bit first.
Dead right, we had to increase power and water charges when we first came to government. It was something we did very reluctantly. We did not want to do it but the failure of the former Labor government put the financial status of the Power and Water Corporation on a very precarious footing. It was heading to the wall. Without a massive injection of cash, Power and Water would have crumbled and folded. We did not want to do that, but we had to take the tough decision to make sure PWC was sustainable into the future.
Since then we have not left it at just putting in place a price increase; we have reformed the sector. That is the most important thing; we refused to be saddled with the debt-ridden Power and Water Corporation with lack of transparency and accountability, and no clue where money provided by government every year was going.
We have made some structural separations. We said what government said in the 1990s in relation to competition policy: that we would reform the sector. We have separated out the generation business, and the Power and Water Corporation is on a much more sustainable footing than it was two-and-a-half years ago when we came to office.
The reforms are working to such an extent that we can indeed lower the cost of electricity prices for Territory households at some stage this year. That will need to be done as part of the reform process. We need to establish a wholesale market operator for a start. Once those reforms are made we can pass on those savings.
In relation to the cost of living, I do not think there has been a government that has done more than this government to drive down cost-of-living pressures in the Territory.
Budget 2015-16 – Katherine Region
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Once again on the topic of the budget, can the minister please update the House on how Budget 2015-16 will make life simpler, safer and smarter for local residents of the Katherine region?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, it is an absolute pleasure to answer this question from the member for Blain, who understands how important regional communities like Katherine are to the burgeoning primary industry sector across the Northern Territory.
It gives me great pleasure to update the House on many initiatives Budget 2015-16 delivers to the Katherine region and its residents. A total of $299m has been allocated, with a focus on law and order, health and education in a region that supports the primary industry sector.
Budget 2015-16 includes an additional $8.7m ongoing for the recruitment of police officers across the Territory. Earlier this month I was extremely pleased to welcome 18 new police officers to Katherine, providing more frontline services and strengthening community safety.
Budget 2015-16 also makes the lives of Katherine residents safer with the allocation of $7.6m for the relocation of the ambulance station outside the flood zone. There is $200 000 going to a sonography outreach service to make the lives of patients in our primary industry sector regions safer and simpler.
Education is a key focus for the Country Liberal government with the Katherine School of the Air set to receive $3.71m to assist isolated students. That is a huge boon for the Katherine School of the Air. The Kintore Street School is also a big winner with $2.65 to go towards a new administration facility.
Some $900 000 will be injected into the Katherine and Victoria River Research Stations to support their invaluable programs. Major infrastructure projects helping the primary industry sector around the region will include:
$10.8m to be spent on head and subdivision works for the release of residential land
$5m to upgrade the Robinson and Calvert stream crossings
$4m to upgrade sections of the Roper Highway
$3.5m for the construction of subdivision works to support a major land release at Borroloola
$2.5m to seal selected sections of the Lajamanu access road
$1m in joint federal and Territory funding for the design and development of two bridges over Little Horse and Big Horse Creek near Timber Creek.
These are but some of the many initiatives for Budget 2015-16 that deliver for Katherine residents to make their lives simpler, safer and smarter. It is a pleasure for me to announce these allocations, because under the former Labor government when I stood to talk about what Katherine was getting it was a very short speech.
Travel – Members
Ms MANISON to CHIEF MINISTER
Have you or any current or former members of your ministerial staff ever directed or requested other ministers, ministerial staff or public servants to utilise the services of Latitude Travel?
ANSWER
No, but while we are on the subject of travel let me talk about the importance of travel by members of parliament, whether on your side of the Chamber or this side. It is an opportunity for us to get out of the Territory and learn. Travel within the Territory or overseas is very important.
Measures on the ability of members of parliament to travel are set in different ways. Ministers have the ability to travel under a ministerial budget, which comes under the guidance of their own budgets, under me as Chief Minister. Members travel for tribunal matters is set by an independent tribunal. There is an allocation of funds which can be used every four years, and there are some rules around that.
There have been some comments on travel by members of parliament to date – we have not commented on Labor members of parliament – but it is so important that we get out and learn. We have to be responsible about how we do it, but we must get out and learn.
Ms Fyles interjecting.
Mr GILES: Hang on.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: The member for Stuart has been under some criticism. We should have a good look at that. She was selected …
Members interjecting.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: Hang on a second.
She was selected and asked to represent Australia, because of her Indigenous heritage, at the United Nations. There are rules about going to the United Nations. I know there has been some consternation about the Waldorf, but the United Nations says which hotels you must stay at. They also say you are not allowed to get a taxi to the United Nations. You cannot walk into the United Nations. You have to use a car service to get there for security purposes, which is what the member for Stuart did. She had an opportunity to mix with the federal Women’s Policy minister, Michaelia Cash, who I had an opportunity to speak to about Bess just the other day when I went to COAG. She was also there with Natasha Stott Despoja and the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, presenting to the United Nations.
It is very important to stand up for the rights of women, particularly Indigenous women, at the United Nations.
I know there are questions about other people’s travel, and we will not go into the gutter, unless we have to, and talk about Labor travel. We could talk about how the former member for Casuarina, Mr Vatskalis, spent $197 000 in his last year in parliament. We could talk about the former Labor Chief Minister who travelled to Aberdeen costing $73 000, and three months later another Labor minister visited costing $134 000 which included, among the people on the trip, Mr Alan Paton. People might know Alan Paton from Unions NT and the Stella Maris deal.
If you want to go down this dirty, dodgy, stinky model of talking about travel, let us be real with how it benefits members and Territorians, and how we learn to diversify in a policy debate.
Budget 2015-16 –
Long-term Benefits for Territorians
Long-term Benefits for Territorians
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please outline for the Assembly the highlights of today’s budget and the many long-term benefits it delivers to Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. In my answer I will outline a couple of things for my portfolios, then on the broad-brush blueprint.
The budget has delivered reversal of a $5.5bn debt legacy left by Labor to $2.6bn. We have more than halved Labor’s debt legacy and we are now $253 in operational surplus a full three years ahead of budget. We have scheduled a full surplus in the 2017-18 budget of $9m.
We have bigger budgets this year for health and education, with $150m for new schools, classrooms, preschools and childcare centres. Henbury School is an example, and Bellamack, Larapinta childcare and the open education system.
The health system has a bigger and better budget, including $40m for Royal Darwin Hospital and our $150m commitment to Palmerston hospital. Millions of dollars are going to remote clinics and the Top End and Central Australian health services.
Coming back to education, let me talk about the boarding facility for Nhulunbuy to assist the local economy and community, and to assist remote residents to get a better education in the East Arnhem region.
This budget also sets up a new offfice of Aboriginal Affairs to be based in Alice Springs to improve the delivery of services to Aboriginal Territorians, particularly around economic infrastructure. We have allocated communities and regions to 13 chief executive officers in the Northern Territory who will be seeking to drive economic reform in the bush.
We have put $4.75m towards tourism infrastructure to assist people develop businesses. We have a Business in the Bush program through the Department of Business which is seeing officers appointed in regional areas to assist remote communities to develop businesses, get jobs and get off welfare, which is what we want. These are important initiatives.
Connecting people is really important. Previously we had a partnership with Telstra to put telecommunications, mobile phones and data download services in remote parts of the Territory. In this budget we are setting aside $9m to increase the roll-out of telecommunication services across the bush, in addition to our WiFi roll-out. We are looking to partner with Telstra and the federal government to get that to $30m. A lot of work has been done with Telstra to date, more work has to be done with the federal government, but $9m is coming from us.
Opening the Territory for economic diversity and connecting Territorians, both regional and remote, is important. An amount of $0.5bn is going towards roadworks in the Northern Territory. Every major arterial route in the Northern Territory will have millions of dollars invested in it to connect Territorians, to connect business and grow our economy.
This is a budget for the future. I congratulate the Treasurer and the whole team on pulling together to advance the interests and needs of Territorians now, tomorrow and the next day, particularly our children.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Mr Deputy Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Ministerial Trip to America
Ministerial Trip to America
Mrs PRICE (Women’s Policy): Mr Deputy Speaker, in response to the Member for Namitjira’s question, the answer is no. This is another grubby slur by the member who uses this place to peddle gossip and mistruths instead of representing her constituents.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016