2013-02-14
Power and Water Tariff Increases
– Air Conditioning
– Air Conditioning
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
On the day you announced your $2000 Power and Water price hikes, your CLP candidate for Wanguri, Rhianna Harker, said, ‘If your bill is too high-cut back on your electricity use. Two fridges, a dryer and air conditioners are luxuries. If you cannot afford it, do not use them.’ Do you agree with your candidate for Wanguri that air conditioning in Darwin is a luxury?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I understand what you are endeavouring to do. This issue sits in a broader context and that is …
Ms Lawrie: Answer the question.
Mr MILLS: I have said one sentence so far. Give it a go.
You have to understand the situation must be responded to by recognising there is a problem which was created by the previous government as a result of poor fiscal management. It cannot be ignored. It has to be responded to and it is quite childish to ignore that and run an argument, such as you have, for obvious political intent to score some cheap point.
The reality is, all Territorians have been put in a very difficult position. They looked to the former government to provide assistance to find a pathway out of that and found none other than the previous government taking them further into the problem by ignoring it and drawing attention to themselves. We now have a government that is responding to that problem. When it comes to the cost of power in the Northern Territory, what sits behind that question, member for Fannie Bay, is the reality there is a problem which was understood and acknowledged by the former Treasurer, not for all to see, but by the Board of the Power and Water Corporation …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was: does the Chief Minister agree air conditioning in Darwin is a luxury?
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, the question also made assertions about power price hikes and the Chief Minister is answering the question in that context.
Mr MILLS: The need to get your business under control to deal with the capacity for power generation to be on a sustainable footing in the Northern Territory is real business. When it comes down to how this looks for local families having to make these adjustments, which are adjustments they may - in all your endeavours to direct anger towards the current government which is dealing with the problem, the recognition is the problem was created and is now being addressed.
Each household will have to make its own decisions as this government has made its decisions. With regard to air conditioning being a luxury, I do not believe it is.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Labor Budget – Adherence to
Ms FINOCCHIARO to LEADER of GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Can you tell the House whether the former Labor Chief Minister’s office stuck to the budget set by the Leader of the Opposition, the then Treasurer, the worst Treasurer in the Territory’s history? If the former Chief Minister exceeded the now Leader of the Opposition’s budget, can you tell us by how much?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question and will answer it in the context of that title. There is no doubt the former government struggled with the concept of fiscal containment – basically, living within your means. The current Leader of the Opposition, then minister, has a surprising track record in this area.
The current Leader of the Opposition, when Treasurer, overspent in her office, for the year 2011-12, an amount of $3.84m.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He is being misleading. I did not overspend in the office of the Treasurer. He is talking about the Department of the Chief Minister’s budget for the Chief Minister’s office as well as the Leader of the Opposition’s office.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: No matter how you try to explain this away, $3.84m - office, department, the usual weasel words you hear. This was her budget, the one she was supposed to manage. In 2009-10, the office overspent ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Again, he is misleading. That line item sits in the Department of the Chief Minister and was for all minister’s offices, not just mine.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, in 2010, the overspend in her office was $1.884m. In 2010-11, the overspend was $2.845m.
As I have already said, the magic figure for the last year was nearly $4m over her budget. That is something Territorians need to be aware of because those overspends demonstrate a fiscal irresponsibility which she had engaged in to surround herself, largely, with a message machine which was substantial and getting bigger and more expensive every year to the point where budgets meant nothing. It was all about the message.
One of the spin doctors she employed is now the Labor candidate for Wanguri who is peddling the book of untruths and lies.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You advised members about the use of the word ‘lies’. It is offensive and he should withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, if you could withdraw the word ‘lies’.
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw the word - the book of untruths. Why does this Labor Party ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You made some very clear instructions to the members opposite about frivolous points of order. None of their points of order accorded with any standing order and they have consumed a minute of the time I had to answer the question. I ask you enforce your statement.
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, sit down.
Power and Water Tariff Increases –
Opposition to
Opposition to
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Both the member for Solomon, Natasha Griggs, and your CLP candidate for Wanguri, Rhianna Harker, have realised your broken promises have made you toxic to Territorians. In an attempt to save their political skins, they have run a million miles from you, changed their minds and spoken out against you and your power and water price hikes. You have refused to listen to them and ruled out their suggestions. If you will not listen to your own party, what hope do the rest of us have?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for the question. I understand what you are referring to. I also understand, as I have said on many occasions that the necessary but hard decisions made by this government are difficult for families to understand and accommodate.
Nonetheless, we are making these decisions because they need to be made. Cabinet has weighed up these decisions. We were aware of information the former Treasurer was aware of. Heaven knows what the former Treasurer would do, if in charge of Cabinet today, to deal with a problem that, if it is not dealt with - just as debt on a household credit card starts to accumulate and compound, if you do not get it under control you are in serious trouble. I know families across the Northern Territory who, on a daily basis, have to work out how to manage that debt level so they can keep it under control.
However, this is not so with the discipline and respect for the future generation of Territorians. Our seniors would understand this, as many times throughout life they have had to make difficult decisions to be in control of their future and able to make a contribution to others. That is exactly the attitude of this current government dealing with a very difficult situation - so we are in a stronger position and have greater control over our future to make a contribution and realise the great potential of the Northern Territory.
When it comes to your intent, member for Fannie Bay, what has been shown by two community representatives is a reflection of exactly what I have described. I know people are finding this difficult. However, the former Treasurer acknowledged this but failed to act. It is almost an act of betrayal not to acknowledge or face up to a real issue and have the courage to make a decision in the best interests of Territorians as this government has done. We have made a very difficult decision.
Yes, it certainly is a reflection - and respectfully put - of a view in the community. We understand that. Cabinet understands and accepts that. Nonetheless, we had to weigh that up, unlike the former Treasurer who did not have the capacity, foresight, courage or respect for future generations to make such a decision ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Misleading! In 2009, tariff adjustments were made.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down, there is no point of order.
Mr MILLS: This is the fifth one ...
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
Community Events - Funding
Mr STYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
The previous Labor government left some of the Territory’s best loved and most popular community events without any funding. Yet, the Leader of the Opposition’s spin doctor, Nicole Manison, says, on the back page of the Wanguri book of untruths she is peddling, that the government has changed the Territory for the worse. Can you tell the House how the government will save these great events?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. This is very disturbing because the answer will bring out more to reinforce the attitude of the former government. This government has been in position for over five months. It is as though it was wonderful before but now it is bad. We are dealing with a very serious problem. When you look at the face of this, you see a former government that had little care or respect for community organisations.
I am going to go through some very disturbing information - displaying the attitude of the former government - which now has to be dealt with by the current government …
Ms Lawrie: You are in government, what are you doing?
Mr MILLS: We are telling the truth. Before I detail the government’s plans to provide funding for these events, I point out the Starlight Foundation, that magnificent organisation for kids with cancer, was allocated $5000 by the former Labor government. That is good. That looks generous and we appreciate that kind of support. The community would be grateful. However, Unions NT received $40 000 for May Day celebrations. No wonder you enjoyed the event out there the other day.
We know it is a holiday and Territorians enjoy a day off, but where did that $40 000 go when you compare that to $5000 for kids with cancer.
I guarantee we will reprioritise how we make decisions concerning support for the community.
Looking back over history, open your eyes and see this is the worst Treasurer we have had. Look at the magnitude of debt left for us to deal with. The current Leader of the Opposition …
Mr McCarthy: You are going to crush the union movement.
Mr MILLS: I predict you will come up with points of order because you will not like what you are about to hear. You put aside $912 000 for community events in the current financial year, but, true to form, the former Treasurer spent $830 000 before the election. In just two months she spent almost 90% of the budget. This left a $277 000 shortfall in funding for community events. Without decisive government action, events such as Anzac Day, the Darwin Star Ball for the Starlight Foundation, the Camel Cup, the Darwin to Dili yacht race and the Greek Glenti would be threatened because you raided the candy jar for your own purposes before the election.
There is nothing there; you have used it all. There are many organisations - I table the list - left exposed by this appalling former government.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Cost of Living Increases
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
In your election ads you said:
- You can have a lower cost of living but only if you vote for a lower cost of living.
Since then, the cost of almost everything has increased after your decision to hike up power and water prices. A vote for the CLP on Saturday is clearly a vote for more cost of living increases. Why did you break your promise and why should Territorians trust a word you say?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. This is from the former Treasurer who I thought would understand basic economics. She has raised a family, managed a household budget and is asking a basic question like that, pretending she does not understand how these things work.
The commitment was made to cut waste and reduce debt. You must have had many good advisors assisting you because you gave the impression you knew what you were talking about when you were Treasurer. It must have been the people around you.
If you cut waste and ensure the limited resource you have is employed to deal with its real purpose of delivering services, you have greater capacity to reduce debt. Once debt is reduced ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Misleading. The Chief Minister’ forward estimates show the government is increasing debt.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr MILLS: Once you have the waste under control you have the capacity to deal with debt. If you do not deal with debt, you have interest repayments which cannot be ignored – ignore them at your peril. We were left with a situation where $750 000 was being paid every day to service debt.
We have to deal with that because if we do not make the hard and necessary decisions it grows out in the forward estimates you just mentioned to $1m every day. The community groups denied access to the provision you had, supposedly, set aside for their purposes and used for your own purposes in the lead up to the election, how would they make use of $1m every day? That could be used in community organisations strengthening our community, or put more money back into the pockets of Territorians rather than putting it into interest repayments. They are the fundamentals.
You turn a ship around, former Treasurer, by dealing first with the fundamental problem …
Ms Lawrie: Fastest growing economy in the nation.
Mr MILLS: The economy is strong, but it will be weighed down and hindered, and the capacity to respond to opportunities is reduced if you have a massive growing debt burden. Anyone knows that. The former Treasurer has a blind spot which has exhibited itself on so many occasions. She cannot see what she does not want to or what does not suit the political point she is trying to make. You are not making it very well.
Housing Stamp Duty
Mrs PRICE to TREASURER
The previous government’s irresponsible housing programs did little other than add to the cost Territory families have to pay for mortgages and rent. Since coming into government, can you please outline the stamp duty on housing measures put in place to ensure Territory families can get on the property ladder at a reasonable price?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for her question. The previous government had very irresponsible housing programs in place which were very poorly targeted and completely inflexible. In the last five-and-a-half months, this government has put better measures in place targeting low- to middle-income earners to ensure people can get on the property market. We particularly aim to stimulate the production of new housing throughout the Northern Territory because, under 11 years of Labor, housing prices in the Northern Territory increased by 260%, which is outrageous.
Housing has become out of the reach of low- to middle-income earners. Thanks to the programs we introduced, the number of residential building approvals in the Northern Territory increased by 4.5% in November 2012. That is evidence people are feeling optimistic about how we are managing the economy and the programs we have in place.
The government took the decision to re-target first homebuyer assistance towards affordable and moderate housing to encourage the construction of new housing stock.
They failed to release land or stimulate housing. That is why we have the highest price of housing in the country - a disgrace. When you talk about the cost of living, you can only point the finger at the other side of the Chamber because they allowed this situation to occur. For 11 years they presided over the greatest increase in the cost of housing in Australia ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Would the Treasurer please direct her finger pointing through the Chair?
Mrs LAMBLEY: The re-targeted assistance through an increased first homebuyer grant of $12 000 or $25 000 reduces red tape by streamlining assistance into a single grant and one application, and provides higher benefits for purchase of affordable or lower value homes. Additionally, the grant is more flexible than stamp duty assistance as it can be used by the applicants at their discretion. They can use it for anything. They can use it for stamp duty, adding an extension to a home, or whatever they choose to: buying furniture, carpet, whatever they choose. It is a completely flexible grant and is popular.
The figures speak for themselves: December 2012, 35 more applicants compared to the previous December and, in January, 27 more applicants than January the previous year. This is a successful program from a new successful Country Liberals government.
Accountability of Government
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
In advertisements during the CLP election campaign you promised to be open and accountable. You have now prohibited the new member for Arnhem from being open and accountable through talking to the media. She has been in hiding for nearly a month. You do not trust your members of parliament to speak for themselves. How is banning members of parliament from talking being open and accountable, Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for Barkly for the question. There is no such prohibition. It is not the case at all.
Sentenced to a Job
Ms FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Can you tell the House about the ground-breaking new program you have championed in the prisons, Sentenced to a Job?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Later today, in detail, I will be announcing to this House a program I and this government have being pursuing since coming into government.
Over many years of being a police officer I would have apprehended or arrested upward of 1000 people. During that time, I learnt to understand most people arrested by police and going through our prison system are ones making stupid decisions, often under the influence of liquor or drugs. Are they truly evil, wicked people? My experience says no. A handful have been, but I could probably count them on the fingers of two hands.
As prisoners come towards the end of their prison sentences I have being organising jobs for them. That is, literally getting on the telephone and ringing business people around the community asking if they will take prisoners, pay them above award wages and let them keep their jobs after they leave prison.
I can happily announce today the trial program I have being running has seen 30 prisoners find their way into full-time work before they leave prison. One of those prisoners has now graduated in the sense he has parole and has kept his job, and I congratulate the business for taking a second prisoner to be mentored by the first.
This program has been ambitious and, the government confesses, somewhat risky in the political challenges faced if somebody had absconded. Nevertheless, nobody has absconded. Prisoners in this system are relishing this, by all reports, and are enthused. I have spoken to one who said it is the best thing that ever happened to him.
I am excited, as this government is excited, and I thank my colleagues for their support in this important program. Now the trial program is over, I have instructed my Commissioner for Corrections to see how we can expand the program because a person with a job is a person with dignity and a future. Under the Country Liberals, if you are doing time you will be sentenced to a job and sentenced to a future.
Prisoner Work Gangs in the Rural Area
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
For many years pensioners living in the rural area have had their lawns and gardens spruced up using day work gangs from the prison. My office has been advised by your department that in the future that service will be phased out or not available in the rural area. Could you please say whether the government has cut this service for pensioners in the rural area and, if so, why?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Who told you that?
Mr Wood: I am not at liberty to give the name but it was someone from your department.
Mr ELFERINK: They are wrong, simple as that. As part of the mini-budget, we have added two more work gangs to the many work gangs in the communities. If you want to raise these types of issues, a telephone call would have sufficed and I could have given you this answer rather than wasting time in Question Time.
I am proud to say we have increased the number of work gangs because I have made it clear to the Commissioner for Corrections that, under the corrections system run by the Country Liberals government, all privileges will be obtained by effort. We expect prisoners to put in to their own future. They will work and graduate through a work process. This will apply to maximum, medium, low security 1, low security 2, and open prisoners. Ultimately, if you go through the whole process, you will leave prison under the sentenced to a future program with a job ...
Mr Wood: It is not being cut?
Mr ELFERINK: No it is not. This is what I am trying to explain. Whoever told you that was wrong. It was put to me as a suggested saving but Cabinet rejected it. I am pleased to report that because it is consistent with the philosophy of the Northern Territory government’s ‘you must work for your privileges’ in the Corrections system. We make no bones about people having to serve their time.
However, I am the minister for Corrections, not the minister for punishing the hell out of people. I will ensure prisoners in our prison system will be working inside the prison system, around the prison system, in the community and, ultimately, in their own jobs before they leave the prison system. That is not a bad thing to do. We, as a government, are very proud of this very important advance in custodial services in the Northern Territory.
Election Promises
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Two days before the last Territory election you said, ‘If we do not do what we say then it is your choice, throw us out’. If, on Saturday, the people of Wanguri choose to send you a message, will you keep your word and throw yourself out?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. You blokes are working hard up there. However, what they may be overlooking is when the community makes decisions around electing a government, they elect on a certain basis; that is, the government will serve their interests, say what they will do, then set that standard in place.
We have set a course. Unfortunately, due to the dreadful interjections, which is a technique you have employed to block information coming out because it might be a bit embarrassing for you, make your flimsy case a little more difficult to prosecute - we said exactly what we would do in 100 days. We have achieved nearly every aspect of that.
A clear agenda is being implemented for the benefit of the Northern Territory. A government needs its term to establish that agenda and demonstrate to Territorians what we say we will do for their benefit - to deal with the real problems and real mess that is quite plain for anybody with eyes to see - will be dealt with. Yes, it has been difficult; we have said that a few times.
Whatever happens on Saturday, remember the issue still remains - the debt has to be dealt with. The problems left for this government to deal with are still there. They will continue to be dealt with because we know where we are going, what we are doing, and we know the fundamental issue of real concern to Territorians are things like – you are making much play about the power price increase – difficult, but necessary without a doubt.
However, I do not hear the outrage in the community over other increases in the last 12 months. Blocks in Bellamack, for example, in one year - because of the restricted supply of land - power prices might have gone up a bit, but in one year blocks in Bellamack went up $50 000. They went from $200 000 to $250 000 in a year.
That is because of a decade of inaction, lack of foresight, basic understanding and courtesy for future generations of young Territorians to get your policy settings right and release land. It is not as though the Territory is short of land. It was short of action by the previous government. That is the real issue when it comes to the cost of living. Be honest, it is the cost of housing. That agenda will be unfolded for Territorians ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Quotations and Tenders Online System
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
Can you update the House on any change to government tender advertising and how this is making it easier to do business with government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as Minister for Corporate and Information Services I thank the member for Arafura for his question, his hard work and tenacious efforts in being involved with the business activities on the Tiwi Islands, and his relationship with the Tiwi Land Council. The involvement of the Tiwis in setting up businesses presents a real opportunity for the future of the people and is a beacon in the Northern Territory for Indigenous communities to advance forward with economic development and job building.
Bureaucratic red tape is often a problem for businesses and that is why the Northern Territory government is making it easier for local businesses to get information and lodge their quotations and tender processes through the launch of an improved Quotations and Tenders Online system. Viewing tracking and electronic lodgement of tenders can now be done in one central system, as before, at www.nt.gov.au/tenders.
A new mobile application has also been developed which provides business with greater access to tender opportunities on the go. The application will provide easy access to current tenders and future opportunities released each week. The smartphone application we have released is the first of its kind nationally for government procurement processes. In the Northern Territory we are leading the way in this process. I encourage people to put that application on their phone to see what is coming up and what is going on. It will work on Apple, Android and Windows platforms, and mobile devices such as tablets and iPhones.
This government is cutting red tape and making it easier to do business with government by modernising the new tender system. Now information will be available wherever and whenever it suits business operators.
I acknowledge that the first version of the Quotations and Tenders Online system was released in mid-2012 by the previous government, but the new area we have moved into with the application process and streamlining to one central system is a whole new way of doing business.
The QTOL process allows businesses to view and download tenders and quotations released into the market, store data to pre-fill tender quotation response schedules, and receive e-mail alerts about opportunities as released.
The Country Liberals government has now made it better and brought government tender processes into the 21st century by enhancing QTOL to provide users with additional functionality including: launching a government first mobile application; providing the ability to view, download and lodge applications; improved electronic lodgement with no restrictions; a feature to store standard responses to tender specifications related to local development; value adding and past performance.
The reforms we put in place today through the staff of the Department of Corporate Information Services are fantastic. I encourage all businesses to get this application, see how it works, and add it to the suite of tools in their business portfolio.
Antisocial Behaviour
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
On the front page of your 100-day action plan you said you would immediately crack down on antisocial behaviour. Why did you not make it that clear by saying crack down, what you really meant was ask drunks nicely to stop drinking?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I said I would crack down. I cannot believe you guys. I do not know what the heck is happening on the fourth floor. You think you are coming up with a great strategy.
I am going to talk to you about standing up for basic community standards. I encourage any citizen to have the conviction to say what is right and make it clear to people there are standards this community expects of its citizens.
I do not hold back one bit. I invite you to come with me to the Esplanade to see exactly what I am talking about. Come with me to the park over there and see the way I interact with those people! Come with me to Casuarina! When I see young people who should be at school, I talk to them and wonder what is going on. Come with me! I invite you to come with me so you can see exactly what I am talking about. You put no effort into understanding what I am trying to say. You would rather spin some childless energy trying to characterise it in a very small way.
Let us talk about cracking down. You guys are trying to crack down, close this government in and hold it in a corner. You cannot do it because we know where we are going and what we are doing. You are trying to ignore debt. You are trying to ignore the challenges we face as a government, challenges with your authorship, but we see something much better for the Northern Territory.
Take, for example, our security going forward with energy and the opportunities there. Give me the opportunity to talk about that. There is a great future for the Northern Territory and, if left to the previous government to deal with the challenge this government has just dealt with …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question went to the 100-day promise of cracking down on antisocial behaviour and his answer is we should walk up to drunks politely and ask them to stop drinking.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Chief Minister is addressing the question.
Mr MILLS: I have answered it. I am using the remainder of my time to tell them a big story about the great future of the Northern Territory and a government which knows the Territory has a great opportunity. It needs a real government to deal with the real problems, face up to them, and cut a path forward for the Territory rather than the childish antics of the former government. They are embarrassing and would hinder the Territory if they went anywhere near the toxic brand of the Labor party which led us nowhere but into debt.
Finke and Chambers Bays –
Closure to Commercial Fishing
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
I love fishing. Can you please update the House on the closure of Finke and Chambers Bays and the establishment of world-class barramundi fishing in the Mary River?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He cares for the fisheries of the Northern Territory, has a great interest in the Daly region, and is doing a wonderful job advocating on behalf of fishermen across that region.
I acknowledge and thank the departmental staff here today across Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines and Energy for the contribution they are playing in improving the lifestyle of Territorians, in line with the work of this government to improve the lifestyle of Territorians.
As an election commitment in 2012, this government announced it would create an exclusive recreation and tourism operator fishing zone at Chambers and Finke Bays as well as extend the boundaries to Adam Bay and the northern part of Fog Bay.
Government’s commitment was aimed at reallocating the barramundi resource to recreational anglers and fishing tour operators, and creating a premier sports fishery for the region that will provide anglers with the unique wilderness fishing experience for large trophy-sized fish.
Following the public comment period, the proposed closures were implemented prior to the beginning of the new commercial barramundi fishing season in February 2013. These changes will no doubt make an enormous difference and value add to our Territory lifestyle and our tourism industry.
Our reputation as being Australia’s fishing capital has been strengthened and we are backing our three-hub economy, tourism being one of the hubs. In combination with the closures, government is undertaking a licence buy-back scheme to remove a number of licences from the fishery. We will also be working with industry to develop a plan for commercial operators that realises the full potential of our iconic commercial fishery.
Almost 60% of all resident households in the Territory own boats. That equates to about 11 000 vessels, many of which are in the northern suburbs of Darwin. We are working to create a better lifestyle for the people of the northern suburbs of Darwin, Darwin, and the Northern Territory, and we are prepared to make some tough decisions around how to do this. We are decisive and will step up to the plate, unlike the former government which produced what we have called ‘Kon’s five fingers of death’ in dealing with the closures of Finke and Chambers Bay.
This would have added nothing to the lifestyle of the Territory and would have created conflict in the industry between recreational and commercial fishers. The former government should be ashamed for bringing this type of document to the table. The previous government lacked ticker.
Power and Water Tariff Increases –
Effect on Small Business
Effect on Small Business
Mr VOWLES to CHIEF MINISTER
The Wanguri Supermarket is a longstanding Territory business and an important part of the local community. Their power bills are going up by over $1000 a month. You are destroying small business. You gave them six weeks to budget for this increase. How many extra iced coffees will the Wanguri Supermarket have to sell each day to recoup their power and water hikes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for Johnston for his thoughtful question. All that has been exchanged in your endeavours to play a game of sport where you are hurling things across the Chamber hoping to score a goal, a point, or something …
Ms Lawrie: It is real.
Mr MILLS: Yes, it certainly is real, as is the debt. The debt is real and you can ask your friend how one deals with debt in business.
Mr MILLS: Who is that fellow? How do people in business make decisions when it comes to issues around debt? Get him to walk through that. What effect does unchecked debt growth have on the operation of a small business? Sadly, if you do not deal with unchecked debt growth and are cavalier ...
Mr Vatskalis: The CLP had debt. Look at it in your own publication. The CLP debt was good debt but ALP debt is bad debt, is it? Really? Tell us about it. Tell a few more lies.
Mr MILLS: … and disagree with that. I thought you would know better than that, member for Casuarina.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Casuarina, withdraw that last comment.
Mr VATSKALIS: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Mr MILLS: Yes, you should apologise to the member for Karama. She is very offended by that type of language.
I will give you a couple of tips. If you want to help the small business operator who has come to you with this, explain what happens if you have unchecked debt growth, if you have a cavalier manager - whack it on the credit card. Sadly, if you look at the bankruptcy situation where businesses collapse because they cannot carry the debt, that is exactly the situation the Territory was in. That is the situation …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He is seriously misleading. An amount of 8% to service the debt is not unchecked.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Sit down.
Mr MILLS: Stop misusing the parliament with false points of order like the false information you are passing around. If you were to gain on the basis of mistruths, deception and distortions, would you be proud of the ground you stood on …
Ms Lawrie: Look what you did. You lied in the bush. You told them you would seal the roads and that was a lie.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, withdraw that comment.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw.
Mr MILLS: You must be offended by your own language. You were so upset someone used ‘lie’ before and now you are using it. How inconsistent and unbelievable you are. You are a a dreadful shameful fake.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The answer to the question was no. He cannot …
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr McCARTHY: I want him to withdraw ‘fake’, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Sit down. It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! To protect the Chief Minister’s time, the Leader of the Opposition, on three occasions, accused the Chief Minister of misleading this House. She knows the rules about that and I ask she either withdraw or proceed by substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please withdraw misleading the House.
Ms LAWRIE: No, I will not withdraw. He has broken almost all his election promises. He has hiked up the cost of living. I am moving a substantive motion; I was invited to.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016