2010-12-02
Child Protection Inquiry - Implementation of Recommendations
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION
Actions speak louder than words. Despite the fact the Children’s Commissioner is seeking amendments to the Care and Protection of Children Act to give him own motion powers of investigation as a matter of urgency, you have refused to support my bill which provides him with precisely these powers. These powers could and should have now been in place. Your refusal is a slap in the face to Territory children and further aggravates a system in crisis. Are you aware the Children’s Commissioner has been unable to investigate specific cases of children at risk because he has not had own motion powers? Why have you continued to put children at risk by denying the Children’s Commissioner the powers of investigation he needs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the reason we did not support her amendments yesterday was because they were badly thought out, badly drafted, and did not make any sense. Forty-four days after the report was tabled in this parliament, this government has done more for child protection than the CLP did for 27 years; 44 days and we have already enacted 18 of the 34 urgent recommendations they wanted to be commenced within six months.
We have started negotiations with AMSANT and are providing funding to look into an Aboriginal childcare agency. The backlog we received from the Commissioner at the time was about 870. I am very pleased to advise it is now below 500. It will further reduce when the 10 people from New Zealand commence work at the beginning of December. We have already employed 54 professionals, and have made 41 job offers to people in Ireland, England, interstate and overseas.
We have done more in 44 days than the CLP did in 27 years. As I …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, obviously the member for Greatorex has no idea about maths. If you start counting the months, you will find that February is only four months away from the day this report was tabled. It is my intention to bring appropriate legislation into this parliament, legislation that has been well drafted, well thought out, and will be effective.
The only solution the member opposite had yesterday was reporting in the newspapers every week or every fortnight progress of the recommendations. I have no intention of taking people from the …
Mr Conlan: A good idea.
Mr VATSKALIS: You are the only one who thinks that, but I am not surprised. We have said before that we would report twice a year and in addition to that …
Mr Conlan: You cannot have people knowing what you are up to.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr VATSKALIS: Can someone stop giving him red lollies.
Apart from that, my department is reporting. There is a web page up and running which reports every activity in relation to the Commissioner’s report. It reports every activity we have undertaken in order to address some of these urgent recommendations, and other activities undertaken to ensure the children in the Territory are now truly protected, not like during the CLP years.
Territory 2030 - Update
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on progress made during the first year of Territory 2030?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question on Territory 2030. A year ago tomorrow, Vicki O’Halloran, Bill Moss and …
Mr Westra van Holthe: You cannot even get 2010 right.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker.
Mr Westra van Holthe: It is true.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: They really are a rabble.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: A 20-year strategic and visionary plan for the Territory’s future - and it is an exciting plan. It is a plan by Territorians about the future of our Territory. It is a plan full of optimism, it is a plan full of excitement; it is a visionary plan that guides both the economic and social development of the Territory into the future. It has been well received across the Northern Territory this year as we have been out working with Territorians, our public service, our business community and non-government sector in implementing the first strategic long-term visionary plan in the Northern Territory’s history.
This is a plan that has education at its heart not only the traditional school-based education, but it is all about lifelong learning, investing in our tertiary institutions, in research development, and researching and supporting Indigenous knowledge. It is a plan about the Northern Territory’s future.
An amazing amount of work has happened throughout the public service in reviewing strategic plans and policy frameworks to align with agency goals and with Territory 2030.
One of the major successes this year out of Territory 2030 was the Weddell: Tropical, Sustainable, Liveable Territory Conference and Design Forum. Once again, the first time in the Territory’s history in planning for a new city. This is a government that engages and involves our community. This is not a plan that just comes out of government. The plan for Weddell will be very much crafted by the people of today for our kids tomorrow. Importantly, our kids have also been involved in contributing to the design of Weddell. The only people who bagged Weddell moving forward are members opposite and the Lord Mayor of Darwin. At that forum, we had over 300 participants, with 100 people involved in associated stakeholder forums on government, youth, social inclusion, and green industry. It was an exciting forum.
This Territory is moving ahead in leaps and bounds, and 2011 will be another exciting year for the Northern Territory.
Public Housing - Wait Times and Numbers of Vacant Dwellings
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
As we approach the end of 2010, it is important to look at how your government has delivered on its promises. I table extracts from your department’s website on public housing wait times. Despite your promises, wait times for public housing continue to blow out under your government. Families in the private rental market are too often squeezed for every last dollar. A struggling family needing a roof over their heads has to pay $600 in the private market, or wait four years in Alice Springs, five years in Darwin, or seven years in Nhulunbuy, to get into a three-bedroom, public-owned home.
Can you advise how many homes remain vacant in the Territory? How many homes have been vacant for more than three weeks? What was the turnaround time you committed to? When will you address the exploding waiting lists?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have three minutes, I will do my best. There were quite a number of questions wrapped up in what the Leader of the Opposition asked.
He was incorrect when he talked about blowout in wait times for public housing. In fact, those wait times have stabilised. They are still too long, and I acknowledge that. The member for Blain would recall that, earlier this year, I brought forward a policy in which I announced we are not selling any more public houses to tenants.
We have had some political argy-bargy in relation to who sold what and whatever, but the fact is, since about 1995, there have been approximately 2800 public houses sold, mainly to tenants - and that is great, they got equity. However, I put a stop to that until we can refresh our stock. To that end, in the last budget, we allocated $50m for 149 new dwellings in the Northern Territory.
I recognise the rental stress many families are under. That is why we announced our affordable rental housing company last week, which will take 20% to 25% off the market rents. We are releasing land at a record amount in Palmerston East. There are 3000 lots being turned off over the next three to four years. There will be advertisements in this weekend’s paper for houses available at $420 000. If you take the discounts which are available through what government has offered through our schemes, it comes back to about $90 000 less.
So, we do have a plan around housing. It is very important that I lay that before the House. It is difficult but, as a government, we are working towards expanding our stock. I am moving towards replenishing our stock.
You also asked about the number of vacant houses across the Territory. I can advise it is somewhere between 3% and 5% of the total stock. I would like it less than that, but I do not think we are talking about 10%, 15% or 20% of the stock. To some degree, there is a section of the stock which has been heavily damaged, and that is something that I am setting about fixing, and I want my department to fix through more regular inspections of these tenancies. So there is a number of stock like that. I cannot give you the exact numbers of how many have been vacant for more than 100 days or whatever.
Generally, the turnaround times have reduced overall to about 60 days, and for that stock which is not badly damaged, it is coming closer to the 21 days I promised.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Government Priorities for 2011
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please advise the House on the government’s priorities for 2011?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. 2011 will present great opportunities for the Northern Territory, as well as challenges that every year does.
One of the great opportunities, and one that is near and dear to my heart as the father of three children in school, is continuing to invest in our education system. Schools across the Northern Territory are exciting places to be. Investment in infrastructure through the BER and also through our own government that doubled infrastructure spending in our schools means that our schools are really exciting places. I look forward to Rosebery school opening in February next year for 1400 children. How exciting is that? The first time in a long time we have opened schools for 1400 kids in the Northern Territory.
The Super Clinic in Palmerston is up and running. We are looking forward to working to get the Super Clinic for Darwin up and running next year, as well as planning for national hospital reforms. It is very exciting that, for the first time in the Territory’s history, we will see an intake of our first homegrown doctors in February next year in the new clinical school - something the CLP voted against and opposed during the election.
The grog reforms we will be introducing next year will be the most progressive alcohol reforms in the Territory’s history. Enough is enough, and we are going to turn off the tap on problem drinkers. It is a very significant reform. Of course, the CLP oppose reforms at every turn. They would increase the rivers of grog if they were in government.
We will see the economy grow from strength again next year. Five thousand new jobs this year; I anticipate something similar for next year. More people are choosing the Territory to be their home, living and raising a family here. That is very significant.
INPEX will take more significant steps - great news overnight with 70 tenders now out. These will inject jobs into our economy and opportunities for small business. INPEX will be required to address the environmental considerations of their project next year and will be required to ensure they comply with strict requirements to protect our harbour. That project is moving ahead.
The National Broadband Network - we will see 3000 homes in the northern suburbs getting access to broadband – something those members opposite would condemn and would not see happening. We will continue to see real progress on our A Working Future policy in Territory remote towns, seeing that infrastructure growth and jobs being created. It is going to be an exciting year next year.
I am proud to be the leader of a united team. We need to be a united team to do good things in the Territory. We will work hard on behalf of all Territorians as a united team again next year.
Mataranka Station – Results of Review of Animal Welfare Act
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
My question is directed to the Minister for Business and Employment: whilst in your previous role as the Minister for Local Government, a shocking case of animal cruelty was exposed at Mataranka Station. No charges have been laid despite the fact that the Ombudsman found that there was criminal neglect …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In what ministerial capacity …
Mr Elferink: His former ministerial capacity. It is about time he started answering questions …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Port Darwin, you are aware that you can only ask the minister who has responsibility.
Mr ELFERINK: So, he is not responsible. Okay, Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Local Government, the current minister …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! You have 14 seconds.
Mr ELFERINK: ... is responsible. The former Local Government minister, the member for Daly, upon learning of issues relating to criminal cruelty at Mataranka Station, opted to commission a review of the Animal Welfare Act ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, your time for the question has expired. I will allow you to continue if it is only a few seconds.
Mr ELFERINK: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This was laughable, because just three years earlier, his predecessor, Elliot McAdam, initiated a review of the Animal Welfare Act. What was the result of that review? Will you make it public and, if not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Port Darwin. In fact, I wondered when this question would come directly to me, because it seems to have taken the opposition some time to recognise that I have carriage of this area. In fact, the media releases which seem to come from the opposition were all about other ministers. I believe they have now realised that it actually comes to me. To answer the question ...
Mr Elferink: What about the animals that died and the cruelty that was inflicted?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Elferink: Do you mean you cannot work out why?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members! Resume your seat, minister.
Honourable members, it is the last day of Question Time, for which I am very grateful, I must say. I remind you of 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.
Minister, you have the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I was saying, it has taken the opposition some time to recognise that. It may have something to do with the disunity which is going on on that side of the House as to knowing what might be happening on this side of the House.
The Ombudsman’s report has highlighted a number of high priority actions which must be taken. Those actions are being taken to address the deficiencies which have been identified. A special investigator has been ...
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: Clearly, the member for Drysdale is not interested. It is unfortunate, because the members of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee are very interested and it would disappoint them to hear the comments from the member for Drysdale.
A special investigator has been engaged to review all evidence in this case which could support animal cruelty charges being pursued within the statutory time lines ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: Clearly, they do not care, Madam Speaker.
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Drysdale!
Ms McCARTHY: This is an opposition in absolute disarray and disunity, with no focus on the issues, and no vision for the future. They not interested in wanting to know what is going on, not interested in wanting to know an important inquiry by the Ombudsman …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: As I was saying, the Ombudsman’s report identified serious deficiencies and a lack of clarity in the understanding of all staff with regard to roles, legal responsibilities and evidence gathering in animal welfare cases.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Kamfari Motorcycle Race
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
I have been approached by the Darwin Motorcycle Club in regard to securing land for the club’s annual Kamfari race; this is a problem which gets harder to solve each year. The Kamfari is probably the second most well-known motorbike race in the Territory behind the Finke Desert Race. Next year will be its 40th year of operation. Interstate riders and journalists travel to the Top End to experience this spectacular Top End event, contributing to tourist exposure and the dollar. What is your office doing to assist this unique event in securing permanent, suitable land on which to run this event?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. He is right, it is a fantastic event. Around 5000 people attend the Kamfari every year, and up to 40 bikes and quads participate. I do not know if it rivals the Finke Desert Race, but it is right up there.
I know you have been in touch with my office, as well as the president of the motor sports people here. I am working closely with minister Knight and his office regarding the essential service issues on the land where the Kamfari is held every year. We are working quickly on this, and I would be happy to talk to you soon about a favourable outcome.
I am aware of the issues. It seems to come up every year. I am working with minister Knight and we will have a quick resolution. I am more than pleased to join them next year. I am not much of a motor head, but I understand it is a great event and I look forward to getting out there next year with you as local member. I will let you know the outcome of this important issue very soon.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari - Alleged Job Offer by Opposition Leader
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
There are further media reports today regarding the Leader of the Opposition’s conduct in relation to a job offer to Leo Abbott. What are the implications of these new revelations?
ANSWER
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Day nine, and the Leader of the Opposition continues to refuse to answer the question: did he offer Leo Abbott a job? The Northern Territory News has a transcript on its website titled ‘Transcript of Conversation between Terry Mills and Leo Abbott’. I table a copy of the transcript from the NT News website because it makes an interesting read.
Many of the details of this transcript have already been revealed by other CLP sources; however, there is plenty of new information within this transcript. One snippet has the Leader of the Opposition claiming that Tony Abbott had given him his word that Leo Abbott would be looked after. This morning on the 10 am ABC news bulletin, it was reported that Tony Abbott is claiming he did not sanction any offer of a government job to Leo Abbott. Tony Abbott or Terry Mills - who is lying?
Mr Bohlin: Read the transcript.
Ms LAWRIE: Tony Abbott or Terry Mills?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Tony Abbott or Terry Mills? Which one refuses to tell the truth? We know the Leader of the Opposition has lost the support of many …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could you remind the honourable minister that so far she has tendered fabricated documents, she has relied on unsourced e-mails, and now she is relying on an unsourced transcript to level these allegations. These are serious allegations …
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. It is not a point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: I remind you, Madam Speaker, that imputations are not considered something which should be allowed in questions.
Ms Lawrie: Trying to chew up my time, are you, John? Trying to gag me?
Madam SPEAKER: This is an answer. The Attorney-General has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I know the member for Port Darwin wants to blow the whistle on CLP sources who are coming forward. I know he wants people named. I point out that the transcripts I have been tabling in this parliament that he says are fabrications have come from the ABC, have come from the NT News …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I am exercising our right to table them in parliament. We know the Leader of the Opposition has lost the support of the CLP and his …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: … membership, but the main question he always avoids is: did you offer a job to Leo Abbott? Why will you not answer? You know that when you eventually do answer, because you must, you will have to resign.
Mataranka Station - Loss of Animals by Charles Darwin University
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In 2003, the former Local Government minister, John Ah Kit, waged a war against property developer, Warren Anderson over allegations of cruelty at his private zoo at Tipperary Station. The former minister vowed publicly he was going to get Warren Anderson; however, when the matter finally went to court, it was thrown out by the presiding magistrate. Both the minister and the then Chief Minister, Clare Martin, had to offer grovelling apologies to Mr Anderson to avoid having to face defamation claims.
Why was your government so eager to prosecute Mr Anderson when none of his animals died, yet you are much less litigious when it comes to prosecuting a government facility despite up to 800 animals having starved to death over an extended period of time? What are you hiding from? Are you concerned that the CDU would have lost its animal welfare licence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member from Katherine. I was beginning to get a little worried that the shadow Local Government minister was a bit of a shadow of himself because I had not heard anything from him. In fact, it was the member for Port Darwin who had to ask the question. Again, you see …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: The previous ministers, Rob Knight, Elliot McAdam and John Ah Kit have been terrific ministers for Local Government …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister might think it is a laughing matter, but it would be great if she could answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Minister, you have the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a very serious issue. The previous ministers - which was in the question asked by the member for Katherine – have all done a terrific job as ministers of Local Government …
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: This was the question. … and John Ah Kit. Let us go to the record of John Ah Kit, who led the way with all the 70-odd community government councils across the Northern Territory, while the opposition sat in government for so many years and did not give a toss ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point? I know it had a long preamble, but could you come to the point, please?
Ms McCARTHY: … did not give a toss regarding the governance arrangements of these community government councils across the Northern Territory.
What I have said in this House this week, had the opposition been listening, in answer to a question from the member for Nelson, we have acted; we do have a special investigator who has been engaged to review all evidence in this case that could support animal cruelty charges being pursued within the statutory lines.
If we did not have an opposition in such division, in such disarray, the member for Katherine would have heard that question answered earlier this week, and the member for Port Darwin would have heard that question answered this week.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms Scrymgour: Someone should put you out of your misery.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The comment the member for Arafura led with, I consider to be unparliamentary. I ask you to rule the same.
Ms Scrymgour: Put him out of his misery because he tries to be intelligent and he is not.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Arafura!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Territory 2030 – Economic Management in 2011
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Territory 2030 sets targets to support the economic sustainability of the Territory economy. Can you inform the House on how the Henderson government will continue our record of strong economic management in 2011 to support Territory 2030?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Territory’s economy is performing strongly. We are focused on building the foundations to support economic sustainability - a Territory 2030 aspiration. Targets under Territory 2030 include investing for long-term growth, investing in infrastructure, growing local industry, capturing new opportunities, and developing cutting-edge businesses.
The Henderson government is investing in growing and diversifying our economy. We are delivering record infrastructure investment to underpin further business and job opportunities. This investment will continue through 2011. It includes a Defence business hub, training facilities in our schools, upgraded roads, expansion to the port to improve transport and logistics, and the continued roll-out of our record $1.5bn investment in power, water and sewerage infrastructure.
In 2011, we will see continued work towards the construction of a new marine supply base, a dedicated international standard marine facility to service oil and gas rig tenders. This project is a key example of our government’s vision and investment in key infrastructure to grow our economy, with oil and gas set to underpin our economy for the next 40-plus years. The marine supply base will position Darwin as an oil and gas service hub for the entire region, providing an opportunity for our existing service and maintenance industry to grow.
We will continue to invest in growing our tourism industry, with a focus on keeping ahead of the pack and using innovation and our great minister to our advantage. We are investing in infrastructure in the bush to support regional economic development. We have a vibrant agricultural and cattle industry across the Territory. We will continue our efforts to grow that sector to look for new markets. The mining sector is key to our economic future. In 2011, we will continue to build on our Minerals Investment Attraction Strategy in China and Japan, strategies that are already paying significant dividends for Territory businesses.
Madam Speaker, I look forward to another strong year in 2011 as we work to continue to build a sustainable, diversified Territory economy that, importantly, delivers jobs for Territorians.
Alice Springs - Hospice
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for HEALTH
I recently visited the Darwin Hospice Palliative Care Unit, thanks to the Darwin Hospital Board, and I recommend some of our media should also visit. It is a wonderful place, and the staff are compassionate, knowledgeable and experienced. I was recently in Alice Springs and know that Alice Springs has only two palliative care beds in the hospital, and those beds can be used for other uses as well. Does your government have plans to build a purpose-built hospice in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I thank him for his interest and for visiting the palliative care centre in Darwin. It is an achievement of this government. This is the first government to build a hospice in Darwin. We have two beds in Alice Springs that are currently used for other purposes, but we are planning to greatly improve access to palliative care services in Alice Springs through the national partnership agreement on improving public hospitals.
I am very pleased to say that we are developing a new step-down accommodation facility to provide appropriate respite and end of life care adjacent to the Alice Springs Hospital. The palliative beds will be dedicated to palliative care only and have dedicated staff to provide for these people. We are planning further development in the next one to two years with a new application we are submitting to the Australian government in the Health and Hospitals Fund for regional remote services. Alice Springs will have a dedicated palliative care facility and we will make sure that happens in the next two years.
Darwin Beaches – Pollution Report
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Your failures of ministerial responsibility range across your portfolios. Is it a fact that pollution outbreaks at Darwin’s beaches remain uncontrolled, the results from the last three weeks required beaches to be closed, and that you did not issue an advisory to tell Territorians of that fact? You would be aware that some people are still swimming at our beaches this time of the year despite the risk posed by stingers. Why have you put them at risk by failing to issue a pollution report?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I find it extremely surprising that the member has the audacity to ask me this question. When I was an Environmental Health Officer, it was his government that told me to stop the monitoring program in the harbour - a program we started again. It carries out regular sampling and regular notifications. Yesterday, in response to a question, my colleague gave the harbour a clean bill of health. The minister responsible for Power and Water advised yesterday that the Larrakeyah outfall was operating for - how many years? Forty-five years, 27 of those under the CLP with no provision under any budget of the CLP to divert it. Next year, it will be diverted, removing another source of pollution from the harbour.
We have advised the public. We have a web page with regular advice. I care about what happens in the harbour. At the moment, I will not put my foot in the harbour because of the threat of stingers. We live in a tropical environment, with tropical stingers which pose a serious threat to life. My department consults with NRETAS, which conducts the investigation and the sampling, and we act in the best interests of all Territorians.
Statehood - Update
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for STATEHOOD
Over the last five years, the Statehood Steering Committee has been listening to Territorians’ views on statehood. Can you please update the House on the progress that has been made during this time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. At the outset, I thank you as co-chair, with Fran Kilgariff, for the work that you have been doing on the Statehood Steering Committee with all the members over this period of time. Throughout 2010, the Statehood Steering Committee members have travelled across the Northern Territory as part of a series of community forums. These forums have provided Territorians with an opportunity to have a voice about the future of the Northern Territory, what a future constitutional situation can be here, what we could look like as the seventh state in the Federation.
Close to 50 community forums, led by you, Madam Speaker, have taken place across the Northern Territory. On the ntstate7 website there is a rundown of each of these forums. I encourage all Territorians and all members of this House to look at that.
The Statehood Steering Committee has also briefed local government, business groups, community organisations and schools. I look forward to meeting with the members on Monday, with you and Fran Kilgariff, to thank each and every member. To have a committee of the parliament through the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in place for five years is an extraordinary effort. It is a group which should be commended for their hard work and passion. I thank the member for Goyder and the Leader of the Opposition who have both been members of that Statehood Steering Committee over the years. It is the bipartisan way that this parliament has travelled over the five years which has enabled the leadership of that steering committee for the time it has existed.
We recognise that we have to move forward. Next year is a significant year, 100 years of the Territory being a Territory, when South Australia surrendered us to the Commonwealth. It is a time now for us, not only in this parliament, for all people of the Northern Territory, to look at where are we going and how we are going to walk together as the seventh state in the Federation. I call on every federal politician, the 226 politicians, including our own four in the federal parliament, to walk in a bipartisan manner to allow us to become the seventh state in the Federation.
Water Amendment Bill – Extraction of Water
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Today we deal with a bill on urgency dealing with the Water Act and the licensing of people and organisations which discharge water into our harbours and river systems. Will you give a guarantee now that these amendments will not have any effect on people who extract water from the environment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We are debating this bill after Question Time - I do not know what the rules are regarding a bill currently before us on urgency …
Madam SPEAKER: It is anticipation of debate. However …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. It is Question Time, minister, if you could answer the question, please?
Mr HAMPTON: What was the direction, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: Just answer the question. You can answer a question however you like, minister.
Mr HAMPTON: All right. I will answer it. I do not have any issues with that. I am happy to say that this bill …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: As the member for Brennan well and truly knows, we have had two …
Mr Giles: Help! Someone send me an e-mail!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: … we have had two briefings this morning with the member for Brennan, and if he does not quite get it, then I will go through it again. It is a very legal and technical issue, but what it is about is providing certainty to industry. We know there are many …
Ms Purick: Extraction and discharge, or just discharge?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Goyder!
Mr HAMPTON: This is about providing certainty to industry. We have many discharge licence holders who …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He is not answering the question. The question was: will he give a guarantee it will not affect people who extract water from the environment.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat! The minister is answering the question.
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, it is quite simple. The member for Port Darwin is a lawyer, but maybe he should have come to those briefings. This is not about extracting water. It is about discharging water.
This is a bill on urgency. I know it is very hard to bring these types of bills on urgency to the House, but it is not unusual. It has happened many times under the previous government and under this government. This bill is about providing certainty to industry; it is about protecting our environment. The opposition has a copy of the Solicitor-General’s letter. This is about the quality of the water being discharged, and providing certainty to industry. It is about validating those discharge licences. It is not about the quantity and extraction of water. It is very simple and we will continue to debate this after Question Time.
Baniyala School - Petition Lodged on 12 August 2010 Not Yet Answered
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
On 12 August this year, I tabled a petition in this House which has not had a reply. The 12 sitting days required under petitions being read in this House expired last Wednesday. I am wondering if I can have an answer from you.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will make inquiries about where that petition is and will get back to the member.
Central Australia - Affordable Housing
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you please inform the House how the Alice Springs Transformation Plan is helping meet the Territory 2030 objectives of offering affordable and appropriate housing for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. I know he is an Alice Springs boy at heart, even though he has spent many years in Darwin.
Next Tuesday, the Alice Springs Transformation Plan will celebrate 12 months since construction began. At $150m it is an enormous program. What it is doing …
Mr Giles: How many new houses do we have?
Mr HAMPTON: … is transforming the lives …
Mr Giles: $150m; how many tents have we got?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling. Minister, you have the call.
Mr Giles: Tell us about the new town camp.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: Thank you, Madam Speaker, he is so rude. The transformation plan is transforming the town camps in Alice Springs. More importantly, it is transforming the lives of those town campers. The transformation plan is about building 85 new homes, 101 rebuilds and 33 refurbishments. As I said, next Tuesday is the one-year anniversary of the transformation plan since construction began. So far …
Mr Giles: How much have you spent so far?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr HAMPTON: … eight new houses have been completed in 12 months. The member for Braitling is very interested in this; he keeps interjecting. Eight new houses have been completed, many of those in his own electorate, along with 19 rebuilds and three refurbishments. Together with the rebuilds, the new homes and the refurbishments, accommodation facilities are being built for homeless people in Alice Springs. This is a great figure that Alice Springs members should listen to: a total of 520 additional beds will be on-line by the end of 2011.
This will address the housing shortages my colleague, the minister for Housing, talked about, it will address the homelessness of many people in Alice Springs; 520 additional beds in Alice Springs by the end of 2011. In relation to the reducing homelessness strategy, 10 new houses are also under construction.
Indigenous employment under the transformation plan stands at 52%. I was very pleased to visit the construction of the first house at Larapinta Valley with Warren Snowdon and Jenny Macklin, and with many Indigenous workers who built that first new home at the Larapinta Valley Town Camp. It is a fantastic program in the electorate of Araluen. I was pleased to be in Araluen seeing some really fantastic news.
The other thing is dealing with homelessness. I was very pleased to have a meeting with the site manager of Asbuild, a local company, with my hard hat on - Percy Court, again addressing homelessness. This is what the transformation plan is all about …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr HAMPTON: Madam Speaker, and very important are the social packages. I have another photo I would like to share with the House …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Your time has expired, minister.
Darwin Harbour - Pollution
Mr CHANDLER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Yesterday, you launched the second Darwin Harbour report card. In your media release, you chirp about the harbour being in excellent health - your words. What is excellent about every tidal creek tested showing dangerous levels of E.coli and enterococci pollution?
Ms Lawrie: Storm water run-off.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr CHANDLER: Minister, what is excellent about the fact every beach monitored in just a four month period should have been closed due to E.coli pollution, and all bar one should have been closed for enterococci pollution? Has your department initiated any investigation of these many outbreaks of pollution for a breach of the relevant legislation regarding water pollution, including the Water Act or the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, for all the bluster and outrageous claims of the member for Brennan on the environment, he really is a general without any troops. He makes these outlandish claims about the environment. He has done it all year. He has not even had a briefing about some of these environmental matters he is talking about. He is a general with no army; he is a lone voice in the wilderness …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HAMPTON: He wants to be a great environmental warrior with the member for Fong Lim ...
Mr Henderson: He is sitting next to Tollner, the great environmental vandal.
Mr HAMPTON: Yes. He wants to bring his troops into battle, but they are all environmental vandals. The crew over there are environmental vandals.
I congratulate Bill Stuchbury and the members of the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee on this wonderful report. This year, they even have a supplementary which details the biodiversity of our wonderful Darwin Harbour, something the opposition never did. They did not create the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee. They did not want to report on the environmental standards of our harbour. It was all swept under the carpet.
This is a great report, it has seven ‘A’s in it - seven ‘A’s. My parents would have been very proud of me getting seven ‘A’s. I only got ‘A’s for PE, unfortunately ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, a question has been asked of the minister and it is almost impossible to hear his response because of the level of interjections. Minister, you have the call.
Mr HAMPTON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said, it is a wonderful report card. I congratulate the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee - seven ‘A’s. My parents would have been proud of me if I got seven ‘A’s. I only got ‘A’s in PE.
The outlandish assertions by the member for Brennan, the environmental warrior over there, are absolutely wrong. All you have to do is turn to page 56. We have issues in places like Buffalo Creek, but this government is not hiding away from those issues. We are a government that is putting enormous amounts of effort, with Power and Water, to address those issues, and we will continue to do that. We are a progressive government; we are doing enormous reforms in the environmental assessment processes and laws in the Northern Territory. We have also doubled fines this year for pollution of our environment.
Education and Training – Initiatives in 2011
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
The year 2011 is set to be an important year for education and training. Can you please inform the House of our government’s initiatives and what we can expect to see in place in 2011?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it will come as no surprise what those priorities are. They focus on literacy and numeracy and attendance. We will be focusing on that throughout the school year in 2011. It is a major priority for us.
I also flag attendance. We will be introducing infringement notices next year regarding attendance, as well a number of other measures. I flag to this House that we are currently examining changes to the Education Act to enable us to facilitate that effort, and we will take further steps in relation to that.
In literacy and numeracy, we are implementing our comprehensive plan - our literacy task force. As I said in this House, I met with principals all over the Territory. It will be a focus. We have the assistance of Professor Geoff Masters next year. I am looking forward to further improvements in our NAPLAN results.
With our Strong Start Bright Futures policy, we will be establishing colleges at Gunbalanya, Jabiru, Groote Eylandt, the Warlpiri triangle, Ntaria, Yirrkala and, of course, the Laynhapuy Homelands. Some people have plagiarised the name of late, at the end of a bit of a police investigation, but that is another matter.
We are giving a beyond school job guarantee for those students completing 12 years of school. We are establishing centres of excellence at Darwin High School in science and maths; Casuarina Senior College in health sciences; and we will move along that track for Centralian College and Palmerston High centres for excellence to be opened in 2012.
I have already announced the trialling of flexible school terms in our larger schools; a further roll-out of Families as First Teachers; advent of remote teaching services; and I have already talked in this House about Rosebery Primary and Middle Schools, a $60m investment.
We are making investments across the board, not only in the government sector, but also the non-government sector. As people would be aware, there is a very clear process for non-government schools to get grants under the government grants school system. I am not going to see the integrity of that grant system in any way compromised by anyone trying to back door the process.
However, I digress. It is a big year for education in the Territory. I am passionate about education. It is certainly a great portfolio, but there are enormous challenges also.
Montara Oil Spill – Ministerial Responsibility
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDSUTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Your own department says that the Northern Territory government is responsible for regulating in the Montara project - from your website. In fact, in response to an answer you gave yesterday to parliament, the Director of Energy does report to the Minerals and Energy executive director, and to the chief executive, who ultimately reports to you. I seek leave to table this organisational chart.
Leave granted.
Ms PURICK: How many times during 2009-10 did officers from your department visit the Jabiru and Challis Venture and the Laminaria/Corallina operations? Are not these operations in exactly the same zone you claim to have no responsibility for? Why do you not take responsibility for failing to resource your department properly to do their job?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister for Resources has the call. Member for Greatorex!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I doubt the accuracy of the documents she actually mentioned, for the simple reason she came in here before with two pieces of legislation trying to prove I am responsible for the Ashmore Cartier area, and that legislation referred to a totally different area 100 km away from the Ashmore area. If the member takes the time and makes an effort to look at the federal act, she will find out that the minister responsible for the Ashmore Cartier area and the Eastern Greater Sunrise offshore area is the federal minister.
She will also find under the act that the federal minister delegates directly his delegation to the Director of Energy, and the Director of Energy reports directly to the federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. There is no organisational chart that shows that they report to the Director of Mining or the CEO, for the simple reason that none of these positions have ever dealt with issues in the Ashmore Cartier area, neither have I, as a minister, signed any documentation with regard to the Ashmore Cartier area. If I was responsible, I would be brave enough to answer any question about the Ashmore Cartier area.
Is the Leader of the Opposition prepared to answer a simple question put to him in this Chamber? Did he or did he not offer a job to Mr Abbott? I take responsibility for my actions but the Leader of the Opposition does not. It is more than that. In the past two weeks, we have seen members of the opposition come in here and make allegations that are either intentionally or unintentionally false. Yesterday, the member for Port Darwin mentioned that, ‘you took $25m out of these licences’. For the past six years, the Territory has received, for activities in the Ashmore Cartier area, only $4m.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! For the minister’s information, I seek leave to table page 218 of the Montara inquiry, which says about $25m.
Madam SPEAKER: You do not have the call. Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: I seek leave to table it.
Madam SPEAKER: You cannot. You do not have the call.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, it is not surprising. They would stop at nothing to bring false information here, intentionally or unintentionally, just to make a point.
Child Protection – Government Actions to Meet the 2030 Strategy
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CHILD PROTECTION
Can you please outline to the House the government’s actions to meet the 2030 strategy of keeping children safe from all forms of abuse?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, our government has a very clear vision that our children grow up safe from all forms of harm; they go to school and grow up healthy so they reach their full potential in life. That is nowhere more important than for our Aboriginal children.
Seventy-seven per cent of children reported to child protection services are Aboriginal; exactly the same children who have been ignored for 27 years by the CLP. In 44 days, we did more than the CLP had done in 27 years. We received the report on 28 October ...
Mr Tollner: How many kids died in the front yard on the CLP watch? You goon!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that comment, please.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, we received the report on 28 October. Within a few hours, we announced an allocation of $130m over five years. We established an external monitoring committee which will report through me twice a year in this parliament. I have advised the House we have a Safe NT website live, and high-level monthly updates on the progress of the recommendations will be provided. Eighteen of the 34 urgent recommendations are well under way. I advised that of the 870 backlog cases, we now have a number below 500. There are no backlogs in Categories 1 and 2
I announce today a $6m incentive package to attract, retain and reward staff for their dedication and professionalism. It will consist of a market allowance to increase competitiveness with other states, a skills retention allowance, a location allowance, and a settling-in allowance. The incentive package will commence from 6 January and will be available to workers to be recruited as part of our very aggressive recruitment campaign.
We mean business with child protection, and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure Territory kids are safe, feel safe and are truly safe.
Rural Area – Power Outages
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Last week, you told parliament a power outage in the Humpty Doo area was caused by a snake and that Power and Water had to travel distances to find the cause. The nub of the question was about the number of outages and the cause of each of these outages. People in the rural area would like more information than a snake was the cause. To enable you to give a detailed answer, I gave you this question last week.
Can you please tell parliament how many power supply outages have there been in the McMinns, Humpty Doo and Herbert areas over the last two months, the dates and times they occurred, the length of the outages, and the actual possible cause of the outage? Could you give details of current works and any future works which are being carried out to minimise outages in the rural area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I did have the answers to that question, but I do not have them with me at the moment. I am happy to provide them. From memory, there were three causes associated with that outage; one was a cable fault towards the highway, another one was the snake, and there were tree branches as well.
Work happening out there is the replacement of cross-arms with the resident cross-arms and the drop-down and extended insulators. Work is going on with the automatic recloses as well. They will only work a certain number of times, they have two goes within a matter of seconds, and if it still does not reclose, there is something solid on the line and they have to get a crew to go out. Some of these feeder lines are 50 km long, so they are quite extensive. It is, sadly, the nature of the expanded service out there, the big network in the rural area, the limited possibility with the size of the network to have greater networking and redundancy in the system. But hopefully, with the work that is going on with the recloses, the cross-arms and the drop-down insulators, that will ease.
I am happy to provide the data I have; I did have it with me, I anticipated a question earlier on. I have that data and I am quite happy to share it with your constituents.
Power and Water is very keen to assist people in identification of these faults. The cut-back of trees in the rural area is a major issue for local residents who enjoy the trees, but it is also a major problem with these outages. I hope the promotion of the problems we have assists with that.
One of the main points I would like to make is many of our crews who go out in the middle of the night are from the rural area and have friends and family who live there. They not only have to do the work but they have to put up with the criticism Power and Water has levelled against it.
We are actively working with the community to alleviate many of these outages; however, it is a very complex system. It is very extended, a small population base, and the ability to network and put redundancy in the system is limited. I am happy to provide that data to you, member for Nelson.
Montara Oil Spill - Inquiry
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Madam Speaker, I am responding to the minister’s last question. I seek leave to table page 218 of the Montara Commission of Inquiry.
Leave granted.
Mr ELFERINK: I quote from that page:
- The Inquiry considers it is worth noting that in recent years the Northern Territory has received significantly more funds (collected from the offshore petroleum industry operating off the Northern Territory coastline) than it has spent regulating such activities. This is demonstrated by the following table.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as usual, the member for Port Darwin has made another ‘oh oh’ statement. As he correctly said, the money comes from the offshore petroleum area. That offshore petroleum area extends from all the area north of the Territory, including the Ashmore Cartier area. From the Ashmore Cartier area only we have received $4m in the last six years.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, $4m was deposited in a bank account in the name of the Commonwealth. The officers who act on behalf of the Commonwealth for the Ashmore Cartier area are paid out of this money. How can I believe the opposition …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr VATSKALIS: … when they come in here with an organisational chart and say that the Director of Energy reports directly to the CEO of the department through the Executive Director of Minerals and Energy. The Director of Energy does not act only for the Commonwealth; he also works for the Territory. He only works for the Commonwealth as a delegate of the federal minister when he does assessments in the Ashmore Cartier area. Further, I will table another legal opinion from a lawyer who knows what he is talking about, not like the member for Port Darwin, which says:
- … in granting approvals and giving directions in relation to well …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: It says:
- Accordingly, in granting approvals and giving directions in relation to well operations in the Montara field, the Director of Energy was acting solely as the delegate of the Commonwealth minister.
I am very happy to provide this legal advice to the media so they can find out who is telling the truth and who is misleading parliament.
Madam Speaker, this is not the first time the members opposite have tried to mislead parliament. The member for Goyder tabled two pieces of legislation that had no relationship to Ashmore Cartier. The member for Port Darwin gives us a legal opinion he has no idea about. As a lawyer, the first thing you should do is to read the act.
The Solicitor-General, Mr Michael Grant QC, in his legal opinion, makes it very clear who is responsible for what area and who is acting in what capacity for the federal government.
Transport Services – Christmas Period
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
Can you please outline to the House the late night transport services in Darwin the government is delivering to make our roads safer this Christmas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a great opportunity to talk to Territorians about what our government is doing to deliver better transport options, creative transport options, and transport options for people who want to use the CBD for their festive nights out. The Christmas express bus kicked off last weekend, so spread the word. There is much advertising around it. Make sure we get the message out to use it.
Last weekend, 56 Territorians went home on Saturday morning, 70 on Sunday, reinforcing this government’s initiative for getting Territorians home safely. The service is operating each weekend until 25 December. It picks up passengers opposite the Discovery nightclub on Mitchell Street.
I wish a big happy Christmas and New Year to the Transit Officers, the safety officers who boost security on our public transport network. If you are into economy, it is $5 to get home from the CBD, $10 to the northern suburbs, and $15 to Palmerston. How is that for economy for those opposite? Do we have a positive out of that?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I thank city minibuses for providing vehicles and drivers for the services, and the Australian Hotels Association NT for advertising this service around their venues to get people home safely. It is important to get out to your electorate that the Starlight Express is running again on New Year’s Eve - that is our buses - a popular service delivered by this government.
It is important to note about options: 10 extra taxi licences operating in peak periods. I am getting really good feedback, not only from industry, but from the public; people using those taxis, operating from 10 pm to 7 am daily - all days, Saturdays, special occasions, and major events when the taxi demand is high. The taxis have had a positive effect on waiting times for passengers in the CBD, and there continues to be more taxis at the secure taxi rank.
So spread it around, guys, it is a good news story. It is a great Christmas/New Year news story. It is from this government and it deserves to be applauded. Stay safe over Christmas and New Year, everyone.
ANSWER TO QUESTION
Baniyala School - Petition Lodged on 12 August 2010 Not Yet Answered
Baniyala School - Petition Lodged on 12 August 2010 Not Yet Answered
Dr BURNS (Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I have further information on the question asked of me by the member for Macdonnell in relation to the Baniyala School petition.
The response will be furnished by the end of these sittings. I can tell the member for Macdonnell that the response will mirror the response I have already given to that community on this issue.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Madam SPEAKER: And Merry Christmas, honourable members.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016