2014-02-12
Power and Water –
Proposed Sale of Public Assets
Proposed Sale of Public Assets
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Territorians are both angry and in despair at yet more looming power price rises. We have just had another 5% rise in January under your watch. We will cop another 4% in July under your watch, and then another 5% next January and, of course, the impact of the 43% increase in network prices. All up, households have to find another $1000 on top of the $2000 you have already slugged them for their power bills. Yesterday, your Treasurer exposed his intention to sell public assets. Come clean and tell Territorians which part of Power and Water you will privatise - Power and Water, the new Generation Corp, the new Retail Corp? You do not have a mandate to sell off public assets. Will you go to Territorians and ask them for the mandate before you decide to sell?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the first or second question yesterday was similar and we did not accept the premise of it. Power prices increases are locked in, but you bring up this idea about asset sales. It is very interesting when you look at the idea of asset sales and what we want to do in the Northern Territory in building infrastructure and the economy, and how we advance the strength of the Northern Territory. This morning I wrote a list of some of the investments we would like to make in the Northern Territory: a new hospital in Palmerston, with the Health minister driving, and we all know the level of expense to be incurred in building that hospital at Palmerston; the rural pool …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Mr GILES: … and the multiuser sport facility in the rural area are on our wish list.
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was when will you sell Power and Water?
Madam SPEAKER: Members, please pause. Honourable members, a minister has three minutes to answer the question. The continual and sometimes misuse of Standing Order 113 will not be tolerated.
Mr Gunner: He is not answering the question.
Madam SPEAKER: He has three minutes to answer the question. Do not chat back.
Mr GILES: To the member for Nelson who interjected about whether that is still on the list, yes, we are Country Liberals and are true to our word. You were a part of the previous Labor government and you could not deliver, but we will keep that on our list.
Berthing facilities at the wharf for industry, flood mitigation works around Rapid Creek, investing in libraries, equestrian facilities, sports ovals and sheds, Todd River flood mitigation work, Nhulunbuy tourism infrastructure, or as the Leader of the Opposition called it in in federal parliament today, Nhulunbee. I do not know if he will receive the same tongue lashing from the member for Nhulunbuy as we on this side of the Chamber did, although, yesterday the member for Nhulunbuy said investing in infrastructure on the Central Arnhem Highway was a road to nowhere. This is her electorate, her community and she called it a road to nowhere. She is standing up for the people. Just imagine, if we are supporting industry there, because she has already knocked back two industry investments there …
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 67: digression, tedious. We are over a minute in.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. Standing Order 67 is a rule of debate not applicable to Question Time.
Mr GILES: Thanks very much, Madam Speaker. She has already knocked back two industries. She was offered the export of buffaloes out of Nhulunbuy to support jobs in the region and she knocked that back, laughed at it and said it was a stupid idea.
We are doing it out of Darwin now, but we will keep working on it. Yesterday we were talking about boarding schools and the opportunity to support remote education through boarding schools on the back of the Indigenous education review, and she knocked that back too. She is knocking back economic opportunities, but we will keep building things.
On my list I have the Central Arnhem Highway …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. We are nearly at the end, it is a direct question. Which part of Power and Water are you going to sell off?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could get to the question.
Mr GILES: Investing in law courts, skate parks, CCTV, upgrading Hidden Valley, putting in regional airstrips to get RPT services to get better connectivity, there are four ways these things could be funded and we are at a crossroads …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This is a question about Power and Water. We are looking for an answer and he is not answering the question at all.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you could get to the point of the question.
Mr GILES: There are four ways these can be funded: raising taxes, cutting spending, selling assets - Labor says no to those three. The only other option is the Labor way: borrowing and getting into more debt. A debt of $5.5bn - we have to work out how to find the funds to put into that infrastructure, and we will consider all options.
Central Australia – CLP Investment
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you please outline for the Assembly some of the important investments made by the Country Liberal government in Central Australia. How does this commitment compare to the treatment of Central Australia under the former Labor government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Namatjira for her question. I really appreciate it. It sounds like the Alice Springs Town Councillor Chansey Paech slanging things around at the way they pass comment. But there is no doubt, a couple of years ago with Labor, and for many years before, Central Australia was treated with disrespect. As a member from Central Australia, you know exactly how it was treated.
Two years ago, I described it as a war zone. The crime and outrage in our community – it was in dire straits, with national and international media about the crime. Go to Alice Springs now and it is a peaceful, tranquil community; it is a normal community.
Yes there are still elements of crime. There is crime in all areas of society around the world, but the situation now compared to what it was is out of sight. It is a great place to be once again.
Mr McCarthy: When is the last time you were there? Do you not live in Darwin now, mate?
Mr GILES: I was there a few days ago.
Look at what has happened since we came to government. I was talking to the Minister for Tourism before about Tigerair, which, in coming back into Central Australia, has already seen an 18.3% growth in tourist numbers - 1500 bums in seats on aeroplanes, coming back into Alice Springs, supporting the tourism industry. It has gone from 292 900 passengers to 346 600 passengers, already an amazing turnaround in our economy.
Just being in Central Australia on the weekend, seeing the opening of Anzac Oval and the reopening of the refurbished youth centre the week before – there is a vibrancy in town which has not been there before, and we are driving the economy and community sentiment right across the Territory.
Let us look at crime in Central Australia. In the year to November, property offences were down 23%. Property damage - I know the members of Central Australia want to hear this - was down 29%, commercial break-ins dropped 30%, motor vehicle theft was cut by 30%, house break-ins were down 18%, and sexual assaults down 16%. We are spending …
Ms Walker: What about alcohol-related presentations to A&E?
Mr GILES: Let us talk about alcohol. Pure alcohol sales have cut by 7% in Alice Springs since we got rid of the BDR. Now read that statistic.
Do you want to know more about alcohol? The BDR was not all that it was supposed to be. Since we got rid of it, pure alcohol sales right across the Northern Territory have gone down, Alice Springs by more than 7%.
Ms Walker: What were the A&E statistics?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nhulunbuy!
Mr GILES: We have Joe Pesci sitting here, the member for Nhulunbuy, completely irate all the time. She cannot control her anger. I have seen that advertisement on television.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 62: offensive. Ask him to withdraw the comment about the member for Nhulunbuy.
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause. Member for Nhulunbuy, do you find that offensive?
Ms WALKER: Yes, Madam Speaker, I find the comparison offensive.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you could withdraw please.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I will finish this answer in another question. I withdraw.
Power Prices
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
It would be good to hold the mirror up to yourself in terms of your anger issues. We all know an increase …
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, that is uncalled for. Withdraw it.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw.
We all know an increase in power charges means Territorians pay a great deal more than just the hike in the power bill; it impacts on everything. Business has to pass the cost on to consumers; residents in our remote communities are already burning through their power tokens at twice the previous rate. This will get worse with the extra $1000 hitting bills.
What areas do you expect families to cut back on to find the extra money to pay for your 5% increase this January, the 4% in July, the 5% next year and the looming 43% network charge? What household expenses do they cut back on? Their rents, their mortgages, their food?
How do you expect Territorians, who are already struggling with the cost of living running at 4.4%, when you inherited it at 2.1%, under your stupidity?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is in clear breach of Standing Order 112. I ask that she withdraw the final part of the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, would you withdraw reference to members and stupidity, please?
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw ‘stupidity’. Under your foolish decision to split up Power and Water, hiking up network prices and loading up the tariff for power. You deny it is happening …
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, that is sufficient.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again, we do not accept the premise of the question. Power prices are locked in. There is only one thing, and I think we said this previously – for those in the gallery – there is only one thing that can reduce the price of power in the Northern Territory, which is removing the carbon tax.
But here we have Electricity Bill and all his Labor stooges, including the mob on the other side, who do not support getting rid of the economy-crumbling carbon tax, which is a burden on our economy in the Northern Territory and around Australia. If you want to see power prices come down, give Electricity Bill a call and ask him to get rid of the carbon tax. Vote to get rid of the carbon tax and you will see a reduction in prices.
The worst thing about this misleading question is the fact they are striking fear into Territorians. We are not putting prices up any more than what we have said. We have set in stone what the price rises in electricity will be. We did it 12 months ago; people know what is happening, but you talk about these numbers, completely misrepresent and mislead, and are trying to get a story in the paper …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He can only accuse me of misleading by way of substantive motion. I ask that he withdraw.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, speaking to the point of order, the suggestion is not that the Opposition Leader is misleading the House, it is that she is misleading Territorians, and that has been accepted as parliamentary in the past.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: All you are doing is trying to strike fear into Territorians. You did it last year. You tricked the paper and you got away with it by talking about utility increases. There is exactly the same questioning today, trying to mislead Territorians through a question by trying to say prices are going up more than what has already been set in stone. It is a disgraceful thing you are doing, trying to …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please pause. Opposition members, I asked you to cease interjecting. Member for Nhulunbuy, member for Nightcliff, Opposition Leader, you are all on a warning.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I will finish quickly. It is trying to strike fear into Territorians and that is not good enough from an opposition party in the Territory.
Power Prices – Business Costs
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Many Territory businesses are doing it tough, especially outside of Darwin. Four recently closed in Alice Springs. I know you have been told by many businesses in the Northern Territory how tough they are finding it at the moment. The President of the Chamber of Commerce said:
- It is very trying times for businesses throughout the Territory at the moment. You only have to look at what is happening up in Nhulunbuy with the closing of the Rio Tinto refinery. It is going to have a flow-on effect throughout the whole Territory because we are losing over 1000 jobs up there. There is going to be more tightening of belts.
What are you telling businesses going through tough times to do about finding the extra income to pay for the power price rises under your government? How do you expect businesses are already paring back costs to the bone to pay for these new, disastrous power price increases?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. The power prices have been locked in for more than 12 months …
Mr McCarthy: Rio’s not closing?
Mr GILES: Your question was about apparently exceptional power rises …
Mr McCarthy: Businesses are not closing in Alice Springs?
Mr GILES: … which are not occurring. There is a misleading and false representation within the question …
Mr McCarthy: You’re the leader, mate! Give us some advice.
Mr GILES: We do not accept the premise of it. Thank you.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly you asked the Chief Minister a question. Whether you like his answer or not is irrelevant. You were not affording him the courtesy or the opportunity to answer by your interjections. You are on a warning.
Infrastructure Spending
Ms LEE to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE Can the minister please update the House on what the government has been doing to boost infrastructure spending throughout the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her very interesting question. She has a great interest in infrastructure spending across the whole Territory.
The government is committed to maintaining transport and infrastructure spending right across the Territory with an even spread. The government’s forecast expenditure for all works throughout the Territory is $240m. Now transport assets capital works total $6.46m across the Territory, including $5m completion of the Cullen Bay pontoon, a job which was in desperate need of doing some years ago and ignored by the former government, another mess we had to clean up.
Mr McCarthy: Rubbish.
Mr STYLES: I will respond to the interjection. The thing was sinking, it got to the stage where it would not see another Wet Season. We were forced to do that. It was in a dangerous condition. Perhaps the members opposite might take note of that.
This also includes construction of the Lajamanu airstrip which will improve flood immunity there, another good thing for the bush. That is our commitment to the bush to make sure it gets its fair share.
The Territory government has also committed to repairs and maintenance: $91.1m which sees maintenance right across the Territory. The government anticipates transport assets upgrades of $15.7m across the Territory. With numerous projects being rolled out and a range of tenders going out, we are supporting local businesses. We hear the call from people opposite and from around the place saying it is all going interstate; 93.9% is going to local businesses.
More good news, Tiger Brennan Drive is going ahead. The section between Dinah Beach and Woolner Roads is due for completion in June, and the CBD to Berrimah Road part of Tiger Brennan Drive will be commenced in July at a cost of $90m. The Arnhem Highway is undergoing an upgrade between Humpty Doo and Mount Bundy to accommodate increased heavy vehicles.
The audits and assessments the government is doing across all of our highways demonstrated that the Arnhem Highway needed work done on it. In fact, it needed a reduction of speed limits, and we reduced the speed limit on part of the Arnhem Highway.
There is $20m being spent there on a two-year government program funded by the Australian government to improve the quality of the Arnhem Highway. We are committed to increasing spending on our roads to ensure a safe network for Territorians.
Construction on the Goyder River crossing and other creeks for the Nhulunbuy region is under way at a cost of more than $35m, but apparently it is a road to nowhere. We will keep working on her road to …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Home Ownership
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for HOUSING
ABS figures released yesterday show your failure to ensure many Territory families are able to own their own homes. The number of owner-occupied housing commitments dropped dramatically in the Territory - the biggest drop by far in the country of 16%, seasonally adjusted. This means fewer Territorians were able to buy homes because you dumped schemes assisting Territorians to enter the housing market. You scrapped Weddell, and there is nothing to give any confidence that the serviced land we need will be released for much needed affordable family housing.
Will you tell Territorians how you plan to assist families into affordable housing, or is this yet another cost of living broken promise?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is good to get a question about housing. I know the member for Nhulunbuy would understand that when we came into government we inherited a legacy of insufficient houses to meet the demand. We are working tirelessly to release land through the Lands and Planning minister to ensure we have as much land available as possible to increase supply of housing. The Minister for Housing is working hard through his Real Housing for Growth strategy and policy to ensure we assist people getting into home ownership.
I will not go through all those policies, I will ask the Minister for Housing to talk about many of the housing issues we have.
Mr CONLAN: Madam Speaker, I am happy to take the question. I generally switch off whenever members of the opposition ask questions. I did not even hear much of the question, but thanks to the Chief Minister who flicked it to me and suggested we talk about some of the housing initiatives.
I would like to talk about Real Housing for Growth, because it was a commitment this government made when it came to office in August 2012. It was an election commitment of the Northern Territory government aimed to see construction of 2000 affordable homes across the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This question was about owner-occupied home ownership; that policy is for rentals.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. The minister has time to answer the question. He is talking about housing. Minister, you have the call.
Mr CONLAN: Yes, I am talking about housing. The Chief Minister has asked me to identify some of the initiatives this government has made towards providing affordable housing to Territorians, and one of them is Real Housing for Growth. Targets for delivery are 200 homes in year one, 2013-14; 400 homes in year two, 2014-15; 600 homes in year three, 2015-16; and 800 homes in year four, 2016-17.
Originally the plan focused on a strategy for developers to build new dwellings and head lease them back to the Department of Housing to sublet to key skilled workers at 70% of the market rent. In November 2012, Cabinet agreed to expand the scope of the plan to incorporate other affordable rental home ownership programs and initiatives which support new dwelling supply. As a result, the plan is made up of affordable rental and home ownership initiatives.
You can see we have a real plan in place to provide affordable housing to Northern Territorians by the end of this term. You will find we are well ahead of schedule to provide those 2000 affordable dwellings as promised in 2012. We are on track.
If the member for Nhulunbuy would like to seek further information she can arrange a briefing with my office. She has not really done much in regard to this. She has not sought too many briefings, has not engaged with Housing and has hardly asked any housing questions of the Housing minister. I have not heard one since becoming the Housing minister in September. There was one strange question aimed at the Chief Minister. I am simply answering the question the best way I know how. If you have an issue, see me for a briefing, no problem.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, you time has expired.
Smoking in Cars with Children – Banning
Ms FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for HEALTH
The Territory government already funds public health campaigns on the harm caused to children by smoking in cars. Can the minister please outline the proactive steps taken by the Country Liberals to increase the protection of our most vulnerable?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. She is very interested in health across the Northern Territory, particularly in Palmerston. She is driving the Palmerston hospital, which is where we will see real results from this government over the next two-and-a-half years and into our second term.
Today, I want to talk about a great new initiative of this government ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please pause. Order! I remind opposition members that four of you are on warnings. Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Unlike the former Labor government, we are right onto the issue of smoking in our community. It is our biggest killer across Australia and the Northern Territory. It accounts for 167 preventable deaths each year. Unlike Labor, we are looking at stopping adults smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 16. I had two media interviews this morning and in both was asked why it has taken so long. What a great question. Why did it take 11 years for them to procrastinate and think about this and us just 18 months to initiate this obvious strategy to prevent second-hand smoke-related illnesses in children?
We are committed to protecting our most vulnerable in the community. We know smoking in cars causes considerable health problems in children: respiratory illness; middle ear infections; asthma; and, in extreme cases, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. An easy strategy and change to the Tobacco Control Act of the Northern Territory can mean children are no longer subjected to second-hand smoke in vehicles across the Northern Territory. It will be easily enforced; the police are on side and they will enforce it as a part of their regular traffic duties.
We are really looking forward to rolling out this legislation in the coming months to change the small part of the Tobacco Control Act which will protect our children and address a very serious issue of tobacco consumption across the Northern Territory.
Changes to MAGNT – Investing in the Arts
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
This government is determined to enhance the Territory’s cultural institutions. Can you please explain how proposed changes to the MAGNT will lead to more investment in our arts which can be enjoyed by all Territorians and visitors.
Ms Fyles: Is this all you can talk about?
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Sorry what was that? Is this all I can talk about?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mr CONLAN: One of the most historic, game-changing bills to ever come before the parliament and the member for Nightcliff says, ‘Is that all we can talk about?’ No wonder it took them forever to get this thing off the ground. They could not do it. They did not have the political courage to take on their union mates, but we do. This is an historic day. This is not presumption of debate, but simply a question about providing further investment into arts and museums, and the cultural sector.
Today, we debate an important bill, as I said, one of the most historic and important bills to ever come before the House. It is setting up a statutory authority for the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
The new structure will bring the popular tourist attraction in line with many cultural institutions around Australia, which is what our investment is. It is about investing in our cultural institutions: our museums; art galleries; libraries; performing arts complexes; theatres; and parliaments. These are the cultural institutions which make great cities, and this is exactly what we are doing with the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
Allowing MAGNT to become a strong statutory authority will enable it to attract increased philanthropic donations and corporate sponsorship which will further enhance its exhibitions and programs through the acquisition of major art works and scientific material - our items of significance to the Territory’s cultural heritage. It will also enable the institution to place more focus on Asian engagement, a key objective of the Country Liberal government. In the cultural sector it is generally accepted that private donors and corporations are more willing to invest in an independent body rather than a government department.
Our plans will allow MAGNT to directly engage with businesses and the wider community to secure additional financial and in-kind support. The bill for a new act for the MAGNT is, as I said, scheduled to be debated today. The cross-agency transitional working group …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 68. The member said he was not anticipating subject, but he is talking about the bill we will be getting to shortly. Question Time is not for presuming debate in the parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, minister. Honourable members, I believe it is pursuant to Standing Order 68: anticipation of subject. The bill is up for debate next. Your point of order is upheld. We will go on to the next question.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am just seeking some guidance. Without him referring to the bill, or continuing to, I am certain he can answer the honourable member’s question. I understand he still has 55 seconds and I ask him to be afforded the latitude to answer the question without reference to the bill.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, in your remaining time, if you can talk to the question without referencing the bill or the bill’s contents.
Mr CONLAN: I will give it a go. I have 55 seconds, but I suggest the member for Arafura, and his commitment to the arts and what this might bring to the table – this new regime the Northern Territory government has indicated it will do in previous debates, which we have. There was a bill introduced into the parliament last year which will be debated later today. It is a significant step. It empowers the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and preserves our cultural institutions, which is what this government is trying to do.
Our cultural institutions are of vital importance and the Country Liberal government can bring significant investment to those institutions; the MAGNT is but one of those.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Alcohol Violence Inquiry
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
According to an ABC news report on 8 January, your federal colleague, Senator Nigel Scullion, said the federal government will hold a parliamentary inquiry into reducing alcohol-fuelled violence which will focus on strategies to better tackle alcohol-fuelled violence across the nation, something I support. He said it would look at problems, ranging from an evaluation of whether the Northern Territory’s scrapped Banned Drinker Register reduced harm from takeaway alcohol sales, to reducing violence outside Sydney pubs. On 10 January the ABC reported federal Indigenous Affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, as being overruled, and the parliamentary inquiry will now only consider the effects of alcohol on Indigenous people. What are you doing, as Chief Minister, to convince the federal government to revert to its original terms of reference for a national alcohol inquiry, or do you support the racially discriminatory based one that we now have?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This is a matter for the federal government about what they are doing about their own parliamentary inquiry, or whatever inquiry they may wish to pursue.
Ms Walker: It will be a navel-gazing exercise.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nhulunbuy!
Mr GILES: I do know you are on a warning. I do not know what it actually means.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister!
Mr GILES: There is a lot of conversation about alcohol in the Northern Territory and it is always politicised, member for Nelson. Everyone says how bad it is and Labor likes to talk about how bad it is. I spoke, yesterday, about some specific statistics, how we are seeing a decrease and a change in the dynamics of what is occurring in the Northern Territory and how mandatory alcohol rehabilitation is having a significant effect and will continue to have a broader effect, particularly in Katherine and Tennant Creek, into the future. I spoke about how the APOs are driving down alcohol-related incidents and assaults. I spoke before, in a question, about how there has been a massive decrease in the consumption of alcohol in Alice Springs, and I find it very worrying and confusing that the political messages about the problems of alcohol are broader than they actually are.
Yes, there are people in the Northern Territory who have an alcohol problem. We are trying to help those people with mandatory alcohol rehabilitation, and we are trying to protect women through alcohol protection orders. There is a range of other measures we have in place – a regulatory environment through alcohol licensing - whether that is takeaways, restaurants, clubs, pubs or otherwise. I can go through a few statistics and then come back to your question, if I may.
Estimated per capita consumption of alcohol in the Northern Territory dropped to 12.84 litres per person in the 2012-13 financial year after we got rid of the BDR. This is the lowest estimated consumption value recorded for the Northern Territory since prior to 2001-02, which was the first period for which per capita consumption was estimated. Estimated per capita consumption in 2012-13 was 4% less than 2011-12 and 16% less than in 2004-05. If you put those into context, when we got rid of the BDR, alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory dropped substantially. Despite what you may think – and I am not putting words in your mouth –or what Labor is saying, our alcohol measures are working substantially.
Wholesale alcohol supply, litres in pure alcohol content in the Northern Territory in 2012-13 was 2% less than 2011-12, and I will let you read Hansard to take the context of these things. Wholesale alcohol supply in Darwin was 1% less, in Palmerston it was 2% less – we are talking 2012-13 compared to 2011-12 when the BDR was in. Wholesale alcohol supply in Alice Springs was 7% less - I am getting to your question.
It was 7% less in Alice Springs. We have seen a massive drop in alcohol consumption, wholesale and pure alcohol content …
A member interjecting.
Mr GILES: If you ask another question, I will give you another answer. While Senator Scullion is pursuing his endeavours, and very fruitfully, we believe we are on the right path to addressing alcohol issues in the Northern Territory and we will continue to do so.
Alcohol Policies
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
When police, doctors and lawyers told you your alcohol policies would not work, you told the experts - and please excuse my language, Madam Speaker, I am quoting - to ‘piss off’. When the member for Daly called for an inquiry to address the increase in alcohol violence, what did you tell him to do?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Fannie Bay is completely misquoting and is completely out of context.
After the member for Daly had a chat, I rang him and gave him some of these statistics because it is important for people to be well informed.
They lead with their chin asking an alcohol question after I have just given substantial evidence of changes, but I will keep going through this list now.
The Alice Springs wholesale supply in 2012-13 is the lowest since 2000-01. We got rid of all of your policies …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could he table those statistics around alcohol?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, are you prepared to table the documents?
Mr GILES: No, they are my notes. I typed them myself after reading the information put out by the Department of Business. I have done my research and I prepared this information.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: I would love to ask what a warning means in this Chamber, but I will not.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister.
Mr GILES: While I just quoted those Alice Springs wholesale supply figures dropping to the lowest level since 2000-01, it is important to remember this was the first year wholesale supply data has been collected, so we do not know how far the improvement goes back. Wholesale alcohol supply, litres per pure alcohol content in Katherine – I know the member for Katherine is very interested in this - was 7% less in 2012-13 than 2011-12, after we got rid of the BDR. These statistics throw their whole argument about the BDR down.
In Nhulunbuy it has dropped by 17%. In Tennant Creek it is down 5%.
I find it amusing that the member for Fannie Bay asked the question straight after the member for Nelson asked an alcohol-based question where I proved, through the statistics available from the Department of Business, that wholesale alcohol supply has dropped substantially. Our measures are working, then you ask a question about it, which is a question completely out of context and ill informed.
We work with all our colleagues to make sure everyone knows what is going on in the statistical outcomes, but what we are seeing through this evidence is that our alcohol measures are not only working, they are working substantially. Everyone on this side of the Chamber, and everyone in government who is working on these areas - including business, licensing, police, the health sector and alcohol rehabilitation – needs a pat on the back. In the face of strong criticism from an ill-informed, misrepresenting Labor party opposition on the other side, they have copped it, as have we, but the statistics show it is working. Crime is going down and people who have alcohol problems in the Northern Territory are being treated. Congratulations to everybody who has stood in the face of adversity.
Tourism in Arnhem Land
Ms LEE to MINISTER for TOURISM
Could you please explain how this government is exploring new opportunities to uncover tourism opportunities in Arnhem Land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the answer is: absolutely, a number of times.
I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. She is firmly committed to not only the people of Arnhem Land, but also economic development and tourism is part of that.
Arnhem Land is arguably one of the last untouched paradises of Australia, located in a wonderful region of the Northern Territory. There are many fantastic opportunities tourists could enjoy in Arnhem Land, from Aboriginal homeland cultural experiences, to fishing, four-wheel drive self-adventure tours, scenic flights, island retreats and scenic cruising.
The Country Liberals government loves tourists and takes tourism very seriously. Tourism equals jobs, this is the same in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy, in fact, right across the Northern Territory and, of course, this includes Arnhem Land, which is why we recently sent a team from Tourism NT and the Department of Business to Nhulunbuy.
The team visited the region for five days and is now formulating a plan to uncover new tourism-related opportunities in the region.
The visit could not have been made possible without the assistance of the Lirrwi Yolngu Tourism Aboriginal Corporation. It has been working hard over the past few years to develop tourism as a new economy in Arnhem Land. It has engaged with around 20 homeland communities in the area to help develop their tourism experiences. However, a lot more can be done and the government is actively working behind the scenes to grow these opportunities and remove any roadblocks which may stand in the way. The raw product in Arnhem Land is outstanding. Tourism operators need to work together to provide compelling reasons to visit the region and ensure success, and that is exactly what Tourism NT will be doing: working closely with our tourism operators to make sure they can deliver that first-class, world-class product.
Delivering regional tourism and products they can offer visitors will also add a strong bow to our Tourism 2020 strategy. Our plan is to generate a tourism economy of about $2.2bn by 2020, and we are well on track. Uncovering tourism opportunities in Arnhem Land is one way the government is working to achieve this goal.
While Uluru and Kakadu are well-known globally, we see Arnhem Land presenting a new outstanding opportunity for the Northern Territory and Australia. That is exactly what the recent mission was about and exactly the focus of the Northern Territory government and Tourism NT.
I thank the member for Arnhem for the question.
Open Speed Limits
Mr VATSKALIS to CHIEF MINISTER
You have arrogantly dismissed the opinions of experts on everything from education to the environment and our economy. You have rudely ignored the advice of police and road safety experts on the open speed limit trial on the Stuart Highway, but have admitted there would be accidents on the stretch of highway you turned into and open speed zone, as reported in the Centralian Advocate on 17 January.
When your bad policy is criticised by experts, such as Harold Scruby from the Pedestrian Council of Australia, you resort to name-calling saying he is, and I quote from the Centralian Advocate on 17 January, ‘a moron’. Chief Minister, will you apologise for resorting to this juvenile name-calling and will you release the secret reports on your open speed policy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, I apologise to Harold Scruby for calling him a moron. He is misplaced in his comments and is not representing the Pedestrian Council well.
The fact remains, when you go through all the publicly available data about road deaths in the Northern Territory, particularly between 2001 and 2011, the basis of our report - five years with open speed limits and five years after - and even the data since shows the big killer on our roads is pedestrians. I think it was nine last year - off the top of my head, do not quote me on it - and the major causal factors are drink-driving and people not wearing seat belts. Most of the accidents which happen on the four major highways are when tyres leave the road surface; they swerve for an animal or any other purpose, the tyres hit the side of the road, the car circles around then rolls.
We looked at a range of factors in the road quality when we were assessing those open speed limits. That range of factors indicated where accidents happen most often, and many of them are to do with the horizontal and vertical curve nature and the width of the road, the rutting and the road condition. We know roads last for about 30 years. When you manage an asset like this you must ensure you have the upkeep of repairs and maintenance and the reinvestment in upgrading.
Recently we have done a fair bit of upgrading of some of those roads and we are confident they are improving substantially. A lot more work needs to be done after eleven-and-a-half years of poor Labor investment, and we have a $5.5bn Labor debt which makes it very hard to look at some of that.
I commend Territorians for driving responsibly on that section of the road. The Minister for Transport, all of my colleagues and I have put out messages that we want people driving responsibly. We are giving people the opportunity to make the decision to drive responsibly. We are saying to drive to the conditions of the road, your car, the environment, the climate and so forth. I have given the example of me not driving over 100 km/h on the Stuart Highway at night, whether it is in the open speed limit section or not, because of the conditions.
It is important to reflect on the fact the member for Barkly has not asked a question about open speed limits, and the question is why? I remember a couple of years ago, during a debate about open speed limit policy - which is one the member for Nelson once supported …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Quite specifically, the Chief Minister was requested to release the four reports.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: It was about speed limits, and I remember this little article, ‘Transport Minister caught doing 149km/h’.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, put it down.
Mr GILES: It is a prop for me, Madam Speaker. Caught at 149km/h. This is after he stood in this Chamber saying how irresponsible it was for open speed limits and no one should speed. He spoke about his kids coming back from Queensland and saying, ‘It is open slather’. I remember the nature of the questions and the statements about how bad he thought it was, and soon after he got caught at 149km/h. What does he have say about the speed limits?
Mr McCarthy interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, your time has expired.
_______________
Suspension of Member
Member for Barkly
Member for Barkly
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Barkly, you are already on a warning. Pursuant to Standing Order 240A, leave the Chamber for one hour.
_______________
Tiwi Memorandum of Understanding – Benefits
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
On Monday, you and I travelled to the Tiwi Islands for the signing of a new MOU between Tiwi Plantations Corporation and the Japanese company, Mitsui. Could you outline the benefit of this agreement for the Tiwi people?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question. I said a few words at the function the other day. I am not much of an emotional person, but I nearly had a tear in my eye seeing those guys from Mitsui there. We put a great deal of effort into the work we do on this side of the Chamber; some of the policies are tough, and some of the things we do are hard. Having put together those couple of visits to Japan last year, those relations with Japan can help Territorians to get jobs, which is what it is all about. To add economic development …
Mr Wood: You had to fix those relationships.
Mr GILES: No, we did not have to, mate, they were very good …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson!
Mr GILES: Hang on a second. The Independent Labor member is interjecting again. I am telling an important story and he does not want to hear it. The indignation of the Independent Labor member, who likes to say he supports Tiwi but does not want to hear the story.
We have been with Mitsui and asked it to invest in the Northern Territory and support people. We have a plantation which started on the Tiwi Islands - off the top of my head – in 1962. It has fallen over a couple of times with Silvertech and Great Southern, and it represents a real opportunity. There are approximately 30 people working on the plantation now. When that plantation is knocked down there could be 100 jobs through wood chipping and exporting.
When Mitsui signed that MOU with the traditional owners around the plantation and working with the Land Council, it was a very important day. It goes back to the work we have done in the past, building the confidence, relationships, welfare reform, getting off the dole and into a job. We came in here late last year with an MOU we had signed with the Land Council, working together as a first step towards economic development, and the other day we signed the agreement with Takahashi San, Gibson Farmer and a few others about how they can now get wood chip into the global markets. This will now mean 100 jobs for Tiwi; it will also mean jobs on the new port which is being built there to try to get people working.
This is a first step. Everyone knows - and Labor criticises - what we are trying to do with the leasing arrangements around more hectares of land for forestry and agriculture, horticulture plantations, building a hotel/motel complex, supporting residential home ownership for holiday makers, whatever it may be, it is a positive sign and the Tiwi have embraced it. I was really emotional and happy to see it happen the other day.
Congratulations, member for Arafura. You do not get these outcomes if you do not lead in your electorate, if you do not drive reform, and if you do not stand up in the face of the adversity of Labor people who want to fight it.
A member: That’s what you need to do, Lynne.
Mr GILES: Very good point about the member for Nhulunbuy.
__________________________
Visitors
Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of the Australian Migrant English Program from Charles Darwin University accompanied by Marion Fletcher. On behalf of honourable members, welcome to Parliament House and I hope you enjoy your time here.
Members: Hear, hear!
__________________________
National Parks – Commercialisation
National Parks – Commercialisation
Mr VOWLES to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
The Chief Minister has been taking the running from you about plans to sell off some of the Territory’s natural park assets. On 30 January this year, the Chief Minister had to cover for you, again, to answer media questions about your government’s plan to commercialise our national parks, reserves and wildlife parks.
You are the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, can you please reveal how these plans will impact Indigenous employment and economic development? What discussions and guarantees have you given to traditional owners in parks under joint management?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his question. Member for Johnston, we are not selling any parks, we are looking at improving our parks and making them attractive. We are making sure everybody knows about them and comes with their families to enjoy our parks. We are not selling our parks. I do not know where you get the information from, but this is typical of Labor, how they spin. They are telling people all sorts of stories, using all sorts of scare tactics, which they usually do, they are well known for it.
Mr Giles: They are using Aboriginal people. Shameful.
Mrs PRICE: It is shameful of them to do so. Member for Johnston, I want to ask you a question. Do you take your family and children to visit these parks? I have been to see my parks and I have seen 12 of them since becoming the Minister for Parks and Wildlife. I want to make sure …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, direct your comments through the Chair, please.
Mrs PRICE: Our parks are not for sale. We are looking for opportunities to improve them and I want to make sure the members across the floor know we are here to improve our parks for everybody to come and enjoy, and to take their families to.
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. My colleague asked a very direct question: how will these plans impact on Indigenous employment and economic development within our parks?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff. Minister, you have the call. If you could please get to the question.
Mrs PRICE: This is an important opportunity for our people who know and care about the parks, who want to be a part of it, want to change and have jobs for their families and future generations. What would you know about the parks and Aboriginal people, and how they connect to country? We want to make sure there are employment opportunities for our people, and I encourage our people to take more control and be part of the changes we want to make.
NT Cattle Industry
Ms LEE to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Later this month you will be attending the beef industry round table in Broome, a meeting attended by you and the respective Primary Industry ministers from north Australia, namely Queensland and Western Australia. Can you please update the House on what you intend to achieve and how a unified approach from northern Australia will strengthen the cattle industry for our local economies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I really should pause at this point before I answer the question to put on record in this House the passion I often see displayed by the member for Arnhem when we are talking about economic issues which relate to Indigenous people. She is a regular advocate for the types of programs and policies which will bring about reform and development of the economy around Indigenous areas. Congratulations to the member for Arnhem.
Ms Fyles: It is your own dixer, answer it.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I hear all the chatter from the other side of the House. They do not like to hear this good news, because when they were in government they did nothing to further Indigenous economic development in the Northern Territory. We have just heard from the Chief Minister about the work which has been done on the Tiwi Islands. It is an object lesson for the opposition, and everybody in the Northern Territory, of the types of initiatives which will make a difference and drive change and economic development for Aboriginal people across the Territory.
There is no one in this House and probably no one in the Northern Territory who would deny the importance of north Australian development. Over the past year and a bit, the northern beef ministers – which includes me - and the ministers for Primary Industry in Queensland and Western Australia have been working collaboratively on an approach which takes a whole northern approach to the beef industry right across Australia.
What is coincidental is at the same time we were working on this north Australian approach, the federal Coalition, when it was in opposition, was working on its policy around northern Australia, because they also recognise the importance and what needs to be done, as well as the benefits it will bring to Indigenous communities and the broader northern theatre. In recognition of the importance of this beef round table in Broome, coming up in a few weeks’ time, the Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture, the Honourable Barnaby Joyce, will be attending, and this gives recognition to the work which has been done and credence to what we have been doing. A major emphasis I wish to convey at the meeting will be the importance of expanding into new and emerging markets in Southeast Asia.
To personally further this, I will be travelling to Vietnam later this year to talk everything live export with the government officials and industry leaders there. Because we have grown the cattle industry going into Vietnam, we now have a buffalo export industry going into Vietnam, and this government recognises the importance of forging those relationships and growing the economy around the beef industry of the Northern Territory. It is a very important factor in determining …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister your time has expired.
Disposal of Public Assets
Mr VATSKALIS to CHIEF MINISTER
Just days after your Transport minister’s statement in this House, your government sneakily announced the privatisation of the Darwin bus service. Late on a Friday afternoon, before Christmas, your Deputy Chief Minister sneakily announced the closure of the Government Printing Office. You have form in sneaky privatisation moves. How can you sell public assets and guarantee current staff will not lose employment, wages or conditions? How can you tell Territorians they will not end up paying more for transport adding to our ever-escalating cost of living?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for his question. When you do business on a Friday, it is not sneaky. Friday is a business day. What happens over the Christmas period is business as well.
People say, ‘How can you release a report during December or January, because that is Christmas time?’ It is like what happens in Nhulunbuy; 11 weeks ago Rio Tinto made a decision about curtailment and there is trouble for the community. It is an emotional time. There are people who have to make personal choices and so forth, it is really busy, but the line was - from the member for Nhulunbuy yesterday – it is all right to go on holidays. I think she said it is all right to go back home - or something similar - over that break. Business happens every day of the year; it does not matter if it is on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Pursuant to Standing Order 113: relevance. I am sure the Chief Minister would like to table when he went on holidays.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Johnston, it is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr GILES: There clearly is a brain drain on the other side. I will say it again, I did not take holidays, Kenny.
The Government Printing Office change was an election commitment by the Country Liberals. There is nothing surprising about this. It was changing. In fact, there was a policy approach of what Labor was trying to do on the other side - the same as Labor trying to sell Northern Territory Fleet; it was doing exactly the same thing. There are changes which occur in the way government runs its operations. At the forefront of our mind is the way we look after and protect workers within those organisations.
I will go back to one of my earlier questions about there being a range of things we want to do in government, which I am sure Labor would like to do if it was in government. They include building infrastructure around the Territory. The Independent Labor member for Nelson always talked about building a pool in the rural area, but never delivered it, despite being the kingmaker. It will be our role and we will do it, but the question is how do you find the resources to be able to do that?
I spoke before about how we are at a crossroads. There are four lanes we can take in identifying resources and the way we can spend money. It includes talking about raising taxes, cutting spending, selling assets or borrowing money. Labor’s approach to finding money has always been borrowing money. We have $5.5bn worth of Labor’s debt, because they borrow money. We have to manage responsibly, live within our means, and try to pay back Labor debt, which will take some time to start because we still have to get our budget out of that deficit.
Yesterday the Treasurer reflected upon our budgetary position, which is that we are spending $1.1bn more than what we earn this year and a large part of that is because of the investment into the prison. I would prefer to have seen …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
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