2010-11-30
CLP Candidate for Lingiari – Alleged Bribery Allegations Against Opposition Leader referred to Australian Electoral Commission
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, your Attorney-General referred false allegations of electoral bribery about me to the Australian Electoral Commission. What was the AEC’s determination? Will you table all the material the Attorney-General placed before the AEC and the Electoral Commission’s response to that material?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition is leading with his chin today. I have never seen such an example in Australian public life where very serious allegations have been made - not specifically by the Attorney-General – but allegations that were first raised in the Alice Springs News …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Elferink: You are a grub!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member for Port Darwin to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I ask you to withdraw that comment.
Mr Elferink: I withdraw ‘grub;.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: … as well as an e-mail which came to the Attorney-General, which very obviously came from a senior source within the CLP. The Leader of the Opposition needs to tell the truth, and tell this House - I can say, as Chief Minister, our side will give whatever leave is required for the Leader of the Opposition to stand up after Question Time and tell this House if he offered Leo Abbott a bribe, yes or no.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr HENDERSON: It is a very simple question to answer. You do not need to get legal advice to tell the truth, Leader of the Opposition; you do not legal advice to tell the truth. Yes or no.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was quite specific, and it relates to the advice received from the Australian Electoral Commission regarding false allegations.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: The point is very simple, Madam Speaker. Allegations have been made, in the Alice Springs News, by a senior source within the CLP, and also by Steve Brown on the ABC news on Thursday or Friday night, which said that the Leader of the Opposition needs to come out and tell the truth. Tell the truth, Terry; the answer is yes or no.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, member for Port Darwin! Resume your seat, Leader of the Opposition. This is only the first question, honourable members, and I am unable to hear people who have the call. Leader of the Opposition, you had a point of order?
Mr MILLS: I have a supplementary question, as I received no answer to the previous question.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
CLP Candidate for Lingiari – Alleged Bribery Allegations Against Opposition Leader referred to Australian Electoral Commission
CLP Candidate for Lingiari – Alleged Bribery Allegations Against Opposition Leader referred to Australian Electoral Commission
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Did you endorse the decision to refer those false allegations to the Australian Electoral Commission, or did the Attorney-General make that decision on her own?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, to provide further clarity, I will ask the Attorney-General to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Drysdale!
Ms LAWRIE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition who continues to lead with his chin in the Chamber while he hides from the media.
I can inform the House that, last week, as you would be aware, I wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission regarding allegations the Leader of the Opposition made a job offer to Leo Abbott on the condition he withdraw his candidacy from the federal electorate of Lingiari. I table the response from the Australian Electoral Commission.
What this response essentially says is that the AEC is not planning to take any further action, based on a matter of timing ...
Mr Elferink: Oh, rubbish. No prima facie case. I spoke to them.
Ms LAWRIE: You have not seen it yet …
Mr Elferink: There is no prima facie case, and do not mislead this House.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I will continue …
Madam SPEAKER: Attorney-General, because it is a supplementary question, your time has expired.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari – Alleged Bribery Allegations Against Opposition Leader referred to Australian Electoral Commission
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
As we have just heard your answer in the last question, you wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission following allegations raised against the Leader of the Opposition. Have you received a response to your letter and what is the response?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Arafura. Yes, indeed, I have just tabled the response from the Australian Electoral Commission. What the response essentially says is that the AEC is not planning to take any further action, based on a matter of timing ...
Mr Elferink: That is not true!
Ms LAWRIE: Read the letter. Wait until it comes around.
Mr Elferink: It is not true. I have spoken to them.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting!
Ms LAWRIE: I have received informal advice that this may warrant further investigation. Sources within the CLP allege that, during a CLP management committee meeting held on the weekend of 14 to 15 August, the Leader of the Opposition made a job offer to Mr Leo Abbott on the condition he withdraw his candidacy. The AEC states that, due to nominations having closed on 29 July, before the alleged offer was made, it was not legally possible for Mr Leo Abbott to withdraw his candidacy. Some dumb luck was happening there for the Leader of the Opposition. Because Mr Leo Abbott did not agree, there was no understanding reached about this offer. It is on this basis that the AEC says it is unable to take any further action in this matter …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: … however, Terry Mills is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Member for Drysdale!
Ms LAWRIE: Terry Mills is not off the hook. He hid from this issue for six days on the premise of seeking legal advice ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: He hid for six days on the premise that he was seeking legal advice. You do not need legal advice to tell the truth. Mr Steve Brown, a CLP member now involved in that infamous CLP management committee meeting, came out publicly describing Mr Mills’ attempt to disendorse Leo Abbott as a dirty, low, horrible act, and as blackmail. That was on 8HA radio. At a media conference yesterday, Terry Mills failed to answer the question - the crucial question: did he or did he not offer Leo Abbott …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Ms LAWRIE: … a job to withdraw his candidacy. The Leader of the Opposition needs to come clean with Territorians instead of hiding from this issue. Territorians have the right to question his honesty, integrity and character. His credibility is absolutely in question. He is hiding and he has got off on a technical timing issue with the AEC, but it is not ending there. It does not end there. He still has to answer the question …
Madam SPEAKER: Attorney-General, your time has expired.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari - Request for Apology to Opposition Leader from Chief Minister
Mr ELFERINK to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government has a well-deserved reputation for bullying and dirty tactics. Brave whistleblowers are hounded and threatened, journalists have had phone records tapped into, others are bullied for reporting your government’s failures, and you drag members’ personal financial details through this House to make petty little political points. Your smear campaign against the Leader of the Opposition is just the latest example of an arrogant government that has no moral fibre, no ethics, and will stop at nothing to destroy people who stand up against your miserable administration.
Will you apologise for the despicable behaviour of your government and your Attorney-General …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The question is somewhat out of order. Chief Minister, if you wish to answer the question you may do so, but otherwise you do not need to answer.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the only bullying that is going on in this place at the moment is the bullying from the Leader of the Opposition. He is demanding to know who the e-mail came from within the CLP, so that he can monster that brave person who blew the whistle on the Leader of the Opposition and stated that, at that management committee, the Leader of the Opposition illegally offered a job and offered an inducement to a candidate.
The only people guilty of bullying in this parliament are those members opposite who could not wait to get their hands on the rat inside their ranks who has spilled the beans on the Leader of the Opposition. The rat in their ranks is who they are after, and the Leader of the Opposition still has an opportunity …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Within this House we are required to tell the truth. Get up, Leader of the Opposition. Did you offer Leo Abbott the job? Yes or no? You have had seven days to answer that question. You still have not answered it. The Leader of the Opposition is running but he cannot hide. He may well run, but he cannot hide.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Members, I remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise of disturbance, which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Uranium Mining – Government Position
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the government’s position on uranium mining in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I state categorically that our government supports uranium mining in the Northern Territory, and we support the expansion of uranium mining in the Northern Territory where it meets all the environmental and occupational health and safety standards, legislation, and international best practice.
In relation to the potential mine at Angela Pamela, 20 km from Alice Springs, the government has made it very clear that, given the overwhelming community concern in Alice Springs, concern which has been shared by members of parliament who represent the good citizens of Alice Springs, our government would not support an application to mine Angela Pamela if an application was put forward to the federal government. That is the unanimous position of this side of the House, listening to and responding to the concerns of the good citizens of Alice Springs.
This is in stark contrast to the great division and dysfunction on this issue of those opposite. We know the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is in outright and open hostility towards the Leader of the Opposition’s position on this. We know the Deputy Leader of the Opposition opposes the decision made by the Leader of the Opposition to support the government in this call and to support the people of Alice Springs. We see dysfunction, we see disunity, and we see outright rebellion by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to her own leader’s position on this issue.
Earlier this month, the NT News reported on rumours coming from within the CLP that they are considering backflipping on this decision. We understand that a decision to backflip on this decision has already been made. It was the price the Leader of the Opposition had to pay to maintain his leadership on the opposition benches. That was the price he had to pay to keep the numbers.
He said in his media conference yesterday that he has majority support. Well, if he has majority support, who are those members opposite who would vote against him if a leadership spill came on board? We know the numbers last time were two, but we understand that is growing fast, they have not quite reached the magical numbers. They have backflipped on that position. They have betrayed, and will betray, the people of Alice Springs. The Leader of the Opposition has done this in a desperate attempt to cling on to the reins of leadership within his party.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari - Request for Evidence of Alleged Breach of Electoral Law by Opposition Leader
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
You have just claimed that it was a technicality which rescued the Leader of the Opposition from his crime. I quote from the letter from the Electoral Commission:
- I have examined the newspaper article attached to your letter dated 24 November 2010 and am unable to identify any information or other material that could possibly be regarded as being prima facie evidence that any breach of section 326 of the Electoral Act occurred … I have also examined the two videos published on YouTube by Young Labor NT ...
What evidence did you have? Will you table all the evidence you have? Or is it the case that when Young Labor makes a criminal allegation against a person, you refer it to investigation because you are a bully and a thug?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I ask you to withdraw that last part of the question, please.
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw ‘bully’ and ‘thug’, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! This question, like the last one, is out of order. I remind you, honourable members, to look at the section relating to questions seeking information, particularly the section which relates to what questions should not contain. A number of the questions we have heard today have had all of these things in them: arguments; inferences; imputations; epithets; ironical expressions and hypothetical matter; and asking for expressions of an opinion as well as policy matters. Bear that in mind in asking questions in the future.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the CLP would have everyone believe that it was me who created these allegations. Well, that is not true. They would also try to mislead Territorians by having them believe it was just Young Labor.
Let us step back through where this has come from. First of all, we had the article in the Alice Springs News, which was a CLP source article, that made the original allegation. What I did, as Attorney-General, because this is a very serious allegation about a potential breach of the Electoral Commission, trying to induce a candidate not to run; the bribery allegation was very serious, and I made it clear last week that we would follow a process, and we have. We have written to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Purely coincidentally, with the government writing to the Australian Electoral Commission, on ABC television - it was news to me - Steve Brown, a former member of that management committee in the CLP who attended that infamous meeting on 14 to 15 August also said: ‘He knows what was said. Terry Mills has to come clean’. So now we have two CLP sources, one unnamed and one named.
Also, again unsolicited from me, I received an e-mail from a CLP source clearly stating there was a tape recording of the meeting, a transcript of the meeting, that Terry Mills did indeed try to induce the candidate not to run in Lingiari. I read that onto the Parliamentary Record. Now the CLP is hunting down who that source is, bullying and intimidating, to send a message to CLP sources, who were clearly unhappy with the leadership of the member for Blain, clearly disgusted that he tried to induce a candidate not to run.
That allegation is out there and it has not been directly responded to by the Leader of the Opposition. Tony Abbott came straight out and denied the allegation. Terry Mills hid from the media for six days. That does not happen in Australian political history; that is extraordinary. You hid for six days, and you still did not give a straight answer. You still have not given a straight answer. Come clean: did you offer Leo Abbott a job to not run in Lingiari? It is a pretty simple question. Come clean with the answer.
Elizabeth Valley - Rezoning of Land
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
You wrote to Earl James & Associates on 29 June deciding to not amend the NT Planning Scheme for 1845 Stuart Highway, Noonamah. On 1 November, your department wrote to a Mr Beissel, an Elizabeth Valley resident, saying you had refused to amend the planning scheme for the proposed land at Noonamah. Your department then wrote to Mr Beissel another 10 days later, saying the minister had not refused the application. Could you say what is the difference between ‘deciding not to’ and ‘refusing’? Could you please enlighten the residents in the Elizabeth Valley area whether you are coming or going in relation to this rezoning application?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As the member is aware, I have determined not to amend the NT Planning Scheme to provide one-acre lots at this stage. Public information was provided to people who lodged a submission into the application. That information was provided in the letter mentioned, which I have a copy of and will table for the information of members.
The member alluded to an administrative error. There was an administrative error and we moved to correct it. We recontacted those people concerned with a letter and also phone calls.
There is a level of community concern about the rezoning application. I met with a number of developers of that area who have extensive private holdings there. I have shared with those developers the new thinking around creating communities and the new thinking around creating amenity. I have had very detailed discussions with the Litchfield Shire Council as well, and we share in, not only opportunities, but also the responsibility for good planning. Good planning relates to social amenity and the development of communities.
I note the member’s comment about the good people of Elizabeth River. I believe there is a compelling planning argument to consider the rezoning in relation to the concept, and I believe it needs more discussion. It needs the master planning concept at the table, because this is a good way forward for land use in the Top End and also throughout the Territory.
I apologise for the administrative error and make note in this House that we cleared up that error. Make note also that I am very keen to continue to discuss these incredible planning opportunities with the private sector and the constituents of that area regarding the master plan concept for the creation of communities of social amenity. I also make mention of working with the Litchfield Shire Council. I thank the member for his question.
_______________________
Distinguished Visitor
Hon Syd Stirling
Distinguished Visitor
Hon Syd Stirling
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of former Deputy Chief Minister and member for Nhulunbuy, the Honourable Syd Stirling, together with Kim Hill the CEO of the Northern Land Council. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome. I wonder, Syd, if it is bringing back memories for you?
Members: Hear, hear!
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Building the Education Revolution – Jobs Growth
Building the Education Revolution – Jobs Growth
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
The Henderson government is rolling out the biggest ever spend in infrastructure in the Territory’s history, including the Building the Education Revolution. Can you please update the House on how this infrastructure investment is supporting jobs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. The Henderson government’s record $1.8bn infrastructure investment is currently rolling out across the Territory. This follows a record investment in 2009 to protect jobs against the tide of the global financial crisis. This included the Australian government’s stimulus program and Building the Education Revolution that delivered upgrades to every school.
Members opposite are on the public record as being against the Building the Education Revolution, against upgrading schools, even in their own electorates. The shadow Treasurer should understand the importance of the construction sector to our economy and the value of legacy infrastructure to school improvements across the Territory. Last week in this House, he stated:
- The BER is the rorted spendathon where our tax dollars have been pumped into school halls and pumped into science buildings that, in some cases, were neither wanted or needed.
Shame on the opposition. There is not one school community in the Territory that did not welcome the investment in their school, and the construction sector has welcomed the investment as well. Graham Kemp of the Master Builders Association of the Northern Territory has consistently supported the BER stimulus program and the jobs it has created. He stated:
- We have been able to hold the construction industry intact in the Northern Territory to be ready for the bigger projects when they come on.
I am quoting from Channel 9 News on 25 August this year.
The Masters Builders and the Chamber of Commerce have both welcomed and praised this government’s consecutive record infrastructure spends to support jobs. Recent economic data shows this investment helped create 5000 new jobs last year and protected our economy against contraction. We went out strongly and swiftly to protect and create jobs, compared to the CLP which wanted to slash jobs at the height of the global financial crisis. They have no creditability.
________________________
Distinguished Visitor
Mr Rick Setter
Distinguished Visitor
Mr Rick Setter
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the former member for Jingili, Mr Rick Setter. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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CLP Candidate for Lingiari - Criminal Allegations Against Opposition Leader by Minister for Justice and Attorney-General
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
You have been publicly humiliated by the Australian Electoral Commission because they did not choose to engage in your tawdry little campaign. This letter contains at least four reasons as to why no evidence exists of any criminality, including the YouTube video from Young Labor NT. As the first law officer of the Northern Territory, did you bother at any time to seek any legal advice before you started making criminal allegations against the Leader of the Opposition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I point out again, because they have form - and the form is shoot the messenger. What I did, as Attorney-General, was quite reasonably respond to allegations already in the public domain in the Alice Springs News that …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is very succinct and precise: did she seek any legal advice before she alleged criminality?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, it is not a point of order. Resume your seat.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. What I clearly said last week was that we were responding to very serious allegations in the Alice Springs News that the Leader of the Opposition tried to induce a candidate not to run in the seat of Lingiari. Further, I received an e-mail ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is very concise, and Standing Order 113 demands a very precise answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there was also a preamble. The minister appears to be answering the question. Minister, if you can come to the point.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you. Further, quite unsolicited, we received an e-mail that goes to the matter in question saying there is a transcript. The person who has it is tossing up whether to release it. In this e-mail, that person said - and they have desperately tried to paint it that it was me typing to myself. How ridiculous and bizarre that was! Anyway, desperate actions from desperate men. The e-mail says:
- When you made your desperate, sleazy and unconscionable offer to Abbott, how many members of the management committee were present …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Attorney-General was asked if she sought any legal advice as to her allegation of criminality.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Come to the point, Attorney-General.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members, the Attorney-General has the call, no one else.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I appreciate that, because they keep interjecting because they do not want to hear it.
We are not hiding. The Leader of the Opposition is in hiding, but we are quite openly out there saying these allegations are serious and ought to be considered. I refer you to the letter that I tabled last week where we were raising allegations in the media, the ABC young lady, YouTube, was simply and purely …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: They do not want to hear this. … was simply and purely the ABC television news bulletin, where Steve Brown came out and said: ‘I was at that meeting. I know what was said and Terry Mills needs to come clean’. So the allegations are still out there because the Leader of the Opposition is still hiding, he is still refusing to say …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … did he offer Leo Abbott a job to step down from his candidacy in the seat of Lingiari?
International Investment Attraction Strategy
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Can you please advise the House on the government’s latest success in the international investment attraction?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. My advice for her is she needs a hot drink and probably some lozenges for her throat.
Our government is committed to generate jobs and wealth for Territorians. The mining industry is the largest industry in the Territory, generating 26% of our gross state product, and employing 4000 people. In 2007, we made a decision to commence a targeted mineral resources investment strategy. We targeted China and Japan. We invested $14.4m, and we have received back $140m investment from China and $40m investment from Japan.
Last financial year, mineral exploration expenditure in the Territory was a record $149.9m, up 2% from the previous year. We have overtaken New South Wales, expenditure there was $130m; and we are just behind South Australia. I remind honourable members that, two years ago, expenditure in South Australia was three times that of the Territory. We are the envy of other states and territories. We have had requests from other states to partner with us to go to China to promote their own investment attraction strategy of their own mining industry.
We have a vision for mining for the future. Where is the CLP vision for investment attraction? We have not seen any, we have not heard any. On the other hand, I remember very well the member for Araluen, when I was in China, was in the media saying I was jet-setting in China. Well, I have news for you, member for Araluen: I was not jet-setting in China. I thank the member for Goyder and the member for Fong Lim for their support. They can see what we are really doing for the mining industry. We are not jet-setting. We are opening the roads for the Territory mining industry.
On 8 November, I presented a seminar to the Japanese investors. That seminar was under the auspices of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and JOGMEC. More than 80 people attended this seminar. Originally, I went for a nine-day trip to China to promote the Territory. I launched the Northern Territory Minerals Investment Guide for the China market and the Northern Territory investor seminar in Beijing. I met with the China Mining Congress; the Chinese Central Government Vice-Minister of Lands and Resources; the Minister of Commerce; and, the China Development and Resources Commission. We signed a memorandum of understanding with East China Mineral Exploration and Development Bureau. I was very impressed when the Vice-Minister in China asked permission to publish our document in the official ministry website. This document was generated by us, with a preface by the Ambassador of China to Australia and one from the Commercial Council. This includes instructions and guides for any company on how to invest in the Territory.
Madam Speaker, we have plans for investment, we have plans for the mining industry. I have not seen anything yet from the CLP.
Mataranka Station – Animal Welfare
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In her report on Mataranka Station, the Ombudsman highlighted the confusion between responsibility of the department of primary industry inspectors and the Animal Welfare Branch. What is your department doing about clarifying these issues to avoid future traumatic events?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Let me state at the outset, the issues relating to animal welfare that are raised in the Ombudsman’s report are very serious and are being treated that way.
The Ombudsman’s report has highlighted a number of high priority actions that must be taken, and those actions are being taken to address the deficiencies that have been identified
First, a special investigator has been engaged to review all evidence in that case which could support animal cruelty charges being pursued within the statutory timelines. Second, the Ombudsman’s report identified serious deficiencies in the lack of clarity and the understanding of all staff with regard to roles, legal responsibilities, and evidence gathering in animal welfare cases.
The requirement for effective working relationships between these two agencies was one of the major findings of the Ombudsman’s report. I advise the Assembly that the CEOs of the respective departments entered into a memorandum of understanding on 5 August to address this matter.
The MOU clearly states that the Animal Welfare Branch in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Regional Services is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. The MOU makes it explicit that this includes matters of livestock welfare. All animal welfare complaints, including those involving livestock, must be referred directly to the Animal Welfare Branch. The MOU states that the Animal Welfare Branch is the lead agency for the prosecution process. It also states that the Animal Welfare Branch will appoint animal welfare inspectors and officers from the Department of Resources following a recommendation from the Chief Veterinary Officer, and most importantly, after the completion of training provided by the Animal Welfare Branch.
I recently met with the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and requested that all members of that committee consider the Ombudsman’s report and provide their recommendations as representatives of their respective industry, and professional groups, as well as the committee as a whole.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari - Demand for Apology to Opposition Leader from Minister for Justice and Attorney-General
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
We have now established that you sought no legal advice before you engaged in what was considered to be a serious criminal allegation by the Australian Electoral Commission. You have referred to your letter of 24 November, in which you allege that, on 17 November 2010, there was an article in the Centralian Advocate. There was no Centralian Advocate published on that date …
Ms Lawrie: It was the Alice Springs News …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr ELFERINK: That is not what is says in the letter. The question to the Attorney-General is simply this: will you apologise, because you cannot even run a smear campaign properly? Apologise to the Leader of the Opposition.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I confess, there was an error in the original letter which says Centralian Advocate, not Alice Springs News. In subsequent correspondence to the Australian Electoral Commission, I made sure it was the Alice Springs News. Here is the Alice Springs News article which we are all referring to. The allegation is out there, and I quote:
- The offer is alleged to have been made by NT Opposition Leader Terry Mills …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Will she apologise or not? That is the question.
Madam SPEAKER: There was a fair preamble, member for Port Darwin. Attorney-General, if you could come to the point, please.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you. Madam Speaker.
- The offer is alleged to have been by NT Opposition Leader Terry Mills and his Federal counterpart, Tony Abbott (no relation to the candidate). Tony Abbott’s office said the story ‘is totally incorrect’.
We still do not have a clear denial from the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Will she apologise or not?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, will you come to the point please?
Ms LAWRIE: I am getting there. I confess and apologise for printing Centralian Advocate instead of Alice Springs News. Mr Erwin Chlanda broke the story, which then led …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Will she apologise to the Leader of the Opposition for a tawdry smear campaign?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! I am getting ready to stand up.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank you for your perseverance despite the interjections from members opposite.
The story was first broken by the Alice Springs News, not The Centralian Advocate, and yes, of course I sought some informal legal advice based on this article in my role as Attorney-General; and should I refer the matter to the Australian Electoral Commission. Then we saw Steve Brown on ABC television indicating he was at the meeting, he knew what was said, and he called on Terry Mills to come clean. Terry Mills still has not come clean. Also, the government received an e-mail from a senior CLP source who describes it is something like, quote: ‘When you made your desperate, sleazy and unconscionable offer to Abbott, how many members of the management committee were present?’
Mr Mills: Who wrote that? Who wrote that?
Ms LAWRIE: No, I did not write it, Terry.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Attorney-General, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
Mr Mills: That is anonymous.
Ms Lawrie: This came from the CLP.
Mr Elferink: We don’t know that.
Mr Henderson: We absolutely do know.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Members, whilst it is fascinating, I am sure, for people listening, or trying to listen, I will 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.
Elizabeth River - New Science for Testing Water Quality
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Last sittings, you tabled a scathing report on the impacts of the Elizabeth River dam prepared by the CLP when in government. On the 10th anniversary of the launch of the public campaign that forced the CLP to back down, are you aware of any new science on the Elizabeth River?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine! Member for Greatorex! Opposition members! Minister, you have the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. They are so rude on that side. We know they are not really interested in the environment.
Mr Bohlin: I just look forward to the minister’s …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: As I gaze over the other side, all I can see is nothing more than a thin green coat of paint, which is already wearing out.
The Henderson Labor government is committed to protecting our beautiful Darwin harbour. It is really a fantastic place.
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, minister. Who has their mobile phone in here? It came from over here. It sounded like the Leader of the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition, if you could turn it off? Thank you. Minister, you have the call. I will give you an extra 15 seconds at the end.
Mr HAMPTON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It might be the Alice Springs News trying to ring him.
Recently, my department completed a major scientific exercise examining how the water quality varies along the length of the Elizabeth River estuary as floodwaters move through there during storms. It is common for monitoring programs to measure water quality, either in the freshwater sections of the river or the marine sections of the estuary, but rarely is it possible to measure the intersections of fresh and salty water within a flood plain and its extent.
The technical report I have received detailing this new science has now been produced and it will greatly assist in the preparation …
Mr Chandler: Your own Weddell forum came up with a dam concept.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, you do not have the call. You will cease interjecting.
Mr HAMPTON: The technical report I have received detailing this new science has now been produced.
Mr Tollner: Just table your speech, Karl. Save some time.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, you do not have the call!
Mr HAMPTON: The technical report I have received detailing this new science has now been produced and it will greatly assist this government in preparation of water quality protection plans and improving monitoring programs. As the member for Nhulunbuy stated, at the last sittings I detailed some information about the CLP’s plan. I am happy to provide the Assembly and people in the galleries with some more information on the CLP’s plan to dam the Elizabeth River. It is a map from their comprehensive plan. They have six dams there. Under this Leader of the Opposition they will dam the Elizabeth River and as we see from this map, there are another six dams that they propose as well as the Elizabeth River. We know they are climate sceptics, we know they are environmental …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
CLP Candidate for Lingiari - Allegations in E-mail Supplied to Australian Electoral Commission
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
As part of the Attorney-General’s smear campaign against the Leader of the Opposition, she tabled an e-mail in this parliament with the name of the author and recipient blacked out. Did you provide an unedited and unadulterated copy of that e-mail to the Australian Electrical Commission and, if you did not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I just love it when the CLP try to dig a bigger and deeper hole for themselves. They are trying to turn this into a witch-hunt on the whistleblower who provided the e-mail …
Mr Elferink: You alleged crimes against this man based on it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Mills: It was anonymous.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Keep digging that hole, member for Port Darwin …
Mr Elferink: You alleged a crime against this man …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: … because it certainly …
Mr Elferink: … which was impossible for him to commit.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin! Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, the opposition is simply trying to find out who sent the e-mail to the government; the e-mail that exposed, for the first time - it was certainly new news to us, it became new news to the media outlets - that there was a tape of what Mills said regarding Abbott, but …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: My goodness, Madam Speaker, they are tempting me.
Mr Elferink: It proves nothing, that is the point. Have you not read this advice?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: The question is about the e-mail, and I will go to the e-mail. The e-mail says there was a tape …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Ms LAWRIE: It is your Question Time and you are asking questions about your leader.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: You could be asking us about the environment.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: You could be asking us about law and law and order.
Mr Bohlin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. I require a succinct answer to a succinct question. Did you provide an unadulterated e-mail to the Electoral Commission?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Minister, can you come to the point, please?
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely. I will do it within my three minutes, Madam Speaker. They are trying to expose the source of the e-mail. Because this is a whistleblower, blowing the whistle on Terry Mills, they are using bullying and intimidatory tactics to try to find out the author of the e-mail.
I will protect the person. I will protect the source of the e-mail because, clearly, it shows to me how vindictive and bullying the CLP can be. I will protect. I have said on the Parliamentary Record today that it was a CLP source. I have said that. I will protect that CLP source. They are trying to turn on a whistleblower. How hypocritical can the CLP be? The Leader of the Opposition can stop this debate right now by simply putting on the Parliamentary Record that he did not offer a job to Leo Abbott.
Madam SPEAKER: Attorney-General, your time has expired.
Mr Elferink: You have not answered one question, you grubs!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, I would ask you to …
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw ‘grubs’, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Port Darwin.
Territory Wildlife Park – State of Disrepair
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
I noticed a couple of things when I visited the Territory Wildlife Park recently, besides the lack of a sea eagle. Perhaps the lack of a sea eagle was symptomatic of a bigger issue. The entry fee has gone up considerably for adults and families; the entry for school children has doubled; there are no exotic animals such as buffaloes or Timor ponies in the park any more; and some of the small buildings are literally being eaten away by termites.
It appears someone has made a policy decision to allow this to happen. Did you approve these decisions? Are the high entry fees and the removal of exotic animals designed to reduce the number of visitors, as is happening now, so that the government will consider either closing the park or selling it? Have these changes come about because of pressure from private operators who see the park as competition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his very good question. This government remains committed to providing a fantastic facility for families and visitors alike to the Territory Wildlife Park. We will not be closing it. That is not the intention if that is what the member for Nelson is getting at.
I can inform that there is a review of the Territory Wildlife Park currently under way, and that is the smart thing to do. As we know, many changes are going on in regard to what the park has offered in the past. As Minister for Parks and Wildlife, I am particularly keen to see what the review comes up with once it is completed at the end of the financial year. I am happy to give you a further briefing on that.
Regarding your claims, I am certainly not the one making those claims, member for Nelson. As I said, there is a review currently under way, which I am sure will cover some of the aspects you have raised in the House today. I am more than happy to talk to you about that later on down the track. The review will be completed by the end of the financial year. I am happy to talk to you further about some of those issues you have raised.
Tourism NT - 3D Tourism Campaign
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for TOURISM
Can you please provide an update to the House on recent tourism initiatives to get travellers to the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay …
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: See, the members opposite just do not want to hear good news, do they? Let me bring this House into the 21st century. Let me bring the grumpy old men from across the way into the 21st century. We have a fantastic, innovative, very bold vision for the Northern Territory.
Last Friday, I was pleased to launch the magnificent views of the Northern Territory using 3D. For the grumpy old men opposite, you have to use these glasses. I welcome each member of the House to go into the hall, put on one of these and see the fantastic way we are selling the Northern Territory across Australia. It is the first time in the history of Australia, in terms of advertisements, that we are filming and producing 3D advertisements …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am curious to know if when we are watching these commercials we will be able to make sense of them without the rose-coloured glasses.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. That is not a point of order.
Ms McCARTHY: You do need some help. In fact, I heard the member for Fong Lim was the first one in the hall with these glasses on. Well done, Dave.
I thank Carmel Nola and Monika Tonkin, who are out there at the moment. I urge members to have a look. We are spending $360 000 on this very innovative and creative campaign which will be in over 1000 cinemas across Australia, over six weeks at a time when we know families are going to the movies, and we want them to see the Northern Territory. We are targeting our young market with adventure tourism.
I congratulate and thank the Director of Photography who worked with this, Jules O’Loughlin, and John Turner, who were both involved with the filming of Avatar. I congratulate Tourism NT for this very incredible, bold step forward.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Move Proposed Motion of Censure
Move Proposed Motion of Censure
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): My question is to the Attorney-General. We are sick of your fabrications and the lies you peddle in this House …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, I ask you to withdraw.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, I withdraw. I move – That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this House from censuring the government in its entirety for its dishonest attack on the Leader of the Opposition, using unfounded allegations of crime, and recklessly peddling third-party slander to that end.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, do you accept the censure?
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, we will be accepting the censure. I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Madam SPEAKER: That is the end of Question Time.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016