2010-10-26
Child Protection Inquiry – Country Liberals’ Proposed Legislation
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The opposition has moved decisively to develop legislation to increase the powers of the Children’s Commissioner as recommended by the Growing them strong, together report. Our legislation ticks off on each element of Recommendation 13.1 of the report. Given the absolute urgency of fixing the Territory’s child protection system, a system in crisis, will you support our bill to create a child protection watchdog with real teeth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Opposition Leader for his question. The report handed to government last week foreshadows a raft of legislative amendments the government has committed to. It is not about picking up individual legislation in isolation of the whole report. The government commits to amending legislation as recommended in this report. We will be doing that in light of the urgency the report requires; also, not in isolation of other legislative changes we will make. We commit to amending legislation as has been recommended in the report.
Child Protection Inquiry – Action Taken to Date
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on what action the government has taken since receiving the Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Child Protection System in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Last week, I said we will act; and we have acted. We have allocated an additional $130m over the next five years to improve services. We have already funded a Child and Family Development Advisor to work with NTCOSS and commence work to expand the role of NGOs in child protection.
My colleague, the minister for Families, and his agency have been working in the United Kingdom and Canada to recruit additional child protection workers. I can advise 21 new child protection workers selected for P1 and P2 team leader and management positions have been offered positions and will arrive in the Territory over the next few weeks.
The department has already met with AMSANT to progress the establishment of an Indigenous peak body. The first meeting of the CEOs’ child protection task force was held on 19 October.
A senior officer from DEEWR has commenced to lead the workforce strategy for six months, and a new data manager commenced her employment to review systems and processes regarding the backlog. Also, approval was granted last week to commence negotiations with an NGO to be contracted to provide emergency accommodation and intensive support for children in out-of-home care as part of the outsourcing we have committed to. We have acted immediately. More frontline workers are on the way, and we have already engaged with the non-government sector. However, it is more than just child protection workers, it is about changing the conditions that lead to neglect.
When we look at education, there are two generations of Indigenous people in the bush with no secondary education as a direct result of CLP policies not to have secondary education in the bush ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: A direct policy decision not to have secondary education in the bush. Since 2003, 152 students have achieved Year 12, with 25 completing last year, and 42 completing this year, turning around the neglect of many years. ABS figures show over 1000 new jobs for Indigenous people were created in 2009. A job is the best way out of welfare.
It was great to be at the Northern Land Council awards the other night to see Territory Alliance of SIHIP gain an award, for the Best Project of the Year. A total of 645 houses have been refurbished or rebuilt with 105 under way; and 82 new houses completed with 101 under way across the Northern Territory. More houses are being built this year than were ever built under the 27 years of CLP government.
Child Protection Inquiry – Country Liberals’ Proposed Legislation
Mrs LAMBLEY to MINISTER for HEALTH
On Tuesday last week, the Chief Minister said in parliament he was establishing a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the Growing them strong, together inquiry’s recommendations and he would be making an announcement the next day. There was no announcement. Report after report into child protection has been left to gather dust during this last decade. The Growing them strong, together inquiry recommends the Children’s Commissioner be given real teeth to protect children. Given our bill does exactly that, will you support it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is really encouraging to see the CLP, after so many years of neglect of children’s services, come out with newfound feeling about children …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Where do I start? There was up to $7m only allocated for child protection in 2001. They never ever looked after any child outside the urban centres. Where do I start? There was nothing about Indigenous kids. There was only a small number of kids looked after by the CLP government.
This government went from $7m to $135m a year, and we have committed a further $130m over the next five years. The number of workers in children’s services has gone from 140 to 599. This is the commitment of our government. We introduced mandatory legislation; the CLP never did. We put people in the bush; the CLP never did.
Within hours of presenting this report to the government, the government moved immediately and made a series of announcements. The Chief Minister said, and I recall very well, because …
Mr Giles: You did not protect children. You made some announcements of political fixes, is all you did.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Giles: You did bugger all.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I recall very well what the Chief Minister said at that stage. He said: ‘I hope tomorrow I will make an announcement’. The reality is, we want to pick up the best person in Australia to lead that committee, with representatives from the community who will support this committee. This committee will happen. We will be making an announcement of who is heading the committee.
Access Economics Business Outlook – Implications for Territory
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please advise the House on the Access Economics Business Outlook which was released this morning and what it means for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It was a very positive outlook from Access Economics. For us, as a government, it is all about jobs, because jobs allow people to lead productive lives – 1000 new Indigenous jobs in the Territory last year alone. Since 2001, our government has created over 25 000 new jobs. Our workforce has grown by nearly a third, by 28%. That is 25 000 new sources of income for families across the Northern Territory.
It did not happen by accident. Fortunately, Access Economics predicts our employment growth is to continue at the highest rate in the country over the next five years, at an average of 2.4% compared to 1.7% nationally. This means Access Economics is projecting an additional 4155 new jobs each and every year over the next five years. If you want a job, come to the Northern Territory ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Our commitment to boosting Indigenous employment is resolute and steadfast. Access Economics predicts our economic growth will remain strong, at an average of 3.6% over the next five years.
The report points to the importance of public sector spending; the strong public sector construction work to keep our economy going gangbusters - $1.8bn on infrastructure this year to support jobs, small business, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and suppliers right across the Northern Territory.
Access Economics also pointed to our accelerated land release program, and that housing approvals in the Territory are now …
Mr Westra van Holthe: It is not hard to accelerate past zero.
Mr HENDERSON: Housing approvals in the Territory are at their highest in a decade.
This is a good report. It points to the government’s strong role in infrastructure spending to support jobs through the global financial crisis. We certainly did come through an extraordinarily turbulent position pretty unscathed, with the support of our government and record infrastructure spending.
What we do know from the CLP is their commitment is to reduce spending. We would not have seen the Commonwealth BER spending in the Northern Territory. I see schools everywhere I go in the Northern Territory, with people building new classrooms, new libraries, new school halls, people working, and trainees and apprentices being employed. None of that would have happened under a CLP government which would have refused to act.
Level of Violent Crime in the Territory
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
According to the police annual report, there were 7296 crimes against the person in the Northern Territory in the last reporting period. Compared to 6726 in the previous 12 months, that is an increase of 8.5%. That means there are 18 crimes committed against the person every single day. It means in the time Labor has been in power, more than a quarter of Territorians have been the victims of violent crime. Why should people feel safe when there is this level of violence every single day across the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, dear, oh dear, what a ridiculous question. The reason why …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: You have asked the question, listen to the answer. The reason why we have more crimes reported is because we have more police out there – an additional 400 …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Nearly 400 extra police - 393 - than in 2003. We have 18 Themis police stations in remote communities, with 54 additional police officers who were never in the bush before, encouraging people to come forward with reports of crime. More police out there encouraging people to report crime does lead to an escalation of those figures. I would expect that those figures …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: For an ex-copper he is pretty rude.
Madam Speaker, you would have thought anyone would understand that, if you put a greater law enforcement effort in, you will see a greater increase in reported crime. Obviously, police are not the sole answer.
We know alcohol-related offences are the most significant contributor to crime in the Northern Territory. The CLP does not have a crime reduction policy. What the CLP has is a drink until you drop policy which will lead to more crime. They actually have a policy that would lead to more crime, encouraging people to drink until they drop. Encouraging and allowing bottle shops to open for longer trading hours would see more alcohol consumed in the Northern Territory, more crime in the Northern Territory ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was asked a very succinct question, without a lengthy preamble. He is now debating the answer. I ask you to direct him to the answer or resume his seat.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, thank you, member for Greatorex. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Any serious debate about reducing crime levels in the Territory has to include reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related crime. You need real political courage to tackle this issue, something the Leader of the Opposition and the CLP are running away from at 100 miles an hour ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The answer to …
Ms Lawrie: Trying to gag. There are only seconds left, trying to gag.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ELFERINK: The answer is to be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. I ask that he keeps his comments relevant to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: There was a very long preamble to this question. Chief Minister, you have the call, but can you come to the point, please.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Any debate about crime has to include alcohol. The CLP does not have a crime reduction policy. They have a drink until you drop policy which would lead to more crime.
Supplementary Question
Level of Violent Crime in the Territory
Level of Violent Crime in the Territory
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Given that is the Chief Minister’s strong view, I challenge the Chief Minister to accept my challenge to a public debate in a place of your choosing to run the lines you have just run in public.
Madam SPEAKER: That was not actually a supplementary question, Leader of the Opposition. However, I will, on this occasion, leave it, but it is not a supplementary question.
Mr Mills: See if it passes the pub test. Well, he can answer it if he likes - political courage and all that.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to have a debate with the Leader of the Opposition, as we do on a regular basis. It is very clear what the opposition policy is: they oppose banning problem drinkers.
Mr Mills: Will you accept my challenge to a public debate?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They oppose banning problem drinkers. They want problem drinkers to continue drinking until they drop. That is the policy position of the CLP …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I direct …
Mr HENDERSON: … and I am happy to debate it anytime, any place.
Mr Mills: Gotcha! Try Wanguri for starters.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Honourable members, cease interjecting!
Darwin Correctional Centre – Change to Visiting Hours
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Last week in Question Time, I asked why your government intends to change the visiting hours for the Darwin prison, and your answer was to bring it in line with Alice Springs Correctional Centre. Yesterday, your Executive Director of Correctional Services gave an interview on ABC radio during which he explained the real reasons for the proposed changes. Why did you leave it up to your Executive Director to explain the reasons behind the decision on the radio yesterday, instead of explaining it fully in parliament last Wednesday?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and for outlining to the House how important it is to work with the department, and our senior members of the department, including the Executive Director.
My answer in parliament last week was exactly that; it is a departmental recommendation. We did discuss that recommendation. It has very important reasons and important ramifications for targeting education, training and rehabilitation.
When I came into this portfolio, I made it very clear I wanted resources to target education, training and rehabilitation; that every resource we have available, and those we shall seek, will be directed to normalising an outcome. Normalising is the concept we need to embrace in reducing the recidivism rate, which is unacceptable in the Northern Territory - 47%, compared to 39% nationally. That is our target; we will reduce this.
I read the transcript of the Executive Director of Corrections’ interview in Alice Springs yesterday. He did a great job in outlining the department’s recommendations which came to me. In agreeance, we said we will target resources for education, training and rehabilitation at every possible opportunity.
While I am talking about the Executive Director of Corrections, Mr Ken Middlebrook; the Independent member for Fong Lim made a very cutting comment about the executive director of the department being ‘a blow-in from New South Wales’. He has 35 years experience in one of the biggest correctional service institutions in this country, and has brought a wealth of experience to the Northern Territory. I, along with the member for Nelson, have been working closely with him, not only with that intellectual capital, but also the aspirations and the ambitions to make a difference.
It was totally inappropriate to make a comment like that on radio. The member for Fong Lim may owe an apology to Mr Ken Middlebrook, an esteemed and valued member of the Northern Territory Correctional Services department.
Financial Outcomes for 2009-10
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Today you tabled the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report for the 2009-10 financial year, which shows this government has recorded its eighth consecutive budget surplus. Can you outline to the House the outcomes for last financial year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I am somewhat surprised we have not had a question from the shadow Treasurer, because today is very much a day of strong economic news for the Northern Territory. Without those economic drivers, you do not have the resources to attend to all the challenges we have been debating in this Chamber today. The reason you need strong economic drivers in the Territory is to meet our social challenges, which this government is stepping up to.
Good news in today’s Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report; it shows a record cash surplus of $66m for the 2009-10 financial year. It is our eighth consecutive cash surplus. It represents a $203m turnaround from the May 2010 final estimate contained in my budget papers. The majority of that is due to the timing of Commonwealth payments, some $150m, largely to do with Tiger Brennan Drive and the Alice Springs Transformation Plan – talk about a social project.
There was a strong underlying budget improvement of $53m for the 2009-10 financial year. The financial statements also show this Labor government continues to drive down debt, with the nett debt to revenue ratio down to 15%, compared to the 61% we inherited from the CLP. Our strong economic management has contributed to this turnaround. We have tightened our belts within government, and have limited expenditure growth to just 3% in that financial year. Compare that to the average of 12% in previous financial years.
The $66m surplus is a significant improvement. However, we will continue with restraint measures across the forward years; we are not out of the economic recovery woods just yet. This government continues to prop up the economy through our record construction spend, the $1.5bn record spend in the 2009-10 financial year, backed up with a $1.8bn expected spend in this financial year to support the construction industry, the workers, the important jobs ahead of those major projects Access Economics recognise are well and truly on our horizon, both with ConocoPhillips and INPEX.
Central Australia - Increase in Crime
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
Let it be known, the reason we have such a crime wave in the Northern Territory is because there are more police out there ...
Mr Henderson: What is your question?
Mr CONLAN: It is not the criminals, it is the actual police. To all the Territorians in the gallery, or listening to this broadcast; it is the police, not the criminals ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What is the member’s question? Has the radio been left on again?
Mr Conlan: Oh, good one, Bungles. Another Bungle’s classic.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, withdraw that comment, and please ask the question.
Mr CONLAN: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. I will forget about the Bungle’s classic; however, it is certainly another Hendo classic ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: Despite the comments of your Justice minister, Delia Lawrie, on Stateline last month, the latest police report shows an overall increase of 21.2% in crimes against the person in Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Can you explain why your Justice minister’s evaluations are at odds with the annual report, and why crimes against the person have increased by a staggering 20%?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, serious assaults in Alice Springs are down to a factor of greater than 20% since we introduced the alcohol measures; that is an undisputed fact. Any debate on assaults cannot ignore alcohol. We have seen a very significant reduction in consumption of pure alcohol in Alice Springs of around 20%. We have an independent evaluation from the Menzies School of Health Research - not the shock jocks opposite playing to popular opinion. This is proper research from an esteemed body respected internationally that say those restrictions are leading to a reduction in serious assaults, and a reduction in consumption of alcohol.
With the work we are doing with the Commonwealth government, through the Alice Springs Transformation Plan in those town camps, things are turning around.
I go back to the tragedy of the reality of those numbers the CLP persistently ignore - 66% of assaults in Alice Springs were reported as alcohol-related, whilst 56% of those were domestic violence-related. He can trumpet all of the figures he likes …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The question seeks specific information. Why is there a substantial difference between public statements and what is printed in the police report? He has not even mentioned the police annual report yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, there was a very long preamble. In fact, the question went over time. Chief Minister, you have the call, but could you come to the specifics?
Mr HENDERSON: The tragedy of this is 56% of all those assaults are domestic violence-related, and 66% of assaults are alcohol-related. The stark difference between the CLP and our government is we want to tackle alcohol-related crime and problem drinkers, and banning problem drinkers and restricting supply is part of that. All the opposition wants to do is increase supply, have the bottle shops trading for longer, and have a policy of drink until you fall down, and fall down before sundown. That is the opposition policy, which would lead to even more crime.
Uluru – 25th Anniversary of Hand Back to Traditional Owners
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Today is an important day for the Anangu traditional owners. Can you outline what is happening in Uluru today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the hand back of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to the Anangu traditional owners – a truly significant event for this nation. The 1985 hand back was a symbolic moment for Indigenous land rights in Australia and paved the way for the national park to be jointly managed by Anangu and Parks Australia.
Today’s celebrations will highlight the achievements of the past 25 years and, importantly, look forward to a stronger future which will focus on Aboriginal cultural tourism. A range of events is taking place today at Uluru, including the official ceremony with a symbolic hand back of artworks. Other activities include traditional dancing, a special photographic exhibition of the history of the hand back, spear throwing, and community and local business stalls. There will be five Indigenous bands, including Shane Howard performing the well-known song - and one of my favourites - Solid Rock.
My colleague, the Minister for Indigenous Development, is at Uluru today representing the Northern Territory government, with Senator Don Farrell, representing the Commonwealth government. Unfortunately, the federal minister for parks, Mr Tony Burke, could not be there, given the lack of support from the federal Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott.
We on this side of the House proudly support the Anangu in today’s celebrations. I congratulate the Anangu on this great achievement of 25 years, and for sharing their culture and spiritual sites of significance with the world. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Indigenous owned Anangu Tours, which celebrated its 15th birthday yesterday.
It is quite obvious, like the federal opposition, the CLP here have boycotted this national event and have shown a lack of commitment towards Indigenous land rights.
Darwin Correctional Centre – Effect of Changing Visiting Hours
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Considering many people in Darwin prison come from remote areas of the Northern Territory, how will the families of those prisoners be affected by changes to visitation hours to weekends only? Has your department done any detailed analysis of the so-called benefits of these changes versus any possible negative effects it may have on families and the reintegration of those prisoners back into society?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and interest in the benefits of education, training and rehabilitation, and the dedicated resources to achieve a reduction in the recidivism rate. When I talk about normalisation - a concept I learnt from a New South Wales expert, Mr Ken Middlebrook, in my very steep learning curve as the minister for Corrections - we are taking a targeted and strategic approach. We are normalising not only the life of a person in custody, a prisoner, and ensuring they understand what it is like to train, work, and live in an ordered, disciplined environment from Monday to Friday, and participate in weekend activities, including weekend visits, we are also putting responsibility on to the family. The family is part of this.
In our new era of Corrections, with our incredible new resource package, our strengthening of the Elders Visiting Program is very much a part of this thinking. When we talk about the Elders Visiting Program, we are talking about a cross-cultural and multilinguistic approach. It is designed as a holistic package to normalise a prisoner’s life, to raise the accountability …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In relation to relevance. I asked whether there had been an analysis of the benefits of these changes versus any possible negative effects on the families. I am not getting that at the present time. I want to know whether there has been an analysis done of the effects of this particular decision.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you come to the point, please?
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, yes, thorough analysis and workings, including working with the member for Nelson on the new era concepts.
Most working prisons in other jurisdictions run a work and program activity system from Monday to Friday, with recreational activities and visits operating Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. We have examined this concept very closely and are determined to make the recidivism rate equal to the national rate, if not better. We will not do this with an ad hoc approach, without the support of families, or without very stringent cultural considerations in raising the bar on accountability, on work, on training, on outcomes, and bringing the communities with us.
If you want to visit your countrymen in prison, you have to book, you have to be organised, you have to make plans ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. Are there any further questions?
Alice Springs – Breakdown of Law and Order
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
In today’s Centralian Advocate, there was a letter from another resident of Alice Springs planning to leave town due to the ongoing problems with law and order and antisocial behaviour. As you have just articulated in this House, it is due to the large amount of police on the street, not the criminals. The Territory cannot afford to continually lose hard-working families, as we do time after time, because of the growing rabble that is making other people’s lives absolute hell. What do you say to these families that are fleeing the Territory because of the breakdown in law and order?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Greatorex continues to talk down the great town of Alice Springs. People are coming to Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Economics 101; the housing availability in Alice Springs. This is why we have a significant land release program happening, but property prices are going up, rents are going up. Why would property prices be going up and rents be going up if everyone was leaving town …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Bohlin: Because there is no availability. Where are the land titles on Bellamack?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Property prices and rents are going up because the population is increasing. The population is increasing because people are coming to Alice Springs. Every business I speak to, Alice Springs’ economy is going really well …
Mr Conlan: You are in la la land. Karl talk to him, will you? Pull him aside ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr Conlan: Save him from embarrassing himself.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr Bohlin: He spent what, one day at the Masters.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Mr HENDERSON: The economy in Alice Springs is going really well. Every business person I speak to in Alice Springs is actively trying to recruit people to the town, and the population in Alice Springs is growing.
For those people who decide to leave Alice Springs, well, I am sad to hear that. However, a mass exodus of people out of Alice Springs is not supported by the statistics, by the vacancy rates in the housing market and the rental market, by the fact that property prices keep rising in Alice Springs, and by the fact that the economy is growing in Alice Springs. If the member for Greatorex knew anything about the economy, he would know that the economy is fuelled by consumption.
Many people are saying Alice Springs is a great town. We have put in place City Safe, we have a Police Beat in the mall, we have a youth action plan in place, we have CCTVs in place, and we have the Alice Springs Transformation Plan with the Commonwealth government. These are all initiatives undertaken by this government to make Alice Springs a safer place.
The only policy the CLP has to make Alice Springs a safer place is to increase alcohol trading hours and the consumption of alcohol. The stated policy of the CLP during the by-election campaign was people should drink early and fall down before sundown. That will, ultimately, lead to more crime, not less crime.
Access Economics – Forecast Jobs Growth
Ms WALKER to TREASURER
Access Economics’ report out today forecasts the Territory will record the highest jobs growth in the country over the next five years. Can you outline to the House the Territory government’s record on delivering jobs for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. She represents a very strong, dynamic growth in East Arnhem. Recognising the importance of mining for the Territory, she understands the importance of jobs to families, the aspirations of families in improving and, as the Chief Minister has so appropriately described, getting out of the welfare dependency. Jobs are critical to the growth of the Territory. That is why this Labor government has been absolutely focused on that all-important economic indicator of jobs and the drivers leading to those jobs through education, training and the support programs we put in place for families.
Access Economics has backed the work we are doing with the forecast it has released today. They are forecasting employment growth to average 2.4%, compared to 1.7% nationally. Even Access Economics does not agree with the Henny Penny doom and gloom, whinge and moan of the opposition
The Labor government has a very strong track record of delivering jobs. We have created approximately 27 000 new jobs in the Territory. This represents a 28% boost in job numbers, or 2.8% growth per annum. That is an economy going gangbusters; it is driving forward. The beauty of this is it is not just in the Top End and the growth centres of Darwin and Palmerston, it is in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy. We are also seeing the growth of our growth towns in the regions; it is across the Territory.
In the past year, to September, we have seen nearly 6000 new jobs created. Many of these jobs have been supported by that all-important decision we made, quite deliberately, to support, through capital investment, the infrastructure record spend in the Territory as a result of the global financial crisis and of slowing private investment. No economic indicator can represent the strength of the Territory greater than jobs growth. It is significant. It gives families an opportunity and a better life in the Territory. We have a great place. We have our social challenges, and without supporting jobs, we are not going to climb out of those social challenges. The work we are doing in Alice Springs with the transformation plan is significant.
Alcohol Reform Policy
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
Today you are going to read a statement in this House about your alcohol policy. In the last 10 minutes, I have taken an opportunity to walk across to Bennett Park. I have reported to police six drinkers sitting in the park drinking liquor. I am wondering how you are going to make your alcohol policy work, and what faith Territorians should have in your alcohol policy when you cannot even control the drinkers 50 m from the front door of this building?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Port Darwin. It goes to the heart of the point of the alcohol reforms which will be contained within the statement I will deliver in the House this afternoon.
The point is the problem drinker. The point is the person who has an alcohol dependency. The alcohol bans and the banned drinker register are for those six people who are chronic alcoholics, dependent on alcohol. They are the people who are going in and out of protective custody because they are drinking in the morning, in the middle of the day; they are chronically dependent on alcohol. The statistics bear it out - 54 000 police protective custody incidents a year. The police protective custody bans automatically stop them from purchasing or consuming alcohol. The ID system with the police is the enforcement system.
In stark contrast, the CLP wants to extend trading hours in bottle shops in Alice Springs and pour more grog on to the streets. They say they are not. They get the idea of taking the responsibility down to the individual - which is the banned drinker register - but no enforcement tool; it would just be anything goes.
The alcohol reforms go to the heart of the issue: the people who are destroying themselves, their lives, their health, by drinking to risky behaviour extents. All the evaluation reports show it. That is exactly to the heart of our alcohol reforms.
Darwin Correctional Centre - Structured Workdays and Visiting Hours
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
I believe a structured workday for prisoners as mentioned by your executive director is a great idea and it should apply to all prisoners. In a number of prisons in Western Australia, such as Casuarina, Broome and Bandyup, visitations are permitted at the end of each weekday, as well as on weekends, and those prisoners all have structured workdays. What other management options have you looked at to see whether there could be a structured workday in Darwin prison and still have an arrangement made for visitations at the end of each day?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This does not affect legal representatives, visits from official visitors, or elders visiting. It does not affect female prisoners. The change will allow Corrections to deliver a structured prison day without disruptions. Prisoners will attend industry, education, and rehabilitation programs during the week, just like real life.
We have looked at the statistics around prisoner visits and are working to ensure per-prisoner visiting hours at Darwin are not affected for low security prisoners, remaining at two hours a week. We are also working to minimise the impacts on medium and maximum security prisoners. However, we maintain our focus on structuring the day, on delivering much-needed resources in education, training, and rehabilitation ...
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was: have you looked at other management options which have looked at structured work being available, and the option of visitations at the end of the day? I ask whether they have looked at that as an option.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you come to the point, please.
Mr McCARTHY: We have looked at all sorts of options to reduce recidivism and address an 80% cohort of Indigenous prisoners. We have …
Mr Tollner: Answer the question, Gerry.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr McCARTHY: I am answering the question. Of course, we have. My direction in policy is to focus on structuring a day and delivering education, rehab training and work placements - getting out and working with industry.
Correctional Services has presented a whole raft of different opportunities. They have recommended this as a targeted way to deliver the resources, and what we want to see is reduced recidivism. We are determined. We believe this is a good strategy, among other strategies the member for Nelson would be very well aware of.
Of course, we look at alternatives and take policy direction, and that involves taking risks. However, this is going to be very much a part of our new era in relation to the big picture of a structured day, further accountability, real-world experiences, bringing the community along with us, making repatriation across a whole raft of areas including cultural considerations, to stop this revolving door of recidivist offenders within our system.
NT Economy Performance – Impact on Business
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Recent independent analysis reports the Northern Territory economy is performing strongly. What does this mean for our local, small and medium business sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for the question. The Chief Minister has provided an overview of the latest Access Economics data, and the outlook is bright for Northern Territory businesses. The latest Access Economics report revealed we can expect further growth in the Northern Territory business community, including an increase in business confidence, in jobs, and business opportunities. This government has a strong track record in supporting local businesses to grow.
We learnt today Access Economics data forecast growth in the Northern Territory economy is being driven by commercial construction, public sector investment and housing construction spurred on by accelerated residential land release. This is further evidence …
Mr Bohlin: What about land titles?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: This is further evidence the Northern Territory is a great place to do business. On this side of the House, we are helping businesses grow, and the report card shows it is all good news.
The latest Sensis report records this government has the highest level of business confidence of any government in Australia - proof our on-the-ground support for local businesses is working. The Northern Territory government is the most supported government by the business community because we understand business ...
Mr CHANDLER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The answer to this question is not relevant to what is happening in the real world.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Brennan, resume your seat.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Elferink: Notice he is struggling to read this out. It is difficult for him.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: We are very much interested in business, especially small to medium business in the Territory. The other side of the House is very much against businesses. We have seen that with their opposition to tax cuts for business. We support tax cuts; we are the lowest-taxing jurisdiction for small to medium businesses in the country.
Business confidence is strong for those reasons, not just in Darwin, but across the Territory, and that includes Alice Springs. Regional businesses have even greater confidence - 59% of businesses outside of Darwin are showing confidence in the government. That is almost twice the national average of 37%. Small to medium businesses make up 99% of the Territory’s active trading businesses, and this is vital to our economy.
The latest ABS figures show, in retail consumption, a 3.8% increase in those sales. This is good news for the Northern Territory, for business, and for the economy.
Alice Springs Youth Action Plan – Alleged Failure
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week in this House, your government bragged about the success of the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan. Two days later, police revealed gangs of youth on the streets of Alice Springs involved in a competition to see who could commit the most crimes – true story. Your Alice Springs Youth Action Plan is, clearly, a complete failure despite your pontificating in this House day after day of what a success it is. It should be renamed the Alice Springs inaction plan, or the we support wayward youth on the streets plan, or we support youth terrorising the residents of Alice Springs plan - anything but a youth action plan, because that it is not.
When are you going to take the tough action needed to protect the people of Alice Springs? When are you going to do it? Will you answer the question?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that was not a question; that was a rant. The ranting and ravings from the member for Greatorex offer no solutions; they are just the rantings and ravings of someone who is not interested in public policy or in taking courageous decisions which are the right decisions for Alice Springs. All the member for Greatorex is interested in is amplifying the problems and yelling from the rooftops about what a terrible place Alice Springs is. There are, obviously, significant issues in Alice Springs, but if everyone went around with the attitude of the member for Greatorex, then heaven help us.
As we have said, those young people out on the streets in Alice Springs are there for a variety of reasons. One of the most significant reasons is their home is not a great place to be - and home is not a great place to be for a number of reasons. If those kids are growing up in the town camps, it will be because of significant overcrowding in the houses, something which is being addressed with 80 new houses being built.
Those kids are out on the streets because home ain’t a great place to be because of domestic violence issues or issues around alcohol and substance abuse. Those are the reasons, so you have to have a comprehensive policy framework to tackle those issues such as the government’s alcohol plans we have in place in Alice Springs. As I said, with 66% of assaults, 56% domestic violence-related, those homes ain’t a great place to be, and that is why those kids, in a large part, are on the streets.
Our plans have the endorsement of AMSANT, Menzies School of Health Research, the Police Commissioner, the Lord Mayors, NAAJA, NTCOSS, the Law Society, Amity, FORWAARD, the Liquor Association, AHA, and alcohol lobby groups in Alice Springs. That is a pretty good roll call of people who say the government’s plan is worth trying.
I challenge the member for Greatorex to name any independent NGO evidence-based research to demonstrate that opening trading hours for longer, increasing the sales of alcohol, will do anything to improve the situation in Alice Springs. It is nothing but a lack of political courage and plain, simple political populism.
Access Economics Report – Federal and Territory Government Investment in Territory Economy
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
The construction sector in the Northern Territory is bucking the national trend. Can you detail to the House what the Access Economics report concludes …
A member interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You do not like good news, do you? You just do not like it; you talk it down.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I will repeat that, Madam Speaker, because it is important. Can you detail to the House what the Access Economics report concludes regarding Territory and federal government investment into our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. To start with, I thank the Chief Minister. I was in Alice Springs on Monday where I was talking to a few locals. Apparently, there were about 2500 people out on the weekend in Alice Springs, particularly on Saturday night at a concert. There were a lot of youth hanging out after that concert and, apparently, the R&B …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! For the sake of the House, answers shall be succinct, direct and concise, and directly relevant to the question. He is answering somebody else’s question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you answer the question asked.
Mr McCARTHY: I thank the member for reminding me. Go the Chief Minister, go Major Events, and go Alice Springs because, apparently, it was a cracker of a weekend.
The Territory is in good hands, because of this government, as Access Economics forecast a 4% growth for the Territory economy. We have made a concerted effort to invest heavily in infrastructure projects to keep Territorians in work, to keep Territorian jobs. That represents this year’s $1.8bn record infrastructure budget, a very targeted fiscal strategy from the Treasurer.
The reason I was in Alice Springs yesterday was to open the Construction Forum. I was very impressed with the roll up of locals and contractors who wanted to get involved with the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, and talk about projects and moving the Territory forward in Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Access Economics notes there has been a downturn in private sector investment due to the global financial crisis and the winding-up of major projects, not only in the Territory, but around the country. It went on to state:
- … ordinarily a gap that big in commercial construction would have meant more pain being seen across a range of economic indicators. It hasn’t been that big a problem in the Northern Territory through this cycle because both housing construction, assisted by accelerated land release, and public sector construction work, on both schools and public housing, filled the void left by the sharp shakeout in commercial construction.
And we have plenty more where that came from.
The federal government should also be commended for its investment in the Territory, in jobs relating to the BER in schools infrastructure.
I notice it has gone very quiet on the other side, when we celebrate our BER projects and our investment in infrastructure that has supported Territory jobs, because all MLAs travel their electorates and see the absolutely incredible infrastructure growth in our schools, for our kids, that deliver, for generations to come, not only employment, but improvements in our society.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Construction and Infrastructure has managed a record 997 contracts last financial year ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
Rising Crime Rates
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
In the past three years, four of the 11 opposition members have been victims of crimes, including car theft, house break-ins and assault: the member for Katherine – assaulted; the member for Braitling - his office and car broken into and wrecked; the member for Greatorex has had his car stolen and wrecked; and the member for Sanderson has had his house broken into and trashed twice.
Is it not the case that of 11 people gathered in a room, about five of them would have been victims of crime? Is it not the case crime is out of control in the Northern Territory? Is it not also the case your government has no idea how to curb the astronomically rising crime rates?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, any crime against a person is absolutely not accepted and it is regrettable. I am sure we could do a roll call around our benches, and people have had crimes committed against them. It does not just happen in the Northern Territory, it happens everywhere.
The reality is, this government, since 2001, has seen an additional nearly 400 police in our police force, and significant toughening of legislation that, tragically, has led to a rising prison population which we are trying to deal with through rehabilitation.
Let us look at the facts. Homicide and related offences - that is murder, attempted murder and manslaughter - have dropped 19% since 2001. There has been a 58% drop in house break-ins since 2001. I remember when we came to government in 2001, down any street in Darwin or Palmerston, every third house had been broken into. The CLP had drug houses operating, without any attention, across the Northern Territory …
Mr Mills: We did not!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: A drug house was Foils at Moil, close to Moil Primary School. There has been a 58% drop in property crime since 2001 ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They do not like it, Madam Speaker …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They do not like the facts.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Chief Minister to withdraw that outrageous allegation.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, perhaps you could reword the way you put that.
Mr HENDERSON: Which one?
Madam SPEAKER: In relation to the CLP and drug houses.
Mr HENDERSON: Under the CLP government, drug houses were operating with zero attention. I recall in debate, I was on the other side, and Steve Balch, I believe it was, said there was nothing you could do about it.
There has been a 16% drop in motor vehicle theft and related offences since 2001. Total property offences since 2001 have dropped 30%, which is 9570 fewer property offences than were occurring under the CLP government.
I say again, one crime is one crime too many. Tragically, more crimes are committed as a result of alcohol than anything else. These are the facts and the CLP ignores the facts.
Resource Industry – Contribution to Economic Growth
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Can the minister please update the House on the contribution of the resource industry to economic growth in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. The resource industry is the leading industry in the Territory. It contributes more than 25% of the gross state product and employs more than 4000 people directly, and many more thousands indirectly. The Territory’s exploration industry has undergone an unprecedented boom. The rest of Australia experienced a major slowdown in activity due to the global financial crisis.
In 2009-10, exploration expenditure in the Territory increased by 2%, from $146m to $149m. We exceeded New South Wales at $130m, and we are just below South Australia at $166m. Two years, ago the expenditure in South Australia was three times the expenditure in the Northern Territory. This did not happen by accident. This happened because our government has invested heavily in an investment attraction strategy, Bringing Forward Discovery, $14.4m to attract investment from China and Japan.
Since 2007-08 when we applied this strategy, we have had $150m announced publicly in deals between Northern Territory explorers and Chinese and Japanese investors. Ten agreements have been signed with Chinese companies and four agreements with Japanese companies. There have been 135 invited visits by Chinese and Japanese companies; eight partnerships with China to promote our resource effort to thousands of Chinese companies; 35 exploration licences granted to Chinese companies; and six Chinese companies undertaking an exploration program. Japanese companies have also been joint venturing on greenfields projects. JOGMEC, the resource arm of the Japanese government, is playing a leading role in this area.
The resource sector is the leading sector in the Northern Territory. It provides thousands of jobs and investment prospects for Territorians. For example, at the NLC Employer Award night, Territory Resources received a major award for the Top Project in Training/Workforce Development for the Frances Creek Mine and took out the Overall Employer Award. Most of the people who are training are Indigenous people, and many of those are now training in different mines around the Territory.
Territory Resources has completed 40 shipments of iron ore to China, totalling over three million tons of high-grade lump by the end of 2009. Territory Resources has become one of the leading Territory companies. The Chinese are prepared to sign a contract with Territory Resources because they have a very high reputation for quality and reliability, and they deliver Territory iron ore to China.
Darwin Correctional Centre – Change to Visiting Hours
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
You said in your answer last Wednesday that, in the month of September, there were 795 visitors to the Darwin prison on the weekend and 692 visitors during the week. It is difficult to calculate from your figures actually how many visits there were in the month of September. If it is the case that a prisoner can have two one-hour visits per week, and if there are limitations on how many prisoners can be seen at one time; and now everyone can only visit on the weekend, will that not mean many friends and families will miss out, simply because the prison does not have enough room for the visitors who cannot now visit on weekdays?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question and his interest in Correctional Services. There are a couple of parts to that. The statistics we provided, which the member quoted, worked out to 349 weekend visits and 376 weekday visits over the five-day period in the September analysis. In managing that, the Correctional Services department has nominated a new system which will structure days. We are looking at all aspects, including special consideration by the superintendent for families.
Member for Nelson, I am for structuring the whole environment. This relates to a booking system. It is not a hotel; if you want to visit the Correctional Services institution, you have to book, be coordinated, and be organised. We are also looking at infrastructure to support this. In the main prison, we are looking at a total of 50 prisoners and 200 visits per day, which infrastructure supports. The living skills unit is a separate area: 50 prisoners, 200 visits per day.
There are opportunities to continue with the concept the member is concerned about, of course; however, it will be under stricter conditions. It will be under more managed conditions to provide more resources into targeted education, training, and rehabilitation. We can continue to debate this. It is one of a raft of initiatives which will support Correctional Services and resources in reducing recidivism.
We are not discounting the importance of visiting prisoners; however, we are supporting a more structured environment around it. We are looking at a structured day, Monday to Friday, with opportunities to visit on weekends; recreational pursuits on weekends, with families being encouraged and supported to apply for special consideration. It is a much more structured environment we seek to deliver. The reason for that is to reduce this unacceptable rate of recidivism.
It is a tough task; it is not easy and is full of challenges. I am up for that job. We are moving forward with this, and a whole new era of Corrections package, over a much longer period of time, will deliver for the Territory what we need - a reduction in recidivism.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016