2008-11-25
Palmerston – Violent Crime
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The recent vicious assaults in Palmerston are but the latest reminder of the shocking 83% increase in violent crime since Labor came to office more than seven years ago. In February this year, you told this parliament that the relentless rise of violent assault statistics was ‘… not related at all to an enormous epidemic of random violence that is increasing across the Northern Territory; they are very specifically related to the good work that the police are doing in really focusing on domestic violence …’.
Will you apologise to the victims of the recent gang assaults in Palmerston for your foolish denial of the reality of random violent crime in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Opposition Leader for his question. I have a clear message to those young thugs who perpetrated those acts of violence on the weekend: the police are coming after you and we are coming after your parents as well. Those acts of violence are totally unacceptable. Not only were they vicious, they were absolutely cowardly. If those young thugs think that people are looking up to them, I say again: people are looking at you as absolute cowards. There is no place for this type of behaviour in the Northern Territory. Police are in Palmerston in significant numbers. I praise police. Already six arrests have been made and they are confident of further arrests.
As a result of the legislation we have put through this House, police will be making applications for parental responsibility orders where juveniles are involved. We will be bringing the parents of those thugs to court to account for, not only the behaviour of their kids, but the fact that they were out on the streets at that time of night. Action is being taken and police are confident of further arrests.
We have spoken in this House about the fabrication and falsehood of the statistics that the Leader of the Opposition talks about. We know that, tragically, over half of all assaults in the Northern Territory are domestic violence-related. That is not in any way belittling or downgrading the abhorrent nature of domestic violence. That is why we will be introducing mandatory reporting, for the first time anywhere in Australia, in the House in these sittings.
Some of the events of the weekend, without preempting the police investigations, appear to be related - a hard core group of around a dozen young thugs, not all of them juvenile. For the adults involved, this parliament, this government, has sent a very clear message in terms of legislation: you commit those types of offences, you get caught, you get found guilty in the courts, you will go to gaol. In regard to those young thugs who are under the age of 18, police will be apprehending those thugs and will be after the parents as well.
Henderson Government – First 100 Days –
Achievement of Goals
Achievement of Goals
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
On 17 November, the government was 100 days old. Can you advise the House what focus the government has had during this first 100 days and what it has done for Territorians to achieve its goals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her positive question, as opposed to the opposition which delights in wallowing in negativity.
We have been focused on a major reshaping and reinvigorating of government across the Northern Territory. We have reinvigorated planning processes, policy creation and engagement with Territorians, the like of which has not been seen before across the Northern Territory.
Fortunately, through good design, good management, and good fiscal management, we are experiencing the strongest growing economy in the nation.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: We are planning for the opportunities that are coming in the Northern Territory. The establishment of our Territory 2030 – Fresh Ideas, Real Results …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: … the new committee we have in place, will be the most significant piece of forward planning …
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Under Standing Order 51, the opposition is interrupting. I cannot hear what the Chief Minister is saying. They should extend some courtesy, just as we have with the Leader of the Opposition with his questions, to hear him out.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is true there is a fair amount of interjection. If you could keep interjections short and sharp that is fine but, otherwise, it is not fine. It is particularly not fine …
Mr Conlan: Doesn’t he tell you? Don’t you talk to each other?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are aware that you are not supposed to be speaking when I am speaking?
Mr Conlan: Sorry, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Chief Minister, please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Territory 2030 is the most significant piece of forward planning that has ever been undertaken in the Northern Territory. I met with the committee yesterday, a group of eminent Territorians, absolutely relishing the opportunity to take part in this process. We have established a Territory Growth Planning Unit.
When the opposition vacated government benches in this House, we had a shrinking Northern Territory. We had a shrinking economy with people leaving the Northern Territory in droves and wondering how they were going to pay off the mortgage.
We have the development of a 15-year road strategy; a 10-year infrastructure plan; an industrial land strategy; growth of Darwin and Palmerston; economic modelling; and a Territory-wide housing strategy - all significantly under way at the moment. Importantly, our regions are also growing, as well - growing in population and opportunities. We have planning under way for transport options for remote communities. All my colleagues talk about the challenges of transport through remote communities and the options there. Also, we have planning that aims at boosting the economic development of 20 remote Territory communities. There is significant reform under way right across the Northern Territory.
Of course, in that time, we have delivered INPEX, the most significant underpinning confidence boost to our economy that we could possibly wish for, at a time when the global economy is into meltdown and the Australian economy is revising its growth forecast down to single figures. There is no better time to land this particular project.
We are speeding up land release. Four new suburbs for Palmerston are under way. That is massive growth. We have brought forward $50m for the headworks for those projects. We have introduced a Buildstart scheme, with $14 000 for Territorians and investors to bring forward new housing projects right across the Northern Territory, to get new housing to cope with the growing population. Julalikari is opening up a $36.5m investment in housing in Tennant Creek. It is the biggest investment there for many years.
We have recognised the need for …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate he is talking about the first 100 days, he does not really need 100 days to talk about it. Could I ask the Chief Minister if he is going to talk about the 100 days, to talk about the issue that is most topical to Territorians at the moment; that is, crime in the streets.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, if you talk to businesses, they are all finding it hard to get skills. We have had delegations around Australia and the world trying to encourage people to come to the Northern Territory.
Whilst we are talking about law and order issues, we have passed the Serious Violent Offenders (Presumption Against Bail) Amendment Bill, meaning offenders will serve a time of imprisonment; amending the Bail Act to make presumption against bail where there is a serious violent offence; plus mandatory reporting of domestic violence, is on the table. We have our sleeves rolled up. We are implementing policy across the Northern Territory, we are planning for the future, and all the opposition can do is wallow in negativity.
Palmerston – Violent Crime
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The relentless rise in violent crime under Labor’s rule is in part due to a lack of police on the beat. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Palmerston. As a consequence, young thugs attack people at random, with little or no concern at all about getting caught. Why does it take a series of violent assaults for the people of Palmerston to get an adequate number of police?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. As I said, the assaults on the weekend are unacceptable. They are cowardly. The police have already made six arrests. There are more to come. We are after their parents as well as the people who have committed those offences. There are more police on the beat in the Northern Territory than at any time in the Territory’s history. There are an additional 60 police on the way, including an additional 24 in Palmerston by 12 December.
Our record, in terms of staffing our police force, stands up very well against the absolute neglect of the police force that the CLP oversaw whilst they were in office. You cannot have a police officer on every street corner right across the Northern Territory. Per capita, we have more police officers by a factor of five than any other jurisdiction in Australia. The police did a magnificent job in very quickly arresting and charging six of those offenders over the weekend.
What we have to do, particularly when there are juvenile offenders involved, is to bring the parents to account. That is what we are doing through our parental orders regime. The first application for an order has already gone before the courts and the magistrate has asked for a report on that offender. We will continue to target our legislation to hold parents accountable for the activities of their kids.
What happened in Palmerston on the weekend was unacceptable, it was cowardly. Those offenders will be caught and, if they are under the age of 18, their parents will be brought to account as well.
Government – Election Commitments
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
You have said that fulfilling election commitments will be a top priority of your government. Can you provide information on the progress made in achieving this goal?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. I give an absolute commitment that my government will deliver on the mandate we received at the last Territory election and deliver on our election commitments. We have a strong record since we came to office, and all of those election commitments are factored into our budget in the next financial year and for the remainder of the term.
All our promises were closely costed, they were verified and assessed by Treasury, and they will be implemented. After the election, I announced that I would introduce a progress report to parliament each November and June, showing progress towards the fulfilling of our election commitments. No other parliament in the history of the Northern Territory has done this. This is about being open, transparent and accountable to Territorians on the mandate we were given in August of this year, which was to deliver on our election commitments.
Work is under way on 56 of the election commitments we made and, in addition to that, we have already fulfilled five commitments including the dispersal of an additional $270 000 in grants to multicultural organisations - which has been very well received. We provided $100 000 grant to the Pacific School Games attendees. We provided funding for shade cloth to Millner Primary School. The member for Fong Lim, and also my colleague, the member for Johnston, should be very pleased with that. We have placed an extensive EIS process on further land clearing applications for the Tiwi Islands. I know my colleague, the Deputy Chief Minister, is pleased to see that implemented; and provided funding of $80 000 for a new shed for the Acacia Hills Bush Fires Council.
Recognising that these are tough times we are living in, we are bringing forward our commitment to provide free bus travel for seniors and students, to be available from 1 January next year. For the first time in the Territory’s history, there will be free transport for our seniors and our students.
I made a commitment that we would table progress towards those election commitments. I table the first report here today. We are the most open, transparent and accountable government in the Territory’s history. I table Progress towards the Completion of Our Election Commitments in November 2008.
Palmerston - Additional Police Resources
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In a media release on 14 April 2008, you said that you were delivering for Territorians. I quote: ‘… I will continue to ensure police have the resources they need to tackle crime and help build safer streets …’. Considering the horrific violence of last week in Palmerston, exactly what resources have you provided in the form of additional police in Palmerston, and how have you tackled crime and built safer streets?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I commend our police force and our Police Commissioner for responding quickly to those incidents in Palmerston. The reason that police can deploy significant additional resources at a moment’s notice is because we have a bigger police force.
We have more capacity in our police force to respond in the way the police did to those assaults on the weekend and early last week. Police established a task force with 15 additional police - these are frontline police officers; 10 additional investigators; and two additional intelligence officers, on a specific and targeted task force to identify the perpetrators of those assaults, the people who were hanging around the fringes of those assaults, and bring them to account. The police have the capacity to do that because there are more police able to be deployed.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: We are also delivering an additional 60 police - they ask the question and do not like the answer, so they are rude and interject - to patrol suburbs across the Northern Territory, including an additional 24/7 police patrol in Palmerston.
Importantly, under our safer streets initiative, we have a dedicated Youth Crime Unit. The Commissioner advises me that as a result of police attrition receding quite significantly over the last few months, they may well be able to bring forward that initiative before Christmas.
More police officers gives the police additional capacity to establish task forces to hone in on areas and support Palmerston police. Six arrests have already been made and more are on the way. I have told our police to do everything they can to arrest and charge these people, and show the people of Palmerston that that behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. If you commit those types of offences, you will be caught and you will be punished. If you are an adult, you will be sent to gaol and, if you as a parent are letting your kids behave in such a manner, you will be held to account as well.
Closing the Gap – The First 100 Days
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS POLICY
The government is working hard to close the gap of Indigenous disadvantage. Can you please update the House on the achievements in Closing the Gap during the first 100 days of the Henderson government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. In the last 100 days, I have travelled thousands of kilometres and visited many places from the Top End to Canberra and the desert in between. I have spoken with and listened to the unique voices of the Territory, not always in agreement but always with a renewed commitment about the future of this place that we call home.
Our Closing the Gap initiative is a defining one for this government and it sets out the Northern Territory’s response to the Little Children are Sacred Report. It plots a generational change to address Indigenous disadvantage in the Territory. I am pleased at the steady progress being made across government in implementing commitments on the seven action areas. These are: safety, health, education, housing, jobs, culture, and a better way of doing business.
Work is progressing on the development of a data and reporting framework, and the production of biannual progress reports, which will go to Cabinet in early December 2008. The Office of Indigenous Policy coordinated and finalised the whole-of-government submission to the independent review of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. The submission promotes opportunities for coordination and integration of the work of the NTER with the Territory’s Closing the Gap initiative. This submission also proposes a future joint NT/Commonwealth government approach to closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage in the Northern Territory.
During the election, we said we would be looking at the future of outstations. We have now released our outstation policy discussion paper for public comment. Submissions from interested parties have been called and are due on 1 December. An intensive community consultation program, led by Pat Dodson, will be visiting 18 centres across the Territory during the first two weeks of December.
The past 100 days has seen a renewed relationship with all our stakeholders, maintaining the ongoing dialogue. We have entered into an era of open door and accessible government. Negotiations are currently under way with all the land councils in regard to subleasing of town areas. These will provide the necessary platform for the rollout of the SIHIP housing investment in Northern Territory Indigenous communities. Lease negotiations are under way for Galiwinku, Wadeye, Maningrida and Gunbalunya, and we are hoping for results before the year’s end.
The Northern Territory government is also at the table with all the stakeholders, with the Northern Land Council, over the Blue Mud Bay plan as part of our community engagement process in Closing the Gap. I am looking forward to announcing another part of that commitment to establish an Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council in the New Year which will work and complement the National Indigenous Advisory Council.
Police Numbers – Call for Audit
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You have repeatedly refused to conduct an audit into police numbers despite the weight of evidence indicating the police are desperately under-resourced for tackling criminal behaviour in the Territory. Instead, we see police rushing from one hotspot to another as young thugs take advantage of the general lack of police on the beat in Darwin. After the recent vicious attacks, surely even you can see the need for a complete audit of police resources to ascertain how many police are actually needed to get the streets back under control.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. He talked about the weight of evidence. The weight of evidence very clearly shows we have more police in our police force across the Northern Territory than ever before. That is the weight of evidence I see, rather than a never ending series of revolving reviews which the Leader of the Opposition would have.
We are recruiting additional police to put on our streets right across the Northern Territory. An additional 60 police have been committed to and are currently being recruited to deliver an additional 24/7 permanent patrol out of Darwin, Casuarina, Palmerston, Alice Springs and Katherine Police Stations. That is the work we are doing – putting more police on the beat, providing funding to recruit more police, and giving them the legislative capacity and the tools to do their job across the Northern Territory.
I repeat that the offences in Palmerston were absolutely unacceptable. In terms of assaults, 61% of all assaults across the Northern Territory are alcohol related, and 52% of those involve domestic violence. That is the tragic picture that we face. Those young thugs on the weekend will be caught. If they are adults and if they are found guilty of those aggravated assaults, it is the intent of this government that they will go to gaol. The parents of those juveniles will also be brought before the courts and parental responsibility orders will be sought for those parents.
We are also introducing CCTV networks in our public areas across Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston. The tender is out; it closes at the end of December. It is a joint initiative between the Territory and the Commonwealth governments. Those cameras and that network is to be up and running by the middle of next year.
There will be more police, more resources, stronger laws, and the use of technology. This is a government that has a zero tolerance policy on crime and violent behaviour across the Northern Territory. With additional police, if you commit these types of offences, you will be caught and, if you are an adult, you will go to gaol.
Henderson Government - First 100 Days –
Effect of Global Financial Crisis
Effect of Global Financial Crisis
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please update the House on how the global financial crisis has affected the Territory and Territory families in the first 100 days of the new Henderson government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. When it comes to the economy, much has happened in the first 100 days of the Henderson government. The global financial crisis has hit us all, and we will be dealing with its effects for a long time.
In the first 100 days of the Henderson government, the value of the Australian Stock Exchange dropped by 27%. In the first 100 days of the Henderson government, $40bn was wiped off the forward estimates of the Commonwealth government.
This morning, I tabled the mid-year report. This report clearly outlined that, while the Territory is well placed to deal with the financial crisis, we are not immune. As I said in October, whilst the Territory is well placed to deal with the global financial crisis, we are not immune. Our growth forecast has been reduced from 6.6% to 4.5%, but that is still twice the national average. We still have strong employment and population growth forecasts. In October, I outlined that the global financial crisis had the potential to impact on the Territory through cuts to our GST revenue. This is now expected to be a $48m cut in this financial year and, at this stage, we are forecast to have a cash deficit for this financial year.
In several other states, we have seen GST reductions have led to cuts to services, cuts to infrastructure, and tax increases. Thanks to the strong and responsible financial management of the Henderson government, there will be no cuts to services. There will be a continuation of our infrastructure program and a delivery of our election commitments - no tax increases.
Despite the financial crisis, there has been some good financial news for Territory families in the first 100 days of this Henderson government. Interest rates and petrol prices are not the responsibility of the Territory government, but there has been positive news in both of these areas. Interest rates have been cut four times. For the average loan in Darwin that means around $265 less on the monthly mortgage repayments. Petrol prices have been cut by around 33 a litre; this saves families approximately $20 each time they fill up the average fuel tank.
Thanks to our strong financial management, we have not had to consider spending cuts like southern jurisdictions. Rather, our strong financial management has allowed us to stimulate the economy with programs such as Buildstart.
I will be attending the Treasurers Conference later this week, and the Chief Minister and I will attend COAG later this week. We will continue to work with the Commonwealth to ensure that Territory families are protected as best they can from the effects of the global financial crisis and the downturn in the southern economies.
Palmerston - Gang-Related Attacks
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Have you received a full briefing by police on the recent, violent, gang-related attacks in Palmerston? If not, why not? If so, did the police indicate whether the attacks were carried out by the same group of individuals, or by separate gangs operating alone?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Of course, I have been in discussion with the Police Commissioner on a regular basis about what happened in Palmerston and the response from police.
Investigations are ongoing. It is not for me to say what the pattern of those investigations is. I am advised it appears there is some connection between a number of these assaults. However, investigations are ongoing. I will leave the police to do the excellent job they are doing.
Henderson Government - First 100 Days –
Measures to Combat Violent Crime
Measures to Combat Violent Crime
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
One of the government’s top priorities was introducing tough new laws to combat violent crime in our community. Can you please inform the House on achievements made in the first 100 days of the Henderson government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. I join the Chief Minister in complimenting our police force on making the apprehensions in relation to the incidents at Palmerston – so the police are doing their job.
What we have done as a government is to introduce tough new laws, as we foreshadowed during the election campaign, in relation to violent offending. The laws we passed in October in that regard are very effective. We need to ensure that …
Mr Elferink: You are in dream land, mate. How many people in dream land have you dealt with under dream laws?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: I will answer that. As a basis, we need to ensure that sentences for violent crime meet community expectations. We amended the Bail Act to take away the presumption for bail for those people who have committed a serious violent offence in the last five years. That is a step we foreshadowed during the election campaign.
Furthermore, if someone is granted bail against the presumption of bail, which could occur, and if they breach a bail condition, their bail will be revoked. We also amended the Sentencing Act to ensure that those who are found guilty of a serious violent offence causing harm, or serious harm, do a term of actual imprisonment. That is tough action.
As members would be aware, we followed through on our election commitment. Those tough laws were passed during the October sittings. To answer the member for, for – ah …
Mr Conlan: Port Darwin.
Dr BURNS: Port Darwin - I almost said Macdonnell …
Mr Elferink: Yes, it is tough for me, too, mate.
Mr Henderson: He could not get out of Alice Springs quick enough.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Honourable members, I am unable to hear the minister who has the call. I remind you of Standing Order 51:
- No member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a member speaking.
Minister, you have the call.
Dr BURNS: I will finish on the question asked by the member for Port Darwin. They were passed in October. We are expediting the assent process and they should commence in early December, not far away.
Berrimah Research Farm – Future of Workers
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Last night at the Australia Day Awards, one of your employees, Rachel Meldrum, won the Young Australian of the Year for the NT for her scientific work investigating Panama disease in bananas. Rachel, like many other good people, works for you and Territorians at Berrimah Research Farm.
Your government, in your first 100 days, has decided to drastically reduce the role of Berrimah Research Farm without giving the over 200 people who work there a say in the future of the farm. In light of your government’s strong statement about workers’ rights during the last federal election, in light of the important work the employees at Berrimah Farm do for the Territory, will you call and attend a meeting with all the staff at the farm so they can tell you their concerns about the future of their workplace?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. He has an obsession with Berrimah Farm. It probably has some sentimental value to him. I know Berrimah Farm has been there for 50 years.
The member has to remember that, currently, nothing much happens at Berrimah Farm apart from the laboratories which operate. Most of the research is done outside Darwin. Berrimah Farm was established in the 1950s when it was in the rural area. People who worked there would have had to take their own lunch.
Research on cattle and plants happens at Kidman Springs, Douglas Daly, and in Alice Springs. None of the people who work at Berrimah Farm are going to lose their jobs; none will be forcibly moved to another place. People will have a say where they want to work and where they are going to work.
Mr Bohlin: What happens when they retire?
Mr VATSKALIS: When people retire they often go fishing.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, in answer to the member, when people retire, they do not go to work anymore, they go fishing or they go somewhere else.
People at Berrimah Farm will not be sacked. They will be asked where they want to work and what they want to do. Many of these people who do research will choose to go somewhere else to work; they are not attached to Berrimah Farm for their rest of their life. People move around, and will continue to move to other places where research is undertaken.
Building Industry - Initiatives
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please advise the House on the progress of initiatives we have announced since the election to release land and to stimulate the building industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. The Henderson government is committed to increasing housing options for Territorians, and to provide relief from the housing cost pressures due to the combination of a strong economy and population growth. Buildstart is a key initiative which will help Territorians who are not first homebuyers to invest in housing in the Territory, providing a $14 000 grant to purchase a new house, or new unit, or build a new house.
Since the commencement of the scheme last month, the Buildstart website has experienced more than 3000 hits, which equates to 115 hits on average a day. We have received around 300 public inquiries and are presently processing 10 formal applications. It is early days, and we can expect the number of applications to rise substantially.
Buildstart is a fresh idea - targeted economic stimulus - it will provide real results with more housing options for Territory families. Buildstart has been widely welcomed by the community, the construction sector, and the real estate industry. I know many in the industry have been astounded that the CLP has decided to oppose the Buildstart initiative.
Since the election, we have also brought forward $50m in capital works to fast-track the new Palmerston East suburbs of Johnston, Zuccoli, and Mitchell. With Bellamack, the four suburbs will provide around 3700 new blocks in Palmerston, with the first 200 blocks in Johnston available in the second half of next year. When added to the developments at Lyons, Muirhead and Berrimah Farm, we are looking at more than 7000 new homes being constructed in the coming years across Darwin and Palmerston.
This is the most progressive and expansive land release program in the nation, and we will continue to work hard to deliver real results for Territory families.
Ministerial Leadership – Law and Order
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
During the February sittings, I asked the minister for Justice why the median sentence length for persons held in custody had halved under Labor rule. The minister gave the staggering answer that it is up to the courts to determine the sentences people get. In fact, this parliament is responsible for legislating what punishment should be meted out to criminals. Of course, the Justice minister is also the Health minister who denied any responsibility for the nurse staffing crisis at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Do you admit that an abysmal failure of ministerial leadership has contributed in any way to the law and order problem in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. There is no doubt, and any independent commentator who specialises in looking at the laws and sentencing regimes of various jurisdictions, knows we have the toughest sentencing regimes in the Northern Territory than anywhere else in Australia. Tragically, per head of population, we have more people in gaol than anywhere else in Australia. We all know the social and economic disadvantage of many of our Territorians contributes to those appalling statistics.
Any call from the ‘hang-em and flog-em’ brigade over here that we need to have every prison sentence …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the honourable member to withdraw that. That is an offensive slur.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, I ask you to withdraw that.
Mr HENDERSON: I do apologise. I used that term euphemistically. I withdraw and apologise.
Madam Speaker, the call from the Leader of the Opposition that somehow even tougher sentences, tougher than the toughest in Australia, would have deterred those thugs from their behaviour on the weekend, I very much doubt. They have no respect for the law. They have no respect for Territorians or authority. Tragically, without belittling in any way what happened in Palmerston on the weekend, we can see these types of offences occurring all around Australia.
I am the Police minister. I have just come back from the Police ministerial conference interstate. Every police force in Australia is dealing increasingly with these types of acts of violence. We are not Robinson Crusoe in regard to these issues.
Police have had significant success in a whole range of other areas of criminal activity across the Northern Territory. Since 2001, there has been a 58% drop in house break-ins across the Northern Territory – a huge reduction. There has been a 35% reduction in motor vehicle theft. Total property thefts across the Northern Territory have dropped 34%, that is 10 795 fewer property offences every year. So, police are having significant impact and effect in improving the lives of Territorians. The murder rate has also dropped 38% since 2001. The statistics for violence: tragically, 52% of those involved domestic violence. The type of attack we saw in Palmerston on the weekend is unacceptable. They are perpetrated by cowards. They will be caught and they will be charged by police.
Henderson Government – First 100 Days – Education Achievements
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can you please update the House on the achievements of the Henderson government in education during its first 100 days?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Education and Training is an exciting, challenging, and hugely rewarding portfolio. I am glad to say there has been a ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: They think education is a joke. They do not take it seriously enough. We on this side take education and training much more seriously than those men and women on the other side.
There has been substantial work undertaken in the first 100 days of the Henderson government. There is much more work, and there will continue to be, such as the Closing the Gap goals for education, as well as the COAG goals which our federal Labor government has set for education. The plans for Rosebery preschool, primary, and middle schools have gone to the Development Consent Authority. We have increased the program for Rosebery with an additional $5.65m, which was approved on 27 October 2008. Some $9.5m of headworks and site works have been included in the Department of Planning and Infrastructure’s capital works program already. Design work for Rosebery reached a milestone target at the end of October 2008. The target of 3 November 2008 was also reached for planning documentation to be lodged with the Development Consent Authority for planning approval.
Following on from this, our target of documentation and construction tenders will be advertised on 4 December 2008. Tenders will close on 4 February 2009, and it is expected that a contract will be awarded by 13 February 2009. The contract construction period is 20 months, providing a handover in November 2010. Public meetings have been held at Palmerston High School and Bakewell Primary School, and there is also a website available so people can provide feedback.
On 14 October, I announced a restructure of the department. The terms of reference for the restructure will look at the structure of the department; the distribution of resources in providing efficient and effective service delivery to our schools; and the adequacy of teaching and learning programs being delivered.
The Henderson government is committed to resourcing our schools and ensuring support mechanisms are available for teachers and schools to assist in the delivery of quality programs in our urban, regional and, particularly, remote schools. Remote partnerships have been signed, in addition to Yirrkala and Ramingining, with Gunbalanya and Ngukurr, with a further four agreements to be finalised by the end of this year.
Remote learning partnership agreements are about government in negotiation with local schools. Community partnership contracts will happen in the 15 larger remote townships. These contracts will support a closer relationship between the school, Indigenous families, students and community stakeholders.
Infrastructure upgrades have been completed at Wanguri, Anula, and Millner Primary Schools. I am sure the member for Wanguri will note the upgraded front office area, together with upgraded staffroom and teacher preparation rooms; the same at Anula. Millner has put in a green assembly area which will be used as a community meeting place.
Recently, we saw 780 people from around Australia attend the Northern Territory Training Awards at the Darwin Convention Centre. The Northern Territory was represented in six categories against tough competition. I applaud young Natasha Abbott, who was the Australian runner-up Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year. We also congratulate Brian Heim, who was recognised as the Australian Trades and Skills Teacher of the Year. Brian is a teacher from CDU who travels throughout the Northern Territory teaching veterinary skills. Top End Group Training won the Australian Training Initiative Award.
Another major policy shift which has come in - but I say up-front that I support maintaining our Indigenous language and culture – is that our Indigenous children need to be given the best possible chance to learn English. I am absolutely committed to making the changes needed to lift the literacy and numeracy results in our remote Indigenous schools and to improve attendance rates. It is education which leads to employment opportunities that are available to any other Australian. The reality is a quality education must include a thorough understanding of English. Anything less is to place every Indigenous child in those remote communities at a disadvantage.
I repeat: learning and knowledge is what makes us strong. The Henderson government is committed to transforming Indigenous education in the Northern Territory in order to make the significant improvements we need on the ground in our remote Indigenous communities.
Alice Springs – Violent Crime
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
On 22 January this year you claimed, in respect of violent crime in Alice Springs, that things are better than they were four, five and six years ago, and that 15 years ago, when the CLP was in government, the place was a war zone. You made that statement despite a shocking 41% increase in the rate of violent crime in Alice Springs in the previous three years. Recently, the Minister for Central Australia exposed your statement with her honest and forthright statement, agreeing with me that Alice Springs is at boiling point. Is it not time to end your cynical public denials about the real state of violent crime in the Territory, and agree with me and the Minister for Central Australia, that things are at boiling point, and it is time you did something about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. He should have put the comments I made into context. I was quoting from an Alice Springs alderman, David Kosh, who made those comments at an Alice Springs Town Council meeting. If the member for Braitling was to be honest in regard to the context of what I was saying, it was that I was reporting to the parliament what a long-serving resident of Alice Springs, and a long-standing member of the Alice Springs Town Council had observed. He is also, I believe, someone who has very close relations to the Country Liberal Party. It was in that context that I made those comments.
I have never denied, and do not deny, that there are significant antisocial behavioural problems which affect Alice Springs. There are significant juvenile delinquency problems, which the Minister for Central Australia reports to me on a regular basis. The minister made a report to this House this morning, totally supported by me and my Cabinet, about pulling together youth agencies and other agencies in Alice Springs to have an independent look at the gaps in services regarding youth issues in Alice Springs, and wanting to do that in a bipartisan manner.
I acknowledge there are very significant issues affecting Alice Springs. Tragically, so many of them surround the excessive consumption of alcohol. We have implemented a number of measures to try to reduce alcohol consumption in Alice Springs. I cannot believe the CLP would wind back those measures and throw them out. I find it very hard to comprehend groups in Alice Springs which believe we should be winding back the measures that are in place before we have seen the results of the independent evaluation that my colleague, the Licensing minister, has put in place. It staggers belief that the opposition would say we will just go back to …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was to the Chief Minister. I asked if he would agree with me and the Minister for Central Australia that things are at boiling point in Alice Springs, and if he agreed that it was time he did something about it. It was not about alcohol at all.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, it was quite a long and complex question and the Chief Minister is still on his feet. Chief Minister, if you could come to the point fairly soon.
Mr HENDERSON: I will, Madam Speaker, and I will address the member for Braitling’s concern. I am not trying to be churlish. It is a well known fact that over 80% of all police work in Alice Springs is alcohol related. If you are talking about crime and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs, you cannot talk about it and isolate alcohol from those issues, because over 80% of all crime and antisocial behaviour is surrounding alcohol: the abuse of alcohol and the devastation it does to individuals and communities.
I agree with the member for Braitling that there are significant issues to be addressed in Alice Springs. My colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, will be addressing those youth-related issues in forums around Alice Springs once this session of parliament has concluded. She will have my support as Chief Minister, and our government, in progressing outcomes in relation to the work she will be doing.
Regional Development - Initiatives
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Could you update the House on progress that has been made with the initiatives you have announced since taking over the portfolio of Regional Development?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. On 18 August this year, the Chief Minister announced changes to some Northern Territory government agencies, including combining Regional Development with the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources and basing its headquarters in Alice Springs.
As part of this process, I was very pleased and excited to announce this morning that the new Executive Director of the Regional Development department, based in Alice Springs, will be Ms Fran Kilgariff. Fran Kilgariff will bring many attributes to her new role, not the least being a lifetime’s experience of living and working in a regional centre. I am looking forward to working with her when she starts in January next year.
Other initiatives include the Tennant Creek Foundation, which brings together the Battery Hill Mining Centre and the new Community Cultural Centre. We have completed the Maningrida study, the first comprehensive analysis of economic conditions in a remote Indigenous community. We have completed economic profiles in Alice Springs and Katherine, and we are finalising our review of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy. An important outcome of the review is the need to establish baseline employment data on remote communities so success of the strategy can be measured.
I look forward to updating the House in the future on further progress in these and other initiatives being undertaken by my department of Regional Development.
Law and Order - Family Responsibility Orders
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On 21 January this year, you announced a comprehensive package of measures to tackle youth crime, including holding parents accountable for their children’s behaviour. Why is it that 10 months after your announcement, not a single family responsibility order has been made to the courts? Is your government all show and no go on law and order?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have outlined the statistics that show there has been a very significant decrease in virtually all categories of crime since 2001. There was more crime occurring in the Northern Territory in 2001 than is occurring today across categories such as house break-ins. We can all remember, in 2001, certainly in Darwin and Palmerston, if your house had not been broken into, you knew somebody who had, and it was out of control. Property thefts have dropped by 34%. In 2008 …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The issue is how many family responsibility orders have been issued in the 10 months since the announcement - not a reciting of the statistics.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, while there is no point of order, please come to the question as soon as possible.
Mr HENDERSON: The context of this Question Time is assertions by the opposition that crime is out of control across the Northern Territory. I am saying that is patently false. In fact, there are 10 795 fewer property offences under a Labor government than there were under the last days of the CLP government.
Regarding the parental orders and agreements regime, the legislation only passed through this House late this year, I am just checking the dates on that, and the first application for a Parental Responsibility Order was made before the courts last week.
It just goes to show that the Leader of the Opposition and members opposite have absolutely no understanding of the process of the passage of legislation, of budgets; of recruiting people to positions; and enacting legislation. The fact is that those regimes are there now, and the first application has been made.
Mr Mills: You are a con artist. You have deceived people.
Dr BURNS: A point of order; Madam Speaker! I ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, I ask you to withdraw that under Standing Order 62(1).
Mr MILLS: I withdraw con artist.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: The Leader of the Opposition is right. We did introduce a package of reforms, closing the revolving door on juvenile diversion. That has been put in place. The establishment of youth rehabilitation camps across the Northern Territory, again, an initiative of this government - there were no such initiatives under the CLP when they were in government - two in the Top End, Balunu and Brahminy, and Hamilton Downs in Central Australia. I am advised that 94 juveniles have been referred to these juvenile youth rehabilitation camps. The advice I have is there has been very significant progress in relation to a significant number of those juveniles who were off the rails, causing problems and committing offences across the Northern Territory; there have been significant improvements in a large number of those kids.
This is a government that does not only talk the talk, we walk the walk - those laws are in place. Police have referred the first offender to the courts for a Parental Responsibility Order.
In relation to the events in Palmerston on the weekend, my expectation is that if juveniles are involved in that type of behaviour, their parents will also be brought before the courts under a responsibility order, to engage them in keeping their kids under control, as well as the kids facing the courts for the offences they are charged with.
There are more police, tougher laws, and more facilities for courts to refer juveniles to. We do have problems in the Northern Territory. Police have made six arrests, I expect more to be made.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016