2009-05-07
Hai Win Shipping – Relocation
Mr GILES to CHIEF MINISTER
After much fanfare, your predecessor announced that Hai Win Shipping would be shipping out of Darwin. Hai Win is moving its operations to Townsville because berthing costs in Darwin are twice that of Townsville; the increase in storage rates in Darwin; and the failure of communication between your government and the Rudd government over quarantine delays. You are doing nothing to reduce berthing costs, bring down storage rates and remove quarantine delays. How can you claim to be the champion of Territory businesses when you increase taxes, fees and charges, forcing employers to pull up stumps and go to Queensland?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. It was not great news that Hai Win Shipping was pulling their service out of Darwin. However, they made a commercial decision. Businesses make commercial decisions for all sorts of reasons ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is an important issue. As I said, Hai Win made a commercial decision. This government worked very hard to bring Hai Win to Darwin. They have been a customer at the port since November 2004. This government provided an initial rebate of 100% on port charges for its first 12 months of operation. No government has the capacity to provide free charges or subsidies forever. Hai Win competes with Perkins Shipping, a Territory-based company, and with Swire Shipping, another company based here in …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: They do not want to hear the answer, Madam Speaker. We provided an initial rebate for the first 12 months of operation. From November 2006 to March 2008, we provided a 50% rebate on port charges. In total, the financial assistance was a package of $227 000 over the five-year period of the operation. We worked very hard to introduce a new shipping line to the port of Darwin but, like any government, cannot guarantee to subsidise …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. … subsidise forever businesses that are in a competitive environment. That is the history of government support on this issue.
There were two main issues raised by Hai Win regarding its decision. The first issue was the AQIS issue. As members opposite would know, AQIS is an agency of the Commonwealth government; it is not an agency of the Territory government. We have made ongoing representations to AQIS and worked with the shipping companies regarding issues relating to quarantine inspection procedures, the consistency of …
Mr Tollner: Rudd ignores you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: People would ignore the member for Fong Lim, Madam Speaker.
The quarantine issues are worked on consistently. It is a very fine balance between protecting the unique biodiversity of Australia and also ensuring smooth transit of cargo on and off our wharves. We work consistently with them.
The second issue raised was the competitiveness of the port. My advice is that the wharfage charge paid by the cargo owner on a per-container basis, based on 150 TEUs per call, is around $10 000 in Darwin; and compared to Townsville it is competitive. They have made a commercial decision. This government provided financial support for many years for this service, but they were in competition with two Territory-based companies: Perkins, a long-established, home grown Territory business, and Swire Shipping, which has been based in the Territory for many years.
It is certainly not appropriate for governments to continue to subsidise one business against another in the same marketplace. Hai Win has made a commercial decision. We have spoken to them and we would welcome them back.
Primary Schools for the 21st Century –
Funding for Territory Schools
Funding for Territory Schools
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Today, the federal government announced the successful schools for Round 1 of the Primary Schools for the 21st Century funding. Can you outline for the House the funding for Territory schools?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. It was a very significant announcement for the Territory that the Deputy Prime Minister made this morning. The Deputy Prime Minister announced Primary Schools for the 21st Century, a specific funding program in the Commonwealth government’s stimulus package of $74m to upgrade 37 schools across the Northern Territory ...
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr HENDERSON: That is a significant announcement and a great benefit for our schools across the Territory. This money is to build libraries, multipurpose halls, and classrooms across the Northern Territory. The great news is that every one of our primary schools across the Territory, both government and non-government, from urban schools to remote schools, over the course of the next 12 to 18 months will receive up to $180m to upgrade facilities.
At lunchtime today, I was very pleased to be at Stuart Park Primary School with my colleague, the member for Fannie Bay, and also the member for Solomon, to advise that they have been awarded $3m to upgrade the multipurpose hall. The principal, the school council chair, the teachers and the kids were very excited and very thankful for this funding.
We will complement this funding with our own record $287m infrastructure program for our schools across the Territory over the term of this government. Some of the other schools that had significant funding announced today - I am not going to go through all 37 of them - were Wulagi school, in the member for Sanderson’s electorate, $2m for an early learning centre; Ludmilla school and Nemarluk school - I am sure the member for Fong Lim would be interested to hear this - $850 000 for a library extension at Ludmilla and $850000 for Nemarluk school. These schools are in his electorate. I say again, we know that the CLP voted against this package in the Senate …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … they said no. I am pleased to say that in spite of voting against it, schools in their electorate will get the support. Alekarenge School, in the electorate of the member for Barkly, has $2m for a new multipurpose pavilion. Gapuwiyak School, in the electorate of the member for Arnhem, has $2m for a multipurpose pavilion. The non-government schools have not missed out. Member for Nelson, you will be pleased to hear that the Good Shepherd Lutheran College, in your electorate, has received $2.5m for a new library and multipurpose pavilion.
This program is about jobs. It is also about building lasting infrastructure for the benefit of students, teachers and parents for decades to come. We, on this side of the House - and I am sure the member for Nelson - welcome this funding boost to the Northern Territory.
Health Minister – Behaviour in Chamber
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
On 4 February this year, you sacked your former Health Minister, after a series of damning reports into the Royal Darwin Hospital. Yesterday, your new Health Minister tabled yet another deeply troubling report into Royal Darwin Hospital.
Your Health Minister’s response to this troubling report was to amuse himself on YouTube and with video clips of rally crashes while questions were being asked about the hospital that he is ultimately responsible for ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr MILLS: The question is: have you reprimanded the Health Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is amazing. This is Thursday. We brought down the budget on Tuesday. The opposition is off the budget already. That must mean they give it a big vote of confidence ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This response has absolutely nothing to do with the question. This question was not about the budget. It was about whether he is going to reprimand his Health Minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I was just pointing out that in a week when this country is in the midst of its worst economic crisis …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We had a big debate this morning about Standing Order 67. I ask you to draw the Chief Minister back to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fong Lim. I remind you that, in fact, Standing Order 67 relates to debates and not to Question Time.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, if you could come to the point quite soon.
Mr HENDERSON: I will come to the point of the question, but pointing out that they are obviously endorsing the budget because they have no further questions on it. Can I …
Mr Elferink: Wait until estimates. We will have a few questions.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Regarding the Ombudsman’s report tabled yesterday, we, as the government, take the reports by the Ombudsman very seriously. However, in regard to the issue canvassed in that report, I stand by the Health minister, and by Len Notaras at Royal Darwin Hospital, and Colin McDonald, the Chair of the Royal Darwin Hospital Board, and agree that decisions about clinical patient care are best left to doctors. I have every confidence in the clinical patient care of patients at Royal Darwin Hospital. That is the issue. The issue was very well canvassed by the Health Minister who was right across the report.
Regarding computers in this parliament, I expect every member of this House to pay attention to the debates at hand, which the Health Minister certainly is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I expect every member of this House, and that includes members on the other side, if they want to get into a tit-for-tat as to who was looking at what on their screens, well, they certainly have form on their side of the House. I am not going to go down that particular path. I expect all members of this House, when they are in this House, to participate in debate, to be engaged in the debate, to understand what is happening at any point in time. That goes for all members both opposite and on this side.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections. 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.
Budget 2009-10 - Employment Data
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please inform the House about the recently released employment data and what part Budget 2009-10 will play in maintaining these results?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his very good question. Labour force figures released earlier today show the Territory’s unemployment rate remains steady at 4.1%, and these are with the revised March figures. I also note that the Rudd government’s efforts to protect the national economy are also having an effect, with the national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also dropping.
This is a very heartening result for the Territory. It shows the Territory economy remains strong despite the global economic conditions, Territory companies are still hiring, and the Territory construction sector is getting a solid flow of work. Annual growth in Territory employment was the highest of all jurisdictions, and remains above the national rate; the estimated number of Territorians with jobs increased by 700 in April. That is 700 more Territorians who got a job last month and 6100 more than April 2008
Our employment participation rate also rose to 74.9%. This is a rise through the year of 2.4% - again, the highest rate of all jurisdictions and well above the national average of 65.4%. These are very encouraging figures, but they reinforce the absolute need to act now to protect Territory jobs against a very difficult national and international economic climate.
The government is implementing its record breaking $1.3bn infrastructure spend because we recognise that behind these employment numbers are hard-working Territorians - young people in their first job out of school, and mums and dads who need to pay their mortgage and get food on the table for their children.
Minister for Health – Attitude to Health System
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for HEALTH
Yesterday, you tabled a damning Ombudsman’s report that highlighted how your government had left staff in Territory hospitals in legal limbo. It also detailed the disappearance of children from Ward 5B late last year - the very same ward where an infant was raped in September 2006; the very same ward where the government repeatedly promised security upgrades. Instead of concentrating, you were amusing yourself on YouTube. When will you start taking the state of the Territory health system seriously?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition is making an inference that he cannot back up by any fact ...
Mr Elferink: It was on the television, last night, you fool!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Port Darwin!
Dr BURNS: What he is suggesting is contemporaneous with the issue that he is talking about; that my colleague was looking at his computer. It is an inference that cannot be supported. Under standing orders ...
Madam SPEAKER: Please resume your seat. Leader of the Opposition, can you repeat the actual question? There was a long ...
Mr MILLS: The whole question?
Madam SPEAKER: No, just the last part. Is the question relating to the use of the computer or is it about the Health portfolio?
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, the question is, effectively: when will you start taking the state of the Territory health system seriously and not watch YouTube whilst serious matters are being discussed?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Let me tell you what I was doing. I was watching my computer when you made your awful reply to the budget. To sit here and listen to you when you could not add your own figures together, it was either walk out or do something else. I chose to check my e-mails. Contrary to instructions by the Speaker, I was filmed. I have no problem with it.
Let me tell you something else about the damning report of the Ombudsman that was tabled by me yesterday. Let me tell you what your own colleague, the member for Greatorex, said today on the radio program in Alice Springs. Matt Conlan said:
- Duty of care by hospital is paramount. Not willing to take too much comments on it at moment, but no complaints appear to have been received by patients or by patient families. These are pretty wild allegations by the Ombudsman, so I am not keen to comment too much at this stage.
‘Not keen to comment at this stage’. That is your own spokesperson on Health. He considered that the allegations were wild, and that no complaint was received by a person or a family of a person about the Ombudsman’s report. I will say, once again, that contrary to you, I have full confidence in Dr Len Notaras which, obviously, you do not. I have full confidence in the staff at the hospital which, obviously, you do not, and I will back them 100%. Even Colin McDonald QC, the chairman of the board, criticised the way the Ombudsman conducted her investigation and advised us to seek legal advice.
Here is the damning report, as you call it, by the Ombudsman, which has raised so many questions, even from your own spokesman. In addition to that, you made the wild allegations - unproven - about Ward 5B. When was the last time you visited the hospital? When was the last time you sought some advice from the hospital, and were taken around? I have been there. I have seen the safety measures and the security cameras in place. I have seen what they are doing there.
Another point: in that particular Ombudsman's report about Ward 5B, the Ombudsman asked that we pass specific legislation not to allow patients to leave the hospital. She demanded specific legislation to prevent parents taking their kids out of the hospital. She demanded specific legislation preventing people leaving the hospital. And here we have another report where she says the human right of patients have been violated because they have been restrained when they were unable to make rational decisions and were unable to decide for themselves what was safe.
Well, it is all good about human rights. I accept that and I defend human rights, but how many human rights will that person have …
Mr Mills: You have lost the plot, mate.
Mr VATSKALIS: I suggest you talk to your own colleagues before you come in here and start making allegations. You come in here talking about things, first of all, that you do not know, second, neither does you spokesman and, third, you simply do not support anyone at the Health department.
Swine Influenza – Update
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you update the House on the swine influenza outbreak and, specifically, is there any good news for the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I also thank the members of the opposition who received a briefing today. I thank them for their support and cooperation in this important issue.
Last week, three Darwin residents were suspected to have influenza after returning from trip to the United States. They were tested and proven to be negative. This morning, I was informed of another man in Darwin who is undergoing investigation for possible swine influenza. He is hospitalised in isolation at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Just a few minutes ago, I received an e-mail advising me that the test results have been proven negative. So, the Territory is free of any suspected case of influenza.
I reassure members that we are remaining vigilant. We have enough medication, 460 courses of Tamiflu, for our own use, plus the department discovered another 70 courses of anti-viral anti-influenza drugs in pharmacies around Darwin.
In Australia, there are no confirmed cases. Health experts have officially given the all clear for the Arafura Games to go ahead. Arafura Games participants will be given specific information on flu prevention, and also contact numbers for the Arafura Sports Medicine Clinic.
We will continue to monitor all incoming traffic at the airport through thermal scanners and, in cooperation with the Commonwealth experts, we will monitor passengers who comes through Darwin airport.
All emergency departments in the Northern Territory hospitals and GPs have advice about the process, and notification of any possible influenza patients. I am pretty sure the Arafura Games will be, once again, one of the best events in the Territory’s sport history.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Security of Patients
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for HEALTH
Yesterday, the Ombudsman reported that a five-year-old child absconded twice from Royal Darwin Hospital, and was not reported to police as missing for 16 hours on the first occasion, and 15 hours on the second occasion. This comes after the rape of a baby, and several reports dating back to 2002 detailing security failures at RDH. This has left hospital staff saying: ‘It makes us look like fools’. Minister, will you act to give confidence to parents and staff that they and their children are safe and secure at RDH?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the report I tabled yesterday was a report by the Ombudsman investigating the unjustified use of restraint and detention, not the report the Leader of the Opposition claims. He either has the wrong report or someone wrote him the wrong question.
The issues were raised in the previous Ombudsman’s report, and my colleague, the member for Johnston, who was the minister for Health, dealt with that. That was about six or eight months ago …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: They have been addressed by the hospital. Safety measures have been taken. Security cameras have been installed. I am very happy to take the Leader of the Opposition with me to visit the hospital and show him, one by one, the safety cameras; one by one, the process and procedures put in place; and the number of staff who take care of all the children in the children’s ward. He has it wrong, once again.
Budget 2009-10 – Training and Employment
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Budget 2009-10 is all about protecting Territory jobs. Can you please inform the House what this government is doing to train Territorians to help them take advantage of the range of employment options on offer in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. Budget 2009-10 was …
Mr Elferink: Tiger Airways.
Mr HENDERSON: Not interested in training Territorians, member for Port Darwin?
Mr Elferink: I am very interested in jobs. I just want to know what you are doing about them with Hai Win and Tiger?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr Elferink: He put a question to me, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Budget 2009-10 is all about protecting Territory jobs. Of course, Territorians can access even more jobs available in an expanding economy with the skills that they need. That is why training is absolutely important, whether at school, re-training to change current job paths, or training to upskill qualifications. Jobs are at the heart of this government’s focus, and training is there to support the jobs agenda of this government. $1.3bn is being spent in this budget on infrastructure; there is an additional 2500 jobs in the construction sector.
We are very proud of our record. Since coming to government in 2001, we have doubled the number of apprentices and trainees in the Northern Territory. We have reached our first target of 10 000 new trainees and apprentices. Budget 2009-10 has an additional $1m to meet a new target of another 10 000 trainee and apprenticeship commencements.
There is an additional $0.5m to expand the WorkReady program; currently it helps at least 500 students to be better prepared to enter the workplace. I have met a significant number of those students over the years and this is a great program in our high schools preparing kids for work.
We have doubled the annual investment into the BuildSkills program, from $500 000 to $1m a year for the next three years. Budget 2009-10 also includes $1.25m to provide apprentices and trainees in skill shortage areas the $1000 Workwear/Workgear Bonus. We know that for those first-year apprentices the wages are pretty tough, and after a pre-qualifying period there is $1000 to support apprentices to purchase tools, and work wear such as safety boots and gear. I have spoken to many apprentices and trainees who are very grateful for that support.
To date, we have spent more than $21m on initiatives under Jobs Plan 3, resulting in more than 3640 apprentices and trainees currently in training. That is a 50% increase from 2001. One thousand eight hundred of those apprentices and trainees are in skill shortage trade areas.
Budget 2009-10 also delivers $1m for the Indigenous training and employment program. There is also $0.5m for the establishment of two regional training hubs - which I will have more to say on in this House. There will be one in Nhulunbuy and the second one in Tennant Creek. Budget 2009-10 is about protecting Territory jobs, but also, to a very large extent, it is also about training Territorians.
Budget 2009-10 – Royal Darwin
Hospital Security
Hospital Security
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for HEALTH
Yesterday and today you told us that you have read this report. I turn your attention to page 45 in the report. You are trying to seriously tell us that you have read this report and that you are taking health seriously? Read the report.
Members: What is the question?
Mr MILLS: The question is: minister, I refer you to the answer given by the previous Health Minister on 28 November last year regarding systemic security failures at RDH that led, sadly and tragically, to the rape of a baby. In that response the former minister said:
- I have instructed the CEO of Health that a budget of $1m should be against the implementation of these recommendations.
He also said:
… there is to be no more foot dragging …
Will you identify in the budget announced on Tuesday where the $1m is allocated to fix the wide range of security problems at RDH?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the children the Leader of the Opposition talks about who went missing on 15 and 16 September 2008 …
Mr Elferink: You just said that they were not in the report.
Mr VATSKALIS: Just a minute. Those children were actually taken by their parents. Second, the focus of this report is for the unjustified use of restraint and detention.
The Leader of the Opposition said clearly that this tabled report was about the missing children. That is not the case. This report is the unjustified use of restraint and detention …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, this is the usual effort by the opposition, picking isolated paragraphs and making a false story of it.
Mr Elferink: You just said it was not in the report.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: This is about the unjustified use of restraint and detention, according to the Ombudsman’s opinion.
With $1m identified, the hospital has done a lot of work. First of all, we employed Mr O’Sullivan. Do you remember Mr O’Sullivan? He is the one who did the police report. Mr O’Sullivan did the review of the Royal Darwin Hospital, and I personally instructed him to do a review of all the children’s wards in hospitals in the Northern Territory. The report to us highlighted some issues. These highlighted issues have been addressed by the hospital. Some of these were the installation of security cameras; and of signing in and signing out of children and who would be responsible for this. We have done that. We did that four or five months ago. It has nothing to do with this report the Ombudsman provided me. This is another issue ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Giles: $800 000 for Labor candidates but no money for RDH …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: A significant amount of money goes to RDH. As a matter of fact, we are criticised by the member for Greatorex for putting too much money into RDH. I well recall he was reported in the media saying we spend too much money on RDH. On the one hand, we spend too much money in RDH and, on the other, we are criticised for not spending enough. Where is the logic? Do you not talk to each other? Do you not get together in the Caucus and talk to each other about what you are going to say …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: The Leader of the Opposition today did not know about the stunt that the member for Fong Lim would pull ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr VATSKALIS: He was so uninformed he even missed the division.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, resume your seat.
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, I am here to help, from the opposition. I am simply asking you to draw the member’s attention to the nub of the question: please show us where the $1m is in the budget that was tabled on Tuesday.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you can come to the point fairly quickly.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition obviously does not understand the budget. He could not even add his own figures. This was done; it was Budget 2008-09 and the money had been spent ...
Mr Henderson: Last year’s budget.
Mr VATSKALIS: Last year’s budget. We have already done it. I extend once again the invitation that we go together to Royal Darwin Hospital and I will show you exactly where the money has been spent. If you are game enough, come with me.
Garuda Indonesia Air Services – Suspension of Services between Darwin and Denpasar
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for ASIAN RELATIONS and TRADE
The issue of the suspension of Garuda Indonesia Air Services between Darwin and Denpasar is one of great concern for Territorians and the government. Can you please update the House on the latest developments regarding your travel to Indonesia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. This is an important issue. Like other members in parliament, I have been approached by a number of people - not only business people - in Darwin, particularly those who are regular travellers on Garuda, and those who have a connection with Garuda in other ways. As we know, Garuda is a major sponsor of the Persona Festival every year, and what a fantastic event that is. So, there is much concern in the community, particularly the Indonesian community, about Garuda potentially pulling out of this route after 30 years.
As I said in parliament last week, I am travelling today to Jakarta and tomorrow I will be meeting with the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Prof Dr Djalil and the CEO of Garuda, Mr Satar. I will also be meeting with the Minister for Transportation, Mr Jusman Djamal, later on in the day. I am hoping to put a business case for the Territory, and other options for Garuda from Darwin to elsewhere. I have already had some discussions with Tourism NT and the new Aviation Director on that particular issue. I thank Mr Bill Farmer, the Australian Ambassador to Jakarta, for arranging these meetings and I very much look forward to putting the Territory’s case.
Once again, I restate my position that I am very glad that the Opposition Leader is also advocating strongly on this issue. I know there are many other business people and others who are advocating. It is good to see, as a community, that we are advocating. I am meeting at a ministerial level with the ministers that I have mentioned, and I am hoping that we will have some success. After that …
Members: Will it be bipartisan?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I mentioned it is a minister to minister meeting. I have also mentioned that I welcome the approaches that are made by the Opposition Leader and others within the community.
After that I will be back in Darwin for a while, but next week I will be going to Singapore where I will be meeting with Defence officials. Some members might be aware that there is a plan by the Singapore Air Force to look at where they will base their fighter training. It is currently based …
Mr Tollner: The difference between you and them is, they have a plan.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, they currently train in France, but Darwin is a very strong candidate for them to base their fighter training here. That would mean a number of staff with technical expertise coming to the Northern Territory which would make us even more a centre of excellence in aviation.
In Vietnam, I will be meeting with government officials. There is a growing live cattle export trade with Vietnam. The first shipment is in August. The live cattle trade is an important link for us with Indonesia as well as Vietnam.
I am also going to Japan where I will be meeting with senior officials of INPEX. The Chief Minister reinforced this morning the importance of the announcement made by INPEX about their offshore feed and engineering contracts. They are already in the process of tendering for those, and there will be some announcements, I believe, in the next few weeks about that. As the Chief Minister observed today - I forget the exact saying that he had - it was more or less ‘Buzz off, Western Australia’. The design and all the other attributes that INPEX is bringing forward is all about bringing gas onshore in Darwin. We are very pleased about that.
I will certainly be putting the case for local contractors and businesses getting, particularly, the onshore feed, which will come. The final investment decision has not been made yet, but it looks very hopeful for the Northern Territory and there is a lot of certainty around INPEX. It will be great for the Northern Territory economy.
I look forward to fulfilling my role as Minister for Asian Relations, Minister for Trade, and Minister for Business.
Minister for Health – Ombudsman’s Report
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for HEALTH
You said that you had read the report, and that that report did not contain an issue of missing kids. It does - at pages 44, 45, and 46. If you had read the report as you claim, how could you have got it so wrong?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Elferink: How could he get it wrong? How could he stand there and say there are no kids in that report?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting. Minister, you have the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, once again let me explain. I will speak very slowly; obviously, the other guys do not get it. It might be my accent.
This report is an interim report of an investigation into the unjustified use of restraint and detention. This report focuses on what the Ombudsman alleges: that the Royal Darwin Hospital unjustifiably retained and restrained people. It does not refer to the investigation done on the children. As a matter of fact, the issue of the children starts at page 39 and goes on for quite a while. The heading of the chapter is ‘Absconding Patients - the Dilemma for RDH’. The reason she pointed out the children absconded is to highlight the dilemma the clinical people in RDH have: how they can keep people in; how they can restrain them; how they can stop other people from leaving.
The Opposition Leader asked me what we did about it. We spent money and installed security cameras, CCTVs, monitors, separate entries for staff and visitors, and we employed Mr O’Sullivan who did an extensive audit of the hospital. He highlighted issues which, quite rightly, the Ombudsman, in her previous report, focused on: the children who had absconded. She raised this issue in September 2008 and we addressed these issues. We spent money in Budget 2008-09 on minor new works, and we will spend more money in Budget 2009-10 on minor new works, which are not listed separately …
A member: Where will we find it?
Mr VATSKALIS: In the budget books. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to play games, let us go for it. However, you cannot use erroneously a report that refers to the restraining of clients, and claim that was a report by the Ombudsman on absconding children.
Budget 2009-10 – Construction of
New Correctional Facility
New Correctional Facility
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Budget 2009-10 contains fresh ideas and real results for Territory industry that will create jobs. Can the minister inform the House what Budget 2009-10 delivers for the construction of the new Doug Owston Correctional Facility?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. What a privilege it has been to be part of my first budget Cabinet. I also congratulate the Treasurer on the work that has been done and how well the budget has been received.
The Northern Territory government has allocated $21m in Budget 2009-10, which will see the commencement of the Doug Owston Correctional Facility for the Northern Territory. The facility will be 1000 beds, and the $21m will see the commencement of headworks for the Doug Owston Correctional Facility in 2009-10, with construction expected to start on the centre in early 2010. The Doug Owston Correctional Facility will employ 350 Territorians. The focus on this facility is on education, and training and rehabilitation …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale and member for Katherine, cease interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: … to address the cycle of re-offending. This facility will be purpose built. This facility will be innovative. The design of this facility will be based on supporting educational and training programs. This facility will also …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale! Order! Member for Goyder!
Mr McCARTHY: This facility will support Territory jobs, and will continue the focus of improving rehabilitation and reintegration. Rehabilitation and training within our correctional system is the key of this new era in Corrections.
Budget 2009-10, I am honoured to report to the House, will deliver the first work camp - in the Barkly. The work camp concept will support the new era in Corrections’ approach to developing work readiness. So education, not on its own, but education linked to training, to work ready and to employment.
Madam Speaker, despite tough times - and they have been described as unprecedented times - Budget 2009-10 delivers for Territorians, and it protects Territory jobs and continues to build the Territory.
Seniors Housing
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SENIOR TERRITORIANS
In November 2007, the then Chief Minister held a forum with senior rural residents at Girraween Primary School to seek their views on seniors accommodation in the rural area. Nothing seems to have happened since then. What plans does the government have to establish a seniors village in the rural area, considering there is plenty of suitable land in Howard Springs as well as land in the Humpty Doo District Centre, so that rural seniors can remain living amongst their own community, instead of moving to Palmerston, Darwin or down south?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. As the Minister for Senior Territorians, I am aware that seniors housing is an important and complex issue which crosses several portfolios, including Planning and Lands, and Housing, as well as Senior Territorians.
Currently, there are a number of housing options for seniors in the Northern Territory. These include owner/occupier; renting in the private market; renting from Territory Housing; retirement villages; and residential aged care. Our government is committed to attracting seniors to retire in the Northern Territory, and most importantly, to support those in the rural area. The recently published draft of the Territory 2030 statement highlighted the increase in numbers of senior Territorians.
In relation to Territory Housing for seniors, the government is investing strategically to meet our largest demand areas in public housing, and would also support a proposal by Southern Cross Care Inc for a retirement village in Fannie Bay. This will include independent units, a retirement village and residential aged care facility all in one location.
Most recently, $10m is provided in Budget 2009-10 …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, you have the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Clearly, the opposition is not interested in any housing for seniors, Madam Speaker. Most recently, $10m is provided in Budget 2009-10 for the construction of a 44-unit seniors village in the new suburb of Bellamack.
The construction and operation of retirement villages is generally driven by the private sector. There was a proposal put forward last year to rezone an area of land at the Howard Springs Shopping Centre for a retirement village. The land was rezoned to allow a maximum of 25 units to be developed on the site. The developer has now lodged a development application for 25 units and this application is still before the Development Consent Authority.
Our government welcomes all proposals and other proposals from private sector developers relating to the construction and operation of retirement villages in the rural areas.
As the member for Nelson is no doubt aware, our government made a commitment in the 2008 election to examine the options for aged accommodation in the rural area. This remains one of our priorities and something that we are committed to. I look forward to going out to the rural area with the member for Nelson, if he is available, to explore some of these options ...
Mr Wood: Any time.
Ms McCARTHY: I will take you up on that, member for Nelson.
I remind this House of the support that our government provides for senior Territorians, perhaps some of the best in the country. Our government has kept its election commitment by introducing free bus travel for all seniors and carers from 1 January this year. Through the Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme, from 1 July this year, drivers’ licences will be free and motor vehicle registration concessions will increase from $104 to $154 per year for eligible members of this scheme. This will see another election commitment fulfilled.
Our government is committed to supporting senior Territorians. I am proud that our government continues to provide one of the most generous Pensioner and Carer Concession Schemes in the country.
Budget 2009-10 – Indigenous Territorians
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS POLICY
Can the minister please outline how Budget 2009-10 delivers for Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. If you look at the Regional Highlights of Budget 2009-10, it is full of goodies for Indigenous Territorians. Budget 2009-10 delivers for Indigenous people and for remote Northern Territory. Education is the key to providing Indigenous people with a working future. Budget 2009-10 will deliver enhanced learning through the Families as First Teachers programs, school upgrades across the Territory, more teachers, five new mobile preschools servicing 25 remote communities, a stakeholder partnership program to improve students’ engagement and community involvement, and a new child protection unit to provide specialist support for schools including six new counsellors.
In partnership with the Commonwealth, Budget 2009-10 will also deliver on Indigenous housing. $1.76bn over 10 years will be invested to improve Indigenous housing across the Territory. Budget 2009-10 …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Ms ANDERSON: Budget 2009-10 will deliver up to 100 new houses, more than 700 refurbishments and better tenancy and property management. When you are talking about Indigenous issues, everything that the government has given Indigenous Territorians in this budget all goes together. You cannot combat education without giving people housing. You cannot combat education and housing without having a look at the social issues that Indigenous people have - and we know that is huge. We are talking from experience because we are born and bred Territorians.
Budget 2009-10 also delivers for Indigenous health, with extra funding for residential care services, chronic disease programs, sexual assault services, and substance abuse programs across the Territory. Budget 2009-10 delivers for the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous children with funding to expand the Child Abuse Taskforce, better services for children in care, continued development of Aboriginal child protection, family violence, and support services in regional centres, and 10 more child protection workers across the Territory by 2011-12.
Budget 2009-10 represents a strong and ongoing commitment to Indigenous Territorians, especially people living in remote areas.
Minister for Health – Alleged Misleading
of the Assembly
of the Assembly
Mr MILLS to the MINISTER for HEALTH
We have been advised the footage of you watching car rallies was taken during Question Time and not during the Budget reply. Why did you tell the House something else?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is an interesting question. It is the first time in my political life that on the third day of the budget the argument is about a video clip and not the budget. I recall every other time …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … a more effective opposition with a more effective leader would get stuck into government for not only for three days after the budget but for the whole political …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: I recall I saw one during the budget reply, because it was such a boring budget reply. I do not keep track of what time I open my e-mails. If you open my e-mails and check them out, let me know so I can get some more protection, because …
Mr Elferink: So, you lied?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Port Darwin is using words he can only use by way of substantive motion. I also remind him that he is the bloke who had the races on in this parliament and we heard the bugle blow one day. He is the last one to be criticising anyone.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of Government Business, resume your seat.
Member for Port Darwin, I ask to withdraw. Minister, resume your seat.
Mr ELFERINK: I withdraw the word ‘lied’.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Resume your seat.
Mr VATSKALIS: I do not recall when I opened the e-mail …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Well, I do not recall. Madam Speaker, once again, we have the third day of the budget and the whole issue is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Minister, please resume your seat. 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.
There have been an extraordinary number of interruptions, members. I will be putting members on warnings.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not recall exactly the time. Now, if it was …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: If it was Question Time, it is because …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Minister, you have the call. Could you please come to the question fairly quickly?
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not recall exactly. My recollection is that it was during the budget reply. If it was during Question Time it was probably because their questions were simply awful and boring …
Members interjecting.
Budget 2009-10 – Benefits for Anglers
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Fishing makes such an important contribution to our great lifestyle, supports businesses and provides jobs throughout the Territory. What will Budget 2009-10 deliver for anglers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, at least we get some quality questions, not like the boring questions …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Fishing is very popular in the Territory …
Mr Mills: So the truth does not matter. It is the heart of Labor. Lies. What else would you call it?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member for Blain to withdraw, please.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Blain did not direct that comment personally at any particular individual. He made a general comment, and there is no point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I ask you to withdraw, knowing that when you make a comment in general like that about the government, it is not appropriate except by way of substantive motion.
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, it was not about government. It was about Labor, and the capacity to just smile and disregard any reference to the truth.
Madam Speaker, that is the point, and if you ask me to withdraw that - I did not, unless anyone feels that that is a personal slight on them, as obviously they do …
Madam SPEAKER: I have to say that the level of interruptions is such that it is very hard to even hear some of the actual comments. I will allow it on this occasion, Leader of the Opposition. But if the interruptions and interjections can be kept to a bare minimum, please. Who is actually on their feet? It is very hard to follow and it is very loud from up here, let me tell you.
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Fishing is very popular in the Territory, more than any other destination. It is a way of life for so many Territorians. In my electorate, one person in four owns a boat. It makes me very jealous because, unfortunately, I am the minister for Fisheries and cannot go fishing. We attract more fishing tourists than other jurisdictions. It is estimated that approximately $1bn is spent in the Territory through fishing - buying equipment, petrol, accommodation, and spending on tourism. It is a significant contributor to the Territory economy. Recreational fishing in the Territory is growing. We need to ensure that the fishing experience available today continues in the future.
We are buying back barramundi licences. We have promised that when we buy three barramundi licences and close down the Bynoe Harbour and the Finniss River, and we intend to do that. We have a comprehensive survey of recreational fishing activity currently under way and, in the next two years, we expect to find out what impact, if any, recreational fishing has on our fishing resources. We spent $470 000 on this. The outcome of the survey will ensure that recreational fishing remains sustainable into the future, not only for us, for our children, but for our grandchildren.
We have seen the mistakes made in other states where indiscriminate recreational fishing has wiped out fishing resources. A very good example is in Western Australia near Monkey Mia. With the development of new equipment, boats can go a long way from the coastline and, with GPSs, people can target exactly where they fished a week ago, a month ago, two months ago, and they can hammer the resource. As a result, the Western Australia government put restrictions on how many people can fish, how often they can fish, and they even closed whole areas where the resource had been hammered by recreational fishing.
We also believe that we have to have a plan for the future of fishing, and that is why we established a community-based working group to develop a recreational fishing development plan.
We have committed to improving facilities for recreational fishing. Recently, we opened the state-of-the-art boat ramp at Hudson Creek. The reason we had to spend all this money was because a previous CLP government sold the existing boat ramp to a private company. They sold it, and we were forced to negotiate with that private company for two years for anglers to use this facility before we built ours.
In 2009-10, we will be spending $4m to upgrade the Palmerston boat ramp, putting in a security compound, security lighting, and power and lighting to the ramp. We want to provide access points throughout the Territory, not only in Darwin. We have increased demand from recreational anglers, the charter companies, and people who want to go fishing. In addition to that, we have put $1m per annum for four years to improve recreational fishing access and infrastructure.
I thank AFANT, especially Mr Chris Makepeace. He went with officers of my department to nearly every boat ramp around the Territory, inspected it, and made comments. My department, together with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, will commence to repair, upgrade and provide new facilities - and not only what the men of the family wants, but what the women want. In some of the areas, the biggest demand was from women who wanted proper toilets. We have commenced that and have put in proper toilets. Believe it or not, women now make up a big part of the recreational lobby.
As I said before, we have done a lot for recreational fishing. We believe that recreational fishing is very important for the Territory. Unfortunately, members of the opposition do not think so. I was severely criticised by the member for Katherine for closing Fog Bay, despite the fact that his leader supported me in the beginning when I closed it, and he supported me again after AFANT supported me. I thank him for that. I appreciate when he is honest, comes out, and does some good …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Daly, cease interjecting.
Mr Westra van Holthe: You would not have a clue.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Katherine!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I thank very much the legislative expert on fishing from Katherine for his opinion.
The reality is, before I proceeded to close that area, I sought the advice of the department; I read the act, and it was clearly within my capacity and powers as the minister to stop an illegal activity taking place - an activity that embarrassed us throughout the world. Photographs that were taken are circulating in newspapers everywhere. It was in my power and I decided to act decisively.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition, when he does the right thing. If we have to do the right thing, we have to do the right thing. If you do not talk to each other, it is not my fault. You better have a talk to the member for Katherine.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Proposed Censure of Minister for Health
Proposed Censure of Minister for Health
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the parliament from censuring the Minister for Health for misleading this House ...
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, Leader of the Opposition. Will the government be accepting the censure motion?
Dr BURNS: Yes, Madam Speaker. I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016