2011-02-22
Emergency Services Personnel – Working Conditions
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You would agree that Emergency Services personnel did a very impressive job in attending to emergencies during Cyclone Carlos. I know the people of Darwin and the greater Darwin area are very thankful for their efforts to secure the safety of the public in dangerous and difficult conditions. Why then are Emergency Services personnel continuing to work in a building which has been condemned and with insufficient items of key equipment? Is this an appropriate way for the government to recognise the contribution of Emergency Services staff and volunteers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In relation to the preamble all of us, especially I, as Chief Minister, want to thank our fantastic Emergency Services volunteers across the Northern Territory for the incredible work they do. In response to Tropical Cyclone Carlos, they have been absolutely amazing and continue to work hard with Darwin City Council to clean up our city.
I acknowledge - and there is nothing new in this - that the existing facility is run down. That is why, when we announced we were building a new fire station at Berrimah in the budget last year, we announced a new facility for Emergency Services volunteers in conjunction with that new fire station. There is nothing new in this. We are planning a brand new facility for Emergency Services staff. Last year’s budget announced a new fire station at Berrimah, and the establishment of a new facility for volunteers within that fire station. They will be working hand to hand with fire officers across Darwin and the Palmerston region.
I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of those volunteers and Emergency Services personnel for the great work they have done and continue to do.
Supplementary Question
Emergency Services Personnel – Working Conditions
Emergency Services Personnel – Working Conditions
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
A promised building, good, may it come swiftly; however, in regard to key equipment, would you see it as appropriate that basic equipment such as raincoats for the workers today, tomorrow, the next time they need help, should be provided?
ANSWER
Absolutely, and in this circumstance we had many people turn up to volunteer their time. Out of every one of these instances a thorough review is conducted. If they need additional equipment, they will get additional equipment.
The pretext of the question is that somehow the government is not supporting Emergency Services volunteers – nothing could be further from the truth. I meet with them on a regular basis. We have consistently, over the years as a government, boosted funding for Emergency Services, for Bushfire volunteers across the Northern Territory, and we will continue to do so. The acknowledgement that the existing facility is run down and not up to scratch was made in last year’s budget.
Christchurch - Earthquake
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the shocking earthquake which occurred this morning?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, when I received the news earlier today about another massive earthquake in Christchurch, my heart immediately went out to the people of New Zealand. At the end of the day, the Kiwis are our cousins across the Tasman and this horrific earthquake is unfolding before our eyes. Most of us have been glued to the television during lunch and the devastation is there for all to see.
All of us are hoping and praying there is a minimisation of casualties and deaths associated with this. However, when we look at our television screens and see the horror unfolding, and the fact it was in broad daylight at around lunchtime in the CBD of Christchurch with people at work, it appears to be a very horrific situation.
My heart goes out to all our Kiwi friends living amongst us in the Northern Territory. Thousands of New Zealand citizens live amongst us and are friends and work colleagues. They must be going through a very traumatic time. We have very close sporting links with New Zealand, and many businesses in Darwin have business and tourism links with New Zealand.
If people have concerns for family members from Australia currently in New Zealand they can ring 1300 555 135 for information.
Speaking with our Health Minister, I am aware that our trauma centre is currently in discussion with the federal government about whether it needs to be activated. We stand ready for the call if it is to come. As small as we are in the Northern Territory we will do everything we can to help.
It is an horrific earthquake that is going to cause much anguish, trauma and grief for the people of New Zealand. Our hearts go out to our cousins across the Tasman. We will do everything we possibly can. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Kiwi community across the Northern Territory.
Daly River Flood – State of Emergency
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Thank you, Chief Minister, for updating the House on the issue in New Zealand.
The Daly River community was forced to evacuate their homes after floodwaters swamped the town on Saturday night. You have described the flooding of Daly River as a once-in-a-500-year event, yet you failed to declare a state of emergency to assist more than 300 people fleeing the floodwaters. Can you explain why a state of emergency was not declared as this township went under?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition. It is an opportunity to clarify when a state of emergency is called, and what happened with the evacuation of the community at Daly River.
I was there yesterday with the local member, the member for Daly. First, I commend the people in that community who made an amazing and heroic effort to evacuate over 340 people in, essentially, a 16-hour period, without so much as a sprained ankle, across a swollen river and down to Batchelor Institute.
I have a time line. We were taking advice from the local Counter Disaster Committee that included all the significant people at Daly River. People were advised earlier in the day to evacuate if they wanted to. Many people decided to stay. A call was made by the Police OIC in Katherine regarding evacuating the community.
In regard to a state of emergency, all a state of emergency does is to confer on police significant additional powers that police did not need in this event. A state of emergency confers on police the powers to compulsorily require people to move out; to seize assets such as motor vehicles, boats, or any equipment they might need to effect an evacuation or to address an emergency situation. That was not what was happening in Daly River. Everyone was working together very collegiately. There was sufficient equipment and boats to get people across the river, and sufficient buses to get people to Batchelor Institute. I act on advice from the Counter Disaster Council. There was no advice to me that those powers were needed by our police, given the cooperative effort that was taking place in Daly River.
There has been some misconception that these emergency declarations were also required to solicit relief payments from the Commonwealth government. That is not true at all in regard to the arrangements under the National Disaster Relief arrangements.
I urge the Leader of the Opposition to get a briefing as to how these things work. There is no requirement to declare an emergency to get access to Commonwealth assistance relief payments, and there was no requirement for police to actually have the powers to get access to equipment they needed to facilitate this evacuation because all of that equipment was available and on hand.
Cyclone Carlos – Emergency Services Response
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the House on the response of government and Emergency Services to ex-Tropical Cyclone Carlos?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it has been a very significant response across Darwin and the Top End region. We suffered considerable power outages, with many lines down, and tree and property damage. As I said before, it was a significant event but there was no loss of life and no injuries reported. I thank the community for heeding and responding to the messages.
I thank the Power and Water crews who did an amazing job over a couple of very dangerous nights to reconnect homes where power was down across the Top End. At the peak, nearly 9000 homes were without power, and two days later we were down to 300 or 400 without power. The Power and Water crews were amazing, working 24/7 to restore power. Police and Emergency Services worked day and night clearing the roads so traffic could get through. They contributed to the heroic effort in the set-up of the emergency relief facility and shelter at the showgrounds. The Department of Children and Families and many volunteer and community groups, including a number of members from our side of the House, worked long hours to ensure homeless and long grass people around Darwin had somewhere to shelter and stay safe at the peak of Cyclone Carlos. We had over 280 people accommodated at the showgrounds.
A significant cleanup is still happening. I thank our Darwin City Council staff, who are working really hard cleaning up. It is too early to identify the full costs of Tropical Cyclone Carlos but, as those costs come in, with Darwin City Council and the shire for Daly River, we will be triggering the National Disaster Relief arrangements for financial support from the Commonwealth in responding to Tropical Cyclone Carlos and the floods that have wreaked havoc on the Daly River community.
Madam Speaker, there are many people who are either paid or volunteered who acted above and beyond the call of duty. The main thing, as we look at the devastation from natural disasters around Australia over summer, is these have not been on the same scale. The floods in Daly River are very significant, but no injuries and no loss of life is testament to the professionalism of the people who have been assisting.
Cyclone Preparedness
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government ran television advertisements asking Top End residents whether they were prepared for a cyclone. Yet, in the days when Darwin was being buffeted by extreme weather associated with Cyclone Carlos, there was a high level of confusion about the definition of essential and non-essential public servants; residents whose houses were inundated complained they failed to receive warnings; and there was not even enough sand to fill sand bags to protect their homes. Simple question, Chief Minister: if you expected households to be ready, why was your government not ready?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am disappointed that the Leader of the Opposition is taking this turn of phrase in questioning today. I believe our officials responded magnificently to extreme weather events that came across very quickly. The real proof of how well they responded is no reports of any injury. My heart goes out to people who have had their homes inundated, both in Darwin and in Daly. A member of my family has had their home inundated in Rapid Creek, and I spent part of the weekend helping to clean up.
To imply that somehow we could have warned people of that impending flood in Rapid Creek defies an understanding of what actually happened that night. Within a 24-hour period, we had 420 mm of rain in the Marrara catchment, a record rainfall event and totally unpredictable. There has been no record of a rainfall event of that size occurring before in Darwin, and that was in conjunction with a 6 m high tide, which, on a particular evening, saw Rapid Creek flood to a level that has not been experienced before.
In regard to our crystal ball and whether we should have predicted that and warned people, I have asked for a full review of this between the Met Bureau and the Counter Disaster Council. I was at each of the four Counter Disaster Council meetings, receiving briefings from the Met Bureau. There was certainly no analysis of that significant rainfall event, the same as in the Daly River region where 442 mm of rain, even more than in Darwin, happened in a 24-hour period. This system was very slow moving, with a record amount of rainfall in it.
In regard to the messaging that went out, nothing could have been clearer. I am happy to table a media release issued by police after the Counter Disaster Council meeting on Tuesday, 15 February. It said:
- … the Counter Disaster Council has decided that in the interests of safety, students should stay home on Wednesday.
It went on to say:
- Non-essential government service employees have also been granted leave tomorrow to look after their children.
Non-essential, and if you had to look after your children, you could stay home because we wanted to keep children safe.
There will be a review of all the messaging around this, and there will be a review of the meteorological advice we have received.
Cyclone Carlos – Effect on Banana Farm
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
A small banana farm near Lake Bennett was extensively damaged by a mini tornado on 1 January. I visited the farm to see the damage. The owner, Matt Pheeney, says because of the storm he has gone from packing around 800 cartons a day to about 40. This means he has had to make one worker redundant and send the rest on holidays. Considering we only have two commercial banana farms left in the Top End, and growers in Tully would receive some government assistance because their banana crops have been wiped out, what financial assistance, in the form of a low-interest loan, can your government offer to help this farmer until he gets back into full production?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yes, a mini tornado went through Mr Pheeney’s property at about 2 am on 12 January 2011. It was an unfortunate event, but very localised and his property was the only one affected. My departmental officers visited Mr Pheeney’s property and provided technical assistance. Because it was a localised event and such a narrow path, we cannot declare this event as a natural disaster, or a form of disaster, which would attract some financial assistance. However, we are here to help Mr Pheeney by providing technical assistance. It is unfortunate that only his property was affected. My department does not declare natural disasters, nor does it have the ability or resources to provide low-interest rate loans for these kinds of events.
Cyclone Carlos – Power and Water Response
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Can you inform the House of efforts by Power and Water staff to restore essential services to Territorians in the wake of Cyclone Carlos?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Power and Water crews did a fabulous job over the period of Cyclone Carlos and afterwards working tirelessly over that whole period. I was at the call centre at lunchtime today talking to the staff. They did a day’s work and then many of them went through to 5 am the following morning. Staff who do not work in that area volunteered to come in and do shifts from midnight through to the morning. Staff also brought their children in so they could continue to answer phone calls. They received some 2000 phone calls, primarily about faults. Usually they receive about 600 calls a day for billing inquiries, but there were 2000 calls over that period. The call centre staff did a fabulous job.
It was a very unusual event. As the Chief Minister said, we had around 420 mm of rain recorded at the airport at Marrara and around 300 mm at Palmerston. It put extreme pressure on our infrastructure, and it shows that the record investment we are putting into the infrastructure of Power and Water is paying off. We are also investing in the staff, and that is also paying off.
The linies who were out there - at any one time there were 100-odd staff working around the clock trying to keep all the services running, not just the electricity, but water and sewerage as well. Staff were also running food and dry clothes out to these crews to keep them going.
Faults occurred not only in Darwin but in the rural area as well. There are extended feeder lines throughout the rural area, and many trees were brought down. Those crews were going out at all hours trying to keep those lines on. They traversed the Charlotte River at 1.4 m, Madam Speaker, which is about your height or slightly under your height, which is an incredible feat, and I would really like to thank them. They restored power to some 9000 homes and did an excellent job. In the Darwin area, some 500 trees came down.
We have received many calls of congratulation, which indicates the appreciation Territorians have shown to Power and Water crews who left their families to help other families; left their children to make sure children in the Darwin community had services connected. We had calls from Humpty Doo thanking Power and Water crews for working 24/7, from Tiwi for getting crews out, and the Chief Minister recounted a story from Jingili. Jingili received a massive hit, and people in the community were coming into the street and applauding the crews for getting the power back on. It was an excellent effort. Well done, Power and Water, you did a sterling job.
Cyclone Carlos – Government Action
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
I agree that there was a good response.
When we have events like this, there needs to be recognition that lessons can be learnt rather than take a defensive position. On 12 February 2008, in a ministerial report on Cyclone Helen, you said:
- The major lesson learnt from this is that we can always do better in improving our systems, our planning, our training and our communication. Those lessons have been learnt and contingencies and amendments to plans will be put in place.
It has been three years since Cyclone Helen and three weeks since Cyclone Yasi. What specific lessons, contingencies and amendments were put in place to deal with this Category 1 cyclone?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am prepared, in a spirit of leadership, to offer the Leader of the Opposition full briefings on these issues. I have said all along that we will learn lessons from this event. After every event, there are full and thorough debriefs regarding how people responded. In the last three years, there would have been any number of training scenarios agencies would have worked through.
Police now have in place a new real-time, online communications system called WebEOC, where not only police have access, but all other government agencies - and groups such as the shires - involved in responding to and recovering from a serious event as well. . Training in this new disaster management tool has been conducted over the last 12 months. Power and Water has significantly improved and increased tree clearing and foliage operations around power lines. Power and Water has also done a significant amount of work, particularly in the rural area, regarding insulators on cross arms to try to stop the power shorting out in the rural area. All government agencies continue to upgrade their own emergency response scenarios.
This is a continuing learning of lessons as we move forward. For someone who has been Police and Emergency Services minister for most of the period since 2001, I have seen the way we not only respond to emergencies, but the way we recover from emergencies, particularly in our remote communities. Our Emergency Services continue to go from strength to strength in the coordination and effectiveness of those efforts. Again, lessons well learnt.
The lessons from Tropical Cyclone Helen have been implemented. Further lessons will be learnt from Tropical Cyclone Carlos.
To have an event which saw record rainfall in Darwin for a significant period of time, with significant damage from falling trees, the fact we had no injuries and no loss of life, and essential services restored as quickly as they were, is a great credit to everyone involved in managing this emergency situation and responding to it.
Alice Springs – Tackling Antisocial Behaviour
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you inform the House how you plan to pull the community of Alice Springs together to tackle the unacceptable behaviour in the town?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I begin by reiterating that crime and bad behaviour is totally unacceptable, even in Alice Springs. The current media focus on Alice Springs paints a grim picture. I know the town of Alice Springs is a ‘can do’ town. It is a community which pulls together in tough times. That is why I am calling on the town and the community to work together to find solutions and move forward.
We have heard a great deal in this debate in recent weeks, particularly from the business community, a very important sector in our community. I understand their frustrations. Government has heard their cries for help. I understand the frustrations and the anger of the business community, those residents who have had their properties broken into, and also the tourists who are visiting our town. This type of behaviour and crime is totally unacceptable.
I live in Alice Springs, I talk to people every day when I am there - whether it is walking down the street, going to one of the clubs, or shopping in Woolies ...
Mr Giles: Rung any of the businesses yet?
Mr HAMPTON: I have.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HAMPTON: With the Deputy Chief Minister, I met with representatives of businesses in Alice Springs. I live in the community and I talk to people on a daily basis, whether they are from the business sector, the Aboriginal sector, or residents around the town. I believe this issue has to be tackled in a whole-of-community way. That is why I have called for a meeting with the Aboriginal community ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr HAMPTON: ... because, to date, this important part of our community has been left out of the debate ...
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling!
Mr HAMPTON: As I said, to date, this sector of our community – the Aboriginal community – has been left out of the debate. That is why I have called a meeting for Central Australian Aboriginal leaders this Friday in Alice Springs. The business and Aboriginal communities are very important to the cultural, social and economic future of our town; you cannot have one without the other. To date, they have been left out of the debate. What I am aiming to do is pull the business community together with the Aboriginal community to sit around the table and talk about this and find solutions together.
The Northern Territory government is committed to turning this around, as I am - absolutely committed to turning this situation around ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Central Australia – Park Closures
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Is it true, due to a lack of funding, Parks staff are now discussing whether to operate all Central Australian parks at a very low level or whether some Central Australian parks should be closed? Can you please advise this House which parks are being considered for closure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. I am not aware of this government closing parks. We are committed to joint management of our parks and have very strong legislation in the Parks and Reserves (Framework For The Future) Act. We are committed to working together with traditional owners and native titleholders jointly managing these parks. I am certainly not aware of closing any parks.
Cyclone Carlos – Flood and Storm Surge Warnings
Mr STYLES to CHIEF MINISTER
How many residents in the Rapid Creek, Nightcliff and Millner areas were doorknocked prior to floodwaters reaching their homes on Wednesday during Cyclone Carlos? How many residents whose homes were flooded were not doorknocked? Why were they not doorknocked? What will be done in the event of another cyclone to ensure people are properly notified of potential flooding and storm surge inundation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, two events occurred: the flooding event which occurred on top of the 420 mm record rainfall in the Marrara catchment, combined with a 6 m high tide in the evening, which took place, I believe, on Tuesday evening - I might have to get my evenings right – that was totally unpredictable. I said in my last answer that we had no advice from the Met Bureau about the amount of rain that would be dropped on Darwin. Therefore, on that particular evening, there was no doorknock.
The following evening, when we were looking at significant further rainfall and a tide of 6.5 m, there were large numbers of police - I do not have a list of all the streets, but I can provide that later – who doorknocked the catchment of Rapid Creek. My colleagues, the members for Johnston and Karama, were also out that evening. Dozens, possibly hundreds, of homes were doorknocked in regard to the events which occurred the previous night which were, potentially, going to happen on the Wednesday night as well.
I commend police for their initiative. They took people out of the training college. My relatives in Rapid Creek reported that they were doorknocked and there were significant numbers of police through Rapid Creek knocking on doors. I do not have a list of the streets with me, but I can provide it to the House. It was a significant number of homes in most of the areas that were affected the previous night in the fear that it was going to repeat the next night. Thank goodness it did not. We did not have the same amount of rain. Even though Rapid Creek burst its banks again on the second night, I am not aware of any homes being inundated; all the damage occurred on the Tuesday night.
Alcohol Reforms – Targeting Alcohol-Related Crime
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can you please outline to the House how the alcohol reforms target alcohol-related crime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we would all agree in this Chamber that alcohol misuse is a serious issue in our community and is fuelling much of the crime. We know alcohol is linked to some 60% of all assaults; 67% of all domestic violence incidents in the Territory have grog as a fuel. The alcohol reforms announced by the government go to the heart of targeting the problem drinkers. Those are the drinkers committing alcohol-related crime in our community, and also significant and serious antisocial behaviour.
Wholesale alcohol figures released today show that, in 2009 compared to 2008, there has been a 1% increase in total wholesale alcohol supply in the Territory. At the same time, our population increased by 3%. The report released today shows that in some regional centres where local alcohol management plans are in place we have made some achievements. There was an 8% drop in wholesale alcohol in Alice Springs from 2006 to 2009; we are seeing a pegging back, certainly in that 2009 year. There was an 8% drop in Katherine from 2007 to 2009; and a 37% drop in Nhulunbuy from 2006 to 2009. What the figures in the wholesale data show us is that localised alcohol management plans are having an impact.
The new raft of alcohol reforms go to turning the problem drinkers off tap and mandating treatment where treatment is clearly required. These reforms will be rolled out across the Territory. Critical to this roll-out will be the roll-out of an ID system Territory-wide to enforce the bans. This means that a person who is banned from accessing alcohol in one community is banned right across the Territory. These reforms are supported across a number of sectors: the Australian Hoteliers Association, the Northern Territory Council of Social Services, Amity Community Services, FORWAARD, the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance, the People’s Alcohol Action Coalition, the Responsible Drinkers Lobby in Alice Springs, and the Liquor Association.
We know that alcohol misuse is at the heart of what is fuelling the unacceptable levels of crime and antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs and elsewhere. That is why we are going to the heart of tackling the problem drinker with tough bans and enforcement measures, with a new Alcohol and Other Drugs Tribunal, an expanded court with expanded powers with mandatory treatment powers at the tribunal and the court level. We are going to turning the problem drinker off tap. We know alcohol is fuelling crime and antisocial behaviour. That is why this government stepped up to announce the toughest reforms in our nation’s history.
Cyclone Carlos – Storm Surge Issues
Ms PURICK to CHIEF MINISTER
There was quite a deal of anxiety from residents around Rapid Creek and Nightcliff in particular concerned at the possibility of storm surges as a result and as part of Cyclone Carlos. Your government is yet to release the latest storm surge maps which are clearly warranted at this time. Why were these storm surge maps not released for this cyclone season, and when will they be released?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will need to take some specific advice on this. I believe those new storm surge maps are not far away from being released. They have been the subject of intense modelling, assessment and evaluation.
The whole concept of the Counter Disaster Council is the best meteorological advice we can get combined with chief executives of all government agencies providing advice, with the Police Commissioner as Chair.
Rapid Creek was an event totally out of the blue with the intensity of the rainfall which focused on the Marrara catchment, combined with a 6 m high tide which caught everyone unawares. It does not matter how well you plan, there will always be some scenarios outside the bounds of any forecasting, although we will learn the lesson.
The new storm surge maps will be released fairly soon. I would counsel, when they are released, that the commentary around those new storm surge areas is considered. I have not seen them yet, but if they do include properties where years ago it was permissible to build in those areas, we need to have a considered approach to the debate and be mindful of the significant investments people have made in those areas in good faith under the previous planning regimes which were in place.
As I said, there was no information that came to the Counter Disaster Council that there was any concern for flooding in that area. It was an event which was unpredicted, and the intensity and volume of the rain was a Territory record.
Review of Museums and Art Galleries – Natural Science Representation
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
Your department is asking for comment regarding a review of the museums into the next 10 years. For many years, the study of natural science and the collection of natural science has been a key function of the Darwin museum. Section 1.2 of the review document refers to the importance of the natural science collection. Why is it that you have not one representative of a natural science background on the 18-person working group which will develop this plan? Is it not also true that in the review art is mentioned 54 times and science only nine? Would it not be fair to say that this review is, therefore, loaded against science and stacked just by weight of numbers by art supporters, making it impossible for a fair review and outcome?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr McCARTHY: It is an interesting interpretation on the Building our Museums and Galleries Sector ...
Mr Tollner: The only way you can put off building something is to have a review.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: The Building our Museums and Galleries Sector is to develop a 10-year plan which is an important plan for the Territory, acknowledging and recognising the importance of both science and arts. This plan is also fused with our Territory 2030 vision and our A Working Future policy. It is one part of a very big plan.
It needs to be said that it is not a scientific review, nor is it a review of scientific resources. I have taken a great interest in this consultation as it has travelled throughout the Territory. The initiative is to better position the Territory to make the right decisions on moving forward, working across our A Working Future policy and our 2030 vision to provide equity to all Territorians. It is a great initiative.
I acknowledge the role of scientists in it. The member pointed out some interesting statistics, but I am proud to announce the appointment of Dr Peter Whitehead to the Board of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory - a premiere appointment - if the member is concerned about scientific knowledge. During the consultation process, there were numerous staff and community members who represented a scientific background. They took a great interest in the consultation process, and we have their submissions for consideration.
The working group, as mentioned, has played an excellent coordination role, so while there are no natural science experts on the panel, I am confident the consultation process will inform the museum and art galleries review. By the way, submissions close this Friday, and I encourage any members who want to get in on that. I assure the member it will be a very comprehensive consultation result, it will be a balanced result, and it is definitely focused on building our museum and art gallery sector. It is a 10-year plan and I encourage the member to come and we will definitely give you a brief on the process going forward.
Charles Darwin University - First Medical Students
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
Last week, you and the Chief Minister welcomed the first intake of students to the Territory’s full medical school at Charles Darwin University. What does this initiative mean for the health of Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her very important question. It was an honour to be there with the federal minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, and the Chief Minister, to welcome 24 Territorians in the first intake of students at the new medical school. This is the first time the Territory has had a medical school. That means you can be born in the Territory, attend primary and high school, and receive tertiary education without leaving the Territory. That is possible because of the cooperation between Flinders University, Charles Darwin University, the Labor government in Canberra and our Territory government.
The federal government provided $24.9m for the facilities at Charles Darwin University and the Royal Darwin Hospital, and this government will provide $2.4m every year to support the school. The 24 students will have their HECS fees paid by the government. In exchange, they will work for Northern Territory Health for two years.
This is significant, considering the number of general practitioners we have in the Territory is nearly half that of the rest of Australia. In 2014, when these people graduate, should all of them graduate, instantly the number of general practitioners in the Territory will increase by 20%. These people will also be able to train at the super clinic in Palmerston under the guidance of trained doctors. Charles Darwin University has also instigated an undergraduate Batchelor of Clinical Science program for people who leave high school to train for the medical program.
This is one of the milestones of the Territory. For the first time in 33 years, the Territory has a full-blown medical school. We have learnt from the past; we train our own engineers and they stay here, we train our own nurses and they will stay here, and we train our own midwives and they will stay here. Now we will train our very own doctors.
Twenty-four people chose to change their career …
Mr Elferink: How many are reserved for Territorians and how many are sold interstate or overseas?
Mr VATSKALIS: Unfortunately, when we train lawyers some of them choose to stay.
This time we have doctors training in the Territory and they will stay in the Territory. That means great opportunities for our children, and a good opportunity for people to stay here, especially as 10 of these people are Indigenous Territorians. That will contribute significantly in closing the gap, especially working in remote communities.
In addition, we are now able to attract experienced academics, medical practitioners and doctors to train our future doctors.
Cyclone Carlos - Advice to Public Servants
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
At 10 am last Wednesday, a meeting of the Parliament House Cyclone Planning Team was told by Andrew Tupper from the Bureau of Metrology that Darwin was in the eye of a cyclone and employees needed to be home by 2 pm ahead of damaging winds later in the afternoon. It was not until 1.53 pm that Mike Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of your department, issued an e-mail instructing non-essential public sector employees feeling uncomfortable to go home. Why did it take three hours for the head of your department to advise public servants that they were free to leave work ahead of a dangerous weather condition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was at all those Counter Disaster Council meetings and with the Police Commissioner were chief executives of every government agency. Those chief executives left that meeting and were to communicate to their employees - which they did. The chief of the public service put out the message at 3 pm that afternoon regarding people considering whether they should stay or go, confirming their ability to go home if they chose to. The chief executives of every single government agency were at that meeting and communicated that decision as soon as they left the meeting.
Rosebery School - Infrastructure Spend
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
The new school at Rosebery is the largest-ever investment in education infrastructure in the Northern Territory. Can you please update the house on the new Rosebery school?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. There is a substantial investment in the Rosebery school - $60m. It was a pleasure to be there a few weeks ago with the Chief Minister and the member for Brennan. It was a great opening; many people attended. It is a great project being delivered before time and on budget by a local builder, the Halikos Group. I commend Halikos for building the middle school and the primary school.
The school will have capacity for 1450 students. Currently, there are 750 students enrolled and that will grow as the different year students move through the school. I commend Adam Voigt and Lorraine Evans, the principals of those school, for the work they have done, and the sense of community and the pride the students have in being the first group of students through those school.
As the member alluded to, the school is very modern. Indeed, the Rosebery school has been nominated as the Northern Territory 2011 Microsoft Innovative School. That is because there is the latest wireless technology throughout the school, 60 SMART Boards, a high computer per student ratio, and the school is designed to incorporate the latest learning and teaching practices. There is a lot of amenity at the school for teachers in the spaces they have in their preparation rooms, meeting rooms and staffrooms. The kitchens are fantastic. Students in the middle school are preparing meals, which is part of their courses. It is a great amenity all the way through.
I believe the Rosebery Middle and Primary School is a fantastic amenity for Palmerston. It highlights this government’s investment in Palmerston and the phenomenal growth of the suburbs around the Rosebery school. I suggest to members, particularly the Palmerston members - I know the member for Brennan has had a look – to tour the school. I would be more than happy to facilitate tours of that school. It is a great project and I am happy for it to be completed, I am told, before time and on budget.
Cyclone Carlos – Power Outages and Restoration
Mr ELFERINK to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
In today’s paper, there is a reference to a story of a gentleman in Larrakeyah whose house had not had power restored for up to a week. Can you explain why it has taken so long to restore that gentleman’s power? Can you also explain how many homes in Darwin were left without power during that period, and if there are any plans for compensation to those households?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am literally staggered by the line of inquiry the Leader of the Opposition has decided to undertake today ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point or order, Madam Speaker! Despite the slurs of the members opposite, I am not the Leader of the Opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, we had a cyclone whirling around the harbour of Darwin; we had floods. We had all this going on, and today should be a day of congratulations to the volunteers, to the essential services workers, who are out performing heroically while many of you were sitting at home, with your families, your children, in your nice warm beds. They were out there on the end of poles, on the end of buckets, doing an incredible amount of work. They were volunteering …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek to intervene and stop the embarrassment of the honourable member and get to answering the question. It is disgraceful!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could come to the point reasonably soon.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am literally staggered at the line of inquiry. I congratulate Power and Water staff for keeping your power on, Leader of the Opposition. It is a disgusting slur you put on the volunteers today …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Minister, can you please come to the question?
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said in the previous answer, some 9000 properties were taken out by the cyclone that occurred in Darwin. Over a period of time, they were progressively restored as they could. Many properties, member for Port Darwin, had problems within their boundary, and many of those people need to get a licensed electrician to fix those problems. They are not the responsibility of Power and Water. They fix lines outside and to the meter box. If the line is within the property, it is the responsibility of those property owners.
Obviously, we have been trying to help people. Emergency Services removed trees. You probably saw the story about a tree which fell over, and this has been attended to by essential services people who are all volunteers. The Bushfires Council has done a tremendous job. It is an amazing job: 9000 properties were without power and were progressively restored – a great effort by Power and Water. It is a disgusting slur by the Leader of the Opposition on these people.
Gove Peninsula - Renewal of Leases held by Rio Tinto Alcan
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES and RESOURCES
Can you update the House on the renewal of leases held by Rio Tinto Alcan on the Gove Peninsula, and advise what this means for the Gove community and our economy generally?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is a very important question, not only for Nhulunbuy, but for the Territory. We all know the mining sector remains the largest contributor to the Territory’s economy. Nearly 30% of the gross state product comes from the mining sector, which directly employs 4000 people, and there is a spin-off in other companies.
As you would be aware, in 1968, the federal government entered into an agreement with Nabalco at that time, and currently with Rio Tinto Alcan, for mining bauxite on the Gove Peninsula. The lease was for 42 years. I am very pleased to advise the House that today I have renewed the leases for another 42 years in order to provide certainty to the mine; to the mining town; to the businesses in town; and to the Indigenous people. I commend Rio Tinto Alcan for the agreement they have reached with Indigenous Territorians. The traditional owners of the land are going to benefit from this agreement for another 42 years.
Of course, without the mine, the mining town of Nhulunbuy would not survive. If you do not have the mine, you do not have the supermarket, the services, or the post office, and probably would not even have the Gove District Hospital, which is fully accredited according to Australian standards.
There are a few more issues to be resolved. I believe the people at Rio Tinto Alcan have done a very good job, and I am pretty sure they will soon finalise the further leases for the red mud ponds which provides certainty for the town. It is a great opportunity to congratulate, not only the mining company, but the traditional owners who entered into the agreement in a spirit of cooperation. After all, the mining industry is the only industry that in remote Northern Territory would provide jobs to Indigenous Territorians. We have seen that in the Tanami with Newmont: 14% of their people are Indigenous. We have seen that in …
Mr Tollner: What about Alice Springs?
Mr VATSKALIS: You can ask the member for Greatorex to see if he could give you an answer on that one. We have seen that with Rio Tinto, ERA …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: … we have seen that with Xstrata. The days when the Commonwealth would come here, dig a big hole in the ground and leave it for Territorians to pick up the pieces have long gone. Our government will never allow mining companies to do things like that. Our government is the first government ever to ask for a rehabilitation bond, full price, not set by the minister’s office but set by an independent group to ensure the amount of the bond is appropriate to rehabilitate the site. At the same time, we are here to strongly support the mining industry.
That said, Madam Speaker, we spend much time and effort promoting the Territory in places such as China, Japan and Korea.
Outstation Resource Agencies - Funding
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
Outstation resource agencies are currently unaware as to whether they will be funded at the end of June because there has been no communication from government. Could you advise if the current funding arrangements will be ongoing in the upcoming financial year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. This question goes to the heart of where we are at with homelands and outstations across the Northern Territory. As this parliament is aware, and as I have reported to this parliament on numerous occasions, that is an area we have to work quite diligently on.
Our focus has been the growth towns in regard to A Working Future. From the end of 2009 through 2010, consultations occurred at over 400 outstations to assess funding requirements.The response from those outstations has gone back to the Service Delivery Coordination Unit, of which I know the member for Macdonnell is very aware.
What we were able to do …
Mr Tollner: It sounds like you need a review.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Ms McCARTHY: What we have been able to do is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: … within the previous budget, was see almost $1bn go towards our regions, which included our growth towns and the outlying areas. We are now coming up to Budget 2011-12. We hope to have some good news over the next few months in regard to that. The work on outstations and homelands is ongoing. It is part of government’s broader plan for reform across the regions and, most importantly, the outstations and homelands are very much a part of that reform. Yes, I am continually battling for funding.
McMillans Road and Trower Road - Flooding of Rapid Creek
Mr STYLES to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
McMillans Road where it crosses Kimmorley Bridge floods on a regular basis which prevents emergency vehicles and others from using that section of road to access those suburbs. Does your government have any plans to make that section of road flood-proof? Do you have any plans to flood-proof Trower Road near the intersection of Rapid Creek Road?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question and his interest in flood-proofing 500-year events overnight. We will certainly deconstruct what the member was actually trying to say. The Chief Minister has …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I think the Chief Minister …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex!
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, I believe the Chief Minister has outlined adequately and succinctly to this House the challenges and conditions that we faced with Cyclone Carlos. I was out on the Wednesday looking at those particular sites as part of my research into the challenges we face. Flood-proofing McMillans Road, Trower Road and major arterials in the Darwin, or the greater Darwin area, is certainly a challenge.
When we talk about those events, let us talk about the total package. Over 30 inches of rain, I believe, in the greater Darwin area, generally, in summary of this event. Let us talk about what the Chief Minister advised the House and the member for Sanderson, and that was over 400 mm on the Tuesday night, with an exceptionally high tide of over 6 m. So, flood-proofing those events would need divine intervention, I should imagine, and that is probably something we could all focus on.
Regarding the lessons we learnt, that is the important part of these events. That is the important part about moving forward; that is the important part of learning.
The member for Goyder has asked a very good question about the storm surge maps. They are coming out very shortly, as the Chief Minister announced, and they represent looking at climate change and future possible sea level rises.
These initiatives in a very complex area are part of the work of this government, learning lessons from these events is part of the work of this government, and bipartisan support in this is definitely of benefit for all the residents of Darwin and the greater Darwin area.
INPEX – Government Plan to Work with Industry
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for BUSINESS and EMPLOYMENT
Can the minister update the House on the Northern Territory government’s plan to work with industry to ensure Territory businesses can compete for a share of business on the Ichthys project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the proposed INPEX Ichthys gas project is a $23bn project, the most significant project coming to the Northern Territory. It will provide a significant boost across businesses, from manufacturing, to retail, to wholesale, to the construction industry.
On Sunday, I had the pleasure of participating in an industry forum my department, in collaboration with the Master Builders Association, the Chamber of Commerce, INPEX, and a range of other organisations, brought together looking at opportunities for the INPEX project. Some 350 people participated in that event; it was probably one of the largest business gatherings in Darwin for many years.
We are taking a very collaborative approach. The idea of the forum was to bring together all the information we have today and look at the issues which need addressing. It was a punctuation mark in the countdown to the final investment decision in November of this year. INPEX provided a very detailed presentation. Sean Kildare put on the table where they are going, what is going on, and made the point to all the businesses attending that they want to get work into the business community and people to benefit. In doing that, businesses need to step up. There needs to be pre-qualification effort put in and businesses need to improve their tendering processes.
Kevin Peters from NTICN described exactly what is happening with Project Gateway for businesses looking for those opportunities coming up, and the billions and billions of dollars worth of tenders out there at the moment.
From those discussions, a series of workshops was proposed to upskill and make businesses INPEX-ready. Workshops will be commencing in the next fortnight run by the NTICN to prepare businesses to get that work.
Other workshops will be conducted in the workforce development area; project management and control; occupational health and safety; quality assurance; health and safety; environment; a business engaging with Japanese companies; and, importantly, joint venture and consortium opportunities. Some of these contracts will be quite large and if businesses get together they will get the most out of it.
We recognise it is a big project. We want to ensure business gets its significant share of the work which will be coming to the Northern Territory and we are supporting business in that goal.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016