2012-10-31
Arafura Games - Axing
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Is it true that your government has just announced the axing of the Arafura Games? If it is true, this is a fail in your Asian relations engagement view. This will devastate the thousands of volunteers from the Top End who embrace our Asian and Pacific neighbours who come here to strengthen sporting and cultural ties in the Territory. Is the reason behind the cancelling of the Arafura Games that you cannot move it to Alice Springs where Bungles, your minister, wants all tourism, sport and recreation to be run from? It is outrageous to cancel the Arafura Games. It highlights the engagement of Asia, our strengthening of sporting and cultural ties. What on earth are you doing? Why are you devastating and wrecking the Territory with your foolish decisions?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this government takes its responsibilities very seriously ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: You can laugh and mock on the other side, but the questions are largely yours to answer, Opposition Leader.
Ms Lawrie: It is your decision.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MILLS: Yes, we make responsible decisions. The decision is as a result of questions you did not attend to in government. What efforts were made by the previous government to engage the region to secure participation? We have found to our dismay, practically zero. The level of commitment is very low. There have been no forward contracts secured by the former administration. We have been in power for nine weeks plus a few days. You have had a year-and-a-half to do the preliminary work to make sure this event was not going to be an embarrassment for the Northern Territory ...
Ms Lawrie interjecting.
Mr MILLS: No, there are so many questions that are yours to answer. You can make all the noise you like, but we do not want to put ourselves into a position where we will have to manage your mess. We have decided to ensure that when we run this event - an event started under the Country Liberals 20 years ago – it is a showcase of the region. We will ensure we do it properly. We are making serious decisions to ensure we showcase the Northern Territory appropriately, rather than have to clean up the shocking mess of maladministration on your part where you took no interest in the details ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There is no evidence of maladministration. This Chief Minister is failing the Territory. He is axing the Arafura Games ...
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please be seated. Chief Minister, it is your call.
Mr MILLS: There was no point of order - well called, Madam Speaker. We have decided to act responsibly given the lack of effort made on your part. In fact, one of your new members was charged by the former Sports minister to engage within the region. I would like you to table what effort was made to engage the region to ensure they knew this event was on ...
Ms Lawrie: You are not up to it, are you, Terry?
Mr MILLS: They did not even know, nor was accommodation booked in our hotels - did not do any of that work. What we have done ...
Ms Lawrie interjecting.
Mr MILLS: Just pipe down! What we have done is pause it to make a proper assessment and we will run the Arafura Games as they should be run, not as the joke it was under you guys who did not care.
Col Fuller and Barry Coulter –
Appointment of
Appointment of
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Everyone across Darwin is saying that Col Fuller is running the Territory with his sidekick, Barry Coulter. Exactly what roles have Col Fuller and Barry Coulter been appointed to? What are their salaries? Is it true they have taken over an entire floor of the Department of the Chief Minister and are deciding who gets the chop and who does not across government? What are their salaries and what is their budget? What do they receive for travel, and what are they spending on hospitality?
These are real questions about Col Fuller, your mate you handpicked and appointed into the government with his sidekick, Barry Coulter, who are running the Territory - and not you.
ANSWER
I am the Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition. You may well ask all types of strange questions and make strange imputations. However, I have people around me who are providing quality support and guidance, and who are ensuring we can clean up effectively the mess we inherited from you. There are so many really big questions that …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. What are Col Fuller and Barry Coulter’s job titles, what are their salaries, what are their travelling entitlements, what is their hospitality, and have they taken over a floor of the Department of the Chief Minister?
Madam SPEAKER: Could you get to the point of the question please, Chief Minister.
Mr MILLS: No, they have not. They have not taken over an entire floor. They are, along with a number of quality people who have concern for the Territory right at the core of their being, serving the best interests of this government to deliver an appropriate direction to get us out of the mess you have put us in …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. Answer the question: what are their job titles, what are their salaries, what is their travel and hospitality?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr MILLS: The core of you question is: what are they doing? They are providing a level of support and advice to ensure this government has the capacity to get itself out of the problem you created. There are so many questions, Opposition Leader, left unanswered by you. There are more questions which should be going to you that you are going to shield ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. The Chief Minister is refusing to answer the question. He is refusing to give the job title of Col Fuller and Barry Coulter, the salaries for his old mates who are running the Territory, and what their travel and hospitality entitlements are. You have not yet confirmed what proportion of the Department of the Chief Minister they have taken over.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you have the floor.
Mr MILLS: I will table those details because I have nothing to hide, unlike you. You have much to hide. We have a big job to do and need quality people to assist us with that. However, do not worry, we will make that information available to you if that is of your primary concern.
Madam Speaker, our primary concern is fixing the Territory.
Arafura Games Status
Mr KURRUPUWU to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you update the House on the status of this year’s Arafura Games?
Ms Lawrie: Bungles.
Mr Mills: Dopey.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, she fails to understand the basic concept of alliteration. ‘Dopey Delia’ sits much better than ‘Bungles Conlan’, Leader of the Opposition ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr CONLAN: ... the greatest Leader of the Opposition we have ever seen. Talk about the feigned indignation.
The first question, on the fly, was about the games and how we have wrecked the Territory. The next question is something completely different. Unbelievable - about Barry Coulter, one of the greatest parliamentarians the Territory has ever seen and a former Deputy Chief Minister, and Col Fuller. All she can do is cast aspersions against two great guys. If that is not enough …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I would love to hear why the CLP has cancelled the Arafura Games. I would like him to answer the question.
Mr CONLAN: Absolutely, Madam Speaker. If that was not disparaging enough, she also continuously bags Alice Springs. We know she does not like Alice Springs, never liked Alice Springs. God forbid we should move the Arafura Games to Alice Springs. God forbid Alice Springs should be part of the Northern Territory. Heaven forbid! It is no wonder you are sitting over there as a result of what we have here today. The bush has spoken loud and clear, and thank God it has.
The Arafura Games was left in a terrible state as a result of the failed Sports minister. If there was ever an example of an idle politician, Karl Hampton was it. He could not even get off his backside and engage Asia. He had to send his then Sports advisor, now the member for Johnston, to go out there and do that, and what a very poor job he did!
Let us look at the current state of the Arafura Games. You might be interested to hear this, dopey. No contracts have been engaged with sponsors, no media partners ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member to withdraw that unparliamentarily comment, admit he is not up to the job of delivering the Arafura Games and sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could tone down your language, please.
Mr CONLAN: I certainly will not sit down. I will withdraw that term of endearment.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr CONLAN: Sponsors - no contracts have been engaged with sponsors. Suppliers – registration, software and procurement processes have not been completed. The venue has been cancelled; there is no games hub. The heads of delegation meeting has not progressed. The volunteers - no e-mail to recruit volunteers since the 2011 games.
Let us make it clear. We are about five-and-a-half to six months out until show time, Leader of the Opposition - no branding, no IT, no social media, no e-news has been engaged, no ceremonies, nothing about the opening or closing ceremony, or NT Sports finalising their budget - there is no agreement with those organisations, no sports medicine, and no Australian Paralympic committee has been formulated to progress the 2013 games. For the sake of the Territory, we are deferring it.
Renewal Management Board
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Your so-called independent Renewal Management Board consisting of your hand-picked mates, Neil Conn, Ken Clarke, John Gardner and Alan Tregilgas, is employed to come up with the answers you want to pay for your unfunded election commitments to the bush ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition well knows that naming people in this House without giving them the capacity to defend themselves while she slurs their integrity is something which is frowned upon by the Chair traditionally. I encourage you to frown upon it in this instance.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the names have just been mentioned; there has been no detrimental comment passed. If you could please get to the question, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you. I note the member for Port Darwin is highly sensitive about the subject of this so-called independent Renewal Management Board where they have handpicked old mates, Neil Conn, Ken Clarke, John Gardner and Alan Tregilgas…
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, your time has expired.
Ms LAWRIE: What is their salary? What is their budget is? What is their travel ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, your time has expired.
ANSWER
All you want is to have tabled what they are being paid, is that correct?
Ms Lawrie: Their budget, their travel, hospitality.
Mr MILLS: Sure, I have nothing to hide. But,you do; that is why I have quality people. You cast these aspersions like ‘sneaking around to find your mates who are going to tell you something you want them to find for you’. That really is a reflection on the way in which you must operate. If you think that is what I do, obviously, you have that as your mode of operation. That is not the way I operate.
You could not find better people to do this job. You can go outside ...
Ms Lawrie: What is wrong with the former Under Treasurer?
Mr MILLS: I know you have an outstanding CV; it matches against a former Administrator and a couple of Under Treasurers who are eminently qualified. I understand exactly what you are trying to do here before there is a report for anyone to see in the Northern Territory and make their own mind up on this.
If the big concern is what they are being paid - well, they are being paid. We will make Territorians aware of that; we have nothing to hide there.
However, I can see what is happening here. You are trying your darndest to put up some sort of smoke screen to try to deflect people’s attention from what will be contained in that report ...
Ms Lawrie: Transparency and accountability.
Mr MILLS: It will all be there. You can read it, any Territorian can read it. What you are doing –and I noticed this last week - you are, obviously, deeply sensitive about what will be brought to light for all to see.
You have a real government which will make the hard decisions, unlike the former government which was more interested in excessive self-promotion, denial of the truth, obfuscating, and not making hard decisions. That is why you are where you are. That is why Territorians need some strong leadership and quality advice, and that quality advice will be provided for all to see. We will be prepared to make the decisions that are necessary in the best interests of the long-term future of the Northern Territory because we believe the best days of the Territory are ahead of us. We have nothing to hide. You do, and you have questions you need to answer.
Crime - Measures to Reduce
Mr STYLES to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
What steps has your government taken to reduce crime in the Territory since coming to office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. There seems to be a crime that has been committed that these guys are trying to cover up on the other side; that is, a failure to do their job properly. Territorians are deeply concerned at what they have found. However, I thank you, member for Sanderson, for your question.
My government has taken a number of steps towards attacking crime in the Northern Territory since coming into government, following the election on 25 August. While the community should be aware of my government’s commitment to reduce the overall level of crime and to employ 120 police - 20 of which are targeted to work in, of all places, Alice Springs, Opposition Leader. I am also pleased to inform members that my government has moved quickly to introduce a legislative program to ensure that crime does not pay.
I am assured that the vital work of these 120 new police members will be well received by the community and the extra coverage will definitely increase the probability, if not the inevitability, of being apprehended and punished if you act or behave poorly, break the law, or commit a crime. My government is in no doubt we need to be tough on crime.
As part of our legislative agenda we have introduced amendments to the Police Administration Act designed to allow arresting officers to take a sample of drug testing to attack the scourge of drugs, and get a clear picture on exactly what is happening on our streets. We have introduced the violent act causing death bill, better known as the one punch legislation, which is aimed at changing the behaviour on the streets and addressing the scourge of alcohol-fuelled violence.
We have plans to amend the Criminal Code Act and the Sentencing Act to formulate appropriate penalties for unlawful assault where the suspect is believed to have had a dangerous drug in their body, and we will introduce legislation ensuring that serious, serial sexual offenders are kept away from the community.
However, while we have put in place the resources and are strengthening the laws, we are also developing the process of corrections. On 31 August this year, we commenced a recruitment campaign for 120 police, the Extreme Policing - Join the Force campaign. On 21 September, my government appointed Mr John Dalby to oversee the Katherine Rehabilitation Centre and alcohol policy reforms. On 26 September, we brought a focus on the issue of crime by releasing crime statistics. On 5 October this year we brought together Alice Springs agencies and organisations to a stakeholder meeting on alcohol policy to provide input on our reforms – we are open and accountable. The legislation I mentioned has started to work its way through the House this past week.
Madam Speaker, my government is committed to making sure crime does not pay and offenders are held accountable for their actions. Let us be assured the new laws my government is bringing into this House will be there to change the behaviour of criminals.
Health Department Job Losses
Mr VATSKALIS to MINISTER for HEALTH
On the Thursday before the election, on a national televised debate, the Chief Minister guaranteed that no public servants will lose their jobs. Through our Job Watch site we have been told that 84 Territorians’ jobs have been axed either through redundancy or temporary contracts being ceased in the Health Department - your department. Can you confirm this number is correct and, if so, when these positions were lost? What are you doing to fill these positions and why have you changed your priorities from people to profit?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Casuarina for his question. No frontline worker in the Health Department has lost their job. There are some contracts that have not been renewed, that is true, but that is not a sacking, that is simply not renewing a contract. There is a subtle difference and I am sure the member for Casuarina understands that.
Of course, if the member for Casuarina is so concerned about job losses why did he not say something when his government was racking up debt at a million miles an hour? And the former Treasurer paid scant regard for the jobs of Territorians when she continued to spend, spend, spend ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. Eighty-four people have lost their jobs in the Health department because of your decision.
Mr TOLLNER: That is not true, 84 people have not lost their jobs because of our decision. We would not have to look at these austerity measures at all if the previous government had a little regard for our fiscal position in the Northern Territory. Instead, we had a government that spent like crazy and is now jumping up here bleating because changes have to be made. Shame on the former government! You have sold the farm and now it is our fault for trying to fix things.
Power and Water Corporation –
Level of Debt
Level of Debt
Ms FINOCCHIARO to TREASURER
The Opposition Leader has been critical of the government’s plan to increase electricity tariffs in an effort to cut Power and Water’s dire levels of debt. Can you provide an overview of how the former Labor government put political expediency ahead of sound financial management?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale. Yes, we have inherited a mess and I am not surprised the former Treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, is deeply embarrassed and trying to cover her tracks.
The previous government had no commitment to balancing the Territory budget through sensible and sustainable financial practice; its only commitment was to winning the last election no matter what the cost ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Treasurer is misleading the House. We had capital works running counter-cyclical, a deficit reduction strategy, efficiency dividends, and a staffing cap.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am sorry to interrupt. Again, the Leader of the Opposition insists on making an assertion she knows she cannot make unless she moves it by way of a substantive motion, which she has not done. She must withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business. Treasurer, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Yes, we hear more attempts from the Leader of the Opposition to cover up the mess she has left. I guess if I was in her position I would be doing the same.
Madam Speaker, I table an exchange of letters between the former Treasurer and shareholder of the Power and Water Corporation and the former Chairman, Judith King, of Power and Water. Judith King made it very clear as far back as 2011 that:
- ... the Corporation is not financially sustainable without significant revenue increases, cost reductions or deferral of capital investment.
In her response to Judith King’s letter last year the Treasurer wrote:
- The tariffs for retail electricity, water and sewerage are to be reviewed during 2012-13 on the basis of financial and commercial sustainability ...
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I request that the Treasurer tables the notes she is reading from.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, are they notes to be tabled or your private papers?
Mrs LAMBLEY: I am tabling the letters - the correspondence I said I would table.
The former Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition, very publicly said to the ABC yesterday that to make Power and Water Corporation commercially sustainable, tariffs would have to be increased by 50% - a total admission of your failure as the former Treasurer to adequately increase revenue so Power and Water Corporation could survive ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This Treasurer is hopeless. She does not even understand the difference between commercial sustainability and financial sustainability.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, please be seated.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! On several occasions during the Treasurer’s answer to the last question the Leader of the Opposition continued to assert she was misleading the House. I ask that protocol be followed; that she either proceeds with a substantive motion or she withdraws the comment.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of Government Business, do you wish withdraw your comments?
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw ‘misleading’ - she is making it up as she goes along.
Herbert – Flooding of Blocks
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Yesterday I asked whether the government was going to support the recommendation of the Ombudsman in relation to the flooding of blocks in Herbert, and you said:
- The Ombudsman’s report and the recommendations therein are equally valid and supported. I can report to you at this point that the negotiations are still in play. The developer is prepared to correct and to work in good faith to fix the problem. I can provide you with additional briefings on that afterwards.
I thank you for that, minister. Last night, I was in touch with one of the affected residents and have seen an e-mail to them from the member for Goyder which said Mr Mills stated the report recommendations are accepted by him and the process to buy back the properties will commence.
Minister, the residents believed you. Are you telling the residents you are not going to accept the recommendations and commence the buy-back?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a good question. Thank you, member for Nelson.
I did respond yesterday and gave you the briefing I could at that stage. I also advised you I would get you a more up-to-date briefing. What you have reported is quite accurate.
Office of Children and Families –
Job Losses
Job Losses
Ms FYLES to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
On the Thursday before the election, on a nationally televised debate, the Chief Minister guaranteed no public servants would lose their jobs. Through our Job Watch website we have been advised 16 Territorians’ jobs in the Office of Children and Families have been axed, either through redundancy or temporary contracts being ceased. Can you confirm this number is correct? If so, have these positions been lost and what are you doing to fill these gaps? Why have you changed your priorities from people to profits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I take on board the final comment in the question from the member for Nightcliff. There will be no profit in this organisation called government for quite some time thanks to the legacy left by the former government.
In answer to your question, a similar answer to what was given by the Minister for Health where we have not renewed contract positions as a means to save money across the board. We have made no secret of that. We are retaining all frontline workers. We are committed to maintaining the current level of service and trying to increase the level of service delivery in child protection because we are committed to child protection, looking after the needs of children and families throughout the Northern Territory, unlike the former government which had six independent reports written during its time in government outlining its failures. It is quite hypocritical for the member for Nightcliff, the shadow minister for Children and Families, to come into this House and start throwing stones at us.
They started the process of reform; however, there is a heck of a long way to go. We are committed to ensuring the reform processes continue to fix the mess left in the child protection arena by the former government. We will not be sacking any frontline workers. When it comes to contract workers, that is a different kettle of fish; we have made no secret of it. We have to make savings somewhere and some of those positions will go.
Children and Families –
Improved Services to
Improved Services to
Mrs PRICE to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
Alcohol abuse can have a significant effect on families and children, in particular, children’s safety. Can you explain to the House these effects, and can you update the House on your approach to children’s services that will improve the effectiveness of your department to respond to children in need?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is what we should be talking about in this parliament - improving the lives of children and their families in the Northern Territory. Let us get back to core business. Despite the mess we have inherited from the former government, despite the state of the books, we need to be focused, and we are. This government is focused on providing good services. We acknowledge, when it comes to providing child protection services in the Northern Territory, you cannot not include discussion about the impact of alcohol on children and families.
There are strong links between parental alcohol abuse and child abuse. It is no surprise child protection agencies in Australia report alcohol abuse is one of the main contributors to child protection cases.
To paraphrase the Little Children are Sacred report, it is generally accepted, in national and international literature, that alcohol is a dangerous drug that can result in a wide variety of serious and physical social harms when used excessively.
We, as the new government, believe there is a place for responsible drinking. We feel there is a place for Living with Alcohol, a former program run by the Northern Territory government. The Little Children are Sacred report went on to state that when used moderately and responsibly, alcohol is a pleasurable part of our social fabric.
The effect excessive alcohol can have on children’s lives is also very well established, starting before birth with foetal alcohol syndrome. It is recognised that a very sad disproportionate number of children are being born in the Northern Territory with this terrible syndrome, and we have to address that. That is a part of our brief as government. The impact of alcohol on the developing brain of the child and adolescent is also well-documented, damaging memory, learning capabilities, and the decision-making and reasoning areas of the brain. Harmful alcohol can reduce self-control and make an individual more likely to act violently, out of control and make very bad decisions, particularly when it comes to children.
Harmful alcohol used by parents can impair their sense of responsibility, and children’s basic needs are often neglected. We know and see that in the Northern Territory through the child protection services all the time. In fact, alcohol abuse is not only a factor that increases the risk of child abuse; children who have been abused are more likely to develop harmful alcohol use behaviours later in life.
This government takes the safety of children in our community very seriously. I have made a firm commitment to child protection in the Northern Territory. The strengthening collaboration of the Office of Children and Families and the Department of Education and Children’s Services will deliver an increased focus on safety, wellbeing and education of children across the Northern Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Tourism NT – Staff Positions Axed
Mr VOWLES to MINISTER for TOURISM and MAJOR EVENTS
On the Thursday before the election, on a nationally televised debate, the Chief Minister guaranteed that no public servants would lose their jobs. Through our Job Watch site, we have been advised that 20 Territorians’ jobs have been axed, either through redundancy or temporary contracts being ceased in Tourism NT. Can you confirm that this number is correct? If so, where have those positions been lost and what are you doing to fill these gaps? Why have you changed your priorities from people to profits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, how about three cheers for the shadow minister for Tourism for asking his first question? Hip, hip, hooray; hip, hip, hooray; hip, hip, hooray! Well done, Ken, member for Johnston. Congratulations!
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, that was uncalled for. Just answer the question, please.
Mr CONLAN: Okay, Madam Speaker. I thought it was worth celebrating, but I take your advice. It is great to see the member for Johnston is showing some interest ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We just saw the minister for Tourism celebrating that 20 Territorians have been sacked. You are a disgrace, Bungles.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please be seated. Minister, you have the call.
Mr CONLAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Actually, we are celebrating the silent member for Johnston finally asking his first question on a very important issue and a very important industry - something he has shown no interest in up until today. His very first question on Day 5 of parliament - do you think you can keep up, Ken? We have a fairly major sports announcement ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, please refer to the member by his electorate.
Mr CONLAN: Member for Johnston, I hope you can keep up. We are moving pretty quick, I know. We had a major sports announcement surrounding the Arafura Games today, the feigned indignation from the Leader of the Opposition, and disparaging comments towards other regional or remote parts of the Northern Territory she does not care about. We all know that. You all do not really care about it, and you are showing very little interest in tourism. I believe it was worth celebrating and offering you some encouragement. I hope you will continue to show some interest in tourism and, indeed, sport. I know it might be a bit hard for you to keep up; I hope you can. We will go slowly for you ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113, Relevance.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, if you could get to the point of the question?
Mr CONLAN: Madam Speaker, it was a commitment by this government that no one earning under $110 000 would lose their job. Much to the pain and indignation of the member for Johnston, no one will be sacked; no one will be forced to move. The Country Liberals do not plan on eating those people’s children ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can the Minister for Tourism confirm that of the 20 people sacked, none were earning under $110 000? Go and check the data.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please be seated. There is no point of order.
Mr CONLAN: As I said, it was a commitment by this government that no one earning under $110 000 would lose their job; no one will be forced to move to Alice Springs; there will be no forced relocations; and those people who are moving to Alice Springs will be encouraged to move to Alice Springs. If people do not want to move to Alice Springs they do not have to. We are an open and accountable government and what we are doing with tourism is in the best interests of the tourism industry and of the Northern Territory.
Alcohol Consumption – Impact of Adults’ Behaviour on the Education of Children
Ms LEE to MINISTER for EDUCATION
How does the behaviour of adults impact on the education of Territory children, particularly in relation to the consumption of alcohol within our communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. This is a very important part of how we go about providing education services in the Northern Territory. One of the reasons why providing education is such a challenge is the behaviour of adults regarding alcohol consumption within our community. As adults, and as parents, we have a significant influence over our children, more so than anyone or anything. We are competing these days with things like television, movies, and the Internet. Parents have a tough job when it comes to providing a good role model for their children.
One of the most difficult challenges in the Northern Territory is to assist adults in being good role models for their children when it comes to alcohol consumption. It is clear that responsible habits lead to responsible behaviour and a better chance for children getting along to school every day. Alcohol can stand in the way of kids going to school; we know that. It can inhibit the general functioning of everyday life, which includes preparing kids for school, feeding them, and getting them off to school. We know this is a major problem in the Northern Territory. There is compelling evidence which shows that children attending school nine days out of 10 - 90% of the time or better - learn to read and count so much faster than those who do not.
Therefore, it is imperative this government, working with communities, schools, parents, and children throughout the Northern Territory, gets on top of this. What is the link between school attendance and performance and alcohol consumption? It cannot be ignored. It is something we really need to look at.
As parents or senior members of our community, the right thing to do is to be good role models for our children; we need to be the living day-to-day examples for our children when it comes to good drinking behaviour. Reject ‘do as I say, not as I do’, particularly as your children get older. I know when I am enjoying a glass of wine occasionally I am very conscious of the fact that my prepubescent kids are looking at me, seeing how I am behaving and how I am …
Ms Walker: But where is this from a policy perspective?
Mrs LAMBLEY: This is all about policy and I do not need any interjections from the other side. This is an important part of how we will move forward when it comes to linking education and alcohol policy.
Also, as parents and adults, we need to convey appropriate attitudes. We should never laugh at intoxication or inappropriate behaviour. We can use news events, TV, movies, or personal events as appropriate opportunities to discuss what appropriate and inappropriate behaviours are when it comes to alcohol consumption.
Other things we need to impart to our children are not to drink and drive - very basic things; do not participate in drinking games or contests. Parents should exert more influence over their offspring than they do, and this will be a part of how we move forward with education and linking alcohol to education in the Northern Territory.
Education Department Job Losses
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for EDUCATION
Territory public servants were told their jobs were safe. On the Thursday before the election, on a nationally televised debate, the Chief Minister guaranteed that no public servants would lose their jobs. Through our job website we have been advised that 50 Territorians’ jobs have been axed either through redundancy or temporary contracts being ceased in the Education Department. Can you confirm these numbers are correct and, if so, where have these positions been lost and what are you doing to fill the gaps? Why have you changed your priorities from people to profits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. There are positions which have been lost, but through contracts not being renewed, which is what we discussed earlier this morning. Also, there are many Commonwealth government funded positions which were not renewed.
There has been no impact on the front line when it comes to education. The CE of Education, Gary Barnes, has assured me that all positions involved in providing frontline services to students, across the Northern Territory will stay as they are.
We are committed to ensuring that children in the Northern Territory get the best education and training available. We are committed to ensuring that literacy and numeracy levels across the Northern Territory improve. Under the former government they dropped; attendance dropped. We were left with a very bad legacy which we are trying to work through.
There have been some job losses but they are not attributed to the front line. Some contracts have not been renewed, and some Commonwealth government funded positions that have not been renewed.
Power and Water –
Indigenous Essential Services Pty Ltd
Indigenous Essential Services Pty Ltd
Mr WOOD to TREASURER
The NT News today said you will do whatever you have to, to make Power and Water a commercially sustainable business. What will that mean for those communities serviced by the Indigenous Essential Services Pty Ltd - a not-for-profit subsidiary of Power and Water - which presently only recovers 20% of its costs from customers? Will the IES also have to become a commercially sustainable business? If so, what will that mean to the people living in the 72 remote communities in relation to water, electricity, and sewerage charges?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There will be no change to the Indigenous Essential Services. Those communities will not be affected by any increases in tariffs.
In the paper I was quoted as saying we will do anything we can to return Power and Water Corporation to commercial sustainability, that is exactly what I meant. We are identifying savings across the realm of the Power and Water Corporation. We have identified capital expenditure savings, deferment of expenditure, and we are looking at tariff increases.
We make no secret of what we have to do to make Power and Water Corporation financially viable. The position we inherited from the former government - 10 weeks in we have a reasonably clear picture of what we are working with. The picture is bleak, thanks to the former Treasurer, the former shareholder minister who abrogated her responsibilities to properly manage the affairs of Power and Water Corporation …
Ms Lawrie: It was clear in the PEFO. It was clear in the statement of corporate intent.
Mrs Walker: What are you doing to put the lights on in Gove?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mrs LAMBLEY: Yes, she is embarrassed ...
Ms Lawrie: No I am not.
Mrs LAMBLEY: ... and her interjections are coming fast and furiously, but the reality is Territorians will experience some pain …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! My question was specific, so it is relevance. My questions was whether people in the remote communities will have an increase in their tariffs if the government decides to turn it into a commercially sustainable proprietary limited.
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, if you could get to the point.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, I have answered the question the member for Nelson has asked. Commercial sustainability is what any corporation aspires to, and most corporations function at that level. The former Treasurer never really understood what that meant.
That means covering costs and making a profit. If you make a profit it means the government does not have to prop up Power and Water Corporation. We do not have to put all the money which should be spent on roads, houses, health services, and education services, into propping up Power and Water Corporation.
The former Treasurer failed to understand the economic cost of propping up Power and Water Corporation; she loaded up the debt of the Northern Territory to the extent where we are all suffering.
In answer to your question, member for Nelson, Indigenous Essential Services will not be changed or affected.
Mr Henderson: That is outrageous.
Mrs LAMBLEY: It is outrageous, you are right.
Banned Drinker Register -
Opposition Leader’s Comments on ABC Radio
Ms FINOCCHIARO to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
Can the minister please inform the House why the Leader of the Opposition’s comments on ABC radio on 4 October:
- The animal bars in Alice Springs are full again and there is a lot more public drunkenness, violence and antisocial behaviour since the BDR was scrapped ...
- ... bottle shops have had to put on security because of the absolute inundation of people.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. She takes an active interest in this issue in Darwin and Territory-wide.
It was once said to me that government was like a firefighter and the opposition was like a pyromaniac. The Leader of the Opposition has warmed to her newfound mania with a passion ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Offensive. There is no mania, we are holding you to account for your stupid actions.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, she has embraced it with matches, petrol, diesel, and anything else that will burn. The only thing I ask of the Leader of the Opposition is she contains herself in her setting fire to anything she can find, at least, the truth. Unfortunately, she has been on a frolic of her own.
The protective custodies during the operation of the BDR in Alice Springs increased by 57% - 1782 more people were taken into custody in the year during the operation of the BDR in Alice Springs. In the Northern Territory, 25% of all drunks taken into custody were in Alice Springs.
Under the BDR, some pubs in Alice Springs offered to take the scanners inside the bars ...
Ms Lawrie: Three.
Mr ELFERINK: Three of them. It is curious because, on the back of the comments by the Leader of the Opposition, the reference to animal bars is rejected outright by the Australian Hotels Association because it tries its hardest and obeys the laws of the Northern Territory. It describes the language of the Leader of the Opposition as ‘plainly unacceptable’.
One of the problems with having these scanners inside those three bars was the patrons who would normally frequent those bars then went to other hotels in the Alice Springs area. As a consequence, people who were seeking accommodation in those hotels had a negative effect. What the BDR achieved was an increased amount of public drunkenness in Alice Springs. Moreover, what it achieved was an increase in the amount of people being apprehended. It is up to the Leader of the Opposition to at least pursue her mania with the truth.
Environmental Protection Authority and Proposed Planning Commission –
Selection of Heads
Selection of Heads
Mr McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
In the 100-day plan of the CLP - your plan - you promised you would seek expressions of interest for the head of your independent EPA and your planning commission. Instead, you broke the promise. You handpicked your mate, Gary Nairn, former CLP President, former Liberal politician. I ask you to table the salaries of your mates and their budget for travel and hospitality.
In relation to your 100-day plan, Day 5: open up expressions of interest and applications for the appointment of chair of your independent planning commission and chair of the independent EPA. We hear all about honesty and accountability. Why did you break your promise to Territorians?
ANSWER
You must be running short on questions. You asked this question last week ...
Mr McCarthy: I have not asked this question before.
Mr MILLS: No, you are a part of a team.
Mr McCarthy: You have it now, so answer it.
Mr MILLS: I answered it last week. You are quite right; you did not see an advertisement in the paper. As Chief Minister, I made a decision to identify those people would be able to do the job. I was criticised at the time for doing it. It is a matter of making the right decision. Ultimately, the fifth point of the five-point plan is hold us accountable ...
Ms Lawrie: What is his salary?
Mr MILLS: Just relax. Wait to see the results of this decision in regard to quality planning!
By the way, Mr Nairn was sought after and accepted a position working for the Labor government in Tasmania, such is the respect they have for him. He provides support right across the country and is highly regarded nationally. It is a good thing we have been able to secure his services in the Northern Territory. If you wanted to run the imputations of your line of questioning in the view of the wider community …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance – 113. What is the salary, what is the travel and hospitality budget of these two handpicked positions?
Mr MILLS: You can probably guess what I will say. I will not hide that; it will be made known to you. The point is, this is not what you are after - thinking you will get us. These things are not hidden; they will be made known to you.
However, making a decision to put a quality person who is highly regarded nationally and has been so well supported in the Territory community to do a particular job - you will see the results of this decision in time, so bear with us. Regarding the ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Ignoring an expression of interest process across our nation and the Northern Territory is out of order ...
Madam SPEAKER: No, there is no point of order, please be seated.
Mr MILLS: I accept responsibility for that and, ultimately, you will see. Those who have been chosen …
Mr Henderson: You lied to Territorians!
Mr MILLS: … you could not have better ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Wanguri should withdraw that allegation or make it by way of substantive motion.
Mr HENDERSON: I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Wanguri. Chief Minister.
Mr MILLS: I have answered the question.
Palmerston Hospital –
Cancellation of Plans to Build
Cancellation of Plans to Build
Mr VATSKALIS to CHIEF MINISTER
We learnt that your government is not going to proceed with the Palmerston hospital. You will lose $70m from the Commonwealth, and you are not going to provide such an essential service to the people in Palmerston and the rural area. Why have you broken your promise to the people in Palmerston by cancelling the Palmerston hospital? Why have you changed your priorities from people to profit?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is the opposite. We are turning our attention to people and making sure they are well served by a responsible government. I cannot believe you would ask this question. You were in the parliament yesterday when a similar question was asked and answered. If it had been heard by you, honourable member, you would not be asking the same question ...
Mr Vatskalis: Are you going to build the hospital?
Mr MILLS: Yes, of course, we are.
Mr Vatskalis: When?
Mr MILLS: It is nine weeks and how many days?
Mrs Lambley: Five.
Mr MILLS: We have found out in nine weeks and five days that which was concealed by the former government regarding the debt situation.
The quality of the design work is being properly assessed; we are weighing that up and considering it. Consider this also: there are concerns about the location. When the former government made a surprise announcement - surprised the Palmerston community, picked a location that was convenient for presentation purposes - you did not ensure it was the right location.
We are checking the design you have given us is an appropriate design; that the location is an appropriate location; and the services which will be provided there - if you will recall, it was quite embarrassing for the former Health minister not to be able to give a full account of what Palmerston and rural families would receive at that facility.
I should also make clear, being an accountable government - in opposition for 11 years, I presented petitions with 11 000 or thereabouts signatures - it might even be more - to the former government because of your appalling service to the people of the Palmerston and rural area in closing down a clinic, reducing its hours, and saying the 2008 commitment we made was a cruel farce. We have been consistent, and we will ensure we deliver on our commitment in a way that delivers now and into the long-term. It will be a real decision people can trust.
They never trusted the former government because, out of the blue, it put up some framework around a block of dirt simply for the purposes of putting your election posters on it. Such was your concern for the health of Palmerston and rural people, you only thought of it in political terms. You did not think of the design or the location, and we do not know about the money. We will get all of those things ticked off and deliver on our commitment.
Crime and Antisocial Behaviour –
Effects on Business
Effects on Business
Mr HIGGINS to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
Can you please advise the House of the effect crime and antisocial behaviour is having on Northern Territory business?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, crime and antisocial behaviour is not a new thing in the Northern Territory. Prior to the introduction of legislation by the former Labor government it was a problem. Subsequent to the introduction of alcohol legislation by the former Labor government, it continued to be a problem.
On many occasions I raised issues about some of the problems businesses were facing. It was the case before and during the BDR that shopkeepers in my electorate, and others around the Northern Territory, regularly had to hose urine and faeces, and occasionally even drunks, from their premises.
I have sadly been told of one Alice Springs security company that earlier this year had four of their 15 staff paid compensation following bashings. That was during the operation of the Banned Drinker Register. That company’s insurance premiums have gone from 4% to 25% of its payroll, and that is a deeply concerning problem.
This is continuing evidence that the BDR, whilst well intended, was not working and did not work. We will introduce into the Northern Territory legislation that does something the former government’s legislation did not achieve and that is …
Ms Lawrie: Lock up alcoholics
Mr ELFERINK: Yes, apprehend ...
Ms Lawrie: Lock them up. You are criminalising drunkenness.
Mr ELFERINK: I pick up on the interjection ‘lock up alcoholics’. Apprehend them and make them personally responsible for their conduct because, if you do nothing else, then all you have achieved is spend $18m of Territory taxpayers’ money reducing the number of apprehensions by 366. Each reduced apprehension under the former government’s operation was worth $50 000 to the taxpayer. There must be a better way to do this job.
We believe in personal responsibility and that there is room for apprehension of a person who is conducting themselves in such a fashion as to be a danger to themselves or a continuing danger to the people of the Northern Territory. It is about time we bit the bullet on this and did something for the people who are suffering from chronic alcoholism. We heard from the previous government that it was happy to do this with petrol sniffers, but it was not prepared to do this with alcoholics.
Madam Speaker, they operate under a double standard. We will not operate under a double standard. We will do what is necessary to protect the interests of the businesses and shopkeepers in the Northern Territory.
Power, Water and Sewerage –
Rising Costs
Rising Costs
Ms LAWRIE to TREASURER
When you are in government you need to make choices for the priorities of your government. We chose to keep the costs of living down for Territorians by not passing on the full effect of the Reeves report. Why are you choosing to drive power prices up for Territory families and businesses to pay for your unfunded election commitments in the bush? The truth is you are showing you care more about turning the Power and Water Corporation into a profit-making enterprise than delivering the essential services to ensure Territorians can cover what they struggle to pay for power, water and sewerage in the Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question.
I find myself saying what I have heard the Leader of the Opposition say so many times in parliament before: you just do not understand. You do not understand, Leader of the Opposition, that the people of the Northern Territory are paying for your debt. They are paying to prop up the Power and Water Corporation now, and they have been for many years …
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the member to direct her comments through the Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: Member, please direct your comments through the Chair. Thank you, member for Barkly.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Any defence is a good defence.
Madam Speaker, the reality of the situation is the former government has placed Territorians in a position where they are paying $750 000 per day, every day of the year, to pay off the nett debt they have left us. Much of this debt is due to the debts incurred by the Power and Water Corporation. The former Treasurer, the Leader of the Opposition knows this, and she is pretending, once again, it is not there. .She is hiding behind a rock …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113, Relevance. She is making a choice to hike up power prices through her own actions.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please be seated. Treasurer, if you could get to the point.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, the former Treasurer was advised by the Reeves report in 2009 that prices had to go up for the purposes of providing revenue for the Power and Water Corporation. We have a situation in Power and Water where the costs outweigh the revenue – a very basic equation. The former Treasurer never understood it; she still does not understand it.
Tariffs have to go up in the Northern Territory so Power and Water Corporation has the revenue to cover its forever-expanding costs. It is a big business, it employs many people, and provides many services throughout the Northern Territory. Thank God the corporation is filled with very good people. That is what will get us through this situation, plus good saving measures, and good mechanisms in place to reform the corporation from top to bottom.
The Leader of the Opposition was told in the Reeves report and by Judith King, the former Chair of the board, that she had to increase tariffs in order to cover her expenses. She never took the advice. Instead, she has laden the people of the Northern Territory with a level of debt which is unsustainable. The people of the Northern Territory are paying right now.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016