2006-02-21
Antisocial Behaviour and Protective Custody
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Is it not the case that the 22 000 people who were taken into protective custody last year are those whom most people in the community consider to be offensive, and who are rarely charged with offences at all? Is it not the case that these people are the ones who swear, urinate, defecate, and cause havoc in our public places? My question is: is it true that your get out of gaol free package will not touch anyone arrested for protective custody?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is good to have a day in this parliament where we focus on the issue of antisocial behaviour and strategies to deal with it. Can I say very clearly that what we have in front of us in the parliament today is only one aspect of tackling what is a difficult and complex problem right across the Territory. I have noticed with interest the CLP’s Safe Streets Policy and, to give it credit, I read it. What concerns me about what the opposition is putting forward is that it is a recriminalisation of drunkenness. Think about this: what does recriminalising drunkenness mean? It is interesting that it is not recriminalised in any part of Australia, so there is obviously a reason why it is not.
Essentially, what the CLP’s policy, which the Opposition Leader launched this morning, would do, is, if you make drunkenness a crime, you can finish a night out on Mitchell Street. That is it. That is what is going to happen. That is the strategy that the opposition is saying will solve our very complex issue of antisocial behaviour. That is the way that they say it will be solved. It is a much more complex problem that we are tackling through an alcohol court, through a strategy for those who are repeat offenders, in terms of being picked up for protective custody or going to sobering up shelters. That is one element.
In Darwin, we also have the Larrakia Intervention and Transport Service, which will be going to the long grassers in places around Darwin and case managing people from where they are back to rehabilitation or home. We have Return to Home strategies. We have a number of different strategies which the Country Liberal Party says are ‘a whole lot of hogwash’. They are not. When we have the Opposition Leader saying, ‘What about the 22 000 drunks’, and putting out press releases saying, ‘thousands of drunks across the Territory’, it is rubbish.
We know that our serious problem is one of a small group; we are talking about 150 to 200 repeat offenders. They are the ones we are going to target. To hear the kind of hyperbole and lack of accuracy of the Opposition Leader is simply not addressing what is a serious problem for the Northern Territory, and it is just political opportunity. It is not a good policy. I have taken a look at it, it will not work. Recriminalising drunkenness will put an end to many Territorians having a good time on Saturday night, and we will not support that.
Northern Territory Economy - Independent Assessments
Mr BURKE to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you and the Treasurer reported to this parliament on the assessment of the Territory economy by Access Economics. Can you advise the House of any recent independent assessments of the Territory economy and what was said?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, last week we had Access Economics. This week we have the Housing Industry Association with their State Outlook for the December quarter which was released recently. The report says that the Northern Territory economy is very strong, …
Dr Lim: Thank you, John Howard.
Ms MARTIN: … very healthy and set to stay that way throughout 2006. I am sorry that the member for Greatorex does not like that, but this is the HIA and they are a very reputable organisation.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I believe this House would be interested in the third party endorsement of where the Territory is headed. It says;
- … high commodity prices, plus an influx of dDefence personnel and expenditure, is generating boom domestic conditions forand housing, retail spending and business investment.
That is the second endorsement we have had in less than a week. The HIA is saying we are heading in the right direction, we are experiencing very good times and, of course, Access Economics last week describing the economy as ‘turbocharged’.
In addition, the Australian Bureau of Statistics latest figures show good results, particularly in the construction area. We realise the importance of ensuring that this growth continues. To be fair to the HIA report, it does acknowledge the traditional volatility of our market, and the cyclical nature of our economy, but it also says that, because the base of our economy is actually broadening, we are not as vulnerable to those cycles as we were in the past, which is a good thing. We have the resources sector going strongly, we have Defence strong, and HIA also talks about strong investment, particularly in construction, and I cannot leave out the importance of gas in all that and downstream gas developments.
The report sums it up - and they have gone through the pluses and minuses, and cycles - but they say the basic point is that the story is a very good one, and this story is here to stay for a while. We are certainly intent on managing the economy so that we can support those types of predictions that we are seeing, and preparing the Territory for - we are probably at the top of the cycle now - when things do slow, preparing our budget and where we invest for the future.
It is good news, and a real tick from both Access Economics and HIA for where our economy is heading.
Antisocial Behaviour – Government Policy
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
The Sentencing Act says that a person must observe any condition imposed by a court. In sentencing, a court already has power to impose orders with respect to rehabilitation of offenders with alcohol problems. We ask: what is new about your new post-election strategy? Is it not the case that the effect of your policy is to allow people to stay out of gaol who might otherwise be sent there? How is this getting tough on antisocial behaviour, something you promised Territorians, with hand on heart, prior to the last election?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. It is interesting, even though the Country Liberal Party is criticising what we are doing, that when they were in government they did nothing. They did nothing for a problem that actually grew under the CLP’s time in government. The CLP starved the police force. Now, we have the frontline in dealing with this antisocial problem on our streets. We have police . We have numbers to be able to deal with it. In Darwin, we have police patrols and ACPO patrols. We are out there. It is not good to stand in here and say, yes, there were 22 000 people picked up by police or community patrols, but at least they are being picked up.
Ms Carney: All 22 000 of them.
Mr Stirling: Yes, what did you blokes do?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: The alcohol court will deal with repeat offenders who commit a crime and are picked up. Rehabilitation treatment is not a soft option. It is a most appropriate option. We are never going to tackle those who are recidivists in the system for being drunk, getting picked up and going through the spin dryer unless we have this point of exit.
It is a good strategy. It is a well thought-out strategy. It contrasts very starkly with the recriminalisation process …
Ms Carney: You really need to get out more. Go and talk to people in your electorate.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: … we saw from the CLP today. It is recriminalisation that will end a night out on Mitchell Street.
GST Revenue - New South Wales Government’s Views on Distribution
Mr KNIGHT to TREASURER
Last week, the Premier of New South Wales said that too much GST revenue was being taken from New South Wales and distributed to other states and territories. Can the Treasurer advise the House whether he agrees with this statement? If not, what is the view of the Treasurer and the government on …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr KNIGHT: What is the view of the Treasurer and the government on Premier Iemma’s comments?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I had to struggle to hear that question, but I did, despite the inane interjections from the other side.
You always know when the Treasurers Conference is rolling around because New South Wales starts to talk about redistribution of the common wealth. Another reason is they have a fairly brand new Treasurer. I do not think Michael Costa has been Treasurer for a week yet but, within hours of being anointed Treasurer in New South Wales, he was out there on the airways. He is a fine bloke. We were fellow Police ministers together a few years ago and we have a good, strong working relationship. Nonetheless, on this issue, as fine a fellow as both he and Morris Iemma are, they are wrong. They are wrong from every which way you look at it in trying to tear up the principles that underline the redistribution of taxation funding in this country.
They are always joined in this by Treasurer Brumby from Victoria, because it is New South Wales and Victoria, as the most wealthy states which, obviously, have revenue taken away from them and redistributed to those other jurisdictions which need those funds in order to provide a decent level of services. It is based on the proposition that it is much more expensive to put a doctor, nurse or a teacher in a place like Borroloola than it is in Toorak Road or Parramatta Road in Sydney. The Commonwealth has a proper view that all Australians are entitled to an equivalent level of service. That is why those wealthy states of New South Wales and Victoria have the GST, which all goes into one pool, redistributed away from them to the smaller states such as ourselves, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and, of course, the ACT, where the ability to raise revenue of their own is clearly not as strong.
The Commonwealth Grants Commission determines how the distribution will occur through a very complex formula which contains a whole range of calculations. It is reviewed every five years. That principle of trying to ensure that all Australians receive a fair level of service - whether it is health, education, government, whatever – is termed horizontal fiscal equalisation. I remember the night before I was travelling to my very first ministerial council in 2001 …
Ms Carney: It is the Marshall story.
Mr STIRLING: The Marshall Perron phone call …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: It was Marshall Perron who gave me the history, in his view, that Western Australia would never have joined the Federation of Australia way back in 1900 when all of this was going down, because they saw New South Wales and Victoria as the most populous states, likely to be the most wealthy and strong states in the federation for many years to come, that if there was not a deal where those states had to share their revenue with the rest of Australia, they were not interested. Western Australia simply would not have joined the federation and, somewhere along the line, someone turned to the principles of horizontal fiscal equalisation, the glue that binds the federation together.
That underlines the wisdom of our forefathers, when they established these principles, as they did way back in 1900 and 1901. Marshall said he did not write those words, someone else did, but he used them, and he educated every minister in every Cabinet that he presided over, over those principles, and assured that they had that knowledge before they went away to ministerial councils.
Madam Speaker, it is part of that institutional framework. We always talk about Australia as the place of a fair go and a society based on fairness and equity. This proves that it goes to the heart of those truisms. I will be there with South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT, and Western Australia, taking on again, I imagine, Victoria and New South Wales and doing our best to ensure that these principles remain alive.
Antisocial Behaviour Legislation – Effect on Juveniles and Itinerants
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Prior to the last election, you promised to introduce an antisocial behaviour package aimed at juveniles. You also promised to get tough on itinerants. In your get out of gaol free package, how often does the word ‘juvenile’ appear and how often does the word ‘itinerants’ appear?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the package we are talking about today is to do with antisocial behaviour. I do not specifically, while standing in here, remember an equivalent package for juveniles. That is a separate issue, so let us deal with antisocial behaviour.
I am convinced that we have a range of measures that will start tackling an entrenched problem for the Northern Territory. I have never come in here or been outside in any context and said that we can tackle antisocial behaviour and get rid of it overnight - I wish we could, but we are not going to be able to. Certainly, we will keep our police and community patrol numbers up. We will have interventions for those who need rehabilitation and treatment for their alcohol addiction and their abuse of alcohol, and we will continue with our Return to Home strategies. We will again review them and ensure that if they need to be changed in any way, we will effect that change.
It is a serious problem for the Territory. I do not back away from that. However, it is a very complex one and this legislation we have in front of us today is an important component, but only one component, of tackling what is a very difficult problem for the Territory.
Humpty Doo Landfill Site
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
In today’s Northern Territory News, it is reported that the president of the Litchfield Shire Council said that there would be a 90% to 100% rate increase due to the impending closure of the Humpty Doo Dump and, furthermore, that the government had not identified an alternative landfill site. Can you please inform the Assembly what steps the government is taking to identify an alternative site?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this, indeed, is a long running issue, it goes back quite a number of years. It goes back to the previous government and successive Litchfield Shire Councils, and into the life of this government.
Mr Wood: Before that.
Dr BURNS: I pick up on the interjection from the member for Nelson. As most would know, he was chair of the Litchfield Shire Council for a number of years, so I suppose we all have a vital interest in this particular matter.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: It is also true to say that, environmentally, the Humpty Doo dump has been a shambles. I have been approached by a number of residents, very upset …
Mr Wood: One household.
Dr BURNS: More than one household, member for Nelson. Some of those households hold you personally responsible for some of that shambles. You have a little form on this, member for Nelson.
The fact of the matter is that, environmentally, there was an order issued that the dump should be closed down. In the longer term, government is going to have responsibility for remediating that site at considerable expense to the taxpayer.
The issue is about finding alternate sites. I am advised that, in 1999, Sunday Creek and the Howard Peninsula were identified as possible future sites for a regional waste facility and, in 2000, the Howard Peninsula had become the preferred site. I am also advised that at that time the onus was placed on the council to carry out a detailed evaluation which, to my knowledge, was not done.
This is an important issue. The management of waste and rubbish, and disposal of rubbish, is a function carried out by local authorities. There has been a continual attitude from the Litchfield Shire that they want to push all the cost on to government. We are not going to bear that cost.
Mr Wood: That is wrong.
Dr BURNS: It is not wrong, member for Nelson. We are not going to bear all of that cost. The Litchfield Shire needs to bear its rightful financial burden. It has reserves of over $6m …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Wood: You do not know what you are talking about.
Dr BURNS: Member for Nelson, the truth hurts but this is the truth. They have reserves of $6m. As minister, I would be expecting them to be investing that sort of money in their waste management. If they have not been rating at the level required to carry out their basic functions, that is another question that has to be asked.
Returning into the present, I met with the chair of the Litchfield Shire about a year ago, and I pledged that the government would try to do all it could to assist the Litchfield Shire in identifying a new site and, in the interim, that the Litchfield Shire could set up a transfer station at Humpty Doo Dump. That work is going on. It is quite a large piece of work to identify a waste facility. What is being talked about is a reasonable waste facility. That could take some time and, in the interim, Litchfield Shire is expected to come to an arrangement of having a transfer facility at the present site of the Humpty Doo Dump.
If the Litchfield Shire comes to me with an identified piece of land where they want to set up the transfer facility within the shire, of course I will consider that and try to facilitate that. Government is trying to play its role in this particular issue, and we are expecting Litchfield Shire, with reserves of over $6m, to do its part.
Members: Hear, hear!
Oncology and Radiotherapy Unit – Funding
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
That simply was just a load of rubbish.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Nelson, ask your question.
Mr WOOD: Last week, when I asked a question about the oncology and radiotherapy unit, the Minister for Health said that we are going to need support from the federal government, both in capital and recurring funding. We know that the oncology and radiotherapy unit will receive its medical isotopes from Lucas Heights. The Northern Territory will need tostore of its own radioactive waste. Radioactive waste has been proven scientifically to be stored safely. The federal government is looking to store the waste of Lucas Heights in the Northern Territory. Many Territorians are sick of waiting for this oncology and radiotherapy unit.
Why cannot your government enter into meaningful negotiations with the federal government, select a suitable site for the radioactive waste facility in the Northern Territory, and, in return, ask the federal government to fund the oncology and radiotherapy unit? Isn’t that a case of deal or no deal?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the member for Nelson is running the line of the member for Solomon and the CLP senator for the Northern Territory. When they sat in my conference room and said to me: ‘How about we do a deal with oncology and nuclear waste?’, I said, ‘We will talk to the federal government about oncology’. We are talking to the federal government about an oncology unit.
The nuclear waste issue is a very separate one, and one that is highly offensive to Territorians, predominantly because the Prime Minister, whatever side of the parliament you are on, gave his word to Territorians that he would not do it. He gave his word to Territorians that he would not put a nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory, and if you cannot trust the Prime Minister when he says something, it is a bit rough, isn’t it? He also said he would not pick on the Northern Territory because we had second-class constitutional status.
So there are two aspects. First of all, he said he would not do it, and then he said he would not pick on us because we are a territory, and he did both. He did both blatantly and we still cannot get a straight answer out of the federal government. We cannot get a straight answer about what are their intentions, what kind of facility do they intend to build, what kind of process, and what are we dealing with.
To link an oncology unit with a nuclear waste facility is absurd. We will deal with our radioactive waste as we currently do at Royal Darwin Hospital, where I believe we have 2 m of it. We hold 1% of Australia’s nuclear waste. Why should we be subject to being the dumping ground for federal nuclear waste, to have waste on trucks going around the country to remote parts of Australia that are not secure? Why should we do this? It does not make sense.
I said that to the federal government and to the minister responsible just two weeks ago and, on behalf of Territorians, I will continue to say it about the nuclear waste dump.
You had a very complete answer on oncology from the minister last week. We are talking to the federal government. We will continue talking about that, and I will continue to say to the federal government: ‘You have lied to the Northern Territory about the nuclear waste facility. We will continue to fight it because it does not make scientific sense and it does not make sense in terms of what you committed to the Northern Territory’.
Alcohol Court – Intervention Orders
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Under the get out of gaol free card alcohol court, intervention orders can only occur after a crime has been committed. Last week, a man from Coconut Grove was attacked in his home and was the victim of a brutal assault. Under your proposed laws, if offenders such as the ones who assaulted this man plead guilty, they will be able to escape gaol if they say they have an alcohol problem. What would you say to victims, like that man at Coconut Grove, if offenders, like those who attacked him, get out of gaol simply because they say they have an alcohol problem, and is this good enough?
ANSWER
Dr Toyne: It does not work that way.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the Attorney-General got in before I did. It does not work that way. Serious offences will be dealt with in a very serious way in our criminal justice system. There is no doubt about that.
For those who do have an habitual drug problem, where they do face the alcohol court, it is appropriate to give them an option of either rehabilitation or going to gaol, and that will be done. Those who commit serious offences will still go to gaol. They will serve their time, and that starkly contrasts with the CLPs policy …
Ms Carney: Well, what is a serious offence? What about a bashing, is that serious? Bit of a bash.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: That starkly contrasts with the CLP opposition policy of recriminalising drunkenness, putting an end to a night out on Mitchell Street.
Graduate School for Health Practice
Mr NATT to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you advise the House what is being done to produce locally-trained health practitioners, enabling identified Northern Territory skills gaps to be filled?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It gave me great pleasure to go to Charles Darwin University at lunchtime today to open the Graduate School for Health Practice. This will allow us to on train our local health professionals in areas such as midwifery, renal, mental health, and Aboriginal health workers, rather than seeing them go interstate where they can be poached by other systems and follow their careers down there.
We are training Territorians into specialised areas of health practice in the well-held belief that they will return to the health system in the Northern Territory and give us years of highly specialised service in caring for Territorians. That all makes good sense: to do the training locally, take local trainees in who are already adapted to Territory conditions and part of the Territory community. This is the backbone of our stability and our health system into the future if we can continue to develop these postgraduate courses alongside the undergraduate courses in areas like nursing.
I congratulate my agency people, as well as Helen Garnett and CDU, and Menzies School of Health in getting this fantastic initiative together. I met 14 midwifery students today and four lecturers who are already on-site. They have PhD students already enrolled to do research and further studies. It is all looking great, and I will keep a very close eye on the further development of the Graduate School for Health Practice.
Antisocial Behaviour Policy – Habitual Drunks
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Will you take up the CLP’s Safe Streets Policy which would, once and for all, deal with habitual drunks who are picked up three times in six months for protective custody? If not, why not? Other than shifting itinerants from place to place, and bleating that it will take time, what effective policies do you have? Or, will you continue to be soft on antisocial behaviour and allow the growing and disgraceful behaviour in our streets, parks and malls to continue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what happens with the opposition is they are locked into a line of questioning. I have already answered that question. No, I will not be adopting the Safe Streets Policy. I say to the Opposition Leader, I did read it. It has two pages, and I read those over lunch and thought about it. However, if you think about what their option is, it is to make drunkenness a crime. I do not say that in an unreasonable sense. It will make drunkenness a crime, and for thousands of Territorians, it would put an end to a night out. Ask the Mitchell Street publicans what they think of that. To be an innocent drunk is part of the Territory’s life …
Ms Carney: So you reckon a pile of drunks in the park is just fine and dandy, Chief Minister? It is not.
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader can interject all she likes, but that is the fact of what this policy is about; it is about recriminalising drunkenness. It is about not tackling what is a complex problem with strategies. The Opposition Leader says: ‘None of your strategies are working’ …
Ms Carney: Look around you, they are not.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: If I can give an example - in the Darwin/Palmerston area, our Return to Home program, which is paid for by those who use it, there have been 4314 people use that. That is one strategy of people returning to home. There are many aspects of the strategy. There is the Larrakia Intervention and Transport Service, and a lot of other aspects of what we are doing. To simply say: ‘We have a solution’, and put out two pages and say we will recriminalise drunkenness, is not a solution at all.
While I say to the opposition, yes, I have read your policy; yes, you can go out and be loud and raucous about it, it is not an effective policy. As I said before, if you are talking about a night out in Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy or Darwin, it will end them. It will end them, as sure as anything.
Senate Inquiry into Petrol Sniffing – Northern Territory Submission
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into petrol sniffing in remote Aboriginal communities is holding hearings in the Northern Territory this week. Can you outline to the House the contents of the Northern Territory’s submission to this inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. I know she is passionate about combating petrol sniffing in her Central Australian community.
The Senate inquiry is a timely inquiry. The Northern Territory has just implemented Australia’s toughest laws against petrol sniffing. The Territory government will use the inquiry to explain its new legislation, and outline the programs and services that are being funded to support the legislation.
The development of the non-sniffable fuel, Opal, was a breakthrough in the fight against petrol sniffing. BP needs to be commended for their initiative in developing this fuel, and the Commonwealth stand commended for acknowledging that the roll-out of Opal is their responsibility, and for the roll-out that they have overseen to date. However, the roll-out has not been across whole regions, and it must be for it to be effective. Without a regional roll-out, the sniffers will concentrate in areas where sniffable petrol is available, such as Alice Springs.
Petrol sniffing is dangerous, and it is primarily a health issue. However, it also brings with it property damage and antisocial behaviour. I will quote briefly from the Territory government submission:
- It is the position of the Northern Territory government that Opal should be rolled out across all regions prone to petrol
sniffing as soon as possible as a matter of course. This includes Alice Springs where the local council supports such
a move.
While the costs are significant they remain a tiny fraction of the $12bn the Commonwealth receives from fuel excises.
It should be noted that the excise revenues received from the sale of Opal remain well beyond the subsidies provided.
Any reduction in petrol sniffing will result in significant savings for the Commonwealth, state, territory and local
governments across the board.
Almost all of the submissions to the inquiry call for a regional roll-out of Opal. These include submissions from BP, Ausfuel and the Alice Springs Town Council. Even the Commonwealth’s own agency submission outlines a strategy that involves a regional roll-out, however, this is not yet happening.
I congratulate the Commonwealth and BP for making Opal available at one bowser in Alice Springs. I encourage everyone in Alice Springs to fill up with Opal at this bowser at BP Alice City in Transit Plaza, particularly if you are travelling into areas prone to petrol sniffing.
The government has suggested to Ausfuel, the distributors of BP, that they provide Opal fuel only stickers for cars to ward off potential petrol thieves, and they have agreed to do it.
I thank the Senators for the time they are spending in the Northern Territory looking at this issue. Opal is not a complete solution to the scourge of petrol sniffing, but there can be no solution without it.
If, as a result of this inquiry, a regional roll-out of Opal is achieved, then it will be one of the most productive Senate inquiries seen in the Territory in years.
Alice Springs Juvenile Centre
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Last Wednesday, in answer to my question regarding rehabilitation facilities in Alice Springs for juvenile petrol sniffers, you stated: ‘My agency has negotiated directly with two agencies to date, both DASA and ASYASS. They have juvenile beds available …’. Nothing could be further from the truth. There has been no approach to ASYASS to be involved in this important service, although they had a purpose-built unit, that was funded, by the way, by the Community Harmony Program. Will you apologise to this House for misleading with that information, and the general public regarding ASYASS?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Braitling well knows she cannot accuse any member of this House of misleading the parliament unless she does so by way of substantive motion. I would ask the member for Braitling to either do so or withdraw the allegation.
Mrs BRAHAM: Madam Speaker, I will rephrase the question.
Minister, will you apologise to ASYASS for passing on this incorrect information? Will you now get your department to negotiate directly with ASYASS to provide a service for juvenile petrol sniffers? Will you ensure they have adequate funding, and do you really understand that we need a facility for juvenile petrol sniffers in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the member for Braitling. I find it curious, because the member for Braitling is of the opinion that ASYASS would not be a good service for juvenile petrol sniffing rehabilitation, and I challenge her on that view.
It certainly has been the advice provided to me as minister for my agency that they have been negotiating with both ASYASS and DASA, and that both of those services have indicated they have beds available for juvenile petrol sniffers. When I queried this advice …
Mrs Braham: Minister, you are wrong. ASYASS has already notified you.
Ms LAWRIE: If you ask the question let me respond without interruption, member for Braitling.
Mrs Braham: Get it right, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, order!
Ms LAWRIE: When I queried this advice, I said does that mean the beds that were made available, the new beds that have not been used yet under Community Harmony, I was advised, yes, indeed, it does mean those beds. We do not as yet have an issue with how negotiations have gone with my agency. I am more than happy to commit my agency to go back to discussions with ASYASS, but that has been the advice I have been provided. It seems a shame and a waste for ASYASS to have beds, courtesy of the taxpayer, funded by the taxpayer, and available for good use in juvenile petrol sniffing rehabilitation. If ASYASS have an issue with negotiations, as to how they have gone, as to what funding is attached, I am more than happy to ensure my agency follows that up with them.
However, the advice I provided to the Assembly was the advice I have been given from my agency, and I know that no-one put their hand up for the juvenile petrol sniffing tender in Alice Springs. I know that will not occur again, because my agency not only went back and had discussions with DASA and ASYASS, they also had discussions with Tangentyere.
Government Initiatives to Combat Drug Dealers
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Illegal drugs cause suffering for families and communities across the Territory. Can you provide any information on government initiatives targeting drug dealers and combating the problem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. The scourge of drug use and drug abuse is a significant problem in the Territory. The police, certainly since we came to government in 2001 with legislative reform and additional police resources, are making ever stronger inroads into this particular problem.
The Remote Community Drug Desk was formed in May 2004. It is comprised of nine officers of the Northern Territory Drug Enforcement Unit, including an intelligence officer, who are dedicated to targeting people involved in the distribution of illicit drugs to remote communities. This specific drug desk works on an intelligence-led basis with police officers in our remote communities across the Northern Territory. It is also complemented by a Remote Community Drug Desk, and the real focus of that drug desk is to disrupt the supply of illicit substances into remote communities. Wherever we travel as a Community Cabinet, the representation that we receive from our MLAs who represent remote communities is that the issue of drug and alcohol abuse is one that is swamping many of those communities across the Territory.
As a result of these operations, drugs with a potential street value of more than $1m were seized between 7 November 2005 and 23 January 2006. So, in just three short months, over $1m-worth of drugs was seized. In that time, the following matters were dealt with: 12 people have been arrested; 23 summonsed; 44 drug infringement notices issued; 113 formal charges laid; two juveniles diverted; and eight remote community operations conducted.
Following the success of the Top End drug desk, the police have been involved in setting up a Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk in Alice Springs. This is a cooperative effort with police forces in South Australia and Western Australia to try to combat the supply and trade of drugs across those borders. This desk is staffed by an intelligence officer and an investigations officer who collaborate and coordinate with their peers across those borders. The desk is also undertaking an educational role, throughout the cross border region, by developing the capacity of local police and communities to respond to suspicious behaviour.
Just in the last few months, this initiative has seen 17 charges laid; four drug infringement notices issued; four arrests; one summons; the seizure of 985 gm of cannabis, 1.5 gm of ecstasy, four tabs of LSD, 56 gm of amphetamine-type stimulants; $2500 worth of cash; and one motor vehicle has been restrained.
Police throughout the Northern Territory, both in our urban settings and in the bush, are ever more putting the pressure on people who would seek to destroy people’s lives through peddling drugs into communities across the Territory. Whether you are in urban areas or remote areas, they are getting ever increasing results. I commend the work of the Northern Territory Police Force to this House.
Members: Hear, hear!
Antisocial Behaviour – Effect on Tourism Industry
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for TOURISM
Tourism operators in the Territory are more and more critical about the rising incidence of drunken behaviour on the ability to sell the Northern Territory. How will your government be addressing drunken behaviour and other unsightly, ungaolable offences which continue to occur in our parks, streets and malls, other than making a lot of noise and delivering nothing other than window dressing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will answer the question, however, it is an awfully inaccurate question, and …
Mrs Miller: Oh, it is not. Do not be so insulting to the tourist operators.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … full of misinformation. Let us deal with the issue of tourism. I do not believe I have misrepresented the situation today in terms of antisocial behaviour. It is a problem.
Ms Carney: It is. You should do something about it, shouldn’t you?
Madam SEPAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: We have put considerable resources towards antisocial behaviour and, in regard to tourism, yes, I am concerned. It is one of the key things that drives this government to tackle the problem: we do not want visitors to our Territory being harassed, being yelled at, and sadly, it does happen.
I compliment the Northern Territory Police and the Cruise Ship Facilitation Committee, which is made up of people in the Darwin area who are involved with cruise ships, on the initiatives they have taken to deal with any antisocial behaviour when visitors, like the thousands coming off the Aurora today, come into the CBD. It has been a problem in the past. The police have responded and, can I say, joining many of those tourists in the mall at lunchtime, there was a very visible police presence. I thank our police; they are dealing with the issue. It was raised with them by the Cruise Ship Facilitation Committee. As government, we have responded, and the police have responded very well.
I am very conscious of the fact that there are occasions when antisocial behaviour does impact on tourists. It did emerge in the New Year period when there was a cruise ship in town and there has been action taken. We will continue to take that action, and we will continue to recognise that this is a difficult problem. It does not mean that we take a soft approach, we take a tough approach. We have good police resources tackling the issue, we have community patrols backing them up, and we have a whole range of strategies. However, we will not recriminalise drunkenness, Madam Speaker, we will not.
Commonwealth Games – Northern Territory Government Participation
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games is to commence next month. Can you please inform the House of any initiatives or Northern Territory government participation in events surrounding the games?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. Indeed, some of the Commonwealth spirit has already travelled through the Territory in the form of the Queen’s Baton Relay. I am delighted with the way Territorians responded to this relay, and participated and supported the baton runners.
This government has grasped the opportunities the Commonwealth Games being held in Australia offer. We are sending four officers from my Office of Sport and Recreation to the games to promote our 2007 Arafura Games, and increase our corporate sporting knowledge through participation at the International Sport Conference which will be held in conjunction with the games.
Event officers will take part in the Games Observers Program, which will expose our Territory staff to event management on a large scale, including marketing; sponsorship; risk management; traffic; and transport aspects. This corporate knowledge will serve the Territory well …
Dr LIM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I refer to Standing Order 112(3)(b):
- Questions should not ask Ministers –
…
(b) to announce new policy of the government …
The minister is now going through a whole raft of decisions by government.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I believe the minister is, in fact, answering the question. I do not believe it is a matter of policy.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I can advise the member for Greatorex that I did not have to change policy to gain some opportunity at the Commonwealth Games for Territorians; it is within existing policy. I am simply informing the House of the action the government is taking. I know the opposition is loath to hear good news, however, I will press on.
Having our own sporting people participate in the Melbourne 2006 Observer Program will enhance delivery of our major sporting events, such as the Arafura Games and the Masters Games in Alice Springs.
Another exciting initiative is that we have created what is dubbed ‘the chance in a lifetime’. Four young Territorians have been chosen to travel to the games and observe events such as the Opening Ceremony, Hockey and the Rugby 7s. We sought nominations from the Commonwealth’s Active After-school Communities Program and the Indigenous Sport Program, seeking outstanding community-minded young Territorians.
I am happy to announce we have found four very exceptional young Territorians: Leroy Davey from Daly River, Jerry Wilson from Maningrida, Jaiden Preece-Forrester from Alice Springs, and Vanity Fernandes from Darwin. I met young Vanity this morning. She is very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to seeing her sporting heroes. She has never been to Melbourne in her life. Chaperones have been appointed and the group will travel to Melbourne from 15 to 19 March. This chance in a lifetime opportunity will, hopefully, inspire these four lucky young children, and provide them with a glimpse of what is possible should you wish to chase a dream.
Last, but certainly not least, five Territory athletes will carry the well-wishes of all Territorians as they compete in the games. I talked briefly about these athletes last week during my report. They deserve a second mention. They are: current NTIS athlete, Maria Tsoukalis, a reserve in the women’s weightlifting team; Crystal Attenborough in the athletics team; former NTIS swimmer, Danni Miatke; former Alice Springs resident, Chris Jongwaard; and Alexis Rhodes in the road cycling event. Alexis deserves special mention, as we know the amazing adversity she has overcome just to be at these games.
I trust all Territorians will proudly support our athletes at the Commonwealth Games. I look forward to the fruits of their participation.
Antisocial Behaviour Legislation
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER referred to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
In answer to an earlier question, you said that people who committed serious offences under your antisocial behaviour legislation would not escape gaol. Although you did not specifically say so, we assume that you talk of those committing murder, manslaughter, sexual assault and so on. Will you give the same assurance for people who have committed other offences, such as assault, criminal damage, vehicle theft, and unlawful entry, to name but a few? Will those people go to gaol, or will they not go to gaol if they say they have an alcohol problem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, under this government, if you commit a serious crime you go to gaol. Serious crime - serious time. That has been our policy. You certainly see the results when it comes to property crime, for example.
I noticed in the policy release from the Country Liberal Party that they accused us of getting rid of mandatory sentencing and going soft. Of all the ironies in the world, the Country Liberal Party accusing us of being soft because we got rid of mandatory sentencing for property crime! We got rid of mandatory sentencing because it did not work, it was the softest policy you have ever seen, and it was a wrong policy.
We have, subsequently, in a very tough approach, reduced that property crime by 50% across the Territory, and we will keep working on it. We think we should get it lower.
Under the legislation we are discussing today, there is an alcohol court, and there will be advice by counsellors on the nature of the alcohol problem that the person in front of the court is facing. There will be a magistrate sitting in the alcohol court, and those judgments will be made by individuals.
Let me restate that serious crimes will serve time in gaol. This is a matter of managing the problem. As the Attorney-General has carriage of this legislation, maybe he would like to add something further on that.
Dr TOYNE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, it is important to see this package in the context of the full range of ways in which we are responding to people’s behaviour in the community. The Supreme Court will continue to hear the most serious offences without the option of rehabilitation diversion.
It is the Magistrates Court which will form the alcohol court and, within the hearings within the Magistrates Court acting as an alcohol court, there are two levels at which the court can place orders over a person as a result of their offending behaviour. The intervention order is for people who are facing periods of time in gaol as a result of the offences for which they are appearing. The prohibition order is for a lower level of offending where alcohol is a key element in the person’s behaviour. Below that, again, are the summary offences and the whole structure that has been going on for many years in our community, protective custodies and the application of those summary offences in the communities. We have a whole range of ways in which a person with an alcohol problem can be picked up and put into some intervention as a result of this package, plus the pre-existing things that we are doing.
Humpty Doo Landfill Site
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
You spoke about the Humpty Doo tip on ABC radio this morning, and said the Litchfield Shire Council will not take responsibility for the collection and disposal of rubbish, that I have form on this issue, and it takes two to dance around in circles. Minister, you are wrong on all counts, and I will show you the Litchfield Shire Waste Management Planning Study 1995. I just thought I would let you know …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is Question Time. If the member for Nelson feels in some way that he has been misrepresented, then he has an opportunity to make a personal explanation to the House. He should not be misusing Question Time to do that. I urge you to request the member to get on with asking his question. If he feels that he has been misrepresented, he can make a personal explanation to the House.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, please ask a short question of the minister and, if you wish, approach me later about making a personal explanation.
Mr WOOD: Madam Speaker, you would realise, of course, that when you ask a question and you have been accused of things previously, it is very hard to keep it short and to the point.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, if you wish to make a personal explanation approach me later, otherwise, you can resume your seat.
Mr WOOD: Minister, you are wrong on all counts, and like many who have not been in local government, you do not understand and you certainly have no idea why council has reserves of $6m.
If you take out all your government’s political spin, is it not the case that your government, which owns the land where the Humpty Doo landfill is today, has not been able, in the four-and-a-half years you have been in office, to find a suitable alternative landfill site in Litchfield? Why cannot you and the minister for NRETA use some commonsense and allow the Humpty Doo landfill to continue until an alternative site is developed and constructed in the Litchfield Shire?
Mr Warren interjecting.
Mr WOOD: Tell your ratepayers, member for Goyder.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is obvious that the member for Nelson can dish it out, but he cannot take it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: The fact is that the member for Nelson was chair of the Litchfield Shire Council for a number of years, so he is part of this problem. There is no doubt, as I said in my previous answer, that the Humpty Doo landfill was an environmental shambles. He was at the head of the body responsible for the management of that tip and, suddenly, in this parliament, in this place, he wants to sidestep responsibility.
I am working constructively with the Litchfield Shire Council to try to find a way through this issue. However, the way through this issue is for Litchfield Shire to honour its obligations, honour what it is supposed to be doing and what its charter is, and that is to take responsibility for rubbish disposal in Litchfield Shire. They have a bank balance of $6.5m. They are building a new administration centre. We want them to take responsibility for what their ratepayers expect them to take responsibility for, and that is the collection and disposal of rubbish.
I said in my answer that I would facilitate that process. If they have another identified site for a transfer station, I will facilitate that. I am also facilitating identification and studies to firm on a site on the Howard Peninsula for a regional tip. It is as simple as that. The member for Nelson comes in here and talks about people playing politics. I suggest the member for Nelson saying that the government was wholly responsible for the proposed increase in rates in the Litchfield Shire is playing politics.
Antisocial Behaviour Legislation – Effect on Prostitution Activities
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you explain how your antisocial behaviour legislation will address, and please say if it does not, growing problems such as the one we have recently seen in Parap, your electorate, of women, invariably drunk, I am told and I am sure you have been as well, prostituting themselves on the streets? Does your antisocial behaviour legislation do anything to deal with this problem?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very serious issue. Prostitution in the Northern Territory is a crime. It does not need antisocial behaviour legislation to deal with that. The situation that has happened in Parap Road, and has happened in other parts of my electorate over the 10 years I have been local member, is something that concerns me greatly, and it also concerns my constituents. We take very direct action from my office when it does happen; talk to police, there is an immediate response, and we certainly will not tolerate it.
The Parap Road activity is constantly monitored by police. You do have incidents happening from time to time which, I understand, are prostitution. It is cracked down on. Police are very active and will continue to be active to stamp out something that is a crime, and is unacceptable in any part of the Territory.
I make the point clearly that the antisocial behaviour legislation has a very particular target that we are dealing with in the House. Tackling prostitution, wherever it is in the Territory, is something the police will continue to crack down on and continue to prosecute.
Transport Services for Veterans
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Can you please inform the House how this government is improving the affordability of transport services for veteran Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a very pertinent question given the recent Commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin. As a community, we must value the contribution of our veterans in safeguarding our freedoms within this great country of Australia, and particularly in the Territory where we have been on the front line.
At a Community Cabinet function late last year at Marrara - hosted by the member for Sanderson - I was approached by Mr Allan Brown who is a veteran’s Gold Card holder. Just for the information of members, Gold Cards are issued by the Commonwealth Health Department to veterans of Australia’s Defence Force who are aged 70 or over and have qualifying service with the Defence Force. Cards are also issued to war widows.
The sticking point came in that not all Gold Card holders are eligible for free travel on our public transport. In fact, it is only those who are TPIs, or Totally and Permanently Disabled, and also those with Extreme Disablement Adjustment, or EDA.
The request from Mr Brown was quite simple: he would like to see those benefits, in other words, free travel on public transport, extended to all Gold Card holders. According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, there are 568 Gold Card holders who live in the Northern Territory, of whom 163 are TPI-endorsed and 40 are EDA-endorsed.
In effect, the decision we have made to extend free travel to all Gold Card holders will now mean that an extra 391 Territory veterans will now receive free travel on our buses. This comes about from a government which values public transport, and a government which is fiscally responsible and has delivered three surpluses in a row. We are pleased to support our veterans. They have done a great job for our Territory and our nation.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016