2008-05-01
Royal Darwin Hospital – Briefing of Minister on Patient’s Death
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Yesterday, you failed to answer a very straightforward question in respect to the death of Mrs Winter at Royal Darwin Hospital in 2006. Were you advised that bed block was either the cause or part of the cause for Mrs Winter’s death and, if so, when were you advised?
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex was cautioned yesterday by you in regard to the matter being a coronial inquiry currently under way. This goes to the heart of the matter that is being dealt with by the coronial inquiry. If there is a process question, then the Minister for Health can talk about the process. However, if the matter goes to the heart of the coronial inquiry, it would be absolutely inappropriate for him to respond.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister for Health, please resume your seat. I will seek further advice from the Clerk.
I will allow the question, reminding the minister that he should exercise caution answering this question, particularly as the question is very specific. I caution you, minister, in what you respond, as it may affect the outcome of the Coroner’s inquest.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the direct answer to the member for Greatorex is, no, I was not advised. Following on from that answer, as I answered yesterday, there is a process with coronial inquiries. The Coroner has decided to investigate this case. The case is currently under way. The Coroner is receiving evidence from a variety of sources and submissions. To let the member for Greatorex know what the process is: the Coroner will reach his conclusions, recommendations and findings, and he will send them to me as Health Minister. I will then send them on to the Health department, which will respond in detail to each and every one of the Coroner’s findings and recommendations. That is then sent back to me, and I table those findings and the department’s responses to them in this House.
There is a transparent process. Each member here, including the member for Greatorex, will have the opportunity to see what the Coroner has found in this particular case and what the department’s responses are. Until we receive that, it is premature for him to be asking me further questions on this issue. That is the extent of the answer that I can give you, member for Greatorex.
Safer Streets in Our Community
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Making our streets safe is a top priority of this government. Could you please tell me about recent initiatives to build on the good work being done in our suburbs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. The Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family. I certainly would not want to live anywhere else other than in Darwin.
However, there is always a lot more to do to make our communities safer, and Budget 2008-09 builds on the investment that this government has made in our police force, going right back to 2001. There is a record $247m this year for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, which is up $20m on last year and, overall, that is an 81% increase in our Police, Fire and Emergency Services budget since 2001. That is a major investment in law and order and making our communities safer right across the Northern Territory. If we compare that to the early 1990s under the CLP when, for four years, not one single officer was recruited into our police force, it stands in stark contrast to this government’s commitment to law and order.
More police mean more patrols and more resources. I announced an extra 60 police a couple of weeks ago; 35 of which will be recruited in the 2008-09 financial year. This is on top of the additional 40 police that were announced as part of the Closing the Gap package late last year. It is a significant investment. All of those police will go to the front line. They will all be in frontline patrolling, out on our streets, out in our suburbs, right across the Northern Territory.
One of the key targets for police is to be cracking down on youth crime. In this passage of parliament this week, not only are we seeing additional police being allocated to our police force, but we are also seeing significant new laws to hold parents accountable for the criminal activities of their kids. As I have said and acknowledged, being a parent is the hardest thing that you do in life and, quite often, in spite of everything that you can do, your kids go off the rails from time to time. That is why, in this particular budget, $2m goes to support the establishment of Parental Responsibility Agreements and Orders, and establish family centres in Darwin and Alice Springs as a one-stop shop where, if you are having trouble with your kids, you can get advice, parental support and guidance. However, at the end of the day, it is the responsibility orders that will be issued in courts and by police to a hard-core group of parents across the Northern Territory who do not appear to give a damn about what their kids are doing. We are saying enough is enough. That legislation is going through the House this week, and the funding to support the implementation of those agreements and orders is in this budget.
We are also closing the revolving door on juvenile diversion. No more diversions until the cows come home and kids not being held accountable for their crimes and activities. After two goes of diversion, on the third go you are before the courts. The youth camps for wayward kids are breaking the cycle for some of these kids, getting them out of town, into an environment that will enable them to make better choices in life, away from the disruptive influences around them. Already, in the last two months since we funded the Top End Youth Camps - one at Talc Head and one at Batchelor - 25 kids have been diverted to those camps. I am very interested to see the progress that they make.
Tackling antisocial behaviour is a key priority for this government. There is a record Police budget this year - $247m, an 81% increase since 2001 - a real commitment by this government to make our communities safer right across the Northern Territory.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Briefing of Minister on Patient’s Death
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Were you briefed about the death of Mrs Winter and, if so, what was the date of that brief?
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr Conlan: I just want to know whether he was briefed.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: It goes to being repetitive. The minister responded to this question.
Mr Conlan: No, he has not.
Mr Henderson: He answered it.
Mr Conlan: No, he has not.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, the minister has answered.
Mr Conlan: No, he has not.
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, member for Greatorex, I am speaking. Member for Greatorex, the minister has answered the question. I will allow it, but I ask you not to ask this question again. I caution the minister, once again, on what he says as it is a matter before the Coroner.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I said at the end of my last reply to this question - which was a very direct reply and an answer of no; I was not briefed - I have not been briefed on this issue. I explained the process to the member for Greatorex regarding coronials and the mechanism for reporting back to this parliament. Everything will be laid on the table; it will be open and transparent, including the findings of the Coroner and the response of the department to those findings. That is an open and transparent process.
Member for Greatorex, I have nothing more to add. I can offer no more than I have already offered you by way of answer here in this place today.
Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can you inform the House of what practical steps the Territory government is taking to deal with youth crime and antisocial behaviour?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is actually a very important issue ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am concerned about the previous line of questions from the opposition. They were similar. This is very much the same as the question that was asked before of government.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: This is a question asked by a completely different member and it is a different question to a different minister.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: We have not heard the answer yet, Leader of the Opposition.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, government is very concerned about the level of youth crime and misbehaviour within our community. That is why we have moved very quickly to bring into parliament the raft of reforms that are before us today regarding Family Responsibility Orders, and Agreements and the whole issue of juvenile diversion. That is before the House, and we will be debating that this afternoon.
Particularly pleasing was the announcement by the Chief Minister today that, in the 2008-09 financial year, there will be $2.5m put towards establishing family responsibility centres and youth camps in both Central Australia and the Top End.
Members would be aware that, in the interim, in what remains of this financial year, government has already funded those two Top End institutions to the tune of $250 000. As the Chief Minister outlined, there have already been a number of youths go through both facilities. I believe that is a very positive thing, because what these facilities are all about is getting these young people to reflect on themselves and their future; to show them that interaction with the law is not a joking matter, it is a very serious matter, and that the next stop for them would be Don Dale if they continue with their offending.
In Central Australia, I am advised that Hamilton Downs is also scheduled to take 20 young people before the end of this financial year.
We want children to be accountable for their actions, but we also want parents to be accountable for their actions. That is why we are instituting these amendments to the Youth Justice Act. That is why we are investing $2.5m in these camps and family responsibility centres. I believe it will be an effective way to address this issue, because these children and their families will be case-managed in a very intensive way. As has been said previously, if the parents do not do the right thing, they will find themselves back before the courts with a penalty that will make them sit up and take notice.
Indigenous Housing – Cost Estimates
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for HOUSING
Since taking office, indigenous housing has been an issue that the Labor government has often spoken about. On 19 August 2004, the then Minister for Housing, Jack Ah Kit, said that $850m was needed to fix housing in the bush. The member for Barkly, as minister, said that figure grew to $1bn in late 2006. It now transpires that the figure is $2.4bn. How have the estimates grown by a factor of three in a few years? Can you table the work done to support those estimates?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question is how we reach the stage that we need $2.4bn to fix indigenous housing. The answer is simple: it is because your party and your government has done bugger all for Aboriginal housing. To put it bluntly, in 1955, a report indicated clearly that there was a significant need for indigenous housing in the Territory. It is now 53 years later that governments have decided, working together, to put real money into Aboriginal housing to bring the standard to what we are accustomed to ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It appears that there is a clear misunderstanding. I suggest that we have a repeat of the question, because it is certainly going down the wrong track. It is nothing about 1955 ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. Minister, please continue.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, the truth is that governments in Australia, for a long time, did nothing about Aboriginal housing - out of sight, out of mind. People in Canberra could not care less what happened in the Pilbara, the Northern Territory or Queensland. Even worse, the Coalition government in Canberra, just before the election, realised indigenous housing was a problem and implemented the intervention. Following the loss at the election, we found out there was no money provided past 30 June for the so-called intervention.
This federal government in Canberra, together with our government in the Territory, is working cooperatively to put $1bn into housing in the bush, in order to build 750 new houses, repair about 2500 houses, provide serviced land in indigenous communities, and raise indigenous housing to the same standards as the houses seen in Katherine, Alice Springs or Darwin.
Safer Public Transport
Earlier this year, you were in my electorate at Bees Creek launching seatbelts on public school buses. At that time, you mentioned that there was some exciting stuff coming up in the future. Can you please update the House on how this government is providing a safer public transport system?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. He was delighted that we were the first government ever that has bothered to provide seat belts on school buses in the rural area, making travel to school much safer for those students who are getting out on those 80 km/h roads. I thank the member for Goyder for lobbying me on seat belts on school buses.
Safety for our bus drivers is also a significant priority for our government, as is safety for the travelling public. This government has invested some $800 000 in putting CCTV cameras in our buses and across the bus network including, importantly, at our major bus interchanges of the city, Palmerston and Casuarina.
We have also introduced a new system into the bus network, which is our Transport Safety Officers. Eighteen months ago, the former Transport minister introduced the Transport Safety Officers. We have been working them through the system. The feedback from the drivers when they got on to the system was that they were delighted to have the extra safety patrols and dedicated Transport Safety Officers out on the network for the first time in the Territory. We also heard that they wanted their Transport Safety Officers to have additional powers. We are delivering on our commitment to improve the safety of the network.
Today, we have seen the passage of legislation dealing with thugs who think they can biff a bus driver, irrespective of whether it is a government driver or a private sector driver. Those drivers now have extra protections regarding aggravated assault.
Also, we have introduced new legislation today to give additional powers to these Transport Safety Officers. Once the legislation is passed at the next sittings and introduced and, after their training mid-year, they will have increased powers. They will be able to restrain people. They will be able to ask people to leave the network. If necessary, they will be able to apprehend them, hold them, and hand them over to police. So they can intervene with the protection of the legislation around them.
There is an extra $750 000 that this government has committed in the budget that I will hand down next week to increase the number of Transport Safety Officers on our network. We will be bringing the number of full-time officers from four to six. We will be giving them patrol cars, as well as establishing a management system to support them in the very critical role they play in providing safety across our network.
We want more Territorians to enjoy the benefits of our strong economy. Putting these additional safety measures in place is one way of delivering a better lifestyle and community for all of us.
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Distinguished Visitor
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the federal member for Solomon, Mr Damien Hale MHR. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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East Arm Leprosarium - Memorial
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
This question relates to a question I asked in February 2004, then in March 2006, and again in May 2007. It is about a memorial recognising the history of the East Arm Leprosarium and the people who lived and worked there, as well as preserving part of the original entrance to that facility. It seems that this has taken so long, that the process involved in just trying to erect a memorial will go down as an historical event that that might need a commemorative plaque as well.
Can you give the House an update on when we can expect to see the completion of the East Arm Leprosarium Memorial?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There is little doubt of the member for Nelson’s keen desire to see heritage protected within the Territory. This is a feeling that I have as well, and I commend him for his stance on heritage in many ways.
In regard to the time lines that the member for Nelson mentioned, I will not argue the toss over those. He is pretty well right, it has been a long, drawn-out situation. In February 2004, the government announced its intention to construct a memorial at the East Arm Leprosarium. Design work on the memorial commenced soon after this announcement; however, there have been substantial delays, as the member for Nelson has pointed out.
I am pleased to say that we are over those delays. There had to be a little redesign, but it will go ahead, and quite soon. The memorial for the leprosarium is a fitting memorial that we should have because the heritage of that place goes back quite some time. It is a reminder of what our community was. I am delighted to inform the House today, particularly the member for Nelson who has taken such a keen interest, that on 29 May, the Deputy Chief Minister and I will have the honour of opening the Leprosarium Memorial.
Let me extend to you and members and your family, member for Nelson - because I know of your personal connections - a personal invitation for you to be there; I would be quite honoured. The leprosarium does mean a great deal to many people in the Top End. Many staff and patients associated with the leprosarium still live in Darwin and still enjoy a special bond. I know that there are two members at least in this House today who have direct links with the leprosarium through family members and different connections.
The history in the Territory is one that we live and breathe. I am aware that some people make light of it, and a lot of people down south do not really understand how we feel about these contemporary issues when they come up in the paper. However, these are all part of the living history that we have. I am very pleased and proud that we in the Territory are creating these memorials to these people.
Madam Speaker, the story of the leprosarium goes back a fair way. It started in Mud Island in Darwin Harbour where leprosy sufferers were abandoned in the late 19th century and they lived in appalling conditions. I was having a look at the history of the leprosarium and where they …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In many ways this is the opposition Question Time, and we are now hearing the history of the leprosarium, which was not a part of the question. It is nice, no extra cost, but there are other questions to be asked.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, I am sure you are nearing the end of the answer.
Mr KIELY: Madam Speaker, I will wind it up. I can see that some members opposite do not want to hear the full answer; but it is a story worth telling. I am a bit upset that you should want to gag the story as such.
It is the heart of the question; the member for Nelson has asked a very good question. It is something that means a lot to the people of the Territory, Western Australia, and to the people out in the community. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless work of all those who got together to get this going because, as you said, it has been followed up since 2004. There have been a lot of people working on this. We will be opening it on 29 May. I will wind it up there. However, Leader of the Opposition, it is a story the people of the Territory would like to know. This is what Question Time is about: a question about the leprosarium, and what it means to the families today, and people in this Chamber. This is a story we should tell. I will sit down, but I do not think you are doing the people of the Territory one favour by having things like this stopped.
NT Prisons - Capital Works
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can you provide the House with more detail on the recent prison capital works announcement and what it demonstrates about this Territory government’s focus on crime in our community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. As most members would be aware, government made a significant announcement some two to three weeks ago about the construction of a new prison at a greenfield site in Darwin, and a further expansion of the Alice Springs gaol.
The reason for this, which is unfortunate, is that our prisoner numbers have been escalating with time, to the point now where the capacity of the gaols in the Northern Territory are absolutely full to bursting point ...
Mr Wood: You want to put houses in next door. It is a housing subdivision.
Dr BURNS: Member for Nelson, if you show me the courtesy of delivering this answer to you. If you want to ask me a question about it, I am more than happy to answer it.
Berrimah is bursting at the seams. Alice Springs gaol is a more contemporary facility, but there is certainly more capacity required there. In essence, a 1000-bed facility will be built on a greenfield site in Darwin and, in Alice Springs, there will be an extra 100-bed capacity for the low-security area.
By shifting Berrimah, it opens up that whole area now for a residential development. I certainly welcome that ...
Mr Wood: Yes, next to the industrial area.
Dr BURNS: I know the member for Nelson does not welcome that, but I believe blocks in that particular development will be eagerly …
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: I remember when I was a lecturer at university and people would talk in the class. All you had to do was stop talking and they would stop talking. They were probably a lot more courteous than you, member for Nelson. They were probably interested in actually learning something. If you listen, you might actually learn something ...
Mr Wood: This is propaganda hour for the government. It is the only chance we have to counteract it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: There is a significant investment of $300m. However, one of the most important elements of these developments is the expanded capacity and ability to deliver rehabilitation and education programs for these prisoners to break that cycle of recidivism that is so evident within our prison population. It is not a proud statistic that we have the highest recidivism rate in Australia. We have to break that. The way we can break that is to teach these predominantly indigenous prisoners - many of them cannot even read and write - basic literacy and numeracy. For those who have problems with alcohol, we have to expand our alcohol education programs.
It was my fortune to be in Alice Springs gaol a few weeks ago and sit in on one of those classes. I was deeply moved by what I was told by some of the prisoners: how they recognised the role that grog had played in destroying their lives and the lives of their families ...
Mr Wood: That is not a reason to pull a whole prison down.
Dr BURNS: We need to expand that. Member for Nelson, I was very pleased when I was at Alice Springs to see the very nice garden there ...
Mr Wood: What happened to the prison farm?
Dr BURNS: We can have a prison farm and those sort of activities side-by-side with top-class education facilities as well.
One part of this budget announcement that I am particularly pleased about - and I will finish on this - is the expansion of work parties within our community. Currently, there are three in Alice Springs and three in Darwin. Most people would have seen these prisoner work parties out mowing pensioners’ lawns, cleaning up after the Mindil Beach Markets, and the cyclone cleanup - there is a whole range of things that these work parties do. They are being expanded from three in Darwin to seven and, similarly, in Alice Springs. I believe the community wants to see those prisoners out there contributing back to the community. I had a letter from the member for Port Darwin asking about graffiti cleanup etcetera, and that is what they will be doing as well in the CBD.
It is a fantastic announcement; it encompasses everything from the facilities that we have but, most importantly, for education and breaking that cycle of recidivism
Royal Darwin Hospital – Briefing of Minister on Patient’s Death
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Following your extraordinary claims that, as the Health Minister for the Northern Territory, you were not briefed on the death of Mrs Winter in 2006, could you please enlighten the House about how you did find out about that death?
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Greatorex understands that, with previous questions, the Attorney-General has said he can only answer regarding process. He has given process answers, he has indicated that that is the extent of where he goes.
Mr Conlan: It is a different question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, I believe this is the same question as the one before.
Mr Conlan: It is a completely different question. How did the minister find out?
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek advice.
Minister for Health, I will allow you to answer it if you wish to, but if you do not wish to, I will allow that as well. It is totally up to you.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I cannot really add more than what I have already said here today; that, in our hospital system, unfortunately, there are deaths. That is part and parcel of having a hospital system and the health system and clinics. The decisions about which cases will be before a Coroner are for the Coroner to determine ...
Mr Conlan: How did you find out?
Dr BURNS: I found out through the Justice Department and the Health department jointly that there was a coronial hearing scheduled for this week. Full stop - that is it.
As I said, the full circumstances of this particular coronial, will be canvassed by the Coroner and the Coroner will be making a full report to me and to the public, with his findings and recommendations. The department will then respond to that. That will all be tabled in this place. Beyond what I have already said, I cannot add anything further.
Financial Management by Government
Mr HAMPTON to TREASURER
The government has a strong record on financial management. Why is this so important?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. Having fully costed and funded policies is a fundamental requirement of good government. The opposition has made many policy promises recently, but they have not allocated any funding to any of them. A spending commitment without funding is simply unbelievable. The most cynical of the promises is to develop Glyde Point. The Leader of the Opposition has said: ‘I am fully committed to bringing INPEX to the Territory at Glyde Point’.
That is a funding commitment of around $0.5bn right there. The Leader of the Opposition knows this but, staggeringly, he has committed to this spending even though he has also admitted INPEX have told him the location makes the project unviable - $500m unviable. A more ridiculous and irresponsible spending commitment would be hard to imagine.
The CLP has promised both a new prison and a new hospital in Katherine, both without funding. To build a new prison in Katherine rather than Darwin would cost approximately an additional $70m, when you consider the increased construction costs and the employee housing that you would have to provide. The additional ongoing costs - that is, the recurrent costs - would be around $4m per annum.
The new hospital that the CLP have promised …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! To save any further embarrassment, I invite you to a briefing.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Treasurer, please continue.
Ms LAWRIE: That would be fascinating!
The new hospital that the CLP have promised - very short on detail, but you will not get much change from $100m to build it.
The CLP have made unfunded promises in relation to teachers’ salaries and police. The promises in this area amount to around $40m. Members might be interested to know that the Leader of the Opposition has put in an FOI request which, essentially, asks us to do his costings on his teacher promises for him because he is lazy. All of these promises add up to around $700m.
Next week, the Leader of the Opposition will hand down his budget reply. In his reply, is he going to outline how he is going to pay for the $700m-worth of promises, and outline $700m-worth of savings or, indeed, does he want to just plummet the Territory back into the black hole in which the CLP had put it when they were in control of the budget?
Wildlife Rescue Program
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
Last year, I raised a question regarding changes to the wildlife rescue program. At that time, I had received a number of concerns about changes to that program. The then minister’s response at the time was that the department would investigate the allegations and report back. I have once again received letters of concern, so my question is: what was the result of the previous investigation, and have you received letters since from people who have concerns about the wild care program’s operations?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The rescue and care of injured native wildlife is a very emotive issue. No one likes to see animals suffer, particularly native wild animals.
We are lucky in the Northern Territory, particularly in the Top End. There are numerous groups of people who gather under various voluntary banners to protect and rescue our wild animals. Unfortunately, there are differences of opinion in relation to how these tasks should be carried out and who government should be funding to do this. This topic relates to those letters to the editor you were alluding to, member for Nelson.
To overcome some of these differences, we have extended our EnvironmeNT Grants program. This features a Native Wildlife Protection category to provide a transparent and open process detailing who is funded and how. You will remember I launched that, member for Nelson. We are working with the current providers to address some of the issues they are encountering in relation to the rescue services. These organisations rely, to a large extent, on volunteers and the caring capacity of the community.
I do not believe a harshly administered contract regime is the appropriate way to go. Consequently, we are looking at funding through those grants I mentioned earlier, hoping to provide a service that the community so dearly wants in respect to the rescue of our native wild animals.
Support for Territory Families
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
This government is tough on crime and causes of crime. An important part of tackling crime is supporting Territory families. Can the minister describe what the government is doing to focus attention on the needs of Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. The Chief Minister has said that our government is committed to supporting Territory families, and Territory families are his and our top priority. That is why the Chief Minister and I announced a significant change to establish a new division, Families and Children, within the Department of Health and Families. This new structure will provide a greater focus on meeting the needs of Territory families. This new division brings together a range of services including child protection, foster care, youth support and diversion programs. We already have a comprehensive reform to tackle child sexual abuse, which includes the recruitment of a record number of child protection workers. We have enlisted more police and established a Child Sexual Abuse Task Force.
We have also fulfilled our commitment to appoint a Children’s Commissioner with the appointment of respected clinical psychologist, Dr Howard Bath. Dr Bath has extensive experience working with young people, particularly with youth with very complex, challenging behaviours. It will be Dr Bath who will advocate for children’s rights and represent the interests of children, particularly those children who are in the care of the minister, and at all levels of government.
Madam Speaker, our government is committed to protecting children, including those children at risk and going off the rails and getting into trouble with the law. Case managing and working with families represents an important part of our government’s commitment to Territory families.
Budget 2008-09 - Housing Expenditure
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
Each and every year, the Commonwealth Grants Commission’s review committee’s indicative estimates are that the Territory’s need for indigenous housing expenditure is about $95m and allocates the money accordingly. Not counting the federal government’s input, what will be the Territory government’s contribution in next week’s budget to housing for the next financial year only?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be happy to give that answer when I hand down the budget. What I can say is, it will be a record. It will be the most that any Territory government has ever spent on building houses for indigenous Territorians. It will be a sea change in the Territory. We will have the biggest construction program and R&M program out in the bush ever in the history of the Territory. Why? We are playing catch-up. We are chasing after decades of neglect.
The beauty of it is, we can make the most of the opportunity that lies in front of all of us where we have a Labor government in Canberra and in the Territory willing to spend on closing the gap of indigenous disadvantage. Well, I say, thank God we have a Labor government to work with because, in the past, we heard a lot of rhetoric out of Johnny and his mates, but not the money we needed to fix it.
Four Nations Hockey Tournament
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Yesterday, a major international sporting event began in Darwin. Can you tell the House more about this event?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. We know that sport is an important part of our great lifestyle. Despite the size of the Territory, we have a proud sporting record, unprecedented in this country. The Northern Territory hockey community is a strong community of sporting athletes and has produced great hockey players and stars over the years. These players have competed at all levels, including interstate and international competition and, arguably, have produced more high level athletes than any other sport in the Territory.
We have also had Territory players competing at international level, including the Olympic Games. Territory hockey Olympians include Nova Peris, a school friend of mine, Stephen Holt and Mark Hickman. This government is committed to bringing the best in national and international events to the Territory, as well as continuing to back our grassroots sports.
This week, Darwin is hosting the pre-Olympic Four Nations Tour. I tell this House, these are the best athletes this planet can produce. These are the best athletes who are playing this sport anywhere in the world today, and they are playing in Darwin tonight. It is my understanding that there was a magnificent turn-out at the hockey last night and the standard, as you would expect in an Olympic arena, was sensational. Men’s teams from Australia, India, South Korea and China are competing.
We are talking about athletes who represent the two most populace countries in the world playing against Australia, who consistently reach the top four. We have some interesting news to tell the House. The tournament is an important part of the Australian team’s preparation for the Beijing Olympics in 99 days. This tournament will help decide the make-up of our Olympic squad. The NT government is delighted to support the tournament. We are providing almost $40 000 to help make the tournament a reality. This helps bring the visiting teams here, along with the coaching and support staff.
Money also supports the NT Hockey Association, which is working hard to make this event a success. When we talk about working hard to make it a success, we are talking about grassroots people who are going down and doing the little knick knacks, cutting the lawn, painting the spots that need painting, working behind the bar etcetera. This is the level of their support.
We are also pleased to make the NT Institute of Sport available to the Kookaburra players while they are here. One of Australia’s players in line for Olympic selection is Darwin player, Des Abbott. Madam Speaker, out of the three billion people on this planet, the Northern Territory has produced an individual who will be representing one of the top four nations in Australia, and you can see that tonight and this weekend. Des Abbott’s father was a good friend of mine, I had an opportunity to play Australian Rules with him for many years. It just goes to show what type of athletes we have in the Northern Territory.
What a great thing to have a Territory player playing in a full international competition in front of a home crowd. I had the opportunity to speak to the coach on Monday and I asked: ‘Do you think Des Abbott will make the squad?’ Basically, they have to cut it down from 24 to 16. He said that he hopes he does. I hope he does too. Can you imagine that? Desmond played a key role in yesterday’s game for Australia, beating China at Marrara. He scored the first goal in the 3-2 win. How fantastic is that? What a dream start in your home town.
Having someone like Des Abbott playing in an Australian team in the Territory is great for our young hockey hopefuls. It allows them to dream the Olympic dream; one of the reasons why bringing events like this to the Territory is so important. The tournament continues until Sunday at Marrara, and I encourage all members of this House to get there. I will be going there tonight, if I get the opportunity. I encourage as many Territorians as possible to get along and look at the Australian team, particularly Desmond Abbott. Let us hope he makes the Australian side for Beijing. Go the Kookaburras!
Government Housing - Protection of Investment
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for HOUSING
As you would appreciate, the announcement you made yesterday that the $647m investment - of which the Treasurer is not going to tell us yet how much you are contributing - to be spent on housing is a substantial investment from the taxpayer. What steps will you take to protect that investment from vandalism, poor tenants and delinquency?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine, because it keeps telling the good story of the $647m to be spent in remote communities. However, what she forgot to mention is that, when this happens, all these houses that we build, upgrade and renovate will come under the control of Territory Housing. The same rules that apply in Territory Housing in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs will apply to any community that will have new or upgraded housing. The same tenancy agreement, the same Tenancy Act, the same controls will be in place to ensure that these houses remain viable houses for a long period of time. We will apply the same rules that we apply in Smith Street to Ngukurr, Yuendumu or anywhere else that these houses are under the control of Territory Housing.
Dry Season Events
Mr WARREN to CHIEF MINISTER
Our fantastic Dry Season is here again and Territorians are out there enjoying themselves and getting right into the swing of things. Can you please tell the House what events the government has helped to attract to make our great lifestyle even better this Dry Season?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. I speak for everybody in this Chamber - well, nearly everybody - that it is going to be an absolutely fantastic Dry Season for the events that are not only going to be supported by Territorians, but tourists are going to come to the Territory in their droves.
We have helped to attract some great events such as the Crusty Demons – I did not get to see them last year but I will definitely go with my kids this year. Obviously, we are very proud to have brought AFL to the Northern Territory, not only to Darwin but also to Alice Springs. Regarding international cricket, my colleague, the Sports minister, made a great announcement a few weeks ago about international cricket again coming to the Top End. Also, the Heineken 7s, the Rugby Union tournament, is an absolutely fantastic start after the Wet Season, with heaps of tourists coming to town.
This afternoon, I will talk about the two biggest music gigs in the NT – BassintheGrass and Sir Elton John. What a fantastic line-up coming up. Leading Australian rock bands Powderfinger and Wolfmother will headline this year. I went last year, I am looking forward to going again this year. Other bands taking their place on the dual stage include the Hilltop Hoods – and I hope they are up the order a bit this year - The Audreys and Hercules in NY. It is also a great opportunity for our local bands to be showcased and I look forward to making an announcement on that very soon.
Last year, BassintheGrass attracted over 7000 people for the 12-hour music-fest, and what a fantastic evening it was. It will be held at Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday, 24 May, with gates open at 11 am. I look forward to seeing lots of Territorians there on what is going to be a great night.
We also got behind the push to bring Sir Elton John to Darwin. It was something that my colleague, the Tourism Minister, came to speak to me about. It is not every day that you get to have the opportunity to bring one of the world’s greatest entertainers to Darwin. Little old Darwin, just over 100 000 people, and the opportunity to get Sir Elton John! We grabbed that opportunity with both hands. The whole city has gotten behind it - well, nearly the whole city – and 11 000 tickets have already been sold. We have had to put another 1000 tickets on sale. It is going to be a great night on 17 May.
I was really pleased to see a letter to the editor on 24 April from somebody who said:
As a music lover, I am ecstatic that Elton John is coming to Darwin and that the government is supporting, along with Darwin businesses like Paspaley’s …
Again, I thank Paspaley’s for their support. The writer went on to say that many hundreds of dollars she would have spent in airfares and accommodation is now going to stay in the Northern Territory. What she would have spent going to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne is going to stay in the Northern Territory.
However, there is always somebody who wants to ruin the party. There is always somebody who says turn the music down. There is always somebody who does not like to see people having fun. I just wonder who that person is? He just about opposes everything. He opposes great investment in the economy to build the economy; he is now opposing bringing international acts like Sir Elton John to Darwin. He does not like business, he does not like bands ...
Mr Mills: That is not true.
Mr HENDERSON: Leader of the Opposition, just what do you like? I hope to see you at Elton John. Do yourself a favour, get down there; it is going to be a fantastic night. Everybody is going to love to see you there. Come and join me in the mosh pit, down at BassintheGrass. I will see you in the mosh pit at BassintheGrass. Get out, have some fun. It is going to be a fantastic Dry Season. I look forward to seeing everybody at all of the great events, including the Leader of the Opposition.
Government Housing– Remote Community Rents
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for HOUSING
Yesterday, you announced that the new housing stock built in remote communities will be managed in the same way as Territory Housing stock anywhere. Can you table the amounts that will be charged in rent? Can you also outline what the cost of the rates will be on those houses under the new local government regime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. There is a problem: we have not built any houses yet, we are going to build them in the near future. We will wait until we build the houses, put the people in, then we will decide the charges according to the ability of every person to pay because, do not forget, Territory Housing charges people according to their ability to pay and their need. Then, we will come back with the full information you asked for.
Attracting Chinese Tourists
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for TOURISM
Can the minister advise how the government is attracting Chinese tourists to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yesterday, I reported to the House on my visit to China. I told you it was very exciting, because I had the opportunity to meet a lot of media and discuss the Territory with them. What I did not expect was actually the level of publicity the Territory received from this medium.
Yesterday, I received copies of various publications in China, from Xinhua, the national newsagency, with some of their blogs and web pages in circulation in China. The figures are staggering, some of them have a circulation of 110 million people and, one in particular, Business.Sohu.com, has a circulation of 195 million people. As an estimate, if all this publicity has been seen by people in China, that would total about a billion people seeing photos and information about the Territory.
What was very pleasing for me, when I got on the plane to fly from Shanghai to Beijing and I picked up the Air China magazine from the front pocket, was a great surprise to see nine pages of this magazine, in English and Chinese, dedicated to the Northern Territory, with photographs - I bet everybody recognises that particular picture - from the north and the Centre, including the town of Alice Springs.
People travelling with Air China will see that. Air China is the state airline, one of the biggest airlines in the world, and 35 million people flew with them last year. For this, we did not have to pay a cent. If we paid for advertising, it would be $50 000 a page - $450 000 for this advertorial, which we got for free. The important thing is how many people who will sit in the seat on Air China and pick up the magazine and read about the Territory. This is something that we did not chase; it is totally unexpected, but it is fantastic for the Territory.
The way to do business in China is not only to go there and talk to people, it is trying to feature prominently in their media. If we think newspaper circulation here is big with 40 000 a day, can you imagine a newspaper with circulation of 1.8 million a day, or even more than that? We were very pleased to hear that in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing we feature prominently in the biggest circulation newspapers in the world.
Stuart Lodge
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for HOUSING
We have been concerned for some time about the high number of itinerants that come into Alice Springs. The previous Minister for Housing opened Stuart Lodge in Alice Springs for short-term accommodation. I have to admit that it has worked well and has been great. I had my reservations at first, because it was right in the centre of town.
We have had a request from the Senior Citizens Association in Tennant Creek about the amount of PATS allowance, regarding how low it was and the fact that, when they have to come to Alice Springs for a procedure, they cannot always afford accommodation before they travel home.
What is the occupancy rate since Stuart Lodge has been opened? What is the percentage of indigenous and non-indigenous? What I am asking is: can non-indigenous people stay there, or is there an eligibility criteria? We know it is quite heavily subsidised by government. I believe it is about $28 a day and that includes a three-course meal. Can you let us know how much it is costing government but, most of all, can you advise me how we are going to get this information to people in places like Tennant Creek and on pastoral properties? This is a place for short-term accommodation which I would like to know whether it is just for indigenous people or not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Certainly, Stuart Lodge is a very important asset for Territorians. It provides medium- and short-term accommodation for people who come in from anywhere in the Territory to Alice Springs for treatment and health visits.
I assure you that the lodge is open to any Territorian, irrespective of colour, ethnicity, background or town. It is open to people from Tennant Creek, Yuendumu – from anywhere they need access to health services in Alice Springs.
It is extremely well managed by Territory Housing. The occupancy rate at the moment is around 81%, so it is well patronised. And yes, you are right, they provide a very low rate – 70 beds, 35 rooms, and the rooms can be arranged in different configurations with the beds. We provide breakfast and lunch, and dinner is provided by an external contractor. The department realises that it will be more cost-effective to have people cooking meals in the lodge and is looking to employ somebody to run the kitchen facilities.
As I said before, this is open and available to every Territorian, irrespective of ethnicity, background, colour or where they come from.
Local Government Reform – Territorians’ Comments
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
You have spent the last two months on the road consulting extensively with Territorians. What are they saying to you about local government reform?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. As the member said, I have actually travelled over 36 000 km over the last three months. I travelled some of those kilometres with the member for Stuart, and those trips we have been on were delightful.
I took a leaf out of the previous minister’s book about getting out there. The previous minister, the member for Barkly, is someone who believes in face-to-face conversation with people out bush, and has done extensive kilometres. That is the approach I have taken to continue the work of the previous minister.
These travels have taken me as far south as Finke, across to Docker River, as far north as the Tiwi Islands and also out to Groote Eylandt. It has been an absolute delight to meet the people out there and discuss with them a range of issues around local government reform. Those travels have really confirmed in my mind the vital need to continue with these reforms because they are very much needed. We have to continue on. The conditions and structures we had out there in local government over the last 30-odd years in the Territory are woeful. It is amazing how these people, these leaders in the communities, have struggled with a very poor framework from which to work, and I credit them for doing such a great job in such poor legislative and structural conditions.
I also thank the people for their contributions. In recent meetings at Minjilang and Warrawi, people were actually providing vital information to help us in fine-tuning the legislation, and also structural reform. A lot of those things that have been raised by those members out bush have been incorporated into amendments to the legislation. Also, to the processes and how this reform will feed through to 1 July and through the elections in October and ongoing.
I have also been accompanied by the new staff of the shires, and they have been welcomed on board. They are finding their feet out there, and people are both educating them and being educated by them about the new local government. I will mention some of the people. I have always enjoyed the company of the people at Ngukurr. They are very knowledgeable people and want to embrace this local government reform.
One comment that really stayed with me was at Utopia, at quite a large meeting with the member for Stuart. It was a colourful meeting in itself. There was an old lady there named Lena and, after hearing what we had to talk about, her simple words were: ‘Get on with it. Give it a go and get on with it’. That has stuck with me. I am not an expert on those services on those individual communities but those people are. They have seen how services have been up and down, and very inconsistent over time.
Finally, I will continue my travels, because that is the only way of getting it completely right. We will work alongside those people throughout those communities. These reforms are positive and much needed. We will move steadily, confidently forward with the communities into this new local government.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016