2006-10-19
Indigenous Housing - Funding
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last year, the Commonwealth Grants Commission Review Committee gave the Northern Territory $95m for Territory Housing. I table the weightings document. Your contribution to the Indigenous Housing Authority of the Northern Territory was $4.7m. I table the extract of the relevant report. Today’s announcement makes your actual spend about one-quarter of what you were given by the Commonwealth Grants Commission for indigenous housing. If you are so serious about Aboriginal housing, why don’t you spend the entire $95m grant on the purpose for which it was given to you?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, a couple of points: we are entitled to that money from the federal government. The Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement is not a matter of the Commonwealth giving us money. This is every Territorian’s entitlement to money for housing. It is very disappointing to have the Opposition Leader running the incorrect lines of her federal colleague, the minister for Indigenous Affairs, in this House.
The Opposition Leader said: ‘Why don’t you spend that money?’ We do. Despite the ill-informed accusations of the minister for Indigenous Affairs, we do spend the money, and we make no apologies for it. Let me talk …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is only the churlish Country Liberal Party that could see a negative in making a very important announcement on $100m over five years to build housing for Aboriginal Territorians in the bush, only the CLP. This is a very important announcement, and I made it with a lot of pride on behalf of government. There is an opportunity, over the next five years, to deal with housing in the bush, the contracts we let, the training we incorporate and we can do it differently.
We are running both programs – the one for which we rightly receive money from the federal government, as every state does; we will continue to spend that money, quite properly. This money, the $100m over five years, will be spent differently under a different model. We are hoping to develop smaller numbers of contracts for the longer term, incorporate significant training within that, look very seriously at how we are building houses, the cost of them and the materials we use.
I would have thought the CLP, the opposition in this parliament, might have been supportive. The CLP is not supportive of building houses in communities like Borroloola. They are saying we should not make announcements like this. Shame on you! Absolute shame on you.
We are also proud of the priorities we are giving in this House today for Aboriginal Territorians over the next five years. The new local governance model is absolutely critical to effective running of communities right around the Northern Territory. There is a lot of work being done on that, with further development to be done. I pay tribute to the Minister for Local Government for the work he has done on it.
We are extending public housing management right across the Northern Territory, not just in urban centres. There is a lot of work to go into that, but we believe it will make a significant difference to managing public housing across the Northern Territory.
We are rolling out secondary education to the bush, something the Country Liberal Party never bothered with in 27 years of government. We have made significant advances in secondary education and are continuing that roll out.
We are working with the federal government on establishing more police posts and stations across the Northern Territory.
Alcohol is another issue. We have had significant success already with alcohol plans, and I pay tribute to the people of Groote Eylandt for the work they have done and their success in managing alcohol, and the other communities that are following suit, like Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs.
There is a lot to be done. To hear the opposition simply mock and criticise an important announcement on behalf of Aboriginal Territorians, Mr Acting Speaker, casts deep shame on this parliament, deep shame.
Schools - Focus on Literacy Program
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Will the minister tell the House about the latest government initiative to improve the reading skills of students in Territory schools?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question because, as I have been saying in the House over the last couple of days, there is nothing more important than literacy and numeracy. At lunchtime today, I was pleased to be with the Chief Minister at Wanguri School in my electorate announcing this program. With the preschool students, we unveiled Focus on Literacy, which is about getting schools, parents and the broader community working together to ensure every child gets a fair go at life, and in getting a fair go at life, every child has to be able to read and write at very proficient levels. Focus on Literacy includes a Raising a Reader information kit, which gives parents information to help develop their child’s early reading skills at home from zero to eight years. Every parent in the Northern Territory will receive a copy of this kit.
The Chief Minister’s Literacy Achievement Awards recognise the literacy achievements of students, and they are going to be awarded in every classroom across the Northern Territory, encouraging our kids to raise their proficiency. The most improved student in each classroom will receive a Chief Minister’s Award and a book pack program, which will see members visit schools to read to students and donate books.
Literacy rates are not good enough, Mr Acting Speaker. As I said earlier this week, until we have all of our students at national levels and then exceeding them, our job is not done.
I thank all members in the House for being part of the program, which is supported by all members. It is important that all 25 members who have been elected to represent the people of the Northern Territory engage with our schools. I know we all do, and this is just another tool to assist members to support schools in their electorates and to encourage students to achieve greater literacy skills.
Mr Acting Speaker, I cannot finish without thanking the Principal of Wanguri, Jenny Robinson, who is a great school leader, and teacher, Shirley Neve, and the preschool. It was fantastic today. The Chief Minister and I had great pleasure in reading Big Rain Coming. It is a great book of which I will be donating many copies in and around my electorate.
Indigenous Housing - Funding
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your announcement today was that you will build about 50 houses per year in the bush. Your government has, however, claimed that it is about 4000 houses short in remote communities around the Northern Territory. By your numbers, you will have finished the job in 2166. Your 20-year plan has now become a 160-year plan. How do your indigenous colleagues feel about that?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, the mocking is disheartening. I thought there would have been embracing support from the opposition in tackling the outstanding issue of remote housing in the bush when you consider that, after 27 years of being in power in the Northern Territory, the Country Liberal Party contributed to that billion dollar backlog.
What is implicit, and very sad, in the Opposition Leader’s question is that because the task is so big, we should not even start it. That is implicit. It is an indictment of the Opposition Leader that she asks because we have such a big task - like our task with literacy - why bother to start it. It is as absurd as that.
We are putting down $100m. We are hoping this will lever further investment. We are looking at ways for the private sector to be involved. Maybe the opposition will put some pressure on the colleagues they love so dearly in Canberra, the ones for whom they advocate so often in this place, and secure dollar-for-dollar in additional funding from the federal government. That would be an excellent start. We have to be able to make sure that the dollars we have are able to be expended in the Northern Territory. With the additional $20m for five years, the $100m, we believe we can manage significant leverage.
However, to have it mocked by the Opposition Leader only brings shame on her. We are proud to make this important statement today, and we will continue to make strides for Aboriginal Territorians. We have figures, for example over the last three years, that the health of Aboriginal women has increased to such an extent that the life expectancy is now three years longer than it was three years ago. We have students graduating from their schools in the bush at Year 12. We are making strides. We have seen a significant decrease in Aboriginal infant mortality. That, again, is a good thing. Yet the only thing you hear from a party that sat on its hands for many years in government is condemnation for what we are doing.
Mr Acting Speaker, we will continue to work with Aboriginal Territorians to see positive outcomes across the Northern Territory. It is a very large task to which we are committed.
Western Bulldogs - AFL Matches
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Will you inform the House if Alice Springs and Darwin can continue to enjoy watching elite AFL matches live next year?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his very important question. It has been a great week for the AFL, starting with the Tiwi Bombers and, of course, the opening of the Magpies home ground on Sunday. Hopefully, the member for Blain will be there to enjoy a great footy match on the newly constructed oval funded by $2m from the Northern Territory government.
Today, an agreement was signed with AFLNT and Western Bulldogs. For the next three years, nine games will be played in Darwin and Alice Springs; premiership home games in Darwin, the pre-season match in Darwin and the pre-season challenge in Alice Springs. I am sure people will be very happy with this announcement. It will cost $300 000 a year, but it is $300 000 very well spent. That means the Western Bulldogs will continue the very close relationship they have with the Northern Territory. I am looking forward to seeing most of you there, screaming your heads off for the Western Bulldogs.
Commonwealth Grants Commission Funding
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
In addition to the Commonwealth Grants Commission funding of $95m per year, your government receives from other federal grants something in the vicinity of an extra $98m per year. You have not spent your $95m; you have only spent $4.7m. Does not today’s announcement have more to do with rescuing your reputation so that you are seen to be doing something on indigenous affairs rather than coming up with real, fair dinkum solutions?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, in responding to the question from the Opposition Leader, real solutions are houses for Aboriginal people living in remote areas of the Northern Territory. I make no apologies for a real solution. I did not hear the figures that the Opposition Leader quoted, however we recently released a report with a tick by some very significant members of the Australian community - people like Professor Ken Wiltshire and Saul Eastlake from the ANZ Bank - who verified that probably just under 50% of the Territory’s budget goes to providing services for Aboriginal people. I do not back off from that. That is money that is well spent and we have to ensure that it is reaching its target. To say that this government has done nothing for Aboriginal Territorians is rubbish.
The Opposition Leader needs to have some credibility when she mouths the words of her federal colleagues. We are proudly spending money where it is needed. That is the whole basis of the Grants Commission. We will continue, despite the carping and negativity of the opposition, to work with Aboriginal Territorians to achieve better outcomes.
We will see changes to local government and extensions of secondary education further into the bush. We will ensure there are police posts and police stations across the Territory for safer communities. We will, despite the carping of the opposition, build houses and more houses in the bush.
This is an opportunity for the Opposition Leader to join in working for Aboriginal Territorians, or stand on the sidelines carping and being irrelevant. All we hear at this stage is carping.
Crocodile Farms – Chlamydia Outbreak
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
The local media has recently reported on an outbreak of infectious disease at some of our crocodile farms. Will you outline what our government has done to assist our crocodile farming industry to deal with this issue?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. It is true, and many of us remember the explicit headlines in the paper such as ‘Sex Disease is Killing Scores of Baby Crocs’. Who could forget this one: ‘Our Crocs have Pox’? They certainly grab the reader’s attention when reporting various theories about the underlying reasons for the crocodiles dying.
In June this year, my department was notified of some unusual numbers of deaths in hatchling saltwater crocodiles in two of the farms in the Darwin region. Later that month, Chlamydia was diagnosed by my department’s Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory and the Oonoonba Veterinary Laboratory in Queensland.
Chlamydia is a disease that affects farm crocs. It was originally diagnosed in South Africa and Papua New Guinea and has been present in Australia since 2004. The clinical symptoms include severe conjunctivitis and severe throat infections. The disease was also identified in Pied Herons at Crocodylus Park. The strain in crocodiles is different from that found in the herons and it is highly unlikely that one species could pass on the disease to the other.
An expert in South Africa was called out by one of the farms to work with the department’s Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory, and suggested that the outbreak was caused by pox virus, which appeared in South Africa a little while back, hence the wonderful front page headline.
However, there was no evidence of mouth or skin lesions caused by the pox virus and this has, in fact, since been accepted by the foreign expert. We can say with 100% accuracy that the disease is an unidentified strand of Chlamydia and it is specific to crocodiles. The reason the mortality rate was so high is likely to be a combination of factors, but the more likely one is stress linked with the colder than normal weather, making the hatchlings more susceptible to infection. The coldest average minium temperature for 64 years was recorded in the Darwin area during the outbreak. My department continues to work with the crocodile farming industry and is managing the disease.
Might I add that I am absolutely bedazzled by the amount of work my department does. Their groundbreaking and innovative research is second to none. We are very pleased to have these people in the Northern Territory doing the work that they do.
The response to this outbreak again highlights that we have international standard research, diagnostic and management expertise available locally. My department’s diagnosis was available quickly and has proved to be 100% correct. The department also worked with an overseas expert, giving him use of laboratory facilities and assisting him in the field, which all demonstrates that we are very fortunate to have such professional and dedicated people working here. I thank them for their considerable effort and their diligence and hard work.
Finally, the excellent scientific collaboration between the field and diagnostic services of my department bodes well for the development of a formal Northern Territory Biosecurity Strategy over the coming years.
Liquor Licence – Stuart Caravan and Tourist Park
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
The Chief Minister has made much about the Alcohol Management Plan for Alice Springs and the restricted areas legislation recently passed. However, the Licensing Commission has granted a takeaway licence for the Stuart Caravan and Tourist Park from 4 pm to 8 pm, seven days a week, despite the recently imposed 12-month moratorium on the granting of new takeaway liquor licences, which I believe flag the government’s intent. I am aware this application predated the moratorium, so before you go down that path, does not this decision fly in the face of government’s intent of having tighter alcohol laws to combat antisocial behaviour? Will you, as minister, let me know: do you support this decision? Can you justify this decision, or will you stop the licence from going ahead?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, as a very active local member, the member for Braitling is taking an active interest in this issue and I understand that. It is on the public record that the member for Braitling wrote to the Liquor Commission voicing her concerns about a number of issues - and a very well written letter it was, too; very succinct.
As the member for Braitling said, the application by this caravan park did precede the moratorium on takeaway licences in Alice Springs. In fact, my advice is that the application was received and advertised by the Licensing Commission on 1 December 2005. The hearings were delayed somewhat, at the request of the member for Braitling because she believed, rightly, that there would be a number of people who would be absent from Alice Springs over the Christmas and New Year period. There is no doubt there was divided opinion on this issue. In fact, whilst there were a lot of opponents to the granting of a licence, there were also some supporters, including the Alice Springs Town Council and some of the aldermen.
The important thing to say here is that the licence has been granted subject to very strict conditions. I will read them for the benefit of the House and the Parliamentary Record. The conditions include: the sale of alcohol is limited to a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine per person per day; the sale of liquor is limited to registered guests of the caravan park, who must produce a gate key at the time of purchase; liquor is permitted to be sold between 4 pm and 8 pm; liquor is only to be consumed within the caravan park; it must be recorded with the name, site number and details of the alcohol purchased; and, the availability of alcohol is not to be advertised externally.
I have already mentioned the fact that this particular application predated the moratorium on takeaway licences so, in a way, I do not believe it would be fair to retrospectively attribute that moratorium back on to someone who applied before it. You need to let due process take its course. Government has done similar things in terms of water licences when it had a moratorium on the Daly River. You have to be fair …
Mrs Braham: So you agree with this takeaway licence after all the problems you have had in Alice Springs? Come on, minister, you know the problems we have had.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: You have to be fair, member for Braitling, and procedurally fair to people.
Mrs Braham: This contradicts what the Chief Minister has been saying.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Dr BURNS: I have read the conditions of the licence. They are very strict. In terms of it setting a precedent, it cannot set a precedent for the very reason that it was an application that was lodged previously. When we have spoken personally about this issue, you did put to me the concerns of the Aboriginal hostel, which is located near the caravan park. I am advised, through the evidence that was given to the Licensing Commission, that the fear that residents or their relatives would be staying at the park and purchasing alcohol, the manager of the hostel said they can only remember one occasion in August 2005 and another instance just prior to Christmas when a family member stayed at the tourist park. It is not the role of the hostel to refer anyone to any particular commercial venue.
The advice from the commission was that people rarely stayed there. I will place it on the record: if there are problems with this licence, the Liquor Commission will address those issues. If you are asking me whether I support it, the Liquor Commission is an autonomous body. It makes decisions. I am the minister. I accept their decision and I am certainly not going to overturn that decision.
Nhulunbuy – Regional Services
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Getting services on the ground in our regional centres is important to this government. What is happening in your portfolio to establish new services in Nhulunbuy?
ANSWER
Yes, indeed, ensuring services are delivered in our regions is a high priority for the Martin Labor government. As we know, childcare is a critical issue for Territory families. In recent years, the Commonwealth has absolutely walked away from its responsibility to provide childcare. They coin it now. They believe childcare is a business. Well, I say that is wrong. It is an essential service. Private childcare providers are not interested in providing childcare in the bush. Nhulunbuy is a perfect example of the Commonwealth government failing to understand regional Australia’s needs.
For years, Nhulunbuy had an unacceptably high waiting list for childcare places. In excess of 100 people were on the list. You can imagine the impact that was having on the G3 expansion in Nhulunbuy. In attracting skilled labour, families determine where they go in terms of what services are provided. The Northern Territory government worked very closely with Alcan to try to overcome the problem we were both facing in that the Commonwealth was not going to meet its childcare responsibilities in Nhulunbuy.
In the first instance, we looked at what we could do as an interim and immediate solution. We provided $230 000 to expand the existing childcare centre to increase it from 48 to 58 places. Building works are now complete. We really needed a new childcare centre to meet the waiting list requirements. After Alcan going to Canberra, putting their case very strongly to the Commonwealth and being ignored, I spoke personally to the federal minister on a number of occasions about the concerns, and I have written letters. The Commonwealth ignored calls for a childcare centre in Nhulunbuy.
We came up with an expression of interest process, which was run through my Department of Family and Community Services, whereby we were looking for either a private provider of the childcare service, or a private operator and builder of the childcare service. We came up with a deal with Alcan where they committed to build a 75-place childcare centre, which will be operated by the CMP group, an experienced childcare operator which has two services in Darwin. The building works will commence soon, with an expectation that the centre will operate early in the new year.
The government’s contribution is to provide housing for the staff of that childcare centre. It was an innovative approach working with Alcan, the Nhulunbuy Community Childcare Centre and the community. We have turned this issue around. We are creating an extra 85 childcare places in Nhulunbuy to meet demand.
In addition, for almost a decade, the community of Nhulunbuy has been calling for a sobering-up shelter and an alcohol rehabilitation service. Again, it is incredibly difficult to get the Commonwealth to understand its responsibility in funding such essential services in our regional areas. The Nhulunbuy community has worked with the Northern Territory government. Mission Australia operate a sobering-up shelter under a contract with our government that will bring together the current patrol service and, importantly, a new rehabilitation service. The contract is funded to the tune of $920 000 per annum for three years.
These services will be based at a new purpose-built special care facility. The construction of the centre was funded through the Community Harmony strategy, with $400 000 from the government, and the then ATSIS to the tune of $150 000. Alcan provided in-kind support that included land clearing, project management and the ongoing waiving of service charges and rates. A manager has been appointed for the whole service and the patrol is already operational. On 4 November 2006, new staff will commence duties to start the sobering-up shelter. Mission Australia is sending skilled staff across to Nhulunbuy from their other services throughout the Northern Territory to provide training and support.
Mr Acting Speaker, we are delivering services on the ground in regional centres despite the Commonwealth’s failure to provide funding where they quite clearly have responsibilities.
Habitual Drunk Drivers - Penalties
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
We know that some of the major causes of road fatalities are fatigue, drink driving, seat belts and road conditions. Today, I announced that at the next available opportunity, I would introduce legislation to address one of these causes through the seizure and confiscation of vehicles belonging to people who persistently drink and drive. This is just one of the actions the opposition would take in government. Will you support the seizure and confiscation of cars of habitual drunk drivers?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, the issue of safety on our roads is critical for every Territorian. To our shame, we have the worst record in the country. Territorians die on our roads at three-and-a-half times the national average. Each and every one of us will know someone who dies on our roads.
That is why the report that government has commissioned on our road safety record and remedial initiatives is so important. That report will be released shortly. It is a most comprehensive report and it has been done in an evidence-based way. It is not a case of this might be a good idea or that might be a good idea or what I did I think up overnight. It is evidence-based and government will be working with that evidence-based report and will be releasing it, as I said, shortly to the community.
Skills in Private Sector
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Could you please inform the House on how the government is helping the expanding private sector secure the skills it needs to keep the Territory moving ahead?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. The Territory economy has been described as turbocharged, thanks very much to the expanding resource sector, oil, gas, the construction industry and, of course, Defence. All these sectors demand goods and services. They would certainly prefer to buy from here rather than having to go somewhere else. At the same time, small business in the Territory is willing to offer these goods and services and, in order to do that, they want to increase the capacity and capability of their enterprise. This is where the government supports small businesses by the offer of free workshops and business coaching sessions.
These workshops and business coaching sessions are offered by the local firm Catalyst Consulting International NT. We have already had 13 workshops, attended by 175 people from 1 August to mid-September 2006. At the same time, 15 businesses received coaching.
There are four core themes: marketing; finance; business management; and human resources. These themes were identified in the 2005 Economic Development Summit, by industry and people who participated in previous workshops. We are delivering the support that industry has identified it needs. We will continue to support small business in the Northern Territory. We live in a global village. There is serious competition, not only from interstate but internationally, and we want Territory industries to offer goods and services to businesses that do business in the Territory.
Unregistered Motor Vehicles - Penalties
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
You would know that there are a number of people in the Northern Territory who regularly and persistently drive unregistered vehicles. Today, I announced that at the next available opportunity, I will be introducing legislation to take action to seize and confiscate vehicles that are unregistered unless people pay the registration within 60 days or, in some circumstances, 90 days. This is just one of the actions the opposition will take when in government. Will you support the seizure and confiscation of cars of habitual law breakers driving unregistered vehicles?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, again I say that the issue of road safety for Territorians is a very important and significant one. The fact that the Opposition Leader has done a bit of a grab bag of responses to what is a very serious issue …
Ms Carney: It is based on international research. You do not have that research. Have a look at New Zealand; have a look at Queensland.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Carney: Don’t you do research?
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: I will respond to the Opposition Leader: we should just go on the Internet and take what they are doing elsewhere. We should not actually respond in a report about our road safety and what recommendations might need to be followed. We should not do that in the Territory context. We should perhaps go to Tasmania and take recommendations on what they are doing and transplant them here. Oh, terrific!
Mr Mills interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: Do not worry, he says; we should see Queensland and New South Wales. You have nothing here.
Members interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Mr Acting Speaker, policy by Google is not bad, but you have to recognise your sources. That is the issue. Otherwise, do you know what it is called? Plagiarism.
Returning to the issue of road safety, as I said, government has an evidence-based report about our roads and initiatives that are recommended. That will be released shortly to Territorians. As a community, we will have a look at some of the damage we are doing to ourselves and others on our roads, and it is a very serious issue for Territorians. When you consider that one person dies on our road every week and nine are seriously injured, we have to take action, not grab bag things like the Opposition Leader is recommending.
Procurement Processes
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for CORPORATE and INFORMATION SERVICES
Will the minister outline recent announcements that make the procurement process easier for business to operate in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, recently I was pleased to announce an increase to the threshold for public tenders as part of the government’s procurement policy. This threshold was increased from $10 000 to $50 000 and shall operate from 1 November this year. The figure of $10 000 was established in 1979 and was well overdue for a review.
This decision has been made in consultation with industry and has been the subject of discussion with the Government Procurement Council and the NT Industry Capability Network. The message government received loud and clear from industry was that the expense of tendering for work under $50 000 was disproportionate for the return.
The changes will provide more efficient purchasing processes for government and industry aligned to the risk and returns on those purchases. It is worth noting that the Territory will still be the jurisdiction with the lowest threshold, which is probably appropriate given the relative size of contracts awarded. Currently, 48% of tenders are between $10 000 and $50 000, but they only total $17.5m. By contrast, 52% of tenders are above $50 000 and total $706m. This means that 48% of the volume equates to 2% of the total value of tenders.
There will be stringent safeguards in place in respect of this change, which is another example of the Northern Territory government working with industry to make it more competitive and enhancing the economy.
Football Clubs – Team Names
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Soccer is now called football. The A League is attracting large crowds and good media coverage, and is made up of teams such as the Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets, and Melbourne Victory. There is no mention of Croatia, Olympic or Juventis. The game has moved on. The Cracovia Club, for example, a Polish-based club in Perth, is now called the Beechboro White Eagles after the suburb where it is based.
In Darwin, we have names like Afro-Oz, Darwin Azzurri, Darwin Olympic, Hellenic and Palmerston La-Faek. As the minister for Sport, and being an avid fan of the game, do you not think it is time that these ethnic-based names disappeared into history as has happened in other parts of Australia so we can start putting football, soccer, on a professional footing where it will be seen by all Territorians as a game for all Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for his question. He is right in one section, but he is wrong in others. I agree that down south, a lot of the teams had ethnic names and members and supporters were mainly from the same ethnic group. For example, there were Macedonia, Red Star Serbia and others with Greek or Italian names. The difference in the Territory is if you watch Hellenic, there will be Chinese, Greeks, Italians and Aboriginal kids from Bagot playing. No one cares what the name of the group is because Darwin is multicultural. We have never had the ethnic divisions that exist in southern states, and people do not care what the name of their team is, nor the supporters – they are not Greeks or Italians; they are Greeks and Italians and Chinese and Aboriginal people.
On the other hand, when we had the independent review of soccer in the Northern Territory, all the recommendations were implemented. There was no recommendation to change the ethnic names because the group that did the review realised that there is no significance in the name of the team because it does not attract people from one particular ethnic group, and there are no ethnic divisions in soccer in the Northern Territory.
Childhood Obesity – Food Service in Schools
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Plagiarism clearly deeply offends you. How are you coping with the revelation that your own Chief Minister has plagiarised a CLP policy entitled Chief Minister’s Reading Rewards Challenge? You did not have to Google it; it was delivered to your letterbox. The CLP will invest in children’s reading – it is called Chief Minister’s Reading Rewards Challenge. Minister, once you have adjusted to that shock, will you be ready to swallow your pride and announce a food standards policy to support families and schools in combating childhood obesity?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. When the awards were announced today, I acknowledged that we had bipartisan support. I acknowledge that the CLP have policy initiatives in this area, but the initiatives we announced today expanded on what the CLP announced previously.
We all agree - and it is good to see there is bipartisan support, as shown over the last couple of days - that the number one priority for our schools and education system throughout the Northern Territory is kids leaving that education system being able to read, write and count. Until we have every child in the Northern Territory leaving our education system at the national benchmarks, our job is not done.
The initiative outlined today by the Chief Minister and supported by all members in this House will help encourage kids to share in the joy of reading. It is not only that the joy of reading lasts a lifetime; it gives those kids the opportunity to participate in the broader community, and every Territory kid should have that right.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! The minister well knows that we fully support this program, but the thrust of the question is a different matter. It relates to another policy. I am wondering whether the member will swallow his pride and consider the question. We support it.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Please continue, minister.
Mr HENDERSON: That is the priority for me as minister and for this government.
On the matter the member opposite has raised in respect of colour coding food and having every canteen in the Northern Territory have to put stickers on various items of food, that is a road we will not go down.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I encourage all parents to ensure that their children eat a healthy, balanced diet, and all schools, through their school councils, to ensure that there is a balanced diet for all children at the school canteen. Will we be insisting that every person who runs a canteen or tuck shop in the Northern Territory has to put a little red, green or yellow sticker on every item of food and legislate in this parliament for that to happen? The answer is no.
Territory Economy – Retail Trade Figures
Ms ANDERSON to TREASURER
The CLP are talking down the Territory economy. Can you advise the House on the most recent retail trade figures and what those figures mean for the Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, the only people in the whole country talking down the economy is the CLP. In fact, they are vastly at adds with every other economic forecaster, including publications such as the Australian Financial Review. They have a very different view from those held by Access Economics, the Financial Review, Moodys and the rest.
This government, however, does not take the growth that we have been enjoying in the economy of recent times for granted. It is something we work on continually, every day, and through the strong fiscal discipline we have used to deliver budget surpluses over the past few years.
The most recent retail figures do reflect the growing strength of the economy. Despite the fact that 2004-05 was a bumper year for retail, the sector is still growing, and the most recent figures show it growing at the rate of 6.5% in the year on year to August 2006. That compares to a national growth rate of around 4.8% so we are 1.7% ahead of the national growth rate for retail.
Motor vehicle sales are also continuing at a high level, although not at the rate of growth of 2005. In 2005, motor vehicle sales were running at an 11.3% growth rate and this has dropped off a little this year. In actual numbers of vehicle sales in the Territory, we are still running at over 9000 per annum. That is higher than the time of the last peak in the late 1990s, and considerably higher than the 2001 economic slump when figures were around the 7000 mark.
More importantly, consumer confidence right across the board remains high. We boast the highest consumer and business confidence in Australia: 59% of Territory consumers expressed confidence in the future. Now, that is a long way ahead of most of the rest of Australia. There is a level of 51% in Western Australia, which puts Western Australia and the Northern Territory streets ahead of the rest of Australia, so this does bode well. It bodes well for solid economic growth and for solid trade to continue, despite the ongoing carping criticism we hear from members opposite.
Middle Schools – Implementation
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
In your government’s haste to ram your middle schools implementation through, you ignored warnings about problems including transport, zoning and infrastructure which include items such as toilets. The Australian Building Code requires a ratio of 30 to one male students to toilet pans. On your administration that ratio at Dripstone will be six to one and Nightcliff five to one, but at Casuarina Senior College it will be 60 to one. This graph illustrates the point. This has serious health implications for students. Does it not demonstrate serious problems with the implementation of middle schooling?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, the member for Blain and the opposition look very hard to find any tiny bit of bad news they can. Really, with all the educational challenges we face, if the best he can do is to focus on the number of toilets at Casuarina Senior College and putting red and yellow sticky labels on food, then heaven help us if he ever became Education minister in the Northern Territory.
In the upgrades that are occurring at Casuarina Senior College, $3.2m is being invested by this government in improving facilities for all students. This means not only the Year 10s who will be going there next year, but the Year 11s and 12s. It is an investment in our children’s education and future.
This issue has been raised by a couple of teachers at Casuarina Senior College, whom I have met. I attended the school council meeting with the local member just last week. I can give this House the assurance that my advice from the department is that capital works at the college comply with national standards. That information has been provided to the principal at Casuarina Senior College. He advised the school council to the effect that all ablution facilities at Casuarina Senior College will comply with Australian Standards.
Mr Acting Speaker, we are investing $3.2m in that school and, apart from a couple of disgruntled teachers there, everyone I met is absolutely thrilled with the works that have taken place.
Youth Crime Rates - School Holidays
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
School holidays are traditionally a time when, unfortunately, there is a rise in youth crime. Could you inform the House of any initiatives undertaken by police to target this issue during the recent school holidays?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I have said on a number of occasions that this is a government which has substantially invested in our police force after the CLP let it run down with no recruits at all over three years in the 1990s. We have put in $75m to recruit 200 extra police, and we are certainly on target with that. We have invested 55% extra in funds to Police, Fire and Emergency Services since we came to government.
The school holiday period is a time when there can be trouble with youth and adolescents, however, I would like to stress that the majority of kids are good kids; they have a good time during the holidays, they play with their friends, they go out to various places. However, there is an element that makes trouble. Basically, the police mounted a targeted operation in the last school holidays in the northern suburbs of Darwin, and there were significant reductions in crime and antisocial behaviour.
I should point out that the new mobile police station was an integral part of this operation, along with school-based constables. To cap briefly on the results, compared with the same period last year: there was an 18% reduction in reported crime and antisocial behaviour; a 50% reduction in criminal damage; a 78% reduction in unlawful entries; and, during the course of the …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Mr Acting Speaker! The minister is obviously reading from a document. I ask that he table that document.
Dr BURNS: Yes, these are notes. You can have what I have in my hand. Of course you can; you might like it.
Ms Carney: Thank you.
Dr BURNS: During the course of the operation, four offenders were arrested, four youth were diverted by the Juvenile Diversion scheme, two offenders were summonsed, and 18 infringement notices were issued. For the benefit of the Opposition Leader, I hope she enjoys the reading. I know the residents of the northern suburbs trust in our police. They are undertaking targeted operations …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Mr ACTING SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: It must be a full moon. That is all I have to say.
McArthur River Mine – Mining Management Plan
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
In your statement on the McArthur River Mine on Tuesday, you said at least four of the six environmental issues of concern that were identified by the minister for the Environment have been addressed in the Mining Management Plan. Given this and your assurance to the river’s traditional owners on Tuesday that all outstanding risks identified by the EPA have been addressed in the MMP, will you make public just that section, the environment management section of the Mining Management Plan, so that you can give that reassurance to the Traditional Owners that they have been addressed as you have said and that all these crucial matters are resolved to the satisfaction of everyone? Will you release that particular section?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, as I have stated over the past week or so, this process has been exhaustive and thorough. The issues raised during the environmental assessment have been addressed. With consideration of a wide range of advice and reports, I was satisfied that the Mining Management Plan complies with the requirements of the Mining Management Act. You must understand that the Mine Management Plan is the company’s document. It is given to the government for assessment, but it is up to them to release the document. I cannot, under my portfolio …
Mrs Braham: Will you recommend to them that they do?
Mr NATT: If you let me finish, member for Braitling, my office and department have been in contact with the company. We have asked the company to consider releasing the document and those conversations are ongoing. I stress to you and to the people in the gallery that it is the company’s document and the government cannot release any part of it because of confidentiality.
Building Act – Registration of Builders
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Whilst building activity in the Northern Territory continues at record high levels, I understand some builders have missed the cut-off date of 13 June 2006 to be considered for registration under the transitional provisions of the Building Act. Will the minister update the House on what has been done to assist these builders?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, representing the CBD area of Darwin, the member for Port Darwin can see the cranes on the skyline. It is incredible to see the boom that we are undergoing at the moment. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics release shows that there is an overall increase of 18% in building activity, amounting to about $166m. In particular, residential building has increased by 22.5% to $95m; and there is a further $282m of building works to be commenced. This is despite comments by some in the media that the new building industry reforms are putting a brake on building activity.
Provisions relating to registration of builders, particularly of existing residential builders, under transitional provisions commenced on 14 December 2005. Under the transitional provisions, builders had six months in which to apply for registration under the special transitional provisions of the Building Act. The cut-off date for their registration was 13 June 2006. From 3 July, all new residential building work can only be undertaken by residential builders. This is a very welcome change to what was previously a very unregulated industry affecting a lot of mums and dads out there in the suburbs putting their investment into home building that fell over. This is about ensuring that the investors of the Territory get value for their dollar. The associated provisions dealing with mandatory contracts, inspections and enhanced certification requirements also apply from that July date.
However, since then there have been a lot of inquiries about the transitional provisions in terms of registration, with some people claiming to have missed that transitional period. I congratulate my predecessor, the member for Johnston, because he consulted with industry and the Building Practitioners Board, and considered the issue of a short amnesty to capture those people claiming to be builders who, despite a lot of public and industry consultation at the time, claimed they missed the previous amnesty period.
An amnesty period has now commenced. It started on 21 September and will close on 20 November 2006. This is the last chance for people who claim to be builders to apply under the transitional provisions. I urge all people who consider themselves to be in this category of builders but who have not applied for registration to take advantage of this very reasonable amnesty and lodge their application before 20 November this year.
There will be no further amnesty periods. We need a building industry that provides certainty for home owners. The industry itself has called for the type of registration regulation that this government has entered into after significant consultation with both the construction industry and the community more broadly. It is the last amnesty chance. I urge all people who consider themselves builders who fall under this category to submit their application if they have not already done so.
Proposed Legislation - Status
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
On 31 August, you were asked by the member for Nelson about the status of the following legislation that was expected to be drafted in 2004-05: Children and Young People Protection Bill; Ombudsman Bill; Public Interest Disclosure Bill; Health Information (Privacy and Records) Bill; Land Resources Conservation Bill; Magistrates Court Bill; Client Health Bill; Public and Environmental Health Bill; Public Disclosure Protection Bill; and Stock Bill.
Would you advise the opposition and Territorians about the status of that legislation? You will recall that, at the June election, you campaigned with the slogan: ‘There is much more to do’. Why are you not doing it?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I welcomed the question when asked by the member for Nelson, and I have responded to him about the status of that legislation. As we constantly say in government: ‘We have done a bit; there is a lot more to do’. I do not see that as a disgrace. We had over 130 significant items of legislation in the first four years of this government. There is more to do, and we are working through that.
With a sense of pride, we recognise that the last five years have seen a significant turn around for the Northern Territory. When we came to government, the economy was flat and there were so many Territorians without jobs, without a really viable means of support. We have worked hard, but there is no doubt about it; there is more to do.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Mr Acting Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Liquor Licence – Stuart Caravan and Tourist Park
Liquor Licence – Stuart Caravan and Tourist Park
Dr BURNS (Health): Mr Acting Speaker, during the course of Question Time, the member for Braitling asked me a question as to whether I would overturn the granting of a liquor licence to a caravan park in Alice Springs. I said that I would not. In fact, I am advised that, under the Liquor Act, the minister has no power to alter or overturn a decision of the commission in respect of the granting of a liquor licence.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016