2008-02-13
Indigenous Disadvantage -
Bipartisan Approach
Bipartisan Approach
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In this Assembly on 14 June 2006, I called for a bipartisan approach to address indigenous disadvantage. My letter to the then Chief Minister regarding this was not acknowledged, and my call for bipartisanship in this Assembly was rejected by your government. Acknowledging that today is about addressing the past to create a better future; in the spirit of that sentiment, will you reverse your decision of my suggestion and replicate the Prime Minister and the federal Opposition Leader’s commitment to collaborate here in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because this has been an historic day for the nation with the federal parliament finally taking responsibility as our federal parliament and saying sorry to the Stolen Generations.
One of the key action items that have come out of the Prime Minister’s apology and the bipartisan spirit of that apology, has been the suggestion from the Prime Minister for a bipartisan commission to look at issues in improving indigenous health, housing and education.
The commitment I give to the Leader of the Opposition today is: let us look and see the terms of reference for that commission and how it is going to be established. Then we, as a Northern Territory parliament, can look to move forward with the federal government and all political parties across Australia in that bipartisan way to make the big inroads that have to be intergenerational. I believe we all recognise that this is not going to be turned around overnight and, regardless of the political dynamic in Australia today in the electoral and political make-up of our parliaments, this needs to be an intergenerational commitment as we move forward.
In response to the Leader of the Opposition, in the spirit of the question, let us wait and see the terms of reference and how this is going to be structured, because the reality is we can put our shoulder to the wheel and move to do the best we can in the Northern Territory, but we are going to need the assistance of the Commonwealth government as we move forward. We will look at the terms of reference of this commission and I will work with the Leader of the Opposition to see how we can complement and work with the federal government as we all move to address and improve indigenous disadvantage in the Northern Territory.
Sorry Motion - Importance
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
Today was an historic day for our nation. Why is saying sorry so important?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, in another time and place - and maybe later this afternoon over a cup of tea - I might ask the member for Macdonnell that very question myself. This has been a momentous and historic day for this country and for the Stolen Generations and the many thousands of people across Australia and the Northern Territory who, back to the 1920s and as late as the early 1970s, have had their lives devastated by the removal of children.
That word ‘sorry’, it is a small word. After the motion today I, along with virtually every member in this House, went and spoke to members of the Stolen Generations and their families outside. One of the questions – and people were talking with mixed emotions – was why has this taken so long? Why have people had to wait so long for our federal parliament to say sorry and give families and communities an opportunity for closure on what was a very dark chapter in Australia’s history?
To answer the member for Macdonnell’s question – why was sorry so important? – each and every member of the Stolen Generations and their families may have a different answer to that question in their own personal circumstance. However, this is not the end, it is the beginning. It is about moving forward with a fresh, bipartisan approach, putting real targets out there in improving disadvantage, better education, health, housing and job outcomes. How are we going to do that? We have our Closing the Gap policy that was initiated and introduced into this parliament some months ago that has been funded to the tune of an additional $268m over the next five years just from the Northern Territory alone. I know the Commonwealth government, under Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, through the COAG Indigenous Working Group, is working on similar policy measures.
This is an opportunity to seize the day, to capture the spirit of the nation at this historic point in time and put closure on the past and, as a nation, move forward. Again, I reiterate the Prime Minister’s closing comments in his speech today, that it is time for a new chapter in the history of this great land, Australia.
Member for Daly – Electorate Office Relocation
Mrs MILLER to CHIEF MINISTER
Your new minister, the member for Daly, recently spent $140 000 of taxpayers’ money moving his electorate office from Katherine to Coolalinga. Katherine is a major service town for the electorate of Daly, Coolalinga is not. Do you endorse the use of $140 000 of taxpayers’ money being paid by the member for Daly to establish an electorate office not 50 m from the member for Goyder’s electorate office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Katherine for her question. On behalf of this side of the Chamber, I welcome the member for Daly into the Cabinet. I know he will do an absolutely fantastic job as a Cabinet minister and continue his enormous work for his constituency in Daly, with his real passion for improving education and job outcomes.
The issue in regard to where members’ electorate offices are sited are decisions for members of parliament, with approval through the Department of the Legislative Assembly, regarding where that office might best meet the needs of the constituents of that particular electorate.
In discussions that I have had with the member for Daly, he advised a large number of his electorate travel to Darwin from a very diverse number of communities on a regular basis. The member surveyed his electorate about various locations for his electorate office. The majority of those people actually preferred to work with the member for Daly from the new office at Coolalinga. Our members of parliament are accountable to their electorates. We make decisions about where we site our electorate offices to best meet the needs of servicing that electorate. The member for Daly has made the decision about where his office should be in the best interests of his constituents.
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call another question, member for Katherine, matters to do with electorate offices are usually the province of the Speaker. Although I have allowed the Chief Minister to answer that question, the decision made on the moving of the office was based on research and a proposal which was put to me. I am happy to make the details of that and how the decision was made available to you.
Closing the Gap Policy - Achievements
Ms McCARTHY to CHIEF MINISTER
Today, we saw our national parliament take a fresh approach to closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage. Can you please let the Assembly know what the Territory’s Closing the Gap policy has achieved so far, and how this fresh approach nationally is going to help us?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem, because I know it has been a momentous day for her and her family as well.
We welcome the commitment from the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage. One of the six COAG working groups that has been established will be focused on this very single issue. COAG will meet four times this year to progress a whole range of issues but, very particularly, this issue of closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage.
I discussed the issue with the Prime Minister when he was here just before Christmas. I was at that meeting where the Prime Minister, along with the new Indigenous Affairs minister, met indigenous people from right across the Northern Territory regarding where the federal intervention was heading and where his incoming government would be working with Aboriginal people. At that meeting, I heard a personal commitment from the Prime Minister to meet with a representative group of indigenous people in the Northern Territory on a regular basis this year. I know he has a personal and deep commitment to this particular issue.
The Prime Minister said today in his historical speech that we need a destination for our nation. He has put the targets in place, in the same way that we put targets in place here some six months ago. As I said before, we have allocated an additional $286m in health, housing, education and a whole range of other areas to improving indigenous disadvantage. Since then, some highlights have been: 11 new classrooms installed for the beginning of the school term this year; construction and installation of four additional classrooms and 22 teacher houses is also under way - a number of those in the member for Arnhem’s electorate. We worked hard together, particularly at Ngukurr, to get additional classrooms and teachers out there for the start of this term. I pay tribute to the staff of DEET and the department of Infrastructure, because they have done an amazing job to get that infrastructure in place during the Wet Season in such a short period of time. To date, 67 new houses have been constructed and 69 renovations completed. Also, 120 new houses are anticipated to be completed in 2007-08, and that is making a real difference to people’s lives.
In talking to the member for Macdonnell a couple of days ago she spoke of the new houses that have gone up in Kintore and how remarkable they are in construction, how construction costs have come down, and indigenous people are actually working on putting those houses together. I look forward to visiting communities and seeing this new housing being delivered.
We are supporting 12 additional Sport and Recreational Officers in communities. Five additional Alcohol Compliance Inspectors have commenced with funding from Closing the Gap. Nine new Community Courts have been established across the Northern Territory to deliver justice in communities, resulting from communities saying - when we travel as a Community Cabinet or as ministers or local members - they want justice to be delivered in their communities so they can see justice being delivered and participate in the court process.
Forty-nine additional police are currently deployed under Closing the Gap, and a Child Abuse Task Force Southern Unit has been established in Alice Springs. That is just in six months of enormous focus and hard work. There is a lot more that needs to be done. This is a government that will be working in partnership with the federal government to continue to build on the work that we have done and, over time, end the disadvantage that indigenous people have had to suffer for so long.
Member for Daly –
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests
Mrs MILLER to CHIEF MINISTER
On 2 October 2006, the member for Daly declared in his Pecuniary Interests Declaration that he owned property at 85 Burdens Creek Road, Katherine. Burdens Creek Road is not in Katherine, it is Darwin, just down the road from the member for Daly’s new $140 000 electorate office. The misleading completion of his declaration of interests …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Katherine well knows that she cannot accuse any member of this House of misleading this House unless she does so by way of substantive motion. I ask her to withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, I ask you to withdraw the word ‘misleading’ and reword the question please.
Mrs MILLER: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word ‘misleading’.
Chief Minister, upon the completion of his declaration of interests, do you think your new minister’s intention was to mask his intention to leave Katherine for Darwin? Do you continue to stand by the member for Daly and endorse the expenditure of $140 000 of taxpayers’ money to move his electorate office to Coolalinga next to his block?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not sure that I am going to thank the member for Katherine for her question, but I will demure in parliamentary courtesy. If this is the best that the opposition has today, day two of the parliamentary year, it really does leave me scratching my head. Talk about a policy-free zone, a policy-free vacuum. They do not have any idea about the Northern Territory.
In being the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and leader of the parliamentary Labor Party, I have every confidence in the member for Daly. Regarding his Pecuniary Interests Declaration, that is an issue for the member for Daly. If he has made a mistake - and we can only take the word of the member for Katherine - I am sure that he can make a personal explanation.
As you said, Madam Speaker, the issue of siting of members’ electorate offices is an issue for the Legislative Assembly and individual members. Surveys are conducted. I know that my colleague, the member for Daly, conducted a survey about where his constituents would best seek to access the member for Daly in a vastly sprawling electorate. Coolalinga was the most preferred option, given that most of his constituents travel to Darwin on a regular basis. That is an issue for the member for Daly. Each and every one of us is entitled to electorate offices and we all use those offices to service our electorate.
The issue of the member’s pecuniary interests is an issue for the member. In this line of questioning, if this is the best that the opposition has to offer, it is a pretty sad day for parliament with all of the issues that are facing Territorians.
Closing the Gap – Safer Communities
Mr WARREN to CHIEF MINISTER
Providing our people with safer streets in communities is a key commitment of the Northern Territory government. Can you please let the House know how the Territory’s Closing the Gap policy has helped people feel much safer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. One of the key focus areas of Closing the Gap is improving community safety right across the Northern Territory. This is a government that has invested in our police force like no other government has over many years. I believe the police budget is up something like 65% since 2001, and an additional 200 police officers have been deployed across the Northern Territory.
Closing the Gap funds more. As I said in my previous answer, 49 additional police are currently deployed under the Closing the Gap strategy. Under Task Force Themis, 17 temporary police stations have been established since July 2007. That is not bad. In just over seven or eight months, 17 temporary police stations have been established. They are at Alpurrurulam, Alpara, Bulman, Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Haasts Bluff, Imanpa, Minjilang, Minyerri, Mutitjulu, Numbulwar, Nyirripi, Peppimenarti, Ramingining, Santa Teresa, Willowra and Yarralin. That is not a bad effort in providing better coverage across our Northern Territory in police stations for police to work out of. The 18th station at Warruwi will be completed and operational on 11 March 2008.
Task Force Themis stations are manned by a total of 17 Northern Territory police officers and a total of 32 police from the AFP. As well as police on the ground, new police stations on the ground, an additional Pilatus PC-12 aircraft has been in operation since December, flying missions in support of Task Force Themis stations. This is being done in partnership with the Commonwealth government and that partnership will continue.
New opportunities are there for the Northern Territory, working in partnership with the Commonwealth to improve safety and security for people in remote parts of the Northern Territory. In just over eight months, a huge amount has already been done. More is going to occur. Once again, that sign of partnership - the Territory and Commonwealth governments working together - is delivering results for the Territory.
Local Government
Reform - Cox Peninsula
Reform - Cox Peninsula
Mrs BRAHAM to CHIEF MINISTER
Now that you have made the decision to remove the Top End Shire from the present local government reform process, could you please advise me what is to happen to the Cox Peninsula? It is a question that was asked of me yesterday. I really do not know where it is going, so perhaps you could advise us.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. As I advised the House yesterday, Cabinet has decided that local government reform is being implemented right across the Northern Territory with the exception of the Top End Shire. What is going to happen is that all those councils will revert to where they were as independent stand-alone councils.
For Cox Peninsula, which never wanted to be part of the shire proposal, that means they revert back to where they are. If, at any time in the future, they wish to approach Darwin City Council and seek a merger, that will be an issue for the Cox Peninsula council and the Darwin City Council to consider.
Central Australia - Cabinet Representation
Mr CONLAN to CHIEF MINISTER
Approximately 12 months ago, in the April parliamentary sittings last year, you were in Alice Springs when around 500, maybe 600 - last word maybe it was 1000 - people were protesting …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr CONLAN: … about the Labor government’s neglect of Alice Springs. Sadly, a little less than 12 months on, not much has improved or changed. For the first time since the portfolio was created - and it began in 1988 - Central Australia is now deprived of a minister who lives in the region. Why have you given up on providing Central Australians with Cabinet representation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his very entertaining question. There is an old saying, Madam Speaker, never let the truth get in the way of a good story – 500, 600 or 1000 people.
Yes, at the last parliament in Alice Springs there was a demonstration. I attended that demonstration with a number of colleagues and, yes, people were upset and demonstrated against the parliament, as they are entitled to do. We have demonstrations in this parliament from time to time. Of course, as members of parliament, we take notice of those demonstrations, and we did respond to the law and order issues in Alice Springs.
Police numbers are above establishment, after many years of CLP neglect in Alice Springs. The alcohol reforms that my colleague, the minister for Licensing has introduced has seen …
Mr Mills: How come they keep voting CLP? They are not supporting Labor down there.
Mrs Miller: Yes, they are not unhappy.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the opposition, really - they ask questions but they do not want to hear the answers.
Mrs Miller: A bit sensitive, I know.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Mills: They are not answers though.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition members, I ask you to cease interjecting please.
Mr HENDERSON: With the additional policing presence and the new licensing regime in Alice Springs, we are seeing reductions in people fronting the Accident and Emergency unit at the hospital with significant wounds. We are seeing increases in school attendance at some of our schools in Alice Springs as a result, and police are doing a great job. We are not saying it is fixed by any stretch of the imagination but it is a lot better than it was.
In regard to the Caucus decision in appointing the new member into the Cabinet, each and every one of our ministers is responsible for Central Australia. They are responsible for delivering education, health services, and infrastructure in Central Australia. We all have responsibilities for Central Australia.
Talk about leading with your chin by saying that somehow this government has abandoned the people of Central Australia because we do not have a resident of Central Australia in Cabinet. It was only a couple of weeks ago that the Leader of the Opposition said that you could not lead the Territory unless you did it from Darwin, and the members from Central Australia are now right out there on the backbench ...
Mr Mills: We have two members there.
Mrs Miller: We have two out of four, how many do you have?
Mr Mills: You do not have any.
Mr HENDERSON: The opposition has abandoned Central Australia entirely. We are not going to do that. Each and every one of our ministers is responsible for delivering services in Central Australia. We will continue to have a high profile in Central Australia. If I get another question on this I will go through a list of the achievements of this government in Central Australia since we came to office.
Closing the Gap – Reducing Alcohol Abuse
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you inform the House of what practical steps the Territory government has taken through Closing the Gap to combat the harm that results from alcohol abuse in our communities?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. There was some discussion this morning about alcohol in the Northern Territory, the harm it causes and the steps that this government is taking to address that issue. The reports do not often give enough time to expand on some of those issues. One of the issues the Leader of the Opposition raised was in relation to Groote Eylandt and the success of what has happened there. That is a spectacular success in the reduction of antisocial behaviour and crime within Groote Eylandt with people in full-time employment, and a decrease in absenteeism - a spectacular decrease in crime. The Leader of the Opposition mentioned that this process had taken a number of years to negotiate and was very successful. I do not disagree with that. That process of negotiation was very important for Groote Eylandt and it has been a success.
Groote Eylandt is a unique situation. It is an island with a mining town and Aboriginal communities, and not a lot of other industry. At one level, it is a unique example. As a government in the Territory, we are supporting communities with a community-by-community approach to the issue of developing alcohol management plans, which is a very central part of Closing the Gap and of our policies. I completely rebut what the Leader of the Opposition said this morning, which is that it is all taking too much time and there has not been enough consultation.
If you look at Alice Springs, for example, the town council became involved and there was very close consultation and discussion with government. The previous Chief Minister, the member for Fannie Bay, set up an alcohol reference group approximately two years or 18 months ago at least in Alice Springs. Membership of that particular alcohol reference group is drawn from a wide range of community interests – the tourism industry, police, and a whole range of people and representatives of Aboriginal organisations. There is very spirited discussion, I might say, within that particular group.
However, progress has been made, not only through that group, but also through the Liquor Commission, implementation of alcohol management plans, along with, of course, the dry area aspects that are based on legislation passed within this parliament.
Similarly, in Katherine, a more recent development, with the town council becoming integrally involved. The town council said from time to time, ‘Things are not moving fast enough’, in contrast to what the member for Blain has said. Apart from Katherine and Alice Springs, right across the Territory, in East Arnhem, and at Nhulunbuy, there has been an alcohol management plan and an alcohol permit system developed, after consultation that has occurred over a period of a number of years. For anyone to assert that there has been inadequate consultation through the development of these alcohol management plans is completely wrong.
The other issue, of course, is the one that the member for Braitling raised this morning: ‘You are just putting in a whole lot of restrictions, ID systems, restrictions on product. What are you doing to actually change the culture of drinking?’ We had a debate in this parliament last year about that very issue. I have been working in the interim on developing a plan, if you like, to change the culture of drinking within the Territory. There is a lot of work going on at present. In that debate, I also acknowledged the fact that the previous CLP government, under Marshall Perron with the Living with Alcohol program, actually had a very effective program until it had its funding cut.
I am saying here today that this is a government that is very focused on the issues of alcohol. It is not just about supply reduction, it is about demand reduction, and we are moving along that path. However, I also emphasise what I said this morning. Whilst I have acknowledged the success of the Living with Alcohol program, as a government, we have taken steps in relation to alcohol and supply reduction that were never taken by the previous government. There might have been a little here, a little there. However, a comprehensive strategy that involves putting on more liquor inspectors, and implementation of the Closing the Gap plan ...
Mr Mills: It is worse now than it was then. It is worse now.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, we are very focused on this issue. We realise its importance. I expect to make progress on this issue. I flag also that, with the implementation of the electronic ID system, I am not saying it is going to be a silver bullet, however, I am confident it will have a significant effect on consumption and, by reducing consumption, you will reduce harm.
Madam Speaker, we are a government that is very active in this area because we realise its importance to the Northern Territory and, particularly, for the lives of indigenous people.
Public Housing - Sale
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Many poorer families are unable to find public housing. Yet, in the last two years, your government has sold public housing in Darwin and Palmerston. We accept that you are new in the job and will not be briefed comprehensively in this area. However, will you, before today is over, commit to provide the following details: how many houses and dwellings have been sold by Territory Housing since 2005-06; how many houses and dwellings have been purchased or constructed by Territory Housing since 2005-06; and, an account of the total number of houses in the public housing stock from 2001 to the present?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I acknowledge that this is an issue at a time when we are seeing rapidly escalating house prices in the Northern Territory. I also acknowledge that this is putting the squeeze on people entering into the market as first homebuyers and also putting pressure on our public housing waiting lists. This is a complex set of equations at play, not the least of which is nine interest raises in a row, and also the Reserve Bank yesterday recognising in its quarterly fiscal outlook that inflationary pressures were well embedded in the system and predicting at least another two rate rises to go. All of these issues put pressure on house prices and on people at the bottom end of the market who are looking to enter into the marketplace.
Madam Speaker, in terms of public housing …
Mr Wood: You own the land. Release your own land.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Nelson is like one of those old LP records which is going around and around with a little scratch on it; it just will not get off the track.
Mr Wood: You are that old, that you can remember one of those, can you? You ignore the poor people.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Nelson! Chief Minister, please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: I will ignore the offensive remark from the member for Nelson.
The headworks are out to tender at the moment for the new housing development that has been announced for Bellamack. The commitment from the government is that 15% of that development, some 700 new house blocks, will be for public and social housing. We have gone to the market, the private sector, about how that can best be delivered.
We also have a policy commitment that in any further and future housing developments in the Northern Territory – there has been a change of policy under this government – there will be around 15% of public and socially affordable housing in any new development as we move forward.
We also have the lowest waiting list for public housing in Australia. I know they are too long, as I have people come to see me as their local member of parliament, really struggling to get into a home. For our three-bedroom houses in Darwin and Palmerston the list is around two-and-a-half or three years. In some of the states such as New South Wales, you can be waiting for 14 to 15 years to get into public housing.
We have made a commitment. One of the things we did do when we came to government was actually stop the wholesale sale of public housing across the Northern Territory. The only houses that we sell now in public housing are to - particularly under the HomeNorth Scheme, and that is under review - tenants who wish to stop renting their home and actually purchase it, which has been of great benefit to many hundreds of Territorians who have got out of the rental trap and into acquiring an asset and capital gains for them and their families.
There is a complex set of issues and equations. For the specific numbers, Madam Speaker, we would have to get back to the honourable member. However, it is an issue that is of concern to the government and we are acting on it.
Closing the Gap - Infrastructure
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Can the minister update the House on Closing the Gap initiatives that involve the provision of infrastructure?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her important question because, certainly in her electorate, she is seeing the real benefit that is provided in the $268m commitment under Closing the Gap being delivered on the ground into the communities. You cannot be providing services that are critical to addressing the disadvantage of indigenous Territorians without actually building the infrastructure to support those services. Improving housing is fundamental to the work that we are doing, as more than 60% of indigenous Territorians currently live in overcrowded conditions. There is a significant housing construction program occurring across the Territory and that is, in part, occurring in our remote communities and regions.
We are also providing infrastructure in areas such as education, health and policing. The construction and installation of 15 classrooms and 22 teacher houses are currently under way. The upgrade of the homeland learning centres and community education centres are currently in design phase. As the Chief Minister indicated, many police stations are under construction.
In addition to the $42m allocated in Closing the Gap for government employee housing in the bush, government has also allocated an additional $100m for indigenous housing. This goes with the significant Commonwealth commitment of $793m. It is a big project. The government is in consultation with the Commonwealth government at the moment to put in place project and delivery teams to lead this significant construction program right across our regions in the Territory.
As Infrastructure minister, I am committed to working with the Commonwealth government and Territory Housing to ensure that this project delivers the best possible outcomes, delivers the most houses we can get, the best bang for dollar right across the Territory into the regions and remote communities where the need is the greatest.
As Minister for Public Employment, I am also focused on ensuring that the Closing the Gap initiative actually increases indigenous employment in the public service. The Department of Health and Community Services and the Department of Employment, Education and Training have identified actual jobs and positions that can be transferred from CDEP to fully-funded paid positions. We are also working with the Commonwealth and local government on a three-year plan to create 400 to 500 full-time jobs in local government across our regions. This will be done by a combination of CDEP transfer and new positions.
In construction and employment, there is a lot of work to do, but we have made a significant start to this work. As minister, I am committed to ensuring that Closing the Gap initiatives help to overcome the disadvantage of our indigenous Territorians.
Channel Island Power Station –
Use of Diesel Fuel
Use of Diesel Fuel
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for ESSENTIAL SERVICES
It is my understanding that Channel Island Power Station is using considerable volumes of diesel because of problems with an inadequate supply of gas. Can you please say how much diesel fuel has been used by the Channel Island Power Station so far this financial year and what is the dollar value of that fuel? How much diesel was budgeted for the same period, and the dollar value of that estimate? When can a constant and adequate supply of gas be guaranteed to run the power house without the need for diesel?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As the member knows, the Channel Island Power Station is designed to run on both gas and diesel. Gas is predominantly used because it is the most cost-effective and less greenhouse gases emits to the atmosphere. However, with the decline in gas from the Central Australian gas fields, in the peak demand period there is not enough gas pressure to supply all generator units and we have to use diesel in some of them. About 50% of the total fuel in these peak time periods is diesel.
The total diesel use from 1 July 2007 to 31 January this year was 10.8 million litres used at a cost of $9.4m. However, that cost is offset by the gas we do not buy for the generators. Power and Water has budgeted $2.8m for diesel but, as I explained before, because they do not use gas this offsets the cost of diesel.
In the future, we will be using diesel in peak time periods only and Power and Water will absorb that cost. Gas in the Territory will come from the Blacktip gas field in 2009. I am very pleased to say that APT is the company that will construct the pipeline – 290 km of coated pipe. Alcan operations will supply the pipeline. The pipeline started arriving in Darwin in late December. ENI has now awarded all major contracts for the construction of the onshore gas plants and some of these big modules will be arriving in Wadeye in April/May 2008. We are on track to deliver gas in 2009 and, when gas comes from Blacktip in 2009, there will be no more need for additional diesel to be used.
Closing the Gap – Childhood Health
and Protection Initiatives
and Protection Initiatives
Mr WARREN to Minister for Health
In Closing the Gap, the Northern Territory government committed to improve early childhood health and development, preventative health and primary health care of indigenous Territorians, and to substantially boost child protection resources to better protect vulnerable children. Can you please update the House on these very important initiatives?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question, because it is a very important question, and the three areas that he mentioned in relation to Closing the Gap are crucial areas.
In antenatal care, maternal and child health, and early learning, there have been substantial investments by government as part of the Closing the Gap package. Indeed, extra staff have been put on to address that issue, because we know that those early years of childhood and the antenatal period are really crucial times for childhood development. If there is not enough support then, there is the likelihood of development of serious chronic disease, particularly in later life.
It is also noteworthy that, in the last fortnight, I had the pleasure of meeting Professor David Olds, an American who visited Australia recently with support from the Commonwealth government. Professor Olds is an expert in this area, and has done extensive work in the United States that has been verified by clinical trials. It is very simple, really. It is all about case managing those mothers and children at risk, almost on a case-by-case basis, by maternal and child health nurses. That has been very successful.
What we have been doing in this area dovetails into what the Commonwealth government is proposing moving towards. There will be lots of mutual support there. We have already taken substantial steps. I welcome the involvement of the Australian government to further boost this area, because it is of such crucial importance.
Outreach midwives are also critical to the plan. We have expanded our outreach midwives from four to six positions across the Territory. There have also been the child health checks that have been part of the intervention. There will be a lot of clinical work through referrals that flow from those child health checks. Once again, we are cooperating with the federal government in this regard. There will also be a substantial surgical load associated with that in the coming months.
The second part of the member’s question related to access to primary health care. In 2008-09, the Australian government has committed an additional $50m each year for two years to improve access to primary health care across the Territory. Once again, that is very welcome. The new federal government has come on board with this and they are going to resource that. Those are some initiatives in health.
In Family and Community Services, because these things dovetail with the Health department, I would like to mention a few things there. Detailed implementation of Closing the Gap plan, which dovetails with the Care and Protection of Children, is being implemented. The position of Children’s Commissioner, which is a new position, has been created and recruitment to this role is under way. Police and Family and Children’s Services are also working together to establish Safe NT, the new body that will administer the system for child-related employment screening. Under the Family Violence Community Program, work has also commenced on the development of remote safe houses and new remote family support services.
FACS is also getting protection workers on the ground in these remote areas. The agency is actively recruiting people from all around Australia and overseas to fill these critical positions. The Child Abuse Task Force, which is based in Alice Springs, is up and running. The FACS component of that is now 27, with Closing the Gap funding 12 positions this financial year. Four new child protection positions have been created in Top End remote regions, including two extra Aboriginal community workers and four new child protection positions across the Territory. Expansion of the sexual assault referral centres is progressing well in Alice Springs, Darwin and Tennant Creek, along with accommodation options for Katherine.
Closing the Gap is a government response to a report that was commissioned by government. The plan is ambitious. However, Madam Speaker, we have to be ambitious to deal with the magnitude of the problem. We believe it is achievable. Government is moving along with and implementing that plan and redressing indigenous disadvantage.
Tiger Brennan Drive Extension - Completion
Mrs MILLER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Yesterday in this Assembly, you described how duplication of about 1 km of Berrimah Road was a wonderful step forward for road users - and it is. You then went on to say that the $110m project would be completed some time in the next few Dry Seasons. Will you give an exact date as to when your $110m Rudd/Lawrie pre-federal election road promise will be completed so that Territorians can drive on it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly welcome the question from the member for Katherine. I have to say, without a Rudd Labor government, we would still be back in the dark old days, punting around the political football because the feds in Canberra …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: Johnny Howard and his mates stopped listening and delivering for Territorians. However, we have a fantastic, energetic member for Solomon. I take my hat off to Damien Hale, because the moment he was elected, he was down in Canberra lobbying for the delivery of Tiger Brennan Drive. Damien is a champion for the people of Palmerston and the rural area, because he knows what it is like to be stuck in traffic on the corner of Wishart Road. He is an absolute champion for the delivering of Tiger Brennan Drive.
I have already had the commitment. I have already sat around the table with the Prime Minister on one occasion and the federal Treasurer on two occasions, both saying that they would absolutely deliver on this critical election commitment. They will not pump the political football around, they will not hold up the project.
Madam Speaker, I will be meeting with the federal Infrastructure minister, Anthony Albanese in a fortnight’s time. I am going there with time lines and details of the project for construction. When I get the nod from him, I will be happy to give you the date.
Mrs MILLER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I asked the minister if she could give us time lines. Is she able to table them?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, member for Katherine; the minister has finished her answer.
Indigenous Business Development Program
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In Budget 2007, the government provided $300 000 for an Indigenous Business Development Program. Is the program working? If so, can you provide information to the House regarding what progress is being made?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Certainly, sometimes small amounts of money make a hell of a difference to some of these indigenous communities. I am pleased to say that, in the six months from July 2007 to January 2008, the program has created approximately 29 jobs within 18 businesses. None of these businesses are new. This year, the expressions of interest were overwhelming. We had 55 applications totalling $1.2m. The government has now approved an extra $300 000 to the program from Closing the Gap, and we have agreed to extend the program to 2012.
Since the program’s inception, 57 applications have been approved, more than $1m has been allocated, and 101 jobs have been created in businesses supported by this program. We have been engaged with more than 310 individuals who are interested in developing businesses in tourism, agriculture, horticulture, cultural activities, art and craft, planning and construction, hairdressing, and community stores. The program is regularly oversubscribed and that shows the strong interest of indigenous people in creating their own business. I am very proud of it.
One I am a very proud of is actually in Alice Springs - a free range egg farm that was created starting with 200 chickens. Thanks to funding from this program, now he has more than 2000 chickens generating income for the community. All the eggs are actually supplied to the Alice Springs community. That success story was a small one but, from little things big things grow. We will continue with this program.
Youth Crime – Tough Approach
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
You recently adopted the CLP position regarding an intervention into youth crime. The position you adopted, however, included only the youth camp approach, which is perhaps like singing Kumbaya with Uncle Lenny, and excluded the tougher, boot camp-style program to address hard-core offenders. Our position included the range of options. You have excluded the tougher option. Why does not your government support this tougher approach in dealing with hard-core offenders?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Hard-core offenders go to Don Dale. We are talking here about youth that may need direction, need to straighten up, and need to reflect on who they are and where they are going. I make no apologies for our approach, Leader of the Opposition. We have considered our approach. This is our approach. You may well have your side of the equation, but our approach has been well thought out. This is all about family responsibility agreements and parenting agreements. That is the first step, with expert support to try to sort out the problems that exist in these families. If things do not get worked out, there can be court ordered parental responsibility orders and, at the end of the day, there can be sanctions associated with that. If you have hard-core offenders such as you are talking about, they are going to go to gaol - that is the boot camp.
Dry Town Legislation
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for ALCOHOL POLICY
I was very pleased to see that, last week, you actually put up signs in one of the public housing estates that has worried me for quite some time, saying it is a restricted area for the common areas, so they cannot drink on the lawns under the trees. As well, in Alice we put up signs saying that this is a dry town so you cannot drink in the drain or in the parks surrounding these complexes. The member for Blain is concerned that the signs you put up in Darwin will only push people out into the long grass to drink because Darwin is not a dry town. You know what I am going to ask. Why do you not bring Darwin in line with the rest of the Territory and make it a dry town?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. In a previous question, I alluded to the fact that, as a government, we do not see a one-size-fits-all approach; that we have adopted a consultative approach across the Territory. Those approaches, I believe, are working very successfully in Alice Springs and Katherine.
When the former Minister for Housing and I announced this policy about common areas in Housing Commission properties, we foreshadowed that, as a government, we will be taking further steps regarding antisocial behaviour and itinerancy in Darwin and beyond.
Katherine Flood Monitoring Measures
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Katherine floods which caused much devastation in 1998. Can you advise the House of measures the government has taken to improve flood monitoring, and how effective these measures were during the recent flood event in the Katherine region?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I also acknowledge the hard work the member for Arnhem did for her electorate during the recent flooding. Members might recall the footage of her getting out of a helicopter and helping with some supplies for her communities. I at the TV and saw a fantastic effort. It speaks volumes for the type of work that you do for your community. It is fantastic and a lesson for all of us to try to emulate.
Madam Speaker, as the incoming Minister for National Resources, Environment and Heritage, I have been making a point to get around to my department to have a look at what they do. On 4 January, I was in Katherine where I met with members of the Natural Resources area and had a look at their flood preparedness ...
Mrs Miller: You did not visit me! I was there.
Mr KIELY: If I had known you were on deck, member for Katherine, I would have invited you along, but I thought you were away on holidays.
In Katherine, I met with Mr Rajaratnam, Aiden Smith, Sean Lawrie and John Gilmour, all from the Natural Resources area. They pulled out their maps and showed me the preparedness and the planning that they had for Katherine. Members might be aware that, historically, Katherine, like many towns around Australia, is built on the levees along the riverbanks. However, as time has gone by, all those towns have dipped down into the floodplains. This is a problem that we have all around the place, and Katherine is no different.
Katherine had suffered quite extensively 10 years ago. I heard you on the radio on the special broadcast, I believe it was on Australia Day, member for Katherine. You went through it and you know exactly what it was like. The people of Katherine are to be commended in the way that they approach these flooding events that they get. Our government is there to assist and always improve the flood forecasting abilities.
I was fortunate enough to get across to the flood monitoring station they have, which is across the Katherine bridge. It is built up on a couple of pylons near the bus parking area. It is a pretty impressive sight when you have a look at the equipment that they have for the monitoring and remote sensing they do. It was all fairly impressive. What struck me most about this site was that they were able to show me the floods from the other year when it got up to about 19.4 m. It comes right up underneath that station. When you see it and you get a feel for it, then you really understand the importance of flood forecasting and why people in town really want to have a good idea of just what is going on. That is a huge volume of water that passes through the Katherine River in flood. What passes through in a day is enough to keep Sydney going for a year or two, so you can imagine that flood forecasting is important.
I wanted to get up to the gorge to have a look at the flood stations up that way. However, members might recall that I said it was 4 January. I thank the officers who came down and briefed me and showed me all the safety equipment, because 4 January was when Cyclone Helen was coming through town here and we went to watch to warning. We were down ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
It just sounds like an interesting story, but can we get to the point? There was a question asked. This is Question Time. I do not understand what this interesting story is about.
Members interjecting.
Mr Mills: Get to the point!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, if you could come to the point, please.
Mr KIELY: Madam Speaker, the point is the effort the people in this department that I am responsible for put into flood warning to look after all our constituents. If you do not want to hear what we are doing to help the people of the Territory, that is your lookout, Leader of the Opposition. We are proud of the work we do and we are going to stand up for our people.
These officers who came down from Darwin to show me around had to get back to Darwin in pretty sensible time because they have families here. That is the commitment of the people from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts to flooding. This government has worked hard and spent more than $100 000 over the last year to improve the information available to Katherine residents and emergency services providers so that they can properly plan for flood events. While we cannot control the weather, we can put systems in place that give us the best possible chance to avoid the loss of life and property that these flood events could bring about.
Fortunately, on this occasion, the flooding was limited, but it did provide an opportunity for us to test the new arrangements. These new arrangements, I am happy to report, are much improved on the previous flood arrangements. My hat is off to the officers of the department who did a fantastic job. The new improved monitoring situation augers well for Katherine. They have the flood warning stages of one, two, three, which is in line with our cyclone stages so that people understand. People on the Gorge Road are pretty well informed; they are happy with it. It is a much-improved system that we have in place. My thanks to all the people in Katherine who are providing that information to the officers in our department so that we can provide a better service for the people of Katherine.
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