2008-09-18
Teachers – Salary and Conditions
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In the face of a national teacher shortage, and following the appalling NT numeracy and literacy results released last week by the Minister for Education and Training, why is it that the government is refusing to improve salary and conditions for NT teachers to make it attractive to the nation’s best teachers to work and to stay in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question from the Leader of the Opposition goes to a long running EBA negotiation and dispute between the teachers union and the Commissioner for Public Employment. These negotiations and discussions are ongoing. As Chief Minister, I am very disappointed that industrial action has been taken on a number of occasions across the Northern Territory. The Commissioner for Public Employment and the government’s position is that we will continue to negotiate in good faith to try to reach a resolution to the issue.
As Chief Minister, I can say that the current offer on the table with the teachers union keeps our teachers amongst the best paid in Australia ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I heard somebody over on the other side say ‘rubbish’, I have a series of charts here, which I may use a bit later, which very clearly shows …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … our teachers amongst the best paid in the country. The policy position of the government, across all categories of employment across our public service, is that we have to be competitive. We recognise that we are in a very competitive environment, not only for teachers, but for nurses, doctors, and other professionals who work across government, and that is what we endeavour to do.
The last offer we put to the teachers was acknowledged by the teachers union as being a reasonable offer. They took it to their members. It was voted down. We will continue to negotiate in good faith. Those negotiations are ongoing.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister referred to some charts. I ask that the Chief Minister table those charts.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, do you …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Domestic Violence – Mandatory Reporting
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
The government has taken a very strong stance against domestic violence. In fact, you have said that you will make reporting of domestic violence mandatory. Can you please inform the House what action you have taken to implement this policy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. This is a very important question. The issue of domestic violence is not acceptable in our society. It is a tragedy, and it is a blight on our society. My government has resolved that we will be introducing mandatory reporting of domestic violence in the Northern Territory.
The Justice minister will be tabling an exposure draft of that later today - not to debate the policy position as the policy position is absolutely clear: we will be introducing this legislation. The exposure draft that we will be putting out will be to tease out with the Territory community, with the opposition and Independents, if there can be any improvements to the legislation, or if there are any technical legal issues that go to government’s policy on this particular matter.
We have looked consistently at this issue. The police force in the Northern Territory is to be commended for the work they have done in this area over the last three or four years. Our police have established dedicated domestic violence investigation units in all of our major centres – Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs - and it is a dedicated role of those officers in combating domestic violence. We also introduced legislation in this House a couple of years ago enabling the police to issue domestic violence restraining orders at a time when the courts are not sitting to further protect women and children. Police have used those powers to good effect.
In all of the debate during the last term of this Assembly, when we saw assault figures on the increase across the Northern Territory, a very significant part of that, over half of all recorded assaults in the Northern Territory, tragically, are domestic violence related. Women have more confidence today to report domestic violence because of the actions of the police in dealing with those issues.
This is another step forward. It is a very strong indication, and strong statement, from this parliament, from this government, that domestic violence is not to be tolerated, and it will be mandatory to report domestic violence in the Northern Territory.
ESL Staffing and Recruitment
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
We have all seen the test results for Territory students. Sadly, nearly 40% of the kids who received those results would not be able to read the letter. During their negotiations with you, I know teachers have raised the need to have improved ESL staffing levels and targeted recruitment to address the big gap in students attainment in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. To date, the government has continued to reject the teachers argument in favour of more projects and add-on programs. Only recurrent funding to address the shortfall will begin to address the local and global problems of learning English to a satisfactory national standard. Why is your government continuing to refuse to negotiate this matter with the teachers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the feigned indigination from the Leader of the Opposition! The Leader of the Opposition basically does not know where these negotiations are going ...
Mr Mills: You would be surprised.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It is not appropriate to negotiate an EBA on the floor of the parliament this afternoon.
We are committed to resolving this dispute and to continue to negotiate in good faith. That is what we will do, in spite of the biting of members opposite.
In regard to the test results, we all know that our jurisdiction in the Northern Territory is unique in regard to the profiling of our student cohort, in comparison with the profiling of student cohorts, say, in New South Wales, Victoria or Tasmania.
If you break down those results to the categories of urban, regional and remote, our urban results are right up there with the best of Australia. We all know the tragedy of the appalling education results that we are achieving in our remote parts of the Northern Territory and they drag those results down.
We also know that the fundamental difference that will improve education results across the Northern Territory is significantly improving attendance for those schools in our remote areas. It would significantly improve attendance to get those kids into schools five days a week for every day that the school is operating. I have every confidence we would see significantly improved results across the Northern Territory. That is why we are working with the Commonwealth government on a range of strategies to improve attendance in those remote communities. There will be a trial of …
Mr Giles: What if all the children did go? There is no room.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. There will be a trial of tying welfare payments to school attendance. We have committed to that for a number of years now. The Education minister has a bold policy outline of transforming Indigenous education, working with communities to get a real sense of ownership of schools in these communities.
However, when you really drill into these results, the overall results are dragged down as a result of the 40% of Indigenous students in our system consistently under-achieving because they are not going to school on a regular basis. That is the fact of the matter. We will continue to work with the Commonwealth government and communities across the Northern Territory, because the key change agent …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: The key change agent in terms of improving these results is improving attendance. That is something we will continue to work on.
Domestic and Family Violence
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for CHILDREN and FAMILIES
The Chief Minister has outlined the tough approach that this government will be taking to tackle domestic and family violence. Can the minister please outline the measures she and the department will be putting in place to support this decision?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her important question. This government recognises and is concerned about the high level of domestic violence across our communities. We have endorsed the introduction of universal mandatory reporting of domestic and family violence in July in recognition of this community problem. We recognise that the introduction of mandatory reporting would mean the existing service system would have to be bolstered, and I am pleased to say that an additional $15m over four years is included in this to assist with more crisis accommodation and support services, increased domestic violence counselling services, and ongoing public education campaigns.
We are also working very closely with the federal government to provide safe houses for women and children, plus cooling off places for men in some of our communities across the Territory ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to ask the minister to table the document she was reading from.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, is that a document you are willing to table?
Ms McCARTHY: It is my notes.
Madam SPEAKER: Personal notes. No, the minister will not be tabling it.
School Attendance – Class Ratio
Mr GILES to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
Recently, the Prime Minister announced six trial sites to support increased school attendance tied to welfare payments. One of these locations is Wadeye. Can the minister guarantee that every child in Wadeye will have access to a classroom, a table, a chair for themselves that does not need to be shared, and pens and paper? Can the minister guarantee there will be sufficient teachers and accommodation for these teachers to teach these children to ensure that the class ratio of the teacher does not go past 21:1?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. It is an important question about education. I point out to the member for Braitling that the provider of education in Wadeye is actually Catholic Education. Having said that, I have also had discussions with Catholic Education, because I do not think it is good enough that we stand back from the appalling results that we have seen in some of our non-government areas, particularly Wadeye and the Tiwi Islands. We are seeing fantastic results in Santa Teresa. However, we are seeing these contradictions across some of those areas.
I have been involved in a number of discussions with Catholic Education, and I acknowledge Michael Avery who, I believe, has brought in a fresh approach with looking at how we could move forward, particularly in communities like Wadeye. Recently, I visited Wadeye and met with Tobias, the Principal, and all the teachers. I must say, Wadeye has turned around. It was fantastic to be there with the member for Daly to talk to the community about the importance of getting children back to school.
I have said, very clearly, and the Leader of the Opposition would know this, but, member for Braitling, I will tell you now: I will give a commitment to every single one of those communities that we will ensure we have the infrastructure in those communities. Our government is the one that is embarking on the biggest infrastructure program, $246m, which I tabled in this parliament last week. It just shows the ignorance of members on the other side. We are committed to Indigenous education, because it is a major issue. Unless we change education in the bush, we are not going to go forward.
Member for Braitling, the infrastructure will be there, the teachers will be there. We are recruiting the teachers. We are working with the federal government as part of their recruitment of the 200 teachers. At the same time, I have also said we can recruit teachers …
Mr Giles: If every kid goes to school, there are no classrooms.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Well, you asked the question, allow me to answer. I have also said that as well as recruiting teachers, which we do need in the Northern Territory, we must grow our own. If we do not, we are never going to get sustainable outcomes in education in the bush, and that is working with our Aboriginal teachers, getting them professionally and properly developed so that we are not seeing the constant turnover that we are seeing with teachers in our remote communities.
A member interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Look, there is no quick fix to this …
Ms Purick: You have had it for seven years.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … and not one … Well, you had 27 years of this.
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member has just arrived; she just gave her maiden speech. She was not here 27 years ago.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: He is right. The member for Goyder is a new member in this Chamber, but she is part of a party that was responsible for 27 years of non-education in our remote Aboriginal communities …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: We know that, up to 2001, there was not one secondary kid out in the bush who had access to secondary education in our remote communities. I have also said, to turn around education, it does need the infantile bickering that sometimes goes on, and it is so easy …
Mr Mills: Oh, yes, is that what you are going to do with Helen Hughes next time she speaks?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … to have cheap shots at this …
Mr Mills: So you had a cheap shot at Helen Hughes.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … it is not about this ...
Mr Mills: It cuts both ways.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Mills: You cannot have it …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Minister, you have the call.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: This is about turning around the education outcomes in our remote, Indigenous communities. Part of turning it around is putting the investment in the infrastructure, it is about recruiting teachers, and it is about saying to communities that kids must go to school.
Drink-driving Fatality Rates –
Government Strategies
Government Strategies
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Too many people are being killed on our roads as a result of drink-driving. Can the minister please advise the House what the government is doing to address the high rates of drink-driving?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. There is no doubt that the road toll is extreme in the Territory. Historically, it has been three times higher than the national rate. The number of serious injuries is totally unacceptable. This government stands absolutely committed to improving the road safety of the Territory, but that goes to changing the culture of drivers on our roads. We know that around 50% of the fatalities we see on our roads are attributed to drink-driving factors. That is why we have introduced new technology that is currently used …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have made it abundantly clear in the past, in fact, you have ruled in the past in the previous parliament, that the anticipation of a debate on a bill before the House could not be dealt with in Question Time.
Ms LAWRIE: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. I am not talking to the legislation, I am talking to the policy setting in which new technology is …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please pause.
Ms LAWRIE: You do not want to hear it?
Mr Elferink: Spin, spin.
Madam SPEAKER: You have already spoken to the point of order.
Mr ELFERINK: Yes, I am responding to it. The last time you made these determinations, you cast a very wide net.
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause. I will ask the Clerk for advice.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I had a few brief things to say to complete my answer. If they do not want to hear about alcohol ignition locks, so be it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! I will allow the minister to continue, but if you can stay away from directly speaking about the bill.
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely, Madam Speaker. What I am talking about is the role the government is taking seriously in terms of combating the unacceptable level of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. We have an unacceptably high road toll. What we are seeing is that the road toll is primarily being driven by young drivers putting their lives, and the lives of their friends, at risk by drink-driving.
Madam Speaker, I was talking about the policy setting initiative of alcohol ignition locks and the fact that this new technology exists in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. It is proven technology. It prevents the car from starting if you have a blood alcohol content on your breath. It will apply to repeat drink-drivers. It is very clearly sending a message that this government will not tolerate repeat drink-driving on our roads. It is the main cause - 50% of fatalities have been attributed to drink-drivers. I urge the public: do not drink and drive, wear a seatbelt, and beware of fatigue.
This government will continue to promote road safety awareness right across the Territory in our urban, our regional, and our remote centres.
Bellamack – Delay in Announcing Developers
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
On 10 September this year, you finally announced that Urban Pacific Limited and Brierty Limited have been chosen as the developers for Bellamack. On 4 September 2007, you and the then Chief Minister, Clare Martin, announced expressions of interest to develop the new suburb of Bellamack were closing in a month. How is it that, on your watch, a year has gone by picking a developer for the suburb of Bellamack? Why is your department’s decision-making process so constipated?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I know the opposition likes to attack public servants, however, I thank the planners who have worked hard on the Bellamack subdivision. I thank the Power and Water Corporation which has also worked with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to proceed with the Bellamack subdivision. I also thank the Department of Justice, and Treasury, which also worked with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure on the complex, two-tiered assessment process. It was complex and innovative. Why? Because we wanted to ensure new elements came into the provision of suburbs for Darwin – not seen before, new elements, such as water sensitive urban design. That is looking at sustainability for the provision of our new suburbs, also enshrining affordable housing for the first time in policy in the Territory, and enshrining public housing opportunities for those public housing tenants on the waiting list in the Territory.
Very clearly, when we were making the announcement about Bellamack, we had land in the marketplace in Palmerston not being turned off. It was in the hands of private developers and they were land banking. I have said that previously in the Chamber, and I will say it again today. We have private developers land banking. What we did with Bellamack was ensure that government retained control of the pace at which land will turn off. That provides for a very complex assessment process; a process that was overseen by a probity auditor. We have accepted in full the recommendations …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: We have accepted the recommendations of the selection panel. I know the opposition wants to complain about Urban Pacific and Brierty, but they are proven developers around Australia, and competition is good for the marketplace. If competition delivers affordable housing for Territorians and delivers good, quality subdivisions I say ‘bring it on’.
Alice Springs – Target Shopping Centre
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Yesterday, we heard about the development of a new shopping centre in Darwin. Can the minister inform the House of any similar developments in Alice Springs?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! The minister has the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question.
Ms Carney: This is good. Question Time in the Northern Territory parliament. That bloke must think this is quite really amusing.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Araluen! The minister has the call.
Ms ANDERSON: Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for the question –and aren’t we very lucky in Alice Springs? It is my pleasure to inform the House that Target opens its new store in Alice Springs today. The members for Araluen, Greatorex, and Braitling should be very happy with this news.
Target has signed a 15-year lease with Alice Plaza to occupy more than 3000 m2 of space, and the store’s opening has brought more than 40 new jobs. Like many Alice Springs residents, I have been looking forward to tomorrow’s store opening, and I cannot wait to check it out this weekend because I am going home tomorrow.
One of the benefits of having a strong and growing economy is the ability to attract major retailers to the Territory. The addition of the Target store comes on the back of other national retail chains, such as Harvey Norman, Clark Rubber, and Rivers establishing outlets in our town of Alice Springs. All these new stores generate job opportunities and expand shopping options for Alice Springs residents. It is very good for the young and elderly people in Central Australia to have the choices that other people have.
The opening of major retail stores in Alice Springs is a sign of strong confidence in the town. It is very true, we have to talk up Alice Springs, and it is good that the town has confidence. I congratulate Alice Plaza and Target on today’s store opening and look forward to seeing Alice Springs continue to grow for many years to come.
Bellamack - Housing Costs
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
The constipated decision-making process in your department has led to ever-increasing prices for land and houses in the Northern Territory - and ever more revenue for Treasury. Having contributed to the skyrocketing price of land and houses in the Territory, can you tell the House how much it will cost to buy a home in Bellamack in the 15% of the land set aside for affordable housing?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the shadow minister for Planning and Lands’ question. It is curious. During the election campaign, I looked for the CLP’s land release strategy, because they have been beating the drum on land release. The only land release that they identified and costed …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 67 - this is absolutely not relevant to the question that was asked.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, there is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: The only land release that the CLP costed within their proposed term of government …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is not relevant. The question had nothing to do with Country Liberal policy. I cannot understand how you can find this relevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. I remind honourable members that during Question Time there is an extraordinary amount of latitude in the asking and answering of questions. The minister has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I am not surprised the member for Fong Lim is trying to gag me, because he does not want to hear the answer.
Let us go to the land release. The land release CLP announcement, which was costed in their costs, was for the relocation of Sports House at Fannie Bay, which would free up 15 lots. They did confirm that they would not move Berrimah gaol, which would yield about 500 lots. That provides for a land release policy of something like minus-485 lots. So, we would have headed backwards by 485 lots under the CLP land release strategy …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister was asked the cost of a home in 15% of Bellamack set aside for affordable housing - absolutely nothing to do with what she is reeling off now.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, there is no point of order. This is Question Time and, as I have already said, it has been the precedent in this House, in the House of Representatives, where you have been a member as well, and in the House of Commons that, during Question Time, there is a lot of latitude in both the asking and answering of questions. The Speaker has no capacity to direct a minister or a member on how to answer a specific question.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Speaker, I draw your attention to Standing Order 67.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, I know the rumour before Question Time was that a member would try to be thrown out. I am sure the member for Fong Lim is trying to be thrown out. However, the people of the Territory deserve to know what the land release options are. With Weddell …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … the Leader of the Opposition, early in the election campaign …
Mr Mills: You would be the last person to announce our policies.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: He does not want to hear this. The Leader of the Opposition, early in the election campaign, said that they would develop Weddell - no costings for that development, none included in their costings - and then later in the election campaign sees a shift away from that ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please resume your seats.
Honourable members, Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
Honourable members, I am having considerable difficulty hearing the answer which the opposition has asked of the minister. I will call the minister again. .
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, in stark contrast, with our land release, we are already out in the marketplace through a detailed assessment process for the Bellamack expressions of interest. I have stated on the public record previously in announcing the stage we are at now, that Urban Pacific and Brierty Limited, the preferred developers, are now in negotiations with the government on the development agreement. That will then determine the element of affordable housing. We know what the scope of those negotiations will be; I am not going to prejudice those negotiations by naming a price in here. What I can say, categorically, is it will be at least 15% below the market rate. Now, that will be the first time a government in the history of the Territory is delivering affordable housing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … a government policy delivering affordable housing.
Transport Initiatives for Young and
Senior Territorians
Senior Territorians
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Can you please update the House on transport initiatives for both young and senior Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Fannie Bay. He has many seniors and students living in his electorate who rely on our public transport network.
During the recent election campaign, the campaign that the opposition do not want to hear about, I was pleased to announce a commitment by this government to provide free bus transport for our seniors and students. From early next year, Territory seniors and students will enjoy free public bus travel across our Territory’s public bus routes.
This is a fresh idea; it is groundbreaking and innovative. No other jurisdiction provides free travel to seniors and students. We know that seniors and students are frequent users of our public transport system. They are the ones who usually have limited access to cars, motorbikes and other forms of transport. Seniors and students often feel those cost of living pressures, which is why we are focusing this initiative on seniors and students. It is encouraging them to get out and about in their community, and it is providing free public transport to them.
The Territory has the most generous pensioner concession scheme in our nation, and this access to free public transport, I believe, will assist the seniors and students of the Territory to get out and about in our community.
Bellamack – Brierty Limited
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
Brierty Limited, one half of your preferred development team for Bellamack, was last week described in the WA Business News as ‘Embattled civil construction group Brierty has brushed aside a horror nine months marred by shock profit downgrades and share price savaging …’. Brierty Limited posted a full year nett loss of $1.3m after downgrading its profit twice - not once, twice - in its first year of listing on the stock market. Upon the announcement of the deal between the Northern Territory government, you, and Brierty, its share price plunged even further by another 10%. Why is Brierty on shaky financial grounds, and why was the company preferred to the many financially stable and proven local companies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will go back over the assessment process briefly. The assessment process did go to the financials and the capacity for the companies chosen to deliver the product to the marketplace ...
Mr Elferink: So you knew that they were struggling.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, you have the call.
Ms LAWRIE: Financially backing the consortium is the Macquarie Bank.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Secure Taxi Rank - CBD
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Can you please update the House on the success of the secure taxi rank in the CBD?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for this question. He is a fair bit younger than I am, so he probably still goes out at night and enjoys the precinct of Mitchell Street. He probably appreciates the importance of a safe ride home and a safe taxi rank in which to secure that ride.
The secure taxi rank on Mitchell Street has been operating for just over a month now and is proving to be very successful. We have installed CCTV cameras, lighting and seating, and there are security staff who have close communication with police. I thank the AHA and council for their cooperation in the provision of security staff and the rank. The rank operates from midnight to 5 am on Saturdays and Sundays. The government spent around $150 000 on its design and construction.
In the first seven weeks of operation, the rank has been serviced by approximately 1070 taxis and minibuses, and has safely transported over 3000 passengers out of the nightclub precinct. The rank has provided increased security to our taxi and minibus drivers, has ensured safe transport of passengers, and we are hearing of reduced antisocial behaviour in the precinct of that taxi rank. The rank’s initial success, I hope, will ensure its continued operation. I especially commend the Australian Hotels Association, the Taxi Council, Birch Carroll and Coyle and staff, and the Darwin City Council, which played an active role in ensuring the success of the taxi rank.
Swimming Pool – Rural Area
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Over $1.5m was promised by your government for a swimming pool as an election sweetener to the people in the rural area;, a sweetener that obviously failed. Can you please give details about the pool, such as: where is the feasibility study for the pool and has that been made public? Who is going to own the pool, not manage it? Who will pay the cost of the employees, maintenance and insurance? Whose land will it be sited on? Has an independent assessment of the best site in the rural area been done?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not necessarily thank the member for Nelson for his question, because he continues to knock this project ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call. Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting!
Mr Wood: It has all been secret squirrel.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, you have asked the minister a question, allow him to answer the question.
Mr KNIGHT: Woody the Woodpecker over there has been knocking this project from the very start. He has been ably joined by the new member for Goyder. I do not know why you do not want the people of the rural area to have a public pool ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Goyder, cease interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: It has been a commitment and an objective of this government to give the rural area a pool for the last seven years ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, we made the commitment in 2001. $1m …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Members, cease interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: It may be humorous to the other members of the CLP who think it is a joke to have a pool in the rural area. It is this government’s objective to have a pool in the rural area ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: We are actively working with the partners in that.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, cease interjecting. Leader of the Opposition, cease interjecting. Member for Fong Lim, cease interjecting. Minister, you have the call.
Mr KNIGHT: Many of you have pools in your own electorates. The rural area does not have a pool. In 2001, there was money put up-front by this government. The CLP, in government for 27 years, did not put up money for a pool in the rural area. We put it up. We tried to negotiate with the Litchfield Shire Council. They chose not to have it. Okay? In 2005, we upped the money and …
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker.! I am interested in the answer that the member for Daly has to give. I draw your attention to Standing Order 51. There is a lot of chatter going on, on the other side. They are deliberately being obstructive and ill-mannered. I want to hear what he has to say, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, there is an extraordinary amount of disorderliness this afternoon. I will be putting members on warnings from now on, thank you.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I said, we are trying to get this project together, and I thank the previous member for Goyder, Ted Warren …
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen!
Ms Carney: Sorry, Madam Speaker.
Mr KNIGHT: The member for Araluen does not want a pool in a rural area ...
Ms Carney: Well, he did not do much, did he?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen, you are on a warning.
Mr KNIGHT: To the credit of Ted Warren, he was trying to bring various groups together, trying to make that pool a reality. The work he has done …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I distinctly heard the member for Nelson ask where it was going to be located, what was it going to cost, and what feasibility studies have been done? I have not heard any response to any of those questions so far. I find him highly irrelevant.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat. There is no point of order, and cease raising frivolous points of order.
Mr Conlan: Frivolous?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you are on a warning.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, we will make this project a reality with the goodwill of Taminmin High School, which is actively behind it. I know they have spoken to you, member for Goyder, and member for Nelson, because they want to see the reality. We want to see the reality, but you two are trying to trip this project up. You are trying to scuttle it …
Members interjecting.
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister wants not to tell the truth in parliament. I am not opposing the pool. Where does it say I opposed the pool? I just want the government to come clean on what it will cost, where it will be built and …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, resume your seat. There is no point of order. If you feel that you have been misrepresented, you may approach me after Question Time to make a personal explanation. Minister, I hope that the answer is nearly completed.
Mr KNIGHT: Yes, Madam Speaker. The reality is, we want to make this happen. It is an ambitious project. We put up $1.5m. We know it will cost more that, and we will back this project. We have the YMCA behind us, and they are a good organisation, and we have Taminmin High School with us. I do ask that the new member for Goyder and the member for Nelson come on board with this project because it is a great project for the rural area.
Member for Nelson, come on board. This project is coming together, all those things you expect in this project will come together. I thank the YMCA for all their support, and we look forward to making this project a reality.
Prisoner Art Exhibition
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Can the minister please inform the House about the recent Prisoner Art Exhibition launched at Fannie Bay Gaol, and what benefit rehabilitation programs such as this provide for both prisoners and the community?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Last month, together with the Administrator and the member for Port Darwin, I had the pleasure of attending an art show put on by prisoners, both male and female, at Fannie Bay Gaol. Many of those prisoners are doing contemporary art courses and visual art courses. It was a very interesting exhibition. There were paintings, sculptures, some very interesting ceramic works, and Japanese tie dye textiles. I understand that these items sold very well, There was a lot of interest from many people from the art world. Much of the art was sold, even on the first day.
It is important to know that a substantial amount of the proceeds from the sale of these items go to victims of crime. This is a way prisoners can make reparation, and also enable the prisoners, in terms of their own rehabilitation, to feel that they have self-worth. It is obvious that many of them are very talented.
The member for Nelson often talks about work farms and all the rest of it, but art is also a way as many of these people have artistic talents. They are supported by Territory Corrections staff. It is also encouraging them to be socially responsible. Many of them are doing Certificate I or Certificate II in Visual Arts or Contemporary Art courses.
It was a pleasure to be there that day. Unfortunately, I had to leave a little early. There was also some dancing by the Aboriginal dancers from the prison - they are often seen around Darwin and are very much valued. People like to see them, and they engage them in conversation.
There are many programs to help prisoners be rehabilitated. With the new gaol to be built, I expect there will be a lot more cooperation and opportunity for a whole range of courses that will help prisoners be rehabilitated and break the cycle of recidivism.
Berrimah Research Farm –
Arsenic Contamination of Site
Arsenic Contamination of Site
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
In October last year, the former Chief Minister issued a media release announcing 700 residential dwellings to be built on Berrimah Research Farm land. In that same release, you claimed that the site is suitable for residential land units - that means families, children, and pets. When you made that statement, were you aware that there is a 44 gallon drum of arsenic-contaminated material - arsenic, heavy metals, dangerous - buried on the farm? What other issues of contamination at that site were you aware of when you made your announcement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Goyder. I know she does not want to see Berrimah Research Farm proceed as a residential development …
Ms Purick: The drum is buried, minister.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, Berrimah Research Farm is ideally located. It is high land, it gets prevailing harbour breezes, and is ideally located for a magnificent residential development. The future residents of Berrimah Farm …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, cease interjecting!
Ms LAWRIE: … will be able to shop at the new Harbour Town to be built …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is trivialising a very serious issue. This is about a 44 gallon drum of arsenic. The question was asked very deliberately. This is a public health and safety issue. I ask that you urge the minister to answer this question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, can you answer the question as closely as possible to whatever the question is.
Ms LAWRIE: Absolutely, but it is important to put this in context - that is, the government will develop Berrimah Research Farm. Okay? We will proceed with Berrimah Research Farm.
I turn to the issue of contamination. I have been talking about this issue publicly today, and it will be detailed so that the members have the full information.
We have a very rigorous process for dealing with potential contamination on land that may be redeveloped …
Ms Purick: You said it was suitable land.
Ms LAWRIE: It is.
Ms Purick: Why do you need the assessment then?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Just as the waterfront is very suitable for a development there, just as the Stuart Park tank farm area is beautiful and suitable for development. You will see a nice development occurring just on the left-hand side as you are driving out to the rural area.
Site contamination is not unusual. There are processes for dealing with site contamination. Once you deal with your site contamination, you ensure that, in that, there is remediation …
Members interjecting.
Ms LAWRIE: If members would stop interrupting me, I will talk through the process. We have a very rigorous process for dealing with any potential contamination on land that may be redeveloped for sensitive land uses such as residential. It has been successfully applied at sites such as the old tank farm and at the Darwin Waterfront development.
The Territory is a party to the National Environmental Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure, a legal instrument which binds the Territory. The National Environment Protection Measure ensures that sites are assessed …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order; Madam Speaker! The question was quite specific - was she aware that the drum was there when she made the announcement? Yes or no.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. Minister, please continue.
Ms LAWRIE: The member for Port Darwin does not want the public to hear the process that we followed ...
Mr Elferink: I think you do not want the public to hear.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, the minister has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: The National Environment Protection Measure ensures that sites are assessed for human health and ecological risk to a consistent national standard. Each site, of course, is different. We knew Berrimah Farm was a research farm, we knew there were things that we would discover through this process, and we would deal with through this process. That is why a site history and a preliminary soil and water sampling is undertaken as a Tier 1 process to assess the environmental and public health risk. This work is being done by credible environmental consultants. The results of this Tier 1 process are then used to determine whether a comprehensive full site or Tier 2 assessment is undertaken, subject to the national protocols.
This second process is overseen by an accredited and independent site contamination auditor. Compliance with this Tier 2 process is secured through the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act, or development permits issued under the Planning Act. This assessment is then used to determine whether remediation is required to ensure the land is fit for the intended purpose.
If remediation is required, a plan is drafted by environmental consultants and submitted for approval by both the independent auditor and the government. The implementation of the remediation plan is overseen by the auditor.
At completion, the independent auditor then prepares a statement that the land is suitable for its intended use, either with or without special conditions being met. If conditions are specified by the auditor, these conditions are attached to the land title by way of caution notices. The independent auditor assumes liability for this determination. I can assure members that no auditor signs off on clean up unless they are absolutely satisfied.
Tourism – Overseas Campaign
Mr McCARTHY to MINISTER for TOURISM
The international market is an important source of visitors for Territory tourism and provides great opportunity for growth. Does the government have any initiatives to increase tourist visitation from overseas?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. It is a very important question. Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the Territory. I am very pleased to advise that our government is allocating $4m extra over the next four years to target emerging markets, such as southern Europe, Korea and China. In southern Europe, we will be targeting Spain and France. With the extra $4m, our budget for tourism will be the highest funding per capita in the country.
It is not only about bringing tourists here, but creating jobs for Territorians. Yesterday, the National Tourism Employment Atlas was released. That Atlas shows how much tourism contributes directly to state and territory economies. In the Territory, 12 500 Territorians are directly employed by the tourism industry; that is, 12.1% of total employment in the Territory. We have the highest proportion of employment in tourism than any other state or territory; Tasmania is next with 5.9%. So it is a significant contribution to the Territory economy.
Interestingly, in Darwin, only 10% of the workforce is employed in the tourism industry, but outside of Darwin, including Alice Springs, nearly 15% of people are employed directly in the tourism industry.
In the last few years, Australia was not very trendy. We had a downturn in international visitations because of the economic situation overseas, the increased price of fuel, and the aviation constraints. These are factors outside our control. What is under our control is promoting the Territory as a destination. That is what we are doing, targeting the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and North America, which are very important to us.
Tourism is a highly competitive and volatile business. We market the Territory overseas, and we also collaborate with airlines such as Jetstar, for their South-East Asian growth strategy. We are providing a significant amount to Jetstar in joint marketing, the same way we did with Tiger when they were here. I noticed the member for Fong Lim commented yesterday about Tiger leaving Darwin. . What he forgot to say is that the reason why Tiger left was the high price of fuel and the high cost of security at Darwin Airport and Alice Springs Airport.
The Territory has nothing to do with security costs. The government is quite right to demand security measures. However, the Coalition government did not take into account the special conditions of the Darwin Airport and Alice Springs Airport. They demanded specific security measures without taking into consideration the number of people coming in and out of Darwin who have to share the costs. As a result, every passenger who goes to Sydney has to pay an extra $5, but every passenger coming to Darwin has to pay an extra $14 for their ticket. Despite our calls, the Coalition ignored us, the same way they ignored other things we asked. For example, Tiger was allowed to fly from Darwin to Melbourne or to Brisbane but, despite the fact that it was registered in the Northern Territory, it was not allowed to fly overseas because the Coalition government refused to change the legislation to allow an Australian registered company to fly outside Australia because they wanted to protect Qantas.
Let us get the record straight. We are working very hard to promote the Territory as a destination, and we are working in collaboration with airlines and other companies. As I said before, it is very important for the Territory, and especially very important for centres outside Darwin.
Berrimah Research Farm –
Suitability for Development
Suitability for Development
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
You have not mentioned that, before it became Berrimah Research Farm in the mid-1950s, the site was a military installation. I am aware that the site was used as a rubbish dumping ground by the Army, and there is a strong possibility that military ordnances, that is, bombs, were buried at the site. Before you made the announcement, what contact was made with the Department of Defence? What risk assessment methodology was employed, and by whom, to assess the suitability of the site for housing families in a residential development?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Honourable members, you have asked a question of the minister. We need to have a little quiet so that she can answer the question. Minister.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I sincerely welcome the question from the member for Goyder. Within the scope of the works occurring now regarding the site history and the assessment processes that are occurring for Berrimah Research Farm includes the issue of World War II ordnance. Very clearly, we know that Darwin was the site of horrendous bombing in World War II. Just as we dealt with the contamination issues and the World War II ordnance issues at the waterfront site, we are following those processes. We have very strict protocols in the Top End, quite appropriately, because of the bombing raids that occurred. We are following those processes to the letter and we are certainly within the scope …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Once again, we are not getting an answer to the question. The question was: did she speak to the Department of Defence before making these announcements?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, please resume your seat. The minister has the call. There is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Cease interjecting, member for Port Darwin.
Ms LAWRIE: Within the brief that EcOz has now, quite appropriately, is the potential for discovery of World War II ordnance. We are following that process at Berrimah Research Farm as we did with the decontamination and assessments at the waterfront site for both contaminations and ordnance. We will not cut any corners. We will do what is required to thoroughly assess the Berrimah Research Farm site.
We will follow all the processes as required, because the government has determined, just as we did with the old industrial site full of potential World War II ordnance at the waterfront - and I know the opposition did not want to see the waterfront proceed - I know they did not want the waterfront to proceed …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … and it is a bit of an echo here: it is too contaminated, you are going to find bombs and it is going to explode, and it is going to be scary. Well, you know the sky is falling down, opposition.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you are on a warning.
Ms LAWRIE: The sky is falling down, doom and gloom opposition. We have been there before with them, and it was the waterfront project, which is a magnificent project. We are here again with the Berrimah Research Farm project. I know, having been born and raised in the Territory, I have seen areas of Darwin developed that have met development opposition in the past and people say it is going to be terrible. Berrimah Research Farm …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This minister has said this site was suitable. The question is: did she speak to the Department of Defence before declaring it suitable to the Territory community? That issue has not been addressed, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you would be well aware that the Speaker has no capacity to direct a minister to answer a question in a particular way. The minister has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: There is nothing at all unusual in identifying land that is suitable and appropriately located for residential and light industrial, as Berrimah Research Farm is, and then following a very clear process in its assessment. If any remediation is required and, as members heard in my answer to previous questions, that is a process independently audited and signed off by an independent auditor ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: The Leader of the Opposition is completely wrong. I do not declare it suitable. The independent auditor …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please resume your seat, minister. Standing Order 51:
- No Member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a Member speaking.
There are a number of members on warnings. There will be more going on to warnings shortly. Minister, you have the call. I hope the answer is nearly finished.
Ms LAWRIE: Yes, indeed, I will speed up my answer, but they have been shouting interruptions.
Very clearly, the government has said we will develop Berrimah Research Farm as residential and light industrial. It is ideally located and we will follow all the appropriate site history and assessment …
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, you are on a warning.
Ms LAWRIE: We will follow all the appropriate site history and assessment processes and, if required, all the appropriate remediation processes, so that people can enjoy the beautiful residential opportunity of Berrimah Research Farm.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek clarification on Standing Order 67, which says:
- No Member shall digress from the subject matter of any question under discussion …
Your explanation was that you cannot direct the minister to answer a question, but Standing Order 67 clearly says that no member shall digress from the subject matter of any question under discussion …
Madam SPEAKER: I have an answer for this; I will ask the Clerk for some advice.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! That standing order relates to debates. This is Question Time, which is not a debate, so it is not relevant.
I should say also that that has been the case in this parliament for a very long time, certainly well before I was the Speaker, and during the time of Speakers from the first parliaments. It is also the case in the House of Representatives and the House of Commons.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016