2014-08-27
Chief Minister – Confidence of Colleagues
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
The Deputy Chief Minister seat remains empty again today. Your dysfunctional government is imploding around you and business leaders are now openly wondering who is in charge and what is going on with your scandal-plagued government. The division and chaos is a hallmark of your leadership; it is undermining business confidence. Now we hear your position is under threat, with numbers being crunched against you. How can Territorians have confidence in you when it appears your colleagues do not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what an opportunity to talk about the midterm progress report of the Country Liberals. People can have confidence from a little flyer going into their letterboxes. I will read from it and talk about the Country Liberals team and what it is has been doing to deliver for Territorians in two years. I can go through a range of different things. I could start with health and talk about the Palmerston hospital and how we are getting on with the job of building it, with thanks to the Minister for Health. I can talk about the $4.6m that has gone towards an additional 400 elective surgery operations conducted since we came to government, to try to reduce the pressures on the elective surgery wait list.
I could talk about the Minister for Housing and what he has done as part of the Country Liberals team in making sure we have release land at an efficient rate, the fastest ever seen in the Territory’s history. As I mentioned yesterday and will repeat today, $132.5m is going towards land release for residential and commercial land, with some 6500 blocks of land across the Northern Territory in 15 centres where we are releasing land.
I could talk about the amount of money we are putting into roads – $400m into regional, remote and urban areas to ensure we have a great level of connectivity in the Northern Territory.
I could talk about cost of living and lifestyle pressures, how we have doubled the Back to School vouchers and how the minister for Sport introduced the $75 sports voucher, which has now increased to $200 per year ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. You do not have a Deputy Chief Minister and the numbers are being crunched against you. How can we have confidence …
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Sit down!
Mr GILES: I could look at some of those things or I could look at my notes on the Labor report card, which show we were left, as we came into government, with a $1.8bn debt, a $70m asset management system …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please put the prop down.
Mr GILES: … that we were managing, a $1.6bn debt for Power and Water ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister just ignored your direction to remove the prop.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay. Chief Minister, please leave the prop on the table.
Mr GILES: We are trying to drive down cost of living pressures with our land release program, and doubling the sports vouchers to $200 through two $100 payments. There is also the 10% increase in the childcare rebate, making it easier for mums and dads to get their kids into childcare.
We could talk about the problems Labor had with crime and how we are driving down crime. As I said yesterday, we are driving crime and debt down and driving the economy and jobs up.
You are very observant, Opposition Leader, you have managed to see the vacant chair two days in a row. Congratulations for being so observant, a tick of approval for you. You do not get a tick of approval for sending debt through the roof, or for taking the Territory’s crime levels to record levels, so we have to fix it.
Our midterm report is substantial in what we have achieved over two years and we will continue, as a team, to do more to benefit Territorians.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise of the presence in the gallery of Year 11 Legal Studies class from the Essington School accompanied by Mali Grossman. On behalf of honourable members, welcome to Parliament House, I hope you enjoy your time here.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Victoria Cross Recipient Recognition
Victoria Cross Recipient Recognition
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please update the Assembly on plans to recognise the Territory’s only Victoria Cross recipient, Albert Borella, as part of commemorations for the Anzac centenary?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question, and for coming with me yesterday to Jingili to look at Borella Park on Borella Circuit, where we met Rowan and Mary Borella and their son, Richard. Rowan is the son of Albert Borella, the only Territorian to receive the Victoria Cross during World War I.
Albert Borella was a remarkable Territorian who undertook an inspiring journey to join combat in World War I. He walked and swam through croc-infested rivers, rode horses and travelled to Darwin on a mail coach, seeking to enlist in World War I and take up the fight. Many would say he fought two fights: one was signing on to fight in World War I, and the other was the war itself.
His 1000 km journey from Tennant Creek involved many things, including riding bikes and horses, swimming across rivers and walking. When he got to Darwin to enlist, he was told he could not do it there. He was sent by ship to Queensland to enlist and then on by ship to Western Australia to undertake induction and training.
During World War I he fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He is the Northern Territory’s only Victoria Cross recipient, one of only 100 in the country.
Richard, Mary and Rowan live in Albury, New South Wales, on the Victorian border. The story of Albert Borella is a folklore story around Albury but, from our point of view, he remains a Territorian with a very important story to be told. That is part of the Anzac centenary from the point of view of the Northern Territory.
Early next year, Richard Borella will be joining a group of companions travelling the 1000 km journey that Albert took from Tennant Creek, stopping at places such as Renner Springs, Elliott, Dunmarra, Daly Waters, Katherine, Pine Creek and Mataranka. On the way to Darwin, he will be stopping to visit school groups and educate them about World War I and Albert’s journey, reminding people of the tragedy of war and a small part of our history from the Territory.
I thank Richard, Rowan and Mary for coming to Darwin, and Richard for his participation. What he will provide in education to the Northern Territory, especially the school kids, is something of history we should not forget. I look forward to seeing everyone view that participation as something important in the Territory’s legacy ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Magistrate Maley – Resignation
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER referred to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
No judicial officer suddenly resigns after only 11 months in office without a valid explanation. The corridors of this place are rife with rumours which you and your Attorney-General can put to rest.
The Attorney-General was in hiding yesterday and refused to front the media. What are you and your Attorney-General trying to hide? You were the head of the Cabinet which appointed Peter Maley as a magistrate. Come clean with Territorians and explain the reasons behind Mr Maley’s resignation.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we are going over old ground here. As I said yesterday, the relationship between the Attorney-General and Mr Maley is a matter for the Attorney-General. A process was followed and the resignation was provided to the Attorney-General. I ask him to give an answer.
Mr ELFERINK (Attorney-General and Justice): Madam Speaker, if I responded to every rumour these rumourmongers put out, I would spend my life responding to nothing but rumours.
I will give you an example. Yesterday in this House we saw a classic example of the deception by those opposite. They spent an hour in this House railing against the wrong bill. They are so incompetent that they came into this place and talked about the wrong bill for an hour without even realising, making allegations which have negative consequences on the public servants who are trying to brief and educate them …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister is incorrect and off topic. Can he explain the reasons behind Mr Maley’s resignation?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr ELFERINK: That question was answered here yesterday, but it demonstrates the quality of the scurrilous nature …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Since this question was asked yesterday, the Attorney-General refused to front media and the NT News has published more information.
Madam SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, you know that.
Mr ELFERINK: Those across the Chamber cannot be trusted. They engage in slander at the drop of a hat; we saw that in relation to the member for Daly. When he came into this place they ran a slander campaign against him on day one.
Public servants have been named and their reputations have been trashed in this place. I will not engage in the rumour mill. The question was answered yesterday. I get cross when those folk over there are interested in only one thing: tarnishing people’s reputations without evidence.
To the member opposite, if you have something to allege, allege it, but do not trot out rumours. That is the hallmark of the members opposite. They will trawl through the smallest thing and try to blow it up, and anybody is a target, including some of their own. It is anything for the win.
I understand the Leader of the Opposition has been receiving training and getting her mind focused on these issues and how to win the next election as an act of will, but there is no consideration for the consequences when you do that. When you do things like that, all sorts of people get hurt. As far as I am concerned, members opposite should hang their heads in shame, after coming into this House and debating the wrong bill for an hour, just to make noise and allegations ...
Ms Fyles: Just answer the question.
Mr ELFERINK: The question was answered! It was simply to make noise and cause trouble. We are governing for the true welfare of the people of the Northern Territory.
Medical Marijuana – Legalisation
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for HEALTH
The issue of legalising medical marijuana has attracted national attention recently. Can you inform the Assembly whether the Northern Territory government is considering this?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. It has captured the attention of the media on a national scale and we, as a Cabinet, will contemplate the introduction of medical marijuana into the Northern Territory. It is not without controversy though.
I start by differentiating between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. We do not support recreational marijuana, which is illegal in the Northern Territory and is a big problem here. In a lot of bush communities it is a bigger problem than alcohol abuse, but what we talk about today is medical marijuana.
I will quote from a briefing I received to give you a definition of what this is. ‘Smoking or, perhaps, eating natural cannabis, either as flowers or leaves of marijuana plants, as hashish or hashish oil, in order to alleviate the symptoms of illness.’
That is why we are interested in this, because if it is highly regulated and approved by the medical profession and pharmaceutical regulators, we would look very kindly at allowing the use of medical marijuana to alleviate the symptoms of some illnesses.
The jury is still out because medical trials have not been undertaken to conclusively state what the exact benefits of medical marijuana are. There are some concerns about smoking marijuana. Smoking is not good for anyone. The fact is it may cause dependence and psychosis in some people.
On the flip side of that, the positive side, which we have probably all seen in the media of late, is that it can relieve pain, cause relaxation, allow people to sleep better and create a feeling of wellbeing. The main example shown in the media of late is the use of medical marijuana for the alleviation of symptoms of epilepsy.
We are looking at this issue. We want to take it very seriously. We know there are many people out there who are looking at us to alleviate their symptoms through the use of medical marijuana. I will report back to parliament in the future on how our deliberations go.
Magistrate Maley – Resignation
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
It is no small matter that a magistrate has resigned after just 11 months in the job. You were in charge of Cabinet to make that appointment. It is a decision your Cabinet made and led. It is no small matter that your Attorney-General had a $5000 political donation from Peter Maley and took a recommendation to Cabinet to appoint him as magistrate. You and your Cabinet then decided to appoint Peter Maley as magistrate. It would be unbelievable to think, as Chief Minister, you have not been informed of the reason for Mr Maley’s resignation. Have you had a conversation with your Attorney-General? Have you been informed of the reasons for Mr Maley’s resignation? If not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, I have had a conversation. John told me he resigned ...
Ms Lawrie: The reason?
Mr GILES: I have seen the resignation and there were no reasons given. He resigned. Because of all the insinuations, assertions and allegations in your question, what is important to note is there was a recommendation by a panel of experts who went through a list of potential magistrates. A recommendation was made to Cabinet. Cabinet accepted the recommendation and made a decision.
Yes, it is true that the Attorney-General received a $5000 donation from Mr Maley …
Mr Elferink: Which I declared.
Mr GILES: … and he declared it. Unfortunately, where the Attorney-General did the right thing and made a declaration in his register of interest, this is not something the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the member for Barkly, have done about the contribution they received in their legal advice in the dirty Stella Maris deal ..
Ms Lawrie: We have not received a contribution.
Mr GILES: For those who do not remember, who may be listening or sitting in the gallery, the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition gave away a $3m Territory asset for free to their union mates, minutes before calling the last Territory election. It was a dirty and dodgy deal.
We have had an independent inquiry which identified it as dirty and dodgy. They did not act properly, without going through the exact words written in the inquiry report. Did you then put in your register of interest the free legal advice which you were given by your Labor legal mates, and declare publicly what occurred? No. We put that in contrast with what the Attorney-General has done with the $5000 donation given to him. He put it into his register of interest. That is what we do. That is what openness and transparency is about. He has fronted up and done it.
Cabinet made a decision based on a recommendation we received. In replacing the magistrate who has resigned, we will go through the same process and call for recommendations. Cabinet will consider the recommendations the same way we do for any recommendation we receive. You are barking up the wrong tree on this. There were no reasons given by Mr Maley; he chose to resign and we have accepted his resignation. We move on and try to find an acting magistrate, then we will try to find a permanent magistrate. That is the process we walk through.
This is hypocrisy, because the Attorney-General has put on his register of interests the political donation he received from Peter Maley, as opposed to what you and the deputy leader did in not declaring any of the interests you received while trying to very poorly defend yourselves over the dirty, stinking, rotten Stella Maris deal giving Territorians’ assets to your union mates at Unions NT.
Real Housing for Growth Plan
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for HOUSING referred to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT
The Country Liberals government is well on its way to delivering on its election commitment of constructing 2000 new affordable housing dwellings by 2017. Can you please inform the House how the Real Housing for Growth Plan will help restore balance into the housing market after a decade of inaction by Labor?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is another great news story from the Giles Country Liberals government, joining the long list of great news stories we have achieved over the last two years. It is fantastic and I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. She is passionate about delivering affordable housing options to Territorians.
This government understands and appreciates housing affordability in the Northern Territory, unlike Labor members, who sat on their hands for 11 long years and did nothing. In 11 years they built 375 homes; 37 homes per year. This government will deliver 2000 affordable homes into the market in four years. We are more focused than ever before and above any other government in delivering affordable housing options to Territorians. The Real Housing for Growth Plan will provide 2000 new homes over four years. It will help support the attraction and retention of key service industry workers and will provide a leg-up to those public housing tenants transitioning from public housing into the affordable housing market.
That will reduce the long wait list we were left with by the previous government. They did nothing to address wait lists; they sat on their hands for 11 long years and only built 375 homes. We will build 2000 new homes, which will help address the wait list. We are well ahead of our target of 2000 affordable dwellings.
As of 30 June this year, 293 affordable dwellings have been delivered, surpassing the 2013-14 one-year target of 200. That is almost one home every day of the year, as opposed to 375 homes the Labor government built in 11 long years. In 2014-15 it will be 400 homes. In year three of the program we will deliver 600 and in year 2016-17 we will deliver 800 affordable homes, making a grand total of 2000-plus affordable homes into the Northern Territory market.
This is coupled with our fantastic land release strategy. I will flick to the Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment for the last 30 or 40 seconds who can talk about some of our great land release strategies.
Mr CHANDLER (Lands, Planning and the Environment): Madam Speaker, I thank the Minister for Housing for the wonderful work he is doing. I have a couple of key statistics that show in the last two years 3500 new dwellings were constructed in the Northern Territory. In the CBD alone, over 1000 unit developments are being organised or built at the moment, all easing the cost of living for Territorians ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Deputy Chief Minister – Return to Role
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
There are widespread reports that your former Deputy Chief Minister, whom you have yet to replace, has been arrogantly blabbering to his business mates that he will return to his role in the next few weeks. Can you rule out a comeback by Dave Tollner to the Deputy Chief Minister position?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, the question is directed more to the political side of the party. You may choose to answer it or not.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to answer. We expect, next Monday, to elect a new Deputy Chief Minister. All 12 members on this side of the Chamber would like to put their hand up to be Deputy Chief Minister. It is a fantastic opportunity for anybody who wants to be part of a team which is driving significant reform in the Northern Territory. I have already gone through the mid-term progress report - or parts thereof - where we talk about what we are doing in the Northern Territory, and I expect in politics everybody wants to achieve the highest office, to put their stamp on how they want to change the Northern Territory. That is a healthy and vibrant thing for any politician across the nation.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: L’Honorables Membres, je rserve un accueil chaleureux Monsieur et Madame Chevastelle la galerie de la Speaker, qui sont venus de France et qui s'intressent aux systmes de parlements, en particulier au systme de Westminster.
Monsieur et Madame Chevastelle, soyez les bienvenus au parlement du Nord d'Australie, et j'espre que vous apprcierez votre temps avec nous aujourd'hui.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: For the benefit of Hansard, there is a translation on its way.
Mr Elferink: What about for the benefit of our guests, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: For the benefit of guests, I said, ‘Welcome to the Speaker's gallery two special visitors from France Mr and Mrs Chevastelle who have an active interest in parliamentary systems, in particular the Westminster system.
Welcome and I hope you enjoy your time here today’.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Diem Tang, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of the Legislative Assembly, will help with translation. Welcome also to their son, Jo, and his partner, Javi.
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Prisoners – Developing the North
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
The Northern Territory government’s Sentenced to a Job program continues to go from strength to strength. Can you please inform the House about the newest initiative that will see prisoners playing their part in developing the north?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is a good news story for a number of reasons. Before I explain I want to place on the record my thanks to AACo for demonstrating that it has earned its social licence in the Northern Territory. Not only that, it has gone above and beyond the call of duty to do so.
With AACo and Sunbuild, another fine Territory company, we have entered into an arrangement to construct a number of cattle yards in the Livingstone area where the new abattoirs are being built. This is a $0.25m contract which would have otherwise gone to China. It is a good news story because we in the Northern Territory Corrections system are now able to compete, through our training systems, with Chinese companies, where Territory money would go to China rather than stay here.
We do it as a training package because that means these people learn something better than a few bob; they have skills in welding and producing things for the rest of their lives. Those skills translate into the Sentenced to a Job program when they earn their way into it.
I ask all members of this House, and all Territorians listening, if a prisoner was released and moved in next door to them, who would they rather have? Would they want somebody with a job and some skills training or, alternatively, somebody who has learned and experienced nothing in all the time they were in gaol …
Ms Lawrie: Cheap labour.
Mr ELFERINK: I heard the members opposite saying ‘cheap labour’. When in government, the members opposite – if they are true to that allegation – used them as cheap labour all the time. We use them in work gangs around the community and for cleaning purposes.
This is real training with real equipment, which they can then transfer into an employment scheme, and the only people who miss out are the Chinese manufacturers who otherwise would have won this contract. That is about building a Corrections system that works with industry and develops hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of dollars’ worth of employment to prisoners in our system. They keep a large slice of what they earn, pay rent and receive training which takes them forward and provides them with skills to make them valuable in our community into the future. I know what I would rather have: trained and employed people coming out of our Corrections system, rather than people who have learned and done nothing whilst in gaol.
Magistrate Maley – Resignation and
Detailed Questions
Mr GUNNER to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
We learned in the NT News today that former magistrate Peter Maley’s sudden resignation followed him receiving 13 detailed questions about his dealings with a former client before he became a magistrate. We know from previous statements in this House that you are a friend of his. It is not believable that he resigned in a phone call to you and did not tell you why. We believe Territorians deserve to know. What are you trying to hide? What do you know about the 13 questions? When did you know about the 13 questions and the issues behind them? Why did Mr Maley resign?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. The starting point is Mr Maley telephoned me, as well as sending me a text message which I am happy to screen grab and table. He explained that he was resigning and wanted to return to private practice.
I am confident Mr Maley has been a very good magistrate during the time he has been on the bench. I remind honourable members that Mr Maley has not yet had any form of challenge in a courtroom regarding anything he has done on the bench.
On to the second component of the question. If I read the article in the newspaper correctly today, it refers to a series of 13 questions. It then said there is an action for aggravated defamation - or something of that language – pending. If the newspaper is not certain about the information it has received, why should I give it any credence whatsoever? I hear rumours all the time, as I said at the beginning of the answer to my last question. If I responded to every single rumour I hear, particularly those generated by those opposite, I would be a very busy person.
Those opposite are the perpetrators and peddlers of rumours; it is what they do. If any form of allegation is made with substance behind it – and if the members opposite have anything, by all means make that available – there are processes of investigation which must be followed ...
Ms Lawrie: You did not follow. You did not hold an inquiry into it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ELFERINK: I will pick up on the interjection. I did not hold an inquiry because there was no reason to hold one. If I held an inquiry, the other half of the profession would have been against it because the professional bodies were divided in relation to this. I had a number of lawyers – barristers in the Northern Territory – tell me they were not happy with what was going on in the Northern Territory Bar Association. The Bar Association has been pontificating about the end of democracy and the end of the rule of law in the Northern Territory, which is extraordinary. It is way off the reservation, and as far as I am concerned it has all been noise.
Remove that and I come back to a single question: was a single issue of apprehended bias been attributed to Mr Maley whilst he sat on the bench? No.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Magistrate Maley – Resignation and
Detailed Questions
Mr GUNNER to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
Were you aware, at the time of Mr Maley’s resignation, of the outstanding media inquiry, the 13 questions and the issues behind those questions? Why did Mr Maley resign?
ANSWER
Mr Maley resigned for the reasons he has stated publicly. I was aware of a number of rumours and some media inquiries. I will not speculate on behalf of Mr Maley, the NT News or you as to what those inquiries were. We will leave that for the journalists and Labor Party members.
In the meantime, I will continue to do my job proudly and professionally, with the true interests of the profession and the rule of law in the Northern Territory at heart. I said from day one that I would be an engaged and involved Attorney-General and I have been so up until now. As far as I am concerned, I will not give any form of credence to the scurrilous conduct of the members opposite.
Elizabeth River Jetty – Amenity Upgrades
Mrs FINOCCHIARO to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE
Palmerston is a strong and growing community which highly values our unique Territory lifestyle. Can you advise the House of recent actions taken by Palmerston MLAs and our government to improve amenity for Palmerston families and fishers on the Elizabeth River jetty?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale and other members from Palmerston for the fantastic job they do in lobbying the department and me for good quality infrastructure there, for the use of everyone in the community. They are always examining what is required by the public, especially regarding fishing.
Fishing is a great family activity. So many families who live in the coastal areas have boats. We have the highest proportion of boats in the country. Let us look at those who contribute to our community, do not have a boat and need to take the family somewhere on weekends.
We have a fantastic facility at the Elizabeth River jetty. Due to the lobbying of the members, AFANT and a few others, we have some nice shade structures there. There is nothing like taking the kids there to have a picnic lunch. It is the sort of thing my mum did with me; she used to take me fishing when I was little. We would have a picnic lunch and spend a day catching some fish - not to mention the great fish on the table in the evening.
I asked the Department of Infrastructure to look at what could be done there, and it came up with a fantastic plan. I am pleased to advise the House we have now installed two fantastic new shade structures which, I am reliably informed by the member for Drysdale, have been gratefully received by the fishos who frequent the jetty. It is positive feedback we have received about these initiatives.
These are some of the little things. The Chief Minister talked this morning about the big things, such as those coming down the pipeline, excuse the pun. There are some fantastic big things.
We, as a government, are getting on with the little things. It is the little things that count. For a family that may not be able to go camping at the weekend – they might not have a trailer or even a car - we are putting in new bike paths to connect Palmerston and these facilities. We will get on with doing that job providing some fantastic infrastructure.
It is another example of the Giles government listening to the wishes of local people and delivering. As Territorians, we love our fishing, and we want to provide the amenities to make it more comfortable, so you do not have to worry about the kids being in the sun and other issues. These are the little things that count, not only to the people of Palmerston but Darwin as well. For people who want to go to that area to fish, great amenities have been provided by a proactive government which is listening to the people and producing things in a reliable and financially responsible manner.
Magistrate Maley – Resignation
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER referred to ATTORNEY-GENERAL and MINISTER for JUSTICE
You chaired the Cabinet meeting which made the decision to appoint Peter Maley to judicial office. You did it on the advice of the Attorney-General who had declared he received a $5000 donation for his election campaign from Mr Maley. Your Attorney-General has just said he was aware of the media inquiries at the time of Mr Maley’s resignation. It beggars belief that the Attorney-General knew and you did not. When did you know about the 13 questions? When did you know about the issue behind the 13 questions? When did you know about the unanswered media inquiry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know about any 13 questions. If you want to ask questions about the resignation of Peter Maley, put them to the Attorney-General; he is the one who took the resignation.
Mr ELFERINK (Attorney-General and Justice): Madam Speaker, I want to clarify a couple of things. The selection of Peter Maley as a magistrate was an unusual process. Do you know what was unusual about it? It was deliberately constructed so that I had nothing to do with it. Why? For a long time I have been a close personal friend of Peter Maley, I make no secret of that. We worked together on the opposition benches.
When that committee was formed, it made a decision. I presume the committee had all the advice it needed.
How do we know about the $5000 donation? When I was in opposition and there were no vacancies on the bench, the solicitor, Mr Maley, made a donation. How do we know about that? I declared it in accordance with law.
Compare that to the statement of declaration of interests the members opposite still have not filled out in relation to the receipt of tens of thousands of dollars of in-kind legal advice from Mr Alistair Wyvill SC. I filled out the documentation in accordance with the law and that is why we know about this.
For that reason, I was excluded from the process. The sole function I had – so Territorians are clear on this – was when the committee of fine and upstanding professionals in this jurisdiction handed down their report, I made sure it went to the Cabinet room. Once it was in the Cabinet room I removed myself from the room, which was entirely appropriate.
I am not sure what the members opposite are trying to do other than stir mud. There is a fundamental difference between the probity this government and I had demonstrated, compared to the probity not demonstrated by the former government …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 113: relevance. The question was about what the Chief Minister knew and when he knew it?
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I have answered that question. It was about the 13 questions. I do not know about these 13 questions. I have explained that …
Mr Gunner: And the issue behind the 13 questions?
Mr GILES: If you want an answer I will give you one. I have said the resignation was provided to the Attorney-General.
One thing the public hates is when we talk about our jobs. We should be debating jobs for Territorians and the future of the Territory not this scuttlebutt internal business. Start focusing on Territorians …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Facility in Berrimah
Mr BARRETT to MINISTER for ALCOHOL REHABILITATION
Can you please inform the Assembly about the progress made to transition the alcohol mandatory treatment facility to its new facility in Berrimah?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. Yes, we are transitioning out of the medi-hotel into a new facility in Berrimah which is currently used as a prison. Alcohol mandatory treatment has been a cornerstone of this government’s initiatives to try to tackle chronic alcohol abuse throughout the Northern Territory. We started this on 1 July last year and it has been operating for just over 12 months. During the last 12 months we have seen 400 people referred for alcohol mandatory treatment. These people have been given the opportunity to change their lives through a 12-week alcohol rehabilitation program. It is fantastic news and the stories we are hearing from facilities across the Northern Territory are extremely positive and encouraging. People are turning their lives around.
The question before parliament today is about how we are moving out of the medi-hotel and into the new Berrimah facility. The first phase of this alcohol mandatory treatment roll-out in Darwin commenced in the medi-hotel, where we struggled to increase the numbers beyond 40 beds. It was not purpose built and was not entirely suitable to be used as an alcohol mandatory treatment facility. I have always been up-front about that. The Berrimah facility is extremely suitable. We are making a few modifications to it as we speak to enhance it as an appropriate facility for alcohol mandatory treatment.
At Berrimah we will initially have an eight-bed assessment facility and a 40-bed treatment facility. Over the coming months it will be expanded to a 70-bed treatment facility once the refurbishment work is completed, and there is potential to increase beyond that, perhaps to more than 100 beds. We cannot do it all at once, it has to be in a staged manner. We are very pleased to announce that this move will occur in September. In a few weeks’ time, we will be moving out of the medi-hotel and into the Berrimah facility.
Madam Speaker, the roll-out of alcohol mandatory treatment across the Northern Territory has been entirely successful. The Labor opposition does not want to hear that, but it has taken our worst affected drunks off the street and given them a chance to change their lives.
McArthur River Mine
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT referred to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
According to the ABC News on 27 July, Dr Freeland from the EPA said:
- If it was allowed to continue and the mine continued producing waste rock and it was not managed, the potential for harm for the whole McArthur River and potentially out into the seagrass beds in the Pellew Islands is potentially significant.
Dr Freeland was talking about the ongoing fire at the McArthur River Mine. The ABC also says the company running the mine Glencore has been asked to carry out another environmental impact statement, which could take two years to complete. Bearing in mind there will be two Wet Seasons before the EIS is completed, what is your government doing to make sure the fire is extinguished and there is no risk of damage to the whole McArthur River and the seagrass beds, which are a concern not only to the EPA, but to traditional owners in the area?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member for Nelson. We answered some of these questions yesterday in a debate in this House. This is about what this government is doing to protect the environment and to ensure we are pro-mining, as we should be. There are economic benefits to the Northern Territory, but it needs to be done in a sustainable way.
We spoke about the fact that we now have a process in place where existing miners pay into a fund so we can start to deal with some of the legacy issues which have occurred over many years of mining in the Northern Territory. Mines have been left in appalling condition, due to a lack of robust regulation. This affects the environment. The Country Liberals government and the Minister for Mines and Energy are working very hard in that space, as am I as the minister for the Environment, with an independent EPA.
The processes we have introduced and continue to improve on are to cover off some of these issues, not only from legacy matters but current mining practices as well. Whenever something goes pear-shaped in the mining industry, a lesson is learned and they improve processes. That is a continuing …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. This question was not asking the government about the history of legacy mines, nor was it asking about process. I want to know what the government is doing to make sure the fire is extinguished and there is no risk to the environment.
Mr CHANDLER: Member for Nelson, the Minister for Mines and Energy is responsible for that area and the operations and is better able to answer that question. I hand over to the minister.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Mines and Energy): Madam Speaker, I thank the Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment for flicking that question to me, because I am familiar with the operations of McArthur River Mine, having visited it a couple of months ago. I take pride in the fact I like to go out and kick the dirt, to look at the operations of our mines around the Territory. I gain an on-the-ground understanding of what is going on, what the problems and issues are, but more importantly what we, as a government, and my department are doing to assist those mines to get on top of those issues.
At McArthur River Mine some waste rock was uncovered and moved onto the waste rock pile, which was more reactive than initially thought. That is what has caused the smoke referred to by the member for Nelson. I think the member for Barkly also mentioned it last night.
The department is working with the McArthur River Mine on an engineering solution for that. I have been there to see it. They have changed the angles of the batters on the waste rock dump so bulldozers can get up there. They are using clay to seal off the edges of that waste rock dump to prevent air from accessing the rock, which makes it highly reactive.
There is a plan in place, and the department is working very closely with MRM to solve that problem.
Northern Territory Planning Commission
Mr TOLLNER to MINISTER for LANDS, PLANNING and the ENVIRONMENT
Establishing the Northern Territory Planning Commission was a key election commitment of this government. Can you provide a rundown on how it has operated in the last two years, and how it is benefiting Territorians and growing our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the question from the member for Fong Lim. I know he values good planning, especially with a growing economy like the Northern Territory’s.
In opposition, we saw what happens when you do not plan properly. There is no doubt the former government should have kudos paid to it, because it attracted big business to town such as INPEX. You failed miserably in the area of planning, to meet what was to come.
After taking over departments, and listening to people whilst we were in opposition, we discovered people would contact the department of Lands and Planning and other departments, and they did not have time for them because they were all focused on one thing, which was INPEX. That is admirable, but at the same time you must plan.
Over the last 10 years, what has that led to? We have seen skyrocketing rents and soaring house prices, making living here too expensive for some. Our pledge was to introduce a Planning Commission, which is exactly what we did. This was to ensure we had a planning system that facilitates sustainable, economic growth, projects, environmental, cultural and heritage assets and connects with people and places. I will outline a few of the things the Planning Commission has been working on in the last 18 months. The Draft Darwin Regional Land Use Plan is a strategic, long-term plan that anticipates …
Ms Fyles: It does not have Nightcliff island on it.
Mr CHANDLER: There has to be some consultation. Something we hear all the time from the other side is we do not consult. This is why we put out draft plans, so there is more consultation.
There is the Berrimah Farm area plan, the Berrimah North Area Plan, the old Darwin hospital site and Flagstaff Park. Unlike the former government, once we have all the information we will not sit on our hands year after year, doing nothing. We will do something with the site …
Members interjecting.
Mr CHANDLER: Do you hear the vitriol from the other side, Madam Speaker? It could only be pure jealousy that another mob has come in, taken over and is doing a far better job than the previous government. It can only be jealousy. What would spark such hatred and vitriol that comes from the other side?
In Question Time today, do you know who they remind me of? They sound like the two elderly gentlemen who used to sit upstairs towards the side in The Muppet Show, barking away like they would. That is what they sound like on the other side today ...
Members interjecting.
Mr CHANDLER: Which one is which? I do not know, but that is what it sounds like. I listened to the Minister for Health give a very good answer to a question about something important, and all you could hear from the other side – it was like The Muppet Show ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Magistrate Maley – Reasons for Resignation
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The NT News said today that Peter Maley resigned after receiving 13 detailed questions, and has threatened to sue the newspaper if it publishes the story. Mr Maley handed out how-to-vote cards for the CLP, and has been a director of its slush fund, Foundation 51.
When did you know about the issues behind the 13 questions? Has magistrate Maley resigned to protect your government? What are you hiding?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not know about the 13 questions. I know that Territorians expect good governance in the Northern Territory, to have good debate around policy, to have debate around the direction of the Northern Territory, and they want to see a plan. As such, we have issued the north Australia development plan. They want to see crime going down and to feel safe in the streets of the Northern Territory. In two years – read our progress report - crime has reached the lowest level since the 1990s.
They want to see government live within its means, which is why we have shaved off $1.3bn of debt. That is why we are now saving $55m …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question asked the Chief Minister what he knew about the issues behind the 13 questions. What are you hiding from Territorians? Why do you not come clean and answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order. Sit down, Opposition Leader. The Chief Minister has three minutes to answer the question.
Mr GILES: Territorians want us to save on our interest bill. We are now saving $55m per annum by not paying interest on Labor debt in the Northern Territory ….
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. If you will not answer the question you are hiding information from Territorians ...
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, sit down! The Chief Minister has at least two minutes left to answer the question.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I made it clear I do not know anything about the 13 questions. However, I know that people in the Territory want to see us stop bickering and talking about our jobs in this place, and talk about them and their future …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was: what do you know about the issues behind the 13 questions? Come clean to Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, sit down! That is not a point of order. You are on warning. The Chief Minister has time to answer the question as he sees fit.
Mr GILES: They want to know, when the Northern Territory has the biggest issues around the consumption of alcohol, that we are taking action. However, we are not coming with an overburdened regulatory environment. We are not telling people how to drink; we are giving people the rights and responsibilities to make decisions themselves. We are allowing for local alcohol management plans. We are putting in place alcohol mandatory treatment ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. It was a very direct question, answer it.
Madam SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is answering the question, member for Nightcliff.
Mr GILES: I will not get in the gutter. People outside these four walls want us to provide good governance. Whether it is opposition, Independent or government, they want us to be mature adults and not talk about our jobs, but talk about their jobs, their kids’ jobs and their grandkids’ jobs. They want to know we have a plan. We have a plan: the north Australia plan for building the Northern Territory, making sure we have the social infrastructure to support communities, the schools, the hospital …
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. What Territorians want to know is what the Chief Minister knows about the issues behind these 13 questions. Stop avoiding the answer.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if you can get to the point, please.
Mr GILES: They want to know that when we commit to building a hospital in Palmerston. We will not put up a fence and a sign, but will build the intersection, clear the land, create jobs in the Palmerston and regional area and make sure northern Australia has a future.
They want to make sure we are driving down cost of living pressures, which were left to us on 25 August 2012. They want us to help families, to double the back to school voucher. They want the sports voucher, the childcare subsidy …
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Has magistrate Maley resigned to protect your government?
Mr GILES: The Country Liberals team on this side of the Chamber, no matter the machinations, are driving forward for Territorians. For the opposition and those opposite to say this conversation is irrelevant is irresponsible. This is about the Territory and the future of Territorians. You are despicable …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Ntaria Power Grid Connection
Mr HIGGINS to MINISTER for COMMUNITY SERVICES
The community of Ntaria, which I knew as Hermannsburg years ago, recently had its power supply connected to the Alice Springs power grid. Can you please update the House on how this will improve the lives of people in the bush?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for the question. I can understand why he wants to know how this will help the people in the bush. Bush communities need to have proper, reliable power supply.
The connection of Ntaria and Wallace Rockhole to the Alice Springs electricity grid is another way this government is working for the bush. This connection ensures a long-term reliable power supply from Alice Springs power generation and networks. The connection is significant, as Ntaria is a major remote town that supports a number of small outstations.
Being connected to a reliable power source means greater opportunities for economic development, which this government is doing. Economic development means jobs in the bush, and more choices for those who live there. This government is the only one with ideas, suggestions and plans for the future of the Territory, including those in the bush. More than 1000 people from the region will benefit from this connection and it will ensure efficient capacity to support future investment, including Areyonga, in future community infrastructure, which is most needed in the central region.
The Northern Territory provided $3.6m towards this project, with the Australian government spending $3.5m. This project will deliver savings of over $10m across 20 years, due to cheaper energy production from Alice Springs gas-fired power in comparison to local diesel-generated electricity.
New water supply infrastructure will complement the power connections by providing Hermannsburg adequate capacity for future infrastructure developments.
The member for Namatjira should be pleased about this because it is in her electorate. She should be proud of this and be celebrating with everybody in Hermannsburg, Ntaria and the nearby outstations.
Madam Speaker, the Giles government is working hard to provide a significant improvement to the community and will continue to deliver for the bush.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016