2006-02-15
Territory Debt Burden
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
The government has received hundreds of millions of dollars in extra GST revenue over the past four years. At the same time, debt has grown to $3.6bn and will soon top $4bn or, put another way, as a result of your so-called effective and prudent management and the so-called healthy budget, it has landed every Territory family with an estimated debt of $72 000 which will rise to over $80 000 in a couple of years. Chief Minister, has not your government’s effective and prudent management burdened Territorians with massive increases in debt that they and their children will be forced to pay in taxes and charges for decades to come? Why are services not improving when your borrowings are going up and the GST has been so bountiful?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a very long and double question from the Leader of the Opposition. To the second part of the question – services have improved absolutely remarkably in the Territory. We came to government four years ago and discovered how under-funded our basic services were. We have put considerable funds into health – it is well over 40% - that is the best part of $150m – just to be able to deliver the services that Territorians need. The same with police and in education: well over 30% increase to police funding and over 20% to education.
To the part of the question that asked why services have not improved: they have. We can always do better. Over the last four years, we have really focused on additional funds going to service delivery in those critical areas for Territorians.
We had long discussions about the issue of debt yesterday.
Ms Carney: You shut us down after half an hour. That was as long as it was.
Dr Lim: We were shut down.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Despite the protestations of the opposition, the really critical figures we have to look at are debt ratios. When we came to government, we had a debt ratio of 134%. That was the one we inherited. That important ratio is now down to 119%. While the opposition says the debt figures have grown - and there are specific reasons for that - the ratio between debt and revenue has certainly improved.
We are a young jurisdiction; we need to build and deliver services. I make no apologies about the level of our capital works programs, for example, $2.2bn into our community, building our community for jobs and for business opportunities over the last few years. Despite what the opposition is trying to prosecute, our budget is in good shape; we are good financial managers. The budget papers speak for themselves, and so does the health of our economy.
Census 2006
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
You were involved in today’s launch of Census 2006. Could you please inform the House about this year’s census and its significance to the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her important question. Census 2006 will happen on 8 August this year. There is no doubt that taking the census is a real challenge in the Northern Territory. It is probably more challenging than any other part of the country. It is very difficult to get an accurate count of our population, even though it might be the smallest of any jurisdiction in Australia, it is tricky. One of the reasons is our remote communities, another is our very mobile population.
At the launch this morning, the Administrator, in his speech, indicated some of the hazards of doing the count in the Territory. There are rivers to cross, and one of the things that was particularly focused on was some of the animals to avoid. It is a bit like being a politician and doorknocking. He was giving an indication of the issues that census collectors had to deal with, ranging from pigs to goats to cane toads.
Eleven hundred people are needed to carry out the census. They were formerly employed by the ABS to do that and will be needed again this year. As the census is so important to the Territory to get an accurate count of our population, government is working very closely in partnership with the ABS. We have secondments happening from our public service to the ABS over the next few months to assist with that census.
This morning, I am encouraging Territorians to get involved whether you work in government, local government or in the communities in this five-yearly census. Why? Because the census forms the basis of our GST funding from Canberra. It really is important that we get it right and we count every Territorian. Every Territorian in that funding is worth $8500 per person, and those funds go towards doctors, nurses, teachers, roads and everything we do. If we do not count 120 Territorians, that is $1m. Multiply that by five, it is $5m. That is then out of our budget for that time. Therefore, it is very important to get this count right.
I am pleased with the partnership we have with ABS, and pleased that we are going to give it the best shot we can to count every single Territorian on 8 August.
Waiting Lists for Health Care
Dr LIM to TREASURER
We have just heard the Chief Minister say that services have improved with the amount of money they are spending. In the year 2003-04, the waiting list for elective surgery at the Royal Darwin Hospital was 1605 people. Last year, the waiting list had grown to 1705 people. In January 2005, the waiting list for dental care in Darwin was three to four months. Your GST revenue was supposed to put you in a position to improve services to Territorians, as the Chief Minister says, but we are still presented with waiting lists that can only be described as obscene.
In 2001, in your election promises for healthy hospitals, you said you would reduce waiting lists. My question to you is where have the hundreds of millions of dollars of GST funding gone, and why are services to Territorians still not improving?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. He has a very short memory. He only has to recall that he has been in this parliament and the last three budgets have produced record capital works budgets. This was very necessary in the early life of this government because the CLP had decimated the Northern Territory economy. They had blown their budget three years in a row. They did not have a cent to put into their capital works.
The revote from the work not done the year before in the capital works under the CLP could not even be funded, let alone the new work that was scheduled for that year. They had announcements after announcements at budget time, we are going to build this and we are going to build that, and they never cashed one of them. They could not even cash the work that could not be done the year before.
At the same time, we had the horrendous headlines, week after week, that people were on trolleys in corridors at RDH and could not get treatment, and the same thing in Alice Springs. They were so regular that people expected that that was what public hospitals were like. That was their normal expectation: that you had to wait around forever to see a doctor. That was the expectation of public health in those times.
Very sadly, Education trailed the rest of Australia. It has been an enormous job, on behalf of this government, to pull that back up, not to mention Police which had been gutted from about 1994 on and has required many millions of dollars to bring numbers up. We have a pretty robust police force out there now, very active, very highly energetic. It was not so when we came to office. We had a police force that was losing numbers by the week, off to the AFP, off to Queensland, off to New South Wales, because these blokes would not recruit and would not put any money in because they did not have any.
The two previous budgets before we came to power, not only produced $100m deficits, they were deceitful budgets, because they did not tell the people when they brought that budget into the House that that what was going to occur.
Now, there is a case for deficit budgeting; we are in that now. However, there is no case for deceitful budgeting and deceitful deficit budgeting, which is what these blokes were into. We have increased police numbers, we have built those services up within police. We have increased health expenditure by 40%; there are 100 extra nurses out there. We have increased education spending by a factor of about 20%; a hundred extra teachers, 20 school counsellors going out there above formula, and all the other enhancements we have made across those critical service areas.
It is an absolute nonsense for the member for Greatorex to say: ‘What have you done with all of that money and why are services not improving?’
Dr Lim: That is right. What have you done?
Mr STIRLING: Just pick any newspaper out of the latter part of 2000 and the early part of 2001, go back and have a look at the headlines and you will quickly see how much services have improved.
Northern Territory Construction Industry
Mr BONSON to TREASURER
The construction industry plays a vital role in the Northern Territory’s economy. Can the Treasurer advise of the current state of the construction industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is interesting that we were just talking about this. The last three years have been very good for the construction industry in the Northern Territory. Each year has been somewhat better than the last. In the year to September 2005, residential building activity was up by 25% over the previous year, and it was not a bad year the year before. Total building approvals grew by 22%, coinciding with a national decline of 0.4%. That is not unusual; the Northern Territory is always countercyclical to the national move.
If we go behind those figures as they stand, apartments and unit work up by 25.6%; work on houses up 20.4%; and alterations and additions increasing by 35.7%. That is all jobs - all of those figures are jobs, and they are jobs for the concreters, builders, electricians, plumbers, cabinetmakers and so on. They are also dollars, of course, into the retail spend on a whole range of products for fit-outs of those renovations and alterations.
Dean Osborne, who is developing Hastings over Mindil, said there is a high demand for quality units; 70% of his apartments have already been sold. Dick Guit from Barclay Mowlem told the Northern Territory News: ‘Construction activity in the Territory is going better than ever, and the Darwin City Waterfront Project will contribute significantly to the growth over the coming years’.
Look at the potential on the books already for development for the Territory: the Stuart Park tank farms development, the new suburb of Lyons, Chinatown, the Darwin biodiesel plant, the ongoing work with the relocation of the Tiger helicopters, the Larapinta estate, the future Mt John Valley and, of course, the potential gas pipelines and additional gas trains to come.
The construction industry, if you just look at those factors alone, has a number of good years in it yet. Access Economics confirms it. The Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory confirms it almost on a daily basis. The Housing Industry Association in their outlook late last year confirmed it and, of course, for each and every Territorian it is good news because it means jobs, it means more money kicking around the economy, it means a better standard of living for everyone in the Territory.
I am excited about the future of the Territory, and happy that construction, including the very large financial contribution from the government’s own capital works, will be front and centre of our development into the years ahead, particularly with the waterfront.
Budget and Wages
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
The Auditor-General’s report contains a very clear warning about your spiralling wages bill. This is the very same warning Treasury has been giving you for some time. Page 23 of the Auditor-General’s report shows that last year you blew out your wages bill by more than $120m. Is it not the case that this increase in wages seriously hinders the government’s discretionary funding capability and effectively consumes the GST windfall? Is it not also the case that the wages blow-out is so serious that many government programs and election commitments are now under threat?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I go immediately to that line that they are getting fond of using: ‘blow-out’ it is called. He says a blow-out in wages. I ask the member for Blain how he can expect anyone to take him seriously when the 2004-05 Budget returned a $51m surplus. That is hardly a blow-out.
Royal Darwin Hospital - Recruitment
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you update the House on the progress of recruitment to key positions in management and medicine at Royal Darwin Hospital?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Here are a couple of things we are spending the health budget on: General Manager, Mr Robin Michael, commenced at the Royal Darwin Hospital this January. I thank Len Notaras for acting in this position while we were recruiting to that job. Mr Michael is from the South Australian Health Department Health Intelligence Unit where he was a senior director and was responsible for epidemiology, research and planning around population health, funding models and work force systems. He has previously worked in the Northern Territory between 1999-2003 as CEO of Perritt Medical Imaging, a South Australian company which also manages Northern Territory Medical Imaging. Mr Michael is well qualified and experienced to manage the complexities of our largest hospital. I met Robin today at an event I attended. He has settled in very well and is already getting the respect and loyalty of the staff there.
I am also pleased to announce the arrival, last December, of the Royal Darwin Hospital haematologist, Dr Ferenc Szabo, to complement our enhanced care program for oncology patients. This is the first time in over 10 years the Northern Territory has a full-time haematologist. Dr Szabo was recruited from a position as consultant haematologist in the South Australian Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, and was previously at the Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Both these men bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the Northern Territory, and add to the calibre of expertise offered through RDH, recognised both nationally and internationally. I welcome both of those gentlemen to our service. I believe it is another step forward in further improving and enhancing the quality and range of services that we are providing for Territorians.
Low Security Facility - Berrimah
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Could you please advise if the new low security prison at Berrimah Gaol is open, and if not, why not? How long before it will be open?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, no, it is not open. Negotiations are about to progress with the Prison Officers Association and their union to settle the number of prison officers that will be needed to run the safe and sustainable programs within that low security area. We intend to use it to increase the capacity of the gaol by 50 bringing the overall capacity to 450, and also to promote the rehabilitation programs that are being put in place under the prison reforms. I have made it clear that I want those negotiations concluded as quickly as possible so we can get the show on the road and start operating that facility.
Cane Toads - Government Initiatives in Combating
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for PARKS and WILDLIFE
Would you please update the House on what initiatives are being carried out to battle cane toads?
ANSWER
I thank the member for Goyder for his question, and I do thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to bring in …
Members interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … it has some resemblance to the other side …
Mrs Miller: That is not nice. How did you kill that one?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … to the House today something that is ugly, toxic and represents a significant threat to our unique Territory environment and lifestyle. I am not referring to anyone sitting opposite, I am actually referring to the cane toad I have with me.
Today, I announced the establishment of a scientific extension officer for cane toads. This officer is very welcome, and will work full-time with FrogWatch, which need to be commended for their efforts and all the work they have been doing, in their efforts to battle this, together with the community. This officer will also work with the local toad management groups. A number of groups have come up with ideas to monitor the effectiveness of targeted cane toad initiatives.
One of the initiatives I have talked about previously in this Chamber is the, ‘not in my backyard day’ on 14 March 2006. It is important to continually emphasise this day and promote it. Cane toads are a serious threat and we need to be vigilant that we are protecting our environment. This will be a major community project to encourage Top End residents to check their yards and nearby parks and reserves for cane toads. For their part, FrogWatch will establish the first drop-off point for live cane toads at Freds Pass Reserve and there will be advertisements to follow advising where other sites will be.
If you do not want to dispatch these creatures yourself, drop them off at these nominated sites, and we will promote where the others are. I urge all members, in the communities, within their electorates, all Top Enders, to take part in this major community event and help clean up our backyards, parks and reserves of these ugly creatures.
Departmental Fiscal Management
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
On radio this morning, the Minister for Public Employment asserted that it was the responsibility of departments to live within their budgets and that departments are responsible for their own fiscal management. Immediately prior to the last election, you gave in to union pressures for increased wages, not the departments. By saying it is the department’s responsibility to live within budget when you are the one changing the amount of money for wages to be paid is a cop out. Will you accept that the wages blow-out last year was not any department’s fault, but your responsibility, or will you now do what your Minister for Public Employment did this morning, and blame public servants for your shortcomings as a fiscal manager?
Mr Henderson: What a stupid question.
Ms CARNEY: That was the question. Do you have a problem with that?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are a couple of responses that I need to make to that rambling and disjointed question.
Ms Carney: Okay, that is the patronising one. Got another one?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Ms MARTIN: To say to departments, as Chief Minister, and as has Treasurer, that you live within your budgets - which are good cashed-up budgets and have increased over the last four years - is terrific, responsible fiscal management. I make no apology - that is what I have said to CEOs: ‘You have adequate budgets and you must live within them’. As I said, I make no apology.
When there are EBA increases, then those increases are appropriately funded to departments so they continue to live within budgets. I say to the Leader of the Opposition and members of the opposition: which public servant would you like to tell they did not deserve their pay increases?
Do you want to go and tell the nurses that they did not deserve the recent pay increase? Do you want to go and tell the police they did not deserve the recent pay increase? How about the teachers? We should not increase the teachers pay to keep up with national standards, to keep up with what they deserve.
Ms Carney: It is not the question. You blame public servants for your bad management. You do! It is the Labor way.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Again, I make no apology. Our public servants deliver services for Territorians and they deserve to be paid properly to do that. We fund departments to be able to do that, and I have asked them, with increased funding, to stay within those budgets. Maybe the Opposition Leader thought she was scoring some kind of king hit. I say again: we will have responsible budget management and our public servants deserve to be paid properly for the important work they do.
Stuart Caravan Park – Liquor Licence Application
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
The timing of a liquor licence application for the Stuart Caravan Park in Alice Springs has caused concern among residents. It was advertised in early January when, unfortunately, many people were away, including me. The DCA have a policy that they do not advertise at this time of the year, and also one whereby they letterbox drop the immediate neighbourhood to gauge their reaction to any application. Why not introduce a procedure for all liquor applications, particularly those in residential areas as this one was, to not be advertised in late December/early January when many people are away? Why not have a policy of direct mailing all those living in the immediate area so that they knew exactly what that application was all about?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. On face value, I have to say, I believe she has a case. I do not know the exact detail of this – and at arm’s length; it is a commission process - but I would agree that advertising these things at a time when half the population is not there does not seem sensible to me.
I will undertake to look into this matter. I believe she has a good suggestion around a policy determination that we do not do it like that. I will obtain a transcript of the member for Braitling’s points. On the surface, I have to say I agree, and I will be looking at this particular situation and whether there is wider application in her suggestions.
Work Choices Legislation – Impact on Northern Territory Law
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
Can the minister advise the likely impact of the Howard government’s Work Choices legislation on existing Northern Territory law?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. The Work Choices legislation that has been introduced and passed through the federal parliament does have a profound effect on workers’ rights and conditions. It is probably one of the most significant changes in industrial relations in Australia over the past 100 years.
Most people in this House would be aware that the federal government has had power over industrial relations in the Territory through the Workplace Relations Act. However, many people would not be aware that through this legislation there are other Territory laws that will be overridden by this federal Work Choices legislation.
Basically, the 762-page amending act contains a new section, section 7C, which is headed: Act excludes some State and Territory laws. One act that will be overridden is the Northern Territory Annual Leave Act. The nett effect of the exclusion of this Territory law is that workers in the private sector who are not covered by awards will lose their current legal entitlement to a 17% leave loading.
The two CLP representatives in the federal parliament, Senator Scullion and Dave Tollner, both voted in favour of this legislation. However, it gets worse, because section 7C has been drafted in such a way that it allows the federal government to override any law it chooses without having to go back to parliament. In other words, 7C contains a list of laws that are not to be overridden, that seems great, but then, almost in a Houdini-like fashion, it allows, through the regulations, to override any law. And what are these regulations? They have not been published yet, so employees and employers are in limbo.
The CLP member for Solomon recently made the astounding claim to Nigel Adlam of the Northern Territory News that: ‘No NT laws would be overridden, as the NT has never had industrial relations power’. And the only conclusion is that Dave Tollner did not understand the legislation he voted for. Did he even read the bill? We do not know, but my question to Dave Tollner is, what is he going to say to those Territorians who are going to lose their 17% annual leave loading?
Public Service Numbers
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of public servants has increased by 3800, from 16 200 employees in the year that you took office to 20 000 at the time of the last election. This is an increase of 23%. You have boasted 200 more police, 100 more nurses and 100 more teachers – which is welcomed. However, that still leaves approximately 3400 public servants unaccounted for - about the size of Tennant Creek. The number of senior contract positions and consultants in this building, and the public service, has also grown exponentially on your watch. Considering the increase in waiting lists for hospital care, dental care and increases in personal crime, as well as a deteriorating rural roads network, and apart from ratcheting up recurrent spending and increasing …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Question Time is available for members to ask questions of government ministers, not to make statements and allegations. The questions have been very long, and I urge you to ask the honourable member to get to his point.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, would you please put the question?
Mr MILLS: Yes, I am just at that point.
Apart from ratcheting up recurrent spending and increasing total debt, please describe how the 3400 extra public servants are actually helping the Northern Territory?
Ms Lawrie: Misleading.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question, although it is misleading, as the interjection from behind me came, because, clearly, the figure the member for Blain was using has rolled in the Australian Public Sector levels as well.
The starting point was 16 000. As I speak, the Northern Territory Public Service has never had 16 000 public servants, to this day it does not have 16 000 public servants, and you are saying it has grown from 16 000 to 20 000. In December 2005, the figure was a little over 15 000. However, the premise of the question in terms of growth of the public sector, I accept. There has been quite deliberate growth in the public sector – a run down police force, where we went out to recruit extra police; a run down education system, where we went out to recruit extra teachers; an absolutely neglected health system, where we deliberately went out and recruited over 100 extra nurses.
Crime is down. We do not see the headlines of break-ins like we used to see through 2000 and 2001. The health system is certainly working better. We do not see the Northern Territory News headlines of the disgrace that the public health system was in, in 2000-01, so health is working. The Department of Education is producing gradually better outcomes – a slow turnaround, I accept - but we are getting better outcomes. Those increased numbers across those key service delivery agencies are having results.
Yesterday, I said that numbers had crept up in addition to the extra 100 positions I mentioned. I stand by that. I would expect that over time - which is the key point here - the numbers will return to the historic levels of the past. Of course there will be growth because of the 100 extra teachers, nurses, police and so on.
The Chief Minister meets with chief executive officers on a regular basis. The priority task for chief executive officers is that they manage their budgets within the parameters set at the May 2005 budget.
To put a broader context on it, there has been healthy budget growth to all of our agencies, and healthy growth in numbers. That level of growth will not be sustained into the future, and nor should it be. We believe we are getting the numbers close to right. It will become a question of maintenance rather than growth into the future, and we expect public sector growth in numbers to moderate quite considerably over time. That is the key here.
Traeger Park Upgrade
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
On 10 March, Alice Springs will host the third AFL challenge match. Can you please confirm if the grandstand at Traeger Park will be ready for this exciting event?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. It is exciting to see the improvements that the Martin Labor government has been making to the Traeger Park area in Alice Springs. The new grandstand is just one component of a $5m project to upgrade Traeger Park. Before the grandstand, we spent $800 000 to upgrade the Alice Springs Hockey Centre. We then spent $1.7m on floodlights to the main oval.
A contract was let in July last year for $3m to construct a new grandstand at Traeger Park. The new facilities will include changing rooms, ablutions, first aid and umpires rooms, spectator seating, a lift and a bridge, and a ramp to connect to the existing Mona’s Lounge. As Minister for Family and Community Services, I am particularly delighted with the addition of the lift which will ensure access for both the aged and people with a disability.
The total project is expected to be completed by this April, but with the AFL Challenge match in March looming, I can assure everyone that the arrangements have been made for a majority of the grandstand facilities to be available for use. Importantly, this includes the new changing rooms and umpires rooms which the AFL requires for that match. I very much look forward to welcoming the two teams, whoever they may be, to Alice Springs in March and watching another quality AFL match in the Territory.
Darwin Arterial Landscape Master Plan and Coolalinga Landscape Plan
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
On 15 October 2004, your department wrote saying that the Coolalinga Landscape Plan would be ready in early 2005, and the Darwin Arterial Landscape Master Plan in December 2004. You then wrote to me in February 2005, advising that the Darwin Arterial Landscape Master Plan would be on display in April 2005. You wrote to me on 12 October 2005, advising that the plan would now be resubmitted to Cabinet around February 2006. Minister, I am exhausted. Could you definitely say when the Darwin Arterial Landscape Master Plan and the Coolalinga Landscape Plan will be available for people in Coolalinga and the rural area to eventually comment on?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I should point out to the member for Nelson that we settled the bus review, which was a positive result. Thanks also to the member for Goyder. He certainly pushed hard on that.
In relation to this particular question, the Darwin Arterial Landscape Master Plan will be going out to consultation in the next month or so. It has been ticked off. I can assure you of that. I suppose the next piece of work after that is the rural area and Coolalinga. I cannot give you a definite date, I believe I have given you too many already. However, it is moving along down the chain.
Tanami Deep Seismic Research Project
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
I am aware that the Territory government, through the Northern Territory Geological Survey, has participated in a $1.2m Deep Seismic Research Project in the Tanami region. What is the significance of this project? How will it enhance mineral exploration in the Central Australian region?
Answer
The Tanami Deep Seismic Research Project was the largest project ever to be undertaken in Australia. It is a project where equipment generates earthquake waves which penetrate deep into the earth’s crust. We then receive information which is analysed and provided to the mining companies to predict large deposits. I explained that because I have been asked what seismic means – it is the Greek word for earthquake.
The project took place over an eight week period between May and July 2006 collecting information from a 720 km area in the Tanami region. The Northern Territory government contributed $150 000 to the $1.2m project, together with the Western Australian government, the Commonwealth government, and Newmont and Tanami Gold companies, a partnership between governments and private companies.
Access to the land was facilitated by the Central Land Council. The data we acquired through the project is currently being evaluated, and a final report and a computer model will be released in August 2006.
It is a very sophisticated survey, and very expensive. Usually, it is used for discovery of oil and gas and, only recently has been used for this kind of exploration, and in this kind of terrain, because they are very old geological terrains. The understanding of the crust, its structure and geological process from the survey will enhance the ability of mining and exploration companies to accurately predict where they can find large gold deposits.
Recently, I had a discussion with Mr Ian Bird, the General Manager of Newmont Australia, who had a preliminary view of the results. He told me that he was surprised at how clearly you could see down to 50 km into the earth’s crust, and see the structures of the crust to predict where you can actually find gold.
The Northern Territory is very rich in mineral resources. Unfortunately, in the mid-1990s, exploration and mining in the Territory declined significantly; there was no exploration and only seven mines. When we came to government, we put $15.2m into a project called Building the Territory’s Resource Base, and we have reversed the trend. There is demand for resources all over the world, particularly China. We have now seen the best results in exploration since 1986. If you look at the Northern Territory News today, you will find a significant number of proposed grants for exploration. If you look at the newspapers over the past year, you will see that a significant number of Territory, interstate and international companies are coming back to the Northern Territory to explore. This is something we have not seen for many years.
I am very pleased to say that I will be travelling again, promoting the Territory as an exploration destination and as a mineral destination, not only in Australia as we have before with great success, but also overseas at the international conference in Toronto, Canada.
Effect of GST Revenue on Public Service numbers
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
GST windfalls have improved your income by hundred of millions of dollars over your first term in office, but you have increased your non-discretionary commitment to wages and salaries. Now the GST revenue is beginning to taper off. In your mid-year report, you are planning to save $13m in wages and salaries. If you do not reach that target through natural attrition, where will you start to make reductions in public service numbers? Will you refuse to renew contracts? Who will be made redundant? In what areas will there be demotions?
Answer
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question.
The member for Blain is on the record a couple of times today. He says we spend too much on sport and he wants to do away with the V8s. Clearly, his question and comments this morning …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! That is certainly not what the member for Blain said or inferred. I ask that the Treasurer withdraw his comments.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order, but if the member for Blain feels that he has been misrepresented he can approach me about making a personal explanation.
Mr Mills: I know I am, and honourable members know the same.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain, if you wish to, you can approach me about making a personal explanation.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: In addition to the comments from the member for Blain, we had the question from the Leader of the Opposition just a few questions ago that we pay public servants too much. Go and tell the public servants that ...
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Treasurer is a minister of the Crown, and if he cannot at least start telling the truth in here, he has no reason to expect Territorians to believe him. He should not to be putting words into my mouth nor those of my colleagues. Madam Speaker, I ask that he withdraw his offensive remark.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order. Once again, if you feel that you have been misrepresented, you can approach me about making a personal explanation.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, I am simply putting on the record what I understand to be the opposition’s position on a couple of these issues today.
Ms Carney: You are a liar!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you will withdraw!
Ms CARNEY: I withdraw ‘liar’, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I have had to call on you a number of times during Question Time. If I have to call on you again, I am afraid I will have to put you on a warning.
Mr Mills: Answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Blain!
Mr STIRLING: We, as a government, make no excuse whatsoever for the wages, conditions and services enjoyed by the 15 000 public servants out there. They are doing a first-class job on behalf of government. It is a simple fact of labour market reality these days, with everybody chasing skilled and experienced labour. If you do not match the market, you will very soon lose them interstate, as we saw under the CLP for many years with police officers where they departed for the Australian Federal Police, to Queensland, and to New South Wales, as they were offering far better wages, salaries, and conditions of service. There is that, but there is always a case for a worker to get just compensation for the rewards of their labour, and that is what this government achieves.
Regarding numbers, I stand by what I said yesterday and in answer to a question before: numbers are higher than we have seen historically in the Northern Territory Public Service over the last couple of years. There is a good reason for many hundreds of those in terms of the policy decision we made to rebuild the critical service delivery agencies of Police, Health and Education. Notwithstanding that, we believe there is a view that there is other growth in there that can be washed out over time, and natural attrition will take care of that.
Therefore, it is not up to me, the Chief Minister or anyone, including chief executive officers, to start sacking people or demanding redundancies or retrenchments. It is not necessary to do that. There is a case that, over time, numbers can be washed through in the same way that they washed into the system, and chief executive officers, over time, will be responsible for that. However, the first responsibility the chief executive officers and their chief financial officers within their agencies have is to bring their budget in. That is what we ask of them; that is their first priority as a chief executive officer and a chief financial officer. That is what we expect them to do, and they will.
Building our Police Force
Mr NATT to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In August 2002, the O’Sullivan review found that the Northern Territory Police Force had been run into the ground after more than a decade of underfunding and under-resourcing. Can you please update the House on the progress of the government’s $75m commitment to Building our Police Force?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. We have been on a very solid road of rebuilding our police force in the Northern Territory from the decimated organisation we inherited in 2001.
In 2003, the government enlisted former Queensland commissioner, Jim O’Sullivan, to conduct an independent review of the resource requirements of the Northern Territory Police Force. For anybody listening to this broadcast, that is a public document. What a shocking document that was! When that report came back to government it really did show how run down and neglected our police force was in the Northern Territory, and the corresponding high rates of crime that were inherent at the time across the Northern Territory. For example, between 1991 and 1994 - and from the context of the questions yesterday and today, this is where the CLP would have us go back - not one police officer was recruited into the Northern Territory Police Force - not one.
Many dozens of them left, but not one was recruited. History tells its own story. If you want to look at providing services to Territorians in terms of community safety, health and education, then history has a story to tell.
The government responded to the 112 recommendations of the O’Sullivan Report with a $75m commitment to rebuild our decimated police force. We said there would be 200 more police on the beat by the end of 2006. We have funded record rates of police recruitment to deliver it. There are now 137 more officers on the beat across the Northern Territory than when we came to office, with 63 more to come. The police force now has more than 1000 officers for the first time. No-one knows the Territory better than Territorians, and we are on a real campaign to see more Territorians recruited into our police force. Territorians made up a record 75% of the most recruit squad to start training.
As an aside to that, I have spoken to our Police Commissioner. As Police minister, I, and I am sure this parliament, want to see more of our Aboriginal Community Police Officers move into full-time, professional sworn police officers, with specific pathways and training for them.
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! In the interests of fairness, the honourable member was very concerned about the length of questions, I wonder whether he has the same concern about the length of answers?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The minister is on his feet answering the question.
Ms Carney: Oh, we could have a day!
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, you know there is a fair bit of latitude in the way ministers answer questions. Please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, one thing is certain about the opposition, they do not want to hear the good news, and they do not want to reflect on history, because history does not show them in a good light at all.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Opposition members!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, we have had a flavour of Question Time yesterday and today saying that all of this extra money that we have received – there is nothing to show for it. Well, here is some indication of the additional funding for police: a safer community across the Northern Territory. Property crime has been cut in half across the Northern Territory since 2001. Is that a resounding result? I would say that it is. From September 2004 to September 2005, there have been 118 fewer sexual assaults across the Territory; house break-ins down – 97 fewer offences; property damage – 684 fewer offences; motor vehicle theft and related offences – 282 fewer offences.
As a result of the Domestic and Personal Violence Protection Unit, we have seen a 70% increase in the number of domestic violence orders issued, protecting women and children across the Northern Territory; and a 40.5% increase in charges against people who breach these orders, further protecting women and children across the Northern Territory who were neglected under the previous government as a result of a police force that had been neglected for many years.
For the opposition to come in here and say that we have wasted the GST funds, and there is nothing to show for ordinary Territorians as a result of that expenditure – in the areas of policing, health and education we have seen significant improvements. Heaven help the day they are back on this side, because what we would see is a total recruitment freeze, which was what they implemented between 1991 and 1994.
Alice Springs Juvenile Centre
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
I am very pleased to see that you have announced the commencement of the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act. It is my understanding that, as yet, we do not have a juvenile centre in Alice Springs, however there are negotiations going on. Can you give me an update on where we are up to with that? Where will the centre be? Who will be the service provider? What other centres or outstations around this centre will cater for these particular young children?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. The government has committed capital works funds to upgrade Arrernte House in Alice Springs to be an adult petrol sniffing rehabilitation facility, because there were some community concerns about it being used as a juvenile facility because of its history. In understanding those concerns, we have awarded the adult petrol sniffing rehabilitation tender to DASA, which has already begun taking people in for treatment.
In addition, there were no tenders for the juvenile service so my agency has negotiated directly with two agencies to date: both DASA and ASYASS. They have juvenile beds available already. The intention is that once the capital works are finished in the coming months at Arrente House the adult service will move into Arrente House freeing up capacity at DASA for a juvenile service. There is continuing funding for a range of outstation programs at Ilpurla, Ipolera and Mt Theo, as we know. Everything is in place already to take rehabilitation patients in terms of petrol sniffing, and we will have a very good facility available at Arrernte House as soon as those capital works are undertaken in the coming months.
Netball Stadium – Commencement of Work
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
On 11 June 2005, you promised NT netballers $4.8m for a new facility and headquarters at Marrara. The Treasurer’s mid-year report outlines intended expenditure for meeting election commitments for this term of office for the next four years. Under the projections for the Department of Local Government, Housing and Sport, only a total of $1.6m is set aside for the next four years to meet your election commitments, and there is not one word about netball. My question is: when will construction start on the stadium, and why is there no mention of it in the budget paperwork?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was incredibly proud of that announcement. I believe netball is one of our great sports. A new facility is very important for the number of netballers we have in the Darwin area. It is an absolute commitment from government. As I recall, the move is set down for the 2007-08 year. Funds would likely be in the DPI budget,. They will be in the forward estimates and that commitment will be met.
I cannot tell the member exactly where those funds are in the documents, however, can I assure all Territorians, particularly netballers, that that is an absolute commitment. I will be delighted to be there as the new facility is built, as will all Top End netballers.
Home Loan Affordability
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for HOUSING
To what extent have rising house prices affected home loan affordability in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. As outlined by the Chief Minister yesterday, confidence in the Territory economy is reflected in increased house values, with the Northern Territory being only one of two jurisdictions in the nation that is not experiencing house price stagnation. Rising house prices have been good for established homeowners and landlords and, clearly, it has not deterred new home owners either.
Home loan affordability was recorded for the quarter September 2005 at 54.4% for the Northern Territory. That is compared to the national average of around 31.1%, and almost double the New South Wales indicator of 27.4%, and it is about 24.4% above the Queensland figure. Obviously, things are doing well in the Territory. It is demonstrated by the fact that we have a very robust, healthy real estate industry and very affordable housing loans.
More and more people are entering into home ownership in the Northern Territory, which is a good sign for our economy, contrary to the very negative signals being put out by the opposition. We are not just talking about people on high incomes. The HomeNorth Extra scheme has particularly assisted those people on lower incomes to purchase houses, and has countered negative impacts on price rises.
Since the introduction of HomeNorth Extra in July 2005, 278 Territorians have been assisted in purchasing their own homes, which equates to approximately $53m of government expenditure via home loans or shared equity purchases. Obviously, the Territory is doing some things right. We are providing affordable housing for those people on low incomes but, more importantly, the housing market is driving our economy in the Northern Territory.
Construction of New Casuarina Police Station – Election Promise
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
On 10 June last year, you made an election commitment that you would build a new police station on the site of the existing Casuarina Police Station at a cost of $4.8m. The Treasurer’s mid-year report outlines the intended expenditure for meeting election commitments for this term of office for the next four years. The only money that has been put aside to meet election commitments for the police portfolio has been $220 000 per year, and it makes no mention of the promised new police station.
Can you tell us when will the new Casuarina Police Station be built, and why has not the Treasurer put any money aside for it?
Answer
Madam Speaker, there is a separate capital works budget. It is not in the mid-year report. That is recurrent expenditure. We have separate capital works items; they will be in the budget when it comes up for the 2006-07 year.
We are committed. Those announcements are not made lightly in the run up to an election. We are committed to rebuilding the police station for Casuarina. However, there is a sequence here, and it depends on being able to provide a functioning building for the police when we rebuild. What we have to do first is build the fire station at Marrara, move the firefighters to Marrara, and then move the police to the fire station next door, which is a good use of an old building, then we rebuild the police station and the police will move in. There is a sequence in this. We are committed to doing it. The firefighters and the police are looking forward over the next term to getting new facilities instead of the current ones they have at Casuarina, which are pretty old, and having gone through the fire station and the police station recently, I absolutely agree.
Rehabilitation Services
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for HEALTH
Rehabilitation services have for a long time been difficult to access for people living outside Darwin and Alice Springs. Can you update the House as to what this government is doing to improve the coordination and development of rehabilitation services for all Territorians.
Answer
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her important question. I always remember about 20 years ago at Mt Liebig community seeing an old man who was no longer able to walk, and there was absolutely nothing to help him get around that community. Luckily, that was 20 years ago and not what we would see today.
It is part of Health policy to keep this very extensive system of health service delivery coordinated and prioritised. The launch of the Rehabilitation Strategy at Royal Darwin Hospital today is another very important step in making it absolutely clear, both to the health professionals working in our system, and the general public who depend on these services, where we are taking delivery within the health system in the Northern Territory.
Rehabilitation is often lost behind the more high profile areas of health delivery in our hospitals, such as critical care. You often hear about ED, you do not often hear about rehabilitation services, yet they are absolutely vital in bringing people back into a productive life after they have suffered injury or illness. I pay tribute to the health professionals who are involved in this area - speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and the like. They are a very important part of our delivery.
This strategy deals with hospital-based rehabilitation services, which we have already enhanced considerably both at Royal Darwin and at Alice Springs with additional equipment and fit-out of specialised areas for this work to be done. The strategy also deals with linking hospital-based services with community-based services, and extending out to our clients who might be based in remote communities.
The Northern Territory Rehabilitation Clinical Reference Group developed this document. It is one of a series of children documents, if you like, from Building Healthier Communities. They are spelling out in more detail the five year framework for these particular areas of health service delivery. I believe they are a very valuable next step in detailing what we are trying to do under our framework and priorities.
It was great to be there today. There was a really upbeat feeling amongst the health professionals who are involved in this area. It is great to see, because that has not always been so, as I am sure Madam Speaker would realise from her time. However, we are making progress in this area and we will continue to support this important area of service delivery.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016