2010-02-25
Public Housing - Access
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Sitting in the gallery is mother of four, Vivian Hoy, who will have to move from private rental accommodation in Woodroffe late next month. Because she is a good long-term tenant, Ms Hoy is currently paying $300 a week for rent in Woodroffe. Because of your government’s failure to release enough land for residential development, she will need to pay around $500 a week for a three-bedroom home, and as much as $700 for a four-bedroom home. She cannot afford that. Ms Hoy has Buckley’s chance of getting a place in public housing with waiting lists of up to four years. It is even more likely she will have to leave the Northern Territory and move interstate to live with relatives.
Will you apologise to people like Ms Hoy, who is the human face of the housing crisis your government has helped create and has failed to address?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. It is a very important question. There is no doubt there is housing stress out there for rental accommodation, particularly for those in the circumstances you alluded to before.
As Housing minister, I am very focused on replenishing our public housing stock. That is why we are in partnership with the Commonwealth government. As I have said on the record here a number of times, 200 dwellings, either in construction, or will be completed by the end of this calendar year.
In specific relation to the lady’s case you have mentioned, I understand she was interviewed in January by the Priority Housing Committee. The committee is yet to make a decision, but I am advised this lady has a very good case. She is likely to be accepted on the priority housing list for Palmerston. That decision will be made, as I understand it, within the next few days.
Mr Mills: How long is that list?
Dr BURNS: It certainly is not four years, member for Blain …
Mr Mills: That is the general list. How long is the priority list?
Dr BURNS: You have asked the question. It is likely to be a matter of months. I have also been advised the lady may be able to access support from non-government agencies, which is appropriate, given her circumstances. I am very sympathetic to the circumstances this particular lady finds herself in.
However, I reiterate: in the short term, that is the picture, and, in the longer term, we are a government, and I am the minister that is focused on replenishing our public housing stock. There is $54m in a national partnership with the Commonwealth and, as I mentioned before, 200 dwellings are either under construction or to be completed by the end of this calendar year.
Also, 15% of those approximately 6000 dwellings in the developments in Palmerston East will be for social, and affordable and public housing. There is much happening, and I believe the situation will ease over the next 12 to 18 months.
We should be under no illusion that much of this stress comes about because of the strength of our economy and the pressure on housing markets.
Federal Legislation – Overriding of
Northern Territory Laws
Northern Territory Laws
Ms SCRYMGOUR to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you confirm to the House that legislation introduced into federal parliament yesterday overrides Territory laws?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her very important question. It is an important question and it is not one to be laughed at, as the member for Fong Lim has just done and continues to do. He thinks this is a laughing matter.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: I can confirm today that the Australian government introduced legislation yesterday into the House of Representatives which will override Territory laws. I condemn that move.
The federal government’s legislation overrides our nuclear waste transport legislation and our environment and heritage legislation, and I condemn that move. It has been a consistent matter of principle for those on this side of the House that we oppose any federal government, regardless of persuasion, that overrides the laws of this parliament – a consistent matter of principle.
We opposed the Commonwealth’s euthanasia legislation, we opposed the 2005 Commonwealth legislation on this matter, and we oppose the legislation that was entered into the federal parliament yesterday on this matter. Previously, both sides of the House have been united in attempts to override Territory legislation; that has been consistent. We had the Remonstrance motion.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case, because the CLP supports the legislation that was introduced into the federal parliament yesterday opposing the Territory government’s legislation. We used to have bipartisan support on this. It is a sad day today that we do not have bipartisan support on this.
I urge the Leader of the Opposition - he is still being totally silent on this matter, deafening by his silence on this matter - to stand up and say whether he supports the introduction of this legislation in the federal parliament. Deafening silence from the Leader of the Opposition. We know what the next Leader of the Opposition, the member for Fong Lim, believes. We call on the opposition for bipartisan support. If there is not bipartisan support, I can assure Territorians we will actively oppose these moves.
Let me repeat my position. We believe, on this side of the House, this is a very important decision for this nation, and it should be based on science, not on a constitutional weak point. It should be based on the science. We believe the process undertaken from 1992 through to 2004 should guide the examination of all potential sites. That is a point of principle. Legislation in this House should not be overwritten by the federal parliament - should not be overridden. It is a point of principle. I am disappointed …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Public Housing - Unoccupied During
Housing Crisis
Housing Crisis
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In January, the Territory opposition discovered Territory Housing had deleted estimated waiting times for public housing in Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston from its website. We know now why you did this. The latest figures show the estimated waiting times for one-bedroom units in Darwin for pensioners - those in most need - have blown out to 51 months. In 2005, this was just 23 months. Waiting times for a two-bedroom house have jumped from 10 months to 33 months, and people looking for a three-bedroom house will now have to wait 58 months, that is almost five years.
Why does a family in need have to wait almost five years for a home, when publicly-owned houses in Darwin have been allowed to stay empty for months, if not years?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the wait times are published on the departmental website, and the member for Goyder has been able to access them.
In relation to vacant public housing dwellings, I have acknowledged publicly that it is unacceptable for them to be out of commission for extended periods of time. We have reports of properties being out of commission in between tenancies for periods of up to seven weeks. I have instructed the department that is not acceptable; that, for fairly routine maintenance between tenancies, I want to see a time of three to four weeks.
Part of the problem was the department was using a single tenderer to repair and maintain those dwellings. I have instructed them to go to a panel contract - in other words, to have more than one company to carry out the works. Some properties are structurally unsound and cannot be repaired. The property the member for Goyder is alluding to is one of those. I have instructed the department, regarding that particular property and others, that I want them to come back to me with a plan, very quickly, in relation to the way forward with those properties.
In relation to the property at Macassar Street in Wagaman, that property will have to be demolished and a new public housing asset constructed on that site. I can also tell the House I am very focused, where possible, to maximise our public housing regarding those vacant lots. I am also very focused on providing more accommodation for our seniors in duplex accommodation and seniors villages. That is why we have the project at Bellamack Gardens - $10m for 40 units for seniors.
I have also mentioned in the previous question from the Leader of the Opposition that we are in partnership with the Commonwealth, with $54m for social and affordable housing, with 200 dwellings, either under construction or completed, by the end of this calendar year.
Alice Springs Hospital -
Alleged Unqualified Medical Practitioner
Alleged Unqualified Medical Practitioner
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
A person has been taken into custody in Alice Springs. It is alleged the person has been impersonating a medical practitioner. Can you inform the House about this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Department of Health and Families has advised me a person has been found to be working at the Alice Springs Hospital as a medical intern without the proper qualification. Senior staff reported the alleged employment fraud to the Northern Territory Police yesterday, and that person has been taken into custody yesterday.
I am advised the person had provided falsified documents from the University of Adelaide relating to a 2008 medical qualification and his experience to the Northern Territory Medical Board. These documents had been certified by a South Australian Justice of the Peace. The Medical Board had granted him conditional registration in May 2009 to practice under supervision. Alice Springs Hospital senior medical staff have provided close supervision of his practice over the period of his employment.
Following developing concerns about his performance, further verification of his qualification from the University of Adelaide was sought by the Alice Springs Hospital. The university confirmed yesterday that the qualifications were not authentic. The medical board has suspended his registration today.
As a junior doctor, the person’s contact with patients was limited. He was working under the supervision of more experienced doctors at all times, including for the prescription of medication. This person has not performed any surgery.
Quality care and patient safety are critical in our health system, and we take any risk to this very seriously. Thus, Alice Springs Hospital is currently reviewing the files of all patients with whom he may have been involved.
The Northern Territory Medical Board is an independent statutory body that registers medical practitioners to work in the Northern Territory as meeting the required level of training in their profession. The board is also responsible for managing complaints about medical practitioners’ performance.
Australian medical graduates are required to provide certified copies of their qualification. References are also checked for registration. The board always seeks further information about an applicant if there is any blemish on their application documents or reference checks.
No concerns were identified during the registration process. No former complaints about this person’s practice have been received by the board. I am advised that in offering employment to this person, Alice Springs Hospital checked his curriculum vitae, references, qualification and Medical Board registration, and no irregularities were found at the time.
Madam Speaker, I will be asking the Medical Board to provide me information about the process, and also to give me an assurance that no other case like this will occur in the Territory.
Housing Crisis – Military Personnel
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
On 15 January, the Deputy Chief Minister claimed the Australian troops returning from overseas deployment were responsible for worsening the Territory’s housing crisis. The Deputy Chief Minister refused to provide any details to back up her outrageous claim that marital problems amongst military personnel, who had risked their lives on overseas operations, were responsible for the Territory’s housing crisis. The head of the military came out and confirmed that if there was a split in military personnel, one of the partners could stay in the house for up to three months. Can you tell the House how many Territory Housing properties are occupied by the families of Defence personnel, as claimed by the Deputy Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the reasons why people access public housing are many and varied. I mentioned some of the driving factors before such as the fact that we have a very strong economy. There is no doubt housing prices and rental prices have risen significantly over the last three to four years in particular. I have also outlined the actions that government is taking, both in our land release in Palmerston East - 15% of that for social and affordable standard housing, and our partnerships with the Commonwealth.
Irrespective of why people join the public housing list, as minister, I have a responsibility now to try to reduce our public housing waiting list. I have outlined to the House some of the mechanisms and strategies by which this government is attempting to do that.
____________________
Supplementary Question
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): A supplementary, Madam Speaker.
Given you have refused to provide the facts regarding the number of Territory Housing properties occupied by the families of Defence personnel, will you apologise on behalf of the Henderson government for the Deputy Chief Minister’s outrageous slur directed at military personnel?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, obviously the Leader of the Opposition and his Deputy Leader have a political bent in all of this. All I can say is I am focused, as the minister, to reduce those long waiting lists for public housing, in replenishing our public housing stock. I have the strategies to do it, I also have the funding to do it, and that is what I am focused on – to provide benefit to all Territorians that have to access public housing.
____________________
Informal Vehicle Sales – Stuart Highway
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for TRANSPORT
From what I have read in the NT News, your department has decided to close down the informal vehicle sales on the Stuart Highway at Howard Springs. Could you say why you are now sending in the police to close the car sales down, not your own traffic inspectors? Why are you closing the sales down in the first place? Was it because of a complaint from a car sales company? What harm is the sale of vehicles really doing, considering car sales at the 11 Mile are 7 km away?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the immediate issue for me with this question is road safety. I am aware of this site, and road safety, road safety, road safety.
If I can talk about the site the member for Nelson has referred to, first of all, we have a 100 km speed limit there; we have four lanes of traffic; we have heavy vehicle use; and there is a major intersection in that area. The Department of Lands and Planning is now taking action to improve road safety issues at this location. Notices have been placed on windscreens by the department, and advertising will be used to educate people. If needed, signage and enforcement will take place.
The popularity of selling vehicles is growing, as we can see. I travel through that area, generally on Sunday afternoon, and the distraction for the road user is considerable, and it creates the possibility for road accidents. I am advised there have been some near misses in that area.
Let us be positive; let us see what we can do about it. That is why I have asked the department to investigate the possibility of other sites where the selling of private motor vehicles could take place and, once again, good old-fashioned strategy, I will go to local knowledge, member for Nelson, you might be able to advise us on some possible sites the department can investigate.
INPEX - Update
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The INPEX project will provide a major boost to the Territory’s economy. Can you please update the House on the latest on this project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. This project is very important for the Territory’s economy, both now, today, and for many years into the future. It will provide a major platform for a significant expansion of the Northern Territory economy, and certainly broaden the Territory’s economic base.
INPEX has called for expressions of interest for approximately $1bn-worth of work involved with the Darwin gas project. It is a significant call for expressions of interest. This has been provided as work packages on the Northern Territory Industry Capability Network. I congratulate Kevin Peters and all his team at NTICN who are coordinating the availability of work on this project for Territory businesses. I believe around 9000 Territory businesses have registered for expressions of interest for work on this project.
This is an important network and provides a web-based site called the Project Gateway. INPEX puts on to this website the work packages, and then these are available for all companies to examine and to participate in. The work packages are both large and small. They include everything from the building of essential services, power and water, through to constructing jetties, and the more complex aspects of building an LNG plant.
While some of these packages are large and complex, local industry is encouraged to participate where it can, and to joint venture - and this is an important part of all of this - Territory businesses to joint venture with other businesses, other industries, both national and international, where possible. Each of these packages will have other subcontracting work associated with them, and even greater opportunities for Territory businesses, especially smaller businesses, to participate in this project.
With Darwin LNG, constructed by Bechtel on behalf of ConocoPhillips, we saw a very significant uplift in the engineering capability of the Darwin business community. That capability has continued to develop, with the ENI project, the Alcan project, the expansion at GEMCO, and McArthur River. We now have an engineering capability in the Territory far greater than we did prior to Darwin LNG, and that will provide great opportunities for Territory business with the INPEX project.
I am pleased these expressions of interest are on the NTICN site. I know the Minister for Asian Relations, Trade, and Business and Employment has recently come back from Japan. He was accompanied by representatives from the ICN, and also the Chamber of Commerce, who talked to some major contractors in Japan. Those relationships are being developed at every level to ensure that Territorians gain the benefits from this most significant project that is well under way.
Affordable Housing Rental Company –
Lack of Progress
Lack of Progress
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Two days ago, you called for expressions of interest to establish and run an affordable housing rental company. Nine months ago, the former Minister for Housing went on a jaunt around Brisbane and Sydney to look at options to run an affordable housing program. In January this year, you paid a Sydney consultancy company $160 000 to look at an affordable housing rental company.
Why has the Henderson government spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, and wasted almost a year before calling for expressions of interest, when there are over 1000 not-for-profit housing providers already operating in Australia? Why, in the middle of the worst housing crisis in the Territory’s history, have you approached this task at an absolutely small snail’s pace?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, there are parts of the member for Goyder’s question which are correct. Basically, we are in the process of going out for expressions of interest for an affordable housing rental company. We need to get it right; we need to get the right model for the Northern Territory. So, as a government, we make no apology for searching for the right model for the Northern Territory. I am assured that, through this process of expressions of interest, we will get the right model: a partnership between non-government organisations within the Northern Territory and an experienced company elsewhere in Australia.
This is a very important project, because an entity such as a company we have mentioned here, will have access to Commonwealth national rental assistance for those tenants who are in assets that are owned and run by those particular companies. There is also a capacity for such a company to access Commonwealth grants to build infrastructure. There is no doubt there are a number of models throughout Australia, in Queensland, Western Australia and other states, that are very successful. We have looked very carefully at those. I believe we are equipped now to make the right selection. I am very hopeful of getting this affordable rental housing company up and running in the very near future so it can contribute to addressing many of the challenges in terms of accommodation in the Northern Territory.
I mentioned before that government does have a strategy for this. We are in partnership with the Commonwealth on many of these issues, and I mentioned a number of them. Under the stimulus package, approximately $60m in total, some of that is for repairs and maintenance; some of that, in the first tranche of the stimulus package, is for 22 new dwellings and, in Stage 2, $48m for approximately 180 dwellings.
By the end of this calendar year, there will be 200 dwellings, either under construction or completed. In Palmerston East 15% of all of those dwellings will be public and affordable housing. As minister, I am confident our public housing stock will be replenished within the next 12 to 18 months and the housing situation will be alleviated.
Strong Economy for Territory Families
Ms SCRYMGOUR to TREASURER
Can you outline to the House how the Territory government is delivering a strong economy for Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. The Territory has recorded the strongest economy in the nation in the last financial year. Importantly, for families, that has also delivered 6000 new jobs in the last 12 months - critically important for families to have those jobs.
Underpinning the economic growth was the government’s deliberate decision to go into deficit to fund a $1.3bn infrastructure program to support jobs through tough times as a result of the global financial downturn. This infrastructure spend has paid off with strong economic growth. We recorded 2.6% economic growth in 2008-09 compared to the national growth average of 1.1%. Those 6000 new jobs were critical.
We also saw the highest retail growth in the nation at 9.3%. There was a 43% increase in building approvals, compared to a national decline of 2.1% at the same time. These are all strong indicators of a buoyant economy. We have made the Territory the best place to do business for small- and medium-sized enterprises, with the lowest taxing regime in the nation. Business is responding to that with confidence – there is 69% business confidence in the Territory. Business confidence supports jobs growth.
We recognise there are challenges with a strong economy. Inflationary pressure is always a challenge that comes with strength in your economy. Inflation in Darwin was recorded at 3% during 2009. This was higher than the national average of 2.1%, but certainly within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s acceptable band.
Casting back to when the CLP was in government in 2000-01 …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Casting back to when the CLP was in government – they do not like to hear the facts - in 2000-01, inflation was at 5.4%. We are delivering a strong economy and jobs growth, which is critically important for Territory families.
Indigenous Land – Non-payment
of Rent by Government
of Rent by Government
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT
The Northern Territory government must pay rent to communities where they have signed long-term leases for renting land for their infrastructure. Locations, including the Tiwi Islands, are a prime example where this is the case. There are other communities where the 40-year leases have been signed.
How much has your government paid in rent to the Tiwis for the use of land for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years? Or, is it not the case that of the businesses, community groups and government agencies, the Northern Territory government is the only body which has defaulted on rental payments to the tune of $260 000 for the last financial year, and still refuses to pay?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. As the member for Macdonnell would know, in her time as Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the issue of leasing across the Northern Territory, and in particular the issue of leasing with the Tiwis, was a very controversial one.
There are a couple of different styles of leasing. If I look at the Tiwi Islands - and Groote Eylandt - with the regional partnership agreement and the 40-year lease, we know the Tiwis had a particular lease which was incredibly controversial. Where the Tiwis are today, in terms of the housing developments going on at the islands at Nguiu, we know it is still a work in progress …
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance. My question was very precise.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member asked the minister why the bill was being refused to be paid – not how many there are or anything else. Why are they not paying their bills?
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim. Minister, if you could answer the question.
Ms ANDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker. If the minister does not know the answer, it should be …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Macdonnell, resume your seat! Minister, if you could answer the question as close as possible to the one asked.
Ms McCARTHY: I am very happy to answer the question. As I was saying …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms McCARTHY: … the Northern Territory government, together with the federal government …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: They are not interested in hearing the answer, Madam Speaker. The Northern Territory government, together with the federal government, is rolling out the leases across the Northern Territory. We know it is a work in progress with the township leases in different places in the Northern Territory. We have a way to go in ensuring each of these communities receive the agreement they wish to come to, whether it is just with the Northern Territory and the federal government, or with the land councils.
Palmerston Suburbs - Land Release
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Territorians are suffering from a housing crisis brought on by specific policies of your government. It is now more expensive to buy a house in Darwin than it is in London or New York, yet, on Wednesday, in response to some basic questions about housing developments in Johnston and Zuccoli in Palmerston, your response was to the effect of: ‘I am not aware of particular details off the top of my head, but we have some maps we can give you’.
How can Territorians have confidence in you as Planning minister if you do not know the basic details about your portfolio?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Minister, you have the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. Yes, strategic and measured land use and release is the way of the future for the Henderson government. That is why we are releasing land, and that is why Palmerston East is the major project in the area that you talk about, member for Goyder.
We are looking at over 7000 new homes being constructed in the coming years. This is a major project, and that is taking place in Bellamack, but you talk of Johnston and Zuccoli. Budget 2009-10 provides $108.6m for land release and community infrastructure in the new Palmerston suburbs of Johnston and Zuccoli. Fifteen per cent of our new land releases will be set aside for affordable and public housing.
The House may be interested to know the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported earlier this month that the Territory experienced the highest growth in the nation for residential building approvals. In 2009, there was a 43% increase in residential building approvals over the previous year. Nationally, there was a decline of 2.1%.
Palmerston is the fastest growing city, and we are releasing land to meet the needs of Territorians in the Palmerston eastern suburbs, comprising Johnston, Zuccoli and Mitchell. Land being sold and work being completed is the priority of this government.
In terms of Johnston, I am very pleased to announce that Hannons and Tomazos Group commenced selling blocks off the plan on 30 January, with 149 blocks already sold. In addition to this, developers must provide land for 22 to 33 affordable townhouses. Stage 2 of Johnston will deliver another 290 lots. It has been approved by the DCA and will be released in the coming months. Last week, I announced …
Mr Tollner: Good to see you are so well informed ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: … the development of two large lots of medium density land in Johnston that has the potential to deliver hundreds of units. I am very proud to say that …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr McCARTHY: … I met and have talked to the two strong, local companies, Mitchell & Thompson and Mousellis Properties, which will develop these two sites.
Zuccoli is the next suburb to be developed, with a potential of up to 1700 residential lots. The first stage of Zuccoli will deliver 400 lots, and this will be developed by the Land Development Corporation in a joint venture partnership. We want the land in Zuccoli being sold off the plan this year and lots delivered in 2011.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
SIHIP - Indigenous Employment and Training
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Could you please provide the House with an update on what Indigenous employment and training is being delivered under the SIHIP program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I did touch on this yesterday. It is a very important issue because, not only is the SIHIP program about housing, it is also about employment and training. This is absolutely crucial, particularly in our more remote regions, to offer employment and training to Indigenous people, particularly males, to give them a direction in life.
My own experience, many years ago at Maningrida when I was with the Menzies School of Health Research, one of the ways that community beat the scourge of petrol sniffing was to come together to offer employment and training to those young men, to offer them meaningful, worthwhile, productive things to do to contribute to the community. It had such a positive effect on the community as a whole in many ways.
What we are seeing is this translated throughout the Territory in the 16 communities where SIHIP is established with over 100 Indigenous employees at present. I have some more photos here …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: … a photo of a man welding a housing frame, another one of a man mixing up …
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Perhaps the minister could tell us why, at Santa Teresa, there are no Aboriginal people working on the houses?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, resume your seat! Member for Braitling, you are on a warning.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I showed a group of workers yesterday from Nguiu. Here is one from Central Australia, and another group constructing a house. The opposition can talk it down, they hate it, but I know there are people employed productively, who are working, who are contributing to their community through the SIHIP program, and are very pleased to be part of it.
Bunnings Site in Wanguri –
Development Consent Authority Report
Development Consent Authority Report
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Recently, the Chief Minister, the man who has created the worst housing crisis in the Territory’s history, directed you to kill an apartment development on the old Bunnings site in his electorate of Wanguri. You continue to suppress the Development Consent Authority’s report and recommendations, which you promised to release in January this year, regarding the proposed apartment development on that site. Are you suppressing the DCA’s recommendations because it is at odds with the order from the Chief Minister to kill the proposal? When will you be releasing the recommendations on this application as promised?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for her question. Our planning system promotes community involvement and input. Rezoning applications are advertised and publicly available, and the community has their right to have a say in how the community grows.
I recently refused an amendment to the Northern Territory Planning Scheme to rezone part of the old Bunnings site to medium density residential. The site is zoned commercial. The owner had applied to rezone the area for a development that facilitated unit development of up to four storeys.
The Wanguri community strongly objected to the development and believed the proposal would have a negative impact on the amenity of the area. The Development Consent Authority held a public hearing to consider the application and submissions were received from the community. The authority noted the significant community objection.
The current zoning allows for a reasonable mix of commercial and residential units on the site. Based on the concerns raised by the community and the DCA, I decided to refuse the application. I understand the developers are revising their proposal to comply with the current commercial zoning of the land.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
I am having significant difficulty hearing, which is why I am not surprised I have had so many people contacting my office this week who have been attempting to listen to this broadcast. There were a number of members named who have particularly loud voices, I will not mention them today, who are interfering with people trying to follow the broadcast. I am surprised by how many people do actually follow this.
I would appreciate it if, for the next 20 minutes, we can have a little order so we can hear the questions and the answers.
Timor-Leste - Woodside Gas Onshore
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
Last year, a Northern Territory parliamentary delegation visited Timor-Leste, and you visited there recently. One of the things mentioned to the delegation a number of times by Timor-Leste government officials was they wanted Woodside gas, or gas, to come onshore in Timor-Leste.
Considering that Timor-Leste has a close relationship with Darwin, and that Timor is our closest neighbour, is the NT government concerned that if we do not support Timor-Leste’s economic and political development, then there is a risk of high unemployment in the country which will lead to political instability - something which would be bad for the region?
Do you support Timor-Leste in their attempts to bring their gas onshore so their country can develop a sustainable economy, and the living standards of people, which are one of the lowest in the world, can improve? Has your government also closed down the NT Dili office, and why has that been done?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. There are strong ties of friendship between the people and government of Timor-Leste and the Northern Territory. They exist at every level in our community. I am pleased, Madam Speaker, that you hosted a bipartisan parliamentary committee to Timor-Leste recently, and my government has established a ministerial forum which meets twice a year to progress mutual issues on behalf of, not only the business community, but also the broader community of Timor and Darwin.
The member for Nelson is correct. I was in Timor a month ago with the Minister for Asian Relations and Trade. I can advise the House, before I get to the substance of the question, there will be six more scholarships and internships within our government for public servants in Timor-Leste to work in Treasury and the Department of the Chief Minister; two scholarships provided at the NTIS this year - thank you to our minister for Sport, in regard to soccer; and CDU and Menzies School of Health Research are putting together PhD scholarships for Timorese students to study medicine in Darwin. There are all sorts of other areas of cooperation.
In regard to Sunrise, this is a commercial decision for the Sunrise joint venture, under a binding international treaty led by the Australian company, Woodside. When the joint venture decides its preferred option, it will be a matter for the regulatory authorities of the Timor-Leste and Australian governments to assess the option according to the agreements and the international binding treaties that are in place. In short, the Greater Sunrise issue is a matter for the joint venture parties and the Australia and Timor-Leste governments to progress.
We believe Sunrise, and the development of petroleum reserves in general, provide opportunities for mutually beneficial development of the workforce and the supply and services sectors, both in the Northern Territory and Timor-Leste.
Another ministerial forum will be held in Darwin in September. As part of that forum, I have offered an opportunity for the Timorese government and business groups to provide an investment seminar which we will open up to national participation to encourage Australian investment in Timor-Leste, and increasing trade and investment opportunities both ways. There are already significant numbers, particularly of Timorese-Chinese business people who live in Darwin, who are reinvesting in Timor, and it is great to see that.
As Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, I am absolutely determined to do everything I can to develop those friendship links, those people-to-people links, those business-to-business links. The history between Timor-Leste and Darwin is long and very deep. I will continue to do all I can to develop that relationship.
Darwin and Alice Springs Convention Centres - Performance and Outlook
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for TOURISM
Can you please provide the House with an update on the Darwin and Alice Springs Convention Centres; how they are performing and what is the outlook?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. As the Treasurer said earlier, the NT economy continues to perform strongly through the global economic crisis.
More than 19 000 delegates have attended some 56 conferences at the Alice Springs and Darwin Convention Centres in the last financial year. It has had a very positive impact on our hotels, restaurants and small businesses.
There are 25 conferences confirmed for the financial year for 2009-10, with attendees ranging from 80 to 560. So far, we have 22 conferences confirmed for financial year 2010-11, with attendees ranging from 150 to 800.
Mr Tollner: How many did you bring?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: It is interesting to note that the opposition does not want to hear these statistics. We know they have been on the record …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim.
Ms McCARTHY: … as not wanting to have anything to do with the convention centre at the wharf. In fact, the Leader of the Opposition said at the time he did not want to see a project that is focused on a residential and convention centre in the precinct area.
In Alice Springs, we have 19 conferences confirmed for the financial year, with attendees ranging from 60 to 500. More conferences are confirmed …
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: See, they are not interested, clearly no interest whatsoever.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: Tourism NT is working closely with the Alice Springs Convention Centre. I add our congratulations to the Alice Springs Convention Centre for being one of the nominees for the national awards in Hobart this weekend. They were a Brolga winner at the end of last year.
Also, one of the exciting things for Alice Springs is the ice skating rink. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Central Australia, 8000 residents in Central Australia visited the ice skating rink. I take this opportunity, with all the controversy surrounding our skaters and the focus on the Canada games, to issue this direct invitation to the Russian skaters who have caused controversy with their outfits on the ice. If they come to Alice Springs, they could put on an exhibition at the ice skating rink in Alice Springs, and learn about Aboriginal culture at the same time.
Short-stay Accommodation Village –
Time Lines for Development
Time Lines for Development
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Your timetable for your short-stay accommodation village outlines: (1) an information briefing on 11 January; (2) contracts closing in March; (3) a Crown lease being issued in April; and (4) miraculously, the village being operational by the middle of this year. Your time line gives the government longer to do the paperwork than the developer gets to do the headworks and establish the village. Why, when your government has not delivered a completed house at Bellamack in three years, would you plan for an accommodation village to be completed in just three months? How can we believe you?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. In relation to the short-term housing villages, calls for expressions of interest to develop a 200-bed facility in Darwin and a 50-bed facility in Alice Springs is the commencement of that project.
In Darwin, we indicated the government would provide a block of land for the proposal if needed. The expressions of interest process closed on 9 February. A probity auditor has been appointed - Merit Partners. There were 13 proposals received for Darwin and four proposals received for Alice Springs. The deadline to end assessment and recommend decisions is the end of March/early April for selection. The applicants were largely local, with some from interstate.
Sporting Events Occurring on Weekend
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Can you please inform the Assembly about the feast of sports on offer across the Territory this weekend?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for a very important and exciting question. This weekend, we have a host of great events in the Territory. In the Centre, in Alice Springs, we have the AFL hitting the town. Of course, my team Collingwood, with our Territory boy, Nathan Buckley taking over as coach for the weekend, is going to be fantastic. They are playing against the Adelaide Crows. In the Top End, we have the North Queensland Cowboys against the Gold Coast Titans.
It will be a big weekend. I encourage all Territorians to get on board. I understand Rugby has had a pre-sale of approximately 4000 tickets. We expect a huge crowd at Richardson Park. Also, in Alice Springs, as usual, we will get a great crowd. Hopefully, the rain stays away.
Regarding the Crows, Andrew McLeod from the Northern Territory - an absolute legend, an icon of Territory sport - will be there doing his stuff with kids as well in promoting the game and the Crows.
We have adopted the Cowboys in the Top End, and JT, or Jonathan Thurston, is another legend, Matty Bowen and Preston Campbell, and also the adopted Territorian, and Mat Rogers. They are just a few of the superstars we will have gracing Richardson Park.
Also, as with the Cowboys, we have a great agreement with the AFL over five years. The Cowboys are doing some fantastic stuff through their community programs with Adopt a School and Cowboys in the Classroom.
It is not just about sport. It is not just about seeing some of these absolute idols on the sporting field. It is also sending positive messages to the young kids in the Territory about attending school, having a healthy lifestyle and enjoying sport.
Short-stay Accommodation Village – Confidentiality Clause
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for LANDS and PLANNING
Should any private operator take up the challenge of delivering an accommodation village in just three months, you will require them to sign a confidentiality clause that prevents them from giving any media release without your permission. Why are you suppressing industry, and is this suppression clause designed to prevent any developer exposing any government bungling on this project?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have just outlined the Henderson government’s process for the delivery of short-term housing villages in the Northern Territory. The process is sound. The process is laid out. The EOI closed on 9 February. The 13 proposals for Darwin and four proposals for Alice Springs are most welcome. We are looking forward to progressing this process.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: I believe the minister has finished the question.
Mr GILES: Is there any chance at all the minister can get anywhere near …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, resume your seat. The minister has completed his answer.
Cancer Treatment Services
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for HEALTH
This government committed to delivering better cancer treatment services for all Territorians. Can the minister outline what this government is delivering so more Territorians will be able to access top quality cancer treatment?
ANSWER
Mr Tollner: You are joking!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I will respond to the member for Fong Lim - no, we are not joking. We are delivering something you failed to deliver.
We delivered a $28m oncology unit …
Mr Tollner: We did not put in a cracker.
Members interjecting.
Mr Tollner: Drongo, tell them the truth.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that comment, please.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, the guy with the Speedos, Abbott, gave you only $13m. He said take it or leave it. We secured $29m …
Ms SCRYMGOUR: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I think he should be made to withdraw that.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like you to withdraw that comment, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr VATSKALIS: We secured $29m from the Rudd government. The guy with the Speedos only gave him $13m, take it or leave it. I do not blame the member for Fong Lim; I blame Abbott. He was not prepared to put the money into the Territory. …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, yesterday the first 10 patients were admitted to the oncology centre for preliminary assessment before undergoing radiation treatment, and over 30 people will be seen at the centre this week.
Tomorrow, the Royal Darwin Hospital Chemotherapy service will be relocated to the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre. It is a well-equipped unit. An additional care prognosis service is being introduced to ensure that all patients receive the right treatment at the right time.
What is really important is what people have to say about the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre. Ms Lesley Riley, President of the Bosom Buddies NT Support, in her letter on 18 February writes:
- No doubt that the … facility itself, is state-of-the-art - that no expense has been spared to provide the very latest advanced equipment and technology. And that a highly experienced team of medical professionals … are being recruited. There is no question that radiotherapy care for cancer patients at the AWCC will be of the highest standard.
Yes, it will be the latest in technology and no waiting lists, and that, of course, will attract many Territorians to seek treatment at the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre. They can go there and they do not have to wait to be seen. They are going to be seen by some of the best experts in Australia. Of course, if people come from outside Darwin, we provide them with accommodation at the Mirrabeena facilities, which will be managed by the YWCA. They will not have to pay anything for themselves, their carers, or escorts.
Our government has fought hard to deliver the Oncology centre to Darwin. Even the Prime Minister said, when he came here as an opposition leader, that he was surprised a town like this did not have a cancer centre – now it has.
Mental Health Services
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for HEALTH
It is my understanding there is only one child psychiatrist in Darwin to service the special needs of young people with mental health issues. Can you please provide the Assembly with information on what your government is doing for youth mental health in acute care and community care? What is your government doing regarding accommodation for the people with long-term mental illness, especially where older parents have difficulty looking after a mature-aged son or daughter with a mental illness, or the parents have passed on?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. The mental health program has specialist child and adolescent psychiatric community mental health teams based in Darwin, with one psychiatrist in Darwin, and three visiting in Alice Springs. We also have a visiting service which has been expanded to Nhulunbuy and Katherine. Remote communities in Central Australia are also visited by child and adolescent psychiatrists on a regular basis, and a psychologist regularly visits Tennant Creek.
Funding has been provided for two additional positions in the Top End and Central Australia to enable further expansion of the current services. We have worked in partnership with a consortium of agencies to establish headspace services in Darwin and Alice Springs. This service improves access to mental health and wellbeing services for young people aged 12 to 25. Where young people require admission to hospital, the preferred option is admission to a children’s ward with consultation provided by a mental illness team.
In April 2009, our government announced funding for secure care facilities, including additional acute mental health inpatient beds, and secure residential facilities for young people with very complex needs. We have invested $13.9m. Construction work to establish a secure care facility in the Top End at Royal Darwin Hospital will commence in April 2010, and we are currently seeking land in Alice Springs to establish similar facilities.
Alice Springs Hospital -
Alleged Unqualified Medical Practitioner
Alleged Unqualified Medical Practitioner
Mr CONLAN to MINISTER for HEALTH
Further to the member for Arafura’s question about the unqualified doctor in Alice Springs, when did you find out this person was not qualified? When did your CEO find out this person was not qualified? How did it happen in the first place? Will you take responsibility for what is happening and a potential life-threatening situation unfolding in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I always suspected the member for Greatorex had no idea about health services; he has now confirmed it. He asks me to take responsibility for the approval of a doctor, when he should know that every doctor who seeks registration is registered by a medical board, which is a statutory independent body, not subject to the direction of the minister.
We discovered yesterday that the person was not qualified.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Conlan: A culture of cover-up and hiding behind your bureaucrats, that is all you do.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: We …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Order!
A member: When were you told? When was the CEO told?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, it was confirmed by the University of Adelaide yesterday that the person had fraudulent qualifications. Yesterday, we called the police; the CEO was told about it yesterday, and yesterday that person was arrested.
The advice I received from the medical board was his fraudulent qualifications were near perfect. The board which assesses all qualifications and, in many cases, has rejected qualifications by doctors, in this case, was tricked into believing the qualifications were correct. The references led them to believe the person was genuine, and of course the board had to register the doctor. Doctors are not registered by departments; they are not registered by hospitals. We rely on the advice of an independent …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex! Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: It was our health staff in Alice Springs who first observed that this person did not meet the criteria. It was our staff who sought confirmation from the university, and it was our staff who received the information that the person was not genuine. It was our staff who contacted the police. It was our staff …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, it is surprising that you have people over there who are supposed to know everything about health, and they do not have the intelligence to look at the act, to determine the role and responsibility of the board, and what is has to do with the Health department. He must be the only spokesman for health in Australia who has no idea about the legislation that governs medical boards. This is another thing that indicates the legislation we passed yesterday, the national law, is one step forward to avoid the repeat of a similar incident.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER
Health Legislation – Review and Audit
Health Legislation – Review and Audit
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, on Tuesday during Question Time, the Leader of the Opposition asked for a list of the legislation which comes under my portfolio, if this legislation is audited, when, and how.
I am very pleased to provide the complete list of the legislation which has been audited, and when, and if it is not, when it will happen.
Mr Mills: Thank you.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016