2010-08-10
Housing Crisis in Darwin
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
At the 2007 federal election the member for Solomon, the hapless Damian Hale, promised to fix Darwin’s housing crisis by building rental properties under federal Labor’s Rental Affordability Scheme. The number of homes delivered under that scheme is zero, zip, nothing. Not one house.
In the 2010 election campaign, the member for Solomon is again promising to fix Darwin’s housing crisis by building homes under, and wait for it, the Rental Affordability Scheme. Territorians must be having a seriously bad case of flashback.
Is not Damian Hale’s housing pledge no more than a re-announcement of a broken promise?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition’s question. He comes here with crocodile tears about housing issues in the Northern Territory. I point out to the Leader of the Opposition that when they were in government they did not have an affordable housing policy ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: There was never a housing policy under the CLP.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: What we have seen under a federal Labor government is a massive commitment in the stimulus package of $48m to deliver social housing in the Northern Territory - $48m that those opposite opposed. They voted against it in the federal parliament. $48m will deliver 186 dwellings, 106 of which are currently under construction.
The opposition, if they were in government, would not be building a 12-bedroom upgrade of Catherine Booth House in Stuart Park; 20 units of supported affordable accommodation at Coconut Grove by St Vincent de Paul; eight units at Malak for women and children seeking refuge; 18 units for transitional accommodation at Crerar Road, Berrimah; 45 units of social housing in Parap as part of the Wirrina development; eight public housing units at Bellamack, four public housing units at the Gap; eight units of managed accommodation for homeless people by the Salvation Army in Alice Springs; 28 units of transitional accommodation at Percy Court in Alice Springs; and 35 units of accommodation at The Lodge in Alice Springs. None of that would have gone ahead under the CLP - not one.
The Leader of the Opposition comes in here with crocodile tears. He attempted, through Senator Nigel Scullion, to support the stimulus package. They voted against it; they voted against Territorians. Then, they have the temerity to come up with the laziest and most incompetent attempt at public housing policy that I have ever seen in the Northern Territory by saying if they were in government they would seize the land at the RAAF Base, against the direct advice from the Department of Defence which has said they require that land for strategic purposes.
It is a hollow promise that cannot be delivered. It is lazy policy, and they have voted against $48m worth of Commonwealth money to build 106 units of accommodation across the Northern Territory. So, the proof of the pudding is in the eating; they have voted against housing in the Northern Territory. They are supporting a policy that cannot be delivered. They are a lazy, incompetent opposition.
Visit to Japan - Results
Ms WALKER to CHIEF MINISTER
You have recently returned from Japan. Can you inform the Assembly about the success of the trip and the discussions you had promoting the Territory to Japanese business?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. It was a very successful trip. I am more confident than ever that the INPEX project will proceed as a result of discussions on this visit. We spoke to significant financial backers of the project. Members may be aware that INPEX went to the international markets with a capital-raising float of just over $US7bn for this project. I can advise the House today that the capital raising effort is very likely to be fully subscribed - a fantastic result given the global financial crisis and the squeeze on credit. It is another significant, continuing vote in confidence in the project.
I was pleased to meet with Mr Toshiaki Kitamura, the new President of INPEX, who succeeds Mr Naoki Kuroda, who has been a good friend of the Northern Territory, and has taken on the important role of chairman.
I had a number of important meetings whilst I was in Tokyo promoting the Northern Territory as open for business. I met with the president of Marubeni-Itochu Steel about their proposed expansion in Darwin. This is the company which provided all the steel for the Bayu-Undan pipeline and, obviously, is a key potential bidder for the Ichthys pipeline.
We had very successful meetings with senior Japanese government ministers: Mr Tadahiro Matsushita, the Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry – this is the department that has the 29% shareholding in INPEX – and Mr Osamu Fujimura, the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and received, from the highest levels of the Japanese government, their total commitment and support for this project.
Other key meetings included a briefing with the JGC Group which is doing the procurement and design for the onshore LNG plant that is 95% complete in its engineering and design. I am pleased to hear the JGC Group and our Northern Territory ICN are working very closely together to maximise business and job opportunities on this project for Territory businesses.
I also met with the Vice President of Hitachi on the potential of using renewal energy systems and sustainability principles in design for the new city of Weddell. I and am very pleased that senior engineering people will be attending the workshop we are holding at the end of September – a five-day workshop – to start planning for the new city of Weddell and looking at sustainability and renewal energy supply in our brand new city.
It was a positive and, potentially, very rewarding trip to Japan for the development of the Northern Territory. As the Chief Minister I try to visit Japan at least once a year, and will continue to push into expanding the Territory in key markets in Japan and the rest of Asia.
Affordable Housing Rental
Company – Non-delivery
Company – Non-delivery
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
It was in May 2009 that you announced the creation of an NT affordable housing rental company. Why is it that your affordable housing company will not be delivering the 1200 homes Damian Hale has promised? Why has a Victorian company been chosen to deliver this promise? Is this not just another example of the complete failure of your government’s housing policies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition demonstrates that he does not know what he is talking about. We are talking about two totally different schemes …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … one established by the Northern Territory government in bringing to the Territory marketplace, for the first time, an affordable housing rental company. We are having significant discussions now with companies looking to establish in the Northern Territory, and we will cede to that company, in the first instance, a number of properties at the Wirrina redevelopment - another redevelopment that the opposition has condemned and opposed from day one. They are a do-nothing opposition with no plans for the Northern Territory, and just a faint and hollow echo of Tony Abbott, the puppet master, in Canberra.
The 1200 units of accommodation committed by the Prime Minister and Damian Hale, are under the NRAS scheme, which is the national affordability housing rental scheme. This is a national scheme which is not awarded through or by the Northern Territory government and is subscribed by the private sector.
With regard to the last two-and-a-half years in the Northern Territory, no one from the private sector in the development community has applied for, or been successful in, securing funding under the NRAS scheme. That is an issue for the private sector. If they decide not to play, that is their decision.
I welcome any business seeking to invest in the Northern Territory. I do not disparage business. I do not attack businesses because they do not come from the Northern Territory. It just goes to show what an awful leader this Opposition Leader would be if he intends to put a wall up around the Northern Territory and say: ‘Investment from outside not welcome’. That means our economy would collapse. The Leader of the Opposition would build a big wall around the Northern Territory and say: ‘Investment from outside not welcome here. You are not welcome here. Go away’. That would be the Leader of the Opposition’s commitment to this place.
I welcome the Ethan proposal for 1200 units of accommodation. It is certainly visionary. It will be delivered here, as opposed to a do-nothing, no-policy opposition, which condemns investment in the Territory when it comes from outside the Territory.
Benefits to the Territory under a
Federal Labor Government
Federal Labor Government
Mr GUNNER to CHIEF MINISTER
The coming federal election presents a stark choice for Territorians. Can you please explain how the Territory always does better under a federal Labor government than it does under a coalition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. If the Coalition and the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, were to be elected on 21 August I know what they would do: they would do the Territory over as they do all the time. We all know the Northern Territory does better under a federal Labor government than it ever does under a Coalition government.
The Coalition is all about what they will not do, not what they will do. They are all about cutting expenditure, not recognising a growing jurisdiction, a jurisdiction with great disadvantage requiring Commonwealth investment. They would do the Territory over, and doing the Territory over is deeply embedded in the coalition’s DNA. That is who they are, that is what they are – it is do the Territory over.
We already know the member for Braitling wants to cut the national partnership which will see $1.7bn spent on Indigenous housing. The member for Braitling has supported cuts to that program. If there is anything we need in the Northern Territory it is significant Commonwealth effort in Indigenous housing - $1.7bn slashed by the member for Braitling and his Coalition colleagues in Canberra. That is the CLP policy.
We all know the member for Fong Lim, when he was our representative in Canberra, was very pleased to deliver flagpoles to our schools. This is the sum result of years of the member for Fong Lim’s representation in Canberra – flagpoles in our schools – not new classrooms, not new libraries, not over $200m worth of infrastructure, not $46m in social housing, not new roads for the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Tollner: Why do you lie? Why do you have to stand up and constantly repeat that lie?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Mr TOLLNER: What, Madam Speaker? The fact that the Chief Minister stands there and lies?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that comment.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. Let him rattle on with his mistruths.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The truth does hurt …
Mr Tollner: No, it hurts you to say it, you drongo.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr Tollner: Oh, let him rattle on, Madam Speaker, he talking through his hat.
Mr HENDERSON: Now if we actually look at this chart that shows Commonwealth funding to the Northern Territory, this is what you got under the years of the Howard government and the member for Fong Lim: basically pretty static funding. The do nothing Commonwealth government delivered a few flag poles to the Northern Territory. That was about it.
With the election of the Labor government in Canberra, we have seen significant increases in expenditure. This is what the Territory will lose if Tony Abbott is elected as Prime Minister on 21 August. The Territory will go backwards. The Territory always does better under a federal Labor government in Canberra.
Construction of Accommodation with Commonwealth Funding
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Damian Hale has promised 1200 homes in three years with construction to begin by the end of this year. How many times have we heard that promise from Labor parliamentarians? How many times? Tell that to people out there who are struggling right now as we speak.
Exactly where will these 1200 houses be built? Will you outline specifically in which suburbs construction will take place, when construction will commence, and when the first homes will be available for rent and at what rate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is only the opposition that would condemn a private sector company wishing to come to the Northern Territory to build 1200 homes and access Commonwealth money. The specific location of these properties will be down to the private sector company which will be building these homes. It is their decision. It is not the Territory government’s decision where they go.
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: We are a government that is releasing four new suburbs in Palmerston; 6000 blocks of land up for sale over the next four years for 15 000 Territorians. There are also opportunities in other suburbs such as Muirhead. There are opportunities with infill sites around the city of Darwin. I understand that the company concerned is well advanced with its first development proposal which, I have been advised today, is close to going to the Development Consent Authority. That is the company’s announcement to make, given it is their proposal.
What I can say is that there are 106 units of accommodation currently under construction in the Northern Territory that this mob over here opposed. This mob over here would say we do not want any of these properties in the Northern Territory. We do not want the Salvation Army to have additional accommodation …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I call your attention to the point of relevance; the minister is straying. He was simply asked where he is going to put these 1200 house …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, there is no point of order. Resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: … that we all know are not going to turn off.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, resume your seat.
Mr TOLLNER: I was just asking …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim! Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is very clear. They were on the record in this House. Their party voted in the Senate in Canberra against $46m for social housing in the Territory. In fact, it was $48.5m.
This is what we would get under a Tony Abbott government. Any expenditure by Canberra, in the Northern Territory …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … according to the member for Fong Lim is a waste of money. That was the interjection, Madam Speaker, that this $48.5m investment in social housing accommodation in the Territory is a waste of money. That is straight from the member for Fong Lim’s mouth. That was the attitude that he took whilst he was the member for Solomon. That is why under his time in the House of Representatives, all we received in infrastructure in the Territory was a few flag poles in a number of schools around the Northern Territory.
He is to be condemned in this House this afternoon by saying that the $48.5m for 168 units of accommodation for social housing in the Northern Territory is a waste of money. That is the attitude of the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Honourable members, before I continue I remind you of Standing Order 51. Member for Fong Lim, I would particularly like you to take note of this:
- No member may converse aloud or make any noise or disturbance which in the opinion of the Speaker is designed to interrupt or has the effect of interrupting a member speaking.
Construction of Accommodation with Commonwealth Funding
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
This follows the Leader of the Opposition’s previous question. According to the ABC news the Prime Minister announced on Sunday that her government will build 1200 houses in Darwin. Will there be any houses built in Lingiari? What discussions did you have with the Prime Minister before this announcement was made? Who will pay for the infrastructure required for roads, sewerage, water and electricity for this development, the Northern Territory government or the Commonwealth government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for the three part question. The first part was whether there would be any building activity in Lingiari. The answer is it has been made plain through the Prime Minister’s announcement the focus of these 1200 dwellings will be in Darwin and Palmerston. I ask the member to remember there is a $1.7bn 10-year SIHIP project rolling out housing in remote areas. You blokes opposed that also …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: You asked the question whether there had been prior consultation, is that correct?
Mr Wood: Twenty thousand people live in the Darwin rural area.
Dr BURNS: I believe I have answered the first part of the question.
The second part of the question was about prior consultation. At an officer to officer level, and at ministerial level, there has been discussion about the NRAS program, and rolling out NRAS in the Darwin Top End region.
The third part was?
Mr Wood: Who will pay for the infrastructure?
Dr BURNS: The Chief Minister made it plain: predominantly the infrastructure will be built in those suburbs - I call them Palmerston east - that are being rolled out - the 6000 blocks which will house 15 000 people.
The Northern Territory government has already budgeted for infrastructure in those particular areas. In fact, we invested significantly; I believe it was around $20m to fast-track headworks in Palmerston east. Those investments are already on the books, and we will be negotiating with the federal government, presuming a Labor government is elected, about this plan for 1200 houses.
In contrast, as the Chief Minister said, for the fairly ad hoc, reactive approach regarding the RAAF Base - I am convinced, with the Chief Minister, that the Defence department will not relinquish that land. I am convinced the plan announced by the Prime Minister will be rolled out as promised.
National Broadband Network
Ms SCYRMGOUR to MINISTER for INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS and TECHNOLOGY POLICY
How will the national broadband network benefit Territorians, and are you aware of any threats to these benefits?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. As a bush member she knows how important this type of infrastructure is to our remote communities. The national broadband network delivers optical fibre to places such as Darwin, Tennant Creek, Palmerston, Alice Springs and Katherine. What we now see is that the national broadband network will be delivering 100 times faster broadband than we have now. With the wireless and satellite technology, we will be seeing speeds of up to 20 times faster than we have now once the national broadband rolls out, and that is getting coverage to 100% of Australians. More importantly, that means savings to Australian and Northern Territory governments in jobs and economic opportunities which open up once you get this type of infrastructure in the ground.
What we have heard today is very alarming, particularly for bush members and Territorians, and that is Mr Abbott’s policy for broadband. For me it confirms Labor’s policy on the need for a national broadband network. His announcement today fails to deliver a solution or a viable alternative. Mr Abbott’s policy is a return to a model which failed 18 times under the previous Coalition government under John Howard - a bit like a ‘back to the future’ type model.
What you do not get under Abbott’s model is 100% coverage. That is very alarming for Territorians, particularly for bush members. We know how important this infrastructure is when you talk about electronic health initiatives and some of those challenges we have in the bush. Also, under the Abbot policy, you do not get competitive access to the infrastructure, which is very important in the Northern Territory. You also do not get the next century technology.
This is the reason the model failed 18 times under John Howard - you do not get all those things that you do under the national broadband network. You also do not get the private sector involved with this type of model because it is simply not profitable for them.
What you do get under Abbot’s model is regional monopolies, less access, Territorians will have to pay higher prices, and lower reliability. You get no guarantee that anything else will ever happen out there, particularly for remote Territorians. What you get under Abbott’s policy is quite clear: a cheap and nasty model. It is really only under Damian Hale and Julia Gillard that you can get a guaranteed faster, cheaper broadband for every Territorian.
RAAF Base Houses – Labor Policy
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Territory Labor’s housing crisis has, once again, become a key issue in the federal campaign. A Coalition government will save an entire suburb at the RAAF Base at Eaton, some 400 desperately needed homes. At best, a Labor government will relocate these homes to an undisclosed location. Which plan do you support - Natasha Griggs’ sensible plan to save an entire suburb for Territory families, or Damian Hale’s sullen promise to move these homes?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, what I believe in is policies that are actually going to be delivered. This so-called housing policy by Tony Abbott and the candidate for Solomon …
Mr Giles interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … is the laziest, most incompetent piece of public policy I have ever seen in regard to housing. It is lazy, incompetent, and unbelievable, and it will not be delivered. The reason it will not be delivered is the Defence department has said they need this land for strategic purposes in the interests of this nation.
We also know, with the new Joint Strike Fighter Program, there will be a redrawing of the ANEF contours which means people will be unable to live there. Unless the opposition has a plan to scrap the Joint Strike Force, cancel the Strike Fighter and, somehow, get the Defence department to rewrite its strategic defence policy and land use policy, it will not be delivered.
If you read Barry Doyle’s comments in the paper the other day, The Good Oil With Barry Doyle - he is not often very kind to our side of the House - he pointed out very clearly as well the unbelievability and undeliverability of this particular promise. Many of these houses are not up to standard and will cost an enormous amount of money to upgrade. The Defence department has said very clearly they require the land for strategic purposes. So, it is a lazy, incompetent, undeliverable promise by an unbelievable Opposition Leader.
State of Territory and National Economy
Mr GUNNER to TREASURER
Can you please advise the House on the state of the Territory and national economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I note the member for Fong Lim is already chuckling because he just simply does not get the importance of the economy to the mums and dads out there who rely on a strong economy to have a job, to feed the children, to pay the mortgage, to pay the rent. They do not understand the importance of a strong economy.
The independent commentator, Access Economics, released its June quarter forecast and it reports that the Territory is tipped to record 4% economic growth in the 2010-11 financial year, compared to Australia’s economic growth forecast to reach 3.2% this coming financial year. Australia was the only advanced economy in the world to record positive growth last year despite the global financial crisis. The federal Labor government’s stimulus program has proved to work. It has saved 200 000-plus jobs …
Mr Tollner: How far are we in debt?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … it has literally saved small businesses and medium-sized businesses from going to the wall.
The only people who do not believe that is the CLP and Tony Abbott, their mates in Canberra. Under the Coalition we would have seen some 200 000-plus Australians on the unemployment queue, lining up for the dole. We would have seen Australia plunge into recession …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: … with an estimated 0.7% shrinkage in the economy. The facts are that under federal Labor, which acted swiftly and responsibly and obtained the best result globally, Australia has emerged stronger, and we had the lowest employment, and the lowest debt and deficit of any major developed economy.
Territory families and Territory businesses have all benefited from this stimulus program. The federal Labor stimulus program is expected to deliver $574m to the Territory across the schools, roads and housing, and tax breaks for business.
The CLP and their mates in Canberra would not have any of this. If it was up to them we would be $574m worse off. We would not have the infrastructure across the schools, we would not have the extra housing, the social housing, and we would not have the improved road network.
Last year we saw some 6000 new jobs created across the Territory. Many of these were supported by the stimulus funding and by the nation building funding coming out of Canberra. The Territory is powering ahead in partnership with the Labor Commonwealth government.
Construction of Accommodation with Commonwealth Funding
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In response to my previous question you said that 1200 houses announced by the Prime Minister would only be for Darwin and Palmerston. Why then does this Labor advertisement in today’s paper say 1200 new and affordable rental homes ‘for the Territory’? Which is right: your statement or this Labor newspaper ad? Why are Darwin rural low and moderate income earners not able to access this program? Do they not live in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not partition the Territory in the same way as the member for Nelson. These houses will be built in the Territory for Territorians, full stop.
RAAF Base Houses - Relocation
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
You claim you support Damian Hale’s foolish plan to relocate RAAF housing. My office has been informed that in a telephone conversation with Mr Wayne Morris of the Winnellie Supermarket, you told Mr Morris that you wanted to save the houses and his business. To save his business you would have to leave the houses where they are. When did you change your mind about saving this suburb - perhaps when you were in Japan?
ANSWER
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, Madam Speaker. I do not have the exact dates and times, but some many weeks ago I received an e-mail from Mr Wayne Morris on a Saturday morning, along with most members of this House I do believe. Like a good local member, not that I am his representative, and as Chief Minister I did pick up the phone to Mr Morris. I did have a conversation with him regarding the proposals by the RAAF. I certainly said that we would look to see if there was anything we could do regarding the issue of relocating people off the base. That was an initial conversation I had with a Territorian who took the time to contact me and as Territorians would expect I picked up the phone and had a conversation with Mr Morris.
That was many weeks ago, probably as much as, I do not know, two months, 10 weeks ago, I am not sure. I certainly made inquiries into the proposal and it became very clear, through the Department of Defence, that they had made this decision because of a number of reasons: that the houses were now well past their use-by-date and not fit for the purpose of being occupied by RAAF families; that they needed the land for other strategic purposes; and there were going to be issues with the new ANEF noise contours as the result of the acquisition of the new Joint Strike Fighter. The result we received from Defence was that the decision had been made and was unable to be reversed for a number of reasons.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Mr HENDERSON: Unlike the Leader of the Opposition, I do not give people false hope. I do not tell people what they want to hear. I will not tell people what they want to hear and give them false hope. It is recklessly irresponsible. They are only using these businesses for their own naked political ends …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … because it cannot be delivered. It is unbelievable and it is recklessly irresponsible to promise things to people that you cannot deliver.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: That is why the Leader of the Opposition is a hollow man, making hollow promises of things that he cannot deliver.
National Rental Assistance Scheme - Affordable Accommodation for Territorians
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
On Sunday, the Prime Minister announced that the federal government would support 1200 dwellings being built in the Territory under the National Rental Assistance Scheme. Can you advise the House how this will provide more affordable accommodation for Territorians?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This question has already been asked and invites repetition. It was asked by this side as one of the first questions.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, you have the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the member for Port Darwin is correct to some degree. What I will do is talk about the NRAS scheme and who will be eligible for the scheme. I think many Territorians would be interested in that.
This is a scheme that has been set up by the federal government to try to support those on low to middle incomes who may not be eligible for public housing but who are experiencing rental stress, not only in the Northern Territory but all around Australia.
The scheme provides financial incentives for investors to create up to – this is Australia-wide – 50 000 units of affordable housing by June 2012. This particular program offers tax incentives and financial support to providers of new rental housing on the condition that they are rented to low and moderate income households at 20% or less than the market rent. This is a very important program Australia-wide.
There has been a focus today on the undertaking given by the Prime Minister to provide 1200 houses under this NRAS scheme to people who are in those income bands. I know that there is incredible rental stress in the Northern Territory. That is why I welcome this announcement which is specifically targeted at those sectors of the market, low and moderate income earners who are experiencing stress, to get into this sort of housing.
Regarding the proposal by Natasha Griggs and the CLP, and Tony Abbott, there is no clarity around it - particularly as the Chief Minister has said that the Defence Force has said it requires this land for strategic purposes. The question remains: who are they going to be specifically targeting with these properties they are putting there? What sort of process are they going to use? What sort of rents are they going to charge?
I suppose the candidate for Solomon has quite a lot of experience in rental issues having 13 rental houses herself. What is she going to do? Is she going to undercut the rental market with those houses at the RAAF Base? It is all unclear.
By contrast, the plan by Damian Hale and the Prime Minister is very clear: 1200 properties, under an existing scheme …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: … targeted at those who need it most, and I commend it.
RAAF Housing and Shortage of Housing
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
It simply defies logic that you do not support saving an entire suburb in the middle of a housing crisis. Well over 100 homes at the RAAF Base are currently empty …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MILLS: … the sort of houses you see in Palmerston …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Resume your seat, Leader of the Opposition. Opposition members you will put those underneath your desks. As you are aware, you are not allowed to be holding props in the parliament.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, I am on my feet. Leader of Opposition, resume your seat. Yes, what is your point of order?
Mr ELFERINK: I ask you to refer that to all members of this Chamber as members opposite were doing precisely the same thing, and not single out just the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, I do not know what you are talking about. I am talking about when a member …
Mr Tollner: Well, the Chief Minister …
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, member for Fong Lim, resume your seat, I am speaking. Resume your seat.
The rules in this parliament are that the person who has the call may use a prop at the time they are speaking. Other members are not allowed to use props during that time - only when they have the call. You do not have the call, member for Fong Lim.
Mr Tollner: I am waiting until I do.
Madam SPEAKER: I am not aware of anything like this happening on this side. If it did happen, it is inappropriate and should be drawn to my attention.
Mr Elferink: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr Tollner: Thank you.
Ms Lawrie: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I have already ruled on that, thank you. Leader of the Opposition.
Mr MILLS: My question is to the Chief Minister. It simply defies logic that you do not support saving an entire suburb in the middle of a housing crisis.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Dr BURNS: Yes there is, Madam Speaker. I need to know whether the exchange which went on before is taken out of his time for a question.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes it is. Resume your seat, Leader of Government Business. Your question, you have the call. You do not have much time left.
Mr MILLS: I will get on with it. Chief Minister, we have people living in cars, families sleeping in tents, and jammed into homes of friends and relatives. How many families are waiting on Territory Housing’s priority list, and why have you not pulled out all stops to secure those empty homes for homeless Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, a point of correction: the houses he is talking about are not a suburb; they are part of the RAAF Base Darwin.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: The second point is the RAAF has decided those homes are not to be made available into the future for RAAF because they are substandard.
As Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, I am not in the business of giving people false hope and making promises I cannot deliver. What I will do is work with the federal government to support the 106 dwellings currently under construction under the national stimulus; support the $48.5m invested in the Northern Territory in new and upgraded housing for people who are experiencing housing stress; and do the responsible thing and deliver housing through existing schemes, not making up Mickey Mouse promises that cannot be delivered and will not be delivered under a Tony Abbott government.
What we will do is support the expenditure on new homes. We know the opposition believes that that $48.5m is a waste of money - from the member for Fong Lim.
I also point out, through interjections, that the opposition believes the taxpayer is being ripped off. I would like the opposition to outline which Territory construction companies are ripping off the taxpayer in delivering this social housing, delivering the BER program and investing in infrastructure in the Northern Territory.
Under the Coalition, we would go back to a do nothing coalition government, always looking for the cheap and nasty option, slashing and burning and ripping the guts out of funding to the Northern Territory. As we can quite clearly see, we would go back to flat line funding: no investment in housing, no investment in roads, and no investment in schools in the Northern Territory. If you were lucky, you might get the odd flag pole.
Home Warranty Insurance Scheme
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
The NT News of 15 July reported you said some home warranty insurance schemes had been failing elsewhere in Australia. Why is it that six days later it was also reported in the NT News minister McCarthy said the government would now fund a home warranty insurance scheme to provide protection where a builder becomes insolvent, bankrupt or dies? Why has the government now done a U-turn on the home warranty insurance? Could you say if this latter-day scheme will cover those affected by the collapse of the Carey, Augusto and Brolga building companies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for a very genuine question on something he is deeply passionate about.
The reason we are stepping in is, after the Senate report, after extensive evaluation by Treasury in particular, it has identified there is market failure in the insurance market to provide this type of insurance scheme. Cabinet has taken the decision that, where there is market failure, the government will step in and underwrite a scheme. The Cabinet submission is being drafted.
The issue of retrospectivity is always a very difficult issue. We are looking at those issues to see if we can assist.
The reason for the government’s change of mind on this issue is because of clear, demonstrated market failure. Looking to support confidence in the housing market in the Northern Territory, as a Cabinet and a government we have decided we will underwrite a scheme in the Territory. It is not something we want to do, but it is something we have to do. We will bring legislation to this House by the end of the year.
Tiger Brennan Drive Extension - Update
Mr GUNNER to MINISTER for CONSTRUCTION
The new bridges at Tiger Brennan Drive are now opened. Can you please update the House on the progress of the project?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question.
The Australian government and the Northern Territory Labor government are delivering $110m worth of major road transport infrastructure, and we are proud to be delivering the Tiger Brennan Drive extension. Not only will this road’s infrastructure improve traffic efficiency and safety, but it also improves access to the East Arm port, which is a major economic driver in our economy.
I am also very pleased to tell the House about my visits to that project and my learnings of Macmahon, the contractors, and what a wonderful job they are doing on that project, not only employing Territorians but also taking on the initiative to train Territorians. We heard this morning in our infrastructure statement how important it is to show we are growing our own. There are incredible benefits relating to that, and I thank Macmahon for it.
The south-bound bridge was opened on 31 July, and we have witnessed traffic movements on that infrastructure. The public is watching it grow; we are very keen to see it completed. We are talking about handling 34 000 traffic movements per day – it is major road transport infrastructure.
As we heard today, the Treasurer outlined to the House previous relations with the federal government were delivering $13m, which was nowhere near enough - not a pinch in the ocean compared to the road infrastructure. It has to be said again that it was the federal Labor government and the Northern Territory government which partnered and delivered this major infrastructure, and Damian Hale, the member for Solomon, played a key role in that.
I was disappointed at the offerings from the member for Drysdale when we debated this on another occasion. It was said in the media - and it is an example of all care but no responsibility - they were saying they were going to tear it down ...
Members interjecting.
Mr McCARTHY: We do not need that sort of rubbish in the public. We are proud of what we are doing; it is major infrastructure …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr McCARTHY: I am about to deliver a report today on that and I thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity.
Public Housing Waiting List
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Darwin’s housing crisis has created a 54-week wait for publicly owned homes in Darwin. We currently have families living in tents and sleeping in cars because of the housing crisis this Labor government has created. Can you tell Territorians what impact the addition of 105 homes would have on Darwin’s four-and-a-half year waiting list? Again I ask you: how many Territory families are currently waiting on Territory Housing’s priority list?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is a one-trick pony, a one-shot-in-the-locker politician, with a one-size-fits-all policy. We are facing issues of significant economic growth, and significant population growth which is putting pressure on the housing market. I have every empathy with people who are struggling to pay the rent, and struggling to meet the mortgage. I did my time as an apprentice. When I finished my apprenticeship I lived in share housing in the Northern Territory, and rents were high. I do have empathy and acknowledge that there is housing stress.
A one-shot-in-the-locker, a one-size-fits-all, lazy, incompetent, undeliverable policy is not going to fix the problem by a lazy and incompetent opposition. What we are doing is releasing land at five times the rate than ever before …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Obviously, the member for Fong Lim has not been out to Palmerston recently: 15% of all releases have been kept for affordable housing. We have reduced stamp duty, increased the principle place of residence rebate, and introduced a senior’s reduction in regards to stamp duty. We have introduced our Homestart NT package, we have increased the stamp duty rate for first homebuyers, no stamp duty at all up to $540 000; we are developing 67 affordable lots of land in Bellamack.
In Johnston Stage 1, 19 blocks have been sold at $140 000, and 22 to 33 units at Homestart NT prices; we are in final discussions with the affordable rental company at Bellamack Gardens; and the Land Development Corporation is building 28 affordable townhouses. At Wirrina, another project the CLP opposed, 45 affordable and public housing units are to be developed and the project is about start, as well as more public housing including a 40 unit seniors’ development at Bellamack. The budget contains 150 new urban homes over three years, of which a further 76 will be seniors. And there is the stimulus package, which they also opposed.
This is what the government is doing, as opposed to a one-shot-in-the-locker, lazy policy approach and an unbelievable, undeliverable policy by the opposition.
Mr MILLS: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
That is all very interesting, but you keep avoiding the critical question: how many Territory families are currently on Territory Housing’s priority list? That is the question.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, for every person on the priority list I absolutely acknowledge that they are undergoing significant hardship. I will take the question on notice because I do not have the explicit detail with me.
We are delivering more public housing. We are delivering affordable housing. We are working with the Commonwealth government on social housing that the opposition would have turned their back on. The opposition would have turned their back on $48.5m for social housing. Why would you do that? Why would you say to people on waiting lists: ‘We do not want the Commonwealth’s money. Nasty Commonwealth, we do not want your money. We do not want 186 new units and dwellings.’?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Trade Training Centres – Federal Opposition View
Ms WALKER to MINISTER for EDUCATION and TRAINING
The Liberal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, supported by the CLP, has vowed to kill off trade training centres that are being implemented across the Territory. Can you advise the House on how these cuts being championed by the Liberal Party and the CLP will impact on trainees and apprentices in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Skills and skills training and having skilled workers are essential to the economic development of the Northern Territory. That is why, when we came to government in 2001, the former member for Nhulunbuy, Syd Stirling, was very focused on developing a training strategy and policy for the government. That is why, in that first term of government, we promised 10 000 trainees and we have continued that. In this term of government we have undertaken to produce 10 000 trainees which includes apprentices, and we are on target to meet that commitment.
That is why I am very concerned at the proposal put forward by Tony Abbott and the Coalition to scrap our trade training centres. We need those skilled Territorians. It just shows how out of touch they are with the needs of the Territory.
The Labor government allocated $2.5bn over the next 10 years to develop trade training centres, and the funding allocated to the Northern Territory to date amounts to $7.5m. We have Marrara Christian College Trade Training Centre. Kormilda College commenced operations …
Mr Tollner: How did that get started?
Dr BURNS: … what is Tony Abbot going to do with that …
Mr Tollner: How did that get started?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: … is he going to withdraw the funding? Would they halt the construction of the Barkly College Trade Training Centre …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister asked the question: what is going to happen with it? Well, Marrara Christian College was funded by the previous coalition government.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, that is not a point of order. Member for Fong Lim! Resume your seat. Member for Fong Lim, it is not a point of order!
Mr Tollner: Madam Speaker, we were asked a question.
Madam SPEAKER: Resume your seat. You are on a warning.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They do not like this because it just shows the destructive nature of Tony Abbott if he were to get in government.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Can I seek leave to answer the question that the minister asked?
Madam SPEAKER: No, you cannot. Resume your seat. The minister has the call. You do not have the call.
Dr BURNS: Darwin High School is one they are about to commence in three months time. Are they going to halt that? And at Ngukurr, $3.9m for a trade training centre. What are they going to do? It is about to go out to tender. In the next round there is a whole range of places, particularly in remote areas, that are going to receive these trade training centres, essential for Indigenous employment. This mob, with their destructive leader nationally, would carve it up, cast it aside and cast these people on the scrap heap.
They have no regard for the Northern Territory economy. They have no regard for people in the Northern Territory. I would be very concerned if Tony Abbott were to ever get the controls of government.
National Rental Affordability Scheme – Applications by Territory Businesses
Ms PURICK to MINISTER for PUBLIC and AFFORDABLE HOUSING
On radio yesterday, the member for Solomon said no Darwin businesses had applied to access assistance under the National Rental Affordability Scheme. That is blatantly untrue. As revealed by the opposition last year, two Territory businesses had tried to access the second round grants but they were deemed not to meet the criteria. Can you explain to the House exactly why those two businesses failed to meet the criteria? Have you asked Damian Hale to explain why he has no idea of the truth in regard to this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I am aware, there were two applications but they were deemed unsuitable by the Commonwealth. That is why, in this particular matter, the Commonwealth has chosen Ethan through a process, a process through the Commonwealth government, to deliver these 1200 homes in Darwin and Palmerston. As I understand the scheme, local builders and local contractors will be involved in the delivery of this scheme. This will be a great fillip not only for those on low and moderate incomes but for our local industry.
Once again, we have the opposition and their federal masters being nasty and destructive and negative about this. They cannot be positive about anything. Their plan lacks clarity. Clarity around Defence will not relinquish the homes at the RAAF Base, and who are they going to rent to, who is going to manage, what sort of rental are they going to charge? None of this detail has been fleshed out. As the Chief Minister said it is just a lazy policy option.
Through the Prime Minister’s announcement in Darwin the other day, we have an existing program that has been shown to work. I have seen it myself in other jurisdictions …
A member: Where?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: In Queensland.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, it will work here in Darwin to the benefit of Territorians, not only those renting, but the benefit of those businesses also.
Cancer Treatment Improvements for Territorians
Ms SCRYMGOUR to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you please advise the House on recent improvements in cancer treatment for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is very important question because the Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre is a success story for the Territory and federal Labor governments.
The federal Liberal government, Tony Abbott himself, failed twice to deliver to Territorians - twice.
The Alan Walker Cancer Centre commenced the first radiation treatment on 22 March. Since then, 112 people have been examined, and 111 have received treatment. The centre caters for a number of cancers.
Every day 30 to 35 people go through the centre, and a second linear accelerator will be online in September 2010. There are now 22 staff working in the centre; a Chief Physicist and a Medical Oncologist commenced in May, with a second one to commence on 1 October 2010.
We have had 500 chemotherapies undertaken at the centre since the beginning of its operation, and volunteer service support began on 31 May 2010. It is thanks to Nicola Roxon and Damian Hale that we have this centre in Darwin.
I said before that the Liberal government, Tony Abbott, failed twice. Tony Abbott allocated $13m. They went to tender twice and did not attract a tender. The second time, just before the federal election, they did not say anything, they kept it secret. They failed to advise Territorians that for a second time they did not attract a tender. The real cost of the cancer centre was $26.5m, not $13m. $26.5m was provided by the federal government, and the Territory government has given $6m a year to operate the centre.
Yesterday, we had another announcement by Julie Bishop about the Positron Emission Tomography. As the Minister for Health, I welcome any announcement that will help Territorians, but once again what Julie Bishop failed to say yesterday is the $2.5m allocated will buy only half the Positron Emission Tomography. Why do I say half, because in the Coalition announcement on 11 June 2010 they admit the $2.5m they allocated to buy the Positron Emission Tomography for Townsville will buy only half the machine. The other half will be provided by the provider.
What they gave us is half the Positron Emission Tomography. Not only that, to use that machine you have to have a specialised facility. You have to have a bunker, and you have to have specialised people to operate it. We have $2.5m for half a machine, but no provision for a building and no provision for specialised personnel to operate it. Another hollow promise by hollow people from the opposition.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016