2008-05-06
Conditions of Service Reserve – Loss of Money
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
According to you, good management does not happen by accident, but I notice that you have lost $32m from the Conditions of Service Reserve. Was losing $32m on the stock market an accident, or did you do it deliberately?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. It just goes to show his absolute ignorance of what is occurring around the economies of our nation and internationally in the market.
The Conditions of Service Reserve has actually performed extremely well, despite the volatility in the market sector. This is because most of our Conditions of Service are put into the long-term marketplace rather than short term, where we see more results coming through. I feel very confident in the decisions taken by our experts in Treasury, and also the scrutiny of those decisions that are applied to, to ensure that they are managing our Conditions of Service Reserve extremely well. This government has shown a track record of ensuring that we are meeting our liabilities into the future by also putting funding into the Conditions of Service Reserve to meet ongoing superannuation liabilities and to fund our infrastructure needs into the future.
Budget 2008-09 - Highlights
Ms SACILOTTO to TREASURER
Can you outline to the House the highlights of Budget 2008-09?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. Budget 2008-09 does deliver for Territory families. It delivers improved home affordability, with cuts to stamp duty and an expanded HomeNorth scheme. It delivers improved community safety, with more police on our streets. It delivers record spending on health, with more money to improve our hospitals. It delivers record spending on education, with two new schools in Palmerston and improved schools right across the Territory. It delivers jobs – 5000 jobs created in the last year - and more money to train Territorians and provide a skilled workforce.
Madam Speaker, it delivers on our Closing the Gap initiative and commitment to tackle indigenous disadvantage. It delivers on lifestyle for families, with more money for the environment, parks, sport and fishing. It delivers the highest ever record infrastructure budget of $870m. The stamp duty cuts and the payroll tax cuts in Budget 2008-09 make the Territory the lowest-taxing jurisdiction in Australia for small business. We have the highest economic growth in the country, forecast in this budget to be 6.6% for 2008-09. Budget 2008-09 ensures that Territory families benefit from our strong economy. Budget 2008-09 delivers all this while providing strong financial management. It is a balanced budget. The estimate surplus for 2007-08 is $5m and, importantly, we are forecasting surpluses for the first time in all of the future years.
Budget 2008-09 helps to continue to make the Territory the best place to live, work and raise a family. It delivers for Territory families now and, importantly, into the future.
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Distinguished Visitor
Distinguished Visitor
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the Gallery of the former Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, Mr Terry McCarthy. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Budget 2008-09 – Budget Surplus
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
How can you get $333m more than you expected and, then, only return a surplus of $5m?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Strong financial management it is not just about squirreling away the dollars with announcing increasingly large surpluses. It is actually doing what Territory families want you to do; it is about spending into the core services of need: more police on the streets; better education right across the Territory; better health funding; significantly improving and increasing our infrastructure spend; delivering tax cuts; and delivering cuts to stamp duty. Territorians do not want to see government just squirreling it away into their surplus, into their back pocket and taking care of themselves by announcing large surpluses. They want to see government delivering improved services. That is what Budget 2008-09 does.
Budget 2008-09 – Safer Communities
Ms ANDERSON to CHIEF MINISTER
How does Budget 2008-09 deliver for Territory families and make our streets safer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. Budget 2008-09 does deliver for Territory families right across all sectors of infrastructure and social spending. The budget is delivering for Territory families by providing record amounts for health, education, roads and infrastructure, and also cutting taxes for businesses, giving them the confidence to invest and employ more people across the Territory.
We have a record budget for Police, Fire and Emergency Services of $247m this year, an increase of 81% since 2001. Under the budget this year, an additional 35 police officers will be recruited to make our streets and communities safer across the Northern Territory - the first of 60 officers to be recruited under the two-year Safer Streets program. This program is worth $9.3m and will deliver more patrols in urban areas to tackle youth crime and antisocial behaviour. There is also $13m to upgrade the police communications network, which our police rely on. This will be the platform they can build on into the future.
There is also funding in the budget to tackle youth crime. As the Treasurer said in her delivery of the budget speech today, we have tough laws on youth crime and we are backing them up with money in the budget. We have closed the revolving door on juvenile diversion, with over $2m to establish a regime for Parental Responsibility Agreements and Orders. This will guarantee compliance with those orders as they are handed down by the courts for that small number of parents - a very critical target group - who do not appear to give a damn what their kids are up to at night, causing grief around the Northern Territory. There is $450 000 for new youth camps to get those young offenders out of the cycle of crime and into a more positive environment.
In the bush, there is $4.3m to deliver 24 additional police resources for the Child Abuse Task Force. This represents part of our critical fight in improving safety and security for our children throughout the Northern Territory. The task force has the essential role of collecting evidence to bring abusers to courts, which is important, fundamental work we have to do, and 24 additional police is certainly going to assist and make big inroads.
There is $2.3m for increased police numbers in remote communities; $420 000 to establish 10 community courts across the Northern Territory to deliver justice in the communities; and $980 000 for an additional 10 Community Corrections officers and two extra court clinicians.
Budget 2008-09 is about delivering safer communities for all Territory families wherever they live.
Treasurer’s Advance – Use of Funds
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
Last year, you drained Treasurer’s Advance twice. The first time you removed $35m to help bolster the Department of Local Government and, then, in February, you took another $95m. That is $130m of unbudgeted expenditure from your own appropriation and has nothing to do with anyone other than your own Cabinet’s decisions. If it was not for unexpected revenue, it would have been a $130m black hole. What is the point of a budget process when you do not bother sticking to it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question shows that the Leader of the Opposition has absolutely no idea what the Treasurer’s Advance is and how it is used as a mechanism for government. Treasurer’s Advance is a mechanism providing extra funding to agencies during the financial year. That is simply why it exists. This is provided either as a transfer for a specific one-off or unexpected item, or at the end of a budget exercise where appropriation is both transferred to and from Treasurer’s Advance.
The Leader of the Opposition must have missed significant commitments that the government has delivered during the past financial year. I will point out a significant one just to give an example of what Treasurer’s Advance is capable of being used for. For example, in agencies where they were delivering additional resources into meeting the announcements in and around Closing the Gap, they may well have needed to look at Treasurer’s Advance.
There are items that come up from time to time that are one-off expenditures or, indeed, where an agency has had extended service delivery into its particular area where, at the end of the financial period, they come and seek Treasurer’s Advance. It is a holding account with money moving in and out of Treasurer’s Advance. It is not unusual at all for Treasurer’s Advance to have been used in a way that it was used over the last financial year.
Budget 2008-09 – Tax Cuts
Mr WARREN to TREASURER
The Chief Minister mentioned that tax relief was an important element of our economic development in the Territory. Can you please advise the House what tax cuts there are in Budget 2008-09?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question, because Budget 2008-09 delivers tax cuts for Territory families and Territory business.
Stamp duty has been cut to improve home affordability. There is $12m-worth of stamp duty savings, with reduced stamp duty on the purchase of Territory homes, properties and businesses, along with an increase in the first homebuyer’s tax-free threshold. The first homebuyer tax-free threshold has been increased to $385 000 from $350 000. The new minimum stamp duty rate is 1.5%, down from 2.1%. The maximum rate has been reduced to 4.95%, down from 5.4%, which applies to properties valued above $520 000; a change in the threshold from $500 000.
These stamp duty cuts will deliver savings for over 1300 first homebuyers, 1700 other homebuyers, 3400 residential investors, and some 1400 commercial transactions. Along with the expansion of our HomeNorth scheme, the stamp duty cuts make buying a home more affordable for Territory families.
Territory businesses also benefit from the stamp duty cuts. Along with our payroll tax cuts, they help make the Territory the lowest-taxing jurisdiction for small business in Australia. The payroll tax cuts are the fifth payroll tax reduction since 2001, saving Territory businesses an estimated $74m. From 1 July this year, the payroll tax rate will be cut from 6.2% to 5.9%, saving an average of $4500 each year per employer. We are also cutting red tape for businesses by improving the consistency of our payroll tax laws with the other states. This will provide further savings for Territory business and will especially assist businesses that operate across state borders.
These tax cuts improve home affordability, reduce the costs of doing business and help grow our strong economy.
Aboriginal Housing and Information Referral Service – Renewal of Contract
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for HOUSING
Considering the influx of people from communities into Alice Springs and the extra demands being made on services - in particular, I am talking about the Aboriginal Housing and Information Referral Service - can you inform me if their contract is to be renewed? Their current contract expires in June. As there are staff, vehicle leases and office leases, the fact that they have not been informed and their future is unknown is completely unsatisfactory. This service is needed. The work they do with tenants and prospective tenants is invaluable. Do you intend to continue to fund this service, or will they have to close their doors in June?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question, which she has discussed with me previously. I can advise that the department is currently negotiating and having discussions with the service. They are trying to find out if they are financially viable; if they can carry the service. The reality is, if we put too much to a particular service and they cannot deliver and fall flat on their face, then not only will we lose the service but we lose a service to the community that we provide through outsource services.
I want you to know that we are looking carefully at the whole situation with the service. We want this service to be up and running properly to service the indigenous and other people in Alice Springs. The department will continue to do their proper economic analysis and feasibility of the existing service. I will be very happy to give you a full briefing on that in a few weeks time.
Budget 2008-09 - Oncology Unit
Mr MILLS to TREASURER referred to MINISTER for HEALTH
The word ‘oncology’ does not appear in any budget paper. The only mention it gets is at the back of a fact sheet, which is an accompaniment to the budget paper. Can you explain why there is no money committed to an oncology unit in this budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Territory government has set aside funding within its capacity to deliver an oncology unit. We have not announced any specific funding as part of budget announcements because, as the Leader of the Opposition well knows, we are concluding negotiations with the Commonwealth government around the financial agreement for delivering oncology to the Territory. Oncology is a service that is critically important to Territorians. Our government will not use this service as a political football. What we will do is …
Mr Mills: Who used it as a political football? You promised it twice - before elections.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: We will continue the extremely important negotiations with the Commonwealth. We will not jeopardise those negotiations by announcing publicly what we have set aside to deliver oncology, but we do have the funding capacity to deliver. We are negotiating with the Commonwealth. The Minister for Health announced an expert negotiating team, so we have every confidence in the outcome of those negotiations. Leader of the Opposition, oncology, as an important service, will be delivered on the grounds of the hospital precinct by this Labor government.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, if I might speak to that question? The Leader of the Opposition should know the Commonwealth has given the Northern Territory government the funds to negotiate through with the providers. The funds that were allocated by the Commonwealth have been given to the Territory government.
He is playing political football with this. The reason the overall amount is not in our budget papers is that it has been transferred from the Commonwealth to the Territory.
Budget 2008-09 - Closing the Gap Funding
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for INDIGENOUS POLICY
Can the minister outline some of the measures funded in this year’s budget to deliver on the government’s Closing the Gap commitment?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question, because Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families. In Closing the Gap funding, Budget 2008-09 delivers $57m for indigenous families across the Territory, with funding for housing, law and order, health, education, child protection and substance abuse. $286m is the biggest investment by any Northern Territory government, under the Closing the Gap package, to tackle indigenous disadvantage.
Under law and order - and the Chief Minister was talking about it before – there is $2.3m to increase policing in remote communities; and $4.3m to deliver 24 very much needed additional police for the Child Abuse Task Force.
In education and training, there is $10.2m for school upgrades in seven remote communities; $1.5m for 10 extra teachers; and $1.5m for new mobile preschools in remote communities.
In child protection, Budget 2008-09 gives $5.9m for the expansion of the Child Abuse Task Force; $1.3m to deliver Aboriginal child protection and care services; and $1m for a much needed expansion of the Sexual Assault Referral Services in Katherine and Alice Springs.
Health initiatives, also part of Closing the Gap, has $1.8m for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse. In Housing, there is $11.6m to house extra staff for the Closing the Gap initiative.
Madam Speaker, this Henderson government is committed to closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage in the Territory, and Budget 2008-09 certainly delivers on that commitment.
Budget 2008-09 - Oncology Unit
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
If the money is in the Territory coffers for an oncology unit, why is it not in this year’s budget as a capital expenditure item?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader for the Opposition for his question. I guess I will go back over old ground and give the answer I previously gave. The Territory government has funding set aside within our budget capacity to deliver the oncology service, which includes, of course, a capital construction program.
We are not quantifying the quantum because we have not finalised the actual negotiations that are occurring. When we finalise the negotiations, there will be a component of Commonwealth funding, there will be a component of Northern Territory government funding and, I dare say, the federal Health minister and the Territory Health minister will make that announcement.
I am not standing here today making that announcement, Madam Speaker, because negotiations have not been signed off.
Budget 2008-09 – Infrastructure Funding
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
Can you outline to the House the infrastructure funding within Budget 2008-09?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for this question, because he certainly knows how to lobby for roads funding. He is a fantastic local member. I look forward to seeing the continued improvement on the Tanami Road, an essential aspect of infrastructure spending.
Last year at budget time, we announced a record infrastructure budget of $645m. Well, this year, we are smashing that record with an infrastructure budget of $870m. $175m of this is Commonwealth money that comes to our budget. Our contribution is $695m. That is higher than any previous Commonwealth and Territory-funded infrastructure program combined.
We are investing in the future of the Northern Territory. Highlights of the infrastructure spend include a roads budget of $271m. Tiger Brennan Drive and Victoria Highway are the biggest projects, and there are projects right across our Territory. The road repairs and maintenance budget is up to $71m. Roads are the arteries of our economy, and our port is the gateway to our economy. Budget 2008-09 delivers $60m to improve the capacity of East Arm port.
There is also the Remote Housing Construction Program, which is being delivered in conjunction with the Commonwealth. Our Undergrounding Power program continues into Millner in Budget 2008-09. Last year, we announced an $812m five-year program for essential services infrastructure. This year, further projects have been added, with a total program of more than $1bn over the next five years.
Infrastructure spending in Budget 2008-09 is our investment in the future of the Territory. Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families now but, importantly, into the future.
HomeNorth Scheme – Housing Affordability
Mr WOOD to TREASURER
You said in your election budget speech that, because of your government’s changes to the HomeNorth scheme, an average Territory family will have access to a quarter of the houses on the Northern Territory market. Considering the price of houses would include the prices of all houses in the Territory including Tennant Creek, Katherine and Alice Springs, and that a house in Alice Springs - according to your budget papers - is, on average, $100 000 cheaper than in Darwin; $150 000 cheaper than in Katherine; and $310 000 if you live in Tennant Creek; does that not mean that the average median price for a house is actually much higher in the Darwin region and, therefore, much harder for people to access a loan via HomeNorth if they live in the Darwin region?
Does your budget not gloss over the real facts for those wanting to buy a house in the Darwin region? Or is this really part of a decentralisation program to move families to other parts of the Territory where houses are affordable?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his statement. It is really important to understand what HomeNorth is as a product ...
Mr Wood: Could you answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: HomeNorth as a product is designed to assist low-income earners enter into the home ownership market. It is not designed to assist everyone; that is, we do not design it to assist people who really cannot afford to enter into the property market, or those who should be going to the other financial institutions - the banks, the mortgage lenders and the credit unions.
With HomeNorth, we have done a region-by-region breakdown to see what is happening in the property market. We have taken the average over the last year to see how that translates region-by-region into the property market. We then had a look at how HomeNorth translates for singles, couples, and couples with dependants so we can identify exactly what access they have to those property markets.
We have made all the appropriate adjustments to HomeNorth announced in this budget so that people can access the property market but so we do not distort that market ...
Mr Wood: That is all you are worried about.
Ms LAWRIE: The member for Nelson would have this government distort the property market by overextending the HomeNorth reach into the property market ...
Mr Wood: You limit the number of blocks you release.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms LAWRIE: The worst thing a government can do is distort the property market, particularly at a time when we are seeing a moderation of property prices occurring.
With the moderation of property prices, the adjustments we have done to HomeNorth announced in the budget will see an increased reach into that property market. We are basing this on actual sales, not on the prices published in the real estate section lift-out of the newspaper. We have dealt with the year on average. We have looked at how that translates across the region. It is giving people access to units and houses. What we will not do is distort the market by overextending the reach of HomeNorth into the market.
Further, we are taking a very contemporary approach to HomeNorth. We are making quarterly reviews of the HomeNorth scheme from now on to ensure that we are adjusting it as necessary to keep pace with the market; that is, whether the market is picking up or moderating, which we are currently seeing. What we will not do, which is what the member for Nelson would probably like us to do, is just set people up to fail and overextend them in their entry into the marketplace.
Budget 2008-09 - Education Funding
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can the minister detail the government’s commitments in Budget 2008-09 for new schools and upgrades to existing schools across the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. The member for Brennan, like the member for Drysdale, is part of the Henderson government in building new schools and continuing its commitment to upgrading schools across the Territory. We all know Budget 2008-09 is delivering for Territory families.
This government will spend $48.8m to build two new schools in the Palmerston suburb of Rosebery, with Budget 2008-09 delivering $9.5m for headworks at the site.
Palmerston, as we all know, is the Territory’s second largest centre and one of Australia’s fastest-growing towns. We are delivering for Palmerston families. Our long-term education plan will ensure Palmerston families have access to the best possible education facilities for their children. The new Rosebery Primary School will cater for 600 students, and the middle school will have a capacity for 850 students. This government is delivering on a record school infrastructure and upgrade program.
Budget 2008-09 delivers $9.5m in funding for upgrades at schools in Darwin and Alice Springs. New building programs are funded at Alawa, Jingili, Leanyer, Malak and Nakara schools. In Alice Springs, Ross Park Primary School will receive an extra $2m in Budget 2008-09 for Stage 2 of its major upgrade. This means better facilities for students and teachers, with upgrades to classrooms, as well as mechanical and electrical work. I visited Ross Park in February and met with the principal, Karen Blanchfield, and all the teachers, and they are doing a fantastic job. They are excellent staff and are achieving some fantastic results. This funding comes on top of the $1m that we provided with Stage 1 of their upgrades.
Madam Speaker, this budget contains more than $10m in Closing the Gap initiative funding for upgrading our remote schools across the Territory. In Budget 2008-09, $6.3m will be provided for minor new works, and $26.81m for repairs and maintenance to all our schools. This budget does deliver for Territory families.
Budget 2008-09 – Police Budget
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
In 2002-03, police spent $141m. This year, you have announced that it will be $247m. That is an increase of 75%. In the 2002-03 Police Annual Report, it was reported that 79% of people surveyed felt safe at home after dark. However, in the 2006-07 annual report, that figure had fallen to 78% despite an improvement in the national figures over the same period. Do you see it as a policy failure, after spending all those millions upon millions of dollars, that people feel less safe in the Territory now than they did five years ago?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome this question from the Leader of the Opposition. I will tell you what the policy failure was: it was a freeze on police recruitment under the CLP government. It was years of no recruitment to the police force that this government inherited, where we saw a real concern for community safety. We had a deficit at the sergeant level of police, which we have been addressing in a fantastic recruitment campaign that the police have pursued both interstate and locally. We have had graduate squad after graduate squad to build up our police numbers from a deficit.
I welcome the fact that Budget 2008-09 delivers 60 more police to address the community safety concerns to make our suburbs safer ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I fear the point has been missed. The issue is: why do people feel less safe today than they did five years ago? That is the point of the question.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition can quibble about his 1% hidden away in the statistics. He is all excited about his 1% - the 79% down to 78%.
Mr Mills: These are people!
Ms LAWRIE: He can get excited about those statistics. The reality is, what Territory families want to see is more police on our streets ...
Mr Mills: They want to feel safe at home.
Ms LAWRIE: He is a bit excited today, Madam Speaker.
Mrs Miller: No, it is called totally frustrated with your answers. You stand there smirking like a theatrical queen.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer has the call.
Ms LAWRIE: What Territory families want to see is more police on their streets. That is what Budget 2008-09 delivers: 60 new police funded for our streets. I know the police have their graduate squads working hard to deliver those numbers for the government with the extra resources we put in.
However, we are not just doing it in our towns; we are also increasing policing in our remote areas and communities. It is critically important to do both. This government is very proud of the significant additional resources we are putting into our police, because that is what the community would like to see: more police on the streets. We are delivering 60 more police in this budget.
Budget 2008-09 – Health Budget
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you inform the House of the Territory government’s record spend in the budget for Health, and what that will mean for Territory families?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. Some $915m into health is a record spend. I know the member for Arnhem is particularly pleased that there will be a new health clinic built at Milingimbi for some $4.5m. Not long after I became Health Minister, I visited Milingimbi - I have been to Milingimbi quite a number of times over the years - and I was appalled at the state of the health clinic. It had been left to go to rack and ruin for many years - decades of neglect. I came away from that and spoke with the CEO and also the then Treasurer, the member for Nhulunbuy, and said: ‘We must get a new clinic at Milingimbi. It must go on the design list for the 2007-08 year’. That is what has happened. This year, we are now clear to build that $4.5m clinic at Milingimbi - and not before time.
Included in regional highlights is $1.7m for Stage 3 at Tennant Creek Hospital. That is important. If you look right across the regions, this is a government that has been investing heavily in infrastructure in our regions. That is very important because, for many years, they were neglected. I applaud that and am proud to be a Health Minister who is directing that, along with my Cabinet and Caucus colleagues.
We have increased our health expenditure since we came to government in 2001 by 89% - nearly 90%. We are spending $229m this year at Royal Darwin Hospital. That is just over double the expenditure than when we came to power in 2001. Similarly, Alice Springs Hospital receives $113m this year - and so the list goes on.
Talking of Alice Springs, Allied Health Services at Alice Springs is boosted by $200 000 this year. As the Treasurer alluded to in her budget speech, Hospital in the Home is being bolstered in Darwin and Alice Springs. This is very important to help people in their own home.
I have already spoken a number of times in this place about the boost to the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme. It is a significant investment of $2m overall into our Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, which I am sure will be very welcome.
The Community Midwifery program will be boosted in RDH and Alice Springs with additional funding of $280 000.
Just as importantly, building on the progress we have made and investment into renal services, there is an extra $1m in the 2008-09 financial year. This is about decentralising those services. Certainly, Alice Springs and Darwin are major hubs, but we are looking at having dialysis stations throughout the region.
Regarding the Australian Health Care Agreement, evidence of cooperation between this government and the new federal government is a boost over the next year so that we were able to put $3m into our core services within our hospitals - $3m extra. Under the Howard government, indexation in the Health Care Agreement was ratcheted down so, at the end of the Howard years, instead of a 50:50 split of spending between the Territory and the Commonwealth, it was 70:30 - 70% Territory burden, 30% Commonwealth. They had cost-shifted back on to the states and territories - and the Leader of the Opposition has the gall to ask where all the money has gone!
Well, firstly, we have invested in the services I have talked about but, secondly, your mates who were in power in Canberra were cost-shifting from the states and territories. We know that health budgets are very large; we are talking about significant amounts of money. However, we are redressing that situation. We have a partnership with the new federal government, so we are investing in core services like radiology - very important, right across the Territory, not just Royal Darwin Hospital - and a whole range of services within our hospital. We are a government that has invested up to now in our health system, and we will continue to invest right across the Territory.
Health Policy Failure Allegation
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
We hear that your government has increased spending to health by over 80%. In spite of this, there are still ambulances being forced to park in parking bays to deal with excess patients in the Emergency department, and the growth of separations has far exceeded population growth. These are indicative of a health system under stress. Do you acknowledge this as policy failure that, after spending all this extra money, separations are up and patients are still being treated in the backs of ambulances?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. The question really goes to the operation of the Health Department. I have every confidence in our Health Minister and our health professionals in how they are working hard under very difficult circumstances, because we get more presentations to our Emergency departments in the Territory than they get anywhere else in Australia.
We also have a higher degree of chronic disease in the Territory as well. We are also getting more traumas through by the nature of cause. We know that we have unacceptable levels of alcohol abuse in the Territory and we are seeing more traumas through. I know some of those traumas are road traumas, very sadly. We have a very hard-working hospital system right across the Territory. We make absolutely no bones about it: our health dollar is being spent incredibly wisely and well into our system, where we have very hard-working health professionals delivering a quality health service for Territorians.
We are increasing our commitment to hospitals. We are increasing funding in our hospitals right across the Territory but, importantly, we are also increasing our commitment to those frontline health services. I know the Health Minister is absolutely focused on not just dealing with the health system as we have it today, but also ensuring that we are dealing with the preventative measures in and around health, so we can start to drive and push back down on those presentations that we are seeing.
We are dealing with highly complex cases in the Territory compared with other jurisdictions. Health professional see the NT as a very attractive place to come to understand the craft, because of the complex nature of the presentations we get in our Emergency departments and the people we have in those long-term care beds, sadly, in our hospitals.
We make no apology for increasing our funding into health. We will continue to use the strong, economic growth that we are experiencing in the Territory, due to sound financial management and going after and pursuing those key economic drivers in the manufacturing and mining industries. We are getting …
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is a clear misunderstanding. We are talking about the results of the spending, not the spending. Are we getting an achievement from the spending, not how much money is being spent. The point has not been accepted nor answered.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is bizarre. He does not like the Treasurer to talk about money. I am the Treasurer. Of course, I am going to have a financial perspective to the discussions in and around the health system. If he wants a policy debate on health, he should ask a policy question of the Minister for Health. As a Treasurer, I am going to give a Treasurer’s response to a health funding question. If he wants a policy debate, ask the Health Minister a policy question.
Madam Speaker, we make no apology for increasing the services at our core hospitals, so we have more beds available at Royal Darwin Hospital. The Rapid Admission Planning Unit there is fantastic. I had occasion to be at the Emergency department not long ago and I was incredibly impressed by the thorough and professional attitude and direction taken by the staff of the Emergency department at Royal Darwin Hospital.
I am also proud that we are increasing funding in Alice Springs. We are fixing up the rectification works at the Alice Springs Hospital. We are addressing the needs of the Emergency department. We are putting more funding into Gove Hospital, more funding into Tennant Creek Hospital, more funding into Katherine Hospital. We make no apology for the funding into our health system, because we have very high, complex health needs in the Territory, driven by very high chronic illness rates.
Budget 2008-09 – Delivering for Central Australian Families
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Can you please inform the House how today’s budget invests in the future and delivers for families in Central Australia.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for her question. The Henderson government’s investment in Central Australia in Budget 2008-09 will deliver more services and facilities. We are delivering for Territory families with a budget that outlines record spending for health, education, infrastructure and police. That means better services and facilities today and into the future.
Owning your own home is a dream for many. Under our changes to HomeNorth and cuts to stamp duty, more Centralians can now purchase their own home. They will also have more homes to choose from. In Alice Springs now, under HomeNorth, people will be able to buy a new home for $265 000, up from $240 000. Just having a chat with Doyley from Frampton’s on the weekend, he is very busy at the moment, and he is going to be even busier.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, if the member was to concentrate on his real estate skills rather than his horse racing skills. Anyway, that is another story.
Community safety is an issue for people living in Central Australia. Central Australia will receive $40.72m in Budget 2008-09 for community safety. A $9.3m two-year Safer Streets plan for the Territory will deliver more patrols and resources for Alice Springs.
We are also investing in critical infrastructure. Alice Springs power generation will receive $26m, and the Alice Springs Desert Peoples Centre will receive $10.7m in this budget.
Under this budget, there will be better roads, more buildings and facilities for people living in Central Australia. $4m will be spent on access roads to the horticulture district at Pine Hill. This is critical infrastructure supporting the development of jobs for local people in the Centre. In addition, over $25m will be spent on improving regional roads across Central Australia this financial year. This includes Santa Teresa Road, Maryvale Road, the highways of Tanami, Plenty, Sandover, Stuart and Lasseter, and also the Docker River Road and Finke Road. This is great news for people living in remote parts of the Centre and great news for regional development.
The future prosperity of the Centre relies on the Henderson government’s commitment to a strong education framework. Over $100m will be invested across the Centre this financial year in early childhood, primary, middle school and secondary education. Some highlights include: $2.25m allocated to Ross Park Primary to continue the upgrading work; $300 000 allocated to upgrading the airconditioning at Acacia Hill; $2m committed to establish a middle school at Alparra in the Utopia region; and $670 000 allocated to establish new mobile preschools in remote communities.
The Alice Springs Hospital received an additional $14.6m to continue the upgrading work, including $6m this financial year for a new Accident and Emergency Department. I must compliment all the nurses and staff within that hospital which I visited only a few weeks ago. They do a great job and this upgrade of Accident and Emergency will complete the works there. Almost $3m will be provided for additional bed capacity at the hospital.
Alice Springs’ new status as a solar city will be reinforced with $6m for renewable energy projects and rebates, demonstrating that Alice Springs really is the solar heart of Australia.
Businesses in Central Australia will benefit from tax cuts and reducing red tape. The Northern Territory remains the lowest-taxing jurisdiction for small and medium businesses in Australia. Businesses with up to 100 staff pay the lowest recurrent taxes in Australia. This is a great budget for Central Australian families and businesses.
Budget 2008-09 – Seniors Concessions for Motor Vehicle Registration
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for SENIOR TERRITORIANS referred to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
The NT Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme allows for a concession of $104 for vehicle registrations. It seems that this has been the amount for many years. I have tried to research it and we reckon it is about two decades since it was changed ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order; Madam Speaker! The question should actually be appropriately addressed to me as I administer MVR.
Mrs BRAHAM: Is he not the minister for seniors policy?
Ms Lawrie: You are talking about an operational budget there.
Mrs BRAHAM: Okay. Sorry about that.
Madam SPEAKER: That is fine. Just direct your question through the Chair please, member for Braitling.
Mrs BRAHAM: Who am I directing it to, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: I will decide that when you finish the question.
Mrs BRAHAM: The concession has been the same for many, many years. Of course, at the same time, we know registration fees have increased. Will you commit to increasing this concession for our pensioners and carers as a demonstration by this government of your scheme’s objective - which is to provide incentives for NT senior citizens to remain in the Territory during their retirement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to take this question as both the Treasurer and the minister for Transport who deals with motor vehicle registration. The Pensioner Concession Scheme, by which we deliver concessions within the MVR categories, has funding set aside in Budget 2008-09 of $12.8m. This is to provide a range of concessions and support for seniors. Within this, we have the MVR concessions that the member for Braitling talked about.
We are expecting to spend around $12.5m in 2007-08 in that pensioner concession and support for senior schemes, so we are increasing funding into the scheme as need requires ...
Mrs Braham: But are you increasing the subsidy?
Ms LAWRIE: In terms of adjusting the concessions within the scheme, no, I have not taken adjustment to the concessions within the scheme in this round of budget announcements.
However, member for Braitling, you are a terrific advocate for seniors of the Territory, as is the member for Millner, our Minister for Senior Territorians, and my Cabinet colleagues. I do not doubt at all that they will be coming at me for further adjustments and concessions in the future.
Budget 2008-09 – Territory Parks
Mr WARREN to MINISTER for NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE
The Territory’s unique environment is very important to our great Territory lifestyle. Can you please outline how Budget 2008-09 is delivering for Territory families by protecting our environment while at the same time improving our fabulous Territory parks?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. Budget 2008-09 does deliver for Territory families, and this government is determined to secure and improve the Territory lifestyle for all Territorians. That is why this budget continues to protect our natural environment, tackles the challenge of climate change, and provides the investment necessary to make our world-class parks even better.
When I talk about the environment, Budget 2008-09 provides an additional $2m to support Bushfires NT volunteers and brigades preventing, managing and responding to fire hazards in regional and remote services. I know that money will be quite welcome in areas like Alice Springs, where I met with the Bushfire Brigade. They are a worthy band of volunteers. I place on record my thanks to the previous Environment minister for the work that she did on this. We are very fortunate to have a good Treasurer in her as well.
In addition, we have set aside $700 000 to establish an air quality program in Darwin. We have also put $500 000 aside to improve water quality and management across the Territory.
This government is committed to tackling climate change. We are spending $5m over the next three years to assist businesses and households to reduce their carbon footprint. The 2008-09 Budget also provides $10.8m to deliver clean energy to remote indigenous communities - a great thing for the bush. $6m will be provided for rebates, renewable energy industry support and skill development in indigenous communities, roadhouses, and pastoral and rural properties. We have heard the Minister for Central Australia talk about the great work that is going on in this budget as far as solar power and renewable energies in Alice Springs, which is great work.
In parks and infrastructure, Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families by making our world-class parks even better. It provides $4.4m to Stage 1 of the Litchfield upgrade, including more facilities at Wangi Falls. I went there the other week and had a look at those proposed areas where it is going to happen. It will be fantastic. It will serve all Territorians, particularly when we talk about lifestyle. It is a lifestyle for Territorians, and for attracting people to the Top End. Lifestyle is what we value, and people down south value, and they are coming here. This is a great attraction for them. I am pleased that we are able to put $4.4m this year into the upgrades at Litchfield.
Budget 2008-09 also provides $5.2m to upgrade Leanyer Recreation Park to put in new slides, additional shade, seating and ...
Mr Wood: That really is a conservation area, that is.
Mr KIELY: Madam Speaker, this is a very worthwhile project. Those naysayers on the other side who really bagged Leanyer when we first put that up have come to realise that this facility is loved by people in the Top End, Palmerston, Virginia, and in Humpty Doo. They all come in; all of Darwin and Palmerston get there. This is a great facility and we look forward to improving it for all Territorians. It is another worthwhile addition to our Territory lifestyle.
Madam Speaker, the member for Goyder - God bless him - will be delighted to hear that, through this government’s strong financial management, we are able to finance a $1.5m rebuilding of the Fogg Dam boardwalk. I have to tell you I am glad that is getting done. I am so glad to get the member for Goyder off my back, it is just wonderful. For the Friends of Fogg Dam and all those people who like the natural environment, and all the twitchers – that is the name for them - this is fantastic. It has been a long time coming, but it is getting there. It will be there by the end of this year, and we are really looking forward to it. Member for Goyder, do not bother me anymore; it is happening. All right? $1.5m ...
Mr Warren: I haven’t started.
Mr KIELY: He is still at it. I am sure he will find another project.
Madam Speaker, this budget delivers for Territory families. It protects our unique environment, tackles the challenge of climate change, and builds our world-class park system. I say it with my hand on my heart, that I congratulate the Treasurer for an outstanding first budget.
Category 1 Child Protection
Notifications - Attention Time
Notifications - Attention Time
Mr MILLS to TREASURER
This government has made much out of the issue of child protection. In 2002-03, the budget for this area was $14.7m. Last financial year, it grew to $31.5m, and I notice in this year’s budget it is broken down but it still appears to be around $36m. With all that extra money, can you explain why 29% of Category 1 Child Protection Notifications are not attended to within the departmental guidelines of 24 hours, when you indicate in the budget papers that all Category 1 notifications must be attended within 24 hours?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I recall being asked the exact same question during the estimates process when I was the Minister for Family and Community Services. Despite the fact that it is actually a question that would normally be answered by the portfolio minister, this government makes no apology for having increased resources into the area of child protection, particularly into the front end of the system, which is the intake services which do the very quick responses that the Leader of the Opposition’s question was about.
How do we change what we do today as opposed to what was done in the past? Well, a fundamental and critically important change is that this government created the Child Abuse Task Force. That is an intake team that combines Police and FACS workers, who are literally co-located in an office and deal with those intake calls as they come through. The feedback I am getting from child protection workers is that it is critically important to be co-located with police because of the combined knowledge of the two agencies. The police database systems and criminal history information is important to making that very rapid assessment as to what level of investigation it requires, when - and by whom, importantly, as well.
So what does Budget 2008-09 deliver to CAT Force? Funding for 24 additional police and 23 additional child protection workers. I look forward to the debate in and around estimates between the Minister for Child Protection and the opposition. We will fund into this critical area of need. We have 106 extra child protection workers funded by the Territory government under funding commitments we have made. That compares to …
Ms Scrymgour: $8m.
Ms LAWRIE: It was almost a decade of no change in staff allocation, resources or funding to Child Protection Services under the CLP.
I will stack up the funding and resources the Labor government is putting into child protection any day - any day - against the deficit we inherited ...
Mr MILLS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! According to their own guidelines, one-third of these kids are not being attended to. That is the issue: nearly 30% of these kids are not being attended to, according to their own guidelines.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Ms LAWRIE: That is not true. I caution the Leader of the Opposition. He would not want to get into the realms of misleading parliament …
Mr Mills: What? Using your own information?
Ms LAWRIE: He is leading with his chin on this one. It is around the timeliness of responses, not whether or not there is a response. Every call that comes in - and I refer you to the Hansard of Estimates last year, where we had a child protection expert from our agency explain this very issue to the then shadow minister, who is no longer in this Chamber, who had somewhat of a better inkling of this question than the Leader of the Opposition has - who is leading with his chin.
Every single call that comes in is afforded an assessment, and whether or not an investigation occurs results out of that assessment. However, 100% of calls are assessed. What we are finding is that we have a far more robust assessment process now, because we have CAT Force - FACS workers sitting next to police, dedicated to do these intake calls, and to assess, at a higher level than I would argue has ever been assessed before under an under-resourced area of Child Protection. So, lead with your chin on this one and read the Estimates Hansard from last year to get an inkling - just an inkling - Leader of the Opposition, of how Child Protection Services work in the Territory.
Budget 2008-09 – Sport and Recreation
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for SPORT and RECREATION
Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families and is investing in our future. Can you please explain what this means for Sport and Recreation?
Mrs Braham: Are you sure he can answer it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. I love sport and recreation. I love the lifestyle sport and recreation delivers. I am very proud of our announcements we are about to make in Sport and Recreation.
I pick up on the member for Braitling’s comments. If she knew who to ask, who had the ministerial responsibilities for what, then we would not have had the confusion she caused herself. Yes, I do want to answer this question.
The 2008-09 Budget delivers for Territorians. It is about investing in our future. Territorians love their sport; sport and recreation is an important part of our great lifestyle. We are committed to maximising sport and recreation opportunities for Territorians, no matter where they live – in urban, rural or remote areas.
Budget 2008-09 commits $25.8m to Sport and Recreation. Budget 2008-09 provides an extra $1m a year over the next two years for facilities and development grants to upgrade sporting infrastructure. This means $3.7m becomes available over the next two years for better sporting facilities for Territorians, and that helps all our local sporting bodies wherever they are. Better sporting facilities are a tangible investment in our future. There will be $1m a year for remote Sport and Recreation Offices under Closing the Gap. We have unlimited potential there to develop many of the issues that we have been talking about for many years in this House. Closing the Gap puts real money into these areas of great need.
Spending also includes $2.1m for a new five-year deal to secure international cricket for the Territory. Madam Speaker, I had the pleasure to be a part of the Legends cricket match when I bowled a few overs. I was bitterly disappointed when the umpire did not pay LBW, because I would have had myself a Test wicket.
Australia plays Bangladesh in a three-match One Day Series in the first international match as part of the new agreement. Games will be played in Darwin on 31 August, 3 September and 6 September - great for Territory families.
There is $900 000 for Stage 4 upgrades for Hidden Valley raceway; and $200 000 as part of a $1m package to get an AFL side into our national competition. We saw Austin Wonaeamirri kill them at the MCG on the weekend, and I am sure we can uncover a few more ...
Ms Scrymgour: At Tiwi.
Mr BONSON: They are all over the place there, member for Arafura. There is $4.8m for a netball centre which will also be built this year, due to be completed in early 2009.
Budget 2008-09 will also deliver more elite level sporting events than ever before. I am going to have to take a breath here, because here it comes: Australian Football League matches this Dry Season; an NBL match; the V8 Supercars; the Crusty Demons motorcycle riders spectacle - and I am looking forward to that; the Masters Games in Alice Springs - and unfortunately, I have to say, I am going to be a participant this year; I wish I was 21 again, but that ain’t happening; the Arafura Games in 2009; a National Rugby League match; and, of course, the Rugby Hottest 7s. Gee, we are looking forward to a busy time this year in sport and recreation.
We are committed to delivering the best in national and international sports by continuing to support grassroots Territory sport. Funding of $6.4m - I repeat, $6.4m - will go to grassroots sports and recreation. Grassroots – getting down to the kids. That is what we want we do: looking after Territory families. Little wonder the Territory is such a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Madam Speaker, Budget 2008-09 is all about delivering the future for Territory families and investing in the people of our future.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016