2006-08-22
Member for Sanderson – Conduct
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
The member for Sanderson has proven himself to be an unrestrained disgrace. To remind you of what he said to a 61-year-old woman, I will quote his reported words. This might refresh your memory, Chief Minister: ‘I have a very long tongue and I could make you a …’
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, this morning we discussed that and it has been ruled out of order.
Ms CARNEY: We did discuss it this morning, Madam Speaker. It is difficult to question the government when the very utterances of the member for Sanderson have been deemed words not appropriate for this place. I ask again, Madam Speaker, that you refer me to the relevant Standing Order and that you again seek advice from the Clerk, because it is the view of the opposition that the utterances of the member for Sanderson that were published all over the Northern Territory and beyond ought properly be placed on the Parliamentary Record.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, this morning we discussed this and I ruled that it was inappropriate, the reason being that reading from material, if it is of an unparliamentary nature, and the words you are using are unparliamentary, are ruled unparliamentary and cannot be used. The reason being is that if it is allowed this time, then, in debates that are unrelated to this, it could therefore be that members could be using those sorts of words or, in fact, those exact words in another debate and it would not be possible to rule that out of order because I had already allowed it to be used once in this House. As you request, I will ask the Clerk again so that you can be satisfied, but that it is my ruling at this stage.
Having received advice, I maintain the position and I ask you to withdraw the comments that you made. You can, of course, Leader of the Opposition, and it is necessary in a democratic system for you to be able to mount a good argument, which is what I would expect from you, I ask you to reword without being unparliamentary.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Naturally, I accept your ruling.
Chief Minister, I will start again and I will rephrase the question in the following terms: the member for Sanderson has proven himself to be an unrestrained disgrace. I am unable to use, in the parliament of the Northern Territory, the words he used, so, to refresh your memory, he was the politician accused of a sex slur in which he made a number of vulgar and lewd suggestions to a member of the public. Chief Minister, when asked about the member for Sanderson’s conduct, you described him as ‘an interesting character’. In his letter of apology to his constituents, the member for Sanderson apologised for offending ‘a member of the public’. Do you not agree that the member for Sanderson did not just insult a member of the public, that, in fact, he insulted and offended every Territorian? What makes being an ‘interesting character’ an excuse for being offensive? Chief Minister, do you want seedy men to be a part of your party?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we went through this at length, a serious issue for this parliament, for two and a quarter hours this morning. It was very clearly stated by this side of the House, including the member for Sanderson, that what happened in July at the cricket was very wrong and very stupid - made very clear - that was my public response. As a result, the member for Sanderson has lost a very important position in this parliament, which is Deputy Speaker and the Chairman of Committees. The response has been a very swift one. The member for Sanderson has apologised, not only to the woman involved, he has apologised to his electorate. He has apologised widely. I believe, even though the opposition does not want to let this go, and we had the Opposition Leader this morning apologising to the member for Sanderson’s family, and saying how much hurt it must be, and she did not want to hurt them …
Ms Carney: Yes. It must have been very hard for them. It must have been very difficult for them. Who does not feel for them? It must have been very hard on them, which is what makes your behaviour even more disgraceful, frankly.
Ms MARTIN: … but continues to go on, put out unsourced leaflets into the electorate and continues to do the exact opposite. This is a serious issue. I expected a serious response from the member for Sanderson. He has given one. He has paid the penalty.
Ms Carney: He has still got his job.
Hastings over Mindil Development
Mr BONSON to CHIEF MINISTER
On Saturday night, you officially opened the Hastings over Mindil complex in Darwin. Can you tell the House about the latest Darwin development, and what it says about the health of our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for the question. Saturday night, it was fireworks, champagne and black ties, and that was for the opening of Hastings over Mindil. Kerry and Dean Osborne took a big chance on this. It was a 21st Century plus design, with all kind of touch screens and electronics in each unit. I suppose you would describe it as a $55m brave, but slightly nervous, investment from the Osbornes. But they have done a great job. It really is an impressive building at Fannie Bay. It looks good. Mark Bell, the architect, has done a great job. You get excellent views over the harbour. You have breezes. You have very usable outdoor spaces, really responding to tropical living, and good recreation facilities – a couple of pools, putting green, walking track, tennis court. Those who have made that early investment off the plan, have actually doubled their investment already, and there is still about six weeks until the first owners move in. Already, they have sold 69 units out of 84.
It is not only at Hastings over Mindil where the construction work is happening around Darwin and the Northern Territory. For example, in July, just opening was Serenity on Smith, Tipperary Waters Garden Villas, Beagle Waters, Imperial Apartments, Synergy Square and Goyder 1869. Next month, we will have Elements, The Darwinian and Lameroo.
Now, what you get around town all the time is, ‘where are all the people coming from for these apartments?’ It is a regular question. With our population growth of 1.8% per annum, that is part of the answer, but despite the number of residential dwellings going up, we have a vacancy rate in Darwin in units of only 1.7%. It is just a fraction, it is a tiny little vacancy rate. And it does not only relate to units that we are seeing so much construction, but houses as well. There has been a 25% increase in value in Darwin homes in the last year …
Mr Wood: Not much good use for first home owners.
Ms MARTIN: … and the median price is now $350 000.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs Braham: What about releasing some more land in Alice Springs?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: However, it is not only in Darwin that we are seeing this. It is in the regional areas of the Territory. Member for Braitling in Alice Springs we have seen a 17.3% increase in the value of homes over the last year.
Mrs Braham: But we need more land released.
Ms MARTIN: We have a very strong growing economy. That means jobs. That means opportunities for businesses, particularly. It also means we need to build our skills base. We are doing that great work through Jobs Plan 2. The biggest gripe we get around Darwin is that it still takes you a long time to get a plumber. This is a growing economy. We have to match those skills we need. I pay tribute to all those who are growing our residential market.
Members’ Code of Conduct
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
In March 2004, when closing down a debate on the code of conduct proposed by your government, the Leader of Government Business said: ‘We will bring this legislation back later this year’. He was, of course, referring to the legislation which would have given your Clayton’s code of conduct legislative recognition. There is no legislation and it has been five years since you proposed a code of conduct for members and ministers. You have now received a copy of the opposition’s code of conduct, including the supporting legislation it needs in order for it to be effective. Will you now signal your support for that package, or will you continue to protect people like the members for Sanderson, Millner and Johnston who have had ethical questions raised in relation to their conduct?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, we went through this issue this morning. We had the Leader of the Opposition condemning the code of conduct she talked about, saying it was worthless. She called it a Claytons code of conduct. I made the point that this code of conduct - never brought in by the CLP – is in line with other codes of conduct and ethical standards around Australia.
Ms Carney: It is not. Have you seen the federal one? That is a porky!
Ms MARTIN: The Leader of the Opposition said: ‘It is worthless. It is worthless; it is a Clayton’s one’. The fact is that this came from the Standing Orders Committee. Two of her CLP members were on that committee and they came into the House saying: ‘This is good’. There was no dissenting report. In 2004, the CLP said this was a good piece of work and thoroughly supported it.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Now we have the Leader of the Opposition pretending that it did not happen at all. She referred to it as virtually useless and called it Clayton’s legislation.
Ms Carney: There is no legislation.
Ms MARTIN: The legislation is being worked on. I have to say, it did take time for the Standing Orders Committee to work through the issues of the code of conduct. It took them a number of sessions and that work happened, I would say, relatively slowly. We are going to bring the legislation through to underpin that; advice is being sought now. We will probably have the Leader of the Opposition call it Claytons as well.
Mobile Police Stations to Combat Crime
and Antisocial Behaviour
and Antisocial Behaviour
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Both Wulagi Neighbourhood Watch and Anula Neighbourhood Watch have raised issues of what they perceive to be a rise in juvenile antisocial behaviour around the neighbourhoods. I have spoken to the minister about this as late as last month. Can the minister please tell the Assembly about the newest tools the government has provided the Northern Territory Police to combat crime and antisocial behaviour?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for his question. The local member does certainly make strong representations to me in regard to issues in his electorate. At lunchtime today, I was very pleased to hand the keys over to our police at Karama for a new $100 000 mobile police station for the greater Darwin region, and I was pleased that the member for Millner took the time to come out and look at this new mobile police station that has been handed over to the police. We made a commitment in the 2005-06 budget for four brand new mobile police stations for the Northern Territory.
I was pleased to be in Alice Springs a few days ago to see the new police station there that was operational and functional in the mall in Alice Springs, to talk to police officers, members of the community, the public, in Alice Springs. It has been very well received. The police have certainly made very effective use of this new facility in a number of operations in and around Alice Springs.
The mobile stations are fitted out with all of the latest IT and communications equipment and technology. Police have access to all of their operational databases that they require to work from and their own secure Intranet facilities. It certainly gives the police a capacity across the Northern Territory to target hot spots, areas where antisocial behaviour is occurring. These mobile stations can be very quickly deployed. Quite a large number of police officers can work from them at any one time, being a very big and visible presence, and a deterring presence, as well as giving police the capacity to immediately run an operation from that area. It is great that we have the new mobile station for Darwin. It is open as of lunchtime today. The local traders at Karama Shopping Centre are very pleased with the new facility.
I am pleased to advise the member for Katherine that the mobile station should be in Katherine in about six weeks’ time. It is currently being fitted out in Victoria. The fourth acquisition for the fleet will be significantly larger than the three that have been deployed to date. It will be a forward command post that police can use with satellite communication equipment anywhere in the Northern Territory.
This is a government that has committed very strongly to improving police numbers and resources across the Northern Territory, and these mobile police stations are another part of the tool kit for our police to use in their fight against crime and antisocial behaviour across the Territory.
Member for Sanderson - Conduct
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
If you wish to insist that there is already a code of conduct in place, meaningless though it obviously is, can you advise Territorians whether the member for Sanderson’s conduct, words which we cannot utter in this parliament, contravenes that code? Will you be supporting the member for Sanderson’s pre-selection ahead of the next election? Will you support, as proposed in the CLP’s code of conduct, a provision that includes a ban on extra professional relationships between ministers and the heads of departments for which they have ministerial responsibility?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the issue of the code of conduct is one that the CLP opposition supported when it was introduced into this parliament. You very well know that the issues dealt with are ones of conduct and ethical standards. If you go through the code of conduct, it deals with conflicts of interest, declarations of interest, and with those behaviours that are pertinent to the members in the House.
If you are talking about things like the member for Sanderson’s behaviour then, as the member for Nelson said this morning, these are about commonsense and behaviour issues. To try to even attempt to somehow codify them, which no other parliament has done, does not make sense.
Ms Carney: So you just have a meaningless?
Ms MARTIN: This is not a meaningless code of conduct. It is one that the CLP supported through the Standing Orders Committee and spoke to. In regard to the member for Sanderson, what he did was very wrong and very stupid. He has paid a high price. He has lost two very important jobs in this parliament. The Deputy Speaker is a very …
Ms Carney: Lost a bit of money.
Ms MARTIN: The Opposition Leader can dismiss this and say this is a meaningless job. It is not a meaningless job; it is a very important job …
Ms Carney: Not a meaningless job, I did not say that. He still has his seat.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: The Chairman of Committees is also a very important job. Both of those have been lost by the member for Sanderson. The people of Sanderson will decide the future of the member for Sanderson, as they did at the last two elections. It is the constituency of Sanderson who will decide over the next three years on the good work done by the member for Sanderson, on the response to inquiries to problems that they have, and for the advocacy, as he did today with the mobile police station. They will decide on the work he does and whether he returns as the member for Sanderson.
It is important to remember that the lives of members of parliament are very exposed, and in making a mistake you pay a high price. There is no doubt that the member for Sanderson made a mistake. What he said was very wrong and stupid; and he is paying that price. He has apologised, specifically to the woman involved and to his electorate and, of course, more broadly. That has been done.
We have a code of conduct in place. The legislation is being worked on. I believe this parliament needs to get on with the work that we need to do to build our Territory and tackle the difficult issues we face, particularly in our regional and remote areas. I would like this parliament to focus properly on doing the things that Territorians expect us to do, and that is grow our economy and provide opportunities for all right across the Northern Territory.
Prawn Industry – Protection from
Exotic Viruses
Exotic Viruses
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
Earlier today, you called for a ban on the import of raw prawns to protect our local prawn stocks. Can you advise the House on how anglers can assist in protecting our local prawn industry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The importation of green prawns, or raw prawns is a very serious issue. Today, I again called upon the Commonwealth to ban the import of green prawns. The reason for that is because the imported green prawns can carry some very exotic viruses such as the White Spot, Taura Syndrome or Yellowhead Virus. While these viruses do not pose a threat to human health if you cook the prawns and eat them, they can decimate our wild prawn fishery, our aquaculture and even affect the crustacean and mud crab industry in the Northern Territory, closing for us interstate and international markets.
Most of the prawns you will buy at the fish shops are Australian grown prawns and, because of the way they are packaged, you can pay anything between $5 to $6 for 250 gm. Many anglers who used to go to the local supermarket where they could buy some imported green prawns, can unwittingly become part of contaminating our local stock and our local fisheries with viruses.
How serious is the problem, Madam Speaker? I have been advised that, prior to Christmas 2005, samples taken by AQIS returned 100% positive for carrying the White Spot virus. That indicated that imported prawns are not safe for our waters. I recall very well, a few years back under the previous government, there was an incident of using uncooked prawn feed for our prawn farms that were found to be contaminated. A lot of money was spent by the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries at the time to change their practices, their protocols and install a capture device so these prawns would not escape to the harbour.
People can use these prawns to go fishing, and they are used widely in Darwin. If these prawns are contaminated, there is a possibility of local prawn stocks being contaminated, passing it to other stock that we are catching or growing in our prawn farms, decimating our local industry.
I am not the only one to call for the ban, Madam Speaker. My colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry in Queensland, Hon Tim Mulherin contacted me and, together, we wrote to the Hon Peter McGauran asking him to ban the importation of green prawns. There is no problem with the importation of Asian cooked prawns. However we are asking that until the Commonwealth satisfies us by doing the testing to show there are no viruses in these prawns, then green prawn importation should cease immediately. I doubt very much if we will get a quick response from the minister, but we live in hope.
‘Little Mindil’ Development Site –
Public Access
Public Access
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
In a media release on 20 May 2005, you said that the Northern Territory government will retain public ownership of the beach and foreshore at ‘Little Mindil’. You also said the same during Question Time in March 2006. Minister, has your government clearly defined what area is to be set aside as foreshore, what land will be set aside as beach, and what area will be designated as public access to the beach and the foreshore before offering any of this land to a developer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Government has been quite consistent in its assurance and guarantee to the public that public access to the beach and foreshore at what is called ‘Little Mindil’ will be retained. In terms of the expressions of interest process that is currently occurring, it has been made very plain to those three proponents who we short-listed that that cast iron guarantee is part of the whole deal.
What we are looking for in the proposals that will come forward from the proponents is innovation in design and in layout in terms of a tropical resort. With the final lot that is turned over to the developers, that guarantee of public access to the beach will be retained.
Australian Idol – Appearance by
Jessica Mauboy
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you tell us about the outstanding success of a young Territory performer on Australian Idol last night?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to. I got home in time last night to watch Darwin’s own Jessica Mauboy making it through to the next critical round of Australian Idol. I want to celebrate this in the House now because I think she has done something quite extraordinary. Jessica, who is only 16, took that important step in what is her dream to get through to the final 24 rounds of Australian Idol to, hopefully, become the Australian Idol. If you have watched Australian Idol, you would know that thousands of people from around Australia auditioned; some of them quite extraordinary. One hundred and twenty five went to Sydney, then it was down to 100, then to 48, and last night it came down to those last 24. She certainly beat some great talent.
If you have watched Australian Idol, you know how tough those judges are. Marcia Hines is the nicest one of them. I do not know how you toss up between Kyle Sandilands and Mark Holden, as they are both really tough and confronting judges. Mark took a crack at Jessica and said she was dressed badly, and why did she have thongs on. She looked a bit taken aback, poor possum. When she sang her solo, those three tough judges applauded her, which is fantastic. They asked her if she saw herself as the next Australian Idol and she said, ‘yes’, and the judges said, ‘so do we’.
Her mother, Theresa was there, and Jessica had to tell her not to cry in front of the cameras. Just a little about Jessica herself. She is a great young Territorian. Her mother is Aboriginal. Her father, Freddy, was brought up in Timor-Leste. She has music in her blood. Freddy sang in a church choir, Theresa’s family came from Mt Isa and are big country music followers. If you remember two years ago, Jessica won the Road to Tamworth Talent Search in Tamworth when she was just 14. She won over the judges and an audience of 2000. As part of her prize, she won the first recording contract with Sony Music Australia. She recorded Cyndy Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun, which involved a video clip as well.
She also won a junior scholarship to the Country Music Association’s College of Country Music. Anyone who listens to ABC will know John Nutting, the ABC’s country music expert. He describes her talent as ‘an amazing vocal range and very promising’. Everywhere you go, Jessica is getting praised for her talent, and to get where she got in Australian Idol, which is a tough competition. You see grown men – well, young men - crying. It is tough and she has made it to the final 24.
I pay tribute to someone who has been instrumental in Jessica’s success; Darwin’s Judy Weepers. She is well known. Judy is doing her 20-somethings Beat this year, where she takes on all the choirs around Darwin. She is the heart and soul of The Beat. She taught Jessica in primary school, but broke a lifelong rule that she never took anyone for private tuition. She changed that for Jessica, and she really does put a lot of effort, not just musical effort but support, into Jessica and her career.
I know everyone in this House will be wishing Jessica Mauboy all the best of luck, and can I ask that when voting time comes along, every Territorian, get out your mobile phone and put Jessica Mauboy No 1.
Members: Hear, hear!
Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Your government was briefed by the federal Aboriginal affairs minister’s staff about the contents of the proposed changes to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act following its introduction in May this year. Yet, Chief Minister, there is clearly a rift in your Caucus, as well as between you and your party president. Is your Labor Party President, Warren Snowdon, correct in suggesting that you were ignorant of the legislation’s contents? Or, is it the case that you knew and understood the contents, but you failed to tell your Caucus of your support of these changes. Do you have the support of your parliamentary colleagues in relation to your position on the changes to the federal Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that it is not my position; it is this government’s position. The issue that somehow or other I am dragooning people through this is absolute rubbish. The major issue with the amendments to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act has been the federal government. Three years ago …
Mr Stirling: Brough said do not do it.
Ms MARTIN: … we worked through and, as the Deputy Chief Minister said, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs has admitted this. I will give you a little history here. Four years ago, we were asked by the then minister, the Hon Philip Ruddock, to look at aspects of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act to see where we could get changes working through with key stakeholders. We did that, and the first area we worked on was that area to do with mining and exploration, Part IV. We did not always get full agreement from the Minerals Council, but we had agreement with the land councils. Three years ago, we handed a raft of agreed changes to the federal government. That sat there and sat there. In subsequent conversations with Philip Ruddock as minister, I asked: ‘What are you going to do with these? What plans do you have?’ He said: ‘We have plans for other amendments’. I asked if he wanted to talk about them, and he replied, ‘No’.
The same happened with Amanda Vanstone as late as last September. I wrote to the Prime Minister at the time and asked about getting the amendments out and talking them through. Nothing! They were plonked down at the last minute, we get some time to look at them, then they are rushed through the federal parliament. We wanted the federal government to properly consult stakeholders and the Northern Territory government. It has been a rushed job. We did the work four years ago; we handed it to them.
I am not saying we disagree with all the amendments - certainly not. It is very interesting to hear that, regarding the leasing arrangements, three out of the four land councils are strongly supporting them - the Northern Land Council, the Anindilyakwa Land Council and the Tiwi Land Council. However, like all amendments, you have some Aboriginal groups and organisations saying: ‘We support these’, and you have other groups diametrically opposed not supporting the same amendments. They are very difficult, which is why we said to the federal government: ‘Slow down and let us have a look at them’.
We have the situation now where they have rushed them through the federal parliament. One of the causes of the most contention is that rush. From our point of view, we tried to catch up as the amendments were coming in. We had a good briefing for Caucus and Cabinet as we saw what was happening, and we are left in the situation where there is a level of discontent. That discontent should be directed towards the federal Indigenous Affairs minister, Mal Brough, and the Commonwealth government.
Stage 7.6 of Delfin Development
at The Chase
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
During the last sittings, you reported to the Assembly on negotiations with Delfin on Stage 7.6 of the Chase development in Palmerston. At that point, the government and Delfin had failed to reach agreement on a land swap. Can you please update the Assembly on the outcome of more recent negotiations with Delfin and the future protection of Stage 7.6?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. He has been very active on this issue and a great advocate for the people of Palmerston. He made verbal presentations, which I am told were very good, to the Development Consent Authority on this particular issue. I laud the member for Brennan on his role in getting a positive result. I also praise the residents who raised the petition and who have been very active on this issue. They have been at the very heart of this whole struggle.
It was my pleasure to go out right at the beginning when it was first raised with me and meet those residents, and walk around that particular block of land. I resolved then that I would do everything that I could to try to assist them get a positive result for what is a piece of bushland that is very close to the heart of Palmerston.
Unfortunately, we could not come to agreement with Delfin, as I recorded in the last sittings, and that saddened me. Subsequently, there has been a Development Consent Authority hearing. The authority believed that there were drainage problems to do with that particular lot, and there would be problems in developing the site that were not addressed properly in the Delfin submission.
Notwithstanding that, Delfin still had an underlying legal right regarding that block, as there was a development permit that had been issued to them many years before by the previous CLP government. They had an underlying right to that land, which meant that they could come back at any time, put another proposal, and possibly, be successful. They also had the right under the Planning Act to appeal the decision that I mentioned before.
I have always made it plain to Delfin that my door was open, that I was prepared to negotiate on the basis of a land swap of equal area for the land at Stage 7.6 The Chase with another block of land that is up Maluka Drive and Roystonea Avenue, approximately 1.4 ha in each block of land. I am pleased to say that Delfin has accepted that offer. There will be a swap of land. They will relinquish that underlying development permit to Stage 7.6. I will rezone that particular block to open space conservation, thereby safeguarding it for future generations, and that will be gifted to the Palmerston City Council. The Mayor of Palmerston has been very warm and supportive of that particular move. I should also mention that the Palmerston City Council has also been supporting residents in this particular struggle. It is with some pleasure that we did get a positive result on this.
I note the comments by the member for Nelson in his media release today about the need to safeguard such conservation areas and areas for amenities in future developments. I can assure the member for Nelson that is my intention as we open up more land to the east of Palmerston in the Bellamack area. That has always been my thought, member for Nelson, given this impasse that has happened with Stage 7.6 The Chase. It is very important for people to have amenity around their homes where their children can play, where they can walk the dog, where they can enjoy the beauty of our natural bushland.
I congratulate the member for Brennan, but especially the residents of Palmerston as they have had a real victory here.
Chief Minister and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Labor Party President and member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, said in federal parliament on 19 June 2006 in relation to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act: ‘The failure of both the Northern Territory government and the Commonwealth government to seek informed consent for these and other proposals …’. He described it as an ‘… indictment of the approach of both governments’. Chief Minister, it appears as though your Labor Party President is suggesting that you knew what was happening to the land rights legislation, but you just did not tell your colleagues. The member for Millner wrote his now famous memo …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Please pause, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr HENDERSON: This is Question Time and these questions are getting longer and longer. It is not an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to make statements. I urge you to counsel the Leader of the Opposition to get to the point of her question.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, it is quite a long question. Is it nearly at the end?
Ms CARNEY: It is, Madam Speaker, but the quote was both useful and a little lengthier than the tolerance levels of the member for Wanguri.
Madam SPEAKER: If you just continue with the question.
Ms CARNEY: Chief Minister, the member for Millner wrote his now famous memo and, as reported by the Centralian Advocate, it was reportedly leaked by the member for Macdonnell, both because of their frustration with you in the portfolio of indigenous affairs.
Mr Henderson: And the question is?
Ms CARNEY: The question, Chief Minister, is, will you now do as your colleagues want you to do, and that is hand over the portfolio of indigenous affairs, or will you arrogantly bat on?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting; the member for Lingiari and I have a good relationship though, at times, a volatile relationship. He is a very good performer. To say that there was a failure from the Northern Territory government over federal government legislation is a bit of a long bow. The ALRA changes were in the hands of the federal government. The federal government chose not to consult with stakeholders, including this government, because of their own political strategy. I do not know why. We had good consultation in the early days. The rest of it was pretty much a mystery. We did not know what they had in terms of amendments.
As I said, we do not disagree with all the amendments, but there was no chance to have those discussions. With those ALRA changes, as I said in the answer to the last question, there is no one Aboriginal view on this. There is no one land council view on this. There are a variety of views depending on where you are in the Territory and what your aspirations are. You have a difference between the land councils in response to the variety of amendments. There is agreement over the first draft to do with Part IV because we worked through that slowly, but systematically. It is difficult legislation and the federal government has not consulted all stakeholders adequately. Certainly, the member for Lingiari and Party President, Warren Snowdon, recognises that all too clearly.
The issue of indigenous affairs and indigenous policy for the Northern Territory is probably one of the biggest challenges in Australia. It is a tough area. One of the hallmarks of this government is that there is no area or department that deals with indigenous affairs. Do you know why? Aboriginal Territorians are Territorians, so when it comes to education, we do not say, ‘Aboriginal Territorians will be treated differently’. We have the same expectation running through education.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: When it comes to health, when it comes to justice, the needs of Aboriginal Territorians are part of how we deal with governing this Territory, and it is a tough area. Every indicator we have for Aboriginal Territorians is below non-Aboriginal Territorians. Aboriginal Territorians, in the majority, live in remote areas of the Territory. Service delivery is difficult and job sustainability is difficult as well. We were bequeathed very, very low literacy and numeracy levels from 27 years of the CLP government which did not insist that Aboriginal children in the Territory went to school. We are facing a great deficit with Aboriginal Territorians …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … and I do not back off it. It is the toughest job facing this government, and we will have our ups and downs. I will have my ups and downs with members of this government, too, but we are determined to make change, to work with Aboriginal Territorians to make their lives better, and to put them in a better position to contribute both to the development of the Territory and their own lives and the success of them, no matter where they live in the Territory. I proudly hold the position. I am happy to coordinate a level of indigenous policy, but I have ministers who, each and every one of them, have the concerns of Aboriginal Territorians at heart every day in their job.
Alice Springs Liquor Supply Plan
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
The Alice Springs Liquor Supply Plan restricts the sale of cask wines for three hours only from 6 pm to 9 pm each day. You are well aware that these restrictions disadvantage a number of our senior pensioners who do not go out after 6 pm to buy their liquor. They purchase cask wine for economic as well as other reasons. Minister, what can you tell them about this that will deny them their cask of wine, or do you have a solution that you will assist the Liquor Commission’s finding in relation to this problem that disadvantages a group of residents who should be able to enjoy their glass of wine?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the misuse and abuse of alcohol across the Northern Territory is a major social challenge for this government. It has been for many years. We are determined, on any of the issues before us, to make a real dent in this over the next six to 12 months. There will be a lot of work in and around local alcohol management plans in the supply reduction strategies, demand reduction strategies and harm reduction strategies being brought into place if we win on those first two.
In relation to the question of hours and when this particular product might be sold, only yesterday morning, coming back in from the northern suburbs, I heard one licensee publicly on ABC radio making points about whether this was going to be effective or work for the community, and that is what the Licensing Commission is going through now; hearing those views of the licensees that objected to the proposal in the first place.
The Licensing Commission is made up of a group of reasonable minded people who will take into account the views put – that is why they have these public hearings – by the licensees and any negative effect on the community overall.
Mrs Braham: Will you introduce the same rule for Darwin?
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker …
Dr Lim: Of course not!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: Madam Speaker, there is the bloke over the back who did nothing. In all the years he had an opportunity when he was in government as a minister, and he is saying: ‘Are you going to do it in Darwin?’
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STIRLING: They have this little complex about Alice Springs versus Darwin, and you will never get it out of their heads. You will never, ever, and I do not even intend to try.
The fact is, these issues arise at the local level, and are put forward by the local community, who are best placed in what they see occurring on the ground, in the loss of amenity that people suffer as a result of alcohol abuse. That is why we are going through these local area alcohol management plans, and that is where these issues come up. Are we going to do it in Darwin, well no-one suggested it in Darwin. These are different strategies for different areas. For example …
Mrs Braham: Come on, minister. Do you really think these pensioners are the ones causing alcohol abuse? Come on, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Braitling!
Mr STIRLING: For example, the takeaway permit in Groote. We were there Monday and Tuesday as a Cabinet last week, and the signs are terrific, 12 months on since that was introduced. More recently, on the Tiwis, with the reduction down to mid-strength, the initial signs are terrific. Now, are we going to suggest we apply that in Alice Springs? I do not think so. But it works for Groote. The takeaway alcohol permit works for Groote; the reduction to mid-strength on the Tiwi Islands works for the Tiwi Islands. Is it an answer for Katherine, Darwin, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy? Possibly not.
However, I do not rule out anything that comes forward by way of local area alcohol management plans. That is the idea of them, to get the views of the community on the table, no matter how unrealistic they are, because they will be robustly tested through the public process of hearings which the Licensing Commission is going through right now. We will have the alcohol management plan on the supply side once those issues are worked through and the Licensing Commission makes a decision on that. We will have that alcohol plan out in the public eye in the not too distant future.
Mrs Braham: Disappointing, minister. I will let them all know.
Royal Darwin Hospital – Rapid Admission
and Planning Unit
and Planning Unit
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH
Demand on the Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department is increasing, as it is in hospitals across Australia. In this year’s budget, you announced a $7.8m commitment to establish a Rapid Admission and Planning Unit at the hospital to improve patient care and take the pressure off our hard-working staff. Can you advise the House of progress with this state-of-the-art facility?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question in such an important area of the health system. Health ministers all around the country are battling with the same familiar tales, as Madam Speaker herself did with this bed block, of the piling up of patients in the emergency departments and the often long waiting times to get a proper treatment program negotiated with the staff so that the treatment of the patient right through to discharge can be not only settled, but also shared with the patient so they know what is going to be done. All of those factors are very familiar right around the country.
I had the good fortune, however, to have been approached by the clinicians, the managers and the nurses at Royal Darwin Hospital with their solution to these very difficult and deep-seated problems. They approached me just prior to the budget process with a plan for a Rapid Assessment and Planning Unit. I and the CEO of the department were so impressed by the quality of the proposal we immediately budgeted for it, $7.8m, Madam Speaker.
The fully- fledged RAPU in the Royal Darwin Hospital will have 24 treatment areas to accommodate the assessment and planning for 24 patients at a time. It will be adjacent to the Emergency Department. In the meantime, and until next year, the staff have set up a temporary nine patient capacity surgical RAPU at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Alice Springs Hospital staff are taking part in the implementation steps in Darwin so that they can have a look at how they could translate these ideas to Alice Springs.
Results after the first fortnight of operation of the interim nine bed RAPU based on surgical intervention are spectacular. In the two weeks that that unit has been operating, they have diverted 95 patients away from the Emergency Department of Royal Darwin Hospital, 41 of those were treated and discharged- these are surgical treatments - and 54 of them were transferred with a treatment program to the appropriate wards around the Royal Darwin Hospital.
Regarding the impact on the Emergency Department, the average waiting time has gone from 11 hours to six hours. That should show you the impact that the fully-fledged RAPU will make on the Emergency Department service delivery. It is quite spectacular.
Patient feedback has been absolutely positive on this new way of doing business. They like the idea that they are immediately taken and assessed; that all their diagnostics are done immediately, X-rays, pathology and microbiology are all done very quickly. The patient gets to know what is wrong with them, what is going to be done about it, when it is going to happen, where it is going to happen, and when they will go home - right up-front. That is why it is so popular with the patients.
I look forward to working with the staff and the agency on the development of the fully-fledged RAPU. It is going to have a dramatic effect on the operations of the hospital and the efficient use of our bed capacity.
Police Association President –
Comments Regarding Rise in Crime
Comments Regarding Rise in Crime
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
I assume that you are aware of the conflicting accounts regarding police members between the minister for Police and the President of the Police Association. In the last 12 months, crimes against the person have risen sharply across the Northern Territory. Offences against a person, excluding homicide, have increased by nearly 24%, with assaults up 25%, personal robbery up 90%, and sexual assaults up 11%.
Yesterday, police called for assistance to solve five indecent assaults in Nightcliff. The ABC reported today, as I am sure you know, that there were four indecent assaults in Darwin last night, and in Alice Springs there was another indecent assault. What will you say to your minister for Police and, in turn, the Police Association, that will give them the confidence that they have your support in order for the police to do what they do best; that is, protect Territorians? In other words, will you listen to the comments of Vince Kelly at the Police Association Conference? Will you accede to his requests even if your Police minister will not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am aware of the debate that is going on between the Police Association with its president, Vince Kelly, and the Police minister and police about police numbers. The fact is that we have an additional 184, I think the number is …
Mr Henderson: One hundred and seventy-five.
Ms MARTIN: … 175 extra police officers in our force than we had when we came to government in 2001. We have put significant additional funds into the police force. I cannot respond specifically to the veracity of the figures that the Opposition Leader has given us, but I am pretty sure, when you look at crime statistics, minister for Justice, that there has actually been a trend of decrease in property crime …
Dr Toyne: Yes.
Ms MARTIN: … and, in parts of the Territory, we have seen spikes in personal crime, but also some better results over those last few years of personal crimes as well. I will be corrected on that, but that is my understanding, my memory, when I last read the figures.
There is no doubt about it; we have a police force which needs to be out targeting the problems we have in the community. I believe we are doing it so much better with a much more professional force now because they are better supported with dollars and development than we had when we came to office five years ago. It is not good enough to do that comparison with five years ago, but the fact is extra resources have gone in and we have a police force in a much better condition to be able to deal with the Territory’s problems.
We are starting to see some of those crimes that were so difficult to tackle reduced. I particularly pay tribute to the Domestic Violence Units. They are a great initiative from police. The work that those officers in the Domestic Violence Units are doing is tough, but they are making a difference. They are supporting the victims of those crimes, they are working to make sure that they can bring successful prosecutions against the perpetrators; that those perpetrators are serving time in gaol. They are working hard to eliminate what was happening before - not to be able to get those victims through the court system. They are working hard to have that happen. I particularly pay tribute, not only to the Domestic Violence Unit who deserve it, but to all the police and the work they are doing.
I ask if the Police minister would like to add anything further to that response? He does not. We have 175 extra police, we are committed to 200. We will always keep that under review, but when we, over four years, put $75m additional in to our police force, that was about police numbers and resources. There are going to be arguments between the association and the Police minister and government about how some of those resources are used, but we will keep having those discussions. This is a robust area and we welcome the participation of the association.
‘Little Mindil’ – Retention of Creek
and Rainforest
and Rainforest
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for PLANNING and LANDS
In light of what you said in your previous answer about retaining the vegetation and the bush in our urban areas, why did your government not remove the creek from the proposal to develop Lot 5994 ‘Little Mindil’, and why did your government not remove the escarpment from the ‘Little Mindil’ development site and leave it as a rainforest and also, like the creek, a habitat for wildlife? Minister, if you have not yet excluded those areas from development, are you not just heading for the same problems you had at The Chase with Delfin trying to develop unsuitable land, and then the government having to work out a compensation deal?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. Before I answer it, it is significant that this is a very topical issue. The member for Nelson was asking good questions about it. However, the opposition in terms of their media comments and their position in terms of ‘Little Mindil’ have not made a sound. I will be interested, and I hope the media ask the opposition, what their position is regarding ‘Little Mindil’ as it will be interesting.
To answer the question from the member for Nelson, certainly that creek is an important area. it is actually a person-made creek - I was almost going to say a man-made creek, but it is a creek made with human hands, and it needs to be remediated. It has suffered over the years. I would be expecting the proponents who are putting forward their plans for the site to look at the remediation of that creek, along with other issues such as headworks, including access on to Gilruth Avenue.
Regarding the escarpment area, I agree; it is an important area and that will not be developed. It will be protected. There are also very clear guidelines in terms of the development that it should not exceed the height of the escarpment. I am intent on retaining amenity in that area. I believe it is going to be a fantastic development. I think it is going to add value to the properties. It will be something that will add to Darwin, not only for overseas visitors, but I would say many Darwin people will go there to enjoy this resort, and Darwin people will still be able to enjoy the foreshore and beach.
Penalties for Lighting Unauthorised Fires
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Does the minister have any advice for the would be fire bugs contemplating lighting unnecessary and dangerous fires?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. We all woke up in Darwin this morning with a particularly unpleasant smoky haze enveloping our city. At the peak of the Dry Season, and what a fantastic Dry Season we have had, we do have significant concerns about potential bushfires across the Top End, specifically given the long and late Wet Season that we had and the significant growth in the bush and in our Top End rural area.
The advice I have is that the source of the haze this morning came from a fire in the Marrakai area. There are suspicions, which have not been confirmed at this point, that it had been deliberately lit. I hope that is not the case, however, investigations will continue.
I take the opportunity to remind Territorians through Question Time that, three years ago, this government significantly increased the penalties in relation to the unauthorised lighting of fires in the Northern Territory. This is an issue from the Centre through to the Top End. Not only do people who illegally light fires put life and property at risk, they also cause significant environmental damage. Certainly, for people who suffer from asthma, this morning was not very pleasant.
To potential fire bugs out there, take note that the legislation changed a few years ago so that lighting a fire on any fire ban day has seen fines go from a maximum of $1000 to a maximum of $25 000 or five years’ imprisonment. So to people who get their kicks from deliberately lighting fires, I say: ‘Think again’.
Madam Speaker, this is an issue that this government and this parliament takes very seriously. There are very significant penalties for people who are caught indulging in such activities. I urge people who are contemplating this behaviour to think again.
Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016