2006-02-22
Papunya Council – Investigation of Impropriety
Dr LIM to CHIEF MINISTER
During the 2005 election campaign, you repeatedly defended the then candidate for Macdonnell, saying that the Papunya controversy was a smear campaign. I table a copy of a note signed by the then community CEO, the now member for Macdonnell, which appeared in the Alice Springs News last week.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, please pause. You are unable to table without seeking leave.
Dr LIM: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table this document.
Leave granted.
Dr LIM: That note describes how council property, a vehicle, was swapped for three cars that she gave to members of her family. Chief Minister, do you still stand by the member for Macdonnell without reservation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is the next phase in what has been a fairly targeted and ugly campaign that has targeted the member for Macdonnell. There have been a number of investigations about allegations that have been made about the member for Macdonnell. The federal government had an investigation through Justice and Consumer Affairs, we have had an investigation and the police have had an investigation. We have had one allegation after another, and they have proved baseless. If the member for Greatorex asks me whether I stand by the member for Macdonnell, I do absolutely, as does every single member on this side of the House.
As someone who did work in local government, what you have raised - I have seen the allegations, again, this time – was something that happened 12 years ago. The nature of Papunya and the Local Government Act is that it is not an incorporated association under the Northern Territory Associations Act. The fact is, whatever piece of paper you have, and whatever it says, is covered by the regulations that govern Papunya council.
The Minister for Local Government does not regulate the disposal of property by association councils. Councils in this category should dispose of property by resolution of council, which is what that piece of paper says. So, yet another allegation is being waved around.
My information is that whatever can be said about what happened at Papunya, is that they were properly following council procedures. Therefore, this side of the House rejects the continued attacks on the member for Macdonnell, which have been proved again and again to be baseless and not founded on any fact, but myth and allegation. We continue to reject it.
Bursary Scheme to Develop Skills Base
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
During the election campaign, you spoke of your commitment to training and growing our own professionals and tradespeople. The government promised to introduce a bursary scheme for vocational education students. Can you update the House on these bursaries and other measures taken to develop the Territory’s skills base?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. It is a question of much greater substance than the previous one.
I was always perplexed, in all of those years in opposition, as to why the former government never had something as simple as setting up a teacher bursary scheme. That was an election commitment from us and it has been fulfilled. In fact, there are two election commitments fulfilled with this. In 2001, we promised to provide student teacher bursaries to grow our own teachers through our own university, Charles Darwin University - and each year since 2002 we have put into place 20 of those bursaries at $12 000 each. We now have 42 student teachers receiving bursaries still studying; 26 have completed their teaching studies as students; 20 of those 26 now work in the Territory government school system.
I have just awarded another 20 student bursaries. I had tremendous pleasure at lunchtime meeting one of the young people who received her $12 000 for this year. That is helping young Territorians stay here, commit to the Territory, study here and develop their skills here. It is a successful example of what we talk about when growing our own. When the media said: ‘What does this mean to you?’, she said: ‘I do not have to scrabble around trying to get part-time work, and I will probably be able to insure my car for the next couple of years’. That is what it means for these people.
In 2005, we promised to upgrade the awards given to Vocational Education and Training students. We announced that VET students would be eligible for 40 scholarships at $4000 each for VET studies. I made it clear that some of those would be reserved for students from regions in remote parts of the Territory. The first 13 of those scholarships have now been awarded to VET students from across the Territory and will be awarded further throughout the year. Seven scholarships were awarded to students from Darwin, four from Alice Springs, one from Batchelor and one from Nhulunbuy, about which I am very pleased. I am proud of the recipients of those scholarships and pleased that we are able to help young people with the cost of their study. That will help keep young people coming into the VET study system and will encourage them to stay in the Territory once they have done their studies and training.
Both the bursaries and the scholarships form an important part of a whole range of a package of options and actions that this government takes to develop the skills base of our Territory, because we have managed the budget so well in the past four years, we have the capability to deliver this much-needed and much-appreciated assistance.
Papunya Council – Investigation of Impropriety
Dr LIM to CHIEF MINISTER
The former Ombudsman criticised your government for acting ‘contrary to law’ in respect of your government’s disposal of a vehicle. That was just before you fired him. Why do you continue to stand by a member who, while she was CEO of a council, signed off on the transfer of council property into the hands of her relatives? And that is the problem - into the hands of her relatives. Chief Minister, if you are not prepared to deal with this sort of behaviour on your backbench, how can you be trusted to deal with antisocial behaviour in our community?
ANSWER
It is quite a laughable question, Madam Speaker. Again, I say that this is one …
Dr Lim: And you are dealing with antisocial behaviour very well.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the question was about the member for Macdonnell and her previous role as the CEO of Papunya Community Council. I say again to the man who used to be Minister for Local Government, he should understand what governance arrangements there are in place for a community council like Papunya. Papunya is governed in a particular way. If they want to dispose of property, it is done by council resolution. That is the fact of the matter. The document that the member for Greatorex is waving around supports that. This happened 12 years ago. There was a resolution of council which was carried out by the CEO. It is done according to the way that Papunya Community Council runs. What am I supposed to do about that? It is done according to the process that should have been in place. Again, what we have is an attempt by the opposition to smear the member for Macdonnell. It has gone on for months and months, Madam Speaker and it brings disgrace upon this House. The allegations have been dismissed by the federal government in one of their investigations into an aspect of it that was referred to them by the police and by the Department of Justice, and the opposition simply will not give up. It does not affect the member for Macdonnell. She knows what she has done.
Dr Lim: Speak to the Alice Springs News.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, the member for Macdonnell can account for what she has done. I believe the opposition should think about what they are trying to do, and be ashamed.
Mining and Exploration Activity
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
I am aware that you visited a mining and exploration supply company, Geminex, this morning and discussed the significant increase in exploration activity in the Northern Territory and the corresponding positive impacts for mining suppliers. Can you provide to the House details of the expansion in exploration and the impact it is having in mining activity across the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The mining sector is the most important sector in the Northern Territory, contributing 20% of Gross State Product and employing more than 4000 people. However, you cannot have mining unless you have mining exploration and, unfortunately, the number of mining explorations and companies actually looking for minerals in the Territory has steadily declined since 1990.
In 1999-2000, only 250 licences had been issued by the then government. However, I am very pleased to say that our government has reversed the trend. We have attracted more exploration licences in the Northern Territory, and we have actually provided information and geophysical data to ensure that these people are coming to the Northern Territory.
The number of exploration licences issued by our government has tripled. In 2005, one licence a day was issued to exploration companies, and that was 85% more than the number of licences issued in 2004. We have had a significant increase in expenditure in the last 12 months. Last year, $55m was spent in the Northern Territory. That was the highest expenditure since 1999, and the statistics go on and on.
In the last two years, we have had 22 new exploration applications from nine new operators for onshore petroleum exploration. $65m was spent by explorers for offshore petroleum exploration. We had a 31% increase in expenses in the last 12 months, at $55.6m, the highest since 1999. In the 2005 September quarter, $25m was spent on exploration, which is the strongest quarter performance since 1996.
We know there is a strong demand for resources from China and, of course, the decision by India to restrict the export of strategic resources has helped. The reality is we are doing very well in the Northern Territory, in contrast to the rest of Australia, where exploration is significantly down.
That happened because we wanted to attract people to the Territory, and that is why this government has spent $15.2m to develop a project called Building the Territory’s Resource Base. In addition, my trip around Australia has attracted the interest of people who have rediscovered the Territory as a mineral exploration destination. To give an example, our web page, STRIKE, developed by the Department of Mines, has had 4600 visits in 14 months. The Territory is unique; it is the last frontier for mineral exploration. We have news of explorers that have advanced from exploration status to mining - Matilda Minerals on Melville Island; Territory Iron, with a proposal to develop a deposit near Pine Creek; Sweetpea Corporation Pty Ltd negotiated with indigenous interests for onshore exploration for petroleum between Katherine and Elliott; and the Bootu Creek mine near Tennant Creek.
Exploration in the Territory is increasing, and we are attracting more and more people, not only from Australia, but from all over the world.
Public Drunkenness Policy
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you said that you would keep your election promises. On 2 June last year, you were reported in The Australian as saying: ‘… a person taken into custody for alcohol-related reasons six times in three months would be issued with a prohibition order …’ and, ‘If that person broke the law … … they would then be ordered to receive treatment or face gaol’. You also said: ‘These people are habitual drunks …’.
Yesterday, the CLP announced that if drunks were picked up three times in six months they would go to court. If the CLP’s three in six is criminalising drunkenness, what do you call six in three? Will you stick to your June 2005 promise, or was that just another election promise that you intended to break?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is very interesting, is not it?
Ms Carney: It is fascinating, yes, it is, absolutely fascinating.
Ms MARTIN: Yesterday, we had the Opposition Leader, strutting her stuff, tough on crime, saying that this government was not going to keep its commitment. We are. What do you actually believe about the Opposition Leader?
Ms Carney: What do we believe about the Chief Minister?
Ms MARTIN: I will quote, yesterday, you had a very …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, you have asked a question. Allow the Chief Minister to answer.
Ms Carney: I am very interested in it, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: We had the Opposition Leader saying, ‘I am tougher than anyone else around’. She has an illogical policy, released yesterday, which says that they will recriminalise drunkenness to make this happen. It is interesting, the Opposition Leader has quoted me in The Australian. I would like to quote the Opposition Leader in The Australian as well. This is from 28 June last year, about the same time the member for Araluen became the Opposition Leader.
Before I read the quote, what do you make of the changing positions of the Opposition Leader? Listen to this: …
Ms Carney: I would like to know when you are going to keep your promises. It is a straightforward question, Chief Minister, but if you do not want to answer it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Stirling: I am a bit interested, actually.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Treasurer!
Ms MARTIN: This is the Opposition Leader last June:
- For drunks, Labor’s policy is to lock them up but we would say …
This is the problem, the general area of itinerants:
- … it is a health problem and a health intervention is required. We have a core bunch of people in the NT who are alcoholics and putting them in gaol is not necessarily the answer.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Territory Economy and Small Business
Mr KIELY to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
There are a number of major projects under way across the Territory which are helping to drive our turbocharged economy. Could you please update the House on the benefits flowing to small businesses in the Territory from some of these major projects?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the economy is turbocharged like the Leader of the Opposition’s policies: turbocharged one way and then 180 degrees turbocharged the other way when she sniffs the political breeze; 180 degrees in the opposite direction. She stands for nothing, no conviction, no substance.
However, let us get on to something of substance: how well the Territory economy is going at the moment and how we, as a government, through our policy positions, are ensuring that Territory business, particularly Territory small business, is reaping the benefits from the major investments that we have seen around the Territory at the moment.
We have a policy for major project proponents to deliver local industry participation plans. They are required for all Territory government-assisted projects that have an expected value in excess of $5m, where we make a contribution of land or other contributions in excess of $5m, and also are required for all Northern Territory government projects in the excess of $5m. What we require proponents to bid, as part of an industry participation plan, is the Northern Territory industry component, how services, suppliers and labour will be used; how the project will enhance local business and industry capability; the regional economic benefits; opportunities for indigenous participation; and how proponents will communicate with local industry.
Developers are required to provide quarterly reports to government in terms of how they are faring in regards to the commitments they have made.
In the last six months, my department has endorsed industry plans for a number of projects, including Alcan G3, East Arm Port bulk handling facility, the biodiesel project, and the Palmerston Indoor Recreation Centre. As an example of how these are working, the LNG project at Wickham Point was required to have a local industry participation plan, and more than 8900 purchasing activities have been issued to more than 430 Territory companies, 25 major subcontracts awarded to Territory companies, total employment peaked in July at 2350 people, and half of those were Territorians.
I am sure the member for Nhulunbuy would be interested in this because this is a great result. Alcan G3, as of October 2005, more than $72m had been spent with NT businesses. I was told last week at the Alcan Gove Supplier Awards that this is now over $90m, and, listen to this, member for Nhulunbuy, to date, more than $27m has been spent with local businesses, which is a fabulous result.
For members in Palmerston, the Palmerston Recreation Centre will see $7.5m injected into the local economy from a tender value in the order of $8.2m.
We are ensuring, through policy, that major projects really do benefit local companies, local business and local job opportunities in the Territory. The runs are on the board and we will continue with this policy that is proving a great success.
Drive-Though Bottle Shops – Purchases by Taxi Industry
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for RACING, GAMING and LICENSING
Concerns have been raised with me regarding the widespread practice of taxi drivers and minibus drivers purchasing liquor at drive-through bottle shops for people who would not normally be served due to their intoxicated state. Is this third party purchasing legal? If it is not covered in your Liquor Act, and I believe you are doing a review of that, would you consider incorporating legislation to stop this practice of these people supplying alcohol to people who should not have it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. If this is occurring as she has just explained to me, it is an area of real concern. On the question of legality, I would need to check the act. However, I understand there was a provision to exclude this type of practice, particularly in the takeaway for Tennant Creek and the two drive throughs in Alice Springs. On face value, I believe we have a problem there for a start, because it should not be occurring. It certainly should not be occurring if alcohol is being purchased for inebriated or intoxicated people. That is absolutely against the law, and the onus in that case comes back to the licensee and the bottle shop attendant.
I will take that on board and I will have these matters followed up. I have not had a recent brief bringing these issues to my attention as a problem. I would be keen to hear a little more from the member for Braitling about how widespread this is. One is too many and it ought not be occurring. We will be jumping on it and having a look.
Elective Surgery Waiting Lists
Dr LIM to CHIEF MINISTER referred to the MINISTER for HEALTH
Last week, you told Territorians that you would keep your promises. Current elective surgery waiting lists are now well over 3000 across the Territory. In your Building Healthy Hospitals policy, you promised a Labor government would ‘reduce hospital waiting lists’. You have had 1648 days to keep this promise and reduce waiting lists. Is it not the case that your government has not reduced waiting lists but, in fact, has substantially increased elective surgery waiting lists? How many more days will it take for you to keep this promise, or was this just another opportune election promise that was never going to happen?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I will refer this question to the Minister for Health, where it appropriately should go. If we want to do a little history lesson, we found our health services in an appalling state. This was the legacy of 27 years of Country Liberal Party government. There was no question that our health system needed additional funds, and we have increased the funds to our health system by 43% …
Ms Carney: And the waiting lists?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: If the Opposition Leader wants to hear the answer then she should not interject.
Right across our health system, something like $150m additional has gone into our health system. We are always concerned about waiting lists. We have grown the number of specialists available. That will, of course, increase waiting lists because they were not available previously. We have done a number of things that provide a much greater service to Territorians, and we are proud of that; that is exactly what we are here to do.
Of course, we would love to not have waiting lists. However, they are a fact of life and we will continue to manage them. For specifics on the waiting …
Ms Carney: A fact of life! You promised to reduce them. You just tell porkies.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Dr Lim: An elderly lady waiting for a hip replacement a fact of life, that is disgraceful.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Ms MARTIN: For specific details about the current waiting lists, I refer that, quite appropriately, to the Minister for Health.
Dr TOYNE (Health): Madam Speaker, it is good to have a question I can tackle in my portfolio instead of it always going to the Chief Minister. With these tactics, you are not going to get detailed information doing that.
The way elective surgery waiting lists oscillate is related to how busy our emergency departments are. The emergency departments of both of our major hospitals have been very significantly expanded during our time in government, with some $6.5m of additional staffing, along with capital works and additional beds into ED in Darwin; and $1m of additional staffing into Alice Springs ED, as well as $11m into the Intensive Care Unit/High Dependency Unit in that hospital. We are doing what would be expected of any government in giving ourselves maximum capacity within the emergency department areas of critical care.
For those who are not familiar with the way hospital dynamics work, you deal with the emergency cases before you then schedule the elective cases. We are doing that in a time of an extremely high demand for emergency treatment. In fact, plotting the presentations to both those emergency departments since last November through to the present time, presentations have not abated one iota, meaning the staff and the capacity of our emergency departments - our surgeons, anaesthetists, and specialists - are fully occupied with a very high demand period in ED at a time of the year where we also have change-over of nursing staff. There are many reasons why we are not getting to elective surgery right now at this time of the year. As soon as that abates, and as soon as we replace the staff, as we do at the start of every year, we will resume elective surgery.
Having dealt with all of that additional demand, elective surgery waiting lists, as the member pointed out, are in the region of 3000. They were, in fact, down from the numbers we were getting early to mid last year; we have made some inroads. We have held our ground through a period of very high demand into emergency departments, and we will start working on those lists into the year from this point on.
Tourism – Japanese Market
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for TOURISM
The Japanese market is an important one to the Northern Territory, particularly for Central Australia. Can you inform the House of any recent initiatives your agency has undertaken to support this market?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, Japanese tourists love the centre of Australia. We have been very conscious of ensuring that the Japanese market understands that there is more to Central Australia than Uluru-Kata Tjuta, as wonderful as it is. There is also Alice Springs, the West Macs and everything around the Alice Springs region.
One of the ways we have been doing that is with charters from Japan into Alice Springs. Last year, we had five. There were 1600 visitors on those five charters to Central Australia, and they injected over $1m into the local Alice Springs and Central Australian economy. We supported that with $120 000 of cooperative marketing funds, and we will continue to do that.
This year, building on those five, we have a further nine charters coming from Japan to Alice Springs, which will be operated by Japan Airlines. There will be four during the April/May period and five in August. That is potentially 2500 visitors to the Centre, injecting a possible $2m.
The Japanese market is an important one for the Northern Territory. It is our third largest market after Europe and the UK. In the 2004-05 year, Japanese tourism to the Northern Territory contributed around $49m to $50m. It is important that the Japanese become more aware of Central Australia and the Top End, but also to get them staying here longer and, importantly, sharing their dollars here. That is what we want to see: people having a good time, being made aware of every product and retail experience they can have, because they are very good tourists for the Northern Territory.
Our challenge is getting them to stay longer, getting them to be more aware that the Territory is more than just Uluru-Kata Tjuta, and I believe we are starting to do that. We have wholesalers in Japan now marketing tours going to Cairns, to the Rock, into Alice Springs, by train to Darwin, through Kakadu and then back home. We saw some innovations come into play last year, and it will be interesting, once we give that combined air/rail tour a bit of time, to see what the numbers are.
In tourism generally, 2004-05 was a much better year than previous years. We saw tourism grow domestically into the Territory in the year to September last year by 39%. Internationals are still lagging, but grew by 7% in the same time, and it is our challenge in tourism to build on that this year.
Auditor-General’s Reporting Powers – Election Promise
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you told Territorians that you would keep your promises. On 11 October 2000, you promised Territorians that you would empower, resource and strengthen the independence of the Auditor-General to report regularly on things such as hospital waiting lists and government performance. One thousand, six hundred and forty-eight days have passed since you could have kept that promise, yet the Auditor-General has only seen a slight increase in monies, no further powers, and not offered one report on hospital waiting lists.
If you were telling the truth in 2000 about your intention to give these powers to the Auditor-General, why have you failed to keep your promise?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it would be interesting to know what powers the Auditor-General wants that he does not have. We have had the posturing from the member for Blain in our debate on the waterfront yesterday, saying: ‘We have not had enough financial accountability, I am going to take this to the Auditor-General’, not knowing that the Auditor-General has been watching over the project, has said publicly last year that he will be looking at the development of the project …
Mr Mills: More to come, Chief Minister.
Ms MARTIN: … we had posturing in here. Our Auditor-General has very adequate powers. He can …
Ms Carney: Why did you bother to strengthen them in 2000?
Mr Mills interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, member for Blain!
Ms MARTIN: The Auditor-General has substantial powers. We have enormous respect for him, the office, and the work he does. If the Opposition Leader can bring one instance where the Auditor-General has had his powers clipped, where the Auditor-General has not been able to investigate some aspect of government that he wanted to …
Ms Carney: It was your promise!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … then certainly I would say, you have got us. But that is not the case …
Ms Carney: Why did you promise it then? Just make it up?
Ms MARTIN: … and we can have a protesting Opposition Leader …
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Carney: Just made it up!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: … but you are not making sense.
Ms Carney: You just made it up. You cannot help yourself.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: … just like the protestations of the member for Blain yesterday which proved groundless.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Carney: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I will desist.
FACS Staff – Office Accommodation in Palmerston
Mr NATT to MINISTER for FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Can you update the House on concerns from FACS staff in Palmerston about the suitability of their office accommodation?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. I know he is an advocate for the people of Palmerston in terms of increasing the services they have available. Everyone in this House would be aware of the massive investment this government has made in child protection. We have more than tripled the budget and put on extra child protection staff right across the Territory. We have done this within budget, and we were able to do so because we have delivered three budget surpluses in a row.
The strong investment and the growth in staff numbers has caused some logistical issues. Sometimes we have grown faster than our premises can cope, and a number of officers have had issues with overcrowding, and occupational health and safety concerns. These issues were raised with me last year when I visited the FACS office in Palmerston. We have worked in consultation with staff to solve these problems, and to ensure they have working conditions they need to get on with the important job of protecting our children.
I am pleased to report that the upgrade of the FACS office in Palmerston is now completed, and staff are working in a safer and more pleasant environment. Staff and clients have more privacy. The premises are secure, which is very important in their line of work. Overall, the office has been given a lift from the old rabbit warren that we inherited, and the feedback I have is that staff are very happy with the changes. I hear they put on drinks for the construction workers.
Likewise, in Alice Springs, we expect FACS staff to move to new premises at the old Centrelink building over the next two months, and improvements are also happening at Casuarina Plaza for our Casuarina-based FACS staff. This government will continue with its program of rebuilding our Child Protection Services.
Traffic Act – Impounding of Vehicles
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for POLICE, FIRE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
In your last term of government, you introduced amendments to the Traffic Act which covered impounding and forfeiture of motor vehicles for certain offences. This was commonly called the ‘hoon act’. Could you please say how often has this section of the Traffic Act been enforced, and how many vehicles have been impounded and/or forfeited since these amendments were enacted?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is about 12 months since we introduced that legislation, and police have had some fairly significant results. We currently have an intergovernmental working group conducting a road transport legislative review. We are looking at consolidating elements of road transport legislation and ways to improve the anti-hooning legislation as a result of that review.
The act states: ‘a person must not take part in an event on a road or public place unless the event is an authorised event or exempt event’. We are talking about the drag racing that occurs, much of it at Berrimah and East Arm. In the last 12 months there have been 40 prosecutions under that section of the legislation. Another part of that anti-hooning legislation states: ‘damaging the surface of the road or public place’, and there have been 20 charges laid over that period. Another part of the legislation makes it an offence to take part in an event on a road or public place, that is, illegal racing, and there have been two prosecutions.
In all, under that package of legislation, we have had 62 prosecutions over that time. There is a current review of all road traffic legislation at the moment including the anti-hoon legislation, and we will be bringing that package back to the parliament some time in early 2007.
International E-mail and Mail Scams
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for JUSTICE and ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Could you please outline to the House a serious matter involving the member for Wanguri?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is with a grave heart I want to report a letter of which I received a copy the other day. It is from HERMES International Account Management of 1 bis rue du bourg neuf, 84000, Avignon, France.
I became concerned when I saw the heading at the top which read: ‘Keep a clean record – do not damage your credit reputation’. As I read further, a number jumped out at me. It was the amount of money demanded by this letter of our member here, and it was €350 million billion. I immediately became very concerned at this, and wanted to bring this to the notice of the Treasurer. Clearly, this was a fail to pay regarding the hire of a car which probably would have been under a ministerial trip, and the Treasurer is now going to have to deal with a bill for €350 million billion, which I imagine would wipe out the Territory budget for the next 20 years.
What I am holding in my hand is an example of the fraudulent and scam mailings, e-mailings and faxes that are being sent to Territorians in increasing numbers. Along with my Consumer Affairs colleagues around the country, we want to take every opportunity to draw these scams to the attention of Territorians. I have many other examples of this: the National Awards Commission saying, ‘you are going to win all this money if you just send us a bit …
Mr Kiely: Leader of the Opposition raffled?
Dr TOYNE: Yes, there is one from the Leader – no, it is not, sorry, it is a different name! A grand prize draw of $13 320. We have another one - $75m - that is a good one! That is from the overseas subscribers agents for mega jackpots. We also have the National Visa Registry ‘congratulations’ letter. This is another lucky person who reckons they are going to get a lot of money.
All of these letters and offers require the hapless victim to send money to get these fabulous amounts of money. I want to share with Territorians some basic rules on this: do not send money up-front to collect supposed winnings from lotteries that you did not even enter; do not respond to letters promising you rich returns that are unbelievable by any normal community standards; do not click on links in e-mails and provide personal information; and do not believe people who call out of the blue to offer you a great investment deal.
I hope the member for Araluen is paying close attention - I do not want you to fall victim to one of these scams. One member of parliament is enough. We have to make a stand so that Territorians watch out for these scams. They are around at the moment. They are international, and we will do as much as possible to let people know about them.
Proposed Whistleblowers Legislation – 2001 Election Promise
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you told Territorians that you would keep your promises. Prior to the 2001 election, you promised whistleblowers legislation as part of Labor’s party platform. You have had 1648 days to keep this promise and give whistleblowers the protection you promised, however, you have done nothing. Will you break this promise, or was it just a promise you made to get into government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I can put the Opposition Leader’s fears at rest. Whistleblowers legislation will be introduced into this parliament this year. We had some complications about whistleblowers and how it connected to the Ombudsman (Northern Territory) Act. We had some discussion in this place last year about where the Ombudsman (Northern Territory) Act was. We had some difficulty with the review of that act, and that is now under way. There were some issues that we found difficult to resolve. They are being resolved, but there had to be an interrelationship between what we finally came up with in the Ombudsman (Northern Territory) Act and the whistleblowers.
We will be presenting that legislation together later this year. While that commitment for whistleblowers could not be reached in four years, it will be here, in this parliament, in 2006.
Back to School Payment Scheme
Mr BONSON to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
Can the minister advise the House on the Martin government’s election commitment to provide a $50 payment to parents for each child enrolled in school?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. In the June 2005 election, the Martin government promised that we would introduce a $50 Back to School Payment for each enrolled child in government and non-government school systems. We were able to make that promise, multimillion dollar though it is, because of the prudent management of the budget and having delivered three surplus budgets over the three preceding years.
That money is used to reduce the cost to parents of getting a child back to school, particularly for school uniforms and other essential school materials. Towards the end of last year, the department spent a great deal of time educating and working with schools on how this system was to run. At the start of year, obviously, more work was done. Considering it was quite a significant change, the whole process was handled very smoothly by the agency and all the schools directly involved. I am grateful to them all for the work they put in. There are 42 000 students in the system and around 160 schools, therefore, it is no small feat.
There were some teething issues in some schools. We will sort those out by way of a general review, which will be conducted throughout the year. However, it has been well received. I was pleased to find that the office had received a number of phone calls from parents thanking the government for the assistance. In some cases, we had phone calls suggesting improvements to the scheme and we will be listening to those. However, the common theme throughout, even in my own electorate, and it is always good to get that, is appreciation for the recognition by government of the very real cost of getting kids off to school.
Ministerial Code of Conduct
Ms CARNEY to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you told Territorians you would keep your promises. On 11 October 2000, you promised Territorians that you would introduce a ministerial code of conduct. One thousand, six hundred and forty-eight days have passed since you could have kept that promise, yet we are still debating a members’ code of conduct with not even a hint of a ministerial code of conduct. If you cannot be trusted to live up to your promises, how can Territorians have any faith in your policies and promises?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have just been informed where the ministerial code of conduct is. I believe it is with the Standing Orders Committee, if I am not wrong. That is being debated by members in this parliament so, as soon as there is agreement on where that ministerial code of conduct stands then we will have it here in this House. It is not in my hands about when it emerges in this House. It is up to the Standing Orders Committee of this parliament. We charged the Standing Orders Committee to do that, and I am sure they are on their way with it.
Pools in Remote Areas Program
Ms McCARTHY to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Can you inform the House of the current state of play with government assistance to the Pools in Remote Areas Program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her very appropriate question. It was only two weeks ago that I was at Borroloola to sign off an agreement for a new pool. I will return to that in a moment.
The Pools in Remote Areas Program has been more than just getting pools into our remote communities; it has also been about building community capacity, community unity and community pride.
The first element of the Pools in Remote Areas Program has been the development of a partnership between the Northern Territory government, the local community and the Commonwealth government in making contributions to the pool construction costs, although I have to point out here that it is not a case of a handout. The second element is the sustainability of pool operations. These communities are developing a business plan to ensure the sustainability of pools as community facilities.
In the case of Borroloola, there has been a contribution of $500 000 from the Northern Territory government, $500 000 from the Commonwealth government and $600 000 from McArthur River Mine. I thank the principals of McArthur River Mine for their donation, and also Bill Baird, who has been a bit of a local hero, working in the background trying to secure this pool. Bill, we thank you very much.
More importantly, the local indigenous housing association, Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Association Inc is supplying $50 000 over the next two years towards capital works. The local economic development entity, M.A.W.A.- Mawurli and Wirriwangkuma - has also contributed $30 000 for a further two years for operational expenses. The Borroloola Community Government Council takes on responsibility for ongoing maintenance.
Just to show the amount of community spirit in that community, the Gulf Soccer Association’s Borroloola Cyclones, who are very well known throughout the Northern Territory, and the member for Wanguri can attest to that, were granted $180 000 two years ago for ablution facilities. They have now agreed to transfer that money as part of the new complex for the swimming pool. The ablution facility will serve both the users of the pool and the soccer players.
It is my pleasure to advise that negotiations are continuing with other communities throughout the Northern Territory for pools, including Maningrida, Yuendumu and Milikapiti.
I believe 20 years has been a long wait for the people of Borroloola, particularly our young children. They will apply the ‘no school, no pool’ policy. The member for Arnhem is from Borroloola, she is a local traditional owner, and knows only too well how this is going to be welcomed by that community.
Alice Springs – Contract awarded to New South Wales Firm
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE and TRANSPORT
In the Gazette, dated today, there is a contract awarded to a New South Wales firm for $625 862:
- Alice Springs - Supply Equipment, Technical Advisor, 2 Accompanying Commissioning Engineers from Sweden Travel/Living Expenses.
That is over $600 000 to a New South Wales firm to bring these people to Alice Springs. I assume it might have something to do with the noisy generator at the Ron Goodin Power Station, however, I would like to know exactly what that tender is for and why did it go to a New South Wales firm to bring these people from Sweden?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not conversant with the exact details of that particular tender. I undertake to supply that information to the member for Braitling as soon as I am able.
Arts Grants Program
Mr NATT to MINISTER for ARTS and MUSEUMS
The arts make important contributions to our lifestyle in the Northern Territory, as well as being a significant driver of our economy. What support is the government giving to individual artists and arts organisations through its Arts Grants Program?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. We on this side of the House recognise the critical importance of support to the arts, and this is evidenced by continuing and expanded support to the arts over the last four years. As well as major increases to indigenous art through the Building Strong Arts Business strategy, increased support to our regional festival circuits, this is also reflected in our support to individual artists and their organisations.
Funding allocated in our latest round of Arts Grants Program, totalling nearly $350 000 across the Northern Territory, included 24 projects to the value of approximately $179 000, supported through the Australian government’s Regional Arts Fund, a program managed by Arts NT. Established artists and emerging artists will benefit from the exciting and inspired projects funded in this round. All the decisions for these funding rounds were made by members of the Northern Territory Arts Grants Board.
As minister not just for Arts but for Young Territorians, it was great to go through all of the successful rounds and see that seven of those projects had a strong youth focus. In supporting our youth and their organisations, it was good to see that they were successful. I congratulate all the successful applicants and wish them well in their future artistic endeavours.
We have two more project rounds coming up, the next closing on 15 March, with assessments in May. I encourage all groups to contact Arts NT about this next round.
Madam Speaker, I table details of the recent round of successful applicants and their projects.
Balanced Budgets – Promise by Chief Minister
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Last week, you told Territorians that you would keep your promises. On page 23 of Budget Paper No 2 for the year 2003-04, you told Territorians then that you would make: ‘a commitment to a balanced budget through continuation of the deficit reduction strategy’. You also told Territorians that that would result in: ‘a resultant decline in nett debt and total liabilities’. This is a graph representing NT debt. The three red lines show where the Territory was two years ago, is now and will be in three years’ time. Why have you not kept your promise to Territorians to reduce debt?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe what the member for Blain is doing is saying that we as government should sit on our hands. That is simply what he is saying.
Mr Mills: Not at all.
Ms MARTIN: The member for Blain is saying that government should have, regardless of what happens in the wider economy, a deficit reduction strategy that would never change, regardless of the circumstances of maybe an economy that is not moving as we would like it.
We, very strategically, made a decision three years ago that we would pursue a waterfront development because it was very important for the Territory’s economy that we had a stimulus like a convention centre, like a major development, to move an economy that was not moving with great strength, and give it that important job generation and business opportunity.
We made that decision strategically. We did the work. We were criticised by the opposition, however, I make no apology. I make no apology for all those Territorians who are going to work on the waterfront, for all those Territory businesses …
Mr Mills: That is not the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … which are going to get opportunities year after year, after year, as the waterfront development is being built, and then the opportunities that flow from a new economic generator for the Territory. The convention centre will be that.
Now, what the commitment I might have made to a balanced budget was, we changed it. We came into this parliament and explained why we were changing it, and said we would have deficits for three years, based on the fact that we were going to have that capital expenditure from the waterfront reflected in our budgets each year, a deficit of $68m, $53m, $31m and zero in 2008-09.
Madam Speaker, I make no apology to Territorians, none at all. We revised our budget position. We revised our deficit and when we would be back into a balanced position, and that will be 2008-09. Do you know what we are going to have for it? We are going to have a magnificent start of a development that is worth $1.1bn, hundreds and hundreds of jobs, millions of dollars worth of business opportunities, and a development that will add a new dimension to the City of Darwin. No apologies, member for Blain.
Livestock Exports to South-East Asia
Mr KNIGHT to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRY and FISHERIES
A few weeks ago, I noticed buffalo in pens at Noonamah. These buffalo were part of the first shipment under the recently agreed import protocols with Indonesia, and have recently been delivered. Can you provide an update to the House on livestock exports from the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. I know he is very interested as many people in his area are involved in the pastoral industry, which is a significant contributor to the Territory economy.
Live animal exports to South-East Asia from the Port of Darwin contribute significantly to the Territory economy. In the past year, we have had an increasing number of animals from of Darwin, in contrast with the rest of Australia which has had a significant decrease.
Last year, we had export of live cattle to countries and states that had never before imported cattle from Australia, or for a long time did not import cattle from the Northern Territory. For example, in 2004, Sarawak, a state of Malaysia, did not import any cattle at all from the Territory. Last year, they imported 4800 animals. Also, in 2004, Sabah imported 300 cattle, whilst last year, they imported nearly 2000. We are working very closely with the government in Sabah to improve the ability of the state and the industry to fatten cattle in feed lots and to process meat. I am pleased to say that I will be seconding officers from my department to work with the Government of Sabah to finalise the abattoirs and meat processing plant in Kota Kinabalu.
In 2004, we exported 156 000 cattle to Indonesia, and last year we exported 186 000 cattle, that is 30 000 more to our principal market. In total, in 2005, we exported 5354 more cattle than in 2004.
The buffalo industry has had its problems in the past, but I am very pleased to say that, following my visit to Indonesia and discussions with my counterpart, minister Anton Apriyantono, a protocol has been agreed for the export of live buffalo from Darwin to Indonesia. Buffalo can now be loaded with cattle in the same boat, and be transported either directly to Indonesia or to other states. I would like to thank very much the Indonesian officers from the Department of Primary Industries there, my officers in my Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, AQIS and the Australian authorities for making that a reality. Last year, we exported about 1900 animals and I am looking forward to exporting more this year because there is demand from Brunei, Sabah and Indonesia.
Primary industry is a significant contributor to the Territory economy and this government is working very closely, not only to support existing markets, but also to identify new markets for the export from the Territory of good quality meat.
That is my argument about the incursions of illegal fishermen. I have said it before and I will say it again: when you have 13 000 boats coming into Australian waters, you have 13 000 times the possibility of bringing to Australia diseases we never had before and we do not want, such as foot and mouth, which can destroy a $150m industry in the Northern Territory.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016