2008-06-10
Child Sexual Offences – Cultural Excuse
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Do you support, or not, the concept that culture can be an excuse for child sexual offences?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. There is absolutely no excuse that justifies the sexual abuse of children - absolutely no excuse - and this government stands very strong on that particular point in principle.
INPEX Project – Update
Mr WARREN to CHIEF MINISTER
I know how passionate the Chief Minister is about the INPEX proposal. On the basis of that, can you please update the House on the benefits of the proposal and the current status of the government’s fight to attract this valuable project to Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. He is an engineer and he well knows the value of those jobs, and not only this particular project, to the economy. Yes, my government and I are fighting very hard for this project for the Northern Territory. Why? Because it will bring direct benefits to the Territory economy for decades to come, to businesses right across the Northern Territory, and to Territory families.
We are talking, during the construction phase, of up to 4000 jobs in the Northern Territory economy. This would be the largest single investment and project ever to be delivered in the Northern Territory. That is why I am fighting so hard for this particular project. However, we are a long way from being successful. Western Australia, obviously, has a very significant geographical advantage, being much closer to the site of the Ichthys gas field, a considerable advantage when you take into account the additional costs of the pipeline and engineering to transport the gas an extra 700 km to 800 km.
However, following trips that I have made to both Japan and Paris to meet with project proponents, INPEX and Total, I can say that we are well and truly in the race. We are being very seriously considered for this particular project. We have a compelling case for Darwin - a very compelling case - in spite of the geographical disadvantage we face. Let us not underestimate the fact that this is a capital city with capital city infrastructure, both physical and social, with sporting and recreational infrastructure. We have the existing port, road, rail and other very significant infrastructure. Also, very importantly, we have demonstrated a can-do attitude in developing one LNG plant that is already in production.
We have a business community that have embraced this project. The business community in the Northern Territory, in Darwin in particular, has vocally embraced this project. They understand the importance of this project in underpinning investor confidence for decades to come. I have been overwhelmed as I have been getting around Darwin at various functions - not only business functions but sporting and community events over the last few months - about the level of support there is for this particular project for Darwin.
But who does not support it? The Leader of the Opposition. He continues to verbal; continues to say ‘yes’, ‘but’, ‘maybe’, backflip on his original position but, every time he talks about this project he puts additional hurdles in the way, undermining and risking the project. I say to the Leader of the Opposition that INPEX, at the highest levels in Tokyo and Total at the highest levels in Paris; actually monitor what is said in this public debate, not only in Western Australia but also in the Northern Territory. They monitor the public debate because they want to have certainty that, where they deliver projects there is support - not only political support but community support for the project.
I have to keep defending the Leader of the Opposition’s position, and saying, at the end of the day, he is just playing politics. He says on the one hand he does not support it but, on the other hand, that he does. He says that there should be a reservation on gas for the broader community, then he says not, so he does not know what he stands for. What we do know is that the Leader of the Opposition is an economic bandit and cannot be trusted with the Northern Territory's economy. He could not be trusted because business people who want to invest have no idea what he actually stands for.
Madam Speaker, under my Chief Ministership, this is an economy that is open for business. We are open for business and investment. We are about providing certainty for investment in the Northern Territory because that is good for the Northern Territory, for Territory families, for jobs, and for investor confidence. It is about creating opportunities for Territorians, not only in the business community but also in the workforce. That is what we stand for: we are open for business, we are open for investment. If the Leader of the Opposition had his way, there would be a big sign on the door of the Northern Territory, ‘Closed for business’.
Indigenous Customary Marriage –
Child of Police Officer
Child of Police Officer
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The Sunday Territorian reported that a police officer who condoned the marriage of his 13-year-old daughter to a 20-year-old man will merely be internally disciplined. At the very least, this police officer knew a criminal offence against a child was being committed in his own home. More likely, he aided and abetted in the commissioning of a criminal offence. Should a police officer who turns a blind eye to the rape of a child be sacked?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge an extraordinary question from the Leader of the Opposition. This is a very serious offence. It is, as I have said before, totally unacceptable in the Northern Territory, in Australia and the world, for children to be exploited sexually. It is a fundamental principle that I, as Chief Minister, and my government hold very strongly.
Let us look at the facts of this case. The Leader of the Opposition talked about ‘at the very least’. Well, I tell you, at the very least, the perpetrator of these offences has faced his day in court and he is currently in gaol. He is currently in gaol under the laws that were actually passed by this parliament in 2004, ensuring that the defence, in terms of arguing the case on behalf of their client, could not argue mitigating circumstance in regard to customary law for arranged marriages for children under the age of 16. We passed a law that made it impossible for that defence to be offered.
There is no doubt that, if we had not passed that law and that defence had been available, under the law that was on the books under 27 years of CLP government, the defence would have been able to strongly argue customary marriage as a mitigating circumstance. We passed a law that prevented that argument being tested in court, and the offender is serving time; he is in gaol. That is the principle that we have put in place through this parliament: zero tolerance. If you sexually abuse a child and you are caught, then it is off to court and very serious penalties will apply.
Let us look at the Leader of the Opposition’s position at that time on this legislation. If the Opposition Leader had had his way and this particular case came to court in 2008, that defence would have been available. It is very likely that the perpetrator would not be in gaol today. I will quote specifically from the Leader of the Opposition on 11 December 2003 in the Northern Territory News:
- Mr Mills told the Northern Territory News on Tuesday …
He had serious concerns in regard to the Territory government’s legislation:
- … preventing customary law being used as a defence in under-age sex cases.
‘There are two issues of particular concern’, Mr Mills said: ‘They are the age of consent and customary marriage. In response to these concerns I would consider, if given the opportunity, repealing those two contentious aspects’.
The Leader of the Opposition comes in here today with a political beat-up on an issue that is extraordinarily serious. It is a vile crime against the innocence of a child. Yet, he said, in his own words, that the age of consent and customary marriage were contentious. As Chief Minister, I say it is not contentious; it is absolutely unacceptable. We stand by the legislation we brought to this parliament. If the Leader of the Opposition had his way, the perpetrator of that offence would not be in gaol today.
Darwin Convention Centre – Opening Plans
Ms SACILOTTO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you please inform the House on what is planned for the upcoming opening of the Darwin Convention Centre and how Territorians can help celebrate the occasion?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question, because the convention centre and waterfront developments are in her electorate and she has been a very strong supporter of this project from day one. Being from a small business background, she understands implicitly how important this project is for the Territory’s economy.
The official opening of the convention centre is just a week away. Next Wednesday is official opening day, and Territorians are invited to take part in a five-day community celebration. We will be opening the convention centre to all Territorians, inviting people to come and have a look at what is going to be the jewel in the crown of Darwin’s tourism industry. The doors are open for everyone to come and have a look at their convention centre.
Twenty-three conventions and exhibitions have already been booked. That means 11 000 people will be coming to Darwin on a convention over the next 12 months that would not have come to Darwin at all. It represents a tremendous boost, not only to the tourism sector of our economy, but small business right across the Northern Territory. That it is a very significant result, given that people are booking the conventions, booking their trips before the convention centre has even proved itself in the marketplace – a very significant achievement.
During construction, hundreds of jobs were created on-site. I am very proud of this. We wrote into the Local Industry Participation Plan that 80% of contracts were to go to Northern Territory business - what the joint venture has succeeded in delivering is 95%. Out of every dollar that has been spent building that convention centre, 95% has gone to Territory businesses. About $90m-worth of work and another 180 jobs will be created at the centre for the next four years. This is a very significant outcome. I know many businesses across Darwin, the northern suburbs, Winnellie and Berrimah, which have been successful in gaining work at that convention centre.
I hope the Leader of the Opposition and the opposition do have a look, because we know they have been opposed to the project from the very start. In fact, the Leader of the Opposition said he would scrap it ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Well, come down and see what has been achieved.
I quote from the Northern Territory News on 3 December 2004. The headline reads: ‘Scrap the Waterfront’. That is what the Leader of the Opposition said. It would not be there today. If the Leader of the Opposition had his way the convention centre would not be there. He was quoted as saying:
- I do not want to see a project that is focused on a residential and convention centre.
Those were your words, Leader of the Opposition. You would scrap the project. You did not want to see the convention centre. Well, I am a pretty magnanimous sort of a fellow and pretty generous; I extend an invitation to the Leader of the Opposition, come and see what would not be there if you had your way - no convention centre, no 11 000 delegates, we would still have an industrial wasteland down there.
The Leader of the Opposition has no vision. He would be a real risk to running this economy. He is an economic vandal. He would be a real risk in managing this economy. With all of the projects that we have put up - the convention centre, the waterfront, trying to attract INPEX, the Little Mindil development - none of these things would have happened under the Leader of the Opposition if he had his way. Once again, Northern Territory, big sign, ‘Closed for business’. That is not the case under my government. We will continue to drive investment, jobs and business opportunities for Territorians.
Indigenous Customary Marriage –
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Abuse
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
The first recommendation of the Little Children are Sacred report is that:
- … child sexual abuse in the Northern Territory be designated an issue of urgent national significance by the Australian and Territory governments …
Your Labor government decided to wait 12 weeks before responding to this urgent issue. You also support the retention of a permit system that has allowed sex abuse to occur in some remote communities and, now, you are happy to employ a police officer who condones child rape. Do you actually care about the appalling rate of sexual abuse in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition’s question. I say again: sexual abuse of children is a vile and heinous crime. It is not accepted by my government; it was not accepted by the previous Chief Minister. We have made strong inroads to doing everything we can to protect children from sexual abuse.
I go to the changing of legislation that I spoke about in the answer to the last question, in removing the veil and the blanket that allowed the defence to argue, in mitigating circumstances, for customary marriage to excuse having sex with a child under the age of 16. We removed that cover. The Leader of the Opposition said it was contentious and he would seek to repeal the legislation. There is a stark contrast between where we stand on this issue, and where the Opposition Leader stands, as a point of principle, as opposed to a political football.
I go to the issue about the Aboriginal Community Police Officer. The Leader the Opposition, I am sure, if he made the allegations outside the way he has made them in this House, might find himself in some difficulty. I cannot speak about the specifics of what has or has not occurred. However, what I have been advised is that the Director of Public Prosecutions has determined that there is no case to move forward with a prosecution in regard to the ACPO. I can say that the perpetrator of the crime is in gaol, and he is directly in gaol, in a large part, as a result of the legislation that we passed in this parliament in 2003-04, which prevented his defence lawyer from using that particular argument.
For the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and say that, somehow, we are protecting the ACPO is absolutely wrong. This government, me as the Chief Minister or the Attorney-General, cannot direct the Director of Public Prosecutions to lay charges. The Leader of the Opposition well knows that - and if he does not, he should not be the Leader of the Opposition. The police have said that this is an internal disciplinary matter that is currently under investigation. The Leader of the Opposition would know that I cannot direct the Police Commissioner on these matters - it would be totally inappropriate.
However, where we stand, very clearly, as a point in principle, is that we find the sexual abuse of children a vile and heinous crime. We have implemented a lot of legislation, dedicated significant amounts of additional police resources, significant additional funding into FACS right across the Northern Territory, and significant work with the Commonwealth police in dealing with these issues. The whole Closing the Gap agenda has an additional $286m invested by this government over the next four years, which goes, in large part, to protect children and improve the lives of indigenous people throughout the Northern Territory.
Compare that with what the Leader of the Opposition stands for, which is that, in his own words, the two issues of concern to him, which are the age of consent and customary marriage, are contentious. I say again: they are not contentious to me; it is black and white - it is a vile and heinous crime. The perpetrator of that crime is currently in gaol.
Helium Plant – Effect on Economy
Mr BURKE to TREASURER
Last week, you turned the sod to start construction of the nation’s first helium plant. Can you explain what this means for the Territory’s economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question because, on 3 June, we kicked off the construction of the new $41m helium plant at Wickham Point adjacent to the LNG plant. That proves that we can have the vision appear in reality; we can downstream gas manufacturing opportunities here at Middle Arm Peninsula. We have the very successful Darwin LNG plant operating there by ConocoPhillips. They have gone into a partnership for a helium supply agreement. It will be very exciting to see BOC and Linde, a major international company in the helium world - one of the biggest players in the world - providing the first ever helium plant in the southern hemisphere.
We will see around 15 to 20 jobs during the construction phase of that project, with around 10 permanent jobs. Darwin will have that only helium plant in the southern hemisphere, producing approximately 150 million cubic feet of helium each year; that is, we will be able to entirely supply the nation’s and, indeed, 3% of the world’s, helium needs. This plant will have strong implications for our economy and the nation’s as well. It will provide a new source of export dollars and import substitution.
The plant underwent a thorough environmental assessment process, and it shows that gas development and protecting our harbour can go hand-in-hand. This government will always work to deliver for Territorians and ensure strong economic management is an important part of the way we do our business. We have built a strong economy over the last seven years, after inheriting an economy that was absolutely on its knees. The helium plant is another example of the confidence that business has in our economic management. With the flip-flopping around that we see from the CLP, you just could not risk the economy to them.
INPEX Project – Housing to be Onsold
Mr WOOD to CHIEF MINISTER
If INPEX does come to Darwin and requires a large workforce - and I believe you mentioned 4000; the ABC mentioned 15 000 - to construct its gas plant, would the government consider building an Olympic Games-style housing complex at Weddell for the construction workers instead of a temporary camp? Would the government consider selling these houses and units when the project is completed to Territorians who, presently, because of the high land and house prices, cannot afford to purchase a home?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. With all due respect to the ABC, there has been a number floating around today of a workforce of 15 000 to build the LNG plant. I am not sure where that number has come from. The direct advice that I have from the company - and we have a long way to go yet; a very long way to go in seeing any construction activity at all. INPEX have first to make a decision about Western Australia versus the Northern Territory, that is why I am fighting so hard for the project. If we have the Northern Territory and Darwin being selected, INPEX will then move into a 10- to 12-month period of front-end engineering and design, where the engineering and the design work of the plant will be done. At that point, they will have a better assessment of the size of the workforce they need, given what the final outcome is in the engineering and construction design for the LNG plant.
At the moment, INPEX are telling me a workforce of around 4000 people will be required. In regard to where they are going to be accommodated, one thing we do know, member for Nelson, is that a large number of Territorians will be seeking work on that particular LNG plant. As I said, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have just approached me saying: ‘I worked on that last LNG project. It was one of the best jobs I have ever had in my life. I cannot wait for an opportunity to work on the second project’. ConocoPhillips thought that they would get 20% to 30% of their workforce from Darwin; they achieved 50%. A large part of the workforce is going to come from Darwin.
What will occur will be a commercial arrangement between INPEX as the project proponent, whoever is going to build the LNG plant for them if they are going to subcontract it out, and there will be opportunities provided in the marketplace for accommodation for the workers that will come from interstate and, possibly, from overseas. What I said at the press conference today is that I am absolutely convinced that lessons will be learnt in regard to the last camp that was built in Palmerston. What the companies do know is that they have to provide top-class accommodation, and best-practice wages and conditions to attract the workforce that they will need to build their project.
Whatever is developed, as either a work camp or a workers village - call it what you will - will be of significant quality because that is what the workforce will demand. However, it will be a commercial arrangement, as it should be.
Indigenous Customary Marriage –
Child of Police Officer
Child of Police Officer
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
If a white police officer had conducted himself in the same fashion as the ACPO who allowed this to happen to his daughter, would that police officer be treated with the same leniency?
ANSWER
I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition’s question and, Madam Speaker, I find it offensive. I find it offensive that the Leader of the Opposition would make such an assertion. The assertion he has made is that the DPP would have two standards. It is not me, as Chief Minister, or the Attorney-General, who make decisions about who should be charged and who should not be charged under the criminal law of the Northern Territory, it is the DPP. For the Leader of the Opposition to make that allegation is offensive - it is absolutely offensive. I urge that he think about the question that he asked, because it really does not do him, as Leader of the Opposition, any favours at all in how, if he ever had the opportunity, he would run the Northern Territory.
There is total independence between the political arm of government and the judiciary and the police. It is an issue for the DPP. The DPP determined not to lay charges - that is where the matter rests. In regard to the employment of the individual officer concerned, that is an issue for the Police Commissioner, and that is being considered at the moment.
I say, again, that sexual abuse of children in the Northern Territory is reprehensible, it is a vile and heinous crime, it is not tolerated by this government.
Business Confidence for
Continued Economic Growth
Continued Economic Growth
Ms SACILOTTO to MINISTER for BUSINESS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Strong economic growth does not happen by accident and business confidence is one of the important contributors to growth. Is there any data available to indicate the level of business confidence in the Territory, and what implications does this have for our continued economic growth?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. Small business is the backbone of the Territory economy. Approximately 10 000 small businesses in the Territory employ thousands of Territorians and most of them provide opportunities for jobs for our children.
In the last year, 5800 new jobs were created and our economy is growing strong, nearly 7%. Last week, the Sensis May quarterly results were released. I have to tell you, I was very pleased to read the report because it shows the Northern Territory has recorded the highest level of business confidence in Australia, when business confidence around Australia has plummeted to a seven-year low. For example, in New South Wales, business confidence has gone down to 11% and the ACT to 23% and, in the Northern Territory, business confidence is at 58%.
In addition, Northern Territory small business has the strongest profit expectation for the coming year. Small business in the Northern Territory has the strongest employment growth of any state or Territory, as well as having the highest confidence in the Territory government compared to anywhere else in Australia. This is quite correct; this has not happened by accident. Small businesses do not like us just by accident or because we are in power; it is because we have done things to make things easier for small business. We are the lowest taxing jurisdiction in Australia. For example, we have lowered payroll tax from 6.2% to 5.9% - saving Territory businesses $7.2m a year. Since 2001, Territory businesses have saved around $74m.
Things do not happen by accident. Our government works very closely with small and medium businesses to make the environment easier for them to grow and prosper because, in return, they provide jobs for Territorians.
It is not only the information from Sensis that tells us everything is going well in the Territory. The strongest indicator is that Territorians feel confident for the future. That is why we have the highest retail spend in the country.
Palmerston – Assaults
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
Last Friday, Channel 9 covered your media conference in Palmerston, and reported that assaults in Palmerston had risen by 73% last year. What can you say to the Palmerston resident featured in the Channel 9 news report who now feels so threatened that he carries a truncheon to protect himself?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. Again, I say - and I have been saying for many years now - that indiscriminate acts of violence and assaults against people are unacceptable. I say to the gentleman at the shopping centre in Palmerston that I am very sad that assault did occur and he feels that he has to conduct himself the way he portrayed that night. That is why I, as Chief Minister, and this government, will continue the fight against crime in a very strong, steadfast and forceful way.
That is why, since we came to government, not only have we recruited - as part of the O’Sullivan response in regard to his review of the dire state the police force was in when we came to government back in 2001 - an additional 200 police into our police force; and why this budget, under the Safest Streets Initiative, sees an additional 60 police officers to be recruited on top of the 40 that were recruited since the last budget, to be deployed as part of Operation Themis. Those 60 police officers will go directly to the front line on patrols in Palmerston, Darwin, the northern suburbs, Alice Springs, in our suburbs, continuing the fight against crime to stamp out these random, indiscriminative acts of violence against Territorians.
Each and every one of those offences is totally regrettable and should not have occurred. However, this is not a new issue that we are facing in the Northern Territory. Pick up any newspaper around Australia, around the world, and you will see that these types of offences do occur. They should not occur. What you need is a well-resourced police force that can get out there, do the investigative work, apprehend the perpetrators, and have them dealt with by the justice system.
That is happening much more across the Northern Territory today - with an additional 200 police officers in our police force and an extra 60 to come - than occurred under the CLP when the police force was run down, it was demoralised, and it did not have the staff numbers to secure any convictions at all ...
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: We can debate those results a bit later. I am well prepared.
If the Leader of the Opposition wants to lead with his chin, bring it on. When you do not have police out there, they cannot do the detective work, they cannot conduct the investigations, they cannot get the evidence to the DPP, charges are not laid, court cases are not heard, convictions are not obtained - a direct result of not having any police out there. That is what we inherited when we came to government. We are providing the police with the resources that they need, with the legislation they need. These indiscriminate acts are totally unacceptable.
Unfortunately, in any society, they do occur. For the Leader of the Opposition to proclaim that he could wave a magic wand and nobody would ever be assaulted in the Northern Territory again, is blatant nonsense.
What we have to do is give the police the resources to do their job. In their budget, they have about 80% more resources flowing into the police force than they had when the CLP were in office.
Bootu Creek Manganese Production
Mr HAMPTON to MINISTER for MINES and ENERGY
Just a few days ago, the millionth tonne of manganese from the Bootu Creek Mine left Darwin Harbour. This is great news for the Territory minerals sector, and for our freight and export sectors. Can you advise the House on the effects of this significant milestone and what it means for Territory business?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for his question. As the member for Stuart just pointed out, on Saturday morning I had the wonderful duty of visiting the Port of Darwin to witness the loading of 28 000 tonnes of manganese being loaded on to a ship bound for China. This manganese was mined at Bootu Creek by OM Manganese and represented an historic milestone of one million tonnes that had been shipped to China in less than two years.
Bootu Creek was actually established and commissioned in June 2006. I am pleased to say that it was one of the first mining companies to use the railway to ship its ore to the Port of Darwin.
The other pleasing part about this operation is that they are stepping up production at Bootu Creek. This year, they are expected to mine around 700 000 tonnes of manganese, again, to go to China, and the forward projections are looking very good, indeed. OM Manganese is a very strong contributor and a great player in the Northern Territory economy, especially through direct and indirect employment. Currently, they employ around 210 people on-site - that is, their own employees and also through contractors - and of these 210 employees, around 14% is indigenous. So, this is great news.
The flow-on effects: the money injected supports services that are supporting the mining industry, and that flows into millions of dollars in and around the Territory. Active exploration programs are currently being undertaken so that they can, hopefully, extend the life of the mine. Currently, the life of the mine is around eight or nine years, but they are hoping, with further exploration and with some of the wonderful results they are achieving from this exploration, to elongate the life of that mine. The OM financial contribution for 2008 is forecast at around $150m, which is going into operation capital and exploration costs. A large majority, I am pleased to say, will be spent in and around the Tennant Creek area and also at the Port of Darwin.
Madam Speaker, mining and energy production in the Northern Territory is set to grow to over 30% next financial year to $7.5bn and is now worth around 40% of our GSP. The Territory economy is booming, and that is on the back of the mining, of which OM Manganese is playing a very important role. I congratulate OM Manganese and all those involved with achieving this historic milestone.
School Attendance Measures
Mrs BRAHAM to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
I wholeheartedly agree with the minister that children must go to school every day. However, there are advertisements currently being run in the NT News and Centralian Advocate urging people to send their children to school every day. Who is the target group of that advertisement? Do you really believe that people in town camps and remote communities receive and read newspapers? How long will this advertisement run? How much is it costing Territory taxpayers? Whose brilliant idea was it to run this advertisement, if that is all you have to get kids to school?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was actually going to congratulate the member for Braitling for asking an education question, because attendance is probably one of the biggest issues that we face. However, how patronising of the member for Braitling to think that there is not one Aboriginal family in a town camp or remote community that does not pick up a newspaper, let alone look at the DVDs and others. The newspaper advertisement is one part of a number of measures that our government is bringing in to assist our communities to deal with and get the message out that attendance at school is compulsory - something that the CLP government struggled with for a long time …
Mrs Braham: We would have thought by now they knew they had to send their kids to school.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Well, member for Braitling, you were a former minister …
Mrs Braham: The ones not sending them to school probably do not read the papers.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Madam Speaker, the member for Braitling was a minister of the former CLP government. I remember the Leader of the Opposition asking how many prosecutions have actually happened under the Education Act. When I looked back, it was zero, because the process under the Education Act has been a difficult one, but we are developing it. The CLP certainly had struggled with this issue. All of these resources that we have put out in the remote communities - and it is not just our remote communities, there are also issues in our urban centres. The department is looking at a wide target. We not only have indigenous kids who are living in our remote communities who do not go to school, but that is where we have major issues, and they are the ones that we are targeting, but we also have issues in our urban centres.
For the member for Braitling to say that indigenous people do not pick up newspapers, let alone read the ads, is absolutely condescending and patronising if I have ever heard it ...
Mrs Braham: How much is it costing?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Madam Speaker, I do not have the actual cost of the ads and the work that we are doing …
Ms Lawrie: Estimates are next week, Loraine.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Certainly, that is a fantastic estimates question, member for Braitling, and you should take the opportunity during the estimates process to ask me that question and, hopefully, I will have the answer for you.
Let me reaffirm, any money spent on getting the message out to our communities, and promoting and saying that school attendance is compulsory, and that parents have to take the responsibility to get kids to school, is money well spent.
SKYCITY Resort – Economic Impact
Ms McCARTHY to TREASURER
Yesterday, the government signed the final agreement to develop Darwin’s first tropical beachside resort next door to the casino. Can you advise what impact this development will have on the economic future of the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question, because the Dugong Resort is just one example of how fantastic resorts can really focus the tourism market on our beautiful areas of the Northern Territory. I look forward to getting out to Groote and staying at the Dugong; I have heard fantastic things about it. I know the member for Arnhem was there for its opening. So, we have a resort on Groote, and Darwin is getting its very own resort as well.
With this exciting new development next to SKYCITY, it will provide three important economic boosts for our future. It will provide a new and world-class resort facility to help boost our tourism and accommodation options; jobs during construction and operational phases to help diversify our economy; and the resort will be done in an eco-friendly way, showing that there can be a balance between growth and the environment.
For an ongoing tourism and accommodation experience, every tourism destination, we know, needs to provide new products. The development of this lagoon-style resort will add yet another option to tourists and, indeed, locals alike to enjoy the experience that is our nation’s tropical capital city. It will also add much-needed accommodation space to our very tight hotel numbers industry. The growth we need in these facilities is now starting to be met by the building of developments such as the waterfront, Chinatown, Mantra Pandanus, and the next stage of the Airport Resort, which we see Foxy is building at a rate of knots.
The three-year building phase of this SKYCITY development will provide hundreds of jobs on-site for builders and subcontractors, and this will have flow-on effects right through our economy, especially for those small businesses and families who are benefiting from the employment. It will provide long-term and ongoing employment for around 100 additional staff at SKYCITY. This development will ensure the area we all know as Little Mindil will be revegetated, have ongoing access to the beach, have a boardwalk put in linking the casino to the Myilly Cliffs, and will be landscaped to host outdoor events for SKYCITY.
This is a really good combination of environmental preservation and fostering the economic growth of our Territory through tourism. I wholeheartedly congratulate SKYCITY for coming forward with their innovative plans for the lagoon-style resort, and revegetating and protecting Little Mindil; really enhancing that creek environment and the sacred sites there.
Madam Speaker, none of this happens by accident. The resort is the result of careful planning by government, including my own department. The winner, SKYCITY, had a very strong bid that went in, and they followed a very transparent and public expressions of interest process. So it is a win/win, as the Chief Minister indicated at the signing with SKYCITY. If the opposition had their way, they were out there saying, ‘You cannot do it. The sky is falling in. You cannot have these developments. The sky is going to fall in’. We will get on with the business of growing our economy and providing a range of options for people to have jobs, and to draw people to our fantastic tropical paradise of Darwin.
Casuarina Senior College –
Suspension of Students
Suspension of Students
Mr MILLS to MINISTER for EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION and TRAINING
We have received information that numerous children have been suspended from Casuarina Senior College for gang-related activity. Can you state how many suspensions have been made at that school, and the reasons that these suspensions have been made?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. In relation to some of the suspensions at Casuarina Senior College, I cannot go into too much detail, but there are a number of investigations occurring there. Some of them are related to a number of bomb threats at the school. However, at this stage, Leader of the Opposition, I cannot go into details because some of those suspensions are actually transferred across to other detailed investigations. If you want a brief at some stage, we can arrange that ...
Mr Mills: How many though?
Ms SCRYMGOUR: There have been a number of bomb threats at Casuarina Senior College and the police are investigating the sources of where these threats are coming in.
Radiation Oncology Unit - Update
Mr BURKE to MINISTER for HEALTH
Can you update the House on the Northern Territory’s radiation oncology unit?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. As most members would be aware, on Sunday I made some significant announcements on progress towards establishing a radiation oncology unit within the Northern Territory. These announcements followed on from a pledge that I made approximately a month before that, when Mr Paul Tyrrell and Professor Michael Barton were commissioned to move this project ahead.
There has been fruitful work done with the Commonwealth, with Nicola Roxon, and also involving Damian Hale. The Commonwealth has pledged $19m to the Northern Territory to establish a radiation oncology unit. That is an up-front payment. That is $6m more than Tony Abbott promised in 2006. He promised $13m …
Mr Mills: Come on. You can stand up straight and tell that story. Good heavens!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Please listen, member for Blain. This is an extra $6m on top of what …
Mr Mills: Because of your delays, you goose.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Mills: Things are costing more the longer you wait.
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, I will pick up on that interjection. The member for Blain talked about waiting. The fact of the matter is, the tender process under the previous federal government failed, not just once, but twice. Part of the reason why they failed - and I have been apprised of this now because we have had access to those tender documents and some of the details around it - was the amount that was up-front was inadequate. It was not a realistic estimate of what was required up-front. That is the first thing, member for Blain ...
Mr Mills: What about your $20m?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: The second element, which was a real sticking point and a major reason why the tender process failed the first two times around under the previous government, was that there was an unrealistic requirement by the previous federal government that the radiation oncology service providers, who are medical specialists, should also design and construct the facility. These are medical specialists, they are not engineers, they do not build things, but the previous federal government was so rigid in what they wanted, that this went on twice, and it failed twice. You would think they would have learnt before that. You would think David Tollner and Nigel Scullion would have been in there saying: ‘Hey, back off a bit. Let us make it a bit flexible’, because the proponents certainly told the previous federal government what was wrong with the tender.
We have been able to negotiate with Nicola Roxon and the current federal government, so there will be $19m, an extra $6m on top of what the previous government promised. The first instalment of $5.7m has flowed.
As I announced on Monday, we will be going out to tender for the design and construction of that building next week. I pay tribute to Mr Paul Tyrrell; he is someone who can get things done. What we needed was the wherewithal from the Commonwealth to do that, and we were able to secure that from Nicola Roxon, which allowed Mr Tyrrell and Professor Barton to move forward on this project.
The other thing happening is that we are entering into direct negotiations with a preferred tenderer, a very well-renowned deliverer of these services in Australia. I am not at liberty at this stage to name them. Paul Tyrrell has informed me he expects those negotiations to be concluded within the next two months.
The progress of this particular project has come about by the change of government in Canberra, flexibility shown by Nicola Roxon, more funding, more support but, more importantly, that money has flowed to the Territory from the current federal government and it has allowed the Territory to directly negotiate - quite a change from the previous federal government.
We all want a high quality, safe and sustainable radiation oncology service for the Northern Territory. I have said this to the Leader of the Opposition on a number of occasions: this is not just about building a building. Building the building is actually the easy part. It is getting the service provider in there with the flexibility to deliver those services. That is the key to a sustainable way, that is where we are going and we will deliver on this service.
Don Dale Detention Centre
Mr MILLS to CHIEF MINISTER
In your deceitful release on youth crime on 31 March …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Leader of the Opposition well knows he cannot accuse the Chief Minister of deceit unless by way of substantive motion.
Madam SPEAKER: I will seek some advice on this, because I think he is referring to the document.
Mr MILLS: I will swap it with dishonest, if that is okay.
Madam SPEAKER: Please rephrase that, Leader of the Opposition.
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: Well, you said it. Yes, Madam Speaker. In your disingenuous release on youth crime on 31 March you claimed: ‘Repeat offenders will have to go to court to face the consequence of their actions, including detention’. If that is the case, why are your budget papers predicting no increase in the number of youths serving sentences at Don Dale Detention Centre next year? And, why has the number fallen by 25% in the current year?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, which I helped write for him, to help him get it over the line.
As Chief Minister, I am absolutely committed to cracking down on youth crime throughout the Northern Territory. That is why this government, in the previous session of parliament, passed significant legislation in regard to cracking down on youth crime. For the first time in the Northern Territory - and, I believe, in the way we constructed it, the first time nationally – we established a series of arrangements around parental responsibility orders that the police can apply for and the courts can impose to attempt to hold accountable a small number of parents who do not give a damn about what their kids, who are repeat offenders, are getting up to around the Northern Territory.
The second part of that was to close the revolving door on juvenile diversion. When we had a good look at juvenile diversion, it is a very good scheme where about 70% of offenders - and these figures have been independently audited - who go through diversion, the courts do not see back again. It is a case of juveniles making the wrong decision, getting involved with the wrong groups of people, making the wrong choices and, when they are held accountable to those choices and, with their parents, victim offender conferencing occurs, 70% of those kids do not re-offend, so it has been successful.
However, when we delved more deeply into the figures, there is a small hard core. Some of these juveniles have been through diversion programs eight to 10 times, just thumbing their noses at the system, knowing that, under the previous regime, they could do what they wanted and they were not going to be held to account before a court of law. Well, the door is now closed. You get access to juvenile diversion twice, second time maximum, and on a third time if they are charged with an offence, they will be off before the courts.
We have also implemented youth camps in Central Australia and two in the Top End. These youth camps provide an alternative sentencing option for the courts that did not exist before – it was Don Dale or nothing. As a result of funding committed by this government, now we have a steady flow of juveniles who are being sent to those youth camps as an alternative to Don Dale or juvenile diversion programs, and there is money in the budget for that.
In regard to Don Dale itself, if the courts sentence juveniles to Don Dale then, of course, the budget will be allocated to accommodate those kids in Don Dale. However, where the growth has been in this budget is to establish three youth camps in the Northern Territory that were not an option before. They give the courts the opportunity to get those kids out of their circle of friends, out of their cycle of offending, and getting them into a more positive space to help them break that cycle of offending. Initial results are starting to prove positive.
For the Leader of the Opposition to come in here and say nothing is happening, nothing is going on, everything is getting worse, is totally not supported by the facts in this case. We have invested significantly in police; with the toughest legislation in Australia to deal with juvenile crime in the Northern Territory; and in youth camps that previously had not existed in the Northern Territory. We will continue to fight against youth crime and crime per se right across the Northern Territory.
Alice Springs – Economic Development
Ms ANDERSON to MINISTER for REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
I understand that you recently released an economic profile of Alice Springs that brings together a range of information, including the results of a survey conducted in November 2007. How will this information be used, and what implications are there for future economic development in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her important question. It also gives me the opportunity to respond to some of the comments made by a certain group of people in Alice Springs about their town. This group is determined to drive Alice Springs down. That group of people have actually cost millions of dollars to Alice Springs. The only thing we hear from these people in Alice Springs is how bad Alice Springs is, how nothing is happening in Alice Springs, how the government in Darwin does not support Alice Springs. It is not true.
Our government is determined, and is always committed to help business throughout the Territory and, in particular, in Alice Springs. That is the reason why my department, together with the Alice Springs Economic Development Committee, researched 600 businesses in Alice Springs, and the results speak for themselves: 79% of businesses in Alice Springs were confident of business prospects over the next 12 months; 74% expect an increase in value of sales; 69% expected profitability to increase; 8% of businesses sourced their goods and services from Alice Springs; and 97% of their customer base is in Alice Springs.
Business in Alice Springs is doing very well, thank you very much. That flies in the face of those people who complained about nothing happening in Alice Springs and that Alice Springs is a dump.
This is a very important profile, which I was very pleased to launch two weeks ago in Alice Springs. I have visited Alice Springs five times this year. I was very pleased to speak with many business people who expressed to me how confident they are about business prospects in Alice Springs. We had many claims of this in the past but this is the first time we have concrete evidence in our hands about what is happening in Alice Springs. Certainly, this will not be the only survey. It will happen in other towns like Katherine, Nhulunbuy and everywhere else.
We will use this information, because we want to have comprehensive economic baseline data for future discussion in order to further develop business in Alice Springs and give them the opportunities to grow and develop. It will also give us the opportunity for those who fail to understand the unique features in Alice Springs. We want to engage the community for future planning, and that will help us drive regional economic development. It is very important for us.
Madam Speaker, I challenge any of the people in Alice Springs who complain about the town to respond to that because this is not government spin; this is what business in Alice Springs is telling us about their own company.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016