Mr MILLS - 2000-10-19
After nearly 90 years of waiting, we now have a railway. What now?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the simple answer to the member’s question is that we are going to establish a new gas province for Australia, and we are going to do that with the energy and commitment and untiring effort that we have put in over many, many years towards the establishment of this great railway project.
I have already had discussions with the Prime Minister on the importance of this particular project, and Territorians can be absolutely assured that the achievement of this particular project, the achievement of gas onshore for the Northern Territory, is something that I believe is possible. Certainly, a decision in principle is possible within the next six to 12 months. It is really exciting and it is something that I will certainly be devoting all of my energy to achieve.
When we look at the Northern Territory, and as I said before, tell the truth to Territorians, there are some simple factors that need always to be considered. We are a small jurisdiction - only 200 000 people. And 200 000 people can reflect after yesterday’s signing that it is not a bad effort. It is not a bad effort when only 200 000 people have not only secured a $1.23bn project at a cost of $165m of our own contribution but on top of that, we have already, this small jurisdiction, put over $100m into the establishment of a new greenfield site port, the first new commercial port in Australia this century. Another $70m to go into the next stage in the development of that port so that we can accommodate the railway.
When you look at the factors that affect the Northern Territory, poor infrastructure has always been a major factor in the Territory’s development, and to a large degree the establishment of this railway and the growth of this new port, because really the railway is a means to make this port operate, is a major achievement.
But to really make the Territory the new frontier of Australia, we need low energy, because it is low energy costs that will really establish a manufacturing base and associated industry to capitalise on this new infrastructure in the port. Low energy costs, competitive energy costs and even better cheaper energy costs than many other jurisdictions in Australia is an absolute possibility. It is a possibility that we can achieve within the next six to 12 months by a decision to bring gas on-shore. Such a decision would be a mammoth project and certainly a larger project to achieve than the railway. That is our objective and that is what we will work tirelessly to achieve.
But yesterday, we sealed the deal for the railway and the enormity of that occasion I do not really believe has been grasped by a lot of people, and I could even say including myself, because it has been so long coming. But it was great to hear the Prime Minister stand up and say: ‘This railway will be built’. As the Prime Minister of Australia, make no mistakes, this railway will be built. Make no mistakes that the commercial terms have been decided and sealed. Make no mistake that all of the bank credit approvals have been given, certainly in principle and the finalisation of that will occur at the end of November. There should not be any cynicism or negativity with regards to this project and certainly no misleading comments like it will need more money or it will not be successful.
It would be great if we just reflected on the fact that we are going to build a railway that will link the great Southern Ocean to the Arafura Sea and create the new gateway for trade into and out of Australia and into and out of Asia and that is a dream for Territorians for over 100 years and we have achieved it.
We will have ceremonies right throughout the Northern Territory in due course as the railway begins construction and there are many people to thank. Yesterday’s ceremony was not the appropriate time and I am organising already a ceremony in the Northern Territory at the appropriate place to signal the start of construction.
But there are many people to thank and for a moment could I just name some of them. Certainly all the past Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory, the CLP government, who have worked so hard to achieve this project: Marshall Perron, for getting the Commonwealth to focus on getting the engineering survey underway in the early 1990s and also who sought South Australia’s partnership in this venture.
Mr Speaker, Shane Stone’s contribution to this railway can never be understated because it was he who got the $100m commitment at the outset from the federal government. Barry Coulter, the first minister for the railway and minister for the railway since the mid 1980s who dedicated almost 15 years to the project. Many others - the Board of the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Rick Allert as Chairman, John Crosby, Otto Alder, Jim Hallion and Paul Tyrell. The NT Railway Executive Group of Barry Chambers, John Pinney, Margaret Lyons, Dave McHugh and Ken Clarke, and our Administrator, Neil Conn, a past Chairman of the Railway Executive Group.
Key advisors: Neil Phillips, Murray West and John Sherman from Clayton Utz, Dr Kerry Schott and Nick Lattimore from the Deutche Bank, Peter Gemell of Evans and Peck Management, Robert Williams from Booz-Allen & Hamilton; Jeffrey Lucy and Darren Button of PricewaterhouseCoopers. From the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Larry Bannister as executive officer, a man who has been with this project with Paul Tyrrell since 1986, Alastair Shields, Jim Colvin, Sibylle Brautigam, Brian O’Gallagher, Jane Munday, Robin Luke, Maureen Albion, Margo Bellis, Taryn Long, John Harris, Kylie Bell, Celia Lowrey and Josephine McGill.
From the Department of Chief Minister: Tim Joyce, Chris Bigg, Tracy Jones and Enza Matarazzo. Transport and Works: Ken Hornsby, Brendan Lawson, Phil Cross, Sue Hakala. From the Department of Lands: Beve Griffiths, David Jeffery, Noreen Blackley, Paul Wharam, John Gordon, Neville Jones, Dionne Davey, Percy Wing Kee, Robert Sharands, Robert Kleeman and Steve Sutton. From the Department of Industries and Business: John Carroll and Neil Almond. The Darwin Port Corporation: Special thanks to Barry Berwick. Treasury: Peter Caldwell. Mines and Energy: Tony Erebbie and Bob Adams. Attorney-Generals: Bryan Elliott, Megan Edmonds and Anita Kneebone; and Sacred Sites Protection Authority: Mr David Ritchie. To name but a few.
An army of Territorians who have been not only involved with the project at this time but over the many years that they have worked tirelessly to achieve this project on behalf of the Northern Territory. I thank them for their efforts and they will certainly be invited and key personnel to any functions that we have to celebrate this great project.
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the simple answer to the member’s question is that we are going to establish a new gas province for Australia, and we are going to do that with the energy and commitment and untiring effort that we have put in over many, many years towards the establishment of this great railway project.
I have already had discussions with the Prime Minister on the importance of this particular project, and Territorians can be absolutely assured that the achievement of this particular project, the achievement of gas onshore for the Northern Territory, is something that I believe is possible. Certainly, a decision in principle is possible within the next six to 12 months. It is really exciting and it is something that I will certainly be devoting all of my energy to achieve.
When we look at the Northern Territory, and as I said before, tell the truth to Territorians, there are some simple factors that need always to be considered. We are a small jurisdiction - only 200 000 people. And 200 000 people can reflect after yesterday’s signing that it is not a bad effort. It is not a bad effort when only 200 000 people have not only secured a $1.23bn project at a cost of $165m of our own contribution but on top of that, we have already, this small jurisdiction, put over $100m into the establishment of a new greenfield site port, the first new commercial port in Australia this century. Another $70m to go into the next stage in the development of that port so that we can accommodate the railway.
When you look at the factors that affect the Northern Territory, poor infrastructure has always been a major factor in the Territory’s development, and to a large degree the establishment of this railway and the growth of this new port, because really the railway is a means to make this port operate, is a major achievement.
But to really make the Territory the new frontier of Australia, we need low energy, because it is low energy costs that will really establish a manufacturing base and associated industry to capitalise on this new infrastructure in the port. Low energy costs, competitive energy costs and even better cheaper energy costs than many other jurisdictions in Australia is an absolute possibility. It is a possibility that we can achieve within the next six to 12 months by a decision to bring gas on-shore. Such a decision would be a mammoth project and certainly a larger project to achieve than the railway. That is our objective and that is what we will work tirelessly to achieve.
But yesterday, we sealed the deal for the railway and the enormity of that occasion I do not really believe has been grasped by a lot of people, and I could even say including myself, because it has been so long coming. But it was great to hear the Prime Minister stand up and say: ‘This railway will be built’. As the Prime Minister of Australia, make no mistakes, this railway will be built. Make no mistakes that the commercial terms have been decided and sealed. Make no mistake that all of the bank credit approvals have been given, certainly in principle and the finalisation of that will occur at the end of November. There should not be any cynicism or negativity with regards to this project and certainly no misleading comments like it will need more money or it will not be successful.
It would be great if we just reflected on the fact that we are going to build a railway that will link the great Southern Ocean to the Arafura Sea and create the new gateway for trade into and out of Australia and into and out of Asia and that is a dream for Territorians for over 100 years and we have achieved it.
We will have ceremonies right throughout the Northern Territory in due course as the railway begins construction and there are many people to thank. Yesterday’s ceremony was not the appropriate time and I am organising already a ceremony in the Northern Territory at the appropriate place to signal the start of construction.
But there are many people to thank and for a moment could I just name some of them. Certainly all the past Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory, the CLP government, who have worked so hard to achieve this project: Marshall Perron, for getting the Commonwealth to focus on getting the engineering survey underway in the early 1990s and also who sought South Australia’s partnership in this venture.
Mr Speaker, Shane Stone’s contribution to this railway can never be understated because it was he who got the $100m commitment at the outset from the federal government. Barry Coulter, the first minister for the railway and minister for the railway since the mid 1980s who dedicated almost 15 years to the project. Many others - the Board of the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Rick Allert as Chairman, John Crosby, Otto Alder, Jim Hallion and Paul Tyrell. The NT Railway Executive Group of Barry Chambers, John Pinney, Margaret Lyons, Dave McHugh and Ken Clarke, and our Administrator, Neil Conn, a past Chairman of the Railway Executive Group.
Key advisors: Neil Phillips, Murray West and John Sherman from Clayton Utz, Dr Kerry Schott and Nick Lattimore from the Deutche Bank, Peter Gemell of Evans and Peck Management, Robert Williams from Booz-Allen & Hamilton; Jeffrey Lucy and Darren Button of PricewaterhouseCoopers. From the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Larry Bannister as executive officer, a man who has been with this project with Paul Tyrrell since 1986, Alastair Shields, Jim Colvin, Sibylle Brautigam, Brian O’Gallagher, Jane Munday, Robin Luke, Maureen Albion, Margo Bellis, Taryn Long, John Harris, Kylie Bell, Celia Lowrey and Josephine McGill.
From the Department of Chief Minister: Tim Joyce, Chris Bigg, Tracy Jones and Enza Matarazzo. Transport and Works: Ken Hornsby, Brendan Lawson, Phil Cross, Sue Hakala. From the Department of Lands: Beve Griffiths, David Jeffery, Noreen Blackley, Paul Wharam, John Gordon, Neville Jones, Dionne Davey, Percy Wing Kee, Robert Sharands, Robert Kleeman and Steve Sutton. From the Department of Industries and Business: John Carroll and Neil Almond. The Darwin Port Corporation: Special thanks to Barry Berwick. Treasury: Peter Caldwell. Mines and Energy: Tony Erebbie and Bob Adams. Attorney-Generals: Bryan Elliott, Megan Edmonds and Anita Kneebone; and Sacred Sites Protection Authority: Mr David Ritchie. To name but a few.
An army of Territorians who have been not only involved with the project at this time but over the many years that they have worked tirelessly to achieve this project on behalf of the Northern Territory. I thank them for their efforts and they will certainly be invited and key personnel to any functions that we have to celebrate this great project.
Members: Hear, hear!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016