Mr BAILEY - 1998-10-08
The Country Liberal Party’s negligent handling of the brucellosis and tuberculosis eradication campaign (BTEC) has cost Territory pastoralists and taxpayers a fortune in court costs and compensation payouts. Will the minister confirm that the Country Liberal Party administration recently agreed to pay out a further $2.5m to settle a claim? Will the minister tell Territorians how much the Country Liberal Party’s incompetence over the eradication campaign has cost to this point, and what is the estimated contingent liability on outstanding claims?
ANSWER
That is a very good question, Madam Speaker, but litigation against the government is not handled by the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries. It is handled by the Attorney-General.
Mr BAILEY: Madam Speaker, the cost has been created by the incompetence of the Minister for Primary Industry. If he doesn’t have those figures …
Mr PALMER: Madam Speaker, I will take responsibility for the sack of Carthage, the rape of Istanbul …
Madam SPEAKER: Would you be happy if we direct the question to …
Mr BAILEY: Yes, I am happy to redirect the question to the Attorney-General if he has those figures.
Mr BAILEY to ATTORNEY-GENERAL
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I don’t have the figures.
Just before I address that, can I say in response to another question that was asked, about saltwater intrusion, for the benefit of members the reason that the member for Victoria River and Minister for Parks and Wildlife is not here this morning is that I asked him to go by helicopter to Mary River …
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Well, there are these big tides out there at the moment. The landowners tell me that it has to be seen to be believed so I have asked the minister to go out and have a look.
I think the bottom line in all this is that, while we can stand in this Chamber and say: ‘It was your fault - you didn’t do this or you didn’t that’, you’re up against the biggest engineer in the universe, called God. The intrusion of the ocean is something that is quite clearly beyond the capacity of anybody to deal with. Now we live in an age of global warming and ever-changing currents and tides. No doubt, when the minister sees for himself and comes back, he can probably provide some interesting information on what he has observed. So let us get this in its proper perspective: saltwater intrusion occurs for many different reasons, but you are up against the forces of nature when you are talking about this matter.
Now, in relation to the BTEC matters, if I could take the last question and then move forward, there are still a number of cases outstanding in litigation. I don’t propose to make any comment about them at all - for good reason, because while they are in the courts or subject to negotiation I don’t want to prejudice any of those proceedings. The simple fact is that its always open to any citizen to bring an action against the government of the day through the courts. That is the nature of litigation, so I won’t comment on those.
In relation to the other matters, including those that have been litigated and settled, I don’t have those details and those facts at my fingertips. I think the better way to deal with that would be either to come back into this Chamber when I do have the information and provide it, or alternatively to provide the member with a briefing from the Attorney-General’s Department, or do a combination of the 2.
I am quite happy to be open and frank about where we find ourselves in relation to the BTEC program and the litigation that has occurred. It was always going to be a controversial program and it is one that goes back a long way. But remember this: the reason that we have a viable cattle industry in the Territory today, the reason that we have a viable live cattle export trade today, notwithstanding the difficulties in the region, was the adoption of this program. We were never going to be able to access either the export or domestic markets without dealing with the issue.
Ms Martin: You have a lot to thank John Kerin for.
Mr STONE: I will pick up the interjection from the member for Fannie Bay. Look, these are ongoing programs. Governments accept responsibility. We don’t blame past Chief Ministers or ministers. It is all part of the process of government.
I will make sure the member gets that information.
Mr BAILEY: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Oh, no. The Chief Minister has offered to give you a briefing and the information. I think that should be enough.
ANSWER
That is a very good question, Madam Speaker, but litigation against the government is not handled by the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries. It is handled by the Attorney-General.
Mr BAILEY: Madam Speaker, the cost has been created by the incompetence of the Minister for Primary Industry. If he doesn’t have those figures …
Mr PALMER: Madam Speaker, I will take responsibility for the sack of Carthage, the rape of Istanbul …
Madam SPEAKER: Would you be happy if we direct the question to …
Mr BAILEY: Yes, I am happy to redirect the question to the Attorney-General if he has those figures.
Mr BAILEY to ATTORNEY-GENERAL
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I don’t have the figures.
Just before I address that, can I say in response to another question that was asked, about saltwater intrusion, for the benefit of members the reason that the member for Victoria River and Minister for Parks and Wildlife is not here this morning is that I asked him to go by helicopter to Mary River …
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Well, there are these big tides out there at the moment. The landowners tell me that it has to be seen to be believed so I have asked the minister to go out and have a look.
I think the bottom line in all this is that, while we can stand in this Chamber and say: ‘It was your fault - you didn’t do this or you didn’t that’, you’re up against the biggest engineer in the universe, called God. The intrusion of the ocean is something that is quite clearly beyond the capacity of anybody to deal with. Now we live in an age of global warming and ever-changing currents and tides. No doubt, when the minister sees for himself and comes back, he can probably provide some interesting information on what he has observed. So let us get this in its proper perspective: saltwater intrusion occurs for many different reasons, but you are up against the forces of nature when you are talking about this matter.
Now, in relation to the BTEC matters, if I could take the last question and then move forward, there are still a number of cases outstanding in litigation. I don’t propose to make any comment about them at all - for good reason, because while they are in the courts or subject to negotiation I don’t want to prejudice any of those proceedings. The simple fact is that its always open to any citizen to bring an action against the government of the day through the courts. That is the nature of litigation, so I won’t comment on those.
In relation to the other matters, including those that have been litigated and settled, I don’t have those details and those facts at my fingertips. I think the better way to deal with that would be either to come back into this Chamber when I do have the information and provide it, or alternatively to provide the member with a briefing from the Attorney-General’s Department, or do a combination of the 2.
I am quite happy to be open and frank about where we find ourselves in relation to the BTEC program and the litigation that has occurred. It was always going to be a controversial program and it is one that goes back a long way. But remember this: the reason that we have a viable cattle industry in the Territory today, the reason that we have a viable live cattle export trade today, notwithstanding the difficulties in the region, was the adoption of this program. We were never going to be able to access either the export or domestic markets without dealing with the issue.
Ms Martin: You have a lot to thank John Kerin for.
Mr STONE: I will pick up the interjection from the member for Fannie Bay. Look, these are ongoing programs. Governments accept responsibility. We don’t blame past Chief Ministers or ministers. It is all part of the process of government.
I will make sure the member gets that information.
Mr BAILEY: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Oh, no. The Chief Minister has offered to give you a briefing and the information. I think that should be enough.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016