Mr ELFERINK - 2000-11-28
Recently, the federal government announced a $1.6bn package to help with roads around Australia. Some $20m has been set aside for the Northern Territory - merely $20m when you consider that it is one sixth of the Australian land mass. After the many representations I have made to your office, what will be the effects of this in my electorate and the rest of the Northern Territory as a whole?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I suppose one must be thankful for any increase in road fundings, and I don’t like to sound like a curmudgeon on this particular issue. However, it comes as some disappointing news that the Northern Territory, out of a $1.6bn federal program, was allocated $20m.
Mr Stirling: The ACT gets $20m.
Mr PALMER: The member for Nhulunbuy points out that the ACT was also allocated $20m; the ACT which has the best road system in Australia, probably the most modern road system in Australia and the best maintained road system in Australia, whilst we in the Northern Territory have communities which have no surety of road access throughout the year and have great difficulty in maintaining that access.
We have been advised by the federal government that the $20m over five years for the Northern Territory would be spread amongst 70 local government councils and local government authorities. In the rest of Australia, most of the more settled states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, almost in their entirety, are covered by local government areas, but much of the Northern Territory remains unincorporated.
Even since this federal government came to power and cancelled the previous government’s Aboriginal strategic roads program, we have impressed upon them the need to maintain or re-institute that program. The small communities by themselves do not have the wherewithal, and this money does not give them the wherewithal, to maintain the long distances of roads between those communities. Only the Northern Territory government working with those communities has the opportunity and the ability to do that.
In relation to that strategic roads program, we were able to upgrade the Port Keats road. However, the Arnhemland Road, the Angurugu/Umbakumba road, the Ngukurr/Numbulwar road and the Kintore road missed out. It is these roads that really are important in terms of Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
As much as it pains me to say, the Darwin City Council really does not need money nor does Palmerston. This money is better spent on those rural, regional roads. It is extremely disappointing that we were not consulted at all prior to the announcement of allocation of funds. Because, if we had been consulted …
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order on both sides!
Mr PALMER: If we had been consulted, we certainly would have impressed upon the Commonwealth the real need for roads in the Northern Territory. I am assured by the Chief Minister that he will be taking up this issue directly with Deputy Prime Minister Anderson in an attempt to redress the issue, not only in terms of the quantum but in the terms of the way the money is allocated.
It is just nonsense. We have 70 communities here, some receiving as little as $10 000 which does not do anything. They will spend $9999 on design, $1 on overheads, and no money for road construction, which is the real nub of the issue. We need to be able to consolidate money such as this and apply it to the best use so that people in those communities who want that guaranteed road access get it.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I suppose one must be thankful for any increase in road fundings, and I don’t like to sound like a curmudgeon on this particular issue. However, it comes as some disappointing news that the Northern Territory, out of a $1.6bn federal program, was allocated $20m.
Mr Stirling: The ACT gets $20m.
Mr PALMER: The member for Nhulunbuy points out that the ACT was also allocated $20m; the ACT which has the best road system in Australia, probably the most modern road system in Australia and the best maintained road system in Australia, whilst we in the Northern Territory have communities which have no surety of road access throughout the year and have great difficulty in maintaining that access.
We have been advised by the federal government that the $20m over five years for the Northern Territory would be spread amongst 70 local government councils and local government authorities. In the rest of Australia, most of the more settled states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, almost in their entirety, are covered by local government areas, but much of the Northern Territory remains unincorporated.
Even since this federal government came to power and cancelled the previous government’s Aboriginal strategic roads program, we have impressed upon them the need to maintain or re-institute that program. The small communities by themselves do not have the wherewithal, and this money does not give them the wherewithal, to maintain the long distances of roads between those communities. Only the Northern Territory government working with those communities has the opportunity and the ability to do that.
In relation to that strategic roads program, we were able to upgrade the Port Keats road. However, the Arnhemland Road, the Angurugu/Umbakumba road, the Ngukurr/Numbulwar road and the Kintore road missed out. It is these roads that really are important in terms of Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
As much as it pains me to say, the Darwin City Council really does not need money nor does Palmerston. This money is better spent on those rural, regional roads. It is extremely disappointing that we were not consulted at all prior to the announcement of allocation of funds. Because, if we had been consulted …
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order on both sides!
Mr PALMER: If we had been consulted, we certainly would have impressed upon the Commonwealth the real need for roads in the Northern Territory. I am assured by the Chief Minister that he will be taking up this issue directly with Deputy Prime Minister Anderson in an attempt to redress the issue, not only in terms of the quantum but in the terms of the way the money is allocated.
It is just nonsense. We have 70 communities here, some receiving as little as $10 000 which does not do anything. They will spend $9999 on design, $1 on overheads, and no money for road construction, which is the real nub of the issue. We need to be able to consolidate money such as this and apply it to the best use so that people in those communities who want that guaranteed road access get it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016