Mr ELFERINK - 2001-07-03
Mr Speaker, we live in exciting times. According to media reports in recent times the Timor Gap Treaty between Australia and the new country of East Timor is on the verge of being signed off, as well as exciting things happening in my neck of the woods down in Alice Springs. Could the Chief Minister update the House in relation to what is happening throughout the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. Today in this Chamber we will outline the progress that has been made on the Foundations for Our Future and initiatives in the Northern Territory.
Foundations for Our Future initiatives are underpinned by some large projects that the government has worked assiduously to try to achieve for Territorians, not the least being securing the Alice Springs to Darwin railway, the completion of the north-south rail corridor that will see East Arm Port become a major trading port and a new trading port for goods in and out of Australia.
The realisation of a dream of Territorians for 100 years, that project has been achieved and was achieved by this CLP government. It would never have been achieved if it had have been left in the hands of the Labor Party of the Northern Territory. When there was a shortfall of funding, they walked away - walked away from the project. When it comes to getting tough, this mob walk. We would never have had the project in the Northern Territory, and like their Labor leader federally, all they ever do is call for an inquiry. Whenever there is a problem, we will have an inquiry.
Well, we do it a bit differently. We persist and persist and persist. We achieved that railway and I am pleased to announce to the member for Macdonnell and other people from Central Australia that the official sod turning of the railway will occur in Alice Springs on 17 July. The Prime Minister of Australia - who put his money where his mouth is and actually supported that railway as opposed to Labor Prime Ministers of the past who continually pushed it away and pushed it away - will be there, the Premier of South Australia will be there and I will be there amongst many Territorians as we celebrate the realisation of this great project for the Northern Territory.
I might add, today in Alice Springs the cement slab is being laid for the Convention Centre that will bring an increase in tourism of convention delegates and others, who will not only enjoy convention facilities in Alice Springs, but be able to also stay after those conventions and enjoy the wonderful tourist opportunities that exist in Central Australia. A project in total of about $24m, which will include the addition of about 70 hotel rooms to the Lasseters Casino, and also as I said, provided with the assistance of the Northern Territory government of $10m, something again that we have worked for, for some time.
In due course we will establish a convention centre in Darwin and we will achieve a convention centre that will meet the needs of Darwin people and those who want to come to the Top End for conventions, and we will achieve it in a way that the taxpayer gets excellent value for money.
With regard to Timor Sea gas, I have been in close contact with Australia’s Foreign Minister. I spoke with him as late as yesterday and I can say to you that the results at this stage are extremely encouraging. I understand that there has been excellent progress made, particularly on some of those issues that looked to be issues that would dangerously delay a treaty being put in place. Remember, we said that for the project investors, such as Phillips and Shell Woodside to move quickly ahead with this project, we need the treaty agreement in place by mid-July. I am pleased to say that it seems on all indications that the treaty agreement is imminent. I would like to put on the record my thanks to our Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer. I have said it on a couple of occasions.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr BURKE: I would like to record in this House that there is a federal minister, who is often pilloried in cartoons in the national press, but I can tell you of all the federal ministers that I have had to deal with, certainly since I have been a minister and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory government, Alexander Downer is a stand-out minister. He has worked tirelessly to achieve that agreement and has kept very close contact with the Northern Territory government in reporting progress on making the agreement, as he has also kept closely in touch with the major investor.
I would also like to pay a particular tribute to Daryl Manzie, our Minister for Asian Relations and Trade, who works quietly behind the scenes with developing dialogue and relationships with people, such as Jose Ramos Horta; Mr Carascalao and the National Council, who we bought out here for special briefings. This is all the work of the Office of Resource Development, that Mr Manzie does personally, together with the federal government and the with cooperation of the East Timorese negotiators.
I am very hopeful that this treaty arrangement will be put in place in the next few days, barring any unforeseen circumstances and certainly that provides the surety the investors need to get on with this great project for Territorians, a project which will change the economy and the face of the Northern Territory forever. It will be a project that will signify that the Northern Territory’s time has come, as we become the great new province for investment and competition in Australia, with good infrastructure, road and rail; a brand new competitive general cargo port, the first of its kind in Australia, that will be state of the art for a hundred years; competitive energy costs that will attract business and investment; and provide an environment where places like our university can focus their efforts to provide greater opportunities and professional skills training for our children.
Members: Hear, hear.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. Today in this Chamber we will outline the progress that has been made on the Foundations for Our Future and initiatives in the Northern Territory.
Foundations for Our Future initiatives are underpinned by some large projects that the government has worked assiduously to try to achieve for Territorians, not the least being securing the Alice Springs to Darwin railway, the completion of the north-south rail corridor that will see East Arm Port become a major trading port and a new trading port for goods in and out of Australia.
The realisation of a dream of Territorians for 100 years, that project has been achieved and was achieved by this CLP government. It would never have been achieved if it had have been left in the hands of the Labor Party of the Northern Territory. When there was a shortfall of funding, they walked away - walked away from the project. When it comes to getting tough, this mob walk. We would never have had the project in the Northern Territory, and like their Labor leader federally, all they ever do is call for an inquiry. Whenever there is a problem, we will have an inquiry.
Well, we do it a bit differently. We persist and persist and persist. We achieved that railway and I am pleased to announce to the member for Macdonnell and other people from Central Australia that the official sod turning of the railway will occur in Alice Springs on 17 July. The Prime Minister of Australia - who put his money where his mouth is and actually supported that railway as opposed to Labor Prime Ministers of the past who continually pushed it away and pushed it away - will be there, the Premier of South Australia will be there and I will be there amongst many Territorians as we celebrate the realisation of this great project for the Northern Territory.
I might add, today in Alice Springs the cement slab is being laid for the Convention Centre that will bring an increase in tourism of convention delegates and others, who will not only enjoy convention facilities in Alice Springs, but be able to also stay after those conventions and enjoy the wonderful tourist opportunities that exist in Central Australia. A project in total of about $24m, which will include the addition of about 70 hotel rooms to the Lasseters Casino, and also as I said, provided with the assistance of the Northern Territory government of $10m, something again that we have worked for, for some time.
In due course we will establish a convention centre in Darwin and we will achieve a convention centre that will meet the needs of Darwin people and those who want to come to the Top End for conventions, and we will achieve it in a way that the taxpayer gets excellent value for money.
With regard to Timor Sea gas, I have been in close contact with Australia’s Foreign Minister. I spoke with him as late as yesterday and I can say to you that the results at this stage are extremely encouraging. I understand that there has been excellent progress made, particularly on some of those issues that looked to be issues that would dangerously delay a treaty being put in place. Remember, we said that for the project investors, such as Phillips and Shell Woodside to move quickly ahead with this project, we need the treaty agreement in place by mid-July. I am pleased to say that it seems on all indications that the treaty agreement is imminent. I would like to put on the record my thanks to our Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer. I have said it on a couple of occasions.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr BURKE: I would like to record in this House that there is a federal minister, who is often pilloried in cartoons in the national press, but I can tell you of all the federal ministers that I have had to deal with, certainly since I have been a minister and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory government, Alexander Downer is a stand-out minister. He has worked tirelessly to achieve that agreement and has kept very close contact with the Northern Territory government in reporting progress on making the agreement, as he has also kept closely in touch with the major investor.
I would also like to pay a particular tribute to Daryl Manzie, our Minister for Asian Relations and Trade, who works quietly behind the scenes with developing dialogue and relationships with people, such as Jose Ramos Horta; Mr Carascalao and the National Council, who we bought out here for special briefings. This is all the work of the Office of Resource Development, that Mr Manzie does personally, together with the federal government and the with cooperation of the East Timorese negotiators.
I am very hopeful that this treaty arrangement will be put in place in the next few days, barring any unforeseen circumstances and certainly that provides the surety the investors need to get on with this great project for Territorians, a project which will change the economy and the face of the Northern Territory forever. It will be a project that will signify that the Northern Territory’s time has come, as we become the great new province for investment and competition in Australia, with good infrastructure, road and rail; a brand new competitive general cargo port, the first of its kind in Australia, that will be state of the art for a hundred years; competitive energy costs that will attract business and investment; and provide an environment where places like our university can focus their efforts to provide greater opportunities and professional skills training for our children.
Members: Hear, hear.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016