Mr McCARTHY - 1998-10-14
Despite the Asian economic situation, the Northern Territory remains relatively healthy in economic terms. Earlier this year the minister said that one of the ways we provide assistance to the region was to ensure we maintained a strong economy. To this end his department was pursuing export opportunities beyond the South East Asian region.
Will the minister advise the House of the successes achieved in new markets since he made that statement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, obviously the opposition are not interested in anything which may create a job, but, thankfully, the government continues to be consistent in working hard to create job opportunities for young Territorians.
Members will be aware of the media reports last week concerning a business delegation from South Africa, which was visiting the Territory.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: The member for Fannie Bay.
Mr MANZIE: They were a first for the Territory, and it is certainly a major step towards securing new export markets beyond South-East Asia. The department actually started some investigation into potential new markets some years ago. We have gathered considerable information on potential opportunities within the European Union, in the Indian Ocean region and also in South Africa. It has been a long road, but last week 2 business delegations from South Africa visited the Territory, and this commenced the real work of establishing business relationships with South African business people.
The first of the delegations consisted of 11 business people from the North-West Province of South Africa. The success of the visit actually exceeded expectations, and we are certainly encouraged about the potential development of trade with the province. The South Africans are eager to trade with the Territory, and they identified products that they considered have markets in South Africa. Negotiations, I have been informed, are under way with a number of Territory business people to supply a range of products, including kitchen fittings, furniture, textiles, pottery, craft goods and building products. I am also advised a sample batch of Moeco Fertilisers, which are manufactured in the Trade Development Zone, is already on sale under the Kabelo Label in Mogwazi in the North-West Province.
Coinciding with that North-West Province delegation was also a visit by a Mr Rekweli Mmatli, who is from the Trans-Africa Coast to Coast Development Corridor. Again, this is a corridor within South Africa which aims to link existing and potential manufacturing and agriculture in terms of mining access. It is a corridor that extends 3000km across southern Africa from east to west. There are many similarities between the tourism product within that corridor and in the Territory. They are both substantially park-based and the Territory Parks and the Tourism Master Plan appears to have impressed the South Africans and they are very eager to learn from our experience in developing and implementing this type of planning.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: In a nutshell I am very encouraged by the interest shown in the Territory by our South African visitors and I think it is worthwhile noting that this was first sparked by participation in the Arafura Games a couple of years ago, with some South African boxers and officials, and from those links this has grown to the delegation of that scale. I would like to inform honourable members, contrary to the member for Wanguri trying to stop this information going out. It is unfortunate the opposition really has a problem about any information. The member for Wanguri does not think the creation of jobs is serious. It really is disappointing. I think it is worthwhile to let the community know ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: It is important to let the community know that the opposition really is anti anything to do with creating jobs and activity. It is a disappointment, I think, to a lot of Territorians, including people who traditionally would support Labor until they see how the local Labor Party operates. They are anti everything - anti job growth, anti mining and pro anything which may prevent the creation of ...
Ms MARTIN: Point of order, Madam Speaker?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, minister.
Ms MARTIN: The minister is way off the answer to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes. I agree.
Mr MANZIE: If I wasn’t interrupted by opposition members ...
Madam SPEAKER: Would you allow me to finish making my comment on the point of order. You all seem to be very touchy. The point is, and we have said it a number of times this morning, that you are inviting the minister to respond to your interjections by continually interjecting, but ministers, you are also being very long-winded today in your answers, so there is fault on both sides. Minister, would you wrap up your answer please.
Mr MANZIE: Madam Speaker, I would like to have finished the answer to this minutes ago, but as you quite correctly pointed out the opposition does tend to try and draw me in another direction, and I certainly won’t be timid in failing to respond to their ridiculous interjections and their attempts to try to quieten me.
As I was concluding, before I was rudely interrupted by the opposition, the government will continue to assist Territory business people and the business community to further develop this new trading relationship. It will also continue to foster new markets in the middle east, in the European area and the Indian Ocean region.
Members: Hear, hear!
Will the minister advise the House of the successes achieved in new markets since he made that statement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, obviously the opposition are not interested in anything which may create a job, but, thankfully, the government continues to be consistent in working hard to create job opportunities for young Territorians.
Members will be aware of the media reports last week concerning a business delegation from South Africa, which was visiting the Territory.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: The member for Fannie Bay.
Mr MANZIE: They were a first for the Territory, and it is certainly a major step towards securing new export markets beyond South-East Asia. The department actually started some investigation into potential new markets some years ago. We have gathered considerable information on potential opportunities within the European Union, in the Indian Ocean region and also in South Africa. It has been a long road, but last week 2 business delegations from South Africa visited the Territory, and this commenced the real work of establishing business relationships with South African business people.
The first of the delegations consisted of 11 business people from the North-West Province of South Africa. The success of the visit actually exceeded expectations, and we are certainly encouraged about the potential development of trade with the province. The South Africans are eager to trade with the Territory, and they identified products that they considered have markets in South Africa. Negotiations, I have been informed, are under way with a number of Territory business people to supply a range of products, including kitchen fittings, furniture, textiles, pottery, craft goods and building products. I am also advised a sample batch of Moeco Fertilisers, which are manufactured in the Trade Development Zone, is already on sale under the Kabelo Label in Mogwazi in the North-West Province.
Coinciding with that North-West Province delegation was also a visit by a Mr Rekweli Mmatli, who is from the Trans-Africa Coast to Coast Development Corridor. Again, this is a corridor within South Africa which aims to link existing and potential manufacturing and agriculture in terms of mining access. It is a corridor that extends 3000km across southern Africa from east to west. There are many similarities between the tourism product within that corridor and in the Territory. They are both substantially park-based and the Territory Parks and the Tourism Master Plan appears to have impressed the South Africans and they are very eager to learn from our experience in developing and implementing this type of planning.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: In a nutshell I am very encouraged by the interest shown in the Territory by our South African visitors and I think it is worthwhile noting that this was first sparked by participation in the Arafura Games a couple of years ago, with some South African boxers and officials, and from those links this has grown to the delegation of that scale. I would like to inform honourable members, contrary to the member for Wanguri trying to stop this information going out. It is unfortunate the opposition really has a problem about any information. The member for Wanguri does not think the creation of jobs is serious. It really is disappointing. I think it is worthwhile to let the community know ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: It is important to let the community know that the opposition really is anti anything to do with creating jobs and activity. It is a disappointment, I think, to a lot of Territorians, including people who traditionally would support Labor until they see how the local Labor Party operates. They are anti everything - anti job growth, anti mining and pro anything which may prevent the creation of ...
Ms MARTIN: Point of order, Madam Speaker?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Excuse me, minister.
Ms MARTIN: The minister is way off the answer to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes. I agree.
Mr MANZIE: If I wasn’t interrupted by opposition members ...
Madam SPEAKER: Would you allow me to finish making my comment on the point of order. You all seem to be very touchy. The point is, and we have said it a number of times this morning, that you are inviting the minister to respond to your interjections by continually interjecting, but ministers, you are also being very long-winded today in your answers, so there is fault on both sides. Minister, would you wrap up your answer please.
Mr MANZIE: Madam Speaker, I would like to have finished the answer to this minutes ago, but as you quite correctly pointed out the opposition does tend to try and draw me in another direction, and I certainly won’t be timid in failing to respond to their ridiculous interjections and their attempts to try to quieten me.
As I was concluding, before I was rudely interrupted by the opposition, the government will continue to assist Territory business people and the business community to further develop this new trading relationship. It will also continue to foster new markets in the middle east, in the European area and the Indian Ocean region.
Members: Hear, hear!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016