Ms ANDERSON - 2007-11-29
Can you outline what is in store for Territorians over the next 12 months?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for the question. The Territory is the greatest place in Australia to live. I am very confident that, for the remainder of this year and into next year, 2008, working with this great community of ours, harnessing the skills, the talents, the entrepreneurship of Territorians, that 2008 is going to be even better. There is much to look forward to in 2008 across the Northern Territory.
In 2008, we will see the commencement, for the first time in the Northern Territory, of a new stage of schooling - the middle years stage of schooling. It is a very exciting time for the Year 6/7 students who will be moved into new and upgraded facilities. The new middle school at Darwin High on Bullocky Point will open for the first time. That is a great investment in the future, not only education capacity, but also the future economic capacity of the Northern Territory.
In Katherine, students will be moving into six new classrooms. My agency is telling me that we are still on track to have that facility available on time.
In Palmerston, even though there has been a delay in regard to the new senior school, middle schooling will start in its completeness from the beginning of the 2008 school year, with students initially in the primary schools, but they will be enrolled in Palmerston Middle School and, then, later in the year, students will move to the new senior campus at Palmerston, and the middle year students will move to the existing campus. That campus is also getting a significant upgrade of around $800 000, I believe. I pay tribute to our members from Palmerston who lobbied me so effectively, the members for Blain and Brennan – not the member for Blain, the members for Brennan and Drysdale …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I did not get one letter from the member for Blain – not one letter.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I had a lot of representation from the members for Drysdale and Brennan. We had numerous meetings. Not one letter from the member for Blain looking for a constructive way forward. There has been $800 000-worth of investment to upgrade the existing Palmerston High School to accommodate those middle school students when they move in.
In Alice Springs, Centralian Senior College had money spent on it last year. There is more money to be spent next year. There has been investment in our middle schools right across the Northern Territory.
Also, next year at Sanderson, Palmerston and in Katherine, the Clontarf Football Academy will commence. That is so exciting for the future of our indigenous students in Darwin. If that Clontarf Football Academy succeeds to the extent it is in Alice Springs, where retention rates for those young indigenous males has gone from around 40% to over 80%, if we can do that up here - and I am sure we will - that too will make a big difference.
The upgrading of remote schools across the Northern Territory will continue. The government has put an additional $70m into the budget for education over the next five years for Closing the Gap, which will go to additional teachers, additional facilities, upgrades wherever we can, and classrooms. It will be an exciting year in education in the Northern Territory. I again thank all of our fabulous teachers and principals, and everybody who works in education, because the reforms are really starting to kick in.
I am excited with the advent of the Rudd Labor government and the commitment of an additional 200 teachers to the bush. That will make an enormous difference to the bush. We will have to work really hard to recruit those teachers, to house those teachers but, with goodwill, working in partnership with all Territorians, that investment in education will paint a very bright picture for the Northern Territory.
In Darwin, we are also looking forward to the convention centre opening next year. As I said yesterday, take a drive to Stokes Hill Wharf and see what is happening there. We know the opposition do not like it; they have never liked it. They continue to campaign, and harp and whinge about every dollar that is being spent on the waterfront but, again, it is an investment in the future of the Northern Territory. It is an investment in jobs. It is an investment in opportunities for the Northern Territory, not just in tourism, but with the residential apartments that will be turned off down there, it will bring life and vibrancy back into our city centre, creating more commercial opportunities and more jobs in the heart of our city. It really will be a signature development for this wonderful capital city of ours in the best place in Australia. It will certainly extend that shoulder season for tourists coming to our great Territory.
Construction will start at the Casuarina Police Station next year …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker. It is not as though any of us in the House do not like to hear good news. However, this is Question Time. It has been a three day sitting. The minister well knows that he has had plenty of other opportunities to make what is a ministerial report or a ministerial statement …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order.
Ms CARNEY: … I ask that, in the circumstances, you direct him to contain his comments.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition …
Ms CARNEY: … the questions started at 2.15 pm …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat. There is no point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I know the Leader of the Opposition does not like to hear good news. She never does like to hear good news, always talking down the Territory.
Casuarina Police Station, making our suburbs safer, is to receive a long overdue upgrade. Those police officers who will be working out of the new Casuarina Police Station will be able to reduce the amount of time they spend in an archaic facility and more time out on the streets, keeping our suburbs safer.
In Central Australia, in Alice Springs, I am looking forward - and maybe the member for Macdonnell can be in the backhoe and turn the first sod on the aquatic centre …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Let us start digging the hole for the new aquatic centre in Alice Springs. We have given Alice Springs Town Council the $8m, and we need to start digging the hole this year, we will start digging that hole this year. I would like to thank Warren Snowdon and the federal Labor Party for contributing another $4m …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … that will be very exciting for the people of Alice Springs.
On the serious side, in Alice Springs as well, as we talked a little today, the start of a long needed upgrade to the Accident and Emergency department for the people of Alice Springs and the great staff of Alice Springs hospital. A new way forward, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, this is outrageous! A point of order, Madam Speaker! The opposition, and for that matter, the Independents, get one hour a day to ask questions of government. This new Chief Minister is even more arrogant than his predecessor. I ask you to direct the minister to contain his response so that in the interests of democracy we can ask some more questions.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! As you are aware, there are no time limits in respect to questions. The Chief Minister is on his feet, please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am almost finished. This is the last Question Time for the parliamentary year, and I am sure Territorians want to hear an overview of the exciting things that will be happening across the Northern Territory next year …
Ms Carney: You cannot do that by media release, ministerial report, ministerial statement, government spin? You are a cheat. You are a coward. You are a coward because you do not want …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, I would ask you to withdraw.
Ms CARNEY: I will withdraw the word coward, Madam Speaker, in respect of the Chief Minister, but he is a chicken.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition! Cease interjecting.
Ms Carney: Well, there are only 30 seconds left, Madam Speaker!
Mr HENDERSON: I think the only chicken that has been around the political scene lately is Chicken David Tollner …
Ms Carney: You do not like democracy, you are just like Clare.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, you are on a warning.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: This is the great Northern Territory …
Mr Kiely interjecting.
Ms Carney: You are a disgrace, member for Sanderson, but I know you know that.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Kiely: Get over it, Jodeen.
Mr HENDERSON: This is a great Northern Territory and we have much to look forward to over the next 12 months.
I take this opportunity to wish all Territorians a very merry Christmas with your families. I look forward to seeing many families from Darwin at Carols by Candlelight on Sunday evening at the Amphitheatre.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Macdonnell for the question. The Territory is the greatest place in Australia to live. I am very confident that, for the remainder of this year and into next year, 2008, working with this great community of ours, harnessing the skills, the talents, the entrepreneurship of Territorians, that 2008 is going to be even better. There is much to look forward to in 2008 across the Northern Territory.
In 2008, we will see the commencement, for the first time in the Northern Territory, of a new stage of schooling - the middle years stage of schooling. It is a very exciting time for the Year 6/7 students who will be moved into new and upgraded facilities. The new middle school at Darwin High on Bullocky Point will open for the first time. That is a great investment in the future, not only education capacity, but also the future economic capacity of the Northern Territory.
In Katherine, students will be moving into six new classrooms. My agency is telling me that we are still on track to have that facility available on time.
In Palmerston, even though there has been a delay in regard to the new senior school, middle schooling will start in its completeness from the beginning of the 2008 school year, with students initially in the primary schools, but they will be enrolled in Palmerston Middle School and, then, later in the year, students will move to the new senior campus at Palmerston, and the middle year students will move to the existing campus. That campus is also getting a significant upgrade of around $800 000, I believe. I pay tribute to our members from Palmerston who lobbied me so effectively, the members for Blain and Brennan – not the member for Blain, the members for Brennan and Drysdale …
Mr Mills interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: I did not get one letter from the member for Blain – not one letter.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I had a lot of representation from the members for Drysdale and Brennan. We had numerous meetings. Not one letter from the member for Blain looking for a constructive way forward. There has been $800 000-worth of investment to upgrade the existing Palmerston High School to accommodate those middle school students when they move in.
In Alice Springs, Centralian Senior College had money spent on it last year. There is more money to be spent next year. There has been investment in our middle schools right across the Northern Territory.
Also, next year at Sanderson, Palmerston and in Katherine, the Clontarf Football Academy will commence. That is so exciting for the future of our indigenous students in Darwin. If that Clontarf Football Academy succeeds to the extent it is in Alice Springs, where retention rates for those young indigenous males has gone from around 40% to over 80%, if we can do that up here - and I am sure we will - that too will make a big difference.
The upgrading of remote schools across the Northern Territory will continue. The government has put an additional $70m into the budget for education over the next five years for Closing the Gap, which will go to additional teachers, additional facilities, upgrades wherever we can, and classrooms. It will be an exciting year in education in the Northern Territory. I again thank all of our fabulous teachers and principals, and everybody who works in education, because the reforms are really starting to kick in.
I am excited with the advent of the Rudd Labor government and the commitment of an additional 200 teachers to the bush. That will make an enormous difference to the bush. We will have to work really hard to recruit those teachers, to house those teachers but, with goodwill, working in partnership with all Territorians, that investment in education will paint a very bright picture for the Northern Territory.
In Darwin, we are also looking forward to the convention centre opening next year. As I said yesterday, take a drive to Stokes Hill Wharf and see what is happening there. We know the opposition do not like it; they have never liked it. They continue to campaign, and harp and whinge about every dollar that is being spent on the waterfront but, again, it is an investment in the future of the Northern Territory. It is an investment in jobs. It is an investment in opportunities for the Northern Territory, not just in tourism, but with the residential apartments that will be turned off down there, it will bring life and vibrancy back into our city centre, creating more commercial opportunities and more jobs in the heart of our city. It really will be a signature development for this wonderful capital city of ours in the best place in Australia. It will certainly extend that shoulder season for tourists coming to our great Territory.
Construction will start at the Casuarina Police Station next year …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker. It is not as though any of us in the House do not like to hear good news. However, this is Question Time. It has been a three day sitting. The minister well knows that he has had plenty of other opportunities to make what is a ministerial report or a ministerial statement …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order.
Ms CARNEY: … I ask that, in the circumstances, you direct him to contain his comments.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition …
Ms CARNEY: … the questions started at 2.15 pm …
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat. There is no point of order.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I know the Leader of the Opposition does not like to hear good news. She never does like to hear good news, always talking down the Territory.
Casuarina Police Station, making our suburbs safer, is to receive a long overdue upgrade. Those police officers who will be working out of the new Casuarina Police Station will be able to reduce the amount of time they spend in an archaic facility and more time out on the streets, keeping our suburbs safer.
In Central Australia, in Alice Springs, I am looking forward - and maybe the member for Macdonnell can be in the backhoe and turn the first sod on the aquatic centre …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Let us start digging the hole for the new aquatic centre in Alice Springs. We have given Alice Springs Town Council the $8m, and we need to start digging the hole this year, we will start digging that hole this year. I would like to thank Warren Snowdon and the federal Labor Party for contributing another $4m …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … that will be very exciting for the people of Alice Springs.
On the serious side, in Alice Springs as well, as we talked a little today, the start of a long needed upgrade to the Accident and Emergency department for the people of Alice Springs and the great staff of Alice Springs hospital. A new way forward, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: Madam Speaker, this is outrageous! A point of order, Madam Speaker! The opposition, and for that matter, the Independents, get one hour a day to ask questions of government. This new Chief Minister is even more arrogant than his predecessor. I ask you to direct the minister to contain his response so that in the interests of democracy we can ask some more questions.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! As you are aware, there are no time limits in respect to questions. The Chief Minister is on his feet, please continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I am almost finished. This is the last Question Time for the parliamentary year, and I am sure Territorians want to hear an overview of the exciting things that will be happening across the Northern Territory next year …
Ms Carney: You cannot do that by media release, ministerial report, ministerial statement, government spin? You are a cheat. You are a coward. You are a coward because you do not want …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, I would ask you to withdraw.
Ms CARNEY: I will withdraw the word coward, Madam Speaker, in respect of the Chief Minister, but he is a chicken.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition! Cease interjecting.
Ms Carney: Well, there are only 30 seconds left, Madam Speaker!
Mr HENDERSON: I think the only chicken that has been around the political scene lately is Chicken David Tollner …
Ms Carney: You do not like democracy, you are just like Clare.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, you are on a warning.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: This is the great Northern Territory …
Mr Kiely interjecting.
Ms Carney: You are a disgrace, member for Sanderson, but I know you know that.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Mr Kiely: Get over it, Jodeen.
Mr HENDERSON: This is a great Northern Territory and we have much to look forward to over the next 12 months.
I take this opportunity to wish all Territorians a very merry Christmas with your families. I look forward to seeing many families from Darwin at Carols by Candlelight on Sunday evening at the Amphitheatre.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016