Mr VOWLES - 2015-11-19
You have repeatedly claimed that no deal has been done with the member for Arnhem to secure her support for your rapidly disintegrating government. Can you categorically rule out that discussions around additional staffing and office resources have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, or anyone else on her behalf?
Can you also rule out that any discussions have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, any member of her family, or anyone else on her behalf regarding the promise of future government contracts or consultancies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. I think he used the term ‘rapidly disintegrating’.
In parliament this week we have announced the building of a gas pipeline, linking the Northern Territory to Queensland, the biggest piece of nation building infrastructure – that we are aware of - in around 20 years. This will drive job growth and economic development in the Northern Territory for a long time to come. This will bring downward pressure on the price of electricity in the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. You clearly do not want to answer the question. What kind of deal was done?
Mr GILES: I have answered that question many times before.
What else have we done this week? Look at the environmental reforms we have put out. The second Hawke Report was released, which will see transition to the best level of regulatory reform for the environment we have seen in the Northern Territory’s history.
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was very specific. Can you categorically rule out any discussions have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, any member of her family or anyone else on her behalf regarding the promise of future government contracts or consultancies?
Madam SPEAKER: That is a repeat of the question. Please be seated.
Mr GILES: As I said, I do not accept the premise of the question.
Yesterday in parliament, through the Treasurer, we also released the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report, showing government is back in surplus. Another important thing happened in parliament this week ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: They do not like hearing this news because it is all good. The other thing that happened in parliament this week is we passed the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill, which gives police more powers to stop and search vehicles for ice on declared drug routes. That bill passed this Chamber without anyone seeking an amendment to the bill. Two months ago they would not support it on urgency. We know that; we saw the ads in the paper.
Ms Lawrie: I had an amendment to the bill.
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He said he has answered the question, so he can just sit down and we can ask more questions.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: I forgot the member for Karama is still a member of the Labor Party. It passed without an amendment to the bill, so for two months …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. With less than a minute to go, answer the question. What deal was done? Share with Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff.
Mr GILES: Admit you played politics last sittings. Over two months you did not come forward with an amendment. I have some questions. How much ice came into the Northern Territory …
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask for your wise ruling on Standing Order 113: relevance. He is talking about ice. I have asked a specific question. If he has answered it can we please move on?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Johnston. It is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have three minutes to answer the question. Get to the point.
Mr GILES: How much ice came into the Northern Territory in that two-month period that could have been stopped? How many children of parents in the Northern Territory have been affected by ice which could have been stopped from coming into the Northern Territory? How many presentations at hospitals, health centres and health clinics in the Northern Territory were there, with people being affected by ice that could have been stopped at our borders? Nothing changed; you played politics last sittings and you know it. It shows that government is producing results.
This legislation was passed this week in parliament and it should have been passed two months ago. Shame on you.
Can you also rule out that any discussions have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, any member of her family, or anyone else on her behalf regarding the promise of future government contracts or consultancies?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question. I think he used the term ‘rapidly disintegrating’.
In parliament this week we have announced the building of a gas pipeline, linking the Northern Territory to Queensland, the biggest piece of nation building infrastructure – that we are aware of - in around 20 years. This will drive job growth and economic development in the Northern Territory for a long time to come. This will bring downward pressure on the price of electricity in the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. You clearly do not want to answer the question. What kind of deal was done?
Mr GILES: I have answered that question many times before.
What else have we done this week? Look at the environmental reforms we have put out. The second Hawke Report was released, which will see transition to the best level of regulatory reform for the environment we have seen in the Northern Territory’s history.
Ms MANISON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was very specific. Can you categorically rule out any discussions have taken place between you, your office or your representatives and the member for Arnhem, any member of her family or anyone else on her behalf regarding the promise of future government contracts or consultancies?
Madam SPEAKER: That is a repeat of the question. Please be seated.
Mr GILES: As I said, I do not accept the premise of the question.
Yesterday in parliament, through the Treasurer, we also released the Treasurer’s Annual Financial Report, showing government is back in surplus. Another important thing happened in parliament this week ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: They do not like hearing this news because it is all good. The other thing that happened in parliament this week is we passed the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill, which gives police more powers to stop and search vehicles for ice on declared drug routes. That bill passed this Chamber without anyone seeking an amendment to the bill. Two months ago they would not support it on urgency. We know that; we saw the ads in the paper.
Ms Lawrie: I had an amendment to the bill.
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He said he has answered the question, so he can just sit down and we can ask more questions.
Madam SPEAKER: It is not a point of order.
Mr GILES: I forgot the member for Karama is still a member of the Labor Party. It passed without an amendment to the bill, so for two months …
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. With less than a minute to go, answer the question. What deal was done? Share with Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nightcliff.
Mr GILES: Admit you played politics last sittings. Over two months you did not come forward with an amendment. I have some questions. How much ice came into the Northern Territory …
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask for your wise ruling on Standing Order 113: relevance. He is talking about ice. I have asked a specific question. If he has answered it can we please move on?
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Johnston. It is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have three minutes to answer the question. Get to the point.
Mr GILES: How much ice came into the Northern Territory in that two-month period that could have been stopped? How many children of parents in the Northern Territory have been affected by ice which could have been stopped from coming into the Northern Territory? How many presentations at hospitals, health centres and health clinics in the Northern Territory were there, with people being affected by ice that could have been stopped at our borders? Nothing changed; you played politics last sittings and you know it. It shows that government is producing results.
This legislation was passed this week in parliament and it should have been passed two months ago. Shame on you.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016