Mrs PRICE - 2012-11-29
When you took office 12 weeks ago what was the state of the Minerals and Energy Division of the former Department of Resources?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for her question. Much as I would like to say the situation with Mines and Energy was better than that of Primary Industries, sadly I cannot.
Just like the other department, Mines and Energy lacked an identity and the status it deserved as a department that supports one of those sectors the Northern Territory relies on to build its economy.
The first thing this new government did was address the situation by separating Mines and Energy from Primary Industry and Fisheries. Two new departments, each driven by its own Chief Executive, means each can focus on its core business without the need to compete with each other with the limited resources within one budget allocation.
I like to give credit where credit is due. In the past, I have given credit to the former minister for some work he has done. Yet, to my dismay, I am now discovering the good he did was little more than a thin veneer. The former minister, heavy on rhetoric - we have all heard him - was thin on maintaining Mines and Energy as a dynamic, well-resourced, functioning unit.
While FTEs across government rose 25% in 2005 to 2012, Mines fell by 14%. I produce the same graph as before, Mines and Energy in the green, down in FTEs compared to the remainder of FTEs in the government.
Over the same period, real funding fell despite the increase in onshore petroleum and minerals activity in the Northern Territory. Mineral exploration has grown more than 400% since 2001. There is a nice graph that illustrates it.
MMPs have grown. That is the number of MMPs that have grown in the last four years. Petroleum exploration licences have grown significantly.
There are the maps that relate to it - 2001 to 2012 ...
Mr Vatskalis interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: We are getting to it, former minister, do not worry.
Here are the minerals exploration maps 2001-12. It is all good.
Of course, since coming into government 14 weeks ago, I have learnt that Mines and Energy was lumbered with a legacy of around $1.7m of unfunded commitments, including the former minister’s flagship program of bringing forward discovery. That is reprehensible - unfunded. How serious was the former government about environmental regulation when Mines and Energy was unfunded to the tune of $4.45m for environment regulations ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I look forward to the announcements in the mini-budget next week.
Mr Tollner: Kick her out!
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please be seated. Member for Karama, you are suspended for one hour, pursuant to Standing Order 240A. Member for Fong Lim, your comments are not helpful. You are on a warning too. Continue, minister.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I am about to run out of time, unfortunately.
Mr ELFERINK (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 Stuart for her question. Much as I would like to say the situation with Mines and Energy was better than that of Primary Industries, sadly I cannot.
Just like the other department, Mines and Energy lacked an identity and the status it deserved as a department that supports one of those sectors the Northern Territory relies on to build its economy.
The first thing this new government did was address the situation by separating Mines and Energy from Primary Industry and Fisheries. Two new departments, each driven by its own Chief Executive, means each can focus on its core business without the need to compete with each other with the limited resources within one budget allocation.
I like to give credit where credit is due. In the past, I have given credit to the former minister for some work he has done. Yet, to my dismay, I am now discovering the good he did was little more than a thin veneer. The former minister, heavy on rhetoric - we have all heard him - was thin on maintaining Mines and Energy as a dynamic, well-resourced, functioning unit.
While FTEs across government rose 25% in 2005 to 2012, Mines fell by 14%. I produce the same graph as before, Mines and Energy in the green, down in FTEs compared to the remainder of FTEs in the government.
Over the same period, real funding fell despite the increase in onshore petroleum and minerals activity in the Northern Territory. Mineral exploration has grown more than 400% since 2001. There is a nice graph that illustrates it.
MMPs have grown. That is the number of MMPs that have grown in the last four years. Petroleum exploration licences have grown significantly.
There are the maps that relate to it - 2001 to 2012 ...
Mr Vatskalis interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: We are getting to it, former minister, do not worry.
Here are the minerals exploration maps 2001-12. It is all good.
Of course, since coming into government 14 weeks ago, I have learnt that Mines and Energy was lumbered with a legacy of around $1.7m of unfunded commitments, including the former minister’s flagship program of bringing forward discovery. That is reprehensible - unfunded. How serious was the former government about environmental regulation when Mines and Energy was unfunded to the tune of $4.45m for environment regulations ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I look forward to the announcements in the mini-budget next week.
Mr Tollner: Kick her out!
__________________
Suspension of Member
Member for Karama
Suspension of Member
Member for Karama
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please be seated. Member for Karama, you are suspended for one hour, pursuant to Standing Order 240A. Member for Fong Lim, your comments are not helpful. You are on a warning too. Continue, minister.
__________________
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I am about to run out of time, unfortunately.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016