Mr WOOD - 2014-03-19
You were asked a question about the FrogWatch contract on 10 October 2013 by the member for Nightcliff, to which you replied:
I quote from a letter from Parks and Wildlife, 31 January 2013, which refers to a meeting on 11 January with department staff and FrogWatch, which says:
Further on:
It is obvious FrogWatch did not terminate the agreement, Parks and Wildlife did. Will you please correct the record and tell parliament your department terminated the FrogWatch contract and apologise to FrogWatch for the incorrect statement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I remind the House this government did not cut the funding. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement, effective 31 March 2013.
I can advise the House the $200 000 paid to FrogWatch was never funded by Labor through any budgets …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek leave to table the letter.
Leave granted.
Mrs PRICE: Madam Speaker, Parks and Wildlife was directed to fund FrogWatch from within its existing budget. This meant money was taken away from supporting parks and rangers to keep our parks clean, tidy and operational to pay for FrogWatch. This money has now been given back to operational areas within Parks and Wildlife ...
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 255. I would like the minister to table the document she is clearly reading from, please.
Mrs PRICE: Madam Speaker, these are my private notes.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Keep going.
Mrs PRICE: This means more money for our 87 parks and reserves, to look after nearly three million visitors every year and to take care of the over four million hectares of land we manage.
- … this government did not cut the funding for FrogWatch. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement, effective 31 March 2013.
I quote from a letter from Parks and Wildlife, 31 January 2013, which refers to a meeting on 11 January with department staff and FrogWatch, which says:
- As explained to you at that meeting, the recent change in government in the Northern Territory has resulted in new funding priorities for the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory …
Accordingly, the Commission is unable to continue the contract.
Further on:
- The Territory hereby exercises its right pursuant to clause 2.25 of the Conditions of Contract, by service of this notice of intention to terminate upon FrogWatch.
It is obvious FrogWatch did not terminate the agreement, Parks and Wildlife did. Will you please correct the record and tell parliament your department terminated the FrogWatch contract and apologise to FrogWatch for the incorrect statement?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I remind the House this government did not cut the funding. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement, effective 31 March 2013.
I can advise the House the $200 000 paid to FrogWatch was never funded by Labor through any budgets …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I seek leave to table the letter.
Leave granted.
Mrs PRICE: Madam Speaker, Parks and Wildlife was directed to fund FrogWatch from within its existing budget. This meant money was taken away from supporting parks and rangers to keep our parks clean, tidy and operational to pay for FrogWatch. This money has now been given back to operational areas within Parks and Wildlife ...
Mr VOWLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 255. I would like the minister to table the document she is clearly reading from, please.
Mrs PRICE: Madam Speaker, these are my private notes.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you. Keep going.
Mrs PRICE: This means more money for our 87 parks and reserves, to look after nearly three million visitors every year and to take care of the over four million hectares of land we manage.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016