Mr AH KIT - 1995-11-22
In his recommendations following the coronial inquiry into the 1994 Cannonball Run, Coroner Lowndes said:
I would recommend that, before considering a further Cannonball Run, there be a detailed review and
evaluation of the infrastructure of the event by an independent expert or body of experts.
He listed CAMS as one such body of independent experts. Coroner Lowndes went on to say:
The crucial aspect is that the experts undertake a wholly impartial and considered review and evaluation
of the event, and that any such review and evaluation is made available prior to any decision being made by
the Northern Territory government sanctioning the running of a second Cannonball Run.
In view of the Chief Minister's statement that there will be another Cannonball Run next year or the year after, will he advise whether the review recommended by the coroner has been carried out? If so, when will the results be made public?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I can only assume, from the statements attributed to Senator Bob Collins and some unreported comments that have come back to me from the ALP, that they oppose the running of another Cannonball Run. That is a shame because it is an event that enjoys the support of Territorians.
Mr Bell: It goes through my electorate, Shane. It has to be conducted safely. Does it go through Port Darwin?
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: I think members opposite protest a little too much. They are trying to have their cake and eat it too.
Mr Ede: Answer the question. Have you done what the coroner said?
Mr STONE: In response to the interjection, I am well aware of what the coroner said.
Mr Manzie: It passes through everyone's electorate.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much chatter.
Ms Martin: Do you want a copy?
Mr STONE: I do not need a copy from the member for Fannie Bay because, unlike the single sheet that she is waving around, I have the whole coroner's report here.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr STONE: That is part of the problem with members opposite. They pull out sheets of paper, and quote paragraphs and lines very selectively from them. It is all part of the deception that they try to perpetrate on Territorians, but they will not get away with it in this Chamber.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr POOLE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The member for Wanguri knows full well he cannot accuse a member of lying in this Chamber ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: In fact, I did not hear the interjection.
Mr Poole: I assure the honourable Speaker that ...
Page 1022
Mr SPEAKER: If the member did accuse another member of lying, I ask that he withdraw it.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, he accused the Labor Party of ...
Members interjecting.
Mr BAILEY: If he can come in here and do that, but we cannot stand up and refute it, we have a problem in that he can come into this Chamber and make lies about the Labor Party.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr Stirling: We have had it 3 times this morning. Go on, say it again now and see how you go. I am ready for you this time.
Mr STONE: I know, Syd, that it is getting towards the end of the year and you are becoming a little weary but you have only a week to go before you can retreat back to Nhulunbuy and have a break.
Mr Ede: Have you done what the coroner said? Do you intend to answer the question or not?
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: As his future vision slowly sinks into the sunset - nothing has happened, has it?
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri is spectacular.
Essentially, the coroner did make the recommendations the member for Arnhem read out. What I said was ...
Mr Bailey: So we were not misquoting this time!
Mr Ede: One minute's silence for the death of ...
Mr STONE: One minute's silence for the member for Wanguri.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: It is a shame. People elect members to parliament thinking that they will sit in the Assembly and make a valuable contribution. People see the member for Wanguri perform during Question Time and they leave shattered. Talk about a wasted vote.
I made the point that the Northern Territory would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run, and I stand by that. I said that the Northern Territory government would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run. That is not to say that the Northern Territory government would run such a Cannonball Run. It would be run by promoters ...
Page 1023
Mr Bell: Make up your mind.
Mr Ede: Without any evaluation, as proposed ...
Mr STONE: I do not know where to go from here, Mr Speaker. I try to provide answers but I am interrupted by constant interjections from the Leader of the Opposition. He does not want to hear the answer. Basically, he does not support another Cannonball Run. For that reason, members opposite intend to engage in guerilla tactics to try to undermine the proposal for an event that has the overwhelming support of Territorians. I will try ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask members on the opposition benches to hear the Chief Minister out.
Mr STONE: As I said, the Northern Territory government would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run. I went on to say, to the print media and to television and radio, that that was the case provided all the i's were dotted and the t's were crossed, and that included picking up the recommendations and the views of the coroner. I cannot be any plainer than that. However, if there is to be another Cannonball Run, then before the government undertakes reviews and the rest, we would want to know that there was a commercial sponsor or promoter who would go down that path.
If the Leader of the Opposition lacks understanding of the way that government works, I suppose it is understandable because of the length of time he has sat in opposition. I stand by my statement that the Northern Territory government would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run. I also stand by my statement that that is the case provided all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. I urge members opposite to rethink their opposition to the Cannonball Run and at least to seek some briefings. They might just be persuaded that this is a good event for the Territory.
Page 1024
I would recommend that, before considering a further Cannonball Run, there be a detailed review and
evaluation of the infrastructure of the event by an independent expert or body of experts.
He listed CAMS as one such body of independent experts. Coroner Lowndes went on to say:
The crucial aspect is that the experts undertake a wholly impartial and considered review and evaluation
of the event, and that any such review and evaluation is made available prior to any decision being made by
the Northern Territory government sanctioning the running of a second Cannonball Run.
In view of the Chief Minister's statement that there will be another Cannonball Run next year or the year after, will he advise whether the review recommended by the coroner has been carried out? If so, when will the results be made public?
Page 1021
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I can only assume, from the statements attributed to Senator Bob Collins and some unreported comments that have come back to me from the ALP, that they oppose the running of another Cannonball Run. That is a shame because it is an event that enjoys the support of Territorians.
Mr Bell: It goes through my electorate, Shane. It has to be conducted safely. Does it go through Port Darwin?
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: I think members opposite protest a little too much. They are trying to have their cake and eat it too.
Mr Ede: Answer the question. Have you done what the coroner said?
Mr STONE: In response to the interjection, I am well aware of what the coroner said.
Mr Manzie: It passes through everyone's electorate.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much chatter.
Ms Martin: Do you want a copy?
Mr STONE: I do not need a copy from the member for Fannie Bay because, unlike the single sheet that she is waving around, I have the whole coroner's report here.
Ms Martin interjecting.
Mr STONE: That is part of the problem with members opposite. They pull out sheets of paper, and quote paragraphs and lines very selectively from them. It is all part of the deception that they try to perpetrate on Territorians, but they will not get away with it in this Chamber.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr POOLE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The member for Wanguri knows full well he cannot accuse a member of lying in this Chamber ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: In fact, I did not hear the interjection.
Mr Poole: I assure the honourable Speaker that ...
Page 1022
Mr SPEAKER: If the member did accuse another member of lying, I ask that he withdraw it.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, he accused the Labor Party of ...
Members interjecting.
Mr BAILEY: If he can come in here and do that, but we cannot stand up and refute it, we have a problem in that he can come into this Chamber and make lies about the Labor Party.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr Stirling: We have had it 3 times this morning. Go on, say it again now and see how you go. I am ready for you this time.
Mr STONE: I know, Syd, that it is getting towards the end of the year and you are becoming a little weary but you have only a week to go before you can retreat back to Nhulunbuy and have a break.
Mr Ede: Have you done what the coroner said? Do you intend to answer the question or not?
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: As his future vision slowly sinks into the sunset - nothing has happened, has it?
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri is spectacular.
Essentially, the coroner did make the recommendations the member for Arnhem read out. What I said was ...
Mr Bailey: So we were not misquoting this time!
Mr Ede: One minute's silence for the death of ...
Mr STONE: One minute's silence for the member for Wanguri.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: It is a shame. People elect members to parliament thinking that they will sit in the Assembly and make a valuable contribution. People see the member for Wanguri perform during Question Time and they leave shattered. Talk about a wasted vote.
I made the point that the Northern Territory would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run, and I stand by that. I said that the Northern Territory government would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run. That is not to say that the Northern Territory government would run such a Cannonball Run. It would be run by promoters ...
Page 1023
Mr Bell: Make up your mind.
Mr Ede: Without any evaluation, as proposed ...
Mr STONE: I do not know where to go from here, Mr Speaker. I try to provide answers but I am interrupted by constant interjections from the Leader of the Opposition. He does not want to hear the answer. Basically, he does not support another Cannonball Run. For that reason, members opposite intend to engage in guerilla tactics to try to undermine the proposal for an event that has the overwhelming support of Territorians. I will try ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I ask members on the opposition benches to hear the Chief Minister out.
Mr STONE: As I said, the Northern Territory government would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run. I went on to say, to the print media and to television and radio, that that was the case provided all the i's were dotted and the t's were crossed, and that included picking up the recommendations and the views of the coroner. I cannot be any plainer than that. However, if there is to be another Cannonball Run, then before the government undertakes reviews and the rest, we would want to know that there was a commercial sponsor or promoter who would go down that path.
If the Leader of the Opposition lacks understanding of the way that government works, I suppose it is understandable because of the length of time he has sat in opposition. I stand by my statement that the Northern Territory government would welcome a proposal to run another Cannonball Run. I also stand by my statement that that is the case provided all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. I urge members opposite to rethink their opposition to the Cannonball Run and at least to seek some briefings. They might just be persuaded that this is a good event for the Territory.
Page 1024
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016