Mr RIOLI - 1995-10-12
Prior to the Chief Minister taking up his current position, the issue of living areas for Aboriginal people in the Katherine area was close to being resolved by the then Minister for Lands, Housing and Local Government, the member for Nightcliff. When this new Chief Minister took office, declaring a new deal for Aboriginal Territorians, one of the first actions his government took was to destroy that agreement. Can the Chief Minister explain why his government took that decision and how this decision reflects his so-called new deal for Aboriginal Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, for the benefit of the member for Arafura, I am advised that the process of negotiation and discussion had only just commenced when it fell apart. Thus, it is not appropriate for him to accuse me or any of my colleagues of dismantling a process of negotiation and discussion that had been put in place.
Ms Martin: After 9 months! How many meetings ...
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Mr STONE: There was a formal negotiation process, and it literally fell apart. Hopefully, in the spirit of cooperation ...
Mr Bailey: You mean that your member ripped it apart!
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, the member for Wanguri cannot help himself.
Mr Bailey: Tell the truth.
Mr STONE: Obviously, he is never interested in any of the answers,
Mr Bailey: In the truth, not your answers. They are different.
Mr STONE: He interferes continually. He cannot help himself. Probably there are people listening to this broadcast who would be interested in hearing the answer.
Mr Bailey: Your ministerial officers ...
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri ought to show some manners and allow ministers to give their answers without interruption.
A formal process was in place. As I said, it fell apart. In a spirit of cooperation, I have agreed to meet with representatives of the Katherine Combined Aboriginal Organisations today. Hopefully, we may get the process working again, but it takes 2 to tango.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, for the benefit of the member for Arafura, I am advised that the process of negotiation and discussion had only just commenced when it fell apart. Thus, it is not appropriate for him to accuse me or any of my colleagues of dismantling a process of negotiation and discussion that had been put in place.
Ms Martin: After 9 months! How many meetings ...
Page 856
Mr STONE: There was a formal negotiation process, and it literally fell apart. Hopefully, in the spirit of cooperation ...
Mr Bailey: You mean that your member ripped it apart!
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, the member for Wanguri cannot help himself.
Mr Bailey: Tell the truth.
Mr STONE: Obviously, he is never interested in any of the answers,
Mr Bailey: In the truth, not your answers. They are different.
Mr STONE: He interferes continually. He cannot help himself. Probably there are people listening to this broadcast who would be interested in hearing the answer.
Mr Bailey: Your ministerial officers ...
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri ought to show some manners and allow ministers to give their answers without interruption.
A formal process was in place. As I said, it fell apart. In a spirit of cooperation, I have agreed to meet with representatives of the Katherine Combined Aboriginal Organisations today. Hopefully, we may get the process working again, but it takes 2 to tango.
Page 857
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016