Mr SETTER - 1996-10-09
I understand that the minister will be accompanying a business delegation and media representatives to Lombok in Indonesia this coming Friday. What is the purpose of this trip?
Mr Stirling: Never buy local.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, It is quite interesting to observe the way the opposition decries, on the one hand ...
Mr Stirling: You are in the paper and on the TV, saying: `Buy local'.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: ... the attack, as they see it, on spouses and here they are attacking my spouse.
Mr Stirling: No, we are attacking you. You are the one who ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: You know very well that ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will give the member for Nhulunbuy and the member for Arnhem one chance only. They are on a warning.
Mr POOLE: Lombok is set to become a very important destination for the Northern Territory, not only because of its growing popularity as a tourist destination, but also because it has the nearest airstrip to the $1500m development of the Batu Hijau copper mine which is planned on the neighbouring island of Sumbawa. As I mentioned during the September sittings, Darwin is ideally situated to supply support infrastructure and become a major supply and service base for the mine. As a result of this government's efforts in promoting the Territory's capabilities to the international firm of PT Newmont, which is developing that mine, the Territory could benefit to the tune of millions of dollars and provide support to the mine over a period of 25 to 30 years.
This opportunity has not been overlooked by an Australian company, National Jet Systems, which has just established a passenger jet service from Darwin to Lombok and Jakarta. In fact, the Chief Minister and I and the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara will officially launch the passenger service on Lombok this Saturday and we will join the flight, along with a large Northern Territory business delegation and media representatives to return to Darwin. Some of the 35 business people will leave Darwin for Lombok today while others
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will fly out with myself and the Chief Minister on Friday. On Lombok, we will have the opportunity to meet with senior executives from Newmont, one of the world's biggest goldmining companies, and Fluor Daniel, one of the world's largest engineering design and construction companies which has been contracted to build the mine.
The purpose of the business delegation's visit is to view possible trade, business and investment opportunities expected to flow from the construction and the ongoing production of the mine. Included in the delegation are representatives from the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry who will sign, on Friday, an accord on economic cooperation with the West Nusa Tenggara Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mataram. This initiative is a result of that chamber's visit to NT Expo this year. I will probably witness the signing, along with the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara. Both chambers envisage mutual benefits from the Batu Hijau development and other industry sectors, including tourism and agriculture. We will also be opening an innovative house that has been constructed there. If the Indonesians accept the concept of that construction, that could result in some fantastic joint-venture opportunities.
The Northern Territory stands an excellent chance of winning significant training contracts, as well as contracts for the supply of vehicles, maintenance, fresh food, medical equipment, chemicals and other services. A Newmont team will return with us to Darwin, and will link up with a visiting human resource team from Newmont's Denver head office to see at first hand Darwin's facilities and capabilities and to have detailed discussions on staff support issues. As members will note from my brief outline, this trip to Lombok is a valuable opportunity for the Territory government and for Territory business people. I know it has the support of the Leader of the Opposition who is also invited. A separate visit, to address procurement and logistics, will be made by a combined Newmont/Fluor Daniel team in about 3 weeks. They will be coming to Darwin to further our discussions.
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Mr Stirling: Never buy local.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, It is quite interesting to observe the way the opposition decries, on the one hand ...
Mr Stirling: You are in the paper and on the TV, saying: `Buy local'.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: ... the attack, as they see it, on spouses and here they are attacking my spouse.
Mr Stirling: No, we are attacking you. You are the one who ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr POOLE: You know very well that ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will give the member for Nhulunbuy and the member for Arnhem one chance only. They are on a warning.
Mr POOLE: Lombok is set to become a very important destination for the Northern Territory, not only because of its growing popularity as a tourist destination, but also because it has the nearest airstrip to the $1500m development of the Batu Hijau copper mine which is planned on the neighbouring island of Sumbawa. As I mentioned during the September sittings, Darwin is ideally situated to supply support infrastructure and become a major supply and service base for the mine. As a result of this government's efforts in promoting the Territory's capabilities to the international firm of PT Newmont, which is developing that mine, the Territory could benefit to the tune of millions of dollars and provide support to the mine over a period of 25 to 30 years.
This opportunity has not been overlooked by an Australian company, National Jet Systems, which has just established a passenger jet service from Darwin to Lombok and Jakarta. In fact, the Chief Minister and I and the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara will officially launch the passenger service on Lombok this Saturday and we will join the flight, along with a large Northern Territory business delegation and media representatives to return to Darwin. Some of the 35 business people will leave Darwin for Lombok today while others
Page 1652
will fly out with myself and the Chief Minister on Friday. On Lombok, we will have the opportunity to meet with senior executives from Newmont, one of the world's biggest goldmining companies, and Fluor Daniel, one of the world's largest engineering design and construction companies which has been contracted to build the mine.
The purpose of the business delegation's visit is to view possible trade, business and investment opportunities expected to flow from the construction and the ongoing production of the mine. Included in the delegation are representatives from the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry who will sign, on Friday, an accord on economic cooperation with the West Nusa Tenggara Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mataram. This initiative is a result of that chamber's visit to NT Expo this year. I will probably witness the signing, along with the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara. Both chambers envisage mutual benefits from the Batu Hijau development and other industry sectors, including tourism and agriculture. We will also be opening an innovative house that has been constructed there. If the Indonesians accept the concept of that construction, that could result in some fantastic joint-venture opportunities.
The Northern Territory stands an excellent chance of winning significant training contracts, as well as contracts for the supply of vehicles, maintenance, fresh food, medical equipment, chemicals and other services. A Newmont team will return with us to Darwin, and will link up with a visiting human resource team from Newmont's Denver head office to see at first hand Darwin's facilities and capabilities and to have detailed discussions on staff support issues. As members will note from my brief outline, this trip to Lombok is a valuable opportunity for the Territory government and for Territory business people. I know it has the support of the Leader of the Opposition who is also invited. A separate visit, to address procurement and logistics, will be made by a combined Newmont/Fluor Daniel team in about 3 weeks. They will be coming to Darwin to further our discussions.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016