Mrs BRAHAM - 1996-02-28
Like the Minister for Education and Training, I remain concerned about the proposed $27m cuts to Territory funding by the Commonwealth. What adds to my concern is that, since 1984, the Territory has had its funding slashed by $69m by the federal Labor government. What role has the Labor member for the Northern Territory, Warren Snowdon, played in assessing priorities relating to this massive decrease in funding? Given his obvious failure to stand up for the Territory, does the Chief Minister have confidence in Warren Snowdon's competence to do his job on time, within the budget and to the satisfaction of Territorians?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is an important question because, if the government of the day in the Territory does not have confidence in the federal member, there is obviously a problem.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, it is very hard to talk over the top of members. They are very rude. They are not setting a very good example this morning.
I have not been backward in the past in praising Senator Bob Collins for things that he has done for the Territory. I have always been prepared to give the bouquets as well as the brickbats. However, I really have to search my mind to find an example of where Warren Snowdon has stood up for the Territory. I cannot find a single example. When the member quite rightly asked me whether I have confidence in Warren Snowdon to represent Territorians...
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Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister must refer to the member for Northern Territory by his correct title.
Mr SPEAKER: The Chief Minister should refer to the MHR for the Northern Territory by that title.
Mr STONE: When I am asked whether I have confidence in Hon Warren Snowdon MHR, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training, the answer is still no. There are very good reasons for the answer being no. This man has some very strange priorities. Let us consider some of his escapades. We know about his escapades in relation to dog shows, and I will come back to that later. In November last year, he spent $25 000 of taxpayers' money - some $3100 an hour - to return to Alice Springs from Perth to attend a dinner. He had an opportunity to explain that. Members will recall that, despite the best efforts of the NT News to have an interview with the federal member, Hon Warren Snowdon MHR, that was refused. He could never quite explain a couple of things. He could not explain why he spent $25 000 of taxpayers' money to attend the dinner in Alice Springs. My information is that he could have been on a commercial flight that would have had him back there in time.
Mr Speaker, I will table the letter that he wrote to Senator Faulkner, Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories, making out his case to use the VIP jet at the cost of $25 000 to the Australian taxpayer. Why do we have it? This is an example of his competence. It was faxed to a Liberal MP! Members may think that these are small points. They are major points because the incompetence continues. However, let us talk about a man who not only spends $25 000 of taxpayers' money to catch a VIP flight from Perth to Alice Springs. This is the very same man who grabbed a VIP flight from Townsville to Tennant Creek to present a prize at a dog show only to find when he arrived there that the show was over. He was too late. Of course, he was back on the plane to go down to a conference in Sydney, spending another $12 000 on VIP flights.
When I am asked if I have confidence in a person with this type of track record, in a person with these sorts of priors, I can justifiably say no.
Mr Bailey: At least he does not make a private fortune like Nick Dondas does!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: The incompetence continues. That lot opposite are pretty clever - so clever that they leave documents about Territorians lying around in pubs. If Australians were concerned about the Australia card, stand back. We have the Territory card, brought to you by the ALP in the Territory. Left in a pub! We know it is legitimate because the cover page was dated Monday 26 February, and it included all their plans for their mobile polling. Team: John Ah Kit, Robert Lee, Paul La Fontaine, plus contacts at Bulman and Eva Valley. Just to check it, we had the member for Millner telephone Bulman. Sure enough, Jack Ah Kit answered the phone. We have the real thing here. He was out in the council office, holding the fort. Spectacular! One of the opposition mob left it lying in the pub. And this is the competency you want us ...
Page 1235
Mr Bell: Big deal!
Mr STONE: ... to put trust in as Territorians. It is a big deal because we now come to what you actually have. I am going to table one of the sheets so that you can see that it is the real thing.
Mr Ede: Table the lot.
Mr STONE: No, I am going to table one sheet. I am hanging on to these - this is a gold find.
Mr BELL: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister knows that standing orders require him to table ...
Mr Stone: I have not been reading from it ...
Mr BELL: ... all documents if he is referring to them and he has them ...
Mr Coulter: He has not read from them. He has done nothing.
Mr BELL: If he is silly enough to have them in his possession in here, he is required to table them.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. In fact, the Chief Minister is quoting from one page of a document which I understand he is prepared to table. I do not believe that he has quoted at all from the major document.
Mr STONE: The member opposite may shake his head, but I am reading from only one page because I anticipated this call. You will not have the whole document. I intend to hang on to it.
This is all about Territory card. This is about the ALP keeping tabs on Territorians. The chart gives the name of the community, the person's first name, their surname, the organisation that they work for or are associated with, their work position, their occupation and whether or not they are an ALP member, a supporter or not associated at all, their phone number and their fax number.
It may well be that members of the ALP would not mind that, but I feel sure some would mind, that you are leaving membership records of your party lying around in pubs. I will tell you who else would mind - ordinary, decent Territory folk who really do not want to be categorised by the ALP as to whether they are one of its supporters or one of its members. I wonder whether the Numbulwar School principal, for example, appreciates having been categorised in terms of membership of a political party. I wonder whether the 2 CDEP workers at Ngukurr appreciate the way they have been documented, together with all their personal details. I believe it is appalling. It is a symptom of the incompetence of the Labor Party. It goes to the heart of the very issues that Australia said no to with the Australia card. Here in the Territory ...
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Mr Bailey: interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister will resume his seat. The member for Wanguri will withdraw his implication that the Chief Minister lied about a matter to do with push-polling.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, I said that members on the other side lied, but I withdraw ...
Mr SPEAKER: Whether you said members or one member, please withdraw it.
Mr BAILEY: I withdraw the comment that the Chief Minister has lied about push-polling last year, that his party was involved ...
Mr SPEAKER: I asked you to withdraw it, and you will withdraw without comment.
Mr BAILEY: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr STONE: They show no respect for Territorians and their private details. This is the Territory card, brought to you by the ALP. No one is safe from this lot. We recall that, before the last election, they had their hit list. If you were seen to be a CLP supporter, they would get you. In fact, before one particular Territory election, even before the votes were cast on the Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition was saying arrogantly to the heads of the government departments: `Present yourselves on Monday because I have the list'. Here is another list, a list of ordinary Territorians - the ALP Territory card. Labor is a disgrace, Labor is incompetent and Labor is lazy.
Mr Speaker, I table that page.
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! I request once again that the Chief Minister table the entire document. It does raise very important issues.
A member: It sure does. The incompetence of your branch members - that is what it raises.
Mr Manzie: And secret files on people.
Mr EDE: In the past, the CLP has made wild allegations. It has stated that its offices have been broken into a number of times, that its phones had been tapped and that various items had gone missing. It may be that this is a matter that needs to be referred to the police in respect of various security issues. I think the Chief Minister should table the whole document so that we may see where that matter ...
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. In fact, I cannot demand that it be tabled unless the Chief Minister quoted from it.
Page 1237
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is an important question because, if the government of the day in the Territory does not have confidence in the federal member, there is obviously a problem.
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: Mr Speaker, it is very hard to talk over the top of members. They are very rude. They are not setting a very good example this morning.
I have not been backward in the past in praising Senator Bob Collins for things that he has done for the Territory. I have always been prepared to give the bouquets as well as the brickbats. However, I really have to search my mind to find an example of where Warren Snowdon has stood up for the Territory. I cannot find a single example. When the member quite rightly asked me whether I have confidence in Warren Snowdon to represent Territorians...
Page 1234
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister must refer to the member for Northern Territory by his correct title.
Mr SPEAKER: The Chief Minister should refer to the MHR for the Northern Territory by that title.
Mr STONE: When I am asked whether I have confidence in Hon Warren Snowdon MHR, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training, the answer is still no. There are very good reasons for the answer being no. This man has some very strange priorities. Let us consider some of his escapades. We know about his escapades in relation to dog shows, and I will come back to that later. In November last year, he spent $25 000 of taxpayers' money - some $3100 an hour - to return to Alice Springs from Perth to attend a dinner. He had an opportunity to explain that. Members will recall that, despite the best efforts of the NT News to have an interview with the federal member, Hon Warren Snowdon MHR, that was refused. He could never quite explain a couple of things. He could not explain why he spent $25 000 of taxpayers' money to attend the dinner in Alice Springs. My information is that he could have been on a commercial flight that would have had him back there in time.
Mr Speaker, I will table the letter that he wrote to Senator Faulkner, Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories, making out his case to use the VIP jet at the cost of $25 000 to the Australian taxpayer. Why do we have it? This is an example of his competence. It was faxed to a Liberal MP! Members may think that these are small points. They are major points because the incompetence continues. However, let us talk about a man who not only spends $25 000 of taxpayers' money to catch a VIP flight from Perth to Alice Springs. This is the very same man who grabbed a VIP flight from Townsville to Tennant Creek to present a prize at a dog show only to find when he arrived there that the show was over. He was too late. Of course, he was back on the plane to go down to a conference in Sydney, spending another $12 000 on VIP flights.
When I am asked if I have confidence in a person with this type of track record, in a person with these sorts of priors, I can justifiably say no.
Mr Bailey: At least he does not make a private fortune like Nick Dondas does!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: The incompetence continues. That lot opposite are pretty clever - so clever that they leave documents about Territorians lying around in pubs. If Australians were concerned about the Australia card, stand back. We have the Territory card, brought to you by the ALP in the Territory. Left in a pub! We know it is legitimate because the cover page was dated Monday 26 February, and it included all their plans for their mobile polling. Team: John Ah Kit, Robert Lee, Paul La Fontaine, plus contacts at Bulman and Eva Valley. Just to check it, we had the member for Millner telephone Bulman. Sure enough, Jack Ah Kit answered the phone. We have the real thing here. He was out in the council office, holding the fort. Spectacular! One of the opposition mob left it lying in the pub. And this is the competency you want us ...
Page 1235
Mr Bell: Big deal!
Mr STONE: ... to put trust in as Territorians. It is a big deal because we now come to what you actually have. I am going to table one of the sheets so that you can see that it is the real thing.
Mr Ede: Table the lot.
Mr STONE: No, I am going to table one sheet. I am hanging on to these - this is a gold find.
Mr BELL: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The Chief Minister knows that standing orders require him to table ...
Mr Stone: I have not been reading from it ...
Mr BELL: ... all documents if he is referring to them and he has them ...
Mr Coulter: He has not read from them. He has done nothing.
Mr BELL: If he is silly enough to have them in his possession in here, he is required to table them.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. In fact, the Chief Minister is quoting from one page of a document which I understand he is prepared to table. I do not believe that he has quoted at all from the major document.
Mr STONE: The member opposite may shake his head, but I am reading from only one page because I anticipated this call. You will not have the whole document. I intend to hang on to it.
This is all about Territory card. This is about the ALP keeping tabs on Territorians. The chart gives the name of the community, the person's first name, their surname, the organisation that they work for or are associated with, their work position, their occupation and whether or not they are an ALP member, a supporter or not associated at all, their phone number and their fax number.
It may well be that members of the ALP would not mind that, but I feel sure some would mind, that you are leaving membership records of your party lying around in pubs. I will tell you who else would mind - ordinary, decent Territory folk who really do not want to be categorised by the ALP as to whether they are one of its supporters or one of its members. I wonder whether the Numbulwar School principal, for example, appreciates having been categorised in terms of membership of a political party. I wonder whether the 2 CDEP workers at Ngukurr appreciate the way they have been documented, together with all their personal details. I believe it is appalling. It is a symptom of the incompetence of the Labor Party. It goes to the heart of the very issues that Australia said no to with the Australia card. Here in the Territory ...
Page 1236
Mr Bailey: interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister will resume his seat. The member for Wanguri will withdraw his implication that the Chief Minister lied about a matter to do with push-polling.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, I said that members on the other side lied, but I withdraw ...
Mr SPEAKER: Whether you said members or one member, please withdraw it.
Mr BAILEY: I withdraw the comment that the Chief Minister has lied about push-polling last year, that his party was involved ...
Mr SPEAKER: I asked you to withdraw it, and you will withdraw without comment.
Mr BAILEY: I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr STONE: They show no respect for Territorians and their private details. This is the Territory card, brought to you by the ALP. No one is safe from this lot. We recall that, before the last election, they had their hit list. If you were seen to be a CLP supporter, they would get you. In fact, before one particular Territory election, even before the votes were cast on the Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition was saying arrogantly to the heads of the government departments: `Present yourselves on Monday because I have the list'. Here is another list, a list of ordinary Territorians - the ALP Territory card. Labor is a disgrace, Labor is incompetent and Labor is lazy.
Mr Speaker, I table that page.
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! I request once again that the Chief Minister table the entire document. It does raise very important issues.
A member: It sure does. The incompetence of your branch members - that is what it raises.
Mr Manzie: And secret files on people.
Mr EDE: In the past, the CLP has made wild allegations. It has stated that its offices have been broken into a number of times, that its phones had been tapped and that various items had gone missing. It may be that this is a matter that needs to be referred to the police in respect of various security issues. I think the Chief Minister should table the whole document so that we may see where that matter ...
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. In fact, I cannot demand that it be tabled unless the Chief Minister quoted from it.
Page 1237
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016