Mr MILLS - 2008-02-21
Yesterday, you said that it was ‘bleeding obvious’ that tourists and the increase in population were, effectively, responsible for the increase of nearly 10 million litres of alcohol drunk in the Territory since Labor’s rule began almost seven years ago. Will you now table the figures to support your claim?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If we look at the Parliamentary Record, the Leader of the Opposition talked about the increase being on a per-year basis. He has now changed his tune to this being an increase over seven years. I urge him to look on the Parliamentary Record at what he said here yesterday and get it right.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I thought we debated this around and around all day yesterday. However, if he wants to have the debate around and around all day today, then we will do it again.
Regarding those figures, I thought the question yesterday - we have different versions around - was related to an increase in alcohol consumption in Darwin and Palmerston. As I said - and everybody in this House has probably been here since 2001; if not in this parliament, at least they were in the Northern Territory - there has been significant population and residential growth in Darwin and Palmerston since 2001. I do not have those figure; however, it is not too difficult to get them. Your office is staffed as a minister’s office, so you can get the figures from the Planning department.
The Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory puts out comprehensive reports on a quarterly basis that outline how many new homes and units have been built, what the occupancy rates are, what the vacancy rates are, and what the median house prices are. I have read those reports every quarter since I have been a member of this House, and there has been very significant population growth, and new housing and unit developments in Darwin and Palmerston.
If we also recall, in 2000-01, at a time when the economy was on its knees, tourism was virtually in free fall, there was 11 September, the Ansett collapse, the HIH collapse …
Mr MILLS: A point of order; Madam Speaker! This is all very interesting; we have heard this story before. However, the question is, effectively: who is drinking all the alcohol? Is it the tourists, or …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, as I said yesterday, anybody who has lived in this place and experienced those times, knows there has been a significant rebound in tourists to the Northern Territory, and very significant population growth in Darwin and Palmerston. That attributes significantly to the increase in alcohol consumption in Darwin and Palmerston. That is not to say we do not have significant problems …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: You guys are so smart - very good, 10 out 10 for myself. Once again, it is a policy-free zone opposite ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please resume your seat, Chief Minister. Opposition members, I remind you that you are not able to show signs such as that during the parliament. If I am aware of that again, I will be asking you to leave.
Ms Carney: We showed it to each other, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: It is nowhere in the Chamber. It is terribly unfortunate, because we …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen!
Ms Carney: Point made, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, childish stunts as opposed to serious questions …
Ms Carney: You have so much to say, why waste your words?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We can see where the opposition is just left struggling, if that is the best they can do in Question Time.
As I said, that is not to say we have not recognised we do have significant problems with itinerants’ antisocial behaviour fuelled by alcohol right across the Northern Territory. Over the last two weeks in this place, we have introduced significant measures to further deal with the issues of excessive consumption of alcohol and antisocial behaviour that arises. There is a whole raft of government policies and strategies that go to dealing with the effects as well as attacking the causes. As I said in my last question yesterday, improving education and the economy and providing accommodation in the bush, over time, will lead to reductions in the type of behaviour we see in our urban centres.
However, we have to deal with the consequences now. That is why I introduced the package of measures in the House over this week. Regarding those numbers of consumption of alcohol going up in Darwin and Palmerston, a very significant part of that - as I said yesterday and I will keep saying today - is because of population increase and tourism number increases.
If the Leader of the Opposition does not believe that, since 2001, there has been significant population increase in Darwin and Palmerston, significant housing and unit construction, and a significant rebound in the number of tourists coming to Darwin and Palmerston, he obviously does not get out much.
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker there was a request for the information to be tabled to substantiate the claims that the Chief Minister has made.
Ms Carney: He is refusing to table it.
Mr Henderson: I just told you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister has finished his answer.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If we look at the Parliamentary Record, the Leader of the Opposition talked about the increase being on a per-year basis. He has now changed his tune to this being an increase over seven years. I urge him to look on the Parliamentary Record at what he said here yesterday and get it right.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I thought we debated this around and around all day yesterday. However, if he wants to have the debate around and around all day today, then we will do it again.
Regarding those figures, I thought the question yesterday - we have different versions around - was related to an increase in alcohol consumption in Darwin and Palmerston. As I said - and everybody in this House has probably been here since 2001; if not in this parliament, at least they were in the Northern Territory - there has been significant population and residential growth in Darwin and Palmerston since 2001. I do not have those figure; however, it is not too difficult to get them. Your office is staffed as a minister’s office, so you can get the figures from the Planning department.
The Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory puts out comprehensive reports on a quarterly basis that outline how many new homes and units have been built, what the occupancy rates are, what the vacancy rates are, and what the median house prices are. I have read those reports every quarter since I have been a member of this House, and there has been very significant population growth, and new housing and unit developments in Darwin and Palmerston.
If we also recall, in 2000-01, at a time when the economy was on its knees, tourism was virtually in free fall, there was 11 September, the Ansett collapse, the HIH collapse …
Mr MILLS: A point of order; Madam Speaker! This is all very interesting; we have heard this story before. However, the question is, effectively: who is drinking all the alcohol? Is it the tourists, or …
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, as I said yesterday, anybody who has lived in this place and experienced those times, knows there has been a significant rebound in tourists to the Northern Territory, and very significant population growth in Darwin and Palmerston. That attributes significantly to the increase in alcohol consumption in Darwin and Palmerston. That is not to say we do not have significant problems …
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: You guys are so smart - very good, 10 out 10 for myself. Once again, it is a policy-free zone opposite ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please resume your seat, Chief Minister. Opposition members, I remind you that you are not able to show signs such as that during the parliament. If I am aware of that again, I will be asking you to leave.
Ms Carney: We showed it to each other, Madam Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: It is nowhere in the Chamber. It is terribly unfortunate, because we …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Araluen!
Ms Carney: Point made, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, childish stunts as opposed to serious questions …
Ms Carney: You have so much to say, why waste your words?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: We can see where the opposition is just left struggling, if that is the best they can do in Question Time.
As I said, that is not to say we have not recognised we do have significant problems with itinerants’ antisocial behaviour fuelled by alcohol right across the Northern Territory. Over the last two weeks in this place, we have introduced significant measures to further deal with the issues of excessive consumption of alcohol and antisocial behaviour that arises. There is a whole raft of government policies and strategies that go to dealing with the effects as well as attacking the causes. As I said in my last question yesterday, improving education and the economy and providing accommodation in the bush, over time, will lead to reductions in the type of behaviour we see in our urban centres.
However, we have to deal with the consequences now. That is why I introduced the package of measures in the House over this week. Regarding those numbers of consumption of alcohol going up in Darwin and Palmerston, a very significant part of that - as I said yesterday and I will keep saying today - is because of population increase and tourism number increases.
If the Leader of the Opposition does not believe that, since 2001, there has been significant population increase in Darwin and Palmerston, significant housing and unit construction, and a significant rebound in the number of tourists coming to Darwin and Palmerston, he obviously does not get out much.
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker there was a request for the information to be tabled to substantiate the claims that the Chief Minister has made.
Ms Carney: He is refusing to table it.
Mr Henderson: I just told you.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister has finished his answer.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016