Mr McADAM - 2003-06-18
The community of Borroloola, in particular, the many courageous indigenous women, have been pursuing options for the establishment of a community safe house. I understand significant progress has been achieved in recent times.
Members interjecting.
Mr McADAM: You had better listen to this because you had a lot of time to do something about it, and you did zero. Listen.
Would you please advise the Assembly of the latest developments.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Barkly. He is quite right in picking up the interjection from the former minister for Housing who was not able to do much at all. I touched on the inability of the CLP, especially with those former ministers who had responsibilities in the bush - they were forgotten Territorians. I suppose I should not really lay a lot of blame on the former ministers. Obviously, it came back to their leader who currently has some mathematical problems trying to sort out which way the numbers are falling. However, that is something that he needs to deal with and he needs to chain a few of those people down to make sure that his numbers stay intact.
The member for Barkly is correct in stating that this issue has been pursued by the local community for several years. The proposal was first discussed in 1999-2000 under the previous government. Resolution of native title issues has now progressed to the stage where an indigenous land use agreement is being developed for registration. A recent agreement to secure operational funding between the Northern Territory government agencies and ATSIC has enabled the construction of a safe house in Borroloola to commence. The safe house is expected to be completed in early December this year, and will house up to eight women and their children at one time.
There is a significant investment of $400 000 through my Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs for the development of this facility, which will provide respite for women and children escaping domestic violence. Might I add, I was somewhat upset when I heard the reports that came across the national media regarding Professor Mick Dodson’s talk to the National Press Club about some of the domestic and sexual violence that is happening in the indigenous community around Australia. It is imperative that governments and political parties of all persuasions knuckle down and start addressing their minds to the problems that we need to get on top of.
ATSIC has agreed to contribute a minimum of $50 000 towards operational costs for the safe house in the 2003-04 financial year, and has agreed to consider for approval the same amount for two subsequent years. The Department of Health and Community Services, through my colleague, minister Aagaard, will contribute towards the recurrent costs of the safe house, as well as providing a one-off grant of $60 000 in the 2003-04 financial year towards establishment costs. It is anticipated that the signing and registration process for the indigenous land use agreement will take approximately four to five months to finalise.
The Northern Land Council has shown total support for the project, and all parties feel confident …
Dr Lim: And they should have done so the last time, too, when we were in there, but they would not, would they?
Mr McAdam: You did not try.
Dr Lim: We tried hard. They would not do it. The land council has to accept the blame for that.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I will pick up on the interjection from the member for Greatorex. He failed as a housing minister in the CLP government. He is uncomfortable when he goes bush - and I have been out with him on a number of occasions - because he just does not know what it is that people understand about his inadequacies and his incapability of delivering as a politician. After all, we are all Territorians who need to progress the Territory together, not necessarily in a cooperative manner because of our political affiliations, but certainly …
Dr Lim: So, if you were born overseas, you are not a Territorian, hey? Is that what you are saying?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, order!
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, the member for Greatorex gets pretty jealous sitting over there being fairly useless, other than sliding back between the factions …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please answer the question.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, they are so provocative.
In conclusion, the development of this important community facility is long awaited, and is another government initiative in ensuring safer communities for all Territorians.
Members interjecting.
Mr McADAM: You had better listen to this because you had a lot of time to do something about it, and you did zero. Listen.
Would you please advise the Assembly of the latest developments.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the member for Barkly. He is quite right in picking up the interjection from the former minister for Housing who was not able to do much at all. I touched on the inability of the CLP, especially with those former ministers who had responsibilities in the bush - they were forgotten Territorians. I suppose I should not really lay a lot of blame on the former ministers. Obviously, it came back to their leader who currently has some mathematical problems trying to sort out which way the numbers are falling. However, that is something that he needs to deal with and he needs to chain a few of those people down to make sure that his numbers stay intact.
The member for Barkly is correct in stating that this issue has been pursued by the local community for several years. The proposal was first discussed in 1999-2000 under the previous government. Resolution of native title issues has now progressed to the stage where an indigenous land use agreement is being developed for registration. A recent agreement to secure operational funding between the Northern Territory government agencies and ATSIC has enabled the construction of a safe house in Borroloola to commence. The safe house is expected to be completed in early December this year, and will house up to eight women and their children at one time.
There is a significant investment of $400 000 through my Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs for the development of this facility, which will provide respite for women and children escaping domestic violence. Might I add, I was somewhat upset when I heard the reports that came across the national media regarding Professor Mick Dodson’s talk to the National Press Club about some of the domestic and sexual violence that is happening in the indigenous community around Australia. It is imperative that governments and political parties of all persuasions knuckle down and start addressing their minds to the problems that we need to get on top of.
ATSIC has agreed to contribute a minimum of $50 000 towards operational costs for the safe house in the 2003-04 financial year, and has agreed to consider for approval the same amount for two subsequent years. The Department of Health and Community Services, through my colleague, minister Aagaard, will contribute towards the recurrent costs of the safe house, as well as providing a one-off grant of $60 000 in the 2003-04 financial year towards establishment costs. It is anticipated that the signing and registration process for the indigenous land use agreement will take approximately four to five months to finalise.
The Northern Land Council has shown total support for the project, and all parties feel confident …
Dr Lim: And they should have done so the last time, too, when we were in there, but they would not, would they?
Mr McAdam: You did not try.
Dr Lim: We tried hard. They would not do it. The land council has to accept the blame for that.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, I will pick up on the interjection from the member for Greatorex. He failed as a housing minister in the CLP government. He is uncomfortable when he goes bush - and I have been out with him on a number of occasions - because he just does not know what it is that people understand about his inadequacies and his incapability of delivering as a politician. After all, we are all Territorians who need to progress the Territory together, not necessarily in a cooperative manner because of our political affiliations, but certainly …
Dr Lim: So, if you were born overseas, you are not a Territorian, hey? Is that what you are saying?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, order!
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, the member for Greatorex gets pretty jealous sitting over there being fairly useless, other than sliding back between the factions …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please answer the question.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, they are so provocative.
In conclusion, the development of this important community facility is long awaited, and is another government initiative in ensuring safer communities for all Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016