Mr BALDWIN - 1994-06-28
In light of some of the comments made this morning, could the minister inform members of the latest position regarding the federal government's local roads funding in the Northern Territory and how these funds are being used in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is a very relevant question. The word that best describes the way in which federal funding for local roads is being used in the Northern Territory is 'disgraceful'. One has only to look at the upgrading of the Victoria Highway to see the federal government's contempt for the Northern Territory and its road networks. Members would be aware that the upgrading of the Victoria Highway to 2-lane sealed standard has been a major government project for some years. It is a great pity that the federal government apparently does not allocate sufficient funds for those works to achieve their stated completion date. The member for Leanyer reminds me that originally it was supposed to be finished in 1994. I wrote to the federal minister again recently, strongly urging him to increase funding so that this project could be completed by 1996-97. Insufficient funds in the past have restricted the work to not far past Timber Creek, and that is somewhat disgraceful. This is not the only example of the federal government's disregard for Territory roads.
Roads on Aboriginal land are another issue. Having forced the responsibility for these roads on to Aboriginal communities, the federal government does not want to know about them now. This is a little lecture for the benefit of the member for MacDonnell who forgets history and twists it very conveniently to suit his own purposes. The 100 club is fairly good at it too. This matter began in 1990 when the Special Premiers Conference agreed to untie federal local roads funds. Specifically, the money was to be paid to the local government or the state or territory government where it had responsibility. In the Northern Territory, it meant that local roads funds went to the Northern Territory government except for those that went to the major municipal councils. In his wisdom, the Labor federal member, Hon Warren Snowdon, convinced the then minister, Hon Wendy Fatin, to pay the funds directly to Aboriginal communities.
Mr Bell: That is nonsense!
Mr MANZIE: I hear a little snort from the member for MacDonnell. However, we remember him standing in this House and agreeing to that course of action with his federal Labor colleague.
Mr Bell: Give us the figures, Daryl. How much went in that direct funding? Not all of it was untied in 1990, and you know that.
Mr MANZIE: I remember the then Minister for Transport and Works prophesying in this House that Mr Snowdon's action would cause major problems with roads in Aboriginal communities and on Aboriginal land. He prophesied that most accurately.
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Mr Bell: Because it provided an excuse for you lot to spend your untied funds.
Mr MANZIE: Yet the member for MacDonnell stood up in the House, with a couple of members of the 100 Club, and said that it was terrific because this government spent all the money on other projects but, now that the Aboriginals would receive all the money, they would be able to make more roads for their dollars because they would not waste it. When Mr Snowdon exerted pressure and had his wishes granted, no regard was paid to who would assume responsibility for the roads or to such basic requirements as consultation with either the government or the Aboriginal communities that were concerned about this. However, following that decision, the roads were maintained by the Northern Territory government for a further year even though we were not receiving federal funding for them.
Mr Bell: The funds had been untied!
Mr MANZIE: The federal money then went to the communities through the Territory Grants Commission.
Mr Bell: Of course, you did but now you have stopped doing it, which is why there is a $7m decrease in road funds.
Mr MANZIE: The member for MacDonnell does not like the facts because they disrupt his view of history.
Mr Bell: You are not coming good with them.
Mr MANZIE: It ruins the propaganda that he likes to spread far and wide among Aboriginal people. We know what his aim in life is. He wants Aboriginal people to remain hewers of wood and drawers of water. He does not want Aboriginal people to succeed because then they would not rely on him as their local member and they would stand up for themselves. His history in this House shows the line that he follows.
Mr Bell: That is disgraceful! Check the figures.
Mr MANZIE: We continued funding those roads for one year after the money was redirected, but we stopped looking after them in July 1993 and the results were entirely predictable. My colleague had explained to the House what would happen. Some communities lacked the necessary skills and equipment for the task while others, which had trouble making ends meet, have utilised those vital funds elsewhere.
Mr Bell: You took your bat and went home. Confess that the roads are a mess in the bush because of it, and you do not care.
Mr MANZIE: The member for MacDonnell is partly responsible for this as his record in this House shows. Even now, he calls out his support for Mr Snowdon having redirected those funds in a way that has caused a major problem. As I said, not only are there difficulties with some communities but, because they have difficulty in making ends meet, they actually redirect the funds elsewhere.
There is no doubt that the roads would be better controlled by the Northern Territory government. An example of that is the road to Port Keats. At the moment, we maintain roads to the boundary of Aboriginal land while the remainder is left largely unmaintained.
Page 14
Mr Bell: That is nonsense.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, it is not nonsense. It is the truth. In a philosophical sense, it might be nonsense to the left-leaning member for MacDonnell who thinks that all things rosy will flow from this direct application of funds. He can laugh, but Aboriginal people in remote areas are suffering.
Mr Bell: You are pocketing the money and spending it on the Taj Mahal or in Palmerston.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, in an attempt to resolve the problem, I have offered to the communities concerned to take over responsibility for the roads depending on the provision of unrestricted public access to the coast in respect of Port Keats. The community governments at Peppimenarti, Pularumpi and Wadeye all agree with this enthusiastically, but it can only be done through the Northern Land Council and the traditional owners. Typically, the NLC is not moving with any haste to facilitate this action.
As long ago as October, I raised this issue with the then Minister for Transport, Hon Bob Collins. Although the federal member had managed to obtain $2m immediately before the last federal election, we have not seen any enthusiasm since then. In fact, I believe the matter has been moved across to Ministers Tickner and Howe. I had some telephone discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Howe and, at that stage, Mr Snowdon had done such a good snow job that no one was aware there was a problem. However, there is now a glimmer of recognition that Mr Snowdon's actions, supported by the member for MacDonnell and a few members of the 100 club, have caused a major problem. I believe that Mr Howe has since made a special funding arrangement through the CLC for 3 or 4 central Australian communities. I am not certain of the details because I have not received any information, but I am sure that many other Aboriginal communities in the Territory would be interested to know what special deal has been done for a select few. However, we will find out in time.
This change in attitude was brought about after a number of federal officials travelled around the Territory and spoke to communities, individuals and community government organisations. They saw for themselves what a ridiculous situation had resulted from the federal government following Mr Snowdon's line. Members should be aware that the federal member's actions have been detrimental to Aboriginal communities in the Territory. We should be under no illusion that those actions were, and still are, supported very strongly by the member for MacDonnell.
Page 15
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is a very relevant question. The word that best describes the way in which federal funding for local roads is being used in the Northern Territory is 'disgraceful'. One has only to look at the upgrading of the Victoria Highway to see the federal government's contempt for the Northern Territory and its road networks. Members would be aware that the upgrading of the Victoria Highway to 2-lane sealed standard has been a major government project for some years. It is a great pity that the federal government apparently does not allocate sufficient funds for those works to achieve their stated completion date. The member for Leanyer reminds me that originally it was supposed to be finished in 1994. I wrote to the federal minister again recently, strongly urging him to increase funding so that this project could be completed by 1996-97. Insufficient funds in the past have restricted the work to not far past Timber Creek, and that is somewhat disgraceful. This is not the only example of the federal government's disregard for Territory roads.
Roads on Aboriginal land are another issue. Having forced the responsibility for these roads on to Aboriginal communities, the federal government does not want to know about them now. This is a little lecture for the benefit of the member for MacDonnell who forgets history and twists it very conveniently to suit his own purposes. The 100 club is fairly good at it too. This matter began in 1990 when the Special Premiers Conference agreed to untie federal local roads funds. Specifically, the money was to be paid to the local government or the state or territory government where it had responsibility. In the Northern Territory, it meant that local roads funds went to the Northern Territory government except for those that went to the major municipal councils. In his wisdom, the Labor federal member, Hon Warren Snowdon, convinced the then minister, Hon Wendy Fatin, to pay the funds directly to Aboriginal communities.
Mr Bell: That is nonsense!
Mr MANZIE: I hear a little snort from the member for MacDonnell. However, we remember him standing in this House and agreeing to that course of action with his federal Labor colleague.
Mr Bell: Give us the figures, Daryl. How much went in that direct funding? Not all of it was untied in 1990, and you know that.
Mr MANZIE: I remember the then Minister for Transport and Works prophesying in this House that Mr Snowdon's action would cause major problems with roads in Aboriginal communities and on Aboriginal land. He prophesied that most accurately.
Page 13
Mr Bell: Because it provided an excuse for you lot to spend your untied funds.
Mr MANZIE: Yet the member for MacDonnell stood up in the House, with a couple of members of the 100 Club, and said that it was terrific because this government spent all the money on other projects but, now that the Aboriginals would receive all the money, they would be able to make more roads for their dollars because they would not waste it. When Mr Snowdon exerted pressure and had his wishes granted, no regard was paid to who would assume responsibility for the roads or to such basic requirements as consultation with either the government or the Aboriginal communities that were concerned about this. However, following that decision, the roads were maintained by the Northern Territory government for a further year even though we were not receiving federal funding for them.
Mr Bell: The funds had been untied!
Mr MANZIE: The federal money then went to the communities through the Territory Grants Commission.
Mr Bell: Of course, you did but now you have stopped doing it, which is why there is a $7m decrease in road funds.
Mr MANZIE: The member for MacDonnell does not like the facts because they disrupt his view of history.
Mr Bell: You are not coming good with them.
Mr MANZIE: It ruins the propaganda that he likes to spread far and wide among Aboriginal people. We know what his aim in life is. He wants Aboriginal people to remain hewers of wood and drawers of water. He does not want Aboriginal people to succeed because then they would not rely on him as their local member and they would stand up for themselves. His history in this House shows the line that he follows.
Mr Bell: That is disgraceful! Check the figures.
Mr MANZIE: We continued funding those roads for one year after the money was redirected, but we stopped looking after them in July 1993 and the results were entirely predictable. My colleague had explained to the House what would happen. Some communities lacked the necessary skills and equipment for the task while others, which had trouble making ends meet, have utilised those vital funds elsewhere.
Mr Bell: You took your bat and went home. Confess that the roads are a mess in the bush because of it, and you do not care.
Mr MANZIE: The member for MacDonnell is partly responsible for this as his record in this House shows. Even now, he calls out his support for Mr Snowdon having redirected those funds in a way that has caused a major problem. As I said, not only are there difficulties with some communities but, because they have difficulty in making ends meet, they actually redirect the funds elsewhere.
There is no doubt that the roads would be better controlled by the Northern Territory government. An example of that is the road to Port Keats. At the moment, we maintain roads to the boundary of Aboriginal land while the remainder is left largely unmaintained.
Page 14
Mr Bell: That is nonsense.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, it is not nonsense. It is the truth. In a philosophical sense, it might be nonsense to the left-leaning member for MacDonnell who thinks that all things rosy will flow from this direct application of funds. He can laugh, but Aboriginal people in remote areas are suffering.
Mr Bell: You are pocketing the money and spending it on the Taj Mahal or in Palmerston.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, in an attempt to resolve the problem, I have offered to the communities concerned to take over responsibility for the roads depending on the provision of unrestricted public access to the coast in respect of Port Keats. The community governments at Peppimenarti, Pularumpi and Wadeye all agree with this enthusiastically, but it can only be done through the Northern Land Council and the traditional owners. Typically, the NLC is not moving with any haste to facilitate this action.
As long ago as October, I raised this issue with the then Minister for Transport, Hon Bob Collins. Although the federal member had managed to obtain $2m immediately before the last federal election, we have not seen any enthusiasm since then. In fact, I believe the matter has been moved across to Ministers Tickner and Howe. I had some telephone discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Howe and, at that stage, Mr Snowdon had done such a good snow job that no one was aware there was a problem. However, there is now a glimmer of recognition that Mr Snowdon's actions, supported by the member for MacDonnell and a few members of the 100 club, have caused a major problem. I believe that Mr Howe has since made a special funding arrangement through the CLC for 3 or 4 central Australian communities. I am not certain of the details because I have not received any information, but I am sure that many other Aboriginal communities in the Territory would be interested to know what special deal has been done for a select few. However, we will find out in time.
This change in attitude was brought about after a number of federal officials travelled around the Territory and spoke to communities, individuals and community government organisations. They saw for themselves what a ridiculous situation had resulted from the federal government following Mr Snowdon's line. Members should be aware that the federal member's actions have been detrimental to Aboriginal communities in the Territory. We should be under no illusion that those actions were, and still are, supported very strongly by the member for MacDonnell.
Page 15
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016