Mr MILLS - 2009-06-09
At a media conference last week, you expressed your confidence in being able to talk the member for Arafura into staying in the Labor Party stating: ‘There is not daylight between us’. The member for Arafura describes your policy on outstations as ‘premature, insulting and uncosted’. Will you confirm to the House that your outstations policy is indeed premature, insulting, and uncosted, and that you broke your promise to consult with Indigenous Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, A Working Future will mean real towns, real jobs, and real opportunities for Indigenous people. This is the most fundamental reform of Indigenous policy in the Northern Territory going back to self-government and before that.
As I have said, I am sad to see my friend move to the cross benches, but I stick to the facts of what I said: there is not daylight between us and we will continue to work with the member for Arafura on the concerns that she has on behalf of her constituents.
A Working Future is about real towns, real jobs, and real opportunities. It is about providing quality; quality of services and quality of opportunities in terms of jobs that people in these remote communities previously did not have. There has never been a quality agenda in these towns and communities in the bush. As Chief Minister, I am no longer prepared to see people have less of an opportunity in our remote towns than they do in towns elsewhere in the Northern Territory. I am united, not only with my colleagues, but with the Commonwealth government of Australia to make a real, significant and lasting difference.
This is not just about the Territory government with our shoulders to the wheel on policy; it is in partnership with the Australian government. This is about a real, focused effort on righting the wrongs, and on doing the right thing by Aboriginal people who live in these remote communities across the Northern Territory. There is significant funding, Territory and Australian government funding, behind this push.
The Northern Territory’s Closing the Gap, the SIHIP contributions for Indigenous housing, the National Partnership Agreements on the emergency response, Indigenous health, low socioeconomic status schools, Indigenous early childhood development, and the Nation Building and Jobs Plan on remote schools, and the service delivery national partnership. We are talking a focused commitment and financial effort of some $1.5bn over the next three to four years.
This effort by the Territory and Commonwealth governments is unprecedented. It will provide quality opportunities for Indigenous people.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Yes, it is a tough call, but it is about strong leadership, it is about having a vision …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This spineless man continues to talk about strong leadership.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! There have been far too many interjections. Member for Fong Lim, the kind of language you just used is inappropriate. I ask you to withdraw, please.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much, member for Fong Lim. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, A Working Future is about real towns, real jobs, and real opportunities. It is backed by $1.5bn of Commonwealth and Territory government finance …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … with a plan to provide real opportunities for Indigenous people. I am proud of that plan. I will continue to work with all members on this side of the House, and the two Independents, as we progress the implementation of this plan for the benefit of Indigenous Territorians in remote communities.
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, A Working Future will mean real towns, real jobs, and real opportunities for Indigenous people. This is the most fundamental reform of Indigenous policy in the Northern Territory going back to self-government and before that.
As I have said, I am sad to see my friend move to the cross benches, but I stick to the facts of what I said: there is not daylight between us and we will continue to work with the member for Arafura on the concerns that she has on behalf of her constituents.
A Working Future is about real towns, real jobs, and real opportunities. It is about providing quality; quality of services and quality of opportunities in terms of jobs that people in these remote communities previously did not have. There has never been a quality agenda in these towns and communities in the bush. As Chief Minister, I am no longer prepared to see people have less of an opportunity in our remote towns than they do in towns elsewhere in the Northern Territory. I am united, not only with my colleagues, but with the Commonwealth government of Australia to make a real, significant and lasting difference.
This is not just about the Territory government with our shoulders to the wheel on policy; it is in partnership with the Australian government. This is about a real, focused effort on righting the wrongs, and on doing the right thing by Aboriginal people who live in these remote communities across the Northern Territory. There is significant funding, Territory and Australian government funding, behind this push.
The Northern Territory’s Closing the Gap, the SIHIP contributions for Indigenous housing, the National Partnership Agreements on the emergency response, Indigenous health, low socioeconomic status schools, Indigenous early childhood development, and the Nation Building and Jobs Plan on remote schools, and the service delivery national partnership. We are talking a focused commitment and financial effort of some $1.5bn over the next three to four years.
This effort by the Territory and Commonwealth governments is unprecedented. It will provide quality opportunities for Indigenous people.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Braitling, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Yes, it is a tough call, but it is about strong leadership, it is about having a vision …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This spineless man continues to talk about strong leadership.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! There have been far too many interjections. Member for Fong Lim, the kind of language you just used is inappropriate. I ask you to withdraw, please.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much, member for Fong Lim. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, A Working Future is about real towns, real jobs, and real opportunities. It is backed by $1.5bn of Commonwealth and Territory government finance …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr HENDERSON: … with a plan to provide real opportunities for Indigenous people. I am proud of that plan. I will continue to work with all members on this side of the House, and the two Independents, as we progress the implementation of this plan for the benefit of Indigenous Territorians in remote communities.
Members: Hear, hear!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016