Mr MILLS - 2007-08-22
What mutual obligations and requirements have you established with indigenous organisations, such as the land councils and their associated companies such as Centrecorp, an organisation now worth $100m, to ensure that they contribute meaningfully to the development of indigenous communities, including sustainable jobs into the future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. It is an important issue. I do not have any mutual obligation relationships in place with the land councils across the Territory, but talk regularly to the land councils and certainly would not pretend that at all times there was a comfortable and necessarily positive relationship between this government and the land councils. Robust is probably a better word to use.
In terms of the investment we need to see in infrastructure across the Territory. I believe that there is a very important role for the investment arms that have been established by the land councils for the trusts. It is something that I am going to start discussions about. I have before, but in light of - you are extraordinary, you sit there shaking your head like some kind of slightly demented Methuselah.
Mr Mills interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I am agreeing with you. Do not sit there going ‘no, no, no’. I am actually agreeing with the member for Blain. I do not understand this. You asked a question. In my answer I agree with you, and you sit there shaking your head. Is there some problem?
I am saying that this is an important issue. When we look at the investment needed in infrastructure across the Territory, particularly in housing where the backlog is about 4000 houses right now, and I would like to see a change in approach. It is something I have spoken about and will continue to speak about.
As you understand, Madam Speaker, I cannot direct. We have federal ministers who can direct, and it is interesting that maybe this is something that the opposition has raised with their federal colleagues in Canberra. I suspect not. It is only a question for this moment …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: This is an important issue. I would like to have very constructive discussions with land councils and trusts about investment into infrastructure in communities right across the Territory. You have raised a good point. It is not only about the dollars that either the federal government, which is responsible for the backlog of housing, nor the additional funds that the Territory government is putting in, but we should also look at the non-government sector in the Aboriginal communities. I have said this publicly many times, that for businesses that are going well I would like to see some of those larger Aboriginal-controlled businesses take out loans and invest in housing on communities which can then be rented.
There is nothing new in this. It is an important issue. If we are going to see the levels of disadvantage, the difference that we are calling Closing the Gap between outcomes for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Territorians, close, then that is going to be a key component. It is a very valid point, member for Blain; one that I have spoken about in the past and will continue to speak about in the future.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. It is an important issue. I do not have any mutual obligation relationships in place with the land councils across the Territory, but talk regularly to the land councils and certainly would not pretend that at all times there was a comfortable and necessarily positive relationship between this government and the land councils. Robust is probably a better word to use.
In terms of the investment we need to see in infrastructure across the Territory. I believe that there is a very important role for the investment arms that have been established by the land councils for the trusts. It is something that I am going to start discussions about. I have before, but in light of - you are extraordinary, you sit there shaking your head like some kind of slightly demented Methuselah.
Mr Mills interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I am agreeing with you. Do not sit there going ‘no, no, no’. I am actually agreeing with the member for Blain. I do not understand this. You asked a question. In my answer I agree with you, and you sit there shaking your head. Is there some problem?
I am saying that this is an important issue. When we look at the investment needed in infrastructure across the Territory, particularly in housing where the backlog is about 4000 houses right now, and I would like to see a change in approach. It is something I have spoken about and will continue to speak about.
As you understand, Madam Speaker, I cannot direct. We have federal ministers who can direct, and it is interesting that maybe this is something that the opposition has raised with their federal colleagues in Canberra. I suspect not. It is only a question for this moment …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: This is an important issue. I would like to have very constructive discussions with land councils and trusts about investment into infrastructure in communities right across the Territory. You have raised a good point. It is not only about the dollars that either the federal government, which is responsible for the backlog of housing, nor the additional funds that the Territory government is putting in, but we should also look at the non-government sector in the Aboriginal communities. I have said this publicly many times, that for businesses that are going well I would like to see some of those larger Aboriginal-controlled businesses take out loans and invest in housing on communities which can then be rented.
There is nothing new in this. It is an important issue. If we are going to see the levels of disadvantage, the difference that we are calling Closing the Gap between outcomes for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Territorians, close, then that is going to be a key component. It is a very valid point, member for Blain; one that I have spoken about in the past and will continue to speak about in the future.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016