Ms McCARTHY - 2007-10-10
Territorians have expressed strong concerns about the unworkability of certain aspects of the Commonwealth intervention in the Northern Territory. Can the minister advise the House of any representations he has made to the federal government on this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I preface my reply by saying our position has always been clear in relation to the federal intervention and specifically on alcohol issues: we will support those elements of the federal intervention which will effectively address and reduce the problems around excessive alcohol consumption and its link with child abuse. We have been very strong about that.
We are on the record and we also have a duty to stand up for Territorians when elements of the federal intervention, and elements of the alcohol laws that they have introduced, are not right, when they are not effective, when they are just plain stupid and laughable. That is what we have done.
As most people would be aware, we took out full page advertisements on this expressing our discontent on behalf of Territorians to the federal government. This follows on from a number of items of correspondence that I have had with minister Brough over the past four to six months on this issue. This correspondence has always emphasised our cooperation, our willingness to work with the federal government, but also reserving the right to advocate for Territorians for better policy outcomes to get to what we all want: a reduction of child sexual abuse in the Territory and addressing alcohol abuse.
It came as no surprise that the federal government, through Mal Brough in a media release this week, criticised the Northern Territory government. Specifically talking about the ad that was taken out, he said:
Madam Speaker, the issues that I have raised with minister Brough are in a letter I wrote on 5 October 2007 that he has already released publicly. I will table this letter for the benefit of members. To quote from my letter to him:
I went on to relate some concerns in my letter to minister Brough about the lack of privacy protections. A number of people have approached me very concerned about the lack of privacy about having their name, their address and their licence number recorded in liquor takeaways for all to see. There are security and identity theft issues. The privacy issues have been thought through with this $100 takeaway register. It does little to prevent grog running and protect children from abuse, which is what I said in the letter. I said it is also unpopular with licensees, it is an unjustifiable burden on liquor outlet staff and it does not achieve the policy intent.
I also approached minister Brough about unresolved problems relating to amateur and commercial fishing, and issues related to tourism and alcohol and the quarter of a million independent tourists who visit the Territory every year.
I am pleased to say that minister Brough did exempt some areas including Nitmiluk and Kakadu - not all of them, but it is a step forward. There remain outstanding issues. As a government, we cannot be taking responsibility for all elements of this federal intervention when they are not right. That is why we have refused to take on the communication aspect of this legislation.
The federal government thinks nothing of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to promote themselves in the shadow of an election with all their achievements to try to bat away WorkChoices and yet they want to put this on the Territory government. We are not going to have it. Minister Brough used the word ‘gutless’. We are not gutless; we are standing up for Territorians. I ask those opposite: where are you? Where is your courage? Where is the courage of Tollner and Scullion? They are not to be seen, Madam Speaker. It is shameful. As the government, we will continue to stick up for Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I preface my reply by saying our position has always been clear in relation to the federal intervention and specifically on alcohol issues: we will support those elements of the federal intervention which will effectively address and reduce the problems around excessive alcohol consumption and its link with child abuse. We have been very strong about that.
We are on the record and we also have a duty to stand up for Territorians when elements of the federal intervention, and elements of the alcohol laws that they have introduced, are not right, when they are not effective, when they are just plain stupid and laughable. That is what we have done.
As most people would be aware, we took out full page advertisements on this expressing our discontent on behalf of Territorians to the federal government. This follows on from a number of items of correspondence that I have had with minister Brough over the past four to six months on this issue. This correspondence has always emphasised our cooperation, our willingness to work with the federal government, but also reserving the right to advocate for Territorians for better policy outcomes to get to what we all want: a reduction of child sexual abuse in the Territory and addressing alcohol abuse.
It came as no surprise that the federal government, through Mal Brough in a media release this week, criticised the Northern Territory government. Specifically talking about the ad that was taken out, he said:
It is a gutless and politically expedient response from a Labor government. It would rather compromise on measures designed to tackle abuse than take or support the tough decisions needed to seriously address these issues.
Madam Speaker, the issues that I have raised with minister Brough are in a letter I wrote on 5 October 2007 that he has already released publicly. I will table this letter for the benefit of members. To quote from my letter to him:
- … as you are aware the Northern Territory government has always made it clear that we support all elements of the Australian government initiative which have a real and effective impact in reducing harmful alcohol consumption amongst Aboriginal Territorians and associated social dysfunction, including child abuse.
I went on to relate some concerns in my letter to minister Brough about the lack of privacy protections. A number of people have approached me very concerned about the lack of privacy about having their name, their address and their licence number recorded in liquor takeaways for all to see. There are security and identity theft issues. The privacy issues have been thought through with this $100 takeaway register. It does little to prevent grog running and protect children from abuse, which is what I said in the letter. I said it is also unpopular with licensees, it is an unjustifiable burden on liquor outlet staff and it does not achieve the policy intent.
I also approached minister Brough about unresolved problems relating to amateur and commercial fishing, and issues related to tourism and alcohol and the quarter of a million independent tourists who visit the Territory every year.
I am pleased to say that minister Brough did exempt some areas including Nitmiluk and Kakadu - not all of them, but it is a step forward. There remain outstanding issues. As a government, we cannot be taking responsibility for all elements of this federal intervention when they are not right. That is why we have refused to take on the communication aspect of this legislation.
The federal government thinks nothing of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to promote themselves in the shadow of an election with all their achievements to try to bat away WorkChoices and yet they want to put this on the Territory government. We are not going to have it. Minister Brough used the word ‘gutless’. We are not gutless; we are standing up for Territorians. I ask those opposite: where are you? Where is your courage? Where is the courage of Tollner and Scullion? They are not to be seen, Madam Speaker. It is shameful. As the government, we will continue to stick up for Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016