Mr BURKE - 2005-02-15
So that I, and Territorians, clearly understand what you are saying, are you seriously suggesting that you will achieve financial close on the waterfront without the Defence issues being settled, and without Territorians knowing what the possible cost of those Defence issues are? Secondly, are you seriously suggesting you are happy to keep cruise ships at that terminal, but are also happy to have Navy ships move to the East Arm Port, and have you done any analysis of the impact of port visits on the CBD, and the revenue that those port visits give to the Northern Territory if they no longer come to Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe the Opposition Leader is misunderstanding what I said. We want to have the cruise ships at the waterfront, and that is why part of the waterfront redevelopment is a new cruise ship terminal …
Mr Dunham: It is not. You took it out. You have taken it out.
Ms MARTIN: Despite the member for Drysdale’s intricate knowledge of the waterfront project, I can assure you that part of what the financial closure is achieving is about …
Mr Dunham: Within the footprint of the waterfront development?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale! Cease.
Ms MARTIN: … building a cruise ship terminal, and I will send you the documentation.
We will be building a new cruise ship terminal. We want cruise ships, such as the Black Watch which is in today, bringing 1000 people to visit Darwin - 600 of those are tourists.
Mr Burke: What about Navy ships.
Ms MARTIN: We want Navy ships to continue coming to Fort Hill Wharf and to the Iron Ore Wharf - no doubt about it.
The issue of refuelling is a separate one. It is not the issue of refuelling; it is actually the issue of unloading fuel. That is the critical issue here, and I believe the Opposition Leader does understand that.
The first stage of the waterfront does not impact on that area. The first stage– over which we are seeking to move forward - is one we hope to achieve financial close within this quarter, and we will sort through these issues. Again, what you have is the opposition trying to pull down a project by saying, ‘You cannot work it out.
Mr Burke: You signed up for a 15 year project, and you do not even know what the Defence problems are.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we have identified each and every issue for Defence. We have the Defence minister saying publicly that we can sort these through, and it is all being dealt with. The only people who see it as insurmountable are the opposition, and that is from a base of ignorance, which is really sad.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I believe the Opposition Leader is misunderstanding what I said. We want to have the cruise ships at the waterfront, and that is why part of the waterfront redevelopment is a new cruise ship terminal …
Mr Dunham: It is not. You took it out. You have taken it out.
Ms MARTIN: Despite the member for Drysdale’s intricate knowledge of the waterfront project, I can assure you that part of what the financial closure is achieving is about …
Mr Dunham: Within the footprint of the waterfront development?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale! Cease.
Ms MARTIN: … building a cruise ship terminal, and I will send you the documentation.
We will be building a new cruise ship terminal. We want cruise ships, such as the Black Watch which is in today, bringing 1000 people to visit Darwin - 600 of those are tourists.
Mr Burke: What about Navy ships.
Ms MARTIN: We want Navy ships to continue coming to Fort Hill Wharf and to the Iron Ore Wharf - no doubt about it.
The issue of refuelling is a separate one. It is not the issue of refuelling; it is actually the issue of unloading fuel. That is the critical issue here, and I believe the Opposition Leader does understand that.
The first stage of the waterfront does not impact on that area. The first stage– over which we are seeking to move forward - is one we hope to achieve financial close within this quarter, and we will sort through these issues. Again, what you have is the opposition trying to pull down a project by saying, ‘You cannot work it out.
Mr Burke: You signed up for a 15 year project, and you do not even know what the Defence problems are.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, we have identified each and every issue for Defence. We have the Defence minister saying publicly that we can sort these through, and it is all being dealt with. The only people who see it as insurmountable are the opposition, and that is from a base of ignorance, which is really sad.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016