Mr ELFERINK - 2004-12-02
Your government professes it supports Territory business, yet it has thrown hay farmer, David Gray, off the Gunn Point Prison Farm. A senior member of your staff phoned Mr Gray, threatened and abused him, telling him because he had spoken to the CLP about his problems with government, there would be no goodwill forthcoming from the Martin government. Why have you defended these bully-boy standover tactics and taken no disciplinary action against your minder who abused and used intimidation to threaten hay farmer, Mr David Gray?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the member for Macdonnell is asking this question and not the shadow. I thought we were lining up, matching one for one. I was starting to feel like …
Members interjecting
Mr Burke: Answer the question!
Dr BURNS: All right, I will answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Cease for a moment, minister. I know you have not started, but let us wait until everyone is quiet.
Dr BURNS: Okay, Madam Speaker. In relation to Mr Gray, he had operated out of that area on an ad hoc basis for a number of years. The basis of the ad hocarrangement between Mr Gray and the government was that he was, basically, the caretaker of buildings at the old Gunn Point Prison Farm. It came to a point where the buildings were in such a dilapidated state that a caretaker was no longer needed. That is the long and short of this matter.
In relation to claims made by the member for Macdonnell, Mr Gray has made a number of claims about documents and assurances that he has from this, that and the other. When I have challenged Mr Gray to send me that documentation, he never did. Mr Gray was given a three-month extension, and probably another four-week extension to the arrangement, which, as I say, was a very ad hoc arrangement. Then, subsequently, he approached me and I gave him another three-month arrangement. I am not sure whether I have Mr Gray’s letter here, but he wrote to me when he was after this last three-month extension, saying that he would have all his bits and pieces off the lease area at Gunn Point at the end of that three months. Then he came back and said he wanted it extended again for June.
Mr Gray has had a pretty good deal out of the government. He has been able to run cattle on that whole Gunn Point property. He has been able to farm hay, and has essentially cleared land and has cultivated under that particular …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very specific. What is the minister going to do to discipline his own staff who have threatened Mr Gray?
Dr BURNS: I have set out the lease arrangement with Mr Gray. When these allegations were made, I questioned my staff, and I do not believe the allegations have substance.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting that the member for Macdonnell is asking this question and not the shadow. I thought we were lining up, matching one for one. I was starting to feel like …
Members interjecting
Mr Burke: Answer the question!
Dr BURNS: All right, I will answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Cease for a moment, minister. I know you have not started, but let us wait until everyone is quiet.
Dr BURNS: Okay, Madam Speaker. In relation to Mr Gray, he had operated out of that area on an ad hoc basis for a number of years. The basis of the ad hocarrangement between Mr Gray and the government was that he was, basically, the caretaker of buildings at the old Gunn Point Prison Farm. It came to a point where the buildings were in such a dilapidated state that a caretaker was no longer needed. That is the long and short of this matter.
In relation to claims made by the member for Macdonnell, Mr Gray has made a number of claims about documents and assurances that he has from this, that and the other. When I have challenged Mr Gray to send me that documentation, he never did. Mr Gray was given a three-month extension, and probably another four-week extension to the arrangement, which, as I say, was a very ad hoc arrangement. Then, subsequently, he approached me and I gave him another three-month arrangement. I am not sure whether I have Mr Gray’s letter here, but he wrote to me when he was after this last three-month extension, saying that he would have all his bits and pieces off the lease area at Gunn Point at the end of that three months. Then he came back and said he wanted it extended again for June.
Mr Gray has had a pretty good deal out of the government. He has been able to run cattle on that whole Gunn Point property. He has been able to farm hay, and has essentially cleared land and has cultivated under that particular …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very specific. What is the minister going to do to discipline his own staff who have threatened Mr Gray?
Dr BURNS: I have set out the lease arrangement with Mr Gray. When these allegations were made, I questioned my staff, and I do not believe the allegations have substance.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016