Mr ELFERINK - 2012-02-23
The day before yesterday in this House, the Leader of Government Business was forced to admit that your Waterfront Corporation did not comply with the law in relation to its responsibility to report in accordance with the Darwin Waterfront Corporation Act. Last week, I pointed out that the Public Trustee had not tabled its annual report in accordance with law. These failures have occurred repeatedly in the past couple of years under your Chief Ministership. Why do the laws with regard to public reporting mean so little to your government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very strange line of questioning, for a local member to really kick his own constituents. His own constituents live at the waterfront. Regarding the corporation and their responsibilities under the act, the minister gave answers to all of those questions in debate the day before yesterday. If the member is interested in the corporation, how it is operating, some of the issues they are dealing with at the moment regarding reports and rates, and we have legislation before this House to further clarify some of those issues, I suggest he gets a briefing so he is better aware ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister must know I have already organised that briefing. It was unavailable until after sittings ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order. Resume your seat!
Mr Elferink: Well, he is telling me to do something I have already done.
Mr HENDERSON: So, he has admitted he has not had the briefing yet. I am sure once he has had the briefing, he will be fully aware of all these issues regarding the magnificent facility we have at the waterfront which has really added to this city, added to this community. A magnificent facility the opposition wants to have its campaign launch at – it might be six months out from the election. I hope they invite the member for Fong Lim, because this is the second time ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question related to the quality of reporting from government, including the Public Trustee, as well as compliance with the Darwin Waterfront Corporation Act. Would he answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: The issue relates to the waterfront, and the issue I am speaking about relates to the fact that it is a magnificent waterfront where the CLP’s election campaign will be launched, minus any policies ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What about the Public Trustee? What about their annual report?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Could you come to the question, please, Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: This is the second time the member for Fong Lim has not been invited. The famous e-mail that went from the Leader of the Opposition to every single person in the parliamentary wing apart from the member for Fong Lim was the e-mail that sparked the member for Fong Lim firing back that ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: the answer shall be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. Could he answer the question?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is a very strange line of questioning, for a local member to really kick his own constituents. His own constituents live at the waterfront. Regarding the corporation and their responsibilities under the act, the minister gave answers to all of those questions in debate the day before yesterday. If the member is interested in the corporation, how it is operating, some of the issues they are dealing with at the moment regarding reports and rates, and we have legislation before this House to further clarify some of those issues, I suggest he gets a briefing so he is better aware ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister must know I have already organised that briefing. It was unavailable until after sittings ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point of order. Resume your seat!
Mr Elferink: Well, he is telling me to do something I have already done.
Mr HENDERSON: So, he has admitted he has not had the briefing yet. I am sure once he has had the briefing, he will be fully aware of all these issues regarding the magnificent facility we have at the waterfront which has really added to this city, added to this community. A magnificent facility the opposition wants to have its campaign launch at – it might be six months out from the election. I hope they invite the member for Fong Lim, because this is the second time ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question related to the quality of reporting from government, including the Public Trustee, as well as compliance with the Darwin Waterfront Corporation Act. Would he answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: The issue relates to the waterfront, and the issue I am speaking about relates to the fact that it is a magnificent waterfront where the CLP’s election campaign will be launched, minus any policies ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! What about the Public Trustee? What about their annual report?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, resume your seat. Could you come to the question, please, Chief Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: This is the second time the member for Fong Lim has not been invited. The famous e-mail that went from the Leader of the Opposition to every single person in the parliamentary wing apart from the member for Fong Lim was the e-mail that sparked the member for Fong Lim firing back that ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: the answer shall be succinct, concise and directly relevant to the question. Could he answer the question?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016