Ms WALKER - 2009-05-06
Can you please update the House on the commitment to Territory school infrastructure in the 2009-10 Budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This is a budget that sees record education infrastructure spending of $118m in 2009, obviously delivering better facilities for our students and teachers but also, importantly, creating jobs across the Northern Territory construction sector.
Budget 2009-10 will see $54m for Rosebery Primary and Middle Schools, with completion in time for the 2011 year; $3.2m to upgrade Ross Park Primary School in Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Drysdale, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Obviously, you do not want to hear about upgrades to schools in the Territory: $3m to upgrade Dripstone Middle School; $3m for a new multipurpose sports facility at Tennant Creek High School; $2m to upgrade homeland learning centres across the Territory; $1.25m each for schools at Angurugu, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu and Numbulwar; $400 000 for additional office space for student counsellors at Gunbalanya and Nhulunbuy; and $300 000 to Millner Primary School , Canteen Creek, Elliott, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Numbulwar, Angurugu, Ntaria, Alyangula and Umbakumba.
On top of this funding is the new Australian government’s nation building economic stimulus package - $14.7bn over three years. We receive close to $200m in infrastructure through this stimulus package.
The National School Pride program Round 1 funding has been announced. There were 98 applications from Northern Territory government schools approved, with a value of $10.45m into the Territory. That money is rolling out to our schools across the Territory, right now. Thirty-one applications from non-government schools have been approved - and that is great to see for our non-government schools - to a value of $3.15m.
Let us remember that the CLP actually voted against this package. They voted against the stimulus package in the Senate. Nigel Scullion voted against it. Let us look at what the CLP voted against in their refusal to support the Australian government’s stimulus package.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Chief Minister, continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, it is important that people listening to this broadcast know what the CLP opposition voted against. The next round of funding that is coming through is going to be significant. The member for Brennan was previously the school council chair at Bakewell and we will be letting them know that he voted against the $200 000.
St Joseph’s in Katherine is getting $150 000 for office renovation, shade structure, and computer cabling upgrades. We will be letting St Joseph’s in Katherine know. Durack is getting $150 000 and Driver is getting $200 000. Member for Drysdale, we will let those school councils know that you did not support that.
Bees Creek is getting $150 000 for their administration block, and Litchfield Christian School is getting $75 000, so member for Goyder, we will be letting people know that as well ...
Mr Mills: You are a grub!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the member for Blain withdraw that statement.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker …
Members: He is a grub.
Madam SPEAKER: I ask that you withdraw your comments, please.
Mr ELFERINK: … the word ‘grub’ has been used by members opposite on repeated occasions without any attempt to have the word withdrawn. To ask this member to withdraw the same use of the same word would be a severe departure from the consistent rulings from this Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: In my recollection it has been ruled out of order many times. Leader of the Opposition, I would like you to withdraw, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Chief Minister, you may continue.
Mr HENDERSON: I have nearly finished, Madam Speaker. I do think it is important that when you actually vote against an expenditure bill in the Senate, and you support that opposition here in the Northern Territory …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The structure of the Chief Minister’s argument is that I, and members on this side of the House, voted against something in the Senate. There is not a single member on this side of the House who has ever been in the Senate.
Ms Lawrie: You were not listening. You supported Nigel - CLP position.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, if you feel that you have been misrepresented in this Chamber, you may approach me to make a personal explanation after Question Time.
Mr Elferink: Thank you, Madam Speaker, but I have never been, nor am I, a Senator in this country.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you have not been acknowledged. Resume your seat.
Mr Elferink: That is an absurd allegation to make.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you are on a warning.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They can run, but they cannot hide on this particular issue. They are all members of the same party; they all take their cue from their leader.
I understand that the Australian government is going to be making further announcements this week for Round 1 of the National School Pride program. This is a program where every primary school in the Northern Territory will get up to …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The length of this answer is now approaching 10 minutes. If the government wants to make a ministerial statement they are welcome to, but this is becoming patently absurd.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. Chief Minister, could you please come to the point fairly soon.
Mr HENDERSON: I am nearly finished, Madam Speaker. This is very important. It is important information because every primary school will get an upgrade - up to $3m depending on their size - for major infrastructure. This is a massive investment in our schools. It complements the $286m that we are committing to school infrastructure – nearly $0.5bn going into new school infrastructure over the next three years.
It is massive; it is significant. It goes to protecting Territory jobs. It goes to improving facilities for our kids and teachers, and leading to better delivery of education in the Northern Territory.
These people opposite spoke against the stimulus package. The member for the CLP in the Senate voted against it. We will be letting every school know that they did not support this funding …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe it is highly improper that the government use school councils for political purposes.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, there is no point of order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. This is a budget that sees record education infrastructure spending of $118m in 2009, obviously delivering better facilities for our students and teachers but also, importantly, creating jobs across the Northern Territory construction sector.
Budget 2009-10 will see $54m for Rosebery Primary and Middle Schools, with completion in time for the 2011 year; $3.2m to upgrade Ross Park Primary School in Alice Springs …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Member for Drysdale, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Obviously, you do not want to hear about upgrades to schools in the Territory: $3m to upgrade Dripstone Middle School; $3m for a new multipurpose sports facility at Tennant Creek High School; $2m to upgrade homeland learning centres across the Territory; $1.25m each for schools at Angurugu, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu and Numbulwar; $400 000 for additional office space for student counsellors at Gunbalanya and Nhulunbuy; and $300 000 to Millner Primary School , Canteen Creek, Elliott, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Numbulwar, Angurugu, Ntaria, Alyangula and Umbakumba.
On top of this funding is the new Australian government’s nation building economic stimulus package - $14.7bn over three years. We receive close to $200m in infrastructure through this stimulus package.
The National School Pride program Round 1 funding has been announced. There were 98 applications from Northern Territory government schools approved, with a value of $10.45m into the Territory. That money is rolling out to our schools across the Territory, right now. Thirty-one applications from non-government schools have been approved - and that is great to see for our non-government schools - to a value of $3.15m.
Let us remember that the CLP actually voted against this package. They voted against the stimulus package in the Senate. Nigel Scullion voted against it. Let us look at what the CLP voted against in their refusal to support the Australian government’s stimulus package.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Chief Minister, continue.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, it is important that people listening to this broadcast know what the CLP opposition voted against. The next round of funding that is coming through is going to be significant. The member for Brennan was previously the school council chair at Bakewell and we will be letting them know that he voted against the $200 000.
St Joseph’s in Katherine is getting $150 000 for office renovation, shade structure, and computer cabling upgrades. We will be letting St Joseph’s in Katherine know. Durack is getting $150 000 and Driver is getting $200 000. Member for Drysdale, we will let those school councils know that you did not support that.
Bees Creek is getting $150 000 for their administration block, and Litchfield Christian School is getting $75 000, so member for Goyder, we will be letting people know that as well ...
Mr Mills: You are a grub!
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask that the member for Blain withdraw that statement.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker …
Members: He is a grub.
Madam SPEAKER: I ask that you withdraw your comments, please.
Mr ELFERINK: … the word ‘grub’ has been used by members opposite on repeated occasions without any attempt to have the word withdrawn. To ask this member to withdraw the same use of the same word would be a severe departure from the consistent rulings from this Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: In my recollection it has been ruled out of order many times. Leader of the Opposition, I would like you to withdraw, please.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you very much. Chief Minister, you may continue.
Mr HENDERSON: I have nearly finished, Madam Speaker. I do think it is important that when you actually vote against an expenditure bill in the Senate, and you support that opposition here in the Northern Territory …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The structure of the Chief Minister’s argument is that I, and members on this side of the House, voted against something in the Senate. There is not a single member on this side of the House who has ever been in the Senate.
Ms Lawrie: You were not listening. You supported Nigel - CLP position.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, if you feel that you have been misrepresented in this Chamber, you may approach me to make a personal explanation after Question Time.
Mr Elferink: Thank you, Madam Speaker, but I have never been, nor am I, a Senator in this country.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you have not been acknowledged. Resume your seat.
Mr Elferink: That is an absurd allegation to make.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, you are on a warning.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. They can run, but they cannot hide on this particular issue. They are all members of the same party; they all take their cue from their leader.
I understand that the Australian government is going to be making further announcements this week for Round 1 of the National School Pride program. This is a program where every primary school in the Northern Territory will get up to …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The length of this answer is now approaching 10 minutes. If the government wants to make a ministerial statement they are welcome to, but this is becoming patently absurd.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order. Chief Minister, could you please come to the point fairly soon.
Mr HENDERSON: I am nearly finished, Madam Speaker. This is very important. It is important information because every primary school will get an upgrade - up to $3m depending on their size - for major infrastructure. This is a massive investment in our schools. It complements the $286m that we are committing to school infrastructure – nearly $0.5bn going into new school infrastructure over the next three years.
It is massive; it is significant. It goes to protecting Territory jobs. It goes to improving facilities for our kids and teachers, and leading to better delivery of education in the Northern Territory.
These people opposite spoke against the stimulus package. The member for the CLP in the Senate voted against it. We will be letting every school know that they did not support this funding …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe it is highly improper that the government use school councils for political purposes.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, there is no point of order.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016