Dr BURNS - 2002-06-18
The economic development strategy, Building a Better Territory, was launched by the Chief Minister last week. Would the Chief Minister please explain the major features of this strategy and what the next steps are?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for this very important question. It was with much delight, joined by my colleagues, that I launched Building a Better Territory, the economic development strategy for this government, at the Baker Hughes Inteq mud plant at East Arm last week. Building a Better Territory sets out this government’s vision for our economic development. It explains how we will deliver on those strategies in a very practical way; it is a very practical plan. I hope that we are able to ensure that all members of the opposition have a copy of the strategy. It is full of time lines - and that is a really critical component of this strategy - and accountability. This strategy is in stark contrast with previous strategies.
It was developed after extensive consultation, both within the public and private sector right around the Territory. We were delighted at the response we had. The strategy was one of the recommendations from the Economic Development Summit we held last November. I would like to put on record my thanks to all those who took part in the summit for their recommendations and participation in developing this economic development strategy. Thanks also to the community participants who gave their valuable time and were part of the focus groups, again, on the development strategy; and to our hardworking public servants who also had a very constructive and effective input into this document.
What this strategy sets out are clear delivery timetables - very important. You can promise the world, but unless there are timetables to deliver, there is no point. Those timetables are in this document. There is accountability and extensive consultation. Even though this is a document of my government, it is also one that is owned in partnership with the community, because that is where the input, inspiration and vision has in part come from. We are very proud of it. It is a document that truly reflects the Territory and is one that is owned by many sectors of our community; and we are very proud of it.
The strategy is based on five key undertakings: that we will build on past successes - and that is very important, that we will build on those past successes, and create new industries. An example of that, of course, is the railway. Again, I pay tribute to the former government …
Mr Burke: You said the place was a basket case under us. Now you are building on past successes.
Mr Baldwin: The faded dream, you called it. A faded dream.
Ms MARTIN: It is good to see that the opposition wants to contribute to this.
Mr Burke: Twenty seven years, it is a basket case, but you are going to fix it. You start by sacking all the CEOs.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is really good that we have the opposition wanting to contribute to this debate. We will have a debate later in the day. Hopefully, in the next session of parliament we will be able to fully analyse and coordinate the strategies in this document.
Mr Burke: It will be a short one based on your statement. Oh, a glossy.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition. Could the Chief Minister get back to the question and the answer.
Ms MARTIN: I was, Madam Speaker. There were interjections from the other side.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, just ignore them.
Ms MARTIN: We build on past successes and create new industries. Of course, developing the railway is part of that, so we will be the import/export gateway to Asia for Australia. There is the Timor Sea and getting gas onshore - building on past successes but also creating new industries. Another element, picking at random from the document, is developing a strategic tourism plan. Again, a critical industry for the Territory, but working strategically to build for our future.
The second element is improving economic outcomes for indigenous Territorians. A bottom line for this government is: this Territory will not move ahead unless we are all moving ahead together. Critically important to that is job creation; enterprise development in our remoter areas, especially related to indigenous Territorians; and implementing the Collins review. A critical component of that is to look at a jobs future: literacy and numeracy for jobs, training, and enterprise development. They will not be achieved unless those educational components are in place.
We will work with the stakeholders to resolve the native title issues. All we heard from the previous government was: ‘They are an impediment, we will never get further’. They held up how many exploration applications? Over 900! This is not the style of this government. In terms of improving outcomes for indigenous Territorians, promoting the economic potential of indigenous art, music and cultural knowledge for indigenous Territorians for jobs, for training opportunities …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: The third component of this economic development strategy is to encourage skill and innovation. We will be creating …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is a very lengthy answer from the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister has given notice to the House today that she, in fact, is going to deliver a statement on this very issue. I would suggest that either this is repetitive or, in advance, that the statement is going to be repetitive.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, Chief Minister, this is a very long answer. You know we do like our answers to be short and to the point. It is true you are going to deliver a statement later, so I suggest that you get on with the answer to the question fairly quickly.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it would be made easier if we did not have such loud and objectionable …
Madam SPEAKER: I realise you have had interjections also, but we have talked in the past about policy questions that then seem to become statements. What people listening to this broadcast would like to hear are fairly succinct answers.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, let me just wrap up by saying: this is a very exciting and important document. I am very proud that it is owned by the community right around the Territory. There are five key components that will build on past successes, create new industries, improve economic outcomes for indigenous Territorians, will encourage skill and innovation, will develop the Territory’s regions and create an attractive investment climate. Importantly, these are not just words; it is not just some glossy document. This is about time lines and accountability, and this government will deliver.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to add, Chief Minister, that you can always use the time for papers to actually make a statement on a paper that you would like to table in the House. It would give you more time to actually explain what is in the document. It is something that we have not used a lot this session. Perhaps you and your ministers may think about that – to table papers.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for this very important question. It was with much delight, joined by my colleagues, that I launched Building a Better Territory, the economic development strategy for this government, at the Baker Hughes Inteq mud plant at East Arm last week. Building a Better Territory sets out this government’s vision for our economic development. It explains how we will deliver on those strategies in a very practical way; it is a very practical plan. I hope that we are able to ensure that all members of the opposition have a copy of the strategy. It is full of time lines - and that is a really critical component of this strategy - and accountability. This strategy is in stark contrast with previous strategies.
It was developed after extensive consultation, both within the public and private sector right around the Territory. We were delighted at the response we had. The strategy was one of the recommendations from the Economic Development Summit we held last November. I would like to put on record my thanks to all those who took part in the summit for their recommendations and participation in developing this economic development strategy. Thanks also to the community participants who gave their valuable time and were part of the focus groups, again, on the development strategy; and to our hardworking public servants who also had a very constructive and effective input into this document.
What this strategy sets out are clear delivery timetables - very important. You can promise the world, but unless there are timetables to deliver, there is no point. Those timetables are in this document. There is accountability and extensive consultation. Even though this is a document of my government, it is also one that is owned in partnership with the community, because that is where the input, inspiration and vision has in part come from. We are very proud of it. It is a document that truly reflects the Territory and is one that is owned by many sectors of our community; and we are very proud of it.
The strategy is based on five key undertakings: that we will build on past successes - and that is very important, that we will build on those past successes, and create new industries. An example of that, of course, is the railway. Again, I pay tribute to the former government …
Mr Burke: You said the place was a basket case under us. Now you are building on past successes.
Mr Baldwin: The faded dream, you called it. A faded dream.
Ms MARTIN: It is good to see that the opposition wants to contribute to this.
Mr Burke: Twenty seven years, it is a basket case, but you are going to fix it. You start by sacking all the CEOs.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is really good that we have the opposition wanting to contribute to this debate. We will have a debate later in the day. Hopefully, in the next session of parliament we will be able to fully analyse and coordinate the strategies in this document.
Mr Burke: It will be a short one based on your statement. Oh, a glossy.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition. Could the Chief Minister get back to the question and the answer.
Ms MARTIN: I was, Madam Speaker. There were interjections from the other side.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, just ignore them.
Ms MARTIN: We build on past successes and create new industries. Of course, developing the railway is part of that, so we will be the import/export gateway to Asia for Australia. There is the Timor Sea and getting gas onshore - building on past successes but also creating new industries. Another element, picking at random from the document, is developing a strategic tourism plan. Again, a critical industry for the Territory, but working strategically to build for our future.
The second element is improving economic outcomes for indigenous Territorians. A bottom line for this government is: this Territory will not move ahead unless we are all moving ahead together. Critically important to that is job creation; enterprise development in our remoter areas, especially related to indigenous Territorians; and implementing the Collins review. A critical component of that is to look at a jobs future: literacy and numeracy for jobs, training, and enterprise development. They will not be achieved unless those educational components are in place.
We will work with the stakeholders to resolve the native title issues. All we heard from the previous government was: ‘They are an impediment, we will never get further’. They held up how many exploration applications? Over 900! This is not the style of this government. In terms of improving outcomes for indigenous Territorians, promoting the economic potential of indigenous art, music and cultural knowledge for indigenous Territorians for jobs, for training opportunities …
Mr Burke interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: The third component of this economic development strategy is to encourage skill and innovation. We will be creating …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is a very lengthy answer from the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister has given notice to the House today that she, in fact, is going to deliver a statement on this very issue. I would suggest that either this is repetitive or, in advance, that the statement is going to be repetitive.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, Chief Minister, this is a very long answer. You know we do like our answers to be short and to the point. It is true you are going to deliver a statement later, so I suggest that you get on with the answer to the question fairly quickly.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it would be made easier if we did not have such loud and objectionable …
Madam SPEAKER: I realise you have had interjections also, but we have talked in the past about policy questions that then seem to become statements. What people listening to this broadcast would like to hear are fairly succinct answers.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, let me just wrap up by saying: this is a very exciting and important document. I am very proud that it is owned by the community right around the Territory. There are five key components that will build on past successes, create new industries, improve economic outcomes for indigenous Territorians, will encourage skill and innovation, will develop the Territory’s regions and create an attractive investment climate. Importantly, these are not just words; it is not just some glossy document. This is about time lines and accountability, and this government will deliver.
Madam SPEAKER: I would like to add, Chief Minister, that you can always use the time for papers to actually make a statement on a paper that you would like to table in the House. It would give you more time to actually explain what is in the document. It is something that we have not used a lot this session. Perhaps you and your ministers may think about that – to table papers.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016