Dr BURNS - 2001-11-29
I have noted, from remarks made by the minister, that he places significant importance on the role that sport and recreation will play within the overarching community development focus of his new portfolio responsibilities.
Mr Dunham: First, get a weight loss.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Dr BURNS: Can the minister explain how he thinks sport and recreation contributes to community development and quality of life issues, and how this is reflected by the government’s policies? What benefits are likely to flow to the Northern Territory community through improving access to sport and recreation opportunities?
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is very hard not to bounce off the interjections from the rabble on the other side. I suppose I would have played a lot more sport in the Northern Territory over the years than the member for Drysdale and the member for Greatorex, together. I doubt if they ever graced a football oval, a rugby league oval, a rugby union oval or played darts, eight ball, represented the Territory. No! You have not done any of that and you sit there and you think you are great, and that every person in the Northern Territory who has a slight touch of obesity is a person who should be condemned in the Northern Territory! I will defend their rights. I have no shame for the weight that I carry from time to time. I have actually lost a couple of stone and I am looking really well and I am feeling really well. You can tell by the way they can fire me up by their little interjections that I will continue to enjoy every minute of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Let me say, in response to the ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, before you go on. I want the member for Drysdale to be careful of his remarks across the floor.
Mr DUNHAM: I shall, Madam Speaker.
Mr AH KIT: The importance of sport and recreation and leisure activities should not be underestimated. It makes an essential contribution to physical, mental and social health. Sport and recreation opportunities must be available to all Territorians - opportunities to participate in sport and recreation at all levels, as well as opportunities to pursue excellence at the elite levels. In particular, involvement in sport and recreation provides young people with healthy and positive activities to fill their time, and the achievement of sporting success provides an important role model for young Territorians, and plays an important part in achieving a sense of pride in the Northern Territory.
In this respect, I am very pleased that the Martin government has been able to demonstrate its commitment to sporting and recreation activities by providing the immediate implementation of increasing grants to community government councils to employ sport and recreation officers in remote communities. In this respect, we are going to be contributing more than $1m over the next four years. Indigenous youth in remote communities are particularly vulnerable to problems arising from social dislocation. Many who are left to their own devices end up in trouble with the law, due to the lack of organised activities. Yet, these same people often have prodigious sporting talent that is left undeveloped. Sport and recreation officers can help to address this problem.
This initiative is another indication that we are getting on with the business of government. Certainly, we have to deal with the dreadful mess that the other mob left us, but we are not letting that distract us from implementing the policies we took to the people of the Northern Territory. From what I have observed over the last week or so, since I have had this portfolio, I am even more convinced about the positive benefits that flow to the community from involvement in sport and recreation activities - benefits at both the individual level and benefits for the broader community.
Last Saturday night, I attended the presentation of the Northern Territory Institute of Sport Awards and was thrilled at the array of young talent that was assembled for that evening. Outstanding achievements were recognised with awards presented to: Mark Hickman, the International Team Athlete of the Year; Judith Green, the International Individual Athlete of the Year; Ken Skewes, National Team Athlete of the Year; Nova Peris, National Individual Athlete of the Year; Xavier Clarke for AFL football; Matthew Gregor, basketball; Martin Brown, cricket; Alexandra Ford, hockey; Margot Hudson, judo; Shannon Miller, netball; Brett Smith, rugby league; Shane Crowley, rugby union; Jessica Albertoni, swimming; Nicole Baxter, tennis; and Robert Kennedy, tenpin bowling.
The following day, I was privileged to present the Prime Minister’s Sporting Medals to three individuals who have provided extraordinary service to athletics in the Northern Territory. Bernie Trinne, Brian Webb and Rick Ralph have all given freely of their time for many years as volunteers to athletics, and their service was recognised. These people are not elite-level athletes, they are participating and contributing as volunteers to a sport they love, and helping to involve young people in healthy worthwhile activities.
Of course, last weekend we had two of our finest young footballers, Richard Coles and Xavier Clarke drafted by the AFL clubs, which will give them an opportunity to build a career at the elite level.
Sport and recreation is not a side issue, it is essential to quality-of-life issues, and part of the fabric of our community. Now that we are moving forward with a government based on integrity, transparency and honesty, sport will be treated as more than an easy area for CLP pork-barrelling and largesse. We will be treating it as an integral element of community development, and ensuring that resources are allocated on the basis of developing better access and greater opportunities in sport and recreation to all Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, did you also mention Daryl White, the Alice Springs lad who played in the premiership? I hope you did.
Mr AH KIT: I will talk to you at the Christmas drinks, Madam Speaker.
Mr Dunham: First, get a weight loss.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale!
Dr BURNS: Can the minister explain how he thinks sport and recreation contributes to community development and quality of life issues, and how this is reflected by the government’s policies? What benefits are likely to flow to the Northern Territory community through improving access to sport and recreation opportunities?
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is very hard not to bounce off the interjections from the rabble on the other side. I suppose I would have played a lot more sport in the Northern Territory over the years than the member for Drysdale and the member for Greatorex, together. I doubt if they ever graced a football oval, a rugby league oval, a rugby union oval or played darts, eight ball, represented the Territory. No! You have not done any of that and you sit there and you think you are great, and that every person in the Northern Territory who has a slight touch of obesity is a person who should be condemned in the Northern Territory! I will defend their rights. I have no shame for the weight that I carry from time to time. I have actually lost a couple of stone and I am looking really well and I am feeling really well. You can tell by the way they can fire me up by their little interjections that I will continue to enjoy every minute of it.
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Let me say, in response to the ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, before you go on. I want the member for Drysdale to be careful of his remarks across the floor.
Mr DUNHAM: I shall, Madam Speaker.
Mr AH KIT: The importance of sport and recreation and leisure activities should not be underestimated. It makes an essential contribution to physical, mental and social health. Sport and recreation opportunities must be available to all Territorians - opportunities to participate in sport and recreation at all levels, as well as opportunities to pursue excellence at the elite levels. In particular, involvement in sport and recreation provides young people with healthy and positive activities to fill their time, and the achievement of sporting success provides an important role model for young Territorians, and plays an important part in achieving a sense of pride in the Northern Territory.
In this respect, I am very pleased that the Martin government has been able to demonstrate its commitment to sporting and recreation activities by providing the immediate implementation of increasing grants to community government councils to employ sport and recreation officers in remote communities. In this respect, we are going to be contributing more than $1m over the next four years. Indigenous youth in remote communities are particularly vulnerable to problems arising from social dislocation. Many who are left to their own devices end up in trouble with the law, due to the lack of organised activities. Yet, these same people often have prodigious sporting talent that is left undeveloped. Sport and recreation officers can help to address this problem.
This initiative is another indication that we are getting on with the business of government. Certainly, we have to deal with the dreadful mess that the other mob left us, but we are not letting that distract us from implementing the policies we took to the people of the Northern Territory. From what I have observed over the last week or so, since I have had this portfolio, I am even more convinced about the positive benefits that flow to the community from involvement in sport and recreation activities - benefits at both the individual level and benefits for the broader community.
Last Saturday night, I attended the presentation of the Northern Territory Institute of Sport Awards and was thrilled at the array of young talent that was assembled for that evening. Outstanding achievements were recognised with awards presented to: Mark Hickman, the International Team Athlete of the Year; Judith Green, the International Individual Athlete of the Year; Ken Skewes, National Team Athlete of the Year; Nova Peris, National Individual Athlete of the Year; Xavier Clarke for AFL football; Matthew Gregor, basketball; Martin Brown, cricket; Alexandra Ford, hockey; Margot Hudson, judo; Shannon Miller, netball; Brett Smith, rugby league; Shane Crowley, rugby union; Jessica Albertoni, swimming; Nicole Baxter, tennis; and Robert Kennedy, tenpin bowling.
The following day, I was privileged to present the Prime Minister’s Sporting Medals to three individuals who have provided extraordinary service to athletics in the Northern Territory. Bernie Trinne, Brian Webb and Rick Ralph have all given freely of their time for many years as volunteers to athletics, and their service was recognised. These people are not elite-level athletes, they are participating and contributing as volunteers to a sport they love, and helping to involve young people in healthy worthwhile activities.
Of course, last weekend we had two of our finest young footballers, Richard Coles and Xavier Clarke drafted by the AFL clubs, which will give them an opportunity to build a career at the elite level.
Sport and recreation is not a side issue, it is essential to quality-of-life issues, and part of the fabric of our community. Now that we are moving forward with a government based on integrity, transparency and honesty, sport will be treated as more than an easy area for CLP pork-barrelling and largesse. We will be treating it as an integral element of community development, and ensuring that resources are allocated on the basis of developing better access and greater opportunities in sport and recreation to all Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, did you also mention Daryl White, the Alice Springs lad who played in the premiership? I hope you did.
Mr AH KIT: I will talk to you at the Christmas drinks, Madam Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016