Ms WALKER - 2008-09-16
Can the minister please provide an update on our work to transition Indigenous Territorians from CDEP positions to full-time employment in local government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Further to my last answer, the key objective of the local government reform has been getting better services out bush, and also creating jobs. It has been a commitment of the Henderson government through Closing the Gap of Indigenous Disadvantage to actually create real jobs in local government.
In January this year, the Northern Territory government signed a 2 year agreement with the Australian government. That agreement provided $25m for assisting to create real jobs with a dollar-for-dollar matching arrangement with the Northern Territory government, and this would go into operational funding for these new shires. Already, 408 real jobs have been created in those local government shires, so it is a great result ...
Mr Giles: How many of them are vacant?
Mr KNIGHT: Member for Braitling, you have form here, mate, and you had better keep your mouth shut! You have form all right, so just stay quiet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please direct your comments through the Chair, thank you.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. In 2008-09, the shires have pumped $9.1m into matching funding into this program. We will see the full $20m, hopefully, in this financial year.
This really is creating real jobs. These jobs are in administration; financial management; civil works; environmental health; waste management; parks and gardens; libraries; and sport and recreation. This has a huge impact on local communities where employees are getting real money and that money is going back into those families. There are career paths being established …
Mr Giles: But the jobs are not being filled; people are leaving jobs.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr KNIGHT: There are career paths being established, so that people from the bush can transition right through to the Darwin City Council if they so choose. This is a really good outcome. I hope to report further on local government outcomes as they come about through this reform.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Further to my last answer, the key objective of the local government reform has been getting better services out bush, and also creating jobs. It has been a commitment of the Henderson government through Closing the Gap of Indigenous Disadvantage to actually create real jobs in local government.
In January this year, the Northern Territory government signed a 2 year agreement with the Australian government. That agreement provided $25m for assisting to create real jobs with a dollar-for-dollar matching arrangement with the Northern Territory government, and this would go into operational funding for these new shires. Already, 408 real jobs have been created in those local government shires, so it is a great result ...
Mr Giles: How many of them are vacant?
Mr KNIGHT: Member for Braitling, you have form here, mate, and you had better keep your mouth shut! You have form all right, so just stay quiet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please direct your comments through the Chair, thank you.
Mr KNIGHT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. In 2008-09, the shires have pumped $9.1m into matching funding into this program. We will see the full $20m, hopefully, in this financial year.
This really is creating real jobs. These jobs are in administration; financial management; civil works; environmental health; waste management; parks and gardens; libraries; and sport and recreation. This has a huge impact on local communities where employees are getting real money and that money is going back into those families. There are career paths being established …
Mr Giles: But the jobs are not being filled; people are leaving jobs.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting!
Mr KNIGHT: There are career paths being established, so that people from the bush can transition right through to the Darwin City Council if they so choose. This is a really good outcome. I hope to report further on local government outcomes as they come about through this reform.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016