Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE - 2010-10-20
During the 2008 Territory election campaign, you promised that there would be no fishing permits in the Northern Territory. Less than two years later, a $55 fee was introduced to fish the Tiwi Islands. Broken promise number one. Last year, you promised AFANT that you had no plans to introduce boat registration in the Northern Territory. Broken promise number two.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Chief Minister, 25 000 Territorians own boats. Perhaps you would like to explain to those 25 000 boat owners why you broke a core election promise.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I totally deny the assertion from the member from Katherine. What I can say to those 25 000 boat owners in the Northern Territory is that it is CLP policy to require fishing permits.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: You will implement a policy that would require fishing permits.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections, honourable members, and I do not have much voice to be yelling at anyone either.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, that is very clearly the difference between the government and the opposition.
Mr Mills: No, it is not.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Westra van Holthe interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: They have a policy which would absolutely guarantee, as sure as night follows day, that recreational fishermen would require permits. In regard to the Tiwi Islands, I am still open to discussion with the Tiwi Land Council, and I am sure that we will end up with an agreement. It is not helped by the mischief-making of members opposite, who seem to not understand that we have a very good local member for Arafura, who is very well respected and connected. She knows what was going on and who attended land council meetings, and some of the mischief that was created by the CLP to suit their own grubby political ends; and one Peter Murphy, who I believe still has some link with the Tiwi Land Council, stirring the possum as well.
To stand up in here and say that we have broken our promise is absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong. The CLP has their sticky little mitts all over …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … local politics on the Tiwi Islands. I say again, I am determined to negotiate an agreement, in good faith, without the meddling …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the minister’s comments in relation to Mr Murphy, Mr Murphy had legitimate business interests in the area …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order!
Mr ELFERINK: … and may I say, he has no right to drag people through this House who have no voice to respond to him. It is an outrage and he needs to be defended in the face of …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Oh dear, oh dear. Madam Speaker, very clearly, the government is negotiating an agreement in good faith to deliver on the High Court finding without the requirement for permits. The CLP’s policy would ensure permits for recreational fishermen.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Chief Minister, 25 000 Territorians own boats. Perhaps you would like to explain to those 25 000 boat owners why you broke a core election promise.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I totally deny the assertion from the member from Katherine. What I can say to those 25 000 boat owners in the Northern Territory is that it is CLP policy to require fishing permits.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: You will implement a policy that would require fishing permits.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections, honourable members, and I do not have much voice to be yelling at anyone either.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, that is very clearly the difference between the government and the opposition.
Mr Mills: No, it is not.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Westra van Holthe interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Katherine!
Mr HENDERSON: They have a policy which would absolutely guarantee, as sure as night follows day, that recreational fishermen would require permits. In regard to the Tiwi Islands, I am still open to discussion with the Tiwi Land Council, and I am sure that we will end up with an agreement. It is not helped by the mischief-making of members opposite, who seem to not understand that we have a very good local member for Arafura, who is very well respected and connected. She knows what was going on and who attended land council meetings, and some of the mischief that was created by the CLP to suit their own grubby political ends; and one Peter Murphy, who I believe still has some link with the Tiwi Land Council, stirring the possum as well.
To stand up in here and say that we have broken our promise is absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong. The CLP has their sticky little mitts all over …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale! Member for Braitling!
Mr HENDERSON: … local politics on the Tiwi Islands. I say again, I am determined to negotiate an agreement, in good faith, without the meddling …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the minister’s comments in relation to Mr Murphy, Mr Murphy had legitimate business interests in the area …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order!
Mr ELFERINK: … and may I say, he has no right to drag people through this House who have no voice to respond to him. It is an outrage and he needs to be defended in the face of …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin, there is no point of order, resume your seat.
Mr HENDERSON: Oh dear, oh dear. Madam Speaker, very clearly, the government is negotiating an agreement in good faith to deliver on the High Court finding without the requirement for permits. The CLP’s policy would ensure permits for recreational fishermen.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016