2012-06-21
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 1.30 pm.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received from Her Honour the Administrator Message No 34 notifying assent to bills passed in the April 2012 sitting of the Assembly, and Message No 35 notifying assent to bills passed in the May 2012 sittings of the Assembly.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table a letter from Telstra’s Director of Government Relations to the former Chair of the Select Committee on Youth Suicides in the Northern Territory dated 17 May 2012 advising that Telstra has made Telstra mobile calls to Kids Helpline free of charge and asking that this be brought to the attention of the Assembly.
Continued from 2 May 2012.
In committee:
Madam CHAIR: I call on the Chair of the Estimates Committee.
Mr GUNNER: Madam Chair, I am pleased to table the report of the Estimates Committee and the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee on their consideration of the estimates of proposed expenditure contained in the schedule to the Appropriation (2012-2013) Bill 2012.
The two reports and this tabling statement make up the final report of the 2012 Estimates Committee and Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. Each report outlines the key areas of concern reflecting the lines of questioning that became evident as the hearings progressed. I advise honourable members that any outstanding information, including answers to questions taken on notice, must be sent to the Speaker by 20 July 2012. Until that date, the committee secretariat will be updating the questions taken on notice database as answers are received. The House has not authorised the publication of answers received after 20 July. I ask ministers to ensure their agencies provide written answers to the secretariat as soon as possible.
Madam Chair, I now turn to the process of the Estimates Committee public hearings for 2012. For the second year the committee’s hearing times totalled 60 hours, with eight hours for the Treasurer and Chief Minister, and up to seven hours for three ministers, six hours for three ministers, an hour for the Speaker, and four hours for Power and Water.
Estimates is conversational in nature and questioning went smoothly. The procedure in paragraph 22 of the committee’s terms of reference whereby questions in the first instance are directed to ministers who may then refer an ongoing series of questions to officials worked well. Hearings are also assisted by some flexibility in the order of questions, with other members being allowed to continue a particular line of questioning commenced by a member rather than waiting for each member to conclude their questions and then returning to a topic previously raised.
Madam Chair, this year we again commenced with the Treasurer, an important change implemented in 2010. This again allowed the overall picture of appropriation for 2012-13 to be examined from the very beginning of the hearings. As in previous years, the participation by other members on the committee provided every opposition shadow minister the opportunity to question their corresponding minister and also provided flexibility for members to be present while specific portfolios were being scrutinised.
One issue which continues to be a challenge is the allocation of questions and outputs which are the responsibly of a different minister to the minister responsible for an agency, or where more than one minister is responsible for the agency. For example, responsibility for Indigenous Essential Services is shared between the Minister for Public and Affordable Housing and the Minister for Indigenous Development. Despite the attentiveness of members and the flexibility of proceedings, some questions could not be answered because they were asked of the wrong minister. However, we thank each minister for making their best efforts when present to answer those questions or take them on notice.
The committee has also taken a flexible approach to portfolios for which there are no budget outputs such as Defence Liaison, Climate Change and Statehood. The committee allowed time within its agenda for each question relating to these portfolios despite the lack of outputs.
Madam Chair, over the last few years, members of the committee, in preparation for estimates, have sought a list of agencies or output groups not questioned during the hearings. To assist future committee members, I now provide a summary of agencies and portfolio areas which were not examined during the 60 hours. These were: Asian Relations and Trade, Defence Support, Defence Liaison, NT Home Ownership, Office of the Commissioner of Public Employment, Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, Territory Discoveries, Women’s Policy, Health and Community Services Complaints Commission, Climate Change, Environmental Protection Authority, Alice Springs Transformation Plan, Information and Communication Technology Policy, Land Development Corporation, Darwin Bus Service, Construction and Infrastructure, Construction Division, Correctional Services, Arts and Culture and Young Territorians.
This is the Legislative Assembly’s 11th year of Estimates Committee hearings. With each year the Assembly learns from the previous years and, over the years, has improved its estimates process greatly. This is my fourth year chairing Estimates and I can speak personally for the improvement the Legislative Assembly makes every year in delivering a very efficient, well-run Estimates Committee process. This is a very important committee which goes towards the scrutiny of our parliament. As was the case last year, both the Shareholding minister and Essential Services minister accompanied the chairman and managing director of the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee hearing earlier today. The result was very robust and productive questioning and answering. This arrangement has proven very successful.
In relation to questions on notice, I can report there has been a decrease in the total questions taken on notice during the proceedings. There were 141 questions taken on notice this year, a slight decrease of eight questions on last year. Notably, there were no questions taken on notice for Power and Water. A third of the questions taken on notice were answered during the hearings, which is a demonstration of the preparation taken by departments for the hearings. On behalf of the committee, I thank the ministers and agencies for the promptness of their responses so far, and ask that any outstanding answers be provided as soon as possible in order to meet the requirement that answers be tabled on 20 July 2012.
I thank all members who have participated in the 2012 Estimates process, particularly the ministers and Madam Speaker for their cooperation in answering questions throughout the process. I particularly thank the members of the Public Accounts Committee who formed the core membership of the Estimates Committee for the manner in which these public hearings have been conducted. It is a testament to all the members of the Public Accounts Committee for the standard maintained during the 60 hours of questioning. It goes for some time and we can become frayed, particularly at night, but overall we maintained very sound conduct during the committee process.
Thank you also to the Legislative Assembly staff for their work in ensuring the process ran smoothly, with a special mention to Hansard, Building and Technical Services, Chamber Support Services and the committee staff.
I also wish to place on record my sincere appreciation to the staff of all agencies involved in the Estimates process over the six days. The process cannot be effective without your hard work and dedication, particularly those who did all the preparation work and were not required to answer questions. That is much work and, hopefully, the work in itself can be a reward. The witnesses who presented did so very professionally, and provided answers that furthered our understanding of the Territory government and its budget processes.
Madam Chair, I commend the reports of the 2012 Estimates Committee and the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee to the House.
Madam CHAIR: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay. Honourable members, pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly dated 3 May 2012, the committee has before it consideration of the Appropriation (2012-2013) Bill (Serial 208) and reports of the Estimates Committee and the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee.
The question is that the proposed expenditure be agreed to, and that the resolutions or expressions of opinion as agreed to by the committees in relation to the proposed expenditure or outputs under the Appropriation (2012-2013) Bill 2012 (Serial 208) and the transactions of public sector entities included in the budget papers and applicable community service obligations paid to and dividends received from the Power and Water Corporation be noted.
I remind members speech time limits for this debate are as follows: ministers, Leader of the Opposition and shadow minister 20 minutes; any other members, 10 minutes. The maximum period for consideration and conduct of this debate is five hours.
Honourable members, when consideration of the bill and reports have been concluded and the question is put, the following question will then be put forthwith without debate, which is - that the remainder of the bill be agreed to; and the bill will then be reported to the Assembly. Following this report, the Speaker will call upon the Treasurer to move the third reading of the bill. The time is 1.40 pm. The debate will conclude at 6.40 pm, if not sooner.
Mr MILLS: Madam Chair, acknowledging this is the eleventh time we have used this format to weigh the budget - test it as best we can - I reflect on the time past when, with a small opposition, carrying as I did, 11 shadow portfolios. Today we stand in a different spot where we have shadow ministers of the Country Liberals opposition, each having acquitted themselves very well and held a government to account. This is an important process, and I acknowledge the role of the Chair in his report - that, over time in those 11 years, there have been changes to the process. There has been improvement, and those improvements have been gained by discussion and concession across the Chamber.
I also acknowledge the role of the Chair, those who were alternate chairs, members of the Public Accounts Committee, and the staff who supported the Public Accounts Committee. I commend you for your work. To the Legislative Assembly staff for the support provided behind the scenes, thank you. For the staff of Hansard for recording what occurred in the sessions, thank you for your work. For members of the public service, at all levels, from administrative to executive in all agencies, thank you. Behind the scenes, I know there is an enormous amount of work undertaken in preparation for Estimates.
At the conclusion of this process I, along with many who have had the opportunity to assess the Territory’s financial position, am worried. I am worried about the Territory’s finances and worried about the future of the Northern Territory as a whole because it is alarming that, in a few short years, this Labor government has taken the Territory from a relatively healthy financial position to the risky, cash-strapped one we now face. Debt in the Northern Territory has grown so big, so quickly, and its careful management is now a priority. Whoever forms government must deal with this priority after the August election. No matter what words are said before the election, the fact remains there is a single priority now facing the Territory. This Labor government’s failure to manage the economy or exercise any semblance of fiscal discipline leaves us without a choice.
Over the next four years, set out in the forward estimates, the Territory’s nett debt will almost double to $5.6bn. Of that $5.6bn debt, $2.9bn comes in over the next four years alone. That debt does not include superannuation liabilities. The interest only payable on our borrowings is $650 000 every single day. That is real money which could be spent elsewhere, but there is a single priority, an obligation, a debt obligation, and a requirement binding us to that priority. In four years time, the yearly interest payment will match our own source revenue - around $400m a year just to cover the debt. So, it is no surprise, honourable members, that our nett debt to revenue ratio is the worst in the nation. It is a shameful and troubling fact which may be inconvenient for a Labor government endeavouring to spin its way out of a harsh reality which is going to face incoming administrations. No matter what you say going into an election the fact remains, it has to be dealt with.
If you add together interest payments alone over the next four years they total $1.36bn - that is interest only for four years. That money should be supporting our police, teachers, doctors, and nurses but not servicing unproductive debt.
It is clear this Labor government has lost control of the Territory’s finances. Through ill-discipline, poor management, a floored fiscal strategy, and a lack of any coherent long-term vision this Labor government has put the Territory in a high-risk financial position - that is a fact - and has left us with an uncertain future. That is also a fact.
This government tries to blame its budget problems on somebody or something else - never one to accept responsibility. In my time in this Chamber, I have seen that deflected on every level when it comes to the biggest obligation: to repay money that has been borrowed. Through decisions and forecasts made and adjustments required, and discipline not employed, we now have a problem. However, it is not a problem this Labor government will accept responsibility for. It is blaming the GST revenue or the global financial crisis. Factors of all sorts face those who have responsibilities, but you have to accept the responsibility and live within your means.
When this Labor complains about falls in GST revenue, it is largely talking about disappointed expectations rather than actual reductions. In the curious language of the Treasurer - I was quite taken by the turn of phrase of the Treasurer - this was a sentence that was uttered with a straight face: ‘a pick-up in relativities but a downward revision of expectations’. It sounds like something but, in fact it is: ‘We got more last year than we expected, but we expected more’.
This Labor government has completely misread the economy, not prepared itself, and completely mismanaged the opportunities and challenges. It did not save any money. If you have a memory, you will know these calls were made in the 11 – well, not 11 - for many years with previous Treasurers, urging for some discipline and some putting aside of that which is at your disposal today in preparation for the challenging times. Well, the challenging times have come; the preparation has not been made, and the consequences are there for an incoming government.
They did not adjust spending when the economy slowed down. Once again, the language of the Treasurer: ‘deliberate decision to go into a temporary deficit’. Well, that phrase has been well workshopped. It means you had no option but to go into debt because you did not prepare yourselves because you spent like drunken sailors when the money was there and now we have none. We have another quaint turn of phrase: ‘it has been a staged step-down in infrastructure spend’. That means you have cut back your spending because you have to, because you are in trouble. It all sounds like it is something more than it is. What it means is you have not managed, and all you are managing to do is come up with clever phrases which seem to mask an emerging reality for anyone who can read the facts. There are challenges.
What Labor has done is spend much and plunge the Territory into debt. As the dust settles on a turbulent decade - and it has been a challenging decade - which contained both peaks and, now, troughs, the Territory is left with the biggest debt in its history and precious little to show for it.
We have just spent two weeks scrutinising budget papers. I will mention a couple of disturbing trends which are ongoing - we have seen this over the life of this Labor government. There are significant errors in the government’s economic forecasting and modelling. It goes all the way back. Shake your head if you wish, the facts are there. In 2009, the Treasurer justified plunging the budget into deficit by promising a return to surplus by 2012-13. They were assuring words at the time. If those words provided no assurance in reality how can the words cleverly crafted today, which contain no promise or no plan of how we are going to get out of it - we should be genuinely concerned. If there was even a false assurance and false hope that things were going to be okay in the past, how is it we do not have those assurances uttered today other than the hope things might get better. I have cause for concern if you cannot even muster some confected language around how it is going to be sorted out because there is no plan.
We have deficits year on year of $824m, $767m, and $1.1bn in 2013-14, before reducing to $499m in 2015-16. There is clearly something drastically wrong with this government’s forward estimates process - match it with the assurances of the past and the reality of today.
Such wildly fluctuating numbers - of course, it will not be anyone’s responsibility here; it will be blamed on factors outside the control of government. It needs to accept responsibility, and if it is going to provide a forecast it needs to be within the bounds of that which is achievable.
This Labor government has undermined the integrity of the budget scrutiny process by slapping a gag order on a senior public servant. This prevented questions on Commonwealth funding issues in the Departments of Health and Children and Families.
I turn to the 27 questions I put to Labor during my budget reply speech last month. Those 27 questions were serious ones and sought answers to very grave concerns about the Territory’s finances. I thank the Chief Minister and his ministers for the answers provided, albeit a month after they were asked for and, curiously, just the day before Estimates hearings started. As we have come to expect, most of the answers are mere bluster along the lines of: ‘the opposition does not understand basic maths’. I wonder who had a hand in writing that. ‘What the opposition plainly does not understand’ is contained in just about every response. However, what is not contained in the responses is an answer! It is absolute nonsense.
What we cannot understand are the hidden costs and the mysterious transactions this government keeps from Territory taxpayers. We have very real concerns about the new Darwin prison deal which will end up costing $1.8bn, yet the government refuses to answer basic questions on its very strange 30-year payment plan. We are very concerned about Power and Water and this government’s pretence it is a financially viable commercial entity – that is clearly in question. We have asked for more information on the corporation and its curious financings since its fortunes, and those of its customers throughout the Northern Territory, are inextricably linked.
These questions remain unanswered. The opportunity was taken by the government to stall and then use those very real questions issued in good faith to a government that did not treat them as, nor replied appropriately, but used it as an opportunity to slam the opposition for daring to ask such questions.
When questioning the Territory government’s borrowings, I was absolutely dumbfounded by the Treasurer’s assertion that borrowings are not a relevant understanding of the Territory’s capacity to service debt. Excuse me! Not relevant to an understanding of the Territory’s capacity to service debt! Let me assure the House that potential lenders to the Northern Territory, and the ratings agencies, are influential in this process and will closely observe the level of financial assets held by the Territory.
Looking at the forward estimates, the good news appears to be this Labor government does not plan to run down its financial assets over the next four years. The bad news is it does not appear to have much left to run down after its spending spree of the last four years.
The opposition accepts completely it is entirely reasonable for developing jurisdictions to borrow for infrastructure requirements, but there is a point at which the ambition gets ahead of the capacity. That point has now been reached by this Labor government.
The Territory’s bottom line looks dreadfully close to $3bn in nett debt. As the long-serving American politician Everett McKinley Dirksen warned some years ago, a $1bn here and $1bn there and soon you are talking about real money.
Madam Chair I can only admire the Treasurer’s confidence that additional Territory borrowing will continue at margins appropriate to the comparable AAA rated semi-governments - there is no risk of default and funding will continue to be available no matter what.
It is imperative the opposition be given full access to Treasury and be allowed to test whether the confidence is seriously placed.
In summing up, Labor has lost control of the Territory’s finances and allowed debt to climb to unsustainable levels. The problem with too much debt is it holds you back from doing the things you would like to or you need to do, like improving law and order, providing a world-class education for our kids, or providing better health services. Debt holds back these aspirations and hurts our credit worthiness and economic ratings. It affects our creditability within the Commonwealth and with financial institutions, and affects our capacity to stand and call for equality with the other states.
We have Canberra intervening on Aboriginal disadvantage and taking control of remote housing, establishing extra police services in the bush to cover for this government’s law and order failings, and sending in liquor inspectors to keep an eye on the shops and pubs. We do not want to beholden to any one entity, whether it is Canberra, the banks, or anything else. We, as Territorians, want to be able to stand on our own two feet. To do that, we have to put our house in order, we have to restore our credibility, we have to lift our standards and take our rightful place as Australians and proud Territorians. We have work to do.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Chair, I did not expect to be on my feet because I was expecting government responses. They seem to be either asleep at the wheel or waiting for us to say our bit. I reinforce every word from the Leader of the Opposition in relation to our debt situation. Without having the books in front of me I am concerned, as the Leader of the Opposition is concerned, about where we are being taken.
Having observed the predictions made in the past few years as to where we would be, including a prediction by the Treasurer that by 2012-13 we would be returning to surplus, and to see where we are now being taken, one can only say the Treasurer is unreliable. It is not - I hear the Treasurer grunt - but you need to look at the predictions made a few years ago and see where they have taken us. There is nothing closely accurate in the projections of a few years ago. What is disturbing about this is these are decisions of government which have brought us to this point.
I pick up on the words of the Leader of the Opposition where he said in years gone by the government was warned, warned, and warned again that the halcyon days of the early GST windfalls coming to the Northern Territory would not be sustained. That warning resonates through every budget paper you care to read - Budget Paper No 2 - when Treasury says: ‘Be careful, as marginal change in the GST will have a serious effect on our numbers’. That has come to pass. What concerns me is there is an attitude, particularly from this Treasurer, that things will return to normal and we can then deal with our debt. There is not a flicker of consideration given to the possibility what she considers normal was abnormally good in income for the Northern Territory, and the environment we occupy now is probably closer to normal than what she has had the joy of having at her fingertips, year in year out, for the last few years.
The fiscal strategy outlined by the government over the first few years of governance was about reducing debt. To the credit of government, it reduced debt in a small way; however, it had a golden opportunity to reduce the debt of the Northern Territory to zero. I have said time and time again in this House that other governments managed it. Every time the Treasurer responds to this she finds excuses as to why she could not manage it.
The truth is it could have been managed. We could have grown as a jurisdiction. We could have had growth in the public service comfortably and still reduced our debt to zero if we had been more prudent. I would remind honourable members the word ‘prudent’ is one of the fundamental words used in the legislation surrounding budgetary management itself, which is why it found its way into the fiscal target of prudent management of liabilities. That prudent management has given way to the smoke and dagger approach of saying it is all the fault of the global financial crisis. The global financial crisis has been around for a number years. It is the new reality amongst us, and we have to learn to live within that reality, something this Treasurer steadfastly chooses to now do, and, moreover, steadfastly acknowledged could occur in earlier budget papers.
This attitude percolates all the way back to the first budget the Martin government brought down, and continues to resonate through the budget papers today. I can dredge out the mountain of books which are the budget papers - year in, year out - fill a trolley with them and quote from them chapter and verse. However, the simple, undeniable truth underlining a budget the size of the Northern Territory’s, or a budget the size of Australia’s, is an obligation to contain your spending to your income, manage debt carefully, and, where possible eliminate debt, particularly when your income is higher than you expect it to be. It was year in year out for the first seven or eight years of this government’s management of the Northern Territory budget.
When you receive more money you have a choice. You either pay off the credit card or you spend that money. This government’s attitude was to spend the money. The implication for the Northern Territory economy has been substantial. The consequence of spending money, particularly when the economy was travelling along well, was you amplified the good times with government expenditure. The motive for that was, I suspect, government having an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to do the big projects.
The problem was when there was a downturn in the economy, if the government had contracted its expenditure - and this is its argument - there would have been a substantial loss of jobs. Yes, that is correct. Had the government restrained its expenditure during the economic good times, the Northern Territory would have grown at a slightly lower rate than it did. The effect would have been the government could squirrel some money away, the economy would have grown in a more sustainable fashion, and it would not have presented the Northern Territory Treasurer with the bubble which started to appear after the government decided to spend during a period of high economic activity.
The government’s answer is: ‘We cannot afford to cut back now because of the position we are in’. It is a position of its making; a position it decided to create by taking spending decisions in a warmer Territory economy. That had the effect of pushing up the overall GSP. It has the effect that, when there is a downturn in the economy in other areas, the government is obliged to continue increasing its expenditure, which is reflected in increasing borrowings - unsustainable borrowings. These borrowings are now starting to increase far beyond expectations. Go to last year’s budget papers to see what the general government sector nett debt situation was going to be. The answer, off the top of my head, was about $1.6m. It is now $3m. In the space of a year, we have almost doubled our nett debt for the general government sector alone.
It is a telling sign that when you ask the Treasurer what our debt to revenue position is compared to the rest of the country, it is the worst. Is it going to get better? No, it is going to get worse. We are the worst and getting worse. The Treasurer reassures us saying: ‘It is all about the future of the Northern Territory’. Well, it is about the future of the Northern Territory. I was very concerned the Treasurer refused to supply information about the Treasury Corporation’s modelling in relation to what would happen if there were changes in the interest rates the Territory was paying. That is alarming. The allegation by the Treasurer was if that information were to be made public I would use it to scaremonger. If I could use it to scaremonger, perhaps it is because the information and those figures are, in fact, scary.
I challenge the Treasurer to release the documentation from Treasury Corporation so we can see what will happen to the interest rate we are paying on our debt to the tune of $400m a year. What will happen if our interest rate goes down by 2%, which is within the Treasury Corporation’s modelling she refuses to table? This government said it would be open, honest and transparent with Territorians, yet when you ask for simple models of what happens when interest rate changes, there is a point blank, carte blanche refusal to place any of that documentation on the table on the grounds it is scary. Surely, Territorians should have a right to be informed, particularly with an election just around the corner, as to what Treasury Corporation is saying will happen if interest rates go up by 1% or 2%.
By way of indication, I ran the same questions past Power and Water Corporation today. Without having the numbers in front of me, in short, it went like this: the debt of the Power and Water Corporation several years ago was $900m. That has now increased to about $1.2bn to $1.3bn, which is an increase in debt of about 20% to 25%. The scary thing is it had to renegotiate its loans through Treasury Corporation in the same way the government renegotiates its loans on a regular basis through Treasury Corporation.
Despite the fact the debt has only increased by about 20%, interest repayments, as a result of renegotiating these debts, have almost doubled. So, all the more reason to be concerned, yet we do not hear a promise from the Treasurer of the Northern Territory to place on the record what will happen, and what is happening, with the government’s current debt profile. If Treasury Corporation is getting money at a more expensive rate for the Power and Water Corporation, it can only be guessed at, in the absence of any information to the contrary, the same is occurring for the general government sector debt. If the Treasurer seeks to reassure us that is not the case, the Treasurer needs to do one thing: place on the table the modelling, and any other information, which will enable us, as citizens of the Territory, to determine whether or not the Treasury modelling is accurate and the reassurance we can take from it is appropriate. I did not hear the Treasurer, at any stage, offer to table that modelling. In fact, I have heard a carte blanche refusal to provide that modelling to the people of the Northern Territory.
I get the sense, as we approach the next Territory election, the government is using an almost scorched earth policy towards that election. I wonder what it will do about it if it wins government at the next Territory election. The Treasurer will ask: ‘What are you going to do? Are you going to cut jobs and cut the public service?’ I do not know what we have to do yet because this is not an honest government, and we do not know what exposures we face as a potential alternate government.
The Leader of the Opposition has outlined areas where savings can be made, and has been honest and forthright about those promises in his budget reply. I wish we could see the same level of honesty from the Treasurer when it comes to these projections. However, for those who will listen to the rest of this debate, all we will hear is what the CLP will and will not do, and nothing about what the government intends to do to manage its spiralling debt situation.
The government continues to say: ‘We have an operational surplus’. That is all well and good, but that does not take in capital expenditure borrowings in its considerations. Those borrowings are real money. The government will say: ‘We will only talk about the general government sector’. Well, talk about Power and Water Corporation and all of the other non-government GBDs and government-owned corporations. The debts those organisations carry are guaranteed by the Northern Territory government and, as a consequence, are still an exposure to the Territory’s future fiscal position. Unless the government is preparing to unload any of these organisations, the debt is real and is being underwritten by Territorians.
If you include the general government sector, the government-owned corporations sector and the superannuation liability, and project that out to the year 2015-16, the debt position of the Northern Territory, including all its financial liabilities, will be over $8bn - $8bn! That is real money. At some point in the future, that money has to be paid as a debt owed. Our interest bill, on a daily basis in the forward estimates, will exceed $1m a day. These are matters of great concern, because we have to pay our interest bill before we build one school, fund one nurse, put one policeman on the streets, or pay for a renal dialysis machine - we have to pay the interest bill and the credit card bill.
The Treasurer wonders why Treasurers in other jurisdictions seek to criticise the Northern Territory for the way it conducts itself and expends the GST revenue. It is small wonder when they look at the books and discover our debt to income ratio is the worst in the country and is projected to become worse. It is small wonder they are starting to grumble about the spending habits of the Northern Territory when they have exactly the same set of rules applied to them, and show greater discipline.
Labor governments have been able to do it in the past. A federal Labor government has been able to return a surplus budget - depending on who you speak to, but officially a surplus budget - for the current financial year. The federal Howard government removed all its debt. The Labor Gallop government removed all its debt. We were in the same position and chose to spend. If you listen to the rhetoric we have heard year in year out about what a responsible economic manager this government is, you can only shake your head in disbelief. The budget tabled and examined by the Estimates Committee is nothing more than an act of monumental hypocrisy reflecting poorly on every utterance it has ever made about debt management.
They have no right to call themselves good fiscal managers; they have no right to call themselves good economic managers. All they have the right to do is hang their heads in shame because the bills that have to be paid down the track are going to be lost opportunities for the people of the Northern Territory. It is this Treasurer upon whose head that responsibility falls.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, I would like to say a few things about the Appropriation Bill, especially in relation to the Estimates program.
I said from the beginning there is nothing wrong with a government going into deficit; however, if it is to do so, I would like to see a program showing how it will get out of that deficit. I have tried to use that as my theme through the Estimates Committee process to see if there is a focus on how to reduce this deficit.
Previous governments have run deficits, previous governments have built hotels, parliament houses and state squares, and, obviously, that has cost a great deal of money, but they have eventually come out of that deficit into a surplus. This government is arguing we need to keep jobs, we need to keep the Territory moving, and there is a requirement to retain a deficit budget. Whilst that argument is reasonable, I do not see a plan for getting out of deficit. I see a simplistic form of reducing deficits by a 3% efficiency dividend. We have that every year, but we need a focus by all departments on how we can reduce waste, for instance. I raised that issue a number of times, and raised it in relation to road infrastructure. We heard about the prison road, where there is an extra cost of $200 000 because the road was not designed properly in the first place. It is now being redesigned and money is being spent that would not normally have been. I am sure I could find quite a few other examples of that, as well.
I asked about the movement of the Department of Children and Families to Darwin Plaza. The department said it only cost about $80 000 and was about the cheapest move it has had. What was not taken into consideration was a department moved out of that building to another place. Sometimes, you get half the picture; you do not get the whole picture. That is what governments need to be questioning. Why are we moving? How much does it cost to move? Do we need to move?
We have the classic example of the Department of Lands and Planning moving to Parap. People are coming to my office saying: ‘I have to wait four or five days for a file’. In the old building it only took a matter of minutes because they could get the file straightaway. I heard all the files are at Iron Mountain; it costs money to hold them at Iron Mountain. Did whoever made the decision to move to Parap ensure there were not downsides to that move? Did they ensure inefficiencies would not cost the department money having to drive out to Iron Mountain and back again, that the consumer would be upset if the service received before was better than the service now, and that the costs of delay, in some cases, would be passed on to consumers.
In this budget I am looking at the government working positively and sending a message through all departments, to all managers, to all public servants, that they need to be part of reducing this deficit. It might only be little things like: ‘Do we need to order 26 boxes of pencils or can we survive on the few we have? Do we use the back of paper for notes instead of getting new paper all the time?’ It may only be little things, but are we putting a theme through the departments that we have a deficit and it is our responsibility to try to reduce that deficit and waste. That is the problem I had as I worked through this budget.
My first question was to the Under Treasurer. I asked, using the budget paper, if we owe $2.8bn next year, it will be $3.5bn the following year, $4.6bn the following year, $5.1bn the following year, and the following year it will be $5.5bn. Ms Prince said:
Yes, that is the debt after you take into account our financial assets. Yes, that is the nett amount.
That is much money. The Treasurer said:
I understand that but, in the meantime, there is no guarantee the GST will be turned around. These are presumptions and, if we are affected by the European crisis, we may not have the GST climbing at the rate it used to. We have to show people out there we are tightening our belts and trying to reduce the deficit.
I was pleased to see the Auditor-General is doing some things. For instance, he now has power to carry out auditing of NGOs which receive government funding. I also looked at issues about lease fees for government facilities on Aboriginal land. To be honest, it does not seem everybody is on the same page when it comes to working out the cost of these lease fees for government facilities. That is a real question mark in relation to this year’s budget because my understanding is some of these leases will run out in August. If no agreement is made, technically, some of the facilities the government owns will be owned by Aboriginal land trusts.
The other question is: have we put any money away to cover the cost of these leases? For me, it is a very important issue, as well as for government. Power and Water said today it has a large number of facilities it will have to pay lease fees on. It is also important for local government. The Deloitte review mentioned the same thing.
I spoke about the state of the houses at the RAAF Base. The indication from Dr Ritchie is all these houses had a Certificate of Occupancy. These houses, as much as they may not be up to the standard the RAAF or the Department of Defence wants in 2012, may certainly be up to a standard suitable for people who cannot afford to get into the housing market. I say again, both governments should be condemned for not making an effort to save these houses. If they did not have an answer to where they could use them straightaway, there is plenty of land to store them on. A meeting of NGOs, even local councils, suggesting what could have been done with these houses would have been a positive move. To see them bulldozed is really a disgrace.
In relation to whole-of-government, departmental heads have to work closer in relation to developments. Does someone take into account what happens and sees where the services could be shared? There is nothing worse than a road being built somewhere and, two months later, it is being dug up because someone forgot to tell them a water pipe is going through. That whole-of-government approach to things should be a focus.
I also mentioned there are issues with small- to mid-size construction companies having problems getting contracts. Issues about local government shires are important. I also spoke about Girraween Primary School and Pelly Road and Lorikeet Court.
In summary, my biggest concern was the lack of time for quite a number of departments, including: Climate Change, Environment Protection Agency, Land Development, Construction and Infrastructure, Correctional Services and Arts. The opposition has pushed many times for more hours for the Estimates Committee. In some areas, it needs to be criticised heavily for the waste of time. One section in Lands went for two-and-a-half hours, which meant many other departments missed out. That is very unfortunate, and I ask those departments which missed out this year in Estimates be put to the top of the list next year so they have a chance to put their point of view on their budgets.
Motion agreed to.
Remainder of the bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported; report adopted.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time. In moving the third reading, as is customary, as Treasurer I respond in wrapping up the debate. I join with others in sincerely thanking all the public servants who put many, many hours into preparation for Estimates in relation to assisting the process. I acknowledge the work of the Assembly staff, Hansard, our departmental staff from across government and, of course, the many hours of hard work put in by the Estimates Committee members themselves.
As a government, we acknowledge we have handed down a tough budget and have made some tough decisions. We had GST revenue decreasing year on year for only the second time ever. In that context, we have delivered a tight, responsible budget to gear the Territory up for growth and to respond to the needs of Territorians.
Our focus in Budget 2012-13 is to continue providing quality health and education, to invest in law and order and our policing, and to build our housing stock across the Territory. We are focused on ensuring Territory businesses can gear up for growth in the very exciting economic opportunities ahead. We have handed down the budget in a very tough fiscal environment. Members would be aware we are suffering the effects of the global financial crisis and, in that context, this government made a very real, very deliberate decision to go into deficit to keep Territorians in jobs.
Since the global financial crisis has hit, we have created around 13 000 jobs through the very deliberate decision to spend $4.6bn in infrastructure, literally doubling what our normal infrastructure spend would be. That was off the back of eight budgets surpluses in a row where we reduced debt by $582m. The opposition likes to focus on debt and make it sound like we are in a dire situation. I take issue with the Leader of the Opposition describing the Territory as being in a high risk situation. That is wrong. We are described as low risk. It is misleading to describe it as high risk.
If you look at the Territory’s cost of borrowings in the 2011-12 financial year, it is expected to be at 5%. That is lower than the original estimate of 6.5%, and is certainly expected to be around 6% for 2012-13. This is despite the ongoing volatility in credit markets. This highlights the Territory is able to borrow at competitive rates. Borrowing rates are significantly lower, and below the double digit percentages experienced in the 1990s. If you look at our borrowing rates, they are much lower than the double digits under the CLP in the 1990s. The interest expense is less than 6% of our total revenue, which compares to a ratio of interest payments to our total revenue, through the CLP 1990s, of around 10%. We made a very deliberate decision to go into deficit. The deficit is not as a result of the recurrent, it is a result of the capital spend.
The effect of our government’s infrastructure investment can be demonstrated through the economic growth outcome of the 2010-11 financial year of 1.6%. If you strip out the public sector spend from 1.6%, our economy would have been stagnant at just 0.2%. We have literally kept the Territory economy in growth by this very deliberate decision. We would be in surplus today if I had slashed the capital spend by 40%. That would have sent 1000 Territorians into the unemployment queues and seen Territory businesses closing their doors in droves.
The funding in Budget 2012-13 has focused on those core areas. We continue record funding for land release across the Territory, record stamp duty concessions, and our HOMESTART NT scheme and BuildBonus scheme are all aimed at getting more Territorians into housing.
If you look at the decisions being made by Liberal governments around the nation at the moment, the New South Wales budget has been handed down. They have …
Mr Conlan: There was no money left. That is why. There is not a cent in the coffers.
Ms LAWRIE: … announced the sacking of …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: They have announced the sacking of 10 000 public servants on top of their already announced sacking of 5000 public servants. That is 15 000 people being sacked across the New South Wales public sector. Victoria has announced the sacking of 4200 public servants. The CLP is hell-bent on saying it is not interested in building the Territory at a time in its economic cycle where you really need to be gearing up for growth. It would be quite scary, post an August election, if it got anywhere near the decisions of government, because you would see sackings across our public sector. Equally scary, you would see slashings in the capital program and Territory businesses closing their doors ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could you direct the minister to point out where that is documented? Otherwise, she is misleading the House. Could you point to where that is? Where is it written?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, resume your seat. Minister, can you come to the point?
Mr LAWRIE: He is very excitable. I refer him to the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply where he pointed out he can only guarantee the jobs of public servants earning under $110 000. That sends a very clear signal where the cuts will be. Any public servant earning over $110 000, look out. That is our police, our doctors, many of our teachers, certainly all our principals ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Our debt levels are manageable. If you want to see where we are sitting as a percentage of GSP, our debt is sitting at 8.8%. This is a far cry from Greece, which sits at around 165%.
Madam Speaker, instead of a budget reply from the Leader of the Opposition focusing on policy, all we got was 27 questions. The answers to the 27 questions were provided; however, they could have had the answers simply by reading the budget books.
There is a myth being perpetrated that somehow you cannot trust the figures provided in Budget 2012-13. That is an insult. The budget is handed down under the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act, which requires we adhere to the very strict of the Australian Accounting Standards. The budgets are always audited by the Auditor-General. To pretend otherwise is simply not understanding the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act exists in the Northern Territory.
I acknowledge all the long hours and hard work of everyone in preparing the Estimates process.
Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Continued from 2 May 2012.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I have not heard if the opposition has an issue with this. I would be surprised if it had given they are minor amendments to clarify the operation of the Payroll Tax Act and an amendment to the Gaming Control Act.
I will take members through a recap of the contents of this bill. It clarifies the operation of the maternity, adoption, and paternity leave exemptions in the Payroll Tax Act. These harmonised payroll tax exemptions are for a maximum of 14 weeks, or an equivalent period of time, where an employee takes parental leave at a reduced rate of pay. By way of example, the exemptions may extend to 28 weeks for employees who take parental leave at half the usual rate of pay.
However, a technical interpretation of these payroll tax exemptions raises doubt over whether the exemption would apply as intended to part-time employees when extended leave is taken at less than the employee’s normal rate of pay. Accordingly, the bill clarifies the operation of these provisions to ensure the exemption is available to part-time employees in the same manner as full-time employees.
The proposed parental leave exemption amendments are based on model legislation drafted by Victoria that will be adopted by most states as part of payroll tax harmonisation arrangements.
Amendments to the Gaming Control Act are to provide the minister with the power to collect fees and taxes for certain gambling licences. These licences include casino licences, online lottery licences, and mail order lottery licences. The bill also clarifies that the minister may establish fees and taxes on any lottery agreement that may be entered into with the Territory, and ensures standardised administrative practices of the Taxation Administration Act apply to taxes and levies operating under the Gaming Control Act.
Currently, only Part 7 of the Taxation Administration Act, which relates to the payment and recovery of taxes, applies to taxes and levies operating under the Gaming Control Act.
Other administrative requirements such as record keeping and penalty tax provisions are currently subject to individual commercial agreements.
Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Continued from 2 May 2012.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I believe we have 45 minutes for a second reading speech. Do not worry; I will not take up your precious time, minister. I will not take 45 minutes. Can you believe it, …
Members interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: ... here we are on the last day and no speakers on the government side in relation to the budget bill. It is quite extraordinary! A five-hour debate truncated after about an hour. That is the form this government has. We see that. Look how much is on the Notice Paper and will drop off. Imagine if we cut back on all the puff pieces throughout the four-year term, we might get through some of this. Nevertheless, here we are on the last day of sittings and we have to pass this bill.
All that aside, we recognise this is an important part of the health reform. So much for health reform! It is not reform by any stretch; it is just a change in funding arrangements. It has been touted as the greatest piece of health reform since Medicare, which is quite extraordinary and simply untrue. Nevertheless, it is really about funding and this is, from my understanding, the final piece, minister. These new healthcare arrangements across the country will kick in on 1 July 2012. The opposition has flagged its concern about some of this over the last couple of years as these pieces of legislation presented themselves to the House. We offer our support to this with the view it will provide a better health system and better healthcare for the Northern Territory.
I know everyone is eager to get going, and the member for Johnston is keen to give us his swansong. We are all waiting in anticipation. All of us in this House have been waiting for a long time to hear the final words from the member for Johnston. Will he go out in a statesmanlike manner, or will he have a little swipe along the way? He will probably do a bit of both.
We offer our support for this bill. The member for Johnston, and those other members of parliament who are retiring, would like to say their final words. Madam Speaker, we support this bill.
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their support. In closing debate, the National Health Funding Pool and Administration (National Uniform Legislation) Bill is an essential element of the Council of Australian government’s National Health Reform Agreement. It is significant reform, so significant that despite the change of government from Labor to Liberal in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, these governments still support the health reform. Obviously, they believe it is a significant health reform and are prepared, despite the change of the political party in government, to support it.
This bill provides the national legislative framework for the funding of public hospitals which comes into effect on the 1 July 2012. It is timely that we proceed with the passage of this bill during these sittings of the Northern Territory parliament. The bill enables the establishment of a national health funding pool for public hospitals, the appointment of an administrator for the national health funding pool, establishment of the Territory’s state pool account with the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the establishment of the Territory state-managed fund.
The member for Nelson raised queries about the need for a separate Reserve Bank account to hold the Commonwealth funds for the Territory. This is a different arrangement from the way other funding from the Commonwealth is received in the Territory. It is a key element of the COAG national health reform agenda. The goal is to improve accountability and transparency of health funding from both levels of government.
The National Health Funding Pool is comprised of individual accounts for each state and territory held with the RBA. The Territory’s pool account will receive all Commonwealth health reform related funding, plus the Territory government’s share of activity-based funding for public hospitals. This will ensure Commonwealth and Territory contribution to public hospital funding can be clearly identified and reported on. Each jurisdiction remains the manager of the public hospital system. Therefore, as the Territory’s Minister for Health, I will have control over how all funding in the Territory’s pool account is dispersed throughout the Territory’s public hospitals.
The administrator of the National Health Funding Pool is an independent statutory officer appointed by unanimous agreement of Commonwealth and state health ministers. There is nothing to preclude a Territorian from being appointed to this position. Mr Alan Bansemer has been appointed Acting Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool based on the nomination of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Mr Bansemer is well-known in the Northern Territory’s health sector, having conducted significant strategic departmental and service reviews. He is a former Health Commissioner in Western Australia, and Deputy Secretary of the former Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health. The Territory’s state-managed fund will fall under the auspices of the Department of Health. The state-managed fund will receive all Commonwealth and Territory government block funding for public hospitals as well as funding for teaching, training and research within the hospital system.
The introduction of this bill upholds the Territory’s commitment to COAG’s National Health Reform Agreement. The new funding arrangements will provide great transparency, accountability and efficiency in the hospital system. We have now established the hospital networks and yesterday I announced the appointments of members of the governing councils with Chair, Mr Colin McDonald QC for the Top End, and Dr John Wakerman for Central Australia. The council has strong representation from all regions with a skill mix which will provide good governance for our hospitals.
In closing, I thank all officers of the Departments of Health, Treasury and Chief Minister who have worked tirelessly over the past two years to bring the national health reform measures to life in the Territory, ensuring our unique challenges and needs are adequately addressed.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Mr VATSKALIS (Health)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call the Leader of Government Business to adjourn the House, I put on the record my thanks to all honourable members for the support given to me over the seven years of my time as the Speaker.
I wish honourable members all the best in the coming election, however it may play out. It will be a different Assembly, and I wish all of you the best of luck in your individual electorates and for the rest of your lives.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
It is with some sadness I speak for the last time in this parliament. That said, I will be working hard over the next two months, as a local member and as a minister, to support the government in the upcoming election. Beyond that, I am looking forward to what I am calling the next chapter. From my own perspective, I do not see this speech as a bookend to my maiden speech made in October 2001. That was largely an aspirational speech and this speech, to a large degree, is a thank you speech. I will leave judgments on what I may have achieved or not achieved to others. I repeat what was at the core of my maiden speech, namely, and I quote:
That aspiration should hold for each of us, irrespective of our political affiliations and whatever electorate we represent.
To the important thank you. First, to the people of the Johnston electorate, thank you for electing me in 2001, and continuing to show faith in me in 2005 and 2008. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve you. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to be an effective advocate for you and represent your interests. I have always tried to be available and attentive. It has given me great satisfaction when I have been successful on your behalf. On those times I have not been successful, I hope you know I gave it my best shot.
At a formal level first, a big thank you to my family, Elizabeth, David, Daniel and Amy, thank you for your unwavering support. No I have not forgotten Bruiser; he has always been there as well. Madam Speaker, I have spoken about Bruiser much in this parliament. I seek leave to table his photo.
Members: Hear, Hear!
Dr BURNS: He has asked whether we can go for a few healthy walks together.
To my long-suffering electorate officers, Judy Herring and Therla Fowlestone, thank you for your dedication and loyalty. Only those of us who are members fully understand the length, breadth and depth of the wonderful work electorate officers do, not only for the member but, more importantly, for our community.
To Clare Martin and Syd Stirling, thank you for your leadership in opposition and your support for me in being preselected as candidate for Johnston in 2000. Thank you to Paul Henderson for your experienced advice and guidance to me as a candidate in the 2001 election. Thank you Clare, Syd and Paul along, of course, with Jack Ah Kit, for your guidance and support when I was a very new member and a new Cabinet minister. It has been a privilege to serve under two wonderful Chief Ministers, Clare Martin and Paul Henderson. Indeed, I thank all my colleagues over the years for their continuing support, for being selected as a Cabinet minister, and for your friendship. In the Labor Party it is different. Caucus selects our Cabinet and the leader allocates portfolios. I understand it is different on your side. To a large extent, we rely on the numbers and support of our colleagues to be in Cabinet. I thank you for your trust over that time. Like any family, we have had our moments but, most importantly, we are a united team.
Being a Cabinet minister has been a great privilege and adventure for me; serving the people of the Northern Territory as best you can in the portfolios you have been allocated. People often ask me what I consider the outstanding successes of my career, and are probably too polite to ask what might be the outstanding failures. Once again, I leave those judgments to others. The way I respond is to point out the similarities between sport and politics, especially football. Most players who have been around for 10 or 12 years can point to wonderful wins, hopefully, some premierships, personal and team triumphs, crucial scores that come out of nowhere, a few miraculous match winning efforts, and sometimes efforts that often escape the commentators. On the other hand, most players could also point to defeats, matches they would rather forget, missed opportunities, mistakes, and decisions if they could make again would make quite differently. Sometimes it consists of making the best of a situation when you have been dealt a pretty ordinary hand of cards. So it is with politics.
I have recently finished reading a book by Mungo McCallum titled The Good, The Bad & the Unlikely: Australia’s Prime Ministers. This book is an interesting account of each of the 27 prime ministers since Federation. What struck me was, without exception, every one of them had incredible setbacks, personal battles and defeats in their political careers, including during their time as prime minister, and many as Opposition Leader. For example, Bob Menzies, probably the most dominant, long-serving prime minister in Australian history, had enormous defeats and setbacks in his career, including returning from an overseas trip during World War II to be informed by his own party his services as prime minister were no long required. He later suffered defeat as Opposition Leader in 1946 when Ben Chifley was elected prime minister following the death of John Curtin. Nonetheless, Bob Menzies went on to preside as prime minister from 1949 to his retirement in 1966.
Likewise, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Paul Keating and, more recently, John Howard, all made significant and important contributions as prime ministers. However, unlike Menzies, each of them suffered defeat as Prime Minister in general elections, with John Howard even losing his own seat in the 2007 election.
As I said, like sport, politics has its ups and downs. Like sport, politics is also a hard game. When I look back over the past 11 years, I think of all the faces that have been in this Assembly and who remain. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were already here in 2001, and the member for Port Darwin returned in 2008 after three years following defeat in Macdonnell in 2005. By my reckoning, nine out of the 25 elected members in 2001 are still present in 2012, an attrition rate of nearly two-thirds. That is a pretty heavy attrition rate.
Of the incoming class of 2001, which numbered 11, eight Labor, two CLP, and one Independent, only six remain, with three of us retiring at this election. So to Jane and Marion and, indeed, all my colleagues, thank you for your friendship. To the three remaining of Class 2001 – Delia, Kon and Gerry – best wishes, and keep up the good work.
It is difficult as politicians because we live in a very critical environment, and it is little wonder people baulk at putting up their hand for politics. Many people, understandably, think - I have a quote here: ‘Why would I want to put myself and my family in that space?’ We are criticised by the media, by each other, and by the public. It is probably fair to say much of the criticism is justified, but some of it is certainly not justified. However, one important element is sometimes lost in the welter of criticism, like every other human being we have strengths as well as weaknesses.
I previously mentioned Mungo MacCallum’s book, The Good, The Bad & the Unlikely: Australia’s Prime Ministers. Probably unsurprisingly, the greatest Prime Ministers in my view had wonderful qualities such as vision, unwavering commitment to serve the people and the country, courage, humility, wisdom and integrity. Without exception, each one also had incredibly human imperfections.
In this context, it is interesting to quote from the Gettysburg Address of 1863. Abraham Lincoln spoke about government that is: ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’. Lincoln obviously meant this to be an expression of egalitarian representation being an essential underpinning of our democratic system. However, I would also point to an underlining simplistic corollary attached to this statement, namely that we politicians are of the people. Like our great prime ministers to varying degrees, we reflect all the strengths and weaknesses of human beings.
Nonetheless, it is right for the public and the media to expect a high standard of conduct from their elected representatives. This expectation has to be tempered with the reality that, like them, we are also human and not perfect. Nonetheless, we should always try to reflect the very best qualities of the people we represent. That is what is expected.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will now return to the thank yous - to the many ministerial staff who have helped, supported and, at times, carried me over the last 10 years. In Estimates, the member for Brennan asked whether I had any tips for new ministers. It was such a big and unexpected question and, to some extent, I was stumped at the time. On reflection, the answer has to be, and I will quote - this is my response, almost a written question, member for Brennan:
That is why it is important to get the best possible people as your advisors. Departments and DLOs are also important in this process. You need people who will vigorously contest ideas and issues and provide essential information.”
I have being very fortunate with my senior advisors, and there is not time to name people. To my senior advisors over the years over many portfolios, thank you for your loyalty, wise advice, patience and forbearance in dealing with a minister who is, in the words of the NT News, ‘mildly eccentric’. I got off lightly there. Also, given to a few ‘dummy spits’. Thanks to all the advisors over the years for your loyalty, great work and ongoing friendships. To my PAs and ministerial assistants, particularly Rebecca and Vanessa, your job is probably the hardest - thank you very much.
I also thank the many dedicated and professional public servants who have assisted me over many years. In fact, one of the most important relationships for a minister is a courteous, professional and productive relationship with the public service. Similarly, I have enjoyed interacting with many non-government organisations, unions and professional groups over the years.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am nearing the end. I look forward to what I am calling the next chapter, which to begin with will be quite simple, a bit of fishing and crabbing, many jobs at home, and maybe a holiday. After that, who knows? I have considered, paradoxically, an unauthorised autobiography titled The Truth is up for Grabs: Not Even the Dead are Safe, but that could be a bit dangerous for everyone, including yours truly.
To all opposition members, best wishes to you and your families. A few unlikely friendships and understandings have grown over the years, in particular, the former member for Araluen, a keen angler like me, the member for Fong Lim, and the member for Braitling, who both enjoy a good joke.
To each and every one of my colleagues on this side of the House, good luck and best wishes for the election - carry the faith. Thank you.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight sees the end of a fascinating 11-year journey for me. Nothing can really prepare you for that journey or for the work itself. There is no job description, no duty statement, no set hours of work, simply a requirement to attend this parliament 36 days a year.
Recently, there has been discussion in the media about the pay of members, and qualifications and backgrounds that make a suitable member of parliament. I do not think there is such a thing. The key element, from my perspective, is the capacity to listen and care about people, and a passion and commitment to those people in the community you live in - in other words, the old-fashioned concept of service. If you are seeking wealth and entitlements you are in the wrong job.
From the word go, I found this work bizarre, exhilarating, sad, appalling, depressing, amazing and humorous. There is no other work which prepares you for some of the situations you will find yourself in. It is never boring. The most amazing part of the job, particularly as the Speaker, is meeting the extraordinary range of people, significant dignitaries from Kings and Queens, Crown Princes, Presidents, Governors-General and Prime Ministers and large numbers of High Commissioners and Ambassadors.
I have many special memories of these occasions, particularly Ted Egan and Nerys Evans singing a duet across the table at the state dinner for the King and Queen of Sweden at Uluru. The Clerk reminded me not to mention the war to the Japanese Ambassador, only to discover the Ambassador was two feet away at the time. Losing my hair in great chunks, I greeted the horrified Syrian Ambassador who I assured I did not have a communicable disease, merely cancer. He, of course, responded diplomatically: ‘Yes, of course, Madam Speaker’, and nothing else was said despite me being totally bald on one side of my head.
On the same day as meeting any one of these people, I could also be meeting someone in my electorate who was destitute, suffering from major depression, and looking for some form of human contact. The comparisons are stark and manifest themselves in sometimes most unusual ways. This is particularly true for female politicians who may present as being relatively pleasant, middle-class, middle-aged and willing to listen.
For me, this has resulted in some bizarre encounters with middle-aged men who, particularly when I was Health minister, would work themselves up into a crescendo of concern about their health problems and then, suddenly, drop their trousers, Darwin style, to reveal no underwear but their various conditions. It has been difficult to know how to respond to some of these situations, other than to sometimes indicate they did, indeed, have a problem.
The most strange encounter I had was a man living in public housing who wanted to show me his holiday photos of his trip to Bali, which turned out to be the before and after photos of his penile implant. My response to this constituent was to advise it was not a government matter.
As Health minister, many people thought I had the capacity to diagnose conditions and also write prescriptions. Some people even came to our house to collect the prescription, and were most upset I could not provide assistance at 3 am.
Possibly, the strangest thing during that period of my parliamentary life was visiting Old Timers in Alice Springs. On entering the dementia and Alzheimer’s ward, for some reason, the clients believed I was the Queen, and I was greeted with a raucous: ‘It’s the Queen, it’s the Queen’. It was clear there was no point in disabusing them of this, so I merely acknowledged the curtsies and bows and advised that Prince Phillip was well.
Doorknocking in my electorate has, at all times, been fascinating. Nudity is of a high order and sexual encounters near the front door are not uncommon - men and men, women and men, and women and women. For the first time, I understood the expression ‘the great Territory lifestyle’ which is enjoyed extensively and with gusto in my electorate.
While these have been strange and humorous encounters, the thing which has really struck me is the extraordinary level of loneliness in our community - people with no relatives, few or no friends, are very poor, and often have major mental illnesses. Governments are really not able to deal with loneliness, but it is something, as a society, we need to deal with. In earlier decades, people were frequently associated with churches and found comfort, friendship and meaning in their faith and church community. Nothing has really replaced that today, and the result is large numbers of very sad and lonely people.
I have, once again, been reminded of this with the recent death of one of my constituents who was living in public housing, whose body was found five days after his death, and who appears to have no family and very few friends. He died intestate and will have a pauper’s grave supplied by the Public Trustee. Not for him a notice in the NT News or significant mourning. I find this very disturbing and, in fact, have organised with the Salvation Army to hold a memorial service for Peter tomorrow on the Nightcliff foreshore. To my mind, everyone is of value and their life holds significance.
In my own life, I have been blessed with faith, family and friends. Even on the hardest days of being a parliamentarian I remember this blessing because, at the end of the day, that is all each of us has. No entitlement or high social status can ever reach the heights of faith, family and friends.
I also place on the record my thanks and love to my long-suffering husband, Simon, and our three children, Al, Mikey and Zoe. It would be fair to say they have not really enjoyed my time as a member of parliament. The public underestimates the toll it takes on our families. I am proud to still be married after 25 years and to have the love and support of my family, including my wonderful 85-year-old mum. I look forward to spending more time with them.
I finally thank my parliamentary colleagues, each of you especially, in your support of me as Speaker over two terms. On top of that list, I thank the Chief Minister for his continuing support and friendship; it is gratefully received and reciprocated. I also acknowledge the previous Chief Minister, Clare Martin, for having the confidence in me to ask me to stand.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the courteous and professional way in which he has had dealings with me during my period as Speaker.
I look around and there are many people who have given me support, but I would especially like to thank two colleagues, the Leader of Government Business, Dr Burns, the first person who ever called me comrade, which I must say was a shock to my parents who are good Liberal Party people - he is a great friend and confidante - and the member for Arafura, who members may be surprised to hear is my non-identical twin sister. As Marion says, she is the black one.
I would also like to place on record my thanks to my staff: the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Ian McNeill, who unfortunately is not very well at the moment and could not be here tonight; the Deputy Clerk, Mr Michael Tatham; parliamentary officers; my personal staff Jade, Emaleena and Amelia; and all those who came before them in either my ministerial office, parliamentary office, or electorate office. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, you have made it much easier.
My thanks also go to the Australian Labor Party, of which I have been a very proud member. I particularly thank the Nightcliff branch of the Labor Party. Finally, I thank the people of Nightcliff for their support over three terms.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will finish with words from Shakespeare’s As You Like It:
Mr BOHLIN (Drysdale): Madam Deputy Speaker, what do I say on our last sitting of the Assembly? I wish to thank as many people as I can. To see before me a page notes to talk to is probably more information than we are given when we first take office. At that time you literally have no book, and there is no workplace description bar a minimum requirement to attend parliament. Every single day you sit in this office in a learning process. To make a difference was, essentially, why I came into parliament. Without a doubt I know in my heart, and in the heart of my family members and friends, that we made a difference. That difference is definable by many different people. Some will think they are great differences, some will think it was one of the worst things they ever came across.
The members of the Eleventh Assembly sit here today, all of us, and I remember the day we were sworn in and had photos on the step of Government House. Today, we stood in front of this magnificent building, the parliament of the Northern Territory, and again had photos together. No matter what happens in debate, the honour servicing the people of the Northern Territory is paramount.
Individually, on both sides of parliament in this Eleventh Assembly, we have a role to play and I am sure everyone has played their role. Often, it is the small things in your electorate which go totally unnoticed. The thoughts Madam Speaker raised about the state of some of her constituents perhaps should have remained thoughts. Every one of us has a similar story, and I am sure over many wines or sodas you will continue to share those stories with your family. Those moments are what really make this job rewarding.
In the mosh pit here, it is not always an enjoyable task. For the media attention you may or may not attract, it is often thankless. However, on those small moments in your life where you can help people, where you come across a funny moment or can share some time with someone who merely needs some attention, that is the gold which cannot be paid in cash. It is paid in true love and affection through our business.
To my former electorate officer, Donna Ellice, who served a good three-and-a-half years, thank you very much, Donna. I wish you the best. It is, without a doubt, a very hard job, and one that is hard to put into a job description. There is virtually no boundary for an electorate officer. The expectations are extremely high, whether it be secretary on a subcommittee of a small community organisation, through to the most thankless task of simply offering people some comfort and a box of tissues. No description really fits that of an electorate officer. To Theresa Whitlock, who has stepped in for the last six months, you have done a fantastic job - in fact, the last four months, we still have two to go - and has kept the office in a very tight state.
To the various people in the Opposition Leader’s office through our nearly four years, you have helped me many times, you have helped my colleagues many times and, in turn, you have helped the people of the Northern Territory over that time.
To the Legislative Assembly staff around us in this mosh pit, your help ensuring this business carries on is highly regarded by me. Everyone has their time challenging certain points; however, these are the people no one sees and no one gets to recognise or admire their professionalism. That makes for this great place we stand in.
To the Hansard and other supporting staff in this great building, again, the people who are not seen - they are always behind the scenes, they are in the books on our tables, they are in the Internet that allows this parliament to be recorded. They are the small people who have great heart and do a very big job to support the Northern Territory - thank you.
I thank my many friends who have kept me level-headed. I asked my friends to promise that no matter what happened in this business, to always ensure I, to the best of my ability, stay the same person I was when elected. I believe I have managed to do that. Whether it is the traditional Australian friendship where they are not afraid to have a dig, throw some mud across the table, have a bit of fun, but they are also the same people who will be by my side, as I will with them, and help them when they need it. As recent as yesterday, I was helping a mate get a job by setting up Skype so he could do an interview. I do not know why he asked me; however, we did it and he had an interview. They are the little things which make your mates your mates, and they are part of keeping us all grounded. I am sure every one of us, when we look around at our friends, wonder who we are, whether we have changed, and how much have we changed. It is our mates who keep us grounded and I thank every one of them - and there are many of them.
Many people know motorsports is a big part of my life and where many of my friends are. I have many friends in the building industry, and I have many friends in the police force. Thank you. I do not know how to say it other than that – thank you for your continued support.
To my partner, Hannah, and the stability she has brought to my life in the last nine months -you find the right people in your life and you know that is the key. Not all of the last nine months have been easy. As we all know, business changes. This Eleventh Assembly has been up and down for everyone.
Thank you very much to my mother, Dorothy Rae Bohlin, and my father, Gordon Charles Oscar Bohlin. Thank you very much for the way you raised me with some decent standing. Many know the support I received at the time of my mother’s unfortunate passing not very long ago - over 12 months ago now; it does not seem like that. Thank you for the support we received. My family understood the flowers we received from the Territory - not physically from the Territory - but they meant much to the family. Even though we work in this mosh pit, in this very controversial environment, there are still good people on both sides of the fence with enough time to care about our family. It was a very sad time to see my mother pass. Thank you all for your support.
To my daughter, who lives in New Zealand - such a beautiful young lady she is - who worries about me more than I do. Her maturity through many changes over the last four years has been a reflection, probably, of her mother’s and my ability, despite being separated, to bring up a beautiful daughter. It is a lesson to many people that those kids are our future and we should always respect that.
To the largest group of my supporters, the people of Drysdale and Palmerston as a whole; the Alexander Day Club; the U3A people; all my schools; the markets we love; the community support you have given me throughout my time has been overpowering and very emotional. It is often hard to explain to people what is happening, how politics works and the reasoning behind certain things, but your good wishes and continued support, even today, have been amazing. I thank you all.
We have had some interesting battles. We have made a difference in the electorate of Drysdale. We have not necessarily fought battles on a political basis, but with commonsense. We won most of those battles not by ourselves; we won them with the support of the community and by accepting common sense – the Marlow Lagoon power line issues, Marjorie Street access, and many smaller battles. They were balanced with common sense from departments and, in the end, listening to the people and the support of the people. Thank you for everything you have done.
For all this, I thank you. I appreciate the experience and opportunities it has brought. The Territory today, now and into the future, is at the start of its role in Australia’s history.
We have had some dark times in our history, but we are in the right place to lead Australia into the future. The oil, gas, tourism, our Asian relations and our trade are all in their infancy, and the vision any government takes can lead the Territory into the future. I hope it is led well by whoever, but look to the future, it is all bright.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I make my last adjournment in this House. I do not have any funny stories to tell, but I would like to recap.
I was thinking of 16 October 2001, when I was sworn in as a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. My entry into parliament was celebrated by Tiwi dancers, in particular my Tiwi brother who had preceded me in the role. He wore a suit rather than body paint, but there was no questioning his confident, even defiant declaration of his Tiwi identity. In his chosen way of handing the baton to me, he was making a deliberate point. He was responding definitely and conclusively to the political schemers and strategists, both Tiwi and Muruntani, who had orchestrated an election campaign to replace him with a candidate promoted as a ceremony man. I have copped a fair bit of the same from time to time over the years, but like other proud Tiwi people with mixed heritage - a very large percentage of the Tiwi population in fact - I do not let it divert me from my course because the ties which bind us are stronger than the slurs some use to try to divide us. While I am aware of one member opposite who likes to engage in that type of politics, it has, fortunately, not been echoed publically by her colleagues so far.
I feel honoured and grateful to have been treated with respect and warmth by all my constituents. Tiwi women in particular saw my becoming the first female Aboriginal member of the Legislative Assembly as their achievement, and that, to some extent, it belonged to all of them. I thank them for their constant support over the years, especially the last of my Tiwi mothers who only departed last week and for whose loss my heart still aches.
However, I have concerns as I prepare to hand the baton to another Rioli that the same kind of campaign as was run against his uncle is being readied on behalf of his opponent. I seriously hope I am wrong about that.
Madam Speaker, on 16 October 2001 I made my maiden speech in this Chamber at the very place you delivered your speech. I felt daunted, but also excited by the challenge of representing the interests and aspirations of a constituency with an ancient cultural past and an uncertain social and economic future. It seemed to me I was channelling the optimism and resolve shared by most Territorians in that heady time.
More than 10 years of hard political slog and a Commonwealth intervention have not blunted that resolve. However, the optimism has been tempered by a realisation that decisions in relation to many of the big Territory issues are made far away from this place.
In the early 1990s, I was living at Nguiu - which is now Wurrumiyanga - and had the privilege of working for a small but efficient local government entity, the Nguiu Community Government Council. There were very few non-Aboriginal employees, and amongst all staff there was a sense of teamwork and purpose. The council was seen as being of and for the community, and community residents had no complaints about having council service fees deducted from their fortnightly income, whether that was in the form of salary or social security benefits. Under the old Local Government Act, community government councils were allowed to do that. Most of the money raised was used to fund jobs and services. One of the other things we did with the money was put it into landing lights at the Nguiu airstrip.
The Nguiu community’s willingness to make contributions to its council’s running costs was something very valuable, which translated into economic viability for its local council. I call this social capital. There is no doubt in my mind that Nguiu community’s willingness to make a financial contribution to its council’s running costs stemmed from an appreciation and trust in local government which was truly local. It is something I do not believe can be replicated - as with the shires, which are operated from a central office based in some distant town away from Aboriginal land.
While the Nguiu community had to deal with the same grog and ganja problems it wrestles with now, there was a much greater sense of respect for and obedience to social norms. Skin groups took responsibility for punishing bad behaviour and enforcing practices like families going out for weeks at a time to hunt, forage, and maintain cultural knowledge during the mid-year bush holiday period.
If I look at Wurrumiyanga now as a benchmark, I realise the worrying changes I notice there are replicated across the Territory. While there are always shares of blame to be allocated, at the end of the day, the deterioration cannot be designated as the fault of any particular group of people, nor due to the failures of government policy or resource allocation. The reality is, in remote Aboriginal communities everywhere, traditional culture and authorities are being swamped by addictive lifestyle patterns driven by modern technology and values. This was always going to happen regardless of which party was in power in Darwin or Canberra.
Old people whose own youthful years were ingrained with discipline and the habit of working are dying. They are taking their priceless treasure troves of knowledge and wisdom with them to the grave, and the uncertainty and lack of self-esteem of surviving generations has created a perfect storm of alcohol and substance abuse.
I would love to wave a magic wand and transform Wurrumiyanga in 2012 back into the simpler Nguiu community I lived and served in the early 1990s, but I know it is not going to happen. Instead, we have to focus on the world we now have. For the kids and teenagers who are going to try to make a better future in the Wurrumiyanga of tomorrow, that world is dominated by mobile phones, Facebook, and a morality heavily influenced by the sexualised and often violent human relationships they see on TV and computer screens 24/7. That is not to say everything is terminal and hopeless in remote communities. I do not believe that at all. I can see the promise and potential which is there to be developed in so many of our young people.
However, when Aboriginal society out bush faces such profound challenges, what is really important to hang on to is social capital - those positive arrangements which have been familiar and accepted as mainstays of community life such as CDEP and community-based local government entities of a size and with boundaries that give the residents a sense of control and ownership of assets and decision-making.
What has happened over the last 10 years is governments have increasingly devised measures which sacrifice local systems and procedures for the sake of achieving a notional, economic, efficiency dividend, or implementing a purported normalisation regime. I am mainly talking about the Commonwealth government, but it is not the only one.
I do not necessarily reject that ‘top down economic rationalist approach’ to trying to change things for the better. Everyone knows you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. I am not necessarily squeamish about preferencing the interests of a community, especially its women and children, over the rights of individuals, particularly when it comes to the right to drink alcohol. However, a profit and loss calculation needs to be undertaken first. That calculation needs to take into account the cost of losing fragile and irreplaceable social capital. It is a calculation which has too often been overlooked.
One example of the squandering of social capital has been the sorry intervention saga of the scrapping of the Territory-wide network of community-endorsed restricted areas. Prior to the intervention, when a community applied for restricted area status public meetings were held at which restricted area rules were clearly spelt out. When restricted areas status was granted, everyone in the community understood the maximum penalty for bringing alcohol in was six months imprisonment for a first offence and 12 months for a second or subsequent offence. Only hardcore offenders received gaol time, but it was a genuine deterrent. Instead, under the intervention, we had a prescribed area alcohol restriction regime where the penalty under section 75 of the Territory Liquor Act for bringing alcohol in was replaced with a fine.
Would-be intervention hard man, Mal Brough, initially talked tough on grog, but his tune soon changed to wet canteens, and he introduced legislation which weakened pre-existing Territory sanctions. In particular, his change allowed offenders to be let off.
The tragedy is the new generation of community members objecting to and protesting against the tough penalties under Stronger Futures are in complete ignorance of the fact it was their elders who endorsed the application of that same penalty to their communities when opting to make them dry. In all too many cases those elders have passed on, and the community consensus against alcohol abuse the elders had been able to achieve through influence and authority has been lost forever. What a waste.
Pretty much everyone agrees education is the key when it comes to making a difference in the future. The past 10 years have seen a hugely increased investment by this government on infrastructure and resources. I am cautiously optimistic about the recent progress in Gunbalanya and Maningrida, but truancy and the negative effect of aspects of modern lifestyle have undermined progress everywhere throughout the Territory. Truancy is going to be a continuing challenge no matter which party is in government after the August election.
This brings me to the one issue which often raises much passion amongst us - outstations. One of the most bizarre attacks made on me in late 2008 was that the focus on English and Maths - promoted in transforming Indigenous education - was part of a sinister, broader strategy to close down outstations. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I knew, in the final months of the Howard government, the Commonwealth had forced the former Chief Minister to take over funding responsibility for outstations as part of the price for securing the housing and infrastructure program which later came to be known as SIHIP.
I also knew the only way to secure funding for outstations was to lock in guaranteed ongoing Commonwealth funding, and the only way to do that was to make an evidence-based case. The outstation policy review process I commenced was to have progressed in a number of stages; only the first stage was ever completed. That was the community survey conducted by Pat Dodson which resulted in a report highlighting the need for new infrastructure, in particular housing infrastructure, in established communities. The next stage was to have been a comprehensive economic modelling and analysis process. My preference at that time was a review team led by Professor John Altman. The work to be undertaken would have given us concrete evidence demonstrating the vital and social economic role played by homeland communities in the Territory.
Once my successor as minister responsible for outstation policy took over, momentum seemed to stall. The economic modelling project was abandoned, months passed, and the night before it was to be formally announced I was informed of something called A Working Future. This was a policy in which an unrecognisable version of the unfinished outstation policy was subsumed into an aspirational framework relating to large remote communities. These communities were to be rebadged as growth towns. The policy was clearly driven by a desire to hitch a ride on the back of the millions that had already been allocated for particular communities under SIHIP and to fit in with the Commonwealth government’s policy agenda. It was very much the member for Macdonnell’s baby.
This was completely contrary to the Dodson project report recommendations, which dictated from now on government funding for housing on outstations would be prohibited. The bogus rationale for the policy position was outstations were on privately owned land, even though most of the growth towns were also on privately owned land and Mal Brough had personally welcomed a new era of remote area home ownership in 2006 when the Commonwealth funded the construction of impressive new houses at the outstation communities of Nama and Wudapuli. The economic modelling still has not been done to this day. I thought I could negotiate some of those changes, but, thanks to one former Caucus member, that proved impossible at the time.
I returned to the party in August 2009 because the future of stable government in the Territory was at risk and, when all is said and done, I believed in Labor principles and the Labor Party. I still do. Contrary to what many have said, no deals were done. I was promised nothing and received nothing. I supported Paul Henderson because he was, and remains, the only person in this House who can credibly run the Territory as the Chief Minister. He is a decent and straightforward man, and has done the job under very difficult circumstance. That brings me to the end of my journey.
There are so many people for me to thank and acknowledge there is no way I am going to be able to get close to naming them all. I have prepared a list, Madam Speaker, and I seek leave for this list to be incorporated.
Leave granted.
Dr Burns: As long as my name is on it, Madam Speaker.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I had better check. The individuals whose names are on the list are only a small subset of the much larger group to whom I am indebted. To all my former and current parliamentary colleagues, particularly the Class of 2001 - that includes you, member for Johnston and the member for Nightcliff, also Andy Ralph; Esther Djaygurrnhga; Liam Maher; Dwayne Baker; Joe Singh; Barbara Wauchope; Julie Narndal; Hagar Bullawani; Lois Nadjamerrek; Peter Cooke; John Christopherson; Daisy Yamirr; Mary Yamirr; Bunung Galaminda; Linda Bunn; Shane Wauchope; Barry Puruntatameri; Kilapaywu Puruntatameri; Lawrence Costa; Lynette De Santis; Manyi Rioli; Donna Burak; all the Bima Wear Ladies; Lucille Pilakui; Marita Pilakui; Robina Timaepatua; Robert Scrymgour; Jacky Scrymgour; Marie Napatali; Valerie Rowland; Francine Elsegood; Cherise Daiyi; Helen Daiyi; Karlene Scrymgour; Peter Danajer; Cyril Oliver; Matty Ryan; Helen Williams; Dene Hereen; David Bond; Helen Bond Sharp; Ian Munro; Appoline Cohen; Charlie Gunabarra; Sr Anne Gardiner; John Naden; Joy Naden; Penny Carr; Maria Billias; Maria Paterakis; Ron Greaves; Kerry Gardiner; David Money; Jamie Gallacher; Leslie Cameron; Eva Lawler; Vicki Nangala Tippett; Bethany Maley; Kim Hill; Tania Hill; Karlee Dalton; Andrew Buick; Carol Angeles; and from the Department of the Legislative, the Clerk; Deputy Clerk; Vicki Long; Alice Tsang; and all Parliamentary Services staff.
You will agree Caucus resembles a family. In all families there are squabbles, but the bonds of family usually prevail to deliver a resolution. They say in politics no one is your friend. Well, I am glad to say I have friends in Caucus and those friendships will live long after I leave politics. We might not have seen eye to eye on everything, but standing up for your constituents’ interests against the party line is part and parcel of a healthy democracy. It is that strength of character to strongly argue and maintain a position that makes for a good politician, not whether they have experience in the private sector.
Each one of us has put our hand up to run the gauntlet of election and dedicated ourselves to public service. We did that because, as individuals, we believed we had and have relevant skills and experience that would enable us to confidently and capably represent our respective electorates.
I was born and raised a Territorian. My parents where Jack and Claire Scrymgour, two people I spoke of with pride and love in my maiden speech on 16 October 2001. During that swearing-in, my father was standing just behind me. He was here to see me sworn in earlier that day. My mother had already passed away. At that time I had one parent, seven fantastic sisters, three wonderful brothers, three fantastic children and one grandchild. I leave with no parents. I still have my wonderful seven sisters, two brothers, three wonderful children, of whom I am so proud, and six grandchildren. The Northern Territory means much to me and I look forward to making a contribution to its future in years to come.
Members: Hear, hear!
MADAM SPEAKER: Honourable members, before I call the Chief Minister, I will add to the member for Arafura’s adjournment speech a thank you to her husband David, who is in the gallery tonight.
Mr HENDERSON (Wanguri): Madam Speaker, I was going to move an extension of time for the member for Arafura to mention her fantastic husband.
I am here tonight as a friend and colleague to our three members on this side who have just given their farewell adjournments to this Assembly. I start by saying on this side of the family, drawing on the analogy from the member for Arafura, this is our second family. For all of us in party politics - Gerry, I am sorry, you are there as a family of one - on our side this is the second family. There are many times when you see more of your second family than your real family at home.
For the three members and friends who have just given their farewell adjournments to the House, all of us on this side of the House are, first and foremost, conviction politicians. None of the three who have just spoken ever came into this House seeking anything other than to put back into the community and to represent their constituents to the best of their ability. We have had much fun and many laughs. We have had times when we have been cranky with each other and growled at each other. We have had our moments, but the good times have always outweighed the bad.
My good friend Chris, the member for Johnston - geez, mate, we have had fun! We have gone through some amazing issues. The time I will most remember Chris for what we do as conviction politicians was the time I was elected in 1999, when I was in opposition, and you were preselected not long after that. You were one of the first of the northern suburbs team preselected for the 2001 election, and we had a very serious problem around Darwin with drug-related property crime.
I was the shadow Health Minister, Syd Stirling was the shadow Police minister, and Chris Burns, our pharmacist, understood the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and worked with us to demonstrate how the freewheeling prescription of MS Contin occurring around Darwin at that time by a number of doctors was reversing of the CLP’s position at the time of not having methadone clinics in town. It saw people coming to Darwin to access, basically, free morphine through the MS Contin scheme, and the property crime associated with that addiction was through the roof. We worked on an evidence-based public policy to demonstrate unless we got on top of the issue, and when elected to government allowed the provision of morphine for people with drug addictions, we were not going to do anything about property crime.
The great thing about those days in opposition, when you actually have time to work on serious policy because constituent work takes you so far during the day - I learnt so much at that time from Chris on how to put public policy together. I am very proud, Chris, that one of your great legacies when finishing your career is the huge amount of trauma and damage happening in the community as a result of that issue has been severely negated. I will always remember those times.
You have had many portfolios. When did you come into Cabinet, Chris?
Dr Burns: 2002.
Mr HENDERSON: We worked on many things over the times across many portfolios. Chris has, and always will have, great strategic thinking. However, the greatest accolade, Chris, is the way you have conducted yourself within our Caucus and our Cabinet - you are a man of great integrity - absolute integrity – and no one could ever doubt your motives around the positions you take.
We have had much fun with the Casuarina Branch as well. The member for Casuarina, me, and you have much support through the Casuarina Branch in the northern suburbs.
You will really enjoy fishing and crabbing. You said yesterday the trouble is there are too many recipes and not enough days to cook. We are going to see much of each other. We still have a couple of months to go, and I know when my phone rings between 7 am and 7.15 am there is only one person who is ringing me at that time of the morning – Burnsie, with the issue of the day or what is the paper. I am looking forward to those into the future, Chris. I wish you all the best. We are going to stay mates, and you will not be shy to give me your wisdom, as you have always done.
To Madam Speaker, member for Nightcliff: Jane, again, wishing you all the best into the future. You are not going anywhere either. You are part of our Class of 2001. I will never forget when we were all sworn in as the first Cabinet, the first Labor government in the Territory’s history, how proud we all were on that day. I remember being so proud of you, Jane, for winning the seat I tried to win on two previous occasions – the seat of Nightcliff. Nightcliff and Rapid Creek are always going to be near and dear to my heart. I was so proud you won that seat for the Labor Party.
Since that day, we have been great friends. In Cabinet and in Caucus, we have always shared great friendship, the ability to talk freely, and you have been of great personal support for me as well over some tough times I have had in my job. There was much fun in that first Cabinet. I am not going into detail, but I am sure, Jane, you will remember a Cabinet meeting we had at Uluru. I will not mention what happened, but it was very, very funny and you handled yourself with absolute dignity as though nothing had happened.
As well as that incident, I remember being shown around the new rooms at the resort, and the guy opened the door to take us into one of the new rooms and, of course, there were a couple of people – I do not know if they were quite naked at the time - but it was one of those Nightcliff moments where he opened the door and there was Clare, and the entire Cabinet of the Northern Territory, about to be shown to their rooms. Those are the things we all take with us.
Regarding Nightcliff, I am really proud you have seen through to fruition a commitment I campaigned on in 1994 and 1997 - getting the power lines under the ground. It was the right public policy, horrendously expensive, but the right thing to do. We are really proud of that. We have had many, many laughs over the years. We have many more laughs to come, Jane. You are very special person and I have loved working with you over the years.
When we have tough times, what I have gained strength from is your incredible strength in your own faith. Your faith is much stronger than mine. I have faith, but I have seen how it has helped you. Jane, I wish you all the best into the future.
Marion, we have had a really fascinating, challenging, interesting time since 2001. What can I say about the member for Arafura? I say this dearly and from my heart: Marion, you are passionate, you are compassionate, you are driven by your ideals and you are absolutely fearless. I really admire that in you, Marion. Nobody can ever take away the beliefs you hold which you articulate with passion in all forums. Sometimes, it might not have been at the best time, but I have never felt anything other than: ‘Marion wanted to say that, needed to say that, and good luck to her’. I know the motivation behind everything you have done in public life has been driven by your ideals, you absolute commitment to fairness, to wanting the best for people you represent across your electorate, and the Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
For me, it has been a tremendous privilege working with you since 2001. I have learnt so much. I have learnt more than I thought I could learn about the complexities of Indigenous life, family life, community life, and cultural responsibilities. It has been a totally different world for me – a totally different world from the one I grew up in. I have been enriched; I have learnt so much. Hopefully, as the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, I bring some of that compassion to my thinking when I have to make decisions in regard to issues for Indigenous people. I believe I have become much more compassionate over time, having been enriched by your wisdom and that of other people on this side of the House.
The one memory I will always take, which absolutely shook me to my core as Police minister earlier in our time, was a letter I received from the member of Arafura - I still have a copy of it - about the scourge of petrol sniffing at Gunbalanya. I do not know, Marion, if you remember that letter you wrote to me. This was to someone who had, essentially, never experienced in my life or observations - we were early into that term of government – or thought much about petrol sniffing. That letter about the devastation happening in Gunbalanya absolutely shook me to my core. From that moment on, not only in what police and health were doing – one of the great legacies of your time as minister across a range of portfolios was the volatile substance abuse legislation and the work you did in putting that together. It was very much your own work. Even though we have outbreaks of petrol sniffing across the Territory from time to time, that legislation has saved many lives in the Northern Territory. I will never forget being in Docker River and meeting with the council. We came under siege from petrol sniffers with rocks being hurled at the council office. I was totally aghast, as a father, watching these kids walking around the community with cans of petrol under their noses and wondering how any community could allow that to happen. The fact you put that legislation together is what being in government is all about - trying to improve the lives of people. That will really be a legacy, Marion. We do not have anywhere near the problems we did and we should always do everything we can to prevent our kids from sniffing petrol.
Probably the time I enjoyed most working with Marion was being out and about in her electorate. It is a fantastic place. All the Territory is fantastic; wherever you go in the Territory is fantastic, but being on the Tiwi Islands, Maningrida, Gunbalanya, Jabiru, wherever, the people genuinely love and respect Marion as a person. She knows everybody out there, and I have had so much fun meeting some fantastic people who, in another life, I would never have had the opportunity to meet.
Marion, you will leave this parliament, as will Chris and Jane - amongst our electorates, whether people have voted for you or not, all three would have your constituents say: ‘Even though I do not vote Labor, all three of those local members always did the best they could for their electorate’. That is the most we can hope for. At the end of the day when we finally leave this House, we think we have made a difference, we hope we have made a difference, and people can see we worked hard.
To the three members on our side, the great thing is none of you are going anywhere; you are all staying here. The friendships we have made in our Caucus will, for me - I will always work hard to maintain those friendships outside Caucus because we have had many good times.
I would also like to say to the member for Drysdale, good luck and best wishes in whatever it is you decide to do, Ross, going forward. A little anecdote about Ross and myself - Ross lived in Wanguri and I remember doorknocking him when I was out doing my rounds one day as the local member. You were doing some gardening renovations ...
Mr Bohlin: It would not have been gardening.
Ms Purick: He would have been playing with his car.
Mr HENDERSON: No, he was not playing with his car, he was doing the gardening. He was pretty hot and sweaty and we stood at the front fence yarning for about 45 minutes or so. We had quite a long chat and you then took on the Beat the Heat thing as a police officer. I must admit, I was a bit gobsmacked when I found out you had put your hand up for the Country Liberal Party because the conversation I had with you at that front fence - I did not pick you for the CLP, I must say. You surprised me; however, in my time in this job, nothing surprises me anymore. Ross, I wish you all the best for the future.
To Chris, Jane and Marion, enjoy whatever it is you are going to do with the rest of your life. Please leave this time of your life thinking: ‘Yes, I made a difference’, because all of you made a difference in your own unique way. You will be missed when we reconvene after 25 August, whichever way we reconvene. On our side, you will be missed. We will certainly be staying in touch, and please, keep us honest and bend our ears whenever you need to. Thank you.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I am very mindful of this point in history, this moment in time when the gap between the first speech and the last speech made by members - what was contained in the first and is in the last, the distance between the two, and the path which has been travelled between those two points. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to all four speeches today, knowing the people and the stories which are evidence of the presence of each of those members. I am mindful, though, of each of the chairs we occupy in this Chamber. The member for Drysdale referred to this often as a mosh pit. It is a place which can be difficult and testing to operate in - severely at times.
However, we are reminded, through the passage of time, it is a great privilege to serve in this place. It is something we forget at times when we become so accustomed with the surroundings. We are reminded when someone walks into the Chamber and is just gobsmacked at what they see - this is the place we work in.
Sadly, many times we do not elevate it by the way in which we conduct business in here. However, that aside, it does not take away from the seriousness, importance, and great privilege each of us has had - particularly the four members who have spoken today - since the time we came into this Chamber. What each of us - whether you are on that side or this side of the Chamber - have in common is the great honour and privilege of serving.
Now, it comes down to the two grandfathers of the House, the member for Wanguri and I. We are the ones who have observed the comings and the goings and we are still here ...
Mr Elferink: How old do you think I feel?
Mr MILLS: Oh that is right, you came and went and then came back again. The member for Drysdale referred to this as the Eleventh Assembly. Yes, there have been these Assemblies and each of you will take with you a photograph. Make sure you get it, it is a photograph of all the members of the Eleventh Assembly. I have, as I am sure the member for Wanguri has, three sets. I have the photographs of the Eighth, the Ninth and the Tenth Assemblies. Now, the Eleventh will soon be produced. I look forward to each of you in time standing in front of those photographs and looking at those faces and, the remembering stories that will come as you reflect on your interactions with each of the members in this Chamber. It is a pretty special time; make sure you get those photographs.
I will briefly touch on each of the members, and I do not necessarily want to do this in a political context because we are all colleagues in here. Dr Burns …
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: I withdraw - member for Johnston. We have gotten to know each other. I can still remember meeting you at the Darwin Cup as you were considering entering politics. We had known each other a little beforehand, I think, with Red Cross. Is that correct? I remember exactly where we were standing and the discussion we had. I was new to politics, and it did not surprise me you became so interested, you were elected to the parliament in 2001.
There has been a constant contact line all that time, from 2001 until now, that my wife and I feel we know you. We probably socialise more than we would socialise with anybody else; seeing each other at functions and the like. That has been pretty special. We have really enjoyed running into you and Liz at different functions over these many years. That is a special memory and I thank you for that and your good company.
I also reflect on my times going to the Rapid Creek Markets. I honestly love going to the Rapid Creek Markets, with my love of Asia; it is such a good place to be able to catch up with the salt of the earth. To see you there constantly too leaves a nice memory.
One thing I will reflect on, member for Johnston, is the way in which you have serviced your electorate. I have had so many people tell me, irrespective of their political persuasion, the respect they have for you for the way in which you have played your role as a local member, evidenced by your discipline in being at the Rapid Creek Markets more often than not.
For the member for Arafura - similarly to the member for Wanguri, the Chief Minister, I find it difficult to explain the relationship we have enjoyed. I know we touched at one point with you realising that I had a connection in Western Australia with Maurice Rioli and the great love that my family, particularly my deceased father, had for Maurice. It was a lovely moment, too, to make that connection.
I am pleased the Chief Minister has made reference to the petrol sniffing and the volatile substance abuse. I distinctly remember that time. You brought something into this debate and you have left something that impressed all of us. There was a small opposition at the time, but the way in which you presented that was impressive, and it resulted in change. There are moments like that which awaken us to that which is outside the frame of this place.
For the member for Nightcliff, first, I am struck by the unusual electorate you appear to represent, or is it that you appear to have these unusual experiences? I am still trying to work that one out, so I will be speaking to those who are doorknocking in Nightcliff to see whether, in my interests as a former sociology student, there is, in fact, this phenomena in Nightcliff or whether it is peculiar to your observations. I will do some checks on that ...
Madam Speaker: It might be a bit cold at the moment.
Mr MILLS: I could be a bit cold at the moment. We have come to know you and the courageous way you have dealt with, first, becoming a Health minister, new to the position in a new government, and having former Health ministers here challenging and testing you. I watched you. I was sitting over there and you were sitting there, and I saw the baptism of fire. Then, you had your own issues with health and you have carried yourself with great courage and you have earned the admiration of all members. I have personally, Madam Speaker, appreciated from time to time being able to just quietly touch base. It has meant a lot to me. Thank you.
How dare you think you are going to jump up? I am saving the best until last. I just have to go back to the member for Arafura for a second. I am going to miss …
Ms Scrymgour: You are obsessed with me now, Terry?
Mr MILLS: No, I am not. I just have to say I am going to miss the glares I receive across here. There is this ferocity I get just in the look. Then, if I look again, a smile is not so far away, which is encouraging ,,.
Ms Scrymgour: I will see you on Monday at Maningrida.
Mr MILLS: Yes, I am sure you will. I am not going on Monday; I am going on Sunday.
Ms Scrymgour: Sunday and Monday.
Mr MILLS: Member for Drysdale, I remember the phone call I made to you to ask whether you would be interested, and you were honoured to be asked. You had a freshness about you in your response to a request. You understood the honour of the call, and you responded very humbly, with a dignity and a freshness that was very special.
The way in which you engaged your electorate in a very honest way won the respect of the people of Drysdale. Doing the rounds of the electorate on polling day in 2008, you presented yourself in a magnificent way, ‘Hi, I am Ross Bohlin,’ shaking their hands - and you have not changed. That is one thing I heard you say in a very lovely final speech, member for Drysdale, Ross, that you asked your friends to make sure you have not changed. You have not; you have not been affected. It is not an easy thing to be able to pass through the challenges you and that all of us pass through, and to remain as you are. You have a dignity, courage, and decency which has earned you deep and lasting respect. You have that from me and from many people.
I wish to put on the record something many members probably would not know because the member for Drysdale is not a person to boast. He has achieved significant engagement with China - he has not spoken much of this - with his motor sports. I will just make reference to that. We will see a man who is genuine, decent, and consistent, who will flourish in that which he puts his hand to. I know you have done some significant work in a very unique way in engaging with China, and with our near neighbour within the Asian region, and I predict there will be fruit that comes from that, just by the modest way in which you have conducted your business.
I sincerely wish you all the best. I am delighted, as would my wife be, to hear the way in which you refer to Hannah and the effect she has had on you. It was lovely to see you with my family at Christmas time. My family takes an interest in you, and I am sure Roz will be very pleased to hear that you and Hannah are getting on so well. We wish you all the very best.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE (Karama): Madam Speaker, it is difficult to say goodbye to three of my colleagues from the Class of 2001. In the short time I have, I will not be able to give the full extent of the expression of my respect and admiration for the contribution each of you have made for the people of the Northern Territory. It has been a long, hard road coming in with such enormous need across all sectors of our society and across all of our communities.
Jane, I will start with you, Madam Speaker, because you had the unenviable task of going straight into Cabinet. I remember the first Caucus, and you were on the hook-up from Brisbane where you were for your father. You have carried yourself with such enormous grace and dignity in all of the ways in which you have represented the people of the Territory and, indeed, the people of Nightcliff.
I sincerely thank you for having been a lifelong advocate for people with a disability, for the great work you did when you where the Minister for Health, to give me the opportunity as your backbench colleague, to consult with Territorians about disability needs. Out of that came a tremendous increase in funding to improve disability services right across the Territory. The grace with which you acknowledged people with such significant and broad needs, but also the compassion with which you embraced the carer community holds you in significant stead, I believe, in the history of the Health ministers of the Northern Territory. I acknowledge that fine, great, amazing work you did.
Also in those early days, of course, you inherited a child protection system which was completely demoralised and almost completely broken. You took on a very tough role in those very early days to start the years of the rebuilding of the child protection system. Again, you did so with such enormous dignity, grace and compassion for the people who worked in the sector but, most importantly, the care that you carry as a mother into your tasks in understanding the needs of protecting the children - irrespective of where they come from the across the Territory.
You have managed to represent that diverse community across Nightcliff and Rapid Creek, the diversity I grew up in. I am not surprised by your stories. I grew up with the stories of the former Independent member for Nightcliff. I do not doubt she was at the forefront of the nudist community of Darwin in 1970s; it is all starting to fall into place for me. It was pretty disturbing as a kid, I have to say, but I can well and truly appreciate that Nightcliff has always had these quirks about it.
You have brought community, and the fabric and embracing of community, into your role as a local member, and that has been quite a special thing. Anyone who talks about the work you have done will talk about the work you have done to help those disadvantaged, to help the lonely people you talked about in your speech, and to help the people who often do not have a voice. You have been their voice, and that is such a beautiful thing you have brought to your many years as the local member.
I do not doubt there will be a complete embracing of you across our community of faith, because you have always been very much at the forefront, on behalf of our government, in recognising the importance of faith and supporting the many different faiths we have across our community. I thank you sincerely for that, as well.
It has been a great job you have done as Speaker. I know you have taken your role as Speaker very importantly, in that you have made sure you have approached it with the independence you passionately believed a Speaker should bring. Yes, you are a member the Labor Party, proudly; yes, you are a member of our Caucus, but you have been very thorough in ensuring you bring independence to the role of Speaker. That you have done with great integrity, and I respect sincerely the way you have carried yourself as the Speaker of this Assembly through two terms.
Now I speak of my next colleague, the member for Johnston, Dr Burns. I said to the media a while ago that I have witnessed many different Assemblies of the Northern Territory over the years, back to when it was not an Assembly, when it was a Legislative Council, in 1971, which makes me somewhat of a political nerd in this place. I define the member for Johnston as a stand-out amongst the orators of the members of parliament through all those decades – a stand-out in his contribution in Question Time. I do not recall - I would put you easily in the top three of the turn of phrase you bring into debates in this Assembly. Another person in the top three would be Jack Ah Kit, without a doubt. The moments you can bring that will absolutely tear apart the Chamber in wit, insight, and humour; it has been an absolute joy and pleasure to listen to your contributions through the debates - whether they are debates, statements, or contributions in Question Time. Behind everything you say is an incredible depth of knowledge; you are an incredibly learned man. Across all the portfolios you have carried, you have put in such an enormous work ethic to get across the detail of the portfolio, not just in understanding the agency, but recognising all the stakeholders and the sectors, the non-government organisations, and the industry organisations.
I recall very early days for you as a minister, when you had to take the Territory through building reform and regulation, the way you moved mountains. I believe you were pretty well the only one capable of doing it, in the sense it required such a forensic knowledge of enormous detail. You have been forensic in your pursuit of information to ensure the decisions, the policy settings, and the resourcing government was making were to the best and fullest extent. Your passion for both your background of the urban communities you have served, as well as your knowledge of the remote communities you have served, and bringing them together has been a tremendous asset for our government.
You have heard members say in contribution and recognition, you are acknowledged as one of the hardest-working local members in Territory parliament, without a doubt, not only at the Rapid Creek Markets, but you are also the king of doorknocking.
I will certainly miss your role in our government and our parliament. I am sure I will continue to see you. I have a tremendous fondness for Lizzie. I have always said you are the luckiest man in Territory politics; your wife is an amazing woman. I know everything you have done, you have done with her tremendous support. You have had two extremely loyal electorate officers, and that speaks volumes for the man you are when people ride a long distance through hard slog with you.
So, Burnsie, you go with my uttermost respect and admiration.
My dear friend, Marion, the member for Arafura: it will take many years to write the story of just this chapter of 11 years in parliament, let alone the amazing story of the time before and the amazing chapters to come. I am incredibly proud I have served with you. You have attained the highest political office in our nation for an Indigenous Australian: Deputy Chief Minister. You got there; you have blazed the trail against the odds. You blazed it as an Indigenous woman with the odds against you in servicing such an incredibly remote electorate, with your massive commitments to family you have, and right through that period with your battles with your health. You continue to trail blaze. You, without realising it, have changed the lives of so many young Indigenous women right across the Territory, but I also believe across our nation.
You are such an amazingly powerful role model. It has been such an awesome experience to see the way you go about your daily work where you have so much energy and drive, you are tearing through - you can knock down every barrier anyone would ever want to put up around change. You are a strategic thinker; you can deal with systemic policy and with the individual realities flowing from that systemic policy; you can inspire and change people and change communities; and I believe you have inspired and changed our government along the journey we have all taken with you, Marion.
I loved our early days as backbenchers together when we had more time, on a day-to-day basis, to be together. There were many attempts many people made to try to separate us which did not work. I loved the way you nurtured me when I went into Cabinet, the way you supported me through that process, and the way we often continued to be the terrible two - that whole process. It broke my heart when you had to step out of Cabinet due to ill health. At the same time, I am glad you did because I have seen you regain your health and become well again. I have seen the time it has given you to work back in your electorate with your people, and how that has sustained and strengthened you again. It was a period of renewed health, largely because you have had that opportunity back with your people and your family. I acknowledge your family are here. I know how important it has been to have your family with you on this journey and the support of your family …
Ms Scrymgour: Particularly David.
Ms LAWRIE: Particularly your husband, David Dalrymple.
Marion, the Chief Minister spoke about your pursuit of turning and changing lives with petrol sniffing - the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act. I know, in relation to mental health, how far and how hard you have driven policy and resource reform in the mental health area. That has not stopped. The legacy of your latest inquiry into suicide is still there and still has a road map for the Territory to follow.
It is very much a sad moment for me to say farewell in adjournment to my three colleagues of the 2001 class.
Ross, we have not known you for long, mate. You have been highly entertaining in your contribution to the Assembly. On behalf of my staff, they are going to miss your contributions. Some have been very memorable and have entertained us for hours on end. That being said, your commitment and passion comes through, and is always a very worthy thing to have as a politician.
To the four parliamentary colleagues, enjoy the next exciting chapter of your journey.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Speaker, tonight I wish to pay tribute to the members of this parliament who are retiring. First, my colleague Ross Bohlin, the member for Drysdale. Like all of us, Ross came to this parliament with the background that suited him for the role of a local member. Originally, he comes from South Australia - but we will not hold that against him. After schooling, he sought qualifications in diesel mechanics and went on to join the Army - we do not hold that against him either.
After Ross came to the Territory with the Army, he realised there was a better life and employment than being an Army person, so switched uniforms and became a Northern Territory police officer. This job suited Ross and saw him work around the Territory and work with many community groups and communities. This set him up for his work as a local member. Over the last three years or so, what impressed me most about Ross was his capacity to tackle anything and get involved with any activity. Ross was not afraid to get involved and give it a go. I saw him push cars at the Katherine Show, dye his hair for fundraising, play with hermit crabs, help the University of Third Age people with their activities, and race against time to change tyres on a four-wheel-drive vehicle. I am sure everyone involved with these activities appreciated Ross’ engagement and enthusiasm.
Ross’ love of cars is well-known, and he is a keen mud racer and Finke Desert Race competitor, and has won first place in his categories of entry. I am sure he will go on to continue to race in the Finke Desert Race. He is a life member of mud racing and was instrumental in getting that club off the ground. I am sure the sport will appreciate his continued involvement and welcome his knowledge of working with politicians into the future.
Parliamentary work did not come easy to Ross - he is not alone in that regard - as Ross is an honest person and, to me, does not appear to be a person who would deride anyone or lower his standards for anyone or anything. I wish you, Ross, the very best in your next phase of your life and career. I know what you have learnt over the last three years or so will set you right for many years to come. You will know now who you can and cannot trust, and you will take with you valuable skills, knowledge, and friendship. I wish you and your partner the very best in all you do.
Madam Speaker, I turn my comments to the member for Johnston, Dr Chris Burns. I may have taken the oath of office with you in September 2008 but, sadly, I did not have a lot to do with you on a regular basis. I know you have had a mixed time during your career, but I am sure much of it is memorable for you and your many constituents over the years of your time as a local member and a minister. One thing I have found about you since I have been in this job is that my letters to you and to your office were replied to in a much quicker time than some of your colleagues, and for that I was thankful ...
Mr Wood: Hear, hear!
Ms PURICK: My colleague, the member for Nelson, agrees with me.
You seem to take more of an interest in matters in the rural area, again, more so than some of your colleagues have done over the last three years. That was also appreciated.
In addition, talking of all things rural, I know you have an active interest in all things poultry. While some in this parliament may think this is unusual, I know you genuinely have an interest ...
Mr WOOD: It is not unusual.
Ms PURICK: Who knows? Maybe the next phase of your life will take you down the path of turkey farming again, because we could sure do with some more turkey farmers up here in Darwin. Minister, I wish you the very best in whatever you do from now on, and best wishes to your wife, Elizabeth, and your family.
To the member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, your family and my family go way back. It is a bit disappointing we did not have the opportunity to work together more in this job, as we could have done many good things for the Territory, as we really care for the Territory and intend to stay here forever - not sure everyone in this House can lay claim to that fact.
We worked on the Mataranka cattle saga, and the youth suicide committee. It was this latter one which made me appreciate and understand issues such as youth suicide cross all political divides. There is no politics in such a sad and serious matter. I hope you continue to help the people of the Territory to be strong and happy in this regard. Thank you for your friendship and your support when I needed support. I look forward to hearing what you get up to in the next little while in your life. Remember, my office at Coolalinga is open to you always. If you are brave enough to visit the rural area, you are most welcome at my home too ...
Ms Scrymgour: Birds of Paradise is out there.
Ms PURICK: Sort of, down there.
Mr Wood: They moved.
Ms PURICK: In between the pizza shop and the newsagency, that is where I am.
Last, and by no means least, to Madam Speaker, the member for Nightcliff. Your time as a Territory parliamentarian may have come to an end, but I am sure you will go on to bigger and better things in life for the people of the Territory. From the beginning, you have been a great assistance to me in helping me understand the workings of parliament and the Legislative Assembly, and providing advice when I needed advice and guidance. One of our main areas of joint interest is Statehood, and I know it was a great disappointment to you when the wheels fell off the carriage last year. I shared that disappointment with you. Who knows what will happen after August this year? If I have anything to do with Statehood, I will make sure you have a role, and that is a promise.
Some people say it is difficult to find friends in a place such as politics. However, I beg to differ and hold the view that friendship is often found in the strangest places. That is what makes such a friendship special. When you do find them, they are usually with you for life, and for that I am thankful.
Madam Speaker, I wish you and your family the very best in whatever you do in life. I am sure you will enjoy what could be called a ‘normal’ life after August this year. If you, too, are brave enough to travel to the rural area, my home is open to you to visit and enjoy ...
Mr Wood: Do not go down there, dangerous.
Ms PURICK: To Ross, Chris, Jane and Marion, my best wishes to you and all your families. Stay safe and may you and your families enjoy happiness and love always.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, the worst person to respond to people saying goodbye is me, because you know I get a little emotional. I will try my best not to.
I would like to say a few things about each person leaving tonight, but I also need to reflect on the last four years as well because, in some cases, it was special for me.
Of course, there is no guarantee even those who are not leaving officially will still be here after the next election, because that is in the hands of the people of the Northern Territory. We all need to be humble enough to say if they wish for a change, that is their decision and we live by that decision. Of course, I hope I am back here at the next Assembly.
My memories of the member for Johnston in this House will always be of someone who could stand up toe-to-toe against the member for Port Darwin. That was pretty good in the sense that he is and was a great debater in this House, very erudite – I hope that is the right word because the member for Johnston has a better knowledge of the English language than I. I have always enjoyed his debates, even though occasionally there were times - probably about the only time I really got passionate about a debate was when the member for Johnston and I went toe-to-toe on a caravan park legislation.
Regardless, that did not matter. That was passion and we both had a point of view which needed to be debated. I do not think we insulted one another, but we just showed some passion. The member for Johnston always has shown compassion. His knowledge as a pharmacist … What is the correct word?
Ms Scrymgour: Pharmacist.
Mr WOOD: Yes, pharmacist. All right, I come from Victoria originally.
… helped in many of the areas he dealt with. There was some difficult legislation - recently the Drugs and Poisons Act. I appreciated quite a bit of the advice from the member for Johnston because of his knowledge.
When I say the member for Johnston was a pharmacist, I know the member for Arafura said we are here because of service, I was probably getting a sleight about my comments about trying to attract people from other …
Ms Scrymgour: No, Gerry! Me?
Mr WOOD: I should say I hope it was not taken that people from other walks of life are not welcome. It was a comment that I made to the Press Council saying I hope we could attract a broader range of people to parliament. I hope those people would also give good service. That was simply a comment and not to denigrate anyone from any background in this Assembly.
I appreciate, in this case, the experience the member for Johnston has brought. Also, he has worked out bush; he knows a lot about the communities and that is the experience he has brought to this place. He has shown dedicated service because of his commitment. It might have been the member for Johnston himself who said how politicians are put down at times. The member for Johnston is a classic example of someone who literally works his butt off for the community. It is sad when we do not lift the status of politicians higher than it is so we can attract more to what I believe is a very honourable profession. It is sad that it is denigrated in the media – and, sometimes, it is our own fault. It is put down too much, and so much, people simply do not want to be part of this because it is too difficult. Who wants to work those hours and be criticised? I take my hat off to the member for Johnston for his dedication and service to the people of the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I will have to say this now and I hope you do not hold it against me: I never voted on a censure motion except the one that went against you when you were Health minister - and I have never voted in one since. I hope you forgive me for doing that. That is way back when I had my L plates on …
Mr Tollner: Still got them on, Gerry.
Ms Scrymgour: Come on, Dave. Be nice.
Mr WOOD: In my case it might be L for learned, member for Fong Lim. Anyway, the member for Fong Lim makes life interesting, if nothing else.
Madam Speaker, one thing I appreciate - because it is not that easy as an Independent - the Chief Minister said how you have a second family in a party. You certainly do not have that as an Independent. For much of the time you are on your own, and you do not have many friends. Part of the reason you do not have many friends is, in your job, when you are making decisions, being asked to comment, or being part of a discussion, you need to be at arm’s length from people, because the decisions you make might affect those people. You are trying to, at least, make decisions that are not affected by those friendships.
To some extent, it can be a lonely job. Madam Speaker, that is why I very much appreciated some of our late nights -- in my case with Diet Cokes and a packet of chips - with the members for Johnston and Arafura, after a hard day in this place. It was nice to sit down and have a nice 10 minutes together to know that the world is not all about what is in this place.
I appreciate some of the private conversations we have had. I would love to talk a little more about some of the religious matters we have discussed from time to time, because that is also an important part of our life. I appreciate the times we have discussed matters like that. I have also enjoyed your anecdotes about the electorate of Nightcliff. You told of some of them tonight. I actually knew some of them already. Nightcliff is certainly different in some ways but, as the member for Goyder would say, the rural area can be different as well. I thank you for all your hard work; it is not easy to be the Speaker. You can be under a fair bit of pressure, and I understand when you have a parliament that is 12:12:1 that is even probably more difficult, but I appreciate that.
I also know that your own personal matters, especially with your health, have been difficult, but you have come through those. I believe that is partly due to your faith as well. If you keep that faith, you will get through. We have to have faith, no matter what our problems are, so we can get through those issues and come out the other side. I appreciate everything you have done.
I better go to Ross, because I have to go to my sister last. Ross, when you came in I did not know who you were actually, but I do now. You would make a great Independent, by the way. We had another Independent over here for a while, and we could have joined together at one stage and nearly made a party.
Ross, I have come to know you, and listened to what you had to say in parliament, and you make a lot of good common sense. There is a problem sometimes in politics - and I will say to the CLP, do not always judge people because they may not look like the best performer, or they may not have a big, high profile. From talking to people who know you and from what you have said in parliament, I know you are a good bloke and have worked, and are still working, for your electorate, and you had a great relationship with the youth in your electorate. That is something you should be proud of.
I do not know what your future will be. I hope you continue in this area. However, one of the great things I enjoy, although I am a bit older than you – I do not feel old, by the way – is working with youth. That is why I like to umpire football. That is why I like to get out to Freds Pass and talk to the kids. You, I believe, have done that extremely well, because all the comments I have heard is that young people in your electorate appreciate what you are doing. I thank you for that. You are, sort of, my neighbour, electorally. When you are rural, and when you are Palmerston, you might as well be as far away as Alice Springs sometimes.
I thank you for all that hard work you have done, especially for young people. If you do consider having a go in this area again, I would certainly support you. So, well done and thank you for all your hard work.
To my sister - I am not sure that is the right word, because my grandson by my wife’s sister is sitting up there . He especially came there today just to hear what I had to say about you, and he has gone off to sleep. Thank you, Harry. He might be awake. Harry Morgan is up there - named after my father-in-law. I think he might be awake.
I have a special connection with Marion because she is Tiwi. I spent seven years of my life on the islands and two of my kids were brought up there. I found the best way to learn about culture, which was to umpire football there for seven years. If you want to get culture - you get culture!
The thing I like about Marion is the Tiwi in her. There are no holds barred when there needs to be no holds barred, but there is also compassion when there needs to be compassion. Tiwi people are some of the finest people you will find; they can be tough as nails, but they can also be just people you would like to go up and hug - they are beautiful people.
All of the things that you said about Nguiu shire council and the way the island was, is dead right. It is so sad to see the changes which are occurring because the Tiwis, for me, are very special. Sometimes, people talk about people losing their land is the reason why there is all this dislocation. The sad thing is the Tiwi’s have never lost their land, yet, they have these same issues other places have. However, we must live with hope because there are good people over there. There are good women - I saw the women dancing here during the Bombing of Darwin celebrations - strong Tiwi women. It was just so great to see people I knew when I lived over there. There is hope and I do not think we should give up on that.
I believe Marion brought to this parliament not only her Aboriginality - I really enjoy we have had so many Aboriginal members in this parliament. It shows the Territory does have opportunities for those who want to take up those opportunities - whether they are Aboriginal, a woman, or what they are, they can have a chance in this Territory to do something. We have had a number of Aboriginal people in this parliament. It just goes to show you can, even if you are Aboriginal, be equal with anyone else in this place.
Marion has shown that; she stood up to anyone. I have been the butt of a few comments from time to time, especially around a certain subject called the Environment Protection Agency. We did not have an Environment Protection Agency for a long time. Some of us went away to Tasmania – no, it was not Tasmania; South Australia I think it was - and looked at setting up an Environment Protection Agency. When we came back, we gave these recommendations - it was a bipartisan group - on how an EPA should be set up. Then, all of a sudden, the government decided to do something. We got an interim EPA and an interim EPA Version 2. Then, there was a Version 3 …
Ms Scrymgour: Oh, come on - only one.
Mr WOOD: Well, I exaggerate slightly. Anyway, we had some great debates on the EPA. In the end, Marion wrinkled her nose, told me I was wrong but, in the end, we ended up with an EPA. Much of that was to do with the member for Arafura. She worked through that, and we got what I believe is actually a model EPA today - not too big, not bureaucratic, but independent - and it does the job. Much of that goes back to Marion.
I went on various committees with Marion. We have been on the CTC since Day 1. What you find out with Marion is she might belong to the Labor Party, but when we are on the CTC, she does not belong to the Labor Party - I can tell you: Independent. When she was on the first substance abuse committee, she had great input. She did not mind standing up to people in Alice Springs who decided to pick on her because she talked about the protection of children then. She has always been very independent.
I did try to stop her from smoking and all that sort of thing. I hope that she has given up ...
Ms Scrymgour: Ten months, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: Ten months. There you are, that is terrific to hear. I remember seeing her at the Bluestone Motel in Tennant Creek in the morning outside in her pink pyjama’s smoking before breakfast, and that was not a pretty sight!
Ms Scrymgour: At least they were pink! At least I had pyjamas on!
Mr WOOD: That is right. I reflect we were working but we enjoyed each other’s company as members of parliament. We were out to do a job, and they bring back good memories for me.
Member for Arafura, I also remember you were an Independent. For a while in this parliament, there were three of us - not for very long, but there were three of us. It was a popular ideal of some members in this parliament for some time. I will always remember that as a strange quirk in the operations of this parliament.
I thank you very much for all the hard work you have done. I know you are passionate about the Tiwis, you are passionate about all Aboriginal people, and you are passionate about Territory people. I do not believe you are going to go away. You told me you will not be going away. Sis, you have had some tough times in your life - personal as well - but you have got through those. With your family and your six grandchildren you have other things to look forward to as well. You may have more time for family - even though I know you will be working hard, you might have a little more time for family. All the best. I will see you around, I am sure. Aunty Marjorie will be keeping an eye on you and making sure your family is looking after Harry well, and we will see you around.
In closing, Madam Speaker, when I talk about the three Independents who were in this parliament once, we are coming to the end of an agreement I had with the Chief Minister. It has been a very unusual period in my life from a political point of view. It has not been an easy road. I remember saying in parliament when I had to make a decision on what I would do is all I have done is give myself much work, which is what I have had to do. I have had to do more work than I realised. I have had very little family life. I probably did not have much before that, but I have certainly had less. What has happened in the last four years, regardless of whether people agree with my decision, I did for what I believed was the right reason; that was, for the good governance of the Northern Territory. People may not agree with me; however, I sleep well at night thinking that was the right decision to make. Nothing will change my view on that, regardless of what happens after the next election or what people say.
I need to thank special people who have helped me through this time. My wife, Imelda. Sometimes, it nearly gets to the stage where I have to get a swipe card to get into my house because she is not sure what I look like. In some ways, it has brought us closer together than ever before, which is probably a bit strange because we might have been at the other end of the spectrum, sometimes, through these difficult times. I really thank her for her support. It is 39 years in August since we were married, so it has been a fair while and …
Ms Scrymgour: Testament of a good woman, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: ... I thank her for the good times and the bad times - but we got through.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WOOD: I also thank good friends such as my sister Trish Butler, and people like Mark Brustolin, who have been my great supporters. I thank my daughters, Angela, Caroline, Jojo, and Keith and my grandchildren, Jason, Jimmy, Wilhelmina, and William.
I have to thank two special people who have helped me probably more than ever. One is Kim my electorate officer - tough as nails, likes a VB, a good smoke, a bet on the TAB, as down to earth as you could ever get. I love her because she is a great lady and has supported me through hard times - and we have had some difficult times - and she works so hard for the community. I believe the community realises they have someone who is very much a rural person.
Of course, I have to thank Michelle - she has just gone home. Without Michelle, I would not have got through these years. She worked 18 years at the Wildlife Park. I happened to have a conversation one day and said: ‘I need someone to give me a hand as a research officer’. She happened to be listening to the conversation and said: ‘What does it entail?’ I said: ‘If you want to put a CV in I will look at it’. She had that CV back to me in no time, about two pages of it. You wonder sometimes whether people are being held at a level well below their potential. She has never looked back. I must admit the first day I gave her a piece of legislation she nearly died because it is a bit hard to take. However, she has worked so hard in the job, and given me total support through thick and thin ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, can you start winding up, please? There has been a fair bit of latitude in this one.
Mr WOOD: Yes, I will, Madam Speaker. I thank her very much for all the hard work she has done. It has certainly been appreciated. In summary, thank you to all the members of parliament who are finishing today; I appreciate everything you have done for the Territory, regardless of your political affiliations. You have done well for the Territory.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I place on the record my regards and thanks to the retiring members. I will do this by way of seniority.
Madam Speaker, you being the most senior, I thank you for your efforts in the management of this House. I know I have not always made your job easy, but I have always approached my work with a view to defending the requirements of this side of the House, as is my job of the leader of opposition business. However, you have always conducted yourself with dignity. You have always attempted to conduct your job with as fair a hand as possible. May I say, though, for the record, it was not a flippancy last sittings, it was a genuine point of order. However, that is all ancient history.
The work you have done for the people of the Northern Territory is substantial. I am a great believer in the democratic process, and it is your Speaker’s hand on the tiller, which defends that democratic process as much as anything else in this place. I thank you for your grace, service, and dedication, and I wish you all the very best of good health, and a long and prosperous life.
To the Leader of Government Business, Chris Burns, we have had an odd relationship over the last few years. I recall an incident which I know you regret. I do not want to dwell on it. Suffice to say, upon reflection, I understand what came out was not quite what you intended under the circumstances. The penalty you have paid at your own hand because of an ill-considered moment has been greater than any penalty that could have been afflicted upon you by anyone else. When you go on to life, as far as I am concerned, there is no residual issue. I believe you learned from that process and became a much better politician in this House. I have noted your performances, strident and aggressive as they have been, have established boundaries. If anything has come out of that, if a better quality of politician has grown within you, then something good has come of it.
I have watched you as a minister, particularly in recent times. We know there was no penalty attributed to making decisions, and your ministry has improved vastly in recent times. I thank you for the service you have provided for the people of the Northern Territory and wish you a good, long and healthy life and all the best and happiness.
To Marion, one thing that has always struck me about you is you are a conviction politician. I spent many years in the bush in Central Australia as a representative of Aboriginal people and I am all too painfully aware of what you are talking about when you talk about it. I may not agree with everything you say and the conclusions you come to, but I have no doubt your belief in trying to do things for the people in the bush is real. Should there be a change of government after the election - that is in the hands of the voters, so I have no idea - if you ever want to pursue matters on behalf of the Aboriginal people or Territorians, my office door will be open to you because of the integrity and conviction you have brought to the work you have done. I commend you for that. As for the other two ministers, I wish you long, prosperous, healthy and happy lives.
Finally, Rosco. What do I say about Rosco? The greatest compliment I was ever paid by another politician was Tim Baldwin, who said to me after an election loss, on the quiet: ‘Mate, if there was ever anybody I would want in the trenches next to me it would be you’. That was because of some of the issues which were surrounding the Country Liberals at the time, and once I had made a decision I took my position. I have not forgotten that, because I take it as an extraordinary compliment.
Ross, if there was anybody I would ever want in the trenches next to me, it would be you, because I do know your sense of loyalty is dogged. It is given without too much expectation in return. It is your greatest feature, in my opinion. Do not ever lose your sense of loyalty, because it defines you, it tells me who you are, and it is your identity. You work hard, you care a lot, and you are loyal to an extraordinary degree. I would trust you with my life tomorrow. I wish you a long, prosperous. and healthy life.
Madam Speaker, with that, I thank everybody else for their efforts through this Assembly. No matter what happens in the election, I wish everybody the best for the future.
Mr McCARTHY (Barkly): Madam Speaker, I complete an adjournment I started in the last sittings. It is about the 2012 Great Big Golden Heart. This award is the biggest golden heart of them all, and is awarded to someone whose community spirit, care, and dedication to task is admired by all in Tennant Creek and the Barkly. This award went to someone who has worked quietly and tirelessly over many decades to make Tennant Creek and the Barkly a better place.
She is a an eternal mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother who has taken in and raised so many children even she cannot remember how many. This person is also a keeper and teacher of Aboriginal culture, and never misses an opportunity to share her knowledge of bush medicine, bush foods, traditions, and culture with those who want to know more. Further, this person is one of our oldest activists, championing the rights of women, children, Aboriginal people, and the community in general. She is currently one of the main traditional elders leading the campaign against the construction of a nuclear waste dump on her traditional homeland at Muckaty. The winner of the 2012 Great Big Golden Heart Award is Bunny Nabarula.
On that theme of golden hearts, I would like to also bid farewell to colleagues - farewell in a political sense. I hope we will be able to keep in touch very much as Territorians in a personal sense. They are to Hon Jane Aagaard MLA, the member for Nightcliff; to Hon Marion Scrymgour MLA, the member for Arafura; and Hon Chris Burns MLA, the member for Johnston.
Picking up on Chris’ analogy about football, I would like to use an analogy of the football I play and love; that is, Rugby League. First of all, Madam Speaker, if I was putting a team together of political colleagues, you would be played at full back. Full back is a class position, Madam Speaker. The full back is a thinking player, a smart player, and a player who covers the whole of the field, and has that vision about the whole of the field in both attack and defence. In strategic plays, the full back comes into the line looking for opportunities. In your role as an MLA, as a minister, and in the role of Speaker, I thank you for all your work in the Labor Party and in governments over the years.
For me, personally and professionally, thank you very much, because you have shown me so much more about politics, particularly in your role as Speaker, with bringing parliament to the people and bringing people to the parliament; parliament being the people’s House. There is some incredible work you have done. You have certainly made me feel very welcome and very inclusive with your wonderful functions and activities and, on a personal note, your very warm care and concern. I appreciate those phone calls on a Sunday night, when you used to ring me early in the term I joined in 2008. It was not only giving me good, solid political advice, I always felt there was always that extra care and concern to make sure I was okay, and I was staying on track and learning about being a good member of parliament.
To Marion, I would put you as half back. The half back is a fast and furious player, and half backs are invariably cheeky - proper cheeky, Marion. The half back has contact with all the players on the field. The half back feeds the ball to the big guys; the half back moves within the backs. They are a very strategic, pivotal player to keep the team moving.
Marion, as an elite, Indigenous role model, and a role model for women, you should feel very proud of your work you have undertaken, before politics and in politics. I am sure you will go on after politics. Thank you for all the great advice, and that really important advice around Indigenous Territorians. I particularly value those challenges you have put up in Caucus, your lead and your sense of Territorians and your understanding of Territorians, and it is that sensitivity people in government need to factor into policy development.
The next one, of course, is Chris Burns. I would run you at lock, minister, because the lock binds the whole team together. The lock is a very important position which moves with the forwards and the backs. The lock can take on the big guys up the middle, no problems. The lock also moves with the faster running players in the back line, and that is what you have brought as a senior minister: your outstanding work as a member of parliament, as an MLA and, of course, as Leader of Government Business. As the lock, you shoulder a heavy amount of the workload, and you are an organiser of the players. As a new person to politics, a new MLA and a new minister, I have valued your advice and your leadership. The lock leads by example. When the lock says we go, we go, but you can always depend on that player being right beside you in the thick of it. I thank you very much, Chris, for that wonderful lead.
I also reflect on the three members who are leaving the Labor Caucus. As a Territorian who came here quite a number of years ago, and with a Labor Party background, I went through the struggles in those early years. I was very much behind the scenes. I remember well - I will never forget it - when a Labor government took charge of the Northern Territory and the Labor flag went up the pole. There were many people celebrating much hard work. You guys were our pioneers and we will never forget that. You guys took over and led the charge. You formed a team, and that team started to change the policy focus and the delivery for all Territorians.
I say farewell in politics, but I hope to stay in touch because, Jane, Dawn and I really respect you and we would love to have you continue as a friend in Darwin in such a hip and groovy electorate as Nightcliff. It makes us feel proud to know we have a friend in Darwin we can call on.
Marion, I still have this burning desire to visit the Tiwi Islands, and I need you, as a very respected person, to introduce me to the people of the Tiwis on country. I look forward to being able to fulfil that ambition one of these days soon.
To Chris, rumour around the Labor Caucus is you are putting together one of the best off-road fishing rigs you can. I am good for changing spare wheels, I will dig you out of bogs, and I am not bad as a camp oven cook. So, please, I would love to be on a fishing trip some time, or wherever you choose, and I hope to keep in contact.
For Ross Bohlin, good on you, mate! It has been great to work with you. I wish you all the best in your future as well. It is a great learning curve, as you said, and it is something you will take with you and reflect on. It will certainly add to your life experience and opportunities as well, having been an elected community leader and gone out there and represented your constituency.
As a member of the Eleventh Assembly, I thank everybody who is involved. There is an amazing amount of work which goes on to run a parliament. I have been learning every step of the way. I am returning to an electorate I love and putting it on the line. I am hoping, as a former teacher, to be judged worthy of my report card and to return to the Twelfth Assembly. I will be doing my best. I take that report card in good faith, which is endorsed by a rock solid Henderson Labor government, because we have some very good stories to tell. We have the plans and the policies to continue the good work. Our three members we are farewelling, no doubt, will be celebrating that as a legacy of their hard work over a decade representing Labor, Madam Speaker.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, this afternoon I place on the public record on behalf of the wider community our appreciation and recognition of the contribution of an outstanding Territorian: Nancy Giese AO OBE MBE, affectionately known as Nan.
Nan Giese arrived with her husband, the late Harry Giese, 58 years ago, to a very different Northern Territory, both physically and socially. It was smaller and isolated, most things came by sea or rail and slow trucks, and hardly got here sometimes. You were isolated during the Wet Seasons. It was a great challenge which those pioneering Territorians - both before and through the 1950s and 1960s - faced before we started to get some of the great amenities we have today.
It was a closer community in those days, and the community was always on the lookout for good, reliable people to become involved - and get involved they did, Harry in public administration and Nan involved in things such as education, her children’s school’s parents groups, the arts, community Aboriginal affairs, politics, and a whole range of other interesting aspects of life in Darwin of that era.
Raising a family in Darwin then had very different challenges than today and, with two kids and so many other extra external activities, it was very challenging for Nan. After her children finished school, Nan furthered her involvement in her passions which were education, community development, the North Australian Eisteddfods, the Arts Council of Australia, and the Darwin Community College, just to name a few.
With a level of passion, knowledge, and experience, Nan Giese was in high demand to chair and participate in local community groups which were much in need of some leadership and direction. This, obviously, led to her eventual appointment as Chancellor of the Northern Territory University, continuing on as Chancellor when the Northern Territory University changed its name to the current Charles Darwin University. I remember very well enrolling in the Northern Territory University in 1988 when it first opened. I say a personal thanks for the efforts to progress what was then the Darwin Community College through to the Northern Territory University and, then, on to the Charles Darwin University.
Without people like Nan and her team working on the governments of the day, we would not have the institution we have today. It may have eventually come, but it would probably look a whole lot different. We are lucky to have had Nan at the helm leading the charge to get further education available for Territory kids. My personal thanks to Nan and her family for that.
There is also an e-mail I received from Captain Richard Teo, who sent me an e-mail and asked me if I was going to speak on this, if I would just say a few words on his behalf. I will quote it:
There are few other things later in the e-mail but, predominately, that is what he asked me to say. It is signed:
Madam Deputy Speaker, Nan Giese was an inspiration to many in the community throughout her life. She demonstrated women were just as capable of doing a wide variety of things in an era where things had to change, and things were changing. It was still very challenging for a young woman with a family to be influencing and changing the culture of Darwin at the time. She did that whilst raising a very successful and well-adjusted family. I know some of the family, especially Dr Richard Giese, who was my doctor for many years and my wife’s doctor for about 28 years. They are fine young people, obviously as a result of their parents influence.
Nan Giese achieved so many things for her community and her fellow Territorians. It is very fitting that Nan Giese was recognised for her efforts and, appropriately, was awarded not only many local community awards, but some greater awards, being Membership of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the community in 1971. She was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for service to education, arts and to women in 1977. She was also made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for the development of Territory education in the Northern Territory and to the visual performing arts in 1997. She was given a Centenary Medal for services to higher education as a founding member of the Northern Territory University Board in 2001.
Nan is survived by her daughter, Diana, and son, Dr Richard Giese, and his family. Those people have every right to be very proud of their mother’s contributions which benefit so many people, both socially and culturally, in the development of the Northern Territory.
Nan Giese’s legacy is that many Territorians she befriended and inspired will continue the good work she started and continued up until her passing. As someone who made a huge contribution and a difference, Nan Giese stands as a shining example to us all. May she rest in peace.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr STYLES: I would like to refer to those retiring members. To my colleague, Ross Bohlin, the member for Drysdale, I was there right at the beginning. I can remember sitting in an office at Peter McAulay Centre at Berrimah when Ross spoke to me saying he wanted to go into politics. We had a conversation. It is interesting because when that door opened, one closed on a police career and a new one opened. Ross, you would agree it is a massive learning curve when you come into this business. It does not matter how long you have been in it on the outside, when you are on the inside it is a massive learning curve.
That door closed on the police department and this one opened. My understanding is when this one closes, you have a broad range of experience across so many different areas you will probably make twice as much money as the rest of us because you are, as the member for Nelson said, a very good bloke. One thing people cannot take away from you is that you are a good bloke. You are dedicated, a good mate, and if anyone needs a hand you are always there. For that, I thank you because we have had some great conversations over the last four years. For your friendship and what you have been able to assist me with, thank you very much.
I would also like to talk about the member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour. When you come into this House, Madam Deputy Speaker, as you know and everyone has discovered, it is not quite what you expect. Some things you expect and it is totally different, and some things you do not expect and they hit you fair and square in the face. It is an interesting journey. I remember when I first came into the House, you sit on this side and look across to other side - I recall in a book - although I cannot remember the name of it - about an uncle sitting in parliament and his nephew had just been elected. He came in and his nephew said to him, ‘Well, uncle, there is the enemy across the other side there,’ and he said, ‘No, son, they are the opposition; the enemy is sitting behind you’. That is a very interesting analogy, but it is a good joke.
The people on the other side are not necessarily the enemy, although they are our opposition. Although we do not always agree philosophically, I did find as you travel through the journey of a session of the parliament of the Northern Territory, you get to know some of the people who sit opposite you. I have come to respect quite a number of the people who sit opposite me, even though we have different philosophical beliefs and policies. You have to admire and give credit where it is due to some of the people over there.
Member for Arafura, one of the greatest things which cemented my respect for you was the time I spent with you on the youth suicide select committee, where I saw your depth of passion for youth. I share that passion and am so grateful I had the opportunity to sit on that committee with you. You realise where people come from, and they are very strong in their convictions; that we can both be on the same page and, hopefully, achieve results in that area. When you leave this House, whatever you do - I refer to the conversation we had during Estimates - I sincerely hope you pursue the issue of youth suicide and work in the community.
As the member for Port Darwin said, whatever happens, opposition or government, my door is always open and I will assist you in any way, shape. or form to pursue that issue. Thank you very much and good luck to you and your family for the rest of your life.
To Madam Speaker, as a former neighbour - I do not know whether people know that Jane and I were neighbours in Nightcliff. It was good to have some quiet neighbours who did not party all night, although you had a few good social functions and I loved your coloured lights in the back yard. At least those parties did not go on forever. There are many things I would like to thank you for. One is your efforts to remain impartial and to govern this place in a fair and equitable way. I give you credit because I imagine trying to referee this place is very difficult and challenging. You have done a very good job and you have done it with integrity and finesse. Thank you for your efforts in trying to keep us all in line.
I saved this one for last because, when I first came into this House, the member for Johnston, as I look over - I do not know about analogies, I do not know whether I want to use the word ‘old’, but ‘war dog’ is something that comes to mind. I hope I do not offend the member for Johnston if I say ‘old war dog’. When I first came in here - as I said, there are things that smack you right in the face. It is interesting because the member for Johnston is very good at debating and putting an argument. I have respect for your ability to run an argument, member for Johnston. Irrespective of whether I agree with you, I respect your ability, tenacity and commitment, not only to this place, but to your party. I inherited a very well-looked-after portion of Wagaman in the redistribution. I am doorknocking that area at the moment, and all of the people I speak to know who Chris Burns is. They all say Chris Burns is a nice bloke and he does a good job. That is testament to the type of person you are, irrespective of the side of politics you are on. You work hard, you have looked after people, and you have done a fine job.
I thank all the retiring members. Thank you for the opportunity to share four years with you; it has been fabulous. I will say a few thank yous, given this is the last opportunity I have in this session of parliament. I thank my electorate officer, Dee Davies, for her fabulous work and ongoing support. I thank my branch and its members, in particular Ronnie Baker and John Moyle. Last, but not least, I thank my wife - I can say that now, as we married on 25 May.
Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for your consideration when I applied to utilise facilities in this place. Linda and I had a fabulous time and your staff were amazing - from the security people to the caterers. We had a fantastic wedding reception here and have a lifetime full of memories.
I thank Linda, who I have been with for 18 years, for her support and ongoing care and consideration for the time I spend looking after my constituents. Linda, thank you very much. To all here, good luck in the elections.
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, ladies first, member for Daly. This is the end of the Eleventh Assembly and, for me, it is the end of my first term. It has been a roller-coaster four years as a new member, but I know from many members on this side, as well as on the other side, there is no certainty any of us will be back here after 25 August, with the exception of the four members who are retiring from this Assembly.
In particular, I note the three members from this side - you, Madam Speaker; the member for Johnston; and the member for Arafura - who are all retiring. I note the incredible resilience, honesty, integrity, hard work, commitment, and the conviction politics each of you have brought to this Chamber, your unwavering sense of service to your constituents and to Territorians, as well as your unshakable sense of commitment and social justice and to all people having a fair go.
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge and thank you for the strong support you have provided me personally. You have been a marvellous tutor. Sitting in that Chair is probably one of the scariest things I had to do when I first arrived in this Chamber. It still has its moments but, without your support, it would have been so much harder. Like the member for Barkly, I appreciated the telephone calls I received from you around this time four years ago, as the candidate heading into an election campaign. Whilst we had never met, your phone calls were a great source of strength and encouragement to me.
Over the past four years, you and I have had many conversations about politics, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association, Labor politics, and life in the job over many cups of tea - and, for me, occasionally a glass of wine - after hours. I valued those conversations we had about our work, constituents and families. As we know, first and foremost it is our families that are important to us, although sometimes that is difficult when we have such incredible workloads. I have always enjoyed and admired your very dry sense of humour. Knowing your somewhat regal disposition, your immaculate and impeccable sense of dress and decorum, I am not surprised you were mistaken for the Queen when visiting an old folks’ home. I can imagine that.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for your contribution to this House, to the Territory, and to me personally. I will always value and remember it. I am pleased you are not leaving the Territory as I am not either. I am sure we will be in touch.
The member for Arafura, Ms Scrymgour, I remember when I first entered this House, you probably did not remember the first time we met. It was when I was a very cranky member of a childcare committee in Nhulunbuy. You were the Minister for Children and Families and you were accompanied by Clare Martin at a women’s forum about the need for additional places. I never realised then that some years later I would become a colleague of yours. The first time I came here for a Caucus meeting, I raced straight from the airport to here and received a call from you in the taxi on the way. You asked me where I was and if I was on the way, then you met me out the front and whizzed me through corridors. It was like a maze; I had no idea where I was. In that very brief conversation through the corridors on our way into my first Caucus meeting, I recall you shaking your head and saying, ‘Gee, this is a dirty game, this politics. This is a dirty game’. I thought to myself, welcome to politics; what have I got myself in for?
With you, member for Arafura - as I observed each member in this House - I saw your highs and lows. The lows take a toll on an individual and their family. I have certainly felt for you during those times. I have also admired you for all of the highs you have gone through and the real and sustainable change you have brought through this parliament for women, children, and Indigenous Territorians as well. I have enjoyed sharing time on the backbench with you. It has been a wonderful time for you to recuperate and be able to reconnect with your electorate. If there is one thing I see, for members on this side who have ministerial responsibilities in Cabinet, to divide their time between those responsibilities and their electorate - recognising there are a number of bush members on this side who have sizeable electorates to get around - the pull between the fifth floor and ministerial responsibilities and electorates is very tough.
What I have observed in you, member for Arafura, is you have had that time to re-engage with your electorate. Every other spare moment you and I have been on parliamentary committees such as the Council of Territory Cooperation, which has done good and achieved some really positive things for the Northern Territory and Territorians. I wish you well, Marion.
I am so pleased you have given up smoking. Please stay off the fags. I will be watching you because we want to see you live a long and happy life and enjoy all those wonderful grandchildren of yours, and your husband, David, who I know to be a strong person by your side.
In the same way, Elizabeth Burns is a very strong woman alongside the member for Johnston. My goodness, what a hard act to follow the member for Johnston is. I met Chris a number of years ago when he attended a branch meeting in Nhulunbuy. Syd Stirling had told me an awful lot about him, about his history. What I have observed is an incredible capacity to work hard and to adapt and get across information. The member for Johnston must have held just about every portfolio possible within Cabinet, and he relishes every one of them. He relishes every aspect of the job. There is no doubt you relish being in this parliament and being part of debate. You relish Estimates, and I know you have relished the work you did as a backbencher when you were on committees and on top of that, obviously, the most important work as the local member supporting your constituents.
If I can use some terminology from my English teaching days, you also have an extraordinary capacity to construct and deconstruct text. That is a very rare talent for people to be able to do on their feet, and you do it absolutely, incredibly, amazingly well. Most recently in your years as the Education minister I have enjoyed working with you, member for Johnston, as parliamentary secretary for Education and Training. I thank you for the rigour you have brought to that role. There is nothing more important than education. It is at the core of everything for growing the Northern Territory and, in particular, our Indigenous communities. We will continue to grow on the work done, not only by you, but successive Education ministers. That includes you, member for Arafura, as well as the Chief Minister, and former member for Nhulunbuy, Syd Stirling.
In one of the visits to my electorate, even Bruiser got a mention. We were visiting Nhulunbuy Primary School and were in a classroom of kids. We had that amazing SMART Board technology. The minister, who never had any difficulty in engaging with people no matter who they were, pulled out his mobile phone, put it down such that the image was shown on the screen, and started to tell the children this was Bruiser his dog. Then, he said to the kids: ‘Who has a dog at home?’ Of course, all the hands went up and you could hardly shut them up.
I am going to finish there. I thank each and every one of you - and I include in that the retiring member for Drysdale, Rosco. Thank you for the contribution you brought to this House. You are a very popular member in your electorate; I have heard that from many people. I have enjoyed your good sense of humour; you bounce back; There is nothing nasty about you. I know you are not a truck, even though you might think you are.
Madam Speaker, most certainly, the Northern Territory and this parliament is a better place for all of you for your contribution over the years. Thank you and good luck.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): Madam Speaker, as it is the last sitting day of this term, I put on the record my thanks to the people of Fong Lim. It is an extraordinary honour to be elected to any parliament, and the greatest honour the community can bestow on an individual is to put them into parliament. We are seeing the retirement of four members today, but the fact is, as sure as God made little apples, when we come back into this parliament things will have changed greatly.
Having said that, it is probably fair to say there is no certainty in this for any of us. I certainly do not feel I am somehow special and will find my way back here. It is going to be a long, hard and tough election campaign. But, I can tell you, the last four years have been an extraordinarily wonderful honour for me to have served in this parliament.
I often sit and think it is almost like there is an incredible community hatred for politicians – well, maybe not community hatred, but media hatred. Every time you pick up a newspaper or turn on the television, you get this impression we are a bunch of pigs with our snouts in the trough, hurling insults at one another. That is an extremely sad thing, because the reality is, parliaments - whether it is this parliament, parliaments anywhere in Australia for that matter - are made up of honourable people.
It surprised me, when I was first elected into the federal parliament, when some of the people I had already built up perceptions and preconceived ideas about, when I actually met them, they were absolutely wonderful, decent human beings; people who you want to spend time with. One in particular stands out - Peter Garrett. I was never a fan of Midnight Oil - could not stand the music, and could not stand his political views. In my generation of people, Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil were extremely popular, and I felt very much alone in my views on Peter Garrett. Then, when he was elected into federal parliament I had the wonderful honour of sitting down with him a couple of times in the staff cafeteria. I tell you, he is a wonderful, decent gentleman to talk to. The old adage that you never discuss politics or religion if you want to be friends with people is a good bit of advice. You should not judge people solely by their religion or by their politics in order to gauge their decency or not. The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of people elected into parliaments are not elected by accident. The fact is, they have to be good people in order to be elected. That is something we should always remember.
The other thing which concerns me is this view that we come into this place and bicker - we do. Some people have the view that is a bad thing. I have a view quite the opposite. The more we fight, the more robust the debate, the better the democracy we have. I recall reading a book written by an American, Bill Bryson, called Down Under. I do not know whether too many people here have read it. He made commentary on Australia and, in one of his chapters, he said he had never seen a nation of people who argue so much. He said Australians will argue about anything. They will argue about two flies crawling up a wall …
Mr Wood: And bet on it.
Mr TOLLNER: And bet on it, as well. However, that is the strength of our democracy. I do not think, as parliamentarians or legislators, we should really try to curb too much of the debate, the fighting, and the abuse which occurs in these places, because we do not want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Strong, vicious, heartfelt debate is what makes Australia and the Northern Territory strong.
In this term, five parliamentarians have retired. Those five people joined an extraordinarily exulted and esteemed group - a small group because rarely, as a politician, do you have the ability to choose the time of your own departure. For the vast majority of politicians, your tenure in office is determined by a fickle constituency that can change, sometimes for reasons completely out of a parliamentarian’s control. I congratulate the five people who have retired this term. It is a rare honour to be able to choose your own departure.
I refer, first, to the former member for Araluen, Jodeen Carney who chose her own time of departure. She was a wonderful member. Today we are celebrating four other members who are retiring - four members for whom I have the highest regard.
Regarding the member for Drysdale, Ross Bohlin, I have to agree with the member for Port Darwin. I am unbelievably impressed by the member for Drysdale for his loyalty, tenacity and his desire to put the interest of others ahead of his. Ross, mate, life holds a great deal more for you yet. There is view that Ross did not have a great say, but Ross has done a great job in this parliament. He spoke on issues that matter to him and his constituency.
The member for Nightcliff, Madam Speaker, I do not know how many censures I moved on you. I know it has been a fiery time, but I value your friendship. You are a wonderful person and a great person to spend time with and share good times with. The beat-ups in parliament, for my side of things, have been maddening and, at the same time, a great deal of fun. I like to come into this place, as you are aware, and stir things up from time to time. It is good to see you are a good sport about it because, if you were not, it would be very difficult in this place.
I do not think I have moved a censure on you yet, member for Arafura. I might have run out of time. But, do not worry, member for Arafura, I am watching you. The member for Arafura is probably one of my greatest critics in this place. She is never scared to throw a barb my way and have a crack. It has been a marvellous time with Marion Scrymgour; she truly is a lovely lady. I am not going to discuss politics; I am talking about the individual. The member for Arafura is a marvellous individual who would be a great friend for anyone. She has been a very good friend to me.
My good friend, the member for Johnston - what a character. We are often reminded in this place of that great Simpsons character Montgomery Burns. The similarities are alarming ...
Dr Burns: I wish I was as rich as him.
Mr TOLLNER: I am quite surprised we have not seen any campaign posters with Montgomery Burns on them, or something along that line ...
Ms Scrymgour: You watch too much Simpsons.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, I probably do watch too much Simpsons. There are some great lines in there.
However, the member for Johnston is a fiery performer in the parliament. He has made great entertainment for me and, at times, listening to the member for Johnston wax lyrical about a whole range of things was quite entertaining. It does not really matter what side of the Chamber you are sitting on, the member for Johnston has done a great job of keeping us enraptured, enthralled, and keen to know what he is going to come up with next. In fairness, he has been one of the outstanding politicians of the era. It is sad to see you go, minister.
On a personal level, you have been a great help to me. Politics is our trade, and getting in there and having a go is what it is all about. You put up a fight as good as anybody. I have probably called you more nasty names in this House than I have called anybody. I hope I have not offended you too deeply. I know you have broad shoulders, a very thick skin, and a good sense of humour. Member for Johnston, I wish you well in the future. I hope dearly to catch up, on a regular basis, with all those retiring members.
Madam Speaker, you have been wonderful - a wonderful person, dear friend, and I would love to catch up with you. Member for Arafura, we will get over to the Tiwis and you can flog me around the head and tell me all the things I should not say and how I should not call you a girl even though you are a grandmother ...
Ms Scrymgour: I thought you were going to make that speech without mentioning that.
Mr TOLLNER: The member for Drysdale still has not taken me for a drive in his fast car. I am hoping somewhere down the track that might happen. To you guys, congratulations. You join an esteemed and exalted few. It is a great honour to choose the time of your departure. It is an honour the vast majority of us will not have. It is testament to you, as local members, and people in particular, the way you have been allowed to choose your time of departure.
There will be many people in this House who will not return. I might well be one of them - I am in a marginal seat. It has been an extraordinary honour for me being here with a wonderful bunch of people, and I wish everybody the best. Obviously, I do not wish my Labor colleagues who are running in the next election as much of the best as I do my side.
You have all been great people off the scene, and it often surprises people who do not know much about this House that we can come here at 2 pm, rip each other’s throats out, punch each other in the head, then walk outside and have a cup of coffee, a cigarette, a beer - or whatever we do in the Northern Territory - and enjoy one another’s company. For that, I am truly thankful. It has been wonderful being here with you.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Speaker, tonight I want to make a few comments and pay my regards to the retiring members. I have only been here seven years, but I have come to know each and every one of you extremely well.
I will start with you, member for Drysdale - Rosco. Much has been said from your side about your future job prospects, but you should have stayed on. You are a great local member. I have become involved in the Palmerston community through the seniors groups and know they hold you in high regard. There is nothing better than a very good local member and you were one - you are one - and it is a sad loss for that electorate. I am conscious of your struggle with keeping contact with your family - your daughter. You are a great father and she will know that. She will know your achievement of getting into this parliament and your time in this parliament and will respect you for that time. I hope for the next stage of your life you get to spend more time with her and your new partner, Hannah - an extremely lovely lady. She is probably too good for you, Rosco, but she is an extremely lovely lady and I hope you two have an extremely long and prosperous future.
I was wondering how long I have known Marion Scrymgour. It goes back about 14 or 15 years when we met at Timber Creek. Marion was working for the Commonwealth government and I was living at Timber Creek - a long time ...
Mr Tollner: We know what you were up to. We will wait until next term.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: You have more skeletons in your cupboard, Dave.
Marion has been a force of nature in our Caucus. Having met her briefly 14 or 15 years ago, then meeting her from time to time over the period 2001 when she was elected to 2005, then coming into the Caucus in 2005 and getting to know the workload imposed on members and the additional stress it puts on bush members. Being a bush member, I know the vast distances you have to travel, and that equates to time. It is time away from your family, and it wears you down. It is extremely rewarding. I could not be in an urban seat. You have to get out of town when you have had a hard day, a hard week, a hard sittings. It is great to hit the dirt, and getting amongst the bush and people who live in the communities or the small towns is really rewarding. However, it puts a strain on the family. It has put a strain on your health, Marion, and it is great to see your health is improving.
I will be fascinated to know where the next chapter of your life takes you. You have had an extremely varied career. Your best years are ahead of you. God help us, on the end of an e-mail or a text. We will have to change our numbers. Poor old Facebook will probably get a beating from now on.
You are a great local member, a great person, and I hope you enjoy some time to rest and really enjoy yourself. You have gone straight from a very busy professional career into politics. It is disconcerting to think of when I came into politics to now; it is like a blink of an eye. You realise you are 11 years older ...
Ms Scrymgour: Six grandchildren.
Mr KNIGHT: Yes, that is right. You have to spend the time and enjoy your family, enjoy your grandchildren, and enjoy the things you have not been able to. Good luck to you.
Madam Speaker, getting to know you over the many years - your health problems over the years showed your tenacity, your inner strength and your faith to get yourself through your physical, emotional struggle in a time this parliament was also tumultuous. You came through. You have held your head high and shown strength, leadership, and dignity. It is a true credit to your character. I, too, hope you get to enjoy your family and time around Nightcliff in the next chapter of your life. Nightcliff sounds like a very interesting place - leave your pants at the door, it seems.
It was tremendous in 2001 when you were able to win that seat, and hold that seat and increase your margin over time. That reflects your hard work in the Nightcliff area. So, good luck into the future.
To Chris Burns - Uncle Chris as I call him - there is a book many of us here should read. It is called, How To Be A Megalomaniac (or, Advice to a Young Politician). It is a fascinating book. One of the characters in it is Uncle Chris, a guiding influence in a young politician’s life and career. Chris has been someone I have watched over time, and is someone who inspires me with his energy, his tenacity for the political game, for keeping Labor and those social justice values front and centre, and in control of the policy and destiny of the Northern Territory. He is certainly somebody I truly admire. I do not think I will ever be able to achieve the forensic analysis Chris has undertaken on various speeches of members on the other side. I would hate to be on the other side receiving a forensic analysis of statements that have been made a week, a year, 10 years ago. It shows his commitment to the job and his dedication to the values we aspire to.
I am sure he, too, will move on to the next chapter of his life, with his new four-wheel drive and new boat, which I believe is still under construction. I hope one day to be pitching a tent at his little cabin on the north New South Wales coast, with his collection of characters who live there. I know you will enjoy your time with Liz - she has been a huge strength to you - and the kids. I hope you get to really enjoy your time with them.
I thank everybody else here in the Chamber as well. I genuinely wish you all the best - whether it is victory at the next election or moving on to another part in your life.
For this session of parliament, I have to thank my electorate officer, Sharon McAlear. She has been a tower of strength for me. She has been with me the full four years. She has put up with me and my constant demands to service a very big electorate. She has been of great value to me.
To all my ministerial staff, the DLOs for the various portfolios over time over the last four years, I thank them for all their hard work. All the best and we shall see what happens in nine weeks time.
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, last time you were in parliament, I wished all the best to the retiring members, so I will not cover the same ground, but the same sentiments still apply.
I thank the people of Alice Springs for their support over the last four years - not just the constituents of the electorate, but the residents of the suburb of Braitling. We have it done tough over the last four years. I say ‘we’ because I am part of the community and I take on the issues within that community personally; I take it on my shoulders and wear my heart on my sleeve. We have done it tough on issues around law and order, and a poor performing economy.
I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is going to be a long, hard battle. I hope there is a change of government so we can make that happen. The foundations of our reform for Central Australia will be heavily driven by pastoral, mining - not including mining exploration - and tourism industries. That will underpin our growth into the future. As we start to fix our economic woes, our social issues will start to heal themselves as more people are engaged in the broader economy. That is where we should be looking for the future. I take on board every issue anyone comes to see me about. That is why I speak with such passion about a number of these issues.
I start by thanking my wife, Tamara. Tamara has been a strong support for me in this job I have held for the last four years. I thank my electorate officer Tanya and her family, thank very much for their support. To the people who work here parliament, particularly you, Madam Speaker, and your office - thank you for the support you have provided. We have had some one-on-one chats from time to time. Thank you to Di Sinclair in the library and all the library staff. Di helps me; I am not an expert in Google or researching, but Di manages to help me with that. To the people in Hansard who manage to interpret my mumble and screaming. For the record, I have never drunk and spoke in parliament; I just mumble from time to time. I thank the Clerks and the staff members of Parliament House – from the security guards to the lovely cleaner who works the halls of parliament. To people who have worked in those jobs before; I always like to have a conversation to see how things are going. I thank my branch chair, Daniel Davis, and previous chairman, David Koch, for their hard work at the party level. I thank some close people who assist me on a regular basis: Jenny Lillis, Jo Golotta and Suzie Schroeder. There are a number of other people, including Jamie de Brenni and Geoff Booth who are good friends of mine and who I rely on heavily. I will not go through a long list of other people.
To the party, thank you very much. I thank Sue Fraser-Adams for her hard work over the last years. Congratulations to Tim Cross who is the new party president. I look forward to working with Tim. To Graeme Lewis, the Treasurer, who does a fantastic job, I wish him all the best with his health and his continuing efforts for the party. To the Management Committee and everybody who is involved, and all the other branches across the Northern Territory, particularly people I have a close relationship with and who provide me with advice and support, I thank you for your tenacious efforts over the last four years. I look forward to, if I am successful in this election, seeking your advice and guidance into the future. If not, I look forward to working with you anyway.
I thank many of the people I have looked up to and who have provided me guidance outside of the party. I am a person who is attracted to strong leaders and people with experience. I like to associate myself with people who share values, experience and knowledge I would like to learn from. There are many people on both sides of the Chamber. I have paid respect before to Dr Burns for the knowledge he has, his professionalism and the way he does his job. I would like to be able to learn those skills, which I mentioned to you today.
I thank those people who go unnamed I often sit back and look at and try to learn from. I really appreciate those people. One of those people is Jodeen Carney. Anyone who watched Jodeen’s ferocious efforts throughout Estimates processes should take note of the way she did her job. She was a terrier. If I could just gain part of her ability to do that job in that process - it does not matter what side of the table you are on - I would really like some of her ability to rub off on me.
To my parliamentary leader, Terry Mills - Terry has done a fantastic job over the last four years. As a person who has done much study in the field of management and team building and the like, he has taught us there are four main areas of building a team: the forming stage where everyone comes together, the storming stage where everyone finds their place, the norming stage where people start to get on with the job, and then the performing stage. As a team we have gone through those four elements. There is no doubt we came together after the 2008 election. We were storming a bit to find our place. We are in a position now where we have been norming. We have been doing our job - and doing our job well. We are now starting to perform as a team and working together as a good bunch of people who have skills and abilities across a wide range of areas.
Terry has done a fantastic job in bringing us together as a performing team, holding us together, and now driving us forward. I look forward to the next four years, should we be fortunate to form government, driving us forward and really getting the Territory back on track. So, congratulations to Terry, and to all our colleagues for holding it together while we went through that trying stage in team development. Any good team has to go through it - it does not matter if you are a football team, a netball team, a rowing team; that is how you build teams. We have done it and now we are excelling. So, congratulations, Terry.
On that note, it has been a job for four years. There have been many people who have helped out. I, once again, thank the people of Alice Springs, the Indigenous Territorians who I do a lot of work with in my portfolio role, people who live in the regions, people I associate with in the transport and infrastructure sector, and all those other people I talk to, for the support I get. I will continue to fight, whether you live in Braitling, Alice Springs, the regions or any other part of the Northern Territory. This is a great place. We are destined to be the capital of Australia within Southeast Asia. If we keep moving forward, as the member for Drysdale said in his speech, we will be well placed to represent and grow the livelihoods for all Territorians.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I do not think in the Northern Territory a truer example exists of an entity that is greater than the sum of the parts than the Northern Territory parliament. By the parts I mean the 25 people who sit in this House and, of course, all the support staff we have in the Legislative Assembly - the Clerk and the Deputy Clerks, Hansard and everybody else who works here. I believe it is important to remember the parliament of the Northern Territory is greater than any one individual in here.
We need to remember, regardless of what happens after the August election, that this place will be different. It may be better - and I certainly hope it is - it may be worse, but it will be different, even by virtue of the fact that, of course, three, or perhaps four of us will not be here after the next election. That is important. All of us here are individuals; we have our particular strengths and weaknesses. There are things about all of us which others admire, things people do not like about us, and things people see in us that they aspire to. That is what makes this such a good place; to have a mix of those types of people - different people, different views, different philosophies and different ways of looking at things. I believe it is important to point out that is how the whole things works. That is what makes it tick and work so well.
In reflecting on that, I think about some of the people who are leaving, and try to describe some of the attributes about those people which I respect. If I might, I will start with you, Madam Speaker. Jane, I have always found you very approachable. If I had to pick one thing about you that I particularly liked, that would be it. There is no pretence with you; you are always easy to get to, quick at returning phone calls and e-mails, and that stands you in very good stead amongst your colleagues - all 24 other of us sitting in the parliament. The way in which you conducted yourself with dignity and integrity in the Chair; I am sure it is a fairly difficult job sitting up there at times. It has its moments, but you did well.
I know you have been battling with some medical conditions. I hope you live long and healthy; that you are fully recovered - I am not sure if you are, but I hope you are - and, more importantly, you go on to enjoy your time post-politics because, like every job, there is a world beyond that job. So, please enjoy.
To the member for Arafura - Marion, you, of all the people in this House, are the person most likely to call a spade a spade, and I like that about people. I like direct people; people who are up-front and say it like it is. There is no doubt, Marion, you have a passion for your job. I do not know what you did before, although I know you were involved in setting up health services in Katherine. I imagine in your past roles - certainly in your current role up until now, and your future roles - you will take that passion and drive and be able to apply that in whatever you do.
I make the observation that where I sit in this House, it is almost the middle of a battleground between the member for Arafura and the member for Drysdale sitting behind me. I feel like I have the Yankees to the front of me and the Confederates to the back, because there is this constant thing happening between them - a bit of sniping from across the other side of the House, then Rosco gets in with his bit. It is that constant niggle. Sometimes, I could feel my head resonating with the interchange between the two. That has been an interesting time.
Marion, I hope you enjoy your retirement, you live life to the fullest on the Tiwis, and you find a place on a cliff overlooking the beach. Maybe we will visit you there one day.
Next is the member for Johnston, Chris Burns. Burnsie, this parliament - I said this about Jodeen Carney when she left - will be at a loss to not have you here any longer. Your contributions have been outstanding; certainly in the four years I have been here. I respect your intelligence and your ability to stand on your feet and prosecute arguments. You are the best parliamentary performer on that side of the House and you will be missed. I will miss you. I hope you enjoy your new Prado - you bought a Prado, didn’t you; we were talking about it - and you enjoy your retirement as well. It has been an interesting time sitting across here. You are a funny guy because, when you are looking at us across here - I feel it, I do not know what the others feel - we wonder what the hell you are thinking. We are wondering what you have up your sleeve. It is almost like mental games going across the Chamber. Burnsie, I wish you very well, I really do.
To my mate, Rosco - Ross and I were colleagues in a former life, but we had never met before we came into parliament. He worked in different places to me and, as happens across the Territory, you do not get to see all your colleagues. Over the last four years, we have become quite good mates. That friendship is built on an implied relationship all coppers seem to have; they just get along well with similar ideals and ideas about things. Rosco, no matter what you do - you are only a young bloke, 37, aren’t you?
Mr Bohlin: Thirty-nine.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Crikey – 39. You have many years left. You have much potential, Ross, to do whatever it is you want. You will do very well at it because, like many of the others in this House, you have much passion and drive.
If I had to think about a word to describe you - I know that the member for Port Darwin has used loyalty, as did the member for Fong Lim - I would say Ross Bohlin is a gentleman. He is a young gentleman, and that is really admirable, Ross. Going through this life, times, attitudes and people have changed. The art of genteel has been lost to some degree - that art of being a gentleman has been lost. Rosco, I reckon I am fairly chivalrous and not a bad bloke, but I reckon you are a real gentleman and I hope you always stay that way. Mate, I wish you well.
To everybody else in the House, thank you for the last four years. I feel as though this has been an apprenticeship. The four years in opposition I have had, have been an enormous learning curve. I hope, of course, we win government after 25 August, because that will be, I guess, the graduation from the apprentice to the master - certainly to the qualified tradesman. I hope we can do the Northern Territory proud. No matter what, I will be working very hard for the constituents of Katherine. It has been a pleasure being there for the last four years, because I, along with my town, have grown over that four-year period. It has been a wonderful ride and I have enjoyed it very much. It is a pleasure and an honour to be representing the people of Katherine.
In conclusion, I hope I do get to see you around the place, Jane, from time to time, and Chris and Marion. Rosco, of course, I have no doubt we will run into you, mate. I will expect to see the race car come through Katherine every now and then. Mate, you always have a place to stay, you know that.
So, good luck to everybody for 25 August and, to those retiring, I wish you well.
Mr CHANDLER (Brennan): Madam Speaker, tonight I talk on a number of things. First, really quickly, I thank everybody who was involved in the Estimates process this year. There must be an amazing amount of work which is carried out by the departments involved, not to mention Hansard staff who have to sit there and - unlike the parliament that starts later in the day, has a bit of a break at lunchtime, and then gets back into it - have long days. In Hansard they have to work all day, like a lot of other people in this building. The departments put so much work into it in the background, because they never know what we are going to ask and, often, when you are prosecuting a particular subject, they have no idea where you are going to go next. So, congratulations and well done.
To the retiring members of parliament, the member for Fong Lim mentioned something earlier, that when you get to choose the timing of when you retire, that is a pretty unique thing in the context of Australian politics, because not many politicians get to choose. Most people do not get that chance. We have seen it; Prime Ministers of our country can lose their seats during elections - nothing is guaranteed.
To those members who are retiring, and to my mate, Rosco, all the very best. I will start with you, Rosco, from our side. Rosco has been a wonderful friend over the last four years. I remember meeting Ross not long before the 2008 election. He impressed me from the outset. He was sitting in his police uniform, and I think I was in my council uniform at the time, and from the outset he impressed me greatly. The member for Katherine touched on it; he reminded me of a very young gentleman who came across as very intelligent. He had a very calming, smooth way about him, to some extent.
I have learnt that, if you knew his dad, you would probably understand a little more about Rosco. Rosco is a character, just like his father. His father said he is a big letdown - big letdown. However, I say that in jest; he is a wonderful character. The son both he and his wife produced has provided a dear friend for the last four years, as well as his contribution here in parliament.
That contribution will not go away; I know Rosco will be around for a long time yet. We have shared many a story and many a time together over the last four years, even if it was just a chinwag and a catching up for a coffee. We have been a great team with Terry, Ross, and me in Palmerston, helping many of the seniors groups there.
The only thing we have not had Rosco do is to join us in singing. We often like to have a sing with the oldies. Rosco is a good manager, but he has not participated in the signing. Rosco, all the very best, you know you will be missed here, but I am positive you will go on to bigger and better things.
Madam Speaker, of all the people in this place you have the absolute hardest job. How you remain in control with what happens in here sometimes is amazing to watch. I have always found you to be, as others have said, very approachable. In politics, if you can make someone feel more important than you are, you are a winner, and that is how I have always found you. I feel as I am the most important person you are speaking to. That is special in anyone’s mind. Your assistance, guidance, and bipartisan approach to this does not go unnoticed. I thank you for all that and all your support.
Minister Burns, you have been an absolute joy to work with, against - or however you want to frame it. When I first came into this Chamber I was not given the shadow portfolio of Education; I was given that guernsey along the way. The learning has been incredible; it has been a steep learning curve for me. In the last 12 to 18 months particularly, minister Burns has provided me with access to information and support, to be frank, I do not know whether many other ministers would have given me.
I have come to learn, though, that there was method in his madness. I found when you understand things a little better, when governments are facing challenges, and you become fully aware of those challenges because of the opportunities that have been given to you, it is harder to criticise. There is method in your madness because there are many times when I would be very highly critical of government’s position on an issue.
I have had experiences through people I have been associated with - there has been a personal learning journey there as well. The access minister Burns gave me to some of these remote communities – as you said, a warts and all approach. You need to see from the ground up some of the issues we face. If you go and see those issues, you come back with a completely different perspective. I know I have said it before, but the remote section of our education policy was torn up the moment I returned, because I knew it would not work, having gained an understanding of some of the challenges faced out there.
I know you have done many things in this House, minister. You have demonstrated to us how to prosecute. We learn from you and from others in this place. If there is one single thing I would like to thank and congratulate you on it is the Nemarluk Special School. You should be extremely proud; what a fabulous facility. I know a great deal of work has been done and there have been many challenges behind the scenes, but that is a first-rate facility. I congratulate you for the work you have put into it - well done.
To the member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, other members have said argy-bargy goes on in here. Out of all the people in here when this argy-bargy is going across the Chamber, your voice starts to get louder, and you are starting to press a point and so forth. She is one of the few members you can hear cutting through all that is going on. You sometimes stop in your tracks.
Again, I have learnt from everyone in here, and the member for Arafura is one of the people I have learnt from. One thing I have learnt, though, is the battle in here stops here – it absolutely stops here. I might be livid - absolutely livid - with something that has been said on the other side; and I am sure that happens the other way around. However, you walk out of this door, and it is: ‘How are you going; how is the family?’ You sit down and have a meal. It reminds me a little of WWE’s Wesley: when in the ring it is all happening, yet outside they are all friends. They might be on different teams, but they are all friends. The only thing that WWE has over this place is they seem to be able to draw a far bigger crowd, and they actually charge people to come and watch. That is exactly what it is like.
In finishing, Madam Speaker, to the people of Brennan in Palmerston, it has been my absolute privilege - an absolute honour - to represent you over the last nearly four years. I certainly am hoping that honour will be bestowed on me again, and I get another four years to represent you and your views. In the Palmerston electorate the positioning of my office is in the shopping centre. I have people from all over the place who come into that office, and there are certainly no boundaries when it comes to the people you help and represent. However, there are no guarantees in this job. This could be the absolute last time I get to speak from this desk in this Chamber. I certainly hope it is not, but it has been an absolute privilege.
To everyone in this parliament, to those people the member for Drysdale mentioned earlier who work behind the scenes to make this place work seamlessly - and it does work seamlessly from this side of things - I congratulate you. Without the leadership of the Clerk and Madam Speaker, I am sure much of that would not happen the way it does. Again, it has been my privilege, and thank you very much.
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I hate goodbyes and the member for Johnston agrees with me. I had a dinner the other night. The member for Johnston is a very strong supporter and he came along. As part of my remarks at that dinner, I thanked the member for Johnston for his time, and he came over and told me off. He said, ‘I have not gone anywhere yet’, and he has not. The member for Johnston is going to be working pretty hard come the campaign. In fact, I find it hard to ever picture the member for Johnston in retirement. I know he loves his fishing and crabbing; he has great passion and energy.
Today, I thank some of my colleagues: the members for Nightcliff, Johnston and Arafura - for their help and counsel. I will not say goodbye, because I do not believe in goodbyes. We will be seeing a lot of you post-25 August. The member for Johnston gave some advice today about what to do as a minister. It is actually advice that is true of local members. It is advice he has given me in the past about trusting your gut and testing your ideas. Everyone would know in this House, if you ever feel uncomfortable, there is a good reason for that, and you should think. The member for Johnston was on the money then. Also about testing your ideas. If you ever made a mistake it is because you have not talked to enough people. There is no harm in talking and contestability. In this job, you should be quite prepared to contest your ideas and put them on the table. Often, what happens is you come up with a much better way forward if you do that; if you have the confidence to say, ‘Here is something; what do you think?’, and work it through. That is one of the big things about the member for Johnston; he comes from a place where he wants to fix things.
From the comments members of the opposition made today and in the past, they have appreciated, as local members, working with the member for Johnston, particularly since he has taken on the Housing portfolio. He said: ‘If there is a problem, let us just fix it’. We are all here as local members. We will play politics at some stage and we will have a political debate, but at the end of the day, if someone has a problem, let us fix it. He understands local member issues, as we all should. There is no doubt that is something he has carried through into his ministerial portfolio. It can get lost sometimes in the debate of politics around ministerial portfolios, but it is something he has done very well.
The Speaker has given me some very sound advice. I heard some of her doorknocking stories in the past. I know I certainly shake the gate very loudly when I visit people, after the member for Nightcliff’s stories - I make sure they know I am walking up the driveway. Another bit of advice you gave me very early was about dancing at functions; making sure you dance early. I have always thought that was a very sound bit of advice for a member of parliament. You are invited to many functions, and I actually agree with the member for Nightcliff, that you very politely get up early, dance and show people you are actually enjoying what you are doing and where you are. I actually thought that was a bit of left-field advice, but it was very sound.
On a more personal level, I worked with the member for Nightcliff on a couple of committees, and I was always very impressed with the very professional way she worked through some very thorny issues. We have all had to do committee work, and sometimes you are confronted with things and think: ‘How the hell am I going to do that?’ It was interesting to watch the member for Nightcliff work through some of those issues. I have always thought you learn best from watching, and I have watched my colleagues. I thank the member for Nightcliff for some of the things I saw her do which I hope I have carried on myself at times when I have chaired meetings and worked through issues. I thank you for that.
Something new in your comments tonight, member for Nightcliff, about loneliness and faith were very telling, and summed up something I have been thinking about without realising during my journey as a member of parliament these four years. As local members, we often meet people who are lonely when you are doorknocking. Often, there is loneliness in the people who choose to come into your office. It is something I had not put into words yet, but you hit something that had been at the front of my mind. That is part of our brief as local members, and was a very good point you made in your comments tonight.
The member for Arafura - boots and all; that is how I see the member for Arafura. She is passionate and compassionate. I saw all her best attributes during the youth suicide committee, which is something the member for Nhulunbuy and I worked on with the member for Arafura, as well as the members for Sanderson and Goyder. I am glad I had that experience with the member for Arafura. I have worked with her on a variety of other committees as well. As chair, she put her best policy attributes, her best local member attributes, and her best personal attributes on the table. It was a fitting way to work with her before she leaves this Chamber.
I have no doubt the three of you are going to make a permanent public contribution post-politics. You do not get into this game, as the member for Nightcliff said, for personal aggrandisement. You have a genuine desire to achieve and do better for where we live, and that will continue on post-politics. That is why it is not a goodbye.
Finally, I thank the member for Drysdale for four year’s worth of work this term - part of the Class of 2008. The member for Drysdale has more he could give, if he wanted to. You are a very good local member and I am sure you are going to do well in what you choose to do from here. In some ways, it is a shame you are not continuing on as a local member because you have found a vocation. However, I am sure what you choose to do from here you will enjoy and do well. I am sure I will see you around; Darwin is a small place. Obviously, I would like our candidate for Drysdale to be elected but, in some ways, it is a shame you will not have the opportunity to sit across from me in a future term of government. I am sure what you choose to do post-parliament, you will do well …
Ms Walker: As an Independent, Rosco?
Mr GUNNER: I thank the member for Drysdale and thank you, colleagues.
Madam SPEAKER: I thank all honourable members, on behalf of those of us who are departing this Assembly, for their generous and kind comments.
Members: Hear! Hear!
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
MESSAGES FROM ADMINISTRATOR
Message Nos 34 and 35
Message Nos 34 and 35
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received from Her Honour the Administrator Message No 34 notifying assent to bills passed in the April 2012 sitting of the Assembly, and Message No 35 notifying assent to bills passed in the May 2012 sittings of the Assembly.
TABLED PAPER
Letter from Telstra - Free Mobile
Calls to Kids Helpline
Letter from Telstra - Free Mobile
Calls to Kids Helpline
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table a letter from Telstra’s Director of Government Relations to the former Chair of the Select Committee on Youth Suicides in the Northern Territory dated 17 May 2012 advising that Telstra has made Telstra mobile calls to Kids Helpline free of charge and asking that this be brought to the attention of the Assembly.
APPROPRIATION (2012-2013) BILL
(Serial 208)
(Serial 208)
Continued from 2 May 2012.
In committee:
Madam CHAIR: I call on the Chair of the Estimates Committee.
Mr GUNNER: Madam Chair, I am pleased to table the report of the Estimates Committee and the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee on their consideration of the estimates of proposed expenditure contained in the schedule to the Appropriation (2012-2013) Bill 2012.
The two reports and this tabling statement make up the final report of the 2012 Estimates Committee and Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. Each report outlines the key areas of concern reflecting the lines of questioning that became evident as the hearings progressed. I advise honourable members that any outstanding information, including answers to questions taken on notice, must be sent to the Speaker by 20 July 2012. Until that date, the committee secretariat will be updating the questions taken on notice database as answers are received. The House has not authorised the publication of answers received after 20 July. I ask ministers to ensure their agencies provide written answers to the secretariat as soon as possible.
Madam Chair, I now turn to the process of the Estimates Committee public hearings for 2012. For the second year the committee’s hearing times totalled 60 hours, with eight hours for the Treasurer and Chief Minister, and up to seven hours for three ministers, six hours for three ministers, an hour for the Speaker, and four hours for Power and Water.
Estimates is conversational in nature and questioning went smoothly. The procedure in paragraph 22 of the committee’s terms of reference whereby questions in the first instance are directed to ministers who may then refer an ongoing series of questions to officials worked well. Hearings are also assisted by some flexibility in the order of questions, with other members being allowed to continue a particular line of questioning commenced by a member rather than waiting for each member to conclude their questions and then returning to a topic previously raised.
Madam Chair, this year we again commenced with the Treasurer, an important change implemented in 2010. This again allowed the overall picture of appropriation for 2012-13 to be examined from the very beginning of the hearings. As in previous years, the participation by other members on the committee provided every opposition shadow minister the opportunity to question their corresponding minister and also provided flexibility for members to be present while specific portfolios were being scrutinised.
One issue which continues to be a challenge is the allocation of questions and outputs which are the responsibly of a different minister to the minister responsible for an agency, or where more than one minister is responsible for the agency. For example, responsibility for Indigenous Essential Services is shared between the Minister for Public and Affordable Housing and the Minister for Indigenous Development. Despite the attentiveness of members and the flexibility of proceedings, some questions could not be answered because they were asked of the wrong minister. However, we thank each minister for making their best efforts when present to answer those questions or take them on notice.
The committee has also taken a flexible approach to portfolios for which there are no budget outputs such as Defence Liaison, Climate Change and Statehood. The committee allowed time within its agenda for each question relating to these portfolios despite the lack of outputs.
Madam Chair, over the last few years, members of the committee, in preparation for estimates, have sought a list of agencies or output groups not questioned during the hearings. To assist future committee members, I now provide a summary of agencies and portfolio areas which were not examined during the 60 hours. These were: Asian Relations and Trade, Defence Support, Defence Liaison, NT Home Ownership, Office of the Commissioner of Public Employment, Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, Territory Discoveries, Women’s Policy, Health and Community Services Complaints Commission, Climate Change, Environmental Protection Authority, Alice Springs Transformation Plan, Information and Communication Technology Policy, Land Development Corporation, Darwin Bus Service, Construction and Infrastructure, Construction Division, Correctional Services, Arts and Culture and Young Territorians.
This is the Legislative Assembly’s 11th year of Estimates Committee hearings. With each year the Assembly learns from the previous years and, over the years, has improved its estimates process greatly. This is my fourth year chairing Estimates and I can speak personally for the improvement the Legislative Assembly makes every year in delivering a very efficient, well-run Estimates Committee process. This is a very important committee which goes towards the scrutiny of our parliament. As was the case last year, both the Shareholding minister and Essential Services minister accompanied the chairman and managing director of the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee hearing earlier today. The result was very robust and productive questioning and answering. This arrangement has proven very successful.
In relation to questions on notice, I can report there has been a decrease in the total questions taken on notice during the proceedings. There were 141 questions taken on notice this year, a slight decrease of eight questions on last year. Notably, there were no questions taken on notice for Power and Water. A third of the questions taken on notice were answered during the hearings, which is a demonstration of the preparation taken by departments for the hearings. On behalf of the committee, I thank the ministers and agencies for the promptness of their responses so far, and ask that any outstanding answers be provided as soon as possible in order to meet the requirement that answers be tabled on 20 July 2012.
I thank all members who have participated in the 2012 Estimates process, particularly the ministers and Madam Speaker for their cooperation in answering questions throughout the process. I particularly thank the members of the Public Accounts Committee who formed the core membership of the Estimates Committee for the manner in which these public hearings have been conducted. It is a testament to all the members of the Public Accounts Committee for the standard maintained during the 60 hours of questioning. It goes for some time and we can become frayed, particularly at night, but overall we maintained very sound conduct during the committee process.
Thank you also to the Legislative Assembly staff for their work in ensuring the process ran smoothly, with a special mention to Hansard, Building and Technical Services, Chamber Support Services and the committee staff.
I also wish to place on record my sincere appreciation to the staff of all agencies involved in the Estimates process over the six days. The process cannot be effective without your hard work and dedication, particularly those who did all the preparation work and were not required to answer questions. That is much work and, hopefully, the work in itself can be a reward. The witnesses who presented did so very professionally, and provided answers that furthered our understanding of the Territory government and its budget processes.
Madam Chair, I commend the reports of the 2012 Estimates Committee and the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee to the House.
Madam CHAIR: Thank you, member for Fannie Bay. Honourable members, pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly dated 3 May 2012, the committee has before it consideration of the Appropriation (2012-2013) Bill (Serial 208) and reports of the Estimates Committee and the Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny Committee.
The question is that the proposed expenditure be agreed to, and that the resolutions or expressions of opinion as agreed to by the committees in relation to the proposed expenditure or outputs under the Appropriation (2012-2013) Bill 2012 (Serial 208) and the transactions of public sector entities included in the budget papers and applicable community service obligations paid to and dividends received from the Power and Water Corporation be noted.
I remind members speech time limits for this debate are as follows: ministers, Leader of the Opposition and shadow minister 20 minutes; any other members, 10 minutes. The maximum period for consideration and conduct of this debate is five hours.
Honourable members, when consideration of the bill and reports have been concluded and the question is put, the following question will then be put forthwith without debate, which is - that the remainder of the bill be agreed to; and the bill will then be reported to the Assembly. Following this report, the Speaker will call upon the Treasurer to move the third reading of the bill. The time is 1.40 pm. The debate will conclude at 6.40 pm, if not sooner.
Mr MILLS: Madam Chair, acknowledging this is the eleventh time we have used this format to weigh the budget - test it as best we can - I reflect on the time past when, with a small opposition, carrying as I did, 11 shadow portfolios. Today we stand in a different spot where we have shadow ministers of the Country Liberals opposition, each having acquitted themselves very well and held a government to account. This is an important process, and I acknowledge the role of the Chair in his report - that, over time in those 11 years, there have been changes to the process. There has been improvement, and those improvements have been gained by discussion and concession across the Chamber.
I also acknowledge the role of the Chair, those who were alternate chairs, members of the Public Accounts Committee, and the staff who supported the Public Accounts Committee. I commend you for your work. To the Legislative Assembly staff for the support provided behind the scenes, thank you. For the staff of Hansard for recording what occurred in the sessions, thank you for your work. For members of the public service, at all levels, from administrative to executive in all agencies, thank you. Behind the scenes, I know there is an enormous amount of work undertaken in preparation for Estimates.
At the conclusion of this process I, along with many who have had the opportunity to assess the Territory’s financial position, am worried. I am worried about the Territory’s finances and worried about the future of the Northern Territory as a whole because it is alarming that, in a few short years, this Labor government has taken the Territory from a relatively healthy financial position to the risky, cash-strapped one we now face. Debt in the Northern Territory has grown so big, so quickly, and its careful management is now a priority. Whoever forms government must deal with this priority after the August election. No matter what words are said before the election, the fact remains there is a single priority now facing the Territory. This Labor government’s failure to manage the economy or exercise any semblance of fiscal discipline leaves us without a choice.
Over the next four years, set out in the forward estimates, the Territory’s nett debt will almost double to $5.6bn. Of that $5.6bn debt, $2.9bn comes in over the next four years alone. That debt does not include superannuation liabilities. The interest only payable on our borrowings is $650 000 every single day. That is real money which could be spent elsewhere, but there is a single priority, an obligation, a debt obligation, and a requirement binding us to that priority. In four years time, the yearly interest payment will match our own source revenue - around $400m a year just to cover the debt. So, it is no surprise, honourable members, that our nett debt to revenue ratio is the worst in the nation. It is a shameful and troubling fact which may be inconvenient for a Labor government endeavouring to spin its way out of a harsh reality which is going to face incoming administrations. No matter what you say going into an election the fact remains, it has to be dealt with.
If you add together interest payments alone over the next four years they total $1.36bn - that is interest only for four years. That money should be supporting our police, teachers, doctors, and nurses but not servicing unproductive debt.
It is clear this Labor government has lost control of the Territory’s finances. Through ill-discipline, poor management, a floored fiscal strategy, and a lack of any coherent long-term vision this Labor government has put the Territory in a high-risk financial position - that is a fact - and has left us with an uncertain future. That is also a fact.
This government tries to blame its budget problems on somebody or something else - never one to accept responsibility. In my time in this Chamber, I have seen that deflected on every level when it comes to the biggest obligation: to repay money that has been borrowed. Through decisions and forecasts made and adjustments required, and discipline not employed, we now have a problem. However, it is not a problem this Labor government will accept responsibility for. It is blaming the GST revenue or the global financial crisis. Factors of all sorts face those who have responsibilities, but you have to accept the responsibility and live within your means.
When this Labor complains about falls in GST revenue, it is largely talking about disappointed expectations rather than actual reductions. In the curious language of the Treasurer - I was quite taken by the turn of phrase of the Treasurer - this was a sentence that was uttered with a straight face: ‘a pick-up in relativities but a downward revision of expectations’. It sounds like something but, in fact it is: ‘We got more last year than we expected, but we expected more’.
This Labor government has completely misread the economy, not prepared itself, and completely mismanaged the opportunities and challenges. It did not save any money. If you have a memory, you will know these calls were made in the 11 – well, not 11 - for many years with previous Treasurers, urging for some discipline and some putting aside of that which is at your disposal today in preparation for the challenging times. Well, the challenging times have come; the preparation has not been made, and the consequences are there for an incoming government.
They did not adjust spending when the economy slowed down. Once again, the language of the Treasurer: ‘deliberate decision to go into a temporary deficit’. Well, that phrase has been well workshopped. It means you had no option but to go into debt because you did not prepare yourselves because you spent like drunken sailors when the money was there and now we have none. We have another quaint turn of phrase: ‘it has been a staged step-down in infrastructure spend’. That means you have cut back your spending because you have to, because you are in trouble. It all sounds like it is something more than it is. What it means is you have not managed, and all you are managing to do is come up with clever phrases which seem to mask an emerging reality for anyone who can read the facts. There are challenges.
What Labor has done is spend much and plunge the Territory into debt. As the dust settles on a turbulent decade - and it has been a challenging decade - which contained both peaks and, now, troughs, the Territory is left with the biggest debt in its history and precious little to show for it.
We have just spent two weeks scrutinising budget papers. I will mention a couple of disturbing trends which are ongoing - we have seen this over the life of this Labor government. There are significant errors in the government’s economic forecasting and modelling. It goes all the way back. Shake your head if you wish, the facts are there. In 2009, the Treasurer justified plunging the budget into deficit by promising a return to surplus by 2012-13. They were assuring words at the time. If those words provided no assurance in reality how can the words cleverly crafted today, which contain no promise or no plan of how we are going to get out of it - we should be genuinely concerned. If there was even a false assurance and false hope that things were going to be okay in the past, how is it we do not have those assurances uttered today other than the hope things might get better. I have cause for concern if you cannot even muster some confected language around how it is going to be sorted out because there is no plan.
We have deficits year on year of $824m, $767m, and $1.1bn in 2013-14, before reducing to $499m in 2015-16. There is clearly something drastically wrong with this government’s forward estimates process - match it with the assurances of the past and the reality of today.
Such wildly fluctuating numbers - of course, it will not be anyone’s responsibility here; it will be blamed on factors outside the control of government. It needs to accept responsibility, and if it is going to provide a forecast it needs to be within the bounds of that which is achievable.
This Labor government has undermined the integrity of the budget scrutiny process by slapping a gag order on a senior public servant. This prevented questions on Commonwealth funding issues in the Departments of Health and Children and Families.
I turn to the 27 questions I put to Labor during my budget reply speech last month. Those 27 questions were serious ones and sought answers to very grave concerns about the Territory’s finances. I thank the Chief Minister and his ministers for the answers provided, albeit a month after they were asked for and, curiously, just the day before Estimates hearings started. As we have come to expect, most of the answers are mere bluster along the lines of: ‘the opposition does not understand basic maths’. I wonder who had a hand in writing that. ‘What the opposition plainly does not understand’ is contained in just about every response. However, what is not contained in the responses is an answer! It is absolute nonsense.
What we cannot understand are the hidden costs and the mysterious transactions this government keeps from Territory taxpayers. We have very real concerns about the new Darwin prison deal which will end up costing $1.8bn, yet the government refuses to answer basic questions on its very strange 30-year payment plan. We are very concerned about Power and Water and this government’s pretence it is a financially viable commercial entity – that is clearly in question. We have asked for more information on the corporation and its curious financings since its fortunes, and those of its customers throughout the Northern Territory, are inextricably linked.
These questions remain unanswered. The opportunity was taken by the government to stall and then use those very real questions issued in good faith to a government that did not treat them as, nor replied appropriately, but used it as an opportunity to slam the opposition for daring to ask such questions.
When questioning the Territory government’s borrowings, I was absolutely dumbfounded by the Treasurer’s assertion that borrowings are not a relevant understanding of the Territory’s capacity to service debt. Excuse me! Not relevant to an understanding of the Territory’s capacity to service debt! Let me assure the House that potential lenders to the Northern Territory, and the ratings agencies, are influential in this process and will closely observe the level of financial assets held by the Territory.
Looking at the forward estimates, the good news appears to be this Labor government does not plan to run down its financial assets over the next four years. The bad news is it does not appear to have much left to run down after its spending spree of the last four years.
The opposition accepts completely it is entirely reasonable for developing jurisdictions to borrow for infrastructure requirements, but there is a point at which the ambition gets ahead of the capacity. That point has now been reached by this Labor government.
The Territory’s bottom line looks dreadfully close to $3bn in nett debt. As the long-serving American politician Everett McKinley Dirksen warned some years ago, a $1bn here and $1bn there and soon you are talking about real money.
Madam Chair I can only admire the Treasurer’s confidence that additional Territory borrowing will continue at margins appropriate to the comparable AAA rated semi-governments - there is no risk of default and funding will continue to be available no matter what.
It is imperative the opposition be given full access to Treasury and be allowed to test whether the confidence is seriously placed.
In summing up, Labor has lost control of the Territory’s finances and allowed debt to climb to unsustainable levels. The problem with too much debt is it holds you back from doing the things you would like to or you need to do, like improving law and order, providing a world-class education for our kids, or providing better health services. Debt holds back these aspirations and hurts our credit worthiness and economic ratings. It affects our creditability within the Commonwealth and with financial institutions, and affects our capacity to stand and call for equality with the other states.
We have Canberra intervening on Aboriginal disadvantage and taking control of remote housing, establishing extra police services in the bush to cover for this government’s law and order failings, and sending in liquor inspectors to keep an eye on the shops and pubs. We do not want to beholden to any one entity, whether it is Canberra, the banks, or anything else. We, as Territorians, want to be able to stand on our own two feet. To do that, we have to put our house in order, we have to restore our credibility, we have to lift our standards and take our rightful place as Australians and proud Territorians. We have work to do.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Chair, I did not expect to be on my feet because I was expecting government responses. They seem to be either asleep at the wheel or waiting for us to say our bit. I reinforce every word from the Leader of the Opposition in relation to our debt situation. Without having the books in front of me I am concerned, as the Leader of the Opposition is concerned, about where we are being taken.
Having observed the predictions made in the past few years as to where we would be, including a prediction by the Treasurer that by 2012-13 we would be returning to surplus, and to see where we are now being taken, one can only say the Treasurer is unreliable. It is not - I hear the Treasurer grunt - but you need to look at the predictions made a few years ago and see where they have taken us. There is nothing closely accurate in the projections of a few years ago. What is disturbing about this is these are decisions of government which have brought us to this point.
I pick up on the words of the Leader of the Opposition where he said in years gone by the government was warned, warned, and warned again that the halcyon days of the early GST windfalls coming to the Northern Territory would not be sustained. That warning resonates through every budget paper you care to read - Budget Paper No 2 - when Treasury says: ‘Be careful, as marginal change in the GST will have a serious effect on our numbers’. That has come to pass. What concerns me is there is an attitude, particularly from this Treasurer, that things will return to normal and we can then deal with our debt. There is not a flicker of consideration given to the possibility what she considers normal was abnormally good in income for the Northern Territory, and the environment we occupy now is probably closer to normal than what she has had the joy of having at her fingertips, year in year out, for the last few years.
The fiscal strategy outlined by the government over the first few years of governance was about reducing debt. To the credit of government, it reduced debt in a small way; however, it had a golden opportunity to reduce the debt of the Northern Territory to zero. I have said time and time again in this House that other governments managed it. Every time the Treasurer responds to this she finds excuses as to why she could not manage it.
The truth is it could have been managed. We could have grown as a jurisdiction. We could have had growth in the public service comfortably and still reduced our debt to zero if we had been more prudent. I would remind honourable members the word ‘prudent’ is one of the fundamental words used in the legislation surrounding budgetary management itself, which is why it found its way into the fiscal target of prudent management of liabilities. That prudent management has given way to the smoke and dagger approach of saying it is all the fault of the global financial crisis. The global financial crisis has been around for a number years. It is the new reality amongst us, and we have to learn to live within that reality, something this Treasurer steadfastly chooses to now do, and, moreover, steadfastly acknowledged could occur in earlier budget papers.
This attitude percolates all the way back to the first budget the Martin government brought down, and continues to resonate through the budget papers today. I can dredge out the mountain of books which are the budget papers - year in, year out - fill a trolley with them and quote from them chapter and verse. However, the simple, undeniable truth underlining a budget the size of the Northern Territory’s, or a budget the size of Australia’s, is an obligation to contain your spending to your income, manage debt carefully, and, where possible eliminate debt, particularly when your income is higher than you expect it to be. It was year in year out for the first seven or eight years of this government’s management of the Northern Territory budget.
When you receive more money you have a choice. You either pay off the credit card or you spend that money. This government’s attitude was to spend the money. The implication for the Northern Territory economy has been substantial. The consequence of spending money, particularly when the economy was travelling along well, was you amplified the good times with government expenditure. The motive for that was, I suspect, government having an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to do the big projects.
The problem was when there was a downturn in the economy, if the government had contracted its expenditure - and this is its argument - there would have been a substantial loss of jobs. Yes, that is correct. Had the government restrained its expenditure during the economic good times, the Northern Territory would have grown at a slightly lower rate than it did. The effect would have been the government could squirrel some money away, the economy would have grown in a more sustainable fashion, and it would not have presented the Northern Territory Treasurer with the bubble which started to appear after the government decided to spend during a period of high economic activity.
The government’s answer is: ‘We cannot afford to cut back now because of the position we are in’. It is a position of its making; a position it decided to create by taking spending decisions in a warmer Territory economy. That had the effect of pushing up the overall GSP. It has the effect that, when there is a downturn in the economy in other areas, the government is obliged to continue increasing its expenditure, which is reflected in increasing borrowings - unsustainable borrowings. These borrowings are now starting to increase far beyond expectations. Go to last year’s budget papers to see what the general government sector nett debt situation was going to be. The answer, off the top of my head, was about $1.6m. It is now $3m. In the space of a year, we have almost doubled our nett debt for the general government sector alone.
It is a telling sign that when you ask the Treasurer what our debt to revenue position is compared to the rest of the country, it is the worst. Is it going to get better? No, it is going to get worse. We are the worst and getting worse. The Treasurer reassures us saying: ‘It is all about the future of the Northern Territory’. Well, it is about the future of the Northern Territory. I was very concerned the Treasurer refused to supply information about the Treasury Corporation’s modelling in relation to what would happen if there were changes in the interest rates the Territory was paying. That is alarming. The allegation by the Treasurer was if that information were to be made public I would use it to scaremonger. If I could use it to scaremonger, perhaps it is because the information and those figures are, in fact, scary.
I challenge the Treasurer to release the documentation from Treasury Corporation so we can see what will happen to the interest rate we are paying on our debt to the tune of $400m a year. What will happen if our interest rate goes down by 2%, which is within the Treasury Corporation’s modelling she refuses to table? This government said it would be open, honest and transparent with Territorians, yet when you ask for simple models of what happens when interest rate changes, there is a point blank, carte blanche refusal to place any of that documentation on the table on the grounds it is scary. Surely, Territorians should have a right to be informed, particularly with an election just around the corner, as to what Treasury Corporation is saying will happen if interest rates go up by 1% or 2%.
By way of indication, I ran the same questions past Power and Water Corporation today. Without having the numbers in front of me, in short, it went like this: the debt of the Power and Water Corporation several years ago was $900m. That has now increased to about $1.2bn to $1.3bn, which is an increase in debt of about 20% to 25%. The scary thing is it had to renegotiate its loans through Treasury Corporation in the same way the government renegotiates its loans on a regular basis through Treasury Corporation.
Despite the fact the debt has only increased by about 20%, interest repayments, as a result of renegotiating these debts, have almost doubled. So, all the more reason to be concerned, yet we do not hear a promise from the Treasurer of the Northern Territory to place on the record what will happen, and what is happening, with the government’s current debt profile. If Treasury Corporation is getting money at a more expensive rate for the Power and Water Corporation, it can only be guessed at, in the absence of any information to the contrary, the same is occurring for the general government sector debt. If the Treasurer seeks to reassure us that is not the case, the Treasurer needs to do one thing: place on the table the modelling, and any other information, which will enable us, as citizens of the Territory, to determine whether or not the Treasury modelling is accurate and the reassurance we can take from it is appropriate. I did not hear the Treasurer, at any stage, offer to table that modelling. In fact, I have heard a carte blanche refusal to provide that modelling to the people of the Northern Territory.
I get the sense, as we approach the next Territory election, the government is using an almost scorched earth policy towards that election. I wonder what it will do about it if it wins government at the next Territory election. The Treasurer will ask: ‘What are you going to do? Are you going to cut jobs and cut the public service?’ I do not know what we have to do yet because this is not an honest government, and we do not know what exposures we face as a potential alternate government.
The Leader of the Opposition has outlined areas where savings can be made, and has been honest and forthright about those promises in his budget reply. I wish we could see the same level of honesty from the Treasurer when it comes to these projections. However, for those who will listen to the rest of this debate, all we will hear is what the CLP will and will not do, and nothing about what the government intends to do to manage its spiralling debt situation.
The government continues to say: ‘We have an operational surplus’. That is all well and good, but that does not take in capital expenditure borrowings in its considerations. Those borrowings are real money. The government will say: ‘We will only talk about the general government sector’. Well, talk about Power and Water Corporation and all of the other non-government GBDs and government-owned corporations. The debts those organisations carry are guaranteed by the Northern Territory government and, as a consequence, are still an exposure to the Territory’s future fiscal position. Unless the government is preparing to unload any of these organisations, the debt is real and is being underwritten by Territorians.
If you include the general government sector, the government-owned corporations sector and the superannuation liability, and project that out to the year 2015-16, the debt position of the Northern Territory, including all its financial liabilities, will be over $8bn - $8bn! That is real money. At some point in the future, that money has to be paid as a debt owed. Our interest bill, on a daily basis in the forward estimates, will exceed $1m a day. These are matters of great concern, because we have to pay our interest bill before we build one school, fund one nurse, put one policeman on the streets, or pay for a renal dialysis machine - we have to pay the interest bill and the credit card bill.
The Treasurer wonders why Treasurers in other jurisdictions seek to criticise the Northern Territory for the way it conducts itself and expends the GST revenue. It is small wonder when they look at the books and discover our debt to income ratio is the worst in the country and is projected to become worse. It is small wonder they are starting to grumble about the spending habits of the Northern Territory when they have exactly the same set of rules applied to them, and show greater discipline.
Labor governments have been able to do it in the past. A federal Labor government has been able to return a surplus budget - depending on who you speak to, but officially a surplus budget - for the current financial year. The federal Howard government removed all its debt. The Labor Gallop government removed all its debt. We were in the same position and chose to spend. If you listen to the rhetoric we have heard year in year out about what a responsible economic manager this government is, you can only shake your head in disbelief. The budget tabled and examined by the Estimates Committee is nothing more than an act of monumental hypocrisy reflecting poorly on every utterance it has ever made about debt management.
They have no right to call themselves good fiscal managers; they have no right to call themselves good economic managers. All they have the right to do is hang their heads in shame because the bills that have to be paid down the track are going to be lost opportunities for the people of the Northern Territory. It is this Treasurer upon whose head that responsibility falls.
Mr WOOD: Madam Chair, I would like to say a few things about the Appropriation Bill, especially in relation to the Estimates program.
I said from the beginning there is nothing wrong with a government going into deficit; however, if it is to do so, I would like to see a program showing how it will get out of that deficit. I have tried to use that as my theme through the Estimates Committee process to see if there is a focus on how to reduce this deficit.
Previous governments have run deficits, previous governments have built hotels, parliament houses and state squares, and, obviously, that has cost a great deal of money, but they have eventually come out of that deficit into a surplus. This government is arguing we need to keep jobs, we need to keep the Territory moving, and there is a requirement to retain a deficit budget. Whilst that argument is reasonable, I do not see a plan for getting out of deficit. I see a simplistic form of reducing deficits by a 3% efficiency dividend. We have that every year, but we need a focus by all departments on how we can reduce waste, for instance. I raised that issue a number of times, and raised it in relation to road infrastructure. We heard about the prison road, where there is an extra cost of $200 000 because the road was not designed properly in the first place. It is now being redesigned and money is being spent that would not normally have been. I am sure I could find quite a few other examples of that, as well.
I asked about the movement of the Department of Children and Families to Darwin Plaza. The department said it only cost about $80 000 and was about the cheapest move it has had. What was not taken into consideration was a department moved out of that building to another place. Sometimes, you get half the picture; you do not get the whole picture. That is what governments need to be questioning. Why are we moving? How much does it cost to move? Do we need to move?
We have the classic example of the Department of Lands and Planning moving to Parap. People are coming to my office saying: ‘I have to wait four or five days for a file’. In the old building it only took a matter of minutes because they could get the file straightaway. I heard all the files are at Iron Mountain; it costs money to hold them at Iron Mountain. Did whoever made the decision to move to Parap ensure there were not downsides to that move? Did they ensure inefficiencies would not cost the department money having to drive out to Iron Mountain and back again, that the consumer would be upset if the service received before was better than the service now, and that the costs of delay, in some cases, would be passed on to consumers.
In this budget I am looking at the government working positively and sending a message through all departments, to all managers, to all public servants, that they need to be part of reducing this deficit. It might only be little things like: ‘Do we need to order 26 boxes of pencils or can we survive on the few we have? Do we use the back of paper for notes instead of getting new paper all the time?’ It may only be little things, but are we putting a theme through the departments that we have a deficit and it is our responsibility to try to reduce that deficit and waste. That is the problem I had as I worked through this budget.
My first question was to the Under Treasurer. I asked, using the budget paper, if we owe $2.8bn next year, it will be $3.5bn the following year, $4.6bn the following year, $5.1bn the following year, and the following year it will be $5.5bn. Ms Prince said:
Yes, that is the debt after you take into account our financial assets. Yes, that is the nett amount.
That is much money. The Treasurer said:
- Yes, Mr Wood, as I have said, when we see a return to health in revenue – obviously, our primary source of revenue is GST, and any insignificant turnaround in GST will be applied to returning to surplus. Once you are back in surplus you are reducing debt.
I understand that but, in the meantime, there is no guarantee the GST will be turned around. These are presumptions and, if we are affected by the European crisis, we may not have the GST climbing at the rate it used to. We have to show people out there we are tightening our belts and trying to reduce the deficit.
I was pleased to see the Auditor-General is doing some things. For instance, he now has power to carry out auditing of NGOs which receive government funding. I also looked at issues about lease fees for government facilities on Aboriginal land. To be honest, it does not seem everybody is on the same page when it comes to working out the cost of these lease fees for government facilities. That is a real question mark in relation to this year’s budget because my understanding is some of these leases will run out in August. If no agreement is made, technically, some of the facilities the government owns will be owned by Aboriginal land trusts.
The other question is: have we put any money away to cover the cost of these leases? For me, it is a very important issue, as well as for government. Power and Water said today it has a large number of facilities it will have to pay lease fees on. It is also important for local government. The Deloitte review mentioned the same thing.
I spoke about the state of the houses at the RAAF Base. The indication from Dr Ritchie is all these houses had a Certificate of Occupancy. These houses, as much as they may not be up to the standard the RAAF or the Department of Defence wants in 2012, may certainly be up to a standard suitable for people who cannot afford to get into the housing market. I say again, both governments should be condemned for not making an effort to save these houses. If they did not have an answer to where they could use them straightaway, there is plenty of land to store them on. A meeting of NGOs, even local councils, suggesting what could have been done with these houses would have been a positive move. To see them bulldozed is really a disgrace.
In relation to whole-of-government, departmental heads have to work closer in relation to developments. Does someone take into account what happens and sees where the services could be shared? There is nothing worse than a road being built somewhere and, two months later, it is being dug up because someone forgot to tell them a water pipe is going through. That whole-of-government approach to things should be a focus.
I also mentioned there are issues with small- to mid-size construction companies having problems getting contracts. Issues about local government shires are important. I also spoke about Girraween Primary School and Pelly Road and Lorikeet Court.
In summary, my biggest concern was the lack of time for quite a number of departments, including: Climate Change, Environment Protection Agency, Land Development, Construction and Infrastructure, Correctional Services and Arts. The opposition has pushed many times for more hours for the Estimates Committee. In some areas, it needs to be criticised heavily for the waste of time. One section in Lands went for two-and-a-half hours, which meant many other departments missed out. That is very unfortunate, and I ask those departments which missed out this year in Estimates be put to the top of the list next year so they have a chance to put their point of view on their budgets.
Motion agreed to.
Remainder of the bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported; report adopted.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time. In moving the third reading, as is customary, as Treasurer I respond in wrapping up the debate. I join with others in sincerely thanking all the public servants who put many, many hours into preparation for Estimates in relation to assisting the process. I acknowledge the work of the Assembly staff, Hansard, our departmental staff from across government and, of course, the many hours of hard work put in by the Estimates Committee members themselves.
As a government, we acknowledge we have handed down a tough budget and have made some tough decisions. We had GST revenue decreasing year on year for only the second time ever. In that context, we have delivered a tight, responsible budget to gear the Territory up for growth and to respond to the needs of Territorians.
Our focus in Budget 2012-13 is to continue providing quality health and education, to invest in law and order and our policing, and to build our housing stock across the Territory. We are focused on ensuring Territory businesses can gear up for growth in the very exciting economic opportunities ahead. We have handed down the budget in a very tough fiscal environment. Members would be aware we are suffering the effects of the global financial crisis and, in that context, this government made a very real, very deliberate decision to go into deficit to keep Territorians in jobs.
Since the global financial crisis has hit, we have created around 13 000 jobs through the very deliberate decision to spend $4.6bn in infrastructure, literally doubling what our normal infrastructure spend would be. That was off the back of eight budgets surpluses in a row where we reduced debt by $582m. The opposition likes to focus on debt and make it sound like we are in a dire situation. I take issue with the Leader of the Opposition describing the Territory as being in a high risk situation. That is wrong. We are described as low risk. It is misleading to describe it as high risk.
If you look at the Territory’s cost of borrowings in the 2011-12 financial year, it is expected to be at 5%. That is lower than the original estimate of 6.5%, and is certainly expected to be around 6% for 2012-13. This is despite the ongoing volatility in credit markets. This highlights the Territory is able to borrow at competitive rates. Borrowing rates are significantly lower, and below the double digit percentages experienced in the 1990s. If you look at our borrowing rates, they are much lower than the double digits under the CLP in the 1990s. The interest expense is less than 6% of our total revenue, which compares to a ratio of interest payments to our total revenue, through the CLP 1990s, of around 10%. We made a very deliberate decision to go into deficit. The deficit is not as a result of the recurrent, it is a result of the capital spend.
The effect of our government’s infrastructure investment can be demonstrated through the economic growth outcome of the 2010-11 financial year of 1.6%. If you strip out the public sector spend from 1.6%, our economy would have been stagnant at just 0.2%. We have literally kept the Territory economy in growth by this very deliberate decision. We would be in surplus today if I had slashed the capital spend by 40%. That would have sent 1000 Territorians into the unemployment queues and seen Territory businesses closing their doors in droves.
The funding in Budget 2012-13 has focused on those core areas. We continue record funding for land release across the Territory, record stamp duty concessions, and our HOMESTART NT scheme and BuildBonus scheme are all aimed at getting more Territorians into housing.
If you look at the decisions being made by Liberal governments around the nation at the moment, the New South Wales budget has been handed down. They have …
Mr Conlan: There was no money left. That is why. There is not a cent in the coffers.
Ms LAWRIE: … announced the sacking of …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex!
Ms LAWRIE: They have announced the sacking of 10 000 public servants on top of their already announced sacking of 5000 public servants. That is 15 000 people being sacked across the New South Wales public sector. Victoria has announced the sacking of 4200 public servants. The CLP is hell-bent on saying it is not interested in building the Territory at a time in its economic cycle where you really need to be gearing up for growth. It would be quite scary, post an August election, if it got anywhere near the decisions of government, because you would see sackings across our public sector. Equally scary, you would see slashings in the capital program and Territory businesses closing their doors ...
Mr CONLAN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Could you direct the minister to point out where that is documented? Otherwise, she is misleading the House. Could you point to where that is? Where is it written?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, resume your seat. Minister, can you come to the point?
Mr LAWRIE: He is very excitable. I refer him to the Leader of the Opposition’s budget reply where he pointed out he can only guarantee the jobs of public servants earning under $110 000. That sends a very clear signal where the cuts will be. Any public servant earning over $110 000, look out. That is our police, our doctors, many of our teachers, certainly all our principals ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Our debt levels are manageable. If you want to see where we are sitting as a percentage of GSP, our debt is sitting at 8.8%. This is a far cry from Greece, which sits at around 165%.
Madam Speaker, instead of a budget reply from the Leader of the Opposition focusing on policy, all we got was 27 questions. The answers to the 27 questions were provided; however, they could have had the answers simply by reading the budget books.
There is a myth being perpetrated that somehow you cannot trust the figures provided in Budget 2012-13. That is an insult. The budget is handed down under the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act, which requires we adhere to the very strict of the Australian Accounting Standards. The budgets are always audited by the Auditor-General. To pretend otherwise is simply not understanding the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act exists in the Northern Territory.
I acknowledge all the long hours and hard work of everyone in preparing the Estimates process.
Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
REVENUE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 211)
(Serial 211)
Continued from 2 May 2012.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I have not heard if the opposition has an issue with this. I would be surprised if it had given they are minor amendments to clarify the operation of the Payroll Tax Act and an amendment to the Gaming Control Act.
I will take members through a recap of the contents of this bill. It clarifies the operation of the maternity, adoption, and paternity leave exemptions in the Payroll Tax Act. These harmonised payroll tax exemptions are for a maximum of 14 weeks, or an equivalent period of time, where an employee takes parental leave at a reduced rate of pay. By way of example, the exemptions may extend to 28 weeks for employees who take parental leave at half the usual rate of pay.
However, a technical interpretation of these payroll tax exemptions raises doubt over whether the exemption would apply as intended to part-time employees when extended leave is taken at less than the employee’s normal rate of pay. Accordingly, the bill clarifies the operation of these provisions to ensure the exemption is available to part-time employees in the same manner as full-time employees.
The proposed parental leave exemption amendments are based on model legislation drafted by Victoria that will be adopted by most states as part of payroll tax harmonisation arrangements.
Amendments to the Gaming Control Act are to provide the minister with the power to collect fees and taxes for certain gambling licences. These licences include casino licences, online lottery licences, and mail order lottery licences. The bill also clarifies that the minister may establish fees and taxes on any lottery agreement that may be entered into with the Territory, and ensures standardised administrative practices of the Taxation Administration Act apply to taxes and levies operating under the Gaming Control Act.
Currently, only Part 7 of the Taxation Administration Act, which relates to the payment and recovery of taxes, applies to taxes and levies operating under the Gaming Control Act.
Other administrative requirements such as record keeping and penalty tax provisions are currently subject to individual commercial agreements.
Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
NATIONAL HEALTH FUNDING POOL
AND ADMINISTRATION (NATIONAL
UNIFORM LEGISLATION) BILL
(Serial 212)
AND ADMINISTRATION (NATIONAL
UNIFORM LEGISLATION) BILL
(Serial 212)
Continued from 2 May 2012.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I believe we have 45 minutes for a second reading speech. Do not worry; I will not take up your precious time, minister. I will not take 45 minutes. Can you believe it, …
Members interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: ... here we are on the last day and no speakers on the government side in relation to the budget bill. It is quite extraordinary! A five-hour debate truncated after about an hour. That is the form this government has. We see that. Look how much is on the Notice Paper and will drop off. Imagine if we cut back on all the puff pieces throughout the four-year term, we might get through some of this. Nevertheless, here we are on the last day of sittings and we have to pass this bill.
All that aside, we recognise this is an important part of the health reform. So much for health reform! It is not reform by any stretch; it is just a change in funding arrangements. It has been touted as the greatest piece of health reform since Medicare, which is quite extraordinary and simply untrue. Nevertheless, it is really about funding and this is, from my understanding, the final piece, minister. These new healthcare arrangements across the country will kick in on 1 July 2012. The opposition has flagged its concern about some of this over the last couple of years as these pieces of legislation presented themselves to the House. We offer our support to this with the view it will provide a better health system and better healthcare for the Northern Territory.
I know everyone is eager to get going, and the member for Johnston is keen to give us his swansong. We are all waiting in anticipation. All of us in this House have been waiting for a long time to hear the final words from the member for Johnston. Will he go out in a statesmanlike manner, or will he have a little swipe along the way? He will probably do a bit of both.
We offer our support for this bill. The member for Johnston, and those other members of parliament who are retiring, would like to say their final words. Madam Speaker, we support this bill.
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their support. In closing debate, the National Health Funding Pool and Administration (National Uniform Legislation) Bill is an essential element of the Council of Australian government’s National Health Reform Agreement. It is significant reform, so significant that despite the change of government from Labor to Liberal in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, these governments still support the health reform. Obviously, they believe it is a significant health reform and are prepared, despite the change of the political party in government, to support it.
This bill provides the national legislative framework for the funding of public hospitals which comes into effect on the 1 July 2012. It is timely that we proceed with the passage of this bill during these sittings of the Northern Territory parliament. The bill enables the establishment of a national health funding pool for public hospitals, the appointment of an administrator for the national health funding pool, establishment of the Territory’s state pool account with the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the establishment of the Territory state-managed fund.
The member for Nelson raised queries about the need for a separate Reserve Bank account to hold the Commonwealth funds for the Territory. This is a different arrangement from the way other funding from the Commonwealth is received in the Territory. It is a key element of the COAG national health reform agenda. The goal is to improve accountability and transparency of health funding from both levels of government.
The National Health Funding Pool is comprised of individual accounts for each state and territory held with the RBA. The Territory’s pool account will receive all Commonwealth health reform related funding, plus the Territory government’s share of activity-based funding for public hospitals. This will ensure Commonwealth and Territory contribution to public hospital funding can be clearly identified and reported on. Each jurisdiction remains the manager of the public hospital system. Therefore, as the Territory’s Minister for Health, I will have control over how all funding in the Territory’s pool account is dispersed throughout the Territory’s public hospitals.
The administrator of the National Health Funding Pool is an independent statutory officer appointed by unanimous agreement of Commonwealth and state health ministers. There is nothing to preclude a Territorian from being appointed to this position. Mr Alan Bansemer has been appointed Acting Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool based on the nomination of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Mr Bansemer is well-known in the Northern Territory’s health sector, having conducted significant strategic departmental and service reviews. He is a former Health Commissioner in Western Australia, and Deputy Secretary of the former Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health. The Territory’s state-managed fund will fall under the auspices of the Department of Health. The state-managed fund will receive all Commonwealth and Territory government block funding for public hospitals as well as funding for teaching, training and research within the hospital system.
The introduction of this bill upholds the Territory’s commitment to COAG’s National Health Reform Agreement. The new funding arrangements will provide great transparency, accountability and efficiency in the hospital system. We have now established the hospital networks and yesterday I announced the appointments of members of the governing councils with Chair, Mr Colin McDonald QC for the Top End, and Dr John Wakerman for Central Australia. The council has strong representation from all regions with a skill mix which will provide good governance for our hospitals.
In closing, I thank all officers of the Departments of Health, Treasury and Chief Minister who have worked tirelessly over the past two years to bring the national health reform measures to life in the Territory, ensuring our unique challenges and needs are adequately addressed.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Mr VATSKALIS (Health)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Support Given to Speaker
Support Given to Speaker
Madam SPEAKER: Before I call the Leader of Government Business to adjourn the House, I put on the record my thanks to all honourable members for the support given to me over the seven years of my time as the Speaker.
I wish honourable members all the best in the coming election, however it may play out. It will be a different Assembly, and I wish all of you the best of luck in your individual electorates and for the rest of your lives.
ADJOURNMENT
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
It is with some sadness I speak for the last time in this parliament. That said, I will be working hard over the next two months, as a local member and as a minister, to support the government in the upcoming election. Beyond that, I am looking forward to what I am calling the next chapter. From my own perspective, I do not see this speech as a bookend to my maiden speech made in October 2001. That was largely an aspirational speech and this speech, to a large degree, is a thank you speech. I will leave judgments on what I may have achieved or not achieved to others. I repeat what was at the core of my maiden speech, namely, and I quote:
- Along with the many other issues we face, the issue of equity needs to be properly addressed as we move forward together to realise the mighty economic, social and cultural potential of the Northern Territory.
That aspiration should hold for each of us, irrespective of our political affiliations and whatever electorate we represent.
To the important thank you. First, to the people of the Johnston electorate, thank you for electing me in 2001, and continuing to show faith in me in 2005 and 2008. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve you. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to be an effective advocate for you and represent your interests. I have always tried to be available and attentive. It has given me great satisfaction when I have been successful on your behalf. On those times I have not been successful, I hope you know I gave it my best shot.
At a formal level first, a big thank you to my family, Elizabeth, David, Daniel and Amy, thank you for your unwavering support. No I have not forgotten Bruiser; he has always been there as well. Madam Speaker, I have spoken about Bruiser much in this parliament. I seek leave to table his photo.
Members: Hear, Hear!
Dr BURNS: He has asked whether we can go for a few healthy walks together.
To my long-suffering electorate officers, Judy Herring and Therla Fowlestone, thank you for your dedication and loyalty. Only those of us who are members fully understand the length, breadth and depth of the wonderful work electorate officers do, not only for the member but, more importantly, for our community.
To Clare Martin and Syd Stirling, thank you for your leadership in opposition and your support for me in being preselected as candidate for Johnston in 2000. Thank you to Paul Henderson for your experienced advice and guidance to me as a candidate in the 2001 election. Thank you Clare, Syd and Paul along, of course, with Jack Ah Kit, for your guidance and support when I was a very new member and a new Cabinet minister. It has been a privilege to serve under two wonderful Chief Ministers, Clare Martin and Paul Henderson. Indeed, I thank all my colleagues over the years for their continuing support, for being selected as a Cabinet minister, and for your friendship. In the Labor Party it is different. Caucus selects our Cabinet and the leader allocates portfolios. I understand it is different on your side. To a large extent, we rely on the numbers and support of our colleagues to be in Cabinet. I thank you for your trust over that time. Like any family, we have had our moments but, most importantly, we are a united team.
Being a Cabinet minister has been a great privilege and adventure for me; serving the people of the Northern Territory as best you can in the portfolios you have been allocated. People often ask me what I consider the outstanding successes of my career, and are probably too polite to ask what might be the outstanding failures. Once again, I leave those judgments to others. The way I respond is to point out the similarities between sport and politics, especially football. Most players who have been around for 10 or 12 years can point to wonderful wins, hopefully, some premierships, personal and team triumphs, crucial scores that come out of nowhere, a few miraculous match winning efforts, and sometimes efforts that often escape the commentators. On the other hand, most players could also point to defeats, matches they would rather forget, missed opportunities, mistakes, and decisions if they could make again would make quite differently. Sometimes it consists of making the best of a situation when you have been dealt a pretty ordinary hand of cards. So it is with politics.
I have recently finished reading a book by Mungo McCallum titled The Good, The Bad & the Unlikely: Australia’s Prime Ministers. This book is an interesting account of each of the 27 prime ministers since Federation. What struck me was, without exception, every one of them had incredible setbacks, personal battles and defeats in their political careers, including during their time as prime minister, and many as Opposition Leader. For example, Bob Menzies, probably the most dominant, long-serving prime minister in Australian history, had enormous defeats and setbacks in his career, including returning from an overseas trip during World War II to be informed by his own party his services as prime minister were no long required. He later suffered defeat as Opposition Leader in 1946 when Ben Chifley was elected prime minister following the death of John Curtin. Nonetheless, Bob Menzies went on to preside as prime minister from 1949 to his retirement in 1966.
Likewise, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Paul Keating and, more recently, John Howard, all made significant and important contributions as prime ministers. However, unlike Menzies, each of them suffered defeat as Prime Minister in general elections, with John Howard even losing his own seat in the 2007 election.
As I said, like sport, politics has its ups and downs. Like sport, politics is also a hard game. When I look back over the past 11 years, I think of all the faces that have been in this Assembly and who remain. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were already here in 2001, and the member for Port Darwin returned in 2008 after three years following defeat in Macdonnell in 2005. By my reckoning, nine out of the 25 elected members in 2001 are still present in 2012, an attrition rate of nearly two-thirds. That is a pretty heavy attrition rate.
Of the incoming class of 2001, which numbered 11, eight Labor, two CLP, and one Independent, only six remain, with three of us retiring at this election. So to Jane and Marion and, indeed, all my colleagues, thank you for your friendship. To the three remaining of Class 2001 – Delia, Kon and Gerry – best wishes, and keep up the good work.
It is difficult as politicians because we live in a very critical environment, and it is little wonder people baulk at putting up their hand for politics. Many people, understandably, think - I have a quote here: ‘Why would I want to put myself and my family in that space?’ We are criticised by the media, by each other, and by the public. It is probably fair to say much of the criticism is justified, but some of it is certainly not justified. However, one important element is sometimes lost in the welter of criticism, like every other human being we have strengths as well as weaknesses.
I previously mentioned Mungo MacCallum’s book, The Good, The Bad & the Unlikely: Australia’s Prime Ministers. Probably unsurprisingly, the greatest Prime Ministers in my view had wonderful qualities such as vision, unwavering commitment to serve the people and the country, courage, humility, wisdom and integrity. Without exception, each one also had incredibly human imperfections.
In this context, it is interesting to quote from the Gettysburg Address of 1863. Abraham Lincoln spoke about government that is: ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’. Lincoln obviously meant this to be an expression of egalitarian representation being an essential underpinning of our democratic system. However, I would also point to an underlining simplistic corollary attached to this statement, namely that we politicians are of the people. Like our great prime ministers to varying degrees, we reflect all the strengths and weaknesses of human beings.
Nonetheless, it is right for the public and the media to expect a high standard of conduct from their elected representatives. This expectation has to be tempered with the reality that, like them, we are also human and not perfect. Nonetheless, we should always try to reflect the very best qualities of the people we represent. That is what is expected.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will now return to the thank yous - to the many ministerial staff who have helped, supported and, at times, carried me over the last 10 years. In Estimates, the member for Brennan asked whether I had any tips for new ministers. It was such a big and unexpected question and, to some extent, I was stumped at the time. On reflection, the answer has to be, and I will quote - this is my response, almost a written question, member for Brennan:
Use your own political antenna, but also rigorously test issues with a whole range of people.
That is why it is important to get the best possible people as your advisors. Departments and DLOs are also important in this process. You need people who will vigorously contest ideas and issues and provide essential information.”
I have being very fortunate with my senior advisors, and there is not time to name people. To my senior advisors over the years over many portfolios, thank you for your loyalty, wise advice, patience and forbearance in dealing with a minister who is, in the words of the NT News, ‘mildly eccentric’. I got off lightly there. Also, given to a few ‘dummy spits’. Thanks to all the advisors over the years for your loyalty, great work and ongoing friendships. To my PAs and ministerial assistants, particularly Rebecca and Vanessa, your job is probably the hardest - thank you very much.
I also thank the many dedicated and professional public servants who have assisted me over many years. In fact, one of the most important relationships for a minister is a courteous, professional and productive relationship with the public service. Similarly, I have enjoyed interacting with many non-government organisations, unions and professional groups over the years.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am nearing the end. I look forward to what I am calling the next chapter, which to begin with will be quite simple, a bit of fishing and crabbing, many jobs at home, and maybe a holiday. After that, who knows? I have considered, paradoxically, an unauthorised autobiography titled The Truth is up for Grabs: Not Even the Dead are Safe, but that could be a bit dangerous for everyone, including yours truly.
To all opposition members, best wishes to you and your families. A few unlikely friendships and understandings have grown over the years, in particular, the former member for Araluen, a keen angler like me, the member for Fong Lim, and the member for Braitling, who both enjoy a good joke.
To each and every one of my colleagues on this side of the House, good luck and best wishes for the election - carry the faith. Thank you.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight sees the end of a fascinating 11-year journey for me. Nothing can really prepare you for that journey or for the work itself. There is no job description, no duty statement, no set hours of work, simply a requirement to attend this parliament 36 days a year.
Recently, there has been discussion in the media about the pay of members, and qualifications and backgrounds that make a suitable member of parliament. I do not think there is such a thing. The key element, from my perspective, is the capacity to listen and care about people, and a passion and commitment to those people in the community you live in - in other words, the old-fashioned concept of service. If you are seeking wealth and entitlements you are in the wrong job.
From the word go, I found this work bizarre, exhilarating, sad, appalling, depressing, amazing and humorous. There is no other work which prepares you for some of the situations you will find yourself in. It is never boring. The most amazing part of the job, particularly as the Speaker, is meeting the extraordinary range of people, significant dignitaries from Kings and Queens, Crown Princes, Presidents, Governors-General and Prime Ministers and large numbers of High Commissioners and Ambassadors.
I have many special memories of these occasions, particularly Ted Egan and Nerys Evans singing a duet across the table at the state dinner for the King and Queen of Sweden at Uluru. The Clerk reminded me not to mention the war to the Japanese Ambassador, only to discover the Ambassador was two feet away at the time. Losing my hair in great chunks, I greeted the horrified Syrian Ambassador who I assured I did not have a communicable disease, merely cancer. He, of course, responded diplomatically: ‘Yes, of course, Madam Speaker’, and nothing else was said despite me being totally bald on one side of my head.
On the same day as meeting any one of these people, I could also be meeting someone in my electorate who was destitute, suffering from major depression, and looking for some form of human contact. The comparisons are stark and manifest themselves in sometimes most unusual ways. This is particularly true for female politicians who may present as being relatively pleasant, middle-class, middle-aged and willing to listen.
For me, this has resulted in some bizarre encounters with middle-aged men who, particularly when I was Health minister, would work themselves up into a crescendo of concern about their health problems and then, suddenly, drop their trousers, Darwin style, to reveal no underwear but their various conditions. It has been difficult to know how to respond to some of these situations, other than to sometimes indicate they did, indeed, have a problem.
The most strange encounter I had was a man living in public housing who wanted to show me his holiday photos of his trip to Bali, which turned out to be the before and after photos of his penile implant. My response to this constituent was to advise it was not a government matter.
As Health minister, many people thought I had the capacity to diagnose conditions and also write prescriptions. Some people even came to our house to collect the prescription, and were most upset I could not provide assistance at 3 am.
Possibly, the strangest thing during that period of my parliamentary life was visiting Old Timers in Alice Springs. On entering the dementia and Alzheimer’s ward, for some reason, the clients believed I was the Queen, and I was greeted with a raucous: ‘It’s the Queen, it’s the Queen’. It was clear there was no point in disabusing them of this, so I merely acknowledged the curtsies and bows and advised that Prince Phillip was well.
Doorknocking in my electorate has, at all times, been fascinating. Nudity is of a high order and sexual encounters near the front door are not uncommon - men and men, women and men, and women and women. For the first time, I understood the expression ‘the great Territory lifestyle’ which is enjoyed extensively and with gusto in my electorate.
While these have been strange and humorous encounters, the thing which has really struck me is the extraordinary level of loneliness in our community - people with no relatives, few or no friends, are very poor, and often have major mental illnesses. Governments are really not able to deal with loneliness, but it is something, as a society, we need to deal with. In earlier decades, people were frequently associated with churches and found comfort, friendship and meaning in their faith and church community. Nothing has really replaced that today, and the result is large numbers of very sad and lonely people.
I have, once again, been reminded of this with the recent death of one of my constituents who was living in public housing, whose body was found five days after his death, and who appears to have no family and very few friends. He died intestate and will have a pauper’s grave supplied by the Public Trustee. Not for him a notice in the NT News or significant mourning. I find this very disturbing and, in fact, have organised with the Salvation Army to hold a memorial service for Peter tomorrow on the Nightcliff foreshore. To my mind, everyone is of value and their life holds significance.
In my own life, I have been blessed with faith, family and friends. Even on the hardest days of being a parliamentarian I remember this blessing because, at the end of the day, that is all each of us has. No entitlement or high social status can ever reach the heights of faith, family and friends.
I also place on the record my thanks and love to my long-suffering husband, Simon, and our three children, Al, Mikey and Zoe. It would be fair to say they have not really enjoyed my time as a member of parliament. The public underestimates the toll it takes on our families. I am proud to still be married after 25 years and to have the love and support of my family, including my wonderful 85-year-old mum. I look forward to spending more time with them.
I finally thank my parliamentary colleagues, each of you especially, in your support of me as Speaker over two terms. On top of that list, I thank the Chief Minister for his continuing support and friendship; it is gratefully received and reciprocated. I also acknowledge the previous Chief Minister, Clare Martin, for having the confidence in me to ask me to stand.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the courteous and professional way in which he has had dealings with me during my period as Speaker.
I look around and there are many people who have given me support, but I would especially like to thank two colleagues, the Leader of Government Business, Dr Burns, the first person who ever called me comrade, which I must say was a shock to my parents who are good Liberal Party people - he is a great friend and confidante - and the member for Arafura, who members may be surprised to hear is my non-identical twin sister. As Marion says, she is the black one.
I would also like to place on record my thanks to my staff: the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Ian McNeill, who unfortunately is not very well at the moment and could not be here tonight; the Deputy Clerk, Mr Michael Tatham; parliamentary officers; my personal staff Jade, Emaleena and Amelia; and all those who came before them in either my ministerial office, parliamentary office, or electorate office. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, you have made it much easier.
My thanks also go to the Australian Labor Party, of which I have been a very proud member. I particularly thank the Nightcliff branch of the Labor Party. Finally, I thank the people of Nightcliff for their support over three terms.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will finish with words from Shakespeare’s As You Like It:
- All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrance;
And one man in his time plays many parts.
Mr BOHLIN (Drysdale): Madam Deputy Speaker, what do I say on our last sitting of the Assembly? I wish to thank as many people as I can. To see before me a page notes to talk to is probably more information than we are given when we first take office. At that time you literally have no book, and there is no workplace description bar a minimum requirement to attend parliament. Every single day you sit in this office in a learning process. To make a difference was, essentially, why I came into parliament. Without a doubt I know in my heart, and in the heart of my family members and friends, that we made a difference. That difference is definable by many different people. Some will think they are great differences, some will think it was one of the worst things they ever came across.
The members of the Eleventh Assembly sit here today, all of us, and I remember the day we were sworn in and had photos on the step of Government House. Today, we stood in front of this magnificent building, the parliament of the Northern Territory, and again had photos together. No matter what happens in debate, the honour servicing the people of the Northern Territory is paramount.
Individually, on both sides of parliament in this Eleventh Assembly, we have a role to play and I am sure everyone has played their role. Often, it is the small things in your electorate which go totally unnoticed. The thoughts Madam Speaker raised about the state of some of her constituents perhaps should have remained thoughts. Every one of us has a similar story, and I am sure over many wines or sodas you will continue to share those stories with your family. Those moments are what really make this job rewarding.
In the mosh pit here, it is not always an enjoyable task. For the media attention you may or may not attract, it is often thankless. However, on those small moments in your life where you can help people, where you come across a funny moment or can share some time with someone who merely needs some attention, that is the gold which cannot be paid in cash. It is paid in true love and affection through our business.
To my former electorate officer, Donna Ellice, who served a good three-and-a-half years, thank you very much, Donna. I wish you the best. It is, without a doubt, a very hard job, and one that is hard to put into a job description. There is virtually no boundary for an electorate officer. The expectations are extremely high, whether it be secretary on a subcommittee of a small community organisation, through to the most thankless task of simply offering people some comfort and a box of tissues. No description really fits that of an electorate officer. To Theresa Whitlock, who has stepped in for the last six months, you have done a fantastic job - in fact, the last four months, we still have two to go - and has kept the office in a very tight state.
To the various people in the Opposition Leader’s office through our nearly four years, you have helped me many times, you have helped my colleagues many times and, in turn, you have helped the people of the Northern Territory over that time.
To the Legislative Assembly staff around us in this mosh pit, your help ensuring this business carries on is highly regarded by me. Everyone has their time challenging certain points; however, these are the people no one sees and no one gets to recognise or admire their professionalism. That makes for this great place we stand in.
To the Hansard and other supporting staff in this great building, again, the people who are not seen - they are always behind the scenes, they are in the books on our tables, they are in the Internet that allows this parliament to be recorded. They are the small people who have great heart and do a very big job to support the Northern Territory - thank you.
I thank my many friends who have kept me level-headed. I asked my friends to promise that no matter what happened in this business, to always ensure I, to the best of my ability, stay the same person I was when elected. I believe I have managed to do that. Whether it is the traditional Australian friendship where they are not afraid to have a dig, throw some mud across the table, have a bit of fun, but they are also the same people who will be by my side, as I will with them, and help them when they need it. As recent as yesterday, I was helping a mate get a job by setting up Skype so he could do an interview. I do not know why he asked me; however, we did it and he had an interview. They are the little things which make your mates your mates, and they are part of keeping us all grounded. I am sure every one of us, when we look around at our friends, wonder who we are, whether we have changed, and how much have we changed. It is our mates who keep us grounded and I thank every one of them - and there are many of them.
Many people know motorsports is a big part of my life and where many of my friends are. I have many friends in the building industry, and I have many friends in the police force. Thank you. I do not know how to say it other than that – thank you for your continued support.
To my partner, Hannah, and the stability she has brought to my life in the last nine months -you find the right people in your life and you know that is the key. Not all of the last nine months have been easy. As we all know, business changes. This Eleventh Assembly has been up and down for everyone.
Thank you very much to my mother, Dorothy Rae Bohlin, and my father, Gordon Charles Oscar Bohlin. Thank you very much for the way you raised me with some decent standing. Many know the support I received at the time of my mother’s unfortunate passing not very long ago - over 12 months ago now; it does not seem like that. Thank you for the support we received. My family understood the flowers we received from the Territory - not physically from the Territory - but they meant much to the family. Even though we work in this mosh pit, in this very controversial environment, there are still good people on both sides of the fence with enough time to care about our family. It was a very sad time to see my mother pass. Thank you all for your support.
To my daughter, who lives in New Zealand - such a beautiful young lady she is - who worries about me more than I do. Her maturity through many changes over the last four years has been a reflection, probably, of her mother’s and my ability, despite being separated, to bring up a beautiful daughter. It is a lesson to many people that those kids are our future and we should always respect that.
To the largest group of my supporters, the people of Drysdale and Palmerston as a whole; the Alexander Day Club; the U3A people; all my schools; the markets we love; the community support you have given me throughout my time has been overpowering and very emotional. It is often hard to explain to people what is happening, how politics works and the reasoning behind certain things, but your good wishes and continued support, even today, have been amazing. I thank you all.
We have had some interesting battles. We have made a difference in the electorate of Drysdale. We have not necessarily fought battles on a political basis, but with commonsense. We won most of those battles not by ourselves; we won them with the support of the community and by accepting common sense – the Marlow Lagoon power line issues, Marjorie Street access, and many smaller battles. They were balanced with common sense from departments and, in the end, listening to the people and the support of the people. Thank you for everything you have done.
For all this, I thank you. I appreciate the experience and opportunities it has brought. The Territory today, now and into the future, is at the start of its role in Australia’s history.
We have had some dark times in our history, but we are in the right place to lead Australia into the future. The oil, gas, tourism, our Asian relations and our trade are all in their infancy, and the vision any government takes can lead the Territory into the future. I hope it is led well by whoever, but look to the future, it is all bright.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I make my last adjournment in this House. I do not have any funny stories to tell, but I would like to recap.
I was thinking of 16 October 2001, when I was sworn in as a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. My entry into parliament was celebrated by Tiwi dancers, in particular my Tiwi brother who had preceded me in the role. He wore a suit rather than body paint, but there was no questioning his confident, even defiant declaration of his Tiwi identity. In his chosen way of handing the baton to me, he was making a deliberate point. He was responding definitely and conclusively to the political schemers and strategists, both Tiwi and Muruntani, who had orchestrated an election campaign to replace him with a candidate promoted as a ceremony man. I have copped a fair bit of the same from time to time over the years, but like other proud Tiwi people with mixed heritage - a very large percentage of the Tiwi population in fact - I do not let it divert me from my course because the ties which bind us are stronger than the slurs some use to try to divide us. While I am aware of one member opposite who likes to engage in that type of politics, it has, fortunately, not been echoed publically by her colleagues so far.
I feel honoured and grateful to have been treated with respect and warmth by all my constituents. Tiwi women in particular saw my becoming the first female Aboriginal member of the Legislative Assembly as their achievement, and that, to some extent, it belonged to all of them. I thank them for their constant support over the years, especially the last of my Tiwi mothers who only departed last week and for whose loss my heart still aches.
However, I have concerns as I prepare to hand the baton to another Rioli that the same kind of campaign as was run against his uncle is being readied on behalf of his opponent. I seriously hope I am wrong about that.
Madam Speaker, on 16 October 2001 I made my maiden speech in this Chamber at the very place you delivered your speech. I felt daunted, but also excited by the challenge of representing the interests and aspirations of a constituency with an ancient cultural past and an uncertain social and economic future. It seemed to me I was channelling the optimism and resolve shared by most Territorians in that heady time.
More than 10 years of hard political slog and a Commonwealth intervention have not blunted that resolve. However, the optimism has been tempered by a realisation that decisions in relation to many of the big Territory issues are made far away from this place.
In the early 1990s, I was living at Nguiu - which is now Wurrumiyanga - and had the privilege of working for a small but efficient local government entity, the Nguiu Community Government Council. There were very few non-Aboriginal employees, and amongst all staff there was a sense of teamwork and purpose. The council was seen as being of and for the community, and community residents had no complaints about having council service fees deducted from their fortnightly income, whether that was in the form of salary or social security benefits. Under the old Local Government Act, community government councils were allowed to do that. Most of the money raised was used to fund jobs and services. One of the other things we did with the money was put it into landing lights at the Nguiu airstrip.
The Nguiu community’s willingness to make contributions to its council’s running costs was something very valuable, which translated into economic viability for its local council. I call this social capital. There is no doubt in my mind that Nguiu community’s willingness to make a financial contribution to its council’s running costs stemmed from an appreciation and trust in local government which was truly local. It is something I do not believe can be replicated - as with the shires, which are operated from a central office based in some distant town away from Aboriginal land.
While the Nguiu community had to deal with the same grog and ganja problems it wrestles with now, there was a much greater sense of respect for and obedience to social norms. Skin groups took responsibility for punishing bad behaviour and enforcing practices like families going out for weeks at a time to hunt, forage, and maintain cultural knowledge during the mid-year bush holiday period.
If I look at Wurrumiyanga now as a benchmark, I realise the worrying changes I notice there are replicated across the Territory. While there are always shares of blame to be allocated, at the end of the day, the deterioration cannot be designated as the fault of any particular group of people, nor due to the failures of government policy or resource allocation. The reality is, in remote Aboriginal communities everywhere, traditional culture and authorities are being swamped by addictive lifestyle patterns driven by modern technology and values. This was always going to happen regardless of which party was in power in Darwin or Canberra.
Old people whose own youthful years were ingrained with discipline and the habit of working are dying. They are taking their priceless treasure troves of knowledge and wisdom with them to the grave, and the uncertainty and lack of self-esteem of surviving generations has created a perfect storm of alcohol and substance abuse.
I would love to wave a magic wand and transform Wurrumiyanga in 2012 back into the simpler Nguiu community I lived and served in the early 1990s, but I know it is not going to happen. Instead, we have to focus on the world we now have. For the kids and teenagers who are going to try to make a better future in the Wurrumiyanga of tomorrow, that world is dominated by mobile phones, Facebook, and a morality heavily influenced by the sexualised and often violent human relationships they see on TV and computer screens 24/7. That is not to say everything is terminal and hopeless in remote communities. I do not believe that at all. I can see the promise and potential which is there to be developed in so many of our young people.
However, when Aboriginal society out bush faces such profound challenges, what is really important to hang on to is social capital - those positive arrangements which have been familiar and accepted as mainstays of community life such as CDEP and community-based local government entities of a size and with boundaries that give the residents a sense of control and ownership of assets and decision-making.
What has happened over the last 10 years is governments have increasingly devised measures which sacrifice local systems and procedures for the sake of achieving a notional, economic, efficiency dividend, or implementing a purported normalisation regime. I am mainly talking about the Commonwealth government, but it is not the only one.
I do not necessarily reject that ‘top down economic rationalist approach’ to trying to change things for the better. Everyone knows you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. I am not necessarily squeamish about preferencing the interests of a community, especially its women and children, over the rights of individuals, particularly when it comes to the right to drink alcohol. However, a profit and loss calculation needs to be undertaken first. That calculation needs to take into account the cost of losing fragile and irreplaceable social capital. It is a calculation which has too often been overlooked.
One example of the squandering of social capital has been the sorry intervention saga of the scrapping of the Territory-wide network of community-endorsed restricted areas. Prior to the intervention, when a community applied for restricted area status public meetings were held at which restricted area rules were clearly spelt out. When restricted areas status was granted, everyone in the community understood the maximum penalty for bringing alcohol in was six months imprisonment for a first offence and 12 months for a second or subsequent offence. Only hardcore offenders received gaol time, but it was a genuine deterrent. Instead, under the intervention, we had a prescribed area alcohol restriction regime where the penalty under section 75 of the Territory Liquor Act for bringing alcohol in was replaced with a fine.
Would-be intervention hard man, Mal Brough, initially talked tough on grog, but his tune soon changed to wet canteens, and he introduced legislation which weakened pre-existing Territory sanctions. In particular, his change allowed offenders to be let off.
The tragedy is the new generation of community members objecting to and protesting against the tough penalties under Stronger Futures are in complete ignorance of the fact it was their elders who endorsed the application of that same penalty to their communities when opting to make them dry. In all too many cases those elders have passed on, and the community consensus against alcohol abuse the elders had been able to achieve through influence and authority has been lost forever. What a waste.
Pretty much everyone agrees education is the key when it comes to making a difference in the future. The past 10 years have seen a hugely increased investment by this government on infrastructure and resources. I am cautiously optimistic about the recent progress in Gunbalanya and Maningrida, but truancy and the negative effect of aspects of modern lifestyle have undermined progress everywhere throughout the Territory. Truancy is going to be a continuing challenge no matter which party is in government after the August election.
This brings me to the one issue which often raises much passion amongst us - outstations. One of the most bizarre attacks made on me in late 2008 was that the focus on English and Maths - promoted in transforming Indigenous education - was part of a sinister, broader strategy to close down outstations. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I knew, in the final months of the Howard government, the Commonwealth had forced the former Chief Minister to take over funding responsibility for outstations as part of the price for securing the housing and infrastructure program which later came to be known as SIHIP.
I also knew the only way to secure funding for outstations was to lock in guaranteed ongoing Commonwealth funding, and the only way to do that was to make an evidence-based case. The outstation policy review process I commenced was to have progressed in a number of stages; only the first stage was ever completed. That was the community survey conducted by Pat Dodson which resulted in a report highlighting the need for new infrastructure, in particular housing infrastructure, in established communities. The next stage was to have been a comprehensive economic modelling and analysis process. My preference at that time was a review team led by Professor John Altman. The work to be undertaken would have given us concrete evidence demonstrating the vital and social economic role played by homeland communities in the Territory.
Once my successor as minister responsible for outstation policy took over, momentum seemed to stall. The economic modelling project was abandoned, months passed, and the night before it was to be formally announced I was informed of something called A Working Future. This was a policy in which an unrecognisable version of the unfinished outstation policy was subsumed into an aspirational framework relating to large remote communities. These communities were to be rebadged as growth towns. The policy was clearly driven by a desire to hitch a ride on the back of the millions that had already been allocated for particular communities under SIHIP and to fit in with the Commonwealth government’s policy agenda. It was very much the member for Macdonnell’s baby.
This was completely contrary to the Dodson project report recommendations, which dictated from now on government funding for housing on outstations would be prohibited. The bogus rationale for the policy position was outstations were on privately owned land, even though most of the growth towns were also on privately owned land and Mal Brough had personally welcomed a new era of remote area home ownership in 2006 when the Commonwealth funded the construction of impressive new houses at the outstation communities of Nama and Wudapuli. The economic modelling still has not been done to this day. I thought I could negotiate some of those changes, but, thanks to one former Caucus member, that proved impossible at the time.
I returned to the party in August 2009 because the future of stable government in the Territory was at risk and, when all is said and done, I believed in Labor principles and the Labor Party. I still do. Contrary to what many have said, no deals were done. I was promised nothing and received nothing. I supported Paul Henderson because he was, and remains, the only person in this House who can credibly run the Territory as the Chief Minister. He is a decent and straightforward man, and has done the job under very difficult circumstance. That brings me to the end of my journey.
There are so many people for me to thank and acknowledge there is no way I am going to be able to get close to naming them all. I have prepared a list, Madam Speaker, and I seek leave for this list to be incorporated.
Leave granted.
Dr Burns: As long as my name is on it, Madam Speaker.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I had better check. The individuals whose names are on the list are only a small subset of the much larger group to whom I am indebted. To all my former and current parliamentary colleagues, particularly the Class of 2001 - that includes you, member for Johnston and the member for Nightcliff, also Andy Ralph; Esther Djaygurrnhga; Liam Maher; Dwayne Baker; Joe Singh; Barbara Wauchope; Julie Narndal; Hagar Bullawani; Lois Nadjamerrek; Peter Cooke; John Christopherson; Daisy Yamirr; Mary Yamirr; Bunung Galaminda; Linda Bunn; Shane Wauchope; Barry Puruntatameri; Kilapaywu Puruntatameri; Lawrence Costa; Lynette De Santis; Manyi Rioli; Donna Burak; all the Bima Wear Ladies; Lucille Pilakui; Marita Pilakui; Robina Timaepatua; Robert Scrymgour; Jacky Scrymgour; Marie Napatali; Valerie Rowland; Francine Elsegood; Cherise Daiyi; Helen Daiyi; Karlene Scrymgour; Peter Danajer; Cyril Oliver; Matty Ryan; Helen Williams; Dene Hereen; David Bond; Helen Bond Sharp; Ian Munro; Appoline Cohen; Charlie Gunabarra; Sr Anne Gardiner; John Naden; Joy Naden; Penny Carr; Maria Billias; Maria Paterakis; Ron Greaves; Kerry Gardiner; David Money; Jamie Gallacher; Leslie Cameron; Eva Lawler; Vicki Nangala Tippett; Bethany Maley; Kim Hill; Tania Hill; Karlee Dalton; Andrew Buick; Carol Angeles; and from the Department of the Legislative, the Clerk; Deputy Clerk; Vicki Long; Alice Tsang; and all Parliamentary Services staff.
You will agree Caucus resembles a family. In all families there are squabbles, but the bonds of family usually prevail to deliver a resolution. They say in politics no one is your friend. Well, I am glad to say I have friends in Caucus and those friendships will live long after I leave politics. We might not have seen eye to eye on everything, but standing up for your constituents’ interests against the party line is part and parcel of a healthy democracy. It is that strength of character to strongly argue and maintain a position that makes for a good politician, not whether they have experience in the private sector.
Each one of us has put our hand up to run the gauntlet of election and dedicated ourselves to public service. We did that because, as individuals, we believed we had and have relevant skills and experience that would enable us to confidently and capably represent our respective electorates.
I was born and raised a Territorian. My parents where Jack and Claire Scrymgour, two people I spoke of with pride and love in my maiden speech on 16 October 2001. During that swearing-in, my father was standing just behind me. He was here to see me sworn in earlier that day. My mother had already passed away. At that time I had one parent, seven fantastic sisters, three wonderful brothers, three fantastic children and one grandchild. I leave with no parents. I still have my wonderful seven sisters, two brothers, three wonderful children, of whom I am so proud, and six grandchildren. The Northern Territory means much to me and I look forward to making a contribution to its future in years to come.
Members: Hear, hear!
__________________
Statement by Speaker
Appreciation of Member for Arafura’s Husband
Statement by Speaker
Appreciation of Member for Arafura’s Husband
MADAM SPEAKER: Honourable members, before I call the Chief Minister, I will add to the member for Arafura’s adjournment speech a thank you to her husband David, who is in the gallery tonight.
__________________
Mr HENDERSON (Wanguri): Madam Speaker, I was going to move an extension of time for the member for Arafura to mention her fantastic husband.
I am here tonight as a friend and colleague to our three members on this side who have just given their farewell adjournments to this Assembly. I start by saying on this side of the family, drawing on the analogy from the member for Arafura, this is our second family. For all of us in party politics - Gerry, I am sorry, you are there as a family of one - on our side this is the second family. There are many times when you see more of your second family than your real family at home.
For the three members and friends who have just given their farewell adjournments to the House, all of us on this side of the House are, first and foremost, conviction politicians. None of the three who have just spoken ever came into this House seeking anything other than to put back into the community and to represent their constituents to the best of their ability. We have had much fun and many laughs. We have had times when we have been cranky with each other and growled at each other. We have had our moments, but the good times have always outweighed the bad.
My good friend Chris, the member for Johnston - geez, mate, we have had fun! We have gone through some amazing issues. The time I will most remember Chris for what we do as conviction politicians was the time I was elected in 1999, when I was in opposition, and you were preselected not long after that. You were one of the first of the northern suburbs team preselected for the 2001 election, and we had a very serious problem around Darwin with drug-related property crime.
I was the shadow Health Minister, Syd Stirling was the shadow Police minister, and Chris Burns, our pharmacist, understood the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and worked with us to demonstrate how the freewheeling prescription of MS Contin occurring around Darwin at that time by a number of doctors was reversing of the CLP’s position at the time of not having methadone clinics in town. It saw people coming to Darwin to access, basically, free morphine through the MS Contin scheme, and the property crime associated with that addiction was through the roof. We worked on an evidence-based public policy to demonstrate unless we got on top of the issue, and when elected to government allowed the provision of morphine for people with drug addictions, we were not going to do anything about property crime.
The great thing about those days in opposition, when you actually have time to work on serious policy because constituent work takes you so far during the day - I learnt so much at that time from Chris on how to put public policy together. I am very proud, Chris, that one of your great legacies when finishing your career is the huge amount of trauma and damage happening in the community as a result of that issue has been severely negated. I will always remember those times.
You have had many portfolios. When did you come into Cabinet, Chris?
Dr Burns: 2002.
Mr HENDERSON: We worked on many things over the times across many portfolios. Chris has, and always will have, great strategic thinking. However, the greatest accolade, Chris, is the way you have conducted yourself within our Caucus and our Cabinet - you are a man of great integrity - absolute integrity – and no one could ever doubt your motives around the positions you take.
We have had much fun with the Casuarina Branch as well. The member for Casuarina, me, and you have much support through the Casuarina Branch in the northern suburbs.
You will really enjoy fishing and crabbing. You said yesterday the trouble is there are too many recipes and not enough days to cook. We are going to see much of each other. We still have a couple of months to go, and I know when my phone rings between 7 am and 7.15 am there is only one person who is ringing me at that time of the morning – Burnsie, with the issue of the day or what is the paper. I am looking forward to those into the future, Chris. I wish you all the best. We are going to stay mates, and you will not be shy to give me your wisdom, as you have always done.
To Madam Speaker, member for Nightcliff: Jane, again, wishing you all the best into the future. You are not going anywhere either. You are part of our Class of 2001. I will never forget when we were all sworn in as the first Cabinet, the first Labor government in the Territory’s history, how proud we all were on that day. I remember being so proud of you, Jane, for winning the seat I tried to win on two previous occasions – the seat of Nightcliff. Nightcliff and Rapid Creek are always going to be near and dear to my heart. I was so proud you won that seat for the Labor Party.
Since that day, we have been great friends. In Cabinet and in Caucus, we have always shared great friendship, the ability to talk freely, and you have been of great personal support for me as well over some tough times I have had in my job. There was much fun in that first Cabinet. I am not going into detail, but I am sure, Jane, you will remember a Cabinet meeting we had at Uluru. I will not mention what happened, but it was very, very funny and you handled yourself with absolute dignity as though nothing had happened.
As well as that incident, I remember being shown around the new rooms at the resort, and the guy opened the door to take us into one of the new rooms and, of course, there were a couple of people – I do not know if they were quite naked at the time - but it was one of those Nightcliff moments where he opened the door and there was Clare, and the entire Cabinet of the Northern Territory, about to be shown to their rooms. Those are the things we all take with us.
Regarding Nightcliff, I am really proud you have seen through to fruition a commitment I campaigned on in 1994 and 1997 - getting the power lines under the ground. It was the right public policy, horrendously expensive, but the right thing to do. We are really proud of that. We have had many, many laughs over the years. We have many more laughs to come, Jane. You are very special person and I have loved working with you over the years.
When we have tough times, what I have gained strength from is your incredible strength in your own faith. Your faith is much stronger than mine. I have faith, but I have seen how it has helped you. Jane, I wish you all the best into the future.
Marion, we have had a really fascinating, challenging, interesting time since 2001. What can I say about the member for Arafura? I say this dearly and from my heart: Marion, you are passionate, you are compassionate, you are driven by your ideals and you are absolutely fearless. I really admire that in you, Marion. Nobody can ever take away the beliefs you hold which you articulate with passion in all forums. Sometimes, it might not have been at the best time, but I have never felt anything other than: ‘Marion wanted to say that, needed to say that, and good luck to her’. I know the motivation behind everything you have done in public life has been driven by your ideals, you absolute commitment to fairness, to wanting the best for people you represent across your electorate, and the Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
For me, it has been a tremendous privilege working with you since 2001. I have learnt so much. I have learnt more than I thought I could learn about the complexities of Indigenous life, family life, community life, and cultural responsibilities. It has been a totally different world for me – a totally different world from the one I grew up in. I have been enriched; I have learnt so much. Hopefully, as the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, I bring some of that compassion to my thinking when I have to make decisions in regard to issues for Indigenous people. I believe I have become much more compassionate over time, having been enriched by your wisdom and that of other people on this side of the House.
The one memory I will always take, which absolutely shook me to my core as Police minister earlier in our time, was a letter I received from the member of Arafura - I still have a copy of it - about the scourge of petrol sniffing at Gunbalanya. I do not know, Marion, if you remember that letter you wrote to me. This was to someone who had, essentially, never experienced in my life or observations - we were early into that term of government – or thought much about petrol sniffing. That letter about the devastation happening in Gunbalanya absolutely shook me to my core. From that moment on, not only in what police and health were doing – one of the great legacies of your time as minister across a range of portfolios was the volatile substance abuse legislation and the work you did in putting that together. It was very much your own work. Even though we have outbreaks of petrol sniffing across the Territory from time to time, that legislation has saved many lives in the Northern Territory. I will never forget being in Docker River and meeting with the council. We came under siege from petrol sniffers with rocks being hurled at the council office. I was totally aghast, as a father, watching these kids walking around the community with cans of petrol under their noses and wondering how any community could allow that to happen. The fact you put that legislation together is what being in government is all about - trying to improve the lives of people. That will really be a legacy, Marion. We do not have anywhere near the problems we did and we should always do everything we can to prevent our kids from sniffing petrol.
Probably the time I enjoyed most working with Marion was being out and about in her electorate. It is a fantastic place. All the Territory is fantastic; wherever you go in the Territory is fantastic, but being on the Tiwi Islands, Maningrida, Gunbalanya, Jabiru, wherever, the people genuinely love and respect Marion as a person. She knows everybody out there, and I have had so much fun meeting some fantastic people who, in another life, I would never have had the opportunity to meet.
Marion, you will leave this parliament, as will Chris and Jane - amongst our electorates, whether people have voted for you or not, all three would have your constituents say: ‘Even though I do not vote Labor, all three of those local members always did the best they could for their electorate’. That is the most we can hope for. At the end of the day when we finally leave this House, we think we have made a difference, we hope we have made a difference, and people can see we worked hard.
To the three members on our side, the great thing is none of you are going anywhere; you are all staying here. The friendships we have made in our Caucus will, for me - I will always work hard to maintain those friendships outside Caucus because we have had many good times.
I would also like to say to the member for Drysdale, good luck and best wishes in whatever it is you decide to do, Ross, going forward. A little anecdote about Ross and myself - Ross lived in Wanguri and I remember doorknocking him when I was out doing my rounds one day as the local member. You were doing some gardening renovations ...
Mr Bohlin: It would not have been gardening.
Ms Purick: He would have been playing with his car.
Mr HENDERSON: No, he was not playing with his car, he was doing the gardening. He was pretty hot and sweaty and we stood at the front fence yarning for about 45 minutes or so. We had quite a long chat and you then took on the Beat the Heat thing as a police officer. I must admit, I was a bit gobsmacked when I found out you had put your hand up for the Country Liberal Party because the conversation I had with you at that front fence - I did not pick you for the CLP, I must say. You surprised me; however, in my time in this job, nothing surprises me anymore. Ross, I wish you all the best for the future.
To Chris, Jane and Marion, enjoy whatever it is you are going to do with the rest of your life. Please leave this time of your life thinking: ‘Yes, I made a difference’, because all of you made a difference in your own unique way. You will be missed when we reconvene after 25 August, whichever way we reconvene. On our side, you will be missed. We will certainly be staying in touch, and please, keep us honest and bend our ears whenever you need to. Thank you.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I am very mindful of this point in history, this moment in time when the gap between the first speech and the last speech made by members - what was contained in the first and is in the last, the distance between the two, and the path which has been travelled between those two points. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to all four speeches today, knowing the people and the stories which are evidence of the presence of each of those members. I am mindful, though, of each of the chairs we occupy in this Chamber. The member for Drysdale referred to this often as a mosh pit. It is a place which can be difficult and testing to operate in - severely at times.
However, we are reminded, through the passage of time, it is a great privilege to serve in this place. It is something we forget at times when we become so accustomed with the surroundings. We are reminded when someone walks into the Chamber and is just gobsmacked at what they see - this is the place we work in.
Sadly, many times we do not elevate it by the way in which we conduct business in here. However, that aside, it does not take away from the seriousness, importance, and great privilege each of us has had - particularly the four members who have spoken today - since the time we came into this Chamber. What each of us - whether you are on that side or this side of the Chamber - have in common is the great honour and privilege of serving.
Now, it comes down to the two grandfathers of the House, the member for Wanguri and I. We are the ones who have observed the comings and the goings and we are still here ...
Mr Elferink: How old do you think I feel?
Mr MILLS: Oh that is right, you came and went and then came back again. The member for Drysdale referred to this as the Eleventh Assembly. Yes, there have been these Assemblies and each of you will take with you a photograph. Make sure you get it, it is a photograph of all the members of the Eleventh Assembly. I have, as I am sure the member for Wanguri has, three sets. I have the photographs of the Eighth, the Ninth and the Tenth Assemblies. Now, the Eleventh will soon be produced. I look forward to each of you in time standing in front of those photographs and looking at those faces and, the remembering stories that will come as you reflect on your interactions with each of the members in this Chamber. It is a pretty special time; make sure you get those photographs.
I will briefly touch on each of the members, and I do not necessarily want to do this in a political context because we are all colleagues in here. Dr Burns …
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: I withdraw - member for Johnston. We have gotten to know each other. I can still remember meeting you at the Darwin Cup as you were considering entering politics. We had known each other a little beforehand, I think, with Red Cross. Is that correct? I remember exactly where we were standing and the discussion we had. I was new to politics, and it did not surprise me you became so interested, you were elected to the parliament in 2001.
There has been a constant contact line all that time, from 2001 until now, that my wife and I feel we know you. We probably socialise more than we would socialise with anybody else; seeing each other at functions and the like. That has been pretty special. We have really enjoyed running into you and Liz at different functions over these many years. That is a special memory and I thank you for that and your good company.
I also reflect on my times going to the Rapid Creek Markets. I honestly love going to the Rapid Creek Markets, with my love of Asia; it is such a good place to be able to catch up with the salt of the earth. To see you there constantly too leaves a nice memory.
One thing I will reflect on, member for Johnston, is the way in which you have serviced your electorate. I have had so many people tell me, irrespective of their political persuasion, the respect they have for you for the way in which you have played your role as a local member, evidenced by your discipline in being at the Rapid Creek Markets more often than not.
For the member for Arafura - similarly to the member for Wanguri, the Chief Minister, I find it difficult to explain the relationship we have enjoyed. I know we touched at one point with you realising that I had a connection in Western Australia with Maurice Rioli and the great love that my family, particularly my deceased father, had for Maurice. It was a lovely moment, too, to make that connection.
I am pleased the Chief Minister has made reference to the petrol sniffing and the volatile substance abuse. I distinctly remember that time. You brought something into this debate and you have left something that impressed all of us. There was a small opposition at the time, but the way in which you presented that was impressive, and it resulted in change. There are moments like that which awaken us to that which is outside the frame of this place.
For the member for Nightcliff, first, I am struck by the unusual electorate you appear to represent, or is it that you appear to have these unusual experiences? I am still trying to work that one out, so I will be speaking to those who are doorknocking in Nightcliff to see whether, in my interests as a former sociology student, there is, in fact, this phenomena in Nightcliff or whether it is peculiar to your observations. I will do some checks on that ...
Madam Speaker: It might be a bit cold at the moment.
Mr MILLS: I could be a bit cold at the moment. We have come to know you and the courageous way you have dealt with, first, becoming a Health minister, new to the position in a new government, and having former Health ministers here challenging and testing you. I watched you. I was sitting over there and you were sitting there, and I saw the baptism of fire. Then, you had your own issues with health and you have carried yourself with great courage and you have earned the admiration of all members. I have personally, Madam Speaker, appreciated from time to time being able to just quietly touch base. It has meant a lot to me. Thank you.
How dare you think you are going to jump up? I am saving the best until last. I just have to go back to the member for Arafura for a second. I am going to miss …
Ms Scrymgour: You are obsessed with me now, Terry?
Mr MILLS: No, I am not. I just have to say I am going to miss the glares I receive across here. There is this ferocity I get just in the look. Then, if I look again, a smile is not so far away, which is encouraging ,,.
Ms Scrymgour: I will see you on Monday at Maningrida.
Mr MILLS: Yes, I am sure you will. I am not going on Monday; I am going on Sunday.
Ms Scrymgour: Sunday and Monday.
Mr MILLS: Member for Drysdale, I remember the phone call I made to you to ask whether you would be interested, and you were honoured to be asked. You had a freshness about you in your response to a request. You understood the honour of the call, and you responded very humbly, with a dignity and a freshness that was very special.
The way in which you engaged your electorate in a very honest way won the respect of the people of Drysdale. Doing the rounds of the electorate on polling day in 2008, you presented yourself in a magnificent way, ‘Hi, I am Ross Bohlin,’ shaking their hands - and you have not changed. That is one thing I heard you say in a very lovely final speech, member for Drysdale, Ross, that you asked your friends to make sure you have not changed. You have not; you have not been affected. It is not an easy thing to be able to pass through the challenges you and that all of us pass through, and to remain as you are. You have a dignity, courage, and decency which has earned you deep and lasting respect. You have that from me and from many people.
I wish to put on the record something many members probably would not know because the member for Drysdale is not a person to boast. He has achieved significant engagement with China - he has not spoken much of this - with his motor sports. I will just make reference to that. We will see a man who is genuine, decent, and consistent, who will flourish in that which he puts his hand to. I know you have done some significant work in a very unique way in engaging with China, and with our near neighbour within the Asian region, and I predict there will be fruit that comes from that, just by the modest way in which you have conducted your business.
I sincerely wish you all the best. I am delighted, as would my wife be, to hear the way in which you refer to Hannah and the effect she has had on you. It was lovely to see you with my family at Christmas time. My family takes an interest in you, and I am sure Roz will be very pleased to hear that you and Hannah are getting on so well. We wish you all the very best.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE (Karama): Madam Speaker, it is difficult to say goodbye to three of my colleagues from the Class of 2001. In the short time I have, I will not be able to give the full extent of the expression of my respect and admiration for the contribution each of you have made for the people of the Northern Territory. It has been a long, hard road coming in with such enormous need across all sectors of our society and across all of our communities.
Jane, I will start with you, Madam Speaker, because you had the unenviable task of going straight into Cabinet. I remember the first Caucus, and you were on the hook-up from Brisbane where you were for your father. You have carried yourself with such enormous grace and dignity in all of the ways in which you have represented the people of the Territory and, indeed, the people of Nightcliff.
I sincerely thank you for having been a lifelong advocate for people with a disability, for the great work you did when you where the Minister for Health, to give me the opportunity as your backbench colleague, to consult with Territorians about disability needs. Out of that came a tremendous increase in funding to improve disability services right across the Territory. The grace with which you acknowledged people with such significant and broad needs, but also the compassion with which you embraced the carer community holds you in significant stead, I believe, in the history of the Health ministers of the Northern Territory. I acknowledge that fine, great, amazing work you did.
Also in those early days, of course, you inherited a child protection system which was completely demoralised and almost completely broken. You took on a very tough role in those very early days to start the years of the rebuilding of the child protection system. Again, you did so with such enormous dignity, grace and compassion for the people who worked in the sector but, most importantly, the care that you carry as a mother into your tasks in understanding the needs of protecting the children - irrespective of where they come from the across the Territory.
You have managed to represent that diverse community across Nightcliff and Rapid Creek, the diversity I grew up in. I am not surprised by your stories. I grew up with the stories of the former Independent member for Nightcliff. I do not doubt she was at the forefront of the nudist community of Darwin in 1970s; it is all starting to fall into place for me. It was pretty disturbing as a kid, I have to say, but I can well and truly appreciate that Nightcliff has always had these quirks about it.
You have brought community, and the fabric and embracing of community, into your role as a local member, and that has been quite a special thing. Anyone who talks about the work you have done will talk about the work you have done to help those disadvantaged, to help the lonely people you talked about in your speech, and to help the people who often do not have a voice. You have been their voice, and that is such a beautiful thing you have brought to your many years as the local member.
I do not doubt there will be a complete embracing of you across our community of faith, because you have always been very much at the forefront, on behalf of our government, in recognising the importance of faith and supporting the many different faiths we have across our community. I thank you sincerely for that, as well.
It has been a great job you have done as Speaker. I know you have taken your role as Speaker very importantly, in that you have made sure you have approached it with the independence you passionately believed a Speaker should bring. Yes, you are a member the Labor Party, proudly; yes, you are a member of our Caucus, but you have been very thorough in ensuring you bring independence to the role of Speaker. That you have done with great integrity, and I respect sincerely the way you have carried yourself as the Speaker of this Assembly through two terms.
Now I speak of my next colleague, the member for Johnston, Dr Burns. I said to the media a while ago that I have witnessed many different Assemblies of the Northern Territory over the years, back to when it was not an Assembly, when it was a Legislative Council, in 1971, which makes me somewhat of a political nerd in this place. I define the member for Johnston as a stand-out amongst the orators of the members of parliament through all those decades – a stand-out in his contribution in Question Time. I do not recall - I would put you easily in the top three of the turn of phrase you bring into debates in this Assembly. Another person in the top three would be Jack Ah Kit, without a doubt. The moments you can bring that will absolutely tear apart the Chamber in wit, insight, and humour; it has been an absolute joy and pleasure to listen to your contributions through the debates - whether they are debates, statements, or contributions in Question Time. Behind everything you say is an incredible depth of knowledge; you are an incredibly learned man. Across all the portfolios you have carried, you have put in such an enormous work ethic to get across the detail of the portfolio, not just in understanding the agency, but recognising all the stakeholders and the sectors, the non-government organisations, and the industry organisations.
I recall very early days for you as a minister, when you had to take the Territory through building reform and regulation, the way you moved mountains. I believe you were pretty well the only one capable of doing it, in the sense it required such a forensic knowledge of enormous detail. You have been forensic in your pursuit of information to ensure the decisions, the policy settings, and the resourcing government was making were to the best and fullest extent. Your passion for both your background of the urban communities you have served, as well as your knowledge of the remote communities you have served, and bringing them together has been a tremendous asset for our government.
You have heard members say in contribution and recognition, you are acknowledged as one of the hardest-working local members in Territory parliament, without a doubt, not only at the Rapid Creek Markets, but you are also the king of doorknocking.
I will certainly miss your role in our government and our parliament. I am sure I will continue to see you. I have a tremendous fondness for Lizzie. I have always said you are the luckiest man in Territory politics; your wife is an amazing woman. I know everything you have done, you have done with her tremendous support. You have had two extremely loyal electorate officers, and that speaks volumes for the man you are when people ride a long distance through hard slog with you.
So, Burnsie, you go with my uttermost respect and admiration.
My dear friend, Marion, the member for Arafura: it will take many years to write the story of just this chapter of 11 years in parliament, let alone the amazing story of the time before and the amazing chapters to come. I am incredibly proud I have served with you. You have attained the highest political office in our nation for an Indigenous Australian: Deputy Chief Minister. You got there; you have blazed the trail against the odds. You blazed it as an Indigenous woman with the odds against you in servicing such an incredibly remote electorate, with your massive commitments to family you have, and right through that period with your battles with your health. You continue to trail blaze. You, without realising it, have changed the lives of so many young Indigenous women right across the Territory, but I also believe across our nation.
You are such an amazingly powerful role model. It has been such an awesome experience to see the way you go about your daily work where you have so much energy and drive, you are tearing through - you can knock down every barrier anyone would ever want to put up around change. You are a strategic thinker; you can deal with systemic policy and with the individual realities flowing from that systemic policy; you can inspire and change people and change communities; and I believe you have inspired and changed our government along the journey we have all taken with you, Marion.
I loved our early days as backbenchers together when we had more time, on a day-to-day basis, to be together. There were many attempts many people made to try to separate us which did not work. I loved the way you nurtured me when I went into Cabinet, the way you supported me through that process, and the way we often continued to be the terrible two - that whole process. It broke my heart when you had to step out of Cabinet due to ill health. At the same time, I am glad you did because I have seen you regain your health and become well again. I have seen the time it has given you to work back in your electorate with your people, and how that has sustained and strengthened you again. It was a period of renewed health, largely because you have had that opportunity back with your people and your family. I acknowledge your family are here. I know how important it has been to have your family with you on this journey and the support of your family …
Ms Scrymgour: Particularly David.
Ms LAWRIE: Particularly your husband, David Dalrymple.
Marion, the Chief Minister spoke about your pursuit of turning and changing lives with petrol sniffing - the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act. I know, in relation to mental health, how far and how hard you have driven policy and resource reform in the mental health area. That has not stopped. The legacy of your latest inquiry into suicide is still there and still has a road map for the Territory to follow.
It is very much a sad moment for me to say farewell in adjournment to my three colleagues of the 2001 class.
Ross, we have not known you for long, mate. You have been highly entertaining in your contribution to the Assembly. On behalf of my staff, they are going to miss your contributions. Some have been very memorable and have entertained us for hours on end. That being said, your commitment and passion comes through, and is always a very worthy thing to have as a politician.
To the four parliamentary colleagues, enjoy the next exciting chapter of your journey.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Speaker, tonight I wish to pay tribute to the members of this parliament who are retiring. First, my colleague Ross Bohlin, the member for Drysdale. Like all of us, Ross came to this parliament with the background that suited him for the role of a local member. Originally, he comes from South Australia - but we will not hold that against him. After schooling, he sought qualifications in diesel mechanics and went on to join the Army - we do not hold that against him either.
After Ross came to the Territory with the Army, he realised there was a better life and employment than being an Army person, so switched uniforms and became a Northern Territory police officer. This job suited Ross and saw him work around the Territory and work with many community groups and communities. This set him up for his work as a local member. Over the last three years or so, what impressed me most about Ross was his capacity to tackle anything and get involved with any activity. Ross was not afraid to get involved and give it a go. I saw him push cars at the Katherine Show, dye his hair for fundraising, play with hermit crabs, help the University of Third Age people with their activities, and race against time to change tyres on a four-wheel-drive vehicle. I am sure everyone involved with these activities appreciated Ross’ engagement and enthusiasm.
Ross’ love of cars is well-known, and he is a keen mud racer and Finke Desert Race competitor, and has won first place in his categories of entry. I am sure he will go on to continue to race in the Finke Desert Race. He is a life member of mud racing and was instrumental in getting that club off the ground. I am sure the sport will appreciate his continued involvement and welcome his knowledge of working with politicians into the future.
Parliamentary work did not come easy to Ross - he is not alone in that regard - as Ross is an honest person and, to me, does not appear to be a person who would deride anyone or lower his standards for anyone or anything. I wish you, Ross, the very best in your next phase of your life and career. I know what you have learnt over the last three years or so will set you right for many years to come. You will know now who you can and cannot trust, and you will take with you valuable skills, knowledge, and friendship. I wish you and your partner the very best in all you do.
Madam Speaker, I turn my comments to the member for Johnston, Dr Chris Burns. I may have taken the oath of office with you in September 2008 but, sadly, I did not have a lot to do with you on a regular basis. I know you have had a mixed time during your career, but I am sure much of it is memorable for you and your many constituents over the years of your time as a local member and a minister. One thing I have found about you since I have been in this job is that my letters to you and to your office were replied to in a much quicker time than some of your colleagues, and for that I was thankful ...
Mr Wood: Hear, hear!
Ms PURICK: My colleague, the member for Nelson, agrees with me.
You seem to take more of an interest in matters in the rural area, again, more so than some of your colleagues have done over the last three years. That was also appreciated.
In addition, talking of all things rural, I know you have an active interest in all things poultry. While some in this parliament may think this is unusual, I know you genuinely have an interest ...
Mr WOOD: It is not unusual.
Ms PURICK: Who knows? Maybe the next phase of your life will take you down the path of turkey farming again, because we could sure do with some more turkey farmers up here in Darwin. Minister, I wish you the very best in whatever you do from now on, and best wishes to your wife, Elizabeth, and your family.
To the member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, your family and my family go way back. It is a bit disappointing we did not have the opportunity to work together more in this job, as we could have done many good things for the Territory, as we really care for the Territory and intend to stay here forever - not sure everyone in this House can lay claim to that fact.
We worked on the Mataranka cattle saga, and the youth suicide committee. It was this latter one which made me appreciate and understand issues such as youth suicide cross all political divides. There is no politics in such a sad and serious matter. I hope you continue to help the people of the Territory to be strong and happy in this regard. Thank you for your friendship and your support when I needed support. I look forward to hearing what you get up to in the next little while in your life. Remember, my office at Coolalinga is open to you always. If you are brave enough to visit the rural area, you are most welcome at my home too ...
Ms Scrymgour: Birds of Paradise is out there.
Ms PURICK: Sort of, down there.
Mr Wood: They moved.
Ms PURICK: In between the pizza shop and the newsagency, that is where I am.
Last, and by no means least, to Madam Speaker, the member for Nightcliff. Your time as a Territory parliamentarian may have come to an end, but I am sure you will go on to bigger and better things in life for the people of the Territory. From the beginning, you have been a great assistance to me in helping me understand the workings of parliament and the Legislative Assembly, and providing advice when I needed advice and guidance. One of our main areas of joint interest is Statehood, and I know it was a great disappointment to you when the wheels fell off the carriage last year. I shared that disappointment with you. Who knows what will happen after August this year? If I have anything to do with Statehood, I will make sure you have a role, and that is a promise.
Some people say it is difficult to find friends in a place such as politics. However, I beg to differ and hold the view that friendship is often found in the strangest places. That is what makes such a friendship special. When you do find them, they are usually with you for life, and for that I am thankful.
Madam Speaker, I wish you and your family the very best in whatever you do in life. I am sure you will enjoy what could be called a ‘normal’ life after August this year. If you, too, are brave enough to travel to the rural area, my home is open to you to visit and enjoy ...
Mr Wood: Do not go down there, dangerous.
Ms PURICK: To Ross, Chris, Jane and Marion, my best wishes to you and all your families. Stay safe and may you and your families enjoy happiness and love always.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, the worst person to respond to people saying goodbye is me, because you know I get a little emotional. I will try my best not to.
I would like to say a few things about each person leaving tonight, but I also need to reflect on the last four years as well because, in some cases, it was special for me.
Of course, there is no guarantee even those who are not leaving officially will still be here after the next election, because that is in the hands of the people of the Northern Territory. We all need to be humble enough to say if they wish for a change, that is their decision and we live by that decision. Of course, I hope I am back here at the next Assembly.
My memories of the member for Johnston in this House will always be of someone who could stand up toe-to-toe against the member for Port Darwin. That was pretty good in the sense that he is and was a great debater in this House, very erudite – I hope that is the right word because the member for Johnston has a better knowledge of the English language than I. I have always enjoyed his debates, even though occasionally there were times - probably about the only time I really got passionate about a debate was when the member for Johnston and I went toe-to-toe on a caravan park legislation.
Regardless, that did not matter. That was passion and we both had a point of view which needed to be debated. I do not think we insulted one another, but we just showed some passion. The member for Johnston always has shown compassion. His knowledge as a pharmacist … What is the correct word?
Ms Scrymgour: Pharmacist.
Mr WOOD: Yes, pharmacist. All right, I come from Victoria originally.
… helped in many of the areas he dealt with. There was some difficult legislation - recently the Drugs and Poisons Act. I appreciated quite a bit of the advice from the member for Johnston because of his knowledge.
When I say the member for Johnston was a pharmacist, I know the member for Arafura said we are here because of service, I was probably getting a sleight about my comments about trying to attract people from other …
Ms Scrymgour: No, Gerry! Me?
Mr WOOD: I should say I hope it was not taken that people from other walks of life are not welcome. It was a comment that I made to the Press Council saying I hope we could attract a broader range of people to parliament. I hope those people would also give good service. That was simply a comment and not to denigrate anyone from any background in this Assembly.
I appreciate, in this case, the experience the member for Johnston has brought. Also, he has worked out bush; he knows a lot about the communities and that is the experience he has brought to this place. He has shown dedicated service because of his commitment. It might have been the member for Johnston himself who said how politicians are put down at times. The member for Johnston is a classic example of someone who literally works his butt off for the community. It is sad when we do not lift the status of politicians higher than it is so we can attract more to what I believe is a very honourable profession. It is sad that it is denigrated in the media – and, sometimes, it is our own fault. It is put down too much, and so much, people simply do not want to be part of this because it is too difficult. Who wants to work those hours and be criticised? I take my hat off to the member for Johnston for his dedication and service to the people of the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I will have to say this now and I hope you do not hold it against me: I never voted on a censure motion except the one that went against you when you were Health minister - and I have never voted in one since. I hope you forgive me for doing that. That is way back when I had my L plates on …
Mr Tollner: Still got them on, Gerry.
Ms Scrymgour: Come on, Dave. Be nice.
Mr WOOD: In my case it might be L for learned, member for Fong Lim. Anyway, the member for Fong Lim makes life interesting, if nothing else.
Madam Speaker, one thing I appreciate - because it is not that easy as an Independent - the Chief Minister said how you have a second family in a party. You certainly do not have that as an Independent. For much of the time you are on your own, and you do not have many friends. Part of the reason you do not have many friends is, in your job, when you are making decisions, being asked to comment, or being part of a discussion, you need to be at arm’s length from people, because the decisions you make might affect those people. You are trying to, at least, make decisions that are not affected by those friendships.
To some extent, it can be a lonely job. Madam Speaker, that is why I very much appreciated some of our late nights -- in my case with Diet Cokes and a packet of chips - with the members for Johnston and Arafura, after a hard day in this place. It was nice to sit down and have a nice 10 minutes together to know that the world is not all about what is in this place.
I appreciate some of the private conversations we have had. I would love to talk a little more about some of the religious matters we have discussed from time to time, because that is also an important part of our life. I appreciate the times we have discussed matters like that. I have also enjoyed your anecdotes about the electorate of Nightcliff. You told of some of them tonight. I actually knew some of them already. Nightcliff is certainly different in some ways but, as the member for Goyder would say, the rural area can be different as well. I thank you for all your hard work; it is not easy to be the Speaker. You can be under a fair bit of pressure, and I understand when you have a parliament that is 12:12:1 that is even probably more difficult, but I appreciate that.
I also know that your own personal matters, especially with your health, have been difficult, but you have come through those. I believe that is partly due to your faith as well. If you keep that faith, you will get through. We have to have faith, no matter what our problems are, so we can get through those issues and come out the other side. I appreciate everything you have done.
I better go to Ross, because I have to go to my sister last. Ross, when you came in I did not know who you were actually, but I do now. You would make a great Independent, by the way. We had another Independent over here for a while, and we could have joined together at one stage and nearly made a party.
Ross, I have come to know you, and listened to what you had to say in parliament, and you make a lot of good common sense. There is a problem sometimes in politics - and I will say to the CLP, do not always judge people because they may not look like the best performer, or they may not have a big, high profile. From talking to people who know you and from what you have said in parliament, I know you are a good bloke and have worked, and are still working, for your electorate, and you had a great relationship with the youth in your electorate. That is something you should be proud of.
I do not know what your future will be. I hope you continue in this area. However, one of the great things I enjoy, although I am a bit older than you – I do not feel old, by the way – is working with youth. That is why I like to umpire football. That is why I like to get out to Freds Pass and talk to the kids. You, I believe, have done that extremely well, because all the comments I have heard is that young people in your electorate appreciate what you are doing. I thank you for that. You are, sort of, my neighbour, electorally. When you are rural, and when you are Palmerston, you might as well be as far away as Alice Springs sometimes.
I thank you for all that hard work you have done, especially for young people. If you do consider having a go in this area again, I would certainly support you. So, well done and thank you for all your hard work.
To my sister - I am not sure that is the right word, because my grandson by my wife’s sister is sitting up there . He especially came there today just to hear what I had to say about you, and he has gone off to sleep. Thank you, Harry. He might be awake. Harry Morgan is up there - named after my father-in-law. I think he might be awake.
I have a special connection with Marion because she is Tiwi. I spent seven years of my life on the islands and two of my kids were brought up there. I found the best way to learn about culture, which was to umpire football there for seven years. If you want to get culture - you get culture!
The thing I like about Marion is the Tiwi in her. There are no holds barred when there needs to be no holds barred, but there is also compassion when there needs to be compassion. Tiwi people are some of the finest people you will find; they can be tough as nails, but they can also be just people you would like to go up and hug - they are beautiful people.
All of the things that you said about Nguiu shire council and the way the island was, is dead right. It is so sad to see the changes which are occurring because the Tiwis, for me, are very special. Sometimes, people talk about people losing their land is the reason why there is all this dislocation. The sad thing is the Tiwi’s have never lost their land, yet, they have these same issues other places have. However, we must live with hope because there are good people over there. There are good women - I saw the women dancing here during the Bombing of Darwin celebrations - strong Tiwi women. It was just so great to see people I knew when I lived over there. There is hope and I do not think we should give up on that.
I believe Marion brought to this parliament not only her Aboriginality - I really enjoy we have had so many Aboriginal members in this parliament. It shows the Territory does have opportunities for those who want to take up those opportunities - whether they are Aboriginal, a woman, or what they are, they can have a chance in this Territory to do something. We have had a number of Aboriginal people in this parliament. It just goes to show you can, even if you are Aboriginal, be equal with anyone else in this place.
Marion has shown that; she stood up to anyone. I have been the butt of a few comments from time to time, especially around a certain subject called the Environment Protection Agency. We did not have an Environment Protection Agency for a long time. Some of us went away to Tasmania – no, it was not Tasmania; South Australia I think it was - and looked at setting up an Environment Protection Agency. When we came back, we gave these recommendations - it was a bipartisan group - on how an EPA should be set up. Then, all of a sudden, the government decided to do something. We got an interim EPA and an interim EPA Version 2. Then, there was a Version 3 …
Ms Scrymgour: Oh, come on - only one.
Mr WOOD: Well, I exaggerate slightly. Anyway, we had some great debates on the EPA. In the end, Marion wrinkled her nose, told me I was wrong but, in the end, we ended up with an EPA. Much of that was to do with the member for Arafura. She worked through that, and we got what I believe is actually a model EPA today - not too big, not bureaucratic, but independent - and it does the job. Much of that goes back to Marion.
I went on various committees with Marion. We have been on the CTC since Day 1. What you find out with Marion is she might belong to the Labor Party, but when we are on the CTC, she does not belong to the Labor Party - I can tell you: Independent. When she was on the first substance abuse committee, she had great input. She did not mind standing up to people in Alice Springs who decided to pick on her because she talked about the protection of children then. She has always been very independent.
I did try to stop her from smoking and all that sort of thing. I hope that she has given up ...
Ms Scrymgour: Ten months, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: Ten months. There you are, that is terrific to hear. I remember seeing her at the Bluestone Motel in Tennant Creek in the morning outside in her pink pyjama’s smoking before breakfast, and that was not a pretty sight!
Ms Scrymgour: At least they were pink! At least I had pyjamas on!
Mr WOOD: That is right. I reflect we were working but we enjoyed each other’s company as members of parliament. We were out to do a job, and they bring back good memories for me.
Member for Arafura, I also remember you were an Independent. For a while in this parliament, there were three of us - not for very long, but there were three of us. It was a popular ideal of some members in this parliament for some time. I will always remember that as a strange quirk in the operations of this parliament.
I thank you very much for all the hard work you have done. I know you are passionate about the Tiwis, you are passionate about all Aboriginal people, and you are passionate about Territory people. I do not believe you are going to go away. You told me you will not be going away. Sis, you have had some tough times in your life - personal as well - but you have got through those. With your family and your six grandchildren you have other things to look forward to as well. You may have more time for family - even though I know you will be working hard, you might have a little more time for family. All the best. I will see you around, I am sure. Aunty Marjorie will be keeping an eye on you and making sure your family is looking after Harry well, and we will see you around.
In closing, Madam Speaker, when I talk about the three Independents who were in this parliament once, we are coming to the end of an agreement I had with the Chief Minister. It has been a very unusual period in my life from a political point of view. It has not been an easy road. I remember saying in parliament when I had to make a decision on what I would do is all I have done is give myself much work, which is what I have had to do. I have had to do more work than I realised. I have had very little family life. I probably did not have much before that, but I have certainly had less. What has happened in the last four years, regardless of whether people agree with my decision, I did for what I believed was the right reason; that was, for the good governance of the Northern Territory. People may not agree with me; however, I sleep well at night thinking that was the right decision to make. Nothing will change my view on that, regardless of what happens after the next election or what people say.
I need to thank special people who have helped me through this time. My wife, Imelda. Sometimes, it nearly gets to the stage where I have to get a swipe card to get into my house because she is not sure what I look like. In some ways, it has brought us closer together than ever before, which is probably a bit strange because we might have been at the other end of the spectrum, sometimes, through these difficult times. I really thank her for her support. It is 39 years in August since we were married, so it has been a fair while and …
Ms Scrymgour: Testament of a good woman, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: ... I thank her for the good times and the bad times - but we got through.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr WOOD: I also thank good friends such as my sister Trish Butler, and people like Mark Brustolin, who have been my great supporters. I thank my daughters, Angela, Caroline, Jojo, and Keith and my grandchildren, Jason, Jimmy, Wilhelmina, and William.
I have to thank two special people who have helped me probably more than ever. One is Kim my electorate officer - tough as nails, likes a VB, a good smoke, a bet on the TAB, as down to earth as you could ever get. I love her because she is a great lady and has supported me through hard times - and we have had some difficult times - and she works so hard for the community. I believe the community realises they have someone who is very much a rural person.
Of course, I have to thank Michelle - she has just gone home. Without Michelle, I would not have got through these years. She worked 18 years at the Wildlife Park. I happened to have a conversation one day and said: ‘I need someone to give me a hand as a research officer’. She happened to be listening to the conversation and said: ‘What does it entail?’ I said: ‘If you want to put a CV in I will look at it’. She had that CV back to me in no time, about two pages of it. You wonder sometimes whether people are being held at a level well below their potential. She has never looked back. I must admit the first day I gave her a piece of legislation she nearly died because it is a bit hard to take. However, she has worked so hard in the job, and given me total support through thick and thin ...
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, can you start winding up, please? There has been a fair bit of latitude in this one.
Mr WOOD: Yes, I will, Madam Speaker. I thank her very much for all the hard work she has done. It has certainly been appreciated. In summary, thank you to all the members of parliament who are finishing today; I appreciate everything you have done for the Territory, regardless of your political affiliations. You have done well for the Territory.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I place on the record my regards and thanks to the retiring members. I will do this by way of seniority.
Madam Speaker, you being the most senior, I thank you for your efforts in the management of this House. I know I have not always made your job easy, but I have always approached my work with a view to defending the requirements of this side of the House, as is my job of the leader of opposition business. However, you have always conducted yourself with dignity. You have always attempted to conduct your job with as fair a hand as possible. May I say, though, for the record, it was not a flippancy last sittings, it was a genuine point of order. However, that is all ancient history.
The work you have done for the people of the Northern Territory is substantial. I am a great believer in the democratic process, and it is your Speaker’s hand on the tiller, which defends that democratic process as much as anything else in this place. I thank you for your grace, service, and dedication, and I wish you all the very best of good health, and a long and prosperous life.
To the Leader of Government Business, Chris Burns, we have had an odd relationship over the last few years. I recall an incident which I know you regret. I do not want to dwell on it. Suffice to say, upon reflection, I understand what came out was not quite what you intended under the circumstances. The penalty you have paid at your own hand because of an ill-considered moment has been greater than any penalty that could have been afflicted upon you by anyone else. When you go on to life, as far as I am concerned, there is no residual issue. I believe you learned from that process and became a much better politician in this House. I have noted your performances, strident and aggressive as they have been, have established boundaries. If anything has come out of that, if a better quality of politician has grown within you, then something good has come of it.
I have watched you as a minister, particularly in recent times. We know there was no penalty attributed to making decisions, and your ministry has improved vastly in recent times. I thank you for the service you have provided for the people of the Northern Territory and wish you a good, long and healthy life and all the best and happiness.
To Marion, one thing that has always struck me about you is you are a conviction politician. I spent many years in the bush in Central Australia as a representative of Aboriginal people and I am all too painfully aware of what you are talking about when you talk about it. I may not agree with everything you say and the conclusions you come to, but I have no doubt your belief in trying to do things for the people in the bush is real. Should there be a change of government after the election - that is in the hands of the voters, so I have no idea - if you ever want to pursue matters on behalf of the Aboriginal people or Territorians, my office door will be open to you because of the integrity and conviction you have brought to the work you have done. I commend you for that. As for the other two ministers, I wish you long, prosperous, healthy and happy lives.
Finally, Rosco. What do I say about Rosco? The greatest compliment I was ever paid by another politician was Tim Baldwin, who said to me after an election loss, on the quiet: ‘Mate, if there was ever anybody I would want in the trenches next to me it would be you’. That was because of some of the issues which were surrounding the Country Liberals at the time, and once I had made a decision I took my position. I have not forgotten that, because I take it as an extraordinary compliment.
Ross, if there was anybody I would ever want in the trenches next to me, it would be you, because I do know your sense of loyalty is dogged. It is given without too much expectation in return. It is your greatest feature, in my opinion. Do not ever lose your sense of loyalty, because it defines you, it tells me who you are, and it is your identity. You work hard, you care a lot, and you are loyal to an extraordinary degree. I would trust you with my life tomorrow. I wish you a long, prosperous. and healthy life.
Madam Speaker, with that, I thank everybody else for their efforts through this Assembly. No matter what happens in the election, I wish everybody the best for the future.
Mr McCARTHY (Barkly): Madam Speaker, I complete an adjournment I started in the last sittings. It is about the 2012 Great Big Golden Heart. This award is the biggest golden heart of them all, and is awarded to someone whose community spirit, care, and dedication to task is admired by all in Tennant Creek and the Barkly. This award went to someone who has worked quietly and tirelessly over many decades to make Tennant Creek and the Barkly a better place.
She is a an eternal mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother who has taken in and raised so many children even she cannot remember how many. This person is also a keeper and teacher of Aboriginal culture, and never misses an opportunity to share her knowledge of bush medicine, bush foods, traditions, and culture with those who want to know more. Further, this person is one of our oldest activists, championing the rights of women, children, Aboriginal people, and the community in general. She is currently one of the main traditional elders leading the campaign against the construction of a nuclear waste dump on her traditional homeland at Muckaty. The winner of the 2012 Great Big Golden Heart Award is Bunny Nabarula.
On that theme of golden hearts, I would like to also bid farewell to colleagues - farewell in a political sense. I hope we will be able to keep in touch very much as Territorians in a personal sense. They are to Hon Jane Aagaard MLA, the member for Nightcliff; to Hon Marion Scrymgour MLA, the member for Arafura; and Hon Chris Burns MLA, the member for Johnston.
Picking up on Chris’ analogy about football, I would like to use an analogy of the football I play and love; that is, Rugby League. First of all, Madam Speaker, if I was putting a team together of political colleagues, you would be played at full back. Full back is a class position, Madam Speaker. The full back is a thinking player, a smart player, and a player who covers the whole of the field, and has that vision about the whole of the field in both attack and defence. In strategic plays, the full back comes into the line looking for opportunities. In your role as an MLA, as a minister, and in the role of Speaker, I thank you for all your work in the Labor Party and in governments over the years.
For me, personally and professionally, thank you very much, because you have shown me so much more about politics, particularly in your role as Speaker, with bringing parliament to the people and bringing people to the parliament; parliament being the people’s House. There is some incredible work you have done. You have certainly made me feel very welcome and very inclusive with your wonderful functions and activities and, on a personal note, your very warm care and concern. I appreciate those phone calls on a Sunday night, when you used to ring me early in the term I joined in 2008. It was not only giving me good, solid political advice, I always felt there was always that extra care and concern to make sure I was okay, and I was staying on track and learning about being a good member of parliament.
To Marion, I would put you as half back. The half back is a fast and furious player, and half backs are invariably cheeky - proper cheeky, Marion. The half back has contact with all the players on the field. The half back feeds the ball to the big guys; the half back moves within the backs. They are a very strategic, pivotal player to keep the team moving.
Marion, as an elite, Indigenous role model, and a role model for women, you should feel very proud of your work you have undertaken, before politics and in politics. I am sure you will go on after politics. Thank you for all the great advice, and that really important advice around Indigenous Territorians. I particularly value those challenges you have put up in Caucus, your lead and your sense of Territorians and your understanding of Territorians, and it is that sensitivity people in government need to factor into policy development.
The next one, of course, is Chris Burns. I would run you at lock, minister, because the lock binds the whole team together. The lock is a very important position which moves with the forwards and the backs. The lock can take on the big guys up the middle, no problems. The lock also moves with the faster running players in the back line, and that is what you have brought as a senior minister: your outstanding work as a member of parliament, as an MLA and, of course, as Leader of Government Business. As the lock, you shoulder a heavy amount of the workload, and you are an organiser of the players. As a new person to politics, a new MLA and a new minister, I have valued your advice and your leadership. The lock leads by example. When the lock says we go, we go, but you can always depend on that player being right beside you in the thick of it. I thank you very much, Chris, for that wonderful lead.
I also reflect on the three members who are leaving the Labor Caucus. As a Territorian who came here quite a number of years ago, and with a Labor Party background, I went through the struggles in those early years. I was very much behind the scenes. I remember well - I will never forget it - when a Labor government took charge of the Northern Territory and the Labor flag went up the pole. There were many people celebrating much hard work. You guys were our pioneers and we will never forget that. You guys took over and led the charge. You formed a team, and that team started to change the policy focus and the delivery for all Territorians.
I say farewell in politics, but I hope to stay in touch because, Jane, Dawn and I really respect you and we would love to have you continue as a friend in Darwin in such a hip and groovy electorate as Nightcliff. It makes us feel proud to know we have a friend in Darwin we can call on.
Marion, I still have this burning desire to visit the Tiwi Islands, and I need you, as a very respected person, to introduce me to the people of the Tiwis on country. I look forward to being able to fulfil that ambition one of these days soon.
To Chris, rumour around the Labor Caucus is you are putting together one of the best off-road fishing rigs you can. I am good for changing spare wheels, I will dig you out of bogs, and I am not bad as a camp oven cook. So, please, I would love to be on a fishing trip some time, or wherever you choose, and I hope to keep in contact.
For Ross Bohlin, good on you, mate! It has been great to work with you. I wish you all the best in your future as well. It is a great learning curve, as you said, and it is something you will take with you and reflect on. It will certainly add to your life experience and opportunities as well, having been an elected community leader and gone out there and represented your constituency.
As a member of the Eleventh Assembly, I thank everybody who is involved. There is an amazing amount of work which goes on to run a parliament. I have been learning every step of the way. I am returning to an electorate I love and putting it on the line. I am hoping, as a former teacher, to be judged worthy of my report card and to return to the Twelfth Assembly. I will be doing my best. I take that report card in good faith, which is endorsed by a rock solid Henderson Labor government, because we have some very good stories to tell. We have the plans and the policies to continue the good work. Our three members we are farewelling, no doubt, will be celebrating that as a legacy of their hard work over a decade representing Labor, Madam Speaker.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, this afternoon I place on the public record on behalf of the wider community our appreciation and recognition of the contribution of an outstanding Territorian: Nancy Giese AO OBE MBE, affectionately known as Nan.
Nan Giese arrived with her husband, the late Harry Giese, 58 years ago, to a very different Northern Territory, both physically and socially. It was smaller and isolated, most things came by sea or rail and slow trucks, and hardly got here sometimes. You were isolated during the Wet Seasons. It was a great challenge which those pioneering Territorians - both before and through the 1950s and 1960s - faced before we started to get some of the great amenities we have today.
It was a closer community in those days, and the community was always on the lookout for good, reliable people to become involved - and get involved they did, Harry in public administration and Nan involved in things such as education, her children’s school’s parents groups, the arts, community Aboriginal affairs, politics, and a whole range of other interesting aspects of life in Darwin of that era.
Raising a family in Darwin then had very different challenges than today and, with two kids and so many other extra external activities, it was very challenging for Nan. After her children finished school, Nan furthered her involvement in her passions which were education, community development, the North Australian Eisteddfods, the Arts Council of Australia, and the Darwin Community College, just to name a few.
With a level of passion, knowledge, and experience, Nan Giese was in high demand to chair and participate in local community groups which were much in need of some leadership and direction. This, obviously, led to her eventual appointment as Chancellor of the Northern Territory University, continuing on as Chancellor when the Northern Territory University changed its name to the current Charles Darwin University. I remember very well enrolling in the Northern Territory University in 1988 when it first opened. I say a personal thanks for the efforts to progress what was then the Darwin Community College through to the Northern Territory University and, then, on to the Charles Darwin University.
Without people like Nan and her team working on the governments of the day, we would not have the institution we have today. It may have eventually come, but it would probably look a whole lot different. We are lucky to have had Nan at the helm leading the charge to get further education available for Territory kids. My personal thanks to Nan and her family for that.
There is also an e-mail I received from Captain Richard Teo, who sent me an e-mail and asked me if I was going to speak on this, if I would just say a few words on his behalf. I will quote it:
- The Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory University under Nan Giese’s leadership and passion for education and leadership excellence holds especially dear to me. My arrival in Darwin with my family 24 years ago owe our present success to Nan and the university. We all, my wife, daughter and son earned our initial academic degrees at CDU/NTU and went on to earn our Masters in Education and International Management respectively. I myself am about to complete my professional Doctorate in Business Administration.
There are few other things later in the e-mail but, predominately, that is what he asked me to say. It is signed:
- Kind regards
Richard Teo
Principal
PNG Maritime College
Madang.
Madam Deputy Speaker, Nan Giese was an inspiration to many in the community throughout her life. She demonstrated women were just as capable of doing a wide variety of things in an era where things had to change, and things were changing. It was still very challenging for a young woman with a family to be influencing and changing the culture of Darwin at the time. She did that whilst raising a very successful and well-adjusted family. I know some of the family, especially Dr Richard Giese, who was my doctor for many years and my wife’s doctor for about 28 years. They are fine young people, obviously as a result of their parents influence.
Nan Giese achieved so many things for her community and her fellow Territorians. It is very fitting that Nan Giese was recognised for her efforts and, appropriately, was awarded not only many local community awards, but some greater awards, being Membership of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the community in 1971. She was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for service to education, arts and to women in 1977. She was also made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for the development of Territory education in the Northern Territory and to the visual performing arts in 1997. She was given a Centenary Medal for services to higher education as a founding member of the Northern Territory University Board in 2001.
Nan is survived by her daughter, Diana, and son, Dr Richard Giese, and his family. Those people have every right to be very proud of their mother’s contributions which benefit so many people, both socially and culturally, in the development of the Northern Territory.
Nan Giese’s legacy is that many Territorians she befriended and inspired will continue the good work she started and continued up until her passing. As someone who made a huge contribution and a difference, Nan Giese stands as a shining example to us all. May she rest in peace.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr STYLES: I would like to refer to those retiring members. To my colleague, Ross Bohlin, the member for Drysdale, I was there right at the beginning. I can remember sitting in an office at Peter McAulay Centre at Berrimah when Ross spoke to me saying he wanted to go into politics. We had a conversation. It is interesting because when that door opened, one closed on a police career and a new one opened. Ross, you would agree it is a massive learning curve when you come into this business. It does not matter how long you have been in it on the outside, when you are on the inside it is a massive learning curve.
That door closed on the police department and this one opened. My understanding is when this one closes, you have a broad range of experience across so many different areas you will probably make twice as much money as the rest of us because you are, as the member for Nelson said, a very good bloke. One thing people cannot take away from you is that you are a good bloke. You are dedicated, a good mate, and if anyone needs a hand you are always there. For that, I thank you because we have had some great conversations over the last four years. For your friendship and what you have been able to assist me with, thank you very much.
I would also like to talk about the member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour. When you come into this House, Madam Deputy Speaker, as you know and everyone has discovered, it is not quite what you expect. Some things you expect and it is totally different, and some things you do not expect and they hit you fair and square in the face. It is an interesting journey. I remember when I first came into the House, you sit on this side and look across to other side - I recall in a book - although I cannot remember the name of it - about an uncle sitting in parliament and his nephew had just been elected. He came in and his nephew said to him, ‘Well, uncle, there is the enemy across the other side there,’ and he said, ‘No, son, they are the opposition; the enemy is sitting behind you’. That is a very interesting analogy, but it is a good joke.
The people on the other side are not necessarily the enemy, although they are our opposition. Although we do not always agree philosophically, I did find as you travel through the journey of a session of the parliament of the Northern Territory, you get to know some of the people who sit opposite you. I have come to respect quite a number of the people who sit opposite me, even though we have different philosophical beliefs and policies. You have to admire and give credit where it is due to some of the people over there.
Member for Arafura, one of the greatest things which cemented my respect for you was the time I spent with you on the youth suicide select committee, where I saw your depth of passion for youth. I share that passion and am so grateful I had the opportunity to sit on that committee with you. You realise where people come from, and they are very strong in their convictions; that we can both be on the same page and, hopefully, achieve results in that area. When you leave this House, whatever you do - I refer to the conversation we had during Estimates - I sincerely hope you pursue the issue of youth suicide and work in the community.
As the member for Port Darwin said, whatever happens, opposition or government, my door is always open and I will assist you in any way, shape. or form to pursue that issue. Thank you very much and good luck to you and your family for the rest of your life.
To Madam Speaker, as a former neighbour - I do not know whether people know that Jane and I were neighbours in Nightcliff. It was good to have some quiet neighbours who did not party all night, although you had a few good social functions and I loved your coloured lights in the back yard. At least those parties did not go on forever. There are many things I would like to thank you for. One is your efforts to remain impartial and to govern this place in a fair and equitable way. I give you credit because I imagine trying to referee this place is very difficult and challenging. You have done a very good job and you have done it with integrity and finesse. Thank you for your efforts in trying to keep us all in line.
I saved this one for last because, when I first came into this House, the member for Johnston, as I look over - I do not know about analogies, I do not know whether I want to use the word ‘old’, but ‘war dog’ is something that comes to mind. I hope I do not offend the member for Johnston if I say ‘old war dog’. When I first came in here - as I said, there are things that smack you right in the face. It is interesting because the member for Johnston is very good at debating and putting an argument. I have respect for your ability to run an argument, member for Johnston. Irrespective of whether I agree with you, I respect your ability, tenacity and commitment, not only to this place, but to your party. I inherited a very well-looked-after portion of Wagaman in the redistribution. I am doorknocking that area at the moment, and all of the people I speak to know who Chris Burns is. They all say Chris Burns is a nice bloke and he does a good job. That is testament to the type of person you are, irrespective of the side of politics you are on. You work hard, you have looked after people, and you have done a fine job.
I thank all the retiring members. Thank you for the opportunity to share four years with you; it has been fabulous. I will say a few thank yous, given this is the last opportunity I have in this session of parliament. I thank my electorate officer, Dee Davies, for her fabulous work and ongoing support. I thank my branch and its members, in particular Ronnie Baker and John Moyle. Last, but not least, I thank my wife - I can say that now, as we married on 25 May.
Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for your consideration when I applied to utilise facilities in this place. Linda and I had a fabulous time and your staff were amazing - from the security people to the caterers. We had a fantastic wedding reception here and have a lifetime full of memories.
I thank Linda, who I have been with for 18 years, for her support and ongoing care and consideration for the time I spend looking after my constituents. Linda, thank you very much. To all here, good luck in the elections.
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, ladies first, member for Daly. This is the end of the Eleventh Assembly and, for me, it is the end of my first term. It has been a roller-coaster four years as a new member, but I know from many members on this side, as well as on the other side, there is no certainty any of us will be back here after 25 August, with the exception of the four members who are retiring from this Assembly.
In particular, I note the three members from this side - you, Madam Speaker; the member for Johnston; and the member for Arafura - who are all retiring. I note the incredible resilience, honesty, integrity, hard work, commitment, and the conviction politics each of you have brought to this Chamber, your unwavering sense of service to your constituents and to Territorians, as well as your unshakable sense of commitment and social justice and to all people having a fair go.
Madam Speaker, I acknowledge and thank you for the strong support you have provided me personally. You have been a marvellous tutor. Sitting in that Chair is probably one of the scariest things I had to do when I first arrived in this Chamber. It still has its moments but, without your support, it would have been so much harder. Like the member for Barkly, I appreciated the telephone calls I received from you around this time four years ago, as the candidate heading into an election campaign. Whilst we had never met, your phone calls were a great source of strength and encouragement to me.
Over the past four years, you and I have had many conversations about politics, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association, Labor politics, and life in the job over many cups of tea - and, for me, occasionally a glass of wine - after hours. I valued those conversations we had about our work, constituents and families. As we know, first and foremost it is our families that are important to us, although sometimes that is difficult when we have such incredible workloads. I have always enjoyed and admired your very dry sense of humour. Knowing your somewhat regal disposition, your immaculate and impeccable sense of dress and decorum, I am not surprised you were mistaken for the Queen when visiting an old folks’ home. I can imagine that.
Madam Speaker, I thank you for your contribution to this House, to the Territory, and to me personally. I will always value and remember it. I am pleased you are not leaving the Territory as I am not either. I am sure we will be in touch.
The member for Arafura, Ms Scrymgour, I remember when I first entered this House, you probably did not remember the first time we met. It was when I was a very cranky member of a childcare committee in Nhulunbuy. You were the Minister for Children and Families and you were accompanied by Clare Martin at a women’s forum about the need for additional places. I never realised then that some years later I would become a colleague of yours. The first time I came here for a Caucus meeting, I raced straight from the airport to here and received a call from you in the taxi on the way. You asked me where I was and if I was on the way, then you met me out the front and whizzed me through corridors. It was like a maze; I had no idea where I was. In that very brief conversation through the corridors on our way into my first Caucus meeting, I recall you shaking your head and saying, ‘Gee, this is a dirty game, this politics. This is a dirty game’. I thought to myself, welcome to politics; what have I got myself in for?
With you, member for Arafura - as I observed each member in this House - I saw your highs and lows. The lows take a toll on an individual and their family. I have certainly felt for you during those times. I have also admired you for all of the highs you have gone through and the real and sustainable change you have brought through this parliament for women, children, and Indigenous Territorians as well. I have enjoyed sharing time on the backbench with you. It has been a wonderful time for you to recuperate and be able to reconnect with your electorate. If there is one thing I see, for members on this side who have ministerial responsibilities in Cabinet, to divide their time between those responsibilities and their electorate - recognising there are a number of bush members on this side who have sizeable electorates to get around - the pull between the fifth floor and ministerial responsibilities and electorates is very tough.
What I have observed in you, member for Arafura, is you have had that time to re-engage with your electorate. Every other spare moment you and I have been on parliamentary committees such as the Council of Territory Cooperation, which has done good and achieved some really positive things for the Northern Territory and Territorians. I wish you well, Marion.
I am so pleased you have given up smoking. Please stay off the fags. I will be watching you because we want to see you live a long and happy life and enjoy all those wonderful grandchildren of yours, and your husband, David, who I know to be a strong person by your side.
In the same way, Elizabeth Burns is a very strong woman alongside the member for Johnston. My goodness, what a hard act to follow the member for Johnston is. I met Chris a number of years ago when he attended a branch meeting in Nhulunbuy. Syd Stirling had told me an awful lot about him, about his history. What I have observed is an incredible capacity to work hard and to adapt and get across information. The member for Johnston must have held just about every portfolio possible within Cabinet, and he relishes every one of them. He relishes every aspect of the job. There is no doubt you relish being in this parliament and being part of debate. You relish Estimates, and I know you have relished the work you did as a backbencher when you were on committees and on top of that, obviously, the most important work as the local member supporting your constituents.
If I can use some terminology from my English teaching days, you also have an extraordinary capacity to construct and deconstruct text. That is a very rare talent for people to be able to do on their feet, and you do it absolutely, incredibly, amazingly well. Most recently in your years as the Education minister I have enjoyed working with you, member for Johnston, as parliamentary secretary for Education and Training. I thank you for the rigour you have brought to that role. There is nothing more important than education. It is at the core of everything for growing the Northern Territory and, in particular, our Indigenous communities. We will continue to grow on the work done, not only by you, but successive Education ministers. That includes you, member for Arafura, as well as the Chief Minister, and former member for Nhulunbuy, Syd Stirling.
In one of the visits to my electorate, even Bruiser got a mention. We were visiting Nhulunbuy Primary School and were in a classroom of kids. We had that amazing SMART Board technology. The minister, who never had any difficulty in engaging with people no matter who they were, pulled out his mobile phone, put it down such that the image was shown on the screen, and started to tell the children this was Bruiser his dog. Then, he said to the kids: ‘Who has a dog at home?’ Of course, all the hands went up and you could hardly shut them up.
I am going to finish there. I thank each and every one of you - and I include in that the retiring member for Drysdale, Rosco. Thank you for the contribution you brought to this House. You are a very popular member in your electorate; I have heard that from many people. I have enjoyed your good sense of humour; you bounce back; There is nothing nasty about you. I know you are not a truck, even though you might think you are.
Madam Speaker, most certainly, the Northern Territory and this parliament is a better place for all of you for your contribution over the years. Thank you and good luck.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): Madam Speaker, as it is the last sitting day of this term, I put on the record my thanks to the people of Fong Lim. It is an extraordinary honour to be elected to any parliament, and the greatest honour the community can bestow on an individual is to put them into parliament. We are seeing the retirement of four members today, but the fact is, as sure as God made little apples, when we come back into this parliament things will have changed greatly.
Having said that, it is probably fair to say there is no certainty in this for any of us. I certainly do not feel I am somehow special and will find my way back here. It is going to be a long, hard and tough election campaign. But, I can tell you, the last four years have been an extraordinarily wonderful honour for me to have served in this parliament.
I often sit and think it is almost like there is an incredible community hatred for politicians – well, maybe not community hatred, but media hatred. Every time you pick up a newspaper or turn on the television, you get this impression we are a bunch of pigs with our snouts in the trough, hurling insults at one another. That is an extremely sad thing, because the reality is, parliaments - whether it is this parliament, parliaments anywhere in Australia for that matter - are made up of honourable people.
It surprised me, when I was first elected into the federal parliament, when some of the people I had already built up perceptions and preconceived ideas about, when I actually met them, they were absolutely wonderful, decent human beings; people who you want to spend time with. One in particular stands out - Peter Garrett. I was never a fan of Midnight Oil - could not stand the music, and could not stand his political views. In my generation of people, Peter Garrett and Midnight Oil were extremely popular, and I felt very much alone in my views on Peter Garrett. Then, when he was elected into federal parliament I had the wonderful honour of sitting down with him a couple of times in the staff cafeteria. I tell you, he is a wonderful, decent gentleman to talk to. The old adage that you never discuss politics or religion if you want to be friends with people is a good bit of advice. You should not judge people solely by their religion or by their politics in order to gauge their decency or not. The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of people elected into parliaments are not elected by accident. The fact is, they have to be good people in order to be elected. That is something we should always remember.
The other thing which concerns me is this view that we come into this place and bicker - we do. Some people have the view that is a bad thing. I have a view quite the opposite. The more we fight, the more robust the debate, the better the democracy we have. I recall reading a book written by an American, Bill Bryson, called Down Under. I do not know whether too many people here have read it. He made commentary on Australia and, in one of his chapters, he said he had never seen a nation of people who argue so much. He said Australians will argue about anything. They will argue about two flies crawling up a wall …
Mr Wood: And bet on it.
Mr TOLLNER: And bet on it, as well. However, that is the strength of our democracy. I do not think, as parliamentarians or legislators, we should really try to curb too much of the debate, the fighting, and the abuse which occurs in these places, because we do not want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Strong, vicious, heartfelt debate is what makes Australia and the Northern Territory strong.
In this term, five parliamentarians have retired. Those five people joined an extraordinarily exulted and esteemed group - a small group because rarely, as a politician, do you have the ability to choose the time of your own departure. For the vast majority of politicians, your tenure in office is determined by a fickle constituency that can change, sometimes for reasons completely out of a parliamentarian’s control. I congratulate the five people who have retired this term. It is a rare honour to be able to choose your own departure.
I refer, first, to the former member for Araluen, Jodeen Carney who chose her own time of departure. She was a wonderful member. Today we are celebrating four other members who are retiring - four members for whom I have the highest regard.
Regarding the member for Drysdale, Ross Bohlin, I have to agree with the member for Port Darwin. I am unbelievably impressed by the member for Drysdale for his loyalty, tenacity and his desire to put the interest of others ahead of his. Ross, mate, life holds a great deal more for you yet. There is view that Ross did not have a great say, but Ross has done a great job in this parliament. He spoke on issues that matter to him and his constituency.
The member for Nightcliff, Madam Speaker, I do not know how many censures I moved on you. I know it has been a fiery time, but I value your friendship. You are a wonderful person and a great person to spend time with and share good times with. The beat-ups in parliament, for my side of things, have been maddening and, at the same time, a great deal of fun. I like to come into this place, as you are aware, and stir things up from time to time. It is good to see you are a good sport about it because, if you were not, it would be very difficult in this place.
I do not think I have moved a censure on you yet, member for Arafura. I might have run out of time. But, do not worry, member for Arafura, I am watching you. The member for Arafura is probably one of my greatest critics in this place. She is never scared to throw a barb my way and have a crack. It has been a marvellous time with Marion Scrymgour; she truly is a lovely lady. I am not going to discuss politics; I am talking about the individual. The member for Arafura is a marvellous individual who would be a great friend for anyone. She has been a very good friend to me.
My good friend, the member for Johnston - what a character. We are often reminded in this place of that great Simpsons character Montgomery Burns. The similarities are alarming ...
Dr Burns: I wish I was as rich as him.
Mr TOLLNER: I am quite surprised we have not seen any campaign posters with Montgomery Burns on them, or something along that line ...
Ms Scrymgour: You watch too much Simpsons.
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, I probably do watch too much Simpsons. There are some great lines in there.
However, the member for Johnston is a fiery performer in the parliament. He has made great entertainment for me and, at times, listening to the member for Johnston wax lyrical about a whole range of things was quite entertaining. It does not really matter what side of the Chamber you are sitting on, the member for Johnston has done a great job of keeping us enraptured, enthralled, and keen to know what he is going to come up with next. In fairness, he has been one of the outstanding politicians of the era. It is sad to see you go, minister.
On a personal level, you have been a great help to me. Politics is our trade, and getting in there and having a go is what it is all about. You put up a fight as good as anybody. I have probably called you more nasty names in this House than I have called anybody. I hope I have not offended you too deeply. I know you have broad shoulders, a very thick skin, and a good sense of humour. Member for Johnston, I wish you well in the future. I hope dearly to catch up, on a regular basis, with all those retiring members.
Madam Speaker, you have been wonderful - a wonderful person, dear friend, and I would love to catch up with you. Member for Arafura, we will get over to the Tiwis and you can flog me around the head and tell me all the things I should not say and how I should not call you a girl even though you are a grandmother ...
Ms Scrymgour: I thought you were going to make that speech without mentioning that.
Mr TOLLNER: The member for Drysdale still has not taken me for a drive in his fast car. I am hoping somewhere down the track that might happen. To you guys, congratulations. You join an esteemed and exalted few. It is a great honour to choose the time of your departure. It is an honour the vast majority of us will not have. It is testament to you, as local members, and people in particular, the way you have been allowed to choose your time of departure.
There will be many people in this House who will not return. I might well be one of them - I am in a marginal seat. It has been an extraordinary honour for me being here with a wonderful bunch of people, and I wish everybody the best. Obviously, I do not wish my Labor colleagues who are running in the next election as much of the best as I do my side.
You have all been great people off the scene, and it often surprises people who do not know much about this House that we can come here at 2 pm, rip each other’s throats out, punch each other in the head, then walk outside and have a cup of coffee, a cigarette, a beer - or whatever we do in the Northern Territory - and enjoy one another’s company. For that, I am truly thankful. It has been wonderful being here with you.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Speaker, tonight I want to make a few comments and pay my regards to the retiring members. I have only been here seven years, but I have come to know each and every one of you extremely well.
I will start with you, member for Drysdale - Rosco. Much has been said from your side about your future job prospects, but you should have stayed on. You are a great local member. I have become involved in the Palmerston community through the seniors groups and know they hold you in high regard. There is nothing better than a very good local member and you were one - you are one - and it is a sad loss for that electorate. I am conscious of your struggle with keeping contact with your family - your daughter. You are a great father and she will know that. She will know your achievement of getting into this parliament and your time in this parliament and will respect you for that time. I hope for the next stage of your life you get to spend more time with her and your new partner, Hannah - an extremely lovely lady. She is probably too good for you, Rosco, but she is an extremely lovely lady and I hope you two have an extremely long and prosperous future.
I was wondering how long I have known Marion Scrymgour. It goes back about 14 or 15 years when we met at Timber Creek. Marion was working for the Commonwealth government and I was living at Timber Creek - a long time ...
Mr Tollner: We know what you were up to. We will wait until next term.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr KNIGHT: You have more skeletons in your cupboard, Dave.
Marion has been a force of nature in our Caucus. Having met her briefly 14 or 15 years ago, then meeting her from time to time over the period 2001 when she was elected to 2005, then coming into the Caucus in 2005 and getting to know the workload imposed on members and the additional stress it puts on bush members. Being a bush member, I know the vast distances you have to travel, and that equates to time. It is time away from your family, and it wears you down. It is extremely rewarding. I could not be in an urban seat. You have to get out of town when you have had a hard day, a hard week, a hard sittings. It is great to hit the dirt, and getting amongst the bush and people who live in the communities or the small towns is really rewarding. However, it puts a strain on the family. It has put a strain on your health, Marion, and it is great to see your health is improving.
I will be fascinated to know where the next chapter of your life takes you. You have had an extremely varied career. Your best years are ahead of you. God help us, on the end of an e-mail or a text. We will have to change our numbers. Poor old Facebook will probably get a beating from now on.
You are a great local member, a great person, and I hope you enjoy some time to rest and really enjoy yourself. You have gone straight from a very busy professional career into politics. It is disconcerting to think of when I came into politics to now; it is like a blink of an eye. You realise you are 11 years older ...
Ms Scrymgour: Six grandchildren.
Mr KNIGHT: Yes, that is right. You have to spend the time and enjoy your family, enjoy your grandchildren, and enjoy the things you have not been able to. Good luck to you.
Madam Speaker, getting to know you over the many years - your health problems over the years showed your tenacity, your inner strength and your faith to get yourself through your physical, emotional struggle in a time this parliament was also tumultuous. You came through. You have held your head high and shown strength, leadership, and dignity. It is a true credit to your character. I, too, hope you get to enjoy your family and time around Nightcliff in the next chapter of your life. Nightcliff sounds like a very interesting place - leave your pants at the door, it seems.
It was tremendous in 2001 when you were able to win that seat, and hold that seat and increase your margin over time. That reflects your hard work in the Nightcliff area. So, good luck into the future.
To Chris Burns - Uncle Chris as I call him - there is a book many of us here should read. It is called, How To Be A Megalomaniac (or, Advice to a Young Politician). It is a fascinating book. One of the characters in it is Uncle Chris, a guiding influence in a young politician’s life and career. Chris has been someone I have watched over time, and is someone who inspires me with his energy, his tenacity for the political game, for keeping Labor and those social justice values front and centre, and in control of the policy and destiny of the Northern Territory. He is certainly somebody I truly admire. I do not think I will ever be able to achieve the forensic analysis Chris has undertaken on various speeches of members on the other side. I would hate to be on the other side receiving a forensic analysis of statements that have been made a week, a year, 10 years ago. It shows his commitment to the job and his dedication to the values we aspire to.
I am sure he, too, will move on to the next chapter of his life, with his new four-wheel drive and new boat, which I believe is still under construction. I hope one day to be pitching a tent at his little cabin on the north New South Wales coast, with his collection of characters who live there. I know you will enjoy your time with Liz - she has been a huge strength to you - and the kids. I hope you get to really enjoy your time with them.
I thank everybody else here in the Chamber as well. I genuinely wish you all the best - whether it is victory at the next election or moving on to another part in your life.
For this session of parliament, I have to thank my electorate officer, Sharon McAlear. She has been a tower of strength for me. She has been with me the full four years. She has put up with me and my constant demands to service a very big electorate. She has been of great value to me.
To all my ministerial staff, the DLOs for the various portfolios over time over the last four years, I thank them for all their hard work. All the best and we shall see what happens in nine weeks time.
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, last time you were in parliament, I wished all the best to the retiring members, so I will not cover the same ground, but the same sentiments still apply.
I thank the people of Alice Springs for their support over the last four years - not just the constituents of the electorate, but the residents of the suburb of Braitling. We have it done tough over the last four years. I say ‘we’ because I am part of the community and I take on the issues within that community personally; I take it on my shoulders and wear my heart on my sleeve. We have done it tough on issues around law and order, and a poor performing economy.
I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is going to be a long, hard battle. I hope there is a change of government so we can make that happen. The foundations of our reform for Central Australia will be heavily driven by pastoral, mining - not including mining exploration - and tourism industries. That will underpin our growth into the future. As we start to fix our economic woes, our social issues will start to heal themselves as more people are engaged in the broader economy. That is where we should be looking for the future. I take on board every issue anyone comes to see me about. That is why I speak with such passion about a number of these issues.
I start by thanking my wife, Tamara. Tamara has been a strong support for me in this job I have held for the last four years. I thank my electorate officer Tanya and her family, thank very much for their support. To the people who work here parliament, particularly you, Madam Speaker, and your office - thank you for the support you have provided. We have had some one-on-one chats from time to time. Thank you to Di Sinclair in the library and all the library staff. Di helps me; I am not an expert in Google or researching, but Di manages to help me with that. To the people in Hansard who manage to interpret my mumble and screaming. For the record, I have never drunk and spoke in parliament; I just mumble from time to time. I thank the Clerks and the staff members of Parliament House – from the security guards to the lovely cleaner who works the halls of parliament. To people who have worked in those jobs before; I always like to have a conversation to see how things are going. I thank my branch chair, Daniel Davis, and previous chairman, David Koch, for their hard work at the party level. I thank some close people who assist me on a regular basis: Jenny Lillis, Jo Golotta and Suzie Schroeder. There are a number of other people, including Jamie de Brenni and Geoff Booth who are good friends of mine and who I rely on heavily. I will not go through a long list of other people.
To the party, thank you very much. I thank Sue Fraser-Adams for her hard work over the last years. Congratulations to Tim Cross who is the new party president. I look forward to working with Tim. To Graeme Lewis, the Treasurer, who does a fantastic job, I wish him all the best with his health and his continuing efforts for the party. To the Management Committee and everybody who is involved, and all the other branches across the Northern Territory, particularly people I have a close relationship with and who provide me with advice and support, I thank you for your tenacious efforts over the last four years. I look forward to, if I am successful in this election, seeking your advice and guidance into the future. If not, I look forward to working with you anyway.
I thank many of the people I have looked up to and who have provided me guidance outside of the party. I am a person who is attracted to strong leaders and people with experience. I like to associate myself with people who share values, experience and knowledge I would like to learn from. There are many people on both sides of the Chamber. I have paid respect before to Dr Burns for the knowledge he has, his professionalism and the way he does his job. I would like to be able to learn those skills, which I mentioned to you today.
I thank those people who go unnamed I often sit back and look at and try to learn from. I really appreciate those people. One of those people is Jodeen Carney. Anyone who watched Jodeen’s ferocious efforts throughout Estimates processes should take note of the way she did her job. She was a terrier. If I could just gain part of her ability to do that job in that process - it does not matter what side of the table you are on - I would really like some of her ability to rub off on me.
To my parliamentary leader, Terry Mills - Terry has done a fantastic job over the last four years. As a person who has done much study in the field of management and team building and the like, he has taught us there are four main areas of building a team: the forming stage where everyone comes together, the storming stage where everyone finds their place, the norming stage where people start to get on with the job, and then the performing stage. As a team we have gone through those four elements. There is no doubt we came together after the 2008 election. We were storming a bit to find our place. We are in a position now where we have been norming. We have been doing our job - and doing our job well. We are now starting to perform as a team and working together as a good bunch of people who have skills and abilities across a wide range of areas.
Terry has done a fantastic job in bringing us together as a performing team, holding us together, and now driving us forward. I look forward to the next four years, should we be fortunate to form government, driving us forward and really getting the Territory back on track. So, congratulations to Terry, and to all our colleagues for holding it together while we went through that trying stage in team development. Any good team has to go through it - it does not matter if you are a football team, a netball team, a rowing team; that is how you build teams. We have done it and now we are excelling. So, congratulations, Terry.
On that note, it has been a job for four years. There have been many people who have helped out. I, once again, thank the people of Alice Springs, the Indigenous Territorians who I do a lot of work with in my portfolio role, people who live in the regions, people I associate with in the transport and infrastructure sector, and all those other people I talk to, for the support I get. I will continue to fight, whether you live in Braitling, Alice Springs, the regions or any other part of the Northern Territory. This is a great place. We are destined to be the capital of Australia within Southeast Asia. If we keep moving forward, as the member for Drysdale said in his speech, we will be well placed to represent and grow the livelihoods for all Territorians.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Speaker, I do not think in the Northern Territory a truer example exists of an entity that is greater than the sum of the parts than the Northern Territory parliament. By the parts I mean the 25 people who sit in this House and, of course, all the support staff we have in the Legislative Assembly - the Clerk and the Deputy Clerks, Hansard and everybody else who works here. I believe it is important to remember the parliament of the Northern Territory is greater than any one individual in here.
We need to remember, regardless of what happens after the August election, that this place will be different. It may be better - and I certainly hope it is - it may be worse, but it will be different, even by virtue of the fact that, of course, three, or perhaps four of us will not be here after the next election. That is important. All of us here are individuals; we have our particular strengths and weaknesses. There are things about all of us which others admire, things people do not like about us, and things people see in us that they aspire to. That is what makes this such a good place; to have a mix of those types of people - different people, different views, different philosophies and different ways of looking at things. I believe it is important to point out that is how the whole things works. That is what makes it tick and work so well.
In reflecting on that, I think about some of the people who are leaving, and try to describe some of the attributes about those people which I respect. If I might, I will start with you, Madam Speaker. Jane, I have always found you very approachable. If I had to pick one thing about you that I particularly liked, that would be it. There is no pretence with you; you are always easy to get to, quick at returning phone calls and e-mails, and that stands you in very good stead amongst your colleagues - all 24 other of us sitting in the parliament. The way in which you conducted yourself with dignity and integrity in the Chair; I am sure it is a fairly difficult job sitting up there at times. It has its moments, but you did well.
I know you have been battling with some medical conditions. I hope you live long and healthy; that you are fully recovered - I am not sure if you are, but I hope you are - and, more importantly, you go on to enjoy your time post-politics because, like every job, there is a world beyond that job. So, please enjoy.
To the member for Arafura - Marion, you, of all the people in this House, are the person most likely to call a spade a spade, and I like that about people. I like direct people; people who are up-front and say it like it is. There is no doubt, Marion, you have a passion for your job. I do not know what you did before, although I know you were involved in setting up health services in Katherine. I imagine in your past roles - certainly in your current role up until now, and your future roles - you will take that passion and drive and be able to apply that in whatever you do.
I make the observation that where I sit in this House, it is almost the middle of a battleground between the member for Arafura and the member for Drysdale sitting behind me. I feel like I have the Yankees to the front of me and the Confederates to the back, because there is this constant thing happening between them - a bit of sniping from across the other side of the House, then Rosco gets in with his bit. It is that constant niggle. Sometimes, I could feel my head resonating with the interchange between the two. That has been an interesting time.
Marion, I hope you enjoy your retirement, you live life to the fullest on the Tiwis, and you find a place on a cliff overlooking the beach. Maybe we will visit you there one day.
Next is the member for Johnston, Chris Burns. Burnsie, this parliament - I said this about Jodeen Carney when she left - will be at a loss to not have you here any longer. Your contributions have been outstanding; certainly in the four years I have been here. I respect your intelligence and your ability to stand on your feet and prosecute arguments. You are the best parliamentary performer on that side of the House and you will be missed. I will miss you. I hope you enjoy your new Prado - you bought a Prado, didn’t you; we were talking about it - and you enjoy your retirement as well. It has been an interesting time sitting across here. You are a funny guy because, when you are looking at us across here - I feel it, I do not know what the others feel - we wonder what the hell you are thinking. We are wondering what you have up your sleeve. It is almost like mental games going across the Chamber. Burnsie, I wish you very well, I really do.
To my mate, Rosco - Ross and I were colleagues in a former life, but we had never met before we came into parliament. He worked in different places to me and, as happens across the Territory, you do not get to see all your colleagues. Over the last four years, we have become quite good mates. That friendship is built on an implied relationship all coppers seem to have; they just get along well with similar ideals and ideas about things. Rosco, no matter what you do - you are only a young bloke, 37, aren’t you?
Mr Bohlin: Thirty-nine.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Crikey – 39. You have many years left. You have much potential, Ross, to do whatever it is you want. You will do very well at it because, like many of the others in this House, you have much passion and drive.
If I had to think about a word to describe you - I know that the member for Port Darwin has used loyalty, as did the member for Fong Lim - I would say Ross Bohlin is a gentleman. He is a young gentleman, and that is really admirable, Ross. Going through this life, times, attitudes and people have changed. The art of genteel has been lost to some degree - that art of being a gentleman has been lost. Rosco, I reckon I am fairly chivalrous and not a bad bloke, but I reckon you are a real gentleman and I hope you always stay that way. Mate, I wish you well.
To everybody else in the House, thank you for the last four years. I feel as though this has been an apprenticeship. The four years in opposition I have had, have been an enormous learning curve. I hope, of course, we win government after 25 August, because that will be, I guess, the graduation from the apprentice to the master - certainly to the qualified tradesman. I hope we can do the Northern Territory proud. No matter what, I will be working very hard for the constituents of Katherine. It has been a pleasure being there for the last four years, because I, along with my town, have grown over that four-year period. It has been a wonderful ride and I have enjoyed it very much. It is a pleasure and an honour to be representing the people of Katherine.
In conclusion, I hope I do get to see you around the place, Jane, from time to time, and Chris and Marion. Rosco, of course, I have no doubt we will run into you, mate. I will expect to see the race car come through Katherine every now and then. Mate, you always have a place to stay, you know that.
So, good luck to everybody for 25 August and, to those retiring, I wish you well.
Mr CHANDLER (Brennan): Madam Speaker, tonight I talk on a number of things. First, really quickly, I thank everybody who was involved in the Estimates process this year. There must be an amazing amount of work which is carried out by the departments involved, not to mention Hansard staff who have to sit there and - unlike the parliament that starts later in the day, has a bit of a break at lunchtime, and then gets back into it - have long days. In Hansard they have to work all day, like a lot of other people in this building. The departments put so much work into it in the background, because they never know what we are going to ask and, often, when you are prosecuting a particular subject, they have no idea where you are going to go next. So, congratulations and well done.
To the retiring members of parliament, the member for Fong Lim mentioned something earlier, that when you get to choose the timing of when you retire, that is a pretty unique thing in the context of Australian politics, because not many politicians get to choose. Most people do not get that chance. We have seen it; Prime Ministers of our country can lose their seats during elections - nothing is guaranteed.
To those members who are retiring, and to my mate, Rosco, all the very best. I will start with you, Rosco, from our side. Rosco has been a wonderful friend over the last four years. I remember meeting Ross not long before the 2008 election. He impressed me from the outset. He was sitting in his police uniform, and I think I was in my council uniform at the time, and from the outset he impressed me greatly. The member for Katherine touched on it; he reminded me of a very young gentleman who came across as very intelligent. He had a very calming, smooth way about him, to some extent.
I have learnt that, if you knew his dad, you would probably understand a little more about Rosco. Rosco is a character, just like his father. His father said he is a big letdown - big letdown. However, I say that in jest; he is a wonderful character. The son both he and his wife produced has provided a dear friend for the last four years, as well as his contribution here in parliament.
That contribution will not go away; I know Rosco will be around for a long time yet. We have shared many a story and many a time together over the last four years, even if it was just a chinwag and a catching up for a coffee. We have been a great team with Terry, Ross, and me in Palmerston, helping many of the seniors groups there.
The only thing we have not had Rosco do is to join us in singing. We often like to have a sing with the oldies. Rosco is a good manager, but he has not participated in the signing. Rosco, all the very best, you know you will be missed here, but I am positive you will go on to bigger and better things.
Madam Speaker, of all the people in this place you have the absolute hardest job. How you remain in control with what happens in here sometimes is amazing to watch. I have always found you to be, as others have said, very approachable. In politics, if you can make someone feel more important than you are, you are a winner, and that is how I have always found you. I feel as I am the most important person you are speaking to. That is special in anyone’s mind. Your assistance, guidance, and bipartisan approach to this does not go unnoticed. I thank you for all that and all your support.
Minister Burns, you have been an absolute joy to work with, against - or however you want to frame it. When I first came into this Chamber I was not given the shadow portfolio of Education; I was given that guernsey along the way. The learning has been incredible; it has been a steep learning curve for me. In the last 12 to 18 months particularly, minister Burns has provided me with access to information and support, to be frank, I do not know whether many other ministers would have given me.
I have come to learn, though, that there was method in his madness. I found when you understand things a little better, when governments are facing challenges, and you become fully aware of those challenges because of the opportunities that have been given to you, it is harder to criticise. There is method in your madness because there are many times when I would be very highly critical of government’s position on an issue.
I have had experiences through people I have been associated with - there has been a personal learning journey there as well. The access minister Burns gave me to some of these remote communities – as you said, a warts and all approach. You need to see from the ground up some of the issues we face. If you go and see those issues, you come back with a completely different perspective. I know I have said it before, but the remote section of our education policy was torn up the moment I returned, because I knew it would not work, having gained an understanding of some of the challenges faced out there.
I know you have done many things in this House, minister. You have demonstrated to us how to prosecute. We learn from you and from others in this place. If there is one single thing I would like to thank and congratulate you on it is the Nemarluk Special School. You should be extremely proud; what a fabulous facility. I know a great deal of work has been done and there have been many challenges behind the scenes, but that is a first-rate facility. I congratulate you for the work you have put into it - well done.
To the member for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, other members have said argy-bargy goes on in here. Out of all the people in here when this argy-bargy is going across the Chamber, your voice starts to get louder, and you are starting to press a point and so forth. She is one of the few members you can hear cutting through all that is going on. You sometimes stop in your tracks.
Again, I have learnt from everyone in here, and the member for Arafura is one of the people I have learnt from. One thing I have learnt, though, is the battle in here stops here – it absolutely stops here. I might be livid - absolutely livid - with something that has been said on the other side; and I am sure that happens the other way around. However, you walk out of this door, and it is: ‘How are you going; how is the family?’ You sit down and have a meal. It reminds me a little of WWE’s Wesley: when in the ring it is all happening, yet outside they are all friends. They might be on different teams, but they are all friends. The only thing that WWE has over this place is they seem to be able to draw a far bigger crowd, and they actually charge people to come and watch. That is exactly what it is like.
In finishing, Madam Speaker, to the people of Brennan in Palmerston, it has been my absolute privilege - an absolute honour - to represent you over the last nearly four years. I certainly am hoping that honour will be bestowed on me again, and I get another four years to represent you and your views. In the Palmerston electorate the positioning of my office is in the shopping centre. I have people from all over the place who come into that office, and there are certainly no boundaries when it comes to the people you help and represent. However, there are no guarantees in this job. This could be the absolute last time I get to speak from this desk in this Chamber. I certainly hope it is not, but it has been an absolute privilege.
To everyone in this parliament, to those people the member for Drysdale mentioned earlier who work behind the scenes to make this place work seamlessly - and it does work seamlessly from this side of things - I congratulate you. Without the leadership of the Clerk and Madam Speaker, I am sure much of that would not happen the way it does. Again, it has been my privilege, and thank you very much.
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Speaker, I hate goodbyes and the member for Johnston agrees with me. I had a dinner the other night. The member for Johnston is a very strong supporter and he came along. As part of my remarks at that dinner, I thanked the member for Johnston for his time, and he came over and told me off. He said, ‘I have not gone anywhere yet’, and he has not. The member for Johnston is going to be working pretty hard come the campaign. In fact, I find it hard to ever picture the member for Johnston in retirement. I know he loves his fishing and crabbing; he has great passion and energy.
Today, I thank some of my colleagues: the members for Nightcliff, Johnston and Arafura - for their help and counsel. I will not say goodbye, because I do not believe in goodbyes. We will be seeing a lot of you post-25 August. The member for Johnston gave some advice today about what to do as a minister. It is actually advice that is true of local members. It is advice he has given me in the past about trusting your gut and testing your ideas. Everyone would know in this House, if you ever feel uncomfortable, there is a good reason for that, and you should think. The member for Johnston was on the money then. Also about testing your ideas. If you ever made a mistake it is because you have not talked to enough people. There is no harm in talking and contestability. In this job, you should be quite prepared to contest your ideas and put them on the table. Often, what happens is you come up with a much better way forward if you do that; if you have the confidence to say, ‘Here is something; what do you think?’, and work it through. That is one of the big things about the member for Johnston; he comes from a place where he wants to fix things.
From the comments members of the opposition made today and in the past, they have appreciated, as local members, working with the member for Johnston, particularly since he has taken on the Housing portfolio. He said: ‘If there is a problem, let us just fix it’. We are all here as local members. We will play politics at some stage and we will have a political debate, but at the end of the day, if someone has a problem, let us fix it. He understands local member issues, as we all should. There is no doubt that is something he has carried through into his ministerial portfolio. It can get lost sometimes in the debate of politics around ministerial portfolios, but it is something he has done very well.
The Speaker has given me some very sound advice. I heard some of her doorknocking stories in the past. I know I certainly shake the gate very loudly when I visit people, after the member for Nightcliff’s stories - I make sure they know I am walking up the driveway. Another bit of advice you gave me very early was about dancing at functions; making sure you dance early. I have always thought that was a very sound bit of advice for a member of parliament. You are invited to many functions, and I actually agree with the member for Nightcliff, that you very politely get up early, dance and show people you are actually enjoying what you are doing and where you are. I actually thought that was a bit of left-field advice, but it was very sound.
On a more personal level, I worked with the member for Nightcliff on a couple of committees, and I was always very impressed with the very professional way she worked through some very thorny issues. We have all had to do committee work, and sometimes you are confronted with things and think: ‘How the hell am I going to do that?’ It was interesting to watch the member for Nightcliff work through some of those issues. I have always thought you learn best from watching, and I have watched my colleagues. I thank the member for Nightcliff for some of the things I saw her do which I hope I have carried on myself at times when I have chaired meetings and worked through issues. I thank you for that.
Something new in your comments tonight, member for Nightcliff, about loneliness and faith were very telling, and summed up something I have been thinking about without realising during my journey as a member of parliament these four years. As local members, we often meet people who are lonely when you are doorknocking. Often, there is loneliness in the people who choose to come into your office. It is something I had not put into words yet, but you hit something that had been at the front of my mind. That is part of our brief as local members, and was a very good point you made in your comments tonight.
The member for Arafura - boots and all; that is how I see the member for Arafura. She is passionate and compassionate. I saw all her best attributes during the youth suicide committee, which is something the member for Nhulunbuy and I worked on with the member for Arafura, as well as the members for Sanderson and Goyder. I am glad I had that experience with the member for Arafura. I have worked with her on a variety of other committees as well. As chair, she put her best policy attributes, her best local member attributes, and her best personal attributes on the table. It was a fitting way to work with her before she leaves this Chamber.
I have no doubt the three of you are going to make a permanent public contribution post-politics. You do not get into this game, as the member for Nightcliff said, for personal aggrandisement. You have a genuine desire to achieve and do better for where we live, and that will continue on post-politics. That is why it is not a goodbye.
Finally, I thank the member for Drysdale for four year’s worth of work this term - part of the Class of 2008. The member for Drysdale has more he could give, if he wanted to. You are a very good local member and I am sure you are going to do well in what you choose to do from here. In some ways, it is a shame you are not continuing on as a local member because you have found a vocation. However, I am sure what you choose to do from here you will enjoy and do well. I am sure I will see you around; Darwin is a small place. Obviously, I would like our candidate for Drysdale to be elected but, in some ways, it is a shame you will not have the opportunity to sit across from me in a future term of government. I am sure what you choose to do post-parliament, you will do well …
Ms Walker: As an Independent, Rosco?
Mr GUNNER: I thank the member for Drysdale and thank you, colleagues.
Madam SPEAKER: I thank all honourable members, on behalf of those of us who are departing this Assembly, for their generous and kind comments.
Members: Hear! Hear!
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016