2006-10-10
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 10 am.
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members that I have approved ABC television and Channel 9 to film with sound, and NT News and Fairfax Group to take photographs during the swearing in of the new member for Stuart.
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the family of Mr Karl Hampton. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members that on the 4 September 2006 I received the resignation of the former member for Stuart, Dr Peter Howard Toyne, submitted to me by letter pursuant to section 18 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act. I table the letter.
The CLERK: Honourable members, I lay on the table a return to the writ issued by His Honour the Administrator, Mr Ted Egan AO, on 5 September 2006 for the election of a member for the electoral Division of Stuart on 23 September 2006, and certifying the election of Mr Karl Rio Hampton.
Mr Karl Rio Hampton made and subscribed the oaths required by law.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I offer congratulations on behalf of all honourable members to the new member for Stuart.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I table the new ministry and Administrative Arrangements Order as of 1 September 2006.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, the ministry and ministerial officers are as follows.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, before I call you, I ask the media to leave the Chamber.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I advise the Assembly of changes in the shadow ministerial responsibility of opposition members which reflect the announced additional two government ministerial positions, and Mrs Fay Miller increasing her workload by taking on Mines and Energy, following her car accident earlier this year. The new arrangements which were put into effect on 26 September are as follows:
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that leave of absence be granted to the member for Katherine, Mrs Miller, for this sitting week, probably to be reviewed again next week. Mrs Miller’s brother interstate is terminally ill and Mrs Miller was advised late last night that his condition has become critical.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise that during the recent recess I received letters from the Government Whip and the Leader of Government Business proposing changes to membership of Assembly committees as follows:
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly agree to the changes to the membership of the Assembly committees as contained in the letters tabled by the Speaker.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received from his Honour the Administrator, Message No 13, notifying assent to bills passed in the August sittings of the Assembly.
The CLERK: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, I inform honourable members that a response to Petition No 25 has been received and circulated to honourable members.
Ms LAWRIE (Infrastructure and Transport): Madam Speaker, the road safety debate in the Northern Territory has gained an increasing momentum in recent weeks. The government welcomes this debate because our current road toll deserves the attention of every Territorian. The carnage on our roads is unacceptably horrific. On Territory roads you are three times more likely to be killed than elsewhere in Australia. The road toll is just a snapshot of our road trauma. For every death on our roads, another nine people are seriously injured, often with devastating consequences for the rest of their lives.
Last year, our road toll rose to above 50; the government is determined to do something about it. The Road Safety Task Force was established to examine the Territory’s road safety record and report with recommendations regarding a package of measures to reduce the incidence of road crashes. Given all the tragedies on our roads, the task force looked at all options. The task force has completed its review and has presented a comprehensive report for government’s consideration. This report is currently before Cabinet and will be released to the public in the coming weeks.
I encourage every Territorian to read this report as it outlines the many factors that contribute to our road trauma. These include high levels of drink-driving, a lack of seat belt wearing, running red lights and speeding, among other things.
Much of the information in the report is not new or exclusive to the report. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure has detailed information and statistics on its website that outline the nature and causes of the car crashes, the fatalities, and the serious injuries. Young people are especially at risk of being killed or maimed on our roads. I know that no parent can ever properly relax when their children are out on the roads at night.
We also have extremely high rates of drink-driving in the Territory. Every time the police undertake a drink-driving blitz, the number of people caught is absolutely staggering. It has to stop. People who would normally never break the law do get into cars when they have had too much to drink. It makes no sense. People are putting themselves and everyone else on the road at risk of losing their life or serious injury.
While indigenous people are over-represented in the number of fatalities, they are under-represented in the number of serious injuries. The tragic reality is that people in remote areas are more likely to be killed in a car crash owing to their distance from emergency assistance.
Too often on our nightly news, we see footage of horrific car crashes from down south. Late last month, a crash in Victoria claimed seven lives and was widely reported in the Territory. What is not reported so frequently is that the road toll in other jurisdictions is reducing. In Victoria, for example, they have seen their road toll reduce from more than 1000 a year closer to 300 a year. In South Australia, which is similar to the Territory, they are tracking for their lowest road toll ever. Regional areas of Queensland and Western Australia, which include the vast distances we have in the Territory, are also seeing a reduction in the road toll.
Given our road toll is three times higher than other states, we have an obligation to look at what is being done elsewhere. We are looking at what other states are doing and we are considering the advice of experts, but we will do what is right for the Territory.
We recognise that the Territory is a very different place. Only 23% of our road network is sealed. Our major highways are very different from the highways down south. Over $100m is spent on our roads each year and the government will continue with its program to improve our roads. Our major highways, like the Stuart, Victoria and Barkly, are AusLink roads, and the Commonwealth government has funding responsibility. I am meeting with the new Commonwealth roads minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, this Friday, and I will be talking to him about how we can work together to improve our roads.
Madam Speaker, the government has made no decisions. We will release the task force report to the public because we are committed to working with Territorians to reduce the trauma on our roads. I reiterate that the report will be released in the coming weeks.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for her first ministerial report in her new portfolio. I am glad to hear that you will release the report. I believe my colleague, the member for Katherine, wrote to you recently about that and you would be aware of my public comments requesting you to do so.
It is pleasing to hear that whilst the matter is before Cabinet no decision has been made. I would be grateful if you would answer this in your reply: do I assume that Territorians will be invited to make submissions to draft recommendations? In any report, or most of them these days, there are a series of recommendations. It is fair and appropriate for Territorians to be afforded the opportunity of commenting, whether it is an individual whose life has been touched, as indeed the member for Katherine’s has been touched by a road trauma, or peak organisations.
For the public record, I should restate that it was the opposition, in December last year or possibly the year before, called for a task force to be established. We were very pleased, albeit that the task force that the government proposed was not quite the one we had proposed, but a task force was established and we commend you on so doing.
My colleagues and I have made public comments, as indeed have members of government, in relation to various proposals such as demerit points and speeding. If you are going to look at speed restrictions, one has to come back to the fundamental question, and that is: how are speed restrictions on our roads to be policed? No one in government should seek to duck that issue. I am sure you will appreciate minister, as indeed each and everyone of us does, this is an issue that in so many respects transcends politics. This is about road carnage, and death and destruction on our roads. It is appropriate that government, and we as legislators, come up with sensible ways to meet the difficulties. We look forward to reading the report and, again, thank you for your report.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to hear that the report will be released. Comments so far show clearly that Territorians do not want speed limits on their roads. Speed is not the only thing that causes problems as we all know, and the minister has reiterated those. It is the condition of roads. Many of our roads have been neglected. Concerns were raised with me about the Plenty Highway not long ago. That has been graded, but all that does is create dust; it has not been packed and built. More money needs to be spent on those remote roads.
Road safety is all about education. When you leave a remote community are there signs saying ‘Put your seat belt on’? Are we putting those signs up along the highways? I do not think we are. I have seen them in other states. You have to get the message through to people about safety and them taking responsibility for themselves. As you say, it is very sad to hear of these tragic accidents. I believe the advertisements on Channel 7 Central which are Queensland based are quite effective. There is one in particular, ‘Enough is enough’ and it shows road carnage. We also have to look at putting together a publicity package to go out to remote communities to pass the message on really strongly, really graphically, that not wearing seat belts, speeding and drink driving all cause the accidents.
I hope that in your report you are looking at a broad range of issues, and that you are also looking at the hire car firms and what information is given to tourists when they hire a vehicle. I personally would ban those high top minivans, whatever they are called, that so often tip over on our unsealed roads. I look forward to your report.
Ms LAWRIE (Infrastructure and Transport): Madam Speaker, I thank members opposite for what appears to be at this stage bipartisan support to tackle the unacceptable carnage on our roads. Fatalities are horrific and serious injuries have a devastating effect on the individual and their families, for life.
I have responded to the member for Katherine and advised her in writing that we will be releasing the report. We are already receiving feedback from members of the public on their views regarding the public debate on road safety measures, and I am sure that will continue throughout the coming months. We will also be speaking directly with peak organisations and a raft of stakeholders will be directly approached by government and encouraged to go through the report and its recommendations and provide us with their feedback.
The government is committed to improving our roads. As I said in my report, I am meeting with the new Transport minister, the Deputy Prime Minister. I hope the weight he carries in Cabinet also carries funding for some roads’ initiatives, particularly in our regional and remote Northern Territory where we have unsealed roads and we need to improve road conditions.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, this morning I report to the Assembly on research undertaken by Northern Territory Treasury on this important issue of expenditure for indigenous purposes in the Territory budget. In recent years, there has been quite considerable debate about these levels of expenditure and about indigenous disadvantages. This analysis informs that debate. It is the first time that a comprehensive assessment across all agencies at program level has accurately mapped the proportion of services accessed by indigenous Territorians and the expenditure we receive from the Commonwealth and our own source revenue to service that need. It puts to rest some of the inaccuracies and myths which have dominated public comment. The review covers 2004-05, the most recent year for which data is available. The review’s methodology is clearly outlined. It has been externally and independently reviewed by Professor Ken Wiltshire from the University of Queensland, and ANZ Chief Economist, Mr Saul Eastlake.
The Territory is fundamentally different to all other jurisdictions in Australia. Indigenous Territorians comprise almost 30% of the Territory’s population but, sadly, the level of disadvantage faced by indigenous Territorians means that they need to access government services far more than the non-indigenous population. Indigenous Territorians not only access indigenous specific programs but mainstream government services. For instance, over 60% of hospital separations and over 40% of school enrolments are indigenous. As a result, it is not surprising the review finds that almost half - 49.7% - of the Territory’s expenditure is related to the indigenous population, compared to 43.2% of revenue which is indigenous-related. In other words, indigenous-related expenditure by the Territory exceeded indigenous-related revenue by $175m.
However, despite this strong effort, indigenous disadvantage still exists. While there is some evidence of improved outcomes, there is clearly a need for additional funding to close this gap. The level of funding required is beyond the capacity of the Territory alone. The Australian government, with its huge surpluses, needs to significantly increase investment to improve outcomes for indigenous Territorians.
Closing the gap is the fundamental basis of the Territory’s commitment to developing a 20-year plan to address indigenous disadvantage, and one which requires the attention of all governments through the Council of Australian Government’s Working Group on Generational Reform. The social and economic benefits of closing the gap cannot be understated, and are a priority of this government. Rather than table what is a fairly large document, my office has electronically supplied it to members this morning.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I welcome the statement of the minister and look forward to careful assessment of the report that has been referred to. I am aware of its contents through the media.
The issue, however, remains that, on one hand, expenditure of resources to address the problems is one thing, but to focus on the production of outcomes is really where the issue and focus should lie. We may be pleased that there has been much money spent, but we cannot for a moment allow ourselves to think that that in itself is an achievement. The focus should always remain upon how we change that which is a concern to everyone of us - every Territorian, indigenous and non-indigenous. The answer, I suspect - in fact, I have more than a suspicion - lies in comprehensive and courageous welfare reform, proper incentives for the attendance at school, and for a proper assessment of what mutual obligation means in a truly respectful sense, so that together we can walk to a better place and be proud of the achievements that are greater than the expenditure of money.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, it is all very well for the minister to tell us how much money has been spent. I would like to know some of the actual amounts that are being spent at the grassroots level. For instance, how much does the Treasury or different departments actually take - what percentage do they take - in administration of Commonwealth money?
I mention this because I am referring to the Indigenous Infrastructure Unit and their delivery of indigenous housing programs. I am aware that in contracts that are allocated, often the contractor gets a much lesser amount than the total contract costs. For instance, I know of a case where a contractor received approximately $400 000, but the project manager took his chunk and the department or government took, so that the actual program cost nearly $1m. That extra money could have meant more houses being fixed. What I am asking is: how much does Treasury or government or whoever take in administering Commonwealth money? How much is creamed off? Can you give us a realistic figure?
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his comments. I share with him that view about outcomes. It is one thing to point to the money - what is the difference in education and in health outcomes that we are achieving with those dollars? Government’s focus remains on being able to report exactly what the difference is, and what has been achieved with that expenditure. Importantly though, it was necessary to address the misinformation out there that all of the indigenous-related revenue coming to government was being spent in the towns and not where it ought to be.
The member for Braitling asked a very important question. I well recall in the early days the Indigenous Education Strategic Initiative Program, the old IESIP program, during the early 1990s when former Chief Minister Stone was minister for Education, 40% straight off the top of that $12m to $14m over a three year program went straight to the Northern Territory government for administrative purposes. That was just a straight and outright rip-off. We have none of those sorts of takes throughout programs. I intend to get a more definitive answer for the member for Braitling in relation to the housing programs she raised and get back to her.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, Old Admiralty House on the Esplanade is amongst Darwin’s best known heritage buildings. It has been a declared heritage place since 1994, a listing which protects both the building and its gardens. The house was built in 1937 and is associated with renowned architect, B C G Burnett. The house was moved to its current location on the Esplanade in 1951. It was the home of the most senior naval officer in the north until 1983. The site is associated with Carl Bleeser who established a garden there in the 1930s. He planted unusual trees, palms and orchids in this garden.
Old Admiralty House suffered minor damage during Cyclone Tracy and was used as an art gallery and coffee shop until 1993. In 2000, the site was sold as a Crown lease to a well known local development company, Jalouise, to allow development of the non-heritage part of the site for residential, hotel and office purposes. An important principle of the sale was for the developer to be required to retain and conserve Old Admiralty House.
Over the following years of the development approval process there was much public concern expressed about the detriment of any surrounding development to Old Admiralty House and the loss of its heritage value to Darwin. Part of the rationale for including the heritage building in the land sold as a development lease was that adapting and reusing a heritage building could provide an income stream that would enable Old Admiralty House to be self-supporting and therefore effecting its own conservation.
In June 2004, the owners applied to convert the house to a restaurant. Part of the development proposal for the site was a requirement for a vegetation management plan in recognition that the gardens were significant. The plan undertook to retain the large rain tree, beauty leaf tree, and frangipannis in the garden, as well as other significant specimens and allow other vegetation to be removed to open up the views of the house and to allow for new areas of paving and lawn.
The Heritage Advisory Council was involved in providing advice about the conversion of the house to a restaurant. The work on the Old Admiralty House involved considerable modifications of the under croft of the building and the construction of two single storey service wings at the rear of the building. There was little change to the upper floor. Conservation work also had to be carried out, including replacing the roof and replacing rotten timber work. I am sure many of you regularly drive along the Esplanade and you will all agree with me that the site of Old Admiralty House has improved immensely and it has been sensitively redeveloped.
As minister responsible for heritage, I am enormously heartened at what can be achieved by the developers, Jalouise. It really shows that intelligent heritage legislation can produce sensible and intelligent results. The old house has new life, and Darwin’s heritage is now accessible to many locals and visitors than ever had visited before.
The Char Restaurant, owned and run by John Kilroy of Boutique Ventures, has brought a breath of fresh air to the building. Even if you are not partial to a good steak it is well worth visiting the upstairs section of the building to see what an impressive job has been done in preserving this lovely old building.
It is a building that is very much part of the story of Darwin. I was told the other day of a gentleman who remembers as a child when he used to sleep over with a school friend, the son of the local naval commander back in the 1960s. Visiting the other day brought back many fond memories for him. It is something that he will be able to show to his children, and help bring alive his own family history as well as that of Darwin.
The restoration and revitalisation of Old Admiralty House proves the truth of the statement ‘Heritage – use it or lose it.’ Our heritage properties are living entities. They are not there to be preserved in aspic and subject to the gentle decay of a building that is not lived in and used. They are places which need people. That is precisely the future of Old Admiralty House. Many thousands of locals and tourists will become part of the living, evolving heritage of this important building.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, whilst I sincerely thank the minister for her report on this important and interesting matter, I am aghast and stunned that the second ministerial report for the first week of a two-week parliamentary sitting, the second-last parliamentary sittings of the year, day one, the second ministerial report on this matter
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: Let us talk about some other issues that are consuming the minds of Territorians. Let us look at the crime statistics - we will be talking about that during these sittings - up across the Territory nett 10%; the number of assaults from 2002 to 2006 rose from 800 to 1000. Might those matters not concern this government, Madam Speaker?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker. It is patently obvious that the Leader of the Opposition does not even know where Old Admiralty House is.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: She is not addressing the issue of the minister’s report. I ask you to call on the Opposition Leader to address the issue at hand which is Old Admiralty House, which, for the member’s information, is on the Esplanade. She should probably go there at lunch today and see what a wonderful job has been done with it.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I ask you …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, I ask you to at least attempt to address the ministerial report.
Ms CARNEY: Had the now humiliated member for Wanguri been patient enough, he would have known I was always going to come back to it. Of course, the member for Wanguri is humiliated. He used to have a number of portfolios but he does not any more. Up he gets because he has to say something because no one is hearing very much from him these days. I do know where it is, by the way. Your arrogance and stupidity is truly remarkable and I never cease to be amazed by it. No wonder he was demoted in the most humiliating of ways possible.
In any event, when one considers the issues which consume the minds of Territorians, one wonders whether the content of the minister’s report this morning matches with the relative importance of the high level of crime in the Northern Territory, the appalling state of Aboriginal health and education in the Northern Territory, hospital waiting lists in the Northern Territory, and the closure of the Farrar after hours medical centre. The list goes on and this government, drunk on its own power, should hang their collective head in shame, the second ministerial report …
Members: Third.
Ms CARNEY: Or third, so be it. The second or third one of a two-week sitting - you have to be joking. You have to be joking.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I have a soft spot for Admiralty House. For many years, Keep Australia Beautiful had its home there. I know that many people were concerned when the land was sold. I would like to withhold my comments on whether the new development is something with which I agree. I have not had a good look at it since the development began. I fear that what has happened to it, to some extent, means it has lost its original ambiance, if you want to call it that. We had a tennis court, and old fashioned gardens surrounding an old building. That gave that place a certain characteristic. Sometimes when you try to turn that type of building into modern commercial premises, it can lose the very essence of what it was originally about.
The minister said: ‘Use it or lose it.’ I urge caution. I am not preaching, but I hope that does not mean that our heritage has to be commercial. Go across the road to Lyons Cottage. That is definitely not a commercial site; it is an historical site that is used but is not a commercial entity. It is good if we can use our heritage, that people can visit these places and can enjoy the historical aspects of a particular building or site. However, I hope that we do not take it to the nth degree and turn them all into commercial sites, which will then become the priority and the heritage we are trying to save becomes less of a priority.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I certainly will not comment on the inane ramblings of the Opposition Leader. However, I thank the member for Nelson for his comments. If the Leader of the Opposition was in touch with the electorate, she would find that people are actually quite passionate about heritage. If we look at all our heritage sites throughout the Northern Territory, they are probably the most visited and used sites. That is not saying that government is not concerned about all the other issues that she has raised. She is certainly out of touch with the electorate in terms of heritage. She should do herself a favour and get out there and look at some of these sites and get in touch with people who are passionate about the use and conservation of heritage works.
Mr McADAM (Corporate and Information Services): Madam Speaker, I report to the House about this government’s objective to acquire more fuel efficient and greenhouse friendly vehicles.
The Northern Territory government has in its fleet approximately 2400 passenger and commercial vehicles. This is made up of approximately 1000 four cylinder vehicles and 1400 six cylinder vehicles. It is a diverse fleet, catering for the operational needs of all agencies across government with the exception of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services. More than 1600 vehicles in the fleet are commercial vehicles, such as utilities and wagons. Many of these are diesel four-wheel drive vehicles.
Government is cognisant of rising fuel costs and the consequential requirements for more fuel efficient vehicles. Rising fuel prices and this government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases as articulated in our Strategy for Greenhouse Action 2006 is the catalyst for change towards acquiring vehicles that are more efficient to run, economic to own and, where available, to use sustainable fuel alternatives.
Government must strike a balance without compromising program delivery between its strategies to reduce greenhouse gases and ensuring an effective, economically viable vehicle fleet matched to operational needs. Significant technological advances are being made across the world today in the development of more fuel efficient vehicles; electric cars, petrol/electric and diesel/electric hybrid cars, natural gas, LPG, biodiesel and hydrogen fuel powered vehicles are all at various stages of development. The prices of some are not yet practical or economically viable.
For some time now, NT Fleet has trialled hybrid vehicles in its fleet to encourage greater use where operationally suitable. A subsidy is available to agencies by bringing the higher rate in line with the base model Holden V6 sedan. Hybrid vehicles will become more prevalent in our fleet as the purchase price reduces and fuel costs increase.
There are other strategies which are being implemented aimed at achieving government’s goal. A number of dedicated LPG vehicles and turbocharged diesels are being purchased. These vehicles will be evaluated with regard to operational suitability, fuel efficiency and cost effectiveness. NT Fleet is encouraging the use of four cylinder vehicles in lieu of six cylinder vehicles, again, where operationally suitable. Four cylinder vehicles generally have a lower purchase price, lower maintenance and fuel costs, and given the current cost of fuel, they also have an increasing resale value. At the same time, the six cylinder models have a declining resale value which adds to the total ownership costs.
A benefit of the trend of purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles is the reduction in CO2 gas emissions from 298g per kilometre in 2004 to 273g per kilometre in 2006. This represents an 8% reduction and 12 months earlier than anticipated by the Greenhouse Action strategy. The target now set for 2007 is 250g per kilometre.
Further contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is NT Fleet’s successful participation in biodiesel fuel trials. As biodiesel becomes commercially available in the Northern Territory, the government will take steps to make the fuel available for use in diesel engined government vehicles. As well as the move to the more fuel efficient four cylinder vehicles in the government fleet, NT Fleet will be evaluating opportunities to increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles.
Vehicles purchased will need to be matched to the operational needs of the government agencies, represent value for money, be more fuel efficient and reduce output of greenhouse gases. As they do, these vehicles will become an integral part of the government’s fleet into the future.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I welcome the minister’s report about the government’s intentions to roll out more fuel efficient vehicles within NT Fleet. I find it ironic though - or perhaps a little cynical - I recall the member for Casuarina, when he was the minister, saying that they are going to use as many hybrid vehicles as they possibly can within government. During estimates, we asked how many hybrid vehicles they have, and it was less than 10, I understand. The minister said that three or four years ago.
It is all well and good for the minister to say: ‘We are going to be fuel efficient so that we can reduce the costs, and show that NT Fleet operates efficiently - get cars that retain their value’, and all that sort of stuff. The reality is this government is full of rhetoric but does not follow through on the promises that it makes. The number of hybrid electric cars that the member for Casuarina promised is not there.
As regards making sure NT Fleet has fuel efficient vehicles, what is most disgraceful is the way the Chief Minister has completely abandoned the issue of fuel prices in the Territory. As the Opposition Leader, she was strident about the cost of fuel in the Northern Territory when it was less than $1 per litre. However, in the last two or three years, when the price of fuel has been extremely high, she has done absolutely nothing apart from calling a consultant in to have a look at it, and then did nothing with it after that. That is the hypocrisy of this government; they say they are going to do something and they do not follow through. They complained about fuel prices when they were in opposition, and when in government they do absolutely nothing.
Minister, I look forward to a real serious roll-out of fuel efficient vehicles …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, your time has expired. The overall time for ministerial reports has expired.
Reports noted pursuant to Standing Orders.
Mr Wood: Madam Speaker, could I ask if the Standing Orders Committee would look at the maximum time allowed for speakers be equivalent to the total time that is given to list the reports. That is what the problem is …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, please resume your seat. That is a matter for the Standing Orders Committee. If you wish to, you can write to the Leader of Government Business on that matter.
JUSTICE LEGISLATION
AMENDMENT BILL (No 2)
(Serial 68)
Continued from 30 August 2006.Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I will not take up all of the time allocated to me, but there are a number of points that need to be made in relation to this bill which, at first glance, looks impressive. Certainly, if one believes the high level of government spin, the average Territorian would believe that this is a good bill. Indeed, when I first glanced through it several weeks ago, I did not think there were too many difficulties with it. However, as we so often see with legislation brought into this Chamber by the government, once one scratches below the surface and does a reasonably thorough analysis, it is regularly demonstrated that the substance of the legislation does not match the spin and propaganda put out by the fifth floor; that is, the government floor of Parliament House. There are numerous examples of that and this is another one.
Yesterday, I issued a media release and I will quote some parts of it because it highlights the difficulties with this legislation and, most importantly, the difference between the reality and the truth. I said in my media release yesterday:
It is actually just under 11% …
This legislation is not that action. Merely changing the name of an offence, for instance, from ‘affray’ to ‘violent disorder’, brings the language into the 21st century, but leaves the law in the 19th century.
I went on to say in my media release that cosmetic changes will not help residents who feel unsafe in their neighbourhoods after dark …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I just seek clarification that the member for Araluen is in fact referring to the Justice Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2). There are nine miscellaneous – are you on gangs-related?
Ms CARNEY: This is the – sorry, Madam Speaker, forgive the informality, but …
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, just pause. Minister, could you just give a brief run down of what is in the bill.
Mr STIRLING: This goes to nine justice portfolios - Associations Act, Commercial and Private Agents Act, Domestic Violence Act, Interpretation Act, Justices Act, Legal Aid Commission Act, Supreme Court Act, Unit Titles Act, and the Youth Justice Act.
Ms Carney: It is the interpretation one?
Mr STIRLING: Yes.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I apologise unreservedly for that. I understood through the Whip or Whips and my office that we were dealing with this legislation this morning.
Mr Stirling: Apologies for any misunderstanding.
Ms CARNEY: Mea culpa, mea culpa. That makes it much more straightforward, Madam Speaker. We are in fact dealing with Serial No 68. If you bear with me for just a second.
Madam Speaker, can I make it clear that the comments I have made thus far were in relation to the Justice Legislation Amendment (Group Criminal Activities) Bill. For the reasons I have outlined, that is, it was understood from the Whips and certainly by my office that that was the bill we were proposing to deal with. Clearly, I will repeat those remarks at another time.
Attorney-General, you will be delighted to hear that the comments I propose to make in relation to this bill, Serial 68 are fundamentally different from the ones in relation to the bill known as the gangs bill.
The amendments in the Justice Legislation Amendment Bill, although lengthy, are in so many ways straightforward. They represent a fairly standard and not infrequent repairing or rectification of various legislative matters. We have seen it before under this government and I am sure it occurred under the previous government.
Having had a look at all of the legislation that this bill touches, and it is many – the list goes on and on, everything from the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, Commercial and Private Agents Licensing Act, Associations Act, the Legal Aid Commission Act, the Supreme Court Act, and the Unit Titles Act, just to name a few; the Interpretation Act is always an interesting one to tinker with; the Cullen Bay Marina Act. The list really does go on. These are for the most part standard and uncontentious amendments. It would be an unwise opposition regardless of which side of politics they came from in my view to oppose legislation of this nature.
I could take swipes at government, tempting though it is, when it comes to the need to amend some of this legislation because this is some of the legislation that this government has brought in. I understand that the government receives advice from Parliamentary Counsel and other people from within the Department of Justice and mistakes on occasion can be made. I think at the last sittings we debated a bill that contained some very serious omissions from the bill that the government intended to introduce. I called it the Oops Bill. I do not say that in relation to this bill. I simply say that for the most part they are standard, reasonable and uncontentious amendments. I am very pleased to be able to say that we support them.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her comments. The Justice portfolio covers 143 separate acts so there will always be from time to time a need for bills of this nature to ensure that the legislation on our books is doing as it is intended to best accomplish government objectives. The bill demonstrates that the previous Attorney-General, and indeed I will carry that same attitude – near enough is not good enough in legislation.
These amendments have arisen from a wide variety of sources: stakeholders in the community, community, industry and interest groups. It shows that my predecessor and it is a role I intend to emulate in terms of listening to the community where they foresee deficiencies in legislation and work is done to rectify it. They are not necessarily errors in drafting or errors in legislation, but more matters of interpretation, or a better way of expressing the legislation to ensure that it is meeting government’s requirements to accomplish objectives. I thank the member for Araluen for her comments.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
MOTION
Note Statement – Volatile Substance Misuse and Prevention and Intervention Program
Continued from 24 August 2006.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Speaker, I support the statement on volatile substance abuse. I am delighted to be able to give a progress report on communities in Arnhem Land.
We have heard many times in this House about the scourge of petrol sniffing in our remote communities, and the efforts by local families and organisations and police to not only help sniffers rehabilitate, but to preferably get rid of sniffing altogether. When I first toured the Arnhem region, I learnt quite quickly about the devastating effects of sniffing in places like Ngukurr. In Ngukurr, there were young men and women who were struggling with their addictions. The fears of family members unsure or unable to deal with this problem were highlighted in the inquiry that was held across the Northern Territory and carried through quite strongly by the previous minister and now the current minister in the battle of this government against petrol sniffing.
The act provides a range of new powers to enable individuals, communities and government agencies to prevent and better respond to sniffing. These include powers for police and others to search individuals and seize and dispose of volatile substances and implements used to inhale volatile substances; powers for police and others to take people who are intoxicated by volatile substances home or to other places of safety; powers for the court to compel people who have chronic volatile substance misuse problems to participate in treatment; powers for communities to create local controls on the sale and supply of volatile substances that are enforceable under Territory law; stronger penalties for knowingly supplying volatile substances to people to inhale; and new protections for people who inform police about offences under the act.
When we look at the new range of powers that have come through, and in the six months that we have been monitoring this battle against petrol sniffing, I say to the minister that it is most definitely having an impact in places like Ngukurr and Groote Eylandt where we see people like Michelle Clark, who works around the clock with the sniffers in the community. Since the implementation of these laws, they have had tremendous support in trying to tackle the issues on a legal level. It is not about sending sniffers to gaol, which is what the opposition wanted to do. Their answer was always to lock people up. These people need help, which is what this government is doing.
When we look at the $10m that is being rolled out over five years across the Northern Territory, I can certainly see the benefits on the ground. The minister should be encouraged by what is happening, particularly in places like Groote Eylandt. GEMCO, the mining company at Alyangula, is working hard with the Australian government and fuel suppliers to get Opal fuel to Groote Eylandt as soon as possible. Opal is the fuel that we all have been seeing as a strong part of dealing with the problems with petrol sniffing, but we all know that is it not the only solution. On Groote Eylandt, they are hoping that Opal fuel will arrive in January or February 2007, and I hope to give an update by April to let the House know what is going on with Opal fuel.
Opal fuel is in Ngukurr. The community was the first to have Avgas in the early years to try to deal with and combat petrol sniffing. They have now progressed to Opal fuel and it is having an incredible impact. Not only at Ngukurr but also at Roper Bar which is the nearest fuel stop to the community. There was a concern in the lead-up to having Opal rolled out in the area, simply by the terminology that surrounded Opal fuel, and that was that, on a technical level, only communities could have Opal fuel, so places like Yulara and Alyangula missed out. Now, with the help of the Northern Territory government, the federal government is coming to see that Opal fuel is necessary in places like Yulara because it has the community of Mutijulu nearby and it is necessary in places like Alyangula, which is the only fuel supplier for Umbakumba, Angurugu and Bickerton Island.
At Numbulwar, there has been a reduction in petrol sniffing, and that is largely related to the new police post opening there in May. The $2.5m police post has made major improvements in law and order in the area. We know that this legislation is giving new powers to enable individuals in communities and government agencies, and with the police stationed in Numbulwar, to deal with petrol sniffing.
As I said earlier, we know that it is a combination of factors. It is not just Opal fuel, it is not just law and order; it is a combination of many things. It also begins with the sniffers themselves and their families looking for treatment. I commend the minister and her department on the treatment options that are available for sniffers, largely centered around Central Australia. There is CAAPS in the Top End, the Council of Aboriginal Alcohol Program Service, which is providing residential rehabilitation for both adults and young people. Very similar to the DASA service, CAAPS encourages family involvement in treatment and all young people must be accompanied by a carer. This ensures new skills learned in treatment are shared across families and provides an additional support for the person in treatment. The service can take up to 12 people at any one time. CAAPS has had a total of six clients, and currently have four clients in the service, two young people and an adult carer, as well as two adult clients. Of these, two are voluntary referrals and two are being directed through the justice system. I commend the minister and her department.
There are a number of areas that we have to tackle with this issue of petrol sniffing, and they are the treatment and rehabilitation of those people who desperately need the help, and the support that must be there for families who are trying to deal with their loved ones coping with this absolute scourge on their families and their communities. It is also about the wider aspect of health and education in our communities, access to better health, access to better education, and access to jobs and activities for youth in terms of sport and recreation in our communities.
I would like the minister and her department to know that that is an area that I am absolutely passionate about in regards to the communities of Arnhem. We must focus as a government on the broader issues that can help combat petrol sniffing and other substance abuse problems that we have within our communities, by improving and working on recreational and sporting activities for our youth, because it is our youth who are our leaders of the future. It is our youth that we must invest in. We must invest in people in our communities and, by investing in our people we are investing in the Northern Territory. We know for a fact that, in 20 years’ time, the population growth of our communities in our remote areas is such that half the population of the Northern Territory will be Aboriginal people.
I am confident that our government is absolutely focused on working not only in the area of petrol sniffing but in other areas where abuse is rampant in our communities especially alcohol and other substance abuse.
Over the first two years of the volatile substance misuse funding, a total of $1.44m was allocated to the remote service development. This has proved both rewarding in community interest and commitment. However, it has also been difficult and, in some instances, has not been able to be fully realised. We are conscious of that. It is something that, when we give a full 12-month report on how this issue is being dealt with in our communities, we will be able to progress on issues that are occurring in places like Groote Eylandt, Umbakumba, Numbulwar and Ngukurr.
With the roll-out of Opal fuel, I would like to stress to our federal counterparts the importance of having that fuel out in our communities and regions where it is desperately needed. They must listen to those organisations and individuals who are asking for that fuel to be there. We must do what we can as a community - both federally and in the Northern Territory - to recognise that needs of our most vulnerable in society outweigh the economic needs of those who see that Opal fuel is not what they thought it would be.
As of August this year, some 26 communities and five islands in the Northern Territory have been approved to be supplied with Opal. There are currently 25 communities and seven roadhouses supplying Opal fuel. I recognise that the Australian government’s part in Opal fuel is important. I say to the minister and her department that there is ongoing concern with the federal government agenda in funding of homelands and communities, and the current issues being raised about the permit system. All of this is important in the future direction, planning and the vision for our communities and where they are going, and where we would like to encourage them to go.
We are being told at a federal level that our communities are no longer going to be around, that some of them are going to be scrapped and thrown away, and people are going to have to think about moving into the towns and cities with no consideration given to the cultural value to those homelands and those communities and the sense of identity of Aboriginal people. This is an agenda that we need to be absolutely vigilant about. It is quite horrifying to think that the federal government is intending to move along those lines, with all the messages that it is sending from Canberra. I encourage the minister and our government to be absolutely vigilant about the future growth of our regions.
Madam Speaker, I commend the minister’s statement to the House.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Madam Speaker, I speak in support of the progress report on the implementation of the Northern Territory’s Volatile Substance Misuse Prevention and Intervention program brought to this House by the Minister for Family and Community Services.
In the first six months of operation, the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act, in conjunction with the roll-out of Opal fuel, has made a real impact on inhalant abuse. In Central Australia, there has been a significant reduction in petrol sniffing, and the communities of Central Australia have responded so positively to the VSA legislation that the department has had to work hard to respond to all the requests for management plans and treatment.
I am proud of the response of my communities to this legislation. All of the communities in my electorate where petrol sniffing has been a problem have applied for community area management plans - Papunya, Mt Liebig, Kintore, Ikuntji, Mutitjulu, Docker River, Imanpa and Ntaria. Hoppy’s Camp in Alice Springs, whose residents have cultural and family ties to the Luritja/Pintubi communities at Papunya, Ikuntji, Mt Liebig and Kintore, are also considering applications for an area management plan.
As the minister said, the initial success of this legislation has been due to a real team effort. For the community, some real support is being provided in tackling substance misuse by everyone from individuals in the communities, to police, NGOs and the staff from Alcohol and Other Drugs programs. This is an impressive start for the introduction of this legislation and reflects the fact that residents of these communities see management plans as a concept step that they can take to reduce inhalant abuse in their communities. They are welcoming the opportunity to actually do something.
In the past, programs rolled out 10 years ago were not a consultative process, did not have the input of the community, and were targeting just petrol sniffers. Other children in the community who were attending school on a regular basis and being good students of the community, good children to their parents, saw programs being rolled out in these communities that were just targeting bad children who were sniffing petrol. This government has initiated something that incorporates the whole community, parents, and NGOs, to deliver to these children, and through the management plans, giving real responsibility back to the people and the communities so that they can deal with other underlying issues that lead to substance abuse.
For years, communities have been told that preventing and responding to petrol sniffing was their responsibility. To quote Dr Paul Torzillo:
It reflects what I said earlier, that these good children of the community saw rewards being handed out to sniffers so they then took on sniffing to get onto all the programs that were identified by government just for petrol sniffers. As a result, considerable frustration has developed in these communities over the years, and they are keen to grab the opportunity that the VSA legislation has offered and develop management plans that they hope will sustain the hard won reduction in inhalant abuse that we currently enjoy.
In Central Australia, the Northern Territory government contracted Central Australian Youth Link Up Services (CAYLUS), Waltja and NPY to provide information and support to communities in developing their responses. This strategy has been effective. I congratulate the minister for recognising the importance of communities having a clear understanding of the intent and powers contained within the act.
As I said earlier, all of these communities have applied for community management plans, and they are awaiting action by the department. I understand that the department has been somewhat overwhelmed by the response from Central Australia and that careful consideration needs to be given to the implications and the practical effects of management areas. I join with the minister encouraging the Alcohol and Other Drugs Program to expedite the process. It is important that we do not fail these communities again.
In relation to the treatment provisions of the act, the demand for treatment from Central Australia has been overwhelming. The most promising aspect has been those clients who have been referred for compulsory treatment from their home communities. They have agreed to participate as voluntary clients. Information from the department is that what prompts the sniffers to agree to voluntary treatment is the expression of concern at the home community and engagement with the person using volatiles that prompts voluntary participation.
This is significant because the kids needing treatment, those who tend to be the most chronic sniffers, are kids whose parents have died, or have significant members of their families who are chronic substance abusers themselves. These kids carry with them a lot of personal hurt and in many cases they have been additionally hurt as their inhalant abuse has led to them being isolated from their own communities. They are kids who deserve treatment. They do not deserve gaol. The positive response to this treatment means that the demand for places in Central Australia is high, and putting pressure on the limited places available, a situation that will ease with the opening of Aranda House facility in March 2007.
The Bush Mob in Alice Springs is also providing outreach therapeutic care including counselling, case management skills, development and family therapy. The Bush Mob supports clients living in town and remote areas, and will provide support to the residential service for young people when it is operational.
Also, Ilpurle and Mt Theo will continue to run their successful program for substance abusing youth. Ilpurle, run by Barry and Leo Abbott, is a credible and successful program that looks after young men that no one else can handle. Barry has been responsible for saving many lives over the 40 years he has provided the service to the community. He was the 2005 winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution in Drug and Alcohol Endeavours.
Barry Abbott has been looking after people in this area since the 1970s. He has ‘grown up’ literally hundreds of young people over this time, and is a locally known resource. Children from all over Central Australia now refer to him as ‘dad’ or ‘uncle’ because he has grown these children up from such a young age and gave them the opportunity and a vision to continue, with good support from other adults, a good life so that they can see the light on the hill, so that they can have a vision, a future, through good education, through good mentoring. That is the kind of thing that we as government have to support.
Barry sees the causes of substance abuse in the poverty of communities, and I quote:
Barry’s view is taking the whole family into rehabilitation rather than just a child so that he maintains the connection of that child to his parents. At the same time as that child is learning new habits of living without drugs, the family is also learning the same habit. It is about keeping the family together so that the whole family, with this new life, can move forward, rather than just the child.
Barry is talking about the need to address the underlying causes of substance misuse. Whilst the roll-out of Opal fuel has provided communities with respite from petrol sniffing, we need to act to ensure that they do not adopt other forms of substance misuse. That is a big concern amongst indigenous people in Central Australia, that we just do not take Opal for granted or that it is the only solution. We have to have a look at the underlying issues. As I said earlier, some of these children are orphans. They have lost their parents from the age of two, some from the age of five, or both parents are either drinking in Darwin, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs and they are real outcasts among their own people in their own community because of the fact that they sniff petrol.
We have to look at the underlying issues of education, health and everything that the member for Arnhem mentioned, including the fact that we keep people on homelands. Homelands are a treatment centre away from the problems of major communities. We have to keep that in the back of our minds when we are talking about regional development and planning for the future of indigenous people that we take into consideration the thoughts and aspirations of indigenous people, too. The ultimate answers lie in remote communities’ development, particularly in the areas of employment, infrastructure, economic viability, access to services and self-determination.
A very good start has been made. This legislation is the first of its kind in Australia. The act and its proposed regulations empower police and communities to take legally supported steps to deal with petrol sniffing. The legislation is a major step and could support communities in declaring legally enforceable, sniffable fuel-free areas, forcing sniffers into treatment and taking petrol and other sniffable substances away from sniffers. The legislation is backed by some significant resource commitment, but further resources will be required in order to address the underlying causes of substance misuse.
Madam Speaker, in closing, I commend this minister and the previous minister for putting together such a wonderful act which encourages communities and people to participate in the legislation. I commend the statement to the House.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Madam Speaker, I support the statement. I was not going to speak on this matter today, but I have been moved by the contributions of many of the members especially the member for Macdonnell who, not only through her observations, but her experience in her communities, understands what effects petrol sniffing, other substances, alcohol and other drugs can have on her community, her family and her people.
That is why we need to recognise the importance of the assets that we have here on the government benches. Each member and each electorate has its own special needs and those, in many different ways, are best represented by their members. That does not mean that their members know everything, but it definitely means that they are in touch with what happens in their electorate. They need to be respected and consulted in any legislation or any reforms which are going to affect their constituency.
I thank the minister and this government, because this is an issue that we know has not all of a sudden come under scrutiny under the Northern Territory government of the Labor Party, but has been an historically sad and tragic event that has happened for many years. I am very proud to be part of a government that has said enough is enough and we are going to try to deal with this matter.
We also heard from the member for Arnhem. As we all know, she is a great orator and has clarified in everyone’s mind the need for these matters to be addressed.
The member for Arafura has a deep and personal understanding of what substance abuse can do, not only within her community, but within her family. She has spoken strongly, over the last five years that I have been a member of this House with her, on these issues.
We heard from the opposition and we thank them for their contributions. We heard from the member for Braitling who spoke very passionately about this issue.
One of the members who moved me the most, I suppose, and it has been commented on, that the former member for Stuart - the new member has big boots to fill - spoke from the heart at the last sittings about his passion of what he had to do as a member of a community in the 1980s chasing young children around, removing petrol from people’s hands and trying to deal with these problems. The former member for Stuart was a very interesting character and often it was hard to get him to show his emotions. On this issue, in one of his last contributions, he was very passionate.
The message from the member for Macdonnell and other members was that services need to be provided to bush constituents, whether it is counselling or other care. What we see in these areas are what young people are struggling with all over the nation, whether they live in Sydney, Melbourne, Stuart, Arnhem, Macdonnell or Arafura. That is young people finding an identity for themselves and finding a place in the world.
The issues that often turn people to substance abuse, whether they are white, black, brown or purple, whether they live in urban areas or remote areas, whether they live in New South Wales or the Northern Territory, is that of young people suffering from boredom and needing opportunities to do different things, even basic issues like people being hungry. In many ways, the move to substance abuse and other volatile substances is a cry for help.
The member for Macdonnell spoke about young men. I suppose, as a young man not so long ago, one of the issues of a young person is that you are always trying to find out what your place in the world is. There is no doubt that, for young indigenous men all through the bush and urban areas, there is a sense of what is your identity. The reality is, I am proud to say, that we saw a young man come in today for the first time, with a welcome from the House, proud to be representing his area, and that was the new member for Stuart. People often forget that the roles of young men are quite different to young women. The pressures young people face as young men are a lot different, and unfortunately, a lot of them are around ego, pride, pride of their own manhood, and pride in where they stand in their community. Often, what indigenous men value in the bush and urban areas are not valued by the wider community. Therefore, if it is not valued by the wider community, what value does it have?
Unfortunately, many of my friends and family have, on different occasions, turned to other substances as a cry for help, as a cry to find a better way. All members of this House understand and know that this is not the path to go. We will struggle with substance abuse, volatile substances and other substances like marijuana, alcohol, speed and other serious amphetamines coming into the community, not only in urban areas but in remote areas.
I want to state that this debate is not confined to indigenous people; it is happening to all young people right across the board.
We have to come up with options. The minister has outlined a path forward; Cabinet has agreed to properly fund this path forward. The big issue for us is to say that we have this problem, identify what this problem is, and move forward and try to come up with solutions. I always come back to the fact that the backbench and ministers represent constituencies. Those electorates have certain dynamics that only the local member really understands to the nth degree. The members for Macdonnell, Arafura, Arnhem, the previous member for Stuart – and no doubt the new member for Stuart will reflect on a lot of those areas – and Daly represent bush seats. The member for Nhulunbuy has been passionate about this subject, not only publicly in this House but outside in the media and probably amongst his colleagues, regarding the need to address substance abuse and volatile substance abuse.
In my electorate, I have a large proportion of people who are non-indigenous, but they face the same problems: drugs, alcohol and amphetamines, eccies, the new wave of social drugs leading to more serious gateway drugs. I have three community town camps in my electorate - Kulaluk, Minmirama Park and Bagot Community. Those town camps have a variety of different issues facing them and have different problems in terms of alcohol abuse and drug abuse. Luckily though, the incidence of petrol sniffing and substance abuse is quite minimal. What we are seeing, though, are those communities, at different levels at different times, trying to address these problems. This framework by the minister will help with those issues.
I commend this to the House; it is about the positive future, about a vision, about creating opportunities for young people out in the bush. This is the Northern Territory government’s responsibility and I know that the minister will be working with the Commonwealth government regarding resources. This is a shift by the current NT government away from previous policy. However, I would like to warn every member in this House that this can only be done if there is a shift in the indigenous communities’ view on substance abuse and volatile substances. Each member has a responsibility to make that shift happen. We have heard on different occasions that indigenous communities are starting to make that shift, are starting to say this is wrong and we need to do something about it
Madam Speaker, I just felt a need, a passion, to contribute to this statement; to put my name on the record to say that I support what the minister is doing and what this government is doing.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, I speak in my capacity not only as Minister for Health, but also as Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. As a number of people in the House would be aware, when I was at the Menzies School of Health Research, I spent a considerable amount of time researching the area of petrol sniffing - not only researching but looking at valid ways to actually decrease the incidence of petrol sniffing, and to decrease the social and physical effects of petrol sniffing on predominately young Aboriginal men, as referred to by the member for Millner.
I have not been on the record many times since I have been in the House talking on petrol sniffing as I felt I made a contribution at that time, and as members would be aware Maningrida was where much of the study that I was involved in was focused. Basically, through that study and through drawing that community together petrol sniffing was eliminated from that community. I understand there may have been sporadic outbreaks since then, but that was a real victory for that community.
I know that it is very important to develop strategies. Those strategies were outlined In the PhD thesis that I wrote and papers that I wrote and published including the Medical Journal of Australia. At the core of the strategies were firstly supporting communities which had been ravaged by petrol sniffing. Supporting them, giving them strength, giving them a framework where they could address these issues and try to bring their young people who strayed back into the family fold. In Maningrida, it was a range of strategies which included substituting Avgas in the fuel supply, and also the development of training and employment strategies for that community. That community responded in a very strong way. A big part of it was empowering the parents and the elders and leadership within that community.
I am pleased to speak today on some of the strategies that this government has employed to address the issue of petrol sniffing. I would have to say that in some of the papers that I wrote I raised a question mark over whether legal sanctions would be an effective strategy to curb petrol sniffing. There was much debate at that time about it, but this government has gone ahead. It has brought in legal sanctions, a whole range of strategies, and I am very proud to say that I believe that those strategies have worked. I commend the minister for her foresight and energy in bringing this into the parliament, and for the success that has been gained through these strategies.
Members would be aware that a big part of this strategy is pouring out the petrol; taking the petrol from these young kids and pouring it out on the ground. That is empowering communities and the specific officers in those communities to do that. The police have been very active in that regard and that is sending a message to the young people: we are not going to tolerate petrol sniffing; we are pouring the petrol out on the ground. I know on a number of communities, whether it is in Central Australia or in northern Australia, with some impunity; you see kids wandering around in the daylight with cans of petrol or soft drink containers of petrol to their face. I believe that is becoming a thing of the past as we are empowering communities and police, giving them the powers to pour out the petrol.
As part of the strategies that were introduced by the minister, and I might say were criticised by the opposition, were the compulsory treatment orders. The opposition wanted to gaol people. I have never been one for gaoling these young people. That is not the solution. I believe the solution has been found by the minister and this government for compulsory treatment orders. Police are playing a pivotal role in processing these requests for treatment of individuals. The police are targeting the traffickers. We know that there are people who traffic in petrol for their own nefarious ends. The police are targeting those people. All in all, these are effective strategies to address the problem of petrol sniffing.
We are a government also which understands that sanctions play a part in it but there is a wider issue here with our young people, particularly young indigenous people in the remote parts of the Territory. That issue is to provide useful activity for those people whether it is employment, whether it is recreation, whether it is education. We are a government which is trying to look at regional development for our remote areas and provide a pathway for young indigenous people, particularly young men, to walk away from petrol sniffing and all its adverse effects.
I come back to my experience at Maningrida. When this study was begun in the early 1990s, I found that the council was in a heap, it was not a functioning very well. However, the council and leadership in that community had come to a point where they said: ‘We want to handle the Community Service Orders that the court is handing out for these young kids who are offending in relation to petrol sniffing’. At that stage it was break and enters, those sorts of fairly minor offences, but when they become aggregated, it becomes a police matter. The courts did allow the community council to take on those Community Service Orders and those young people. A coordinator was appointed. Some of the young men were in their teens, but some of them were in their 20s, some of them might have even been approaching their 30s. They were given various tasks in that community, including cleaning up the airport, fencing at the airport, and many of those young men used that as a springboard to get into employment.
I remember that there was a number of work groups associated with that. There was the demolition crew - I remember them very well - going around demolishing the old houses. There was the ‘roach busters’ – that was a very important crew that undertook pest control. There was a building crew; a crew that did the painting and there were others who went into the mechanical workshop and some of them are still working there today.
You could see these young men transformed from being social pariahs in that community, from being outcasts; they felt they were participating in the community, that they were giving something worthwhile back to the community and that their contribution was being recognised. There was camaraderie. They wanted to go to work. They wanted to get up every day and go to work. This was a very important strategy.
We have to look at employment and regional development. This is a government that is doing that. We are really focused on bringing regional employment and development to these areas which are afflicted by petrol sniffing. This is a government that cares about those young people, that is determined to take action. We have taken action. The minister’s report has illustrated that it is very important and that it is working. I commend the police for their work, I commend the FACS workers for their work also, and I particularly commend community members who are really standing up and saying: ‘We do not want to see our young people in the grip of petrol sniffing any more. We do not want to see their health deteriorate. We do not want to see them as outcasts. We want to bring them back into our family group. We want to bring them back into our community. We want them to contribute to our community’.
Madam Speaker, as I said before, I have not before spoken in this House about my research in this area, but I have today. I am proud to be part of a government that is taking such positive steps on an issue that has been around for a long time. Our government is committed to reducing petrol sniffing in the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I thank all members for their contributions. The statement was an important update on the success of the government’s hallmark legislation in tackling petrol sniffing. I am very proud of the legislation that my predecessor, the member for Arafura, worked very hard on and introduced to this parliament. It is a cause close to my heart, and I will pursue it and continue the good work done.
I am mindful that the successes I talked about in this statement are not guaranteed to last and that we must continue to work hard to stay in front of the fight against petrol sniffing. People like the members for Arafura, Macdonnell, Arnhem and the former member for Stuart have been at the forefront in tackling petrol sniffing. It stands in stark contrast of the CLP which, in previous comments on this legislation, had damned the government’s attempts to tackle petrol sniffing.
In his contribution last sittings, the former member for Stuart put it very well. He said:
It was a memorable comment from the former member for Stuart. At the time of passing this legislation, the CLP opposition invested enormous energy in attacking the legislation. Looking back at some of the things the CLP members said when the legislation was debated, they called it ‘kneejerk’ legislation and said it would not work.
How is this for a quote: ‘$10m to address petrol sniffing problems is a dumb way to spend money’. At least this time the member for Greatorex could bring himself to offer ‘qualified support’. Unfortunately, he then went on to state that the CLP’s policy, as announced prior to the last election, still stands. This is the policy that involves two years’ gaol for anyone caught petrol sniffing, and a cancellation of all petrol sniffing rehabilitation programs. It is a shameful policy. I cannot understand how you can offer qualified support for the statement and the actions of government, and yet still stick by the CLP policy, which is the opposite of what we are doing. Their policy is a ‘throw away the key’ policy.
The member for Greatorex spent quite a bit of time talking about what happens to a sniffer once they have been apprehended or had petrol poured out. The answer is in this statement – 44 applications for compulsory treatment orders have been made. As I said in the statement, this is just the compulsory treatment orders. We are advised by workers on the ground, including CAYLUS in Central Australia - which is doing a remarkable job and I congratulate them - that there have been a large number of voluntary treatment presentations as a result of having the threat of compulsory treatment. So, what we are finding is the compulsory treatment orders are the minority; a large number of people voluntarily put themselves into treatment on the threat of a compulsory treatment order.
In the statement, I outlined the contribution that the roll-out of Opal, that is, the non-sniffable fuel, has made. Since then, there have been reports in Alice Springs that Opal is harmful to cars. This is absolutely erroneous. Opal has been vigorously tested by BP to the extent that they have convinced the Commonwealth government that it does not harm vehicles to any greater degree than normal unleaded fuel. I am aware that both BP and the Commonwealth government are looking at awareness and education campaigns to ensure the community has confidence in Opal. The federal Health minister, Tony Abbott, has been very strong on this issue and shown great leadership. His recent suggestion that the Commonwealth will consider making Opal compulsory demonstrates his commitment to this issue.
I understand the Leader of the Opposition has written to the federal minister for Health, Tony Abbott, opposing his suggestion in regard to compulsory Opal. I believe it is shameful that the CLP will do anything to undermine the fight against petrol sniffing. They have had a long history of ignoring the problem. The Leader of the Opposition must have heard a rumour that additives can make Opal sniffable. Rather than trying to find out the facts, she sought to immediately undermine Opal and compromise its effectiveness. The fact is that Opal does not contain any sniffable substances. Of course, like any liquid, such as orange juice or water, if you add a sniffable substance, then the concoction can become sniffable.
The Northern Territory government will continue to work with the Commonwealth, BP and the community to promote the use of Opal. It is effective, it works, and it is improving the lives of Territorians.
I thank the former member for Stuart. He has made a valuable contribution over many years. The Mt Theo project that he referred to is an enormous success. Our VSA legislation will help Mt Theo work with sniffers to get them back on track. The work with BP has been undertaken over several years to develop Opal. The former member for Stuart was able to outline the importance of this work being done to tackle not just the symptoms, he talked about the importance of tackling the causes of petrol sniffing and the difference that youth and recreation opportunities can make to the lives of young Territorians.
The member for Braitling also made a positive contribution. She indicated that she was not getting as many complaints about petrol sniffing as she once did. I hope that it stays that way, and I am sure that she will let me know if complaints rise again.
Great work is being done by CAYLUS. They have newsletters to inform communities about the new laws, they have put up signs, and they are encouraging people to put up signs promoting Opal fuel. There are great recreational programs in places such as Docker River which are put in place to help keep kids away from sniffing. More information on the take-up of voluntary treatment is available through CAYLUS. They are certainly addressing both chronic sniffers and those kids who are what we refer to as on the fringe - they are occasional sniffers.
What we have seen is that communities are really encouraging anyone in their community who is sniffing to seek treatment. That they are now able to say to these kids that if they do not get treatment the government will ‘make you’, means that they are having far greater success in getting the young people to treatment. It is too early to provide detailed assessments of how effective these treatment programs are, but we will continue to monitor them. There will, undoubtedly, be some cases of people returning to their bad habits, but that will not mean that the whole program has not been worthwhile. We will look at this as part of a review. The importance of the work that CAAAPU is undertaking and the support of the member for Braitling for the refit of Aranda House is very welcome.
I thank the member for Wanguri, who was Police minister at the time of the statement, for outlining the important contribution that police are making. The police have been a very effective tool in combating petrol sniffing in our regional and remote communities. The legislation, as you have heard the new Police minister outline today, does give police the powers they need to intervene when sniffing occurs, and how they have the powers to seize petrol to help stop sniffing when it occurs, and that police have been at the forefront of the use of compulsory treatment orders. I wholeheartedly congratulate the police for their commitment to tackling petrol sniffing in our bush.
The member for Arafura can be justifiably proud that she was the member of this parliament who introduced this legislation, and is the mother of the legislation. There is significant success as we have heard in this debate. I thank the member for Arafura for the commitment that she has shown, both in leading the parliamentary inquiry into petrol sniffing and following that up with the ministerial responsibility of driving through this legislation - all significant work done in creating a range of tools needed at the community level but, importantly as the member for Macdonnell pointed out, working with the community rather than imposing on the community to ensure we can tackle petrol sniffing. I know these members are very passionate about the subject.
The community management plans were mocked by the CLP. They called them ‘squiggly lines on a map’. Communities have actually embraced the community management plans and, as you have heard from the member for Macdonnell and others, there are a dozen communities applying for them. The department is prioritising and speeding up the development of these plans because, as you have heard, there are many detailed issues that need to be taken into account such as the effect of industries such as pastoral and mining operations.
My statement outlined the contribution that the roll-out of Opal has made. We have always said that the legislation is part of an overall strategy. We have been calling for the roll-out of Opal for a long time, and we are glad that it is being rolled out. We still think that it should be rolled out as a matter of course in all areas prone to sniffing.
The CLP’s position on the roll-out of Opal was that it was ‘crazy thinking’. The CLP also complained that there were not enough treatment places. The first point I want to make is that the CLP went to the last election and restated that this is still their policy; that they would scrap every treatment place. In contrast, the Martin Labor government is spending an additional $10m to provide these essential treatment services. As I have outlined in the statement, we are funding a raft of non-government organisations to provide these treatment services, and Aranda House will be refurbished. It will be a great facility for the treatment of petrol sniffers.
Sometimes it is important to put in context the sorts of things that the CLP have said in the past. The former member for Port Darwin, during the debate on the legislation said:
The former member for Port Darwin could not have been more wrong. The fact is this legislation and the roll-out of non-sniffable fuel has been significant with amazing feedback from the communities, from the police, from the health workers, from the treatment providers, as to its effectiveness. The former member for Drysdale’s contribution was that $10m to address petrol sniffing problems is ‘a dumb way to spend money’. And he said: ‘The idea that Australians have to power their vehicles with a different fuel because some people choose to inappropriately use it to their own detriment, and the detriment of their communities, is crazy thinking’. He also said it was a ‘knee-jerk legislative solution’. Maybe it is views such as this expressed by the member for Drysdale which showed just how out of touch he was with the reality of the Territory.
In stark contrast to that, the contribution made today by the member for Arnhem showed that the VSA legislation and the non-sniffable Opal fuel are having a tremendous impact on improving the life of Territorians in our Arnhem Land communities.
I put on the record my thanks to GEMCO for its unwavering support – a mining company’s unwavering support - for the roll-out of the non-sniffable Opal fuel to Groote Eylandt. In the very early days of the roll out of Opal, GEMCO was front and centre in putting their hand up and saying: ‘We want Opal on Groote Eylandt. We will absolutely do what it takes to get it here’. In those days, the Commonwealth was opposing rolling out to areas such as Yulara and Groote Eylandt. Thank God, the Commonwealth turned around in the end and saw the importance of rolling out Opal to these areas. I look forward to January, February of next year, and seeing the final roll-out of Opal on Groote Eylandt because we know it will make a significant difference in improving the lives of the young people on Groote Eylandt.
I thank people such as Michelle Clark for their tireless effort on the ground, working with petrol sniffers and their families in turning around their lives. I recall a wonderful trip I made to Groote Eylandt with the member for Arnhem and hearing the stories of young men at Angurugu, former petrol sniffers, who had worked in a huge effort on their local sports oval, and the pride that they had taken in the way that they were rebuilding and improving their community. These were people who some time ago were bombed out of their brains on petrol, who had an extremely big future were headed down the path of severe dysfunction and they were clean. They were off the substance abuse and it was the Opal fuel in Groote Eylandt, and through the funded programs by the Territory government working in diversion, working in really important physical activities and giving them and restoring them a pride and showing them that they do have a very positive place and role in their community.
I thank the member for Arnhem for her ongoing work with those communities. They have the support they need to succeed. Nothing beats getting out on the ground with the local member. I took a trip recently with the member for Macdonnell and we visited a few of her communities. The importance of the whole-of-community approach is essential to the success of the VSA legislation. The approach that we took in the delivery of this legislation and the way it was implemented is to work with the community, and empower the community and consult with the community rather than impose down upon a community.
I have seen on the ground at Mutitjulu, and at Papunya as well, the improvements that are occurring as a result of tackling petrol sniffing. It was really important for the member for Macdonnell to talk about the effect of the personal trauma that these young sniffers have had in their lives which often leads them to sniffing and how programs such as Ilpurle deal with a whole-of-community approach because it is a healing process that we need to take our petrol sniffers through in terms of treatment. Part of that healing process is the healing that needs to occur within the broader family unit and so I support funding for these outstation treatment programs. Government is continuing to fund them to ensure that they can deliver the real programs and the choice of programs that sniffers and their families need.
I thank the people of these communities for their support. Without the strength of the people in the communities to tackle petrol sniffing, we would not have seen the successes that we have seen in such a short time. It really is the strength of good people at the community level who are embracing the tools this legislation and Opal fuel has given them to take control of their community and their lives and to improve them. It is quite an outstanding turnaround in a short time.
I thank the member for Millner. He reminded us that petrol sniffing is a decades old issue. It has been something like 30 years since the first reports started to call for governments to address and tackle petrol sniffing in our communities. It is a terrible shame that it has taken 30 years for a range of tools to be in the tool kit of our communities to tackle petrol sniffing. What this statement was attempting to do is to illustrate that in just six months there has been a tremendous result on the ground in improving the lives of Territorians. I thank the member for Millner for acknowledging the importance of the fact that indigenous parliamentarians in this Chamber bring with them a tremendous wealth of knowledge of the realities of remote and rural areas of the Northern Territory. They understand their communities; they keep involved and know the programs that are working. They know the efforts that government can make to improve the lives of Territorians. It was a great contribution from the member for Millner.
I thank the new Minister for Health. My colleague, the member for Johnston, has, as you heard, a long history of research in the area of petrol sniffing and has justifiably a very proud track record of the work that he did out at Maningrida very early in his career in the Territory. It shows us that with effective research, with effective community action, you can achieve success. Early work done by people such as the former member for Stuart and the member for Johnson put those early markers in place to say that you did not have to accept petrol sniffing as the reality of life, but if you put in a range of action to tackle petrol sniffing, you can turn it around and, as we are starting to see, wipe out sniffing where sniffing was once rampant.
I thank the former minister for Police and the current minister for Police for acknowledging the fine work done by our police officers because without their assistance and commitment on the ground, we would not have been as effective in the last six months as we have been.
I conclude my remarks by acknowledging the tireless efforts and the work done by the Alcohol and Other Drugs program staff of the Department of Family and Community Services. They were set an enormous task by the previous minister for FACS which was to create the nation’s first comprehensive legislation to tackle petrol sniffing. They did not have anything to go from. They created something from nothing. They created a fine body of work in the VSA legislation, and they are continuing to implement in every way possible all of the tools required to tackle petrol sniffing. To Jo Townsend and her, staff, thank you.
Motion agreed to; statement noted.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Ms Vicki O’Halloran, the CEO of Somerville Community Services, and staff of Somerville Community Services, and other members of the public who are here as part of the public visitors program. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 12, I revoke all previous warrants and lay on the table my warrant nominating Ms Barbara McCarthy, Mr James Burke, Ms Kerry Sacilotto, Mr Ted Warren, Mr Gerry Wood and Mr Matthew Bonson to act as Deputy Chairmen of Committees when requested so to do by the Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker.
Mr VATSKALIS (Regional Development): Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure today to deliver a ministerial statement on Regional Economic Development in the Northern Territory. It is a subject that should capture the hearts and minds of everyone in this House. The ongoing development of our region is one of the great enduring challenges of government and one that must sit centre of mind as we continue to look to carve out a modern Northern Territory economy.
It is also one of the broadest areas of interest for government. Almost everything that occurs has a regional development context in one form or another; from the concerns of an individual in one of our communities to the major issues of our time, such as global warming, for example. It is for that reason that my statement today is pitched at the broad role of government in delivering core services and supporting the economic aspirations of Territorians. I imagine that future statements will provide abundant opportunities to work through the wider range of issues and opportunities that fall under the umbrella of regional development.
It is important to spend just a few moments restating the case for regional development, because it provides the context from which all else follows. Almost half of all Territorians live outside of Darwin in our towns and communities, or at mines or on our sprawling pastoral properties. Rightly, they expect their government to invest in their futures with fervour equal to the energy and drive applied to our capital city. It makes sense to do so on both equity and economic grounds; our regions make a major contribution to the overall Northern Territory economy. In 2004-05 alone, that contribution was estimated to be $3.5bn through mining, energy, tourism, agriculture, transport, manufacturing, construction, communication, and more. Regional development encompasses everything that governments, community groups, industries, small and medium businesses and, most importantly, our youth, must have to ensure the Territory has ‘a tomorrow’.
The current expansion of Alcan Gove, the new Blacktip offshore gas project and Bonaparte gas pipeline, the proposed expansion at McArthur River, and the drawing power of our iconic tourist destinations like Uluru, Nitmiluk and Kakadu, all demonstrate a strong interdependence everyone shares on the wealth created in all four corners of the Territory.
Regional communities throughout Australia are also being challenged as never before. Negative demographic shifts see populations drifting to the major centres. The drive for efficiency in business and administration see jobs and capital being drawn back to the same centres. To compound matters, distances can make it many times more expensive to deliver core services of all kinds. The Northern Territory has exactly the same challenges with one additional hurdle - many of our communities have never seen investment in some of the core infrastructure enjoyed elsewhere in Australia. This applies particularly to our indigenous communities.
I do not raise these issues to build a smokescreen of excuses - far from it, in fact. My purpose is to demonstrate that regional development is a dynamic melting pot of change; that things are not standing still, that change is rapid. We, as government, need to continue to deliver our services in that environment where the sands are continually shifting. That requires a sophisticated combination of good strategy and flexible delivery underpinned by commitment and partnerships.
It is vitally important to have good strategy when the challenge is so broad and long-lasting. The Chief Minister launched the Territory’s Economic Development Framework last month, which is the flagship strategy for regional development. The framework was developed through extensive consultation and collaboration. In particular, regional forums were held in all Territory regions as a starting point for the framework. Many regional representatives also attended the second Economic Development Summit held in Darwin in November last year. I thank the regional participants and all who have contributed to the framework’s development, especially those from regional and remote areas. In launching the framework, the Chief Minister emphasised, and I quote:
There is well-founded optimism about the Territory’s strong prospects for growth. To realise these prospects, we must ensure that the Territory’s prosperity is sustained for future generations, and that it is shared across the regions. In this context, one of our strongest themes must remain greater indigenous participation in the wider Territory economy. This is a vital component if we are to continue to prosper in the years ahead and achieve Territory-wide regional economic development.
Other strong themes include the growth of regional industries and securing investment, especially private capital for emerging regional economic developments. The framework incorporates these requirements in the theme for achieving the regional growth objective of Sharing in Our Prosperity: building stronger regions; improving indigenous participation in economic development; strengthening community leadership and decision-making; improving city, town and community liveability; and engaging our young people in economic activity. This objective integrates economic development imperatives for the broad regions of the Territory, including regional towns, indigenous communities, business and government.
Prior to addressing our action on regional economic development, it will be useful to explore the elements of the regional growth themes and discuss some indicators of progress. As honourable members will recall, in 2003 we committed to working with business, industry and communities to develop stronger regions through the Building Stronger Regions – Stronger Futures strategy.
We are committed to continuing this collaborative approach in our strengthened regional economic development action throughout all of the regions throughout the Northern Territory. To meet the current economic development needs of the Territory we are progressively implementing new regional economic development arrangements to deliver more effective and practical solutions. Central to this action is the formation of the new economic development committees which are targeted to ensure local priorities are identified, understood and are properly implemented. I will discuss these arrangements in more detail later in this statement.
We have a strong indigenous population which is a greater proportion of our population than that in other Australian jurisdictions. A substantial majority live in regional or remote areas of the Territory. In addition, the natural growth of our indigenous population is expected to be stronger than that of the non-indigenous population. These circumstances present challenges and unique opportunities. The key opportunity is to strengthen indigenous engagement in the wider economy and secure the resulting rewards from greater sharing of the Territory prosperity.
Honourable members, you may recall that the late Mr Lee of the Jawoyn Association told us in 2003 that economic development was vital for Aboriginal people, and I quote:
Indigenous Territorians aspire to increased economic independence and self-reliance. As identified in the Economic Development Framework, greater indigenous participation in the Territory economy will continue to better social equity, cohesion and harmony. It will create new wealth in indigenous communities as well as assist with the provision of affordable housing, access to health services and education programs.
Enhanced participation will help to harness wider economic benefits, including expanded skills, the formation of new productive enterprises, and access to improved support services and infrastructure. There has already been significant progress in this area as demonstrated by the Larrakia Development Corporation under the chairmanship of Mr Koolpinyah Barnes. The Larrakia Development Corporation is involved in land subdivision and housing construction which provides training and jobs for local Larrakia people.
The Economic Development Framework will also contribute to better engagement with community, regional development and major projects in the Northern Territory and, where relevant, with wider Australian and export market opportunities.
The challenges that we face are well documented and have been discussed cogently in this place; challenges such as health, education, training, housing, essential services, governance development and more. Many are directly associated with a range of social disadvantages including welfare dependency, and with less than effective regional economic development for much of the last century.
There are strong linkages between indigenous housing, health, education and economic development. The Territory government is working with indigenous leaders and representatives and has already put in place policies and strategies to achieve progress with these challenges. The Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (2005) and the Agenda for Action: A whole government approach to Northern Territory Indigenous Affairs 2005-2009 are aimed at meeting the challenges and providing the strong linkages required to achieve enhanced economic participation.
The Chief Minister launched the Territory Indigenous Economic Development Strategy in May last year. It was the product of nearly two years of work by a high level task force comprising key indigenous leaders, private sector representatives and representatives from both the federal and Territory governments. The task force took a practical approach to the challenge of indigenous economic development by identifying and developing opportunities in 13 industry sectors. I would like to point out that the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy carries the expectation of many to incorporate sustainability and to value-add to existing industry sectors. In taking this approach the task force also chose to highlight successes and role models so we can build on the successes and offer encouragement and prospects for the future.
What we have come to understand is that the Territory has unique opportunities based on the competitive advantages of Aboriginal land ownership and indigenous intellectual property resulting from strong traditional law and cultural practice.
The recently released analysis of the share of Territory revenue and expenditure presented to the Indigenous Expenditure Review Report underscores our priority on indigenous development including economic development. More than 49% of our budget expenditure, some $1.34bn, is related to the needs of the Territory’s indigenous population. We are working cooperatively with the Australian government through the Overarching Agreement on Indigenous Affairs 2005 to capitalise on opportunities and meet the challenges.
Cooperative action, through this agreement, is aimed to ensure that programs to boost indigenous employment and economic development produce real training, employment and business development outcomes for indigenous Territorians, especially in regional and remote areas.
Emerging reforms for the CDEP program and removal of the remote area exemption for the unemployed, if appropriately implemented, have the potential to provide additional incentive and strengthen participation in regional economic development.
We will continue to work in partnership with indigenous communities, the private sector and the Australian government to create new ways to foster increased indigenous economic participation and stronger linkages with regional economic development.
At this point I would like to acknowledge Mr David Ross and the Central Land Council for the vision they had in establishing Centrefarm. Under the management of Mr Allan Cooney, Centrefarm has developed an innovative land use model for Aboriginal land trusts. The model offers developers certainty when making investment decisions and can be replicated across the Northern Territory on Aboriginal land trusts.
Community leaders and governance are also a theme in the framework’s regional growth objective.
The Territory is blessed with quiet achievers, and people like Mr Duncan Beggs, who are demonstrating how we can build jobs and business on the ground in the regions through mining projects such as Bootu Creek in the Barkly Region and the Frances Creek mining initiative near Pine Creek. Strong community leadership and governance are important for sustainable regional economic development. Leaders must inspire community members with vision and optimism about the future.
Take Mr Djambawa Marawilli at Yilpara in Blue Mud Bay in northeast Arnhem Land. Here we have an internationally respected artist working with the likes of Macquarie Bank and Rotary to build a sustainable economic base for his community through a range of activities including arts, tourism, natural resource management rangers, crabbing, and retail. Encouraging community members to be actively engaged in the decisions that affect them and their towns and communities creates better ownership of outcomes and enhances responsibility.
A clear message from the regional forum process was the desire for more government and private sector decision-making at the regional level. We are addressing ways to improve this and coordination with government agencies to enhance regional economic development outcomes.
Improving city, town, and community liveability is another regional growth theme in the Economic Development Framework. Liveability and perceived liveability are crucial factors in building population, and attracting and retaining new business investors and skilled workers. This is particularly important for regions and remote centres.
The Martin government will continue to give priority to liveability issues and to addressing issues impinging on sustainable regional economic development. The relative youth of the Northern Territory population also provides challenges and opportunities. Encouraging and supporting young Territorians, especially those in regional and remote areas, to participate in productive economic activity is essential. For example, Mr Anthony Sherwell did himself proud at the recent Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards 2006. Anthony’s steady persistence has paid off to the point where he now runs his own IT business and was awarded the Drake International Career Achievement Award.
Providing meaningful education and valuable employment opportunities are key goals for regional economic development. The Territory’s youth policy framework, Building a Better Future for Young Territorians, focuses on young people and guides the delivery of programs and services to 12 to 25 year-olds. As outlined in the Economic Development Framework Regional Growth Objective, the Territory government will work with its partners on current and future programs to maximise the role of young people in the Territory’s economic development.
Several indicators have been included in the framework as a means to demonstrate aspects of progress with the regional growth themes. Examples include indigenous labour force participation, Territory income levels, indigenous home ownership, and quality of life index ranking. Our regional economic development objective is set in the context of other key related Territory-wide framework objectives. These include: investing in our Territory; developing our workforce; improving our productivity; and integrating development with our environment.
Action on regional economic development must remain integrated with complementary action on each of these objectives, such as addressing regional skills and labour shortages and attracting new skilled staff from elsewhere in Australia and internationally.
In discussing the regional growth aspects of the Economic Development Framework, I have highlighted many of the issues which need to be addressed to make progress with Territory regional economic development. I have also touched on some of the actions already under way. Our current and planned action is targeted to give effect to the framework’s objectives and achieve the regional economic development outcomes the Territory needs. It is based on:
finding avenues for the Territory’s regions to maximise the benefit for major economic development and projects;
strengthening the regional economic services, organisational arrangements and partnerships which can play a valuable role in bringing forward regional economic development;
tackling the precursors which are needed to allow regional Territorians to participate more effectively in the Territory’s traded economy;
overcoming infrastructure and other barriers to regional economic development throughout regional and remote areas and communities; and
linking people, organisations, ideas, capital, expertise, resources and markets at the regional level to allow new and existing enterprises and opportunities to develop and grow.
A key Territory government focus is on sharing in the benefits of major projects throughout the Territory in economically constructive ways. The mining industry remains the single largest contributor to the Territory economy. We continue to learn from our experience in attracting regional Territorians, especially indigenous Territorians, to work for the both the principal mining companies and their contractors.
Increasingly, we are proud to be engaged with indigenous and non-indigenous operations to set up joint ventures that can win service contracts ranging from civil works to ground maintenance, transport and catering. Successes have been achieved, such as promising employment numbers at the Granites gold mine in the Tanami Desert and the manganese mines at Groote Eylandt and Bootu Creek. Similar programs have been planned and rolled out elsewhere. For example, the Anindilyakwa Land Council and the associated investment vehicle, Groote Eylandt Business Investment Enterprise, are developing a number of investments and projects including a resort hotel at Dugong Beach near Alyangula. Additionally, the Anindilyakwa Land Council has been successful in a joint venture bid to win a major service contract for the Groote Eylandt Mining Company with associated opportunities for 70 jobs. Another example is the Minerals Council of Australia which has identified the Tanami Granites site as one of six pilot sites pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government. The pilot aims to build on the successful employment and business strategy at Tanami. The initial focus is on developing new capacity and business opportunities in mining rehabilitation and adapting the pre-vocational training course at the Granites site to assist indigenous people to develop pathways to employment in Alice Springs.
In the Top End, Alcan’s G3 major expansion project currently under way at its Gove alumina refinery has presented valuable opportunities. An excellent example of this is the Bawaka Cultural Experience in East Arnhem Land, which has been developed in a close, almost symbiotic relation with Alcan. I acknowledge the role that Mr Timmy Burrawanga and Mr Donald Ganambarr from Bawaka Cultural Experiences have played and take a few moments to recount a little of their story because it is a good instructive story.
Mr Burrawanga’s vision was, with his family, to create their own small business opportunity with government assistance, and this involved an 18 month to two year commitment. Bawaka Cultural Experiences commenced its first day tours with workers from Nhulunbuy in March this year. Since then, they have grown from strength to strength, with solid forward bookings from mining company workers and local residents. A travel agency in Germany has committed to promote the tour and high end tourists are now including Bawaka in their Territory package. Bawaka Cultural Experiences was featured in the four part SBS Lonely Planet series Going Bush with Cathy Freeman and Deborah Mailman in February this year. The story demonstrates that successes can be achieved. They are achieved with partnerships - in this case, government, the mining sector and indigenous people. Increasingly, ancillary contracts have been identified as key opportunities for regional indigenous organisations. These also contribute to regional growth and economic development.
Securing opportunities for Territory regional and remote enterprises to share in the benefits of major projects throughout the Territory is a continued focus of the Martin government.
Growing regional industries is also a key priority of the Northern Territory government, Sectors such as tourism, pastoral, agriculture, horticulture, fishing, aquaculture, infrastructure development industries, as well as mining, quarrying, geological exploration and more, all contribute strongly to the Territory’s regional economy.
The Indigenous Pastoral Program is a useful example to explore. It involves successful partnerships between the Northern Land Council; the Northern Territory government; the Australian government through the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; the NT Cattlemen’s Association; and private pastoral companies. The program is contributing to regional economic development and has the potential to contribute more as it develops further. It is aimed to increase Aboriginal participation in the pastoral industry, and bring Aboriginal land back into pastoral production. The program has had successes on those fronts.
The pastoral industry, like many industries, is grappling with a chronic labour shortage. We have partnered with the private sector and the Australian government to introduce an indigenous stockmen’s apprenticeship scheme linked to and supported by a Mentors’ Program. These mentors are senior Aboriginal men with a foot in both camps, literally. They know and understand the needs of the stock camps, they have the respect of station management, and they know how to talk to indigenous youth and their families to help them deal with life in the industry. In a nutshell, they can talk the language of both the stock camps and the communities, and both sides end up winners.
We are close to achieving our target of bringing back into production land capable of carrying 35 000 head of cattle. As a result of this program, we are currently running at about an additional 30 000 head of cattle. A second group of apprentices is now going through the program. This should bring the participation numbers up to around 40 new indigenous employees into the industry in the last 12 to 18 months, with somewhere between 40 and 60 new jobs being created each year for an industry that now employs up to 2000 people. I am particularly pleased with the support that we are able to provide with the secondment of a DBERD officer to work closely with the Indigenous Pastoral Program. This will foster business acumen and the development and continuation of the Barkly mentoring program in partnership with Kidmans, a key industry player.
Time does not permit me to elaborate on the many other initiatives across the Territory which are contributing positively to regional economic development. Examples, though, include: the mud crabs at Maningrida; forestry on the Tiwi Islands as a partnership between the Tiwi Land Council and Great Southern Plantations; developments around new horticultural ventures in Central Australia; and development and growth of tourism ventures such as the Kakadu Culture Camp and Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek’s Caring for Country venture which recently won an inaugural Indigenous Innovation Award.
In the building and construction sector examples include Tangentyere Constructions, Bunuwal Investments and other Nhulunbuy housing developments. Mr Sid Rusca, the owner of S & K Earthmoving, has an outstanding record of indigenous employment. Also, Mr Frank Barda of the Yuendumu Mining Company has a successful joint venture partner securing roadworks supply contracts near Yuendumu. Further developments in these and other sectors which will contribute to regional industry growth in our regional towns and remote regions are being initiated with support from the Territory government and partners.
I am pleased to report that we are strengthening the support our government provides to regional community development and related program areas. In the 2006-07 budget, we have allocated some $4.8m to DBERD to foster regional and indigenous economic development. In addition, the Territory Business Centres and other DBERD programs provide valuable support to regional business. This has allowed us to ensure that regional economic development and indigenous economic development officers are placed in each Territory region. There are now 14 DBERD staff located in the regions contributing to these services. They play a pivotal role in facilitating the economic development we are seeking in the regions, and are supported by officers from other Territory agencies such as Tourism NT and the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mining.
In March this year, my predecessor announced the formation of new economic development committees across the Territory. The aim of the committees is to identify economic development priorities and to develop and monitor the implementation of local economic development plans. By focusing on smaller geographic areas, the committees will be better able to identify the issues and priorities important to their community, focusing on local job creation and business growth opportunities. Some are up and running already, such as those in Alice Springs, East Arnhem, Tennant Creek and Katherine. Other committees in the pipeline are from Tiwi Islands, Victoria River, Anmatjere and the Gulf Region.
I am very pleased that we have members drawn from the community, business, Territory and Australian government agencies, land councils, the Chamber of Commerce NT, and the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. The new approach has strengthened the relationship between government and communities, and will ensure a better alignment between community needs and broad government policy as we convert regional economic development opportunities and respond to the challenges.
We are also improving the quality of information available about our regions and their contribution to economic growth. DBERD, with other relevant agencies, is developing new regional socioeconomic indicators. This will allow benchmarking of economic development gains and challenges at the regional and subregional level. These regional indicators will complement the valuable socioeconomic snapshots for each region prepared by the department previously and available on its web page. They include early childhood, health, education, housing, skills, training, substance misuse, self-harm, law and order, governance, social and attitudinal matters, as well as the economic participation and development I am addressing today.
COAG’s agreement to a long-term generational commitment to overcome indigenous disadvantage, based on the 20-year plan presented by the Chief Minister, is a welcome step. It is needed in the context of the real challenges and disadvantages faced in some regional and remote communities. In our case, it is important to significantly close the gap in outcomes between indigenous people and other Territorians in key areas identified for action in the Overcoming the Disadvantage: Key Indicator Reports released by COAG.
Achieving progress with the precursors to productive regional economic participation and development is essential. For some, progress with literacy and numeracy is needed. With others, it is occupational training and becoming job-ready. It is also about establishing the circumstances for sustainable enterprises to be created and investments secured. The developments at Ti Tree are a good example where the precursors have been tackled and the community is understood to be ‘ready to go’ with regional economic developments. These and similar developments can provide inspiration for other communities seeking to tackle the challenges, secure attitudinal changes, recognise capabilities, identify opportunities, and put in place the prerequisites to locally suitable regional economic development.
Achieving progress with the precursors to regional economic development, however, is not always enough. Barriers to regional economic development must be overcome – barriers not always amenable to direct action by the regional town, community or enterprise: infrastructure gaps and capacity, limited knowledge and understanding, difficult links to market, and uncertain access to capital. The Territory government has been progressively dealing with barriers to regional economic development and participation. We are tackling action to progressively upgrade road infrastructure, including roads of importance for tourism such as the Mereenie Loop, and to improve transport services such as through the railway, which is helping to facilitate new regional economic ventures.
We are using the leverage provided by the Territory government communication requirements to upgrade regional and remote communication infrastructure and services. Firms such as Telstra, and before that Optus, and the Connected Solutions Group are contributing positively to these developments.
The progressive improvement of regional and community power, water and wastewater infrastructure is also under way. I salute the traditional owners, land councils and companies, together with the Territory government officials, for helping us overcome this barrier.
The availability of skilled staff has been an issue which is often raised in the Territory’s regional towns. We are taking action. We have triggered national action to improve cross-border mobility of qualified people so they can more easily work in our major development projects. We are linking Territorians including those in regional areas with the jobs and assisting them with overcoming barriers they encounter in taking on those roles. The Minister for Employment, Education and Training is taking deliberate action to boost training places and fill the skilled employment gaps. Our Business and Skilled Migration strategy is assisting businesses, especially regional firms, to attract skilled staff from other countries to fill skilled jobs where local applicants are not available.
Action on security and law and order is also important to ensure the conditions are right for businesses to consolidate and grow and for new ventures to be attractive for investors. The partnership action and services provided by town and community leaders, businesses, local governments, land councils and others complement the valuable work done by the Territory’s Police, Fire and Emergency Services officers. Other barriers relate to knowledge and information about what is possible, awareness of valuable markets and how to link with them. DBERD’s Regional and Indigenous Economic Development officers and business support staff, as well as advisors from other organisations, are assisting with overcoming these barriers.
Investment is a key ingredient to regional economic development. We are promoting investment-ready opportunities and creating the links with commercial and philanthropic investors. Much more needs to be done to secure the capital required for major regional projects. Impediments sometimes arise from the way regional projects are designed and specified, and the timing for their development. A continuing focus on designing and specifying project requirements and timing to better match regional capacity and capabilities will be important in achieving the best outcome and ensuring that reasonable regional participation is possible.
Barriers to value-adding also need to be addressed if we are to maximise the benefits of major projects for our regions and the Territory. Future regional economic benefits may be achieved by creating demand pull-through and helping regional enterprises to move up the value chain. Improving the quality and performance standards also helps with meeting particular market requirements, for example in relation to defence supply and service contracts.
Mr Deputy Speaker, many of the regional economic development initiatives and actions that I have highlighted involve partnerships and joint actions needed to succeed; partnerships with other levels of government, business organisations and firms, indigenous organisations and landowners, academic institutions, professional bodies and more. The Overarching Agreement on Indigenous Affairs between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia is a good example. It is a strong and demonstrable collaboration between the Territory and Australian governments. The agreement’s bilateral schedule to boost indigenous employment economic development ties our governments to work together to:
identify job opportunities in all sectors;
This agreement underpins much of what I have described as action to achieve our sustainable regional economic growth objectives.
Other partnerships of value to our action on regional economic development, and I might add not always directly involving the Territory government, include, for example, partnerships through Desert Knowledge Australia, the Minerals Council of Australia and Woolworths.
Desert Knowledge Australia is focused on building business partnerships, networks and job opportunities, and creating sustainable livelihoods in desert regions, with a strong focus on opportunities for indigenous Australians. The challenge that Desert Knowledge Australia is addressing is to capitalise on existing industries while looking to new opportunities as diverse as renewable energies and bush products to drive job growth and sustainable lifestyles. It is making an important contribution to the sustainable economic and social development of desert and arid region from its headquarters in Alice Springs. Networks that it has created span issues of importance to regional economic development of the Territory including mining services, sustainable building, bush products and tourism. It is also working on a solar demonstration facility.
The partnerships that I have mentioned are providing essential inputs to help tackle the barriers and precursors, create communities of interest, enhance capacity, identify opportunities, and generate sustainable economic developments. As Minister for Regional Development and for Business and Economic Development, I thank the partners involved for their efforts. Without their interest and input, our achievements will be diminished.
Mr Deputy Speaker, there is no Harry Potter-like wand or incantation available to convert the regional economic development opportunities into reality and to overcome the many remaining challenges at this stage of the Territory’s development. We can only achieve the regional economic development outcomes and successes required through better knowledge, targeted strategies, concerted effort, coordinated partnerships, adequate resources and sheer determination to complete the actions as I have outlined today. Through these actions and further work, together we can ensure that all Territorians have the opportunity to participate in the regional economic success and enjoy a true sharing in Territory prosperity.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Mr Deputy Speaker, I should say for the sake of the Hansard that Mrs Miller, the member for Katherine, holds this shadow portfolio, but owing to family reasons, she is not here to contribute to it. Until she received the distressing telephone call last night, I know that she was working on it, minister. I can assure you of the member for Katherine’s commitment to not only hard work but to this particular area because those of us from the regions have more than a passing interest. It is where we live, and therefore it is perhaps more important to us, the out-of-towners if you like, those not from Darwin, to see the progress, to the extent that government makes progress in this area, being made.
Minister, there is no doubt that there are some encouraging initiatives in your statement and I congratulate you and your colleagues for them. Some of them, whether directly or indirectly, were built on some initiatives of the previous government. Of course, all governments take on board initiatives, regardless of who comes up with them, that are designed to improve the prospects of our fellow Territorians. To the extent that the government has embraced some old ideas as well, I congratulate the government for it.
They are the good bits. The bad bits, for want of a better description, emerged from your statement. I do not propose to go into things at length or in great detail, however, I notice that on the first page of your statement, you said:
There are various ways of demonstrating commitment, and I know you will be aware of them, but one of them is for ministers of government to spend more time in the regions. You would be aware that there is a complaint from people who live in the regions, regardless of their politics, that they just do not see enough of the ministers. I know you come down for what Labor calls Community Cabinet. I know you try to have meetings with people, but in order to achieve better outcomes for our fellow Territorians, Darwin ministers need to be ever receptive to the charge made by Territorians not from Darwin that they do not see enough of them. I am not talking political spin. I am talking proper consultation with people who are not on the A-list of government invitations - not just the A list people; the average Territorian who, in the normal course, of events has very little to do with government.
It is a small jurisdiction. It will not surprise you to know that I, indeed along with so many others, have friends who work in the public service. The word that I have received from friends who work in this area is that they feel as though they are beating their heads up against a brick wall. They are seeing the huff and puff, but there is a feeling - it is a matter for you as to whether you take it on board, but I put this to you earnestly and sincerely - that government is not as receptive as it should be to regional issues. It is incumbent for me to point that out to you.
One easy thing to point to, I suppose, is the fact that the Chief Minister said not so long ago in relation to Alice Springs that she was committed to spending one week a quarter in Alice Springs. I do not believe that has happened. Far be it for me to encourage the Chief Minister’s electoral prospects in Alice Springs, but you cannot have it both ways. You cannot say: ‘Yes we are committed’, but not follow through. That applies equally to other regions.
I am not sure that the regions are doing terribly well at all; certainly, compared to Darwin they are not. As I am sure the member for Barkly knows, Tennant Creek has a range of problems. No doubt those problems have been there for many years, but it seems to me that the regional-type issues for Tennant Creek, some of which you have touched upon in this statement, are not being addressed.
I know that you as minister cannot immediately pluck a doctor out of the air and put that doctor in Tennant Creek. However, it is incredible, is it not, that Tennant Creek has not had a GP for a significant amount of time? I know the work that the council and the government has been doing, indeed, with many others, however, if one talks about population growth and regional development in its most ordinary and basic sense, then you, as a government, any government, needs to provide those basic services to attract people to a town like Tennant Creek.
In Alice Springs there are, again, a range of problems. Economically, Alice Springs is not doing anywhere near as well as Darwin. I can assure you that nothing irritates the people I speak to in Alice Springs more than Darwin government ministers going to Alice Springs and talking about how well Darwin is. And believe me when I tell you, minister, I saw a previous CLP Chief Minister try to do that to an audience in Alice Springs and it went over like a lead balloon. I encourage you, that when you and your colleagues are in Alice Springs, although I and my fellow Alice Springs residents have an interest in the future prosperity of the Northern Territory as a whole, all of us, all citizens of the Northern Territory tend to be a bit more proprietorial, I suppose, of the areas in which they live.
If you are going to provide this thing called commitment to the regions, it has to be more than sentences strung together in a statement. It has to be real and genuine commitment. The regions do work in isolation. Now, from a government point of view, and I know in modern politics the Territory is no exception, there is the expression ‘whole-of-government, whole-of-Territory’. I believe, with respect, that when you are going around to the regions, the average person in those regions does not really care, to a large extent, about the overall picture. Perhaps I put that badly. To put it better, they are more concerned about the prosperity of their own patch than they are about other areas. If you do not know about the disquiet in some of the centres to which I have referred, and indeed others, then you should, and I ask you to address it in whatever way you can. If that means, having referred to the example of the Chief Minister spending more time in Alice Springs, then I encourage you to do that, to do what you can to ensure that happens.
Minister, you said on page 3 of your statement, and I quote: ‘It is vitally important to have good strategy when the challenges are so broad and long lasting’. You went on to refer to the Chief Minister launching the Territory’s Economic Development Framework last month, which you described as the ‘flagship strategy for regional development’. It is not word perfect to the Building a Better Territory document, the Economic Development Strategy for the Northern Territory, published in June 2002, but it is pretty similar. In the document, I am sure you will be familiar with it, this was held not long, relatively speaking, after Labor came to office. An economic summit was held from which a number of priority and other actions were agreed upon and there was a commitment to follow them through.
On page 40 of the Economic Development Strategy there were the following sentiments in relation to economic development and indigenous economic development. It says: ‘To adopt a whole-of-government / whole-of-community approach to supporting viable futures for indigenous people’. That was the strategic approach, quite rightly I think, articulated in that document. That is very similar to you saying now in this statement, or the Chief Minister launching the Economic Development Framework last month. Also, on page 40 of the economic development document, it says that government will ‘negotiate effective and sustainable governance arrangements in remote areas to support indigenous capacity building and economic development’. I put it to you that the sentiments - and, of course, there is a strategic approach in one column of this document and then a list of priority actions in the other column. It was, no doubt, relatively easy to articulate the strategic approach; probably a little harder but, nevertheless, not all that difficult to articulate what we have described then as priority actions. It is several years on and the same sort of language is being used in the very statement that is before us today. That begs the question, I believe, as to the success or otherwise of the Economic Development Strategy document in the first instance and, in the second instance, it raises the question that can sensibly be put about whether government policies and initiatives are a bunch of words and concepts put together in this document or, indeed, in this document.
Certainly, there needs to be a strategic framework and focus. However, I cannot help but wonder whether there is a fair amount of political spin in all of this, again for the most part creating the impression - although I concede that some positive things have been done - and using the same language as has been used previously to create the impression that inroads have been made to improve economic development.
Look around you, minister! Some of the regions are simply not doing very well. If you look back to what represents the blueprint, then an internal analysis, even in your own conscience, must reveal that the runs are simply not on the board. Yes, there have been some good things in some areas - and please do not misunderstand me in that regard. However, if you step back from it all, not many runs on the board, minister - not very many runs on the board. When we were all out campaigning for the Stuart by-election, for instance, I went to some places that I have never heard of, frankly. That is not surprising because it is an enormous electorate. To see some of the things that were happening in those communities was very upsetting and distressing. Even though I thought I understood many of the issues, it was not really until you see some of them right in front of your eyes that you really can have an appreciation of the difficulties that are being experienced by Aboriginal people.
Whilst it is easy for us to talk about ‘the regions’ in terms of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, the Barkly region, Gove, etcetera, there are subregions in an electorate like Stuart, for instance, that are just disgraceful - absolutely disgraceful. People are living in conditions that my fellow Australians should not be living in.
I mention those matters, minister, because you talk a lot in your statement about indigenous and regional development. Equally, in the economic development document of 2002, indigenous economic development had its own chapter, and a list of strategic approaches and priority actions. I ask you to comment on those in your reply. Do you think there are runs on the board? Some, not many. I will not keep pursuing that matter, but I thought, as a matter of conscience, I should raise those with you.
I do have some other notes about indigenous economic development. I suspect you will not like what I have to say, but I will say it in any event for the purposes of the Parliamentary Record, and to indicate to you where my colleagues and I are coming from in our desire - whether you agree with it or not - to improve things for Aboriginal Territorians.
The most disappointing thing from your statement was that, in the 30 pages of text, there is not a single performance indicator. I ask you: are there performance indicators for any of this stuff? If so, would you publish them? Would you table them? Could you tell us about it? Happy to go to a briefing. However, doing things, having a good program here and something good there, is not really part of a sensible, analytical and progressive approach, in my view. I am interested to see that there was nothing in the way of performance indicators there.
Minister, it is the CLP’s view, and I know you are aware of this, that the greatest impediment to Aboriginal advancement is the Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. It creates a system of land ownership that is hostile to investment. The reason that the land rights act has been hostile to development is because there is no incentive for investment money to take a risk; few, if any, guarantees can be given to an investor on traditional land; and gaining access to Aboriginal land for the purposes of development has traditionally, as we all know, been very hard. If a person has a proposal for development then the first stop is the land council. That means a meeting has to be organised, usually at the expense of the investor, and questions are raised and further meetings have to be organised. The process takes months and most investors neither have the patience or the money required to jump through all of the hoops that are required.
It is simply too hard for so much investment potential to gain a foothold on Aboriginal land. We should ask why that is. The answer, in our view, is that it is because for three decades the argument has been couched in a philosophy of ‘them and us’. The problem is that when you study the politics of difference between the groups there is a desire, it seems to me, to maintain those differences, many of which are entrenched.
The way that it has been expressed in Aboriginal relationships in the Territory is that it has been entrenched in land law and Aboriginal Territorians have walls built around them. Those walls were once walls of protection but they have, in our view, now become a prison. The fact is that no one in this country can live or can afford to live in splendid isolation. The very nature of wealth generation means that there has to be a willing trade between people and of course that trade is the economy. Aboriginal people have been removed from that economy for the most part by the land rights act and their isolation has meant that they have been unable to generate wealth for themselves. In the instances where the walls have been lowered or removed the results have generally have been positive. I doubt that there is anyone inside this Chamber or outside who would disagree with that proposition.
What it means, however, is that where they have become involved in the economy they have had to do so on their own terms and of course becoming involved in the economy, even on a regional basis, can have a spin-off effect nationally, and in some instances, internationally. I recall you referring to some export opportunities in your statement, if not I am getting confused with another one. In any case, the point is well made that there are regional economies, Territory economies, a national economy and an international economy. All of us surely must want our fellow Australians to aspire to be part of that economic and not isolated from it.
Against that backdrop we have a situation relatively recently where the federal Aboriginal Affairs minister has effected changes to the land rights act. I note there is some division in Labor both here and federally about this, but it is our view that the changes to the land rights act will enable enhanced access to Aboriginal communities in terms of investment. It was a shame to see the member for Arafura critise her own government for supporting such moves. As a minister of government she must surely realise that she is the government. Why on earth does she think that she can have a bob each way on this issue? Either the government of the Territory is correct or it is not; either it supports the changes to the land rights act or it does not. Of course, Mal Brough was right to change the land rights act and the Territory government, well, at least the Chief Minister, was right to support the changes despite what federal Labor had to say and in particular what the Territory Labor president had to say.
Mr Deputy Speaker, in our view it is time for the Aboriginal members of this parliament to decide who they are. It is very difficult to get a sense of what their position is on a range of issues affecting their constituencies.
Mr Bonson: The government’s position.
Ms CARNEY: We, of course – I am glad to hear from the member for Millner because I was about to refer to you. In the now famous memo dated 1 June, an indigenous member of the government himself described hate towards the Chief Minister. I will never know whether it is true but it has been reported that the member for Macdonnell, herself an indigenous Territorian, arranged for the leaking of that memo. Being divided is one matter, but when you have Aboriginal members of this parliament fighting with the boss, one wonders why the boss is still in the job or, in the alternative, why the Aboriginal members of parliament do not toe the line, and why is it that the Chief Minister cannot encourage them to do so?
In any event, I digress, but I say to the member for Stuart - and of course I welcome him into this parliament - as an Aboriginal politician, I call on him to stand up and tell it how it is and, when necessary, do not swallow the government line. He is here presumably to make a difference, just like his predecessor. While I wish him well, one wonders how strong he will be in putting the case for his constituents. Then again, he might sit down with the member for Millner and at some point draft another memo.
I digress. The economic models that are being applied to Aboriginal land are still expressed in terms of highly centralised, highly managed affairs with bloated bureaucracies in place to make them work. Land councils and other such bureaucracies have had 30 years to take some of the largest tracts of privately owned land in the world and generate so few jobs. Aboriginal land in the Territory takes up about 750 000 km. That is more than twice the size of Germany, yet it struggles to generate more than a handful of jobs. It simply has not translated for Aboriginal people because they remain, for the most part, outside the economic system. The resulting welfare approach sees the Territory having to dedicate half of its spending every year to a third of the population, increasing, with the result of the government screaming that more needs to be done. On those occasions, some of which have been mentioned by the minister in his statement, where the regulatory controls have been lifted, a little result has been generally successful. I stress again there have been some successes, but it is more in spite of the government than because of it, and certainly more in spite of this government than because of it.
Governments do not fix social problems. People fix their own problems if they are given the room to do it. If we as a community take the view that we trust people to make the right decisions for themselves, then they will have every opportunity. However, we have a Labor government here aggressively campaigning against any changes to the permit system. It would seem that notwithstanding the minister’s lofty intentions and worthy statements that he has made throughout the statement before us today, this minister – because he has not said anything very much to the contrary – is supportive of the view that the permit system assists Aboriginal Territorians.
Look around you, minister. Look around the last 30 years. Go out to some of the places that the member for Macdonnell would know well, the new member for Stuart would know well, some of the places I have been both in Top End and Central Australia. Coming back to what I said before, the runs are simply not on the board. I wonder whether it might not be an opportune time to try something different and not be blinded by political or other ideologies.
There is so much that could be said about this, but I am not sure that I need to go on much more. However, there are so many examples of the permit system not working. I understand there was a man who was forced to abandon his wife and daughters in Kintore because his permit was revoked. Apparently there are other examples. The permit system was used as a political tool to remove political candidates from communities before an election was called last year; you can ask Anna Machado about that. It has been used to keep journalists out of communities; you can ask Paul Toohey from The Australian, with his conviction, about that. It is a bit cute, frankly, to hear members of government and others say: ‘No, journalists, that is fine. They are always allowed in’. No, they are not. That has not been the case and if that was the case why on earth would Paul Toohey have copped this conviction?
Mr Deputy Speaker, I implore the government, if it is serious about achieving some of the things that were contained in its economic development strategy for the Territory, dated June 2002, to, in a thoughtful and considered manner, look at the permit system, to also look at the place, or in particular the lack of it, that Aboriginal Territorians play in their regional and Territory economies.
For Aboriginal members of this Chamber to not be silent, and it remains a constant mystery to me, that not one Aboriginal member of this parliament has ever participated in the debates about customary law. That is yet another example of the Aboriginal members of parliament not doing very much in terms of representing their constituency, and certainly not even telling other Territorians where they stand on an array of issues. Although the member for Arafura was misguided in her criticism of the Chief Minister’s support of changes to the Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, at least, like the member for Millner, she spoke out, like, as it is reported to be, the member for Macdonnell, who apparently arranged for the leak of the memo, in her own way she spoke out. We look forward to more of that over the next few years.
Coming back to the central theme, minister, I am sure that, personally, you are committed to regional economic development. I was somewhat surprised that there was not one performance indicator in there. I have asked you to comment on a couple of matters in reply. I always have a sense that when the opposition contributes to statements, the government members pretty much please themselves as to what they comment on. That is, after all, your right, but there were some matters that I did specifically ask you to comment on. I ask you to do so.
Finally, I ask you to place on the Parliamentary Record your view of the permit system in the Northern Territory and whether you believe that it acts, and has acted, as an impediment to economic development. If that is not your view, perhaps you could tell us why you hold the view that you do. With those comments, I will conclude my comments in relation to the statement.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Minister for Business and Economic Development for his statement on Regional Development. I take this opportunity to highlight the contribution of our primary industry, fishing and mining sectors to regional development.
With the assistance and support of my Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, a variety of new and often innovative projects are starting in the regions. I am confident these projects will promote the sharing of regional prosperity. For example, the highly successful Mining Opportunities Road Show, recently organised by the member for Daly, highlighted the regional development benefits and opportunities which are a direct result of the current growth of the Territory’s mining sector. The road show focused on significant new development activity in the Pine Creek, Batchelor and Adelaide River region. Projects like the Browns Oxide mine near Batchelor are creating jobs and economic growth for the local community. This new development, being undertaken by Compass Resources, is an open pit mine from which oxide ore is extracted using conventional blasting, excavation and trucking. It is anticipated the mine will produce 10 000 tonnes of copper per year, 1000 tonnes of cobalt and 850 tonnes of nickel. With a life of up to five years and capital expenditure of nearly $70m, Browns will be employing 150 people during construction and provide 80 permanent jobs during mining - real benefits for Territorians.
Further south, in the Adelaide River and Pine Creek area, it is GBS Gold which is leading the charge. Over the last 12 months, GBS has consolidated its Territory interests, Terra Gold, North Gold and Harmony Gold, into one entity. Moreover, the company is recommissioning the Union Reef Gold plant just north of Pine Creek, and developing two open pits and one underground resource over the next six months in the Adelaide River to Pine Creek area. In 2007, subject to environmental and mining approvals, it proposes to develop several other open pit and underground deposits in the Pine Creek area, as well as a consideration of the former Maud Creek gold mine south of Katherine. GBS is scheduled to commence gold production in the last quarter of 2006, and has a proposed budget of $1.2bn over the next 10 years. It currently employs about 60 people at Union Reef, and this will extend to approximately 150 people once mining and processing operations commence. Its workforce will be accommodated in two mining camps located at Pine Creek and Cosmo Howley. GBS has already proved to be a significant stimulus to the local economy in Pine Creek.
Another exciting development is the proposal to reopen and expand the Frances Creek iron ore mine near Pine Creek by Territory Iron. The development of seven open cut pits is anticipated to produce approximately one million tonnes per annum of iron ore. Processing of the ore will involve crushing and screening to produce bulk lump and fine iron ore for rail freight to Darwin for export to China through the port of Darwin. Territory Iron has submitted its Public Environment Report for the Frances Creek Mine for assessment under the NT Environmental Assessment Act. Subject to gaining all environmental mining approvals, Territory Iron proposes to commence construction later this year, and to commence iron ore production in early 2007. The project has a current mine life of three years, and this may increase with the confirmation of additional reserves. The project will directly employ about 70 people during mining operations. Accommodation for employees is yet to be finalised, but it is anticipated that they will be accommodated in the Pine Creek area.
These three mining developments in the Batchelor and Pine Creek region will result in at least 300 direct jobs and a major contribution to the regional economy. All three companies are committed to local employment and local supply of goods and services wherever possible.
While we are on the topic of good news for the region, let us talk about primary industry. Research in the Primary Industry Division of my department shows the pastoral stocking rates could safely increase in the Victoria River region by 50%. This will be achieved through the provision of more water points, rotational grazing, and risk management strategies. Industry has embraced these concepts, as the pastoral surveys launched earlier in the year confirmed that this has led to increased investment in the industry.
The Katherine region currently turns off about 200 000 head, which is about 40% of the Northern Territory total. Imagine what a boom to the Territory’s live cattle export trade a 50% increase in this region will bring. Also in the Katherine region is the Sturt Plateau, an area in which the department is undertaking research that will lead to the expansion of cattle production. Another area of primary industry development is in the Gulf region. The highly successful Indigenous Pastoral Program is being extended into the Gulf region where it is anticipated that the return of traditionally-owned stations to pastoral production will continue, and increased numbers of indigenous people will be trained in the skills needed to work on the cattle property. The success and importance of this program was acknowledged yet again at Kalkarindji where the historic launch of the memorandum of understanding covering the operation of the Indigenous Pastoral Program for the next five years was held on 19 August.
At the same time that this project is happening in the Gulf, investigations will be undertaken with a view to establishing horticultural and aquaculture developments on several communities in that region. Developing some of the Gulf region’s unused potential for horticulture and fishing will make a big difference to employment and health in remote communities.
Continuing on the topic of regional development, the Tennant Creek region is also benefiting from new opportunities. As in the Katherine and Victoria River districts, officers from my department are working with pastoralists to implement best practice in the industry through the provision of extension services. This activity will lead to an increase in production efficiency. The Indigenous Pastoral Program is also active in the region and has been trialled as an Indigenous Pastoral Apprenticeship Scheme with young men from Tennant Creek.
Another innovative project that is under investigation in Tennant Creek is the development of a trial inland aquaculture project situated on the edge of Tennant Creek township adjacent to Mary Ann Dam. This highly innovative venture has the support of the local traditional owners and the Central Land Council, as well as indigenous investors. A scoping study is under way for the project, and it potentially bodes well for new industry in the region.
Also just outside of Tennant Creek the mining industry is making its presence felt. Peko Rehab has recommenced production of high grade minerals through the re-treatment of old mine tailings and provides up to 15 jobs for local people. In addition to those employed directly, the company also contracts local tradesmen. The Emmerson Resources buyout of Centralian Minerals will hopefully lead to more exploration in the Tennant Creek region and eventually the recommissioning of the Warrego Gold Treatment Plant.
North of Tennant Creek, mining at Bootu Creek by OM Holdings is well established with manganese ore being shipped regularly through to the Port of Darwin. Moreover, the company is expanding its current drilling and exploration program thereby adding to local jobs and business opportunities.
Further south in the Alice Springs region there is a great deal happening. The Northern Territory Geological Survey is actively improving the geo-scientific knowledge of several highly prospective areas of the region. A helicopter supported gravity survey has been completed in the Jervois region, east northeast of Alice Springs. This survey will assist explorers in search for copper, gold, zinc, lead and nickel mineralisation and will attract new mining companies to the region.
Most Territorians know of Newmont Australia’s gold mines in the Tanami region of Central Australia. Newmont, through its gold production, is a major contributor to the economy of Central Australia. In addition to this, the Newmont operators provide a huge value-add for local employment and local community development. In employment, Newmont has set a benchmark with indigenous people comprising about 20% of the Central Australian workforce. Through an ongoing program of workplace training and community development, Newmont has established a highly productive partnership with the local Warlpiri people and the benefits of both parties are significant.
Another Central Australian example is the exploration program under way by Arafura Resources at Nolans Bore located 130 km north of Alice Springs. Arafura Resources is undertaking extensive exploration of its Nolans Bore rare earth and phosphate prospect with successive drilling results pointing to additional resources available for the project. Nolans Bore is now considered a major deposit by world standards containing over 575 000 tonnes of rare earth oxides, 2.6 million tonnes of phosphate, and a significant tonnage of by-product uranium. Further exploration, research and development as well as feasibility studies are in progress.
In addition to the activity in the minerals and energy area, primary industry in our Alice Springs region is moving ahead despite some properties being drought declared. Nearly 250 000 km of land is currently managed for pastoral production in this area. It is worked by 64 pastoralists running cattle herds of between 5000 and 7000 on properties that average 3885 km. Like their counterparts in the north, pastoralists are working with departmental extension officers to ensure sustainable grazing land management. As this work continues so too will the economic benefit to the community and the Territory community.
In addition, my department is working for the strategic future of the pastoral industry by providing a project leader in the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre. A grazing trial is being set up at Old Man Plains Research Station as part of the network in the Central Australian Grazing Strategies Partnership. This work will enable the long-term sustainability of the industry.
The Indigenous Pastoral Program working in partnership with the Central Land Council in the region has recently helped negotiate a grazing licence over lands in the Haasts Bluff region. This is one of the several grazing licences that the partnership has been able to progress in recent years. Key outcomes of these licences are jobs and training for local indigenous people and they are helping to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in the Central Australian pastoral industry while at the same time increasing our cattle herd.
Cropping and horticultural activities are also contributors to regional development. Horticultural development in the Ti Tree area is based on irrigation table grapes from 400 hectares in both the Ti Tree Farm area and two existing farms on Pine Hill. In 2000, estimated gross production was approximately $18.5m, representing 20% of the horticultural production in the Northern Territory. The current cropping area is reduced while a replanting program is carried out with superior rootstocks and varieties with higher market potential. It is worth noting that the Central Australia crop is harvested earlier than most table grapes in Australia and therefore commands a premium price on the domestic market.
The Anmatjere Region Development Plan, released by the government in November 2003, under the Building Stronger Regions, Stronger Futures initiative, identified expansion of the horticultural industry, expansion of employment and training, and the fostering of indigenous employment amongst its main goals. Amongst the economic drivers envisaged by the development plan was horticulture development on Pine Hill. In May 2005, the government launched the Northern Territory Indigenous Economic Strategy which identified horticulture as a key sector for future development based on its potential to provide significant economic and employment opportunities for Aboriginal landowners.
Current employment in the existing horticulture development in the Ti Tree region is around 25 permanent employees and 250 people at peak times. My department is currently working with the Anmatjere Council and the table grape industry to provide work-ready horticultural training for local indigenous people. This will in part reduce the reliance of ‘importing’ pruning and harvest labour in the context of an increasing competitive national skills shortage.
At a national level, the value of water is increasingly being highlighted. When recently in Central Australia to meet with pastoralists, I took the opportunity to view the headworks for the Alice Springs water recycling scheme. This exciting project has national prominence in turning a waste water problem into a commercial opportunity. The project is a joint initiative of the Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation and my department and aims to deliver triple bottom-line benefits by eliminating overflows to Ilparpa Swamp. The scheme will make use of the waste water from Alice Springs to establish commercial horticulture on lands at the Arid Zone Research Institute, contributing to regional economic growth and employment. Power and Water is investing more than $8m in infrastructure to upgrade the treatment processes and produce high quality water for reuse.
A public environment review has been completed and accepted by the minister for the Environment. The results of the extensive studies by CSIRO and the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts indicated that the site is ideal for infiltrating water into a natural paleo-channel of the Todd River. It is proposed to build an underground ‘mound’ of water over time, which will be extracted for commercial horticultural developments in the department’s research station. The proposal is based on significant private investment in table grapes and other crops on 100 hectares. It is likely that this development will see the direct employment of six permanent and 50 casual jobs. It is anticipated that infrastructure will be in place to deliver water to AZRI early in 2007.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I will inform the House of other regional developments planned outside these areas. Marine Harvest Australia is part-way through an environmental impact statement process for a proposed new sea-cage barramundi farm at Snake Bay on Melville Island. The company intends to establish a 1500 tonne per annum farm over the next two years with a five-year plan to increase to 5000 tonnes per annum. Clearly, this will deliver substantial training and employment opportunities for Tiwi people. Discussions are under way for a possible barramundi processing or packaging facility on the island - more jobs for Territorians.
Another regional and indigenous aquaculture project is a trial grow-out of mud crabs at Maningrida and Kulaluk. Officers within my department are working with the traditional owners and the Maningrida Djelk Marine Rangers to develop culturally appropriate mud crab farming technology in the mangrove pasture. It is hoped that some younger people in the community will see this as an opportunity to develop new skills and gain an interest in sustainable aquaculture as a business.
Additionally, as a means of improving efficiency within my department and for more holistic community outcomes, the three functional areas of my department, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines have been discussing strategic partnerships aimed at using groundwater pumped from mine operations as a source for some form of aquaculture. This nutrient-rich water could then be used on a horticulture plot or irrigated onto improved pasture. These are the innovations that will provide a variety of opportunities to a number of people in regional communities, and the list goes on.
Other exciting projects in the regions of the Territory include forestry, and zircon sand mining on the Tiwi Islands, the Alcan expansion at Nhulunbuy, the GEMCO expansion at Groote Eylandt, North Australian Diamonds redevelopment on the Merlin project near Borroloola, and many others which will contribute to regional economic development.
My department will continue to play a pivotal role in identifying and facilitating opportunities for the sustainable utilisation of our abundant resources throughout the regional areas. It is about economic development, it is about jobs and it is about sharing prosperity across Australia. I add my support to the statement of the minister.
Mr McADAM (Central Australia): Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on Regional Development. Before I commence, I would like to comment on the contribution by the member for Araluen, the Leader of the Opposition. I believe it is important to understand that it was a very negative, very derogatory portrayal of the role that indigenous people have played in the Northern Territory, not only from an economic perspective but from a social perspective. It is important to understand that, for a very long period of time under the CLP, there were high levels of antagonism and divisive responses in terms of what indigenous people were attempting to do.
However, I do not want to go back because we have moved forward. I can name you any number of initiatives that have occurred in the Northern Territory, particularly over the last four to five years, because essentially you have a government which is prepared to engage with indigenous people, to engage with the land councils in a very respectful and equitable way. That is certainly a far cry from the previous manner in which the CLP responded to indigenous matters.
In the pastoral industry alone, in the last four to five years – zero to 35 000 head. That is an absolutely magnificent achievement. It is important to understand it has been done in partnership particularly with the land councils, both NLC and CLC, and the NT Cattlemen’s Association and indigenous people on the ground. You do not get those sorts of outcomes, you do not get those partnerships unless you are prepared to engage in a respectful and equitable dialogue with those people. Apart from that, in my electorate, Bootu Creek was able to be negotiated, accepting the conditions, the rights of indigenous people, 600 000 tonnes of manganese into China; Giants Reef were able to negotiate an indigenous land use agreement with the CLC which provided jobs and opportunities for indigenous people in terms of training and provided an economic input into the Northern Territory economy.
Another example is that, when we actually came into government, I cannot remember the precise figures, but I suspect they would have been something between 900 and 1100 exploration applications being stuck, left, forgotten on the previous CLP minister’s desk. How could economic development go forward if you had this sort of attitude by the government at that point in time? Since the last three to four years, those numbers have been granted alone. So it just shows you the willingness of the Northern Territory government, the Labor government, to engage with indigenous people and land councils to get outcomes. I have absolutely no doubt that the basis upon which those decisions were made in respect to the leases will provide an astronomical economic boost to the Territory into the future.
One other thing which I find disturbing from the Leader of the Opposition - and I acknowledge her welcome to the member for Stuart, Karl Hampton, as I do - however, I note that the Leader of the Opposition continues to refer to Aboriginal members on this side of the House. She refers to Karl Hampton as being an Aboriginal person. Of course he is an Aboriginal person, but he is also a Territorian and an Australian. He is also Karl Hampton. I do not think we should ever forget that. I would like to remind the members of the opposition of that into the future, because I tell you one thing you do not hear from this side of the House: you do not hear us addressing the Leader of the Opposition as the European member for Araluen, nor do you hear us addressing the member for Greatorex as the Chinese member for Greatorex.
I say to the Leader of the Opposition: be a bit more respectful of the individual rights of each person in this House, including those members who are described as indigenous. We are indigenous people; we are proud to be indigenous people. However, it is important to understand that we are also Territorians and Australians, and we are all working for one common goal and objective ...
Mr Mills: You are prepared to call the CLP racist.
Members interjecting.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McADAM: … and that is to improve the quality of life for all.
Mr Warren: That is not what he said; he said …
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr Warren interjecting.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Goyder! Member for Blain! Please desist.
Mr McADAM: I have now completed that. I just ask the Leader of the Opposition in future to take note of that.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I am proud to deliver my first speech as the Minister for Central Australia, especially one that touches on such a crucial issue for the future of the region. Central Australia is the geographic heart of Australia. These heartlands cover more than 500 000 km2, 40% of the Northern Territory. The Centre is rich in natural resources, its cultural history and its people. Our population is young and it is growing. Central Australia is a region rich in potential.
Regional development is central to the sustainable economic development of the Territory. This does not mean all Territorians who live in major towns or regional centres; it means all Territorians. One should not have to move into Alice Springs, Yulara or Tennant Creek, or any other major centre, to have a meaningful partipation in the economy. We all have rights to share in the prosperity of the Territory. This region is home to thousands of Territorians, and supports a range of activities including arts, major events, tourism, construction, pastoral, horticulture, mining, retail, and a range of other developing industries. I intend to outline some of the features of the activities in Central Australia. I will also discuss the nature of the community in Central Australia, as well as the forecast for the indigenous population.
In August this year, Kalkarindji hosted the 40th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off. This event attracted people from all around Australia, and was able to showcase the region’s rich history and the consequences of the actions of the Gurindji people. Annual events that also contribute to the rich tapestry of life in Central Australia include the Tennant Creek Desert Harmony Festival, the Barkly Muster, the Alice Springs Rodeo, the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, the Henley-on-the-Todd Regatta, the Camel Cup, Alice Desert Festival, the Beanie Festival, the Wearable Arts Festival, and BassintheDust which this year attracted a crowd of 2500 people or 10% of the Alice Springs population.
The Centre has had its fair share of sporting events, with more planned in the future. Rugby League fans were treated to the pre-season match between Newcastle and Penrith earlier this year, and an AFL pre-season match between this year’s premiers West Coast and Carlton also took place. The same event will occur next year between teams yet to be announced. In February each year, the Imparja Cup brings indigenous cricketers from all around Australia to compete. From 21 to 28 October, the Master Games will be held in Alice Springs and, of course, the Finke Desert Race is an annual event which attracts a crowd from all around the world.
The number of calendar events in Central Australia contributes to the attraction of tourists into the region. Conference and business meetings in Alice Springs and Uluru make a significant contribution to the economy of Central Australia. A 31% increase has been experienced in tourist spending compared to last financial year. Business events secured account for 4000 conference delegates spending a collective 15 000 nights in hotels. Of course, business people are not the only travellers who make Central Australia their destination; 92 500 backpackers visited Central Australia in 2005 with 81% of the backpacker market coming from overseas. Backpackers accounted for 41% of all international visitors. Two-thirds of all overseas visitors are from the United Kingdom, Germany and other European destinations.
The Mereenie Loop will be marketed as the Red Centre Way and promises to be one of the greatest drives in Australia, if not the world. The Mereenie Loop will provide opportunities for indigenous and non-indigenous businesses and emerging industries. The development of the Mereenie Loop is also a good example of the construction being undertaken in Central Australia.
On a recent visit to Alice Springs I was interested to see the building activity that is going on in the town. Two major shopping centres are undergoing significant expansion with new shops and office spaces. I remind the member for Araluen that one of those shopping centres, to my knowledge, is owned by indigenous interests in the town.
New tourism properties are being developed with a serviced apartment complex being built. Of course there is the multimillion dollar planned redevelopment of Melanka under the new owners - it is estimated by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning at $32.1m - and private sector work is under way in Alice in August.
All this represents significant investment in the future of Central Australia and can only be seen as a vote of confidence in Alice Springs and its development. We must support moves to position locals to take advantage of these opportunities, whether it is making sure there are training programs, adequate accommodation and education. The Northern Territory government has provided $8.1m to the Alice Springs Town Council for the construction of an aquatic centre, including a heated pool, a children’s facility and a hydrotherapy pool.
The Traeger Park stadium has also been completed. An additional $500 000 has been allocated to the NT Football Federation to create a home for soccer in Alice Springs as well. $500 000 has been allocated for the upgrade, including lights, of the Purkiss Reserve in Tennant Creek. Headworks have been completed for the subdivision of Larapinta. In Tennant Creek we have the $1m upgrade of Paterson Street; potential in respect of the proposed wind turbines which will add to the community; and work is presently under way for the pastoral interpretive centre.
Since 2003-04, $10m has been committed to upgrading the beef roads, including the Plenty Highway, Point Stuart Road, Buntine Highway, Barkly Stock Route, Buchanan Highway, Maryvale Road, Central Arnhem Road, Rankin Road, Sandover Road, Peak Road and the Roper Highway. The importance paid to the beef roads demonstrates the importance of the pastoral industry to Central Australia. The pastoral industry is thriving in Central Australia, although I have to say there are some difficulties with potential drought problems in the Alice Springs region. Further to the north, it is fair to say that the Barkly is doing reasonably well.
Pastoral industries have long provided employment and economic activity for Central Australia and the Barkly, and the Indigenous Pastoral Program is one example of economic imperatives driving positive changes in relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians. The number of cattle on indigenous-owned property has increased to 25 000 head, with an expectation of 35 000 next year. The Indigenous Pastoral Program is a partnership between the Indigenous Land Corporation, the Central Land Council, the Northern Land Council, the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mining, the federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. The program is expected to significantly boost indigenous employment and economic development in Central Australia and the Barkly.
The significance of the Central Land Council and the Cattlemen’s Association coming together in such a partnership can never be underestimated. As the CLC’s Director, Mr Ross, said when the memorandum of understanding was signed in August, this is a great step forward. The Central Land Council is standing together in a spirit of cooperation and equity with other significant stakeholders in the land in the Territory, the pastoralists. A few short years ago, this sort of mature relationship would not have been imaginable under the previous government. Because there has been recognition of their respective roles throughout the Northern Territory, they now engage in a more mature way. Quite apart from Central Australia, these are the kinds of partnerships that are the way of the future for the whole of the Northern Territory.
Horticulture also provides a great opportunity for indigenous economic growth in remote settings. Militating against the needs to settle in Alice Springs, Centrefarm has plans for the region and are supported by the Northern Territory government. The Chief Minister has recently supported Centrefarm’s application for the Australian Government Water Fund for $33m to develop the bore fill infrastructure for a sustainable industry. Although I understand that the commissioners of the National Water Commission do not support the application, it is being supported by the Northern Territory government as the means of being able to strengthen indigenous employment and economic opportunities. I urge the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, the minister responsible for water, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, to give due consideration to this application. I ask members opposite to use what goodwill and influence they might have in terms of getting this very important project up.
Bootu Creek is a manganese mine located 125 km north of Tennant Creek. The open cut is operated by OM Holdings with a production of between 550 000 to 600 000 tonnes per annum with a current 20-year mine life, always subject to market demand. The previous speaker, the minister for primary industry, indicated the potential for an aquaculture project. I know that it is in that vicinity as well. It is a good example of how you can value-add or leverage off existing infrastructure in growing the total economy. It is important to understand that Bootu Creek, the traditional owners and the Northern Territory government will work hard to look at these other industry options.
Tanami Gold operates the Granites gold mine located 560 km north-west of Alice Springs. Modern mining commenced at Tanami in 1983 following an agreement with the traditional owners. I will repeat that: following an agreement with the traditional owners. Drilling commenced in July 2006 to revive the Rover gold copper project 75 km south-west of Tennant Creek. Adelaide Resources is undertaking the drilling program and it is something I am very happy that they are doing. I am glad they made a commitment to that region. I know that their drilling is basically as a result of West Gold Resources who intersected significant zinc and lead and lesser amounts of gold. The Rover field can potentially turn into a real mine which will not only value-add to the community of Tennant Creek, but to the Northern Territory.
Alice Springs provides a shopping hot spot for Central Australia. The Alice provides a full range of products that are not easily accessible to people on communities and those people go to Alice Springs and spend money in all the retail outlets. As a result of that, it provides certainty and adds to a very buoyant economy.
Construction is about to commence on Stage 1 of the Desert Knowledge Precinct, injecting $2.1m into the local economy and increasing employment opportunities for Territorians. Desert Knowledge is an exciting initiative that will undertake world-class research, product development and marketing strategies to create thriving Desert Knowledge economies.
Imparja Television has started work on its $8m new studio facility, and work is going on at new residential subdivisions. I had the opportunity to meet recently with Imparja CEO, Alistair Feehan, to discuss the challenges facing Imparja in the future and the eventual transfer to digital television which will require a substantial capital outlay. I congratulate Imparja because they are working very hard in Central Australia. Their footprint covers almost the whole of Australia and I can see some really exciting times for them in the future.
Last week in Alice Springs I participated in a forum organised by CAAMA that touched on this issue of the economic future of remote communities. I would like to reiterate a point that was made at that forum: the Commonwealth has to make clear its plans for homelands and communities in the Northern Territory. There have been some disparaging comments, or negative comments, coming out of Canberra about homelands and communities. In the past, they were described as cultural museums and concerns have been raised with me that the federal government is moving towards withdrawing funding from some of the homelands and communities that perhaps may not be viable. Whilst it is not a question of propping up those that are not viable, I believe that many homelands can become economic drivers in remote areas of Central Australia and, indeed, throughout the Northern Territory. There are many opportunities in growing industries such as tourism, pastoral, arts, horticulture, and bush foods. The opportunities are out there and it is up to governments, including the Commonwealth government, to ensure that the basic infrastructure is in place so that these opportunities can be capitalised on at a later date.
Support for viable homeland communities is vital if the economic potential of Central Australia is to be realised. Quite simply, we cannot desert the bush nor can we desert the people who live out there. Economic development also leads to social development, and I believe it is already driving significant change in Central Australia. I would like to take a moment to outline some of the realities that will drive the future of Central Australia and towns like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Ti Tree and many of the other smaller regional centres. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and demographers estimate the population of indigenous Territorians is doubling every 24 years. By the year 2030, there will be about 120 000 indigenous Territorians. Communities such as Ntaria, Yuendumu, Elliott and Lajamanu are expected to be the homes of between 1000 and 2000 people. The number of Aboriginal population centres with more than 2000 people is likely to be eight or nine times the current number.
While these projections have a huge bearing on the infrastructure needs of service delivery, they also represent economic opportunities for centres like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and the various regional centres. As I mentioned previously, Alice Springs is a service centre for a vast region that includes about 260 communities. I know there may be some people in Central Australia who hear this and want us to circle wagons.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Madam Speaker, I move that the member’s time be extended pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr McADAM: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Some of the public reaction to a statement by Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, at the recent CAAMA forum is worth touching on. The Mayor essentially agreed that, in 10 to 15 years’ time, the indigenous population in Alice Springs could be around that 50% mark. I believe it is an honest assessment by her of what is going to happen in the future. However, I also think it is a way that the mayor is saying to everyone in Alice Springs, and indeed some of the other smaller towns around the place, that that is a reality; that is what is going to happen into the future and it is time that we sat down and talked to indigenous people, indigenous communities, indigenous stakeholders and indigenous organisations in a very mature and visionary way. If we do not start dealing with some of the issues that are out there at the moment, can you imagine what it might be like in about 15 to 20 years? I applaud the Mayor for her courageous assessment and her capacity and commitment to work with everyone in that region.
The same can be said of my community in Tennant Creek, which is very close to 50% indigenous in population. It continues to be the home to many families and people who come in and set up businesses. The important thing is that Aboriginal people are major players in the economy, as equally are the Aboriginal organisations and businesses, which are also major employers and investors in Tennant Creek. It is the same in Alice Springs. It is very important to get an understanding of just what the investment is by indigenous corporations in their exposure to the private sector. It is something that might surprise many people and would highlight how important it is in jobs and growing the local economy.
Madam Speaker, that concludes my statement in support of the Minister for Regional Development. It is important to understand that economic prosperity will drive social change and lead to a situation where there will be more equitable benefits which will flow to indigenous and non-indigenous people. That will make the bush, the community, the Northern Territory, a very energetic and vibrant economy. It already is just that. The bottom line for me is to send out the message that to get there, to create the jobs, to create real equity, you have to be able to work in a partnership with indigenous and non-indigenous people. If you do not do that in this day and age, we are taking some of the steps that are presently being enunciated by the CLP opposition.
Mr HENDERSON (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of my colleague, the Minister for Regional Development’s statement this afternoon. I will be making my contribution in regard to two of my portfolios – Employment, Education and Training, and Tourism. If we look at the opportunities, particularly on the economic side of the equation, for increasing investment and jobs in our regions, tourism offers some very significant opportunities.
Tourism is worth $1.5bn to the economy and directly employs 8000 and indirectly accounts for more than 14 000 jobs. Our competitive positioning, our greatest tourism strengths, lie in our natural and cultural assets, many of which are located in the Territory’s regions. The development of indigenous tourism products is a key contributor to regional development and a key priority for the government. Many strides have been taken in this particular area, and there are increasing amounts of interest from across the Northern Territory on indigenous communities of people seeking to become involved in tourism and tourism-related enterprises. That is not surprising given that the majority of the Territory’s natural assets are located on Aboriginal land, and the growing demand from visitors for cultural and nature-based experiences.
Indigenous cultural tourism is a key point of difference for the Territory’s tourism industry - our real competitive advantage.
I will give some examples of what is happening on the ground in indigenous tourism product and how successful that new product is. For example, the Oak Valley Tours and campground. Oak Valley is a small community located one hour south of Alice Springs. It is the second generation of that family coming back to tourism. They offer a walking cultural tour of three hours duration and accommodation at their campground. Tourism NT provided funds to revitalise the campground amenities through the Infrastructure Grants Program, and Oak Valley Tours also received funding from DBERD for an olive press, of all things. On this particular community, they grow olives and produce olive oil, and grow table grapes which are sold to local communities. Unique Central Australian olives value-add to the tourism experience: that is real enterprise and initiative on a community and people seeking to gain real economic benefit and jobs from activities at a community level.
This particular community is also looking at ways to work with other communities. For example, they are working with neighbouring Titjikala to undertake visitor transfers. The campgrounds at Titjikala have been spoken about many times in this Assembly. Another nearby community is subcontracting to the community of Titjikala in providing visitor transfers and creating jobs for that community.
Another community, Black Tank – at their community, it is a family-based operation – again on their homelands. This community is located 80 km north of Alice Springs along the Arltunga tourist route. At Black Tank they offer cultural awareness workshops on their country. Part of the cultural awareness includes a visit to a dreaming site, Corkwood Dreaming. It is an overnight tour and the community has also started offering dot painting workshops. At the recent Indigenous Economic Development Conference I attended in Sydney, the community of Black Tank was there and the ladies sat me down to have a go at dot painting. I certainly would not be able to sell any of my paintings, but it was great to sit down with the ladies and have a go at a wonderful and unique artistic skill from Central Australia. Black Tank has also trialled a couple of tours and will market these as day tours. Tourism NT has been helping them produce those tours to see if they can develop those into a product that they can sell into the market.
Another touring product is the Dayanara Indigenous Experience. Betty Pearce, one of the traditional owners of Alice Springs – I think everybody in this House knows Betty – offers Welcome to Country ceremonies and morning cultural tours on her homeland located 25 km north of Alice Springs. At another indigenous tourism conference in Alice Springs recently, I had a long chat to Betty about this particular tour and how her whole family is involved, and the great feedback she gets from tourists from all over the world who really just want an opportunity to sit and talk with Aboriginal people about their relationships with country. What great joy for Betty and her family to be able to share their culture and their experience of their land with overseas and interstate tourists.
In the Top End we have the Kakadu Culture Camp. This is the vision of siblings, Freddie and Jenny Hunter, and their family. This particular enterprise is located at Muirella Park, a 30 minute drive south of Jabiru within the Kakadu National Park. They offer safari camp accommodation, cultural activities such as the Bunitj guided walks and talks, bush tucker dinners and night croc spotting cruises. This enterprise was launched in May this year and they have had a successful first year of operation. It is an experience which will bring people back to Kakadu for another visit.
Another product for Kakadu launched early this year, the Hawk Dreaming Camp, is the Jabiluka Association camp, situated at Cannon Hill. The camp consists of safari-style tents and an outdoor spa. AAT Kings has been contracted to operate the camp and tours for the Jabiluka Association. They offer three day tours from the camp base to exclusive Cannon Hill sites, the traditional homeland of Jonathan Nadji, as well as taking in all the iconic locations of Kakadu such as Jim Jim Falls and Ubirr.
The Chief Minister recently launched the Nitmiluk Commercial Development Plan in Nitmiluk National Park; a 20 year framework for tourism and infrastructure development. Nitmiluk has the potential to develop as a major nature-based tourism destination year round and an economic resource for the Jawoyn people and the Katherine region. The commercial plans contain many exciting recommendations such as a resort for Nitmiluk Gorge, a safari bush camp for Pelican Island, specialist boat cruises, the Jawoyn Cultural Centre, guided tours at Mt Todd Dam as well as a caravan park, visitor infrastructure and interpretation along the 66 km Jatbula Trail, and development of bird watching tours and sites and four wheel drive tracks.
The potential is limitless and it is great to see all of these new enterprises, and in the case at Nitmiluk with the existing Jawoyn enterprises, of people adding on and committing dollars and investment into developing tourism throughout our regions. It is a unique product that we have in the Northern Territory especially the cultural aspect as well as the flora and the fauna. The product is going to continue to grow.
While we are talking about the Jawoyn people and Nitmiluk and what is happening there and the great success the Jawoyn have had and their vision for another 20 years worth of investment and future development, the previous speaker, my colleague, the member for Barkly, talked about how important partnerships are for developing our regions. I call on the opposition to desist in their scaremongering that they are continuing to promote around the Territory of the joint ownership of our parks estate across the Northern Territory and trying to pretend and run a political scare campaign that the government is giving away our national parks. I call on them to desist. If they are serious, as we should be serious in this House about seeking more investment to the Northern Territory, the creation of jobs and particularly creating jobs in our regions, the joint management model at Nitmiluk Park is certainly the way to go.
I pay credit to the previous governments which entered into that legislation and joint management arrangement at Nitmiluk. That is what we are seeking to extend to the rest of the Territory park estate. If the opposition thinks that the way back to government in the Northern Territory is by going back to their old ways of seeking to divide Territorians as opposed to trying to encourage them to form partnerships, that will be good for us politically but certainly bad for debate in the Northern Territory in trying to move things ahead.
I pay tribute to the Anindilyakwa Land Council and their vision at Groote Eylandt on developing the Dugong Beach Resort located at Second Beach. It was great to be there with Community Cabinet at the sod turning a few weeks ago. It is a fantastic initiative and a great tribute to the people on Groote Eylandt. I am sure that that resort is going to be a roaring success. Other traditional owners from around the Northern Territory are going to look at what is occurring at Groote Eylandt and say: ‘Gee, we want some of that on our country as well’. Congratulations to the Anindilyakwa people on that initiative.
The government is also investing in regional tourism infrastructure. We have invested in the upgrade and sealing of the Mereenie Loop road, marketed as the Red Centre Way. My colleague, the member for Barkly, spoke about that. It is a significant government commitment to be delivered over the coming years. We are working hard to position the Territory as a world-renowned nature and cultural destination using tourism as a driver for the Territory’s economic development particularly in our regions.
As the member for Barkly said, it is great to see the enthusiasm, commitment and confidence in the economic development in Alice Springs at the moment. As my colleague said, $32m worth of private sector investment is under way at a number of investment opportunities in Alice Springs, particularly in relation to tourism.
The opposition spends a lot of time talking about how bad things are in Alice Springs and trying to paint the town as going backwards and not forward. That is certainly not the case. It is great to see a surge in confidence in terms of investment in Alice Springs. Property prices are still increasing in value. Vacancy rates are the lowest they have been for many, many years and a significant wave of private sector investment in Alice Springs. It is great to see the Alice going ahead in spite of the doom and gloom espoused by members opposite.
Certainly, with an economy that is expanding and a focus on our regions, one of the biggest challenges facing the Territory is to increase the skills of Territorians through workforce development, education and training. The biggest single issue restricting future growth in the Territory’s economy is access to skilled people. In order to develop our regions, we need to understand regional labour markets. Workforce NT 2004 was the first baseline report by the Department of Employment, Education and Training, commissioned by my predecessor, the member for Nhulunbuy, in this portfolio, which provided an analysis of regional labour markets, including labour force status and industry employment and occupation profiles.
The 2005 report built on this information by providing advice on economic activity in labour supply and demand, based on population, employer indicators, industry growth and skill shortages at a regional level. The 2006 report, to be released later this year, will provide further labour market information, including regional industry profiles, constraints to growth, recruitment difficulties, and mobility and turnover of the labour force. This information not only guides government in the development of employment and training initiatives, but also assists industry and government in the planning for economic growth across the Territory. The government has focused on economic growth in our regions. We all want Territorians to share economic prosperity and we are putting our money towards that fact.
In the 2006-07 budget, we announced $4.4m for the development and management of training initiatives to assist remote Territorians to develop better skills and meet the needs of local industry and community. These initiatives include: flexible response funding of $1.8m which will deliver accredited and non-accredited training; $300 000 towards the Community Response Program, which allows remote Territorians to gain skills including driver and first aid training, improving employability and work readiness; $1.3m to support regional and remote training centres; training for remote youth; $1m for training programs targeting youth between the ages of 14 and 19 with the aim of engaging them in training and learning – the TRY Program.
This is an exciting time to be a young person in the Territory. You can leave our education system, move into vocational education and training or tertiary study, but leave the education system at whatever level and there are plenty of opportunities for young people across the Territory at the moment. It is an exciting time.
For the period January to December 2006, TRY funding will provide 62 VET programs to 757 young Territorians. Funding agreements were issued for 11 programs in the east Arnhem region, 15 in Alice Springs, nine in Katherine, four in west Arnhem, eight in the Darwin rural region, and 15 in the Barkly region. Examples of programs being delivered include Certificate II in Horticulture at Yirrkala; Certificate I in Engineering at Harts Range; Business Skills at Wugularr; Certificate II in Hairdressing at Alpurrurulam; Stockman Training Program at Tennant Creek; Automotive Skills at Wadeye; Information Technology skills at Docker River, Santa Teresa and Aputula; and Arts and Crafts at Lajamanu.
In addition, the government provides $60m for Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and other service providers to deliver a broad range of vocational education and training programs in urban and remote settings, building skills that lead to employment. $750 000 is also being spent as part of our Building Better Schools to expand the range of VET programs and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships available to school students, particularly in remote areas.
Trainees and apprentices in the Northern Territory: in 2004, this government made a commitment of 10 000 new trainee and apprenticeship commencements over the following four years. I am pleased to say that we are on track to meet that commitment. The number of trainees and apprentices has increased by 67% since 2001, reflecting this government’s continual focus on training. Currently, there are 3289 trainees and apprentices in training throughout the Northern Territory, and approximately 40% of these are in the regional areas.
A breakdown of that 3289 is: 616 in Alice Springs; 77 in Barkly; 170 in East Arnhem; 287 in Katherine; 66 in West Arnhem; and 2073 in Darwin. Importantly, the regional training effort includes the traditional trades - the area in which we have the highest skill shortage. Approximately 40% of the traditional trades training is in regions of the Northern Territory. The total in traditional trades is 1357. Of those, 303 are in Alice Springs; 14 in Barkly; 85 in East Arnhem; 95 in Katherine; 23 in West Arnhem; and 837 in Darwin. These regional trends continue to be reflected in training commencements to date for 2006. Currently, there are a total of 733 indigenous people in training. Many of these people are training in regions across the Territory. This represents an increase of 70% of indigenous people in training since 2001 - a huge achievement. I extend my personal thanks to the former minister in this portfolio who has overseen the drive to improve those numbers. A 70% increase since 2001 is a fine figure. Congratulations to him and the department on delivering that. We are not only supporting trainees, apprentices and employers to build skills across the Territory; we have doubled the number of trainees and apprentices in the Northern Territory public service.
Madam Speaker, the issue of regional development is a complex issue. There is no single sentence or paragraph that could explain in totality what regional development means. However, on the economic side of the equation, it certainly means seeing an increased investment and new enterprises in our regions, and employment opportunities for people living in our regions. In the areas of tourism, as I have identified, we are moving ahead. This government will continue its commitment to training young Territorians to ensure that we have the population to meet the expanding economy across the regions of the Northern Territory. I commend the minister on this statement.
Ms LAWRIE (Infrastructure and Transport): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on regional economic development. Regional economic development is a key priority of the Martin government. In fact, developing our regions in a sustainable way is a key objective of our economic development framework. The Territory’s economy has been described by Access Economics as ‘turbocharged’.
Our challenge in these times is to ensure we do as much as we can to share that prosperity across the Territory. We are focused on building the Territory’s future through strong infrastructure budgets. We have a strong record for investing in strategic infrastructure, as well as ensuring the $482m infrastructure budget is spread across the Territory to support local jobs. There is an estimated 5200 jobs directly, and thousands more in retail and associated industries across the Territory.
My agency, as the engine room of the public sector, has a pivotal role to play in driving economic development. We play a role in implementing major infrastructure projects and rolling out the infrastructure budget of government. We process development applications; we manage the major arterial road network. Our strategic infrastructure program has been about building infrastructure to support industry and the Territory’s economic growth. The mining sector, as we have heard, is the largest single contributor to the Territory economy. To keep this industry moving ahead, the Territory government has invested $24m to develop a bulk material handling facility at East Arm port. This facility will support the transfer of ore across our integrated transport system: rail, road and, importantly, our port infrastructure. We are expecting to see this project completed early next year. The Port Corporation has already established export agreements with some mining companies and is currently negotiating with others.
As we know, tourism is another key economic driver. Key infrastructure projects across the region to support further tourism growth include the future cultural precinct in Katherine. The Martin government has provided $3.5m to the Katherine Town Council for the set-up and building costs relating to this cultural precinct. The Katherine Town Council and the government are still working together on the site location issues. This is a significant investment in building the local tourism sector. I look forward to the commencement of site works.
Again in the Katherine region, works will commence next year on improving gorge crossovers at Nitmiluk Park. Scoping work is under way and tenders are expected to be called early next year. This is a $1m investment in capital works to support tourism and regional economic growth.
$100m is spent each year upgrading and maintaining our Territory roads. This is the highest amount per taxpayer in the country. We have also boosted our roads improvement program in a strategic way. Investment in key tourism roads will pay off into the future, particularly in supporting the development of regional tourism ventures. The most significant project is what we refer to as the Mereenie Loop with a $68m investment from government. Construction will commence in December this year on part of Namatjira Drive. $12m will seal the road to a number of major tourist attractions, including Glen Helen, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge. A $4m contract with the Ntaria Council/DAC Enterprises joint venture will provide gravel for the construction works that have just been completed. $4.5m has also been allocated towards sealing the Litchfield Loop Road. Extensive negotiations with Aboriginal traditional owners have nearly concluded and works to seal the first 9 km of Cox Peninsula Road will start as soon as 2006-07 Wet Season allows us too.
Additionally, $32m will see the upgrade of the Victoria Highway. That work is expected to start early next year. This project includes the construction of four new higher bridges over Victoria River, Joe Creek, Lost Creek, and Sandy Creek. Other sections of low lying highway will also be raised. The new bridge over the Victoria River will be 7 m higher than the existing bridge which will greatly reduce the time the highway is closed due to flooding. An additional $15m is programmed for further upgrading works along the Victoria Highway, including the replacement of several other low lying bridges.
We recognise that fisher people from all over the country participate in our tourism industry when they come here to catch our famous barramundi. In recent years our infrastructure budget has included items aimed at improving fishing infrastructure and access to fishing spots. We have committed to upgrading the boat ramp at Mule and Rocky Creek near Borroloola and installing a new boat ramp on the Victoria River.
Not only is the Northern Territory government committed to, and investing in, infrastructure to support established sectors, it is also leading Australia in its commitment and investment in new and emerging knowledge economies in the desert. We are doing this through our support of Desert Knowledge Australia and our significant investment in the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs. $30.22m has already been committed for Stage 1 of the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which is already impacting on the Alice Springs economy. This includes $8.6m for the Desert People’s Centre. Site works are under way on the $2.5m Business and Innovation Centre, with the Desert People’s Centre and the further headworks planned right through until 2008.
Our $2m annual Urban Enhancement Program has also focused on our regional areas. This is to ensure that parks and public facilities are developed for Territorians in our regional centres. Key projects in this year’s Urban Enhancement Program include parks and laneway lighting projects costing $370 000; $400 000 for the Alice Springs railway fence for public art and urban enhancement to conceal the railway yards in Alice Springs; $500 000 to upgrade the main street of Katherine, including repairing damage caused by the floods in April of this year; and $550 000 for the Barkly Pastoral Tourism Initiative Main Street Redevelopment - this is a combined project to upgrade and enhance Paterson Street in Tennant Creek and install a tourism stop. These are major thoroughfares for tourists and locals alike, and I am sure local businesses along these strips will welcome the improvements.
Improving access to school and health services is fundamental to improving the wellbeing and prospects of our indigenous Territorians. The government has embarked on a significant program to upgrade public infrastructure in our remote communities. I will list a snapshot of these programs. Wadeye - new school, $5.3m; Kalkarindji Health Clinic, $2.9m; remote area swimming pools for Borroloola, Minjilang and Yuendumu, $4.5m; Yirrkala Health Clinic upgrade, $500 000; Wugularr - new school, $2.5m; Donyidji/Mapurru - new school, $1.75m; Gunbalanya - school replacement classrooms, $800 000; Numbulwar - a new police station, housing and visiting officer quarters, $1.3m; the Mary River wetlands desalination, $500 000; the Pigeon Hole aerodrome, $1.1m of which the NT government is providing $627 000; the Alpurrurulam aerodrome, $1.24m; and the Wadeye landing service, $2.5m.
I will finish my supporting statement with the work my agency is doing to directly support training and employment in regional areas. My agency’s Indigenous Infrastructure Unit also delivers the Northern Territory Indigenous Housing Program, which is building homes in our regions. The program is a three-year rolling one delivering both new housing and, importantly, major renovations. It is also delivering jobs and skills for regional indigenous Territorians for the construction training project. To date, 29 houses and 39 renovations have been completed in this financial year. Next year’s program is a busy one with major activity to include $1.5m for Thamarrurr Regional Council housing construction; $3.2m for new housing at Maningrida; $3.2m for new housing at Gunbalanya; $2.2m for new housing at the Tiwi Island – goodness! Arafura is getting a lot of new housing.
Ms Scrymgour: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE: There is a shift in the program to a model of regional projects with direct contracting between DPI and builders to speed up delivery. Previously under IHANT arrangements, construction was funded through direct grants to indigenous community housing organisations, referred to as ICHOs, which were then directly responsible for contracting the project manager and builder. A key part of this program is the opportunities it presents for local employment. The Indigenous Infrastructure Unit works hard to maximise job opportunities for indigenous Territorians. It develops and implements training programs in housing construction and maintenance. In this financial year of 2006-07, about $10m will be spent on the employment and training construction component.
In 2003-04, a program to deliver local training and housing construction was introduced in a number of communities in Central Australia, often referred to as the Central Remote Employment and Training Model. A similar program has subsequently been implemented at Wadeye. In this financial year, a revised training program is being implemented to provide two-year housing construction training projects to 40 trainees in nine communities with an emphasis on achievable outcomes and progression to paid employment.
The outcomes are exciting and rewarding for our local communities. We have 11 apprentices currently undertaking training for Certificate II in General Construction. A further 60 apprentices have completed Certificate II and 10 of these are continuing on with their Certificate III. Existing training programs at Amoonguna and Wadeye, through Thamarrurr Regional Council, are continuing.
New training project agreements have been signed by Ltyentye Apurte Community Government Council, Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council, Galiwinku Community, Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association and Tiwi Island Local Government. Select tenders have been raised to directly engage Ltyentye Apurte and Nyirranggulung to deliver the training project in their respective communities. A select tender is currently being processed to directly engage the Tiwi Islands Local Government to deliver the training project in Nguiu and Milikapiti. Public tenders have been called for an external entity to deliver the training project at Galiwinku and Yirrkala.
Three apprentices trained under the 2003-06 construction training project have recently been employed by Ntaria Council to perform housing and civil work. Other communities, including Yuendumu and Gunbalanya, with identified potential for satisfactory training outcomes have expressed interest in commencing these training projects.
Indigenous training and employment have also been enhanced by the government’s roads program. To date, $8.9m has been spent on the Mereenie Loop. The two contracts completed resulted in the employment and training of indigenous Territorians in civil construction works from the surrounding area. The $4m joint venture between Ntaria Council and DAC Enterprises has resulted in six people progressing towards a Certificate III in Civil Construction. Negotiations are well advanced to create indigenous business opportunities associated with the supply of gravel for the construction of the $32m Victoria River project.
Madam Speaker, these programs are delivering real outcomes on the ground, and I commend all those involved in the program. I commend the Minister for Business and Economic Development for his statement. We know that, in the Territory, we cannot truly advance in our economic prosperity without improving the economic prosperity and the opportunities for business enterprises, for employment, for education and for training in our regional and remote areas of the Northern Territory. It is great to see that the Martin Labor government is committed to regional economic development. It is a fantastic way for the Territory to spread prosperity right across the Territory and, in doing so, improve the standard of living for all Territorians.
Debate adjourned.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Madam SPEAKER: Members, I have given permission for ABC radio to record the speech of the member for Stuart.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the Larrakia people as the traditional custodians of this country here and thank them for allowing my uncle, Robin Granites, an elder of the Warlpiri people, to guide me into parliament this morning with my family. It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life and one that will stay with me forever.
It is with great pride that I stand here in the Parliament House of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to deliver my first speech. I say this with great pride because I have been overwhelmed by the support, interest and excitement the people of Stuart and my hometown of Alice Springs have shown me over the past four weeks during the by-election.
It is equally with great pride that I can now say I am a member of the Martin Labor government. I personally thank the Chief Minister for her dedication and inspiring effort. I also acknowledge and thank my Caucus colleagues and pay respect to the other bush members. I am looking forward greatly to the challenge of working as a member of the government team.
I am a child of a Warlpiri woman and a Mara/Ngulikan man. My mother’s traditional country is Mt Theo, 70 km west of Yuendumu in the Tanami Desert. My father’s traditional country is Jawa near Ngukurr and the Borroloola region.
As an indigenous man, I am conscious of the fact that I have joined five other indigenous members of this parliament: the member for Arafura, the member for Barkly, the member for Millner, the member for Macdonnell and the member for Arnhem. I am happy to be joining not only those indigenous members I have mentioned, but I am also honoured to be recognised along with previous indigenous members of parliament: Hyacinth Tungutalum, Neville Perkins, Wesley Lanhupuy, Stanley Tipiloura, Maurice Rioli and John Ah Kit.
I am confident in saying that we all share a common obligation and commitment to country, community and family regardless of where we were born or our background. Whilst we indigenous members may have this common obligation, I believe all of us in this parliament have an obligation to development and invest in our greatest asset: the people of the Northern Territory.
I will honour and serve all the people of Stuart - indigenous and non-indigenous - who elected me, regardless of political, religious, sporting or any other affiliation, to the best of my ability. I believe that if you are prepared to put in the hard work, you will get the results you desire. The Territory is a remarkable place of opportunities, where ordinary citizens such as me can become an elected member of parliament. As I told the Centralian Advocate during the campaign, I am just an ordinary bloke from The Gap area of Alice Springs. I have grown up with politics all my life. I obtained a good education and had plenty of good role models along the way.
However, working during the campaign showed me there was a lot more to be done. I believe there is a strong message for us in the Northern Territory in the following quote from the great American leader, Martin Luther King and I quote:
Many indigenous people in the Northern Territory want a bigger stake in building the society that makes up the Northern Territory, and many indigenous Territorians have already been involved in building what we have today. You only have to look at the 40th anniversary of the walk-off this year that was celebrated with a festival in my electorate at Kalkarindji and Daguragu. The legacy left by the old people is proof that indigenous Territorians worked hard in the early beginnings of the pastoral industry. The Gurindji people, with the support of the unions, took a stand and won. The rest, as we know it, is history. I am absolutely honoured to be the member of parliament who represents the Gurindji people and the communities of Kalkarindji and Daguragu.
However, today there is a new battle that we have to fight together like the Gurindji and the unions did 40 years ago. That fight is to engage and bring the people of the bush with the rest of the Territory as partners in building and shaping our society. We must engage the people to deliver the health and economic outcomes that so many want to achieve.
The people of Stuart want to make the Territory, their communities, and town camps, the greatest place to live. They want to be able to obtain a good job, whether they live in a remote Territory community like Lajamanu or in a regional centre like Ti Tree. The people of Stuart want safe and harmonious communities where their children and grandchildren can grow up happy and healthy, whether they are living at Hidden Valley town camp or at Ampilatwatja. This is not easy because of the complex political and social history that is associated with the indigenous and non-indigenous people in the Territory.
We need to build this trust and promote it through considered laws and policies of this parliament, and bring forward an open and fair dialogue for all Territorians. We need to build this trust by investing in the infrastructure of these communities to a standard that will help build a better life. Only we in the Territory can do this; it is not up to people down south. We, as Territorians, have the experience and the genuine need to make a difference.
When I sat down with my three sons to explain why I was standing for the by-election, my youngest son, Jamie, who is nearly 8, asked me: ‘Dad, why do you want to do this job?’ I had to think for a minute, but I replied by saying that it was my dream. The people of Stuart also have dreams. Indigenous people have dreams to educate their kids and live a good life. I intend to dedicate my work with them to fulfil some of these dreams for their communities and families.
I have always wanted to serve the community of the Northern Territory, and throughout my previous jobs with Tangentyere Council, the Commonwealth Public Service, Normandy Mining, the Central Land Council and the Department of the Chief Minister, I feel I have been building towards this. I believe it is something that I have inherited from my father’s parents and my grandparents, Tim and Sarah Hampton. I would like to talk about my family history because, for me, that is where my roots are.
Tim and Sarah Hampton and their 11 sons, Reginald, Walter, Noel, Gerald, John, Cyril, Ken, Eric, Edward, Robert and Roy are well known to many Territorians. Tim and Sarah Hampton were part of the Stolen Generation early last century, and grew up at the Roper River Mission. They were married at St Catherine’s Church at Roper River Mission on 15 January 1924. After their marriage, they were employed as members of staff, first at the Emerald River Mission on Groote Eylandt and then, from October 1924, at Roper. For the first year, their allowance was ₤20 with rations, which was to increase to ₤24 when they proved capable and suitable. Later in the year it was reported that Tim Hampton had taken Evensong for the first time, the first Aborigine to take a full service in English.
Many of their sons have continued serving the community. Amongst the 11 brothers, five have served in the armed services during both peace and war time. Reginald Hampton, who was recruited at Hatches Creek in 1946, served tours of duty from 1948 to 1957 including New Guinea, Bougainville, Japan and Korea during World War II. During the past 18 months I have been researching and applying for my uncle Reginald’s service medals to be reissued to the family as we lost contact with him around 1968.
Ken Hampton won the Broken Hill and Murray Bridge Gifts, as well as the famous Bay Sheffield Race in Glenelg in South Australia in 1961. Ken was also an ordained minister and Justice of the Peace. He received the Order of Australia medal in 1985 for services to the Aboriginal community in South Australia.
Edward Hampton was a Justice of the Peace for 20 years, a former Centralian of the Year recipient, and stood for two Legislative Assembly elections in 1980 and 1983. Ted was also involved in the development of key Aboriginal organisations, the Centre for Appropriate Technology, and the Aboriginal Housing Association in Alice Springs.
I know my grandparents and uncles who have passed away would be very proud of my achievements and I pay my respects to them for inspiring me to follow in the Hampton family tradition of serving the community. That is why I am placing their names on the public record.
Throughout my personal and political development, there have been two very influential traditions that have provided me with strong values and principles. It is most fitting that the strong traditions of the Labor Party and my indigenous background and culture have come together today as one. I am proud to have been initiated into my mother’s culture and place on the public record my respect and thanks to my mother’s family and elders through the Tanami and Anmatjere regions for keeping the stories, the songs, and the dances strong, many times against all odds.
I feel it is appropriate for me to apologise to the Stolen Generation as a member of the Northern Territory parliament. I do so by saying that I feel the pain and hurt inflicted onto those people directly affected by this policy. I have seen the heartache that many children have experienced who have a parent, or parents, who were taken away. I am proud to be a member of this government because this government has acknowledged this mistake and the impact that it has had on so many lives.
To the Northern Territory Labor Party, of which I am a proud member, I say thank you for giving me the opportunity and for your support over the by-election. Particular thanks to George Addison, the Northern Territory Branch Secretary; Warren Snowdon, the Northern Territory Branch President; Senator Trish Crossin, and all those people from within the party and community members who helped during the campaign.
I am proud to say that the seat of Stuart, which has been held by the Labor Party for the past 23 years will surpass a quarter of century of Labor traditions and values in the next couple of years. I have been fortunate enough to have known each previous member for Stuart including Roger Vale, former Opposition Leader, Brian Ede and Peter Toyne. To Peter Toyne and Thea, his wife, I say thank you for all that you have taught me and passed on to me over many years.
Peter has been a great mentor and mate of mine. I have no hesitation in saying that although his shoes cannot be filled, his footsteps will be followed. I have many fond memories of Peter and great stories. Obviously, my favourite memory is his bush driving skills, or more particularly that his enthusiasm was not necessarily matched by his ability. Peter was fondly known as the Minister for the Finke Desert Race. Just let me say he is a better navigator than driver. I am sure every member in this House has much respect for Peter and the unbelievable workload he undertook throughout his years in parliament. His hard work ethic and fairness is something that I believe I developed whilst working with him over many years.
I would also like to thank my uncle Robin Japanangka Granites for his help during the election. His cultural knowledge and respect amongst the people of Stuart was invaluable to me and he has been a fantastic cultural mentor for me over this time.
To my sister, Pauline, I thank her for everything she has done for me throughout my life. She has been more like a mother to me than a sister and I know that she has sacrificed a lot during her life for me. To my younger brother, Vaughn, although there is a six-year age gap between us, I have watched him pave his own way in life and I am proud of him and his commitment to his children, Thomas, Kyle and Lyarni, and his wife, Yvette.
I am also extremely proud to have my niece, Shakira, and nephews, Anthony and Nathan here today.
There are two special ladies I would like to mention who are not here with me today to share this special occasion. The first lady is my mother, Florrie Singleton, who passed away in 1985 when I was 14 years old. My mother is someone I miss very much. I know that she would be very proud of my achievements.
The second lady is my sister, Donna, who passed away in 1990. She was only 23 years old and her life was cut tragically short. I will always remember the good times we had growing up and especially having to put up with her music and fascination with bands like Duran Duran. I miss her dearly.
To my father Robert, I say thank you for providing me with the opportunities throughout my life. My father is here today and I would like to say that he takes a lot of credit for me achieving what I have.
I would like to make special mention of my wife, Rebecca, and our three sons, Joshua, Curtly and Jamie, all of whom are here today. Over the past month during the election, my family has sacrificed a lot for me to achieve what I have. Today is as much for them as it is for me. Campaigning in a bush seat is very demanding, both physically and mentally, because of its size and the complexity of the issues. During this time, Rebecca has been a rock at home and I thank her for her support, advice and reality checks.
Before the by-election, my younger son, Jamie, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. It is something that we did not think would ever happen to us or our family, and it was a very big shock to us all. We had the support of the Alice Springs paediatric ward, in particular Dr Rosbery, and Dr Tars, the diabetic educator, Glenis and dietician, Megan. I say thank you to those people. They have all been fantastic.
No matter where my political career takes me from here, there is no doubt that my greatest achievement will remain my relationship with Rebecca and my sons.
Throughout the by-election I promoted myself as someone who was hard but fair, someone who is young and experienced, and someone who is ready to work for the people of Stuart. I pay my respects to the people of Stuart for listening to this message and showing enormous trust in me. I look forward to working with the people of Stuart and each and every member of this House over the coming years.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, the 2006 PINT Cricket Club MILO Have-a-Go has just completed another successful season. The program is held each Monday evening at Leanyer Primary School. This season, there were 55 participants, both boys and girls, ranging from four to 11 years. This was the third season that MILO Have-a-Go has been held at Leanyer Primary School. The principal, Mr Henry Gray, who is known far and wide might I say, supports the program with regular visits each Monday. He presented the awards to participants at the recent presentation evening.
Local MILO Have-a-Go programs are run by individual cricket clubs. The programs consist of 12 sessions which include skills, game development, cricket rules, cricket matches and a fun night at the end of season. The coordinator for PINT Cricket Club MILO Have-a-Go is Kaye Cowley. She has been involved in junior cricket for the past 17 years in the capacity as the club’s junior coordinator/coach, MILO Have-a-Go coordinator, and as an umpire. Parents volunteer their time along with Kaye to conduct the sessions. This season, Blake Cowley, Martin Brown, the club coach and captain, and Seb Todd were the main helpers along with many parents.
The PINT Cricket Club has always had a successful MILO Have-a-Go program, with 100 participants last year. Many of the past Milo players are now playing in the local A grade competition.
The 2006 PINT Cricket Club MILO Have-a-Go presentation was held on Monday, 28 August, at the PINT Club Marrara with many parents, grandparents and family joining in for the presentation. It has become a bit of a tradition for me to provide the sausages. Kay, or her husband, Roger, get on the phone and each year I have had the pleasure of providing probably around 500 or 600 sausages to date and quite a number of loaves of bread and tomato sauce. I always look forward each year to getting the call from Kay or Roger and going there to cook and to meet all the young players and the parents who help out. It is a great day at the PINT Club.
Each participant receives an award with several other special awards. This year, the special awards were: Bowling Award to Elycia Pittman, Declan Smyth, Jazzmine Hobson and Saxon Radecki. The Batting Award went to Alicia Scrimegour, and I do believe that Alicia may be known to some of our members, particularly to the minister for NRETA, Lara Creer, Adam Johnston, and Nick Johnson. The Most Improved Award went to Katherine Rideout and Morgan Hill. The Coaches Award went to Joshua Smith and Teegan Avery.
This is the 17th year that Kay Cowley has been running this program. I am confident that Kaye is in there for the long haul, and she will get the 20 years up. I will flag now that I will be coming around on that 20th year and asking members here to go to the award presentation that night because I think something special should happen for Kaye. In the interim, I know that she and all the other parents and helpers and Henry Gray will get on with it.
The PINT cricket club is a great supporter of the MILO Have-a-Go. It is a fantastic program for kids. Both of my children have gone through it, as have the children of other members here. I have so many Milo bats at home that I do not know what to do with them, and also many little medallions around the house. It is great skills for the kids. I know the member for Blain is very supportive of sports activities for children after hours, and likewise all members …
Mr Wood: I like my Milo …
Mr KIELY: … and the member for Nelson. I would like to say that it is a shared feeling amongst all members in the Chamber that the more that we can do to promote these activities amongst our children and younger children all over the Territory, the better off we are as a society. It breeds comradeship, it breeds community values, gets all the family involved. It is one of those all round good programs which will stand the children in good stead as they go on in their years, both in a social and a sporting context.
To Kaye and all the people involved with the PINT Cricket MILO Have-a-Go for 2006, I give you mine, and I am sure the House shares with me, congratulations for a good year. We all look forward to seeing you next year for another successful competition.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, much to the relief of Hansard, I am just going to finish off my report on the trip to the United States.
I would like to talk about my trip to the Ohio Florists Association’s short course in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the biggest nurserymen’s conventions in the United States. It is a trade convention. If you are into flowers or into anything related to the nursery industry, it is certainly worth attending. It has everything from the latest in potting and planting equipment, marketing of plants, new seeding machines, chemicals, fertilisers, and all that sort of thing. It would require anyone who went to this particular show several days to give it justice. Unfortunately, I was only there for about two-and-a-half to three hours.
I have reported on this, what they call a short course, to the local Nurserymen’s Association in the Northern Territory. I gave a report on what the course covers and recommended that they talk to the government about sending representatives to Ohio next year. I believe that would be of value to our local nursery industry.
Moving on from the trip to Columbus, Ohio, on my second last day in the United States, I visited the Ohio Reformatory for Women. This was, again, an eye-opener for me especially. This is a prison of 2000 inmates. It is right on the edge of the town of Marysville. It is quite an old prison; I think it was built in 1916. I was given a tour of the reformatory, and I was quite impressed. It has a large emphasis on educating inmates, and has a very good education facility where they attempt to get all inmates up to what they call a GED standard, which is a standard that you would have if you left high school. They try to get all the inmates up to that standard so that when they leave they have a possibility of getting a job. They also have a nursery and they have their own kitchen where they make their own meals.
They have a special program called Tapestry. Tapestry is part of the therapeutic community similar to the one I mentioned previously at the West Central Community Correctional Facility. This is a program where the women inmates help one another to gain skills, to learn self-control, because many of these people have had drug problems and issues with violence. The Tapestry or the therapeutic community is a means of these people helping one another to come to terms with these problems and overcome them. This program has some special ways of helping people. For instance, in the Northern Territory we have Wild Care. The prisoners in the therapeutic community look after injured animals, very similar to our Wild Care. On my visit to this reformatory, we were taken to the basement of this very old building, and there was a prisoner who had been on death row for some time, which was commuted to a life sentence. She was in charge of caring for the injured animals. There were many birds, opossums, and all sorts of animals there. She was in charge of about 11 other prisoners who gave a hand.
They also have a program similar to our RSPCA where prisoners look after injured or lost animals. You have prisoners looking after greyhounds in their cell. They groom and exercise these greyhounds, and when someone from outside wishes to purchase one of these animals, they are then released. It is very similar to the RSPCA, except the prisoners in the Ohio Women’s Reformatory do that job.
This prison also had some unique programs where a woman who was pregnant and had Felony 4 or 5 - which is the lowest scale of seriousness - was allowed to have and raise that child in prison. They had a special nursery set aside in the prison for these mothers. They have found that there is practically no recidivism of any of these mothers who have had their children while they are serving their sentence in the reformatory. In fact, it has had a quietening effect because many of the other prisoners have acted as nannies while the mother has been doing some classes in the educational facility, for instance. Again, that is unique. It is certainly not seen in many places in the world.
The prison also has a factory that produces flags for government instrumentalities throughout the United States. They have quite a few people making flags. They also make socks for prisoners. Another area that they look after is making lenses for glasses for prisoners. They have the equipment to do that. They send them off to prisons throughout the United States.
The therapeutic community is something that I believe has possibilities in the Territory. The new Minister for Justice has mentioned to me that he is interested in what I saw in Ohio and I said I would give him a briefing during these sittings. I believe we have to look at alternative ways of dealing with prisoners. We have to reduce the recidivism. I agree very much with what the Minister for Justice said today during Question Time. If we are to reduce the number of people in our prisons, we have to reduce the number of people coming back again and again. Of course it is not that simple. We also have to ensure that there is employment for those people and they do not fall back into the same habits that got them into prison in the first place.
Just quickly; as my days wound up in Ohio, I went to a community meeting which discussed youth issues in the town of Marysville. Probably no different to a lot of meetings you would have in town dealing with a whole range of, you might say, community problems; mainly involved with youth. People in that meeting were looking at a way forward. They were looking at setting up an agenda to develop a program which would look at some of the issues and hopefully find some solutions to some of the problems that occurred in town. Marysville is a small country town in America but the issues that they have are no different to anywhere else in Australia. The problems they have in America are reflected in Australia.
On my last day in Ohio I went to the local agricultural centre where they had a seminar on that day which related to an issue of pollution in the local area. All the creeks around Marysville, all the water from those creeks runs into the Columbus water supply system. One of those creeks was fairly highly polluted from nutrients from a nearby poultry farm. This particular company, called Oxbow, specialises in the restoration of creeks, streams and rivers. It worked on what was just a straight drain that went into a creek; it widened it, developed a flood plain and then turned a straight drain into a winding creek similar to how creeks work in nature. Those changes reduced the nutrients in that creek to acceptable levels. The macro-invertebrates and fish species all came back to normal levels or very close to it. Those engineered changes based on the natural physics of a creek made a lot of difference to the quality of the water in that region.
I would like to see the government copy some of those concepts. Anyone who has been to Palmerston will notice that the drains are straight and they go straight into the harbour, or straight into a creek. There is no attempt to put in any system that will slow that river down and reduce the amount of nutrients being dispersed and discharged into our harbour. For too long we have had the concrete drain engineered solution; get rid of the water as quickly as possible. It taught me that that is exactly the opposite way to which you should do things. You should slow the water down and allow the water to take time before it discharges into the next creek or the next river and ensure development is set back far enough for you to do that. To some extent, I think we still live in the days of the 1960s where we must get rid of our water quickly and we must use every square inch for development. Surely those days should be finished. Unfortunately, in a place like Palmerston, we still seem to be going down that path.
I sailed off from Ohio; spent one day of my own in Hawaii which was also very interesting. It was interesting to hear about Hawaiian people. They have land rights issues as well. They are a little different to here in some ways because it is a fairly complex history. Many nations have been involved in the development of Hawaii. On the bus trip around that Hawaiian island, the bus driver who was Hawaiian gave us a good insight into Hawaiian people and some of the issues on the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii is very similar to north Queensland and, to some extent, Darwin. Much of the vegetation is just like you see in Australia. The weather was certainly that way until you went up to the side of the volcano when all of a sudden you think you are in a cold climate where there are sheep, green grass, clouds overhead, and they grow strawberries. It is a unique environment.
In summing up, my trip was one of the best things I have ever done. I have certainly learnt a lot. I learnt about Americans. You can have preconceived ideas that all Americans are a bit like Desperate Housewives, but in fact the Americans I met were extremely generous. They looked after me like you would not believe. I stopped over at different places and there was no problem in being shown around and taken out to places like the United States Air Force Museum. The older people who stayed in the condominiums where I stayed all took me out for lunch. I presented them with an Australian flag and by the time I got home that Australian flag was flying under the American flag outside the condominiums. That was the sort of reception I received in America.
There are things you have to get used to like making sure you do not cross the road without looking to the left. You have to get used to different pronunciations of words, and a different style of eating in some cases. I should mention the Amish people, who unfortunately had a terrible tragedy in the United States just recently with the shooting in Pennsylvania; they have a beautiful restaurant in Union County. You can have some of the most wonderful home cooked food there. If you ever go to America, try to get to an Amish restaurant as it is a wonderful place.
I thank my hosts Judi and David Green who looked after me; Paden, their daughter; and Nancy, Judi’s sister, plus all the family. There were all the in-laws and out-laws whom I met, especially over the 4 July celebrations, and they all looked after me. People who did not know me from a bar of soap when I arrived were great hosts taking me out to dinner and, as I said, to the museum.
I thank all the people I met at the prisons and the Ohio Reformatory for Women. I hope to go back one day as there is much to learn. People sometimes say it is a waste of time going overseas. I do not think it is. That was my first trip and I met people who I never dreamt I would meet in my life. They have different ways of thinking and that is part of the reason why politicians should go: to broaden their outlook on the world. That is what I learned from this trip especially, and I thank the parliament for allowing me to go to the United States.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I am going to talk about the fantastic fund raising efforts undertaken by the schools in my electorate to raise money not only for their own activities but for other special causes.
I have spoken before about Jingili Primary School’s efforts to raise money for their sister school in Leu Lau in Timor. The Student Representative Council has been collecting exercise books to send as a resource to Leu Lau, and I have seen a very stirring photo of an amazing 14 one-metre high towers of exercise books donated to this cause. This is an incredible response to a great idea from the SRC and the school community has been working closely with Lynne Bigg and the East Timor Sunrise organisation.
During Education Week, the Jingili School community held a family breakfast followed by a school open day and it was good to see so many families there. Leisa Sjaardema and her family coordinated the breakfast and were at school before daybreak setting up. Once again, staff and parents all pitched in to make it a lovely morning. Parents stayed on and visited classrooms to see their children at work. The $400 raised will help subsidise the school’s swimming program which starts next month. This is a fantastic effort and the breakfast was worth every cent. I certainly enjoyed it. Raising money together creates a close knit community and lots of selfless efforts by people.
The International Market Day was held on 1 September, where classes produced many interesting culturally inspired items to sell at the markets. Ms Larelle Gilbert coordinated the International Market Day, with every class making a craft or food to sell, as well as classes organising activities for students and parents to be involved in during the markets. These included pancakes, pottery, East Timorese food, Chinese lanterns, fried rice, Vietnamese spring rolls, butterfly magnets, origami Yakitori, scroll hangings, curry puffs and much, much more. Many parents assisted prior to and during the day to make it a wonderful community event. Around $1200 was made, and the suggestion is to have this event next year as a twilight event to enable more parents and community members to attend. One of the most popular stalls was the Transition students giving shoulder massages. They did a great job and had customers lining up.
Class 6/7 at Jingili were the winners of the Veterans Affairs 2006 Anzac Day School Award for their Anzac Day ceremony this year. They received a $1000 prize. Heartiest congratulations to Ms Joy and the members of the class who made a field of poppies and enacted the very moving song, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. I also understand that Molly Husbands recited In Flanders Fields and Bryce Simpson recited The Ode.
The recipients of my third semester Quiet Achiever Awards at Jingili Primary School were Damiana Tipiloura and Anthony Mehonoshen. Well done. A number of Jingili students achieved great results in the Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac awards. They were Maverick Carver and Joshua Kimm, who received Distinctions, and Jarrah Fowler, Rachel Harpur, Jessie Lai, Koal Smith, William Anstey, Jeremy Kimm and Shayne Wicks who received credits. Well done to these students.
Moil Primary School has been raising money for some very good causes. The school held an extremely successful Family Fun Fair on 3 September, raising the amazing amount of $8940.40. Traditionally, this has been the major fundraiser for the school to provide additional educational needs for all school year levels. There was a great variety of attractions, including crafts stalls, the inevitable white elephant stalls, side shows, a play centre and castle, lucky dips, face painting and ornament making, car washes and tarot readings and removable tattoos. Parents manned the barbecue and there were drinks, sushi, cakes, slushies and curries. A lot of hard work was put in by everyone from the kids, the parents, the teachers, the admin staff and the hard-working committee.
Special thanks must go to Sita Harrison, Gail Cumming and Megan Luis for their determination to make the fair happen and their amazing organisational skills. Sita put together a fabulous raffle which I had great pleasure in drawing. There were some fantastic prizes including a scenic flight donated by Aaron Cook of Air Frontier. There are many others to thank. I will not be able to mention them all, but special thanks must go to those school staff members who worked so hard: Michelle Ormsby for the bottomless pools of change she provided and everything else; Deanna Francis for the sell-out vindaloo; Jeannie Sawyer for the side-splitting side show alley; Rhona Manning for the delicious sushi; Amye Bryant from the preschool for the lucky dip; Loretta Simmonds for her stunning earrings; Jenny Rigg for her wonderful white elephant stall and slushies; and Andrew Holt for washing all those cars.
Of course, it would not be possible without the support of the Moil community. I extend my special thanks to the entire Harrison, Harbeck and Ryan families; to Kathy Thompson and her mum; to Helen Carroll, Scott Smith, Sam Saynor, and the Wallent family; and the young face painters – Katie, Margaret and Ruby. And a big thank you to all the other families and friends who made the day such an outstanding success.
During the last school semester, Year 5B/C at Moil learned about the Third World and developing countries. As a part of their learning, the class decided to try some of the Third World conditions and give up various things that are taken for granted, like food, furniture, television, computers, lights, etcetera, over a 40 hour period. The kids went without lights, desks and chairs at school and some gave up their beds and slept on the floor, but it seems giving up television, computers, Game Boys and PlayStations really brought the message home. The kids raised a whopping $1442.65 for World Vision – enough money to feed and care for 286 children in East Timor, I am told. A great effort from all the kids who took part, who were so excited about raising this money for a great cause.
The school also held a footy colours day to raise money for the Bone Marrow Institute. We really have a very caring and giving community in the Johnston electorate.
I also received representations to support the Moil Primary School team of Jack Bliss, Jedda Bennett-Kellam, Kenny Lee, William Carroll, David Grimes and Mitchell Aldridge from Years 5 to 7 to enable them to travel to Adelaide at the end of October to compete in the Tournament of the Minds. These six boys made up a team who were tasked to develop solutions over a six-week period to an open-ended challenge from the category of Maths Engineering. They won that challenge and will now represent the Northern Territory at the Australian finals. How good is that? What a fantastic achievement for these young students and their teacher, Mr Andrew Holt. I had no hesitation in supporting them, and I wish them all the best in Adelaide. I am sure all members here tonight join me in wishing them all the best.
Heartiest congratulations to Marilyn Van den Elzen of Wagaman Primary School, for winning an Excellence in Literacy Teaching Award, which was announced at the launch of Education Week in Darwin. Marilyn was the only primary school teacher to win this award, which is presented to NT teachers who demonstrate exemplary skills and understanding in the planning, teaching and assessing of literacy. This is a fantastic achievement, and it makes us so very proud to have Marilyn at the Wagaman Primary School.
There are also some great successes in the sporting arena for Wagaman school, with Joe Smith and Vincent Silva who played in the Darwin junior squash team in an inter-club tournament in Alice Springs. Twenty-five juniors from Alice Springs and Darwin competed in the 11- to 16-year-old age group. Congratulations to Vincent, who won a third trophy, and to Joe, who came 7th overall.
At the NT Athletics and NTSS Track and Field Exchange, more Wagaman kids had fantastic results. Donica Sarikon won a third medal for her 11-year-old girls discus event. Jack Russell received a third medal for the 11-year-old boys long jump, and Dale Wilson came second in the 200 m and 800 m for 13-year-old boys. Well done, Donica, Jack and Dale.
Wagaman Primary School also got into the swing of fundraising and held an inaugural event – a numberthon which involved children and families. It included a parent workshop at which everyone learnt more about the practical applications of numeracy in life and how parents can help their kids at home with simple numeracy activities involving everyday things. The school raised a massive $4759.80, which marked it as a huge success. Hayden Beattie was the outstanding fundraising king, followed by Paige Parker second, and Tahlia Parker third. Well done to all those involved in this fantastic fundraising project.
My Quiet Achiever Award this semester at Wagaman Primary School went to Sarah Othman aged 6 years and Tiffany Gray, aged 11 years. I congratulate Sarah and Tiffany on their diligence and good work during Semester 3.
On 30 August, I was delighted to represent the Minister for Employment, Education and Training at the Casuarina Senior College which, of course, is in my electorate, at the opening of the CSC Automotive and Engineering Skills Centre. The skills centre was built to increase training in automotive and engineering courses for VET in School students. As Certificate I and II Automotive and Engineering courses are available as cluster programs for students from schools in Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area, this facility benefits not only CSC students but, indeed, all of those from the greater Darwin and Palmerston region. The new facilities are also being used for NTCE courses such as Stage 1 Go Karting Design and Construction and Stage 2 Embedded VET Engineering Course. A testament to the real need for this facility is that the skills centre has enabled the college to double the number of trainees in these courses. It was fantastic to see so many VET students and trainees at the opening of the centre.
As you are aware, Mr Deputy Speaker, CSC has a long and successful association with VET programs and this was recognised at this year’s NT Training Awards where the college received the Bill McLaren VET in Schools Excellence Award. This award recognises an outstanding program which delivers vocational education and training to school students. Also of note is the fact that CSC students are regularly represented at Territory and national vocational awards and competitions such as World Skills.
Training is essential for the growth of the Territory which is experiencing a sustained period of high labour and skill demand. As a government we will continue to support and encourage the delivery of VET in schools program and the delivery of other VET training, particularly in the traditional trades. I was more than happy to congratulate everyone at the opening of the Skill Centre on the completion of the training facility. The principal, Mr Steve Sjoberg, does a fantastic job at CSC and he and his staff are to be commended for this occasion.
Congratulations go to Tahnee Afuhaamango from Jingili who recently won gold, silver and bronze at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships held at the University of Limerick in Ireland during September this year. More than 300 athletes representing 21 countries participated including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Portugal, Ukraine, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Tahnee won trophies for fastest swimming in freestyle, butterfly and the individual medley. She broke four world records including the short course records in the 50m butterfly and 100m individual medley. Tahnee’s success was capped by being named Swimmer of the Meet. Well done, Tahnee. I am sure all members here tonight join me in congratulating Tahnee.
On Sunday, 19 September, together with the member for Millner and the Coconut Grove Seniors Hall Committee, I invited members of the electorate to a picnic at the Water Gardens to enjoy the sounds of the Darwin City Brass Band. The brass band gave a wonderful performance for the seniors from Coconut Grove and everyone who came along. I was very impressed with the professionalism showed by the band. I thank Iris Beale, the president, and her band for coming along to this special occasion just to give the community the benefit of a wonderful musical interlude on a Sunday afternoon.
It was fantastic to see Barrie Martin back on his feet following a very long recovery from a motorbike accident. He and Lai Yee, his wife, walked to the gardens and met up with Joy Pope, who is very well known in the electorate. Tilly Luis also gives a lot to the electorate and to schools in the area. Nicolas Villanueva, and Quito Washington who is, I am sure, known to a lot of people in this Assembly, was there with his family. Everyone really enjoyed the occasion. There is talk of making this an annual event but perhaps not on a football finals weekend. They did have a good roll-up. It was fantastic. It is an honour for me to be the member for Johnston, to interact and support the electorate. I am very grateful for the support that my electorate gives me. I so much enjoy this job, and I look forward to reporting to this Assembly at a future date about more fantastic goings-on within the Johnston electorate.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to talk about a particular event which has occurred in my electorate of which I am also very proud. It is an event that has communities within that electorate inspired, and was something I was glad to be a small part of. It was the Coomalie Junior Football competition which culminated in a Lightning Carnival held at the end of September. It was organised by Mr Cliff Walton, the Youth Sport and Recreation Officer with the Coomalie Community Government Council.
Cliff did an absolutely wonderful job. He is new in that position and he managed to get a range of community members together and children from various communities into an event which I know they thoroughly enjoyed.
The Lightning Carnival included 163 players. Coomalie Council takes in the Batchelor and Adelaide River areas and they worked with the Sport and Recreation Officer, Ms Rose Rowlings, from the Nauiyu Community Government Council. Rose is Cliff’s partner so I guess they hatched that idea together and certainly the work that was done down at Nauiyu Community was very good.
Over the period of the carnival, 350 people were included. They had 28 referees over that period and they certainly had a lot of adults helping out. Although there were primarily younger children, there were older players who came along and they helped out the younger players. There were no strict rules so players ended up filling in for other player’s teams. I attended the culmination of the Lightning Carnival, which was held at Batchelor. Prior to that, round one was held at the Adelaide River Oval and included teams from the Batchelor School, Adelaide River School, the Wooliana School, St Francis Xavier School and also from Cliff’s previous association with the Scout Group, he brought a team down from Howard Springs Scouts.
Mr Kevin Bruce from AFLNT also came down and provided some additional support, and it was great to see that. There was a younger age group competition - five, six and seven years old – the Coomalie team against the Daly River side and it was won, fortunately, by the Daly River side. I will talk about that team a bit later on. There was also a primary age group competition held between Batchelor and Wooliana which was won by Batchelor. The second game was between Adelaide River and St Francis Xavier A which was won by the St Francis Xavier A team.
I attended the culmination of the round robin competition and saw a fantastic group of kids having a great time, parents participating, and some great football. There were many girls involved and they were just as good, if not sometimes better, than the boys. There are many young kids of whom we will see a great deal in the future. The day ended with a few trophies being awarded and I want to acknowledge those winners.
The winner of the Junior Competition was Daly River. The runners up were Coomalie and the Best On Ground was a young fellow named Toomba, and he was delighted to receive that award. The Middle Primary winners were St Francis Xavier A and the runners up were Batchelor. Best On Ground was a young fellow who helped me out during Clean Up Australia Day, young Harley and a young fellow named Desmond. There were also some awards for participation which included Adelaide River and Wooliana and the Best On Ground was a young fellow named Dylan. In the teenager group, the winners were St Francis Xavier B and the runners up were the Howard Springs Scouts. Best On Ground in the teenager age group was a young girl named Mariah. She was a fabulous player. She took on the boys and to win the teenager award was a fantastic result for her.
Over the day I saw some absolutely fantastic football. We should be bringing these kids to Darwin and letting them play in the junior league and I will be trying to support that.
I acknowledge some great support. From the Nauiyu community, Rose Rowlings does a great job all year around and also at the Merrepen Sports Carnival. They brought all the kids up in buses from Daly River including the Wooliana kids. They drove a long way to participate in this. They also supplied a great deal of equipment: whistles, horns, stop watches, line markers and uniforms. The community gave a lot to the weekend. Also, when they had the second round, which was held at Daly River, the community put on a disco for the kids and the Batchelor and Adelaide River kids had a fantastic time that weekend.
I understand this will hopefully be an annual event. I know it took a lot to organise but I also know that everybody enjoyed it. There is also some acknowledgement for the support from the staff of the schools, Rose Phillips, Sirpha Hopf, Lisa Bickley, Jan Thompson, Tricia Forscutt and Linda Macintosh. These events do not happen by themselves, and those helpers through the school, or just parents, certainly make the day much smoother.
These events bring the community closer together, and bring the region together. You have kids who now know each other, who will grow up and hopefully have more games at which to meet each other, and it will bring that whole community closer together. I supported the event by the donation of trophies, and will do so in future years.
I would like to thank all the kids. They were very well behaved. They played fair and I thank them for allowing me to be there on that Sunday. Well done, and I will see you again next year.
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, recently we lost one of the Territory’s great tourism advocates and true characters. Barry Grahame Bucholtz made a significant contribution to our tourism industry over many years. His commitment to the industry and his belief in the Territory was truly inspiring.
Barry was involved in tourism, both as a businessman and as a member of various tourism associations and boards. He served at various times as Commissioner and Chairman of the NT Tourism Advisory Council from 1986, and when the Advisory Council became the NT Tourism Board, Barry became its Deputy Chair from 1992 to 1998. He was also Chair of the Alice Springs Regional Tourism Association and in 1988 was made a life member. He was also made a life member of CATIA in 1993.
Back in 1974, Barry and a friend, Kerry Williams, both young men from Cronulla in Sydney, decided to hit the road and explore a bit of Australia. They travelled through the Centre and loved it so much they stayed. They could both see opportunities in tourism, and initially started Barker Souvenirs, the ‘Bar’ being for Barry and the ‘Ker’ being for Kerry. Barker Souvenirs was only a small business, selling books and postcards, but remarkably, it is still open for business 32 years later. It was the first of a number of businesses Barry took his hand too.
After meeting his wife, Julie, at Ayers Rock, Barry opened the Chalet, which operated between 1976 until 1984 when the new resort opened. With the opening of the Ayers Rock Resort, he ran the newsagency, and when all three Sheratons were developed later that year at the Rock, Alice Springs and Darwin, Barry and his business partner took the lease of the lobby shops in each location.
Business was not Barry’s only passion. He was an avid photographer, and many of the images Barker Souvenirs produced were captured by Barry. He was also a passionate bird watcher and was involved in the publication of many books and articles on the subject. One of the highlights of Barry’s career was winning the minister’s Award for Tourism Excellence at the 1991 Brolga Awards, and the Brolga for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the Tourism Industry the following year.
Barry and Julie were renowned for their hospitality and Barry, in particular, for his love of Australian red wines. By all accounts their dinner parties were something special.
Barry’s memorial service is to be held in Alice Springs just before his sons, who are both Australian servicemen, are posted to East Timor. I extend my sympathies and the sympathy of the House to Barry’s wife, Julie, and his sons, John and Brian. Our thoughts are with you all.
There is little doubt that Alice Springs and, indeed, Central Australia, is positioning itself as one of the most important cultural focal points in the country. Much of that has to do with the growing reputation of Aboriginal art throughout the central desert regions, and the hard work and vision of many Aboriginal communities in building and sustaining their art centres.
As you know, the Central Australian Aboriginal art centres are represented by Desart, the Association of Central Australian Aboriginal arts and craft centres which, along with ANKAAA, are the Territory’s best industry representative bodies. Like any good industry body, Desart has its annual trade show, Desert Mob. This is the 16th year Desert Mob has been held, and 35 art centres from the Territory, South Australia and Western Australia were represented, from Waralungku Arts at Borroloola on the Gulf through to the Desert Mob’s newest member, the Spinifex Arts Project in the north-east of Kalgoorlie. As well as Borroloola, other Territory art centres to be represented were Mutitjulu, Imanpa, Kintore, Mt Liebig, Papunya, Haast Bluff, Titjikala, Alice Springs, Santa Teresa, Hermannsburg, Yuendumu and Ampilatwatja, Ali Curing and Tennant Creek.
Desert Mob has become the most important annual survey of Central Australian Aboriginal art, and the statistics speak for themselves. The Desert Mob marketplace, deliberately geared towards a less expensive end of the market and, on the day before the Desert Mob exhibition actually opens, drew in 1500 visitors which was up 50% from last year, and sales were $107 000, up from $78 000 last year. The exhibition also saw impressive growth, with first-day sales of $250 000, up from $180 000 last year. This year’s Desert Mob also saw the Desert Mob dance space behind Araluen, as well as the Desert Mob’s symposium which was attended by around 200 people.
Desert Mob is now an important event in its own right, attracting many interstate and international visitors. Just as the Telstra Awards have developed into one of the highlights of the Darwin Festival, Desert Mob is the key event of the Alice Desert Festival, both of which we strongly support. Desert Mob’s great strength is in its community support. As Arts minister, Marion Scrymgour, pointed out at the opening of Desert Mob, it had been built from the ground up by the Aboriginal artists of Central Australia. It is not the creature of some marketing genius from north Sydney, a bureaucrat from Canberra or, indeed, a politician from Darwin – God forbid! It is an event, said Marion, that has become a celebration.
This year is the 35th anniversary of the beginning of Geoffrey Barden’s work at Papunya, the beginning of a remarkable transformation of ancient cultural traditions into the modern Aboriginal art movement. It is a transformation that is continuing and developing, and Desert Mob is a big part of that evolution. My congratulations and thanks to the dedicated and passionate people who work so hard behind the scenes to make this event the outstanding success it is today. To John Oster, Executive Director of Desart, and all its executive members: Charmaine Kik, Acting Curator and Collections Manager; Tim Rollason, Curator and Acting Director; Hannah Presley, Exhibitions Officer; Dan Murphy, Visual Arts Officer; and Andrew Moynihan, Visual Arts Officer. I think the Desert Mob exhibition is still on in Alice Springs so, if you can make it there before it closes, it is well worth it. There is an exuberance about the art from Central Australia that is just hard to replicate anywhere else. In my two visits, I have enjoyed each one and, if I have time, I will go back again. If you cannot make this year’s, I urge everyone to visit Alice Springs for Desert Mob 2007.
While talking about art, last Friday I had the pleasure of launching two exhibitions at Framed Gallery in Darwin at Stuart Park. Katie Bradley and Dennis Nona are two very talented artists with growing reputations. Their solo shows at Framed really are something to see. They are very different artists but share a common fascination with the sea and its connection to their homes.
Katie lives in the Territory and she came along to the launch last week. Her Icons of Darwin Series 3 focuses on our marine life and our obsession in the Top End with what you can find in our waters, particularly for fishing. Her first Darwin Icon show in 2002 had tropical flowers as its subject, and the second in the series in 2004 centred on our trees and beaches. Katie’s show is very evocative and is instantly recognisable to those of us who live here in the Territory. It does capture something of the spirit of this place and of the waters that surround it. There is barramundi and rainbow fish, seahorses and stingers. It does have a real Top End feel to it.
Dennis Nona is a Torres Strait Islander who is renowned around the world for his lino cuts. He has recently exhibited in London and France and is well known right around Australia. For Dennis and his people the sea that surrounds the Torres Strait Islands is a source of sustenance and meaning. In his lino cuts and etchings we meet dugongs, turtles and crayfish, and sea images of lush marine vegetation and coral reefs. Two of the lino cuts that are displayed at Framed are some of the largest ever created and are certainly well worth seeing.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, as you know, I have visited Framed quite a bit over the years and the gallery never fails to have a fresh and exciting feel to it. Congratulations to Anne Phelan and everyone at Framed for once again bringing world-class art to Darwin. The exhibition runs to 27 October and I strongly encourage Top Enders and everyone here in the House to get along and see the work of the terrific artists.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Media Coverage - Swearing in of
Member for Stuart
Media Coverage - Swearing in of
Member for Stuart
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members that I have approved ABC television and Channel 9 to film with sound, and NT News and Fairfax Group to take photographs during the swearing in of the new member for Stuart.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the family of Mr Karl Hampton. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
TABLED PAPER
Resignation of Former Member for Stuart
Resignation of Former Member for Stuart
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members that on the 4 September 2006 I received the resignation of the former member for Stuart, Dr Peter Howard Toyne, submitted to me by letter pursuant to section 18 of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act. I table the letter.
RETURN TO WRIT
Division of Stuart
Division of Stuart
The CLERK: Honourable members, I lay on the table a return to the writ issued by His Honour the Administrator, Mr Ted Egan AO, on 5 September 2006 for the election of a member for the electoral Division of Stuart on 23 September 2006, and certifying the election of Mr Karl Rio Hampton.
Mr Karl Rio Hampton made and subscribed the oaths required by law.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I offer congratulations on behalf of all honourable members to the new member for Stuart.
TABLED PAPER
Government Administrative Arrangements
Government Administrative Arrangements
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I table the new ministry and Administrative Arrangements Order as of 1 September 2006.
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, the ministry and ministerial officers are as follows.
- Clare Majella Martin - Chief Minister; Minister for Asian Relations and Trade; Minister for AustralAsia Railway; Minister for Indigenous Policy; Minister for Major Projects;
Sydney James Stirling - Treasurer; Minister for Justice and Attorney-General; Minister for Statehood;
Paul Raymond Henderson - Minister for Employment, Education and Training; Minister for Tourism; Minister for Public Employment;
Christopher Bruce Burns - Minister for Health; Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services; Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing;
Konstantine Vatskalis - Minister for Business and Economic Development; Minister for Regional Development; Minister for Defence Support; Minister for Sport and Recreation; Minister for Essential Services;
Delia Phoebe Lawrie - Minister for Planning and Lands; Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Minister for Family and Community Services; Minister for Multicultural Affairs;
Marion Rose Scrymgour - Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage; Minister for Parks and Wildlife; Minister for Arts and Museums; Minister for Women’s Policy; Minister for Senior Territorians; Minister for Young Territorians;
Elliot Arthur McAdam - Minister for Local Government; Minister for Housing; Minister for Central Australia; Minister for Corporate and Information Services; Minister for Communications; Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Policy;
Christopher William Natt - Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries; Minister for Mines and Energy.
OPPOSITION OFFICE HOLDERS
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, before I call you, I ask the media to leave the Chamber.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I advise the Assembly of changes in the shadow ministerial responsibility of opposition members which reflect the announced additional two government ministerial positions, and Mrs Fay Miller increasing her workload by taking on Mines and Energy, following her car accident earlier this year. The new arrangements which were put into effect on 26 September are as follows:
- Jodeen Carney: Justice and Attorney General; Police, Fire and Emergency Services; Business and Economic Development; Women’s Policy; Planning and Lands; Defence Support; AustralAsia Railway; and Major Projects.
Terry Mills: Treasury; Employment, Education and Training; Racing, Gaming and Licensing; Asian Relations and Trade; Public Employment; Sports and Recreation; Arts and Museums; Young Territorians; Primary Industry and Fisheries; Indigenous Affairs; and Statehood.
Richard Lim: Health, Family and Community Services; Essential Services; Corporate and Information Services; Multicultural Affairs; Communications; Central Australia; Local Government; Housing; and Parks and Wildlife.
Fay Miller: Tourism; Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage; Regional Development; Transport and Infrastructure; Senior Territorians; and Mines and Energy.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Member for Katherine
Member for Katherine
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move that leave of absence be granted to the member for Katherine, Mrs Miller, for this sitting week, probably to be reviewed again next week. Mrs Miller’s brother interstate is terminally ill and Mrs Miller was advised late last night that his condition has become critical.
Motion agreed to.
TABLED PAPER
Committee Membership Changes
Committee Membership Changes
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I advise that during the recent recess I received letters from the Government Whip and the Leader of Government Business proposing changes to membership of Assembly committees as follows:
- Public Accounts Committee: the member for Drysdale be discharged and the member for Port Darwin be appointed.
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee: the member for Barkly be discharged and the member for Sanderson be appointed.
Sport and Youth Committee: the members for Drysdale and Arnhem be discharged and the members for Port Darwin and Sanderson be appointed.
Subordinate Legislation and Publications Committee: the member for Port Darwin be discharged and the member for Stuart be appointed.
House Committee: the member for Casuarina be discharged and the member for Stuart be appointed.
Privileges Committee: the member for Casuarina be appointed in the place of the former member for Stuart.
I table the letters.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly agree to the changes to the membership of the Assembly committees as contained in the letters tabled by the Speaker.
Motion agreed to.
MESSAGE FROM ADMINSTRATOR
Message No 13
Message No 13
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received from his Honour the Administrator, Message No 13, notifying assent to bills passed in the August sittings of the Assembly.
RESPONSES TO PETITIONS
The CLERK: Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 100A, I inform honourable members that a response to Petition No 25 has been received and circulated to honourable members.
- Petition No 25
Marrakai Downs Bus Route
Date presented: 14 June 2006
Presented by: Mr Knight
Referred to: Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Date response due: 17 October 2006
Date response received: 4 September 2006
Date response presented: 10 October 2006
Response
- The Department of Planning and Infrastructure has assessed the area where buses pick up and drop off school children on the Arnhem Highway, particularly near the Marrakai Road area.
I am advised that the pick-up and drop-off area near Marrakai Road is consistent with many rural school bus stops.
Parents and guardians of children who wait at the roadside for the school bus generally take appropriate safeguards for their children when waiting in these areas.
The option to relocate the bus stop to Burnside Road is not practical at present. Ideally, a diversion off the Arnhem Highway along Marrakai, Burnside and Wyatt Roads could be undertaken. Unfortunately, Marrakai and Burnside Roads are currently unconnected.
Three-point turns by large buses are highly undesirable for safety reasons. Hence, the bus pick-up and drop-off points need to remain on the Arnhem Highway for the time being.
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Road Safety in the Territory
Road Safety in the Territory
Ms LAWRIE (Infrastructure and Transport): Madam Speaker, the road safety debate in the Northern Territory has gained an increasing momentum in recent weeks. The government welcomes this debate because our current road toll deserves the attention of every Territorian. The carnage on our roads is unacceptably horrific. On Territory roads you are three times more likely to be killed than elsewhere in Australia. The road toll is just a snapshot of our road trauma. For every death on our roads, another nine people are seriously injured, often with devastating consequences for the rest of their lives.
Last year, our road toll rose to above 50; the government is determined to do something about it. The Road Safety Task Force was established to examine the Territory’s road safety record and report with recommendations regarding a package of measures to reduce the incidence of road crashes. Given all the tragedies on our roads, the task force looked at all options. The task force has completed its review and has presented a comprehensive report for government’s consideration. This report is currently before Cabinet and will be released to the public in the coming weeks.
I encourage every Territorian to read this report as it outlines the many factors that contribute to our road trauma. These include high levels of drink-driving, a lack of seat belt wearing, running red lights and speeding, among other things.
Much of the information in the report is not new or exclusive to the report. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure has detailed information and statistics on its website that outline the nature and causes of the car crashes, the fatalities, and the serious injuries. Young people are especially at risk of being killed or maimed on our roads. I know that no parent can ever properly relax when their children are out on the roads at night.
We also have extremely high rates of drink-driving in the Territory. Every time the police undertake a drink-driving blitz, the number of people caught is absolutely staggering. It has to stop. People who would normally never break the law do get into cars when they have had too much to drink. It makes no sense. People are putting themselves and everyone else on the road at risk of losing their life or serious injury.
While indigenous people are over-represented in the number of fatalities, they are under-represented in the number of serious injuries. The tragic reality is that people in remote areas are more likely to be killed in a car crash owing to their distance from emergency assistance.
Too often on our nightly news, we see footage of horrific car crashes from down south. Late last month, a crash in Victoria claimed seven lives and was widely reported in the Territory. What is not reported so frequently is that the road toll in other jurisdictions is reducing. In Victoria, for example, they have seen their road toll reduce from more than 1000 a year closer to 300 a year. In South Australia, which is similar to the Territory, they are tracking for their lowest road toll ever. Regional areas of Queensland and Western Australia, which include the vast distances we have in the Territory, are also seeing a reduction in the road toll.
Given our road toll is three times higher than other states, we have an obligation to look at what is being done elsewhere. We are looking at what other states are doing and we are considering the advice of experts, but we will do what is right for the Territory.
We recognise that the Territory is a very different place. Only 23% of our road network is sealed. Our major highways are very different from the highways down south. Over $100m is spent on our roads each year and the government will continue with its program to improve our roads. Our major highways, like the Stuart, Victoria and Barkly, are AusLink roads, and the Commonwealth government has funding responsibility. I am meeting with the new Commonwealth roads minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, this Friday, and I will be talking to him about how we can work together to improve our roads.
Madam Speaker, the government has made no decisions. We will release the task force report to the public because we are committed to working with Territorians to reduce the trauma on our roads. I reiterate that the report will be released in the coming weeks.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for her first ministerial report in her new portfolio. I am glad to hear that you will release the report. I believe my colleague, the member for Katherine, wrote to you recently about that and you would be aware of my public comments requesting you to do so.
It is pleasing to hear that whilst the matter is before Cabinet no decision has been made. I would be grateful if you would answer this in your reply: do I assume that Territorians will be invited to make submissions to draft recommendations? In any report, or most of them these days, there are a series of recommendations. It is fair and appropriate for Territorians to be afforded the opportunity of commenting, whether it is an individual whose life has been touched, as indeed the member for Katherine’s has been touched by a road trauma, or peak organisations.
For the public record, I should restate that it was the opposition, in December last year or possibly the year before, called for a task force to be established. We were very pleased, albeit that the task force that the government proposed was not quite the one we had proposed, but a task force was established and we commend you on so doing.
My colleagues and I have made public comments, as indeed have members of government, in relation to various proposals such as demerit points and speeding. If you are going to look at speed restrictions, one has to come back to the fundamental question, and that is: how are speed restrictions on our roads to be policed? No one in government should seek to duck that issue. I am sure you will appreciate minister, as indeed each and everyone of us does, this is an issue that in so many respects transcends politics. This is about road carnage, and death and destruction on our roads. It is appropriate that government, and we as legislators, come up with sensible ways to meet the difficulties. We look forward to reading the report and, again, thank you for your report.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to hear that the report will be released. Comments so far show clearly that Territorians do not want speed limits on their roads. Speed is not the only thing that causes problems as we all know, and the minister has reiterated those. It is the condition of roads. Many of our roads have been neglected. Concerns were raised with me about the Plenty Highway not long ago. That has been graded, but all that does is create dust; it has not been packed and built. More money needs to be spent on those remote roads.
Road safety is all about education. When you leave a remote community are there signs saying ‘Put your seat belt on’? Are we putting those signs up along the highways? I do not think we are. I have seen them in other states. You have to get the message through to people about safety and them taking responsibility for themselves. As you say, it is very sad to hear of these tragic accidents. I believe the advertisements on Channel 7 Central which are Queensland based are quite effective. There is one in particular, ‘Enough is enough’ and it shows road carnage. We also have to look at putting together a publicity package to go out to remote communities to pass the message on really strongly, really graphically, that not wearing seat belts, speeding and drink driving all cause the accidents.
I hope that in your report you are looking at a broad range of issues, and that you are also looking at the hire car firms and what information is given to tourists when they hire a vehicle. I personally would ban those high top minivans, whatever they are called, that so often tip over on our unsealed roads. I look forward to your report.
Ms LAWRIE (Infrastructure and Transport): Madam Speaker, I thank members opposite for what appears to be at this stage bipartisan support to tackle the unacceptable carnage on our roads. Fatalities are horrific and serious injuries have a devastating effect on the individual and their families, for life.
I have responded to the member for Katherine and advised her in writing that we will be releasing the report. We are already receiving feedback from members of the public on their views regarding the public debate on road safety measures, and I am sure that will continue throughout the coming months. We will also be speaking directly with peak organisations and a raft of stakeholders will be directly approached by government and encouraged to go through the report and its recommendations and provide us with their feedback.
The government is committed to improving our roads. As I said in my report, I am meeting with the new Transport minister, the Deputy Prime Minister. I hope the weight he carries in Cabinet also carries funding for some roads’ initiatives, particularly in our regional and remote Northern Territory where we have unsealed roads and we need to improve road conditions.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Northern Territory Budget –
Expenditure for Indigenous Purposes
Expenditure for Indigenous Purposes
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, this morning I report to the Assembly on research undertaken by Northern Territory Treasury on this important issue of expenditure for indigenous purposes in the Territory budget. In recent years, there has been quite considerable debate about these levels of expenditure and about indigenous disadvantages. This analysis informs that debate. It is the first time that a comprehensive assessment across all agencies at program level has accurately mapped the proportion of services accessed by indigenous Territorians and the expenditure we receive from the Commonwealth and our own source revenue to service that need. It puts to rest some of the inaccuracies and myths which have dominated public comment. The review covers 2004-05, the most recent year for which data is available. The review’s methodology is clearly outlined. It has been externally and independently reviewed by Professor Ken Wiltshire from the University of Queensland, and ANZ Chief Economist, Mr Saul Eastlake.
The Territory is fundamentally different to all other jurisdictions in Australia. Indigenous Territorians comprise almost 30% of the Territory’s population but, sadly, the level of disadvantage faced by indigenous Territorians means that they need to access government services far more than the non-indigenous population. Indigenous Territorians not only access indigenous specific programs but mainstream government services. For instance, over 60% of hospital separations and over 40% of school enrolments are indigenous. As a result, it is not surprising the review finds that almost half - 49.7% - of the Territory’s expenditure is related to the indigenous population, compared to 43.2% of revenue which is indigenous-related. In other words, indigenous-related expenditure by the Territory exceeded indigenous-related revenue by $175m.
However, despite this strong effort, indigenous disadvantage still exists. While there is some evidence of improved outcomes, there is clearly a need for additional funding to close this gap. The level of funding required is beyond the capacity of the Territory alone. The Australian government, with its huge surpluses, needs to significantly increase investment to improve outcomes for indigenous Territorians.
Closing the gap is the fundamental basis of the Territory’s commitment to developing a 20-year plan to address indigenous disadvantage, and one which requires the attention of all governments through the Council of Australian Government’s Working Group on Generational Reform. The social and economic benefits of closing the gap cannot be understated, and are a priority of this government. Rather than table what is a fairly large document, my office has electronically supplied it to members this morning.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I welcome the statement of the minister and look forward to careful assessment of the report that has been referred to. I am aware of its contents through the media.
The issue, however, remains that, on one hand, expenditure of resources to address the problems is one thing, but to focus on the production of outcomes is really where the issue and focus should lie. We may be pleased that there has been much money spent, but we cannot for a moment allow ourselves to think that that in itself is an achievement. The focus should always remain upon how we change that which is a concern to everyone of us - every Territorian, indigenous and non-indigenous. The answer, I suspect - in fact, I have more than a suspicion - lies in comprehensive and courageous welfare reform, proper incentives for the attendance at school, and for a proper assessment of what mutual obligation means in a truly respectful sense, so that together we can walk to a better place and be proud of the achievements that are greater than the expenditure of money.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Madam Speaker, it is all very well for the minister to tell us how much money has been spent. I would like to know some of the actual amounts that are being spent at the grassroots level. For instance, how much does the Treasury or different departments actually take - what percentage do they take - in administration of Commonwealth money?
I mention this because I am referring to the Indigenous Infrastructure Unit and their delivery of indigenous housing programs. I am aware that in contracts that are allocated, often the contractor gets a much lesser amount than the total contract costs. For instance, I know of a case where a contractor received approximately $400 000, but the project manager took his chunk and the department or government took, so that the actual program cost nearly $1m. That extra money could have meant more houses being fixed. What I am asking is: how much does Treasury or government or whoever take in administering Commonwealth money? How much is creamed off? Can you give us a realistic figure?
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his comments. I share with him that view about outcomes. It is one thing to point to the money - what is the difference in education and in health outcomes that we are achieving with those dollars? Government’s focus remains on being able to report exactly what the difference is, and what has been achieved with that expenditure. Importantly though, it was necessary to address the misinformation out there that all of the indigenous-related revenue coming to government was being spent in the towns and not where it ought to be.
The member for Braitling asked a very important question. I well recall in the early days the Indigenous Education Strategic Initiative Program, the old IESIP program, during the early 1990s when former Chief Minister Stone was minister for Education, 40% straight off the top of that $12m to $14m over a three year program went straight to the Northern Territory government for administrative purposes. That was just a straight and outright rip-off. We have none of those sorts of takes throughout programs. I intend to get a more definitive answer for the member for Braitling in relation to the housing programs she raised and get back to her.
Old Admiralty House
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, Old Admiralty House on the Esplanade is amongst Darwin’s best known heritage buildings. It has been a declared heritage place since 1994, a listing which protects both the building and its gardens. The house was built in 1937 and is associated with renowned architect, B C G Burnett. The house was moved to its current location on the Esplanade in 1951. It was the home of the most senior naval officer in the north until 1983. The site is associated with Carl Bleeser who established a garden there in the 1930s. He planted unusual trees, palms and orchids in this garden.
Old Admiralty House suffered minor damage during Cyclone Tracy and was used as an art gallery and coffee shop until 1993. In 2000, the site was sold as a Crown lease to a well known local development company, Jalouise, to allow development of the non-heritage part of the site for residential, hotel and office purposes. An important principle of the sale was for the developer to be required to retain and conserve Old Admiralty House.
Over the following years of the development approval process there was much public concern expressed about the detriment of any surrounding development to Old Admiralty House and the loss of its heritage value to Darwin. Part of the rationale for including the heritage building in the land sold as a development lease was that adapting and reusing a heritage building could provide an income stream that would enable Old Admiralty House to be self-supporting and therefore effecting its own conservation.
In June 2004, the owners applied to convert the house to a restaurant. Part of the development proposal for the site was a requirement for a vegetation management plan in recognition that the gardens were significant. The plan undertook to retain the large rain tree, beauty leaf tree, and frangipannis in the garden, as well as other significant specimens and allow other vegetation to be removed to open up the views of the house and to allow for new areas of paving and lawn.
The Heritage Advisory Council was involved in providing advice about the conversion of the house to a restaurant. The work on the Old Admiralty House involved considerable modifications of the under croft of the building and the construction of two single storey service wings at the rear of the building. There was little change to the upper floor. Conservation work also had to be carried out, including replacing the roof and replacing rotten timber work. I am sure many of you regularly drive along the Esplanade and you will all agree with me that the site of Old Admiralty House has improved immensely and it has been sensitively redeveloped.
As minister responsible for heritage, I am enormously heartened at what can be achieved by the developers, Jalouise. It really shows that intelligent heritage legislation can produce sensible and intelligent results. The old house has new life, and Darwin’s heritage is now accessible to many locals and visitors than ever had visited before.
The Char Restaurant, owned and run by John Kilroy of Boutique Ventures, has brought a breath of fresh air to the building. Even if you are not partial to a good steak it is well worth visiting the upstairs section of the building to see what an impressive job has been done in preserving this lovely old building.
It is a building that is very much part of the story of Darwin. I was told the other day of a gentleman who remembers as a child when he used to sleep over with a school friend, the son of the local naval commander back in the 1960s. Visiting the other day brought back many fond memories for him. It is something that he will be able to show to his children, and help bring alive his own family history as well as that of Darwin.
The restoration and revitalisation of Old Admiralty House proves the truth of the statement ‘Heritage – use it or lose it.’ Our heritage properties are living entities. They are not there to be preserved in aspic and subject to the gentle decay of a building that is not lived in and used. They are places which need people. That is precisely the future of Old Admiralty House. Many thousands of locals and tourists will become part of the living, evolving heritage of this important building.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, whilst I sincerely thank the minister for her report on this important and interesting matter, I am aghast and stunned that the second ministerial report for the first week of a two-week parliamentary sitting, the second-last parliamentary sittings of the year, day one, the second ministerial report on this matter
Members interjecting.
Ms CARNEY: Let us talk about some other issues that are consuming the minds of Territorians. Let us look at the crime statistics - we will be talking about that during these sittings - up across the Territory nett 10%; the number of assaults from 2002 to 2006 rose from 800 to 1000. Might those matters not concern this government, Madam Speaker?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker. It is patently obvious that the Leader of the Opposition does not even know where Old Admiralty House is.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: She is not addressing the issue of the minister’s report. I ask you to call on the Opposition Leader to address the issue at hand which is Old Admiralty House, which, for the member’s information, is on the Esplanade. She should probably go there at lunch today and see what a wonderful job has been done with it.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I ask you …
Dr Lim interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition, I ask you to at least attempt to address the ministerial report.
Ms CARNEY: Had the now humiliated member for Wanguri been patient enough, he would have known I was always going to come back to it. Of course, the member for Wanguri is humiliated. He used to have a number of portfolios but he does not any more. Up he gets because he has to say something because no one is hearing very much from him these days. I do know where it is, by the way. Your arrogance and stupidity is truly remarkable and I never cease to be amazed by it. No wonder he was demoted in the most humiliating of ways possible.
In any event, when one considers the issues which consume the minds of Territorians, one wonders whether the content of the minister’s report this morning matches with the relative importance of the high level of crime in the Northern Territory, the appalling state of Aboriginal health and education in the Northern Territory, hospital waiting lists in the Northern Territory, and the closure of the Farrar after hours medical centre. The list goes on and this government, drunk on its own power, should hang their collective head in shame, the second ministerial report …
Members: Third.
Ms CARNEY: Or third, so be it. The second or third one of a two-week sitting - you have to be joking. You have to be joking.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I have a soft spot for Admiralty House. For many years, Keep Australia Beautiful had its home there. I know that many people were concerned when the land was sold. I would like to withhold my comments on whether the new development is something with which I agree. I have not had a good look at it since the development began. I fear that what has happened to it, to some extent, means it has lost its original ambiance, if you want to call it that. We had a tennis court, and old fashioned gardens surrounding an old building. That gave that place a certain characteristic. Sometimes when you try to turn that type of building into modern commercial premises, it can lose the very essence of what it was originally about.
The minister said: ‘Use it or lose it.’ I urge caution. I am not preaching, but I hope that does not mean that our heritage has to be commercial. Go across the road to Lyons Cottage. That is definitely not a commercial site; it is an historical site that is used but is not a commercial entity. It is good if we can use our heritage, that people can visit these places and can enjoy the historical aspects of a particular building or site. However, I hope that we do not take it to the nth degree and turn them all into commercial sites, which will then become the priority and the heritage we are trying to save becomes less of a priority.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Speaker, I certainly will not comment on the inane ramblings of the Opposition Leader. However, I thank the member for Nelson for his comments. If the Leader of the Opposition was in touch with the electorate, she would find that people are actually quite passionate about heritage. If we look at all our heritage sites throughout the Northern Territory, they are probably the most visited and used sites. That is not saying that government is not concerned about all the other issues that she has raised. She is certainly out of touch with the electorate in terms of heritage. She should do herself a favour and get out there and look at some of these sites and get in touch with people who are passionate about the use and conservation of heritage works.
NT Fleet
Mr McADAM (Corporate and Information Services): Madam Speaker, I report to the House about this government’s objective to acquire more fuel efficient and greenhouse friendly vehicles.
The Northern Territory government has in its fleet approximately 2400 passenger and commercial vehicles. This is made up of approximately 1000 four cylinder vehicles and 1400 six cylinder vehicles. It is a diverse fleet, catering for the operational needs of all agencies across government with the exception of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services. More than 1600 vehicles in the fleet are commercial vehicles, such as utilities and wagons. Many of these are diesel four-wheel drive vehicles.
Government is cognisant of rising fuel costs and the consequential requirements for more fuel efficient vehicles. Rising fuel prices and this government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases as articulated in our Strategy for Greenhouse Action 2006 is the catalyst for change towards acquiring vehicles that are more efficient to run, economic to own and, where available, to use sustainable fuel alternatives.
Government must strike a balance without compromising program delivery between its strategies to reduce greenhouse gases and ensuring an effective, economically viable vehicle fleet matched to operational needs. Significant technological advances are being made across the world today in the development of more fuel efficient vehicles; electric cars, petrol/electric and diesel/electric hybrid cars, natural gas, LPG, biodiesel and hydrogen fuel powered vehicles are all at various stages of development. The prices of some are not yet practical or economically viable.
For some time now, NT Fleet has trialled hybrid vehicles in its fleet to encourage greater use where operationally suitable. A subsidy is available to agencies by bringing the higher rate in line with the base model Holden V6 sedan. Hybrid vehicles will become more prevalent in our fleet as the purchase price reduces and fuel costs increase.
There are other strategies which are being implemented aimed at achieving government’s goal. A number of dedicated LPG vehicles and turbocharged diesels are being purchased. These vehicles will be evaluated with regard to operational suitability, fuel efficiency and cost effectiveness. NT Fleet is encouraging the use of four cylinder vehicles in lieu of six cylinder vehicles, again, where operationally suitable. Four cylinder vehicles generally have a lower purchase price, lower maintenance and fuel costs, and given the current cost of fuel, they also have an increasing resale value. At the same time, the six cylinder models have a declining resale value which adds to the total ownership costs.
A benefit of the trend of purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles is the reduction in CO2 gas emissions from 298g per kilometre in 2004 to 273g per kilometre in 2006. This represents an 8% reduction and 12 months earlier than anticipated by the Greenhouse Action strategy. The target now set for 2007 is 250g per kilometre.
Further contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is NT Fleet’s successful participation in biodiesel fuel trials. As biodiesel becomes commercially available in the Northern Territory, the government will take steps to make the fuel available for use in diesel engined government vehicles. As well as the move to the more fuel efficient four cylinder vehicles in the government fleet, NT Fleet will be evaluating opportunities to increase the number of alternative fuel vehicles.
Vehicles purchased will need to be matched to the operational needs of the government agencies, represent value for money, be more fuel efficient and reduce output of greenhouse gases. As they do, these vehicles will become an integral part of the government’s fleet into the future.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I welcome the minister’s report about the government’s intentions to roll out more fuel efficient vehicles within NT Fleet. I find it ironic though - or perhaps a little cynical - I recall the member for Casuarina, when he was the minister, saying that they are going to use as many hybrid vehicles as they possibly can within government. During estimates, we asked how many hybrid vehicles they have, and it was less than 10, I understand. The minister said that three or four years ago.
It is all well and good for the minister to say: ‘We are going to be fuel efficient so that we can reduce the costs, and show that NT Fleet operates efficiently - get cars that retain their value’, and all that sort of stuff. The reality is this government is full of rhetoric but does not follow through on the promises that it makes. The number of hybrid electric cars that the member for Casuarina promised is not there.
As regards making sure NT Fleet has fuel efficient vehicles, what is most disgraceful is the way the Chief Minister has completely abandoned the issue of fuel prices in the Territory. As the Opposition Leader, she was strident about the cost of fuel in the Northern Territory when it was less than $1 per litre. However, in the last two or three years, when the price of fuel has been extremely high, she has done absolutely nothing apart from calling a consultant in to have a look at it, and then did nothing with it after that. That is the hypocrisy of this government; they say they are going to do something and they do not follow through. They complained about fuel prices when they were in opposition, and when in government they do absolutely nothing.
Minister, I look forward to a real serious roll-out of fuel efficient vehicles …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, your time has expired. The overall time for ministerial reports has expired.
Reports noted pursuant to Standing Orders.
Mr Wood: Madam Speaker, could I ask if the Standing Orders Committee would look at the maximum time allowed for speakers be equivalent to the total time that is given to list the reports. That is what the problem is …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, please resume your seat. That is a matter for the Standing Orders Committee. If you wish to, you can write to the Leader of Government Business on that matter.
JUSTICE LEGISLATION
AMENDMENT BILL (No 2)
(Serial 68)
Continued from 30 August 2006.Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I will not take up all of the time allocated to me, but there are a number of points that need to be made in relation to this bill which, at first glance, looks impressive. Certainly, if one believes the high level of government spin, the average Territorian would believe that this is a good bill. Indeed, when I first glanced through it several weeks ago, I did not think there were too many difficulties with it. However, as we so often see with legislation brought into this Chamber by the government, once one scratches below the surface and does a reasonably thorough analysis, it is regularly demonstrated that the substance of the legislation does not match the spin and propaganda put out by the fifth floor; that is, the government floor of Parliament House. There are numerous examples of that and this is another one.
Yesterday, I issued a media release and I will quote some parts of it because it highlights the difficulties with this legislation and, most importantly, the difference between the reality and the truth. I said in my media release yesterday:
- With overall crime in the Northern Territory shooting up by 11% …
It is actually just under 11% …
- … in the last year and more than a thousand assaults reported to police in the June quarter, we need action urgently.
This legislation is not that action. Merely changing the name of an offence, for instance, from ‘affray’ to ‘violent disorder’, brings the language into the 21st century, but leaves the law in the 19th century.
I went on to say in my media release that cosmetic changes will not help residents who feel unsafe in their neighbourhoods after dark …
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Madam Speaker. I just seek clarification that the member for Araluen is in fact referring to the Justice Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2). There are nine miscellaneous – are you on gangs-related?
Ms CARNEY: This is the – sorry, Madam Speaker, forgive the informality, but …
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, just pause. Minister, could you just give a brief run down of what is in the bill.
Mr STIRLING: This goes to nine justice portfolios - Associations Act, Commercial and Private Agents Act, Domestic Violence Act, Interpretation Act, Justices Act, Legal Aid Commission Act, Supreme Court Act, Unit Titles Act, and the Youth Justice Act.
Ms Carney: It is the interpretation one?
Mr STIRLING: Yes.
Ms CARNEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I apologise unreservedly for that. I understood through the Whip or Whips and my office that we were dealing with this legislation this morning.
Mr Stirling: Apologies for any misunderstanding.
Ms CARNEY: Mea culpa, mea culpa. That makes it much more straightforward, Madam Speaker. We are in fact dealing with Serial No 68. If you bear with me for just a second.
Madam Speaker, can I make it clear that the comments I have made thus far were in relation to the Justice Legislation Amendment (Group Criminal Activities) Bill. For the reasons I have outlined, that is, it was understood from the Whips and certainly by my office that that was the bill we were proposing to deal with. Clearly, I will repeat those remarks at another time.
Attorney-General, you will be delighted to hear that the comments I propose to make in relation to this bill, Serial 68 are fundamentally different from the ones in relation to the bill known as the gangs bill.
The amendments in the Justice Legislation Amendment Bill, although lengthy, are in so many ways straightforward. They represent a fairly standard and not infrequent repairing or rectification of various legislative matters. We have seen it before under this government and I am sure it occurred under the previous government.
Having had a look at all of the legislation that this bill touches, and it is many – the list goes on and on, everything from the Domestic Violence Amendment Act, Commercial and Private Agents Licensing Act, Associations Act, the Legal Aid Commission Act, the Supreme Court Act, and the Unit Titles Act, just to name a few; the Interpretation Act is always an interesting one to tinker with; the Cullen Bay Marina Act. The list really does go on. These are for the most part standard and uncontentious amendments. It would be an unwise opposition regardless of which side of politics they came from in my view to oppose legislation of this nature.
I could take swipes at government, tempting though it is, when it comes to the need to amend some of this legislation because this is some of the legislation that this government has brought in. I understand that the government receives advice from Parliamentary Counsel and other people from within the Department of Justice and mistakes on occasion can be made. I think at the last sittings we debated a bill that contained some very serious omissions from the bill that the government intended to introduce. I called it the Oops Bill. I do not say that in relation to this bill. I simply say that for the most part they are standard, reasonable and uncontentious amendments. I am very pleased to be able to say that we support them.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her comments. The Justice portfolio covers 143 separate acts so there will always be from time to time a need for bills of this nature to ensure that the legislation on our books is doing as it is intended to best accomplish government objectives. The bill demonstrates that the previous Attorney-General, and indeed I will carry that same attitude – near enough is not good enough in legislation.
These amendments have arisen from a wide variety of sources: stakeholders in the community, community, industry and interest groups. It shows that my predecessor and it is a role I intend to emulate in terms of listening to the community where they foresee deficiencies in legislation and work is done to rectify it. They are not necessarily errors in drafting or errors in legislation, but more matters of interpretation, or a better way of expressing the legislation to ensure that it is meeting government’s requirements to accomplish objectives. I thank the member for Araluen for her comments.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Mr STIRLING (Justice and Attorney-General)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
MOTION
Note Statement – Volatile Substance Misuse and Prevention and Intervention Program
Continued from 24 August 2006.
Ms McCARTHY (Arnhem): Madam Speaker, I support the statement on volatile substance abuse. I am delighted to be able to give a progress report on communities in Arnhem Land.
We have heard many times in this House about the scourge of petrol sniffing in our remote communities, and the efforts by local families and organisations and police to not only help sniffers rehabilitate, but to preferably get rid of sniffing altogether. When I first toured the Arnhem region, I learnt quite quickly about the devastating effects of sniffing in places like Ngukurr. In Ngukurr, there were young men and women who were struggling with their addictions. The fears of family members unsure or unable to deal with this problem were highlighted in the inquiry that was held across the Northern Territory and carried through quite strongly by the previous minister and now the current minister in the battle of this government against petrol sniffing.
The act provides a range of new powers to enable individuals, communities and government agencies to prevent and better respond to sniffing. These include powers for police and others to search individuals and seize and dispose of volatile substances and implements used to inhale volatile substances; powers for police and others to take people who are intoxicated by volatile substances home or to other places of safety; powers for the court to compel people who have chronic volatile substance misuse problems to participate in treatment; powers for communities to create local controls on the sale and supply of volatile substances that are enforceable under Territory law; stronger penalties for knowingly supplying volatile substances to people to inhale; and new protections for people who inform police about offences under the act.
When we look at the new range of powers that have come through, and in the six months that we have been monitoring this battle against petrol sniffing, I say to the minister that it is most definitely having an impact in places like Ngukurr and Groote Eylandt where we see people like Michelle Clark, who works around the clock with the sniffers in the community. Since the implementation of these laws, they have had tremendous support in trying to tackle the issues on a legal level. It is not about sending sniffers to gaol, which is what the opposition wanted to do. Their answer was always to lock people up. These people need help, which is what this government is doing.
When we look at the $10m that is being rolled out over five years across the Northern Territory, I can certainly see the benefits on the ground. The minister should be encouraged by what is happening, particularly in places like Groote Eylandt. GEMCO, the mining company at Alyangula, is working hard with the Australian government and fuel suppliers to get Opal fuel to Groote Eylandt as soon as possible. Opal is the fuel that we all have been seeing as a strong part of dealing with the problems with petrol sniffing, but we all know that is it not the only solution. On Groote Eylandt, they are hoping that Opal fuel will arrive in January or February 2007, and I hope to give an update by April to let the House know what is going on with Opal fuel.
Opal fuel is in Ngukurr. The community was the first to have Avgas in the early years to try to deal with and combat petrol sniffing. They have now progressed to Opal fuel and it is having an incredible impact. Not only at Ngukurr but also at Roper Bar which is the nearest fuel stop to the community. There was a concern in the lead-up to having Opal rolled out in the area, simply by the terminology that surrounded Opal fuel, and that was that, on a technical level, only communities could have Opal fuel, so places like Yulara and Alyangula missed out. Now, with the help of the Northern Territory government, the federal government is coming to see that Opal fuel is necessary in places like Yulara because it has the community of Mutijulu nearby and it is necessary in places like Alyangula, which is the only fuel supplier for Umbakumba, Angurugu and Bickerton Island.
At Numbulwar, there has been a reduction in petrol sniffing, and that is largely related to the new police post opening there in May. The $2.5m police post has made major improvements in law and order in the area. We know that this legislation is giving new powers to enable individuals in communities and government agencies, and with the police stationed in Numbulwar, to deal with petrol sniffing.
As I said earlier, we know that it is a combination of factors. It is not just Opal fuel, it is not just law and order; it is a combination of many things. It also begins with the sniffers themselves and their families looking for treatment. I commend the minister and her department on the treatment options that are available for sniffers, largely centered around Central Australia. There is CAAPS in the Top End, the Council of Aboriginal Alcohol Program Service, which is providing residential rehabilitation for both adults and young people. Very similar to the DASA service, CAAPS encourages family involvement in treatment and all young people must be accompanied by a carer. This ensures new skills learned in treatment are shared across families and provides an additional support for the person in treatment. The service can take up to 12 people at any one time. CAAPS has had a total of six clients, and currently have four clients in the service, two young people and an adult carer, as well as two adult clients. Of these, two are voluntary referrals and two are being directed through the justice system. I commend the minister and her department.
There are a number of areas that we have to tackle with this issue of petrol sniffing, and they are the treatment and rehabilitation of those people who desperately need the help, and the support that must be there for families who are trying to deal with their loved ones coping with this absolute scourge on their families and their communities. It is also about the wider aspect of health and education in our communities, access to better health, access to better education, and access to jobs and activities for youth in terms of sport and recreation in our communities.
I would like the minister and her department to know that that is an area that I am absolutely passionate about in regards to the communities of Arnhem. We must focus as a government on the broader issues that can help combat petrol sniffing and other substance abuse problems that we have within our communities, by improving and working on recreational and sporting activities for our youth, because it is our youth who are our leaders of the future. It is our youth that we must invest in. We must invest in people in our communities and, by investing in our people we are investing in the Northern Territory. We know for a fact that, in 20 years’ time, the population growth of our communities in our remote areas is such that half the population of the Northern Territory will be Aboriginal people.
I am confident that our government is absolutely focused on working not only in the area of petrol sniffing but in other areas where abuse is rampant in our communities especially alcohol and other substance abuse.
Over the first two years of the volatile substance misuse funding, a total of $1.44m was allocated to the remote service development. This has proved both rewarding in community interest and commitment. However, it has also been difficult and, in some instances, has not been able to be fully realised. We are conscious of that. It is something that, when we give a full 12-month report on how this issue is being dealt with in our communities, we will be able to progress on issues that are occurring in places like Groote Eylandt, Umbakumba, Numbulwar and Ngukurr.
With the roll-out of Opal fuel, I would like to stress to our federal counterparts the importance of having that fuel out in our communities and regions where it is desperately needed. They must listen to those organisations and individuals who are asking for that fuel to be there. We must do what we can as a community - both federally and in the Northern Territory - to recognise that needs of our most vulnerable in society outweigh the economic needs of those who see that Opal fuel is not what they thought it would be.
As of August this year, some 26 communities and five islands in the Northern Territory have been approved to be supplied with Opal. There are currently 25 communities and seven roadhouses supplying Opal fuel. I recognise that the Australian government’s part in Opal fuel is important. I say to the minister and her department that there is ongoing concern with the federal government agenda in funding of homelands and communities, and the current issues being raised about the permit system. All of this is important in the future direction, planning and the vision for our communities and where they are going, and where we would like to encourage them to go.
We are being told at a federal level that our communities are no longer going to be around, that some of them are going to be scrapped and thrown away, and people are going to have to think about moving into the towns and cities with no consideration given to the cultural value to those homelands and those communities and the sense of identity of Aboriginal people. This is an agenda that we need to be absolutely vigilant about. It is quite horrifying to think that the federal government is intending to move along those lines, with all the messages that it is sending from Canberra. I encourage the minister and our government to be absolutely vigilant about the future growth of our regions.
Madam Speaker, I commend the minister’s statement to the House.
Ms ANDERSON (Macdonnell): Madam Speaker, I speak in support of the progress report on the implementation of the Northern Territory’s Volatile Substance Misuse Prevention and Intervention program brought to this House by the Minister for Family and Community Services.
In the first six months of operation, the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act, in conjunction with the roll-out of Opal fuel, has made a real impact on inhalant abuse. In Central Australia, there has been a significant reduction in petrol sniffing, and the communities of Central Australia have responded so positively to the VSA legislation that the department has had to work hard to respond to all the requests for management plans and treatment.
I am proud of the response of my communities to this legislation. All of the communities in my electorate where petrol sniffing has been a problem have applied for community area management plans - Papunya, Mt Liebig, Kintore, Ikuntji, Mutitjulu, Docker River, Imanpa and Ntaria. Hoppy’s Camp in Alice Springs, whose residents have cultural and family ties to the Luritja/Pintubi communities at Papunya, Ikuntji, Mt Liebig and Kintore, are also considering applications for an area management plan.
As the minister said, the initial success of this legislation has been due to a real team effort. For the community, some real support is being provided in tackling substance misuse by everyone from individuals in the communities, to police, NGOs and the staff from Alcohol and Other Drugs programs. This is an impressive start for the introduction of this legislation and reflects the fact that residents of these communities see management plans as a concept step that they can take to reduce inhalant abuse in their communities. They are welcoming the opportunity to actually do something.
In the past, programs rolled out 10 years ago were not a consultative process, did not have the input of the community, and were targeting just petrol sniffers. Other children in the community who were attending school on a regular basis and being good students of the community, good children to their parents, saw programs being rolled out in these communities that were just targeting bad children who were sniffing petrol. This government has initiated something that incorporates the whole community, parents, and NGOs, to deliver to these children, and through the management plans, giving real responsibility back to the people and the communities so that they can deal with other underlying issues that lead to substance abuse.
For years, communities have been told that preventing and responding to petrol sniffing was their responsibility. To quote Dr Paul Torzillo:
- There seems to be a widespread view within government that this is a problem which the community should solve, it is their responsibility. These are communities with less resources and ability to control a tough problem than any mainstream community … and secondly, that’s not a demand that’s put on any other community in this country. No-one, no politician and no bureaucracy expects a suburb like Cabramatta to solve the heroin problem - so the people of Cabramatta are not told it’s up to them to do it.
It reflects what I said earlier, that these good children of the community saw rewards being handed out to sniffers so they then took on sniffing to get onto all the programs that were identified by government just for petrol sniffers. As a result, considerable frustration has developed in these communities over the years, and they are keen to grab the opportunity that the VSA legislation has offered and develop management plans that they hope will sustain the hard won reduction in inhalant abuse that we currently enjoy.
In Central Australia, the Northern Territory government contracted Central Australian Youth Link Up Services (CAYLUS), Waltja and NPY to provide information and support to communities in developing their responses. This strategy has been effective. I congratulate the minister for recognising the importance of communities having a clear understanding of the intent and powers contained within the act.
As I said earlier, all of these communities have applied for community management plans, and they are awaiting action by the department. I understand that the department has been somewhat overwhelmed by the response from Central Australia and that careful consideration needs to be given to the implications and the practical effects of management areas. I join with the minister encouraging the Alcohol and Other Drugs Program to expedite the process. It is important that we do not fail these communities again.
In relation to the treatment provisions of the act, the demand for treatment from Central Australia has been overwhelming. The most promising aspect has been those clients who have been referred for compulsory treatment from their home communities. They have agreed to participate as voluntary clients. Information from the department is that what prompts the sniffers to agree to voluntary treatment is the expression of concern at the home community and engagement with the person using volatiles that prompts voluntary participation.
This is significant because the kids needing treatment, those who tend to be the most chronic sniffers, are kids whose parents have died, or have significant members of their families who are chronic substance abusers themselves. These kids carry with them a lot of personal hurt and in many cases they have been additionally hurt as their inhalant abuse has led to them being isolated from their own communities. They are kids who deserve treatment. They do not deserve gaol. The positive response to this treatment means that the demand for places in Central Australia is high, and putting pressure on the limited places available, a situation that will ease with the opening of Aranda House facility in March 2007.
The Bush Mob in Alice Springs is also providing outreach therapeutic care including counselling, case management skills, development and family therapy. The Bush Mob supports clients living in town and remote areas, and will provide support to the residential service for young people when it is operational.
Also, Ilpurle and Mt Theo will continue to run their successful program for substance abusing youth. Ilpurle, run by Barry and Leo Abbott, is a credible and successful program that looks after young men that no one else can handle. Barry has been responsible for saving many lives over the 40 years he has provided the service to the community. He was the 2005 winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution in Drug and Alcohol Endeavours.
Barry Abbott has been looking after people in this area since the 1970s. He has ‘grown up’ literally hundreds of young people over this time, and is a locally known resource. Children from all over Central Australia now refer to him as ‘dad’ or ‘uncle’ because he has grown these children up from such a young age and gave them the opportunity and a vision to continue, with good support from other adults, a good life so that they can see the light on the hill, so that they can have a vision, a future, through good education, through good mentoring. That is the kind of thing that we as government have to support.
Barry sees the causes of substance abuse in the poverty of communities, and I quote:
- I see kids all the time that are hungry, that don’t have good schools or community resources - this is what’s leading to their drug taking. I’d like to invite more people, especially politicians, to come and visit us - not just in Alice Springs, but out in the bush where they can see for themselves the work we do and the conditions Indigenous people live in. I’d like Ilpurle to get more funding and more staff and for us to involve the parents in the program - get them out here staying with their kids so that we break the habit of whole families, not just one generation.
Barry’s view is taking the whole family into rehabilitation rather than just a child so that he maintains the connection of that child to his parents. At the same time as that child is learning new habits of living without drugs, the family is also learning the same habit. It is about keeping the family together so that the whole family, with this new life, can move forward, rather than just the child.
Barry is talking about the need to address the underlying causes of substance misuse. Whilst the roll-out of Opal fuel has provided communities with respite from petrol sniffing, we need to act to ensure that they do not adopt other forms of substance misuse. That is a big concern amongst indigenous people in Central Australia, that we just do not take Opal for granted or that it is the only solution. We have to have a look at the underlying issues. As I said earlier, some of these children are orphans. They have lost their parents from the age of two, some from the age of five, or both parents are either drinking in Darwin, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs and they are real outcasts among their own people in their own community because of the fact that they sniff petrol.
We have to look at the underlying issues of education, health and everything that the member for Arnhem mentioned, including the fact that we keep people on homelands. Homelands are a treatment centre away from the problems of major communities. We have to keep that in the back of our minds when we are talking about regional development and planning for the future of indigenous people that we take into consideration the thoughts and aspirations of indigenous people, too. The ultimate answers lie in remote communities’ development, particularly in the areas of employment, infrastructure, economic viability, access to services and self-determination.
A very good start has been made. This legislation is the first of its kind in Australia. The act and its proposed regulations empower police and communities to take legally supported steps to deal with petrol sniffing. The legislation is a major step and could support communities in declaring legally enforceable, sniffable fuel-free areas, forcing sniffers into treatment and taking petrol and other sniffable substances away from sniffers. The legislation is backed by some significant resource commitment, but further resources will be required in order to address the underlying causes of substance misuse.
Madam Speaker, in closing, I commend this minister and the previous minister for putting together such a wonderful act which encourages communities and people to participate in the legislation. I commend the statement to the House.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Madam Speaker, I support the statement. I was not going to speak on this matter today, but I have been moved by the contributions of many of the members especially the member for Macdonnell who, not only through her observations, but her experience in her communities, understands what effects petrol sniffing, other substances, alcohol and other drugs can have on her community, her family and her people.
That is why we need to recognise the importance of the assets that we have here on the government benches. Each member and each electorate has its own special needs and those, in many different ways, are best represented by their members. That does not mean that their members know everything, but it definitely means that they are in touch with what happens in their electorate. They need to be respected and consulted in any legislation or any reforms which are going to affect their constituency.
I thank the minister and this government, because this is an issue that we know has not all of a sudden come under scrutiny under the Northern Territory government of the Labor Party, but has been an historically sad and tragic event that has happened for many years. I am very proud to be part of a government that has said enough is enough and we are going to try to deal with this matter.
We also heard from the member for Arnhem. As we all know, she is a great orator and has clarified in everyone’s mind the need for these matters to be addressed.
The member for Arafura has a deep and personal understanding of what substance abuse can do, not only within her community, but within her family. She has spoken strongly, over the last five years that I have been a member of this House with her, on these issues.
We heard from the opposition and we thank them for their contributions. We heard from the member for Braitling who spoke very passionately about this issue.
One of the members who moved me the most, I suppose, and it has been commented on, that the former member for Stuart - the new member has big boots to fill - spoke from the heart at the last sittings about his passion of what he had to do as a member of a community in the 1980s chasing young children around, removing petrol from people’s hands and trying to deal with these problems. The former member for Stuart was a very interesting character and often it was hard to get him to show his emotions. On this issue, in one of his last contributions, he was very passionate.
The message from the member for Macdonnell and other members was that services need to be provided to bush constituents, whether it is counselling or other care. What we see in these areas are what young people are struggling with all over the nation, whether they live in Sydney, Melbourne, Stuart, Arnhem, Macdonnell or Arafura. That is young people finding an identity for themselves and finding a place in the world.
The issues that often turn people to substance abuse, whether they are white, black, brown or purple, whether they live in urban areas or remote areas, whether they live in New South Wales or the Northern Territory, is that of young people suffering from boredom and needing opportunities to do different things, even basic issues like people being hungry. In many ways, the move to substance abuse and other volatile substances is a cry for help.
The member for Macdonnell spoke about young men. I suppose, as a young man not so long ago, one of the issues of a young person is that you are always trying to find out what your place in the world is. There is no doubt that, for young indigenous men all through the bush and urban areas, there is a sense of what is your identity. The reality is, I am proud to say, that we saw a young man come in today for the first time, with a welcome from the House, proud to be representing his area, and that was the new member for Stuart. People often forget that the roles of young men are quite different to young women. The pressures young people face as young men are a lot different, and unfortunately, a lot of them are around ego, pride, pride of their own manhood, and pride in where they stand in their community. Often, what indigenous men value in the bush and urban areas are not valued by the wider community. Therefore, if it is not valued by the wider community, what value does it have?
Unfortunately, many of my friends and family have, on different occasions, turned to other substances as a cry for help, as a cry to find a better way. All members of this House understand and know that this is not the path to go. We will struggle with substance abuse, volatile substances and other substances like marijuana, alcohol, speed and other serious amphetamines coming into the community, not only in urban areas but in remote areas.
I want to state that this debate is not confined to indigenous people; it is happening to all young people right across the board.
We have to come up with options. The minister has outlined a path forward; Cabinet has agreed to properly fund this path forward. The big issue for us is to say that we have this problem, identify what this problem is, and move forward and try to come up with solutions. I always come back to the fact that the backbench and ministers represent constituencies. Those electorates have certain dynamics that only the local member really understands to the nth degree. The members for Macdonnell, Arafura, Arnhem, the previous member for Stuart – and no doubt the new member for Stuart will reflect on a lot of those areas – and Daly represent bush seats. The member for Nhulunbuy has been passionate about this subject, not only publicly in this House but outside in the media and probably amongst his colleagues, regarding the need to address substance abuse and volatile substance abuse.
In my electorate, I have a large proportion of people who are non-indigenous, but they face the same problems: drugs, alcohol and amphetamines, eccies, the new wave of social drugs leading to more serious gateway drugs. I have three community town camps in my electorate - Kulaluk, Minmirama Park and Bagot Community. Those town camps have a variety of different issues facing them and have different problems in terms of alcohol abuse and drug abuse. Luckily though, the incidence of petrol sniffing and substance abuse is quite minimal. What we are seeing, though, are those communities, at different levels at different times, trying to address these problems. This framework by the minister will help with those issues.
I commend this to the House; it is about the positive future, about a vision, about creating opportunities for young people out in the bush. This is the Northern Territory government’s responsibility and I know that the minister will be working with the Commonwealth government regarding resources. This is a shift by the current NT government away from previous policy. However, I would like to warn every member in this House that this can only be done if there is a shift in the indigenous communities’ view on substance abuse and volatile substances. Each member has a responsibility to make that shift happen. We have heard on different occasions that indigenous communities are starting to make that shift, are starting to say this is wrong and we need to do something about it
Madam Speaker, I just felt a need, a passion, to contribute to this statement; to put my name on the record to say that I support what the minister is doing and what this government is doing.
Dr BURNS (Health): Madam Speaker, I speak in my capacity not only as Minister for Health, but also as Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services. As a number of people in the House would be aware, when I was at the Menzies School of Health Research, I spent a considerable amount of time researching the area of petrol sniffing - not only researching but looking at valid ways to actually decrease the incidence of petrol sniffing, and to decrease the social and physical effects of petrol sniffing on predominately young Aboriginal men, as referred to by the member for Millner.
I have not been on the record many times since I have been in the House talking on petrol sniffing as I felt I made a contribution at that time, and as members would be aware Maningrida was where much of the study that I was involved in was focused. Basically, through that study and through drawing that community together petrol sniffing was eliminated from that community. I understand there may have been sporadic outbreaks since then, but that was a real victory for that community.
I know that it is very important to develop strategies. Those strategies were outlined In the PhD thesis that I wrote and papers that I wrote and published including the Medical Journal of Australia. At the core of the strategies were firstly supporting communities which had been ravaged by petrol sniffing. Supporting them, giving them strength, giving them a framework where they could address these issues and try to bring their young people who strayed back into the family fold. In Maningrida, it was a range of strategies which included substituting Avgas in the fuel supply, and also the development of training and employment strategies for that community. That community responded in a very strong way. A big part of it was empowering the parents and the elders and leadership within that community.
I am pleased to speak today on some of the strategies that this government has employed to address the issue of petrol sniffing. I would have to say that in some of the papers that I wrote I raised a question mark over whether legal sanctions would be an effective strategy to curb petrol sniffing. There was much debate at that time about it, but this government has gone ahead. It has brought in legal sanctions, a whole range of strategies, and I am very proud to say that I believe that those strategies have worked. I commend the minister for her foresight and energy in bringing this into the parliament, and for the success that has been gained through these strategies.
Members would be aware that a big part of this strategy is pouring out the petrol; taking the petrol from these young kids and pouring it out on the ground. That is empowering communities and the specific officers in those communities to do that. The police have been very active in that regard and that is sending a message to the young people: we are not going to tolerate petrol sniffing; we are pouring the petrol out on the ground. I know on a number of communities, whether it is in Central Australia or in northern Australia, with some impunity; you see kids wandering around in the daylight with cans of petrol or soft drink containers of petrol to their face. I believe that is becoming a thing of the past as we are empowering communities and police, giving them the powers to pour out the petrol.
As part of the strategies that were introduced by the minister, and I might say were criticised by the opposition, were the compulsory treatment orders. The opposition wanted to gaol people. I have never been one for gaoling these young people. That is not the solution. I believe the solution has been found by the minister and this government for compulsory treatment orders. Police are playing a pivotal role in processing these requests for treatment of individuals. The police are targeting the traffickers. We know that there are people who traffic in petrol for their own nefarious ends. The police are targeting those people. All in all, these are effective strategies to address the problem of petrol sniffing.
We are a government also which understands that sanctions play a part in it but there is a wider issue here with our young people, particularly young indigenous people in the remote parts of the Territory. That issue is to provide useful activity for those people whether it is employment, whether it is recreation, whether it is education. We are a government which is trying to look at regional development for our remote areas and provide a pathway for young indigenous people, particularly young men, to walk away from petrol sniffing and all its adverse effects.
I come back to my experience at Maningrida. When this study was begun in the early 1990s, I found that the council was in a heap, it was not a functioning very well. However, the council and leadership in that community had come to a point where they said: ‘We want to handle the Community Service Orders that the court is handing out for these young kids who are offending in relation to petrol sniffing’. At that stage it was break and enters, those sorts of fairly minor offences, but when they become aggregated, it becomes a police matter. The courts did allow the community council to take on those Community Service Orders and those young people. A coordinator was appointed. Some of the young men were in their teens, but some of them were in their 20s, some of them might have even been approaching their 30s. They were given various tasks in that community, including cleaning up the airport, fencing at the airport, and many of those young men used that as a springboard to get into employment.
I remember that there was a number of work groups associated with that. There was the demolition crew - I remember them very well - going around demolishing the old houses. There was the ‘roach busters’ – that was a very important crew that undertook pest control. There was a building crew; a crew that did the painting and there were others who went into the mechanical workshop and some of them are still working there today.
You could see these young men transformed from being social pariahs in that community, from being outcasts; they felt they were participating in the community, that they were giving something worthwhile back to the community and that their contribution was being recognised. There was camaraderie. They wanted to go to work. They wanted to get up every day and go to work. This was a very important strategy.
We have to look at employment and regional development. This is a government that is doing that. We are really focused on bringing regional employment and development to these areas which are afflicted by petrol sniffing. This is a government that cares about those young people, that is determined to take action. We have taken action. The minister’s report has illustrated that it is very important and that it is working. I commend the police for their work, I commend the FACS workers for their work also, and I particularly commend community members who are really standing up and saying: ‘We do not want to see our young people in the grip of petrol sniffing any more. We do not want to see their health deteriorate. We do not want to see them as outcasts. We want to bring them back into our family group. We want to bring them back into our community. We want them to contribute to our community’.
Madam Speaker, as I said before, I have not before spoken in this House about my research in this area, but I have today. I am proud to be part of a government that is taking such positive steps on an issue that has been around for a long time. Our government is committed to reducing petrol sniffing in the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE (Family and Community Services): Madam Speaker, I thank all members for their contributions. The statement was an important update on the success of the government’s hallmark legislation in tackling petrol sniffing. I am very proud of the legislation that my predecessor, the member for Arafura, worked very hard on and introduced to this parliament. It is a cause close to my heart, and I will pursue it and continue the good work done.
I am mindful that the successes I talked about in this statement are not guaranteed to last and that we must continue to work hard to stay in front of the fight against petrol sniffing. People like the members for Arafura, Macdonnell, Arnhem and the former member for Stuart have been at the forefront in tackling petrol sniffing. It stands in stark contrast of the CLP which, in previous comments on this legislation, had damned the government’s attempts to tackle petrol sniffing.
In his contribution last sittings, the former member for Stuart put it very well. He said:
- This debate has exposed more born-agains than a Billy Graham rally.
It was a memorable comment from the former member for Stuart. At the time of passing this legislation, the CLP opposition invested enormous energy in attacking the legislation. Looking back at some of the things the CLP members said when the legislation was debated, they called it ‘kneejerk’ legislation and said it would not work.
How is this for a quote: ‘$10m to address petrol sniffing problems is a dumb way to spend money’. At least this time the member for Greatorex could bring himself to offer ‘qualified support’. Unfortunately, he then went on to state that the CLP’s policy, as announced prior to the last election, still stands. This is the policy that involves two years’ gaol for anyone caught petrol sniffing, and a cancellation of all petrol sniffing rehabilitation programs. It is a shameful policy. I cannot understand how you can offer qualified support for the statement and the actions of government, and yet still stick by the CLP policy, which is the opposite of what we are doing. Their policy is a ‘throw away the key’ policy.
The member for Greatorex spent quite a bit of time talking about what happens to a sniffer once they have been apprehended or had petrol poured out. The answer is in this statement – 44 applications for compulsory treatment orders have been made. As I said in the statement, this is just the compulsory treatment orders. We are advised by workers on the ground, including CAYLUS in Central Australia - which is doing a remarkable job and I congratulate them - that there have been a large number of voluntary treatment presentations as a result of having the threat of compulsory treatment. So, what we are finding is the compulsory treatment orders are the minority; a large number of people voluntarily put themselves into treatment on the threat of a compulsory treatment order.
In the statement, I outlined the contribution that the roll-out of Opal, that is, the non-sniffable fuel, has made. Since then, there have been reports in Alice Springs that Opal is harmful to cars. This is absolutely erroneous. Opal has been vigorously tested by BP to the extent that they have convinced the Commonwealth government that it does not harm vehicles to any greater degree than normal unleaded fuel. I am aware that both BP and the Commonwealth government are looking at awareness and education campaigns to ensure the community has confidence in Opal. The federal Health minister, Tony Abbott, has been very strong on this issue and shown great leadership. His recent suggestion that the Commonwealth will consider making Opal compulsory demonstrates his commitment to this issue.
I understand the Leader of the Opposition has written to the federal minister for Health, Tony Abbott, opposing his suggestion in regard to compulsory Opal. I believe it is shameful that the CLP will do anything to undermine the fight against petrol sniffing. They have had a long history of ignoring the problem. The Leader of the Opposition must have heard a rumour that additives can make Opal sniffable. Rather than trying to find out the facts, she sought to immediately undermine Opal and compromise its effectiveness. The fact is that Opal does not contain any sniffable substances. Of course, like any liquid, such as orange juice or water, if you add a sniffable substance, then the concoction can become sniffable.
The Northern Territory government will continue to work with the Commonwealth, BP and the community to promote the use of Opal. It is effective, it works, and it is improving the lives of Territorians.
I thank the former member for Stuart. He has made a valuable contribution over many years. The Mt Theo project that he referred to is an enormous success. Our VSA legislation will help Mt Theo work with sniffers to get them back on track. The work with BP has been undertaken over several years to develop Opal. The former member for Stuart was able to outline the importance of this work being done to tackle not just the symptoms, he talked about the importance of tackling the causes of petrol sniffing and the difference that youth and recreation opportunities can make to the lives of young Territorians.
The member for Braitling also made a positive contribution. She indicated that she was not getting as many complaints about petrol sniffing as she once did. I hope that it stays that way, and I am sure that she will let me know if complaints rise again.
Great work is being done by CAYLUS. They have newsletters to inform communities about the new laws, they have put up signs, and they are encouraging people to put up signs promoting Opal fuel. There are great recreational programs in places such as Docker River which are put in place to help keep kids away from sniffing. More information on the take-up of voluntary treatment is available through CAYLUS. They are certainly addressing both chronic sniffers and those kids who are what we refer to as on the fringe - they are occasional sniffers.
What we have seen is that communities are really encouraging anyone in their community who is sniffing to seek treatment. That they are now able to say to these kids that if they do not get treatment the government will ‘make you’, means that they are having far greater success in getting the young people to treatment. It is too early to provide detailed assessments of how effective these treatment programs are, but we will continue to monitor them. There will, undoubtedly, be some cases of people returning to their bad habits, but that will not mean that the whole program has not been worthwhile. We will look at this as part of a review. The importance of the work that CAAAPU is undertaking and the support of the member for Braitling for the refit of Aranda House is very welcome.
I thank the member for Wanguri, who was Police minister at the time of the statement, for outlining the important contribution that police are making. The police have been a very effective tool in combating petrol sniffing in our regional and remote communities. The legislation, as you have heard the new Police minister outline today, does give police the powers they need to intervene when sniffing occurs, and how they have the powers to seize petrol to help stop sniffing when it occurs, and that police have been at the forefront of the use of compulsory treatment orders. I wholeheartedly congratulate the police for their commitment to tackling petrol sniffing in our bush.
The member for Arafura can be justifiably proud that she was the member of this parliament who introduced this legislation, and is the mother of the legislation. There is significant success as we have heard in this debate. I thank the member for Arafura for the commitment that she has shown, both in leading the parliamentary inquiry into petrol sniffing and following that up with the ministerial responsibility of driving through this legislation - all significant work done in creating a range of tools needed at the community level but, importantly as the member for Macdonnell pointed out, working with the community rather than imposing on the community to ensure we can tackle petrol sniffing. I know these members are very passionate about the subject.
The community management plans were mocked by the CLP. They called them ‘squiggly lines on a map’. Communities have actually embraced the community management plans and, as you have heard from the member for Macdonnell and others, there are a dozen communities applying for them. The department is prioritising and speeding up the development of these plans because, as you have heard, there are many detailed issues that need to be taken into account such as the effect of industries such as pastoral and mining operations.
My statement outlined the contribution that the roll-out of Opal has made. We have always said that the legislation is part of an overall strategy. We have been calling for the roll-out of Opal for a long time, and we are glad that it is being rolled out. We still think that it should be rolled out as a matter of course in all areas prone to sniffing.
The CLP’s position on the roll-out of Opal was that it was ‘crazy thinking’. The CLP also complained that there were not enough treatment places. The first point I want to make is that the CLP went to the last election and restated that this is still their policy; that they would scrap every treatment place. In contrast, the Martin Labor government is spending an additional $10m to provide these essential treatment services. As I have outlined in the statement, we are funding a raft of non-government organisations to provide these treatment services, and Aranda House will be refurbished. It will be a great facility for the treatment of petrol sniffers.
Sometimes it is important to put in context the sorts of things that the CLP have said in the past. The former member for Port Darwin, during the debate on the legislation said:
- … my prediction is that any positive outcomes from its passage will be minimal, if any, and that, generally speaking, it will create a lot of headaches.
- It will be interesting to hear what remote communities currently suffering from a petrol sniffing problem think of this legislation, police and health action after a year or so. My prediction is that they will not think much of it at all.
The former member for Port Darwin could not have been more wrong. The fact is this legislation and the roll-out of non-sniffable fuel has been significant with amazing feedback from the communities, from the police, from the health workers, from the treatment providers, as to its effectiveness. The former member for Drysdale’s contribution was that $10m to address petrol sniffing problems is ‘a dumb way to spend money’. And he said: ‘The idea that Australians have to power their vehicles with a different fuel because some people choose to inappropriately use it to their own detriment, and the detriment of their communities, is crazy thinking’. He also said it was a ‘knee-jerk legislative solution’. Maybe it is views such as this expressed by the member for Drysdale which showed just how out of touch he was with the reality of the Territory.
In stark contrast to that, the contribution made today by the member for Arnhem showed that the VSA legislation and the non-sniffable Opal fuel are having a tremendous impact on improving the life of Territorians in our Arnhem Land communities.
I put on the record my thanks to GEMCO for its unwavering support – a mining company’s unwavering support - for the roll-out of the non-sniffable Opal fuel to Groote Eylandt. In the very early days of the roll out of Opal, GEMCO was front and centre in putting their hand up and saying: ‘We want Opal on Groote Eylandt. We will absolutely do what it takes to get it here’. In those days, the Commonwealth was opposing rolling out to areas such as Yulara and Groote Eylandt. Thank God, the Commonwealth turned around in the end and saw the importance of rolling out Opal to these areas. I look forward to January, February of next year, and seeing the final roll-out of Opal on Groote Eylandt because we know it will make a significant difference in improving the lives of the young people on Groote Eylandt.
I thank people such as Michelle Clark for their tireless effort on the ground, working with petrol sniffers and their families in turning around their lives. I recall a wonderful trip I made to Groote Eylandt with the member for Arnhem and hearing the stories of young men at Angurugu, former petrol sniffers, who had worked in a huge effort on their local sports oval, and the pride that they had taken in the way that they were rebuilding and improving their community. These were people who some time ago were bombed out of their brains on petrol, who had an extremely big future were headed down the path of severe dysfunction and they were clean. They were off the substance abuse and it was the Opal fuel in Groote Eylandt, and through the funded programs by the Territory government working in diversion, working in really important physical activities and giving them and restoring them a pride and showing them that they do have a very positive place and role in their community.
I thank the member for Arnhem for her ongoing work with those communities. They have the support they need to succeed. Nothing beats getting out on the ground with the local member. I took a trip recently with the member for Macdonnell and we visited a few of her communities. The importance of the whole-of-community approach is essential to the success of the VSA legislation. The approach that we took in the delivery of this legislation and the way it was implemented is to work with the community, and empower the community and consult with the community rather than impose down upon a community.
I have seen on the ground at Mutitjulu, and at Papunya as well, the improvements that are occurring as a result of tackling petrol sniffing. It was really important for the member for Macdonnell to talk about the effect of the personal trauma that these young sniffers have had in their lives which often leads them to sniffing and how programs such as Ilpurle deal with a whole-of-community approach because it is a healing process that we need to take our petrol sniffers through in terms of treatment. Part of that healing process is the healing that needs to occur within the broader family unit and so I support funding for these outstation treatment programs. Government is continuing to fund them to ensure that they can deliver the real programs and the choice of programs that sniffers and their families need.
I thank the people of these communities for their support. Without the strength of the people in the communities to tackle petrol sniffing, we would not have seen the successes that we have seen in such a short time. It really is the strength of good people at the community level who are embracing the tools this legislation and Opal fuel has given them to take control of their community and their lives and to improve them. It is quite an outstanding turnaround in a short time.
I thank the member for Millner. He reminded us that petrol sniffing is a decades old issue. It has been something like 30 years since the first reports started to call for governments to address and tackle petrol sniffing in our communities. It is a terrible shame that it has taken 30 years for a range of tools to be in the tool kit of our communities to tackle petrol sniffing. What this statement was attempting to do is to illustrate that in just six months there has been a tremendous result on the ground in improving the lives of Territorians. I thank the member for Millner for acknowledging the importance of the fact that indigenous parliamentarians in this Chamber bring with them a tremendous wealth of knowledge of the realities of remote and rural areas of the Northern Territory. They understand their communities; they keep involved and know the programs that are working. They know the efforts that government can make to improve the lives of Territorians. It was a great contribution from the member for Millner.
I thank the new Minister for Health. My colleague, the member for Johnston, has, as you heard, a long history of research in the area of petrol sniffing and has justifiably a very proud track record of the work that he did out at Maningrida very early in his career in the Territory. It shows us that with effective research, with effective community action, you can achieve success. Early work done by people such as the former member for Stuart and the member for Johnson put those early markers in place to say that you did not have to accept petrol sniffing as the reality of life, but if you put in a range of action to tackle petrol sniffing, you can turn it around and, as we are starting to see, wipe out sniffing where sniffing was once rampant.
I thank the former minister for Police and the current minister for Police for acknowledging the fine work done by our police officers because without their assistance and commitment on the ground, we would not have been as effective in the last six months as we have been.
I conclude my remarks by acknowledging the tireless efforts and the work done by the Alcohol and Other Drugs program staff of the Department of Family and Community Services. They were set an enormous task by the previous minister for FACS which was to create the nation’s first comprehensive legislation to tackle petrol sniffing. They did not have anything to go from. They created something from nothing. They created a fine body of work in the VSA legislation, and they are continuing to implement in every way possible all of the tools required to tackle petrol sniffing. To Jo Townsend and her, staff, thank you.
Motion agreed to; statement noted.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Ms Vicki O’Halloran, the CEO of Somerville Community Services, and staff of Somerville Community Services, and other members of the public who are here as part of the public visitors program. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
WARRANT
Deputy Chairman of Committees
Deputy Chairman of Committees
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 12, I revoke all previous warrants and lay on the table my warrant nominating Ms Barbara McCarthy, Mr James Burke, Ms Kerry Sacilotto, Mr Ted Warren, Mr Gerry Wood and Mr Matthew Bonson to act as Deputy Chairmen of Committees when requested so to do by the Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Regional Economic Development
Regional Economic Development
Mr VATSKALIS (Regional Development): Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure today to deliver a ministerial statement on Regional Economic Development in the Northern Territory. It is a subject that should capture the hearts and minds of everyone in this House. The ongoing development of our region is one of the great enduring challenges of government and one that must sit centre of mind as we continue to look to carve out a modern Northern Territory economy.
It is also one of the broadest areas of interest for government. Almost everything that occurs has a regional development context in one form or another; from the concerns of an individual in one of our communities to the major issues of our time, such as global warming, for example. It is for that reason that my statement today is pitched at the broad role of government in delivering core services and supporting the economic aspirations of Territorians. I imagine that future statements will provide abundant opportunities to work through the wider range of issues and opportunities that fall under the umbrella of regional development.
It is important to spend just a few moments restating the case for regional development, because it provides the context from which all else follows. Almost half of all Territorians live outside of Darwin in our towns and communities, or at mines or on our sprawling pastoral properties. Rightly, they expect their government to invest in their futures with fervour equal to the energy and drive applied to our capital city. It makes sense to do so on both equity and economic grounds; our regions make a major contribution to the overall Northern Territory economy. In 2004-05 alone, that contribution was estimated to be $3.5bn through mining, energy, tourism, agriculture, transport, manufacturing, construction, communication, and more. Regional development encompasses everything that governments, community groups, industries, small and medium businesses and, most importantly, our youth, must have to ensure the Territory has ‘a tomorrow’.
The current expansion of Alcan Gove, the new Blacktip offshore gas project and Bonaparte gas pipeline, the proposed expansion at McArthur River, and the drawing power of our iconic tourist destinations like Uluru, Nitmiluk and Kakadu, all demonstrate a strong interdependence everyone shares on the wealth created in all four corners of the Territory.
Regional communities throughout Australia are also being challenged as never before. Negative demographic shifts see populations drifting to the major centres. The drive for efficiency in business and administration see jobs and capital being drawn back to the same centres. To compound matters, distances can make it many times more expensive to deliver core services of all kinds. The Northern Territory has exactly the same challenges with one additional hurdle - many of our communities have never seen investment in some of the core infrastructure enjoyed elsewhere in Australia. This applies particularly to our indigenous communities.
I do not raise these issues to build a smokescreen of excuses - far from it, in fact. My purpose is to demonstrate that regional development is a dynamic melting pot of change; that things are not standing still, that change is rapid. We, as government, need to continue to deliver our services in that environment where the sands are continually shifting. That requires a sophisticated combination of good strategy and flexible delivery underpinned by commitment and partnerships.
It is vitally important to have good strategy when the challenge is so broad and long-lasting. The Chief Minister launched the Territory’s Economic Development Framework last month, which is the flagship strategy for regional development. The framework was developed through extensive consultation and collaboration. In particular, regional forums were held in all Territory regions as a starting point for the framework. Many regional representatives also attended the second Economic Development Summit held in Darwin in November last year. I thank the regional participants and all who have contributed to the framework’s development, especially those from regional and remote areas. In launching the framework, the Chief Minister emphasised, and I quote:
- Our economy is strong and we can look to the future with optimism. This framework will ensure we build on the foundation we have created and that the benefits of our growing economy are spread throughout the Territory’s regions.
There is well-founded optimism about the Territory’s strong prospects for growth. To realise these prospects, we must ensure that the Territory’s prosperity is sustained for future generations, and that it is shared across the regions. In this context, one of our strongest themes must remain greater indigenous participation in the wider Territory economy. This is a vital component if we are to continue to prosper in the years ahead and achieve Territory-wide regional economic development.
Other strong themes include the growth of regional industries and securing investment, especially private capital for emerging regional economic developments. The framework incorporates these requirements in the theme for achieving the regional growth objective of Sharing in Our Prosperity: building stronger regions; improving indigenous participation in economic development; strengthening community leadership and decision-making; improving city, town and community liveability; and engaging our young people in economic activity. This objective integrates economic development imperatives for the broad regions of the Territory, including regional towns, indigenous communities, business and government.
Prior to addressing our action on regional economic development, it will be useful to explore the elements of the regional growth themes and discuss some indicators of progress. As honourable members will recall, in 2003 we committed to working with business, industry and communities to develop stronger regions through the Building Stronger Regions – Stronger Futures strategy.
We are committed to continuing this collaborative approach in our strengthened regional economic development action throughout all of the regions throughout the Northern Territory. To meet the current economic development needs of the Territory we are progressively implementing new regional economic development arrangements to deliver more effective and practical solutions. Central to this action is the formation of the new economic development committees which are targeted to ensure local priorities are identified, understood and are properly implemented. I will discuss these arrangements in more detail later in this statement.
We have a strong indigenous population which is a greater proportion of our population than that in other Australian jurisdictions. A substantial majority live in regional or remote areas of the Territory. In addition, the natural growth of our indigenous population is expected to be stronger than that of the non-indigenous population. These circumstances present challenges and unique opportunities. The key opportunity is to strengthen indigenous engagement in the wider economy and secure the resulting rewards from greater sharing of the Territory prosperity.
Honourable members, you may recall that the late Mr Lee of the Jawoyn Association told us in 2003 that economic development was vital for Aboriginal people, and I quote:
- Aboriginal people have been saying that [economic development] is what we want for more than 25 years. After winning our land claim, we are land rich but we had no cash to do anything with it’.
Indigenous Territorians aspire to increased economic independence and self-reliance. As identified in the Economic Development Framework, greater indigenous participation in the Territory economy will continue to better social equity, cohesion and harmony. It will create new wealth in indigenous communities as well as assist with the provision of affordable housing, access to health services and education programs.
Enhanced participation will help to harness wider economic benefits, including expanded skills, the formation of new productive enterprises, and access to improved support services and infrastructure. There has already been significant progress in this area as demonstrated by the Larrakia Development Corporation under the chairmanship of Mr Koolpinyah Barnes. The Larrakia Development Corporation is involved in land subdivision and housing construction which provides training and jobs for local Larrakia people.
The Economic Development Framework will also contribute to better engagement with community, regional development and major projects in the Northern Territory and, where relevant, with wider Australian and export market opportunities.
The challenges that we face are well documented and have been discussed cogently in this place; challenges such as health, education, training, housing, essential services, governance development and more. Many are directly associated with a range of social disadvantages including welfare dependency, and with less than effective regional economic development for much of the last century.
There are strong linkages between indigenous housing, health, education and economic development. The Territory government is working with indigenous leaders and representatives and has already put in place policies and strategies to achieve progress with these challenges. The Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (2005) and the Agenda for Action: A whole government approach to Northern Territory Indigenous Affairs 2005-2009 are aimed at meeting the challenges and providing the strong linkages required to achieve enhanced economic participation.
The Chief Minister launched the Territory Indigenous Economic Development Strategy in May last year. It was the product of nearly two years of work by a high level task force comprising key indigenous leaders, private sector representatives and representatives from both the federal and Territory governments. The task force took a practical approach to the challenge of indigenous economic development by identifying and developing opportunities in 13 industry sectors. I would like to point out that the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy carries the expectation of many to incorporate sustainability and to value-add to existing industry sectors. In taking this approach the task force also chose to highlight successes and role models so we can build on the successes and offer encouragement and prospects for the future.
What we have come to understand is that the Territory has unique opportunities based on the competitive advantages of Aboriginal land ownership and indigenous intellectual property resulting from strong traditional law and cultural practice.
The recently released analysis of the share of Territory revenue and expenditure presented to the Indigenous Expenditure Review Report underscores our priority on indigenous development including economic development. More than 49% of our budget expenditure, some $1.34bn, is related to the needs of the Territory’s indigenous population. We are working cooperatively with the Australian government through the Overarching Agreement on Indigenous Affairs 2005 to capitalise on opportunities and meet the challenges.
Cooperative action, through this agreement, is aimed to ensure that programs to boost indigenous employment and economic development produce real training, employment and business development outcomes for indigenous Territorians, especially in regional and remote areas.
Emerging reforms for the CDEP program and removal of the remote area exemption for the unemployed, if appropriately implemented, have the potential to provide additional incentive and strengthen participation in regional economic development.
We will continue to work in partnership with indigenous communities, the private sector and the Australian government to create new ways to foster increased indigenous economic participation and stronger linkages with regional economic development.
At this point I would like to acknowledge Mr David Ross and the Central Land Council for the vision they had in establishing Centrefarm. Under the management of Mr Allan Cooney, Centrefarm has developed an innovative land use model for Aboriginal land trusts. The model offers developers certainty when making investment decisions and can be replicated across the Northern Territory on Aboriginal land trusts.
Community leaders and governance are also a theme in the framework’s regional growth objective.
The Territory is blessed with quiet achievers, and people like Mr Duncan Beggs, who are demonstrating how we can build jobs and business on the ground in the regions through mining projects such as Bootu Creek in the Barkly Region and the Frances Creek mining initiative near Pine Creek. Strong community leadership and governance are important for sustainable regional economic development. Leaders must inspire community members with vision and optimism about the future.
Take Mr Djambawa Marawilli at Yilpara in Blue Mud Bay in northeast Arnhem Land. Here we have an internationally respected artist working with the likes of Macquarie Bank and Rotary to build a sustainable economic base for his community through a range of activities including arts, tourism, natural resource management rangers, crabbing, and retail. Encouraging community members to be actively engaged in the decisions that affect them and their towns and communities creates better ownership of outcomes and enhances responsibility.
A clear message from the regional forum process was the desire for more government and private sector decision-making at the regional level. We are addressing ways to improve this and coordination with government agencies to enhance regional economic development outcomes.
Improving city, town, and community liveability is another regional growth theme in the Economic Development Framework. Liveability and perceived liveability are crucial factors in building population, and attracting and retaining new business investors and skilled workers. This is particularly important for regions and remote centres.
The Martin government will continue to give priority to liveability issues and to addressing issues impinging on sustainable regional economic development. The relative youth of the Northern Territory population also provides challenges and opportunities. Encouraging and supporting young Territorians, especially those in regional and remote areas, to participate in productive economic activity is essential. For example, Mr Anthony Sherwell did himself proud at the recent Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards 2006. Anthony’s steady persistence has paid off to the point where he now runs his own IT business and was awarded the Drake International Career Achievement Award.
Providing meaningful education and valuable employment opportunities are key goals for regional economic development. The Territory’s youth policy framework, Building a Better Future for Young Territorians, focuses on young people and guides the delivery of programs and services to 12 to 25 year-olds. As outlined in the Economic Development Framework Regional Growth Objective, the Territory government will work with its partners on current and future programs to maximise the role of young people in the Territory’s economic development.
Several indicators have been included in the framework as a means to demonstrate aspects of progress with the regional growth themes. Examples include indigenous labour force participation, Territory income levels, indigenous home ownership, and quality of life index ranking. Our regional economic development objective is set in the context of other key related Territory-wide framework objectives. These include: investing in our Territory; developing our workforce; improving our productivity; and integrating development with our environment.
Action on regional economic development must remain integrated with complementary action on each of these objectives, such as addressing regional skills and labour shortages and attracting new skilled staff from elsewhere in Australia and internationally.
In discussing the regional growth aspects of the Economic Development Framework, I have highlighted many of the issues which need to be addressed to make progress with Territory regional economic development. I have also touched on some of the actions already under way. Our current and planned action is targeted to give effect to the framework’s objectives and achieve the regional economic development outcomes the Territory needs. It is based on:
finding avenues for the Territory’s regions to maximise the benefit for major economic development and projects;
strengthening the regional economic services, organisational arrangements and partnerships which can play a valuable role in bringing forward regional economic development;
tackling the precursors which are needed to allow regional Territorians to participate more effectively in the Territory’s traded economy;
overcoming infrastructure and other barriers to regional economic development throughout regional and remote areas and communities; and
linking people, organisations, ideas, capital, expertise, resources and markets at the regional level to allow new and existing enterprises and opportunities to develop and grow.
A key Territory government focus is on sharing in the benefits of major projects throughout the Territory in economically constructive ways. The mining industry remains the single largest contributor to the Territory economy. We continue to learn from our experience in attracting regional Territorians, especially indigenous Territorians, to work for the both the principal mining companies and their contractors.
Increasingly, we are proud to be engaged with indigenous and non-indigenous operations to set up joint ventures that can win service contracts ranging from civil works to ground maintenance, transport and catering. Successes have been achieved, such as promising employment numbers at the Granites gold mine in the Tanami Desert and the manganese mines at Groote Eylandt and Bootu Creek. Similar programs have been planned and rolled out elsewhere. For example, the Anindilyakwa Land Council and the associated investment vehicle, Groote Eylandt Business Investment Enterprise, are developing a number of investments and projects including a resort hotel at Dugong Beach near Alyangula. Additionally, the Anindilyakwa Land Council has been successful in a joint venture bid to win a major service contract for the Groote Eylandt Mining Company with associated opportunities for 70 jobs. Another example is the Minerals Council of Australia which has identified the Tanami Granites site as one of six pilot sites pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government. The pilot aims to build on the successful employment and business strategy at Tanami. The initial focus is on developing new capacity and business opportunities in mining rehabilitation and adapting the pre-vocational training course at the Granites site to assist indigenous people to develop pathways to employment in Alice Springs.
In the Top End, Alcan’s G3 major expansion project currently under way at its Gove alumina refinery has presented valuable opportunities. An excellent example of this is the Bawaka Cultural Experience in East Arnhem Land, which has been developed in a close, almost symbiotic relation with Alcan. I acknowledge the role that Mr Timmy Burrawanga and Mr Donald Ganambarr from Bawaka Cultural Experiences have played and take a few moments to recount a little of their story because it is a good instructive story.
Mr Burrawanga’s vision was, with his family, to create their own small business opportunity with government assistance, and this involved an 18 month to two year commitment. Bawaka Cultural Experiences commenced its first day tours with workers from Nhulunbuy in March this year. Since then, they have grown from strength to strength, with solid forward bookings from mining company workers and local residents. A travel agency in Germany has committed to promote the tour and high end tourists are now including Bawaka in their Territory package. Bawaka Cultural Experiences was featured in the four part SBS Lonely Planet series Going Bush with Cathy Freeman and Deborah Mailman in February this year. The story demonstrates that successes can be achieved. They are achieved with partnerships - in this case, government, the mining sector and indigenous people. Increasingly, ancillary contracts have been identified as key opportunities for regional indigenous organisations. These also contribute to regional growth and economic development.
Securing opportunities for Territory regional and remote enterprises to share in the benefits of major projects throughout the Territory is a continued focus of the Martin government.
Growing regional industries is also a key priority of the Northern Territory government, Sectors such as tourism, pastoral, agriculture, horticulture, fishing, aquaculture, infrastructure development industries, as well as mining, quarrying, geological exploration and more, all contribute strongly to the Territory’s regional economy.
The Indigenous Pastoral Program is a useful example to explore. It involves successful partnerships between the Northern Land Council; the Northern Territory government; the Australian government through the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; the NT Cattlemen’s Association; and private pastoral companies. The program is contributing to regional economic development and has the potential to contribute more as it develops further. It is aimed to increase Aboriginal participation in the pastoral industry, and bring Aboriginal land back into pastoral production. The program has had successes on those fronts.
The pastoral industry, like many industries, is grappling with a chronic labour shortage. We have partnered with the private sector and the Australian government to introduce an indigenous stockmen’s apprenticeship scheme linked to and supported by a Mentors’ Program. These mentors are senior Aboriginal men with a foot in both camps, literally. They know and understand the needs of the stock camps, they have the respect of station management, and they know how to talk to indigenous youth and their families to help them deal with life in the industry. In a nutshell, they can talk the language of both the stock camps and the communities, and both sides end up winners.
We are close to achieving our target of bringing back into production land capable of carrying 35 000 head of cattle. As a result of this program, we are currently running at about an additional 30 000 head of cattle. A second group of apprentices is now going through the program. This should bring the participation numbers up to around 40 new indigenous employees into the industry in the last 12 to 18 months, with somewhere between 40 and 60 new jobs being created each year for an industry that now employs up to 2000 people. I am particularly pleased with the support that we are able to provide with the secondment of a DBERD officer to work closely with the Indigenous Pastoral Program. This will foster business acumen and the development and continuation of the Barkly mentoring program in partnership with Kidmans, a key industry player.
Time does not permit me to elaborate on the many other initiatives across the Territory which are contributing positively to regional economic development. Examples, though, include: the mud crabs at Maningrida; forestry on the Tiwi Islands as a partnership between the Tiwi Land Council and Great Southern Plantations; developments around new horticultural ventures in Central Australia; and development and growth of tourism ventures such as the Kakadu Culture Camp and Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek’s Caring for Country venture which recently won an inaugural Indigenous Innovation Award.
In the building and construction sector examples include Tangentyere Constructions, Bunuwal Investments and other Nhulunbuy housing developments. Mr Sid Rusca, the owner of S & K Earthmoving, has an outstanding record of indigenous employment. Also, Mr Frank Barda of the Yuendumu Mining Company has a successful joint venture partner securing roadworks supply contracts near Yuendumu. Further developments in these and other sectors which will contribute to regional industry growth in our regional towns and remote regions are being initiated with support from the Territory government and partners.
I am pleased to report that we are strengthening the support our government provides to regional community development and related program areas. In the 2006-07 budget, we have allocated some $4.8m to DBERD to foster regional and indigenous economic development. In addition, the Territory Business Centres and other DBERD programs provide valuable support to regional business. This has allowed us to ensure that regional economic development and indigenous economic development officers are placed in each Territory region. There are now 14 DBERD staff located in the regions contributing to these services. They play a pivotal role in facilitating the economic development we are seeking in the regions, and are supported by officers from other Territory agencies such as Tourism NT and the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mining.
In March this year, my predecessor announced the formation of new economic development committees across the Territory. The aim of the committees is to identify economic development priorities and to develop and monitor the implementation of local economic development plans. By focusing on smaller geographic areas, the committees will be better able to identify the issues and priorities important to their community, focusing on local job creation and business growth opportunities. Some are up and running already, such as those in Alice Springs, East Arnhem, Tennant Creek and Katherine. Other committees in the pipeline are from Tiwi Islands, Victoria River, Anmatjere and the Gulf Region.
I am very pleased that we have members drawn from the community, business, Territory and Australian government agencies, land councils, the Chamber of Commerce NT, and the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. The new approach has strengthened the relationship between government and communities, and will ensure a better alignment between community needs and broad government policy as we convert regional economic development opportunities and respond to the challenges.
We are also improving the quality of information available about our regions and their contribution to economic growth. DBERD, with other relevant agencies, is developing new regional socioeconomic indicators. This will allow benchmarking of economic development gains and challenges at the regional and subregional level. These regional indicators will complement the valuable socioeconomic snapshots for each region prepared by the department previously and available on its web page. They include early childhood, health, education, housing, skills, training, substance misuse, self-harm, law and order, governance, social and attitudinal matters, as well as the economic participation and development I am addressing today.
COAG’s agreement to a long-term generational commitment to overcome indigenous disadvantage, based on the 20-year plan presented by the Chief Minister, is a welcome step. It is needed in the context of the real challenges and disadvantages faced in some regional and remote communities. In our case, it is important to significantly close the gap in outcomes between indigenous people and other Territorians in key areas identified for action in the Overcoming the Disadvantage: Key Indicator Reports released by COAG.
Achieving progress with the precursors to productive regional economic participation and development is essential. For some, progress with literacy and numeracy is needed. With others, it is occupational training and becoming job-ready. It is also about establishing the circumstances for sustainable enterprises to be created and investments secured. The developments at Ti Tree are a good example where the precursors have been tackled and the community is understood to be ‘ready to go’ with regional economic developments. These and similar developments can provide inspiration for other communities seeking to tackle the challenges, secure attitudinal changes, recognise capabilities, identify opportunities, and put in place the prerequisites to locally suitable regional economic development.
Achieving progress with the precursors to regional economic development, however, is not always enough. Barriers to regional economic development must be overcome – barriers not always amenable to direct action by the regional town, community or enterprise: infrastructure gaps and capacity, limited knowledge and understanding, difficult links to market, and uncertain access to capital. The Territory government has been progressively dealing with barriers to regional economic development and participation. We are tackling action to progressively upgrade road infrastructure, including roads of importance for tourism such as the Mereenie Loop, and to improve transport services such as through the railway, which is helping to facilitate new regional economic ventures.
We are using the leverage provided by the Territory government communication requirements to upgrade regional and remote communication infrastructure and services. Firms such as Telstra, and before that Optus, and the Connected Solutions Group are contributing positively to these developments.
The progressive improvement of regional and community power, water and wastewater infrastructure is also under way. I salute the traditional owners, land councils and companies, together with the Territory government officials, for helping us overcome this barrier.
The availability of skilled staff has been an issue which is often raised in the Territory’s regional towns. We are taking action. We have triggered national action to improve cross-border mobility of qualified people so they can more easily work in our major development projects. We are linking Territorians including those in regional areas with the jobs and assisting them with overcoming barriers they encounter in taking on those roles. The Minister for Employment, Education and Training is taking deliberate action to boost training places and fill the skilled employment gaps. Our Business and Skilled Migration strategy is assisting businesses, especially regional firms, to attract skilled staff from other countries to fill skilled jobs where local applicants are not available.
Action on security and law and order is also important to ensure the conditions are right for businesses to consolidate and grow and for new ventures to be attractive for investors. The partnership action and services provided by town and community leaders, businesses, local governments, land councils and others complement the valuable work done by the Territory’s Police, Fire and Emergency Services officers. Other barriers relate to knowledge and information about what is possible, awareness of valuable markets and how to link with them. DBERD’s Regional and Indigenous Economic Development officers and business support staff, as well as advisors from other organisations, are assisting with overcoming these barriers.
Investment is a key ingredient to regional economic development. We are promoting investment-ready opportunities and creating the links with commercial and philanthropic investors. Much more needs to be done to secure the capital required for major regional projects. Impediments sometimes arise from the way regional projects are designed and specified, and the timing for their development. A continuing focus on designing and specifying project requirements and timing to better match regional capacity and capabilities will be important in achieving the best outcome and ensuring that reasonable regional participation is possible.
Barriers to value-adding also need to be addressed if we are to maximise the benefits of major projects for our regions and the Territory. Future regional economic benefits may be achieved by creating demand pull-through and helping regional enterprises to move up the value chain. Improving the quality and performance standards also helps with meeting particular market requirements, for example in relation to defence supply and service contracts.
Mr Deputy Speaker, many of the regional economic development initiatives and actions that I have highlighted involve partnerships and joint actions needed to succeed; partnerships with other levels of government, business organisations and firms, indigenous organisations and landowners, academic institutions, professional bodies and more. The Overarching Agreement on Indigenous Affairs between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia is a good example. It is a strong and demonstrable collaboration between the Territory and Australian governments. The agreement’s bilateral schedule to boost indigenous employment economic development ties our governments to work together to:
identify job opportunities in all sectors;
This agreement underpins much of what I have described as action to achieve our sustainable regional economic growth objectives.
Other partnerships of value to our action on regional economic development, and I might add not always directly involving the Territory government, include, for example, partnerships through Desert Knowledge Australia, the Minerals Council of Australia and Woolworths.
Desert Knowledge Australia is focused on building business partnerships, networks and job opportunities, and creating sustainable livelihoods in desert regions, with a strong focus on opportunities for indigenous Australians. The challenge that Desert Knowledge Australia is addressing is to capitalise on existing industries while looking to new opportunities as diverse as renewable energies and bush products to drive job growth and sustainable lifestyles. It is making an important contribution to the sustainable economic and social development of desert and arid region from its headquarters in Alice Springs. Networks that it has created span issues of importance to regional economic development of the Territory including mining services, sustainable building, bush products and tourism. It is also working on a solar demonstration facility.
The partnerships that I have mentioned are providing essential inputs to help tackle the barriers and precursors, create communities of interest, enhance capacity, identify opportunities, and generate sustainable economic developments. As Minister for Regional Development and for Business and Economic Development, I thank the partners involved for their efforts. Without their interest and input, our achievements will be diminished.
Mr Deputy Speaker, there is no Harry Potter-like wand or incantation available to convert the regional economic development opportunities into reality and to overcome the many remaining challenges at this stage of the Territory’s development. We can only achieve the regional economic development outcomes and successes required through better knowledge, targeted strategies, concerted effort, coordinated partnerships, adequate resources and sheer determination to complete the actions as I have outlined today. Through these actions and further work, together we can ensure that all Territorians have the opportunity to participate in the regional economic success and enjoy a true sharing in Territory prosperity.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Ms CARNEY (Opposition Leader): Mr Deputy Speaker, I should say for the sake of the Hansard that Mrs Miller, the member for Katherine, holds this shadow portfolio, but owing to family reasons, she is not here to contribute to it. Until she received the distressing telephone call last night, I know that she was working on it, minister. I can assure you of the member for Katherine’s commitment to not only hard work but to this particular area because those of us from the regions have more than a passing interest. It is where we live, and therefore it is perhaps more important to us, the out-of-towners if you like, those not from Darwin, to see the progress, to the extent that government makes progress in this area, being made.
Minister, there is no doubt that there are some encouraging initiatives in your statement and I congratulate you and your colleagues for them. Some of them, whether directly or indirectly, were built on some initiatives of the previous government. Of course, all governments take on board initiatives, regardless of who comes up with them, that are designed to improve the prospects of our fellow Territorians. To the extent that the government has embraced some old ideas as well, I congratulate the government for it.
They are the good bits. The bad bits, for want of a better description, emerged from your statement. I do not propose to go into things at length or in great detail, however, I notice that on the first page of your statement, you said:
- The ongoing development of our regions is one of the great enduring challenges of government and one that must sit centre of mind as we continue to look to carve out a modern Northern Territory economy.
There are various ways of demonstrating commitment, and I know you will be aware of them, but one of them is for ministers of government to spend more time in the regions. You would be aware that there is a complaint from people who live in the regions, regardless of their politics, that they just do not see enough of the ministers. I know you come down for what Labor calls Community Cabinet. I know you try to have meetings with people, but in order to achieve better outcomes for our fellow Territorians, Darwin ministers need to be ever receptive to the charge made by Territorians not from Darwin that they do not see enough of them. I am not talking political spin. I am talking proper consultation with people who are not on the A-list of government invitations - not just the A list people; the average Territorian who, in the normal course, of events has very little to do with government.
It is a small jurisdiction. It will not surprise you to know that I, indeed along with so many others, have friends who work in the public service. The word that I have received from friends who work in this area is that they feel as though they are beating their heads up against a brick wall. They are seeing the huff and puff, but there is a feeling - it is a matter for you as to whether you take it on board, but I put this to you earnestly and sincerely - that government is not as receptive as it should be to regional issues. It is incumbent for me to point that out to you.
One easy thing to point to, I suppose, is the fact that the Chief Minister said not so long ago in relation to Alice Springs that she was committed to spending one week a quarter in Alice Springs. I do not believe that has happened. Far be it for me to encourage the Chief Minister’s electoral prospects in Alice Springs, but you cannot have it both ways. You cannot say: ‘Yes we are committed’, but not follow through. That applies equally to other regions.
I am not sure that the regions are doing terribly well at all; certainly, compared to Darwin they are not. As I am sure the member for Barkly knows, Tennant Creek has a range of problems. No doubt those problems have been there for many years, but it seems to me that the regional-type issues for Tennant Creek, some of which you have touched upon in this statement, are not being addressed.
I know that you as minister cannot immediately pluck a doctor out of the air and put that doctor in Tennant Creek. However, it is incredible, is it not, that Tennant Creek has not had a GP for a significant amount of time? I know the work that the council and the government has been doing, indeed, with many others, however, if one talks about population growth and regional development in its most ordinary and basic sense, then you, as a government, any government, needs to provide those basic services to attract people to a town like Tennant Creek.
In Alice Springs there are, again, a range of problems. Economically, Alice Springs is not doing anywhere near as well as Darwin. I can assure you that nothing irritates the people I speak to in Alice Springs more than Darwin government ministers going to Alice Springs and talking about how well Darwin is. And believe me when I tell you, minister, I saw a previous CLP Chief Minister try to do that to an audience in Alice Springs and it went over like a lead balloon. I encourage you, that when you and your colleagues are in Alice Springs, although I and my fellow Alice Springs residents have an interest in the future prosperity of the Northern Territory as a whole, all of us, all citizens of the Northern Territory tend to be a bit more proprietorial, I suppose, of the areas in which they live.
If you are going to provide this thing called commitment to the regions, it has to be more than sentences strung together in a statement. It has to be real and genuine commitment. The regions do work in isolation. Now, from a government point of view, and I know in modern politics the Territory is no exception, there is the expression ‘whole-of-government, whole-of-Territory’. I believe, with respect, that when you are going around to the regions, the average person in those regions does not really care, to a large extent, about the overall picture. Perhaps I put that badly. To put it better, they are more concerned about the prosperity of their own patch than they are about other areas. If you do not know about the disquiet in some of the centres to which I have referred, and indeed others, then you should, and I ask you to address it in whatever way you can. If that means, having referred to the example of the Chief Minister spending more time in Alice Springs, then I encourage you to do that, to do what you can to ensure that happens.
Minister, you said on page 3 of your statement, and I quote: ‘It is vitally important to have good strategy when the challenges are so broad and long lasting’. You went on to refer to the Chief Minister launching the Territory’s Economic Development Framework last month, which you described as the ‘flagship strategy for regional development’. It is not word perfect to the Building a Better Territory document, the Economic Development Strategy for the Northern Territory, published in June 2002, but it is pretty similar. In the document, I am sure you will be familiar with it, this was held not long, relatively speaking, after Labor came to office. An economic summit was held from which a number of priority and other actions were agreed upon and there was a commitment to follow them through.
On page 40 of the Economic Development Strategy there were the following sentiments in relation to economic development and indigenous economic development. It says: ‘To adopt a whole-of-government / whole-of-community approach to supporting viable futures for indigenous people’. That was the strategic approach, quite rightly I think, articulated in that document. That is very similar to you saying now in this statement, or the Chief Minister launching the Economic Development Framework last month. Also, on page 40 of the economic development document, it says that government will ‘negotiate effective and sustainable governance arrangements in remote areas to support indigenous capacity building and economic development’. I put it to you that the sentiments - and, of course, there is a strategic approach in one column of this document and then a list of priority actions in the other column. It was, no doubt, relatively easy to articulate the strategic approach; probably a little harder but, nevertheless, not all that difficult to articulate what we have described then as priority actions. It is several years on and the same sort of language is being used in the very statement that is before us today. That begs the question, I believe, as to the success or otherwise of the Economic Development Strategy document in the first instance and, in the second instance, it raises the question that can sensibly be put about whether government policies and initiatives are a bunch of words and concepts put together in this document or, indeed, in this document.
Certainly, there needs to be a strategic framework and focus. However, I cannot help but wonder whether there is a fair amount of political spin in all of this, again for the most part creating the impression - although I concede that some positive things have been done - and using the same language as has been used previously to create the impression that inroads have been made to improve economic development.
Look around you, minister! Some of the regions are simply not doing very well. If you look back to what represents the blueprint, then an internal analysis, even in your own conscience, must reveal that the runs are simply not on the board. Yes, there have been some good things in some areas - and please do not misunderstand me in that regard. However, if you step back from it all, not many runs on the board, minister - not very many runs on the board. When we were all out campaigning for the Stuart by-election, for instance, I went to some places that I have never heard of, frankly. That is not surprising because it is an enormous electorate. To see some of the things that were happening in those communities was very upsetting and distressing. Even though I thought I understood many of the issues, it was not really until you see some of them right in front of your eyes that you really can have an appreciation of the difficulties that are being experienced by Aboriginal people.
Whilst it is easy for us to talk about ‘the regions’ in terms of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, the Barkly region, Gove, etcetera, there are subregions in an electorate like Stuart, for instance, that are just disgraceful - absolutely disgraceful. People are living in conditions that my fellow Australians should not be living in.
I mention those matters, minister, because you talk a lot in your statement about indigenous and regional development. Equally, in the economic development document of 2002, indigenous economic development had its own chapter, and a list of strategic approaches and priority actions. I ask you to comment on those in your reply. Do you think there are runs on the board? Some, not many. I will not keep pursuing that matter, but I thought, as a matter of conscience, I should raise those with you.
I do have some other notes about indigenous economic development. I suspect you will not like what I have to say, but I will say it in any event for the purposes of the Parliamentary Record, and to indicate to you where my colleagues and I are coming from in our desire - whether you agree with it or not - to improve things for Aboriginal Territorians.
The most disappointing thing from your statement was that, in the 30 pages of text, there is not a single performance indicator. I ask you: are there performance indicators for any of this stuff? If so, would you publish them? Would you table them? Could you tell us about it? Happy to go to a briefing. However, doing things, having a good program here and something good there, is not really part of a sensible, analytical and progressive approach, in my view. I am interested to see that there was nothing in the way of performance indicators there.
Minister, it is the CLP’s view, and I know you are aware of this, that the greatest impediment to Aboriginal advancement is the Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. It creates a system of land ownership that is hostile to investment. The reason that the land rights act has been hostile to development is because there is no incentive for investment money to take a risk; few, if any, guarantees can be given to an investor on traditional land; and gaining access to Aboriginal land for the purposes of development has traditionally, as we all know, been very hard. If a person has a proposal for development then the first stop is the land council. That means a meeting has to be organised, usually at the expense of the investor, and questions are raised and further meetings have to be organised. The process takes months and most investors neither have the patience or the money required to jump through all of the hoops that are required.
It is simply too hard for so much investment potential to gain a foothold on Aboriginal land. We should ask why that is. The answer, in our view, is that it is because for three decades the argument has been couched in a philosophy of ‘them and us’. The problem is that when you study the politics of difference between the groups there is a desire, it seems to me, to maintain those differences, many of which are entrenched.
The way that it has been expressed in Aboriginal relationships in the Territory is that it has been entrenched in land law and Aboriginal Territorians have walls built around them. Those walls were once walls of protection but they have, in our view, now become a prison. The fact is that no one in this country can live or can afford to live in splendid isolation. The very nature of wealth generation means that there has to be a willing trade between people and of course that trade is the economy. Aboriginal people have been removed from that economy for the most part by the land rights act and their isolation has meant that they have been unable to generate wealth for themselves. In the instances where the walls have been lowered or removed the results have generally have been positive. I doubt that there is anyone inside this Chamber or outside who would disagree with that proposition.
What it means, however, is that where they have become involved in the economy they have had to do so on their own terms and of course becoming involved in the economy, even on a regional basis, can have a spin-off effect nationally, and in some instances, internationally. I recall you referring to some export opportunities in your statement, if not I am getting confused with another one. In any case, the point is well made that there are regional economies, Territory economies, a national economy and an international economy. All of us surely must want our fellow Australians to aspire to be part of that economic and not isolated from it.
Against that backdrop we have a situation relatively recently where the federal Aboriginal Affairs minister has effected changes to the land rights act. I note there is some division in Labor both here and federally about this, but it is our view that the changes to the land rights act will enable enhanced access to Aboriginal communities in terms of investment. It was a shame to see the member for Arafura critise her own government for supporting such moves. As a minister of government she must surely realise that she is the government. Why on earth does she think that she can have a bob each way on this issue? Either the government of the Territory is correct or it is not; either it supports the changes to the land rights act or it does not. Of course, Mal Brough was right to change the land rights act and the Territory government, well, at least the Chief Minister, was right to support the changes despite what federal Labor had to say and in particular what the Territory Labor president had to say.
Mr Deputy Speaker, in our view it is time for the Aboriginal members of this parliament to decide who they are. It is very difficult to get a sense of what their position is on a range of issues affecting their constituencies.
Mr Bonson: The government’s position.
Ms CARNEY: We, of course – I am glad to hear from the member for Millner because I was about to refer to you. In the now famous memo dated 1 June, an indigenous member of the government himself described hate towards the Chief Minister. I will never know whether it is true but it has been reported that the member for Macdonnell, herself an indigenous Territorian, arranged for the leaking of that memo. Being divided is one matter, but when you have Aboriginal members of this parliament fighting with the boss, one wonders why the boss is still in the job or, in the alternative, why the Aboriginal members of parliament do not toe the line, and why is it that the Chief Minister cannot encourage them to do so?
In any event, I digress, but I say to the member for Stuart - and of course I welcome him into this parliament - as an Aboriginal politician, I call on him to stand up and tell it how it is and, when necessary, do not swallow the government line. He is here presumably to make a difference, just like his predecessor. While I wish him well, one wonders how strong he will be in putting the case for his constituents. Then again, he might sit down with the member for Millner and at some point draft another memo.
I digress. The economic models that are being applied to Aboriginal land are still expressed in terms of highly centralised, highly managed affairs with bloated bureaucracies in place to make them work. Land councils and other such bureaucracies have had 30 years to take some of the largest tracts of privately owned land in the world and generate so few jobs. Aboriginal land in the Territory takes up about 750 000 km. That is more than twice the size of Germany, yet it struggles to generate more than a handful of jobs. It simply has not translated for Aboriginal people because they remain, for the most part, outside the economic system. The resulting welfare approach sees the Territory having to dedicate half of its spending every year to a third of the population, increasing, with the result of the government screaming that more needs to be done. On those occasions, some of which have been mentioned by the minister in his statement, where the regulatory controls have been lifted, a little result has been generally successful. I stress again there have been some successes, but it is more in spite of the government than because of it, and certainly more in spite of this government than because of it.
Governments do not fix social problems. People fix their own problems if they are given the room to do it. If we as a community take the view that we trust people to make the right decisions for themselves, then they will have every opportunity. However, we have a Labor government here aggressively campaigning against any changes to the permit system. It would seem that notwithstanding the minister’s lofty intentions and worthy statements that he has made throughout the statement before us today, this minister – because he has not said anything very much to the contrary – is supportive of the view that the permit system assists Aboriginal Territorians.
Look around you, minister. Look around the last 30 years. Go out to some of the places that the member for Macdonnell would know well, the new member for Stuart would know well, some of the places I have been both in Top End and Central Australia. Coming back to what I said before, the runs are simply not on the board. I wonder whether it might not be an opportune time to try something different and not be blinded by political or other ideologies.
There is so much that could be said about this, but I am not sure that I need to go on much more. However, there are so many examples of the permit system not working. I understand there was a man who was forced to abandon his wife and daughters in Kintore because his permit was revoked. Apparently there are other examples. The permit system was used as a political tool to remove political candidates from communities before an election was called last year; you can ask Anna Machado about that. It has been used to keep journalists out of communities; you can ask Paul Toohey from The Australian, with his conviction, about that. It is a bit cute, frankly, to hear members of government and others say: ‘No, journalists, that is fine. They are always allowed in’. No, they are not. That has not been the case and if that was the case why on earth would Paul Toohey have copped this conviction?
Mr Deputy Speaker, I implore the government, if it is serious about achieving some of the things that were contained in its economic development strategy for the Territory, dated June 2002, to, in a thoughtful and considered manner, look at the permit system, to also look at the place, or in particular the lack of it, that Aboriginal Territorians play in their regional and Territory economies.
For Aboriginal members of this Chamber to not be silent, and it remains a constant mystery to me, that not one Aboriginal member of this parliament has ever participated in the debates about customary law. That is yet another example of the Aboriginal members of parliament not doing very much in terms of representing their constituency, and certainly not even telling other Territorians where they stand on an array of issues. Although the member for Arafura was misguided in her criticism of the Chief Minister’s support of changes to the Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, at least, like the member for Millner, she spoke out, like, as it is reported to be, the member for Macdonnell, who apparently arranged for the leak of the memo, in her own way she spoke out. We look forward to more of that over the next few years.
Coming back to the central theme, minister, I am sure that, personally, you are committed to regional economic development. I was somewhat surprised that there was not one performance indicator in there. I have asked you to comment on a couple of matters in reply. I always have a sense that when the opposition contributes to statements, the government members pretty much please themselves as to what they comment on. That is, after all, your right, but there were some matters that I did specifically ask you to comment on. I ask you to do so.
Finally, I ask you to place on the Parliamentary Record your view of the permit system in the Northern Territory and whether you believe that it acts, and has acted, as an impediment to economic development. If that is not your view, perhaps you could tell us why you hold the view that you do. With those comments, I will conclude my comments in relation to the statement.
Mr NATT (Primary Industry and Fisheries): Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Minister for Business and Economic Development for his statement on Regional Development. I take this opportunity to highlight the contribution of our primary industry, fishing and mining sectors to regional development.
With the assistance and support of my Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, a variety of new and often innovative projects are starting in the regions. I am confident these projects will promote the sharing of regional prosperity. For example, the highly successful Mining Opportunities Road Show, recently organised by the member for Daly, highlighted the regional development benefits and opportunities which are a direct result of the current growth of the Territory’s mining sector. The road show focused on significant new development activity in the Pine Creek, Batchelor and Adelaide River region. Projects like the Browns Oxide mine near Batchelor are creating jobs and economic growth for the local community. This new development, being undertaken by Compass Resources, is an open pit mine from which oxide ore is extracted using conventional blasting, excavation and trucking. It is anticipated the mine will produce 10 000 tonnes of copper per year, 1000 tonnes of cobalt and 850 tonnes of nickel. With a life of up to five years and capital expenditure of nearly $70m, Browns will be employing 150 people during construction and provide 80 permanent jobs during mining - real benefits for Territorians.
Further south, in the Adelaide River and Pine Creek area, it is GBS Gold which is leading the charge. Over the last 12 months, GBS has consolidated its Territory interests, Terra Gold, North Gold and Harmony Gold, into one entity. Moreover, the company is recommissioning the Union Reef Gold plant just north of Pine Creek, and developing two open pits and one underground resource over the next six months in the Adelaide River to Pine Creek area. In 2007, subject to environmental and mining approvals, it proposes to develop several other open pit and underground deposits in the Pine Creek area, as well as a consideration of the former Maud Creek gold mine south of Katherine. GBS is scheduled to commence gold production in the last quarter of 2006, and has a proposed budget of $1.2bn over the next 10 years. It currently employs about 60 people at Union Reef, and this will extend to approximately 150 people once mining and processing operations commence. Its workforce will be accommodated in two mining camps located at Pine Creek and Cosmo Howley. GBS has already proved to be a significant stimulus to the local economy in Pine Creek.
Another exciting development is the proposal to reopen and expand the Frances Creek iron ore mine near Pine Creek by Territory Iron. The development of seven open cut pits is anticipated to produce approximately one million tonnes per annum of iron ore. Processing of the ore will involve crushing and screening to produce bulk lump and fine iron ore for rail freight to Darwin for export to China through the port of Darwin. Territory Iron has submitted its Public Environment Report for the Frances Creek Mine for assessment under the NT Environmental Assessment Act. Subject to gaining all environmental mining approvals, Territory Iron proposes to commence construction later this year, and to commence iron ore production in early 2007. The project has a current mine life of three years, and this may increase with the confirmation of additional reserves. The project will directly employ about 70 people during mining operations. Accommodation for employees is yet to be finalised, but it is anticipated that they will be accommodated in the Pine Creek area.
These three mining developments in the Batchelor and Pine Creek region will result in at least 300 direct jobs and a major contribution to the regional economy. All three companies are committed to local employment and local supply of goods and services wherever possible.
While we are on the topic of good news for the region, let us talk about primary industry. Research in the Primary Industry Division of my department shows the pastoral stocking rates could safely increase in the Victoria River region by 50%. This will be achieved through the provision of more water points, rotational grazing, and risk management strategies. Industry has embraced these concepts, as the pastoral surveys launched earlier in the year confirmed that this has led to increased investment in the industry.
The Katherine region currently turns off about 200 000 head, which is about 40% of the Northern Territory total. Imagine what a boom to the Territory’s live cattle export trade a 50% increase in this region will bring. Also in the Katherine region is the Sturt Plateau, an area in which the department is undertaking research that will lead to the expansion of cattle production. Another area of primary industry development is in the Gulf region. The highly successful Indigenous Pastoral Program is being extended into the Gulf region where it is anticipated that the return of traditionally-owned stations to pastoral production will continue, and increased numbers of indigenous people will be trained in the skills needed to work on the cattle property. The success and importance of this program was acknowledged yet again at Kalkarindji where the historic launch of the memorandum of understanding covering the operation of the Indigenous Pastoral Program for the next five years was held on 19 August.
At the same time that this project is happening in the Gulf, investigations will be undertaken with a view to establishing horticultural and aquaculture developments on several communities in that region. Developing some of the Gulf region’s unused potential for horticulture and fishing will make a big difference to employment and health in remote communities.
Continuing on the topic of regional development, the Tennant Creek region is also benefiting from new opportunities. As in the Katherine and Victoria River districts, officers from my department are working with pastoralists to implement best practice in the industry through the provision of extension services. This activity will lead to an increase in production efficiency. The Indigenous Pastoral Program is also active in the region and has been trialled as an Indigenous Pastoral Apprenticeship Scheme with young men from Tennant Creek.
Another innovative project that is under investigation in Tennant Creek is the development of a trial inland aquaculture project situated on the edge of Tennant Creek township adjacent to Mary Ann Dam. This highly innovative venture has the support of the local traditional owners and the Central Land Council, as well as indigenous investors. A scoping study is under way for the project, and it potentially bodes well for new industry in the region.
Also just outside of Tennant Creek the mining industry is making its presence felt. Peko Rehab has recommenced production of high grade minerals through the re-treatment of old mine tailings and provides up to 15 jobs for local people. In addition to those employed directly, the company also contracts local tradesmen. The Emmerson Resources buyout of Centralian Minerals will hopefully lead to more exploration in the Tennant Creek region and eventually the recommissioning of the Warrego Gold Treatment Plant.
North of Tennant Creek, mining at Bootu Creek by OM Holdings is well established with manganese ore being shipped regularly through to the Port of Darwin. Moreover, the company is expanding its current drilling and exploration program thereby adding to local jobs and business opportunities.
Further south in the Alice Springs region there is a great deal happening. The Northern Territory Geological Survey is actively improving the geo-scientific knowledge of several highly prospective areas of the region. A helicopter supported gravity survey has been completed in the Jervois region, east northeast of Alice Springs. This survey will assist explorers in search for copper, gold, zinc, lead and nickel mineralisation and will attract new mining companies to the region.
Most Territorians know of Newmont Australia’s gold mines in the Tanami region of Central Australia. Newmont, through its gold production, is a major contributor to the economy of Central Australia. In addition to this, the Newmont operators provide a huge value-add for local employment and local community development. In employment, Newmont has set a benchmark with indigenous people comprising about 20% of the Central Australian workforce. Through an ongoing program of workplace training and community development, Newmont has established a highly productive partnership with the local Warlpiri people and the benefits of both parties are significant.
Another Central Australian example is the exploration program under way by Arafura Resources at Nolans Bore located 130 km north of Alice Springs. Arafura Resources is undertaking extensive exploration of its Nolans Bore rare earth and phosphate prospect with successive drilling results pointing to additional resources available for the project. Nolans Bore is now considered a major deposit by world standards containing over 575 000 tonnes of rare earth oxides, 2.6 million tonnes of phosphate, and a significant tonnage of by-product uranium. Further exploration, research and development as well as feasibility studies are in progress.
In addition to the activity in the minerals and energy area, primary industry in our Alice Springs region is moving ahead despite some properties being drought declared. Nearly 250 000 km of land is currently managed for pastoral production in this area. It is worked by 64 pastoralists running cattle herds of between 5000 and 7000 on properties that average 3885 km. Like their counterparts in the north, pastoralists are working with departmental extension officers to ensure sustainable grazing land management. As this work continues so too will the economic benefit to the community and the Territory community.
In addition, my department is working for the strategic future of the pastoral industry by providing a project leader in the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre. A grazing trial is being set up at Old Man Plains Research Station as part of the network in the Central Australian Grazing Strategies Partnership. This work will enable the long-term sustainability of the industry.
The Indigenous Pastoral Program working in partnership with the Central Land Council in the region has recently helped negotiate a grazing licence over lands in the Haasts Bluff region. This is one of the several grazing licences that the partnership has been able to progress in recent years. Key outcomes of these licences are jobs and training for local indigenous people and they are helping to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in the Central Australian pastoral industry while at the same time increasing our cattle herd.
Cropping and horticultural activities are also contributors to regional development. Horticultural development in the Ti Tree area is based on irrigation table grapes from 400 hectares in both the Ti Tree Farm area and two existing farms on Pine Hill. In 2000, estimated gross production was approximately $18.5m, representing 20% of the horticultural production in the Northern Territory. The current cropping area is reduced while a replanting program is carried out with superior rootstocks and varieties with higher market potential. It is worth noting that the Central Australia crop is harvested earlier than most table grapes in Australia and therefore commands a premium price on the domestic market.
The Anmatjere Region Development Plan, released by the government in November 2003, under the Building Stronger Regions, Stronger Futures initiative, identified expansion of the horticultural industry, expansion of employment and training, and the fostering of indigenous employment amongst its main goals. Amongst the economic drivers envisaged by the development plan was horticulture development on Pine Hill. In May 2005, the government launched the Northern Territory Indigenous Economic Strategy which identified horticulture as a key sector for future development based on its potential to provide significant economic and employment opportunities for Aboriginal landowners.
Current employment in the existing horticulture development in the Ti Tree region is around 25 permanent employees and 250 people at peak times. My department is currently working with the Anmatjere Council and the table grape industry to provide work-ready horticultural training for local indigenous people. This will in part reduce the reliance of ‘importing’ pruning and harvest labour in the context of an increasing competitive national skills shortage.
At a national level, the value of water is increasingly being highlighted. When recently in Central Australia to meet with pastoralists, I took the opportunity to view the headworks for the Alice Springs water recycling scheme. This exciting project has national prominence in turning a waste water problem into a commercial opportunity. The project is a joint initiative of the Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation and my department and aims to deliver triple bottom-line benefits by eliminating overflows to Ilparpa Swamp. The scheme will make use of the waste water from Alice Springs to establish commercial horticulture on lands at the Arid Zone Research Institute, contributing to regional economic growth and employment. Power and Water is investing more than $8m in infrastructure to upgrade the treatment processes and produce high quality water for reuse.
A public environment review has been completed and accepted by the minister for the Environment. The results of the extensive studies by CSIRO and the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts indicated that the site is ideal for infiltrating water into a natural paleo-channel of the Todd River. It is proposed to build an underground ‘mound’ of water over time, which will be extracted for commercial horticultural developments in the department’s research station. The proposal is based on significant private investment in table grapes and other crops on 100 hectares. It is likely that this development will see the direct employment of six permanent and 50 casual jobs. It is anticipated that infrastructure will be in place to deliver water to AZRI early in 2007.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I will inform the House of other regional developments planned outside these areas. Marine Harvest Australia is part-way through an environmental impact statement process for a proposed new sea-cage barramundi farm at Snake Bay on Melville Island. The company intends to establish a 1500 tonne per annum farm over the next two years with a five-year plan to increase to 5000 tonnes per annum. Clearly, this will deliver substantial training and employment opportunities for Tiwi people. Discussions are under way for a possible barramundi processing or packaging facility on the island - more jobs for Territorians.
Another regional and indigenous aquaculture project is a trial grow-out of mud crabs at Maningrida and Kulaluk. Officers within my department are working with the traditional owners and the Maningrida Djelk Marine Rangers to develop culturally appropriate mud crab farming technology in the mangrove pasture. It is hoped that some younger people in the community will see this as an opportunity to develop new skills and gain an interest in sustainable aquaculture as a business.
Additionally, as a means of improving efficiency within my department and for more holistic community outcomes, the three functional areas of my department, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines have been discussing strategic partnerships aimed at using groundwater pumped from mine operations as a source for some form of aquaculture. This nutrient-rich water could then be used on a horticulture plot or irrigated onto improved pasture. These are the innovations that will provide a variety of opportunities to a number of people in regional communities, and the list goes on.
Other exciting projects in the regions of the Territory include forestry, and zircon sand mining on the Tiwi Islands, the Alcan expansion at Nhulunbuy, the GEMCO expansion at Groote Eylandt, North Australian Diamonds redevelopment on the Merlin project near Borroloola, and many others which will contribute to regional economic development.
My department will continue to play a pivotal role in identifying and facilitating opportunities for the sustainable utilisation of our abundant resources throughout the regional areas. It is about economic development, it is about jobs and it is about sharing prosperity across Australia. I add my support to the statement of the minister.
Mr McADAM (Central Australia): Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on Regional Development. Before I commence, I would like to comment on the contribution by the member for Araluen, the Leader of the Opposition. I believe it is important to understand that it was a very negative, very derogatory portrayal of the role that indigenous people have played in the Northern Territory, not only from an economic perspective but from a social perspective. It is important to understand that, for a very long period of time under the CLP, there were high levels of antagonism and divisive responses in terms of what indigenous people were attempting to do.
However, I do not want to go back because we have moved forward. I can name you any number of initiatives that have occurred in the Northern Territory, particularly over the last four to five years, because essentially you have a government which is prepared to engage with indigenous people, to engage with the land councils in a very respectful and equitable way. That is certainly a far cry from the previous manner in which the CLP responded to indigenous matters.
In the pastoral industry alone, in the last four to five years – zero to 35 000 head. That is an absolutely magnificent achievement. It is important to understand it has been done in partnership particularly with the land councils, both NLC and CLC, and the NT Cattlemen’s Association and indigenous people on the ground. You do not get those sorts of outcomes, you do not get those partnerships unless you are prepared to engage in a respectful and equitable dialogue with those people. Apart from that, in my electorate, Bootu Creek was able to be negotiated, accepting the conditions, the rights of indigenous people, 600 000 tonnes of manganese into China; Giants Reef were able to negotiate an indigenous land use agreement with the CLC which provided jobs and opportunities for indigenous people in terms of training and provided an economic input into the Northern Territory economy.
Another example is that, when we actually came into government, I cannot remember the precise figures, but I suspect they would have been something between 900 and 1100 exploration applications being stuck, left, forgotten on the previous CLP minister’s desk. How could economic development go forward if you had this sort of attitude by the government at that point in time? Since the last three to four years, those numbers have been granted alone. So it just shows you the willingness of the Northern Territory government, the Labor government, to engage with indigenous people and land councils to get outcomes. I have absolutely no doubt that the basis upon which those decisions were made in respect to the leases will provide an astronomical economic boost to the Territory into the future.
One other thing which I find disturbing from the Leader of the Opposition - and I acknowledge her welcome to the member for Stuart, Karl Hampton, as I do - however, I note that the Leader of the Opposition continues to refer to Aboriginal members on this side of the House. She refers to Karl Hampton as being an Aboriginal person. Of course he is an Aboriginal person, but he is also a Territorian and an Australian. He is also Karl Hampton. I do not think we should ever forget that. I would like to remind the members of the opposition of that into the future, because I tell you one thing you do not hear from this side of the House: you do not hear us addressing the Leader of the Opposition as the European member for Araluen, nor do you hear us addressing the member for Greatorex as the Chinese member for Greatorex.
I say to the Leader of the Opposition: be a bit more respectful of the individual rights of each person in this House, including those members who are described as indigenous. We are indigenous people; we are proud to be indigenous people. However, it is important to understand that we are also Territorians and Australians, and we are all working for one common goal and objective ...
Mr Mills: You are prepared to call the CLP racist.
Members interjecting.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr McADAM: … and that is to improve the quality of life for all.
Mr Warren: That is not what he said; he said …
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Mills interjecting.
Mr Warren interjecting.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Goyder! Member for Blain! Please desist.
Mr McADAM: I have now completed that. I just ask the Leader of the Opposition in future to take note of that.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I am proud to deliver my first speech as the Minister for Central Australia, especially one that touches on such a crucial issue for the future of the region. Central Australia is the geographic heart of Australia. These heartlands cover more than 500 000 km2, 40% of the Northern Territory. The Centre is rich in natural resources, its cultural history and its people. Our population is young and it is growing. Central Australia is a region rich in potential.
Regional development is central to the sustainable economic development of the Territory. This does not mean all Territorians who live in major towns or regional centres; it means all Territorians. One should not have to move into Alice Springs, Yulara or Tennant Creek, or any other major centre, to have a meaningful partipation in the economy. We all have rights to share in the prosperity of the Territory. This region is home to thousands of Territorians, and supports a range of activities including arts, major events, tourism, construction, pastoral, horticulture, mining, retail, and a range of other developing industries. I intend to outline some of the features of the activities in Central Australia. I will also discuss the nature of the community in Central Australia, as well as the forecast for the indigenous population.
In August this year, Kalkarindji hosted the 40th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk-off. This event attracted people from all around Australia, and was able to showcase the region’s rich history and the consequences of the actions of the Gurindji people. Annual events that also contribute to the rich tapestry of life in Central Australia include the Tennant Creek Desert Harmony Festival, the Barkly Muster, the Alice Springs Rodeo, the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, the Henley-on-the-Todd Regatta, the Camel Cup, Alice Desert Festival, the Beanie Festival, the Wearable Arts Festival, and BassintheDust which this year attracted a crowd of 2500 people or 10% of the Alice Springs population.
The Centre has had its fair share of sporting events, with more planned in the future. Rugby League fans were treated to the pre-season match between Newcastle and Penrith earlier this year, and an AFL pre-season match between this year’s premiers West Coast and Carlton also took place. The same event will occur next year between teams yet to be announced. In February each year, the Imparja Cup brings indigenous cricketers from all around Australia to compete. From 21 to 28 October, the Master Games will be held in Alice Springs and, of course, the Finke Desert Race is an annual event which attracts a crowd from all around the world.
The number of calendar events in Central Australia contributes to the attraction of tourists into the region. Conference and business meetings in Alice Springs and Uluru make a significant contribution to the economy of Central Australia. A 31% increase has been experienced in tourist spending compared to last financial year. Business events secured account for 4000 conference delegates spending a collective 15 000 nights in hotels. Of course, business people are not the only travellers who make Central Australia their destination; 92 500 backpackers visited Central Australia in 2005 with 81% of the backpacker market coming from overseas. Backpackers accounted for 41% of all international visitors. Two-thirds of all overseas visitors are from the United Kingdom, Germany and other European destinations.
The Mereenie Loop will be marketed as the Red Centre Way and promises to be one of the greatest drives in Australia, if not the world. The Mereenie Loop will provide opportunities for indigenous and non-indigenous businesses and emerging industries. The development of the Mereenie Loop is also a good example of the construction being undertaken in Central Australia.
On a recent visit to Alice Springs I was interested to see the building activity that is going on in the town. Two major shopping centres are undergoing significant expansion with new shops and office spaces. I remind the member for Araluen that one of those shopping centres, to my knowledge, is owned by indigenous interests in the town.
New tourism properties are being developed with a serviced apartment complex being built. Of course there is the multimillion dollar planned redevelopment of Melanka under the new owners - it is estimated by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning at $32.1m - and private sector work is under way in Alice in August.
All this represents significant investment in the future of Central Australia and can only be seen as a vote of confidence in Alice Springs and its development. We must support moves to position locals to take advantage of these opportunities, whether it is making sure there are training programs, adequate accommodation and education. The Northern Territory government has provided $8.1m to the Alice Springs Town Council for the construction of an aquatic centre, including a heated pool, a children’s facility and a hydrotherapy pool.
The Traeger Park stadium has also been completed. An additional $500 000 has been allocated to the NT Football Federation to create a home for soccer in Alice Springs as well. $500 000 has been allocated for the upgrade, including lights, of the Purkiss Reserve in Tennant Creek. Headworks have been completed for the subdivision of Larapinta. In Tennant Creek we have the $1m upgrade of Paterson Street; potential in respect of the proposed wind turbines which will add to the community; and work is presently under way for the pastoral interpretive centre.
Since 2003-04, $10m has been committed to upgrading the beef roads, including the Plenty Highway, Point Stuart Road, Buntine Highway, Barkly Stock Route, Buchanan Highway, Maryvale Road, Central Arnhem Road, Rankin Road, Sandover Road, Peak Road and the Roper Highway. The importance paid to the beef roads demonstrates the importance of the pastoral industry to Central Australia. The pastoral industry is thriving in Central Australia, although I have to say there are some difficulties with potential drought problems in the Alice Springs region. Further to the north, it is fair to say that the Barkly is doing reasonably well.
Pastoral industries have long provided employment and economic activity for Central Australia and the Barkly, and the Indigenous Pastoral Program is one example of economic imperatives driving positive changes in relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians. The number of cattle on indigenous-owned property has increased to 25 000 head, with an expectation of 35 000 next year. The Indigenous Pastoral Program is a partnership between the Indigenous Land Corporation, the Central Land Council, the Northern Land Council, the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mining, the federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. The program is expected to significantly boost indigenous employment and economic development in Central Australia and the Barkly.
The significance of the Central Land Council and the Cattlemen’s Association coming together in such a partnership can never be underestimated. As the CLC’s Director, Mr Ross, said when the memorandum of understanding was signed in August, this is a great step forward. The Central Land Council is standing together in a spirit of cooperation and equity with other significant stakeholders in the land in the Territory, the pastoralists. A few short years ago, this sort of mature relationship would not have been imaginable under the previous government. Because there has been recognition of their respective roles throughout the Northern Territory, they now engage in a more mature way. Quite apart from Central Australia, these are the kinds of partnerships that are the way of the future for the whole of the Northern Territory.
Horticulture also provides a great opportunity for indigenous economic growth in remote settings. Militating against the needs to settle in Alice Springs, Centrefarm has plans for the region and are supported by the Northern Territory government. The Chief Minister has recently supported Centrefarm’s application for the Australian Government Water Fund for $33m to develop the bore fill infrastructure for a sustainable industry. Although I understand that the commissioners of the National Water Commission do not support the application, it is being supported by the Northern Territory government as the means of being able to strengthen indigenous employment and economic opportunities. I urge the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, the minister responsible for water, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, to give due consideration to this application. I ask members opposite to use what goodwill and influence they might have in terms of getting this very important project up.
Bootu Creek is a manganese mine located 125 km north of Tennant Creek. The open cut is operated by OM Holdings with a production of between 550 000 to 600 000 tonnes per annum with a current 20-year mine life, always subject to market demand. The previous speaker, the minister for primary industry, indicated the potential for an aquaculture project. I know that it is in that vicinity as well. It is a good example of how you can value-add or leverage off existing infrastructure in growing the total economy. It is important to understand that Bootu Creek, the traditional owners and the Northern Territory government will work hard to look at these other industry options.
Tanami Gold operates the Granites gold mine located 560 km north-west of Alice Springs. Modern mining commenced at Tanami in 1983 following an agreement with the traditional owners. I will repeat that: following an agreement with the traditional owners. Drilling commenced in July 2006 to revive the Rover gold copper project 75 km south-west of Tennant Creek. Adelaide Resources is undertaking the drilling program and it is something I am very happy that they are doing. I am glad they made a commitment to that region. I know that their drilling is basically as a result of West Gold Resources who intersected significant zinc and lead and lesser amounts of gold. The Rover field can potentially turn into a real mine which will not only value-add to the community of Tennant Creek, but to the Northern Territory.
Alice Springs provides a shopping hot spot for Central Australia. The Alice provides a full range of products that are not easily accessible to people on communities and those people go to Alice Springs and spend money in all the retail outlets. As a result of that, it provides certainty and adds to a very buoyant economy.
Construction is about to commence on Stage 1 of the Desert Knowledge Precinct, injecting $2.1m into the local economy and increasing employment opportunities for Territorians. Desert Knowledge is an exciting initiative that will undertake world-class research, product development and marketing strategies to create thriving Desert Knowledge economies.
Imparja Television has started work on its $8m new studio facility, and work is going on at new residential subdivisions. I had the opportunity to meet recently with Imparja CEO, Alistair Feehan, to discuss the challenges facing Imparja in the future and the eventual transfer to digital television which will require a substantial capital outlay. I congratulate Imparja because they are working very hard in Central Australia. Their footprint covers almost the whole of Australia and I can see some really exciting times for them in the future.
Last week in Alice Springs I participated in a forum organised by CAAMA that touched on this issue of the economic future of remote communities. I would like to reiterate a point that was made at that forum: the Commonwealth has to make clear its plans for homelands and communities in the Northern Territory. There have been some disparaging comments, or negative comments, coming out of Canberra about homelands and communities. In the past, they were described as cultural museums and concerns have been raised with me that the federal government is moving towards withdrawing funding from some of the homelands and communities that perhaps may not be viable. Whilst it is not a question of propping up those that are not viable, I believe that many homelands can become economic drivers in remote areas of Central Australia and, indeed, throughout the Northern Territory. There are many opportunities in growing industries such as tourism, pastoral, arts, horticulture, and bush foods. The opportunities are out there and it is up to governments, including the Commonwealth government, to ensure that the basic infrastructure is in place so that these opportunities can be capitalised on at a later date.
Support for viable homeland communities is vital if the economic potential of Central Australia is to be realised. Quite simply, we cannot desert the bush nor can we desert the people who live out there. Economic development also leads to social development, and I believe it is already driving significant change in Central Australia. I would like to take a moment to outline some of the realities that will drive the future of Central Australia and towns like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Ti Tree and many of the other smaller regional centres. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and demographers estimate the population of indigenous Territorians is doubling every 24 years. By the year 2030, there will be about 120 000 indigenous Territorians. Communities such as Ntaria, Yuendumu, Elliott and Lajamanu are expected to be the homes of between 1000 and 2000 people. The number of Aboriginal population centres with more than 2000 people is likely to be eight or nine times the current number.
While these projections have a huge bearing on the infrastructure needs of service delivery, they also represent economic opportunities for centres like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and the various regional centres. As I mentioned previously, Alice Springs is a service centre for a vast region that includes about 260 communities. I know there may be some people in Central Australia who hear this and want us to circle wagons.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Madam Speaker, I move that the member’s time be extended pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr McADAM: Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Some of the public reaction to a statement by Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, at the recent CAAMA forum is worth touching on. The Mayor essentially agreed that, in 10 to 15 years’ time, the indigenous population in Alice Springs could be around that 50% mark. I believe it is an honest assessment by her of what is going to happen in the future. However, I also think it is a way that the mayor is saying to everyone in Alice Springs, and indeed some of the other smaller towns around the place, that that is a reality; that is what is going to happen into the future and it is time that we sat down and talked to indigenous people, indigenous communities, indigenous stakeholders and indigenous organisations in a very mature and visionary way. If we do not start dealing with some of the issues that are out there at the moment, can you imagine what it might be like in about 15 to 20 years? I applaud the Mayor for her courageous assessment and her capacity and commitment to work with everyone in that region.
The same can be said of my community in Tennant Creek, which is very close to 50% indigenous in population. It continues to be the home to many families and people who come in and set up businesses. The important thing is that Aboriginal people are major players in the economy, as equally are the Aboriginal organisations and businesses, which are also major employers and investors in Tennant Creek. It is the same in Alice Springs. It is very important to get an understanding of just what the investment is by indigenous corporations in their exposure to the private sector. It is something that might surprise many people and would highlight how important it is in jobs and growing the local economy.
Madam Speaker, that concludes my statement in support of the Minister for Regional Development. It is important to understand that economic prosperity will drive social change and lead to a situation where there will be more equitable benefits which will flow to indigenous and non-indigenous people. That will make the bush, the community, the Northern Territory, a very energetic and vibrant economy. It already is just that. The bottom line for me is to send out the message that to get there, to create the jobs, to create real equity, you have to be able to work in a partnership with indigenous and non-indigenous people. If you do not do that in this day and age, we are taking some of the steps that are presently being enunciated by the CLP opposition.
Mr HENDERSON (Employment, Education and Training): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of my colleague, the Minister for Regional Development’s statement this afternoon. I will be making my contribution in regard to two of my portfolios – Employment, Education and Training, and Tourism. If we look at the opportunities, particularly on the economic side of the equation, for increasing investment and jobs in our regions, tourism offers some very significant opportunities.
Tourism is worth $1.5bn to the economy and directly employs 8000 and indirectly accounts for more than 14 000 jobs. Our competitive positioning, our greatest tourism strengths, lie in our natural and cultural assets, many of which are located in the Territory’s regions. The development of indigenous tourism products is a key contributor to regional development and a key priority for the government. Many strides have been taken in this particular area, and there are increasing amounts of interest from across the Northern Territory on indigenous communities of people seeking to become involved in tourism and tourism-related enterprises. That is not surprising given that the majority of the Territory’s natural assets are located on Aboriginal land, and the growing demand from visitors for cultural and nature-based experiences.
Indigenous cultural tourism is a key point of difference for the Territory’s tourism industry - our real competitive advantage.
I will give some examples of what is happening on the ground in indigenous tourism product and how successful that new product is. For example, the Oak Valley Tours and campground. Oak Valley is a small community located one hour south of Alice Springs. It is the second generation of that family coming back to tourism. They offer a walking cultural tour of three hours duration and accommodation at their campground. Tourism NT provided funds to revitalise the campground amenities through the Infrastructure Grants Program, and Oak Valley Tours also received funding from DBERD for an olive press, of all things. On this particular community, they grow olives and produce olive oil, and grow table grapes which are sold to local communities. Unique Central Australian olives value-add to the tourism experience: that is real enterprise and initiative on a community and people seeking to gain real economic benefit and jobs from activities at a community level.
This particular community is also looking at ways to work with other communities. For example, they are working with neighbouring Titjikala to undertake visitor transfers. The campgrounds at Titjikala have been spoken about many times in this Assembly. Another nearby community is subcontracting to the community of Titjikala in providing visitor transfers and creating jobs for that community.
Another community, Black Tank – at their community, it is a family-based operation – again on their homelands. This community is located 80 km north of Alice Springs along the Arltunga tourist route. At Black Tank they offer cultural awareness workshops on their country. Part of the cultural awareness includes a visit to a dreaming site, Corkwood Dreaming. It is an overnight tour and the community has also started offering dot painting workshops. At the recent Indigenous Economic Development Conference I attended in Sydney, the community of Black Tank was there and the ladies sat me down to have a go at dot painting. I certainly would not be able to sell any of my paintings, but it was great to sit down with the ladies and have a go at a wonderful and unique artistic skill from Central Australia. Black Tank has also trialled a couple of tours and will market these as day tours. Tourism NT has been helping them produce those tours to see if they can develop those into a product that they can sell into the market.
Another touring product is the Dayanara Indigenous Experience. Betty Pearce, one of the traditional owners of Alice Springs – I think everybody in this House knows Betty – offers Welcome to Country ceremonies and morning cultural tours on her homeland located 25 km north of Alice Springs. At another indigenous tourism conference in Alice Springs recently, I had a long chat to Betty about this particular tour and how her whole family is involved, and the great feedback she gets from tourists from all over the world who really just want an opportunity to sit and talk with Aboriginal people about their relationships with country. What great joy for Betty and her family to be able to share their culture and their experience of their land with overseas and interstate tourists.
In the Top End we have the Kakadu Culture Camp. This is the vision of siblings, Freddie and Jenny Hunter, and their family. This particular enterprise is located at Muirella Park, a 30 minute drive south of Jabiru within the Kakadu National Park. They offer safari camp accommodation, cultural activities such as the Bunitj guided walks and talks, bush tucker dinners and night croc spotting cruises. This enterprise was launched in May this year and they have had a successful first year of operation. It is an experience which will bring people back to Kakadu for another visit.
Another product for Kakadu launched early this year, the Hawk Dreaming Camp, is the Jabiluka Association camp, situated at Cannon Hill. The camp consists of safari-style tents and an outdoor spa. AAT Kings has been contracted to operate the camp and tours for the Jabiluka Association. They offer three day tours from the camp base to exclusive Cannon Hill sites, the traditional homeland of Jonathan Nadji, as well as taking in all the iconic locations of Kakadu such as Jim Jim Falls and Ubirr.
The Chief Minister recently launched the Nitmiluk Commercial Development Plan in Nitmiluk National Park; a 20 year framework for tourism and infrastructure development. Nitmiluk has the potential to develop as a major nature-based tourism destination year round and an economic resource for the Jawoyn people and the Katherine region. The commercial plans contain many exciting recommendations such as a resort for Nitmiluk Gorge, a safari bush camp for Pelican Island, specialist boat cruises, the Jawoyn Cultural Centre, guided tours at Mt Todd Dam as well as a caravan park, visitor infrastructure and interpretation along the 66 km Jatbula Trail, and development of bird watching tours and sites and four wheel drive tracks.
The potential is limitless and it is great to see all of these new enterprises, and in the case at Nitmiluk with the existing Jawoyn enterprises, of people adding on and committing dollars and investment into developing tourism throughout our regions. It is a unique product that we have in the Northern Territory especially the cultural aspect as well as the flora and the fauna. The product is going to continue to grow.
While we are talking about the Jawoyn people and Nitmiluk and what is happening there and the great success the Jawoyn have had and their vision for another 20 years worth of investment and future development, the previous speaker, my colleague, the member for Barkly, talked about how important partnerships are for developing our regions. I call on the opposition to desist in their scaremongering that they are continuing to promote around the Territory of the joint ownership of our parks estate across the Northern Territory and trying to pretend and run a political scare campaign that the government is giving away our national parks. I call on them to desist. If they are serious, as we should be serious in this House about seeking more investment to the Northern Territory, the creation of jobs and particularly creating jobs in our regions, the joint management model at Nitmiluk Park is certainly the way to go.
I pay credit to the previous governments which entered into that legislation and joint management arrangement at Nitmiluk. That is what we are seeking to extend to the rest of the Territory park estate. If the opposition thinks that the way back to government in the Northern Territory is by going back to their old ways of seeking to divide Territorians as opposed to trying to encourage them to form partnerships, that will be good for us politically but certainly bad for debate in the Northern Territory in trying to move things ahead.
I pay tribute to the Anindilyakwa Land Council and their vision at Groote Eylandt on developing the Dugong Beach Resort located at Second Beach. It was great to be there with Community Cabinet at the sod turning a few weeks ago. It is a fantastic initiative and a great tribute to the people on Groote Eylandt. I am sure that that resort is going to be a roaring success. Other traditional owners from around the Northern Territory are going to look at what is occurring at Groote Eylandt and say: ‘Gee, we want some of that on our country as well’. Congratulations to the Anindilyakwa people on that initiative.
The government is also investing in regional tourism infrastructure. We have invested in the upgrade and sealing of the Mereenie Loop road, marketed as the Red Centre Way. My colleague, the member for Barkly, spoke about that. It is a significant government commitment to be delivered over the coming years. We are working hard to position the Territory as a world-renowned nature and cultural destination using tourism as a driver for the Territory’s economic development particularly in our regions.
As the member for Barkly said, it is great to see the enthusiasm, commitment and confidence in the economic development in Alice Springs at the moment. As my colleague said, $32m worth of private sector investment is under way at a number of investment opportunities in Alice Springs, particularly in relation to tourism.
The opposition spends a lot of time talking about how bad things are in Alice Springs and trying to paint the town as going backwards and not forward. That is certainly not the case. It is great to see a surge in confidence in terms of investment in Alice Springs. Property prices are still increasing in value. Vacancy rates are the lowest they have been for many, many years and a significant wave of private sector investment in Alice Springs. It is great to see the Alice going ahead in spite of the doom and gloom espoused by members opposite.
Certainly, with an economy that is expanding and a focus on our regions, one of the biggest challenges facing the Territory is to increase the skills of Territorians through workforce development, education and training. The biggest single issue restricting future growth in the Territory’s economy is access to skilled people. In order to develop our regions, we need to understand regional labour markets. Workforce NT 2004 was the first baseline report by the Department of Employment, Education and Training, commissioned by my predecessor, the member for Nhulunbuy, in this portfolio, which provided an analysis of regional labour markets, including labour force status and industry employment and occupation profiles.
The 2005 report built on this information by providing advice on economic activity in labour supply and demand, based on population, employer indicators, industry growth and skill shortages at a regional level. The 2006 report, to be released later this year, will provide further labour market information, including regional industry profiles, constraints to growth, recruitment difficulties, and mobility and turnover of the labour force. This information not only guides government in the development of employment and training initiatives, but also assists industry and government in the planning for economic growth across the Territory. The government has focused on economic growth in our regions. We all want Territorians to share economic prosperity and we are putting our money towards that fact.
In the 2006-07 budget, we announced $4.4m for the development and management of training initiatives to assist remote Territorians to develop better skills and meet the needs of local industry and community. These initiatives include: flexible response funding of $1.8m which will deliver accredited and non-accredited training; $300 000 towards the Community Response Program, which allows remote Territorians to gain skills including driver and first aid training, improving employability and work readiness; $1.3m to support regional and remote training centres; training for remote youth; $1m for training programs targeting youth between the ages of 14 and 19 with the aim of engaging them in training and learning – the TRY Program.
This is an exciting time to be a young person in the Territory. You can leave our education system, move into vocational education and training or tertiary study, but leave the education system at whatever level and there are plenty of opportunities for young people across the Territory at the moment. It is an exciting time.
For the period January to December 2006, TRY funding will provide 62 VET programs to 757 young Territorians. Funding agreements were issued for 11 programs in the east Arnhem region, 15 in Alice Springs, nine in Katherine, four in west Arnhem, eight in the Darwin rural region, and 15 in the Barkly region. Examples of programs being delivered include Certificate II in Horticulture at Yirrkala; Certificate I in Engineering at Harts Range; Business Skills at Wugularr; Certificate II in Hairdressing at Alpurrurulam; Stockman Training Program at Tennant Creek; Automotive Skills at Wadeye; Information Technology skills at Docker River, Santa Teresa and Aputula; and Arts and Crafts at Lajamanu.
In addition, the government provides $60m for Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and other service providers to deliver a broad range of vocational education and training programs in urban and remote settings, building skills that lead to employment. $750 000 is also being spent as part of our Building Better Schools to expand the range of VET programs and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships available to school students, particularly in remote areas.
Trainees and apprentices in the Northern Territory: in 2004, this government made a commitment of 10 000 new trainee and apprenticeship commencements over the following four years. I am pleased to say that we are on track to meet that commitment. The number of trainees and apprentices has increased by 67% since 2001, reflecting this government’s continual focus on training. Currently, there are 3289 trainees and apprentices in training throughout the Northern Territory, and approximately 40% of these are in the regional areas.
A breakdown of that 3289 is: 616 in Alice Springs; 77 in Barkly; 170 in East Arnhem; 287 in Katherine; 66 in West Arnhem; and 2073 in Darwin. Importantly, the regional training effort includes the traditional trades - the area in which we have the highest skill shortage. Approximately 40% of the traditional trades training is in regions of the Northern Territory. The total in traditional trades is 1357. Of those, 303 are in Alice Springs; 14 in Barkly; 85 in East Arnhem; 95 in Katherine; 23 in West Arnhem; and 837 in Darwin. These regional trends continue to be reflected in training commencements to date for 2006. Currently, there are a total of 733 indigenous people in training. Many of these people are training in regions across the Territory. This represents an increase of 70% of indigenous people in training since 2001 - a huge achievement. I extend my personal thanks to the former minister in this portfolio who has overseen the drive to improve those numbers. A 70% increase since 2001 is a fine figure. Congratulations to him and the department on delivering that. We are not only supporting trainees, apprentices and employers to build skills across the Territory; we have doubled the number of trainees and apprentices in the Northern Territory public service.
Madam Speaker, the issue of regional development is a complex issue. There is no single sentence or paragraph that could explain in totality what regional development means. However, on the economic side of the equation, it certainly means seeing an increased investment and new enterprises in our regions, and employment opportunities for people living in our regions. In the areas of tourism, as I have identified, we are moving ahead. This government will continue its commitment to training young Territorians to ensure that we have the population to meet the expanding economy across the regions of the Northern Territory. I commend the minister on this statement.
Ms LAWRIE (Infrastructure and Transport): Madam Speaker, I support the minister’s statement on regional economic development. Regional economic development is a key priority of the Martin government. In fact, developing our regions in a sustainable way is a key objective of our economic development framework. The Territory’s economy has been described by Access Economics as ‘turbocharged’.
Our challenge in these times is to ensure we do as much as we can to share that prosperity across the Territory. We are focused on building the Territory’s future through strong infrastructure budgets. We have a strong record for investing in strategic infrastructure, as well as ensuring the $482m infrastructure budget is spread across the Territory to support local jobs. There is an estimated 5200 jobs directly, and thousands more in retail and associated industries across the Territory.
My agency, as the engine room of the public sector, has a pivotal role to play in driving economic development. We play a role in implementing major infrastructure projects and rolling out the infrastructure budget of government. We process development applications; we manage the major arterial road network. Our strategic infrastructure program has been about building infrastructure to support industry and the Territory’s economic growth. The mining sector, as we have heard, is the largest single contributor to the Territory economy. To keep this industry moving ahead, the Territory government has invested $24m to develop a bulk material handling facility at East Arm port. This facility will support the transfer of ore across our integrated transport system: rail, road and, importantly, our port infrastructure. We are expecting to see this project completed early next year. The Port Corporation has already established export agreements with some mining companies and is currently negotiating with others.
As we know, tourism is another key economic driver. Key infrastructure projects across the region to support further tourism growth include the future cultural precinct in Katherine. The Martin government has provided $3.5m to the Katherine Town Council for the set-up and building costs relating to this cultural precinct. The Katherine Town Council and the government are still working together on the site location issues. This is a significant investment in building the local tourism sector. I look forward to the commencement of site works.
Again in the Katherine region, works will commence next year on improving gorge crossovers at Nitmiluk Park. Scoping work is under way and tenders are expected to be called early next year. This is a $1m investment in capital works to support tourism and regional economic growth.
$100m is spent each year upgrading and maintaining our Territory roads. This is the highest amount per taxpayer in the country. We have also boosted our roads improvement program in a strategic way. Investment in key tourism roads will pay off into the future, particularly in supporting the development of regional tourism ventures. The most significant project is what we refer to as the Mereenie Loop with a $68m investment from government. Construction will commence in December this year on part of Namatjira Drive. $12m will seal the road to a number of major tourist attractions, including Glen Helen, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge. A $4m contract with the Ntaria Council/DAC Enterprises joint venture will provide gravel for the construction works that have just been completed. $4.5m has also been allocated towards sealing the Litchfield Loop Road. Extensive negotiations with Aboriginal traditional owners have nearly concluded and works to seal the first 9 km of Cox Peninsula Road will start as soon as 2006-07 Wet Season allows us too.
Additionally, $32m will see the upgrade of the Victoria Highway. That work is expected to start early next year. This project includes the construction of four new higher bridges over Victoria River, Joe Creek, Lost Creek, and Sandy Creek. Other sections of low lying highway will also be raised. The new bridge over the Victoria River will be 7 m higher than the existing bridge which will greatly reduce the time the highway is closed due to flooding. An additional $15m is programmed for further upgrading works along the Victoria Highway, including the replacement of several other low lying bridges.
We recognise that fisher people from all over the country participate in our tourism industry when they come here to catch our famous barramundi. In recent years our infrastructure budget has included items aimed at improving fishing infrastructure and access to fishing spots. We have committed to upgrading the boat ramp at Mule and Rocky Creek near Borroloola and installing a new boat ramp on the Victoria River.
Not only is the Northern Territory government committed to, and investing in, infrastructure to support established sectors, it is also leading Australia in its commitment and investment in new and emerging knowledge economies in the desert. We are doing this through our support of Desert Knowledge Australia and our significant investment in the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs. $30.22m has already been committed for Stage 1 of the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which is already impacting on the Alice Springs economy. This includes $8.6m for the Desert People’s Centre. Site works are under way on the $2.5m Business and Innovation Centre, with the Desert People’s Centre and the further headworks planned right through until 2008.
Our $2m annual Urban Enhancement Program has also focused on our regional areas. This is to ensure that parks and public facilities are developed for Territorians in our regional centres. Key projects in this year’s Urban Enhancement Program include parks and laneway lighting projects costing $370 000; $400 000 for the Alice Springs railway fence for public art and urban enhancement to conceal the railway yards in Alice Springs; $500 000 to upgrade the main street of Katherine, including repairing damage caused by the floods in April of this year; and $550 000 for the Barkly Pastoral Tourism Initiative Main Street Redevelopment - this is a combined project to upgrade and enhance Paterson Street in Tennant Creek and install a tourism stop. These are major thoroughfares for tourists and locals alike, and I am sure local businesses along these strips will welcome the improvements.
Improving access to school and health services is fundamental to improving the wellbeing and prospects of our indigenous Territorians. The government has embarked on a significant program to upgrade public infrastructure in our remote communities. I will list a snapshot of these programs. Wadeye - new school, $5.3m; Kalkarindji Health Clinic, $2.9m; remote area swimming pools for Borroloola, Minjilang and Yuendumu, $4.5m; Yirrkala Health Clinic upgrade, $500 000; Wugularr - new school, $2.5m; Donyidji/Mapurru - new school, $1.75m; Gunbalanya - school replacement classrooms, $800 000; Numbulwar - a new police station, housing and visiting officer quarters, $1.3m; the Mary River wetlands desalination, $500 000; the Pigeon Hole aerodrome, $1.1m of which the NT government is providing $627 000; the Alpurrurulam aerodrome, $1.24m; and the Wadeye landing service, $2.5m.
I will finish my supporting statement with the work my agency is doing to directly support training and employment in regional areas. My agency’s Indigenous Infrastructure Unit also delivers the Northern Territory Indigenous Housing Program, which is building homes in our regions. The program is a three-year rolling one delivering both new housing and, importantly, major renovations. It is also delivering jobs and skills for regional indigenous Territorians for the construction training project. To date, 29 houses and 39 renovations have been completed in this financial year. Next year’s program is a busy one with major activity to include $1.5m for Thamarrurr Regional Council housing construction; $3.2m for new housing at Maningrida; $3.2m for new housing at Gunbalanya; $2.2m for new housing at the Tiwi Island – goodness! Arafura is getting a lot of new housing.
Ms Scrymgour: Hear, hear!
Ms LAWRIE: There is a shift in the program to a model of regional projects with direct contracting between DPI and builders to speed up delivery. Previously under IHANT arrangements, construction was funded through direct grants to indigenous community housing organisations, referred to as ICHOs, which were then directly responsible for contracting the project manager and builder. A key part of this program is the opportunities it presents for local employment. The Indigenous Infrastructure Unit works hard to maximise job opportunities for indigenous Territorians. It develops and implements training programs in housing construction and maintenance. In this financial year of 2006-07, about $10m will be spent on the employment and training construction component.
In 2003-04, a program to deliver local training and housing construction was introduced in a number of communities in Central Australia, often referred to as the Central Remote Employment and Training Model. A similar program has subsequently been implemented at Wadeye. In this financial year, a revised training program is being implemented to provide two-year housing construction training projects to 40 trainees in nine communities with an emphasis on achievable outcomes and progression to paid employment.
The outcomes are exciting and rewarding for our local communities. We have 11 apprentices currently undertaking training for Certificate II in General Construction. A further 60 apprentices have completed Certificate II and 10 of these are continuing on with their Certificate III. Existing training programs at Amoonguna and Wadeye, through Thamarrurr Regional Council, are continuing.
New training project agreements have been signed by Ltyentye Apurte Community Government Council, Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council, Galiwinku Community, Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association and Tiwi Island Local Government. Select tenders have been raised to directly engage Ltyentye Apurte and Nyirranggulung to deliver the training project in their respective communities. A select tender is currently being processed to directly engage the Tiwi Islands Local Government to deliver the training project in Nguiu and Milikapiti. Public tenders have been called for an external entity to deliver the training project at Galiwinku and Yirrkala.
Three apprentices trained under the 2003-06 construction training project have recently been employed by Ntaria Council to perform housing and civil work. Other communities, including Yuendumu and Gunbalanya, with identified potential for satisfactory training outcomes have expressed interest in commencing these training projects.
Indigenous training and employment have also been enhanced by the government’s roads program. To date, $8.9m has been spent on the Mereenie Loop. The two contracts completed resulted in the employment and training of indigenous Territorians in civil construction works from the surrounding area. The $4m joint venture between Ntaria Council and DAC Enterprises has resulted in six people progressing towards a Certificate III in Civil Construction. Negotiations are well advanced to create indigenous business opportunities associated with the supply of gravel for the construction of the $32m Victoria River project.
Madam Speaker, these programs are delivering real outcomes on the ground, and I commend all those involved in the program. I commend the Minister for Business and Economic Development for his statement. We know that, in the Territory, we cannot truly advance in our economic prosperity without improving the economic prosperity and the opportunities for business enterprises, for employment, for education and for training in our regional and remote areas of the Northern Territory. It is great to see that the Martin Labor government is committed to regional economic development. It is a fantastic way for the Territory to spread prosperity right across the Territory and, in doing so, improve the standard of living for all Territorians.
Debate adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Madam SPEAKER: Members, I have given permission for ABC radio to record the speech of the member for Stuart.
Mr HAMPTON (Stuart): Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the Larrakia people as the traditional custodians of this country here and thank them for allowing my uncle, Robin Granites, an elder of the Warlpiri people, to guide me into parliament this morning with my family. It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life and one that will stay with me forever.
It is with great pride that I stand here in the Parliament House of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to deliver my first speech. I say this with great pride because I have been overwhelmed by the support, interest and excitement the people of Stuart and my hometown of Alice Springs have shown me over the past four weeks during the by-election.
It is equally with great pride that I can now say I am a member of the Martin Labor government. I personally thank the Chief Minister for her dedication and inspiring effort. I also acknowledge and thank my Caucus colleagues and pay respect to the other bush members. I am looking forward greatly to the challenge of working as a member of the government team.
I am a child of a Warlpiri woman and a Mara/Ngulikan man. My mother’s traditional country is Mt Theo, 70 km west of Yuendumu in the Tanami Desert. My father’s traditional country is Jawa near Ngukurr and the Borroloola region.
As an indigenous man, I am conscious of the fact that I have joined five other indigenous members of this parliament: the member for Arafura, the member for Barkly, the member for Millner, the member for Macdonnell and the member for Arnhem. I am happy to be joining not only those indigenous members I have mentioned, but I am also honoured to be recognised along with previous indigenous members of parliament: Hyacinth Tungutalum, Neville Perkins, Wesley Lanhupuy, Stanley Tipiloura, Maurice Rioli and John Ah Kit.
I am confident in saying that we all share a common obligation and commitment to country, community and family regardless of where we were born or our background. Whilst we indigenous members may have this common obligation, I believe all of us in this parliament have an obligation to development and invest in our greatest asset: the people of the Northern Territory.
I will honour and serve all the people of Stuart - indigenous and non-indigenous - who elected me, regardless of political, religious, sporting or any other affiliation, to the best of my ability. I believe that if you are prepared to put in the hard work, you will get the results you desire. The Territory is a remarkable place of opportunities, where ordinary citizens such as me can become an elected member of parliament. As I told the Centralian Advocate during the campaign, I am just an ordinary bloke from The Gap area of Alice Springs. I have grown up with politics all my life. I obtained a good education and had plenty of good role models along the way.
However, working during the campaign showed me there was a lot more to be done. I believe there is a strong message for us in the Northern Territory in the following quote from the great American leader, Martin Luther King and I quote:
- There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of people in that society who feel they have no stake in it, who feel they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society protect that society, but when they do not have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it.
Many indigenous people in the Northern Territory want a bigger stake in building the society that makes up the Northern Territory, and many indigenous Territorians have already been involved in building what we have today. You only have to look at the 40th anniversary of the walk-off this year that was celebrated with a festival in my electorate at Kalkarindji and Daguragu. The legacy left by the old people is proof that indigenous Territorians worked hard in the early beginnings of the pastoral industry. The Gurindji people, with the support of the unions, took a stand and won. The rest, as we know it, is history. I am absolutely honoured to be the member of parliament who represents the Gurindji people and the communities of Kalkarindji and Daguragu.
However, today there is a new battle that we have to fight together like the Gurindji and the unions did 40 years ago. That fight is to engage and bring the people of the bush with the rest of the Territory as partners in building and shaping our society. We must engage the people to deliver the health and economic outcomes that so many want to achieve.
The people of Stuart want to make the Territory, their communities, and town camps, the greatest place to live. They want to be able to obtain a good job, whether they live in a remote Territory community like Lajamanu or in a regional centre like Ti Tree. The people of Stuart want safe and harmonious communities where their children and grandchildren can grow up happy and healthy, whether they are living at Hidden Valley town camp or at Ampilatwatja. This is not easy because of the complex political and social history that is associated with the indigenous and non-indigenous people in the Territory.
We need to build this trust and promote it through considered laws and policies of this parliament, and bring forward an open and fair dialogue for all Territorians. We need to build this trust by investing in the infrastructure of these communities to a standard that will help build a better life. Only we in the Territory can do this; it is not up to people down south. We, as Territorians, have the experience and the genuine need to make a difference.
When I sat down with my three sons to explain why I was standing for the by-election, my youngest son, Jamie, who is nearly 8, asked me: ‘Dad, why do you want to do this job?’ I had to think for a minute, but I replied by saying that it was my dream. The people of Stuart also have dreams. Indigenous people have dreams to educate their kids and live a good life. I intend to dedicate my work with them to fulfil some of these dreams for their communities and families.
I have always wanted to serve the community of the Northern Territory, and throughout my previous jobs with Tangentyere Council, the Commonwealth Public Service, Normandy Mining, the Central Land Council and the Department of the Chief Minister, I feel I have been building towards this. I believe it is something that I have inherited from my father’s parents and my grandparents, Tim and Sarah Hampton. I would like to talk about my family history because, for me, that is where my roots are.
Tim and Sarah Hampton and their 11 sons, Reginald, Walter, Noel, Gerald, John, Cyril, Ken, Eric, Edward, Robert and Roy are well known to many Territorians. Tim and Sarah Hampton were part of the Stolen Generation early last century, and grew up at the Roper River Mission. They were married at St Catherine’s Church at Roper River Mission on 15 January 1924. After their marriage, they were employed as members of staff, first at the Emerald River Mission on Groote Eylandt and then, from October 1924, at Roper. For the first year, their allowance was ₤20 with rations, which was to increase to ₤24 when they proved capable and suitable. Later in the year it was reported that Tim Hampton had taken Evensong for the first time, the first Aborigine to take a full service in English.
Many of their sons have continued serving the community. Amongst the 11 brothers, five have served in the armed services during both peace and war time. Reginald Hampton, who was recruited at Hatches Creek in 1946, served tours of duty from 1948 to 1957 including New Guinea, Bougainville, Japan and Korea during World War II. During the past 18 months I have been researching and applying for my uncle Reginald’s service medals to be reissued to the family as we lost contact with him around 1968.
Ken Hampton won the Broken Hill and Murray Bridge Gifts, as well as the famous Bay Sheffield Race in Glenelg in South Australia in 1961. Ken was also an ordained minister and Justice of the Peace. He received the Order of Australia medal in 1985 for services to the Aboriginal community in South Australia.
Edward Hampton was a Justice of the Peace for 20 years, a former Centralian of the Year recipient, and stood for two Legislative Assembly elections in 1980 and 1983. Ted was also involved in the development of key Aboriginal organisations, the Centre for Appropriate Technology, and the Aboriginal Housing Association in Alice Springs.
I know my grandparents and uncles who have passed away would be very proud of my achievements and I pay my respects to them for inspiring me to follow in the Hampton family tradition of serving the community. That is why I am placing their names on the public record.
Throughout my personal and political development, there have been two very influential traditions that have provided me with strong values and principles. It is most fitting that the strong traditions of the Labor Party and my indigenous background and culture have come together today as one. I am proud to have been initiated into my mother’s culture and place on the public record my respect and thanks to my mother’s family and elders through the Tanami and Anmatjere regions for keeping the stories, the songs, and the dances strong, many times against all odds.
I feel it is appropriate for me to apologise to the Stolen Generation as a member of the Northern Territory parliament. I do so by saying that I feel the pain and hurt inflicted onto those people directly affected by this policy. I have seen the heartache that many children have experienced who have a parent, or parents, who were taken away. I am proud to be a member of this government because this government has acknowledged this mistake and the impact that it has had on so many lives.
To the Northern Territory Labor Party, of which I am a proud member, I say thank you for giving me the opportunity and for your support over the by-election. Particular thanks to George Addison, the Northern Territory Branch Secretary; Warren Snowdon, the Northern Territory Branch President; Senator Trish Crossin, and all those people from within the party and community members who helped during the campaign.
I am proud to say that the seat of Stuart, which has been held by the Labor Party for the past 23 years will surpass a quarter of century of Labor traditions and values in the next couple of years. I have been fortunate enough to have known each previous member for Stuart including Roger Vale, former Opposition Leader, Brian Ede and Peter Toyne. To Peter Toyne and Thea, his wife, I say thank you for all that you have taught me and passed on to me over many years.
Peter has been a great mentor and mate of mine. I have no hesitation in saying that although his shoes cannot be filled, his footsteps will be followed. I have many fond memories of Peter and great stories. Obviously, my favourite memory is his bush driving skills, or more particularly that his enthusiasm was not necessarily matched by his ability. Peter was fondly known as the Minister for the Finke Desert Race. Just let me say he is a better navigator than driver. I am sure every member in this House has much respect for Peter and the unbelievable workload he undertook throughout his years in parliament. His hard work ethic and fairness is something that I believe I developed whilst working with him over many years.
I would also like to thank my uncle Robin Japanangka Granites for his help during the election. His cultural knowledge and respect amongst the people of Stuart was invaluable to me and he has been a fantastic cultural mentor for me over this time.
To my sister, Pauline, I thank her for everything she has done for me throughout my life. She has been more like a mother to me than a sister and I know that she has sacrificed a lot during her life for me. To my younger brother, Vaughn, although there is a six-year age gap between us, I have watched him pave his own way in life and I am proud of him and his commitment to his children, Thomas, Kyle and Lyarni, and his wife, Yvette.
I am also extremely proud to have my niece, Shakira, and nephews, Anthony and Nathan here today.
There are two special ladies I would like to mention who are not here with me today to share this special occasion. The first lady is my mother, Florrie Singleton, who passed away in 1985 when I was 14 years old. My mother is someone I miss very much. I know that she would be very proud of my achievements.
The second lady is my sister, Donna, who passed away in 1990. She was only 23 years old and her life was cut tragically short. I will always remember the good times we had growing up and especially having to put up with her music and fascination with bands like Duran Duran. I miss her dearly.
To my father Robert, I say thank you for providing me with the opportunities throughout my life. My father is here today and I would like to say that he takes a lot of credit for me achieving what I have.
I would like to make special mention of my wife, Rebecca, and our three sons, Joshua, Curtly and Jamie, all of whom are here today. Over the past month during the election, my family has sacrificed a lot for me to achieve what I have. Today is as much for them as it is for me. Campaigning in a bush seat is very demanding, both physically and mentally, because of its size and the complexity of the issues. During this time, Rebecca has been a rock at home and I thank her for her support, advice and reality checks.
Before the by-election, my younger son, Jamie, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. It is something that we did not think would ever happen to us or our family, and it was a very big shock to us all. We had the support of the Alice Springs paediatric ward, in particular Dr Rosbery, and Dr Tars, the diabetic educator, Glenis and dietician, Megan. I say thank you to those people. They have all been fantastic.
No matter where my political career takes me from here, there is no doubt that my greatest achievement will remain my relationship with Rebecca and my sons.
Throughout the by-election I promoted myself as someone who was hard but fair, someone who is young and experienced, and someone who is ready to work for the people of Stuart. I pay my respects to the people of Stuart for listening to this message and showing enormous trust in me. I look forward to working with the people of Stuart and each and every member of this House over the coming years.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, the 2006 PINT Cricket Club MILO Have-a-Go has just completed another successful season. The program is held each Monday evening at Leanyer Primary School. This season, there were 55 participants, both boys and girls, ranging from four to 11 years. This was the third season that MILO Have-a-Go has been held at Leanyer Primary School. The principal, Mr Henry Gray, who is known far and wide might I say, supports the program with regular visits each Monday. He presented the awards to participants at the recent presentation evening.
Local MILO Have-a-Go programs are run by individual cricket clubs. The programs consist of 12 sessions which include skills, game development, cricket rules, cricket matches and a fun night at the end of season. The coordinator for PINT Cricket Club MILO Have-a-Go is Kaye Cowley. She has been involved in junior cricket for the past 17 years in the capacity as the club’s junior coordinator/coach, MILO Have-a-Go coordinator, and as an umpire. Parents volunteer their time along with Kaye to conduct the sessions. This season, Blake Cowley, Martin Brown, the club coach and captain, and Seb Todd were the main helpers along with many parents.
The PINT Cricket Club has always had a successful MILO Have-a-Go program, with 100 participants last year. Many of the past Milo players are now playing in the local A grade competition.
The 2006 PINT Cricket Club MILO Have-a-Go presentation was held on Monday, 28 August, at the PINT Club Marrara with many parents, grandparents and family joining in for the presentation. It has become a bit of a tradition for me to provide the sausages. Kay, or her husband, Roger, get on the phone and each year I have had the pleasure of providing probably around 500 or 600 sausages to date and quite a number of loaves of bread and tomato sauce. I always look forward each year to getting the call from Kay or Roger and going there to cook and to meet all the young players and the parents who help out. It is a great day at the PINT Club.
Each participant receives an award with several other special awards. This year, the special awards were: Bowling Award to Elycia Pittman, Declan Smyth, Jazzmine Hobson and Saxon Radecki. The Batting Award went to Alicia Scrimegour, and I do believe that Alicia may be known to some of our members, particularly to the minister for NRETA, Lara Creer, Adam Johnston, and Nick Johnson. The Most Improved Award went to Katherine Rideout and Morgan Hill. The Coaches Award went to Joshua Smith and Teegan Avery.
This is the 17th year that Kay Cowley has been running this program. I am confident that Kaye is in there for the long haul, and she will get the 20 years up. I will flag now that I will be coming around on that 20th year and asking members here to go to the award presentation that night because I think something special should happen for Kaye. In the interim, I know that she and all the other parents and helpers and Henry Gray will get on with it.
The PINT cricket club is a great supporter of the MILO Have-a-Go. It is a fantastic program for kids. Both of my children have gone through it, as have the children of other members here. I have so many Milo bats at home that I do not know what to do with them, and also many little medallions around the house. It is great skills for the kids. I know the member for Blain is very supportive of sports activities for children after hours, and likewise all members …
Mr Wood: I like my Milo …
Mr KIELY: … and the member for Nelson. I would like to say that it is a shared feeling amongst all members in the Chamber that the more that we can do to promote these activities amongst our children and younger children all over the Territory, the better off we are as a society. It breeds comradeship, it breeds community values, gets all the family involved. It is one of those all round good programs which will stand the children in good stead as they go on in their years, both in a social and a sporting context.
To Kaye and all the people involved with the PINT Cricket MILO Have-a-Go for 2006, I give you mine, and I am sure the House shares with me, congratulations for a good year. We all look forward to seeing you next year for another successful competition.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, much to the relief of Hansard, I am just going to finish off my report on the trip to the United States.
I would like to talk about my trip to the Ohio Florists Association’s short course in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the biggest nurserymen’s conventions in the United States. It is a trade convention. If you are into flowers or into anything related to the nursery industry, it is certainly worth attending. It has everything from the latest in potting and planting equipment, marketing of plants, new seeding machines, chemicals, fertilisers, and all that sort of thing. It would require anyone who went to this particular show several days to give it justice. Unfortunately, I was only there for about two-and-a-half to three hours.
I have reported on this, what they call a short course, to the local Nurserymen’s Association in the Northern Territory. I gave a report on what the course covers and recommended that they talk to the government about sending representatives to Ohio next year. I believe that would be of value to our local nursery industry.
Moving on from the trip to Columbus, Ohio, on my second last day in the United States, I visited the Ohio Reformatory for Women. This was, again, an eye-opener for me especially. This is a prison of 2000 inmates. It is right on the edge of the town of Marysville. It is quite an old prison; I think it was built in 1916. I was given a tour of the reformatory, and I was quite impressed. It has a large emphasis on educating inmates, and has a very good education facility where they attempt to get all inmates up to what they call a GED standard, which is a standard that you would have if you left high school. They try to get all the inmates up to that standard so that when they leave they have a possibility of getting a job. They also have a nursery and they have their own kitchen where they make their own meals.
They have a special program called Tapestry. Tapestry is part of the therapeutic community similar to the one I mentioned previously at the West Central Community Correctional Facility. This is a program where the women inmates help one another to gain skills, to learn self-control, because many of these people have had drug problems and issues with violence. The Tapestry or the therapeutic community is a means of these people helping one another to come to terms with these problems and overcome them. This program has some special ways of helping people. For instance, in the Northern Territory we have Wild Care. The prisoners in the therapeutic community look after injured animals, very similar to our Wild Care. On my visit to this reformatory, we were taken to the basement of this very old building, and there was a prisoner who had been on death row for some time, which was commuted to a life sentence. She was in charge of caring for the injured animals. There were many birds, opossums, and all sorts of animals there. She was in charge of about 11 other prisoners who gave a hand.
They also have a program similar to our RSPCA where prisoners look after injured or lost animals. You have prisoners looking after greyhounds in their cell. They groom and exercise these greyhounds, and when someone from outside wishes to purchase one of these animals, they are then released. It is very similar to the RSPCA, except the prisoners in the Ohio Women’s Reformatory do that job.
This prison also had some unique programs where a woman who was pregnant and had Felony 4 or 5 - which is the lowest scale of seriousness - was allowed to have and raise that child in prison. They had a special nursery set aside in the prison for these mothers. They have found that there is practically no recidivism of any of these mothers who have had their children while they are serving their sentence in the reformatory. In fact, it has had a quietening effect because many of the other prisoners have acted as nannies while the mother has been doing some classes in the educational facility, for instance. Again, that is unique. It is certainly not seen in many places in the world.
The prison also has a factory that produces flags for government instrumentalities throughout the United States. They have quite a few people making flags. They also make socks for prisoners. Another area that they look after is making lenses for glasses for prisoners. They have the equipment to do that. They send them off to prisons throughout the United States.
The therapeutic community is something that I believe has possibilities in the Territory. The new Minister for Justice has mentioned to me that he is interested in what I saw in Ohio and I said I would give him a briefing during these sittings. I believe we have to look at alternative ways of dealing with prisoners. We have to reduce the recidivism. I agree very much with what the Minister for Justice said today during Question Time. If we are to reduce the number of people in our prisons, we have to reduce the number of people coming back again and again. Of course it is not that simple. We also have to ensure that there is employment for those people and they do not fall back into the same habits that got them into prison in the first place.
Just quickly; as my days wound up in Ohio, I went to a community meeting which discussed youth issues in the town of Marysville. Probably no different to a lot of meetings you would have in town dealing with a whole range of, you might say, community problems; mainly involved with youth. People in that meeting were looking at a way forward. They were looking at setting up an agenda to develop a program which would look at some of the issues and hopefully find some solutions to some of the problems that occurred in town. Marysville is a small country town in America but the issues that they have are no different to anywhere else in Australia. The problems they have in America are reflected in Australia.
On my last day in Ohio I went to the local agricultural centre where they had a seminar on that day which related to an issue of pollution in the local area. All the creeks around Marysville, all the water from those creeks runs into the Columbus water supply system. One of those creeks was fairly highly polluted from nutrients from a nearby poultry farm. This particular company, called Oxbow, specialises in the restoration of creeks, streams and rivers. It worked on what was just a straight drain that went into a creek; it widened it, developed a flood plain and then turned a straight drain into a winding creek similar to how creeks work in nature. Those changes reduced the nutrients in that creek to acceptable levels. The macro-invertebrates and fish species all came back to normal levels or very close to it. Those engineered changes based on the natural physics of a creek made a lot of difference to the quality of the water in that region.
I would like to see the government copy some of those concepts. Anyone who has been to Palmerston will notice that the drains are straight and they go straight into the harbour, or straight into a creek. There is no attempt to put in any system that will slow that river down and reduce the amount of nutrients being dispersed and discharged into our harbour. For too long we have had the concrete drain engineered solution; get rid of the water as quickly as possible. It taught me that that is exactly the opposite way to which you should do things. You should slow the water down and allow the water to take time before it discharges into the next creek or the next river and ensure development is set back far enough for you to do that. To some extent, I think we still live in the days of the 1960s where we must get rid of our water quickly and we must use every square inch for development. Surely those days should be finished. Unfortunately, in a place like Palmerston, we still seem to be going down that path.
I sailed off from Ohio; spent one day of my own in Hawaii which was also very interesting. It was interesting to hear about Hawaiian people. They have land rights issues as well. They are a little different to here in some ways because it is a fairly complex history. Many nations have been involved in the development of Hawaii. On the bus trip around that Hawaiian island, the bus driver who was Hawaiian gave us a good insight into Hawaiian people and some of the issues on the Hawaiian islands. Hawaii is very similar to north Queensland and, to some extent, Darwin. Much of the vegetation is just like you see in Australia. The weather was certainly that way until you went up to the side of the volcano when all of a sudden you think you are in a cold climate where there are sheep, green grass, clouds overhead, and they grow strawberries. It is a unique environment.
In summing up, my trip was one of the best things I have ever done. I have certainly learnt a lot. I learnt about Americans. You can have preconceived ideas that all Americans are a bit like Desperate Housewives, but in fact the Americans I met were extremely generous. They looked after me like you would not believe. I stopped over at different places and there was no problem in being shown around and taken out to places like the United States Air Force Museum. The older people who stayed in the condominiums where I stayed all took me out for lunch. I presented them with an Australian flag and by the time I got home that Australian flag was flying under the American flag outside the condominiums. That was the sort of reception I received in America.
There are things you have to get used to like making sure you do not cross the road without looking to the left. You have to get used to different pronunciations of words, and a different style of eating in some cases. I should mention the Amish people, who unfortunately had a terrible tragedy in the United States just recently with the shooting in Pennsylvania; they have a beautiful restaurant in Union County. You can have some of the most wonderful home cooked food there. If you ever go to America, try to get to an Amish restaurant as it is a wonderful place.
I thank my hosts Judi and David Green who looked after me; Paden, their daughter; and Nancy, Judi’s sister, plus all the family. There were all the in-laws and out-laws whom I met, especially over the 4 July celebrations, and they all looked after me. People who did not know me from a bar of soap when I arrived were great hosts taking me out to dinner and, as I said, to the museum.
I thank all the people I met at the prisons and the Ohio Reformatory for Women. I hope to go back one day as there is much to learn. People sometimes say it is a waste of time going overseas. I do not think it is. That was my first trip and I met people who I never dreamt I would meet in my life. They have different ways of thinking and that is part of the reason why politicians should go: to broaden their outlook on the world. That is what I learned from this trip especially, and I thank the parliament for allowing me to go to the United States.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I am going to talk about the fantastic fund raising efforts undertaken by the schools in my electorate to raise money not only for their own activities but for other special causes.
I have spoken before about Jingili Primary School’s efforts to raise money for their sister school in Leu Lau in Timor. The Student Representative Council has been collecting exercise books to send as a resource to Leu Lau, and I have seen a very stirring photo of an amazing 14 one-metre high towers of exercise books donated to this cause. This is an incredible response to a great idea from the SRC and the school community has been working closely with Lynne Bigg and the East Timor Sunrise organisation.
During Education Week, the Jingili School community held a family breakfast followed by a school open day and it was good to see so many families there. Leisa Sjaardema and her family coordinated the breakfast and were at school before daybreak setting up. Once again, staff and parents all pitched in to make it a lovely morning. Parents stayed on and visited classrooms to see their children at work. The $400 raised will help subsidise the school’s swimming program which starts next month. This is a fantastic effort and the breakfast was worth every cent. I certainly enjoyed it. Raising money together creates a close knit community and lots of selfless efforts by people.
The International Market Day was held on 1 September, where classes produced many interesting culturally inspired items to sell at the markets. Ms Larelle Gilbert coordinated the International Market Day, with every class making a craft or food to sell, as well as classes organising activities for students and parents to be involved in during the markets. These included pancakes, pottery, East Timorese food, Chinese lanterns, fried rice, Vietnamese spring rolls, butterfly magnets, origami Yakitori, scroll hangings, curry puffs and much, much more. Many parents assisted prior to and during the day to make it a wonderful community event. Around $1200 was made, and the suggestion is to have this event next year as a twilight event to enable more parents and community members to attend. One of the most popular stalls was the Transition students giving shoulder massages. They did a great job and had customers lining up.
Class 6/7 at Jingili were the winners of the Veterans Affairs 2006 Anzac Day School Award for their Anzac Day ceremony this year. They received a $1000 prize. Heartiest congratulations to Ms Joy and the members of the class who made a field of poppies and enacted the very moving song, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. I also understand that Molly Husbands recited In Flanders Fields and Bryce Simpson recited The Ode.
The recipients of my third semester Quiet Achiever Awards at Jingili Primary School were Damiana Tipiloura and Anthony Mehonoshen. Well done. A number of Jingili students achieved great results in the Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac awards. They were Maverick Carver and Joshua Kimm, who received Distinctions, and Jarrah Fowler, Rachel Harpur, Jessie Lai, Koal Smith, William Anstey, Jeremy Kimm and Shayne Wicks who received credits. Well done to these students.
Moil Primary School has been raising money for some very good causes. The school held an extremely successful Family Fun Fair on 3 September, raising the amazing amount of $8940.40. Traditionally, this has been the major fundraiser for the school to provide additional educational needs for all school year levels. There was a great variety of attractions, including crafts stalls, the inevitable white elephant stalls, side shows, a play centre and castle, lucky dips, face painting and ornament making, car washes and tarot readings and removable tattoos. Parents manned the barbecue and there were drinks, sushi, cakes, slushies and curries. A lot of hard work was put in by everyone from the kids, the parents, the teachers, the admin staff and the hard-working committee.
Special thanks must go to Sita Harrison, Gail Cumming and Megan Luis for their determination to make the fair happen and their amazing organisational skills. Sita put together a fabulous raffle which I had great pleasure in drawing. There were some fantastic prizes including a scenic flight donated by Aaron Cook of Air Frontier. There are many others to thank. I will not be able to mention them all, but special thanks must go to those school staff members who worked so hard: Michelle Ormsby for the bottomless pools of change she provided and everything else; Deanna Francis for the sell-out vindaloo; Jeannie Sawyer for the side-splitting side show alley; Rhona Manning for the delicious sushi; Amye Bryant from the preschool for the lucky dip; Loretta Simmonds for her stunning earrings; Jenny Rigg for her wonderful white elephant stall and slushies; and Andrew Holt for washing all those cars.
Of course, it would not be possible without the support of the Moil community. I extend my special thanks to the entire Harrison, Harbeck and Ryan families; to Kathy Thompson and her mum; to Helen Carroll, Scott Smith, Sam Saynor, and the Wallent family; and the young face painters – Katie, Margaret and Ruby. And a big thank you to all the other families and friends who made the day such an outstanding success.
During the last school semester, Year 5B/C at Moil learned about the Third World and developing countries. As a part of their learning, the class decided to try some of the Third World conditions and give up various things that are taken for granted, like food, furniture, television, computers, lights, etcetera, over a 40 hour period. The kids went without lights, desks and chairs at school and some gave up their beds and slept on the floor, but it seems giving up television, computers, Game Boys and PlayStations really brought the message home. The kids raised a whopping $1442.65 for World Vision – enough money to feed and care for 286 children in East Timor, I am told. A great effort from all the kids who took part, who were so excited about raising this money for a great cause.
The school also held a footy colours day to raise money for the Bone Marrow Institute. We really have a very caring and giving community in the Johnston electorate.
I also received representations to support the Moil Primary School team of Jack Bliss, Jedda Bennett-Kellam, Kenny Lee, William Carroll, David Grimes and Mitchell Aldridge from Years 5 to 7 to enable them to travel to Adelaide at the end of October to compete in the Tournament of the Minds. These six boys made up a team who were tasked to develop solutions over a six-week period to an open-ended challenge from the category of Maths Engineering. They won that challenge and will now represent the Northern Territory at the Australian finals. How good is that? What a fantastic achievement for these young students and their teacher, Mr Andrew Holt. I had no hesitation in supporting them, and I wish them all the best in Adelaide. I am sure all members here tonight join me in wishing them all the best.
Heartiest congratulations to Marilyn Van den Elzen of Wagaman Primary School, for winning an Excellence in Literacy Teaching Award, which was announced at the launch of Education Week in Darwin. Marilyn was the only primary school teacher to win this award, which is presented to NT teachers who demonstrate exemplary skills and understanding in the planning, teaching and assessing of literacy. This is a fantastic achievement, and it makes us so very proud to have Marilyn at the Wagaman Primary School.
There are also some great successes in the sporting arena for Wagaman school, with Joe Smith and Vincent Silva who played in the Darwin junior squash team in an inter-club tournament in Alice Springs. Twenty-five juniors from Alice Springs and Darwin competed in the 11- to 16-year-old age group. Congratulations to Vincent, who won a third trophy, and to Joe, who came 7th overall.
At the NT Athletics and NTSS Track and Field Exchange, more Wagaman kids had fantastic results. Donica Sarikon won a third medal for her 11-year-old girls discus event. Jack Russell received a third medal for the 11-year-old boys long jump, and Dale Wilson came second in the 200 m and 800 m for 13-year-old boys. Well done, Donica, Jack and Dale.
Wagaman Primary School also got into the swing of fundraising and held an inaugural event – a numberthon which involved children and families. It included a parent workshop at which everyone learnt more about the practical applications of numeracy in life and how parents can help their kids at home with simple numeracy activities involving everyday things. The school raised a massive $4759.80, which marked it as a huge success. Hayden Beattie was the outstanding fundraising king, followed by Paige Parker second, and Tahlia Parker third. Well done to all those involved in this fantastic fundraising project.
My Quiet Achiever Award this semester at Wagaman Primary School went to Sarah Othman aged 6 years and Tiffany Gray, aged 11 years. I congratulate Sarah and Tiffany on their diligence and good work during Semester 3.
On 30 August, I was delighted to represent the Minister for Employment, Education and Training at the Casuarina Senior College which, of course, is in my electorate, at the opening of the CSC Automotive and Engineering Skills Centre. The skills centre was built to increase training in automotive and engineering courses for VET in School students. As Certificate I and II Automotive and Engineering courses are available as cluster programs for students from schools in Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area, this facility benefits not only CSC students but, indeed, all of those from the greater Darwin and Palmerston region. The new facilities are also being used for NTCE courses such as Stage 1 Go Karting Design and Construction and Stage 2 Embedded VET Engineering Course. A testament to the real need for this facility is that the skills centre has enabled the college to double the number of trainees in these courses. It was fantastic to see so many VET students and trainees at the opening of the centre.
As you are aware, Mr Deputy Speaker, CSC has a long and successful association with VET programs and this was recognised at this year’s NT Training Awards where the college received the Bill McLaren VET in Schools Excellence Award. This award recognises an outstanding program which delivers vocational education and training to school students. Also of note is the fact that CSC students are regularly represented at Territory and national vocational awards and competitions such as World Skills.
Training is essential for the growth of the Territory which is experiencing a sustained period of high labour and skill demand. As a government we will continue to support and encourage the delivery of VET in schools program and the delivery of other VET training, particularly in the traditional trades. I was more than happy to congratulate everyone at the opening of the Skill Centre on the completion of the training facility. The principal, Mr Steve Sjoberg, does a fantastic job at CSC and he and his staff are to be commended for this occasion.
Congratulations go to Tahnee Afuhaamango from Jingili who recently won gold, silver and bronze at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships held at the University of Limerick in Ireland during September this year. More than 300 athletes representing 21 countries participated including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Portugal, Ukraine, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Tahnee won trophies for fastest swimming in freestyle, butterfly and the individual medley. She broke four world records including the short course records in the 50m butterfly and 100m individual medley. Tahnee’s success was capped by being named Swimmer of the Meet. Well done, Tahnee. I am sure all members here tonight join me in congratulating Tahnee.
On Sunday, 19 September, together with the member for Millner and the Coconut Grove Seniors Hall Committee, I invited members of the electorate to a picnic at the Water Gardens to enjoy the sounds of the Darwin City Brass Band. The brass band gave a wonderful performance for the seniors from Coconut Grove and everyone who came along. I was very impressed with the professionalism showed by the band. I thank Iris Beale, the president, and her band for coming along to this special occasion just to give the community the benefit of a wonderful musical interlude on a Sunday afternoon.
It was fantastic to see Barrie Martin back on his feet following a very long recovery from a motorbike accident. He and Lai Yee, his wife, walked to the gardens and met up with Joy Pope, who is very well known in the electorate. Tilly Luis also gives a lot to the electorate and to schools in the area. Nicolas Villanueva, and Quito Washington who is, I am sure, known to a lot of people in this Assembly, was there with his family. Everyone really enjoyed the occasion. There is talk of making this an annual event but perhaps not on a football finals weekend. They did have a good roll-up. It was fantastic. It is an honour for me to be the member for Johnston, to interact and support the electorate. I am very grateful for the support that my electorate gives me. I so much enjoy this job, and I look forward to reporting to this Assembly at a future date about more fantastic goings-on within the Johnston electorate.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to talk about a particular event which has occurred in my electorate of which I am also very proud. It is an event that has communities within that electorate inspired, and was something I was glad to be a small part of. It was the Coomalie Junior Football competition which culminated in a Lightning Carnival held at the end of September. It was organised by Mr Cliff Walton, the Youth Sport and Recreation Officer with the Coomalie Community Government Council.
Cliff did an absolutely wonderful job. He is new in that position and he managed to get a range of community members together and children from various communities into an event which I know they thoroughly enjoyed.
The Lightning Carnival included 163 players. Coomalie Council takes in the Batchelor and Adelaide River areas and they worked with the Sport and Recreation Officer, Ms Rose Rowlings, from the Nauiyu Community Government Council. Rose is Cliff’s partner so I guess they hatched that idea together and certainly the work that was done down at Nauiyu Community was very good.
Over the period of the carnival, 350 people were included. They had 28 referees over that period and they certainly had a lot of adults helping out. Although there were primarily younger children, there were older players who came along and they helped out the younger players. There were no strict rules so players ended up filling in for other player’s teams. I attended the culmination of the Lightning Carnival, which was held at Batchelor. Prior to that, round one was held at the Adelaide River Oval and included teams from the Batchelor School, Adelaide River School, the Wooliana School, St Francis Xavier School and also from Cliff’s previous association with the Scout Group, he brought a team down from Howard Springs Scouts.
Mr Kevin Bruce from AFLNT also came down and provided some additional support, and it was great to see that. There was a younger age group competition - five, six and seven years old – the Coomalie team against the Daly River side and it was won, fortunately, by the Daly River side. I will talk about that team a bit later on. There was also a primary age group competition held between Batchelor and Wooliana which was won by Batchelor. The second game was between Adelaide River and St Francis Xavier A which was won by the St Francis Xavier A team.
I attended the culmination of the round robin competition and saw a fantastic group of kids having a great time, parents participating, and some great football. There were many girls involved and they were just as good, if not sometimes better, than the boys. There are many young kids of whom we will see a great deal in the future. The day ended with a few trophies being awarded and I want to acknowledge those winners.
The winner of the Junior Competition was Daly River. The runners up were Coomalie and the Best On Ground was a young fellow named Toomba, and he was delighted to receive that award. The Middle Primary winners were St Francis Xavier A and the runners up were Batchelor. Best On Ground was a young fellow who helped me out during Clean Up Australia Day, young Harley and a young fellow named Desmond. There were also some awards for participation which included Adelaide River and Wooliana and the Best On Ground was a young fellow named Dylan. In the teenager group, the winners were St Francis Xavier B and the runners up were the Howard Springs Scouts. Best On Ground in the teenager age group was a young girl named Mariah. She was a fabulous player. She took on the boys and to win the teenager award was a fantastic result for her.
Over the day I saw some absolutely fantastic football. We should be bringing these kids to Darwin and letting them play in the junior league and I will be trying to support that.
I acknowledge some great support. From the Nauiyu community, Rose Rowlings does a great job all year around and also at the Merrepen Sports Carnival. They brought all the kids up in buses from Daly River including the Wooliana kids. They drove a long way to participate in this. They also supplied a great deal of equipment: whistles, horns, stop watches, line markers and uniforms. The community gave a lot to the weekend. Also, when they had the second round, which was held at Daly River, the community put on a disco for the kids and the Batchelor and Adelaide River kids had a fantastic time that weekend.
I understand this will hopefully be an annual event. I know it took a lot to organise but I also know that everybody enjoyed it. There is also some acknowledgement for the support from the staff of the schools, Rose Phillips, Sirpha Hopf, Lisa Bickley, Jan Thompson, Tricia Forscutt and Linda Macintosh. These events do not happen by themselves, and those helpers through the school, or just parents, certainly make the day much smoother.
These events bring the community closer together, and bring the region together. You have kids who now know each other, who will grow up and hopefully have more games at which to meet each other, and it will bring that whole community closer together. I supported the event by the donation of trophies, and will do so in future years.
I would like to thank all the kids. They were very well behaved. They played fair and I thank them for allowing me to be there on that Sunday. Well done, and I will see you again next year.
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, recently we lost one of the Territory’s great tourism advocates and true characters. Barry Grahame Bucholtz made a significant contribution to our tourism industry over many years. His commitment to the industry and his belief in the Territory was truly inspiring.
Barry was involved in tourism, both as a businessman and as a member of various tourism associations and boards. He served at various times as Commissioner and Chairman of the NT Tourism Advisory Council from 1986, and when the Advisory Council became the NT Tourism Board, Barry became its Deputy Chair from 1992 to 1998. He was also Chair of the Alice Springs Regional Tourism Association and in 1988 was made a life member. He was also made a life member of CATIA in 1993.
Back in 1974, Barry and a friend, Kerry Williams, both young men from Cronulla in Sydney, decided to hit the road and explore a bit of Australia. They travelled through the Centre and loved it so much they stayed. They could both see opportunities in tourism, and initially started Barker Souvenirs, the ‘Bar’ being for Barry and the ‘Ker’ being for Kerry. Barker Souvenirs was only a small business, selling books and postcards, but remarkably, it is still open for business 32 years later. It was the first of a number of businesses Barry took his hand too.
After meeting his wife, Julie, at Ayers Rock, Barry opened the Chalet, which operated between 1976 until 1984 when the new resort opened. With the opening of the Ayers Rock Resort, he ran the newsagency, and when all three Sheratons were developed later that year at the Rock, Alice Springs and Darwin, Barry and his business partner took the lease of the lobby shops in each location.
Business was not Barry’s only passion. He was an avid photographer, and many of the images Barker Souvenirs produced were captured by Barry. He was also a passionate bird watcher and was involved in the publication of many books and articles on the subject. One of the highlights of Barry’s career was winning the minister’s Award for Tourism Excellence at the 1991 Brolga Awards, and the Brolga for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the Tourism Industry the following year.
Barry and Julie were renowned for their hospitality and Barry, in particular, for his love of Australian red wines. By all accounts their dinner parties were something special.
Barry’s memorial service is to be held in Alice Springs just before his sons, who are both Australian servicemen, are posted to East Timor. I extend my sympathies and the sympathy of the House to Barry’s wife, Julie, and his sons, John and Brian. Our thoughts are with you all.
There is little doubt that Alice Springs and, indeed, Central Australia, is positioning itself as one of the most important cultural focal points in the country. Much of that has to do with the growing reputation of Aboriginal art throughout the central desert regions, and the hard work and vision of many Aboriginal communities in building and sustaining their art centres.
As you know, the Central Australian Aboriginal art centres are represented by Desart, the Association of Central Australian Aboriginal arts and craft centres which, along with ANKAAA, are the Territory’s best industry representative bodies. Like any good industry body, Desart has its annual trade show, Desert Mob. This is the 16th year Desert Mob has been held, and 35 art centres from the Territory, South Australia and Western Australia were represented, from Waralungku Arts at Borroloola on the Gulf through to the Desert Mob’s newest member, the Spinifex Arts Project in the north-east of Kalgoorlie. As well as Borroloola, other Territory art centres to be represented were Mutitjulu, Imanpa, Kintore, Mt Liebig, Papunya, Haast Bluff, Titjikala, Alice Springs, Santa Teresa, Hermannsburg, Yuendumu and Ampilatwatja, Ali Curing and Tennant Creek.
Desert Mob has become the most important annual survey of Central Australian Aboriginal art, and the statistics speak for themselves. The Desert Mob marketplace, deliberately geared towards a less expensive end of the market and, on the day before the Desert Mob exhibition actually opens, drew in 1500 visitors which was up 50% from last year, and sales were $107 000, up from $78 000 last year. The exhibition also saw impressive growth, with first-day sales of $250 000, up from $180 000 last year. This year’s Desert Mob also saw the Desert Mob dance space behind Araluen, as well as the Desert Mob’s symposium which was attended by around 200 people.
Desert Mob is now an important event in its own right, attracting many interstate and international visitors. Just as the Telstra Awards have developed into one of the highlights of the Darwin Festival, Desert Mob is the key event of the Alice Desert Festival, both of which we strongly support. Desert Mob’s great strength is in its community support. As Arts minister, Marion Scrymgour, pointed out at the opening of Desert Mob, it had been built from the ground up by the Aboriginal artists of Central Australia. It is not the creature of some marketing genius from north Sydney, a bureaucrat from Canberra or, indeed, a politician from Darwin – God forbid! It is an event, said Marion, that has become a celebration.
This year is the 35th anniversary of the beginning of Geoffrey Barden’s work at Papunya, the beginning of a remarkable transformation of ancient cultural traditions into the modern Aboriginal art movement. It is a transformation that is continuing and developing, and Desert Mob is a big part of that evolution. My congratulations and thanks to the dedicated and passionate people who work so hard behind the scenes to make this event the outstanding success it is today. To John Oster, Executive Director of Desart, and all its executive members: Charmaine Kik, Acting Curator and Collections Manager; Tim Rollason, Curator and Acting Director; Hannah Presley, Exhibitions Officer; Dan Murphy, Visual Arts Officer; and Andrew Moynihan, Visual Arts Officer. I think the Desert Mob exhibition is still on in Alice Springs so, if you can make it there before it closes, it is well worth it. There is an exuberance about the art from Central Australia that is just hard to replicate anywhere else. In my two visits, I have enjoyed each one and, if I have time, I will go back again. If you cannot make this year’s, I urge everyone to visit Alice Springs for Desert Mob 2007.
While talking about art, last Friday I had the pleasure of launching two exhibitions at Framed Gallery in Darwin at Stuart Park. Katie Bradley and Dennis Nona are two very talented artists with growing reputations. Their solo shows at Framed really are something to see. They are very different artists but share a common fascination with the sea and its connection to their homes.
Katie lives in the Territory and she came along to the launch last week. Her Icons of Darwin Series 3 focuses on our marine life and our obsession in the Top End with what you can find in our waters, particularly for fishing. Her first Darwin Icon show in 2002 had tropical flowers as its subject, and the second in the series in 2004 centred on our trees and beaches. Katie’s show is very evocative and is instantly recognisable to those of us who live here in the Territory. It does capture something of the spirit of this place and of the waters that surround it. There is barramundi and rainbow fish, seahorses and stingers. It does have a real Top End feel to it.
Dennis Nona is a Torres Strait Islander who is renowned around the world for his lino cuts. He has recently exhibited in London and France and is well known right around Australia. For Dennis and his people the sea that surrounds the Torres Strait Islands is a source of sustenance and meaning. In his lino cuts and etchings we meet dugongs, turtles and crayfish, and sea images of lush marine vegetation and coral reefs. Two of the lino cuts that are displayed at Framed are some of the largest ever created and are certainly well worth seeing.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, as you know, I have visited Framed quite a bit over the years and the gallery never fails to have a fresh and exciting feel to it. Congratulations to Anne Phelan and everyone at Framed for once again bringing world-class art to Darwin. The exhibition runs to 27 October and I strongly encourage Top Enders and everyone here in the House to get along and see the work of the terrific artists.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016