2004-02-24
Madam Speaker Braham took the Chair at 10 am.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 12, I nominate Jane Aagaard to act as Deputy Chairman of Committees when requested to do so by the Chairman of Committees.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, this morning I draw the attention of members to news that an Australian Defence Force team will deploy to Iraq to help accelerate coalition efforts to train the new Iraqi armed forces. We are proud of our Northern Territory-based troops who perform so professionally when called upon to serve their country. I am sure I speak for all Territorians in wishing them safety and success in their mission. We all hear reports from Iraq about instability and danger, and the work that these troops will undertake can only help to improve the internal stability of that country, and to make it a safer place for the civilian population, which has had enough of warfare and violence.
Since Robertson Barracks became fully operational in 1999, it has emerged as an increasingly important Defence base from which Australian and foreign troops have been deployed to a number of crises, including Interfet operations in East Timor, as well as Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and, most recently, Iraq. I note that it was only several weeks ago that my Defence Support Minister, Paul Henderson, wrote to three HQ 1 Brigade personnel based at Robertson Barracks, who had each been awarded a United States Army Commendation Medal and US Army Achievement Awards by the US government for exemplary professionalism in action in Iraq.
Now, 25 soldiers from the Army’s 1 Brigade will join troops from Brisbane to form a team whose task it will be to build operational capacity within the new Iraqi Army. It is planned that they will be in Iraq for about six months, and their work will build on the efforts of troops currently serving with coalition military assistance training schemes that have already played a major part in graduating the first four battalions of the Iraqi army. This phase of the operation will focus on training three Iraqi army battalions, and the brigade headquarters staff. They will provide training in the full range of professional military and practical skills, including receiving orders and instructions, marching, fitness and weapons training. They will also provide leadership, mentoring and equipping Iraqi brigade headquarters senior staff with the skills to maintain and develop the training program. I understand that as well as the core contingent, security detachment personnel and an additional two Australian light armoured vehicles from Robertson Barracks will be deployed to provide security for the training teams as the training base is located outside Baghdad, away from the Australian Task Force headquarters.
We wish the troops well in this very important exercise. Our thoughts go with them, and with their families and loved ones who await their return here in Darwin.
Members: Hear, hear.
Mr BURKE (Brennan): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for her statement. I am sure that all of the personnel of Robertson Barracks, when they become aware of the Chief Minister’s report this morning, will also be very thankful that this Assembly is thinking of them at this time.
As the Chief Minister said, this is a very important commitment by Australian troops to help rebuild the capacity of the Iraqi defence force. We should not underestimate the danger that these troops are in and the fact, whilst another contingent is shortly to move to Iraq, there has been a troop plus of 2 Cavalry Regiment in Iraq for some time, operating in a very dangerous operational area.
They are in a very difficult situation: the Australian Defence Force over many years have proved that they have the expertise for this sort of training and it is an accolade to the Australian Defence Force that they have been chosen to take on this very important role. Unfortunately, in Iraq at this time, it is those sorts of organisations that are being targeted. Whilst I am absolutely confident in the professionalism of our forces, we Territorians should be very certain of the fact that they are in a very difficult operational area. We certainly hope that all is well in the time that they are there.
It does underscore the point that I have been making for some time, and the Australian Defence Force is very well aware of it. On the one hand, while people might talk about the difficulties of having a greater American defence presence in Australia, the very fact that Australian forces operate and become inter-operable with the American forces is one of the ways that our soldiers, sailors and airmen stay safe. It is no coincidence that there were no Australian airmen lost in Iraq. One of the reasons that they were not lost was because their methods of operation with American forces are very well known, they are very familiar with them, and because of that, they stay safe. So the more training that we can do with American forces, the more we attend to the safety of our own forces. I wish them all well.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on with the next ministerial report, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the former member for Macdonnell, Mr Neil Bell. On behalf of all members, I extend you a warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear.!
Dr TOYNE (Health): Madam Speaker, I would like today to speak on a important reform, the introduction of clinical reference groups, which was highlighted in the Building Healthier Communities five year framework released last week by myself and the Minister for Family and Community Services.
Clinical reference groups are to be established for particular areas of practice in our health system. The Bansemer Report identified that many areas of the department, prior to the restructure in 2003, were isolated, both geographically and in practice terms. For example, most of the Territory’s hospital clinical teams did not coordinate their activities or share resources or information very well. The new clinical reference groups will help overcome these difficulties.
Groups have already been set up in renal, palliative care and critical care. The rehabilitation group will meet for the first time this month. Initial planning for the clinical reference groups for cardiac and cancer is under way. Each group is made up of experts in the particular field, including doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, Aboriginal health workers, policy representatives and a senior executive from the hospital network.
The introduction of clinical reference groups is the key to supporting our regional hospitals and staff in a more effective and sustainable manner, and will help to drive our push for better quality health services. The groups will promote the use of the latest research in our health system, and ensure all health workers keep up to date with the most current health practice information.
Clinical reference groups will increase access to specialist skills, management of particular diseases in all areas of practise and will help guide the development of policy, services and evaluation across the Northern Territory hospital network and the broader health system. They will advise management on clinical planning and development, reflecting professional expertise within the reference groups. The groups are not decision making management bodies; rather, they ensure major decisions on policy, service development and clinical planning are made with high level professional input.
The clinical reference groups will also appraise departmental health initiatives and share treatment protocols and standards. These activities are particularly important, given the geographic isolation of health practitioners in the Territory, and will help practitioners in their pursuit of better health outcomes for all Territorians.
In the future, as we flagged in our Building Healthier Communities framework, information exchange within the groups will be easier with the roll-out of technology such as video conferencing. The creation of the clinical reference groups is one way we will build on the sound clinical services for which our Territory hospitals have been acknowledged nationally.
Ms CARTER (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his report. My only comment to the minister is, as I am sure he is aware in his position with regards to Central Australia, the growing disquiet within the department about the control that Darwin is having over other areas.
I hope that, with regards to the clinical reference groups, the information is spread widely across the Territory and that the input comes widely from outside of Darwin. I have had a number of comments from Health department people working in Alice Springs about their frustration with the growing strength of Darwin in its control over the delivery of health services.
Dr TOYNE (Health): Madam Speaker, I can assure the member for Port Darwin that I am a Central Australian and that is not a bad start to ensuring that we do not have centralised decision making. There is a very important reason why decision making should be drawn together into a more powerful and strategic level, but, equally, we need to have strong ownership of decisions and input to the decisions, as you pointed out.
We will certainly try to ensure to do that. We are looking at the regional administration of the department at the moment in Central Australia. These clinical reference groups will certainly involve strong input from the regions. I will make sure that happens.
Mr AH KIT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I rise to inform the house of the Building Effective Indigenous Governance Conference, which was held from 5 to 7 November 2003 on the traditional lands of the Mirrar people at Jabiru.
The Northern Territory is a unique part of Australia. The diversity of the Territory can be its major strength. Every region has different opportunities and challenges and the Territory needs these opportunities to be taken up and to meet these challenges if we are to realise our full potential. A major strength is that through Australia’s indigenous peoples, we have an opportunity to work alongside the oldest living culture in the world. That is what makes the Territory and Territorians even more unique, and Territorians rose to this challenge and provided important contributions to the conference.
The conference was a unique opportunity for us to consider one of the biggest challenges facing the Northern Territory: that of designing and exercising broadly representative, culturally legitimate and practical governing arrangements in indigenous communities and regions.
The Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Policy and the Department of the Chief Minister, the Northern and Central Land Councils, LGANT, ATSIC and Reconciliation Australia, convened this conference to help chart a way forward. There was a strong commitment from all participants and organisers to be willing to work together to address current barriers to develop innovative strategies and to support indigenous initiatives to build stronger, more effective governance.
It is a challenge for us as a government to operate in partnership with indigenous people to develop forms of governance that enable indigenous people to take control of their lives and communities. Through participants’ willingness to participate in paper presentations, discussion sessions, group sessions and through networking, indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians sent a strong message that there is no turning back and that we can only benefit by moving forward together in partnership.
We hear the word ‘governance’, but what do we mean? Governance can broadly be defined as the processes, structures and institutions, formal or informal, through which a group, community or society makes decisions, distributes and exercises authority and power, determines strategic goals, organises corporation, group and individual behaviour, and develops rules and assigns responsibility.
We were fortunate to have international guests for one of the presentations. The Harvard project on American Indian Economic Development has identified core principles and standards of good governance. From this presentation, it was clear that many of the universal benchmarks of good governance are missing from, or are currently under-developed, in Northern Territory indigenous communities.
Therefore, this conference was able to share with us the great potential to build more effective governance in communities and regions. This challenges us, as Territorians, to find some kind of cultural match or common ground for governance models. That is, a fit between the formal structures and institutions of governance, on the one hand, and indigenous perceptions of how authority should be organised and exercised on the other.
The more a governing body finds a workable match between these matters, the more likely it will be to secure the ongoing support of indigenous Territorians. Points of discussion included:
critical population size for effective regional governance and service delivery?
will every region require a different model of governance, or are there key common structures, principles
and processes that can inform them all?
what relationship and form of accountability will regional bodies have with constituent communities, and how
can the statutory rights and interests of traditional owners and the diverse interests of other indigenous residents
of communities be recognised and protected under governance arrangements?
The way forward for reforming indigenous governance in the Northern Territory will only be sustained by a truly collaborative and united effort on the part of indigenous Territorians, the government and the private sector. There was very positive feedback at the conference. I quote from a fellow participant who said:
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Madam Speaker, the only sad thing about this is that it is not a ministerial statement. There is so much to cover that it should be the subject of a ministerial statement from the minister.
I have 19 of the 20 papers from the Indigenous Governance conference in front of me. Believe me, they make for some heartening and sometimes disheartening reading. It is important to remember that, when you are talking about issues in indigenous governance, that indigenous people are not one homogenous group. They are people with their own opinions, languages, cultures under the general heading of ‘indigenous’. That is recognised in some of the papers. The very issues as to what is good governance, property rights, those sorts of things, are still not entirely settled; that is raised in the paper by Ganter and Furber. I was attracted to some of the things Norman Fry, the Chairman of the NLC, had to say about the economic development of the Northern Territory.
Indigenous people own half the Northern Territory and have property rights interests in the other half. It would be nave to suggest that they are not participants in the economic future of the Northern Territory, and I will never suggest that. I hope, through government processes, no matter what they be, that the economic partners in the Northern Territory, be they indigenous or otherwise, are encouraged to play on a field which is level, fair and will deliver just outcomes in the business sense to all participants.
I would seek with a statement by the minister on the Indigenous Governance Conference because this is an issue that needs to be explored at length by this House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I concur with the member for Macdonnell. This requires a far longer debate than the two minutes we have for ministerial reports.
There are many issues that need to be discussed. There are issues, for instance, about governance of land versus governance in the nature of delivery of essential services. There are issues like the relevance of local government on private land, which Aboriginal land generally is. There are issues such as how well Tiwi Islands local government is working. I have seen plenty to indicate that there are problems. I have expressed my concerns about how representative of people community management boards have been.
As I said in the local government debate, if the foundations that are set are not democratic and fair, then the people who are represented by whatever system of governance is in place are not fairly represented and have no faith that the person they have put there has been elected fairly, then it will never work. You will leave yourself open for nepotism and intimidation in some areas. We need to set down parameters carefully and right at the beginning to ensure those things do not become the norm. I would like to see the minister present this in the form of a statement so that we can discuss it more fully.
Mr AH KIT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, first let me comment on the member for Macdonnell’s remarks. We are a government of inclusion, not like the previous CLP for some 26-odd years that excluded Aboriginal people from the processes of moving forward.
We will continue to move forward and consult within indigenous people – communities and leaders – and if there is an opportunity for a statement, I will deliver one. We need to be very clear on what our policies are as we move forward to next year and possibly having an election. It would be nice to know what the opposition’s thoughts and policies are in regards to how they have had a change of heart since the last election.
I am keen to have my doors open on all occasions for any concerns that members opposite, along with the member for Nelson, wish to raise with me on how we move forward.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I would like to report on some of the positive developments which have been taking place in the community of Port Keats, Wadeye.
Members may have read the article in the Bulletin magazine which described Wadeye as ‘gangster’s paradise’. This unbalanced article failed to mention the positive work being done in the community or the shared responsibility agreement signed by the newly established Thamarrurr Regional Council, the Commonwealth government and the Territory in March last year.
The community acknowledges that there are many issues it has to address and is now working closely with Australian and Territory government agencies through this shared responsibility agreement. The agreement was developed as one of the Council of Australian Governments’ indigenous community coordination trial sites, where a whole-of-government coordinated approach to the provision of services is now being taken.
The Thamarrurr Regional Council has been formed as a local government body to represent the 20 clans of the region. The new council was developed through the work of both the community and officers from the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs. We believe it has established a structure for decision-making based on the community’s own cultural requirements, gives it the confidence to make decisions about issues confronting it, and provides the accountability structures needed by both funding bodies and Thamarrurr’s membership. Prominent roles are being played by Felix Bunduck, Boniface Perdjert, Theodora Narndu among the elders, and Matthias Nemarluk, Leon Melpi, Tobias Nganbe, Aloisious Kungul, Ursula Kinthari and William Parnbuk among an emerging generation of leaders.
Thamarrurr has developed as its motto ‘Give every kid a chance’, reflecting its forward-thinking approach to the needs of its sizeable young community. It has chosen three priority areas, which have been agreed to by the other partners. These priority areas are women and families, youth, and construction.
A number of important initiatives have been developed by the local women’s centre, including the development of money management and financial literacy training and the development of small enterprise activities, including the management of the local bakery. The construction of a factory recently funded by the Commonwealth to manufacture tilt-up concrete housing panels, combined with efforts being taken to increase manufacturing efficiencies and standardising designs, will assist to reduce the cost of housing and increase local employment and capacity.
This government is not prepared to sit back and repeat the policy failures of the past. It will do all it can to find positive and innovative ways to improve outcomes on the ground in remote areas like Wadeye.
I would like to give some examples of the size of the difficulties that confront this community, its leaders, and government agencies tasked with responsibility to provide services. The service population of the Thamarrurr region, as recorded by the ANU’s Dr John Taylor late last year, was 2373 but it is expected to reach 4470 by 2023, larger than the current size of Nhulunbuy. This population growth is much higher than similar sized country towns in other parts of Australia, with almost none of the basic infrastructure services normally associated with such places.
Currently, 45.7% of the population is under the age of 15. There are 5.2 indigenous children to each employed adult, and if CDE is excluded, this figure would be 20.7 children for each employed adult. Overall, indigenous personal incomes are more than 80% lower than non-indigenous incomes and reflect the high level of welfare dependency.
One statistic that is particularly disturbing is the need for additional housing. Currently, existing housing stock provides for an average of five people per available bedroom. If the community is to provide enough houses in 2023, or one generation, to allow for an average of seven people per house, an additional 465 dwellings will be needed.
The Thamarrurr Regional Council is now working with government agencies through this COAG Indigenous Communities Coordination Pilot to develop innovative ways to deal with these massive issues. At the national level, both the Prime Minister and Senator Vanstone, as Indigenous Affairs Minister, have demonstrated their commitment to this process and to the work under way at Wadeye. This government remains committed to whole-of-government approaches to such complex issues. The community and Thamarrurr have tremendous challenges ahead, and this government will continue to support it as it grapples with the legacy of neglect it has inherited.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): Madam Speaker, until the last part of that delivery, I was in favour of what the Chief Minister was saying, but to say ‘neglect’ is outrageous.
Let me give you a few examples. As far as Thamarrurr goes, it is a graduation of a process that has been going on, one that I have been heavily involved with for the last nine years, and I congratulate the people of Wadeye and the surrounding region for getting to that point. It has been something they have put together to reflect their cultural makeup, 20 clans. To say that the CLP has neglected them is just outrageous.
There was $300 000 for a swimming pool, and when they asked Cabinet out there to provide some extra money to complete the swimming pool, the Treasurer said: ‘No, sorry, we’re not going to do it’. That is the support they get from this Labor government.
One of the things in relation to housing under the CLP government was to support a new suburb. Leon Melpi wanted to provide his clan group with a new place to live, and a new suburb of Wadeye - and it sounds a bit strange to have a suburb in Wadeye - but we supported a suburb being built some distance away from the main centre of the town, contributed $800 000 to the power, sewerage, supported through all of the government agencies the development of that suburb. Moving back to their own land has been a very big boost for the community, which is a major issue out there, one that I am working with them on about how to address the factors. Twenty clan groups, 2400 people, are living in one clan group’s area, and that is something that is being worked on at this time, and I am certainly glad to help them.
Regarding enterprise development, I was happy last year to organise and hold a workshop for all of the council members that the Chief Minister named out at my father’s place, a well known police training area. It was a very successful workshop. One of the things it led to is the women being able to develop their own economic enterprises …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, member for Daly.
Mr BALDWIN: … that are proving to be very successful. If I had more time, I could add a lot more.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, just briefly, the reason that I am talking about Wadeye today is an article in the Bulletin magazine which gave a very distorted view of what was happening in that community. I am standing up for that community, and I expect the local member to be standing up and challenging the details of that article as well.
Reports noted pursuant to Sessional Order.
Continued from 26 November 2003.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I note that in the last 60 minutes, I have received notification of amendments. I will keep my comments short at this stage so that I have an opportunity to hear the minister’s comments in relation to the amendments and other proposed amendments of which I have just become aware.
I agree with the minister that the second reading speech was a very comprehensive and complicated that covered all aspects. I note the minister’s comment at the end that if he found the person who wrote it, he would deal with them most severely for putting us…
Mr Stirling: I have apologised to him.
Mr MILLS: I trust you found that gentleman and have dealt appropriately.
In regards to the requirements of the National Competition Policy and the recommendations contained therein, I note that they were initially enshrined in the amendments. Upon closer inspection, I note the need to address some of the problems that should have been addressed in the first instance.
It is illuminating to read the contribution by the member for Braitling, who urges the minister to slow down and to consult more deliberately with the community so that we don’t have these running repairs to what started out in a brave and courageous way. As I indicated, it is less than 60 minutes ago that I received additional amendments that are, on the face of it, commendable and will be supported by the opposition, but I do need to hear more from the minister with regards to these amendments.
I note, too, that the putting off of Sunday trading, one of the recommendations of the National Competition Policy, is being put off. This is a contentious issue that has been put off to go through further consultation and, of course, Restricted Areas Applications have also been deferred, so I would like an indication from the minister of how that next phase is going to be managed.
I support the objectives of the act being part of this amendment. They set out very clearly what it seeks to achieve. That certainly is supported. However, in respect of the area dealing with objections, I note that today’s amendments rectify a very basic problem. The definition initially was objections related to the issue of a licence. It is a worrisome oversight for which we now have the amendment that clarifies that it is not a simple issue of a licence, but a whole range of applications that could be made. For example, the application for the grant of a licence, we can have objections raised there, but also making that greater clarification, an objection to the application for variation of conditions of a licence, an application for the substitution of another premises for the premises specified in a licence, and so it is making it far clearer. That is supported and should have been there in the first place. Finally, going to the last one, objection can be raised for an application for approval to make a material alteration to licensed premises.
I note the intent of the amendments to elevate and define more clearly what is in the public interest. Of course, the objects of the act describe in greater detail - as I said before, I support this - and provide greater clarity as to what we are trying to achieve with the act.
I also support the removal of unnecessary red tape. That is welcome.
I look forward to continuing my comments as I hear more about the most recent proposed amendments.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of this bill, in particular the amendments that will be moved in the committee stage.
I realise that those amendments have been delivered late to all members, but let me reassure you that there has been a lot of back room discussion taking place with the minister over these amendments. I am obviously referring to clause 15 that amends sections 47F(2) and (3) of the principal act.
These provisions deal with grounds on which people in groups can make objections to liquor licence applications, and applications to vary liquor licence conditions. Section 47(1) is also amended as a consequence of these changes. I am pleased to say that, in discussion with the minister, these were raised as concerns and they have been addressed.
As you will recall, these amendments have the same intent as the Liquor Amendment Bill (Serial 189) that I proposed on General Business Day in November. I will not go over the grounds that I did during that debate, however you will all remember my second reading speech when I basically said that I was concerned by decisions being handed down by the Liquor Commission on the validity of objections, and the fact that the government had amended the act the previous November and, as a consequence of that, we were finding that the Liquor Commission was eliminating many of the objections that were raised. That was the basis of the amendment I moved in November. Those amendments restricted the grounds of objection to just one ground, amenity of the neighbourhood, and restricted the criteria for people making objections to such an extent that people in groups concerned about social health and safety issues were being barred.
When I made that speech in November, I referred to two Liquor Commission decisions that worried me because of the objections that had been ruled invalid. You will remember that one had come from a drug policy expert employed by the Police service. I am pleased to see the minister has included that amendment to section 47F(3) and 47F(3)(c), and that will address the issue.
Since I introduced my bill, the commission has made two further decisions - and remember, we are talking about when they decided whether an objection is valid to go before a hearing, so it is the step before the hearing - that have highlighted the problem with this section of the act. The first related to an application for a liquor licence from Headlines for Hair and Beauty, a hairdresser in Alice Springs that wanted a restricted licence so they could serve wine to clients while they are having their hair done. Three objections were lodged. The first objection came from the office of Diabetes Australia, and that objection was accepted as legitimate because they actually have an office next door to the hair salon, so it is clearly in the neighbourhood. The group was concerned about the amenity of the neighbourhood, the effect upon their amenity if the application was successful.
However, the second objection was from Holyoake in Alice Springs, which is a non-profit organisation dealing with the effects of alcohol misuse. Although Holyoake is a community group that could legitimately object to a liquor application, it could only do so on the grounds of adverse effects on amenity. Holyoake’s objections were on other grounds. Here are a couple of them. They said it was inappropriate for a hair salon to sell alcohol; that it would set a precedent for other hair salons; that to issue another licence to a small business would sent an inappropriate message to the community of Alice Springs; that several liquor licences already exist close to Headlines providing sufficient venues for people wanting to drink in that area. Unfortunately, the objection was dismissed. Commissioner Peter Allen made the following comments:
and I stress that the Commissioner said that
These are the commissioner’s words:
We cannot be clearer than what the commissioner said in that instance. The objection was dismissed.
The third objection came from the Manager of Central Australian Alcohol and Other Drugs Services in the Territory’s own Health Department. Brycen Brook objected on several grounds, including the following:
I know the Minister for Central Australia is behind the type of actions we are taking in Alice Springs to address issues of alcohol harm. However, again, because the objection was not related to the amenity of the neighbourhood, it was dismissed.
In my opinion, these genuine objections should have been heard at the hearing of the application for that licence but were never heard because they did not get past first base.
Minister, perhaps in your response, you could elaborate on what ‘amenity of the neighbourhood’ means because it is not spelt out clearly in the act. ‘Amenity of the neighbourhood’ is something that needs to be clarified.
The Liquor Commission has yet to make a decision on Headlines. However, since these preliminary decisions were made, another community group from Alice Springs has written to the local paper to express its concern. The Territory branch of Health Consumer’s Voice said it was ‘horrified’ to hear that a hairdressing salon wanted to sell alcohol six days a week. The group said that given the community’s concern in Alice Springs about the over-use of alcohol, there should be no further granting of licences until after the results of alcohol trials are released this year. I imagine if this group had tried to lodge an objection on those grounds, the objection would also have been dismissed.
The second case that has arisen since November relates to the Alawa Food Mart in Darwin. I am well aware there are members of this Chamber who are more than concerned about that application. There were 46 letters of objection, several of which came from one person, and one that had 32 signatures attached to it. Commissioner John Withnall added caveats to 17 of the objections because, while these 17 objectors each raised the matter of adverse effects on the amenity of the neighbourhood, they also raised other grounds that related to the adequacy of existing liquor licence outlets or to the practice of retaining credit cards on the premises. Commissioner Withnall made it clear that these two grounds were no longer available as discrete grounds of objection, and could only be raised if they related to an impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood.
These are clear examples of the problems that have arisen since the Liquor Act was amended in November 2002. Previously, legitimate grounds of objection – and, in my view, valid grounds - have not been accepted. These amendments mean that agencies, individuals and groups will be able to object not just on the grounds of amenity, but on the grounds of impact on health, education, public safety and social conditions. I also discussed with the minister provision for an individual to object.
I notice that two members in the House who did not live in the neighbourhood had their objections accepted because they were members of this House and had a responsibility to put the views of the community. I do not think, minister, that your amendments address objections from an individual; they deal with community groups and organisations but, if I, as a member from Alice Springs, want to object to the Alawa application on the grounds that I can see consequences that may occur as a result of granting the license, then I cannot do it. Perhaps, minister, you will address that in your response
I understand that you do not want to allow individuals who have commercial interests to be able to object, and we agree that frivolous objections should not be allowed. There may be cause, however, to consider individuals. In a way, I am relating it to members of this Assembly who probably feel they have a right to make an objection because they are representing people of the Northern Territory.
Minister, I thank you for your cooperation on these amendments. I am very pleased about the way you are willing to discuss my concerns and to look at the amendments I proposed and enhance what you have already done. It is a case of government responding sensibly to matters raised by a member, other than one of your members, and in this case, it was an Independent. I welcome the changes proposed to section 47, and I commend the amendments to the House.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I want to raise one point, looking at the amendments as discussed by the member for Braitling, and the ones proposed by the member for Nelson.
I want to reinforce the point about individuals being able to object. This was an area of some debate in the last amendments. I point out that by introducing amendments under the name of Mr Stirling, clause 15 amendment 74.1, what we are saying is that the objection may only be made on the ground that the grant of the license variation of conditions, substitution etcetera, will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood where the premises the subject of the application are or will be located, or the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community.
Whilst I support the reasons an objection can be made, if you are talking about the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community, I suspect you are talking about the wider community, yet there remains a restriction on those who can actually object; individuals in the near neighbourhood. You are saying ‘broader community organisations’, but you have included that if it has an effect on the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the wider community, then individuals cannot have their say.
I find that a real dichotomy. They have to look at the effects - health, education and so on - yet you are not going to allow someone from outside the near neighbourhood make an objection. I would think there are grounds for an objection to the legislation, as it stands, under law. I can understand that you want to restrict frivolous objections. I can understand that people cannot object on commercial grounds. That is fair enough. But surely, if you are concerned about the health, education, public safety and social conditions in the wider community, then the wider community should be able to have their say. That needs some clarification, minister.
I support what the member for Braitling said about the word ‘amenity’. You will note that in the last debate on this, that was cause for much consternation because it is not clearly defined in the bill, the principal act, the amendments you have proposed or anywhere. It creates the ability for loose interpretation. Minister, I would like you to clarify those points in your response, and I am sure, with the assistance of your advisors, you can do that.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I would also like to talk about the amendments. Members will notice I have an amendment to an amendment, which I will discuss in the second reading, but I will elaborate on when we come to the committee stage.
I support the general thrust of what has been proposed, especially the objectives of the act. By including the objectives, you clearly define the policy of the government on control of liquor in our community.
There are two things I would like to say about that. A phrase that comes up a number of times in the objectives is ‘the public interest’. These objectives have been written for the benefit of the public interest. That is important because when we get to one of my proposed amendments, it relates to an individual having the right to object to a liquor licence application. I have included that because in the objectives, ‘the public interest’ is the dominant recurrent theme.
That being the case, I, as a member of the public, whether as a politician or an individual, should have a democratic right to speak up on a matter of public importance such as the issue of a liquor licence. Being a member of the Substance Abuse Committee, one knows that the issue of alcohol sales and marketing in our community is very serious. We consume about 1.5 to 1.9 times the average amount of alcohol compared with other parts of Australia. There are people in the community who may not belong to a group or the fire brigade or live in the neighbourhood, but who have concerns. They should be entitled to have their say. That is part of our democratic principles.
The Planning Act gives me the right to object to a 33 storey building in Alice Springs. You might say that I do not live there, so what? It is up to the Development Consent Authority to decide whether my objection is frivolous or mischievous. That is exactly what is written in the amendment the minister has proposed to section 15A: an objection can be dismissed on the grounds of being frivolous, irrelevant or malicious.
That is exactly where my objection should go. It should not be for the government to decide that I cannot object; it should be for the Commission to decide whether my objection is valid and I have given valid reasons for an objection.
What we are doing with this legislation, based on difficulties between licensees that occurred in Mitchell Street last year or the year before, we have thrown the baby out with the bath water. We have said: ‘Because we have this problem, we will legislate in this manner’. Sadly, the public lost out. I do not mind the licensees losing out, but we, as members of the public, should be allowed to comment.
The classic example is the Alawa Supermarket. I have been to Alawa Supermarket about once in my life. You might say that I don’t know the circumstances of the complaints, but on reading the summary of which objections will and will not be heard, it is obvious that the reason the members for Johnston and Casuarina will be heard is because Alawa Supermarket is on the boundary and, therefore, he said, it skirted both electorates.
I would love to ask if the Alawa Supermarket had been 100 m inside the Casuarina electorate, would that have allowed the member for Johnston, whom I am sure had concerns, to object to that licence application? Say there were problems from the Alawa Supermarket that spilled into the member for Millner’s area, would his objection be heard? He does not work in the neighbourhood.
What if I am concerned because I know that some of my relations were involved in antisocial behaviour, and I am concerned that if they kept this up, they would get into trouble with the law or they might have a premature end to life or whatever? I might have some general concerns about those people. I might be someone who is concerned about homeless and itinerant people. According to what I read in the Alawa Supermarket hearing, I would not be allowed to have a say.
That is a fundamental flaw in this legislation. We need to go down this path. I hope my amendment will be given a fair hearing and will be adopted. It would be better to have my amendment, that any member of the public can object, and for the government to sit back and have another look at it and see whether they can propose an amendment that would cover their concerns about licensees. In other words, let us cover everyone for the time being because that is a much better way to go. Then if we need to have some exemption clauses, let us bring it back to parliament and discuss whether there are ways around that without preventing the public from having a say. We will come to that a little later.
Clause 7 introduces criteria:
6. Public interest criteria in respect of licence or licensed premises.
However, to more clearly define it, surely the objectives should have been written into the reasons one can object. That would have been a lot more logical. If someone appeals, they could say they are appealing on the grounds that the commissioner has not taken into account the objects of the act. The commissioner might say he only has to take into consideration section 47F. I do not know whether those two should be the same, but I would be interested in your response.
You threw a little this morning when you gave me the amendments so late, but I will try and get back on track.
Clause 3 also deals with objects of the act.
There is a theme in relation to the marketing of alcohol. I have said a number of times that the marketing of alcohol needs scrutiny. For instance, the way vodka drinks are marketed at young girls - the bright coloured, cordial-tasting drinks that we know are being deliberately aimed at the younger market. Does the Liquor Commissioner have the power to that these products are not being marketed in a way that is appropriate, and has he the power to step in?
You might think this is frivolous, but look at these. These are Arnotts biscuits with Tia Maria …
Mr Stirling: They are awful, Gerry, too.
Mr WOOD: I am told they are awful, and the Kahlua …
Mr Stirling: I could only manage half a one.
Mr WOOD: I do not have a problem with people selling chocolate liqueurs, no problem at all. In fact, as they said, you are not going to get drunk on these unless you eat half a carton of them.
The issue I have is that this is subliminal advertising. This is a very common form of biscuit that many kids would eat. Everyone knows about Tim Tams. They have the exact brand, the style of the brand is written on all these biscuits. If that is not subliminal advertising, I will eat my hat! The company that makes Tia Maria and Arnotts, obviously, had to agree to put their name on these biscuits. They knew what they were doing; they did not do it for the sake of a nice confectionary. Tia Maria is selling their product and Arnotts is trying to run off their name as well. That sort of advertising is unsuitable. I do not have a problem, as I said, with chocolate liqueurs. When you buy a specialist chocolate, you know it is liqueur.
However, this is a common form of biscuit that kids love to eat. It has not given Arnotts a good name. They had enough trouble when we lost our Australian biscuits. Now we have an overseas company promoting something it should not promote. I am interested to know whether the Liquor Commissioner has any power to say this is not appropriate.
Mr Stirling: Like the alcoholic icy poles a year ago. Remember? Never made it.
Mr WOOD: Okay, yes, and Moo Juice. Thank you.
The member for Braitling just spoke about the hairdresser applying for an alcohol licence. I do not know if you have been keeping up with some of the debate that has been occurring in New South Wales…
Mr Henderson: Oops! There goes my ear!
Mr WOOD: Yes, well, some of us would not be there long enough to have a drink, anyway.
There has been a debate brewing in New South Wales about the role of the NCC. You mentioned the NCC in your second reading. In fact, it was in the first paragraph. A lot of what you are proposing is based on the requirements of competition policy. I have to agree with Mr Carr on some of these issues. Where are we going with competition policy?
I will read from the Australian Financial Review of 6 February. It is headed: ‘Alcohol row brews between Carr and the PM’. I will read part of it:
I have some sympathy with that. It is all very well to have competition as a general philosophy but, if it is applied as a blanket, we are in for big trouble. In the Northern Territory, I believe that the issuing of liquor licences is a serious matter.
I know there is an argument as to whether one increases problems with alcohol by increasing the number of licensees, but that debate should be separate from whether someone may apply for a licence on an open slather basis.
I our government does not always see the NCC as the reason we are passing legislation. There has been debate previously on whether we should have stood up and said that we do not agree. I realise that they hold the purse strings, so I can imagine that New South Wales did not like losing $51m, and we would not like losing money, either. However, perhaps there has come a time when state governments have to sit down with the Prime Minister. I do not know who controls the NCC. Is it a body unto itself, or does it have anybody who can say: ‘Look, we really need to review your guidelines’?
It might be an opportunity for the states and the Commonwealth get together to say: ‘Okay, we agree with competition policy but how far should it go with certain products, such as liquor?’ so that we do not have this problem. Perhaps we could take the NCC on a trip around the Territory and show them the problems we have so that they understand where we are coming from.
Minister, I will not continue any longer. In general, I support what you propose. It has not gone far enough. The objectives are a big plus, but they should be part of the reasons one can object. I would be interested to hear your comments.
Dr BURNS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, to a large degree, I speak as a local member who is very concerned about alcohol issues. As someone who has lived in the Territory for a while, who has come to the conclusion that alcohol is a very important way of our lifestyle, there is no doubt about that, but it also presents a lot of problems to the Territory. I will outline today what some of those problems are.
Basically, I welcome these amendments to the Liquor Act. I am waiting with anticipation on the release of the Alcohol Framework. I have ambivalent attitudes to alcohol the same as everyone else. I have before that I enjoy a shandy on a hot day; I like a drink, but I also realise that drinking too much can and does present problems in our community.
I looked for a couple of quotes to sum up this ambivalence about drinking. Here is one from Billy Connolly:
Our Administrator even penned a song:
So this is part of the mystique, part of the folklore of the Northern Territory. On the other side, John Seldon, who was a jurist in the 17th century and a bit of commentator, said:
I preface my remarks by saying that we need to be careful about dipping into wowserism; that is not the Territory way. We recognise that drinking is part of our lifestyle. We do not want to become wowsers in our attitude, but there are issues that we need to look at, particularly alcohol-related harm and alcohol policy in the Northern Territory.
I have already mentioned the Alcohol Framework, which I believe that the minister will releasing in the next few days. That is a very positive thing and I am waiting with anticipation for that, because it will examine the overarching policy issues that are confronting us in relation to alcohol. That framework has been developed in consultation with the community and industry.
I believe the National Competition Policy changes are necessary. It is worth recapping the aims of the NCP review. On page three of the review it says:
Madam Speaker, I commend the authors of the National Competition Policy in that they consulted widely and wisely. If you look at the list of organisations that were consulted, they include community councils, community government councils, town councils, industry, legal services. Another group is alcohol service providers, and I am not just talking about the pubs and clubs here; I am talking about those that have to pick up the pieces when someone gets into trouble with alcohol. They are a very important part of our community, and I commend their work. The NCP team also consulted researchers and, of course, government agencies. The authors consulted very widely.
Government has accepted all but two of the 29 recommendations within the NCP Review and I will talk about those two later. Before I come to discussion about the recommendations, I will talk about some of the alcohol issues that confront us in the Territory and the importance of alcohol issues. I am quoting here from Australian Alcohol Indicators: Patterns of Alcohol Use and Related Harms for Australian States and Territories 1990–2001. This was a report by the National Drug Research Institute, a renowned institute whose results can be trusted. The results about which I am going to speak are based on a method by which, to some degree, they hypothesise or predict levels of alcohol-related harm in the community, but they are quite reliable and they are the only thing reliable data we have to go on.
The first one is the adult per capita alcohol consumption in litres for Australian states and territories. On page 28, there is a table that shows that the Northern Territory has an average per capita consumption of 13.8 litres per person compared to the Australian average of 9.32. In other words, we have a 50% greater consumption per capita than the Australian average. In some regions of the Territory, it probably goes up to about 17 litres per capita. This is of concern because, as the member for Nelson alluded, the degree of harm that ensues from alcohol comes from the consumption of alcohol. The more consumption of alcohol, the more harm. So that is of concern.
We also have a percentage of the population above 15 years of age that drink at risky levels for chronic harm and acute harm far beyond what is recommended by the NHMRC. Expressed as a percentage of chronic harm, there is about 17% in the Territory drinking at levels that will cause chronic harm compared with about 10% in the rest of Australia. Once again, there is a problem.
The death toll from alcohol is of great concern. There is a table on page 19 of the report to which I am referring, that shows acute that in harm in age-standardised rates, we have a rate of 1.88 per 10 000 adults, which is about three times elsewhere in Australia. Similarly with deaths attributed to chronic alcohol use, we are three times higher. So we do have a large problem in deaths from alcohol use and abuse.
For hospitalisations, the Northern Territory has an age-standardised rate of about 70 per 10 000 adults. This is three times and more above rates in other states and territories in Australia. So there is a human cost and there is a cost to government and to the health system arising from alcohol abuse. As I say, we will come probably to debate that in more detail within the Alcohol Framework.
Returning to the amendments, the member for Nelson went through the objects that have been inserted in response to the NCC Review. I will not go over the ones that he mentioned, but it is very important that these objects reflect a shift in thinking and approach to liquor and liquor licensing in the Territory in that there is more of a public health approach; a more community-based approach, looking at groups that will suffer ill health within a group of people through the consumption of liquor. It is very important that we look at those groups in our community that might be severely affected by our alcohol in terms of their health and social outcomes.
It is always worth reiterating that there are some myths about alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, and one of them is that Aboriginal people in general have alcohol problems, and nothing could be farther than the truth. What you find, and the evidence is there, is that the majority of our Aboriginal people are non-drinkers. There are a lot of people who never touch a drink. We have to get away from the myths, but we have to address the problem in reality that we face.
The public interest has been defined, and defined quite well. The objection process has been the subject of debate, particularly by the members for Braitling and Nelson. I commend the member for Braitling for raising very important issues about the objection process. It is commendable that government has listened to the member for Braitling, had a look at the process, and is prepared to move amendments to address issues that arise. As a government, we listen; we are flexible and when problems arise, we are willing to address them.
I know the amendments will be debated further in the committee stage, however they are consistent with the government’s view that objections should be heard on social, health and lifestyle issues. We believe in those, and that the parts of the amendments being proposed by the member for Braitling are consistent with those views.
There are many issues that have already been covered. I will move to the two recommendations that were not taken up by our government. One of them is about Sunday trading for liquor stores. This is a very contentious issue. I have my own views about that. I have already said that I believe that the amount of liquor that is consumed is directly proportional to the harm that it causes but, basically, this is an important issue to be debated by the whole community. I have personal views, as the member for Nelson has, but I want to hear what the community has to say through debate on the pending Alcohol Framework, because it is very important that we listen to what the community says rather than put our own personal views on issues. It is a very important issue and I am sure the community will have a say on it.
Objections about restricted areas is a very sensitive issue, one that has at times become a political football. One of the biggest issues was whether particularly Aboriginal communities should be dry. I think in Shane Stone’s time, he wanted to impose canteens on communities that wanted to remain dry. I do not believe that is the way to go, either. Basically, we have to look at the Alcohol Framework and consult with the community.
In my own experience, if we are talking about Aboriginal communities and restricted areas, if Aboriginal people and their councils are able to take control of these restricted areas, and alcohol issues within their community, if they do not have a lot of outside interference, they can make some pretty good rules and everybody abides by them. I have seen it work very well on a number of occasions. It is about trying to support local communities and listen to what they say. Once again, that is an issue that we put to one side for the time being, pending release of the Alcohol Framework.
In summary, I support the amendments. I am glad that your amendment will be incorporated. All of us want to see more certainty in legislation relating to alcohol. We want to see the problems addressed, and we need to work together as a community within the Northern Territory to try and address the issues that alcohol presents but, by the same token, as I said before, not being wowsers about it, but doing it in a realistic sense to try to build a better Territory.
Mr STIRLING (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Madam Speaker, I will try to pick up on each of the issues raised in contributions to the second reading debate. However, at the outset, my thanks to the Leader of the Opposition, the members for Daly, Braitling, Nelson and Johnston for the good spirit and goodwill that was brought to this debate this morning because it is a very serious social issue in the Northern Territory.
The National Competition Council, in an arrangement going back a long way between federal government and each of the state and territory governments of Australia, committed to reviewing all legislation for conformity with the principles of National Competition Policy. This was a process entered into well before we came to government, and the former government had ticked off a fair range of the legislation requiring review and amendment to comply with the principles. This was one. There are a few that had not been completed, and that is the reason for a quite comprehensive amendment bill in the first place prior to these late amendments.
However, I want to put on the record my thanks to Peter Jones, particularly, and the staff of Racing, Gaming and Licensing, for the serious and large effort that has had to go into consideration of all aspects of the bill in relation to the review and the amendments, to see that we comply. I want to put on the record that that was very much a throw-away line at the end of my second reading when I introduced this bill. I appreciate the work of Peter, I have apologised to him, and my apology was accepted. I certainly do understand and appreciate the enormous effort that goes in to bills of this size and scale.
If I could go, in first part, to the committee stage amendments that are before us, it would have been my wish that we could have deferred consideration of those and swept them up in the Alcohol Framework Review that is occurring at the moment with Daryl Manzie, Donna Ah Chee and Gordon Renouf. However, Madam Speaker, you and the member for Nelson provide quite compelling reasons why we ought take them now, even though it would appear to be a bit of a patchwork and piecemeal approach. We readily recognise the arguments you put before us in relation to the need to strengthen those grounds for objection.
It was not our intent, when we moved the way we did, and I think that was back in late 2002, to try to get the commercial objection out of it because it was becoming a commercial practice whereby an exiting licensee would fire in an objection without specifying the grounds to the commission. That meant that the commission would then have to be on notice to hold a hearing, which could delay the granting of a licence for quite some months to the detriment of the applicant. Therefore, we did try to get that out of the system at least so there was not a commercial disadvantage in the process.
We are always wise in hindsight, Madam Speaker, and it would appear that the effect of the amendment was to go too far. Certainly, the unintended consequence of the situation to which you drew our attention - I think it was in relation to the hairdressing salon in Alice Springs - where a couple of would-be objectors were not recognised or heard by the commission. It is interesting, the hairdresser application.
I remember coming over from Nhulunbuy when I was teaching at the end of 1979 on my way to Singapore. At that stage, Singapore had quite stringent requirements about the length of hair of tourists. I had a Saturday in town before flying out and I thought I had better get a haircut. I wandered down in the city here somewhere, I cannot remember where it was, and found a hairdresser on the Saturday morning. I said: ‘You’d better make it pretty short, I am going to Singapore’. There were a couple of people there. She said: ‘Sit down. Have a beer,’ and passed me a VB. I had been in the Territory about a year, but living in Nhulunbuy. I had not been to Darwin many times. I thought: ‘You come here for a haircut and you get confronted with a VB’, and it wasn’t all that cold, either. But I didn’t mind it on a Saturday morning, a half-warm can of VB.
So what I am saying is that it is not without precedent. Hairdressers and having a quiet beer has certainly been a part of the Territory in the past. God knows what ever happened to that hairdresser or the licence. Hopefully, the licence disappeared at the same time the hairdresser did.
That case in Alice Springs has brought attention to where the legislation is wanting. Standing outside the situation and looking objectively, on one hand you say: ‘What harm would it do, someone having a quiet wine before having their hair done?’ It could be quite relaxing in a nice amenity, good surrounding and unlikely to cause the antisocial behaviour that the destruction of property, the drunken behaviour, those sorts of things that we well know abuse of alcohol can cause. On the other hand, though, you could say: ‘What sort of signal does it send where everyone who puts their hand up gets a licence?’ One of the problems in Alice Springs is the proliferation of liquor licences including, of course, the famed service station.
It is interesting that the member for Nelson raised that in relation to Premier Carr’s comments regarding National Competition Policy where they are saying grocers or service stations want to be licensed. You could not think of anything worse than licensed service stations, given the relationship between drinking and driving and the catastrophic consequences of that. Why you would want to encourage people on the road fuelling up their car to also fuel up the esky would be a very dangerous signal.
Certainly, the hairdresser application is an interesting one. On the one hand, you ask will it make any difference and concede that people might like it, but on the other, I don’t think that it is the right signal we ought be sending out: if you want a licence, put your hand up and you get it.
The member for Johnson noted the fact the 27 of the 29 recommendations coming out of the NCP Review are in the amending bill, and the two outstanding are Sunday trading and the lack of objection process to dry areas proclamation. Now, they are certainly in the hands of the Alcohol Framework review. Again, it is an interesting one. If you take a jurisdiction, I think it is Queensland that never licensed grocers at all for liquor, they are not being pushed around by the NCC to say you must license grocers. We have licensed grocers, but not on Sunday, we are being told that we have to square it up; either no one sells on Sunday or those that can sell Monday to Saturday ought to be able to sell on Sunday as well because of the concept level of playing field.
This is a very tricky part of the overall licensing scheme in the Northern Territory because of the situation we currently have, one, as I said, that the Alcohol Framework review will address. The process of community engagement and consultation is critical to that issue. We will look forward to a very comprehensive process of community engagement in that area.
I turn to the member for Nelson’s proposed amendment in relation to the right of a member of the public to object to an application. The availability of a licence has the potential to have so many effects and that potential could cross electorate boundaries. It could be far broader than simply crossing urban electorates. On the one hand, you would want to say: ‘If a member of the public really has a problem with it, why don’t we give them the right to object? Why don’t we give everyone the right to object so that every possible objection that anyone might have is before the commission?’. That would simply make the commission unworkable, basically. It would drown under the weight of objections and the process of working through them all.
You must have a process that allows a sensible and logical objection process that will be able to operate effectively without drowning under the weight of objections it might receive. If amenity is affected to the degree that individual members of the public might want to object, you would expect the authorities to be right on to that. I mean, letters to the editor and general concern in the public is going to be picked and you would expect that it would be fed through the normal process, particularly now with the new amendments. I would say: ‘Yes, why wouldn’t we allow every single objector in the place and every single objection?’, but we must have a process around it to ensure that it is able to operate effectively.
The member for Nelson was talking about the Tia Maria flavoured chocolate biscuits and what the Liquor Commissioner can do about certain products. It was only a year or two ago that there was an article in the NT News about icy poles with a certain level of alcohol, and it was about 48 hours later that the Liquor Commissioner said: ‘No. Not on, not in the Northern Territory’. They were not even for sale in the Northern Territory at that stage, but the commissioner had notices to manufacturers saying do not expect to sell those items here.
In the regulations, Mr Jones has pointed out to me that they have the ability to act on an item like that where it is greater than 1.15% alcohol by volume of the overall product. I doubt that those biscuits make that category, but I am not advised one way or the other. It is something that I can check with the chairman.
The member for Nelson also talked about public interest and a range of issues he pulled out of the act. This is the importance of having objectives at the start of the act: it is very clear what the act is about. This came out of the NCP Review itself, that an objects section be included in the act right up front to make clear the purpose of the legislation, which is that harm minimisation and the public interest are the over-riding considerations in regulating liquor in the Territory. Everywhere in the act, it says that the commission has to look at the public interest, which is defined. The member for Nelson went through the definition of public interest.
The whole principle of the act is the issue of public interest. That is what drives, first and foremost, the commission in consideration of licence applications. So you do not need to put them in this amendment because the act already deals with it all the way through. In fact, it is the over-riding consideration. That is why public interest is such a strong part of this bill and that is why the objectives of the act are right up front: to give them prominence.
I will go through the objects because it is important to put them on the record.
Most importantly:
to the objects of this act and must exercise the power and perform the function in a way that is consistent with
those objects.
The other point in relation to having the objects in the act, and right up the front, is that gives us the grounds and basis to run the public interest argument against the NCC when they impose penalties, such as they have done in New South Wales and such as they have done to us in relation to this act. We have ensured that 27 of the 29 recommendations are addressed by way of amendment; two are not. The two that are not are the Sunday trading and the objections process to dry areas.
We will lose $380 000 out of competition policy payments, which are in the order of approximately $7.7m in a financial year. Unless this is resolved, that penalty stays in there forever. Once we have these objects in the act, and depending on what the Alcohol Framework review proposes when we get through that process, which will be later this year or early next year, we cam then take that argument up to the National Competition Council on the basis that, yes, the objects are in there, the Alcohol Framework review has gone through in view of the objects, this is what this act is all about, we want our $380 000 back.
New South Wales will have to run similar arguments, albeit a bit more expensive and in the order of something like $50m or $51m.
I will go through the effect of these amendments, and explain what we have done in relation to the member for Braitling’s three proposed amendments, and we are accepting (a), but not (b) and (c).
In the committee stage, I will be moving an amendment to clause 15 of the Liquor Amendment Bill to insert a new clause 15A to broaden the grounds upon which an objection to a licence application could be made. Members will recall that when I introduced changes to the objection process in determining liquor licence applications in November 2002, we did so because the legislative process at the time was being taken advantage of to frustrate the due processing of liquor licence applications through the Commission.
I am pleased to say that the first part of the intent of those amendments certainly was achieved, but the member for Braitling did raise concerns that the current wording of the objection provisions have caused consternation and confusion in some quarters of the community as to the grounds upon which an objection may be made and who may object to an application. The member for Braitling therefore sought changes in the legislation to overcome those concerns through the introduction of a Private Members Bill in November last year , Liquor Amendment Bill (No 3).
Having given consideration to those concerns, and we believe them to be consistent with the position of the Territory and that of National Competition Policy concerning harm minimisation, particularly as they relate to social, health and lifestyle issues, the government’s position in this matter can be illustrated by referring to my committee stage amendment when introducing the Liquor Amendment Bill 2002 into the parliament in November of that year.
I made the following statement:
In addressing the concerns raised by the member for Braitling in support of the content of her bill, we will be introducing the following amendment: section 47F(2) will be amended to include matters relating to health, education, safety and social conditions in the community as grounds on which an objection may be lodged; sections 47F(3)(c) and (d) will be amended to include a member or employee of the Police force or Fire and Rescue Service as persons who can object when acting in their capacity as a member or employee. That was certainly one of the categories that came to light in the hairdressing salon applications, so we have moved for that; and section 47F(3)(e) will be amended to specifically include an agency or public authority that performs functions relating to public amenity including health, education and public safety. Your Holyoakes and your whole range of community organisations come into that category.
Therefore, the proposed amendments will give further clarity to the grounds on which an objection may be lodged to an application under section 47F and the persons, organisations and groups that may lodge such an application. We think that goes a fair way to addressing the concerns that came up in Alice Springs in and around that licence application.
It may be that we could go further, but not as far – and I doubt we would ever be able to go as far – as the extent of the member for Nelson’s amendment to add to proposed amended clause 15(ba): ‘(f) a member of the public’. That is not to say it could not be amended more with consultation with industry and with the public. I would like to see the member for Nelson’s views in and around this amendment put into the Alcohol Framework review from the point of view of workability, and tested through that process and in the community consultation process.
I am saying now that, whilst I have some empathy with where the member for Nelson is coming from, we will not be supporting that amendment this morning. However, I will be putting it before the Alcohol Framework review team with a view to pushing, pulling and testing it through that process. I do not think we would ever get to where the member for Nelson is suggesting we should be, but it may be that we are able to go further than what we are putting here this morning.
On balance, picking up the first part of the member for Braitling’s amendment to section 47I, which I did not pick up, is really a consequential to picking up the member for Braitling’s amendment in the first place. That further amendment is to section 47I of the principal act, amended by omitting section 47I(3)(c)(i) and substituting the following: a decision on whether objection to proceed to hearing:
On balance, albeit there is a process going on out there that is going to, we expect, inform us much more fully about all of these matters, it was important to act at the first opportunity we had in relation to the member for Braitling’s concerns to strengthen the process. Having the bill before us on the grounds of the National Competition Policy amendment has given us that ability and we are happy to support that amendment.
Again, thanks to members for their contributions. It was a very positive debate. I make the commitment that I will be passing the member for Nelson’s proposed amendment to the Alcohol Framework review.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
In committee:
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The committee has before it the Liquor Amendment Bill (No 4) 2003 (Serial 193) together with Schedule of Amendments No 74 circulated by the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing.
Clauses 1 to 14, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 15:
Mr STIRLING: Madam Chair, I move amendment 74.1 standing in my name.
I have had quite comprehensive discussions with the member for Braitling in relation to this. This is the member for Braitling’s amendment in part; the first part of her three part amendment put during the last General Business Day, which would have been forthcoming at the next General Business Day. As I said, the arguments she put at the time of introducing the bill and the discussions that I have had with since in and around her amendments were such to lead me to the view that government ought to accept the first part of her amendment at the earliest opportunity. Having the bill before us for NCP purposes this morning gave us that opportunity. I am happy to take her amendment, put my name on it and pass it.
Mr BALDWIN: Madam Deputy Chair, on this clause, I raised an issue with the minister that he has not clarified for me. I will remind him. It is in support of allowing a member of the public to make an objection.
In amendment 74.1 as you are proposing it, an objection can only be made on the grounds that the grant of a licence or variation will adversely affect either the neighbourhood and the amenity of the neighbourhood or the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the wider community. You have community; I am interpreting that as meaning the wider community. Surely, if an objection can be made on the grounds of the effect it will have in the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the wider community, a member of the public should be able to raise objections quite lawfully, particularly when you look at the clauses that are coming up, amendment 74.3 in your name, which deals with a decision of whether an objection is to proceed to a hearing. You have outlined that scenario, including that it can be dismissed if it is frivolous, irrelevant, malicious or does not describe circumstances that will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood or the health, education, public safety and social conditions of the community.
If the public objection addresses those matters, surely we should be able to have a member of the public making an objection?
Mr STIRLING: I thank the member for Daly. I did in fact go to that concern. I am not sure why or how it was that you did not pick up on it. I did talk about the need for a balance in allowing the commission the ability to get through any objection process. If we were to go with the member for Nelson – and, as I said, I have empathy - on the one hand, anyone at all who has an objection to a license application based on these grounds, you would love them to have the right to say: ‘I object’, but you must have a balance in the sense of a workable system without the commission drowning under 4000 objections.
If health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community are likely to be affected or impinged upon by the granting of a licence in that community - and I will say ‘community’; I know you keep saying ‘wider community’, but you really cannot put words into the bill that are not there; it does say ‘community’ - the fact is that the next amendment, where we go to an agency or public authority that performs functions relating to public amenity including health, education and public safety ought be able to pick them up if there is broad enough concern that individuals want to object.
Now, if you know it is one isolated objector living 115 km from the premises the subject of the application, you would say: ‘Well, hello, ought that objection have been picked up?’ If there are 153 people with similar concerns, I am sure that noise is going to be heard and will impact upon those agencies - health, police or those public authorities and organisations that are out there. There is a whole range of them: Anglicare, Holyoake in Alice Springs, those sorts of groups that do have the right under the additional amendment to put their objections.
Mr WOOD: I would like to take up that point, minister. You might say that there is only one objection. For instance, it could be that they do live 150 km away from the premises the subject of the application. They are not in the neighbourhood, but they frequent that part of the road every week. They may have concern about a liquor licence for a roadhouse. It should not be the number of objections that are a problem; it should be the substance of that objection, and that is the role of the Liquor Commission.
Numbers to me are irrelevant. We did not have a problem with numbers under the existing act. The Development Consent Authority is not drowned; it just handles objections as they come. Some applications attract no objections, some attract 100. That is the way of the world. I do not think that is an argument to say to stop them from drowning, we will remove the right of the public to have a say. Whether there is one or 100, it is a fundamental democratic principle that I have a right to put my objection.
As the member for Daly said, if it is frivolous, mischievous, irrelevant or does not describe circumstances that may or will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood or health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community, then it is thrown out and you deal with the drowning because you just put them in the waste paper basket.
It is the objection that is important, not the numbers. I will speak later, in my proposed amendment, on the issues about community, but I wanted to take up that point because we do have liquor licenses granted in isolated places. Who is to say that my objection is not in the neighbourhood if I am on a cattle station and the applicant is 115 km down the road?
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, the roadhouse is a good example of how the commission would read or define ‘community’ in that sense. Now, a community 150 km from that roadhouse may well be affected. There is potential for it to be quite seriously affected, and I would have thought that the commission would have to look at that and say: ‘That is a community’. So suggesting an arbitrary distance was probably not the right thing for me to do in specifying anything like that because ‘community’ has to be read in the context of the application coming before the commission, I believe it would be.
Mr BALDWIN: You have just confirmed the point I am trying to make, and that is that, on the one hand you are talking about the near neighbourhood, and on the other hand, you are talking about my interpretation of the wider community. If you cannot define it, and it is not defined in this bill, how do you expect anyone else to define it? That is my point. Who are you going to leave it to? Are you going to leave it to the Commissioner? The only point I am making to you is that I believe there are grounds to contest, if you wanted to, as an objector. You have to clarify the situation because we have the case of the roadhouse. Is a suburb in Alice Springs ‘the community’? If it is not in the near neighbourhood and is two suburbs away, is it defined as being in the community?
Mr Dunham: Curtin Springs.
Mr BALDWIN: Well, Top Springs is a typical example. How many people travel from Kalkarindji to Katherine past Top Springs? Now, define the community in that area. I suggest that this needs some clarification or you follow the amendment being proposed by the member for Nelson and allow the public to object on the grounds that you have set so that you are not restricting anyone, you do not have to define the community, you do not have to define the neighbourhood and anyone can object as long as they meet they objection criteria. That was the case before you introduced the last raft of amendments on. For a long time, that was allowed. We have now restricted that.
Quite rightly, you have moved away from the needs and wishes and put down all the objectives. You have said it has to go to the source of the objection, being the effect on the amenity of the neighbourhood or the public safety and social impact of the community. As long as the commission has that in front of it, it can either accept or reject the objection to the application, whatever that application may be.
Whilst we are getting there, and whilst you are fixing bits and pieces, you are really not getting down to the definition that is going to be required. We are going to find ourselves back in this House at some time in the future. You can say it will go in the framework and all the rest of it, that is fine, but if you have a philosophical argument about letting the public have an objection, say it up front. You changed it from them, the general public, having the right to now not having the right, and trying to define it. It would be sensible, good law and fair to Territorians to allow the public to object as long as it meets the criteria as described.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, whilst the member for Daly does concentrate on (b) community. However, 2(a), ‘The objection may only be made on the grounds that the grant…may or will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood…’. There is the nub of it. There is the argument the commission must consider. At Curtin Springs or Top Springs, ‘the neighbourhood’ extends fairly broadly, I would have thought, or the roadhouse scenario as suggested by the member for Nelson.
You simply could not define it right across the Territory given small communities scattered across a sixth of Australia’s land mass without knowing from where, anywhere in the Territory, a licence application may suddenly arise and how that part of the Territory would be particularly defined within legislation. Neighbourhood and community are there for the commission to read and understand, and certainly they would have a far better understanding than we, of geographical impact or spread of the effect of a particular licence application in a particular area.
I hear what you say. As I said, I will be putting the member for Nelson’s amendment into the melting pot in terms of the alcohol framework review. When you say we will be back here amending this again, that may be. Certainly, we will be back in this Chamber amending this legislation either late this year or the in first part of next year once the extensive community consultation in and around the Alcohol Framework review has gone though. You have to expect that there will changes arising from that process.
That is the place to better test the change you are advocating this morning. We certainly tested what we did in November 2002; it was found wanting. I have said that this morning: there were unintended consequences. It went further than the government would have liked to see. We have the ability to pull that back this morning, and I am hoping we will have the support of all members to do so.
Mr BALDWIN: I am not going to labour the point, but you can see what we are doing. We are trying to define three things: the neighbourhood, the community, and amenity. They are all grey areas leading to confusion within the community as to who is eligible and who is not, and what is affected and what is not.
I say to you, as a long-term legislator in this parliament, the longest serving at the moment, that it would make great sense to take away all of that and to allow a member of the public to object as long as they meet the criteria, and leave it to the commission to decide. At the moment, you are saying: ‘They are not allowed to and we will keep the confusion going’. We are going to have to labour it when you introduce your framework.
Amendment agreed to.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, I move amendment 74.2.
This was highlighted in relation to the example of the hairdressing salon in Alice Springs where an employee of the police had an objection disqualified. That may have been a decision to draw the government’s attention to the fact that the effect of the November 2002 amendment was seen to have gone further than government would have wished. It certainly had the effect of galvanising government in to saying: ‘That is not what we intended and that is not what we want to see happen’. It alerted the member for Braitling at the same time. It led us to go along with the thrust of her amendments. Holyoake was a community organisation that was also disqualified at that time, and that is picked up with ‘an agency or public authority that performs functions relating to public amenity, including health, education and public safety’. This is a strengthening of the objection process and I hope to see it supported.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Member for Nelson, do you want to move your amendment?
Mr WOOD: Madam Deputy Chair, yes, I would like to move my amendments to amendment 74.2, which is that we add after the amended clause (ba): ‘(f) a member of the public’.
Minister, we have had a fair bit of discussion on this. This makes a more balanced approach to liquor licensing. My view of what is balanced is probably a bit different from the member for Johnston who quoted Billy Connelly saying it was a beer in each hand. I remember Billy Connelly getting up and saying a balanced diet was a pizza in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other, so perhaps my view of what is balanced is slightly different.
We now have an unbalanced act because we have taken out an important part of good legislation and that is where the community has its say.
The member for Johnston did say that we need to listen to what the community says, and that is right. This is the process to allow that, the objection process. I know that people can comment on a liquor licence, they can write comments and can be heard by the Liquor Commission. That should not remove one’s right to object. It is a democratic right that as a member of the Northern Territory public, I can object to a liquor licence, just as I can object to a planning amendment or a development application. It is really important.
I know there has been discussion about community and what that means, but if you read under section 3(2) in Objects, it says:
That is a very general term. Here we are not talking about specifics; we are talking about generalities. It also says
It does not say: ‘… in specific parts of the Territory …’. It says: ‘… in the Territory’. It then says:
All this comes under public interest. You will see in clause 3(1)(b) that the primary object of this act is to regulate the sales provision promotion and consumption of liquor
Then it goes on to community, Territory, community. The objects of the act are quite clear; they say that the public interest must be taken into account. The public interest is exactly what it says. We don’t have to define that, it’s me, you and anyone else who wishes to object. I take on board that the minister will take us to the Alcohol Framework, but we have an opportunity right now. That is why we sit in this place. We have an opportunity to say: ‘Perhaps that’s a good idea’. Why bother taking it to the Alcohol Framework and waiting another 12 months? We have waited 12 months, we have seen what is it like. We know that the public hasn’t had a say.
I have seen the reasons for not allowing some people to object to the Alawa Supermarket: they were not working in the neighbourhood. As I said before, if the Alawa Supermarket was 100m inside one of the electorates, would a member for another electorate be allowed to comment? They should be allowed to comment. The members for Millner and Wanguri should be allowed to comment.
It is clearly stated in the objects of the act that the public has a right. Excluding the public creates a contradiction. I would be interested to see if someone challenged it on those grounds alone. On democratic grounds, one might be able to take it to a court and argue that rights are being extinguished when they should be heard.
I might be on my high horse and dealing with philosophy, but it is important that the individual has the right to object. I believe that the objects of the act clearly state that they have that right.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, I do not have a lot more to add, except to say that I believe we have strengthened the process from how it was effected in November 2002. I did say earlier that I am not totally without empathy with the member for Nelson in relation to this.
We made the last amendment a little over a year ago and it was found to be wanting. Let us see how this strengthening of the process takes us forward notwithstanding the Alcohol Framework review team is out there. There will be an interim report that will be public and then quite an extensive process of community consultation.
If there is a possibility of moving further toward where the member for Nelson would have government by having any member of the public in there, it can be tested and put before the community, consulted with industry, the community at large and let’s see what comes out of that process.
We are strengthening the process. We are making it less confusing this morning notwithstanding what the member for Daly was saying. I have no doubt at all that this act will be back before us if not before the end of this year, certainly early next year.
Mr MILLS: Madam Deputy Chair, I have listened fairly closely to this debate and I am very supportive of the position put by the member for Nelson for the reason that it does provide balance and affirm and strengthen the objects. The objects are fine. The direction that you have embarked upon today is supported, minister, and it goes a good distance, but you have not gone the full distance.
I am now persuaded quite strongly to the view that to finish this work off today - it is like starting a job and pulling out short - the public should be given the opportunity to object provided, of course, that if the objection is frivolous, it will be invalid.
If we are using words such as ‘social harmony’ and ‘wellbeing’, we are talking about cohesion within the community. We all know how to manage our communities if we want the continued support of our constituencies. It is satisfying to the fundamental core of a citizen if they feel that they have the right to speak and they are empowered to do so. Tapping into the capacity of a citizen to speak strengthens the direction in which you are heading today, minister.
That provides the clear definition of ‘community’. It is not just words; it actually has some weight. When we’re talking about community, every member of that community has the authority and the power effected in this amendment to speak up.
Of course, if it is frivolous it would not be allowed. Once again, that citizen would be made aware of their objection being disallowed, which would give rise to a greater understanding. The minister himself is involved in education. Many of us are involved in education as community leaders. We know that there’s nothing better than empowering a community member to understand how the system works. Allowing them access to the process gives them knowledge. Knowledge is power. This is the opportunity to afford them the credit that is due to a citizen to be allowed to be involved in this process.
As our community addresses issues related to alcohol, we are all aware that concern about alcohol and the affect that it has on our social cohesion, our direction and our future is increasing. We are worried about our children. We have talked about biscuits and all sorts of things today, but we are all concerned. We will go that final and most important step if we include a citizen, a member of the public, having the right to object. To that end, I offer the support of the opposition to the member of Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Minister, I know the government is going to vote against this, sadly, but I need to understand why - outside the argument that the Liquor Commission might drown in objections. We know it did not happen before, we know the public was allowed to make a comment and we know the reasons the government introduced the previous amendments was simply because they wanted to stop one licensee objecting to another licensee and, therefore, you might say, frivolously holding up the licensing process.
Does the government agree with the basic philosophy? That is what I need to hear today, basically a yes or no. Do they agree that the public should have the right to object? Would you at least agree that if the new clause is not satisfactory, you will look at a clause that would at least limit those licensee versus licensee objections, which we know are not being made for valid reasons; they are being made for commercial reasons. Now, commercial reasons do not seem to fall within the objections you can lodge under the act. Would the government at least agree to the principle that the public should be allowed to have a say? Could they tell us whether those objections are sufficient to stop a licensee objecting to a licensee?
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Minister, before you respond. I draw members’ attention to the time. I am conscious of committee meetings scheduled for the luncheon adjournment. Minister, you can respond and we can deal with these amendments, or if members believe debate on these amendments will go longer, I will suspend now. I seek your advice.
Mr STIRLING: It is my view that if we continue, we will be finished in 10 or 15 minutes.
Mr WOOD: Yes, should be.
Mr STIRLING: In that case, I will continue. Prior to those amendments in 2002, where I said we went too far - I acknowledge that and take it on the chin. We were getting to a situation where the commission hearings were absolutely bogged down, there was a greater propensity to obtain legal advice and have lawyers in there so it was starting to resemble a Supreme Court-type situation.
You want to get these right. You want to know that you have this right in everything that is in the act – public interest, community amenity, the whole lot. There is no case of trying to rush these things through. Arguments have to be put, heard, dealt with and understood in terms of where the commission is going grant the licence or reject it.
We could put hundreds of people into the Commission. We could take 12 months to hear an application. What does that do to the person who wants to invest hundred of thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars in an outlet to get a licence? What does that do to them when they are hanging around for 10 or 12 months waiting to know whether they have a licence or not? Another investment opportunity might come up and the Territory perhaps loses something that would have added to the community rather than detracting.
That is where the argument of balance comes in. Balance is a word used that was used in the debate. As I have said, I do have empathy with your view. It is something that we will test inside the community consultation process with the Alcohol Framework review. However, without being able to at least go to Racing, Gaming and Licensing and hearing from the Chairman of the Commission what the effect would be, I simply cannot commit government to go down a course without knowing all of the implications.
I have no problem with putting resources where government needs resources, but I do have a problem with holding up significant investment by business that may add something to a community that is badly needed. If we hold them up for nine, 12, 18 months whilst a whole range of objections are lodged and heard, all of which are probably going to be similar in nature, all of which are probably, if they are sound in base, will be picked up by the community agencies, will be picked up by the agencies of government, and those arguments will be run through the objections process anyway. From that point of view, as I said, I commit to putting it into the Alcohol Framework review.
Mr WOOD: Yes, I will not labour it any more than to say that I do not think objections are going to hold up a development for eight or nine months. It is usually the case that licensees are the ones who deliberately hold up cases. That was the very reason that these amendments were introduced because they got it into the courts with all their high-powered lawyers. I am not sure that the little old lady down the street’s objection is the reason that some huge development is going to be held up.
I take your point, minister. Perhaps on General Business Day, I might reintroduce this and look at possibilities of having ways of exempting commercial objections. I would be interested to hear your comments if we do that.
Mr STIRLING: I am absolutely happy to see the member for Nelson bring something back. If he approaches my office, I would be happy to organise a briefing in relation to it for any further information you need and what the impacts might be within the commission and the hearing process overall. Yes, I absolutely welcome something coming back if there is a way through it in advance with the Alcohol Framework review.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The process, for members’ understanding, is that we will be moving the member for Nelson’s amendment to the minister’s amendment. The question is that the word proposed to be added be added.
Amendment negatived.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The question now is that the amendment moved by the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing be agreed to.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 15, as amended, agreed to.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Members, I will suspend the committee …
Mr Stirling: But we only have one more to go.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: We are over time, minister. I have sought advice. We will resume after Question Time.
The committee suspended.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before we start Question Time, I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to a number of matters relating to the proceedings last week and the public criticism this Assembly has attracted in recent times in respect of the behaviour of members in the Chamber.
I refer also to matters raised by the member for Drysdale in his adjournment speech on Thursday, 19 February. In that speech, the member for Drysdale noted that he had discussed with me his intention to make a personal explanation pursuant to Standing Order 57 subject to an agreement by me to make particular observations in prefacing his proposed personal explanation.
Whilst I am aware that the member should have the opportunity to make a personal explanation in respect of various matters of concern, I am also aware of the provision of Standing Order 57 in particular that such matters may not be debated. It is certainly not my intention to justify any member’s actions, regardless of events that occur in this Chamber. The only person in this Chamber responsible for your behaviour is you, the member involved. It should not be necessary to remind members that personal references not only lower the standard of debate, but will frequently provoke retaliation leading to disorder in the Assembly. Such behaviour seriously diminishes the status of the Assembly in the estimation of the community.
Following the events of Tuesday 17 February 2004, I advise honourable members that I convened a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of Government Business, and the opposition and government Whips with a view to reaching an agreement for the communication of arrangements in respect of programming, speakers lists and related matters for the purpose of efficiently and effectively transacting the business of the Assembly. At that meeting, a general agreement was reached that these matters would be addressed in a spirit of cooperation. I trust that these arrangements will go a long way to preventing a repeat of the events of Tuesday of last week.
It is not my intention to inhibit robust debate in the Chamber. However, I urge all members to exercise their privilege of freedom of speech with responsibility and to maintain moderate language towards members in the Assembly.
Continued from earlier this day.
In committee:
New Clause 15A:
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The committee has before it the Liquor Amendment Bill (No 4) 2003 (Serial 193), together with Schedule of Amendments number 74, circulated by the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing.
Mr WOOD: I welcome the changes. It is a great improvement on the previous act. I would like to ask the question, which I hinted at before: if a licensee is objecting to another licensee or another licence application, would (A) cover it? The argument about excluding the public all relates back to the licensees in Mitchell Street. If members of the public allowed to object and the government is still concerned about licensees objecting to licensees, would (A) cover that situation? In other words, the commissioner could dismiss an objection from one licensee to another licensee on the basis that it was frivolous, irrelevant and malicious.
Mr STIRLING: It would have to be tested, I would imagine, member for Nelson. I cannot give you a straight answer right here and now. Certainly, the view was that where an existing licensee is objecting to an application for licence, it could well be on commercial grounds, but they are not allowed to object on commercial grounds, but it has the same effect.
If you are able to hold up the process of an application for a licence for six, eight or 10 months, it has the effect of keeping the competition out of the market and not allowing that licence into play. I am not saying this is perfect. It is a work in progress and the Alcohol Framework review will shed more light and will illuminate more of these issues.
If there is a better way to do this than what we currently have, with the same effect of keeping commercial or existing licensees out of the objection process, I hope it will come through this process - if not in body, in the recommendations that will be coming up in the interim report. These issues should arise in the further work of the framework review team in the community consultation process.
For a start, they are going to have your amendment so they are going to have consider that. I am sure there will be plenty of views put in and around the issue of allowing commercial licensees to object. Should they be allowed to object at all? Should they be allowed to object on commercial grounds? All those issues are fertile ground for this process of community consultation including industry and business consultation in and around all these issues.
I am not saying it is perfect, but I agree with you that it is better than it was. I don’t think you ever get these things perfect; they can always be improved and things change over time. I believe that next process will see us back here, as I said, late this year or next year again with recommendations to further improve the whole operation of the act, including what we are dealing with here, the process of objections.
Mr WOOD: Planning procedures involve whether a licensed premises can exist in a particular zone, and I am glad the changes to the act clearly show that you have to obtain planning approval before you apply for a liquor licence. However, the owner of a liquor licence could not complain about another liquor licensee setting up on commercial grounds in the Planning Act, and it seems that has always been fairly clear cut. In other words, if someone says: ‘I want to object because there are too many service stations. I have one, another bloke has one and we do not want another one’. Commercial considerations do not fall within the Planning Act.
It is a wonder that a similar clause has not been applied to the Liquor Act. Perhaps that is another way it should go. It is in the Planning Act but, for some reason, it is not in this act. I will leave at that, minister. It needs testing. Hopefully, it will be tested before the review team finishes its work.
Mr STIRLING: It is not a bad argument he puts, Madam Deputy Chair, and it is not the argument itself; it is the impact. Without knowing what the impact would be, I would have difficulty accepting something of this nature from the floor. The analogy with the planning process is not bad, either, in the sense that both processes can lead to a reducing or a lessening of the amenity. If you have a five-storey place going up next door to you or you have a liquor licence going in two doors down. There are similarities. I have been passed a document that sums up a lot of these issues.
Regarding the one person being able to make an objection, I talked about the propensity that may have to clog up the commission and, in that, cause significant and possibly unnecessary delays for investors and developers on the one hand. However, if there are significant arguments about whether a licence should or should not be granted, we would expect it to be picked up by police, fire or those agencies or authorities, government and non-government, including community organisations out there that can lodge an objection on behalf individuals concerned about an application.
Whilst it is important to hear from the community on those issues, you do not want to hear from the community 1015 times on the same problem or the same principle if it is picked up by Anglicare, for example, as a community organisation. If that concern it is already covered by that community organisation, it is better than having 1000 people, or any number, reiterating exactly the same concern.
I have talked about greater community involvement on how liquor matters are dealt with and discussed overall, and that is very much the role of the Alcohol Framework review team. They are looking at ways outside the formal objection hearing process that we can involve the community more in having a say about a range of liquor matters, including the objection process that we are taking about. We believe that is better picked up through that public consultation process.
I will be asking them, when they are conducting their community and regional forums around the Territory, to specifically ask questions such as should an individual have the ability to lodge an objection, and what alternatives there might be. They might be able to make written submissions to the Licensing Commission beforehand rather than having to lodge the objection and then be involved in what can be a quite adversarial process, as I said, that borders on being a court process.
If they had the ability to make written submissions, they could be raised by the commission during the hearing with a view to seeking a response from the licensee or other people on the views presented in written submissions. I am not anti- your argument at all. You understand that. However, I could not accept an amendment without knowing exactly what all the implications are. I believe strongly that there will be a process over the next, six, eight, 10 months, that will more fully involve the community on exactly what we should be doing in these areas.
Mr WOOD: One point there, minister. You said that 1000 objections could clog up the system, but the importance about the 1000 is that the Liquor Commission realises the weight of public opinion against an application, as opposed to one person objecting. Whether their objections are the same as Anglicare, I am sure that the Liquor Commissioner would address it as one issue, not 1000, because he would lump all those objections together and say: ‘All these people objected on these grounds. This is the applicant’s response to that’.
There is an important principle there. As I said, the 1000 people have a lot more weight than one. So the Liquor Commission would take a lot more notice of 1000 people saying: ‘We do not like this application’, rather than one. Numbers are important in this, and anyone in politics knows that that is the case.
Mr STIRLING: I can only agree but, if there was a licence application likely to provoke that sort of response, it has a snowball’s chance in hell of getting through because there would be letters to the editor, talkback radio, and it would be in here through local members. It would be everywhere if you had something that was going to rouse the anger and objections of more than 1000 people. If community agencies were not switched on to that level of concern in the community, and putting those concerns on behalf of the community, you would want to know why they were not doing their job. If they did not get a hearing, you would have to question whether the commission was sufficiently switched on to what was going on around it.
There could be a better way to do this. I am not saying this is perfect, but it is better than what it was. We should recognise that it will be back before us inside 12 months and we will continue the debate on the back of a strong process of community consultation, which will, hopefully, serve to inform us all.
Mr MILLS: Following this discourse across the Chamber, it really is academic because we have had the decision effectively made by the Northern Territory government with regards to disallowing of a member of the public to lodge an objection. However, it is quite clear that this will be revisited most definitely.
Obviously, this clause is adequate and it would reflect effectively against any member of the public that may want to come along and waste time in the view of the commission. The proposed clause is fully supported.
I make the comment that it is clear that this issue will definitely be revisited.
New clause 15A agreed to.
Remainder of the bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported with amendments; report adopted.
Mr STIRLING (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
I want to record my thanks to all members who contributed. The debate was conducted in a spirit of trying to make the act work best for all. Government is always encouraged members take that approach.
I thank the man on my left, just leaving the Chamber, Peter Jones from Racing, Gaming and Licensing, who did much of the hands-on work with National Competition policy and getting the amending bill before us in the first place. I want to thank you, Madam Speaker, as member for Braitling, for your contribution by way of committee stage amendment.
I want to thank the member for Nelson particularly, because I know, even though the government did not accept his amendment today, he has always, in his time in this Chamber, acted in what he believes to be the best interests of Territorians. That is very much his job, as it every members’ job. It is how we read what we deem to be the best interests of Territorians on which we will sometimes differ.
My thanks to one and all, particularly to Peter Jones and the staff of the Racing, Gaming and Licensing Commission.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Continued from 26 November 2003.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, the opposition does not oppose this bill.
Mr Stirling: You can say ‘support’, Jodeen.
Ms CARNEY: I will pick up on the interjection. If it makes the usually very grumpy Treasurer a happier man, I am very happy to say that we also support the bill, and at the same time we do not oppose it.
The bill is supportable on the basis that it is extremely straight forward and that is evidenced by the brevity of the second reading speech. I do not think there is any point whatsoever, unlike members on the other side of the House, just going on for the sake of it. The bill is supported, and if anyone has any doubts about why it is supported, or not opposed, they need only go to the second reading speech, which is very straight forward.
Dr TOYNE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their contribution to this extensive debate and I thank the opposition for their support.
Statute Law Revision Bills are really just minor plumbing or removal of moles from the skin of the body of Territory law. I am picking up health analogies now; it is part of an evolutionary process.
This is an uncontentious bill. It simply relates existing legislation to acts that have been introduced through reform so that there is consistency in reference from one act to the other. There is nothing of a policy nature in the changes. It is simply to keep the law properly integrated, one act to the next. With that, we will move on.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Dr TOYNE (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.
Continued from 17 February 2004.
Mr DUNHAM (Drysdale): Madam Speaker, I had intended to preface the debate with the necessity for a debate like this to be brought on, but I believe that has been well and truly gone over.
It is very important to have governments parade their credentials in a way such as this, and particularly in an important area like health. It is not a good thing for the government to have raised a debate on an issue that is going to take some five years to come to fruition, and a minister who admits that he will only be here for one year. That is definitely not in the best interests of health.
Excuse my posture, Madam Speaker; I am going a bit deaf and I have to hold my ear.
I have said before in health that we need to look to the next generation for answers to these health problems. We need patience in those outcomes, but we need urgency in immediately commencing the work. It does us no good to have a minister who is dropping five year statements and who has admitted that he is out of here.
The most recent situation I can see that parallels this is when Fred Finch, as Education minister, decided to step down, having decided not to contest the next election and he did it on the basis that there was a clamouring from the opposition in any event, but he also did it for reasons of honour that I would ask the current minister to consider.
There are some significant problems with this duplicate statement in that we do have a health paradigm that is pretty much subscribed to around the world, and that is to move away from treatment and towards prevention. The statement we have before us is definitely a move away from prevention to treatment.
We note, for instance, that the Labor government is infatuated with matters relating to Medicare and, in talking about that nationally, it is silent on the effect that Medicare provisions may have locally in the Territory when we are pursuing an agenda from which the big states are winners.
It should be noted, too, that this health paradigm can be pursued on funding trends, and that has been over the last couple of budgets. The minister this morning proudly proclaimed $1m worth of extra gear for our acute sector. I would have thought that they were pretty much bread and butter items, all of which were held in the hospitals to a greater or lesser degree of antiquity, but nonetheless, all of those items would be held.
If we go to the issue of budgets, it is pretty simple to see that there has been a move towards the acute sector away from the community sector. This is not going to be helped by having two ministers sitting across these two different areas. If we look at how much is going to acute services in the 2003-04 budget, we will see that it is about $320m, up from $306m last year. That is a significant amount of extra money. When we look to the throughput, the measures of activity, it certainly could not be held that those increases were as a result of throughput. It is one of those things where there are cost blow-outs in that area that have to be addressed.
In the 2002-03 budget, the allocation was $272m, so in that year alone, it blew out by $34m, which is well over 10%. This year, they have raised another $14m. It is a sector that is growing very fast and, to my belief, it is at the expense of the community sector.
We have two ministers here, one of whom is a loser and the other is a winner. The good work that has to be done in the community sector was touched on in the speeches, but it is going to be rhetoric unless you can actually put it into place. For instance, Community Health Services had a budget of $109m in 2002-03, but came in at $98m. It was one of those areas that came in significantly under and it was because it had to cross-subsidise the acute sector. It is on a no-growth budget, so it has gone down from $109m by a factor of some $10m within a year.
If we look to Aged and Disability Services, in last year’s budget, 2002-03, they were estimated to spend $48m and they came in at $46m. This year, they are going to get $45m. These are important areas. They are very significant cuts and they are going to the acute sector.
I would ask, in this new arrangement, that the senior minister, who is acute focussed, and the junior new minister, who is community focussed, look to what the fundamentals of their policy position are because it is extremely important that we move to primary health, public health and a preventative paradigm and away from the treatmental paradigm.
The fragmentation is definitely confusing to the department. The department is still trying to grapple with who is doing what and that is a bad thing. I thought having a mega-department in the health sector was a good thing. As I went to ministerial conferences, as my successor and Labor minister, Jane Aagaard, did, we often sat at a table at which there was great hostility between these two areas, a lot of duck shoving, a lot of ‘why don’t you do this or that?’, particularly when you came to community sector areas and health areas at the interface, like early discharge, nursing home beds, same day surgery, that sort of stuff. It is very good to have one minister across this because, at the end of the day, you are responsible for it no matter what. It sends the wrong message to the department and it also has great potential for duck shoving.
The Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 January did not shed much light on who does what in that it would appear that the Minister for Health still has some functions that I consider to be community-based - for instance, food. I see food as more a community-based function than a hospital-based function; the registration of health practitioners and allied health practitioners; notifiable diseases. I would have thought that programs dealing with the variety of notifiable diseases, including STDs, TB and the hepatitises, would be community-based and should sit with the Community minister; poisons and dangerous drugs, likewise; nursing homes, I would definitely see with the Community minister; public health is definitely a program for the Community minister; tobacco control. All he has to say is: ‘The hospitals will go smoke free’. The important thing of modifying people’s behaviour really sits with the Community minister; water supply and sewerage services, likewise. I cannot see why those matters are sitting with the minister with the responsibility for Health.
We now have a confusing split. We have the potential for these two divisions to work off each other, and we have two ministers who also seem to be confused about what their responsibilities are if you look to their statements. Certainly, the lead statement by the Health minister dealt with a lot about community sector issues, and he talked about issues in a way that one would question whether he believed he had responsibility for some of these things. He wants to give kids a good start in life. If you look at some of those issues, for example, child care, immunisation, the education links, sport, attitudinal change and lifestyle, they really sit with his colleagues. He wants to strengthen families and whatever. As you read through his statement, it is apparent that there is going to have to be a great deal of cooperative endeavour between these two to make sure that one does not start to become subservient to the other.
This is a quote from his statement:
We may well, but I believe it would be his colleague rather than him.
Some of the key areas are laudable, and many of them match statements that I and previous health ministers have made. There is not a great deal of difficulty about enunciating a policy to make people healthier. The problem really is in how you are going to do it. When you say you are going to make better pathways to health services providing care close to Territorians’ homes, that is not a bad thing to say unless you live at Palmerston and you wonder why the Palmerston 24 Hour Clinic was closed. It also flies in the face of a lot of the enticement and encouragement for people to move to outstations. We have seen that there was a trade-off and that people could pursue a more traditional style of life, and that there were great health advantages that flowed from that, as well as social and others. However, in doing so, they would move further and further away from health, education and some of those other trappings that generally sit in the major foci of population.
With some of these things, it is not a matter of chasing people out to their homes as close as possible. Sometimes it is a matter of the government making a conscious decision in collaboration with people to move back because often, particularly with the homelands movement, that is what they are after.
I am quite disappointed with the statement for what it does not say. There are significant issues that are not addressed. I can catalogue a few of them. For instance, healthy services: the new minister has catalogued people in parlous circumstances with disabilities, violence, alcohol problems and all manner of social ills. While they may be major issues to focus on, you have to remember our job is to support a healthy lifestyle. Thankfully, for all of us, the great preponderance of the population is healthy, and our job is to support them as well. Child care does not even rate a mention yet it is a service that is admirably placed for the great bulk of the population, also to be focussed on children with special needs and with social and disability problems. Labor’s fully-funded health promises do not rate a mention at all.
While we have a statement rattling on about this taking us through to the next election, it is a bit premature. The minister said:
Before you do that, you should sign off on what you did last election. We have not seen many of these promises. For instance, we have not seen the oncology, the hospice or the birthing centre that we have talked about many times. That is unfinished business. It also sets your bona fides because you cannot go out and say you are going to build a convention centre, for instance, when you do not even have the capability to build swimming pool fences. If you really want to go out and say: ‘We are setting a broad agenda and everyone is going to be healthy and live happily ever after under Labor’, tell us what you promised to do and you have not done.
Let us go back to some of the issues that Percy Allen looked at. By good fortune, I have some of those here. It was interesting to see how much was in this sector: nurses were going to be increased by 75; staff and RDH emergency department; clinical implementation groups for A&E and intensive care; the health direct 24-hour service call site; recruitment, retention, and professional development - and that was going to refocus resources so we were going to see nurses so happy with living here that we would recruit fewer of them; we were going to have a health council reporting to the minister; an office of children and families; a Territory-wide free call help line; a family support Internet site. We were going to have some wonderful things like a reduction in the number of ministers from nine to seven. That did not happen. Abolish government communications office. That did not happen. Saving on advertisement, marketing and promotion. That has gone up. Saving on legal expenses. I believe that has gone up. Consultancies have definitely gone up. If you really want us to look forward, let us do a little stock take on some of the things that you said you were going to do that are not in there.
Breaking the generational cycle was mentioned. The minister might be being misinformed by some of the early panic attack people who are coming to see her because, while it is true that some things happen in generations, the provision of health services has moved on remarkably. In the early days, things were much easier. Notwithstanding what people say about Kalkarindji and the walk-off - I notice even in the video how wonderful things happened from it - most of the locals did not have a problem with the issues at Kalkarindji other than access to alcohol. An unfettered access to alcohol continues to be a problem here in the Northern Territory; it was identified 45 years ago or so. Therefore, some of this stuff was easier for our predecessors. Some things like leprosy, some STDs, Yaws, malaria, and TB are pretty much under control. The capacity to immunise children, the preventable childhood deaths, has seen great leaps forward in that generation.
The next generation has a much bigger issue, and that is looking to modify human behaviour: what you eat, what you smoke, unprotected sex, violence, alcohol are the issues of the future.
For the minister to say that there is a generational cycle is disputed by most noted commentators in health. I refer her to a paper by John Hargreaves, an excellent paper that was one of Under the Banyan Tree lectures. It is readily available through NT Library.
I would be careful of this notion of a cyclical thing. Sometimes we are dealing with new things and we have to have new approaches. Cannabis certainly was not a big problem in communities 20 years ago. Petrol sniffing has only been there since the 1940s. Kava was not around until the 1970s. We have to be a bit careful about saying this is just a cycle going around because you then tend to run some of the solutions around again. We have to come back to empowering people. I notice some of that rhetoric is here, so I hope it comes through.
The minister is critical of welfare-ism. Whatever that might be, I agree with her. She pointed to some of the solutions. She said:
We have to get back to empowering people. I know that is a clich. We have to make sure that people who are, for instance, given welfare money that is supposed to sustain their family use it for that purpose. We have to be very careful about running in and saying: ‘We will give your children good health’, and being a government that sees itself as providing something that is readily available by a change in approach and a change in attitude in many circumstances.
Continuing on what was not said, and that is the fully funded health promises and the healthy services and child care and such things, I was very pleased that the phrase ‘Third World’ was not used in the statement. That is a great step forward for this government, that they are not running this Third World case all the time. In the first place, it is offensive to those who actually live in the Third World if you know much about their circumstances. Second, it is really not the source of our problems; we have First World problems. Our problems are obesity and hypertension and over-indulging in substances that in the Third World are not even available. I am glad that phrase has disappeared. It augers well for a more focussed and pragmatic approach to this business.
I ask both ministers to look at Medicare because, with elections coming up, it will again be used as a political hostage in debates. Again, it will be alleged that anyone who does not like Medicare is a philistine who wants to pick up some sort of American system and does not care about the poor and underprivileged. That debate works well down south. I would be very careful, if I were a politician in the Northern Territory, about signing off on such a debate because it is not in the best interests of the Northern Territory to see New South Wales and Victoria continuing to do well under a national system while the most unhealthy of Australians, Aboriginal people here in the Territory, are continuing to miss out. It has a fundamental principle of universal access, which it has not achieved.
I could go on at some length about the statement. I would ask that periodically, they be presented to us. I am quite happy for the government to parade its achievements and on the rare occasion - I should not say it so cynically - on the occasions when they are doing well, I will be happy to applaud them. This is a fragmentation of convenience and it is not in the best interests of the department. It will make it harder to deliver health services in the Northern Territory.
Mr AH KIT (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the statement by the Minister for Health.
In my many years of working and travelling around regional and remote areas, it is evident that issues of access and equity for people living out bush are among the most critical facing the Northern Territory. It is something I have raised a number of times and in a number of contexts, both in this place and elsewhere. It is equally evident that since Self-Government in 1978, access and equity for people in the bush has not been a consistent priority of government until the election of Labor two years ago.
The Stronger Regions, Stronger Futures strategy I announced last year was part of our whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach to reversing this decline in the fortunes of our regions. The Building Healthier Communities statement further develops this government’s deep commitment to the people of the regional and remote areas of the Territory.
The statement, however, is not a narrow, prescriptive approach to health as an isolated government service. It explicitly recognises that health is not the domain of a single agency or a single department. It recognises that health is an issue that ripples through all aspects of government service delivery. Health is an issue that is the focus of a broad range of groups in the community, one that involves a wide range of professional groups. Thus, health is inextricably linked with a variety of social and economic outcomes, which, in turn, have a crucial bearing on regional development.
Without good health, community and economic development in our regions is simply impossible. Unless you are healthy, you cannot take advantage of educational opportunities from which employment chances might flow. Indeed, without good health, the chances of accessing training and employment are exceedingly slim. Without good health, there is little hope of running a business or working with others in a joint venture.
It is no accident that the health of indigenous Territorians has barely improved over the last 30 years, especially in the remote regional areas where 72% of these people live. Indeed, in some areas there has been a decline in health outcomes over that period. Tragically, the rot starts with our children who must be regarded as holding the future for our regional development plans in the Northern Territory.
For example, hearing loss amongst Aboriginal kids has been called ‘the hidden handicap’. Innocent of what is occurring unnoticed by those around them, children suffering chronic suppurative otitis media, otherwise known as CSOM. This experience relates to their hearing literally being torn to shreds. By the time they reach school age, as few as one in 14 have normal middle ears. That is almost unknown in developed countries such as Australia. It is caused by a persistent bacterial infection of the middle ear. It is a disease of poverty, largely a consequence of overcrowded and related poor living conditions including lack of appropriate washing facilities, poor nutrition and lack of access to comprehensive primary health care. Children as young as four days old are found to have bacterial loads in their ear canals that are simply not seen elsewhere.
The World Health Organisation suggests that a prevalence rate of CSOM of 4% indicates a massive public health problem requiring urgent attention. In the Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory, the prevalence of CSOM is often greater than 10 times this rate. A recent survey of 29 communities throughout the Northern Territory by the Menzies School of Health Research found an overall average of 25% of young Aboriginal children had perforated ear drums, 31% had middle ear fluid in both ears, and only 7% of children had normal ears. Five communities had perforation rates greater than 40%.
The proximate cause of CSOM is persistent colonisation by multiple bacterial species and subtypes. In Aboriginal communities, infants are frequently exposed to other children whose bacterial carriage rates are almost at 100% for each of the major otitis media pathogens. Kids become chronic carriers of disease, thus infecting other children.
For reasons that are unclear, Aboriginal infants who are infected rarely show symptoms such as fever, pain, irritability or inflammation of the ear. This means the illness goes unnoticed by parents and is thus untreated. Aboriginal childhood hearing loss is intermittent and, for at least some of the time, children can hear and so can acquire the capacity to speak and interact as full hearing children can. These compensation skills quickly mask the impact that the periods of hearing loss are having on their full linguistic and motor neuron development. Unlike the child who is deaf from birth and whose deafness is able to be detected with simple tests, the impact on the Aboriginal child remains dangerously undetected. Untreated, mild to major hearing loss is inevitable. Remedial measures at school age, such as hearing aids and bone conductors or a special acoustic design in school rooms, while critical for those who have suffered hearing loss, miss the point.
Prevention of the disease must be regarded as the primary strategy. Just imagine, fellow members of this House, the consequences for these Territory kids. With reduced hearing capacity, the chances of learning at school, let alone in the home environment, are severely reduced. Language, literacy and numeracy are that much harder to attain. Access to cultural knowledge, indigenous or non-indigenous, may not be available at all. It is for this reason that this government’s commitment to increasing children’s health services in regional areas is such a critical investment in the future. Defeating illness such as CSOM, or any other illness for that matter, is not seen as just a narrow clinical issue. It is at the heart of a broader process adopted by this government whereby good health outcomes are seen as having profound consequences beyond the walls of the doctor’s surgery or community clinic. Medicalisation of treatment has reduced but not eliminated the disproportionate incidence of illness in our communities. The real issue is one of power and powerlessness.
From the 1960s through to the present, there has been major long-term research. The Whitehall Studies into health outcomes for thousands of public servants in the British Civil Service. Its key finding was that health outcomes were linked to one’s position in the hierarchy - that is, to where you are in the pecking order. There is a social gradient in health, which is not only related to poverty but to the extent to which you have control over your lives. Even adjusting for known risk factors such as diet, smoking, drinking, blood pressure, social support, obesity and hundreds of other variables, there was still something like a four-fold difference in health outcomes between the top and bottom of the hierarchy. The risk factors explain something like only 25% to 35% of the differences in health outcomes. The rest could only be explained through control over your destiny. The lower down you are, the less opportunity and training you have to influence the events that impinge on your life and this is what is chronically stressing and sickening you.
Therefore, in large part, one’s health is socially determined. There have been no equivalent health studies amongst indigenous Australians, but the evidence is persuasive. Indigenous people, if employed at all, are likely as not to be at the lower rungs of the work force - inexperience, increased levels of stress and powerlessness at that level. In any case, non-indigenous people hold most positions of formal power in communities, not to mention the public service and private sector. For those indigenous people unemployed, the stress and powerlessness is complete. It is this stress and powerlessness that is overwhelming indigenous people in the families, clans and communities to which they belong.
Aboriginal male violence against other males, not to mention their partners and children, is a symptom of powerlessness, not power, even though it might appear to manifest itself as such. Let us face it: this is particularly problematic for indigenous men in their position as major perpetrators of substance abuse-fuelled violence, as well as being victims of the very disempowerment that contributes so much to their illness.
In understanding the consequences of this, we must start to reach an understanding of the need for indigenous people to look to mechanisms and tools by which people can regain power over their lives. Again, I cannot help but agree with Noel Pearson who, speaking three years ago, emphasised
Unless indigenous people have the capacity to properly engage with the broader economy under their own conditions and honouring their cultures and traditions, the future of indigenous people is dire.
It is not just a linear argument that indigenous ill-health is an obstacle to economic advancement. Like the chicken and egg, economic strength is directly related to positive health outcomes. Any suggestion that we can isolate resources and devote them to either the chicken or the egg just will not work. That is why we, in this government, look to a broader approach to health, and to changing the social conditions that contribute so much to poor health outcomes.
In regional development, this means the development of strong local and regional governance structures across a variety of service delivery areas to increase indigenous control over their lives and the institutions they must manage; increased educational opportunity with a strong focus on language acquisition, literacy and numeracy; accelerated and expanded access to training and employment programs; a strong focus on indigenous economic development; and an integration of indigenous economic activities within broader regional development planning processes.
It is this approach that sharply differentiates the approach of this government from the ruinous policies of the past. In keeping the Territory moving ahead, we look to broad holistic approaches. We seek, in this case, to see health as but one aspect of building social capital through both self-reliance and community development.
Madam Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I would first like to congratulate the government on the appointment of the new minister. I was hoping to say this the other day, but the numbers were a bit shorter than I thought. I welcome the new minister and thank her for her time as the Chairman of the Substance Abuse Committee. She did an outstanding job on that committee and, not trying to denigrate the new Chair of the Substance Abuse Committee, the previous Chair did a terrific job and she is respected throughout the community for the work she has done. Certainly, on that committee, we will miss her. As I said before, that does not mean we will not ask her a few ticklish questions from time to time, but I wish her all the best.
The Ministers for Health and for Family and Community Services highlighted a framework for the Health Department over the next five years. Both these statements cover, to some extent, similar ground. Both statements deal with the provision of services, restructuring of services, new bodies such as an Office of Aboriginal Health, Clinical Reference Group, NT-wide Safety and Quality Council, a Health Advisory Council, a Family and Community Services Advisory Board, a Looking After Children initiative, a Territory-wide Parenting Strategy, a Disability Advisory Council, etcetera.
Whilst these programs might be wonderful and the strategies good, there needs to be a number of other matters that go hand-in-hand with all these services. The first matter is statistics. It is not useful to say: ‘This is what the government is doing’, and ‘This is where we spent the money’ and ‘This how much money we have increased from previous years’ if we do not know whether we are actually making improvement in the health of our communities. If we are spending this much money on new staff, new directions and new theories, without good statistics, all these bright ideas may never be tested.
There is a concern about renal disease. Are the numbers decreasing? Is petrol sniffing on the increase or decrease? What are the statistics on children in foster homes and obesity in young children? If we are to have a grasp on the true picture, we need reliable statistics that are public, easily read, and easily accessible. Otherwise people like me have to claw through massive volumes of books to determine the numbers. They need to be available to see whether our health policies are working.
I have touched on this once before. There is one statistic I would dearly love to see decrease: the nearly 1000 abortions a year we have so clinically hidden away as so-called day procedures. It is sad now to see those procedures for young Aboriginal girls. Both ministers make statements about the risk beginning with the prenatal period, and I hope both ministers will make a commitment to valuing human life by doing their best to reduce the risk to human life that presently affects 1000 Territorians. I have to laugh a bit because those 1000 Territorians who don’t quite see the light of day is enough to make up the numbers for the two federal seats in parliament without having to change the rules in the federal government.
For too long, even whilst I have been in parliament, I have heard about what great changes and improvements are occurring in health. Reliable statistics will cut out the political rhetoric and replace it with proof.
The second issue I want to raise is the whole-of- health strategies: I call it ‘unhealth’. Unhealth is not an isolated matter; it usually involves other factors that are involved, and the member for Arnhem addressed this a few moments ago. Here, I am talking about preventable diseases. It seems to me that you can spend a fortune on equipment or education, but if there are other factors outside of that, much of this focus and effort will be a waste of time.
To my mind, one of the greatest contributors to much of the problems we have, in regards to alcohol, drug abuse and petrol sniffing is strongly related to unemployment and having goals in life. Boredom and little sense of pride or achievement are the results of unemployment in many of our communities. I know that having full employment is not going to be a total remedy in trying to halt these social health problems, but can certainly be of great value in trying to reduce the problems.
On top of that, if you do not add a life of a little exercise and, sadly, like my two brothers-in-law who had diabetes, life is short. I do not know what strategies the Substance Abuse Committee will eventually arrive at, but for me, some tough decisions have to be made by governments, and one of these is to fund full employment, backed up with adequate resources, and a strong and monitored management process to ensure that the system is not being rorted. Until we overcome years of sit-down money, I don’t believe we will make a lot of difference in preventable disease in our community.
Another area constantly spoken about in many of our communities is not substance abuse, but gambling addiction. There is no doubt that gambling is an enjoyable social past time, but when it comes at the cost of children being hungry or malnourished or not cared for, what are we going to do?
The influence of computers and computer games on our youth - and I can speak from experience here having a grandson who is a fanatic at playing Crash Bandicoot – is considerable. How much is this affecting healthy communities? Are our young people now playing less sport, sitting down all day, getting fat, becoming obese and then setting in place future health problems? It will be interesting to know what percentages of people suffer from preventable diseases. How much of the life expectancy difference between indigenous and non-indigenous is related to preventable disease? I think the minister mentioned that the difference is 20 years. All the clinics in the world will not stop preventable diseases; they will probably put them on hold or control them.
That leads me to the last strategy that plays a major role in one’s health and that is one’s own responsibility. As an individual, I have a responsibility for my own health and for the health of those under my care. Again, if people do not exercise or do not make some effort to give up the smokes, or kick the kids out of the TV room or stop playing cards when they should be feeding the family, are all our efforts that the ministers spoke about the other day a bandaid? If someone isn’t taking responsibility for their children, should the government be a little more proactive in protecting them? If a young person is a petrol sniffer and the family or community is either too scared or couldn’t care, is there a role for Family and Community Services? If the parents are the substance abusers, what about the health and welfare of the children? What is the government to do - let the children grow up in an environment in which they are likely to follow suit or remove the child and give them hope? Difficult problems require difficult solutions.
I wish the government well in its strategy. My comments are based on the observation rather than statistics that things are not getting better in many communities. The number of suicides in some of our communities makes me shudder. Health and wellbeing are associated with many things. I have mentioned employment as one part of the solution. Education, good housing, recreation also must be part of the program to make up the picture.
I always wonder about the clinical deliberations we make about health. Is health just a science, or is our health also related to our spiritual wellbeing? Is health just about physical environment? Are some of our problems associated with a non-belief in anything? Has our world of materialism and a constant promotion of pleasure led us down the path of quick self-gratification, here today, gone tomorrow? Or is it a case of: ‘We have no reason to live. Why are we here?’ You might say: ‘So what? What has this to do with building a healthier community?’
If you want a truly healthy community, you need a physical and spiritual wellbeing and, whilst the government is probably reluctant to deal in spiritual values, development and promotion of cultural values, either through religious or traditional beliefs, are something that should be promoted. Sometimes the body as well as the soul needs healing.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I wanted to make some fairly specific comments that, I believe it is fair to say in a debate of this nature, I can make.
I prefer not to deal with the statements in their entirety, but note that it is about building a healthier community and would like to make a couple of points in relation to women’s health issues in Alice Springs. I do so not only in my capacity as shadow minister for Women’s Policy, but as a local member in Alice Springs. I am sure the Minister for Health will well understand why I do so.
I should, for the sake of the Parliamentary Record, make note of the adjournment speech I made last week in relation to the headline in the Northern Territory News about the sterilisation, as it described it, of young women. I indicate that I have since spoken with the Minister for Family and Community Services and I understand that she proposes to respond, probably by way of an adjournment speech in these sittings. I also indicate to her that if for some reason she is unable to do that, I would be very happy to receive a response by way of letter. I will leave that up to the minister.
Dealing with the couple of issues that I would like to raise today, the first is in relation to breast screening in Alice Springs. I would like to think that both ministers are aware of the difficulties that have been experienced under the captaincy of the former Health minister. I can easily refresh the Minister for Health’s memory by referring him to a couple of articles that appeared in the Centralian Advocate, one on 26 September last year, the other on 7 November last year. I am happy to table those, if the minister would like me to do so.
Some interesting and very relevant issues were raised in those articles and, in particular, the fact that there were fewer numbers of days the breast screening service was operational in Alice Springs. In 2001, there were 134 days of operational breast screening in Alice Springs, yet in 2002 there were only 55 days of screening, which was conducted on 966 women; the previous year there were 1009 women screened. As at the end of last year, I understand that the number of women in Alice Springs who had been screened was 734. There has been a reduction both in the number of days the breast screening service has operated and in the number of women who have availed themselves of that service.
I am sure neither minister needs to be reminded of the importance of this service, however, in the context of this debate, I raise it for the consideration of both. It is not good enough in 2003 or 2004 to not have a breast screening service operational in any regional centre in the Territory, in particular Alice Springs. My view is that if mankind can fly little robotic cars to Mars, surely mankind can organise a breast screening service in Alice Springs. It cannot be that difficult.
I understand that a locum radiographer had been brought in to operate the service and that, for reasons that escape me, a local radiographer could not be secured to perform that task. I also understand that a coordinator has been brought in from interstate on a sporadic basis to operate the service.
In addition to the service not operating as it should, that is with a maximum number of breast screening days, another role that this service has performed over the years has been one of education. Workers at Breast Screening have considered, as part of their role, and I agree it is an important one, that they need to get into the community and educate young women in particular about breast cancer and educate older women as to the importance of breast screening and mammography services.
Some members in this Chamber probably do not think this issue is terribly important. I do. I feel certain that I can speak for the women in the Chamber and the women in the Northern Territory who do regard this issue as especially important. Most of those women have brothers and fathers and husbands, so I would like to think that they also regard it as important.
It is against that backdrop that I implore both health ministers to pull out all stops to ensure that the breast screening service is restored to the way it was, and that it continues its work to maximise the benefits that were always intended for women in that region. I might say that some years ago, those that worked at Breast Screening also, as I understand it, did work out bush, so this is an issue that affects not just women in town, but women out bush.
I would be very grateful if, at some point, either minister, either in reply or by some other means, can give me an assurance as a local member and a woman who lives in Alice Springs that the breast screening service will be restored.
The second issue I raise is the Women’s Information Centre and I propose to speak separately to the Minister for Family and Community Services about this. But, again, in the context of their statements and this debate, it is appropriate that I place my views on the Parliamentary Record.
There has been some discussion for, I suspect, the better part of 18 months, as to whether the Women’s Information Centre will close. Some interested members will recall that I have done one, probably two, adjournment debates on this issue.
The Women’s Information Centre is not just a centre that provides general information to women. It is run under the auspices of the Health Department and it has long been acknowledged that some of the information that is provided to local women pertains to health issues. The underlying theme of both statements presented by the ministers has been Building Healthier Communities. I suggest that one way of doing that is to ensure that the Women’s Information Centre stays open.
In this regard, the minister has corresponded with me in answer to several letters, most of which I think I sent to the former Health minister and, for reasons that I fail to understand, were not replied to. In any event, happily, on 7 January 2004, I received a letter from the Minister for Health while he was acting as Minister for Family and Community Services. He said:
I am sure the Minister for Central Australia knows that there are a number of very good and experienced women in Alice Springs who have a long track record in dealing with and operating in the Women’s Information Centre. It performs a very valuable function; it has always done so. When the minister says the WIC will not close but services may be configured differently, I am very worried about what that actually means. Does it mean that it will not be a women-specific centre any more? I could go on, but I would like some information on who is on the working party, who are the stakeholders and who has been consulted. I have not heard or seen anything in the way of advertisements or any other publications asking interested women in Alice Springs to participate. If this is essentially a public service review, I know what the outcome will be. It has to be beyond that, and I again implore both ministers to give this matter their earnest consideration and attention.
We all want, on both sides of the Chamber, good outcomes for the Northern Territory. The Minister for Central Australia and I, together with other members from Central Australia, also want good outcomes for people in Alice Springs and Central Australia. The Women’s Information Centre is a way to contribute towards building healthier communities. With those fairly specifically targeted comments and observations, I will conclude.
Mr BONSON (Milner): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, today I proudly support the five-year plan of this government and the Department of Health and Community Services’ 2004-2009 program.
I applaud the two new ministers, the Minister for Health, Hon Peter Toyne, MLA, and the Minister for Family Community Services, Hon Marion Scrymgour, MLA. I would also like to recognise the work of the member for Nightcliff, Mrs Jane Aagaard, who started the process that has led to the government’s blueprint for the future.
Building Healthier Communities – a Framework for Health and Community Services 2004-2009 is the blueprint for a brighter future for all Territorians. The research I have conducted on the issue of health has led me to the conclusion that the Northern Territory government does not have a magic wand that will suddenly be used to fix the health issues facing Territorians today or in the future. However, a 1000-mile journey may only be completed if the first steps are taken, with a determination that is strategically designed so we can ensure that the journey is completed.
My first step on my discovery of health issues began in earnest when I was elected. From all my research, I realised that community expectations of health are always high. Similarly, the expectations of the health professionals are often as high or higher still than the wider community. However, in this country, resource expenditure on health is always limited. This is an interesting point. I am led to believe that in many western European countries, politicians and health professionals are currently debating the merit of increasing overall health expenditure if it ensures a healthier and longer average life expectancy. Maybe we need to consider such a proposition.
I mention the European debate to highlight that health-related matters are worldwide and Australia-wide concerns. Territory urban centres like Darwin and Alice Springs have historically demanded and obtained a majority of health resource expenditure. I believe the issue of health is not about urban cities and towns of the Territory; centres versus remote and regional areas of the Territory. We need to refocus the debate to address the Territory as a remote region of Australia, which requires unique support from the Commonwealth government. The Territory requires an increase in Australian resources on a needs basis when compared to southern states or territories of Australia. Health issues facing Territorians can only be solved by proper resource expenditure. Until we achieve this Australia-wide focus, we will not completely address health issues facing all Territorians.
After hearing Minister for Family and Community Services’ articulate description of the problems of ‘welfare-ism’. This was a stimulating reflection of the current situation that Territorians face. It demonstrated her in-depth knowledge and analysis of 30 years work experience in the health field. I feel confident that we have a minister who is aware of the concerns and understands that welfare-ism is an issue, but we can not withdraw our support and have a sink or swim approach. I quote from the minister’s statement:
My mother often says that when you start a race - and the race might be the race of life - it is fair enough to say: ‘All right, we all start off equal’. We have to run 100 m, and hopefully you run the 10 or 11 seconds that you need to be competitive. But the problem is, of course, if you start 120 m or 130 m behind the starting mark, you cannot compete and you cannot succeed. This is an issue for many Territory families. I am talking about white, black, green or purple. It does not matter. It is a result of our isolation and our limited resources and our small population by comparison with the rest of Australia. Therefore, we have to refocus the debate so the issue is that as Australian citizens, people in the Northern Territory can no longer be ignored. We need additional resources
We can debate until the cows come home whether or not the NT government can solve or manage these issues in a way that best suits all Territorians. What do we do as the Territory government? Should we just give up? The answer must be no. Like the Health Minister, I believe the issue becomes, in his words ‘making the best use of the available resources’. There is an understanding that we cannot solve all the problems, but we have resources so how best we use them becomes the issue.
With the resources we have, we must develop strategic policies that ensure the greatest return for the government’s resource expenditure. We are capable of ensuring a premium return for our resource expenditure. The plan that this government has developed to be our blueprint for building better health services for all Territorians is founded in recommendations from the Bansemer Report into Health and Community Services that was commissioned in 2002.
The Bansemer Report was hotly debated in this House and it condemned the former CLP government health ministers’ initiatives or lack of them. However, the Bansemer Report also clearly detailed recommendations for the future. As the Health minister stated, the Bansemer Report clearly identified that while some elements of the system were working well, there were major service gaps and the department needed to be reorganised to improve accountability for standards and focus more on outcomes.
This government will require our health services to focus on health outcomes. This is what the Territory community demands. Every Territorian would love to ensure that our health services continue to save lives. That is what we, as a government, are talking about: saving and improving lives. This is a big picture plan. This is a plan developed to attack health-related issues on a number of fronts, something the opposition was unable to achieve or simply unable to understand.
I will now outline health policies of which I can, as part of this Labor government, proudly claim ownership. The minister outlined six key priority areas to improve services to Territorians. The first is giving kids a good start in life. This is a fundamental foundation of our community and the future of our country. We have a duty of care to protect and nurture Territory kids. I would like people who troll through Hansard to be aware that the Minister for Family and Community Service gave an articulate preview of our aims, what we hope to achieve and what it means to be part of a family in the Territory.
The second priority is targeting families and communities.
Third, generally attacking Aboriginal health and, in the minister’s words, getting real about Aboriginal health. We have heard a number of members talk about indigenous health as an issue. When I talk about health, I talk about it for all Territorians but, of course, we cannot deny the fact that there is a proportion of the Territory population affected by a much greater incidence of ill-health compared with the majority of our population. The issue of getting real means equal service delivery levels for all people. The issue then becomes how we deliver these resources to remote areas. A large proportion of people live in remote areas and, owing to the tyranny distance, they lack equity. To my mind, this comes down to an Australia-wide concern. As a parliament, no matter who is in power in the Commonwealth, we need to argue that we need more resources to get real on Aboriginal health. The balancing act of that is what the minister was saying: What do we have in resources? We have to invest resources available for health in a way to ensure premium returns.
The fourth priority is creating better pathways to health services.
The fifth key priority is filling service gaps.
The sixth is tackling substance abuse. This, in particular, is a controversial area of health. Substance abuse relates to petrol, glue, paint, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, amphetamines and designer drugs. Age, background, race, culture and colour do not matter; these issues face all young Territorians and people have to make decisions as they grow. I believe the issue getting educational messages out to people about the pros and the cons of what substance abuse is about. Obviously, when you are talking about substances such as petrol, glue, paint, alcohol, amphetamines, designer drugs, cannabis, tobacco and alcohol, you are talking about drugs that cause serious damage to the community when abused. That is an issue with which we have to deal as a community.
This government will concentrate on improving service delivery and creating better outcomes for Territorians. We will continue to follow through on the Bansemer recommendations as they relate to Department of Health and Community Services systems, including building a suitable quality system, creating better ways of working together. As a new member, I was continually approached – and to this day, it remains the case – by doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals who felt disheartened and disillusioned with the way the previous government dealt with health-related matters. I hope we can improve that feeling amongst those professionals. We need to give both ministers the opportunity to ensure that they are feeling upbeat about their health industry, but we will have to wait and see. We will all be judged on that. I hope to work very hard to ensure that we change the attitude of these people.
I have explained, and continue to explain, that this government has a thoughtful, well-developed plan to ensure the resources that we have to spend on health will also be spent on improving Health department employees’ attitude towards that department to the extent that they feel valued and are appreciated by their employer, work colleagues and the general community.
The government will also tackle the need to create a health technology information network. The Bansemer Report is widely accepted as a blueprint of the future strategies designed to improve the lives of Territorians by the creation of a more efficient Health department. The minister clearly stated that the government will be taking a different approach from the CLP in relation to their failed purchase provider model, which, in the eyes of the doctors, nurses and health professionals to whom I have spoken, was a complete disaster. This government should be applauded for taking steps to develop a blueprint for standardisation across the NT. This will create better outcomes for hospitals and community services across the Territory.
As the minister stated, we must fund our care services, key priorities and non-negotiable programs and then look to how best to deliver those in particular local circumstances that characterise the NT. One of the major achievements of which I am proud is the work and services this government has put into kidney disease. As I have often said in this House, I have friends and family members who have suffered and do suffer from dialysis. When I say ‘have suffered’, unfortunately, due to complications with kidney disease and diabetes, some have passed on.
Last year, this government funded renal dialysis units in Tennant Creek, Galiwinku, Groote Eylandt and Palmerston areas, and provided support to the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation to help them establish dialysis in the Kintore community. The communities we aim to assist next to open up dialysis centres include Ramingining, Santa Teresa, Maningrida and then new centres in Port Keats, Katherine and Numbulwar.
However, we recognise that prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, we will be better supporting the implementation of the Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy. This will include, for example, increased staffing in remote areas, additional nurses, Aboriginal health workers and community child workers based in remote communities. This is important. Often in these remote areas, there is a fly-in fly-out arrangement for many of the services provided by government, both the Territory and the Commonwealth. Having people based in remote communities, though at the beginning might seem more expensive, in the long term will reap a greater return.
I turn now to oral health. We will attack the years of neglect under the CLP that have left oral health services run down Territory-wide. This was recommended in the Bansemer Report and includes an aggressive recruitment campaign; review the effectiveness of existing services; and add $2.5m per year funding for service delivery. I genuinely fear the extent of the spread of HIV and AIDS. As a young member of parliament, I am aware of many young Territorians not practising safe sex. These are our friends, family and other community members. This matter needs to be properly addressed, and I applaud the position that the minister has taken on this matter, and I hope to see a Territory-wide education program begin.
I congratulate the minister for recognising that a health plan will rely on an education plan. He has stated that the future health plan will be developed through research and academic evidence. For example, Giving Kids a Good Start is an incredibly forward-thinking project for Territorians. The member for Drysdale mentioned that breakfast programs are somehow continuing a welfare mentality picked up from missionaries in years gone by. I also pick up on the member for Nelson’s understanding that the problems are quite complex and cannot necessarily be completely analysed in debate in such a short period of time.
The fact of the matter is, going back to what the Minister for Family and Community Services said, that people are not starting at the same level. It is not up to us to choose whether or not we want to leave these people out to hang. The issue has to be that we have a young child - five, six, seven, eight, nine or 10, black, white, green or purple - turning up to - let us say Ludmilla School in my electorate - and a breakfast program has just been started in the Bagot community. The reality is if they do not have breakfast, they are not thinking. I noticed the ads that are currently running on mainstream TV, with mainstream Australian citizens talking about this very issue. This program will help kids concentrate and perform at a level that will enable them to compete. This is the major issue.
In the time I have left, I would like to mention that I am currently involved in a group called the Top End Countrymen’s Association, which is made up of a large number of community members who are interested in male health. Male health is a big issue for all Territorians, as it seems that many of the domestic violence and other violent activities are related to men’s health. In the past …
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move for an extension of time of 10 minutes to allow the honourable member to conclude his remarks.
Motion agreed to.
Mr BONSON: Thank you, members. This will allow me not to rush my summary and to go back to my notes to fully explain where we are.
Funds for a $2.5m birthing centre at the Royal Darwin Hospital will help indigenous and non-indigenous women’s birthing experience; new approaches to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption in pregnancy and to ensure access to effective antenatal care in the community; and recognition that ages between 0 and 6 years of age are vital in making a real impact on learning, behaviour and health practices of parents and children.
The government will recruit a range of professionals including audiologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, Aboriginal health workers and nutritionists. This requirement will have an effect on rural and remote communities. I know this government is committed to improving the health, education, jobs and lifestyles of all Territorians.
The minister, in his statement, clearly said that decisions and policy strategies developed will be based on evidence and research. For example, the proper analysis of evidence that experts have in the past presented to previous Territory governments in relation to drug problems. As alluded to by the minister in his speech, the drug problem was often debated in this House and all around Australia, it was recognised that it does exist. Unfortunately, I have seen the effects of drugs and other substances on family members, friends and the wider community in Darwin and across the Northern Territory. The minister highlighted that we will act responsibly on academic evidence. What the experts advise should form the basis for strategies and future policy.
This brings me to an issue that requires proper academic analysis. The indigenous community is a community universally accepted as being the most unhealthy of all Australian citizens and it is for many and complex reasons. In the indigenous community, it is recognised the men suffer from many health issues: substance abuse; mental health; domestic violence impacts that on families; and poor self esteem. This is one of the reasons for the formation of the Top End Countrymen’s Association I mentioned earlier. One issue about which this group is concerned is the disenfranchisement of indigenous people from mainstream health services and policy. The group is only in its infancy and therefore I am careful not to pretend to represent the group as its appointed representative.
There is a crisis in indigenous men’s health that relates to indigenous men’s wellbeing. In the Top End Countrymen’s Association are a large number of health professionals. In discussion with these men, it has become apparent that many of these individuals feel undervalued by the old Department of Health. It will be a major task for the government to empower indigenous men to address and work towards the issues of improving indigenous men’s health.
It is well recognised that Men’s Business is quite separate from Women’s Business in indigenous society as, arguably, is the degree of potency in other cultures in respect of separation of men’s and women’s business. My view is that it is not an issue of gender bias; it is an issue of cultural practice. Let me explain to the House …
Mr Elferink: You can wing it, Mattie.
Mr BONSON: Yes. What I mean is: just like many women when they go to see a doctor, they prefer to see a female doctor. In reverse, many men, when they go to see a doctor, like to see a male doctor. Issues of health, whether they are mental or physical, sexual or reproductive, are issues of concern to individuals and give rise to their preference for a male or female doctor. The preference in indigenous cultures is even greater regarding men seeing male health professionals and women seeing female health professionals.
Indigenous men suffer from serious health issues. This is manifested by substance abuse and the violence men and others cause. To fix the problem, indigenous men need to be properly represented in health discussions through consultation. The Territory government and the Commonwealth need to listen to the input of indigenous men. Many destructive health practices are perpetuated by indigenous men. Statistics show this to be the case. If we as a government in partnership with indigenous men want to improve indigenous health, we need to recognise indigenous men as a key player in the health of individuals and the community as a whole.
In conclusion, I thank the two ministers for their enlightening statements. This is a blueprint to work towards improving Territory Health Services and all Territorians should look to the future with renewed hope and expectation. I commend this statement to the House.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that debate be adjourned.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, speaking to the motion, if that was a motion…
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: I believe I detected the motion being put there.
Mr ELFERINK: Is there a motion before the House?
Dr Toyne: Yes, there is a motion for adjournment.
Mr HENDERSON: No. I do not believe under Standing Orders that the honourable member can move that motion, having just spoken in the debate. Does the member for Macdonnell wish to contribute?
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Does the member for Macdonnell wish to speak to the point of order or wish to contribute to the debate?
Mr ELFERINK: I wish to contribute to the debate.
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have the floor.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, every so often you get a little clanger in this House, and before I get on to the serious matter of this very important issue, I, too, share the curiosity of the member for Millner in relation to the safe sex issue and the minister’s position on it. However, that is an aside. It is one of those for Parliamentary Posies at a later date.
My contribution is to more going to be series of questions than anything else in relation to health issues in the Northern Territory. The first one I want to raise is the last one that I noted down the other day. I have become aware over recent times that there seems to be a very alarming rise in pancreatitis in Central Australia. Pancreatitis is apparently a terminal disease. It is inflammation, obviously, of the pancreas brought about basically by substance abuse.
It seems that the incidence of pancreatitis is inextricably linked to the change in the alcohol sales environment in Alice Springs and with the introduction of what is colloquially called ‘Monkey Blood’, which is fortified wine of some strength. It appears the effect of that consumed drunk very quickly is having a profound effect on pancreatitis rates. It is a speculative observation on my part only; there is no science of which I am aware.
However, I ask the minister to turn his attention to it because I believe he will find that if he asks a few questions in the Alice Springs Hospital area, there might be some science available. If the incidence of pancreatitis is as alarming as I believe it to be, we have a health problem just around the corner that is right up there with renal failure and possibly worse.
As I understand it, in one surgical procedure not so long ago, a fellow’s pancreas was partially removed with a help of a spoon or ladle because it was not solid enough to be able to be dealt with in any other fashion and, in fact, liquification of the organ had extended to other parts of the abdominal cavity. If this is indeed the case, there is a serious health case just around the corner. I ask the minister to confirm in his summing up whether he is aware of the problem, and if he is not, whether he will look into it as a matter of urgency. I raise it as an important issue. Please do not mistake it as an attack on government..
I have a series of questions that I hope the minister will address in his summing up. He may not have enough time. These questions deal with structural arrangements in the Health department in the Northern Territory. If he finds that he doesn’t have time or needs more information in relation to the questions I pose, he might indicate that he will get back to me by way of letter.
The first issue is the current level of sick leave being experienced by the department in two respects: one, as compared to other years; and second, in what areas are sick leave being taken? Is it particular to specific parts of the Health department or is it across the board? Is it a level of sick leave that is unchanged over the recent years or has there been a spike in sick leave? If a spike has occurred, is it in particular areas?
The second question is: what is it that the current number of supernumerary staff in the department? My definition of ‘supernumerary’ is those people who, by reason of restructure or reorganisation, find themselves beyond the normal scope of the organisational chart or staff members who are effectively operating as excess to the former organisational chart.
The third question is: what is the number of staff who had permanent positions prior to the recent restructure but now find themselves in impermanent positions? Perhaps this could be wound up with the question in relation to supernumerary staff inasmuch as those staff who were in positions that were concrete in the system now find themselves ancillary to the organisation. That is also an important question in relation to the state of the department.
I would also like to know as compared to prior years, what is the increase in the number of contract staff in the current environment? Where do you source your contract staff? Have contract staff filled positions that were originally in the organisational structures of the department?
The fifth area is the number of project officers the department currently has as compared to the number of project officers prior to 1 July 2003. We have had a restructure throughout the department. There were a number of project officers in the system prior to that restructure. I am curious to know how many project officers are in the department now.
The sixth area is the current turnover of staff. What is the current turnover throughout the Northern Territory in operational and non-operational areas as compared to earlier years? It is important to use these figures to gauge the stability of the department and the people who are working in it in terms of their desire to continue to work in the Northern Territory Health Department.
I have another question, which is: what is the number of excess staff in the department? This is similar to the supernumerary question. How many excess staff are in the department and in what areas? This is an effort to draw the minister’s attention back to the issue of people who were in an organisational structure and find themselves no longer in that structure and, as a consequence of that, are they extra to the new organisational structure or not?
There are a number of staff who are now on contracts throughout the Northern Territory, both at executive and other levels. What percentage or how many of those contracts are currently operating and how many are not going to be renewed? How many will be terminated prior to completion? In the last two years, how many contracts have been terminated prior to the completion of those contracts?
This is more a subjective question: what has been the impact of centralised decision making and processes on capacity to maintain health care in the communities? The minister partly answered that question this morning during ministerial reports when he said he is a Central Australian and he is going to ensure that the centralisation that has been occurring will be reversed, but I would like more information in relation to it because it is an important issue, one that has affected the staff of Alice Springs hospital and people out in the bush.
My next question for the minister is: how does the centralised structure of the Department of Health and Community Services affect the government’s stated claim that it has an agenda of community responsiveness and development? You have a department saying: ‘We want to be active in the community, we want to be able to respond to the community’, but have engaged in a centralised management regime. Is there any statistical or anecdotal work to demonstrate the effect of what appears to be a centralised decision-making process and how that affects people in remote and rural parts of the NT?
It is my understanding that Corporate Services has been abolished. Post-Bansemer Report, Corporate Services seems to have disappeared. It has the effect of not allowing sections in the department to talk to each other. I would like to know what the effect of it has been.
Why has the roll-out of the primary health care access program slowed? It appears there has been a link between resource and organisational issues inside the department. Those resource and organisational issues - as the member for Millner quite rightly pointed out, there is always a resourcing issue. He wants to blame the feds; that is fine. I want to find out what is happening inside the department. Rolling out the health care access program was the stated plan, and that seems to have slowed almost to a crawl. I would like to know exactly what is happening with the access plan because it is something that, certainly in Central Australia, the department seems to be dragging its feet on. There may well be a good reason for it, but I would like to hear it from the minister.
My next question is about health development services funding being cut and primary-specific services also having been cut to the point of abolition. I am concerned, minister, that those services are also being cut as a result of the centralised process of decision-making. However, it means that the services - especially the primary health care services, which are supposed to be going out to the rest of the community - do not appear to be making it to them at all. There is going to be greater reliance on secondary health care services.
My next question is in relation to Disability Services.
Dr Toyne: Go ahead. I gave Fred Finch 176 questions once.
Mr ELFERINK: Rumour has it that Disability Services has been effectively wound up, and the staff that were in that part of the organisation in Alice Springs at least are now also supernumerary or excess to requirements. Can the minister can confirm or deny those reports? If it has been wound up, what is going to happen to the staff and what is going to happen to Disability Services?
Minister, I hope that in your summation or at some point sooner rather than later you will be able to help me with some of these questions. I hope that you will be able to do so fairly soon to give an indication, to me at least, of what is happening in the department as a whole as well as what is happening specifically in Alice Springs.
Mr HENDERSON (Business and Industry): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise this afternoon to speak in full support of the statements by my colleagues, the Ministers for Health and for Family Services.
As has clearly been stated in the debate to date, the dual statements really do provide a framework for how the Labor government is going to continue to provide health and community services. It is a framework that has been developed to enable the Territory community, the people who work in the health areas, to clearly understand the areas of government focus. We all know what a complex area the Health Department is and the framework sets out the six key areas where this government will be focussing strategy, policy and funding to improve health outcomes for Territorians.
I put on the record my congratulations and thanks to the member for Nightcliff who did a huge job in the first two years in this portfolio. She inherited a portfolio that was lacking direction and was significantly under funded. We have already put an extra $80m into health services in the Northern Territory and commissioned an independent review, the Bansemer Report, to address the problems that the Health Department was facing. The work that was done in the first two years on structural and financial reform was bedrock reform that was required to enable us to focus on the policy areas. Without having undertaken that reform and made the tough decisions, we would not be in a position to start delivering the improved outcomes that we can see are coming through here.
So, despite the criticism from the member from Brennan who basically said that this framework, to paraphrase, was a heap of rhetoric. It will be interesting to revisit this debate in a couple of years time and to look at the great strides I believe we will have made in the health area. The framework has been built on solid foundations of structural and financial reform that had to be made. The previous government did not have the intestinal fortitude to understand the issues in the department and undertake the structural and financial reform that was required.
I will work through the six key areas of the framework because they allow people who work in the health sector and the community at large to grasp some of the fundamental challenges that we are facing to improve health outcomes. I will also go through what has been done, what is being done and what is going to be done towards improved outcomes.
The first one is Giving Kids a Good Start. If you looked at that on the surface, it would look as though it is a platitude, but it is not. Giving kids a good start in life is fundamental to kids being able to grow up healthy, to be able to participate in an education system that is going to give them the skills that they will need to live a full, active and productive life. Giving those kids a good start in life is absolutely fundamental.
If we look at the strategy, we talk about children’s health, supporting families and working together. What have we done in the first years? We have injected a record $53.8m over five years for the Child Protection framework, a must-do reform for protecting our children and to give our department the capacity to respond to allegations of child abuse. The reality with which we were confronted is that we didn’t have the capacity to respond; we only had the capacity to respond to cases where the trauma being experienced by the child was so acute that we had to step in. Our capacity for early intervention just was not there. We all realise that being able to have positive intervention early when families are struggling either through lack of skills or dysfunction will lead to better outcomes for children. That was a significant injection of funding to address an area that had been neglected for many years.
What are we doing? We are:
reviewing the situation of all children in foster care. As a local member, I have a number of foster parents in my
electorate. They do an enormous job and I am in awe, watching them bring children into their family environment,
and some of those children are really quite battled scarred and pretty tough. They risk disruption to their own
families and possible poor role models for other children in order to give a child a new start in life. I have
tremendous admiration for those foster carers. We need to provide better support for people who put their hands
up to do a very important job. As a local member, I am keenly awaiting the outcome of that review;
increasing the child care subsidy to support working families. That was a core commitment during the election
campaign. I am pleased that we have delivered on that;
we have introduced the school breakfast program for 500 remote area children. The member for Drysdale, I think,
stated that that was going back to a welfare attitude. I do not care what we have to do as long as kids have a full
stomach to go to school and be able to pay attention in the classroom. If that means that we have to provide a
breakfast program to achieve education outcomes, it is a good thing for our government to do and would be
roundly supported.
Where are we going? We are undergoing a significant change to Child Protection Services so we provide more family support and early intervention. That is the key to it. It is not crisis management; it is early intervention where possible, and that is fundamentally good policy.
We then move to strengthening families and communities. Again, this is common sense. We all live in society, in communities and communities are based on families that are made up of individuals. We have to be able to support communities and families. One of the key things that we have done is establish the Office of Children and Families to help support parents in their task of raising children. It is a struggle, particularly in the Northern Territory where most people - although if the opposition had its way, we wouldn’t have any southerners here at all – come here as single people, get into relationships and have children up here without the support of a broader family network that other new parents take for granted in some of the bigger cities. As first time parents, they are a long way from supportive family networks.
The capacity to seek and be given advice when it is needed is very important for first-time parents. I think of the birth of my first child nine years ago. We rushed off to the book shop and bought the latest version of Dr Spoke or Christopher Green and did it by whoever was the guru at the time, but there is nothing better than talking to people.
We are getting serious about Aboriginal health. We have to get serious about it. There has been a lot of talk over many years and a lot of good work done by some tremendous people working in the health sector, but it needs a focussed, whole-of-government effort. That is what we are talking about. This issue cannot be addressed purely via service and strategy and policy through the Health Department. The enormous issues and challenges in regards to Aboriginal health are across the whole of government. We are working across government to do everything we can to improve education services and housing in the bush, to look at ways of working with the private sector to generate employment in the bush, and working with Aboriginal people and communities. Getting serious about Aboriginal health is not just about health programs. We are working towards focussing on comprehensive primary health care, community control and working together. It is the language of this document that enables the broader community to understand and embrace, in partnership with government, what we are trying to do.
Creating better pathways to health services is providing appropriate care as close to Territorians’ homes as practically possible. The provision of renal services in Tennant Creek is a very clear example of our commitment to providing services where they are needed wherever possible. It is a fundamental tenet of providing services. My colleague, the member for Stuart, and I share the belief that we can be doing a lot more through the provision of telemedicine services to people in the bush, and that is a key area on which he is working very hard.
Filling service gaps and identifying where the gaps are is an important part of the framework, which deals with kidney disease, mental health, injury prevention, oral health, HIV/Aids and disability services. These are key areas where there are gaps in services. There are programs, strategies and funding to try to fill those service gaps. We are being open with Territorians and identifying where they are.
Finally, we are tackling substance abuse. We have had many debates in this parliament over many years about the problems our community has with alcohol and drug abuse. This framework acknowledges that we do have problems, rather than having our head in the sand, as the previous government did, on drug abuse. The previous government said that the problem was miniscule in the Northern Territory. We have acknowledged and accepted the extent of that problem. We introduced a policy to Territorians prior to the last election; a three point plan to get tough on drug problems. That plan included additional health support services in this area and it is good to see that we are delivering on that.
In conclusion, I congratulate our two ministers for building on the work of the previous minister who undertook the structural and financial reform. We now have a framework that is easily understood and being embraced by the Territory community and the department with very clear areas identified that, hopefully, will lead to improved health outcomes for Territorians over time.
I commend both ministers on very quickly, since coming to their portfolios, pulling this together and setting a very clear direction. I know they are working very hard with all of the stakeholders in the various sections to put flesh on the bones and the programs in place to support the strategies. I commend the statement to the House.
Madam Speaker, I move that debate be adjourned.
Debate adjourned.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table the Auditor-General’s Report to the Legislative Assembly on his Analysis of the 2002-03 Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement. I advise honourable members the Auditor-General will be providing a 30 minute presentation on his report on Thursday 26 February at 12 noon in the Litchfield Room and I encourage all members to attend.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the report be printed.
Motion agreed to.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the report and that I have leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table my 2003-04 Mid-Year Report, which is a means of updating financial information for the budget year and forward estimates. It meets the requirements of the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act and the Territory’s mid-year reporting obligations under the Uniform Presentation Framework Agreement.
The 2003-04 Mid-Year Report was released on Treasury’s web site on 9 January 2004 and is now tabled in this Assembly in accordance with the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act. The report considers the Territory’s commitment to improved financial reporting. The information in the report has been significantly enhanced to include updated information for the economy, fiscal strategy and revenue and expanded analysis of the financial statements. The report includes updated financial statements, general government, public non-financial corporations, and non-financial public sectors. The report takes into account the effect of updated economic assumptions that may affect the financial statements for 2003-04 and the forward estimates.
Changes to economic assumptions in the Mid-Year Report include downward revision to forecast of gross state product, employment and population growth in 2003-04. Gross state product, or economic growth, for 2003-04 has been revised down from the budget forecast of 3.4% to 1.6% in the Mid-Year Report. The major influence on the revision is the delay in condensate production from Bayu-Undan stage one. At the time of the budget, it was estimated that full commercial production of condensate would commence in the June quarter of 2004. More recent information suggests full production will occur in 2004-05, representing a delayed timing impact on Treasury gross state product growth forecasts.
Thus, while there has been a downward revision for the economic growth forecast for 2003-04, growth is positive and is strengthening relative to the -0.8% recorded in 2002-03. Regarding the onshore Territory economy, there is negligible impact on economic growth from offshore condensate production. The estimate for state final demand growth, which is a better measure of growth in the onshore economy, remains unchanged from the time of budget at 1.2% on top of relatively strong growth of 4.8% experienced in 2002-03.
Employment growth is expected to improve from -0.5% in 2002-03 to 1% in 2003-04. This is a downward revision to the employment forecast of 2% in the 2003-04 Budget. The revised estimate reflects the completion of the railway and a slower recovery in tourism than originally expected. This has been partially offset by a stronger demand for employment associated with the LNG plant and stronger construction activity.
The Territory’s population growth, which has been moderating for several years, is expected to start to strengthen in 2003-04. Nonetheless, the annual population growth estimate for December 2003 has been revised from 0.7% at the time of the budget to -0.2% in the Mid-Year Report. Interstate migration, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, continues to act as a drag on growth. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported that the Territory’s population increased by 0.3% in the June quarter, with nett population outflow being less of a negative growth than in the recent past.
The 2003-04 Mid-Year Report financial forecast demonstrates that the government’s responsible fiscal management has resulted in improved fiscal performance. The cash deficit for general government sector in 2003-04 has improved from a deficit of $24m at the time of the budget to a deficit of $1m in the Mid-Year Report. Improvement occurred despite an additional $28m being approved in 2003-04 for the government’s priority areas, including $3m for Territory roads, $7.5m for tourism, and $9.8m for police.
In relation to forward estimates, the Territory is still on track to meet its fiscal strategy target of a balanced cash budget in 2004-05. The forecast improvement in the general government cash deficit for 2003-04 is due to the combination of a number of factors. This includes the forecast of an additional $41m in GST revenue being received from the Commonwealth. However, this amount has been more that offset by the carry over of $45m in cash expenditure from 2002-03 into 2003-04. Adjustments to other cash estimates, including the timing of 27 pay days in 2003-04 and changed arrangements for the repayment of Budget Balancing Assistance to the Commonwealth, have also contributed to the improved result.
While there has been no material change to aggregate Territory own-source revenue estimates, there have been a number of variations to the tax mix. Payroll tax estimates have been revised downward by $4m in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 consistent with employment growth estimates. Refunds that were not resolved at the time of 2003-04 Budget have also been included. In 2003-04, conveyancing duty estimates have increased by $6m, reflecting increased residential property market activity and this increase has offset the reduction in other taxes.
The Territory’s GST has been increased by $41m in the Mid-Year Report. The estimates have been revised down for lower Territory population and upwards for revised national GST revenue collection. GST revenue estimates for 2003-04 will continue to remain uncertain until the Commonwealth’s final determination of population and national GST revenue estimates in June of this year. Estimates of the Territory’s GST revenue for 2004-05 will be revised following the Commonwealth Treasurer’s consideration of the Commonwealth Grant Commission’s 2004 review of relativities in March this year. The GST revenue pool will also be revised before the end of 2003-04 affecting this and future year revenue estimates. The GST arrangements are still relatively new. The Commonwealth has had difficulty in accurately forecasting GST revenue.
I note Access Economics has recently stated that, in their view, the Commonwealth estimate for future GST revenue collection is too high. Because the Territory receives such a large proportion of its revenue from the Commonwealth, adjustments to GST revenue estimates have a relatively larger impact on the Territory than on other states. The Mid-Year Report forecasts a significant improvement in the Territory’s nett debt position. Non-financial public sector nett debt is forecast to decline by $99m from the 2003-04 Budget to $1726m in the Mid-Year Report. This mainly reflects the reduction of $90m in 2002-03 due to the improved cash outcome as well as a reduction in 2003-04 general government cash deficit by $23m.
The Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act requires the Mid-Year Report to provide updated information to allow an assessment of the government’s fiscal strategy. The three key principles set out in 2003-04 Budget papers were sustainable government services, a competitive tax environment and prudent management of liabilities. The 2003-04 Mid-Year Report illustrates the government’s progress in implementing the fiscal strategy principles and achieving its targets. Since the time of the budget, progress in sustainable government services for 2003-04 includes a $23m improvement in the cash deficit, a $3m improvement in the nett operating balance and an additional $12m in expenditure for the government’s capital investment strategy.
The Territory remains tax competitive with other states and territories. On a per capita basis, the Territory is the second lowest taxed jurisdiction of any state or territory. The government continues to provide effective management of the Territory’s liabilities. The Mid-Year Report illustrates the impact of the government’s deficit reduction strategy and its prudent management of unfunded liabilities on nett debt and employee liabilities. After peaking at 134% in 2001-02, the ratio of nett debt and employee liabilities to revenue is forecast to continue declining over the budget and forward estimates period.
Madam Speaker, the Mid-Year Report provides further evidence that the government is adhering to its fiscal strategy principles by spending responsibly. The government has been able to boost spending in key areas whilst keeping its principles of sustainable government services, a competitive tax environment and prudent management of liabilities. I move that the Assembly take note of the paper, and seek leave to continue my remarks at a later date.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
Mr AH KIT (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, the Northern Territory has one of the highest sports participation rates in the nation. Our sportsmen and women punch well above their weight nationally and internationally. Our per capita spending on sport and recreation is the highest in Australia. In recent times, the Territory has developed national and international status by hosting international and national sporting events for a growing number of sporting codes. This has arisen amongst a small, isolated population living in a variety of circumstances: tiny Aboriginal communities, cattle stations, small towns, national parks and the relatively small cities and towns from the desert of the Centre to the wetlands and islands of the Top End.
Although we live in a culturally diverse society, sport does much to unite us and contributes greatly to our Territory identity. However, after 25 years of Self-Government, the Northern Territory does not have a formal, over-arching sports policy that reflects the unique challenges and opportunities before us. Certainly, some planning and policy documents have been developed, which guide government and the sport and recreation industry in looking to the future. In recent times, these have included the 2003 Junior Sports Plan.
A number of individual sports have produced planning documents. A number have been the subject of review processes, often in conjunction with their national parent bodies. Local governments have produced forward plans, mostly with respect to facilities development, and we are influenced by the work of the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Institute of Sport as well as interstate experience. But there is no simple, comprehensive document developed in conjunction with the sports community that might guide us in building a future for Territory sport, a document we can call our own and which reflects our unique lifestyle. It is for this reason that I announce today the beginning of a consultative process to develop the Northern Territory’s first really comprehensive sport and recreation policy.
Within the month, I will be releasing a discussion paper, which will be widely circulated, with a clear process for consultation. I am hopeful that we would be able to launch the policy by the end of this year. I will be looking at the policy addressing the key issues of greater lifelong participation, better access, better skills, better services, better facilities, better pathways, better planning, better events and better governance. I see the development of this sports policy as a non-partisan effort with contributions from all represented here in this House and beyond. The reason for this is quite simple: sport and recreation is something that benefits us all and benefits us throughout life.
Since coming to office, this government has spent over $12m on sporting infrastructure in the Northern Territory and the fruits of this investment are already evident. We are committed to delivering national and international sporting events in the Territory. Last year, the Territory hosted international cricket with Australia competing against Bangladesh on an upgraded and improved Marrara Oval. This event was enormously popular and the Australia-Sri Lanka match to be held in July will again bring Territorians to Marrara.
The agreement between the Northern Territory government and Cricket Australia to host international test matches and one-day internationals until 2007 could not have been possible without the $2.5m upgrade of Marrara Oval. This project included the upgrade of the playing surface, improved player and media facilities and a new score board, making it a truly multipurpose venue.
Sports tourism is increasingly important globally, with both national and international visitors travelling with sports events as their primary initial reason for travel. The Territory is putting itself on the map of sports tourism. The upgrades at Marrara were required not only for international cricket, but also for Australian football. The work at Marrara has reaped huge benefits to the Territory, including the signing of a three-year deal with the AFL. It will see an annual home competition match between the Western Bulldogs and another AFL side through to the 2006 season. The first match will see the Western Bulldogs clash with Port Adelaide on 14 August this year. The AFL deal has also secured biennial Aboriginal Allstars matches in 2005 and 2007. This will allow indigenous athletes to showcase their skills to the nation.
Darwin will not be the only Territory centre to benefit from this agreement. An annual pre-season challenge match will be held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs through to the 2006 season. In addition, training camps will continue in remote and regional communities in the Centre as well as the Top End. This agreement is recognition of the faith displayed by the AFL in the future of football in the Territory.
Netball Australia will hold a Commonwealth Bank Trophy Match during June 2004 in Darwin. The Territory will get to watch the Queensland Darters battle the Australian Institute of Sport. It will be a sensational match. Negotiations are under way to hold a Commonwealth Bank Trophy game for the next three years, with different teams competing each year.
Hockey Australia will hold a world class hockey event in Darwin in June this year, with a women’s Four Nations hockey tournament in preparation for the Athens Olympics. The Hockeyroos will compete against Great Britain, Japan and New Zealand. The Vodafone Hockey Centre at Marrara will also host Australia’s own men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, when it contests a hockey test series against South Korea in July. The tournament and tests will be contested at the Vodafone Hockey Centre. The new synthetic turf, installed last year, has provided a fresh surface suitable for international events.
A partnership with the Darwin Basketball Association saw the completion of a new basketball stadium at Marrara. In addition to the three courts at Spectrum Stadium, the new stadium provides an additional two courts with sprung timber floors and improved seating capacity. The air-conditioned stadium will accommodate national netball and basketball events.
Last week, we saw the first National Basketball League game at Marrara Indoor Stadium between the Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets. Territorians experienced the full razzle dazzle atmosphere of an NBL match. The inclusion of NBL in the Territory sports calendar is the result of a three year deal with the Wildcats. This agreement shows a genuine commitment to improve basketball throughout the Territory, with Wildcats players and coaches holding community clinics in the Top End and Central Australia.
Madam Speaker, Alice Springs has also seen the benefit of the government’s commitment to sport. Stage 2 of the $5m Traeger Park redevelopment has been completed with new lighting towers installed. The $1.8m lights follow an $800 000 upgrade to the hockey field, with a further $2.4m project under way to upgrade the grandstands. The project has been a boost to the town, with work going to local tradesmen and subcontractors such as PRA Electrical, Alice Springs Town Council and the Arrernte Council.
The Finke Desert Race has long been held without any permanent facilities. As a result of discussions with motor sports in Alice Springs, this government has provided land for motor sports, allowing for the development of a permanent start and finish line for the Finke Race, and $300 000 has been committed towards this development.
Darwin has not been forgotten, with planning for the construction of a $300 000 skate park in Parap, and a $2m home ground for the Palmerston Magpies Football Club. Discussions are progressing with the Magpies and other stakeholders over the possible development of an existing oval to meet their needs.
Planning for the building of a $7m multifunctional recreation centre at Palmerston is under way. This centre is part of the Palmerston Partnership Agreement that was signed in September 2003 by the Chief Minister and the Mayor of Palmerston. Consultants are working with the Project Development Group and the Palmerston Recreation Centre Steering Committee to develop the scope of the project.
This government is committed to providing opportunities to all Territorians to participate in sport and physical activity. This has resulted in commitment to developing sporting facilities not only in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs, but also in our regions.
Work on the $300 000 lighting towers at the Stanley Tipiloura Oval on Bathurst Island is now under way. The new lights will be a long term asset to the community, allowing players to train in the evening and expanded use of the oval by other sports such as athletics and softball. It will allow for other community events such as concerts, helping it become a truly multipurpose facility.
Planning for $500 000 of improvements to the Katherine Sports Ground began late last year. The sports ground currently provides facilities for tennis, soccer, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, softball, Little Athletics, cricket and Australian football. Priorities for the upgrade of the sports ground will be developed in consultation with the Katherine Town Council. This project is a result of community consultation and in line with the Katherine Regional Development Plan’s recommendations to develop Katherine as a youth sporting hub. Work has also recently been completed on Katherine’s three netball courts that suffered severe storm damage in 2001. The courts were completely resurfaced and preventative work will be carried out to avoid future damage to the other courts.
An important local event on the national sporting calendar is the biennial Alice Springs Masters Games. This year will be extra special with the Masters’ Games celebrating its 10th competition. Preparations for the 2004 games are on track with more than 30 sports confirmed. The 2002 Alice Springs Masters Games saw 3526 participants and it is expected that the 2004 games will continue to grow with people from all over the nation flocking to the friendly games. Prior to the 2002 games, I challenged members of the House to put their names down to compete, and I undertook to compete in the games myself. I am proud to say that I not only competed in the darts competition, but I won a silver medal. I will be competing in the 2004 Alice Springs Masters’ Games, and I again challenge members of the House to nominate for an event.
Local sporting clubs are essential for organising events. An important element of the games is not only the competition, but also the spirit in which the games are contested. The 10km road walk coordinated by the Alice Springs Running and Walking Club is a great example of this.
The Masters Games in Alice Springs could not take place without the strong support of its sponsors, some of which have been with the games since their inception in 1986. Current sponsors confirmed are: Diamond sponsors - Peter Kittle Motor Company; Alice Springs Town Council; Lasseter’s Casino; and CSC; Gold sponsors - Imparja Television; Silver sponsors - Carlton and United Breweries; Coca-Cola; and Northern Territory Correction Services; Bronze sponsors - Aussie Move International Movers; Crowne Plaza Alice Springs; Coleman’s Printing; Great Southern Railway; Hamilton Sunscreen; TAB Corporation; Territory Insurance Office; Radio 8HA; and Tattersall’s.
Major sporting events such as the international cricket and the Alice Springs Masters Games could not be held without the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who give up their time to make these events a success. It is important not only to recognise the achievements of the athletes, but also those people behind the scenes who make it happen. The annual Northern Territory Sports Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, administrators and officials. The awards were recently reviewed, and I am pleased to advise that community feedback received on the awards was positive. The 2004 awards will be held in April at the MGM Grand Casino in Darwin.
This government is committed to supporting elite athletes through the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and providing them with the assistance to chase their dreams of representing Australia at an international level. Athletes selected for scholarships have access to a sports science laboratory, weight training facilities, a sports medicine network, sports psychologists and coaching support. There is also financial assistance to support travel to competitions and to pay for coaching, entry and membership fees.
The individual scholarships are divided into three categories: elite, elite development and junior elite development scholarships. Leading Territory and Australian hockey goalkeeper, Mark Hickman, Australian cricketer, Shelley Nitschke, and tenpin bowler, Ronald Voukolos, receive the top level of Elite Scholarships. Ten athletes are on Elite Development Scholarships and 20 athletes are supported under the Junior Elite Development Scholarship program, with three of those athletes based in Alice Springs and two based in Katherine.
The NTIS also supports research that will assist athletes nationwide. An $80 000 Charles Darwin University PhD scholarship will research ways to reduce the risk of heat stress from working and exercising in the tropics. The student will work through the National Heat Training and Acclimatisation Centre in Darwin, a partnership between the Charles Darwin University and the Northern Territory Institute of Sport.
Grass roots participation is the key to sport innovation and development in the Territory. Last October, I announced the first round of grassroots development grants for Territory sporting groups totalling $74 849. Thirty-five grants were provided, with every region in the Territory represented. These grants support new and innovative projects that promote opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity. Some of the successful projects included upgrade of sporting facilities at Apatula to increase youth participation in sport and reduce antisocial behaviour; weekly exercise courses for the elderly and individuals recovering from life challenging illnesses sponsored by the Charles Darwin University Sports Association; and the inaugural Sports Fest 2004 to be conducted by the Alice Springs Town Council in March. The event will involve demonstrations, interactive activities, professional development and displays.
Junior sport is fundamental to grassroots participation in sport. Last year, I launched the Northern Territory Junior Sport Plan, which has been heavily promoted with presentations at sports meetings throughout the Territory. In December 2003, the junior sport reference group finalised the implementation of the strategies contained in the plan. Some of these actions include the junior sports displays held at Casuarina and Palmerston shopping centres this month. Sixteen sports were involved in these displays. We are working with the Palmerston City Council and the Department of Health and Community Services to determine the feasibility of an after hours school program in Palmerston. This initiative stems from the junior sport plan, but is also a result of the department’s involvement in the Palmerston recreation action group.
A sports information booklet entitled Little Sports has been developed and will be sent to all schools throughout the Northern Territory. This booklet, an initiative of the junior sport plan, will promote junior sport clubs, competitions and school programs. Another outcome from the junior sport plan was the Professional Development Camp for sport development officers run in January 2004. Designed to provide assistance to the officers to maintain and improve the quality of their work, results of the camp have been very positive.
All sporting organisations are under increased pressure to take a business-focussed approach to the governance of their sport in areas such as risk management, strategic planning, public liability, negligence, litigation, waivers and medical indemnity. On top of this, sports are being affected by a reduction in volunteers and increased costs. To assist with this pressure on sporting organisations, we have commissioned a number of reviews into sports such as lawns bowls, boxing, motor sports and soccer. The government understands that sports are looking for assistance to develop these effective business practices. We have taken a capacity building approach to developing sustainable organisations and communities to deliver better outcomes. It is my intention to take the issue of governance in sporting organisations further and the matter will certainly be at the heart of the Territory’s sports policy.
The Mataranka Community Sport Workshop was conducted in partnership with the Active Australia Schools Network, Indigenous Sports Program, Sports Services, Northern Territory sport organisations and schools. Its major objective was to improve the capacity of small remote communities to provide opportunities for participation in and organisation of sporting activities. Sport development officers from basketball, rugby league, hockey, touch, tennis, athletics, netball, cricket, baseball, AFL and gymnastics provided activities for students and professional development for teachers, school support staff, community sport and recreation officers and volunteers. Rugby union provided a professional development program to be used at the workshop.
Teachers and school staff from Mataranka, Pine Creek, Jilkminggan, Urapunga and Wugularr and CSROs – community sport and recreation officers - attended from Timber Creek, Kalkarindji, Mataranka, Ngukurr, Binjari, Kalano and Borroloola who completed the Professional Development Program will receive a General Principles of Coaching Level 1 certificate.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention the work done by the Indigenous Sport Program officers, also known as ISP officers, within Sport and Recreation. These officers work with their CSROs employed in regional and remote communities to develop and implement sporting programs. Officers from the Indigenous Sports Program work hard with communities to develop pathways for indigenous athletes in their chosen sport. Results are promising, with indigenous athletes represented at local, state and national level.
Some of the exciting achievements by indigenous athletes in 2003 were:
Maningrida producing outstanding athletes: an under 16 years girls volleyball team was invited to compete in
the Australian schools titles; a young male runner was selected in the Territory athletics team and competed in
the Australian titles; two touch players were selected in the Northern Territory Senior Men’s Touch team; and
an under 16 years player was selected in the Northern Territory Junior Development Squad and competed in the
Country Championships in Brisbane;
A predominantly indigenous under 15 years team from Gove easily won the Rugby Sevens in Darwin last year;
from the Miwatj region, two girls competed at the National Indigenous Netball Championships held in Cairns; and
three soccer players were selected for the NT Secondary Girls team for the national championships in 2003.
Ongoing programs and events are essential for developing these pathways. The ISP has provided assistance to regional and remote communities to deliver these programs. Some of the highlights from 2003 include:
Garrak Jarru Women’s Basketball Competition with teams from Lajamanu, Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Binjari, Rockhole,
Kalano, Callistemon House in Katherine and Fordimail Hostel, also in Katherine;
Facilitated visits to communities from athletics, tennis, netball, touch football, gymnastics, basketball, soccer,
Australian football, rugby union, softball, baseball and golf;
Assistance with the Merrepen Arts Sports and Cultural Festival at Daly River, the Gunbalanya Open Day Sports Carnival, Kalano’s Mota/Mundle Sports Carnival, Pine Creek’s Sports Challenge, the Gurindji Freedom Day Sports Weekend and
the Titjikala Sports and Health Expo.
The Indigenous Sports Program is also working in partnership with the Athletes as Role Models tour, also known as ARM tour, to facilitate community visits in the southern region and recently assisted Yvonne Goolagong-Cawley and her brother Ian Goolagong to visit Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala to conduct coaching clinics.
This government takes water safety very seriously, and that is why we established the Water Safety Advisory Council in 2002. It has representatives from Kidsafe, Surf Lifesaving NT, Royal Life Saving Society Australia, the departments of Employment, Education and Training and Health and Community Services, the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory and a community representative. The Executive Officer is located in the Office of Sport and Recreation.
The council set about developing a water safety plan and it was launched as a part of the inaugural Water Safety Week in 2003. The water safety plan seeks to reduce the rate of drowning, near drowning and water-related injuries in the Northern Territory. It focuses on four key priority areas: public awareness; education; standards and legislation; and information and monitoring.
Strategies successfully implemented against this plan include Water Safety Week and the water safety awareness program. The inaugural Water Safety Week was held from 31 August to 6 September 2003. The week aimed to educate Territorians about fun, but responsible behaviour around water. Great feedback was received for the inaugural week, with planning for Water Safety Week 2004 already under way.
The Water Safety Awareness Program was introduced by the government to address our drowning rate in the under 5 age group. This free program is available to Northern Territory parents with children under 5, and involves five practical sessions to prevent loss of life or injury. It is administered by the Royal Life Saving Society NT in conjunction with the Water Safety Advisory Council. Providers will be available in Nhulunbuy, Darwin, Palmerston, Batchelor, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. Parents and children are involved in the five sessions, which give one resuscitation session to learn the basic revival skills and four sessions in the pool. As at 30 January 2004, 679 registrations for voucher booklets have been processed and booklets issued. This allows for 3395 water safety classes to take place. Feedback received by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia NT has been very positive, with parents appreciative of a starting point to water safety and awareness for their children.
On 5 February 2004, the Office of Sport and Recreation held a Member Protection Policy Summit. Representatives of 35 peak sport organisations attended to examine the procedures and protocols in place to deal with inappropriate behaviour by athletes, coaches, volunteers, spectators and others involved in sport. The response to this summit is heartening and shows the increased awareness of the community that harassment, discrimination and abuse are unacceptable. It is great to see sporting organisations and communities put measures in place to deal with these issues.
Last year, this government announced a plan to improve the development of soccer in the Territory, which included:
an independent review to examine the development of soccer, linked to the outcomes of the national review into soccer;
for soccer at Marrara.
The 2003-04 Junior Soccer Facility Development Grants Program has been heavily promoted to soccer clubs, local government and key stake holders.
This year promises to be an exciting year for sport and recreation in the Northern Territory, with a jam-packed sporting events calendar. It does not slow down in 2005, with preparations for Arafura Games 2005 well under way. The sports program for the games has been expanded with the inclusion of weightlifting, Tae kwon do and futsal, while cricket and clay target shooting will return after an extended absence. In all, 31 sports are scheduled to participate in the games over 14-21 May 2005. I look forwarding to again welcoming our sporting neighbours from across Australia and overseas to take part in the week-long celebration of sporting competition, cultural diversity and friendship. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of sponsors, such as Qantas, Thrifty, Saville Park Suites, Carlton United Breweries, Parmalat, MGM Grand Casino, Darwin City Council, McDonalds, CSC, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Mix-FM, Coca Cola and many other local and national organisations.
Sport is a part of the northern lifestyle. It forms an integral part of our culture, building community pride and spirit, and contributes to social cohesion. It has direct benefits on physical and mental health. It has a direct impact on social behaviour and the incidence of crime. It contributes to both leadership and team effort. I believe that all Territorians should have the opportunity to participate in sport. This government has had a direct focus on increasing participation. The government also recognises that the ability to watch inspirational athletes compete can prove a powerful motivational tool to get people active and involved in sports.
Madam Speaker, a comprehensive sports and recreation policy is important, not just for the future of Territory sport, but also because of the links sport has with health and education. Sports have important economic benefits as well, through the local supply of employment, goods and services, as well as its links with tourism. I am confident the path we are moving along to develop such a comprehensive policy will set strong directions for all of us here in the Territory for many years to come.
Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Mr MALEY (Goyder): Madam Speaker, I place on the record my observation and comment on the report that was read very carefully onto the record by the Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Before I go through some of the specifics of the statement, I agree with the minister that there is absolutely no doubt that sport and recreation is a crucial part of the Northern Territory’s lifestyle. It is a crucial portfolio as, probably more than any other jurisdiction, sport lies at the very heart of our being. Albeit I am born and bred in Darwin and know no different but, for what it is worth, sport has been a huge part of my and my family’s life. Many of my cousins and friends play sport every weekend.
It is interesting to note that this minister is taking the portfolio seriously, and he is to be commended for that. However, it is obvious that his enthusiasm for the portfolio and for promoting sport in the Northern Territory is not shared by the member for Wanguri, who does not think much of the portfolio. From his recent public comments, he has demonstrated that he does not have an interest in sport and recreation and does not share the passion that many Territory people have for sport in their community.
Not only are Territory people good at sports, they are sports mad, and not just the people who play it, but even the smallest sporting organisation seems to have a fairly religious-type following of spectators, volunteers, mums and dads. An example from my neck of the woods of how passionate people can be is a group called Rural Little Athletics …
Mr Wood: No, no, no.
Mr MALEY: Rural Athletics.
Mr Wood: That’s it.
Mr MALEY: Rural Athletics, that is right; the ‘little’ is gone. My neighbour, dear friend and colleague, the member for Nelson and I attend their trophy presentation nights …
A member: Senior sportsperson of the year
Mr MALEY: Senior Sportsperson, that is right. There are people in this organisation who went along and assisted their kids, and their kids have grown up, moved on to other things, and they are still there. That is how passionate these volunteers and parents are. Their kids have gone; they are not there for anything but to help other kids, other volunteers, and to promote Rural Athletics. That is not uncommon; there are many other sports in the rural area, where I am from, where you see this religious following, dedication that is way above and beyond the call of duty.
On a slightly more philosophical note, sport holds the key to guiding many young people through their more tentative years. It instils in them many of the important virtues that will make them good and productive citizens.
The CLP is in the process of developing a fairly comprehensive sports policy that we will be taking to the next election. It will demonstrate that we take this portfolio seriously, that we have a plan, a policy and a vision for sport across the Northern Territory.
The learned minister, in his statement, talked about the need for an overall central approach, an overall plan. Whilst at first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that is the way to go, ultimately it is just one of the tools by which sport will be governed in the Northern Territory.
A comprehensive sport and recreation policy is not possible when you have regard to the unusual demographics and circumstances in which many people find themselves. There are many remote communities. There are places that have different pressures and stresses on them. That makes it fairly close to impossible to have one universal comprehensive sport and recreation policy that will fit all of these situations. There needs to be a broader approach to a more comprehensive sports policy in some of the larger metropolitan areas. Ultimately, the future of sport lies in the hands of those who operate sporting associations in the smaller communities, and we need to provide them with the resources to do what they think is fit for their sport in their particular area, having regard to the demographics.
An example of that is Freds Pass. The number changes, but there are between 30 and 50 user groups and there are many sporting associations that share facilities. There is rural soccer, which is absolutely massive; the Noonamah Horse and Pony Club; the Northern Territory Polocrosse Association; there is league and union, and a huge number of sports in between. It would be really difficult to see any comprehensive sports and recreation policy fitting the needs of all of those organisations effectively and empowering them, giving them the resources and allowing them to make their own decisions.
Credit where credit is due; at least the government is looking at policy issues. They might come to the conclusion that it is simply not possible, but the minister should be congratulated in any event for at least taking a step in the right direction, albeit that the result is that we have to channel funds more specifically to different sporting groups.
There are a couple of things on which the minister and his staff should be congratulated. The cricket - well done. It was a huge success. Many people went to the cricket, it was a great day, and it is good to see that it is going to continue. The Australia-Sri Lanka match to be held in July will bring a spectacle to Marrara. The minister mentioned in his speech that the agreement between Cricket Australia and the Northern Territory will go for a number of years so there is an opportunity for the Territory to host one day fixtures as well as some test matches up until 2007, and that is a credit to staff in his department.
An interesting aspect the minister touched upon but only received a cursory attention was sports tourism. There is no doubt that this is a huge growth area. There are many young Territorians, many young Australians who, when they travel overseas, link their travel in with some sort of sport. It might mean going to Europe for the European motocross championships. It might mean going to the United States or Ireland to play polocrosse. More and more of our young people are doing exactly that. They are broadening their horizons, they are travelling, but in that, they include some sport and vice versa: people are coming to the Northern Territory to play sport, to see what we have to offer and they are including in that some of our sporting events. This is fantastic. This is to be encouraged and I see nothing but growth and optimism in this area.
The upgrades at Marrara have also assisted in securing the signing of a number of AFL fixtures, and I believe the minister touched upon it last week. I went to the game when the Western Bulldogs played the NTFL.
Mr Wood: Do you need any help?
Mr MALEY: What’s that?
Mr Wood: Do you know what they were playing?
Mr MALEY: Admittedly, I have not played Aussie Rules since I left Taminmin High School, but the Darwin Doggies certainly had some support. It is fantastic that the Western Bulldogs call Darwin part of their home. I saw them through the media and in person on two occasions, to their credit, out there talking to lots of young people and conducting coaching clinics. I am not sure whether or not they were paid for that, but it was a good public relations exercise and they should be congratulated.
Alice Springs, luckily, does not miss out in this ministerial statement. Some AFL action will be heading down south. There is the Wizard Cup match and I am sure that sports-mad Alice Springs will be happy to hear that news. From my travels and the time I have spent in Alice Springs, which, over the past two years, has been more significant than doing the odd trial down there in my previous life, if there is one place where people are even more fanatical than in Darwin, it would have to be Alice Springs. I am not sure what the ratios are, but I suspect that Alice Springs has an even higher per capita participation rate in sport than Darwin.
From an international fixtures and a sporting calendar perspective, ultimately the numbers still lie in Darwin and that is why we see a number of important fixtures of international standard being played in Darwin. That is not to say that we should not do all we can to make sure these sporting stars, these people to whom lots of young people look up, visit the regional areas of the Northern Territory and spend as much time as they can in those areas to encourage sport and the pursuit of excellence.
The inclusion of the National Basketball League in the Northern Territory sports calendar, being the culmination of negotiations and a three year deal with the Wild Cats, is very good and should be commended. Well done, once again, to the minister and his staff. I, unfortunately, was not able to see that game last Wednesday. I understand the minister took the opportunity to attend, along with many other keen basketball fans, players, volunteers and parents alike.
Talking about Alice Springs, the minister mentioned the Finke Desert Race. I have travelled on the Finke Desert Race pilgrimage for a number of years, being the pit boy for my brother and some of his mates. We end up camping down at the Finke community. The boys come in and you service their bikes and then catch up with all the lads and have a fairly big night. Then they all go early in the morning and completely disturb you.
This year, we have Team CLP. We have the members for Macdonnell and Goyder racing. We are locked in. We are going to the Finke Desert Race.
Mr Kiely: What are you riding?
Mr MALEY: I am on a Bombadier Baja 650, the bike that came first and second in the four-wheeler class. I am organised. I am in training. We have sponsorship and logos, we have the CLP flag, we are there, we are on the ground. We are supporting sport, we are supporting the Finke Desert Race so …
Mr Kiely: What is the CLP flag?
Mr MALEY: The CLP logo, it will be on my bike and I am proud to have it there. We have not quite sourced a second bike for my colleague, the member for Macdonnell, but we are sure we are going to get there, so the both of us will be racing, it is on, and I put the challenge out to any member of the Labor Party who has the guts to get on a motorbike, race the Finke Desert Race and have some fun. We will be there.
Mr Kiely: You fell off your quad!
Mr MALEY: I have broken a few bones falling from quads. That is part of the risk, part of the fun. The Finke Desert Race should be bigger than Ben Hur this year. I look forward to participating, and not just articulating words in parliament, but getting down on the ground with the 5000-odd Alice Springs people who participate, watch and enjoy the Finke Desert Race spectacle.
This is the inevitable criticism that this statement attracts. The minister said that we have spent money here, some remote community, we have spent some money here, and went through a number of highlights. There is no reference to Freds Pass. There is no reference to any of the facilities there being upgraded. We have 17 000 hard-working Territorians who live in the rural area. We have the highest rate of home ownership, the highest rate of private enterprise and these people are real contributors to the community. They are not sitting there with their hand out. They have paid millions and millions of dollars in taxes, yet we see that their money is not being spent at home in their backyard. Their money is being siphoned off to the less productive portions of our community. Quite frankly, it is a disgrace to see Freds Pass miss out so blatantly. It is a disgrace because it is cutting off your nose to spite your face. Freds Pass is not just used by rural people; there are many Palmerston sporting clubs that travel to Freds Pass. There are even some Darwin sporting associations and clubs that regularly come down to Freds Pass to train and have fun …
Mr Kiely: I will have to talk to the Sanderson Polo Club about it, will I?
Mr MALEY: Well, there is no polo up here, there is polocrosse. The member for Sanderson and his polo club are welcome to come down and use the polocrosse fields if they wish.
Returning to Alice Springs, I offer congratulations to all the volunteers and participants who were involved in the organisation of the Masters Games – well done. As I said, the minister himself, to his credit, did not just talk about it, he got down from his high horse, participated in the darts competition and won a silver medal. Good on him; congratulations. It is good to see a sports minister not just talking the talk, but walking the walk in that regard, in any event.
I am not sure what the qualifying ages are for the Masters Games; however I will certainly have a close look at it to see what I can do in lending my support, or having a go in some sort of event there.
Mr Wood: Too young.
Mr MALEY: I may be too young, but it is just a matter of time. I can perhaps sponsor you, member for Nelson, in some sort of event.
There are a number of sponsors, and credit where credit is due. Most of these sponsors are private enterprise organisations. It is not taxpayers money they are bleeding away. This is real, hard-earned private enterprise money. For these people to put their hands in their pockets at this time of the year and contribute to sport in the Northern Territory is absolutely fantastic. We have Peter Kittle motor company, Lasseters Casino, Imparja Television, I am not sure how much private an enterprise that involves, CUB, Coca Cola, Aussie International Movers, the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Coleman’s Printing – Coleman’s are always there, good on Coleman’s, Great Southern Railway, Hamilton Sunscreen, TABcorp and the TIO. There is no doubt that without the kind support of sponsors, these major functions and events would not be the success that they have continually been. Since the first Masters Games in 1986 or thereabouts, it has been an ongoing success story.
There has been some criticism in the wider community about the level of support that this government has given to the NTIS. The elite sports men and women of our community need our support. From an opposition’s perspective, we would throw our shoulder behind these young men and women and, in our view, the government should do more to support them. There is a very small number of people who are currently underneath the umbrella of the NTIS; that needs to be broadened. There needs to be a real effort to attract those young men and women, particularly in regional areas, and to supply them with the resources to spend time in Darwin if that is what they need to train properly, to give them the resources to go interstate if that is what they need and, in a perfect world, we would like to give them the resources so that they can train and be prepared closer to home in their regional area; in their home town, close to friends and family.
The minister touched upon junior sport. There will be no argument from this side of the House that junior sport is not only at the heart of sport and recreation, but these juniors are our future. Anything that can be done from the Junior Sport Reference Group that met in December 2003 to finalise the implementation of strategies contained in a global plan, anything we can do to help junior sport should be supported and commended. That is not to take anything away from our larger sporting events. Nevertheless, junior sport is a real investment in our future and something the government needs to have a close look at to make sure that they continue their support.
The minister talked about the Indigenous Sports Program. Sport is for all Territorians and not just for indigenous people. What can I say? If it promotes sport for Territorians, albeit, it seems, on fairly restricted grounds, then it is to be encouraged provided you do not lose sight of the fact that it can cause some dramas. In my community, I have heard of some people feeling aggrieved; they have missed out because they are not of indigenous descent. Well, they were born her, but they are not Aboriginal.
There minister touched on pool fences. We have had the pool fencing debacle over the past year or so. We have seen this government waste about $21m of taxpayers’ money on this ‘feel good campaign’ with the Chief Minister’s lovely image on numerous glossy brochures and TV campaigns, saying: ‘I am going to take complete responsibility for pool fencing’. In a very disappointing way, the government tried to use the whole sad and incredibly disturbing spectre of fatalities in pools for political gain. The real way to address this issue is exactly what the minister said today: it is about education, safety courses, making sure that parents are aware of the dangers, and sheeting home the fact that, ultimately, it is about parental responsibility. It is not solely about regulating pool fencing, rushing in legislation that turns out to be, in hindsight, defective, imposing an enormous amount of grief upon thousands and thousands of pool owners in the Northern Territory or about taking an Australian Standard, which may or may not be suitable to some regions and Northern Territory and saying that applies. The government has learnt its lesson. Unfortunately, the taxpayer has to pick up the bill. This minister has steered away from that $21m blunder, that $21m embarrassment. They are the figures that appeared in the front page of the Northern Territory News and, ultimately, it is the people of the Northern Territory who will decide at the next election whether the hoo-ha about pool fencing warrants or justifies giving this government a second term in office.
Madam Speaker, the minister did devote a portion of his statement solely to soccer. I know that the member for Nelson is a soccer coach.
Mr Wood: No, no.
Mr MALEY: Oh, umpire.
Mr Wood: No, ref.
Mr MALEY: Referee! Referee.
Mr Wood: Umpire for Aussie Rules, ref for soccer.
Mr MALEY: That’s right. Yes. He is a soccer referee. The soccer in the rural areas I believe is the quickest growing sport. It probably has one of the highest participation rates and you go down there and there are not just one or two sides of a particular grade - it might be under 10s - but there are four or six. There are kids everywhere. There are parents everywhere. Half the people I went to school with have kids there who are playing soccer and through all this mayhem, things work out, games are played, kids are having enormous amount of fun, parents derive a fair bit of satisfaction from watching their kids participating in this safe sport. Boys and girls seemed to be playing it. I do not know what age the eldest juniors are down at …
Mr Wood: Under 16.
Mr MALEY: Sixteen years, yes. It is a sport in which kids in their teens remain. They seem to be participating every week, spending time with mum and dad and their peers, and they are enjoying themselves. So rural soccer, soccer across all the regional areas is a growth area. There is no vision for soccer contained in this statement. There is no real lighthouse on the cliff: this is where we are going with soccer. There is a bit of a attempt to revamp a couple of failed media releases from last year about their home ground, but ultimately there is nothing…
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr MALEY: There is nothing new in this statement. There is no vision. I hope the minister does a bit of work and comes before this House with where we are going and not just a snapshot of ‘this is what has been sort of bubbling along’. It is an important sport for the Northern Territory, one that is going to grow.
There are the usual motherhood statements contained in the learned minister’s report, the one that he read out so methodically. There needs to be a clear set of guidelines, a clearer mechanism for the distribution of funds to sporting participants in the Northern Territory. There needs to be a clear and transparent system of allocating those funds. There is too much ad hoc 300 grand here and 500 grand there. Yet we see 17 000 rural people miss out completely for no apparent reason. This government won’t be held accountable until the next election about which I say: bring it on.
Another fairly regular criticism I receive about the government in my travels as the shadow sport and recreation minister is that this government is too tight to hand out NT flags when kids go away and that is pathetic. This government is so tight. They are happy to big note themselves and carry on and waste $21m on pool fencing, but at the end of the day, they won’t give the Litchfield Under 8 girls soccer team a Territory flag to take away and that is a disgrace. All they say is: we will lend you a flag, you have to return it; you have to sign it in, you have to sign it out. Complete embarrassment! Complete embarrassment that they don’t support these teams.
Madam Speaker, they are the observations I make in response to that statement.
Dr TOYNE (Central Australia): Madam Speaker, I rise to support my colleague’s statement. It is a very important initiative that we are moving towards a more systematic plan for the future of Territory sport.
The member for Goyder’s contribution illustrates the reasons why we need to have an over-arching plan, something that has never happened in the Territory before. On one hand, the member is saying we are doing a great job on this or that event, and then he talked about the different areas of the Territory – we have to think about Alice Springs and Katherine - then we get down the Under 8 soccer team that the minister has so shamelessly ignored. That has been the history of sports planning on the part of government in the Northern Territory for far too long.
We must have a much more systematic approach to where we put the limited resources that a government of our size has, given the enormous participation rates right across the Territory. Junior sport is probably one of the most precious and critical areas. You can immediately conjure up images of an Aboriginal kid out at Yuendumu or Areyonga or wherever it might be kicking around a footie if they can get their hands on one or anything else that you can kick to develop the skills out there on a bit of a claypan, just the same as you will see down at Blatherskite Park in Alice Springs, junior soccer players learning their skills on the show grounds there. Right around the Territory, we have these equally deserving areas of sports development amongst the young right through to elite levels by adults.
We must have a plan. We must approach this in a systematic way. It can’t be the government’s plan imposed on the community; we have to develop this approach collaboratively. The idea of issuing a discussion paper, bringing it right around all the different contexts of sport in the Northern Territory, getting people’s input on it is the way we can all own this and make some sensible decisions about how to develop sport in the Northern Territory.
Central Australia has benefited from our government’s commitment to sport. Since coming to office, this government has spent over $3.2m on sporting infrastructure in Central Australia. Over the last couple of years, Central Australia has been able to build and develop a stronger international and national reputation for its unique and very popular sporting events. We have heard mention already of the Masters Games, the Finke Desert race, Imparja Cricket Cup, Central Australian Outback Bike Challenge, just to name a few of the key events that happen in our part of the world.
We are also very fortunate that as part of the AFL agreement, Alice Springs will host an AFL Wizard Cup match at Traeger Park for the next three seasons. That is fantastic for our part of the world. I will make a prediction: I reckon we will have more people at Traeger Park than they had at Marrara because people are buzzing down there. We had 12 000 people at the one-day cricket match between the Territory 11 and the West Indies. We had about the same number at the Essendon v Adelaide match at Traeger Park. Now it is going to be under lights, and it is going to be a full-on spectacle, part of the normal annual competition. We cannot wait down there, and if it is the Lions v Collingwood, we will flog them for a start, and it will be fantastic to see Collingwood go down in front of a good crowd in Alice Springs.
This would not be possible without the $5m upgrade to the Traeger Park complex by the government. The minister has outlined the stages of development there. The hockey field has been fantastic. We have had national hockey matches there already. Traeger Park has had the lighting upgrade, and now the grandstand complex. It is going to be an absolutely fantastic venue, and I am sure that it will establish a reputation very quickly because the grass is the best in Australia. That is not just my opinion - everyone knows I am not biased – but it is the best grass surface by anyone’s estimation; it is a fantastic field.
As the minister stated, stage 2 of the $5m redevelopment has been completed and now we are moving on to the final stages of the spectator facilities. I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Andrew Jenkins - who, I point out, lives in Alice Springs and proudly calls himself a Territorian. He might have been from down south, but he is certainly a Territorian like the rest of us – and his team from PRA Electrical, the Mayor Fran Kilgariff, the Alice Springs Town Council and Arrernte Council for the fantastic job they have done on these early stages of development at Traeger Park.
We are very proud of the fact that those towers were put up with the help of contractors that were expert in that sort of construction. They put up the first one or two towers and left the locals to it. They got the rest up and did a very good job on it. Now they know how to do it, so we will put towers up somewhere else one of these days. To illustrate how this commitment by the government to improving Traeger Park has benefited local businesses, I urge members to take a look at the feature on the installation of the lights in yesterday’s Centralian Advocate, 24 February, a really good comprehensive article on who worked on it and the skills that were involved.
The NT Pearls hockey team, in March last year, was hosted in Alice Springs as part of the national competition, and the National Basketball League’s Perth Wildcats players held community clinics in the Alice Springs Basketball Complex the week before last. I was fortunate enough to meet the Wildcats players. We went to the Children’s Ward at the Alice Springs Hospital and met some of the kids there. A couple of the kids were pretty nifty in shooting for goal, so it is good to see these elite players having a direct influence on our kids in the Northern Territory.
I would like to mention one of the Wildcats players, Ricky Grace. We know Ricky very well because he is a regular visitor to Central Australia with the ARM Tour, the Athletes as Role Models Tour. He comes with other elite athletes and goes out to remote communities and works with kids there and provides them with the linkage to elite sport that can inspire some of those kids maybe to appear as elite footballers or basketballers later on in their lives. We are very proud to be sponsoring, for the next three years, those ARM Tours through DEET, Office of Crime Prevention, Territory Health Services and, of course, Sport and Recreation. We are all pitching in. With three or four visits a year, which is what they are talking about now, we can actually run a regular program through both the school programs and the remote community schools, the adult recreation programs and spin-off into the community health programs as well.
There was mention of the Finke Desert Race, which of course is one of my total obsessions. I welcome the news that the member for Goyder has entered the fray. That is great. I will predict this: that if he gets to Finke, he will be a lot less talkative than he is here in the House. He will be much more worried about bruises on various parts of his body than making smart comments. I look forward to him seeing him take off there, and I will be in Finke, more than likely, to see what is left of him when he gets to the other end.
I am proud that this government has been able to deliver for the Finke Desert Race the new start/finishing line. We have not only put up the $300 000 for the installation of services into the actual site, which is electricity, water and sewerage connections, but we have managed to find enough money to bring those services to the fence line so that the entire amount of that grant goes on to the site for the race start/finishing line. I congratulate Anthony Yoffa, the President of the Finke Desert Race Committee, and the other members for the fantastic voluntary work that they have already done. If take off from Alice Springs Airport and are lucky enough to be flying west, you will see just how much work has already been done on that site. You can actually see the prologue track, the start/finishing line and the spectator areas that are starting to appear. A lot of the infrastructure is being put into place.
I am going down for a nice quiet sit in a Finke Desert Race buggy next weekend. The original idea was for a static photo, but I am hoping to talk them into something a bit more dynamic. We will see a lot more of the work that is being done – it is all voluntary work. All the plant that is being used down there has been contributed by businesses around Alice Springs. The race is sponsored by virtually the entire business community of Alice Springs. The sponsor list is just spectacular. Each of the bike and car entries would have 10 to 20 businesses sponsoring, so it is an event that is owned it by the entire town. I would like to also commend the work of Peter McDonald of DIPE and all the staff in Alice Springs because they have been working their guts out to make sure we meet the starting time in early June for the next race.
Going on to the Masters Games, which is held every two years in Alice Springs, I repeat the minister’s challenge: we want to see members of parliament there whipping into action; none of this theoretical from up here; let us get down there and get into it. At this stage, we have 125 competitors already registered. We expect that we will give it a nudge up to the 5000 competitors and spectators that we have had at some of the best games. We had a very slight drop in the last Masters Games. Considering that it was 11 September and a very unsettled year, we still had a very good roll-up for the Masters Games. I will declare myself. I am entering the triathlon, the 400m athletics and the 20km time trial on the bike. I will be in there and I know a colleague, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, will also be giving it a whirl. Let us see the rest of you come down. There is plenty of room for 25 competitors.
I would like to thank those clubs in Alice Springs that do support the Masters Games, along with all the volunteers from the town: the Alice Springs Golf Club; the Memo Club; RSL; Federals; Westies, to name a few. Everyone joins in there. I would say the bike club, too, because they have run everything up to national championships in Alice. They are a very enthusiastic bunch. There are 234 days to go, so get into training and we will see you down there.
For many Territorians, sport has been a pathway to improving their quality of life; for or many others, it is their life. There are no better examples than our Central Australian sporting heroes such as James Swan, Christine Trefry, Hamish McDonald, Gilbert McAdam, and the late Ivy Hampton. All of them are role models for our community.
However, it is the government’s support towards the Northern Territory Institute of Sport that will continue to provide our future champions. I know a huge number of young developing athletes are being nurtured by the institute, so I will not hear a word about deficiencies in our support of it or the institute’s work. Future champions from Central Australia include Braedon Abala who was nominated in the Northern Territory Sports Awards last year for athletics and basketball. I coached Braedon in Little Athletics. He is a brilliant athlete, but it is the size of his heart that is so important. He has such a competitive instinct, he is fantastic to train. Other future champions are: Joel Campbell, drafted by the Melbourne Demons in the AFL rooky draft last year; Richard Cole last year established himself as a regular player in the AFL’s Collingwood Magpies, poor thing; and Australian Junior World Cup darts representative Kathleen Logue from Tennant Creek. They are names to watch out for in the future.
Alice Springs has some very successful junior sports programs occurring, in particular, junior AFL Auskick program in which 500 kids participate. I am advised it is the largest Auskick program in the Northern Territory at the moment. The Auskick program in Alice Springs clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when a sporting organisation, volunteers, parents and private sector sponsorship work together towards improving junior sport in their community. Whilst speaking about the AFL Auskick program in Alice Springs, I congratulate Kevin and Julianne Prior from the Auskick program who have recently received the Harrison Medal from the Central Australian Football League for their outstanding contributions to AFL in Central Australia.
From my own personal experience and time living out bush, I have no doubt that the sport is popular in the bush and particularly amongst the kids. Last year, in my electorate of Stuart, the community of Ti Tree held a bush schools sports carnival on 15 and 16 October with a wide range of sports including track and field and team games. This carnival involved about 100 students from Central Australian communities. Another big sporting event that is held every through Central Australia is the community sports weekends. Yuendumu sports weekend was the original one. It is now common during the Dry Season that one or another of the communities stage their own sports weekends. It is a fantastic way for people to get together and to continue the sporting contests.
Another significant sports weekend in the Centre is the Hermannsburg sports weekend, held from 1-3 May, and Papunya sports weekend, held on the Queen’s birthday weekend in June.
If you fly by light aircraft to Yuendumu, you fly over a tiny little outstation, Ron Hagan’s outstation. It has one house, a bore and a footy field. What happens there is that all the players from Central Anmatjere, Larumba, Yuelamu and Pulardi, come together each day for training. They all drive to this one football field in the middle of nowhere - there is nothing next to it except this house belonging to Ron. They went from nothing to winning the Central Australian Country League. That was a spectacular achievement. So Clarry Robinya, Ron Hagan, good on you and good the blokes in those communities who put their heads down, they did all the hard training. They turned up at the finals as fit as fleas and they knocked over Western Aranda. That was a brilliant achievement from virtually nothing. It was a matter of getting a grader out, clearing a footy field and getting into training, and that is what they did.
I highly recommend that all members get out to at least one of these sports weekends because they are unique events. You will see some really raw talent on display and the enormous enthusiasm people have for their sport.
To finish, this is a very important statement. The process of pulling all this richness, diversity and uniqueness of Territory sport into an overall approach and plan is an incredibly important exercise and is long overdue. I commend the minister on the statement.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I welcome the statement from the Minister for Sport and Recreation. It relates to an important aspect of the lifestyle of Territorians. Sport and recreation is in no small way in partnership with the way of life that we all love so much and experience here in the Territory, and that goes hand in hand with the outdoor that all of us love.
From the major towns of Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs to the remote communities, interest in sport brings together communities and encourages good relationships. Sport and recreation activities cover all age groups and there is usually something for everyone who wishes to participate. While long distance travel presents a challenge for some teams to participate, every obstacle is overcome to be able to compete in their chosen sport.
An example of this is the football team from Ngukurr. They compete in the Katherine League and they will go to great lengths to make sure that they compete at every game. There have been many occasions when the Ngukurr boys have had to drive to the Roper River, boat across this very fast flowing flooded river to get into a bus that has travelled from Mataranka to pick them up, drive them back to Katherine, play their football game, come and get a bite to eat, get in the bus and return the same way they came in. It is an epic journey for them. They are very committed, and that is a perfect example of their enthusiasm and the way they treat their sport. My husband and I have also been sponsors of the Ngukurr Football Club for quite a few years so we get lots of smiley, pearly teeth grinning at us at the end of each game. I am now the Patron of the Katherine Football Association.
An important section of our population is very much influenced by their favourite sport and their sporting heroes, and that is our youth. What better and healthier way to influence our youth than by involving them in sport and recreation? An area of recreation touched on by the minister was water safety and every member serving in this House takes water safety very seriously. I encourage all parents with children under five to take up the five free practical lessons administered by the Royal Life Saving Society NT in conjunction with the Water Safety Advisory Council.
I also encourage parents to follow on from this with swimming lessons to ensure that their child is as water safe as possible. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind. My 14-month old grandson, who happens to be called Jack …
Mr Ah Kit: Good on him! Good on him.
Mrs MILLER: … lives at Jingili and has been having water safety and swimming lessons with accredited instructors once a week since he was six months old. With a huge fenced swimming pool in their backyard, Jack’s mum and dad made the decision that it was vitally important for him to be trained at an early age, and I strongly agree with them.
Our climate and lifestyle in the Territory encourages the use of pools and spas for a greater part of the year, which emphasises that more people are in pools and spas in the Territory than anywhere else.
A sport that is being addressed in my electorate of Katherine is target shooting. The Katherine Target Shooters Association has been without a target range for some years now and, despite intense negotiations over that time, has been unable to finalise a suitable area until just recently. With the cooperation of the Northern Territory Rural College Katherine Campus and Charles Darwin University, the association is in the planning phase of a project to establish a firearms training centre on a suitable area at the rural college. The centre will provide a venue for training, recreational and sporting firearms and archery use for the entire Katherine region.
The proposed centre will have a 300 metre rifle range, a 50 metre pistol range, two down-the-line target ranges and an area for bow hunting in natural terrain. Government and private firearms users will be able to qualify for and renew licenses using this facility and, most importantly, sporting competitions will be held and recreational firearms users will practice in a safe and supervised location. This facility is being eagerly anticipated by members of the Katherine community who have been without their favourite sporting and recreational centre for a very long time.
Not all sports, of course, require expensive infrastructure to compete, and one of those sports is judo. Judo has a high participation rate in my electorate, a great discipline sport in which Katherine Judo Club members have consistently achieved excellent results at tournaments over many years. Credit for such outstanding achievements by so many young people must go to the dedication and commitment of long-serving coach Max King.
I welcome all sporting clubs and teams that come to the Territory to play their games in front of very enthusiastic crowds. It gives Territorians the opportunity not only to see their heroes performing live, but the chance to talk to them and, in some cases, to receive valuable coaching advice to improve their skills.
Some sport involves individual participation but most of it is about team work so the skills of working together to achieve best outcomes are learnt through team sports. There is an old saying: Team work makes the dream work. I would be so bold to add: is that like politics? I was in the lift at my hotel last Friday morning with Kevin Sheedy and four AFL players, and it was interesting and heartening to listen to their positive comments about the state of the ground at Marrara. When one of the players asked Kevin Sheedy what the ground was like, he replied that it was very good, very green and he said: ‘Where else could you play in Australia at this time of year under lights in excellent conditions with a very excited and enthusiastic crowd?’. It was very heartening to hear that the Northern Territory is acknowledged for its high standards.
Katherine is mentioned in the ministerial statement, with $500 000 of improvements at Katherine Sports Ground, which we have known about for some time. The minister also mentioned that he wants to develop Katherine as a youth sporting hub, which, of course, I wholeheartedly support. The minister also said in his statement:
I would like to see the minister relate this statement to the youth of Katherine. One of the major issues in Katherine is a lack of recreational activities for youth, and the minister is well aware of the crime and vandalism that is causing such a headache, especially to the business sector and CBD of Katherine, which is associated in no small part to bored, wandering youth in the streets.
The minister is also well aware that there has been considerable energy and effort by an enthusiastic group of youth in Katherine towards the planning and development of a skate park. They have gone to great lengths to work out exactly what it is they want in Katherine. They formed a Skate Park Committee a couple of years ago, consulted the community, visited Alice Springs to look at the design of their skate park, as they have Palmerston and Leanyer skate parks and, as a result of their lengthy consultation and research, they have designed a skate park that will suit the youth of Katherine. The location of the skate park in Katherine has been determined and all that is holding up this project is funding.
Can the minister please explain to the youth of Katherine why he is deliberately ignoring them? They are crying out for this recreational facility and are being ignored. The minister is sending a message to the youth of Katherine that says he does not care. I cannot tell you how many children of all ages have approached me in the street, at school assemblies …
Mr Ah Kit: How many letters have you written to me? How many letters have you written to me? None. None.
Mrs MILLER: Have you been - I will speak to you afterwards. … approached me in the street, or when I have visited their school, asking me when they are going to get there skate park. I hope, minister, you have an answer for those young people who are at present very frustrated.
Other sporting activities we have in our region include - and I have not touched on them in full - are very active horse and pony clubs, equestrian clubs. We have a canoe marathon, netball, soccer and rugby clubs and golf, amongst other smaller associations. I look forward with interest to see how we are going to look at a policy that covers all sport and recreational activities when they are so diverse.
In conclusion, without a doubt, the Territory benefits from sports tourism, which, I might add, is a new catchphrase. Those who come to play sport are here for several days and are highly likely to come back for a later recreational visit, bringing family or friends with them. The connection between sport and tourism highlights that tourism is everyone’s business. I look forward to further discussions on the development of this sport and recreation policy.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I also welcome the statement from the minister. Obviously, the centrepiece of this statement is to tell us that the government is beginning a consultative process to develop a comprehensive sport and recreation policy, although, minister, you did say: ‘The first really comprehensive sport and recreation policy’. Therefore, I presume there has been some other policies that were not really policies.
Mr Ah Kit: Ad hoc.
Mr WOOD: That is good, anyway; I still welcome the statement.
I am not going to concentrate on what has said before. I thought I would add a few things that can be used to develop the policy. I believe that sport is for everyone, no matter what age. I have become more involved in sport in the last 10 years of my life than I was for the previous 10. When I came to the Territory, I came straight from a sporting background; I played Aussie Rules and tennis regularly. Then I landed on the shores of the Daly River and, all of a sudden, there was not any sport. The only means of playing sport was to get in the cattle truck and drive to Darwin. I was not an elite athlete. I had come from the cold climes of Melbourne, and trying to play Aussie Rules in the Wet was a bit hard at first, so I only played in St Mary’s Reserves. There were a couple of us who came up. One was a Bathurst Islander who worked at Daly River, whose name now escapes me; another one was a local indigenous person from Daly River. We all got on the radio on Thursday night to see if we were in the team and, on Saturday morning, we get into the cattle truck with a few supporters and head north, hoping that the creeks were not flooded and that they had not cancelled the game. That was my introduction to sport in the Northern Territory.
I moved to Bathurst Island and, because I had an outside job where two legs and two arms were certainly essential if you wanted to keep your employment, I took up umpiring. I have umpired Aussie Rules from about 1974 until now, more or less consistently, although my knees are starting to feel as though they have been running that long.
Minister, one thing that should be in the policy is encouragement of people, especially older people, to get into playing sport. We know it is good for your health, it is good fun even if your knees do ache a bit, and it is great to be competitive.
I also went to the last Masters Games in Alice Springs. It is great to be in the athletics, trying to run 100m with another bloke who is as slow – sorry, as fast as you. The important thing that we sometimes forget is the concept of excellence. It does not matter what age you are, you try to be the best. That does not mean that you put down people who are not as good as you; one strives for excellence, and that is what sport is all about. That is how we get our elite athletes.
Talking about elite athletes, that is part of the policy that we should look at: how is we can use those elite athletes. If I take two people from the Southern Districts football team, Nathan Buckley and Jarrod Brennan, two champions: one is probably coming towards the end of his career and the other one is just starting. We need in our policy to work out ways of encouraging those elite athletes to come back to the Northern Territory and to promote sport, especially among the communities. It is not only the communities; a lot of people from the urban areas need encouragement to get into sport. I mentioned in the health statement that there are a lot of young people who are stuck on TV games and computers and they are going to need encouragement to get back outside and play sport, otherwise we are going to have a big problem with obesity in our young people in the future.
People complain about a lot of fatty foods we eat today. When I was young, I still ate fatty foods, although I probably had some good home cooked meals. However, because I was active all the time, it did not worry me in the slightest. You just burnt that off as though as if it were a piece of cake. If you have kids who are sitting down behind computers all day and eating foods that are not the best for them, you have a recipe for lots of big kids in the future.
We should be able to use those elite athletes, even if we employ them when they have finished their time as elite athletes because they will be great asset to the Northern Territory and encourage other people to follow in their footsteps. I have two young people, my back neighbours, Cameron Chin and Kieran Chin, two young boys who are built like gazelles. They have just gone down to Sydney to some athletic championships and have just finished the North Queensland Athletics Championships where one of them broke the 100m hurdle record. I believe that they will go far and I hope that we not only encourage them to go far, but when they get up to the elite athlete level, they will encourage more people to get into sport, especially athletics.
I said the policy should include participation. One way to get more people into sport is to make sure we have a diversity of sport from which to choose. Some people don’t play Aussie Rules and some don’t like rugby league because it is fairly physical, but if I took a cross section of some of the sports at Freds Pass: polocrosse for which, admittedly, you must have a horse, but it is a good sport.
Mr Kiely: Everybody does, don’t they?
Mr WOOD: Yes, I am sure of that, member for Sanderson. Pony clubs - I was at the Noonamah Horse and Pony Club yesterday. They have 120 members and there were kids of all shapes and sizes and horses of all shapes and sizes at Freds Pass yesterday. We have dog obedience trials. Maybe the dog gets more of the workout than the people, but it is still a sport. We have athletics, as the member for Goyder said, and we have Rusty Rurals of which I am a member. If people are interested in running in this part of the world, there is what they call Maad Frogs, Mature Age Athletes of Darwin. They operate out of Marrara. Their logo is a frog sitting on a hurdle. If you make yourself known at the Marrara sports ground, I am sure they would love to see people who would like to go for a run. They learn how to throw the javelin, shot-put and hammer as well as running. It is great to see people doing that.
We also have the Rusty Rurals at Freds Pass and athletics will be starting as soon as the Wet drops off a bit. People are welcome to come down there. We have rugby union, field archery, plenty of soccer as has been mentioned, cricket – and I play a little cricket some days, not that well. We have lawn bowls, a beautiful lawn bowls surface down at Humpty Doo, the Royal Humpty Doo Golf Club. You could not wish for a better club. It has beautiful facilities and will expand to 18 holes. If you want to go into a golf course early in the morning where the wallabies run across the ground, the kookaburras laugh and it is peaceful, this is the perfect place to go and play a game of golf. I play Army golf, by the way, which is left, right, left, right, left, right. We have motocross, orienteering, tae kwon do and we have a great gymnastics group called the Springers. I am sure I have forgotten a heap of people because Freds Pass has something in the order of 32 user groups.
The more diversity we can have in our sport, the better the chance of getting people to join in because they have a choice. I mentioned the Masters Games before, and they are a great idea. I, too, encourage people to get involved. Maybe at this point I should say there is another opportunity for our railway. I know The Ghan is offering special fares to Alice Springs for the Masters, but we should have our own passenger train which could take people to these events. The member for Katherine mentioned sports tourism. One way to get movement of people between Katherine and Darwin for sporting events is by train. In fact, I had a phone call from a gentleman yesterday, a constituent who knows someone who deals in rolling stock, and he tells me that a good locomotive will cost you $1m and carriages will cost you $80 000. I don’t believe that is a price that is too high.
Mr Kiely: Start a business, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: Governments can help in this matter. This rolling stock is up to standard, all the brakes and the motors and the wheels and everything is all up to scratch. So you can buy stock now to put on our railway line, which would, I believe, be of great benefit to sport.
Katherine used to have a team in the NTFL. I used to umpire down there at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at the Katherine Rugby League ground because there wasn’t an Aussie Rules ground then. Playing Aussie rules on a square round is very interesting, by the way. Eventually, one of the reasons that Katherine pulled out of the NTFL was the travel, and it worked both ways; teams didn’t want to go down there and Katherine people didn’t want to come up. If you had a railway, people would arrive feeling pretty comfortable, and it is something we need to look at.
It is relevant to other matters like school sporting groups that want to come up to Darwin to compete and vice versa. Leading off from that, the member for Katherine mentioned sports tourism, and that would benefit by having a train. As I said, we could go to the Masters. Tennant Creek, I presume, still has its big lawn bowls competition. What an ideal way for older people to travel down to Tennant Creek for the big weekend there. It is the richest tournament in the Territory – I don’t know about Australia, but it is certainly the richest in the Territory. They have a darts competition at the same time. What better way than to go by train?
I noticed the minister spoke about administrators and volunteers, and I presume that includes umpires and referees. I appreciate the advertisements that are on television at present that say ‘Give them a fair go’. I know what the abuse is like. Sometimes it can be very personal. Admittedly, I am lucky. Because I getting older, I am doing the younger teams like the under 14s where you don’t suffer that abuse, generally speaking. People now know that kids that age want to enjoy their footy. They don’t need parents shouting abuse or coaches going off their tree. At least at that age, one does not quite get the level of abuse that comes with officiating further up the ladder. I have been to football matches where I was scared of umpiring. I have been bashed and I have been flattened and I have had my shirt torn. It does put you off wanting to umpire. In the policy, we should continue the government’s campaign with the AFL and the NTFL to give referees, umpires and officials a fair go.
There is one other area that we should look at in the policy. The member for Stuart mentioned about how someone had gone out with a grader and just made a football oval. There should be some effort put into helping people with turf or sporting oval management. It is an important area. I have been to some Aboriginal communities where, really, it is a wonder anyone comes off the ground with skin left on their bodies because there is not an ounce of grass on the oval. What we need is to train people in irrigation design, irrigation techniques, turf management and facilities management. They are all important because it is not just a matter of putting a football team out there; it is a matter of giving them a reasonable surface and reasonable facilities on which to play.
The better the facilities, the more likely you are to get people to play. The government’s $2.5m spent on Marrara, for instance, which is at the top end of the scale, was certainly well worth it. It is a beautiful ground to run on. For creaky knees, it is just lovely. For all the sport that is now played on it, football and cricket, it must be a beautiful surface on which to play.
We need to be keeping some money set aside for some of our smaller communities. I know that there is $300 000 for lights at the Nguiu Oval, but what we have to keep in perspective is although those big dollar amounts need to be spent on the big venues, we need to keep in mind the little clubs, the little venues, the cricket club with five or six people trying to get teams out each year who need a little bit of money, money for equipment, to make sure the oval is marked correctly so that the marker, if it breaks down, they have a bit of money to fix it up, if the fence is falling down, they need to repair that, or the goal posts needs painting. All those little things, even though they have lots of volunteers, we must ensure that the government gives these little groups adequate funding to keep going.
The process of giving out smaller funding is a good one. Previously, there was an effort to store up all the money until the election came and then give big hunks of money to people and that, of course, left other groups feeling a bit out of it and wondering why they were not part of it. Whilst I appreciate that the government has put an effort into upgrading some of our bigger venues, and that is important, let us not forget the small clubs and venues because if they are looking good and they are attractive, that will also help people come down. They do not want to go into change rooms that look like they have just been through Cyclone Tracy, or the toilets are not flushing or there is hardly a dribble of water out of the showers. You need reasonable facilities to encourage people to come to sport.
I welcome the minister’s statement. If I get some time, I would like to put some ideas into the discussion paper or comment on the discussion paper. The minister said it would be widely circulated and that is very important. I will be looking to make sure that all the sporting groups in my area, at least, have some idea that this discussion paper is out, so I will be keeping an eye out for it. When it is circulated, I hope the minister will tell the parliament, too, so that we can participate in circulating that discussion paper.
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I welcome the minister’s commitment to sport and to building a future for Territory sport. I am particularly happy to hear him announce that this is the beginning of the consultative process, and it is from here that he will be releasing a discussion paper. That will be open to consultation leading, in due time, towards the end of the year, to a comprehensive policy on sport in the Territory.
This is a great way to go because, as the member for Stuart rightly pointed out, since Self-Government, sport has been allowed to develop topsy-turvy, without any over-arching direction. We can see the sorts of issues that have arisen. We see the competitive bids put in through sports, we see parochialism in the sporting arenas without any solid commitment to joining together and looking at the best way to use facilities.
Facilities these days cost a lot more. It is not just running a grader around the back paddock and having a good time. You have multimillion dollar facilities at Marrara. That precinct, if you did a full accrual accounting exercise on it, I could not put a value on it at this stage, but it would have to run into the hundreds of millions. It is because of this that we do need an over-arching policy. We are not just playing with small dollars here; we are playing with quite a commitment to the community.
I agree with the member for Nelson who spoke about participation in sport and said let us not just look at the Top End of sport; let us also look at the communities and make sure that they are looked after because sport has many facets to it and these are the things that we have to address. Any over-arching sports policy must be equitable because sport transcends economic barriers. I was appalled by the member for Goyder’s position when he said ‘In my electorate, most people own their homes and most people pay taxes and most people want to see that money spent on their facilities and do not want to see others get by’. Let me say that the Labor government’s policy on sport will be a policy for elite sportsmen and how to become elite sportsmen; it will not be a policy about elite people playing sport! It will not be a policy for those people who can afford their horses for polocrosse, who can afford their race cars, who can jump in and be a pit boy down at the Finke. There are a lot of people in this community who cannot afford that; who will never be given the opportunity to get there. What our policy will encompass, I am quite sure, will be to give people the opportunities to become elite sportsmen should they have the capability, the capacity and the desire to get there. Our policy, I am hopeful, will help provide the framework for them get ahead.
Our policy will also be about the kids having a kick of the footy on the local oval. It will be about getting participation rates up in sport because that carries through the lifespan. It is important to understand that, when you talk about sport, you think about kids having a run with the ball or a game of hockey or team sports for kids. When you are a kid and you are playing, you are playing for the enjoyment of it, for the win, for the instant gratification. As you mature and enter adulthood, sport becomes a lot more than just having a run around a paddock with your mates. It is an investment in human capital. It is all about people, when they are getting past that teen stage, the great desire and need to win, to prove you are physically more capable and more skilled than the other person. It is all about doing it for lifestyle, to keep fit, for the social interactions that it brings.
When we talk about human capital, being involved in sport improves your health, your social commitment and your socialisation processes. It has a spin-off in productivity within the community. Studies have proven - I think in Hong Kong - that an active work force participating in sport has something like 25% less absenteeism. The member for Goyder mentioned companies, firms, the private ownership people putting in and sponsoring sport. They get it back because if you sponsor and you have a fit community that wants to participate, you will see a return to the workplace of increased productivity. That has to be a good thing.
When we talk about participation, we also have to look at barriers to participation, which are all around the place. This policy, I am sure, will address these issues. We must make sure, as I said about the elites and access to sport, that our sporting facilities and polices do encompass people with disabilities and areas of disadvantage. Sport is basically male dominated. We must make sure in our policy that we address the issue of female participation in sport. How can we go about that? We can go about it in a number of ways. We can make sure we have public transport to get to sporting facilities. We have to make sure we have lighting in the car parks and around the grounds. How many women do we now see at night time playing sport? Not as many as you see men. How many people do you see using these grounds in the evening light or leaving Marrara and walking out to the car park at night? It is very dark across all the sporting facilities. We have to look at making these areas safe for women who want to participate.
Lack of privacy is a huge problem on our sporting grounds. We have one public toilet or no showers. In Sanderson, it is a real problem for the kids. We have the tennis courts, but no toilets. It is okay for the boys who can go into the bushes and have a wee. What about the girls? Nothing! I was able to broker a deal with our high school and get the toilets opened. They are the sorts of things we must address in our policy. We must ensure that, when we have sporting facilities, we have ablution blocks and amenities. It is very important.
When we talk about an active society, which we will have the opportunity to become under Labor policy, I have research from the Sports Development Board in Hong Kong, which says that a recent survey of Hong Kong adults found that the average monthly medical costs for inactive adults was $302 compared with $228 active ones. I am quoting those figures just to show that inactive adults, those not participating, cost more than those who participate. The average monthly payment for medication was more for inactive adults compared to active adults. The monthly spending on health care insurance for inactive adults was once again higher, compared to active ones. These are pretty interesting figures and they illustrate why we need an over-arching sports policy and the benefits that will flow to society.
Those people who are not paying high taxes, like the member for Goyder, cannot afford things. Society is paying for it, anyway. So why not make it active, why not get it in there? We will see a saving to society. Maybe the member for Goyder can sell that one to his constituents. It is very important.
The member for Goyder worked from a false premise: this is going to bleed money from all these hard working, high tax paying people he represents. Let me just go into the economics because the area sports policy in the Northern Territory that is often neglected or ignored is a link between sporting activity and the economy. In the last two weeks, Darwin hosted two major national sporting events: the NBL clash between the Brisbane Bullets and the Perth Wildcats, and the Wizard Cup match between the Bombers and the Dockers. Both were extraordinary successes with a sell out crowd of 1500 for the basketball and 13 196 paying people attending the footy. Later in the year, we will be hosting further national and international events. We have the Imparja Cup in Alice Springs in February-March, the AFL football in Alice Springs in March, the V8 Supercars event in May, international cricket with Sri Lanka in June and July, a four nations women’s hockey tournament in June, Commonwealth Bank Cup netball clashes between the Australian Institute of Sport, the Canberra Darters and the Queensland Firebirds in June, an international men’s hockey match in July, the AFL clash between the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in August, and the Alice Springs Masters Games in October.
The Martin Labor government has totally transformed the economic importance of sport in the Territory economy. With the exception of the V8s and Arafura and Masters Games, all of the above government sponsored events have been the result of the innovation and commitment of this government. These events have obvious benefits to the community, especially the sporting community, including participants and attendees. The economic benefits are of great significance. The first ball bowled in the Sri Lanka test on 1 July, Territory Self-Government Day by coincidence, will be witnessed by millions throughout the world. It is the kind of advertising the Northern Territory could not buy and, as the international cricket did last year, will focus attention on the NT as a tourist destination.
Last year, my friends and colleagues received phone calls from people envious of our glorious weather compared to the freezing climes down south or the polluted skies overseas. When I phoned my brother, and I was standing out there and watching and telling him what a day it was, he was fairly envious. All that came to mind was a poem by Henry Lawson, but I won’t go into that here.
Drill deeper and direct benefits can be calculated for the Northern Territory economy from sports events. For example, every time an AFL side comes to town, they bring with them an entourage of 55 people, not to mention the fans who follow their sides to the NT. This translates into hotel rooms, meals in restaurants, tour packages, souvenir buying and post match drinks in pubs and bars.
In team sports alone this year we will host over 1000 players, coaches, and other officials in Alice Springs and Darwin, representing over 5000 visitor nights, and that does not count the fans who travel, both as internal NT visitors and interstate and overseas arrivals. Further, over 3000 competitors will hit Alice Springs this year for the Masters Games in October. The last games, held in 2002, were conservatively estimated to being worth over $7m to the local economy. An cumulative audience of 43 227 people attended last years V8 championships with an economic impact study on that event due to be completed shortly by KPMG.
International research into the value of sports tourism is in its infancy. A number of researchers have cautioned against deflating the value of sports events to the economy, but nevertheless, identifying sports tourism is an increasingly important component, as the member for Katherine noted, especially for regional economies like the Northern Territory.
Donald Getz, a lecturer in tourism at the University of Calgary, in a 1990 book entitled Festivals, Special Events and Tourism, identified six reasons why cities and regions bid to hold events:
to attract people into the area;
In his later works Getz outlines how major sporting events can assist in community development and enhance the host community’s way of life, economy and the environment. That sums up the innovative approach taken by this government to sports. We are looking at it holistically.
The events we have sponsored do not have no outcomes, but ones from which the whole community can benefit. None of this, of course, happens in a vacuum. The level of direct and indirect employment in the sports industry in the Northern Territory is significant for a small economy such as ours. In addition to the hard working staffers in the Office of Sport and Recreation, we can add sports and recreation officers employed by municipal and community government councils, full-time and full-time equivalent employees of the Northern Territory’s sporting peak bodies, physical education teachers working in the public and private education sectors, employees of sporting clubs including ground staff, hospitality workers, coaches and officials, operators and staff of privately owned sporting facilities including professional coaches, operators and staff of sporting goods supply stores, sports physios, trophy stores, and the list goes on. It must number in the hundreds.
To this, we must add the casual and part-time employment offered by the major events themselves including hospitality workers and security services. An estimated $7m a year is spent in construction, repair and maintenance of sporting facilities and this feeds directly into employment in a variety of trades and industries. Sport and recreation is big business for the Territory and it has been a deliberate part of this government’s strategy to increase the value of sports to the economy and move the Territory forward.
I look forward, for example, to the capacity of the new Darwin convention centre to stage major sporting events such as NBL games. I am informed that last week’s Wildcat game was a sell out and we could have sold tickets three times over. I am also informed that a 3000-4000 seating capacity at the convention centre would give the Territory the capacity to field its own side in the NBL and that the Wildcat’s co-owner Andrew Vlahov, has raised this matter with the Office of Territory Development with respect to the design of the centre.
This brings me to another aspect: the social income of sport and leisure is huge. In Australia, it is in the billions. In the Territory, it must be up around a billion if we add everything in. It is substantial and goes right across the community in terms of economic opportunity for all.
While I was researching my contribution to this debate, I came across a group called Business in Sport and Leisure. This is a British initiative. This information has been around for quite some time and was either overlooked or neglected by the previous governments - perhaps they just weren’t cluey enough to realise that sport is worth a lot more.
Mr McAdam: Weren’t active enough.
Mr KIELY: Weren’t active enough, that is right, member for Barkly. I will give you an idea of what this group does because when we look at how we are going and the impact that sport and leisure has on the Territory economy, a group such as this might be worth considering. They say:
Sport and leisure …
and I like the term leisure because it takes in things like bridge clubs who are having a hell of a time getting funding as I understand it because they don’t quite fit that recreation mould.
And we can read into that the Territory economy:
You can see that by scoping down, while the figures are enormous for the Territory, the same rules apply. Business in Sport and Leisure aims to act as a catalyst for change by lobbying government ministers, MPs, civil servants and media, and has three strategic aims and objectives: to improve the regulatory framework and influence formal policies and plans that affect the industry’s operation and its continued growth and improvement; to improve public awareness of the hospitality, sport and leisure industry’s economic importance and status; to provide an active forum for members to share best practice knowledge and resources; and to debate policies.
The member for Goyder talked about all the money going out and how much it cost. It is very difficult for any government, look at the Sydney Olympics, to find $5m or $6m to build a stadium, then to provide recurrent funding, and provide the operational costs. So perhaps you do have to look at some private-public partnership schemes because there is not the money in government these days to be building huge, one-off sporting edifices, and there have to be other ways around it. A peak body like this may well be something to consider.
BSL, which is the acronym for Business in Sport and Leisure, began as a lobby group 1987. They operate publicly and privately to raise the profile of sport and leisure. They look at property and land use planning. In the Territory’s way of doing business, I would see organisations such as AHA and the Chamber of Commerce being members as well as the peak sporting bodies. I see us all coming together and working in partnership with government to create major facilities.
Mr BONSON: Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I move for an extension of time to allow the honourable member to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr KIELY: Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy Speaker. Such a group could work well to ensure that in the future, we do have the facilities. We have a great facility in the Australian Rules oval at Marrara Stadium. It was neglected, but this government, under the guidance of this sports minister, put $2.5m in there, and look at the returns it is bringing. What of the league and union fields? What of all the empty paddocks there? What of the proposal to build an aquatic centre? Where is the money for that aquatic centre going to come from? How is it going to be funded in future? How is the ongoing fund going to come? Is there a population base? We need to apply different thought processes to bring our sporting facilities into the 21st Century.
Existing policies, this ad hoc approach, have to go and will go under this government. I am looking forward to where the minister will lead us. When I talk about the need for business and sports to work in harmony and partnership, you do not have to look any further than the Darwin Golf Club. There is a group that is making sure its sport is funded. How are they doing it? They are not coming to government cap in hand saying: ‘Bail us out’. They are progressing a business arm of the club and looking at their green-keeping capabilities and seeing what income can be derived from that stream. By doing that, they are able to create more employment for people in the community, sustain the club and keep a cap on membership fees. This is the way that we will end up going in the future. Everything is costing more. We have to be smarter. We have to look at joint partnership between business, government and sporting enterprises. I believe we have to go looking at multiple use of facilities.
The parochialism of a number of our sporting groups has to come to an end. If we, as a community, wish to provide great facilities for all the people who live here and give everyone the same opportunity to progress to the elite level, there are huge savings to be made for the community, not only to the individual in health comes and productivity gains in workplace. The minister touched on the aspect of positive reinforcement with our youth, and how good sporting programs invariably bring down rates of juvenile antisocial behaviour that can lead to breaches of the Criminal Code.
I am keen to participate in progressing the discussion paper as well as helping formulate the policy. Everyone has been showing their colours; the older folk amongst us who can go to the Masters Games, I had a run in Super Rules late last year. I was more qualified for orange man rather than playing in the back pocket. I got a run on Marrara, I must say, which nearly killed me. However, if the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Justice and Central Australia are going down to participate, they are both older than me, it would be remiss of me not to put my hand up and say that if the Super Rules blokes will have me, I will have to go down in whatever capacity they can find for me on the team.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I support the Building a Future for Territory Sport statement delivered by the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Recognition must be given to the minister because, as we have heard in the statement, what has been happening over the last 12 months and what we can look forward to over the next 12 months, there has been a lot achieved during his tenure, and I will highlight many of those achievements.
Obviously, as a person who has a background in sport - Rugby League, Aussie Rules, darts and other sports – the minister has been able to really galvanise the government into saying: ‘Let us make a commitment to sport’. That commitment is evident in some of the achievements mentioned in the statement. That cannot be underestimated. As anyone knows, through the Cabinet and budget processes, you must win the support of you colleagues for what you want to achieve and demonstrate the benefits to the community by spending funds and allocating resources to sport and recreation.
Participation rates in sport and recreation in the NT is the highest in the whole of Australia and is very competitive internationally. Participation, to me, is the key to what sport and recreation is about. At the end of the day, a small minority of elite athletes will make it to the top level where they will make a living out of sport. Unfortunately, the other 98% or 99% of all athletes engage in their sport for reasons other than trying to make a living out of it. One of them, of course, is physical fitness, the ability to mix and mingle, to test yourself to a level, to keep fit and healthy and, in general, to participate in the community as a whole.
Sport is very important to Territory community, and to me. My grandfather played in the first football teams at the turn of the last century. As basketball developed over the last 60 to 70 years, and Rugby League etcetera, my family has been involved. I really did not have a choice; I was brought up in a sporting family in a remote location in Australia where sport was seen as an avenue for people to achieve or to gain opportunities, whether it was in the work force or the general community. I believe in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang, body and mind: you cannot have a healthy mind unless you have a healthy body and you cannot have a healthy body unless you have a healthy mind. You have to find the right balance, and if you can, you will lead a successful life.
Sport gives people many opportunities. Some of the things that sport gave me, and no doubt other people in this House, are leadership skills, people skills, life skills, social skills, management skills, job opportunities, cultural and lifestyle skills. Anyone who goes to a sporting field, for example the touch rugby or the Darwin Basketball Association or the AFLNT, you will see people from different backgrounds, races, cultures, religions and sexes playing sport. There are no rules about sport; you find your own level. You will play at the elite level in Darwin if that is what you are capable of doing, and if you are capable of achieving more then you will go on further. However, if you are like many of us, you find your level two or three steps down and that is where you play.
I have been a player, coach and committee person in rugby league, basketball, Australian Rules football, soccer and touch rugby. In those environments, I met many different people because different people play different sports. The question is: why does the Northern Territory have the highest sport participation rate in the nation? The simple lies in our history, which is about remoteness, entertainment and social activity for the young, the old and families.
You can find activities in other endeavours. It might be a religious faith or academic pursuit, but for many people, Yin and Yang leads people to be physically fit. So in places like Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, the remoteness and need for entertainment - and you have to think before the times of television – led to the community getting together on the sporting field. In the history of this nation, one must think about different relationships. One of the places where people were treated equally was always on the sporting field, although there are many stories, for people who know the history of sport in Darwin, of instances of discrimination.
If you wanted to have an 18 on 18 football competition, you were going to play with a black, white, Greek, German and Asian person to make those numbers work. Afterwards, you might have a social drink or go to a dance, mix and mingle and you get job opportunities. For many people, it was an opportunity to test themselves and to gain access.
Today, I use the example of Galiwinku. Many people in the northern suburbs of Darwin would not know that there is a fantastic football competition going on out there. The whole community turns out. There is music blaring, cheer leaders and full-on competition happening out there. Many people would know about Melville and Bathurst Islands footballers and understand that football is part of their culture.
The Nhulunbuy competition is flying, and then there is the community competition in Alice Springs. I was amazed to go down to the CAFL grand final to see South’s and Pioneers play. There would have been 3000 or 4000 people there and, without exaggeration, 90% of the people at that oval were from an indigenous background. I thought to myself: ‘I’ve been hearing a lot of stories about this community competition’. Apparently on a Saturday, they have a community comp with Hermannsburg, Santa Theresa and all the surrounding indigenous communities playing. They are averaging 2000-3000 people. This is more than what we average here for AFLNT over a whole weekend. These people are paying up their admission fee and they are basically keeping their competition going and the CAFL.
When I was watching this grand final, there were grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, nieces, daughters, kids, everyone coming together as a community to watch this football game. I thought: ‘Gee, this really means something to these two communities’ and it was fantastic to watch them live out their dream by playing in a grand final.
This is my background, obviously, and where the minister comes from. He has introduced both the 2003 Junior Sports Plan and this plan for the future or sport in the Territory. These two documents are formed around the ideal of participation and recognition of volunteers, elite sporting bodies, participants and the importance of the role that they play in encouraging participation in sport.
What I found amazing, coming into office, is that when you consider the impact of sport in the Territory, if you know the history of sport in the Territory, it is amazing to think that after 25 years of Self-Government, the NT does not have a formal over-arching sports policy. I congratulate the minister because he will be undertaking an extensive consultation process to develop the first comprehensive NT sports and recreation policy.
I look forward to the release of the discussion paper and, again, I applaud the concept of the consultation process going out to the wider community. I will be responding to the discussion paper. Governing bodies will obviously be responding, too, but I look forward to responses from the volunteer who turns up on a Saturday or Sunday, runs the water, does the strapping, coaching adding their two cents’ worth.
I welcome the notion of lifelong participation. To me, that is the key. At the end of the day, the bottom line is that 98% or 99% of us will not make a living out of elite sport, but we need to stay active in our community and the reason is to be fit, to get the skills that you get from sport - leadership, management and social.
The concept of better access is a key issue. Many people are limited by their access to sporting facilities and therefore they do not have an opportunity to try different sports. This is a key issue to the plan.
Sport builds better skills, not just sporting skills, but a range of others. There is fund raising, coaching and teaching people that there is more to sport than just the attempt to play the game itself. We will also look at better services and facilities. The $12m spent on infrastructure in the Northern Territory is a fantastic barometer for measuring the minister’s success.
The plan includes better pathways, better planning, better events and better governance, and obviously governance is an issue for all sporting bodies. One of my views in respect of better governance is that we are putting too much pressure on these small community groups - the presidents, the committee, the coaches, etcetera - to try and do something that they cannot because many of them have to work to make a living, and they are donate their spare time to the sport as a coach, player, committee person, fund raiser, etcetera. They need better support from the governing bodies and I look forward to putting that in to my submission.
The reason we should be investing resources in sport is better health outcomes. The more time you are training to get physically fit, the less time you are doing things that might be detrimental to your body, whether it is smoking cigarettes or drinking too much alcohol, or whatever it might be. There is an issue about health as well as sport and recreation. We can never underestimate the effect it has on people’s mental and physical health.
The international cricket match against Bangladesh, how big was that? We had an opportunity to see Steve Waugh play, one of the greats of cricket. I was watching a show on the ABC, a sports lover’s show called The Fat. They have a special guest called Kerry O’Keefe. It is a bit of a hip show for the younger generation to watch and they discuss a variety of different issues, and they bag people and make fun of people. They also boom up athletes. They were criticising the international cricket game between Australia and Bangladesh. They were saying that it was a waste of time, that it should not have been held. Then a person called Kerry O’Keefe, who played a few games for Australia in the 1970s, said: ‘Hang on a minute,’ and anyone who knows Kerry O’Keefe will know he is quite a funny character. He said: ‘The only time in Australia that you will be able to play competitive international cricket, or first class cricket between June and July will be in Darwin because in the southern states, it will be winter and you would not be able to play’. He said that you will see one day the West Indies come here, you will see England come here, you will see India, Pakistan, South Africa. Next year, we will see Sri Lanka here.
The reality is that we will see these big teams like West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan and England, coming to play here, and that will put Darwin on the map. It is a fantastic achievement. I know for a fact that we will get thousands of Sri Lankans coming to the Northern Territory to watch cricket. It will be a tourism boon; it cannot be denied. It will be a great contest. Cricket is going to be huge in the Territory. I can imagine from the northern suburbs or the remote areas of the Northern Territory the next fast bowler or the next great batsmen coming out to represent Australia.
Recently, we were able to watch Essendon play Fremantle. That was a fantastic achievement. All the work done at Marrara, all the pressure of getting the grass down and the argy-bargy about whether it was worth the investment, something like 13 000 people turned up to watch the game and they saw first class footy. It was a fantastic game of football. We will be seeing Western Bulldogs come to the NT until 2006. They will be playing for premiership points, they will be fighting for the finals. If they play a team like Port Adelaide, what we will see is Port Adelaide fighting for a top four position, and the Western Bulldogs fighting for the top eight. So we will see a level of intensity of football that we have never seen here before at a time of year when the weather in Darwin is conducive to the highest level of football.
We will have the Aboriginal Allstars matches until 2007. I have done a bit of research and found an amazing statistic. Comparing the black American population to the Australian Aboriginal population - this is sourced from the 2000 US Census the Australian Bureau of Statistics - the American population is 281 421 906, of whom 36 million are black Americans, which represents 13% of the population. The Australian population is 20 560 925, with an Aboriginal population of 460 140 or about 2.4%. When we compare these two population ratios - remembering that on average, in every AFL team there are about five indigenous players and each AFL team has 40 players on their primary list, there are 16 teams, so that is 640 players. Of those 640, and it is just an estimation, there are about 80 players who identify as indigenous Australians. Black Americans represents 13% of the total population but the NBA, NFL and baseball are all dominated by black American athletes. If the population of indigenous Australians is roughly the same as that of black Americans …
Ms LAWRIE: Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that an extension of time be granted as would allow the member to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr BONSON: … you will have multiply by six. What we would get us is that every player playing in the AFL would be an indigenous Australian. Of course, we are never going to get to that level where the percentages are like that. However, what I am trying to illustrate is that the Aboriginal Allstars game is an important showcase for the achievements of indigenous athletes.
Rugby League is another sport where Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal Australians feature strongly. The statistics are even stronger to show that the population percentage was the same as black Americans, every player playing in the NRL would be of Aboriginal or Islander descent.
This directly related to what I have seen on sporting fields in the NT: there is a high proportion of indigenous people playing sport in the Northern Territory. They focus on certain sports, but the reality is that indigenous people are attracted to these sports because there is acceptance of their achievements if they are successful. You can go through the family names that have great track records: the Motlops, Ah Mats, MacLeans, Ah Kits, Longs - you could go on and on and on about families that have been successful at their sport, and this is reflected in the fact that they have been able to get job opportunities and, out of those job opportunities, they have been able to lead healthier lifestyles. The pride they have from their achievements has provided success in the wider community.
I look forward to the annual pre-season challenge match, the Community Cup, to be held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
The Netball Association in the Northern Territory has visited me a number of times in relation to attracting interstate and international sporting opponents. I look forward to Netball Australia holding Commonwealth Bank Trophy matches this year in Darwin. I understand that netball has the highest participation rate in Australia, so we should get behind netball, and the member for Sanderson picked up on that.
I know there is an issue in sport about sponsorship dollars and access to facilities and grants etcetera. I am a great believe in how the American college system works, which is equity scholarships. For every male scholarship that a university provides, there has to be a female counterpart so if there are 50 gridiron scholarships handed out to men, there must be 50 scholarships for women. This is something that we should be looking at in the Northern Territory and Australia generally. Again, I applaud the minister’s attempt to ensure the Commonwealth Bank Trophy for the next three years. This is a fantastic effort and should be fully supported by this House.
Hockey Australia is having a Four Nations tournament. We are talking about the best players in the world: Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Of the millions and millions of people who live in the world, we will be seeing the best hockey players. This is fantastic. Vodaphone Hockey Centre at Marrara recently had synthetic turf replaced, which maintains the international standard of surface required for tournaments of this nature. We also have the opportunity to watch Australia play South Korea in July, which is magnificent.
I have been a great supporter of basketball all my life. It was a partnership between the NT government and DBA that led to the new basketball stadium after 25 years of people playing on concrete; to go to wooden, sprung courts is a fantastic achievement. It was a great day when the minister opened the basketball courts. There are fewer injuries and the standard of basketball is improving. We had the Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets play. Unfortunately, after buying tickets, I was unable to attend due to our commitments in Parliament House.
The minister spoke about achievements in Alice Springs and the Finke Desert Race, the $2m to Palmerston Magpies, the $7m for the multifunction recreation centre in Palmerston. These are all major achievements. There is $300 000 for the Stanley Tipiloura Oval at Bathurst Island. This $300 000 will be bricks and mortar and it will change peoples’ lifestyles. It will affect people in a positive way. The $500 000 for the Katherine sports ground where they play soccer, tennis, rugby union, league, basketball, softball, little athletics, cricket and AFL, as a result of the Katherine Regional Development Plan is fantastic. I am too young to qualify for the Alice Springs Masters Games, but as soon as I am old enough, I will go. The NTIS runs a fantastic program and needs to be supported. The Grassroots Program sees 35 grants given to community groups around the Northern Territory. Again, the minister should be congratulated for the Northern Territory Sports Plan. Out of that work came the booklet entitled Little Sports and I encourage everyone to read it. It is a magnificent production.
I know that soccer people, whether they are the Hellenic coach or the Olympic coach, they are looking forward to plans that the minister and government have for soccer. This includes an independent review to examine the development of soccer linked to outcomes of the national review of soccer. That saw an additional $500 000 in 2003-04 through the grants program, fantastic. Subject to soccer accepting and implementing the review recommendations is the development of a $5m home ground for soccer at Marrara.
People are interested in all sports, whether it is the coaches of the Eagles, Mark Motlop, the Tigers, Michael MacLean, Jeff Larson from Eagles basketball, another Michael MacLean from Tracy Village, the NT Hockey coach, Ingvar Dyrting, the presence of the AFL and NTFL, whether it is Brian Hood, Greg Woodroofe, Vic Ludwig, they are all interested in sport. Rugby league –Stem Edwards and the coach of the Nightcliff Dragons, Kane Bonson or whether it is the Brothers coach, Malcolm Hanser, rugby union whether it is the coach of Nightcliff Dragons, the premiership team Peter Maher, people interested in sports. They are all from different backgrounds, all from different races and cultures.
I commend this statement to the House and I look forward to contributing to the plan of the future.
Mr AH KIT (Sport and Recreation): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I thank honourable members for their contributions. I welcome their comments and support for my statement on sport and its contribution to the Northern Territory.
I would like to take the opportunity to comment on issues raised by the member for Goyder. I thank the member for providing one of the more shambolic and rambling responses I have ever heard. The member had clearly done no research or applied any serious thought to his response. At one stage, he skited that the CLP will have a sports policy, and I would like to see that. They were in government for 27 years and did not have a sports policy. Now they are in opposition, they have discovered the advantages of policy by media release, which is classic policy on the run, and we have seen a bit of that over the past week.
On the other hand, we have called for a single over-arching plan. We are looking at a plan that indeed reaches into every corner of the Territory and is tailored to the different needs of different communities and sports in different regions of the Territory. I have no idea what the member for Goyder is talking about with respect to the member for Wanguri; he was there with his kids at the Bombers vs Dockers game last Friday night and loves his footy. His major fault is that he is a lunatic St Kilda supporter. I can tell you that he is also a mad soccer fanatic, along with his kids, as evidenced by his many representations to me on behalf of that code.
Regarding grants, the member for Goyder does not appear to understand the current transparent system of how money is distributed. This is probably due to the fact that he has never sought a briefing. In the current financial year, 2003-04, we introduced an outcome-based funding model. The option of applying for annual or triennial funding was made available for the first time. This means that organisations can manage their business operations, undertake projects and service members with certainty of government support for the next three years. This model was well received as a sounder way of spreading limited resources.
A variety of assessment tools were used to prepare funding recommendations with each application ranked against the capacity of the organisation to manage funding, achieve the proposed output and the viability and merit of the program or project. Ultimately, this process is linked to budgetary considerations. Might I mention that the member for Goyder has been the shadow minister for sport for some time now, and he has still not sought a briefing on any sport and recreation issue, yet he continues to raise only those issues that he feels are relevant to his electorate.
I understand that there are over 40 different user groups at Freds Pass Reserve. I have provided much-need assistance for the running of the Litchfield Gift. In fact, I have secured funding for the Junior Gift for the next two years. On 25 March 2003, I approved payment of a grant of $4000 to the Freds Pass Management Board to put together a 10 year development plan for the complex. I understand this plan is currently being developed. As yet, we have received no formal applications for any capital works projects identified as part of the plan. I know that a container shed has been gifted by my colleague, the former Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, minister Kon Vatskalis, from the wharf area. In fact, I had representations from Bob Shewring and Andrew Blackadder, and it was on my approach minister Vatskalis at the time that we gifted that building from the wharf precinct area to Freds Pass.
I am advised that the management board plans to split the shed, with one part to become an indoor stadium, the other an indoor equestrian centre. I believe that some height modifications are required to enable international standard competitions in the first part of the shed, and will add a further $85 000 to relocation costs. I understand that Litchfield Shire Council had agreed in principle to assist the removal during this current financial year, but they changed their mind owing to other priorities. A subsequent proposal for $500 000 over three years has apparently been endorsed. I am in discussions with management board representatives, Mr Andrew Blackadder and Mr Bob Shewring, about the ways of overcoming current funding issues so that a more immediate solution can be found.
Members may also recall that as part of my three point plan for soccer, I announced that $500 000 would be available for junior soccer facility upgrades across the Territory. I understand that the Freds Pass Management Board is submitting an application in conjunction with the Litchfield Soccer Club for improvements to soccer facilities at Freds Pass Reserve. An establishment grant of $5000 in 2001-02 was provided to get the fledgling Litchfield Soccer Club off the ground. Paul Scott, who I understand is the driving force behind the club, won an award at the 2003 Sports Awards.
The member for Goyder clearly knows nothing about his shadow portfolio, especially soccer. Indeed, the review into soccer, which is currently being finalised, was fully and enthusiastically supported by his predecessor, the now Leader of the Opposition. He supported the review specifically so the code of soccer could be backed by a decent vision, one that would be reflective of the reorganisation of that sport nationally. His predecessor, the Leader of the Opposition, was in constant touch with my office for formal and informal briefings. The member for Goyder has not sought a single briefing on anything to do with sport, to his great shame.
Might I add, when he made some comments in regards to funding going into the bush and to remote areas, he speaks in code, because I am offended that he is having a shot at indigenous people benefiting from sport and recreation dollars. I know he speaks in code because I have seen …
Mr Henderson: Dog whistling
Mr AH KIT: Well, that is what they call it, dog whistling. I have seen in the Litchfield Times where he has complained about our government spending some $400 000 on the Bagot Community for beautification projects. It is this type of thing, God help the Northern Territory if he were to become the Minister for Sport and Recreation or, for that matter, a minister full stop. We can quickly gather from the way he would handle his portfolio responsibilities that it is everything for his electorate and nothing for anyone else. It is to his great shame that he continues, as was pointed out, to dog whistle.
While I am on soccer, I should also note that my department is currently discussing infrastructure needs for Borroloola, Alice Springs and the Bagot oval in regards to how this fund can be best used. My department has also assisted in the re-establishment of the Sports Advisory Group in Tennant Creek, which is looking at future facilities in sport and recreation development in Tennant Creek, especially in relation to Perkiss Reserve.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, as you can see, I am certainly interested in the needs of our rural and regional sportsmen, women and children. It is important that we continue to work with the appropriate bodies and representatives to ensure that rural and regional groups receive their share of infrastructure development and support for sport in their areas.
The member for Goyder also mentioned the Northern Territory Institute of Sport in his woeful contribution. The government has continued to support the institute and people like Raphael Clarke who is now with St Kilda, to the excitement of the member for Wanguri, and Ken Skewes are great products of the NTIS and an example of the institute’s success. Raphael came through the Territory Thunder institute program and Kenny came from the rural area, has really achieved in cricket through the NTIS and has represented Australia. If the member for Goyder had bothered to ask for a briefing on the NTIS, he would know that current changes to many of the programs at the institute from a team base to their current format as a squad has allowed many young athletes to enjoy the benefits of an NTIS scholarship without the need to relocate to Darwin, a much better result for our kids.
I thank the member for Katherine for her contribution to this debate. The door is always open for her if she wants briefings. In fact, the member for Katherine shows far more knowledge about sport in her region than the member for Goyder. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should consider giving her the portfolio given that she demonstrates that she has the ability to do some real research and put papers together for responses to debates in this House.
There appears to have been a misunderstanding, however, with some of the member for Katherine’s about our support for sport and recreation in Katherine. I assure the member that Katherine is important, and we are spending money there. I take the liberty of quickly repeating a paragraph from my statement:
Further, we have provided a special assistance grant worth $1000 to the Katherine Town Council in the current financial year for the concept design of a multipurpose skate park. The member should speak with her local council, as all good local members should. Then she would not come into this House and make misleading statements.
In response to the member’s concerns about youth issues in her electorate, I advise that government is to make available $200 000, working through the Community Harmony Group, to address this issue. I also assure her, as I have the member for Goyder, that it is possible to have an over-arching strategy. It may be too hard for the CLP, which believes in policy by media release and this policy on the run business, but do not worry: our government will roll up its sleeves and do this work.
I thank the member for Nelson for his contribution, specifically his comments on the necessity to consider elderly participants in sport and recreation. It is something in which we are interested. Government will take his comments on board and we look forward to his contributions once we develop and release the discussion paper. As I said in my statement, I look forward to consulting widely and, hopefully, launching the policy by the end of the year.
Last year, government had a function to thank officials as a part of the International Year of the Official. This was such a success that I will be doing it again this year. Further, my Office of Sport and Recreation will run a ‘thank the official’ campaign.
I pick up on a previous comment by the member for Nelson regarding the taking of food and drink into the Marrara Oval during the recent NT versus Western Bulldogs representative game. I took the liberty of checking with AFLNT who, as the leaseholders of the oval, are the body responsible for issues of access. I am informed that the incident noted by the member for Nelson has been attributed to the actions of an ill-informed and overzealous security guard. Barring of food and soft drink is not AFLNT policy. These actions were quickly brought to the attention of the AFLNT management who quickly stepped in to rectify the situation.
To I thank those government members who took part in the debate for their considered contributions. I thank the member for Stuart for his comprehensive and thoughtful response; he covered many aspects of sport and recreation in Central Australia. I know for a fact that my colleague, the honourable Peter Toyne MLA, not only participated in athletics in the 2002 Alice Springs Masters Games but won two of his events: he won the long jump with a jump of 4.8 m and he took first place in the 100 m with a time of 13.5 seconds. I will not give away secrets by telling you what age group he competed in, but I can tell you he remains undefeated in the 40 to 45 years men’s 100 m sprint with an amazing time of 11.83 seconds from the first Masters Games in 1986. This shows a great commitment from the member for Stuart. It would also be fantastic to see all members participate in 2004. As such, I have with me a number of registration forms to table and hope that all members consider signing up to at least one event.
The member for Sanderson made a sensible contribution to the debate. His thoughts on sports and economics are interesting and are being considered by government.
Finally, I thank the member for Millner, who is an active participant in sport and his family is widely recognised for their sporting efforts, for his support for the great events that we attracted to the Territory.
In summary, I sincerely thank those Territorians involved in the sports industry for their support, their tireless and often thankless work. I thank honourable members for their comments and support of the statement.
Motion agreed; statement noted.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
I wish to pay tribute to renowned activist for East Timorese independence, Dr Andrew McNaughton, who died at his home in Sydney last Christmas.
In my unsuccessful campaign to win the seat of Nightcliff in 1994, I met Andrew whilst door knocking the electorate. Andrew lived just down the road from me, I did not know him at the time, in Vaughton Place in Rapid Creek. This particular afternoon when I knocked on Andrew’s door and met him for the first time, he invited me in and sought to engage me on the struggle of the East Timorese for independence. That door knock lasted for about an hour and a half. I left Andrew’s home in Vaughton Place with a detailed report of his time in East Timor as a doctor in various provinces, which documented allegations of abuse and repression of the East Timorese people.
From that first contact, I met Andrew on many occasions, speaking with him over the fence, down at the Rossiter Street shop and I came to know him very well. He left a significant impression on my life, particularly sparking my interest in the struggle of the East Timorese for their independence in a more detailed way than I had followed the debate before.
Andrew McNaughton’s contribution to East Timor’s freedom and independence is incalculable. He grew up in Sydney, did a trade course in welding and later became an accomplished motorbike road racer. Later, in 1975, he studied medicine at the University of New South Wales where he first became aware of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. However, it was not until after the Dili massacre of November 1991 that he was galvanised into the political activism that became the hallmark of the remainder of his life.
Andrew came north to the Territory and was resident here for five years between 1992 and 1996, using his houses in Ludmilla and then Rapid Creek as an unofficial headquarters for the activist group he joined at the time, Australians For A Free East Timor. His time the Territory was spent participating in demonstrations and actions as well as a steady stream of letter writing activity. Whilst living in Darwin, during the Australia Remembers: 1945-1995 commemorative year, Andrew organised an exhibition of World War II photos that showed the closeness between the East Timorese people and Australian commandos fighting against Japanese Imperialism. He made many copies of these photos and they were exhibited around the world, including in Japan.
Andrew then took Darwin Timorese Tony Maia and Veronica Pereira to Japan to give evidence before hearings investigating the Japanese occupation of East Timor, amongst other places.
When his mother fell terminally ill, Andrew moved to Sydney to be with her. Whilst there, he became convenor of AETA, the Australian East Timor Association of New South Wales, and continued his furious schedule of lobbying on behalf of East Timorese people.
It was at this time that Andrew began making visits to East Timor, under Indonesian jurisdiction, usually carrying a video camera he used to monitor student street actions and the like, as well as interviewing locals who had stories to tell about the Indonesian occupation. At least once, he left the camera behind for East Timorese activists to use in documenting their struggle. These visits were often facilitated by Maria de Ceu Federer, now President of Timor Aid and Juan Federer, who originally set up Timor Aid. Andrew’s film of student activists travelling around the country to encourage people to take part in the elections is an important part of the East Timorese historical record. This film was shot under the guard of the Indonesian Army.
In late August 1999, Andrew McNaughton, along with Jude Conway and Sally Anne Watson were detained and deported by the Indonesian military for helping to promote the coming UN election. Before INTERFET arrived in East Timor, Andrew was making pioneering trips with Timor Aid, especially to the western boarder regions, documenting human rights abuses by the Indonesian Army.
On 30 December 2003, a memorial service was held in Dili to pay tribute to Dr Andrew McNaughton and his dedication and commitment to the independence of East Timor. The service was held at the Santa Cruz Cemetery. Friends, activists and government officials were present. Ceo Federer delivered the oration but many spoke of their memories of Andrew including Tau Matan Ruak, the Chief of Staff of FDFL, who took the opportunity to remember Andrew by saying:
The last time I met Andrew McNaughton was on the occasion when the Chief Minister and I were very proud were to be in Dili for the first sitting of the newly independent East Timorese Parliament. I didn’t know that Andrew was going to be there, and it was wonderful to see that the struggle that he had carved out a lot of his life for had finally borne fruit; to see the Indonesian-free Parliament sit for the first day was a source of enormous pride and relief for Andrew McNaughton.
Much of the information contained here has been provided by a very well known Darwin Timor activist, Rob Wesley-Smith, and I thank him for it. I would like to close with some of Rob’s own words about his mate Andrew McNaughton:
After eight weeks in intensive care, he received a heart transplant on Christmas Eve 2002. He has told me it was one of the best Christmas presents he has ever had or is likely to receive, and John has recently passed the first anniversary of his heart transplant, ‘my first birthday’, as he put it. Only last week, he completed the last of the major health tests associated with a heart transplant and the recovery regime. He says it is great to be alive and puts his recovery down to three main factors: the terrific care and skill of the medical profession that kept him alive when he had no right to be; the support he and his family received from friends, workmates and his employer Telstra, and particularly Danny Honan, good on you; and, most importantly, the organ donation that made it all possible in the first place.
The call from me, as local member, tonight to all members of this House is to really think about how we, as members of parliament, can promote organ donation to our constituents. My constituent has his life, thanks to a donor, and it was absolutely fantastic to sit and have a coffee with John outside my electorate office a few weeks ago. It is quite a humbling and somewhat strange experience to be sitting talking to a man who, by all circumstances, should be dead, and for him to have another human being’s heart in his body pumping the blood around and keeping him alive, I must admit is a very strange circumstance. Sitting there that day talking to John and seeing how he had changed as an individual, from somebody who was totally passionately committed to his work to somebody who has stared death in the face and is so much more relaxed about life and focussed on the real meaning of life, which is family and friends. It was an amazing experience with an amazing man.
In light of all the media at the moment about David Hookes and his family’s decision on behalf of a great cricketer to make his organs available for donation, I urge all members to make contact with the Health department, to have information in electorate offices to promote the fact that, by donating organs, other people can be kept alive. It is not an easy decision for any of us to make, but to look a man in the eye who is here because of somebody else’s tremendous - I am trying to find the right word, it is not generosity, but it is generosity in spirit, I suppose, to provide one’s heart for another person really did pull me up and make me think.
There are 74 renal recipients in the Northern Territory alive today; one heart recipient, my friend John; one heart-lung recipient; and five liver recipients living in the Territory at the present. Needless to say, organ donation is paramount in giving many Territorians a new lease of life.
I understand that Australian Organ Donor Register forms will be available at pharmacies, gymnasiums, general practitioners, bookstores and Motor Vehicle Registry for the duration of Organ Donation Awareness week, and I urge all members to get those donor forms and have them in their electorate offices.
The Northern Territory has the highest rate of renal disease per capita of population within Australia, and a further 44 patients are in the process of being worked up to go on the active waiting list. Another great friend of mine, somebody I worked with for many years, a fellow by the name of Damien Harding, is the recipient of a kidney. Damien is certainly doing well now. Therefore, it is important that as many of us as possible discuss the issue of organ donation with our families and make that commitment to donate should circumstances arise.
Transplantation does not occur in the Northern Territory, however our hospitals do contribute to the retrieval of donor organs. Currently, there are 26 people living in the Territory who are waiting for a kidney. There have only been 30 donors in the last 24 years, with only one donor in 2003, placing the NT seventh amongst the states in organ donation per head of population. Given the needs of many Territorians, I urge all of us to consider this precious gift.
In November 2001, LifeNet NT began the coordination of education towards organ donation with the aim of demystifying the process. In doing so, LifeNet NT aims to increase organ donation rates, intended donation and facilitating the most positive outcome and support for the donor families. At any one time, there may be up to 2000 Australians waiting for organ transplantation. Approximately 15% of those are gravely ill patients waiting for a heart, heart-lung or liver transplant. Unfortunately, many die before a donor organ becomes available. In 2003, 179 Australians became organ donors, giving the gift of life and health to 619 seriously ill patients.
To John and Sue and the family – John, it is great to still have you here alive today. Many people were pulling for you whilst you were suffering. John, you certainly have my support. Again, I urge all members, regardless of your personal views, to have the information available in electorate offices because, looking into John’s eyes and sharing a cup of coffee with him, if he did not have that heart that somebody donated, he would not be here today.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I am going to talk tonight about the government’s response to a question I asked in parliament last week about cotton. Surprise, surprise! The answer I received was so shallow and lacking any depth, I wonder if the government has opened a new Office of Stone Age Technology or Play School Agriculture. Whilst the government counts the benefits of Desert Knowledge Park in Central Australia, it balances that with a no knowledge park in the north.
It seems that the government has few on its side who have any real knowledge about agriculture. The closest thing for some is their front lawn. This lack of knowledge is evident by the answer from the minister to my question. I am afraid he does not know what he is talking about, and so he has diverted the question away from science and logic to political twaddle. Anyone reading his answer would wonder if the government’s policy is based more on a strategy to win Katherine at the next election than a sound scientific knowledge of the issue. The minister tried to avoid the issue by throwing in a furphy saying that I will be urging Litchfield Shire residents to grow cotton. Besides being totally irrelevant to the question, at least people in my electorate are willing and intelligent enough to debate the issue, unlike the government.
The funny thing is that I have not said we should be growing cotton in the Northern Territory. However, what I will say is that we should look at the issues relating to growing cotton using 2004 technology, not technology that is 20 or 30 years old. It is good to see the Treasurer wearing a cotton shirt.
Has the minister been to a cotton farm recently? Does he know how cotton is being grown in the Katherine trials? Does he know the results of those trials? Does he know what BT stands for, or IPM or BMP? Has he heard of trap crops? Does he know that crops, like vines and mangoes, are sprayed just as often or even more than cotton?
Dr Toyne: Yes.
Mr WOOD: Does he know how cotton is irrigated and how much water is used in the trials at Katherine?
Dr Toyne: Yes.
Mr WOOD: By jove, the member for Stuart has a wealth of knowledge!
Has he explained to the public what his own department has found from the trials in Katherine? Minister, I am not a convert to cotton, as you try to make out, but I am a supporter of sustainable cropping regardless of the crop. I have believed in that philosophy for years. That means I do not bury my head in the sand, which is certainly the impression I am getting from your government.
If we are to advance the agricultural economy in the NT, we have to look at all the options, not ban a particular crop because some may have concerns or the minister and his government may be allergic to cotton. The way to test out new varieties, new technology, new techniques and to experiment is to trial crops. That is why we have research stations. I know that people have concerns about GM cotton, but how else can issues that people have concerns about be scientifically proven one way or the other if the government closes down the trials?
One concern has been the weediness of GM cotton. I asked questions about this last year, and all indications are that it is not weedy. Nevertheless, trials should continue. I recommend the minister read this document, which talks about weediness and then comments. This book was published by the Australia Cotton Cooperative Research Centre; it is not an industry booklet. This is where 160 people work. It has a section on the potential weediness of BT cotton in northern Australia, and we are doing trials in Katherine.
Some people are concerned about Monsanto and their involvement in cotton. Fair enough. Monsanto is certainly not the flavour of the month both in and out of the cotton industry, but they are not the only company involved in developing new cotton plant varieties.
Has the minister read this book by CSIRO’s Stephen Yeates, from Darwin? This book is published by the Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre and is entitled Cotton Research and Development Issues in Northern Australia: a review and scoping study, August 2001. I will read the foreword from it:
That is spot on. The saddest thing in this debate is because of the Chief Minister’s statement, Stephen Yeates will have no job in Darwin. He will have to leave. After all, why would the CSIRO bother funding a research officer to work on a crop they are not allowed to grow? The Chief Minister and the Primary Industry minister also said that no cotton will be grown at Katherine when the trials are finished. There go more professional research people from the Territory; more people with knowledge and skills will be lost because of the policy of this government.
Because of an ostrich-like approach, we have decided to turn our back on reality, to disappear into a cocoon, to hide from a chance to evaluate and build on the scientific knowledge that is being developed not only in Katherine, but also in Narrabri where 160 scientists are working on cotton at the research station.
We have a government that is scared of new technologies and too afraid to look at the changing face of agriculture. As I said before, this issue is not about whether we should grow cotton in the NT; it is about seeing whether cotton can be grown in the north and what are the issues associated with it. There are many myths out in the wide world about cotton, generally based on the problems cotton had 20 or 30 years ago, especially in places like the Ord. That is not to say that there are no problems. There are, but science has advanced a long way since then and the only way you are going to tackle these problems is to at least trial cotton.
If we are going to be the clever Territory that just relies on the big train and big gas, we will not be able to survive the peaks and troughs that always come with these projects. We need a diversified economy, and part of that is agriculture.
This debate is not just about cotton, but about a range of crops that can be grown on their own or in rotation. If we are to develop our small centres, then agriculture will be the basis for that. There is no doubt that in the Territory the path is littered with failed grand plans when it comes to growing crops. Time has moved on and our knowledge has increased. Instead of working from that new technological base, we have turned our backs on it like the Luddites as if it were a demon too dangerous to handle.
It is time the government had an open mind on the subject. If the government is going to introduce agricultural censorship to stop a crop from even being trialled in the NT, you have to wonder about the calibre of the brains trust that runs the Territory. If we cannot even trial cotton in the Territory, something that is being done in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, you have to ask: why have the Department of Primary Industry? Why have research stations? Will NT stand for the Northern Troglodyte capital of the world? One can only come to that conclusion.
Minister, do not write me off as a cotton convert. Cheap clichs only make you look silly. I have a background in horticultural science, I have some knowledge of cropping and, over Christmas, I went, not via the taxpayer, to look at cotton. I learnt a lot and met a lot of people and saw a lot of things I had not seen before. I saw a conscious effort by many people to tackle the problems that plagued the cotton industry in days gone by. There are still issues, but with cotton worth about $1.5bn to the Australian economy each year, it is imperative that research continues on overcoming those problems.
The Territory could be apart of that research. It could be at the forefront of developing tropical and sustainable cropping. It might even have enough nous to look at starting a CRC station in the Top End on tropical cropping.
With a world population that is growing, that is affected by changing climates, with a Territory that needs to look at a diversified economy, there will be more pressure to grow crops where there is more water and where the climate is more conducive than in traditional cropping regions of Australia. There are all sorts of opportunities that could develop but, sadly, when head in the sand logic is the approach, you have to gaze into the sky and wonder. Is it now part of this government’s open and transparent policy to promote agricultural censorship? What next? Peanuts, water melons, mangoes, bananas? Will they be banned in our new economy based on numerology, astrology and voodooism, all centred at the Katherine Research Station?
Minister, if you are serious about understanding the issues surrounding cotton and if you want to know what is happening today, then get off your high horse, pick up some politicians on both sides and go and look at the cotton industry in Narrabri, Wee Waa, Dalby, Emerald, Menindee, Katherine and in the Ord so that before you make any more uneducated and troglodytic statements, you will know what you are talking about.
It may be that the issue of cotton growing would be an ideal task for the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee to take on as one of its tasks. Let them report back to parliament after they have completed a thorough investigation of cotton in Australia, including a general overview of cropping in the Territory.
Minister, you are meeting cotton representatives next week. I hope that you will give them a fair hearing and keep an open mind on the subject. It will be disappointing if the Territory’s response to this meeting reveals a lack of knowledge or a reasonable understanding of the subject.
If the Territory hopes to attract people, finances and resources, we have Buckley’s if we continue down the path of ‘it is too hard, it is too new, it is about change and we do not want to know’.
I call on the government to at least allow cotton to be trialled in the NT. If the government wishes to retain its present ban on cotton, then for the sake of consistency, ban all the other crops grown in the Territory that are sprayed, use plenty of water, require land to be cleared, like Asian vegetables, mangoes, bananas and vines. Mangoes and vines are sprayed more and use more water than cotton.
This issue is not about cotton, it is about the logic or illogic to ban a crop called gossypium hirsutum from being grown in the Territory. This is about a loopy decision-making process. The government might proudly say they have set up a community group to look at the development of the Daly, but their illogic continues when even that body can not look at cotton. They have politically censored the committee.
It is a sad day when knowledge, understanding and new ideas are stifled by this type of censorship. Harry S Truman summed up the government’s position best when he said:
Those …
And, in parenthesis, I say the ministers:
How true. This issue is not about cotton per se, but about agricultural censorship. It is about a dangerous process based not on science, but on perception and popularity.
I received an e-mail from Dave Anthony, manager of OzCot. Yes, a cotton man for sure; I do not have not a problem with that. He said:
Again, I say: how true.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, that is all I have to say. I had best go now because I need to go and water my polyester pot plant.
Dr TOYNE (Stuart): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to remember one of the great icons of Central Australia. I refer to the late Stan Cawood, who died peacefully in Brisbane on 17 October 2003.
Stan accomplished a great deal during his 96 years. He was born in Bellingen, the third of four sons and a daughter, to John and Alice Cawood. Stan spent his early life in Bellingen where his family was initially the agent for Allan Taylor and Company who were big timber merchants, and later became a partner with Fred Doepel in a saw milling and timber business. They built the square-rigged sailing ship, the Alma Doepel, which has now been restored, and the steamships Nambucca and Bellingen.
Stan went to the Catholic Primary School at Bellingen until he was 12, then went to De La Salle College in Armidale until he was 14, finishing his schooling at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, Sydney in 1922 at the age of 15.
Stan opted for the bush life in contrast to his brother Jim, who became a lawyer, and Allan, a pharmacist. He worked on the Widden Racehorse Stud outside Muswellbrook. Stan talked about the English stallion Valais, the sire of Heroic, Violincello, Moabite, and many other famous racehorses.
This led to a trip to India in 1925, looking after a team of 500 remount horses, which were collected from as far north as Gladstone, and loaded on to the steamship Shiradar, and transported to the Remount Depot in Calcutta. Stan stayed in India for three months and was amazed at the mesmerizing skill of the Indian horsemen in breaking and training the unbroken Australian horses.
On returning to Australia, Stan worked as a jackaroo on a sheep station near Dalby, and then on Lake Nash Station on the Northern Territory-Queensland border just south of Camooweal. Stan observed at Lake Nash that Aboriginal people were not only very good stockman, but were very good water pumpers. They maintained the wood supplies to steam pump boilers when there was no wind blowing to turn the windmills to provide much needed water for the stock.
Stan went to Alice Springs in 1927, soon after his father was appointed the Alice Springs Government Resident in 1926. He was one of the first people to travel by car on the Sandover Track, now the Sandover Highway, from Lake Nash to Alice Springs, a distance of 643 km. On arriving in Alice Springs, then known as Stuart, with a population of about 100 people, Stan did a variety of jobs. He worked with Albert Bond of Bond Coaches, who organised trips to Hermannsburg, Arltunga and Palm Valley for people arriving in Alice Springs on The Ghan from Adelaide. They started off taking parties of six, and this grew to 12 and then to 15. They could accommodate up to 15 people at the Chalet at Palm Valley and operated only in the winter.
In 1929, Stan was one of the party that searched for and found the bodies of Hitchcock and Anderson after their plane, the Kookaburra, was forced to land in desert country between Newcastle Waters and Wave Hill Station because of mechanical difficulties. The pilots were flying in the Northern Territory to search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, or Smithy, and Charles Ulm, who were later found safe and well.
Stan married Ethel, nee Underdown, in Adelaide in 1932. He moved back to New South Wales because her family, being strong Church of England people, were not keen on her marrying Stan, a strong Catholic. His sister, the late Alice Cawood, had become a Sister in the Order of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and his older sister, Marie, later joined the same order.
Stan got a job as a forester and timber inspector with the New South Wales Forestry Department, and worked along the coastal area from Cronulla to Grafton. The first five of their eight children were born in Cronulla, Wyong, Coffs Harbour and Grafton. In 1940, he was appointed the manager of a timber mill at Carney Creek, near Clermont in Queensland.
The same year, on receiving the news that her father was dying, Ethel went back to Alice Springs with their three-year-old daughter, Helen. She was reconciled with her family and, with their young children, she and Stan returned to Alice Springs and managed the Capital Caf, and the open air a picture theatre for Ethel’s mother, Mrs Daisy Underdown, who also owned the Alice Springs Hotel.
The family returned to Sydney in 1942, and Stan was appointed the Executive Shipping and Transport Officer at Regents Park for the movement of supplies from 15 warehouses supplying American Forces on the mainland and in the Pacific. After the war, Stan returned to the Territory and began carting copper by truck from the home of Bullion Mine, ore from Harts Range, and Adelaide beer from Alice Springs to Darwin, 60 18-gallon wooden kegs at a time.
In 1949, he became one of the founding members of the Territory Transport Association, which was formed to protect the interest of road transport operators. TTA then formed Co-Ord to undertake the coordinated road-rail freight service between Alice Springs and Larrimah under contract to the Commonwealth Railways. An expanding mining industry meant Darwin, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek and Mary Kathleen became second homes to Stan and his sons, Greville and Ian. Stan was one of the original shareholders in Co-Ord and was Chairman from 1953 to 1957.
In 1954, Stan joined Alice Springs Tours and began tours to Ayers Rock where Mrs Daisy Underdown had built The Chalet. Stan eventually took over The Chalet and combined it with his Alice Springs tour business. He became very fit, sometimes climbing the Rock two or three times a day. His sons joined him in this tourism venture.
The management of TAA approached Stan and other tour operators and, in 1961, Central Australian Tours Association was set up to offer a series of tours radiating out from Alice Springs. Stan became its first Chairman. Operators of town and district tours, as well as four-wheel-drive excursions, together with hotel and motel owners were included in the membership so that fully accommodated tours could be packaged by TAA in competition with Ansett.
In 1976, Stan sold his business to the Northern Territory government, which was in the process of establishing the centralised resort at Yulara.
He retired with his wife to Palm Cove on the beautiful northern beach area of Cairns, and delighted in the visits of his family and friends, sharing with them his love of the sea. He was a regular competitor in the Masters Games until he was 90, winning gold medals for swimming.
He was cared for by his loving family in recent years. Stan died peacefully in Brisbane. He is survived by his two daughters, Marie, (Sisterr Regina), Helen Robinson, his son Ian, 12 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Cawood family in providing this detailed account of Stan’s life, particularly Craig Cawood, Helen and Bruce Robinson, Marie Cawood, (Sisterr Regina) and Sue Cawood.
I would like to add that the recent opening of the Alice Springs Archives facility, which, by the way, holds material from the Cawood family, will enable Centralians to access and appreciate the lives and times of many of our pioneering families.
I want to mention another significant event in Alice Springs, and that is the opening of the RSL on-line museum. While we recently commemorated the bombing of Darwin during World War II, we should remember that the war had a huge impact on many other areas of the Territory, including Central Australia. I congratulate the Alice Springs RSL for the development of their on-line museum that details the experiences of people in Alice Springs during the war years and highlights the important role the area played during the conflict.
The war significantly changed the Centre, with the population growing by nearly 3000% in two years. Alice Springs became a vital outpost for the military and, in fact, the seat of government for the Territory moved to Alice Springs after the bombing of Darwin. Some of us regret that it moved north again after the war. The on-line museum, called Central Australia - The War Years, will preserve the memories and experiences of people who lived, worked and passed through Alice Springs during the war. I urge you to browse through the museum. It gives us a glimpse into a fascinating part of Territory history. It is interesting to reflect on just how these few short and intense years influenced Central Australian development. Through photographs, film, audio and extracts from documents such as letters and diaries, it gives us an insight into what life must have been like in Central Australia during World War II.
The Alice Springs RSL has done a great job in developing the web site, and it is a wonderful community project. Local cultural organisations, residents and educators have contributed to this engaging web site. I am proud to note that NT government support for the project has been provided through the Regional Museum Grants Support Program and Year of the Outback funding. The museum is designed to be a resource for students, and allows teachers to download and print ready-made activities that encourage understanding the role of Alice Springs during the war, and how the lives of people were affected.
I commend this web site for providing a lasting memorial to the contributions of the people of Central Australia to the war effort.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): I would like to visit two areas tonight, Madam Acting Deputy Speaker. The first is the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal on the definition of ‘coastline’ for fishermen, particularly commercial barramundi fishermen, and what that means to those who earn their livelihood from commercial fishing in our waters.
We all know what the decision has been; it is a redefinition of ‘coastline’ as we, the general public, politicians, commercial and amateur fishermen understood it. The definition handed down by the court is very serious in respect of the way it impacts on commercial fishermen who have just begun their fishing season. It restricts them by somewhere in the vicinity of 90% of their usual fishery, but could have long-term ramifications for amateur and recreational fishermen in respect of access to these waters.
This issue has been raised with the new minister for Fisheries, the member for Casuarina, and interested parties such as AFANT, the commercial fishermen, the Seafood Council and anyone else with an interest in this sector were given an undertaking that something would be done very quickly, perhaps through these sittings, to ameliorate the problem and that is that commercial fisherman cannot access up to 90% of their usual fishery, and therefore make their livelihood, which impacts not only on the investment in capital equipment but also on their property investment, being licenses.
We are into the second week of these sittings. We are now into some six hours of opportunity that the minister has had either by mini-statement or in Question Time to inform the House of what he is going to do to address the situation. So far we have heard nothing. I raise this because a representative from the Seafood Council approached me and said: ‘Could you work with government to make ensure that a solution is found to ameliorate the problem? Could you please work with government?’. I am happy to do that and I gave an undertaking accordingly.
However, I sit on this side of the House as Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, and there has not been one utterance in this House by the minister in six hours of opportunity, let alone notices of any legislation coming on or walking around the Chamber to inform me of what he might be doing, unlike some other ministers in this House who are of the view that keeping members opposite informed is a good idea.
This minister is certainly lacking in communication and, it would seem by the lack of communication, in action. There is a lot hanging on this: a lot of money; livelihoods; jobs; investment; the future of the Territory’s barramundi fishery; and indeed, the future of recreational fishing around our coastlines. I am sure all members will be aware of the determination that has been made by the Court of Appeal. If you are not aware and have any interest in either commercial or recreational fishing, you should make yourself aware of what that ruling was and the detriment to those sectors arising from it.
The second issue I would like to raise is the issue of bats at Mataranka. Bats are a recurring problem not only in Mataranka, but also Katherine. The issue of bats in Mataranka is a serious issue. Flying foxes, in particular, are a problem at the Mataranka thermal pools. A letter has been written to the member for Johnson, who is now the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, requesting some assistance with the bat problem at Mataranka. The letter contains all sorts of information: information about past events of this nature; what action was taken; action by the previous government; assistance that was given, albeit that it has never been quite 100% successful.
They are asking for assistance to ameliorate the bat problem. Bats roost over the thermal pools because the pools provide a warm habitat. They go through their breeding and birthing events. They are very territorial animals, but if you can move them on before they become fully established, they will find another home to have their offspring.
The letter appeals to the new minister to do something to move these animals on. Flying foxes are a protected species, as we all know. They ask that if assistance methods are not available through the Parks and Wildlife Commission or the government, if monies are not forthcoming, could they take some action themselves?
They point out in the letter because these are a protected species within a park and that Parks and Wildlife, who have been informed, would have to take action if anyone breached the law, but they are reaching a desperate situation. It is a letter of appeal, and I hope the minister will do something about it. The thermal pools are critical to the economy of Mataranka, which is a small place. In the peak tourism season, Mataranka’s population swells from something like 400 permanent residents to over 2000 people every night.
They are attracted by the thermal pools, not only the Mataranka thermal pools but Bitter Springs, which I had the honour of opening as Parks and Wildlife minister, and developing, to alleviate some of the pressure on Mataranka thermal pools. The big attraction is the Roper and the thermal pools and to have this infestation of bats, whilst you might think is not such a big drama, it certainly is if they colonise the place and remain for a lengthy period.
As we all know, the word amongst tourists goes up and down the track very quickly and if the word goes down that you should not stop at Mataranka because of the bat problem and all of the ancillary problems that arise from it - not only smell, but being deposited upon from great heights and what have you – obviously, the money that flows to Mataranka through tourism is very much diminished and has a direct effect on jobs and business in that area.
The minister has the letter from the Mataranka Community Government Council. It has been copied to me and to the Chief Minister. If he has time, he should visit the people of Mataranka and see what these areas mean to them and have a look at the bat problem. To start with, it is an environment because they strip the trees, but on the tourism side of things and the current promotional activities going on under the auspices of the Chief Minister as Tourism minister to promote tourism in the Northern Territory, we need to do something to assist the community of Mataranka.
I will finish on the issue by reading the last line of a very lengthy, interesting and detailed letter by the Community Government Council to the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Dr Chris Burns. This is a desperate plea, as you would imagine, but the last sentence is:
Have you ever heard a better appeal than that? Minister, I join with Mataranka Community Government Council to appeal to you to take time out to go down there have a look at these important tourism assets that swell the population of Mataranka in the peak season from 400 to 2000 visitors per night, huge amounts into the economy, the assets being the thermal pools and everything that surrounds them, and see what you can do, what pressure you can bring to bear to help them solve this ongoing problem. Do not think it is a one-off, it is a problem that needs to be dealt with from time to time as these bats claim the habitat of the thermal pools as their own. By visiting Mataranka, you will realise that something needs to be done and allocate resources to assist ahead of the coming tourism season.
Ministers for both Parks and Wildlife and Fisheries, on those two issues, over to you.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise to adjourn on a very special individual in my electorate. On Australia Day this year, the AO was awarded to Mr Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek.
I would like to thank Murray Garde who put together these words for me. Lofty was born in 1926 at Kukulumurr in Wurrubambulu clan estate. Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek has finally settled back on his own country on the upper Liverpool River on the Arnhem Land plateau. Given the name Lofty because of his height, Lofty Bardayal is, however, not just lofty in physical stature. His life is an extraordinary tale of experience in both the realms of traditional Aboriginal culture in Arnhem Land as well as a great diversity of experiences working together with non-Aboriginal people from all walks of life. No one has written a popular biography of Bardayal such that he might become known as a popular folk hero in Kakadu Man mould. Perhaps someone should. It would be the tale of an extraordinary life.
Lofty is a well known figure throughout western and central Arnhem Land. He has spent much of his life travelling across the traditional walking tracks of western and southern Arnhem Land, hunting, participating in ceremonies, trading traditional commodities and maintaining his extended kin network. In addition to this, he worked in the tin mining industry as a young man, and gave otherwise unrecognised service in the Katherine region with the military during WWII.
Such extensive travel has been the basis for Bardayal’s exceptional knowledge about places: the land, ownership status, physical peculiarities, available resources and religious significance, as well as its history that was passed on by previous generations. This expansive nature of his knowledge of sites across western Arnhem Land is truly awe-inspiring. In his senior years, he has worked as a consultant to anthropologists, art historians, botanists and a diverse group of other researchers from both the social and natural sciences. He is also a regular speaker at regional land management conferences.
He has been extremely generous with his knowledge, such that he has taken on an important role as teacher to both non-Aboriginal people and younger generations of Aboriginal kin. He is referred to by other Aboriginal people, young and old, as the most knowledgeable person about land and Aboriginal interaction with it. We can estimate that this knowledge covers a region greater than some 10 000 km. He has walked throughout the region, between Maningrida in the east, Darwin in the west, and Katherine and Maranboy in the south. He speaks in Kundjeihmi, a Kunwinjku dialect, Dalabon, Jawoyn, Kriol and English.
Lofty is one of the region’s most important and loved artists. His works are held by most major state cultural institutions in Australia and overseas. He remains a prolific painter of traditional themes for the Arnhem Land plateau. He is also known as the last Aboriginal artist to have painted works on the walls of rock shelters in western Arnhem Land. His knowledge of the contemporary significance of rock art in the region is unparalleled and represents a link with the past and a particular way of life that has now changed forever. Such knowledge should be regarded as a national treasure. Again, his generosity and sharing this knowledge is worthy of greater recognition.
He has always had a positive attitude in the face of often overwhelming social problems that confront Aboriginal people in Arnhem Land. He has encouraged his family to combine the best from both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures, and is presently engaged in the creation of a new community on his own country where Balanda - as in white - and Bininj, Aboriginal, can come together to learn about the depth of traditional indigenous knowledge as it relates to the relationship between people and place on the Arnhem Land plateau. For the past 12 months and throughout this year’s Wet Season, his camp of tents, tarpaulins and bough shelters has attracted young people from throughout the region, eager to tap into an alternative to the dysfunction of larger urban communities. In doing so, the community is exploring the relevance of traditional knowledge in a modern world.
Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek, artist, traditional professor, ceremonial practitioner, song man, teacher and community leader, deserves the greater recognition for his services to Aboriginal culture, the arts and both social and natural sciences. He is, without doubt, a living national treasure and has now been recognised as such by this nation through his award of Officer in the Order of Australia Medal.
I would like to record my thanks to Murray Garde who provided a lot of the information when I nominated Lofty. I also thank Peter Cooke from the Northern Land Council, Liam Maher from Jabiluka Association, Bob Collins and Chips Mackinolty.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, tonight I put paid to some misinformation that has circulated. Once again, we heard it from the Minister for Justice today. The Minister for Justice seems to be under some impression that I am somehow sneaking around this House and the media peddling some grave message. I will quote the minister from his answer in Question Time today while he was filibustering his way through his answer. The quote is:
That implies that I am doing something furtively. How one could furtively do anything in this House or in the media is a mystery.
He is also putting about the absolute misinformation, and I quote him, that I am:
… busy trying to compulsorily acquire land.
Nothing could be further form the truth. I am merely seeking to do exactly what this government is seeking to do in acquiring certain title rights. I do not mind having the argument in my own electorate as well as the community at large, but let us stick to the facts of the issue. The first fact is that there is no attempt to acquire land, none whatsoever.
What I am concerned about is how what is happening in Alice Springs is causing great grief. I sent a letter to Honourable Chris Burns MLA, Minister for Lands and Planing, Parliament House, Mitchell Street, Darwin, on 3 February this year, outlining what I am concerned about. I will read it into Hansard:
The issue of the native title arrangement in Alice Springs is one that causes me great concern not only because Alice Springs residents miss out, but people forget that there are many Aboriginal people who have to pay rent in Alice Springs. Those rents are currently inflated. There are many Aboriginal people who want to buy their own property in Alice Springs and they, too, are caught up in this.
I am not trying to paint this in any other way than to say the rights we are talking about are the rights over 85 blocks of land, if memory serves me correctly. I would like to see a negotiated outcome. I have always said that it would be my preferred outcome, but the government has wedded and locked itself into a position where the negotiation process has not produced an outcome.
It has been acknowledged by the traditional owners of Alice Springs for a very long time that non-Aboriginal people are living there. They are part of the community; they are part of the environment. If you accept that acknowledgement, needless to say there also needs to be an acknowledgement that we have to share that environment. The outcome I am after, which is the amelioration of the effect of native title over those blocks, is exactly what the government is after. I am not after acquiring land; I have not said that once. That accusation has been placed in my mouth, and I want to have the discussion opening and honestly with the government, but it has to be done in circumstances where the hysteria of race politics is removed from it.
The government, when in opposition, used to accuse the CLP of race politics and now, by saying that I am trying to compulsory acquire land, I accuse the government of the same thing. We can allow this to deteriorate into a nah-na-nah-na-nah type argument as to who called whom what first, or we can have the debate on the issue: there is a land squeeze that is causing people to leave and that is evidence by the decline in population.
I love Alice Springs and I want to continue living there. I want to be able live there in an environment in which people can afford to buy their homes or pay their rents. It is not such an outrageous argument to mount.
I am aware that the government has tried very hard for a negotiated outcome. I congratulate the government for their efforts, but I ask the government to consider what was done with the Larakia people in Darwin, although a court had not decided in that case that there was native title in existence, that was yet to be established, but they went through the negotiation process and a good outcome was achieved, one much lauded by this government because, ultimately, it was this government that signed up to those arrangements. I would like to see the same outcome in Alice Springs. In that instance, with the outcome for the Larakia people, the two processes ran parallel with each other. The acquisition ran parallel with negotiations. It gave the government a certain amount of leverage, which is the way that negotiations work.
To allow this situation to continue is very problematic. I am happy to have the debate, but let’s start talking realistically. Let’s not start putting the fib out there that I am talking about acquiring land. I am not, and the government full well knows that. The minister full well knows that. To suggest otherwise is misleading and would have the effect of engendering fear in the Territory community.
I am certain, knowing the Justice minister as I do, and indeed knowing the Lands and Planning minister as I do, that neither gentleman would consider misinformation a useful or constructive way to deal with these issues. I appeal to their good and common sense to have the debate openly and honestly.
Mr STIRLING (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, the Nhulunbuy region is saddened by the passing of Dhimurru’s Senior Cultural Advisor on 31 January this year. He was a founding force behind the establishment of Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation. He has been the key person throughout its 11 years as a management organisation for land and sea in the Miwatj region.
Among his many achievements was a declaration of the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area covering 92 000 hectares on the Gove Peninsula. Many successful programs were undertaken, and these achievements were recognised when Dhimurru won the 2002 Landcare Award and the 2001 Banksia Award. Mr Munungiritj was a former Chairperson of the local Dhanbul Council at Yirrkala and an active community person promoting a strong cultural awareness both among Ngataki and Yolngu. His personal warmth, dedication and generous nature made him an exceptionally effective advocate for his people and he was widely known and respected within Australia and the international arena.
My sincere condolences are extended to Raymattja and family and to the Yirrkala community for the loss of a loved one, a respected leader and friend to us all. It was indeed a privilege to know him.
The resignation of Alcan Site Manager Doug Grimmond will be a huge loss to Nhulunbuy. Doug has been site manager since 2001, having joined the Gove operation as a process engineer in 1989. As site manager, Doug has been able to increase production by 7.7%, improve safety and he successfully managed the Gove operation’s integration into the Alcan Group. Doug was considered a home-grown product with a genuine feel for the community and an intimate knowledge of its challenges.
Doug has been actively involved in community life, especially in the sporting arena, and will particularly be remembered for his involvement in the Top Endurance Event, which raised $166 000 to equip a rescue helicopter for the region. My best wishes to Doug, Kerris and the family as they venture to a new phase of their lives in Melbourne. Thank you for your valuable contribution to the work force and the Nhulunbuy community.
YNOTS again this year, under the chairmanship of Doug Grimmond, Coordinator Craig Bonney and trainers Michael Marawili and Richard Sagigi, have successfully trained 15 graduates with nationally recognised training certificates, 12 of them already in full-time employment. YNOTS started as a vision to provide job-ready skills to indigenous people and since its establishment, 57 trainees have successfully completed the course, with the majority gaining full-time employment.
Great news last week as Alcan’s highest corporate recognition was conferred on four of our YNOTS employees for their exceptional contributions to the workplace and community. The second annual Nathanael V Davis Award presentation ceremony was held in Phoenix, Arizona on February 12 where Klaus Helms, Craig Bonney, Michael Marawili and Richard Sagigi, all from Nhulunbuy, received their awards. Congratulations to YNOTS, Alcan and YBE to their commitment to the YNOTS program, enabling graduates to be trained, gain employment and provide a gateway by offering vocational training to our indigenous people.
Education is important, no matter how remote the location. When I visited Doindji late last year in the most remote corner of the electorate, I was delighted to be part of the end of the year celebrations at the school. Twenty-four students attend this school and, with the support of Shepherdson College at Galiwinku, we will look forward to greater education outcomes for these delightful children who now have the confidence and enthusiasm to learn and be educated in their own community. The school consists of just one classroom and a storeroom in which the visiting teacher from Galiwinku overnights. Because of the number of students attending and the shortage of accommodation, I am pleased to advise the government will be assisting the community with an extension to the school building and accommodation suitable for visiting teachers during the school week.
The community has struggled for a number of years to have infrastructure and normal services delivered, and it is great news that Mathakal Resource Centre at Galiwinku is in the process of taking over responsibility to administer these services to them. My thanks to Roger, Oscar and Joe at Mathakal for their commitment and support to Doindji.
Nhulunbuy and Laynhapuy Homelands were amongst the major winners in the 2003 Tidy Towns competition. They featured strongly in the awards as follows: Outstanding Remote Community Enterprise - Laynhapuy Aviation; Best Community Environment Project – Nhulunbuy; Best Homeland Winner – Gangan; Citizen of the Year – Gawarrin Gumana; Best Homelands Store – Gangan; Living Treasures Award – Galuma Wirrpanda; Lifetime Achievement - Gawarrin Gumana. My congratulations to all recipients of these awards, and in particular I must mention the old man from Gangan. Gawarrin demonstrates the strength of leadership to his people in many ways, and the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the importance of his commitment and passion for his land and people.
Phoebe Ison and Callen Goding are two relieved and happy students from Nhulunbuy High School’s 2003 graduating class. Both students were the recipients of multiple awards at the end of the year Presentation Night. Phoebe and Callen achieved excellent results in the 2003 NT Certificate of Education, enabling them to pursue their chosen tertiary studies at Queensland University. Phoebe will study biomedicine and Callen will study Bachelor of Law combined with a Bachelor of Commerce. Phoebe and Callen are long-time residents of Nhulunbuy, growing up in the town. They have completed most of their schooling at the primary and high schools. In discussing their results, both Phoebe and Callen paid tribute to the dedication of the teachers at the high school and their family support.
Nhulunbuy has finally welcomed a Parks and Wildlife ranger to the region. After a long absence, Mr Phil Wise will be working with indigenous rangers, fostering a partnership to continue land and sea management programs contained in the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area Management Plan. Phil will bring a strong commitment to assisting the Yolngu in their management of the land and sea as he has been with the Parks and Wildlife service in various locations for a number of years. It is a significant landmark for Yolngu and the Northern Territory government, both of whom are committed to reinforcing land management at community level. Partnerships with the traditional owners will ensure the exchange and sharing of skills from both traditional and scientific backgrounds.
An alcohol-related incident in Nhulunbuy recently resulted in a number of people being hospitalised. This has again highlighted the urgency for the substance abuse special care centre initiative to become a reality. The centre is designed to assist in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering substance abuse in the region. Culturally appropriate treatment and rehabilitative measures will be an integral part of this proposal for Yolngu people. The centre is an initiative of a broad base of community organisations established to address a range of social issues confronting the region. It is expected that the training will commence shortly for staff to be employed at the centre, and construction of the facility will begin as soon as the Dry Season arrives.
Harmony Djamanirri Mala is represented by Alcan, ATSIC/ATSIS, NT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andilyakwa Land Council, Rirratjingu, Nhulunbuy Corporation, Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation, Northern Land Council, Gumatj Association, community representatives, Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association and the Territory government. That is not a bad list when you look at the commitment across that range of organisations, all with the goal of bringing solid rehabilitation to this.
I would like to express my appreciation to all those representatives who formed the partnership and worked through the issues confronting our region relating to substance abuse. We will be consolidating it with the development of the substance abuse and special care centre.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise to make a few comments about the IHANT program, which, as you know, provides housing for bush communities.
Funding for the IHANT program comes from a pool of three sources: ATSIC, the federal government pursuant to the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, and the Northern Territory Treasury. The money is pooled and the regional ATSIC Board then determines the priorities of houses that should be built in the communities under their jurisdiction. A determination is made by the ATSIC regional committee as to how many houses go to which community. This program has worked well in the past and, when I was Minister for Housing in 2001, I commenced a review of the program so that we could get housing into the communities under the control of the people themselves.
One of the initiatives I introduced was that all new housing projects in the communities would include an element of training for residents living in that community. This would ensure some skills transfer between the builders of these homes and indigenous people living in the communities who are prepared to work with them to get some training.
Over the last 12 months, things have gone a little astray. To build a house in a community now costs an exorbitant amount, well above what you would expect, even with the relativities between building a house in the bush and an urban area. There are various estimates of about $40 000 extra per home. If you think about that, if a house in the bush costs about $200 000 to build and we are paying $240 000 for the house then, for every four or five houses built, you have a sixth house missing. It is a real pity that so much money is being spent trying to achieve an outcome that appears, on the surface, not to be materialising.
Personally, I would prefer to see more houses being built so that people in bush communities have the housing that they deserve. They have requested it and they are being denied the opportunity to get into a home. We all talk about the density of housing in our bush communities and to have fewer houses built with the same amount of money is a backward step.
There was an article in the Alice Springs News of 11 February 2004, which went into great detail. I will read some of the paragraphs from the newspaper. Rather than paraphrasing it, I will read from the article on page three of the paper. The headline on the article is:
That is fine; conventions are there to be changed if you can get a better outcome of this. However, the text of the article does not seem to bear that out. Again, the ideal was to ...
A point of order! It is unusual for an advisor to be walking up to Madam Acting Deputy Speaker. It is most unusual.
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, if you must know, I called the advisor to me because I need to be excused from the Chair for a moment.
Dr LIM: Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I take your rationale, but ...
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have the ‘flu and I need to go and attend to it.
Dr LIM: I take the explanation of your rationale, but there is a call button for you to call the attendant.
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
Dr LIM: That is what the call button is for. Anyway, I will come back to what I am talking about.
The article deals with what we are trying to do about having young Aboriginal people in remote communities learn a skill, particularly in the construction industry. I quote from the newspaper:
So there are concerns being voiced and those concerns have been voiced quite publicly, even though the people who mentioned the problems are not prepared to be named in the newspaper article. They have written to authorities. I know they have take up the issue with Tangentyere Council. I have received a letter from one of the private enterprise people in Alice Springs drawing my attention to the issue.
Well, acting acting unofficial - or are you acting official, Madam Speaker?
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am official, thank you, member for Greatorex. If would continue with your remarks.
Dr LIM: Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I further quote from the newspaper:
There is another question raised. We have builders out there. They are within the tender, within the contract compelled to provide skills transfer training for indigenous people who are working with them to help build homes for IHANT. We have now started a new program that is questionable. I quote again from the newspaper:
There is another issue: money has been hived aside, given to an organisation without a tender process. Things are becoming cloudy. I quote again:
The article goes on, and I quote again:
We talked about trying to get houses in the bush so that people do not have to live in crowded conditions in homes that would house 10, 15, 20 people. We are trying to get more houses out there so that they can have a reasonable standard of living.
The article concluded:
Now I come to the letter that was written to me early this month. I have deleted the name of the company, but the individual wrote to me as member for Greatorex, and I quote from the letter. So and so Pty Ltd…
He said his company, So and So Pty Ltd …
So and so company Pty Ltd…
This company is genuine. I know this man has worked very hard and I have spoken to him personally on a couple of occasions. He has tried very hard to maintain a viable business in town and is prepared to provide training in a way that is meaningful and will ensure the kids who go in to the training program will emerge with an appropriate qualification in the building trade.
The minister has to get his act together and pay particular attention to what is happening in IHANT. While he is understandably in the hands of the IHANT regional council, the Northern Territory taxpayer, through the minister, has contributed significantly to this program and should therefore be entitled to know what is happening to the money that the taxpayer has contributed.
If we leave this go the way it is going at the moment, there will be no outcomes. People are not going to be trained, which is the intention of the program in the first instance. We are going to have fewer houses because the houses are not being completed and they are way over what they should normally cost. Looking at the prices we are quoting here, some $40 000 above what it would normally be, we are looking at something in the order of 20-25% more per house. That is a huge premium to pay for building houses in the bush and the money can be better spent.
I look forward to the minister responding to this. If he could sometime over the next day or so, to give him time to prepare, consider the facts of the situation and then I can report back to my constituent as to what the government intends to do about this seemingly unfair system.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise this evening to speak on the opening of a new school in my electorate, the Milkwood Steiner School. The official opening was held on Friday 30 January 2004 at the school’s new premises in the Nightcliff Scout Hall at the corner of Pandanus and Bauhinia Streets in Nightcliff.
The opening of the school is the culmination of years of effort by a dedicated group that make up the Darwin Steiner School Association. Creating a school is not an easy thing to do, and it is a credit to members of the association and a product of their persistence that has seen this project come to fruition.
Steiner education is based around the philosophy and teachings of Rudolf Steiner. In the school’s Overview of Steiner Education, Rudolf Steiner said in the stated goals of schooling:
Steiner educators approach teaching with each child’s own development in mind. There is a free use of art, craft, music and language in conjunction with teaching of academics. The child’s development determines the timing for the teaching of the academic stream.
The Milkwood School started the year with 26 students ranging from four to eight years old. They have two teachers, Ms Diane Johnston who teaches kindergarten and transition children, and Ms Wendy Watt, who teaches the grades 1/2/3 class. The parents of students also contribute much of their time to assist with classes.
Parents and volunteers have painted the building throughout, built furniture, fences, sandpits and other playground equipment, and generally worked very hard to get the building ready on time. All this was done on very short notice in a mere few weeks with a $16 000 grant from the Northern Territory government.
Starting a school requires many people being involved over a very long period of time, and I offer my congratulations particularly to the hard-working committee members including the current Chair of the School Council, Ms Elizabeth White who has a long history in education, particularly working in remote communities, Mrs Karen Weeramanthri, a former Chair of the School, Ms Fiona Ferguson and past Chair of the School, Ms Olga Bruvel, who has moved interstate and, unfortunately, was unable to be at the opening of the school.
The function itself was a very friendly family affair, and it was my pleasure to join with the Lord Mayor of Darwin in planting a milkwood tree in the grounds of the school. It was also a pleasure that it was a generational function with a number of grandparents present at the ceremony, so it was good to see parent Dimitri Andropov there, together with his parents Joan and Simon Andropov. Grandparents play such a vital role in the lives of children. It was also great to see so many representatives from other schools in the area: the Principal of the Essington School, Mr David Cannon; the Assistant Principal of the Nightcliff Primary School, Ms Jill Finch; and Teacher-in-Charge of the Nightcliff Preschool, Ms Tara Metcalfe. It was my pleasure to be present at the opening and I look forward to hearing of the successes of the school in the future.
On 5 February this year, a small but important ceremony happened in the Nightcliff electorate. The contract for the undergrounding power project was signed. The Hon Dr Chris Burns, Minister for Essential Services, signed the contract with Nilsen Electric (NT) Pty Ltd, the managing contractor for the first three years of the project, which is a joint venture between PowerWater and the Northern Territory government. Nilsen have formed a joint venture with Savant Pty Ltd and Townes Chappell Mudgway called NST, and they will be responsible for the detailed planning and design through to construction. NST were also the contractors that constructed the trial of the undergrounding power along Bougainvillea Street and Grevillea Circuit.
The really good news about this project is that 90% of the work will be undertaken by local contractors, which of course means many jobs for local people. This first stage is worth about $9m over three years. Registration for pre-qualification for subcontractors has closed and registrants are being assessed. Preliminary survey work is under way and the first groundworks will start when the weather clears, hopefully during April. The first streets to have their power undergrounded will include the area bounded by Frangipani and Hibiscus Streets through to Cunjevoi Crescent and across to Nightcliff Road, down to Progress Drive. This area should be completed this Dry Season.
The project is an election commitment and one that should dramatically improve the reliability of the power supply to the citizens of Nightcliff and Rapid Creek. The spin-off benefits to this project include improvements to the footpath network, undergrounding telephone and cable services, improved water reticulation where required, enhanced street lighting and a dramatic improvement to the aesthetics of our streetscapes.
Mr Ken Fraser and Ms Wendy Jefferies run the Undergrounding Power Project office in the Nightcliff Shopping Centre, across Pavonia Way from my electorate office. They are the public face of the project and they are listening to residents and generally fielding their inquiries. They do a fantastic job there and I thank them for their hard work.
I am very proud that this government is fulfilling this election promise and look forward to hosting a special street party for the residents of Frangipani and Hibiscus Streets to celebrate when the first power poles come down. I will certainly be inviting the minister along to that, because I know that he will be celebrating with residents of Nightcliff.
Tonight, I pay tribute to a well-known Territorian and constituent, Mr Tony Milhinhos. Mr Milhinhos has not died I am glad to say, but often we fail to recognise the hard work and achievements of people until the person has passed on.
Tony would be well known to many members of this House as the owner of the Woolworth’s complex at Nightcliff and the Rite Price hardware shop in the same complex. Tony is a very special person whose humility, decency and hard work are evident to everyone who meets him. He frequently starts work at 6.30am and is often still at the complex 12 hours later, although I am absolutely certain he is always home by 7pm because his wife, Linda, is an excellent cook.
While he is a very wealthy man, he is frequently seen sweeping areas in the shopping complex or helping to collect shopping trolleys. As an example of the type of man Tony is, last Friday he was helping the normal cleaner with cleaning a very filthy toilet because he believes that he should be willing to do the most humble jobs if he is asking others to do so. There are not too many bosses I know who would do this.
Tony is a migrant. He was born in Portugal to a very poor family and only has four years education because that is all the public education that was available to Portuguese citizens. After that, education was entirely private. Unfortunately, his family did not have the funds to continue his education and so he started work at the age of 11. He decided that he wanted to move to Australia but, at that time, it was not easy to migrate to Australia from Portugal. So he moved to France for six months, learnt French whilst he was there working,, then migrated to Australia in 1968 and lived in Atherton, Mareeba and then Mt Isa. As happens to so many people who decide to stay in the Territory, he came for a two-week holiday and has been here ever since.
Like many successful people, he has a very close family. His wife, Linda, and his daughter, Rosemary, ably support Tony in his business endeavours. They are a very generous family. They frequently and quietly give considerable sums to many charities. Indeed, just over a year ago, they gave all their takings from Rite Price for two months to three charities.
Tony Milhinhos represents the best in business and endeavour, and Territorians are very fortunate that he chose such a long time ago to settle in Darwin. It is a pleasure to know him and his family, and I wish him continued good fortune.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Mr Deputy Speaker, tonight report on goings-on in the Johnston electorate and beyond.
On 3 February, it was my privilege, with a lot of other people, to witness the arrival of the first Ghan passenger train. It was also a pleasure to attend the Transcontinental Gala Dinner that evening and re-meet a hero of mine, Gough Whitlam, who is still a very imposing figure both physically and in his intellect. That was a great privilege. A lot might be said about Gough Whitlam, but I believe he was a great reformist Australian Prime Minister. I still hold him in the strongest personal regard.
On 5 January, I attended the NTFL vs Western Bulldogs game. That was a fantastic game and there were a lot of football fans. The weather was a little inclement, but it was a great game and everyone there really enjoyed it. I was particularly impressed by the Western Bulldogs and I meet with one of their officers who is, more or less, a community liaison officer. They are intending to do a lot of really good work in health, particularly Aboriginal health, in the Northern Territory. It is a great initiative and I commend the minister for sport for proactively negotiating with the NTFL to get the Western Bulldogs here to play a pre-season game against the NTFL and to have a home here later in the year. I am sure Northern Territorians are really going to support that. They are a great side. I have heard from a number of schools in my electorate that received visits from Western Bulldogs players about how professional they were in their interaction with the children, and what great ambassadors they are for sport.
This is a great government initiative. It is all about lifestyle, our young people and sport, which is a great part of our Territory lifestyle. This Labor government is focussed on lifestyle issues and providing people with the sort of things they love. The turn up to the Bulldogs game in the rain and, more recently, the Essendon game against Fremantle demonstrates peoples’ dedication. I have received many favourable comments about the work of the government and, in particular, the work of our great sports minister.
On 6 January, it was great to attend the Wagaman School assembly. It was the first whole assembly for the year. Their principal, Michelle Cody, does a fantastic job and is supported by Mr Gary Fry, who is the new Assistant Principal. I wish Gary great success in his new job. It was my pleasure to hand out awards to the children at Wagaman. It is a great school, with great behaviour and great education. The numbers are very strong this year, which is a testament to Michelle, the School Council and all the teachers at Wagaman Primary School.
At that first assembly, I heard about this new launch of a program called Terrific Kids, which is sponsored by the Darwin Kiwanis who do a great job in our community. Students from Transition to Year 7 are involved in the program, which focusses on character building. The children are rewarded when they display positive community spirit and good citizenship. That could be helping another child in the playground or supporting someone. There are plenty of good citizens at Wagaman School. I am glad the Kiwanis have chosen Wagaman School as one of the pilots, and I am sure that it is going to be very successful.
Also sponsoring this wonderful initiative is Dominos Pizza. I am sure Kerry and Brian Williams are known to a lot of members in the House because they run Dominos Pizza. They are very successful local business people who live in Wagaman and they have a great capacity for supporting schools, children and families in the area. I can speak from personal experience about that because all of my children, along with others throughout Darwin have worked in Dominos Pizza. Kerry and Brian provide great mentoring, great experience for young kids wanting to get out there and have a go, do some work, learn about making pizzas, learn about taking orders, learn about delivering. My eldest son, who is in the Air Force, worked there for many years. He holds Kerry and Brian in the greatest esteem as do all the other kids. They do a great job in the neighbourhood and it is wonderful for kids to have people like Kerry and Brian there to support them, to talk to them about life in general. It is a great starting point, Dominos Pizza.
On 7 February, I attended the Islamic Mosque on Vanderlin Drive for the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha, which is a very important event on the Islamic calendar. I thank my electorate officer Judy for further researching this because I was very interested in this festival, the festival of sacrifice. It immediately follows a Day of Arafat in the Muslim calendar. This festival is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice everything for God, including the life of his son Ishmael. Because God spared Ishmael, substituting a sheep in his stead, Muslims commemorate this occasion by slaughtering an animal and distributing its meat among family, friends and the needy as a special act of charity for the occasion. I joined with other members in that celebration at the mosque.
Present, amongst many others at that celebration, was the President of the Islamic Society, Dr Mohammad Jillur Rahman, Vice-President Anwar Lamaya, Iman Adama Konda, Kaleem Khan, Dr Hassan Bajhau, Secretary Ander Sunderland and founding member Mr Mohammad Huq. They are a great group that is looking for support from government. They do a great job in our community. There have been some significant extensions at the mosque. For this occasion, there was wonderful food and everyone really enjoyed themselves. I really enjoy the hospitality that the Muslim community extends to us all.
On 10 February I attended the Borella Park Residents meeting and in attendance were Trevor Edwards who does a great job as chairman, Jane Burford who is the secretary, Marcia Russell who works for Crime Prevention NT, Dave Perry who works for Darwin City Council, Brett Shearer also from Darwin City Council, Craig Willcox and Hilda Willcox. The issue at which this group is particularly looking is concerns about pending changes to the park. All residents of Borella Circuit were advised of the potential changes and invited to contribute.
This group arose out of concerns in the neighbourhood about itinerancy and antisocial behaviour in and around the park. The group has done a fantastic job in forming the group, doing a safety audit of the park, making application to government for funding to address some of the issues around that park, and they are doing a great job.
Part of what is being developed is improved lighting for the park. The residents were provided with what is known as a Lux Plan of the proposed lighting placement, which shows how far the light will extend, the point of shadow and all the technical details. It was agreed that two lights be placed along the path within the park and that there will be minimal dark spots and little or no intrusion into neighbouring houses. The lighting will extend approximately 25 m from the lamp post and cost approximately $7000. The committee has a grant from Crime Prevention NT for $15 000, the balance of which will be used to paint current play equipment and furniture, additional tables and chairs may be purchased, tree replacement as well as providing disability access and maybe even the installation of a bubbler, funds permitting. These improvements all go towards crime prevention through environmental design.
Already it has been reported by residents that people are using the park more and that there has been a decrease in the sort of behaviour I mentioned before. I compliment the Borella Park Residents group and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for the great initiatives of this government and Crime Prevention NT in reducing crime. It is already showing up in the statistics; it is showing up on the ground in places like Borella Park. This is a government that is addressing these issues that have been outstanding for many years and I am proud to be part of it.
On 11 February, I attended the Jingili School Council meeting. That is a great group. Jingili School is a great school. In attendance were Jill Sommerville, the Council Chairperson, Julie Cadd from the kindergarten, Randall Cook, who is Principal, Ursula Sulatycki-Holloway, Michael Caldwell and Julie Donald.
Over the Christmas break, Jingili Primary School was able to use government funding to expand their car park to double its original size. This included an entrance and exit so that parents can now drop off their children and drive straight through without having to reverse and do U-turns. Here is a safety initiative that is helping parents in the very real task of dropping off and picking up their kids, crowded school, potential for accidents. We are a safety conscious government; we are supporting schools like Jingili to carry out these works.
The school council also approved some major renovations to occur at the same time. These included the early childhood classrooms and the library being painted with a fantastic colour scheme. The library has now been transformed to include a mini-computer lab that incudes 15 new networked computers. This coincides with a new approach to collaborative library information technology run in cooperation with classroom activities.
The school looks fantastic and has a new vibrancy for students, teachers and parents. It was my privilege to go on a tour with the school council. What was the NT School of Music has been converted into great classrooms. The teachers are very happy. There is a lot of good work there, the school has expanded. All those new classrooms have been painted, as have other areas in the school and there is a great feeling in the school. We as a government are supporting that school and the school appreciates our efforts, particularly the new allocation that has been announced in respect of furniture for schools.
On 13 February, it was my wonderful pleasure to attend a function at the Nightcliff ALP Branch, An Evening with Carmen Lawrence. She spoke forcefully and strongly, and was ably hosted by our member for Nightcliff. There was a great crowd there, a great spirit.
Dr Lawrence, who has enormous experience in education, delivered a fantastic address, reaffirmed Labor values about commitment to education, about equity, about the private system, the public system, and, most importantly, universities, which I believe have been sabotaged particularly by the Howard government in recent times. We were very happy to hear the words of Carmen Lawrence, a great campaigner for the rights of individuals and someone who appreciates education.
I am proud to be a member of the Australian Labor Party in the Northern Territory. It makes my heart swell. I thank the member for Nightcliff for the invitation.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
WARRANT
Deputy Chairman of Committees
Deputy Chairman of Committees
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 12, I nominate Jane Aagaard to act as Deputy Chairman of Committees when requested to do so by the Chairman of Committees.
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Australian Defence Force Deployment to Iraq
Australian Defence Force Deployment to Iraq
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, this morning I draw the attention of members to news that an Australian Defence Force team will deploy to Iraq to help accelerate coalition efforts to train the new Iraqi armed forces. We are proud of our Northern Territory-based troops who perform so professionally when called upon to serve their country. I am sure I speak for all Territorians in wishing them safety and success in their mission. We all hear reports from Iraq about instability and danger, and the work that these troops will undertake can only help to improve the internal stability of that country, and to make it a safer place for the civilian population, which has had enough of warfare and violence.
Since Robertson Barracks became fully operational in 1999, it has emerged as an increasingly important Defence base from which Australian and foreign troops have been deployed to a number of crises, including Interfet operations in East Timor, as well as Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and, most recently, Iraq. I note that it was only several weeks ago that my Defence Support Minister, Paul Henderson, wrote to three HQ 1 Brigade personnel based at Robertson Barracks, who had each been awarded a United States Army Commendation Medal and US Army Achievement Awards by the US government for exemplary professionalism in action in Iraq.
Now, 25 soldiers from the Army’s 1 Brigade will join troops from Brisbane to form a team whose task it will be to build operational capacity within the new Iraqi Army. It is planned that they will be in Iraq for about six months, and their work will build on the efforts of troops currently serving with coalition military assistance training schemes that have already played a major part in graduating the first four battalions of the Iraqi army. This phase of the operation will focus on training three Iraqi army battalions, and the brigade headquarters staff. They will provide training in the full range of professional military and practical skills, including receiving orders and instructions, marching, fitness and weapons training. They will also provide leadership, mentoring and equipping Iraqi brigade headquarters senior staff with the skills to maintain and develop the training program. I understand that as well as the core contingent, security detachment personnel and an additional two Australian light armoured vehicles from Robertson Barracks will be deployed to provide security for the training teams as the training base is located outside Baghdad, away from the Australian Task Force headquarters.
We wish the troops well in this very important exercise. Our thoughts go with them, and with their families and loved ones who await their return here in Darwin.
Members: Hear, hear.
Mr BURKE (Brennan): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for her statement. I am sure that all of the personnel of Robertson Barracks, when they become aware of the Chief Minister’s report this morning, will also be very thankful that this Assembly is thinking of them at this time.
As the Chief Minister said, this is a very important commitment by Australian troops to help rebuild the capacity of the Iraqi defence force. We should not underestimate the danger that these troops are in and the fact, whilst another contingent is shortly to move to Iraq, there has been a troop plus of 2 Cavalry Regiment in Iraq for some time, operating in a very dangerous operational area.
They are in a very difficult situation: the Australian Defence Force over many years have proved that they have the expertise for this sort of training and it is an accolade to the Australian Defence Force that they have been chosen to take on this very important role. Unfortunately, in Iraq at this time, it is those sorts of organisations that are being targeted. Whilst I am absolutely confident in the professionalism of our forces, we Territorians should be very certain of the fact that they are in a very difficult operational area. We certainly hope that all is well in the time that they are there.
It does underscore the point that I have been making for some time, and the Australian Defence Force is very well aware of it. On the one hand, while people might talk about the difficulties of having a greater American defence presence in Australia, the very fact that Australian forces operate and become inter-operable with the American forces is one of the ways that our soldiers, sailors and airmen stay safe. It is no coincidence that there were no Australian airmen lost in Iraq. One of the reasons that they were not lost was because their methods of operation with American forces are very well known, they are very familiar with them, and because of that, they stay safe. So the more training that we can do with American forces, the more we attend to the safety of our own forces. I wish them all well.
Members: Hear, hear!
_____________________________
Distinguished Visitor
Distinguished Visitor
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on with the next ministerial report, I acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery of the former member for Macdonnell, Mr Neil Bell. On behalf of all members, I extend you a warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear.!
_____________________________
Clinical Reference Groups
Dr TOYNE (Health): Madam Speaker, I would like today to speak on a important reform, the introduction of clinical reference groups, which was highlighted in the Building Healthier Communities five year framework released last week by myself and the Minister for Family and Community Services.
Clinical reference groups are to be established for particular areas of practice in our health system. The Bansemer Report identified that many areas of the department, prior to the restructure in 2003, were isolated, both geographically and in practice terms. For example, most of the Territory’s hospital clinical teams did not coordinate their activities or share resources or information very well. The new clinical reference groups will help overcome these difficulties.
Groups have already been set up in renal, palliative care and critical care. The rehabilitation group will meet for the first time this month. Initial planning for the clinical reference groups for cardiac and cancer is under way. Each group is made up of experts in the particular field, including doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, Aboriginal health workers, policy representatives and a senior executive from the hospital network.
The introduction of clinical reference groups is the key to supporting our regional hospitals and staff in a more effective and sustainable manner, and will help to drive our push for better quality health services. The groups will promote the use of the latest research in our health system, and ensure all health workers keep up to date with the most current health practice information.
Clinical reference groups will increase access to specialist skills, management of particular diseases in all areas of practise and will help guide the development of policy, services and evaluation across the Northern Territory hospital network and the broader health system. They will advise management on clinical planning and development, reflecting professional expertise within the reference groups. The groups are not decision making management bodies; rather, they ensure major decisions on policy, service development and clinical planning are made with high level professional input.
The clinical reference groups will also appraise departmental health initiatives and share treatment protocols and standards. These activities are particularly important, given the geographic isolation of health practitioners in the Territory, and will help practitioners in their pursuit of better health outcomes for all Territorians.
In the future, as we flagged in our Building Healthier Communities framework, information exchange within the groups will be easier with the roll-out of technology such as video conferencing. The creation of the clinical reference groups is one way we will build on the sound clinical services for which our Territory hospitals have been acknowledged nationally.
Ms CARTER (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I thank the minister for his report. My only comment to the minister is, as I am sure he is aware in his position with regards to Central Australia, the growing disquiet within the department about the control that Darwin is having over other areas.
I hope that, with regards to the clinical reference groups, the information is spread widely across the Territory and that the input comes widely from outside of Darwin. I have had a number of comments from Health department people working in Alice Springs about their frustration with the growing strength of Darwin in its control over the delivery of health services.
Dr TOYNE (Health): Madam Speaker, I can assure the member for Port Darwin that I am a Central Australian and that is not a bad start to ensuring that we do not have centralised decision making. There is a very important reason why decision making should be drawn together into a more powerful and strategic level, but, equally, we need to have strong ownership of decisions and input to the decisions, as you pointed out.
We will certainly try to ensure to do that. We are looking at the regional administration of the department at the moment in Central Australia. These clinical reference groups will certainly involve strong input from the regions. I will make sure that happens.
Indigenous Governance Conference
Mr AH KIT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I rise to inform the house of the Building Effective Indigenous Governance Conference, which was held from 5 to 7 November 2003 on the traditional lands of the Mirrar people at Jabiru.
The Northern Territory is a unique part of Australia. The diversity of the Territory can be its major strength. Every region has different opportunities and challenges and the Territory needs these opportunities to be taken up and to meet these challenges if we are to realise our full potential. A major strength is that through Australia’s indigenous peoples, we have an opportunity to work alongside the oldest living culture in the world. That is what makes the Territory and Territorians even more unique, and Territorians rose to this challenge and provided important contributions to the conference.
The conference was a unique opportunity for us to consider one of the biggest challenges facing the Northern Territory: that of designing and exercising broadly representative, culturally legitimate and practical governing arrangements in indigenous communities and regions.
The Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Policy and the Department of the Chief Minister, the Northern and Central Land Councils, LGANT, ATSIC and Reconciliation Australia, convened this conference to help chart a way forward. There was a strong commitment from all participants and organisers to be willing to work together to address current barriers to develop innovative strategies and to support indigenous initiatives to build stronger, more effective governance.
It is a challenge for us as a government to operate in partnership with indigenous people to develop forms of governance that enable indigenous people to take control of their lives and communities. Through participants’ willingness to participate in paper presentations, discussion sessions, group sessions and through networking, indigenous and non-indigenous Territorians sent a strong message that there is no turning back and that we can only benefit by moving forward together in partnership.
We hear the word ‘governance’, but what do we mean? Governance can broadly be defined as the processes, structures and institutions, formal or informal, through which a group, community or society makes decisions, distributes and exercises authority and power, determines strategic goals, organises corporation, group and individual behaviour, and develops rules and assigns responsibility.
We were fortunate to have international guests for one of the presentations. The Harvard project on American Indian Economic Development has identified core principles and standards of good governance. From this presentation, it was clear that many of the universal benchmarks of good governance are missing from, or are currently under-developed, in Northern Territory indigenous communities.
Therefore, this conference was able to share with us the great potential to build more effective governance in communities and regions. This challenges us, as Territorians, to find some kind of cultural match or common ground for governance models. That is, a fit between the formal structures and institutions of governance, on the one hand, and indigenous perceptions of how authority should be organised and exercised on the other.
The more a governing body finds a workable match between these matters, the more likely it will be to secure the ongoing support of indigenous Territorians. Points of discussion included:
critical population size for effective regional governance and service delivery?
will every region require a different model of governance, or are there key common structures, principles
and processes that can inform them all?
what relationship and form of accountability will regional bodies have with constituent communities, and how
can the statutory rights and interests of traditional owners and the diverse interests of other indigenous residents
of communities be recognised and protected under governance arrangements?
The way forward for reforming indigenous governance in the Northern Territory will only be sustained by a truly collaborative and united effort on the part of indigenous Territorians, the government and the private sector. There was very positive feedback at the conference. I quote from a fellow participant who said:
- As a council president of my community, I have found lots of interesting comments and the feedback that I will
take back to my community. Keep up the good work.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Madam Speaker, the only sad thing about this is that it is not a ministerial statement. There is so much to cover that it should be the subject of a ministerial statement from the minister.
I have 19 of the 20 papers from the Indigenous Governance conference in front of me. Believe me, they make for some heartening and sometimes disheartening reading. It is important to remember that, when you are talking about issues in indigenous governance, that indigenous people are not one homogenous group. They are people with their own opinions, languages, cultures under the general heading of ‘indigenous’. That is recognised in some of the papers. The very issues as to what is good governance, property rights, those sorts of things, are still not entirely settled; that is raised in the paper by Ganter and Furber. I was attracted to some of the things Norman Fry, the Chairman of the NLC, had to say about the economic development of the Northern Territory.
Indigenous people own half the Northern Territory and have property rights interests in the other half. It would be nave to suggest that they are not participants in the economic future of the Northern Territory, and I will never suggest that. I hope, through government processes, no matter what they be, that the economic partners in the Northern Territory, be they indigenous or otherwise, are encouraged to play on a field which is level, fair and will deliver just outcomes in the business sense to all participants.
I would seek with a statement by the minister on the Indigenous Governance Conference because this is an issue that needs to be explored at length by this House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I concur with the member for Macdonnell. This requires a far longer debate than the two minutes we have for ministerial reports.
There are many issues that need to be discussed. There are issues, for instance, about governance of land versus governance in the nature of delivery of essential services. There are issues like the relevance of local government on private land, which Aboriginal land generally is. There are issues such as how well Tiwi Islands local government is working. I have seen plenty to indicate that there are problems. I have expressed my concerns about how representative of people community management boards have been.
As I said in the local government debate, if the foundations that are set are not democratic and fair, then the people who are represented by whatever system of governance is in place are not fairly represented and have no faith that the person they have put there has been elected fairly, then it will never work. You will leave yourself open for nepotism and intimidation in some areas. We need to set down parameters carefully and right at the beginning to ensure those things do not become the norm. I would like to see the minister present this in the form of a statement so that we can discuss it more fully.
Mr AH KIT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, first let me comment on the member for Macdonnell’s remarks. We are a government of inclusion, not like the previous CLP for some 26-odd years that excluded Aboriginal people from the processes of moving forward.
We will continue to move forward and consult within indigenous people – communities and leaders – and if there is an opportunity for a statement, I will deliver one. We need to be very clear on what our policies are as we move forward to next year and possibly having an election. It would be nice to know what the opposition’s thoughts and policies are in regards to how they have had a change of heart since the last election.
I am keen to have my doors open on all occasions for any concerns that members opposite, along with the member for Nelson, wish to raise with me on how we move forward.
Wadeye – Developments
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I would like to report on some of the positive developments which have been taking place in the community of Port Keats, Wadeye.
Members may have read the article in the Bulletin magazine which described Wadeye as ‘gangster’s paradise’. This unbalanced article failed to mention the positive work being done in the community or the shared responsibility agreement signed by the newly established Thamarrurr Regional Council, the Commonwealth government and the Territory in March last year.
The community acknowledges that there are many issues it has to address and is now working closely with Australian and Territory government agencies through this shared responsibility agreement. The agreement was developed as one of the Council of Australian Governments’ indigenous community coordination trial sites, where a whole-of-government coordinated approach to the provision of services is now being taken.
The Thamarrurr Regional Council has been formed as a local government body to represent the 20 clans of the region. The new council was developed through the work of both the community and officers from the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs. We believe it has established a structure for decision-making based on the community’s own cultural requirements, gives it the confidence to make decisions about issues confronting it, and provides the accountability structures needed by both funding bodies and Thamarrurr’s membership. Prominent roles are being played by Felix Bunduck, Boniface Perdjert, Theodora Narndu among the elders, and Matthias Nemarluk, Leon Melpi, Tobias Nganbe, Aloisious Kungul, Ursula Kinthari and William Parnbuk among an emerging generation of leaders.
Thamarrurr has developed as its motto ‘Give every kid a chance’, reflecting its forward-thinking approach to the needs of its sizeable young community. It has chosen three priority areas, which have been agreed to by the other partners. These priority areas are women and families, youth, and construction.
A number of important initiatives have been developed by the local women’s centre, including the development of money management and financial literacy training and the development of small enterprise activities, including the management of the local bakery. The construction of a factory recently funded by the Commonwealth to manufacture tilt-up concrete housing panels, combined with efforts being taken to increase manufacturing efficiencies and standardising designs, will assist to reduce the cost of housing and increase local employment and capacity.
This government is not prepared to sit back and repeat the policy failures of the past. It will do all it can to find positive and innovative ways to improve outcomes on the ground in remote areas like Wadeye.
I would like to give some examples of the size of the difficulties that confront this community, its leaders, and government agencies tasked with responsibility to provide services. The service population of the Thamarrurr region, as recorded by the ANU’s Dr John Taylor late last year, was 2373 but it is expected to reach 4470 by 2023, larger than the current size of Nhulunbuy. This population growth is much higher than similar sized country towns in other parts of Australia, with almost none of the basic infrastructure services normally associated with such places.
Currently, 45.7% of the population is under the age of 15. There are 5.2 indigenous children to each employed adult, and if CDE is excluded, this figure would be 20.7 children for each employed adult. Overall, indigenous personal incomes are more than 80% lower than non-indigenous incomes and reflect the high level of welfare dependency.
One statistic that is particularly disturbing is the need for additional housing. Currently, existing housing stock provides for an average of five people per available bedroom. If the community is to provide enough houses in 2023, or one generation, to allow for an average of seven people per house, an additional 465 dwellings will be needed.
The Thamarrurr Regional Council is now working with government agencies through this COAG Indigenous Communities Coordination Pilot to develop innovative ways to deal with these massive issues. At the national level, both the Prime Minister and Senator Vanstone, as Indigenous Affairs Minister, have demonstrated their commitment to this process and to the work under way at Wadeye. This government remains committed to whole-of-government approaches to such complex issues. The community and Thamarrurr have tremendous challenges ahead, and this government will continue to support it as it grapples with the legacy of neglect it has inherited.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): Madam Speaker, until the last part of that delivery, I was in favour of what the Chief Minister was saying, but to say ‘neglect’ is outrageous.
Let me give you a few examples. As far as Thamarrurr goes, it is a graduation of a process that has been going on, one that I have been heavily involved with for the last nine years, and I congratulate the people of Wadeye and the surrounding region for getting to that point. It has been something they have put together to reflect their cultural makeup, 20 clans. To say that the CLP has neglected them is just outrageous.
There was $300 000 for a swimming pool, and when they asked Cabinet out there to provide some extra money to complete the swimming pool, the Treasurer said: ‘No, sorry, we’re not going to do it’. That is the support they get from this Labor government.
One of the things in relation to housing under the CLP government was to support a new suburb. Leon Melpi wanted to provide his clan group with a new place to live, and a new suburb of Wadeye - and it sounds a bit strange to have a suburb in Wadeye - but we supported a suburb being built some distance away from the main centre of the town, contributed $800 000 to the power, sewerage, supported through all of the government agencies the development of that suburb. Moving back to their own land has been a very big boost for the community, which is a major issue out there, one that I am working with them on about how to address the factors. Twenty clan groups, 2400 people, are living in one clan group’s area, and that is something that is being worked on at this time, and I am certainly glad to help them.
Regarding enterprise development, I was happy last year to organise and hold a workshop for all of the council members that the Chief Minister named out at my father’s place, a well known police training area. It was a very successful workshop. One of the things it led to is the women being able to develop their own economic enterprises …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, member for Daly.
Mr BALDWIN: … that are proving to be very successful. If I had more time, I could add a lot more.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, just briefly, the reason that I am talking about Wadeye today is an article in the Bulletin magazine which gave a very distorted view of what was happening in that community. I am standing up for that community, and I expect the local member to be standing up and challenging the details of that article as well.
Reports noted pursuant to Sessional Order.
LIQUOR AMENDMENT BILL (No 4)
(Serial 193)
(Serial 193)
Continued from 26 November 2003.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I note that in the last 60 minutes, I have received notification of amendments. I will keep my comments short at this stage so that I have an opportunity to hear the minister’s comments in relation to the amendments and other proposed amendments of which I have just become aware.
I agree with the minister that the second reading speech was a very comprehensive and complicated that covered all aspects. I note the minister’s comment at the end that if he found the person who wrote it, he would deal with them most severely for putting us…
Mr Stirling: I have apologised to him.
Mr MILLS: I trust you found that gentleman and have dealt appropriately.
In regards to the requirements of the National Competition Policy and the recommendations contained therein, I note that they were initially enshrined in the amendments. Upon closer inspection, I note the need to address some of the problems that should have been addressed in the first instance.
It is illuminating to read the contribution by the member for Braitling, who urges the minister to slow down and to consult more deliberately with the community so that we don’t have these running repairs to what started out in a brave and courageous way. As I indicated, it is less than 60 minutes ago that I received additional amendments that are, on the face of it, commendable and will be supported by the opposition, but I do need to hear more from the minister with regards to these amendments.
I note, too, that the putting off of Sunday trading, one of the recommendations of the National Competition Policy, is being put off. This is a contentious issue that has been put off to go through further consultation and, of course, Restricted Areas Applications have also been deferred, so I would like an indication from the minister of how that next phase is going to be managed.
I support the objectives of the act being part of this amendment. They set out very clearly what it seeks to achieve. That certainly is supported. However, in respect of the area dealing with objections, I note that today’s amendments rectify a very basic problem. The definition initially was objections related to the issue of a licence. It is a worrisome oversight for which we now have the amendment that clarifies that it is not a simple issue of a licence, but a whole range of applications that could be made. For example, the application for the grant of a licence, we can have objections raised there, but also making that greater clarification, an objection to the application for variation of conditions of a licence, an application for the substitution of another premises for the premises specified in a licence, and so it is making it far clearer. That is supported and should have been there in the first place. Finally, going to the last one, objection can be raised for an application for approval to make a material alteration to licensed premises.
I note the intent of the amendments to elevate and define more clearly what is in the public interest. Of course, the objects of the act describe in greater detail - as I said before, I support this - and provide greater clarity as to what we are trying to achieve with the act.
I also support the removal of unnecessary red tape. That is welcome.
I look forward to continuing my comments as I hear more about the most recent proposed amendments.
Mrs BRAHAM (Braitling): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of this bill, in particular the amendments that will be moved in the committee stage.
I realise that those amendments have been delivered late to all members, but let me reassure you that there has been a lot of back room discussion taking place with the minister over these amendments. I am obviously referring to clause 15 that amends sections 47F(2) and (3) of the principal act.
These provisions deal with grounds on which people in groups can make objections to liquor licence applications, and applications to vary liquor licence conditions. Section 47(1) is also amended as a consequence of these changes. I am pleased to say that, in discussion with the minister, these were raised as concerns and they have been addressed.
As you will recall, these amendments have the same intent as the Liquor Amendment Bill (Serial 189) that I proposed on General Business Day in November. I will not go over the grounds that I did during that debate, however you will all remember my second reading speech when I basically said that I was concerned by decisions being handed down by the Liquor Commission on the validity of objections, and the fact that the government had amended the act the previous November and, as a consequence of that, we were finding that the Liquor Commission was eliminating many of the objections that were raised. That was the basis of the amendment I moved in November. Those amendments restricted the grounds of objection to just one ground, amenity of the neighbourhood, and restricted the criteria for people making objections to such an extent that people in groups concerned about social health and safety issues were being barred.
When I made that speech in November, I referred to two Liquor Commission decisions that worried me because of the objections that had been ruled invalid. You will remember that one had come from a drug policy expert employed by the Police service. I am pleased to see the minister has included that amendment to section 47F(3) and 47F(3)(c), and that will address the issue.
Since I introduced my bill, the commission has made two further decisions - and remember, we are talking about when they decided whether an objection is valid to go before a hearing, so it is the step before the hearing - that have highlighted the problem with this section of the act. The first related to an application for a liquor licence from Headlines for Hair and Beauty, a hairdresser in Alice Springs that wanted a restricted licence so they could serve wine to clients while they are having their hair done. Three objections were lodged. The first objection came from the office of Diabetes Australia, and that objection was accepted as legitimate because they actually have an office next door to the hair salon, so it is clearly in the neighbourhood. The group was concerned about the amenity of the neighbourhood, the effect upon their amenity if the application was successful.
However, the second objection was from Holyoake in Alice Springs, which is a non-profit organisation dealing with the effects of alcohol misuse. Although Holyoake is a community group that could legitimately object to a liquor application, it could only do so on the grounds of adverse effects on amenity. Holyoake’s objections were on other grounds. Here are a couple of them. They said it was inappropriate for a hair salon to sell alcohol; that it would set a precedent for other hair salons; that to issue another licence to a small business would sent an inappropriate message to the community of Alice Springs; that several liquor licences already exist close to Headlines providing sufficient venues for people wanting to drink in that area. Unfortunately, the objection was dismissed. Commissioner Peter Allen made the following comments:
- Holyoake’s objection, although articulate and likely to be well-informed…
and I stress that the Commissioner said that
- …makes no reference, either directly or indirectly, to the amenity of the neighbourhood where the hair salon
is located.
These are the commissioner’s words:
- Whether or not I regard the organisation’s concerns as genuine or reasonable is irrelevant to an assessment
of the objection in light of the legislation.
We cannot be clearer than what the commissioner said in that instance. The objection was dismissed.
The third objection came from the Manager of Central Australian Alcohol and Other Drugs Services in the Territory’s own Health Department. Brycen Brook objected on several grounds, including the following:
- The granting of the licence would increase alcohol availability. The increased availability would lead to
increased alcohol-related harm. The granting of the licence would undermine the hard work that the
Alice Springs community was doing to address these alcohol issues.
I know the Minister for Central Australia is behind the type of actions we are taking in Alice Springs to address issues of alcohol harm. However, again, because the objection was not related to the amenity of the neighbourhood, it was dismissed.
In my opinion, these genuine objections should have been heard at the hearing of the application for that licence but were never heard because they did not get past first base.
Minister, perhaps in your response, you could elaborate on what ‘amenity of the neighbourhood’ means because it is not spelt out clearly in the act. ‘Amenity of the neighbourhood’ is something that needs to be clarified.
The Liquor Commission has yet to make a decision on Headlines. However, since these preliminary decisions were made, another community group from Alice Springs has written to the local paper to express its concern. The Territory branch of Health Consumer’s Voice said it was ‘horrified’ to hear that a hairdressing salon wanted to sell alcohol six days a week. The group said that given the community’s concern in Alice Springs about the over-use of alcohol, there should be no further granting of licences until after the results of alcohol trials are released this year. I imagine if this group had tried to lodge an objection on those grounds, the objection would also have been dismissed.
The second case that has arisen since November relates to the Alawa Food Mart in Darwin. I am well aware there are members of this Chamber who are more than concerned about that application. There were 46 letters of objection, several of which came from one person, and one that had 32 signatures attached to it. Commissioner John Withnall added caveats to 17 of the objections because, while these 17 objectors each raised the matter of adverse effects on the amenity of the neighbourhood, they also raised other grounds that related to the adequacy of existing liquor licence outlets or to the practice of retaining credit cards on the premises. Commissioner Withnall made it clear that these two grounds were no longer available as discrete grounds of objection, and could only be raised if they related to an impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood.
These are clear examples of the problems that have arisen since the Liquor Act was amended in November 2002. Previously, legitimate grounds of objection – and, in my view, valid grounds - have not been accepted. These amendments mean that agencies, individuals and groups will be able to object not just on the grounds of amenity, but on the grounds of impact on health, education, public safety and social conditions. I also discussed with the minister provision for an individual to object.
I notice that two members in the House who did not live in the neighbourhood had their objections accepted because they were members of this House and had a responsibility to put the views of the community. I do not think, minister, that your amendments address objections from an individual; they deal with community groups and organisations but, if I, as a member from Alice Springs, want to object to the Alawa application on the grounds that I can see consequences that may occur as a result of granting the license, then I cannot do it. Perhaps, minister, you will address that in your response
I understand that you do not want to allow individuals who have commercial interests to be able to object, and we agree that frivolous objections should not be allowed. There may be cause, however, to consider individuals. In a way, I am relating it to members of this Assembly who probably feel they have a right to make an objection because they are representing people of the Northern Territory.
Minister, I thank you for your cooperation on these amendments. I am very pleased about the way you are willing to discuss my concerns and to look at the amendments I proposed and enhance what you have already done. It is a case of government responding sensibly to matters raised by a member, other than one of your members, and in this case, it was an Independent. I welcome the changes proposed to section 47, and I commend the amendments to the House.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I want to raise one point, looking at the amendments as discussed by the member for Braitling, and the ones proposed by the member for Nelson.
I want to reinforce the point about individuals being able to object. This was an area of some debate in the last amendments. I point out that by introducing amendments under the name of Mr Stirling, clause 15 amendment 74.1, what we are saying is that the objection may only be made on the ground that the grant of the license variation of conditions, substitution etcetera, will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood where the premises the subject of the application are or will be located, or the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community.
Whilst I support the reasons an objection can be made, if you are talking about the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community, I suspect you are talking about the wider community, yet there remains a restriction on those who can actually object; individuals in the near neighbourhood. You are saying ‘broader community organisations’, but you have included that if it has an effect on the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the wider community, then individuals cannot have their say.
I find that a real dichotomy. They have to look at the effects - health, education and so on - yet you are not going to allow someone from outside the near neighbourhood make an objection. I would think there are grounds for an objection to the legislation, as it stands, under law. I can understand that you want to restrict frivolous objections. I can understand that people cannot object on commercial grounds. That is fair enough. But surely, if you are concerned about the health, education, public safety and social conditions in the wider community, then the wider community should be able to have their say. That needs some clarification, minister.
I support what the member for Braitling said about the word ‘amenity’. You will note that in the last debate on this, that was cause for much consternation because it is not clearly defined in the bill, the principal act, the amendments you have proposed or anywhere. It creates the ability for loose interpretation. Minister, I would like you to clarify those points in your response, and I am sure, with the assistance of your advisors, you can do that.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I would also like to talk about the amendments. Members will notice I have an amendment to an amendment, which I will discuss in the second reading, but I will elaborate on when we come to the committee stage.
I support the general thrust of what has been proposed, especially the objectives of the act. By including the objectives, you clearly define the policy of the government on control of liquor in our community.
There are two things I would like to say about that. A phrase that comes up a number of times in the objectives is ‘the public interest’. These objectives have been written for the benefit of the public interest. That is important because when we get to one of my proposed amendments, it relates to an individual having the right to object to a liquor licence application. I have included that because in the objectives, ‘the public interest’ is the dominant recurrent theme.
That being the case, I, as a member of the public, whether as a politician or an individual, should have a democratic right to speak up on a matter of public importance such as the issue of a liquor licence. Being a member of the Substance Abuse Committee, one knows that the issue of alcohol sales and marketing in our community is very serious. We consume about 1.5 to 1.9 times the average amount of alcohol compared with other parts of Australia. There are people in the community who may not belong to a group or the fire brigade or live in the neighbourhood, but who have concerns. They should be entitled to have their say. That is part of our democratic principles.
The Planning Act gives me the right to object to a 33 storey building in Alice Springs. You might say that I do not live there, so what? It is up to the Development Consent Authority to decide whether my objection is frivolous or mischievous. That is exactly what is written in the amendment the minister has proposed to section 15A: an objection can be dismissed on the grounds of being frivolous, irrelevant or malicious.
That is exactly where my objection should go. It should not be for the government to decide that I cannot object; it should be for the Commission to decide whether my objection is valid and I have given valid reasons for an objection.
What we are doing with this legislation, based on difficulties between licensees that occurred in Mitchell Street last year or the year before, we have thrown the baby out with the bath water. We have said: ‘Because we have this problem, we will legislate in this manner’. Sadly, the public lost out. I do not mind the licensees losing out, but we, as members of the public, should be allowed to comment.
The classic example is the Alawa Supermarket. I have been to Alawa Supermarket about once in my life. You might say that I don’t know the circumstances of the complaints, but on reading the summary of which objections will and will not be heard, it is obvious that the reason the members for Johnston and Casuarina will be heard is because Alawa Supermarket is on the boundary and, therefore, he said, it skirted both electorates.
I would love to ask if the Alawa Supermarket had been 100 m inside the Casuarina electorate, would that have allowed the member for Johnston, whom I am sure had concerns, to object to that licence application? Say there were problems from the Alawa Supermarket that spilled into the member for Millner’s area, would his objection be heard? He does not work in the neighbourhood.
What if I am concerned because I know that some of my relations were involved in antisocial behaviour, and I am concerned that if they kept this up, they would get into trouble with the law or they might have a premature end to life or whatever? I might have some general concerns about those people. I might be someone who is concerned about homeless and itinerant people. According to what I read in the Alawa Supermarket hearing, I would not be allowed to have a say.
That is a fundamental flaw in this legislation. We need to go down this path. I hope my amendment will be given a fair hearing and will be adopted. It would be better to have my amendment, that any member of the public can object, and for the government to sit back and have another look at it and see whether they can propose an amendment that would cover their concerns about licensees. In other words, let us cover everyone for the time being because that is a much better way to go. Then if we need to have some exemption clauses, let us bring it back to parliament and discuss whether there are ways around that without preventing the public from having a say. We will come to that a little later.
Clause 7 introduces criteria:
6. Public interest criteria in respect of licence or licensed premises.
- (1) When the commission has regard to the objects of this act, in –
- the commission must, when taking into account the public interest in the sale provision, promotion and consumption
of liquor, consider any of the criteria specified in subsection (2) that are relevant to the relevant to the application
or conditions.
For subsection (1), the criteria are the following:
(a) harm or ill-health caused to people or a group of people by the consumption of liquor is to be minimised;
(b) liquor is to be sold, or sold and consumed, on licensed premises in a responsible manner;
(c) public order and safety must not be jeopardised, particularly where circumstances or events are
expected to attract large numbers of persons to licensed premises or an area adjacent to those premises;
(d) the safety, health and welfare of persons who use licensed premises must not be put at risk;
(e) noise emanations from licensed premises must not be excessive;
(f) business conducted at licensed premises must cause undue offence, annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience
to persons who reside or work in the neighbourhood of the premises or who are making their way to or from, or
using the services of, a place of public worship, hospital or school; and
(g) a licensee must provide with the provisions of this act and any other law in force in the Territory which regulate
in any manner the sale or consumption of liquor or the location, construction or facilities of licensed premises…
However, to more clearly define it, surely the objectives should have been written into the reasons one can object. That would have been a lot more logical. If someone appeals, they could say they are appealing on the grounds that the commissioner has not taken into account the objects of the act. The commissioner might say he only has to take into consideration section 47F. I do not know whether those two should be the same, but I would be interested in your response.
You threw a little this morning when you gave me the amendments so late, but I will try and get back on track.
Clause 3 also deals with objects of the act.
- (2) The further objects of this act are –
- (a) to protect and enhance community amenity, social harmony and wellbeing through the responsible sale,
provision and consumption of liquor;
(b) to regulate the sale of liquor in a way that contributes to the responsible development of liquor and
associated industries in the Territory; and…
There is a theme in relation to the marketing of alcohol. I have said a number of times that the marketing of alcohol needs scrutiny. For instance, the way vodka drinks are marketed at young girls - the bright coloured, cordial-tasting drinks that we know are being deliberately aimed at the younger market. Does the Liquor Commissioner have the power to that these products are not being marketed in a way that is appropriate, and has he the power to step in?
You might think this is frivolous, but look at these. These are Arnotts biscuits with Tia Maria …
Mr Stirling: They are awful, Gerry, too.
Mr WOOD: I am told they are awful, and the Kahlua …
Mr Stirling: I could only manage half a one.
Mr WOOD: I do not have a problem with people selling chocolate liqueurs, no problem at all. In fact, as they said, you are not going to get drunk on these unless you eat half a carton of them.
The issue I have is that this is subliminal advertising. This is a very common form of biscuit that many kids would eat. Everyone knows about Tim Tams. They have the exact brand, the style of the brand is written on all these biscuits. If that is not subliminal advertising, I will eat my hat! The company that makes Tia Maria and Arnotts, obviously, had to agree to put their name on these biscuits. They knew what they were doing; they did not do it for the sake of a nice confectionary. Tia Maria is selling their product and Arnotts is trying to run off their name as well. That sort of advertising is unsuitable. I do not have a problem, as I said, with chocolate liqueurs. When you buy a specialist chocolate, you know it is liqueur.
However, this is a common form of biscuit that kids love to eat. It has not given Arnotts a good name. They had enough trouble when we lost our Australian biscuits. Now we have an overseas company promoting something it should not promote. I am interested to know whether the Liquor Commissioner has any power to say this is not appropriate.
Mr Stirling: Like the alcoholic icy poles a year ago. Remember? Never made it.
Mr WOOD: Okay, yes, and Moo Juice. Thank you.
The member for Braitling just spoke about the hairdresser applying for an alcohol licence. I do not know if you have been keeping up with some of the debate that has been occurring in New South Wales…
Mr Henderson: Oops! There goes my ear!
Mr WOOD: Yes, well, some of us would not be there long enough to have a drink, anyway.
There has been a debate brewing in New South Wales about the role of the NCC. You mentioned the NCC in your second reading. In fact, it was in the first paragraph. A lot of what you are proposing is based on the requirements of competition policy. I have to agree with Mr Carr on some of these issues. Where are we going with competition policy?
I will read from the Australian Financial Review of 6 February. It is headed: ‘Alcohol row brews between Carr and the PM’. I will read part of it:
- The war of words between the New South Wales and Federal governments over the National Competition Council
has intensified with New South Wales Premier, Bob Carr, labelling a move to allow convenience stores to sell alcohol
as competition policy gone mad.
Mr Carr yesterday demanded that the Prime Minister, John Howard, rein in the council after convenience stores and
service stations began a campaign to win the right to sell alcohol, a move they say will offer consumers more choice.
New South Wales has been forced to prepare laws to deregulate the state’s liquor industry after the National
Competition Council, which is charged with overseeing the decade-old national competition reform process,
penalised New South Wales $51m last year for its failure to deregulate.
‘Mr Howard must pull the NCC into line and refund the $51m to the state government,’ Mr Carr said yesterday.
The state’s liquor stores backed his call, saying Mr Howard and the federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, had to act
to overturn the fundamentalism of the NCC.
I have some sympathy with that. It is all very well to have competition as a general philosophy but, if it is applied as a blanket, we are in for big trouble. In the Northern Territory, I believe that the issuing of liquor licences is a serious matter.
I know there is an argument as to whether one increases problems with alcohol by increasing the number of licensees, but that debate should be separate from whether someone may apply for a licence on an open slather basis.
I our government does not always see the NCC as the reason we are passing legislation. There has been debate previously on whether we should have stood up and said that we do not agree. I realise that they hold the purse strings, so I can imagine that New South Wales did not like losing $51m, and we would not like losing money, either. However, perhaps there has come a time when state governments have to sit down with the Prime Minister. I do not know who controls the NCC. Is it a body unto itself, or does it have anybody who can say: ‘Look, we really need to review your guidelines’?
It might be an opportunity for the states and the Commonwealth get together to say: ‘Okay, we agree with competition policy but how far should it go with certain products, such as liquor?’ so that we do not have this problem. Perhaps we could take the NCC on a trip around the Territory and show them the problems we have so that they understand where we are coming from.
Minister, I will not continue any longer. In general, I support what you propose. It has not gone far enough. The objectives are a big plus, but they should be part of the reasons one can object. I would be interested to hear your comments.
Dr BURNS (Transport and Infrastructure): Madam Speaker, to a large degree, I speak as a local member who is very concerned about alcohol issues. As someone who has lived in the Territory for a while, who has come to the conclusion that alcohol is a very important way of our lifestyle, there is no doubt about that, but it also presents a lot of problems to the Territory. I will outline today what some of those problems are.
Basically, I welcome these amendments to the Liquor Act. I am waiting with anticipation on the release of the Alcohol Framework. I have ambivalent attitudes to alcohol the same as everyone else. I have before that I enjoy a shandy on a hot day; I like a drink, but I also realise that drinking too much can and does present problems in our community.
I looked for a couple of quotes to sum up this ambivalence about drinking. Here is one from Billy Connolly:
- A well balanced person has a drink in each hand.
Our Administrator even penned a song:
- We’ve got some bloody good drinkers in the Northern Territory,
From Darwin down to Alice, they’re always on a spree…
So this is part of the mystique, part of the folklore of the Northern Territory. On the other side, John Seldon, who was a jurist in the 17th century and a bit of commentator, said:
- ‘Tis not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the excess.
I preface my remarks by saying that we need to be careful about dipping into wowserism; that is not the Territory way. We recognise that drinking is part of our lifestyle. We do not want to become wowsers in our attitude, but there are issues that we need to look at, particularly alcohol-related harm and alcohol policy in the Northern Territory.
I have already mentioned the Alcohol Framework, which I believe that the minister will releasing in the next few days. That is a very positive thing and I am waiting with anticipation for that, because it will examine the overarching policy issues that are confronting us in relation to alcohol. That framework has been developed in consultation with the community and industry.
I believe the National Competition Policy changes are necessary. It is worth recapping the aims of the NCP review. On page three of the review it says:
- The overall objective of this review has been to make reforms to the act that will enable liquor industry participants
to carry on their business and in an environment as free from bureaucratic restrictions as possible whilst ensuring
the licensing system of regulation upholds the aims of harm minimisation and the amenity of community life.
Madam Speaker, I commend the authors of the National Competition Policy in that they consulted widely and wisely. If you look at the list of organisations that were consulted, they include community councils, community government councils, town councils, industry, legal services. Another group is alcohol service providers, and I am not just talking about the pubs and clubs here; I am talking about those that have to pick up the pieces when someone gets into trouble with alcohol. They are a very important part of our community, and I commend their work. The NCP team also consulted researchers and, of course, government agencies. The authors consulted very widely.
Government has accepted all but two of the 29 recommendations within the NCP Review and I will talk about those two later. Before I come to discussion about the recommendations, I will talk about some of the alcohol issues that confront us in the Territory and the importance of alcohol issues. I am quoting here from Australian Alcohol Indicators: Patterns of Alcohol Use and Related Harms for Australian States and Territories 1990–2001. This was a report by the National Drug Research Institute, a renowned institute whose results can be trusted. The results about which I am going to speak are based on a method by which, to some degree, they hypothesise or predict levels of alcohol-related harm in the community, but they are quite reliable and they are the only thing reliable data we have to go on.
The first one is the adult per capita alcohol consumption in litres for Australian states and territories. On page 28, there is a table that shows that the Northern Territory has an average per capita consumption of 13.8 litres per person compared to the Australian average of 9.32. In other words, we have a 50% greater consumption per capita than the Australian average. In some regions of the Territory, it probably goes up to about 17 litres per capita. This is of concern because, as the member for Nelson alluded, the degree of harm that ensues from alcohol comes from the consumption of alcohol. The more consumption of alcohol, the more harm. So that is of concern.
We also have a percentage of the population above 15 years of age that drink at risky levels for chronic harm and acute harm far beyond what is recommended by the NHMRC. Expressed as a percentage of chronic harm, there is about 17% in the Territory drinking at levels that will cause chronic harm compared with about 10% in the rest of Australia. Once again, there is a problem.
The death toll from alcohol is of great concern. There is a table on page 19 of the report to which I am referring, that shows acute that in harm in age-standardised rates, we have a rate of 1.88 per 10 000 adults, which is about three times elsewhere in Australia. Similarly with deaths attributed to chronic alcohol use, we are three times higher. So we do have a large problem in deaths from alcohol use and abuse.
For hospitalisations, the Northern Territory has an age-standardised rate of about 70 per 10 000 adults. This is three times and more above rates in other states and territories in Australia. So there is a human cost and there is a cost to government and to the health system arising from alcohol abuse. As I say, we will come probably to debate that in more detail within the Alcohol Framework.
Returning to the amendments, the member for Nelson went through the objects that have been inserted in response to the NCC Review. I will not go over the ones that he mentioned, but it is very important that these objects reflect a shift in thinking and approach to liquor and liquor licensing in the Territory in that there is more of a public health approach; a more community-based approach, looking at groups that will suffer ill health within a group of people through the consumption of liquor. It is very important that we look at those groups in our community that might be severely affected by our alcohol in terms of their health and social outcomes.
It is always worth reiterating that there are some myths about alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, and one of them is that Aboriginal people in general have alcohol problems, and nothing could be farther than the truth. What you find, and the evidence is there, is that the majority of our Aboriginal people are non-drinkers. There are a lot of people who never touch a drink. We have to get away from the myths, but we have to address the problem in reality that we face.
The public interest has been defined, and defined quite well. The objection process has been the subject of debate, particularly by the members for Braitling and Nelson. I commend the member for Braitling for raising very important issues about the objection process. It is commendable that government has listened to the member for Braitling, had a look at the process, and is prepared to move amendments to address issues that arise. As a government, we listen; we are flexible and when problems arise, we are willing to address them.
I know the amendments will be debated further in the committee stage, however they are consistent with the government’s view that objections should be heard on social, health and lifestyle issues. We believe in those, and that the parts of the amendments being proposed by the member for Braitling are consistent with those views.
There are many issues that have already been covered. I will move to the two recommendations that were not taken up by our government. One of them is about Sunday trading for liquor stores. This is a very contentious issue. I have my own views about that. I have already said that I believe that the amount of liquor that is consumed is directly proportional to the harm that it causes but, basically, this is an important issue to be debated by the whole community. I have personal views, as the member for Nelson has, but I want to hear what the community has to say through debate on the pending Alcohol Framework, because it is very important that we listen to what the community says rather than put our own personal views on issues. It is a very important issue and I am sure the community will have a say on it.
Objections about restricted areas is a very sensitive issue, one that has at times become a political football. One of the biggest issues was whether particularly Aboriginal communities should be dry. I think in Shane Stone’s time, he wanted to impose canteens on communities that wanted to remain dry. I do not believe that is the way to go, either. Basically, we have to look at the Alcohol Framework and consult with the community.
In my own experience, if we are talking about Aboriginal communities and restricted areas, if Aboriginal people and their councils are able to take control of these restricted areas, and alcohol issues within their community, if they do not have a lot of outside interference, they can make some pretty good rules and everybody abides by them. I have seen it work very well on a number of occasions. It is about trying to support local communities and listen to what they say. Once again, that is an issue that we put to one side for the time being, pending release of the Alcohol Framework.
In summary, I support the amendments. I am glad that your amendment will be incorporated. All of us want to see more certainty in legislation relating to alcohol. We want to see the problems addressed, and we need to work together as a community within the Northern Territory to try and address the issues that alcohol presents but, by the same token, as I said before, not being wowsers about it, but doing it in a realistic sense to try to build a better Territory.
Mr STIRLING (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Madam Speaker, I will try to pick up on each of the issues raised in contributions to the second reading debate. However, at the outset, my thanks to the Leader of the Opposition, the members for Daly, Braitling, Nelson and Johnston for the good spirit and goodwill that was brought to this debate this morning because it is a very serious social issue in the Northern Territory.
The National Competition Council, in an arrangement going back a long way between federal government and each of the state and territory governments of Australia, committed to reviewing all legislation for conformity with the principles of National Competition Policy. This was a process entered into well before we came to government, and the former government had ticked off a fair range of the legislation requiring review and amendment to comply with the principles. This was one. There are a few that had not been completed, and that is the reason for a quite comprehensive amendment bill in the first place prior to these late amendments.
However, I want to put on the record my thanks to Peter Jones, particularly, and the staff of Racing, Gaming and Licensing, for the serious and large effort that has had to go into consideration of all aspects of the bill in relation to the review and the amendments, to see that we comply. I want to put on the record that that was very much a throw-away line at the end of my second reading when I introduced this bill. I appreciate the work of Peter, I have apologised to him, and my apology was accepted. I certainly do understand and appreciate the enormous effort that goes in to bills of this size and scale.
If I could go, in first part, to the committee stage amendments that are before us, it would have been my wish that we could have deferred consideration of those and swept them up in the Alcohol Framework Review that is occurring at the moment with Daryl Manzie, Donna Ah Chee and Gordon Renouf. However, Madam Speaker, you and the member for Nelson provide quite compelling reasons why we ought take them now, even though it would appear to be a bit of a patchwork and piecemeal approach. We readily recognise the arguments you put before us in relation to the need to strengthen those grounds for objection.
It was not our intent, when we moved the way we did, and I think that was back in late 2002, to try to get the commercial objection out of it because it was becoming a commercial practice whereby an exiting licensee would fire in an objection without specifying the grounds to the commission. That meant that the commission would then have to be on notice to hold a hearing, which could delay the granting of a licence for quite some months to the detriment of the applicant. Therefore, we did try to get that out of the system at least so there was not a commercial disadvantage in the process.
We are always wise in hindsight, Madam Speaker, and it would appear that the effect of the amendment was to go too far. Certainly, the unintended consequence of the situation to which you drew our attention - I think it was in relation to the hairdressing salon in Alice Springs - where a couple of would-be objectors were not recognised or heard by the commission. It is interesting, the hairdresser application.
I remember coming over from Nhulunbuy when I was teaching at the end of 1979 on my way to Singapore. At that stage, Singapore had quite stringent requirements about the length of hair of tourists. I had a Saturday in town before flying out and I thought I had better get a haircut. I wandered down in the city here somewhere, I cannot remember where it was, and found a hairdresser on the Saturday morning. I said: ‘You’d better make it pretty short, I am going to Singapore’. There were a couple of people there. She said: ‘Sit down. Have a beer,’ and passed me a VB. I had been in the Territory about a year, but living in Nhulunbuy. I had not been to Darwin many times. I thought: ‘You come here for a haircut and you get confronted with a VB’, and it wasn’t all that cold, either. But I didn’t mind it on a Saturday morning, a half-warm can of VB.
So what I am saying is that it is not without precedent. Hairdressers and having a quiet beer has certainly been a part of the Territory in the past. God knows what ever happened to that hairdresser or the licence. Hopefully, the licence disappeared at the same time the hairdresser did.
That case in Alice Springs has brought attention to where the legislation is wanting. Standing outside the situation and looking objectively, on one hand you say: ‘What harm would it do, someone having a quiet wine before having their hair done?’ It could be quite relaxing in a nice amenity, good surrounding and unlikely to cause the antisocial behaviour that the destruction of property, the drunken behaviour, those sorts of things that we well know abuse of alcohol can cause. On the other hand, though, you could say: ‘What sort of signal does it send where everyone who puts their hand up gets a licence?’ One of the problems in Alice Springs is the proliferation of liquor licences including, of course, the famed service station.
It is interesting that the member for Nelson raised that in relation to Premier Carr’s comments regarding National Competition Policy where they are saying grocers or service stations want to be licensed. You could not think of anything worse than licensed service stations, given the relationship between drinking and driving and the catastrophic consequences of that. Why you would want to encourage people on the road fuelling up their car to also fuel up the esky would be a very dangerous signal.
Certainly, the hairdresser application is an interesting one. On the one hand, you ask will it make any difference and concede that people might like it, but on the other, I don’t think that it is the right signal we ought be sending out: if you want a licence, put your hand up and you get it.
The member for Johnson noted the fact the 27 of the 29 recommendations coming out of the NCP Review are in the amending bill, and the two outstanding are Sunday trading and the lack of objection process to dry areas proclamation. Now, they are certainly in the hands of the Alcohol Framework review. Again, it is an interesting one. If you take a jurisdiction, I think it is Queensland that never licensed grocers at all for liquor, they are not being pushed around by the NCC to say you must license grocers. We have licensed grocers, but not on Sunday, we are being told that we have to square it up; either no one sells on Sunday or those that can sell Monday to Saturday ought to be able to sell on Sunday as well because of the concept level of playing field.
This is a very tricky part of the overall licensing scheme in the Northern Territory because of the situation we currently have, one, as I said, that the Alcohol Framework review will address. The process of community engagement and consultation is critical to that issue. We will look forward to a very comprehensive process of community engagement in that area.
I turn to the member for Nelson’s proposed amendment in relation to the right of a member of the public to object to an application. The availability of a licence has the potential to have so many effects and that potential could cross electorate boundaries. It could be far broader than simply crossing urban electorates. On the one hand, you would want to say: ‘If a member of the public really has a problem with it, why don’t we give them the right to object? Why don’t we give everyone the right to object so that every possible objection that anyone might have is before the commission?’. That would simply make the commission unworkable, basically. It would drown under the weight of objections and the process of working through them all.
You must have a process that allows a sensible and logical objection process that will be able to operate effectively without drowning under the weight of objections it might receive. If amenity is affected to the degree that individual members of the public might want to object, you would expect the authorities to be right on to that. I mean, letters to the editor and general concern in the public is going to be picked and you would expect that it would be fed through the normal process, particularly now with the new amendments. I would say: ‘Yes, why wouldn’t we allow every single objector in the place and every single objection?’, but we must have a process around it to ensure that it is able to operate effectively.
The member for Nelson was talking about the Tia Maria flavoured chocolate biscuits and what the Liquor Commissioner can do about certain products. It was only a year or two ago that there was an article in the NT News about icy poles with a certain level of alcohol, and it was about 48 hours later that the Liquor Commissioner said: ‘No. Not on, not in the Northern Territory’. They were not even for sale in the Northern Territory at that stage, but the commissioner had notices to manufacturers saying do not expect to sell those items here.
In the regulations, Mr Jones has pointed out to me that they have the ability to act on an item like that where it is greater than 1.15% alcohol by volume of the overall product. I doubt that those biscuits make that category, but I am not advised one way or the other. It is something that I can check with the chairman.
The member for Nelson also talked about public interest and a range of issues he pulled out of the act. This is the importance of having objectives at the start of the act: it is very clear what the act is about. This came out of the NCP Review itself, that an objects section be included in the act right up front to make clear the purpose of the legislation, which is that harm minimisation and the public interest are the over-riding considerations in regulating liquor in the Territory. Everywhere in the act, it says that the commission has to look at the public interest, which is defined. The member for Nelson went through the definition of public interest.
The whole principle of the act is the issue of public interest. That is what drives, first and foremost, the commission in consideration of licence applications. So you do not need to put them in this amendment because the act already deals with it all the way through. In fact, it is the over-riding consideration. That is why public interest is such a strong part of this bill and that is why the objectives of the act are right up front: to give them prominence.
I will go through the objects because it is important to put them on the record.
- (1) The primary object of this act is to regulate the sale, provision, promotion and consumption of liquor -
- (a) so as to minimise the harm associated with the consumption of liquor; and
(b) in a way that takes into account the public interest in the sale, provision, promotion and consumption
of liquor.
- (a) to protect and enhance community amenity, social harmony and wellbeing through the responsible sale,
provision, promotion and consumption of liquor;
(b) to regulate the sale of liquor in a way that contributes to the responsible development of the liquor and
associated industries in the Territory; and
(c) to facilitate a diversity of licensed premises and associated services for the benefit of the community.
Most importantly:
to the objects of this act and must exercise the power and perform the function in a way that is consistent with
those objects.
The other point in relation to having the objects in the act, and right up the front, is that gives us the grounds and basis to run the public interest argument against the NCC when they impose penalties, such as they have done in New South Wales and such as they have done to us in relation to this act. We have ensured that 27 of the 29 recommendations are addressed by way of amendment; two are not. The two that are not are the Sunday trading and the objections process to dry areas.
We will lose $380 000 out of competition policy payments, which are in the order of approximately $7.7m in a financial year. Unless this is resolved, that penalty stays in there forever. Once we have these objects in the act, and depending on what the Alcohol Framework review proposes when we get through that process, which will be later this year or early next year, we cam then take that argument up to the National Competition Council on the basis that, yes, the objects are in there, the Alcohol Framework review has gone through in view of the objects, this is what this act is all about, we want our $380 000 back.
New South Wales will have to run similar arguments, albeit a bit more expensive and in the order of something like $50m or $51m.
I will go through the effect of these amendments, and explain what we have done in relation to the member for Braitling’s three proposed amendments, and we are accepting (a), but not (b) and (c).
In the committee stage, I will be moving an amendment to clause 15 of the Liquor Amendment Bill to insert a new clause 15A to broaden the grounds upon which an objection to a licence application could be made. Members will recall that when I introduced changes to the objection process in determining liquor licence applications in November 2002, we did so because the legislative process at the time was being taken advantage of to frustrate the due processing of liquor licence applications through the Commission.
I am pleased to say that the first part of the intent of those amendments certainly was achieved, but the member for Braitling did raise concerns that the current wording of the objection provisions have caused consternation and confusion in some quarters of the community as to the grounds upon which an objection may be made and who may object to an application. The member for Braitling therefore sought changes in the legislation to overcome those concerns through the introduction of a Private Members Bill in November last year , Liquor Amendment Bill (No 3).
Having given consideration to those concerns, and we believe them to be consistent with the position of the Territory and that of National Competition Policy concerning harm minimisation, particularly as they relate to social, health and lifestyle issues, the government’s position in this matter can be illustrated by referring to my committee stage amendment when introducing the Liquor Amendment Bill 2002 into the parliament in November of that year.
I made the following statement:
- Other concerns were raised in relation to the … concept of amenity … Any concerns over that definition should be
allayed by stating there is no intention to prohibit any objection based on social, health or lifestyle issues…
In addressing the concerns raised by the member for Braitling in support of the content of her bill, we will be introducing the following amendment: section 47F(2) will be amended to include matters relating to health, education, safety and social conditions in the community as grounds on which an objection may be lodged; sections 47F(3)(c) and (d) will be amended to include a member or employee of the Police force or Fire and Rescue Service as persons who can object when acting in their capacity as a member or employee. That was certainly one of the categories that came to light in the hairdressing salon applications, so we have moved for that; and section 47F(3)(e) will be amended to specifically include an agency or public authority that performs functions relating to public amenity including health, education and public safety. Your Holyoakes and your whole range of community organisations come into that category.
Therefore, the proposed amendments will give further clarity to the grounds on which an objection may be lodged to an application under section 47F and the persons, organisations and groups that may lodge such an application. We think that goes a fair way to addressing the concerns that came up in Alice Springs in and around that licence application.
It may be that we could go further, but not as far – and I doubt we would ever be able to go as far – as the extent of the member for Nelson’s amendment to add to proposed amended clause 15(ba): ‘(f) a member of the public’. That is not to say it could not be amended more with consultation with industry and with the public. I would like to see the member for Nelson’s views in and around this amendment put into the Alcohol Framework review from the point of view of workability, and tested through that process and in the community consultation process.
I am saying now that, whilst I have some empathy with where the member for Nelson is coming from, we will not be supporting that amendment this morning. However, I will be putting it before the Alcohol Framework review team with a view to pushing, pulling and testing it through that process. I do not think we would ever get to where the member for Nelson is suggesting we should be, but it may be that we are able to go further than what we are putting here this morning.
On balance, picking up the first part of the member for Braitling’s amendment to section 47I, which I did not pick up, is really a consequential to picking up the member for Braitling’s amendment in the first place. That further amendment is to section 47I of the principal act, amended by omitting section 47I(3)(c)(i) and substituting the following: a decision on whether objection to proceed to hearing:
- (i) dismiss the objection if satisfied that the objection -
(A) is of a frivolous, irrelevant or malicious nature; or
… or health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community; or …
On balance, albeit there is a process going on out there that is going to, we expect, inform us much more fully about all of these matters, it was important to act at the first opportunity we had in relation to the member for Braitling’s concerns to strengthen the process. Having the bill before us on the grounds of the National Competition Policy amendment has given us that ability and we are happy to support that amendment.
Again, thanks to members for their contributions. It was a very positive debate. I make the commitment that I will be passing the member for Nelson’s proposed amendment to the Alcohol Framework review.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
In committee:
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The committee has before it the Liquor Amendment Bill (No 4) 2003 (Serial 193) together with Schedule of Amendments No 74 circulated by the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing.
Clauses 1 to 14, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 15:
Mr STIRLING: Madam Chair, I move amendment 74.1 standing in my name.
I have had quite comprehensive discussions with the member for Braitling in relation to this. This is the member for Braitling’s amendment in part; the first part of her three part amendment put during the last General Business Day, which would have been forthcoming at the next General Business Day. As I said, the arguments she put at the time of introducing the bill and the discussions that I have had with since in and around her amendments were such to lead me to the view that government ought to accept the first part of her amendment at the earliest opportunity. Having the bill before us for NCP purposes this morning gave us that opportunity. I am happy to take her amendment, put my name on it and pass it.
Mr BALDWIN: Madam Deputy Chair, on this clause, I raised an issue with the minister that he has not clarified for me. I will remind him. It is in support of allowing a member of the public to make an objection.
In amendment 74.1 as you are proposing it, an objection can only be made on the grounds that the grant of a licence or variation will adversely affect either the neighbourhood and the amenity of the neighbourhood or the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the wider community. You have community; I am interpreting that as meaning the wider community. Surely, if an objection can be made on the grounds of the effect it will have in the health, education, public safety or social conditions in the wider community, a member of the public should be able to raise objections quite lawfully, particularly when you look at the clauses that are coming up, amendment 74.3 in your name, which deals with a decision of whether an objection is to proceed to a hearing. You have outlined that scenario, including that it can be dismissed if it is frivolous, irrelevant, malicious or does not describe circumstances that will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood or the health, education, public safety and social conditions of the community.
If the public objection addresses those matters, surely we should be able to have a member of the public making an objection?
Mr STIRLING: I thank the member for Daly. I did in fact go to that concern. I am not sure why or how it was that you did not pick up on it. I did talk about the need for a balance in allowing the commission the ability to get through any objection process. If we were to go with the member for Nelson – and, as I said, I have empathy - on the one hand, anyone at all who has an objection to a license application based on these grounds, you would love them to have the right to say: ‘I object’, but you must have a balance in the sense of a workable system without the commission drowning under 4000 objections.
If health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community are likely to be affected or impinged upon by the granting of a licence in that community - and I will say ‘community’; I know you keep saying ‘wider community’, but you really cannot put words into the bill that are not there; it does say ‘community’ - the fact is that the next amendment, where we go to an agency or public authority that performs functions relating to public amenity including health, education and public safety ought be able to pick them up if there is broad enough concern that individuals want to object.
Now, if you know it is one isolated objector living 115 km from the premises the subject of the application, you would say: ‘Well, hello, ought that objection have been picked up?’ If there are 153 people with similar concerns, I am sure that noise is going to be heard and will impact upon those agencies - health, police or those public authorities and organisations that are out there. There is a whole range of them: Anglicare, Holyoake in Alice Springs, those sorts of groups that do have the right under the additional amendment to put their objections.
Mr WOOD: I would like to take up that point, minister. You might say that there is only one objection. For instance, it could be that they do live 150 km away from the premises the subject of the application. They are not in the neighbourhood, but they frequent that part of the road every week. They may have concern about a liquor licence for a roadhouse. It should not be the number of objections that are a problem; it should be the substance of that objection, and that is the role of the Liquor Commission.
Numbers to me are irrelevant. We did not have a problem with numbers under the existing act. The Development Consent Authority is not drowned; it just handles objections as they come. Some applications attract no objections, some attract 100. That is the way of the world. I do not think that is an argument to say to stop them from drowning, we will remove the right of the public to have a say. Whether there is one or 100, it is a fundamental democratic principle that I have a right to put my objection.
As the member for Daly said, if it is frivolous, mischievous, irrelevant or does not describe circumstances that may or will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood or health, education, public safety or social conditions in the community, then it is thrown out and you deal with the drowning because you just put them in the waste paper basket.
It is the objection that is important, not the numbers. I will speak later, in my proposed amendment, on the issues about community, but I wanted to take up that point because we do have liquor licenses granted in isolated places. Who is to say that my objection is not in the neighbourhood if I am on a cattle station and the applicant is 115 km down the road?
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, the roadhouse is a good example of how the commission would read or define ‘community’ in that sense. Now, a community 150 km from that roadhouse may well be affected. There is potential for it to be quite seriously affected, and I would have thought that the commission would have to look at that and say: ‘That is a community’. So suggesting an arbitrary distance was probably not the right thing for me to do in specifying anything like that because ‘community’ has to be read in the context of the application coming before the commission, I believe it would be.
Mr BALDWIN: You have just confirmed the point I am trying to make, and that is that, on the one hand you are talking about the near neighbourhood, and on the other hand, you are talking about my interpretation of the wider community. If you cannot define it, and it is not defined in this bill, how do you expect anyone else to define it? That is my point. Who are you going to leave it to? Are you going to leave it to the Commissioner? The only point I am making to you is that I believe there are grounds to contest, if you wanted to, as an objector. You have to clarify the situation because we have the case of the roadhouse. Is a suburb in Alice Springs ‘the community’? If it is not in the near neighbourhood and is two suburbs away, is it defined as being in the community?
Mr Dunham: Curtin Springs.
Mr BALDWIN: Well, Top Springs is a typical example. How many people travel from Kalkarindji to Katherine past Top Springs? Now, define the community in that area. I suggest that this needs some clarification or you follow the amendment being proposed by the member for Nelson and allow the public to object on the grounds that you have set so that you are not restricting anyone, you do not have to define the community, you do not have to define the neighbourhood and anyone can object as long as they meet they objection criteria. That was the case before you introduced the last raft of amendments on. For a long time, that was allowed. We have now restricted that.
Quite rightly, you have moved away from the needs and wishes and put down all the objectives. You have said it has to go to the source of the objection, being the effect on the amenity of the neighbourhood or the public safety and social impact of the community. As long as the commission has that in front of it, it can either accept or reject the objection to the application, whatever that application may be.
Whilst we are getting there, and whilst you are fixing bits and pieces, you are really not getting down to the definition that is going to be required. We are going to find ourselves back in this House at some time in the future. You can say it will go in the framework and all the rest of it, that is fine, but if you have a philosophical argument about letting the public have an objection, say it up front. You changed it from them, the general public, having the right to now not having the right, and trying to define it. It would be sensible, good law and fair to Territorians to allow the public to object as long as it meets the criteria as described.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, whilst the member for Daly does concentrate on (b) community. However, 2(a), ‘The objection may only be made on the grounds that the grant…may or will adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood…’. There is the nub of it. There is the argument the commission must consider. At Curtin Springs or Top Springs, ‘the neighbourhood’ extends fairly broadly, I would have thought, or the roadhouse scenario as suggested by the member for Nelson.
You simply could not define it right across the Territory given small communities scattered across a sixth of Australia’s land mass without knowing from where, anywhere in the Territory, a licence application may suddenly arise and how that part of the Territory would be particularly defined within legislation. Neighbourhood and community are there for the commission to read and understand, and certainly they would have a far better understanding than we, of geographical impact or spread of the effect of a particular licence application in a particular area.
I hear what you say. As I said, I will be putting the member for Nelson’s amendment into the melting pot in terms of the alcohol framework review. When you say we will be back here amending this again, that may be. Certainly, we will be back in this Chamber amending this legislation either late this year or the in first part of next year once the extensive community consultation in and around the Alcohol Framework review has gone though. You have to expect that there will changes arising from that process.
That is the place to better test the change you are advocating this morning. We certainly tested what we did in November 2002; it was found wanting. I have said that this morning: there were unintended consequences. It went further than the government would have liked to see. We have the ability to pull that back this morning, and I am hoping we will have the support of all members to do so.
Mr BALDWIN: I am not going to labour the point, but you can see what we are doing. We are trying to define three things: the neighbourhood, the community, and amenity. They are all grey areas leading to confusion within the community as to who is eligible and who is not, and what is affected and what is not.
I say to you, as a long-term legislator in this parliament, the longest serving at the moment, that it would make great sense to take away all of that and to allow a member of the public to object as long as they meet the criteria, and leave it to the commission to decide. At the moment, you are saying: ‘They are not allowed to and we will keep the confusion going’. We are going to have to labour it when you introduce your framework.
Amendment agreed to.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, I move amendment 74.2.
This was highlighted in relation to the example of the hairdressing salon in Alice Springs where an employee of the police had an objection disqualified. That may have been a decision to draw the government’s attention to the fact that the effect of the November 2002 amendment was seen to have gone further than government would have wished. It certainly had the effect of galvanising government in to saying: ‘That is not what we intended and that is not what we want to see happen’. It alerted the member for Braitling at the same time. It led us to go along with the thrust of her amendments. Holyoake was a community organisation that was also disqualified at that time, and that is picked up with ‘an agency or public authority that performs functions relating to public amenity, including health, education and public safety’. This is a strengthening of the objection process and I hope to see it supported.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Member for Nelson, do you want to move your amendment?
Mr WOOD: Madam Deputy Chair, yes, I would like to move my amendments to amendment 74.2, which is that we add after the amended clause (ba): ‘(f) a member of the public’.
Minister, we have had a fair bit of discussion on this. This makes a more balanced approach to liquor licensing. My view of what is balanced is probably a bit different from the member for Johnston who quoted Billy Connelly saying it was a beer in each hand. I remember Billy Connelly getting up and saying a balanced diet was a pizza in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other, so perhaps my view of what is balanced is slightly different.
We now have an unbalanced act because we have taken out an important part of good legislation and that is where the community has its say.
The member for Johnston did say that we need to listen to what the community says, and that is right. This is the process to allow that, the objection process. I know that people can comment on a liquor licence, they can write comments and can be heard by the Liquor Commission. That should not remove one’s right to object. It is a democratic right that as a member of the Northern Territory public, I can object to a liquor licence, just as I can object to a planning amendment or a development application. It is really important.
I know there has been discussion about community and what that means, but if you read under section 3(2) in Objects, it says:
- … to protect and enhance community amenity …
That is a very general term. Here we are not talking about specifics; we are talking about generalities. It also says
- …to regulate the sale of liquor in a way that contributes to the responsible development of liquor and associated
industries in the Territory…
It does not say: ‘… in specific parts of the Territory …’. It says: ‘… in the Territory’. It then says:
- … to facilitate a diversity of the licensed premises and associated services for the benefit of the community.
All this comes under public interest. You will see in clause 3(1)(b) that the primary object of this act is to regulate the sales provision promotion and consumption of liquor
- … in a way that takes into account the public interest in the sale, provision, promotion and consumption of liquor.
Then it goes on to community, Territory, community. The objects of the act are quite clear; they say that the public interest must be taken into account. The public interest is exactly what it says. We don’t have to define that, it’s me, you and anyone else who wishes to object. I take on board that the minister will take us to the Alcohol Framework, but we have an opportunity right now. That is why we sit in this place. We have an opportunity to say: ‘Perhaps that’s a good idea’. Why bother taking it to the Alcohol Framework and waiting another 12 months? We have waited 12 months, we have seen what is it like. We know that the public hasn’t had a say.
I have seen the reasons for not allowing some people to object to the Alawa Supermarket: they were not working in the neighbourhood. As I said before, if the Alawa Supermarket was 100m inside one of the electorates, would a member for another electorate be allowed to comment? They should be allowed to comment. The members for Millner and Wanguri should be allowed to comment.
It is clearly stated in the objects of the act that the public has a right. Excluding the public creates a contradiction. I would be interested to see if someone challenged it on those grounds alone. On democratic grounds, one might be able to take it to a court and argue that rights are being extinguished when they should be heard.
I might be on my high horse and dealing with philosophy, but it is important that the individual has the right to object. I believe that the objects of the act clearly state that they have that right.
Mr STIRLING: Madam Deputy Chair, I do not have a lot more to add, except to say that I believe we have strengthened the process from how it was effected in November 2002. I did say earlier that I am not totally without empathy with the member for Nelson in relation to this.
We made the last amendment a little over a year ago and it was found to be wanting. Let us see how this strengthening of the process takes us forward notwithstanding the Alcohol Framework review team is out there. There will be an interim report that will be public and then quite an extensive process of community consultation.
If there is a possibility of moving further toward where the member for Nelson would have government by having any member of the public in there, it can be tested and put before the community, consulted with industry, the community at large and let’s see what comes out of that process.
We are strengthening the process. We are making it less confusing this morning notwithstanding what the member for Daly was saying. I have no doubt at all that this act will be back before us if not before the end of this year, certainly early next year.
Mr MILLS: Madam Deputy Chair, I have listened fairly closely to this debate and I am very supportive of the position put by the member for Nelson for the reason that it does provide balance and affirm and strengthen the objects. The objects are fine. The direction that you have embarked upon today is supported, minister, and it goes a good distance, but you have not gone the full distance.
I am now persuaded quite strongly to the view that to finish this work off today - it is like starting a job and pulling out short - the public should be given the opportunity to object provided, of course, that if the objection is frivolous, it will be invalid.
If we are using words such as ‘social harmony’ and ‘wellbeing’, we are talking about cohesion within the community. We all know how to manage our communities if we want the continued support of our constituencies. It is satisfying to the fundamental core of a citizen if they feel that they have the right to speak and they are empowered to do so. Tapping into the capacity of a citizen to speak strengthens the direction in which you are heading today, minister.
That provides the clear definition of ‘community’. It is not just words; it actually has some weight. When we’re talking about community, every member of that community has the authority and the power effected in this amendment to speak up.
Of course, if it is frivolous it would not be allowed. Once again, that citizen would be made aware of their objection being disallowed, which would give rise to a greater understanding. The minister himself is involved in education. Many of us are involved in education as community leaders. We know that there’s nothing better than empowering a community member to understand how the system works. Allowing them access to the process gives them knowledge. Knowledge is power. This is the opportunity to afford them the credit that is due to a citizen to be allowed to be involved in this process.
As our community addresses issues related to alcohol, we are all aware that concern about alcohol and the affect that it has on our social cohesion, our direction and our future is increasing. We are worried about our children. We have talked about biscuits and all sorts of things today, but we are all concerned. We will go that final and most important step if we include a citizen, a member of the public, having the right to object. To that end, I offer the support of the opposition to the member of Nelson.
Mr WOOD: Minister, I know the government is going to vote against this, sadly, but I need to understand why - outside the argument that the Liquor Commission might drown in objections. We know it did not happen before, we know the public was allowed to make a comment and we know the reasons the government introduced the previous amendments was simply because they wanted to stop one licensee objecting to another licensee and, therefore, you might say, frivolously holding up the licensing process.
Does the government agree with the basic philosophy? That is what I need to hear today, basically a yes or no. Do they agree that the public should have the right to object? Would you at least agree that if the new clause is not satisfactory, you will look at a clause that would at least limit those licensee versus licensee objections, which we know are not being made for valid reasons; they are being made for commercial reasons. Now, commercial reasons do not seem to fall within the objections you can lodge under the act. Would the government at least agree to the principle that the public should be allowed to have a say? Could they tell us whether those objections are sufficient to stop a licensee objecting to a licensee?
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Minister, before you respond. I draw members’ attention to the time. I am conscious of committee meetings scheduled for the luncheon adjournment. Minister, you can respond and we can deal with these amendments, or if members believe debate on these amendments will go longer, I will suspend now. I seek your advice.
Mr STIRLING: It is my view that if we continue, we will be finished in 10 or 15 minutes.
Mr WOOD: Yes, should be.
Mr STIRLING: In that case, I will continue. Prior to those amendments in 2002, where I said we went too far - I acknowledge that and take it on the chin. We were getting to a situation where the commission hearings were absolutely bogged down, there was a greater propensity to obtain legal advice and have lawyers in there so it was starting to resemble a Supreme Court-type situation.
You want to get these right. You want to know that you have this right in everything that is in the act – public interest, community amenity, the whole lot. There is no case of trying to rush these things through. Arguments have to be put, heard, dealt with and understood in terms of where the commission is going grant the licence or reject it.
We could put hundreds of people into the Commission. We could take 12 months to hear an application. What does that do to the person who wants to invest hundred of thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars in an outlet to get a licence? What does that do to them when they are hanging around for 10 or 12 months waiting to know whether they have a licence or not? Another investment opportunity might come up and the Territory perhaps loses something that would have added to the community rather than detracting.
That is where the argument of balance comes in. Balance is a word used that was used in the debate. As I have said, I do have empathy with your view. It is something that we will test inside the community consultation process with the Alcohol Framework review. However, without being able to at least go to Racing, Gaming and Licensing and hearing from the Chairman of the Commission what the effect would be, I simply cannot commit government to go down a course without knowing all of the implications.
I have no problem with putting resources where government needs resources, but I do have a problem with holding up significant investment by business that may add something to a community that is badly needed. If we hold them up for nine, 12, 18 months whilst a whole range of objections are lodged and heard, all of which are probably going to be similar in nature, all of which are probably, if they are sound in base, will be picked up by the community agencies, will be picked up by the agencies of government, and those arguments will be run through the objections process anyway. From that point of view, as I said, I commit to putting it into the Alcohol Framework review.
Mr WOOD: Yes, I will not labour it any more than to say that I do not think objections are going to hold up a development for eight or nine months. It is usually the case that licensees are the ones who deliberately hold up cases. That was the very reason that these amendments were introduced because they got it into the courts with all their high-powered lawyers. I am not sure that the little old lady down the street’s objection is the reason that some huge development is going to be held up.
I take your point, minister. Perhaps on General Business Day, I might reintroduce this and look at possibilities of having ways of exempting commercial objections. I would be interested to hear your comments if we do that.
Mr STIRLING: I am absolutely happy to see the member for Nelson bring something back. If he approaches my office, I would be happy to organise a briefing in relation to it for any further information you need and what the impacts might be within the commission and the hearing process overall. Yes, I absolutely welcome something coming back if there is a way through it in advance with the Alcohol Framework review.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The process, for members’ understanding, is that we will be moving the member for Nelson’s amendment to the minister’s amendment. The question is that the word proposed to be added be added.
Amendment negatived.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The question now is that the amendment moved by the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing be agreed to.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 15, as amended, agreed to.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Members, I will suspend the committee …
Mr Stirling: But we only have one more to go.
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: We are over time, minister. I have sought advice. We will resume after Question Time.
The committee suspended.
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Personal Explanations and Behavioural Standards
Personal Explanations and Behavioural Standards
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, before we start Question Time, I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to a number of matters relating to the proceedings last week and the public criticism this Assembly has attracted in recent times in respect of the behaviour of members in the Chamber.
I refer also to matters raised by the member for Drysdale in his adjournment speech on Thursday, 19 February. In that speech, the member for Drysdale noted that he had discussed with me his intention to make a personal explanation pursuant to Standing Order 57 subject to an agreement by me to make particular observations in prefacing his proposed personal explanation.
Whilst I am aware that the member should have the opportunity to make a personal explanation in respect of various matters of concern, I am also aware of the provision of Standing Order 57 in particular that such matters may not be debated. It is certainly not my intention to justify any member’s actions, regardless of events that occur in this Chamber. The only person in this Chamber responsible for your behaviour is you, the member involved. It should not be necessary to remind members that personal references not only lower the standard of debate, but will frequently provoke retaliation leading to disorder in the Assembly. Such behaviour seriously diminishes the status of the Assembly in the estimation of the community.
Following the events of Tuesday 17 February 2004, I advise honourable members that I convened a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of Government Business, and the opposition and government Whips with a view to reaching an agreement for the communication of arrangements in respect of programming, speakers lists and related matters for the purpose of efficiently and effectively transacting the business of the Assembly. At that meeting, a general agreement was reached that these matters would be addressed in a spirit of cooperation. I trust that these arrangements will go a long way to preventing a repeat of the events of Tuesday of last week.
It is not my intention to inhibit robust debate in the Chamber. However, I urge all members to exercise their privilege of freedom of speech with responsibility and to maintain moderate language towards members in the Assembly.
LIQUOR AMENDMENT BILL (No 4)
(Serial 193)
(Serial 193)
Continued from earlier this day.
In committee:
New Clause 15A:
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: The committee has before it the Liquor Amendment Bill (No 4) 2003 (Serial 193), together with Schedule of Amendments number 74, circulated by the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing.
Mr WOOD: I welcome the changes. It is a great improvement on the previous act. I would like to ask the question, which I hinted at before: if a licensee is objecting to another licensee or another licence application, would (A) cover it? The argument about excluding the public all relates back to the licensees in Mitchell Street. If members of the public allowed to object and the government is still concerned about licensees objecting to licensees, would (A) cover that situation? In other words, the commissioner could dismiss an objection from one licensee to another licensee on the basis that it was frivolous, irrelevant and malicious.
Mr STIRLING: It would have to be tested, I would imagine, member for Nelson. I cannot give you a straight answer right here and now. Certainly, the view was that where an existing licensee is objecting to an application for licence, it could well be on commercial grounds, but they are not allowed to object on commercial grounds, but it has the same effect.
If you are able to hold up the process of an application for a licence for six, eight or 10 months, it has the effect of keeping the competition out of the market and not allowing that licence into play. I am not saying this is perfect. It is a work in progress and the Alcohol Framework review will shed more light and will illuminate more of these issues.
If there is a better way to do this than what we currently have, with the same effect of keeping commercial or existing licensees out of the objection process, I hope it will come through this process - if not in body, in the recommendations that will be coming up in the interim report. These issues should arise in the further work of the framework review team in the community consultation process.
For a start, they are going to have your amendment so they are going to have consider that. I am sure there will be plenty of views put in and around the issue of allowing commercial licensees to object. Should they be allowed to object at all? Should they be allowed to object on commercial grounds? All those issues are fertile ground for this process of community consultation including industry and business consultation in and around all these issues.
I am not saying it is perfect, but I agree with you that it is better than it was. I don’t think you ever get these things perfect; they can always be improved and things change over time. I believe that next process will see us back here, as I said, late this year or next year again with recommendations to further improve the whole operation of the act, including what we are dealing with here, the process of objections.
Mr WOOD: Planning procedures involve whether a licensed premises can exist in a particular zone, and I am glad the changes to the act clearly show that you have to obtain planning approval before you apply for a liquor licence. However, the owner of a liquor licence could not complain about another liquor licensee setting up on commercial grounds in the Planning Act, and it seems that has always been fairly clear cut. In other words, if someone says: ‘I want to object because there are too many service stations. I have one, another bloke has one and we do not want another one’. Commercial considerations do not fall within the Planning Act.
It is a wonder that a similar clause has not been applied to the Liquor Act. Perhaps that is another way it should go. It is in the Planning Act but, for some reason, it is not in this act. I will leave at that, minister. It needs testing. Hopefully, it will be tested before the review team finishes its work.
Mr STIRLING: It is not a bad argument he puts, Madam Deputy Chair, and it is not the argument itself; it is the impact. Without knowing what the impact would be, I would have difficulty accepting something of this nature from the floor. The analogy with the planning process is not bad, either, in the sense that both processes can lead to a reducing or a lessening of the amenity. If you have a five-storey place going up next door to you or you have a liquor licence going in two doors down. There are similarities. I have been passed a document that sums up a lot of these issues.
Regarding the one person being able to make an objection, I talked about the propensity that may have to clog up the commission and, in that, cause significant and possibly unnecessary delays for investors and developers on the one hand. However, if there are significant arguments about whether a licence should or should not be granted, we would expect it to be picked up by police, fire or those agencies or authorities, government and non-government, including community organisations out there that can lodge an objection on behalf individuals concerned about an application.
Whilst it is important to hear from the community on those issues, you do not want to hear from the community 1015 times on the same problem or the same principle if it is picked up by Anglicare, for example, as a community organisation. If that concern it is already covered by that community organisation, it is better than having 1000 people, or any number, reiterating exactly the same concern.
I have talked about greater community involvement on how liquor matters are dealt with and discussed overall, and that is very much the role of the Alcohol Framework review team. They are looking at ways outside the formal objection hearing process that we can involve the community more in having a say about a range of liquor matters, including the objection process that we are taking about. We believe that is better picked up through that public consultation process.
I will be asking them, when they are conducting their community and regional forums around the Territory, to specifically ask questions such as should an individual have the ability to lodge an objection, and what alternatives there might be. They might be able to make written submissions to the Licensing Commission beforehand rather than having to lodge the objection and then be involved in what can be a quite adversarial process, as I said, that borders on being a court process.
If they had the ability to make written submissions, they could be raised by the commission during the hearing with a view to seeking a response from the licensee or other people on the views presented in written submissions. I am not anti- your argument at all. You understand that. However, I could not accept an amendment without knowing exactly what all the implications are. I believe strongly that there will be a process over the next, six, eight, 10 months, that will more fully involve the community on exactly what we should be doing in these areas.
Mr WOOD: One point there, minister. You said that 1000 objections could clog up the system, but the importance about the 1000 is that the Liquor Commission realises the weight of public opinion against an application, as opposed to one person objecting. Whether their objections are the same as Anglicare, I am sure that the Liquor Commissioner would address it as one issue, not 1000, because he would lump all those objections together and say: ‘All these people objected on these grounds. This is the applicant’s response to that’.
There is an important principle there. As I said, the 1000 people have a lot more weight than one. So the Liquor Commission would take a lot more notice of 1000 people saying: ‘We do not like this application’, rather than one. Numbers are important in this, and anyone in politics knows that that is the case.
Mr STIRLING: I can only agree but, if there was a licence application likely to provoke that sort of response, it has a snowball’s chance in hell of getting through because there would be letters to the editor, talkback radio, and it would be in here through local members. It would be everywhere if you had something that was going to rouse the anger and objections of more than 1000 people. If community agencies were not switched on to that level of concern in the community, and putting those concerns on behalf of the community, you would want to know why they were not doing their job. If they did not get a hearing, you would have to question whether the commission was sufficiently switched on to what was going on around it.
There could be a better way to do this. I am not saying this is perfect, but it is better than what it was. We should recognise that it will be back before us inside 12 months and we will continue the debate on the back of a strong process of community consultation, which will, hopefully, serve to inform us all.
Mr MILLS: Following this discourse across the Chamber, it really is academic because we have had the decision effectively made by the Northern Territory government with regards to disallowing of a member of the public to lodge an objection. However, it is quite clear that this will be revisited most definitely.
Obviously, this clause is adequate and it would reflect effectively against any member of the public that may want to come along and waste time in the view of the commission. The proposed clause is fully supported.
I make the comment that it is clear that this issue will definitely be revisited.
New clause 15A agreed to.
Remainder of the bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.
Bill reported with amendments; report adopted.
Mr STIRLING (Racing, Gaming and Licensing): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
I want to record my thanks to all members who contributed. The debate was conducted in a spirit of trying to make the act work best for all. Government is always encouraged members take that approach.
I thank the man on my left, just leaving the Chamber, Peter Jones from Racing, Gaming and Licensing, who did much of the hands-on work with National Competition policy and getting the amending bill before us in the first place. I want to thank you, Madam Speaker, as member for Braitling, for your contribution by way of committee stage amendment.
I want to thank the member for Nelson particularly, because I know, even though the government did not accept his amendment today, he has always, in his time in this Chamber, acted in what he believes to be the best interests of Territorians. That is very much his job, as it every members’ job. It is how we read what we deem to be the best interests of Territorians on which we will sometimes differ.
My thanks to one and all, particularly to Peter Jones and the staff of the Racing, Gaming and Licensing Commission.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL (No 2)
(Serial 192)
(Serial 192)
Continued from 26 November 2003.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, the opposition does not oppose this bill.
Mr Stirling: You can say ‘support’, Jodeen.
Ms CARNEY: I will pick up on the interjection. If it makes the usually very grumpy Treasurer a happier man, I am very happy to say that we also support the bill, and at the same time we do not oppose it.
The bill is supportable on the basis that it is extremely straight forward and that is evidenced by the brevity of the second reading speech. I do not think there is any point whatsoever, unlike members on the other side of the House, just going on for the sake of it. The bill is supported, and if anyone has any doubts about why it is supported, or not opposed, they need only go to the second reading speech, which is very straight forward.
Dr TOYNE (Justice and Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their contribution to this extensive debate and I thank the opposition for their support.
Statute Law Revision Bills are really just minor plumbing or removal of moles from the skin of the body of Territory law. I am picking up health analogies now; it is part of an evolutionary process.
This is an uncontentious bill. It simply relates existing legislation to acts that have been introduced through reform so that there is consistency in reference from one act to the other. There is nothing of a policy nature in the changes. It is simply to keep the law properly integrated, one act to the next. With that, we will move on.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Dr TOYNE (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 – Building Healthier Communities: A Five Year Framework
for Health and Community Services
Note Statement – Building Healthier Communities: A Five Year Framework
for Health and Community Services
Continued from 17 February 2004.
Mr DUNHAM (Drysdale): Madam Speaker, I had intended to preface the debate with the necessity for a debate like this to be brought on, but I believe that has been well and truly gone over.
It is very important to have governments parade their credentials in a way such as this, and particularly in an important area like health. It is not a good thing for the government to have raised a debate on an issue that is going to take some five years to come to fruition, and a minister who admits that he will only be here for one year. That is definitely not in the best interests of health.
Excuse my posture, Madam Speaker; I am going a bit deaf and I have to hold my ear.
I have said before in health that we need to look to the next generation for answers to these health problems. We need patience in those outcomes, but we need urgency in immediately commencing the work. It does us no good to have a minister who is dropping five year statements and who has admitted that he is out of here.
The most recent situation I can see that parallels this is when Fred Finch, as Education minister, decided to step down, having decided not to contest the next election and he did it on the basis that there was a clamouring from the opposition in any event, but he also did it for reasons of honour that I would ask the current minister to consider.
There are some significant problems with this duplicate statement in that we do have a health paradigm that is pretty much subscribed to around the world, and that is to move away from treatment and towards prevention. The statement we have before us is definitely a move away from prevention to treatment.
We note, for instance, that the Labor government is infatuated with matters relating to Medicare and, in talking about that nationally, it is silent on the effect that Medicare provisions may have locally in the Territory when we are pursuing an agenda from which the big states are winners.
It should be noted, too, that this health paradigm can be pursued on funding trends, and that has been over the last couple of budgets. The minister this morning proudly proclaimed $1m worth of extra gear for our acute sector. I would have thought that they were pretty much bread and butter items, all of which were held in the hospitals to a greater or lesser degree of antiquity, but nonetheless, all of those items would be held.
If we go to the issue of budgets, it is pretty simple to see that there has been a move towards the acute sector away from the community sector. This is not going to be helped by having two ministers sitting across these two different areas. If we look at how much is going to acute services in the 2003-04 budget, we will see that it is about $320m, up from $306m last year. That is a significant amount of extra money. When we look to the throughput, the measures of activity, it certainly could not be held that those increases were as a result of throughput. It is one of those things where there are cost blow-outs in that area that have to be addressed.
In the 2002-03 budget, the allocation was $272m, so in that year alone, it blew out by $34m, which is well over 10%. This year, they have raised another $14m. It is a sector that is growing very fast and, to my belief, it is at the expense of the community sector.
We have two ministers here, one of whom is a loser and the other is a winner. The good work that has to be done in the community sector was touched on in the speeches, but it is going to be rhetoric unless you can actually put it into place. For instance, Community Health Services had a budget of $109m in 2002-03, but came in at $98m. It was one of those areas that came in significantly under and it was because it had to cross-subsidise the acute sector. It is on a no-growth budget, so it has gone down from $109m by a factor of some $10m within a year.
If we look to Aged and Disability Services, in last year’s budget, 2002-03, they were estimated to spend $48m and they came in at $46m. This year, they are going to get $45m. These are important areas. They are very significant cuts and they are going to the acute sector.
I would ask, in this new arrangement, that the senior minister, who is acute focussed, and the junior new minister, who is community focussed, look to what the fundamentals of their policy position are because it is extremely important that we move to primary health, public health and a preventative paradigm and away from the treatmental paradigm.
The fragmentation is definitely confusing to the department. The department is still trying to grapple with who is doing what and that is a bad thing. I thought having a mega-department in the health sector was a good thing. As I went to ministerial conferences, as my successor and Labor minister, Jane Aagaard, did, we often sat at a table at which there was great hostility between these two areas, a lot of duck shoving, a lot of ‘why don’t you do this or that?’, particularly when you came to community sector areas and health areas at the interface, like early discharge, nursing home beds, same day surgery, that sort of stuff. It is very good to have one minister across this because, at the end of the day, you are responsible for it no matter what. It sends the wrong message to the department and it also has great potential for duck shoving.
The Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 January did not shed much light on who does what in that it would appear that the Minister for Health still has some functions that I consider to be community-based - for instance, food. I see food as more a community-based function than a hospital-based function; the registration of health practitioners and allied health practitioners; notifiable diseases. I would have thought that programs dealing with the variety of notifiable diseases, including STDs, TB and the hepatitises, would be community-based and should sit with the Community minister; poisons and dangerous drugs, likewise; nursing homes, I would definitely see with the Community minister; public health is definitely a program for the Community minister; tobacco control. All he has to say is: ‘The hospitals will go smoke free’. The important thing of modifying people’s behaviour really sits with the Community minister; water supply and sewerage services, likewise. I cannot see why those matters are sitting with the minister with the responsibility for Health.
We now have a confusing split. We have the potential for these two divisions to work off each other, and we have two ministers who also seem to be confused about what their responsibilities are if you look to their statements. Certainly, the lead statement by the Health minister dealt with a lot about community sector issues, and he talked about issues in a way that one would question whether he believed he had responsibility for some of these things. He wants to give kids a good start in life. If you look at some of those issues, for example, child care, immunisation, the education links, sport, attitudinal change and lifestyle, they really sit with his colleagues. He wants to strengthen families and whatever. As you read through his statement, it is apparent that there is going to have to be a great deal of cooperative endeavour between these two to make sure that one does not start to become subservient to the other.
This is a quote from his statement:
- Studies suggest that the window of opportunity to make a real impact on learning ability, behaviour and health
is in early childhood up to six years of age, and we will focus services for that period.
We may well, but I believe it would be his colleague rather than him.
Some of the key areas are laudable, and many of them match statements that I and previous health ministers have made. There is not a great deal of difficulty about enunciating a policy to make people healthier. The problem really is in how you are going to do it. When you say you are going to make better pathways to health services providing care close to Territorians’ homes, that is not a bad thing to say unless you live at Palmerston and you wonder why the Palmerston 24 Hour Clinic was closed. It also flies in the face of a lot of the enticement and encouragement for people to move to outstations. We have seen that there was a trade-off and that people could pursue a more traditional style of life, and that there were great health advantages that flowed from that, as well as social and others. However, in doing so, they would move further and further away from health, education and some of those other trappings that generally sit in the major foci of population.
With some of these things, it is not a matter of chasing people out to their homes as close as possible. Sometimes it is a matter of the government making a conscious decision in collaboration with people to move back because often, particularly with the homelands movement, that is what they are after.
I am quite disappointed with the statement for what it does not say. There are significant issues that are not addressed. I can catalogue a few of them. For instance, healthy services: the new minister has catalogued people in parlous circumstances with disabilities, violence, alcohol problems and all manner of social ills. While they may be major issues to focus on, you have to remember our job is to support a healthy lifestyle. Thankfully, for all of us, the great preponderance of the population is healthy, and our job is to support them as well. Child care does not even rate a mention yet it is a service that is admirably placed for the great bulk of the population, also to be focussed on children with special needs and with social and disability problems. Labor’s fully-funded health promises do not rate a mention at all.
While we have a statement rattling on about this taking us through to the next election, it is a bit premature. The minister said:
- It sets the Martin government’s broad health and community services agenda up to and beyond the next election.
Before you do that, you should sign off on what you did last election. We have not seen many of these promises. For instance, we have not seen the oncology, the hospice or the birthing centre that we have talked about many times. That is unfinished business. It also sets your bona fides because you cannot go out and say you are going to build a convention centre, for instance, when you do not even have the capability to build swimming pool fences. If you really want to go out and say: ‘We are setting a broad agenda and everyone is going to be healthy and live happily ever after under Labor’, tell us what you promised to do and you have not done.
Let us go back to some of the issues that Percy Allen looked at. By good fortune, I have some of those here. It was interesting to see how much was in this sector: nurses were going to be increased by 75; staff and RDH emergency department; clinical implementation groups for A&E and intensive care; the health direct 24-hour service call site; recruitment, retention, and professional development - and that was going to refocus resources so we were going to see nurses so happy with living here that we would recruit fewer of them; we were going to have a health council reporting to the minister; an office of children and families; a Territory-wide free call help line; a family support Internet site. We were going to have some wonderful things like a reduction in the number of ministers from nine to seven. That did not happen. Abolish government communications office. That did not happen. Saving on advertisement, marketing and promotion. That has gone up. Saving on legal expenses. I believe that has gone up. Consultancies have definitely gone up. If you really want us to look forward, let us do a little stock take on some of the things that you said you were going to do that are not in there.
Breaking the generational cycle was mentioned. The minister might be being misinformed by some of the early panic attack people who are coming to see her because, while it is true that some things happen in generations, the provision of health services has moved on remarkably. In the early days, things were much easier. Notwithstanding what people say about Kalkarindji and the walk-off - I notice even in the video how wonderful things happened from it - most of the locals did not have a problem with the issues at Kalkarindji other than access to alcohol. An unfettered access to alcohol continues to be a problem here in the Northern Territory; it was identified 45 years ago or so. Therefore, some of this stuff was easier for our predecessors. Some things like leprosy, some STDs, Yaws, malaria, and TB are pretty much under control. The capacity to immunise children, the preventable childhood deaths, has seen great leaps forward in that generation.
The next generation has a much bigger issue, and that is looking to modify human behaviour: what you eat, what you smoke, unprotected sex, violence, alcohol are the issues of the future.
For the minister to say that there is a generational cycle is disputed by most noted commentators in health. I refer her to a paper by John Hargreaves, an excellent paper that was one of Under the Banyan Tree lectures. It is readily available through NT Library.
I would be careful of this notion of a cyclical thing. Sometimes we are dealing with new things and we have to have new approaches. Cannabis certainly was not a big problem in communities 20 years ago. Petrol sniffing has only been there since the 1940s. Kava was not around until the 1970s. We have to be a bit careful about saying this is just a cycle going around because you then tend to run some of the solutions around again. We have to come back to empowering people. I notice some of that rhetoric is here, so I hope it comes through.
The minister is critical of welfare-ism. Whatever that might be, I agree with her. She pointed to some of the solutions. She said:
- … a real problem of how modern states have sometimes sought to assist those in need - problems that, in my view,
stem largely from treating people as passive recipients of government or private health. The problems of so-called
welfare dependence have led some to calls for assistance to those in need to be cut back.
We have to get back to empowering people. I know that is a clich. We have to make sure that people who are, for instance, given welfare money that is supposed to sustain their family use it for that purpose. We have to be very careful about running in and saying: ‘We will give your children good health’, and being a government that sees itself as providing something that is readily available by a change in approach and a change in attitude in many circumstances.
Continuing on what was not said, and that is the fully funded health promises and the healthy services and child care and such things, I was very pleased that the phrase ‘Third World’ was not used in the statement. That is a great step forward for this government, that they are not running this Third World case all the time. In the first place, it is offensive to those who actually live in the Third World if you know much about their circumstances. Second, it is really not the source of our problems; we have First World problems. Our problems are obesity and hypertension and over-indulging in substances that in the Third World are not even available. I am glad that phrase has disappeared. It augers well for a more focussed and pragmatic approach to this business.
I ask both ministers to look at Medicare because, with elections coming up, it will again be used as a political hostage in debates. Again, it will be alleged that anyone who does not like Medicare is a philistine who wants to pick up some sort of American system and does not care about the poor and underprivileged. That debate works well down south. I would be very careful, if I were a politician in the Northern Territory, about signing off on such a debate because it is not in the best interests of the Northern Territory to see New South Wales and Victoria continuing to do well under a national system while the most unhealthy of Australians, Aboriginal people here in the Territory, are continuing to miss out. It has a fundamental principle of universal access, which it has not achieved.
I could go on at some length about the statement. I would ask that periodically, they be presented to us. I am quite happy for the government to parade its achievements and on the rare occasion - I should not say it so cynically - on the occasions when they are doing well, I will be happy to applaud them. This is a fragmentation of convenience and it is not in the best interests of the department. It will make it harder to deliver health services in the Northern Territory.
Mr AH KIT (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the statement by the Minister for Health.
In my many years of working and travelling around regional and remote areas, it is evident that issues of access and equity for people living out bush are among the most critical facing the Northern Territory. It is something I have raised a number of times and in a number of contexts, both in this place and elsewhere. It is equally evident that since Self-Government in 1978, access and equity for people in the bush has not been a consistent priority of government until the election of Labor two years ago.
The Stronger Regions, Stronger Futures strategy I announced last year was part of our whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach to reversing this decline in the fortunes of our regions. The Building Healthier Communities statement further develops this government’s deep commitment to the people of the regional and remote areas of the Territory.
The statement, however, is not a narrow, prescriptive approach to health as an isolated government service. It explicitly recognises that health is not the domain of a single agency or a single department. It recognises that health is an issue that ripples through all aspects of government service delivery. Health is an issue that is the focus of a broad range of groups in the community, one that involves a wide range of professional groups. Thus, health is inextricably linked with a variety of social and economic outcomes, which, in turn, have a crucial bearing on regional development.
Without good health, community and economic development in our regions is simply impossible. Unless you are healthy, you cannot take advantage of educational opportunities from which employment chances might flow. Indeed, without good health, the chances of accessing training and employment are exceedingly slim. Without good health, there is little hope of running a business or working with others in a joint venture.
It is no accident that the health of indigenous Territorians has barely improved over the last 30 years, especially in the remote regional areas where 72% of these people live. Indeed, in some areas there has been a decline in health outcomes over that period. Tragically, the rot starts with our children who must be regarded as holding the future for our regional development plans in the Northern Territory.
For example, hearing loss amongst Aboriginal kids has been called ‘the hidden handicap’. Innocent of what is occurring unnoticed by those around them, children suffering chronic suppurative otitis media, otherwise known as CSOM. This experience relates to their hearing literally being torn to shreds. By the time they reach school age, as few as one in 14 have normal middle ears. That is almost unknown in developed countries such as Australia. It is caused by a persistent bacterial infection of the middle ear. It is a disease of poverty, largely a consequence of overcrowded and related poor living conditions including lack of appropriate washing facilities, poor nutrition and lack of access to comprehensive primary health care. Children as young as four days old are found to have bacterial loads in their ear canals that are simply not seen elsewhere.
The World Health Organisation suggests that a prevalence rate of CSOM of 4% indicates a massive public health problem requiring urgent attention. In the Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory, the prevalence of CSOM is often greater than 10 times this rate. A recent survey of 29 communities throughout the Northern Territory by the Menzies School of Health Research found an overall average of 25% of young Aboriginal children had perforated ear drums, 31% had middle ear fluid in both ears, and only 7% of children had normal ears. Five communities had perforation rates greater than 40%.
The proximate cause of CSOM is persistent colonisation by multiple bacterial species and subtypes. In Aboriginal communities, infants are frequently exposed to other children whose bacterial carriage rates are almost at 100% for each of the major otitis media pathogens. Kids become chronic carriers of disease, thus infecting other children.
For reasons that are unclear, Aboriginal infants who are infected rarely show symptoms such as fever, pain, irritability or inflammation of the ear. This means the illness goes unnoticed by parents and is thus untreated. Aboriginal childhood hearing loss is intermittent and, for at least some of the time, children can hear and so can acquire the capacity to speak and interact as full hearing children can. These compensation skills quickly mask the impact that the periods of hearing loss are having on their full linguistic and motor neuron development. Unlike the child who is deaf from birth and whose deafness is able to be detected with simple tests, the impact on the Aboriginal child remains dangerously undetected. Untreated, mild to major hearing loss is inevitable. Remedial measures at school age, such as hearing aids and bone conductors or a special acoustic design in school rooms, while critical for those who have suffered hearing loss, miss the point.
Prevention of the disease must be regarded as the primary strategy. Just imagine, fellow members of this House, the consequences for these Territory kids. With reduced hearing capacity, the chances of learning at school, let alone in the home environment, are severely reduced. Language, literacy and numeracy are that much harder to attain. Access to cultural knowledge, indigenous or non-indigenous, may not be available at all. It is for this reason that this government’s commitment to increasing children’s health services in regional areas is such a critical investment in the future. Defeating illness such as CSOM, or any other illness for that matter, is not seen as just a narrow clinical issue. It is at the heart of a broader process adopted by this government whereby good health outcomes are seen as having profound consequences beyond the walls of the doctor’s surgery or community clinic. Medicalisation of treatment has reduced but not eliminated the disproportionate incidence of illness in our communities. The real issue is one of power and powerlessness.
From the 1960s through to the present, there has been major long-term research. The Whitehall Studies into health outcomes for thousands of public servants in the British Civil Service. Its key finding was that health outcomes were linked to one’s position in the hierarchy - that is, to where you are in the pecking order. There is a social gradient in health, which is not only related to poverty but to the extent to which you have control over your lives. Even adjusting for known risk factors such as diet, smoking, drinking, blood pressure, social support, obesity and hundreds of other variables, there was still something like a four-fold difference in health outcomes between the top and bottom of the hierarchy. The risk factors explain something like only 25% to 35% of the differences in health outcomes. The rest could only be explained through control over your destiny. The lower down you are, the less opportunity and training you have to influence the events that impinge on your life and this is what is chronically stressing and sickening you.
Therefore, in large part, one’s health is socially determined. There have been no equivalent health studies amongst indigenous Australians, but the evidence is persuasive. Indigenous people, if employed at all, are likely as not to be at the lower rungs of the work force - inexperience, increased levels of stress and powerlessness at that level. In any case, non-indigenous people hold most positions of formal power in communities, not to mention the public service and private sector. For those indigenous people unemployed, the stress and powerlessness is complete. It is this stress and powerlessness that is overwhelming indigenous people in the families, clans and communities to which they belong.
Aboriginal male violence against other males, not to mention their partners and children, is a symptom of powerlessness, not power, even though it might appear to manifest itself as such. Let us face it: this is particularly problematic for indigenous men in their position as major perpetrators of substance abuse-fuelled violence, as well as being victims of the very disempowerment that contributes so much to their illness.
In understanding the consequences of this, we must start to reach an understanding of the need for indigenous people to look to mechanisms and tools by which people can regain power over their lives. Again, I cannot help but agree with Noel Pearson who, speaking three years ago, emphasised
- … the fundamental issue of the economy of our communities.
Unless indigenous people have the capacity to properly engage with the broader economy under their own conditions and honouring their cultures and traditions, the future of indigenous people is dire.
It is not just a linear argument that indigenous ill-health is an obstacle to economic advancement. Like the chicken and egg, economic strength is directly related to positive health outcomes. Any suggestion that we can isolate resources and devote them to either the chicken or the egg just will not work. That is why we, in this government, look to a broader approach to health, and to changing the social conditions that contribute so much to poor health outcomes.
In regional development, this means the development of strong local and regional governance structures across a variety of service delivery areas to increase indigenous control over their lives and the institutions they must manage; increased educational opportunity with a strong focus on language acquisition, literacy and numeracy; accelerated and expanded access to training and employment programs; a strong focus on indigenous economic development; and an integration of indigenous economic activities within broader regional development planning processes.
It is this approach that sharply differentiates the approach of this government from the ruinous policies of the past. In keeping the Territory moving ahead, we look to broad holistic approaches. We seek, in this case, to see health as but one aspect of building social capital through both self-reliance and community development.
Madam Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I would first like to congratulate the government on the appointment of the new minister. I was hoping to say this the other day, but the numbers were a bit shorter than I thought. I welcome the new minister and thank her for her time as the Chairman of the Substance Abuse Committee. She did an outstanding job on that committee and, not trying to denigrate the new Chair of the Substance Abuse Committee, the previous Chair did a terrific job and she is respected throughout the community for the work she has done. Certainly, on that committee, we will miss her. As I said before, that does not mean we will not ask her a few ticklish questions from time to time, but I wish her all the best.
The Ministers for Health and for Family and Community Services highlighted a framework for the Health Department over the next five years. Both these statements cover, to some extent, similar ground. Both statements deal with the provision of services, restructuring of services, new bodies such as an Office of Aboriginal Health, Clinical Reference Group, NT-wide Safety and Quality Council, a Health Advisory Council, a Family and Community Services Advisory Board, a Looking After Children initiative, a Territory-wide Parenting Strategy, a Disability Advisory Council, etcetera.
Whilst these programs might be wonderful and the strategies good, there needs to be a number of other matters that go hand-in-hand with all these services. The first matter is statistics. It is not useful to say: ‘This is what the government is doing’, and ‘This is where we spent the money’ and ‘This how much money we have increased from previous years’ if we do not know whether we are actually making improvement in the health of our communities. If we are spending this much money on new staff, new directions and new theories, without good statistics, all these bright ideas may never be tested.
There is a concern about renal disease. Are the numbers decreasing? Is petrol sniffing on the increase or decrease? What are the statistics on children in foster homes and obesity in young children? If we are to have a grasp on the true picture, we need reliable statistics that are public, easily read, and easily accessible. Otherwise people like me have to claw through massive volumes of books to determine the numbers. They need to be available to see whether our health policies are working.
I have touched on this once before. There is one statistic I would dearly love to see decrease: the nearly 1000 abortions a year we have so clinically hidden away as so-called day procedures. It is sad now to see those procedures for young Aboriginal girls. Both ministers make statements about the risk beginning with the prenatal period, and I hope both ministers will make a commitment to valuing human life by doing their best to reduce the risk to human life that presently affects 1000 Territorians. I have to laugh a bit because those 1000 Territorians who don’t quite see the light of day is enough to make up the numbers for the two federal seats in parliament without having to change the rules in the federal government.
For too long, even whilst I have been in parliament, I have heard about what great changes and improvements are occurring in health. Reliable statistics will cut out the political rhetoric and replace it with proof.
The second issue I want to raise is the whole-of- health strategies: I call it ‘unhealth’. Unhealth is not an isolated matter; it usually involves other factors that are involved, and the member for Arnhem addressed this a few moments ago. Here, I am talking about preventable diseases. It seems to me that you can spend a fortune on equipment or education, but if there are other factors outside of that, much of this focus and effort will be a waste of time.
To my mind, one of the greatest contributors to much of the problems we have, in regards to alcohol, drug abuse and petrol sniffing is strongly related to unemployment and having goals in life. Boredom and little sense of pride or achievement are the results of unemployment in many of our communities. I know that having full employment is not going to be a total remedy in trying to halt these social health problems, but can certainly be of great value in trying to reduce the problems.
On top of that, if you do not add a life of a little exercise and, sadly, like my two brothers-in-law who had diabetes, life is short. I do not know what strategies the Substance Abuse Committee will eventually arrive at, but for me, some tough decisions have to be made by governments, and one of these is to fund full employment, backed up with adequate resources, and a strong and monitored management process to ensure that the system is not being rorted. Until we overcome years of sit-down money, I don’t believe we will make a lot of difference in preventable disease in our community.
Another area constantly spoken about in many of our communities is not substance abuse, but gambling addiction. There is no doubt that gambling is an enjoyable social past time, but when it comes at the cost of children being hungry or malnourished or not cared for, what are we going to do?
The influence of computers and computer games on our youth - and I can speak from experience here having a grandson who is a fanatic at playing Crash Bandicoot – is considerable. How much is this affecting healthy communities? Are our young people now playing less sport, sitting down all day, getting fat, becoming obese and then setting in place future health problems? It will be interesting to know what percentages of people suffer from preventable diseases. How much of the life expectancy difference between indigenous and non-indigenous is related to preventable disease? I think the minister mentioned that the difference is 20 years. All the clinics in the world will not stop preventable diseases; they will probably put them on hold or control them.
That leads me to the last strategy that plays a major role in one’s health and that is one’s own responsibility. As an individual, I have a responsibility for my own health and for the health of those under my care. Again, if people do not exercise or do not make some effort to give up the smokes, or kick the kids out of the TV room or stop playing cards when they should be feeding the family, are all our efforts that the ministers spoke about the other day a bandaid? If someone isn’t taking responsibility for their children, should the government be a little more proactive in protecting them? If a young person is a petrol sniffer and the family or community is either too scared or couldn’t care, is there a role for Family and Community Services? If the parents are the substance abusers, what about the health and welfare of the children? What is the government to do - let the children grow up in an environment in which they are likely to follow suit or remove the child and give them hope? Difficult problems require difficult solutions.
I wish the government well in its strategy. My comments are based on the observation rather than statistics that things are not getting better in many communities. The number of suicides in some of our communities makes me shudder. Health and wellbeing are associated with many things. I have mentioned employment as one part of the solution. Education, good housing, recreation also must be part of the program to make up the picture.
I always wonder about the clinical deliberations we make about health. Is health just a science, or is our health also related to our spiritual wellbeing? Is health just about physical environment? Are some of our problems associated with a non-belief in anything? Has our world of materialism and a constant promotion of pleasure led us down the path of quick self-gratification, here today, gone tomorrow? Or is it a case of: ‘We have no reason to live. Why are we here?’ You might say: ‘So what? What has this to do with building a healthier community?’
If you want a truly healthy community, you need a physical and spiritual wellbeing and, whilst the government is probably reluctant to deal in spiritual values, development and promotion of cultural values, either through religious or traditional beliefs, are something that should be promoted. Sometimes the body as well as the soul needs healing.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I wanted to make some fairly specific comments that, I believe it is fair to say in a debate of this nature, I can make.
I prefer not to deal with the statements in their entirety, but note that it is about building a healthier community and would like to make a couple of points in relation to women’s health issues in Alice Springs. I do so not only in my capacity as shadow minister for Women’s Policy, but as a local member in Alice Springs. I am sure the Minister for Health will well understand why I do so.
I should, for the sake of the Parliamentary Record, make note of the adjournment speech I made last week in relation to the headline in the Northern Territory News about the sterilisation, as it described it, of young women. I indicate that I have since spoken with the Minister for Family and Community Services and I understand that she proposes to respond, probably by way of an adjournment speech in these sittings. I also indicate to her that if for some reason she is unable to do that, I would be very happy to receive a response by way of letter. I will leave that up to the minister.
Dealing with the couple of issues that I would like to raise today, the first is in relation to breast screening in Alice Springs. I would like to think that both ministers are aware of the difficulties that have been experienced under the captaincy of the former Health minister. I can easily refresh the Minister for Health’s memory by referring him to a couple of articles that appeared in the Centralian Advocate, one on 26 September last year, the other on 7 November last year. I am happy to table those, if the minister would like me to do so.
Some interesting and very relevant issues were raised in those articles and, in particular, the fact that there were fewer numbers of days the breast screening service was operational in Alice Springs. In 2001, there were 134 days of operational breast screening in Alice Springs, yet in 2002 there were only 55 days of screening, which was conducted on 966 women; the previous year there were 1009 women screened. As at the end of last year, I understand that the number of women in Alice Springs who had been screened was 734. There has been a reduction both in the number of days the breast screening service has operated and in the number of women who have availed themselves of that service.
I am sure neither minister needs to be reminded of the importance of this service, however, in the context of this debate, I raise it for the consideration of both. It is not good enough in 2003 or 2004 to not have a breast screening service operational in any regional centre in the Territory, in particular Alice Springs. My view is that if mankind can fly little robotic cars to Mars, surely mankind can organise a breast screening service in Alice Springs. It cannot be that difficult.
I understand that a locum radiographer had been brought in to operate the service and that, for reasons that escape me, a local radiographer could not be secured to perform that task. I also understand that a coordinator has been brought in from interstate on a sporadic basis to operate the service.
In addition to the service not operating as it should, that is with a maximum number of breast screening days, another role that this service has performed over the years has been one of education. Workers at Breast Screening have considered, as part of their role, and I agree it is an important one, that they need to get into the community and educate young women in particular about breast cancer and educate older women as to the importance of breast screening and mammography services.
Some members in this Chamber probably do not think this issue is terribly important. I do. I feel certain that I can speak for the women in the Chamber and the women in the Northern Territory who do regard this issue as especially important. Most of those women have brothers and fathers and husbands, so I would like to think that they also regard it as important.
It is against that backdrop that I implore both health ministers to pull out all stops to ensure that the breast screening service is restored to the way it was, and that it continues its work to maximise the benefits that were always intended for women in that region. I might say that some years ago, those that worked at Breast Screening also, as I understand it, did work out bush, so this is an issue that affects not just women in town, but women out bush.
I would be very grateful if, at some point, either minister, either in reply or by some other means, can give me an assurance as a local member and a woman who lives in Alice Springs that the breast screening service will be restored.
The second issue I raise is the Women’s Information Centre and I propose to speak separately to the Minister for Family and Community Services about this. But, again, in the context of their statements and this debate, it is appropriate that I place my views on the Parliamentary Record.
There has been some discussion for, I suspect, the better part of 18 months, as to whether the Women’s Information Centre will close. Some interested members will recall that I have done one, probably two, adjournment debates on this issue.
The Women’s Information Centre is not just a centre that provides general information to women. It is run under the auspices of the Health Department and it has long been acknowledged that some of the information that is provided to local women pertains to health issues. The underlying theme of both statements presented by the ministers has been Building Healthier Communities. I suggest that one way of doing that is to ensure that the Women’s Information Centre stays open.
In this regard, the minister has corresponded with me in answer to several letters, most of which I think I sent to the former Health minister and, for reasons that I fail to understand, were not replied to. In any event, happily, on 7 January 2004, I received a letter from the Minister for Health while he was acting as Minister for Family and Community Services. He said:
The WIC …
- … will not close, but services may be configured differently in the future. As Minister for Health and Central Australia,
I support this decision. We have asked that a working party be established in the new year to examine the issues and
consult with stakeholders as to what services may look like. A service concept will be considered by mid-February 2004.
I am sure the Minister for Central Australia knows that there are a number of very good and experienced women in Alice Springs who have a long track record in dealing with and operating in the Women’s Information Centre. It performs a very valuable function; it has always done so. When the minister says the WIC will not close but services may be configured differently, I am very worried about what that actually means. Does it mean that it will not be a women-specific centre any more? I could go on, but I would like some information on who is on the working party, who are the stakeholders and who has been consulted. I have not heard or seen anything in the way of advertisements or any other publications asking interested women in Alice Springs to participate. If this is essentially a public service review, I know what the outcome will be. It has to be beyond that, and I again implore both ministers to give this matter their earnest consideration and attention.
We all want, on both sides of the Chamber, good outcomes for the Northern Territory. The Minister for Central Australia and I, together with other members from Central Australia, also want good outcomes for people in Alice Springs and Central Australia. The Women’s Information Centre is a way to contribute towards building healthier communities. With those fairly specifically targeted comments and observations, I will conclude.
Mr BONSON (Milner): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, today I proudly support the five-year plan of this government and the Department of Health and Community Services’ 2004-2009 program.
I applaud the two new ministers, the Minister for Health, Hon Peter Toyne, MLA, and the Minister for Family Community Services, Hon Marion Scrymgour, MLA. I would also like to recognise the work of the member for Nightcliff, Mrs Jane Aagaard, who started the process that has led to the government’s blueprint for the future.
Building Healthier Communities – a Framework for Health and Community Services 2004-2009 is the blueprint for a brighter future for all Territorians. The research I have conducted on the issue of health has led me to the conclusion that the Northern Territory government does not have a magic wand that will suddenly be used to fix the health issues facing Territorians today or in the future. However, a 1000-mile journey may only be completed if the first steps are taken, with a determination that is strategically designed so we can ensure that the journey is completed.
My first step on my discovery of health issues began in earnest when I was elected. From all my research, I realised that community expectations of health are always high. Similarly, the expectations of the health professionals are often as high or higher still than the wider community. However, in this country, resource expenditure on health is always limited. This is an interesting point. I am led to believe that in many western European countries, politicians and health professionals are currently debating the merit of increasing overall health expenditure if it ensures a healthier and longer average life expectancy. Maybe we need to consider such a proposition.
I mention the European debate to highlight that health-related matters are worldwide and Australia-wide concerns. Territory urban centres like Darwin and Alice Springs have historically demanded and obtained a majority of health resource expenditure. I believe the issue of health is not about urban cities and towns of the Territory; centres versus remote and regional areas of the Territory. We need to refocus the debate to address the Territory as a remote region of Australia, which requires unique support from the Commonwealth government. The Territory requires an increase in Australian resources on a needs basis when compared to southern states or territories of Australia. Health issues facing Territorians can only be solved by proper resource expenditure. Until we achieve this Australia-wide focus, we will not completely address health issues facing all Territorians.
After hearing Minister for Family and Community Services’ articulate description of the problems of ‘welfare-ism’. This was a stimulating reflection of the current situation that Territorians face. It demonstrated her in-depth knowledge and analysis of 30 years work experience in the health field. I feel confident that we have a minister who is aware of the concerns and understands that welfare-ism is an issue, but we can not withdraw our support and have a sink or swim approach. I quote from the minister’s statement:
- What is absolutely clear is that families that have endured long-standing hardship will need support. We are not closing
our eyes to the difficulties. We recognise that welfare dependence has caused problems in the past, but the answer is not
to withdraw assistance from those in the Territory who need it. Instead, we will provide the services that support and
protect people in a way that encourages strength and independence.
My mother often says that when you start a race - and the race might be the race of life - it is fair enough to say: ‘All right, we all start off equal’. We have to run 100 m, and hopefully you run the 10 or 11 seconds that you need to be competitive. But the problem is, of course, if you start 120 m or 130 m behind the starting mark, you cannot compete and you cannot succeed. This is an issue for many Territory families. I am talking about white, black, green or purple. It does not matter. It is a result of our isolation and our limited resources and our small population by comparison with the rest of Australia. Therefore, we have to refocus the debate so the issue is that as Australian citizens, people in the Northern Territory can no longer be ignored. We need additional resources
We can debate until the cows come home whether or not the NT government can solve or manage these issues in a way that best suits all Territorians. What do we do as the Territory government? Should we just give up? The answer must be no. Like the Health Minister, I believe the issue becomes, in his words ‘making the best use of the available resources’. There is an understanding that we cannot solve all the problems, but we have resources so how best we use them becomes the issue.
With the resources we have, we must develop strategic policies that ensure the greatest return for the government’s resource expenditure. We are capable of ensuring a premium return for our resource expenditure. The plan that this government has developed to be our blueprint for building better health services for all Territorians is founded in recommendations from the Bansemer Report into Health and Community Services that was commissioned in 2002.
The Bansemer Report was hotly debated in this House and it condemned the former CLP government health ministers’ initiatives or lack of them. However, the Bansemer Report also clearly detailed recommendations for the future. As the Health minister stated, the Bansemer Report clearly identified that while some elements of the system were working well, there were major service gaps and the department needed to be reorganised to improve accountability for standards and focus more on outcomes.
This government will require our health services to focus on health outcomes. This is what the Territory community demands. Every Territorian would love to ensure that our health services continue to save lives. That is what we, as a government, are talking about: saving and improving lives. This is a big picture plan. This is a plan developed to attack health-related issues on a number of fronts, something the opposition was unable to achieve or simply unable to understand.
I will now outline health policies of which I can, as part of this Labor government, proudly claim ownership. The minister outlined six key priority areas to improve services to Territorians. The first is giving kids a good start in life. This is a fundamental foundation of our community and the future of our country. We have a duty of care to protect and nurture Territory kids. I would like people who troll through Hansard to be aware that the Minister for Family and Community Service gave an articulate preview of our aims, what we hope to achieve and what it means to be part of a family in the Territory.
The second priority is targeting families and communities.
Third, generally attacking Aboriginal health and, in the minister’s words, getting real about Aboriginal health. We have heard a number of members talk about indigenous health as an issue. When I talk about health, I talk about it for all Territorians but, of course, we cannot deny the fact that there is a proportion of the Territory population affected by a much greater incidence of ill-health compared with the majority of our population. The issue of getting real means equal service delivery levels for all people. The issue then becomes how we deliver these resources to remote areas. A large proportion of people live in remote areas and, owing to the tyranny distance, they lack equity. To my mind, this comes down to an Australia-wide concern. As a parliament, no matter who is in power in the Commonwealth, we need to argue that we need more resources to get real on Aboriginal health. The balancing act of that is what the minister was saying: What do we have in resources? We have to invest resources available for health in a way to ensure premium returns.
The fourth priority is creating better pathways to health services.
The fifth key priority is filling service gaps.
The sixth is tackling substance abuse. This, in particular, is a controversial area of health. Substance abuse relates to petrol, glue, paint, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, amphetamines and designer drugs. Age, background, race, culture and colour do not matter; these issues face all young Territorians and people have to make decisions as they grow. I believe the issue getting educational messages out to people about the pros and the cons of what substance abuse is about. Obviously, when you are talking about substances such as petrol, glue, paint, alcohol, amphetamines, designer drugs, cannabis, tobacco and alcohol, you are talking about drugs that cause serious damage to the community when abused. That is an issue with which we have to deal as a community.
This government will concentrate on improving service delivery and creating better outcomes for Territorians. We will continue to follow through on the Bansemer recommendations as they relate to Department of Health and Community Services systems, including building a suitable quality system, creating better ways of working together. As a new member, I was continually approached – and to this day, it remains the case – by doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals who felt disheartened and disillusioned with the way the previous government dealt with health-related matters. I hope we can improve that feeling amongst those professionals. We need to give both ministers the opportunity to ensure that they are feeling upbeat about their health industry, but we will have to wait and see. We will all be judged on that. I hope to work very hard to ensure that we change the attitude of these people.
I have explained, and continue to explain, that this government has a thoughtful, well-developed plan to ensure the resources that we have to spend on health will also be spent on improving Health department employees’ attitude towards that department to the extent that they feel valued and are appreciated by their employer, work colleagues and the general community.
The government will also tackle the need to create a health technology information network. The Bansemer Report is widely accepted as a blueprint of the future strategies designed to improve the lives of Territorians by the creation of a more efficient Health department. The minister clearly stated that the government will be taking a different approach from the CLP in relation to their failed purchase provider model, which, in the eyes of the doctors, nurses and health professionals to whom I have spoken, was a complete disaster. This government should be applauded for taking steps to develop a blueprint for standardisation across the NT. This will create better outcomes for hospitals and community services across the Territory.
As the minister stated, we must fund our care services, key priorities and non-negotiable programs and then look to how best to deliver those in particular local circumstances that characterise the NT. One of the major achievements of which I am proud is the work and services this government has put into kidney disease. As I have often said in this House, I have friends and family members who have suffered and do suffer from dialysis. When I say ‘have suffered’, unfortunately, due to complications with kidney disease and diabetes, some have passed on.
Last year, this government funded renal dialysis units in Tennant Creek, Galiwinku, Groote Eylandt and Palmerston areas, and provided support to the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation to help them establish dialysis in the Kintore community. The communities we aim to assist next to open up dialysis centres include Ramingining, Santa Teresa, Maningrida and then new centres in Port Keats, Katherine and Numbulwar.
However, we recognise that prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, we will be better supporting the implementation of the Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy. This will include, for example, increased staffing in remote areas, additional nurses, Aboriginal health workers and community child workers based in remote communities. This is important. Often in these remote areas, there is a fly-in fly-out arrangement for many of the services provided by government, both the Territory and the Commonwealth. Having people based in remote communities, though at the beginning might seem more expensive, in the long term will reap a greater return.
I turn now to oral health. We will attack the years of neglect under the CLP that have left oral health services run down Territory-wide. This was recommended in the Bansemer Report and includes an aggressive recruitment campaign; review the effectiveness of existing services; and add $2.5m per year funding for service delivery. I genuinely fear the extent of the spread of HIV and AIDS. As a young member of parliament, I am aware of many young Territorians not practising safe sex. These are our friends, family and other community members. This matter needs to be properly addressed, and I applaud the position that the minister has taken on this matter, and I hope to see a Territory-wide education program begin.
I congratulate the minister for recognising that a health plan will rely on an education plan. He has stated that the future health plan will be developed through research and academic evidence. For example, Giving Kids a Good Start is an incredibly forward-thinking project for Territorians. The member for Drysdale mentioned that breakfast programs are somehow continuing a welfare mentality picked up from missionaries in years gone by. I also pick up on the member for Nelson’s understanding that the problems are quite complex and cannot necessarily be completely analysed in debate in such a short period of time.
The fact of the matter is, going back to what the Minister for Family and Community Services said, that people are not starting at the same level. It is not up to us to choose whether or not we want to leave these people out to hang. The issue has to be that we have a young child - five, six, seven, eight, nine or 10, black, white, green or purple - turning up to - let us say Ludmilla School in my electorate - and a breakfast program has just been started in the Bagot community. The reality is if they do not have breakfast, they are not thinking. I noticed the ads that are currently running on mainstream TV, with mainstream Australian citizens talking about this very issue. This program will help kids concentrate and perform at a level that will enable them to compete. This is the major issue.
In the time I have left, I would like to mention that I am currently involved in a group called the Top End Countrymen’s Association, which is made up of a large number of community members who are interested in male health. Male health is a big issue for all Territorians, as it seems that many of the domestic violence and other violent activities are related to men’s health. In the past …
Mr HENDERSON: Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move for an extension of time of 10 minutes to allow the honourable member to conclude his remarks.
Motion agreed to.
Mr BONSON: Thank you, members. This will allow me not to rush my summary and to go back to my notes to fully explain where we are.
Funds for a $2.5m birthing centre at the Royal Darwin Hospital will help indigenous and non-indigenous women’s birthing experience; new approaches to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption in pregnancy and to ensure access to effective antenatal care in the community; and recognition that ages between 0 and 6 years of age are vital in making a real impact on learning, behaviour and health practices of parents and children.
The government will recruit a range of professionals including audiologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, Aboriginal health workers and nutritionists. This requirement will have an effect on rural and remote communities. I know this government is committed to improving the health, education, jobs and lifestyles of all Territorians.
The minister, in his statement, clearly said that decisions and policy strategies developed will be based on evidence and research. For example, the proper analysis of evidence that experts have in the past presented to previous Territory governments in relation to drug problems. As alluded to by the minister in his speech, the drug problem was often debated in this House and all around Australia, it was recognised that it does exist. Unfortunately, I have seen the effects of drugs and other substances on family members, friends and the wider community in Darwin and across the Northern Territory. The minister highlighted that we will act responsibly on academic evidence. What the experts advise should form the basis for strategies and future policy.
This brings me to an issue that requires proper academic analysis. The indigenous community is a community universally accepted as being the most unhealthy of all Australian citizens and it is for many and complex reasons. In the indigenous community, it is recognised the men suffer from many health issues: substance abuse; mental health; domestic violence impacts that on families; and poor self esteem. This is one of the reasons for the formation of the Top End Countrymen’s Association I mentioned earlier. One issue about which this group is concerned is the disenfranchisement of indigenous people from mainstream health services and policy. The group is only in its infancy and therefore I am careful not to pretend to represent the group as its appointed representative.
There is a crisis in indigenous men’s health that relates to indigenous men’s wellbeing. In the Top End Countrymen’s Association are a large number of health professionals. In discussion with these men, it has become apparent that many of these individuals feel undervalued by the old Department of Health. It will be a major task for the government to empower indigenous men to address and work towards the issues of improving indigenous men’s health.
It is well recognised that Men’s Business is quite separate from Women’s Business in indigenous society as, arguably, is the degree of potency in other cultures in respect of separation of men’s and women’s business. My view is that it is not an issue of gender bias; it is an issue of cultural practice. Let me explain to the House …
Mr Elferink: You can wing it, Mattie.
Mr BONSON: Yes. What I mean is: just like many women when they go to see a doctor, they prefer to see a female doctor. In reverse, many men, when they go to see a doctor, like to see a male doctor. Issues of health, whether they are mental or physical, sexual or reproductive, are issues of concern to individuals and give rise to their preference for a male or female doctor. The preference in indigenous cultures is even greater regarding men seeing male health professionals and women seeing female health professionals.
Indigenous men suffer from serious health issues. This is manifested by substance abuse and the violence men and others cause. To fix the problem, indigenous men need to be properly represented in health discussions through consultation. The Territory government and the Commonwealth need to listen to the input of indigenous men. Many destructive health practices are perpetuated by indigenous men. Statistics show this to be the case. If we as a government in partnership with indigenous men want to improve indigenous health, we need to recognise indigenous men as a key player in the health of individuals and the community as a whole.
In conclusion, I thank the two ministers for their enlightening statements. This is a blueprint to work towards improving Territory Health Services and all Territorians should look to the future with renewed hope and expectation. I commend this statement to the House.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that debate be adjourned.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, speaking to the motion, if that was a motion…
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: I believe I detected the motion being put there.
Mr ELFERINK: Is there a motion before the House?
Dr Toyne: Yes, there is a motion for adjournment.
Mr HENDERSON: No. I do not believe under Standing Orders that the honourable member can move that motion, having just spoken in the debate. Does the member for Macdonnell wish to contribute?
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Does the member for Macdonnell wish to speak to the point of order or wish to contribute to the debate?
Mr ELFERINK: I wish to contribute to the debate.
Mr ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: You have the floor.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, every so often you get a little clanger in this House, and before I get on to the serious matter of this very important issue, I, too, share the curiosity of the member for Millner in relation to the safe sex issue and the minister’s position on it. However, that is an aside. It is one of those for Parliamentary Posies at a later date.
My contribution is to more going to be series of questions than anything else in relation to health issues in the Northern Territory. The first one I want to raise is the last one that I noted down the other day. I have become aware over recent times that there seems to be a very alarming rise in pancreatitis in Central Australia. Pancreatitis is apparently a terminal disease. It is inflammation, obviously, of the pancreas brought about basically by substance abuse.
It seems that the incidence of pancreatitis is inextricably linked to the change in the alcohol sales environment in Alice Springs and with the introduction of what is colloquially called ‘Monkey Blood’, which is fortified wine of some strength. It appears the effect of that consumed drunk very quickly is having a profound effect on pancreatitis rates. It is a speculative observation on my part only; there is no science of which I am aware.
However, I ask the minister to turn his attention to it because I believe he will find that if he asks a few questions in the Alice Springs Hospital area, there might be some science available. If the incidence of pancreatitis is as alarming as I believe it to be, we have a health problem just around the corner that is right up there with renal failure and possibly worse.
As I understand it, in one surgical procedure not so long ago, a fellow’s pancreas was partially removed with a help of a spoon or ladle because it was not solid enough to be able to be dealt with in any other fashion and, in fact, liquification of the organ had extended to other parts of the abdominal cavity. If this is indeed the case, there is a serious health case just around the corner. I ask the minister to confirm in his summing up whether he is aware of the problem, and if he is not, whether he will look into it as a matter of urgency. I raise it as an important issue. Please do not mistake it as an attack on government..
I have a series of questions that I hope the minister will address in his summing up. He may not have enough time. These questions deal with structural arrangements in the Health department in the Northern Territory. If he finds that he doesn’t have time or needs more information in relation to the questions I pose, he might indicate that he will get back to me by way of letter.
The first issue is the current level of sick leave being experienced by the department in two respects: one, as compared to other years; and second, in what areas are sick leave being taken? Is it particular to specific parts of the Health department or is it across the board? Is it a level of sick leave that is unchanged over the recent years or has there been a spike in sick leave? If a spike has occurred, is it in particular areas?
The second question is: what is it that the current number of supernumerary staff in the department? My definition of ‘supernumerary’ is those people who, by reason of restructure or reorganisation, find themselves beyond the normal scope of the organisational chart or staff members who are effectively operating as excess to the former organisational chart.
The third question is: what is the number of staff who had permanent positions prior to the recent restructure but now find themselves in impermanent positions? Perhaps this could be wound up with the question in relation to supernumerary staff inasmuch as those staff who were in positions that were concrete in the system now find themselves ancillary to the organisation. That is also an important question in relation to the state of the department.
I would also like to know as compared to prior years, what is the increase in the number of contract staff in the current environment? Where do you source your contract staff? Have contract staff filled positions that were originally in the organisational structures of the department?
The fifth area is the number of project officers the department currently has as compared to the number of project officers prior to 1 July 2003. We have had a restructure throughout the department. There were a number of project officers in the system prior to that restructure. I am curious to know how many project officers are in the department now.
The sixth area is the current turnover of staff. What is the current turnover throughout the Northern Territory in operational and non-operational areas as compared to earlier years? It is important to use these figures to gauge the stability of the department and the people who are working in it in terms of their desire to continue to work in the Northern Territory Health Department.
I have another question, which is: what is the number of excess staff in the department? This is similar to the supernumerary question. How many excess staff are in the department and in what areas? This is an effort to draw the minister’s attention back to the issue of people who were in an organisational structure and find themselves no longer in that structure and, as a consequence of that, are they extra to the new organisational structure or not?
There are a number of staff who are now on contracts throughout the Northern Territory, both at executive and other levels. What percentage or how many of those contracts are currently operating and how many are not going to be renewed? How many will be terminated prior to completion? In the last two years, how many contracts have been terminated prior to the completion of those contracts?
This is more a subjective question: what has been the impact of centralised decision making and processes on capacity to maintain health care in the communities? The minister partly answered that question this morning during ministerial reports when he said he is a Central Australian and he is going to ensure that the centralisation that has been occurring will be reversed, but I would like more information in relation to it because it is an important issue, one that has affected the staff of Alice Springs hospital and people out in the bush.
My next question for the minister is: how does the centralised structure of the Department of Health and Community Services affect the government’s stated claim that it has an agenda of community responsiveness and development? You have a department saying: ‘We want to be active in the community, we want to be able to respond to the community’, but have engaged in a centralised management regime. Is there any statistical or anecdotal work to demonstrate the effect of what appears to be a centralised decision-making process and how that affects people in remote and rural parts of the NT?
It is my understanding that Corporate Services has been abolished. Post-Bansemer Report, Corporate Services seems to have disappeared. It has the effect of not allowing sections in the department to talk to each other. I would like to know what the effect of it has been.
Why has the roll-out of the primary health care access program slowed? It appears there has been a link between resource and organisational issues inside the department. Those resource and organisational issues - as the member for Millner quite rightly pointed out, there is always a resourcing issue. He wants to blame the feds; that is fine. I want to find out what is happening inside the department. Rolling out the health care access program was the stated plan, and that seems to have slowed almost to a crawl. I would like to know exactly what is happening with the access plan because it is something that, certainly in Central Australia, the department seems to be dragging its feet on. There may well be a good reason for it, but I would like to hear it from the minister.
My next question is about health development services funding being cut and primary-specific services also having been cut to the point of abolition. I am concerned, minister, that those services are also being cut as a result of the centralised process of decision-making. However, it means that the services - especially the primary health care services, which are supposed to be going out to the rest of the community - do not appear to be making it to them at all. There is going to be greater reliance on secondary health care services.
My next question is in relation to Disability Services.
Dr Toyne: Go ahead. I gave Fred Finch 176 questions once.
Mr ELFERINK: Rumour has it that Disability Services has been effectively wound up, and the staff that were in that part of the organisation in Alice Springs at least are now also supernumerary or excess to requirements. Can the minister can confirm or deny those reports? If it has been wound up, what is going to happen to the staff and what is going to happen to Disability Services?
Minister, I hope that in your summation or at some point sooner rather than later you will be able to help me with some of these questions. I hope that you will be able to do so fairly soon to give an indication, to me at least, of what is happening in the department as a whole as well as what is happening specifically in Alice Springs.
Mr HENDERSON (Business and Industry): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise this afternoon to speak in full support of the statements by my colleagues, the Ministers for Health and for Family Services.
As has clearly been stated in the debate to date, the dual statements really do provide a framework for how the Labor government is going to continue to provide health and community services. It is a framework that has been developed to enable the Territory community, the people who work in the health areas, to clearly understand the areas of government focus. We all know what a complex area the Health Department is and the framework sets out the six key areas where this government will be focussing strategy, policy and funding to improve health outcomes for Territorians.
I put on the record my congratulations and thanks to the member for Nightcliff who did a huge job in the first two years in this portfolio. She inherited a portfolio that was lacking direction and was significantly under funded. We have already put an extra $80m into health services in the Northern Territory and commissioned an independent review, the Bansemer Report, to address the problems that the Health Department was facing. The work that was done in the first two years on structural and financial reform was bedrock reform that was required to enable us to focus on the policy areas. Without having undertaken that reform and made the tough decisions, we would not be in a position to start delivering the improved outcomes that we can see are coming through here.
So, despite the criticism from the member from Brennan who basically said that this framework, to paraphrase, was a heap of rhetoric. It will be interesting to revisit this debate in a couple of years time and to look at the great strides I believe we will have made in the health area. The framework has been built on solid foundations of structural and financial reform that had to be made. The previous government did not have the intestinal fortitude to understand the issues in the department and undertake the structural and financial reform that was required.
I will work through the six key areas of the framework because they allow people who work in the health sector and the community at large to grasp some of the fundamental challenges that we are facing to improve health outcomes. I will also go through what has been done, what is being done and what is going to be done towards improved outcomes.
The first one is Giving Kids a Good Start. If you looked at that on the surface, it would look as though it is a platitude, but it is not. Giving kids a good start in life is fundamental to kids being able to grow up healthy, to be able to participate in an education system that is going to give them the skills that they will need to live a full, active and productive life. Giving those kids a good start in life is absolutely fundamental.
If we look at the strategy, we talk about children’s health, supporting families and working together. What have we done in the first years? We have injected a record $53.8m over five years for the Child Protection framework, a must-do reform for protecting our children and to give our department the capacity to respond to allegations of child abuse. The reality with which we were confronted is that we didn’t have the capacity to respond; we only had the capacity to respond to cases where the trauma being experienced by the child was so acute that we had to step in. Our capacity for early intervention just was not there. We all realise that being able to have positive intervention early when families are struggling either through lack of skills or dysfunction will lead to better outcomes for children. That was a significant injection of funding to address an area that had been neglected for many years.
What are we doing? We are:
reviewing the situation of all children in foster care. As a local member, I have a number of foster parents in my
electorate. They do an enormous job and I am in awe, watching them bring children into their family environment,
and some of those children are really quite battled scarred and pretty tough. They risk disruption to their own
families and possible poor role models for other children in order to give a child a new start in life. I have
tremendous admiration for those foster carers. We need to provide better support for people who put their hands
up to do a very important job. As a local member, I am keenly awaiting the outcome of that review;
increasing the child care subsidy to support working families. That was a core commitment during the election
campaign. I am pleased that we have delivered on that;
we have introduced the school breakfast program for 500 remote area children. The member for Drysdale, I think,
stated that that was going back to a welfare attitude. I do not care what we have to do as long as kids have a full
stomach to go to school and be able to pay attention in the classroom. If that means that we have to provide a
breakfast program to achieve education outcomes, it is a good thing for our government to do and would be
roundly supported.
Where are we going? We are undergoing a significant change to Child Protection Services so we provide more family support and early intervention. That is the key to it. It is not crisis management; it is early intervention where possible, and that is fundamentally good policy.
We then move to strengthening families and communities. Again, this is common sense. We all live in society, in communities and communities are based on families that are made up of individuals. We have to be able to support communities and families. One of the key things that we have done is establish the Office of Children and Families to help support parents in their task of raising children. It is a struggle, particularly in the Northern Territory where most people - although if the opposition had its way, we wouldn’t have any southerners here at all – come here as single people, get into relationships and have children up here without the support of a broader family network that other new parents take for granted in some of the bigger cities. As first time parents, they are a long way from supportive family networks.
The capacity to seek and be given advice when it is needed is very important for first-time parents. I think of the birth of my first child nine years ago. We rushed off to the book shop and bought the latest version of Dr Spoke or Christopher Green and did it by whoever was the guru at the time, but there is nothing better than talking to people.
We are getting serious about Aboriginal health. We have to get serious about it. There has been a lot of talk over many years and a lot of good work done by some tremendous people working in the health sector, but it needs a focussed, whole-of-government effort. That is what we are talking about. This issue cannot be addressed purely via service and strategy and policy through the Health Department. The enormous issues and challenges in regards to Aboriginal health are across the whole of government. We are working across government to do everything we can to improve education services and housing in the bush, to look at ways of working with the private sector to generate employment in the bush, and working with Aboriginal people and communities. Getting serious about Aboriginal health is not just about health programs. We are working towards focussing on comprehensive primary health care, community control and working together. It is the language of this document that enables the broader community to understand and embrace, in partnership with government, what we are trying to do.
Creating better pathways to health services is providing appropriate care as close to Territorians’ homes as practically possible. The provision of renal services in Tennant Creek is a very clear example of our commitment to providing services where they are needed wherever possible. It is a fundamental tenet of providing services. My colleague, the member for Stuart, and I share the belief that we can be doing a lot more through the provision of telemedicine services to people in the bush, and that is a key area on which he is working very hard.
Filling service gaps and identifying where the gaps are is an important part of the framework, which deals with kidney disease, mental health, injury prevention, oral health, HIV/Aids and disability services. These are key areas where there are gaps in services. There are programs, strategies and funding to try to fill those service gaps. We are being open with Territorians and identifying where they are.
Finally, we are tackling substance abuse. We have had many debates in this parliament over many years about the problems our community has with alcohol and drug abuse. This framework acknowledges that we do have problems, rather than having our head in the sand, as the previous government did, on drug abuse. The previous government said that the problem was miniscule in the Northern Territory. We have acknowledged and accepted the extent of that problem. We introduced a policy to Territorians prior to the last election; a three point plan to get tough on drug problems. That plan included additional health support services in this area and it is good to see that we are delivering on that.
In conclusion, I congratulate our two ministers for building on the work of the previous minister who undertook the structural and financial reform. We now have a framework that is easily understood and being embraced by the Territory community and the department with very clear areas identified that, hopefully, will lead to improved health outcomes for Territorians over time.
I commend both ministers on very quickly, since coming to their portfolios, pulling this together and setting a very clear direction. I know they are working very hard with all of the stakeholders in the various sections to put flesh on the bones and the programs in place to support the strategies. I commend the statement to the House.
Madam Speaker, I move that debate be adjourned.
Debate adjourned.
TABLED PAPER
Auditor-General’s Report to the Legislative Assembly on Analysis of the 2002-03
Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement
Auditor-General’s Report to the Legislative Assembly on Analysis of the 2002-03
Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table the Auditor-General’s Report to the Legislative Assembly on his Analysis of the 2002-03 Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement. I advise honourable members the Auditor-General will be providing a 30 minute presentation on his report on Thursday 26 February at 12 noon in the Litchfield Room and I encourage all members to attend.
MOTION
Print Paper – Auditor-General’s Report
to the Legislative Assembly on Analysis of the 2002-03 Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement
Print Paper – Auditor-General’s Report
to the Legislative Assembly on Analysis of the 2002-03 Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the report be printed.
Motion agreed to.
MOTION
Note Paper – Auditor-General’s Report
to the Legislative Assembly on Analysis of the 2002-03 Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement
Note Paper – Auditor-General’s Report
to the Legislative Assembly on Analysis of the 2002-03 Treasurer’s Annual Financial Statement
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the report and that I have leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
TABLED PAPER
Treasurer’s 2003-04 Mid-Year Report
Treasurer’s 2003-04 Mid-Year Report
Mr STIRLING (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table my 2003-04 Mid-Year Report, which is a means of updating financial information for the budget year and forward estimates. It meets the requirements of the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act and the Territory’s mid-year reporting obligations under the Uniform Presentation Framework Agreement.
The 2003-04 Mid-Year Report was released on Treasury’s web site on 9 January 2004 and is now tabled in this Assembly in accordance with the Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act. The report considers the Territory’s commitment to improved financial reporting. The information in the report has been significantly enhanced to include updated information for the economy, fiscal strategy and revenue and expanded analysis of the financial statements. The report includes updated financial statements, general government, public non-financial corporations, and non-financial public sectors. The report takes into account the effect of updated economic assumptions that may affect the financial statements for 2003-04 and the forward estimates.
Changes to economic assumptions in the Mid-Year Report include downward revision to forecast of gross state product, employment and population growth in 2003-04. Gross state product, or economic growth, for 2003-04 has been revised down from the budget forecast of 3.4% to 1.6% in the Mid-Year Report. The major influence on the revision is the delay in condensate production from Bayu-Undan stage one. At the time of the budget, it was estimated that full commercial production of condensate would commence in the June quarter of 2004. More recent information suggests full production will occur in 2004-05, representing a delayed timing impact on Treasury gross state product growth forecasts.
Thus, while there has been a downward revision for the economic growth forecast for 2003-04, growth is positive and is strengthening relative to the -0.8% recorded in 2002-03. Regarding the onshore Territory economy, there is negligible impact on economic growth from offshore condensate production. The estimate for state final demand growth, which is a better measure of growth in the onshore economy, remains unchanged from the time of budget at 1.2% on top of relatively strong growth of 4.8% experienced in 2002-03.
Employment growth is expected to improve from -0.5% in 2002-03 to 1% in 2003-04. This is a downward revision to the employment forecast of 2% in the 2003-04 Budget. The revised estimate reflects the completion of the railway and a slower recovery in tourism than originally expected. This has been partially offset by a stronger demand for employment associated with the LNG plant and stronger construction activity.
The Territory’s population growth, which has been moderating for several years, is expected to start to strengthen in 2003-04. Nonetheless, the annual population growth estimate for December 2003 has been revised from 0.7% at the time of the budget to -0.2% in the Mid-Year Report. Interstate migration, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, continues to act as a drag on growth. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported that the Territory’s population increased by 0.3% in the June quarter, with nett population outflow being less of a negative growth than in the recent past.
The 2003-04 Mid-Year Report financial forecast demonstrates that the government’s responsible fiscal management has resulted in improved fiscal performance. The cash deficit for general government sector in 2003-04 has improved from a deficit of $24m at the time of the budget to a deficit of $1m in the Mid-Year Report. Improvement occurred despite an additional $28m being approved in 2003-04 for the government’s priority areas, including $3m for Territory roads, $7.5m for tourism, and $9.8m for police.
In relation to forward estimates, the Territory is still on track to meet its fiscal strategy target of a balanced cash budget in 2004-05. The forecast improvement in the general government cash deficit for 2003-04 is due to the combination of a number of factors. This includes the forecast of an additional $41m in GST revenue being received from the Commonwealth. However, this amount has been more that offset by the carry over of $45m in cash expenditure from 2002-03 into 2003-04. Adjustments to other cash estimates, including the timing of 27 pay days in 2003-04 and changed arrangements for the repayment of Budget Balancing Assistance to the Commonwealth, have also contributed to the improved result.
While there has been no material change to aggregate Territory own-source revenue estimates, there have been a number of variations to the tax mix. Payroll tax estimates have been revised downward by $4m in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 consistent with employment growth estimates. Refunds that were not resolved at the time of 2003-04 Budget have also been included. In 2003-04, conveyancing duty estimates have increased by $6m, reflecting increased residential property market activity and this increase has offset the reduction in other taxes.
The Territory’s GST has been increased by $41m in the Mid-Year Report. The estimates have been revised down for lower Territory population and upwards for revised national GST revenue collection. GST revenue estimates for 2003-04 will continue to remain uncertain until the Commonwealth’s final determination of population and national GST revenue estimates in June of this year. Estimates of the Territory’s GST revenue for 2004-05 will be revised following the Commonwealth Treasurer’s consideration of the Commonwealth Grant Commission’s 2004 review of relativities in March this year. The GST revenue pool will also be revised before the end of 2003-04 affecting this and future year revenue estimates. The GST arrangements are still relatively new. The Commonwealth has had difficulty in accurately forecasting GST revenue.
I note Access Economics has recently stated that, in their view, the Commonwealth estimate for future GST revenue collection is too high. Because the Territory receives such a large proportion of its revenue from the Commonwealth, adjustments to GST revenue estimates have a relatively larger impact on the Territory than on other states. The Mid-Year Report forecasts a significant improvement in the Territory’s nett debt position. Non-financial public sector nett debt is forecast to decline by $99m from the 2003-04 Budget to $1726m in the Mid-Year Report. This mainly reflects the reduction of $90m in 2002-03 due to the improved cash outcome as well as a reduction in 2003-04 general government cash deficit by $23m.
The Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Act requires the Mid-Year Report to provide updated information to allow an assessment of the government’s fiscal strategy. The three key principles set out in 2003-04 Budget papers were sustainable government services, a competitive tax environment and prudent management of liabilities. The 2003-04 Mid-Year Report illustrates the government’s progress in implementing the fiscal strategy principles and achieving its targets. Since the time of the budget, progress in sustainable government services for 2003-04 includes a $23m improvement in the cash deficit, a $3m improvement in the nett operating balance and an additional $12m in expenditure for the government’s capital investment strategy.
The Territory remains tax competitive with other states and territories. On a per capita basis, the Territory is the second lowest taxed jurisdiction of any state or territory. The government continues to provide effective management of the Territory’s liabilities. The Mid-Year Report illustrates the impact of the government’s deficit reduction strategy and its prudent management of unfunded liabilities on nett debt and employee liabilities. After peaking at 134% in 2001-02, the ratio of nett debt and employee liabilities to revenue is forecast to continue declining over the budget and forward estimates period.
Madam Speaker, the Mid-Year Report provides further evidence that the government is adhering to its fiscal strategy principles by spending responsibly. The government has been able to boost spending in key areas whilst keeping its principles of sustainable government services, a competitive tax environment and prudent management of liabilities. I move that the Assembly take note of the paper, and seek leave to continue my remarks at a later date.
Leave granted.
Debate adjourned.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Building a Future for Territory Sport
Building a Future for Territory Sport
Mr AH KIT (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, the Northern Territory has one of the highest sports participation rates in the nation. Our sportsmen and women punch well above their weight nationally and internationally. Our per capita spending on sport and recreation is the highest in Australia. In recent times, the Territory has developed national and international status by hosting international and national sporting events for a growing number of sporting codes. This has arisen amongst a small, isolated population living in a variety of circumstances: tiny Aboriginal communities, cattle stations, small towns, national parks and the relatively small cities and towns from the desert of the Centre to the wetlands and islands of the Top End.
Although we live in a culturally diverse society, sport does much to unite us and contributes greatly to our Territory identity. However, after 25 years of Self-Government, the Northern Territory does not have a formal, over-arching sports policy that reflects the unique challenges and opportunities before us. Certainly, some planning and policy documents have been developed, which guide government and the sport and recreation industry in looking to the future. In recent times, these have included the 2003 Junior Sports Plan.
A number of individual sports have produced planning documents. A number have been the subject of review processes, often in conjunction with their national parent bodies. Local governments have produced forward plans, mostly with respect to facilities development, and we are influenced by the work of the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Institute of Sport as well as interstate experience. But there is no simple, comprehensive document developed in conjunction with the sports community that might guide us in building a future for Territory sport, a document we can call our own and which reflects our unique lifestyle. It is for this reason that I announce today the beginning of a consultative process to develop the Northern Territory’s first really comprehensive sport and recreation policy.
Within the month, I will be releasing a discussion paper, which will be widely circulated, with a clear process for consultation. I am hopeful that we would be able to launch the policy by the end of this year. I will be looking at the policy addressing the key issues of greater lifelong participation, better access, better skills, better services, better facilities, better pathways, better planning, better events and better governance. I see the development of this sports policy as a non-partisan effort with contributions from all represented here in this House and beyond. The reason for this is quite simple: sport and recreation is something that benefits us all and benefits us throughout life.
Since coming to office, this government has spent over $12m on sporting infrastructure in the Northern Territory and the fruits of this investment are already evident. We are committed to delivering national and international sporting events in the Territory. Last year, the Territory hosted international cricket with Australia competing against Bangladesh on an upgraded and improved Marrara Oval. This event was enormously popular and the Australia-Sri Lanka match to be held in July will again bring Territorians to Marrara.
The agreement between the Northern Territory government and Cricket Australia to host international test matches and one-day internationals until 2007 could not have been possible without the $2.5m upgrade of Marrara Oval. This project included the upgrade of the playing surface, improved player and media facilities and a new score board, making it a truly multipurpose venue.
Sports tourism is increasingly important globally, with both national and international visitors travelling with sports events as their primary initial reason for travel. The Territory is putting itself on the map of sports tourism. The upgrades at Marrara were required not only for international cricket, but also for Australian football. The work at Marrara has reaped huge benefits to the Territory, including the signing of a three-year deal with the AFL. It will see an annual home competition match between the Western Bulldogs and another AFL side through to the 2006 season. The first match will see the Western Bulldogs clash with Port Adelaide on 14 August this year. The AFL deal has also secured biennial Aboriginal Allstars matches in 2005 and 2007. This will allow indigenous athletes to showcase their skills to the nation.
Darwin will not be the only Territory centre to benefit from this agreement. An annual pre-season challenge match will be held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs through to the 2006 season. In addition, training camps will continue in remote and regional communities in the Centre as well as the Top End. This agreement is recognition of the faith displayed by the AFL in the future of football in the Territory.
Netball Australia will hold a Commonwealth Bank Trophy Match during June 2004 in Darwin. The Territory will get to watch the Queensland Darters battle the Australian Institute of Sport. It will be a sensational match. Negotiations are under way to hold a Commonwealth Bank Trophy game for the next three years, with different teams competing each year.
Hockey Australia will hold a world class hockey event in Darwin in June this year, with a women’s Four Nations hockey tournament in preparation for the Athens Olympics. The Hockeyroos will compete against Great Britain, Japan and New Zealand. The Vodafone Hockey Centre at Marrara will also host Australia’s own men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, when it contests a hockey test series against South Korea in July. The tournament and tests will be contested at the Vodafone Hockey Centre. The new synthetic turf, installed last year, has provided a fresh surface suitable for international events.
A partnership with the Darwin Basketball Association saw the completion of a new basketball stadium at Marrara. In addition to the three courts at Spectrum Stadium, the new stadium provides an additional two courts with sprung timber floors and improved seating capacity. The air-conditioned stadium will accommodate national netball and basketball events.
Last week, we saw the first National Basketball League game at Marrara Indoor Stadium between the Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets. Territorians experienced the full razzle dazzle atmosphere of an NBL match. The inclusion of NBL in the Territory sports calendar is the result of a three year deal with the Wildcats. This agreement shows a genuine commitment to improve basketball throughout the Territory, with Wildcats players and coaches holding community clinics in the Top End and Central Australia.
Madam Speaker, Alice Springs has also seen the benefit of the government’s commitment to sport. Stage 2 of the $5m Traeger Park redevelopment has been completed with new lighting towers installed. The $1.8m lights follow an $800 000 upgrade to the hockey field, with a further $2.4m project under way to upgrade the grandstands. The project has been a boost to the town, with work going to local tradesmen and subcontractors such as PRA Electrical, Alice Springs Town Council and the Arrernte Council.
The Finke Desert Race has long been held without any permanent facilities. As a result of discussions with motor sports in Alice Springs, this government has provided land for motor sports, allowing for the development of a permanent start and finish line for the Finke Race, and $300 000 has been committed towards this development.
Darwin has not been forgotten, with planning for the construction of a $300 000 skate park in Parap, and a $2m home ground for the Palmerston Magpies Football Club. Discussions are progressing with the Magpies and other stakeholders over the possible development of an existing oval to meet their needs.
Planning for the building of a $7m multifunctional recreation centre at Palmerston is under way. This centre is part of the Palmerston Partnership Agreement that was signed in September 2003 by the Chief Minister and the Mayor of Palmerston. Consultants are working with the Project Development Group and the Palmerston Recreation Centre Steering Committee to develop the scope of the project.
This government is committed to providing opportunities to all Territorians to participate in sport and physical activity. This has resulted in commitment to developing sporting facilities not only in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs, but also in our regions.
Work on the $300 000 lighting towers at the Stanley Tipiloura Oval on Bathurst Island is now under way. The new lights will be a long term asset to the community, allowing players to train in the evening and expanded use of the oval by other sports such as athletics and softball. It will allow for other community events such as concerts, helping it become a truly multipurpose facility.
Planning for $500 000 of improvements to the Katherine Sports Ground began late last year. The sports ground currently provides facilities for tennis, soccer, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, softball, Little Athletics, cricket and Australian football. Priorities for the upgrade of the sports ground will be developed in consultation with the Katherine Town Council. This project is a result of community consultation and in line with the Katherine Regional Development Plan’s recommendations to develop Katherine as a youth sporting hub. Work has also recently been completed on Katherine’s three netball courts that suffered severe storm damage in 2001. The courts were completely resurfaced and preventative work will be carried out to avoid future damage to the other courts.
An important local event on the national sporting calendar is the biennial Alice Springs Masters Games. This year will be extra special with the Masters’ Games celebrating its 10th competition. Preparations for the 2004 games are on track with more than 30 sports confirmed. The 2002 Alice Springs Masters Games saw 3526 participants and it is expected that the 2004 games will continue to grow with people from all over the nation flocking to the friendly games. Prior to the 2002 games, I challenged members of the House to put their names down to compete, and I undertook to compete in the games myself. I am proud to say that I not only competed in the darts competition, but I won a silver medal. I will be competing in the 2004 Alice Springs Masters’ Games, and I again challenge members of the House to nominate for an event.
Local sporting clubs are essential for organising events. An important element of the games is not only the competition, but also the spirit in which the games are contested. The 10km road walk coordinated by the Alice Springs Running and Walking Club is a great example of this.
The Masters Games in Alice Springs could not take place without the strong support of its sponsors, some of which have been with the games since their inception in 1986. Current sponsors confirmed are: Diamond sponsors - Peter Kittle Motor Company; Alice Springs Town Council; Lasseter’s Casino; and CSC; Gold sponsors - Imparja Television; Silver sponsors - Carlton and United Breweries; Coca-Cola; and Northern Territory Correction Services; Bronze sponsors - Aussie Move International Movers; Crowne Plaza Alice Springs; Coleman’s Printing; Great Southern Railway; Hamilton Sunscreen; TAB Corporation; Territory Insurance Office; Radio 8HA; and Tattersall’s.
Major sporting events such as the international cricket and the Alice Springs Masters Games could not be held without the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who give up their time to make these events a success. It is important not only to recognise the achievements of the athletes, but also those people behind the scenes who make it happen. The annual Northern Territory Sports Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, administrators and officials. The awards were recently reviewed, and I am pleased to advise that community feedback received on the awards was positive. The 2004 awards will be held in April at the MGM Grand Casino in Darwin.
This government is committed to supporting elite athletes through the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and providing them with the assistance to chase their dreams of representing Australia at an international level. Athletes selected for scholarships have access to a sports science laboratory, weight training facilities, a sports medicine network, sports psychologists and coaching support. There is also financial assistance to support travel to competitions and to pay for coaching, entry and membership fees.
The individual scholarships are divided into three categories: elite, elite development and junior elite development scholarships. Leading Territory and Australian hockey goalkeeper, Mark Hickman, Australian cricketer, Shelley Nitschke, and tenpin bowler, Ronald Voukolos, receive the top level of Elite Scholarships. Ten athletes are on Elite Development Scholarships and 20 athletes are supported under the Junior Elite Development Scholarship program, with three of those athletes based in Alice Springs and two based in Katherine.
The NTIS also supports research that will assist athletes nationwide. An $80 000 Charles Darwin University PhD scholarship will research ways to reduce the risk of heat stress from working and exercising in the tropics. The student will work through the National Heat Training and Acclimatisation Centre in Darwin, a partnership between the Charles Darwin University and the Northern Territory Institute of Sport.
Grass roots participation is the key to sport innovation and development in the Territory. Last October, I announced the first round of grassroots development grants for Territory sporting groups totalling $74 849. Thirty-five grants were provided, with every region in the Territory represented. These grants support new and innovative projects that promote opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity. Some of the successful projects included upgrade of sporting facilities at Apatula to increase youth participation in sport and reduce antisocial behaviour; weekly exercise courses for the elderly and individuals recovering from life challenging illnesses sponsored by the Charles Darwin University Sports Association; and the inaugural Sports Fest 2004 to be conducted by the Alice Springs Town Council in March. The event will involve demonstrations, interactive activities, professional development and displays.
Junior sport is fundamental to grassroots participation in sport. Last year, I launched the Northern Territory Junior Sport Plan, which has been heavily promoted with presentations at sports meetings throughout the Territory. In December 2003, the junior sport reference group finalised the implementation of the strategies contained in the plan. Some of these actions include the junior sports displays held at Casuarina and Palmerston shopping centres this month. Sixteen sports were involved in these displays. We are working with the Palmerston City Council and the Department of Health and Community Services to determine the feasibility of an after hours school program in Palmerston. This initiative stems from the junior sport plan, but is also a result of the department’s involvement in the Palmerston recreation action group.
A sports information booklet entitled Little Sports has been developed and will be sent to all schools throughout the Northern Territory. This booklet, an initiative of the junior sport plan, will promote junior sport clubs, competitions and school programs. Another outcome from the junior sport plan was the Professional Development Camp for sport development officers run in January 2004. Designed to provide assistance to the officers to maintain and improve the quality of their work, results of the camp have been very positive.
All sporting organisations are under increased pressure to take a business-focussed approach to the governance of their sport in areas such as risk management, strategic planning, public liability, negligence, litigation, waivers and medical indemnity. On top of this, sports are being affected by a reduction in volunteers and increased costs. To assist with this pressure on sporting organisations, we have commissioned a number of reviews into sports such as lawns bowls, boxing, motor sports and soccer. The government understands that sports are looking for assistance to develop these effective business practices. We have taken a capacity building approach to developing sustainable organisations and communities to deliver better outcomes. It is my intention to take the issue of governance in sporting organisations further and the matter will certainly be at the heart of the Territory’s sports policy.
The Mataranka Community Sport Workshop was conducted in partnership with the Active Australia Schools Network, Indigenous Sports Program, Sports Services, Northern Territory sport organisations and schools. Its major objective was to improve the capacity of small remote communities to provide opportunities for participation in and organisation of sporting activities. Sport development officers from basketball, rugby league, hockey, touch, tennis, athletics, netball, cricket, baseball, AFL and gymnastics provided activities for students and professional development for teachers, school support staff, community sport and recreation officers and volunteers. Rugby union provided a professional development program to be used at the workshop.
Teachers and school staff from Mataranka, Pine Creek, Jilkminggan, Urapunga and Wugularr and CSROs – community sport and recreation officers - attended from Timber Creek, Kalkarindji, Mataranka, Ngukurr, Binjari, Kalano and Borroloola who completed the Professional Development Program will receive a General Principles of Coaching Level 1 certificate.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention the work done by the Indigenous Sport Program officers, also known as ISP officers, within Sport and Recreation. These officers work with their CSROs employed in regional and remote communities to develop and implement sporting programs. Officers from the Indigenous Sports Program work hard with communities to develop pathways for indigenous athletes in their chosen sport. Results are promising, with indigenous athletes represented at local, state and national level.
Some of the exciting achievements by indigenous athletes in 2003 were:
Maningrida producing outstanding athletes: an under 16 years girls volleyball team was invited to compete in
the Australian schools titles; a young male runner was selected in the Territory athletics team and competed in
the Australian titles; two touch players were selected in the Northern Territory Senior Men’s Touch team; and
an under 16 years player was selected in the Northern Territory Junior Development Squad and competed in the
Country Championships in Brisbane;
A predominantly indigenous under 15 years team from Gove easily won the Rugby Sevens in Darwin last year;
from the Miwatj region, two girls competed at the National Indigenous Netball Championships held in Cairns; and
three soccer players were selected for the NT Secondary Girls team for the national championships in 2003.
Ongoing programs and events are essential for developing these pathways. The ISP has provided assistance to regional and remote communities to deliver these programs. Some of the highlights from 2003 include:
Garrak Jarru Women’s Basketball Competition with teams from Lajamanu, Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Binjari, Rockhole,
Kalano, Callistemon House in Katherine and Fordimail Hostel, also in Katherine;
Facilitated visits to communities from athletics, tennis, netball, touch football, gymnastics, basketball, soccer,
Australian football, rugby union, softball, baseball and golf;
Assistance with the Merrepen Arts Sports and Cultural Festival at Daly River, the Gunbalanya Open Day Sports Carnival, Kalano’s Mota/Mundle Sports Carnival, Pine Creek’s Sports Challenge, the Gurindji Freedom Day Sports Weekend and
the Titjikala Sports and Health Expo.
The Indigenous Sports Program is also working in partnership with the Athletes as Role Models tour, also known as ARM tour, to facilitate community visits in the southern region and recently assisted Yvonne Goolagong-Cawley and her brother Ian Goolagong to visit Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala to conduct coaching clinics.
This government takes water safety very seriously, and that is why we established the Water Safety Advisory Council in 2002. It has representatives from Kidsafe, Surf Lifesaving NT, Royal Life Saving Society Australia, the departments of Employment, Education and Training and Health and Community Services, the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory and a community representative. The Executive Officer is located in the Office of Sport and Recreation.
The council set about developing a water safety plan and it was launched as a part of the inaugural Water Safety Week in 2003. The water safety plan seeks to reduce the rate of drowning, near drowning and water-related injuries in the Northern Territory. It focuses on four key priority areas: public awareness; education; standards and legislation; and information and monitoring.
Strategies successfully implemented against this plan include Water Safety Week and the water safety awareness program. The inaugural Water Safety Week was held from 31 August to 6 September 2003. The week aimed to educate Territorians about fun, but responsible behaviour around water. Great feedback was received for the inaugural week, with planning for Water Safety Week 2004 already under way.
The Water Safety Awareness Program was introduced by the government to address our drowning rate in the under 5 age group. This free program is available to Northern Territory parents with children under 5, and involves five practical sessions to prevent loss of life or injury. It is administered by the Royal Life Saving Society NT in conjunction with the Water Safety Advisory Council. Providers will be available in Nhulunbuy, Darwin, Palmerston, Batchelor, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. Parents and children are involved in the five sessions, which give one resuscitation session to learn the basic revival skills and four sessions in the pool. As at 30 January 2004, 679 registrations for voucher booklets have been processed and booklets issued. This allows for 3395 water safety classes to take place. Feedback received by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia NT has been very positive, with parents appreciative of a starting point to water safety and awareness for their children.
On 5 February 2004, the Office of Sport and Recreation held a Member Protection Policy Summit. Representatives of 35 peak sport organisations attended to examine the procedures and protocols in place to deal with inappropriate behaviour by athletes, coaches, volunteers, spectators and others involved in sport. The response to this summit is heartening and shows the increased awareness of the community that harassment, discrimination and abuse are unacceptable. It is great to see sporting organisations and communities put measures in place to deal with these issues.
Last year, this government announced a plan to improve the development of soccer in the Territory, which included:
an independent review to examine the development of soccer, linked to the outcomes of the national review into soccer;
for soccer at Marrara.
The 2003-04 Junior Soccer Facility Development Grants Program has been heavily promoted to soccer clubs, local government and key stake holders.
This year promises to be an exciting year for sport and recreation in the Northern Territory, with a jam-packed sporting events calendar. It does not slow down in 2005, with preparations for Arafura Games 2005 well under way. The sports program for the games has been expanded with the inclusion of weightlifting, Tae kwon do and futsal, while cricket and clay target shooting will return after an extended absence. In all, 31 sports are scheduled to participate in the games over 14-21 May 2005. I look forwarding to again welcoming our sporting neighbours from across Australia and overseas to take part in the week-long celebration of sporting competition, cultural diversity and friendship. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of sponsors, such as Qantas, Thrifty, Saville Park Suites, Carlton United Breweries, Parmalat, MGM Grand Casino, Darwin City Council, McDonalds, CSC, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Mix-FM, Coca Cola and many other local and national organisations.
Sport is a part of the northern lifestyle. It forms an integral part of our culture, building community pride and spirit, and contributes to social cohesion. It has direct benefits on physical and mental health. It has a direct impact on social behaviour and the incidence of crime. It contributes to both leadership and team effort. I believe that all Territorians should have the opportunity to participate in sport. This government has had a direct focus on increasing participation. The government also recognises that the ability to watch inspirational athletes compete can prove a powerful motivational tool to get people active and involved in sports.
Madam Speaker, a comprehensive sports and recreation policy is important, not just for the future of Territory sport, but also because of the links sport has with health and education. Sports have important economic benefits as well, through the local supply of employment, goods and services, as well as its links with tourism. I am confident the path we are moving along to develop such a comprehensive policy will set strong directions for all of us here in the Territory for many years to come.
Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly take note of the statement.
Mr MALEY (Goyder): Madam Speaker, I place on the record my observation and comment on the report that was read very carefully onto the record by the Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Before I go through some of the specifics of the statement, I agree with the minister that there is absolutely no doubt that sport and recreation is a crucial part of the Northern Territory’s lifestyle. It is a crucial portfolio as, probably more than any other jurisdiction, sport lies at the very heart of our being. Albeit I am born and bred in Darwin and know no different but, for what it is worth, sport has been a huge part of my and my family’s life. Many of my cousins and friends play sport every weekend.
It is interesting to note that this minister is taking the portfolio seriously, and he is to be commended for that. However, it is obvious that his enthusiasm for the portfolio and for promoting sport in the Northern Territory is not shared by the member for Wanguri, who does not think much of the portfolio. From his recent public comments, he has demonstrated that he does not have an interest in sport and recreation and does not share the passion that many Territory people have for sport in their community.
Not only are Territory people good at sports, they are sports mad, and not just the people who play it, but even the smallest sporting organisation seems to have a fairly religious-type following of spectators, volunteers, mums and dads. An example from my neck of the woods of how passionate people can be is a group called Rural Little Athletics …
Mr Wood: No, no, no.
Mr MALEY: Rural Athletics.
Mr Wood: That’s it.
Mr MALEY: Rural Athletics, that is right; the ‘little’ is gone. My neighbour, dear friend and colleague, the member for Nelson and I attend their trophy presentation nights …
A member: Senior sportsperson of the year
Mr MALEY: Senior Sportsperson, that is right. There are people in this organisation who went along and assisted their kids, and their kids have grown up, moved on to other things, and they are still there. That is how passionate these volunteers and parents are. Their kids have gone; they are not there for anything but to help other kids, other volunteers, and to promote Rural Athletics. That is not uncommon; there are many other sports in the rural area, where I am from, where you see this religious following, dedication that is way above and beyond the call of duty.
On a slightly more philosophical note, sport holds the key to guiding many young people through their more tentative years. It instils in them many of the important virtues that will make them good and productive citizens.
The CLP is in the process of developing a fairly comprehensive sports policy that we will be taking to the next election. It will demonstrate that we take this portfolio seriously, that we have a plan, a policy and a vision for sport across the Northern Territory.
The learned minister, in his statement, talked about the need for an overall central approach, an overall plan. Whilst at first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that is the way to go, ultimately it is just one of the tools by which sport will be governed in the Northern Territory.
A comprehensive sport and recreation policy is not possible when you have regard to the unusual demographics and circumstances in which many people find themselves. There are many remote communities. There are places that have different pressures and stresses on them. That makes it fairly close to impossible to have one universal comprehensive sport and recreation policy that will fit all of these situations. There needs to be a broader approach to a more comprehensive sports policy in some of the larger metropolitan areas. Ultimately, the future of sport lies in the hands of those who operate sporting associations in the smaller communities, and we need to provide them with the resources to do what they think is fit for their sport in their particular area, having regard to the demographics.
An example of that is Freds Pass. The number changes, but there are between 30 and 50 user groups and there are many sporting associations that share facilities. There is rural soccer, which is absolutely massive; the Noonamah Horse and Pony Club; the Northern Territory Polocrosse Association; there is league and union, and a huge number of sports in between. It would be really difficult to see any comprehensive sports and recreation policy fitting the needs of all of those organisations effectively and empowering them, giving them the resources and allowing them to make their own decisions.
Credit where credit is due; at least the government is looking at policy issues. They might come to the conclusion that it is simply not possible, but the minister should be congratulated in any event for at least taking a step in the right direction, albeit that the result is that we have to channel funds more specifically to different sporting groups.
There are a couple of things on which the minister and his staff should be congratulated. The cricket - well done. It was a huge success. Many people went to the cricket, it was a great day, and it is good to see that it is going to continue. The Australia-Sri Lanka match to be held in July will bring a spectacle to Marrara. The minister mentioned in his speech that the agreement between Cricket Australia and the Northern Territory will go for a number of years so there is an opportunity for the Territory to host one day fixtures as well as some test matches up until 2007, and that is a credit to staff in his department.
An interesting aspect the minister touched upon but only received a cursory attention was sports tourism. There is no doubt that this is a huge growth area. There are many young Territorians, many young Australians who, when they travel overseas, link their travel in with some sort of sport. It might mean going to Europe for the European motocross championships. It might mean going to the United States or Ireland to play polocrosse. More and more of our young people are doing exactly that. They are broadening their horizons, they are travelling, but in that, they include some sport and vice versa: people are coming to the Northern Territory to play sport, to see what we have to offer and they are including in that some of our sporting events. This is fantastic. This is to be encouraged and I see nothing but growth and optimism in this area.
The upgrades at Marrara have also assisted in securing the signing of a number of AFL fixtures, and I believe the minister touched upon it last week. I went to the game when the Western Bulldogs played the NTFL.
Mr Wood: Do you need any help?
Mr MALEY: What’s that?
Mr Wood: Do you know what they were playing?
Mr MALEY: Admittedly, I have not played Aussie Rules since I left Taminmin High School, but the Darwin Doggies certainly had some support. It is fantastic that the Western Bulldogs call Darwin part of their home. I saw them through the media and in person on two occasions, to their credit, out there talking to lots of young people and conducting coaching clinics. I am not sure whether or not they were paid for that, but it was a good public relations exercise and they should be congratulated.
Alice Springs, luckily, does not miss out in this ministerial statement. Some AFL action will be heading down south. There is the Wizard Cup match and I am sure that sports-mad Alice Springs will be happy to hear that news. From my travels and the time I have spent in Alice Springs, which, over the past two years, has been more significant than doing the odd trial down there in my previous life, if there is one place where people are even more fanatical than in Darwin, it would have to be Alice Springs. I am not sure what the ratios are, but I suspect that Alice Springs has an even higher per capita participation rate in sport than Darwin.
From an international fixtures and a sporting calendar perspective, ultimately the numbers still lie in Darwin and that is why we see a number of important fixtures of international standard being played in Darwin. That is not to say that we should not do all we can to make sure these sporting stars, these people to whom lots of young people look up, visit the regional areas of the Northern Territory and spend as much time as they can in those areas to encourage sport and the pursuit of excellence.
The inclusion of the National Basketball League in the Northern Territory sports calendar, being the culmination of negotiations and a three year deal with the Wild Cats, is very good and should be commended. Well done, once again, to the minister and his staff. I, unfortunately, was not able to see that game last Wednesday. I understand the minister took the opportunity to attend, along with many other keen basketball fans, players, volunteers and parents alike.
Talking about Alice Springs, the minister mentioned the Finke Desert Race. I have travelled on the Finke Desert Race pilgrimage for a number of years, being the pit boy for my brother and some of his mates. We end up camping down at the Finke community. The boys come in and you service their bikes and then catch up with all the lads and have a fairly big night. Then they all go early in the morning and completely disturb you.
This year, we have Team CLP. We have the members for Macdonnell and Goyder racing. We are locked in. We are going to the Finke Desert Race.
Mr Kiely: What are you riding?
Mr MALEY: I am on a Bombadier Baja 650, the bike that came first and second in the four-wheeler class. I am organised. I am in training. We have sponsorship and logos, we have the CLP flag, we are there, we are on the ground. We are supporting sport, we are supporting the Finke Desert Race so …
Mr Kiely: What is the CLP flag?
Mr MALEY: The CLP logo, it will be on my bike and I am proud to have it there. We have not quite sourced a second bike for my colleague, the member for Macdonnell, but we are sure we are going to get there, so the both of us will be racing, it is on, and I put the challenge out to any member of the Labor Party who has the guts to get on a motorbike, race the Finke Desert Race and have some fun. We will be there.
Mr Kiely: You fell off your quad!
Mr MALEY: I have broken a few bones falling from quads. That is part of the risk, part of the fun. The Finke Desert Race should be bigger than Ben Hur this year. I look forward to participating, and not just articulating words in parliament, but getting down on the ground with the 5000-odd Alice Springs people who participate, watch and enjoy the Finke Desert Race spectacle.
This is the inevitable criticism that this statement attracts. The minister said that we have spent money here, some remote community, we have spent some money here, and went through a number of highlights. There is no reference to Freds Pass. There is no reference to any of the facilities there being upgraded. We have 17 000 hard-working Territorians who live in the rural area. We have the highest rate of home ownership, the highest rate of private enterprise and these people are real contributors to the community. They are not sitting there with their hand out. They have paid millions and millions of dollars in taxes, yet we see that their money is not being spent at home in their backyard. Their money is being siphoned off to the less productive portions of our community. Quite frankly, it is a disgrace to see Freds Pass miss out so blatantly. It is a disgrace because it is cutting off your nose to spite your face. Freds Pass is not just used by rural people; there are many Palmerston sporting clubs that travel to Freds Pass. There are even some Darwin sporting associations and clubs that regularly come down to Freds Pass to train and have fun …
Mr Kiely: I will have to talk to the Sanderson Polo Club about it, will I?
Mr MALEY: Well, there is no polo up here, there is polocrosse. The member for Sanderson and his polo club are welcome to come down and use the polocrosse fields if they wish.
Returning to Alice Springs, I offer congratulations to all the volunteers and participants who were involved in the organisation of the Masters Games – well done. As I said, the minister himself, to his credit, did not just talk about it, he got down from his high horse, participated in the darts competition and won a silver medal. Good on him; congratulations. It is good to see a sports minister not just talking the talk, but walking the walk in that regard, in any event.
I am not sure what the qualifying ages are for the Masters Games; however I will certainly have a close look at it to see what I can do in lending my support, or having a go in some sort of event there.
Mr Wood: Too young.
Mr MALEY: I may be too young, but it is just a matter of time. I can perhaps sponsor you, member for Nelson, in some sort of event.
There are a number of sponsors, and credit where credit is due. Most of these sponsors are private enterprise organisations. It is not taxpayers money they are bleeding away. This is real, hard-earned private enterprise money. For these people to put their hands in their pockets at this time of the year and contribute to sport in the Northern Territory is absolutely fantastic. We have Peter Kittle motor company, Lasseters Casino, Imparja Television, I am not sure how much private an enterprise that involves, CUB, Coca Cola, Aussie International Movers, the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Coleman’s Printing – Coleman’s are always there, good on Coleman’s, Great Southern Railway, Hamilton Sunscreen, TABcorp and the TIO. There is no doubt that without the kind support of sponsors, these major functions and events would not be the success that they have continually been. Since the first Masters Games in 1986 or thereabouts, it has been an ongoing success story.
There has been some criticism in the wider community about the level of support that this government has given to the NTIS. The elite sports men and women of our community need our support. From an opposition’s perspective, we would throw our shoulder behind these young men and women and, in our view, the government should do more to support them. There is a very small number of people who are currently underneath the umbrella of the NTIS; that needs to be broadened. There needs to be a real effort to attract those young men and women, particularly in regional areas, and to supply them with the resources to spend time in Darwin if that is what they need to train properly, to give them the resources to go interstate if that is what they need and, in a perfect world, we would like to give them the resources so that they can train and be prepared closer to home in their regional area; in their home town, close to friends and family.
The minister touched upon junior sport. There will be no argument from this side of the House that junior sport is not only at the heart of sport and recreation, but these juniors are our future. Anything that can be done from the Junior Sport Reference Group that met in December 2003 to finalise the implementation of strategies contained in a global plan, anything we can do to help junior sport should be supported and commended. That is not to take anything away from our larger sporting events. Nevertheless, junior sport is a real investment in our future and something the government needs to have a close look at to make sure that they continue their support.
The minister talked about the Indigenous Sports Program. Sport is for all Territorians and not just for indigenous people. What can I say? If it promotes sport for Territorians, albeit, it seems, on fairly restricted grounds, then it is to be encouraged provided you do not lose sight of the fact that it can cause some dramas. In my community, I have heard of some people feeling aggrieved; they have missed out because they are not of indigenous descent. Well, they were born her, but they are not Aboriginal.
There minister touched on pool fences. We have had the pool fencing debacle over the past year or so. We have seen this government waste about $21m of taxpayers’ money on this ‘feel good campaign’ with the Chief Minister’s lovely image on numerous glossy brochures and TV campaigns, saying: ‘I am going to take complete responsibility for pool fencing’. In a very disappointing way, the government tried to use the whole sad and incredibly disturbing spectre of fatalities in pools for political gain. The real way to address this issue is exactly what the minister said today: it is about education, safety courses, making sure that parents are aware of the dangers, and sheeting home the fact that, ultimately, it is about parental responsibility. It is not solely about regulating pool fencing, rushing in legislation that turns out to be, in hindsight, defective, imposing an enormous amount of grief upon thousands and thousands of pool owners in the Northern Territory or about taking an Australian Standard, which may or may not be suitable to some regions and Northern Territory and saying that applies. The government has learnt its lesson. Unfortunately, the taxpayer has to pick up the bill. This minister has steered away from that $21m blunder, that $21m embarrassment. They are the figures that appeared in the front page of the Northern Territory News and, ultimately, it is the people of the Northern Territory who will decide at the next election whether the hoo-ha about pool fencing warrants or justifies giving this government a second term in office.
Madam Speaker, the minister did devote a portion of his statement solely to soccer. I know that the member for Nelson is a soccer coach.
Mr Wood: No, no.
Mr MALEY: Oh, umpire.
Mr Wood: No, ref.
Mr MALEY: Referee! Referee.
Mr Wood: Umpire for Aussie Rules, ref for soccer.
Mr MALEY: That’s right. Yes. He is a soccer referee. The soccer in the rural areas I believe is the quickest growing sport. It probably has one of the highest participation rates and you go down there and there are not just one or two sides of a particular grade - it might be under 10s - but there are four or six. There are kids everywhere. There are parents everywhere. Half the people I went to school with have kids there who are playing soccer and through all this mayhem, things work out, games are played, kids are having enormous amount of fun, parents derive a fair bit of satisfaction from watching their kids participating in this safe sport. Boys and girls seemed to be playing it. I do not know what age the eldest juniors are down at …
Mr Wood: Under 16.
Mr MALEY: Sixteen years, yes. It is a sport in which kids in their teens remain. They seem to be participating every week, spending time with mum and dad and their peers, and they are enjoying themselves. So rural soccer, soccer across all the regional areas is a growth area. There is no vision for soccer contained in this statement. There is no real lighthouse on the cliff: this is where we are going with soccer. There is a bit of a attempt to revamp a couple of failed media releases from last year about their home ground, but ultimately there is nothing…
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr MALEY: There is nothing new in this statement. There is no vision. I hope the minister does a bit of work and comes before this House with where we are going and not just a snapshot of ‘this is what has been sort of bubbling along’. It is an important sport for the Northern Territory, one that is going to grow.
There are the usual motherhood statements contained in the learned minister’s report, the one that he read out so methodically. There needs to be a clear set of guidelines, a clearer mechanism for the distribution of funds to sporting participants in the Northern Territory. There needs to be a clear and transparent system of allocating those funds. There is too much ad hoc 300 grand here and 500 grand there. Yet we see 17 000 rural people miss out completely for no apparent reason. This government won’t be held accountable until the next election about which I say: bring it on.
Another fairly regular criticism I receive about the government in my travels as the shadow sport and recreation minister is that this government is too tight to hand out NT flags when kids go away and that is pathetic. This government is so tight. They are happy to big note themselves and carry on and waste $21m on pool fencing, but at the end of the day, they won’t give the Litchfield Under 8 girls soccer team a Territory flag to take away and that is a disgrace. All they say is: we will lend you a flag, you have to return it; you have to sign it in, you have to sign it out. Complete embarrassment! Complete embarrassment that they don’t support these teams.
Madam Speaker, they are the observations I make in response to that statement.
Dr TOYNE (Central Australia): Madam Speaker, I rise to support my colleague’s statement. It is a very important initiative that we are moving towards a more systematic plan for the future of Territory sport.
The member for Goyder’s contribution illustrates the reasons why we need to have an over-arching plan, something that has never happened in the Territory before. On one hand, the member is saying we are doing a great job on this or that event, and then he talked about the different areas of the Territory – we have to think about Alice Springs and Katherine - then we get down the Under 8 soccer team that the minister has so shamelessly ignored. That has been the history of sports planning on the part of government in the Northern Territory for far too long.
We must have a much more systematic approach to where we put the limited resources that a government of our size has, given the enormous participation rates right across the Territory. Junior sport is probably one of the most precious and critical areas. You can immediately conjure up images of an Aboriginal kid out at Yuendumu or Areyonga or wherever it might be kicking around a footie if they can get their hands on one or anything else that you can kick to develop the skills out there on a bit of a claypan, just the same as you will see down at Blatherskite Park in Alice Springs, junior soccer players learning their skills on the show grounds there. Right around the Territory, we have these equally deserving areas of sports development amongst the young right through to elite levels by adults.
We must have a plan. We must approach this in a systematic way. It can’t be the government’s plan imposed on the community; we have to develop this approach collaboratively. The idea of issuing a discussion paper, bringing it right around all the different contexts of sport in the Northern Territory, getting people’s input on it is the way we can all own this and make some sensible decisions about how to develop sport in the Northern Territory.
Central Australia has benefited from our government’s commitment to sport. Since coming to office, this government has spent over $3.2m on sporting infrastructure in Central Australia. Over the last couple of years, Central Australia has been able to build and develop a stronger international and national reputation for its unique and very popular sporting events. We have heard mention already of the Masters Games, the Finke Desert race, Imparja Cricket Cup, Central Australian Outback Bike Challenge, just to name a few of the key events that happen in our part of the world.
We are also very fortunate that as part of the AFL agreement, Alice Springs will host an AFL Wizard Cup match at Traeger Park for the next three seasons. That is fantastic for our part of the world. I will make a prediction: I reckon we will have more people at Traeger Park than they had at Marrara because people are buzzing down there. We had 12 000 people at the one-day cricket match between the Territory 11 and the West Indies. We had about the same number at the Essendon v Adelaide match at Traeger Park. Now it is going to be under lights, and it is going to be a full-on spectacle, part of the normal annual competition. We cannot wait down there, and if it is the Lions v Collingwood, we will flog them for a start, and it will be fantastic to see Collingwood go down in front of a good crowd in Alice Springs.
This would not be possible without the $5m upgrade to the Traeger Park complex by the government. The minister has outlined the stages of development there. The hockey field has been fantastic. We have had national hockey matches there already. Traeger Park has had the lighting upgrade, and now the grandstand complex. It is going to be an absolutely fantastic venue, and I am sure that it will establish a reputation very quickly because the grass is the best in Australia. That is not just my opinion - everyone knows I am not biased – but it is the best grass surface by anyone’s estimation; it is a fantastic field.
As the minister stated, stage 2 of the $5m redevelopment has been completed and now we are moving on to the final stages of the spectator facilities. I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Andrew Jenkins - who, I point out, lives in Alice Springs and proudly calls himself a Territorian. He might have been from down south, but he is certainly a Territorian like the rest of us – and his team from PRA Electrical, the Mayor Fran Kilgariff, the Alice Springs Town Council and Arrernte Council for the fantastic job they have done on these early stages of development at Traeger Park.
We are very proud of the fact that those towers were put up with the help of contractors that were expert in that sort of construction. They put up the first one or two towers and left the locals to it. They got the rest up and did a very good job on it. Now they know how to do it, so we will put towers up somewhere else one of these days. To illustrate how this commitment by the government to improving Traeger Park has benefited local businesses, I urge members to take a look at the feature on the installation of the lights in yesterday’s Centralian Advocate, 24 February, a really good comprehensive article on who worked on it and the skills that were involved.
The NT Pearls hockey team, in March last year, was hosted in Alice Springs as part of the national competition, and the National Basketball League’s Perth Wildcats players held community clinics in the Alice Springs Basketball Complex the week before last. I was fortunate enough to meet the Wildcats players. We went to the Children’s Ward at the Alice Springs Hospital and met some of the kids there. A couple of the kids were pretty nifty in shooting for goal, so it is good to see these elite players having a direct influence on our kids in the Northern Territory.
I would like to mention one of the Wildcats players, Ricky Grace. We know Ricky very well because he is a regular visitor to Central Australia with the ARM Tour, the Athletes as Role Models Tour. He comes with other elite athletes and goes out to remote communities and works with kids there and provides them with the linkage to elite sport that can inspire some of those kids maybe to appear as elite footballers or basketballers later on in their lives. We are very proud to be sponsoring, for the next three years, those ARM Tours through DEET, Office of Crime Prevention, Territory Health Services and, of course, Sport and Recreation. We are all pitching in. With three or four visits a year, which is what they are talking about now, we can actually run a regular program through both the school programs and the remote community schools, the adult recreation programs and spin-off into the community health programs as well.
There was mention of the Finke Desert Race, which of course is one of my total obsessions. I welcome the news that the member for Goyder has entered the fray. That is great. I will predict this: that if he gets to Finke, he will be a lot less talkative than he is here in the House. He will be much more worried about bruises on various parts of his body than making smart comments. I look forward to him seeing him take off there, and I will be in Finke, more than likely, to see what is left of him when he gets to the other end.
I am proud that this government has been able to deliver for the Finke Desert Race the new start/finishing line. We have not only put up the $300 000 for the installation of services into the actual site, which is electricity, water and sewerage connections, but we have managed to find enough money to bring those services to the fence line so that the entire amount of that grant goes on to the site for the race start/finishing line. I congratulate Anthony Yoffa, the President of the Finke Desert Race Committee, and the other members for the fantastic voluntary work that they have already done. If take off from Alice Springs Airport and are lucky enough to be flying west, you will see just how much work has already been done on that site. You can actually see the prologue track, the start/finishing line and the spectator areas that are starting to appear. A lot of the infrastructure is being put into place.
I am going down for a nice quiet sit in a Finke Desert Race buggy next weekend. The original idea was for a static photo, but I am hoping to talk them into something a bit more dynamic. We will see a lot more of the work that is being done – it is all voluntary work. All the plant that is being used down there has been contributed by businesses around Alice Springs. The race is sponsored by virtually the entire business community of Alice Springs. The sponsor list is just spectacular. Each of the bike and car entries would have 10 to 20 businesses sponsoring, so it is an event that is owned it by the entire town. I would like to also commend the work of Peter McDonald of DIPE and all the staff in Alice Springs because they have been working their guts out to make sure we meet the starting time in early June for the next race.
Going on to the Masters Games, which is held every two years in Alice Springs, I repeat the minister’s challenge: we want to see members of parliament there whipping into action; none of this theoretical from up here; let us get down there and get into it. At this stage, we have 125 competitors already registered. We expect that we will give it a nudge up to the 5000 competitors and spectators that we have had at some of the best games. We had a very slight drop in the last Masters Games. Considering that it was 11 September and a very unsettled year, we still had a very good roll-up for the Masters Games. I will declare myself. I am entering the triathlon, the 400m athletics and the 20km time trial on the bike. I will be in there and I know a colleague, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, will also be giving it a whirl. Let us see the rest of you come down. There is plenty of room for 25 competitors.
I would like to thank those clubs in Alice Springs that do support the Masters Games, along with all the volunteers from the town: the Alice Springs Golf Club; the Memo Club; RSL; Federals; Westies, to name a few. Everyone joins in there. I would say the bike club, too, because they have run everything up to national championships in Alice. They are a very enthusiastic bunch. There are 234 days to go, so get into training and we will see you down there.
For many Territorians, sport has been a pathway to improving their quality of life; for or many others, it is their life. There are no better examples than our Central Australian sporting heroes such as James Swan, Christine Trefry, Hamish McDonald, Gilbert McAdam, and the late Ivy Hampton. All of them are role models for our community.
However, it is the government’s support towards the Northern Territory Institute of Sport that will continue to provide our future champions. I know a huge number of young developing athletes are being nurtured by the institute, so I will not hear a word about deficiencies in our support of it or the institute’s work. Future champions from Central Australia include Braedon Abala who was nominated in the Northern Territory Sports Awards last year for athletics and basketball. I coached Braedon in Little Athletics. He is a brilliant athlete, but it is the size of his heart that is so important. He has such a competitive instinct, he is fantastic to train. Other future champions are: Joel Campbell, drafted by the Melbourne Demons in the AFL rooky draft last year; Richard Cole last year established himself as a regular player in the AFL’s Collingwood Magpies, poor thing; and Australian Junior World Cup darts representative Kathleen Logue from Tennant Creek. They are names to watch out for in the future.
Alice Springs has some very successful junior sports programs occurring, in particular, junior AFL Auskick program in which 500 kids participate. I am advised it is the largest Auskick program in the Northern Territory at the moment. The Auskick program in Alice Springs clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when a sporting organisation, volunteers, parents and private sector sponsorship work together towards improving junior sport in their community. Whilst speaking about the AFL Auskick program in Alice Springs, I congratulate Kevin and Julianne Prior from the Auskick program who have recently received the Harrison Medal from the Central Australian Football League for their outstanding contributions to AFL in Central Australia.
From my own personal experience and time living out bush, I have no doubt that the sport is popular in the bush and particularly amongst the kids. Last year, in my electorate of Stuart, the community of Ti Tree held a bush schools sports carnival on 15 and 16 October with a wide range of sports including track and field and team games. This carnival involved about 100 students from Central Australian communities. Another big sporting event that is held every through Central Australia is the community sports weekends. Yuendumu sports weekend was the original one. It is now common during the Dry Season that one or another of the communities stage their own sports weekends. It is a fantastic way for people to get together and to continue the sporting contests.
Another significant sports weekend in the Centre is the Hermannsburg sports weekend, held from 1-3 May, and Papunya sports weekend, held on the Queen’s birthday weekend in June.
If you fly by light aircraft to Yuendumu, you fly over a tiny little outstation, Ron Hagan’s outstation. It has one house, a bore and a footy field. What happens there is that all the players from Central Anmatjere, Larumba, Yuelamu and Pulardi, come together each day for training. They all drive to this one football field in the middle of nowhere - there is nothing next to it except this house belonging to Ron. They went from nothing to winning the Central Australian Country League. That was a spectacular achievement. So Clarry Robinya, Ron Hagan, good on you and good the blokes in those communities who put their heads down, they did all the hard training. They turned up at the finals as fit as fleas and they knocked over Western Aranda. That was a brilliant achievement from virtually nothing. It was a matter of getting a grader out, clearing a footy field and getting into training, and that is what they did.
I highly recommend that all members get out to at least one of these sports weekends because they are unique events. You will see some really raw talent on display and the enormous enthusiasm people have for their sport.
To finish, this is a very important statement. The process of pulling all this richness, diversity and uniqueness of Territory sport into an overall approach and plan is an incredibly important exercise and is long overdue. I commend the minister on the statement.
Mrs MILLER (Katherine): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I welcome the statement from the Minister for Sport and Recreation. It relates to an important aspect of the lifestyle of Territorians. Sport and recreation is in no small way in partnership with the way of life that we all love so much and experience here in the Territory, and that goes hand in hand with the outdoor that all of us love.
From the major towns of Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs to the remote communities, interest in sport brings together communities and encourages good relationships. Sport and recreation activities cover all age groups and there is usually something for everyone who wishes to participate. While long distance travel presents a challenge for some teams to participate, every obstacle is overcome to be able to compete in their chosen sport.
An example of this is the football team from Ngukurr. They compete in the Katherine League and they will go to great lengths to make sure that they compete at every game. There have been many occasions when the Ngukurr boys have had to drive to the Roper River, boat across this very fast flowing flooded river to get into a bus that has travelled from Mataranka to pick them up, drive them back to Katherine, play their football game, come and get a bite to eat, get in the bus and return the same way they came in. It is an epic journey for them. They are very committed, and that is a perfect example of their enthusiasm and the way they treat their sport. My husband and I have also been sponsors of the Ngukurr Football Club for quite a few years so we get lots of smiley, pearly teeth grinning at us at the end of each game. I am now the Patron of the Katherine Football Association.
An important section of our population is very much influenced by their favourite sport and their sporting heroes, and that is our youth. What better and healthier way to influence our youth than by involving them in sport and recreation? An area of recreation touched on by the minister was water safety and every member serving in this House takes water safety very seriously. I encourage all parents with children under five to take up the five free practical lessons administered by the Royal Life Saving Society NT in conjunction with the Water Safety Advisory Council.
I also encourage parents to follow on from this with swimming lessons to ensure that their child is as water safe as possible. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind. My 14-month old grandson, who happens to be called Jack …
Mr Ah Kit: Good on him! Good on him.
Mrs MILLER: … lives at Jingili and has been having water safety and swimming lessons with accredited instructors once a week since he was six months old. With a huge fenced swimming pool in their backyard, Jack’s mum and dad made the decision that it was vitally important for him to be trained at an early age, and I strongly agree with them.
Our climate and lifestyle in the Territory encourages the use of pools and spas for a greater part of the year, which emphasises that more people are in pools and spas in the Territory than anywhere else.
A sport that is being addressed in my electorate of Katherine is target shooting. The Katherine Target Shooters Association has been without a target range for some years now and, despite intense negotiations over that time, has been unable to finalise a suitable area until just recently. With the cooperation of the Northern Territory Rural College Katherine Campus and Charles Darwin University, the association is in the planning phase of a project to establish a firearms training centre on a suitable area at the rural college. The centre will provide a venue for training, recreational and sporting firearms and archery use for the entire Katherine region.
The proposed centre will have a 300 metre rifle range, a 50 metre pistol range, two down-the-line target ranges and an area for bow hunting in natural terrain. Government and private firearms users will be able to qualify for and renew licenses using this facility and, most importantly, sporting competitions will be held and recreational firearms users will practice in a safe and supervised location. This facility is being eagerly anticipated by members of the Katherine community who have been without their favourite sporting and recreational centre for a very long time.
Not all sports, of course, require expensive infrastructure to compete, and one of those sports is judo. Judo has a high participation rate in my electorate, a great discipline sport in which Katherine Judo Club members have consistently achieved excellent results at tournaments over many years. Credit for such outstanding achievements by so many young people must go to the dedication and commitment of long-serving coach Max King.
I welcome all sporting clubs and teams that come to the Territory to play their games in front of very enthusiastic crowds. It gives Territorians the opportunity not only to see their heroes performing live, but the chance to talk to them and, in some cases, to receive valuable coaching advice to improve their skills.
Some sport involves individual participation but most of it is about team work so the skills of working together to achieve best outcomes are learnt through team sports. There is an old saying: Team work makes the dream work. I would be so bold to add: is that like politics? I was in the lift at my hotel last Friday morning with Kevin Sheedy and four AFL players, and it was interesting and heartening to listen to their positive comments about the state of the ground at Marrara. When one of the players asked Kevin Sheedy what the ground was like, he replied that it was very good, very green and he said: ‘Where else could you play in Australia at this time of year under lights in excellent conditions with a very excited and enthusiastic crowd?’. It was very heartening to hear that the Northern Territory is acknowledged for its high standards.
Katherine is mentioned in the ministerial statement, with $500 000 of improvements at Katherine Sports Ground, which we have known about for some time. The minister also mentioned that he wants to develop Katherine as a youth sporting hub, which, of course, I wholeheartedly support. The minister also said in his statement:
- Sport is a part of the northern lifestyle. It forms an integral part of our culture, building community pride and
spirit, and contributes to social cohesion. It has direct benefits on physical and mental health. It has a direct
impact on social behaviour and the incidence of crime. It contributes to both leadership and team effort.
I would like to see the minister relate this statement to the youth of Katherine. One of the major issues in Katherine is a lack of recreational activities for youth, and the minister is well aware of the crime and vandalism that is causing such a headache, especially to the business sector and CBD of Katherine, which is associated in no small part to bored, wandering youth in the streets.
The minister is also well aware that there has been considerable energy and effort by an enthusiastic group of youth in Katherine towards the planning and development of a skate park. They have gone to great lengths to work out exactly what it is they want in Katherine. They formed a Skate Park Committee a couple of years ago, consulted the community, visited Alice Springs to look at the design of their skate park, as they have Palmerston and Leanyer skate parks and, as a result of their lengthy consultation and research, they have designed a skate park that will suit the youth of Katherine. The location of the skate park in Katherine has been determined and all that is holding up this project is funding.
Can the minister please explain to the youth of Katherine why he is deliberately ignoring them? They are crying out for this recreational facility and are being ignored. The minister is sending a message to the youth of Katherine that says he does not care. I cannot tell you how many children of all ages have approached me in the street, at school assemblies …
Mr Ah Kit: How many letters have you written to me? How many letters have you written to me? None. None.
Mrs MILLER: Have you been - I will speak to you afterwards. … approached me in the street, or when I have visited their school, asking me when they are going to get there skate park. I hope, minister, you have an answer for those young people who are at present very frustrated.
Other sporting activities we have in our region include - and I have not touched on them in full - are very active horse and pony clubs, equestrian clubs. We have a canoe marathon, netball, soccer and rugby clubs and golf, amongst other smaller associations. I look forward with interest to see how we are going to look at a policy that covers all sport and recreational activities when they are so diverse.
In conclusion, without a doubt, the Territory benefits from sports tourism, which, I might add, is a new catchphrase. Those who come to play sport are here for several days and are highly likely to come back for a later recreational visit, bringing family or friends with them. The connection between sport and tourism highlights that tourism is everyone’s business. I look forward to further discussions on the development of this sport and recreation policy.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I also welcome the statement from the minister. Obviously, the centrepiece of this statement is to tell us that the government is beginning a consultative process to develop a comprehensive sport and recreation policy, although, minister, you did say: ‘The first really comprehensive sport and recreation policy’. Therefore, I presume there has been some other policies that were not really policies.
Mr Ah Kit: Ad hoc.
Mr WOOD: That is good, anyway; I still welcome the statement.
I am not going to concentrate on what has said before. I thought I would add a few things that can be used to develop the policy. I believe that sport is for everyone, no matter what age. I have become more involved in sport in the last 10 years of my life than I was for the previous 10. When I came to the Territory, I came straight from a sporting background; I played Aussie Rules and tennis regularly. Then I landed on the shores of the Daly River and, all of a sudden, there was not any sport. The only means of playing sport was to get in the cattle truck and drive to Darwin. I was not an elite athlete. I had come from the cold climes of Melbourne, and trying to play Aussie Rules in the Wet was a bit hard at first, so I only played in St Mary’s Reserves. There were a couple of us who came up. One was a Bathurst Islander who worked at Daly River, whose name now escapes me; another one was a local indigenous person from Daly River. We all got on the radio on Thursday night to see if we were in the team and, on Saturday morning, we get into the cattle truck with a few supporters and head north, hoping that the creeks were not flooded and that they had not cancelled the game. That was my introduction to sport in the Northern Territory.
I moved to Bathurst Island and, because I had an outside job where two legs and two arms were certainly essential if you wanted to keep your employment, I took up umpiring. I have umpired Aussie Rules from about 1974 until now, more or less consistently, although my knees are starting to feel as though they have been running that long.
Minister, one thing that should be in the policy is encouragement of people, especially older people, to get into playing sport. We know it is good for your health, it is good fun even if your knees do ache a bit, and it is great to be competitive.
I also went to the last Masters Games in Alice Springs. It is great to be in the athletics, trying to run 100m with another bloke who is as slow – sorry, as fast as you. The important thing that we sometimes forget is the concept of excellence. It does not matter what age you are, you try to be the best. That does not mean that you put down people who are not as good as you; one strives for excellence, and that is what sport is all about. That is how we get our elite athletes.
Talking about elite athletes, that is part of the policy that we should look at: how is we can use those elite athletes. If I take two people from the Southern Districts football team, Nathan Buckley and Jarrod Brennan, two champions: one is probably coming towards the end of his career and the other one is just starting. We need in our policy to work out ways of encouraging those elite athletes to come back to the Northern Territory and to promote sport, especially among the communities. It is not only the communities; a lot of people from the urban areas need encouragement to get into sport. I mentioned in the health statement that there are a lot of young people who are stuck on TV games and computers and they are going to need encouragement to get back outside and play sport, otherwise we are going to have a big problem with obesity in our young people in the future.
People complain about a lot of fatty foods we eat today. When I was young, I still ate fatty foods, although I probably had some good home cooked meals. However, because I was active all the time, it did not worry me in the slightest. You just burnt that off as though as if it were a piece of cake. If you have kids who are sitting down behind computers all day and eating foods that are not the best for them, you have a recipe for lots of big kids in the future.
We should be able to use those elite athletes, even if we employ them when they have finished their time as elite athletes because they will be great asset to the Northern Territory and encourage other people to follow in their footsteps. I have two young people, my back neighbours, Cameron Chin and Kieran Chin, two young boys who are built like gazelles. They have just gone down to Sydney to some athletic championships and have just finished the North Queensland Athletics Championships where one of them broke the 100m hurdle record. I believe that they will go far and I hope that we not only encourage them to go far, but when they get up to the elite athlete level, they will encourage more people to get into sport, especially athletics.
I said the policy should include participation. One way to get more people into sport is to make sure we have a diversity of sport from which to choose. Some people don’t play Aussie Rules and some don’t like rugby league because it is fairly physical, but if I took a cross section of some of the sports at Freds Pass: polocrosse for which, admittedly, you must have a horse, but it is a good sport.
Mr Kiely: Everybody does, don’t they?
Mr WOOD: Yes, I am sure of that, member for Sanderson. Pony clubs - I was at the Noonamah Horse and Pony Club yesterday. They have 120 members and there were kids of all shapes and sizes and horses of all shapes and sizes at Freds Pass yesterday. We have dog obedience trials. Maybe the dog gets more of the workout than the people, but it is still a sport. We have athletics, as the member for Goyder said, and we have Rusty Rurals of which I am a member. If people are interested in running in this part of the world, there is what they call Maad Frogs, Mature Age Athletes of Darwin. They operate out of Marrara. Their logo is a frog sitting on a hurdle. If you make yourself known at the Marrara sports ground, I am sure they would love to see people who would like to go for a run. They learn how to throw the javelin, shot-put and hammer as well as running. It is great to see people doing that.
We also have the Rusty Rurals at Freds Pass and athletics will be starting as soon as the Wet drops off a bit. People are welcome to come down there. We have rugby union, field archery, plenty of soccer as has been mentioned, cricket – and I play a little cricket some days, not that well. We have lawn bowls, a beautiful lawn bowls surface down at Humpty Doo, the Royal Humpty Doo Golf Club. You could not wish for a better club. It has beautiful facilities and will expand to 18 holes. If you want to go into a golf course early in the morning where the wallabies run across the ground, the kookaburras laugh and it is peaceful, this is the perfect place to go and play a game of golf. I play Army golf, by the way, which is left, right, left, right, left, right. We have motocross, orienteering, tae kwon do and we have a great gymnastics group called the Springers. I am sure I have forgotten a heap of people because Freds Pass has something in the order of 32 user groups.
The more diversity we can have in our sport, the better the chance of getting people to join in because they have a choice. I mentioned the Masters Games before, and they are a great idea. I, too, encourage people to get involved. Maybe at this point I should say there is another opportunity for our railway. I know The Ghan is offering special fares to Alice Springs for the Masters, but we should have our own passenger train which could take people to these events. The member for Katherine mentioned sports tourism. One way to get movement of people between Katherine and Darwin for sporting events is by train. In fact, I had a phone call from a gentleman yesterday, a constituent who knows someone who deals in rolling stock, and he tells me that a good locomotive will cost you $1m and carriages will cost you $80 000. I don’t believe that is a price that is too high.
Mr Kiely: Start a business, Gerry.
Mr WOOD: Governments can help in this matter. This rolling stock is up to standard, all the brakes and the motors and the wheels and everything is all up to scratch. So you can buy stock now to put on our railway line, which would, I believe, be of great benefit to sport.
Katherine used to have a team in the NTFL. I used to umpire down there at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at the Katherine Rugby League ground because there wasn’t an Aussie Rules ground then. Playing Aussie rules on a square round is very interesting, by the way. Eventually, one of the reasons that Katherine pulled out of the NTFL was the travel, and it worked both ways; teams didn’t want to go down there and Katherine people didn’t want to come up. If you had a railway, people would arrive feeling pretty comfortable, and it is something we need to look at.
It is relevant to other matters like school sporting groups that want to come up to Darwin to compete and vice versa. Leading off from that, the member for Katherine mentioned sports tourism, and that would benefit by having a train. As I said, we could go to the Masters. Tennant Creek, I presume, still has its big lawn bowls competition. What an ideal way for older people to travel down to Tennant Creek for the big weekend there. It is the richest tournament in the Territory – I don’t know about Australia, but it is certainly the richest in the Territory. They have a darts competition at the same time. What better way than to go by train?
I noticed the minister spoke about administrators and volunteers, and I presume that includes umpires and referees. I appreciate the advertisements that are on television at present that say ‘Give them a fair go’. I know what the abuse is like. Sometimes it can be very personal. Admittedly, I am lucky. Because I getting older, I am doing the younger teams like the under 14s where you don’t suffer that abuse, generally speaking. People now know that kids that age want to enjoy their footy. They don’t need parents shouting abuse or coaches going off their tree. At least at that age, one does not quite get the level of abuse that comes with officiating further up the ladder. I have been to football matches where I was scared of umpiring. I have been bashed and I have been flattened and I have had my shirt torn. It does put you off wanting to umpire. In the policy, we should continue the government’s campaign with the AFL and the NTFL to give referees, umpires and officials a fair go.
There is one other area that we should look at in the policy. The member for Stuart mentioned about how someone had gone out with a grader and just made a football oval. There should be some effort put into helping people with turf or sporting oval management. It is an important area. I have been to some Aboriginal communities where, really, it is a wonder anyone comes off the ground with skin left on their bodies because there is not an ounce of grass on the oval. What we need is to train people in irrigation design, irrigation techniques, turf management and facilities management. They are all important because it is not just a matter of putting a football team out there; it is a matter of giving them a reasonable surface and reasonable facilities on which to play.
The better the facilities, the more likely you are to get people to play. The government’s $2.5m spent on Marrara, for instance, which is at the top end of the scale, was certainly well worth it. It is a beautiful ground to run on. For creaky knees, it is just lovely. For all the sport that is now played on it, football and cricket, it must be a beautiful surface on which to play.
We need to be keeping some money set aside for some of our smaller communities. I know that there is $300 000 for lights at the Nguiu Oval, but what we have to keep in perspective is although those big dollar amounts need to be spent on the big venues, we need to keep in mind the little clubs, the little venues, the cricket club with five or six people trying to get teams out each year who need a little bit of money, money for equipment, to make sure the oval is marked correctly so that the marker, if it breaks down, they have a bit of money to fix it up, if the fence is falling down, they need to repair that, or the goal posts needs painting. All those little things, even though they have lots of volunteers, we must ensure that the government gives these little groups adequate funding to keep going.
The process of giving out smaller funding is a good one. Previously, there was an effort to store up all the money until the election came and then give big hunks of money to people and that, of course, left other groups feeling a bit out of it and wondering why they were not part of it. Whilst I appreciate that the government has put an effort into upgrading some of our bigger venues, and that is important, let us not forget the small clubs and venues because if they are looking good and they are attractive, that will also help people come down. They do not want to go into change rooms that look like they have just been through Cyclone Tracy, or the toilets are not flushing or there is hardly a dribble of water out of the showers. You need reasonable facilities to encourage people to come to sport.
I welcome the minister’s statement. If I get some time, I would like to put some ideas into the discussion paper or comment on the discussion paper. The minister said it would be widely circulated and that is very important. I will be looking to make sure that all the sporting groups in my area, at least, have some idea that this discussion paper is out, so I will be keeping an eye out for it. When it is circulated, I hope the minister will tell the parliament, too, so that we can participate in circulating that discussion paper.
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I welcome the minister’s commitment to sport and to building a future for Territory sport. I am particularly happy to hear him announce that this is the beginning of the consultative process, and it is from here that he will be releasing a discussion paper. That will be open to consultation leading, in due time, towards the end of the year, to a comprehensive policy on sport in the Territory.
This is a great way to go because, as the member for Stuart rightly pointed out, since Self-Government, sport has been allowed to develop topsy-turvy, without any over-arching direction. We can see the sorts of issues that have arisen. We see the competitive bids put in through sports, we see parochialism in the sporting arenas without any solid commitment to joining together and looking at the best way to use facilities.
Facilities these days cost a lot more. It is not just running a grader around the back paddock and having a good time. You have multimillion dollar facilities at Marrara. That precinct, if you did a full accrual accounting exercise on it, I could not put a value on it at this stage, but it would have to run into the hundreds of millions. It is because of this that we do need an over-arching policy. We are not just playing with small dollars here; we are playing with quite a commitment to the community.
I agree with the member for Nelson who spoke about participation in sport and said let us not just look at the Top End of sport; let us also look at the communities and make sure that they are looked after because sport has many facets to it and these are the things that we have to address. Any over-arching sports policy must be equitable because sport transcends economic barriers. I was appalled by the member for Goyder’s position when he said ‘In my electorate, most people own their homes and most people pay taxes and most people want to see that money spent on their facilities and do not want to see others get by’. Let me say that the Labor government’s policy on sport will be a policy for elite sportsmen and how to become elite sportsmen; it will not be a policy about elite people playing sport! It will not be a policy for those people who can afford their horses for polocrosse, who can afford their race cars, who can jump in and be a pit boy down at the Finke. There are a lot of people in this community who cannot afford that; who will never be given the opportunity to get there. What our policy will encompass, I am quite sure, will be to give people the opportunities to become elite sportsmen should they have the capability, the capacity and the desire to get there. Our policy, I am hopeful, will help provide the framework for them get ahead.
Our policy will also be about the kids having a kick of the footy on the local oval. It will be about getting participation rates up in sport because that carries through the lifespan. It is important to understand that, when you talk about sport, you think about kids having a run with the ball or a game of hockey or team sports for kids. When you are a kid and you are playing, you are playing for the enjoyment of it, for the win, for the instant gratification. As you mature and enter adulthood, sport becomes a lot more than just having a run around a paddock with your mates. It is an investment in human capital. It is all about people, when they are getting past that teen stage, the great desire and need to win, to prove you are physically more capable and more skilled than the other person. It is all about doing it for lifestyle, to keep fit, for the social interactions that it brings.
When we talk about human capital, being involved in sport improves your health, your social commitment and your socialisation processes. It has a spin-off in productivity within the community. Studies have proven - I think in Hong Kong - that an active work force participating in sport has something like 25% less absenteeism. The member for Goyder mentioned companies, firms, the private ownership people putting in and sponsoring sport. They get it back because if you sponsor and you have a fit community that wants to participate, you will see a return to the workplace of increased productivity. That has to be a good thing.
When we talk about participation, we also have to look at barriers to participation, which are all around the place. This policy, I am sure, will address these issues. We must make sure, as I said about the elites and access to sport, that our sporting facilities and polices do encompass people with disabilities and areas of disadvantage. Sport is basically male dominated. We must make sure in our policy that we address the issue of female participation in sport. How can we go about that? We can go about it in a number of ways. We can make sure we have public transport to get to sporting facilities. We have to make sure we have lighting in the car parks and around the grounds. How many women do we now see at night time playing sport? Not as many as you see men. How many people do you see using these grounds in the evening light or leaving Marrara and walking out to the car park at night? It is very dark across all the sporting facilities. We have to look at making these areas safe for women who want to participate.
Lack of privacy is a huge problem on our sporting grounds. We have one public toilet or no showers. In Sanderson, it is a real problem for the kids. We have the tennis courts, but no toilets. It is okay for the boys who can go into the bushes and have a wee. What about the girls? Nothing! I was able to broker a deal with our high school and get the toilets opened. They are the sorts of things we must address in our policy. We must ensure that, when we have sporting facilities, we have ablution blocks and amenities. It is very important.
When we talk about an active society, which we will have the opportunity to become under Labor policy, I have research from the Sports Development Board in Hong Kong, which says that a recent survey of Hong Kong adults found that the average monthly medical costs for inactive adults was $302 compared with $228 active ones. I am quoting those figures just to show that inactive adults, those not participating, cost more than those who participate. The average monthly payment for medication was more for inactive adults compared to active adults. The monthly spending on health care insurance for inactive adults was once again higher, compared to active ones. These are pretty interesting figures and they illustrate why we need an over-arching sports policy and the benefits that will flow to society.
Those people who are not paying high taxes, like the member for Goyder, cannot afford things. Society is paying for it, anyway. So why not make it active, why not get it in there? We will see a saving to society. Maybe the member for Goyder can sell that one to his constituents. It is very important.
The member for Goyder worked from a false premise: this is going to bleed money from all these hard working, high tax paying people he represents. Let me just go into the economics because the area sports policy in the Northern Territory that is often neglected or ignored is a link between sporting activity and the economy. In the last two weeks, Darwin hosted two major national sporting events: the NBL clash between the Brisbane Bullets and the Perth Wildcats, and the Wizard Cup match between the Bombers and the Dockers. Both were extraordinary successes with a sell out crowd of 1500 for the basketball and 13 196 paying people attending the footy. Later in the year, we will be hosting further national and international events. We have the Imparja Cup in Alice Springs in February-March, the AFL football in Alice Springs in March, the V8 Supercars event in May, international cricket with Sri Lanka in June and July, a four nations women’s hockey tournament in June, Commonwealth Bank Cup netball clashes between the Australian Institute of Sport, the Canberra Darters and the Queensland Firebirds in June, an international men’s hockey match in July, the AFL clash between the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in August, and the Alice Springs Masters Games in October.
The Martin Labor government has totally transformed the economic importance of sport in the Territory economy. With the exception of the V8s and Arafura and Masters Games, all of the above government sponsored events have been the result of the innovation and commitment of this government. These events have obvious benefits to the community, especially the sporting community, including participants and attendees. The economic benefits are of great significance. The first ball bowled in the Sri Lanka test on 1 July, Territory Self-Government Day by coincidence, will be witnessed by millions throughout the world. It is the kind of advertising the Northern Territory could not buy and, as the international cricket did last year, will focus attention on the NT as a tourist destination.
Last year, my friends and colleagues received phone calls from people envious of our glorious weather compared to the freezing climes down south or the polluted skies overseas. When I phoned my brother, and I was standing out there and watching and telling him what a day it was, he was fairly envious. All that came to mind was a poem by Henry Lawson, but I won’t go into that here.
Drill deeper and direct benefits can be calculated for the Northern Territory economy from sports events. For example, every time an AFL side comes to town, they bring with them an entourage of 55 people, not to mention the fans who follow their sides to the NT. This translates into hotel rooms, meals in restaurants, tour packages, souvenir buying and post match drinks in pubs and bars.
In team sports alone this year we will host over 1000 players, coaches, and other officials in Alice Springs and Darwin, representing over 5000 visitor nights, and that does not count the fans who travel, both as internal NT visitors and interstate and overseas arrivals. Further, over 3000 competitors will hit Alice Springs this year for the Masters Games in October. The last games, held in 2002, were conservatively estimated to being worth over $7m to the local economy. An cumulative audience of 43 227 people attended last years V8 championships with an economic impact study on that event due to be completed shortly by KPMG.
International research into the value of sports tourism is in its infancy. A number of researchers have cautioned against deflating the value of sports events to the economy, but nevertheless, identifying sports tourism is an increasingly important component, as the member for Katherine noted, especially for regional economies like the Northern Territory.
Donald Getz, a lecturer in tourism at the University of Calgary, in a 1990 book entitled Festivals, Special Events and Tourism, identified six reasons why cities and regions bid to hold events:
to attract people into the area;
In his later works Getz outlines how major sporting events can assist in community development and enhance the host community’s way of life, economy and the environment. That sums up the innovative approach taken by this government to sports. We are looking at it holistically.
The events we have sponsored do not have no outcomes, but ones from which the whole community can benefit. None of this, of course, happens in a vacuum. The level of direct and indirect employment in the sports industry in the Northern Territory is significant for a small economy such as ours. In addition to the hard working staffers in the Office of Sport and Recreation, we can add sports and recreation officers employed by municipal and community government councils, full-time and full-time equivalent employees of the Northern Territory’s sporting peak bodies, physical education teachers working in the public and private education sectors, employees of sporting clubs including ground staff, hospitality workers, coaches and officials, operators and staff of privately owned sporting facilities including professional coaches, operators and staff of sporting goods supply stores, sports physios, trophy stores, and the list goes on. It must number in the hundreds.
To this, we must add the casual and part-time employment offered by the major events themselves including hospitality workers and security services. An estimated $7m a year is spent in construction, repair and maintenance of sporting facilities and this feeds directly into employment in a variety of trades and industries. Sport and recreation is big business for the Territory and it has been a deliberate part of this government’s strategy to increase the value of sports to the economy and move the Territory forward.
I look forward, for example, to the capacity of the new Darwin convention centre to stage major sporting events such as NBL games. I am informed that last week’s Wildcat game was a sell out and we could have sold tickets three times over. I am also informed that a 3000-4000 seating capacity at the convention centre would give the Territory the capacity to field its own side in the NBL and that the Wildcat’s co-owner Andrew Vlahov, has raised this matter with the Office of Territory Development with respect to the design of the centre.
This brings me to another aspect: the social income of sport and leisure is huge. In Australia, it is in the billions. In the Territory, it must be up around a billion if we add everything in. It is substantial and goes right across the community in terms of economic opportunity for all.
While I was researching my contribution to this debate, I came across a group called Business in Sport and Leisure. This is a British initiative. This information has been around for quite some time and was either overlooked or neglected by the previous governments - perhaps they just weren’t cluey enough to realise that sport is worth a lot more.
Mr McAdam: Weren’t active enough.
Mr KIELY: Weren’t active enough, that is right, member for Barkly. I will give you an idea of what this group does because when we look at how we are going and the impact that sport and leisure has on the Territory economy, a group such as this might be worth considering. They say:
Sport and leisure …
and I like the term leisure because it takes in things like bridge clubs who are having a hell of a time getting funding as I understand it because they don’t quite fit that recreation mould.
Sport and leisure has grown into a major industry contributor to the national economy …
And we can read into that the Territory economy:
- … It now employs over 10% of Britain’s work force, around 2.5 million people, and it contributes $50bn to the
economy and employs over 10% of the national work force.
You can see that by scoping down, while the figures are enormous for the Territory, the same rules apply. Business in Sport and Leisure aims to act as a catalyst for change by lobbying government ministers, MPs, civil servants and media, and has three strategic aims and objectives: to improve the regulatory framework and influence formal policies and plans that affect the industry’s operation and its continued growth and improvement; to improve public awareness of the hospitality, sport and leisure industry’s economic importance and status; to provide an active forum for members to share best practice knowledge and resources; and to debate policies.
The member for Goyder talked about all the money going out and how much it cost. It is very difficult for any government, look at the Sydney Olympics, to find $5m or $6m to build a stadium, then to provide recurrent funding, and provide the operational costs. So perhaps you do have to look at some private-public partnership schemes because there is not the money in government these days to be building huge, one-off sporting edifices, and there have to be other ways around it. A peak body like this may well be something to consider.
BSL, which is the acronym for Business in Sport and Leisure, began as a lobby group 1987. They operate publicly and privately to raise the profile of sport and leisure. They look at property and land use planning. In the Territory’s way of doing business, I would see organisations such as AHA and the Chamber of Commerce being members as well as the peak sporting bodies. I see us all coming together and working in partnership with government to create major facilities.
Mr BONSON: Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I move for an extension of time to allow the honourable member to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr KIELY: Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy Speaker. Such a group could work well to ensure that in the future, we do have the facilities. We have a great facility in the Australian Rules oval at Marrara Stadium. It was neglected, but this government, under the guidance of this sports minister, put $2.5m in there, and look at the returns it is bringing. What of the league and union fields? What of all the empty paddocks there? What of the proposal to build an aquatic centre? Where is the money for that aquatic centre going to come from? How is it going to be funded in future? How is the ongoing fund going to come? Is there a population base? We need to apply different thought processes to bring our sporting facilities into the 21st Century.
Existing policies, this ad hoc approach, have to go and will go under this government. I am looking forward to where the minister will lead us. When I talk about the need for business and sports to work in harmony and partnership, you do not have to look any further than the Darwin Golf Club. There is a group that is making sure its sport is funded. How are they doing it? They are not coming to government cap in hand saying: ‘Bail us out’. They are progressing a business arm of the club and looking at their green-keeping capabilities and seeing what income can be derived from that stream. By doing that, they are able to create more employment for people in the community, sustain the club and keep a cap on membership fees. This is the way that we will end up going in the future. Everything is costing more. We have to be smarter. We have to look at joint partnership between business, government and sporting enterprises. I believe we have to go looking at multiple use of facilities.
The parochialism of a number of our sporting groups has to come to an end. If we, as a community, wish to provide great facilities for all the people who live here and give everyone the same opportunity to progress to the elite level, there are huge savings to be made for the community, not only to the individual in health comes and productivity gains in workplace. The minister touched on the aspect of positive reinforcement with our youth, and how good sporting programs invariably bring down rates of juvenile antisocial behaviour that can lead to breaches of the Criminal Code.
I am keen to participate in progressing the discussion paper as well as helping formulate the policy. Everyone has been showing their colours; the older folk amongst us who can go to the Masters Games, I had a run in Super Rules late last year. I was more qualified for orange man rather than playing in the back pocket. I got a run on Marrara, I must say, which nearly killed me. However, if the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Justice and Central Australia are going down to participate, they are both older than me, it would be remiss of me not to put my hand up and say that if the Super Rules blokes will have me, I will have to go down in whatever capacity they can find for me on the team.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I support the Building a Future for Territory Sport statement delivered by the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Recognition must be given to the minister because, as we have heard in the statement, what has been happening over the last 12 months and what we can look forward to over the next 12 months, there has been a lot achieved during his tenure, and I will highlight many of those achievements.
Obviously, as a person who has a background in sport - Rugby League, Aussie Rules, darts and other sports – the minister has been able to really galvanise the government into saying: ‘Let us make a commitment to sport’. That commitment is evident in some of the achievements mentioned in the statement. That cannot be underestimated. As anyone knows, through the Cabinet and budget processes, you must win the support of you colleagues for what you want to achieve and demonstrate the benefits to the community by spending funds and allocating resources to sport and recreation.
Participation rates in sport and recreation in the NT is the highest in the whole of Australia and is very competitive internationally. Participation, to me, is the key to what sport and recreation is about. At the end of the day, a small minority of elite athletes will make it to the top level where they will make a living out of sport. Unfortunately, the other 98% or 99% of all athletes engage in their sport for reasons other than trying to make a living out of it. One of them, of course, is physical fitness, the ability to mix and mingle, to test yourself to a level, to keep fit and healthy and, in general, to participate in the community as a whole.
Sport is very important to Territory community, and to me. My grandfather played in the first football teams at the turn of the last century. As basketball developed over the last 60 to 70 years, and Rugby League etcetera, my family has been involved. I really did not have a choice; I was brought up in a sporting family in a remote location in Australia where sport was seen as an avenue for people to achieve or to gain opportunities, whether it was in the work force or the general community. I believe in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang, body and mind: you cannot have a healthy mind unless you have a healthy body and you cannot have a healthy body unless you have a healthy mind. You have to find the right balance, and if you can, you will lead a successful life.
Sport gives people many opportunities. Some of the things that sport gave me, and no doubt other people in this House, are leadership skills, people skills, life skills, social skills, management skills, job opportunities, cultural and lifestyle skills. Anyone who goes to a sporting field, for example the touch rugby or the Darwin Basketball Association or the AFLNT, you will see people from different backgrounds, races, cultures, religions and sexes playing sport. There are no rules about sport; you find your own level. You will play at the elite level in Darwin if that is what you are capable of doing, and if you are capable of achieving more then you will go on further. However, if you are like many of us, you find your level two or three steps down and that is where you play.
I have been a player, coach and committee person in rugby league, basketball, Australian Rules football, soccer and touch rugby. In those environments, I met many different people because different people play different sports. The question is: why does the Northern Territory have the highest sport participation rate in the nation? The simple lies in our history, which is about remoteness, entertainment and social activity for the young, the old and families.
You can find activities in other endeavours. It might be a religious faith or academic pursuit, but for many people, Yin and Yang leads people to be physically fit. So in places like Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, the remoteness and need for entertainment - and you have to think before the times of television – led to the community getting together on the sporting field. In the history of this nation, one must think about different relationships. One of the places where people were treated equally was always on the sporting field, although there are many stories, for people who know the history of sport in Darwin, of instances of discrimination.
If you wanted to have an 18 on 18 football competition, you were going to play with a black, white, Greek, German and Asian person to make those numbers work. Afterwards, you might have a social drink or go to a dance, mix and mingle and you get job opportunities. For many people, it was an opportunity to test themselves and to gain access.
Today, I use the example of Galiwinku. Many people in the northern suburbs of Darwin would not know that there is a fantastic football competition going on out there. The whole community turns out. There is music blaring, cheer leaders and full-on competition happening out there. Many people would know about Melville and Bathurst Islands footballers and understand that football is part of their culture.
The Nhulunbuy competition is flying, and then there is the community competition in Alice Springs. I was amazed to go down to the CAFL grand final to see South’s and Pioneers play. There would have been 3000 or 4000 people there and, without exaggeration, 90% of the people at that oval were from an indigenous background. I thought to myself: ‘I’ve been hearing a lot of stories about this community competition’. Apparently on a Saturday, they have a community comp with Hermannsburg, Santa Theresa and all the surrounding indigenous communities playing. They are averaging 2000-3000 people. This is more than what we average here for AFLNT over a whole weekend. These people are paying up their admission fee and they are basically keeping their competition going and the CAFL.
When I was watching this grand final, there were grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, nieces, daughters, kids, everyone coming together as a community to watch this football game. I thought: ‘Gee, this really means something to these two communities’ and it was fantastic to watch them live out their dream by playing in a grand final.
This is my background, obviously, and where the minister comes from. He has introduced both the 2003 Junior Sports Plan and this plan for the future or sport in the Territory. These two documents are formed around the ideal of participation and recognition of volunteers, elite sporting bodies, participants and the importance of the role that they play in encouraging participation in sport.
What I found amazing, coming into office, is that when you consider the impact of sport in the Territory, if you know the history of sport in the Territory, it is amazing to think that after 25 years of Self-Government, the NT does not have a formal over-arching sports policy. I congratulate the minister because he will be undertaking an extensive consultation process to develop the first comprehensive NT sports and recreation policy.
I look forward to the release of the discussion paper and, again, I applaud the concept of the consultation process going out to the wider community. I will be responding to the discussion paper. Governing bodies will obviously be responding, too, but I look forward to responses from the volunteer who turns up on a Saturday or Sunday, runs the water, does the strapping, coaching adding their two cents’ worth.
I welcome the notion of lifelong participation. To me, that is the key. At the end of the day, the bottom line is that 98% or 99% of us will not make a living out of elite sport, but we need to stay active in our community and the reason is to be fit, to get the skills that you get from sport - leadership, management and social.
The concept of better access is a key issue. Many people are limited by their access to sporting facilities and therefore they do not have an opportunity to try different sports. This is a key issue to the plan.
Sport builds better skills, not just sporting skills, but a range of others. There is fund raising, coaching and teaching people that there is more to sport than just the attempt to play the game itself. We will also look at better services and facilities. The $12m spent on infrastructure in the Northern Territory is a fantastic barometer for measuring the minister’s success.
The plan includes better pathways, better planning, better events and better governance, and obviously governance is an issue for all sporting bodies. One of my views in respect of better governance is that we are putting too much pressure on these small community groups - the presidents, the committee, the coaches, etcetera - to try and do something that they cannot because many of them have to work to make a living, and they are donate their spare time to the sport as a coach, player, committee person, fund raiser, etcetera. They need better support from the governing bodies and I look forward to putting that in to my submission.
The reason we should be investing resources in sport is better health outcomes. The more time you are training to get physically fit, the less time you are doing things that might be detrimental to your body, whether it is smoking cigarettes or drinking too much alcohol, or whatever it might be. There is an issue about health as well as sport and recreation. We can never underestimate the effect it has on people’s mental and physical health.
The international cricket match against Bangladesh, how big was that? We had an opportunity to see Steve Waugh play, one of the greats of cricket. I was watching a show on the ABC, a sports lover’s show called The Fat. They have a special guest called Kerry O’Keefe. It is a bit of a hip show for the younger generation to watch and they discuss a variety of different issues, and they bag people and make fun of people. They also boom up athletes. They were criticising the international cricket game between Australia and Bangladesh. They were saying that it was a waste of time, that it should not have been held. Then a person called Kerry O’Keefe, who played a few games for Australia in the 1970s, said: ‘Hang on a minute,’ and anyone who knows Kerry O’Keefe will know he is quite a funny character. He said: ‘The only time in Australia that you will be able to play competitive international cricket, or first class cricket between June and July will be in Darwin because in the southern states, it will be winter and you would not be able to play’. He said that you will see one day the West Indies come here, you will see England come here, you will see India, Pakistan, South Africa. Next year, we will see Sri Lanka here.
The reality is that we will see these big teams like West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan and England, coming to play here, and that will put Darwin on the map. It is a fantastic achievement. I know for a fact that we will get thousands of Sri Lankans coming to the Northern Territory to watch cricket. It will be a tourism boon; it cannot be denied. It will be a great contest. Cricket is going to be huge in the Territory. I can imagine from the northern suburbs or the remote areas of the Northern Territory the next fast bowler or the next great batsmen coming out to represent Australia.
Recently, we were able to watch Essendon play Fremantle. That was a fantastic achievement. All the work done at Marrara, all the pressure of getting the grass down and the argy-bargy about whether it was worth the investment, something like 13 000 people turned up to watch the game and they saw first class footy. It was a fantastic game of football. We will be seeing Western Bulldogs come to the NT until 2006. They will be playing for premiership points, they will be fighting for the finals. If they play a team like Port Adelaide, what we will see is Port Adelaide fighting for a top four position, and the Western Bulldogs fighting for the top eight. So we will see a level of intensity of football that we have never seen here before at a time of year when the weather in Darwin is conducive to the highest level of football.
We will have the Aboriginal Allstars matches until 2007. I have done a bit of research and found an amazing statistic. Comparing the black American population to the Australian Aboriginal population - this is sourced from the 2000 US Census the Australian Bureau of Statistics - the American population is 281 421 906, of whom 36 million are black Americans, which represents 13% of the population. The Australian population is 20 560 925, with an Aboriginal population of 460 140 or about 2.4%. When we compare these two population ratios - remembering that on average, in every AFL team there are about five indigenous players and each AFL team has 40 players on their primary list, there are 16 teams, so that is 640 players. Of those 640, and it is just an estimation, there are about 80 players who identify as indigenous Australians. Black Americans represents 13% of the total population but the NBA, NFL and baseball are all dominated by black American athletes. If the population of indigenous Australians is roughly the same as that of black Americans …
Ms LAWRIE: Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that an extension of time be granted as would allow the member to conclude his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr BONSON: … you will have multiply by six. What we would get us is that every player playing in the AFL would be an indigenous Australian. Of course, we are never going to get to that level where the percentages are like that. However, what I am trying to illustrate is that the Aboriginal Allstars game is an important showcase for the achievements of indigenous athletes.
Rugby League is another sport where Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal Australians feature strongly. The statistics are even stronger to show that the population percentage was the same as black Americans, every player playing in the NRL would be of Aboriginal or Islander descent.
This directly related to what I have seen on sporting fields in the NT: there is a high proportion of indigenous people playing sport in the Northern Territory. They focus on certain sports, but the reality is that indigenous people are attracted to these sports because there is acceptance of their achievements if they are successful. You can go through the family names that have great track records: the Motlops, Ah Mats, MacLeans, Ah Kits, Longs - you could go on and on and on about families that have been successful at their sport, and this is reflected in the fact that they have been able to get job opportunities and, out of those job opportunities, they have been able to lead healthier lifestyles. The pride they have from their achievements has provided success in the wider community.
I look forward to the annual pre-season challenge match, the Community Cup, to be held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
The Netball Association in the Northern Territory has visited me a number of times in relation to attracting interstate and international sporting opponents. I look forward to Netball Australia holding Commonwealth Bank Trophy matches this year in Darwin. I understand that netball has the highest participation rate in Australia, so we should get behind netball, and the member for Sanderson picked up on that.
I know there is an issue in sport about sponsorship dollars and access to facilities and grants etcetera. I am a great believe in how the American college system works, which is equity scholarships. For every male scholarship that a university provides, there has to be a female counterpart so if there are 50 gridiron scholarships handed out to men, there must be 50 scholarships for women. This is something that we should be looking at in the Northern Territory and Australia generally. Again, I applaud the minister’s attempt to ensure the Commonwealth Bank Trophy for the next three years. This is a fantastic effort and should be fully supported by this House.
Hockey Australia is having a Four Nations tournament. We are talking about the best players in the world: Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Of the millions and millions of people who live in the world, we will be seeing the best hockey players. This is fantastic. Vodaphone Hockey Centre at Marrara recently had synthetic turf replaced, which maintains the international standard of surface required for tournaments of this nature. We also have the opportunity to watch Australia play South Korea in July, which is magnificent.
I have been a great supporter of basketball all my life. It was a partnership between the NT government and DBA that led to the new basketball stadium after 25 years of people playing on concrete; to go to wooden, sprung courts is a fantastic achievement. It was a great day when the minister opened the basketball courts. There are fewer injuries and the standard of basketball is improving. We had the Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets play. Unfortunately, after buying tickets, I was unable to attend due to our commitments in Parliament House.
The minister spoke about achievements in Alice Springs and the Finke Desert Race, the $2m to Palmerston Magpies, the $7m for the multifunction recreation centre in Palmerston. These are all major achievements. There is $300 000 for the Stanley Tipiloura Oval at Bathurst Island. This $300 000 will be bricks and mortar and it will change peoples’ lifestyles. It will affect people in a positive way. The $500 000 for the Katherine sports ground where they play soccer, tennis, rugby union, league, basketball, softball, little athletics, cricket and AFL, as a result of the Katherine Regional Development Plan is fantastic. I am too young to qualify for the Alice Springs Masters Games, but as soon as I am old enough, I will go. The NTIS runs a fantastic program and needs to be supported. The Grassroots Program sees 35 grants given to community groups around the Northern Territory. Again, the minister should be congratulated for the Northern Territory Sports Plan. Out of that work came the booklet entitled Little Sports and I encourage everyone to read it. It is a magnificent production.
I know that soccer people, whether they are the Hellenic coach or the Olympic coach, they are looking forward to plans that the minister and government have for soccer. This includes an independent review to examine the development of soccer linked to outcomes of the national review of soccer. That saw an additional $500 000 in 2003-04 through the grants program, fantastic. Subject to soccer accepting and implementing the review recommendations is the development of a $5m home ground for soccer at Marrara.
People are interested in all sports, whether it is the coaches of the Eagles, Mark Motlop, the Tigers, Michael MacLean, Jeff Larson from Eagles basketball, another Michael MacLean from Tracy Village, the NT Hockey coach, Ingvar Dyrting, the presence of the AFL and NTFL, whether it is Brian Hood, Greg Woodroofe, Vic Ludwig, they are all interested in sport. Rugby league –Stem Edwards and the coach of the Nightcliff Dragons, Kane Bonson or whether it is the Brothers coach, Malcolm Hanser, rugby union whether it is the coach of Nightcliff Dragons, the premiership team Peter Maher, people interested in sports. They are all from different backgrounds, all from different races and cultures.
I commend this statement to the House and I look forward to contributing to the plan of the future.
Mr AH KIT (Sport and Recreation): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I thank honourable members for their contributions. I welcome their comments and support for my statement on sport and its contribution to the Northern Territory.
I would like to take the opportunity to comment on issues raised by the member for Goyder. I thank the member for providing one of the more shambolic and rambling responses I have ever heard. The member had clearly done no research or applied any serious thought to his response. At one stage, he skited that the CLP will have a sports policy, and I would like to see that. They were in government for 27 years and did not have a sports policy. Now they are in opposition, they have discovered the advantages of policy by media release, which is classic policy on the run, and we have seen a bit of that over the past week.
On the other hand, we have called for a single over-arching plan. We are looking at a plan that indeed reaches into every corner of the Territory and is tailored to the different needs of different communities and sports in different regions of the Territory. I have no idea what the member for Goyder is talking about with respect to the member for Wanguri; he was there with his kids at the Bombers vs Dockers game last Friday night and loves his footy. His major fault is that he is a lunatic St Kilda supporter. I can tell you that he is also a mad soccer fanatic, along with his kids, as evidenced by his many representations to me on behalf of that code.
Regarding grants, the member for Goyder does not appear to understand the current transparent system of how money is distributed. This is probably due to the fact that he has never sought a briefing. In the current financial year, 2003-04, we introduced an outcome-based funding model. The option of applying for annual or triennial funding was made available for the first time. This means that organisations can manage their business operations, undertake projects and service members with certainty of government support for the next three years. This model was well received as a sounder way of spreading limited resources.
A variety of assessment tools were used to prepare funding recommendations with each application ranked against the capacity of the organisation to manage funding, achieve the proposed output and the viability and merit of the program or project. Ultimately, this process is linked to budgetary considerations. Might I mention that the member for Goyder has been the shadow minister for sport for some time now, and he has still not sought a briefing on any sport and recreation issue, yet he continues to raise only those issues that he feels are relevant to his electorate.
I understand that there are over 40 different user groups at Freds Pass Reserve. I have provided much-need assistance for the running of the Litchfield Gift. In fact, I have secured funding for the Junior Gift for the next two years. On 25 March 2003, I approved payment of a grant of $4000 to the Freds Pass Management Board to put together a 10 year development plan for the complex. I understand this plan is currently being developed. As yet, we have received no formal applications for any capital works projects identified as part of the plan. I know that a container shed has been gifted by my colleague, the former Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, minister Kon Vatskalis, from the wharf area. In fact, I had representations from Bob Shewring and Andrew Blackadder, and it was on my approach minister Vatskalis at the time that we gifted that building from the wharf precinct area to Freds Pass.
I am advised that the management board plans to split the shed, with one part to become an indoor stadium, the other an indoor equestrian centre. I believe that some height modifications are required to enable international standard competitions in the first part of the shed, and will add a further $85 000 to relocation costs. I understand that Litchfield Shire Council had agreed in principle to assist the removal during this current financial year, but they changed their mind owing to other priorities. A subsequent proposal for $500 000 over three years has apparently been endorsed. I am in discussions with management board representatives, Mr Andrew Blackadder and Mr Bob Shewring, about the ways of overcoming current funding issues so that a more immediate solution can be found.
Members may also recall that as part of my three point plan for soccer, I announced that $500 000 would be available for junior soccer facility upgrades across the Territory. I understand that the Freds Pass Management Board is submitting an application in conjunction with the Litchfield Soccer Club for improvements to soccer facilities at Freds Pass Reserve. An establishment grant of $5000 in 2001-02 was provided to get the fledgling Litchfield Soccer Club off the ground. Paul Scott, who I understand is the driving force behind the club, won an award at the 2003 Sports Awards.
The member for Goyder clearly knows nothing about his shadow portfolio, especially soccer. Indeed, the review into soccer, which is currently being finalised, was fully and enthusiastically supported by his predecessor, the now Leader of the Opposition. He supported the review specifically so the code of soccer could be backed by a decent vision, one that would be reflective of the reorganisation of that sport nationally. His predecessor, the Leader of the Opposition, was in constant touch with my office for formal and informal briefings. The member for Goyder has not sought a single briefing on anything to do with sport, to his great shame.
Might I add, when he made some comments in regards to funding going into the bush and to remote areas, he speaks in code, because I am offended that he is having a shot at indigenous people benefiting from sport and recreation dollars. I know he speaks in code because I have seen …
Mr Henderson: Dog whistling
Mr AH KIT: Well, that is what they call it, dog whistling. I have seen in the Litchfield Times where he has complained about our government spending some $400 000 on the Bagot Community for beautification projects. It is this type of thing, God help the Northern Territory if he were to become the Minister for Sport and Recreation or, for that matter, a minister full stop. We can quickly gather from the way he would handle his portfolio responsibilities that it is everything for his electorate and nothing for anyone else. It is to his great shame that he continues, as was pointed out, to dog whistle.
While I am on soccer, I should also note that my department is currently discussing infrastructure needs for Borroloola, Alice Springs and the Bagot oval in regards to how this fund can be best used. My department has also assisted in the re-establishment of the Sports Advisory Group in Tennant Creek, which is looking at future facilities in sport and recreation development in Tennant Creek, especially in relation to Perkiss Reserve.
Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, as you can see, I am certainly interested in the needs of our rural and regional sportsmen, women and children. It is important that we continue to work with the appropriate bodies and representatives to ensure that rural and regional groups receive their share of infrastructure development and support for sport in their areas.
The member for Goyder also mentioned the Northern Territory Institute of Sport in his woeful contribution. The government has continued to support the institute and people like Raphael Clarke who is now with St Kilda, to the excitement of the member for Wanguri, and Ken Skewes are great products of the NTIS and an example of the institute’s success. Raphael came through the Territory Thunder institute program and Kenny came from the rural area, has really achieved in cricket through the NTIS and has represented Australia. If the member for Goyder had bothered to ask for a briefing on the NTIS, he would know that current changes to many of the programs at the institute from a team base to their current format as a squad has allowed many young athletes to enjoy the benefits of an NTIS scholarship without the need to relocate to Darwin, a much better result for our kids.
I thank the member for Katherine for her contribution to this debate. The door is always open for her if she wants briefings. In fact, the member for Katherine shows far more knowledge about sport in her region than the member for Goyder. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should consider giving her the portfolio given that she demonstrates that she has the ability to do some real research and put papers together for responses to debates in this House.
There appears to have been a misunderstanding, however, with some of the member for Katherine’s about our support for sport and recreation in Katherine. I assure the member that Katherine is important, and we are spending money there. I take the liberty of quickly repeating a paragraph from my statement:
- Planning for $500 000 of improvements to the Katherine Sports Ground began late last year. The sports ground
currently provides facilities for tennis, soccer, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, softball, Little Athletics,
cricket and Australian football. Priorities for the upgrade of the sports ground will be developed in consultation
with the Katherine Town Council.
Further, we have provided a special assistance grant worth $1000 to the Katherine Town Council in the current financial year for the concept design of a multipurpose skate park. The member should speak with her local council, as all good local members should. Then she would not come into this House and make misleading statements.
In response to the member’s concerns about youth issues in her electorate, I advise that government is to make available $200 000, working through the Community Harmony Group, to address this issue. I also assure her, as I have the member for Goyder, that it is possible to have an over-arching strategy. It may be too hard for the CLP, which believes in policy by media release and this policy on the run business, but do not worry: our government will roll up its sleeves and do this work.
I thank the member for Nelson for his contribution, specifically his comments on the necessity to consider elderly participants in sport and recreation. It is something in which we are interested. Government will take his comments on board and we look forward to his contributions once we develop and release the discussion paper. As I said in my statement, I look forward to consulting widely and, hopefully, launching the policy by the end of the year.
Last year, government had a function to thank officials as a part of the International Year of the Official. This was such a success that I will be doing it again this year. Further, my Office of Sport and Recreation will run a ‘thank the official’ campaign.
I pick up on a previous comment by the member for Nelson regarding the taking of food and drink into the Marrara Oval during the recent NT versus Western Bulldogs representative game. I took the liberty of checking with AFLNT who, as the leaseholders of the oval, are the body responsible for issues of access. I am informed that the incident noted by the member for Nelson has been attributed to the actions of an ill-informed and overzealous security guard. Barring of food and soft drink is not AFLNT policy. These actions were quickly brought to the attention of the AFLNT management who quickly stepped in to rectify the situation.
To I thank those government members who took part in the debate for their considered contributions. I thank the member for Stuart for his comprehensive and thoughtful response; he covered many aspects of sport and recreation in Central Australia. I know for a fact that my colleague, the honourable Peter Toyne MLA, not only participated in athletics in the 2002 Alice Springs Masters Games but won two of his events: he won the long jump with a jump of 4.8 m and he took first place in the 100 m with a time of 13.5 seconds. I will not give away secrets by telling you what age group he competed in, but I can tell you he remains undefeated in the 40 to 45 years men’s 100 m sprint with an amazing time of 11.83 seconds from the first Masters Games in 1986. This shows a great commitment from the member for Stuart. It would also be fantastic to see all members participate in 2004. As such, I have with me a number of registration forms to table and hope that all members consider signing up to at least one event.
The member for Sanderson made a sensible contribution to the debate. His thoughts on sports and economics are interesting and are being considered by government.
Finally, I thank the member for Millner, who is an active participant in sport and his family is widely recognised for their sporting efforts, for his support for the great events that we attracted to the Territory.
In summary, I sincerely thank those Territorians involved in the sports industry for their support, their tireless and often thankless work. I thank honourable members for their comments and support of the statement.
Motion agreed; statement noted.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Mr Acting Deputy Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
I wish to pay tribute to renowned activist for East Timorese independence, Dr Andrew McNaughton, who died at his home in Sydney last Christmas.
In my unsuccessful campaign to win the seat of Nightcliff in 1994, I met Andrew whilst door knocking the electorate. Andrew lived just down the road from me, I did not know him at the time, in Vaughton Place in Rapid Creek. This particular afternoon when I knocked on Andrew’s door and met him for the first time, he invited me in and sought to engage me on the struggle of the East Timorese for independence. That door knock lasted for about an hour and a half. I left Andrew’s home in Vaughton Place with a detailed report of his time in East Timor as a doctor in various provinces, which documented allegations of abuse and repression of the East Timorese people.
From that first contact, I met Andrew on many occasions, speaking with him over the fence, down at the Rossiter Street shop and I came to know him very well. He left a significant impression on my life, particularly sparking my interest in the struggle of the East Timorese for their independence in a more detailed way than I had followed the debate before.
Andrew McNaughton’s contribution to East Timor’s freedom and independence is incalculable. He grew up in Sydney, did a trade course in welding and later became an accomplished motorbike road racer. Later, in 1975, he studied medicine at the University of New South Wales where he first became aware of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. However, it was not until after the Dili massacre of November 1991 that he was galvanised into the political activism that became the hallmark of the remainder of his life.
Andrew came north to the Territory and was resident here for five years between 1992 and 1996, using his houses in Ludmilla and then Rapid Creek as an unofficial headquarters for the activist group he joined at the time, Australians For A Free East Timor. His time the Territory was spent participating in demonstrations and actions as well as a steady stream of letter writing activity. Whilst living in Darwin, during the Australia Remembers: 1945-1995 commemorative year, Andrew organised an exhibition of World War II photos that showed the closeness between the East Timorese people and Australian commandos fighting against Japanese Imperialism. He made many copies of these photos and they were exhibited around the world, including in Japan.
Andrew then took Darwin Timorese Tony Maia and Veronica Pereira to Japan to give evidence before hearings investigating the Japanese occupation of East Timor, amongst other places.
When his mother fell terminally ill, Andrew moved to Sydney to be with her. Whilst there, he became convenor of AETA, the Australian East Timor Association of New South Wales, and continued his furious schedule of lobbying on behalf of East Timorese people.
It was at this time that Andrew began making visits to East Timor, under Indonesian jurisdiction, usually carrying a video camera he used to monitor student street actions and the like, as well as interviewing locals who had stories to tell about the Indonesian occupation. At least once, he left the camera behind for East Timorese activists to use in documenting their struggle. These visits were often facilitated by Maria de Ceu Federer, now President of Timor Aid and Juan Federer, who originally set up Timor Aid. Andrew’s film of student activists travelling around the country to encourage people to take part in the elections is an important part of the East Timorese historical record. This film was shot under the guard of the Indonesian Army.
In late August 1999, Andrew McNaughton, along with Jude Conway and Sally Anne Watson were detained and deported by the Indonesian military for helping to promote the coming UN election. Before INTERFET arrived in East Timor, Andrew was making pioneering trips with Timor Aid, especially to the western boarder regions, documenting human rights abuses by the Indonesian Army.
On 30 December 2003, a memorial service was held in Dili to pay tribute to Dr Andrew McNaughton and his dedication and commitment to the independence of East Timor. The service was held at the Santa Cruz Cemetery. Friends, activists and government officials were present. Ceo Federer delivered the oration but many spoke of their memories of Andrew including Tau Matan Ruak, the Chief of Staff of FDFL, who took the opportunity to remember Andrew by saying:
- Andrew has left us, but he left an independent East Timor to the people he loved.
The last time I met Andrew McNaughton was on the occasion when the Chief Minister and I were very proud were to be in Dili for the first sitting of the newly independent East Timorese Parliament. I didn’t know that Andrew was going to be there, and it was wonderful to see that the struggle that he had carved out a lot of his life for had finally borne fruit; to see the Indonesian-free Parliament sit for the first day was a source of enormous pride and relief for Andrew McNaughton.
Much of the information contained here has been provided by a very well known Darwin Timor activist, Rob Wesley-Smith, and I thank him for it. I would like to close with some of Rob’s own words about his mate Andrew McNaughton:
- Andrew tended to focus on the issue and not let go until he was satisfied. This was destined to make him a saint or
a martyr and not always totally easy to get on with. But when interested, he was charming and always dedicated.
His knowledge, passion and sense of justice will be sadly missed by the East Timor movement in Australia and East
Timor. Vale Andrew McNaughton.
After eight weeks in intensive care, he received a heart transplant on Christmas Eve 2002. He has told me it was one of the best Christmas presents he has ever had or is likely to receive, and John has recently passed the first anniversary of his heart transplant, ‘my first birthday’, as he put it. Only last week, he completed the last of the major health tests associated with a heart transplant and the recovery regime. He says it is great to be alive and puts his recovery down to three main factors: the terrific care and skill of the medical profession that kept him alive when he had no right to be; the support he and his family received from friends, workmates and his employer Telstra, and particularly Danny Honan, good on you; and, most importantly, the organ donation that made it all possible in the first place.
The call from me, as local member, tonight to all members of this House is to really think about how we, as members of parliament, can promote organ donation to our constituents. My constituent has his life, thanks to a donor, and it was absolutely fantastic to sit and have a coffee with John outside my electorate office a few weeks ago. It is quite a humbling and somewhat strange experience to be sitting talking to a man who, by all circumstances, should be dead, and for him to have another human being’s heart in his body pumping the blood around and keeping him alive, I must admit is a very strange circumstance. Sitting there that day talking to John and seeing how he had changed as an individual, from somebody who was totally passionately committed to his work to somebody who has stared death in the face and is so much more relaxed about life and focussed on the real meaning of life, which is family and friends. It was an amazing experience with an amazing man.
In light of all the media at the moment about David Hookes and his family’s decision on behalf of a great cricketer to make his organs available for donation, I urge all members to make contact with the Health department, to have information in electorate offices to promote the fact that, by donating organs, other people can be kept alive. It is not an easy decision for any of us to make, but to look a man in the eye who is here because of somebody else’s tremendous - I am trying to find the right word, it is not generosity, but it is generosity in spirit, I suppose, to provide one’s heart for another person really did pull me up and make me think.
There are 74 renal recipients in the Northern Territory alive today; one heart recipient, my friend John; one heart-lung recipient; and five liver recipients living in the Territory at the present. Needless to say, organ donation is paramount in giving many Territorians a new lease of life.
I understand that Australian Organ Donor Register forms will be available at pharmacies, gymnasiums, general practitioners, bookstores and Motor Vehicle Registry for the duration of Organ Donation Awareness week, and I urge all members to get those donor forms and have them in their electorate offices.
The Northern Territory has the highest rate of renal disease per capita of population within Australia, and a further 44 patients are in the process of being worked up to go on the active waiting list. Another great friend of mine, somebody I worked with for many years, a fellow by the name of Damien Harding, is the recipient of a kidney. Damien is certainly doing well now. Therefore, it is important that as many of us as possible discuss the issue of organ donation with our families and make that commitment to donate should circumstances arise.
Transplantation does not occur in the Northern Territory, however our hospitals do contribute to the retrieval of donor organs. Currently, there are 26 people living in the Territory who are waiting for a kidney. There have only been 30 donors in the last 24 years, with only one donor in 2003, placing the NT seventh amongst the states in organ donation per head of population. Given the needs of many Territorians, I urge all of us to consider this precious gift.
In November 2001, LifeNet NT began the coordination of education towards organ donation with the aim of demystifying the process. In doing so, LifeNet NT aims to increase organ donation rates, intended donation and facilitating the most positive outcome and support for the donor families. At any one time, there may be up to 2000 Australians waiting for organ transplantation. Approximately 15% of those are gravely ill patients waiting for a heart, heart-lung or liver transplant. Unfortunately, many die before a donor organ becomes available. In 2003, 179 Australians became organ donors, giving the gift of life and health to 619 seriously ill patients.
To John and Sue and the family – John, it is great to still have you here alive today. Many people were pulling for you whilst you were suffering. John, you certainly have my support. Again, I urge all members, regardless of your personal views, to have the information available in electorate offices because, looking into John’s eyes and sharing a cup of coffee with him, if he did not have that heart that somebody donated, he would not be here today.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I am going to talk tonight about the government’s response to a question I asked in parliament last week about cotton. Surprise, surprise! The answer I received was so shallow and lacking any depth, I wonder if the government has opened a new Office of Stone Age Technology or Play School Agriculture. Whilst the government counts the benefits of Desert Knowledge Park in Central Australia, it balances that with a no knowledge park in the north.
It seems that the government has few on its side who have any real knowledge about agriculture. The closest thing for some is their front lawn. This lack of knowledge is evident by the answer from the minister to my question. I am afraid he does not know what he is talking about, and so he has diverted the question away from science and logic to political twaddle. Anyone reading his answer would wonder if the government’s policy is based more on a strategy to win Katherine at the next election than a sound scientific knowledge of the issue. The minister tried to avoid the issue by throwing in a furphy saying that I will be urging Litchfield Shire residents to grow cotton. Besides being totally irrelevant to the question, at least people in my electorate are willing and intelligent enough to debate the issue, unlike the government.
The funny thing is that I have not said we should be growing cotton in the Northern Territory. However, what I will say is that we should look at the issues relating to growing cotton using 2004 technology, not technology that is 20 or 30 years old. It is good to see the Treasurer wearing a cotton shirt.
Has the minister been to a cotton farm recently? Does he know how cotton is being grown in the Katherine trials? Does he know the results of those trials? Does he know what BT stands for, or IPM or BMP? Has he heard of trap crops? Does he know that crops, like vines and mangoes, are sprayed just as often or even more than cotton?
Dr Toyne: Yes.
Mr WOOD: Does he know how cotton is irrigated and how much water is used in the trials at Katherine?
Dr Toyne: Yes.
Mr WOOD: By jove, the member for Stuart has a wealth of knowledge!
Has he explained to the public what his own department has found from the trials in Katherine? Minister, I am not a convert to cotton, as you try to make out, but I am a supporter of sustainable cropping regardless of the crop. I have believed in that philosophy for years. That means I do not bury my head in the sand, which is certainly the impression I am getting from your government.
If we are to advance the agricultural economy in the NT, we have to look at all the options, not ban a particular crop because some may have concerns or the minister and his government may be allergic to cotton. The way to test out new varieties, new technology, new techniques and to experiment is to trial crops. That is why we have research stations. I know that people have concerns about GM cotton, but how else can issues that people have concerns about be scientifically proven one way or the other if the government closes down the trials?
One concern has been the weediness of GM cotton. I asked questions about this last year, and all indications are that it is not weedy. Nevertheless, trials should continue. I recommend the minister read this document, which talks about weediness and then comments. This book was published by the Australia Cotton Cooperative Research Centre; it is not an industry booklet. This is where 160 people work. It has a section on the potential weediness of BT cotton in northern Australia, and we are doing trials in Katherine.
Some people are concerned about Monsanto and their involvement in cotton. Fair enough. Monsanto is certainly not the flavour of the month both in and out of the cotton industry, but they are not the only company involved in developing new cotton plant varieties.
Has the minister read this book by CSIRO’s Stephen Yeates, from Darwin? This book is published by the Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre and is entitled Cotton Research and Development Issues in Northern Australia: a review and scoping study, August 2001. I will read the foreword from it:
- Northern Australia has always presented a challenge for agriculture with a different environment, widely
distributed resources and infrastructure and a small population. Australia’s north has seen the demise of
several large scale agricultural projects. The failure in the early 1970s of a cotton industry in the Ord River
irrigation area bears testament to these natural challenges.
The Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre was established in 1999 to coordinate a program of
research, education and adoption focussed on both sustaining the Australian cotton industry and exploring
the feasibility for expanded production in northern Australia.
Various parts of northern Australia were chosen for thorough feasibility assessment because of climate,
significant water resources, past experience in the availability of a suite of new technologies, which we
believe enhance prospects for sustainable farming systems.
We are keenly aware, however, of the fragility and environmental baggage of northern Australia.
Consequently, our assessments and research must first demonstrate that cotton production can be achieved
in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. If this can be achieved, then significant social
and economic benefits could flow to the northern communities.
That is spot on. The saddest thing in this debate is because of the Chief Minister’s statement, Stephen Yeates will have no job in Darwin. He will have to leave. After all, why would the CSIRO bother funding a research officer to work on a crop they are not allowed to grow? The Chief Minister and the Primary Industry minister also said that no cotton will be grown at Katherine when the trials are finished. There go more professional research people from the Territory; more people with knowledge and skills will be lost because of the policy of this government.
Because of an ostrich-like approach, we have decided to turn our back on reality, to disappear into a cocoon, to hide from a chance to evaluate and build on the scientific knowledge that is being developed not only in Katherine, but also in Narrabri where 160 scientists are working on cotton at the research station.
We have a government that is scared of new technologies and too afraid to look at the changing face of agriculture. As I said before, this issue is not about whether we should grow cotton in the NT; it is about seeing whether cotton can be grown in the north and what are the issues associated with it. There are many myths out in the wide world about cotton, generally based on the problems cotton had 20 or 30 years ago, especially in places like the Ord. That is not to say that there are no problems. There are, but science has advanced a long way since then and the only way you are going to tackle these problems is to at least trial cotton.
If we are going to be the clever Territory that just relies on the big train and big gas, we will not be able to survive the peaks and troughs that always come with these projects. We need a diversified economy, and part of that is agriculture.
This debate is not just about cotton, but about a range of crops that can be grown on their own or in rotation. If we are to develop our small centres, then agriculture will be the basis for that. There is no doubt that in the Territory the path is littered with failed grand plans when it comes to growing crops. Time has moved on and our knowledge has increased. Instead of working from that new technological base, we have turned our backs on it like the Luddites as if it were a demon too dangerous to handle.
It is time the government had an open mind on the subject. If the government is going to introduce agricultural censorship to stop a crop from even being trialled in the NT, you have to wonder about the calibre of the brains trust that runs the Territory. If we cannot even trial cotton in the Territory, something that is being done in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, you have to ask: why have the Department of Primary Industry? Why have research stations? Will NT stand for the Northern Troglodyte capital of the world? One can only come to that conclusion.
Minister, do not write me off as a cotton convert. Cheap clichs only make you look silly. I have a background in horticultural science, I have some knowledge of cropping and, over Christmas, I went, not via the taxpayer, to look at cotton. I learnt a lot and met a lot of people and saw a lot of things I had not seen before. I saw a conscious effort by many people to tackle the problems that plagued the cotton industry in days gone by. There are still issues, but with cotton worth about $1.5bn to the Australian economy each year, it is imperative that research continues on overcoming those problems.
The Territory could be apart of that research. It could be at the forefront of developing tropical and sustainable cropping. It might even have enough nous to look at starting a CRC station in the Top End on tropical cropping.
With a world population that is growing, that is affected by changing climates, with a Territory that needs to look at a diversified economy, there will be more pressure to grow crops where there is more water and where the climate is more conducive than in traditional cropping regions of Australia. There are all sorts of opportunities that could develop but, sadly, when head in the sand logic is the approach, you have to gaze into the sky and wonder. Is it now part of this government’s open and transparent policy to promote agricultural censorship? What next? Peanuts, water melons, mangoes, bananas? Will they be banned in our new economy based on numerology, astrology and voodooism, all centred at the Katherine Research Station?
Minister, if you are serious about understanding the issues surrounding cotton and if you want to know what is happening today, then get off your high horse, pick up some politicians on both sides and go and look at the cotton industry in Narrabri, Wee Waa, Dalby, Emerald, Menindee, Katherine and in the Ord so that before you make any more uneducated and troglodytic statements, you will know what you are talking about.
It may be that the issue of cotton growing would be an ideal task for the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee to take on as one of its tasks. Let them report back to parliament after they have completed a thorough investigation of cotton in Australia, including a general overview of cropping in the Territory.
Minister, you are meeting cotton representatives next week. I hope that you will give them a fair hearing and keep an open mind on the subject. It will be disappointing if the Territory’s response to this meeting reveals a lack of knowledge or a reasonable understanding of the subject.
If the Territory hopes to attract people, finances and resources, we have Buckley’s if we continue down the path of ‘it is too hard, it is too new, it is about change and we do not want to know’.
I call on the government to at least allow cotton to be trialled in the NT. If the government wishes to retain its present ban on cotton, then for the sake of consistency, ban all the other crops grown in the Territory that are sprayed, use plenty of water, require land to be cleared, like Asian vegetables, mangoes, bananas and vines. Mangoes and vines are sprayed more and use more water than cotton.
This issue is not about cotton, it is about the logic or illogic to ban a crop called gossypium hirsutum from being grown in the Territory. This is about a loopy decision-making process. The government might proudly say they have set up a community group to look at the development of the Daly, but their illogic continues when even that body can not look at cotton. They have politically censored the committee.
It is a sad day when knowledge, understanding and new ideas are stifled by this type of censorship. Harry S Truman summed up the government’s position best when he said:
Those …
And, in parenthesis, I say the ministers:
- … who want the government to regulate matters of mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being
murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination.
How true. This issue is not about cotton per se, but about agricultural censorship. It is about a dangerous process based not on science, but on perception and popularity.
I received an e-mail from Dave Anthony, manager of OzCot. Yes, a cotton man for sure; I do not have not a problem with that. He said:
- I do worry when broad reaching statements are made by bureaucracies about whether a certain crop or livestock
operation can or cannot be grown in an area other than, say, drug- related crops. Agricultural censorship is a
dangerous move.
At the end of the day, best management practices are key to know how we all operate in whatever crop or livestock
operation we pursue. A wheat farmer following bad practice can cause as much harm as anyone, yet wheat is
unlikely to come under the political spotlight. Perceptions are strong forces.
Again, I say: how true.
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, that is all I have to say. I had best go now because I need to go and water my polyester pot plant.
Dr TOYNE (Stuart): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to remember one of the great icons of Central Australia. I refer to the late Stan Cawood, who died peacefully in Brisbane on 17 October 2003.
Stan accomplished a great deal during his 96 years. He was born in Bellingen, the third of four sons and a daughter, to John and Alice Cawood. Stan spent his early life in Bellingen where his family was initially the agent for Allan Taylor and Company who were big timber merchants, and later became a partner with Fred Doepel in a saw milling and timber business. They built the square-rigged sailing ship, the Alma Doepel, which has now been restored, and the steamships Nambucca and Bellingen.
Stan went to the Catholic Primary School at Bellingen until he was 12, then went to De La Salle College in Armidale until he was 14, finishing his schooling at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, Sydney in 1922 at the age of 15.
Stan opted for the bush life in contrast to his brother Jim, who became a lawyer, and Allan, a pharmacist. He worked on the Widden Racehorse Stud outside Muswellbrook. Stan talked about the English stallion Valais, the sire of Heroic, Violincello, Moabite, and many other famous racehorses.
This led to a trip to India in 1925, looking after a team of 500 remount horses, which were collected from as far north as Gladstone, and loaded on to the steamship Shiradar, and transported to the Remount Depot in Calcutta. Stan stayed in India for three months and was amazed at the mesmerizing skill of the Indian horsemen in breaking and training the unbroken Australian horses.
On returning to Australia, Stan worked as a jackaroo on a sheep station near Dalby, and then on Lake Nash Station on the Northern Territory-Queensland border just south of Camooweal. Stan observed at Lake Nash that Aboriginal people were not only very good stockman, but were very good water pumpers. They maintained the wood supplies to steam pump boilers when there was no wind blowing to turn the windmills to provide much needed water for the stock.
Stan went to Alice Springs in 1927, soon after his father was appointed the Alice Springs Government Resident in 1926. He was one of the first people to travel by car on the Sandover Track, now the Sandover Highway, from Lake Nash to Alice Springs, a distance of 643 km. On arriving in Alice Springs, then known as Stuart, with a population of about 100 people, Stan did a variety of jobs. He worked with Albert Bond of Bond Coaches, who organised trips to Hermannsburg, Arltunga and Palm Valley for people arriving in Alice Springs on The Ghan from Adelaide. They started off taking parties of six, and this grew to 12 and then to 15. They could accommodate up to 15 people at the Chalet at Palm Valley and operated only in the winter.
In 1929, Stan was one of the party that searched for and found the bodies of Hitchcock and Anderson after their plane, the Kookaburra, was forced to land in desert country between Newcastle Waters and Wave Hill Station because of mechanical difficulties. The pilots were flying in the Northern Territory to search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, or Smithy, and Charles Ulm, who were later found safe and well.
Stan married Ethel, nee Underdown, in Adelaide in 1932. He moved back to New South Wales because her family, being strong Church of England people, were not keen on her marrying Stan, a strong Catholic. His sister, the late Alice Cawood, had become a Sister in the Order of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and his older sister, Marie, later joined the same order.
Stan got a job as a forester and timber inspector with the New South Wales Forestry Department, and worked along the coastal area from Cronulla to Grafton. The first five of their eight children were born in Cronulla, Wyong, Coffs Harbour and Grafton. In 1940, he was appointed the manager of a timber mill at Carney Creek, near Clermont in Queensland.
The same year, on receiving the news that her father was dying, Ethel went back to Alice Springs with their three-year-old daughter, Helen. She was reconciled with her family and, with their young children, she and Stan returned to Alice Springs and managed the Capital Caf, and the open air a picture theatre for Ethel’s mother, Mrs Daisy Underdown, who also owned the Alice Springs Hotel.
The family returned to Sydney in 1942, and Stan was appointed the Executive Shipping and Transport Officer at Regents Park for the movement of supplies from 15 warehouses supplying American Forces on the mainland and in the Pacific. After the war, Stan returned to the Territory and began carting copper by truck from the home of Bullion Mine, ore from Harts Range, and Adelaide beer from Alice Springs to Darwin, 60 18-gallon wooden kegs at a time.
In 1949, he became one of the founding members of the Territory Transport Association, which was formed to protect the interest of road transport operators. TTA then formed Co-Ord to undertake the coordinated road-rail freight service between Alice Springs and Larrimah under contract to the Commonwealth Railways. An expanding mining industry meant Darwin, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek and Mary Kathleen became second homes to Stan and his sons, Greville and Ian. Stan was one of the original shareholders in Co-Ord and was Chairman from 1953 to 1957.
In 1954, Stan joined Alice Springs Tours and began tours to Ayers Rock where Mrs Daisy Underdown had built The Chalet. Stan eventually took over The Chalet and combined it with his Alice Springs tour business. He became very fit, sometimes climbing the Rock two or three times a day. His sons joined him in this tourism venture.
The management of TAA approached Stan and other tour operators and, in 1961, Central Australian Tours Association was set up to offer a series of tours radiating out from Alice Springs. Stan became its first Chairman. Operators of town and district tours, as well as four-wheel-drive excursions, together with hotel and motel owners were included in the membership so that fully accommodated tours could be packaged by TAA in competition with Ansett.
In 1976, Stan sold his business to the Northern Territory government, which was in the process of establishing the centralised resort at Yulara.
He retired with his wife to Palm Cove on the beautiful northern beach area of Cairns, and delighted in the visits of his family and friends, sharing with them his love of the sea. He was a regular competitor in the Masters Games until he was 90, winning gold medals for swimming.
He was cared for by his loving family in recent years. Stan died peacefully in Brisbane. He is survived by his two daughters, Marie, (Sisterr Regina), Helen Robinson, his son Ian, 12 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Cawood family in providing this detailed account of Stan’s life, particularly Craig Cawood, Helen and Bruce Robinson, Marie Cawood, (Sisterr Regina) and Sue Cawood.
I would like to add that the recent opening of the Alice Springs Archives facility, which, by the way, holds material from the Cawood family, will enable Centralians to access and appreciate the lives and times of many of our pioneering families.
I want to mention another significant event in Alice Springs, and that is the opening of the RSL on-line museum. While we recently commemorated the bombing of Darwin during World War II, we should remember that the war had a huge impact on many other areas of the Territory, including Central Australia. I congratulate the Alice Springs RSL for the development of their on-line museum that details the experiences of people in Alice Springs during the war years and highlights the important role the area played during the conflict.
The war significantly changed the Centre, with the population growing by nearly 3000% in two years. Alice Springs became a vital outpost for the military and, in fact, the seat of government for the Territory moved to Alice Springs after the bombing of Darwin. Some of us regret that it moved north again after the war. The on-line museum, called Central Australia - The War Years, will preserve the memories and experiences of people who lived, worked and passed through Alice Springs during the war. I urge you to browse through the museum. It gives us a glimpse into a fascinating part of Territory history. It is interesting to reflect on just how these few short and intense years influenced Central Australian development. Through photographs, film, audio and extracts from documents such as letters and diaries, it gives us an insight into what life must have been like in Central Australia during World War II.
The Alice Springs RSL has done a great job in developing the web site, and it is a wonderful community project. Local cultural organisations, residents and educators have contributed to this engaging web site. I am proud to note that NT government support for the project has been provided through the Regional Museum Grants Support Program and Year of the Outback funding. The museum is designed to be a resource for students, and allows teachers to download and print ready-made activities that encourage understanding the role of Alice Springs during the war, and how the lives of people were affected.
I commend this web site for providing a lasting memorial to the contributions of the people of Central Australia to the war effort.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): I would like to visit two areas tonight, Madam Acting Deputy Speaker. The first is the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal on the definition of ‘coastline’ for fishermen, particularly commercial barramundi fishermen, and what that means to those who earn their livelihood from commercial fishing in our waters.
We all know what the decision has been; it is a redefinition of ‘coastline’ as we, the general public, politicians, commercial and amateur fishermen understood it. The definition handed down by the court is very serious in respect of the way it impacts on commercial fishermen who have just begun their fishing season. It restricts them by somewhere in the vicinity of 90% of their usual fishery, but could have long-term ramifications for amateur and recreational fishermen in respect of access to these waters.
This issue has been raised with the new minister for Fisheries, the member for Casuarina, and interested parties such as AFANT, the commercial fishermen, the Seafood Council and anyone else with an interest in this sector were given an undertaking that something would be done very quickly, perhaps through these sittings, to ameliorate the problem and that is that commercial fisherman cannot access up to 90% of their usual fishery, and therefore make their livelihood, which impacts not only on the investment in capital equipment but also on their property investment, being licenses.
We are into the second week of these sittings. We are now into some six hours of opportunity that the minister has had either by mini-statement or in Question Time to inform the House of what he is going to do to address the situation. So far we have heard nothing. I raise this because a representative from the Seafood Council approached me and said: ‘Could you work with government to make ensure that a solution is found to ameliorate the problem? Could you please work with government?’. I am happy to do that and I gave an undertaking accordingly.
However, I sit on this side of the House as Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, and there has not been one utterance in this House by the minister in six hours of opportunity, let alone notices of any legislation coming on or walking around the Chamber to inform me of what he might be doing, unlike some other ministers in this House who are of the view that keeping members opposite informed is a good idea.
This minister is certainly lacking in communication and, it would seem by the lack of communication, in action. There is a lot hanging on this: a lot of money; livelihoods; jobs; investment; the future of the Territory’s barramundi fishery; and indeed, the future of recreational fishing around our coastlines. I am sure all members will be aware of the determination that has been made by the Court of Appeal. If you are not aware and have any interest in either commercial or recreational fishing, you should make yourself aware of what that ruling was and the detriment to those sectors arising from it.
The second issue I would like to raise is the issue of bats at Mataranka. Bats are a recurring problem not only in Mataranka, but also Katherine. The issue of bats in Mataranka is a serious issue. Flying foxes, in particular, are a problem at the Mataranka thermal pools. A letter has been written to the member for Johnson, who is now the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, requesting some assistance with the bat problem at Mataranka. The letter contains all sorts of information: information about past events of this nature; what action was taken; action by the previous government; assistance that was given, albeit that it has never been quite 100% successful.
They are asking for assistance to ameliorate the bat problem. Bats roost over the thermal pools because the pools provide a warm habitat. They go through their breeding and birthing events. They are very territorial animals, but if you can move them on before they become fully established, they will find another home to have their offspring.
The letter appeals to the new minister to do something to move these animals on. Flying foxes are a protected species, as we all know. They ask that if assistance methods are not available through the Parks and Wildlife Commission or the government, if monies are not forthcoming, could they take some action themselves?
They point out in the letter because these are a protected species within a park and that Parks and Wildlife, who have been informed, would have to take action if anyone breached the law, but they are reaching a desperate situation. It is a letter of appeal, and I hope the minister will do something about it. The thermal pools are critical to the economy of Mataranka, which is a small place. In the peak tourism season, Mataranka’s population swells from something like 400 permanent residents to over 2000 people every night.
They are attracted by the thermal pools, not only the Mataranka thermal pools but Bitter Springs, which I had the honour of opening as Parks and Wildlife minister, and developing, to alleviate some of the pressure on Mataranka thermal pools. The big attraction is the Roper and the thermal pools and to have this infestation of bats, whilst you might think is not such a big drama, it certainly is if they colonise the place and remain for a lengthy period.
As we all know, the word amongst tourists goes up and down the track very quickly and if the word goes down that you should not stop at Mataranka because of the bat problem and all of the ancillary problems that arise from it - not only smell, but being deposited upon from great heights and what have you – obviously, the money that flows to Mataranka through tourism is very much diminished and has a direct effect on jobs and business in that area.
The minister has the letter from the Mataranka Community Government Council. It has been copied to me and to the Chief Minister. If he has time, he should visit the people of Mataranka and see what these areas mean to them and have a look at the bat problem. To start with, it is an environment because they strip the trees, but on the tourism side of things and the current promotional activities going on under the auspices of the Chief Minister as Tourism minister to promote tourism in the Northern Territory, we need to do something to assist the community of Mataranka.
I will finish on the issue by reading the last line of a very lengthy, interesting and detailed letter by the Community Government Council to the Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Dr Chris Burns. This is a desperate plea, as you would imagine, but the last sentence is:
- If we do not receive your support to solve this problem, we fear the bats will do to you from a great height
what they are currently doing to us here in Mataranka.
Have you ever heard a better appeal than that? Minister, I join with Mataranka Community Government Council to appeal to you to take time out to go down there have a look at these important tourism assets that swell the population of Mataranka in the peak season from 400 to 2000 visitors per night, huge amounts into the economy, the assets being the thermal pools and everything that surrounds them, and see what you can do, what pressure you can bring to bear to help them solve this ongoing problem. Do not think it is a one-off, it is a problem that needs to be dealt with from time to time as these bats claim the habitat of the thermal pools as their own. By visiting Mataranka, you will realise that something needs to be done and allocate resources to assist ahead of the coming tourism season.
Ministers for both Parks and Wildlife and Fisheries, on those two issues, over to you.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise to adjourn on a very special individual in my electorate. On Australia Day this year, the AO was awarded to Mr Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek.
I would like to thank Murray Garde who put together these words for me. Lofty was born in 1926 at Kukulumurr in Wurrubambulu clan estate. Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek has finally settled back on his own country on the upper Liverpool River on the Arnhem Land plateau. Given the name Lofty because of his height, Lofty Bardayal is, however, not just lofty in physical stature. His life is an extraordinary tale of experience in both the realms of traditional Aboriginal culture in Arnhem Land as well as a great diversity of experiences working together with non-Aboriginal people from all walks of life. No one has written a popular biography of Bardayal such that he might become known as a popular folk hero in Kakadu Man mould. Perhaps someone should. It would be the tale of an extraordinary life.
Lofty is a well known figure throughout western and central Arnhem Land. He has spent much of his life travelling across the traditional walking tracks of western and southern Arnhem Land, hunting, participating in ceremonies, trading traditional commodities and maintaining his extended kin network. In addition to this, he worked in the tin mining industry as a young man, and gave otherwise unrecognised service in the Katherine region with the military during WWII.
Such extensive travel has been the basis for Bardayal’s exceptional knowledge about places: the land, ownership status, physical peculiarities, available resources and religious significance, as well as its history that was passed on by previous generations. This expansive nature of his knowledge of sites across western Arnhem Land is truly awe-inspiring. In his senior years, he has worked as a consultant to anthropologists, art historians, botanists and a diverse group of other researchers from both the social and natural sciences. He is also a regular speaker at regional land management conferences.
He has been extremely generous with his knowledge, such that he has taken on an important role as teacher to both non-Aboriginal people and younger generations of Aboriginal kin. He is referred to by other Aboriginal people, young and old, as the most knowledgeable person about land and Aboriginal interaction with it. We can estimate that this knowledge covers a region greater than some 10 000 km. He has walked throughout the region, between Maningrida in the east, Darwin in the west, and Katherine and Maranboy in the south. He speaks in Kundjeihmi, a Kunwinjku dialect, Dalabon, Jawoyn, Kriol and English.
Lofty is one of the region’s most important and loved artists. His works are held by most major state cultural institutions in Australia and overseas. He remains a prolific painter of traditional themes for the Arnhem Land plateau. He is also known as the last Aboriginal artist to have painted works on the walls of rock shelters in western Arnhem Land. His knowledge of the contemporary significance of rock art in the region is unparalleled and represents a link with the past and a particular way of life that has now changed forever. Such knowledge should be regarded as a national treasure. Again, his generosity and sharing this knowledge is worthy of greater recognition.
He has always had a positive attitude in the face of often overwhelming social problems that confront Aboriginal people in Arnhem Land. He has encouraged his family to combine the best from both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures, and is presently engaged in the creation of a new community on his own country where Balanda - as in white - and Bininj, Aboriginal, can come together to learn about the depth of traditional indigenous knowledge as it relates to the relationship between people and place on the Arnhem Land plateau. For the past 12 months and throughout this year’s Wet Season, his camp of tents, tarpaulins and bough shelters has attracted young people from throughout the region, eager to tap into an alternative to the dysfunction of larger urban communities. In doing so, the community is exploring the relevance of traditional knowledge in a modern world.
Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek, artist, traditional professor, ceremonial practitioner, song man, teacher and community leader, deserves the greater recognition for his services to Aboriginal culture, the arts and both social and natural sciences. He is, without doubt, a living national treasure and has now been recognised as such by this nation through his award of Officer in the Order of Australia Medal.
I would like to record my thanks to Murray Garde who provided a lot of the information when I nominated Lofty. I also thank Peter Cooke from the Northern Land Council, Liam Maher from Jabiluka Association, Bob Collins and Chips Mackinolty.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, tonight I put paid to some misinformation that has circulated. Once again, we heard it from the Minister for Justice today. The Minister for Justice seems to be under some impression that I am somehow sneaking around this House and the media peddling some grave message. I will quote the minister from his answer in Question Time today while he was filibustering his way through his answer. The quote is:
- Let us bring on a bit of a campaign to let people out there know what you are up to, old sport, because they would
be very interested to hear some of the positions you are taking in this House and in Alice Springs through the media.
That implies that I am doing something furtively. How one could furtively do anything in this House or in the media is a mystery.
He is also putting about the absolute misinformation, and I quote him, that I am:
… busy trying to compulsorily acquire land.
Nothing could be further form the truth. I am merely seeking to do exactly what this government is seeking to do in acquiring certain title rights. I do not mind having the argument in my own electorate as well as the community at large, but let us stick to the facts of the issue. The first fact is that there is no attempt to acquire land, none whatsoever.
What I am concerned about is how what is happening in Alice Springs is causing great grief. I sent a letter to Honourable Chris Burns MLA, Minister for Lands and Planing, Parliament House, Mitchell Street, Darwin, on 3 February this year, outlining what I am concerned about. I will read it into Hansard:
Sir,
I am taking this moment to write a letter to you regarding the now absurd and totally out-of-hand situation
surrounding residential land in Alice Springs.
As the Real Estate Institute correctly described the situation, it is now in a crisis. There is now not enough vacant
land to assert an accurate average price. Of the handful of blocks that are available, they are on the market in the
orders of $157 000, $225 000, $250 000 and there is little that is cheaper.
The town has no building industry left and builders and associated trades have left the town. Vacancy rates have climbed
to 7%. The population has shrunk for two consecutive years. It will only take a loss of investor confidence caused
by something as simple as an interest rate hike or fears of a more pronounced economic downturn to spark a sudden
selling rush of investment properties in Alice Springs.
The cause of this problem is the refusal by the government to acquire native title so that land can be released at a slow
and steady pace dictated by the market. The government’s love affair with the symbolism of the negotiated outcome has
seen no land released in recent years.
This has meant that prices have steadily crept upwards, builders have had no work and homes have slipped out of the
reach of Territorians. People have begun to leave and the investment market has continued to purchase
properties. Needless to say, this is not sustainable.
Soon the investment market will realise that people are leaving and there is a real risk that they, too, will try to leave.
If they do, there is a real chance of a panic sale of investment properties in Alice Springs.
People who have purchased recently will wake up one morning after the housing market has collapsed and find that
their asset is worth much less than their debt as this town haemorrhages value. The damage will take years, if not
decades, to recover.
The government’s response has been to announce a $300 000 Home Owners Loan package. This is problematic for
several reasons. Firstly, there are now deals collapsing as purchasers are waiting for cheap money to hit the
marketplace. The lag between announcement and delivery of the package is ensuring this. Secondly, it will
temporarily further inflate land prices in the town as people push themselves to the brink of their manageable
limits, thus increasing the size of the bubble in people’s debt. Thirdly, it begins to look like a panic response to
a situation that is becoming more precarious with every passing day.
The government must now acquire native title and compensate the title owners on just terms. It must do so now for the
good of all people who live in Alice Springs. They must begin to release blocks in a managed way so that the market
can absorb them and development can go ahead profitably for developers.
The current plan to release 45 blocks in two stages will mean that any developer for reasons of economy of scale will
still have to charge an enormous amount for the blocks.
This is an attempt to call on government to protect the future of this town which is now in very real danger. It is now too
late to prevent a plateau in property prices for some years if land is released now. This is the best case scenario.
In truth, the problem is acute and it needs a deft touch to prevent the whole artifice from collapse.
The issue of the native title arrangement in Alice Springs is one that causes me great concern not only because Alice Springs residents miss out, but people forget that there are many Aboriginal people who have to pay rent in Alice Springs. Those rents are currently inflated. There are many Aboriginal people who want to buy their own property in Alice Springs and they, too, are caught up in this.
I am not trying to paint this in any other way than to say the rights we are talking about are the rights over 85 blocks of land, if memory serves me correctly. I would like to see a negotiated outcome. I have always said that it would be my preferred outcome, but the government has wedded and locked itself into a position where the negotiation process has not produced an outcome.
It has been acknowledged by the traditional owners of Alice Springs for a very long time that non-Aboriginal people are living there. They are part of the community; they are part of the environment. If you accept that acknowledgement, needless to say there also needs to be an acknowledgement that we have to share that environment. The outcome I am after, which is the amelioration of the effect of native title over those blocks, is exactly what the government is after. I am not after acquiring land; I have not said that once. That accusation has been placed in my mouth, and I want to have the discussion opening and honestly with the government, but it has to be done in circumstances where the hysteria of race politics is removed from it.
The government, when in opposition, used to accuse the CLP of race politics and now, by saying that I am trying to compulsory acquire land, I accuse the government of the same thing. We can allow this to deteriorate into a nah-na-nah-na-nah type argument as to who called whom what first, or we can have the debate on the issue: there is a land squeeze that is causing people to leave and that is evidence by the decline in population.
I love Alice Springs and I want to continue living there. I want to be able live there in an environment in which people can afford to buy their homes or pay their rents. It is not such an outrageous argument to mount.
I am aware that the government has tried very hard for a negotiated outcome. I congratulate the government for their efforts, but I ask the government to consider what was done with the Larakia people in Darwin, although a court had not decided in that case that there was native title in existence, that was yet to be established, but they went through the negotiation process and a good outcome was achieved, one much lauded by this government because, ultimately, it was this government that signed up to those arrangements. I would like to see the same outcome in Alice Springs. In that instance, with the outcome for the Larakia people, the two processes ran parallel with each other. The acquisition ran parallel with negotiations. It gave the government a certain amount of leverage, which is the way that negotiations work.
To allow this situation to continue is very problematic. I am happy to have the debate, but let’s start talking realistically. Let’s not start putting the fib out there that I am talking about acquiring land. I am not, and the government full well knows that. The minister full well knows that. To suggest otherwise is misleading and would have the effect of engendering fear in the Territory community.
I am certain, knowing the Justice minister as I do, and indeed knowing the Lands and Planning minister as I do, that neither gentleman would consider misinformation a useful or constructive way to deal with these issues. I appeal to their good and common sense to have the debate openly and honestly.
Mr STIRLING (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, the Nhulunbuy region is saddened by the passing of Dhimurru’s Senior Cultural Advisor on 31 January this year. He was a founding force behind the establishment of Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation. He has been the key person throughout its 11 years as a management organisation for land and sea in the Miwatj region.
Among his many achievements was a declaration of the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area covering 92 000 hectares on the Gove Peninsula. Many successful programs were undertaken, and these achievements were recognised when Dhimurru won the 2002 Landcare Award and the 2001 Banksia Award. Mr Munungiritj was a former Chairperson of the local Dhanbul Council at Yirrkala and an active community person promoting a strong cultural awareness both among Ngataki and Yolngu. His personal warmth, dedication and generous nature made him an exceptionally effective advocate for his people and he was widely known and respected within Australia and the international arena.
My sincere condolences are extended to Raymattja and family and to the Yirrkala community for the loss of a loved one, a respected leader and friend to us all. It was indeed a privilege to know him.
The resignation of Alcan Site Manager Doug Grimmond will be a huge loss to Nhulunbuy. Doug has been site manager since 2001, having joined the Gove operation as a process engineer in 1989. As site manager, Doug has been able to increase production by 7.7%, improve safety and he successfully managed the Gove operation’s integration into the Alcan Group. Doug was considered a home-grown product with a genuine feel for the community and an intimate knowledge of its challenges.
Doug has been actively involved in community life, especially in the sporting arena, and will particularly be remembered for his involvement in the Top Endurance Event, which raised $166 000 to equip a rescue helicopter for the region. My best wishes to Doug, Kerris and the family as they venture to a new phase of their lives in Melbourne. Thank you for your valuable contribution to the work force and the Nhulunbuy community.
YNOTS again this year, under the chairmanship of Doug Grimmond, Coordinator Craig Bonney and trainers Michael Marawili and Richard Sagigi, have successfully trained 15 graduates with nationally recognised training certificates, 12 of them already in full-time employment. YNOTS started as a vision to provide job-ready skills to indigenous people and since its establishment, 57 trainees have successfully completed the course, with the majority gaining full-time employment.
Great news last week as Alcan’s highest corporate recognition was conferred on four of our YNOTS employees for their exceptional contributions to the workplace and community. The second annual Nathanael V Davis Award presentation ceremony was held in Phoenix, Arizona on February 12 where Klaus Helms, Craig Bonney, Michael Marawili and Richard Sagigi, all from Nhulunbuy, received their awards. Congratulations to YNOTS, Alcan and YBE to their commitment to the YNOTS program, enabling graduates to be trained, gain employment and provide a gateway by offering vocational training to our indigenous people.
Education is important, no matter how remote the location. When I visited Doindji late last year in the most remote corner of the electorate, I was delighted to be part of the end of the year celebrations at the school. Twenty-four students attend this school and, with the support of Shepherdson College at Galiwinku, we will look forward to greater education outcomes for these delightful children who now have the confidence and enthusiasm to learn and be educated in their own community. The school consists of just one classroom and a storeroom in which the visiting teacher from Galiwinku overnights. Because of the number of students attending and the shortage of accommodation, I am pleased to advise the government will be assisting the community with an extension to the school building and accommodation suitable for visiting teachers during the school week.
The community has struggled for a number of years to have infrastructure and normal services delivered, and it is great news that Mathakal Resource Centre at Galiwinku is in the process of taking over responsibility to administer these services to them. My thanks to Roger, Oscar and Joe at Mathakal for their commitment and support to Doindji.
Nhulunbuy and Laynhapuy Homelands were amongst the major winners in the 2003 Tidy Towns competition. They featured strongly in the awards as follows: Outstanding Remote Community Enterprise - Laynhapuy Aviation; Best Community Environment Project – Nhulunbuy; Best Homeland Winner – Gangan; Citizen of the Year – Gawarrin Gumana; Best Homelands Store – Gangan; Living Treasures Award – Galuma Wirrpanda; Lifetime Achievement - Gawarrin Gumana. My congratulations to all recipients of these awards, and in particular I must mention the old man from Gangan. Gawarrin demonstrates the strength of leadership to his people in many ways, and the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the importance of his commitment and passion for his land and people.
Phoebe Ison and Callen Goding are two relieved and happy students from Nhulunbuy High School’s 2003 graduating class. Both students were the recipients of multiple awards at the end of the year Presentation Night. Phoebe and Callen achieved excellent results in the 2003 NT Certificate of Education, enabling them to pursue their chosen tertiary studies at Queensland University. Phoebe will study biomedicine and Callen will study Bachelor of Law combined with a Bachelor of Commerce. Phoebe and Callen are long-time residents of Nhulunbuy, growing up in the town. They have completed most of their schooling at the primary and high schools. In discussing their results, both Phoebe and Callen paid tribute to the dedication of the teachers at the high school and their family support.
Nhulunbuy has finally welcomed a Parks and Wildlife ranger to the region. After a long absence, Mr Phil Wise will be working with indigenous rangers, fostering a partnership to continue land and sea management programs contained in the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area Management Plan. Phil will bring a strong commitment to assisting the Yolngu in their management of the land and sea as he has been with the Parks and Wildlife service in various locations for a number of years. It is a significant landmark for Yolngu and the Northern Territory government, both of whom are committed to reinforcing land management at community level. Partnerships with the traditional owners will ensure the exchange and sharing of skills from both traditional and scientific backgrounds.
An alcohol-related incident in Nhulunbuy recently resulted in a number of people being hospitalised. This has again highlighted the urgency for the substance abuse special care centre initiative to become a reality. The centre is designed to assist in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of people suffering substance abuse in the region. Culturally appropriate treatment and rehabilitative measures will be an integral part of this proposal for Yolngu people. The centre is an initiative of a broad base of community organisations established to address a range of social issues confronting the region. It is expected that the training will commence shortly for staff to be employed at the centre, and construction of the facility will begin as soon as the Dry Season arrives.
Harmony Djamanirri Mala is represented by Alcan, ATSIC/ATSIS, NT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andilyakwa Land Council, Rirratjingu, Nhulunbuy Corporation, Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation, Northern Land Council, Gumatj Association, community representatives, Yirrkala Dhanbul Community Association and the Territory government. That is not a bad list when you look at the commitment across that range of organisations, all with the goal of bringing solid rehabilitation to this.
I would like to express my appreciation to all those representatives who formed the partnership and worked through the issues confronting our region relating to substance abuse. We will be consolidating it with the development of the substance abuse and special care centre.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I rise to make a few comments about the IHANT program, which, as you know, provides housing for bush communities.
Funding for the IHANT program comes from a pool of three sources: ATSIC, the federal government pursuant to the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, and the Northern Territory Treasury. The money is pooled and the regional ATSIC Board then determines the priorities of houses that should be built in the communities under their jurisdiction. A determination is made by the ATSIC regional committee as to how many houses go to which community. This program has worked well in the past and, when I was Minister for Housing in 2001, I commenced a review of the program so that we could get housing into the communities under the control of the people themselves.
One of the initiatives I introduced was that all new housing projects in the communities would include an element of training for residents living in that community. This would ensure some skills transfer between the builders of these homes and indigenous people living in the communities who are prepared to work with them to get some training.
Over the last 12 months, things have gone a little astray. To build a house in a community now costs an exorbitant amount, well above what you would expect, even with the relativities between building a house in the bush and an urban area. There are various estimates of about $40 000 extra per home. If you think about that, if a house in the bush costs about $200 000 to build and we are paying $240 000 for the house then, for every four or five houses built, you have a sixth house missing. It is a real pity that so much money is being spent trying to achieve an outcome that appears, on the surface, not to be materialising.
Personally, I would prefer to see more houses being built so that people in bush communities have the housing that they deserve. They have requested it and they are being denied the opportunity to get into a home. We all talk about the density of housing in our bush communities and to have fewer houses built with the same amount of money is a backward step.
There was an article in the Alice Springs News of 11 February 2004, which went into great detail. I will read some of the paragraphs from the newspaper. Rather than paraphrasing it, I will read from the article on page three of the paper. The headline on the article is:
- Conventions tumble as government aims to build a future in the bush.
That is fine; conventions are there to be changed if you can get a better outcome of this. However, the text of the article does not seem to bear that out. Again, the ideal was to ...
A point of order! It is unusual for an advisor to be walking up to Madam Acting Deputy Speaker. It is most unusual.
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, if you must know, I called the advisor to me because I need to be excused from the Chair for a moment.
Dr LIM: Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I take your rationale, but ...
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have the ‘flu and I need to go and attend to it.
Dr LIM: I take the explanation of your rationale, but there is a call button for you to call the attendant.
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you.
Dr LIM: That is what the call button is for. Anyway, I will come back to what I am talking about.
The article deals with what we are trying to do about having young Aboriginal people in remote communities learn a skill, particularly in the construction industry. I quote from the newspaper:
- But the results of the scheme (Alice Springs News November 19, 2003) won’t be known for a few years and there is
disquiet in private enterprise.
So there are concerns being voiced and those concerns have been voiced quite publicly, even though the people who mentioned the problems are not prepared to be named in the newspaper article. They have written to authorities. I know they have take up the issue with Tangentyere Council. I have received a letter from one of the private enterprise people in Alice Springs drawing my attention to the issue.
Well, acting acting unofficial - or are you acting official, Madam Speaker?
Madam ACTING DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am official, thank you, member for Greatorex. If would continue with your remarks.
Dr LIM: Madam Acting Deputy Speaker, I further quote from the newspaper:
- A fundamental question remains. The task of training apprentices normally falls on private enterprise operating
in a variety of trades with some financial help from the federal government and school style learning for a few weeks
a year. Why, then, is there a need for a separate program for Aborigines with all the attendant expensive bureaucracy
and the ‘apartheid’ connotations attached to such schemes?
There is another question raised. We have builders out there. They are within the tender, within the contract compelled to provide skills transfer training for indigenous people who are working with them to help build homes for IHANT. We have now started a new program that is questionable. I quote again from the newspaper:
- Now Mr Ah Kit is abolishing the tender process with respect to a big slice (more than half) of the current IHANT program
in the southern region, giving the work to Aboriginal owned and Alice-based Tangentyere Constructions. In
addition, Tangentyere has been put in charge of the training, also a task for which normally tenders would be called.
There is another issue: money has been hived aside, given to an organisation without a tender process. Things are becoming cloudy. I quote again:
- Tangentyere is not saying how much its contract is worth. The industry guess is under $1m a year. So what was formerly
a transparent process based on public tenders is now shrouded in quite a bit of secrecy.
The article goes on, and I quote again:
- Once more, 14 houses are being built at a very slow pace: two a year on seven communities.
We talked about trying to get houses in the bush so that people do not have to live in crowded conditions in homes that would house 10, 15, 20 people. We are trying to get more houses out there so that they can have a reasonable standard of living.
The article concluded:
- The wisdom of this is doubtful. What is the point of training builders in a way that fails to make them competitive with
others in the industry? As well, the scheme adds some $40 000 to the cost of dwellings and they take much longer to
build. This flies in the face of the dramatic need for more housing in Aboriginal communities.
Now I come to the letter that was written to me early this month. I have deleted the name of the company, but the individual wrote to me as member for Greatorex, and I quote from the letter. So and so Pty Ltd…
- … would like to express its concern on the government training houses. On recent visits to communities, the training
houses seem to be not moving along as a contract should and they are losing some of the Aboriginal trainees that are
trying to learn the building trade.
From discussions with community members, the young Aboriginal trainees seem to be standing around for months on
end while waiting for some progress to happen with these houses.
My concerns are that the Aboriginal trainees are not getting a fair go from Tangentyere Constructions.
He said his company, So and So Pty Ltd …
- … as a building organisation would like to offer our services if needed for the completion of these houses and to save
the Aboriginal trainees that have already been working on the construction of these houses.
So and so company Pty Ltd…
- … would like to see Aboriginal trainees succeed in the building trade.
Yours faithfully …
This company is genuine. I know this man has worked very hard and I have spoken to him personally on a couple of occasions. He has tried very hard to maintain a viable business in town and is prepared to provide training in a way that is meaningful and will ensure the kids who go in to the training program will emerge with an appropriate qualification in the building trade.
The minister has to get his act together and pay particular attention to what is happening in IHANT. While he is understandably in the hands of the IHANT regional council, the Northern Territory taxpayer, through the minister, has contributed significantly to this program and should therefore be entitled to know what is happening to the money that the taxpayer has contributed.
If we leave this go the way it is going at the moment, there will be no outcomes. People are not going to be trained, which is the intention of the program in the first instance. We are going to have fewer houses because the houses are not being completed and they are way over what they should normally cost. Looking at the prices we are quoting here, some $40 000 above what it would normally be, we are looking at something in the order of 20-25% more per house. That is a huge premium to pay for building houses in the bush and the money can be better spent.
I look forward to the minister responding to this. If he could sometime over the next day or so, to give him time to prepare, consider the facts of the situation and then I can report back to my constituent as to what the government intends to do about this seemingly unfair system.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise this evening to speak on the opening of a new school in my electorate, the Milkwood Steiner School. The official opening was held on Friday 30 January 2004 at the school’s new premises in the Nightcliff Scout Hall at the corner of Pandanus and Bauhinia Streets in Nightcliff.
The opening of the school is the culmination of years of effort by a dedicated group that make up the Darwin Steiner School Association. Creating a school is not an easy thing to do, and it is a credit to members of the association and a product of their persistence that has seen this project come to fruition.
Steiner education is based around the philosophy and teachings of Rudolf Steiner. In the school’s Overview of Steiner Education, Rudolf Steiner said in the stated goals of schooling:
- Our highest endeavour must be to develop individuals who are able out of their own initiative to impart purpose
and direction in their lives.
Steiner educators approach teaching with each child’s own development in mind. There is a free use of art, craft, music and language in conjunction with teaching of academics. The child’s development determines the timing for the teaching of the academic stream.
The Milkwood School started the year with 26 students ranging from four to eight years old. They have two teachers, Ms Diane Johnston who teaches kindergarten and transition children, and Ms Wendy Watt, who teaches the grades 1/2/3 class. The parents of students also contribute much of their time to assist with classes.
Parents and volunteers have painted the building throughout, built furniture, fences, sandpits and other playground equipment, and generally worked very hard to get the building ready on time. All this was done on very short notice in a mere few weeks with a $16 000 grant from the Northern Territory government.
Starting a school requires many people being involved over a very long period of time, and I offer my congratulations particularly to the hard-working committee members including the current Chair of the School Council, Ms Elizabeth White who has a long history in education, particularly working in remote communities, Mrs Karen Weeramanthri, a former Chair of the School, Ms Fiona Ferguson and past Chair of the School, Ms Olga Bruvel, who has moved interstate and, unfortunately, was unable to be at the opening of the school.
The function itself was a very friendly family affair, and it was my pleasure to join with the Lord Mayor of Darwin in planting a milkwood tree in the grounds of the school. It was also a pleasure that it was a generational function with a number of grandparents present at the ceremony, so it was good to see parent Dimitri Andropov there, together with his parents Joan and Simon Andropov. Grandparents play such a vital role in the lives of children. It was also great to see so many representatives from other schools in the area: the Principal of the Essington School, Mr David Cannon; the Assistant Principal of the Nightcliff Primary School, Ms Jill Finch; and Teacher-in-Charge of the Nightcliff Preschool, Ms Tara Metcalfe. It was my pleasure to be present at the opening and I look forward to hearing of the successes of the school in the future.
On 5 February this year, a small but important ceremony happened in the Nightcliff electorate. The contract for the undergrounding power project was signed. The Hon Dr Chris Burns, Minister for Essential Services, signed the contract with Nilsen Electric (NT) Pty Ltd, the managing contractor for the first three years of the project, which is a joint venture between PowerWater and the Northern Territory government. Nilsen have formed a joint venture with Savant Pty Ltd and Townes Chappell Mudgway called NST, and they will be responsible for the detailed planning and design through to construction. NST were also the contractors that constructed the trial of the undergrounding power along Bougainvillea Street and Grevillea Circuit.
The really good news about this project is that 90% of the work will be undertaken by local contractors, which of course means many jobs for local people. This first stage is worth about $9m over three years. Registration for pre-qualification for subcontractors has closed and registrants are being assessed. Preliminary survey work is under way and the first groundworks will start when the weather clears, hopefully during April. The first streets to have their power undergrounded will include the area bounded by Frangipani and Hibiscus Streets through to Cunjevoi Crescent and across to Nightcliff Road, down to Progress Drive. This area should be completed this Dry Season.
The project is an election commitment and one that should dramatically improve the reliability of the power supply to the citizens of Nightcliff and Rapid Creek. The spin-off benefits to this project include improvements to the footpath network, undergrounding telephone and cable services, improved water reticulation where required, enhanced street lighting and a dramatic improvement to the aesthetics of our streetscapes.
Mr Ken Fraser and Ms Wendy Jefferies run the Undergrounding Power Project office in the Nightcliff Shopping Centre, across Pavonia Way from my electorate office. They are the public face of the project and they are listening to residents and generally fielding their inquiries. They do a fantastic job there and I thank them for their hard work.
I am very proud that this government is fulfilling this election promise and look forward to hosting a special street party for the residents of Frangipani and Hibiscus Streets to celebrate when the first power poles come down. I will certainly be inviting the minister along to that, because I know that he will be celebrating with residents of Nightcliff.
Tonight, I pay tribute to a well-known Territorian and constituent, Mr Tony Milhinhos. Mr Milhinhos has not died I am glad to say, but often we fail to recognise the hard work and achievements of people until the person has passed on.
Tony would be well known to many members of this House as the owner of the Woolworth’s complex at Nightcliff and the Rite Price hardware shop in the same complex. Tony is a very special person whose humility, decency and hard work are evident to everyone who meets him. He frequently starts work at 6.30am and is often still at the complex 12 hours later, although I am absolutely certain he is always home by 7pm because his wife, Linda, is an excellent cook.
While he is a very wealthy man, he is frequently seen sweeping areas in the shopping complex or helping to collect shopping trolleys. As an example of the type of man Tony is, last Friday he was helping the normal cleaner with cleaning a very filthy toilet because he believes that he should be willing to do the most humble jobs if he is asking others to do so. There are not too many bosses I know who would do this.
Tony is a migrant. He was born in Portugal to a very poor family and only has four years education because that is all the public education that was available to Portuguese citizens. After that, education was entirely private. Unfortunately, his family did not have the funds to continue his education and so he started work at the age of 11. He decided that he wanted to move to Australia but, at that time, it was not easy to migrate to Australia from Portugal. So he moved to France for six months, learnt French whilst he was there working,, then migrated to Australia in 1968 and lived in Atherton, Mareeba and then Mt Isa. As happens to so many people who decide to stay in the Territory, he came for a two-week holiday and has been here ever since.
Like many successful people, he has a very close family. His wife, Linda, and his daughter, Rosemary, ably support Tony in his business endeavours. They are a very generous family. They frequently and quietly give considerable sums to many charities. Indeed, just over a year ago, they gave all their takings from Rite Price for two months to three charities.
Tony Milhinhos represents the best in business and endeavour, and Territorians are very fortunate that he chose such a long time ago to settle in Darwin. It is a pleasure to know him and his family, and I wish him continued good fortune.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Mr Deputy Speaker, tonight report on goings-on in the Johnston electorate and beyond.
On 3 February, it was my privilege, with a lot of other people, to witness the arrival of the first Ghan passenger train. It was also a pleasure to attend the Transcontinental Gala Dinner that evening and re-meet a hero of mine, Gough Whitlam, who is still a very imposing figure both physically and in his intellect. That was a great privilege. A lot might be said about Gough Whitlam, but I believe he was a great reformist Australian Prime Minister. I still hold him in the strongest personal regard.
On 5 January, I attended the NTFL vs Western Bulldogs game. That was a fantastic game and there were a lot of football fans. The weather was a little inclement, but it was a great game and everyone there really enjoyed it. I was particularly impressed by the Western Bulldogs and I meet with one of their officers who is, more or less, a community liaison officer. They are intending to do a lot of really good work in health, particularly Aboriginal health, in the Northern Territory. It is a great initiative and I commend the minister for sport for proactively negotiating with the NTFL to get the Western Bulldogs here to play a pre-season game against the NTFL and to have a home here later in the year. I am sure Northern Territorians are really going to support that. They are a great side. I have heard from a number of schools in my electorate that received visits from Western Bulldogs players about how professional they were in their interaction with the children, and what great ambassadors they are for sport.
This is a great government initiative. It is all about lifestyle, our young people and sport, which is a great part of our Territory lifestyle. This Labor government is focussed on lifestyle issues and providing people with the sort of things they love. The turn up to the Bulldogs game in the rain and, more recently, the Essendon game against Fremantle demonstrates peoples’ dedication. I have received many favourable comments about the work of the government and, in particular, the work of our great sports minister.
On 6 January, it was great to attend the Wagaman School assembly. It was the first whole assembly for the year. Their principal, Michelle Cody, does a fantastic job and is supported by Mr Gary Fry, who is the new Assistant Principal. I wish Gary great success in his new job. It was my pleasure to hand out awards to the children at Wagaman. It is a great school, with great behaviour and great education. The numbers are very strong this year, which is a testament to Michelle, the School Council and all the teachers at Wagaman Primary School.
At that first assembly, I heard about this new launch of a program called Terrific Kids, which is sponsored by the Darwin Kiwanis who do a great job in our community. Students from Transition to Year 7 are involved in the program, which focusses on character building. The children are rewarded when they display positive community spirit and good citizenship. That could be helping another child in the playground or supporting someone. There are plenty of good citizens at Wagaman School. I am glad the Kiwanis have chosen Wagaman School as one of the pilots, and I am sure that it is going to be very successful.
Also sponsoring this wonderful initiative is Dominos Pizza. I am sure Kerry and Brian Williams are known to a lot of members in the House because they run Dominos Pizza. They are very successful local business people who live in Wagaman and they have a great capacity for supporting schools, children and families in the area. I can speak from personal experience about that because all of my children, along with others throughout Darwin have worked in Dominos Pizza. Kerry and Brian provide great mentoring, great experience for young kids wanting to get out there and have a go, do some work, learn about making pizzas, learn about taking orders, learn about delivering. My eldest son, who is in the Air Force, worked there for many years. He holds Kerry and Brian in the greatest esteem as do all the other kids. They do a great job in the neighbourhood and it is wonderful for kids to have people like Kerry and Brian there to support them, to talk to them about life in general. It is a great starting point, Dominos Pizza.
On 7 February, I attended the Islamic Mosque on Vanderlin Drive for the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha, which is a very important event on the Islamic calendar. I thank my electorate officer Judy for further researching this because I was very interested in this festival, the festival of sacrifice. It immediately follows a Day of Arafat in the Muslim calendar. This festival is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice everything for God, including the life of his son Ishmael. Because God spared Ishmael, substituting a sheep in his stead, Muslims commemorate this occasion by slaughtering an animal and distributing its meat among family, friends and the needy as a special act of charity for the occasion. I joined with other members in that celebration at the mosque.
Present, amongst many others at that celebration, was the President of the Islamic Society, Dr Mohammad Jillur Rahman, Vice-President Anwar Lamaya, Iman Adama Konda, Kaleem Khan, Dr Hassan Bajhau, Secretary Ander Sunderland and founding member Mr Mohammad Huq. They are a great group that is looking for support from government. They do a great job in our community. There have been some significant extensions at the mosque. For this occasion, there was wonderful food and everyone really enjoyed themselves. I really enjoy the hospitality that the Muslim community extends to us all.
On 10 February I attended the Borella Park Residents meeting and in attendance were Trevor Edwards who does a great job as chairman, Jane Burford who is the secretary, Marcia Russell who works for Crime Prevention NT, Dave Perry who works for Darwin City Council, Brett Shearer also from Darwin City Council, Craig Willcox and Hilda Willcox. The issue at which this group is particularly looking is concerns about pending changes to the park. All residents of Borella Circuit were advised of the potential changes and invited to contribute.
This group arose out of concerns in the neighbourhood about itinerancy and antisocial behaviour in and around the park. The group has done a fantastic job in forming the group, doing a safety audit of the park, making application to government for funding to address some of the issues around that park, and they are doing a great job.
Part of what is being developed is improved lighting for the park. The residents were provided with what is known as a Lux Plan of the proposed lighting placement, which shows how far the light will extend, the point of shadow and all the technical details. It was agreed that two lights be placed along the path within the park and that there will be minimal dark spots and little or no intrusion into neighbouring houses. The lighting will extend approximately 25 m from the lamp post and cost approximately $7000. The committee has a grant from Crime Prevention NT for $15 000, the balance of which will be used to paint current play equipment and furniture, additional tables and chairs may be purchased, tree replacement as well as providing disability access and maybe even the installation of a bubbler, funds permitting. These improvements all go towards crime prevention through environmental design.
Already it has been reported by residents that people are using the park more and that there has been a decrease in the sort of behaviour I mentioned before. I compliment the Borella Park Residents group and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for the great initiatives of this government and Crime Prevention NT in reducing crime. It is already showing up in the statistics; it is showing up on the ground in places like Borella Park. This is a government that is addressing these issues that have been outstanding for many years and I am proud to be part of it.
On 11 February, I attended the Jingili School Council meeting. That is a great group. Jingili School is a great school. In attendance were Jill Sommerville, the Council Chairperson, Julie Cadd from the kindergarten, Randall Cook, who is Principal, Ursula Sulatycki-Holloway, Michael Caldwell and Julie Donald.
Over the Christmas break, Jingili Primary School was able to use government funding to expand their car park to double its original size. This included an entrance and exit so that parents can now drop off their children and drive straight through without having to reverse and do U-turns. Here is a safety initiative that is helping parents in the very real task of dropping off and picking up their kids, crowded school, potential for accidents. We are a safety conscious government; we are supporting schools like Jingili to carry out these works.
The school council also approved some major renovations to occur at the same time. These included the early childhood classrooms and the library being painted with a fantastic colour scheme. The library has now been transformed to include a mini-computer lab that incudes 15 new networked computers. This coincides with a new approach to collaborative library information technology run in cooperation with classroom activities.
The school looks fantastic and has a new vibrancy for students, teachers and parents. It was my privilege to go on a tour with the school council. What was the NT School of Music has been converted into great classrooms. The teachers are very happy. There is a lot of good work there, the school has expanded. All those new classrooms have been painted, as have other areas in the school and there is a great feeling in the school. We as a government are supporting that school and the school appreciates our efforts, particularly the new allocation that has been announced in respect of furniture for schools.
On 13 February, it was my wonderful pleasure to attend a function at the Nightcliff ALP Branch, An Evening with Carmen Lawrence. She spoke forcefully and strongly, and was ably hosted by our member for Nightcliff. There was a great crowd there, a great spirit.
Dr Lawrence, who has enormous experience in education, delivered a fantastic address, reaffirmed Labor values about commitment to education, about equity, about the private system, the public system, and, most importantly, universities, which I believe have been sabotaged particularly by the Howard government in recent times. We were very happy to hear the words of Carmen Lawrence, a great campaigner for the rights of individuals and someone who appreciates education.
I am proud to be a member of the Australian Labor Party in the Northern Territory. It makes my heart swell. I thank the member for Nightcliff for the invitation.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016