2001-10-17
Madam Speaker Braham took the Chair at 10 am.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to advise you of the presence in the gallery of students from Casuarina Street Primary School, Katherine, accompanied by Ms Sheryl Ann Courtney. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to our visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I also advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of students from the Oenpelli Area School accompanied by Ms Irene Moran. On behalf of honourable members, I also extend a warm welcome to these visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr REED (Katherine)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I present a petition not conforming with Standing Orders from 3635 petitioners relating to the introduction of container deposit legislation in the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 6332 petitioners praying that Darwin Harbour be declared a national conservation park; that no further development occur on the Middle Arm Peninsula; that a risk assessment to the people of Darwin of the gas and petrochemical development be undertaken; and that other options for the siting of gas and petrochemical development be investigated.
The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of Standing orders.
Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
Wickham Point) until a total and independent assessment of cumulative
affects of such developments is completed;
3. a risk assessment of the gas and petrochemical developments to the people
of Darwin and surrounding districts be undertaken as a matter of
urgency; and
4. the other options for the siting of the gas and petrochemical developments,
eg Gunn Point Industrial Precinct, the Koolpinyah area, be thoroughly
investigated with full community participation;
Mr BURKE (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I give notice of an amendment to a motion foreshadowed yesterday for debate today, because - and if I could give some explanation - I intend to move this motion in full cooperation with the Chief Minister. It is a motion that I understand will undoubtedly have the full support of the parliament. It seems important to me, as I said yesterday, that one of the first actions of this Assembly is to express its strong support to the people of the United States because of the tragedy that has occurred, not only to them personally, and the leadership that they are displaying to the world coalition in dealing with international terrorism.
However, a few minutes ago, just before I came into this Chamber, in breaking news our Prime Minister announced the commitment of Australian ground forces to the conflict in Afghanistan - a significant commitment of our defence forces involving a detachment of SAS, FA18 fighters, and a naval task force, amongst other personnel.
I believe it is, again, an admirable position for us to take in this Assembly to amend that motion that is on the books, and I suggest the following amendments. But certainly, I intend to work with the government and will come up with a final motion that everyone can happily agree to.
My suggested amendments to the motion would include the following words:
are called on to defend our freedom;
acknowledges the need for them to do so to protect the values which all Territorians hold dear;
members of the Australian Defence Force and expresses its admiration for their commitment,
professionalism, and dedication to preserving and protecting our freedom;
actions of the Prime Minister in committing Australian forces to the war against terrorism; and
our total support and commitment and the prayerful hope that all will return home unharmed.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr BURKE: That is the content of the full motion, Madam Speaker. As I said, I am sure we will finalise those words today and debate the motion.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, as I told the House yesterday, I visited Katherine last week to inspect progress on the AustralAsia Railway. At the Austrack sleeper factory I received an update on track-laying, jobs and subcontracting arrangements. It is an exciting time to be Chief Minister in the Territory, presiding over such a successful and significant project. As I did yesterday, I recognise the enormous commitment to the railway of the previous government and the hard-working railway team under Paul Tyrrell. The statistics are impressive: a $1.3bn project; nearly 2 million sleepers; 144 000 tonnes of rail and a 1.6 km train when the project is completed in 2004.
The railway corridor is alive with earthmoving equipment, a sleeper factory nearly completed, local tradespeople at work, giant culverts, quarrying, and road train deliveries of bridge pilings. There are four components to the project: the construction of a new 1410 km railway between Alice Springs and Darwin; the leasing of the existing 830 km standard gauge line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs - which the Asia Pacific Transport Company is already operating; completion of Stage 2 of East Arm Port, which will provide a critical link for the railway; and the operation of the railway and intermodal container terminal at East Arm Port by FreightLink, Asia Pacific Transport’s operating arm.
It is worth recalling this railway was first proposed over 140 years ago. The railway has had many false starts, but it is certainly now on track. ADrail established its construction and procurement headquarters in Darwin after financial closure was achieved. To the end of August - and this is the really exciting part, Madam Speaker - the total value of commitments was $537m, with local value of commitments of $266m to the Northern Territory, and $268m to South Australia. That $266m represents 116 Territory companies who now have work and jobs on this railway, and that is terrific.
Mr Reed: All put in place by the CLP.
Ms MARTIN: I recognise the work of the previous administration.
ADrail maintains an Internet site with details of contracts awarded over the previous month and tenders closing the next month, along with tenders planned for the following three-month period. The Territory and South Australia Industry Search and Opportunity Offices work with ADrail procurement staff to provide advice on local industry capacity and to determine local content value, in accordance with Local Industry Aboriginal Participation Plan rules.
Construction villages have been established in Katherine and Tennant Creek, with further camps established at The Bend south of Katherine and Bluebush Bore north of Tennant Creek. Earthworks are ahead of schedule. 240 km of track has been cleared and 145 km of embankment constructed. Activity is now occurring south of Katherine and north of Tennant Creek.
The first sleeper factory is due to be commissioned at Katherine in November with the Tennant Creek factory to follow in December. The Tennant Creek quarry has produced the first run of aggregate for the sleeper factory and will commence production of ballast this month. Freightlink has been conducting industry consultation with prospective customers. Work has commenced on the construction of the railway access embankment as part of the stage 2 development to incorporate the railway.
The consortium has undertaken to provide priority employment to Territorians, followed by South Australia and then other Australians. They have also undertaken to spend 75% of the construction expenditure in the local Territory and South Australian economies. Benefits are already flowing to the regional centres of Katherine and Tennant Creek due to direct contracts and the multiplier effects. The commencement of transportation of rail, cement and machinery through the Alice Springs railhead will support the town’s role as a logistics centre for the railway.
ADrail Services, the employment arm of the principal contractor, has been established. In conjunction with the Territory Construction Association, ADrail has developed a training and employment plan, with emphasis on development of entry-level skills and upskilling of existing industry participants.
NTETA has used labour forecasts from the Territory Construction Agency as the basis for its training plan budget, and for projections for this coming year. NTETA actions include funding work-ready training in regional centres, for jobs required in support industries, like for cooks or skilled labour, drivers and light construction. NTETA has also established the Northern Territory Railway Training Network to coordinate the response to anticipated training opportunities with the railway.
The network consists of a wide range of the training industry including Centralian College; Batchelor Institute; Julalikari Training; Tangentyere Council; Waikan Employment and Training Services; Industries Services Training; the NT Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Territory University. NTETA is funding work-ready training programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the indigenous training organisations such as Julalikari in Tennant Creek and Tangentyere Council in Alice Springs.
All ADrail-sponsored Aboriginal employment and training will be coordinated through the Northern and Central Land Councils. ADrail is still in its ramp-up phase, during which period about 300 jobs have been created. As construction gets into full swing after the wet season, more jobs will become available. ADrail predict around 800 jobs will be created directly by the project, plus additional jobs with Austrak, Morris Corporation and Roche Mining. Indirectly, there will be more jobs, with contracts awarded to local firms. Many benefits are already flowing in terms of local accommodation, transport, recreation and other services. The consortium will give preference to Territorians where skills are available as part of the Local Industry and Aboriginal Participation Plan.
The railway is not only on track; it is creating jobs and prosperity for the Territory. It will change the face of transport, reduce the Territory’s isolation, foster development, and provide many opportunities for those who are prepared. To ensure we capitalise on these opportunities, the government will continue to work closely with the private sector to promote a strategic approach to the development of transport and an investment environment that encourages complementary activities. We need to plan now for the future - a future that most Territorians enthusiastically accept, is only two million sleepers away!
Madam Speaker, I look forward to making further announcements concerning the railway and how it will benefit Territorians as the project develops over the forthcoming months and years.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I rise to make this statement to the Assembly on the report provided to my government by Professor Percy Allan. As honourable members may be aware, when the Labor government first came to power, it was advised by the Treasury that there was an underlying deficit in the order of $102m in the Territory budget. This was, quite clearly, significantly greater than the $12m deficit that was included in the 2001-02 budget papers. Treasury’s advice was that the one-off asset sale of $50m in the 2001-02 budget for the sale of the Territory’s vehicle fleet obscured the deficit by $50m.
The remainder of the underlying deficit of $40m, as estimated at that time by Treasury, was associated with ongoing underfunding of key social services areas, predominantly health and education. Further, despite no mention by the previous government in the lead-up to the election, the Under Treasurer had no hesitation in describing the situation to me as ‘unsustainable’. A $90m deterioration …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I think you should listen! A $90m deterioration in the expected budget bottom line in barely three months, in the absence of any major development such as a natural disaster or policy initiatives, seemed at best careless and sloppy and at worst, positively deceitful. We concluded that the most appropriate course of action was to commission an independent expert to provide confirmation that the Treasury’s assessment of the deficit for 2001-02 was correct.
I appointed Professor Percy Allan to undertake this task. Professor Allan is a former head of the New South Wales Treasury where he worked for both Labor and Coalition governments, a man whose professional credibility is beyond reproach. Professor Allan confirmed the Treasury’s advice on the size of the underlying deficit for 2001-02. Professor Allan assessed the Territory’s underlying deficit at $107m, excluding the railway commitment, and has recommended that immediate action is required to return the budget to a more sustainable position over the medium term.
Unfortunately, the Opposition Leader refused a briefing by Professor Allan at the conclusion of his report. Professor Allan found that the Territory’s level of net debt and unfunded employee entitlements as a proportion of total revenue - and that is the standard benchmark utilised by rating agencies - was almost double the six-state average, and set to head higher. In contrast, in other states this ratio is stable or falling. The financial liabilities of net debt and unfunded employee entitlements already amount to an estimated $2.9bn as at 30 June 2001. By 2005, the Treasury had estimated they would rise by a further $364m, and be equivalent to 1.46 times total revenue.
As background, Professor Allan also examined the financial outcomes of the past four years compared with the budget estimates. His figures were adjusted to make sure there were no scope and treatment differences.
Mr Reed: Sounds like this is preparation for a land tax.
Ms MARTIN: His results were nothing - and I think the former Treasurer should listen very carefully - short of alarming. In the lead-up to the biggest investment project in the Territory’s history in the form of the railway, which necessitates $165m of off-budget government funding, the annual …
Mr Burke: Thank God you were not in 12 months ago, we would never have seen the railway.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The Leader of the Opposition, order.
Ms MARTIN: … deficit averaged $70m, peaking at $114m in the financial year just ended. Rather than accumulating budget surpluses during this period to fund the railway commitment, the former government kept the debt meter ticking over at ever faster rates. Professor Allan’s report notes that the deterioration was particularly significant after 1998-99, coinciding with the time the member for Brennan became Chief Minister. This was reinforced by the Country Liberal Party’s own disendorsed senator, Grant Tambling, who stated as recently as last week:
However, I disagree with the former Senator on his last point. I think the Territory’s prospects look a lot better with the change of government.
In 1998-99, the estimated budget deficit was $13m, with an outcome that year of $18m. However, in 1999-2000, despite a budget deficit forecast to be zero, the outcome was a deficit of $91m. In 2000-01, the budget deficit blew out from an initial estimate of $45m to an estimated $114m at the time of Professor Allan’s report. Over the past two financial years, despite budget estimates of deficits averaging around $20m, the outcomes averaged nearly $100m, or a blow-out in the bottom line averaging around $80m each year. Adding in what we now know is likely for 2001-02, the situation is even worse.
The former government did not just blow its budget once - it did it year after year. This pattern indicated a systemic problem with the budget formulation. Professor Allan found that the last four budgets incorporated unrealistically low growth forecasts for government final consumption expenditure, which represents around 60% of total budget expenditure.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the question – is this a House of debate or does the opposition have any opportunity to respond to the allegations being made by the Chief Minister? Or has this become a one-sided House where we sit and listen and the government continually talks?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. There is no debate on the ministerial reports. Chief Minister, I will request that you get on with your ministerial report. They are getting lengthy. Remember that we have a time limit on them.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is very difficult with the interjections of an unruly opposition. I remind the unruly opposition of their words over the last few years about the behaviour of unruly oppositions.
Madam SPEAKER: It was my understanding that these were going to be nice, short reports so could we get on with it quickly, please.
Ms MARTIN: Professor Allan found that the last four budgets incorporated unrealistically low growth forecasts for government final consumption expenditure, which represents around 60% of total budget expenditure. Final consumption expenditure in the main includes the key staffing and operational costs of running agencies. Despite actual growth in this item of around 4% to 5% a year, the published budgets were allowing for little or no anticipated growth in this item, year after year.
Therefore, the three budgets to 2000-01 underestimated final consumption expenditure by $65m to $70m a year. Further, little or no effort was made to contain the ballooning deficit in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. This approach was continued into 2001-02, where the published budget deliberately under-estimates final consumption spending by at least $40m, and makes absolutely no provision for achieving savings, or raising revenue, of that order. In other words, the Territory’s annual budget papers, rather than containing information that were a true reflection of the anticipated cost of delivering services and programs to the people of the Territory were, sadly, a fabrication, intended to obscure the true budget figures. Professor Allan concluded that the responsibility for this chain of events lay directly with the government of the day, not the Treasury. What the previous government did was a simply ‘cook the books’.
Since the Allan Report was released, the opposition has raised the issue of the sale of NT Fleet, at the same time as refusing a briefing, I would like to explain to the House some matters pertaining to the proposed sale which was contained in the 2001-02 budget. Treasury advised that the issue was first examined by the previous government two to three years ago, but rejected at the time. Treasury has also advised that in a hasty attempt to publish a favourable budget bottom line, even allowing for the under-estimate of final consumption expenditure, the previous government included the sale in the budget, without the appropriate investigation as to whether it was still worth while. That investigation only occurred after the budget was delivered, not before. Yet another example of the poor approach the previous government adopted in its budget formulation processes.
Treasury has advised the new government that due to tax and accounting changes, as well as the general decline in interest rates, the financial advantages of the sale and lease-back of government fleets are no longer available. Indeed, at least two other jurisdictions are considering re-establishing ownership of their fleet vehicles, after going down the leasing path. The benefits of ownership now clearly outweigh those of leasing. In addition, the sale would have only a one-year effect on the underlying deficit, and not address the ongoing structural problems with the budget my government had the misfortune to inherit.
Madam Speaker, in summary what the previous Treasurer did, and what the former Chief Minister and Cabinet colluded in doing, was to undermine the whole financial integrity of the Northern Territory. The annual budget is the public sector equivalent of the financial prospectus issued by private companies. Under Australian companies law, financial information must follow external reporting standards and directors who deliberately misrepresent information in corporate reports can ultimately end up in gaol. This government, unlike its predecessors, will make sure this deception will never again be perpetrated on Territorians. I would like to record my government’s thanks to Professor Allan for his comprehensive and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Chief Minister, your time has expired. Are there any further ministerial reports?
Mr HENDERSON (Industries and Business): Madam Speaker, I rise to provide members with a report on the Northern Territory Economic Development Summit recently announced by the Chief Minister. The summit has been called to address the economic issues facing this government. Members of this House are now well aware of the Territory’s budgetary situation which has been documented by Professor Percy Allan and, in particular, by the Chief Minister in the previous report.
Mr Dunham: So you agree with his report. You agree with Allan’s report.
Mr HENDERSON: We will wait until we get to the health budget.
Mr Dunham: We cannot respond to this, so we do it by interjection. Do you agree with the report?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale.
Mr HENDERSON: Members will also appreciate the need to re-chart the Territory’s economic development. Given the global economic consequences post the 11 September terrorist attack in New York and the local consequences of the Ansett collapse, the Economic Development Summit is a symbol of the government’s commitment to working in partnership with the various sectors of the community, and its commitment to listen to and consult with members of the community.
The summit will provide a valuable opportunity for a very wide range of Territorians to sow the seeds to grow our own economy. It should be understood that the summit will be a forum for meaningful discussion focused on the achievement of specific outcomes. These outcomes include: strengthening business and community confidence in the future developments of the Northern Territory economy by determining a clear plan articulated by government and business working together; providing industry, business and community groups with an opportunity to present their issues, concerns and strategies to inform the November mini-budget and the government’s longer term economic development strategy, specifically views on where government should have its focus to maximise economic growth over the next three to four years; a concluding summit statement that will contain the key economic issues and suggested economic directions; and strategies to inform the Northern Territory Business Round Table, the Office of Territory Development and other government economic agencies.
The Economic Development Summit is important because it will be open to input from a wide range of Territorians who will have two opportunities to have their say. Firstly, community forums will be conducted during the last weekend in October in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin. It is planned that the economic development committees that currently exist in the regional areas will play an important role in the conduct of these forums. Government members will participate at these forums and listen to the issues raised by members of these regional communities. The forums will also provide an opportunity for any member of the public to present issues for further consideration at the summit. We are keen to engage our vital regional population in these deliberations.
Secondly, the summit website - which I intend launching within the week - will be able to receive suggestions in the same format that will be used by those attending the summit. A non-electronic means of making input will also be available. The government is committed to providing the widest possible input from Territorians regarding the Territory’s economic future.
The summit will include over 100 participants in addition to those who will participate via the community forums and the website. These participants will be drawn from such sectors as industry and business associations, non-government and community organisations, unions, land councils and local government organisations. The government is most concerned that Territorians who wish to have input will be able to do so.
We aim to ensure we have a range of high-quality speakers who will stimulate thought and wide-ranging discussion at the summit. Keynote speakers will include: the Director of the National Institute for Economic and Industry Research, Dr Peter Brain; future specialist, Dr Peter Ellyard; Chairman of the New South Wales Premier’s Council on the Cost and Quality of Government, Economist Professor Percy Allan; - that will be an interesting session - former Administrator for the Northern Territory and former NT Under Treasurer, Dr Neil Conn AO; and former Territorian and now Research Fellow at the Institute for Rural Futures, Dr Judith McNeill.
On behalf of the government I take this opportunity to thank those who have already indicated a willingness to be involved, and to support the summit. I especially thank the members of the summit’s organising committee, particularly the co-chairs of the summit - prominent Territory businessman, Neville Walker and former Territory Senator, Bob Collins. Other members of the committee also include: Dave Malone from the Territory Construction Association; Norman Fry from Northern Land Council; and Julie Ross from the Businesswomen’s Consultative Council. I also wish to thank the chairs of the regional economic development committees for their assistance in facilitating the community forums that will be held in the regional centres. I wish to acknowledge the very positive response that industry associations and individual members of the business community have made to this initiative, many of whom have contacted either my office or the Department of Industries and Business seeking to be involved in the summit.
Formal invitations to the summit will be issued during this week and I know that the industry and business sectors are looking forward to the opportunity to be briefed on the real Northern Territory economic situation, as well as share their views as to the way forward.
Mr Burke: Yes, and to also find out what you are going to do.
Mr HENDERSON: Whilst I am addressing what will be addressed during the summit, I take this opportunity to reiterate - for people opposite who have not been listening - what the Chief Minister has said. Labor’s framework coming into this summit is no new taxes, and to read that means no land tax. Now, I hope ...
Mr Dunham: So Percy’s wrong. That’s one bit of Percy’s report that is wrong.
Mr HENDERSON: … you guys understand that ...
Mr Burke: Which other bits?
Mr HENDERSON: ... no new taxes mean no land tax. I know it is a bit difficult for you guys, but that is where it is.
This Economic Development Summit is about the economic future of the Northern Territory ...
Mr Burke: No land tax or no …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: No new taxes - can you hear?
It has been about moving beyond the silver circle of players who have previously had input into government thinking. By comparison, it will create the opportunity for industry, business, regional organisations, unions, rural organisations, community organisations, and the non-government sector to be directly engaged in discussions vital to our future prosperity.
I look forward to making further announcements concerning the summit and how Territorians may be involved as it evolves over the coming weeks.
Madam SPEAKER: I remind government ministers you only have four minutes left of your 30 minute maximum, so are there any further ministerial reports?
Mr VATSKALIS (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I will follow your advice. I am going to be slow reading and brief.
Madam SPEAKER: You need to be brief.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, the Martin government acknowledges the intrinsic role of local governments in the Territory. They are the third tier of our national administrative structure that, although not recognised at a constitutional level, provides basic facilities and services for Territory communities.
As the Minister for Local Government I will later today be addressing the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory annual conference, here in Darwin. The LGANT conference coincides with the Territory’s inaugural Local Government Week, which provides an opportunity for the elected members of councils to network and take part in a range of activities to celebrate the role of local government in community life. The conference also provides an opportunity for the public to meet mayors and elected members, and take tours of council chambers and works and service areas.
During the conference, members will examine best-practice local government initiatives from across the nation. They will also discuss industrial relations matters, natural heritage issues, information technology and communications. To their credit, the Local Government Association has involved children in their awareness week, through a school essay and logo competition.
This government will foster cooperation and inclusiveness in our dealings with Territory local governments. I will meet regularly with the association to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. The reform of local government in the Territory will be undertaken in consultation and in agreement, and any reform must be complementary to existing structures. We will not force amalgamations, nor we will force councils to adopt one specific model. We will also pursue partnership agreements to overcome duplication and maximise outcomes for ratepayers and taxpayers.
This government will lobby the federal government to provide greater equity in the allocation of funds to Territory local governments. We will review the Planning Act and introduce improvements to the benefit of all parties. We will work with LGANT to enhance training for local government members and staff. We will work with, and not against Territory local governments, and they will enjoy the way we do business.
I look forward to my tenure as Minister for Local Government and the opportunity to improve inter-government relations and achievements.
Reports noted pursuant to Sessional Order.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of Standing orders be suspended as would prevent the bills entitled Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 (Serial 5), Juvenile Justice (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 (Serial 6), Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) 2001 (Serial 7), and Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 (Serial 8) - (a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in regard to, respectively, the second readings, the committee’s report stage, and the third readings of bills together; and (b) the consideration of the bills separately in the committee of the whole.
Motion agreed to.
Bills presented and read a first time.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bills be read a second time.
The purpose of these bills is to repeal the mandatory sentencing regime for property offences that applies to both adults and juveniles under the Sentencing Act and the Juvenile Justice Act respectively. The repeal of the mandatory sentencing is one of this government’s major election promises and we are keen for this to be one of our first initiatives.
The amendments proposed by these bills are all part of this government’s six point plan on crime prevention. Other bills addressing our six point plan are also being introduced in these sittings. These deal with the new offences of home and business invasion, car trashing, and the issuing by police officers of notices to appear. This package of amendments is an integral element in the overhaul of our criminal justice system. It will make the system more effective to combat the increasing crime rates and will provide Territorians with a greater level of personal protection.
The mandatory sentencing regime imposed by the previous government has been in place for too long in the Northern Territory. That regime has resulted in the imposition of unjust and inappropriate sentences of imprisonment while having no positive impact on the crime rate. There is no evidence to suggest that under mandatory sentencing offenders have been deterred from committing property offences. Moreover, the mandatory sentencing regime has done nothing for victims. The current minimum mandatory sentencing regime for property offences provides no scope for discretion, except insofar as it commits the imposition of greater sentences. This has resulted in a regime that operates unfairly and inconsistently. Because the mandatory minimum periods apply to all types of property offences, the current regime has not properly targeted suitable offences. We have seen inappropriate sentences of imprisonment apply to trivial offences, and inadequate sentences apply to more serious offences such as housebreaking.
It is no secret that many members of the community, including the legal profession, have spoken out against the current regime. Magistrates have repeatedly indicated that they have been forced to impose sentences that they consider to be manifestly excessive in the particular circumstances of a case. The regime has been investigated by the Federal Parliamentary Committee and is the subject of a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee for breaching Australia’s treaty obligations.
On the introduction of its mandatory sentencing legislation, the previous government stated that the object of the mandatory sentencing regime was to address public concerns about crime levels with an aim to deterring offenders, reducing crime and ensuring that people felt safe in their homes. The reality has turned out to be something different. Mandatory sentencing has had little or no positive effect. In fact, unlawful entries in Alice Springs and Darwin urban regions continue to increase. Nearly 90% of offenders in urban areas continue to get away with property offences undetected. The simple fact is that Territorians do not feel safer in their own homes under mandatory sentencing.
The Sentencing Amendment Bill (No.3) 2001 introduces a much fairer scheme for the sentencing of adults convicted of aggravated property offences. It introduces a scheme that properly targets the offences that Territorians are concerned about. It is a scheme that does not require persons convicted of minor offences to be unjustly imprisoned at the taxpayer’s expense, a scheme that considers more appropriately the views of victims and, more importantly, a scheme that allows for the court to exercise discretion while still requiring that the public interest in ensuring that adequate sentences are imposed for serious property offences is given a high regard. In short, a scheme that is capable of being both tough on crime and applied appropriately and fairly.
As already mentioned, the new scheme will target only aggravated property offences. These will include the new offences of aggravated home and business premises invasion and car thrashing, as well as robbery, unlawful entry, assault with intent to steal and aggravated criminal damage. This means that only those offences that have a high impact on victims and which are the main focus of community concerns, will be caught by the new scheme.
In relation to the actual sentencing process, the bill ensures that the courts are given a clear purpose to consider when sentencing for an aggravated property offence. The purpose of the new scheme is clearly stated to ensure that community disapproval of persons committing aggravated property offences is adequately reflected in the sentences imposed on those persons.
As part of the new scheme the bill repeals the provisions of the Sentencing Act related to punitive work orders. These types of orders were introduced at the same time as the original mandatory sentencing regime and were intended to be a tougher alternative to community service orders. They were set at no more and no less than 224 hours of work to be performed, and required one-on-one supervision by officers of Correctional Services. However, these orders have been shown to be both ineffective and extremely expensive to maintain. They are inflexible orders that cannot be tailored to suit specific cases. In addition, the assessment of offenders for a suitability for such an order are both onerous and resource-intensive. The courts have been reluctant to order them and in the last four years only 20 have been ordered. In reality, the limited role they can play can be more aptly covered by a flexible community-based order.
This is why the bill, as well as removing the current punitive work orders, will review the current community service orders provisions. Firstly, the name of the orders will be changed to community work orders, and to more accurately reflect the focus of the orders. Secondly, the bill provides a clear statement of what community work orders are intended to achieve. That is, that the orders are to ensure that offenders make amends to the community by performing work that benefits the community.
When an offender is convicted of an aggravated property offence, unless exceptional circumstances exist, the court must impose either a term of imprisonment or a community work order. A term of imprisonment can be partly suspended but can only be wholly suspended where a home detention order is made. Unlike the current regime, the court has complete discretion to determine the length of the sentence according to the seriousness of the offence, or to make any other sentencing order it is authorised to make. Similarly, if exceptional circumstances are found to exist, the court can make any order it considers appropriate.
It must be stressed that the term ‘exceptional circumstances’ under the new scheme is to have the common law definition. The court can have regard to any factor it considers exceptional. It is not to be confused with the narrowly-defined term as used in the current mandatory sentencing regime. All aspects of the current mandatory sentencing regime are irrelevant to the new scheme and should not be considered or taken into account in any matter.
The new sentencing scheme will apply from the date of the commencement, which is 22 October 2001. This is regardless of when the offence occurred. Any offender who is already in prison serving a mandatory sentence for a property offence will not be entitled to have their case reopened. This government respects the rule of law, and the fact is that these people committed offences and were sentenced under the law of the day. However, in the case of any real injustice an offender will still be able to apply for prerogative mercy. That provision has always been available.
This government is committed to ensuring that the new scheme for aggravated property offences will be successful and properly applied. That is why I undertake to scrutinise sentences under the new scheme and bring to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions any cases where it is apparent that the intention of parliament has not been achieved.
In relation to mandatory sentencing regime for repeat juvenile property offenders, the Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 proposes the complete repeal of this regime. Quite rightly, this regime has borne the brunt of much criticism, both nationally and internationally. One of the main foci of any government should be on giving the most vulnerable in our community the opportunity to develop to their full potential. A regime that imprisons our children for minor offences does not provide this.
One aspect of the juvenile regime will remain. Under the current regime, the court has the power to order that a juvenile found guilty of a second or subsequent property offence is to participate in a diversionary program. These often include victim offender conferencing. Instead of repealing a program that has enjoyed a level of success, it will be expanded to cover all types of offences. This will mean that in any case involving a juvenile offender, the court will have this additional sentencing option available.
With the repeal of the juvenile mandatory sentencing regime, all juvenile sentencing will be at the complete discretion of the court. A juvenile sentenced after the repeal of the current regime will be sentenced as if it had never been in place. This is regardless of when the property offence was committed. The repeal of the punitive work orders, and the new community work orders, will also apply to the juvenile scheme.
Another important aspect of the government’s six point plan is all about putting victims first. Provision has been made in both the Sentencing Act and the Juvenile Justice Act for victim impact statements to contain a statement of the victim’s wishes in respect to sentencing. This will apply to all offences, not only to aggravated property offences, and will give victims a more satisfying input into the sentencing process.
The Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 and the Juvenile Justice (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 amend references throughout Territory legislation to accommodate the repeal of mandatory sentencing for property offences for both adults and juveniles. The bills will accommodate the repeal of punitive work orders and amend references to the new community work orders. The bills contain only technical and uncontroversial amendments.
This government is pleased to be in the position to repeal the current mandatory sentencing regime for property offences. This government rejects a regime that operates unjustly and inappropriately just for the sake of appearing to be tough on crime. That is why we are introducing a scheme that will actually work - one that is fair and properly targeted at all sorts of offences that are of real concern to Territorians.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bills to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
Bill presented and read a first time.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Criminal Code to provide for an offence of home invasion and invasion of business, and to increase the penalty for damage to motor vehicles. The issue of home invasion is not new and to date it has not been considered a separate criminal offence. This bill recognises that people have the right to feel safe in their homes and secure in the running of their businesses; a right to expect that their possessions are safe within the privacy of their homes; a right to earn a living without the inconvenience, disruption and expense incurred by constant break-ins and the senseless trashing of their premises and goods.
Unfortunately, unlawful entry and vandalism to homes and to businesses is a common and recurring activity. Quite often the damage to property during the break-in does not amount to much in terms of monetary value, but almost always causes emotional distress and disruption to normal family life and business activities. People feel acutely the violation of their personal space and of their personal belongings.
The Criminal Code currently contains offences of unlawful entry and criminal damage, both of which carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. Where one of the aggravating factors currently spelt out in the act exists, the penalty is increased to seven years imprisonment. However, these offences do not properly target the type of behaviour that typifies home and business invasion.
This bill creates a new offence of home invasion and invasion of business premises. It also provides a definition of damage which makes it clear that damage includes an interference with property that does not necessarily result in destruction of, or damage to, the property or financial loss to the owner of the property. Damage includes activity such as interfering with property or defacing, despoiling and vandalising property. Some of us have experienced the feeling of violation that results from the discovery that a stranger has entered our home or a business premises and rummaged through personal possessions and confidential files. Finding the contents of every cupboard and draw emptied on the floor or thrown into the street is a truly distressing discovery. It clearly demonstrates that damage does not always have to have a monetary value or involve a permanent loss of property.
The new offences will send a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. If a person unlawfully enters a dwelling house or business premises and damages property, that person may be charged with home invasion or invasion of business premises, and will be liable to imprisonment for seven years.
An aggravated form of the offence provides a penalty of a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. This offence relates to the situations where premises have been ransacked or defaced in such a way as to cause emotional distress and serious disruption to a family or to business activity, or where the damage results in a loss of greater than $5000. Unlike the current provision of unlawful entry, it will not be necessary to prove that at the time the person entered the premises he or she intended to commit an offence. The essence of the crime here is the encroachment upon the premises themselves.
The bill also addresses the serious matter of damage to motor vehicles. Such damage frequently causes financial distress and inconvenience to the motor vehicle owner. As honourable members are aware, aside from the home, a motor vehicle is one of the most expensive items a person will ever purchase. In the Northern Territory they are often an essential item, central to family activity, taking children to school, sporting activities and to medical facilities. The loss of a vehicle through damage, even for a short period of time, can cause great inconvenience and stress to the family or business. The cost of even minor repairs, both in time and in dollars, can be a heavy burden.
This bill will amend the Criminal Code to provide for an increased penalty of seven years imprisonment for cases where serious damage is done to a motor vehicle. This offence occurs when either $5000 of damage is done to the vehicle, or where an amount of the damage is less than $5000, but is 50% or more of the value of the vehicle. For example, a vehicle that is worth $7000 may have $4000 damage done to it, or a vehicle that is worth $1000 may have $600 damage done to it. Both examples illustrate that the damage is such that it is likely to render the vehicle unusable until repaired, and likely to cause financial distress to the owner. Relative to the value of the property, the damage is significant.
We believe that this bill reflects some of the real concerns of the community regarding criminal activity that is occasioned by offenders breaking into people’s homes and ransacking premises. It emphasises that a person’s home should be a place of security and privacy; that the invasion of that privacy is unacceptable to the community, and that there should be a severe penalty for such an offence. It is also a reflection that a person is entitled to engage in trade and business in safety and without unnecessary disruption to that business. It is saying to the community in no uncertain terms that unlawful, senseless damage to personal property will not be tolerated.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 16 October 2001.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I believe we have some members who are to give their maiden speeches this morning and who have family in the gallery, so I would like to go on with the Address-in-Reply.
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, I am honoured and privileged to be provided the great responsibility to stand before this Assembly as the newly elected member for Sanderson. I would sincerely like to thank the people of the Sanderson electorate for placing their faith and trust in me as a person, and as a member of the Australian Labor Party, to represent them in this parliament.
I pledge now, before my parliamentary colleagues and on the public record, to steadfastly represent each and every one of the constituents of the electorate of Sanderson to the very best of my ability. I further offer a solemn undertaking to consider the needs of the electorate of Sanderson in the context of the broader community. I will strive to the best of my ability to ensure that any decisions that I partake in will be financially secure, address in a responsible manner environmental issues with the view to minimising negative environmental impacts, and that the decisions I make must act in conformity with societal expectations.
As the Labor member for Sanderson, what do I stand for? For the honourable members of the House and the people of Sanderson, let me place it on record. I stand for social justice and a fair go for all. I stand for sustainable development that respects the Northern Territory’s unique environmental lifestyle. I stand for open and accountable government. I believe in the concept of a social contract. In the case of having the honour to be the elected member for Sanderson, I am provided with many opportunities and an enormous obligation. The electors of Sanderson can be confident that my focus over the next four years will be clearly on them and their issues. I will be available and accessible to my constituents.
I put on the record my thanks to a magnificent branch of the Australian Labor Party, the Sanderson/Karama branch, for their tireless efforts over many years of believing that a Labor government was an achievable outcome. My sincere thanks go to the immediate members of my campaign team, whose energies and expertise constantly rallied me to meet the challenges of a long and hard campaign. I express my appreciation as well to many people in Sanderson who volunteered their time and energies to help with the constant stream of information that I was asking them to deliver to the letter boxes of Sanderson. These people, as well as those who stepped up to help me on the day at the polling booths, can take great satisfaction in knowing that I acknowledge it was their grassroots efforts which underpinned the successful outcome we have before us today.
My heartfelt thanks also go to the Labor leader, now Chief Minister, and her parliamentary colleagues in the last Assembly. All of these people have freely shared with me their knowledge, their conviction and, importantly, their time when I needed guidance. I am also grateful to my fellow candidates, those who sit here today, and even more so to those who were prepared to stand in electorates requiring the strength of Hercules to win, for their cameraderie, their fellowship, and the sense of purpose that makes us all proud to be part of Clare Martin’s team.
Ever since self-government, the Australian Labor Party has campaigned for the honour to govern in its own right in the Northern Territory. My thanks also go to all of those ALP candidates who went before me - particularly those in the seat of Sanderson - especially the last candidate, Mike Atkinson, whose help early in the formative stages of my campaign I have always valued.
To Margaret Keech, MLA for Albert in Queensland’s Beattie government, my sister-in-law, I owe a special vote of thanks for inspiring me by her success in her state’s election with a swing of over 10%. She showed me that the seat of Sanderson was winnable and she was instrumental in the refocusing of my campaign. To her husband, Peter Keech, whose expertise as a campaign manager was shared with my team and is considered by some to have been that final edge to go to winning the seat and helping Labor into government, thank you.
The friends I have made both here and elsewhere have enriched my life. I am pleased they have stood by me over the eight months of my campaign; a great group of people I am proud to call friends. To my friends I say thank you. Thank you for your material support and your preparedness to tolerate me even when my life seemed to be focussed on only one goal. To each and everyone of you, my thanks and my family’s thanks flow.
Both my wife’s family and mine have been exceptional in their support. My mother-in-law and my mother both prayed for my success. My mother-in-law particularly prayed for a just and fair government for the NT people, and she has told me she believes her prayers have been answered.
But if I am to identify the paramount contributor to my success in Sanderson it is undoubtedly my wife, Marie Kirkwood. She was the source of my energy, determination and will to achieve what was a remarkable result for Sanderson. My respect for her ability to see things clearly, to tell it like it is, and to be able to overcome any and all obstacles in helping me and Labor achieve a goal which was had once been unattainable, cannot be overstated. Of all of my life’s past achievements, and of the things I have achieved recently and hope to achieve in the future, the greatest achievement will always be the love of my wife and children. I would like to take this opportunity to place on the public record my love for Marie Kirkwood and our children, Claire and Ned. You are the foundations on which the success of my campaign was built and to you I owe the greatest debt.
Over the past number of years we have experienced the build-up of the defence services in the Darwin region. Indeed, a number of servicemen and their families live in Sanderson. I have met most of these people and their families. The majority of these servicemen are not in the defence forces’ upper echelons of command but from the more operational levels of the services. I understood their concerns for their families and difficulties associated with transferring to a remote locality, in terms of being away from the cities of the south where they enlisted. I got on well with these servicemen because like them, I too have completed a stint of military service.
Indeed, my family’s military history covers two world wars and the Vietnam War. My grandfather fought on the western front in World War I, my father fought in Africa, and my uncles in the Pacific. The uncle who is my namesake died while a prisoner of war. My brothers fought in Vietnam and I joined the army in 1971 prior to our country’s withdrawal from that theatre of war. All of my family were volunteers to the armed services just as was I. I served in the army when national service was compulsory and I was present in barracks the night the Australian Labor Party ended it. The joy of the conscripts of having this compulsory duty lifted from their shoulders was the final lap to convince me we should never force our youth into uniform. As a nation we can pride ourselves, and we do rightfully pride ourselves, on our capacity to volunteer. I am confident that we can always rely on our people to volunteer for military service and we should never consider the reintroduction of such a divisive policy such as national service ever again.
I have lived in Sanderson for nine years and have had the pleasure of not only watching my own family grow but I have also seen other families in the community grow over the years. I have also, over this time, had a chance to note on a passing basis the diversity of family groups within our city. Indeed, by my observations the picture postcard depiction of the typical family being mum, dad and two children is now an urban myth. I know families like that. But I also know of homes where children are living with their grandparents or aunties and uncles; of families with only one parent be it either mum or dad. I am friends with other families who are different once again in their complexity. I know of families doing it tough because of the complete breakdown between the parents, and others where the families function better if the parents are apart.
As a community, these families are our shared investment in the future of our society and we have an obligation to recognise this and shape our policies accordingly. Labor recognises that the Territory demographic profile reveals many differences with the Australian mainstream. Being judgmental about insisting family structures only serves to alienate those who are often most in need of support services, to the detriment of the children they are raising. I believe in, and Labor believes in, fairness and tolerance and want services that will address family circumstances as they exist, not how some may like them to be.
My own upbringing was far from the silver spoon experience. I came from a family of seven children and was raised in an environment of family violence. I will always remember my mother escaping from one tragic relationship only to end up in an even more frightful relationship. It was 30 years ago that I left home, and I have cause to note that even after all that time the situation of dysfunctional family life continues for a large number of our community.
Many of the problems families face are interlinked; poor health or poor education may be connected to social problems including poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol misuse and poor self esteem. Well, make no mistake, child abuse, substance abuse, domestic violence, school aged pregnancy and family breakdown are not the sole province of the less well-off in our society. These ills can and do affect families across the whole range of our community.
I am also pleased to note that the Martin Labor government believes families are the heart of our society and we are committed to strengthening family ties. The elected government of the Northern Territory, your government, recognises the truth that families are and will always be mainly shaped by private choices well beyond the influence of government. That is how it should be. It is a role of government not make those choices but to support families, providing them with the opportunities to make the best choices they can.
When we cast our eyes to Sanderson, what do we see? An electorate with strong family orientation, set amongst leafy streets and pleasing cul-de-sacs; an electorate that has easy access to undoubtedly the best sporting complexes in the Territory; an electorate that also has access to large shopping centres and a custom-made lake. But when we look below the surface, when we scratch this faade even slightly, we see an electorate that requires more appropriate services for its youth; more appropriate support for its families; more resources focussed on its schools and shopping centres; an electorate where house-breaks are not considered an extraordinary event; where walking the pathways at night is a pastime very few will undertake; an electorate where the local shop walls are vandalised with graffiti on a regular basis. This is the legacy of an electorate that supported conservative politics for 17 years.
It is my belief that the electorate of Sanderson was not repaid by the Country Liberal Party for its loyalty by neglect. I believe rather it was something a lot worse - that is indifference. Indifference to addressing difficult and complex issues such as developing a strategic plan to tackle the complex issues families are facing; to address issues that besiege our school system; the issues our youth face as they transit the gulf between dependence and independence; to the difficulties faced by small business that goes about providing a valuable service to our communities; and to address the concerns of citizens to go about their community in a safe and secure environment.
I am saddened in the belief that the Country Liberal Party has taken Sanderson for granted all these years. Our youth have missed out on jobs, small business battles to keep going, our families missed out on services, and our kids have missed out on the full benefits our schools could offer if resourced properly.
Supporting the family unit was a constant theme I came into contact with on people’s doorsteps during my campaign. They were pleased that I was able to sit with them and tell of Labor’s plan to establish an Office of Children and Families, and that this issue was held in such high regard by Labor that that office is to be directly under the control of the Chief Minister.
I am happy to stand here today as the Labor representative for Sanderson, able to advise the good people of Sanderson of their government’s commitment towards the Darwin Family Centre located in Marrara. Labor has undertaken over its term of office to upgrade this facility to the tune of $170 000, plus funding enabling the employment of an inclusion worker. The capital assistance will go toward making the centre more appealable to families during the wet season with the upgrading of the existing airconditioning. There is also to be developed a playground for children with special needs. It is astounding that over all these years the previous conservative government had never developed in Darwin a specific-purpose playground for these kids to enjoy.
Families in Sanderson and adjoining electorates will also be able to benefit from the proposed upgrade of Sanderson Tennis Courts. These are tremendous facilities utilised by the community nearly every day of the week, and especially on weekends. These tennis courts are used as a place to coach our kids, providing them with significant physical as well as social skills that remain with them all of their lives. The value of these tennis courts for the community has always been known, and yet a proposal to add value to this facility has languished for years under the previous regime. It will be Labor’s honour, and to the community’s benefit that, working in partnership with business and community organisations, these tennis courts may well become the equal over time to similar facilities located at Millner and Mindil Beach, and will be highly valued by not only the families of Sanderson but indeed, families throughout the northern suburbs.
There was another tragedy at Lake Leanyer on Sunday 14 October. I wish to express my sincere condolences - and I am sure those of every member of this Assembly - to the family of the young child whose life ended so unforeseeably at that place. I was heartened by our government’s preparedness to move quickly on implementing a range of recommendations provided by the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia to improve safety to this facility. Some of the safety measures to be implemented include a public telephone for emergencies; suitable isolation fencing; and child-proof access gates. Labor will also be addressing the severe rise in death by accidental drowning in the Territory by establishing a Water Safety Council. While understandably these actions will be cold comfort to the families who have lost children to drowning in Lake Leanyer, they may save other families in the future from suffering the agony of such a loss.
During the election campaign Labor unveiled a vision for Lake Leanyer. Labor listened to the people of Sanderson, to the people of Karama, and to the people of Wanguri electorates on what they wanted the lake to be. We did not walk away from their concerns, their hopes for a better place for their families. The people of the northern suburbs have asked Labor to finish the job of making Lake Leanyer family-friendly, and to this end we have made a commitment to upgrade the lake to a standard where families can come and play in safety, where young friends can meet and have fun, where people can let their kids go out for the afternoon without any undue concerns.
I am excited about the Northern Territory’s future. I am excited about the prospects of working in partnership with the business community to bring jobs, jobs and more jobs to the people of Sanderson so that their lifestyle might continue and be enriched. There is much work to be done, but I will not be deterred because - as those who know me are aware - I do not shirk my responsibilities. People’s expectations of me may be high but I can say that my expectations of myself are even higher.
I am encouraged by Bernard Shaw when he observed, ‘Some men see the world as it is and ask why, others see the world as it might be and ask why not’. Working together, the people of Sanderson and I will create the community we have imagined and want.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, what interesting times we live in - or perhaps to quote an old song, ‘The times they are a changing’. These times certainly changed on 11 September, and since that day the world has become a dangerous and insecure place and the events of this historic week in the Northern Territory - although important to us all - are to some extent overshadowed by the problems that confront our nation and other nations that have joined the fight against terrorism.
Although we are a long way from Afghanistan, who knows where terror will strike again, and the Territory cannot regard itself immune from these dangers. Regardless, life must go on and we must not allow ourselves to be captured by world events, but approach the future with optimism. After all, as has been witnessed yesterday, the Territory is itself starting a new era. There is no doubt that what we are seeing in parliament this week is part of a clear historical change in the Territory that I believe began on 3 October 1998. That was the day when the people of the Territory, through a referendum, rejected the government’s statehood model.
What for some should have been a landslide victory, was not to be. Up until then, the power of the government seemed to be insurmountable; they held a comfortable majority in parliament; their media campaign told us continually about the benefits of statehood; and they were able to control a statehood agenda by clever manipulation of the statehood convention. But then what happened was surely amazing - people from different political persuasions, from different racial backgrounds, from different philosophies, were able to combine to halt what many in government thought would be a fait accompli. What the government and the opposition of the day did not realise was that in the Territory there was people power. They did not know about some amazing resilient people who through thick and thin, from beginning to end, were willing to fight against a form of statehood which they believed was undemocratic and was being imposed on them. They fought a campaign that would give people the right to have a real say in the development of our new state.
Two of these people were Peter McNab and Carrie Altamura. There were many others too, but these two people hold a special place for me. They were the ones who helped turn the tide, they stuck it out even when others dropped away. They received little or no support from either party, but they had the support of many Territorians. People like Carrie had to spend considerable amounts of their own money to advertise the No case, to get an alternative view across to the people so that people could make an informed choice.
She did this as a service to the people, not for any personal gain but because she believed that the government had not run a balanced and fair campaign. Sadly, when it was all over, the government would not reimburse her for her efforts - they lost and so would she. Her efforts in promoting a democratic path to statehood, her efforts in making sure that people would have a real say in the statehood process, her efforts in counteracting the government’s one-sided advertising campaign, her efforts in wanting a truly honest, inclusive and transparent approach to statehood, was vindicated by the vote of the people. It was disappointing that the government of the day never recognised her contribution. For them it was politics; for Carrie it was being a Territorian for democratic statehood. Carrie Altamura’s contribution to the Territory, to democracy, is something that should be recognised. Up until now it has not been, because she did not belong to a political party. But today I felt it an appropriate time to acknowledge her contribution, and hopefully, when the history of our time is written it recognises her name as a great and courageous Territorian, and maybe one day, the mother of statehood.
So where now is statehood? Our new government says it supports statehood. It may not be an issue high on the agenda at the moment, but it is something that will need to be revisited and when it is, I hope it will be done differently and gradually. Territory people will support statehood but on their terms, not the terms of those who wish to use constitutional change to entrench their political ideology.
The other great historic change that has swept over the Territory occurred at the last election, and is something that few people on either side of politics would have ever envisaged. To have a new party take over the reins of power after such a long period of one party controlling government is to many Territorians still a little hard to believe. There are some who still cannot come to grips with this reality, although I have found many people - even though not Labor supporters, even though disappointed at having lost - saying that a change in government will be good for the Territory. From my point of view it will be good for democracy, and that will be a good thing for the Territory.
As an independent I am pleased to see other changes. Already we have what can only be described as revolutionary - the introduction of an independent Speaker, and along with myself as Deputy Speaker, we now have an independent Speakership in this House. Hopefully, such innovation will lead to better behaviour by politicians, a better standard of debate, less divisiveness because of party-political differences, and less bias towards one side as may have occurred when the Speaker belonged to a particular party. We may see other changes in things like Question Time, with the review of Standing orders including a requirement that ministers actually answer questions.
These are some of my own ideas and some I have learnt from independents in other states. In Victoria, the three independents who hold the balance of power have put together the Independents Charter. This charter was devised to promote stable, open and accountable government, and is one document that I will use as a guide for my role as an independent. It is good to see that they have written into their charter a similar statement to what the independents in the Territory have agreed to, which may be enlightening to some. They agree to provide stability to the government of Victoria by voting with government on appropriation and supply bills, and all motions of no confidence unless there is evidence of fraud, misappropriation or illegal activities. But as with the Victorian independents, regardless of the above agreement, I will maintain my right to vote on all legislation according to the needs of my electorate, the Territory and my conscience.
What I want is to work in a spirit of cooperation with both the new government and the opposition. Where I do not agree with the government, I will tell them so, and I think they would expect that of me. I know one thing, I have a lot to learn and I will be a sitting duck occasionally because of my L-plates. I will make some mistakes along the way, but that is life.
So what do I see as important for our new government? I believe it should safeguard the principles of democracy in all spheres of government in the Territory, including local government and land councils, and perhaps using the gag on only rare occasions would be a good start. Perhaps they could also err on the side of openness rather than the safe option of keeping things quiet, and be willing to admit to making a mistake and not cover it up, and be accessible to the people.
I think our government should actively support families, recognising them as the foundation of our society, which may include striving to make it economically possible for one spouse to stay home with their children if they wish. Perhaps the roots of juvenile crime may at least partly be the result of this lack of choice. We should support our youth, especially in sports, art and music, and I hope personally I can help in that way. We should also support and respect the dignity of human life, from the unborn to those at the end of their lives. This is not said in a judgemental or condemning manner, but after all, if we espouse the cause of the weak, the frail, the defenceless, the poor, the unwanted and the crippled, then surely it is our duty to search for alternative dignity-of-life ways of dealing with the difficult moral issues of abortion and euthanasia. These issues challenge our modern medically-driven society and, like a cancer, slowly eat away at our respect for human life.
We should place a greater emphasis on responsibilities, not just rights. We need to promote our individualism but not in exclusion of our responsibilities to others in our community. I sometimes feel that is reflected in the lack of numbers we now see in service groups. We need to encourage tolerance and forgiveness, not just in our society but within government itself, and we need to speak the truth regardless of the consequences, rather than speak the politically correct for the sake of popularity. We need to recognise the source of power to govern and we need to recognise the belief that we are the stewards of our planet and that we need to care for our environment. We need to practically demonstrate a belief in the concept of sustainable development - development that creates real jobs, not the ones that achieve in the short term but cost in the long term, and we need to recognise the principles of native title, whilst at the same time recognising the rights of all who live here today.
There are other matters I could mention, and hopefully through the debates in this House I will have the opportunity to do that. The good thing about being an independent is that one can speak one’s mind on issues without the constraints of a party policy. The bad thing about being an independent is, you are expected to be an expert on everything, which is simply not possible. All you can do is ask those who are expert, and be willing to refrain from comment if you do not know. I might even find some time, perhaps, to get some inspiration from reading The Life of Thomas More, the Patron Saint of politicians. In fact, if you don’t know that, there was a gentleman on Who Wants to be Millionaire who lost $32 000 for not knowing that question. Tom was a bloke who said, as he was preparing to have his head cut off, ‘The king’s good servant, but God’s first’. No wonder he was a Saint. Obviously Henry VIII found beheading a good means of obtaining party discipline - another good reason for being and staying an independent.
Finally, I would like to thank all the friendly people of Nelson - including all their dogs, horses, chooks, ducks and everything else that greeted me - for their support and friendship. I will do my best to serve them faithfully over the next four years. Thanks also to my predecessors, Mr Chris Lugg, and to Noel Padgham-Purich who served in Nelson for many years as a member of the government and also as an independent. I can guarantee to members that I will not be feeding marsupials through the front of my shirt while the parliament is in session.
Thanks to all my friends, family and helpers, especially Trish, Tony and Jo; to my wife Imelda who keeps a cardboard cutout of me on the verandah to remind her of what I look like; to my children and grandchildren; and to my mum who is up here today and has come from Melbourne especially for the occasion. Unfortunately, dad could not make the long trip, but I know he would have wanted to have been here today. To my friends in local government who have supported me over many years in local government, thank you for all your encouragement and your advice and friendship over the many years, and to my Maker.
From my own perspective, it has been a long road travelled to get where I am standing today. So I thought that perhaps a crest of a suitable motto would symbolise that long journey. Julie at The Craft Basket at Coolalinga has kindly embroided it on my tie. There are three eggs in the nest, with the centre one hatched and a small chick emerging. What does all this represent? Well, there are three possibilities. The first could be a religious one, that is, representing the Trinity; the second could represent the ALP, CLP and an independent in the middle; or thirdly it could represent a symbolic rising of a failed egg farmer against all odds. I have chosen this last one and I have inserted the following motto, thanks to an old Latin teacher of mine: Cessi foro gallinarum sed surgo, which although not quite true, means: ‘I failed in the chook business but I rise up again’.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Madam Speaker, it is an honour to stand here before this House as the newly-elected member for Johnston. I am indebted to the people of Johnston for placing their confidence and trust in me, and I pledge to honour that trust and confidence and to try and represent them well. I also thank those who supported my campaign.
The electorate of Johnston itself came into being on 18 August 2001. It draws its name from Commodore Eric Johnston, who was well known to a lot of people in this room and enjoyed enormous respect within the Northern Territory. As a Labor candidate for over 12 months, I had the opportunity to meet many residents of Johnston as I doorknocked the electorate twice in that period. It also gave me an opportunity to clearly identify the issues that I need to take on board as the local member. There are important local issues, such as antisocial behaviour in the laneways in Wagaman, around Amsterdam Circuit. In Jingili, many residents were keen to see the protection and rehabilitation of Rapid Creek, and were angered by planning decisions relating to Rapid Creek that saw the conservation zone virtually abolished. I pledge to work to resolve these matters for Johnston residents.
There was also a very strong move to change that was clearly evident in the electorate. In general, many people were keen to see open and transparent government in the Northern Territory, and for government to effectively address social and economic issues such as health, education, job security, crime and punishment, antisocial behaviour and drug abuse. These were all important issues raised by electors themselves. I pledge to join with my colleagues in government to deliver effective and positive outcomes in these areas for the people of Johnston, and for the Territory as a whole.
Although many people were keen to see change, there was strong affirmation and pride that the Northern Territory is a very special place, and that is something we all agree on. Apart from the weather and lifestyle, for most of us it is a place of great opportunity and potential. It is an harmonious place generally, where many cultures co-exist and generally respect one another. It is a place where I have always felt at home since I came here over 20 years ago. Nevertheless, I have also come to realise that it is a place of profound disadvantage for a significant section of our population, namely Aboriginal people. Along with the many other issues we face, the issue of equity needs to be properly addressed as we move forward together to realise the mighty economic, social and cultural potential of the Northern Territory.
As I talked with many Johnston electors over the past 12 months I was fascinated to hear their life stories and their family stories and their special contribution to the Territory. Yesterday we also heard some very powerful examples in the maiden speeches that were made in this place.
I would now like to outline my own particular journey to the Northern Territory, and hopefully explain who I am, how I came to be here, and where I might make a contribution, particularly in the critical areas of health and education. But to achieve improvements in these areas, I also recognise the importance of Territory businesses doing well. Along with equity, a sound economy is a cornerstone for improvements in health and education.
While our own history largely determines who and what we are, the world is entering a period of deep uncertainty, where conventional history is being turned upside down. Indeed, we are living in an unprecedented time of war and economic stress and I believe that we must all work together, particularly within the Territory. My pledge is to work with people of goodwill on all sides of politics and within the community to make the Territory a better place. Words and promises must be backed with action and courage in the face of adversity.
Like other Australians, I am fortunate to draw inspiration from the experience of my family and from the courage and the integrity of others I have known throughout my life. My mother’s father fought at Gallipoli and Flanders, and he died some years after the war from a war-related injury, leaving her mother to support two young children during the depression years in Sydney, and she worked as a seamstress. My grandmother’s main supports were the local community, particularly the Catholic Church, and her friends. She was someone of great honesty, integrity, generosity and faith, all qualities that I admire and that I aspire to also. She was also a strong unionist and lifelong Labor supporter. I am proud to say that I have been a unionist through much of my working life. In these uncertain times many Australian workers are once again turning to their unions for support and protection. I say, rightly so.
My family links with Darwin go back to the World War II. My father, Harold Burns, fought in World War II in the Air Force and was stationed in Darwin during the bombing of Darwin. My father-in-law, Bill Carew, was also stationed in Darwin during the war as part of the Catalina Squadron. I am proud to say that my eldest son, David, is graduating as an officer in the RAAF at the end of this year, and he hopes to return to Darwin to serve here. We can be justly proud of our armed forces and the courageous way in which they fought and sacrificed to preserve our democratic way of life.
However, sometimes we also need to stand up to protect these hard-won democratic rights within our political system. My own political views were formed during the 1960s and 1970s while I was a student at the University of Queensland. It was a time when the National Party government led by Joh Bjelke-Petersen was in the ascendancy. As we all know from the Fitzgerald Inquiry, he was a populist leader who had the support of senior public servants, many establishment figures, cronies in the police force and the media. Anyone who stood against him was vilified and suppressed, sometimes by force. However, there were people of intellect, courage and integrity who stood against Joh and his excesses. I have always been inspired by the example of student leaders such as Brian Laver and Dick Shearman, and academics such as Dan O’Neill who paid a heavy personal cost over their opposition to his excesses. This was particularly true when Joh Bjelke-Petersen declared a state of emergency in 1970 during the Springbok tour.
More importantly, many people in the wider community such as my own father recognised that Joh Bjelke-Petersen was an autocrat and he was propping up a corrupt government, and they had the courage to say so. I guess in the long term the corruption of the Bjelke-Petersen government was exposed. The moral bankruptcy exemplified by his support for the apartheid regime in South Africa probably does not even bear comment today, but what is worth remembering is the courage of those who stood up for what was right, no matter what the cost, and I am proud to be counted amongst those people.
I also know there have been many people in the Northern Territory who have spoken out fearlessly in the past 26 years about the need for better government, Aboriginal issues and other issues such as East Timor, sometimes at their own great personal cost. I hope that I have the courage to continue to speak out in the same fearless tradition.
In my working life I have done many different jobs. I have not always worked as a pharmacist, scientist, public health professional, university academic or researcher. In fact, I have a heavy semi-trailer licence - I have worked out in the pastoral industry, in the construction industry; I have done many different things. I first came to the Territory on holidays in 1979 and I was offered a job as a youth worker for the YMCA at Maningrida. I am proud to have worked with the YMCA and they will always have my support. Petrol sniffing was a major, almost insolvable, problem there at that time. After nearly three years of working there, I left in 1981 somewhat disconsolate, but much richer for the experience of having lived and worked in a very remote and beautiful part of Australia, and also having made the acquaintance of many Aboriginal people. I am proud to say that many of those Aboriginal families remain my closest friends today, particularly the Djurrabooka and Dhukarridji clans. I thank them for educating me in the ways of Aboriginal language, customs, ceremony and humour – they are big lessons to be learned.
Before returning to the Territory with my family in the 1990s, I spent much of the intervening decade working as a university lecturer in science at the University of New England. Some present here today know that I have given a great deal of service to university councils and school boards including St Mary’s School Board here locally. I have a strong commitment to education and I hope to contribute further during my parliamentary career. My family and I returned to Darwin in the early 1990s so that I could undertake further study at the Menzies School of Health Research.
I count myself fortunate to have studied under Professor John Mathews, who is an exceptional person, not just because of his vast technical knowledge and outstanding intellect but, more importantly, because his primary motivation was always about social justice and equity. I am also fortunate to have worked closely with Dr Bart Currie, one of Australia’s foremost infectious diseases physicians, a dedicated health professional and an outstanding researcher and friend. My work at Menzies mainly focused on drug and alcohol issues, including petrol sniffing, kava, alcohol, and cannabis, as well as the provision of health services to remote communities. I am hoping through the Substance Abuse Committee that was formed yesterday, of which I am a member, that I am well placed to make a contribution to that particular committee.
But it was through my work at the Menzies School that I returned to Maningrida to once again examine the seemingly insolvable problem of petrol sniffing. However, this time things were different. I went there at the invitation of Mr Milak Wununudj - who unfortunately, is now deceased - who was Council President at the time; Mr Reggie Wuridjal, one of the Dhukarridji land owners; and Mr Alan Clough, who was the Town Clerk at the time. Through my PhD, I was able to document how an Aboriginal community can overcome seemingly insurmountable problems such as petrol sniffing, when fundamental issues such as employment and training are addressed and genuine Aboriginal participation and control in decision making occurred. I also recognised the special role played by Mr Alan Clough in this victory and I have always valued his advice and friendship over many years.
While at Menzies, with further support from the Maningrida community, I undertook a Commonwealth-funded study in 1995 to recommend in detail how health services for the 2300 people in that region might be improved. That report was a Commonwealth-funded report. It was a comprehensive study which also recommended funding options and was submitted in late 1995. It is with sincere regret that I must say the progress in implementing that report has been extremely slow - too slow with too many deaths in the meantime. Unfortunately, the situation has been very common for Aboriginal people throughout the Territory. I wish to pledge my support and expertise to our Health Minister and to Aboriginal people throughout the Territory to redress the poor state of Aboriginal health that is the current state. I will help in any way that I can. In particular I also wish to offer my support to the member for Arafura who is extremely experienced in this area. I know that she is committed to support Aboriginal organisations such as the Maningrida Health Board and the Tiwi Health Board to bring about much needed health improvements in their regions.
Another community organisation in Darwin with which I have been involved with over the years is St Vincent de Paul through my voluntary work at the Ozanam House hostel in Stuart Park. It caters mainly for long grassers. Itinerancy and drunkenness are important issues that we need to address in Darwin and while antisocial behaviour should never be tolerated, we need to be mindful of misfortune and adversity in people’s lives. In my family - and my mother is sitting behind me – we have a saying: ‘There, but for the grace of God, go you or I’. Because marital problems, unemployment, mental illness for people in the mainstream, or the sheer alienation and powerlessness experienced by many Aboriginal people living on communities, are factors which lead to homelessness and problems with alcohol. I would like to continue to work with community organisations, government agencies, residents and the homeless themselves to redress this important social problem in Darwin. Let me reiterate my support for the wonderful work that St Vincent de Paul do within the community.
My last four years before entering politics were spent working for the National Heart Foundation. During my time with the foundation I was fortunate to work closely with a number of Territory people, particularly many people in business and interstate colleagues who set a fine example with their community service and their commitment to a mission to help the Australian public. These include Mr Reg Lowry, Mr Richard Ryan, Professor Andrew Tonkin and Mr Peter Wallace. I draw great inspiration from their commitment to the well-being of our community and, importantly, the commitment of many others working in the Territory, working voluntarily to support community organisations. As the honourable member for Nelson said, it is something that is falling off a bit, but I think there are some people in our community who do a fantastic work.
In this speech I have spoken a lot about social justice and equity. Economic development must be underpinned by these principles. Nevertheless, without economic development, these principles are merely concepts. The Territory stands at the threshold of great economic developments. We are also faced with profound social issues. I will work hard to ensure that the Territory benefits from these crucial economic developments, while at the same time ensuring that issues relating to social disadvantage are effectively addressed.
I finish this maiden speech where I started, with thanks to the people of Johnston and the supporters who helped me win. There are many people who supported my campaign over the past year. My family, Elizabeth, Daniel, Amy and David, along with my mother, deserve first mention. My campaign team, particularly Charlie Phillips and Dr Paul Lawton, also deserve special mention for their patience and wise advice. I also thank those who contributed to my campaign. Thank you for investing your support in me.
Lastly, I would like to thank the team who were in opposition who were led by Adele Young, and in particular I would like to thank Adele Young who worked so very hard, sometimes at great personal cost and long hours, for us in opposition. I know that she will be working very hard for us in government. She already is.
However, the most important part of my thanks is reserved for the people of Johnston and our leader Clare Martin. To return to the beginning of my speech, I pledge to work hard to resolve local issues such as protecting Rapid Creek and addressing problems associated with antisocial behaviour. I also pledge to support open and accountable government in the Territory, particularly freedom of information legislation. I am also keen to address crime issues and the lack of work opportunities caused by the downturn in the Territory economy over the past 12 months. I also pledge to work hard to improve health and education in the Territory.
As a government, we pledge to deliver positive results in all of these important areas. I am proud to be part of Clare Martin’s team and I will work hard in government over the next four years to deliver our pledges.
Ms CARTER (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment as Speaker. I know you will bring good sense and experience to the role.
I was delighted to be re-elected on 18 August as the member for Port Darwin. As you know, up until then I was the newest member of this parliament having been elected at a by-election in March last year. Being re-elected will allow me the opportunity to continue working for the people of Port Darwin on the many and varied issues which confront us in this dynamic and exciting place.
The election brought about a change to the Port Darwin electorate boundaries - Winnellie, City Valley, Bayview and several streets in Stuart Park have been lost. I was disappointed to lose these areas as each had its own character and issues. However, with the increasing population density of the CBD, this loss was not unexpected. As the inner city electorate, we in Port Darwin will face many pressures over the years to come.
During the election I pledged to work on a number of issues if re-elected. One of these is the need to explore the installation of video surveillance of inner city hotspots. I believe this should be done as a cooperative partnership between the NT government, Darwin City Council and local business. I will also be working for an increased police presence in the CBD. I have witnessed serious fights and had constituents complain to me of the activities of certain groups late at night in the CBD. I believe with increased police foot patrols this sort of ugly, dangerous behaviour can be addressed.
I will also be working for improved Aboriginal Night Patrol action in the CBD. Mission Australia recently has been awarded the contract to run the Night Patrol. I have visited the people at Mission Australia and have been very impressed with their attitude and the way they are moving towards improving the service. Night Patrol is a service which should be supported to a great degree. Importantly, harm can be prevented by taking people, who are the worst for wear as a result of intoxication, to a place of safety. Also, at the very least, other people and, in particular tourists, can go about their business in the CBD without witnessing the negative aspects of public drunkenness.
I will also be continuing to ensure that new developments in the Port Darwin area have adequate off-street parking. Other cities in Australia and overseas have experienced major problems with small streets being congested with parked cars. Except in exceptional circumstances all units in the CBD should have a minimum of two car parks. I will continue to monitor developments in an effort to ensure this occurs.
I will also be working to improve the safety of the Stuart Highway as it travels through the electorate to intersect with Daly Street. I was delighted with the recent works done by the previous government which have seen a marked improvement with the intersection of Duke Street and the highway. A number of other intersections in the area should be enhanced at the very least by line markings, and I will continue my quest for this with our new government.
The election of the new government puts in doubt the commitment for a convention centre in the CBD, but despite this concern I will continue to lobby for and promote what I consider to be a vital piece of economic infrastructure for Darwin and the Northern Territory. I gather Lasseters in Alice Springs have been pleasantly surprised by the number of advanced bookings they have had for their new centre, and I only hope it is not too long before Darwin can capitalise on this sort of venture.
A final word on my election commitments to the people of Port Darwin. I did commit to maintaining mandatory sentencing for property crime. Unfortunately, this law is to be lost with the advent of the new government. I expect the judiciary will, in the short term, be cognisant of the community’s disappointment and frustration with minimal or no punishment being meted out to those who commit these crimes, and so they will attempt to impose some measure of punishment. However, I dare say that over a couple of years we will see the return of laughably lenient responses from our learned friends, and I will certainly make it my business to highlight the more extreme cases in an effort to ensure that the victims of crime gain some form of recourse to justice.
As I have said, I am very pleased to be able to rise again in the Assembly as the member for Port Darwin. Getting to this position was not easy and it was only with the help of many people that I am here today. Although too many to mention individually I would like to thank, in particular, the members of the Port Darwin branch of the CLP and the CLP secretariat - in particular Mrs Suzanne Cavanagh and Mr Charlie Taylor. Although the results of the election was a disappointment for the CLP, this in no way should detract from the work these people did, largely unrewarded in a financial sense for many years, with only one goal in mind, the betterment of the Northern Territory for all the people of the Northern Territory. Sure, the CLP is copping flack now as a losing party does, but no one can doubt the CLP’s passion for the Territory and past achievements for the Territory. I remain a proud member of the CLP and I thank it for assisting me to retain my position as the member for Port Darwin.
I would like to thank, in particular, my very special campaign helpers, Simona Di Toro, Nick Bell and my wonderful husband, John Haynes. It was a small team which took on all manner of jobs during the campaign to allow me to concentrate on the vital task of doorknocking. I doubt the average voter has any idea of the amount of effort that goes on behind the scenes to fuel our democracy. I thank my team for their efforts. My final and most sincere thanks must go to the people of Port Darwin who supported me so well in the face of significant opposition. During the past two years prior to polling day, I doorknocked most of the electorate six times. I have met the most wonderful people and for me the best thing about being a member of parliament is being able to develop relationships with individuals in the electorate so they find me approachable and then my being able to help them when the time comes. This is what it is all about.
I must say that my ability to assist constituents has been greatly enhanced by the good humoured, diligent work of my electorate officer, Mrs Helen Bateman and I thank her for her assistance during the past year. I believe it was from Helen’s work and the relationships she has developed in the electorate that so many constituents came forward during the campaign to help me. Of course, there were a significant number of people who did not vote for me, but how an individual voted does not concern me. I am still their local member and I am here to help them. Perhaps if I do a good job they will vote for me next time and, of course, in four years there will be a next time.
I do wish the new government all the very best for their turn in government. I know they will experience interesting and, at times, difficult situations. As a member of the opposition it is our job to monitor the government’s action, to support them when we can, but to put - and at times forcefully - different views when we consider them in the best interests of the Territory.
Finally, members of parliament I suspect have more in common with each other, regardless of which side of the Chamber we sit on, than we have differences to each other. We all care about our constituents, but we all suffer the jibes because of the role we have chosen. We all worry about how our job affects our loved ones, but above all we are all passionate about the future of the Territory. So, let us get on with democracy and our role in history.
Debate adjourned.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The filming should have finished by now. You were only given permission to do it during Question Time. So would you cease filming now.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of Standing orders be suspended as would prevent bills entitled Police Administration Amendment Bill 2001 (Serial 2) and Justice Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 (Serial 3) - (a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in regard to, respectively, the second readings, the committee’s report stage …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am finding it extremely difficult to hear the honourable minister.
Dr TOYNE: Yes, there is a lot of movement around the Chamber.
Mr Elferink: No, it is you. You are not speaking up. I cannot hear a word you are saying.
Madam SPEAKER: Keep going, Attorney-General.
Dr TOYNE: … and the third readings of these bills together; and (b) the consideration of the bills separately in the Committee of the Whole.
Motion agreed to.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We cannot hear.
Madam SPEAKER: We have heard you once, resume your seat. Minister, would you …
Dr Toyne: Well, take the wax out of your ears.
Madam SPEAKER: I heard what you said. We have asked the Attorney-General to speak up.
POLICE ADMINISTRATION
AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 2)
JUSTICES AMENDMENT BILL (No 2)
(Serial 3)
Bills presented and read a first time.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bills be now read a second time.
The purpose of these bills is to provide members of the police force with the power to issue a Notice to Appear requiring an alleged offender, other than a juvenile offender, to attend court to answer a charge for an offence. The bills also provide that a Notice to Appear has the force of a summons so that on failure to attend court in answer to a Notice to Appear, the court may issue a warrant for the apprehension of the alleged offender.
Currently, where an offence is suspected, there are various ways that a police officer may deal with the matter. He or she can exercise discretion to simply caution the offender or, if the offence can be dealt with by way of an infringement notice, he or she can issue a notice. Otherwise, the officer may instigate proceedings for prosecution. The alternative procedures for instigating a prosecution for an offence are twofold. A person can be dealt with by way of arrest or summons. Both procedures take up valuable time and resources of both police and the courts. The summonsing procedure usually involves taking details of the alleged offence and the alleged offender at the place of offence, or at a police station. At a later date, the police must locate the alleged offender and serve him or her with a summons prepared by a Justice of the Peace. This involves the police in a two-stage process which is often difficult, especially where an alleged offender has moved, is itinerant, or lives outside the Territory.
Are we hearing that now?
Mr Elferink: Barely. Believe me, if I have a problem, I will let you know, minister.
Dr TOYNE: Well, I think you had better check your ears.
The Police Administration Amendment Bill 2001 proposes to improve the current process by providing for a more practical and efficient method by which an alleged offender can be brought to court. When an offence is suspected, police officers will be empowered to give the alleged offender a Notice to Appear requiring his or her attendance in court on a specific date, in order to answer the charge. This will avoid the need for a police officer to have to locate the alleged offender at a later date. It will also avoid the need for a Justice of the Peace to issue the summons. Similar powers have been given to police in Victoria and New South Wales since the late 1980s, and similar powers have more recently been given to police in Queensland. These bills are based on the Queensland model. Although a Notice to Appear will not amount to a summons, as it is not issued by a Justice of the Peace, failure to comply with the Notice to Appear has the same effect.
The Justices Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 provides that if a person does not attend court as required by a notice, the court may issue a warrant to arrest. It is intended that Notices to Appear will mainly be issued on the spot for the more minor offences where the police officer involved believes that it is appropriate, in the circumstances, to proceed other than by way of arrest or summons. Although the main use of the Notices to Appear will be to instigate prosecutions for minor offences, the power to issue them is extended to all offences. This will allow a police officer to avoid the arrest procedure for an indictable offence where the officer believes that the circumstances of the offence are not serious, the offender is not a threat to the community, and the offender is unlikely to abscond.
Currently, it is not uncommon for indictable offences, such as some cases of criminal deception, to be dealt with by summons rather than by arrest. It is considered appropriate that in such cases police officers should also have the option to proceed by way of a Notice to Appear. The issuing of Notices to Appear will make it easier for police to charge offenders for all categories of offences. Of particular interest is the fact that notices can be used as an effective alternative way of charging alleged offenders with the new offences of home and business invasion. In this regard, the amendments are consistent with the government’s six point plan to tackle crime. Obviously, though, whether an officer decides to proceed by way of arrest or by issuing a Notice to Appear in relation to such an offence, will depend on the seriousness of the alleged offence and the circumstances of the offender.
The procedure proposed in these bills will help reduce the cost and the use of police and court resources by creating a more efficient, one-step process. Notices to Appear are not to be seen as a replacement for the current procedures, nor should they be seen as a replacement for the infringement notice process. They are merely to be seen as providing police with greater flexibility in the prosecution process by introducing an alternative method by which to instigate proceedings against an alleged offender.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bills to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 16 October 2001.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Criminal Code to provide for computer-related offences. The Northern Territory was the first jurisdiction to enact computer-related crime legislation introduction of the Criminal Code in 1983. The code currently contains two computer offences – section 222, unlawfully obtaining confidential information which covers the extraction of confidential material from the computer; and section 276, making false data processing materials. Section 222 is still an appropriate offence and will remain in its current form. However, as society has become more computer literate and computers have become more readily available outside the commercial sector, other forms of crime have evolved. The existing offences are no longer adequate to cover the wide range of electronic crime emerging in this technological age.
We recognise that the rapid growth in information technology requires us to ensure that the existing laws with technology gaps are amended, and new laws with specific electronic offences are drafted. This bill introduces some new offences and amends some existing offences to provide for old crime which is conducted by new technological means. For example, the definitions of ‘writing’, ‘document’ and ‘deception’ have been amended to accommodate the technology, and the offence of stalking has been widened to include stalking by use of the computer, a criminal activity which is becoming far too common. The offence of criminal deception has been widened to include obtaining a benefit or advantage through use of a machine or credit card fraud using a computer. Some offences contained in the Criminal Code are already wide enough to capture the e-crime field, such as the relatively recently enacted child pornography offences.
The bill repeals Division 10 Part IV of the Criminal Code, which currently contains the offence of making false data processing material, and substitutes it with a new division, ‘Computer Offences’, containing three new offences aimed at hacking, sabotage, fraud and general damage. Each of the offences carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The new division also provides for the extensive reach of computer crime by inserting a territorial nexus provision so that the computer crime which may have been committed in another jurisdiction, but has an effect in the Territory, can be prosecuted in the Territory.
With the rapid growth in computer use criminals are finding new ways to commit old crimes and are using more and more sophisticated technology to commit those crimes. New section 276 defines, amongst other things, that ‘data storage device’ means anything containing or designed to contain data that may be used in a computer, and includes a device that may be used to gain access to, or to perform a function on, a communications or telecommunications network. This section is designed to cover a wide variety of devices which contain electromagnetic information but will not capture, for example, a child’s hand-held computer game.
Proposed new section 276B provides for the prosecution of a person who unlawfully accesses data with intent to cause loss or gain a benefit. This offence is designed to capture electronic fraud. It also provides a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for a person who unlawfully uses data that has been accessed unlawfully. This is aimed at controlling the dealing and trafficking of data which might be used to commit further computer crime. It is a broad offence because of the potentially wide nature of computer crimes.
Proposed section 276C creates the offence of unlawful modification of data to cause impairment. ‘Modification’ is defined as the alteration or removal of data or of addition to the data. This offence will apply to hackers who cause the infection of computer data or a program with a virus or worm, or alter or damage data in any way. The offence also provides for the situation where a person sets in train a course of events resulting in the alteration or damage, even if that person did not actually access the particular computer in which the data was damaged. This occurs frequently with virus attacks on computer systems. The relatively recent Love Bug and Melissa viruses are examples of the extent of damage which can be caused this way.
Proposed section 276D creates the offence of unauthorised impairment of electronic communication to or from a computer. The offence has a broad band of application from harms which are transient or where data on electronic cards and tokens is damaged, to conduct which results in serious economic loss or disruption to business, government or community services and electronic form of sabotage.
Proposed new section 276D provides for the old offence of stealing in new electronic form. It covers a situation where a person steals someone else’s time on a computer. For example, where a person accesses another person’s Internet account and books up time on that person’s account, either for themselves or for a third person, or where they access a telephone account by using another person’s pin number. I understand that police have discovered these to be common, simple and lucrative activities for some criminals in the Northern Territory.
The proposed provisions provide an effective response to computer offences. The bill is the result of several months of consultation research into the developments of national and international computer law. We believe that this package of legislative changes places the Northern Territory at the forefront of criminal law in computer offences, and fulfils the Northern Territory’s obligation to assist in national and international efforts to control computer crime.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 17 October 2001.
Mr HENDERSON (Wanguri): Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to thank the people of Wanguri and Leanyer for again placing their faith in me to be their voice in this Legislative Assembly. The residents of Wanguri and Leanyer contribute strongly to maintaining Darwin’s distinct identity and I have the privilege of representing an electorate - even such a small urban electorate in the Northern Territory - that actually has nine discrete denominations of worship within the boundaries, ranging from the Islamic mosque to the Buddhist temple, and virtually every other denomination between them. It really does signify the diversity of our community and I am very proud to represent the people of Wanguri. The Territory is a bright and vibrant community and this is a credit to the people of the Territory. It is a humbling and privileged experience to be a member of this parliament. I will not forget the responsibility I have in this Assembly for the people of Wanguri and Leanyer. I promise them I will return their faith and be a loud and effective voice for their interests and concerns.
The support and help I received during my campaign was overwhelming, and the flood of congratulations I have received since then has been incredibly touching. Many people have made special efforts in assisting me and I take this opportunity to thank some of those people. Many, many people - dozens, possibly over a 100 when you count everybody who placed posters in their yards and did little bits and pieces - would have assisted during the campaign but, in particular, I thank the following people and put them on the record.
Andrew Fyles, a great friend, a long-time player in the Labor Party in the Northern Territory, who is president of the Casuarina Branch, and all the members of the Casuarina Branch for their support - absolutely magnificent, given that branch has carriage of the Johnston electorate as well as the Casuarina and the Wanguri electorates. Particularly, I thank my electorate officer, Michael Gunner, whose is now working on my ministerial staff. He put in an enormous amount of time in terms of pulling my campaign together. He made a lot of sacrifices for me and on behalf of the Labor Party. Michael has a very bright future and I would really like to say, ‘Michael, thanks for everything, for all your help’.
Frank Moukaddem, who has been a magnificent source of help to many people, on many campaigns over the last few years. He is an absolute gem, he is always there when you need him. He is the guy who does the hard work behind the scenes for no rewards, and is an absolute trouper. People like Frank - who has just walked into the gallery today - are the absolute backbone of the Labor Party, not only here but across Australia. Frank, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the support you have given me and the Labor Party.
Ron Greaves and Allan Kitchener – again, stalwarts of the Casuarina Branch of the Labor Party - have rolled up their sleeves for many years and at last they have their reward - Labor government is in the Northern Territory. Other people who have helped me - in particular Donna Kittel who has been an absolute inspiration, I suppose, in terms of her devotedness to seeing drug law reform in the Northern Territory. We are going to deliver, Donna, for you and your aspirations to see a vastly-reduced drug culture here in Darwin and across the Northern Territory, by putting in place rehabilitation programs that are going to work. Donna, I thank you for your help. Kassie Alcorn; Ryan Neve, who is currently my new electorate officer; the whole Gunner family - Tom, Rebecca and Lucy; the Graces - Chris and Erin; the El Masri family; not forgetting John Bailey, my predecessor in Wanguri, who is still a constant source of advice and support; David Money; and Travis Dowling, who were working in the Leader of the Opposition’s office. All of these people have made significant contributions.
But most importantly, I would like to thank my wife, Stacey, who has been with me in this game since 1993. She has been through an enormous amount. Members who sit in this Chamber who have spouses all know that our partners make a huge sacrifice in terms of supporting us in the work that we do, in our efforts to get to this place to represent the people of the Northern Territory. All of us come here trying to do the right thing for the people of the Northern Territory, but without the support of our partners we would not be here. So, Stacey, thanks for everything. And my children, who are just starting to realise what the job of a politician is. It is very hard to explain to a 6-year-old and 7-year-old what a politician does, what daddy does, but they are starting to come to grips with it and asking all sorts of tricky questions. So, Alasdair, Liam and Isabell, I am not going to be an absent father, I will be home as often as I can.
The people of the Territory have placed great faith in us to deliver on our commitments which we made in opposition. The people voted for change, and we are committed to working with Territorians to build a better Territory. It is not just a campaign slogan. That is what each and every one of us on this side of the parliament are aiming to do during our period in government.
Just as the people of Wanguri and Leanyer have placed their faith in me to be their local member, my Labor Party colleagues have entrusted me with the privilege of being a minister in this historical first Labor government. I would like to thank my Caucus colleagues for putting their faith in me, and I certainly will work hard to repay that faith that they have put in me. I thank you.
Economic development is a priority for this Labor government. It is vital to stimulate the economy for job creation, and to reduce the cost of living. I have been given the responsibility of the crucial areas of industry and economic development. My portfolios encompass Industries and Business; Resource Development; Asian Relations and Trade; Territory Insurance Office; the AustralAsia Railway; Racing, Gaming and Licensing; and defence support. And all of that lot barely fits on a business card! The dedication and devotion I made to the people of Wanguri and Leanyer will flow on to my ministerial responsibilities.
Madam Speaker, Chief Minister and Territorians, you have my commitment to put your interests first. It is time to change the focus of our Territory and how our nation perceives us. It is time for strong leadership, vision and innovation. We will build a better Territory, for Territorians, with Territorians. The new millennium provides the ideal opportunity for governments and business to make a fresh start in the Northern Territory. As the minister for key industry and economic development portfolios I will work in partnership with all stakeholders to deliver benefits for all Territorians.
The new Labor government shares the strong traditions and values which have always been at the core of our party. We are a progressive party, growing and evolving with the people of Australia and the Northern Territory, but we have core values which help guide us. I share these values of fairness, compassion, individual freedom, labour rights, responsibility, democracy and community. Partnership is more than a message or a theme for the new Labor government, it has real substance and it will be the core of our government.
The best chance for the future for the Northern Territory and for all of us who live here, lies in our working together for the common good. I believe it is important to be positive in politics, and I am working closely with our new Chief Minister, my Cabinet colleagues and the entire Labor team to establish important fundamentals for good government.
As the Administrator pointed out yesterday, the state of the Territory economy is of vital importance. A strong economy will underpin the Territory. All the objectives of this government across all portfolios will be realised sooner, and be implemented more effectively, if the economy that supports the Territory is strong, stable and growing. There are many factors that influence the strength and stability of an economy, and many of these are beyond the control of this government. However, what is not beyond the control of the government is how we react to these external events. Overseas terrorist attacks and the resulting military action has adversely affected the economy of the world, and the effects will continue to be felt for some time. The collapse of Ansett hits the Territory economy with an impact as great, if not greater, than anywhere else in the country.
In the year leading up to the election Labor clearly identified and communicated its policies and priorities for the economy and the business sector. The current situation and the change of government provides a great opportunity for the Territory to reassess and refine our approach to its economy. The government will be the facilitator of this process and will provide a clear direction. But also the government will be proactive in getting feedback and ideas from the community. We are not the font of all wisdom in this parliament and certainly, are not the font of all wisdom on the fifth floor of this parliament.
We look forward to working with both the business community and the community at large to design and implement long-term economic initiatives. The first step in this process is to be the Economic Development Summit which is being held from 4 to 6 November. I am pleased to be taking a central role in the development and coordination of this initiative. The summit will be preceded by community forums in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy on 28 October. The summit will be a coming together of minds, ideas and priorities. More than 100 people from industry, business and community groups including local governments, indigenous and ethnic groups, rural and regional organisations and the unions will be invited to take part. Community consultation is a priority for the term of this government and it will not end with the summit. The government will continue to listen to the people of the Territory.
The establishment of the Territory Business Round Table is an important new avenue for a 2-way communication between business and government. A formal channel to promote consultation and create the means to achieve a mutual understanding of each others needs, experiences, views and expectations has been lacking in the Territory. Now it is being put in place. The inaugural Business Round Table will occur following the Economic Development Summit.
Across all ministries and portfolios this will be a government that listens. This is not a hollow statement. We are putting in place the means to achieve it.
My portfolios include Industries and Business, Resource Development and Asian Relations and Trade. Oil and gas transcends all these portfolios. This government will do all it can to ensure that gas comes onshore and we are ready so that all Territorians can reap the benefits. I take up the Leader of the Opposition’s points yesterday in this House, that it is certainly the key priority of this government to work with all parties, both the customers and the resource developers, the new government in East Timor, to secure this goal of gas coming onshore to the Northern Territory. It is the highest priority at this point of time for this government. I have personally met with the heads of the project proponents led by Phillips, Woodside, Shell and Osaka Gas on a number of occasions.
The onset of gas is of major significance not only to Darwin, the Territory and the rest of Australia, but also to our nearest and fledgling neighbour East Timor. In a very important development for oil and gas, I can report to the House that the rebuilding of the relationship between East Timor and the Northern Territory is well advanced. We are both new governments and we are both determined to work together and achieve real outcomes. The Chief Minister and I have met with Dr Alkatiri on four occasions since we came to government, and also met yesterday with the new Minister for Resource Development in his government. We are developing a strong and committed personal relationship to develop both of our economies. Our goals are common. The Chief Minister and I have travelled to East Timor and we were received warmly by the new government. In turn, the Chief Minister of East Timor, Dr Mari Alkatiri, visited Darwin several weeks ago and returned yesterday to celebrate with us the first parliament of our new Labor government. East Timor and the Territory have exciting futures and we will work in partnership to deliver real benefits for all.
There are outstanding matters for resolution between Australia and East Timor. The Chief Minister and I have met with our Commonwealth counterparts in Canberra, Nick Minchin and Alexander Downer, to emphasise and reinforce the Commonwealth efforts that need to be in place at this time. This government and its departments are working hard to assist and support the Commonwealth, the project proponents and the East Timor leadership, as well as the customers, to ensure that outstanding matters are resolved and that these major projects proceed.
My thanks go to the public servants within the Department of Mines and Energy, the Office of Resource Development and the Gas Task Force who have been working tirelessly over many years to secure oil and gas work for Darwin. Those thanks are really genuine. I have been astounded by the depth of understanding of the very complex technical and commercial issues that are well understood within the departments by these public servants, and the people on the Gas Task Force. They are very complex commercial issues, very complex technical issues, but our public servants have a very solid grasp and a great corporate history of these projects, and it is a real asset and a privilege to work with them.
Ensuring gas comes onshore is one aspect; being ready for it when it does is another. Gas has the potential to be the primary driver of economic growth in the Territory. The Territory must make sure that we maximise the job and investment opportunities that gas presents. Gas will bring large multinational companies to Darwin on a scale we have not seen before. To fully benefit we must be ready to service these companies. The job opportunities will be there - we need to ensure that the skills required are available in the Northern Territory.
Prior to the election, Labor recognised that there were emerging needs and we have included a preliminary $40m as part of our capital works program as a first step to meeting those logistical needs. The money is there if and when the ask comes for improved infrastructure to make these projects come to reality. The government will work with all stakeholders to implement all our oil and gas initiatives, and the Territory will be ready for gas.
Through my Department of Industries and Business we will put in place a comprehensive program of work to ensure that the Northern Territory business environment is conducive to the creation of jobs and economic prosperity for all Territorians. We will rigorously review the regulatory framework in which industry and business operate. Business people are consumers also, and another example of how Territorians will be better protected over the forthcoming years is the planned introduction of retail tenancy legislation. This will bring the Territory in line with the level of rights and protection that is afforded elsewhere in Australia, both for the retail operators themselves as well as the property owners.
The government is aware of the national debate over problem gambling and will investigate what contemporary measures can be adopted to protect individuals and families from the potentially harmful risks associated with this activity. We will conduct a strategic review of the much maligned and rorted Community Benefit Fund to determine what level of public expenditure is required to address public programs to reduce the risks associated with problem gambling. Having said that, government also recognises that responsible gambling is an activity enjoyed by many Territorians and the industry is fast becoming an important sector of our NT economy. Government will continue to encourage this industry to grow within the appropriate regulatory measures.
Providing protection for all Territorians is a very high priority for the government, and the protection of Territory workers and their families is part of that context. The recent collapse of insurance provider HIH has caused significant problems throughout Australia and, in particular, local problems in relation to workers compensation. This government is addressing those problems. By providing a grant of $9m to absorb some of the increased costs and reduce the burden on employers, this government is providing proactive support for all Territory employers and employees. But providing this funding is not the ultimate solution for this issue, and we are considering longer term solutions and examining ways to provide a better deal for both employers and employees in this vital component of our Territory lifestyle.
As I indicated earlier, the AustralAsia Railway is one of the major projects that Territorians can and will benefit from. Whilst in opposition, we strongly supported this project and we were committed to its success. We are ensuring that, wherever possible, the maximum benefit from the construction and operation of this major piece of Australian infrastructure flows to the Northern Territory. Again, I enhance the Chief Minister’s congratulations to the previous government in achieving that dream of the railway, but let us not be churlish about it, we have always supported that project. There was not one single piece of legislation that came before this House in all the years leading up to this project that we do not support, and I just wish people on the other side of this Chamber would accept that.
Mr Burke: A faded dream, that is what the Chief Minister called it.
Mr HENDERSON: No, you forget the history.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: We have had the debate before. It really would show a little bit of humility for people on your side to actually acknowledge that this had bipartisan support over many, many years. I challenge anybody on the other side of this Chamber to point to one single piece of legislation that came into this parliament in relation to the railway that we opposed. You have to put up or shut up.
The railway and associated infrastructure work will provide greater trade potential through the Port of Darwin to and from the Asian region and, in particular, the major shipping hubs in the region. The use of modern infrastructure and technology in the movement of goods in and out of Australia will generate many opportunities here in the Territory.
Another of my responsibilities is the Territory Insurance Office. I am pleased to say that the TIO has, in the past, provided excellent service in insurance coverage to meet the needs of Territory residents. Much has been said of the difficulties that communities around Australia have experienced in arranging flood insurance cover, and the effects on those unfortunate enough to be affected by floods. The TIO is also a significant investor in the Territory and has recently announced its intention to proceed with the construction of a new head office building in Mitchell Street. TIO has stated that the building is due for completion in March 2003.
In keeping with its desire to provide insurance products to meet the needs of Territorians, TIO also provides lending and deposit facilities for the NT. The growth of this business has been exceptional in recent times as Territorians come to see TIO as its local finance and insurance organisation. In a period where regional Australia has increasingly been denied services, TIO has continued to provide for Territorians and to invest in the Territory.
The recent events of 11 September in America will have a pronounced effect on the worldwide insurance industry and, sadly to say, TIO’s operations are no exception, even though they are not directly exposed. As part of a global financial services industry it will be impacted, particularly through its reinsurance operations. However, TIO will be seeking ways to minimise the impact of these effects on Territorians and continue to provide services and products appropriate for Territorians’ needs.
Turning to the resource industry, the total value of production in the mining sector in 2000-01 was $4.1bn. However, it could be so much more. The mining industry has many players with a variety of views and priorities - it is an industry with many intricacies. The key responsibility of government is to provide direction and coordinate the process. Direction and coordination has been sadly lacking from the former government. If ever a breath of fresh air was needed from a new government it is in the Territory mining industry and is a key priority for me as minister.
The new government will bring a new approach to the mining industry. To date, a litigious and divisive approach has been taken that has mining companies, land councils, traditional owners, environmental groups and the department at odds with each other and too often in the courts at huge expense. Not for one second does the new Labor government believe that this is an inevitable situation. The new government is very much pro the mining industry.
The government will take a proactive approach to ensuring that the indigenous community is involved in all aspects of the industry. The vast majority of land in the Territory is either Aboriginal freehold land, or is pastoral lease land which may be subject to the procedures of the Native Title Act. The government will not dictate to the traditional owners or to the land councils. We will work with them, not against them - a fundamental shift in philosophy. The Aboriginal Mining and Enterprise Task Force will ensure that indigenous concerns are treated with the utmost respect, and the opportunities for Aboriginal employment within the industry is maximised. Surely, a government with four indigenous members is in a better position to do this than the previous government with none.
Before mining comes exploration. We need new discoveries and exploration is the foundation stone of the mining industry. Exploration will continue to play a significant part in the development of Territory industry. There has been an Australia-wide decline in exploration and the Territory is not immune and has been hit hard. While in opposition we supported the exploration initiative, and there has been a 15% increase in the number of exploration licences granted in the past year, but this applies to a very low base. Additional effort, resources, coordination and understanding will be applied in an effort to resolve long standing, difficult issues.
The government is confident that some real, positive exploration outcomes will become evident. Our mining and exploration initiatives effort will not be confined to Darwin. We will ensure the effort continues in Alice Springs under the Alice in Ten Mining Service Centre projects.
Also within my portfolio is the responsibility for integrated agribusiness developments involving such large projects as the Ord River irrigation area stage 2, and the Katherine/Daly basin. These developments cross the responsibilities of up to 12 agencies. They are very complex projects. The government will ensure top level coordination and orderly development. These projects will be managed as major projects. For developers, that will provide a single face for contact, and to minimise the complex red tape.
International business will play a key role in securing the Territory’s economic future. This government will respond to and work with NT business to ensure our international business strategies meet industry needs and targets. The Department of Asian Relations and Trade has, as its core role, attracting international trade and investment. We are committed to lifting the profile of the Territory in our overseas markets. I have to say that in the last couple of years under the previous government, we did lose some focus there but it is going to be an area that we are going to look to increase our effort and resolve in.
We will further develop knowledge of the Territory’s business capability to supply goods and services to other markets and to attract significant investment in major projects. We will identify, through objective research and analysis, target markets prioritised on the basis of commercial sustainability, and security for Territorians undertaking international business activities. As the minister responsible for Asian Relations, I will embrace Asia and promote the Territory.
Madam Speaker, as the Assembly can see, my portfolio areas of industry and economic developments are a priority for our Territory. It is vital we stimulate the economy for job creation and to reduce the cost of living. I am committed to working in partnership with the people of the Northern Territory to build a better Territory. Partnership is more than a message or a theme for the new government; it has real substance. The best chance for the future for the Northern Territory and all of us who live here lies in us working together for the common good.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, we have come a long way - myself not particularly far; I have only just moved from there to here - but the former member who spoke, the member for Wanguri, has come a long way - all the way from over there to there. I wish you all the best because we came into this House together just over two years ago, and much has changed in those two years. While I am speaking of the number of years there are a few things in my reply that I would like to address.
When we start our Assembly each morning, we refer to that which is ‘to promote the welfare of all Territorians’. I can pledge as a member of the opposition, as I am sure can be discerned from all that has been said, that is the purpose of this Chamber. We heard yesterday a whole range of propositions being raised such as: ‘You had 27 years to address X, Y and Z. You had a government that has constantly changed’. I would like to challenge that immediately. I have been here for two years. We have two members over here who were re-elected this year and a number who have only been here for one term or two or perhaps three – I am not sure of the member for Katherine …
Mr Reed: Five.
Mr MILLS: Five terms, there you go. We are here for Territorians. I want to participate, as all members on this side participate, in robust debate with that central focus of not political point scoring, but making sure we do progress issues of concern to all Territorians. At the end of this Ninth Assembly, I would hope that the role that we have played will progress those issues. Yesterday was an eye opener to me. When I went through my campaign in Blain, I took very seriously any promise or commitment I would make if I were to enter into a second term of parliament. I took very seriously what was written in this position paper. I understood the sentiment of it; I understood what was being said; and when we went to that process yesterday of establishing the committee systems, I felt the sentiment that was resonating through that position paper was not honoured.
Now, maybe things have changed. I think things have. As I was thinking about what I should say, there is a book that sticks with me and it starts with: ‘This is the best of times and it is the worst of times’. It also says a couple of lines down: ‘This is the spring of hope and the winter of despair’. Now, we speak about this is the best of times - adjournment debates or maiden speeches that were made - this is the best of times now democracy has been delivered to the Northern Territory. I was offended by such sentiments that were resonating around this Chamber yesterday, as though those who participated in election after election for 27 years, did not participate, and all of a sudden democracy has come. Those voters exercised their right to choose. In fact, if you look at the figures, there were more who voted for this side of the House. That issue brings into question what the word ‘arrogance’ actually means. The word ‘arrogance’ in fact means to have an exaggerated opinion of your own importance. We should not have an exaggerated opinion of our sense of history. We are here to progress matters for the Northern Territory, and I do not want a part of the type of attitudes that were echoing around this Chamber yesterday. We are to be on with the business of government.
On that matter, too, I would be very comfortable in looking over my shoulder and finding reasons why things cannot be delivered upon, because I made great effort when I was in my electorate and representing aspects of the Palmerston community, not to utter a word of anything that I might be responsible for delivering, feeling that perhaps I may not be able to deliver it. I had to deal with a community that has been offered a senior secondary college, year 11, 12 and TAFE, in Palmerston to the tune of $10m. Now they are looking at me - and guess who I will be looking at? I will certainly work with you because that has to be delivered on. I did not make the promise. The additional classrooms for Woodroffe, the courthouse in Palmerston - $5m worth. The performance and cultural centre - that is in addition to the $500 000 that has already been allocated – that is $5m. The Defence Force Centre - the Palmerston community was told that that is what they are getting, and I will have to play my part, in all honesty, to ensure that that is responded to. Finally, and very importantly, the Palmerston Magpies have been offered a home ground. It was offered in the heat of the campaign in circulated newsletters: ‘They must have a home ground’. I did not feel that I could offer that. It has been offered by those who are now in government - $2m. I cannot play games here. I am not playing politics, but we are talking about representing communities who have had raised expectations, and I will play my part.
I have a little concern, just reflecting on yesterday’s ceremonies. I have been through a number of New Year’s Eve dos and all of us have. We come up to new year celebration; we are looking forward to making those resolutions. We are looking forward to the next year being a golden year when ‘I am going to lose weight’, or ‘I am going to get fit’, or ‘I am going to paint the house’, or ‘I am going to deal with this debt’, and it is going to be a whole new era. You wait for the new year to pass. I can tell you - and I am sure you have all been there – when you go to a New Year’s Eve function there is a sense of sadness that descends in the midst of the celebrations, when you get this sense that next year is probably going to be not that different from the year we have just left.
I respectfully accept the excitement and the sense of occasion of yesterday, to use a phrase - but a sense of occasion. In fact, it distracts me. Because I have only been in this Chamber for two years, I made the effort to read Hansard as to the swearing-in of the Eighth Assembly. I can tell you I was shocked at what I read. To draw out of context and to respond to a reference to what actually occurred at the swearing-in of the Eighth Assembly - shock and horror echoes around the whole Parliament House because of a reference that was made to something that occurred at the Eighth Assembly, at the swearing-in. I would urge all members to read the account of what happened.
I have this sense that we are in for an adventure. I commence by saying the best of times and the worst of times - that seems to immediately conjure up this idea that we in opposition are desperately disappointed that we are now not in government. There is a sense of disappointment but there is, greater than that, a sense of acceptance in what occurred on 18 August. We now participate in a new era in the Northern Territory. Without reserve, we will participate in it completely and we will make sure that we go from the beginning to the very end, making sure that Territorians and the aspirations of Territorians are progressed through the efforts that we expend in this Chamber. I for one - and I am sure my members with me would echo, that we are going to participate in a very positive and proactive way.
There are challenges that we all face. It is a difficult time for us in opposition to understand how we can play this game, and play it well, for the benefit of Territorians. It is obvious, too, that those who are now in government are finding it challenging. But we will bear with one another because the object of this exercise is the Northern Territory, and it is not grandstanding and beating one’s chest and pretending that ‘we are greater than thou because we have now the mandate to deliver democracy to the Northern Territory’. At the end of that, I found that was offensive.
I have responsibility in my shadow capacity for education, employment and training. They are areas that I will participate in to a great degree and I look forward to making contributions, and I trust that my time with those responsibilities will make some kind of difference.
Education is an absolutely critical area. The 52 days was referred to yesterday - it was 51 yesterday - days that we have been here. We heard during question time, ‘I have only been here for a short time so …’. But the fact is that the best of times and the worst of times comes into play when it comes to teachers. They thought, ‘Hey, we are in for the best of times’, and it turned out to be far less than that. We ended up with a situation where the teachers were deeply offended by the response from the minister. They felt unheard, that their claims were not even listened to or an attempt made to understand what they were trying to say. In fact, I have on record that the minister says that he has lost respect for teachers. To me that is something that has to be corrected immediately because it was not primarily about pay and those teachers were demonised in many respects. It is about the children - the object of the exercise is the education that goes on through our system for children, in this case. Our attitude to teachers is the very vehicle that will enhance the outcome to the children and others who are receiving the education. I will certainly play my part because I bear centrally not the issue of my gaining political points, but to make sure that the object of the education system - that is, delivering a good education to children - is enhanced rather than compromised with point scoring.
On the issue of sports funding, it has already been noted, and with some consternation amongst sporting circles, that the system of granting funds to peak bodies is going to be altered substantially. I request a briefing on that so that I can allay the fears of peak bodies, and also to pass on to the minister concerns that have been raised with me.
I would like at this point to reiterate, as we have talked about the concept of history and we are talking about - it has almost become a clich now - this really is a time like no other. We have talked about what has happened in the United States. It is a time like no other. This is a time like no other and it is a privilege for us all to be involved in this process. There are adventures for us. I might look down the track and see how things will unfold. I can say for one that I will be playing an active part in that. But who can predict what is going to happen? I hope that the result of all our exercises and energies will be that the Territory will progress as a result of all that we do in this Chamber, and outside of it. But there are adventures ahead, I am sure of that.
Onto the fact that I am now able to stand here for the commencement of a term, the Ninth. I came in half way through the Eighth and had the sense of an observer for most of that. To me, there is a sense of excitement; I am here from the very beginning of the Ninth Assembly. Now I have more of a sense and understanding of what actually has transpired to put me in this position. It does not come without the support of the people of Moulden, Rosebery, Woodroffe and a section of Driver. They are the good people that this seat here, in fact, belongs to and at their goodwill I occupy. I pledge that I will represent them in all fairness and every sense of robustness.
My electorate office is open - in fact the Monday after the election there was a sense of ‘What now?’. I walked into my office at 8.30am to go back to work and there were the things that were profound to us, ‘We are in opposition now, what does that mean?’ Then there was someone standing in my office saying, ‘You know, local member, the height of my fence is far too low and I would like it raised because the dogs are getting out.’ I thought, ‘Well, the world goes on’. The issues just continue on and those issues will be the most important part of my job - that is looking after the concerns of my constituents. I do not want to play a part of anything that will promote cynicism in our community towards politicians. For all of us who have gone through the process of doorknocking and visiting people, arrogance is gone. We cannot be arrogant because we have met the people who give us this job. There really is an undergirding sense in all of us, there is a sense of humility, and that I would like to echo around this Chamber. We are here to do a job. While the memory of the doorknocking and all those good folk in our electorates are very strong with us, I hope that that stays alive and that tempers the tone of our debate and the response that comes through our interactions.
At this point I would like to pay particular attention to the team that worked around me. I have used the word ‘humbled’ and I was humbled by the fact that people would just come and unreservedly assist me in my task of representing the people of Blain. To every single one of them I say thank you. I will not name them here because they did not do it for their name to go in Hansard, but their memory remains with me and I will keep my gratitude alive to them.
For those in the CLP - I think it is a sense of history that you on the other side in government, could also gain from understanding that it goes without saying that after 27 years, it had to come at some stage, say us all. It had to - we read history. But why to us, why now? Well, it is just like death, I suppose, It comes at some stage and we wonder how come it is going to happen to me. Well, it happened and we have accepted that …
A member: I am feeling pretty good, actually.
Mr MILLS: He is feeling fantastic, I know.
It has happened, and I must report to this House the response to that occurrence has been most satisfying. There is a positive aspect to that which is going to have its bearing on the face of politics in the Northern Territory. It ain’t over yet, by a long shot!
In that sense I would like to pass my sincere appreciation to Suzanne Cavanagh, Charlie Taylor and Andrew Macrides. They have been the lifeblood and the strength of the CLP, and their contribution to the Northern Territory is immense.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr MILLS: My wife, Roslyn, who - in coming in mid-term as I did in the Eighth Assembly - had a revelation when she saw the whole process right from the beginning for the Ninth Assembly. I appreciate the way that my wife has really come to stand squarely by my side to be with me, and to be anxious and concerned for the job that I have. I do appreciate having one who is beside me in my wife, Roslyn, whom I love, and we have many more adventures together. As I sense that my place in here is secure for the next four years, I know that there are things ahead of us that we are going to be sharing together - many talks and discussions about issues related to our responsibilities.
To my children, Kristen and Matthew, who now think that it is not too bad that dad is a politician. It is certainly a step up from being their school principal, so they are still relieved that I am not hanging around the school and bothering them.
Finally - and probably to finish in a manner in which I started - I have heard more clearly than ever before, as we start this Assembly, that it is for the promotion of the true welfare of all Territorians. I take that seriously, just as I have taken seriously everything and every promise that was made - I take it quite seriously. If someone makes a promise to an electorate it is a serious matter. You do not muck around with people. Every promise that was made is a serious promise, because we are dealing with people. With due respect, member for Arnhem, that was the nature of the intent of our questions. My question in particular to you, was that there is concern, and you have allayed that with your response. I will certainly convey that back to constituents who have raised that with me. It is the promotion of the true welfare of all Territorians.
I can only ask that, please, can we get into a situation – I am making this request of the government – I would like in the Ninth Assembly that we can now desist from looking over our shoulder, and the black hole business. That is behind us. What the electorate is wanting to hear is the sense of movement forward. It is doing nothing for morale to talk about, ‘Well, we have not been in the job long’, or ‘Look at the situation that we have inherited’. One is the promises that were made were fair dinkum genuine promises, and you do not mess with people. I can tell you the record in the electorate is, when the CLP was in government, when promises were made, there was a sense of expectation and confidence that they would be met. I do not believe there have been any promises made on this side of the House when the CLP was in government that we would not have delivered on. So, I am just making sure that the sense of promises that have been made in the past are to be honoured, and that we must provide leadership. I, for my part, will make sure that I am standing in a position to assist in government’s role in leadership.
Mr AH KIT (Arnhem): Madam Speaker, let me begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land that this House is built upon. I pay my respects to the Larrakia people. I acknowledge their elders and thank their countrymen for the welcome that was extended to us in the opening ceremony. Furthermore, I pay my respects to my elders and the peoples of the Jawoyn nation. It is also appropriate that I acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues. Special recognition is extended to the Leader of Northern Territory government, Chief Minister Clare Martin, the Deputy Chief Minister, my fellow Cabinet Ministers, and my Caucus colleagues.
I would also like to remind people of the historic election of four Aboriginal candidates to this Chamber. I make particular note of the achievements of my esteemed Aboriginal colleagues. I look forward to their contributions to the debates of this Assembly, and the business of our government. To the members of Arafura, Barkly and Millner, welcome. Amongst the many firsts being achieved, we have the most Aboriginal parliamentarians of any parliament ever. This Assembly has its first female Aboriginal parliamentarian, and the Northern Territory government has its first ever Aboriginal Cabinet Minister.
At this juncture, I would like to pay special thanks and recognition to my family. Across the years, my wife and children have always supported my efforts. As with every close-knit family, they have shared in my hard times and now they share in these good times. My hard work has been matched by their contributions and my success is their success. Thank you, Gail, Trisha, Jonathon, Ngaree and Bardi.
I am exceedingly glad to take my place as a minister in this government. This is the first Labor government and the first Martin government. It was an honour to serve and represent the electorate of Arnhem through opposition. I now look forward to continuing this work from the government benches and within Cabinet. The support I have enjoyed across the years from many people around the electorate of Arnhem, often provided a source of hope in the difficult times of opposition. From Milingimbi and Ramingining in the north, to Ngukurr and Numbulwar in the south, with Bulman and Jilkminggan in the west, to Groote Eylandt in the east, the electorate of Arnhem covers some of the most beautiful country in the Northern Territory.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this time, in recognition of the contribution that many Territorians made to the Labor Party’s historic election win at the Northern Territory’s general election of September 2001. The Labor Party’s electoral win in September came because Northern Territory Labor was unified, focussed, presented a strong team of candidates, and mobilised an even larger team of supporters.
I would like to make particular note of the campaign team that worked in support of my re-election in the electorate of Arnhem. Arnhem is a big electorate that requires many people in many communities to volunteer their time to campaign, arrange local contacts, prepare for meetings, and to staff mobile polling booths. Thanks go to my campaign team - Jamie Gallacher, Darren Godwell, Denise Bowden, Andrew Ah Kit, Phillip Quall, Phil Richards, Alan Rasmussen, Nancy and Grant Burgoyne, Paul Jamala and Karen Hinge. Out in the electorate there were many people - in fact, too many to name here. I will ask that they forgive me for not listing them at this time. Through the last six years, I have built friendships across the electorate and Labor’s historic win is a reflection on the faith of these people. Once again, I extend my thanks to those people of Arnhem.
In a large part, my pride in taking part in these historic events stems from my humble beginnings. I was born in Alice Springs and moved to Darwin when I was three years old. I spent my childhood in what was known as Parap Camp. Many fond memories remain with me from those days. I have watched Darwin grow from a small town of just a few thousand people into the prosperous capital city that it is today.
The Northern Territory has so much to be proud of. The beauty of the Territory’s natural wonders is only surpassed by the beauty of the Territory’s peoples. Our citizens draw from nations around the world. Being proud of their heritage and valued for their contributions, these people and their families are the source of a vibrant cosmopolitan and diverse society. Through my school years, friendships were built and are now woven throughout the unique fabric of Territory life. Threads are drawn from Greece, Italy, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Timor, England, Scotland and many, many other nations from around the world. Increasing the richness of this wonderful tapestry are the unique cultures of indigenous peoples. The many Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory continue to make invaluable contributions.
I expect indigenous framework agreements will advance these contributions even further. At the heart of the Martin government is a determination to realise the full potential of the Territory and every Territorian. Indigenous framework agreements will provide another avenue for the Northern Territory Labor government to achieve this objective. After six years in opposition, the opportunity to implement our objectives in government is empowering and refreshing. Chief Minister Clare Martin has flagged that our government will abide by principles of inclusion, openness and accountability as steps to promoting good government. This has special significance for Territorians who live outside the urban centres of Darwin and Alice Springs. As a member representing a bush electorate, I think many of our government’s decisions and initiatives will be warmly welcomed by people living in the rural and remote parts of the Northern Territory. As never before the Northern Territory government’s Cabinet and ministry reflects the diversity of the Territory’s population.
Furthermore, the Martin Labor government has highlighted the priority of the whole of the Territory development by implementing election promises by moving to establish the Office of Territory Development and the Office of Central Australia. The Martin government draws representatives from across the Territory and we will govern for the benefit of all Territorians regardless of race, colour, creed or political affiliations.
Let me now turn to my ministerial portfolios. As a young man in 1971, I worked as a truck driver for what was known as AW7 with Transport and Works. Now, I return as the minister for transport. I relish the opportunity to fulfil my ministerial responsibilities, given that I have had those years working as a young lad in the department. I also spent a couple of years testing soil and concrete in the materials laboratory in Alice Springs after Cyclone Tracy. It was an incredible experience, as I say, to return as their minister some 30 years later. I am also happy to say that, while my office may have shifted, my feet remain firmly planted on the ground.
Regarding the Department of Transport and Works, the Martin government is committed to providing a safe and efficient network of transport infrastructure and services that will best serve the aspirations of all Territorians. The social and economic development of the Territory will be enhanced by delivering on a number of policy objectives. Amongst these are: improving the Territory’s road networks to better meet the needs of our regional and remote communities; completing stage 2 of the East Arm Port and its integration with the new railway; facilitating the development of Darwin’s trade management capabilities and the new freight system for the nation; and providing appropriate infrastructure and services to support and develop both the offshore and potential onshore oil and gas industries.
The Martin government will also pay particular attention to ensure that our capital works program advances better health and education outcomes for Territorians. Initiatives include: completion of the upgrades of the Darwin and Alice Springs hospitals; sustaining school facilities by improving the existing program of facilities maintenance in consultation with schools and their communities; and upgrading Darwin High School and the primary schools of Parap, Nakara and Alawa.
I now mention some key objectives regarding the Power and Water Authority. PAWA is a valuable Territory asset owned by government on behalf of all Territorians. This agency is the Territory’s success story and deserves to be confident of its continued contributions to our economy and development. Behind the mining industry, PAWA is the Northern Territory’s largest business. I commend the workers, management and board of PAWA for their efforts. As their minister, I look forward to the chance to continue advancing the work of this agency. There is no better indication of the overall wellbeing of an organisation than the morale of its staff. Last week, I joined the workers of PAWA at the Ben Hammond Social Club and can confirm that their morale is high. I thank them for their warm welcome.
In 2000-01, a payment of $23m was delivered by PAWA to government. We have every expectation that this dividend will be of a similar amount in the year 2001-02. This payment is also matched by improvements and efficiencies across PAWA. As reported within the Electricity Supply Association publication, PAWA’s network reliability figures are better than Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. PAWA is also on track …
Mr Baldwin: I used to tell you blokes that all the time. You did not believe it then.
Mr AH KIT: They are not waiting for you to come back to that social club at Ben Hammond, I can tell you that. Last time you got in trouble down there minister - ex minister.
PAWA is also on track to source an additional 2% of its energy requirements from renewable energy. Initiatives include: the project to build a power station using mimosa pigra to generate electricity in the South Alligator Region; construction of solar panels in the Kings Canyon and Bulman regions to take the peak off the electricity load in those communities and thus considerably reduce the use of diesel fuel; PAWA has also signed an agreement with the solar systems to install new solar concentrator technology in three remote communities in the Territory; and research into additional alternative energy initiatives continues.
Another key consideration in the infrastructure development of the Northern Territory is the expansion and operation of the Darwin Port. The new port at East Arm was opened in February 2000 and involves a staged transfer of operations from the existing wharf facilities in the city. The new port will provide world class facilities for shipping and trade through the Port of Darwin. The civil works for the access causeway embankment and intermodal terminal have commenced and are expected to be completed in October 2002. The tender for the berth extension contracts are currently being assessed. These works will connect the new port to the national rail network and complete the AustralAsia trade route making Darwin Australia’s Asian Gateway. The Darwin Port Corporation is another exciting Territory organisation that serves the interests of Territorians. I look forward to bringing reports into the Legislative Assembly on the progress and achievements of the Port Corporation.
Finally, let me turn to the Department of Correctional Services. Consistent with the principles of transparency and accountability in government, a formal review of the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act has commenced in conjunction with the Attorney-General’s Department. Periodic reviews ensure legislation remains relevant and appropriate for the times within which agencies operate. It is time to revisit the respective legislative framework and make recommendations on how to improve the application of the legislation in the Department of Correctional Services. The review will include a consultative component early in 2002 culminating in a series of recommendations for government’s consideration. I urge the public and members opposite to note this initiative, and to show no hesitation in contributing to the community consultative process.
In conclusion, I am grateful to the people of Arnhem for their confidence in my ability in returning me to parliament. As a minister in the Martin government I will welcome the challenges of my portfolios and look forward to working with my departments to advance the objectives of our government. The next four years of Labor government will provide the Northern Territory with solid foundations upon which we can build our future. I look forward to discharging my duties as a minister.
Let me conclude by quoting some words spoken by the late Senator Neville Bonner, Australia’s first Aboriginal parliamentarian. In his maiden speech Senator Bonner summed up by saying:
These eloquent words and noble sentiments still ring true 30 years after they were first uttered. I conclude today by dedicating my work over the next term to all Territorians, especially to my constituents in the electorate of Arnhem, to whom I am indebted.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I felt honoured to be present in the Chamber to hear His Honour the Administrator address the Ninth Assembly of the Northern Territory in this, my third term in office as the member for Greatorex. I am pleased that I have the trust and confidence of the people in my electorate. I thank them all for their support and it is with the support of friends and family, in particular my ever supportive other half, Sharon, who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful campaign. There was a large team of supporters, some members of the party, but mostly generous people within the electorate who considered me worthy of their support.
They all worked hard around me to ensure that I had the time to concentrate on knocking on every door, every caravan on a permanent site, and every town camp. To all my supporters, they have my greatest appreciation for their help and their belief in me. To my wife, I could not have done it without her. I owe my electoral success to her and her keen sense of issues and timing.
I have worked diligently for the electorate of Greatorex for almost eight years; caring for my constituents, helping with their local issues, assisting in the difficult negotiations with the public service, involvement with them in saving or enhancing the social amenities in the electorate or simply working to improve their lifestyle living in Central Australia. I declare here and now that I will continue to serve Greatorex with my best ability, looking after the needs of the electorate and all its constituents. As a generality, 40% of constituents vote for Labor and 40% vote for the Country Liberal Party. A seat is won or lost based on the level of support a candidate receives from the swinging 20%. I am pleased to say that the middle 20% saw fit to support me and, in fact, some of the 40% normally in the Labor camp also supported my candidacy.
Let me welcome the CLP’s team here on this side of the House and, in particular, the two new members of the Assembly, the member for Araluen and the member for Goyder, both young, intelligent and energetic members with legal training who will contribute in a major way to the deliberations of our party and this parliament. I also welcome the new members on the government’s side of the Chamber and wish them well in this coming term in office.
I congratulate the members opposite, but I also wish to draw some points of fact to their attention. While the number of members in government is three more than on this side of the House, it is of note that in the final wash up, the Country Liberal Party did win 52% of the votes against 48% for the Labor Party. Not one seat that Labor won from the Country Liberal Party was won in their own right. Every one of the six northern suburbs seats was won on the backs of the preferences of independent candidates, candidates whose preferences went in all directions like unguided missiles.
In my last newsletter, Greatorex Voice, hand delivered into my electorate last week I wrote: ‘Well, what a surprise that was. I wonder who got the bigger surprise: the incoming government or the outgoing government?’ I also wrote that history would judge how successful the Labor campaign was, as I believe that it was too early to make an honest judgement about it at the moment. I do not wish to appear to be crying ‘sour grapes’. However, I am angry that the Labor Party had the audacity to telephone my constituents and falsely suggest that the CLP was in bed with One Nation in Greatorex.
Dr Toyne: You were!
Members interjecting.
Dr LIM: In Greatorex? That is where you are wrong. You lie! Why did the Labor Party not target the electorates of Braitling or Araluen?
Members interjecting.
Dr LIM: I can only suggest that it was because I was an ethnic Chinese.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Would the member for Greatorex resume his seat. Thank you. I ask for some order in this House. You are to address your comments through the Chair. You may continue.
Dr LIM: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I say again: why did the Labor Party not target the electorates of Braitling or Araluen? I can only suggest it was because I am an ethnic Chinese and was the candidate in Greatorex. There was no other reason. And the Labor Party dares to accuse the CLP of playing the race card! This is the party that claims it is not racist, yet its very actions make a lie of its claim. It is such a pity that is the case.
Many of the new members on the government side spoke with genuine feelings yesterday about their desire to be good, honest and ethical about their performance in this House and while in government. I take them on their word and look forward to their commitment and translation of their commitment into action. I am pleased to note that His Honour the Administrator commented that he believed: ‘The people of the Northern Territory expect a new government to build upon the achievements of the former government’. It is indeed a recognition that a CLP government of the day have done well and achieved much in the years in government. No one could argue against any of the general objectives made by His Honour the Administrator during his address to this House. We all want good health, good education, good homes and the opportunity to have good, gainful employment in a good financial, social and physical environment.
What is different between the two sides of this House is how we believe we can achieve these aims. I have been given the shadow portfolios of Central Australia, Regional Development, Housing, Local Government, Corporate and Information Services and Ethnic Affairs. A handful, some would say, but nevertheless a challenge I look forward to.
The Labor government has been in place for nearly two months and everything seems to have come to a standstill. The talk out there is that nothing much has happened under this new government. Business is saying there is a lack of government direction. There are interminable reviews of everything. People have said that under the CLP government, things were ticking over smoothly, however since the Labor government has taken over it is like moving through molasses. Businesses out there are facing bleak and difficult times. There is a slow down of business and business people are saying that the Labor government is sitting on its collective hands blaming everyone, particularly the former government, instead of getting on with the job of governing and encouraging business confidence. Just in case the members in government have not noticed, local businesses are currently battling, doing it hard out there. If building jobs is the government’s number one priority, then I say to the government: get on with it. That was the government’s stated intention, that it wishes to provide good government to every part of the Territory. Its action belies its words.
My loyalty and feelings for the Alice Springs and the Central Australian region are strong and well known. We from the south have sometimes felt neglected by the majority of Darwin-based politicians. I have spoken about the Berrimah line on many occasions. The Chief Minister said: ‘Gone is the Berrimah line. We are in government for all Territorians’. Since the installation of the Labor government, the Berrimah line has become the Berrimah wall.
This all sounds like I am whinging, a poor loser. Well, I won my seat against your candidate - who was pre-selected immediately after the 1997 election to campaign - and against Labor’s misleading statements and push-polling over One Nation in Greatorex. I hope that the Labor government would take what I have to say as constructive criticism rather than just a complaint.
Let me come back to Central Australia. The Labor government has forsaken Central Australia. The Berrimah line is truly reinforced by Labor concrete. The Minister for Central Australia was a position that was to be removed by the Labor Party as expressed during its pre-election rhetoric. I am glad to see that good sense has prevailed and the Labor government changed its mind on that, appointing the member for Stuart to the position. However, he has been singularly absent for most of the time from Central Australia. He was not around to witness the terrible bush fires that have occurred throughout the Centre for most of the last couple of months, most deliberately lit. He had to be dragged in to react to the strident community concerns.
The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment has done nothing to progress the release of first home buyer land in the Head Street region. I understand that his department has advised him that the development should proceed. The developers have been waiting endlessly for some sort of response so I say to the minister, get on with it. The paperwork has been on his desk for several weeks. It is time that he made some decision.
The Chief Minister and the Minister for Tourism were so eager to sidle up to Virgin Blue that they forgot all about Alice Springs. Since the Ansett disaster, Alice Springs has been completely overlooked. Had it not been for Qantas maintaining its services, and since, increasing the frequency of flights to the Centre, we would have been left high and dry. The Labor government is prepared to pay $2m to Virgin Blue every year to ensure that there are flights between Darwin and Brisbane. It then goes ahead with a grant to Air North of $200 000 to fly between Darwin, Nhulunbuy and Cairns. I hasten to add that I support Air North and the services it provides for Central Australia, delivering the essential passenger services between the regional centres of the Territory. But I ask, how about some money going to its air services into Central Australia? Many tourism operators felt the impact of the Ansett collapse directly, those who had contracts with the failed airline. Others, indirectly affected, such as the private hire car and taxi services have suffered significant decreases in their daily fare with a drop in passengers flying into Alice Springs. If the minister for Central Australia were in Alice Springs more he would be acutely aware of the situation and be able to do something about it.
It took a long while for the Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services to respond to the desperate needs of the Alice Springs branch of the Family Planning Association. The Alice Springs media was full of stories about the imminent closure of the Alice Springs Family Planning Clinic. The threat to close the Family Planning Association was made in the middle of the election campaign by no other than president of the Family Planning Association, Elden Chamberlain, a known Labor supporter, who wanted another destabilising factor against the CLP government. The Family Planning Association was given a one month rent-free extension of tenancy, not to help out the Family Planning Association in Darwin, but for those very dedicated volunteers in Alice Springs to give them time and room to bring negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion. I quote from the Centralian Advocate of 21 September 2001:
But NT Health Minister, Jane Aagaard, has been slow to move on the funding crisis despite a pre-election
promise of $40 000 to prop up the ailing health service.
It appeared an advisor was asked as to what the minister intended to do and here I quote again:
When asked why he was not familiar with the issues he said, ‘I haven’t been following the Alice Springs media all that closely.’ Is this another indication that a Berrimah wall is well and truly consolidated since Labor government has been in place? It took all the lobbying by people in Central Australia and the media to get the minister to move on the matter. So far, only $40 000 has been allocated to keep the service going for a short while. The minister needs to find out why the Darwin service is so costly, while the Alice Springs service has to make do with meagre sums that come from the Darwin headquarters.
Mr Henderson: What did you do for the last 10 years?
Dr LIM: The Chief Minister has committed her government to help them - I gave them one month rent free, that is what I did …
Mr Henderson: One month! We gave them $40 000!
Dr LIM: What did you do? You did nothing, absolutely nothing. What did you do - nothing at all. That is my own money. What did you put in? Nothing.
The Chief Minister has committed her government to help Northern Territory University. I am glad she has done that. At long last, the Labor Party is declaring its commitment to the university. It was the Labor Party which fought the Country Liberal Party government when we wanted to establish the university in 1984. It was the Labor Party which wanted to restrict the supply of effective full-time places to 20 per year. It was the Country Liberal Party government which took the lead to commit the development of the Northern Territory University, the only public university that was initially fully funded by a state or territory government.
Today, the university is facing some major issues. Many students are facing continued frustrations with their courses and lectures. Since the start of this last term, lectures have been cancelled, so much so that for the first week of this term some classes of some courses were cancelled for the whole week. It is critical that government get with the university to sort out the problems.
The Chief Minister says, ‘Indigenous Territorians now have a government that acknowledges their needs and aspirations’. By inference, she claims the Country Liberal Party government ignored Aboriginal people. That is not true and I dispute that. Many in this House have heard me speak about the helplessness of our indigenous population. Many have also heard me speak about the patronising attitude that many of the members opposite have about Aboriginal people. It was very loud and clear when the late Professor Fred Hollows said to the Labor government of the day that we should not be leading our indigenous people up an evolutionary cul-de-sac. I am sure Aboriginal people do not want to be led up a blind alley but it seems to me that some people within the Aboriginal industry are determined that that is the way to go.
I believe that we all, Aboriginal people, Anglo-Celtic, European, or Chinese, want good health. We all want education, we all want our children to grow well, strong and educated. For these aspirations we are all the same. What is important is that we must provide not only equal opportunity but also equal access.
I cannot say that I was disappointed with the comments of the Minister for Housing made yesterday. He said nothing that was different to the statement I delivered in February of this year on Territory Housing. It is encouraging for me to see that Territory Housing is continuing along the line which was initiated by myself and my predecessors. It is reassuring that the minister agrees in principal with those initiatives. I look forward to continuing good housing policy for the Northern Territory. I would be interested to see how the minister intends to handle the opening of the Leanyer Senior’s Village due sometime in early December. I remind him, if he is not already aware of it, that his colleague, the member for Wanguri, was dead set against this development. I wonder what his position is now? Do not forget that. In the Northern Territory News of 19 February 2001 the member for Wanguri said that he wanted the project stopped and had the audacity to make it an election issue. He went so far as to write to his constituents making misleading statements about the development.
Opposition to this project is opposition to housing for senior Territorians, many of whom are now able to remain in the Territory as a result of the compassionate and forward-thinking policies of the former government. The member for Wanguri was opposed to the project. I wonder if he still is. I advise the minister that he counsels his colleague. Being on the same side of politics he might be more inclined to listen to him.
The IHANT program for Central Australia is very important to our construction industry. Now that the Papunya model is settled, and the project let, I look forward to seeing the development of high quality housing for Aboriginal people in Central Australia. It will prove to be a good example for other ATSIC regional councils to consider.
The cosmopolitan nature of the Northern Territory population is the best there is around the country. We do not have any enclaves of any one ethnic group throughout the Territory, as can be found in the major centres alongside the eastern seaboard. 19% of Territorians were born overseas and 50% of these born in non-English speaking countries. I am one of them, having emigrated to this country some 38 years ago. The Territory is a unique place in this country with some 140 ethnic groups living harmoniously together. The Chinese population, in particular, makes up a very sizeable section of the ethnic community.
The member for Arafura mentioned that while many people who call themselves Territorians end up retiring in places other than the Territory, many families of indigenous people have lived here for all time. Let me also add that some Chinese families are now sixth or seventh generation Territorians, many of whom have inter-married with indigenous Territorians. I congratulate the member for Arafura for her traditional entrance to the Chamber last Tuesday, and the handover of responsibility from the former member for Arafura to her. It was poignant to watch the dance, the actions of the former member, for whom I do have time.
I add here that it was through my connection with this House that we have the blessing of the Chamber by the Chung Wah Lion Dance at each sitting in conjunction with the Chinese New Year. The former government continued to fund, through the Office of Ethnic Affairs, the Chinese New Year Festival and the Moon Festival. I had the privilege of bringing about the celebration of the Moon Festival in Darwin over the last few years, and joining the disparate groups of Chinese people of Darwin. Through these celebrations the Chinese groups have gradually become a cohesive group, through the goodwill of many of their leaders.
I now want to make some comments about the Alice Springs to Darwin railway. The Chief Minister was quick to lay claim to the success of this development, one delivered by the Country Liberal Party government. At a time when everyone was about to abandon the project, the Country Liberal Party government kept going, doing what had to be done to ensure the bedding down of the project. I remind members that at the same time, the Chief Minister, the then Leader of the Opposition, said that the railway was a faded dream. Over these last two days, we have heard a change of heart from the Chief Minister. She now speaks of the railway, the sleeper factories in Katherine and Tennant Creek, as if they were her own.
Mr Stirling: We supported every bill. You were in here when we supported every bill that ever went through this place. Do not tell lies.
Dr LIM: All I can say is that I am glad that she has now seen the light and supports the railway fully, relishing the many jobs in the railway project, that the railway project is delivering and will deliver in the Territory. I take exception to the Leader of Government Business who called what I said ‘a lie’. I ask that he withdraw.
Mr Stirling: I withdraw.
Dr LIM: Thank you very much, sit down.
Alice Springs will benefit from the railway development, and for the next three years will capitalise on its role as a railhead for the transhipment of material to building sites. It will surely serve as a major transit centre for the trains that will ply along the track for decades to come, if not for the life of the railway. The railway is particularly significant for Alice Springs, which after all, grew up as a railway town. Just as the arrival of the Ghan in 1929 brought tourists, supplies, and comforts of life that could not be brought by camel, the new train will expand tourism, freight links, and business opportunities.
The Alice Springs to Darwin railway will prove very exciting and economically beneficial for Central Australia. I suggest that the railway will not only help with the extractive industries in the remote outback of the Territory, it will encourage opening up of land for agriculture. Transportation of fresh food will be less of a problem there now. Horticulture in Central Australia, particularly around Ti Tree, is now a commercial reality. The railway makes transport of harvest more practicable.
In all, I feel the Northern Territory is on the cusp of great economic and social development. It is important that Territorians grasp these opportunities with vigour. As the Administrator said, the people of the Northern Territory expect the new government to build upon the achievements of the former government. I will do all in my power to ensure that the new government lives up to the expectations of Territorians and fulfils the promises that it made to all of us.
Since 11 September, the world has changed and consequently, life has changed. There is no turning back. With the announcement today that Australia will commit ground troops to the war in Afghanistan, it commits each and every one of us to some degree, and many of us have children of that age who may be involved in this war.
Life has changed, this parliament has changed, and as they say, the only thing that is constant in this life is change. I have accepted the change and I am ready to deal with the change.
Mr STIRLING (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, I am honoured to be returned by the constituents of Nhulunbuy at the election on the 18 August this year. My thanks to the members of the local branch of the Nhulunbuy Labor Party. It is a branch that it is highly effective and it remains as near and dear to me as it was back in 1979 when I first became a member of it. My thanks to all those members and to those who assisted with the week of mobile polling including Bakamumu Marika, Banduk Marika, Jenny, John Rika, Lalambarri and Janet Yunupingu, and Johnny and Joanne at Galiwinku.
Elections are never easy to contest, and I congratulate each member of the Assembly on their election. Clearly, they have the support of their electorate and deserve to be here.
Mr Elferink: Hear, hear!
Mr STIRLING: I pay particular tribute to the member for Macdonnell because in the context of this election, he was one who withstood what was a very clear swing away from the former Country Liberal Party government.
I particularly congratulate the first Labor Chief Minister in the Northern Territory, and I commend her for her efforts throughout the campaign. I thought it was her decency - her absolute overall decency - and her adherence to a positive message that both sustained her, and us as a team, throughout that campaign, and clearly won the support of Territorians to enable us to form the first ever Labor government.
I thank and congratulate all those staff - when I say all those staff, about seven of them from the days of opposition - who worked tirelessly over the last couple of years with us in opposition to put policy and discussion papers together. They were on deck day, and often night, to work with us to deliver government. I am humbled by the trust and confidence in us shown by Territorians, and I have a deep appreciation of the responsibilities each of us as ministers now hold. We will work hard to deliver on the expectation that the community holds of the first ever Labor government.
Whilst the now opposition was surprised by our victory, we as a government have been shocked ourselves since being sworn into office on the 27 August, because at our first Treasury briefing we were informed that the budget position was unsustainable despite being passed by this Assembly just 12 weeks before. The former government’s budget was never going to stand up and never going to last the 12 months that it was set for. It was only after Professor Percy Allan, the noted and respected former New South Wales Under Treasurer, analysed the budget and worked with Treasury staff, the real bottom line began to emerge.
Professor Allan estimated a deficit for the financial year of around $107m, a figure that could be higher. We know how this occurred, and the details will be fully analysed by this Assembly in debate led by the Treasurer. We will legislate to ensure fiscal responsibility in the preparation of budget papers in the projection of expenditure estimates, so that the mess that our predecessors created on this occasion of delivering this budget, shall never occur again.
The deficit is so serious as to warrant a mini-budget. I notice the former Chief Minister appeared keen, yesterday at least, to have an estimates committee in place to deal with the mini-budget. Well, this is pretty cute, because this side of the House argued in every appropriation debate that I have ever been in the Chamber for, for an estimates committee to handle scrutiny of the budget. The former Chief Minister and his government had 26-and-a-bit years to introduce an estimates committee, and rejected it every time. Now they want it within three months - they want it within three months of going to opposition. Well, it will not happen in three months, but it will happen.
Another shock after moving into government came with the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September, to be followed just three days later by the collapse of Ansett. These events are damaging and will damage our tourism industry. We will repair the damage. Already, over 100 000 employees in the airline industry around the world have lost their jobs, including, of course, our Ansett employees here in the Northern Territory. We are addressing these concerns and will continue to do so, and I will deal with the detail in a further statement during these sittings.
I also had some difficulties finalising the enterprise bargaining agreement with teachers. In part, another legacy we inherited from our predecessors, and I will be dealing with further issues in that in further debate during these sittings.
However, I want to respond as Minister for Education, Employment and Training; Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services; Minister for Parks and Wildlife; Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; and Minister for Tourism. These are ministries and responsibilities I am enormously proud to have.
This government is committed to building a better Territory for all Territorians. As His Honour the Administrator, said yesterday, ‘For the term of this government a new direction in education will be to place education where it should be, as a central and critical theme for the future of the Territory’. To achieve this, employment and training strategies in the public and private sectors will be managed and developed under one portfolio to ensure a whole-of-economy and whole-of-government approach rather than the previous piecemeal efforts scattered across various agencies. Already, we have had the foresight and common sense to create a new Ministry of Education, Employment and Training.
The key areas of this portfolio include the preschool, primary, secondary, post-secondary and tertiary sectors, from preschool to retirement in terms of preparing students of all ages for employment, and fitting them for the learning and the relearning required for the rapidly changing 21st century world of work. In 26 years of Country Liberal Party rule there never was an employment strategy. This Labor government understands the issues affecting the jobs market in the Territory. We have met with employers, unions, training bodies, ATSIC, local government and others. This Labor government is committed to a vocational training approach based on industry and community needs. We will also assist the Northern Territory University to build its place as a centre of learning excellence, not just for the Territory, but for this region as a whole.
In schools education, with the recent enterprise bargaining agreement, this newly-elected government got off to an uneven start in our relationship with teachers and it makes it important for me to take this opportunity to stress my respect and appreciation for the critical role our teachers play in developing our children. I need to make this point: we are proud of our schools and teachers. This Labor government is committed to creating a strong professional base for teachers. I will work with teachers and the community to see the teaching profession restored to the respect it deserves. We will forge effective working partnerships with parents. Education works best when schools operate in partnership with parents and community.
This has not been achieved in indigenous communities and we will work hard to bring effective partnerships into place in these communities. We must urgently tackle the unacceptable outcomes in indigenous education. Bob Collins has provided the blueprint for this. It will be important to build real pathways in the Northern Territory from school, to training, to skilled jobs. These policies outline in snapshot the vision of this government for Education, Employment and Training.
We are already developing and turning this vision into reality. The Labor government has moved to amalgamate the Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment to form a Department of Employment and Training. We are in the process of amalgamating the Corporate Management and Information technology areas of the previous separate organisations, and fully expect to achieve savings for the public purse. We are already working on the next phase by looking at further changes to the government employment and training structure that will enhance our ability to accurately predict where employment opportunities will be created in future, and how best to train young and older Territorians to enable them to enjoy the new employment opportunities the Territory will have to offer. This will include equal emphasis on developing regional employment opportunities and developing employment in indigenous communities. To this end, as part of our comprehensive and coordinated economy-wide approach, we will be creating additional employment and training positions in a number of centres to develop employment in the regions.
Vocational education and training in schools will be a priority for the government. We will be developing a system of vocational education and training in schools that will commence at year 9, to prepare our young people for employment in both the established and new areas of employment in the Territory. The government will be putting systems in place to create employment in all areas of the Territory and we will, of course, continue to support our existing employment providers.
The Labor government recognises our community cannot achieve its potential without appropriate laws and resources underpinning the work, particularly of our police and firefighters. Protection, punishment, prevention will be the cornerstone of this government’s commitment to reducing both the economic and psychological impact of crime on Territorians. The Northern Territory Police Force will be provided with the powers, the resources, the funding necessary to give effect to this government’s approach to crime, the causes of crime, particularly in relation to property offences.
The resources I speak of here include the deployment of an additional 50 police officers over the term of this government; resources which will enable the police force to double the present size of the drug squad; and enhance the special crime squad to improve the investigation of unlawful entry offences. The introduction of the zero tolerance policy on drug production and distribution, coupled with compulsory rehabilitation and properly resource drug prevention strategies, will demonstrate this government’s resolve to combat the problems of drugs in our communities and the misery that they create. In maintaining the commitment to community safety, the government has recognised the growing need for a police, fire and emergency services facility in the Darwin rural area. This will enhance emergency response and provide a major training facility for volunteers in that area. The Labor government is also committed to a new fire station for the Casuarina area and 16 additional firefighters over a four-year period.
We are committed to a community-based crime prevention strategy that harnesses both the resources of government and the goodwill of its citizens to attack the cause of crime and build a safer community. This government accepts the responsibility for finding the resources. However, all of us must supply the goodwill and commitment that is needed. Work is almost completed on the $6.1m Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Forensic Science Centre at Berrimah. It will be the most modern purpose-designed forensic science laboratory in the world. The Northern Territory has also made a financial commitment to the identification sciences such as DNA profiling and fingerprinting in order that the federal government initiative known as CrimTrac will reach its potential. This government remains committed to those facilities and initiatives. The Northern Territory is fortunate to have the services of Police, Fire and Emergency Service professionals who, supported by an enthusiastic and skilled group of dedicated public service staff, ensure the community is indeed a safe and welcoming place in which to live, work, visit and do business.
Through the Juvenile Diversionary Program we will give the young people of our community the opportunity to learn from the mistakes they may make whilst growing up to be citizens who can contribute to the development of the Northern Territory. However, this Labor government does put a greater emphasis on the victims of crime in our society, so whilst initiatives will be put in place to attack the causes of crime, enhancements will be made to the effectiveness of the police force. We will, at the same time, introduce measures to assist victims to alleviate the stress, trauma and inconvenience they suffer.
The Northern Territory has for many years enjoyed the services of a very professional fire service. This Labor government will support the men and women of that service. We will provide them with the equipment, the training and the leadership they need. Similarly, the tireless effort of those many auxiliary firefighters and volunteer emergency services workers throughout the Territory will be recognised by this Labor government. Emergency services workers are the backbone of responses to emergencies such as floods, fires, road accidents, searches, and a myriad of other duties they perform on behalf of the community. They will not be forgotten or overlooked by this government. Police, fire and emergency services work in the Northern Territory provides unique challenges and opportunities and this Labor government will ensure the community has an organisation which can respond to each of those challenges.
I turn now to His Honour the Administrator’s comments in relation to indigenous issues in the Territory. There is an urgent need to address the present quite unacceptable situation facing most Aboriginal Territorians in the key areas of health, education, housing and employment. The figures on homelessness, overcrowding, health, education and unemployment levels for Aboriginal people in the Territory are the worst in Australia. These matters are interrelated and perpetuate a cycle. If you live in grossly overcrowded substandard housing your health is likely to suffer. Poor health leads to poor education outcomes for young people. With a lack of meaningful employment opportunities in many communities, there is little incentive to pursue a formal education and skills. The lack of meaningful employment leads to low self-esteem, boredom, crime, substance abuse and violence, and breaking this cycle will be a major priority of this Labor government. But we can only succeed in partnership with Aboriginal communities, agencies and individuals. Real partnership requires the commitment to equality and the sharing of responsibility for identifying and achieving agreed outcomes.
In partnership with Aboriginal and all Territorians this government will achieve improvements in health, education, housing and employment. We cannot do it alone. We can only do it with the full support, goodwill and active involvement of the indigenous community of the Northern Territory. The need for families to participate in schools for commitment to the education process, the need for cross-agency partnerships and coordination is essential. We will support Aboriginal regional, economic development initiatives and assist groups to maximise economic use of their land where they wish to do so. We will focus greater efforts on justice and diversionary programs aimed at keeping young offenders out of the prison system, and we will audit the effectiveness of indigenous-related government programs.
There is no significant additional funding to tackle the immense problems facing Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The problems are complex. They will not be resolved by a simple injection of funding in any case. We have to do things better with what we have through improvements in the delivery of government services and through partnerships with Aboriginal Territorians based on trust, cooperation and mutually agreed goals. I call on the opposition to adopt a bipartisan approach in this critical area and to work with us to bring about desperately needed improvements in the lives of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.
In relation to the tourism industry, it is the Territory’s second largest revenue earner after the mining industry. In 2000 and 2001, visitors to the Northern Territory accounted for $936m in direct expenditure; economic activity generated by tourists. The flow-on effect expands this figure to $1.563bn. The tourism industry is also the Territory’s single largest employer, accounting for around 8100 jobs directly and a further 3500 indirectly. Our tourism industry is vulnerable to changes in customer sentiment, and I will inform the Assembly of the detail of this Labor government’s immediate and effective response to the impact of the Ansett collapse in a separate ministerial statement. This government began immediate negotiations with airlines to increase air capacity into and out of the Territory. It was clear, though, what was needed to reinvigorate tourism was scheduled, reliable air services, not ad hoc seat availability.
I want to recognise the efforts particularly, of Qantas, but also of other local operators to facilitate increased services. We now have 80% of the Northern Territory’s previous airline schedule returned to the air. In addition, as a result of our early actions, Virgin Blue will commence operations in the Territory early next year maintaining competition in our skies. Significant in maintaining the Territory’s growth, aside from continuing to fight for better and more competitive air services, is the introduction of tour operator accreditation. Constantly improving our visitors’ holiday experience is an important part of maintaining the destination’s appeal.
This Labor government will support the introduction of tour operator accreditation begun under our predecessors. For the industry to grow, accreditation will become a more important issue than ever, particularly in the international market place. International visitors see the Northern Territory as offering a similar holiday experience to Africa. What will help potential tourists choose between similar destinations is the certainty they feel about getting a quality product. On the domestic front we must encourage Territorians and other Australians to visit and experience our Territory and the natural treasures and experiences it can provide. This government will help overcome the challenges faced by tourism by forming solutions in a cooperative and cohesive manner.
Finally, not in order of importance, I turn to our efforts to preserve and manage our great Territory parks and wildlife. This activity is currently quietly and competently undertaken by employees in Parks and Wildlife and I have been impressed with the professional diligence and absolute genuine love of their jobs that these employees show. That particularly came through in a visit to the Parks and Wildlife Commission’s office in Alice Springs in the first place, and I do not doubt that the other work places are the same. The activities involved overlap the responsibilities and activities of a number of my other portfolio areas including Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Aboriginal Affairs and Tourism. However, a primary function often overlooked is the responsibility to preserve and safeguard these great assets. The responsibility for ensuring that land owners and managers are better informed about the responsibilities for protection of the environment and assets, particularly the importance of fire breaks and fuel management, will be met. This will involve cooperation between the Bush Fires Council of the Northern Territory, the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, Bush Care and, most importantly, traditional land owners and communities.
This government will continue to foster a great awareness of our national parks and reserves. We will provide Territorians and visitors alike with opportunities to enjoy recreational activities such as four-wheel driving, bird watching, swimming, hiking and fishing. We will maintain and preserve our great park estate, not just for tourism and recreational opportunities, but to preserve and protect flora and fauna, the Territory’s biodiversity.
Debate adjourned.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table the August 2001 report of the Auditor-General to the Legislative Assembly.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): 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.
Motion agreed to.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, would you like to move the amended co-sponsored motion agreed upon by you and the Leader of the Opposition.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move – That -
lost members of their family;
offers total support for the nations of the world including Australia to unite to combat terrorism;
affirms the special relationship between the people of the Northern Territory and the members of
the Australian Defence Force and expresses its admiration for their commitment, professionalism
and dedication to service;
affirms that the Australian Defence Force and its members have our total support and commitment
and our solemn hope that all will return unharmed; and
recognises that within our borders, Territorians of all races, creeds and religions live harmoniously
together in support of each other and are an example to people across the world.
This is an important motion for this House to debate and certainly, I thank the Opposition Leader for raising it yesterday. We did take that minute yesterday to mark the tragic and terrible events of 11 September, but it is important that this House puts on the record the details of the motion.
The events of 11 September stunned the world and no one I spoke to - and there are many that I have spoken to - can be immune to the horror we witnessed unfolding at the World Trade Centre and also the Pentagon. We know the numbers of people who have died, but in broader terms the human cost is incalculable. Indeed, the final death toll may never be known. There are defining days in the world’s history. Many of us who are of a certain age group can remember when JFK was assassinated, and remember exactly what we were doing when we heard. There are other dates that you can track that leave a profound impact on the individual and on the community. I believe that 11 September is one of those dates, and probably one that will ring even more loudly as time goes by.
There are those who heard of the events late on the Tuesday night, as it was in Darwin. Talking to people later, they just stayed up all night in a surreal way watching the television footage that came through CNN of what was happening in the United States - actually watching in real time that plane go into the World Trade Centre, watching in real time two gigantic buildings in New York actually collapse. The reaction of so many was ‘I thought I was watching a movie. I thought I was watching Hollywood at its best with its technical expertise’. Many were not able to come to terms with the fact that this was real and that what they were seeing was a tragedy unfold. The next day, trying to discuss it with people, many of the words that were used to describe the events were ones like ‘evil’. They were biblical words because it was an event that profoundly shocked the Territory, Australia, the world. Many of us were left without the words to describe the events as we had seen them unfold.
That day, Cabinet was meeting in Alice Springs and there was particular poignancy because Alice Springs has such a large American population who work at Pine Gap. Alice Springs, particularly, felt quite deeply impacted by what had happened and it was terrific that there was a combined service in the afternoon just in recognition of that. It was a very emotional service. I did not have the opportunity to attend but colleagues did, and it was a very emotional and a very appropriate service to have so soon after such a tragic event happened.
There were immediate implications for the Territory in terms of the location of Pine Gap, in Marines being present in Darwin and also American service people being in Katherine as well, at Tindal. So, we did have an immediate connection to what was happening. There are Territorians who have family in the States, have family in some of the areas that were attacked, like Manhattan or Washington, so there was a real link between what was happening here and those tragic events in the States.
The world has changed because of what happened on the 11 September. We were not innocent before that, but I think we have seen that we have reached a new level of insecurity about what can possibly happen. None of us in this House would have ever thought that you could have people get into plane, terrorists take over planes and actually go on suicide missions the way they did. It has created a level of uncertainty that we have seen now, like ripples in a pond, travel from the United States through to the rest of the world, and impact in so many ways on how we do business, on business confidence and on just the way people go about their ordinary business, particularly for the United States.
This motion today recognises the trauma of American citizens but also the repercussions around the world. The death toll is something that we cannot really come to terms with. That so many people just going about their jobs, going about their daily work, just disappear. That in effect is what has happened. What we do know is that amongst those killed were thousands of innocent people from nations throughout the world, particularly because of business carried out in the World Trade Centre and the number of different nations and organisations that worked there including, very sadly, many Australians.
Our sympathy goes out to the families of all those killed and, as I mentioned, the one minute’s silence observed by the House yesterday was in respect for those victims and their families. We particularly note the catastrophic impact of these attacks on the people of the United States and, as a parliament, extend our support and deepest sympathy to our friends in the US and to Territory residents in the US who may have had friends or relatives directly affected by the events of 11 September.
The nations of the world have united to condemn these attacks on innocent people and to take decisive action against those who have instigated or supported such terrorism, such unacceptable actions. It is very important that we as a country, we as a nation, we as a Territory, do support the decisive action because when you think about the implications of not taking action, then I think we make ourselves more vulnerable. It is very important to take action to show that those of us who are in empathy with what happened with those in the United States and understand the impact on lives there, believe that there must be a response and there must be a decisive response.
What I am hoping is that this is not about war, because I do not think any of us want to have this being about being at war. What we want is that we had terrorist action, and what this is really about is an international policing response, because the law was broken in a very profound and appalling way. What action we need to see being taken is a policing response, that there is action united around the world against those who so profoundly broke the law. I feel that, as a nation, that it is a better way to respond in terms of policing than to think about the ramifications of seeing ourselves possibly at war.
The Prime Minister has committed Australian troops towards this international force, as we have heard today, and this is no light undertaking. The Territory has a special relationship with the Australian Defence Force and their families living here. At this time I believe it is vital that our troops know that they have the support of their whole community in the troubled days ahead. This bipartisan motion is an indication to members of the ADF that they have our support and our prayers in whatever role they may undertake as part of this international response to terrorism.
It is also important at this time, more than ever, to recognise and appreciate how lucky we are in Australia to be living in a culturally diverse society, particularly here in the Territory. We must strive to ensure that the outcomes of the international response to terrorism remain focussed on removing that threat, and we must not allow our community to be tainted by division or persecution of any group.
We must also ensure that we send the message to our good friends in the Asia Pacific region that we continue to value and respect the cultural diversity of our region, and we will continue to work closely with all of our regional friends towards the joint goals of economic development, trade and regional security. That really is a very important issue for the Territory. Here we are as the gateway to Asia. We must send that message very firmly and strongly, that we do value and respect our region, that we do value and respect our cultural diversity, and that we as a Territory, as we have done in the past, will continue to work in the most cooperative and productive ways with our neighbours, certainly tolerating and accepting the cultural diversity to our north.
No words of this House can change the terrible events of 11 September. We stand united as a parliament and as a community to express our sympathy to all those affected, to support our troops, and whilst reflecting on this tragedy, to take the opportunity to pause and appreciate the diversity and tolerant society that we have here in the Territory.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr BURKE (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, may I begin my short comments by thanking the government for allowing this motion to come forward. It is very important, I believe, as I said at the outset, that one of the first formal things we do in this Ninth Assembly is to reflect on these events. Little needs to be said by way of argument to seek the support of members of this Assembly for this motion. We all witnessed the horror that was inflicted on the world and the United States in particular on 11 September this year. We have all been affected in our own personal ways. Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of the commitment of 1550 Australian men and women to the war against terrorism brings the issue home to our country in a very direct way.
It is appropriate that a motion such as this should be our first formal action of the Ninth Assembly of the people of the Northern Territory. This place and gathering is the tangible celebration of the robust democracy and the freedoms we as Territorians and Australians enjoy. Many others do not have such freedoms and for thousands of men, women and children, their freedoms, their lives were cruelly ended by the abomination of 11 September.
Here in the Territory, our geography and our history make us, more than many of our fellow Australians, aware of the horrors of war and our vulnerability to attack from others. We are both the front door and the front line of Australia and we are far closer to the bases of terrorism. The extent of the defence force facilities in the Territory is a stark and physical recognition of that vulnerability. We are the only place in Australia that has endured sustained attacks by an enemy and we rightfully acknowledge that in those terrible days of the 1940s it was the men and women of the United States who came to our aid. Many died in the defence of Darwin in that first great air raid of 1942, and many more were to be killed in the years of conflict that followed. It is worth noting that since that time, in every conflict that the United States has been involved in, Australia is the only country that can say that it has consistently stood by the United States when called upon.
More recently, as the Chief Minister referred, others continue to serve, particularly in Alice Springs, serving both Australia, the United States and the Territory in their work and their contribution, not only to the defence needs of our nation but also to the Alice Springs community. Even though we will always owe them a debt for their support and help, the awful events in New York and Washington demand a response and an acknowledgement from this Assembly.
The actions announced by our Prime Minister today also demand that we, as the representatives of the peoples of the Northern Territory, should record our support and total commitment for the young Australian men and women who will be very soon engaged directly in the war against those who would terrorise the world. We may be the smallest jurisdiction in our nation but we should still add our voice to the cause of freedom and civilisation. We may have been thankfully free of such terrors for almost 60 years, but we have in our midst, in our community, people who have suffered such terror and horrors in their land of origin. We owe it to them, to the people of the United States, and to ourselves to condemn the actions of 11 September, and to support the initiatives now being undertaken to rid the world of the perpetrators of such devastation.
As an old soldier I abhor war, but I know that, sadly, there will always be times when we must call on our defence forces to defend what we hold dear, and this is one of those times. John Howard has today committed 1550 of our defence forces, the largest commitment this nation has made since the days of Vietnam almost 30 years ago. Our ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of our neighbours and friends in East Timor was as a peacekeeping force. Today’s commitment is to fight for a peaceful world. Today’s commitment puts the men and women of our Defence Force on the field of battle.
Whilst I understand the sentiments the Chief Minister expressed, I believe it is very important that we accept the fact that our forces are moving to a field of battle, and that this is necessary, just, but very simply, a war. It is a war because it is important for those involved that, in due course, they are treated in the future as citizens who have returned from a place that was very clearly a place of war. If we are ever to erase the fears and insecurities created by the events of 11 September, then we, like other nations, must sadly fight this war. If we can never erase the images of those horrific attacks from the minds of our children, then we must show them we will fight and defeat those who commit and permit such horrors. If we can only do this with the commitment of the men and women of the defence forces, then we must make that commitment.
But no one must take this attitude as warmongering. Let no one think that this is done in a jingoistic way. This is a sad day, and a day that I regret had to come. But it has, and we owe it to our defence men and women and to the Prime Minister, to give them our full support, our total commitment, and our prayers. And we owe it to the parents, wives, husbands and children of these men and women who allow their loved ones to go to war in our defence. We know that it is almost inevitable there will be casualties among our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen. But we most hope and pray that that does not happen, that they return to us unharmed and victorious. I commend the motion to honourable members.
Motion agreed to.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Four long-serving employees of the Department of Education have retired recently. These employees commenced duty in the Northern Territory during the 1970s and early 1980s, and it is with pleasure that I acknowledge their contribution to the public sector and specifically, to education in the Northern Territory.
Dennis Higgins retired from the Department of Education after 22 years of service. Dennis’ entire public service career was in the area of corporate support and general services. His focus on attending to the transportation and other logistical needs of customers, ranging from the agencies executive staff to head teachers in the many school and remote communities, was a feature of his service.
Meredith Mitchell attained 34 years of continuous service in education as a school assistant in the Alice Springs region. Meredith not only provided great assistance to both staff and students as a library assistant, but also worked with the school choir at Gillen Primary School, and provided musical accompaniment for many of the school’s productions and concerts.
Ann Coehn retired from her position as budgets officer in the Financial Services Branch where she was responsible for the oversight of provision of grants to schools. Prior employment included working in the schools support area and, in particular, in Operations North Branch of the department where she assisted the manager of the finance section.
Peter Winckler was appointed to his first teaching position in the Northern Territory in 1971. Since then, he held a variety of positions including Assistant Principal of Kormilda and Nightcliff High Schools, and in 1981 transferred to the position of Controller, Student Driver Education. In 1992, Peter was permanently appointed to the ET 7 level, Manager of Schools North, where he remained until 1999. He then moved to Parliament House and worked for two ministers for education as ministerial officer before returning to the department in July of this year.
In respect of Dennis, Meredith, Ann and Peter, I wish them all the best in the next stage of their life beyond their working life, and hope that they enjoy the pleasure and happiness that a well-earned and honourable retirement brings, and that they certainly deserve.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to take this opportunity to talk about a number of people within the electorate, and persons who helped during the election campaign. The first couple I would like to speak about are Cathy and Daryl Spurr, both of whom were founding members of my successful campaign election team. Cathy and Daryl Spurr are members of the local branch. Cathy is the current President of the Northern Territory ALP. Both were a source of strength during the election campaign. Many of the campaign meetings ran smoothly, others did not. However, during that period, neither party lost respect for each other and certainly enjoyed each other’s company, and I thank them. These two people represent the true worker in the Australian Labor Party. They have worked for the Labor Party tirelessly over the last few years and without their support there is no doubt in my mind that the Labor Party, without workers of the kind, would not have been able to win the election.
The Labor Party is not a thing or entity, it is not a creation by itself. The Labor Party is made up of its members simply like this parliament. Without its members and people like Cathy and Daryl Spurr, you would not have a successful Labor Party, the Labor Party would not exist. I would argue that these people are the backbone of such organisations like the Labor Party. I have this feeling that you could probably say, in a lot of respects, they are the true believers. I would just like to say, thank you for all your help. Without a doubt, you formed the strong team that helped return Millner to the Labor Party and delivered the first Labor government. As the years roll on, with your help, I hope you continue the relationship with the Millner electorate.
I say to Daryl and Cathy, I will never forget the feeling that we all had on election night, sitting underneath my house with the lemon grass curried goose, chicken vermicelli, sweet and sour pork, the mud crab, barramundi wings - we had it all. Of course, there was a little bit of amber fluid as well. We were sitting there watching the TV as though it was an AFL grand final. We had about 30 other people with us and the majority of them probably never …
Ms Martin: The best team won.
Mr BONSON: On the day, I think the best team won on that. We had a lot of people who perhaps were only there helping because they knew me, but they certainly got wrapped up and excited in the occasion. I will never forget Cathy and Daryl’s delight when Warren Snowdon actually called us home in the first quarter, basically. But, obviously, we had to wait for a few more days before we found that I had actually won.
I would like to say to them that my family will forever be grateful, and it goes without saying that if I can help your family in the future, Daryl and Cathy, I will be willing to give my personal assistance in the future for any endeavour that you might require assistance on.
The next couple I would like to thank, are the O’Hagans, a real Labor family. Peter O’Hagan ran as a Labor candidate in the 1997 election, and therefore knows the pressure and expectations put on the local Labor candidate, remembering that the seat of Millner, out of the 26 years of CLP government, was actually a Labor seat for 19 of those years. Peter also understands the pressure put on his family members and without the assistance of his wife, Julie, Peter would not have been able to assist me on the late nights, early morning starts, sausage sizzles, and after-hours activities. I certainly respected his intelligent and informative information that he provided to me during the election campaign. I am happy to say that Julie attended on his behalf yesterday, and I think she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Peter is the type of man that you do want to represent you in parliament. When I think of Peter, I would best describe him as honest, decent, hardworking and with a great sense of humour. Peter, I wish you the best of luck in the future.
Another member of my campaign team was a quietly spoken gentleman, Phil Powling; a man who can only be described as humble, kind, hardworking and a real caring part of the community. Phil has been heavily involved with the Millner electorate, especially during the period of Terry Smith, who was the local member, and Ken Parish. As well as working tirelessly for the Labor Party in different matters, Phil and his family have been an unbelievable asset to the campaign team, and also the Millner Branch.
Another member of the campaign team in our branch was Rowena Livers, who was unable to assist as much as the others simply because she had a little birth that interrupted her performance in the campaign team. I was not happy about that either, but we could not do anything about it; it is biology. I would like to say that the Millner Branch, though small, is famous throughout the Northern Territory as being hardworking and dedicated. Certainly without their assistance, I would never have been able to win the seat of Millner. My aim is to help increase the membership of the Millner Branch and encourage and support its work ethic. It gives me great satisfaction to note that the electorate of Millner and the branch has put Labor back on the map in the seat itself, as we were all waiting for several days for the result.
What else gives me great satisfaction is to drive around Millner and to notice that all the posters for our local members running in the Commonwealth election are all up on the poster sites. I find it funny that now the CLP are no longer in power; they do not seem to have as many workers around. I would like to give credit to our workers who were there in the dark times when, really, helping out the Labor party was seen as something you did not do in the Northern Territory, for many, many different reasons. But these people stuck by me, the Labor Party and what they believed in, and I am happy to say that they were able to achieve great results. We have been through the darkest of times but there is no one, in my mind, who can say that these campaign workers were not the true believers. When I say the true believers I mean the ones who were around when there was not necessarily an election campaign going on but certainly raising funds for the Labor Party and the Labor branch. I would just like to say thank you to those supporters.
I thank my friends and family, who, if anyone went down to the polling booths on that election day, would have seen that we outnumbered the opposition about 5:1. We had sombrero hats and sunglasses on, music playing and dancing, and people were generally having a good time. Many people would know that the seat of Millner, to be won, needed the biggest swing of all the seats in this House. Certainly, on the day, many people walked in through the gate still undecided. But as Kerry Gardiner said to me, ‘Anyone who walks through those gates undecided certainly made up their mind once they were in there’, and I would like to thank them. In particular, Anne Marie, Cheree, and Tania McLeod, whose mother is my auntie, my father’s sister, they were a great help. To my aunties, Dorrie Oates, and Lynette Bonson, thanks for all your help. Kenny Bonson and his two sons, Kane and Jacob, about 250 kg-plus put together, were certainly a big help. There was uncle John Bonson and his sons, Jason and John, and daughter, Linda, who helped out on the day. Then there was one of my true idols, Dooky Bonson, one of the real characters around town, who held the world record for mud crab tying for many, many years - world champion about three or four times - and was a champion footballer. He is just a general all-around good guy; he was there and he certainly backed me up.
Yvette Carolin, whose mother is my father’s sister; and Sharna Bonson; there was Damien Zammit, who is a relation of mine through the Ah Mats, and his partner, Charlene; there was Shane Stevens, another relation; and of course there was my mother and her partner, Steve; my grandmother, Daisy Ruddock, and Hilda Muir - who are a bit like the Kahlin Compound mafia down there - we had them onside. There was my Auntie Esther and her son, Travis. He was like the night watchman on the campaign night, and I am sure he freaked out the watchman from the CLP the other night who had never seen anything like it. But it was all done in good fun. I think the night watchmen were the best behaved between the two opposition parties on the election day. There was also my Auntie Josie and her partner, David.
Friends came out of the woodwork and it was fantastic. As you know in politics, there is a passion for who our supporters believe in, but there are many other people who are just citizens of this country, who basically assist the person because they know them. Many of my friends obviously did support the Labor party, but many of them just came to help me. Thank you for showing that support for me as a person.
Some friends I would like to thank are Tim Edwards and Michael ‘Wally’ Edwards, well known rugby league identities, general characters around town. One of my best friends, Paul Seden, did a magnificent job there and made everyone feel welcome. Then there was James Parfitt and David Parfitt, Larrakia people, who were working hard down there for a change. Kenny Sutton, well known rugby union identity; David Sailor, a relation of old Wendell Sailor running around now in rugby union circles; Damien and Louisa, both of whom I studied with at NTU and Western Australian University in law, and both of them practising as solicitors in Darwin at the moment.
Then there was Rocky Cousins. I jokingly said to Rocky that he was the best on ground on the day. What I meant by that was that he stood from 8am to 6pm with a sombrero hat and a shirt: ‘Vote 1, Matthew Bonson’. Every person who came through the door basically got the rundown but in a very friendly, polite way. He is a bit of an ex-boxing trainer and local fireman. He is one of the founding members of the famous fire brigade pensioners party. They get over a couple of thousand pensioners and they provide thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts, food and drink. My father was one of the founding members as well, and their philosophy was that just because these guys were pensioners, it did not mean that they did not want to have a good time. Certainly, for about the first ten pensioner parties they held in Darwin that I attended and assisted with, let us just say it was on for young and old - they had a lot of fun. So, I would like to thank Rocky Cousins, champion fellow.
There was Brian Reid and Lyn Reid, who are the local doctors. They basically saw every constituent who ever lived in Millner and were a fantastic help. There was the Mu family - Marty, Victor, Paul and George - the local shop owners. I grew up with them, went to primary school and high school with them. They showed fantastic support under a lot of pressure to turn their back on me, but as true friends, they lifted, and I would like to say thank you. I would also finally say that they recently lost a family member, very close to their hearts, and my condolences go out to them. They are a very tight-knit family group and they run a family business. They are originally a Chinese family from East Timor, and they have made a success of coming to Australia and certainly to the Millner electorate, and have run that shop for the last 18 years. I thank all those workers. There are many, many more, but I am going to run out of time. So, thank you.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to raise a couple of issues, or specifically one issue, in relation to what the government has brought up in relation to ILUAs, Indigenous Land Use Agreements, during the course of debates today and debate the other day. I specifically pick up the comments by the member for Nhulunbuy, the Deputy Chief Minister, in relation to an invitation that he delivered to the opposition benches, that he invited the opposition to come along for the ride. I am grateful for the Deputy Chief Minister’s invitation in relation to this, because land issues are probably still one of the most fundamentally important issues which affect the people of the Northern Territory, all people of the Northern Territory. Indeed, it is actually land issues which have triggered most wars in history, and land issues continue to sit at the heart of the many, many problems in our community, not only in the Territory, but Australia as a whole.
I thank the Deputy Chief Minister for his invitation to contribute in the process of forming these ILUAs. However, I would estimate that our role would be - if he has anything to do with it - largely a spectator’s role. However, I would like to tell him, and advise the members of this House, that the opposition’s position will be in relation to this: let us see what you have got. The government has been elected and they have formed a government, so it is their privilege to proceed down the road that they have stated. They made it clear during the eighth parliamentary sittings in this Chamber that they would proceed along the lines of the ILUAs. So, they have certainly been to the people with these, and the people have responded.
However, before I can commit the opposition to any concrete position one way or the other, I have to say that there is not a great deal of detail in relation to the structure of these ILUAs and the framework agreements that they represent. Indeed, who will write the ILUAs, is the first question that springs to mind. How will they be constructed? How are we going to put these together? It is all well and good to ask the opposition to come along for the ride, but when you say you are going to go down this path, then you are going to have to clearly map it.
I see history in the Northern Territory - as well as in other places - as a largely economic issue, or I see it through largely economic goggles. One of my greatest fears and one of the things that I am least satisfied about is, that the more government tends to interfere in the management of anything, the less economically viable it seems to become. Indeed, I am quite convinced that crime would not pay if the government chose to run it.
What guarantee can the Minister for - I presume that this will come from the Lands, Planning and Environment portfolio of the Deputy ‘Chief Minister - what guarantees will we have as an opposition that these ILUAs will not stifle growth and will not stifle development for all Territorians? Those are the sorts of questions that need to be asked before we can commit to anything. Is government going to extinguish native title through this process? If so, who is going to pay the bill? Once again, we would like to know what the details of these agreements will be before we can commit ourselves to any formal position. What is the government proposing to do inside of town boundaries in relation to these ILUAs and through these framework agreements? Is the decision of the Attorney-General in relation to the Alcoota cattle station reflective of the government’s position in relation to how they are going to deal with land councils in particular, or is this a one-off by the Northern Territory government? How will the ILUAs be negotiated out, is another question that we on the opposition benches will be very concerned about.
Will the opposition have any input into the process at all? I have already stated that I have a suspicion that our role will be largely a spectator’s role. However, I would urge the government if they want us to come along on the ride, then they should make available to us some sort of input into the ILUA process. One last question I would like to raise at this point is: how are the ILUAs going to protect not only investments that are currently operating inside the Northern Territory, but what investments will come down in the future? I am, by no stretch of the imagination, saying they should not happen, but one of the things that I am nervous about in relation to these agreements is how it will affect investor confidence in the future. It is investor confidence in the Northern Territory which is going to provide jobs, be it in the towns themselves, on pastoral leases, or an inalienable freehold title. Without investor confidence in any of those areas, the jobs that the Deputy Chief Minister talked about - which will be the jobs taken up by people who have been trained and educated and have good health under their management - if those jobs are to be created then we have to have investor confidence. I would urge the Deputy Chief Minister to keep a mind to those particular issues while he goes about negotiating these outcomes.
I must say, on a personal note, that I have some sympathy with the Deputy Chief Minister’s position. As the member for Macdonnell, I have a large electorate in the bush and I am all too painfully aware of the shortcomings of service delivery in some of those areas. I am also painfully aware - and I have said this in the last parliamentary term so it is nothing new - of the poverty and lack of opportunities that many remote communities have. I have my own theories as to why that occurs and they do not always accord with the position that the current government has. Nevertheless, I am committed to keeping the channels of communication open between opposition and government, and basically what I am asking the government to do is to stand up and tell us what you have got. Be open, be thorough, and put the processes on the table so that all Territorians can have a look at them before any commitments are made on behalf of the body politic here in the Northern Territory.
So, I look forward to a response from the minister and possibly tomorrow morning during Ministerial Reports would be a good time to do so.
Ms LAWRIE (Karama): Mr Deputy Speaker, may I say what a pleasure it is to see you in the Chair there, sir. I rise to speak in this adjournment debate to commend the actions of a hardworking member of the Karama community. Karama is home to many of Darwin’s pensioners who have been very hard hit by the introduction of the conservative Howard government’s Goods and Services Tax, commonly called the GST. They have been insulted by pathetic attempts, meaningless in monetary terms, to make amends to our aged pensioners for the terrible impact the GST has had on their ability to meet their day-to-day needs.
One aged pensioner in the Karama community who has the spirit of a true Aussie battler is Eric Harris. Mr Harris, aged in his late 70s, dedicates his days to assisting other aged pensioners in need. He is a true advocate for his peers. Mr Harris first came to Darwin during World War II and was stationed at Adelaide River in 1942 and 1943 before being sent to mind prisoners of war in Victoria. A man to whom trends do not apply, Mr Harris returned to Darwin in 1989 to enjoy his retirement.
However, retirement to Mr Harris means simply he is no longer paid for the work that he does because each day, he works as a volunteer in one capacity or another. He has been an active member of the Alzheimer’s Support Group and an active member of the Carer’s Support Group. Volunteering is a way of life for Eric Harris. Mr Harris assists other tremendous peers of his to organise gatherings of our senior citizens at the Malak Community Centre on Thursdays and at Casuarina Square on Tuesdays. He is also a very happy and active participant of the Grandpa’s Woodshed, located out at the Red Cross premises at Casuarina, operating on Monday mornings.
This former TAA flight attendant certainly knows how to brighten up people’s lives. He is seen moving sprightly through our community with a smile on his face and ever ready with words of encouragement for the many people in Karama and Malak who have come to know him. Mr Harris is a man who keeps very busy with his community work. He visits aged Territorians in hospital and in our nursing homes, to brighten their sometimes otherwise very bleak days. He is a regular face at our local Karama Tavern, where he drops in for a quiet ale from time to time, to share tall but true tales with other friendly patrons of the tavern.
Mr Harris is a classic storyteller in the best sense of the word. He enjoys swapping yarns with people and thrives on the variety afforded by our multicultural life in Karama. He is a modest man who lives life modestly. Yet he is a man who, through his actions, is daily enriching the lives of many others. I commend the actions of citizens like Eric Harris, and in particular, the work undertaken on a daily basis by Mr Harris. I have pledged to work with such active members of my community, to enhance the lives of others.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to follow on from Question Time today and put on the record the mishandling of a very important capital works project for Katherine. I am talking, of course, about a major drainage project that had been implemented by the former government, that came from very serious flooding that occurred, not only in the 1998 flood of Katherine, but again this year, in the wet season of 2000-01. It caused access problems for up to six weeks for over 1000 rural residents of Katherine. It also affected a number of businesses in the Zimin Drive area, which were seriously flooded last year again. It affected their business and, in fact, caused two of those businesses to move to other locations.
The previous government asked the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Works, to come up with a solution for the problems occurring in the flooded area of what is known as Hickey’s Farm in the rural area of Katherine. The solution that was provided to government at the time, was a total solution, engineered - as it would be - that included a major component of the works that would be a drain - and a substantial drain - that would go from Hickey’s Farm across Zimin Drive through a private property which was acquired by the government some months ago, prior to the tender being put out for expressions. The other component, of course, was the raising of Florina Road in a couple of areas. That proposal was accepted by government, on the advice of those departments, and included private engineers being asked to conduct work and give advice as well, particularly on the type of rock structure and the flooding aspects of that particular area.
The government at the time negotiated with the Katherine Town Council for their input into this overall project, the roads being of concern and of responsibility to the council. They committed some $565 000 to the project, given that the whole project would go ahead. Government, during its budget deliberations, committed up to $1.5m to that project, cashed up within the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, for that project to proceed with a scheduled date for completion by the end of this year, to give certainty and access to Katherine rural residents, and keeping in mind that this was a totally engineered solution that had to have both components.
The contract was put out to tender prior to the election, and a successful, or the lowest tenderer, ended up being a local firm in Katherine that is renowned for its work. But the disappointing aspect was that that tender was not let for some time - there were negotiations going on - prior to that because of concerns by local residents, including businesses, rural residents and the council. I wrote to the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, who I thank for the prompt reply. I asked: would this project be going ahead as per schedule - and that is the previous government’s schedule. He informed me that it was. It just so happened that at the same time the Katherine Town Council, members and officers, were meeting with the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development, who informed them that the project would not be proceeding in its totality and, in fact, only the roads component, the minor component, would proceed prior to Christmas. So, all very confusing, a lot of confusion between ministers, and one that was of great concern, not only to the contractor who thought he had the job, but of concern to all of the rural residents affected in this area.
The final outcome is that the tender has been let. But in the meantime, just prior to that, I notice that the Chief Minister made some comments on this particular project to the Katherine Times, where she expressed some doubts about the validity of the second stage of the project:
‘New information has been presented by the Department of Transport and Works that seriously
questions the reasoning for the earlier proposal to drain Hickey’s Lake’, Ms Martin said.
That was in the paper today, so I assume they were comments made by her earlier this week, whilst visiting Katherine. So she too was confused, because, obviously, there was no new information being presented, if they, in fact, did let the tender just yesterday - if I am correct - on the 15th. So, a lot of confusion over this particular project, one that has affected people. But the final outcome, even though the entire project will go ahead, the unfortunate part for Katherine residents is that the minor roads component will be completed, I am led to believe, by Christmas time. The major component, the 1.2 km by 40 m wide drain from Hickey’s Farm, through Zimin Drive to Katherine River, will not be started until next dry season - even though, if started now, the contractor gave an undertaking that they could complete this project by Christmas time.
So, there is no believable reason why the whole project could not proceed as per the original schedule, as per the commitment given to me by the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment. I just wonder what is really going on with this capital works program, when this one was a fully cashed-up capital works program that was let prior to the election. It has been won at under cost, under the budgeted amount. There were contributions of $0.5m or thereabouts - a bit over- from Katherine Town Council, less than the $1.5m attributed by the previous government to this project. Now the project has been stretched out to not be completed until some time next year.
The more interesting part of this proposal, and something which Territory businesses should be very aware of, and something that I will take time to point out to you, is that even though the contractor has been instructed not to proceed with the drain until May next year, they have been told that they will not be paid for that component - which is somewhere in the order of $1m worth of work - until some time in the following financial year. At a time when they should be bringing all the capital works forward, we have a government that is not only stretching out the capital works program, but they are doing it on the never-never. It is like, ‘Do the work now and we will pay you later’, that kind of regime. Territory businesses should be aware that this is a new era in payment by this government, and that the private sector is going to be expected to pick up the cash flow problems that this government is supposedly putting in place because of some apparent black hole.
It is of grave concern to me, firstly, that this project will not be completed by the time the rain has set in this wet season, and over 1000 rural residents could have been given security of access for their access through to Katherine township along the Florina Road and Zimin Drive. The project could have been completed in time. It has been drawn back by this government, the Labor government. It has been stretched out and, more importantly, the contractors will have to rearrange their whole program.
The other point is that this will now cost more, obviously, because you have to have rise and fall, you have to have new set-up costs. The material that was going to be taken out of the drain was going to be used to heighten the road at the two places on Florina Road - that will now have to be brought in. So there will be variation of costs, and the overall cost will go up. But from the contractors’ point of view, I feel very sorry for them because they have put in place a price today, at today’s prices, and they will not be expected to be paid - in fact have been told they will not be paid - for the major component of these works until the following financial year. I hope for their sake they have a good rise and fall in that contract price.
Territory businesses should be very aware that this may be the new era of a new payment regime by this government, to assist them in some fabricated cash flow program. The ones that miss out are obviously local business, but more importantly, the local Katherine residents, rural residents who have been guaranteed better access by the onset of the wet season this year.
Just in the remaining few minutes, I pass on my sincere condolences to Ray Wooldridge and his family of Pine Creek on the recent passing of Ray’s wife, Rae. Rae was a long-term resident of Pine Creek who contributed both to the social and the economic fabric of Pine Creek. It has been a sad loss to Pine Creek residents who have all rallied together, I am glad to say, and have given a lot of support and contributed in many forms - including financial - to Mr Wooldridge, with the position he finds himself in with the passing of his wife. Ray Wooldridge is the President of the Pine Creek Community Government Council, and he obviously is going through a very difficult time. It is very good to be able to see that the community has rallied with fundraisers and a lot of local support for him and his family. I am sure members of this House join with me in passing on their condolences on the passing of Rae.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Mr Deputy Speaker, one of the great things about being in this House is that I represent the people of Fannie Bay, and it was with much delight that I was returned on 18 August. For someone who started out in 1995 with the majority of 69 votes, it is very satisfying to know that that majority has grown, and the Fannie Bay majority is now a much more comfortable one - 69 was a very uncomfortable one in 1995.
There are many thanks that I need to give for that election win in Fannie Bay, and certainly the first one goes to my then electorate officer, Alf Leonardi, who really has worked tirelessly for many years - and has been very well adopted by the people of Fannie Bay. They will be very sad now that he has been sucked back here into Parliament House. But Alf has been a great trouper, and I am very thankful to him for the work he did as my electorate officer.
There are also many people who need to be thanked specifically over the lead-up to the election campaign. One absolutely tireless worker, Ken Hill, is just legend in his work in the office, both working in an electorate and a political sense. I would like to thank Kevin Leahy; Joe Tilbrook; Dale Bishmo; Pat Salter; Betty and Kevin Gould; Cathy Macdonald who’s devotion to the cause is just awesome; Lucio Matarazzo; Barbara James; Sally Matthews; Greg Strettles; Jeff and Steve; James McEwan - and I would certainly like to place on my record the hard work that Chris Bond did. Chris stood for the seat of Port Darwin and worked very hard and really made a difference in terms of some of the issues that were raised about Port Darwin. My sympathies to Chris, that she worked so hard but was not successful.
I would also like to thank my local branch, the Dick Ward Branch of the Labor Party, for their hard work and support. Many posters were put up around the electorate of Fannie Bay and I thank all those who put them up, all those whose fences they hung on - because it does make a difference - all those who delivered the leaflets, did all the stuffing and the folding, the endless stuffing and folding. It all made a difference in how we ran the campaign in Fannie Bay. Particularly for me since I was leader, I could not spend as much time being involved in the campaign, logically, as I had the previous election. To all those who worked and took on the mantle during that time, I am very grateful.
I thank all those who handed out on election day. It certainly makes a difference when you get a lot of support on the actual day. I thank all the businesses in the local area and the individuals who offered support to the campaign, both in kind and in dollars. It all made an enormous difference.
As I said, I love being the member for Fannie Bay - it is a great electorate. I certainly, over the last four years, regularly doorknocked. I would not miss doorknocking, it is the best part of any political life, even though the Deputy Speaker in his first speech this morning talked about all the dogs and the horses and the rest of it. In Fannie Bay the only real problem is dogs, although I have been to one door that said, ‘Beware the Cat’ and it was true - the cat leapt out as I came through. It is the only cat I have ever found that actually lived up to the reputation of the tag on the gate. But there are lots of dogs in Fannie Bay, and it is a bit daunting at times.
To be able to doorknock is a real privilege because you are very welcome at people’s doors. They are very generous with their time. They honestly tell you what they think about the Territory, about the policies in place, about the issues and concerns they have. And they do that from their lounge room or from their front door, and if you are lucky, they will do it with a beer – and if you are not so lucky, with a glass of water. But really, doorknocking is a great privilege and I really enjoy doing it, and I will continue to doorknock. I know that it is going to be a bit more of a balance of time now, but you cannot effectively work as a politician in the Northern Territory unless you doorknock, and certainly this Chief Minister will be doorknocking.
There are many issues for Fannie Bay and certainly ones, now that we have had the privilege of being elected to government, I am very hopeful we will have a lot more action on. Where those problems are solvable, we will solve them.
Land use objectives were promised four years ago for the southern suburbs and, until the election, we were still waiting. I can assure the people of Fannie Bay that those land use objectives will be progressed shortly - and that all the issues about the future of the area, about what is appropriate for areas that are now being freed up by a change in land use – and the community will be taking part in the decisions for the future. I know that residents’ groups, individuals, are very concerned about the future of the area and I can give an assurance that they will be involved, and that that very important land use process will be started again.
Residents of Housing Commission complexes, your future, and how we manage your complexes, we are dealing with now. Where a complex needs a caretaker we will be putting a caretaker in, and with an issue with an area like Kurringal, we will be talking to all the residents there about the future of the complex rather than saying, as we saw from the previous government: ‘Don’t you worry about that, we’ll deal with it’. It is a very important issue if you live at Kurringal, what happens in the future, and that is one that we will be addressing shortly with the community at Kurringal.
Antisocial behaviour is another major problem for the electorate of Fannie Bay and again, this government recognises it as a major problem. We will not either ignore the problem or make the stomping and monstering comments we have seen in the past. What we will do is find solutions. I am not pretending that there are easy solutions to the quite complex problems of antisocial behaviour but this government is committed to finding them. We will work hard to at least make sure that the level of antisocial behaviour that is currently at play in Darwin and other centres around the community - I should not use the words at play, but the level of antisocial behaviour that is taking place - that we can at least reduce it and find some sensible solutions to the problems that can be solved. We will be doing this in conjunction with the major Aboriginal organisations, and will be doing this in conjunction with the major organisations, the NGOs and others, that work with people who are itinerant.
There has been, very sadly, many break-ins in the area of Fannie Bay recently. I say to the residents, our six point plan, now that we are moving to repeal mandatory sentencing, will be much more effective in dealing with the problems of property crime, particularly in dealing with those whose houses have been trashed, or businesses trashed, and particularly in focussing on the victim and focussing on the problem on the street as it is. We will have a multi-faceted approach to dealing with property crime and it simply will not be the stump that we saw in the mandatory sentencing.
There are lots of other issues to deal with in Fannie Bay, many of them involve traffic. We are having some solutions found to the intersection of Dick Ward Drive and Ross Smith Avenue, which is a key issue. We will be having a much more cooperative approach with local government as a government, and I am sure that many of the solutions that need to be found by cooperating with the two tiers of government will be found now that there is a better cooperative arrangement.
One of the things I am proud of in the six years that I have been member for Fannie Bay is that the newsletters have turned up every quarter, and they will continue to turn up, because in terms of keeping the electorate across the issues that are affecting an electorate - and that might be anything from traffic to planning, to issues of impact on business and legislation, or the achievements of individuals in the electorate - they will still continue.
The demands over the last 53 days have meant that I have spent less time at my electorate office, but I spend Saturday mornings there, and it is a very busy morning with constituent appointments. Once things settle down from the point of view of Chief Minister and mini-budgets, hopefully I will be there more often, and certainly at least one afternoon a week as well as Saturday morning. I would not miss Saturday morning anyway. Parap Markets are, with my biased hat on, the best markets in the Territory and Saturday mornings there are terrific.
Another issue for Fannie Bay is getting a skate park around the Parap pool area. I assure young Joel Hill and all the lobbyists from the skate park team that we are working to get a solution. Once we can get the recreational uses policy from local government, which is being worked on through the Darwin City Council, then we will certainly have a facility of one kind or another in the Parap pool area, because we really have some enthusiastic young skaters. There are BMX riders, there are inline skaters and skateboarders, and certainly I would say that a facility in the Parap area is very justified. They have been great lobbyists, they have really pursued the issue and it is my job now as member for Fannie Bay and Chief Minister to deliver on that one.
But I am delighted to be the member for Fannie Bay, I am delighted to be returned, I am delighted to have the confidence of a greater majority of my electorate. I say to my electorate that being Chief Minister is a tough job that consumes the hour but closest to my heart is my electorate.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to make a few comments about the level of some services in Alice Springs. Nearly three weeks ago it was brought to my attention by people in the real estate and construction industries and their concerns were in relation to the issue of certificates of occupancy for dwellings. It appeared that two days before a public servant was due to go on his leave entitlement, he sent a fax around the community advising that there would be nobody in the department to issue certificates of occupancy for a period of three weeks, commencing 1 October. I understand that it stopped on the Friday prior.
I think that is outrageous when we have a bustling, busy community with houses being traded on a regular basis. In fact, some of the buildings are Territory Housing properties, dwellings that are pre-1993. These buildings were all given certificates of building by the Northern Territory government. Consequently, any Certificate of Occupancy would have to be issued by the department, by the government, and not by any private certifiers, which we have today.
Because of the failure to replace this public servant for a period of three weeks, all projects in Alice Springs, at least to dwellings that were pre-1993, were all put on hold. That is unacceptable in a town like Alice Springs where you are talking about multimillion dollar projects. That is a hold-up to industry, to business, and is not acceptable at all. I made a noise about it but nobody did anything; the government did not care.
Let me explain a little. If you had a building that was issued with a building certificate prior to 1993 - which was done by the government prior to private certification - then a person proceeded to build. When the building was completed, before anybody could occupy the building, you had to have a Certificate of Occupancy. Today, with private certifiers, these certifiers can actually go in there and check out the whole building, and once the certifier is happy that the building is safe, he or she makes a recommendation to the government - tells the government: ‘This pre-1993 building is actually safe for occupancy now, please issue the certificate’. The private certifier is not allowed to issue the certificate. If the building was to start today then that building certificate would be issued by the private certifier and, on completion, that private certifier can issue the Certificate of Occupancy. Do you follow?
What has happened is that in this last 2 weeks or so, nothing has happened. A project worth $2.5m was sent up to Darwin by a private certifier because there was nobody in Alice Springs. To this day, he has not had one response about what has happened with his project, $2.5m-worth. Now, the holding cost of that project is $330 per day. The developer who owns that project has to pay interest of $330 per day on the money that he has borrowed to complete his project, and there is nothing he can do about it. The private certifier who had done all the work has not heard one peep from anybody about what has happened with the project. Now he has another $20m-worth of project sitting on his desk at the moment, and he is not prepared to send it up to Darwin because he does not know what will happen to it. If he does not get an acknowledgement of his $2.5m project, what is going to happen to the $20m project that comes up? It may be held up for ever, nobody knows.
Somehow, you have get business moving. You have to get somebody to issue the Certificate of Occupancy. I know that this man is going to come back from his holidays on Monday. But what is going to happen? He is going to be loaded down with three weeks of work from three private certifiers in Alice Springs, so how long is it going to take for him to go through the projects? From one private certifier alone there is $22.5m-worth of projects on hold. I do not see any right of any government to put that sort of project on hold, of private people’s money. Is the government going to pay compensation to that certifier who is not making any money because of this lack of management of the department? Is the government going to pay compensation to the developer who is paying $330 a week on interest payments for the $2.5m project? And what about the other $20m-worth of projects they have put on hold? What is going to happen? They are just going to ignore it. You can ignore it, obviously the minister for transport…
Mr Ah Kit: You said $330 a day and now you are saying a week! I cannot work out what you are on about.
Dr LIM: I said $330 per day. Sorry, I withdraw, I made a mistake.
Mr Ah Kit: Okay, I am helping you. Stand corrected.
Dr LIM: $330 a day. So there is substantial amount of money being lost by people in Alice Springs. Is the minister going to tell the department, ‘Let us compensate these people’? Alice Springs businesses do survive on real estate transfers and transactions and a Certificate of Occupancy is essential. Territory Housing sells its old excess stock. That also requires a Certificates of Occupancy. The minister who is responsible for both is not doing anything about it. I think he needs to answer why he is not doing it.
Let me tell you a single incident about a man who lost his job with Ansett recently. He then applied for a job with Qantas and got the job. Allelujah! When he turns round to sell his house, he could not get a Certificate of Occupancy, could he? Consequently, his job with Qantas fell over. That is not because he did not try; it is because nothing is happening. It is an indication of this government in paralysis - No direction …
Mr Vatskalis: Why didn’t he get his job?
Dr LIM: Why can’t he get a job? He got his job with Qantas, but he cannot go to his job because he cannot sell his house in Alice Springs, and so he had to let his job go. Now, that is not fair; not fair to every average citizen in the Territory. If you want to sell a house, you should be allowed to do that. If he cannot sell a house because of market pressures, it is different. But if it is because the minister is not doing his work, if the government is not keeping an eye on the ball, and things are not happening, that is wrong. Now, are you going compensate this man for loss of his job? Think about it. Morally, I think you are obliged to compensate him for his loss of job. Morally, I think you are obliged to compensate the private certifier for loss of income. Morally, I think you are obliged to compensate the developer for $330 a day. I think you should do something. Do not twiddle your thumbs, mate, do something about it. Alice Springs needs activity and we cannot afford to have Labor government paralysis impacting on our economy. It is hard enough to do business in this environment without government putting hurdles in front of everybody. It is not acceptable and I say to the minister it is important that he addresses the issue as quickly as he can.
Mr Ah Kit: Have you put it in writing?
Mr Vatzkalis: Give us the facts and I will sort it out. That’s a commitment.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Arnhem.
Dr Lim: Well, in response to the minister if I may …
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I have called the member for Arnhem.
Mr AH KIT (Arnhem): Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to comment tonight on a dear friend that I lost just recently. We grew up and spent many good days of our lives together and many of those were very enjoyable. His name was Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter. Thank you for the opportunity to record my feelings of loss after the passing of a close friend and wonderful Territorian, Mr Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter.
Puggy Hunter was one of these blokes about whom you commonly hear the phrase: ‘What a bloke!’ What fond memories of a good mate and a Parap Camp brother. Puggy was born in the old Darwin Hospital in 1951. From the days when we were kids, we did it all - the making of shanghais, steam rollers, playing marbles and the Parap Camp Caledonian Pipe Band. For those of you who do not know what that was, let me give you a brief explanation.
Parap Camp kids were no different from the rest of the kids in Darwin and we were always overawed when we had a couple of opportunities a year to witness the Darwin Caledonian Pipe Band. This inspired us to imitate them at Parap Camp. So, without the knowledge of our parents, us young lads - Harold Bennett, Cedric Suradi, Bobby Shields, Phillip Quall, Jap Adams, Bernie Devine and Puggy included, to name a few - would round up a stray cat each in the neighbourhood, grab a piece of old cloth and assemble the band with the band leader out front with a copper stick ready to twirl.
Once the signal was given, the band would try to march off in unison with each member holding the cat’s head, placed firmly under the armpit, the cloth on the tail, the tail in the mouth, and the fingers on the back two legs in a flute-like manner. Close your eyes for a moment, can you image it? What a bunch of rat bags we were! Somehow, the cats were never amused when it came time to play that game again.
I could tell you more. For example, hand fishing at Gurrio’s Fish Trap down Dinah Beach where, if Gurrio was a little late, we would help ourselves to the bigger fish caught in the trap. Or times when we played with the Buffalo Colts Under 16s, and the games of marbles that went on because our side was so strong the ball never came in to the back line and the back line players, led by Puggy, would draw up a ring and start to play marbles. I share this yarn with people because I know that is what he would have wanted. As people have witnessed, Puggy had a great sense of humour.
We grew older and went our separate ways, but as the friendships of Parap Camp days dictated, we always kept in touch with each other over the years. In 1977, I moved to Adelaide to study. It was good to catch up with Puggy, not only to renew old acquaintances but to forge closer ties that was akin to a battery recharging. On leaving Adelaide at the end of 1978, I had noticed a desire sparked within Puggy, a desire to get involved with his struggle. Soon after, he also took studies at the Institute of Technology at what was known as the Aboriginal Task Force. I think this time marked the launching pad for him to become more heavily involved.
His contribution to the field of indigenous health policy went to another level in 1991 when Puggy was elected the inaugural Chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. His work was always fuelled by his empathy with people at the grassroots. This ability meant he combined smart national politics and lobbying with community level outcomes and concerns. Puggy’s special abilities and extraordinary contribution were recognised in the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate. Puggy was dedicated to his people’s struggle to improve health standards of all Aboriginal and Islander peoples. He worked unceasingly for the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, also known as NACHO, even through his days of poor health right up until his untimely passing.
We all received at one point after his passing, that dreaded phone call. I, like everyone one else, was shocked to hear the bad news. But I can tell you that two weeks earlier I was happy to talk to him by phone at his sister Donna’s place, when he was passing through Darwin. I asked him to call around on the way to the airport and I gave him my last two magpie geese for his 50th birthday and said that I may not be able to make it across to Broome because of our election. We hugged each other and then said goodbye. In actual fact, my wife, Val, took a photo of us which I will always treasure. Puggy’s parting words were: ‘Val, you are allowed to visit us in Broome, you know. We have coconut trees there for you to play on while Jack and I talk business. And brother, you look after yourself. I am worried about your health’. That is typical of him. Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter, what a bloke.
To his family, Blondie, Emily, Renee, Troy and Amber, and to Auntie Dora, Deborah, Donna, Natalie, Kimberley, Brendan and Jason, on behalf of everyone who knew Puggy, I express our deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to you.
I wanted to respond to what I heard the member for Daly talking about in regards to Zimin Drive. I will only do it just briefly, because I will get a copy of Hansard, no doubt, and I will pick up many of what I believe are incorrect statements made by him in regards to Zimin Drive in Katherine.
The facts, as I understand them at this stage, surrounding the capital works being proposed for the flood mitigation measure on Florina Road and Zimin Drive: these areas were closed following heavy rains in January 2001. These heavy rains contributed to the rising of groundwater and the subsequent formation of a lake on the adjoining Hickey property. Florina Road was closed for some months and the Katherine Town Council had constructed a temporary bypass to enable residents to access the road beyond the flooded section. This was only a short-term response.
In February 2001, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment engaged consultants to investigate flood mitigation options. The Department of Transport and Works contributed to this investigation. After examination, the longer-term solution involves the raising of Florina Road. Roadworks were included in the presented advice to reduce any period of closure for Florina Road and Zimin Drive in the event of future flooding of the local area. The Procurement Review Board approved the awarding of a contract on 11 October 2001. Downes Graderways have been awarded a Northern Territory government contract of which $276 206 is for roadworks.
I also acknowledge the support and contribution of the Katherine Town Council. Mayor Jim Forscutt has made an immediate additional commitment of $200 000 towards the cost of the roadworks. I thank the Mayor and his council for their support on this initiative. It is important that the roadworks be completed before the looming Wet, to ensure residents are not isolated as they have been during previous wet seasons. Accordingly, it is my understanding that the roadworks component of the project will commence next week. I am happy to affirm that the Labor government is prepared to be fiscally responsible, open and willing to cooperate with local community interests, and local governments. I thank my colleague, the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Hon Kon Vatskalis, for his support and prompt consideration of the complex issues involved in making this decision.
I also take this occasion to correct the view that these works constitute full flood mitigation for the local area. The fact is, it does not. These roadworks offer the best response from those presented by the respective departments. It is always important to note that our circumstances dictate a responsible government will take these into account. I am concerned about comment from the member for Daly, when he claims, in the recent Katherine Times article, that this project represents a total solution. Wrong again. No government can predict the future. We just have to look at the impact of the Katherine floods. The member for Daly is hardly in a position to make claims about total solutions. Such comments can be misconstrued and may offer false hope by overstating their true intent. The contract has been let and the work will start. Raising Florina Road will ensure residents have access to their properties. So, I am happy to assure residents of Katherine that roadworks will begin next week, before this year’s Wet sets in.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to advise you of the presence in the gallery of students from Casuarina Street Primary School, Katherine, accompanied by Ms Sheryl Ann Courtney. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a warm welcome to our visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I also advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of students from the Oenpelli Area School accompanied by Ms Irene Moran. On behalf of honourable members, I also extend a warm welcome to these visitors.
Members: Hear, hear!
PETITIONS
Container Deposit Legislation in
the Northern Territory
Container Deposit Legislation in
the Northern Territory
Mr REED (Katherine)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I present a petition not conforming with Standing Orders from 3635 petitioners relating to the introduction of container deposit legislation in the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
- We, the undersigned ask the Northern Territory government to support and introduce container deposit
legislation to the Northern Territory – 5 deposit on aluminium cans, plastic and glass bottles. We
believe that the introduction of such legislation will drastically reduce Territory landfill; clean up
streets and the landscape of glass and aluminium; improve community morale by encouraging
environmentally sustainable living; and create opportunities to generate revenue from the sale of
recyclable materials.
Darwin Harbour
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 6332 petitioners praying that Darwin Harbour be declared a national conservation park; that no further development occur on the Middle Arm Peninsula; that a risk assessment to the people of Darwin of the gas and petrochemical development be undertaken; and that other options for the siting of gas and petrochemical development be investigated.
The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms with the requirements of Standing orders.
Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
- To the Speaker and members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. We the undersigned
citizens of the Northern Territory do respectively request:
Wickham Point) until a total and independent assessment of cumulative
affects of such developments is completed;
3. a risk assessment of the gas and petrochemical developments to the people
of Darwin and surrounding districts be undertaken as a matter of
urgency; and
4. the other options for the siting of the gas and petrochemical developments,
eg Gunn Point Industrial Precinct, the Koolpinyah area, be thoroughly
investigated with full community participation;
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
NOTICE
Amendment to Motion
Amendment to Motion
Mr BURKE (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I give notice of an amendment to a motion foreshadowed yesterday for debate today, because - and if I could give some explanation - I intend to move this motion in full cooperation with the Chief Minister. It is a motion that I understand will undoubtedly have the full support of the parliament. It seems important to me, as I said yesterday, that one of the first actions of this Assembly is to express its strong support to the people of the United States because of the tragedy that has occurred, not only to them personally, and the leadership that they are displaying to the world coalition in dealing with international terrorism.
However, a few minutes ago, just before I came into this Chamber, in breaking news our Prime Minister announced the commitment of Australian ground forces to the conflict in Afghanistan - a significant commitment of our defence forces involving a detachment of SAS, FA18 fighters, and a naval task force, amongst other personnel.
I believe it is, again, an admirable position for us to take in this Assembly to amend that motion that is on the books, and I suggest the following amendments. But certainly, I intend to work with the government and will come up with a final motion that everyone can happily agree to.
My suggested amendments to the motion would include the following words:
- That the parliament:
are called on to defend our freedom;
acknowledges the need for them to do so to protect the values which all Territorians hold dear;
members of the Australian Defence Force and expresses its admiration for their commitment,
professionalism, and dedication to preserving and protecting our freedom;
actions of the Prime Minister in committing Australian forces to the war against terrorism; and
our total support and commitment and the prayerful hope that all will return home unharmed.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr BURKE: That is the content of the full motion, Madam Speaker. As I said, I am sure we will finalise those words today and debate the motion.
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
AustralAsia Railway - Progress
AustralAsia Railway - Progress
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, as I told the House yesterday, I visited Katherine last week to inspect progress on the AustralAsia Railway. At the Austrack sleeper factory I received an update on track-laying, jobs and subcontracting arrangements. It is an exciting time to be Chief Minister in the Territory, presiding over such a successful and significant project. As I did yesterday, I recognise the enormous commitment to the railway of the previous government and the hard-working railway team under Paul Tyrrell. The statistics are impressive: a $1.3bn project; nearly 2 million sleepers; 144 000 tonnes of rail and a 1.6 km train when the project is completed in 2004.
The railway corridor is alive with earthmoving equipment, a sleeper factory nearly completed, local tradespeople at work, giant culverts, quarrying, and road train deliveries of bridge pilings. There are four components to the project: the construction of a new 1410 km railway between Alice Springs and Darwin; the leasing of the existing 830 km standard gauge line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs - which the Asia Pacific Transport Company is already operating; completion of Stage 2 of East Arm Port, which will provide a critical link for the railway; and the operation of the railway and intermodal container terminal at East Arm Port by FreightLink, Asia Pacific Transport’s operating arm.
It is worth recalling this railway was first proposed over 140 years ago. The railway has had many false starts, but it is certainly now on track. ADrail established its construction and procurement headquarters in Darwin after financial closure was achieved. To the end of August - and this is the really exciting part, Madam Speaker - the total value of commitments was $537m, with local value of commitments of $266m to the Northern Territory, and $268m to South Australia. That $266m represents 116 Territory companies who now have work and jobs on this railway, and that is terrific.
Mr Reed: All put in place by the CLP.
Ms MARTIN: I recognise the work of the previous administration.
ADrail maintains an Internet site with details of contracts awarded over the previous month and tenders closing the next month, along with tenders planned for the following three-month period. The Territory and South Australia Industry Search and Opportunity Offices work with ADrail procurement staff to provide advice on local industry capacity and to determine local content value, in accordance with Local Industry Aboriginal Participation Plan rules.
Construction villages have been established in Katherine and Tennant Creek, with further camps established at The Bend south of Katherine and Bluebush Bore north of Tennant Creek. Earthworks are ahead of schedule. 240 km of track has been cleared and 145 km of embankment constructed. Activity is now occurring south of Katherine and north of Tennant Creek.
The first sleeper factory is due to be commissioned at Katherine in November with the Tennant Creek factory to follow in December. The Tennant Creek quarry has produced the first run of aggregate for the sleeper factory and will commence production of ballast this month. Freightlink has been conducting industry consultation with prospective customers. Work has commenced on the construction of the railway access embankment as part of the stage 2 development to incorporate the railway.
The consortium has undertaken to provide priority employment to Territorians, followed by South Australia and then other Australians. They have also undertaken to spend 75% of the construction expenditure in the local Territory and South Australian economies. Benefits are already flowing to the regional centres of Katherine and Tennant Creek due to direct contracts and the multiplier effects. The commencement of transportation of rail, cement and machinery through the Alice Springs railhead will support the town’s role as a logistics centre for the railway.
ADrail Services, the employment arm of the principal contractor, has been established. In conjunction with the Territory Construction Association, ADrail has developed a training and employment plan, with emphasis on development of entry-level skills and upskilling of existing industry participants.
NTETA has used labour forecasts from the Territory Construction Agency as the basis for its training plan budget, and for projections for this coming year. NTETA actions include funding work-ready training in regional centres, for jobs required in support industries, like for cooks or skilled labour, drivers and light construction. NTETA has also established the Northern Territory Railway Training Network to coordinate the response to anticipated training opportunities with the railway.
The network consists of a wide range of the training industry including Centralian College; Batchelor Institute; Julalikari Training; Tangentyere Council; Waikan Employment and Training Services; Industries Services Training; the NT Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Territory University. NTETA is funding work-ready training programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the indigenous training organisations such as Julalikari in Tennant Creek and Tangentyere Council in Alice Springs.
All ADrail-sponsored Aboriginal employment and training will be coordinated through the Northern and Central Land Councils. ADrail is still in its ramp-up phase, during which period about 300 jobs have been created. As construction gets into full swing after the wet season, more jobs will become available. ADrail predict around 800 jobs will be created directly by the project, plus additional jobs with Austrak, Morris Corporation and Roche Mining. Indirectly, there will be more jobs, with contracts awarded to local firms. Many benefits are already flowing in terms of local accommodation, transport, recreation and other services. The consortium will give preference to Territorians where skills are available as part of the Local Industry and Aboriginal Participation Plan.
The railway is not only on track; it is creating jobs and prosperity for the Territory. It will change the face of transport, reduce the Territory’s isolation, foster development, and provide many opportunities for those who are prepared. To ensure we capitalise on these opportunities, the government will continue to work closely with the private sector to promote a strategic approach to the development of transport and an investment environment that encourages complementary activities. We need to plan now for the future - a future that most Territorians enthusiastically accept, is only two million sleepers away!
Madam Speaker, I look forward to making further announcements concerning the railway and how it will benefit Territorians as the project develops over the forthcoming months and years.
Allan Report
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I rise to make this statement to the Assembly on the report provided to my government by Professor Percy Allan. As honourable members may be aware, when the Labor government first came to power, it was advised by the Treasury that there was an underlying deficit in the order of $102m in the Territory budget. This was, quite clearly, significantly greater than the $12m deficit that was included in the 2001-02 budget papers. Treasury’s advice was that the one-off asset sale of $50m in the 2001-02 budget for the sale of the Territory’s vehicle fleet obscured the deficit by $50m.
The remainder of the underlying deficit of $40m, as estimated at that time by Treasury, was associated with ongoing underfunding of key social services areas, predominantly health and education. Further, despite no mention by the previous government in the lead-up to the election, the Under Treasurer had no hesitation in describing the situation to me as ‘unsustainable’. A $90m deterioration …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: I think you should listen! A $90m deterioration in the expected budget bottom line in barely three months, in the absence of any major development such as a natural disaster or policy initiatives, seemed at best careless and sloppy and at worst, positively deceitful. We concluded that the most appropriate course of action was to commission an independent expert to provide confirmation that the Treasury’s assessment of the deficit for 2001-02 was correct.
I appointed Professor Percy Allan to undertake this task. Professor Allan is a former head of the New South Wales Treasury where he worked for both Labor and Coalition governments, a man whose professional credibility is beyond reproach. Professor Allan confirmed the Treasury’s advice on the size of the underlying deficit for 2001-02. Professor Allan assessed the Territory’s underlying deficit at $107m, excluding the railway commitment, and has recommended that immediate action is required to return the budget to a more sustainable position over the medium term.
Unfortunately, the Opposition Leader refused a briefing by Professor Allan at the conclusion of his report. Professor Allan found that the Territory’s level of net debt and unfunded employee entitlements as a proportion of total revenue - and that is the standard benchmark utilised by rating agencies - was almost double the six-state average, and set to head higher. In contrast, in other states this ratio is stable or falling. The financial liabilities of net debt and unfunded employee entitlements already amount to an estimated $2.9bn as at 30 June 2001. By 2005, the Treasury had estimated they would rise by a further $364m, and be equivalent to 1.46 times total revenue.
As background, Professor Allan also examined the financial outcomes of the past four years compared with the budget estimates. His figures were adjusted to make sure there were no scope and treatment differences.
Mr Reed: Sounds like this is preparation for a land tax.
Ms MARTIN: His results were nothing - and I think the former Treasurer should listen very carefully - short of alarming. In the lead-up to the biggest investment project in the Territory’s history in the form of the railway, which necessitates $165m of off-budget government funding, the annual …
Mr Burke: Thank God you were not in 12 months ago, we would never have seen the railway.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The Leader of the Opposition, order.
Ms MARTIN: … deficit averaged $70m, peaking at $114m in the financial year just ended. Rather than accumulating budget surpluses during this period to fund the railway commitment, the former government kept the debt meter ticking over at ever faster rates. Professor Allan’s report notes that the deterioration was particularly significant after 1998-99, coinciding with the time the member for Brennan became Chief Minister. This was reinforced by the Country Liberal Party’s own disendorsed senator, Grant Tambling, who stated as recently as last week:
However, I disagree with the former Senator on his last point. I think the Territory’s prospects look a lot better with the change of government.
In 1998-99, the estimated budget deficit was $13m, with an outcome that year of $18m. However, in 1999-2000, despite a budget deficit forecast to be zero, the outcome was a deficit of $91m. In 2000-01, the budget deficit blew out from an initial estimate of $45m to an estimated $114m at the time of Professor Allan’s report. Over the past two financial years, despite budget estimates of deficits averaging around $20m, the outcomes averaged nearly $100m, or a blow-out in the bottom line averaging around $80m each year. Adding in what we now know is likely for 2001-02, the situation is even worse.
The former government did not just blow its budget once - it did it year after year. This pattern indicated a systemic problem with the budget formulation. Professor Allan found that the last four budgets incorporated unrealistically low growth forecasts for government final consumption expenditure, which represents around 60% of total budget expenditure.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the question – is this a House of debate or does the opposition have any opportunity to respond to the allegations being made by the Chief Minister? Or has this become a one-sided House where we sit and listen and the government continually talks?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. There is no debate on the ministerial reports. Chief Minister, I will request that you get on with your ministerial report. They are getting lengthy. Remember that we have a time limit on them.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, it is very difficult with the interjections of an unruly opposition. I remind the unruly opposition of their words over the last few years about the behaviour of unruly oppositions.
Madam SPEAKER: It was my understanding that these were going to be nice, short reports so could we get on with it quickly, please.
Ms MARTIN: Professor Allan found that the last four budgets incorporated unrealistically low growth forecasts for government final consumption expenditure, which represents around 60% of total budget expenditure. Final consumption expenditure in the main includes the key staffing and operational costs of running agencies. Despite actual growth in this item of around 4% to 5% a year, the published budgets were allowing for little or no anticipated growth in this item, year after year.
Therefore, the three budgets to 2000-01 underestimated final consumption expenditure by $65m to $70m a year. Further, little or no effort was made to contain the ballooning deficit in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. This approach was continued into 2001-02, where the published budget deliberately under-estimates final consumption spending by at least $40m, and makes absolutely no provision for achieving savings, or raising revenue, of that order. In other words, the Territory’s annual budget papers, rather than containing information that were a true reflection of the anticipated cost of delivering services and programs to the people of the Territory were, sadly, a fabrication, intended to obscure the true budget figures. Professor Allan concluded that the responsibility for this chain of events lay directly with the government of the day, not the Treasury. What the previous government did was a simply ‘cook the books’.
Since the Allan Report was released, the opposition has raised the issue of the sale of NT Fleet, at the same time as refusing a briefing, I would like to explain to the House some matters pertaining to the proposed sale which was contained in the 2001-02 budget. Treasury advised that the issue was first examined by the previous government two to three years ago, but rejected at the time. Treasury has also advised that in a hasty attempt to publish a favourable budget bottom line, even allowing for the under-estimate of final consumption expenditure, the previous government included the sale in the budget, without the appropriate investigation as to whether it was still worth while. That investigation only occurred after the budget was delivered, not before. Yet another example of the poor approach the previous government adopted in its budget formulation processes.
Treasury has advised the new government that due to tax and accounting changes, as well as the general decline in interest rates, the financial advantages of the sale and lease-back of government fleets are no longer available. Indeed, at least two other jurisdictions are considering re-establishing ownership of their fleet vehicles, after going down the leasing path. The benefits of ownership now clearly outweigh those of leasing. In addition, the sale would have only a one-year effect on the underlying deficit, and not address the ongoing structural problems with the budget my government had the misfortune to inherit.
Madam Speaker, in summary what the previous Treasurer did, and what the former Chief Minister and Cabinet colluded in doing, was to undermine the whole financial integrity of the Northern Territory. The annual budget is the public sector equivalent of the financial prospectus issued by private companies. Under Australian companies law, financial information must follow external reporting standards and directors who deliberately misrepresent information in corporate reports can ultimately end up in gaol. This government, unlike its predecessors, will make sure this deception will never again be perpetrated on Territorians. I would like to record my government’s thanks to Professor Allan for his comprehensive and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Chief Minister, your time has expired. Are there any further ministerial reports?
Economic Development Summit
Mr HENDERSON (Industries and Business): Madam Speaker, I rise to provide members with a report on the Northern Territory Economic Development Summit recently announced by the Chief Minister. The summit has been called to address the economic issues facing this government. Members of this House are now well aware of the Territory’s budgetary situation which has been documented by Professor Percy Allan and, in particular, by the Chief Minister in the previous report.
Mr Dunham: So you agree with his report. You agree with Allan’s report.
Mr HENDERSON: We will wait until we get to the health budget.
Mr Dunham: We cannot respond to this, so we do it by interjection. Do you agree with the report?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale.
Mr HENDERSON: Members will also appreciate the need to re-chart the Territory’s economic development. Given the global economic consequences post the 11 September terrorist attack in New York and the local consequences of the Ansett collapse, the Economic Development Summit is a symbol of the government’s commitment to working in partnership with the various sectors of the community, and its commitment to listen to and consult with members of the community.
The summit will provide a valuable opportunity for a very wide range of Territorians to sow the seeds to grow our own economy. It should be understood that the summit will be a forum for meaningful discussion focused on the achievement of specific outcomes. These outcomes include: strengthening business and community confidence in the future developments of the Northern Territory economy by determining a clear plan articulated by government and business working together; providing industry, business and community groups with an opportunity to present their issues, concerns and strategies to inform the November mini-budget and the government’s longer term economic development strategy, specifically views on where government should have its focus to maximise economic growth over the next three to four years; a concluding summit statement that will contain the key economic issues and suggested economic directions; and strategies to inform the Northern Territory Business Round Table, the Office of Territory Development and other government economic agencies.
The Economic Development Summit is important because it will be open to input from a wide range of Territorians who will have two opportunities to have their say. Firstly, community forums will be conducted during the last weekend in October in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin. It is planned that the economic development committees that currently exist in the regional areas will play an important role in the conduct of these forums. Government members will participate at these forums and listen to the issues raised by members of these regional communities. The forums will also provide an opportunity for any member of the public to present issues for further consideration at the summit. We are keen to engage our vital regional population in these deliberations.
Secondly, the summit website - which I intend launching within the week - will be able to receive suggestions in the same format that will be used by those attending the summit. A non-electronic means of making input will also be available. The government is committed to providing the widest possible input from Territorians regarding the Territory’s economic future.
The summit will include over 100 participants in addition to those who will participate via the community forums and the website. These participants will be drawn from such sectors as industry and business associations, non-government and community organisations, unions, land councils and local government organisations. The government is most concerned that Territorians who wish to have input will be able to do so.
We aim to ensure we have a range of high-quality speakers who will stimulate thought and wide-ranging discussion at the summit. Keynote speakers will include: the Director of the National Institute for Economic and Industry Research, Dr Peter Brain; future specialist, Dr Peter Ellyard; Chairman of the New South Wales Premier’s Council on the Cost and Quality of Government, Economist Professor Percy Allan; - that will be an interesting session - former Administrator for the Northern Territory and former NT Under Treasurer, Dr Neil Conn AO; and former Territorian and now Research Fellow at the Institute for Rural Futures, Dr Judith McNeill.
On behalf of the government I take this opportunity to thank those who have already indicated a willingness to be involved, and to support the summit. I especially thank the members of the summit’s organising committee, particularly the co-chairs of the summit - prominent Territory businessman, Neville Walker and former Territory Senator, Bob Collins. Other members of the committee also include: Dave Malone from the Territory Construction Association; Norman Fry from Northern Land Council; and Julie Ross from the Businesswomen’s Consultative Council. I also wish to thank the chairs of the regional economic development committees for their assistance in facilitating the community forums that will be held in the regional centres. I wish to acknowledge the very positive response that industry associations and individual members of the business community have made to this initiative, many of whom have contacted either my office or the Department of Industries and Business seeking to be involved in the summit.
Formal invitations to the summit will be issued during this week and I know that the industry and business sectors are looking forward to the opportunity to be briefed on the real Northern Territory economic situation, as well as share their views as to the way forward.
Mr Burke: Yes, and to also find out what you are going to do.
Mr HENDERSON: Whilst I am addressing what will be addressed during the summit, I take this opportunity to reiterate - for people opposite who have not been listening - what the Chief Minister has said. Labor’s framework coming into this summit is no new taxes, and to read that means no land tax. Now, I hope ...
Mr Dunham: So Percy’s wrong. That’s one bit of Percy’s report that is wrong.
Mr HENDERSON: … you guys understand that ...
Mr Burke: Which other bits?
Mr HENDERSON: ... no new taxes mean no land tax. I know it is a bit difficult for you guys, but that is where it is.
This Economic Development Summit is about the economic future of the Northern Territory ...
Mr Burke: No land tax or no …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: No new taxes - can you hear?
It has been about moving beyond the silver circle of players who have previously had input into government thinking. By comparison, it will create the opportunity for industry, business, regional organisations, unions, rural organisations, community organisations, and the non-government sector to be directly engaged in discussions vital to our future prosperity.
I look forward to making further announcements concerning the summit and how Territorians may be involved as it evolves over the coming weeks.
Madam SPEAKER: I remind government ministers you only have four minutes left of your 30 minute maximum, so are there any further ministerial reports?
Local Government Awareness Week
Mr VATSKALIS (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I will follow your advice. I am going to be slow reading and brief.
Madam SPEAKER: You need to be brief.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, the Martin government acknowledges the intrinsic role of local governments in the Territory. They are the third tier of our national administrative structure that, although not recognised at a constitutional level, provides basic facilities and services for Territory communities.
As the Minister for Local Government I will later today be addressing the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory annual conference, here in Darwin. The LGANT conference coincides with the Territory’s inaugural Local Government Week, which provides an opportunity for the elected members of councils to network and take part in a range of activities to celebrate the role of local government in community life. The conference also provides an opportunity for the public to meet mayors and elected members, and take tours of council chambers and works and service areas.
During the conference, members will examine best-practice local government initiatives from across the nation. They will also discuss industrial relations matters, natural heritage issues, information technology and communications. To their credit, the Local Government Association has involved children in their awareness week, through a school essay and logo competition.
This government will foster cooperation and inclusiveness in our dealings with Territory local governments. I will meet regularly with the association to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. The reform of local government in the Territory will be undertaken in consultation and in agreement, and any reform must be complementary to existing structures. We will not force amalgamations, nor we will force councils to adopt one specific model. We will also pursue partnership agreements to overcome duplication and maximise outcomes for ratepayers and taxpayers.
This government will lobby the federal government to provide greater equity in the allocation of funds to Territory local governments. We will review the Planning Act and introduce improvements to the benefit of all parties. We will work with LGANT to enhance training for local government members and staff. We will work with, and not against Territory local governments, and they will enjoy the way we do business.
I look forward to my tenure as Minister for Local Government and the opportunity to improve inter-government relations and achievements.
Reports noted pursuant to Sessional Order.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Take four bills together
Take four bills together
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of Standing orders be suspended as would prevent the bills entitled Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 (Serial 5), Juvenile Justice (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 (Serial 6), Sentencing Amendment Bill (No 3) 2001 (Serial 7), and Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 (Serial 8) - (a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in regard to, respectively, the second readings, the committee’s report stage, and the third readings of bills together; and (b) the consideration of the bills separately in the committee of the whole.
Motion agreed to.
JUVENILE JUSTICE AMENDMENT BILL
(No. 2)
(Serial 5)
JUVENILE JUSTICE (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL
(Serial 6)
SENTENCING AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3)
(Serial 7)
SENTENCING (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL
(Serial 8)
(No. 2)
(Serial 5)
JUVENILE JUSTICE (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL
(Serial 6)
SENTENCING AMENDMENT BILL (No. 3)
(Serial 7)
SENTENCING (CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL
(Serial 8)
Bills presented and read a first time.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bills be read a second time.
The purpose of these bills is to repeal the mandatory sentencing regime for property offences that applies to both adults and juveniles under the Sentencing Act and the Juvenile Justice Act respectively. The repeal of the mandatory sentencing is one of this government’s major election promises and we are keen for this to be one of our first initiatives.
The amendments proposed by these bills are all part of this government’s six point plan on crime prevention. Other bills addressing our six point plan are also being introduced in these sittings. These deal with the new offences of home and business invasion, car trashing, and the issuing by police officers of notices to appear. This package of amendments is an integral element in the overhaul of our criminal justice system. It will make the system more effective to combat the increasing crime rates and will provide Territorians with a greater level of personal protection.
The mandatory sentencing regime imposed by the previous government has been in place for too long in the Northern Territory. That regime has resulted in the imposition of unjust and inappropriate sentences of imprisonment while having no positive impact on the crime rate. There is no evidence to suggest that under mandatory sentencing offenders have been deterred from committing property offences. Moreover, the mandatory sentencing regime has done nothing for victims. The current minimum mandatory sentencing regime for property offences provides no scope for discretion, except insofar as it commits the imposition of greater sentences. This has resulted in a regime that operates unfairly and inconsistently. Because the mandatory minimum periods apply to all types of property offences, the current regime has not properly targeted suitable offences. We have seen inappropriate sentences of imprisonment apply to trivial offences, and inadequate sentences apply to more serious offences such as housebreaking.
It is no secret that many members of the community, including the legal profession, have spoken out against the current regime. Magistrates have repeatedly indicated that they have been forced to impose sentences that they consider to be manifestly excessive in the particular circumstances of a case. The regime has been investigated by the Federal Parliamentary Committee and is the subject of a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee for breaching Australia’s treaty obligations.
On the introduction of its mandatory sentencing legislation, the previous government stated that the object of the mandatory sentencing regime was to address public concerns about crime levels with an aim to deterring offenders, reducing crime and ensuring that people felt safe in their homes. The reality has turned out to be something different. Mandatory sentencing has had little or no positive effect. In fact, unlawful entries in Alice Springs and Darwin urban regions continue to increase. Nearly 90% of offenders in urban areas continue to get away with property offences undetected. The simple fact is that Territorians do not feel safer in their own homes under mandatory sentencing.
The Sentencing Amendment Bill (No.3) 2001 introduces a much fairer scheme for the sentencing of adults convicted of aggravated property offences. It introduces a scheme that properly targets the offences that Territorians are concerned about. It is a scheme that does not require persons convicted of minor offences to be unjustly imprisoned at the taxpayer’s expense, a scheme that considers more appropriately the views of victims and, more importantly, a scheme that allows for the court to exercise discretion while still requiring that the public interest in ensuring that adequate sentences are imposed for serious property offences is given a high regard. In short, a scheme that is capable of being both tough on crime and applied appropriately and fairly.
As already mentioned, the new scheme will target only aggravated property offences. These will include the new offences of aggravated home and business premises invasion and car thrashing, as well as robbery, unlawful entry, assault with intent to steal and aggravated criminal damage. This means that only those offences that have a high impact on victims and which are the main focus of community concerns, will be caught by the new scheme.
In relation to the actual sentencing process, the bill ensures that the courts are given a clear purpose to consider when sentencing for an aggravated property offence. The purpose of the new scheme is clearly stated to ensure that community disapproval of persons committing aggravated property offences is adequately reflected in the sentences imposed on those persons.
As part of the new scheme the bill repeals the provisions of the Sentencing Act related to punitive work orders. These types of orders were introduced at the same time as the original mandatory sentencing regime and were intended to be a tougher alternative to community service orders. They were set at no more and no less than 224 hours of work to be performed, and required one-on-one supervision by officers of Correctional Services. However, these orders have been shown to be both ineffective and extremely expensive to maintain. They are inflexible orders that cannot be tailored to suit specific cases. In addition, the assessment of offenders for a suitability for such an order are both onerous and resource-intensive. The courts have been reluctant to order them and in the last four years only 20 have been ordered. In reality, the limited role they can play can be more aptly covered by a flexible community-based order.
This is why the bill, as well as removing the current punitive work orders, will review the current community service orders provisions. Firstly, the name of the orders will be changed to community work orders, and to more accurately reflect the focus of the orders. Secondly, the bill provides a clear statement of what community work orders are intended to achieve. That is, that the orders are to ensure that offenders make amends to the community by performing work that benefits the community.
When an offender is convicted of an aggravated property offence, unless exceptional circumstances exist, the court must impose either a term of imprisonment or a community work order. A term of imprisonment can be partly suspended but can only be wholly suspended where a home detention order is made. Unlike the current regime, the court has complete discretion to determine the length of the sentence according to the seriousness of the offence, or to make any other sentencing order it is authorised to make. Similarly, if exceptional circumstances are found to exist, the court can make any order it considers appropriate.
It must be stressed that the term ‘exceptional circumstances’ under the new scheme is to have the common law definition. The court can have regard to any factor it considers exceptional. It is not to be confused with the narrowly-defined term as used in the current mandatory sentencing regime. All aspects of the current mandatory sentencing regime are irrelevant to the new scheme and should not be considered or taken into account in any matter.
The new sentencing scheme will apply from the date of the commencement, which is 22 October 2001. This is regardless of when the offence occurred. Any offender who is already in prison serving a mandatory sentence for a property offence will not be entitled to have their case reopened. This government respects the rule of law, and the fact is that these people committed offences and were sentenced under the law of the day. However, in the case of any real injustice an offender will still be able to apply for prerogative mercy. That provision has always been available.
This government is committed to ensuring that the new scheme for aggravated property offences will be successful and properly applied. That is why I undertake to scrutinise sentences under the new scheme and bring to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions any cases where it is apparent that the intention of parliament has not been achieved.
In relation to mandatory sentencing regime for repeat juvenile property offenders, the Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 proposes the complete repeal of this regime. Quite rightly, this regime has borne the brunt of much criticism, both nationally and internationally. One of the main foci of any government should be on giving the most vulnerable in our community the opportunity to develop to their full potential. A regime that imprisons our children for minor offences does not provide this.
One aspect of the juvenile regime will remain. Under the current regime, the court has the power to order that a juvenile found guilty of a second or subsequent property offence is to participate in a diversionary program. These often include victim offender conferencing. Instead of repealing a program that has enjoyed a level of success, it will be expanded to cover all types of offences. This will mean that in any case involving a juvenile offender, the court will have this additional sentencing option available.
With the repeal of the juvenile mandatory sentencing regime, all juvenile sentencing will be at the complete discretion of the court. A juvenile sentenced after the repeal of the current regime will be sentenced as if it had never been in place. This is regardless of when the property offence was committed. The repeal of the punitive work orders, and the new community work orders, will also apply to the juvenile scheme.
Another important aspect of the government’s six point plan is all about putting victims first. Provision has been made in both the Sentencing Act and the Juvenile Justice Act for victim impact statements to contain a statement of the victim’s wishes in respect to sentencing. This will apply to all offences, not only to aggravated property offences, and will give victims a more satisfying input into the sentencing process.
The Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 and the Juvenile Justice (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2001 amend references throughout Territory legislation to accommodate the repeal of mandatory sentencing for property offences for both adults and juveniles. The bills will accommodate the repeal of punitive work orders and amend references to the new community work orders. The bills contain only technical and uncontroversial amendments.
This government is pleased to be in the position to repeal the current mandatory sentencing regime for property offences. This government rejects a regime that operates unjustly and inappropriately just for the sake of appearing to be tough on crime. That is why we are introducing a scheme that will actually work - one that is fair and properly targeted at all sorts of offences that are of real concern to Territorians.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bills to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No. 4)
(Serial 5)
(Serial 5)
Bill presented and read a first time.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Criminal Code to provide for an offence of home invasion and invasion of business, and to increase the penalty for damage to motor vehicles. The issue of home invasion is not new and to date it has not been considered a separate criminal offence. This bill recognises that people have the right to feel safe in their homes and secure in the running of their businesses; a right to expect that their possessions are safe within the privacy of their homes; a right to earn a living without the inconvenience, disruption and expense incurred by constant break-ins and the senseless trashing of their premises and goods.
Unfortunately, unlawful entry and vandalism to homes and to businesses is a common and recurring activity. Quite often the damage to property during the break-in does not amount to much in terms of monetary value, but almost always causes emotional distress and disruption to normal family life and business activities. People feel acutely the violation of their personal space and of their personal belongings.
The Criminal Code currently contains offences of unlawful entry and criminal damage, both of which carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. Where one of the aggravating factors currently spelt out in the act exists, the penalty is increased to seven years imprisonment. However, these offences do not properly target the type of behaviour that typifies home and business invasion.
This bill creates a new offence of home invasion and invasion of business premises. It also provides a definition of damage which makes it clear that damage includes an interference with property that does not necessarily result in destruction of, or damage to, the property or financial loss to the owner of the property. Damage includes activity such as interfering with property or defacing, despoiling and vandalising property. Some of us have experienced the feeling of violation that results from the discovery that a stranger has entered our home or a business premises and rummaged through personal possessions and confidential files. Finding the contents of every cupboard and draw emptied on the floor or thrown into the street is a truly distressing discovery. It clearly demonstrates that damage does not always have to have a monetary value or involve a permanent loss of property.
The new offences will send a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. If a person unlawfully enters a dwelling house or business premises and damages property, that person may be charged with home invasion or invasion of business premises, and will be liable to imprisonment for seven years.
An aggravated form of the offence provides a penalty of a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. This offence relates to the situations where premises have been ransacked or defaced in such a way as to cause emotional distress and serious disruption to a family or to business activity, or where the damage results in a loss of greater than $5000. Unlike the current provision of unlawful entry, it will not be necessary to prove that at the time the person entered the premises he or she intended to commit an offence. The essence of the crime here is the encroachment upon the premises themselves.
The bill also addresses the serious matter of damage to motor vehicles. Such damage frequently causes financial distress and inconvenience to the motor vehicle owner. As honourable members are aware, aside from the home, a motor vehicle is one of the most expensive items a person will ever purchase. In the Northern Territory they are often an essential item, central to family activity, taking children to school, sporting activities and to medical facilities. The loss of a vehicle through damage, even for a short period of time, can cause great inconvenience and stress to the family or business. The cost of even minor repairs, both in time and in dollars, can be a heavy burden.
This bill will amend the Criminal Code to provide for an increased penalty of seven years imprisonment for cases where serious damage is done to a motor vehicle. This offence occurs when either $5000 of damage is done to the vehicle, or where an amount of the damage is less than $5000, but is 50% or more of the value of the vehicle. For example, a vehicle that is worth $7000 may have $4000 damage done to it, or a vehicle that is worth $1000 may have $600 damage done to it. Both examples illustrate that the damage is such that it is likely to render the vehicle unusable until repaired, and likely to cause financial distress to the owner. Relative to the value of the property, the damage is significant.
We believe that this bill reflects some of the real concerns of the community regarding criminal activity that is occasioned by offenders breaking into people’s homes and ransacking premises. It emphasises that a person’s home should be a place of security and privacy; that the invasion of that privacy is unacceptable to the community, and that there should be a severe penalty for such an offence. It is also a reflection that a person is entitled to engage in trade and business in safety and without unnecessary disruption to that business. It is saying to the community in no uncertain terms that unlawful, senseless damage to personal property will not be tolerated.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
ADDRESS-IN-REPLY
Continued from 16 October 2001.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I believe we have some members who are to give their maiden speeches this morning and who have family in the gallery, so I would like to go on with the Address-in-Reply.
Mr KIELY (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, I am honoured and privileged to be provided the great responsibility to stand before this Assembly as the newly elected member for Sanderson. I would sincerely like to thank the people of the Sanderson electorate for placing their faith and trust in me as a person, and as a member of the Australian Labor Party, to represent them in this parliament.
I pledge now, before my parliamentary colleagues and on the public record, to steadfastly represent each and every one of the constituents of the electorate of Sanderson to the very best of my ability. I further offer a solemn undertaking to consider the needs of the electorate of Sanderson in the context of the broader community. I will strive to the best of my ability to ensure that any decisions that I partake in will be financially secure, address in a responsible manner environmental issues with the view to minimising negative environmental impacts, and that the decisions I make must act in conformity with societal expectations.
As the Labor member for Sanderson, what do I stand for? For the honourable members of the House and the people of Sanderson, let me place it on record. I stand for social justice and a fair go for all. I stand for sustainable development that respects the Northern Territory’s unique environmental lifestyle. I stand for open and accountable government. I believe in the concept of a social contract. In the case of having the honour to be the elected member for Sanderson, I am provided with many opportunities and an enormous obligation. The electors of Sanderson can be confident that my focus over the next four years will be clearly on them and their issues. I will be available and accessible to my constituents.
I put on the record my thanks to a magnificent branch of the Australian Labor Party, the Sanderson/Karama branch, for their tireless efforts over many years of believing that a Labor government was an achievable outcome. My sincere thanks go to the immediate members of my campaign team, whose energies and expertise constantly rallied me to meet the challenges of a long and hard campaign. I express my appreciation as well to many people in Sanderson who volunteered their time and energies to help with the constant stream of information that I was asking them to deliver to the letter boxes of Sanderson. These people, as well as those who stepped up to help me on the day at the polling booths, can take great satisfaction in knowing that I acknowledge it was their grassroots efforts which underpinned the successful outcome we have before us today.
My heartfelt thanks also go to the Labor leader, now Chief Minister, and her parliamentary colleagues in the last Assembly. All of these people have freely shared with me their knowledge, their conviction and, importantly, their time when I needed guidance. I am also grateful to my fellow candidates, those who sit here today, and even more so to those who were prepared to stand in electorates requiring the strength of Hercules to win, for their cameraderie, their fellowship, and the sense of purpose that makes us all proud to be part of Clare Martin’s team.
Ever since self-government, the Australian Labor Party has campaigned for the honour to govern in its own right in the Northern Territory. My thanks also go to all of those ALP candidates who went before me - particularly those in the seat of Sanderson - especially the last candidate, Mike Atkinson, whose help early in the formative stages of my campaign I have always valued.
To Margaret Keech, MLA for Albert in Queensland’s Beattie government, my sister-in-law, I owe a special vote of thanks for inspiring me by her success in her state’s election with a swing of over 10%. She showed me that the seat of Sanderson was winnable and she was instrumental in the refocusing of my campaign. To her husband, Peter Keech, whose expertise as a campaign manager was shared with my team and is considered by some to have been that final edge to go to winning the seat and helping Labor into government, thank you.
The friends I have made both here and elsewhere have enriched my life. I am pleased they have stood by me over the eight months of my campaign; a great group of people I am proud to call friends. To my friends I say thank you. Thank you for your material support and your preparedness to tolerate me even when my life seemed to be focussed on only one goal. To each and everyone of you, my thanks and my family’s thanks flow.
Both my wife’s family and mine have been exceptional in their support. My mother-in-law and my mother both prayed for my success. My mother-in-law particularly prayed for a just and fair government for the NT people, and she has told me she believes her prayers have been answered.
But if I am to identify the paramount contributor to my success in Sanderson it is undoubtedly my wife, Marie Kirkwood. She was the source of my energy, determination and will to achieve what was a remarkable result for Sanderson. My respect for her ability to see things clearly, to tell it like it is, and to be able to overcome any and all obstacles in helping me and Labor achieve a goal which was had once been unattainable, cannot be overstated. Of all of my life’s past achievements, and of the things I have achieved recently and hope to achieve in the future, the greatest achievement will always be the love of my wife and children. I would like to take this opportunity to place on the public record my love for Marie Kirkwood and our children, Claire and Ned. You are the foundations on which the success of my campaign was built and to you I owe the greatest debt.
Over the past number of years we have experienced the build-up of the defence services in the Darwin region. Indeed, a number of servicemen and their families live in Sanderson. I have met most of these people and their families. The majority of these servicemen are not in the defence forces’ upper echelons of command but from the more operational levels of the services. I understood their concerns for their families and difficulties associated with transferring to a remote locality, in terms of being away from the cities of the south where they enlisted. I got on well with these servicemen because like them, I too have completed a stint of military service.
Indeed, my family’s military history covers two world wars and the Vietnam War. My grandfather fought on the western front in World War I, my father fought in Africa, and my uncles in the Pacific. The uncle who is my namesake died while a prisoner of war. My brothers fought in Vietnam and I joined the army in 1971 prior to our country’s withdrawal from that theatre of war. All of my family were volunteers to the armed services just as was I. I served in the army when national service was compulsory and I was present in barracks the night the Australian Labor Party ended it. The joy of the conscripts of having this compulsory duty lifted from their shoulders was the final lap to convince me we should never force our youth into uniform. As a nation we can pride ourselves, and we do rightfully pride ourselves, on our capacity to volunteer. I am confident that we can always rely on our people to volunteer for military service and we should never consider the reintroduction of such a divisive policy such as national service ever again.
I have lived in Sanderson for nine years and have had the pleasure of not only watching my own family grow but I have also seen other families in the community grow over the years. I have also, over this time, had a chance to note on a passing basis the diversity of family groups within our city. Indeed, by my observations the picture postcard depiction of the typical family being mum, dad and two children is now an urban myth. I know families like that. But I also know of homes where children are living with their grandparents or aunties and uncles; of families with only one parent be it either mum or dad. I am friends with other families who are different once again in their complexity. I know of families doing it tough because of the complete breakdown between the parents, and others where the families function better if the parents are apart.
As a community, these families are our shared investment in the future of our society and we have an obligation to recognise this and shape our policies accordingly. Labor recognises that the Territory demographic profile reveals many differences with the Australian mainstream. Being judgmental about insisting family structures only serves to alienate those who are often most in need of support services, to the detriment of the children they are raising. I believe in, and Labor believes in, fairness and tolerance and want services that will address family circumstances as they exist, not how some may like them to be.
My own upbringing was far from the silver spoon experience. I came from a family of seven children and was raised in an environment of family violence. I will always remember my mother escaping from one tragic relationship only to end up in an even more frightful relationship. It was 30 years ago that I left home, and I have cause to note that even after all that time the situation of dysfunctional family life continues for a large number of our community.
Many of the problems families face are interlinked; poor health or poor education may be connected to social problems including poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol misuse and poor self esteem. Well, make no mistake, child abuse, substance abuse, domestic violence, school aged pregnancy and family breakdown are not the sole province of the less well-off in our society. These ills can and do affect families across the whole range of our community.
I am also pleased to note that the Martin Labor government believes families are the heart of our society and we are committed to strengthening family ties. The elected government of the Northern Territory, your government, recognises the truth that families are and will always be mainly shaped by private choices well beyond the influence of government. That is how it should be. It is a role of government not make those choices but to support families, providing them with the opportunities to make the best choices they can.
When we cast our eyes to Sanderson, what do we see? An electorate with strong family orientation, set amongst leafy streets and pleasing cul-de-sacs; an electorate that has easy access to undoubtedly the best sporting complexes in the Territory; an electorate that also has access to large shopping centres and a custom-made lake. But when we look below the surface, when we scratch this faade even slightly, we see an electorate that requires more appropriate services for its youth; more appropriate support for its families; more resources focussed on its schools and shopping centres; an electorate where house-breaks are not considered an extraordinary event; where walking the pathways at night is a pastime very few will undertake; an electorate where the local shop walls are vandalised with graffiti on a regular basis. This is the legacy of an electorate that supported conservative politics for 17 years.
It is my belief that the electorate of Sanderson was not repaid by the Country Liberal Party for its loyalty by neglect. I believe rather it was something a lot worse - that is indifference. Indifference to addressing difficult and complex issues such as developing a strategic plan to tackle the complex issues families are facing; to address issues that besiege our school system; the issues our youth face as they transit the gulf between dependence and independence; to the difficulties faced by small business that goes about providing a valuable service to our communities; and to address the concerns of citizens to go about their community in a safe and secure environment.
I am saddened in the belief that the Country Liberal Party has taken Sanderson for granted all these years. Our youth have missed out on jobs, small business battles to keep going, our families missed out on services, and our kids have missed out on the full benefits our schools could offer if resourced properly.
Supporting the family unit was a constant theme I came into contact with on people’s doorsteps during my campaign. They were pleased that I was able to sit with them and tell of Labor’s plan to establish an Office of Children and Families, and that this issue was held in such high regard by Labor that that office is to be directly under the control of the Chief Minister.
I am happy to stand here today as the Labor representative for Sanderson, able to advise the good people of Sanderson of their government’s commitment towards the Darwin Family Centre located in Marrara. Labor has undertaken over its term of office to upgrade this facility to the tune of $170 000, plus funding enabling the employment of an inclusion worker. The capital assistance will go toward making the centre more appealable to families during the wet season with the upgrading of the existing airconditioning. There is also to be developed a playground for children with special needs. It is astounding that over all these years the previous conservative government had never developed in Darwin a specific-purpose playground for these kids to enjoy.
Families in Sanderson and adjoining electorates will also be able to benefit from the proposed upgrade of Sanderson Tennis Courts. These are tremendous facilities utilised by the community nearly every day of the week, and especially on weekends. These tennis courts are used as a place to coach our kids, providing them with significant physical as well as social skills that remain with them all of their lives. The value of these tennis courts for the community has always been known, and yet a proposal to add value to this facility has languished for years under the previous regime. It will be Labor’s honour, and to the community’s benefit that, working in partnership with business and community organisations, these tennis courts may well become the equal over time to similar facilities located at Millner and Mindil Beach, and will be highly valued by not only the families of Sanderson but indeed, families throughout the northern suburbs.
There was another tragedy at Lake Leanyer on Sunday 14 October. I wish to express my sincere condolences - and I am sure those of every member of this Assembly - to the family of the young child whose life ended so unforeseeably at that place. I was heartened by our government’s preparedness to move quickly on implementing a range of recommendations provided by the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia to improve safety to this facility. Some of the safety measures to be implemented include a public telephone for emergencies; suitable isolation fencing; and child-proof access gates. Labor will also be addressing the severe rise in death by accidental drowning in the Territory by establishing a Water Safety Council. While understandably these actions will be cold comfort to the families who have lost children to drowning in Lake Leanyer, they may save other families in the future from suffering the agony of such a loss.
During the election campaign Labor unveiled a vision for Lake Leanyer. Labor listened to the people of Sanderson, to the people of Karama, and to the people of Wanguri electorates on what they wanted the lake to be. We did not walk away from their concerns, their hopes for a better place for their families. The people of the northern suburbs have asked Labor to finish the job of making Lake Leanyer family-friendly, and to this end we have made a commitment to upgrade the lake to a standard where families can come and play in safety, where young friends can meet and have fun, where people can let their kids go out for the afternoon without any undue concerns.
I am excited about the Northern Territory’s future. I am excited about the prospects of working in partnership with the business community to bring jobs, jobs and more jobs to the people of Sanderson so that their lifestyle might continue and be enriched. There is much work to be done, but I will not be deterred because - as those who know me are aware - I do not shirk my responsibilities. People’s expectations of me may be high but I can say that my expectations of myself are even higher.
I am encouraged by Bernard Shaw when he observed, ‘Some men see the world as it is and ask why, others see the world as it might be and ask why not’. Working together, the people of Sanderson and I will create the community we have imagined and want.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, what interesting times we live in - or perhaps to quote an old song, ‘The times they are a changing’. These times certainly changed on 11 September, and since that day the world has become a dangerous and insecure place and the events of this historic week in the Northern Territory - although important to us all - are to some extent overshadowed by the problems that confront our nation and other nations that have joined the fight against terrorism.
Although we are a long way from Afghanistan, who knows where terror will strike again, and the Territory cannot regard itself immune from these dangers. Regardless, life must go on and we must not allow ourselves to be captured by world events, but approach the future with optimism. After all, as has been witnessed yesterday, the Territory is itself starting a new era. There is no doubt that what we are seeing in parliament this week is part of a clear historical change in the Territory that I believe began on 3 October 1998. That was the day when the people of the Territory, through a referendum, rejected the government’s statehood model.
What for some should have been a landslide victory, was not to be. Up until then, the power of the government seemed to be insurmountable; they held a comfortable majority in parliament; their media campaign told us continually about the benefits of statehood; and they were able to control a statehood agenda by clever manipulation of the statehood convention. But then what happened was surely amazing - people from different political persuasions, from different racial backgrounds, from different philosophies, were able to combine to halt what many in government thought would be a fait accompli. What the government and the opposition of the day did not realise was that in the Territory there was people power. They did not know about some amazing resilient people who through thick and thin, from beginning to end, were willing to fight against a form of statehood which they believed was undemocratic and was being imposed on them. They fought a campaign that would give people the right to have a real say in the development of our new state.
Two of these people were Peter McNab and Carrie Altamura. There were many others too, but these two people hold a special place for me. They were the ones who helped turn the tide, they stuck it out even when others dropped away. They received little or no support from either party, but they had the support of many Territorians. People like Carrie had to spend considerable amounts of their own money to advertise the No case, to get an alternative view across to the people so that people could make an informed choice.
She did this as a service to the people, not for any personal gain but because she believed that the government had not run a balanced and fair campaign. Sadly, when it was all over, the government would not reimburse her for her efforts - they lost and so would she. Her efforts in promoting a democratic path to statehood, her efforts in making sure that people would have a real say in the statehood process, her efforts in counteracting the government’s one-sided advertising campaign, her efforts in wanting a truly honest, inclusive and transparent approach to statehood, was vindicated by the vote of the people. It was disappointing that the government of the day never recognised her contribution. For them it was politics; for Carrie it was being a Territorian for democratic statehood. Carrie Altamura’s contribution to the Territory, to democracy, is something that should be recognised. Up until now it has not been, because she did not belong to a political party. But today I felt it an appropriate time to acknowledge her contribution, and hopefully, when the history of our time is written it recognises her name as a great and courageous Territorian, and maybe one day, the mother of statehood.
So where now is statehood? Our new government says it supports statehood. It may not be an issue high on the agenda at the moment, but it is something that will need to be revisited and when it is, I hope it will be done differently and gradually. Territory people will support statehood but on their terms, not the terms of those who wish to use constitutional change to entrench their political ideology.
The other great historic change that has swept over the Territory occurred at the last election, and is something that few people on either side of politics would have ever envisaged. To have a new party take over the reins of power after such a long period of one party controlling government is to many Territorians still a little hard to believe. There are some who still cannot come to grips with this reality, although I have found many people - even though not Labor supporters, even though disappointed at having lost - saying that a change in government will be good for the Territory. From my point of view it will be good for democracy, and that will be a good thing for the Territory.
As an independent I am pleased to see other changes. Already we have what can only be described as revolutionary - the introduction of an independent Speaker, and along with myself as Deputy Speaker, we now have an independent Speakership in this House. Hopefully, such innovation will lead to better behaviour by politicians, a better standard of debate, less divisiveness because of party-political differences, and less bias towards one side as may have occurred when the Speaker belonged to a particular party. We may see other changes in things like Question Time, with the review of Standing orders including a requirement that ministers actually answer questions.
These are some of my own ideas and some I have learnt from independents in other states. In Victoria, the three independents who hold the balance of power have put together the Independents Charter. This charter was devised to promote stable, open and accountable government, and is one document that I will use as a guide for my role as an independent. It is good to see that they have written into their charter a similar statement to what the independents in the Territory have agreed to, which may be enlightening to some. They agree to provide stability to the government of Victoria by voting with government on appropriation and supply bills, and all motions of no confidence unless there is evidence of fraud, misappropriation or illegal activities. But as with the Victorian independents, regardless of the above agreement, I will maintain my right to vote on all legislation according to the needs of my electorate, the Territory and my conscience.
What I want is to work in a spirit of cooperation with both the new government and the opposition. Where I do not agree with the government, I will tell them so, and I think they would expect that of me. I know one thing, I have a lot to learn and I will be a sitting duck occasionally because of my L-plates. I will make some mistakes along the way, but that is life.
So what do I see as important for our new government? I believe it should safeguard the principles of democracy in all spheres of government in the Territory, including local government and land councils, and perhaps using the gag on only rare occasions would be a good start. Perhaps they could also err on the side of openness rather than the safe option of keeping things quiet, and be willing to admit to making a mistake and not cover it up, and be accessible to the people.
I think our government should actively support families, recognising them as the foundation of our society, which may include striving to make it economically possible for one spouse to stay home with their children if they wish. Perhaps the roots of juvenile crime may at least partly be the result of this lack of choice. We should support our youth, especially in sports, art and music, and I hope personally I can help in that way. We should also support and respect the dignity of human life, from the unborn to those at the end of their lives. This is not said in a judgemental or condemning manner, but after all, if we espouse the cause of the weak, the frail, the defenceless, the poor, the unwanted and the crippled, then surely it is our duty to search for alternative dignity-of-life ways of dealing with the difficult moral issues of abortion and euthanasia. These issues challenge our modern medically-driven society and, like a cancer, slowly eat away at our respect for human life.
We should place a greater emphasis on responsibilities, not just rights. We need to promote our individualism but not in exclusion of our responsibilities to others in our community. I sometimes feel that is reflected in the lack of numbers we now see in service groups. We need to encourage tolerance and forgiveness, not just in our society but within government itself, and we need to speak the truth regardless of the consequences, rather than speak the politically correct for the sake of popularity. We need to recognise the source of power to govern and we need to recognise the belief that we are the stewards of our planet and that we need to care for our environment. We need to practically demonstrate a belief in the concept of sustainable development - development that creates real jobs, not the ones that achieve in the short term but cost in the long term, and we need to recognise the principles of native title, whilst at the same time recognising the rights of all who live here today.
There are other matters I could mention, and hopefully through the debates in this House I will have the opportunity to do that. The good thing about being an independent is that one can speak one’s mind on issues without the constraints of a party policy. The bad thing about being an independent is, you are expected to be an expert on everything, which is simply not possible. All you can do is ask those who are expert, and be willing to refrain from comment if you do not know. I might even find some time, perhaps, to get some inspiration from reading The Life of Thomas More, the Patron Saint of politicians. In fact, if you don’t know that, there was a gentleman on Who Wants to be Millionaire who lost $32 000 for not knowing that question. Tom was a bloke who said, as he was preparing to have his head cut off, ‘The king’s good servant, but God’s first’. No wonder he was a Saint. Obviously Henry VIII found beheading a good means of obtaining party discipline - another good reason for being and staying an independent.
Finally, I would like to thank all the friendly people of Nelson - including all their dogs, horses, chooks, ducks and everything else that greeted me - for their support and friendship. I will do my best to serve them faithfully over the next four years. Thanks also to my predecessors, Mr Chris Lugg, and to Noel Padgham-Purich who served in Nelson for many years as a member of the government and also as an independent. I can guarantee to members that I will not be feeding marsupials through the front of my shirt while the parliament is in session.
Thanks to all my friends, family and helpers, especially Trish, Tony and Jo; to my wife Imelda who keeps a cardboard cutout of me on the verandah to remind her of what I look like; to my children and grandchildren; and to my mum who is up here today and has come from Melbourne especially for the occasion. Unfortunately, dad could not make the long trip, but I know he would have wanted to have been here today. To my friends in local government who have supported me over many years in local government, thank you for all your encouragement and your advice and friendship over the many years, and to my Maker.
From my own perspective, it has been a long road travelled to get where I am standing today. So I thought that perhaps a crest of a suitable motto would symbolise that long journey. Julie at The Craft Basket at Coolalinga has kindly embroided it on my tie. There are three eggs in the nest, with the centre one hatched and a small chick emerging. What does all this represent? Well, there are three possibilities. The first could be a religious one, that is, representing the Trinity; the second could represent the ALP, CLP and an independent in the middle; or thirdly it could represent a symbolic rising of a failed egg farmer against all odds. I have chosen this last one and I have inserted the following motto, thanks to an old Latin teacher of mine: Cessi foro gallinarum sed surgo, which although not quite true, means: ‘I failed in the chook business but I rise up again’.
Dr BURNS (Johnston): Madam Speaker, it is an honour to stand here before this House as the newly-elected member for Johnston. I am indebted to the people of Johnston for placing their confidence and trust in me, and I pledge to honour that trust and confidence and to try and represent them well. I also thank those who supported my campaign.
The electorate of Johnston itself came into being on 18 August 2001. It draws its name from Commodore Eric Johnston, who was well known to a lot of people in this room and enjoyed enormous respect within the Northern Territory. As a Labor candidate for over 12 months, I had the opportunity to meet many residents of Johnston as I doorknocked the electorate twice in that period. It also gave me an opportunity to clearly identify the issues that I need to take on board as the local member. There are important local issues, such as antisocial behaviour in the laneways in Wagaman, around Amsterdam Circuit. In Jingili, many residents were keen to see the protection and rehabilitation of Rapid Creek, and were angered by planning decisions relating to Rapid Creek that saw the conservation zone virtually abolished. I pledge to work to resolve these matters for Johnston residents.
There was also a very strong move to change that was clearly evident in the electorate. In general, many people were keen to see open and transparent government in the Northern Territory, and for government to effectively address social and economic issues such as health, education, job security, crime and punishment, antisocial behaviour and drug abuse. These were all important issues raised by electors themselves. I pledge to join with my colleagues in government to deliver effective and positive outcomes in these areas for the people of Johnston, and for the Territory as a whole.
Although many people were keen to see change, there was strong affirmation and pride that the Northern Territory is a very special place, and that is something we all agree on. Apart from the weather and lifestyle, for most of us it is a place of great opportunity and potential. It is an harmonious place generally, where many cultures co-exist and generally respect one another. It is a place where I have always felt at home since I came here over 20 years ago. Nevertheless, I have also come to realise that it is a place of profound disadvantage for a significant section of our population, namely Aboriginal people. Along with the many other issues we face, the issue of equity needs to be properly addressed as we move forward together to realise the mighty economic, social and cultural potential of the Northern Territory.
As I talked with many Johnston electors over the past 12 months I was fascinated to hear their life stories and their family stories and their special contribution to the Territory. Yesterday we also heard some very powerful examples in the maiden speeches that were made in this place.
I would now like to outline my own particular journey to the Northern Territory, and hopefully explain who I am, how I came to be here, and where I might make a contribution, particularly in the critical areas of health and education. But to achieve improvements in these areas, I also recognise the importance of Territory businesses doing well. Along with equity, a sound economy is a cornerstone for improvements in health and education.
While our own history largely determines who and what we are, the world is entering a period of deep uncertainty, where conventional history is being turned upside down. Indeed, we are living in an unprecedented time of war and economic stress and I believe that we must all work together, particularly within the Territory. My pledge is to work with people of goodwill on all sides of politics and within the community to make the Territory a better place. Words and promises must be backed with action and courage in the face of adversity.
Like other Australians, I am fortunate to draw inspiration from the experience of my family and from the courage and the integrity of others I have known throughout my life. My mother’s father fought at Gallipoli and Flanders, and he died some years after the war from a war-related injury, leaving her mother to support two young children during the depression years in Sydney, and she worked as a seamstress. My grandmother’s main supports were the local community, particularly the Catholic Church, and her friends. She was someone of great honesty, integrity, generosity and faith, all qualities that I admire and that I aspire to also. She was also a strong unionist and lifelong Labor supporter. I am proud to say that I have been a unionist through much of my working life. In these uncertain times many Australian workers are once again turning to their unions for support and protection. I say, rightly so.
My family links with Darwin go back to the World War II. My father, Harold Burns, fought in World War II in the Air Force and was stationed in Darwin during the bombing of Darwin. My father-in-law, Bill Carew, was also stationed in Darwin during the war as part of the Catalina Squadron. I am proud to say that my eldest son, David, is graduating as an officer in the RAAF at the end of this year, and he hopes to return to Darwin to serve here. We can be justly proud of our armed forces and the courageous way in which they fought and sacrificed to preserve our democratic way of life.
However, sometimes we also need to stand up to protect these hard-won democratic rights within our political system. My own political views were formed during the 1960s and 1970s while I was a student at the University of Queensland. It was a time when the National Party government led by Joh Bjelke-Petersen was in the ascendancy. As we all know from the Fitzgerald Inquiry, he was a populist leader who had the support of senior public servants, many establishment figures, cronies in the police force and the media. Anyone who stood against him was vilified and suppressed, sometimes by force. However, there were people of intellect, courage and integrity who stood against Joh and his excesses. I have always been inspired by the example of student leaders such as Brian Laver and Dick Shearman, and academics such as Dan O’Neill who paid a heavy personal cost over their opposition to his excesses. This was particularly true when Joh Bjelke-Petersen declared a state of emergency in 1970 during the Springbok tour.
More importantly, many people in the wider community such as my own father recognised that Joh Bjelke-Petersen was an autocrat and he was propping up a corrupt government, and they had the courage to say so. I guess in the long term the corruption of the Bjelke-Petersen government was exposed. The moral bankruptcy exemplified by his support for the apartheid regime in South Africa probably does not even bear comment today, but what is worth remembering is the courage of those who stood up for what was right, no matter what the cost, and I am proud to be counted amongst those people.
I also know there have been many people in the Northern Territory who have spoken out fearlessly in the past 26 years about the need for better government, Aboriginal issues and other issues such as East Timor, sometimes at their own great personal cost. I hope that I have the courage to continue to speak out in the same fearless tradition.
In my working life I have done many different jobs. I have not always worked as a pharmacist, scientist, public health professional, university academic or researcher. In fact, I have a heavy semi-trailer licence - I have worked out in the pastoral industry, in the construction industry; I have done many different things. I first came to the Territory on holidays in 1979 and I was offered a job as a youth worker for the YMCA at Maningrida. I am proud to have worked with the YMCA and they will always have my support. Petrol sniffing was a major, almost insolvable, problem there at that time. After nearly three years of working there, I left in 1981 somewhat disconsolate, but much richer for the experience of having lived and worked in a very remote and beautiful part of Australia, and also having made the acquaintance of many Aboriginal people. I am proud to say that many of those Aboriginal families remain my closest friends today, particularly the Djurrabooka and Dhukarridji clans. I thank them for educating me in the ways of Aboriginal language, customs, ceremony and humour – they are big lessons to be learned.
Before returning to the Territory with my family in the 1990s, I spent much of the intervening decade working as a university lecturer in science at the University of New England. Some present here today know that I have given a great deal of service to university councils and school boards including St Mary’s School Board here locally. I have a strong commitment to education and I hope to contribute further during my parliamentary career. My family and I returned to Darwin in the early 1990s so that I could undertake further study at the Menzies School of Health Research.
I count myself fortunate to have studied under Professor John Mathews, who is an exceptional person, not just because of his vast technical knowledge and outstanding intellect but, more importantly, because his primary motivation was always about social justice and equity. I am also fortunate to have worked closely with Dr Bart Currie, one of Australia’s foremost infectious diseases physicians, a dedicated health professional and an outstanding researcher and friend. My work at Menzies mainly focused on drug and alcohol issues, including petrol sniffing, kava, alcohol, and cannabis, as well as the provision of health services to remote communities. I am hoping through the Substance Abuse Committee that was formed yesterday, of which I am a member, that I am well placed to make a contribution to that particular committee.
But it was through my work at the Menzies School that I returned to Maningrida to once again examine the seemingly insolvable problem of petrol sniffing. However, this time things were different. I went there at the invitation of Mr Milak Wununudj - who unfortunately, is now deceased - who was Council President at the time; Mr Reggie Wuridjal, one of the Dhukarridji land owners; and Mr Alan Clough, who was the Town Clerk at the time. Through my PhD, I was able to document how an Aboriginal community can overcome seemingly insurmountable problems such as petrol sniffing, when fundamental issues such as employment and training are addressed and genuine Aboriginal participation and control in decision making occurred. I also recognised the special role played by Mr Alan Clough in this victory and I have always valued his advice and friendship over many years.
While at Menzies, with further support from the Maningrida community, I undertook a Commonwealth-funded study in 1995 to recommend in detail how health services for the 2300 people in that region might be improved. That report was a Commonwealth-funded report. It was a comprehensive study which also recommended funding options and was submitted in late 1995. It is with sincere regret that I must say the progress in implementing that report has been extremely slow - too slow with too many deaths in the meantime. Unfortunately, the situation has been very common for Aboriginal people throughout the Territory. I wish to pledge my support and expertise to our Health Minister and to Aboriginal people throughout the Territory to redress the poor state of Aboriginal health that is the current state. I will help in any way that I can. In particular I also wish to offer my support to the member for Arafura who is extremely experienced in this area. I know that she is committed to support Aboriginal organisations such as the Maningrida Health Board and the Tiwi Health Board to bring about much needed health improvements in their regions.
Another community organisation in Darwin with which I have been involved with over the years is St Vincent de Paul through my voluntary work at the Ozanam House hostel in Stuart Park. It caters mainly for long grassers. Itinerancy and drunkenness are important issues that we need to address in Darwin and while antisocial behaviour should never be tolerated, we need to be mindful of misfortune and adversity in people’s lives. In my family - and my mother is sitting behind me – we have a saying: ‘There, but for the grace of God, go you or I’. Because marital problems, unemployment, mental illness for people in the mainstream, or the sheer alienation and powerlessness experienced by many Aboriginal people living on communities, are factors which lead to homelessness and problems with alcohol. I would like to continue to work with community organisations, government agencies, residents and the homeless themselves to redress this important social problem in Darwin. Let me reiterate my support for the wonderful work that St Vincent de Paul do within the community.
My last four years before entering politics were spent working for the National Heart Foundation. During my time with the foundation I was fortunate to work closely with a number of Territory people, particularly many people in business and interstate colleagues who set a fine example with their community service and their commitment to a mission to help the Australian public. These include Mr Reg Lowry, Mr Richard Ryan, Professor Andrew Tonkin and Mr Peter Wallace. I draw great inspiration from their commitment to the well-being of our community and, importantly, the commitment of many others working in the Territory, working voluntarily to support community organisations. As the honourable member for Nelson said, it is something that is falling off a bit, but I think there are some people in our community who do a fantastic work.
In this speech I have spoken a lot about social justice and equity. Economic development must be underpinned by these principles. Nevertheless, without economic development, these principles are merely concepts. The Territory stands at the threshold of great economic developments. We are also faced with profound social issues. I will work hard to ensure that the Territory benefits from these crucial economic developments, while at the same time ensuring that issues relating to social disadvantage are effectively addressed.
I finish this maiden speech where I started, with thanks to the people of Johnston and the supporters who helped me win. There are many people who supported my campaign over the past year. My family, Elizabeth, Daniel, Amy and David, along with my mother, deserve first mention. My campaign team, particularly Charlie Phillips and Dr Paul Lawton, also deserve special mention for their patience and wise advice. I also thank those who contributed to my campaign. Thank you for investing your support in me.
Lastly, I would like to thank the team who were in opposition who were led by Adele Young, and in particular I would like to thank Adele Young who worked so very hard, sometimes at great personal cost and long hours, for us in opposition. I know that she will be working very hard for us in government. She already is.
However, the most important part of my thanks is reserved for the people of Johnston and our leader Clare Martin. To return to the beginning of my speech, I pledge to work hard to resolve local issues such as protecting Rapid Creek and addressing problems associated with antisocial behaviour. I also pledge to support open and accountable government in the Territory, particularly freedom of information legislation. I am also keen to address crime issues and the lack of work opportunities caused by the downturn in the Territory economy over the past 12 months. I also pledge to work hard to improve health and education in the Territory.
As a government, we pledge to deliver positive results in all of these important areas. I am proud to be part of Clare Martin’s team and I will work hard in government over the next four years to deliver our pledges.
Ms CARTER (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment as Speaker. I know you will bring good sense and experience to the role.
I was delighted to be re-elected on 18 August as the member for Port Darwin. As you know, up until then I was the newest member of this parliament having been elected at a by-election in March last year. Being re-elected will allow me the opportunity to continue working for the people of Port Darwin on the many and varied issues which confront us in this dynamic and exciting place.
The election brought about a change to the Port Darwin electorate boundaries - Winnellie, City Valley, Bayview and several streets in Stuart Park have been lost. I was disappointed to lose these areas as each had its own character and issues. However, with the increasing population density of the CBD, this loss was not unexpected. As the inner city electorate, we in Port Darwin will face many pressures over the years to come.
During the election I pledged to work on a number of issues if re-elected. One of these is the need to explore the installation of video surveillance of inner city hotspots. I believe this should be done as a cooperative partnership between the NT government, Darwin City Council and local business. I will also be working for an increased police presence in the CBD. I have witnessed serious fights and had constituents complain to me of the activities of certain groups late at night in the CBD. I believe with increased police foot patrols this sort of ugly, dangerous behaviour can be addressed.
I will also be working for improved Aboriginal Night Patrol action in the CBD. Mission Australia recently has been awarded the contract to run the Night Patrol. I have visited the people at Mission Australia and have been very impressed with their attitude and the way they are moving towards improving the service. Night Patrol is a service which should be supported to a great degree. Importantly, harm can be prevented by taking people, who are the worst for wear as a result of intoxication, to a place of safety. Also, at the very least, other people and, in particular tourists, can go about their business in the CBD without witnessing the negative aspects of public drunkenness.
I will also be continuing to ensure that new developments in the Port Darwin area have adequate off-street parking. Other cities in Australia and overseas have experienced major problems with small streets being congested with parked cars. Except in exceptional circumstances all units in the CBD should have a minimum of two car parks. I will continue to monitor developments in an effort to ensure this occurs.
I will also be working to improve the safety of the Stuart Highway as it travels through the electorate to intersect with Daly Street. I was delighted with the recent works done by the previous government which have seen a marked improvement with the intersection of Duke Street and the highway. A number of other intersections in the area should be enhanced at the very least by line markings, and I will continue my quest for this with our new government.
The election of the new government puts in doubt the commitment for a convention centre in the CBD, but despite this concern I will continue to lobby for and promote what I consider to be a vital piece of economic infrastructure for Darwin and the Northern Territory. I gather Lasseters in Alice Springs have been pleasantly surprised by the number of advanced bookings they have had for their new centre, and I only hope it is not too long before Darwin can capitalise on this sort of venture.
A final word on my election commitments to the people of Port Darwin. I did commit to maintaining mandatory sentencing for property crime. Unfortunately, this law is to be lost with the advent of the new government. I expect the judiciary will, in the short term, be cognisant of the community’s disappointment and frustration with minimal or no punishment being meted out to those who commit these crimes, and so they will attempt to impose some measure of punishment. However, I dare say that over a couple of years we will see the return of laughably lenient responses from our learned friends, and I will certainly make it my business to highlight the more extreme cases in an effort to ensure that the victims of crime gain some form of recourse to justice.
As I have said, I am very pleased to be able to rise again in the Assembly as the member for Port Darwin. Getting to this position was not easy and it was only with the help of many people that I am here today. Although too many to mention individually I would like to thank, in particular, the members of the Port Darwin branch of the CLP and the CLP secretariat - in particular Mrs Suzanne Cavanagh and Mr Charlie Taylor. Although the results of the election was a disappointment for the CLP, this in no way should detract from the work these people did, largely unrewarded in a financial sense for many years, with only one goal in mind, the betterment of the Northern Territory for all the people of the Northern Territory. Sure, the CLP is copping flack now as a losing party does, but no one can doubt the CLP’s passion for the Territory and past achievements for the Territory. I remain a proud member of the CLP and I thank it for assisting me to retain my position as the member for Port Darwin.
I would like to thank, in particular, my very special campaign helpers, Simona Di Toro, Nick Bell and my wonderful husband, John Haynes. It was a small team which took on all manner of jobs during the campaign to allow me to concentrate on the vital task of doorknocking. I doubt the average voter has any idea of the amount of effort that goes on behind the scenes to fuel our democracy. I thank my team for their efforts. My final and most sincere thanks must go to the people of Port Darwin who supported me so well in the face of significant opposition. During the past two years prior to polling day, I doorknocked most of the electorate six times. I have met the most wonderful people and for me the best thing about being a member of parliament is being able to develop relationships with individuals in the electorate so they find me approachable and then my being able to help them when the time comes. This is what it is all about.
I must say that my ability to assist constituents has been greatly enhanced by the good humoured, diligent work of my electorate officer, Mrs Helen Bateman and I thank her for her assistance during the past year. I believe it was from Helen’s work and the relationships she has developed in the electorate that so many constituents came forward during the campaign to help me. Of course, there were a significant number of people who did not vote for me, but how an individual voted does not concern me. I am still their local member and I am here to help them. Perhaps if I do a good job they will vote for me next time and, of course, in four years there will be a next time.
I do wish the new government all the very best for their turn in government. I know they will experience interesting and, at times, difficult situations. As a member of the opposition it is our job to monitor the government’s action, to support them when we can, but to put - and at times forcefully - different views when we consider them in the best interests of the Territory.
Finally, members of parliament I suspect have more in common with each other, regardless of which side of the Chamber we sit on, than we have differences to each other. We all care about our constituents, but we all suffer the jibes because of the role we have chosen. We all worry about how our job affects our loved ones, but above all we are all passionate about the future of the Territory. So, let us get on with democracy and our role in history.
Debate adjourned.
CESSATION OF FILMING
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The filming should have finished by now. You were only given permission to do it during Question Time. So would you cease filming now.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS
Take two bills together
Take two bills together
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that so much of Standing orders be suspended as would prevent bills entitled Police Administration Amendment Bill 2001 (Serial 2) and Justice Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 (Serial 3) - (a) being presented and read a first time together and one motion being put in regard to, respectively, the second readings, the committee’s report stage …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am finding it extremely difficult to hear the honourable minister.
Dr TOYNE: Yes, there is a lot of movement around the Chamber.
Mr Elferink: No, it is you. You are not speaking up. I cannot hear a word you are saying.
Madam SPEAKER: Keep going, Attorney-General.
Dr TOYNE: … and the third readings of these bills together; and (b) the consideration of the bills separately in the Committee of the Whole.
Motion agreed to.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We cannot hear.
Madam SPEAKER: We have heard you once, resume your seat. Minister, would you …
Dr Toyne: Well, take the wax out of your ears.
Madam SPEAKER: I heard what you said. We have asked the Attorney-General to speak up.
POLICE ADMINISTRATION
AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 2)
JUSTICES AMENDMENT BILL (No 2)
(Serial 3)
Bills presented and read a first time.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bills be now read a second time.
The purpose of these bills is to provide members of the police force with the power to issue a Notice to Appear requiring an alleged offender, other than a juvenile offender, to attend court to answer a charge for an offence. The bills also provide that a Notice to Appear has the force of a summons so that on failure to attend court in answer to a Notice to Appear, the court may issue a warrant for the apprehension of the alleged offender.
Currently, where an offence is suspected, there are various ways that a police officer may deal with the matter. He or she can exercise discretion to simply caution the offender or, if the offence can be dealt with by way of an infringement notice, he or she can issue a notice. Otherwise, the officer may instigate proceedings for prosecution. The alternative procedures for instigating a prosecution for an offence are twofold. A person can be dealt with by way of arrest or summons. Both procedures take up valuable time and resources of both police and the courts. The summonsing procedure usually involves taking details of the alleged offence and the alleged offender at the place of offence, or at a police station. At a later date, the police must locate the alleged offender and serve him or her with a summons prepared by a Justice of the Peace. This involves the police in a two-stage process which is often difficult, especially where an alleged offender has moved, is itinerant, or lives outside the Territory.
Are we hearing that now?
Mr Elferink: Barely. Believe me, if I have a problem, I will let you know, minister.
Dr TOYNE: Well, I think you had better check your ears.
The Police Administration Amendment Bill 2001 proposes to improve the current process by providing for a more practical and efficient method by which an alleged offender can be brought to court. When an offence is suspected, police officers will be empowered to give the alleged offender a Notice to Appear requiring his or her attendance in court on a specific date, in order to answer the charge. This will avoid the need for a police officer to have to locate the alleged offender at a later date. It will also avoid the need for a Justice of the Peace to issue the summons. Similar powers have been given to police in Victoria and New South Wales since the late 1980s, and similar powers have more recently been given to police in Queensland. These bills are based on the Queensland model. Although a Notice to Appear will not amount to a summons, as it is not issued by a Justice of the Peace, failure to comply with the Notice to Appear has the same effect.
The Justices Amendment Bill (No 2) 2001 provides that if a person does not attend court as required by a notice, the court may issue a warrant to arrest. It is intended that Notices to Appear will mainly be issued on the spot for the more minor offences where the police officer involved believes that it is appropriate, in the circumstances, to proceed other than by way of arrest or summons. Although the main use of the Notices to Appear will be to instigate prosecutions for minor offences, the power to issue them is extended to all offences. This will allow a police officer to avoid the arrest procedure for an indictable offence where the officer believes that the circumstances of the offence are not serious, the offender is not a threat to the community, and the offender is unlikely to abscond.
Currently, it is not uncommon for indictable offences, such as some cases of criminal deception, to be dealt with by summons rather than by arrest. It is considered appropriate that in such cases police officers should also have the option to proceed by way of a Notice to Appear. The issuing of Notices to Appear will make it easier for police to charge offenders for all categories of offences. Of particular interest is the fact that notices can be used as an effective alternative way of charging alleged offenders with the new offences of home and business invasion. In this regard, the amendments are consistent with the government’s six point plan to tackle crime. Obviously, though, whether an officer decides to proceed by way of arrest or by issuing a Notice to Appear in relation to such an offence, will depend on the seriousness of the alleged offence and the circumstances of the offender.
The procedure proposed in these bills will help reduce the cost and the use of police and court resources by creating a more efficient, one-step process. Notices to Appear are not to be seen as a replacement for the current procedures, nor should they be seen as a replacement for the infringement notice process. They are merely to be seen as providing police with greater flexibility in the prosecution process by introducing an alternative method by which to instigate proceedings against an alleged offender.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bills to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT BILL (No 3)
(Serial 1)
(Serial 1)
Continued from 16 October 2001.
Dr TOYNE (Attorney-General): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.
The purpose of this bill is to amend the Criminal Code to provide for computer-related offences. The Northern Territory was the first jurisdiction to enact computer-related crime legislation introduction of the Criminal Code in 1983. The code currently contains two computer offences – section 222, unlawfully obtaining confidential information which covers the extraction of confidential material from the computer; and section 276, making false data processing materials. Section 222 is still an appropriate offence and will remain in its current form. However, as society has become more computer literate and computers have become more readily available outside the commercial sector, other forms of crime have evolved. The existing offences are no longer adequate to cover the wide range of electronic crime emerging in this technological age.
We recognise that the rapid growth in information technology requires us to ensure that the existing laws with technology gaps are amended, and new laws with specific electronic offences are drafted. This bill introduces some new offences and amends some existing offences to provide for old crime which is conducted by new technological means. For example, the definitions of ‘writing’, ‘document’ and ‘deception’ have been amended to accommodate the technology, and the offence of stalking has been widened to include stalking by use of the computer, a criminal activity which is becoming far too common. The offence of criminal deception has been widened to include obtaining a benefit or advantage through use of a machine or credit card fraud using a computer. Some offences contained in the Criminal Code are already wide enough to capture the e-crime field, such as the relatively recently enacted child pornography offences.
The bill repeals Division 10 Part IV of the Criminal Code, which currently contains the offence of making false data processing material, and substitutes it with a new division, ‘Computer Offences’, containing three new offences aimed at hacking, sabotage, fraud and general damage. Each of the offences carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The new division also provides for the extensive reach of computer crime by inserting a territorial nexus provision so that the computer crime which may have been committed in another jurisdiction, but has an effect in the Territory, can be prosecuted in the Territory.
With the rapid growth in computer use criminals are finding new ways to commit old crimes and are using more and more sophisticated technology to commit those crimes. New section 276 defines, amongst other things, that ‘data storage device’ means anything containing or designed to contain data that may be used in a computer, and includes a device that may be used to gain access to, or to perform a function on, a communications or telecommunications network. This section is designed to cover a wide variety of devices which contain electromagnetic information but will not capture, for example, a child’s hand-held computer game.
Proposed new section 276B provides for the prosecution of a person who unlawfully accesses data with intent to cause loss or gain a benefit. This offence is designed to capture electronic fraud. It also provides a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for a person who unlawfully uses data that has been accessed unlawfully. This is aimed at controlling the dealing and trafficking of data which might be used to commit further computer crime. It is a broad offence because of the potentially wide nature of computer crimes.
Proposed section 276C creates the offence of unlawful modification of data to cause impairment. ‘Modification’ is defined as the alteration or removal of data or of addition to the data. This offence will apply to hackers who cause the infection of computer data or a program with a virus or worm, or alter or damage data in any way. The offence also provides for the situation where a person sets in train a course of events resulting in the alteration or damage, even if that person did not actually access the particular computer in which the data was damaged. This occurs frequently with virus attacks on computer systems. The relatively recent Love Bug and Melissa viruses are examples of the extent of damage which can be caused this way.
Proposed section 276D creates the offence of unauthorised impairment of electronic communication to or from a computer. The offence has a broad band of application from harms which are transient or where data on electronic cards and tokens is damaged, to conduct which results in serious economic loss or disruption to business, government or community services and electronic form of sabotage.
Proposed new section 276D provides for the old offence of stealing in new electronic form. It covers a situation where a person steals someone else’s time on a computer. For example, where a person accesses another person’s Internet account and books up time on that person’s account, either for themselves or for a third person, or where they access a telephone account by using another person’s pin number. I understand that police have discovered these to be common, simple and lucrative activities for some criminals in the Northern Territory.
The proposed provisions provide an effective response to computer offences. The bill is the result of several months of consultation research into the developments of national and international computer law. We believe that this package of legislative changes places the Northern Territory at the forefront of criminal law in computer offences, and fulfils the Northern Territory’s obligation to assist in national and international efforts to control computer crime.
Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members.
Debate adjourned.
ADDRESS-IN-REPLY
Continued from 17 October 2001.
Mr HENDERSON (Wanguri): Madam Speaker, firstly, I would like to thank the people of Wanguri and Leanyer for again placing their faith in me to be their voice in this Legislative Assembly. The residents of Wanguri and Leanyer contribute strongly to maintaining Darwin’s distinct identity and I have the privilege of representing an electorate - even such a small urban electorate in the Northern Territory - that actually has nine discrete denominations of worship within the boundaries, ranging from the Islamic mosque to the Buddhist temple, and virtually every other denomination between them. It really does signify the diversity of our community and I am very proud to represent the people of Wanguri. The Territory is a bright and vibrant community and this is a credit to the people of the Territory. It is a humbling and privileged experience to be a member of this parliament. I will not forget the responsibility I have in this Assembly for the people of Wanguri and Leanyer. I promise them I will return their faith and be a loud and effective voice for their interests and concerns.
The support and help I received during my campaign was overwhelming, and the flood of congratulations I have received since then has been incredibly touching. Many people have made special efforts in assisting me and I take this opportunity to thank some of those people. Many, many people - dozens, possibly over a 100 when you count everybody who placed posters in their yards and did little bits and pieces - would have assisted during the campaign but, in particular, I thank the following people and put them on the record.
Andrew Fyles, a great friend, a long-time player in the Labor Party in the Northern Territory, who is president of the Casuarina Branch, and all the members of the Casuarina Branch for their support - absolutely magnificent, given that branch has carriage of the Johnston electorate as well as the Casuarina and the Wanguri electorates. Particularly, I thank my electorate officer, Michael Gunner, whose is now working on my ministerial staff. He put in an enormous amount of time in terms of pulling my campaign together. He made a lot of sacrifices for me and on behalf of the Labor Party. Michael has a very bright future and I would really like to say, ‘Michael, thanks for everything, for all your help’.
Frank Moukaddem, who has been a magnificent source of help to many people, on many campaigns over the last few years. He is an absolute gem, he is always there when you need him. He is the guy who does the hard work behind the scenes for no rewards, and is an absolute trouper. People like Frank - who has just walked into the gallery today - are the absolute backbone of the Labor Party, not only here but across Australia. Frank, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the support you have given me and the Labor Party.
Ron Greaves and Allan Kitchener – again, stalwarts of the Casuarina Branch of the Labor Party - have rolled up their sleeves for many years and at last they have their reward - Labor government is in the Northern Territory. Other people who have helped me - in particular Donna Kittel who has been an absolute inspiration, I suppose, in terms of her devotedness to seeing drug law reform in the Northern Territory. We are going to deliver, Donna, for you and your aspirations to see a vastly-reduced drug culture here in Darwin and across the Northern Territory, by putting in place rehabilitation programs that are going to work. Donna, I thank you for your help. Kassie Alcorn; Ryan Neve, who is currently my new electorate officer; the whole Gunner family - Tom, Rebecca and Lucy; the Graces - Chris and Erin; the El Masri family; not forgetting John Bailey, my predecessor in Wanguri, who is still a constant source of advice and support; David Money; and Travis Dowling, who were working in the Leader of the Opposition’s office. All of these people have made significant contributions.
But most importantly, I would like to thank my wife, Stacey, who has been with me in this game since 1993. She has been through an enormous amount. Members who sit in this Chamber who have spouses all know that our partners make a huge sacrifice in terms of supporting us in the work that we do, in our efforts to get to this place to represent the people of the Northern Territory. All of us come here trying to do the right thing for the people of the Northern Territory, but without the support of our partners we would not be here. So, Stacey, thanks for everything. And my children, who are just starting to realise what the job of a politician is. It is very hard to explain to a 6-year-old and 7-year-old what a politician does, what daddy does, but they are starting to come to grips with it and asking all sorts of tricky questions. So, Alasdair, Liam and Isabell, I am not going to be an absent father, I will be home as often as I can.
The people of the Territory have placed great faith in us to deliver on our commitments which we made in opposition. The people voted for change, and we are committed to working with Territorians to build a better Territory. It is not just a campaign slogan. That is what each and every one of us on this side of the parliament are aiming to do during our period in government.
Just as the people of Wanguri and Leanyer have placed their faith in me to be their local member, my Labor Party colleagues have entrusted me with the privilege of being a minister in this historical first Labor government. I would like to thank my Caucus colleagues for putting their faith in me, and I certainly will work hard to repay that faith that they have put in me. I thank you.
Economic development is a priority for this Labor government. It is vital to stimulate the economy for job creation, and to reduce the cost of living. I have been given the responsibility of the crucial areas of industry and economic development. My portfolios encompass Industries and Business; Resource Development; Asian Relations and Trade; Territory Insurance Office; the AustralAsia Railway; Racing, Gaming and Licensing; and defence support. And all of that lot barely fits on a business card! The dedication and devotion I made to the people of Wanguri and Leanyer will flow on to my ministerial responsibilities.
Madam Speaker, Chief Minister and Territorians, you have my commitment to put your interests first. It is time to change the focus of our Territory and how our nation perceives us. It is time for strong leadership, vision and innovation. We will build a better Territory, for Territorians, with Territorians. The new millennium provides the ideal opportunity for governments and business to make a fresh start in the Northern Territory. As the minister for key industry and economic development portfolios I will work in partnership with all stakeholders to deliver benefits for all Territorians.
The new Labor government shares the strong traditions and values which have always been at the core of our party. We are a progressive party, growing and evolving with the people of Australia and the Northern Territory, but we have core values which help guide us. I share these values of fairness, compassion, individual freedom, labour rights, responsibility, democracy and community. Partnership is more than a message or a theme for the new Labor government, it has real substance and it will be the core of our government.
The best chance for the future for the Northern Territory and for all of us who live here, lies in our working together for the common good. I believe it is important to be positive in politics, and I am working closely with our new Chief Minister, my Cabinet colleagues and the entire Labor team to establish important fundamentals for good government.
As the Administrator pointed out yesterday, the state of the Territory economy is of vital importance. A strong economy will underpin the Territory. All the objectives of this government across all portfolios will be realised sooner, and be implemented more effectively, if the economy that supports the Territory is strong, stable and growing. There are many factors that influence the strength and stability of an economy, and many of these are beyond the control of this government. However, what is not beyond the control of the government is how we react to these external events. Overseas terrorist attacks and the resulting military action has adversely affected the economy of the world, and the effects will continue to be felt for some time. The collapse of Ansett hits the Territory economy with an impact as great, if not greater, than anywhere else in the country.
In the year leading up to the election Labor clearly identified and communicated its policies and priorities for the economy and the business sector. The current situation and the change of government provides a great opportunity for the Territory to reassess and refine our approach to its economy. The government will be the facilitator of this process and will provide a clear direction. But also the government will be proactive in getting feedback and ideas from the community. We are not the font of all wisdom in this parliament and certainly, are not the font of all wisdom on the fifth floor of this parliament.
We look forward to working with both the business community and the community at large to design and implement long-term economic initiatives. The first step in this process is to be the Economic Development Summit which is being held from 4 to 6 November. I am pleased to be taking a central role in the development and coordination of this initiative. The summit will be preceded by community forums in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy on 28 October. The summit will be a coming together of minds, ideas and priorities. More than 100 people from industry, business and community groups including local governments, indigenous and ethnic groups, rural and regional organisations and the unions will be invited to take part. Community consultation is a priority for the term of this government and it will not end with the summit. The government will continue to listen to the people of the Territory.
The establishment of the Territory Business Round Table is an important new avenue for a 2-way communication between business and government. A formal channel to promote consultation and create the means to achieve a mutual understanding of each others needs, experiences, views and expectations has been lacking in the Territory. Now it is being put in place. The inaugural Business Round Table will occur following the Economic Development Summit.
Across all ministries and portfolios this will be a government that listens. This is not a hollow statement. We are putting in place the means to achieve it.
My portfolios include Industries and Business, Resource Development and Asian Relations and Trade. Oil and gas transcends all these portfolios. This government will do all it can to ensure that gas comes onshore and we are ready so that all Territorians can reap the benefits. I take up the Leader of the Opposition’s points yesterday in this House, that it is certainly the key priority of this government to work with all parties, both the customers and the resource developers, the new government in East Timor, to secure this goal of gas coming onshore to the Northern Territory. It is the highest priority at this point of time for this government. I have personally met with the heads of the project proponents led by Phillips, Woodside, Shell and Osaka Gas on a number of occasions.
The onset of gas is of major significance not only to Darwin, the Territory and the rest of Australia, but also to our nearest and fledgling neighbour East Timor. In a very important development for oil and gas, I can report to the House that the rebuilding of the relationship between East Timor and the Northern Territory is well advanced. We are both new governments and we are both determined to work together and achieve real outcomes. The Chief Minister and I have met with Dr Alkatiri on four occasions since we came to government, and also met yesterday with the new Minister for Resource Development in his government. We are developing a strong and committed personal relationship to develop both of our economies. Our goals are common. The Chief Minister and I have travelled to East Timor and we were received warmly by the new government. In turn, the Chief Minister of East Timor, Dr Mari Alkatiri, visited Darwin several weeks ago and returned yesterday to celebrate with us the first parliament of our new Labor government. East Timor and the Territory have exciting futures and we will work in partnership to deliver real benefits for all.
There are outstanding matters for resolution between Australia and East Timor. The Chief Minister and I have met with our Commonwealth counterparts in Canberra, Nick Minchin and Alexander Downer, to emphasise and reinforce the Commonwealth efforts that need to be in place at this time. This government and its departments are working hard to assist and support the Commonwealth, the project proponents and the East Timor leadership, as well as the customers, to ensure that outstanding matters are resolved and that these major projects proceed.
My thanks go to the public servants within the Department of Mines and Energy, the Office of Resource Development and the Gas Task Force who have been working tirelessly over many years to secure oil and gas work for Darwin. Those thanks are really genuine. I have been astounded by the depth of understanding of the very complex technical and commercial issues that are well understood within the departments by these public servants, and the people on the Gas Task Force. They are very complex commercial issues, very complex technical issues, but our public servants have a very solid grasp and a great corporate history of these projects, and it is a real asset and a privilege to work with them.
Ensuring gas comes onshore is one aspect; being ready for it when it does is another. Gas has the potential to be the primary driver of economic growth in the Territory. The Territory must make sure that we maximise the job and investment opportunities that gas presents. Gas will bring large multinational companies to Darwin on a scale we have not seen before. To fully benefit we must be ready to service these companies. The job opportunities will be there - we need to ensure that the skills required are available in the Northern Territory.
Prior to the election, Labor recognised that there were emerging needs and we have included a preliminary $40m as part of our capital works program as a first step to meeting those logistical needs. The money is there if and when the ask comes for improved infrastructure to make these projects come to reality. The government will work with all stakeholders to implement all our oil and gas initiatives, and the Territory will be ready for gas.
Through my Department of Industries and Business we will put in place a comprehensive program of work to ensure that the Northern Territory business environment is conducive to the creation of jobs and economic prosperity for all Territorians. We will rigorously review the regulatory framework in which industry and business operate. Business people are consumers also, and another example of how Territorians will be better protected over the forthcoming years is the planned introduction of retail tenancy legislation. This will bring the Territory in line with the level of rights and protection that is afforded elsewhere in Australia, both for the retail operators themselves as well as the property owners.
The government is aware of the national debate over problem gambling and will investigate what contemporary measures can be adopted to protect individuals and families from the potentially harmful risks associated with this activity. We will conduct a strategic review of the much maligned and rorted Community Benefit Fund to determine what level of public expenditure is required to address public programs to reduce the risks associated with problem gambling. Having said that, government also recognises that responsible gambling is an activity enjoyed by many Territorians and the industry is fast becoming an important sector of our NT economy. Government will continue to encourage this industry to grow within the appropriate regulatory measures.
Providing protection for all Territorians is a very high priority for the government, and the protection of Territory workers and their families is part of that context. The recent collapse of insurance provider HIH has caused significant problems throughout Australia and, in particular, local problems in relation to workers compensation. This government is addressing those problems. By providing a grant of $9m to absorb some of the increased costs and reduce the burden on employers, this government is providing proactive support for all Territory employers and employees. But providing this funding is not the ultimate solution for this issue, and we are considering longer term solutions and examining ways to provide a better deal for both employers and employees in this vital component of our Territory lifestyle.
As I indicated earlier, the AustralAsia Railway is one of the major projects that Territorians can and will benefit from. Whilst in opposition, we strongly supported this project and we were committed to its success. We are ensuring that, wherever possible, the maximum benefit from the construction and operation of this major piece of Australian infrastructure flows to the Northern Territory. Again, I enhance the Chief Minister’s congratulations to the previous government in achieving that dream of the railway, but let us not be churlish about it, we have always supported that project. There was not one single piece of legislation that came before this House in all the years leading up to this project that we do not support, and I just wish people on the other side of this Chamber would accept that.
Mr Burke: A faded dream, that is what the Chief Minister called it.
Mr HENDERSON: No, you forget the history.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: We have had the debate before. It really would show a little bit of humility for people on your side to actually acknowledge that this had bipartisan support over many, many years. I challenge anybody on the other side of this Chamber to point to one single piece of legislation that came into this parliament in relation to the railway that we opposed. You have to put up or shut up.
The railway and associated infrastructure work will provide greater trade potential through the Port of Darwin to and from the Asian region and, in particular, the major shipping hubs in the region. The use of modern infrastructure and technology in the movement of goods in and out of Australia will generate many opportunities here in the Territory.
Another of my responsibilities is the Territory Insurance Office. I am pleased to say that the TIO has, in the past, provided excellent service in insurance coverage to meet the needs of Territory residents. Much has been said of the difficulties that communities around Australia have experienced in arranging flood insurance cover, and the effects on those unfortunate enough to be affected by floods. The TIO is also a significant investor in the Territory and has recently announced its intention to proceed with the construction of a new head office building in Mitchell Street. TIO has stated that the building is due for completion in March 2003.
In keeping with its desire to provide insurance products to meet the needs of Territorians, TIO also provides lending and deposit facilities for the NT. The growth of this business has been exceptional in recent times as Territorians come to see TIO as its local finance and insurance organisation. In a period where regional Australia has increasingly been denied services, TIO has continued to provide for Territorians and to invest in the Territory.
The recent events of 11 September in America will have a pronounced effect on the worldwide insurance industry and, sadly to say, TIO’s operations are no exception, even though they are not directly exposed. As part of a global financial services industry it will be impacted, particularly through its reinsurance operations. However, TIO will be seeking ways to minimise the impact of these effects on Territorians and continue to provide services and products appropriate for Territorians’ needs.
Turning to the resource industry, the total value of production in the mining sector in 2000-01 was $4.1bn. However, it could be so much more. The mining industry has many players with a variety of views and priorities - it is an industry with many intricacies. The key responsibility of government is to provide direction and coordinate the process. Direction and coordination has been sadly lacking from the former government. If ever a breath of fresh air was needed from a new government it is in the Territory mining industry and is a key priority for me as minister.
The new government will bring a new approach to the mining industry. To date, a litigious and divisive approach has been taken that has mining companies, land councils, traditional owners, environmental groups and the department at odds with each other and too often in the courts at huge expense. Not for one second does the new Labor government believe that this is an inevitable situation. The new government is very much pro the mining industry.
The government will take a proactive approach to ensuring that the indigenous community is involved in all aspects of the industry. The vast majority of land in the Territory is either Aboriginal freehold land, or is pastoral lease land which may be subject to the procedures of the Native Title Act. The government will not dictate to the traditional owners or to the land councils. We will work with them, not against them - a fundamental shift in philosophy. The Aboriginal Mining and Enterprise Task Force will ensure that indigenous concerns are treated with the utmost respect, and the opportunities for Aboriginal employment within the industry is maximised. Surely, a government with four indigenous members is in a better position to do this than the previous government with none.
Before mining comes exploration. We need new discoveries and exploration is the foundation stone of the mining industry. Exploration will continue to play a significant part in the development of Territory industry. There has been an Australia-wide decline in exploration and the Territory is not immune and has been hit hard. While in opposition we supported the exploration initiative, and there has been a 15% increase in the number of exploration licences granted in the past year, but this applies to a very low base. Additional effort, resources, coordination and understanding will be applied in an effort to resolve long standing, difficult issues.
The government is confident that some real, positive exploration outcomes will become evident. Our mining and exploration initiatives effort will not be confined to Darwin. We will ensure the effort continues in Alice Springs under the Alice in Ten Mining Service Centre projects.
Also within my portfolio is the responsibility for integrated agribusiness developments involving such large projects as the Ord River irrigation area stage 2, and the Katherine/Daly basin. These developments cross the responsibilities of up to 12 agencies. They are very complex projects. The government will ensure top level coordination and orderly development. These projects will be managed as major projects. For developers, that will provide a single face for contact, and to minimise the complex red tape.
International business will play a key role in securing the Territory’s economic future. This government will respond to and work with NT business to ensure our international business strategies meet industry needs and targets. The Department of Asian Relations and Trade has, as its core role, attracting international trade and investment. We are committed to lifting the profile of the Territory in our overseas markets. I have to say that in the last couple of years under the previous government, we did lose some focus there but it is going to be an area that we are going to look to increase our effort and resolve in.
We will further develop knowledge of the Territory’s business capability to supply goods and services to other markets and to attract significant investment in major projects. We will identify, through objective research and analysis, target markets prioritised on the basis of commercial sustainability, and security for Territorians undertaking international business activities. As the minister responsible for Asian Relations, I will embrace Asia and promote the Territory.
Madam Speaker, as the Assembly can see, my portfolio areas of industry and economic developments are a priority for our Territory. It is vital we stimulate the economy for job creation and to reduce the cost of living. I am committed to working in partnership with the people of the Northern Territory to build a better Territory. Partnership is more than a message or a theme for the new government; it has real substance. The best chance for the future for the Northern Territory and all of us who live here lies in us working together for the common good.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, we have come a long way - myself not particularly far; I have only just moved from there to here - but the former member who spoke, the member for Wanguri, has come a long way - all the way from over there to there. I wish you all the best because we came into this House together just over two years ago, and much has changed in those two years. While I am speaking of the number of years there are a few things in my reply that I would like to address.
When we start our Assembly each morning, we refer to that which is ‘to promote the welfare of all Territorians’. I can pledge as a member of the opposition, as I am sure can be discerned from all that has been said, that is the purpose of this Chamber. We heard yesterday a whole range of propositions being raised such as: ‘You had 27 years to address X, Y and Z. You had a government that has constantly changed’. I would like to challenge that immediately. I have been here for two years. We have two members over here who were re-elected this year and a number who have only been here for one term or two or perhaps three – I am not sure of the member for Katherine …
Mr Reed: Five.
Mr MILLS: Five terms, there you go. We are here for Territorians. I want to participate, as all members on this side participate, in robust debate with that central focus of not political point scoring, but making sure we do progress issues of concern to all Territorians. At the end of this Ninth Assembly, I would hope that the role that we have played will progress those issues. Yesterday was an eye opener to me. When I went through my campaign in Blain, I took very seriously any promise or commitment I would make if I were to enter into a second term of parliament. I took very seriously what was written in this position paper. I understood the sentiment of it; I understood what was being said; and when we went to that process yesterday of establishing the committee systems, I felt the sentiment that was resonating through that position paper was not honoured.
Now, maybe things have changed. I think things have. As I was thinking about what I should say, there is a book that sticks with me and it starts with: ‘This is the best of times and it is the worst of times’. It also says a couple of lines down: ‘This is the spring of hope and the winter of despair’. Now, we speak about this is the best of times - adjournment debates or maiden speeches that were made - this is the best of times now democracy has been delivered to the Northern Territory. I was offended by such sentiments that were resonating around this Chamber yesterday, as though those who participated in election after election for 27 years, did not participate, and all of a sudden democracy has come. Those voters exercised their right to choose. In fact, if you look at the figures, there were more who voted for this side of the House. That issue brings into question what the word ‘arrogance’ actually means. The word ‘arrogance’ in fact means to have an exaggerated opinion of your own importance. We should not have an exaggerated opinion of our sense of history. We are here to progress matters for the Northern Territory, and I do not want a part of the type of attitudes that were echoing around this Chamber yesterday. We are to be on with the business of government.
On that matter, too, I would be very comfortable in looking over my shoulder and finding reasons why things cannot be delivered upon, because I made great effort when I was in my electorate and representing aspects of the Palmerston community, not to utter a word of anything that I might be responsible for delivering, feeling that perhaps I may not be able to deliver it. I had to deal with a community that has been offered a senior secondary college, year 11, 12 and TAFE, in Palmerston to the tune of $10m. Now they are looking at me - and guess who I will be looking at? I will certainly work with you because that has to be delivered on. I did not make the promise. The additional classrooms for Woodroffe, the courthouse in Palmerston - $5m worth. The performance and cultural centre - that is in addition to the $500 000 that has already been allocated – that is $5m. The Defence Force Centre - the Palmerston community was told that that is what they are getting, and I will have to play my part, in all honesty, to ensure that that is responded to. Finally, and very importantly, the Palmerston Magpies have been offered a home ground. It was offered in the heat of the campaign in circulated newsletters: ‘They must have a home ground’. I did not feel that I could offer that. It has been offered by those who are now in government - $2m. I cannot play games here. I am not playing politics, but we are talking about representing communities who have had raised expectations, and I will play my part.
I have a little concern, just reflecting on yesterday’s ceremonies. I have been through a number of New Year’s Eve dos and all of us have. We come up to new year celebration; we are looking forward to making those resolutions. We are looking forward to the next year being a golden year when ‘I am going to lose weight’, or ‘I am going to get fit’, or ‘I am going to paint the house’, or ‘I am going to deal with this debt’, and it is going to be a whole new era. You wait for the new year to pass. I can tell you - and I am sure you have all been there – when you go to a New Year’s Eve function there is a sense of sadness that descends in the midst of the celebrations, when you get this sense that next year is probably going to be not that different from the year we have just left.
I respectfully accept the excitement and the sense of occasion of yesterday, to use a phrase - but a sense of occasion. In fact, it distracts me. Because I have only been in this Chamber for two years, I made the effort to read Hansard as to the swearing-in of the Eighth Assembly. I can tell you I was shocked at what I read. To draw out of context and to respond to a reference to what actually occurred at the swearing-in of the Eighth Assembly - shock and horror echoes around the whole Parliament House because of a reference that was made to something that occurred at the Eighth Assembly, at the swearing-in. I would urge all members to read the account of what happened.
I have this sense that we are in for an adventure. I commence by saying the best of times and the worst of times - that seems to immediately conjure up this idea that we in opposition are desperately disappointed that we are now not in government. There is a sense of disappointment but there is, greater than that, a sense of acceptance in what occurred on 18 August. We now participate in a new era in the Northern Territory. Without reserve, we will participate in it completely and we will make sure that we go from the beginning to the very end, making sure that Territorians and the aspirations of Territorians are progressed through the efforts that we expend in this Chamber. I for one - and I am sure my members with me would echo, that we are going to participate in a very positive and proactive way.
There are challenges that we all face. It is a difficult time for us in opposition to understand how we can play this game, and play it well, for the benefit of Territorians. It is obvious, too, that those who are now in government are finding it challenging. But we will bear with one another because the object of this exercise is the Northern Territory, and it is not grandstanding and beating one’s chest and pretending that ‘we are greater than thou because we have now the mandate to deliver democracy to the Northern Territory’. At the end of that, I found that was offensive.
I have responsibility in my shadow capacity for education, employment and training. They are areas that I will participate in to a great degree and I look forward to making contributions, and I trust that my time with those responsibilities will make some kind of difference.
Education is an absolutely critical area. The 52 days was referred to yesterday - it was 51 yesterday - days that we have been here. We heard during question time, ‘I have only been here for a short time so …’. But the fact is that the best of times and the worst of times comes into play when it comes to teachers. They thought, ‘Hey, we are in for the best of times’, and it turned out to be far less than that. We ended up with a situation where the teachers were deeply offended by the response from the minister. They felt unheard, that their claims were not even listened to or an attempt made to understand what they were trying to say. In fact, I have on record that the minister says that he has lost respect for teachers. To me that is something that has to be corrected immediately because it was not primarily about pay and those teachers were demonised in many respects. It is about the children - the object of the exercise is the education that goes on through our system for children, in this case. Our attitude to teachers is the very vehicle that will enhance the outcome to the children and others who are receiving the education. I will certainly play my part because I bear centrally not the issue of my gaining political points, but to make sure that the object of the education system - that is, delivering a good education to children - is enhanced rather than compromised with point scoring.
On the issue of sports funding, it has already been noted, and with some consternation amongst sporting circles, that the system of granting funds to peak bodies is going to be altered substantially. I request a briefing on that so that I can allay the fears of peak bodies, and also to pass on to the minister concerns that have been raised with me.
I would like at this point to reiterate, as we have talked about the concept of history and we are talking about - it has almost become a clich now - this really is a time like no other. We have talked about what has happened in the United States. It is a time like no other. This is a time like no other and it is a privilege for us all to be involved in this process. There are adventures for us. I might look down the track and see how things will unfold. I can say for one that I will be playing an active part in that. But who can predict what is going to happen? I hope that the result of all our exercises and energies will be that the Territory will progress as a result of all that we do in this Chamber, and outside of it. But there are adventures ahead, I am sure of that.
Onto the fact that I am now able to stand here for the commencement of a term, the Ninth. I came in half way through the Eighth and had the sense of an observer for most of that. To me, there is a sense of excitement; I am here from the very beginning of the Ninth Assembly. Now I have more of a sense and understanding of what actually has transpired to put me in this position. It does not come without the support of the people of Moulden, Rosebery, Woodroffe and a section of Driver. They are the good people that this seat here, in fact, belongs to and at their goodwill I occupy. I pledge that I will represent them in all fairness and every sense of robustness.
My electorate office is open - in fact the Monday after the election there was a sense of ‘What now?’. I walked into my office at 8.30am to go back to work and there were the things that were profound to us, ‘We are in opposition now, what does that mean?’ Then there was someone standing in my office saying, ‘You know, local member, the height of my fence is far too low and I would like it raised because the dogs are getting out.’ I thought, ‘Well, the world goes on’. The issues just continue on and those issues will be the most important part of my job - that is looking after the concerns of my constituents. I do not want to play a part of anything that will promote cynicism in our community towards politicians. For all of us who have gone through the process of doorknocking and visiting people, arrogance is gone. We cannot be arrogant because we have met the people who give us this job. There really is an undergirding sense in all of us, there is a sense of humility, and that I would like to echo around this Chamber. We are here to do a job. While the memory of the doorknocking and all those good folk in our electorates are very strong with us, I hope that that stays alive and that tempers the tone of our debate and the response that comes through our interactions.
At this point I would like to pay particular attention to the team that worked around me. I have used the word ‘humbled’ and I was humbled by the fact that people would just come and unreservedly assist me in my task of representing the people of Blain. To every single one of them I say thank you. I will not name them here because they did not do it for their name to go in Hansard, but their memory remains with me and I will keep my gratitude alive to them.
For those in the CLP - I think it is a sense of history that you on the other side in government, could also gain from understanding that it goes without saying that after 27 years, it had to come at some stage, say us all. It had to - we read history. But why to us, why now? Well, it is just like death, I suppose, It comes at some stage and we wonder how come it is going to happen to me. Well, it happened and we have accepted that …
A member: I am feeling pretty good, actually.
Mr MILLS: He is feeling fantastic, I know.
It has happened, and I must report to this House the response to that occurrence has been most satisfying. There is a positive aspect to that which is going to have its bearing on the face of politics in the Northern Territory. It ain’t over yet, by a long shot!
In that sense I would like to pass my sincere appreciation to Suzanne Cavanagh, Charlie Taylor and Andrew Macrides. They have been the lifeblood and the strength of the CLP, and their contribution to the Northern Territory is immense.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr MILLS: My wife, Roslyn, who - in coming in mid-term as I did in the Eighth Assembly - had a revelation when she saw the whole process right from the beginning for the Ninth Assembly. I appreciate the way that my wife has really come to stand squarely by my side to be with me, and to be anxious and concerned for the job that I have. I do appreciate having one who is beside me in my wife, Roslyn, whom I love, and we have many more adventures together. As I sense that my place in here is secure for the next four years, I know that there are things ahead of us that we are going to be sharing together - many talks and discussions about issues related to our responsibilities.
To my children, Kristen and Matthew, who now think that it is not too bad that dad is a politician. It is certainly a step up from being their school principal, so they are still relieved that I am not hanging around the school and bothering them.
Finally - and probably to finish in a manner in which I started - I have heard more clearly than ever before, as we start this Assembly, that it is for the promotion of the true welfare of all Territorians. I take that seriously, just as I have taken seriously everything and every promise that was made - I take it quite seriously. If someone makes a promise to an electorate it is a serious matter. You do not muck around with people. Every promise that was made is a serious promise, because we are dealing with people. With due respect, member for Arnhem, that was the nature of the intent of our questions. My question in particular to you, was that there is concern, and you have allayed that with your response. I will certainly convey that back to constituents who have raised that with me. It is the promotion of the true welfare of all Territorians.
I can only ask that, please, can we get into a situation – I am making this request of the government – I would like in the Ninth Assembly that we can now desist from looking over our shoulder, and the black hole business. That is behind us. What the electorate is wanting to hear is the sense of movement forward. It is doing nothing for morale to talk about, ‘Well, we have not been in the job long’, or ‘Look at the situation that we have inherited’. One is the promises that were made were fair dinkum genuine promises, and you do not mess with people. I can tell you the record in the electorate is, when the CLP was in government, when promises were made, there was a sense of expectation and confidence that they would be met. I do not believe there have been any promises made on this side of the House when the CLP was in government that we would not have delivered on. So, I am just making sure that the sense of promises that have been made in the past are to be honoured, and that we must provide leadership. I, for my part, will make sure that I am standing in a position to assist in government’s role in leadership.
Mr AH KIT (Arnhem): Madam Speaker, let me begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land that this House is built upon. I pay my respects to the Larrakia people. I acknowledge their elders and thank their countrymen for the welcome that was extended to us in the opening ceremony. Furthermore, I pay my respects to my elders and the peoples of the Jawoyn nation. It is also appropriate that I acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues. Special recognition is extended to the Leader of Northern Territory government, Chief Minister Clare Martin, the Deputy Chief Minister, my fellow Cabinet Ministers, and my Caucus colleagues.
I would also like to remind people of the historic election of four Aboriginal candidates to this Chamber. I make particular note of the achievements of my esteemed Aboriginal colleagues. I look forward to their contributions to the debates of this Assembly, and the business of our government. To the members of Arafura, Barkly and Millner, welcome. Amongst the many firsts being achieved, we have the most Aboriginal parliamentarians of any parliament ever. This Assembly has its first female Aboriginal parliamentarian, and the Northern Territory government has its first ever Aboriginal Cabinet Minister.
At this juncture, I would like to pay special thanks and recognition to my family. Across the years, my wife and children have always supported my efforts. As with every close-knit family, they have shared in my hard times and now they share in these good times. My hard work has been matched by their contributions and my success is their success. Thank you, Gail, Trisha, Jonathon, Ngaree and Bardi.
I am exceedingly glad to take my place as a minister in this government. This is the first Labor government and the first Martin government. It was an honour to serve and represent the electorate of Arnhem through opposition. I now look forward to continuing this work from the government benches and within Cabinet. The support I have enjoyed across the years from many people around the electorate of Arnhem, often provided a source of hope in the difficult times of opposition. From Milingimbi and Ramingining in the north, to Ngukurr and Numbulwar in the south, with Bulman and Jilkminggan in the west, to Groote Eylandt in the east, the electorate of Arnhem covers some of the most beautiful country in the Northern Territory.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this time, in recognition of the contribution that many Territorians made to the Labor Party’s historic election win at the Northern Territory’s general election of September 2001. The Labor Party’s electoral win in September came because Northern Territory Labor was unified, focussed, presented a strong team of candidates, and mobilised an even larger team of supporters.
I would like to make particular note of the campaign team that worked in support of my re-election in the electorate of Arnhem. Arnhem is a big electorate that requires many people in many communities to volunteer their time to campaign, arrange local contacts, prepare for meetings, and to staff mobile polling booths. Thanks go to my campaign team - Jamie Gallacher, Darren Godwell, Denise Bowden, Andrew Ah Kit, Phillip Quall, Phil Richards, Alan Rasmussen, Nancy and Grant Burgoyne, Paul Jamala and Karen Hinge. Out in the electorate there were many people - in fact, too many to name here. I will ask that they forgive me for not listing them at this time. Through the last six years, I have built friendships across the electorate and Labor’s historic win is a reflection on the faith of these people. Once again, I extend my thanks to those people of Arnhem.
In a large part, my pride in taking part in these historic events stems from my humble beginnings. I was born in Alice Springs and moved to Darwin when I was three years old. I spent my childhood in what was known as Parap Camp. Many fond memories remain with me from those days. I have watched Darwin grow from a small town of just a few thousand people into the prosperous capital city that it is today.
The Northern Territory has so much to be proud of. The beauty of the Territory’s natural wonders is only surpassed by the beauty of the Territory’s peoples. Our citizens draw from nations around the world. Being proud of their heritage and valued for their contributions, these people and their families are the source of a vibrant cosmopolitan and diverse society. Through my school years, friendships were built and are now woven throughout the unique fabric of Territory life. Threads are drawn from Greece, Italy, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Timor, England, Scotland and many, many other nations from around the world. Increasing the richness of this wonderful tapestry are the unique cultures of indigenous peoples. The many Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory continue to make invaluable contributions.
I expect indigenous framework agreements will advance these contributions even further. At the heart of the Martin government is a determination to realise the full potential of the Territory and every Territorian. Indigenous framework agreements will provide another avenue for the Northern Territory Labor government to achieve this objective. After six years in opposition, the opportunity to implement our objectives in government is empowering and refreshing. Chief Minister Clare Martin has flagged that our government will abide by principles of inclusion, openness and accountability as steps to promoting good government. This has special significance for Territorians who live outside the urban centres of Darwin and Alice Springs. As a member representing a bush electorate, I think many of our government’s decisions and initiatives will be warmly welcomed by people living in the rural and remote parts of the Northern Territory. As never before the Northern Territory government’s Cabinet and ministry reflects the diversity of the Territory’s population.
Furthermore, the Martin Labor government has highlighted the priority of the whole of the Territory development by implementing election promises by moving to establish the Office of Territory Development and the Office of Central Australia. The Martin government draws representatives from across the Territory and we will govern for the benefit of all Territorians regardless of race, colour, creed or political affiliations.
Let me now turn to my ministerial portfolios. As a young man in 1971, I worked as a truck driver for what was known as AW7 with Transport and Works. Now, I return as the minister for transport. I relish the opportunity to fulfil my ministerial responsibilities, given that I have had those years working as a young lad in the department. I also spent a couple of years testing soil and concrete in the materials laboratory in Alice Springs after Cyclone Tracy. It was an incredible experience, as I say, to return as their minister some 30 years later. I am also happy to say that, while my office may have shifted, my feet remain firmly planted on the ground.
Regarding the Department of Transport and Works, the Martin government is committed to providing a safe and efficient network of transport infrastructure and services that will best serve the aspirations of all Territorians. The social and economic development of the Territory will be enhanced by delivering on a number of policy objectives. Amongst these are: improving the Territory’s road networks to better meet the needs of our regional and remote communities; completing stage 2 of the East Arm Port and its integration with the new railway; facilitating the development of Darwin’s trade management capabilities and the new freight system for the nation; and providing appropriate infrastructure and services to support and develop both the offshore and potential onshore oil and gas industries.
The Martin government will also pay particular attention to ensure that our capital works program advances better health and education outcomes for Territorians. Initiatives include: completion of the upgrades of the Darwin and Alice Springs hospitals; sustaining school facilities by improving the existing program of facilities maintenance in consultation with schools and their communities; and upgrading Darwin High School and the primary schools of Parap, Nakara and Alawa.
I now mention some key objectives regarding the Power and Water Authority. PAWA is a valuable Territory asset owned by government on behalf of all Territorians. This agency is the Territory’s success story and deserves to be confident of its continued contributions to our economy and development. Behind the mining industry, PAWA is the Northern Territory’s largest business. I commend the workers, management and board of PAWA for their efforts. As their minister, I look forward to the chance to continue advancing the work of this agency. There is no better indication of the overall wellbeing of an organisation than the morale of its staff. Last week, I joined the workers of PAWA at the Ben Hammond Social Club and can confirm that their morale is high. I thank them for their warm welcome.
In 2000-01, a payment of $23m was delivered by PAWA to government. We have every expectation that this dividend will be of a similar amount in the year 2001-02. This payment is also matched by improvements and efficiencies across PAWA. As reported within the Electricity Supply Association publication, PAWA’s network reliability figures are better than Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. PAWA is also on track …
Mr Baldwin: I used to tell you blokes that all the time. You did not believe it then.
Mr AH KIT: They are not waiting for you to come back to that social club at Ben Hammond, I can tell you that. Last time you got in trouble down there minister - ex minister.
PAWA is also on track to source an additional 2% of its energy requirements from renewable energy. Initiatives include: the project to build a power station using mimosa pigra to generate electricity in the South Alligator Region; construction of solar panels in the Kings Canyon and Bulman regions to take the peak off the electricity load in those communities and thus considerably reduce the use of diesel fuel; PAWA has also signed an agreement with the solar systems to install new solar concentrator technology in three remote communities in the Territory; and research into additional alternative energy initiatives continues.
Another key consideration in the infrastructure development of the Northern Territory is the expansion and operation of the Darwin Port. The new port at East Arm was opened in February 2000 and involves a staged transfer of operations from the existing wharf facilities in the city. The new port will provide world class facilities for shipping and trade through the Port of Darwin. The civil works for the access causeway embankment and intermodal terminal have commenced and are expected to be completed in October 2002. The tender for the berth extension contracts are currently being assessed. These works will connect the new port to the national rail network and complete the AustralAsia trade route making Darwin Australia’s Asian Gateway. The Darwin Port Corporation is another exciting Territory organisation that serves the interests of Territorians. I look forward to bringing reports into the Legislative Assembly on the progress and achievements of the Port Corporation.
Finally, let me turn to the Department of Correctional Services. Consistent with the principles of transparency and accountability in government, a formal review of the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act has commenced in conjunction with the Attorney-General’s Department. Periodic reviews ensure legislation remains relevant and appropriate for the times within which agencies operate. It is time to revisit the respective legislative framework and make recommendations on how to improve the application of the legislation in the Department of Correctional Services. The review will include a consultative component early in 2002 culminating in a series of recommendations for government’s consideration. I urge the public and members opposite to note this initiative, and to show no hesitation in contributing to the community consultative process.
In conclusion, I am grateful to the people of Arnhem for their confidence in my ability in returning me to parliament. As a minister in the Martin government I will welcome the challenges of my portfolios and look forward to working with my departments to advance the objectives of our government. The next four years of Labor government will provide the Northern Territory with solid foundations upon which we can build our future. I look forward to discharging my duties as a minister.
Let me conclude by quoting some words spoken by the late Senator Neville Bonner, Australia’s first Aboriginal parliamentarian. In his maiden speech Senator Bonner summed up by saying:
- We live in a wonderful country. It will be a grand country only while those who sit in this Chamber really
and truly believe in this aim and work towards achieving it. I believe that we should forget our petty differences
and really work for those who have put us here and have entrusted the nation to our hands. I trust that our
deliberations will be, in fact, for the true welfare of all Australians.
These eloquent words and noble sentiments still ring true 30 years after they were first uttered. I conclude today by dedicating my work over the next term to all Territorians, especially to my constituents in the electorate of Arnhem, to whom I am indebted.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I felt honoured to be present in the Chamber to hear His Honour the Administrator address the Ninth Assembly of the Northern Territory in this, my third term in office as the member for Greatorex. I am pleased that I have the trust and confidence of the people in my electorate. I thank them all for their support and it is with the support of friends and family, in particular my ever supportive other half, Sharon, who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful campaign. There was a large team of supporters, some members of the party, but mostly generous people within the electorate who considered me worthy of their support.
They all worked hard around me to ensure that I had the time to concentrate on knocking on every door, every caravan on a permanent site, and every town camp. To all my supporters, they have my greatest appreciation for their help and their belief in me. To my wife, I could not have done it without her. I owe my electoral success to her and her keen sense of issues and timing.
I have worked diligently for the electorate of Greatorex for almost eight years; caring for my constituents, helping with their local issues, assisting in the difficult negotiations with the public service, involvement with them in saving or enhancing the social amenities in the electorate or simply working to improve their lifestyle living in Central Australia. I declare here and now that I will continue to serve Greatorex with my best ability, looking after the needs of the electorate and all its constituents. As a generality, 40% of constituents vote for Labor and 40% vote for the Country Liberal Party. A seat is won or lost based on the level of support a candidate receives from the swinging 20%. I am pleased to say that the middle 20% saw fit to support me and, in fact, some of the 40% normally in the Labor camp also supported my candidacy.
Let me welcome the CLP’s team here on this side of the House and, in particular, the two new members of the Assembly, the member for Araluen and the member for Goyder, both young, intelligent and energetic members with legal training who will contribute in a major way to the deliberations of our party and this parliament. I also welcome the new members on the government’s side of the Chamber and wish them well in this coming term in office.
I congratulate the members opposite, but I also wish to draw some points of fact to their attention. While the number of members in government is three more than on this side of the House, it is of note that in the final wash up, the Country Liberal Party did win 52% of the votes against 48% for the Labor Party. Not one seat that Labor won from the Country Liberal Party was won in their own right. Every one of the six northern suburbs seats was won on the backs of the preferences of independent candidates, candidates whose preferences went in all directions like unguided missiles.
In my last newsletter, Greatorex Voice, hand delivered into my electorate last week I wrote: ‘Well, what a surprise that was. I wonder who got the bigger surprise: the incoming government or the outgoing government?’ I also wrote that history would judge how successful the Labor campaign was, as I believe that it was too early to make an honest judgement about it at the moment. I do not wish to appear to be crying ‘sour grapes’. However, I am angry that the Labor Party had the audacity to telephone my constituents and falsely suggest that the CLP was in bed with One Nation in Greatorex.
Dr Toyne: You were!
Members interjecting.
Dr LIM: In Greatorex? That is where you are wrong. You lie! Why did the Labor Party not target the electorates of Braitling or Araluen?
Members interjecting.
Dr LIM: I can only suggest that it was because I was an ethnic Chinese.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Would the member for Greatorex resume his seat. Thank you. I ask for some order in this House. You are to address your comments through the Chair. You may continue.
Dr LIM: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I say again: why did the Labor Party not target the electorates of Braitling or Araluen? I can only suggest it was because I am an ethnic Chinese and was the candidate in Greatorex. There was no other reason. And the Labor Party dares to accuse the CLP of playing the race card! This is the party that claims it is not racist, yet its very actions make a lie of its claim. It is such a pity that is the case.
Many of the new members on the government side spoke with genuine feelings yesterday about their desire to be good, honest and ethical about their performance in this House and while in government. I take them on their word and look forward to their commitment and translation of their commitment into action. I am pleased to note that His Honour the Administrator commented that he believed: ‘The people of the Northern Territory expect a new government to build upon the achievements of the former government’. It is indeed a recognition that a CLP government of the day have done well and achieved much in the years in government. No one could argue against any of the general objectives made by His Honour the Administrator during his address to this House. We all want good health, good education, good homes and the opportunity to have good, gainful employment in a good financial, social and physical environment.
What is different between the two sides of this House is how we believe we can achieve these aims. I have been given the shadow portfolios of Central Australia, Regional Development, Housing, Local Government, Corporate and Information Services and Ethnic Affairs. A handful, some would say, but nevertheless a challenge I look forward to.
The Labor government has been in place for nearly two months and everything seems to have come to a standstill. The talk out there is that nothing much has happened under this new government. Business is saying there is a lack of government direction. There are interminable reviews of everything. People have said that under the CLP government, things were ticking over smoothly, however since the Labor government has taken over it is like moving through molasses. Businesses out there are facing bleak and difficult times. There is a slow down of business and business people are saying that the Labor government is sitting on its collective hands blaming everyone, particularly the former government, instead of getting on with the job of governing and encouraging business confidence. Just in case the members in government have not noticed, local businesses are currently battling, doing it hard out there. If building jobs is the government’s number one priority, then I say to the government: get on with it. That was the government’s stated intention, that it wishes to provide good government to every part of the Territory. Its action belies its words.
My loyalty and feelings for the Alice Springs and the Central Australian region are strong and well known. We from the south have sometimes felt neglected by the majority of Darwin-based politicians. I have spoken about the Berrimah line on many occasions. The Chief Minister said: ‘Gone is the Berrimah line. We are in government for all Territorians’. Since the installation of the Labor government, the Berrimah line has become the Berrimah wall.
This all sounds like I am whinging, a poor loser. Well, I won my seat against your candidate - who was pre-selected immediately after the 1997 election to campaign - and against Labor’s misleading statements and push-polling over One Nation in Greatorex. I hope that the Labor government would take what I have to say as constructive criticism rather than just a complaint.
Let me come back to Central Australia. The Labor government has forsaken Central Australia. The Berrimah line is truly reinforced by Labor concrete. The Minister for Central Australia was a position that was to be removed by the Labor Party as expressed during its pre-election rhetoric. I am glad to see that good sense has prevailed and the Labor government changed its mind on that, appointing the member for Stuart to the position. However, he has been singularly absent for most of the time from Central Australia. He was not around to witness the terrible bush fires that have occurred throughout the Centre for most of the last couple of months, most deliberately lit. He had to be dragged in to react to the strident community concerns.
The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment has done nothing to progress the release of first home buyer land in the Head Street region. I understand that his department has advised him that the development should proceed. The developers have been waiting endlessly for some sort of response so I say to the minister, get on with it. The paperwork has been on his desk for several weeks. It is time that he made some decision.
The Chief Minister and the Minister for Tourism were so eager to sidle up to Virgin Blue that they forgot all about Alice Springs. Since the Ansett disaster, Alice Springs has been completely overlooked. Had it not been for Qantas maintaining its services, and since, increasing the frequency of flights to the Centre, we would have been left high and dry. The Labor government is prepared to pay $2m to Virgin Blue every year to ensure that there are flights between Darwin and Brisbane. It then goes ahead with a grant to Air North of $200 000 to fly between Darwin, Nhulunbuy and Cairns. I hasten to add that I support Air North and the services it provides for Central Australia, delivering the essential passenger services between the regional centres of the Territory. But I ask, how about some money going to its air services into Central Australia? Many tourism operators felt the impact of the Ansett collapse directly, those who had contracts with the failed airline. Others, indirectly affected, such as the private hire car and taxi services have suffered significant decreases in their daily fare with a drop in passengers flying into Alice Springs. If the minister for Central Australia were in Alice Springs more he would be acutely aware of the situation and be able to do something about it.
It took a long while for the Minister for Health, Family and Children’s Services to respond to the desperate needs of the Alice Springs branch of the Family Planning Association. The Alice Springs media was full of stories about the imminent closure of the Alice Springs Family Planning Clinic. The threat to close the Family Planning Association was made in the middle of the election campaign by no other than president of the Family Planning Association, Elden Chamberlain, a known Labor supporter, who wanted another destabilising factor against the CLP government. The Family Planning Association was given a one month rent-free extension of tenancy, not to help out the Family Planning Association in Darwin, but for those very dedicated volunteers in Alice Springs to give them time and room to bring negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion. I quote from the Centralian Advocate of 21 September 2001:
But NT Health Minister, Jane Aagaard, has been slow to move on the funding crisis despite a pre-election
promise of $40 000 to prop up the ailing health service.
It appeared an advisor was asked as to what the minister intended to do and here I quote again:
But the advisor was unaware not only of the details of the proposed plan but also of the crisis itself.
When asked why he was not familiar with the issues he said, ‘I haven’t been following the Alice Springs media all that closely.’ Is this another indication that a Berrimah wall is well and truly consolidated since Labor government has been in place? It took all the lobbying by people in Central Australia and the media to get the minister to move on the matter. So far, only $40 000 has been allocated to keep the service going for a short while. The minister needs to find out why the Darwin service is so costly, while the Alice Springs service has to make do with meagre sums that come from the Darwin headquarters.
Mr Henderson: What did you do for the last 10 years?
Dr LIM: The Chief Minister has committed her government to help them - I gave them one month rent free, that is what I did …
Mr Henderson: One month! We gave them $40 000!
Dr LIM: What did you do? You did nothing, absolutely nothing. What did you do - nothing at all. That is my own money. What did you put in? Nothing.
The Chief Minister has committed her government to help Northern Territory University. I am glad she has done that. At long last, the Labor Party is declaring its commitment to the university. It was the Labor Party which fought the Country Liberal Party government when we wanted to establish the university in 1984. It was the Labor Party which wanted to restrict the supply of effective full-time places to 20 per year. It was the Country Liberal Party government which took the lead to commit the development of the Northern Territory University, the only public university that was initially fully funded by a state or territory government.
Today, the university is facing some major issues. Many students are facing continued frustrations with their courses and lectures. Since the start of this last term, lectures have been cancelled, so much so that for the first week of this term some classes of some courses were cancelled for the whole week. It is critical that government get with the university to sort out the problems.
The Chief Minister says, ‘Indigenous Territorians now have a government that acknowledges their needs and aspirations’. By inference, she claims the Country Liberal Party government ignored Aboriginal people. That is not true and I dispute that. Many in this House have heard me speak about the helplessness of our indigenous population. Many have also heard me speak about the patronising attitude that many of the members opposite have about Aboriginal people. It was very loud and clear when the late Professor Fred Hollows said to the Labor government of the day that we should not be leading our indigenous people up an evolutionary cul-de-sac. I am sure Aboriginal people do not want to be led up a blind alley but it seems to me that some people within the Aboriginal industry are determined that that is the way to go.
I believe that we all, Aboriginal people, Anglo-Celtic, European, or Chinese, want good health. We all want education, we all want our children to grow well, strong and educated. For these aspirations we are all the same. What is important is that we must provide not only equal opportunity but also equal access.
I cannot say that I was disappointed with the comments of the Minister for Housing made yesterday. He said nothing that was different to the statement I delivered in February of this year on Territory Housing. It is encouraging for me to see that Territory Housing is continuing along the line which was initiated by myself and my predecessors. It is reassuring that the minister agrees in principal with those initiatives. I look forward to continuing good housing policy for the Northern Territory. I would be interested to see how the minister intends to handle the opening of the Leanyer Senior’s Village due sometime in early December. I remind him, if he is not already aware of it, that his colleague, the member for Wanguri, was dead set against this development. I wonder what his position is now? Do not forget that. In the Northern Territory News of 19 February 2001 the member for Wanguri said that he wanted the project stopped and had the audacity to make it an election issue. He went so far as to write to his constituents making misleading statements about the development.
Opposition to this project is opposition to housing for senior Territorians, many of whom are now able to remain in the Territory as a result of the compassionate and forward-thinking policies of the former government. The member for Wanguri was opposed to the project. I wonder if he still is. I advise the minister that he counsels his colleague. Being on the same side of politics he might be more inclined to listen to him.
The IHANT program for Central Australia is very important to our construction industry. Now that the Papunya model is settled, and the project let, I look forward to seeing the development of high quality housing for Aboriginal people in Central Australia. It will prove to be a good example for other ATSIC regional councils to consider.
The cosmopolitan nature of the Northern Territory population is the best there is around the country. We do not have any enclaves of any one ethnic group throughout the Territory, as can be found in the major centres alongside the eastern seaboard. 19% of Territorians were born overseas and 50% of these born in non-English speaking countries. I am one of them, having emigrated to this country some 38 years ago. The Territory is a unique place in this country with some 140 ethnic groups living harmoniously together. The Chinese population, in particular, makes up a very sizeable section of the ethnic community.
The member for Arafura mentioned that while many people who call themselves Territorians end up retiring in places other than the Territory, many families of indigenous people have lived here for all time. Let me also add that some Chinese families are now sixth or seventh generation Territorians, many of whom have inter-married with indigenous Territorians. I congratulate the member for Arafura for her traditional entrance to the Chamber last Tuesday, and the handover of responsibility from the former member for Arafura to her. It was poignant to watch the dance, the actions of the former member, for whom I do have time.
I add here that it was through my connection with this House that we have the blessing of the Chamber by the Chung Wah Lion Dance at each sitting in conjunction with the Chinese New Year. The former government continued to fund, through the Office of Ethnic Affairs, the Chinese New Year Festival and the Moon Festival. I had the privilege of bringing about the celebration of the Moon Festival in Darwin over the last few years, and joining the disparate groups of Chinese people of Darwin. Through these celebrations the Chinese groups have gradually become a cohesive group, through the goodwill of many of their leaders.
I now want to make some comments about the Alice Springs to Darwin railway. The Chief Minister was quick to lay claim to the success of this development, one delivered by the Country Liberal Party government. At a time when everyone was about to abandon the project, the Country Liberal Party government kept going, doing what had to be done to ensure the bedding down of the project. I remind members that at the same time, the Chief Minister, the then Leader of the Opposition, said that the railway was a faded dream. Over these last two days, we have heard a change of heart from the Chief Minister. She now speaks of the railway, the sleeper factories in Katherine and Tennant Creek, as if they were her own.
Mr Stirling: We supported every bill. You were in here when we supported every bill that ever went through this place. Do not tell lies.
Dr LIM: All I can say is that I am glad that she has now seen the light and supports the railway fully, relishing the many jobs in the railway project, that the railway project is delivering and will deliver in the Territory. I take exception to the Leader of Government Business who called what I said ‘a lie’. I ask that he withdraw.
Mr Stirling: I withdraw.
Dr LIM: Thank you very much, sit down.
Alice Springs will benefit from the railway development, and for the next three years will capitalise on its role as a railhead for the transhipment of material to building sites. It will surely serve as a major transit centre for the trains that will ply along the track for decades to come, if not for the life of the railway. The railway is particularly significant for Alice Springs, which after all, grew up as a railway town. Just as the arrival of the Ghan in 1929 brought tourists, supplies, and comforts of life that could not be brought by camel, the new train will expand tourism, freight links, and business opportunities.
The Alice Springs to Darwin railway will prove very exciting and economically beneficial for Central Australia. I suggest that the railway will not only help with the extractive industries in the remote outback of the Territory, it will encourage opening up of land for agriculture. Transportation of fresh food will be less of a problem there now. Horticulture in Central Australia, particularly around Ti Tree, is now a commercial reality. The railway makes transport of harvest more practicable.
In all, I feel the Northern Territory is on the cusp of great economic and social development. It is important that Territorians grasp these opportunities with vigour. As the Administrator said, the people of the Northern Territory expect the new government to build upon the achievements of the former government. I will do all in my power to ensure that the new government lives up to the expectations of Territorians and fulfils the promises that it made to all of us.
Since 11 September, the world has changed and consequently, life has changed. There is no turning back. With the announcement today that Australia will commit ground troops to the war in Afghanistan, it commits each and every one of us to some degree, and many of us have children of that age who may be involved in this war.
Life has changed, this parliament has changed, and as they say, the only thing that is constant in this life is change. I have accepted the change and I am ready to deal with the change.
Mr STIRLING (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, I am honoured to be returned by the constituents of Nhulunbuy at the election on the 18 August this year. My thanks to the members of the local branch of the Nhulunbuy Labor Party. It is a branch that it is highly effective and it remains as near and dear to me as it was back in 1979 when I first became a member of it. My thanks to all those members and to those who assisted with the week of mobile polling including Bakamumu Marika, Banduk Marika, Jenny, John Rika, Lalambarri and Janet Yunupingu, and Johnny and Joanne at Galiwinku.
Elections are never easy to contest, and I congratulate each member of the Assembly on their election. Clearly, they have the support of their electorate and deserve to be here.
Mr Elferink: Hear, hear!
Mr STIRLING: I pay particular tribute to the member for Macdonnell because in the context of this election, he was one who withstood what was a very clear swing away from the former Country Liberal Party government.
I particularly congratulate the first Labor Chief Minister in the Northern Territory, and I commend her for her efforts throughout the campaign. I thought it was her decency - her absolute overall decency - and her adherence to a positive message that both sustained her, and us as a team, throughout that campaign, and clearly won the support of Territorians to enable us to form the first ever Labor government.
I thank and congratulate all those staff - when I say all those staff, about seven of them from the days of opposition - who worked tirelessly over the last couple of years with us in opposition to put policy and discussion papers together. They were on deck day, and often night, to work with us to deliver government. I am humbled by the trust and confidence in us shown by Territorians, and I have a deep appreciation of the responsibilities each of us as ministers now hold. We will work hard to deliver on the expectation that the community holds of the first ever Labor government.
Whilst the now opposition was surprised by our victory, we as a government have been shocked ourselves since being sworn into office on the 27 August, because at our first Treasury briefing we were informed that the budget position was unsustainable despite being passed by this Assembly just 12 weeks before. The former government’s budget was never going to stand up and never going to last the 12 months that it was set for. It was only after Professor Percy Allan, the noted and respected former New South Wales Under Treasurer, analysed the budget and worked with Treasury staff, the real bottom line began to emerge.
Professor Allan estimated a deficit for the financial year of around $107m, a figure that could be higher. We know how this occurred, and the details will be fully analysed by this Assembly in debate led by the Treasurer. We will legislate to ensure fiscal responsibility in the preparation of budget papers in the projection of expenditure estimates, so that the mess that our predecessors created on this occasion of delivering this budget, shall never occur again.
The deficit is so serious as to warrant a mini-budget. I notice the former Chief Minister appeared keen, yesterday at least, to have an estimates committee in place to deal with the mini-budget. Well, this is pretty cute, because this side of the House argued in every appropriation debate that I have ever been in the Chamber for, for an estimates committee to handle scrutiny of the budget. The former Chief Minister and his government had 26-and-a-bit years to introduce an estimates committee, and rejected it every time. Now they want it within three months - they want it within three months of going to opposition. Well, it will not happen in three months, but it will happen.
Another shock after moving into government came with the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September, to be followed just three days later by the collapse of Ansett. These events are damaging and will damage our tourism industry. We will repair the damage. Already, over 100 000 employees in the airline industry around the world have lost their jobs, including, of course, our Ansett employees here in the Northern Territory. We are addressing these concerns and will continue to do so, and I will deal with the detail in a further statement during these sittings.
I also had some difficulties finalising the enterprise bargaining agreement with teachers. In part, another legacy we inherited from our predecessors, and I will be dealing with further issues in that in further debate during these sittings.
However, I want to respond as Minister for Education, Employment and Training; Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services; Minister for Parks and Wildlife; Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; and Minister for Tourism. These are ministries and responsibilities I am enormously proud to have.
This government is committed to building a better Territory for all Territorians. As His Honour the Administrator, said yesterday, ‘For the term of this government a new direction in education will be to place education where it should be, as a central and critical theme for the future of the Territory’. To achieve this, employment and training strategies in the public and private sectors will be managed and developed under one portfolio to ensure a whole-of-economy and whole-of-government approach rather than the previous piecemeal efforts scattered across various agencies. Already, we have had the foresight and common sense to create a new Ministry of Education, Employment and Training.
The key areas of this portfolio include the preschool, primary, secondary, post-secondary and tertiary sectors, from preschool to retirement in terms of preparing students of all ages for employment, and fitting them for the learning and the relearning required for the rapidly changing 21st century world of work. In 26 years of Country Liberal Party rule there never was an employment strategy. This Labor government understands the issues affecting the jobs market in the Territory. We have met with employers, unions, training bodies, ATSIC, local government and others. This Labor government is committed to a vocational training approach based on industry and community needs. We will also assist the Northern Territory University to build its place as a centre of learning excellence, not just for the Territory, but for this region as a whole.
In schools education, with the recent enterprise bargaining agreement, this newly-elected government got off to an uneven start in our relationship with teachers and it makes it important for me to take this opportunity to stress my respect and appreciation for the critical role our teachers play in developing our children. I need to make this point: we are proud of our schools and teachers. This Labor government is committed to creating a strong professional base for teachers. I will work with teachers and the community to see the teaching profession restored to the respect it deserves. We will forge effective working partnerships with parents. Education works best when schools operate in partnership with parents and community.
This has not been achieved in indigenous communities and we will work hard to bring effective partnerships into place in these communities. We must urgently tackle the unacceptable outcomes in indigenous education. Bob Collins has provided the blueprint for this. It will be important to build real pathways in the Northern Territory from school, to training, to skilled jobs. These policies outline in snapshot the vision of this government for Education, Employment and Training.
We are already developing and turning this vision into reality. The Labor government has moved to amalgamate the Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment to form a Department of Employment and Training. We are in the process of amalgamating the Corporate Management and Information technology areas of the previous separate organisations, and fully expect to achieve savings for the public purse. We are already working on the next phase by looking at further changes to the government employment and training structure that will enhance our ability to accurately predict where employment opportunities will be created in future, and how best to train young and older Territorians to enable them to enjoy the new employment opportunities the Territory will have to offer. This will include equal emphasis on developing regional employment opportunities and developing employment in indigenous communities. To this end, as part of our comprehensive and coordinated economy-wide approach, we will be creating additional employment and training positions in a number of centres to develop employment in the regions.
Vocational education and training in schools will be a priority for the government. We will be developing a system of vocational education and training in schools that will commence at year 9, to prepare our young people for employment in both the established and new areas of employment in the Territory. The government will be putting systems in place to create employment in all areas of the Territory and we will, of course, continue to support our existing employment providers.
The Labor government recognises our community cannot achieve its potential without appropriate laws and resources underpinning the work, particularly of our police and firefighters. Protection, punishment, prevention will be the cornerstone of this government’s commitment to reducing both the economic and psychological impact of crime on Territorians. The Northern Territory Police Force will be provided with the powers, the resources, the funding necessary to give effect to this government’s approach to crime, the causes of crime, particularly in relation to property offences.
The resources I speak of here include the deployment of an additional 50 police officers over the term of this government; resources which will enable the police force to double the present size of the drug squad; and enhance the special crime squad to improve the investigation of unlawful entry offences. The introduction of the zero tolerance policy on drug production and distribution, coupled with compulsory rehabilitation and properly resource drug prevention strategies, will demonstrate this government’s resolve to combat the problems of drugs in our communities and the misery that they create. In maintaining the commitment to community safety, the government has recognised the growing need for a police, fire and emergency services facility in the Darwin rural area. This will enhance emergency response and provide a major training facility for volunteers in that area. The Labor government is also committed to a new fire station for the Casuarina area and 16 additional firefighters over a four-year period.
We are committed to a community-based crime prevention strategy that harnesses both the resources of government and the goodwill of its citizens to attack the cause of crime and build a safer community. This government accepts the responsibility for finding the resources. However, all of us must supply the goodwill and commitment that is needed. Work is almost completed on the $6.1m Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Forensic Science Centre at Berrimah. It will be the most modern purpose-designed forensic science laboratory in the world. The Northern Territory has also made a financial commitment to the identification sciences such as DNA profiling and fingerprinting in order that the federal government initiative known as CrimTrac will reach its potential. This government remains committed to those facilities and initiatives. The Northern Territory is fortunate to have the services of Police, Fire and Emergency Service professionals who, supported by an enthusiastic and skilled group of dedicated public service staff, ensure the community is indeed a safe and welcoming place in which to live, work, visit and do business.
Through the Juvenile Diversionary Program we will give the young people of our community the opportunity to learn from the mistakes they may make whilst growing up to be citizens who can contribute to the development of the Northern Territory. However, this Labor government does put a greater emphasis on the victims of crime in our society, so whilst initiatives will be put in place to attack the causes of crime, enhancements will be made to the effectiveness of the police force. We will, at the same time, introduce measures to assist victims to alleviate the stress, trauma and inconvenience they suffer.
The Northern Territory has for many years enjoyed the services of a very professional fire service. This Labor government will support the men and women of that service. We will provide them with the equipment, the training and the leadership they need. Similarly, the tireless effort of those many auxiliary firefighters and volunteer emergency services workers throughout the Territory will be recognised by this Labor government. Emergency services workers are the backbone of responses to emergencies such as floods, fires, road accidents, searches, and a myriad of other duties they perform on behalf of the community. They will not be forgotten or overlooked by this government. Police, fire and emergency services work in the Northern Territory provides unique challenges and opportunities and this Labor government will ensure the community has an organisation which can respond to each of those challenges.
I turn now to His Honour the Administrator’s comments in relation to indigenous issues in the Territory. There is an urgent need to address the present quite unacceptable situation facing most Aboriginal Territorians in the key areas of health, education, housing and employment. The figures on homelessness, overcrowding, health, education and unemployment levels for Aboriginal people in the Territory are the worst in Australia. These matters are interrelated and perpetuate a cycle. If you live in grossly overcrowded substandard housing your health is likely to suffer. Poor health leads to poor education outcomes for young people. With a lack of meaningful employment opportunities in many communities, there is little incentive to pursue a formal education and skills. The lack of meaningful employment leads to low self-esteem, boredom, crime, substance abuse and violence, and breaking this cycle will be a major priority of this Labor government. But we can only succeed in partnership with Aboriginal communities, agencies and individuals. Real partnership requires the commitment to equality and the sharing of responsibility for identifying and achieving agreed outcomes.
In partnership with Aboriginal and all Territorians this government will achieve improvements in health, education, housing and employment. We cannot do it alone. We can only do it with the full support, goodwill and active involvement of the indigenous community of the Northern Territory. The need for families to participate in schools for commitment to the education process, the need for cross-agency partnerships and coordination is essential. We will support Aboriginal regional, economic development initiatives and assist groups to maximise economic use of their land where they wish to do so. We will focus greater efforts on justice and diversionary programs aimed at keeping young offenders out of the prison system, and we will audit the effectiveness of indigenous-related government programs.
There is no significant additional funding to tackle the immense problems facing Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The problems are complex. They will not be resolved by a simple injection of funding in any case. We have to do things better with what we have through improvements in the delivery of government services and through partnerships with Aboriginal Territorians based on trust, cooperation and mutually agreed goals. I call on the opposition to adopt a bipartisan approach in this critical area and to work with us to bring about desperately needed improvements in the lives of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.
In relation to the tourism industry, it is the Territory’s second largest revenue earner after the mining industry. In 2000 and 2001, visitors to the Northern Territory accounted for $936m in direct expenditure; economic activity generated by tourists. The flow-on effect expands this figure to $1.563bn. The tourism industry is also the Territory’s single largest employer, accounting for around 8100 jobs directly and a further 3500 indirectly. Our tourism industry is vulnerable to changes in customer sentiment, and I will inform the Assembly of the detail of this Labor government’s immediate and effective response to the impact of the Ansett collapse in a separate ministerial statement. This government began immediate negotiations with airlines to increase air capacity into and out of the Territory. It was clear, though, what was needed to reinvigorate tourism was scheduled, reliable air services, not ad hoc seat availability.
I want to recognise the efforts particularly, of Qantas, but also of other local operators to facilitate increased services. We now have 80% of the Northern Territory’s previous airline schedule returned to the air. In addition, as a result of our early actions, Virgin Blue will commence operations in the Territory early next year maintaining competition in our skies. Significant in maintaining the Territory’s growth, aside from continuing to fight for better and more competitive air services, is the introduction of tour operator accreditation. Constantly improving our visitors’ holiday experience is an important part of maintaining the destination’s appeal.
This Labor government will support the introduction of tour operator accreditation begun under our predecessors. For the industry to grow, accreditation will become a more important issue than ever, particularly in the international market place. International visitors see the Northern Territory as offering a similar holiday experience to Africa. What will help potential tourists choose between similar destinations is the certainty they feel about getting a quality product. On the domestic front we must encourage Territorians and other Australians to visit and experience our Territory and the natural treasures and experiences it can provide. This government will help overcome the challenges faced by tourism by forming solutions in a cooperative and cohesive manner.
Finally, not in order of importance, I turn to our efforts to preserve and manage our great Territory parks and wildlife. This activity is currently quietly and competently undertaken by employees in Parks and Wildlife and I have been impressed with the professional diligence and absolute genuine love of their jobs that these employees show. That particularly came through in a visit to the Parks and Wildlife Commission’s office in Alice Springs in the first place, and I do not doubt that the other work places are the same. The activities involved overlap the responsibilities and activities of a number of my other portfolio areas including Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Aboriginal Affairs and Tourism. However, a primary function often overlooked is the responsibility to preserve and safeguard these great assets. The responsibility for ensuring that land owners and managers are better informed about the responsibilities for protection of the environment and assets, particularly the importance of fire breaks and fuel management, will be met. This will involve cooperation between the Bush Fires Council of the Northern Territory, the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service, Bush Care and, most importantly, traditional land owners and communities.
This government will continue to foster a great awareness of our national parks and reserves. We will provide Territorians and visitors alike with opportunities to enjoy recreational activities such as four-wheel driving, bird watching, swimming, hiking and fishing. We will maintain and preserve our great park estate, not just for tourism and recreational opportunities, but to preserve and protect flora and fauna, the Territory’s biodiversity.
Debate adjourned.
TABLED PAPER
Auditor-General’s Report, August 2001
Auditor-General’s Report, August 2001
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table the August 2001 report of the Auditor-General to the Legislative Assembly.
MOTION
Note Paper – Auditor-General’s Report,
August 2001
Note Paper – Auditor-General’s Report,
August 2001
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister): 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.
Motion agreed to.
MOTION
Northern Territory Sympathy for Citizens
of the United States
Northern Territory Sympathy for Citizens
of the United States
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, would you like to move the amended co-sponsored motion agreed upon by you and the Leader of the Opposition.
Ms MARTIN (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move – That -
- This Assembly:
Noting the tragic terrorist attacks in the United States of 11 September 2001 and the decision of the Australian government to commit the Australian Defence Force to participate in the conflict against terrorism:
lost members of their family;
offers total support for the nations of the world including Australia to unite to combat terrorism;
affirms the special relationship between the people of the Northern Territory and the members of
the Australian Defence Force and expresses its admiration for their commitment, professionalism
and dedication to service;
affirms that the Australian Defence Force and its members have our total support and commitment
and our solemn hope that all will return unharmed; and
recognises that within our borders, Territorians of all races, creeds and religions live harmoniously
together in support of each other and are an example to people across the world.
This is an important motion for this House to debate and certainly, I thank the Opposition Leader for raising it yesterday. We did take that minute yesterday to mark the tragic and terrible events of 11 September, but it is important that this House puts on the record the details of the motion.
The events of 11 September stunned the world and no one I spoke to - and there are many that I have spoken to - can be immune to the horror we witnessed unfolding at the World Trade Centre and also the Pentagon. We know the numbers of people who have died, but in broader terms the human cost is incalculable. Indeed, the final death toll may never be known. There are defining days in the world’s history. Many of us who are of a certain age group can remember when JFK was assassinated, and remember exactly what we were doing when we heard. There are other dates that you can track that leave a profound impact on the individual and on the community. I believe that 11 September is one of those dates, and probably one that will ring even more loudly as time goes by.
There are those who heard of the events late on the Tuesday night, as it was in Darwin. Talking to people later, they just stayed up all night in a surreal way watching the television footage that came through CNN of what was happening in the United States - actually watching in real time that plane go into the World Trade Centre, watching in real time two gigantic buildings in New York actually collapse. The reaction of so many was ‘I thought I was watching a movie. I thought I was watching Hollywood at its best with its technical expertise’. Many were not able to come to terms with the fact that this was real and that what they were seeing was a tragedy unfold. The next day, trying to discuss it with people, many of the words that were used to describe the events were ones like ‘evil’. They were biblical words because it was an event that profoundly shocked the Territory, Australia, the world. Many of us were left without the words to describe the events as we had seen them unfold.
That day, Cabinet was meeting in Alice Springs and there was particular poignancy because Alice Springs has such a large American population who work at Pine Gap. Alice Springs, particularly, felt quite deeply impacted by what had happened and it was terrific that there was a combined service in the afternoon just in recognition of that. It was a very emotional service. I did not have the opportunity to attend but colleagues did, and it was a very emotional and a very appropriate service to have so soon after such a tragic event happened.
There were immediate implications for the Territory in terms of the location of Pine Gap, in Marines being present in Darwin and also American service people being in Katherine as well, at Tindal. So, we did have an immediate connection to what was happening. There are Territorians who have family in the States, have family in some of the areas that were attacked, like Manhattan or Washington, so there was a real link between what was happening here and those tragic events in the States.
The world has changed because of what happened on the 11 September. We were not innocent before that, but I think we have seen that we have reached a new level of insecurity about what can possibly happen. None of us in this House would have ever thought that you could have people get into plane, terrorists take over planes and actually go on suicide missions the way they did. It has created a level of uncertainty that we have seen now, like ripples in a pond, travel from the United States through to the rest of the world, and impact in so many ways on how we do business, on business confidence and on just the way people go about their ordinary business, particularly for the United States.
This motion today recognises the trauma of American citizens but also the repercussions around the world. The death toll is something that we cannot really come to terms with. That so many people just going about their jobs, going about their daily work, just disappear. That in effect is what has happened. What we do know is that amongst those killed were thousands of innocent people from nations throughout the world, particularly because of business carried out in the World Trade Centre and the number of different nations and organisations that worked there including, very sadly, many Australians.
Our sympathy goes out to the families of all those killed and, as I mentioned, the one minute’s silence observed by the House yesterday was in respect for those victims and their families. We particularly note the catastrophic impact of these attacks on the people of the United States and, as a parliament, extend our support and deepest sympathy to our friends in the US and to Territory residents in the US who may have had friends or relatives directly affected by the events of 11 September.
The nations of the world have united to condemn these attacks on innocent people and to take decisive action against those who have instigated or supported such terrorism, such unacceptable actions. It is very important that we as a country, we as a nation, we as a Territory, do support the decisive action because when you think about the implications of not taking action, then I think we make ourselves more vulnerable. It is very important to take action to show that those of us who are in empathy with what happened with those in the United States and understand the impact on lives there, believe that there must be a response and there must be a decisive response.
What I am hoping is that this is not about war, because I do not think any of us want to have this being about being at war. What we want is that we had terrorist action, and what this is really about is an international policing response, because the law was broken in a very profound and appalling way. What action we need to see being taken is a policing response, that there is action united around the world against those who so profoundly broke the law. I feel that, as a nation, that it is a better way to respond in terms of policing than to think about the ramifications of seeing ourselves possibly at war.
The Prime Minister has committed Australian troops towards this international force, as we have heard today, and this is no light undertaking. The Territory has a special relationship with the Australian Defence Force and their families living here. At this time I believe it is vital that our troops know that they have the support of their whole community in the troubled days ahead. This bipartisan motion is an indication to members of the ADF that they have our support and our prayers in whatever role they may undertake as part of this international response to terrorism.
It is also important at this time, more than ever, to recognise and appreciate how lucky we are in Australia to be living in a culturally diverse society, particularly here in the Territory. We must strive to ensure that the outcomes of the international response to terrorism remain focussed on removing that threat, and we must not allow our community to be tainted by division or persecution of any group.
We must also ensure that we send the message to our good friends in the Asia Pacific region that we continue to value and respect the cultural diversity of our region, and we will continue to work closely with all of our regional friends towards the joint goals of economic development, trade and regional security. That really is a very important issue for the Territory. Here we are as the gateway to Asia. We must send that message very firmly and strongly, that we do value and respect our region, that we do value and respect our cultural diversity, and that we as a Territory, as we have done in the past, will continue to work in the most cooperative and productive ways with our neighbours, certainly tolerating and accepting the cultural diversity to our north.
No words of this House can change the terrible events of 11 September. We stand united as a parliament and as a community to express our sympathy to all those affected, to support our troops, and whilst reflecting on this tragedy, to take the opportunity to pause and appreciate the diversity and tolerant society that we have here in the Territory.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr BURKE (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, may I begin my short comments by thanking the government for allowing this motion to come forward. It is very important, I believe, as I said at the outset, that one of the first formal things we do in this Ninth Assembly is to reflect on these events. Little needs to be said by way of argument to seek the support of members of this Assembly for this motion. We all witnessed the horror that was inflicted on the world and the United States in particular on 11 September this year. We have all been affected in our own personal ways. Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of the commitment of 1550 Australian men and women to the war against terrorism brings the issue home to our country in a very direct way.
It is appropriate that a motion such as this should be our first formal action of the Ninth Assembly of the people of the Northern Territory. This place and gathering is the tangible celebration of the robust democracy and the freedoms we as Territorians and Australians enjoy. Many others do not have such freedoms and for thousands of men, women and children, their freedoms, their lives were cruelly ended by the abomination of 11 September.
Here in the Territory, our geography and our history make us, more than many of our fellow Australians, aware of the horrors of war and our vulnerability to attack from others. We are both the front door and the front line of Australia and we are far closer to the bases of terrorism. The extent of the defence force facilities in the Territory is a stark and physical recognition of that vulnerability. We are the only place in Australia that has endured sustained attacks by an enemy and we rightfully acknowledge that in those terrible days of the 1940s it was the men and women of the United States who came to our aid. Many died in the defence of Darwin in that first great air raid of 1942, and many more were to be killed in the years of conflict that followed. It is worth noting that since that time, in every conflict that the United States has been involved in, Australia is the only country that can say that it has consistently stood by the United States when called upon.
More recently, as the Chief Minister referred, others continue to serve, particularly in Alice Springs, serving both Australia, the United States and the Territory in their work and their contribution, not only to the defence needs of our nation but also to the Alice Springs community. Even though we will always owe them a debt for their support and help, the awful events in New York and Washington demand a response and an acknowledgement from this Assembly.
The actions announced by our Prime Minister today also demand that we, as the representatives of the peoples of the Northern Territory, should record our support and total commitment for the young Australian men and women who will be very soon engaged directly in the war against those who would terrorise the world. We may be the smallest jurisdiction in our nation but we should still add our voice to the cause of freedom and civilisation. We may have been thankfully free of such terrors for almost 60 years, but we have in our midst, in our community, people who have suffered such terror and horrors in their land of origin. We owe it to them, to the people of the United States, and to ourselves to condemn the actions of 11 September, and to support the initiatives now being undertaken to rid the world of the perpetrators of such devastation.
As an old soldier I abhor war, but I know that, sadly, there will always be times when we must call on our defence forces to defend what we hold dear, and this is one of those times. John Howard has today committed 1550 of our defence forces, the largest commitment this nation has made since the days of Vietnam almost 30 years ago. Our ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of our neighbours and friends in East Timor was as a peacekeeping force. Today’s commitment is to fight for a peaceful world. Today’s commitment puts the men and women of our Defence Force on the field of battle.
Whilst I understand the sentiments the Chief Minister expressed, I believe it is very important that we accept the fact that our forces are moving to a field of battle, and that this is necessary, just, but very simply, a war. It is a war because it is important for those involved that, in due course, they are treated in the future as citizens who have returned from a place that was very clearly a place of war. If we are ever to erase the fears and insecurities created by the events of 11 September, then we, like other nations, must sadly fight this war. If we can never erase the images of those horrific attacks from the minds of our children, then we must show them we will fight and defeat those who commit and permit such horrors. If we can only do this with the commitment of the men and women of the defence forces, then we must make that commitment.
But no one must take this attitude as warmongering. Let no one think that this is done in a jingoistic way. This is a sad day, and a day that I regret had to come. But it has, and we owe it to our defence men and women and to the Prime Minister, to give them our full support, our total commitment, and our prayers. And we owe it to the parents, wives, husbands and children of these men and women who allow their loved ones to go to war in our defence. We know that it is almost inevitable there will be casualties among our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen. But we most hope and pray that that does not happen, that they return to us unharmed and victorious. I commend the motion to honourable members.
Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
Four long-serving employees of the Department of Education have retired recently. These employees commenced duty in the Northern Territory during the 1970s and early 1980s, and it is with pleasure that I acknowledge their contribution to the public sector and specifically, to education in the Northern Territory.
Dennis Higgins retired from the Department of Education after 22 years of service. Dennis’ entire public service career was in the area of corporate support and general services. His focus on attending to the transportation and other logistical needs of customers, ranging from the agencies executive staff to head teachers in the many school and remote communities, was a feature of his service.
Meredith Mitchell attained 34 years of continuous service in education as a school assistant in the Alice Springs region. Meredith not only provided great assistance to both staff and students as a library assistant, but also worked with the school choir at Gillen Primary School, and provided musical accompaniment for many of the school’s productions and concerts.
Ann Coehn retired from her position as budgets officer in the Financial Services Branch where she was responsible for the oversight of provision of grants to schools. Prior employment included working in the schools support area and, in particular, in Operations North Branch of the department where she assisted the manager of the finance section.
Peter Winckler was appointed to his first teaching position in the Northern Territory in 1971. Since then, he held a variety of positions including Assistant Principal of Kormilda and Nightcliff High Schools, and in 1981 transferred to the position of Controller, Student Driver Education. In 1992, Peter was permanently appointed to the ET 7 level, Manager of Schools North, where he remained until 1999. He then moved to Parliament House and worked for two ministers for education as ministerial officer before returning to the department in July of this year.
In respect of Dennis, Meredith, Ann and Peter, I wish them all the best in the next stage of their life beyond their working life, and hope that they enjoy the pleasure and happiness that a well-earned and honourable retirement brings, and that they certainly deserve.
Mr BONSON (Millner): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to take this opportunity to talk about a number of people within the electorate, and persons who helped during the election campaign. The first couple I would like to speak about are Cathy and Daryl Spurr, both of whom were founding members of my successful campaign election team. Cathy and Daryl Spurr are members of the local branch. Cathy is the current President of the Northern Territory ALP. Both were a source of strength during the election campaign. Many of the campaign meetings ran smoothly, others did not. However, during that period, neither party lost respect for each other and certainly enjoyed each other’s company, and I thank them. These two people represent the true worker in the Australian Labor Party. They have worked for the Labor Party tirelessly over the last few years and without their support there is no doubt in my mind that the Labor Party, without workers of the kind, would not have been able to win the election.
The Labor Party is not a thing or entity, it is not a creation by itself. The Labor Party is made up of its members simply like this parliament. Without its members and people like Cathy and Daryl Spurr, you would not have a successful Labor Party, the Labor Party would not exist. I would argue that these people are the backbone of such organisations like the Labor Party. I have this feeling that you could probably say, in a lot of respects, they are the true believers. I would just like to say, thank you for all your help. Without a doubt, you formed the strong team that helped return Millner to the Labor Party and delivered the first Labor government. As the years roll on, with your help, I hope you continue the relationship with the Millner electorate.
I say to Daryl and Cathy, I will never forget the feeling that we all had on election night, sitting underneath my house with the lemon grass curried goose, chicken vermicelli, sweet and sour pork, the mud crab, barramundi wings - we had it all. Of course, there was a little bit of amber fluid as well. We were sitting there watching the TV as though it was an AFL grand final. We had about 30 other people with us and the majority of them probably never …
Ms Martin: The best team won.
Mr BONSON: On the day, I think the best team won on that. We had a lot of people who perhaps were only there helping because they knew me, but they certainly got wrapped up and excited in the occasion. I will never forget Cathy and Daryl’s delight when Warren Snowdon actually called us home in the first quarter, basically. But, obviously, we had to wait for a few more days before we found that I had actually won.
I would like to say to them that my family will forever be grateful, and it goes without saying that if I can help your family in the future, Daryl and Cathy, I will be willing to give my personal assistance in the future for any endeavour that you might require assistance on.
The next couple I would like to thank, are the O’Hagans, a real Labor family. Peter O’Hagan ran as a Labor candidate in the 1997 election, and therefore knows the pressure and expectations put on the local Labor candidate, remembering that the seat of Millner, out of the 26 years of CLP government, was actually a Labor seat for 19 of those years. Peter also understands the pressure put on his family members and without the assistance of his wife, Julie, Peter would not have been able to assist me on the late nights, early morning starts, sausage sizzles, and after-hours activities. I certainly respected his intelligent and informative information that he provided to me during the election campaign. I am happy to say that Julie attended on his behalf yesterday, and I think she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Peter is the type of man that you do want to represent you in parliament. When I think of Peter, I would best describe him as honest, decent, hardworking and with a great sense of humour. Peter, I wish you the best of luck in the future.
Another member of my campaign team was a quietly spoken gentleman, Phil Powling; a man who can only be described as humble, kind, hardworking and a real caring part of the community. Phil has been heavily involved with the Millner electorate, especially during the period of Terry Smith, who was the local member, and Ken Parish. As well as working tirelessly for the Labor Party in different matters, Phil and his family have been an unbelievable asset to the campaign team, and also the Millner Branch.
Another member of the campaign team in our branch was Rowena Livers, who was unable to assist as much as the others simply because she had a little birth that interrupted her performance in the campaign team. I was not happy about that either, but we could not do anything about it; it is biology. I would like to say that the Millner Branch, though small, is famous throughout the Northern Territory as being hardworking and dedicated. Certainly without their assistance, I would never have been able to win the seat of Millner. My aim is to help increase the membership of the Millner Branch and encourage and support its work ethic. It gives me great satisfaction to note that the electorate of Millner and the branch has put Labor back on the map in the seat itself, as we were all waiting for several days for the result.
What else gives me great satisfaction is to drive around Millner and to notice that all the posters for our local members running in the Commonwealth election are all up on the poster sites. I find it funny that now the CLP are no longer in power; they do not seem to have as many workers around. I would like to give credit to our workers who were there in the dark times when, really, helping out the Labor party was seen as something you did not do in the Northern Territory, for many, many different reasons. But these people stuck by me, the Labor Party and what they believed in, and I am happy to say that they were able to achieve great results. We have been through the darkest of times but there is no one, in my mind, who can say that these campaign workers were not the true believers. When I say the true believers I mean the ones who were around when there was not necessarily an election campaign going on but certainly raising funds for the Labor Party and the Labor branch. I would just like to say thank you to those supporters.
I thank my friends and family, who, if anyone went down to the polling booths on that election day, would have seen that we outnumbered the opposition about 5:1. We had sombrero hats and sunglasses on, music playing and dancing, and people were generally having a good time. Many people would know that the seat of Millner, to be won, needed the biggest swing of all the seats in this House. Certainly, on the day, many people walked in through the gate still undecided. But as Kerry Gardiner said to me, ‘Anyone who walks through those gates undecided certainly made up their mind once they were in there’, and I would like to thank them. In particular, Anne Marie, Cheree, and Tania McLeod, whose mother is my auntie, my father’s sister, they were a great help. To my aunties, Dorrie Oates, and Lynette Bonson, thanks for all your help. Kenny Bonson and his two sons, Kane and Jacob, about 250 kg-plus put together, were certainly a big help. There was uncle John Bonson and his sons, Jason and John, and daughter, Linda, who helped out on the day. Then there was one of my true idols, Dooky Bonson, one of the real characters around town, who held the world record for mud crab tying for many, many years - world champion about three or four times - and was a champion footballer. He is just a general all-around good guy; he was there and he certainly backed me up.
Yvette Carolin, whose mother is my father’s sister; and Sharna Bonson; there was Damien Zammit, who is a relation of mine through the Ah Mats, and his partner, Charlene; there was Shane Stevens, another relation; and of course there was my mother and her partner, Steve; my grandmother, Daisy Ruddock, and Hilda Muir - who are a bit like the Kahlin Compound mafia down there - we had them onside. There was my Auntie Esther and her son, Travis. He was like the night watchman on the campaign night, and I am sure he freaked out the watchman from the CLP the other night who had never seen anything like it. But it was all done in good fun. I think the night watchmen were the best behaved between the two opposition parties on the election day. There was also my Auntie Josie and her partner, David.
Friends came out of the woodwork and it was fantastic. As you know in politics, there is a passion for who our supporters believe in, but there are many other people who are just citizens of this country, who basically assist the person because they know them. Many of my friends obviously did support the Labor party, but many of them just came to help me. Thank you for showing that support for me as a person.
Some friends I would like to thank are Tim Edwards and Michael ‘Wally’ Edwards, well known rugby league identities, general characters around town. One of my best friends, Paul Seden, did a magnificent job there and made everyone feel welcome. Then there was James Parfitt and David Parfitt, Larrakia people, who were working hard down there for a change. Kenny Sutton, well known rugby union identity; David Sailor, a relation of old Wendell Sailor running around now in rugby union circles; Damien and Louisa, both of whom I studied with at NTU and Western Australian University in law, and both of them practising as solicitors in Darwin at the moment.
Then there was Rocky Cousins. I jokingly said to Rocky that he was the best on ground on the day. What I meant by that was that he stood from 8am to 6pm with a sombrero hat and a shirt: ‘Vote 1, Matthew Bonson’. Every person who came through the door basically got the rundown but in a very friendly, polite way. He is a bit of an ex-boxing trainer and local fireman. He is one of the founding members of the famous fire brigade pensioners party. They get over a couple of thousand pensioners and they provide thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts, food and drink. My father was one of the founding members as well, and their philosophy was that just because these guys were pensioners, it did not mean that they did not want to have a good time. Certainly, for about the first ten pensioner parties they held in Darwin that I attended and assisted with, let us just say it was on for young and old - they had a lot of fun. So, I would like to thank Rocky Cousins, champion fellow.
There was Brian Reid and Lyn Reid, who are the local doctors. They basically saw every constituent who ever lived in Millner and were a fantastic help. There was the Mu family - Marty, Victor, Paul and George - the local shop owners. I grew up with them, went to primary school and high school with them. They showed fantastic support under a lot of pressure to turn their back on me, but as true friends, they lifted, and I would like to say thank you. I would also finally say that they recently lost a family member, very close to their hearts, and my condolences go out to them. They are a very tight-knit family group and they run a family business. They are originally a Chinese family from East Timor, and they have made a success of coming to Australia and certainly to the Millner electorate, and have run that shop for the last 18 years. I thank all those workers. There are many, many more, but I am going to run out of time. So, thank you.
Mr ELFERINK (Macdonnell): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to raise a couple of issues, or specifically one issue, in relation to what the government has brought up in relation to ILUAs, Indigenous Land Use Agreements, during the course of debates today and debate the other day. I specifically pick up the comments by the member for Nhulunbuy, the Deputy Chief Minister, in relation to an invitation that he delivered to the opposition benches, that he invited the opposition to come along for the ride. I am grateful for the Deputy Chief Minister’s invitation in relation to this, because land issues are probably still one of the most fundamentally important issues which affect the people of the Northern Territory, all people of the Northern Territory. Indeed, it is actually land issues which have triggered most wars in history, and land issues continue to sit at the heart of the many, many problems in our community, not only in the Territory, but Australia as a whole.
I thank the Deputy Chief Minister for his invitation to contribute in the process of forming these ILUAs. However, I would estimate that our role would be - if he has anything to do with it - largely a spectator’s role. However, I would like to tell him, and advise the members of this House, that the opposition’s position will be in relation to this: let us see what you have got. The government has been elected and they have formed a government, so it is their privilege to proceed down the road that they have stated. They made it clear during the eighth parliamentary sittings in this Chamber that they would proceed along the lines of the ILUAs. So, they have certainly been to the people with these, and the people have responded.
However, before I can commit the opposition to any concrete position one way or the other, I have to say that there is not a great deal of detail in relation to the structure of these ILUAs and the framework agreements that they represent. Indeed, who will write the ILUAs, is the first question that springs to mind. How will they be constructed? How are we going to put these together? It is all well and good to ask the opposition to come along for the ride, but when you say you are going to go down this path, then you are going to have to clearly map it.
I see history in the Northern Territory - as well as in other places - as a largely economic issue, or I see it through largely economic goggles. One of my greatest fears and one of the things that I am least satisfied about is, that the more government tends to interfere in the management of anything, the less economically viable it seems to become. Indeed, I am quite convinced that crime would not pay if the government chose to run it.
What guarantee can the Minister for - I presume that this will come from the Lands, Planning and Environment portfolio of the Deputy ‘Chief Minister - what guarantees will we have as an opposition that these ILUAs will not stifle growth and will not stifle development for all Territorians? Those are the sorts of questions that need to be asked before we can commit to anything. Is government going to extinguish native title through this process? If so, who is going to pay the bill? Once again, we would like to know what the details of these agreements will be before we can commit ourselves to any formal position. What is the government proposing to do inside of town boundaries in relation to these ILUAs and through these framework agreements? Is the decision of the Attorney-General in relation to the Alcoota cattle station reflective of the government’s position in relation to how they are going to deal with land councils in particular, or is this a one-off by the Northern Territory government? How will the ILUAs be negotiated out, is another question that we on the opposition benches will be very concerned about.
Will the opposition have any input into the process at all? I have already stated that I have a suspicion that our role will be largely a spectator’s role. However, I would urge the government if they want us to come along on the ride, then they should make available to us some sort of input into the ILUA process. One last question I would like to raise at this point is: how are the ILUAs going to protect not only investments that are currently operating inside the Northern Territory, but what investments will come down in the future? I am, by no stretch of the imagination, saying they should not happen, but one of the things that I am nervous about in relation to these agreements is how it will affect investor confidence in the future. It is investor confidence in the Northern Territory which is going to provide jobs, be it in the towns themselves, on pastoral leases, or an inalienable freehold title. Without investor confidence in any of those areas, the jobs that the Deputy Chief Minister talked about - which will be the jobs taken up by people who have been trained and educated and have good health under their management - if those jobs are to be created then we have to have investor confidence. I would urge the Deputy Chief Minister to keep a mind to those particular issues while he goes about negotiating these outcomes.
I must say, on a personal note, that I have some sympathy with the Deputy Chief Minister’s position. As the member for Macdonnell, I have a large electorate in the bush and I am all too painfully aware of the shortcomings of service delivery in some of those areas. I am also painfully aware - and I have said this in the last parliamentary term so it is nothing new - of the poverty and lack of opportunities that many remote communities have. I have my own theories as to why that occurs and they do not always accord with the position that the current government has. Nevertheless, I am committed to keeping the channels of communication open between opposition and government, and basically what I am asking the government to do is to stand up and tell us what you have got. Be open, be thorough, and put the processes on the table so that all Territorians can have a look at them before any commitments are made on behalf of the body politic here in the Northern Territory.
So, I look forward to a response from the minister and possibly tomorrow morning during Ministerial Reports would be a good time to do so.
Ms LAWRIE (Karama): Mr Deputy Speaker, may I say what a pleasure it is to see you in the Chair there, sir. I rise to speak in this adjournment debate to commend the actions of a hardworking member of the Karama community. Karama is home to many of Darwin’s pensioners who have been very hard hit by the introduction of the conservative Howard government’s Goods and Services Tax, commonly called the GST. They have been insulted by pathetic attempts, meaningless in monetary terms, to make amends to our aged pensioners for the terrible impact the GST has had on their ability to meet their day-to-day needs.
One aged pensioner in the Karama community who has the spirit of a true Aussie battler is Eric Harris. Mr Harris, aged in his late 70s, dedicates his days to assisting other aged pensioners in need. He is a true advocate for his peers. Mr Harris first came to Darwin during World War II and was stationed at Adelaide River in 1942 and 1943 before being sent to mind prisoners of war in Victoria. A man to whom trends do not apply, Mr Harris returned to Darwin in 1989 to enjoy his retirement.
However, retirement to Mr Harris means simply he is no longer paid for the work that he does because each day, he works as a volunteer in one capacity or another. He has been an active member of the Alzheimer’s Support Group and an active member of the Carer’s Support Group. Volunteering is a way of life for Eric Harris. Mr Harris assists other tremendous peers of his to organise gatherings of our senior citizens at the Malak Community Centre on Thursdays and at Casuarina Square on Tuesdays. He is also a very happy and active participant of the Grandpa’s Woodshed, located out at the Red Cross premises at Casuarina, operating on Monday mornings.
This former TAA flight attendant certainly knows how to brighten up people’s lives. He is seen moving sprightly through our community with a smile on his face and ever ready with words of encouragement for the many people in Karama and Malak who have come to know him. Mr Harris is a man who keeps very busy with his community work. He visits aged Territorians in hospital and in our nursing homes, to brighten their sometimes otherwise very bleak days. He is a regular face at our local Karama Tavern, where he drops in for a quiet ale from time to time, to share tall but true tales with other friendly patrons of the tavern.
Mr Harris is a classic storyteller in the best sense of the word. He enjoys swapping yarns with people and thrives on the variety afforded by our multicultural life in Karama. He is a modest man who lives life modestly. Yet he is a man who, through his actions, is daily enriching the lives of many others. I commend the actions of citizens like Eric Harris, and in particular, the work undertaken on a daily basis by Mr Harris. I have pledged to work with such active members of my community, to enhance the lives of others.
Mr BALDWIN (Daly): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to follow on from Question Time today and put on the record the mishandling of a very important capital works project for Katherine. I am talking, of course, about a major drainage project that had been implemented by the former government, that came from very serious flooding that occurred, not only in the 1998 flood of Katherine, but again this year, in the wet season of 2000-01. It caused access problems for up to six weeks for over 1000 rural residents of Katherine. It also affected a number of businesses in the Zimin Drive area, which were seriously flooded last year again. It affected their business and, in fact, caused two of those businesses to move to other locations.
The previous government asked the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Works, to come up with a solution for the problems occurring in the flooded area of what is known as Hickey’s Farm in the rural area of Katherine. The solution that was provided to government at the time, was a total solution, engineered - as it would be - that included a major component of the works that would be a drain - and a substantial drain - that would go from Hickey’s Farm across Zimin Drive through a private property which was acquired by the government some months ago, prior to the tender being put out for expressions. The other component, of course, was the raising of Florina Road in a couple of areas. That proposal was accepted by government, on the advice of those departments, and included private engineers being asked to conduct work and give advice as well, particularly on the type of rock structure and the flooding aspects of that particular area.
The government at the time negotiated with the Katherine Town Council for their input into this overall project, the roads being of concern and of responsibility to the council. They committed some $565 000 to the project, given that the whole project would go ahead. Government, during its budget deliberations, committed up to $1.5m to that project, cashed up within the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, for that project to proceed with a scheduled date for completion by the end of this year, to give certainty and access to Katherine rural residents, and keeping in mind that this was a totally engineered solution that had to have both components.
The contract was put out to tender prior to the election, and a successful, or the lowest tenderer, ended up being a local firm in Katherine that is renowned for its work. But the disappointing aspect was that that tender was not let for some time - there were negotiations going on - prior to that because of concerns by local residents, including businesses, rural residents and the council. I wrote to the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, who I thank for the prompt reply. I asked: would this project be going ahead as per schedule - and that is the previous government’s schedule. He informed me that it was. It just so happened that at the same time the Katherine Town Council, members and officers, were meeting with the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development, who informed them that the project would not be proceeding in its totality and, in fact, only the roads component, the minor component, would proceed prior to Christmas. So, all very confusing, a lot of confusion between ministers, and one that was of great concern, not only to the contractor who thought he had the job, but of concern to all of the rural residents affected in this area.
The final outcome is that the tender has been let. But in the meantime, just prior to that, I notice that the Chief Minister made some comments on this particular project to the Katherine Times, where she expressed some doubts about the validity of the second stage of the project:
‘New information has been presented by the Department of Transport and Works that seriously
questions the reasoning for the earlier proposal to drain Hickey’s Lake’, Ms Martin said.
That was in the paper today, so I assume they were comments made by her earlier this week, whilst visiting Katherine. So she too was confused, because, obviously, there was no new information being presented, if they, in fact, did let the tender just yesterday - if I am correct - on the 15th. So, a lot of confusion over this particular project, one that has affected people. But the final outcome, even though the entire project will go ahead, the unfortunate part for Katherine residents is that the minor roads component will be completed, I am led to believe, by Christmas time. The major component, the 1.2 km by 40 m wide drain from Hickey’s Farm, through Zimin Drive to Katherine River, will not be started until next dry season - even though, if started now, the contractor gave an undertaking that they could complete this project by Christmas time.
So, there is no believable reason why the whole project could not proceed as per the original schedule, as per the commitment given to me by the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment. I just wonder what is really going on with this capital works program, when this one was a fully cashed-up capital works program that was let prior to the election. It has been won at under cost, under the budgeted amount. There were contributions of $0.5m or thereabouts - a bit over- from Katherine Town Council, less than the $1.5m attributed by the previous government to this project. Now the project has been stretched out to not be completed until some time next year.
The more interesting part of this proposal, and something which Territory businesses should be very aware of, and something that I will take time to point out to you, is that even though the contractor has been instructed not to proceed with the drain until May next year, they have been told that they will not be paid for that component - which is somewhere in the order of $1m worth of work - until some time in the following financial year. At a time when they should be bringing all the capital works forward, we have a government that is not only stretching out the capital works program, but they are doing it on the never-never. It is like, ‘Do the work now and we will pay you later’, that kind of regime. Territory businesses should be aware that this is a new era in payment by this government, and that the private sector is going to be expected to pick up the cash flow problems that this government is supposedly putting in place because of some apparent black hole.
It is of grave concern to me, firstly, that this project will not be completed by the time the rain has set in this wet season, and over 1000 rural residents could have been given security of access for their access through to Katherine township along the Florina Road and Zimin Drive. The project could have been completed in time. It has been drawn back by this government, the Labor government. It has been stretched out and, more importantly, the contractors will have to rearrange their whole program.
The other point is that this will now cost more, obviously, because you have to have rise and fall, you have to have new set-up costs. The material that was going to be taken out of the drain was going to be used to heighten the road at the two places on Florina Road - that will now have to be brought in. So there will be variation of costs, and the overall cost will go up. But from the contractors’ point of view, I feel very sorry for them because they have put in place a price today, at today’s prices, and they will not be expected to be paid - in fact have been told they will not be paid - for the major component of these works until the following financial year. I hope for their sake they have a good rise and fall in that contract price.
Territory businesses should be very aware that this may be the new era of a new payment regime by this government, to assist them in some fabricated cash flow program. The ones that miss out are obviously local business, but more importantly, the local Katherine residents, rural residents who have been guaranteed better access by the onset of the wet season this year.
Just in the remaining few minutes, I pass on my sincere condolences to Ray Wooldridge and his family of Pine Creek on the recent passing of Ray’s wife, Rae. Rae was a long-term resident of Pine Creek who contributed both to the social and the economic fabric of Pine Creek. It has been a sad loss to Pine Creek residents who have all rallied together, I am glad to say, and have given a lot of support and contributed in many forms - including financial - to Mr Wooldridge, with the position he finds himself in with the passing of his wife. Ray Wooldridge is the President of the Pine Creek Community Government Council, and he obviously is going through a very difficult time. It is very good to be able to see that the community has rallied with fundraisers and a lot of local support for him and his family. I am sure members of this House join with me in passing on their condolences on the passing of Rae.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms MARTIN (Fannie Bay): Mr Deputy Speaker, one of the great things about being in this House is that I represent the people of Fannie Bay, and it was with much delight that I was returned on 18 August. For someone who started out in 1995 with the majority of 69 votes, it is very satisfying to know that that majority has grown, and the Fannie Bay majority is now a much more comfortable one - 69 was a very uncomfortable one in 1995.
There are many thanks that I need to give for that election win in Fannie Bay, and certainly the first one goes to my then electorate officer, Alf Leonardi, who really has worked tirelessly for many years - and has been very well adopted by the people of Fannie Bay. They will be very sad now that he has been sucked back here into Parliament House. But Alf has been a great trouper, and I am very thankful to him for the work he did as my electorate officer.
There are also many people who need to be thanked specifically over the lead-up to the election campaign. One absolutely tireless worker, Ken Hill, is just legend in his work in the office, both working in an electorate and a political sense. I would like to thank Kevin Leahy; Joe Tilbrook; Dale Bishmo; Pat Salter; Betty and Kevin Gould; Cathy Macdonald who’s devotion to the cause is just awesome; Lucio Matarazzo; Barbara James; Sally Matthews; Greg Strettles; Jeff and Steve; James McEwan - and I would certainly like to place on my record the hard work that Chris Bond did. Chris stood for the seat of Port Darwin and worked very hard and really made a difference in terms of some of the issues that were raised about Port Darwin. My sympathies to Chris, that she worked so hard but was not successful.
I would also like to thank my local branch, the Dick Ward Branch of the Labor Party, for their hard work and support. Many posters were put up around the electorate of Fannie Bay and I thank all those who put them up, all those whose fences they hung on - because it does make a difference - all those who delivered the leaflets, did all the stuffing and the folding, the endless stuffing and folding. It all made a difference in how we ran the campaign in Fannie Bay. Particularly for me since I was leader, I could not spend as much time being involved in the campaign, logically, as I had the previous election. To all those who worked and took on the mantle during that time, I am very grateful.
I thank all those who handed out on election day. It certainly makes a difference when you get a lot of support on the actual day. I thank all the businesses in the local area and the individuals who offered support to the campaign, both in kind and in dollars. It all made an enormous difference.
As I said, I love being the member for Fannie Bay - it is a great electorate. I certainly, over the last four years, regularly doorknocked. I would not miss doorknocking, it is the best part of any political life, even though the Deputy Speaker in his first speech this morning talked about all the dogs and the horses and the rest of it. In Fannie Bay the only real problem is dogs, although I have been to one door that said, ‘Beware the Cat’ and it was true - the cat leapt out as I came through. It is the only cat I have ever found that actually lived up to the reputation of the tag on the gate. But there are lots of dogs in Fannie Bay, and it is a bit daunting at times.
To be able to doorknock is a real privilege because you are very welcome at people’s doors. They are very generous with their time. They honestly tell you what they think about the Territory, about the policies in place, about the issues and concerns they have. And they do that from their lounge room or from their front door, and if you are lucky, they will do it with a beer – and if you are not so lucky, with a glass of water. But really, doorknocking is a great privilege and I really enjoy doing it, and I will continue to doorknock. I know that it is going to be a bit more of a balance of time now, but you cannot effectively work as a politician in the Northern Territory unless you doorknock, and certainly this Chief Minister will be doorknocking.
There are many issues for Fannie Bay and certainly ones, now that we have had the privilege of being elected to government, I am very hopeful we will have a lot more action on. Where those problems are solvable, we will solve them.
Land use objectives were promised four years ago for the southern suburbs and, until the election, we were still waiting. I can assure the people of Fannie Bay that those land use objectives will be progressed shortly - and that all the issues about the future of the area, about what is appropriate for areas that are now being freed up by a change in land use – and the community will be taking part in the decisions for the future. I know that residents’ groups, individuals, are very concerned about the future of the area and I can give an assurance that they will be involved, and that that very important land use process will be started again.
Residents of Housing Commission complexes, your future, and how we manage your complexes, we are dealing with now. Where a complex needs a caretaker we will be putting a caretaker in, and with an issue with an area like Kurringal, we will be talking to all the residents there about the future of the complex rather than saying, as we saw from the previous government: ‘Don’t you worry about that, we’ll deal with it’. It is a very important issue if you live at Kurringal, what happens in the future, and that is one that we will be addressing shortly with the community at Kurringal.
Antisocial behaviour is another major problem for the electorate of Fannie Bay and again, this government recognises it as a major problem. We will not either ignore the problem or make the stomping and monstering comments we have seen in the past. What we will do is find solutions. I am not pretending that there are easy solutions to the quite complex problems of antisocial behaviour but this government is committed to finding them. We will work hard to at least make sure that the level of antisocial behaviour that is currently at play in Darwin and other centres around the community - I should not use the words at play, but the level of antisocial behaviour that is taking place - that we can at least reduce it and find some sensible solutions to the problems that can be solved. We will be doing this in conjunction with the major Aboriginal organisations, and will be doing this in conjunction with the major organisations, the NGOs and others, that work with people who are itinerant.
There has been, very sadly, many break-ins in the area of Fannie Bay recently. I say to the residents, our six point plan, now that we are moving to repeal mandatory sentencing, will be much more effective in dealing with the problems of property crime, particularly in dealing with those whose houses have been trashed, or businesses trashed, and particularly in focussing on the victim and focussing on the problem on the street as it is. We will have a multi-faceted approach to dealing with property crime and it simply will not be the stump that we saw in the mandatory sentencing.
There are lots of other issues to deal with in Fannie Bay, many of them involve traffic. We are having some solutions found to the intersection of Dick Ward Drive and Ross Smith Avenue, which is a key issue. We will be having a much more cooperative approach with local government as a government, and I am sure that many of the solutions that need to be found by cooperating with the two tiers of government will be found now that there is a better cooperative arrangement.
One of the things I am proud of in the six years that I have been member for Fannie Bay is that the newsletters have turned up every quarter, and they will continue to turn up, because in terms of keeping the electorate across the issues that are affecting an electorate - and that might be anything from traffic to planning, to issues of impact on business and legislation, or the achievements of individuals in the electorate - they will still continue.
The demands over the last 53 days have meant that I have spent less time at my electorate office, but I spend Saturday mornings there, and it is a very busy morning with constituent appointments. Once things settle down from the point of view of Chief Minister and mini-budgets, hopefully I will be there more often, and certainly at least one afternoon a week as well as Saturday morning. I would not miss Saturday morning anyway. Parap Markets are, with my biased hat on, the best markets in the Territory and Saturday mornings there are terrific.
Another issue for Fannie Bay is getting a skate park around the Parap pool area. I assure young Joel Hill and all the lobbyists from the skate park team that we are working to get a solution. Once we can get the recreational uses policy from local government, which is being worked on through the Darwin City Council, then we will certainly have a facility of one kind or another in the Parap pool area, because we really have some enthusiastic young skaters. There are BMX riders, there are inline skaters and skateboarders, and certainly I would say that a facility in the Parap area is very justified. They have been great lobbyists, they have really pursued the issue and it is my job now as member for Fannie Bay and Chief Minister to deliver on that one.
But I am delighted to be the member for Fannie Bay, I am delighted to be returned, I am delighted to have the confidence of a greater majority of my electorate. I say to my electorate that being Chief Minister is a tough job that consumes the hour but closest to my heart is my electorate.
Dr LIM (Greatorex): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise tonight to make a few comments about the level of some services in Alice Springs. Nearly three weeks ago it was brought to my attention by people in the real estate and construction industries and their concerns were in relation to the issue of certificates of occupancy for dwellings. It appeared that two days before a public servant was due to go on his leave entitlement, he sent a fax around the community advising that there would be nobody in the department to issue certificates of occupancy for a period of three weeks, commencing 1 October. I understand that it stopped on the Friday prior.
I think that is outrageous when we have a bustling, busy community with houses being traded on a regular basis. In fact, some of the buildings are Territory Housing properties, dwellings that are pre-1993. These buildings were all given certificates of building by the Northern Territory government. Consequently, any Certificate of Occupancy would have to be issued by the department, by the government, and not by any private certifiers, which we have today.
Because of the failure to replace this public servant for a period of three weeks, all projects in Alice Springs, at least to dwellings that were pre-1993, were all put on hold. That is unacceptable in a town like Alice Springs where you are talking about multimillion dollar projects. That is a hold-up to industry, to business, and is not acceptable at all. I made a noise about it but nobody did anything; the government did not care.
Let me explain a little. If you had a building that was issued with a building certificate prior to 1993 - which was done by the government prior to private certification - then a person proceeded to build. When the building was completed, before anybody could occupy the building, you had to have a Certificate of Occupancy. Today, with private certifiers, these certifiers can actually go in there and check out the whole building, and once the certifier is happy that the building is safe, he or she makes a recommendation to the government - tells the government: ‘This pre-1993 building is actually safe for occupancy now, please issue the certificate’. The private certifier is not allowed to issue the certificate. If the building was to start today then that building certificate would be issued by the private certifier and, on completion, that private certifier can issue the Certificate of Occupancy. Do you follow?
What has happened is that in this last 2 weeks or so, nothing has happened. A project worth $2.5m was sent up to Darwin by a private certifier because there was nobody in Alice Springs. To this day, he has not had one response about what has happened with his project, $2.5m-worth. Now, the holding cost of that project is $330 per day. The developer who owns that project has to pay interest of $330 per day on the money that he has borrowed to complete his project, and there is nothing he can do about it. The private certifier who had done all the work has not heard one peep from anybody about what has happened with the project. Now he has another $20m-worth of project sitting on his desk at the moment, and he is not prepared to send it up to Darwin because he does not know what will happen to it. If he does not get an acknowledgement of his $2.5m project, what is going to happen to the $20m project that comes up? It may be held up for ever, nobody knows.
Somehow, you have get business moving. You have to get somebody to issue the Certificate of Occupancy. I know that this man is going to come back from his holidays on Monday. But what is going to happen? He is going to be loaded down with three weeks of work from three private certifiers in Alice Springs, so how long is it going to take for him to go through the projects? From one private certifier alone there is $22.5m-worth of projects on hold. I do not see any right of any government to put that sort of project on hold, of private people’s money. Is the government going to pay compensation to that certifier who is not making any money because of this lack of management of the department? Is the government going to pay compensation to the developer who is paying $330 a week on interest payments for the $2.5m project? And what about the other $20m-worth of projects they have put on hold? What is going to happen? They are just going to ignore it. You can ignore it, obviously the minister for transport…
Mr Ah Kit: You said $330 a day and now you are saying a week! I cannot work out what you are on about.
Dr LIM: I said $330 per day. Sorry, I withdraw, I made a mistake.
Mr Ah Kit: Okay, I am helping you. Stand corrected.
Dr LIM: $330 a day. So there is substantial amount of money being lost by people in Alice Springs. Is the minister going to tell the department, ‘Let us compensate these people’? Alice Springs businesses do survive on real estate transfers and transactions and a Certificate of Occupancy is essential. Territory Housing sells its old excess stock. That also requires a Certificates of Occupancy. The minister who is responsible for both is not doing anything about it. I think he needs to answer why he is not doing it.
Let me tell you a single incident about a man who lost his job with Ansett recently. He then applied for a job with Qantas and got the job. Allelujah! When he turns round to sell his house, he could not get a Certificate of Occupancy, could he? Consequently, his job with Qantas fell over. That is not because he did not try; it is because nothing is happening. It is an indication of this government in paralysis - No direction …
Mr Vatskalis: Why didn’t he get his job?
Dr LIM: Why can’t he get a job? He got his job with Qantas, but he cannot go to his job because he cannot sell his house in Alice Springs, and so he had to let his job go. Now, that is not fair; not fair to every average citizen in the Territory. If you want to sell a house, you should be allowed to do that. If he cannot sell a house because of market pressures, it is different. But if it is because the minister is not doing his work, if the government is not keeping an eye on the ball, and things are not happening, that is wrong. Now, are you going compensate this man for loss of his job? Think about it. Morally, I think you are obliged to compensate him for his loss of job. Morally, I think you are obliged to compensate the private certifier for loss of income. Morally, I think you are obliged to compensate the developer for $330 a day. I think you should do something. Do not twiddle your thumbs, mate, do something about it. Alice Springs needs activity and we cannot afford to have Labor government paralysis impacting on our economy. It is hard enough to do business in this environment without government putting hurdles in front of everybody. It is not acceptable and I say to the minister it is important that he addresses the issue as quickly as he can.
Mr Ah Kit: Have you put it in writing?
Mr Vatzkalis: Give us the facts and I will sort it out. That’s a commitment.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Arnhem.
Dr Lim: Well, in response to the minister if I may …
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I have called the member for Arnhem.
Mr AH KIT (Arnhem): Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to comment tonight on a dear friend that I lost just recently. We grew up and spent many good days of our lives together and many of those were very enjoyable. His name was Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter. Thank you for the opportunity to record my feelings of loss after the passing of a close friend and wonderful Territorian, Mr Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter.
Puggy Hunter was one of these blokes about whom you commonly hear the phrase: ‘What a bloke!’ What fond memories of a good mate and a Parap Camp brother. Puggy was born in the old Darwin Hospital in 1951. From the days when we were kids, we did it all - the making of shanghais, steam rollers, playing marbles and the Parap Camp Caledonian Pipe Band. For those of you who do not know what that was, let me give you a brief explanation.
Parap Camp kids were no different from the rest of the kids in Darwin and we were always overawed when we had a couple of opportunities a year to witness the Darwin Caledonian Pipe Band. This inspired us to imitate them at Parap Camp. So, without the knowledge of our parents, us young lads - Harold Bennett, Cedric Suradi, Bobby Shields, Phillip Quall, Jap Adams, Bernie Devine and Puggy included, to name a few - would round up a stray cat each in the neighbourhood, grab a piece of old cloth and assemble the band with the band leader out front with a copper stick ready to twirl.
Once the signal was given, the band would try to march off in unison with each member holding the cat’s head, placed firmly under the armpit, the cloth on the tail, the tail in the mouth, and the fingers on the back two legs in a flute-like manner. Close your eyes for a moment, can you image it? What a bunch of rat bags we were! Somehow, the cats were never amused when it came time to play that game again.
I could tell you more. For example, hand fishing at Gurrio’s Fish Trap down Dinah Beach where, if Gurrio was a little late, we would help ourselves to the bigger fish caught in the trap. Or times when we played with the Buffalo Colts Under 16s, and the games of marbles that went on because our side was so strong the ball never came in to the back line and the back line players, led by Puggy, would draw up a ring and start to play marbles. I share this yarn with people because I know that is what he would have wanted. As people have witnessed, Puggy had a great sense of humour.
We grew older and went our separate ways, but as the friendships of Parap Camp days dictated, we always kept in touch with each other over the years. In 1977, I moved to Adelaide to study. It was good to catch up with Puggy, not only to renew old acquaintances but to forge closer ties that was akin to a battery recharging. On leaving Adelaide at the end of 1978, I had noticed a desire sparked within Puggy, a desire to get involved with his struggle. Soon after, he also took studies at the Institute of Technology at what was known as the Aboriginal Task Force. I think this time marked the launching pad for him to become more heavily involved.
His contribution to the field of indigenous health policy went to another level in 1991 when Puggy was elected the inaugural Chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. His work was always fuelled by his empathy with people at the grassroots. This ability meant he combined smart national politics and lobbying with community level outcomes and concerns. Puggy’s special abilities and extraordinary contribution were recognised in the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate. Puggy was dedicated to his people’s struggle to improve health standards of all Aboriginal and Islander peoples. He worked unceasingly for the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, also known as NACHO, even through his days of poor health right up until his untimely passing.
We all received at one point after his passing, that dreaded phone call. I, like everyone one else, was shocked to hear the bad news. But I can tell you that two weeks earlier I was happy to talk to him by phone at his sister Donna’s place, when he was passing through Darwin. I asked him to call around on the way to the airport and I gave him my last two magpie geese for his 50th birthday and said that I may not be able to make it across to Broome because of our election. We hugged each other and then said goodbye. In actual fact, my wife, Val, took a photo of us which I will always treasure. Puggy’s parting words were: ‘Val, you are allowed to visit us in Broome, you know. We have coconut trees there for you to play on while Jack and I talk business. And brother, you look after yourself. I am worried about your health’. That is typical of him. Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter, what a bloke.
To his family, Blondie, Emily, Renee, Troy and Amber, and to Auntie Dora, Deborah, Donna, Natalie, Kimberley, Brendan and Jason, on behalf of everyone who knew Puggy, I express our deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to you.
I wanted to respond to what I heard the member for Daly talking about in regards to Zimin Drive. I will only do it just briefly, because I will get a copy of Hansard, no doubt, and I will pick up many of what I believe are incorrect statements made by him in regards to Zimin Drive in Katherine.
The facts, as I understand them at this stage, surrounding the capital works being proposed for the flood mitigation measure on Florina Road and Zimin Drive: these areas were closed following heavy rains in January 2001. These heavy rains contributed to the rising of groundwater and the subsequent formation of a lake on the adjoining Hickey property. Florina Road was closed for some months and the Katherine Town Council had constructed a temporary bypass to enable residents to access the road beyond the flooded section. This was only a short-term response.
In February 2001, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment engaged consultants to investigate flood mitigation options. The Department of Transport and Works contributed to this investigation. After examination, the longer-term solution involves the raising of Florina Road. Roadworks were included in the presented advice to reduce any period of closure for Florina Road and Zimin Drive in the event of future flooding of the local area. The Procurement Review Board approved the awarding of a contract on 11 October 2001. Downes Graderways have been awarded a Northern Territory government contract of which $276 206 is for roadworks.
I also acknowledge the support and contribution of the Katherine Town Council. Mayor Jim Forscutt has made an immediate additional commitment of $200 000 towards the cost of the roadworks. I thank the Mayor and his council for their support on this initiative. It is important that the roadworks be completed before the looming Wet, to ensure residents are not isolated as they have been during previous wet seasons. Accordingly, it is my understanding that the roadworks component of the project will commence next week. I am happy to affirm that the Labor government is prepared to be fiscally responsible, open and willing to cooperate with local community interests, and local governments. I thank my colleague, the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Hon Kon Vatskalis, for his support and prompt consideration of the complex issues involved in making this decision.
I also take this occasion to correct the view that these works constitute full flood mitigation for the local area. The fact is, it does not. These roadworks offer the best response from those presented by the respective departments. It is always important to note that our circumstances dictate a responsible government will take these into account. I am concerned about comment from the member for Daly, when he claims, in the recent Katherine Times article, that this project represents a total solution. Wrong again. No government can predict the future. We just have to look at the impact of the Katherine floods. The member for Daly is hardly in a position to make claims about total solutions. Such comments can be misconstrued and may offer false hope by overstating their true intent. The contract has been let and the work will start. Raising Florina Road will ensure residents have access to their properties. So, I am happy to assure residents of Katherine that roadworks will begin next week, before this year’s Wet sets in.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016