2009-06-09
Madam Speaker Aagaard took the Chair at 10 am.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received a letter from the member for Arafura, Ms Scrymgour, indicating she has resigned from the parliamentary Labor party and will be sitting as an Independent in the Legislative Assembly.
I table the letter.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I take this opportunity to congratulate the members for Greatorex and Brennan on the recent births of their sons on the same day: Harvey Conlan and Harrison Chandler. On behalf of honourable members I extend very warm congratulations.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is with real sadness today that we note the passing of two great Territorians, Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum and Brother Rexford John Pye OAM.
Please be advised I have given permission to both the ABC and Channel 9 to film the debates this morning, and the Northern Territory News to take photographs.
After the completion of the first debate there will be a very short suspension of the Assembly in order for members to have the opportunity to speak to family and friends of Mr Tungutalum.
At the end of the condolence motion for Brother Pye, refreshments will be available in the main hall for members and guests.
I also advise that some of our guests from the Tiwi Islands will perform a dance in honour of Mr Tungutalum and Brother Pye during the refreshments.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is with deep regret that I advise of the death, on 7 April 2009, of Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum, member for Tiwi from 1974 until 1977; the first Indigenous member of the Legislative Assembly and a Cultural Leader of his people.
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of family of Mr Tungutalum, in particular his widow, Mrs Natalie Tungutalum, Richard Tungutalum, Leslie Tungutalum, Valentina Tungutalum, Lana Tungutalum, Bede Tungutalum, Leonard Tungutalum, and other members of the extended family.
I also acknowledge the presence of the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council, Mr Robert Tipungwuti, and former members who served with Mr Tungutalum in this Assembly: the Honourable Grant Tambling and Ms Noel Padgham.
On behalf on honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I also acknowledge Mr Rick Setter, the former member for Jingili. On behalf of honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister) (by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that this Assembly:
In the past year we have marked in this place the passing of a number of people who have made important contributions to the political and constitutional history of the Northern Territory. In that regard, the late Mr Tungutalum is unique in our history as the first Aboriginal member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
He served in the first elected Assembly from 1974 to 1977 in the lead-up to self-government in 1978. As a representative of that Assembly, Mr Tungutalum served time at the end of an old era and at the cusp of a new one. His election as the member for Tiwi signalled new beginnings, breaking new ground for Aboriginal people in parliamentary politics in the Northern Territory. We were all reminded of this at the beginning of the Tenth Assembly which saw the election of a record number of Aboriginal members of parliament.
Mr Tungutalum attended that opening and it was great to see him with our then Administrator, Ted Egan, singing a song together in the Tiwi language. It was a scene that could only happen in the Northern Territory.
Mr Tungutalum was born on Bathurst Island in August 1946. It was very much the time of the mission, but also a time in which the Territory was barely recovering from World War II. Darwin had been bombed, but Bathurst Island Mission had not escaped unscathed. Mr Tungutalum always had a great respect for the missionaries of this time, but was also brought up inside Tiwi traditions. From the age of 14 his father raised him, as he described it: ‘Tiwi way through dance and song’. It was a tradition he carried on in later life as he rose to ceremonial seniority on the islands.
In his late teens, he came to the mainland and undertook training and some work with the Army as a driver. It was during this time that he also played with the Tiwi people’s home away from home - and also my football club - St Mary’s Football Club. He also played in interstate matches in Western Australia and South Australia in the mid-1960s; by all accounts he was a fast runner with a distinctive high marking style. He was later elected a life member of St Mary’s and the NTFL. In later years, he was to be captain/coach of his Irrimaru Bulldogs, as well as a member of the Tiwi Island Football League committee.
In an echo of things to come, Mr Tungutalum also worked for a time in the library at the old Legislative Council, where he witnessed the workings of the Territory’s nascent democracy in action, and remembered debates between Dick Ward, Tiger Brennan and Bernie Kilgariff. Much later he was to say he never dreamed he would ever be part of this.
He returned to the island as a teacher at St Xavier’s College and became involved in local politics with the Community Council on Bathurst Island. His involvement in politics gradually expanded. He was a member, from 1973, of the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee, the first Australia-wide Indigenous body with a formal role in advising government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. At the same time, he was a member of the advisory group to the Aboriginal Secondary Grant Scheme, for which he was well qualified as a teacher at St Xavier’s at Nguiu.
He had an abiding commitment to education for his people. He would have a long role with the executive of the Tiwi Land Council, of which he was a founding member. There was a sense in which, as he acknowledged himself many years later, he was an accidental member of the Legislative Assembly, having been invited to run for the CLP by Harry Giese. As he said in this House:
I guess both sides of politics can only wonder what might have happened if the ALP had approached Mr Tungutalum at this time. Nevertheless, it is the case that his experience in the Assembly inspired others to achieve what he did - mostly from this side of politics. In the end, the political life was not for Mr Tungutalum. Since that time he enjoyed a long career as a member of the Tiwi Land Council, as well as being active in sports administration, including Chairman of the Tiwi Football League.
His time in Territory politics was brief; he was testing new ground and finding new paths in the first days of representative democracy in the north. It must have been a huge commitment for Mr Tungutalum to actually accept the offer of Harry Giese to run for parliament. It must have been an extraordinary honour for Mr Tungutalum to be walking in and taking his seat as a member of parliament for the seat of Tiwi, knowing that he was the first Aboriginal person in the history of Australian democracy to take a seat in a parliament. It was an extraordinary achievement, and an achievement that blazed the trail for so many of our Indigenous members who are not only sitting in this parliament today, but in parliaments that have preceded this.
The contribution this man has made to the people of the Northern Territory is immense. He will long be remembered for the role he played then, as well as in public life since that time.
Madam Speaker, my condolences to his wife, Natalie, and sons, David, Richard, and Leslie, and all Mr Tungutalum’s extended family and his many friends on the Tiwi Islands and throughout the Northern Territory.
May he rest in peace.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I pay my respects to Hyacinth’s family on his passing.
On reflection, the only times I met Hyacinth Tungutalum - and there were a number of meetings - was always at an Australian Rules football match. We always exchanged pleasantries - I, the younger man, paying my respects to an older man. His twinkling, cheeky eyes and happy banter roused a real interest in this man, and every meeting had me looking forward to the next meeting. Much more than a fellow politician elected as a member of the Country Liberal Party, to me, Hyacinth was a history maker, the first full blood Aboriginal person elected to an Australian parliament, and elected to the first fully-elected Legislative Assembly in the Northern Territory.
In addition to a shared political experience, we experienced a similar form of Catholic education, and in the words of Hyacinth he summarised it as: ‘Serve the Lord and play Aussie Rules’, though the nuns of my primary education did not inspire us, or me, to the heights on the field that the Brothers inspired Hyacinth and his peers. Although it would be very unfair of me to blame the nuns for my lack of prowess; unlike my coach, the Brothers had extraordinary talent to work with in Hyacinth.
I looked to this man to teach me, to give me a clue about adding to the great project of bringing closer the aspirations and achievements of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, to build bridges rather than road blocks, to provide hope rather than despair. In our brief exchanges I probed, hoping for some clues on how we could better do this.
I have read his words spoken in the Territory parliament over 30 years ago. He said it again and again, and the Hansard record stands: get the kids to school, get a good education, and at the end, a real job. He knew that the best form of welfare is a real job. It is very sad, today, this great challenge remains largely unmet. As we reflect on his story and his contribution to the Northern Territory, we must not rest until progress is made.
What did Hyacinth teach me as politician? He taught me that relationship has much greater power than ideology; that, through friendship, difference disappears. This was demonstrated by accepting an invitation to enter parliament because he was asked, and asked by a friend he respected. He admitted that either side could have asked him. He accepted the invitation from the Country Liberal Party because he respected the man who asked him, Harry Giese.
His answer to a question posed by a journalist in 1974 concerning the possibility of widespread violence between Aboriginal and white Australians shows Hyacinth’s belief was the content of a man’s character, not the colour of his skin, which is important. In response to a question which was large on the landscape in 1974, he told the journalist: ‘I think white Aboriginal conflicts are on a personal basis. If I do not like you, I do not talk to you; and the same goes if you do not like me, I suppose’.
Our conversations at the football, his twinkling eyes and ready jokes, showed me a man who worked very hard to bridge the gap between people of different cultures. With what I have learned, I can now see even more clearly the great courage of Tungutalum. Any parliament, in a world of strange customs and unusual cultures, challenges Australians of even European heritage, how much more a traditional Aboriginal man? It is believed that a parliament is a place to resolve difficult business to benefit others. It is true that Hyacinth found the adversarial nature of parliamentary politics uncomfortable. I am sure he was left wondering if the strange world of parliamentary politics was actually capable of achieving what he wanted - an education for kids and a meaningful job at the end.
I recognise, and I believe we all recognise, in looking at this man, the leadership and the courage of a man who stepped up to the mark when called upon, a man who served as a teacher, a community leader, a sports administrator and loyal friend. When the pressures of life can force us to blend in, Hyacinth resisted and he stood out. He has left a bold footprint in the sand of Territory history.
May he rest from his labours. I guess he is playing football right now. May he rest in peace.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I speak in support of the Chief Minister’s motion to acknowledge the contribution of my Yuwuni.
One of the most important stages of my social and political education was an experience in the early 1990s when I was acting as secretary and facilitator for meetings of senior Tiwi men who made up the Nguiu Council. My memories of those meetings include both the witty and good humoured banter, and the responsible and articulate character of the debate on important community issues. These were well educated and articulate men who felt entirely comfortable with operating effectively in the decision-making environment where they were interacting with their peers. My role as a moderator and advisor was respected and utilised but there was never any question they were in control, and I always took great care not to step above my station. I had great respect and affection for all my councillors but, as in any decision-making group, there are always stand-outs.
Yuwuni - and I have sought and obtained permission to refer to him in this way - was one of a number of councillors who achieved success and acclaim on the mainland for football prowess. He had won the respect of his people, and the Northern Territory population generally, for being the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in the 1970s.
His occasional nickname - his family, other councillors and everyone who knew him, did not call him Hyacinth on the Tiwi Islands - he was known as Government. Having been exposed to the solemn and complicated rituals of the Westminster system of parliamentary debate, arguing his case in Nguiu Council meetings was child’s play for Hyacinth. He would always say his piece forcefully and with a considerable degree of fluency and authority. There are other councillors who were no slouches in that department either; and there are many present listening to this debate.
He did not always have everything his own way. However, what always impressed me at the time, and strikes me as even more significant now, was the complete conviction and enjoyment that he and his fellow councillors had in the full ownership of any process. The councillors performed with at least the same degree of care and diligence as any equivalent non-Aboriginal local government council. There is little doubt in my mind that all the councillors shared common status as Tiwi elders and this contributed to their capacity and their effectiveness.
How different it must have been for Hyacinth to walk into the old Legislative Assembly building in Darwin for the first time. It was hard enough for me to commence that task in 2001, even though the intervening years had seen the election of a succession of Aboriginal MLAs to the parliament.
Consider the historical time frame: his milestone achievements were the result of winning his seat of Tiwi on 19 October 1974 in the Legislative Assembly election. Other members elected included Rupert Kentish for Arnhem; Ian Tuxworth for Barkly; Nicholas Dondas for Casuarina; and I acknowledge Grant Tambling, who is in the Chamber, for Fannie Bay; Paul Everingham for Jingili; the current member for Karama’s mother in Nightcliff, Dawn Lawrie; Marshall Perron in Stuart Park; and Goff Letts in Victoria River - a lot of history.
All the people I have named were accomplished speakers and well versed in the culture and protocol of parliamentary warfare. It is not at all surprising, and reflects no failure on his part, when you go through the Hansard contributions to parliamentary debate over the next few years that they were modest in comparison with those famous Territory politicians with whom he was thrust.
He was a very proud CLP representative and his politics could not be further away from my own. However, in reading through his speeches and questions over his term, I can see how his confidence developed over time, and how he tried to focus the attention of the House on issues affecting Aboriginal people, in particular, Tiwi people. I respectfully acknowledge his critical importance as a trailblazer in that regard.
His first session of parliament commenced on 20 November 1974. If all of us in this parliament think about how important and significant that date was, his was pre-Cyclone Tracy Darwin we are thinking of here. We are casting our minds back to a man asking his very first question on the floor of the Legislative Assembly; I remember the phone calls from people on the island worried and ringing my mother wanting us out of town and back to the island. His first question in the Legislative Assembly on the 21st was to ask Dr Letts: ‘Will the Assembly be kept informed about the planning of the Wet Season arrangements for the Territory?’ And Dr Goff Letts went through what those arrangements were. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin causing death and destruction. My family was lucky in our simple, single storey Housing Commission home which withstood the onslaught, but my closest friend, and someone I regarded as my family, was crippled and spent the rest of her life, until she died, in a wheelchair. Like all other Darwin residents of the time, I will never forget the horror of Christmas 1974.
The Legislative Assembly reconvened at the beginning of January 1975 and I can only imagine what it must have been like for members to regroup and try to recreate, with some semblance of stability, business-as-usual amidst the ruins of a city which had nearly been wiped off the face of the map; and at a time when there were serious doubts about whether Darwin would, or should, be rebuilt at all. He continued his quest as a member representing his people, and there were questions put to ministers at that time about what would be that process officially.
On 13 February 1975, he made his first speech in parliament. It was brief but reflected his concerns not only for Aboriginal people in Darwin, or his own people on the Tiwi Islands, but his concern for other Aboriginal Territorians living outside Darwin.
His next speech, on 24 April 1975, was about an issue which has long been very dear to my own heart, Madam Speaker, namely, the damaging effect alcohol abuse has on Aboriginal people. This was his speech:
On 1 June 1976, he made an important speech seeking an effective legal and administrative mechanism for Aboriginal families to be fully informed of post mortem results after the death of a family member; that had huge implications because that is very important to Aboriginal people.
On 19 August 1976, he made a speech criticising the federal Labor Treasurer for cutting the National Aboriginal Affairs budget resulting in the Territory receiving $7m less than the previous year. Finally, on 3 March 1977, he made a powerful speech in support of the establishment of the Tiwi Land Council.
In the Legislative Assembly election of 13 August 1977 he was replaced for Tiwi by the mother of the current member for Goyder, Ms Noel Padgham, whom I acknowledge.
Madam Speaker, I repeat my condolences to my mother Natalie, and to Richard, Lesley, and David, on the loss of a proud Tiwi Elder.
Dr BURNS (Business): Madam Speaker, I extend the heartfelt condolences of this House and the government to Mr Tungutalum’s family.
I have to say at the outset that I did not know him as well as many people in this Chamber, or those many people who will to speak to this motion. I first came to know him in the 1990s when I was working for the Menzies School of Health Research and, later, for the Heart Foundation. As the Leader of the Opposition said, one thing that always impressed me about him was his sense of humour, his openness, and his warmth. He always made me feel very comfortable in his presence.
He was also someone who did not boast. I was not aware, when I first met him, he had been a member of the Legislative Assembly. I came to the Territory in 1979, and I was not aware. He was not someone who boasted either about his time in parliament or his sporting prowess, which is considerable; it has been talked about. He was a St Mary’s player in two premierships, I believe it was 1965 and 1966; then in 1966 and 1967 he represented the Northern Territory against North Adelaide. Much has been spoken about his style of play; what a fast runner and a spectacular marker he was at football. Like everything which has been said today, he was someone who was really a trailblazer of probably a new style of football – that fast running, play-on football. I can just imagine him - as I met him in the 1990s it was a long time ago in the 1960s that he played. But his spirit told me that was the type of player he would have been. He would have been someone just so spectacular, and a great sportsman along with it.
Every time I met with him I felt his grace and compassion, and his commitment to the Tiwi people. Later, as a parliamentarian, I met him in Community Cabinets and in various portfolio areas and found him to be a great listener. He would listen very carefully to what was being said, and then he would respond. It would not be a long speech, it would not be heated, but he would put his point of view very clearly and concisely. It was always a very well considered point of view.
It has been mentioned before that he was a life member of the NTFL - I believe for 40 years – a life member of the Tiwi Football League, also a life member of St Mary’s; and someone who represented his people in the parliament of the Northern Territory. He was a foundation member of the Tiwi Land Council and absolutely committed to the welfare, wellbeing, and advancement of the Tiwi people.
All of us in this House know that is easier said than done. It is easy to be discouraged, but he was a man who was never discouraged - a man who stuck at his task for over 40 years through profound change, as we heard today about wartime. We also heard today about Cyclone Tracy. We also know Indigenous Affairs is a very difficult area, and he was a man absolutely committed to that.
I know the member for Arnhem will speak soon about him. She also spoke at Mr Tungutalum’s funeral about the way Ted Egan and Mr Tungutalum sang here on the opening of parliament in 2005. I do not believe there is a person who was here then who will ever forget the harmony of that. It goes back to what the member for Arafura, and others, has said about what people call white/black relations. He was a man who always made me feel welcome, and I know he made a lot of other people feel welcome; he was a very warm person with a great sense of humour, and I appreciated that about him also.
Madam Speaker, my speech is brief. Today we are also talking about Brother Pye, someone who also, over a long period of time, showed great commitment to the Tiwi people and his belief, just as Mr Tungutalum did. I believe it is fitting today that this parliament recognises two men – one Tiwi man and another man whom, I am sure, is also a Tiwi man and will be buried on the Tiwi Islands as well.
We will be recognising the contributions of both those men here today, and it is incumbent on us in this House to take on board the commitment of these people over 40 years, and carry that baton for the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the Northern Territory.
I extend my condolences to Hyacinth’s family, and to his friends and to all who have known him.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to pay my respects to the late Hyacinth Tungutalum, a traditional man, a family man, a sports star and, for those who followed his football career, he was an exceptionally stylish wing man. He was a sports administrator, a parliamentarian, a leader of people, and a man who will be missed by all Tiwi people, as well as his many followers, family and loved ones.
The last time I saw Hyacinth was on the Tiwi Islands when the NTFA had their first footy match there. The Tiwi Bombers played the hapless Darwin Buffaloes, and successfully and quite comprehensively flogged them, as we all expected, so everyone was very happy on that day. This was an occasion, a time of celebration and happiness, and Hyacinth was there cheering his team on and having the time of his life. He led the men dancers, he introduced people, he chatted to everyone and spoke a few words on the recent Victorian bushfires and told us that, even though it was a day of happiness on the islands, we should remember those who had lost their lives in that disaster.
Hyacinth reached out and touched everyone, it did not matter who you were, he had time to say hello and have a chat with you. My family has had a long association with Hyacinth’s immediate family; my mother, Noel Padgham, being a close friend of his mother - the old lady - and father, both who have, sadly, passed away. This friendship with the family continues today with my family being close to his niece, Connie and her children, whom we see and talk with regularly.
Hyacinth’s life on this earth has ended, but his enduring spirit will live on in his family, in the Tiwi people, and in the Tiwi Bombers, and all who knew and loved him. All of us have been blessed by Hyacinth’s friendship and love. He will be missed but never forgotten.
My condolences to the family, the extended family, and all Tiwi people on the loss of Hyacinth.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I also recognise Hyacinth’s family and friends from the Tiwi Islands, and also a constituent of mine, the former member for Koolpinyah, Noel Padgham, whose electorate covered the Tiwi Islands at that time; we welcome her here today.
I could not say I knew Hyacinth well, but I certainly knew of his presence as I worked on Bathurst Island from 1974 to 1981. When Hyacinth became a member of this Assembly it was a turning point for Aboriginal democracy, self-determination, people might say, because it was in 1974 the first Aboriginal Local Government Council was formed in the Northern Territory, and although I do not believe Hyacinth, at that stage, was a member of the council, he certainly was a member later on after he left the Assembly.
I believe what you then saw was a time when the missions and the superintendent were moving away and Aboriginal people were starting to take control of their own lives. It was a very important time and, I must admit, I do look at the role that a small, non-bureaucratic local government played in running the affairs of Nguiu on Bathurst Island in those days and, compared to the role local government plays today, they are like chalk and cheese.
I feel Aboriginal people had more control over their future in those days than today, because I believe it was a simpler form of government which represented the grassroots. There are a number of ex-presidents of the council here today with whom I worked, and I always felt democracy on Bathurst Island had found the right mix of, you might say, traditional democracy and western-style democracy. We had a council that was based on local governments throughout Australia, but using a Tiwi influence. There were representatives from every skin group on Bathurst Island as members of that council.
You have to look at Hyacinth’s history – and that is what we are talking about today – as part of a turning point, especially for Tiwi Islanders, where they began to show their influence not only in the broader community, as Hyacinth did in the Legislative Assembly, but they also started to take control of their own lives, and that is very important.
I will give you an example of how they did take control over their own lives. In about 1978 - and I may have my dates wrong - the federal government had decided there would be two land councils, a Central Land Council and a Northern Land Council. I was the acting Town Clerk of the council at that stage and I remember we discussed this issue. The Tiwis are a fairly strong-minded group of people and my understanding of the word Tiwi is ‘they are the tops’. When they were told the Northern Land Council would be making decisions over Melville and Bathurst Islands, they did not take kindly to that and immediately sent a telegram to the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs saying they wanted to form their own council. Thankfully, the Commonwealth government listened to their request and it is from that group of people who, at that time were part of the Nguiu Shire Council, that the Tiwi Land Council was formed. Hyacinth was in that mix of people and some history-making changes occurred; the first one was Hyacinth being elected to this Legislative Assembly.
Hyacinth was a person with the same faults, the same ups and downs, as all of us. He was no saint at times, but he was also a very cheerful, happy bloke. He would recognise you, he would welcome you, and he had that cheeky smile. I used to laugh when important people came to Nguiu Airport and he would suddenly find that tie, and he looked very resplendent. He would make sure he looked important when important people came.
He liked a beer, and he loved his footy. I umpired football at Bathurst Island, which I sometimes regarded as the most dangerous job on earth; naturally, he did not always agree with some of my decisions, and there are a few others in the Chamber here who did not always agree with my umpiring decisions either, but they were happy times. That is part of what makes the Tiwi Islands and the Tiwi people such wonderful people.
There are plenty of issues today, and we can go through the issues many Aboriginal communities have to face. The Tiwi Islands are no exception to that, but Hyacinth was a groundbreaker for his time. Hyacinth had to face up to some of these issues. He had problems with them, like all of us have problems with issues in our life, and he did his best to overcome those problems.
He was a true Tiwi - a Tiwi to the core - and he should be remembered for not only the changes he helped bring about in regard to Tiwi self-determination, but also for the fun-loving person that he was, and how he influenced many other people to follow in his footsteps.
I give his family my condolences, and may he rest in peace.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I support this condolence motion, and I acknowledge the families in the gallery.
I speak as a Yanyuwa woman from Borroloola and I advise the Assembly that this man is my Kuku, my grandfather relationship. When you reflect on a person’s life, you look at it both from the contributions he made, not only on a political level in the Northern Territory parliament, but also on a personal level to all his families, not only on the Tiwi Islands, but across the Northern Territory and, in particular, my homelands of Borroloola.
I pay tribute to his sons and daughters and nieces and nephews, to my Noughie, Natalie, and also to my Kuku and, in particular, David, who grew up with my family in Borroloola, to my grandfather, and I will say their names for this parliament, those who have also passed away, Musso Harvey, and to Roddy Harvey, who is here today.
It was a really important time to celebrate this wonderful man, my Kuku, because many of the Borroloola families travelled - in fact, more people travelled from Borroloola than I have ever seen leave Borroloola to go to another part of the Territory for a funeral; and that speaks volumes for the Tiwi people of the respect you have from the Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Mara, and Gudanji people of the Gulf region. Not only did they travel all the way to Darwin for the ceremony at St Mary’s Cathedral, but they made the journey by boat across the waters to the Tiwi Islands to camp there and to farewell a wonderful person who meant so much to so many.
My Kuku was, in every sense, absolute proof that greatness can be achieved from the humblest of backgrounds. By the time of my election to parliament in 2005, Indigenous members were very much an accepted part of the Northern Territory parliamentary landscape. That is why, on my first day in the Legislative Assembly, one of my strongest memories was of my Kuku coming in here. It was he, some 30 years earlier, who opened the way for many others to follow. Unlike 2005, the election of an Aboriginal member of parliament was an extraordinary event in 1974. I cannot remember that time as I was quite young, but I enjoy listening to the stories of those who do, and my elders here in the parliament.
His election paved the way for democracy in the Territory, a democracy which has since that day celebrated the inclusion of Aboriginal people at its highest levels. He returned to the Assembly three decades after that historic event, and my abiding memory of that day was seeing him, with our then Administrator, Ted Egan, singing in the Tiwi language. My Kuku’s achievements went far beyond his island home. His pride in Tiwi culture was clearly evident on that day; it was a pride that he carried with him at all times. The celebration in the Legislative Assembly with Ted Egan was also a reminder of his shared love with the then Administrator of both Australian football and, of course, that formidable institution, the St Mary’s Football Club.
My Kuku played his first league game for St Mary’s at just 15 years of age. From that time he went on to carve a formidable record for himself and the Northern Territory Football League. He was a member of Saint’s Premiership winning teams of 1965 - 66 and 1966 - 67. In addition, he had the honour of representing the Territory in 1966 in the team which beat the visiting North Adelaide side at Gardens Oval. One can only imagine the great pride he felt that day playing for the Territory in front of a crowd which, no doubt, included many equally proud Tiwi supporters. Just for good measure, Madam Speaker, my Kuku also captained/coached his home side on the islands, Irrimaru. Fittingly, he was made a life member of both the NTFL and the Tiwi Islands Football League.
In addition to his parliamentary and sporting achievements, in 1973 he also earned membership of the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee, the first Australia-wide Indigenous body with a formal role in advising government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. At the same time, he was a member of the advisory group to the Aboriginal Secondary Grant Scheme. He was well qualified for that role because he was also a teacher at Saint Xavier’s at Nguiu. He had an abiding commitment to education for the people of the Tiwi Islands.
We have heard that he was a tremendous advocate and a founding member of the Tiwi Land Council, with which he had a long association. I would like to put on to the Parliamentary Record a quote from his adjournment on Thursday, 3 March 1977, where he wrote to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Viner, regarding the Tiwi Land Council:
There is certainly more to his adjournments, and I encourage people to have a look at the words of this amazing man.
My Kuku was a man of considerable talent who used his talents for the advancement, not only of his people on the Tiwi Islands, but for all people of the Northern Territory to better understand the relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people as we try to forge a future for all people in the Northern Territory. He will long be remembered for the role he played as an Indigenous political pioneer, as well as for his considerable additional contributions in both public and sporting life.
To Noughie, and all the family, my sincere condolences on behalf of the people of Arnhem and your families in Borroloola.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I briefly add my condolences to the family of Hyacinth Tungutalum.
I am one of the few European people who have had the unique opportunity to represent Aboriginal people in this place - when I was the member for Macdonnell. One of my strongest memories of that period was the sense of inadequacy I carried going into a foreign cultural set; in fact, several foreign cultural sets because there were numerous language groups which I represented in this place. I can only begin to imagine, on that basis, the enormity of what confronted Hyacinth when he came into this place to speak as a senior elder in our system of government on behalf of his own people and other people he represented - a substantial challenge, indeed.
When we meet, we dress to impress. One need only glance around this room to get the impression of how we like to present the dominant nature of our cultural and political system. It would have been an almost overwhelming environment. When I was the member for Macdonnell, I found it an overwhelming environment when traditional people of various language groups took the time to try to educate me in some of the ways of their own systems of governance. Of course, I never saw any of the truly sacred places; I was shown some things and I will not talk about that any further. I was given what would be the law student’s equivalent of Aboriginal Law 101 when it came to various language groups. I was impressed by the level of trust shown to me during that period.
I have heard many of us talking about Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal in this place, but one of the things that struck me about Aboriginal legal systems is those systems, as they were described to me, actually had very little to do with race and race-based politics. I have noted on many occasions in what are called ‘Aboriginal seats’ in this place; non-Aboriginal candidates have defeated Aboriginal candidates. The reason that has occurred is that Aboriginal people determining who their best representative is do not determine that based on the colour of their skin but on that person’s capacity. From that, I take an enormous lesson.
Whilst I acknowledge in the seat of Macdonnell I was eventually defeated by an Aboriginal person, I suspect it had less to do with her Aboriginality and a lot more to do with her capacity to be a representative of the people she represents, even to this day. I did not speak the required four or five languages the current member for Macdonnell speaks. I have acknowledged in the past, both publicly and privately, that perhaps she would be the better representative, not because of our political divide, but because of her capacity to understand and know the lore. It was on that basis, I suspect, she was elected, and less to do with the colour of her skin.
Aboriginal people tend, in my experience, to be much less racist about the choices they make than Europeans, partly because when an Aboriginal person casts their eye about them, I have discovered they do not see black and white. They see a rainbow of colours, a raft of different cultural mores. We heard the member for Arnhem refer to that in a letter where the Tiwis wanted their own land council based on the fact they had their own cultural structures which were fundamentally different from the people on the mainland.
I have met Hyacinth on numerous occasions. I have a photograph of him and me in my office. I forget the occasion, but we were both sitting at a couple of desks at some sort of constitutional meeting. I had cause to speak to him on that occasion, and the good humour and the enjoyment he extracted from life resonated through the conversation I had with him.
On those occasions where I have visited the Tiwis, and it is many years since I was there, I am often left in mind of a South Pacific island in many respects. I do not know how many members here are familiar with an old Harry Belafonte song about an island in the sun, in the Caribbean, and it goes, if I remember the words correctly:
Oh island in the sun
Built to me by my father’s hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters, your shining sand
That is a song about love. A love and a passion for home country, and that is what resonated through Hyacinth’s conversations with me. I know when I visit the Tiwis again I will see the Tiwi Islands are better and stronger for Mr Tungutalum’s presence. They will be firmer and greater because he was here.
For me, he will not be passed, he will not be dead. When I hear the wind rustling through the trees, or when I see the palm fronds swaying in the breeze, I will hear and see Hyacinth Tungutalum and the success he leaves behind. He has become part of the soil, he has gone back to where he came from, and every leaf that grows on a tree, every blade of grass that sprouts, every particle of those islands will contain a part of him in them.
I will see him there and I will remember him for as long as I live. I will be grateful that he lived and that he had the courage to step over that cultural divide and bring some of the Tiwi into this place and into our lives.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I also extend my condolences to the family and friends of Mr Tungutalum.
I only met him a couple of times. Once, when I was the Health minister, I was with the member for Arafura at a big meeting at Nguiu. However, the main memory I have of meeting him was before I was a member of parliament. I was organising the commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin for the Centenary of Federation celebrations. As part of that, we had asked a group of Tiwi dancers to come to perform the aeroplane dance. My memory of Hyacinth is doing the aeroplane dance, which is about the planes coming over the Tiwi Islands and the bombs coming down - it is a very powerful dance and I am hoping the dancers might perform that later today. As I remember him, he was a very happy man, and very talented dancer. I am sorry I did not meet the man who has been represented here today.
Motion agreed to.
Members stood and observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, honourable members. The Assembly will now suspend for five minutes for members to speak to family and friends, and will resume at the ringing of the bells for the condolence motion for Brother Pye.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is with deep regret that I advise of the death on 29 May 2009 of Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM, a Territorian who made a significant contribution to Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that this Assembly:
In paying tribute, as we do today to Brother John Pye, we mark the passing of a man who can be truly described as legendary. He lived his life to the full and left a legacy which will long be remembered in the annals of Australian sport. It was a life in which he devoted commitment to his mission as a Christian for many years as a missionary in the Northern Territory. It was a life, as we also know, in which his passion for Australian Rules football led to the introduction of that great sporting code to the Tiwi Islands and beyond.
Born in Mulwala in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Brother Pye was the son of a devout Catholic mother and a policeman father, which meant he moved around quite often as a child. It was a childhood which, I would like to think, gave him a love of living in the bush; it was a childhood during which, at the age of 10, he was introduced to Australian Rules football and, in his words: ‘I got hooked on it straightaway’. It is great to see someone from New South Wales getting hooked on Australian Rules football!
A great reader of the lives of the saints as a teenager, it was a natural progression for him to start first at the Christian Brothers College in Wagga Wagga, where he also excelled as an athlete. Then, as a young man, he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart because, as he put it so simply: he wanted to help people in far away places; and that he did.
He was to help people in far away places for the best part of 70 years. After 10 years teaching in Toowoomba, Brother Pye arrived at the Bathurst Island Mission in late 1941, but was evacuated to the mission at Port Keats in early 1942 after the bombing of Darwin. He was to remain there until after the war, after which he returned to Bathurst Island.
He then spent 16 years on the Tiwi Islands, with a short stint in 1950 as a supervisor of the Channel Island Leprosarium. He spent 10 years at the Daly River Mission as a mechanic, driver and football coach, returning to the Tiwi Islands at the age of 70.
During his earlier time at Nguiu, Brother Pye was involved in the rebuilding of the mission first established by Bishop Gsell. It was, undoubtedly, a hard existence with the timber for the mission sourced, felled and milled on the island. A number of those buildings he worked on in the 1940s and 1950s still stand today but, as you well know, Madam Speaker, God moves in mysterious ways. It was Brother Pye’s introduction to the game he first witnessed in the Riverina in 1916, Australian Rules football, that was, in some sense, forever to change his mission on the Tiwi Islands.
As legend now has it, young Tiwi men were already playing a sort of hybrid Aussie Rules, and rugby, often played with little better than a bunch of rags tied together. As Brother Pye recalls: ‘I saw the people playing a simple game with a ball. There might be 20 on one side and a dozen on the other. There were no rules except to carry the ball across the line’. Apparently, it did not matter whether the ball was carried, kicked or punched across the line. Brother Pye set about organising the first proper games of Australian Rules, initially on an old wartime airstrip with a couple of sticks for posts at either end. There were no watches, so quarters ran anything from half-an-hour to an hour, but from these small beginnings, legends of football prowess began.
The first team to be invited to play was from Belyuen but, more importantly, after Brother Pye was transferred to Pirlangimpi, Garden Point, in 1954 the first inter-island games began with Garden Point winning the first match in 1956, by a single point against their Bathurst Island rivals. It was the birth of Brother Pye’s much loved Imalu team and the beginning of the Tiwi Islands Football League. It was the beginning, as well, of the great football families of the Dunns, Riolis, Longs, and many others. Indeed, Jack Long captained the side that defeated Bathurst Island.
At the same time, Brother Pye’s influence was already being felt on the mainland with the introduction of Tiwi players to the Darwin-based competition, and to St Mary’s Football Club. As Brother Pye put it: ‘My job, from about 1951 onwards, was to send players who knew enough about the game to Darwin to play for St Mary’s’. The then captain of St Mary’s, later the Territory’s Administrator, Ted Egan, would recall: ‘He was of great use to me because he would organise for us to get the better players at the right time, which was pretty handy to us around grand final day’.
Ted Egan and St Mary’s did not need God on their side, they had Brother Pye. The influence of players Brother Pye encouraged from those early days through to the present is still being felt - from David Kantilla’s time in the South Australian League, to Cyril Rioli Junior, currently playing with the Hawks.
We have just had the condolence motion for Hyacinth Tungutalum, and I acknowledge that a young Ross Tungutalum has been drafted by my team, St Kilda. There could be a wonderful irony that occurs later this year, given today we have had the condolence motion for Hyacinth Tungutalum, now for Brother Pye, and football on the Tiwi Islands - this is a bit of a journey for me as I expand on this - and Ross Tungutalum being drafted for St Kilda. We have only won one premiership, that was in 1966, but we are going pretty well at the moment, fingers crossed, and if we do achieve greatness in September this year, and Ross plays again for St Kilda in the seniors, there will be this amazing link between Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum, Brother Pye, Ross Tungutalum, and St Kilda Football Club, hopefully, in September carrying off the flag.
That is what so much of this great man’s life has been about, the introduction of football to the Tiwi Islands and the great joy it brings so many hundreds of thousands of Australians, and all of the Tiwis. Football brings people together in ways that cannot be replicated anywhere else, and Brother John Pye made an enormous contribution.
Brother Pye’s involvement with Tiwi footballers continued well into his retirement. His life membership of the Tiwi Island Football League reflected his many years serving the league’s administration. He was the first person on the ground at Marrara when the Tiwi Bombers took to the field for the first time in the 2007-08 season. I was there as well. He was awarded an OAM for his services to sport and to Aboriginal people in 1986.
Brother Pye’s retirement saw him contribute to the writing of Territory history, producing much republished books on the histories of Port Keats, Daly River, the Tiwi Islands and Santa Teresa. In this, Brother Pye has left us a lasting contribution to the Territory’s intellectual and historical life.
Much has been said and written about Australian Rules being something akin to a second religion; indeed, many Tiwi Islanders have said this themselves. The fact that the game was introduced to the Islands by a Catholic missionary is perhaps one of God’s little ironies.
At 102 years of age, Brother John Pye had a long life. The biblical span of three score years and ten that he served Aboriginal people was a rich contribution to the Northern Territory.
I listened to the eulogy at Brother John Pye’s funeral in St Mary’s Cathedral a few days ago and the enormity of the contribution he made to the Northern Territory – and the Leader of the Opposition was with me that day. In public life we can work hard to make our contribution but the contribution Brother John Pye made, under what must have been terrific hardship all those years ago, without the lines of supply and communication, without any of the modern technology and equipment we take for granted today, the work he would have done with his bare hands all those years ago, with only one motivation being his service to his faith and to the mission and wanting to make a contribution to Aboriginal people, is extraordinary.
It is probably a life which will never be seen again. He spent over 68 years in the Northern Territory, in a very long, rich, rewarding contribution to the Northern Territory. He is one of the great heroes of the Northern Territory.
My condolences go to his family, his extended family within the Catholic Church, and his many thousands of friends throughout the Northern Territory. May he rest in peace.
Madam SPEAKER: Before calling the Leader of the Opposition, I acknowledge the Superior for the Northern Territory of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Confrere, Father Malcolm Fyfe, MSC, and also the Superior of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Sister Elizabeth Little, FDNSC, OAM, and fellow sisters. On behalf of honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I shared with the Chief Minister an amazing eulogy at the Cathedral the other day. I acknowledge the family, some of whom travelled considerable distances to be there, and the wider Catholic family who were there in strength. It was wonderful to see the time taken to honour a man who has made an enormous contribution, and has left an extraordinary legacy.
In my office I have a photograph of an unnamed Tiwi boy – he caught my eye at the grand final a couple of years back. He did not see me because he had a football in his hand, he had raggedy shorts and he had this focused stare as if he was playing in the AFL somewhere; he was about seven or eight, and he was practising kicking, and he was in another place. He was inspired by the names of Rioli, Kantilla, Long and so on. He was aiming up at this post and trying to get as good a kick as possible; he was determined and he saw something - who knows what. One day I might show the photo around. I am sure he is going to do well because he had that look in his eye and sweat running down his brow. He was there for an hour or so practising kicking while the grand final was being played.
Reflecting on that young lad, and many like him, wherever you see young lads with their footballs practising, they are practising with a picture in their mind, a vision of what could be, a possibility, as a result of a seed sown by Brother John Pye. The opportunities presented to the Riolis, David Kantilla - who sadly passed away at an early age, the Longs, and many others, was as a result of a man born in 1906 in the Riverina, who grew up near the Murray River, and who was a boarder at the Marist College in Wagga. I understand his dad wanted him to be a policeman, but he had this urge, this want, to help people in places far away. I keep thinking of that little boy and all the little boy represents, which is the result of John Pye yielding to that urge and living out that urge, and serving in places far away from the Riverina.
It is humbling to consider someone having that desire and living it out so magnificently and so quietly, and seeing the legacy being enjoyed and experienced by so many, and to hear of one who had the urge and allowed that urge to shape his life. For 10 years he worked in Toowoomba, and that urge must have stayed there because it took him to the Tiwi Islands in 1941. The mission had been in place for about 30 years, and he began his work as a teacher. Then war intervened and he moved to Port Keats.
As a part of the eulogy there was a description of him and a couple of others going to Port Keats in 1942 and setting to work to build, with their hands, a school and vegetable gardens. It floored me to consider the powerful testimony of people who yielded to that want, that desire to help and turn their hands to a task which gave rise to something important; yet they had so little and they achieved so much. And today, which is what caused me to reflect, we have so much, and we appear to achieve so little. We must learn something from what we see in the lives of people such as John Pye and others: they achieved so much with so little.
Any words you heard recorded of John Pye are so modest. It is not about him, it is about yielding to that want. Those who have grown up in the Catholic system will be very familiar with the term ‘vocation’, a call, and he responded to that call. That want grew. It shows once again the truism that history will remember people of action, people who do things, rather than people of process. He was a man of action. He saw an opportunity and acted. As a result, we have so much evidence of the benefits which flowed from him yielding to that want to help; and help he has. The help is, in fact, probably easy to consider and then pass on, and not recognise the significance of it.
The contribution is the creation of a bridge, or a link, for those who need to find a more comfortable place between two cultures. That bridge has been established by the work of Brother Pye, and it has allowed for a bridge through which people can pass one way and the other. You have Ted Whitten going back to the Tiwis, and all that interest from the south of the country has opened up understanding between people. All because Brother Pye saw these sprightly young people there and thought: ‘I think football would be the go here’, and stuck a couple of sticks into the airfield and started teaching the young people how to play the game of Aussie Rules.
With all of that, I am sure the object was not the football; it was a means to achieve something as a good teacher. Here was a good opportunity and he took that opportunity - and look what resulted from it.
He will be remembered, of course, in the faces of those little boys you see over there sizing up the goals and imagining they are Maurice Rioli or someone like that. They can see a future, something that will connect them to something way beyond where they are now - daring to dream and having hope.
He will be remembered every grand final when the best player on the field is awarded the John Pye Medal. When John Pye was asked about this when he was 100 years of age, he said: ‘Yes, people like to be remembered, that sort of thing. Each year, they bring that up’, as though it was no big deal. In his modesty, he said that people quite like to be remembered. Well, he will be remembered for an extraordinary legacy and a challenge to all of us: how it was that so much was achieved with so little.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is with sadness that today I join this condolence debate for the late Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM. Known to most of us here today as Brother John, he was Uncle Rex to his family.
He died on Friday, 29 May, at the age of 102 at the Masonic Homes nursing home in Tiwi where he lived for the last few years of his life. I know that his much-loved and devoted nephew, Noel Pye, who spoke on behalf of Brother Pye’s family at his funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral last Friday, said that Brother John, from his late 90s, would jokingly comment that he was going back to his childhood because, if asked his age, he would reply in quarter years, such as: ‘I am 98 and three-quarters or 99-and-a-half’. So, to set the record straight, he was 102-and-a-half when he died.
He had been the oldest living Missionary of the Sacred Heart in the history of the congregation in the world. I met Brother John when he was living at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart centre in Nightcliff, where he moved there to retire at the age of 90, or perhaps 90-and-a-quarter, in 1988. As the local member, I visited him and the priests and brothers at the MSC Centre, known as The Ranch. I remember on one occasion being invited by the then Superior of the Sacred Heart Missionaries, Father Peter Wood, to attend Brother John’s 96th birthday party. I also remember he looked at me and said: ‘Why are you here, is there someone important coming?’ I said: ‘I have come to celebrate your birthday’. He said to me: ‘Why has the Health minister come for that?’ He had no idea that he was the important person there. It was a joyous occasion with priests, brothers, and guests from the local parish of St Paul’s joining to celebrate his birthday.
I got to know him a little during his years at The Ranch, and he would often talk about his years as a missionary, his work in establishing market gardens and, of course, his love of Australian Rules football. He would speak with great passion and love of the people of the Tiwi Islands and the Daly River and, with some sadness, about the Stolen Generations, often remarking that the church had only wanted to help. I remember discussing with him how people who are members of the Stolen Generations did not feel bitterness necessarily towards the church but, rather, to the government of the day and its policies. In fact, the brothers, priests, and sisters became the families of a large number of children who were removed and were greatly loved, even to this day. This has certainly been borne out by the large number of people who attended his funeral in Darwin, and by the moving ceremony and burial service on Bathurst Island last Friday.
I also had the honour of attending Brother Pye’s 100th birthday celebration, together with former Chief Minister, Clare Martin, in December 2006. Around 200 people attended this special mass at St John’s College, and the party following. It was a wonderful occasion led by Bishop Ted Collins. I remember thinking: what on earth do you give someone who is turning 100? I ended up presenting him with a Tiwi painting to remind him of his time at Bathurst Island. That was a day of much love and regaling of stories. He sat in his wheelchair surrounded by gifts with large numbers of tributes read out from around the world - from the Queen, the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and, I believe, from Pope John Paul II. It was a remarkable occasion and I remember him commenting suddenly: ‘What do you get if you turn 200?’
Brother Pye was known for his sense of humour. In talking with mourners after the funeral, Sister Elizabeth Little, who is here today, the Superior of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, tells a story of soon after well-known and loved old Sister Fred died, another nun was unsuccessfully looking for her keys. She said to Brother Pye: ‘I will have to pray to Sister Fred to help me find the keys’, to which he replied: ‘Don’t you think you should let her settle in first?’ Similarly, on hearing of the death of his friend and confrere, Father John Leary, earlier this year, he was quoted as saying: ‘We all have to die sometime’.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will give a little background to the life of Brother Pye. I am grateful to the Superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for the Northern Territory, Father Malcolm Fyfe, and also to his nephew, Noel Pye, for allowing me to use parts of the official eulogies used at Brother Pye’s funeral service.
Brother Pye was born on 28 December 1906 at Mulwala, a small town in the Riverina district of New South Wales, about 600 km south-west of Sydney. He was the second of four children. His mother was Annie Downing, and his father was Edward Hugh Pye. His father was a mounted policeman in country New South Wales, mainly around the Riverina district, which was a very keen Australian Rules football area when Brother Pye was a child. His nephew, Noel Pye, remembers his uncle Rex as a wonderful story teller:
As a young teenager at secondary school, Brother John was an outstanding athlete as well as a competent student. It was at this time he became keenly interested in Australia’s special brand of football, Australian Rules football, a game that was to play a significant part in John’s later missionary activities.
School days over, John went to work in a mechanical workshop and gained a qualification as a diesel engineer. His knowledge of motor vehicles and agricultural machinery provided him with practical skills for his future work on remote Aboriginal communities. Missionaries were usually selected on the basis of such skills, in addition to their religious and spiritual qualities.
John’s mother was a devout Catholic and priests were frequent visitors to the house. John was very close to his mother and was strongly influenced by her. She was very pleased when John, at 20 years of age, decided to become a religious brother in the congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. And, as the Leader of the Opposition has already indicated, his father would have preferred him to become a policeman.
John pronounced his first vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart in 1930. Not many religious lived to celebrate their 75th anniversary of religious profession, as Brother John did four years ago. When John took his first religious profession, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Australia were in a phase of considerable expansion and were about to open their first secondary boarding college, and so Brother John was appointed to Downlands College in Toowoomba, where he worked as a teacher and athletics coach for 10 years, in spite of his keen desire to go to the missions.
In 1941, with World War II well under way, John was sent to the Northern Territory. A long journey on a troop ship brought him to Darwin, at the time a small dusty place with buffaloes roaming the streets. Brother Pye was soon sent to Bathurst Island, a mission founded by Father Gsell, later Bishop Gsell, in 1911, the first of several in the Northern Territory. His first experience of missionary life lasted only a few weeks. It was intended to prepare him for a three year stint at Port Keats, where Father Richard Docherty had established a mission, bringing together several Aboriginal groups who, at that time, had a reputation for their skill at throwing deadly spears. In spite of scarcity of resources and the terrible heat, Father Docherty, Brother John and some of the Indigenous people built a school, extended the airstrip, and established a vegetable garden and fruit orchard. Three religious sisters from the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart fed, taught and cared for the children.
In 1944, Brother John was asked to return to Bathurst Island, and it was there he would spend most of his life as a missionary. At that time on Bathurst Island there was no sanitation - diarrhoea, yaws, hookworm and other tropical diseases were prevalent, and food supplies were very precarious. Brother John later admitted to us that he was sorely tempted to return to southern comforts, but his practical knowledge was soon put to good use. A huge rebuilding program was required at the mission after the war ended in 1945, and, quite quickly, Brother John decided that the Tiwis would be skilled at playing Australian Rules football, and would benefit from so doing. He introduced the game and it was a huge success. It had a unifying effect on the community; it was a healthy occupation and provided an outlet for youthful energies.
As we know, over the years Tiwis have become famous as footballers, eagerly sought after by Australia’s top teams. Brother John Pye is considered as being a founding father of Tiwi football. Brother John’s stay at Nguiu was interrupted by a one year appointment, in 1950, to the Leper Station on Channel Island. Most of the patients were either Indigenous or mixed race people. He worked there with the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, under very basic conditions of housing and facilities, to alleviate the lepers’ sufferings.
After three years back at Nguiu, Brother John was transferred to Garden Point in 1954, the mission on Melville Island. Here, besides the Indigenous Tiwis, there were many people of mixed race born of unions with Europeans or Japanese. The mission looked after them, educated them and instructed them in a range of practical work skills and gave them a healthy sense of identity. Again, one of Brother John’s enduring achievements was the development of a strong Australian Rules football tradition.
In 1956, having spent 25 years as a missionary, he was sent by his superiors to the mission on the Daly River, where a school and hospital had been established at the request of the Indigenous people in that year. Brother John was to spend 10 years there as a mechanic, driver of the supply truck to and from Darwin, and boarding master. Again he helped establish Australian Rules football, producing many outstanding players in the years that followed. It was at the Daly that Brother John was very badly burned when an old truck burst in to flames. He was not expected to survive the night, but after two months in the Darwin Hospital and many skin grafts, he completely recovered leaving no evidence of the horrible ordeal.
In 1970, Brother John was asked to return to Wadeye, the place where he had effectively served his apprenticeship as a Northern Territory missionary. In the meantime, the consumption of alcohol had been legalised for Aboriginal people and had become a widespread problem; it was a problem at Wadeye. Brother John was put in charge of the liquor storage facilities.
In his free time he commenced writing a history of the mission, The Port Keats Story, which was published in 1972. It was to be the first of several very successful short books detailing the culture and history of the Aboriginal communities where Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart were working.
In 1975, which was the Roman Catholic Holy Year, Brother John Pye accompanied 36 Indigenous people to Israel, Rome, and Lourdes. The miracle happened before they got there, according to Father Malcolm Fyfe. At Bombay, India, the plane caught fire on takeoff, but all 400 passengers were able to slide down the chutes onto the tarmac, some with broken arms or legs. I understand that Brother John was the last to scramble off the plane and a few minutes later the fuel tanks blew up. Even so, he considered the highlight of the tour was a personal audience with the Pope.
After the trip, at the age of 70, he returned to Nguiu. Times had changed, self-determination was the policy. The missions were to become more like Catholic parishes elsewhere, except they were situated in Aboriginal communities. Brother Pye helped by researching the Tiwi genealogies and customs and by writing, in succession, The Daly River Story - A River Unconquered; The Tiwi Islands and Santa Teresa and East Aranda History.
In 1986, while he was still on Bathurst Island, Brother John Pye was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his services to various communities in the Northern Territory. In 1998, with an increasing need to be nearer to full medical facilities, Brother John, 90 years old, retired to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Centre at Nightcliff in Darwin. While there, the Historical Society of the Northern Territory commissioned Christine Gordon to research and write a history of Brother John Pye’s life. Using a nickname given him by the Tiwis, as John heard it pronounced, that signified strength and maturity, this 60 page work is titled Punderdelime - Brother John - a Northern Territory Legend.
About five years ago, Brother John moved to an aged care hostel in Darwin where, in spite of diminished vision and hearing, he remained healthy, happy, and for most of his remaining life, surprisingly sharp mentally. He was visited at least twice daily by his religious confreres, Brother Ted Merritt and Brother Colin Milne, who are both here today, and he greatly appreciated having the Mass said in his room at the aged care facility each week. Until Tuesday of last week, before he died, he would join in with the responses in the various prayers of the Mass that he had learned as a boy in Mulwala. One of his favourite sayings at the end of Mass was the words of Jesus: ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them’.
I believe Brother Pye would have been smiling at the funeral at St Mary’s last week. At the committal, as the coffin was incensed by Bishop Eugene Hurley, a mobile phone went off and it appeared to be coming from the casket. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and I were seated together and we were grateful it was not one of our phones; but I would like to think it was God calling Brother Pye, much like the old Billy Graham song Telephone to Glory, telling him he had been a good and faithful servant and welcoming him through the Pearly Gates. Naturally, Brother Pye did not answer the phone but let it go to Messagebank, because he knew better than to take a call during Mass!
I finish with the words Father Malcolm Fyfe used in his eulogy:
I offer my condolences to his MSC colleagues and to his surviving family. I particularly note Mrs Jean Pye, Brother John’s sister-in-law; Kevin Pye, Brother John’s nephew, and Kevin’s wife, Sue, and their sons, Warwick, Rodney and Darren Pye; Brother John’s niece, Fran Geist, her husband, John, and children, Shane, Peter and Jodi; Brother John’s niece, Carmel Vanny and her children, Graham and Kevin; Brother John’s nephews, Noel Pye and John Pye; and Brother John’s cousin, Paul Cohen.
Vale, Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I also share my condolences with the community at large and the whole of the Northern Territory because the whole of the Northern Territory is diminished when someone of such stature departs and goes to a better place. I note in the motion the phrase ‘through his life’s mission’. I am always struck and impressed when I meet people who dedicate themselves to a life’s mission; to take our fleeting moment on this planet and turn it to a single cause, and to pursue that cause relentlessly with love, with passion, with desire and, as the Leader of the Opposition called it, with vocation.
I listened to the Chief Minster refer to Brother John Pye as a hero. I suspect Brother Pye would probably baulk at that description and I can understand why, although the Catholic Church, like any number of intuitions has, for lack of a better expression, their pin-up heroes. The truth is that ideas must always mean more than people, and when I see someone like Brother John Pye dedicate his life to an idea, to a belief, to a single goal and a single thought, you cannot but be impressed. However, where the spirit is willing, the flesh is often weak, and when I see people dedicate themselves to a life of service, to a life of justice, to a life of passion and vocation, I see people trying to attain what it essentially the unattainable. For fleeting moments, individuals in their lives may touch the perfect but it is a little bit like the good golf shots you get once in a thousand strokes - there is just enough there to keep you going. In truth we are all human, we are flawed, we sin. As a practicing Catholic, I acknowledge my sins.
What qualifies a person to be a hero? I think about the VCs which were dished out during World War I for conspicuously heroic acts, and look at all the soldiers who ran into the faces of firing machine guns and thought: ‘Did they not all deserve a Victoria Cross? Which act of courage was less than the one that did get a Victoria Cross?’ We should be practicing, or I at least try to practice, spiritual improvement, and whilst I would like to come close to people like Brother John Pye, I know I do not have a snowflake’s chance in the proverbial other place. The fact is he provides for me an example of what could be achieved and yet he would, I suspect, baulk at calling himself a hero. We do touch perfection once in a while.
William Wilberforce, the hero of the anti-slavery movement in England, was a far-from-perfect character, addicted to laudanum to the day he died. However, for a fleeting moment, when his legislation passed in the House, he had at that moment, the perfect golf stroke. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, a remarkable document - I urge members who have not read it to read it – showed a moment of clarity, but then went on to live his life as an adulterer.
We all should be seeking spiritual enhancement through our lives, and I have the most enormous regard for those people who truly pursue a vocation. What is so sad about the pursuit of vocation is that we seem, in this day of sensual delights - and I use the term ‘sensual’ to mean everything we see about us is there to satisfy the senses - you turn on 15 or 40 channels on Austar, there is something for the senses; our taste buds are titillated at every shop with better and tastier foods with every passing day. We have something for the senses on every occasion and they distract us - or they certainly distract me - from more noble pursuits; and I wish I could be more.
The Lutheran missionaries who worked in the Hermannsburg area of Central Australia were people of vocation. For 30 or 40 years they would dedicate themselves to the one community. How does that reflect itself in the community? During the days of the missions – and I am not saying the missions were, by any stretch of the imagination, perfect – Hermannsburg produced about 60 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables for the people of Alice Springs to purchase. They produced cattle, had a slaughter shop, and had carpentry workshops and any number of other productive institutions which ran on a shoestring budget. But what permeated everything that happened in Hermannsburg? Vocation, passion, and a belief that something better could be done.
When I see how we deliver services today to these places, we have more money than we need. But what is missing? Vocation, love and passion. As a public servant, you roster in, you do your couple of years, and roster out. There is no commitment at a spiritual or even at an organic level from the people who just roll in and roll out. Then, I see examples like Brother John Pye who made it his vocation, who brought to his life meaning through passion as expressed through his belief in Christ being his Lord and Saviour. His passion was not that of a firebrand, because his passion was tempered with the love, understanding, compassion, and even the humour Christ would have encouraged.
While I was sitting here before I got to my feet I had a mental picture of Brother John Pye turning up at the Pearly Gates and Christ coming down to meet him. As they met, Brother John looked at him and said: ‘Did I do good, Boss?’ Christ turned and said: ‘Yeah, John, you did good’.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I support the condolence motion for a very important man. Many people have already spoken about Brother Pye’s legacy in relation to Australian Rules football, and Tiwi Islands football in particular. The memory of his achievements in that area will survive long into this century; it does not need me to further embellish that distinguished record.
However, I comment on Brother Pye’s years of dedicated service and his work outside of football. Prior to coming to the Northern Territory in 1941, Brother Pye had spent 10 years as a teacher. His wide-ranging skills and qualifications - he was also a diesel engineer and worked as a mechanic - meant that, during his years in the Territory, he was allocated many other tasks besides teaching and vocational training, although those two things were core activities for himself and the Catholic Missions in the Northern Territory generally. As well as spending long periods in the Tiwi Islands, especially at Nguiu, Brother Pye worked at Port Keats and Daly River.
In my condolence motion speech for Hyacinth Tungutalum I mentioned that during the years when I was privileged to work with the Nguiu Council in the early 1990s in my role as secretary to members of that Council, that those impressive Tiwi leaders and elders, many years my senior, were educated - and I have often talked about it in this parliament - by the Catholic education and training system in place on the Tiwi Islands which was operated by Brother Pye and his fellow Catholic missionaries.
Men like Hyacinth, the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council, Mr Robert Tipungwuti - and I acknowledge the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council, Barry Puruntatameri - many of these strong men who are leaders today were taught English and arithmetic, they were given basic life skills and a work ethic, and sense of worth, which is so important. When you look at the present and look at what the Church, people like Brother Pye, the many women in the Order of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart did, it was to give Aboriginal people a sense of worth, respect, and support, and they worked with the people without coming over the top of the people. My mother, who was removed from her people and put into the missions, was very fluent in her Tiwi language, and she knew who she was. She always loved and respected the missionaries because they did not try to remove the language or cultural privacy of the Tiwi people. Many of my Tiwi mothers feel the same way.
My people are fluent in their Tiwi language, and are grounded and very confident in their Tiwi cultural practices and knowledge. That is something which has followed through many generations of Tiwis. At the same time, they were given the educational equipment to make their way in the so-called mainstream Australia of the big towns and cities, not just in the Territory, but all over Australia. As well as literacy and numeracy, many of these men had tangible and employable trade skills.
Much has been said about the Stolen Generations and how the Church and other groups interacted. Talking to my mother, and many of the men and women who were part of the Stolen Generations and lived and grew up on the Tiwi Islands, there was never any disrespect. You sit down and talk to the aunties and the different mothers and no one ever said a bad thing about their rearing and the family which was created through the Catholic Church.
Madam Speaker, I was brought up and remain a Catholic, and I value and respect, and continue to respect, the good work that people like Brother Pye did with generations of Tiwis, including my Nguiu Council councillors and many of my people. It is that gratitude and acknowledgement that they played the most fundamental role; it was not just giving us those skills, it was also the spiritual learning and teachings. Following in Brother Pye’s footsteps were people like my own teachers. I acknowledge the fantastic women like Sister Anne Gardiner and many of my teachers from the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart order, for their work and what they taught.
Brother Pye’s life was a gift to the Tiwi people, and we are all richer for it. There is a book which has been written about Brother Pye and for the Tiwi people to complement the life of a man. The yirrikipayi, or the crocodile, is a strong creature. The crocodile is a link to the prehistoric days, probably the only animal that has survived. You think of the strength of a crocodile - the name Brother Pye had was about the tail of the crocodile and the tail is where the crocodile gets it strength and prowess, and it was a very important name. The Tiwis look very fondly at a man whose service and dedication was not only to the Tiwis, but to many Aboriginal people in Port Keats, Daly River, and throughout the Northern Territory. He was a very important teacher. We have heard about the football, but for me it was the education and mentoring that stands many of us in good stead.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, I support this motion. I express my condolences and pay my respects to Brother Pye’s family and friends, and add to the comments by other members in the Assembly today.
I did not have the honour to meet this true Territory legend. However, I am aware of his achievements and his standing as a Territory pioneer and his contribution to the communities of Port Keats, Daly River and, more significantly, the contribution to the Tiwi communities.
We can and should learn from those who have gone before us; we should learn from their leadership, their commitment, their skills, and their example of community spirit. Brother Pye is known to many as ‘Mr Football’ and he introduced modern day football to the Tiwi Islands.
The Tiwis have produced many great legends of football, all well-known to us in the Territory and very familiar around Australia. I want to talk about the youth and Brother Pye built the foundations of bringing youth together in a fun way to have inter-community sports events with the obvious benefits of harmony, respect, self-esteem and other benefits which come from involvement in sport and friendly competition. He was a great athlete and, as a result, he took it upon himself to bring football into prominence with the Tiwis. He produced a very positive influence in the community that football, and sport in general, has in building healthy community competition and the pride exhibited by those associated with those events.
The team building amongst Aboriginal youth on those islands is legendary, and his legacy to the Northern Territory community has to include the result that the youth embraced this, and helped others to achieve their goals and dreams; and the ability of organisations like Clontarf Football Academy to come, in recent times, and for football to continue to be embraced by Aboriginal youth. As a result of the high profile of football brought in by Brother Pye, hundreds of youths are attending school, receiving an education, and taking their place in the community of the Northern Territory.
It has also helped to build the links in understanding different cultures. He has been an inspiration to our community of what can be achieved with commitment to your beliefs and following those beliefs. In 1986, he received the Order of Australia for his services to the community. Brother Pye has encapsulated all that is good in a citizen and he demonstrated that over an entire lifetime. His family and friends are, no doubt, very proud of his contribution to the people of the Northern Territory. It is not only his family and friends who have lost a loved one; the Territory has lost a great legend and a great Territorian.
My condolences go to his family and his friends, and all those who have worked with him in his commitment to progress the Northern Territory community. May he rest in peace.
Mr KNIGHT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I pay my respects and, in particular, the respects and thanks of my electorate, especially the communities of Daly River and Port Keats, Wadeye. I am sure the member for Nelson will go into more detail about Daly River.
It was a sad day when we heard of his passing. I was at Daly River at the Merrepen Arts Festival, umpiring football with the member for Nelson, and it was a sad feeling that came over the festival. During the match, after we heard, all the players lined up and there was one minute silence for the whole community. There is respect from not only the Daly River and Port Keats communities, but other communities which have heard about his contribution to Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. It was the Tiwi side who wore black arm bands from that point on and went on to win the grand final - perhaps with help and inspiration from the Brother.
I have only met the Brother once, at the Masonic Home in town here, but his name and his literature are something that has inspired me.
His calling in the early 1940s to come to the Northern Territory was a very ambitious thing. When I came to the Territory at the age of 21, I thought I was a very ignorant young man coming to this wild place, the Northern Territory; but in the 1940s it would have been a very different place, and coming to Wadeye would have been a very different place.
The story goes that on arrival at the old mission he was greeted by Father Docherty and shown to his lodgings - a hut made of bark and chicken wire. He expressed his concern about the intrusion of spears into the hut. Two days later, a large spear fight occurred and he huddled in his little hut while the spear fight went on for quite some time. In the end, Father Docherty came out and told people to break it up and encouraged the Brother out to help clear up the spears but he did not want to come out of that hut. It was a spectacular beginning to his time in the Territory and his time in bush communities.
He obviously endured, and he succeeded in bringing his faith to those communities, building both the spiritual growth and also the infrastructure growth. He was engaged in many jobs throughout the communities. In Wadeye, one of his principal jobs initially, was the gardens and growing the fruit and vegetables so people had some sustenance. At that time, there were many different groups in Wadeye and they had two weeks in, two weeks out, so there was some turnaround between the different groups, due as much to the lack of food, from time to time, but also for the peace of the community.
He gave his heart and soul, and his blood, sweat, and tears to his God and to Aboriginal people. Much has been said about his contribution to football, and I believe he was inspired from an early age in New South Wales; but when he got to the old mission in the early 1940s, football was already running and they had two teams, the Buffaloes and the Wanderers. Those names are synonymous with Darwin, and had been brought to the community by Port Keats people who had visited Darwin. I guess I am claiming the first competition in an Aboriginal community outside of Darwin was at Wadeye, and it still succeeds today, and in many other communities.
Brother Pye also was the centre of a so-called miracle in Wadeye. During World War II, as we have heard, he was stationed there, as was Australian Air Force personnel. During that time there were many concerts held by the community and the Air Force to keep people interactive. One day they decided on a running race. They lined everyone up - it was a big community then - and everyone was there and all the Air Force people lined up. Someone suggested that Brother Pye compete in this running race, and we have heard about his athletic abilities, so he lined up and he blitzed everyone. He won the running race and there was much celebration.
Later, back at the Presbytery, there was great consternation by Father Docherty because he had to say Mass and they had run out of wine; during the war years, it was obviously in short supply. The next minute there was a knock at the door and one of the Air Force personnel asked Brother Pye if he wanted his prize for winning the running race. The prize was - lo and behold! - a case of wine. Father Docherty said it was a miracle that their problems were solved.
I guess the enduring memory of Brother Pye is around football, but I believe he saw more in football than just a sport; it was about bringing groups together. Many groups did have trouble coming together at that time around Wadeye, and sport was something which was non-lethal, people could interact, compete and show leadership and participation, and have physical exercise as well.
On behalf of the people of Port Keats and Daly River, I offer my sincere condolences to the family and the friends of Brother Pye and acknowledge his faith.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, it is good that Brother Pye reached 100, because it makes it easier for me to work out percentages. In fact, I only knew him for 5% of his life. That sounds very small compared with the other 95% of his life. Of that 5%, I knew him 1% at Daly River and 4% at Bathurst Island. As people have spoken about Brother Pye’s life on Bathurst Island, I would like to say a few things about his time at Daly River. Although I only knew him for half of 1970 – that is the year I first came to the Territory and to St Francis Xavier Mission - that is the part of my life most influenced by Brother John Pye.
I am not putting this in a heroic form, but I actually felt I walked in his footsteps. I say that because when you read the books about Brother Pye, such as the book about Punderdelime, written by Christine Gordon, which the member for Arafura mentioned, and also Brother Pye’s own book, which I had to get to jog my memory because it was 39 years ago - it makes me feel old, but it is that long since I was first at Daly River, and I needed it to jog my memory - these books talk about how he was not only a mechanic, but he looked after the boys in the dormitory, he taught them boxing, and he showed them movies. They were all things I did, except be a mechanic; I grew the vegetables and that is why I went at Daly River.
He explained how to run the projector as the mission had its own quite extensive library of movies. You could divide the movies into romance and cowboys - when the cowboys were on, the nuns all went home; when the romantic ones were on, the Aboriginal people went home. That is how it tended to work when the movies were being shown. I learned how to operate the 16 mm projector from Brother Pye. I have a picture of him in this book, The Daly River Story which reminds me very much of my time there. He is driving a tractor - it would have been the red Fergie by the look of it - with a flat top trailer and a load of people on the back. We would go out bush hunting on the weekend and have a great time.
I used to do the same. I would load up the trailer with watermelons and sweet potatoes and the all the boys from the dormitory, and we would head out for a Sunday trip into the bush and have a wonderful time. They were great days. People might ask what the dormitory was about. Well, in those days, many Aboriginal people worked on cattle stations and they sent their children to the mission to get an education. Of course, this was not the same as Port Keats or Bathurst Island, or even Santa Teresa. This was not a traditional community, not that there were not traditional owners of land there, but the Catholic Church at that time bought land and developed a farm on the Daly River to provide medical, educational and religious facilities for the people who lived there, because there was not just one tribe living in that area, there were a number of people living there.
I came to a place where Brother Pye was certainly one of the pioneers of that community. I learned he was very much a down-to-earth person, and I thought he was getting a bit old then. I worked it out, he would have been 63, and as I was 19 - he was old! Here are we are, celebrating, if you can put it that way, his life; that was a long time ago.
I also had a special connection, because he wrote an article in his book, which, is a little long, but I need to give you a full explanation why he wrote it; it will also give you an idea of the person he was who wrote these books. They probably do not line up with Charles Dickens and some of the modern authors, but he wrote about these communities as they were, and they are important historical documents, as well. He wrote this:
He did not tell the full story of why that happened. I was a young bloke who knew everything; the mission had just bought a new, short-based Toyota, and we headed off to town to get the perishables, which included a large supply of frozen pies. I thought that was interesting, you know, driving along with Brother Pye. Anyway, the fuel gauge, when we got to Darwin said three-quarters full, so I thought that is okay, we do not need to fill up, we can turn around and come back. Toyota fuel gauges in those days were not the most reliable things, not very technologically advanced, and about 20 miles out of Daly River we ran out of fuel. He did not put that bit in the story that it was my fault. He knows that anyway, but he was so kind he did not put it in the story.
All those things he talks about in the book are exactly what it was like. We had to talk to one another the whole time to keep ourselves awake as it was a long walk to the police station to wake him up and get fuel to get us back.
That night, I learned a lot about the man we are talking about today. I believe he represents all the values I hope and I strive for. He had a great sense of humour; he was a mechanic; he loved Aboriginal people, and sometimes people have to remember that is why people lived in the Territory for 70 years. It is not a false love, but a love of the people, and if you have worked with Aboriginal people long enough, you will understand why. It was a genuine love and he wanted to help people; not in a patronising way, but in a truly human way with a belief that God loves us all, and he wanted to make sure he could relay that message to all those people as well.
He tried to tell people about the issues of the day; alcohol was a major issue at Daly River. Even when I was there in 1970, there were two pubs: the Daly River pub and the other was Robbie’s Sandbar. From the day I got to Daly River, alcohol was a major problem. He says in his book – and remember this was written in 1977, and it is a plea from the heart to the people he loves:
I suppose he would look back today and say, sadly, in some cases things have not improved. But what it reflects is a person who had a deep love for Aboriginal people, who wanted these people to overcome the major issues they still have in life. He also says this was not just an Aboriginal issue, it was a non-Aboriginal issue as well; he was not shying away from that.
He was a compassionate man, he could always tell a funny yarn, he was great at doing that but, when I look at his life overall and reflect, he was a missionary of the Sacred Heart; that is what he was for nearly his entire life. He had a great belief in God; he was a down-to-earth person who reflected God’s love through his work. I was thinking, when Jesus went around picking his crew in the year 0 BC, or whenever it was, the first bloke he got was Saint Peter, who was a fisherman. I believe if He came back today He would pick ‘John the Mechanic’, because he was a real apostle. We are all a little worse off now he has gone, but I believe there is another part of the world where they will appreciate his arrival. May he rest in peace.
Madam SPEAKER: I thank honourable members for their contributions to this motion.
Motion agreed to.
Honourable members, I ask you to stand to observe one minute silence.
I invite members, friends, and interested people to join me in the main hall for refreshments, and advise that some of our guests from the Tiwi Islands will perform a dance in honour of Mr Tungutalum and Brother Pye.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw you attention to the presence in the gallery of international ESL students from St John’s College, accompanied by Ms Christiane Charon. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move – That this Assembly censures the Chief Minister for lying to Aboriginal Territorians and failing to deliver on a promise to consult them on the government’s outstation policy.
Madam Speaker and honourable members, today’s censure deals with the very important issue of whether the Chief Minister has lied to some of the Territory’s most vulnerable citizens about what this government was planning regarding the continued operations of outstations. This is an issue that sits at the heart of the concern of Territorians and, particularly, the most vulnerable.
This is, in fact, the assertion of the member for Arafura, the former Deputy Leader and Minister for Indigenous Affairs in the Henderson government - an accusation of lying, of misleading, of raising hopes and failing to deliver. A failure to consult, a failure to take people with you; the expectation was there, but it has not been delivered honestly.
Eight years, and we are now in a worse position than we have ever been as a Territory, at a time when expectations were so high. We have talked, even this morning, about how much was achieved with so little by those who have worked before. How is it that in eight years we have had so much hope and expectation, and a failure to deliver? So many dollars and resources have flowed into the Territory and we are now in a worse position: fewer kids are going to school, the results are falling and, worst of all, the expectation there would be a change has resulted in a sad disappointment, more so an increase in cynicism and a failure to believe that government can do a darn thing.
To compound this, we have had statements made and a failure to connect. I have had Indigenous people tell me at least with the Country Liberals they knew where they stood.
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: So you knew what you were working with. Here we have words upon words, positions that may sound okay but you do not know where they stand and you are letting down people who look and hope and expect to see something better, and they are in a worse position; that brings disillusionment at a time we need hope.
Now we have the extraordinary situation where the Chief Minister has been outed as one who has deliberately misled those who most need careful leadership at this time. The member for Arafura is in the best position to know exactly what has been promised and delivered by the Chief Minister in respect of outstations in the Territory. The former Deputy Chief Minister, now the Independent member for Arafura, her words are uncompromising and should not be left untested by this House. Today’s censure motion deals with this matter, it also touches on an issue which goes back to when Labor was elected in 2001.
Labor came to power promising a new deal for Aboriginal people in the Territory. It is a goal I supported then, and I support today. It is a promise that has not been delivered: as simple as that, as stark as that. In part, it is because the task - this is a fact, this is the reality - of lifting Aboriginal Territorians onto a path with other Territorians is a huge task, make no mistake.
The circumstances of today are the result of a long history and cannot be turned around overnight, but Territory Labor has been in government for eight years. It has had eight years to develop a policy platform that should have been delivering real results, measurable results, for Aboriginal Territorians. That is just not the case.
Education in the bush is going backwards. So much so, the Territory government has revised down its targets for literacy and numeracy results in bush schools - reduced the expectation - so hopefully, you can achieve your result. That is selling out. After eight years, the Territory government has thrown in the towel and accepted today’s kids in the bush will have substandard education results. You have just downgraded your targets; you are now expecting substandard results. This is a failure to expect any aspirational policy delivery, rather than an adjustment of the targets so you can be seen to achieve them for your own purposes. That is not a purpose that is going to satisfy anyone who is vulnerable and demands leadership, and careful attention to the difficult matters of changing things for those who are remote from here - those who hoped in you; those who expected there would be some kind of improvement; those who thought you were standing with them when, in fact, you were just using words and stood in a different place to suit your own political objectives.
Housing is an issue of burning need in the bush. Under Labor, the number of houses in the bush has actually declined between 2001 and 2006. Despite a rapidly increasing population in the bush and a massive surge in GST, overcrowding increased under Labor. I believe one of the reasons there has been so little progress in Aboriginal Affairs is Labor’s obsession with putting politics before policy. This is an extraordinary position the Territory finds itself in. That political obsession saw Clare Martin cling to the Indigenous Affairs policy well into the second term of the Labor government. Clare Martin was guarding against being forced into expensive policy options in the bush. Why would that be? Why would she adopt a position such as that? That path would have threatened Labor’s control of Darwin-based electorates. Politics was to come before policy. Shameful, Madam Speaker!
Honourable members recognise that game was played out in full view of those remote from this place who had their expectations raised so high. You can say certain things but you must deliver; otherwise you trash the hopes of those who look to you for some solution and way forward.
Labor’s handling of the Little Children are Sacred report is another case in point where politics ruled the government’s response; politics got in the way of the response. It is all about politics with Labor. When faced with the profound implications of the report, what was Labor’s first response? Sit on the report. Notwithstanding little children are sacred, they sat on the report. Why? Because political considerations were of greater importance than responding to the need that was screaming across this nation, and from quiet people from the corners of the Territory - sit on the report. Most people expect a vigorous response from the government of the day to a problem identified by a report that the government commissioned. They thought there would be swift and decisive action - put the politics aside, move into position, and respond as best we know how.
We had the talk this morning about those who have served in the Territory for so long with so little and achieved magnificent results. Now, we have so much but it has been clogged and blocked. Any consideration is blocked with the consideration of something far more important: how are you going to hold onto the northern suburbs? To heck with the children. Sit on the report. Shame!
Politically, Labor takes the bush for granted. They have had the opportunity, the capacity, and the expectation already established, but they took them for granted. They could trade on those votes so they can hold onto their power base in the northern suburbs. Shame!
I cite these examples because I believe they point to a failure by Labor to deal with Aboriginal issues in the way they promised. The latest example of this is the outstations policy. At the last election there was no mention that the outstations would be imperilled by a freeze on funding. When the review of outstations was announced, as the member for Arafura has stated, consultation was promised. After lip service to consultation, funding has been frozen. Labor has taken the bush for granted again. You think you can trade off these votes, take them for granted, because it is all about holding onto power, it is all about the politics, it is just a game after all, and the objective is to hold onto power. That is wrong. We need higher standards from the government of the day. The community is now demanding higher standards. If you provide that level of leadership, and provide help to those who expect that help, the community will support you.
Why is it we are in such a position today? Because the community started to sense the heart, the attitude, and the mind of this Labor government. Why was the result on 9 August as it was? Because they started to see what this creature, the Labor Party, is all about. Its motivation is, in fact, about the acquisition and the holding on to power. Say or do whatever it takes to hold on to power - that is what it is about. You go through the exercise. You say: ‘Yes, it is a big concern. We will commission a report and we will dress it up in the best possible terms’. In fact, it is a media exercise, it is a public relations exercise, and it is all about creating the right impression. But it is not. The people out there are expecting a result, and they are expecting leadership. The standards are now at a higher level than ever before. They want to see a government actually lead and cut through but we have had nothing of the kind. We have had those who are most vulnerable being neglected. We need higher standards from the government.
We need governments that are honest and forthright with the electorate no matter where they are or who voted for them. It is the right thing to do.
Today is an excellent opportunity to put this government on notice that deceit of the electorate will not be tolerated by this House. I need to make it plain that this censure is not about bringing the government down. The advice I have indicates that a successful censure motion does not make the Chief Minister’s position legally untenable. That is not the issue here. The issue is something far more important, and that is the need to hold the government and the Chief Minister to account, to deliver on those expectations of those who are vulnerable, those who had their expectations raised.
The opposition has pledged to ensure the passage of supply and will do so. Until supply is passed, we will not challenge the government’s numbers on the floor of the House. Of course, the Chief Minister will receive an extremely sharp rebuke if this censure passes; and I believe that is exactly, Madam Speaker and honourable members, what should happen. After eight years we now are in this position where those who are remote from us now must search for hope or, perhaps, have even forgotten what hope may be.
Madam Speaker, I urge members to support this censure motion.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Deputy Speaker, goodness gracious, what a pathetic contribution from the Leader of the Opposition.
I accept that the last week in Territory politics has been a difficult week; it has been a tumultuous week. It has been very difficult. We have had issues we have had to work through, that we have worked through amicably, and the member for Arafura has taken the sad decision to move to the cross bench.
The Opposition Leader comes in here with a censure motion of me, and sits down after 10 minutes. He tries to prosecute a censure motion of the Chief Minister on matters of critical import to the Northern Territory - improving the lives of Indigenous people - and all he has is 10 minutes. It is unprecedented. I am sure if anyone went back through the events which have occurred this week, with parliament sitting so soon after, it is a very feeble effort on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition.
I refute and deny that I, or my government, lied to Aboriginal people. In the implementation of A Working Future and the maintenance of funding for outstations; the improvement of service delivery to outstations through strengthened core towns in the Northern Territory with open, transparent, and accountable service delivery plans in place for residents of those outstations; we will continue to consult all the people who live on outstations, all the outstations service providers, members of this parliament who represent constituents who live on outstations, we will continue to consult with all those people regarding the implementation of the policy which was announced. That is an absolute commitment I have given to the member for Arafura, and I give to all Territorians, and it is one that I will keep.
If we go back to the genesis of this, in handing over responsibility for outstations, Mal Brough, as Indigenous Affairs minister in the previous federal government, said he was going to provide - we did not actually get the funding until the Labor government came to power - the funding for the Indigenous housing program, and we had to take responsibility for outstations. The federal government was going to hand over $20m a year, and it was a headache off the federal government onto the Northern Territory government. That is where this came from. In order to secure the funding for housing, which was the right thing to do, we have taken that on board.
There has been significant consultation and a commitment has been made. The $20m funding which was passed over from the Australian government to the Territory government for outstations was for three years. There was no ongoing commitment from the Australian government for that funding. We have said we will maintain that commitment and the existing funding to residents of those outstations but we will focus an increased effort through A Working Future and the 20 towns in the Northern Territory. This is work at a policy level which will continue to be developed, implemented and consulted with Indigenous people throughout the Northern Territory. That is a very clear commitment.
We also have a level of funding that has been committed by the Australian government and the Northern Territory government focused through these 20 Territory towns. The funding being allocated to drive a quality agenda in remote service delivery, in upgrading and building new houses throughout the Northern Territory, in creating jobs, improving education and health service delivery, and improving transport linkages between these towns and major regional communities is unprecedented. This is a plan that comes with a significant allocation of funding. Much of the detail has to be worked out in the delivery of that funding.
The consultation will continue as we implement the policy agenda. I have given a commitment to the member for Arafura and other members this policy affects: I will be out on the ground, listening and talking to Indigenous people across the Northern Territory as we roll-out this agenda.
The pretext of this motion, that the Chief Minister has lied to Aboriginal people, I refute and deny. The second part, that I have failed to deliver and will not consult with them on policy is wrong as well. We will continue to consult and work with Indigenous people with that very clear view shared by the Australian government: it is time to close the gap and put those resources in.
The Opposition Leader, in Question Time today, was weak and indecisive. He has no plans to lead the Territory apart from slashing public service jobs, and he certainly has no vision in closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. This was the Opposition Leader who went to the last Territory election …
A member: And nearly won!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … not one dollar in terms of election commitments were made to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. Not one single dollar. That was the level of their commitments. The level of commitment was they did not even run a candidate in two seats. To come in here with a motion that is pathetic in the extreme, is absolutely astounding.
Mr Bohlin: You went 11 months early, did you not? You called it 11 months early. Deceitful and sneaky.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Let us look at the records of this government. He talked about education and training. When we came to government in 2001, we inherited a policy which had been in place for 27 years of CLP government. They had a policy of not providing secondary education in remote communities. That was the policy of the previous CLP government - not to provide secondary education in remote communities, and if kids wanted to continue with an education, they had to go into town or interstate. That was their policy. Today, more than 100 Indigenous students have achieved a Year 12 NTCE from their own community. More than 1000 students completed their NTCE in 2008, including 154 Indigenous students - that is twice as many as five years ago
I acknowledge and accept that is not enough; it is no where near enough. Fundamentally, we have a driving commitment to improve Indigenous education, and a passion and zeal for that; we do not run away from the challenge, we do not hide from the challenge, we do not say to Indigenous kids: ‘If you are living in Numbulwar or Papunya or Oenpelli you have to go to Darwin or Alice Springs or to Queensland or Victoria to get a secondary education’. We are providing, and will continue to improve the delivery of, secondary education in the bush.
The Leader of the Opposition talks about Indigenous education outcomes declining in the bush. When they were in government, kids were not tested, there was no baseline. Kids in the bush did not matter; they were not tested, there was no baseline, it was out of sight, out of mind - a problem too hard to grapple with. We have committed to the national testing regime. We have put into the public realm and spotlighted, as it should be, the achievements and non-achievements of Indigenous kids. We have embarked on tackling the greatest challenge facing the Northern Territory: to improve Indigenous education remotely, regionally and in urban settings. It is a difficult challenge. I pay tribute to my parliamentary colleague, the member for Arafura. When she was the Education minister she was passionate about this and took some tough decisions. I acknowledge and pay tribute to that.
To say education standards are plummeting when what is happening now is the level of systemic underachievement is finally brought into the public spotlight, because we do not hide from it, you cannot fix a problem unless you acknowledge it. You cannot fix a problem unless you put all the issues on the table and challenge the Northern Territory community, challenge Indigenous communities and Indigenous families, challenge our education sector, challenge our principals, and challenge our teachers to acknowledge the centre of the problem and have a plan to resolve it and to turn it around. That is the brave step this government has taken. We could have continued with ‘out of sight, out of mind’, no public scrutiny, no testing - Indigenous kids do not get tested because they will not pass, so why bother testing them, and shine a light on the problem.
We know, and I am passionately committed to this as well as my colleagues and former colleague, that every Indigenous child can achieve if they are given the opportunity to achieve. They can achieve, they are bright kids, and they are smart kids. At Barunga this year, the theme was Smart Kids, Strong Culture - but smart kids up first. The principal at Barunga school, Anita Camfoo, delivered a stunning speech about what Indigenous kids should be achieving. There should be more Indigenous principals like her, who have been given the opportunity in the last five years, under this term of government, to be role models, leaders, people those kids can aspire to and look up to. It was an inspirational speech that has strengthened my resolve to continue to shine the light on what is a very significant problem, and to work through the issues of how we improve things with our Indigenous communities, teachers, principals, families, and acknowledge the extent of the problem and work our way through it.
To come in here and trawl out the ‘results are plummeting’, there are 100 Indigenous kids who have obtained their NTCE who would never have had that chance under the previous CLP government. There needs to be 1000 kids a year getting their NTCE - that we will strive to achieve. We have introduced the Clontarf Football Academy this year in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, which is providing those kids in our regional and urban centres who were also underachieving - this is not just about kids in the bush, this is about kids in town as well.
There was no structured, focused, committed attempt by previous CLP governments to stem the flow of kids leaving school at the end of Year 9. They were just dropping out of school, not going on to high school – there was no effort and no focus on how to re-engage those kids, keep them in school, provide alternative education programs. We know if a kid leaves school at the end of Year 9 and therefore does not get into Year 12, that kid is going to be missing out on opportunities for the rest of their life.
Clontarf and other programs are turning things around for hundreds of kids in the Northern Territory. In Alice Springs, where we first introduced Clontarf this year, I believe we had about 12 kids get their NTCE; next year, we will have about 25. I have been advised within two years there will be 50 to 60 Indigenous kids in Alice Springs getting their NTCE every year. That is 50 to 60 kids where, previously, you were lucky if there were one or two. In 10 years, that is 500 to 600 Indigenous young men in Alice Springs who will have a Year 12 education …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Welcome back. Good to see you here.
Mr Conlan: Good to be here. It is good to be back.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is hard to resist.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind you of Standing Order 51, please.
Mr Conlan: It is hard to resist the endearing comments from the member opposite.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you have just been reminded of Standing Order 51. I ask you to cease interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Certainly.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. That is 500 to 600 young men who will have a Northern Territory Certificate of Education who would not have had one under previous governments. That is transformational in a community the size of Alice Springs. We need to do things for the girls as well and we are looking at programs to do that.
We are also upgrading and building new schools throughout our regional communities. We have schools and classrooms going up in Alparra, Rosebery, Yirrkala, Yilpara, and Alekarenge. Works are already planned for Ross Park, Alawa, Yuendumu, Ramingining, Ngukurr and many others.
The Leader of the Opposition demonstrates a complete lack of leadership, because the greatest challenge he fumbled was to knock back the stimulus package. You have every single primary school, that means every single school in remote communities in the Northern Territory, will receive up to $3m in a Commonwealth-funded upgrade on top of the …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … committed to all those schools. The Leader of the Opposition said no to that, said no to those Indigenous kids in those regional and remote communities getting an upgrade to their school. He said no to that because the people who pull his strings in the Liberal Party in Canberra said: ‘You need to hold the line with our plan to vote against this policy’, and the Leader of the Opposition said: ‘Yes, okay, I will toe the line and do what you want’.
I was at the COAG meeting with Colin Barnett, who was also challenged if he was going to follow Malcolm Turnbull’s line, and Colin Barnett, to his credit as the Premier of Western Australia, said: ‘No, I will do what is in the best interests of Western Australia’, and that is virtually to take the money.
A member: No, he did not. He did not.
Mr HENDERSON: He did actually, because I was there having to sign the agreement.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It was an intergovernmental agreement.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: And he signed the agreement …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections.
Mr HENDERSON: The Western Australian Premier knows when the Commonwealth government comes around and says: ‘We want to upgrade every one of your schools in Western Australia’, you do not say no to that type of commitment. That is the lack of leadership the Leader of the Opposition has shown.
Health care: we have already seen some significant advancements in the delivery of primary health care regarding life expectancy for Indigenous men and women - some new results came out the other day – and better mortality rates for newborn babies in working with the Commonwealth.
I congratulate the member for Lingiari on being promoted to minister for Indigenous Health. I know he will work very closely with our Health minister on further driving a reform agenda to improve primary health care for Indigenous people and to improve health outcomes for Indigenous people.
When you are in government, and when you are passionate about closing that gap on Indigenous disadvantage, improving the lives of Indigenous people, you do have to take the tough decisions, and you do have to work in partnership with the Australian government because it is only the Australian government that has the financial resources to make the commitment that needs to be made in the Northern Territory, and which has desperately needed to be made for many years. I acknowledge and congratulate the Australian government in maintaining that commitment to the emergency response in the Northern Territory, given the appalling impact the global financial crisis has had on Commonwealth government revenues. Their revenues have collapsed, and they have maintained their commitment to that funding in the Northern Territory and remote parts of the Territory
When the federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, was here a couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to speak with him. I personally thanked him for ensuring the commitments under the emergency response, through the national partnership agreement with the Territory government, were maintained and were not subject to the razor gang wielded so effectively by Lindsay Tanner. It was the right thing for the Commonwealth government to do and I acknowledge that.
This is the most pathetic censure of a Chief Minister, I believe, in the history of this House. There are people who study parliamentary debate - I am not one of them - but I am sure people will look at all the censures of Chief Ministers, or attempted censures of Chief Ministers, over the years, particularly in light of significant events which occurred in the Territory body politic this week; and for the Leader of the Opposition to stand on his feet for barely 10 minutes is incredible.
I stand here committed to continue to lead strong, certain and good government for the people of the Northern Territory. That is my commitment to this House, to my colleagues and to the people of the Northern Territory. We have a plan, and we are implementing that plan. We are going to improve the lives of Indigenous people throughout the Northern Territory. This side of the House will not be supporting this motion.
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I welcome and support this censure motion.
Coming in this morning was very interesting. I was lucky I was not late because nearly all the chairs were taken on this side of the House; it was like Crowded House, the band. We are a full family on this side.
The reason we have brought on this censure motion is because of the process that has been utilised in bringing forward the Outstations Policy Discussion Paper. People would be aware we have given qualified, in-principle support for the creation of the hubs. What we have not given support for is the way this policy was announced and put upon people in the bush, providing instability. It was on 30 October 2008 when Marion Scrymgour, the member for Arafura, the previous Indigenous Policy minister and previous Deputy Chief Minister, released the draft Outstations Policy Discussion Paper which outlined the process of consultation with people about what was in the paper and how a new framework would be developed, and that the policy would be taken back to the people for consultation. Once that consultation was put in place, there would be economic modelling undertaken and, after that, they would seek to implement that model. Clearly, that has not happened.
Submissions to the Outstations Policy Discussion Paper closed on 1 December 2008. I draw attention to page 3 of the document, under section 1 where it talks about the different stages of the Outstations Policy Discussion Paper:
When this discussion paper was released by the then Minister for Indigenous Policy, she had the courtesy of sending me a copy to ensure I was aware of it. I received the media release, which spoke about the engagement of Patrick Dodson to participate in the community engagement process. The media release states:
There is plenty of time to go. It also talks about how outstations provide the opportunity for Indigenous Territorians to live on their traditional land, and we value the contribution of these people. There have been a number of submissions put to that discussion paper. It is interesting to note that it has now been removed from the website. I believe it was on the website titled action.nt.gov.au. I believe the Chief Minister must have realised that they are not about action, so they have removed it.
You only have to go through the submissions to the discussion paper from NT Shelter, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), and the Central Land Council. These would not be widely considered great friends of the Country Liberals, but I can tell you there are a lot of similarities in what we are saying. The concept of a hub is not a bad idea. The real question is: how do you get to that point and what is the economic modelling? Everything you put down in that discussion paper, why have those processes not occurred?
By speeding up and not bringing the people with him, the Chief Minister has put uncertainty in the minds of some 10 000 people who live on outstations in the Northern Territory - not having certainty about the future. The potential for people to move to Alice Springs, or Katherine, or Palmerston, or Darwin, or the northern suburbs creates real problems for the people who are thinking about relocating from where they live, and also for the people who live in those larger townships which do not have the infrastructure or services to deal with that added population base. We understand the government is incompetent when it comes to land release and increasing affordable housing, but these are some of the problems when people mobilise from bush to town. Unless you get the stuff in the town right, it is not going to work.
The fragile nature of people’s emotional state because of the launching of this A Working Future document is a disgrace. People now do not know where they are going to live. I am not saying every outstation is fully occupied for 12 months of the year. I know the intent of the government in looking at how outstations were funded for the 12 months and whether they are occupied for more than eight months, and the steps they went through; I understand it and I appreciate it. However, if you want to make change you have to move people with you.
People in the bush now do not have an understanding of what their future is, thanks to the premature release of this A Working Future discussion paper. The people in the bush now do not have confidence in the Labor Party or the Labor government to deal with those issues. He said he would consult with the people, and he has not. You only have to read through the discussion paper and the announcement, and people are asking: what is government going to give us?
For the last 30 years or so, through Labor policy, we have over-regulated people in the bush making them welfare dependent through all facets of service delivery frameworks. Now is the time to move to an economic model. Identifying those 20 hubs, whether the 20 are right or not, should have been on the basis of appropriate economic analysis, consultation with the community, working out what those economic opportunities are, then working with the community and moving forward. What the government has done is identified the 20 places, made an announcement, and if you do not live there, bad luck.
What happens if you live in Central Australia and only have Papunya, Hermannsburg and Yuendumu as hubs, and you live at Utopia? That is an outstation region. I appreciate there are surprises and government cannot continue to fund everything for a day, it must move to an economic model. There is no economic modelling in this policy announcement. There has been no consultation with the community about what that economic modelling might be, there is nothing about the opportunities there - and there are opportunities all over the Territory.
I will talk about one of those hubs because I believe this announcement was pure politics which has backfired in a bigger way than one would have imagined. The town of Elliott is a community which has most services: it has a small population; it has service stations; it used to have a council but now it is part of Barkly Shire; it has housing; it has tourist facilities; it has a pub; it has shops, it has all the things you would expect in a normal town – although it could have better economic opportunities. What does creating it as a hub do?
There is nothing in the discussion paper, so maybe it has something to do with the population. So you go through the ABS statistics and look at the population characteristics and identify them as the 20 largest places in the Territory. You think this must be because Labor realises they are on the nose, so if they tell the 20 largest populated communities they will put money into those communities, forget about the rest, they will have the political support they need to retain government. All that approach has done is see people who are living in places not included in the 20 hub communities feel displaced and dislocated, and the worst part about it is they were not consulted before it was done.
I do not believe the people not living in those 20 communities do not have economic opportunities where they can be self-sufficient. I believe they can be. There is nothing in this A Working Future document, the document is an absolute joke - a commitment of $1.6m per year for the next five years for each of the 20 hubs. Well, they might get 3.2 km of road, but that is not much of a transport strategy. How is that going to fix education?
The worst part is the Chief Minister did not go out to talk to people. How can the people of the Northern Territory have confidence in the Chief Minister when he will not even talk to them? He has come out with a discussion paper that says we are looking to reform things. People knew there was plenty of pain in that discussion paper when the member for Arafura released it. They knew there was going to be pain. You do not make substantial change without bringing people along with you. All it does is create problems.
Look at the position we are in now. We thought the Rees government in New South Wales was a joke, but we have taken a step back and gone further behind them; we are the laughing stock.
We all know in this House that there needs to be substantial policy change. We have had the big debates. Many of the things that A Working Future speaks about, in principle, we give qualified support to, however, if you are going to make changes, you need to bring the people with you. These people are the most marginalised through government policies - federal, Territory and local council. We have made Aboriginal people the most overregulated people in the country; in generalised terminology, everything is provided by government. We need to move to the economic model, but his policy has nothing about it. People on the ground know what those opportunities are; they are not stupid, they are very smart people. We should be talking with those people to get those ideas and opportunities moving forward.
Draw the line in the sand with the people to say that there is no more welfare dependence, but move to an economic approach. What you have done is just drawn a line in the sand and said: ‘Here it is; it has come 12 months early, and this is how it is going to be’. All it will do is create unhappiness between people who live in towns and people who live in the bush, because people are going to move together and live in towns. If people decide to move from outstations to hubs, how do we manage the cultural conflict that may eventuate? We know those things will be there. The money the government has put into this new initiative of A Working Future is about the same amount they have put towards the Darwin waterfront.
I recall a recent campaign by the Labor government - the non-action Labor government - where they took postcards of the members for Port Darwin and Brennan and sent them out to their electorates. Maybe we need to get the Chief Minister in a pair of budgie smugglers at the waterfront and send that out to the bush and say: ‘This is what we think. We are putting all this money into the waterfront, but will not put it in the bush’. It is the same principle. You invest here, but you are not putting anything into the bush. Surely, you have your priorities wrong.
Today, the new hospital site has been announced. I would like to see how much money that is going to cost. I bet it will cost more than $1.6m, which is what they are going to spend on each of these hubs each year for a five-year period.
They are going to put all this money into what the member for Karama called rivers of green. They are putting money into rivers of green in Darwin, but they will not put the money into the bush. A sensible person would run an economic argument over the hospital site to make it pay for itself, but not Labor - not the reds. They have to do everything and pay for the lot. That is exactly the same approach you have taken in A Working Future - everything is government - one in, all in …
Dr Burns: What is your policy? What is your expenditure?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: It is all public housing, what about the private sector? Where are the real estate people? Where are the real estate people who have come in to look after the outstations? There are plenty of opportunities there. I believe this is a failed government with the Chief Minister at the helm, sailing a ship that is sinking with all those holes starting to leak. We have seen a big leak already.
When you make a substantial change, you must take the people with you. That is why the Chief Minister is being censured; because he has not taken the people with him. I am not sure about everyone else’s office on this side, but my office has just been flooded with calls from people unhappy about this. Not everyone disagrees with the approach but it is about the process that was undertaken. That is where the government is arrogant, by thinking it can just come up with a half-hearted policy, thought up in a couple of months and rolled out - a long-term approach needs to be taken. You may not get all the things you want in a policy which has been widely consulted, because people who you consult with have a different approach, but surely you have to drum through a message about economic reform and you have not done it. You have not got the economic reform, you have not put the money into it, and you have not consulted.
You tell these people that everyone has to be subservient to government-run programs and services, and then you acted like a mendicant and ran to Canberra asking for more money. What about the private sector? No wonder there is a downturn in the economy. What was the percentage the other day – 9%? No wonder these things happen when you do not put forward models for private sector investment.
I was talking to the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council earlier today who was telling me he would love to see economic development. I am not interested in the argument of whether you love the Tiwi Land Council personalities or not, but there are substantial opportunities on the Tiwi Islands. The farmers have no water in Victoria. Why not look at that as a model for the economic development of farming on the Tiwis to then be the food bowl? It is a hypothetical idea, but these are things which should have been considered as part of this policy. That is what economics is all about. I know that Labor does not understand that.
What do we do now with the people who are disenfranchised? I have said before in this parliament that I am happy to sit down, in a bipartisan way – take the politics out of it – and work together. I thought I would be afforded the opportunity to look at the paperwork, discuss it, work out where some of the problems were and, then, try to move forward. However, we are now in the position where everyone who lives on outstations – 10 000 people – are not sure of their destiny.
We are in a difficult position right now. The people who live in the hub towns – the big communities – make sure that the member for Lingiari retains his seat because he has the political support. We do not have a position where we know how to move forward. The hubs are quantitative, although no one knows what they are going to do. What will a transport strategy for Elliott do? You can drive to Elliott and drive back out. Are we going to utilise the airport or the landing strip there more? I am not sure.
The policy put in place by this government, which had absolutely no consultation, has left a distasteful flavour in the mouths of people right across the Territory. It is no surprise to me to hear Aboriginal people now talking about the potential for an Indigenous party. The Country Liberals are rebuilding our brand in the bush. People in the bush know that we are all about the economy and real jobs. But those rusted-on-reds, the dyed-in-the-wool Labor supporters, are saying: ‘Where can we go?’ That is why they are talking about new options, because for those people who are dyed-in-the-wool Labor, where do they go? We will take the people who want to come to us, because we are trying to help, but for those other people, Labor has sold them out - all the promises under the sun, and delivered nothing. Education results going backwards; housing not being built; public housing numbers decreasing; and business investment in the private sector in the bush going backwards.
Madam Speaker, nothing has been delivered. This is the party which relies on the bush electorate. We are the people fighting for it. I do not understand what the difference is here. The Chief Minister does not want to consult with the constituents who keep him in parliament. I congratulate the member for Arafura; I have said it in the media many times, as someone who stands by her principles. You get elected by your electorate; you stand up for your electorate. And that is exactly what she did, and I support that. It is a pity other people on the other side of the Chamber have not done that. But they are not to blame. It is the Chief Minister who rushed forward with this half-baked policy idea, with no background, no detail, no costings, and no strategies. It was an umbrella, announcing the other strategies some time later on.
The real question is about how we go forward. The Chief Minister does not have the confidence of the Northern Territory people to implement this policy. He does not have the confidence of the people to run government. How are we, as a parliament, supposed to restore confidence in those people so they know they have a future, they know they have a destiny, and they know they can move into the real economy? The Chief Minister has pathetically failed; he has rushed out, under the pump about Indigenous policy, announced this, and has come up short. For all those people who ring my office and the stakeholder groups who have an interest in this area, who are really concerned, we will continue to fight for those people and we will continue to try to grow the economy in the bush.
We will bring in substantial reform when we are in government and we will ensure those people can live on their country, and can live in an economically sustainable manner. That is what it is about; it is not about welfare dependence like the Labor Party. We will support people with this change; we will consult; we will not ride roughshod over people in their democratic approach and the position of their livelihoods. We will not take the approach of the Chief Minister. We will be the party of participation and consultation, to make sure people know where they are going.
We will not disenfranchise people so they feel they have to move off their own country and into town. For that reason, I support the Opposition Leader in this censure motion, and I condemn the Chief Minister for this poorly constructed policy and poor implementation.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I stand here to talk about what has occurred in the last 10 days. I know there have been many publicly released details of A Working Future. I have had a number of discussions with the Chief Minister, the Minister for Indigenous Policy and many of my colleagues, concerning a number of issues in the A Working Future policy. I accept that it is the government’s policy, but there are some things I cannot agree with. However, there are many things that I do support.
I listened to the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Braitling in a partisan ‘slug fest’ in this place motivated by the Leader of the Opposition’s desire to become Chief Minister sooner rather than later, which serves no one’s interest but his own. That message is very loud and clear in this. This is politics: nothing more, nothing less. Members of the CLP are standing up and taking cheap shots, saying they are the party for Aboriginal people.
Walking into this place this morning was a great sadness for me. I have always been a member of the Labor Party. To be danced into this parliament in 2001, as a member of the Labor Party and the Labor government, was a source of great pride, not just for myself but for my people and all the constituents I represent, not just on the Tiwi Islands but, particularly West Arnhem - often we look at the Tiwi Islands but we do not look at the fantastic people and places in West Arnhem. It was sad for me coming in today. The reality is that I am no longer a part of the Labor government. But one thing I did swear, because it is important for all Territorians, is that they need stability within government. I talked to a number of people, not just my constituents. I went out bush at the weekend to escape the media circus and everything else that was beat up. I went out bush and talked and sat down – there is nothing more refreshing than sitting on top of Ubirr to allow more clarity about why you are here.
The whole purpose of this censure motion is an attempt to play wedge politics, using ammunition provided by media comments over the last 10 days or so. I am not going to buy into that; it is childish. People talk about maturity - every member of this parliament is duly elected by their constituents and I believe the childish behaviour, the issue of A Working Future, of homelands, of Indigenous policy, is too important for our people to play cheap shots, to use it as a political wedge. That is exactly what this is: a cheap shot, political wedging, at its best - trying to get ammunition from what is being played out in the media over the last 10 days.
Madam Speaker, I have very clearly articulated and had very clear discussions with the Chief Minister; I have given a commitment to work through this. I have made an offer, and it has been accepted, by the Minister for Indigenous Policy, to go out bush together, into my electorate - dates have already been set - we will talk particularly to the two main communities in West Arnhem, which will be the hub communities, to look at the region. We will travel together and sit down in the bush.
I was listening to the member of Braitling saying the CLP represents many Aboriginal people; I believe the CLP has a long way to go. Whilst people are feeling disillusioned and there is unhappiness out there, I believe many Aboriginal people, including my own constituents, see the Labor Party as the party of choice. I made the decision, and it was my decision, after a lot of discussion with the Chief Minister, to separate myself from the party. That decision was not taken lightly.
As I said, I have given a firm commitment to support the government. We need to have stable government and I have absolutely no intentions of playing cheap politics with the CLP and the Leader of the Opposition.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, we reject outright the accusations we have lied to Aboriginal people. The CLP is playing pure politics with the lives of the most disadvantaged people in the Northern Territory. If we go back to some of the reasons why Aboriginal members have stood for the Labor Party in the Northern Territory, and if I look at my own journey with the Yanyuwa Garrwa people in the Gulf of Carpentaria, for nearly three decades members opposite and the party they represent fought strongly against the betterment of lives of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. Completely fought against any of the economic developments Aboriginal people wanted to do on their lands across the Northern Territory; completely fought against Aboriginal people being successful in any sense of self-determination, and any sense of economic development.
They sit here today wanting to drive a complete wedge against those members who have fought passionately on behalf of not only their constituents, but also on behalf of the people they represent within their own family and clan groups.
A member: That is the party line.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, they do not want to listen now.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The minister has the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Feeling a bit uncomfortable are you, Terry? They do not want to listen now. The member for Braitling spoke absolute rubbish, absolute garbage, about the future of this policy. I am astounded at the drivel coming from the member for Braitling, and surprised, because I expected more from the member for Braitling; there was terrific hope for his future.
Let us have a look at some of the issues that have been raised here. Let us talk first about the issue of travelling across the Northern Territory. People in the communities of Galiwinku, Maningrida, Ngukurr, Borroloola, Yirrkala, Timber Creek, Tennant Creek, Yuendumu, Ti Tree, Darwin, Nguiu, Alice Springs, Tjuwanpa, Gunbalanya, Katherine, Wadeye, Daly River, Oenpelli and, subsequently, Alpara and Ampilatwatja, have been consulted. But, according to the opposition, they do not count - they do not count.
Let us be clear about this; the briefing is there for people who want to know this: outstations and homelands currently get approximately $36m per year in municipal and infrastructure support, and they will keep getting that money. On top of this, they will continue to receive education, health and other key government services. Each and every outstation and homeland will see how that money is spent because the Territory government will have an open book on the funding. Residents will know exactly how much government funding their outstation or homeland is eligible to receive, and where they can access services. No money will be spent on outstations where people do not live - a little common sense, please! That means there will be more money for those who really need it.
I agree that outstations and homelands can be healthy places to live; no one disagrees with that. My own families live on outstations in the Gulf region and are perfectly happy and healthy, but even they acknowledge that unless the town of Borroloola has the facilities to grow and support the economic development of the region, it does not matter how many other outstations in the area grow. We must ensure, as government …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: See, they do not care, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: That is the record of the CLP government; in three decades of leadership, they did not give a toss for the regions. At least we have a vision for the future for these regions, and the people in these regions can have a choice.
What we all know is having an active working lifestyle makes people healthier. Overall, the government’s policy focus is on ensuring better health decisions by all Aboriginal people, whether they live in the cities, towns or in homelands or outstations.
A team of people within the Office of Indigenous Policy worked with officials throughout government to arrive at the list that was, ultimately, approved by Cabinet. These 20 growth towns were chosen based on community and regional population, geographic location, existing and planned government services and infrastructure, and potential for development of commercial enterprises.
I took over the seat of Arnhem in 2005 from my predecessor, John Ah Kit, who was absolutely passionate about wanting to see reforms in local government and who had the courage to have a vision - even though the opposition laughed down that vision. He wanted to see the local government infrastructure and governance for Aboriginal people improve at a level consistent with governance in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, and Darwin city. Why should Aboriginal people in these communities not have equality of services? Why do you attack that …
Mr Mills: Do you think we are against that?
Ms McCARTHY: Why do you attack that? Why is it that you did nothing in your three decades of government? Yet, John Ah Kit had the vision and the courage to drive it, which was then followed by Elliot McAdam, who could see the reforms in these regions were absolutely vital, not just for Aboriginal people, but for all people who lived in the region.
Mr Mills: Why did he leave?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We listened to what the member for Braitling had to say in silence. Now, we have opposition members - Standing Order 51 - deliberately trying to interfere with what the member is saying. I am very interested. Here is someone who has passion and history, and she deserves to be heard in this parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51 relating to no interruptions.
Ms McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Elliot McAdam followed through on that dream and that vision and, as a government, we have the responsibility to also lead in a particular direction. My predecessor, John Ah Kit, followed by Elliot McAdam, had the courage to lead in the governance of these regions. Yes, it is tough and change is difficult, but it is for the better. Many people, even in the Roper Gulf Shire, know we are making major headway in those areas. But that could not have happened unless we had people with courage and vision to lead. And that is what is happening here with Chief Minister, Paul Henderson. We are absolutely 100% behind the A Working Future policy of our government.
We have not lied to the Aboriginal people, Madam Speaker, and the CLP is playing pure politics against the member for Arafura for her beliefs. She has consistently said, publicly and in this House today, that she is continuing to work with us for the betterment of her constituency of Arafura, but also for economic and regional development across the Northern Territory.
Like no Territory government before, this Labor government has delivered for Indigenous people, and delivers for the remote Territory. Let us take education as an example. We have already heard from the Treasurer that this year’s budget delivers $808m for education and training. This includes substantial investment in the remote Territory for school infrastructure upgrades, making schools places where children want to go, and places where children can learn. With a growing population and increased efforts to make sure children go to school and attend regularly we need more teachers. We know we have more work to do. We need intensive operational support for remote and regional schools where Indigenous students are demonstrating low educational outcomes. This intensive support is critical if we are to make headway on Indigenous education outcomes. We know we have to grow our regions. We know we have to grow our local employment, our young, but we have to grow towards something. We cannot keep sending our children to school, asking them to get through to Year 12, and not deliver in the very towns they live …
Mr Mills: Hear, hear! We agree!
Ms McCARTHY: We have to do that. So there is no problem; all of a sudden, the Leader of the Opposition is supporting this motion. I welcome that. I support …
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: Well, you are supporting the Chief Minister, then, because that is his vision.
A member: Indeed! But we could deliver. We would not mislead, and we would take people with us …
Ms McCARTHY: You never delivered. You had the opportunity.
A member: No, I have never actually been in government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: In Indigenous health, we are delivering remote health services which will employ teams of midwives and Aboriginal Health Workers in Darwin and Alice Springs to support Aboriginal women leaving remote communities to give birth. Added funding will target child protection, therapeutic and residential care unit workers, and expand chronic disease programs. We will continue to improve safety outcomes for our remote communities through extra police and the Child Abuse Task Force; family and sexual violence support and prevention services - these services did not exist under the CLP’s management of these regions.
We have not lied to Aboriginal people. We have not lied to the people of the Northern Territory. We stand strong and committed to the future growth for all people of the Northern Territory; we are a government for all people in the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I move that the motion be now put.
Motion negatived.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have given my leave to the member for Fong Lim to make a short personal explanation. I remind honourable members that a personal explanation is not a debate and it is the custom to listen in silence.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): Madam Speaker, yesterday on ABC radio, the member for Johnston, Chris Burns, was broadcast making the following comment:
The member for Johnston’s assertion was that I had contacted the new Independent member for Arafura with a view to gaining her support for me in a leadership tilt. This is untrue, and I can only conclude that the member for Johnston was motivated to make this false statement to try to deflect attention away from the internal political crisis of the Labor Party.
At no time, over the past few very eventful days in Northern Territory politics, did I contact the member for Arafura. I place on the public record that the comments made on the ABC radio by the member for Johnston are false.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 218 petitioners praying that an inquiry be held into the viability of the proposed development of 401 and 377 Wooliana Road, Daly River. 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.
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 840 petitioners, including 232 petitioners signatures not attached to the petition terms of reference, praying that bilingual programs in NT schools be maintained. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms to the requirements of standing orders. Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read.
current bilingual programs are effectively closed against the wishes of the communities involved;
access to English literature and knowledge of western curriculum areas will be significantly more difficult if understanding is not achieved first in the language that the children speak,
the nationally and internationally recognised work done by the NT Bilingual Program will be discontinued,
Aboriginal teachers and education workers will have greatly reduced career paths, and
the rights of Indigenous people are being undermined.
Mr McCARTHY (Barkly)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 649 petitioners, including 273 electronic signatures not attached to the petition terms of reference, relating to the ongoing service of a resident obstetrician at the Tennant Creek Hospital. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from another 731 petitioners that an independent review be commissioned to assess the adequacy of the resources, policies, procedures, and systems at the Royal Darwin Hospital and Acute Care Services. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms to the requirements of standing orders.
This petition is in similar terms to a previous petition presented in the October 2008 sittings and the February 2009 sittings. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure I report on my recent visit Timor-Leste on 27 and 28 May this year. I was accompanied by the Minister for Asian Relations and Trade, and the Minister for Public Employment, and led a 60-strong delegation. The delegation comprising government, community, education and business representatives was the largest delegation to visit Timor-Leste since the country’s independence in 2002. It included the Lord Mayor of Darwin, the Vice Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, the Director of the Menzies School of Health, the President of the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory, and the CEO of the Northern Territory Football Federation.
The size of the group demonstrates the depth of our existing relationship with Timor-Leste and the potential for further growth. Timor-Leste is a small but fast growing economy and the Territory is well positioned to take advantage of trade and investment opportunities to the benefit of both jurisdictions.
The principal reason for my visit was to participate in the inaugural Timor-Leste/Northern Territory Ministerial Forum which I co-chaired with the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Jose Luis Guterres. The ministerial forum, established to promote and monitor government, community and business interaction, was attended by the two ministers accompanying me and a number of Timorese ministers. We reviewed cooperation on many fronts with particular focus on the internship scheme to build capacity within the Timorese civil service.
Later in the visit I had the opportunity to meet the first four officials who will commence their assignments in Darwin next month. At the conclusion of the forum I hosted a lunch to enable the accompanying delegation to meet and discuss their interests with the Acting Prime Minister and other ministers and senior officials who participated in the forum. The next ministerial forum is tentatively scheduled for November this year in Dili.
With the Acting Prime Minister Guterres, I had the pleasure of opening the Northern Territory Business Seminar in Timor-Leste which was co-chaired by the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr George Roussos, and the Vice President of the Business Forum of Timor-Leste, Mr Vincente Ximenes.
The aim of the seminar was to promote and strengthen business interaction across a range of sectors. The seminar, attended by up to 120 people, provided a good venue for the business communities of Timor-Leste, including Australians operating in the country, and the Northern Territory, to come together to develop new contacts, or renew existing ones, and discuss opportunities.
Time prevents me from discussing in detail each appointment and event in my program, so I will only mention a few. I met with the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education and Culture, and the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment to discuss the education and training opportunities the Territory has to offer to a nation with a high percentage of the population under the age of 25. During the visit, Charles Darwin University and the Menzies School of Health Research jointly offered two PhD scholarships for Timorese students in the health field, fully funded with a significant stipend as well. I presented competency certificates awarded by Darwin-based training provider ICAE to PDL Toll hospitality employees.
I also had a productive discussion with the President of Timor-Leste, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta whom I presented with a signed shirt from the Casuarina Football Club – it has been a bit of a football day today – which has close ties with the country, and of which I am patron.
The Northern Territory and Timor-Leste are developing a rich sporting friendship which was demonstrated by the large Timorese contingent of 120 players and officials attending the Arafura Games last month. Timor-Leste won gold in the Under 18 men’s football competition, repeating their success in the Timor Sea Cup in September 2008. With football such a passion in Timor-Leste and an ideal way to develop community relations, it gave me great satisfaction to offer two football scholarships as part of the inaugural Northern Territory Institute of Sport football program to commence in 2010. I thank my colleague, the Sports minister, for assisting me in that effort.
During my visit, I also had the honour to meet with Darwin-based troops serving in Dili and Baucau, as well as a young volunteer with the Belun NGO and was able to pass on our appreciation to these Territorians who are doing a magnificent job in Timor-Leste. The visit to the troops in Dili and Baucau was very special. To meet with those young soldiers, have lunch with them, and talk to them about the great contribution they have made over the last eight months, away from family and friends in Darwin and elsewhere in Australia, was an enormously rewarding experience for all of us. Our soldiers are doing a wonderful job in Timor-Leste and they are committed to working with the people to build peace in that country and to share their expertise - they are a fine body of young men and women, and very fine Australians.
My thanks to the Australian Ambassador and his staff, and to officials from my department for the support provided to make this visit such a success.
The Timorese community is a significant community group in the Northern Territory. They form an important component in what is a unique and long-enduring relationship with Timor-Leste. Our friendship will continue to grow as government, community, education, and business interactions strengthen and expand. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I welcome the report. I followed with interest this delegation and received a number of reports, which were very favourable. This is a very important activity to provide engagement which builds people-to-people engagement and results in things we are looking for, such as relationships which lead to trade.
I particularly welcome the contribution announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Barney Glover. I understand it was very well received and very generous, indeed. I trust from those kinds of announcements much will come.
I would like to have the details on the nature of the internships, the budget that has been allocated, and the ongoing support. We need more than just announcements. We need information such as the ongoing structure which sits underneath these announcements, which is very important.
It would also be good to draw some reference to the AusAid dollars that flow from this nation into our region and, in large amounts, into East Timor, to see how we can better position ourselves in the Northern Territory to acquit some of those funds through the Northern Territory. There is an opportunity there and it would be good to hear a report on that.
I also commend the Speaker for the support of a planned engagement from parliament to parliament. It is very important, if we are building people-to-people, that we build those democratic institutions within the region. That has the full support of the Territory opposition and would be a tremendous gesture to provide genuine support to build democratic institutions in this fledging country. In fact, we have an obligation to provide that support. I look forward to ongoing support for that project.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I do not know whether it is Groundhog Day in the parliament or not. I welcome the contribution from the Leader of the Opposition because, whilst we were over there, he did nothing but bag the visit. He called it a junket. He asked why on earth three ministers had to go, why he was not invited, and tipped an absolute bucket …
Mr Mills: No, I did not. You are exaggerating.
Mr HENDERSON: Oh, yes you did! I had to deal with it whilst I was over there. You tipped an absolute bucket on the delegation. It was not until the Leader of the Opposition actually realised that not only was he tipping a bucket on me but a bucket on the Vice-Chancellor, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Executive of Menzies School of Health Research, the Lord Mayor of Darwin, two other aldermen, about 40 business people, as well as the CEO of the Football Federation of the Northern Territory, he woke up to himself and said: ‘Whoops, I have that one wrong, I should not have tipped a bucket on that one’. They all knew. I am glad he has come on board and acknowledged that Timor-Leste is a very important country to us.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I inform the parliament today about the management of the human swine influenza, H1N1 outbreak and how this might affect members of the community.
As members would be aware, I had personal experience with this. I had to stay home for a day until the tests came back, and they came back negative. It is important that we continue to be informed and vigilant in our efforts to minimise the spread of the disease. The human swine influenza virus first emerged in Mexico and then became a significant cause of death. The new virus has spread throughout the world and has led to major public efforts to contain it in over 50 countries.
As of this morning, there have been 1211 confirmed cases in Australia, and a new case confirmed in Alice Springs this morning. So we have seven confirmed cases in the Northern Territory. Contact tracing is under way in all cases. It is important to point out that a confirmed case becomes inactive after they are medically determined to no longer carry the disease, which is usually around seven days. This means although they are confirmed, they are no longer carry the disease and cannot pass it on. Fortunately, the disease appears to be mild and self-limiting in the great majority of cases in Australia; there have been no deaths in Australia. However, we are taking this disease seriously and working hard to manage the risk to Territorians.
I have requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Health and Families to release the location of confirmed cases in the Northern Territory. There are currently two cases in Alice Springs, two on the Tiwi Islands, and three in the Darwin region. Last week, due to the confirmed case of a teacher in Alice Springs, the Ross Park Primary School was closed; this school has now reopened.
Arrangements have been made for all remote communities in the Northern Territory to be provided with a stock of anti-influenza medication and preventative equipment. Remote health staff are alert in monitoring people, particularly those with chronic disease, and can provide the necessary treatment quickly. Vaccinations for seasonal influenza are also being offered. Current management of the influenza in the Northern Territory is at a delay/contain stage of the pandemic plan. All travellers who come from places where swine flu is prevalent and experience flu-like symptoms are requested to contact their GP or hospital emergency departments for further advice and management. These places include USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Panama and Melbourne. The plan has been extended to request all schoolchildren returning from Melbourne, Victoria, to remain at home for seven days after their return, as the disease has been most prevalent in school-aged children.
In the Northern Territory I have experts at the Centre for Disease Control managing a response. I thank all the health personnel involved for their tireless efforts in managing the outbreak. Territorians can be assured we have sufficient supplies of anti-viral medication and protective equipment to manage the current situation and foreseeable future. We have access to the nation’s stockpile of anti-viral medication and other relevant equipment as necessary. I am continuing to discuss the issue with Australian Health ministers regularly to work on our national influenza plans and actions as the situation grows.
The situation is extremely fluid, and I would like to reassure you, the Northern Territory government is well prepared to respond quickly as required. The Leader of the Opposition was offered an update briefing last week, which he declined, and he declined to pass on the offer to his other members. The opposition is seeking to remain deliberately uninformed. The offer remains open for the opposition to take up a briefing from the experts, to ensure their comments are informed.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I realise the minister is fluent in English but he does have a very thick accent which makes it very difficult to understand at the best of times, but near impossible to understand when he has flu symptoms and when he is speaking very quietly. I know it has to do with swine flu, and I am pleased to see that the minister has recovered, or at least was not infected with swine flu; that is very good for his health.
May I ask why the Northern Territory government has stopped issuing public alerts to new swine flu cases, except on their website which is not accessible to all Territorians? Why they are not issuing daily media releases, which can be reported in our newspapers, or radio or television, of new cases of swine flu? Why have they stopped doing that and isolated it simply to the website? Can the minister update - I am sorry if he did mention it and I did not catch it - on the progress of schools. I believe the schools in Alice Springs have reopened today. But with regard to Territory public schools where we are, at this stage, with possible swine flu infections?
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his comments. Yes, I asked the department to issue all releases advising Territorians how many cases and where these cases have occurred. I was extremely disappointed because the department, without advising anyone, decided not to provide daily media releases; and not provide, for reasons of privacy, where these cases occurred. This policy now has been reversed. I have instructed that we have the right to know where and when, and the department will follow my advice.
The schools in Alice Springs are now all open. Ross Park School opened after the patient who was infected was placed in isolation. Currently, we have seven cases in the Territory; there are two people awaiting tests, and hopefully they will prove negative.
I am very pleased I tested negative, otherwise there would be a hell of a job for the department trying to trace people because within a very small period of time, in a place like the Territory, you can meet a lot of people. In two days I managed to meet the Leader of the Opposition, I had a Cabinet meeting, met the Chinese Ambassador and attended the APPEA Conference. One of the delegates, ex-Premier Richard Court, was ringing my office every hour on the hour to find out if I was negative, because he was about to fly to Japan.
Dr BURNS (Asian Relations): Madam Speaker, today I inform members of the outcome of my trade mission to Singapore, Vietnam and Japan over the period 12 to 20 May 2009.
As the Minister for Trade, Asian Relations, Tourism and Business, this mission was strategically developed to maximise new trade opportunities, promote local industry capability directly to potential major investors, and to continue to strengthen bilateral relations with governments in our region.
In Singapore, I met with Australia’s High Commissioner and discussed a range of potential investment and trade opportunities. An immediate opportunity which will be vigorously pursued is to stage a Northern Territory Oil and Gas Seminar in Singapore to attract investment and partnerships with local businesses involved in this sector. The High Commissioner stated that, despite the global financial crisis, there remained many ‘cashed-up’ Singaporean companies looking to expand, and Australia is seen positively and as a favoured country. Evidence of this opportunity is Singaporean companies like Keppel Offshore and Marine, one of the world’s largest offshore and marine groups, visited Darwin earlier this month and met with the Chief Minister. Discussions with the Chief Minister centered on establishing an oil and gas service point in Darwin, and directly working with existing Territory-based businesses to do so. This is a real opportunity and we will be progressing with the full support of the Australian High Commission in Singapore.
My next destination was Vietnam. Vietnam is an exciting country that continues to grow. We see Vietnam as an emerging market of great potential for the Territory; in particular, live cattle exports, tourism, international education and sporting links were directly progressed. I am pleased to state live cattle exports direct to Vietnam are expected to commence around September this year. This has been the culmination of extensive collaboration between the Territory government and private industry to open this new market. I congratulate all concerned, and look forward to hearing how this trade progresses. I commend the minister for Primary Industry and his department.
International education was another positive outcome. During my meeting with the Phuong Nam Company, it was announced it would send more of its senior staff to Charles Darwin University in 2009 to undertake hospitality and English language training. Again, this was the culmination of work initiated between the government and the university, and whilst a small start, it continues to grow well.
In terms of tourism, Vice Minister Ai and I have agreed to investigate opportunities to expand two way visitations between our jurisdictions, building on the aviation links between Darwin and Ho Chi Minh City.
In Japan, the mission was twofold. First, to promote local industry capability directly to INPEX to ensure Territory based businesses benefit from the potential $12bn onshore development, and promote mineral investment opportunities in the Territory to major Japanese investment and trading companies. During my meeting with INPEX I spoke directly with President Kuroda and the Managing Director of INPEX Browse Limited, Mr Jiro Okada, and presented the case for Territory business, which was well received. I stressed by using the Northern Territory Industry Capability Network, INPEX would have extensive experience and proven Territory industry capability at their fingertips. I also stressed this organisation has been successful in delivering other major projects in the Territory, such as the AustralAsia Railway and the ConocoPhillips Darwin LPG plant.
In Japan, I had the opportunity to view the impressive gas to liquid demonstration plant and receive briefings from senior JOGMEC officials.
In Tokyo, I was very pleased to open the Northern Territory Investment Seminar, the second one to be held, at the Australian Embassy, promoting over 40 Northern Territory exploration projects ready for investments. I was also pleased to directly support Northern Territory companies and others which had travelled to Tokyo for this seminar, such as Toro Energy, Central Petroleum, TNG Limited, Energy Metals, CSA Global and Clayton Utz. I look forward to hearing of future successful investment, and there are some follow-ups occurring due to that seminar.
Despite the uncertain economic conditions globally, there remains many opportunities for new trade, and these Asian countries are taking a longer term perspective on their relationship with the Northern Territory. It is my priority, as the responsible minister, to work hard to exploit these opportunities and turn them into real and tangible economic outcomes for Territorians.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I welcome the report. I note, with some delight, the reference to promoting the case for a logistics hub in the Top End - something we have been advocating for some time. You have our support on that.
Importantly, this kind of engagement needs to be followed up. I hope we get to the stage where we have secure representation on an ongoing basis within these places to continue the work as some of the other states do. I believe there is a great opportunity there.
International students are very pleased there has been some effort here. This is a place, given what is going on nationally, where the Territory can position itself very well with international students. I am aware that Vice-Chancellor Barney Glover is particularly keen on this area. So, minister, you will have my, and our, full support in developing those links.
I would be very interested to hear any further updates on the Garuda mission and anything which has flowed to you from that. Much of what we speak about, tourists and international students, in particular, cannot fly if we do not have proper connections to Darwin. Being close to the region is all well and good but if we do not have regular flights in and out, and choice for locals, these just become hypothetical ideas. We need to have some progress on that. I look forward to any update we have on the Garuda issue.
Dr BURNS (Asian Relations): Madam Speaker, to address the second issue the Leader of the Opposition raised in terms of progress, Mr Justin Vaughan has recently travelled to Jakarta and had further meetings together with Jim Parashos from NT Airports Corporation, with Garuda and I am yet to receive that report. He has only returned over the weekend from that trip, so I will be looking forward to that.
The Leader of the Opposition raised a very important issue about Northern Territory representation in some of these foreign countries, and whether we should have a person based there. There has been quite a change in that the Australian Embassy, Australian High Commission, and the Australian Consulates are actually providing many excellent services to the Northern Territory government in terms of support, arrangements and briefings. I believe the days of having people based in various places are over. There has been a change of policy by the federal government to give support. All the feedback I had, particularly in Japan, was that the Northern Territory is punching above its weight, and it is engaging with the business sectors there. So there is a new paradigm of doing business, Leader of the Opposition, and this government is embracing it.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
Continued from 30 April 2009.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I wish give comfort to the government that, in this instance, we will not be opposing this bill. The Financial Management Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 37) is designed to accommodate, essentially, the operation of the new IGA which was negotiated and began operation on 1 January this year, if memory serves me correctly.
By virtue of the way NPs and SPPs will be paid to the Northern Territory in the future, the structures of the old Financial Management Act, or pre-amendment legislation, would not capture the terms of the IGA. As members are aware, this is the vehicle by which the goods and services tax, as well as other income, is received by the Northern Territory.
We are - depending on which document you read – 80% reliant on federal sources, some 65% to 70% GST reliant. I notice that our relativity has shifted substantially over recent times, and the projections from the Commonwealth Grants Commission see us pushing up towards a relativity of six, which is a surprisingly high number - not ungrateful - as a result of the disabilities which we have as a jurisdiction. It is a very high number compared to some of the other jurisdictions. If some of the attitudes expressed by Victoria and New South Wales in recent times are anything to go by, they will clearly try to erode our position in that area. However, that is an aside. In fact, these amendments simply enable the new payment system to operate.
We have no problem with it on this side of the House. It is a commonsense amendment to legislation that has served the Territory reasonably well, and I look forward to operating within this.
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, I support the Financial Management Amendment Bill. It is an important and very worthy bill, and serves to implement the revolutionary new way the Northern Territory receives funds from the federal government.
In November 2008, an intergovernmental agreement on federal financial relations was approved by the Council of Australian Governments, or COAG. With this new agreement is the introduction of a new framework which facilitates financial arrangements between the Commonwealth and states and territories. Essentially, this high-level funding agreement will greatly improve efficiency and transparency by simplifying and streamlining funding arrangements. Under these new arrangements, payments which were previously made from Commonwealth line agencies to state or territory line agencies will now be coordinated by federal Treasury and paid directly to the Northern Territory Treasury’s Central Holding Authority. The CHA then provides funding to line agencies in the form of appropriation.
For this to occur, the definition of ‘purpose’ in the Financial Management Act must be amended to explicitly include a new purpose representing the Commonwealth funding. To this end, a new appropriation purpose termed ‘Commonwealth appropriation’ has been established. Under these new arrangements, this means there will be a significant reduction in the number of funding streams, or Special Purpose Payments, SPPs. In fact, that reduction will be from 100 to six.
A quick visit to the COAG website provides an overview of the six new national partnership agreements. They are: National Health Care Agreement, National Education Agreement, National Agreement for Schools and Workforce Development, National Disability Agreement, National Affordable Housing Agreement, and the National Indigenous Reform Agreement. Each agreement, and I quote from that website:
For the Northern Territory this new type of funding model promotes reform and innovation in service delivery because it provides a better method for knowing exactly what federal funding is available, how it is to be spent, and in areas of identified need. This becomes especially important for areas such as health, education and infrastructure projects.
Another consideration in the amendments put forward by the bill is the establishment of a provision in the form of a standing appropriation to allow for receipt of unplanned Commonwealth funding during the year; and in recent times this would include substantial funding payments to the Northern Territory associated with the Northern Territory Emergency Response and the Nation Building and Jobs Plan fiscal stimulus package.
As the Treasurer explained in her second reading speech:
Of course, the Treasurer needs to have the ability to authorise increases in appropriation for Commonwealth-funded activities which are clearly designed to be of benefit to the Territory, and after a funding increase has been agreed to. But, in the interests of transparency and accountability, the Treasurer will be required to advise of variations to appropriation by tabling a statement of the increase in this Assembly within six sitting days.
These amendments to the Financial Management Act will ensure that the Northern Territory’s legislation accords with that of the federal government. Importantly, these changes will also bring a new level of simplicity, efficiency and transparency around funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the Territory.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Treasurer for her work in this area, and commend the bill to the House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I support the bill. I thank the minister for allowing us to have a detailed briefing on the bill.
This bill is based on the premise that we have developed a new scheme, which is supposed to be more efficient and more transparent, as the member for Nhulunbuy just said, than the previous scheme. I have heard that before when changes are made to bills, so I will leave my judgment as to whether this actually happens, because I am sure there are some subgroups under here. We have gone from 100 Specific Purpose Agreements to six, but I have no doubt the six are then divided into subsections, which then gets back to the 100 you started with in the first place. So, I rest my judgment on whether this is more efficient, and only time will tell.
I can understand the government sees it as more efficient than putting all the money into a Central Holding Authority. I do hope we will not have happen what sometimes happens in some of our own departments where a little bit gets taken off the side for the use of the department which holds the money. It possibly will not, but I always get a little worried that money which is intended to go in a direction does not totally go in that direction. However, I am told that that will not happen.
If we can simplify matters, if we can get away from having specific agreements that only last two or three years so people feel there is an ongoing project the Commonwealth is willing to fund over a longer period, that gives more certainty. I believe that is good. There is nothing worse than having a project that runs for two or three years, and when you put your next application in for funds that is the end of it. That is especially disappointing for people who believe their project is worthwhile, and if it is a project which actually needs a longer time to ensure it will work. There is nothing worse than a project being cut off and not having a chance to prove its real worth.
Madam Speaker, I support the Financial Management Amendment Bill, and thank the minister for allowing us to have a detailed briefing on it.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their contribution. I thank the opposition for its support for the legislation, which is a practical change to ensure that the SPP and NPP arrangements of the Northern Territory government/Commonwealth government can be paid appropriately through the appropriate mechanisms. This is providing those mechanisms in legislation.
I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for taking the time and effort to look into what we are doing with the Financial Management Act. I sincerely thank the member for Nelson for taking up the opportunity of the detailed briefing with members of my staff and Treasury.
This change in the Financial Management Amendment Bill comes from the intergovernmental agreement struck in November 2008. I starkly recall going to the Treasurers’ Conference as a prelude to COAG, where we received the offer from the Commonwealth of the SPPs and NPPs, and what an incredibly difficult 48 hours ensued for me as Treasurer to fight back from a position where the formula would disadvantage us to a position where we came out with a significant advantage. It is times like that you appreciate the sheer effort your Treasury officials go to, to crunch and re-crunch, and re-crunch again, the figures as they come to hand very quickly out of the Commonwealth Treasury.
It was a difficult Treasurers Conference because, as I said, the original formulas were not acceptable to the Territory. We managed to fight back from a position of what would have been disadvantage to, at the end result, a position of advantage and gain through those big fees and the NT's financial arrangements. Then, we had to get cash support for that and, ultimately, get support on the floor with the Prime Minister asking questions as to why the formulas had changed. The Territory has had a win against the odds but, I have to say, I was working with Treasury officials through the evening into the early hours of the morning to crunch the figures so we could get the result we needed in terms of those payments.
Whilst we have an amendment to the act and the payments will now flow in accordance with what we signed off in terms of the IGA, sometimes things are not as simple as they appear. That November Treasurers Conference was one of the most difficult times I have encountered as a Treasurer. That being said, putting a budget together in time of a financial crisis was not exactly a joyous journey either. There has been a quite a significant shift in the way payments are being made from the Commonwealth to the states and territories as signed off in that IGA.
Previously, it was the Commonwealth line agency to a state or territory line agency. To put it simply, DOHA, the Department of Health and Ageing at the Commonwealth level, would have made payments to the Department of Health here with regard to ACA , the health agreement. That is no longer is that the case. Commonwealth Treasury makes payments in accordance with what it agreed to through that Health SPP into the Northern Territory Treasury and that payment is passed on, and scrutinised, to the Department of Health.
I recognise the member for Nelson’s healthy questioning that all people would ask of the Treasury as to whether the full amount is passed on. I can assure the member for Nelson the full amount is, indeed, passed on. We have to report not just to parliament, through me as Treasurer, but also to the Commonwealth about the payments and the flow of payments.
It does, also, as the member for Nhulunbuy pointed out, provide me with the ability to bring in various Commonwealth appropriation payments that occur from time to time. She made a good example of when that does occur. The Northern Territory Emergency Response funding is one of those Commonwealth appropriations that are not sitting necessarily within an SPP or, indeed, within an NPP. It is, nevertheless, a critically important appropriation coming from the Commonwealth to the Territory and one, as Treasurer, I would be insane to knock back. Obviously, you take the opportunity, you take the appropriation, but you need to be able to account for that appropriation and to be transparent in recognising what appropriations are occurring.
So, all the arrangements are being put in place to meet our requirements under the IGA. It provides for that standing appropriation to be established which gives me the opportunity to receive further appropriations from the Commonwealth from time to time where those opportunities arise. I can assure members of this House that we are actively seeking the opportunities out there in terms of additional Commonwealth appropriations.
As the member for Port Darwin indicated, we sit at around 80% of Territory revenue coming from the Commonwealth in terms of payments or SPPs and NPPs. Obviously, the GST is sitting in there even though we have seen a reduction in GST to approximately 55% of the total budget instead of the 67% it sat at previously. We still do not discount the critical importance of working with the Commonwealth. I am striking these Special Purpose Payment arrangements, but also those new National Partnership Payments, which require significant matching effort. We are, at the moment, punching above our weight in signing up to NPPs with the Commonwealth, to take the opportunity to improve the lives of Territorians. Whilst these administrative changes can provide for the contemporary changes required by the IGA, it is a legislative change which shows that we are able to work consistently with the Commonwealth under the requirements they strike for the payments they make. Transparency is critical to that. I am pleased to ensure that I will be required to table a statement of any variations or increase to appropriations to the Assembly within six sitting days.
The new funding arrangements under the IGA came into effect as of 1 January 2009. The proposed amendments reflect that retrospectivity will be applied. I thank the opposition for its support and understanding of what this is about. I know it is no biggy but, for a Treasurer, getting your payment flow is one of the things you are particularly keen to get right.
I thank the Treasury officials who have worked on the amendment to the legislation, and I thank the members for Nhulunbuy and Nelson also.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
Continued from 7 May 2009.
Mr HAMPTON (Regional Development): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support the Treasurer and Budget 2009-10. Last month, the Treasurer confronted the global recession and a collapse in GST revenue to deliver what has been called the toughest budget to frame in Territory history.
Budget 2009-10 is all about protecting Territory jobs. It protects Territory jobs in the Top End; it protects Territory jobs in the Centre, and it protects Territory jobs in all our regions. Budget 2009-10 does this because, after six surpluses in a row, the government has made a deliberate decision to go into temporary deficit. This budget protects jobs in Central Australia through record investments in infrastructure in our hospitals, schools, police facilities and roads.
In the 2009-10 financial year, more than $236m will be spent on providing acute and non-acute health and community services across Central Australia and the Barkly, up from $225m this year. Approximately $215m will be spent in Central Australia. The Alice Springs Hospital will receive $21.7m for new and upgraded works, including $5.57m for the Emergency Department, and $2.5m for secure care facilities. This secure acute facility will be augmented in 2010-11 with an additional $5.9m to construct a medium-term secure and transition care facility which will provide an additional eight beds for young people and eight beds for adults. These facilities will be supported by more than $5m in operational funding over the next three financial years creating 49 new nursing, psychiatry, psychology and behavioural educated positions. In Tennant Creek, $2.45m will be allocated to expanding renal facilities and $700 000 will be provided to continue work on the Tennant Creek Hospital.
As we have heard today, this government is serious about delivering on our election commitments. The Alice Springs Police Station will receive a $6m upgrade providing our dedicated police officers with the resources and space they need to continue to make Alice Springs a safer place to live and work. We have also fast-tracked the establishment of the Police Beat in the Todd Mall, and more police are on their way.
In 2009-10, Alice Springs will receive seven additional police officers for the Police Beat, 10 additional police officers under the Safer Streets strategy, and an additional Superintendent level position under the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan. That equates to an additional 18 police officers on the ground in Alice Springs on top of our existing establishment numbers. Combine that with the good news that Alice Springs will receive an additional nine firefighters in 2009-10 and you will agree that Alice Springs has been well served through the record spending on Police, Fire and Emergency Services of $44.1m in 2009-10, up from $40.72m in 2008-09.
Education throughout the Centre also gets a boost. More than $190m will be made available for school infrastructure and operations in Central Australia and the Barkly in Budget 2009-10, up from $136m this year. The Ross Park Primary School will receive $3.2m to continue its upgrading. I have had a look at the work in progress and the new facilities will be just fantastic.
An investment close to my heart, and a project I will be personally monitoring over the coming months and years, is the establishment of the Alice Springs Middle School. $4.73m has been allocated in the Budget 2009-10 to upgrade the Gillen and ANZAC Hill campuses, and a further $2.57m will complete the works in the 2010-11 financial year. To complete this redevelopment, $3.85m has been committed in the 2010-11 Budget to deliver a 30-bed student boarding facility. These commitments are crucial elements of the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan which I was proud to announce in February this year. These commitments will contribute to making Alice Springs a safer place to live and work, will support families, and also create opportunities for local businesses - that means jobs for locals.
Continuing our commitment to improving education in the bush, $1.7m has been allocated to convert the Alpara Homeland Learning Centre into a school; while the Yuendumu School, in my electorate, will receive $684 000 for further upgrading. In the Barkly, the Alekarenge School will receive $319 000 for a new specialist senior learning centre, while the Tennant Creek High School receives $3m for a new multipurpose sports facility.
A critical component of keeping Territorians safe and healthy, and providing access to and from our major regional centres, is ensuring that our road network is up to scratch. Almost $36m has been allocated to upgrading roads in the Central Australian region, including $9.9m - once again, in my electorate – for the Tanami Highway; $7.6m for the Plenty Highway; $5.4m for the Maryvale Road, and $3.5m for access to the Pine Hill horticultural district. We know how important infrastructure is for stimulating economic development in our regions. There will be $1.9m for the Santa Teresa Road; $1.19m for the Outback Highway; $750 000 for the Papunya and Mt Liebig Road upgrade; $650 000 for lighting at the intersection of Yulara Drive and Lasseter Highway; and $500 000 for the Kata-Tjuta to Docker River Road upgrade.
Much has already been said about the joint NT/Commonwealth commitment to improving housing for Indigenous people. $672m over five years is being invested by the NT and Commonwealth governments through the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program. This means upgraded and new housing across 31 towns and communities in Central Australia. Land release is vitally important to all the urban centres in the Territory. Our groundbreaking Indigenous Land Use Agreements with the native titleholders of Alice Springs and Tennant Creek have seen land released in both towns which would have been locked up under a CLP administration. We look forward to blocks at Mt John Valley coming onto the market later this year or early next year.
In the meantime, I am happy to be co-chairing the Planning for the Future Steering Committee, along with our in Alice Springs Mayor, Mr Damien Ryan, to set the platform for further land releases in Alice Springs and the revitalisation of our CBD. I am pleased to note that $360 000 has been made available in Budget 2009-10 to enable crucial headworks modelling and design studies to be completed so the steering committee can make considered recommendations regarding future land use and land release in Alice Springs.
Securing our power and water needs for the future is also critical to planning for growth in the Central Australian region. Power and Water is investing $82m in the new Owen Springs Power Station, ensuring that Alice Springs’ electricity supply meets future demands. I am also very pleased to hear that $2.4m has been committed to connecting the Yuelamu community in my electorate to the Yuendumu Power Station. Alpurrurulam will get a new power station in 2009-10, with $1.6m committed to that project. A new water storage tank will be constructed at Willowra with $420 000 committed in Budget 2009-10. Alpurrurulam will also receive $450 000 to develop new water sources. All these works will be of significant benefit to local businesses and, when completed, will provide greater certainty of supply for these communities.
The tourism industry is also a major employer in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. I am pleased to say that Budget 2009-10 continues to provide practical assistance to protect jobs within this industry. The Territory Discoveries call centre, based in Alice Springs, receives $3.2m to continue its booking and information role for all tourism operators across the Territory. The Araluen Cultural Precinct is one of the jewels in the Centre’s visitor experiences, so it is great news that $4.5m will invested at the Araluen Centre to upgrade the airconditioning, providing improved comfort for visitors and better climate control for exhibitions.
Madam Deputy Speaker, our support for the pursuit of the World Heritage listing for the West MacDonnell Ranges continues with $3m to be spent on establishing the West MacDonnells Visitor’s Centre and facilities, and $500 000 to be spent on continuing the Red Centre Way signage program. To enhance the first impression for visitors to the Centre, $420 000 has been committed to improving Tennant Creek’s main street; and $400 000 for the beautification of the Alice Springs CBD. We will also invest in our tourism industry through a $2.1m global Red Centre Way campaign, while $680 000 will be made available to Tourism Central Australia for visitor information and marketing of Alice Springs and Uluru. In Tennant Creek, $550 000 has been committed to the Battery Hill Mining Centre, and Nyinkka Art and Cultural Centre for visitor information services and management. An additional $100 000 is being provided to fund a local Tourism Industry Development Officer as well.
I am proud to be part of this government, and proud to be Minister for Central Australia. Our investment in the region demonstrates our commitment to protect jobs and build the Territory. I am also the Minister for Regional Development, but there simply is not enough time for me to detail all that Budget 2009-10 delivers for our regions. We are supporting jobs and business in the bush by delivering $19.86m to support and train apprentices and trainees; $7.7m for the Buntine Highway; $6.4m for the Victoria Highway, both in my electorate; and another $5.6m to facilitate major economic development projects.
There is $5.8m to provide a new generation geoscience starter, promoting mining investment and increasing the intensity of exploration drilling and geophysics in the greenfields area and in Bringing Forward Discovery programs; $2.5m for the Lajamanu airstrip, and $1.2m for the Pigeon Hole aerodrome, both in my electorate, as well; $1.4m to provide operational and program support for the Territory’s peak business-related organisations; $600 000 for the Indigenous Business Development Program; $340 000 to support Indigenous tourism operators, and $500 000 to establish job hubs in Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek.
Budget 2009-10 is investing more into research in our regions to help protect jobs and deliver more to support primary industries. Some of the highlights include $1.95m to support Plant Industries with entomology, plant pathology and agricultural chemistry services. $1.8m for Veterinary Laboratory Services, providing animal health testing to livestock industries; and $460 000 to prepare for and respond to incursions of pests and diseases of plants and animals.
Budget 2009-10 also invests in education in our regions. Among the highlights are the provision of $1.5m each for the Community Education Centre upgrades at Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Numbulwar and Angurugu, as well as $300 000 for school upgrades at Umbakumba, Ntaria, Alyangula, Elliott and Canteen Creek.
Turning to my portfolio of Sport and Recreation, Budget 2009-10 continues to deliver opportunities for all Territorians to participate in sport and recreational activities both in urban and remote areas of the Territory. The three outputs of Sport and Recreation are Sports Development, the Northern Territory Institute of Sport, and Facilities and Events. The Sports Development output receives $10.5m from Budget 2009-10 to provide opportunities for the community to participate in sport and active recreation activities, and further develop the industry.
The Territory government’s Closing the Gap policy identified the importance of improving health and wellbeing of Territorians living in remote Indigenous communities. Budget 2009-10 allocates $1m as part of the Sports Development Program to provide additional sport and recreation officers, facilities and programs in each shire to optimise benefits through relevant sport and recreational programs. The government continued to support the Northern Territory Thunder team with $200 000 provided to help the team take part in the Queensland AFL competition in 2009-10. What a fantastic start to the year they have had. I have been to the game in Alice Springs and there has been one big win and one close win. Good luck to Northern Territory Thunder for the rest of the season. This total funding of $1m will continue until 2012-13 and is a fantastic pathway for our young stars and will lead to greater things.
The Northern Territory government has made a five year commitment to continue funding the Northern Territory Storm netball team with $50 000 a year to participate in the Australian Netball League. A new $50 000 ongoing grant starting in 2009 will support a boxing youth program. This investment has the dual benefits of increasing participation in the sport, including providing social cohesion and crime prevention mechanisms that youth groups can tap into.
Budget 2009-10 also allocates $3.6m for the Northern Territory Institute of Sport. The Institute of Sport offers support to athletes through its individual scholarship programs and through squad programs with the AFL, athletics, cricket, cycling, football, hockey, netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union, swimming, tennis, tenpin bowling and yachting. This is a significant expansion of services in 2009-10 seeing football, swimming, yachting and athletics joining the elite squad program for the next four years.
Budget 2009-10 provides $6m in the Facilities and Events output to support the management of sporting facilities and events, as well as more than $8.3m for capital and minor new works. $5m has been has been allocated for the new Water Park in Palmerston which will be modelled on the highly successful Leanyer Recreation Park. It will include a free form swimming area, a soft fall water area, barbeques and lawns, beach volleyball courts and a walking track.
There has been $4m committed over the next three years to upgrade key electrical, drainage, access and sewerage services infrastructure at the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, with $1.75m allocated in 2009-10. An injection of $550 000 is being provided to upgrade the public address system at TIO Stadium. As well as significantly improving the experience of patrons to the TIO Stadium, this investment will assure the highest possible levels of safety maintained. This government is committed to ensuring that all existing facilities owned by government are maintained at the required level, and funding of $1.3m is provided in 2009-10 for repairs and maintenance of government-owned sporting facilities. These funds will be spent at facilities including the Marrara Indoor Stadium, the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Micketts Creek Shooting Complex, Larrakeyah Park Football Stadium and TIO Stadium.
Budget 2009-10 includes funding to continue to provide financial and administrative support to host national and international sporting fixtures in the Territory. Our commitment for the next three years to support the Perth Wild Cats and Perth Lynx sees the Northern Territory government providing $525 000 over the next three years to support national men’s and women’s basketball league matches in Darwin, including $180 000 in 2008-09.
Turning briefly to my ICT policy portfolio, last year the government took a major step in part-funding Telstra’s construction of an 800 km, $34m, fibre optic telecommunications link between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy. This link provides access to high speed broadband for Nhulunbuy and nine Arnhem Land communities. The fibre build was completed in record time with more than 200 new broadband services for businesses, Territorians and government already connected. The island communities of Milingimbi, Galiwinku, Minjilang and Warruwi will shortly be linked to this fibre via radio links. Payments of $5m in 2007-08 and $4m in 2008-09 have been made, and $2.8m will be paid in 2009-10.
Madam Deputy Speaker, Budget 2009-10 is a budget that protects Territory jobs. It is a budget that delivers, and I commend the Treasurer’s budget to the House.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Deputy Speaker, in reply to Budget 2009-10, while it is not specifically in my shadow responsibilities, I wish to speak on a number of matters, or some glaring issues, about the 2009-10 NT budget that are of interest to me and have come to my attention.
I would first like to speak about Corrections. The government would seem all too happy to speak about increasing the numbers of our police, nurses and doctors, but it seems that Corrections officers have been ignored in this budget. They perform a vital role in our prison and correctional system, yet they barely rate a mention. I see the expenditure for this year in Corrections will be almost $81m, and next year it will jump around 9% to over $86m. I am not surprised about this. On the surface, it is nice to see that the Correctional Services budget is getting such a significant increase. However, this is most likely due in part, if not wholly, to the budget’s own predictions and projections: that the average daily number of prisoners in our prison system is expected to leap from 925 to 1080. That means a staggering 17% increase in prisoner numbers in our correctional system, bearing in mind there was a rise of 9% from the previous year, which was outlined in the budget papers and that number rose from 850 to what is expected this year of 925. Already the government’s planned, new, 1000-bed prison is well on its way to being full within a couple of years of opening.
I am not at all surprised by any of these revelations given this government’s only measured success in lowering crime is how much money they spend. They have this idea that input is, in fact, an output; that is, simply, not correct. Obviously, they are measuring their success in lowering crime by how many prisoners they have in gaol; they seem only too pleased to bump these numbers up. I do not know where they get that idea from.
Never mind whether the prison population is getting access to all the right programs and let us have a further look at that. In 2006-07, participation in prison programs was at 75%; in 2007-08, participation in education was at 75% - please note the change of name to that particular output. However, the corresponding estimate for 2008-09 indicated a drop to only 50% of prisoners participating in education programs, and that was an estimate for the end of that particular year. Yet, here we are almost at the end of that financial year, and in a much better position to gauge the actual participation rate, and guess what? It went not from 75% to 50%, but it dropped to a staggering 30%. That is, only 30% of prisoners are participating in educational programs while they are in gaol. But it gets worse. Thirty per cent is bad enough, but I have to ask the question: what is this government doing about that appalling figure? The answer is: absolutely nothing.
I know this because if you look at page 104 of Budget Paper No 3 for 2009-10, the government estimates the prisoner participation in education programs will remain at the wholly unacceptable level of 30%. On top of that, next year’s budget predicts participation in employment programs will also drop from 80% to 75%. Those percentages are bad enough on their own but, if you look at the ever-increasing number of prisoners in our gaols, there is a multiplier effect. If you look at the estimate of 75% of prisoners in 2007-08 - that average being 850 - it meant that 637 prisoners should have gone into an education program in that year. In 2009-10, based on the budget predictions of 30% participation of 1080 daily average numbers, that means only 324 prisoners in gaol during 2009-10 will have access to education. In real numbers, that is a halving of the number of prisoners having access to education programs in gaol.
This government has no idea how to address recidivism rates in the Northern Territory, and this is clear and present evidence of this. It is absolutely shameful. Under a Country Liberal government, our focus would be the provision of the tools prisoners need to help them rejoin the community in a positive and meaningful way once they have done their time - quite opposite to the policies of the current Labor government.
The Tennant Creek work camp: I notice $2m, which seems to be a rather paltry amount, being spent on something that the government says is so important. I am going to ask, and I daresay we will get an answer at some stage: what will the $2m be spent on? The other big question is: where is the associated infrastructure spend? There is the $2m for infrastructure, but there is no allocation for the ongoing cost, or have we factored in the ongoing cost of $2m with no infrastructure being built? I cannot see it in the budget papers, and I would appreciate if anyone on the other side of the House could point out to me - if it exists - where in the budget paper is there any mention of the infrastructure spend to accommodate a Tennant Creek work camp?
Looking at page 106 of Budget Paper No 3, I notice in Community and Justice Policy under Performance Measures, under the subheading of Quantity, it says: ‘The capacity to provide policy advice and coordinate and implement government programs’; 2008-09 estimate $19.05m, and the 2009-10 allocated amount, or estimate, again $19.05m being spent. That represents no increase whatsoever in funding from this year to next year for our community to cope with the ever-increasing problems that alcohol brings with it every year.
If there is any doubt about the increase in alcohol problems the Northern Territory is facing, let us look at a few statistics from Katherine Police Station. These are the number of people taken through the Katherine Police Station cells for protective custody. In 2005, there were 4495 people - bearing in mind Katherine is a town with a population of around 9000 people. In 2006, there were 5301. In 2007 - and I cannot explain this blowout even though I was working there as a police officer at the time – it blew out to 7520 people taken into protective custody and put through the police cells in Katherine. In 2008, there were 5930 and, in 2009, already 3700 people have gone through the Katherine Police cells this year.
It beggars belief that this government is choosing to do precious little to address the real issues. If you look through the budget to see where the money is being spent, it is being spent on programs which are not delivering very much in the way of results. There are a few programs out there doing their very best to make good of a bad situation but, unfortunately, it is way too little.
Regarding Katherine, it was interesting as I travelled to Kununurra a week or two ago, and had a briefing with the police over there. In Katherine on a busy night, the police can put through more than 120 drunks. That was evidenced over a couple of nights around the time the Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s first stimulus package went through in December last year. What would be a normal Friday night offender - whatever you brand normal - you would get between 30 and 50 drunks on a Friday night; that ballooned to 120 on two nights. Yet in Kununurra, where you have a population just 2000 fewer than Katherine, the police there have a busy night if they lock up 10 or 15, compared to 120 in Katherine. I have to go back and find out what they are doing in Kununurra that is so different from what the NT government is doing - which I know is precious little. This government cannot find a way to deal with these issues. It is a government which is lost. It is a government without a hope of making any positive difference to Territorians.
I see Tennant Creek has had to give up its new sobering-up shelter in favour of a more expensive sobering-up shelter in Katherine. I am happy, on one level, that Katherine gets this nice, new piece of infrastructure. It has been a long time between drinks for the building of infrastructure in Katherine; the last decent piece of infrastructure built there, which I can recall, was probably the Casuarina Street School, and nothing significant prior to that since the late 1980s when the police and fire station was built. It will be nice to have that spend in Katherine. It will bolster the construction sector for a time, and it will certainly give the service providers, Mission Australia, an adequate place to perform the very important work they do in the community. I acknowledge the vital service provided to the NT by Mission Australia – the provision of services to the disadvantaged. I know that Mission Australia is looking forward to having a new, safe and purpose-built facility in Katherine.
While this will build a flash sobering-up shelter, and I have been quoted as saying it will be quite a Taj Mahal of sobering-up shelters, this is another classic example of the shallow way this government tries to deal with alcohol problems in the Northern Territory. Yes, we need a new facility in Katherine, but how about spending some significant money on increasing the two - yes, only two - detox beds at the Katherine hospital? What about looking into the Venndale facility and providing further funding and resources for beds and staff that are so desperately needed?
I notice $21m has been allocated in this budget for the provision of preliminary work on the new prison. Why not put that $21m into a prison farm at Katherine where inmates can receive proper access to detox, rehabilitation, education and vocational skills training, and come out the other end better than they went in? The government is condemning alcoholics, in particular, Aboriginal alcoholics, to a life of misery and no hope. They have no answers for it.
In relation to Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources, I welcome the announcement of funding in this budget for mining and cattle roads but, really, what a small drop in the bucket it is. Mining royalties are worth something in the vicinity of $224m, and the cattle industry contributes $400m directly to the Territory economy, yet the spend on mining and cattle roads is virtually a $19m kiss on the forehead. That, on its own, is less than 1% of the royalty base, and I do not include the revenue to government which is generated from the cattle industry. I am still new to this game and I am learning new things every day, but if that is an acceptable formula for the provision of services to industries which are vitally important to the Territory economy, then I guess I have learned something. I would have thought a 1% reinvestment - in fact, less than 1% - is a pretty poor attempt.
I am concerned about the slashing of around $5m from the overall budget within Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources this year. It sends a message to the mining, pastoral, agricultural and fishing sectors that this government does not rate them highly in its priorities. I do rate these industries high on the agenda. Resources bring in the most significant own source revenue for this government, and untold wealth as far as bulk boosting the economy and jobs in the NT as a whole. If we are to position ourselves successfully for the next 20 to 50 years, we must become the food bowl of Australia.
Apparently this has been lost on this current Labor government, which is evidenced by the precious little being done by this government on the Northern Territory’s side of Ord Stage 2. I was in Kununurra, as I mentioned, and received briefings and tours of the areas from several organisations there. One of those organisations, and I will not identify which one because I do not want to breach any confidences, asked me: ‘What is the NT government doing with Ord Stage 2?’ I had to say: ‘Nothing’. The reason I said ‘nothing’ is because there is plenty to suggest the NT government is sitting on its hands with this. We will have to play years of catch-up behind the Western Australian government before it gets anywhere close to that stage. The other evidence they are doing nothing about this is the lack of any mention of it in the budget. If someone from the other side of the House would to point anything out, I would be happy to have a look at that. It just shows what the priorities of this government are.
I welcome the announcement of $4m for the upgrade of the Palmerston boat ramp, but I would have to ask a couple of the ministers on the other side of the House, the minister for Fisheries and the minister for Infrastructure: have you walked out onto the pontoon at the new boat ramp at East Arm?
Members: Yes, yes.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: This is a plastic floating pontoon built out into the water off the centre of the ramp so that boaties can tie up the boat alongside and walk up to get their cars and trailers. Even with a bit of movement on the water, this pontoon bucks and wobbles; in heavier seas the pontoon is impossible to use, and outright dangerous. Boaties have reported to me, and I was down there just the other day talking to some boaties, and they said when they rock up there and the seas are a bit rough, they will not take their children onto the pontoon. They have to pack their gear up and drive their boats to another boat ramp where they can get into the water safely. I hope, in the upgrades announced for the Palmerston boat ramp, if there are going to be pontoons built there, some lessons have been learned from what is happening at East Arm.
I am happy to see an allocation for $1m for other recreational fishing upgrades, and pleased to see a fishing survey under way. It is vitally important to understand the state of the industry, and this is one way of gathering the required information. It beggars belief, however, that it has taken eight years for this government to start the process but it is finally under way.
I am pleased to see the allocation of $1.8m for the continuation of the barramundi licence buy-back scheme, and I reconfirm our commitment to this continuing process. One must remember this was an initiative announced by the CLP in 2001, if I am correct with the date. I am pleased the Labor government has seen sense in taking this approach to contribute to the management of the barramundi fishery. Of course, much more needs to be done.
I have a rather significant concern, however, in relation to staffing levels within Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources. I have heard in this House from this government on many occasions how this government is protecting Territory jobs, particularly public service jobs. In 2008-09, the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines - as it was known then - had a staffing establishment of 481. This was down slightly on the establishment of the same department in 2006-07, which was 486, so they had a drop of five staff. It should be noted that the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines has a new department attached to it and a new moniker. Regional Development has been thrown into the mix and the department is now known as the Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources.
The issue I have is staffing for the new department is only 497. Assuming that Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources staffing remains the same as last year at 481, is it right that Regional Development only has a staffing of 16 right across the Territory? Or is it the case that the Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources public servant jobs have been cut? I would tend to think that this government is slyly hiding behind this department’s restructure to slash public servants jobs in Primary Industry.
I move on to Local Government. The first thing that struck me about the Local Government part of the budget was the smash-and-burn tactic taken by this government on the total funding for Local Government. Nearly $16m has been slashed from the Local Government expenditure for this year. Budget Paper No 3, page 232, Local Government estimate for this year we are in now, $90 603 000; next year’s estimate is $74,703,000, a drop of nearly $16m. There is a variation here in the notes: it says the Local Government output group is lower in 2009-10 due to one-off funding in the 2008-09 for the Local Government Infrastructure Investment Fund and Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery arrangements. Commonwealth funding in 2009-10 includes for ShiresNet and Clever Network. I am looking forward to hearing from the minister exactly what those four items are and the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery arrangements. Perhaps I have missed something. Was there a natural disaster sometime in the last 12 months? I cannot quite get my head around that and I look forward to an explanation during Estimates.
I suspect, however, this is probably just more smoke and mirrors and the man who is renowned for smoke and mirror is the member for Daly. Speaking of the member for Daly …
Members interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: … to mention his broken 2005 election promise for $2.2m for the Daly River crossing. There he was standing on a platform of delivering for Daly River residents, only to let them down. I ask this question: what do you get for $2.2m in 2009?
A member: You get a bridge. You get a bridge with Labor commitments …
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: … because that was announced in the budget, $2.2m for a crossing upgrade of Daly River. I will tell you what you get in 2009, around about $300 000 less than if you had spent the money in 2005, as promised. So to get the same now as you would in 2005 you would have to spend 13.5% more or a total of $2.5m. So, this government has short changed the people of Daly. They are now getting less infrastructure in 2009 than was promised in 2005; it is simply a matter of numbers. You take into account the inflation rate, the CPI; that is how money has been eroded from the promise of $2.2m four years ago.
I would like to speak about the Police budget. First of all, 54 more police have been announced by the Chief Minister, and I ask the question: does that mean the establishment that is the gazetted establishment, the number of police officers the Commissioner is entitled, allowed to employ, will actually increase by the number 54? And are those 54 going to cover natural attrition?
In the 2008 calendar year, 80 police officers left the job. Already this year there are more than 30 who have left the job. This government ought to be breathing a big sigh of relief in respect of the downturn in the economy across Australia because one of the nett effects of that is the job market will tighten. People are more inclined to stay with their safe and secure job than dump it and run. I suspect they will benefit from that, in that should this crisis not be affecting us, the attrition rate amongst the police would not change. It seems it might drop this year and they can be very pleased with themselves that they are really a victim of circumstance.
The other question I have is: where are those 54 new police officers going? Into general duties, I hope. That would be a change, considering that, despite the 337 extra police officers that this government keeps spruiking on about since 2001 there are still not enough general duties police officers in the Northern Territory. They have been siloed, they have been pigeon-holed, and they have been pushed into little sections. We know this is occurring because, when you ring up for the police - and we have heard it many times in this House in the last six months - you cannot get a police officer to attend. These guys are run off their feet.
The workload has increased, yet, the number of uniformed, general duties, on-the-street officers has not made an iota of difference. Interestingly, despite the Chief Minister’s assertions that the police numbers have increased, there are still the same numbers of general duties vans on the road on any given shift, as there were many years ago. Not only that, they cannot fill them; they have to constantly drag non-operational police officers out of their non-operational areas to go and fill a van.
Overtime rates are still ridiculous. It is common to hear of 20 to 30 hours overtime for police officers in a fortnight, and not uncommon to hear of 40 hours overtime for police officers in general duties.
While I am talking about police, Easter would be one of the busiest times for people in the Northern Territory to take a few days off and get some recreation. One of the biggest parts of our recreation up here is amateur fishing. Yet over Easter, the busiest fishing weekend in the Northern Territory’s calendar, there were six Fisheries police officers on duty on the road – three patrols of two officers out doing checks in the Fisheries area over the whole Top End of the Northern Territory. How ineffectual are they? This is an enormous industry in the Northern Territory; it is an industry that is rife with raping and pillaging. Many people come here and take well in excess of what they should be taking. Yet this government pays lip services to all of those issues by not allowing enough police officers to be in Fisheries. Nineteen in the section, I believe, yet, on that weekend there were only six. That is because some of them are on leave. There are sergeants and senior sergeant, I think ...
Mr BOHLIN: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that my colleague be granted an extension of time of 10 minutes to complete his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank all my parliamentary colleagues for giving me the courtesy of an extension of time.
I want to talk about announcements made by the Chief Minister in recent times about our forensic section, to increase the numbers by one biologist and two chemists – a little bit probably way too late. I can report to the House that, often, for fingerprints, blood alcohol and DNA, there is a six month waiting time for officers to receive results from samples they have submitted for examination.
I wish to put that into perspective: for offences in the Northern Territory which are not considered to be crimes, and drink-driving is one of those, there is a six month statute on laying charges. So we find a situation where blood alcohol is being sent for testing, it is not being tested within the six month time period and, consequently, those who would be prosecuted for drink-driving, never end up in court. That is just appalling. This government talks about how serious it is about drink-driving and the new laws which have come in with hooning behaviour and all that sort of thing, yet, at the coalface, where it actually counts, they are not providing the resources. This is just too little, too late.
I notice in the budget there are announcements in relation to some infrastructure upgrades on what is the Northern Territory’s biggest piece of infrastructure, the Stuart Highway. Unfortunately, the announcements are really just a drop in the bucket, once again. I see $5m in there to install overtaking lanes on the Stuart Highway. I am pleased to see the Stuart Highway is being worked on at the moment. The shoulder work is significant, however, it does not really fix what is a huge problem - the potholes and the deterioration of the hard surface of the road.
I spend some time travelling between Darwin and Katherine, and other parts of the Territory as well, and I get to see the result of this government’s lack of action on the Stuart Highway. There were times, a little while ago, when I was driving through potholes which were probably 2 m by 3 m wide, with great big chunks, bigger than the size of my fist, of road surface sticking up out of it and hanging all over the road. It is getting patched, but the problem we have now is these are patches upon patches on the Stuart Highway, and there is obviously not a strong enough commitment from this government to upgrading the Stuart Highway and keeping it in …
Mr Chandler: It is federal.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: It is federal money, I pick up on the interjection from the member for Brennan – it is federal money, so there is no real excuse for not spending it. If the highway needs to be done, it needs to be done; it is our most important and largest piece of infrastructure. I covered the amount that was going to be looked at for roads, the cattle roads, the $19m but, really and truly, that buys about 19 km of new road. I daresay there will be some – it is not all going to new road - repairs here and a few bits and pieces there, but it does not give Territorians any faith in whether the government considers cattle and the rural sector to be important.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I was not going to talk about this, but I will give the government a bit of a heads up. Ramadan is an important religious ceremony for many of our near neighbours, some of whom, of course, receive our live cattle exports. What the members on the other side of the House may not know is that Ramadan does not fall on the same date every year. It creeps forward by about 12 or 13 days every year, so by, I worked it out, 2019, we are going to need to get cattle out of our remote areas at the end of the Wet Season. We all know how difficult it can be getting around the Territory during and after the Wet Season. Roads are a long-term project; they are not something you can allocate half of your budget to and say next year we will have enough road system to accommodate the increase in the cattle exports we will need for the Wet Season. It requires a long-term view and, when I look at what this government has done to put us into deficit for the next five, six or maybe more years you can bet your bottom dollar they will not be spending a great deal on upgrading roads in regional Northern Territory to accommodate the increase in cattle exports that we are going to see.
This is a classic example of the lack of vision this government shows. I am prepared to look 10, 15, 20 years into the future to see what the Northern Territory needs. This government cannot see past its own political nose.
Let me quickly touch in the last couple of minutes I have on what the budget outlines for Katherine. The Ngukurr School rates a mention, probably federal money. In Katherine there is nearly $12m for schools for building the education revolution which, of course, is federal money. The Katherine schools get $1.443m per School Pride Program which I believe is from the Territory; I thank you for that.
There is an announcement of money for Pigeon Hole aerodrome; the Victoria Highway is being upgraded, but that project is under way at present and I look forward to that continuing and being finished. There is announcement for $10m, again, of federal money, for a Katherine heavy vehicle diversion. We talked about the overtaking lanes. There is the princely sum of $350 000 for the main street upgrade for Katherine, barely even worth talking about.
This is a budget which will pass through this House. It is, however, full of holes. It is in many ways a good budget for the Country Liberals because it really does point out to the people of the Northern Territory how shallowly this government is operating; they have no vision and are not a government which has the capacity to take the Northern Territory forward.
Mr McCARTHY (Transport): Madam Deputy Speaker, quite rightly Budget 2009-10 has been designed by the Treasurer to take strong measures to respond to the global financial crisis and its effect on the Australian and Territory economies. As I put it to the Tennant Creek and District Times - it is a tough budget for tough times.
The central strategy of Budget 2009-10 revolves around the protection of Territory jobs through building the Territory. It looks to the future to solve our current problems, and that is the essential difference between the government and those opposite. While we are building the Territory to take into account population growth and emerging economic opportunities, those opposite look to the past and have no confidence in the future. They look to discredited policies such as those which would lead to the slashing and burning of employment in the public sector; while we look to improve the numbers in health, education and community safety to enhance services to Territorians.
The negativity comes not so much from being in opposition; the negativity is the core of a philosophy - they see the future as a threat. That is why there is no confidence in the people of the Northern Territory and our collective and individual capacity to meet today’s problems though building the future. While the government is optimistic, the opposition is pessimistic; while agencies are strong in growing employment as one of the fundamentals of community development and social justice, the Country Liberal Party would see people thrown out of work.
The Labor government, even as we speak, rides through current economical difficulties and continues to be a reforming government and to provide, enhance and expand its services to the people of the Northern Territory. This is nowhere better illustrated than in my portfolios of Transport and Corrections.
My approach to the Transport portfolio is to look to the future and meet the task of building Territory transport infrastructure and systems to meet future needs and opportunities. Safe, accessible and effective delivery of transport services is good in itself, but it should also be geared to support economic and social development in the Northern Territory. This is why planning for the future is so critical. As part of the process of building the Territory we are currently actively pursuing the key strategies of the Northern Territory transport strategy, a Northern Territory integrated regional transport strategy and 10-year road strategy, and these strategies in turn will link to the Territory 2030 process. It is great to hear the member for Katherine speak about the Stuart Highway and report the potholes after a fantastic Wet Season.
There is a Toyota out the back with 70 000kms on it. I spend a fair amount of time on Territory roads these days as well, and I can assure the member for Katherine those problem areas I have been travelling over, have been repaired. It is correct, the shoulder work on the Stuart Highway and the Barkly Highway are progressing really well. The repair job on the Barkly Highway after the incredible floods in January was a fantastic response and, I believe, up for a national award. The member for Katherine and I share a lot in terms of transport planning and our 10-year strategy as a Labor government.
Each of these plans is vital for the future of the Territory and each is interrelated. The development of a regional transport strategy for the Territory is due to be completed this year and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure has developed a framework for the strategy. Extensive consultation with industry and the broader community is soon to commence. This very important piece of work is critical to the future development of the Territory in considering how best to provide transport links between our major regional towns and communities.
In the coming year, this government has further committed to managing the implementation of recommendations from the review of the commercial passenger vehicle sector: planning and facilitating public transport and school services for the Territory; improving safety on public transport; developing a contemporary service provision model for the effective delivery of transport services, including Motor Vehicle Registry; commercial passenger vehicles, marine, road and rail safety; developing a sustainability strategy for transport; continuing to implement the government’s road safety reforms; improving Motor Vehicle Registry customer service delivery across the Territory by implementing a quematic customer service management system; planning and developing the National Land Transport Network; and continuing commitment to the development of the new Drive Safe NT Driver Training and Licensing Program.
Budgetary initiatives include additional funding of $1m for park-and-ride facilities for bus commuters in the rural areas. This includes rolling-out facilities by the end of this year for Humpty Doo, Coolalinga and Noonamah. The rural bus network shall continue to be enhanced and expanded. This will deliver on our election commitments and will improve commuter and social transport options for residents in the rural area. It will cut travel costs for more people while reducing pollution and greenhouse gases. Rural bus services will be coordinated into the orbital bus service to be introduced in 2010 which will provide for increases in service levels between Darwin, Palmerston and Casuarina.
This budget also provides for additional funding of $0.6m for new bus services for Cullen Bay, Bayview and Darwin Waterfront, and $1.8m for the introduction of expanded free bus travel for students and seniors. The primary function of Darwin Bus Service is to provide an efficient, safe and reliable urban public service to meet the needs of Darwin and Palmerston communities. In time, of course, those services will be extended to our new city of Weddell.
The Darwin Bus Service operates under a service level agreement with the Public Transport Division of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. Bus services are also provided to special events and school travel in Darwin and Palmerston. Strategic issues facing the Darwin Bus Service in 2009-10 include providing a safe, comfortable, reliable and cost-effective bus service; continuing refinement of Darwin Bus Service’s commercial business operations as a Government Business Division; and improving safety for drivers and passengers.
As part of this year’s budget, we will be looking to meet these challenges through continued improvement of accessibility and comfort for all passengers through acquiring airconditioned, low-floor, easy-access vehicles; investing in new buses that have contemporary passenger transport ergonomics for passenger comfort and safety; and continued implementation of strategies to improve environmental outcomes, including purchasing buses that meet Australian design rules and European exhaust emission standards.
The Correctional Services budget for 2009-10 will see a rise of 6.7% over last year as we head towards a new era in Correctional Services. It will be an era of new and renewed Correctional facilities, an expansion in education and rehabilitation services to reduce recidivism and better prepare prisoners for life on the outside and new approaches such as regional prisoner work camps. New funding, with indicative set-up costs of $2m and recurrent costs of $1.4m in 2090-10, will be for regional, pilot prisoner work camp for up to 24 prisoners.
In response to the member for Katherine, the consultation process has begun in the Barkly, and we are also seeking expressions of interest for available land. This is a government that is listening to its constituents and taking this project forward. Prisoner work camps are an alternative to traditional imprisonment and reflect the government’s commitment to provide a cost-effective imprisonment option where prisoners undertake a range of valuable community projects linked to vocational training. This will improve rehabilitation outcomes and successful reintegration into the community. The first work camp will be in the Barkly region and will consist of a base camp for 24 prisoners, and an extended reach mobile component which will provide 10 prisoners with opportunities to undertake projects in remote areas of the Barkly region.
We will also be allocating additional funding of $0.5m to enhance prisoner rehabilitation and education programs within our Correctional system. Education and rehabilitation of prisoners is integral to breaking the cycle of offending. The additional funding will allow for the expansion of accredited literacy, numeracy, art, music and driver training programs, and enable more prisoners to participate in education and vocational training while incarcerated, including some remandees and prisoners sentenced to less than six months.
At this point, it might be good to comment on the member for Katherine’s concern in the figures which were revised in Budget Paper No 3. Budget Paper No 3 for 2009-10 revised the 2008-09 estimate from 50% to 30%; an estimated 30% participation for 2009-10. The estimated decrease in participation rate represents a change in eligibility criteria from a minimum six month sentence to all prisoners, thereby increasing the pool of eligibility considerably.
An increased focus on prisoner education and vocational training is consistent with recommendations of the Northern Territory government’s Adult Custodial Review and with Closing the Gap, which identified education as the broad social and economic factor for overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.
I will also comment on prison officers raised by the member for Katherine. I am happy to report there have been two prison officer-in-training graduation ceremonies in the Territory this year. One has been held in Darwin and one in Alice Springs, and another graduation ceremony is due to be held in Darwin this week. This means a record number of staff at both Alice Springs and Darwin Correctional Centres. I was pleased to attend both ceremonies and I witnessed the enthusiasm, and supported our new prison officers-in-training on their journey forward.
The Alice Springs Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 2 February 2009 with 21 recruits, and was completed on 16 April 2009. The second Alice Springs Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 1 June with 20 recruits, and will be completed on 13 August 2009. The Darwin Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 27 January 2009 with 13 recruits, and was completed on 8 April 2009. The second Darwin Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 30 March 2009 with 17 recruits, and will be completed on 11 June 2009. Unfortunately, due to my attendance in this House, I will be unable to participate in that graduation ceremony. However, I have sent another warm welcome to our new prison officer-in-training graduates. I have said how important it is for me, and our new graduates and correctional facility staff, to go into this new era together and to take on the journey to reduce the rate of offending.
Two more courses are scheduled to commence this year, and this will increase the number of trained staff at both Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres. Following the completion of their 11 week training program, the prison officers-in-training undertake the remainder of their 12 month contract with the Department of Justice on-the-job and directly on the prison roster. Successful completion of the prison officer-in-training program results in the qualification of Certificate III in Correctional Practice (Custodial). This is an important part of our new era of Corrections.
There will be $1m for remote area community corrections officers to supervise community-based offenders. Community probation and parole officers are now operating at Timber Creek, Barunga, Wadeye, Lajamanu, Hermannsburg, Tennant Creek and Yuendumu. All current community probation and parole officers are completing a Certificate II in Justice Studies. The community probation and parole officers work with probation and parole officers to ensure community-based offenders stay on track and provide support for other justice-related initiatives and the courts, particularly community courts. We have allocated $0.9m for rehabilitation programs …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! It is a shame the minister’s colleagues are not here to listen to him. I draw your attention to the state of the House.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ring the bells. A quorum is present. Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Deputy Speaker, this government is allocating $0.9m for rehabilitation programs for sex offenders to break the cycle of offending. A national leader in sexual offender rehabilitation has delivered a framework for sexual offending rehabilitation in the Northern Territory, and we are putting this into action. Additions to clinical staffing in Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres ensure a specialised group and individualised sexual offender rehabilitation occurs. An additional group program has been developed and delivered to moderate, lower risk sexual offenders in Darwin Correctional Centre. Individualised programs are now delivered to juvenile sexual offenders in Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre. Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is delivering therapeutic services to community-based sexual offenders in Central Australia.
I announce also $1m for the Indigenous family violence offender program. Indigenous family violence offender programs have been completed in Nguiu, Yuendumu, Hermannsburg, Wadeye, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Further programs are scheduled in 2009 in Katherine, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy, Wadeye, Nguiu, Yuendumu and Groote Eylandt. The communities of Timber Creek, Lajamanu, Barunga, Beswick, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Elliott, Ali Curung, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Wadeye, Daly River, Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt and Pirlangimpi, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Hermannsburg and Santa Teresa have trained facilitators and are ready for program delivery. Community consultation will commence for Kalkarindji, Ngukurr and Ti Tree.
There will also be an allocated $0.2m to continue the elders visiting program. This coming financial year sees the allocation of $21m approved in capital funding for headworks for the Doug Owston Correctional Facility. The new 1000 bed facility will be built approximately 8 km north west of Noonamah to meet the accommodation requirements of increasing prisoner numbers.
A new 25-bed secure mental heath and behaviour management facility will also be constructed outside the wire. This infrastructure project is being managed through a steering committee comprising representatives of the Departments of Justice, Planning and Infrastructure, Heath and Families, the Chief Minster, and the chair held by Northern Territory Treasury. Northern Territory Treasury will be responsible for providing assessment of procurement options including public/private partnerships and traditional publicly funded design and construct models.
These assessments are continuing, and it is anticipated a final decision on the procurement method will be made soon. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure will maintain responsibility for ensuring all the facilities are constructed in accordance with Northern Territory construction guidelines and principles. The Department of Justice will be responsible for ensuring the new correctional centre is designed to provide appropriate facilities for prisoners to effectively participate in education, vocational training, work and rehabilitation programs; and appropriate community safety through the provision of modern electronic and physical security systems and is best practice in innovative design and construction.
The Department of Health and Families will be responsible for ensuring the secure mental health and behaviour management facility is designed in accordance with best practice in innovative design and construction to meet the needs of those who will be accommodated within it.
Finally, there will additional funding of $2.2m to manage increasing prisoner numbers, and funding has now been approved in 2009-10 for $1.39m to construct short- and medium-term prisoner accommodation at Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres. This funding will provide for the construction of an additional 30 beds in Darwin, and 76 beds in Alice Springs during 2009-10. Both Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres currently exceed design capacity and, in order to met the short fall in prisoner beds in 2008-09, an additional 110 beds in Darwin and 24 beds in Alice Springs are currently under construction.
This year’s budget was produced in a time beset with extreme financial problems internationally. Of course it will affect the Territory, but that is not to say we should sit on our hands and do nothing and spend nothing - which has been advocated by members opposite. To do nothing is not just treading water; it would mean going backwards. The Treasurer announced the Northern Territory is bucking national trends with strong international trade figures and very strong retail trade figures. This budget is about protecting those gains through protecting Territory jobs while making sure we keep developing the Territory.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the Treasurer has done a great job under very difficult circumstances, and I am honoured to support the budget.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): Madam Deputy Speaker, it was good to listen to the member for Barkly sing high praises for the budget. He certainly has a different take on it to me but, like members on the benches on the other side, the member for Barkly is caught up in the spin of the whole thing. Being his first budget it would be an interesting process to go through but, at the end of the day, member for Barkly, I believe you really need to dig a bit deeper because when you talk about spending money it is not just the spend of money, it is the actual outcome at the end that is most important.
However, as this government is inclined to do, they put a lot more spin and a lot of more effort into the PR exercise of the budget than they actually do in working the books and doing the hard yards; I have mentioned this on several occasions. The Treasurer has a big reputation as a person who puts a lot of effort into the spin and the propaganda and the PR exercise, but is really quite lazy when it comes to doing the work, is very tardy when she does any work, and this budget is a demonstration of that.
When you flick through the budget it is very hard to make head or tail of anything this government is doing. The Treasurer, on budget day, announced the Commonwealth government is funding road projects. In the Territory government budget she has announced, to much fanfare, the Commonwealth government is going to put money into the Stuart Highway, the Barkly Highway and the Victoria Highway. Well, surprise, surprise! I think everyone in this place knows those roads are Commonwealth roads.
A member: Is it?
Mr TOLLNER: They are Commonwealth roads and are funded by the Commonwealth, always have been, always will be. Never known the Commonwealth spend on Commonwealth roads to be announced in the Territory budget but, lo and behold, in this budget we find they are actually announcing it. I suppose there may well be some commitment for the Territory government to do its job in relation to those Commonwealth roads. I know how the system works and, fundamentally, there is a pot of money the Commonwealth has in Canberra for minor works; it is almost a limitless pot of money. There is no application required. There is no trotting off to Canberra with your hat in hand begging ministers for funding. It is just a matter of the Territory government doing the work and hitting the Commonwealth with an invoice and that money will be paid over. I am sure, member for Barkly, you have been in the ministry for long enough now to understand those the minor works for major national highways are picked up automatically by the Commonwealth.
A couple of months ago I went for a spin to Tennant Creek. On the side of the road grass is six foot high, and right on the edge of the bitumen you see ant nests three foot high. Member for Barkly, I am sure you have done that trip. You must have seen the plethora of ant mounds all the way down the Stuart Highway. Those things do not pop up after a big Wet Season. They take a few years to grow to two, three, four feet high, and there is no shortage of them. It is going to be hell of a job for the road contractors to clear those verges and get their machines down to deal with the number of ant nests there. The Territory government has been reluctant to do this for many years now. It is not something I am blaming you for, member for Barkly.
The previous Transport ministers clearly have not done their job to the point where one of the previous Transport ministers, who is now the Treasurer, comes into this place with much fanfare and announces the Commonwealth government has a pot of money to put into Commonwealth roads. Well shock, horror! You would expect that would be the case.
Not only is this budget all about claiming credit for a whole swag of different Commonwealth government projects, but the enormity of the revoted works amazes me. This is where government claims spending from the last budget put into this budget; there is a whole range of areas where this happens. The most interesting one was in last year’s budget, 2008-09, the government budgeted $60.8m for the Darwin Port Corporation. Of that $60.8m, they spent all but $47.9m. That $47.9m is now carried over this year and, all of a sudden, we now have a budget for the Darwin Port Corporation of $64.8m. The average Joe on the street would be sitting there saying: ‘Wow, $64.8m that is quite a whack of money. Isn’t this government doing a fantastic job?’ Meanwhile, we know - and many people out there know - the port is falling to bits. We know the Territory government know this, because they actually put a submission to Canberra wanting some $350m-odd to fix the port. They went out there with media releases thinking: ‘Well, we need this, we might not get it. We will just ask Canberra - the Rudd Labor government, the new era of cooperative federalism – for just $200m. If we get more than that, it will be great. But we at least expect to get $200m’. What happened? They came back like dogs with their tails between their legs. Mr Rudd ignored them ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! I find that offensive, and I ask the member to withdraw.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker! He uses a simile by way of description - simile is a standard tool used in the English language. To rule this unparliamentary would be to rule simile and metaphor unparliamentary, which is simply absurd.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Port Darwin.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Deputy Speaker, can I speak in relation to the point of order?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, if you are brief, member for Fong Lim. I will be seeking advice.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Deputy Speaker, the simile I used, as the member for Port Darwin quite rightly pointed out, was in relation to a general group of people. I was not targeting an individual as such. You will find the standing orders quite clear about using inappropriate terms about individuals. I was talking about the government in general.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fong Lim. I will confer with the Deputy Clerk. There is no point of order. However, I caution the member for Fong Lim on the choice of words he uses in debate. Thank you, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. As I say, they came back, chastened. They came back disappointed by the fact they were completely ignored by the great man in Canberra ...
Ms Lawrie: $50m.
Mr TOLLNER: Here we go, we have the Treasurer interjecting now, saying $50m. Well, the Treasurer is not being quite truthful there, because there is a whole range of strings attached to that $50m and there is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever that $50m is coming to the Northern Territory for our port.
Ms Lawrie: You are going to have egg on your face.
Mr TOLLNER: There is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever, and the federal government made that abundantly clear. Now the Treasurer will try to spin her way out of this and suggest they have had a victory, irrespective that they asked for $350m, they told the public they only wanted $200m, and they have been belted around the ears with a promise that, maybe, if you do a whole heap of things and get them right, we might cough up a paltry $50m.
What are the chances of this government doing a whole heap of things and getting them right? Based on their current form, I would have to say almost zero. They cannot control themselves. We have people leaving the government like rats from a sinking ship, scurrying away as quick as they can …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! The member for Fong Lim said himself, in speaking to the last point of order that he was not speaking about a specific person. Now he is directing his epithet of a rat towards the member for Arafura. I ask him to withdraw.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for …
Dr Burns interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Once again, honourable members, I ask you to pause while I confer with the Deputy Clerk on this point.
There is no point of order, but I ask the member for Fong Lim to choose carefully the words he is using with the risk of inference associated with that.
Mr TOLLNER: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I do understand how sensitive the Leader of Government Business’ ears are to anything ...
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you have the call. Member for Greatorex, you do not.
Mr Conlan: Similes blowing all over the place.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! It is quite disorderly for a member to address the Chair while they are standing and also walking out of the Chamber. I draw that to your attention, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I would hope the member for Greatorex would show more respect to the Chair, both in what he said and the way he gesticulated towards the Chair. This mob is showing a complete lack of respect to this parliament and the position of Speaker.
Mr Elferink: From your lips?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business. Member for Port Darwin! The member for Greatorex is on a warning. You have the call, member for Fong Lim, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I take on board, as I was saying, the sensitivities of the Leader of Government Business. He is a bloke who comes across to me as an overly sensitive type when it comes to unparliamentary language. I will make every effort to curb my language.
As I was saying, people are leaving the Labor Party like there is no tomorrow. We have all done enough reading to understand what it means to be a Labor rat to the Labor Party. They are not people who are thought of highly, and they are accumulating these people at a rate of knots. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind, given another few months or so, the Deputy Chief Minister’s dreams will be realised …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker!
Mr Tollner: Oh, here we go!
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim.
Dr BURNS: I remind the honourable member that he should be directing his remarks through the Chair …
Mr Tollner: I was.
Dr BURNS: … and addressing the Speaker, Standing Order 49.
Mr Tollner: I was.
Dr BURNS: No, you were not.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business. Member for Fong Lim, if you could address your comments through the Chair, please, in accordance with standing orders.
Mr TOLLNER: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have no doubt you understand I was addressing my comments through you.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. You have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: I was merely referring to the Treasurer. I was explaining to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, how the Treasurer’s dreams will eventually come true, because there will be no more colleagues around her and she will find herself the leader of the parliamentary Labor Party here in the Northern Territory.
Ms Lawrie: You are a clown.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Deputy Speaker, the Treasurer’s budget, which she has cobbled together this time round, has been nothing unusual because her style is a complete victory of style over substance; there is nothing really in here. This government has a proven track record of failure; failure in so many areas it is becoming impossible to recollect all of them.
We had an announcement today about Bellamack. I do not know how long that has been on the agenda. It would have to be half a decade at least, probably longer, since the Treasurer first started spruiking about this new suburb of Bellamack. I do not know whether there is a house block on the market yet or …
A member: No.
Mr TOLLNER: No? No house block on the market? Well, there you go. I heard them rattling on today about the wonderful SIHIP program. Have they built a house yet?
A member: No.
Mr TOLLNER: $700m for the last two years in what can be described as a national emergency. In fact, the federal parliament enacted emergency legislation because of the dire situation of housing in remote Northern Territory; allocated $700m and two years later we do not have a house. Absolutely appalling.
In 2001, we were told they were going to build the oncology unit and here we are in 2009 and I believe the slab is laid down. Is the slab laid?
A member: Yes, the slab is down.
Mr TOLLNER: Finally, I get the message that the slab is laid. I do not know where the machinery is or the rest of the building, but it is not a bad effort – 2001 to 2009 - we have a slab. That is the way things will pan out with Bellamack, too.
This whole budget is a victory of style over substance. There is nothing in this budget to get excited about. Talking to business people around Darwin, the best comment I heard about this budget was it was boring. It is not a budget which will look after jobs, as the Treasurer says. There is nothing in this budget that supports jobs; there is nothing in this budget that supports Territorians in general. It is simply a nothing budget. It should have been, in most parts, Kevin Rudd’s budget because the vast majority of the budget is Commonwealth funds.
The member for Port Darwin handed me Budget Paper No 4, and he has little blue circles around everything in the Department of Health and Families which is Commonwealth funded. Having a quick glance in relation to capital works, repairs and maintenance, the majority of the Health and Families budget seems to be coming from the Commonwealth government. I find that misleading in the extreme that Commonwealth funds are announced as Territory budget …
Ms Lawrie: Identified as Commonwealth.
Mr TOLLNER: But announced as some sort of achievement by the Territory government.
Ms Lawrie: Identified as Commonwealth funding.
Mr TOLLNER: As an achievement by the Territory government. You jump up there in your skirt and you carry on about what a great job you are doing - it is absolutely appalling; there is no doubt about it. The Northern Territory is doing quite well, and the reason the Northern Territory is doing quite well in this global financial crisis is we have a large public service, both Northern Territory and Commonwealth; and we have a large Indigenous population, many of whom are on some type of welfare benefits. They provide a foundation of stability in the Northern Territory.
Apart from that, as far as the private sector is concerned, this government sees them more as a cash cow and something to be bled, rather than a productive part of our economy. I am absolutely appalled at the way this government treats business. They employ standover tactics and a range of devices to get them to toe the line. Business is so desperate at times for government work it can only follow meekly and do what they are told rather than risk the ire of the Territory Labor government. That is a sad state of affairs.
What is even a worse state of affairs is the situation we have seen arise in the last couple of days; this is a government with no ideas whatsoever. They are locked in an internal feud which has been going on for months and months. They have no concern whatsoever for the plight of Territorians, for the plight of Territory businesses, for the plight of Indigenous Territorians we hear so much about all the time.
They have no concern about people living in remote areas, people living in cities, people living in regional townships. The whole focus of this sorry, appalling government is internal. They are focused completely on their own internal feuding, and that is not a way to govern; it is an appalling way to govern. We see a Chief Minister who stands there and looks like a rabbit caught in a spotlight. He does not know which way to look, he does not know what which way to turn, he is scared at every step someone is going to be the Brutus and slip the knife into his back, and he has become powerless …
A member interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: He is a lame duck Chief Minister. These guys on the other side, Madam Deputy Speaker, all understand he is a lame duck Chief Minister. The trouble is at the moment, the Chief Minister’s job in the Northern Territory is a poisoned chalice and none of them want it. It is appalling because this constant fighting amongst themselves is all consuming. We know the Leader of Government Business and the Minister for Health cannot wait until late in August when their pensions become payable because they want to clear out and do the Territory a favour. We cannot wait for late August to come either, for them to clear out. As a taxpayer in the Northern Territory, I would be happy to see both the Leader of Government Business and the Minister for Health pick up their pensions and go as quickly as possible. That would be ideal for the Territory. There are a few others amongst them I would like to see do the same thing.
Ms Lawrie: We will be here longer than you.
Mr TOLLNER: I do not think the Treasurer is going anywhere. She is waiting until most of the rats have departed and then the Treasurer will go down with the ship as the captain, and we see this leaving some sort of legacy to Labor in the Territory. I pity the rest of them. The Chief Minister will get out, he will suffer a blow to his reputation, of course; he has already taken a mortal blow and everyone is praying he does not die too quickly – politically, I mean - but they know he is dead meat, he is not going anywhere, he is a dead man walking. Every time he stands in front of the cameras he gives you that death stare …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! The member for Fong Lim has form in rambling way off the subject. This is a debate on a budget; he might want to mention something about the budget.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Treasurer. Member for Fong Lim, there is a certain degree of latitude around this broad subject of the budget. I ask you to endeavour …
Mr TOLLNER: I am going into the state of the economy of the Northern Territory and the poor form of government we have here. I was referring to the Chief Minister who seems to have this terrible habit of giving the death stare every time he fronts the cameras, or stands up here in Question Time. It is like he is waiting for someone to put a couple of pennies on his eye sockets.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! The member is being offensive. There is a standing order in regard to being offensive to a member of parliament. This man is highly offensive.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. I ask you to withdraw those comments please, member for …
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker!
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am addressing the member for Fong Lim.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Member for Fong Lim, I find those remarks offensive. I have allowed you a certain degree of latitude in this debate around relevance, however, I ask you to withdraw those remarks, please.
Mr TOLLNER: Can you clarify which remarks, Madam Deputy Speaker?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: You know very well the remarks I am referring to, member for Fong Lim.
Ms Lawrie: The remarks you have just made.
Dr Burns: About pennies.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw the remarks about the pennies. The pennies have upset them. I withdraw those remarks, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Ms Lawrie: You are a grub. You are such a low life.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you have the call. I ask you to keep your words as close as possible to the subject of the debate, please, which is the budget.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker,
We have a mortally wounded Chief Minister who has no say whatsoever in the leadership of his parliamentary party. We know who is running the parliamentary party, and it is not the Chief Minister. We know, in some regard, the Treasurer is involved with these internal disputes and feuding - up to her ears. Someone who involves themselves in nasty, petty politics cannot possibly ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! Does he have anything at all to say about the budget?
Mr TOLLNER: A person who indulges ...
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, excuse me, there is a point of order before me.
Mr TOLLNER: Sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Ms LAWRIE: Relevance.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will call relevance in accordance with Standing Order 67. You have been asked three times now to resume debate in accordance with the subject of the debate. Each time you have resumed, you have gone straight back to talking about the Chief Minister. I ask you to move forward, please, and on the subject.
Mr TOLLNER: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker. As I was saying, a person who embroils themselves in that sort of a feud cannot possibly cobble together a decent budget. That is my point about this budget; these people indulge themselves in this petty, party, internal feud and they do not have any attention left to devote to the things which are important to the Northern Territory. There are few things as important to the Northern Territory as putting together a decent budget.
This budget is a collage of a budget. It is a collage of revoted works of Commonwealth money, and a little of Territory money. There are absolutely no outcomes whatsoever envisaged in this apart from some statement that says: ‘We are out looking after jobs’. The only job this Treasurer is interested in looking after is her own - her own and her colleagues on that side of the House. They are fighting for their political lives at the moment, and that is all that is consuming them. They come into this place, table a dodgy budget and expect the Territory to swallow it and say: ‘Well done, guys. Now you can get back to your fighting’. Well, it is not on. It is not on at all.
I am very embarrassed for the government. I find it hard to walk around Darwin and say I am a member of the Legislative Assembly. It is not a place of democracy; it is not a place of rigour. It is a place where ministers and Labor members will try at every opportunity to shut down debate, to stop any discussion on issues which matter to Territorians. Ultimately, all they are interested in is marketing, public relations, propaganda, spin - call it what you like - that is what interests them; and fighting amongst themselves in a very public way to the point where member after member is leaving their party.
I should probably leave it at that because the fact is they know they are not up to the job. There are a few of them hanging around until pension day. As I say, it is my greatest wish to see as many of them as possible get their pensions come middle or late August, whatever the date is, and scurry off. That would be the best thing that could happen here in the Northern Territory for Territorians.
Debate adjourned.
Continued from 30 April 2009.
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the statement. Cash for Containers is a great way to tackle litter, it is a great way to tackle landfill problems, and it is a great way to create a recycling culture. It is not a silver bullet, but it does go a long way to tackling all those issues. When I adjourned my remarks last time, I was going through some statistics from South Australia about how cash for containers helps reduce litter in South Australia …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Fannie Bay, if you could please pause. In accordance with Standing Order 51, I ask members to minimise the noise. You have the call, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr GUNNER: … and the good work the cash for containers scheme does in reducing the amount of material going into landfill. We saw with our own eyes, when we were there, how it creates a better recycling culture for many things, not just cans and bottles.
I will go through those statistics again from South Australia’s EPA Zero Waste website. South Australia recovers at least one-third more aluminium cans than other states, where collection is influenced by the market value of the metal. South Australia recovers 85% of non-refillable glass soft drink bottles, compared with 36% nationally. South Australia already recovers 84% of cans marketed in the state, compared to 63% nationally, and the return rate for plastic soft drink containers, PET, is 74%, while the national return rate is 36%. Liquid paper board, a recent inclusion, has a return rate of 40% and is increasing. Container deposit litter is less than 1% of total litter in South Australia.
Through their container deposit legislation, South Australia presents materials for recycling which have the highest quality in the nation. That is a really important point: having a clean item for recycling can increase the value of your scrap and goes a long way towards making the container deposit legislation scheme work in South Australia. It helps reduce the costs associated with the scheme and increases the profits for the super collector. It is not just about the profit motive behind returning, say, aluminium cans, but it helps with items which have no 10 value. Super collectors can sell off a tonne of plastic milk bottles in South Australia - milk bottles are not included in the scheme - they can sell off a tonne of plastic milk bottles at $600 to $700 a tonne. There is value in good, clean scrap, something on which South Australia has created a culture.
The culture of recycling in South Australia means that collection depots are receiving significant amounts of clean items for recycling, and they are not always a part of the container deposit legislation scheme. We should look at avoiding the mistakes which exist in the South Australian scheme. They are not broad enough in what they include. There were examples where we were shown identical bottles, identical labels, the same company has produced them, but one had a 10 return on it and one did not.
When we go to our legislation there may be merit in considering modelling ourselves, in the early stages, on the South Australian legislation. I believe we need to look at the breadth to make it more viable. That is something we need to do in the Territory where we have a much smaller base of materials than South Australia.
At the collection depots in South Australia we saw people backed up onto the street to return their cans. We could not believe it when we saw it; we thought the recyclers might have set it up, there were cars out into the street banking up traffic and cars had to stop. Everyone was queuing to bring their containers to be recycled, to get money. Many people who came in had their cans or bottles neatly packed into the original cartons they came in, so it was coming in clean, it was coming in sorted, and that makes things much easier. It is not mandatory in South Australia to do that, but people do it. I know the member for Nelson would like to look at different ways we can do that to make sure there is less double handling - if you are bringing goods in, have them already sorted to make life easier for everybody. That is something we could look at - people pre-sorting their recycling before they bring it in to remove double handling. No one likes handling things more than once if you can help it, and it takes a lot of efficiency out of the system.
One of the really interesting things at the collection depot was the significant numbers of other items being returned which fell outside the container deposit scheme - containers full of screen doors, computer parts and a range of metal, wood and rubber items the recyclers had found a scrap market for. It is interesting that people took their old screen doors to the collection depot, but that is part of the positive recycling culture they have created in South Australia; they have removed the inconvenience. If you are going there already with your carton full of cans to get your money back, you may as well take your other stuff at the same time.
People find it easy as the collection depots are well spread and well located. That is important to bear in mind – the ease of access. You have to remove the inconvenience factor for many people. That is something cash does as well, but planning where the recycling depots are situated is critical. The success of the scheme is not surprising when you consider how popular the scheme is in South Australia. From surveys conducted by the Keep South Australia Beautiful website and the Environment Protection Authority over 80% of South Australians support the container deposit legislation. Further research indicates South Australians support extension of the container deposit legislation to a broader range of potential items regularly identified in the litter stream.
It has been a good way to tackle litter problems in South Australia and if you are tackling litter by recycling it, you are also tackling the landfill issue. That is a challenge for us. We need to make sure we avoid obvious inconsistencies between containers; we need to make the scheme as simple as possible. It creates problems when very similar bottles are presented at collection depots and it slows things right down as people try to work out what has the 10 refund and what does not, especially if they are almost identical. We need to ensure the scheme operates simply and practically, and there is no reason why we cannot achieve that. We have to do more work on the detail but it looks like that should be possible.
If we can do this, a new industry will be created in the Territory. There are a number of jobs associated with the container deposit scheme in South Australia; it puts freight on the back of trucks instead of having them empty after doing a freight run; it provides an avenue for fundraising for charities and community groups, and that is something the member for Nelson has spoken about. I know he is very passionate about that - the Scouts and other community groups where they volunteer or get paid to clean up after events and then cash in the litter afterwards.
Councils are another important stakeholder. In South Australia, councils support the container deposit legislation and they work with the industry. That means the benefits of litter reduction and recycling are maximised and the flow-on benefits for landfill, which councils usually manage; they are the ones to often benefit.
Alice Springs is looking forward to implementing their own scheme, and the minister spoke about that in her initial remarks. It is good that Alice Springs Town Council recognises the issue and is on board with the scheme. I would like to think our scheme would develop more extensively having a broader Territory-wide range and a linkage into recycling and what we do with the goods afterwards. Darwin City Council will also be an important player because they have a kerbside recycling scheme, and we need to work with them to ensure the Cash for Containers Scheme and the kerbside recycling scheme are complementary. There is much evidence to suggest they can work well together based on the South Australian experience; we have seen it does work in South Australia.
I also refer people to work done in the United States. In 1993, a congressional research service did a study titled Bottle Bills and Curbside Recycling: Are They Compatible? and found that:
In a 2002 report prepared for the Multi-stakeholder Recovery Project of Businesses and Environmentalists Allied for Recycling, BEAR, titled Understanding Beverage Container Recycling and Value Chain Assessment:
Often people will want to throw their cans into recycling and so the council gets the benefit of that; it is more convenient for them, so there is a mutual benefit to the two schemes.
The 10 states in the United States which have the deposit scheme recycled 490 containers per capita per year. The 40 non-deposit states – 10 and 40 does not quite add up to the number of states there are in the Unites States - which rely solely on kerbside programs and drop-off centres, recycled 191 containers per capita per year; so there is a big difference there.
In 1991, the Seattle Solid Waste Utility conducted its own analysis to determine the impact of a national bottle bill on the economics of the city’s recycling program, one of the oldest and most successful kerbside recycling programs in the nation. The study, titled Potential Impacts of a National Bottle Bill on Seattle’s Kerbside Recycling Program:
I am confident we will be able to work with Darwin City Council on making kerbside recycling and the Cash for Containers scheme work. The minister and the member for Nelson have touched upon reverse vending machines – innovative technology that does as it says- you open up the door, put your can in, and get your cash back. It is as simple as that, but it does have a couple of catches: you need quite a large area of space behind the machine. The machine itself might look quite small and neat, but when you put your can in it has to go somewhere and it has to be sorted, so you have the cans and the bottles and the liquid paper board and the PET - and retail space can be expensive - but this is the system which has been found to work. If you tie it into a retail shop properly and link it into other services offered by the shopping centre, you can actually make it work in a non-deposit state where there is no Cash for Containers scheme.
It is definitely something we need to look at and check out for the Territory. Essentially, there is large storage at the back of the machine, it scans the barcode on the side of the container when you put it in the bin at the front, and then deposits it in the correct box at the back. It is a very simple machine and there are mobile versions available so you can move them from place to place as well. Schools are a good example of where you might put a reverse vending machine, as well as retail shopping centres, like Casuarina.
The machine does require a legible barcode. You cannot put any old can in there; it has to be clean and legible for the machine to scan. One of the tricky parts of the technology is making sure it is robust. You do not want to be putting a lot of money into these and find out they do not work. Mind you, once you make this scheme work, it will not necessarily be government putting the money in, it could be a business looking at this as an opportunity to put something into their shopping centre which attracts people, they put the can in and get a deposit back. Often it is a printout like a voucher so you can either redeem it for 10 or 10 times - as many things as you put in there - or you can have it linked to a voucher within the supermarket itself.
One of the pluses of a reverse vending machine is it can help tackle the inconvenience factor, as they are designed for use at shopping centres. One of the arguments against the Cash for Containers scheme is the issue of inconvenience. The member for Nelson is very passionate about the mischievousness of the inconvenience factor but, essentially, they say the inconvenience is a cost on the scheme, an ill-defined cost, and if it is inconvenient or takes you out of your way, you will not do it. Whereas, you obviously have to go to the shops to buy groceries, so if you are going to the shops, it is not inconvenient to take your recycling with you. So, it does help tackle the argument about inconvenience.
To make the Cash for Containers scheme work, looking at it overall and not looking at reverse vending machines in isolation, we will be relying on a market. By putting a deposit on a can we are creating a market for these containers and we will be relying on that value to inspire ingenuity from Territorians to conquer the little hurdles which emerge.
If the market works well, if market responds, businessmen are sensible, charity groups, community groups, people who want to buy in and work with this system, will find ways to make it work; we do not need to solve every little problem when we are developing the policy. If we get the policy right and the framework right, it will work. Questions like: who will pick up the cans from here or take them there? This system will not work and will not be feasible if it requires government subsidy or intervention that is ongoing; if we have to think of the solution to everything. If we make the overall scheme work, then it will work. If South Australians can do it, certainly Territorians can. This is important to keep in mind. We will need to have a good relationship with manufactures and wholesalers, and we will need to have a good, sound law which is financially robust, legally robust and regionally robust. I am confident we can do it. I am enjoying working with the minister and the member for Nelson to achieve it.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend the statement to the House.
Dr BURNS (Business): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage’s statement on the introduction of Cash for Containers scheme in the Northern Territory.
The litter produced in some parts of the Territory is noted to be out of proportion with our population level, especially when compared to other jurisdictions, and may even be increasing. The accumulation of litter in the Territory is a social and environmental issue which should not be ignored. Rather than waiting for a national initiative on this issue, our particular circumstances point to a need to consider appropriate action locally. As the minister has highlighted, alternative measures to manage litter produced in the Territory have been implemented previously without fully achieving effective and sustainable results.
The South Australian container deposit scheme, with over 30 year’s experience, provides guidance for the development and delivery of a Territory scheme. The South Australian scheme has shown how litter can be reduced; it also points to wide community support and industry involvement. While other scheme options are available and should be looked at further, they may not provide the same level of long-term outcomes or result in the same level of community engagement and support as the South Australian approach. I note the South Australian scheme does not rely on government support to operate and remain financially viable.
That said, we need to explore all practical options to develop a scheme which is legally sound, financially viable, and able to be delivered successfully throughout the Territory including urban, regional and remote areas. To be successful, such a scheme will need to integrate effectively with other Territory resource recovery recycling schemes, and achieve a nett improvement to our overall environmental performance. Also, in order to succeed, the Territory’s Cash for Containers scheme needs the support of both local and business communities.
I am pleased the pilot programs initiated by this government in Alice Springs, Lajamanu and Titjikala have shown positive support from local communities. I am confident the same enthusiasm will be shared in other parts of the Territory, including urban areas. Through a combination of financial incentives and the awareness of potential contributions to environmental improvement, Territorians are likely to respond positively to a well-designed and successful scheme. Such a scheme would allow children, schools, and the disadvantaged members of our community to participate in simple activities where they can directly access benefits from their actions to reduce litter and improve the environment. It would assist in instilling the important values of environmental preservation and social responsibility in our children and grandchildren. When a well-designed container deposit scheme is implemented in remote communities, I believe it will open up new ways of engaging those Indigenous communities and can be incorporated into our existing Indigenous development programs.
The social benefits from the introduction of a successful Cash for Containers scheme are obvious, provided we find ways to ensure it is financially viable and we can extend its reach to the majority of our population throughout the Territory. At the same time, it is important to recognise and acknowledge the needs and the use of industry, particularly the hotel industry and beverage manufacturers and distributors.
As a new initiative in the Territory, there are questions which remain to be fully addressed before a successful scheme can be introduced. Business opportunities may also be opened up by a Cash for Containers scheme. These need to be examined as well. I understand in other countries retailers and shopping centres participate in the scheme by providing container redemption points within their premises. This has proven to be a very effective way of drawing shoppers into retail outlets where they can stay and shop and stimulate sales.
A container deposit scheme has also allowed thriving recycling industries to develop in most other countries where it has been adopted. We may stimulate the development of new technologies as we adopt a suitable scheme to meet our emerging circumstances. The unique challenges we face in administering the scheme to a small and widely disbursed population should encourage us to explore innovative solutions. Coupled with the environment and climate change challenges also being addressed at present, we may be able to benefit from the expertise gained from adopting a well-designed and successful scheme earlier than others. Careful and considered planning at the establishment phase is, in my view, crucial to success.
As the experience in South Australia, and other countries, has shown, it is possible to design and implement schemes tuned to meet local circumstances and needs. The Department of Business and Employment is working with the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, and other agencies, to ensure a Territory Cash for Containers scheme is well designed for our specific circumstances and needs; is financially viable; legally sound and able to be implemented throughout the Territory.
We need to continue to work with the business and local communities to come up with a program design and service delivery arrangements that are effective in addressing our litter issues in a financially viable manner. To achieve effective community involvement, it will also be important to ensure accessibility to redemption depots and effective redemption processes. One of our challenges will be implementing an effective scheme in regional communities and maintaining its financial viability. Experience and expertise gained by other jurisdictions and other countries may be of some assistance. I expect, though, that specific Territory solutions will need to be achieved to ensure a successful scheme. The reference group on the Territory Cash for Containers scheme has important work to finalise in relation to the design of a suitable scheme and to manage the steps required to bring it to fruition.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I praise the member for Nelson as he has been absolutely dogged in his fight over many years on his position for a CDL scheme in the Northern Territory. The former member for Braitling also was a passionate advocate for this. They argued long and strong within the parliament to implement a scheme. In particular, I would like to praise the minister for the Environment who has taken this on with a passion also, and worked with the member for Nelson and got down firsthand what is happening in South Australia and taken steps to set up a committee, which I mentioned before, the reference group on a Territory Cash for Containers scheme.
I have a confession to make, Madam Deputy Speaker: when I was Environment minister and the former member for Braitling and the member for Nelson raised this issue on behalf of government, I did not accept, and government did not accept, at that time, a container deposit scheme for the Northern Territory. The basis for that was we wanted to see, and we believed that there would be a national scheme implemented. That was some five years ago and a national scheme still has not been implemented. This is very disappointing because the Territory has always been an advocate, and a very strong advocate, at the Environment Ministers Council, for a national scheme, but that has not occurred.
However, the Territory now is taking steps under the leadership of the minister for the Environment and with the support of the member for Nelson. Other things have occurred also. I mentioned in my speech the sponsorship government has given a number of schemes in remote areas - Alice Springs, Lajamanu and Titjikala - and those schemes have shown positive support for recycling. So the debate has moved on from the time when government said: ‘We want to wait for a national scheme. We are not convinced, at this stage, about the viability of regional container deposit collection’. There has been work done there. We have a minister who is very active in this area, and has the support of the member for Nelson who, as I said previously, has been unwavering in his position on container deposit.
I was a little disappointed when the member for Brennan got up and, I thought, gave a fairly ambivalent position on the part of the opposition. In fact, I felt the member for Brennan was articulating the opposition’s position of actually moving away and disengaging with container deposit. I hope that is not the case. I believe the member for Brennan is open to many ideas; he said on the public record, in the newspapers, he wants to do the right thing by the Territory, he wants to view things on their merit, and his heart is in the right place in doing the right thing for the Territory. He is the shadow spokesperson and I hope he engages and works with the minister and the member for Nelson and members on this side, to ensure a container deposit scheme is implemented in the Territory.
There are challenges as I alluded to in my speech – the challenge of setting up the regional processing and redemption points. That is going to be a big challenge. It is going to be a challenge to ensure there is equity within the scheme, that people in remote areas are not paying the deposit on their container and unable to redeem them, whereas people in urban and other areas are able to do it. We need to have equity there.
There is no doubt there are people and organisations in Australia who really do not want to see a container deposit scheme in the Northern Territory. No doubt there will be resistance and obstacles put in the way by those people; and also the natural obstacles and challenges we face in the Territory. That is why I said in my speech that we really need to come up with a Territory solution. That is especially true because we have the challenges of a dispersed population and transport difficulties. We have to come up with some new and good ideas, and that is why I exhort the member for Brennan to get engaged with this process, to keep an open mind, and not let the minders on the fourth floor form his view and tell him what to say on the floor of parliament, but to be what he promised in the newspaper: that is a fresh mind looking at issues as they arise and looking to benefit of the community of the Northern Territory.
Mr Chandler: You were going to send me on a trip. What happened to the trip? Where has the trip gone?
Dr BURNS: I am glad you have confirmed your support for the container deposit, member for Brennan. It is very reassuring that you have done that on the floor of parliament here tonight, in what I picked up of what you just said.
I know there are other members on this side who want to speak on this very important issue. I commend this statement to the House. I know we will make very good progress on this issue in the coming months and years.
Mr KNIGHT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I add my support to the Environment minister’s statement on the introduction of the Cash for Containers scheme in the Northern Territory. In the years since South Australia introduced container deposit legislation, there has been a great deal of debate on the pros and cons of such a scheme; a debate which has been weighed very carefully by this government in making its decision to move forward.
I commend the Chief Minister and the minister for driving the in-principle decision to introduce the Cash for Containers scheme in the Northern Territory by 2011, making the Territory the second jurisdiction in Australia to do so. While other states are continuing to deliberate, the Territory is acting and moving forward. It is a decision taken in the interests of the Territory’s future, and in the interests of protecting our environment for future generations.
The evidence from the Cash for Containers scheme in South Australia, and around the world, shows its success lies with the community. Territorians are rightly proud of their natural environment. So much of our recreation time is spent outdoors at sporting matches, barbecues, fishing and camping; and our Indigenous culture and heritage is inextricably linked to the country. Each year, thousands of international and national tourists come to the Territory to enjoy the beauty of our many attractions – Kakadu, Uluru, Litchfield, the Barkly and the Gulf region. In my own electorate lies the Daly River, one of the most pristine waterways, and I am rightly proud of this government’s commitment to protecting the environment for the future.
With so much of our great Territory lifestyle linked to our environment, I am confident the Territory community will lend its weight to make the Cash for Containers a success in reducing litter and boosting recycling. The Territory 2030 Draft Strategy sets the target of reducing the amount of waste taken to rubbish dumps by 50% by the year 2020, a target which will be supported by the Cash for Containers scheme.
Where container deposit schemes are in place, between 70% to 90% of the containers sold are returned for recycling, refilling or disposal. In South Australia, beverage containers contribute less than 20% of litter by volume, compared to other states where the rate is up 40% to 50%. Sadly, the Northern Territory has the second highest litter level of any Australian jurisdiction. If we are to protect our environment for the future, we must take steps to address this statistic.
One of the real opportunities for a Cash for Containers scheme is it rewards the average Territorian for their efforts in protecting the environment. In particular, it can be driven at the grassroots level by kids, sporting clubs, and community organisations like Scouts, which can take advantage of the program as a fundraising opportunity. As a Dad, I know too well that extra pocket money is a great motivator for children to help clean up the environment and, all the while, the Cash for Containers scheme will be sending a positive message about recycling and not littering.
I welcome the Environment minister’s commitment in moving on detailed design criteria for the Cash for Containers scheme. We will ensure the scheme can be implemented in both urban and remote areas. While container deposit legislation will not be the magic elixir for reducing litter, I am excited by the potential it offers for the remote communities within my electorate. A pilot scheme run in Lajamanu reported just under 100 000 containers were returned in that year. I am inspired by what a larger community, such as Wadeye, could achieve and the impact it could have on both the physical community and its people.
As more work is done on how the Cash for Containers scheme will operate in the Northern Territory, including the role community stores may play, I see the potential for it to really work – the potential for our remote schools, community youth programs, footy teams to collect containers as a fundraising exercise, whether it be for new sporting or other equipment, for trips interstate or into town; a younger generation to have access to these opportunities they might otherwise miss out on.
I welcome the opportunity to get litter off the streets and out of our communities so everyone can enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Madam Speaker, the Cash for Containers Reference Group, including the Environment minister, the member for Fannie Bay and the member for Nelson, has a big task in front of it. I know they are already hard at work learning from what has worked, not only in South Australia, but other jurisdictions. We have heard tonight the member for Fannie Bay is doing a lot of research in that area. I wish them every success. It is a great opportunity to be the second jurisdiction in Australia to do so. I pick up the points made by the Leader of Government Business, that it has to suit the Territory’s particular circumstances and we have to have a scheme which operates in the remote areas so those people in the bush can take advantage of the scheme for their own fundraising. I support the statement.
Mr HAMPTON (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, I am very pleased, together with my colleagues on this side of the House, to support the minister for the Environment on her statement on the introduction of a Cash for Containers scheme. Clearly, there has been a level of equivocation from various jurisdictions on the merits of a nationally consistent container deposit scheme. Our decision to progress towards a scheme that is appropriate for the Territory is good news.
Drinking containers represent a massive part of the litter stream in any community. In Alice Springs, the town council estimates alcohol containers alone represent somewhere in the vicinity of 60% of all litter they collect. In a study into container deposit logistics conducted by the Centre for Appropriate Technology in 2006, it was estimated in Lajamanu, a community of approximately 850 people, almost 100 000 containers for various beverages were sold each year by the community store. All the associated litter entered the litter stream or the community landfill.
In Atitjere, a community of only 250 people, it was estimated that almost 82 000 containers were sold each year by the store with the vast majority of these containers entering the litter stream or landfill.
These examples of communities, large and small, demonstrates the amount of potential litter created each year across the Territory; the potential for resource recovery to reduce dependence on landfill and improve the environment, and the potential for people to benefit financially from a well-structured scheme.
There have been a number of small, voluntary container deposit schemes trialled in Central Australia in recent years. In the late 1990s, Santa Teresa introduced a voluntary scheme for plastic bottles and cans through their community store and achieved great success in cleaning up that component of the litter stream. A total of 90% of plastic bottles in Santa Teresa were returned to the store. Titjikala developed a similar voluntary scheme, were children and pensioners and Caritas, the disaster relief and overseas project development charity, benefited. The environment also benefited and a great sense of community pride developed. Unfortunately, the schemes were not financially sustainable. Whilst evidence suggests container deposit schemes in remote communities would be generally well supported, the logistics of collecting and transporting containers, either from the outstation to community store, or from store to recycling centres, creates major challenges.
Over the past eight or nine years, a number of trials have been conducted in Alice Springs to test the support for, and effectiveness of, a local container deposit scheme. The Arid Lands Environment Centre established a trial at the Alice Springs Show in 2001 where a refund of 5 per drink container was offered - and 8000 containers were returned in an eight-hour period. A trial was also conducted at the Yeperenye Festival offering 10 per container - and 17 000 containers were returned in a 10-hour period. These results show there is a strong base of support for container deposit schemes that capitalise on, in most cases, the energy and enthusiasm of young people, and the increasing concern and commitment the general public has for the environment.
I turn now to two trials conducted in 2007 and supported financially by the Environment Centre NT. In 2007, the Lajamanu Community Government Council established a container deposit scheme which involved funding from both the Northern Territory government and an in-kind commitment from the local community through the Lajamanu Community Council, the Granites Gold Mine, Pandion Haulage and resource recovery agents in Katherine and Darwin. The scheme was implemented with the assistance of the Centre for Appropriate Technology, and involved the purchase and installation of infrastructure to collect, store and manage the containers. It was supported by training and mentoring in machine operation, materials handling, and marketing to ensure the community understood and supported the scheme. For the first 12 months, the cost of the scheme amounted to approximately $125 000, taking into account infrastructure costs, in-kind support, and the scheme’s evaluation.
While the financial return on investment amounted to approximately $10 000 from deposit refunds, there were other significant benefits to the community. In the first 12 months of operation over 96 000 plastic and aluminium containers were collected and distributed to resource recovery centres in Katherine and Darwin. Apart from the obvious improvements to the community aesthetics and environmental health, and the reduction in the litter stream, young children, the main participants in the scheme, were beneficiaries through increased pocket money.
The intangible benefits associated with community pride cannot be underestimated. Last year, Lajamanu CDS, the container deposit scheme, won the Chairman’s Prize at the Power and Water Melaleuca Awards. The community followed up on this by winning the Best Community Store at the NT Tidy Towns Awards because of the huge role the store played in the container deposit scheme. I acknowledge not only the Lajamanu community and the previous council members, the store, the Lajamanu Progress Association, but particularly Robert Roy, affectionately known as T O at Lajamanu. T O often works alone in the shed and he is the mainstay behind the container deposit scheme. It is his enthusiasm and his drive which makes this scheme such a success.
The litter problem in Alice Springs has long been associated with antisocial behaviour and is considered to have a detrimental effect on tourism, as well as an adverse impact on community harmony. There is no doubt both the Alice Springs Town Council and the Northern Territory government invest significantly in keeping Alice Springs tidy. In 2007, the Alice Springs Town Council conducted a cash for cans trial, again supported by the Environment Centre NT. The scheme was intended to last 12 months or until 200 000 cans were collected; however, due to its success additional funds were contributed by the Alice Springs Town Council. In a four month period up to February 2008, almost 340 000 cans were returned, resulting in a significant reduction in the litter stream in Alice Springs during that time.
As previously stated, the Alice Springs Town Council estimates 60% of the litter it collects derives from alcohol products. The council believes approximately $360 000 per annum of council expenditure is attributable to the collection of alcohol-related litter. The council recently announced its intentions to impose a liquor litter charge on rateable property owners of takeaway liquor outlets. The council’s determination to cleanup the town is commendable. Since the council’s announcements, I have heard many comments of support for the council’s position; there seems to be a general understanding in the community of the council’s intent. Equally, I have had representations from property owners and licensees of takeaway outlets who are concerned about the imposition of the charge. It is within this context the latter have indicated their support for the government’s intention to introduce a container deposit scheme, and have requested its introduction at the earliest available opportunity to make redundant the council’s liquor litter charge. Council has also indicated its willingness to review its scheme upon introduction of an NT-wide cash for containers scheme.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have explained to all interested parties the introduction of a financially viable, Territory-wide applicable scheme is a complex issue. As the minister has already outlined a material coordination model must be established; checks and balances put in place to prevent containers stockpiling; new labelling requirements agreed to by industry; collection points and transport options determined; licensed compliance and auditing mechanisms developed; legislation designed and passed, and a comprehensive community awareness program delivered. This will not happen overnight. If we are to have a legally sound, financially viable scheme which is applicable to both urban and remote settings, as referred to by other speakers, we need to get the research right, we need to get the planning right, and we need to get the scheme right.
I am pleased the minister has responded promptly to get the reference group working on this extremely important issue. As the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage and the Chief Minster have stated publicly, if this scheme can be implemented any earlier than 2011, it will be. However, it is in no one’s interest to rush the process and end up with an unsustainable scheme.
In conclusion, I convey my best wishes to the minister and to the member for Fannie Bay and the member for Nelson who, as the reference group, are charged with the responsibility of steering the scheme design and implementation. This is an extremely important initiative that promises significant community benefit for all. I am pleased to support the minister’s statement.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I support the ministerial statement on the container deposit legislation. This is very important and environmentally friendly legislation which, I believe, when passed by this House, will have a lasting impact on the Northern Territory environment to bring about, at last, an attitudinal change regarding waste management.
I begin by congratulating the minister for the Environment, the Hon Alison Anderson, for starting work on this great project straightaway. This container deposit legislation is a big step forward for the Northern Territory, and it brings us into line with the successful South Australian container deposit scheme which has been operating for over 30 years.
South Australia offers a great case study of how a container deposit scheme can work, and work well. I am sure when the South Australia parliament considered this far-reaching legislation in the mid-1970s they would have encountered criticism. However, by choosing to enact their container deposit legislation, they have proven quite comprehensively that legislation such as this can work to the benefit of the community and the environment.
Looking at this legislation, I have considered the South Australian model and how it has worked successfully. We must consider their model and apply it in our Northern Territory context. This container deposit legislation will enable deposits to be included within the purchase price, and this will encourage people to return their used beverage containers for a nominated sum of money. The minister has already outlined beverage containers will be exchanged for 10 to ensure we compare with the South Australian model. This is good news for individuals and communities and will also avoid any unnecessary confusion and ensure a streamlined scheme between the two jurisdictions.
As the member for Arnhem, I believe it is a great incentive for individual communities to clean up their local surrounds, and we need to provide real incentives and ways for people to recycle. This scheme would do just that, as well as providing a cleaner community.
A container deposit scheme will also bring about significant attitudinal changes about keeping the Northern Territory clean and beautiful. We already know South Australia recycles at least 70% of all beverage containers, while the rest of the country lags at 40%. Clearly, the South Australian deposit scheme is working and, as a result, South Australians enjoy a cleaner environment.
Looking into the implementation of this legislation further, I read with great interest the research paper published by the Centre for Appropriate Technology in 2006. My interest in this paper was spurred by one of my communities, Angurugu, which was one of three communities considered during the research. The research in Angurugu threw up some interesting challenges and the end result was the community was definitely interested in taking up a program which encourages recycling. I am proud that Angurugu took part and provided some points for the Cash for Containers reference group to consider when establishing the framework for this scheme.
It is pleasing to see while there are some challenges, communities are eager to explore the possibility of developing and establishing a container deposit scheme. When I think of a container deposit scheme I think how it can benefit the local community. For example, local community organisations can set about collecting beverage containers as a means of fundraising. This means a community organisation, such as the Scouts or Girl Guides can collect beverage containers and exchange them at a rate of 10 each.
As Territorians, we all know we live in a beautiful part of the world, and this scheme will offer a great incentive to keep it that way. Clean Up Australia has estimated 40% of all rubbish removed in the Northern Territory on Clean Up Australia Day were containers that would be refunded under the container deposit scheme. This is evidence we need to do something about ensuring people no longer simply litter beverage containers.
We are the second territory or state to introduce a container deposit scheme. It is wonderful to see the Northern Territory once again taking bold steps, particularly to help our environment. It is evident container deposit schemes can, and do, make a difference to the environment and also bring about economic benefits to the community. I commend the statement to the House.
Debate adjourned.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
It is with great pleasure I extend my congratulations to the Northern Territory recipients of the 2009 Queen’s Birthday honours list. The granting of this honour represents an acknowledgement of the outstanding service to the Northern Territory community by four Territorians.
I would like to speak personally about Paul Charles Tyrrell AO. Paul Tyrrell has been appointed an Officer in the General Division for his service to the community of the Northern Territory in a range of public sector roles: through contributions to major construction and transport infrastructure projects, and to the development of economic and social policy in the Northern Territory.
Paul Tyrrell served as the CEO of the Northern Territory Department of Transport and Works from October 1994, taking on the additional roles of Chief Executive Officer of the Darwin Port Authority in August 1995, and the Department of Communications and Advanced Technology in July 1997.
In June 1999, Paul was appointed CEO of the Department of the Chief Minister, a position he held until 31 January 2008. In this role he was the most senior public servant in the Northern Territory, and the most senior public service advisor to several Northern Territory Chief Ministers, including myself. Throughout this period he also served as Secretary to the Cabinet for the Northern Territory government, providing advice to the ministry on a broad range of social and economic issues affecting the Territory.
In addition to his strategic leadership of the Northern Territory public sector, Paul Tyrrell has played a pivotal role in developing and bringing to fruition a number of major project developments for the Territory including the completion of the historic Adelaide to Darwin railway line; a $1.1bn Darwin city waterfront redevelopment, and the establishment of Darwin as a major gas manufacturing and export centre. As Chairman of the NT Onshore Gas Taskforce from 2004 to 2009, he played a leading role in negotiations to bring the INPEX project to the Northern Territory.
The contribution Paul has made to the economic development of the Territory through his various public sector roles has been nothing short of outstanding. Although now retired from the public sector, Paul continues to play a critical role in the Territory’s developments in a number of areas. He continues to serve the Northern Territory government in the position of Chair of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and of the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, and is a lead negotiator on behalf of the NT government in establishing the Territory’s first dedicated oncology unit at Royal Darwin Hospital.
I am also aware that Paul has recently been appointed Chairman of the Northern Territory Football Club, Territory Thunder, a new Territory-wide initiative to provide young Territorian footballers with the opportunity to play AFL at a higher level.
My personal and sincere congratulations to Paul Tyrrell. He has made an enormous contribution to the Northern Territory and epitomises a great public servant who has served the public of the Northern Territory tremendously well.
Commander Anne-Marie Murphy, APM has been awarded the Australian Police Medal for over 30 years of distinguished and dedicated service to policing as a member of the Northern Territory Police Force. During her policing career Commander Murphy served at a number of Northern Territory communities including Katherine, Jabiru, Tennant Creek and Yulara.
She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1983, less than five years after joining the police, and to a position in the Criminal Investigation Branch. At that time she was one of only three women in the CIB and the first woman holding the rank of Detective Sergeant in crime. In September 1999, Anne-Marie became the first woman appointed as officer-in-charge of the Northern Crime Division, now Major Crime. During her time in this role, from 1999 to 2002, she managed 65 members of the CIB leading numerous major crime investigations.
Anne-Marie Murphy became involved in the Northern Territory Police Association in the 1980s, and in 1992 she was elected President of the association – a first for the Northern Territory, and the first woman in Australia to head a police union. She served on the executive of the association for eight years and became a life member in 1994.
In 1995, Anne-Marie was the first person appointed to the role of Welfare Coordinator for NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services. Her organisational knowledge, integrity and sense of commitment to the issues faced by police officers, forged the role into a highly valuable service for members. On 15 June 1998, Commissioner Brian Bates recognised her work in establishing the new role through a Commissioner’s Letter of Recognition. In 1996, Anne-Marie was the driving force behind the development and implementation of the NT Police Women Advisory Committee. She has remained committed to maximising opportunities for women in policing and was Chair of that forum from 2002 to 2003. Anne-Marie conceived WAC, brought women together from across the Territory, and consolidated and implemented the group to help advance the role and work of women in policing.
Anne-Marie Murphy was the NT representative on the inaugural Australasian Women’s Advisory Committee. She has worked professionally with the respect of her colleagues, peers and friends; she has extensive organisational knowledge; well developed political acumen and, over the years, has mentored and encouraged women to move forward and take action on a range of issues relevant to women and policing.
Madam Speaker, I will conclude my remarks on other recipients, and on Anne-Marie Murphy, tomorrow night.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, I would like the parliament to note with regret the passing of Mr Tom Brown, a constituent of mine, who died in March this year. Top End members of parliament will know the name of Tom Brown because, when they enter Alice Springs through The Gap, they come around the Tom Brown roundabout, the biggest and best roundabout in Alice Springs. It was named after Tom Brown in the mid-1990s, I believe, because of his outstanding and long-standing service to the Roads Division of the then Department of Lands and Local Government.
Not only was Tom a great fellow and a constituent I always enjoyed meeting with, but he really was a great pioneer and a dedicated public servant. I, and many others, regretted his passing and I take this opportunity to extend to his friends and family my best wishes.
Tom was responsible for many of the major works in Central Australia in his 25 years or so service to the NT government. Some of the projects he helped to construct are, to name but a few, the Lasseter Highway Stage 2, Curtain Springs to Yulara; Yulara Airport; Yulara to Mutitjulu access road; Yulara internal road and services; Plenty Highway, various sections around Tarlton Downs Station, unsealed construction and sealed section, and various realignments; the Alcoota Station new access road; Glen Helen Road, Stages 1 and 2; Stuart Highway from Yambah to Prowse Gap, two stages of total reconstruction - on and on the list goes.
There was nothing about the roads of Central Australia Tom Brown did not know. We were very lucky, as people of the Northern Territory, in particular the people of Central Australia, to have Tom working for us over his many long years of distinguished service.
A friend of Tom’s, Mr Bruce Stanes was quoted in The Centralian Advocate not long after Tom’s death, saying:
Another friend, Shelley Colombet, said:
That was certainly the case. Tom took good care of Alice Springs’ residents, and residents of Central Australia, by his dedication to improving the roads of that region.
I understand a minister of the government – I suspect it is the minister for Infrastructure and Planning - has indicated a plaque would be erected in Tom’s honour. I urge her to get on with erecting that plaque, either on or near the Tom Brown roundabout, or somewhere in a prominent location in Alice Springs, so his legacy will never be forgotten and, in generations in come, people can give him the mark of respect he deserves.
I am sure all members of the Assembly join with me on marking the passing of a very significant Territorian and a very significant man from Central Australia.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, it was a great honour and privilege to be a delegate at the 21st Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar hosted in Sydney by the New South Wales Branch of CPA from 24 to 30 May 2009. I was one of 35 delegates from 21 Commonwealth countries who participated in the week-long seminar, the theme of which was Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy.
As a new parliamentarian, this seminar was invaluable to me in gaining a broader understanding and new insights across a range of subjects associated with parliamentary life. While I believe most of the delegates found it valuable, I was particularly pleased to be attending the seminar within an Australian context, with sessions often featuring well-known Australian identities and an Australian flavour to many of the discussions. These well-known identities included Geoff Gallop, former premier of Western Australia, Antony Green, election analyst with the ABC, Imre Saulsinszky, journalist and political commentator with The Australian, Barry O’Farrell MP, leader of the NSW opposition, and the Honourable John Aquilina MP, father of the NSW parliament.
There were 12 seminar sessions across the week, all held in the beautiful Jubilee Room within the historic New South Wales parliamentary precinct. The sessions included the roles of a member of parliament; voting systems used in Australia; the parliamentary and political scene in New South Wales and the role of the media; parliamentary committees and the committee system; the case for free trade; the federal system in Australia; members and their political parties; Legislative Council Estimates Committee and the Estimates Committee process; financial scrutiny of the Executive; the role of the Presiding Officers; climate change; and A Bill of Rights.
I have attended many seminars and conferences over the years in different areas I have worked in, and I can honestly say it was probably one of the best seminar/conference experiences I have had. I did not come away from a single session thinking: ‘That was a bit dull’, or ‘I might have enjoyed something else a bit more’. My learning was greatly enhanced by the experiences of other parliamentarians and how their systems work, whether they were in Australian parliaments or overseas. It was a week where matters of parliament transcended politics. Well, for the most part anyway.
Importantly, we had the opportunity to come together in the interests of promoting and advancing parliamentary democracy; the opportunity to exchange information and experiences; to learn from one another; to build networks and forge strong communication between Commonwealth nations. Of course, there were less formal opportunities afforded us to talk and learn over lunches and dinners.
We enjoyed an excellent lunchtime presentation from members of the City of Sydney Council at the Sydney Town Hall on the role of local government in New South Wales. That evening, our delegation attended a live debate as part of the Intelligence Squared debate; the subject was, ‘It is time to get rid of state government’. It was a lively and highly entertaining debate, not the least of which was seeing Michael Costa on the same team as Barnaby Joyce arguing the case ‘for’. Costa did concede, however, that State of Origin football matches could be jeopardised, but was a small price to pay. Even more entertaining and skilfully engineered was the ‘against’ case put up by Professor Anne Twomey, Professor Geoff Gallop and Professor Greg Craven.
Whilst morally and ideologically I was with the ‘against’ case from the start - and you would expect nothing less of a Territorian angling for statehood - they lost, but that probably has more to do with the state of politics in New South Wales, and a local audience at that.
There were many memorable highlights during the week and, by the end, delegates considered one another as friends as much as colleagues. In our Australian system of parliament, while it is not always perfect, I came away considering myself extremely fortunate compared to my colleague from the relatively new parliament of Bougainville, the Honourable Magadelene Toroansi MP. She strives against corruption, and works with some colleagues who do not read, write or speak English, and is certainly challenged within her parliamentary system. I could not help but feel a degree of envy for the Speaker of the state of Balochistan in Pakistan, who presides over an Assembly with 65 members on the government benches, and just one member of the opposition who, he said, is never there.
Of course, events such as these are only successful due to the hard work that goes into organising them. To that end, I offer sincere thanks to the members of the NSW Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and, in particular, Russell Grove, the Honourable Secretary for NSW CPA, who is also Clerk of the NSW Assembly. Thanks also to Russell’s staff, Manuela Sudic, Rohan Tyler and Todd Buttsworth. They worked long hours, tirelessly herding delegates from one place to another, constantly doing the head counts and always courteous, friendly and incredibly patient.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am indeed fortunate to have had this opportunity. I understand a member from the opposition will be attending the next CPA conference to be held in Tanzania later this year. I wish that member an enjoyable journey and guarantee you will find it as rewarding and enjoyable as I found my recent involvement with the CPA in Sydney.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Deputy Speaker, I will talk briefly about the Freds Pass Show recently held in mid-May, but more particularly I want to talk about the nursery I organised at the show and also the help I had from the Humpty Doo Scouts.
As members in the House would know, Freds Pass Show has been going for many decades. It is a very popular and successful show, and some people would argue it is a true agricultural show.
I extend my thanks to the show organisers, in particular to Olive Frakking and her team, Donna, and also Marie, who work for the Freds Pass Reserve, looking after those things which are very important to getting the show off the ground; and Andrew Blackadder, the President of the Freds Pass Show Reserve. They all put in an enormous amount of time. It is one of those situations, like any agricultural show, where much work is done behind the scenes, early in the morning and late at night, to make sure show-goers like us enjoy the days at the show.
I was invited by the Freds Pass Show people to organise an animal nursery and, in a weak moment, I said I would do it; so we organised the nursery. The first person I approached was George Kasparak, the Scout Leader of the Humpty Doo Scouts, to see if I could have some of the senior Scouts assist during the day, and also to camp over to guard the animals as Freds Pass Show has had a bit of a chequered history in regard to some antics that happen late at night.
A few decades back, there was a situation where a truly spectacular orchid display, worth tens of thousands of dollars, suddenly mysteriously disappeared during the night. We had another situation at another show where we had the bush people versus, supposedly, some bikie people and they had a big punch-up. I think the bushies won, and rightly so – they are probably made of tougher stuff. They have a concert during the night and some people get a bit carried away, so it has always been important to have people there at night to guard the animals because they are mostly mothers and babies and the Scouts did an admirable job in this regard.
We charge an entrance fee to the show. We raised in the vicinity of $3500, which also included the sale of one-day-old chicks - we had 100 - and I am pleased to announce we only had two fatalities over the two days, so we actually had a successful sale of 98 chicks. I do not know how many of those chickens are still alive, but I know historically there have been situations of day-old chicks taken to vets and costing hundreds of dollars to keep alive in the interests of family harmony.
I place on the record my sincere thanks to the Humpty Doo Scouts. I know the Scouts had a lovely time but George Kasparek I think, had an interesting time. He camped there both nights with me and some friends, and he did not realise that dawn came at 3.30 in the morning when all the roosters started to crow. The Scouts who helped me were Lachlan, Jake, Asterix, Adele and Sharni, Shamus, Aaron, Samuel, Seth and Ciaran - they were all a tremendous help. Over the two days they learned a lot about animal husbandry and minding animals and what is involved in making sure the young are protected.
There were notices on the big yard where they had the day-old chicks saying: ‘Please do not pat the chickens or pick them up’. It is amazing, I have to talk to the Education minister about this, the number of adults who could not read and picked the chickens up and tried to pat them. It was the children who were the best-behaved.
The Scouts did a wonderful job and have received donations for their work. Where they spent one day camping, they now want to spend both days camping, so that says something.
I also thank the students from Middle Point School; they provided drawings of all the different animals we had around the nursery. Thanks to Heidi and the teachers for organising their students to provide these paintings which added to the nursery and made it more colourful.
I will be sending notes of thanks to all the people who donated their animals. We had a variety of animals, as you would expect. We had snakes, rabbits, kittens, horses, dogs, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, turkeys and poultry; we even had three not-so-alive stuffed chickens which were a great entertainment for the children; particularly when we put eggs around them. At the end of each day we had to take out the remnants of the eggs because the children put their hands in and squashed all the eggs thinking they were pretend eggs.
My congratulations, again, to the organisers of Freds Pass Show. I look forward to next year’s show.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is with great sadness I acknowledge the passing of George Lampton on 24 May at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
George was a long-serving employee of the Power Water Corporation and a member of the Electrical Trades Union. I echo the comments of his friends and colleagues at both Power and Water and at the ETU. George was an absolute gentleman in every sense of the word and his passing has come as a shock to those who knew him.
I understand George came to Darwin from Mt Isa around 1966 to play football with the Brothers Rugby League team and, like many of his long-term mates, he stayed in Darwin. George joined the Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Section of the Commonwealth Department of Works based at the wartime 2 Mile Workshops at Parap. George was to become a champion football player throughout his career. I am told one of the highlights of his football career was playing for the NT against Western Australia in the curtain raiser to the Australia versus Great Britain test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Friends of George say he was not only a champion football player; he was a champion golfer and a champion bloke.
During his long and illustrious career with the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments, George travelled all over the Top End of the Northern Territory with the Essential Services Group (ESG) the forerunner of today’s Remote Operations. George was a truck driver when he signed up in 1966 but quickly learned most of the trade skills associated with fitting and plumbing and was to be the source of knowledge and education for many new tradesmen who were fresh out of the cities and new to the bush.
Those who worked with George say he was a source of endless inspiration, friendship, fun and laughter for all those who travelled those lonely and dusty roads with him way back then. He was a tireless worker and a great team player. From humble beginnings as a truck driver/labourer, George was to go on to become a tradesman in his own right, assuming the role of plumber in the Water Services Operations Branch in Darwin. He also stepped up to be Service Coordinator Water Services in Tennant Creek on several occasions.
George’s passing is a great loss to all those who knew him, and to the Power and Water Corporation; a thorough gentleman with a heart of gold, full of care and concern for all.
I send my sincere condolences to his friends and family.
Mr VATSKALIS (Casuarina): Madam Deputy Speaker, I pay tribute to the ex-staff of the Old Darwin Hospital who are gathering in Darwin this week for a reunion. I note the hard work and dedication of these people which has directly contributed to the development of the Northern Territory health system and improved the health of thousands of Territorians.
The Old Darwin Hospital reunion has been organised by volunteers who should be congratulated on the successful and fantastic event. Ms Lyn Sullivan and her husband, Terry, have been integral in organising this week’s events. Ms Sullivan trained to be a nurse at the old Darwin Hospital in the mid-1960s and has recently retired after 18 years in community health.
The response to the reunion has been overwhelming with the original one night event turning into a week of gatherings. Many attendees journeyed from interstate to see how Darwin has changed since they worked here in the 1950s.
I make special mention of a number of nurses: Patsy Chalmers, who trained at the Royal Darwin Hospital in 1953; Jackie O’Brien, who was born in Darwin and started work as a nurse at the old Darwin Hospital in 1950; and Joy Cruickshank who trained at the old Darwin Hospital and went on to be the Director of Nursing at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth.
They are just a few of the admirable health professionals who have travelled to Darwin this week to reminisce on their experiences of working at the old Darwin Hospital. I thank them for their past work in the Territory, and extend to them a warm welcome back to Darwin for the old Darwin Hospital reunion.
I express my thanks to Harry Sing who recently retired as an Aboriginal Health Worker for the Department of Health and Families. Mr Sing commenced Aboriginal Health Worker training in April 1977 when the training of health workers was under the administration of the Department of Health. His clinical skill was consolidated at Belyuen Health Centre and he was registered as the 69th Aboriginal Heath Worker.
Between 1981 and 1987, Harry was in charge of managing the professional development and training of Aboriginal Health Workers. When their education unit was transferred from Darwin Hospital to Katherine Institute of Aboriginal Health, Harry also took on the Deputy Operations Manager role and assisted the Operations Manager from 1983 to 1984. Harry returned to Belyuen in 1987 to devote more time to issues affecting his community.
Harry became a strong advocate for community control, and in 1990 was appointed Manager of Belyuen Health. Harry assisted in conducting a needs assessment of infrastructure requirements for aged and disability clients wanting to remain with families in his community. The results of the Belyuen needs analysis were the trigger for an invitation from the Disability Council of Australia Committee to lobby the government in Canberra in 1991. Harry spoke with the Health minister, Brian Howard, about the issues faced by his people in Belyuen.
Between 1993 and 1995, Harry was involved with the establishment of a multipurpose service project aimed at housing aged and disabled single men in Belyuen. In 1999, Harry returned to Belyuen Health Centre until 2002. He then moved to Gove to become the Director of Aboriginal Health Workers. In late 2005, Harry relocated to the Top End Remote Health Operations Unit in Darwin, and it is from here he retired on Friday, 29 May 2009.
I wish Harry Sing a happy retirement and thank him for his dedicated work in developing the profession of Aboriginal Health Workers in the Northern Territory.
Mr CHANDLER (Brennan): Madam Deputy Speaker, I congratulate Helen Armstrong. Helen is this years NEiTA Teacher of the Year. It gave me great pleasure while I was the chairperson of Bakewell to nominate Helen.
Helen is the Librarian there and I recall in the five years I was chair, I nominated two or three teachers, and I encourage everyone to nominate teachers for this award. It is a special award and I know they take great pleasure in receiving even a nomination because they get a certificate and are acknowledged during assemblies.
The NEiTA Teacher of the Year Award is pretty special. It requires the teachers to not only accept the nomination, but they go to the next step. In fact, teachers really must have done something very special. Most people agree that most teachers we have in the Territory are wonderful; some, though, are very special because they do so many other things for the community.
In Helen’s role, she took on the job of organising the space camp which, as most people know, resulted in working with the Palmerston Council in having an astronaut come to the Northern Territory last year. It is through this additional work, on top of her school work, which was what I thought really required Helen to be nominated. Helen did more than that; she took the nomination and went to the next level and won what is, effectively, the state level. Then it went all the way to the top and Helen was nominated as the Teacher of the Year. It is fantastic that we have a local teacher who has gone so far.
I would also like to talk quickly about the walk to school morning we had a few weeks ago - it was a fantastic event. The Bakewell School in the electorate or Brennan is the largest primary school in the Northern Territory, so any days like this are very well supported. This week, they have their Twilight Sports Carnival, and I wish them well. It will be the first time in many years I have not been able to make the Twilight Sports Carnival.
What was interesting about the walk to school morning is the Leader of the Opposition sponsored the breakfast; I also sponsored the breakfast, along with the Mayor for Palmerston. It would appear anywhere I go in Palmerston I have a shadow - the former member. He was at the walk to school morning which was followed by a wonderful celebration at the Palmerston High School Special Education Unit. They were having Arafura Day, celebrating the Arafura region. The children of the Special Education Unit had transformed the entire unit into each of the countries bordering the Arafura region. They had gone to so much trouble, it was truly amazing. I have recounted the story time and time again since going there; we were in Vietnam one minute and in Bali in the next; we were in Cambodia in the following room, and we continued to go around all the different countries in the area.
Not once did I have any problems with Customs, did not lose any luggage, and it was probably the quickest tour I have done around the region ever. It was fantastic. Paige - and I am not sure of the other young lady’s name - was an exceptionally good host who took the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, and me around. It was a fantastic day.
We turned up there and, again, my shadow was there with his sidekick taking photos of what was going on. We then went across to Palmerston High School for the commitment and agreement by the Year 10 students. It was interesting that again I ran into the former member who was at the school with a staff member tagging along by his side with a camera taking photos.
It is interesting that the whole time the Office of the Chief Minister is closed in the Palmerston Shopping Centre they are out doing exactly what I was led to believe an elected member is supposed to do in the area. All the while, we now find out we are not having the additional 24-hour ambulance service in Palmerston, but we seem to be able to fund election campaign officers. I believe it is disgraceful, and Territorians will not have it.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight I will speak about a couple of events which have taken place in the Katherine region over the last few weeks.
The Katherine Races were held a fortnight or so ago. What a wonderful event! The people of Katherine turned out in droves for the races this year; it was a little warm in the afternoon but that did not make it any less an attractive place to be. It was heartening and exciting to see how seriously the people of Katherine took the event and dressed up. The women were dressed to the nines, and all the hats in town were bought; there was not a hat to be found in Katherine three or four days before the event. It was a pleasure to see everyone getting out and about and enjoying themselves.
I congratulate the Katherine Turf Club and their membership for putting together such a successful day, in particular, Athol Schmidt, the President of the Katherine Turf Club. Congratulations to him for putting together such a wonderful show. In the vicinity of 3000-odd people turned up for the day, and I have to admit, I did not really get to see a horse race myself, but thoroughly enjoyed the social event that was the races.
The second event happened this past weekend and that was the Barunga festival. Going to Barunga is always, for me, like going home. I spent two-and-a-half years as a police officer at Maranboy and Barunga was my home turf for those two-and-a-half years. The people of Barunga are wonderful, warm and welcoming people; I count them amongst my friends and amongst my family as well. It was terrific to see such a great turnout.
It is estimated around 5000 people came for the event last weekend. I was fortunate enough to spend some time there and managed to see the Jessica Mauboy concert, and it was sensational. She is a very charming and talented young lady, and a role model in many respects for young Indigenous people. Many people look up to her as a shining light of what can be achieved if you decide to choose a path and put your heart and soul into it – and I commend her.
I also commend the organising committee through the Jawoyn Association: Wes Miller, the CEO, was in charge of the organisation, and Nitmiluk Tours, which has commenced a new bus service to some of the outlying communities around the region.
I also want to mention the APPEA Conference, the Australian Petroleum Producers and Explorers Association, which was held in Darwin a week or so ago. It was extremely well attended; a number of people came from, not only interstate, but also overseas. I send my congratulations to Belinda Robinson, the Executive Officer of APPEA, for putting together such a successful conference. The conference, as did the Australian Geological Exploration Seminar Conference, was attended by people who have very positive sentiment. They are looking to consolidate their position in these tough times with a view to moving forward as the recession lifts. They view the Northern Territory as a good place to do business. I can only hope, despite the matters I raised in my budget reply today, that miners, drillers and explorers still continue to view the Northern Territory with such positive sentiment.
Mr BOHLIN (Drysdale): Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to explain my absence this morning. I do so with a great, big smile on my face because this weekend I have been competing in the Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race which is, without a doubt, the hardest, toughest desert race in Australia at this stage. I must say, it is a multi-Brolga award winning event and I believe it deserves that.
We went with a crew of four and raced our off-road truck, which was a Class 5. We put it in through an impressive Alice Springs show and shine, or the scrutineering viewing on the Friday night after many hard hours of work. The Alice people turned out in their thousands to look at the magnificent spectacle of cars and bikes of all natures at the Alice Springs Showground. The showground was packed. There were people having fun, and there was no trouble. There was plenty to be consumed, in both liquid and edible form, and everyone had a great night.
The weather was fantastic. Someone must have asked for the most perfect weather we could have for the weekend; it was absolutely beautiful. It was not too cold, but cold enough to give you a reason to put on a jacket and enjoy yourself.
I thank the Finke Desert Racing Committee, for all their efforts; Damien Ryan and Anthony Yoffa put on a great show which I hope is recognised in the future. It is a difficult event over long distances – 229 km one way, 229 km the other way - and it tested many cars, many bikes and many bodies over the weekend.
Unfortunately, it tested our car beyond its ability and after 110 km we destroyed an engine, melted five sparkplugs and probably several pistons to go with it. To all my fellow competitors, thank you for your great sportsmanship. I hope you enjoyed the day better than we did, when we broke down.
It was a fantastic event; the weather had been perfect for that region with plenty of rain, hopefully to make it beautiful and green in the future, but it kept the dust down which meant the event was fast and hard.
It just shows that Alice Springs, as a region, is alive and well, where so many people from around Australia, and from overseas, flock to such a venue and enjoy it in such good spirit. That entire event is an event full of good spirit. To demonstrate that, two lovely people we met, Michael and Victoria, towed us back to the Rodinga checkpoint where Victoria promptly made us a cup of coffee and offered us food; it was just lovely, and it typified what I believe the Finke Desert Race is all about - a great community of racing enthusiasts. No matter where you go, people are willing to help.
Earlier on we stopped and had some bacon with people from Darwin. They were there to watch their crews come through, so we shared some of their bacon and water while we waited to be recovered. After that some young fellows towed us - let us just say a very long way back – towards Alice.
There we stayed at a camp called Axles Camp, 6 km out of Alice Springs, where they fed us, watered us, gave us liquids of all kinds; and made sure they fed us again. They offered us every type of assistance we could have, to the point where they even gave us their 4-wheel drive to go and get a trailer to recover the car. No matter where you are, or where you are from, if you are in there to have fun, the spectators will be there to support you and help you in every way.
I thank the Finke committee, and the House for my late start this morning, and all the spectators and those people who helped us out. Your help was much appreciated and will never, ever be forgotten.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Deputy Speaker, I make mention of a number of multicultural events which have occurred recently in the Top End.
Almost two weeks ago, the Chinese Ambassador was in town and the Australia-China Business Council had a luncheon reception for His Excellency Mr Zhang Junsai, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Australia. He is a gentleman who has spent collectively, almost 11 years in Australia, representing the People’s Republic of China and knows many people throughout Australia and New Zealand. He gave a very interesting speech to many business people in town, many of whom trade with China from the Northern Territory. It was really refreshing to see the relationships that have been built by the business community through the Australia-China Business Council, organised and run by Ms Jennifer Xi.
The day prior to this luncheon, the Chung Wah Society had a reception for His Excellency at the Chung Wah Society in Wood Street, which forms part of Chinatown. He brought with him gifts for the Chung Wah Society in the form of two huge lions which now sit at the entrance to the Chung Wah hall. These are solid, carved stone lions and look very handsome guarding the entrance to the Chung Wah hall.
The reception was ably led by Mr Adam Lowe, in conjunction with Mr Henry Yap. It was interesting that many people spoke of the ambassador’s warmth for the city of Darwin and the people of the Northern Territory. A fantastic banquet was put on by the proprietors of Tasty House who did an excellent job catering for a huge number of people in tight conditions.
Last Saturday evening at the Filipino Club, Philippines Independence Day was celebrated by a very large number of Filipino expats, Australian citizens of Filipino origin, and many other people from all walks of life and different cultures went there to help the Filipino people celebrate their Independence Day.
There was a fantastic display of cultural dress, cultural dances, singing, all ably put on by a very hard-working community, and their committee especially, deserves congratulations for putting on such a fine show. There were a number of other people who gave their time to assist with the entertainment for the evening.
The other event which occurred recently was the NT Export Awards put on at Crocosaurus Cove. Again, a very large number of people turned up to support the launch of the NT Export Awards, and it was great to see so many businesses there who are willing and prepared to engage in the export market with our close neighbours. There were many people from the Chamber of Commerce and from businesses and also from government departments who had come along to assist the business people of the Northern Territory to engage in very fruitful arrangements and deals with our near neighbours and beyond.
There are more, but, unfortunately, we are constrained to only five minutes for adjournment speeches these days, so it is with regret that I cannot discuss some of the other events of significance that have occurred in the Top End. I will try to do that tomorrow night.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
STATEMENTS BY SPEAKER
Member for Arafura - Resignation from Australian Labor Party
Member for Arafura - Resignation from Australian Labor Party
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received a letter from the member for Arafura, Ms Scrymgour, indicating she has resigned from the parliamentary Labor party and will be sitting as an Independent in the Legislative Assembly.
I table the letter.
Members for Greatorex and Brennan – Births of Children
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I take this opportunity to congratulate the members for Greatorex and Brennan on the recent births of their sons on the same day: Harvey Conlan and Harrison Chandler. On behalf of honourable members I extend very warm congratulations.
Members: Hear, hear!
STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
Deaths of Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum and Brother John Pye OAM
Deaths of Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum and Brother John Pye OAM
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is with real sadness today that we note the passing of two great Territorians, Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum and Brother Rexford John Pye OAM.
Please be advised I have given permission to both the ABC and Channel 9 to film the debates this morning, and the Northern Territory News to take photographs.
After the completion of the first debate there will be a very short suspension of the Assembly in order for members to have the opportunity to speak to family and friends of Mr Tungutalum.
At the end of the condolence motion for Brother Pye, refreshments will be available in the main hall for members and guests.
I also advise that some of our guests from the Tiwi Islands will perform a dance in honour of Mr Tungutalum and Brother Pye during the refreshments.
CONDOLENCE MOTION
Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum – Former Member for Tiwi
Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum – Former Member for Tiwi
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is with deep regret that I advise of the death, on 7 April 2009, of Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum, member for Tiwi from 1974 until 1977; the first Indigenous member of the Legislative Assembly and a Cultural Leader of his people.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of family of Mr Tungutalum, in particular his widow, Mrs Natalie Tungutalum, Richard Tungutalum, Leslie Tungutalum, Valentina Tungutalum, Lana Tungutalum, Bede Tungutalum, Leonard Tungutalum, and other members of the extended family.
I also acknowledge the presence of the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council, Mr Robert Tipungwuti, and former members who served with Mr Tungutalum in this Assembly: the Honourable Grant Tambling and Ms Noel Padgham.
On behalf on honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
Madam SPEAKER: I also acknowledge Mr Rick Setter, the former member for Jingili. On behalf of honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister) (by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that this Assembly:
- (a) express its deep regret of the death of Mr Hyacinth Gabriel Tungutalum, our first Aboriginal member of the Legislative Assembly, and an important Tiwi leader of many years, and
- (b) tender its profound sympathy to his family and friends.
In the past year we have marked in this place the passing of a number of people who have made important contributions to the political and constitutional history of the Northern Territory. In that regard, the late Mr Tungutalum is unique in our history as the first Aboriginal member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
He served in the first elected Assembly from 1974 to 1977 in the lead-up to self-government in 1978. As a representative of that Assembly, Mr Tungutalum served time at the end of an old era and at the cusp of a new one. His election as the member for Tiwi signalled new beginnings, breaking new ground for Aboriginal people in parliamentary politics in the Northern Territory. We were all reminded of this at the beginning of the Tenth Assembly which saw the election of a record number of Aboriginal members of parliament.
Mr Tungutalum attended that opening and it was great to see him with our then Administrator, Ted Egan, singing a song together in the Tiwi language. It was a scene that could only happen in the Northern Territory.
Mr Tungutalum was born on Bathurst Island in August 1946. It was very much the time of the mission, but also a time in which the Territory was barely recovering from World War II. Darwin had been bombed, but Bathurst Island Mission had not escaped unscathed. Mr Tungutalum always had a great respect for the missionaries of this time, but was also brought up inside Tiwi traditions. From the age of 14 his father raised him, as he described it: ‘Tiwi way through dance and song’. It was a tradition he carried on in later life as he rose to ceremonial seniority on the islands.
In his late teens, he came to the mainland and undertook training and some work with the Army as a driver. It was during this time that he also played with the Tiwi people’s home away from home - and also my football club - St Mary’s Football Club. He also played in interstate matches in Western Australia and South Australia in the mid-1960s; by all accounts he was a fast runner with a distinctive high marking style. He was later elected a life member of St Mary’s and the NTFL. In later years, he was to be captain/coach of his Irrimaru Bulldogs, as well as a member of the Tiwi Island Football League committee.
In an echo of things to come, Mr Tungutalum also worked for a time in the library at the old Legislative Council, where he witnessed the workings of the Territory’s nascent democracy in action, and remembered debates between Dick Ward, Tiger Brennan and Bernie Kilgariff. Much later he was to say he never dreamed he would ever be part of this.
He returned to the island as a teacher at St Xavier’s College and became involved in local politics with the Community Council on Bathurst Island. His involvement in politics gradually expanded. He was a member, from 1973, of the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee, the first Australia-wide Indigenous body with a formal role in advising government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. At the same time, he was a member of the advisory group to the Aboriginal Secondary Grant Scheme, for which he was well qualified as a teacher at St Xavier’s at Nguiu.
He had an abiding commitment to education for his people. He would have a long role with the executive of the Tiwi Land Council, of which he was a founding member. There was a sense in which, as he acknowledged himself many years later, he was an accidental member of the Legislative Assembly, having been invited to run for the CLP by Harry Giese. As he said in this House:
- I respected Harry and I said yes, even though I had no clear idea of what was happening or what the political parties were all about. If the ALP had asked me first, I probably would have stood for them. That was how little I knew about it.
I guess both sides of politics can only wonder what might have happened if the ALP had approached Mr Tungutalum at this time. Nevertheless, it is the case that his experience in the Assembly inspired others to achieve what he did - mostly from this side of politics. In the end, the political life was not for Mr Tungutalum. Since that time he enjoyed a long career as a member of the Tiwi Land Council, as well as being active in sports administration, including Chairman of the Tiwi Football League.
His time in Territory politics was brief; he was testing new ground and finding new paths in the first days of representative democracy in the north. It must have been a huge commitment for Mr Tungutalum to actually accept the offer of Harry Giese to run for parliament. It must have been an extraordinary honour for Mr Tungutalum to be walking in and taking his seat as a member of parliament for the seat of Tiwi, knowing that he was the first Aboriginal person in the history of Australian democracy to take a seat in a parliament. It was an extraordinary achievement, and an achievement that blazed the trail for so many of our Indigenous members who are not only sitting in this parliament today, but in parliaments that have preceded this.
The contribution this man has made to the people of the Northern Territory is immense. He will long be remembered for the role he played then, as well as in public life since that time.
Madam Speaker, my condolences to his wife, Natalie, and sons, David, Richard, and Leslie, and all Mr Tungutalum’s extended family and his many friends on the Tiwi Islands and throughout the Northern Territory.
May he rest in peace.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I pay my respects to Hyacinth’s family on his passing.
On reflection, the only times I met Hyacinth Tungutalum - and there were a number of meetings - was always at an Australian Rules football match. We always exchanged pleasantries - I, the younger man, paying my respects to an older man. His twinkling, cheeky eyes and happy banter roused a real interest in this man, and every meeting had me looking forward to the next meeting. Much more than a fellow politician elected as a member of the Country Liberal Party, to me, Hyacinth was a history maker, the first full blood Aboriginal person elected to an Australian parliament, and elected to the first fully-elected Legislative Assembly in the Northern Territory.
In addition to a shared political experience, we experienced a similar form of Catholic education, and in the words of Hyacinth he summarised it as: ‘Serve the Lord and play Aussie Rules’, though the nuns of my primary education did not inspire us, or me, to the heights on the field that the Brothers inspired Hyacinth and his peers. Although it would be very unfair of me to blame the nuns for my lack of prowess; unlike my coach, the Brothers had extraordinary talent to work with in Hyacinth.
I looked to this man to teach me, to give me a clue about adding to the great project of bringing closer the aspirations and achievements of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, to build bridges rather than road blocks, to provide hope rather than despair. In our brief exchanges I probed, hoping for some clues on how we could better do this.
I have read his words spoken in the Territory parliament over 30 years ago. He said it again and again, and the Hansard record stands: get the kids to school, get a good education, and at the end, a real job. He knew that the best form of welfare is a real job. It is very sad, today, this great challenge remains largely unmet. As we reflect on his story and his contribution to the Northern Territory, we must not rest until progress is made.
What did Hyacinth teach me as politician? He taught me that relationship has much greater power than ideology; that, through friendship, difference disappears. This was demonstrated by accepting an invitation to enter parliament because he was asked, and asked by a friend he respected. He admitted that either side could have asked him. He accepted the invitation from the Country Liberal Party because he respected the man who asked him, Harry Giese.
His answer to a question posed by a journalist in 1974 concerning the possibility of widespread violence between Aboriginal and white Australians shows Hyacinth’s belief was the content of a man’s character, not the colour of his skin, which is important. In response to a question which was large on the landscape in 1974, he told the journalist: ‘I think white Aboriginal conflicts are on a personal basis. If I do not like you, I do not talk to you; and the same goes if you do not like me, I suppose’.
Our conversations at the football, his twinkling eyes and ready jokes, showed me a man who worked very hard to bridge the gap between people of different cultures. With what I have learned, I can now see even more clearly the great courage of Tungutalum. Any parliament, in a world of strange customs and unusual cultures, challenges Australians of even European heritage, how much more a traditional Aboriginal man? It is believed that a parliament is a place to resolve difficult business to benefit others. It is true that Hyacinth found the adversarial nature of parliamentary politics uncomfortable. I am sure he was left wondering if the strange world of parliamentary politics was actually capable of achieving what he wanted - an education for kids and a meaningful job at the end.
I recognise, and I believe we all recognise, in looking at this man, the leadership and the courage of a man who stepped up to the mark when called upon, a man who served as a teacher, a community leader, a sports administrator and loyal friend. When the pressures of life can force us to blend in, Hyacinth resisted and he stood out. He has left a bold footprint in the sand of Territory history.
May he rest from his labours. I guess he is playing football right now. May he rest in peace.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I speak in support of the Chief Minister’s motion to acknowledge the contribution of my Yuwuni.
One of the most important stages of my social and political education was an experience in the early 1990s when I was acting as secretary and facilitator for meetings of senior Tiwi men who made up the Nguiu Council. My memories of those meetings include both the witty and good humoured banter, and the responsible and articulate character of the debate on important community issues. These were well educated and articulate men who felt entirely comfortable with operating effectively in the decision-making environment where they were interacting with their peers. My role as a moderator and advisor was respected and utilised but there was never any question they were in control, and I always took great care not to step above my station. I had great respect and affection for all my councillors but, as in any decision-making group, there are always stand-outs.
Yuwuni - and I have sought and obtained permission to refer to him in this way - was one of a number of councillors who achieved success and acclaim on the mainland for football prowess. He had won the respect of his people, and the Northern Territory population generally, for being the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in the 1970s.
His occasional nickname - his family, other councillors and everyone who knew him, did not call him Hyacinth on the Tiwi Islands - he was known as Government. Having been exposed to the solemn and complicated rituals of the Westminster system of parliamentary debate, arguing his case in Nguiu Council meetings was child’s play for Hyacinth. He would always say his piece forcefully and with a considerable degree of fluency and authority. There are other councillors who were no slouches in that department either; and there are many present listening to this debate.
He did not always have everything his own way. However, what always impressed me at the time, and strikes me as even more significant now, was the complete conviction and enjoyment that he and his fellow councillors had in the full ownership of any process. The councillors performed with at least the same degree of care and diligence as any equivalent non-Aboriginal local government council. There is little doubt in my mind that all the councillors shared common status as Tiwi elders and this contributed to their capacity and their effectiveness.
How different it must have been for Hyacinth to walk into the old Legislative Assembly building in Darwin for the first time. It was hard enough for me to commence that task in 2001, even though the intervening years had seen the election of a succession of Aboriginal MLAs to the parliament.
Consider the historical time frame: his milestone achievements were the result of winning his seat of Tiwi on 19 October 1974 in the Legislative Assembly election. Other members elected included Rupert Kentish for Arnhem; Ian Tuxworth for Barkly; Nicholas Dondas for Casuarina; and I acknowledge Grant Tambling, who is in the Chamber, for Fannie Bay; Paul Everingham for Jingili; the current member for Karama’s mother in Nightcliff, Dawn Lawrie; Marshall Perron in Stuart Park; and Goff Letts in Victoria River - a lot of history.
All the people I have named were accomplished speakers and well versed in the culture and protocol of parliamentary warfare. It is not at all surprising, and reflects no failure on his part, when you go through the Hansard contributions to parliamentary debate over the next few years that they were modest in comparison with those famous Territory politicians with whom he was thrust.
He was a very proud CLP representative and his politics could not be further away from my own. However, in reading through his speeches and questions over his term, I can see how his confidence developed over time, and how he tried to focus the attention of the House on issues affecting Aboriginal people, in particular, Tiwi people. I respectfully acknowledge his critical importance as a trailblazer in that regard.
His first session of parliament commenced on 20 November 1974. If all of us in this parliament think about how important and significant that date was, his was pre-Cyclone Tracy Darwin we are thinking of here. We are casting our minds back to a man asking his very first question on the floor of the Legislative Assembly; I remember the phone calls from people on the island worried and ringing my mother wanting us out of town and back to the island. His first question in the Legislative Assembly on the 21st was to ask Dr Letts: ‘Will the Assembly be kept informed about the planning of the Wet Season arrangements for the Territory?’ And Dr Goff Letts went through what those arrangements were. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin causing death and destruction. My family was lucky in our simple, single storey Housing Commission home which withstood the onslaught, but my closest friend, and someone I regarded as my family, was crippled and spent the rest of her life, until she died, in a wheelchair. Like all other Darwin residents of the time, I will never forget the horror of Christmas 1974.
The Legislative Assembly reconvened at the beginning of January 1975 and I can only imagine what it must have been like for members to regroup and try to recreate, with some semblance of stability, business-as-usual amidst the ruins of a city which had nearly been wiped off the face of the map; and at a time when there were serious doubts about whether Darwin would, or should, be rebuilt at all. He continued his quest as a member representing his people, and there were questions put to ministers at that time about what would be that process officially.
On 13 February 1975, he made his first speech in parliament. It was brief but reflected his concerns not only for Aboriginal people in Darwin, or his own people on the Tiwi Islands, but his concern for other Aboriginal Territorians living outside Darwin.
His next speech, on 24 April 1975, was about an issue which has long been very dear to my own heart, Madam Speaker, namely, the damaging effect alcohol abuse has on Aboriginal people. This was his speech:
- I rise to support this bill. When you were overseas, Mr Speaker, I was in Alice Springs. I spent 2 days in Alice. I woke up the first morning and I saw the majority of Aboriginal people were in the pub and not a single European was there. In the afternoon, I walked down and I saw that there were mostly Aboriginal people in the pubs. They are causing a nuisance; they are fighting. I went there about 8 o’clock in the evening and there were fights and brawls. The next day I heard the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs would be arriving in Alice Springs. They spent a day and half cleaning up the town. They were taking the drunks, mostly Aboriginal people, out to missions and settlements. The place was absolutely clean. The Mayor of Alice Springs took me to the Todd River and not a single Aboriginal person was around. This really surprised me.
I support this bill because I have a telegram that was sent to me this morning from Nguiu Wilya Town Council. The Nguiu Town Council advised its approval of this proposed Drunkenness Ordinance of 1975. I support this bill.
On 1 June 1976, he made an important speech seeking an effective legal and administrative mechanism for Aboriginal families to be fully informed of post mortem results after the death of a family member; that had huge implications because that is very important to Aboriginal people.
On 19 August 1976, he made a speech criticising the federal Labor Treasurer for cutting the National Aboriginal Affairs budget resulting in the Territory receiving $7m less than the previous year. Finally, on 3 March 1977, he made a powerful speech in support of the establishment of the Tiwi Land Council.
In the Legislative Assembly election of 13 August 1977 he was replaced for Tiwi by the mother of the current member for Goyder, Ms Noel Padgham, whom I acknowledge.
Madam Speaker, I repeat my condolences to my mother Natalie, and to Richard, Lesley, and David, on the loss of a proud Tiwi Elder.
Dr BURNS (Business): Madam Speaker, I extend the heartfelt condolences of this House and the government to Mr Tungutalum’s family.
I have to say at the outset that I did not know him as well as many people in this Chamber, or those many people who will to speak to this motion. I first came to know him in the 1990s when I was working for the Menzies School of Health Research and, later, for the Heart Foundation. As the Leader of the Opposition said, one thing that always impressed me about him was his sense of humour, his openness, and his warmth. He always made me feel very comfortable in his presence.
He was also someone who did not boast. I was not aware, when I first met him, he had been a member of the Legislative Assembly. I came to the Territory in 1979, and I was not aware. He was not someone who boasted either about his time in parliament or his sporting prowess, which is considerable; it has been talked about. He was a St Mary’s player in two premierships, I believe it was 1965 and 1966; then in 1966 and 1967 he represented the Northern Territory against North Adelaide. Much has been spoken about his style of play; what a fast runner and a spectacular marker he was at football. Like everything which has been said today, he was someone who was really a trailblazer of probably a new style of football – that fast running, play-on football. I can just imagine him - as I met him in the 1990s it was a long time ago in the 1960s that he played. But his spirit told me that was the type of player he would have been. He would have been someone just so spectacular, and a great sportsman along with it.
Every time I met with him I felt his grace and compassion, and his commitment to the Tiwi people. Later, as a parliamentarian, I met him in Community Cabinets and in various portfolio areas and found him to be a great listener. He would listen very carefully to what was being said, and then he would respond. It would not be a long speech, it would not be heated, but he would put his point of view very clearly and concisely. It was always a very well considered point of view.
It has been mentioned before that he was a life member of the NTFL - I believe for 40 years – a life member of the Tiwi Football League, also a life member of St Mary’s; and someone who represented his people in the parliament of the Northern Territory. He was a foundation member of the Tiwi Land Council and absolutely committed to the welfare, wellbeing, and advancement of the Tiwi people.
All of us in this House know that is easier said than done. It is easy to be discouraged, but he was a man who was never discouraged - a man who stuck at his task for over 40 years through profound change, as we heard today about wartime. We also heard today about Cyclone Tracy. We also know Indigenous Affairs is a very difficult area, and he was a man absolutely committed to that.
I know the member for Arnhem will speak soon about him. She also spoke at Mr Tungutalum’s funeral about the way Ted Egan and Mr Tungutalum sang here on the opening of parliament in 2005. I do not believe there is a person who was here then who will ever forget the harmony of that. It goes back to what the member for Arafura, and others, has said about what people call white/black relations. He was a man who always made me feel welcome, and I know he made a lot of other people feel welcome; he was a very warm person with a great sense of humour, and I appreciated that about him also.
Madam Speaker, my speech is brief. Today we are also talking about Brother Pye, someone who also, over a long period of time, showed great commitment to the Tiwi people and his belief, just as Mr Tungutalum did. I believe it is fitting today that this parliament recognises two men – one Tiwi man and another man whom, I am sure, is also a Tiwi man and will be buried on the Tiwi Islands as well.
We will be recognising the contributions of both those men here today, and it is incumbent on us in this House to take on board the commitment of these people over 40 years, and carry that baton for the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the Northern Territory.
I extend my condolences to Hyacinth’s family, and to his friends and to all who have known him.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to pay my respects to the late Hyacinth Tungutalum, a traditional man, a family man, a sports star and, for those who followed his football career, he was an exceptionally stylish wing man. He was a sports administrator, a parliamentarian, a leader of people, and a man who will be missed by all Tiwi people, as well as his many followers, family and loved ones.
The last time I saw Hyacinth was on the Tiwi Islands when the NTFA had their first footy match there. The Tiwi Bombers played the hapless Darwin Buffaloes, and successfully and quite comprehensively flogged them, as we all expected, so everyone was very happy on that day. This was an occasion, a time of celebration and happiness, and Hyacinth was there cheering his team on and having the time of his life. He led the men dancers, he introduced people, he chatted to everyone and spoke a few words on the recent Victorian bushfires and told us that, even though it was a day of happiness on the islands, we should remember those who had lost their lives in that disaster.
Hyacinth reached out and touched everyone, it did not matter who you were, he had time to say hello and have a chat with you. My family has had a long association with Hyacinth’s immediate family; my mother, Noel Padgham, being a close friend of his mother - the old lady - and father, both who have, sadly, passed away. This friendship with the family continues today with my family being close to his niece, Connie and her children, whom we see and talk with regularly.
Hyacinth’s life on this earth has ended, but his enduring spirit will live on in his family, in the Tiwi people, and in the Tiwi Bombers, and all who knew and loved him. All of us have been blessed by Hyacinth’s friendship and love. He will be missed but never forgotten.
My condolences to the family, the extended family, and all Tiwi people on the loss of Hyacinth.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I also recognise Hyacinth’s family and friends from the Tiwi Islands, and also a constituent of mine, the former member for Koolpinyah, Noel Padgham, whose electorate covered the Tiwi Islands at that time; we welcome her here today.
I could not say I knew Hyacinth well, but I certainly knew of his presence as I worked on Bathurst Island from 1974 to 1981. When Hyacinth became a member of this Assembly it was a turning point for Aboriginal democracy, self-determination, people might say, because it was in 1974 the first Aboriginal Local Government Council was formed in the Northern Territory, and although I do not believe Hyacinth, at that stage, was a member of the council, he certainly was a member later on after he left the Assembly.
I believe what you then saw was a time when the missions and the superintendent were moving away and Aboriginal people were starting to take control of their own lives. It was a very important time and, I must admit, I do look at the role that a small, non-bureaucratic local government played in running the affairs of Nguiu on Bathurst Island in those days and, compared to the role local government plays today, they are like chalk and cheese.
I feel Aboriginal people had more control over their future in those days than today, because I believe it was a simpler form of government which represented the grassroots. There are a number of ex-presidents of the council here today with whom I worked, and I always felt democracy on Bathurst Island had found the right mix of, you might say, traditional democracy and western-style democracy. We had a council that was based on local governments throughout Australia, but using a Tiwi influence. There were representatives from every skin group on Bathurst Island as members of that council.
You have to look at Hyacinth’s history – and that is what we are talking about today – as part of a turning point, especially for Tiwi Islanders, where they began to show their influence not only in the broader community, as Hyacinth did in the Legislative Assembly, but they also started to take control of their own lives, and that is very important.
I will give you an example of how they did take control over their own lives. In about 1978 - and I may have my dates wrong - the federal government had decided there would be two land councils, a Central Land Council and a Northern Land Council. I was the acting Town Clerk of the council at that stage and I remember we discussed this issue. The Tiwis are a fairly strong-minded group of people and my understanding of the word Tiwi is ‘they are the tops’. When they were told the Northern Land Council would be making decisions over Melville and Bathurst Islands, they did not take kindly to that and immediately sent a telegram to the then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs saying they wanted to form their own council. Thankfully, the Commonwealth government listened to their request and it is from that group of people who, at that time were part of the Nguiu Shire Council, that the Tiwi Land Council was formed. Hyacinth was in that mix of people and some history-making changes occurred; the first one was Hyacinth being elected to this Legislative Assembly.
Hyacinth was a person with the same faults, the same ups and downs, as all of us. He was no saint at times, but he was also a very cheerful, happy bloke. He would recognise you, he would welcome you, and he had that cheeky smile. I used to laugh when important people came to Nguiu Airport and he would suddenly find that tie, and he looked very resplendent. He would make sure he looked important when important people came.
He liked a beer, and he loved his footy. I umpired football at Bathurst Island, which I sometimes regarded as the most dangerous job on earth; naturally, he did not always agree with some of my decisions, and there are a few others in the Chamber here who did not always agree with my umpiring decisions either, but they were happy times. That is part of what makes the Tiwi Islands and the Tiwi people such wonderful people.
There are plenty of issues today, and we can go through the issues many Aboriginal communities have to face. The Tiwi Islands are no exception to that, but Hyacinth was a groundbreaker for his time. Hyacinth had to face up to some of these issues. He had problems with them, like all of us have problems with issues in our life, and he did his best to overcome those problems.
He was a true Tiwi - a Tiwi to the core - and he should be remembered for not only the changes he helped bring about in regard to Tiwi self-determination, but also for the fun-loving person that he was, and how he influenced many other people to follow in his footsteps.
I give his family my condolences, and may he rest in peace.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I support this condolence motion, and I acknowledge the families in the gallery.
I speak as a Yanyuwa woman from Borroloola and I advise the Assembly that this man is my Kuku, my grandfather relationship. When you reflect on a person’s life, you look at it both from the contributions he made, not only on a political level in the Northern Territory parliament, but also on a personal level to all his families, not only on the Tiwi Islands, but across the Northern Territory and, in particular, my homelands of Borroloola.
I pay tribute to his sons and daughters and nieces and nephews, to my Noughie, Natalie, and also to my Kuku and, in particular, David, who grew up with my family in Borroloola, to my grandfather, and I will say their names for this parliament, those who have also passed away, Musso Harvey, and to Roddy Harvey, who is here today.
It was a really important time to celebrate this wonderful man, my Kuku, because many of the Borroloola families travelled - in fact, more people travelled from Borroloola than I have ever seen leave Borroloola to go to another part of the Territory for a funeral; and that speaks volumes for the Tiwi people of the respect you have from the Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Mara, and Gudanji people of the Gulf region. Not only did they travel all the way to Darwin for the ceremony at St Mary’s Cathedral, but they made the journey by boat across the waters to the Tiwi Islands to camp there and to farewell a wonderful person who meant so much to so many.
My Kuku was, in every sense, absolute proof that greatness can be achieved from the humblest of backgrounds. By the time of my election to parliament in 2005, Indigenous members were very much an accepted part of the Northern Territory parliamentary landscape. That is why, on my first day in the Legislative Assembly, one of my strongest memories was of my Kuku coming in here. It was he, some 30 years earlier, who opened the way for many others to follow. Unlike 2005, the election of an Aboriginal member of parliament was an extraordinary event in 1974. I cannot remember that time as I was quite young, but I enjoy listening to the stories of those who do, and my elders here in the parliament.
His election paved the way for democracy in the Territory, a democracy which has since that day celebrated the inclusion of Aboriginal people at its highest levels. He returned to the Assembly three decades after that historic event, and my abiding memory of that day was seeing him, with our then Administrator, Ted Egan, singing in the Tiwi language. My Kuku’s achievements went far beyond his island home. His pride in Tiwi culture was clearly evident on that day; it was a pride that he carried with him at all times. The celebration in the Legislative Assembly with Ted Egan was also a reminder of his shared love with the then Administrator of both Australian football and, of course, that formidable institution, the St Mary’s Football Club.
My Kuku played his first league game for St Mary’s at just 15 years of age. From that time he went on to carve a formidable record for himself and the Northern Territory Football League. He was a member of Saint’s Premiership winning teams of 1965 - 66 and 1966 - 67. In addition, he had the honour of representing the Territory in 1966 in the team which beat the visiting North Adelaide side at Gardens Oval. One can only imagine the great pride he felt that day playing for the Territory in front of a crowd which, no doubt, included many equally proud Tiwi supporters. Just for good measure, Madam Speaker, my Kuku also captained/coached his home side on the islands, Irrimaru. Fittingly, he was made a life member of both the NTFL and the Tiwi Islands Football League.
In addition to his parliamentary and sporting achievements, in 1973 he also earned membership of the National Aboriginal Consultative Committee, the first Australia-wide Indigenous body with a formal role in advising government on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. At the same time, he was a member of the advisory group to the Aboriginal Secondary Grant Scheme. He was well qualified for that role because he was also a teacher at Saint Xavier’s at Nguiu. He had an abiding commitment to education for the people of the Tiwi Islands.
We have heard that he was a tremendous advocate and a founding member of the Tiwi Land Council, with which he had a long association. I would like to put on to the Parliamentary Record a quote from his adjournment on Thursday, 3 March 1977, where he wrote to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Viner, regarding the Tiwi Land Council:
We, the Tiwi people of Bathurst and Melville Islands, wish you to establish an Aboriginal land council for the area of Bathurst and Melville Islands, NT, under the provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act, section 20.
In support of this request we submit the following:
1. The whole Tiwi people have one language.
2. All the population of the 2 islands are related and share one set of family customs.
3. Our customs and traditions, particularly relating to land, are quite different, definite and distinct from those of tribes on the mainland.
4. There has always existed an authority exercised by what are in fact the traditional owners, recognised and respected by all the people.
5. The practice of calling meetings and seeking advice from the elders is an established one which has served the Tiwi people for thousands of years.
6. We believe that the introduction of a Tiwi Land Council will be a continuation of an existing structure understandable to the Tiwi people.
There is certainly more to his adjournments, and I encourage people to have a look at the words of this amazing man.
My Kuku was a man of considerable talent who used his talents for the advancement, not only of his people on the Tiwi Islands, but for all people of the Northern Territory to better understand the relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people as we try to forge a future for all people in the Northern Territory. He will long be remembered for the role he played as an Indigenous political pioneer, as well as for his considerable additional contributions in both public and sporting life.
To Noughie, and all the family, my sincere condolences on behalf of the people of Arnhem and your families in Borroloola.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I briefly add my condolences to the family of Hyacinth Tungutalum.
I am one of the few European people who have had the unique opportunity to represent Aboriginal people in this place - when I was the member for Macdonnell. One of my strongest memories of that period was the sense of inadequacy I carried going into a foreign cultural set; in fact, several foreign cultural sets because there were numerous language groups which I represented in this place. I can only begin to imagine, on that basis, the enormity of what confronted Hyacinth when he came into this place to speak as a senior elder in our system of government on behalf of his own people and other people he represented - a substantial challenge, indeed.
When we meet, we dress to impress. One need only glance around this room to get the impression of how we like to present the dominant nature of our cultural and political system. It would have been an almost overwhelming environment. When I was the member for Macdonnell, I found it an overwhelming environment when traditional people of various language groups took the time to try to educate me in some of the ways of their own systems of governance. Of course, I never saw any of the truly sacred places; I was shown some things and I will not talk about that any further. I was given what would be the law student’s equivalent of Aboriginal Law 101 when it came to various language groups. I was impressed by the level of trust shown to me during that period.
I have heard many of us talking about Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal in this place, but one of the things that struck me about Aboriginal legal systems is those systems, as they were described to me, actually had very little to do with race and race-based politics. I have noted on many occasions in what are called ‘Aboriginal seats’ in this place; non-Aboriginal candidates have defeated Aboriginal candidates. The reason that has occurred is that Aboriginal people determining who their best representative is do not determine that based on the colour of their skin but on that person’s capacity. From that, I take an enormous lesson.
Whilst I acknowledge in the seat of Macdonnell I was eventually defeated by an Aboriginal person, I suspect it had less to do with her Aboriginality and a lot more to do with her capacity to be a representative of the people she represents, even to this day. I did not speak the required four or five languages the current member for Macdonnell speaks. I have acknowledged in the past, both publicly and privately, that perhaps she would be the better representative, not because of our political divide, but because of her capacity to understand and know the lore. It was on that basis, I suspect, she was elected, and less to do with the colour of her skin.
Aboriginal people tend, in my experience, to be much less racist about the choices they make than Europeans, partly because when an Aboriginal person casts their eye about them, I have discovered they do not see black and white. They see a rainbow of colours, a raft of different cultural mores. We heard the member for Arnhem refer to that in a letter where the Tiwis wanted their own land council based on the fact they had their own cultural structures which were fundamentally different from the people on the mainland.
I have met Hyacinth on numerous occasions. I have a photograph of him and me in my office. I forget the occasion, but we were both sitting at a couple of desks at some sort of constitutional meeting. I had cause to speak to him on that occasion, and the good humour and the enjoyment he extracted from life resonated through the conversation I had with him.
On those occasions where I have visited the Tiwis, and it is many years since I was there, I am often left in mind of a South Pacific island in many respects. I do not know how many members here are familiar with an old Harry Belafonte song about an island in the sun, in the Caribbean, and it goes, if I remember the words correctly:
Oh island in the sun
Built to me by my father’s hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters, your shining sand
That is a song about love. A love and a passion for home country, and that is what resonated through Hyacinth’s conversations with me. I know when I visit the Tiwis again I will see the Tiwi Islands are better and stronger for Mr Tungutalum’s presence. They will be firmer and greater because he was here.
For me, he will not be passed, he will not be dead. When I hear the wind rustling through the trees, or when I see the palm fronds swaying in the breeze, I will hear and see Hyacinth Tungutalum and the success he leaves behind. He has become part of the soil, he has gone back to where he came from, and every leaf that grows on a tree, every blade of grass that sprouts, every particle of those islands will contain a part of him in them.
I will see him there and I will remember him for as long as I live. I will be grateful that he lived and that he had the courage to step over that cultural divide and bring some of the Tiwi into this place and into our lives.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I also extend my condolences to the family and friends of Mr Tungutalum.
I only met him a couple of times. Once, when I was the Health minister, I was with the member for Arafura at a big meeting at Nguiu. However, the main memory I have of meeting him was before I was a member of parliament. I was organising the commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin for the Centenary of Federation celebrations. As part of that, we had asked a group of Tiwi dancers to come to perform the aeroplane dance. My memory of Hyacinth is doing the aeroplane dance, which is about the planes coming over the Tiwi Islands and the bombs coming down - it is a very powerful dance and I am hoping the dancers might perform that later today. As I remember him, he was a very happy man, and very talented dancer. I am sorry I did not meet the man who has been represented here today.
Motion agreed to.
Members stood and observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, honourable members. The Assembly will now suspend for five minutes for members to speak to family and friends, and will resume at the ringing of the bells for the condolence motion for Brother Pye.
CONDOLENCE MOTION
Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM
Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, it is with deep regret that I advise of the death on 29 May 2009 of Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM, a Territorian who made a significant contribution to Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that this Assembly:
- (a) express its deep regret at the death of Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM, a man who demonstrated dedication and commitment for nearly 70 years to the Aboriginal people of the Top End through his life’s mission, and whose pioneering work with Australian Rules football on the Tiwi Islands will leave an unmatched heritage to the nation; and
(b) tender its profound sympathy to his family and friends.
In paying tribute, as we do today to Brother John Pye, we mark the passing of a man who can be truly described as legendary. He lived his life to the full and left a legacy which will long be remembered in the annals of Australian sport. It was a life in which he devoted commitment to his mission as a Christian for many years as a missionary in the Northern Territory. It was a life, as we also know, in which his passion for Australian Rules football led to the introduction of that great sporting code to the Tiwi Islands and beyond.
Born in Mulwala in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Brother Pye was the son of a devout Catholic mother and a policeman father, which meant he moved around quite often as a child. It was a childhood which, I would like to think, gave him a love of living in the bush; it was a childhood during which, at the age of 10, he was introduced to Australian Rules football and, in his words: ‘I got hooked on it straightaway’. It is great to see someone from New South Wales getting hooked on Australian Rules football!
A great reader of the lives of the saints as a teenager, it was a natural progression for him to start first at the Christian Brothers College in Wagga Wagga, where he also excelled as an athlete. Then, as a young man, he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart because, as he put it so simply: he wanted to help people in far away places; and that he did.
He was to help people in far away places for the best part of 70 years. After 10 years teaching in Toowoomba, Brother Pye arrived at the Bathurst Island Mission in late 1941, but was evacuated to the mission at Port Keats in early 1942 after the bombing of Darwin. He was to remain there until after the war, after which he returned to Bathurst Island.
He then spent 16 years on the Tiwi Islands, with a short stint in 1950 as a supervisor of the Channel Island Leprosarium. He spent 10 years at the Daly River Mission as a mechanic, driver and football coach, returning to the Tiwi Islands at the age of 70.
During his earlier time at Nguiu, Brother Pye was involved in the rebuilding of the mission first established by Bishop Gsell. It was, undoubtedly, a hard existence with the timber for the mission sourced, felled and milled on the island. A number of those buildings he worked on in the 1940s and 1950s still stand today but, as you well know, Madam Speaker, God moves in mysterious ways. It was Brother Pye’s introduction to the game he first witnessed in the Riverina in 1916, Australian Rules football, that was, in some sense, forever to change his mission on the Tiwi Islands.
As legend now has it, young Tiwi men were already playing a sort of hybrid Aussie Rules, and rugby, often played with little better than a bunch of rags tied together. As Brother Pye recalls: ‘I saw the people playing a simple game with a ball. There might be 20 on one side and a dozen on the other. There were no rules except to carry the ball across the line’. Apparently, it did not matter whether the ball was carried, kicked or punched across the line. Brother Pye set about organising the first proper games of Australian Rules, initially on an old wartime airstrip with a couple of sticks for posts at either end. There were no watches, so quarters ran anything from half-an-hour to an hour, but from these small beginnings, legends of football prowess began.
The first team to be invited to play was from Belyuen but, more importantly, after Brother Pye was transferred to Pirlangimpi, Garden Point, in 1954 the first inter-island games began with Garden Point winning the first match in 1956, by a single point against their Bathurst Island rivals. It was the birth of Brother Pye’s much loved Imalu team and the beginning of the Tiwi Islands Football League. It was the beginning, as well, of the great football families of the Dunns, Riolis, Longs, and many others. Indeed, Jack Long captained the side that defeated Bathurst Island.
At the same time, Brother Pye’s influence was already being felt on the mainland with the introduction of Tiwi players to the Darwin-based competition, and to St Mary’s Football Club. As Brother Pye put it: ‘My job, from about 1951 onwards, was to send players who knew enough about the game to Darwin to play for St Mary’s’. The then captain of St Mary’s, later the Territory’s Administrator, Ted Egan, would recall: ‘He was of great use to me because he would organise for us to get the better players at the right time, which was pretty handy to us around grand final day’.
Ted Egan and St Mary’s did not need God on their side, they had Brother Pye. The influence of players Brother Pye encouraged from those early days through to the present is still being felt - from David Kantilla’s time in the South Australian League, to Cyril Rioli Junior, currently playing with the Hawks.
We have just had the condolence motion for Hyacinth Tungutalum, and I acknowledge that a young Ross Tungutalum has been drafted by my team, St Kilda. There could be a wonderful irony that occurs later this year, given today we have had the condolence motion for Hyacinth Tungutalum, now for Brother Pye, and football on the Tiwi Islands - this is a bit of a journey for me as I expand on this - and Ross Tungutalum being drafted for St Kilda. We have only won one premiership, that was in 1966, but we are going pretty well at the moment, fingers crossed, and if we do achieve greatness in September this year, and Ross plays again for St Kilda in the seniors, there will be this amazing link between Mr Hyacinth Tungutalum, Brother Pye, Ross Tungutalum, and St Kilda Football Club, hopefully, in September carrying off the flag.
That is what so much of this great man’s life has been about, the introduction of football to the Tiwi Islands and the great joy it brings so many hundreds of thousands of Australians, and all of the Tiwis. Football brings people together in ways that cannot be replicated anywhere else, and Brother John Pye made an enormous contribution.
Brother Pye’s involvement with Tiwi footballers continued well into his retirement. His life membership of the Tiwi Island Football League reflected his many years serving the league’s administration. He was the first person on the ground at Marrara when the Tiwi Bombers took to the field for the first time in the 2007-08 season. I was there as well. He was awarded an OAM for his services to sport and to Aboriginal people in 1986.
Brother Pye’s retirement saw him contribute to the writing of Territory history, producing much republished books on the histories of Port Keats, Daly River, the Tiwi Islands and Santa Teresa. In this, Brother Pye has left us a lasting contribution to the Territory’s intellectual and historical life.
Much has been said and written about Australian Rules being something akin to a second religion; indeed, many Tiwi Islanders have said this themselves. The fact that the game was introduced to the Islands by a Catholic missionary is perhaps one of God’s little ironies.
At 102 years of age, Brother John Pye had a long life. The biblical span of three score years and ten that he served Aboriginal people was a rich contribution to the Northern Territory.
I listened to the eulogy at Brother John Pye’s funeral in St Mary’s Cathedral a few days ago and the enormity of the contribution he made to the Northern Territory – and the Leader of the Opposition was with me that day. In public life we can work hard to make our contribution but the contribution Brother John Pye made, under what must have been terrific hardship all those years ago, without the lines of supply and communication, without any of the modern technology and equipment we take for granted today, the work he would have done with his bare hands all those years ago, with only one motivation being his service to his faith and to the mission and wanting to make a contribution to Aboriginal people, is extraordinary.
It is probably a life which will never be seen again. He spent over 68 years in the Northern Territory, in a very long, rich, rewarding contribution to the Northern Territory. He is one of the great heroes of the Northern Territory.
My condolences go to his family, his extended family within the Catholic Church, and his many thousands of friends throughout the Northern Territory. May he rest in peace.
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Visitors
Madam SPEAKER: Before calling the Leader of the Opposition, I acknowledge the Superior for the Northern Territory of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Confrere, Father Malcolm Fyfe, MSC, and also the Superior of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Sister Elizabeth Little, FDNSC, OAM, and fellow sisters. On behalf of honourable members I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
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Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I shared with the Chief Minister an amazing eulogy at the Cathedral the other day. I acknowledge the family, some of whom travelled considerable distances to be there, and the wider Catholic family who were there in strength. It was wonderful to see the time taken to honour a man who has made an enormous contribution, and has left an extraordinary legacy.
In my office I have a photograph of an unnamed Tiwi boy – he caught my eye at the grand final a couple of years back. He did not see me because he had a football in his hand, he had raggedy shorts and he had this focused stare as if he was playing in the AFL somewhere; he was about seven or eight, and he was practising kicking, and he was in another place. He was inspired by the names of Rioli, Kantilla, Long and so on. He was aiming up at this post and trying to get as good a kick as possible; he was determined and he saw something - who knows what. One day I might show the photo around. I am sure he is going to do well because he had that look in his eye and sweat running down his brow. He was there for an hour or so practising kicking while the grand final was being played.
Reflecting on that young lad, and many like him, wherever you see young lads with their footballs practising, they are practising with a picture in their mind, a vision of what could be, a possibility, as a result of a seed sown by Brother John Pye. The opportunities presented to the Riolis, David Kantilla - who sadly passed away at an early age, the Longs, and many others, was as a result of a man born in 1906 in the Riverina, who grew up near the Murray River, and who was a boarder at the Marist College in Wagga. I understand his dad wanted him to be a policeman, but he had this urge, this want, to help people in places far away. I keep thinking of that little boy and all the little boy represents, which is the result of John Pye yielding to that urge and living out that urge, and serving in places far away from the Riverina.
It is humbling to consider someone having that desire and living it out so magnificently and so quietly, and seeing the legacy being enjoyed and experienced by so many, and to hear of one who had the urge and allowed that urge to shape his life. For 10 years he worked in Toowoomba, and that urge must have stayed there because it took him to the Tiwi Islands in 1941. The mission had been in place for about 30 years, and he began his work as a teacher. Then war intervened and he moved to Port Keats.
As a part of the eulogy there was a description of him and a couple of others going to Port Keats in 1942 and setting to work to build, with their hands, a school and vegetable gardens. It floored me to consider the powerful testimony of people who yielded to that want, that desire to help and turn their hands to a task which gave rise to something important; yet they had so little and they achieved so much. And today, which is what caused me to reflect, we have so much, and we appear to achieve so little. We must learn something from what we see in the lives of people such as John Pye and others: they achieved so much with so little.
Any words you heard recorded of John Pye are so modest. It is not about him, it is about yielding to that want. Those who have grown up in the Catholic system will be very familiar with the term ‘vocation’, a call, and he responded to that call. That want grew. It shows once again the truism that history will remember people of action, people who do things, rather than people of process. He was a man of action. He saw an opportunity and acted. As a result, we have so much evidence of the benefits which flowed from him yielding to that want to help; and help he has. The help is, in fact, probably easy to consider and then pass on, and not recognise the significance of it.
The contribution is the creation of a bridge, or a link, for those who need to find a more comfortable place between two cultures. That bridge has been established by the work of Brother Pye, and it has allowed for a bridge through which people can pass one way and the other. You have Ted Whitten going back to the Tiwis, and all that interest from the south of the country has opened up understanding between people. All because Brother Pye saw these sprightly young people there and thought: ‘I think football would be the go here’, and stuck a couple of sticks into the airfield and started teaching the young people how to play the game of Aussie Rules.
With all of that, I am sure the object was not the football; it was a means to achieve something as a good teacher. Here was a good opportunity and he took that opportunity - and look what resulted from it.
He will be remembered, of course, in the faces of those little boys you see over there sizing up the goals and imagining they are Maurice Rioli or someone like that. They can see a future, something that will connect them to something way beyond where they are now - daring to dream and having hope.
He will be remembered every grand final when the best player on the field is awarded the John Pye Medal. When John Pye was asked about this when he was 100 years of age, he said: ‘Yes, people like to be remembered, that sort of thing. Each year, they bring that up’, as though it was no big deal. In his modesty, he said that people quite like to be remembered. Well, he will be remembered for an extraordinary legacy and a challenge to all of us: how it was that so much was achieved with so little.
Mrs AAGAARD (Nightcliff): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is with sadness that today I join this condolence debate for the late Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM. Known to most of us here today as Brother John, he was Uncle Rex to his family.
He died on Friday, 29 May, at the age of 102 at the Masonic Homes nursing home in Tiwi where he lived for the last few years of his life. I know that his much-loved and devoted nephew, Noel Pye, who spoke on behalf of Brother Pye’s family at his funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral last Friday, said that Brother John, from his late 90s, would jokingly comment that he was going back to his childhood because, if asked his age, he would reply in quarter years, such as: ‘I am 98 and three-quarters or 99-and-a-half’. So, to set the record straight, he was 102-and-a-half when he died.
He had been the oldest living Missionary of the Sacred Heart in the history of the congregation in the world. I met Brother John when he was living at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart centre in Nightcliff, where he moved there to retire at the age of 90, or perhaps 90-and-a-quarter, in 1988. As the local member, I visited him and the priests and brothers at the MSC Centre, known as The Ranch. I remember on one occasion being invited by the then Superior of the Sacred Heart Missionaries, Father Peter Wood, to attend Brother John’s 96th birthday party. I also remember he looked at me and said: ‘Why are you here, is there someone important coming?’ I said: ‘I have come to celebrate your birthday’. He said to me: ‘Why has the Health minister come for that?’ He had no idea that he was the important person there. It was a joyous occasion with priests, brothers, and guests from the local parish of St Paul’s joining to celebrate his birthday.
I got to know him a little during his years at The Ranch, and he would often talk about his years as a missionary, his work in establishing market gardens and, of course, his love of Australian Rules football. He would speak with great passion and love of the people of the Tiwi Islands and the Daly River and, with some sadness, about the Stolen Generations, often remarking that the church had only wanted to help. I remember discussing with him how people who are members of the Stolen Generations did not feel bitterness necessarily towards the church but, rather, to the government of the day and its policies. In fact, the brothers, priests, and sisters became the families of a large number of children who were removed and were greatly loved, even to this day. This has certainly been borne out by the large number of people who attended his funeral in Darwin, and by the moving ceremony and burial service on Bathurst Island last Friday.
I also had the honour of attending Brother Pye’s 100th birthday celebration, together with former Chief Minister, Clare Martin, in December 2006. Around 200 people attended this special mass at St John’s College, and the party following. It was a wonderful occasion led by Bishop Ted Collins. I remember thinking: what on earth do you give someone who is turning 100? I ended up presenting him with a Tiwi painting to remind him of his time at Bathurst Island. That was a day of much love and regaling of stories. He sat in his wheelchair surrounded by gifts with large numbers of tributes read out from around the world - from the Queen, the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and, I believe, from Pope John Paul II. It was a remarkable occasion and I remember him commenting suddenly: ‘What do you get if you turn 200?’
Brother Pye was known for his sense of humour. In talking with mourners after the funeral, Sister Elizabeth Little, who is here today, the Superior of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, tells a story of soon after well-known and loved old Sister Fred died, another nun was unsuccessfully looking for her keys. She said to Brother Pye: ‘I will have to pray to Sister Fred to help me find the keys’, to which he replied: ‘Don’t you think you should let her settle in first?’ Similarly, on hearing of the death of his friend and confrere, Father John Leary, earlier this year, he was quoted as saying: ‘We all have to die sometime’.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I will give a little background to the life of Brother Pye. I am grateful to the Superior of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for the Northern Territory, Father Malcolm Fyfe, and also to his nephew, Noel Pye, for allowing me to use parts of the official eulogies used at Brother Pye’s funeral service.
Brother Pye was born on 28 December 1906 at Mulwala, a small town in the Riverina district of New South Wales, about 600 km south-west of Sydney. He was the second of four children. His mother was Annie Downing, and his father was Edward Hugh Pye. His father was a mounted policeman in country New South Wales, mainly around the Riverina district, which was a very keen Australian Rules football area when Brother Pye was a child. His nephew, Noel Pye, remembers his uncle Rex as a wonderful story teller:
- In our childhood, he was a mysterious man in black, in his city rig of black suit, black hat and Roman collar, who would return south every three years with his stories, photos, his demonstration of the dancing he had observed in the communities where he lived, and his pipe. Each day, he would also mysteriously disappear to his room and read from his prayer book, according to the rules of his religious order. As children, we would wonder, how long would it be before Uncle Rex came out of that room?
As a young teenager at secondary school, Brother John was an outstanding athlete as well as a competent student. It was at this time he became keenly interested in Australia’s special brand of football, Australian Rules football, a game that was to play a significant part in John’s later missionary activities.
School days over, John went to work in a mechanical workshop and gained a qualification as a diesel engineer. His knowledge of motor vehicles and agricultural machinery provided him with practical skills for his future work on remote Aboriginal communities. Missionaries were usually selected on the basis of such skills, in addition to their religious and spiritual qualities.
John’s mother was a devout Catholic and priests were frequent visitors to the house. John was very close to his mother and was strongly influenced by her. She was very pleased when John, at 20 years of age, decided to become a religious brother in the congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. And, as the Leader of the Opposition has already indicated, his father would have preferred him to become a policeman.
John pronounced his first vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart in 1930. Not many religious lived to celebrate their 75th anniversary of religious profession, as Brother John did four years ago. When John took his first religious profession, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Australia were in a phase of considerable expansion and were about to open their first secondary boarding college, and so Brother John was appointed to Downlands College in Toowoomba, where he worked as a teacher and athletics coach for 10 years, in spite of his keen desire to go to the missions.
In 1941, with World War II well under way, John was sent to the Northern Territory. A long journey on a troop ship brought him to Darwin, at the time a small dusty place with buffaloes roaming the streets. Brother Pye was soon sent to Bathurst Island, a mission founded by Father Gsell, later Bishop Gsell, in 1911, the first of several in the Northern Territory. His first experience of missionary life lasted only a few weeks. It was intended to prepare him for a three year stint at Port Keats, where Father Richard Docherty had established a mission, bringing together several Aboriginal groups who, at that time, had a reputation for their skill at throwing deadly spears. In spite of scarcity of resources and the terrible heat, Father Docherty, Brother John and some of the Indigenous people built a school, extended the airstrip, and established a vegetable garden and fruit orchard. Three religious sisters from the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart fed, taught and cared for the children.
In 1944, Brother John was asked to return to Bathurst Island, and it was there he would spend most of his life as a missionary. At that time on Bathurst Island there was no sanitation - diarrhoea, yaws, hookworm and other tropical diseases were prevalent, and food supplies were very precarious. Brother John later admitted to us that he was sorely tempted to return to southern comforts, but his practical knowledge was soon put to good use. A huge rebuilding program was required at the mission after the war ended in 1945, and, quite quickly, Brother John decided that the Tiwis would be skilled at playing Australian Rules football, and would benefit from so doing. He introduced the game and it was a huge success. It had a unifying effect on the community; it was a healthy occupation and provided an outlet for youthful energies.
As we know, over the years Tiwis have become famous as footballers, eagerly sought after by Australia’s top teams. Brother John Pye is considered as being a founding father of Tiwi football. Brother John’s stay at Nguiu was interrupted by a one year appointment, in 1950, to the Leper Station on Channel Island. Most of the patients were either Indigenous or mixed race people. He worked there with the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, under very basic conditions of housing and facilities, to alleviate the lepers’ sufferings.
After three years back at Nguiu, Brother John was transferred to Garden Point in 1954, the mission on Melville Island. Here, besides the Indigenous Tiwis, there were many people of mixed race born of unions with Europeans or Japanese. The mission looked after them, educated them and instructed them in a range of practical work skills and gave them a healthy sense of identity. Again, one of Brother John’s enduring achievements was the development of a strong Australian Rules football tradition.
In 1956, having spent 25 years as a missionary, he was sent by his superiors to the mission on the Daly River, where a school and hospital had been established at the request of the Indigenous people in that year. Brother John was to spend 10 years there as a mechanic, driver of the supply truck to and from Darwin, and boarding master. Again he helped establish Australian Rules football, producing many outstanding players in the years that followed. It was at the Daly that Brother John was very badly burned when an old truck burst in to flames. He was not expected to survive the night, but after two months in the Darwin Hospital and many skin grafts, he completely recovered leaving no evidence of the horrible ordeal.
In 1970, Brother John was asked to return to Wadeye, the place where he had effectively served his apprenticeship as a Northern Territory missionary. In the meantime, the consumption of alcohol had been legalised for Aboriginal people and had become a widespread problem; it was a problem at Wadeye. Brother John was put in charge of the liquor storage facilities.
In his free time he commenced writing a history of the mission, The Port Keats Story, which was published in 1972. It was to be the first of several very successful short books detailing the culture and history of the Aboriginal communities where Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart were working.
In 1975, which was the Roman Catholic Holy Year, Brother John Pye accompanied 36 Indigenous people to Israel, Rome, and Lourdes. The miracle happened before they got there, according to Father Malcolm Fyfe. At Bombay, India, the plane caught fire on takeoff, but all 400 passengers were able to slide down the chutes onto the tarmac, some with broken arms or legs. I understand that Brother John was the last to scramble off the plane and a few minutes later the fuel tanks blew up. Even so, he considered the highlight of the tour was a personal audience with the Pope.
After the trip, at the age of 70, he returned to Nguiu. Times had changed, self-determination was the policy. The missions were to become more like Catholic parishes elsewhere, except they were situated in Aboriginal communities. Brother Pye helped by researching the Tiwi genealogies and customs and by writing, in succession, The Daly River Story - A River Unconquered; The Tiwi Islands and Santa Teresa and East Aranda History.
In 1986, while he was still on Bathurst Island, Brother John Pye was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his services to various communities in the Northern Territory. In 1998, with an increasing need to be nearer to full medical facilities, Brother John, 90 years old, retired to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Centre at Nightcliff in Darwin. While there, the Historical Society of the Northern Territory commissioned Christine Gordon to research and write a history of Brother John Pye’s life. Using a nickname given him by the Tiwis, as John heard it pronounced, that signified strength and maturity, this 60 page work is titled Punderdelime - Brother John - a Northern Territory Legend.
About five years ago, Brother John moved to an aged care hostel in Darwin where, in spite of diminished vision and hearing, he remained healthy, happy, and for most of his remaining life, surprisingly sharp mentally. He was visited at least twice daily by his religious confreres, Brother Ted Merritt and Brother Colin Milne, who are both here today, and he greatly appreciated having the Mass said in his room at the aged care facility each week. Until Tuesday of last week, before he died, he would join in with the responses in the various prayers of the Mass that he had learned as a boy in Mulwala. One of his favourite sayings at the end of Mass was the words of Jesus: ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them’.
I believe Brother Pye would have been smiling at the funeral at St Mary’s last week. At the committal, as the coffin was incensed by Bishop Eugene Hurley, a mobile phone went off and it appeared to be coming from the casket. The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and I were seated together and we were grateful it was not one of our phones; but I would like to think it was God calling Brother Pye, much like the old Billy Graham song Telephone to Glory, telling him he had been a good and faithful servant and welcoming him through the Pearly Gates. Naturally, Brother Pye did not answer the phone but let it go to Messagebank, because he knew better than to take a call during Mass!
I finish with the words Father Malcolm Fyfe used in his eulogy:
- With all his down-to-earth humility, I believe Brother Pye could well have used these words of Saint Paul: ‘The time of my departure has come, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness’.
I offer my condolences to his MSC colleagues and to his surviving family. I particularly note Mrs Jean Pye, Brother John’s sister-in-law; Kevin Pye, Brother John’s nephew, and Kevin’s wife, Sue, and their sons, Warwick, Rodney and Darren Pye; Brother John’s niece, Fran Geist, her husband, John, and children, Shane, Peter and Jodi; Brother John’s niece, Carmel Vanny and her children, Graham and Kevin; Brother John’s nephews, Noel Pye and John Pye; and Brother John’s cousin, Paul Cohen.
Vale, Brother Rexford John Pye MSC OAM.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I also share my condolences with the community at large and the whole of the Northern Territory because the whole of the Northern Territory is diminished when someone of such stature departs and goes to a better place. I note in the motion the phrase ‘through his life’s mission’. I am always struck and impressed when I meet people who dedicate themselves to a life’s mission; to take our fleeting moment on this planet and turn it to a single cause, and to pursue that cause relentlessly with love, with passion, with desire and, as the Leader of the Opposition called it, with vocation.
I listened to the Chief Minster refer to Brother John Pye as a hero. I suspect Brother Pye would probably baulk at that description and I can understand why, although the Catholic Church, like any number of intuitions has, for lack of a better expression, their pin-up heroes. The truth is that ideas must always mean more than people, and when I see someone like Brother John Pye dedicate his life to an idea, to a belief, to a single goal and a single thought, you cannot but be impressed. However, where the spirit is willing, the flesh is often weak, and when I see people dedicate themselves to a life of service, to a life of justice, to a life of passion and vocation, I see people trying to attain what it essentially the unattainable. For fleeting moments, individuals in their lives may touch the perfect but it is a little bit like the good golf shots you get once in a thousand strokes - there is just enough there to keep you going. In truth we are all human, we are flawed, we sin. As a practicing Catholic, I acknowledge my sins.
What qualifies a person to be a hero? I think about the VCs which were dished out during World War I for conspicuously heroic acts, and look at all the soldiers who ran into the faces of firing machine guns and thought: ‘Did they not all deserve a Victoria Cross? Which act of courage was less than the one that did get a Victoria Cross?’ We should be practicing, or I at least try to practice, spiritual improvement, and whilst I would like to come close to people like Brother John Pye, I know I do not have a snowflake’s chance in the proverbial other place. The fact is he provides for me an example of what could be achieved and yet he would, I suspect, baulk at calling himself a hero. We do touch perfection once in a while.
William Wilberforce, the hero of the anti-slavery movement in England, was a far-from-perfect character, addicted to laudanum to the day he died. However, for a fleeting moment, when his legislation passed in the House, he had at that moment, the perfect golf stroke. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, a remarkable document - I urge members who have not read it to read it – showed a moment of clarity, but then went on to live his life as an adulterer.
We all should be seeking spiritual enhancement through our lives, and I have the most enormous regard for those people who truly pursue a vocation. What is so sad about the pursuit of vocation is that we seem, in this day of sensual delights - and I use the term ‘sensual’ to mean everything we see about us is there to satisfy the senses - you turn on 15 or 40 channels on Austar, there is something for the senses; our taste buds are titillated at every shop with better and tastier foods with every passing day. We have something for the senses on every occasion and they distract us - or they certainly distract me - from more noble pursuits; and I wish I could be more.
The Lutheran missionaries who worked in the Hermannsburg area of Central Australia were people of vocation. For 30 or 40 years they would dedicate themselves to the one community. How does that reflect itself in the community? During the days of the missions – and I am not saying the missions were, by any stretch of the imagination, perfect – Hermannsburg produced about 60 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables for the people of Alice Springs to purchase. They produced cattle, had a slaughter shop, and had carpentry workshops and any number of other productive institutions which ran on a shoestring budget. But what permeated everything that happened in Hermannsburg? Vocation, passion, and a belief that something better could be done.
When I see how we deliver services today to these places, we have more money than we need. But what is missing? Vocation, love and passion. As a public servant, you roster in, you do your couple of years, and roster out. There is no commitment at a spiritual or even at an organic level from the people who just roll in and roll out. Then, I see examples like Brother John Pye who made it his vocation, who brought to his life meaning through passion as expressed through his belief in Christ being his Lord and Saviour. His passion was not that of a firebrand, because his passion was tempered with the love, understanding, compassion, and even the humour Christ would have encouraged.
While I was sitting here before I got to my feet I had a mental picture of Brother John Pye turning up at the Pearly Gates and Christ coming down to meet him. As they met, Brother John looked at him and said: ‘Did I do good, Boss?’ Christ turned and said: ‘Yeah, John, you did good’.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I support the condolence motion for a very important man. Many people have already spoken about Brother Pye’s legacy in relation to Australian Rules football, and Tiwi Islands football in particular. The memory of his achievements in that area will survive long into this century; it does not need me to further embellish that distinguished record.
However, I comment on Brother Pye’s years of dedicated service and his work outside of football. Prior to coming to the Northern Territory in 1941, Brother Pye had spent 10 years as a teacher. His wide-ranging skills and qualifications - he was also a diesel engineer and worked as a mechanic - meant that, during his years in the Territory, he was allocated many other tasks besides teaching and vocational training, although those two things were core activities for himself and the Catholic Missions in the Northern Territory generally. As well as spending long periods in the Tiwi Islands, especially at Nguiu, Brother Pye worked at Port Keats and Daly River.
In my condolence motion speech for Hyacinth Tungutalum I mentioned that during the years when I was privileged to work with the Nguiu Council in the early 1990s in my role as secretary to members of that Council, that those impressive Tiwi leaders and elders, many years my senior, were educated - and I have often talked about it in this parliament - by the Catholic education and training system in place on the Tiwi Islands which was operated by Brother Pye and his fellow Catholic missionaries.
Men like Hyacinth, the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council, Mr Robert Tipungwuti - and I acknowledge the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council, Barry Puruntatameri - many of these strong men who are leaders today were taught English and arithmetic, they were given basic life skills and a work ethic, and sense of worth, which is so important. When you look at the present and look at what the Church, people like Brother Pye, the many women in the Order of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart did, it was to give Aboriginal people a sense of worth, respect, and support, and they worked with the people without coming over the top of the people. My mother, who was removed from her people and put into the missions, was very fluent in her Tiwi language, and she knew who she was. She always loved and respected the missionaries because they did not try to remove the language or cultural privacy of the Tiwi people. Many of my Tiwi mothers feel the same way.
My people are fluent in their Tiwi language, and are grounded and very confident in their Tiwi cultural practices and knowledge. That is something which has followed through many generations of Tiwis. At the same time, they were given the educational equipment to make their way in the so-called mainstream Australia of the big towns and cities, not just in the Territory, but all over Australia. As well as literacy and numeracy, many of these men had tangible and employable trade skills.
Much has been said about the Stolen Generations and how the Church and other groups interacted. Talking to my mother, and many of the men and women who were part of the Stolen Generations and lived and grew up on the Tiwi Islands, there was never any disrespect. You sit down and talk to the aunties and the different mothers and no one ever said a bad thing about their rearing and the family which was created through the Catholic Church.
Madam Speaker, I was brought up and remain a Catholic, and I value and respect, and continue to respect, the good work that people like Brother Pye did with generations of Tiwis, including my Nguiu Council councillors and many of my people. It is that gratitude and acknowledgement that they played the most fundamental role; it was not just giving us those skills, it was also the spiritual learning and teachings. Following in Brother Pye’s footsteps were people like my own teachers. I acknowledge the fantastic women like Sister Anne Gardiner and many of my teachers from the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart order, for their work and what they taught.
Brother Pye’s life was a gift to the Tiwi people, and we are all richer for it. There is a book which has been written about Brother Pye and for the Tiwi people to complement the life of a man. The yirrikipayi, or the crocodile, is a strong creature. The crocodile is a link to the prehistoric days, probably the only animal that has survived. You think of the strength of a crocodile - the name Brother Pye had was about the tail of the crocodile and the tail is where the crocodile gets it strength and prowess, and it was a very important name. The Tiwis look very fondly at a man whose service and dedication was not only to the Tiwis, but to many Aboriginal people in Port Keats, Daly River, and throughout the Northern Territory. He was a very important teacher. We have heard about the football, but for me it was the education and mentoring that stands many of us in good stead.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Speaker, I support this motion. I express my condolences and pay my respects to Brother Pye’s family and friends, and add to the comments by other members in the Assembly today.
I did not have the honour to meet this true Territory legend. However, I am aware of his achievements and his standing as a Territory pioneer and his contribution to the communities of Port Keats, Daly River and, more significantly, the contribution to the Tiwi communities.
We can and should learn from those who have gone before us; we should learn from their leadership, their commitment, their skills, and their example of community spirit. Brother Pye is known to many as ‘Mr Football’ and he introduced modern day football to the Tiwi Islands.
The Tiwis have produced many great legends of football, all well-known to us in the Territory and very familiar around Australia. I want to talk about the youth and Brother Pye built the foundations of bringing youth together in a fun way to have inter-community sports events with the obvious benefits of harmony, respect, self-esteem and other benefits which come from involvement in sport and friendly competition. He was a great athlete and, as a result, he took it upon himself to bring football into prominence with the Tiwis. He produced a very positive influence in the community that football, and sport in general, has in building healthy community competition and the pride exhibited by those associated with those events.
The team building amongst Aboriginal youth on those islands is legendary, and his legacy to the Northern Territory community has to include the result that the youth embraced this, and helped others to achieve their goals and dreams; and the ability of organisations like Clontarf Football Academy to come, in recent times, and for football to continue to be embraced by Aboriginal youth. As a result of the high profile of football brought in by Brother Pye, hundreds of youths are attending school, receiving an education, and taking their place in the community of the Northern Territory.
It has also helped to build the links in understanding different cultures. He has been an inspiration to our community of what can be achieved with commitment to your beliefs and following those beliefs. In 1986, he received the Order of Australia for his services to the community. Brother Pye has encapsulated all that is good in a citizen and he demonstrated that over an entire lifetime. His family and friends are, no doubt, very proud of his contribution to the people of the Northern Territory. It is not only his family and friends who have lost a loved one; the Territory has lost a great legend and a great Territorian.
My condolences go to his family and his friends, and all those who have worked with him in his commitment to progress the Northern Territory community. May he rest in peace.
Mr KNIGHT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I pay my respects and, in particular, the respects and thanks of my electorate, especially the communities of Daly River and Port Keats, Wadeye. I am sure the member for Nelson will go into more detail about Daly River.
It was a sad day when we heard of his passing. I was at Daly River at the Merrepen Arts Festival, umpiring football with the member for Nelson, and it was a sad feeling that came over the festival. During the match, after we heard, all the players lined up and there was one minute silence for the whole community. There is respect from not only the Daly River and Port Keats communities, but other communities which have heard about his contribution to Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. It was the Tiwi side who wore black arm bands from that point on and went on to win the grand final - perhaps with help and inspiration from the Brother.
I have only met the Brother once, at the Masonic Home in town here, but his name and his literature are something that has inspired me.
His calling in the early 1940s to come to the Northern Territory was a very ambitious thing. When I came to the Territory at the age of 21, I thought I was a very ignorant young man coming to this wild place, the Northern Territory; but in the 1940s it would have been a very different place, and coming to Wadeye would have been a very different place.
The story goes that on arrival at the old mission he was greeted by Father Docherty and shown to his lodgings - a hut made of bark and chicken wire. He expressed his concern about the intrusion of spears into the hut. Two days later, a large spear fight occurred and he huddled in his little hut while the spear fight went on for quite some time. In the end, Father Docherty came out and told people to break it up and encouraged the Brother out to help clear up the spears but he did not want to come out of that hut. It was a spectacular beginning to his time in the Territory and his time in bush communities.
He obviously endured, and he succeeded in bringing his faith to those communities, building both the spiritual growth and also the infrastructure growth. He was engaged in many jobs throughout the communities. In Wadeye, one of his principal jobs initially, was the gardens and growing the fruit and vegetables so people had some sustenance. At that time, there were many different groups in Wadeye and they had two weeks in, two weeks out, so there was some turnaround between the different groups, due as much to the lack of food, from time to time, but also for the peace of the community.
He gave his heart and soul, and his blood, sweat, and tears to his God and to Aboriginal people. Much has been said about his contribution to football, and I believe he was inspired from an early age in New South Wales; but when he got to the old mission in the early 1940s, football was already running and they had two teams, the Buffaloes and the Wanderers. Those names are synonymous with Darwin, and had been brought to the community by Port Keats people who had visited Darwin. I guess I am claiming the first competition in an Aboriginal community outside of Darwin was at Wadeye, and it still succeeds today, and in many other communities.
Brother Pye also was the centre of a so-called miracle in Wadeye. During World War II, as we have heard, he was stationed there, as was Australian Air Force personnel. During that time there were many concerts held by the community and the Air Force to keep people interactive. One day they decided on a running race. They lined everyone up - it was a big community then - and everyone was there and all the Air Force people lined up. Someone suggested that Brother Pye compete in this running race, and we have heard about his athletic abilities, so he lined up and he blitzed everyone. He won the running race and there was much celebration.
Later, back at the Presbytery, there was great consternation by Father Docherty because he had to say Mass and they had run out of wine; during the war years, it was obviously in short supply. The next minute there was a knock at the door and one of the Air Force personnel asked Brother Pye if he wanted his prize for winning the running race. The prize was - lo and behold! - a case of wine. Father Docherty said it was a miracle that their problems were solved.
I guess the enduring memory of Brother Pye is around football, but I believe he saw more in football than just a sport; it was about bringing groups together. Many groups did have trouble coming together at that time around Wadeye, and sport was something which was non-lethal, people could interact, compete and show leadership and participation, and have physical exercise as well.
On behalf of the people of Port Keats and Daly River, I offer my sincere condolences to the family and the friends of Brother Pye and acknowledge his faith.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, it is good that Brother Pye reached 100, because it makes it easier for me to work out percentages. In fact, I only knew him for 5% of his life. That sounds very small compared with the other 95% of his life. Of that 5%, I knew him 1% at Daly River and 4% at Bathurst Island. As people have spoken about Brother Pye’s life on Bathurst Island, I would like to say a few things about his time at Daly River. Although I only knew him for half of 1970 – that is the year I first came to the Territory and to St Francis Xavier Mission - that is the part of my life most influenced by Brother John Pye.
I am not putting this in a heroic form, but I actually felt I walked in his footsteps. I say that because when you read the books about Brother Pye, such as the book about Punderdelime, written by Christine Gordon, which the member for Arafura mentioned, and also Brother Pye’s own book, which I had to get to jog my memory because it was 39 years ago - it makes me feel old, but it is that long since I was first at Daly River, and I needed it to jog my memory - these books talk about how he was not only a mechanic, but he looked after the boys in the dormitory, he taught them boxing, and he showed them movies. They were all things I did, except be a mechanic; I grew the vegetables and that is why I went at Daly River.
He explained how to run the projector as the mission had its own quite extensive library of movies. You could divide the movies into romance and cowboys - when the cowboys were on, the nuns all went home; when the romantic ones were on, the Aboriginal people went home. That is how it tended to work when the movies were being shown. I learned how to operate the 16 mm projector from Brother Pye. I have a picture of him in this book, The Daly River Story which reminds me very much of my time there. He is driving a tractor - it would have been the red Fergie by the look of it - with a flat top trailer and a load of people on the back. We would go out bush hunting on the weekend and have a great time.
I used to do the same. I would load up the trailer with watermelons and sweet potatoes and the all the boys from the dormitory, and we would head out for a Sunday trip into the bush and have a wonderful time. They were great days. People might ask what the dormitory was about. Well, in those days, many Aboriginal people worked on cattle stations and they sent their children to the mission to get an education. Of course, this was not the same as Port Keats or Bathurst Island, or even Santa Teresa. This was not a traditional community, not that there were not traditional owners of land there, but the Catholic Church at that time bought land and developed a farm on the Daly River to provide medical, educational and religious facilities for the people who lived there, because there was not just one tribe living in that area, there were a number of people living there.
I came to a place where Brother Pye was certainly one of the pioneers of that community. I learned he was very much a down-to-earth person, and I thought he was getting a bit old then. I worked it out, he would have been 63, and as I was 19 - he was old! Here are we are, celebrating, if you can put it that way, his life; that was a long time ago.
I also had a special connection, because he wrote an article in his book, which, is a little long, but I need to give you a full explanation why he wrote it; it will also give you an idea of the person he was who wrote these books. They probably do not line up with Charles Dickens and some of the modern authors, but he wrote about these communities as they were, and they are important historical documents, as well. He wrote this:
- There is perhaps no place in Australia now where there is such an abundance of wild life. One trip along the road from the Daly River to the Stuart Highway, a distance of about fifty miles, I counted 14 large kangaroos and wallabies, 20 buffaloes, 50 wild pigs, several emus, and a fresh water crocodile. If you pause for a while on the road you notice a selection of bird and insect life in all forms. Special to the Daly River are the barramundi fish - caught with live prawns as bait; they weigh up to twenty-five pounds, although about ten-pounders are the best eating. Along the banks of the river wander thousands of semi-wild beef cattle, and now and then you come across some brumbies. If you break down at midnight on a dark and lonely road, your hearing being good, and if you have a little imagination, you experience an overpowering awareness of the life that is all around you. Thumping kangaroos and wallabies, small herds of buffaloes moving about in the bush, bulls fighting here and there, wild pigs rushing across the road in front of you, the occasional fresh water crocodile in the creek or a rock python stretched across the road. Now and then the silence of the night is broken by the mournful howl of a wild dingo or the hoot of a night owl. You might even have an unexpected encounter with a drunk looking for someone to fight! Perhaps his friends put him out in the bush to dry out so that they could get some sleep back in the camp. Gerry Wood and I experienced just these things when our truck broke down one night twenty miles out on the Daly River road. We had perishables on board and so there was nothing else to do but to get out the torch and start walking. And we learned the hard way that the Daly and all around it never sleeps.
He did not tell the full story of why that happened. I was a young bloke who knew everything; the mission had just bought a new, short-based Toyota, and we headed off to town to get the perishables, which included a large supply of frozen pies. I thought that was interesting, you know, driving along with Brother Pye. Anyway, the fuel gauge, when we got to Darwin said three-quarters full, so I thought that is okay, we do not need to fill up, we can turn around and come back. Toyota fuel gauges in those days were not the most reliable things, not very technologically advanced, and about 20 miles out of Daly River we ran out of fuel. He did not put that bit in the story that it was my fault. He knows that anyway, but he was so kind he did not put it in the story.
All those things he talks about in the book are exactly what it was like. We had to talk to one another the whole time to keep ourselves awake as it was a long walk to the police station to wake him up and get fuel to get us back.
That night, I learned a lot about the man we are talking about today. I believe he represents all the values I hope and I strive for. He had a great sense of humour; he was a mechanic; he loved Aboriginal people, and sometimes people have to remember that is why people lived in the Territory for 70 years. It is not a false love, but a love of the people, and if you have worked with Aboriginal people long enough, you will understand why. It was a genuine love and he wanted to help people; not in a patronising way, but in a truly human way with a belief that God loves us all, and he wanted to make sure he could relay that message to all those people as well.
He tried to tell people about the issues of the day; alcohol was a major issue at Daly River. Even when I was there in 1970, there were two pubs: the Daly River pub and the other was Robbie’s Sandbar. From the day I got to Daly River, alcohol was a major problem. He says in his book – and remember this was written in 1977, and it is a plea from the heart to the people he loves:
My Australian Aboriginal friends, I am not asking you to stop drinking, but I appeal to you, through these pages, to come to grips with it or it will grip you with fatal results and ruin the good life that now awaits you and your children. After coming as far as you have in recent years, surely you are not going to let this beat you.
I suppose he would look back today and say, sadly, in some cases things have not improved. But what it reflects is a person who had a deep love for Aboriginal people, who wanted these people to overcome the major issues they still have in life. He also says this was not just an Aboriginal issue, it was a non-Aboriginal issue as well; he was not shying away from that.
He was a compassionate man, he could always tell a funny yarn, he was great at doing that but, when I look at his life overall and reflect, he was a missionary of the Sacred Heart; that is what he was for nearly his entire life. He had a great belief in God; he was a down-to-earth person who reflected God’s love through his work. I was thinking, when Jesus went around picking his crew in the year 0 BC, or whenever it was, the first bloke he got was Saint Peter, who was a fisherman. I believe if He came back today He would pick ‘John the Mechanic’, because he was a real apostle. We are all a little worse off now he has gone, but I believe there is another part of the world where they will appreciate his arrival. May he rest in peace.
Madam SPEAKER: I thank honourable members for their contributions to this motion.
Motion agreed to.
Honourable members, I ask you to stand to observe one minute silence.
I invite members, friends, and interested people to join me in the main hall for refreshments, and advise that some of our guests from the Tiwi Islands will perform a dance in honour of Mr Tungutalum and Brother Pye.
VISITORS
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I draw you attention to the presence in the gallery of international ESL students from St John’s College, accompanied by Ms Christiane Charon. On behalf of all honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome.
Members: Hear, hear!
MOTION
Proposed Censure of Chief Minister
Proposed Censure of Chief Minister
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I move – That this Assembly censures the Chief Minister for lying to Aboriginal Territorians and failing to deliver on a promise to consult them on the government’s outstation policy.
Madam Speaker and honourable members, today’s censure deals with the very important issue of whether the Chief Minister has lied to some of the Territory’s most vulnerable citizens about what this government was planning regarding the continued operations of outstations. This is an issue that sits at the heart of the concern of Territorians and, particularly, the most vulnerable.
This is, in fact, the assertion of the member for Arafura, the former Deputy Leader and Minister for Indigenous Affairs in the Henderson government - an accusation of lying, of misleading, of raising hopes and failing to deliver. A failure to consult, a failure to take people with you; the expectation was there, but it has not been delivered honestly.
Eight years, and we are now in a worse position than we have ever been as a Territory, at a time when expectations were so high. We have talked, even this morning, about how much was achieved with so little by those who have worked before. How is it that in eight years we have had so much hope and expectation, and a failure to deliver? So many dollars and resources have flowed into the Territory and we are now in a worse position: fewer kids are going to school, the results are falling and, worst of all, the expectation there would be a change has resulted in a sad disappointment, more so an increase in cynicism and a failure to believe that government can do a darn thing.
To compound this, we have had statements made and a failure to connect. I have had Indigenous people tell me at least with the Country Liberals they knew where they stood.
Members interjecting.
Mr MILLS: So you knew what you were working with. Here we have words upon words, positions that may sound okay but you do not know where they stand and you are letting down people who look and hope and expect to see something better, and they are in a worse position; that brings disillusionment at a time we need hope.
Now we have the extraordinary situation where the Chief Minister has been outed as one who has deliberately misled those who most need careful leadership at this time. The member for Arafura is in the best position to know exactly what has been promised and delivered by the Chief Minister in respect of outstations in the Territory. The former Deputy Chief Minister, now the Independent member for Arafura, her words are uncompromising and should not be left untested by this House. Today’s censure motion deals with this matter, it also touches on an issue which goes back to when Labor was elected in 2001.
Labor came to power promising a new deal for Aboriginal people in the Territory. It is a goal I supported then, and I support today. It is a promise that has not been delivered: as simple as that, as stark as that. In part, it is because the task - this is a fact, this is the reality - of lifting Aboriginal Territorians onto a path with other Territorians is a huge task, make no mistake.
The circumstances of today are the result of a long history and cannot be turned around overnight, but Territory Labor has been in government for eight years. It has had eight years to develop a policy platform that should have been delivering real results, measurable results, for Aboriginal Territorians. That is just not the case.
Education in the bush is going backwards. So much so, the Territory government has revised down its targets for literacy and numeracy results in bush schools - reduced the expectation - so hopefully, you can achieve your result. That is selling out. After eight years, the Territory government has thrown in the towel and accepted today’s kids in the bush will have substandard education results. You have just downgraded your targets; you are now expecting substandard results. This is a failure to expect any aspirational policy delivery, rather than an adjustment of the targets so you can be seen to achieve them for your own purposes. That is not a purpose that is going to satisfy anyone who is vulnerable and demands leadership, and careful attention to the difficult matters of changing things for those who are remote from here - those who hoped in you; those who expected there would be some kind of improvement; those who thought you were standing with them when, in fact, you were just using words and stood in a different place to suit your own political objectives.
Housing is an issue of burning need in the bush. Under Labor, the number of houses in the bush has actually declined between 2001 and 2006. Despite a rapidly increasing population in the bush and a massive surge in GST, overcrowding increased under Labor. I believe one of the reasons there has been so little progress in Aboriginal Affairs is Labor’s obsession with putting politics before policy. This is an extraordinary position the Territory finds itself in. That political obsession saw Clare Martin cling to the Indigenous Affairs policy well into the second term of the Labor government. Clare Martin was guarding against being forced into expensive policy options in the bush. Why would that be? Why would she adopt a position such as that? That path would have threatened Labor’s control of Darwin-based electorates. Politics was to come before policy. Shameful, Madam Speaker!
Honourable members recognise that game was played out in full view of those remote from this place who had their expectations raised so high. You can say certain things but you must deliver; otherwise you trash the hopes of those who look to you for some solution and way forward.
Labor’s handling of the Little Children are Sacred report is another case in point where politics ruled the government’s response; politics got in the way of the response. It is all about politics with Labor. When faced with the profound implications of the report, what was Labor’s first response? Sit on the report. Notwithstanding little children are sacred, they sat on the report. Why? Because political considerations were of greater importance than responding to the need that was screaming across this nation, and from quiet people from the corners of the Territory - sit on the report. Most people expect a vigorous response from the government of the day to a problem identified by a report that the government commissioned. They thought there would be swift and decisive action - put the politics aside, move into position, and respond as best we know how.
We had the talk this morning about those who have served in the Territory for so long with so little and achieved magnificent results. Now, we have so much but it has been clogged and blocked. Any consideration is blocked with the consideration of something far more important: how are you going to hold onto the northern suburbs? To heck with the children. Sit on the report. Shame!
Politically, Labor takes the bush for granted. They have had the opportunity, the capacity, and the expectation already established, but they took them for granted. They could trade on those votes so they can hold onto their power base in the northern suburbs. Shame!
I cite these examples because I believe they point to a failure by Labor to deal with Aboriginal issues in the way they promised. The latest example of this is the outstations policy. At the last election there was no mention that the outstations would be imperilled by a freeze on funding. When the review of outstations was announced, as the member for Arafura has stated, consultation was promised. After lip service to consultation, funding has been frozen. Labor has taken the bush for granted again. You think you can trade off these votes, take them for granted, because it is all about holding onto power, it is all about the politics, it is just a game after all, and the objective is to hold onto power. That is wrong. We need higher standards from the government of the day. The community is now demanding higher standards. If you provide that level of leadership, and provide help to those who expect that help, the community will support you.
Why is it we are in such a position today? Because the community started to sense the heart, the attitude, and the mind of this Labor government. Why was the result on 9 August as it was? Because they started to see what this creature, the Labor Party, is all about. Its motivation is, in fact, about the acquisition and the holding on to power. Say or do whatever it takes to hold on to power - that is what it is about. You go through the exercise. You say: ‘Yes, it is a big concern. We will commission a report and we will dress it up in the best possible terms’. In fact, it is a media exercise, it is a public relations exercise, and it is all about creating the right impression. But it is not. The people out there are expecting a result, and they are expecting leadership. The standards are now at a higher level than ever before. They want to see a government actually lead and cut through but we have had nothing of the kind. We have had those who are most vulnerable being neglected. We need higher standards from the government.
We need governments that are honest and forthright with the electorate no matter where they are or who voted for them. It is the right thing to do.
Today is an excellent opportunity to put this government on notice that deceit of the electorate will not be tolerated by this House. I need to make it plain that this censure is not about bringing the government down. The advice I have indicates that a successful censure motion does not make the Chief Minister’s position legally untenable. That is not the issue here. The issue is something far more important, and that is the need to hold the government and the Chief Minister to account, to deliver on those expectations of those who are vulnerable, those who had their expectations raised.
The opposition has pledged to ensure the passage of supply and will do so. Until supply is passed, we will not challenge the government’s numbers on the floor of the House. Of course, the Chief Minister will receive an extremely sharp rebuke if this censure passes; and I believe that is exactly, Madam Speaker and honourable members, what should happen. After eight years we now are in this position where those who are remote from us now must search for hope or, perhaps, have even forgotten what hope may be.
Madam Speaker, I urge members to support this censure motion.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Deputy Speaker, goodness gracious, what a pathetic contribution from the Leader of the Opposition.
I accept that the last week in Territory politics has been a difficult week; it has been a tumultuous week. It has been very difficult. We have had issues we have had to work through, that we have worked through amicably, and the member for Arafura has taken the sad decision to move to the cross bench.
The Opposition Leader comes in here with a censure motion of me, and sits down after 10 minutes. He tries to prosecute a censure motion of the Chief Minister on matters of critical import to the Northern Territory - improving the lives of Indigenous people - and all he has is 10 minutes. It is unprecedented. I am sure if anyone went back through the events which have occurred this week, with parliament sitting so soon after, it is a very feeble effort on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition.
I refute and deny that I, or my government, lied to Aboriginal people. In the implementation of A Working Future and the maintenance of funding for outstations; the improvement of service delivery to outstations through strengthened core towns in the Northern Territory with open, transparent, and accountable service delivery plans in place for residents of those outstations; we will continue to consult all the people who live on outstations, all the outstations service providers, members of this parliament who represent constituents who live on outstations, we will continue to consult with all those people regarding the implementation of the policy which was announced. That is an absolute commitment I have given to the member for Arafura, and I give to all Territorians, and it is one that I will keep.
If we go back to the genesis of this, in handing over responsibility for outstations, Mal Brough, as Indigenous Affairs minister in the previous federal government, said he was going to provide - we did not actually get the funding until the Labor government came to power - the funding for the Indigenous housing program, and we had to take responsibility for outstations. The federal government was going to hand over $20m a year, and it was a headache off the federal government onto the Northern Territory government. That is where this came from. In order to secure the funding for housing, which was the right thing to do, we have taken that on board.
There has been significant consultation and a commitment has been made. The $20m funding which was passed over from the Australian government to the Territory government for outstations was for three years. There was no ongoing commitment from the Australian government for that funding. We have said we will maintain that commitment and the existing funding to residents of those outstations but we will focus an increased effort through A Working Future and the 20 towns in the Northern Territory. This is work at a policy level which will continue to be developed, implemented and consulted with Indigenous people throughout the Northern Territory. That is a very clear commitment.
We also have a level of funding that has been committed by the Australian government and the Northern Territory government focused through these 20 Territory towns. The funding being allocated to drive a quality agenda in remote service delivery, in upgrading and building new houses throughout the Northern Territory, in creating jobs, improving education and health service delivery, and improving transport linkages between these towns and major regional communities is unprecedented. This is a plan that comes with a significant allocation of funding. Much of the detail has to be worked out in the delivery of that funding.
The consultation will continue as we implement the policy agenda. I have given a commitment to the member for Arafura and other members this policy affects: I will be out on the ground, listening and talking to Indigenous people across the Northern Territory as we roll-out this agenda.
The pretext of this motion, that the Chief Minister has lied to Aboriginal people, I refute and deny. The second part, that I have failed to deliver and will not consult with them on policy is wrong as well. We will continue to consult and work with Indigenous people with that very clear view shared by the Australian government: it is time to close the gap and put those resources in.
The Opposition Leader, in Question Time today, was weak and indecisive. He has no plans to lead the Territory apart from slashing public service jobs, and he certainly has no vision in closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. This was the Opposition Leader who went to the last Territory election …
A member: And nearly won!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … not one dollar in terms of election commitments were made to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. Not one single dollar. That was the level of their commitments. The level of commitment was they did not even run a candidate in two seats. To come in here with a motion that is pathetic in the extreme, is absolutely astounding.
Mr Bohlin: You went 11 months early, did you not? You called it 11 months early. Deceitful and sneaky.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Drysdale, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Let us look at the records of this government. He talked about education and training. When we came to government in 2001, we inherited a policy which had been in place for 27 years of CLP government. They had a policy of not providing secondary education in remote communities. That was the policy of the previous CLP government - not to provide secondary education in remote communities, and if kids wanted to continue with an education, they had to go into town or interstate. That was their policy. Today, more than 100 Indigenous students have achieved a Year 12 NTCE from their own community. More than 1000 students completed their NTCE in 2008, including 154 Indigenous students - that is twice as many as five years ago
I acknowledge and accept that is not enough; it is no where near enough. Fundamentally, we have a driving commitment to improve Indigenous education, and a passion and zeal for that; we do not run away from the challenge, we do not hide from the challenge, we do not say to Indigenous kids: ‘If you are living in Numbulwar or Papunya or Oenpelli you have to go to Darwin or Alice Springs or to Queensland or Victoria to get a secondary education’. We are providing, and will continue to improve the delivery of, secondary education in the bush.
The Leader of the Opposition talks about Indigenous education outcomes declining in the bush. When they were in government, kids were not tested, there was no baseline. Kids in the bush did not matter; they were not tested, there was no baseline, it was out of sight, out of mind - a problem too hard to grapple with. We have committed to the national testing regime. We have put into the public realm and spotlighted, as it should be, the achievements and non-achievements of Indigenous kids. We have embarked on tackling the greatest challenge facing the Northern Territory: to improve Indigenous education remotely, regionally and in urban settings. It is a difficult challenge. I pay tribute to my parliamentary colleague, the member for Arafura. When she was the Education minister she was passionate about this and took some tough decisions. I acknowledge and pay tribute to that.
To say education standards are plummeting when what is happening now is the level of systemic underachievement is finally brought into the public spotlight, because we do not hide from it, you cannot fix a problem unless you acknowledge it. You cannot fix a problem unless you put all the issues on the table and challenge the Northern Territory community, challenge Indigenous communities and Indigenous families, challenge our education sector, challenge our principals, and challenge our teachers to acknowledge the centre of the problem and have a plan to resolve it and to turn it around. That is the brave step this government has taken. We could have continued with ‘out of sight, out of mind’, no public scrutiny, no testing - Indigenous kids do not get tested because they will not pass, so why bother testing them, and shine a light on the problem.
We know, and I am passionately committed to this as well as my colleagues and former colleague, that every Indigenous child can achieve if they are given the opportunity to achieve. They can achieve, they are bright kids, and they are smart kids. At Barunga this year, the theme was Smart Kids, Strong Culture - but smart kids up first. The principal at Barunga school, Anita Camfoo, delivered a stunning speech about what Indigenous kids should be achieving. There should be more Indigenous principals like her, who have been given the opportunity in the last five years, under this term of government, to be role models, leaders, people those kids can aspire to and look up to. It was an inspirational speech that has strengthened my resolve to continue to shine the light on what is a very significant problem, and to work through the issues of how we improve things with our Indigenous communities, teachers, principals, families, and acknowledge the extent of the problem and work our way through it.
To come in here and trawl out the ‘results are plummeting’, there are 100 Indigenous kids who have obtained their NTCE who would never have had that chance under the previous CLP government. There needs to be 1000 kids a year getting their NTCE - that we will strive to achieve. We have introduced the Clontarf Football Academy this year in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, which is providing those kids in our regional and urban centres who were also underachieving - this is not just about kids in the bush, this is about kids in town as well.
There was no structured, focused, committed attempt by previous CLP governments to stem the flow of kids leaving school at the end of Year 9. They were just dropping out of school, not going on to high school – there was no effort and no focus on how to re-engage those kids, keep them in school, provide alternative education programs. We know if a kid leaves school at the end of Year 9 and therefore does not get into Year 12, that kid is going to be missing out on opportunities for the rest of their life.
Clontarf and other programs are turning things around for hundreds of kids in the Northern Territory. In Alice Springs, where we first introduced Clontarf this year, I believe we had about 12 kids get their NTCE; next year, we will have about 25. I have been advised within two years there will be 50 to 60 Indigenous kids in Alice Springs getting their NTCE every year. That is 50 to 60 kids where, previously, you were lucky if there were one or two. In 10 years, that is 500 to 600 Indigenous young men in Alice Springs who will have a Year 12 education …
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Welcome back. Good to see you here.
Mr Conlan: Good to be here. It is good to be back.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Greatorex, cease interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is hard to resist.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind you of Standing Order 51, please.
Mr Conlan: It is hard to resist the endearing comments from the member opposite.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, you have just been reminded of Standing Order 51. I ask you to cease interjecting.
Mr Conlan: Certainly.
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. That is 500 to 600 young men who will have a Northern Territory Certificate of Education who would not have had one under previous governments. That is transformational in a community the size of Alice Springs. We need to do things for the girls as well and we are looking at programs to do that.
We are also upgrading and building new schools throughout our regional communities. We have schools and classrooms going up in Alparra, Rosebery, Yirrkala, Yilpara, and Alekarenge. Works are already planned for Ross Park, Alawa, Yuendumu, Ramingining, Ngukurr and many others.
The Leader of the Opposition demonstrates a complete lack of leadership, because the greatest challenge he fumbled was to knock back the stimulus package. You have every single primary school, that means every single school in remote communities in the Northern Territory, will receive up to $3m in a Commonwealth-funded upgrade on top of the …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … committed to all those schools. The Leader of the Opposition said no to that, said no to those Indigenous kids in those regional and remote communities getting an upgrade to their school. He said no to that because the people who pull his strings in the Liberal Party in Canberra said: ‘You need to hold the line with our plan to vote against this policy’, and the Leader of the Opposition said: ‘Yes, okay, I will toe the line and do what you want’.
I was at the COAG meeting with Colin Barnett, who was also challenged if he was going to follow Malcolm Turnbull’s line, and Colin Barnett, to his credit as the Premier of Western Australia, said: ‘No, I will do what is in the best interests of Western Australia’, and that is virtually to take the money.
A member: No, he did not. He did not.
Mr HENDERSON: He did actually, because I was there having to sign the agreement.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: It was an intergovernmental agreement.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: And he signed the agreement …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There are far too many interjections.
Mr HENDERSON: The Western Australian Premier knows when the Commonwealth government comes around and says: ‘We want to upgrade every one of your schools in Western Australia’, you do not say no to that type of commitment. That is the lack of leadership the Leader of the Opposition has shown.
Health care: we have already seen some significant advancements in the delivery of primary health care regarding life expectancy for Indigenous men and women - some new results came out the other day – and better mortality rates for newborn babies in working with the Commonwealth.
I congratulate the member for Lingiari on being promoted to minister for Indigenous Health. I know he will work very closely with our Health minister on further driving a reform agenda to improve primary health care for Indigenous people and to improve health outcomes for Indigenous people.
When you are in government, and when you are passionate about closing that gap on Indigenous disadvantage, improving the lives of Indigenous people, you do have to take the tough decisions, and you do have to work in partnership with the Australian government because it is only the Australian government that has the financial resources to make the commitment that needs to be made in the Northern Territory, and which has desperately needed to be made for many years. I acknowledge and congratulate the Australian government in maintaining that commitment to the emergency response in the Northern Territory, given the appalling impact the global financial crisis has had on Commonwealth government revenues. Their revenues have collapsed, and they have maintained their commitment to that funding in the Northern Territory and remote parts of the Territory
When the federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, was here a couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to speak with him. I personally thanked him for ensuring the commitments under the emergency response, through the national partnership agreement with the Territory government, were maintained and were not subject to the razor gang wielded so effectively by Lindsay Tanner. It was the right thing for the Commonwealth government to do and I acknowledge that.
This is the most pathetic censure of a Chief Minister, I believe, in the history of this House. There are people who study parliamentary debate - I am not one of them - but I am sure people will look at all the censures of Chief Ministers, or attempted censures of Chief Ministers, over the years, particularly in light of significant events which occurred in the Territory body politic this week; and for the Leader of the Opposition to stand on his feet for barely 10 minutes is incredible.
I stand here committed to continue to lead strong, certain and good government for the people of the Northern Territory. That is my commitment to this House, to my colleagues and to the people of the Northern Territory. We have a plan, and we are implementing that plan. We are going to improve the lives of Indigenous people throughout the Northern Territory. This side of the House will not be supporting this motion.
Mr GILES (Braitling): Madam Speaker, I welcome and support this censure motion.
Coming in this morning was very interesting. I was lucky I was not late because nearly all the chairs were taken on this side of the House; it was like Crowded House, the band. We are a full family on this side.
The reason we have brought on this censure motion is because of the process that has been utilised in bringing forward the Outstations Policy Discussion Paper. People would be aware we have given qualified, in-principle support for the creation of the hubs. What we have not given support for is the way this policy was announced and put upon people in the bush, providing instability. It was on 30 October 2008 when Marion Scrymgour, the member for Arafura, the previous Indigenous Policy minister and previous Deputy Chief Minister, released the draft Outstations Policy Discussion Paper which outlined the process of consultation with people about what was in the paper and how a new framework would be developed, and that the policy would be taken back to the people for consultation. Once that consultation was put in place, there would be economic modelling undertaken and, after that, they would seek to implement that model. Clearly, that has not happened.
Submissions to the Outstations Policy Discussion Paper closed on 1 December 2008. I draw attention to page 3 of the document, under section 1 where it talks about the different stages of the Outstations Policy Discussion Paper:
- Stage One - Release of discussion paper and call for submissions.
Stage Two - Community engagement and economic modelling to assist in the development of a policy framework pursuant to the release of this discussion paper and written submissions received in response.
Stage Three - Policy framework endorsed by the Northern Territory government.
Stage Four - Implementation and development of the framework, including any follow-up consultations.
Stage Five - Formal commencement of service and program delivery under the new Northern Territory government ‘Outstations Policy’.
When this discussion paper was released by the then Minister for Indigenous Policy, she had the courtesy of sending me a copy to ensure I was aware of it. I received the media release, which spoke about the engagement of Patrick Dodson to participate in the community engagement process. The media release states:
- Ms Scrymgour announced today that respected Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson would lead a community engagement process to consult widely on the issues raised in the discussion paper before a policy framework is finalised and endorsed by the Northern Territory government.
‘I have confidence that Patrick Dodson will engage with all stakeholders and advise appropriate recommendations for a new Outstations Policy’ Ms Scrymgour said.
It’s hoped the policy will be finalised by July next year.
There is plenty of time to go. It also talks about how outstations provide the opportunity for Indigenous Territorians to live on their traditional land, and we value the contribution of these people. There have been a number of submissions put to that discussion paper. It is interesting to note that it has now been removed from the website. I believe it was on the website titled action.nt.gov.au. I believe the Chief Minister must have realised that they are not about action, so they have removed it.
You only have to go through the submissions to the discussion paper from NT Shelter, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), and the Central Land Council. These would not be widely considered great friends of the Country Liberals, but I can tell you there are a lot of similarities in what we are saying. The concept of a hub is not a bad idea. The real question is: how do you get to that point and what is the economic modelling? Everything you put down in that discussion paper, why have those processes not occurred?
By speeding up and not bringing the people with him, the Chief Minister has put uncertainty in the minds of some 10 000 people who live on outstations in the Northern Territory - not having certainty about the future. The potential for people to move to Alice Springs, or Katherine, or Palmerston, or Darwin, or the northern suburbs creates real problems for the people who are thinking about relocating from where they live, and also for the people who live in those larger townships which do not have the infrastructure or services to deal with that added population base. We understand the government is incompetent when it comes to land release and increasing affordable housing, but these are some of the problems when people mobilise from bush to town. Unless you get the stuff in the town right, it is not going to work.
The fragile nature of people’s emotional state because of the launching of this A Working Future document is a disgrace. People now do not know where they are going to live. I am not saying every outstation is fully occupied for 12 months of the year. I know the intent of the government in looking at how outstations were funded for the 12 months and whether they are occupied for more than eight months, and the steps they went through; I understand it and I appreciate it. However, if you want to make change you have to move people with you.
People in the bush now do not have an understanding of what their future is, thanks to the premature release of this A Working Future discussion paper. The people in the bush now do not have confidence in the Labor Party or the Labor government to deal with those issues. He said he would consult with the people, and he has not. You only have to read through the discussion paper and the announcement, and people are asking: what is government going to give us?
For the last 30 years or so, through Labor policy, we have over-regulated people in the bush making them welfare dependent through all facets of service delivery frameworks. Now is the time to move to an economic model. Identifying those 20 hubs, whether the 20 are right or not, should have been on the basis of appropriate economic analysis, consultation with the community, working out what those economic opportunities are, then working with the community and moving forward. What the government has done is identified the 20 places, made an announcement, and if you do not live there, bad luck.
What happens if you live in Central Australia and only have Papunya, Hermannsburg and Yuendumu as hubs, and you live at Utopia? That is an outstation region. I appreciate there are surprises and government cannot continue to fund everything for a day, it must move to an economic model. There is no economic modelling in this policy announcement. There has been no consultation with the community about what that economic modelling might be, there is nothing about the opportunities there - and there are opportunities all over the Territory.
I will talk about one of those hubs because I believe this announcement was pure politics which has backfired in a bigger way than one would have imagined. The town of Elliott is a community which has most services: it has a small population; it has service stations; it used to have a council but now it is part of Barkly Shire; it has housing; it has tourist facilities; it has a pub; it has shops, it has all the things you would expect in a normal town – although it could have better economic opportunities. What does creating it as a hub do?
There is nothing in the discussion paper, so maybe it has something to do with the population. So you go through the ABS statistics and look at the population characteristics and identify them as the 20 largest places in the Territory. You think this must be because Labor realises they are on the nose, so if they tell the 20 largest populated communities they will put money into those communities, forget about the rest, they will have the political support they need to retain government. All that approach has done is see people who are living in places not included in the 20 hub communities feel displaced and dislocated, and the worst part about it is they were not consulted before it was done.
I do not believe the people not living in those 20 communities do not have economic opportunities where they can be self-sufficient. I believe they can be. There is nothing in this A Working Future document, the document is an absolute joke - a commitment of $1.6m per year for the next five years for each of the 20 hubs. Well, they might get 3.2 km of road, but that is not much of a transport strategy. How is that going to fix education?
The worst part is the Chief Minister did not go out to talk to people. How can the people of the Northern Territory have confidence in the Chief Minister when he will not even talk to them? He has come out with a discussion paper that says we are looking to reform things. People knew there was plenty of pain in that discussion paper when the member for Arafura released it. They knew there was going to be pain. You do not make substantial change without bringing people along with you. All it does is create problems.
Look at the position we are in now. We thought the Rees government in New South Wales was a joke, but we have taken a step back and gone further behind them; we are the laughing stock.
We all know in this House that there needs to be substantial policy change. We have had the big debates. Many of the things that A Working Future speaks about, in principle, we give qualified support to, however, if you are going to make changes, you need to bring the people with you. These people are the most marginalised through government policies - federal, Territory and local council. We have made Aboriginal people the most overregulated people in the country; in generalised terminology, everything is provided by government. We need to move to the economic model, but his policy has nothing about it. People on the ground know what those opportunities are; they are not stupid, they are very smart people. We should be talking with those people to get those ideas and opportunities moving forward.
Draw the line in the sand with the people to say that there is no more welfare dependence, but move to an economic approach. What you have done is just drawn a line in the sand and said: ‘Here it is; it has come 12 months early, and this is how it is going to be’. All it will do is create unhappiness between people who live in towns and people who live in the bush, because people are going to move together and live in towns. If people decide to move from outstations to hubs, how do we manage the cultural conflict that may eventuate? We know those things will be there. The money the government has put into this new initiative of A Working Future is about the same amount they have put towards the Darwin waterfront.
I recall a recent campaign by the Labor government - the non-action Labor government - where they took postcards of the members for Port Darwin and Brennan and sent them out to their electorates. Maybe we need to get the Chief Minister in a pair of budgie smugglers at the waterfront and send that out to the bush and say: ‘This is what we think. We are putting all this money into the waterfront, but will not put it in the bush’. It is the same principle. You invest here, but you are not putting anything into the bush. Surely, you have your priorities wrong.
Today, the new hospital site has been announced. I would like to see how much money that is going to cost. I bet it will cost more than $1.6m, which is what they are going to spend on each of these hubs each year for a five-year period.
They are going to put all this money into what the member for Karama called rivers of green. They are putting money into rivers of green in Darwin, but they will not put the money into the bush. A sensible person would run an economic argument over the hospital site to make it pay for itself, but not Labor - not the reds. They have to do everything and pay for the lot. That is exactly the same approach you have taken in A Working Future - everything is government - one in, all in …
Dr Burns: What is your policy? What is your expenditure?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr GILES: It is all public housing, what about the private sector? Where are the real estate people? Where are the real estate people who have come in to look after the outstations? There are plenty of opportunities there. I believe this is a failed government with the Chief Minister at the helm, sailing a ship that is sinking with all those holes starting to leak. We have seen a big leak already.
When you make a substantial change, you must take the people with you. That is why the Chief Minister is being censured; because he has not taken the people with him. I am not sure about everyone else’s office on this side, but my office has just been flooded with calls from people unhappy about this. Not everyone disagrees with the approach but it is about the process that was undertaken. That is where the government is arrogant, by thinking it can just come up with a half-hearted policy, thought up in a couple of months and rolled out - a long-term approach needs to be taken. You may not get all the things you want in a policy which has been widely consulted, because people who you consult with have a different approach, but surely you have to drum through a message about economic reform and you have not done it. You have not got the economic reform, you have not put the money into it, and you have not consulted.
You tell these people that everyone has to be subservient to government-run programs and services, and then you acted like a mendicant and ran to Canberra asking for more money. What about the private sector? No wonder there is a downturn in the economy. What was the percentage the other day – 9%? No wonder these things happen when you do not put forward models for private sector investment.
I was talking to the Chairman of the Tiwi Land Council earlier today who was telling me he would love to see economic development. I am not interested in the argument of whether you love the Tiwi Land Council personalities or not, but there are substantial opportunities on the Tiwi Islands. The farmers have no water in Victoria. Why not look at that as a model for the economic development of farming on the Tiwis to then be the food bowl? It is a hypothetical idea, but these are things which should have been considered as part of this policy. That is what economics is all about. I know that Labor does not understand that.
What do we do now with the people who are disenfranchised? I have said before in this parliament that I am happy to sit down, in a bipartisan way – take the politics out of it – and work together. I thought I would be afforded the opportunity to look at the paperwork, discuss it, work out where some of the problems were and, then, try to move forward. However, we are now in the position where everyone who lives on outstations – 10 000 people – are not sure of their destiny.
We are in a difficult position right now. The people who live in the hub towns – the big communities – make sure that the member for Lingiari retains his seat because he has the political support. We do not have a position where we know how to move forward. The hubs are quantitative, although no one knows what they are going to do. What will a transport strategy for Elliott do? You can drive to Elliott and drive back out. Are we going to utilise the airport or the landing strip there more? I am not sure.
The policy put in place by this government, which had absolutely no consultation, has left a distasteful flavour in the mouths of people right across the Territory. It is no surprise to me to hear Aboriginal people now talking about the potential for an Indigenous party. The Country Liberals are rebuilding our brand in the bush. People in the bush know that we are all about the economy and real jobs. But those rusted-on-reds, the dyed-in-the-wool Labor supporters, are saying: ‘Where can we go?’ That is why they are talking about new options, because for those people who are dyed-in-the-wool Labor, where do they go? We will take the people who want to come to us, because we are trying to help, but for those other people, Labor has sold them out - all the promises under the sun, and delivered nothing. Education results going backwards; housing not being built; public housing numbers decreasing; and business investment in the private sector in the bush going backwards.
Madam Speaker, nothing has been delivered. This is the party which relies on the bush electorate. We are the people fighting for it. I do not understand what the difference is here. The Chief Minister does not want to consult with the constituents who keep him in parliament. I congratulate the member for Arafura; I have said it in the media many times, as someone who stands by her principles. You get elected by your electorate; you stand up for your electorate. And that is exactly what she did, and I support that. It is a pity other people on the other side of the Chamber have not done that. But they are not to blame. It is the Chief Minister who rushed forward with this half-baked policy idea, with no background, no detail, no costings, and no strategies. It was an umbrella, announcing the other strategies some time later on.
The real question is about how we go forward. The Chief Minister does not have the confidence of the Northern Territory people to implement this policy. He does not have the confidence of the people to run government. How are we, as a parliament, supposed to restore confidence in those people so they know they have a future, they know they have a destiny, and they know they can move into the real economy? The Chief Minister has pathetically failed; he has rushed out, under the pump about Indigenous policy, announced this, and has come up short. For all those people who ring my office and the stakeholder groups who have an interest in this area, who are really concerned, we will continue to fight for those people and we will continue to try to grow the economy in the bush.
We will bring in substantial reform when we are in government and we will ensure those people can live on their country, and can live in an economically sustainable manner. That is what it is about; it is not about welfare dependence like the Labor Party. We will support people with this change; we will consult; we will not ride roughshod over people in their democratic approach and the position of their livelihoods. We will not take the approach of the Chief Minister. We will be the party of participation and consultation, to make sure people know where they are going.
We will not disenfranchise people so they feel they have to move off their own country and into town. For that reason, I support the Opposition Leader in this censure motion, and I condemn the Chief Minister for this poorly constructed policy and poor implementation.
Ms SCRYMGOUR (Arafura): Madam Speaker, I stand here to talk about what has occurred in the last 10 days. I know there have been many publicly released details of A Working Future. I have had a number of discussions with the Chief Minister, the Minister for Indigenous Policy and many of my colleagues, concerning a number of issues in the A Working Future policy. I accept that it is the government’s policy, but there are some things I cannot agree with. However, there are many things that I do support.
I listened to the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Braitling in a partisan ‘slug fest’ in this place motivated by the Leader of the Opposition’s desire to become Chief Minister sooner rather than later, which serves no one’s interest but his own. That message is very loud and clear in this. This is politics: nothing more, nothing less. Members of the CLP are standing up and taking cheap shots, saying they are the party for Aboriginal people.
Walking into this place this morning was a great sadness for me. I have always been a member of the Labor Party. To be danced into this parliament in 2001, as a member of the Labor Party and the Labor government, was a source of great pride, not just for myself but for my people and all the constituents I represent, not just on the Tiwi Islands but, particularly West Arnhem - often we look at the Tiwi Islands but we do not look at the fantastic people and places in West Arnhem. It was sad for me coming in today. The reality is that I am no longer a part of the Labor government. But one thing I did swear, because it is important for all Territorians, is that they need stability within government. I talked to a number of people, not just my constituents. I went out bush at the weekend to escape the media circus and everything else that was beat up. I went out bush and talked and sat down – there is nothing more refreshing than sitting on top of Ubirr to allow more clarity about why you are here.
The whole purpose of this censure motion is an attempt to play wedge politics, using ammunition provided by media comments over the last 10 days or so. I am not going to buy into that; it is childish. People talk about maturity - every member of this parliament is duly elected by their constituents and I believe the childish behaviour, the issue of A Working Future, of homelands, of Indigenous policy, is too important for our people to play cheap shots, to use it as a political wedge. That is exactly what this is: a cheap shot, political wedging, at its best - trying to get ammunition from what is being played out in the media over the last 10 days.
Madam Speaker, I have very clearly articulated and had very clear discussions with the Chief Minister; I have given a commitment to work through this. I have made an offer, and it has been accepted, by the Minister for Indigenous Policy, to go out bush together, into my electorate - dates have already been set - we will talk particularly to the two main communities in West Arnhem, which will be the hub communities, to look at the region. We will travel together and sit down in the bush.
I was listening to the member of Braitling saying the CLP represents many Aboriginal people; I believe the CLP has a long way to go. Whilst people are feeling disillusioned and there is unhappiness out there, I believe many Aboriginal people, including my own constituents, see the Labor Party as the party of choice. I made the decision, and it was my decision, after a lot of discussion with the Chief Minister, to separate myself from the party. That decision was not taken lightly.
As I said, I have given a firm commitment to support the government. We need to have stable government and I have absolutely no intentions of playing cheap politics with the CLP and the Leader of the Opposition.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, we reject outright the accusations we have lied to Aboriginal people. The CLP is playing pure politics with the lives of the most disadvantaged people in the Northern Territory. If we go back to some of the reasons why Aboriginal members have stood for the Labor Party in the Northern Territory, and if I look at my own journey with the Yanyuwa Garrwa people in the Gulf of Carpentaria, for nearly three decades members opposite and the party they represent fought strongly against the betterment of lives of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. Completely fought against any of the economic developments Aboriginal people wanted to do on their lands across the Northern Territory; completely fought against Aboriginal people being successful in any sense of self-determination, and any sense of economic development.
They sit here today wanting to drive a complete wedge against those members who have fought passionately on behalf of not only their constituents, but also on behalf of the people they represent within their own family and clan groups.
A member: That is the party line.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, they do not want to listen now.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! The minister has the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Feeling a bit uncomfortable are you, Terry? They do not want to listen now. The member for Braitling spoke absolute rubbish, absolute garbage, about the future of this policy. I am astounded at the drivel coming from the member for Braitling, and surprised, because I expected more from the member for Braitling; there was terrific hope for his future.
Let us have a look at some of the issues that have been raised here. Let us talk first about the issue of travelling across the Northern Territory. People in the communities of Galiwinku, Maningrida, Ngukurr, Borroloola, Yirrkala, Timber Creek, Tennant Creek, Yuendumu, Ti Tree, Darwin, Nguiu, Alice Springs, Tjuwanpa, Gunbalanya, Katherine, Wadeye, Daly River, Oenpelli and, subsequently, Alpara and Ampilatwatja, have been consulted. But, according to the opposition, they do not count - they do not count.
Let us be clear about this; the briefing is there for people who want to know this: outstations and homelands currently get approximately $36m per year in municipal and infrastructure support, and they will keep getting that money. On top of this, they will continue to receive education, health and other key government services. Each and every outstation and homeland will see how that money is spent because the Territory government will have an open book on the funding. Residents will know exactly how much government funding their outstation or homeland is eligible to receive, and where they can access services. No money will be spent on outstations where people do not live - a little common sense, please! That means there will be more money for those who really need it.
I agree that outstations and homelands can be healthy places to live; no one disagrees with that. My own families live on outstations in the Gulf region and are perfectly happy and healthy, but even they acknowledge that unless the town of Borroloola has the facilities to grow and support the economic development of the region, it does not matter how many other outstations in the area grow. We must ensure, as government …
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: See, they do not care, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: That is the record of the CLP government; in three decades of leadership, they did not give a toss for the regions. At least we have a vision for the future for these regions, and the people in these regions can have a choice.
What we all know is having an active working lifestyle makes people healthier. Overall, the government’s policy focus is on ensuring better health decisions by all Aboriginal people, whether they live in the cities, towns or in homelands or outstations.
A team of people within the Office of Indigenous Policy worked with officials throughout government to arrive at the list that was, ultimately, approved by Cabinet. These 20 growth towns were chosen based on community and regional population, geographic location, existing and planned government services and infrastructure, and potential for development of commercial enterprises.
I took over the seat of Arnhem in 2005 from my predecessor, John Ah Kit, who was absolutely passionate about wanting to see reforms in local government and who had the courage to have a vision - even though the opposition laughed down that vision. He wanted to see the local government infrastructure and governance for Aboriginal people improve at a level consistent with governance in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, and Darwin city. Why should Aboriginal people in these communities not have equality of services? Why do you attack that …
Mr Mills: Do you think we are against that?
Ms McCARTHY: Why do you attack that? Why is it that you did nothing in your three decades of government? Yet, John Ah Kit had the vision and the courage to drive it, which was then followed by Elliot McAdam, who could see the reforms in these regions were absolutely vital, not just for Aboriginal people, but for all people who lived in the region.
Mr Mills: Why did he leave?
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We listened to what the member for Braitling had to say in silence. Now, we have opposition members - Standing Order 51 - deliberately trying to interfere with what the member is saying. I am very interested. Here is someone who has passion and history, and she deserves to be heard in this parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I remind you of Standing Order 51 relating to no interruptions.
Ms McCARTHY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Elliot McAdam followed through on that dream and that vision and, as a government, we have the responsibility to also lead in a particular direction. My predecessor, John Ah Kit, followed by Elliot McAdam, had the courage to lead in the governance of these regions. Yes, it is tough and change is difficult, but it is for the better. Many people, even in the Roper Gulf Shire, know we are making major headway in those areas. But that could not have happened unless we had people with courage and vision to lead. And that is what is happening here with Chief Minister, Paul Henderson. We are absolutely 100% behind the A Working Future policy of our government.
We have not lied to the Aboriginal people, Madam Speaker, and the CLP is playing pure politics against the member for Arafura for her beliefs. She has consistently said, publicly and in this House today, that she is continuing to work with us for the betterment of her constituency of Arafura, but also for economic and regional development across the Northern Territory.
Like no Territory government before, this Labor government has delivered for Indigenous people, and delivers for the remote Territory. Let us take education as an example. We have already heard from the Treasurer that this year’s budget delivers $808m for education and training. This includes substantial investment in the remote Territory for school infrastructure upgrades, making schools places where children want to go, and places where children can learn. With a growing population and increased efforts to make sure children go to school and attend regularly we need more teachers. We know we have more work to do. We need intensive operational support for remote and regional schools where Indigenous students are demonstrating low educational outcomes. This intensive support is critical if we are to make headway on Indigenous education outcomes. We know we have to grow our regions. We know we have to grow our local employment, our young, but we have to grow towards something. We cannot keep sending our children to school, asking them to get through to Year 12, and not deliver in the very towns they live …
Mr Mills: Hear, hear! We agree!
Ms McCARTHY: We have to do that. So there is no problem; all of a sudden, the Leader of the Opposition is supporting this motion. I welcome that. I support …
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: Well, you are supporting the Chief Minister, then, because that is his vision.
A member: Indeed! But we could deliver. We would not mislead, and we would take people with us …
Ms McCARTHY: You never delivered. You had the opportunity.
A member: No, I have never actually been in government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: In Indigenous health, we are delivering remote health services which will employ teams of midwives and Aboriginal Health Workers in Darwin and Alice Springs to support Aboriginal women leaving remote communities to give birth. Added funding will target child protection, therapeutic and residential care unit workers, and expand chronic disease programs. We will continue to improve safety outcomes for our remote communities through extra police and the Child Abuse Task Force; family and sexual violence support and prevention services - these services did not exist under the CLP’s management of these regions.
We have not lied to Aboriginal people. We have not lied to the people of the Northern Territory. We stand strong and committed to the future growth for all people of the Northern Territory; we are a government for all people in the Northern Territory.
Madam Speaker, I move that the motion be now put.
Motion negatived.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Member for Fong Lim
Member for Fong Lim
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have given my leave to the member for Fong Lim to make a short personal explanation. I remind honourable members that a personal explanation is not a debate and it is the custom to listen in silence.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): Madam Speaker, yesterday on ABC radio, the member for Johnston, Chris Burns, was broadcast making the following comment:
- I can only tell you what I have been told, a report from Marion Scrymgour who was approached by David Tollner around this issue, so I think there is a lot of instability in terms of the opposition and how they should be looking at their own ranks.
The member for Johnston’s assertion was that I had contacted the new Independent member for Arafura with a view to gaining her support for me in a leadership tilt. This is untrue, and I can only conclude that the member for Johnston was motivated to make this false statement to try to deflect attention away from the internal political crisis of the Labor Party.
At no time, over the past few very eventful days in Northern Territory politics, did I contact the member for Arafura. I place on the public record that the comments made on the ABC radio by the member for Johnston are false.
PETITIONS
Development of 401 and 377 Wooliana Road, Daly River
Development of 401 and 377 Wooliana Road, Daly River
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 218 petitioners praying that an inquiry be held into the viability of the proposed development of 401 and 377 Wooliana Road, Daly River. 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 honourable Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
We the undersigned respectfully show concerns relating to the proposed development at Northern Territory Portion 2812, 401 Wooliana Road, Daly River, and Northern Territory Portion 2813, 377 Wooliana Road, Daly River, pertaining to potential problems of 300 people in a small area, adverse effects to the environment, health, policing, emergency services, schools, sewage and roads. This would have an overall effect on over-burdening the infrastructure of the Daly River.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that an inquiry be held to establish the viability of the proposed development at the advertised site, namely, NT Portion 2812 before approval is given.
Bilingual Programs in NT Schools
Mr MILLS (Blain): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 840 petitioners, including 232 petitioners signatures not attached to the petition terms of reference, praying that bilingual programs in NT schools be maintained. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms to the requirements of standing orders. Madam Speaker, I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read.
- To the honourable Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
We the undersigned respectfully show that the statement on 14 October 2008 from the Northern Territory Minister of Education and Training, mandating four hours of English from January 2009 will mean that:
current bilingual programs are effectively closed against the wishes of the communities involved;
access to English literature and knowledge of western curriculum areas will be significantly more difficult if understanding is not achieved first in the language that the children speak,
the nationally and internationally recognised work done by the NT Bilingual Program will be discontinued,
Aboriginal teachers and education workers will have greatly reduced career paths, and
the rights of Indigenous people are being undermined.
- Your petitioners urgently request that the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory maintain and strengthen support for bilingual programs in NT schools.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
Resident Obstetrician Service at
Tennant Creek Hospital
Tennant Creek Hospital
Mr McCARTHY (Barkly)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from 649 petitioners, including 273 electronic signatures not attached to the petition terms of reference, relating to the ongoing service of a resident obstetrician at the Tennant Creek Hospital. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read.
- We demand the Minister for Health provide an ongoing service of a resident obstetrician at the Tennant Creek Hospital.
It is of cultural significance for local Aboriginal women to be able to birth in country and it is the right of all pregnant women to remain with family and friends at this momentous occasion in their life. Our midwives are quite capable of assessing each lady’s health as they build a strong bond with them and their families, only to have them leave and be cared for by strangers when it matters most. Our pregnant women are not ill and should not be required to undertake a 500 km road trip to Alice Springs weeks prior to giving birth.
Royal Darwin Hospital Review
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I present a petition from another 731 petitioners that an independent review be commissioned to assess the adequacy of the resources, policies, procedures, and systems at the Royal Darwin Hospital and Acute Care Services. The petition bears the Clerk’s certificate that it conforms to the requirements of standing orders.
This petition is in similar terms to a previous petition presented in the October 2008 sittings and the February 2009 sittings. I move that the petition be read.
Motion agreed to; petition read:
- To the honourable Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
We the undersigned respectfully show that we are angry and upset by the avoidable death of 64-year-old Margaret Winter at the Royal Darwin Hospital in 2006. We are alarmed by Northern Territory Coroner Greg Cavanagh’s findings which indicate that the conditions in the Royal Darwin Hospital were dangerous due to inadequate staffing.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Northern Territory government immediately commission an independent review to assess the adequacies of the resources, policies, procedures and systems at the Royal Darwin Hospital and Acute Care Services to deliver safe health care to all Territorians.
We request that the independent review be made public in its entirety and that the recommendations be implemented immediately.
- And your petitioners as in duty bound ever pray.
MINISTERIAL REPORTS
Timor-Leste Trade and Education Delegation
Timor-Leste Trade and Education Delegation
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure I report on my recent visit Timor-Leste on 27 and 28 May this year. I was accompanied by the Minister for Asian Relations and Trade, and the Minister for Public Employment, and led a 60-strong delegation. The delegation comprising government, community, education and business representatives was the largest delegation to visit Timor-Leste since the country’s independence in 2002. It included the Lord Mayor of Darwin, the Vice Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, the Director of the Menzies School of Health, the President of the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory, and the CEO of the Northern Territory Football Federation.
The size of the group demonstrates the depth of our existing relationship with Timor-Leste and the potential for further growth. Timor-Leste is a small but fast growing economy and the Territory is well positioned to take advantage of trade and investment opportunities to the benefit of both jurisdictions.
The principal reason for my visit was to participate in the inaugural Timor-Leste/Northern Territory Ministerial Forum which I co-chaired with the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Jose Luis Guterres. The ministerial forum, established to promote and monitor government, community and business interaction, was attended by the two ministers accompanying me and a number of Timorese ministers. We reviewed cooperation on many fronts with particular focus on the internship scheme to build capacity within the Timorese civil service.
Later in the visit I had the opportunity to meet the first four officials who will commence their assignments in Darwin next month. At the conclusion of the forum I hosted a lunch to enable the accompanying delegation to meet and discuss their interests with the Acting Prime Minister and other ministers and senior officials who participated in the forum. The next ministerial forum is tentatively scheduled for November this year in Dili.
With the Acting Prime Minister Guterres, I had the pleasure of opening the Northern Territory Business Seminar in Timor-Leste which was co-chaired by the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr George Roussos, and the Vice President of the Business Forum of Timor-Leste, Mr Vincente Ximenes.
The aim of the seminar was to promote and strengthen business interaction across a range of sectors. The seminar, attended by up to 120 people, provided a good venue for the business communities of Timor-Leste, including Australians operating in the country, and the Northern Territory, to come together to develop new contacts, or renew existing ones, and discuss opportunities.
Time prevents me from discussing in detail each appointment and event in my program, so I will only mention a few. I met with the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education and Culture, and the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment to discuss the education and training opportunities the Territory has to offer to a nation with a high percentage of the population under the age of 25. During the visit, Charles Darwin University and the Menzies School of Health Research jointly offered two PhD scholarships for Timorese students in the health field, fully funded with a significant stipend as well. I presented competency certificates awarded by Darwin-based training provider ICAE to PDL Toll hospitality employees.
I also had a productive discussion with the President of Timor-Leste, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta whom I presented with a signed shirt from the Casuarina Football Club – it has been a bit of a football day today – which has close ties with the country, and of which I am patron.
The Northern Territory and Timor-Leste are developing a rich sporting friendship which was demonstrated by the large Timorese contingent of 120 players and officials attending the Arafura Games last month. Timor-Leste won gold in the Under 18 men’s football competition, repeating their success in the Timor Sea Cup in September 2008. With football such a passion in Timor-Leste and an ideal way to develop community relations, it gave me great satisfaction to offer two football scholarships as part of the inaugural Northern Territory Institute of Sport football program to commence in 2010. I thank my colleague, the Sports minister, for assisting me in that effort.
During my visit, I also had the honour to meet with Darwin-based troops serving in Dili and Baucau, as well as a young volunteer with the Belun NGO and was able to pass on our appreciation to these Territorians who are doing a magnificent job in Timor-Leste. The visit to the troops in Dili and Baucau was very special. To meet with those young soldiers, have lunch with them, and talk to them about the great contribution they have made over the last eight months, away from family and friends in Darwin and elsewhere in Australia, was an enormously rewarding experience for all of us. Our soldiers are doing a wonderful job in Timor-Leste and they are committed to working with the people to build peace in that country and to share their expertise - they are a fine body of young men and women, and very fine Australians.
My thanks to the Australian Ambassador and his staff, and to officials from my department for the support provided to make this visit such a success.
The Timorese community is a significant community group in the Northern Territory. They form an important component in what is a unique and long-enduring relationship with Timor-Leste. Our friendship will continue to grow as government, community, education, and business interactions strengthen and expand. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I welcome the report. I followed with interest this delegation and received a number of reports, which were very favourable. This is a very important activity to provide engagement which builds people-to-people engagement and results in things we are looking for, such as relationships which lead to trade.
I particularly welcome the contribution announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Barney Glover. I understand it was very well received and very generous, indeed. I trust from those kinds of announcements much will come.
I would like to have the details on the nature of the internships, the budget that has been allocated, and the ongoing support. We need more than just announcements. We need information such as the ongoing structure which sits underneath these announcements, which is very important.
It would also be good to draw some reference to the AusAid dollars that flow from this nation into our region and, in large amounts, into East Timor, to see how we can better position ourselves in the Northern Territory to acquit some of those funds through the Northern Territory. There is an opportunity there and it would be good to hear a report on that.
I also commend the Speaker for the support of a planned engagement from parliament to parliament. It is very important, if we are building people-to-people, that we build those democratic institutions within the region. That has the full support of the Territory opposition and would be a tremendous gesture to provide genuine support to build democratic institutions in this fledging country. In fact, we have an obligation to provide that support. I look forward to ongoing support for that project.
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I do not know whether it is Groundhog Day in the parliament or not. I welcome the contribution from the Leader of the Opposition because, whilst we were over there, he did nothing but bag the visit. He called it a junket. He asked why on earth three ministers had to go, why he was not invited, and tipped an absolute bucket …
Mr Mills: No, I did not. You are exaggerating.
Mr HENDERSON: Oh, yes you did! I had to deal with it whilst I was over there. You tipped an absolute bucket on the delegation. It was not until the Leader of the Opposition actually realised that not only was he tipping a bucket on me but a bucket on the Vice-Chancellor, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Executive of Menzies School of Health Research, the Lord Mayor of Darwin, two other aldermen, about 40 business people, as well as the CEO of the Football Federation of the Northern Territory, he woke up to himself and said: ‘Whoops, I have that one wrong, I should not have tipped a bucket on that one’. They all knew. I am glad he has come on board and acknowledged that Timor-Leste is a very important country to us.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Swine Influenza - Management
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I inform the parliament today about the management of the human swine influenza, H1N1 outbreak and how this might affect members of the community.
As members would be aware, I had personal experience with this. I had to stay home for a day until the tests came back, and they came back negative. It is important that we continue to be informed and vigilant in our efforts to minimise the spread of the disease. The human swine influenza virus first emerged in Mexico and then became a significant cause of death. The new virus has spread throughout the world and has led to major public efforts to contain it in over 50 countries.
As of this morning, there have been 1211 confirmed cases in Australia, and a new case confirmed in Alice Springs this morning. So we have seven confirmed cases in the Northern Territory. Contact tracing is under way in all cases. It is important to point out that a confirmed case becomes inactive after they are medically determined to no longer carry the disease, which is usually around seven days. This means although they are confirmed, they are no longer carry the disease and cannot pass it on. Fortunately, the disease appears to be mild and self-limiting in the great majority of cases in Australia; there have been no deaths in Australia. However, we are taking this disease seriously and working hard to manage the risk to Territorians.
I have requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Health and Families to release the location of confirmed cases in the Northern Territory. There are currently two cases in Alice Springs, two on the Tiwi Islands, and three in the Darwin region. Last week, due to the confirmed case of a teacher in Alice Springs, the Ross Park Primary School was closed; this school has now reopened.
Arrangements have been made for all remote communities in the Northern Territory to be provided with a stock of anti-influenza medication and preventative equipment. Remote health staff are alert in monitoring people, particularly those with chronic disease, and can provide the necessary treatment quickly. Vaccinations for seasonal influenza are also being offered. Current management of the influenza in the Northern Territory is at a delay/contain stage of the pandemic plan. All travellers who come from places where swine flu is prevalent and experience flu-like symptoms are requested to contact their GP or hospital emergency departments for further advice and management. These places include USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Panama and Melbourne. The plan has been extended to request all schoolchildren returning from Melbourne, Victoria, to remain at home for seven days after their return, as the disease has been most prevalent in school-aged children.
In the Northern Territory I have experts at the Centre for Disease Control managing a response. I thank all the health personnel involved for their tireless efforts in managing the outbreak. Territorians can be assured we have sufficient supplies of anti-viral medication and protective equipment to manage the current situation and foreseeable future. We have access to the nation’s stockpile of anti-viral medication and other relevant equipment as necessary. I am continuing to discuss the issue with Australian Health ministers regularly to work on our national influenza plans and actions as the situation grows.
The situation is extremely fluid, and I would like to reassure you, the Northern Territory government is well prepared to respond quickly as required. The Leader of the Opposition was offered an update briefing last week, which he declined, and he declined to pass on the offer to his other members. The opposition is seeking to remain deliberately uninformed. The offer remains open for the opposition to take up a briefing from the experts, to ensure their comments are informed.
Mr CONLAN (Greatorex): Madam Speaker, I realise the minister is fluent in English but he does have a very thick accent which makes it very difficult to understand at the best of times, but near impossible to understand when he has flu symptoms and when he is speaking very quietly. I know it has to do with swine flu, and I am pleased to see that the minister has recovered, or at least was not infected with swine flu; that is very good for his health.
May I ask why the Northern Territory government has stopped issuing public alerts to new swine flu cases, except on their website which is not accessible to all Territorians? Why they are not issuing daily media releases, which can be reported in our newspapers, or radio or television, of new cases of swine flu? Why have they stopped doing that and isolated it simply to the website? Can the minister update - I am sorry if he did mention it and I did not catch it - on the progress of schools. I believe the schools in Alice Springs have reopened today. But with regard to Territory public schools where we are, at this stage, with possible swine flu infections?
Mr VATSKALIS (Health): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his comments. Yes, I asked the department to issue all releases advising Territorians how many cases and where these cases have occurred. I was extremely disappointed because the department, without advising anyone, decided not to provide daily media releases; and not provide, for reasons of privacy, where these cases occurred. This policy now has been reversed. I have instructed that we have the right to know where and when, and the department will follow my advice.
The schools in Alice Springs are now all open. Ross Park School opened after the patient who was infected was placed in isolation. Currently, we have seven cases in the Territory; there are two people awaiting tests, and hopefully they will prove negative.
I am very pleased I tested negative, otherwise there would be a hell of a job for the department trying to trace people because within a very small period of time, in a place like the Territory, you can meet a lot of people. In two days I managed to meet the Leader of the Opposition, I had a Cabinet meeting, met the Chinese Ambassador and attended the APPEA Conference. One of the delegates, ex-Premier Richard Court, was ringing my office every hour on the hour to find out if I was negative, because he was about to fly to Japan.
Trade Mission to Singapore, Vietnam and Japan
Dr BURNS (Asian Relations): Madam Speaker, today I inform members of the outcome of my trade mission to Singapore, Vietnam and Japan over the period 12 to 20 May 2009.
As the Minister for Trade, Asian Relations, Tourism and Business, this mission was strategically developed to maximise new trade opportunities, promote local industry capability directly to potential major investors, and to continue to strengthen bilateral relations with governments in our region.
In Singapore, I met with Australia’s High Commissioner and discussed a range of potential investment and trade opportunities. An immediate opportunity which will be vigorously pursued is to stage a Northern Territory Oil and Gas Seminar in Singapore to attract investment and partnerships with local businesses involved in this sector. The High Commissioner stated that, despite the global financial crisis, there remained many ‘cashed-up’ Singaporean companies looking to expand, and Australia is seen positively and as a favoured country. Evidence of this opportunity is Singaporean companies like Keppel Offshore and Marine, one of the world’s largest offshore and marine groups, visited Darwin earlier this month and met with the Chief Minister. Discussions with the Chief Minister centered on establishing an oil and gas service point in Darwin, and directly working with existing Territory-based businesses to do so. This is a real opportunity and we will be progressing with the full support of the Australian High Commission in Singapore.
My next destination was Vietnam. Vietnam is an exciting country that continues to grow. We see Vietnam as an emerging market of great potential for the Territory; in particular, live cattle exports, tourism, international education and sporting links were directly progressed. I am pleased to state live cattle exports direct to Vietnam are expected to commence around September this year. This has been the culmination of extensive collaboration between the Territory government and private industry to open this new market. I congratulate all concerned, and look forward to hearing how this trade progresses. I commend the minister for Primary Industry and his department.
International education was another positive outcome. During my meeting with the Phuong Nam Company, it was announced it would send more of its senior staff to Charles Darwin University in 2009 to undertake hospitality and English language training. Again, this was the culmination of work initiated between the government and the university, and whilst a small start, it continues to grow well.
In terms of tourism, Vice Minister Ai and I have agreed to investigate opportunities to expand two way visitations between our jurisdictions, building on the aviation links between Darwin and Ho Chi Minh City.
In Japan, the mission was twofold. First, to promote local industry capability directly to INPEX to ensure Territory based businesses benefit from the potential $12bn onshore development, and promote mineral investment opportunities in the Territory to major Japanese investment and trading companies. During my meeting with INPEX I spoke directly with President Kuroda and the Managing Director of INPEX Browse Limited, Mr Jiro Okada, and presented the case for Territory business, which was well received. I stressed by using the Northern Territory Industry Capability Network, INPEX would have extensive experience and proven Territory industry capability at their fingertips. I also stressed this organisation has been successful in delivering other major projects in the Territory, such as the AustralAsia Railway and the ConocoPhillips Darwin LPG plant.
In Japan, I had the opportunity to view the impressive gas to liquid demonstration plant and receive briefings from senior JOGMEC officials.
In Tokyo, I was very pleased to open the Northern Territory Investment Seminar, the second one to be held, at the Australian Embassy, promoting over 40 Northern Territory exploration projects ready for investments. I was also pleased to directly support Northern Territory companies and others which had travelled to Tokyo for this seminar, such as Toro Energy, Central Petroleum, TNG Limited, Energy Metals, CSA Global and Clayton Utz. I look forward to hearing of future successful investment, and there are some follow-ups occurring due to that seminar.
Despite the uncertain economic conditions globally, there remains many opportunities for new trade, and these Asian countries are taking a longer term perspective on their relationship with the Northern Territory. It is my priority, as the responsible minister, to work hard to exploit these opportunities and turn them into real and tangible economic outcomes for Territorians.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I welcome the report. I note, with some delight, the reference to promoting the case for a logistics hub in the Top End - something we have been advocating for some time. You have our support on that.
Importantly, this kind of engagement needs to be followed up. I hope we get to the stage where we have secure representation on an ongoing basis within these places to continue the work as some of the other states do. I believe there is a great opportunity there.
International students are very pleased there has been some effort here. This is a place, given what is going on nationally, where the Territory can position itself very well with international students. I am aware that Vice-Chancellor Barney Glover is particularly keen on this area. So, minister, you will have my, and our, full support in developing those links.
I would be very interested to hear any further updates on the Garuda mission and anything which has flowed to you from that. Much of what we speak about, tourists and international students, in particular, cannot fly if we do not have proper connections to Darwin. Being close to the region is all well and good but if we do not have regular flights in and out, and choice for locals, these just become hypothetical ideas. We need to have some progress on that. I look forward to any update we have on the Garuda issue.
Dr BURNS (Asian Relations): Madam Speaker, to address the second issue the Leader of the Opposition raised in terms of progress, Mr Justin Vaughan has recently travelled to Jakarta and had further meetings together with Jim Parashos from NT Airports Corporation, with Garuda and I am yet to receive that report. He has only returned over the weekend from that trip, so I will be looking forward to that.
The Leader of the Opposition raised a very important issue about Northern Territory representation in some of these foreign countries, and whether we should have a person based there. There has been quite a change in that the Australian Embassy, Australian High Commission, and the Australian Consulates are actually providing many excellent services to the Northern Territory government in terms of support, arrangements and briefings. I believe the days of having people based in various places are over. There has been a change of policy by the federal government to give support. All the feedback I had, particularly in Japan, was that the Northern Territory is punching above its weight, and it is engaging with the business sectors there. So there is a new paradigm of doing business, Leader of the Opposition, and this government is embracing it.
Reports noted pursuant to standing orders.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT BILL
(Serial 37)
(Serial 37)
Continued from 30 April 2009.
Mr ELFERINK (Port Darwin): Madam Speaker, I wish give comfort to the government that, in this instance, we will not be opposing this bill. The Financial Management Amendment Bill 2009 (Serial 37) is designed to accommodate, essentially, the operation of the new IGA which was negotiated and began operation on 1 January this year, if memory serves me correctly.
By virtue of the way NPs and SPPs will be paid to the Northern Territory in the future, the structures of the old Financial Management Act, or pre-amendment legislation, would not capture the terms of the IGA. As members are aware, this is the vehicle by which the goods and services tax, as well as other income, is received by the Northern Territory.
We are - depending on which document you read – 80% reliant on federal sources, some 65% to 70% GST reliant. I notice that our relativity has shifted substantially over recent times, and the projections from the Commonwealth Grants Commission see us pushing up towards a relativity of six, which is a surprisingly high number - not ungrateful - as a result of the disabilities which we have as a jurisdiction. It is a very high number compared to some of the other jurisdictions. If some of the attitudes expressed by Victoria and New South Wales in recent times are anything to go by, they will clearly try to erode our position in that area. However, that is an aside. In fact, these amendments simply enable the new payment system to operate.
We have no problem with it on this side of the House. It is a commonsense amendment to legislation that has served the Territory reasonably well, and I look forward to operating within this.
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, I support the Financial Management Amendment Bill. It is an important and very worthy bill, and serves to implement the revolutionary new way the Northern Territory receives funds from the federal government.
In November 2008, an intergovernmental agreement on federal financial relations was approved by the Council of Australian Governments, or COAG. With this new agreement is the introduction of a new framework which facilitates financial arrangements between the Commonwealth and states and territories. Essentially, this high-level funding agreement will greatly improve efficiency and transparency by simplifying and streamlining funding arrangements. Under these new arrangements, payments which were previously made from Commonwealth line agencies to state or territory line agencies will now be coordinated by federal Treasury and paid directly to the Northern Territory Treasury’s Central Holding Authority. The CHA then provides funding to line agencies in the form of appropriation.
For this to occur, the definition of ‘purpose’ in the Financial Management Act must be amended to explicitly include a new purpose representing the Commonwealth funding. To this end, a new appropriation purpose termed ‘Commonwealth appropriation’ has been established. Under these new arrangements, this means there will be a significant reduction in the number of funding streams, or Special Purpose Payments, SPPs. In fact, that reduction will be from 100 to six.
A quick visit to the COAG website provides an overview of the six new national partnership agreements. They are: National Health Care Agreement, National Education Agreement, National Agreement for Schools and Workforce Development, National Disability Agreement, National Affordable Housing Agreement, and the National Indigenous Reform Agreement. Each agreement, and I quote from that website:
- … contains the objectives, outcomes, outputs and performance indicators, and clarifies the roles and responsibilities that will guide the Commonwealth and states in the delivery of services across the relevant sectors …
The performance of all governments in achieving mutually-agreed outcomes and performance benchmarks specified in each national agreement will be monitored and assessed by the independent COAG Reform Council and reported publicly on an annual basis. COAG agreed that the new national agreements are central to achieving service delivery improvements and reforms.
For the Northern Territory this new type of funding model promotes reform and innovation in service delivery because it provides a better method for knowing exactly what federal funding is available, how it is to be spent, and in areas of identified need. This becomes especially important for areas such as health, education and infrastructure projects.
Another consideration in the amendments put forward by the bill is the establishment of a provision in the form of a standing appropriation to allow for receipt of unplanned Commonwealth funding during the year; and in recent times this would include substantial funding payments to the Northern Territory associated with the Northern Territory Emergency Response and the Nation Building and Jobs Plan fiscal stimulus package.
As the Treasurer explained in her second reading speech:
- Under this standing appropriation the Treasurer will have the authority to increase the Commonwealth appropriation to match a variation to an existing or new Commonwealth agreement.
Of course, the Treasurer needs to have the ability to authorise increases in appropriation for Commonwealth-funded activities which are clearly designed to be of benefit to the Territory, and after a funding increase has been agreed to. But, in the interests of transparency and accountability, the Treasurer will be required to advise of variations to appropriation by tabling a statement of the increase in this Assembly within six sitting days.
These amendments to the Financial Management Act will ensure that the Northern Territory’s legislation accords with that of the federal government. Importantly, these changes will also bring a new level of simplicity, efficiency and transparency around funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the Territory.
Madam Speaker, I commend the Treasurer for her work in this area, and commend the bill to the House.
Mr WOOD (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I support the bill. I thank the minister for allowing us to have a detailed briefing on the bill.
This bill is based on the premise that we have developed a new scheme, which is supposed to be more efficient and more transparent, as the member for Nhulunbuy just said, than the previous scheme. I have heard that before when changes are made to bills, so I will leave my judgment as to whether this actually happens, because I am sure there are some subgroups under here. We have gone from 100 Specific Purpose Agreements to six, but I have no doubt the six are then divided into subsections, which then gets back to the 100 you started with in the first place. So, I rest my judgment on whether this is more efficient, and only time will tell.
I can understand the government sees it as more efficient than putting all the money into a Central Holding Authority. I do hope we will not have happen what sometimes happens in some of our own departments where a little bit gets taken off the side for the use of the department which holds the money. It possibly will not, but I always get a little worried that money which is intended to go in a direction does not totally go in that direction. However, I am told that that will not happen.
If we can simplify matters, if we can get away from having specific agreements that only last two or three years so people feel there is an ongoing project the Commonwealth is willing to fund over a longer period, that gives more certainty. I believe that is good. There is nothing worse than having a project that runs for two or three years, and when you put your next application in for funds that is the end of it. That is especially disappointing for people who believe their project is worthwhile, and if it is a project which actually needs a longer time to ensure it will work. There is nothing worse than a project being cut off and not having a chance to prove its real worth.
Madam Speaker, I support the Financial Management Amendment Bill, and thank the minister for allowing us to have a detailed briefing on it.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I thank members for their contribution. I thank the opposition for its support for the legislation, which is a practical change to ensure that the SPP and NPP arrangements of the Northern Territory government/Commonwealth government can be paid appropriately through the appropriate mechanisms. This is providing those mechanisms in legislation.
I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for taking the time and effort to look into what we are doing with the Financial Management Act. I sincerely thank the member for Nelson for taking up the opportunity of the detailed briefing with members of my staff and Treasury.
This change in the Financial Management Amendment Bill comes from the intergovernmental agreement struck in November 2008. I starkly recall going to the Treasurers’ Conference as a prelude to COAG, where we received the offer from the Commonwealth of the SPPs and NPPs, and what an incredibly difficult 48 hours ensued for me as Treasurer to fight back from a position where the formula would disadvantage us to a position where we came out with a significant advantage. It is times like that you appreciate the sheer effort your Treasury officials go to, to crunch and re-crunch, and re-crunch again, the figures as they come to hand very quickly out of the Commonwealth Treasury.
It was a difficult Treasurers Conference because, as I said, the original formulas were not acceptable to the Territory. We managed to fight back from a position of what would have been disadvantage to, at the end result, a position of advantage and gain through those big fees and the NT's financial arrangements. Then, we had to get cash support for that and, ultimately, get support on the floor with the Prime Minister asking questions as to why the formulas had changed. The Territory has had a win against the odds but, I have to say, I was working with Treasury officials through the evening into the early hours of the morning to crunch the figures so we could get the result we needed in terms of those payments.
Whilst we have an amendment to the act and the payments will now flow in accordance with what we signed off in terms of the IGA, sometimes things are not as simple as they appear. That November Treasurers Conference was one of the most difficult times I have encountered as a Treasurer. That being said, putting a budget together in time of a financial crisis was not exactly a joyous journey either. There has been a quite a significant shift in the way payments are being made from the Commonwealth to the states and territories as signed off in that IGA.
Previously, it was the Commonwealth line agency to a state or territory line agency. To put it simply, DOHA, the Department of Health and Ageing at the Commonwealth level, would have made payments to the Department of Health here with regard to ACA , the health agreement. That is no longer is that the case. Commonwealth Treasury makes payments in accordance with what it agreed to through that Health SPP into the Northern Territory Treasury and that payment is passed on, and scrutinised, to the Department of Health.
I recognise the member for Nelson’s healthy questioning that all people would ask of the Treasury as to whether the full amount is passed on. I can assure the member for Nelson the full amount is, indeed, passed on. We have to report not just to parliament, through me as Treasurer, but also to the Commonwealth about the payments and the flow of payments.
It does, also, as the member for Nhulunbuy pointed out, provide me with the ability to bring in various Commonwealth appropriation payments that occur from time to time. She made a good example of when that does occur. The Northern Territory Emergency Response funding is one of those Commonwealth appropriations that are not sitting necessarily within an SPP or, indeed, within an NPP. It is, nevertheless, a critically important appropriation coming from the Commonwealth to the Territory and one, as Treasurer, I would be insane to knock back. Obviously, you take the opportunity, you take the appropriation, but you need to be able to account for that appropriation and to be transparent in recognising what appropriations are occurring.
So, all the arrangements are being put in place to meet our requirements under the IGA. It provides for that standing appropriation to be established which gives me the opportunity to receive further appropriations from the Commonwealth from time to time where those opportunities arise. I can assure members of this House that we are actively seeking the opportunities out there in terms of additional Commonwealth appropriations.
As the member for Port Darwin indicated, we sit at around 80% of Territory revenue coming from the Commonwealth in terms of payments or SPPs and NPPs. Obviously, the GST is sitting in there even though we have seen a reduction in GST to approximately 55% of the total budget instead of the 67% it sat at previously. We still do not discount the critical importance of working with the Commonwealth. I am striking these Special Purpose Payment arrangements, but also those new National Partnership Payments, which require significant matching effort. We are, at the moment, punching above our weight in signing up to NPPs with the Commonwealth, to take the opportunity to improve the lives of Territorians. Whilst these administrative changes can provide for the contemporary changes required by the IGA, it is a legislative change which shows that we are able to work consistently with the Commonwealth under the requirements they strike for the payments they make. Transparency is critical to that. I am pleased to ensure that I will be required to table a statement of any variations or increase to appropriations to the Assembly within six sitting days.
The new funding arrangements under the IGA came into effect as of 1 January 2009. The proposed amendments reflect that retrospectivity will be applied. I thank the opposition for its support and understanding of what this is about. I know it is no biggy but, for a Treasurer, getting your payment flow is one of the things you are particularly keen to get right.
I thank the Treasury officials who have worked on the amendment to the legislation, and I thank the members for Nhulunbuy and Nelson also.
Motion agreed to; bill read a second time.
Ms LAWRIE (Treasurer)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to; bill read a third time.
APPROPRIATION (2009-2010) BILL
(Serial 41)
APPROPRIATION (ADDITIONAL FOR 2008-2009) BILL
(Serial 40)
(Serial 41)
APPROPRIATION (ADDITIONAL FOR 2008-2009) BILL
(Serial 40)
Continued from 7 May 2009.
Mr HAMPTON (Regional Development): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support the Treasurer and Budget 2009-10. Last month, the Treasurer confronted the global recession and a collapse in GST revenue to deliver what has been called the toughest budget to frame in Territory history.
Budget 2009-10 is all about protecting Territory jobs. It protects Territory jobs in the Top End; it protects Territory jobs in the Centre, and it protects Territory jobs in all our regions. Budget 2009-10 does this because, after six surpluses in a row, the government has made a deliberate decision to go into temporary deficit. This budget protects jobs in Central Australia through record investments in infrastructure in our hospitals, schools, police facilities and roads.
In the 2009-10 financial year, more than $236m will be spent on providing acute and non-acute health and community services across Central Australia and the Barkly, up from $225m this year. Approximately $215m will be spent in Central Australia. The Alice Springs Hospital will receive $21.7m for new and upgraded works, including $5.57m for the Emergency Department, and $2.5m for secure care facilities. This secure acute facility will be augmented in 2010-11 with an additional $5.9m to construct a medium-term secure and transition care facility which will provide an additional eight beds for young people and eight beds for adults. These facilities will be supported by more than $5m in operational funding over the next three financial years creating 49 new nursing, psychiatry, psychology and behavioural educated positions. In Tennant Creek, $2.45m will be allocated to expanding renal facilities and $700 000 will be provided to continue work on the Tennant Creek Hospital.
As we have heard today, this government is serious about delivering on our election commitments. The Alice Springs Police Station will receive a $6m upgrade providing our dedicated police officers with the resources and space they need to continue to make Alice Springs a safer place to live and work. We have also fast-tracked the establishment of the Police Beat in the Todd Mall, and more police are on their way.
In 2009-10, Alice Springs will receive seven additional police officers for the Police Beat, 10 additional police officers under the Safer Streets strategy, and an additional Superintendent level position under the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan. That equates to an additional 18 police officers on the ground in Alice Springs on top of our existing establishment numbers. Combine that with the good news that Alice Springs will receive an additional nine firefighters in 2009-10 and you will agree that Alice Springs has been well served through the record spending on Police, Fire and Emergency Services of $44.1m in 2009-10, up from $40.72m in 2008-09.
Education throughout the Centre also gets a boost. More than $190m will be made available for school infrastructure and operations in Central Australia and the Barkly in Budget 2009-10, up from $136m this year. The Ross Park Primary School will receive $3.2m to continue its upgrading. I have had a look at the work in progress and the new facilities will be just fantastic.
An investment close to my heart, and a project I will be personally monitoring over the coming months and years, is the establishment of the Alice Springs Middle School. $4.73m has been allocated in the Budget 2009-10 to upgrade the Gillen and ANZAC Hill campuses, and a further $2.57m will complete the works in the 2010-11 financial year. To complete this redevelopment, $3.85m has been committed in the 2010-11 Budget to deliver a 30-bed student boarding facility. These commitments are crucial elements of the Alice Springs Youth Action Plan which I was proud to announce in February this year. These commitments will contribute to making Alice Springs a safer place to live and work, will support families, and also create opportunities for local businesses - that means jobs for locals.
Continuing our commitment to improving education in the bush, $1.7m has been allocated to convert the Alpara Homeland Learning Centre into a school; while the Yuendumu School, in my electorate, will receive $684 000 for further upgrading. In the Barkly, the Alekarenge School will receive $319 000 for a new specialist senior learning centre, while the Tennant Creek High School receives $3m for a new multipurpose sports facility.
A critical component of keeping Territorians safe and healthy, and providing access to and from our major regional centres, is ensuring that our road network is up to scratch. Almost $36m has been allocated to upgrading roads in the Central Australian region, including $9.9m - once again, in my electorate – for the Tanami Highway; $7.6m for the Plenty Highway; $5.4m for the Maryvale Road, and $3.5m for access to the Pine Hill horticultural district. We know how important infrastructure is for stimulating economic development in our regions. There will be $1.9m for the Santa Teresa Road; $1.19m for the Outback Highway; $750 000 for the Papunya and Mt Liebig Road upgrade; $650 000 for lighting at the intersection of Yulara Drive and Lasseter Highway; and $500 000 for the Kata-Tjuta to Docker River Road upgrade.
Much has already been said about the joint NT/Commonwealth commitment to improving housing for Indigenous people. $672m over five years is being invested by the NT and Commonwealth governments through the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program. This means upgraded and new housing across 31 towns and communities in Central Australia. Land release is vitally important to all the urban centres in the Territory. Our groundbreaking Indigenous Land Use Agreements with the native titleholders of Alice Springs and Tennant Creek have seen land released in both towns which would have been locked up under a CLP administration. We look forward to blocks at Mt John Valley coming onto the market later this year or early next year.
In the meantime, I am happy to be co-chairing the Planning for the Future Steering Committee, along with our in Alice Springs Mayor, Mr Damien Ryan, to set the platform for further land releases in Alice Springs and the revitalisation of our CBD. I am pleased to note that $360 000 has been made available in Budget 2009-10 to enable crucial headworks modelling and design studies to be completed so the steering committee can make considered recommendations regarding future land use and land release in Alice Springs.
Securing our power and water needs for the future is also critical to planning for growth in the Central Australian region. Power and Water is investing $82m in the new Owen Springs Power Station, ensuring that Alice Springs’ electricity supply meets future demands. I am also very pleased to hear that $2.4m has been committed to connecting the Yuelamu community in my electorate to the Yuendumu Power Station. Alpurrurulam will get a new power station in 2009-10, with $1.6m committed to that project. A new water storage tank will be constructed at Willowra with $420 000 committed in Budget 2009-10. Alpurrurulam will also receive $450 000 to develop new water sources. All these works will be of significant benefit to local businesses and, when completed, will provide greater certainty of supply for these communities.
The tourism industry is also a major employer in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. I am pleased to say that Budget 2009-10 continues to provide practical assistance to protect jobs within this industry. The Territory Discoveries call centre, based in Alice Springs, receives $3.2m to continue its booking and information role for all tourism operators across the Territory. The Araluen Cultural Precinct is one of the jewels in the Centre’s visitor experiences, so it is great news that $4.5m will invested at the Araluen Centre to upgrade the airconditioning, providing improved comfort for visitors and better climate control for exhibitions.
Madam Deputy Speaker, our support for the pursuit of the World Heritage listing for the West MacDonnell Ranges continues with $3m to be spent on establishing the West MacDonnells Visitor’s Centre and facilities, and $500 000 to be spent on continuing the Red Centre Way signage program. To enhance the first impression for visitors to the Centre, $420 000 has been committed to improving Tennant Creek’s main street; and $400 000 for the beautification of the Alice Springs CBD. We will also invest in our tourism industry through a $2.1m global Red Centre Way campaign, while $680 000 will be made available to Tourism Central Australia for visitor information and marketing of Alice Springs and Uluru. In Tennant Creek, $550 000 has been committed to the Battery Hill Mining Centre, and Nyinkka Art and Cultural Centre for visitor information services and management. An additional $100 000 is being provided to fund a local Tourism Industry Development Officer as well.
I am proud to be part of this government, and proud to be Minister for Central Australia. Our investment in the region demonstrates our commitment to protect jobs and build the Territory. I am also the Minister for Regional Development, but there simply is not enough time for me to detail all that Budget 2009-10 delivers for our regions. We are supporting jobs and business in the bush by delivering $19.86m to support and train apprentices and trainees; $7.7m for the Buntine Highway; $6.4m for the Victoria Highway, both in my electorate; and another $5.6m to facilitate major economic development projects.
There is $5.8m to provide a new generation geoscience starter, promoting mining investment and increasing the intensity of exploration drilling and geophysics in the greenfields area and in Bringing Forward Discovery programs; $2.5m for the Lajamanu airstrip, and $1.2m for the Pigeon Hole aerodrome, both in my electorate, as well; $1.4m to provide operational and program support for the Territory’s peak business-related organisations; $600 000 for the Indigenous Business Development Program; $340 000 to support Indigenous tourism operators, and $500 000 to establish job hubs in Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek.
Budget 2009-10 is investing more into research in our regions to help protect jobs and deliver more to support primary industries. Some of the highlights include $1.95m to support Plant Industries with entomology, plant pathology and agricultural chemistry services. $1.8m for Veterinary Laboratory Services, providing animal health testing to livestock industries; and $460 000 to prepare for and respond to incursions of pests and diseases of plants and animals.
Budget 2009-10 also invests in education in our regions. Among the highlights are the provision of $1.5m each for the Community Education Centre upgrades at Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Lajamanu, Numbulwar and Angurugu, as well as $300 000 for school upgrades at Umbakumba, Ntaria, Alyangula, Elliott and Canteen Creek.
Turning to my portfolio of Sport and Recreation, Budget 2009-10 continues to deliver opportunities for all Territorians to participate in sport and recreational activities both in urban and remote areas of the Territory. The three outputs of Sport and Recreation are Sports Development, the Northern Territory Institute of Sport, and Facilities and Events. The Sports Development output receives $10.5m from Budget 2009-10 to provide opportunities for the community to participate in sport and active recreation activities, and further develop the industry.
The Territory government’s Closing the Gap policy identified the importance of improving health and wellbeing of Territorians living in remote Indigenous communities. Budget 2009-10 allocates $1m as part of the Sports Development Program to provide additional sport and recreation officers, facilities and programs in each shire to optimise benefits through relevant sport and recreational programs. The government continued to support the Northern Territory Thunder team with $200 000 provided to help the team take part in the Queensland AFL competition in 2009-10. What a fantastic start to the year they have had. I have been to the game in Alice Springs and there has been one big win and one close win. Good luck to Northern Territory Thunder for the rest of the season. This total funding of $1m will continue until 2012-13 and is a fantastic pathway for our young stars and will lead to greater things.
The Northern Territory government has made a five year commitment to continue funding the Northern Territory Storm netball team with $50 000 a year to participate in the Australian Netball League. A new $50 000 ongoing grant starting in 2009 will support a boxing youth program. This investment has the dual benefits of increasing participation in the sport, including providing social cohesion and crime prevention mechanisms that youth groups can tap into.
Budget 2009-10 also allocates $3.6m for the Northern Territory Institute of Sport. The Institute of Sport offers support to athletes through its individual scholarship programs and through squad programs with the AFL, athletics, cricket, cycling, football, hockey, netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union, swimming, tennis, tenpin bowling and yachting. This is a significant expansion of services in 2009-10 seeing football, swimming, yachting and athletics joining the elite squad program for the next four years.
Budget 2009-10 provides $6m in the Facilities and Events output to support the management of sporting facilities and events, as well as more than $8.3m for capital and minor new works. $5m has been has been allocated for the new Water Park in Palmerston which will be modelled on the highly successful Leanyer Recreation Park. It will include a free form swimming area, a soft fall water area, barbeques and lawns, beach volleyball courts and a walking track.
There has been $4m committed over the next three years to upgrade key electrical, drainage, access and sewerage services infrastructure at the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, with $1.75m allocated in 2009-10. An injection of $550 000 is being provided to upgrade the public address system at TIO Stadium. As well as significantly improving the experience of patrons to the TIO Stadium, this investment will assure the highest possible levels of safety maintained. This government is committed to ensuring that all existing facilities owned by government are maintained at the required level, and funding of $1.3m is provided in 2009-10 for repairs and maintenance of government-owned sporting facilities. These funds will be spent at facilities including the Marrara Indoor Stadium, the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Micketts Creek Shooting Complex, Larrakeyah Park Football Stadium and TIO Stadium.
Budget 2009-10 includes funding to continue to provide financial and administrative support to host national and international sporting fixtures in the Territory. Our commitment for the next three years to support the Perth Wild Cats and Perth Lynx sees the Northern Territory government providing $525 000 over the next three years to support national men’s and women’s basketball league matches in Darwin, including $180 000 in 2008-09.
Turning briefly to my ICT policy portfolio, last year the government took a major step in part-funding Telstra’s construction of an 800 km, $34m, fibre optic telecommunications link between Jabiru and Nhulunbuy. This link provides access to high speed broadband for Nhulunbuy and nine Arnhem Land communities. The fibre build was completed in record time with more than 200 new broadband services for businesses, Territorians and government already connected. The island communities of Milingimbi, Galiwinku, Minjilang and Warruwi will shortly be linked to this fibre via radio links. Payments of $5m in 2007-08 and $4m in 2008-09 have been made, and $2.8m will be paid in 2009-10.
Madam Deputy Speaker, Budget 2009-10 is a budget that protects Territory jobs. It is a budget that delivers, and I commend the Treasurer’s budget to the House.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Deputy Speaker, in reply to Budget 2009-10, while it is not specifically in my shadow responsibilities, I wish to speak on a number of matters, or some glaring issues, about the 2009-10 NT budget that are of interest to me and have come to my attention.
I would first like to speak about Corrections. The government would seem all too happy to speak about increasing the numbers of our police, nurses and doctors, but it seems that Corrections officers have been ignored in this budget. They perform a vital role in our prison and correctional system, yet they barely rate a mention. I see the expenditure for this year in Corrections will be almost $81m, and next year it will jump around 9% to over $86m. I am not surprised about this. On the surface, it is nice to see that the Correctional Services budget is getting such a significant increase. However, this is most likely due in part, if not wholly, to the budget’s own predictions and projections: that the average daily number of prisoners in our prison system is expected to leap from 925 to 1080. That means a staggering 17% increase in prisoner numbers in our correctional system, bearing in mind there was a rise of 9% from the previous year, which was outlined in the budget papers and that number rose from 850 to what is expected this year of 925. Already the government’s planned, new, 1000-bed prison is well on its way to being full within a couple of years of opening.
I am not at all surprised by any of these revelations given this government’s only measured success in lowering crime is how much money they spend. They have this idea that input is, in fact, an output; that is, simply, not correct. Obviously, they are measuring their success in lowering crime by how many prisoners they have in gaol; they seem only too pleased to bump these numbers up. I do not know where they get that idea from.
Never mind whether the prison population is getting access to all the right programs and let us have a further look at that. In 2006-07, participation in prison programs was at 75%; in 2007-08, participation in education was at 75% - please note the change of name to that particular output. However, the corresponding estimate for 2008-09 indicated a drop to only 50% of prisoners participating in education programs, and that was an estimate for the end of that particular year. Yet, here we are almost at the end of that financial year, and in a much better position to gauge the actual participation rate, and guess what? It went not from 75% to 50%, but it dropped to a staggering 30%. That is, only 30% of prisoners are participating in educational programs while they are in gaol. But it gets worse. Thirty per cent is bad enough, but I have to ask the question: what is this government doing about that appalling figure? The answer is: absolutely nothing.
I know this because if you look at page 104 of Budget Paper No 3 for 2009-10, the government estimates the prisoner participation in education programs will remain at the wholly unacceptable level of 30%. On top of that, next year’s budget predicts participation in employment programs will also drop from 80% to 75%. Those percentages are bad enough on their own but, if you look at the ever-increasing number of prisoners in our gaols, there is a multiplier effect. If you look at the estimate of 75% of prisoners in 2007-08 - that average being 850 - it meant that 637 prisoners should have gone into an education program in that year. In 2009-10, based on the budget predictions of 30% participation of 1080 daily average numbers, that means only 324 prisoners in gaol during 2009-10 will have access to education. In real numbers, that is a halving of the number of prisoners having access to education programs in gaol.
This government has no idea how to address recidivism rates in the Northern Territory, and this is clear and present evidence of this. It is absolutely shameful. Under a Country Liberal government, our focus would be the provision of the tools prisoners need to help them rejoin the community in a positive and meaningful way once they have done their time - quite opposite to the policies of the current Labor government.
The Tennant Creek work camp: I notice $2m, which seems to be a rather paltry amount, being spent on something that the government says is so important. I am going to ask, and I daresay we will get an answer at some stage: what will the $2m be spent on? The other big question is: where is the associated infrastructure spend? There is the $2m for infrastructure, but there is no allocation for the ongoing cost, or have we factored in the ongoing cost of $2m with no infrastructure being built? I cannot see it in the budget papers, and I would appreciate if anyone on the other side of the House could point out to me - if it exists - where in the budget paper is there any mention of the infrastructure spend to accommodate a Tennant Creek work camp?
Looking at page 106 of Budget Paper No 3, I notice in Community and Justice Policy under Performance Measures, under the subheading of Quantity, it says: ‘The capacity to provide policy advice and coordinate and implement government programs’; 2008-09 estimate $19.05m, and the 2009-10 allocated amount, or estimate, again $19.05m being spent. That represents no increase whatsoever in funding from this year to next year for our community to cope with the ever-increasing problems that alcohol brings with it every year.
If there is any doubt about the increase in alcohol problems the Northern Territory is facing, let us look at a few statistics from Katherine Police Station. These are the number of people taken through the Katherine Police Station cells for protective custody. In 2005, there were 4495 people - bearing in mind Katherine is a town with a population of around 9000 people. In 2006, there were 5301. In 2007 - and I cannot explain this blowout even though I was working there as a police officer at the time – it blew out to 7520 people taken into protective custody and put through the police cells in Katherine. In 2008, there were 5930 and, in 2009, already 3700 people have gone through the Katherine Police cells this year.
It beggars belief that this government is choosing to do precious little to address the real issues. If you look through the budget to see where the money is being spent, it is being spent on programs which are not delivering very much in the way of results. There are a few programs out there doing their very best to make good of a bad situation but, unfortunately, it is way too little.
Regarding Katherine, it was interesting as I travelled to Kununurra a week or two ago, and had a briefing with the police over there. In Katherine on a busy night, the police can put through more than 120 drunks. That was evidenced over a couple of nights around the time the Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s first stimulus package went through in December last year. What would be a normal Friday night offender - whatever you brand normal - you would get between 30 and 50 drunks on a Friday night; that ballooned to 120 on two nights. Yet in Kununurra, where you have a population just 2000 fewer than Katherine, the police there have a busy night if they lock up 10 or 15, compared to 120 in Katherine. I have to go back and find out what they are doing in Kununurra that is so different from what the NT government is doing - which I know is precious little. This government cannot find a way to deal with these issues. It is a government which is lost. It is a government without a hope of making any positive difference to Territorians.
I see Tennant Creek has had to give up its new sobering-up shelter in favour of a more expensive sobering-up shelter in Katherine. I am happy, on one level, that Katherine gets this nice, new piece of infrastructure. It has been a long time between drinks for the building of infrastructure in Katherine; the last decent piece of infrastructure built there, which I can recall, was probably the Casuarina Street School, and nothing significant prior to that since the late 1980s when the police and fire station was built. It will be nice to have that spend in Katherine. It will bolster the construction sector for a time, and it will certainly give the service providers, Mission Australia, an adequate place to perform the very important work they do in the community. I acknowledge the vital service provided to the NT by Mission Australia – the provision of services to the disadvantaged. I know that Mission Australia is looking forward to having a new, safe and purpose-built facility in Katherine.
While this will build a flash sobering-up shelter, and I have been quoted as saying it will be quite a Taj Mahal of sobering-up shelters, this is another classic example of the shallow way this government tries to deal with alcohol problems in the Northern Territory. Yes, we need a new facility in Katherine, but how about spending some significant money on increasing the two - yes, only two - detox beds at the Katherine hospital? What about looking into the Venndale facility and providing further funding and resources for beds and staff that are so desperately needed?
I notice $21m has been allocated in this budget for the provision of preliminary work on the new prison. Why not put that $21m into a prison farm at Katherine where inmates can receive proper access to detox, rehabilitation, education and vocational skills training, and come out the other end better than they went in? The government is condemning alcoholics, in particular, Aboriginal alcoholics, to a life of misery and no hope. They have no answers for it.
In relation to Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources, I welcome the announcement of funding in this budget for mining and cattle roads but, really, what a small drop in the bucket it is. Mining royalties are worth something in the vicinity of $224m, and the cattle industry contributes $400m directly to the Territory economy, yet the spend on mining and cattle roads is virtually a $19m kiss on the forehead. That, on its own, is less than 1% of the royalty base, and I do not include the revenue to government which is generated from the cattle industry. I am still new to this game and I am learning new things every day, but if that is an acceptable formula for the provision of services to industries which are vitally important to the Territory economy, then I guess I have learned something. I would have thought a 1% reinvestment - in fact, less than 1% - is a pretty poor attempt.
I am concerned about the slashing of around $5m from the overall budget within Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources this year. It sends a message to the mining, pastoral, agricultural and fishing sectors that this government does not rate them highly in its priorities. I do rate these industries high on the agenda. Resources bring in the most significant own source revenue for this government, and untold wealth as far as bulk boosting the economy and jobs in the NT as a whole. If we are to position ourselves successfully for the next 20 to 50 years, we must become the food bowl of Australia.
Apparently this has been lost on this current Labor government, which is evidenced by the precious little being done by this government on the Northern Territory’s side of Ord Stage 2. I was in Kununurra, as I mentioned, and received briefings and tours of the areas from several organisations there. One of those organisations, and I will not identify which one because I do not want to breach any confidences, asked me: ‘What is the NT government doing with Ord Stage 2?’ I had to say: ‘Nothing’. The reason I said ‘nothing’ is because there is plenty to suggest the NT government is sitting on its hands with this. We will have to play years of catch-up behind the Western Australian government before it gets anywhere close to that stage. The other evidence they are doing nothing about this is the lack of any mention of it in the budget. If someone from the other side of the House would to point anything out, I would be happy to have a look at that. It just shows what the priorities of this government are.
I welcome the announcement of $4m for the upgrade of the Palmerston boat ramp, but I would have to ask a couple of the ministers on the other side of the House, the minister for Fisheries and the minister for Infrastructure: have you walked out onto the pontoon at the new boat ramp at East Arm?
Members: Yes, yes.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: This is a plastic floating pontoon built out into the water off the centre of the ramp so that boaties can tie up the boat alongside and walk up to get their cars and trailers. Even with a bit of movement on the water, this pontoon bucks and wobbles; in heavier seas the pontoon is impossible to use, and outright dangerous. Boaties have reported to me, and I was down there just the other day talking to some boaties, and they said when they rock up there and the seas are a bit rough, they will not take their children onto the pontoon. They have to pack their gear up and drive their boats to another boat ramp where they can get into the water safely. I hope, in the upgrades announced for the Palmerston boat ramp, if there are going to be pontoons built there, some lessons have been learned from what is happening at East Arm.
I am happy to see an allocation for $1m for other recreational fishing upgrades, and pleased to see a fishing survey under way. It is vitally important to understand the state of the industry, and this is one way of gathering the required information. It beggars belief, however, that it has taken eight years for this government to start the process but it is finally under way.
I am pleased to see the allocation of $1.8m for the continuation of the barramundi licence buy-back scheme, and I reconfirm our commitment to this continuing process. One must remember this was an initiative announced by the CLP in 2001, if I am correct with the date. I am pleased the Labor government has seen sense in taking this approach to contribute to the management of the barramundi fishery. Of course, much more needs to be done.
I have a rather significant concern, however, in relation to staffing levels within Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources. I have heard in this House from this government on many occasions how this government is protecting Territory jobs, particularly public service jobs. In 2008-09, the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines - as it was known then - had a staffing establishment of 481. This was down slightly on the establishment of the same department in 2006-07, which was 486, so they had a drop of five staff. It should be noted that the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines has a new department attached to it and a new moniker. Regional Development has been thrown into the mix and the department is now known as the Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources.
The issue I have is staffing for the new department is only 497. Assuming that Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources staffing remains the same as last year at 481, is it right that Regional Development only has a staffing of 16 right across the Territory? Or is it the case that the Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources public servant jobs have been cut? I would tend to think that this government is slyly hiding behind this department’s restructure to slash public servants jobs in Primary Industry.
I move on to Local Government. The first thing that struck me about the Local Government part of the budget was the smash-and-burn tactic taken by this government on the total funding for Local Government. Nearly $16m has been slashed from the Local Government expenditure for this year. Budget Paper No 3, page 232, Local Government estimate for this year we are in now, $90 603 000; next year’s estimate is $74,703,000, a drop of nearly $16m. There is a variation here in the notes: it says the Local Government output group is lower in 2009-10 due to one-off funding in the 2008-09 for the Local Government Infrastructure Investment Fund and Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery arrangements. Commonwealth funding in 2009-10 includes for ShiresNet and Clever Network. I am looking forward to hearing from the minister exactly what those four items are and the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery arrangements. Perhaps I have missed something. Was there a natural disaster sometime in the last 12 months? I cannot quite get my head around that and I look forward to an explanation during Estimates.
I suspect, however, this is probably just more smoke and mirrors and the man who is renowned for smoke and mirror is the member for Daly. Speaking of the member for Daly …
Members interjecting.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: … to mention his broken 2005 election promise for $2.2m for the Daly River crossing. There he was standing on a platform of delivering for Daly River residents, only to let them down. I ask this question: what do you get for $2.2m in 2009?
A member: You get a bridge. You get a bridge with Labor commitments …
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: … because that was announced in the budget, $2.2m for a crossing upgrade of Daly River. I will tell you what you get in 2009, around about $300 000 less than if you had spent the money in 2005, as promised. So to get the same now as you would in 2005 you would have to spend 13.5% more or a total of $2.5m. So, this government has short changed the people of Daly. They are now getting less infrastructure in 2009 than was promised in 2005; it is simply a matter of numbers. You take into account the inflation rate, the CPI; that is how money has been eroded from the promise of $2.2m four years ago.
I would like to speak about the Police budget. First of all, 54 more police have been announced by the Chief Minister, and I ask the question: does that mean the establishment that is the gazetted establishment, the number of police officers the Commissioner is entitled, allowed to employ, will actually increase by the number 54? And are those 54 going to cover natural attrition?
In the 2008 calendar year, 80 police officers left the job. Already this year there are more than 30 who have left the job. This government ought to be breathing a big sigh of relief in respect of the downturn in the economy across Australia because one of the nett effects of that is the job market will tighten. People are more inclined to stay with their safe and secure job than dump it and run. I suspect they will benefit from that, in that should this crisis not be affecting us, the attrition rate amongst the police would not change. It seems it might drop this year and they can be very pleased with themselves that they are really a victim of circumstance.
The other question I have is: where are those 54 new police officers going? Into general duties, I hope. That would be a change, considering that, despite the 337 extra police officers that this government keeps spruiking on about since 2001 there are still not enough general duties police officers in the Northern Territory. They have been siloed, they have been pigeon-holed, and they have been pushed into little sections. We know this is occurring because, when you ring up for the police - and we have heard it many times in this House in the last six months - you cannot get a police officer to attend. These guys are run off their feet.
The workload has increased, yet, the number of uniformed, general duties, on-the-street officers has not made an iota of difference. Interestingly, despite the Chief Minister’s assertions that the police numbers have increased, there are still the same numbers of general duties vans on the road on any given shift, as there were many years ago. Not only that, they cannot fill them; they have to constantly drag non-operational police officers out of their non-operational areas to go and fill a van.
Overtime rates are still ridiculous. It is common to hear of 20 to 30 hours overtime for police officers in a fortnight, and not uncommon to hear of 40 hours overtime for police officers in general duties.
While I am talking about police, Easter would be one of the busiest times for people in the Northern Territory to take a few days off and get some recreation. One of the biggest parts of our recreation up here is amateur fishing. Yet over Easter, the busiest fishing weekend in the Northern Territory’s calendar, there were six Fisheries police officers on duty on the road – three patrols of two officers out doing checks in the Fisheries area over the whole Top End of the Northern Territory. How ineffectual are they? This is an enormous industry in the Northern Territory; it is an industry that is rife with raping and pillaging. Many people come here and take well in excess of what they should be taking. Yet this government pays lip services to all of those issues by not allowing enough police officers to be in Fisheries. Nineteen in the section, I believe, yet, on that weekend there were only six. That is because some of them are on leave. There are sergeants and senior sergeant, I think ...
Mr BOHLIN: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that my colleague be granted an extension of time of 10 minutes to complete his remarks, pursuant to Standing Order 77.
Motion agreed to.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank all my parliamentary colleagues for giving me the courtesy of an extension of time.
I want to talk about announcements made by the Chief Minister in recent times about our forensic section, to increase the numbers by one biologist and two chemists – a little bit probably way too late. I can report to the House that, often, for fingerprints, blood alcohol and DNA, there is a six month waiting time for officers to receive results from samples they have submitted for examination.
I wish to put that into perspective: for offences in the Northern Territory which are not considered to be crimes, and drink-driving is one of those, there is a six month statute on laying charges. So we find a situation where blood alcohol is being sent for testing, it is not being tested within the six month time period and, consequently, those who would be prosecuted for drink-driving, never end up in court. That is just appalling. This government talks about how serious it is about drink-driving and the new laws which have come in with hooning behaviour and all that sort of thing, yet, at the coalface, where it actually counts, they are not providing the resources. This is just too little, too late.
I notice in the budget there are announcements in relation to some infrastructure upgrades on what is the Northern Territory’s biggest piece of infrastructure, the Stuart Highway. Unfortunately, the announcements are really just a drop in the bucket, once again. I see $5m in there to install overtaking lanes on the Stuart Highway. I am pleased to see the Stuart Highway is being worked on at the moment. The shoulder work is significant, however, it does not really fix what is a huge problem - the potholes and the deterioration of the hard surface of the road.
I spend some time travelling between Darwin and Katherine, and other parts of the Territory as well, and I get to see the result of this government’s lack of action on the Stuart Highway. There were times, a little while ago, when I was driving through potholes which were probably 2 m by 3 m wide, with great big chunks, bigger than the size of my fist, of road surface sticking up out of it and hanging all over the road. It is getting patched, but the problem we have now is these are patches upon patches on the Stuart Highway, and there is obviously not a strong enough commitment from this government to upgrading the Stuart Highway and keeping it in …
Mr Chandler: It is federal.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: It is federal money, I pick up on the interjection from the member for Brennan – it is federal money, so there is no real excuse for not spending it. If the highway needs to be done, it needs to be done; it is our most important and largest piece of infrastructure. I covered the amount that was going to be looked at for roads, the cattle roads, the $19m but, really and truly, that buys about 19 km of new road. I daresay there will be some – it is not all going to new road - repairs here and a few bits and pieces there, but it does not give Territorians any faith in whether the government considers cattle and the rural sector to be important.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I was not going to talk about this, but I will give the government a bit of a heads up. Ramadan is an important religious ceremony for many of our near neighbours, some of whom, of course, receive our live cattle exports. What the members on the other side of the House may not know is that Ramadan does not fall on the same date every year. It creeps forward by about 12 or 13 days every year, so by, I worked it out, 2019, we are going to need to get cattle out of our remote areas at the end of the Wet Season. We all know how difficult it can be getting around the Territory during and after the Wet Season. Roads are a long-term project; they are not something you can allocate half of your budget to and say next year we will have enough road system to accommodate the increase in the cattle exports we will need for the Wet Season. It requires a long-term view and, when I look at what this government has done to put us into deficit for the next five, six or maybe more years you can bet your bottom dollar they will not be spending a great deal on upgrading roads in regional Northern Territory to accommodate the increase in cattle exports that we are going to see.
This is a classic example of the lack of vision this government shows. I am prepared to look 10, 15, 20 years into the future to see what the Northern Territory needs. This government cannot see past its own political nose.
Let me quickly touch in the last couple of minutes I have on what the budget outlines for Katherine. The Ngukurr School rates a mention, probably federal money. In Katherine there is nearly $12m for schools for building the education revolution which, of course, is federal money. The Katherine schools get $1.443m per School Pride Program which I believe is from the Territory; I thank you for that.
There is an announcement of money for Pigeon Hole aerodrome; the Victoria Highway is being upgraded, but that project is under way at present and I look forward to that continuing and being finished. There is announcement for $10m, again, of federal money, for a Katherine heavy vehicle diversion. We talked about the overtaking lanes. There is the princely sum of $350 000 for the main street upgrade for Katherine, barely even worth talking about.
This is a budget which will pass through this House. It is, however, full of holes. It is in many ways a good budget for the Country Liberals because it really does point out to the people of the Northern Territory how shallowly this government is operating; they have no vision and are not a government which has the capacity to take the Northern Territory forward.
Mr McCARTHY (Transport): Madam Deputy Speaker, quite rightly Budget 2009-10 has been designed by the Treasurer to take strong measures to respond to the global financial crisis and its effect on the Australian and Territory economies. As I put it to the Tennant Creek and District Times - it is a tough budget for tough times.
The central strategy of Budget 2009-10 revolves around the protection of Territory jobs through building the Territory. It looks to the future to solve our current problems, and that is the essential difference between the government and those opposite. While we are building the Territory to take into account population growth and emerging economic opportunities, those opposite look to the past and have no confidence in the future. They look to discredited policies such as those which would lead to the slashing and burning of employment in the public sector; while we look to improve the numbers in health, education and community safety to enhance services to Territorians.
The negativity comes not so much from being in opposition; the negativity is the core of a philosophy - they see the future as a threat. That is why there is no confidence in the people of the Northern Territory and our collective and individual capacity to meet today’s problems though building the future. While the government is optimistic, the opposition is pessimistic; while agencies are strong in growing employment as one of the fundamentals of community development and social justice, the Country Liberal Party would see people thrown out of work.
The Labor government, even as we speak, rides through current economical difficulties and continues to be a reforming government and to provide, enhance and expand its services to the people of the Northern Territory. This is nowhere better illustrated than in my portfolios of Transport and Corrections.
My approach to the Transport portfolio is to look to the future and meet the task of building Territory transport infrastructure and systems to meet future needs and opportunities. Safe, accessible and effective delivery of transport services is good in itself, but it should also be geared to support economic and social development in the Northern Territory. This is why planning for the future is so critical. As part of the process of building the Territory we are currently actively pursuing the key strategies of the Northern Territory transport strategy, a Northern Territory integrated regional transport strategy and 10-year road strategy, and these strategies in turn will link to the Territory 2030 process. It is great to hear the member for Katherine speak about the Stuart Highway and report the potholes after a fantastic Wet Season.
There is a Toyota out the back with 70 000kms on it. I spend a fair amount of time on Territory roads these days as well, and I can assure the member for Katherine those problem areas I have been travelling over, have been repaired. It is correct, the shoulder work on the Stuart Highway and the Barkly Highway are progressing really well. The repair job on the Barkly Highway after the incredible floods in January was a fantastic response and, I believe, up for a national award. The member for Katherine and I share a lot in terms of transport planning and our 10-year strategy as a Labor government.
Each of these plans is vital for the future of the Territory and each is interrelated. The development of a regional transport strategy for the Territory is due to be completed this year and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure has developed a framework for the strategy. Extensive consultation with industry and the broader community is soon to commence. This very important piece of work is critical to the future development of the Territory in considering how best to provide transport links between our major regional towns and communities.
In the coming year, this government has further committed to managing the implementation of recommendations from the review of the commercial passenger vehicle sector: planning and facilitating public transport and school services for the Territory; improving safety on public transport; developing a contemporary service provision model for the effective delivery of transport services, including Motor Vehicle Registry; commercial passenger vehicles, marine, road and rail safety; developing a sustainability strategy for transport; continuing to implement the government’s road safety reforms; improving Motor Vehicle Registry customer service delivery across the Territory by implementing a quematic customer service management system; planning and developing the National Land Transport Network; and continuing commitment to the development of the new Drive Safe NT Driver Training and Licensing Program.
Budgetary initiatives include additional funding of $1m for park-and-ride facilities for bus commuters in the rural areas. This includes rolling-out facilities by the end of this year for Humpty Doo, Coolalinga and Noonamah. The rural bus network shall continue to be enhanced and expanded. This will deliver on our election commitments and will improve commuter and social transport options for residents in the rural area. It will cut travel costs for more people while reducing pollution and greenhouse gases. Rural bus services will be coordinated into the orbital bus service to be introduced in 2010 which will provide for increases in service levels between Darwin, Palmerston and Casuarina.
This budget also provides for additional funding of $0.6m for new bus services for Cullen Bay, Bayview and Darwin Waterfront, and $1.8m for the introduction of expanded free bus travel for students and seniors. The primary function of Darwin Bus Service is to provide an efficient, safe and reliable urban public service to meet the needs of Darwin and Palmerston communities. In time, of course, those services will be extended to our new city of Weddell.
The Darwin Bus Service operates under a service level agreement with the Public Transport Division of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure. Bus services are also provided to special events and school travel in Darwin and Palmerston. Strategic issues facing the Darwin Bus Service in 2009-10 include providing a safe, comfortable, reliable and cost-effective bus service; continuing refinement of Darwin Bus Service’s commercial business operations as a Government Business Division; and improving safety for drivers and passengers.
As part of this year’s budget, we will be looking to meet these challenges through continued improvement of accessibility and comfort for all passengers through acquiring airconditioned, low-floor, easy-access vehicles; investing in new buses that have contemporary passenger transport ergonomics for passenger comfort and safety; and continued implementation of strategies to improve environmental outcomes, including purchasing buses that meet Australian design rules and European exhaust emission standards.
The Correctional Services budget for 2009-10 will see a rise of 6.7% over last year as we head towards a new era in Correctional Services. It will be an era of new and renewed Correctional facilities, an expansion in education and rehabilitation services to reduce recidivism and better prepare prisoners for life on the outside and new approaches such as regional prisoner work camps. New funding, with indicative set-up costs of $2m and recurrent costs of $1.4m in 2090-10, will be for regional, pilot prisoner work camp for up to 24 prisoners.
In response to the member for Katherine, the consultation process has begun in the Barkly, and we are also seeking expressions of interest for available land. This is a government that is listening to its constituents and taking this project forward. Prisoner work camps are an alternative to traditional imprisonment and reflect the government’s commitment to provide a cost-effective imprisonment option where prisoners undertake a range of valuable community projects linked to vocational training. This will improve rehabilitation outcomes and successful reintegration into the community. The first work camp will be in the Barkly region and will consist of a base camp for 24 prisoners, and an extended reach mobile component which will provide 10 prisoners with opportunities to undertake projects in remote areas of the Barkly region.
We will also be allocating additional funding of $0.5m to enhance prisoner rehabilitation and education programs within our Correctional system. Education and rehabilitation of prisoners is integral to breaking the cycle of offending. The additional funding will allow for the expansion of accredited literacy, numeracy, art, music and driver training programs, and enable more prisoners to participate in education and vocational training while incarcerated, including some remandees and prisoners sentenced to less than six months.
At this point, it might be good to comment on the member for Katherine’s concern in the figures which were revised in Budget Paper No 3. Budget Paper No 3 for 2009-10 revised the 2008-09 estimate from 50% to 30%; an estimated 30% participation for 2009-10. The estimated decrease in participation rate represents a change in eligibility criteria from a minimum six month sentence to all prisoners, thereby increasing the pool of eligibility considerably.
An increased focus on prisoner education and vocational training is consistent with recommendations of the Northern Territory government’s Adult Custodial Review and with Closing the Gap, which identified education as the broad social and economic factor for overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.
I will also comment on prison officers raised by the member for Katherine. I am happy to report there have been two prison officer-in-training graduation ceremonies in the Territory this year. One has been held in Darwin and one in Alice Springs, and another graduation ceremony is due to be held in Darwin this week. This means a record number of staff at both Alice Springs and Darwin Correctional Centres. I was pleased to attend both ceremonies and I witnessed the enthusiasm, and supported our new prison officers-in-training on their journey forward.
The Alice Springs Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 2 February 2009 with 21 recruits, and was completed on 16 April 2009. The second Alice Springs Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 1 June with 20 recruits, and will be completed on 13 August 2009. The Darwin Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 27 January 2009 with 13 recruits, and was completed on 8 April 2009. The second Darwin Correctional Centre prison officer training course commenced on 30 March 2009 with 17 recruits, and will be completed on 11 June 2009. Unfortunately, due to my attendance in this House, I will be unable to participate in that graduation ceremony. However, I have sent another warm welcome to our new prison officer-in-training graduates. I have said how important it is for me, and our new graduates and correctional facility staff, to go into this new era together and to take on the journey to reduce the rate of offending.
Two more courses are scheduled to commence this year, and this will increase the number of trained staff at both Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres. Following the completion of their 11 week training program, the prison officers-in-training undertake the remainder of their 12 month contract with the Department of Justice on-the-job and directly on the prison roster. Successful completion of the prison officer-in-training program results in the qualification of Certificate III in Correctional Practice (Custodial). This is an important part of our new era of Corrections.
There will be $1m for remote area community corrections officers to supervise community-based offenders. Community probation and parole officers are now operating at Timber Creek, Barunga, Wadeye, Lajamanu, Hermannsburg, Tennant Creek and Yuendumu. All current community probation and parole officers are completing a Certificate II in Justice Studies. The community probation and parole officers work with probation and parole officers to ensure community-based offenders stay on track and provide support for other justice-related initiatives and the courts, particularly community courts. We have allocated $0.9m for rehabilitation programs …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! It is a shame the minister’s colleagues are not here to listen to him. I draw your attention to the state of the House.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ring the bells. A quorum is present. Minister, you have the call.
Mr McCARTHY: Madam Deputy Speaker, this government is allocating $0.9m for rehabilitation programs for sex offenders to break the cycle of offending. A national leader in sexual offender rehabilitation has delivered a framework for sexual offending rehabilitation in the Northern Territory, and we are putting this into action. Additions to clinical staffing in Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres ensure a specialised group and individualised sexual offender rehabilitation occurs. An additional group program has been developed and delivered to moderate, lower risk sexual offenders in Darwin Correctional Centre. Individualised programs are now delivered to juvenile sexual offenders in Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre. Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is delivering therapeutic services to community-based sexual offenders in Central Australia.
I announce also $1m for the Indigenous family violence offender program. Indigenous family violence offender programs have been completed in Nguiu, Yuendumu, Hermannsburg, Wadeye, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Further programs are scheduled in 2009 in Katherine, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy, Wadeye, Nguiu, Yuendumu and Groote Eylandt. The communities of Timber Creek, Lajamanu, Barunga, Beswick, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Elliott, Ali Curung, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Wadeye, Daly River, Nhulunbuy, Groote Eylandt and Pirlangimpi, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Hermannsburg and Santa Teresa have trained facilitators and are ready for program delivery. Community consultation will commence for Kalkarindji, Ngukurr and Ti Tree.
There will also be an allocated $0.2m to continue the elders visiting program. This coming financial year sees the allocation of $21m approved in capital funding for headworks for the Doug Owston Correctional Facility. The new 1000 bed facility will be built approximately 8 km north west of Noonamah to meet the accommodation requirements of increasing prisoner numbers.
A new 25-bed secure mental heath and behaviour management facility will also be constructed outside the wire. This infrastructure project is being managed through a steering committee comprising representatives of the Departments of Justice, Planning and Infrastructure, Heath and Families, the Chief Minster, and the chair held by Northern Territory Treasury. Northern Territory Treasury will be responsible for providing assessment of procurement options including public/private partnerships and traditional publicly funded design and construct models.
These assessments are continuing, and it is anticipated a final decision on the procurement method will be made soon. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure will maintain responsibility for ensuring all the facilities are constructed in accordance with Northern Territory construction guidelines and principles. The Department of Justice will be responsible for ensuring the new correctional centre is designed to provide appropriate facilities for prisoners to effectively participate in education, vocational training, work and rehabilitation programs; and appropriate community safety through the provision of modern electronic and physical security systems and is best practice in innovative design and construction.
The Department of Health and Families will be responsible for ensuring the secure mental health and behaviour management facility is designed in accordance with best practice in innovative design and construction to meet the needs of those who will be accommodated within it.
Finally, there will additional funding of $2.2m to manage increasing prisoner numbers, and funding has now been approved in 2009-10 for $1.39m to construct short- and medium-term prisoner accommodation at Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres. This funding will provide for the construction of an additional 30 beds in Darwin, and 76 beds in Alice Springs during 2009-10. Both Darwin and Alice Springs Correctional Centres currently exceed design capacity and, in order to met the short fall in prisoner beds in 2008-09, an additional 110 beds in Darwin and 24 beds in Alice Springs are currently under construction.
This year’s budget was produced in a time beset with extreme financial problems internationally. Of course it will affect the Territory, but that is not to say we should sit on our hands and do nothing and spend nothing - which has been advocated by members opposite. To do nothing is not just treading water; it would mean going backwards. The Treasurer announced the Northern Territory is bucking national trends with strong international trade figures and very strong retail trade figures. This budget is about protecting those gains through protecting Territory jobs while making sure we keep developing the Territory.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the Treasurer has done a great job under very difficult circumstances, and I am honoured to support the budget.
Mr TOLLNER (Fong Lim): Madam Deputy Speaker, it was good to listen to the member for Barkly sing high praises for the budget. He certainly has a different take on it to me but, like members on the benches on the other side, the member for Barkly is caught up in the spin of the whole thing. Being his first budget it would be an interesting process to go through but, at the end of the day, member for Barkly, I believe you really need to dig a bit deeper because when you talk about spending money it is not just the spend of money, it is the actual outcome at the end that is most important.
However, as this government is inclined to do, they put a lot more spin and a lot of more effort into the PR exercise of the budget than they actually do in working the books and doing the hard yards; I have mentioned this on several occasions. The Treasurer has a big reputation as a person who puts a lot of effort into the spin and the propaganda and the PR exercise, but is really quite lazy when it comes to doing the work, is very tardy when she does any work, and this budget is a demonstration of that.
When you flick through the budget it is very hard to make head or tail of anything this government is doing. The Treasurer, on budget day, announced the Commonwealth government is funding road projects. In the Territory government budget she has announced, to much fanfare, the Commonwealth government is going to put money into the Stuart Highway, the Barkly Highway and the Victoria Highway. Well, surprise, surprise! I think everyone in this place knows those roads are Commonwealth roads.
A member: Is it?
Mr TOLLNER: They are Commonwealth roads and are funded by the Commonwealth, always have been, always will be. Never known the Commonwealth spend on Commonwealth roads to be announced in the Territory budget but, lo and behold, in this budget we find they are actually announcing it. I suppose there may well be some commitment for the Territory government to do its job in relation to those Commonwealth roads. I know how the system works and, fundamentally, there is a pot of money the Commonwealth has in Canberra for minor works; it is almost a limitless pot of money. There is no application required. There is no trotting off to Canberra with your hat in hand begging ministers for funding. It is just a matter of the Territory government doing the work and hitting the Commonwealth with an invoice and that money will be paid over. I am sure, member for Barkly, you have been in the ministry for long enough now to understand those the minor works for major national highways are picked up automatically by the Commonwealth.
A couple of months ago I went for a spin to Tennant Creek. On the side of the road grass is six foot high, and right on the edge of the bitumen you see ant nests three foot high. Member for Barkly, I am sure you have done that trip. You must have seen the plethora of ant mounds all the way down the Stuart Highway. Those things do not pop up after a big Wet Season. They take a few years to grow to two, three, four feet high, and there is no shortage of them. It is going to be hell of a job for the road contractors to clear those verges and get their machines down to deal with the number of ant nests there. The Territory government has been reluctant to do this for many years now. It is not something I am blaming you for, member for Barkly.
The previous Transport ministers clearly have not done their job to the point where one of the previous Transport ministers, who is now the Treasurer, comes into this place with much fanfare and announces the Commonwealth government has a pot of money to put into Commonwealth roads. Well shock, horror! You would expect that would be the case.
Not only is this budget all about claiming credit for a whole swag of different Commonwealth government projects, but the enormity of the revoted works amazes me. This is where government claims spending from the last budget put into this budget; there is a whole range of areas where this happens. The most interesting one was in last year’s budget, 2008-09, the government budgeted $60.8m for the Darwin Port Corporation. Of that $60.8m, they spent all but $47.9m. That $47.9m is now carried over this year and, all of a sudden, we now have a budget for the Darwin Port Corporation of $64.8m. The average Joe on the street would be sitting there saying: ‘Wow, $64.8m that is quite a whack of money. Isn’t this government doing a fantastic job?’ Meanwhile, we know - and many people out there know - the port is falling to bits. We know the Territory government know this, because they actually put a submission to Canberra wanting some $350m-odd to fix the port. They went out there with media releases thinking: ‘Well, we need this, we might not get it. We will just ask Canberra - the Rudd Labor government, the new era of cooperative federalism – for just $200m. If we get more than that, it will be great. But we at least expect to get $200m’. What happened? They came back like dogs with their tails between their legs. Mr Rudd ignored them ...
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! I find that offensive, and I ask the member to withdraw.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker! He uses a simile by way of description - simile is a standard tool used in the English language. To rule this unparliamentary would be to rule simile and metaphor unparliamentary, which is simply absurd.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Port Darwin.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Deputy Speaker, can I speak in relation to the point of order?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, if you are brief, member for Fong Lim. I will be seeking advice.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Deputy Speaker, the simile I used, as the member for Port Darwin quite rightly pointed out, was in relation to a general group of people. I was not targeting an individual as such. You will find the standing orders quite clear about using inappropriate terms about individuals. I was talking about the government in general.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Fong Lim. I will confer with the Deputy Clerk. There is no point of order. However, I caution the member for Fong Lim on the choice of words he uses in debate. Thank you, you have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. As I say, they came back, chastened. They came back disappointed by the fact they were completely ignored by the great man in Canberra ...
Ms Lawrie: $50m.
Mr TOLLNER: Here we go, we have the Treasurer interjecting now, saying $50m. Well, the Treasurer is not being quite truthful there, because there is a whole range of strings attached to that $50m and there is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever that $50m is coming to the Northern Territory for our port.
Ms Lawrie: You are going to have egg on your face.
Mr TOLLNER: There is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever, and the federal government made that abundantly clear. Now the Treasurer will try to spin her way out of this and suggest they have had a victory, irrespective that they asked for $350m, they told the public they only wanted $200m, and they have been belted around the ears with a promise that, maybe, if you do a whole heap of things and get them right, we might cough up a paltry $50m.
What are the chances of this government doing a whole heap of things and getting them right? Based on their current form, I would have to say almost zero. They cannot control themselves. We have people leaving the government like rats from a sinking ship, scurrying away as quick as they can …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! The member for Fong Lim said himself, in speaking to the last point of order that he was not speaking about a specific person. Now he is directing his epithet of a rat towards the member for Arafura. I ask him to withdraw.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for …
Dr Burns interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order! Once again, honourable members, I ask you to pause while I confer with the Deputy Clerk on this point.
There is no point of order, but I ask the member for Fong Lim to choose carefully the words he is using with the risk of inference associated with that.
Mr TOLLNER: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I do understand how sensitive the Leader of Government Business’ ears are to anything ...
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you have the call. Member for Greatorex, you do not.
Mr Conlan: Similes blowing all over the place.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! It is quite disorderly for a member to address the Chair while they are standing and also walking out of the Chamber. I draw that to your attention, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I would hope the member for Greatorex would show more respect to the Chair, both in what he said and the way he gesticulated towards the Chair. This mob is showing a complete lack of respect to this parliament and the position of Speaker.
Mr Elferink: From your lips?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business. Member for Port Darwin! The member for Greatorex is on a warning. You have the call, member for Fong Lim, thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I take on board, as I was saying, the sensitivities of the Leader of Government Business. He is a bloke who comes across to me as an overly sensitive type when it comes to unparliamentary language. I will make every effort to curb my language.
As I was saying, people are leaving the Labor Party like there is no tomorrow. We have all done enough reading to understand what it means to be a Labor rat to the Labor Party. They are not people who are thought of highly, and they are accumulating these people at a rate of knots. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind, given another few months or so, the Deputy Chief Minister’s dreams will be realised …
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker!
Mr Tollner: Oh, here we go!
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Resume your seat, member for Fong Lim.
Dr BURNS: I remind the honourable member that he should be directing his remarks through the Chair …
Mr Tollner: I was.
Dr BURNS: … and addressing the Speaker, Standing Order 49.
Mr Tollner: I was.
Dr BURNS: No, you were not.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business. Member for Fong Lim, if you could address your comments through the Chair, please, in accordance with standing orders.
Mr TOLLNER: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have no doubt you understand I was addressing my comments through you.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. You have the call.
Mr TOLLNER: I was merely referring to the Treasurer. I was explaining to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, how the Treasurer’s dreams will eventually come true, because there will be no more colleagues around her and she will find herself the leader of the parliamentary Labor Party here in the Northern Territory.
Ms Lawrie: You are a clown.
Mr TOLLNER: Madam Deputy Speaker, the Treasurer’s budget, which she has cobbled together this time round, has been nothing unusual because her style is a complete victory of style over substance; there is nothing really in here. This government has a proven track record of failure; failure in so many areas it is becoming impossible to recollect all of them.
We had an announcement today about Bellamack. I do not know how long that has been on the agenda. It would have to be half a decade at least, probably longer, since the Treasurer first started spruiking about this new suburb of Bellamack. I do not know whether there is a house block on the market yet or …
A member: No.
Mr TOLLNER: No? No house block on the market? Well, there you go. I heard them rattling on today about the wonderful SIHIP program. Have they built a house yet?
A member: No.
Mr TOLLNER: $700m for the last two years in what can be described as a national emergency. In fact, the federal parliament enacted emergency legislation because of the dire situation of housing in remote Northern Territory; allocated $700m and two years later we do not have a house. Absolutely appalling.
In 2001, we were told they were going to build the oncology unit and here we are in 2009 and I believe the slab is laid down. Is the slab laid?
A member: Yes, the slab is down.
Mr TOLLNER: Finally, I get the message that the slab is laid. I do not know where the machinery is or the rest of the building, but it is not a bad effort – 2001 to 2009 - we have a slab. That is the way things will pan out with Bellamack, too.
This whole budget is a victory of style over substance. There is nothing in this budget to get excited about. Talking to business people around Darwin, the best comment I heard about this budget was it was boring. It is not a budget which will look after jobs, as the Treasurer says. There is nothing in this budget that supports jobs; there is nothing in this budget that supports Territorians in general. It is simply a nothing budget. It should have been, in most parts, Kevin Rudd’s budget because the vast majority of the budget is Commonwealth funds.
The member for Port Darwin handed me Budget Paper No 4, and he has little blue circles around everything in the Department of Health and Families which is Commonwealth funded. Having a quick glance in relation to capital works, repairs and maintenance, the majority of the Health and Families budget seems to be coming from the Commonwealth government. I find that misleading in the extreme that Commonwealth funds are announced as Territory budget …
Ms Lawrie: Identified as Commonwealth.
Mr TOLLNER: But announced as some sort of achievement by the Territory government.
Ms Lawrie: Identified as Commonwealth funding.
Mr TOLLNER: As an achievement by the Territory government. You jump up there in your skirt and you carry on about what a great job you are doing - it is absolutely appalling; there is no doubt about it. The Northern Territory is doing quite well, and the reason the Northern Territory is doing quite well in this global financial crisis is we have a large public service, both Northern Territory and Commonwealth; and we have a large Indigenous population, many of whom are on some type of welfare benefits. They provide a foundation of stability in the Northern Territory.
Apart from that, as far as the private sector is concerned, this government sees them more as a cash cow and something to be bled, rather than a productive part of our economy. I am absolutely appalled at the way this government treats business. They employ standover tactics and a range of devices to get them to toe the line. Business is so desperate at times for government work it can only follow meekly and do what they are told rather than risk the ire of the Territory Labor government. That is a sad state of affairs.
What is even a worse state of affairs is the situation we have seen arise in the last couple of days; this is a government with no ideas whatsoever. They are locked in an internal feud which has been going on for months and months. They have no concern whatsoever for the plight of Territorians, for the plight of Territory businesses, for the plight of Indigenous Territorians we hear so much about all the time.
They have no concern about people living in remote areas, people living in cities, people living in regional townships. The whole focus of this sorry, appalling government is internal. They are focused completely on their own internal feuding, and that is not a way to govern; it is an appalling way to govern. We see a Chief Minister who stands there and looks like a rabbit caught in a spotlight. He does not know which way to look, he does not know what which way to turn, he is scared at every step someone is going to be the Brutus and slip the knife into his back, and he has become powerless …
A member interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!
Mr TOLLNER: He is a lame duck Chief Minister. These guys on the other side, Madam Deputy Speaker, all understand he is a lame duck Chief Minister. The trouble is at the moment, the Chief Minister’s job in the Northern Territory is a poisoned chalice and none of them want it. It is appalling because this constant fighting amongst themselves is all consuming. We know the Leader of Government Business and the Minister for Health cannot wait until late in August when their pensions become payable because they want to clear out and do the Territory a favour. We cannot wait for late August to come either, for them to clear out. As a taxpayer in the Northern Territory, I would be happy to see both the Leader of Government Business and the Minister for Health pick up their pensions and go as quickly as possible. That would be ideal for the Territory. There are a few others amongst them I would like to see do the same thing.
Ms Lawrie: We will be here longer than you.
Mr TOLLNER: I do not think the Treasurer is going anywhere. She is waiting until most of the rats have departed and then the Treasurer will go down with the ship as the captain, and we see this leaving some sort of legacy to Labor in the Territory. I pity the rest of them. The Chief Minister will get out, he will suffer a blow to his reputation, of course; he has already taken a mortal blow and everyone is praying he does not die too quickly – politically, I mean - but they know he is dead meat, he is not going anywhere, he is a dead man walking. Every time he stands in front of the cameras he gives you that death stare …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! The member for Fong Lim has form in rambling way off the subject. This is a debate on a budget; he might want to mention something about the budget.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Treasurer. Member for Fong Lim, there is a certain degree of latitude around this broad subject of the budget. I ask you to endeavour …
Mr TOLLNER: I am going into the state of the economy of the Northern Territory and the poor form of government we have here. I was referring to the Chief Minister who seems to have this terrible habit of giving the death stare every time he fronts the cameras, or stands up here in Question Time. It is like he is waiting for someone to put a couple of pennies on his eye sockets.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! The member is being offensive. There is a standing order in regard to being offensive to a member of parliament. This man is highly offensive.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you. I ask you to withdraw those comments please, member for …
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker!
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am addressing the member for Fong Lim.
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please resume your seat, member for Port Darwin. Member for Fong Lim, I find those remarks offensive. I have allowed you a certain degree of latitude in this debate around relevance, however, I ask you to withdraw those remarks, please.
Mr TOLLNER: Can you clarify which remarks, Madam Deputy Speaker?
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: You know very well the remarks I am referring to, member for Fong Lim.
Ms Lawrie: The remarks you have just made.
Dr Burns: About pennies.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw the remarks about the pennies. The pennies have upset them. I withdraw those remarks, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Ms Lawrie: You are a grub. You are such a low life.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, you have the call. I ask you to keep your words as close as possible to the subject of the debate, please, which is the budget.
Mr TOLLNER: Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker,
We have a mortally wounded Chief Minister who has no say whatsoever in the leadership of his parliamentary party. We know who is running the parliamentary party, and it is not the Chief Minister. We know, in some regard, the Treasurer is involved with these internal disputes and feuding - up to her ears. Someone who involves themselves in nasty, petty politics cannot possibly ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker! Does he have anything at all to say about the budget?
Mr TOLLNER: A person who indulges ...
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, excuse me, there is a point of order before me.
Mr TOLLNER: Sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Ms LAWRIE: Relevance.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will call relevance in accordance with Standing Order 67. You have been asked three times now to resume debate in accordance with the subject of the debate. Each time you have resumed, you have gone straight back to talking about the Chief Minister. I ask you to move forward, please, and on the subject.
Mr TOLLNER: Certainly, Madam Deputy Speaker. As I was saying, a person who embroils themselves in that sort of a feud cannot possibly cobble together a decent budget. That is my point about this budget; these people indulge themselves in this petty, party, internal feud and they do not have any attention left to devote to the things which are important to the Northern Territory. There are few things as important to the Northern Territory as putting together a decent budget.
This budget is a collage of a budget. It is a collage of revoted works of Commonwealth money, and a little of Territory money. There are absolutely no outcomes whatsoever envisaged in this apart from some statement that says: ‘We are out looking after jobs’. The only job this Treasurer is interested in looking after is her own - her own and her colleagues on that side of the House. They are fighting for their political lives at the moment, and that is all that is consuming them. They come into this place, table a dodgy budget and expect the Territory to swallow it and say: ‘Well done, guys. Now you can get back to your fighting’. Well, it is not on. It is not on at all.
I am very embarrassed for the government. I find it hard to walk around Darwin and say I am a member of the Legislative Assembly. It is not a place of democracy; it is not a place of rigour. It is a place where ministers and Labor members will try at every opportunity to shut down debate, to stop any discussion on issues which matter to Territorians. Ultimately, all they are interested in is marketing, public relations, propaganda, spin - call it what you like - that is what interests them; and fighting amongst themselves in a very public way to the point where member after member is leaving their party.
I should probably leave it at that because the fact is they know they are not up to the job. There are a few of them hanging around until pension day. As I say, it is my greatest wish to see as many of them as possible get their pensions come middle or late August, whatever the date is, and scurry off. That would be the best thing that could happen here in the Northern Territory for Territorians.
Debate adjourned.
MOTION
Note Statement - Cash for Containers Scheme
Note Statement - Cash for Containers Scheme
Continued from 30 April 2009.
Mr GUNNER (Fannie Bay): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the statement. Cash for Containers is a great way to tackle litter, it is a great way to tackle landfill problems, and it is a great way to create a recycling culture. It is not a silver bullet, but it does go a long way to tackling all those issues. When I adjourned my remarks last time, I was going through some statistics from South Australia about how cash for containers helps reduce litter in South Australia …
Members interjecting.
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Fannie Bay, if you could please pause. In accordance with Standing Order 51, I ask members to minimise the noise. You have the call, member for Fannie Bay.
Mr GUNNER: … and the good work the cash for containers scheme does in reducing the amount of material going into landfill. We saw with our own eyes, when we were there, how it creates a better recycling culture for many things, not just cans and bottles.
I will go through those statistics again from South Australia’s EPA Zero Waste website. South Australia recovers at least one-third more aluminium cans than other states, where collection is influenced by the market value of the metal. South Australia recovers 85% of non-refillable glass soft drink bottles, compared with 36% nationally. South Australia already recovers 84% of cans marketed in the state, compared to 63% nationally, and the return rate for plastic soft drink containers, PET, is 74%, while the national return rate is 36%. Liquid paper board, a recent inclusion, has a return rate of 40% and is increasing. Container deposit litter is less than 1% of total litter in South Australia.
Through their container deposit legislation, South Australia presents materials for recycling which have the highest quality in the nation. That is a really important point: having a clean item for recycling can increase the value of your scrap and goes a long way towards making the container deposit legislation scheme work in South Australia. It helps reduce the costs associated with the scheme and increases the profits for the super collector. It is not just about the profit motive behind returning, say, aluminium cans, but it helps with items which have no 10 value. Super collectors can sell off a tonne of plastic milk bottles in South Australia - milk bottles are not included in the scheme - they can sell off a tonne of plastic milk bottles at $600 to $700 a tonne. There is value in good, clean scrap, something on which South Australia has created a culture.
The culture of recycling in South Australia means that collection depots are receiving significant amounts of clean items for recycling, and they are not always a part of the container deposit legislation scheme. We should look at avoiding the mistakes which exist in the South Australian scheme. They are not broad enough in what they include. There were examples where we were shown identical bottles, identical labels, the same company has produced them, but one had a 10 return on it and one did not.
When we go to our legislation there may be merit in considering modelling ourselves, in the early stages, on the South Australian legislation. I believe we need to look at the breadth to make it more viable. That is something we need to do in the Territory where we have a much smaller base of materials than South Australia.
At the collection depots in South Australia we saw people backed up onto the street to return their cans. We could not believe it when we saw it; we thought the recyclers might have set it up, there were cars out into the street banking up traffic and cars had to stop. Everyone was queuing to bring their containers to be recycled, to get money. Many people who came in had their cans or bottles neatly packed into the original cartons they came in, so it was coming in clean, it was coming in sorted, and that makes things much easier. It is not mandatory in South Australia to do that, but people do it. I know the member for Nelson would like to look at different ways we can do that to make sure there is less double handling - if you are bringing goods in, have them already sorted to make life easier for everybody. That is something we could look at - people pre-sorting their recycling before they bring it in to remove double handling. No one likes handling things more than once if you can help it, and it takes a lot of efficiency out of the system.
One of the really interesting things at the collection depot was the significant numbers of other items being returned which fell outside the container deposit scheme - containers full of screen doors, computer parts and a range of metal, wood and rubber items the recyclers had found a scrap market for. It is interesting that people took their old screen doors to the collection depot, but that is part of the positive recycling culture they have created in South Australia; they have removed the inconvenience. If you are going there already with your carton full of cans to get your money back, you may as well take your other stuff at the same time.
People find it easy as the collection depots are well spread and well located. That is important to bear in mind – the ease of access. You have to remove the inconvenience factor for many people. That is something cash does as well, but planning where the recycling depots are situated is critical. The success of the scheme is not surprising when you consider how popular the scheme is in South Australia. From surveys conducted by the Keep South Australia Beautiful website and the Environment Protection Authority over 80% of South Australians support the container deposit legislation. Further research indicates South Australians support extension of the container deposit legislation to a broader range of potential items regularly identified in the litter stream.
It has been a good way to tackle litter problems in South Australia and if you are tackling litter by recycling it, you are also tackling the landfill issue. That is a challenge for us. We need to make sure we avoid obvious inconsistencies between containers; we need to make the scheme as simple as possible. It creates problems when very similar bottles are presented at collection depots and it slows things right down as people try to work out what has the 10 refund and what does not, especially if they are almost identical. We need to ensure the scheme operates simply and practically, and there is no reason why we cannot achieve that. We have to do more work on the detail but it looks like that should be possible.
If we can do this, a new industry will be created in the Territory. There are a number of jobs associated with the container deposit scheme in South Australia; it puts freight on the back of trucks instead of having them empty after doing a freight run; it provides an avenue for fundraising for charities and community groups, and that is something the member for Nelson has spoken about. I know he is very passionate about that - the Scouts and other community groups where they volunteer or get paid to clean up after events and then cash in the litter afterwards.
Councils are another important stakeholder. In South Australia, councils support the container deposit legislation and they work with the industry. That means the benefits of litter reduction and recycling are maximised and the flow-on benefits for landfill, which councils usually manage; they are the ones to often benefit.
Alice Springs is looking forward to implementing their own scheme, and the minister spoke about that in her initial remarks. It is good that Alice Springs Town Council recognises the issue and is on board with the scheme. I would like to think our scheme would develop more extensively having a broader Territory-wide range and a linkage into recycling and what we do with the goods afterwards. Darwin City Council will also be an important player because they have a kerbside recycling scheme, and we need to work with them to ensure the Cash for Containers Scheme and the kerbside recycling scheme are complementary. There is much evidence to suggest they can work well together based on the South Australian experience; we have seen it does work in South Australia.
I also refer people to work done in the United States. In 1993, a congressional research service did a study titled Bottle Bills and Curbside Recycling: Are They Compatible? and found that:
- … both systems can serve as elements of comprehensive recycling programs. Neither constitutes a comprehensive program by itself, neither excludes the use of the other.
In a 2002 report prepared for the Multi-stakeholder Recovery Project of Businesses and Environmentalists Allied for Recycling, BEAR, titled Understanding Beverage Container Recycling and Value Chain Assessment:
- found that a combination of recycling methods in deposit states results in beverage container recycling rates more than 2.5 times higher than non-deposit states.
Often people will want to throw their cans into recycling and so the council gets the benefit of that; it is more convenient for them, so there is a mutual benefit to the two schemes.
The 10 states in the United States which have the deposit scheme recycled 490 containers per capita per year. The 40 non-deposit states – 10 and 40 does not quite add up to the number of states there are in the Unites States - which rely solely on kerbside programs and drop-off centres, recycled 191 containers per capita per year; so there is a big difference there.
In 1991, the Seattle Solid Waste Utility conducted its own analysis to determine the impact of a national bottle bill on the economics of the city’s recycling program, one of the oldest and most successful kerbside recycling programs in the nation. The study, titled Potential Impacts of a National Bottle Bill on Seattle’s Kerbside Recycling Program:
- … found that 42% to 50% more beverage container tonnage will be diverted, while there will be an overall net system savings to the city between $236 917 …
- … that included the bottle bill with the additional tonnage with no significant impact to either city costs or kerbside recycling profits.
I am confident we will be able to work with Darwin City Council on making kerbside recycling and the Cash for Containers scheme work. The minister and the member for Nelson have touched upon reverse vending machines – innovative technology that does as it says- you open up the door, put your can in, and get your cash back. It is as simple as that, but it does have a couple of catches: you need quite a large area of space behind the machine. The machine itself might look quite small and neat, but when you put your can in it has to go somewhere and it has to be sorted, so you have the cans and the bottles and the liquid paper board and the PET - and retail space can be expensive - but this is the system which has been found to work. If you tie it into a retail shop properly and link it into other services offered by the shopping centre, you can actually make it work in a non-deposit state where there is no Cash for Containers scheme.
It is definitely something we need to look at and check out for the Territory. Essentially, there is large storage at the back of the machine, it scans the barcode on the side of the container when you put it in the bin at the front, and then deposits it in the correct box at the back. It is a very simple machine and there are mobile versions available so you can move them from place to place as well. Schools are a good example of where you might put a reverse vending machine, as well as retail shopping centres, like Casuarina.
The machine does require a legible barcode. You cannot put any old can in there; it has to be clean and legible for the machine to scan. One of the tricky parts of the technology is making sure it is robust. You do not want to be putting a lot of money into these and find out they do not work. Mind you, once you make this scheme work, it will not necessarily be government putting the money in, it could be a business looking at this as an opportunity to put something into their shopping centre which attracts people, they put the can in and get a deposit back. Often it is a printout like a voucher so you can either redeem it for 10 or 10 times - as many things as you put in there - or you can have it linked to a voucher within the supermarket itself.
One of the pluses of a reverse vending machine is it can help tackle the inconvenience factor, as they are designed for use at shopping centres. One of the arguments against the Cash for Containers scheme is the issue of inconvenience. The member for Nelson is very passionate about the mischievousness of the inconvenience factor but, essentially, they say the inconvenience is a cost on the scheme, an ill-defined cost, and if it is inconvenient or takes you out of your way, you will not do it. Whereas, you obviously have to go to the shops to buy groceries, so if you are going to the shops, it is not inconvenient to take your recycling with you. So, it does help tackle the argument about inconvenience.
To make the Cash for Containers scheme work, looking at it overall and not looking at reverse vending machines in isolation, we will be relying on a market. By putting a deposit on a can we are creating a market for these containers and we will be relying on that value to inspire ingenuity from Territorians to conquer the little hurdles which emerge.
If the market works well, if market responds, businessmen are sensible, charity groups, community groups, people who want to buy in and work with this system, will find ways to make it work; we do not need to solve every little problem when we are developing the policy. If we get the policy right and the framework right, it will work. Questions like: who will pick up the cans from here or take them there? This system will not work and will not be feasible if it requires government subsidy or intervention that is ongoing; if we have to think of the solution to everything. If we make the overall scheme work, then it will work. If South Australians can do it, certainly Territorians can. This is important to keep in mind. We will need to have a good relationship with manufactures and wholesalers, and we will need to have a good, sound law which is financially robust, legally robust and regionally robust. I am confident we can do it. I am enjoying working with the minister and the member for Nelson to achieve it.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I commend the statement to the House.
Dr BURNS (Business): Madam Deputy Speaker, I support the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage’s statement on the introduction of Cash for Containers scheme in the Northern Territory.
The litter produced in some parts of the Territory is noted to be out of proportion with our population level, especially when compared to other jurisdictions, and may even be increasing. The accumulation of litter in the Territory is a social and environmental issue which should not be ignored. Rather than waiting for a national initiative on this issue, our particular circumstances point to a need to consider appropriate action locally. As the minister has highlighted, alternative measures to manage litter produced in the Territory have been implemented previously without fully achieving effective and sustainable results.
The South Australian container deposit scheme, with over 30 year’s experience, provides guidance for the development and delivery of a Territory scheme. The South Australian scheme has shown how litter can be reduced; it also points to wide community support and industry involvement. While other scheme options are available and should be looked at further, they may not provide the same level of long-term outcomes or result in the same level of community engagement and support as the South Australian approach. I note the South Australian scheme does not rely on government support to operate and remain financially viable.
That said, we need to explore all practical options to develop a scheme which is legally sound, financially viable, and able to be delivered successfully throughout the Territory including urban, regional and remote areas. To be successful, such a scheme will need to integrate effectively with other Territory resource recovery recycling schemes, and achieve a nett improvement to our overall environmental performance. Also, in order to succeed, the Territory’s Cash for Containers scheme needs the support of both local and business communities.
I am pleased the pilot programs initiated by this government in Alice Springs, Lajamanu and Titjikala have shown positive support from local communities. I am confident the same enthusiasm will be shared in other parts of the Territory, including urban areas. Through a combination of financial incentives and the awareness of potential contributions to environmental improvement, Territorians are likely to respond positively to a well-designed and successful scheme. Such a scheme would allow children, schools, and the disadvantaged members of our community to participate in simple activities where they can directly access benefits from their actions to reduce litter and improve the environment. It would assist in instilling the important values of environmental preservation and social responsibility in our children and grandchildren. When a well-designed container deposit scheme is implemented in remote communities, I believe it will open up new ways of engaging those Indigenous communities and can be incorporated into our existing Indigenous development programs.
The social benefits from the introduction of a successful Cash for Containers scheme are obvious, provided we find ways to ensure it is financially viable and we can extend its reach to the majority of our population throughout the Territory. At the same time, it is important to recognise and acknowledge the needs and the use of industry, particularly the hotel industry and beverage manufacturers and distributors.
As a new initiative in the Territory, there are questions which remain to be fully addressed before a successful scheme can be introduced. Business opportunities may also be opened up by a Cash for Containers scheme. These need to be examined as well. I understand in other countries retailers and shopping centres participate in the scheme by providing container redemption points within their premises. This has proven to be a very effective way of drawing shoppers into retail outlets where they can stay and shop and stimulate sales.
A container deposit scheme has also allowed thriving recycling industries to develop in most other countries where it has been adopted. We may stimulate the development of new technologies as we adopt a suitable scheme to meet our emerging circumstances. The unique challenges we face in administering the scheme to a small and widely disbursed population should encourage us to explore innovative solutions. Coupled with the environment and climate change challenges also being addressed at present, we may be able to benefit from the expertise gained from adopting a well-designed and successful scheme earlier than others. Careful and considered planning at the establishment phase is, in my view, crucial to success.
As the experience in South Australia, and other countries, has shown, it is possible to design and implement schemes tuned to meet local circumstances and needs. The Department of Business and Employment is working with the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, and other agencies, to ensure a Territory Cash for Containers scheme is well designed for our specific circumstances and needs; is financially viable; legally sound and able to be implemented throughout the Territory.
We need to continue to work with the business and local communities to come up with a program design and service delivery arrangements that are effective in addressing our litter issues in a financially viable manner. To achieve effective community involvement, it will also be important to ensure accessibility to redemption depots and effective redemption processes. One of our challenges will be implementing an effective scheme in regional communities and maintaining its financial viability. Experience and expertise gained by other jurisdictions and other countries may be of some assistance. I expect, though, that specific Territory solutions will need to be achieved to ensure a successful scheme. The reference group on the Territory Cash for Containers scheme has important work to finalise in relation to the design of a suitable scheme and to manage the steps required to bring it to fruition.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I praise the member for Nelson as he has been absolutely dogged in his fight over many years on his position for a CDL scheme in the Northern Territory. The former member for Braitling also was a passionate advocate for this. They argued long and strong within the parliament to implement a scheme. In particular, I would like to praise the minister for the Environment who has taken this on with a passion also, and worked with the member for Nelson and got down firsthand what is happening in South Australia and taken steps to set up a committee, which I mentioned before, the reference group on a Territory Cash for Containers scheme.
I have a confession to make, Madam Deputy Speaker: when I was Environment minister and the former member for Braitling and the member for Nelson raised this issue on behalf of government, I did not accept, and government did not accept, at that time, a container deposit scheme for the Northern Territory. The basis for that was we wanted to see, and we believed that there would be a national scheme implemented. That was some five years ago and a national scheme still has not been implemented. This is very disappointing because the Territory has always been an advocate, and a very strong advocate, at the Environment Ministers Council, for a national scheme, but that has not occurred.
However, the Territory now is taking steps under the leadership of the minister for the Environment and with the support of the member for Nelson. Other things have occurred also. I mentioned in my speech the sponsorship government has given a number of schemes in remote areas - Alice Springs, Lajamanu and Titjikala - and those schemes have shown positive support for recycling. So the debate has moved on from the time when government said: ‘We want to wait for a national scheme. We are not convinced, at this stage, about the viability of regional container deposit collection’. There has been work done there. We have a minister who is very active in this area, and has the support of the member for Nelson who, as I said previously, has been unwavering in his position on container deposit.
I was a little disappointed when the member for Brennan got up and, I thought, gave a fairly ambivalent position on the part of the opposition. In fact, I felt the member for Brennan was articulating the opposition’s position of actually moving away and disengaging with container deposit. I hope that is not the case. I believe the member for Brennan is open to many ideas; he said on the public record, in the newspapers, he wants to do the right thing by the Territory, he wants to view things on their merit, and his heart is in the right place in doing the right thing for the Territory. He is the shadow spokesperson and I hope he engages and works with the minister and the member for Nelson and members on this side, to ensure a container deposit scheme is implemented in the Territory.
There are challenges as I alluded to in my speech – the challenge of setting up the regional processing and redemption points. That is going to be a big challenge. It is going to be a challenge to ensure there is equity within the scheme, that people in remote areas are not paying the deposit on their container and unable to redeem them, whereas people in urban and other areas are able to do it. We need to have equity there.
There is no doubt there are people and organisations in Australia who really do not want to see a container deposit scheme in the Northern Territory. No doubt there will be resistance and obstacles put in the way by those people; and also the natural obstacles and challenges we face in the Territory. That is why I said in my speech that we really need to come up with a Territory solution. That is especially true because we have the challenges of a dispersed population and transport difficulties. We have to come up with some new and good ideas, and that is why I exhort the member for Brennan to get engaged with this process, to keep an open mind, and not let the minders on the fourth floor form his view and tell him what to say on the floor of parliament, but to be what he promised in the newspaper: that is a fresh mind looking at issues as they arise and looking to benefit of the community of the Northern Territory.
Mr Chandler: You were going to send me on a trip. What happened to the trip? Where has the trip gone?
Dr BURNS: I am glad you have confirmed your support for the container deposit, member for Brennan. It is very reassuring that you have done that on the floor of parliament here tonight, in what I picked up of what you just said.
I know there are other members on this side who want to speak on this very important issue. I commend this statement to the House. I know we will make very good progress on this issue in the coming months and years.
Mr KNIGHT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I add my support to the Environment minister’s statement on the introduction of the Cash for Containers scheme in the Northern Territory. In the years since South Australia introduced container deposit legislation, there has been a great deal of debate on the pros and cons of such a scheme; a debate which has been weighed very carefully by this government in making its decision to move forward.
I commend the Chief Minister and the minister for driving the in-principle decision to introduce the Cash for Containers scheme in the Northern Territory by 2011, making the Territory the second jurisdiction in Australia to do so. While other states are continuing to deliberate, the Territory is acting and moving forward. It is a decision taken in the interests of the Territory’s future, and in the interests of protecting our environment for future generations.
The evidence from the Cash for Containers scheme in South Australia, and around the world, shows its success lies with the community. Territorians are rightly proud of their natural environment. So much of our recreation time is spent outdoors at sporting matches, barbecues, fishing and camping; and our Indigenous culture and heritage is inextricably linked to the country. Each year, thousands of international and national tourists come to the Territory to enjoy the beauty of our many attractions – Kakadu, Uluru, Litchfield, the Barkly and the Gulf region. In my own electorate lies the Daly River, one of the most pristine waterways, and I am rightly proud of this government’s commitment to protecting the environment for the future.
With so much of our great Territory lifestyle linked to our environment, I am confident the Territory community will lend its weight to make the Cash for Containers a success in reducing litter and boosting recycling. The Territory 2030 Draft Strategy sets the target of reducing the amount of waste taken to rubbish dumps by 50% by the year 2020, a target which will be supported by the Cash for Containers scheme.
Where container deposit schemes are in place, between 70% to 90% of the containers sold are returned for recycling, refilling or disposal. In South Australia, beverage containers contribute less than 20% of litter by volume, compared to other states where the rate is up 40% to 50%. Sadly, the Northern Territory has the second highest litter level of any Australian jurisdiction. If we are to protect our environment for the future, we must take steps to address this statistic.
One of the real opportunities for a Cash for Containers scheme is it rewards the average Territorian for their efforts in protecting the environment. In particular, it can be driven at the grassroots level by kids, sporting clubs, and community organisations like Scouts, which can take advantage of the program as a fundraising opportunity. As a Dad, I know too well that extra pocket money is a great motivator for children to help clean up the environment and, all the while, the Cash for Containers scheme will be sending a positive message about recycling and not littering.
I welcome the Environment minister’s commitment in moving on detailed design criteria for the Cash for Containers scheme. We will ensure the scheme can be implemented in both urban and remote areas. While container deposit legislation will not be the magic elixir for reducing litter, I am excited by the potential it offers for the remote communities within my electorate. A pilot scheme run in Lajamanu reported just under 100 000 containers were returned in that year. I am inspired by what a larger community, such as Wadeye, could achieve and the impact it could have on both the physical community and its people.
As more work is done on how the Cash for Containers scheme will operate in the Northern Territory, including the role community stores may play, I see the potential for it to really work – the potential for our remote schools, community youth programs, footy teams to collect containers as a fundraising exercise, whether it be for new sporting or other equipment, for trips interstate or into town; a younger generation to have access to these opportunities they might otherwise miss out on.
I welcome the opportunity to get litter off the streets and out of our communities so everyone can enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
Madam Speaker, the Cash for Containers Reference Group, including the Environment minister, the member for Fannie Bay and the member for Nelson, has a big task in front of it. I know they are already hard at work learning from what has worked, not only in South Australia, but other jurisdictions. We have heard tonight the member for Fannie Bay is doing a lot of research in that area. I wish them every success. It is a great opportunity to be the second jurisdiction in Australia to do so. I pick up the points made by the Leader of Government Business, that it has to suit the Territory’s particular circumstances and we have to have a scheme which operates in the remote areas so those people in the bush can take advantage of the scheme for their own fundraising. I support the statement.
Mr HAMPTON (Sport and Recreation): Madam Speaker, I am very pleased, together with my colleagues on this side of the House, to support the minister for the Environment on her statement on the introduction of a Cash for Containers scheme. Clearly, there has been a level of equivocation from various jurisdictions on the merits of a nationally consistent container deposit scheme. Our decision to progress towards a scheme that is appropriate for the Territory is good news.
Drinking containers represent a massive part of the litter stream in any community. In Alice Springs, the town council estimates alcohol containers alone represent somewhere in the vicinity of 60% of all litter they collect. In a study into container deposit logistics conducted by the Centre for Appropriate Technology in 2006, it was estimated in Lajamanu, a community of approximately 850 people, almost 100 000 containers for various beverages were sold each year by the community store. All the associated litter entered the litter stream or the community landfill.
In Atitjere, a community of only 250 people, it was estimated that almost 82 000 containers were sold each year by the store with the vast majority of these containers entering the litter stream or landfill.
These examples of communities, large and small, demonstrates the amount of potential litter created each year across the Territory; the potential for resource recovery to reduce dependence on landfill and improve the environment, and the potential for people to benefit financially from a well-structured scheme.
There have been a number of small, voluntary container deposit schemes trialled in Central Australia in recent years. In the late 1990s, Santa Teresa introduced a voluntary scheme for plastic bottles and cans through their community store and achieved great success in cleaning up that component of the litter stream. A total of 90% of plastic bottles in Santa Teresa were returned to the store. Titjikala developed a similar voluntary scheme, were children and pensioners and Caritas, the disaster relief and overseas project development charity, benefited. The environment also benefited and a great sense of community pride developed. Unfortunately, the schemes were not financially sustainable. Whilst evidence suggests container deposit schemes in remote communities would be generally well supported, the logistics of collecting and transporting containers, either from the outstation to community store, or from store to recycling centres, creates major challenges.
Over the past eight or nine years, a number of trials have been conducted in Alice Springs to test the support for, and effectiveness of, a local container deposit scheme. The Arid Lands Environment Centre established a trial at the Alice Springs Show in 2001 where a refund of 5 per drink container was offered - and 8000 containers were returned in an eight-hour period. A trial was also conducted at the Yeperenye Festival offering 10 per container - and 17 000 containers were returned in a 10-hour period. These results show there is a strong base of support for container deposit schemes that capitalise on, in most cases, the energy and enthusiasm of young people, and the increasing concern and commitment the general public has for the environment.
I turn now to two trials conducted in 2007 and supported financially by the Environment Centre NT. In 2007, the Lajamanu Community Government Council established a container deposit scheme which involved funding from both the Northern Territory government and an in-kind commitment from the local community through the Lajamanu Community Council, the Granites Gold Mine, Pandion Haulage and resource recovery agents in Katherine and Darwin. The scheme was implemented with the assistance of the Centre for Appropriate Technology, and involved the purchase and installation of infrastructure to collect, store and manage the containers. It was supported by training and mentoring in machine operation, materials handling, and marketing to ensure the community understood and supported the scheme. For the first 12 months, the cost of the scheme amounted to approximately $125 000, taking into account infrastructure costs, in-kind support, and the scheme’s evaluation.
While the financial return on investment amounted to approximately $10 000 from deposit refunds, there were other significant benefits to the community. In the first 12 months of operation over 96 000 plastic and aluminium containers were collected and distributed to resource recovery centres in Katherine and Darwin. Apart from the obvious improvements to the community aesthetics and environmental health, and the reduction in the litter stream, young children, the main participants in the scheme, were beneficiaries through increased pocket money.
The intangible benefits associated with community pride cannot be underestimated. Last year, Lajamanu CDS, the container deposit scheme, won the Chairman’s Prize at the Power and Water Melaleuca Awards. The community followed up on this by winning the Best Community Store at the NT Tidy Towns Awards because of the huge role the store played in the container deposit scheme. I acknowledge not only the Lajamanu community and the previous council members, the store, the Lajamanu Progress Association, but particularly Robert Roy, affectionately known as T O at Lajamanu. T O often works alone in the shed and he is the mainstay behind the container deposit scheme. It is his enthusiasm and his drive which makes this scheme such a success.
The litter problem in Alice Springs has long been associated with antisocial behaviour and is considered to have a detrimental effect on tourism, as well as an adverse impact on community harmony. There is no doubt both the Alice Springs Town Council and the Northern Territory government invest significantly in keeping Alice Springs tidy. In 2007, the Alice Springs Town Council conducted a cash for cans trial, again supported by the Environment Centre NT. The scheme was intended to last 12 months or until 200 000 cans were collected; however, due to its success additional funds were contributed by the Alice Springs Town Council. In a four month period up to February 2008, almost 340 000 cans were returned, resulting in a significant reduction in the litter stream in Alice Springs during that time.
As previously stated, the Alice Springs Town Council estimates 60% of the litter it collects derives from alcohol products. The council believes approximately $360 000 per annum of council expenditure is attributable to the collection of alcohol-related litter. The council recently announced its intentions to impose a liquor litter charge on rateable property owners of takeaway liquor outlets. The council’s determination to cleanup the town is commendable. Since the council’s announcements, I have heard many comments of support for the council’s position; there seems to be a general understanding in the community of the council’s intent. Equally, I have had representations from property owners and licensees of takeaway outlets who are concerned about the imposition of the charge. It is within this context the latter have indicated their support for the government’s intention to introduce a container deposit scheme, and have requested its introduction at the earliest available opportunity to make redundant the council’s liquor litter charge. Council has also indicated its willingness to review its scheme upon introduction of an NT-wide cash for containers scheme.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have explained to all interested parties the introduction of a financially viable, Territory-wide applicable scheme is a complex issue. As the minister has already outlined a material coordination model must be established; checks and balances put in place to prevent containers stockpiling; new labelling requirements agreed to by industry; collection points and transport options determined; licensed compliance and auditing mechanisms developed; legislation designed and passed, and a comprehensive community awareness program delivered. This will not happen overnight. If we are to have a legally sound, financially viable scheme which is applicable to both urban and remote settings, as referred to by other speakers, we need to get the research right, we need to get the planning right, and we need to get the scheme right.
I am pleased the minister has responded promptly to get the reference group working on this extremely important issue. As the Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage and the Chief Minster have stated publicly, if this scheme can be implemented any earlier than 2011, it will be. However, it is in no one’s interest to rush the process and end up with an unsustainable scheme.
In conclusion, I convey my best wishes to the minister and to the member for Fannie Bay and the member for Nelson who, as the reference group, are charged with the responsibility of steering the scheme design and implementation. This is an extremely important initiative that promises significant community benefit for all. I am pleased to support the minister’s statement.
Ms McCARTHY (Children and Families): Madam Speaker, I support the ministerial statement on the container deposit legislation. This is very important and environmentally friendly legislation which, I believe, when passed by this House, will have a lasting impact on the Northern Territory environment to bring about, at last, an attitudinal change regarding waste management.
I begin by congratulating the minister for the Environment, the Hon Alison Anderson, for starting work on this great project straightaway. This container deposit legislation is a big step forward for the Northern Territory, and it brings us into line with the successful South Australian container deposit scheme which has been operating for over 30 years.
South Australia offers a great case study of how a container deposit scheme can work, and work well. I am sure when the South Australia parliament considered this far-reaching legislation in the mid-1970s they would have encountered criticism. However, by choosing to enact their container deposit legislation, they have proven quite comprehensively that legislation such as this can work to the benefit of the community and the environment.
Looking at this legislation, I have considered the South Australian model and how it has worked successfully. We must consider their model and apply it in our Northern Territory context. This container deposit legislation will enable deposits to be included within the purchase price, and this will encourage people to return their used beverage containers for a nominated sum of money. The minister has already outlined beverage containers will be exchanged for 10 to ensure we compare with the South Australian model. This is good news for individuals and communities and will also avoid any unnecessary confusion and ensure a streamlined scheme between the two jurisdictions.
As the member for Arnhem, I believe it is a great incentive for individual communities to clean up their local surrounds, and we need to provide real incentives and ways for people to recycle. This scheme would do just that, as well as providing a cleaner community.
A container deposit scheme will also bring about significant attitudinal changes about keeping the Northern Territory clean and beautiful. We already know South Australia recycles at least 70% of all beverage containers, while the rest of the country lags at 40%. Clearly, the South Australian deposit scheme is working and, as a result, South Australians enjoy a cleaner environment.
Looking into the implementation of this legislation further, I read with great interest the research paper published by the Centre for Appropriate Technology in 2006. My interest in this paper was spurred by one of my communities, Angurugu, which was one of three communities considered during the research. The research in Angurugu threw up some interesting challenges and the end result was the community was definitely interested in taking up a program which encourages recycling. I am proud that Angurugu took part and provided some points for the Cash for Containers reference group to consider when establishing the framework for this scheme.
It is pleasing to see while there are some challenges, communities are eager to explore the possibility of developing and establishing a container deposit scheme. When I think of a container deposit scheme I think how it can benefit the local community. For example, local community organisations can set about collecting beverage containers as a means of fundraising. This means a community organisation, such as the Scouts or Girl Guides can collect beverage containers and exchange them at a rate of 10 each.
As Territorians, we all know we live in a beautiful part of the world, and this scheme will offer a great incentive to keep it that way. Clean Up Australia has estimated 40% of all rubbish removed in the Northern Territory on Clean Up Australia Day were containers that would be refunded under the container deposit scheme. This is evidence we need to do something about ensuring people no longer simply litter beverage containers.
We are the second territory or state to introduce a container deposit scheme. It is wonderful to see the Northern Territory once again taking bold steps, particularly to help our environment. It is evident container deposit schemes can, and do, make a difference to the environment and also bring about economic benefits to the community. I commend the statement to the House.
Debate adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr HENDERSON (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.
It is with great pleasure I extend my congratulations to the Northern Territory recipients of the 2009 Queen’s Birthday honours list. The granting of this honour represents an acknowledgement of the outstanding service to the Northern Territory community by four Territorians.
I would like to speak personally about Paul Charles Tyrrell AO. Paul Tyrrell has been appointed an Officer in the General Division for his service to the community of the Northern Territory in a range of public sector roles: through contributions to major construction and transport infrastructure projects, and to the development of economic and social policy in the Northern Territory.
Paul Tyrrell served as the CEO of the Northern Territory Department of Transport and Works from October 1994, taking on the additional roles of Chief Executive Officer of the Darwin Port Authority in August 1995, and the Department of Communications and Advanced Technology in July 1997.
In June 1999, Paul was appointed CEO of the Department of the Chief Minister, a position he held until 31 January 2008. In this role he was the most senior public servant in the Northern Territory, and the most senior public service advisor to several Northern Territory Chief Ministers, including myself. Throughout this period he also served as Secretary to the Cabinet for the Northern Territory government, providing advice to the ministry on a broad range of social and economic issues affecting the Territory.
In addition to his strategic leadership of the Northern Territory public sector, Paul Tyrrell has played a pivotal role in developing and bringing to fruition a number of major project developments for the Territory including the completion of the historic Adelaide to Darwin railway line; a $1.1bn Darwin city waterfront redevelopment, and the establishment of Darwin as a major gas manufacturing and export centre. As Chairman of the NT Onshore Gas Taskforce from 2004 to 2009, he played a leading role in negotiations to bring the INPEX project to the Northern Territory.
The contribution Paul has made to the economic development of the Territory through his various public sector roles has been nothing short of outstanding. Although now retired from the public sector, Paul continues to play a critical role in the Territory’s developments in a number of areas. He continues to serve the Northern Territory government in the position of Chair of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and of the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, and is a lead negotiator on behalf of the NT government in establishing the Territory’s first dedicated oncology unit at Royal Darwin Hospital.
I am also aware that Paul has recently been appointed Chairman of the Northern Territory Football Club, Territory Thunder, a new Territory-wide initiative to provide young Territorian footballers with the opportunity to play AFL at a higher level.
My personal and sincere congratulations to Paul Tyrrell. He has made an enormous contribution to the Northern Territory and epitomises a great public servant who has served the public of the Northern Territory tremendously well.
Commander Anne-Marie Murphy, APM has been awarded the Australian Police Medal for over 30 years of distinguished and dedicated service to policing as a member of the Northern Territory Police Force. During her policing career Commander Murphy served at a number of Northern Territory communities including Katherine, Jabiru, Tennant Creek and Yulara.
She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1983, less than five years after joining the police, and to a position in the Criminal Investigation Branch. At that time she was one of only three women in the CIB and the first woman holding the rank of Detective Sergeant in crime. In September 1999, Anne-Marie became the first woman appointed as officer-in-charge of the Northern Crime Division, now Major Crime. During her time in this role, from 1999 to 2002, she managed 65 members of the CIB leading numerous major crime investigations.
Anne-Marie Murphy became involved in the Northern Territory Police Association in the 1980s, and in 1992 she was elected President of the association – a first for the Northern Territory, and the first woman in Australia to head a police union. She served on the executive of the association for eight years and became a life member in 1994.
In 1995, Anne-Marie was the first person appointed to the role of Welfare Coordinator for NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services. Her organisational knowledge, integrity and sense of commitment to the issues faced by police officers, forged the role into a highly valuable service for members. On 15 June 1998, Commissioner Brian Bates recognised her work in establishing the new role through a Commissioner’s Letter of Recognition. In 1996, Anne-Marie was the driving force behind the development and implementation of the NT Police Women Advisory Committee. She has remained committed to maximising opportunities for women in policing and was Chair of that forum from 2002 to 2003. Anne-Marie conceived WAC, brought women together from across the Territory, and consolidated and implemented the group to help advance the role and work of women in policing.
Anne-Marie Murphy was the NT representative on the inaugural Australasian Women’s Advisory Committee. She has worked professionally with the respect of her colleagues, peers and friends; she has extensive organisational knowledge; well developed political acumen and, over the years, has mentored and encouraged women to move forward and take action on a range of issues relevant to women and policing.
Madam Speaker, I will conclude my remarks on other recipients, and on Anne-Marie Murphy, tomorrow night.
Ms CARNEY (Araluen): Madam Speaker, I would like the parliament to note with regret the passing of Mr Tom Brown, a constituent of mine, who died in March this year. Top End members of parliament will know the name of Tom Brown because, when they enter Alice Springs through The Gap, they come around the Tom Brown roundabout, the biggest and best roundabout in Alice Springs. It was named after Tom Brown in the mid-1990s, I believe, because of his outstanding and long-standing service to the Roads Division of the then Department of Lands and Local Government.
Not only was Tom a great fellow and a constituent I always enjoyed meeting with, but he really was a great pioneer and a dedicated public servant. I, and many others, regretted his passing and I take this opportunity to extend to his friends and family my best wishes.
Tom was responsible for many of the major works in Central Australia in his 25 years or so service to the NT government. Some of the projects he helped to construct are, to name but a few, the Lasseter Highway Stage 2, Curtain Springs to Yulara; Yulara Airport; Yulara to Mutitjulu access road; Yulara internal road and services; Plenty Highway, various sections around Tarlton Downs Station, unsealed construction and sealed section, and various realignments; the Alcoota Station new access road; Glen Helen Road, Stages 1 and 2; Stuart Highway from Yambah to Prowse Gap, two stages of total reconstruction - on and on the list goes.
There was nothing about the roads of Central Australia Tom Brown did not know. We were very lucky, as people of the Northern Territory, in particular the people of Central Australia, to have Tom working for us over his many long years of distinguished service.
A friend of Tom’s, Mr Bruce Stanes was quoted in The Centralian Advocate not long after Tom’s death, saying:
- I think it would be fitting to see a plaque put up around town or on the roundabout to honour Tom’s life.
He was such a big part of the town and I think it’s important for people to know about his life and how he shaped Central Australia.
Another friend, Shelley Colombet, said:
- He was a very private man and didn’t go out of his way to make friends but, if you were part of his circle, he took care of you.
That was certainly the case. Tom took good care of Alice Springs’ residents, and residents of Central Australia, by his dedication to improving the roads of that region.
I understand a minister of the government – I suspect it is the minister for Infrastructure and Planning - has indicated a plaque would be erected in Tom’s honour. I urge her to get on with erecting that plaque, either on or near the Tom Brown roundabout, or somewhere in a prominent location in Alice Springs, so his legacy will never be forgotten and, in generations in come, people can give him the mark of respect he deserves.
I am sure all members of the Assembly join with me on marking the passing of a very significant Territorian and a very significant man from Central Australia.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms WALKER (Nhulunbuy): Madam Speaker, it was a great honour and privilege to be a delegate at the 21st Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar hosted in Sydney by the New South Wales Branch of CPA from 24 to 30 May 2009. I was one of 35 delegates from 21 Commonwealth countries who participated in the week-long seminar, the theme of which was Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy.
As a new parliamentarian, this seminar was invaluable to me in gaining a broader understanding and new insights across a range of subjects associated with parliamentary life. While I believe most of the delegates found it valuable, I was particularly pleased to be attending the seminar within an Australian context, with sessions often featuring well-known Australian identities and an Australian flavour to many of the discussions. These well-known identities included Geoff Gallop, former premier of Western Australia, Antony Green, election analyst with the ABC, Imre Saulsinszky, journalist and political commentator with The Australian, Barry O’Farrell MP, leader of the NSW opposition, and the Honourable John Aquilina MP, father of the NSW parliament.
There were 12 seminar sessions across the week, all held in the beautiful Jubilee Room within the historic New South Wales parliamentary precinct. The sessions included the roles of a member of parliament; voting systems used in Australia; the parliamentary and political scene in New South Wales and the role of the media; parliamentary committees and the committee system; the case for free trade; the federal system in Australia; members and their political parties; Legislative Council Estimates Committee and the Estimates Committee process; financial scrutiny of the Executive; the role of the Presiding Officers; climate change; and A Bill of Rights.
I have attended many seminars and conferences over the years in different areas I have worked in, and I can honestly say it was probably one of the best seminar/conference experiences I have had. I did not come away from a single session thinking: ‘That was a bit dull’, or ‘I might have enjoyed something else a bit more’. My learning was greatly enhanced by the experiences of other parliamentarians and how their systems work, whether they were in Australian parliaments or overseas. It was a week where matters of parliament transcended politics. Well, for the most part anyway.
Importantly, we had the opportunity to come together in the interests of promoting and advancing parliamentary democracy; the opportunity to exchange information and experiences; to learn from one another; to build networks and forge strong communication between Commonwealth nations. Of course, there were less formal opportunities afforded us to talk and learn over lunches and dinners.
We enjoyed an excellent lunchtime presentation from members of the City of Sydney Council at the Sydney Town Hall on the role of local government in New South Wales. That evening, our delegation attended a live debate as part of the Intelligence Squared debate; the subject was, ‘It is time to get rid of state government’. It was a lively and highly entertaining debate, not the least of which was seeing Michael Costa on the same team as Barnaby Joyce arguing the case ‘for’. Costa did concede, however, that State of Origin football matches could be jeopardised, but was a small price to pay. Even more entertaining and skilfully engineered was the ‘against’ case put up by Professor Anne Twomey, Professor Geoff Gallop and Professor Greg Craven.
Whilst morally and ideologically I was with the ‘against’ case from the start - and you would expect nothing less of a Territorian angling for statehood - they lost, but that probably has more to do with the state of politics in New South Wales, and a local audience at that.
There were many memorable highlights during the week and, by the end, delegates considered one another as friends as much as colleagues. In our Australian system of parliament, while it is not always perfect, I came away considering myself extremely fortunate compared to my colleague from the relatively new parliament of Bougainville, the Honourable Magadelene Toroansi MP. She strives against corruption, and works with some colleagues who do not read, write or speak English, and is certainly challenged within her parliamentary system. I could not help but feel a degree of envy for the Speaker of the state of Balochistan in Pakistan, who presides over an Assembly with 65 members on the government benches, and just one member of the opposition who, he said, is never there.
Of course, events such as these are only successful due to the hard work that goes into organising them. To that end, I offer sincere thanks to the members of the NSW Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and, in particular, Russell Grove, the Honourable Secretary for NSW CPA, who is also Clerk of the NSW Assembly. Thanks also to Russell’s staff, Manuela Sudic, Rohan Tyler and Todd Buttsworth. They worked long hours, tirelessly herding delegates from one place to another, constantly doing the head counts and always courteous, friendly and incredibly patient.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am indeed fortunate to have had this opportunity. I understand a member from the opposition will be attending the next CPA conference to be held in Tanzania later this year. I wish that member an enjoyable journey and guarantee you will find it as rewarding and enjoyable as I found my recent involvement with the CPA in Sydney.
Ms PURICK (Goyder): Madam Deputy Speaker, I will talk briefly about the Freds Pass Show recently held in mid-May, but more particularly I want to talk about the nursery I organised at the show and also the help I had from the Humpty Doo Scouts.
As members in the House would know, Freds Pass Show has been going for many decades. It is a very popular and successful show, and some people would argue it is a true agricultural show.
I extend my thanks to the show organisers, in particular to Olive Frakking and her team, Donna, and also Marie, who work for the Freds Pass Reserve, looking after those things which are very important to getting the show off the ground; and Andrew Blackadder, the President of the Freds Pass Show Reserve. They all put in an enormous amount of time. It is one of those situations, like any agricultural show, where much work is done behind the scenes, early in the morning and late at night, to make sure show-goers like us enjoy the days at the show.
I was invited by the Freds Pass Show people to organise an animal nursery and, in a weak moment, I said I would do it; so we organised the nursery. The first person I approached was George Kasparak, the Scout Leader of the Humpty Doo Scouts, to see if I could have some of the senior Scouts assist during the day, and also to camp over to guard the animals as Freds Pass Show has had a bit of a chequered history in regard to some antics that happen late at night.
A few decades back, there was a situation where a truly spectacular orchid display, worth tens of thousands of dollars, suddenly mysteriously disappeared during the night. We had another situation at another show where we had the bush people versus, supposedly, some bikie people and they had a big punch-up. I think the bushies won, and rightly so – they are probably made of tougher stuff. They have a concert during the night and some people get a bit carried away, so it has always been important to have people there at night to guard the animals because they are mostly mothers and babies and the Scouts did an admirable job in this regard.
We charge an entrance fee to the show. We raised in the vicinity of $3500, which also included the sale of one-day-old chicks - we had 100 - and I am pleased to announce we only had two fatalities over the two days, so we actually had a successful sale of 98 chicks. I do not know how many of those chickens are still alive, but I know historically there have been situations of day-old chicks taken to vets and costing hundreds of dollars to keep alive in the interests of family harmony.
I place on the record my sincere thanks to the Humpty Doo Scouts. I know the Scouts had a lovely time but George Kasparek I think, had an interesting time. He camped there both nights with me and some friends, and he did not realise that dawn came at 3.30 in the morning when all the roosters started to crow. The Scouts who helped me were Lachlan, Jake, Asterix, Adele and Sharni, Shamus, Aaron, Samuel, Seth and Ciaran - they were all a tremendous help. Over the two days they learned a lot about animal husbandry and minding animals and what is involved in making sure the young are protected.
There were notices on the big yard where they had the day-old chicks saying: ‘Please do not pat the chickens or pick them up’. It is amazing, I have to talk to the Education minister about this, the number of adults who could not read and picked the chickens up and tried to pat them. It was the children who were the best-behaved.
The Scouts did a wonderful job and have received donations for their work. Where they spent one day camping, they now want to spend both days camping, so that says something.
I also thank the students from Middle Point School; they provided drawings of all the different animals we had around the nursery. Thanks to Heidi and the teachers for organising their students to provide these paintings which added to the nursery and made it more colourful.
I will be sending notes of thanks to all the people who donated their animals. We had a variety of animals, as you would expect. We had snakes, rabbits, kittens, horses, dogs, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, turkeys and poultry; we even had three not-so-alive stuffed chickens which were a great entertainment for the children; particularly when we put eggs around them. At the end of each day we had to take out the remnants of the eggs because the children put their hands in and squashed all the eggs thinking they were pretend eggs.
My congratulations, again, to the organisers of Freds Pass Show. I look forward to next year’s show.
Mr KNIGHT (Daly): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is with great sadness I acknowledge the passing of George Lampton on 24 May at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
George was a long-serving employee of the Power Water Corporation and a member of the Electrical Trades Union. I echo the comments of his friends and colleagues at both Power and Water and at the ETU. George was an absolute gentleman in every sense of the word and his passing has come as a shock to those who knew him.
I understand George came to Darwin from Mt Isa around 1966 to play football with the Brothers Rugby League team and, like many of his long-term mates, he stayed in Darwin. George joined the Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance Section of the Commonwealth Department of Works based at the wartime 2 Mile Workshops at Parap. George was to become a champion football player throughout his career. I am told one of the highlights of his football career was playing for the NT against Western Australia in the curtain raiser to the Australia versus Great Britain test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Friends of George say he was not only a champion football player; he was a champion golfer and a champion bloke.
During his long and illustrious career with the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments, George travelled all over the Top End of the Northern Territory with the Essential Services Group (ESG) the forerunner of today’s Remote Operations. George was a truck driver when he signed up in 1966 but quickly learned most of the trade skills associated with fitting and plumbing and was to be the source of knowledge and education for many new tradesmen who were fresh out of the cities and new to the bush.
Those who worked with George say he was a source of endless inspiration, friendship, fun and laughter for all those who travelled those lonely and dusty roads with him way back then. He was a tireless worker and a great team player. From humble beginnings as a truck driver/labourer, George was to go on to become a tradesman in his own right, assuming the role of plumber in the Water Services Operations Branch in Darwin. He also stepped up to be Service Coordinator Water Services in Tennant Creek on several occasions.
George’s passing is a great loss to all those who knew him, and to the Power and Water Corporation; a thorough gentleman with a heart of gold, full of care and concern for all.
I send my sincere condolences to his friends and family.
Mr VATSKALIS (Casuarina): Madam Deputy Speaker, I pay tribute to the ex-staff of the Old Darwin Hospital who are gathering in Darwin this week for a reunion. I note the hard work and dedication of these people which has directly contributed to the development of the Northern Territory health system and improved the health of thousands of Territorians.
The Old Darwin Hospital reunion has been organised by volunteers who should be congratulated on the successful and fantastic event. Ms Lyn Sullivan and her husband, Terry, have been integral in organising this week’s events. Ms Sullivan trained to be a nurse at the old Darwin Hospital in the mid-1960s and has recently retired after 18 years in community health.
The response to the reunion has been overwhelming with the original one night event turning into a week of gatherings. Many attendees journeyed from interstate to see how Darwin has changed since they worked here in the 1950s.
I make special mention of a number of nurses: Patsy Chalmers, who trained at the Royal Darwin Hospital in 1953; Jackie O’Brien, who was born in Darwin and started work as a nurse at the old Darwin Hospital in 1950; and Joy Cruickshank who trained at the old Darwin Hospital and went on to be the Director of Nursing at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth.
They are just a few of the admirable health professionals who have travelled to Darwin this week to reminisce on their experiences of working at the old Darwin Hospital. I thank them for their past work in the Territory, and extend to them a warm welcome back to Darwin for the old Darwin Hospital reunion.
I express my thanks to Harry Sing who recently retired as an Aboriginal Health Worker for the Department of Health and Families. Mr Sing commenced Aboriginal Health Worker training in April 1977 when the training of health workers was under the administration of the Department of Health. His clinical skill was consolidated at Belyuen Health Centre and he was registered as the 69th Aboriginal Heath Worker.
Between 1981 and 1987, Harry was in charge of managing the professional development and training of Aboriginal Health Workers. When their education unit was transferred from Darwin Hospital to Katherine Institute of Aboriginal Health, Harry also took on the Deputy Operations Manager role and assisted the Operations Manager from 1983 to 1984. Harry returned to Belyuen in 1987 to devote more time to issues affecting his community.
Harry became a strong advocate for community control, and in 1990 was appointed Manager of Belyuen Health. Harry assisted in conducting a needs assessment of infrastructure requirements for aged and disability clients wanting to remain with families in his community. The results of the Belyuen needs analysis were the trigger for an invitation from the Disability Council of Australia Committee to lobby the government in Canberra in 1991. Harry spoke with the Health minister, Brian Howard, about the issues faced by his people in Belyuen.
Between 1993 and 1995, Harry was involved with the establishment of a multipurpose service project aimed at housing aged and disabled single men in Belyuen. In 1999, Harry returned to Belyuen Health Centre until 2002. He then moved to Gove to become the Director of Aboriginal Health Workers. In late 2005, Harry relocated to the Top End Remote Health Operations Unit in Darwin, and it is from here he retired on Friday, 29 May 2009.
I wish Harry Sing a happy retirement and thank him for his dedicated work in developing the profession of Aboriginal Health Workers in the Northern Territory.
Mr CHANDLER (Brennan): Madam Deputy Speaker, I congratulate Helen Armstrong. Helen is this years NEiTA Teacher of the Year. It gave me great pleasure while I was the chairperson of Bakewell to nominate Helen.
Helen is the Librarian there and I recall in the five years I was chair, I nominated two or three teachers, and I encourage everyone to nominate teachers for this award. It is a special award and I know they take great pleasure in receiving even a nomination because they get a certificate and are acknowledged during assemblies.
The NEiTA Teacher of the Year Award is pretty special. It requires the teachers to not only accept the nomination, but they go to the next step. In fact, teachers really must have done something very special. Most people agree that most teachers we have in the Territory are wonderful; some, though, are very special because they do so many other things for the community.
In Helen’s role, she took on the job of organising the space camp which, as most people know, resulted in working with the Palmerston Council in having an astronaut come to the Northern Territory last year. It is through this additional work, on top of her school work, which was what I thought really required Helen to be nominated. Helen did more than that; she took the nomination and went to the next level and won what is, effectively, the state level. Then it went all the way to the top and Helen was nominated as the Teacher of the Year. It is fantastic that we have a local teacher who has gone so far.
I would also like to talk quickly about the walk to school morning we had a few weeks ago - it was a fantastic event. The Bakewell School in the electorate or Brennan is the largest primary school in the Northern Territory, so any days like this are very well supported. This week, they have their Twilight Sports Carnival, and I wish them well. It will be the first time in many years I have not been able to make the Twilight Sports Carnival.
What was interesting about the walk to school morning is the Leader of the Opposition sponsored the breakfast; I also sponsored the breakfast, along with the Mayor for Palmerston. It would appear anywhere I go in Palmerston I have a shadow - the former member. He was at the walk to school morning which was followed by a wonderful celebration at the Palmerston High School Special Education Unit. They were having Arafura Day, celebrating the Arafura region. The children of the Special Education Unit had transformed the entire unit into each of the countries bordering the Arafura region. They had gone to so much trouble, it was truly amazing. I have recounted the story time and time again since going there; we were in Vietnam one minute and in Bali in the next; we were in Cambodia in the following room, and we continued to go around all the different countries in the area.
Not once did I have any problems with Customs, did not lose any luggage, and it was probably the quickest tour I have done around the region ever. It was fantastic. Paige - and I am not sure of the other young lady’s name - was an exceptionally good host who took the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, and me around. It was a fantastic day.
We turned up there and, again, my shadow was there with his sidekick taking photos of what was going on. We then went across to Palmerston High School for the commitment and agreement by the Year 10 students. It was interesting that again I ran into the former member who was at the school with a staff member tagging along by his side with a camera taking photos.
It is interesting that the whole time the Office of the Chief Minister is closed in the Palmerston Shopping Centre they are out doing exactly what I was led to believe an elected member is supposed to do in the area. All the while, we now find out we are not having the additional 24-hour ambulance service in Palmerston, but we seem to be able to fund election campaign officers. I believe it is disgraceful, and Territorians will not have it.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE (Katherine): Madam Deputy Speaker, tonight I will speak about a couple of events which have taken place in the Katherine region over the last few weeks.
The Katherine Races were held a fortnight or so ago. What a wonderful event! The people of Katherine turned out in droves for the races this year; it was a little warm in the afternoon but that did not make it any less an attractive place to be. It was heartening and exciting to see how seriously the people of Katherine took the event and dressed up. The women were dressed to the nines, and all the hats in town were bought; there was not a hat to be found in Katherine three or four days before the event. It was a pleasure to see everyone getting out and about and enjoying themselves.
I congratulate the Katherine Turf Club and their membership for putting together such a successful day, in particular, Athol Schmidt, the President of the Katherine Turf Club. Congratulations to him for putting together such a wonderful show. In the vicinity of 3000-odd people turned up for the day, and I have to admit, I did not really get to see a horse race myself, but thoroughly enjoyed the social event that was the races.
The second event happened this past weekend and that was the Barunga festival. Going to Barunga is always, for me, like going home. I spent two-and-a-half years as a police officer at Maranboy and Barunga was my home turf for those two-and-a-half years. The people of Barunga are wonderful, warm and welcoming people; I count them amongst my friends and amongst my family as well. It was terrific to see such a great turnout.
It is estimated around 5000 people came for the event last weekend. I was fortunate enough to spend some time there and managed to see the Jessica Mauboy concert, and it was sensational. She is a very charming and talented young lady, and a role model in many respects for young Indigenous people. Many people look up to her as a shining light of what can be achieved if you decide to choose a path and put your heart and soul into it – and I commend her.
I also commend the organising committee through the Jawoyn Association: Wes Miller, the CEO, was in charge of the organisation, and Nitmiluk Tours, which has commenced a new bus service to some of the outlying communities around the region.
I also want to mention the APPEA Conference, the Australian Petroleum Producers and Explorers Association, which was held in Darwin a week or so ago. It was extremely well attended; a number of people came from, not only interstate, but also overseas. I send my congratulations to Belinda Robinson, the Executive Officer of APPEA, for putting together such a successful conference. The conference, as did the Australian Geological Exploration Seminar Conference, was attended by people who have very positive sentiment. They are looking to consolidate their position in these tough times with a view to moving forward as the recession lifts. They view the Northern Territory as a good place to do business. I can only hope, despite the matters I raised in my budget reply today, that miners, drillers and explorers still continue to view the Northern Territory with such positive sentiment.
Mr BOHLIN (Drysdale): Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to explain my absence this morning. I do so with a great, big smile on my face because this weekend I have been competing in the Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race which is, without a doubt, the hardest, toughest desert race in Australia at this stage. I must say, it is a multi-Brolga award winning event and I believe it deserves that.
We went with a crew of four and raced our off-road truck, which was a Class 5. We put it in through an impressive Alice Springs show and shine, or the scrutineering viewing on the Friday night after many hard hours of work. The Alice people turned out in their thousands to look at the magnificent spectacle of cars and bikes of all natures at the Alice Springs Showground. The showground was packed. There were people having fun, and there was no trouble. There was plenty to be consumed, in both liquid and edible form, and everyone had a great night.
The weather was fantastic. Someone must have asked for the most perfect weather we could have for the weekend; it was absolutely beautiful. It was not too cold, but cold enough to give you a reason to put on a jacket and enjoy yourself.
I thank the Finke Desert Racing Committee, for all their efforts; Damien Ryan and Anthony Yoffa put on a great show which I hope is recognised in the future. It is a difficult event over long distances – 229 km one way, 229 km the other way - and it tested many cars, many bikes and many bodies over the weekend.
Unfortunately, it tested our car beyond its ability and after 110 km we destroyed an engine, melted five sparkplugs and probably several pistons to go with it. To all my fellow competitors, thank you for your great sportsmanship. I hope you enjoyed the day better than we did, when we broke down.
It was a fantastic event; the weather had been perfect for that region with plenty of rain, hopefully to make it beautiful and green in the future, but it kept the dust down which meant the event was fast and hard.
It just shows that Alice Springs, as a region, is alive and well, where so many people from around Australia, and from overseas, flock to such a venue and enjoy it in such good spirit. That entire event is an event full of good spirit. To demonstrate that, two lovely people we met, Michael and Victoria, towed us back to the Rodinga checkpoint where Victoria promptly made us a cup of coffee and offered us food; it was just lovely, and it typified what I believe the Finke Desert Race is all about - a great community of racing enthusiasts. No matter where you go, people are willing to help.
Earlier on we stopped and had some bacon with people from Darwin. They were there to watch their crews come through, so we shared some of their bacon and water while we waited to be recovered. After that some young fellows towed us - let us just say a very long way back – towards Alice.
There we stayed at a camp called Axles Camp, 6 km out of Alice Springs, where they fed us, watered us, gave us liquids of all kinds; and made sure they fed us again. They offered us every type of assistance we could have, to the point where they even gave us their 4-wheel drive to go and get a trailer to recover the car. No matter where you are, or where you are from, if you are in there to have fun, the spectators will be there to support you and help you in every way.
I thank the Finke committee, and the House for my late start this morning, and all the spectators and those people who helped us out. Your help was much appreciated and will never, ever be forgotten.
Mr STYLES (Sanderson): Madam Deputy Speaker, I make mention of a number of multicultural events which have occurred recently in the Top End.
Almost two weeks ago, the Chinese Ambassador was in town and the Australia-China Business Council had a luncheon reception for His Excellency Mr Zhang Junsai, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Australia. He is a gentleman who has spent collectively, almost 11 years in Australia, representing the People’s Republic of China and knows many people throughout Australia and New Zealand. He gave a very interesting speech to many business people in town, many of whom trade with China from the Northern Territory. It was really refreshing to see the relationships that have been built by the business community through the Australia-China Business Council, organised and run by Ms Jennifer Xi.
The day prior to this luncheon, the Chung Wah Society had a reception for His Excellency at the Chung Wah Society in Wood Street, which forms part of Chinatown. He brought with him gifts for the Chung Wah Society in the form of two huge lions which now sit at the entrance to the Chung Wah hall. These are solid, carved stone lions and look very handsome guarding the entrance to the Chung Wah hall.
The reception was ably led by Mr Adam Lowe, in conjunction with Mr Henry Yap. It was interesting that many people spoke of the ambassador’s warmth for the city of Darwin and the people of the Northern Territory. A fantastic banquet was put on by the proprietors of Tasty House who did an excellent job catering for a huge number of people in tight conditions.
Last Saturday evening at the Filipino Club, Philippines Independence Day was celebrated by a very large number of Filipino expats, Australian citizens of Filipino origin, and many other people from all walks of life and different cultures went there to help the Filipino people celebrate their Independence Day.
There was a fantastic display of cultural dress, cultural dances, singing, all ably put on by a very hard-working community, and their committee especially, deserves congratulations for putting on such a fine show. There were a number of other people who gave their time to assist with the entertainment for the evening.
The other event which occurred recently was the NT Export Awards put on at Crocosaurus Cove. Again, a very large number of people turned up to support the launch of the NT Export Awards, and it was great to see so many businesses there who are willing and prepared to engage in the export market with our close neighbours. There were many people from the Chamber of Commerce and from businesses and also from government departments who had come along to assist the business people of the Northern Territory to engage in very fruitful arrangements and deals with our near neighbours and beyond.
There are more, but, unfortunately, we are constrained to only five minutes for adjournment speeches these days, so it is with regret that I cannot discuss some of the other events of significance that have occurred in the Top End. I will try to do that tomorrow night.
Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016